Collarbone Control

11

Harry sat on his bed behind his familiar faded red drapes, attempting to write a letter to Andromeda Tonks, asking about his Godson Teddy, when he heard the door slam shut as Ron returned to the Dorm. Ron Huffed and kicked his bedpost before Harry heard him close his drapes and get into bed.

Something had annoyed him, he and Hermione had probably had an argument about something or other, Ron would be over it in the morning, that's usually how it went when his two best friends argued. Although there was the argument when Ron went off with Lavender, Harry shuddered, which lasted far too long.

Harry shrugged his shoulders and went back to his letter, he preferred to do things like this at night, it was easier for him to think. He wanted to make sure Andromeda knew that Harry was happy to look after Teddy whenever she needed and would send over any financial aid they needed. He didn't want to sound too pushy though, as offering people money sometimes offended them. Ron taught him that lesson.

After half an hour longer Harry decided he'd consult with Hermione about the letter in the morning, hoping what he'd written was satisfactory - Hermione would know if it was rude or condescending, her way with words was something Harry could never achieve himself. He really was dense, wasn't he.

As Harry dressed that morning he realised Ron's bed was empty. Which was odd as Ron was never up earlier than Harry, let alone anyone else in the dorm. Dean, who was the earliest riser of them all said he'd not even heard Ron get up. Maybe the argument was worse than Harry supposed between Hermione and Ron. Maybe he'd gone to apologise before he could get into it with Harry.

Regardless, Harry headed down to breakfast. He reached the Gryffindor table and saw Hermione sitting alone, glumly eating a slice of toast, no Ron in sight. Harry glanced at the Slytherin table before he sat down and as he hoped, he caught a glimpse of Draco carefully eating some chopped fruit with a reluctant covering of yogurt on them. He nodded to himself and turn to the matter in hand. Hermione.

'What's up?' he said to her, trying to sound sincere, 'Ron not around?'

'Oh Harry' Hermione said with a crack in her voice, 'Ron and I, we had an argument.'

'I assumed,' Harry nodded, ' I heard him get in last night.'

There was a tense silence between them. Harry tried to read Hermione's troubled expression, then it dawned on him.

'It was about Draco wasn't it?' Harry's use of Malfoy's first name so casually surprised him.

Hermione gave him a grim look and nodded, 'I'm sorry Harry I really am, I'm trying to get him to come round but he just won't listen.'

Harry sighed and look back over to Malfoy who was staring right back at the pare of them and awkwardly smiled at Harry when the two of them made eye contact. Harry felt his stomach do a weird flip but promptly looked back to Hermione who was staring at him with big sorrowful eyes.

'It's okay 'mione, honestly,' Harry said and held her shoulder,' You concentrate on you and Ron being okay. Malfoy is my... issue and so my job to talk to Ron about it, not yours.' Harry cringed at the use of the word issue but was glad to see Hermione nodding along with him.

'You're right, it's not my place to get involved,' She took a deep breath and dared a weak smile,' I'll go and find Ronald and we'll sort things out.' She stood and made her way out the great hall, there was only about ten minutes before Harry's potions lesson started.

The last few potions lessons had been odd, to say the least. Harry wanted a NEWT in potions so he could become an Auror the 'official' way rather than take their free offer, but currently, potions had become a lot more testing. Of the 5 NEWTS Harry was taking it was the only one where he was without Hermione or Ron and since the events that had occurred between him and Malfoy, awkward stares and uncomfortable silences plagued his Potions lessons.