Chapter Text
Disclaimer of this, I don’t own any of the characters, they belong to J.K Rowling. I only own my OCs, which I will mention in some of my later stories. This is also my 1st story that I've ever made here on A03 (hoping this goes well, I have another platform that I write stories on, called Wattpad, which I will add at the end of the story)
University of Avalon is a prestigious magical college blending traditional wizarding education with modern academia. Professors Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley are in the shared staff lounge, helping Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom prepare materials for their upcoming Magical Botany Awareness Week. Ginny is dating Luna Lovegood, and Neville heads the Herbology department. The scent of fresh parchment and magical fertilizer didn’t mix as well as anyone hoped, but the staff lounge had seen worse. Harry lazily stirred his tea with his wand, watching Ginny argue with a stack of enchanted flyers that wouldn’t align. Ron was flattening posters with practiced annoyance, while Hermione flicked through her notes like she was personally offended by the disorganization.
“Thanks for helping, guys. We really appreciate it,” Ginny said with a tired but grateful smile as she finally tamed the flyers.
“Yeah, seriously,” Neville added. “We’d be buried in this if you hadn’t come.”
“It’s no problem,” Ron said, leaning back in his chair with a yawn. “We’re just happy to help.”
Harry and Hermione both nodded in agreement.
Ginny flopped down onto the nearest couch with dramatic flair. “You know, speaking of help… there’s been a lot of help going around lately. Between certain professors.”
Neville looked awkwardly at his cup of tea. “Yeah, and there are some… rumors going around.” Hermione looked up from her notes. “Rumors are rumors. They’ll die out soon enough.”
“Exactly,” Harry added, dismissively. “We’re adults. Who even cares?”
Ginny smirked. “Well, these rumors are about you guys being smitten with three certain Slytherins.”
Harry nearly dropped his teacup as Ron choked on a biscuit, Hermione blinked rapidly, cheeks already tinged pink. “What? That’s ridiculous. We’re not smitten with anyone. Not even them.”
Ginny raised an eyebrow. “Them being Draco, Blaise, and Pansy?”
Ron shot her a glare. “You’ve been talking to Luna, haven’t you?”
Ginny just smiled sweetly. “She notices things. Like how Blaise always ‘accidentally’ ends up having lunch when you do.”
Neville added, “And how Pansy and Hermione seem to have weekly ‘debates’ in the staff lounge that sound an awful lot like foreplay.”
Hermione opened her mouth in scandalized horror. “That is academic discourse, thank you very much!”
“And Harry,” Ginny added, turning to her flustered friend. “Draco only calls you ‘Potter’ when other people are around. We’ve heard him call you ‘Harry’ when he thinks no one’s listening.”
Harry groaned and put his face in his hands.
“Well yeah,” Neville said, “but if the rumors are true… do you guys, I don’t know… feel something for them?”
There was a heavy pause, the Golden Trio sighed in unison, exchanging a look that said: This was always going to happen, wasn’t it?
“…Maybe,” Harry mumbled, his voice muffled by his hands. “We don’t know.”
Ginny let out a delighted squeal.
“Oh Merlin,” Harry muttered under his breath. “What did we just unleash…”
“You’re gonna make us say it,” Hermione sighed. “We walked right into this.”
Ron gave up and stared at the ceiling. “We’re doomed.”