"So you're a mankisser, huh?'' Harry's sudden verbal jab caught Ron across the left side of his ego, dropping the chicken bone he had as he pointed a greasy finger, not noticing when Harry quick-drew his own wand to Scourgify them with a muttered cast.
Hermione's eyes only squinted a bit harder as she began to side-eye Harry. She ate slowly, enjoying herself, loading her plate, finishing, then deciding whether to continue. His jab got her to smirk softly while she enjoyed her beef and vegetable soup; she had drunk a bit too much so she was still in 'recovery' from the Friday party.
''It wasn't a man, we were both consenting 17-year-olds!''
A deep, shocked gasp escaped Harry, making Neville turn from his spaghetti; the dramatic pause gave him time to swallow.
''A BOY kisser!? Absolutely scandalous Ron, pop off Que-.'' Harry stopped as he took the sudden hit to his shin, his natural breathing helping him steady himself with Qi. Being able to 'Gather' it properly now that he had entered Qi-Grasp cushioned the blow considerably. Ron would have felt like it was a solid kick that connected, but to Harry, it was only a slight thump against him, like a shove to move his leg to the back of Ron's side of the table.
''Alright, alright, I'm sure you've already been teased plenty, don't worry, I've had my share of experiences with a few guys myself.'' Harry's admission got Hermione to almost swallow her soup wrong, coughing some as she covered her mouth with a napkin. No one needed to ask with the looks on their faces, so he continued.
''I first tried with a hot guy, a model, who knew what he was doing, promised a good time, he started to whisper, called me his 'Baby boy,' and I felt nothing. We tried a kiss, but with no reaction, he said to try the opposite, someone more feminine looking li-.''
''A femboy?'' Hermione quipped, making Harry get a slight smirk to his right, only she and Ron could see it, but since he didn't know what it was...
Hermione realized she had outed herself somehow, but wasn't sure how yet.
''Yeah, tried to be a Dom to one, I was able to get sort of into the roughing around part, not the guy.'' Harry spoke without worrying about being heard, which caused a few heads to nod around him, while an openly gay couple behind him at the Hufflepuff table called over.
''Well, if you ever want to try again, Cutie, you let us know, alright!~''
''Maybe during the next Inter-Houses party!'' Harry waved jokingly over his shoulder to the pouting catcaller. Hermione felt more aware of Harry's gaze as it swept to take in hers. A steel emerald regard that didn't waver at all, direct eye contact that held hers in a captivating gem, realizing he was leaning forward too late by the time he got close to her ear.
''I was going to say 'Like a girl', but it's good to know even a studious girl like you has an interest in more than practical work.'' He pulled back just before he felt his key vanish, his gaze lifting from Hermione's, releasing her from the spell she had momentarily been on, a side-effect of his unlocked magic meridians. While it didn't do anything other than make her get lost in his eyes, he immediately realized how useful it could be in many situations. At the same time, Hermione noted Harry had definitely changed from how he was.
Had he not been feeling well the whole time, but after a moment to decompress, was starting to act like himself, or had the potion problem started happening in the men's dorms as well?... They said he had requested a private room after all, right? She'd have to visit him and talk later properly, her ever-curious mind not realizing she was walking into dangerous jaws.
Albus gave a gentle nod to Harry as they made eye contact, as well as a momentary raise of his wisened brows as he noticed the 'shift' in Harry. While it wasn't strange for people to go through growth spurts once exposed to Hogwarts, after all, it was a magically saturated piece of land, it was one of the most sought-after schools for that very reason as well as the hard work of many great Witches and Wizards of their time, the land a beautiful land of enchantment that even with many puzzles solved, continues to blossom more for the new students. But when a wizard was exposed to such dense magic, their mana would cleanse, purifying to expand their lifespan and strengthen their spells.
It was also noted to cause some to undergo sudden growth spurts in height, strength, and hair, becoming beautiful; even Albus had many strange quirks that came with his age because of his magic. Like amazing luxurious hair that no matter what would never lose its careful, well-groomed texture and clean smell due to how often he'd spend caring for his appearance. Harry had unwittingly created the first magical quirk of his sight, a more powerful series of quirks to unlock at first...
However, Albus was utterly unaware of just how far Harry had stepped in the six hours since he had seen the boy; he had stepped into the realm of power. Even now, he could easily fight five of his old self using every trick in the book, simply because being able to gather Qi in such a calm place allowed him to 'refresh' his abilities quickly. From shielding, attacking, and even now being able to activate martial techniques, his movement speed alone would have him dancing circles around himself.
With high hopes for the young Wizard, Albus began to mess with the key, Harry feeling a particularly sharp set of eyes focusing on him as he turned forward past Ron to the Slytherin table. Draco was glaring at him since their first meeting didn't go right. Harry, when he first arrived, was already on edge, and it got worse when the Pure-blood wizard arrived with his posse. It didn't take a master of social manipulation to tell what group of people they belonged to. Searching for the reason he was being glared at now, Harry watched as Draco turned.
Following that gaze all the way down the table, he found Daphne, who when his eyes met hers, had been staring at him; she smiled softly. The rare show of emotion lost to those who weren't paying attention, but to those who were, felt many different emotions; for Harry, it was appreciation. She truthfully did look better when showing even just a bit of emotion, so the smile made even his heart flutter softly. Others who noticed it lamented that they may not see it again, some wishing they could capture the moment. Those like Malfoy who had twisted ideals of the Ice Princess of Slytherin were angry, upset that the woman had smiled for none other than a lion, out of all here... a lion!?
Harry lifted his goblet full of apple juice towards the beauty, who gave him a smirk, noticing what he was doing as she tilted her head forward, nodding to his acknowledgment. Publicly, it would imply that they are at least friends, but to those who overthink it, there is much more involved, with only three people overthinking it because of Harry.
Malfoy believed Harry was attempting to get close to Purebloods, Ron believed Harry was an absolute G, making the hottest queen around fall for him, while Hermione was worried. They hadn't shown any note of having been friends before, let alone aware of each other enough to share a greeting from across the room...
'Is it the Greengrass that's attempting to get him, but why, his family's potion business? No, they have their own lucrative potion business, unless they want to push a falling family out of the business entirely...'
The misunderstanding only grew worse as Ron watched Hermione turn from Daphne to gaze at Harry, who was now ignoring both stares, focusing on talking to Neville, who seemed clueless about everything going on.
'Bloody Hell... Was he just a player and we were holding him back?' Ron said an outrageous thought to himself, Harry soon feeling the weight of the key back on him, noting immediately there were more 'leads' that pointed him around the school. When he focused on a lead, he could tell where it was leading him, just as the main course of the everyday feast was finished, desserts began to appear as other empty plates were cleared, disappearing. It was then that Hermione got the attention of the Potter Heir.
''Harry, after dinner today, would you mind if I took a look at your room? It'll be easier to find you for our study sessions if I know where the new room is.'' Hermione's tone held a finer edge to it than most would notice, but Harry, who had plenty of social experience, felt it just in the back; was it jealousy? No, he knew Hermione well enough to know it wouldn't be caused by him being friendly with another woman; instead, he thought of her personality, she worried about him, and while not knowing the extent of his history. She knows he is a famous figure in the wizarding world, and the edge he senses could be for his own safety and her mental well-being, so he agreed.
''Of course, I'll take you there after supper, it's still in the same tower just behind a different painting." Harry's words got her to smile somewhat as her plan began to form, only for her to suddenly stand from the dining table and rush away towards her own room.
''You don't think... she's going to change, right? Mom said sometimes girls will do that, said it could even get so bad they have more than three outfits a day!'' Ron warned Harry as if he had more experience with women, but Harry only hummed as he finished the bite of Peach Pie he had taken, mentally sending his compliments to the chef.
"How else are they supposed to express not only the emotions they feel, but the vibe of their personality without needing to talk to everyone?"
''Grandmother does change one or twice a day now that I'm considering it, but she takes account of the weather instead of emotion or 'vibe', she's very efficient when it comes to packing.'' Neville said that, before taking another spoonful of pudding, the desserts were always a highlight of the night because of the care taken with them. Everything was prepped perfectly, having sat out just enough to cool, enough to rise, enough for all stomachs here to devour each plate of dessert clean.
''I'd have to be a little more gay to care about clothing options every day, let alone more than once a day, that or end up dating a woman who cares about how I appear next to her.'' Harry's words got the group of three, as well as a few other men around, to nod in agreement with his remarks.
''Agreed, if I get a girlfriend, I'd dress up however she wanted me to, as long as it was her asking, of course, Mom told me always to try it once.''
...' I worry about meeting your Mother, Ron, because I have a feeling that she's dangerous for non-family members...' Harry thought inwardly because while some women were scary, a woman who had raised four boys happily, while having a daughter who isn't a bitch is CRAZY parenting skills.
Also, the way Ron said 'Always try it once' felt off, but he wasn't quite sure where, so he set it aside and continued enjoying his dessert. Fifteen minutes in, just as he was cleaning his face, while many others would still be here for another hour or two, Neville got Harry's attention.
''Looks like she wasn't changing after all, though I guess she might've brushed her hair again; her ponytail was starting to loosen earlier after she tugged on it in the common room during Study Hall.'' Hearing Neville say that made Harry turn to look at Hermione, who smiled at seeing him notice her, giving him a slight wave to indicate she was ready when he was. It wasn't rare for her to step out before dessert, after all with parents like hers she was only allowed certain types of sweets, only twice a month, so she preferred to use them while studying late at night.
''Alright, I'll be back after I show her. Ron, make sure some banana bread is saved for me.'' Harry said as he stood, not needing to look back to see if he was heard, as Ron immediately grabbed the whole platter of the banana bread. Lifting it off the table, he held it above his head, only for it to be wrapped, packaged, and then the plate and entire dessert vanished...
''R-Ron! I wanted some before it was packaged.'' Neville called in despair as it disappeared before his very eyes, having been reached for it like a parent attempting to save their child, just as distraught, it was gone as well.
"Dude… Just think of how good that will be after a few beers back at the dorm?'' Ron's reaction to the despair made Neville sit up a bit straighter, ending the drama all at once, earning a sneer from Ron's brothers, the twins. That was more aimed at Ron.
"What, not even remnant tears for a dessert lost?/Tsk Tsk, at least we know you're a braver father than Ron would be!"