Harry's brow furrowed, puzzled. "But… I thought Ginny liked you? After the Yule Ball you guys were all… cozy."
"She does," Neville confirmed. Now Harry was even more confused. Neville sighed quietly. "We talked about it, the other week. I really like her, and she really likes me, but… neither of us have ever dated anyone before. And she… Ginny says it scares her, how much she likes me, and she thinks, when it happens, we'll be pretty serious about it. She says she wants to see what it's like to date other people first."
Harry blinked. "So… she likes you, and you like her, but she's gonna go flirt with Stephen because… she likes you too much?"
"That's about the sum of it," Neville agreed with a shrug. "I don't really mind waiting. When she does agree to go out with me, I don't want her constantly thinking about what she might be missing out on. I'm not really interested in other girls, but if she wants to see what other boys are like… it's not like I've got a hundred other options waiting for me." His smile turned self-deprecating, and it made Harry frown. Ginny's reasoning made absolutely zero sense to Harry — what was the point in dating people you only sort-of liked if there was someone you knew you really liked waiting right there? Even if you did end up only ever dating them? — But he supposed it wasn't really any of his business. Neville seemed alright with it, even if he was studiously avoiding looking towards the Ravenclaw table.
"Well. Okay, then. If you, uh, ever need to talk about it…" Harry trailed off, and Neville's smile became a little more sincere.
"Thanks, Harry." Neville paused, drinking his tea. "So what are you doing with Luna? I thought you hadn't figured out yet how Skeeter was getting her information." "I haven't," Harry replied, though he made a mental note to double down on his efforts to figure out. "And when I do, that'll be going to my lawyer, not to Luna. No, I'm coming out in the Quibbler."
Neville dropped his teacup. Luckily, it was mostly empty. "You're what?"
"I'm not saying anything about, y'know," his eyes flicked to the Slytherin table for the briefest moment, "for obvious reasons. But if Skeeter's determined to pair me up with every girl I barely even talk to, well, I can at least correct her on that. Then hopefully no one will get any more bubotuber pus in the mail." He hadn't seen Hermione since the incident, though he'd been assured she was out of the hospital wing. "Harry, that's… are you sure?"
"It's bound to come out — heh — sooner or later. At least this way I can control what's said about me. Do it on my terms." He wasn't blind; despite what George said about the wizarding world being accepting of it, there weren't many people out and proud at Hogwarts. People were still talking about George and Boris going to the ball together. Whether it was the muggle attitudes influencing everyone, or something else… if he was going to make waves in the media, he'd rather it be with the truth than with Skeeter's lies.
"Wow. Well, as long as it's your decision." Neville bumped their shoulders together supportively. "You've got me in your corner. And all the others, too. Besides, if anyone's awful to you about it, you can always set the twins on them." Harry grinned at that; Fred and George would certainly be happy to correct some viewpoints if Harry asked.
.-.-.-.
Luna managed to give him three days warning of the article's release, and Harry decided he should probably give some people advanced warning. He told Draco first, the first chance they were alone together. The Slytherin gaped at him. "Are you sure?"
"Bit late now if I'm not, isn't it?" he said wryly, though he knew Luna's dad would pull the article in a heartbeat if Harry said he'd changed his mind. "I'm sure. People will want to know eventually, and I refuse to hide such a big part of who I am. I just… I imagined my life going forward if I didn't say anything, listening to people in the papers speculate about which girl I was dating — having people ask me when I was going to get a girlfriend, or if I fancied this girl or the other, and it just felt… awful. I have to pretend about so much, Draco. I'm not pretending about this."
Draco stared at him for a long moment, then leaned in and kissed Harry breathless. "You noble, attractive bastard," he muttered when they eventually parted, silver eyes dancing. "You'll be a role model, y'know. There hasn't been an out gay wizard of your social standing since Dumbledore came out." "Dumbledore's gay?" Harry asked.
"Yes, but that's not the point. He didn't come out until he was old enough that no one wanted to speculate on his sex life anyway. You're fourteen — young, gorgeous, your whole life ahead of you, and right in the public eye. It's going to be huge."
"Yeah, maybe. But I'm used to the papers talking shit about me. I'll have the people who matter on my side." Harry dropped a kiss on Draco's lips, smiling. "I'll have you on my side."
That made Draco go a little pink, a reluctant smile taking over. "I can't let you do it all by yourself. You're barely civilised."
Harry laughed. "At least now you've got a bit of a warning; plenty of time to think of some snarky little remark to make. Preferably one that's a little better than insulting my kissing skills," he teased, watching Draco's blush deepen.
"I was thinking on the fly, alright? Even at my worst, I'm above insulting people for any perceived promiscuity." Draco glared hotly. "It didn't give me many options."
Grinning, Harry ran a hand through Draco's hair. He thought it was sweet that, even when pretending to be the Slytherin Ice Prince, he refused to call Ginny or Hermione sluts. "Well, I'll be happy to take kissing lessons from you any day," he drawled, sliding into Draco's lap. "If you think I need improvement."
"There's always room for improvement," Draco insisted, hand sliding down to grab Harry's arse.
They didn't talk any more about the article, after that.
.-.
He told the heirs in the middle of a meeting, to distract them from an argument about arranged marriages. Silence immediately followed.
"Well,"
Susan
said
eventually.
"That explains a lot."
Harry snorted. "Thanks, I think?"
"That's such a Gryffindor move," Cassius added, though if Harry wasn't mistaken the Slytherin actually sounded sort of impressed.
"He is a Gryffindor," Draco sighed, as if it were some sort of unfortunate medical issue.
"You dragging some unlucky boy into the limelight with you, or?" Parvati's eyes were bright with the potential for good gossip, but Harry shook his head.
"Nope, just me. Anyone I may or may not be involved with doesn't deserve to be caught up in the mess that is my personal life. Not everyone can be as public as I am."
•
🚀New updates on my Ko-fi!🚀
Support me and read the novel, now available in PDF, with the advanced chapters.
•
https://ko-fi.com/cmrowling