AN: Does anyone still reads this? LOL
I'm a bit unsure of how people will receive this, but I hope it is a good read either way.
This is a story about Gray and Juvia, so I'm not going into detail about the Triwizard Tournament's tasks. It will focus more on relationships other than the Tournament. For now. haha
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I Put A Spell On You
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Sixth Year – Part I
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When, at the night of the students' arrival at Hogwarts at their 6th year, Professor Makarov announced Hogwarts was going to hold the Triwizard Tournament, Juvia was confused to what exactly that event was and why people seemed surprised and excited with the prospect of it happening, especially the Gryffindors.
Apparently, Juvia learned, the Triwizard Tournament was a friendly competition between the wizarding schools: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Durmstrang Institute that dated seven hundred years ago. It was held every five years and it would be hosted by each school in turn, the judges for the Tournament would be the headmasters or headmistresses of the schools.
The champions were chosen by a cup, known as The Goblet of Fire. It would choose a Champion for each school and there would be three tasks to be won.
In the month prior to the arrival of the students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, Juvia had looked it up the Tournament in the library and she was surprised it had existed for almost seven hundred years and it was more dangerous than not.
Juvia was curious to see students from other schools, since she knew there were schools of Magic all around the world, the three participating in the Triwizard Tournament being the oldest, if she was not mistaken.
It made Juvia feel better to know most of her friends wouldn't be able to participate, but she still didn't like the idea or the Tournament at all.
She tried to keep it out of her mind by focusing on her boyfriend, who made Juvia a bit nervous. After they returned to Hogwarts the fact that Gray still didn't want people to know about their relationship, bothered her.
When it was only the two of them or when they were with their closest friends who knew about them, he was fine, a very good boyfriend who didn't care if she stole a kiss. The moment they were in public, though, they became just friends again and it frustrated her a lot.
She tried to tell herself he just needed time, he was a very private person after all. It still hurt, though.
On October 30th, just before dinner, Professor Makarov got everyone's attention and announced: "It appears our colleagues have just arrived. As I already told you, the tri-wizard tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school, a single contestant is selected to compete." He stopped for a moment and looked around the room, his mood darkening. "Now let me be very clear: if chosen you stand alone." Juvia looked to her right where Gajeel sat, a bad feeling inside her chest and looked back to the Headmaster. "Trust me when I say these contests are not for the faint hearted, but more of that later." His voice became lighter and rather bubbly, but didn't shake Juvia's bad feeling. "For now please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbatons Academy of magic and their headmistress Madam Laurent."
Juvia had to crane her neck up to see the group of girls that entered the Great Hall. Their uniforms were in a beautiful shade of blue, Juvia would love to have a uniform like that, with a hat and everything. They walked with poise and chins up in a perfect formation. An older woman walked behind the small group, she had her blonde hair up in a tight bun, worn glasses and had clothes that looked like a sober version of the uniform and in a much darker shade of blue. Juvia assumed that was Madame Laurent, the Headmistress, especially when Professor Makarov greeted her with a kiss on the back of her hand.
Makarov turned his attention to his students and said, loudly: "And now our friends from the north, please greet the proud sons of Durmstrang and the high master Jiemma Orland."
Having to once again crane her neck, Juvia watched as a group of young men entered the Great Hall, their uniforms were in brown color and seemed to be very warm. They came in singing some song in a foreign language and they all looked so… rough. Some of the girls sighed with the sight and it was understandable, there were some handsome dudes there.
Makarov shook hands with Orland and turned to his students: "Make them feel home, the relationship between our schools are very important to us."
#
Juvia and Gray were lying on a blanket on the floor, per usual – he was well aware Juvia enjoyed the Astronomy Tower during warmer nights because she could see the stars and they would go there at least once a week when the weather was nice.
He was kissing her and Juvia just surrendered, enjoying his slow and deep kiss and his weight on top of her, a hand under her skirt on her buttock, bringing her closer to him and both their shirts had their first few buttons opened. Ever since they had talked at Lucy's beach house about how far they would go, Gray had loosened up a lot and their snogging sessions had been incredibly fun and occasionally hot, like at that moment.
The blunette panted and gave him a few pecks on the lips as they tried to get their breaths back. Gray always stopped himself before they were too lost into each other to stop, neither of them was ready to go further, yet.
Pushing himself off her, Gray lied down next to Juvia and she snuggled closer to him. His eyes were closed and Juvia blushed, hiding her face on his chest because she was aware he was trying to calm himself, like he usually did whenever they were too enthusiastic about their snogging sessions.
"If the Tournament were to happen next year, I could put my name on the Goblet." He told her and Juvia looked up. He had a hand caressing her side from her hips to her ribs and Juvia was quite content with it. "But since I'm still sixteen…"
"Why would you want to put your name on the Goblet?" The blunette asked, curious. "This Tournament is very dangerous."
Gray looked down to her. "It is, but that's the point. It's about beating the tasks, just being a Champion means you are a great wizard, imagine actually winning, you know?"
Juvia thought for a moment and quietly nodded. She could understand the desire to win, to show how talented they were and to give their school the title. It would be a slap on the face of many people, if she won.
"Even so, do you know why we haven't had a Triwizard Tournament since 1792? Juvia looked it up: it was because one of the tasks was to catch a cockatrice. Remember that from Care of Magical Creatures? A cockatrice resembles a rooster with a lizard's tail, like a crocodile? Well, it escaped, went into a rampage and injured three judges."
"Really?" Gray raised an eyebrow.
"Yes." She nodded.
"Well, there's no way for us to put our names – trust me, I tried – so we're safe of cockatrices for the time being."
Juvia turned to lie on her stomach, she propped herself on her elbow and felt Gray's hand on her lower back. "Wait, you tried to put your name?"
"Oh yes, a few times." Gray shrugged. "Natsu too. Erza is seventeen, so she put hers with no trouble, but we can't." He sounded annoyed. "That is unfair." Juvia pinched his side and he complained. "Ouch, don't do that."
"Don't put yourself in unnecessary danger." She told him, stern. "Let's not mess with luck."
"I wasn't successful." He rolled his eyes. "Don't worry."
Juvia huffed in annoyance. "Juvia would like to see if you were the one dating a Gryffindor who likes to put himself in dangerous situations and not worry."
Gray chuckled. "I'm content with a Slytherin who puts herself in as much danger as I do, thank you."
Fighting her need to smile, Juvia said: "Juvia has no idea of what you are talking about."
"Of course you don't." Gray rolled to be on top of her once more. "May I remind you that you were part of Professor Jose's Dueling Club?" He kissed her lips lightly and then her jaw, down to her neck. "And that you go swimming every week on a Lake filled with magical creatures?"
"That is safe." Juvia whispered, her hands on Gray's back, trying to pull him closer to her.
"Sure it is." She felt the puff of air on her skin when he laughed. "Just admit it that you like danger as much as I do." He kissed the hollow of her throat and Juvia shuddered.
"Maybe." She answered, his lips on her cleavage and she couldn't take it anymore so she pulled him up for a kiss. "We just have five more minutes before we need to leave." She panted.
Gray nodded, their lips almost touching again. "Let's make it count."
#
Juvia sat next to Gajeel just as the lights were dimmed, the Great Hall was full as everyone was curious to know the Triwizard Champions. She thanked Merlin most of her friends were either out of school or younger than seventeen; like she told Gray, she didn't want them putting themselves in unnecessary danger.
"I thought you weren't coming." Gajeel whispered as Makarov started to speak about the Tournament.
"Couldn't miss it." She told her friend. "Everyone is curious on who's gonna represent us."
Gajeel snorted. "It's gonna be a fucking Gryffindor and we'll have to cheer for them." He smirked. "I hope it's a muggle-born or a half-blood so some of these bastards can just eat it." Juvia giggled and she looked towards the Gryffindor table to find her boyfriend and her friends focused on what their Headmaster was saying and she couldn't tell how relieved she was he wasn't able to enter the Tournament.
"…and now, the Goblet will tell us who will participate."
Juvia's eyes widened as Makarov slowly put his hand on the Goblet, its blue fire turned red and a paper flee up. It was actually a beautiful thing to see. Makarov took the flying paper and said, with a strong voice.
"The Durmstrang champion is: Sting Eucliff!" The boys from the Institute cheered and Juvia saw the blonde man get up, proud and with a smirk on his face as he received pats on the back. The students from the other schools also applauded, most of them had seen Sting around.
Sting shook Makarov's hand and the older man pointed to where Sting would need to go to wait for the other Champions and the moment he was out of the room, the blue fire turned red again and another paper flew.
"The Champion for Beauxbatons is Kagura Mikazuchi." The table with the Beauxbatons' ladies cheered in happiness and the Champion got up from her place, expressionless and chin raised. Juvia instantly knew she was a tough woman.
Makarov shook her hand and sent her the same direction he had sent Sting and the Goblet's fire turned red again and everyone was on the edge of their seats, it was time to know who would represent Hogwarts.
The Headmaster took the paper and read with a smile on his face. "The Hogwarts Champion is Erza Scarlet!"
Juvia and Gajeel cheered – they didn't care if the rest of the Slytherins just clapped – Erza was their friend. Erza was a magnificent witch and she would do well, make Hogwarts proud.
She watched as Erza got up, both Natsu and Gray offered their hands and she took them, both looking very proud of their friend.
Erza walked towards Makarov and shook his hand before taking the same path. "We now have our three champions!" He said loudly to calm the cheers down. "But in the end only one will go down in history. Only one will hoist this chalice of champions, this vessel of victory: the tri-wizard cup!"
Everyone 'awed' when the cup was revealed, it was beautiful but the cheering stopped when the Goblet's fire turned red once more.
Makarov frowned when he saw another paper fly out of it and there was a mortal silence in the Hall as the Hogwarts' headmaster took the paper in hand and whispered: "Natsu Dragneel."
Being one of the few who had heard him, Juvia's eyes widened and she looked towards the Gryffindors and apparently, Natsu had heard his name as well and he looked as confused as everyone else in the room.
"Natsu Dragneel!" Makarov said, loudly and that time everyone else heard it. "Natsu Dragneel!" This time, Makarov seemed angry.
Lucy whispered something to her boyfriend and Natsu got up, utterly confused, walking towards the older man, who gave him the paper and pointed to where the others had gone.
A Slytherin, she couldn't identify who, yelled: "He's a cheat! He's not seventeen!" The Headmasters from the schools followed the students and the teachers stayed to control the students.
After that, the whole Hall was a mess, people talking, protesting, getting up from their benches, including Gajeel and Juvia, who went straight to their friends and Juvia noticed her boyfriend hissing something at Lucy, who all but yell back.
"…bloody know, Gray! Now shut up about it, for Merlin's sake." Lucy scolded her friend, who made a sour face, crossed his arms over his chest. The blonde sighed in relief when she saw some of her friends from other houses come their way. She hugged Levy first, who arrived before Juvia and then her. "I have no idea what is going on. He-"
She was interrupted by Professor Gildarts' voice. "Everyone, go to your Common Rooms." People started to complain, but he shut them. "Right now." He rarely used that tone and the room quieted. "We are going to figure it out what happened but everyone needs to leave."
Juvia glanced at Gray, who was looking angrier and angrier by the second and all she wanted was to talk to him, but Professor Gildarts was already sending people away.
"We can all talk tomorrow when we have talked to Natsu." Lucy reassured them and Juvia felt Gajeel tugging on her hand, Gray glanced at her and gave her a nod and Juvia nodded slightly back.
"What in the bloody hell just happened?" Gajeel whispered when they were going with the rest of the Slytherin down to the dungeons. "I thought only people older than seventeen was allowed to put their names."
"Juvia too." She whispered back. "Gray-sama had told Juvia they had tried to put their names, but couldn't."
"The spell was too strong, I tried too."
"What?" Juvia's voice was loud enough that some people looked their way. "You too? Merlin, you and Gray-sama are going to be the death of Juvia one of these days."
"The thing is, it's bloody weird and something's bound to happen, but I don't know what so keep your guard up, Juvia. I will too." He looked down to his friend. "We are close to them and we might be involved in whatever is happening. Hell, you are dating Natsu's best friend."
"Shhh." No one seemed to hear, thankfully. "No one knows that, so don't worry."
"People will notice soon, but the point is, let's be extra careful." He told her and Juvia nodded. She could feel in her gut something was coming, she just didn't know what.
#
Gray was already there by the Lake when Juvia arrived. Before going to bed, Juvia wrote in a piece of paper they should meet and she knew he had read it when the words disappeared and new ones appeared, saying "Our spot by the Lake by 9". Levy had enchanted that paper – she was quite a clever one – so they could communicate, since they didn't share a communal room to be together.
He looked up when he heard her approach and got up, allowing her to put her arms around him and he searched her lips for a sweet 'hello' kiss.
"Good morning." She whispered.
He snorted softly. "Yeah."
Juvia frowned with his answer but decided to ignore. "So, how is Natsu-san?"
"Natsu." Gray said between gritted teeth. "He put his name on the Goblet somehow and he's not telling. Not even me. We tried together and failed, but he managed and…"
Now that didn't sound right. "Gray-sama, Juvia doesn't think he was expecting his name to be drawn at all. She was one of the first to see his expression and he was confused."
Gray looked at her and narrowed his eyes. "Are you taking his side?"
Juvia's eyes widened and she put her hands on his cheeks. "Gray-sama, this isn't about sides and if it were, Juvia would always be in yours. Do you really think Natsu-san would put his name and didn't tell you?"
"Now you just sound like Lucy." Gray groaned in annoyance but didn't step away from her. "But she is biased."
"Juvia is not." The blunette told her boyfriend. "It really felt as if he didn't know…"
"Argh, I hate not knowing." Gray took a step away from her and started to walk like a caged tiger, from one side to another. "A part of me wants to believe he had nothing to do with it, the other is just so fucking angry at him."
"Go talk to him." Juvia suggested. "You share a room, it's not going to be very hard to…"
Gray hesitated. "We did… Last night." He scowled. "He said things, I said things. I don't think we are on speaking terms right now."
The Slytherin sighed. "Gray-sama…"
"Look, it's fine." He told her a bit on the rude side but she didn't take personally – he had just fought with his best friend and was in a mood. "I just need to stop thinking about it for now. Everyone will be asking me shit about Natsu and I just need to take a moment to not hear that."
'So stubborn', Juvia thought with a sigh, 'but if he wanted distraction, Juvia could give it to him.'
Knowing almost no one walked that way, especially that early and she really doubted someone from the Durmstrang ship was out and looking their way, she walked in front of him, pulled him down to a kiss she instantly turned hot, arms around him, flushing their bodies together as much as she could, his own arms and she kissed him until he groaned into her lips and she had to breathe.
"Is this distraction good enough?" She asked, panting.
"Oh, yes." Gray nodded and kissed her once again.
#
One week later and Natsu and Gray were still silent towards one another and they were unbearable, Gray was always in a mood when they met and the moment she brought up the subject of Natsu, he'd grab her and kiss her until she was melting in his arms and forgot all about what she wanted to speak to him about.
"Natsu is the same." Lucy said as she and Juvia sat outside under a tree – it was still warm enough to not need their scarves and mittens – huffing in annoyance. "We are right and they want to shut us up."
"And they manage to." Juvia's cheeks color a bit and so does Lucy's, who cleared her throat.
"Yes." She nodded. "But the thing is, they know they have to talk and none wants to give the first step and it's making them feel like shite." Lucy sighed. "They are best friends. The three of us are friends and each has a different bond with each other, but those two… they really are best friends and being apart is making both sad."
"They are so sad." Juvia nodded. "They try to hide it, but… This week Gray-sama learned a new spell Juvia taught him and he said he had to show it to- and then he caught himself just in time."
"Anyone can see they need each other." Lucy said and before she could say anything else, the girls heard their names being called at the same time.
They looked up and saw Gray standing and a few feet away, Natsu, neither acknowledging the other.
"Lucy, come on." Natsu told his girlfriend. "You said we needed to study."
"Juvia, we should finish that parchment for Professor Polyuska."
Lucy and Juvia looked at each other and slowly, they got up, gathering their things and they walked towards their boyfriends until Lucy stopped Juvia before they could split when she saw Gray and Natsu give each other nasty looks.
"You know what?" Lucy said. "We are all going to study and finish that parchment anyways, we will go together." Juvia frowned with her friends' words, but went with it and just nodded in agreement – it made sense, after all.
"Lucy, you know-" Natsu started to say between his teeth but his girlfriend interrupted.
"I know you two are being two pig-headed bloody morons who need to talk and won't because of stupid pride." She looked at Gray and back to Natsu. "Juvia and I are friends and we are going to study together and you two are welcome to join if you are friends again. You going to resolve this little stupid fight today." She told them, stern, scolding like a mother would. "We will be at the Great Hall when you two resolve this." She took Juvia's hand and looked at them, while both looked baffled with her statement. "Today."
Juvia let herself be dragged by the Gryffindor and when she met her boyfriends' eyes, she hesitated but nodded her agreement to Lucy's words, which made Gray's eyes widen.
The last vision she had of the two, was of them looking at each other, serious, before she and Lucy got inside the castle.
#
"What the bloody hell did you two do?" Lucy said and Juvia, who was gathering her things after finishing her parchment, looked up to the Great Hall's entrance and her heart almost stopped with the sight.
Gray and Natsu entered the Hall, clothes unruly, dirty, their faces red and getting purple. They clearly had a physical fight.
"We're cool now." Natsu told his girlfriend who walked their way and Juvia wasn't too far behind, touching the swelling on his cheekbone.
"Turned out we just needed to punch each other a few times to get somethings straight." Gray snorted and when Juvia tried to touch his nose – which had a cut – he whispered. "We're in public."
Juvia tried not to show how much those words hurt her but she said, loud, so people could hear her. "Juvia is going to care for a friend no matter if you want or not, Gray-sama." She touched the nose and he hissed. "What were you two thinking?"
"Hey, you two were the ones who gave the ultimatum." Natsu shrugged.
"We were going to use our wands but things could get out of control…" Gray nodded.
"So you two decided to punch each other like barbarians instead of use your freaking words?" Lucy hit each of them on their shoulders.
"Ouch! Hey, you talk about not using violence and then hit us?" Gray asked.
"It seems the only way you two will listen!" Lucy was furious and Juvia wasn't too far behind. They didn't have to hurt each other, for Merlin's sake! "Come on, let's go see Polyuska. She'll stop the swelling and blood." She looked to Gray's nose and Lucy got her bag from the desk and started to lead her boyfriend away.
Juvia took away her parchment and quill and put on her bag while Gray waited and once they were moving out, she felt his hand on her lower back, which he removed after a few moments until he noticed where they were. Her heart ached for the day where they didn't have to hide their relationship.
She frowned when she felt as if someone was watching her so she looked behind, scouting the Great Hall and at the desk designated for the Durmstrang students, she saw the beautiful long haired blonde man looking straight at her and she frowned, but let it slide when his attention returned to his friend – perhaps he was just curious about the altercation.
Juvia shrugged it off and went with her boyfriend to the infirmary.
#
The first task had been stealing a golden egg from a dragon. Juvia had never seen a dragon before and seeing four in a space of a few hours, she was terrified of them, especially when one of them escaped to chase Natsu around when he had used a spell to summon a broom to fly away.
Gray had given the idea while Wendy, their young friend, had given him a potion to stop him being sick and it had worked, thankfully. Natsu had survived the first task and Gray sneaked out the party to meet her quickly, celebrating – she couldn't very well get in the Gryffindor Common Room and she was happy to see his wide smile she didn't care. They shared a few kisses and Juvia told him to go back and she returned to the Slytherin Common Room and shared some fire whiskey with Gajeel, who told her he had kissed Levy earlier that day. Finally.
A few days after the First Task, the news of a Ball stirred the castle and Juvia couldn't contain herself with her excitement. Going to a Ball with Gray? That was a dream coming true! She was sure they would out their relationship then.
She was walking alone on the corridor one afternoon when she had a free time, going towards the bathroom when she saw someone catch up and walk by her side and she was surprised to see a Durmstrang student, the one with long blonde hair tied in a small ponytail by a large, dark band tied close to the end and looking absolutely pretty. Her Gray-sama really didn't like him, he said all the conflicts they had with Durmstrang he, Rufus Lore, pissed Gray off.
"Hello." He said, his accent not as heavy as she expected.
"Uh… hi." Juvia replied, confused, and stopped walking. "Can Juvia help you?"
"Ah, Juvia. Such a beautiful name." He smiled, charming all the way and were Juvia not dating Gray, she would've melted. "I have seen you around, Miss Juvia. You are hard to miss." He pointed to the pigtails she was wearing that afternoon. "Such a beautiful and rare shade of blue in a much more beautiful girl is difficult to ignore."
She didn't want to, but she was sure her cheeks got red. "Thank you, Lore-san-"
"Rufus, please." He interrupted.
"Rufus-san." She conceded. "But… Juvia is confused to why you stopped her."
He took a step closer to her, his dark green eyes sparkling beautifully. "Well, Miss Juvia, the Yule Ball is in just a week and I was wondering if you'd consider going with me." To say she was surprised was an understatement and he chuckled with her expression. "This is to promote a good relationship between schools, isn't it? What's better than going to the Ball together?"
Juvia was still surprised but she gathered her wits quickly. "Well, Rufus-san, thank you for asking, but Juvia has a boyfriend-"
"Gray Fullbuster, isn't it?" He asked and Juvia stilled.
"Juvia doesn't know what you are talking about." She cleared her throat.
"Oh, you are still keeping it a secret? I have seen from the boat a few mornings you two by the lake." He asked, curious. "Don't know why to hide but you must have your reasons." Rufus shrugged. "Since you two are secretive about it, has he asked you to go with him yet?" Her expression must've been answer enough because Rufus nodded. "I see he hasn't."
"I didn't think he would need to." Juvia told him, cold.
He bowed his head slightly. "Of course. I'm sorry for intrude. If you do need a date for the Ball, I will be here, Miss Juvia." He took her hand and kissed it before he left and Juvia was more than confused.
He wasn't right. Her Gray-sama would take her to the Yule Ball.
Right?
#
The next day when they teamed up to write a parchment during Potions, Juvia asked casually. "About the Yule Ball…"
"Oh, I'm taking Erza to the ball." Juvia's whole body froze and she looked at him in disbelief, but he kept on writing his answer on his parchment without noticing her reaction to the news. "No one knows about us beside our closest friends; going together would defeat the purpose of hiding, plus, she needs to take someone people know is just her friend, otherwise rumors might start."
Juvia couldn't believe in what she was hearing. Gray was going to the ball with Erza instead of with her and didn't seem concerned at all about how Juvia was going to react to it. Did he even consider taking her, the girl he has been with for the past few months?
"I'm done." Gray told her. Still a bit dazed, Juvia nodded and stood up, walking towards Polyuska and giving her assignment, followed by Gray. She got her bag and rushed outside the class – she needed some time so she could try to process what Gray had just told her – she could feel something she hadn't for years: a cloud forming and she was trying to fight it off the best she could. Thankfully her Common Room was already at the dungeons "You are walking too fast." Gray said from a bit behind her, but Juvia didn't slow down. Her eyes were burning – she knew crying was eminent and she really didn't want him to see it. "Juvia, slow down."
"Juvia's going to her Common Room." She mumbled without turning his way and was about to turn in the direction of the room when she felt Gray grab her wrist.
"What? Are you okay? We have around twenty minutes before…" He was cut off by her.
"Did you even consider taking me to the Yule Ball?" Juvia asked, trying to contain herself.
"What?" He frowned. "We are hiding this, remember?"
"Because you want it hidden." Juvia told him. "And you are taking Erza-san instead?"
"She commented something about needing someone to take her and I volunteered. She knows we are hiding our relationship, so it made sense."
"It made sense?" She repeated in disbelief. "You are going to the Yule Ball with someone else. You wouldn't care if Juvia went with someone else?"
"Not really. We have friends you can go with." Gray shrugged. "I know it's me you are dating; some stupid ball won't change anything."
Juvia sighed. "Of course you'd think that."
He frowned. "What does that mean?"
"Nothing, it's fine." The Slytherin shook her head. "Juvia needs to go."
"I'll see you tonight?" Gray asked.
Usually Juvia would jump at any opportunity to spend more time with Gray but not that night, she was too sad her boyfriend didn't want to take her to the Yule Ball and she'd be an awful company.
"No." She told him and Gray was clearly confused, knowing she always looked for excuses to be with him. "Juvia thinks she will sleep early."
"Oh." He frowned again and then asked, concerned, when she took a step back. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, of course, Gray-sama." Juvia nodded and tried to smile, but she felt the cloud was just a few moments to be formed. "See you tomorrow."
"Sure." Gray's frown deepened.
Juvia practically ran to the Common Room, where she sat by the corner of it and started to cry, the cloud forming above her head and then her tears were mixed with the rain for a while. Most people who got inside the Common Room and knew her history, ignored her, the newest members were confused but when Gajeel arrived and saw her, he took purpose steps in her direction.
"What did he do?" Gajeel asked, already angry. "You haven't make it rain like that since you fell in love with him." He stepped under the cloud, kneeling in front of her and getting wet, but didn't seem to mind. "Juvia?"
She told him quickly what had happened and Gajeel cussed. "Daft son of a bitch. Even I know that was a dick move." Gajeel sighed and pulled her from the couch so he could sit and put her on his lap, where she curled around him, still crying, hiding her face on the crook of his neck – he helped the rain stop like that ever since they were kids, that's why there was a rumor about them being romantically involved. "Do you want me to hex him? Punch him?" She shook her head and he sighed. "What can I do, then?"
"Just… let's stay like this for a minute." He hummed his agreement and they stayed in silence for a few moments, the rain fading slowly until it was completely gone and so were her tears. "Do you think…?"
"Hm?"
"Do you think he's… ashamed?" She asked in a whisper.
"Ashamed?"
"Aside from being a Slytherin, Juvia is a mudblood, his family was an old pure-blood one." She told him. "He is the last Fullbuster, Juvia was born muggle."
Gajeel raised his eyebrow. "Oh, if it's that, you will not stop me to fucking hex his ass." He growled. "But you have to ask him, Juvia. Remember when I assumed Levy would never forgive me? Not only she did, but I'm taking her to the Ball. You were right then, talking helped and you need to do that with your boyfriend."
Juvia giggled despite of herself. "Who would've thought one day you would be the one to give Juvia advise?"
He snorted. "The world must be close to ending."
She smiled and kissed his cheek. "Thank you. Juvia will talk to him after the ball. Now, there's not much use. Juvia can't tell him to break his promise to Erza-san less than a week for the Ball."
"You are not going, are you?" Gajeel asked with a sigh.
"Probably not." She shrugged. "Juvia will talk to the girls tomorrow.
"You do that." He nodded. "Now dry your mess and me too, I'm soaked. Stupid woman making rain inside the castle because of a daft dude." Juvia giggled, her friend's harshness always made her feel better.
#
"That bloody moron." Cana's reaction of Juvia's tale about Gray's reasoning for going with Erza to the Ball. "I swear to god, Gray is the thickest headed man alive."
"I think he shares the title with some other men we know." Lucy snorted.
"I will have a word with Erza. What was she thinking when she said yes?" Cana was furious. "Gray too, oh, I will."
"Please, don't." Juvia begged. "It's who he is."
"Oh, I know it's who he is: a moron." The brunette said. "You should've told him to fuck off."
"Juvia couldn't." She sighed.
"Do you want me to?" Cana asked. "I'll gladly do it."
"I volunteer to yell at him as well." Lucy told Juvia. "I swear to god I tried to educate that boy but he has such a thick head."
"Miss Juvia." A beautiful deep voice said and Juvia looked behind herself to see Rufus Lore, in his Durmstrang brown uniform, long blonde hair tied in a small ponytail by a large, dark band tied close to the end as usual. "Miss Heartfilia, Miss Alberona."
"Hey." Cana greeted and frowned.
"Hello." Lucy was also confused.
"It is a nice afternoon, isn't it?" He said casually and the three girls nodded. "May I speak with Miss Juvia for a moment?" Both girls looked at the blunette, who nodded. "Marvelous."
Juvia took a few steps closer to the blonde young man, who took a few steps back to have more privacy – as much privacy as one can get in a situation like that. "Hello, Rufus-san."
"Have you considered my offer?" Oh, he was a charmer, through and through, smiling like that and looking at her with those deep green eyes.
"Juvia has told you she can't." The blunette told him again. "She has-"
"A boyfriend, I know." Rufus nodded. "But as far as I heard, he is to attend the ball with one of Hogwarts' Champions: Miss Erza or I was misinformed?"
Reluctantly she agreed. "You weren't misinformed."
"Who are going with, then?"
"No one." She sighed. "Perhaps Juvia won't go at all. She doesn't feel like going."
He frowned. "Now that won't do. A pretty girl missing a ball because her boyfriend is too stupid to appreciate her? I was going to do this to annoy Gray Fullbuster but now I can't let you miss it."
Juvia offered him a small smile. "Thank you, but-"
Cana's voice interrupted Juvia. "Excuse me. I was overhearing on purpose so let me ask you something." She stepped closer to the duo and was staring at the blond man. "Have you asked Juvia to go with you to the Yule Ball?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"She is a pretty girl, of course I would-"
Cana snorted. "Try again."
He eyed her for a moment. "To annoy Gray Fullbuster."
The brunette smirked. "Oh, my friend. You couldn't have appeared in a better moment."
#
When Gray asked with whom she was going to the ball with, Juvia told him she was going with someone Cana found for her and he shrugged it off. He was sure a ball wouldn't change a thing about them but he had another thing coming.
She shouldn't have left Cana set her to go with Rufus, but before she could say anything, they were already shook on it and Juvia's date was the Durmstrang boy, who, strangely enough, wasn't bad company during the few minutes they had spent together for the past few days.
He was very charming and could be funny, so spending a couple of hours with him at the ball wouldn't be too much of a chore. She'd much prefer to go with Gray, but since he wasn't available… At least she'd have good company.
Juvia looked herself in the mirror and even though she was supposed to feel bad for not going with Gray, she looked the prettiest she ever had in her life. Lucy's dress fit her like a glove.
Long and pink and loose form her waist down, a darker pink bow under her breasts; the fact that her cleavage would be very noticeable bothered her a little but the girls told her it only enhanced her assets, so it made her feel better. Her hair was in a side braid turned into a bun, her lips were rosy with lipstick and there was just a bit of dark shadow on her eyelids to enhance her blue eyes. Plus the long gloves to match, Juvia really did feel beautiful.
She felt like a princess, as she had dreamed of when she was a lonely child at her orphanage.
Lucy had left half an hour before because she was needed to enter with Natsu first but the girls went as a group once everyone was done – the Vanishing room had been quite useful – and their dates waited for them at the entrance of the Great Hall.
Finding Rufus had been easy, his blonde hair was easy to spot and he was wearing the formal clothes of his school, a red tux with a red cape with fur over one shoulder and of course he was the most handsome guy around at that moment.
The moment he saw her, his eyes widened at the sight and even though she was happy he clearly thought she looked pretty, she had wanted that reaction from her boyfriend, not him.
"Miss Juvia." Rufus said, looking her up and down, taking a gloved hand and kissing it. "I am so very glad I insisted on annoying Fullbuster because now I believe I will have the most beautiful girl in this castle in my arm."
"You flatter me, Rufus-san." She smiled. "You look very handsome yourself."
"I know." He winked and Juvia giggled. "Just let me tell my friends my date has arrived and I will be right back."
"Of course." She nodded and saw him leaving.
A few seconds after Rufus' departure, there was some ruckus and Juvia looked over his shoulder and saw the Champions and their dates. She spotted her Gray-sama in his dark tux, handsome as ever and she couldn't help it but to smile. She saw the moment he found her, his eyes widened and his mouth opened a bit in shock. Now she knew what felt to have him to see her while she felt beautiful.
Juvia smiled brightly his way and gave him a small wave, which he reciprocated and he even smiled but it faded the moment Rufus was back, touching her shoulder.
"All done. Shall we?" He offered his arm and she took it, glancing at Gray, who's eyes were widened for another reason entirely, then. "Don't look at him." Rufus whispered. "You and I will make him absolutely jealous tonight."
"Rufus-san-" Juvia looked at him while he escorted her inside.
He chuckled. "Don't worry, I am in a relationship too, I'm really just doing this to piss him off. It's fun for me and you get to teach him a lesson."
"Juvia didn't want to teach him a lesson." She told him.
"Your friends do, so let them teach it for you, then." He smiled and Juvia couldn't help it but to put a gloved hand over her mouth to hide a giggle. "By the end of the night, he will want the world to know you are his girlfriend."
#
They champions looked so beautiful dancing at the opening of the Ball, even her Gray-sama and Erza looked amazing dancing. She felt jealous, so jealous she wanted to hex her to let go off of Gray, but she knew they were only friends. Yet, she should've been the one in his arms, not her.
"Come." Rufus took her hand when other dancers were allowed to the dancefloor. "Let's dance."
"Juvia doesn't know how to-" She told him, but by then, she was already on the dancefloor, his hand on her lower back and started to move with her along the crowd and she squealed when he picked her up, swirling around himself and putting her on the ground again, making her giggle as they fell into the steps of the dance she didn't know of. "Oh, Merlin!"
They danced alongside with the others long enough for Juvia to figure out the steps very roughly and she laughed whenever he picked her up but then the music change and Juvia told him she needed to drink something.
Rufus pulled her by the hand to a table and brought them some smuggled fire whiskey. "Oh, that was fun."
"You were a natural." He told her.
Juvia smiled and took a few sips of the whiskey. "She isn't, but thanks for not complaining about Juvia stepping on your toes."
"Durmstrang men are strong, do not worry." He took a sip of his beer and leaned closer, asking her to do the same. "Do not look, but your boyfriend is looking this way. So I'm putting my hand over yours in an innocent way so he gets riled up." He did what he said. "It would help if you giggled as if I said something funny." He smiled and Juvia couldn't help it but to do so for real. "Good. He's staring at me as if he wants to Avada Kedavra my ass, so my night is won, I got what I wanted." He laughed and that time Juvia laughed as well, gosh, she shouldn't, it was wrong and perhaps it was the whiskey going up to her head. "Now, let's make him even more jealous. I imagine before the night ends, you will have a serious conversation."
"Perhaps it's time we should." She sighed. "He wants our relationship hidden, but Juvia wants to shout it from the rooftops."
"I see."
"Did your girlfriend had any issue like that?" Juvia asked.
"Boyfriend." He corrected her. "And yes, he did at first."
"Why?" She asked. "You are quite a catch."
"And so are you." Rufus chuckled. "Johann was afraid I would dump him and then everyone would know we ended things. But then I managed to convince him I loved him and had no plans of letting him go. We finally went public and we've been together for two years."
Juvia smiled sweetly. "Good for both of you. Is he here?"
"No, he's a year younger so he stayed in Durmstrang."
"You must miss him very much." She put a hand over his in sympathy.
"I do." He sighed. "We write to each other, but it's not the same."
"It isn't." Juvia agreed. "Now tell me, is he handsome?"
Rufus laughed. "He is. I like beautiful people, inside and out. Man, woman, doesn't matter. But Johann is the most beautiful person I know. He looks a lot like Gray Fullbuster, actually, except Johann's hair is brown and his eyes are hazel. Perhaps that's why I like to bother him so much. And because I liked you so much too."
"Me?" She was confused.
"You remind me of his kindness. You let your boyfriend go out to a Ball with another woman because it was his wish to hide your relationship for a while and you didn't have his head for it. Or hers. And for what I could see during out short talks, you are a very kind person. Like my Johann."
"Thank you." She was sure blushing.
"Merlin, you look beautiful." Rufus rested his head on his hand, elbow on the table. "If I didn't have my Johann, Gray Fullbuster would have serious competition today."
Juvia laughed. "Gray-sama never has competition."
"Do not challenge me, Juvia." Rufus chuckled.
The blunette and the blonde kept talking for a few more minutes before going dancing again, Juvia was glad she had gone. Perhaps letting Cana set her up hadn't been so bad after all.
#
Juvia was on her way to the bathroom to retouch her make-up to make sure she looked presentable still when she felt someone grab her hand and pull her to an empty hall.
"Gray-sama?" Juvia asked.
He stopped, turned around and his face was furious. "What in the bloody hell do you think you are doing?"
Juvia, still confused and had had a glass or four of fire whiskey, tilted her head. "Juvia was going to the bathroom?"
"What? No!" Gray said. "Coming to the Ball with Rufus Lore!"
"Oh, that." She finally realized. "He asked and Cana-san said yes."
"Cana?" He was confused. "Why did you come, then?"
"Because he asked and it wasn't like she could come with you." She shrugged, the whiskey was clearly affecting her. "He is nice, though. You should see for yourself."
"All I could see were his paws all over you all night long." Gray hissed. "I am going to murder Cana." Gray started to pace. "You should have told me."
"Why? You only told Juvia about going with Erza-san when you two already agreed to it." She shrugged –alright, no more alcohol tonight for her.
"I told you why."
"And you didn't ask Juvia if it was alright to her. You didn't even think of her when you made that decision." Her eyes watered. "Are you ashamed of me?" Her sudden question made him stop on his tracks – he definitely shouldn't have drunk that much.
"What?"
"You don't want anyone to know we are dating." She slurred the words a bit. "Is it because she's a Slytherin? Or because she's muggle-born? Juvia knows your family was pure-blood and she's a mudblood and-"
He looked at her in horror. "Wow, wow, wow. Stop right there. What in the bloody hell are you saying? I never cared for that. Ever."
"Then why?" Her eyes watered. "Do you know how hard it is not to touch you when we are in public? Or that day when you and Natsu-san fought and you didn't let Juvia tend to you right away because of what people might think? Tell me why if it's not shame, because this hurts, Gray-sama. Hurts a lot to be with you but not be able to be with you."
Gray took a few steps closer to her and put a hand on her cheek. "Juvia, I had no idea it bothered you that much the fact we were hiding our relationship."
"It does." Her eyes watered even more. "A lot."
"Fuck." He pulled her to a hug and kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry. Look, I've never dated anyone for such a long time and I don't like people gossiping over my life. People would stare, gossip, say shit about us. People from your house and mine are going to have a lot to say about this. I was trying to avoid that."
"Juvia doesn't mean for you to snog the hell out of her at the Great Hall at dinner, Gray-sama." Juvia told him, still in his arms. "She hates to contain herself when she wants to touch you, or to not give you a peck on the lips in the morning when Juvia sees you, or hold your hands for five minutes." She whispered. "And about our Houses, Juvia has been ready to face them from day one. They won't get to us if we don't let them."
Gray sighed. "Yeah, you are right. I'm sorry I hurt you and I am sorry I wasn't the one to bring you to the Ball. Seeing you with him made me realize how stupid I was."
"It's alright, Rufus-san was a good date." She realized she shouldn't have said that because she was sure the vein on his forehead would pop at any moment. "Sorry. Juvia would've loved to be your date tonight much, much, much more."
"I fucked it up and I am sorry." He told her. "Can you forgive me?"
Juvia wanted to snort at that: there were just a handful of things she wouldn't forgive him for. "Yes." He nodded and kissed her, Juvia surrendered to it rather quickly.
"Go to the bathroom like you planned." He told her.
"Juvia just wanted to retouch her make-up." She told him.
"No need to go, then. It looks fine." Gray grabbed her hand and pulled her back to the Great Hall.
"Uh… Gray-sama." Juvia tried to untangle her hand from his as they entered the room. "People…"
He didn't care, just took her to the middle of the dancefloor where many couples were slow-dancing and pulled her against him, starting to dance with her and to her surprise, he leaned and kissed her on the mouth, slowly but sweetly and Juvia could never resist it.
"No more hiding." He told her as they danced.
Juvia was sure people were staring, gossiping, plotting, whatever, but she didn't care because she tip-toed and kissed him just because she could. They were not hiding anymore and she couldn't be happier.
Once they stopped kissing and just danced, Juvia found Rufus in the crowd, she mouthed 'thank you' and with the glass his hand and he raised it her way, mouthing 'you are welcome'.
#
AN: First things first: Juvia's dress is the same she wears on the cover of chapter 129, if you want to look up. Just changed her hair.
I think Gray and Rufus' little piss contest could've been so much more in canon so I decided to explore it a little and Juvia needed a little push to tell her feelings about dating in the shadows. She's the type of person who would suffer quiet. Rufus and Cana (for accepting it) gave her the push both her and Gray needed. Gray "let her" go with another guy because he though she either wouldn't do it or would choose someone like, I don't know, Warren, to go. He thought there was no threat.
AND THEN BAM, RUFUS THAT GORGEOUS MAN IS IN THE PICTURE. In your face, Gray. In. Your. Face.
Also, Erza. I had to make her do something as stupid as asking Gray to leave Juvia behind with no information at all. Sorry if there are any Erza lovers reading this, but it was a dick move I can never forget or forgive. LOL Don't worry, I also think Gray was a dick for accepting so we're all good.
I hope it was a nice chapter.
Up next: The Houses reactions with a Gryffindor and a Slytherin in a relationship. ;)
Thanks to: Guest, LauMar924, Cigs98, P. FullbusterBelieve, Kimchimustard, AriaLuvsInu, KisekiNoSekai, Kyogan-Saori, SongBird1205, BubblySweets, Smu (all the snogging wording is intentional haha), Guest, Partei7, SazHearT, Yuu, ILoveSxS, Snavej, GruviaLover, qurz058, Ememi-05, Glowing Roses, httpsanime, Adele, mishahino, Dragonll237, BabyCakes25, cravenato426, blueberrrykisses, Amandineylan, Dark Temi (teve, mas não como as pessoas esperavam, aposto KKKKK), ristinaice, wilathewitch, juviarainworld, TheUniqueFangirl, Guest, Guest, Guest, Vanessa, princezuko98, Anon, Guest, chanting-to-u, princezuko98, Guest, meowica97, Guest, Guest, Guest, Guest and fyriagitawho reviewed! You give me life!
09/30/2017 ~ BonneyQ