It was a Hogsmeade weekend and Harry, Ron and Hermione sat in the Three Broomsticks. Harry had hoped to meet Hagrid somewhere but the half-giant had not left his hut since the article about him was published.

The three friends ordered a butterbeer each. Harry was thinking about the egg clue he still had to solve. He had told Hermione that it was solved already, which was a lie. The only thing he knew was that it was wailing. And then there was Cedric Diggory's hint about him taking the egg to the prefects bathroom, but it was quite a stupid hint. Now though, this egg thing was starting to stress him out so he seriously considered taking Cedric's advice.

His thoughts were interrupted by Hermione, who whispered, "Does he ever go into the office?" She was pointing at Ludo Bagman, the head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports in the Ministry. He was also a judge in the Triwizard Tournament. However, he could not be considered as particularly responsible.

Bagman seemed to feel the trio looking at him because he turned to them, smiled, and started to come over. "Harry, how are you?" But Bagman did not wait for an answer. "Been hoping to run into you! Everything going all right? Listen, I was wondering if I could have a quick private word?"

"Err..." Harry looked at his friends who just shrugged. "Sure." He stood up and followed Bagman to a less crowded corner of the bar.

#

Upon returning Ron and Hermione were already shooting him questioning looks. "What did he want?" Ron asked.

"He offered me help with the second task." Harry frowned. "You know, figuring out the golden egg clue."

"Harry, that's illegal." Hermione hissed.

"I know!" Harry said. "That's why I declined."

"How noble of you, Potter." A familiar voice piped up. Harry closed his eyes and cursed himself for speaking so loudly about this. Then, he opened his eyes and turned to the source. Malfoy was leaning against a wooden pole that was holding up the roof. Even though he was alone for once, he looked fairly confident, probably feeling secure with all the people crowding the bar. A smirk was on his lips and his arms were crossed casually.

"Malfoy." Harry glared. It was infuriating how the other boy was just smirking back.

"Uhh, Harry?"

Harry turned to Ron, who was looking back and fourth between Malfoy and him. Apparently, they had been staring at each other for too long.

"Oh, look who's coming over there." Malfoy looked at the door nonchalantly.

"Rita Skeeter." Hermione said darkly. Out of the three of them, she carried the most contempt for the horrible reporter. 

"I wonder what she would say if someone told her," Malfoy said faux-pensively. "About a cheating minister-"

"Malfoy!" Harry tried to interrupt him, but Malfoy acted like he heard nothing.

"...and his favourite Champion... who's getting help-"

Harry started to panic. He felt like this pub was suddenly much quieter, and listening to Malfoy's accusations. Without thinking, Harry jumped up from his seat and went into Malfoy's space, putting a hand over the blonde's mouth.

Harry cursed his impulsive action. There were times when this impulsive acting had saved his life, but this was a time when it was more likely to kill him.

Trying to overcome the overwhelming thrill that Harry got from being in such close proximity to Malfoy, staring into his startled eyes, Harry hissed. "We could get in serious trouble for this."

Harry felt Malfoy's lips forming a smirk under his hand and he quickly let off of him, taking a few steps back, which was not much because of the many wooden tables everywhere.

"Do I look like I care?" Malfoy quipped, pushing himself off the pole and making a move into Skeeter's direction.

"No!" Hermione said loudly, pulling Harry out of his shock so he could grab Malfoy's sleeve and pull him back. Unfortunately, it put the pair back into the previous position since Harry wanted to make sure Malfoy could not escape.

"I feel like you're doing this on purpose, Potter." Malfoy said, stuck between Harry and the pole.

"You don't seem to have a problem with that." It was far too easy to fall into the deep, flirting tone with Malfoy. Especially since the colour on his cheeks was there the second Harry had stepped into his space.

"Guys, there's a much bigger problem-" Hermione was interrupted by yet another voice.

"What do we have here? Now that's going to be a highly interesting story. The boy who lived, gay. A scandalous affair. Who is the secret boy?"

Malfoy looked at Harry with a panicked expression. Out of surprise, Harry stepped back quickly.

Not a very smart decision because now, Rita Skeeter's eyes landed on 'the secret boy'. "Draco Malfoy." Rita grinned widely, her quill dancing on its own on a flying piece parchment beside her head. "Oh, this day keeps getting better and better."

Malfoy's face looked dangerously pale. Harry looked at Ron and Hermione for help. There was already a lot of crap about him in the newspapers so he did not really care about another weird story, but he was genuinely worried about Malfoy. 

Theoretically, Malfoy would deserve getting a bad story in the newspapers about him. He had told Skeeter awful things about Hagrid and he was about to drag Bagman and Harry into yet another awful story in the Daily Prophet. But not like this.

Harry had talked to Ron and Hermione once about homosexuality when some Gryffindors from sixth year had come out just a couple of days ago. As Harry had found out, it was a no go in most pure blood families. The Malfoys seemed to be one of them, not that Harry was surprised.

Ron also paled as realization hit him. He may not like Malfoy, but pure blood parents had punished their children for less to keep their bloodline going.

Hermione was the fastest to react and jumped up. "You're wrong, Skeeter. Harry and Malfoy are completely straight. Actually, I'm Harry's girlfriend. He was just threatening Malfoy because he insulted me." To make a point, Hermione stood up and kissed Harry's cheek, grabbing his arm and stayed beside him.

"Oh," Skeeter acted regretful. "But I like the scandalous gay story more. And I'm sure my readers would too."

Hermione's face went red with anger. "You're sick, you awful-"

"Awful what?" Skeeter smirked evilly, "I have everything I need. Let's go." She turned to go and signaled her photographer to follow her. Malfoy looked like he was about to faint. He opened his mouth but he was too shocked to make a noise.

"Wait!" Ron stood up. Skeeter did not turn around, but she stayed put, probably hoping to get more dirty details. "Hermione is not together with Harry. Malfoy also isn't. It's... me."

Harry gave Ron a weird look but he just pushed Hermione out of the way and elbowed his best friend, signalling him to play along. Skeeter turned around sceptically. "So are you all... fighting for Harry?"

"No, I-..." Ron cleared his throat, trying to get over the weirdness of the situation. Then, he put on his best sad acted look. "I don't want to come out yet. My parents would never approve. Could you please not tell anyone?"

It was a smart move. Asking Skeeter to not tell anyone something was like a ninety-nine percent guarantee for Rita Skeeter to publish it.

The reporter made a hand sign and her photographer lifted his camera. "Look like you're in love." Hermione hissed. Harry and Ron looked at her, baffled, but she gave them a glare. Ron and Harry looked at each other, trying to not grimace. The camera clicked.

"Perfect." Rita said and turned around to leave, completely ignoring Malfoy.

Once she was out the door, Ron, Hermione and Harry looked at each other, all of them wondering what the hell just happened. Then, they burst out into laughter. It was loud and wholeheartedly and Harry did not care that everyone in the bar was looking at them now.

"You can laugh about that, eh?" Malfoy hissed before he left, seeming like he could not get out fast enough.

"We just saved his ass." Ron said. "He could have at least said thank you." But there was still laughter in his voice.

.

"I'm gonna have a lot explaining to do to my family." Ron groaned as they were walking back to Hogwarts. Thankfully, the Weasleys were more accepting about those things than other pure blood families.

Harry started laughing again. "Just imagine it. You being my boyfriend." Ron grimaced but he also laughed.

"Sorry bro. Not into dudes." Ron laughed.

"Sorry bro, but I would rather date Malfoy over you." Harry laughed. "What?" Harry asked when Ron and Hermione did not laugh along and exchanged meaningful looks.

"Nothing." Hermione said.

Harry stared them down as good as he could while walking, but they did not add anything. So Harry just shrugged and let it go. He looked ahead. Hogwarts was close, they were almost there.

Harry thought about his words again. Date... Malfoy. Skeeter thought Malfoy was his boyfriend. He felt the same thrill down his spine as when he made Malfoy blush.

"You ready for the next task?" Hermione pulled him out of his musings.

Now, the good mood was gone. The Second Task. It weighted down his shoulders again.

He decided to take Cedric Diggory's hint and sneak out with the egg into the prefects bathroom tonight. "Almost." Harry said.