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Jason didn't understand why it was taking so long. Actually, no. That wasn't the problem. What he didn't understand was why the whole school had to gather outside of the castle to wait for the Delegations' arrival. They weren't even wearing their cloaks! Just their school uniforms. It was cold, damn it! Jason wasn't cold, but Harry was, and that was a problem. Especially since he seemed to be the only one to have noticed. Even the Weasley twins were far enough that they hadn't noticed Harry's shaking form.
Jason had his cloak on, as did a few students here and there, probably because they had been outside before they had to gather in the courtyard. Most students were only wearing their basic uniforms and robes, which weren't nearly warm enough for the current weather.
The Slytherin kept waiting for someone to notice how uncomfortable and cold Harry was, but no one did. It was so obvious! How could they not? Was Jason so obsessed with Harry that he noticed things others didn't? Maybe, but surely, the sight of the boy practically hugging himself should tell his Housemates that he was cold! So why was no one doing anything?!
Jason looked away from the sight of his friend, clenching his fists in anger. He had to calm down. Snape was sure to swoop down on him if he thought he was disturbing the general aloof aura surrounding his snakes.
Finally, finally! The Beauxbâtons arrived, flying down in a large carriage pulled by magnificent Abraxans. Jason could have spent hours waxing poetry on those winged beasts, but, unfortunately, they were led away by Hagrid before he could get a good look at them. The Beauxbâtons students – who were decidedly not dressed for the British weather and low temperatures- were herded inside the castle, much to the Hogwarts students' jealousy. At least some people got to be warm. Not them, though. No. They had to wait for the Durmstrang delegation's arrival.
If it hadn't been so cold outside, Jason might have been more forgiving and excited, but how could he, when Harry was shaking a few feet away, so close yet so far? He couldn't even go to him yet. McGonagall and Snape would rain Hell (ha! He knew that reference, Terence) down on him if they saw him move away from the formation and nice little separation between each House. Yes, because nothing spoke of friendship like the Houses' separations that were being shown right there. And they were supposed to use this tournament to cultivate FRIENDSHIP with the other schools.
Jason privately thought it looked like a mini-war where each school got to send one of their students to show off their prowess and deter them from starting a war with their country. He also privately thought that most Hogwarts students would be a terrible choice, thanks to the (somewhat) terrible education they were getting here.
"HERE!" a Hufflepuff kid yelled. "In the water!"
McGonagall didn't have time to shush him before gasps and exclamations of surprise echoed around him. Jason wasn't looking at the water, but rather at Harry's awed expression, so he was a bit late in reacting to the giant pirate ship that rose from the water.
Oh.
That was kinda cool, he thought, whistling in appreciation before Malfoy's stink eye made him want to commit murder. Every time Malfoy reacted like that, Jason remembered why the brat reminded him so much of Snape. They didn't have any sense of humour. They were probably family. That would explain why Snape was so... soft (ew!) whenever he addressed the brat in the common room.
Of course, the Gryffindors were the loudest, but they weren't the only ones. Even the Slytherins weren't as quiet as instructed beforehand. Jason couldn't even blame the Gryffs for their lack of decorum when the others were doing barely better.
The Durmstrang students walked by them without a backward glance. Jason knew not to take it personally, but it still annoyed him that they had to stay there, in the cold (he couldn't care less about the cold: he was used to hanging around in a loose T-Shirt while everyone else was freezing their butts off), while the Delegation students couldn't care less about them. Seriously. The teachers could have very well welcomed them. There was no need to have everyone down there.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they were allowed to leave the courtyard and walk back inside. As soon as they turned around, Jason slipped around two Puffs and a ‘Claw before reaching the Gryffindor section, where Harry was trying not to get swept by the crowd.
He was so small.
"Hey," he said, grabbing Harry's too-long sleeve to stop him from being carried away.
Harry didn't jump as he would have done a few months ago. He turned slightly to look at him and smiled.
"Hi."
"You cold?" he asked, voice muffled by the incessant chatter around them.
Harry nodded.
"I'm cold."
The Slytherin looked down. Harry's fingers were twitching. He took his hand in his and squeezed it as gently as he could. Harry's hand was so small compared to Jason's.
He let go after a few seconds and pulled his cloak off.
"Here. Have my cloak."
It was a bit unnecessary. In a minute or so, they would be back in the castle, welcomed by warmth, and the offer would sound stupid, but Harry didn't seem to care.
His smile grew brighter as he grabbed the offered cloth and put it on. It looked a bit too big on him, but it mostly made him look adorable anyway. As if he had borrowed an older brother's clothes.
Jason... wasn't Harry's older brother, and he didn't consider himself such! He was mostly thinking about the Weasley twins and their habit of sharing everything -including clothes- with Harry.
Somehow, now Jason did that too. It made him feel a bit smug.
"Thank you, Jay."
"No problem," he told him.
And, really, there was no problem if you asked him. Seeing Harry wearing his cloak made him feel things. It made him feel warm.
Jason smiled back and grabbed Harry's hand again. It wouldn't do to be separated by the crowd.
There was no other reason.
Nope.