It Had To Be You

Chapter Three: I'm Thinking That Maybe, Baby, I'll Go Away

"Of course, Harry," Hermione said gently, from where she sat between Ron and Ginny before a delicious-looking chicken Caesar salad sandwich, and instantly gave Ron a glare when he looked longingly at his turkey leg. "We're listening."

"Tell us whatever you want, Harry," Luna said softly, ignoring her vegetable lasagna in favor of gently patting Neville's arm, who sat, poised, before a heaping and steaming bowl of beef bourguignon. "We can wait."

Ginny inclined her head, leaning ever so slightly over her chicken tikka masala, but was careful not to get her red mane coated in the sauce. "We'd never judge you," she assured him.

Draco nodded over his shepherd's pie and smiled tentatively over at him. "I know we only called a truce last night, Harry, but I already count you among one of my closest friends, if that makes any sense to you."

"It does, thank you," Harry assured him. "Listen, I'm involved in a courtship, but it's no ordinary courtship, because we're not just going to date for a while. Us getting married, me and this bloke, is a forgone conclusion, because he's not human, and I'm his mate."

"Oh, Harry, that's wonderful!" Hermione squealed.

"No wonder you've looked so happy lately," Ginny said with a smile.

"Just make sure he treats you right, mate," Ron said, his attention halfway taken up by his turkey leg, which he still hadn't moved to eat.

"Courtships were traditionally a Pureblood practice, and my gran has some literature on it, if you want me to write her for it," Neville put in.

Luna, as usual, had a dreamy expression on her face. "I can tell that the two of you will be very happy, Harry, and once the blessing is given, you two will be happier than ever."

"Is it Severus?" Draco asked.

"Really, Draco," Ron said, rolling his eyes. "I can see that you're drooling over my sister, and that Ginny's into it, and I think it's a beautiful thing, but there's no way in Merlin that Harry would ever consent to—"

"I have, Ron. And it is, Draco," Harry replied levelly, and Ron looked shocked. "Don't take this the wrong way or anything, and he's got a lot to make up for, apology-wise, but he's amazing when we're alone. He was able to hear my thoughts when Slughorn attacked me, and the only reason why that was is because I'm his mate. He cares about me, and has since last year, and I care about him. I want this with him, and I hope you all can be happy for me."

Ron dragged a hand through his crop of red hair. "Well, mate, you know I want you to be happy regardless," he said, still staring longingly at his turkey leg, before he forced himself to look up and look at Harry. "I wouldn't be your best friend, though, if I told you that the git better not hurt you, or I'll hex him."

"Thanks, Ron," Harry replied, and turned to Draco. "And you? Are you going to threaten to hex me if I hurt Severus?"

"I know you won't," Draco told him with a smile. "I just want Severus to be happy. He's been alone a long time, but if you're what makes him happy, I support you."

"We both do," Ginny said, gently taking ahold of Draco's hand.

"Gin's right, Harry," Hermione told him, and grinned at him. "All any of us have ever wanted is to see our friends happy. If Severus is it for you, then you've got my support."

"Maybe he could stop with the yelling during potions," Neville put in.

"He only yells because he's unhappy, dearest," Luna replied, kissing him on the cheek. "He doesn't feel any ill-will towards you. Now that he has Harry, the unhappiness should diminish to the point where Professor Snape acts relatively normally in the classroom."