A/N: Here you go H/Hr lovers! Fluff sure to come on next chapter. Give me reviews and I might speed up the uploads!!
Chapter 7: Sparking Invitation
Harry was walking to the library, hoping he would see Hermione there, who had last night been the star of his dreams. He had just spent all night dealing with the realization that, had it not been for Ginny, he would have kissed his best friend. What was happening to him? Could he be in love?
His thoughts were rudely interrupted when he bumped into the last person that he wanted to see at the moment.
"Ginny? Sorry," Harry apologized. The sooner he got out of her sight, the better. He didn't hate the girl. It was just that she was very bothersome sometimes and he didn't like that one bit.
"Harry," Ginny flushed red," It's quite all right."
It was then that Harry noticed that his glasses were no longer with him. Ginny had acquired them.
"Could I have my glasses back?"
"Oh yes, I'm sorry. Let me clean them for you," Ginny offered.
"Ginny, you don't have to bother…" Harry tried to snap her out of it. To tell the truth, Harry was scared of what Ginny was capable of doing to his poor glasses with her lethal wand. And sure enough…
"Clean…Achoo!" Ginny sneezed during the spell, causing his glasses to literally blow up.
"Oops, sorry. I'll repair them," Ginny smiled clumsily.
"Ginny, don't!" Harry was on the border of nut town. He was sure that after this `repair spell' his precious glasses would cease to exist.
Fortunately, he was saved just in time. Fleur made her way towards him. The part Veela stared at Ginny with annoyance.
"Ginny. I'm sure Ron `as a nice candy bar for you. Go and get it," she smiled sarcastically.
"Would you mind, French girl? I'm talking to Harry here," replied a fierce Ginny. Fleur had to sigh in order to remain calm. Nobody talked to her that way!
"Weasley, if you don't get out of my way, I can not promise you my wand will remain steady," Fleur threatened.
"Look you…" Ginny wouldn't give up, but Fleur would have it her way.
"Beat it Ginny!" she screeched. Harry thought she definitely looked like a Veela now.
"B…bye Harry." Ginny ran as fast as she could while Fleur regained her cool temper.
"Ugh, I'll repair `zese for you." Fleur took Harry's glasses from the floor, for Ginny had dropped them as she ran away. "Oculous Reparo!"
"Thanks. That reminds me of Hermione," Harry admitted. His best friend had been on his mind for some while now, and Fleur certainly seemed to notice.
"Does it? Well, speaking of dear old `Erm, what do you `zink of her `air?' She began to test him as well.
"She's beautiful! She's perfect! She's…"
"Down boy." Harry had gotten a little carried away with his feelings and the French blonde couldn't pass an opportunity like this. "Invite `er to `ze Yule Ball, why don't you?" Fleur asked, referring to the dance that took place at Hogwarts. "Or do you plan to take somebody else?"
"I haven't thought about it."
"Perfect opportunity to do so."
"She wouldn't want to go with me," Harry stated with a hint of sadness
"Zat `Arry, is somezing that you'll have to find out for yourself. You'll never know unless you ask `er," Fleur replied.
Before Harry could answer Fleur, a happy Oliver interrupted their Hermione- centered chat.
"Hey beautiful." He took Fleur by her waist and pulled her against him, her back against his chest while he gave her a kiss on the cheek. She sighed and leaned against him. That was when Oliver became aware of Harry's presence.
"Hi Harry."
"Hello," Harry smiled at his friend.
"So Fleur, ready for your flying lesson?" Oliver asked her.
"I'm kind of afraid I will fall down. I `appen to `ave weak knees. Whatever will I do?" Fleur dramatized. Oliver knew exactly what she wanted and he was more than happy to give it to her.
"Covered. That's why we'll be on the same broom. You can never take too many precautions," he answered. Fleur smiled and turned to him.
"Good boy." She gave him a passionate kiss and took his hand while they both waved to a puzzled Harry.
Truth be told, Harry couldn't believe his eyes. Oliver and Fleur? He wondered how she had done it, since Oliver had never liked to pay much attention to girls, for he was always focused on Quidditch. Then it dawned on him; that's how she had gotten him: Quidditch.
All these thoughts drained away at the sight of a radiant Hermione.
"Hermione!" He lost no time and went over to her.
"Harry, hello," Hermione smiled shyly. She couldn't stop focusing on his sensual lips.
"I was just looking for you." Harry broke her trance.
"Why? Oh, you need help with something," she assumed, as he never called her for anything else. His answer definitely surprised her.
" No. I was just thinking…if you don't have a date for the dance…Do you have one?"
"No," she answered, a little puzzled to be exact.
"Good," he muttered," I thought…maybe…"
"Yes?" Hermione's eyes sparkled.
"You'd like to go with me? Would you?" Harry managed to ask her without actually stammering.
"I'd love to go with you Harry."
"You would?"
"Of course. We're friends aren't we?"
"Yeah, friends," Harry replied disappointedly. He wanted to be so much more than that to her.
"All right, I'll see you then," Hermione smiled, turning to take her leave.
"Hermione wait!"
"Yes?"
Here was his moment. He was going to tell her what he felt, no matter how his nerves felt about it. He would tell her and then take her into his arms and…
"You…uh…you dropped your books," Harry pointed out.
Wow, hail that Gryffindor courage.
"Oh. Thanks," Hermione's smile vanished. She somewhat hoped that there was another reason for calling her. A more…intimate reason.
She felt a little glint of hope. Harry had at least invited her to the dance. That was something, right? It faded just as it was born, for maybe he had invited her because no one else was available on such short notice. Cho Chang already had a date, so she thought the obvious. She was last choice.
Later in the afternoon, she went looking for Fleur. The part Veela was found in the Gryffindor common room playing chess with her now boyfriend…Oliver Wood. Ironic, wasn't it? Only this was a weird chess game, for Fleur was seated on Oliver's lap and they were holding hands, only playing in mere whispers, until Oliver finally won.
"All right you win. I'll surrender to your terms." Fleur laid her head on his shoulder. She was sure that his terms were going to be pleasant indeed.
"You will? Let's see, wear a killer red dress for the dance," Oliver began suggesting, as there was a Muggle dress code.
"Fleur," Hermione interrupted their Kodak moment.
" `Ermione, what brings you?" Fleur asked, standing up from her previous position.
"Hey Herms," Oliver smiled, "I'll leave you two girls alone so you can chat."
"Thanks." Fleur returned his gesture as he pulled her against him and gave her a hell of a goodbye kiss. He grinned at Hermione and exited the common room.
"Congratulations. The Quidditch scam worked," Hermione praised her.
"I know. Isn't it marvelous?" Fleur smirked. "But enough about me. What about you?"
"Harry invited me to the dance."
"Did `e now? Well, we must make a perfect dress…" Fleur started planning.
"But I think it was only because Cho Chang wasn't available," stated Hermione, displaying a little sadness on her voice.
"Oh, come on `Erm. `E's drooling for you! At least he will be after `e sees you in `ze dress `zat I'm going to make you," Fleur muttered.
"Pardon?"
"Nozing.. Come on. I'll `elp you make `ze dress."
"Thanks Fleur."
"I said I'd make it up to you, didn't I?"
"True. Oh, and Fleur?'
"What?"
"A killer red dress?" Hermione quoted Oliver.
"Don't ask."