"So, who is it?"
"..."
"Come on!"
"..."
Thump—a book struck the back of my head, pulling me away from my reading on the various ways to enchant a chandelier.
"Ouch! 'Mione!"
Thump—I hit her shoulder back with my book.
"Ahh!" she exclaimed. "Harry Potter!"
"Hermione Granger!" I exclaimed back.
Many heads in the common room turned to stare at us, then, with amused chuckles, turned back to what they were doing.
She sent a glare my way, and I rolled my eyes.
"Come on, tell me…" Hermione insisted.
"Well…" I said conspiratorially, and she narrowed her eyes. "You'll have to tell Ron that you're going with K-R-U—umph!"
I couldn't finish as she quickly clamped her hand over my mouth. "Don't you dare!"
I chuckled and patted her head, which made her shove me. "Okay, here's a hint: she's a champion." I knew that this small clue would be enough for her to instantly guess Fleur.
"No…" she trailed off, a mix of surprise and horror in her voice. "Not the French tart…"
"'Mione!" I exclaimed, appalled by what she said. "Don't call her that!"
"What? Have you seen her?" she huffed. "Always strutting around the hallways with everyone staring at her."
"Well, well, well, I could say the same about your date~" I teased. "Always getting unwanted attention from the fairer sex."
"Oh, come on! You know he tries to stay away from the limelight!" she exclaimed, then fell quiet, blushing as she realized how defensive she'd become. "And he does try to avoid girls…"
"Yes, yes, excuses," I said with mock arrogance. "I call it a skill issue. Look at me—who's following me?"
"Is that a rhetorical question, or do you actually want me to name names? Because I can easily name a dozen harlots who are."
"Jesus! When did you get such a potty mouth?" I asked, eyes wide in shock at her words.
"Whatever, just be careful with the Frenchie," she said, rolling her eyes, which elicited a few chuckles from me.
"Well, I won't ask you to be careful with the Seeker," I teased, "especially since I've already threatened him!"
With that, I bolted out of the common room, earning weird looks from people who were clearly confused about why I was fleeing from a horrified and appalled Hermione.
As I walked through the long, winding hallways of Hogwarts, chilled by the winter snow falling outside, my mind wandered to the various tasks I had to deal with in the immediate future. I wanted to leave Hogwarts for a while. Before, it would have been difficult... but after yesterday's conversation with Dumbledore, I knew I had enough leverage. Leaving Hogwarts after the Yule Ball for the rest of the holidays would definitely help me with several of my plans.
"Watch where you're going, Potter," a sneering voice scoffed. I rolled my eyes, barely restraining my amusement.
"Sure, Malfoy," I said dismissively, walking past him and his goons, ignoring them. I had no interest in entertaining those idiots.
I sensed a Leg-Locker Curse coming at me from behind. Internally sighing, I raised my hand, stopping the spell in its tracks without even turning around. I pointed my finger to the side, and the spell struck the wall harmlessly. I continued walking, and they didn't bother to send another one.
Soon, I was outside the castle, walking towards Hagrid's hut. I wasn't going for any particular reason—just to see a friend. The snowy landscape around Hogwarts was picturesque, simply beautiful. There weren't many people out, but I could still spot a few figures roaming around and playing in the snow.
As I trudged along the path to Hagrid's hut, I finally reached his cottage and knocked on the door. I heard some light shuffling inside, followed by Fang's faint barking, and then Hagrid's voice calling, "Comin', jus' a sec!
The door opened, and I was met with the familiar figure of the large, friendly half-giant. "Hey, Hagrid! How's it going?"
"Oh, everythin's all right! Haha, c'mon in!" He ushered me inside, patting my back, and I was immediately engulfed by Fang just as I entered.
"Yes, yes! Oh, get down!" I tried to protect myself from Fang's enthusiastic onslaught, but it was no use; my face was completely drenched in his drool. "Oh, God…" I muttered, petting Fang while Hagrid lightly chuckled. I twirled my ring and flicked my wand to get rid of the drool.
"Nice trick," Hagrid praised, gesturing for me to sit down. "Oh, did I congratulate yeh on the firs' task?"
"Yes, you did, Hagrid," I chuckled, waving dismissively. "Don't worry about it. Tell me, how have you been?"
"Oh, nothin' much, just takin' care o' the skrewts," he said. I noticed he was writing in a book about skrewts—what they like and what they don't so far. It was surprisingly detailed for something Hagrid had written. "An' well, I'm also takin' care o' classes. The fifth years are a right pain, y'know? Always complainin' 'bout work this and work that."
"Oh, I can't imagine," I shook my head, remembering the workload that is there in fifth year. For a student who had known magic only for five years, it was quite hellish. "By the way, what am I hearing about you and the Beauxbaton Headmistress, huh?"
Suddenly, a light red tinged Hagrid's face as he said, "Oh, me an' Maxime? We—well, y'know, me an' her, both so tall, an' uh… y'know?" He stammered.
"Just teasing, Hagrid," I said with a chuckle. "Just take it slow, okay? And don't mention anything about the height. Let everything happen naturally."
"What?" Hagrid asked, looking confused. "What d'you mean, not to mention the height?"
"Just keep it in mind," I insisted. "Just trust me; she won't like it."
"If yeh insist…" he said awkwardly, wearing a confused smile. I smiled back at him.
We both talked about various topics for a while, with one subject coming and another going. Soon, it was late, and the sky was turning slightly dark, signaling that it was time for me to leave. I said a big goodbye to Hagrid and left.
Looking back, I realized that I hadn't even trained today, only spending time with friends or studying and reading—not really a usual occurrence, but a welcome one, I suppose. Until now, I had been a little restricted in terms of training since I had already mastered most of what I had read. I wanted to start the second part of Slytherin's diary only after the end of my fourth year, as I had some other plans in mind before I began with it.
But now I had the two books that Dumbledore gave me. Transfiguration is Dumbledore's specialty, and getting his personal Transfiguration Journal is a big deal. Perhaps I should start training again… from his journal.
I walked along the edges of the Black Lake while these thoughts raced through my mind. I felt a strange sensation in my gut as I crossed a specific spot where I had had a couple of conversations with a certain someone. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and continued walking along the lake toward Hogwarts.
Soon, I arrived at Hogwarts, walked through the gate, and entered the Great Hall. I spotted a small crowd around a way-too-smiley Ron and, a little annoyed but still smiling, Hermione.
"So, who won the lottery?" I asked as I got closer, and everyone turned to me.
"Oh, even bigger," Dean said with enthusiasm. "Ron asked Padma!"
"Oh damn, I missed it," I said, a little bummed out. "When did it happen?"
"In the middle of the common room," Hermione said, a small chuckle escaping her lips despite her annoyance. "He got roses and everything—proper proposal!"
"It was nothing…" Ron said, sending me a grateful look. "Thanks, by the way."
"Yes, yes, thank me now, but you didn't even let me see it," I replied, sending him a mock glare. "I missed all the fun."
"Where were you, anyway?" Hermione asked.
"Hagrid's," I said, and she nodded.
Soon, days rolled by, time passed, and it was the night before the Yule Ball, December 24. I was feeling very restless, unable to sleep for some reason. A sense of déjà vu came crashing down on me. This seemed like it had happened before.
Why did it happen so often? I would feel restless, wander around the lake, and meet her. Would I meet her today too? Damn, she has me wrapped around her finger, and we aren't even together.
Sighing, I opened the curtain around my bed, slipped out, and closed it back. I cast the Disillusionment Charm and made my way out of my dorm room and then the common room. It was cold in the hallways, especially since the torches that usually provided warmth were extinguished.
I gazed out from one of the windows and noticed that it was lightly snowing. The moon was barely visible, looking ethereal in the night sky. With a genuine smile, I crossed the hallways, descended the stairs, and left Hogwarts to go to the place where I had always met her.
With a chuckle at my own predicament, I sat down, gazing at the lake, the moon, and the mountains. The cold breeze, light snow, and white ambience were as chilling as they were mesmerizing. I loved this part of winter the most: the silence of the night, surrounded by beautiful ivory snow, under the glow of a silvery, starry sky, all shrouded in the beautiful light of the moon.
I looked at the Black Lake, mesmerized by the silvery glow it reflected under the moonlight. Almost unconsciously, my finger twirled my ring, and my wand released a silvery glow, forming my beautiful signature silver stag Patronus. A sense of calm washed over me as I watched the shimmering figure dance in the night.
My back leaned against the soft, fresh snow, creating a soft crunch as I settled in.
"Maybe it was just a coincidence?" I spoke aloud. "I'm going mad."
I felt my Patronus settle down beside me, providing some warmth in the cold night. My mind was racing. Why did I think so much? Why am I so emotional? Why am I in love? This is ridiculous.
"You Englishmen and your cold tolerance," I heard a voice, my breath almost hitching in my throat. "Seriously, you are lying in the snow at this ungodly hour? Mon dieu!"
I chuckled, feeling a flutter in my heart at the sound of her beautiful, melodic voice. I turned my head, my cheeks grazing the snow, to look at her figure. "And what are you doing out here at this ungodly hour?"
"Oh, don't give me that look, mon ami," she said coyly, stepping closer, her breath forming little clouds in the chilly air. "Maybe the same reason you are out."
"To mark this place as our official meeting spot?" I joked teasingly, and she chuckled. A light tinge of cherry adorned her cheeks, but I couldn't tell if it was because of the cold or something else.
"Perhaps," she said, settling down beside me, her delicate figure contrasting sharply against the white snow. "It is nice to 'ave a secret place, no? A place just for us."
"Exactly," I replied, feeling my heart race a little more. "A place away from all the noise."
She nodded, looking out at the lake. "Ze world seems to pause 'ere," she murmured, her voice soft and thoughtful. "It feels like time is just… still."
I watched her, captivated by the way her eyes sparkled in the moonlight, the way her hair caught the light as it drifted gently in the breeze. "Why do we both keep returning back here, again and again, despite not knowing whether the other would?" I asked, genuinely curious.
Her gaze remained fixed on the lake, the gentle ripples reflecting the shimmering moonlight. "Maybe it's because zis place feels like a dream," she replied after a moment, her voice barely above a whisper. "A dream where we can escape everything else."
"Yes, moments where we can just… exist together."
Fleur turned to me, her expression shifting slightly. "And maybe discover somezing new about ourselves?"
"Is that what this is?" I asked, trying to keep the mood light, but feeling a sudden intensity in the air. "A discovery?"
She gave a tired sigh, and a melodic chuckle escaped her lips. "Zis feels so wrong yet so right." As I looked at her face, she appeared like a goddess; her porcelain skin reflected the moonbeams, illuminating her features like an ethereal being. "I want to create distance; we are so different, yet so drawn to each other."
"The only difference is age," I said, bumping my shoulder against hers. "It won't mean anything in a few years."
"Age is just a number," she replied, turning her head slightly to meet my gaze. "But it feels like zere's more at play 'ere, doesn't it? Somezing deeper."
"Deeper?" I echoed, a hint of teasing in my voice. "Are we getting philosophical now?"
She laughed softly, the sound like music in the quiet night. "Maybe. Or maybe I just like to overzink zings."
"Me too," I admitted, a shy grin forming on my lips. "I guess we both do."
Her eyes sparkled mischievously. "So, what do you zink zis… whatever it is between us, means?"
"We always have such small encounters," I said, my eyes gazing into her sapphire orbs, "and so few, too… Yet I can't stop thinking about you." I turned my head to look at the lake, the mountains, and the sky. "I felt that I should come here today, as if you would be here…"
Fleur's gaze softened, and she leaned a little closer, as if drawn by an invisible thread. "It's strange, isn't it? 'Ow one person can occupy so much of your mind, even in ze quietest moments?"
"It is," I replied, feeling the gravity of her words sink in. "It's like this… pull that I can't resist."
Her breath caught slightly, and I could sense the intensity of the moment hanging in the air. "Maybe it's more zan just a pull," she mused. "Maybe it's somezing we both need, even if we're afraid to admit it."
"Allow me, and I will admit it, Fleur," I said softly, tilting my head to look into her sapphire orbs. At my words, her face turned noticeably redder, and a small smile appeared on her lips.
"Make tomorrow a beautiful day for me, okay?" she said softly, her hand lifting to gently hold mine, while her eyes showed emotions—overwhelming and raw, filled with so much intensity.
"I will," I promised, my heart racing at the warmth of her touch. After a few seconds, I joked, "But I think the day has already changed," and winked, hoping to lighten the heavy air between us.
The moment hung suspended in time, and as we sat there, fingers intertwined, the world around us faded. The soft crunch of snow, the gentle lapping of the lake against the shore, and the distant whisper of the wind created a symphony of winter.
If anything, I am sure I would defeat Voldemort, destroy the Hallows, vanquish all the Dementors, and close the doors of hell, just to be with her. Death will find me at the end of each road, and I will make sure that the end of this road is well past the age of twenty because I am not letting Fleur out of my life, and I am not leaving hers.
Author's Note: Next chapter is Yule ball, finally. I don't know why, but I was feeling terrible while writing this chapter. Like seriously, 2600 words took me 4 hours! That's terrible. I also felt pretty out of ideas. I wanted to start Yule ball in this, but didn't felt that it would be right… So more Fleur Harry convo at night.
I want to write a chapter tomorrow, but I have a six hour practice test… So yeah… I will still try, but probably will update next week. Anyways, give me a review. This was a slow chapter, and not that great either. Just talking and bonding and all that stuff. So yeah. Hope you found it decent.
Thank you
Cheers!