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Hours have passed, and he remained still and silent beneath the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to approach her. Men have surrounded her the whole night, and it took until dawn for the last one, that single redhead, to leave her alone in peace. After which, she seemed so tired that her postured back slouched down lazily as she breathed a heavy sigh.
Harry suddenly felt his heart pump intensely.
Women usually had this effect on him, he concluded. It wasn't just a mere coincidence for him. The anxiety of actually approaching a woman, most of all by a stranger, isn't a very easy thing to do, especially if your intensions include a series of seductions.
With those thoughts swirling in his mind, he attempted to step out of the darkness.
"Rosa!" She called out groggily. Harry took a step back, hiding once again as a plump woman entered the room hastily. He huffed out the breath he'd been holding in for so long, a thin layer of perspiration evident on his forehead.
"Yes miss?" Rosa asked humbly. A slave no doubt, he thought. He assumed that she was in her mid-50's, noticing the multiple laugh lines and wrinkles that started to form on her face.
"Would you be a darling and fetch me my scarf, please? It's chilly outside, and a cold is the last thing I'd want to have right now." The smile that she wore at those moments somewhat made Harry more anxious than he already was. With a bow, Rosa exited hastily, her running footsteps reverberating loudly outside. Looking around the empty room she was in, Hermione leaned against the balcony, her back arching slightly as she took in the breeze of the new morning. Harry stared at her face for a period's time. The perfect symmetry of it made her lovelier than she already was.
"Be careful. You might fall." He suddenly spoke. Hermione looked back quickly, gasping upon the sound of an unfamiliar voice. She looked frantically around the room, only to find it dark and empty. She was suddenly fearful.
"Show yourself!" She said, a roughness in her tone. Inwardly though, she was shaking in fear.
Harry stepped slowly into the light, his steps fervent against the creaking wood. Hermione squinted her eyes at him, having only half of his face illuminated by the rising sun outside. He stood a safe distance from her, and she backed a few more steps for good measure.
"Who are you?" she demanded of him. He bowed slightly, his hands dipping by his stomach as he did so. She nodded back in respect.
"Harry Potter, your highness."
"Rubbish. Within the walls of a castle, I am royalty. Outside though, I am no more than a mere peasant." She scolded him. He glanced up at her from his perfect bow, an eyebrow quirking on his face.
"You are the least bit of a peasant, miss."
"Don't flatter me, Sir Potter." She replied hastily. Harry bent up properly once again, taking a single step towards her. She attempted to take one step back, yet she felt the rail of the balcony brush against her ankles. Harry gave a satisfied smirk, which she later on loathed.
"Miss, are you afraid of me?" She looked scandalized.
"Afraid? I, Hermione Granger, am afraid of you? Are you jesting me?"
"You have been stepping away from me ever since I introduced myself."
"I'm being cautious. You're a complete stranger."
"But you've seen me before, yes?" She frowned before hesitantly answering him,
"Yes, I have."
"But with what I'm seeing now, I assume that you think less of me?"
"I don't think less of anyone."
"Then how would you explain this?" He said, a smirk tugging at his lips. She took a moment to analyze the scene before her. It came to her mind that she was defensively leaning against the balcony, her face in a deep scowl as he stood meters from her, his hands folded neatly by his chest as a grin spread across his face. Her scowl softened slightly.
"You could not possibly blame royalty for being suspicious of everyone. Every person is a threat. And by every person, I mean noble men like you."
"So you are suspicious of everyone."
"I did not say that."
"But you just did, Miss."
"Don't mess with my head, Potter. It was directed to you, not to Great Britain's entirety!" Her voice raised a decibel higher, and Harry merely smiled as she realized the unreasonableness of it. Harry saw the slightest traces of a blush creep to her cheeks.
"My apologies." She whispered, her breathing escalating slightly as he took a few more steps towards her.
"You know Hermione, why do you waste your time among those men?" He said under his breath. She frowned at his statement.
"Mind you, it's not a waste of time. And besides, it's none of your bloody business." She suddenly saw Harry chuckling, making her somewhat perplexed.
"What's so funny?" she asked, pulsed by his actions. He stopped momentarily, although left with a few traces of laughter.
"I didn't know that a refined lady such as yourself swears."
"Well…believe it." She replied, her chin pointing high as she huffed a breath. Harry adored her lack of cooperation. It made her every bit more alluring.
"So, you did not answer my question." He stated. She looked back at him.
"What question?"
"As to why you waste your time with hundreds of twats?" Her face morphed into a scowl once again.
"How rude of you! For you information, they are not twats! Actually, some of them are quite lovely. One of them is actually fairly attractive, and none of them-and I am thankful for this- isn't anything like you." Somehow, she had managed to say that in one breath, having that being a nice addition to her point. Yet, instead of seeing Harry pulsed, he seemed pretty calm by her insult.
"But my lady, you know nothing about me." He stated simply. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows at him.
"Oh, but you're very much predictable Harry."
"How so?" He loved this conversation. It amused him to no end.
"Oh, please. You go through streets seducing innocent young daughters and miserable wives before leaving them empty handed the morning after. You use your charm and wit, and all that other ruddy traits that come with the package."
"So I am witty and charming?" He asked, a grin forming on his face. Hermione squinted her face in confusion.
"No…I just added that for emphasis, is all."
"Really now?" Harry quirked an eyebrow. Hermione gave a sigh, her palm landing onto her forehead. She was usually great with these kinds of dialogues, and usually, she always had the last word. Although something about him piqued her curiosity. He was clever. He was too clever, however, that it irritated her.
"If your goal is to seduce the daughter of the king, than I hate to disappoint you, but that is never to happen! Your silly charms do not work with me." She exclaimed, slightly proud of her aggression. It was later on that she regretted saying such at all.
"Really…" Harry trailed off. He took hastened steps towards her, and she felt claustrophobic all of a sudden. She held her breath in, suddenly conscious of her appearance as he stood just inches away from her. He stare was intense, almost impenetrable, as she tried to avoid it by any means possible. He saw her hand clutch tightly onto the stone rail of the balcony, and noticed her hitched breaths by the movement of her chest. It rose gracefully, making his pupils dilate with desire. He would not touch her this time.
Teasing is a part of the game he played.
"What do you think you're doing…! Stop this…" She stuttered slightly. He could already see the thin layer of sweat forming by her neck. It always started that way.
"I would not do anything to hurt you, princess." He replied, keeping his voice in a low, bare whisper. The space between them was so minimal, that he felt her hot breath against his skin. She stood still, all the while having a hot blush creep all the way up to her cheeks. He leaned in slowly, yet tentatively, and he felt her breath stop short.
In a swift movement, he took a few haste steps back, before jumping over the balcony.
Hermione's eyes widened as she stifled a scream.
Leaning over, she found him balancing just by the windowsill underneath. She let out a heavy sigh of relief.
"What do you think you're doing!" She whispered fiercely at him.
"Just keep quiet and don't say a word!"
"What do you mean 'don't say a word'?"
"Just do as I say Hermione!"
"What?"
"Lady Hermione?" Hermione twirled around gasping, only to find Rosa holding onto the scarf she had asked for moments ago.
"Rosa! Yes…why are you here?" She asked innocently. Rosa quirked an eyebrow.
"You asked me to fetch your scarf, miss." Hermione glanced backwards once again, only to find Harry safely on the ground. He gave a small bow, with eyes intensely gazing at her, before walking briskly away. She hasn't been that befuddled ever since…birth, honestly.
"Miss?" Rosa asked once more. Hermione turned to her once again, with eyes slightly dazed as she stared at the scarf in her slave's hands.
"Oh. Thank you Rosa, but the heat has gotten the best of me. I wouldn't need that anymore. My it's hot in here, isn't it?" She said quickly. Rosa, feeling slightly annoyed, merely nodded in reply.
"Very well, miss. We must go. You shall have breakfast with your father, yes?" Hermione nodded, all the while nibbling on her bottom lip. As both of them exited the room, Hermione couldn't help but look back and wonder on what had just happened.
On the other side of the road, Harry's grin grew wide as he strode past London, feeling the satisfaction of a job well done. Halting a carriage, he rode quickly, before vanishing within the long and winding streets of Great Britain.
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A/N: Simple dialogue exchange between the two. It's too early to let something happen, obviously. This, my friends, is a brainchild of a slightly major writer's block, and a tv show obsession. It's ruddy unhealthy, believe me.
Other than that, good day loves <3