Forum: The Golden Snitch
Challenge: Through the Universe
Prompt: 85. Ionosphere — (Word) - Hormones
Elaine, Hogwarts, Slytherin.
Through the Universe Challenge.
Word Count: 534
Harry sighed dreamily as he got whiff of Daphne's sweet strawberry shampoo as she passed by him. He had always found her beautiful and attractive. Her long blonde hair tied elegantly in a braid, a mischievous glint always present in her eyes, and her laugh - that was the best.
He couldn't point out her flaws, couldn't find her any more perfect, until today, when she had fiercely defended a muggleborn, though aware of the fact that the bully belonged to her own house. She not only stood up for the little girl but made sure to stay with her till she felt okay.
That was how he'd found her - sitting on the ground of an empty corridor, and talking rather enthusiastically to the first year Gryffindor.
"Miss Jones, what are you doing here? It's after curfew!" Hermione chided the first year who looked horrified about the fact that she's broken a school rule. The Slytherin Prefect spoke up before the girl could have another breakdown. Harry, on the other hand, stood silently, not knowing what to do.
"She was with me the whole time, in fact, it was because of me she got late. I apologise for that." Daphne reasoned
"Why would you tell her to stay with you?" Oh god! Can't Hermione just accept an answer without reason for once?
"Miss Granger, she saved me." The first year finally spoke up after gaining some courage, and regaled them with the events that occurred. All the while, Harry felt a sense of pride filling him.
"Thank you for standing up for her, Miss Greengrass." Hermione sincerely thanked her. Daphne was the only Slytherin Hermione actually liked, even Ron approved of her.
"You don't have to be thankful, it's what anyone would have done. Anyway, it's getting quite late, I should go." She smiled brightly before turning her attention towards the little one. "And love, you can ask for my help any time you want." With a rather enthusiastic nod from the girl, Daphne turned around and went straight past a mute Harry, who had a beautiful blush adorning his cheeks.
"What?!" Harry asked Hermione as they reached back to their common room. "You've been staring at me the whole way back! Is there something in my face?"
"No! I don't see a reason why you wouldn't admit that you like her?" Hermione said in the most casual way, snickering at Harry's baffled reaction.
"I don't! I don't like her at all."
"Yeah right! You don't like her. You're totally infatuated with her. And don't you dare say it's the hormones!" She said seriously, because every time the topic of Daphne was brought up, Harry blamed it on stupid teenage hormones making him look like an utter fool.
"We aren't having this conversation again. I don't like her and that is the truth." He said as he stood up to leave for his dormitory.
"Yeah! You don't. The blush in your cheeks when she was talking was because of the hormones too. And they are the reason you act like a child whenever she's in your sight." Hermione laughed when Harry scampered away muttering something about 'stupid feelings and stupid girls' under his breath.