How to Prevent a War

Hogsmeade

The next few weeks were painful for Harry. He tried to talk with Tom several times, but the other boy dismissed him every time. They still worked together on every class project they had and they went on in the same circles, but Harry no longer sat next to him at the table in the Great Hall, and Tom didn't help him with homework anymore either. In fact, they barely even spoke to each other anymore. Only when it was necessary.

Right now, they were all having breakfast, with Harry sitting between Alphard and Megan. By now, he'd grown so used to this gang that he spoke to most of them using their first names. Avery was still Avery because he had a difficult first name, the same with Nott, and Dolohov and Mulciber disliked their names, so they stayed Dolohov and Mulciber as well.

"Last time going to Hogsmeade before Yule Holidays," Nicolas spoke up.
"Time to get those Christmas shopping done, right?"

"You mean you haven't yet?" Avery asked shocked.

"I got most, but Tom's really hard to buy for," Mulciber joined in.

"Then don't buy me anything," the Slytherin Heir shrugged.

"And be the only idiot who didn't get you anything for your birthday? No thanks."

"Wait. It's almost your birthday Tom?" Harry asked shocked.
"Why didn't anyone tell me? When is it?"

"December 31, New year's Eve," Alphard replied.
"When's yours anyway? I don't think we know yet either."

"Please tell me it's months away," Michael groaned.
"I have used up all my money on Christmas presents for you all."

"July 31, so you're off the hook," Harry chuckled.

"Summer birthdays are the best!" Dimitri grinned.
"That means more time for us to find the right presents. And you can host an actual party. I always do. Mine's August 17."

Harry grinned and nodded, promising to remember it and the youngest Lestrange beamed at him. A little poke in his side had Harry turn back towards the boy sitting next to him and he raised a brow.

"What about Hermione's?" Alphard asked curiously.

Harry tensed. They never talked about that. Ron and Hermione were supposed to be twins, and they had perfected their story to the details, except that very important part: their date of birth.

"I-its-" he stuttered.

"Harry! I need to borrow you for our group project for professor Dumbledore," Tom suddenly called out.

Harry startled when he heard the command, but he was just too happy to be out of there to really care about the tone. He stood up, excusing himself with the others before rushing after the young dark lord. Only when they were already halfway towards the library did Harry realize something and he stopped dead in his tracks.

"We already finished that assignment," he said frowning.

"You're welcome by the way," Tom muttered lazily.

"Then why are we still going to the library?" Harry asked confused.

"I need to look something up and you can show your gratitude for saving your ill-thought front by carrying the books for me."

Harry frowned and glared at Tom's back when the other started walking again.

"And I'll give you some tips on what to buy the others, seeing as you don't know them that well yet."

"You'd do that?" Harry asked shocked.

"What did you think? I'm some evil bastard who doesn't care at all about his friends?" the teenage dark lord snorted.