Luciscura / Fred Weasley

Harry had barely stepped through the portrait hole before Ron's voice cut through the air.

"So, you're too busy with your new friends to sit with us anymore?"

Harry sighed, already exhausted. He set his bag down and turned to face Ron and Hermione, who were sitting near the fireplace, both watching him expectantly.

"What are you on about?" Harry asked, rubbing his temples.

Hermione crossed her arms. "Oh, I don't know, Harry. Maybe the fact that you spend all your time with Lettie, Fred, and the others?"

Harry frowned. "I still sit with you in class, don't I?"

Ron scoffed. "Barely."

Hermione huffed. "We've hardly seen you all week."

Harry resisted the urge to groan. "I've been busy."

"Doing what exactly?" Ron asked.
Harry hesitated. He obviously couldn't tell them about the Occlumency training, or Pettigrew.

"Studying," he answered truthfully.

Ron raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you enjoy studying?"

"Since I have OWLs coming up?" Harry shot back.

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "That's not all, though, is it?"

Harry clenched his jaw. He knew exactly what she meant. It wasn't just about studying—he had found a group of people who made him feel included, people who didn't just see him as The Boy Who Lived.

Ron crossed his arms. "So, what? You're just gonna replace us?"

Harry's frustration spiked. "It's not like that! I can have other friends, Ron."

Ron muttered something under his breath, but Harry caught it.

"Funny. You didn't have other friends before."

That stung.

"Maybe because no one ever let me?"

Harry shot back, his voice sharp.

"Maybe because every time I tried, people like Malfoy made my life hell? And maybe because, for the first time, I actually feel like I belong somewhere?"

Ron looked taken aback, but Hermione quickly recovered. "We're not saying you can't have other friends, Harry."

Harry gave her a pointed look. "Aren't you, though?"

Hermione pressed her lips together, looking guilty. "We just... we don't want to lose you."

Harry sighed. The anger drained from him, leaving only exhaustion.

"You're not losing me," he said, quieter this time. "But I'm not going to choose between my friends. That's not fair."

Hermione bit her lip but nodded. Ron, however, still looked unhappy.

Before either could say anything else, the portrait hole swung open, and Fred strolled in like he owned the place.

"There you are, Potter! Thought you got lost."

His grin faltered slightly when he noticed Ron and Hermione. "Am I interrupting something?"

Ron scowled. "Depends. Come to steal Harry away again?"

Fred blinked, then turned to Harry. "Blimey, mate, you didn't tell me there was a custody battle going on."

Harry huffed a laugh. "Apparently there is."

Fred clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"Well, since I'm the fun parent, I say we go grab some butterbeer and forget all about this awkward little standoff."

Harry rolled his eyes but couldn't stop the small smile forming.

He turned back to Ron and Hermione. "I'll see you both later, alright?"

Hermione nodded, still looking conflicted. Ron, however, just muttered, "Yeah, whatever," before turning back to the fire.

Harry sighed but followed Fred out.

"You okay?" Fred asked once they were in the hallway.

"Yeah," Harry said, though he wasn't sure it was entirely true.

Fred didn't push. He just grinned.

"Well, at least you know I'll never get jealous over you."

Harry snorted. "Right. Because you're too busy being obsessed with Lettie."

Fred didn't even deny it. "Absolutely."

They both laughed, the tension from earlier finally starting to fade.