seeing you for the first time / chapter two
Author: piginawig / sassassandhaz / amber
Pairing: Louis/Harry
Rating: PG13 (for now)
Summary: Harry Potter AU in which the boys grew up in Godric's Hollow together as best friends.
Notes: The title is taken from the song 'See U In The Dark' by Honor Society.
"Thanks for helping me pack, mate," Louis said to Liam. Liam looked up and glared.
"Louis, I'm not helping you pack," he responded in annoyance, "I am packing for you, because you're too lazy to do it."
"Pot-a-to, po-tah-to," Louis waved him off, sinking further into his mattress as Liam stuffed various items into Louis' trunk. The room became quiet apart from the sounds of Liam's packing. "Hey, Li?"
"Hm?" Liam mumbled, not looking up from where he sat in front of the trunk, arranging things so the lid would close.
"How's Harry?"
Liam immediately froze, hands hovering over a stack of text books.
"I just," Louis started sadly, "I haven't talked to him since he gave me that unfortunate black eye and I want to know that he's doing okay."
Liam huffed. "Lou, you've been ignoring him for almost two weeks. He's lost his best friend and his girlfriend, how do you think he's doing?"
"He's not lost me!" Louis argued.
"He's written you six letters and they're all still sealed and in your drawer! He's making an effort, and you're not. From where I sit, and from where he sits, he's lost you, mate," Liam responded, standing up from the floor and trekking over to the bed to sit next to his friend. "Why didn't you read any of the letters?"
Louis stared at the floor.
"C'mon, Lou," Liam urged.
Louis sighed and Liam thought he heard his breath hitch. "I'm scared he got back with her. I'm scared he'll only be my friend if I'm nice to her or whatever. It's easier to ignore everything than deal with whatever he wrote in those letters, really."
Liam slung an arm around Louis' shoulders. "Lou, he's not back with her. Don't think he's even spoken to her since the break-up.
He's not even much upset over it. He's upset that he's lost his best friend, because he's going through something really big right now and he really needs you to be there for him. And he's even more scared than you are, trust me."
"What's he going through?" Louis' head shot up and Liam ignored the wetness in his eyes.
"It's all in the letters," Liam answered. "It's not my place to tell you. But you really need to talk to him. Talk to him tomorrow on the train or something. He needs you, Lou."
Louis nodded mutely, his gaze returning to the floor.
"I'm going to head out so you can finish packing and read those letters," Liam said after a few moments of silence. Louis didn't answer, so Liam squeezed his shoulders once as a goodbye and left the room, shutting the door behind him softly. Louis let a few tears leak out before hastily wiping them and chastising himself for being weak.
He pushed himself up and went to his desk, yanking open the drawer and staring at the enclosed letters. He took in a deep breath and grabbed them, opening the one sent hours after Louis had left the Styles' house.
Lou,
I'm sorry for punching you. I really shouldn't have done that and I understand if you don't want to forgive me, but, yeah. I'm sorry. I'm still upset and confused about how you acted and everything that happened but if we can be friends again I'm willing to put it all behind us, yeah?
Harry
Louis breathed out. That wasn't terrible. He would be willing to put everything behind them and start fresh, back to being best friends. He stuffed the parchment back into its envelope and opened the next one. It had been two days after the incident.
Lou,
I guess your lack of response means you don't want to be friends anymore. I guess I understand, but it still is a really shitty thing to happen because you're the one who started all of this mess. If you had been normal about me getting a girlfriend and hadn't been so mean to Stella then none of this would have happened. This is your fault but I'm still the one trying to fix things. I shouldn't even want to fix things with how you acted. You were a jerk.
Harry
Louis hadn't realized how tightly his hands were clenched until he finished reading. He flexed his hands and flinched at the half crescent indentions in his palm from his nails. His heart was pounding in his chest. He quickly opened the next. He remembered it arriving not even an hour after the last one.
Lou,
I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. I was mean and and angry and it was uncalled for. Can we please be friends? There's some things going on and I really really need to talk to you about it. The other boys are great and here for me but I need you. Please, Louis.
Harry
That was the first mention of whatever Harry was going through, and it made Louis' stomach clench in uncomfortable knots that he had ignored Harry while he was having problems. But he still didn't know what the problem was, and Liam swore it was in the letters, so Louis opened the next one. He couldn't even remember when it had arrived.
Louis,
This is really dumb of me to keep writing letters to someone who isn't responding, but I just need to know why everything happened. If I'm losing my best friend, I think I deserve to know why. Why did you hate Stella? Why were you so awful to her, when she was nothing but nice to you? I don't get it. Please answer.
Harry
Louis wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. He was an absolute jerk and he wanted nothing more than to hug Harry.
Louis,
I need to talk to you. I never liked her. I never liked Stella. I tried so hard, you have to know how hard I tried to like her, but I didn't. I just couldn't. I didn't like how she kissed or how she held my hand or how she hugged me. I didn't like any of it. But I pretended like I did and I don't even know why. Because all it did was make me miserable and you angry. And looking back part of me is relieved at what happened because at least I didn't have to tell her that I never liked her. But I'm not relieved because at what cost did that come at? I got rid of Stella, yeah, but I lost you, too. And that's not fair. And now I'm realizing these scary things about myself and what I want and how I feel and talking to Niall and Liam and Zayn is great but they don't get me like you do and I need you but you're not talking to me and I'm actually going a bit crazy. I need my best friend back, if only to help me get through this. Just promise me that I'm still okay, that I'm still the same Harry. Because I'm
There was something scribbled out, and Louis could see a spot that he assumed was at one point a tear drop. It made him choke. What did Harry mean?
I just want things to be okay between us. Please, Lou.
There was no signature at the end, but Louis assumed it was because the next letter came only minues later. Louis sniffed and opened the last letter. His heart was stuttering in his chest and his palms were sweating. He unfolded the parchment and his breath hitched at the words on the page, tears freely falling from his eyes now. His stomach dropped and he suddenly felt nauseous.
Everything he'd ever felt about Harry, every confusing thought and feeling, hit him like a freight train, knocking the wind out of him. Because it could be real. It could be more than just emotions shoved to the back of his mind. That letter could be an open door for Louis to take the biggest leap of his life and risk everything.
Lou, I'm gay, and I need you to tell me that that's okay.
*
Harry lay on the couch of the sitting room, staring aimlessly toward the ceiling. He'd just finished dinner with his mother and was now bored, already having finished packing. His stomach was twisting from nerves about seeing Louis the next day. He had no idea what was going through the other boy's mind; he didn't even know if he read the letters. And if he did, what would he think of Harry?
His thoughts were interrupted when his mother's voice rang out softly from the kitchen.
"Sweetie, there's an owl for you," she called, and Harry's brows furrowed. It was past eight at night, who would be writing to him? He lifted himself from the couch and ambled into the kitchen. "Must've gone to your window first and come here when he didn't get a response. Looked like Louis'."
Harry's ears perked up and his mouth instantly dried. The owl was gone but Harry recognized Louis' handwriting on the envelope. With wide eyes and shaking hands, Harry grabbed the letter from his mum and tore it open, hastily unfolding the parchment inside and nearly puking at the words written.
Meet me in the very last compartment twenty minutes to eleven. Please.
Love,
Louis
His mind was reeling.
"What's it say?" His mum asked politely. She was putting on, she could see the range of emotions on her son's face.
"Um," Harry said.
"Um?"
"He wants to meet a little early on the train is all. Get good seats," Harry answered. He hadn't told his mother about their falling out, although she probably assumed as much from the lack of Slytherin in her house. But she just nodded at Harry, who rushed from the kitchen toward his bedroom.
He threw the door shut behind him and collapsed onto his bed. Harry had never dealt with such dramatic happenings in his life and he didn't know what to do. At this point, he hadn't expected a response from Louis at all, but on the off chance he had gotten one he had expected a little more. The letter in his hands told him absolutely nothing except that the next morning was going to be filled with nerves.
*
"Everything packed away?" Harry's mum asked after he'd stuffed his trunk onto the train. Harry nodded jerkily. His stomach was twisting and his palms were sweating. He had five minutes before he needed to meet Louis on the train. "Good boy. Don't forget to write me twice a month, young man."
"Yes ma'am," Harry answered dutifully.
"And keep up with your coursework, I don't want your potion marks to fall like last year."
"Yes ma'am."
"And stay out of trouble, please. Don't let Louis and Zayn talk you into anything silly."
"Yes ma'am."
"You're ready to go, aren't you?" Anne asked, a sad smile gracing her pretty face.
Harry grinned cheekily. "Yes ma'am."
"Come here," she mumbled, holding her arms out. Harry acquiesced, wrapping his arms around her small frame and planting a wet kiss to her cheek. "I love you, Harry."
"Love you too, Mum," he answered honestly, squeezing tightly before letting go. "And I will write. I'll start my first letter tonight, even. Let you know how my schedule looks."
She lifted her hand to his cheek and he internally groaned as he saw her eyes fill with tears. He inconspicuously glanced to the clock. 10:38. Two minutes.
"I gotta go, I told Louis I'd meet him," Harry lied. He had never answered the letter, but he didn't feel it necessary. Still, his mum nodded, patting his cheek once and stepping back.
She waved to him as he walked to the train. He waved back and smiled at her before turning and making his way onto the train. It was already filling up, mostly with first years trying to get themselves situated before things got chaotic. Harry quickly shuffled to the very back of the train, noticing how it got emptier the farther back he walked. Finally he reached the very last compartment and he saw that the doors on both sides were open and both were empty.
He sucked in a deep breath and blew it out in attempts to calm his nerves. It didn't work. He stepped into the compartment on the left and sat down close to the door, then resolutely stared at the ground.
It was only a minute before he heard light footfalls and then Louis' shoes came into his view. He gathered his courage and looked up into bright blue eyes.
"Hi," Louis greeted softly. Harry just nodded in response. "Can I sit?"
Harry nodded again, and Louis took the seat across from him.
"Um," he began awkwardly.
"I'm so sorry, Harry," Louis cut him off, and to Harry it felt like a weight was lifted from his chest. "I wasn't meaning to ignore you when you needed me, I swear, I just... I got the letters but I was so upset and hurt and scared so I just didn't read them."
Harry's brow furrowed. "Why were you scared?"
"I-" Louis started and stopped. He was fidgeting. "I was scared you were going to tell me that we couldn't be friends anymore. Or that we could be friends but only if I could be around Stella."
"Oh," Harry said uselessly.
"Yeah," Louis answered.
"Why did you hate her?"
Louis looked like he'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Harry just watched him, waiting. A range of emotions that Harry couldn't pinpoint seemed to pass Louis' face before he opened his mouth. "I was jealous. I didn't like that you were spending time with someone else, and I felt like she was more important to you than me. I thought she was stealing you away from me."
Harry's breath caught in his throat and he stared wide-eyed at Louis.
"I know, it's dumb," Louis said awkwardly, "but that's how I felt. And I'm so sorry that it kept me from being a good friend to you when you needed it most."
"So you read it?" Harry asked. He didn't need to specify what.
"Yeah," Louis answered softly. He reached across to Harry and grabbed his hand, wrapping his own around it and rubbing circles into the skin. "And it's okay, Harry. It's more than okay. You're more than okay. You're absolutely perfect exactly the way you are, and you will always be my best friend, okay?"
Tears began to form in Harry's eyes but he blinked them away. He gripped onto Louis' hand and pulled him up, standing up himself. He didn't say anything, just wrapped his arms around Louis' waist. He immediately felt strong arms around his neck. His nose was buried in Louis' hair and he could feel Louis' breath against his chin. Goosebumps rose on his arms but he ignored it in favor of tightening the grip.
"Uh, sorry-"
Harry and Louis broke apart and turned to see Liam, Niall, and Zayn standing in the doorway.
"No, no, you're fine," Louis said, and Harry didn't miss the crack in his voice. He wiped at his own eyes with his hand. "We were just being emotional."
Harry laughed loudly, and it felt like the rainbow after a hurricane.
*
Things for Harry were going wonderfully. He had his best friend at his side and his classes were going smoothly. He and Niall shared every class but one (Niall was taking Care of Magical Creatures while Harry was in Divination) and had Liam and Zayn in Herbology and Transfiguration. He had somehow ended up with a free period at the same time as Louis, so they spent that either lounging around in the Gryffindor common room, in the library pretending to study, or lazing about on the grounds.
It was well into October and Niall was at Quidditch practice. Harry sat in an armchair by the fire in the common room, writing an essay for potions, when a shadow blocked his light. He looked up and pushed his curls out of his eyes and was greeted with the sight of a seventh year named Anthony.
"Hullo," the boy greeted, a nice smile on his face. Harry had talked to him a few times but didn't know the boy too well. He was attractive and seemed kind, so Harry smiled back. "So, this may seem weird and a bit out of the blue, but uh, this weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend, yeah?"
Harry nodded. His stomach twisted in a way that wasn't uncomfortable.
"I was wondering if you maybe wanted to have a chat at the Three Broomsticks while we're there? Maybe get to know one another?"
Harry couldn't stop the smile from forming on his face.
"Yeah," he agreed. He bit his lip. "Yeah, that sounds really good."
"Great," Anthony said happily. "I'll meet you in front of the Three Broomsticks at, say, noon?"
"That works for me," Harry answered. The smile still hadn't fallen from his face. "Looking forward to it."
"Yeah," Anthony grinned, "me too. I'll see you then, Harry."
Anthony then walked toward the portait hole, exiting the common room. Harry felt like his cheeks were on fire, but he couldn't stop smiling. This was the feeling he was missing with Stella.
When Harry had gotten to Hogwarts this year, he had decided he wasn't going to hide who he was. He didn't make any announcement, but a few well planted rumors by Niall and within two days all of Gryffindor knew. It was an easy way to come out, and once the Gryffindors knew, soon the whole school knew. It was no big deal, and no one had said anything to him about it. Harry couldn't believe how simple it had been.
"Whoa," Harry jumped at Niall's booming voice. He hadn't even heard the entire Quidditch team parade into the common room.
"What's that grin about?"
Harry ducked his head and laughed.
"I've got a date."
Pairing: Louis/Harry
Rating: PG13 (for now)
Summary: Harry Potter AU in which the boys grew up in Godric's Hollow together as best friends.
Notes: The title is taken from the song 'See U In The Dark' by Honor Society.
"Thanks for helping me pack, mate," Louis said to Liam. Liam looked up and glared.
"Louis, I'm not helping you pack," he responded in annoyance, "I am packing for you, because you're too lazy to do it."
"Pot-a-to, po-tah-to," Louis waved him off, sinking further into his mattress as Liam stuffed various items into Louis' trunk. The room became quiet apart from the sounds of Liam's packing. "Hey, Li?"
"Hm?" Liam mumbled, not looking up from where he sat in front of the trunk, arranging things so the lid would close.
"How's Harry?"
Liam immediately froze, hands hovering over a stack of text books.
"I just," Louis started sadly, "I haven't talked to him since he gave me that unfortunate black eye and I want to know that he's doing okay."
Liam huffed. "Lou, you've been ignoring him for almost two weeks. He's lost his best friend and his girlfriend, how do you think he's doing?"
"He's not lost me!" Louis argued.
"He's written you six letters and they're all still sealed and in your drawer! He's making an effort, and you're not. From where I sit, and from where he sits, he's lost you, mate," Liam responded, standing up from the floor and trekking over to the bed to sit next to his friend. "Why didn't you read any of the letters?"
Louis stared at the floor.
"C'mon, Lou," Liam urged.
Louis sighed and Liam thought he heard his breath hitch. "I'm scared he got back with her. I'm scared he'll only be my friend if I'm nice to her or whatever. It's easier to ignore everything than deal with whatever he wrote in those letters, really."
Liam slung an arm around Louis' shoulders. "Lou, he's not back with her. Don't think he's even spoken to her since the break-up.
He's not even much upset over it. He's upset that he's lost his best friend, because he's going through something really big right now and he really needs you to be there for him. And he's even more scared than you are, trust me."
"What's he going through?" Louis' head shot up and Liam ignored the wetness in his eyes.
"It's all in the letters," Liam answered. "It's not my place to tell you. But you really need to talk to him. Talk to him tomorrow on the train or something. He needs you, Lou."
Louis nodded mutely, his gaze returning to the floor.
"I'm going to head out so you can finish packing and read those letters," Liam said after a few moments of silence. Louis didn't answer, so Liam squeezed his shoulders once as a goodbye and left the room, shutting the door behind him softly. Louis let a few tears leak out before hastily wiping them and chastising himself for being weak.
He pushed himself up and went to his desk, yanking open the drawer and staring at the enclosed letters. He took in a deep breath and grabbed them, opening the one sent hours after Louis had left the Styles' house.
Lou,
I'm sorry for punching you. I really shouldn't have done that and I understand if you don't want to forgive me, but, yeah. I'm sorry. I'm still upset and confused about how you acted and everything that happened but if we can be friends again I'm willing to put it all behind us, yeah?
Harry
Louis breathed out. That wasn't terrible. He would be willing to put everything behind them and start fresh, back to being best friends. He stuffed the parchment back into its envelope and opened the next one. It had been two days after the incident.
Lou,
I guess your lack of response means you don't want to be friends anymore. I guess I understand, but it still is a really shitty thing to happen because you're the one who started all of this mess. If you had been normal about me getting a girlfriend and hadn't been so mean to Stella then none of this would have happened. This is your fault but I'm still the one trying to fix things. I shouldn't even want to fix things with how you acted. You were a jerk.
Harry
Louis hadn't realized how tightly his hands were clenched until he finished reading. He flexed his hands and flinched at the half crescent indentions in his palm from his nails. His heart was pounding in his chest. He quickly opened the next. He remembered it arriving not even an hour after the last one.
Lou,
I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. I was mean and and angry and it was uncalled for. Can we please be friends? There's some things going on and I really really need to talk to you about it. The other boys are great and here for me but I need you. Please, Louis.
Harry
That was the first mention of whatever Harry was going through, and it made Louis' stomach clench in uncomfortable knots that he had ignored Harry while he was having problems. But he still didn't know what the problem was, and Liam swore it was in the letters, so Louis opened the next one. He couldn't even remember when it had arrived.
Louis,
This is really dumb of me to keep writing letters to someone who isn't responding, but I just need to know why everything happened. If I'm losing my best friend, I think I deserve to know why. Why did you hate Stella? Why were you so awful to her, when she was nothing but nice to you? I don't get it. Please answer.
Harry
Louis wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. He was an absolute jerk and he wanted nothing more than to hug Harry.
Louis,
I need to talk to you. I never liked her. I never liked Stella. I tried so hard, you have to know how hard I tried to like her, but I didn't. I just couldn't. I didn't like how she kissed or how she held my hand or how she hugged me. I didn't like any of it. But I pretended like I did and I don't even know why. Because all it did was make me miserable and you angry. And looking back part of me is relieved at what happened because at least I didn't have to tell her that I never liked her. But I'm not relieved because at what cost did that come at? I got rid of Stella, yeah, but I lost you, too. And that's not fair. And now I'm realizing these scary things about myself and what I want and how I feel and talking to Niall and Liam and Zayn is great but they don't get me like you do and I need you but you're not talking to me and I'm actually going a bit crazy. I need my best friend back, if only to help me get through this. Just promise me that I'm still okay, that I'm still the same Harry. Because I'm
There was something scribbled out, and Louis could see a spot that he assumed was at one point a tear drop. It made him choke. What did Harry mean?
I just want things to be okay between us. Please, Lou.
There was no signature at the end, but Louis assumed it was because the next letter came only minues later. Louis sniffed and opened the last letter. His heart was stuttering in his chest and his palms were sweating. He unfolded the parchment and his breath hitched at the words on the page, tears freely falling from his eyes now. His stomach dropped and he suddenly felt nauseous.
Everything he'd ever felt about Harry, every confusing thought and feeling, hit him like a freight train, knocking the wind out of him. Because it could be real. It could be more than just emotions shoved to the back of his mind. That letter could be an open door for Louis to take the biggest leap of his life and risk everything.
Lou, I'm gay, and I need you to tell me that that's okay.
*
Harry lay on the couch of the sitting room, staring aimlessly toward the ceiling. He'd just finished dinner with his mother and was now bored, already having finished packing. His stomach was twisting from nerves about seeing Louis the next day. He had no idea what was going through the other boy's mind; he didn't even know if he read the letters. And if he did, what would he think of Harry?
His thoughts were interrupted when his mother's voice rang out softly from the kitchen.
"Sweetie, there's an owl for you," she called, and Harry's brows furrowed. It was past eight at night, who would be writing to him? He lifted himself from the couch and ambled into the kitchen. "Must've gone to your window first and come here when he didn't get a response. Looked like Louis'."
Harry's ears perked up and his mouth instantly dried. The owl was gone but Harry recognized Louis' handwriting on the envelope. With wide eyes and shaking hands, Harry grabbed the letter from his mum and tore it open, hastily unfolding the parchment inside and nearly puking at the words written.
Meet me in the very last compartment twenty minutes to eleven. Please.
Love,
Louis
His mind was reeling.
"What's it say?" His mum asked politely. She was putting on, she could see the range of emotions on her son's face.
"Um," Harry said.
"Um?"
"He wants to meet a little early on the train is all. Get good seats," Harry answered. He hadn't told his mother about their falling out, although she probably assumed as much from the lack of Slytherin in her house. But she just nodded at Harry, who rushed from the kitchen toward his bedroom.
He threw the door shut behind him and collapsed onto his bed. Harry had never dealt with such dramatic happenings in his life and he didn't know what to do. At this point, he hadn't expected a response from Louis at all, but on the off chance he had gotten one he had expected a little more. The letter in his hands told him absolutely nothing except that the next morning was going to be filled with nerves.
*
"Everything packed away?" Harry's mum asked after he'd stuffed his trunk onto the train. Harry nodded jerkily. His stomach was twisting and his palms were sweating. He had five minutes before he needed to meet Louis on the train. "Good boy. Don't forget to write me twice a month, young man."
"Yes ma'am," Harry answered dutifully.
"And keep up with your coursework, I don't want your potion marks to fall like last year."
"Yes ma'am."
"And stay out of trouble, please. Don't let Louis and Zayn talk you into anything silly."
"Yes ma'am."
"You're ready to go, aren't you?" Anne asked, a sad smile gracing her pretty face.
Harry grinned cheekily. "Yes ma'am."
"Come here," she mumbled, holding her arms out. Harry acquiesced, wrapping his arms around her small frame and planting a wet kiss to her cheek. "I love you, Harry."
"Love you too, Mum," he answered honestly, squeezing tightly before letting go. "And I will write. I'll start my first letter tonight, even. Let you know how my schedule looks."
She lifted her hand to his cheek and he internally groaned as he saw her eyes fill with tears. He inconspicuously glanced to the clock. 10:38. Two minutes.
"I gotta go, I told Louis I'd meet him," Harry lied. He had never answered the letter, but he didn't feel it necessary. Still, his mum nodded, patting his cheek once and stepping back.
She waved to him as he walked to the train. He waved back and smiled at her before turning and making his way onto the train. It was already filling up, mostly with first years trying to get themselves situated before things got chaotic. Harry quickly shuffled to the very back of the train, noticing how it got emptier the farther back he walked. Finally he reached the very last compartment and he saw that the doors on both sides were open and both were empty.
He sucked in a deep breath and blew it out in attempts to calm his nerves. It didn't work. He stepped into the compartment on the left and sat down close to the door, then resolutely stared at the ground.
It was only a minute before he heard light footfalls and then Louis' shoes came into his view. He gathered his courage and looked up into bright blue eyes.
"Hi," Louis greeted softly. Harry just nodded in response. "Can I sit?"
Harry nodded again, and Louis took the seat across from him.
"Um," he began awkwardly.
"I'm so sorry, Harry," Louis cut him off, and to Harry it felt like a weight was lifted from his chest. "I wasn't meaning to ignore you when you needed me, I swear, I just... I got the letters but I was so upset and hurt and scared so I just didn't read them."
Harry's brow furrowed. "Why were you scared?"
"I-" Louis started and stopped. He was fidgeting. "I was scared you were going to tell me that we couldn't be friends anymore. Or that we could be friends but only if I could be around Stella."
"Oh," Harry said uselessly.
"Yeah," Louis answered.
"Why did you hate her?"
Louis looked like he'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Harry just watched him, waiting. A range of emotions that Harry couldn't pinpoint seemed to pass Louis' face before he opened his mouth. "I was jealous. I didn't like that you were spending time with someone else, and I felt like she was more important to you than me. I thought she was stealing you away from me."
Harry's breath caught in his throat and he stared wide-eyed at Louis.
"I know, it's dumb," Louis said awkwardly, "but that's how I felt. And I'm so sorry that it kept me from being a good friend to you when you needed it most."
"So you read it?" Harry asked. He didn't need to specify what.
"Yeah," Louis answered softly. He reached across to Harry and grabbed his hand, wrapping his own around it and rubbing circles into the skin. "And it's okay, Harry. It's more than okay. You're more than okay. You're absolutely perfect exactly the way you are, and you will always be my best friend, okay?"
Tears began to form in Harry's eyes but he blinked them away. He gripped onto Louis' hand and pulled him up, standing up himself. He didn't say anything, just wrapped his arms around Louis' waist. He immediately felt strong arms around his neck. His nose was buried in Louis' hair and he could feel Louis' breath against his chin. Goosebumps rose on his arms but he ignored it in favor of tightening the grip.
"Uh, sorry-"
Harry and Louis broke apart and turned to see Liam, Niall, and Zayn standing in the doorway.
"No, no, you're fine," Louis said, and Harry didn't miss the crack in his voice. He wiped at his own eyes with his hand. "We were just being emotional."
Harry laughed loudly, and it felt like the rainbow after a hurricane.
*
Things for Harry were going wonderfully. He had his best friend at his side and his classes were going smoothly. He and Niall shared every class but one (Niall was taking Care of Magical Creatures while Harry was in Divination) and had Liam and Zayn in Herbology and Transfiguration. He had somehow ended up with a free period at the same time as Louis, so they spent that either lounging around in the Gryffindor common room, in the library pretending to study, or lazing about on the grounds.
It was well into October and Niall was at Quidditch practice. Harry sat in an armchair by the fire in the common room, writing an essay for potions, when a shadow blocked his light. He looked up and pushed his curls out of his eyes and was greeted with the sight of a seventh year named Anthony.
"Hullo," the boy greeted, a nice smile on his face. Harry had talked to him a few times but didn't know the boy too well. He was attractive and seemed kind, so Harry smiled back. "So, this may seem weird and a bit out of the blue, but uh, this weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend, yeah?"
Harry nodded. His stomach twisted in a way that wasn't uncomfortable.
"I was wondering if you maybe wanted to have a chat at the Three Broomsticks while we're there? Maybe get to know one another?"
Harry couldn't stop the smile from forming on his face.
"Yeah," he agreed. He bit his lip. "Yeah, that sounds really good."
"Great," Anthony said happily. "I'll meet you in front of the Three Broomsticks at, say, noon?"
"That works for me," Harry answered. The smile still hadn't fallen from his face. "Looking forward to it."
"Yeah," Anthony grinned, "me too. I'll see you then, Harry."
Anthony then walked toward the portait hole, exiting the common room. Harry felt like his cheeks were on fire, but he couldn't stop smiling. This was the feeling he was missing with Stella.
When Harry had gotten to Hogwarts this year, he had decided he wasn't going to hide who he was. He didn't make any announcement, but a few well planted rumors by Niall and within two days all of Gryffindor knew. It was an easy way to come out, and once the Gryffindors knew, soon the whole school knew. It was no big deal, and no one had said anything to him about it. Harry couldn't believe how simple it had been.
"Whoa," Harry jumped at Niall's booming voice. He hadn't even heard the entire Quidditch team parade into the common room.
"What's that grin about?"
Harry ducked his head and laughed.
"I've got a date."