How to Prevent a War

Library Date

When Harry walked into the library a week and a half after the start of the new year, he was in a great mood. His friends had finally gotten used to the idea of him and Tom dating, and the Slytherins all accepted the Weasleys as part of the gang, mostly. Ron and Megan spent a lot of time together, talking mostly, or just staring at each other and smiling, and Alphard and Hermione were very close to actually dating too. Fred and George recently had a prank war with Mulciber and Nicolas, but when Ravina Lestrange had been caught in the middle of it, things had gotten out of hand and now all five of them had detention for the rest of the month.

Only Ginny seemed still against it all, and she and Dolohov, Nott and Dimitri kept their rivalry strong. It upset Harry somewhat of course. Ginny was like a little sister to him, but with how great things had been going between him and Tom recently, he just couldn't make himself worry about her too much.

"Harry!"

The green eyed teen looked up and smiled as he saw July Andrews waving him over. Like promised, he was here to help her with DADA. She was a really nice girl, and Harry hoped he and her could become friends. In another time, he might even be attracted to her, but he already had Tom.

"Hey, July!" he greeted cheerfully, sitting down next to the blushing girl.
"Are you ready to study some Defence?"

"Ready when you are," the girl replied smiling.

Harry grinned at her and grabbed his books, opening them as he laid them out before them. July shifted nervously, but didn't say anything as Harry started explaining the theory of things. For half an hour, they continued studying, July asking questions and hanging on to every word that passed the green eyed time traveller's lips.

"So! How was your Christmas vacation?" July suddenly asked in the middle of Harry's explanation on how to recognize a vampire.

"Uhm... Great! How was yours?" the boy answered a bit uncertainly.

"It was okay, a bit lonely though," the girl pouted.
"My parents were off working most of the time, and with the war..."

"That must've been hard on you."

"Oh, it wasn't that bad! I got to see my old friends and my family," July replied quickly.
"But I'm more interesting in hearing about professor Slughorn's party. Who did you go with?"

"Originally, I was planning on going with Hermione," Harry told her smiling.
"Just as friends of course. But she eventually cancelled so she could go with Alphard."

"Don't tell me you went alone!" the girl exclaimed scandalized.
"You know you could have asked me, right? I wouldn't have minded coming back earlier."

"Don't worry!" Harry laughed.
"I already had a better solution, so no reason to bother you."

July's flirty smile fell at the words and a look of hurt crossed her delicate features. Harry's own grin dropped as well when he realized what he had said, his eyes widening in horror.

"I-I didn't mean it like that!" he exclaimed rapidly.
"I mean, you're a great girl and a friend! I would have asked you immediately if it wasn't for Tom!"

This had the girl frowning in confusion.

"What about Riddle?" she asked suspiciously.

Harry started blushing furiously and looked away. For a few more moments, July just regarded Harry before understanding crossed her mind. She gasped, slapping her hands over her mouth as she did.

"You and him. Are you... you know...?" she muttered.

"We're dating," Harry told her, smiling again.
"And it's amazing, you know? I feel like we really understand each other."