Cheers, Potter.

I'll keep that in mind.

Harry's POV

"Harry, get out of my room or I'll curse you." Hermione groaned from her position on the sofa. She'd returned from her creepy mind reading lessons last night more than a little bit worse-for-wear, but today she had truly hit rock bottom. She had purple bags under her eyes, her dark skin had taken on a grey sheen and she hadn't moved from a horizontal position for several hours now.

"First of all," I began, feeling impish, "this is the common room, you can't claim it. Second of all, you can't curse me unless you really mean it, and you won't, because I am your bestest friend in the world." I had a cheeky grin on my face that she seemed not to appreciate when she pointed her wand at me.

"Are you willing to take that chance, lucky boy?"

"Absolutely not," I kissed her on the head and dodged her lazy hand swatting me away. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Sod off, Harry," Ron was smiling as though moments from a laugh, so he can't have meant it. He'd come in after (probably) having to wrestle a few snacks and a flask of something hot from the kitchen. He'd opted to stay in today and keep Hermione company while she recovered from her brain mush which left me to the mercy of my boredom and complete lack of creativity. So I decided to do what I do best.

"Okay, well you two enjoy this Hellish... ness," I struggled for the word, "I'm going to go for a wander."

"To find Malfoy you mean," Ron chimed, knowingly. After 8 years knowing each other, there was little I could do that he would be surprised by.

"What a great idea, I'll do that," I joked and as a second thought as I ducked through the portrait, "get well soon, 'Mione!"

"Throw something at him, Ronald," she affectionately responded, and that was my queue.

~Ж~

Of course, being obsessed with someone is very convenient if you're trying to find them, so I knew exactly where he'd be this time of day on a weekend: the Library. I was wandering the aisles and glancing down each one until I found him, slouched over a book on one of the study tables. He was completely engrossed in the volume he was reading so he didn't notice me approaching.

It was always interesting to study someone while they didn't think anyone was watching them, people tend to give away a lot more than they intend to. A prime example being Draco Malfoy in front of me now; his eyes were wide and they swam with interest, the corners of his mouth turned up in a curt smile and his lips slightly parted, whatever he was reading, he was loving it. So I was probably going to ruin his day.

"What have you done to my friend?" I asked without greeting, he jumped so violently his knee hit the table and he winced. I did feel bad about that but he quickly recovered, "Hermione is a wreck,"

"Potter!" he whisper-shouted, "don't do that!"

I let out a small chuckle and sat opposite him at the desk, "how come you seem fine?"

"What? Oh, Hermione," he shook his head as if shaking away the last effects of a trance, "I did warn her it wouldn't be pleasant, but she insisted we practice anyway,"

"So why are you fine?" I repeated my question, a little bit of concern seeping into my voice.

"I'm, um, just more experienced I suppose," he shrugged, "it doesn't hurt so much now as it makes me tired."

"I know something that'll wake you up," I said, suggestively and he did not miss my tone.

"Harry, now is not the time for you to be flirty," he grinned, "not when I can't fight off your relentless advances,"