"Harry!" I shouted as I ran down the spiraling staircase in the Gryffindor House, exiting the girl's dormitory and heading down to the common room. I jumped, skipping the last two steps, and landed with a thud. Harry turned over his shoulder at the sound of his name and stopped walking when he saw it was me.
"Yes—Oof!" I attacked him in a hug, constricting his torso with my arm and digging my head into his shoulder. He laughed and hugged me back.
I lifted my head up, our arms still around each other, and exclaimed, "Today is the game!" My grin was so large that it was beginning to hurt my cheeks.
"Yes it is Rylee," he said, a smile on his face. "C'mon. I was just about to get breakfast with Ron."
We broke away and I noticed Ron, sensing it was time for our departure to the Great Hall, getting up from the couch. When his face was finally illuminated from the fire roaring the fireplace, I couldn't help but see that he appeared ill. His face was unnaturally pale and his was wearing a permanent frown. He had dark circles underneath his eyes from a sleepless night and little beads of sweat collected around the top of his head.
I was about to offer words of encouragement when Hermione bounced down the steps, looking quite cheerful, and announced, "Wait for me!" She too then noticed Ron's disheveled appearance and offered a weak smile.
"Let's go," Ron said and we obliged, all of us leaving the common room and going out into the corridor. I skipped next to Harry as we made our way, my spirits not hampered by Ron's gloomy state.
When we reached the Great Hall we found a secluded part of the table and sat down. I began to pile on the food that was on display and happily munched on it, causing crumbs to fall onto my shirt. But Harry wasn't going to allow Ron to stay in this mood; especially not before the first Quidditch game of the season.
"Don't worry Ron," Harry said, trying to offer support. "There's no need to be so nervous."
"Blimey, I can't help it Harry," Ron said, using his fork to poke at his now destroyed eggs.
"You're going to do great Ron," I said through bites of my English muffin.
"Well I don't know about that," Ron muttered.
"You're on the team for a reason," Hermione stated.
"Here," Harry said, grabbing a filled cup and putting it in front of Ron. "Drink up mate." Ron yanked the cup and downed it all in one gulp. He slammed it back on the table but still didn't sport a smile.
Hermione spotted Harry putting something back in his pocket. "Harry," she said. "What was that?"
"Nothing," Harry quickly responded.
"Was that," Hermione questioned, "was that your vial of Felix Felicis?" She looked up at Harry but he did not respond. "Where did you…" Her eyes roamed around and landed on Ron's now empty glass. Everyone else followed her gaze.
"Did you give me some of your Felix Felicis?" Ron asked, steadily looking more and more pleased that he now had luck on his side.
"Harry!" Hermione whispered sharply. She leaned in. "You could get suspended for that! That's cheating!"
"I'm not going to use it Hermione," Harry said nonchalantly. "So why not offer it to someone who needs it?"
"He's right!" Ron quickly said. "Thank you mate." His face was now full of smiles and he lifted up his arms to show off the muscles on his arms. "I'm feeling better already! I'm ready to play!" Ron shot up, energetic and pumped, grinned again, and then left the table, exiting the Great Hall.
Hermione continued to rant at Harry for what he had done but I wasn't buying any of it. When Harry looked over at me, I narrowed my eyes at him.
"What?" Harry asked. "Mad at me also?"
"No I'm not," I said. "Because I just happen to know that you didn't put anything in Ron's glass." Harry only smiled but this caught Hermione by surprise.
"What's going on?" Hermione questioned, looking at Harry then at me.
"I didn't put anything in there Hermione," Harry said. "I only wanted Ron to think I did."
"Why?"
"It helped him didn't it?" Harry countered. "Now he thinks he's going to have a perfect game, instead of moping around about it."
"Well aren't you smart," I said playfully. "Mister thoughtful."
Harry swung one leg over the bench in preparation to leave but not before turning his head and saying, "But of course."
I cupped my hands near my mouth and cheered as loud as I could. No one was sitting but instead standing up, yelling, booing, or screaming as one of the players almost got injured. I was standing next to Hermione, who would jump up and down at something positive, and Luna, exhibiting a giant lion head on top of her own, and holding a giant sign splashed in Gryffindor colors.
Ron smacked away another attempt at a goal and the Gryffindor section cheered wildly. I threw my hands in the air and squealed in delight. Ron was doing absolutely amazing; he hadn't let a single opponent make a goal on him. It was actually quite amusing also; he seemed to use his head to block it away. I had tried to keep my eyes on Harry but he would either be so high in the air or flying around so fast that it would be hard to keep track of him.
"Let's go Harry!" I shouted anyway, hoping that he heard it. But he couldn't have over the roar of the Gryffindors.
I had never had so much fun in my entire life. The entire match was so exciting and adrenaline pumping; and I had only been watching the game, I couldn't imagine actually playing it. My hands were already sore from clapping and high-fiving others around me and my throat felt like sand paper from my constant yelling. But I never let it stop me; it was all too thrilling.
I saw Harry rapidly descending from the sky and stop in the middle of the playing field. He was smiling and everyone waited in anticipation. He then raised his hand up, where a small, golden ball could barely be seen.
"And Harry Potter's caught the snitch!" shouted the announcer, causing an upheaval from the Gryffindor side of the arena. "Gryffindor wins!"
I screamed, turned towards Hermione, and we both jumped up and down in joy. My ears began to sting from the increase in volume but I paid no mind to it. I turned around and hugged Neville, who was standing behind me, who laughed and cheered even louder. I let go and swiveled around towards the field. Harry's eyes were on me already and I couldn't help but smile at him. I gave him a thumbs up and laughed and he joined in.
The music in the Gryffindor common room was almost as loud as the cheering from the game. Kids were dancing and laughing wildly; enjoying the victory of their first game. Ron was the center of attention from the moment the party had started; everyone wanted to talk to him and tell him how wonderful he had played. I had never seen him so happy.
I was in one of the corners with Harry, who was leaning against the wall. I had a cup of butterbeer in my hand and was staring at the mayhem of kids in the center of the room. The music was actually quite good and I found myself slowly swaying my hips from side to side.
Neville appeared out of the group and advanced towards me. "Want to dance Rylee?" he asked nervously.
"Sure!" I exclaimed. I set my cup down on one of the nearby tabletops and went towards the center of the room, where all the other kids were dancing to the alternative songs.
Our dancing didn't consist of any fluid moment or rhythmatic form. We just kind of moved from side to side and often laughed at how ridiculous we looked. Neville grabbed my hand and twirled me around. He still clutched my hand and I placed mine on his shoulder and we moved back and forth. It was so amusing that my stomach began to hurt from my constant laughter.
"You must dance all the time!" Neville joked, noticing my lack of balance. I glared at him and hit him playfully in the arm.
The song ended and we were about to dance again when a new voice was heard.
"Mind if I cut in?" Harry asked, standing before us.
"Not at all," Neville said. My hand was still in Neville's and he placed it in Harry's. He then turned and disappeared into the crowd.
I immediately blushed as Harry's hand touched mine and I began to get nervous. Harry smiled down at me and I couldn't help but return it. The song began and Harry placed his hand on my waist, which began to burn from his touch. I placed my hand on his shoulder and we began to dance.
It turned out to be even more ridiculous than before. Now it was Harry and I that lacked any skill; turning our attempt at dancing into a mess. We abandoned our hope that it would look alright and decided to do everything to look as silly as possible. I was pretty sure we looked completely loony but my nerves ceased and my laughter started again.
"Come here often?" Harry asked through the beat of the music.
I chuckled and held onto Harry's hand as I stretched outward then spun back in. He laughed and spun me around.
It was during the third song with Harry that someone ran into me from behind, propelling me forward and into Harry's chest. He caught me, wrapping his arms around my waist and causing the space in between us to disintegrate. I held onto him and looked up, my bangs falling onto my face. His eyes were glued to mine and our smiles disappeared as we realized how close we really were.
Harry's hand lifted up and gingerly tucked a stray piece of my hair behind my ear. His fingertips grazed across cheek then traced along my jaw line. I stared up at him, deep into his bright green eyes. He began to lean in, his lips getting closer and closer to mine.
The sound of loud cheering caused him to yank his head back. I quickly let go of him and got out of his grasp, turning my head from side to side to see if where the commotion was coming from.
Just a couple of feet over, Ron was kissing Lavender while others circled around them and yelled excitedly from the sight. I could not believe it. My mouth hung open and I rubbed my eyes to make sure I was really seeing this. Wasn't that the girl that he himself had called bloody crazy?
My eyes gazed over to see Hermione rushing past us and exiting the common room. Her face was concealed by her hands but I knew what was running through her mind and the pain she felt.
"Hermione!" I heard Harry yell. I looked over my shoulder to see Harry running after her. I looked back at Ron and Lavender, still not comprehending the situation in front of me. My brain felt as if it was going to explode from the mass amount of confusion that occurred in only a minute.
Ron and Lavender were one thing, but what the bloody hell just happened between Harry and I?