It's time you pick your battle and I promise you this is mine

Quidditch

"What were you doing there, Harry?", Hermione reproached him afterwards when they were out of hearing range of anyone they shared a class with.

"I was trying not to start a fight with him", he answered obligingly.

"I told you to not pick fights with him years ago and now is when you actually take the advice?"

"I am sure, Harry has a reason for it", Ron chimed in, while seeming absolutely not convinced of it.

"Yeah, I have. Look, you have probably seen that he is different now."

"You mean, that he always seems to be alone instead of in the company of Goyle, Pansy and whoever were his friends before and that he does not talk and that he said something helpful to you today? Yeah, I've noticed." Harry's surprise must have shown on his face at Ron's observation because he added: "What? That bloke has been a pain in the ass to us for 7 years, I would notice when he stops." Hermione glared at him for that as if he had personally injured her but Harry continued.

"Exactly. Before I have fought with him because he was arrogant, because he insulted one of you, because he provoked me or because he was a literal death eater doing a job for Voldemort. He hasn't given me any reason to this year. And I am very tired of fighting, so I will do what is in my power, not to change that."

To his surprise, Hermione nodded: "You are right, it is probably a good idea."

"It's Malfoy!", Ron cries out.

"Yeah, but Harry spent a lot of time at Andromeda's over the holidays, right?", Hermione started, looking like challenging Ron, "And he will continue to do so as Teddy is his godson", she spared an inquisitive glance at Harry, as if to make sure that he had actually his obligations as a godfather in mind and not only looked for a distraction while they were away, "and as Narcissa is Andromeda's sister and apparently now wants to act like it and judging from your mom's letters", again her look fixed on Ron, "Andromeda lets her, we can expect that sometime she will bring over her son, which as you know is Draco, which makes him Andromeda's nephew, ..."

"I got it, 'Mione, come to the point."

"Andromeda just lost all of her family besides Teddy. And then her sister shows an interest in reconciliation and if Harry and Draco don't fight in school, there is a high chance that they won't fight at Andromeda's either. And I don't think that would be good for her."

They were silent for a few seconds before Ron asked: "Do you really think Harry has to spend time with Malfoy? Outside of school?"

Hermione sighs. "Harry doesn't have to spend time alone with him but they are bound to at least run into each other at Andromeda's. And just think of Teddy's birthdays." Ron grimaced in obvious disgust at the thought of that. He clapped Harry on the shoulder. "I pity you. You will never get rid of Malfoy now. I told you it was a bad idea to be a witness for Narcissa Malfoy's trial. And see, it only did you trouble." Harry was not so sure of it.

Hermione's explanations got him food for thought though. Yes, he had wanted to keep Narcissa Malfoy from going to Askaban and yes, he tried to make nice with Malfoy, but, mostly for his own peace of mind. And yeah, he had thought it a good idea of the two Black sisters reconciling if Narcissa was willing to put in the effort but never has he thought of the idea of having to have to sit through yearly family dinners with the Malfoys as Hermione was implying. He should have thought about it, he really should, and yeah, it gives him another reason to let his rivalry with Malfoy go. Harry planned to be everything in a godfather that Sirius never had the time to be for him and so for Teddy's sake, it was in every interest not to taint his birthday dinners by whatever stupid thing him and Draco would be fighting about.