Just a refresher: the closing statement from Part II:
November 2010 was indeed an eye-opening month for Louis and
Harry’s origin story and for their rapidly growing fanbase. But there is one
more classic video diary from November that Narnia would be negligent not to
spotlight, and will kick off Part III. Let’s just say that for those who have
been paying attention to Louis and Harry since Glastonbury 2025, there is
little doubt that they are publicly reconnecting with one another in big ways
as well as small. Most importantly, while this realignment is underway, they want us to come aboard and set sail with them. They are telling us, very loudly, that the time for waiting is over.
From color schemes and fashion choices to evocative song lyrics, to even the selection of cover
songs, like “Everybody Wants to Rule The World”, to the call and response naming
of their current tours (How Did We Get Here? – Together Together), they are
inviting us to join them on this adventure. That’s what Harry being awarded a
Blue Peter Gold Badge at Wembley on July 4 (famously known as Independence Day in America) was about. Like always, they are talking
with us. Don’t get caught up in the distractions (Signgate) and the strategic trolling still being unleashed on the Larrie fandom by those same forces who determined that they had "to fade it" back in 2016, aka Hiatus from Hell™. The very same operatives who very much, in 2026, still want “to rule the world”. Keep Louis and Harry in that room (The Closet) where the light won't find them.
There's a room where the light
won't find you
Holding hands while the walls come
tumbling down
When they do, I'll be right behind
you
So glad we've almost made it
So sad they had to fade it
Everybody wants to rule the world
When Harry was first announced as this year's Meltdown Festival curator on February 16, 2026, it was no surprise that something heartfelt and special would be organized. Harry may be a charming goofball, but he is an edgy cerebral one. After seeing and hearing what he had planned for the evening, the reality was in many ways more complicated. Yet so simple. In addition to designing an impressive eleven-day multi-arts program, which featured artists from diverse musical genres, Harry also had made intentional musical choices for his own orchestral setlist. From "Boyfriends" to "Two Ghosts" to the "The Waiting Game" and "Coming Up Roses". To Harry concluding his performance with the haunting and impassioned masterpiece of "Bridge Over Troubled Water". A song about struggle and hardship. About sacrifice and endurance. About being someone's source of strength and safety. In other words, his breathtaking rendition of the Simon and Garfunkel classic was an intimate homage to Louis Tomlinson, as he emoted about what unconditional love looks and feels like. From beginning to end, Harry poured his heart out. Almost like he was playing to an audience of one. Because he was.
Although Louis and Harry have been referencing their lived experience and shared past for over a year, it is still astonishing to be reminded again about just how inventive and rebellious both men can be. Meltdown was more than a performance. It was a shoutout to Harry and Louis' past and for those who might remember the iconic phrase from the most important person in the world to Harry. Someone he curated an entire setlist around: "No! Jimmy protested."
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| Nov 15, 2010 - Week 7 |
Remember how Louis was reading from a book during this video diary? A book by the author, Ben Elton. Recall the title?
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| Meltdown |
Ingenious doesn't even begin to describe how these two brains operate together. But they are experts at working the edges. Practicing plausible deniability. Walking through the raindrops. Are you listening yet?
The month of December begins with the same sugar high of November. Just like with any other couple in love, each one was finding ways to make the other happy. Often flying outside their comfort zones just to show how much they inspired each other. Normal couply stuff. In the case of Larrie Lore, one of these extra efforts involved Louis' iconic first cooking experience, which Harry couldn't wait to gleefully share with the world. Just like any other proud boyfriend being courted would do.
There's that shared secret winky face again.
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| The photo Harry attached to the tweet above |
When people immediately jumped to the conclusion that Louis was cooking a romantic meal for Hannah, his public girlfriend, she made sure to jump in and set the record straight that she was not even there. Hmm, doesn't sound like a beard for hire. More like a friend from school trying to help a friend out. Further discussion on this topic will be discussed in a future installment.
For many years, Louis and Harry confirmed this romantic meal as it soon came to be known as. Underscored by the following meme worthy oration: "Chicken stuffed with mozzarella wrapped in parma ham with a
side of homemade mash."
Queue up the coordinated hand gestures.
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| Valentine's Day Teemix interview, Paris, 2012 |
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| Yep, Harry knows! |
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| Cambio Valentine's Interview, 2.4.12. Filmed on 1.31.12, in London |
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| Jonathan Ross Show June 16, 2013 |
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| Harry licking his lips while he fondly (hungrily) looks at Louis describing that one cooked meal |
Six years later, Solo Louis was still going strong regarding his culinary accomplishment. LOL! Sounds like that romantic experience must have meant a lot to him. Right, Harry?
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| HitsLive Birmingham May 4, 2019 |
"Very Ambitious"
Louis and Harry sure were proud of that meal. Probably because that experience had little to do with the food and everything to do with the courtship. Enough said.
As the countdown moves closer toward the X Factor Finale, set for December 11-12, Louis and Harry's comfort level with one another openly progresses beyond hugs, full-bodied embraces, soft gazes, and secret glances into Louis publicly displaying his intoxication with Harry's smell. That's right, his smell. The infamous, unscripted, hair-sniffing moment captured on live TV, Dec 5, during The Results episode. Just in case anyone wondered if this moment was just an isolated instance, the answer is, hardly. In fact, Louis would tweet out his continued olfactory partiality for a certain someone again on March 9, 2012. By no means a platonic affirmation. Hardly a passing phase.
Here's a gif and video of Louis' intoxication with Harry's scent on full panoramic display, without a hint of shyness. Both completely oblivious to outside surroundings. Both fully embracing the shared moment together. Love drunk.
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| Dec 5, 2010 |
Season 7, Live Show 9 Results episode, aired Dec 5, 2010
Their utter ability to be mesmerized by one another was no mystery because one week earlier, Louis was already speaking in a language, suggestive of commitment. Still couched in humor for safety, but combined with everything else, it was obvious that something meaningful had happened between these two young men. Something lifechanging.
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| Don't let it be lost that Harry said that he would marry a man |
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| Video diary, Week 8, Nov 29, 2010 |
It was clear that by the time the Home Visit segment of the show began on Dec 6, Louis and Harry were boyfriends in a committed relationship. By this time, the portmanteau of Larry Stylinson had been around since October 28 and Harry was not the least bit bothered with the meaning being conveyed.
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| Larry Stylinson tweet 11.22.10 |
Moreover, these two had already become family before the X Factor had ended as was evidenced by Harry's stepdad welcoming all of One Direction to Holmes Chapel on Dec 7, during the Home Visit segment, but significantly only Louis and Harry shared a knowing moment between each other in response.
Video of Robin and Anne talking to the boys, Dec 7, 2010, Home Visit segment
Obviously, December 2010 was a pivotal time in terms of Louis and Harry's career and personal relationship so, not surprisingly, there's still more to come regarding the remaining weeks of that month. By the time the show was visiting Holmes Chapel, Doncaster, Bradford and Wolverhampton (severe weather prevented a visit to Mullingar), there was no need to play Spot the Couple any longer. No one could miss their bond. No one could miss their intentional coordination. These two had fallen hard and they made that reality everyone else's problem.
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Dec 7, 2010 Holmes Chapel
Matching boots? Oh, c'mon fellas! They probably thought the different colors would fool everyone. |
There now, steady love, so few come and don't go
Will you, won't you, be the one I'll always know?
When I'm losing my control, the city spins around
You're the only one who knows to slow it down
"Look After You" Louis Tomlinson (Cover)
Playlist: Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
Harry Styles, Everybody Wants to Rule
the World – (Tears for Fears Cover)
Harry Styles, Bridge Over Troubled Waters – (Simon and Garfunkel Cover)
Louis Tomlinson, Look After You – (The Fray Cover)
Sources: YouTube, Meltdown Festival, Instagram, X Factor, ITV, Tumblr, X, Ben Elton-Meltdown, TeeMix, Cambio, Jonathan Ross, HitsLive, Birmingham, BBC - Blue Peter Badge
