Expect the Unseen – Chapter 10 (Action Taken)
Harry had been with Hermione at the time when Akylas found him. He hadn't expected the Slytherin to want to do anything with him. Considering on how he acted when he had tried to get Akylas to talk to him. And then when he had run away because Akylas had only wanting his fame.
Hermione had been the first one to comfort him and just listened. He had always known he could count on her and this was no different. She didn't dare to interrupt, knowing that Harry needed this. He needed to get this all out.
She knew that Harry had been trying to find Akylas for weeks, she had even given some suggestions of her own. But she also knew that she didn't know Akylas like Harry or Blaise did. Probably why she pushed Harry to talk to Blaise. She knew that Harry cared a lot for Akylas and now she wondered if she shouldn't have said anything.
Harry was hurt, that was obvious. And she knew that she couldn't take away his pain. But that didn't mean she didn't leave his side. She noticed that Harry didn't go and seek out Blaise. Did he have some other part in his? She wasn't sure and she wasn't about to seek him out just to find out.
But it didn't make any sense, from what she heard about Akylas. He had never seemed to be the one to care about fame, so why the sudden care for Harry's? So, she didn't know what to think of the Slytherin, but she wasn't pleased that he hurt Harry. She knew how sensitive he could be about this fame, he hated it from the moment she met him. That had been easy to tell. She had read stories about the famous Harry Potter, everyone had. But she knew the difference between what a book said and what was in front of her. But did Akylas?
She smirked when Harry admitted that he had kissed Akylas. She didn't know if Harry would have it in him. How much did Harry care about Akylas? But then Harry started pulling out the Invisibility Cloak, which she jerked off of him one night.
"Are you a Gryffindor or not?!"
Harry blushed, hung his head down.
"Harry… I know you're hurting and that's okay. But that doesn't mean you can hide from your problems."
Harry sighed but nodded. He knew that Hermione did have a point, it wasn't like he could use his cloak while going to classes.
And then he saw a familiar set of eyes, ones he would never forget. He figured Akylas would have loved the moments where he wasn't trying to find him. Not that he would now, he had been doing his best to forget about him. Which hadn't been working every well to begin with. So, why was Akylas here now?
"Why are you here?" Harry's tone was sharp.
Harry saw Akylas wince at his tone and suddenly felt slightly guilty.
"I messed up; I know I did. Blaise compared me to a Hufflepuff for hiding and he's right," Akylas revealed.
Hermione looked over at Akylas and then back at Harry.
"And yet you believe that you haven't done enough damage?" she asked. Though she didn't care about her tone if it offended Akylas, in her book, he deserved it.
"It wasn't intentional!"
"So, why say it?" Harry asked.
"I didn't mean for it to come across the way it did, it just slipped out. I know I can't compare to you…"
Harry crossed his arms, "So, is this a ploy of yours to just hurt or mock me now? Do you really think that I want to be compared? Do you really think so little of me?
"I've never thought little of you," Akylas protested. "And that's not it at all!
Harry snorted.
"Okay… maybe when I first met you. I assumed you were just like any other Gryffindor. I never met one that didn't hate Slytherins. It was bad enough that Blaise had to point it out to me after you left. I'm… not good at this, I know that. But I already knew I screwed up after you left. But I didn't want to be one of those that fawned after you. But I'm not here to mock or hurt you"
"Well I guess you never really knew him then, did you?" Hermione huffed but seemed to soften.
"Look, Harry doesn't like his fame, he doesn't like people pandering to him. So, why would he want you to do that?"
"I know that now," Akylas sighed while fiddling with the straps of the bag that Harry had gifted him. "But it's hard to think that he would want me at all, when he is just so..."
"So what?" She raised an eyebrow daring him to answer poorly
"So amazing? Brave? Helpful when he could have told me no… He had no reason to help me and yet he did…" He rambled, blushing to his ears. "He's a year above me and fairly popular not to mention attractive and well. I'm just a loner from Slytherin, why would he want anything to do with me?"
Hermione groaned, rolling her eyes.
"Save me from insecure boys…" she muttered before narrowing her eyes on him.
"Okay, fine. Look here. You obviously care about Harry and I know he cares about you. Even now, you're all he talks about. You're attractive and if the way that Harry speaks of you is true then can be witty and interesting too… And I cannot believe that I am encouraging the guy who hurt my best friend."
"Thanks… I guess…" Akylas mumbled, his ears turning slightly red.
"She narrowed her eyes at him, "but do this again. I will not hesitate to curse you that you wished you never met me."
Akylas gulped, "noted."
"Good," she turned her eyes over to Harry. "You both obviously have some things to talk about. And I rather not witness my best friend getting snogged."
"Hermione!" Harry shouted at her, scandalized, his face turning red.
She grinned at him before leaving.
"Even if your apology is a good one, it is obvious that you care about my fame. It's the only reason why you would have that said to begin with," Harry pointed out.
Akylas took Hermione's abandoned seat.
"Yes… it has crossed my mind, but not in the way you think. You could have anyone, Harry. Why me? I'm just some loner Slytherin. The only people that even know about me is Blaise and you," Akylas admitted.
"Then why me?" Harry shot back.
"Do I really have to say it again?" Akylas complained.
"So… every word of that was actually true? Not just because my best friend was here?"
Akylas nodded, "you already know I'm dead awful at Potions. But you're good at it and… it's a bit stunning to watch you so involved in something as simple as brewing. But Blaise had been right, I needed to be a Slytherin and not a Hufflepuff."
"Which is why you're here… And when I asked you to Slughorn's Party? Why did you say no?" Harry asked.
"I—I—"
"I thought you were joking… because there was no way that you wanted me as your date. That it was your way of mocking me, all because I had some stupid feelings for a Gryffindor…" Akylas mumbled.
"And now?" Harry asked.
"I know you weren't… but I panicked when I saw Dean kissing you. All I felt was hurt, the one person that I actually liked… I never believed you when you said that you hadn't known. That you only did this to rub it in my face."
"And what changed your mind?" Harry asked.
Akylas sighed, "Blaise… he said it was his idea. That he had told Dean to do if he saw me. That he had hoped it would have pushed me to act on my feelings… feelings that I felt were a joke. I didn't want to believe that I could actually have good luck in my life. How could I?"
Akylas bowed his head down when he heard Harry get up. He knew he lost his chance. He didn't think he could watch Harry leave. It would hurt too much, it already did knowing that he was leaving. He messed up the only good chance he had. Which wasn't much of one to begin with. All because he hadn't been watching on what he said. He doubted he would ever be able to change Harry's mind.
Suddenly he felt a warm hand on his chin. His eyes met a familiar set of emerald. He hadn't left? He could feel that Harry was only inches away from him.
"If I can have good luck with finding you, I think you're allowed the same. My main worry was that you rather have my fame and not me," Harry breathed.
Akylas leaned into the kiss before Harry touched his lips to his. He didn't want to screw up his chance again. He didn't want to run. He let his arms wrap around Harry. Since he was still sitting, they wrapped around his waist. Their first kiss had been so brief, that he wanted this one to last.
"And for the record, you're not some loner Slytherin, Akylas. That would mean you wouldn't know me or Blaise. But if you're willing to trust me with your emotions? Will you do the same?" Harry said.
Akylas nodded, "I think I can manage that. But no… I definitely don't want the fame."
This time, he initiated the next kiss. He didn't want to run and perhaps Granger was right to leave when she did… He took an unsteady step, so he wouldn't no longer be sitting. He could feel a hand in his hair and felt a smile grow on his lips. He didn't even care if his hair got messed up.
"Is that a smile I see," Harry grinned when they broke apart.
Akylas' face went pink, "so maybe there is one Gryffindor that I can tolerate…"
"Tolerate, hmm?" Harry laughed.
"Perhaps more than tolerate," Akylas amended.
"I'm not going to make you jealous because I can tolerate more than one Slytherin?"
Akylas shook his head, that didn't really bother him. He long knew about the friendship between Harry and Blaise.
"I don't ever do this… but… will you go to Hogsmeade… with me?"
Harry raised an eyebrow, "but you hate Hogsmeade!"
Akylas blushed, "yeah… but you like it…"
"Not going to stand me up at the last second are you and laugh about it?" Harry teased.
Akylas' eyes went wide, "now who's being unflattering about the other?"
Harry laughed.
"Ohhh…" Akylas mumbled, just realizing that Harry had only been teasing him.
Harry leaned in to kiss him again.
Harry wasn't sure if it was a mistake to stay and kiss Akylas… again…and again… He would always be near his mind and thoughts. Even more so now.
What was worse, Harry did believe on what Akylas said. That it had just been the slip of the tongue and he hadn't meant anything by it. Had he just overreacted about the entire thing?
And apparently Blaise had to say something to him about it. And Akylas had never mentioned about his fame in the past either. He couldn't help but blush on the things that Akylas had said. He had never really viewed himself as brave, even for a Gryffindor. And he doubted that Akylas truly knew what happened all his years at Hogwarts. The Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Sirius Black… So, what he knew probably was only on speculation. But he also knew the truth on what his life really was like. His life outside of Hogwarts. Something he knew that Akylas understood and didn't judge him for.
But he also learned on how insecure Akylas could be. He didn't know that was how he viewed himself. He honestly didn't think he was all that, he was just some sixth-year Gryffindor. A Gryffindor that probably got into too much trouble than he should.
And Akylas had actually kissed him. Though he had kissed Akylas that first time to show that Akylas could have good things too. Though there was a small part that wanted to kiss Akylas again. But there were times that he didn't think he should have good things happen to him, especially after everything the Dursleys had told him. But he had slowly learned to ignore that. He wanted something for himself, something that would make him happy.
Though Hermione had rolled her eyes later at him, muttering something about boys needing to actually talk to each other. And maybe that had been their issue to begin with. It could have all been avoided if Harry may have found out what Akylas was thinking at the time when the holiday had started. Had he known that the Slytherin thought he was mocking him; he didn't think it would be too hard to convince him otherwise. But Akylas did have the habit of shutting down when confronted. Especially if it was something he might not want to talk about. Harry felt that his feelings would have gone under that category. And despite the disaster of that evening, it again had been built up on assumptions. And Harry still regretted going to that party. But at the same time… he didn't.
Despite everything, even to the point of thinking that Akylas hated him. It had led to this. He still didn't exactly trust that Akylas didn't have his fame in mind. But he still hoped that wasn't the case.
Though Hermione had smacked him with her book for thinking that.
"If he cared about your fame, he wouldn't have gone all that way to show you this. I'll admit some Slytherins may have, just to prove that they have a convincing front. But that was no act, he didn't have to admit all of that in front of me. To put himself in a vulnerable position, no Slytherin would do that. But he also knew that I'm your best friend, which means I'm important to you. Should try to keep that in mind, Harry. And give Akylas a chance."
"I am giving him a chance," Harry protested as he rubbed his shoulder.
"Constantly thinking of ways that he may be after your fame is not giving him a chance," she pointed out.
"I'm not constantly thinking of ways!"
Hermione raised an unimpressed eyebrow at him, "you said that he asked you to Hogsmeade. Ask Professor McGonagall about taking one of the carriages there. It won't be as crowded if it were right before the holidays. And you also have February as well. Though I wouldn't take him to Madam Puddifoot's."
Harry paled; he had forgotten that Valentine's Day would be in two months. And he had been by there and definitely didn't want a repeat of that. That was place was enough to give someone nightmares.
Hermione laughed, "don't think too much. You know him better than me, so you should be able to find something to do. But despite this, I know you got hurt, but so did he. So, don't forget about that."
"Hermione!" Harry whined.
She laughed, "not my fault that you both don't know how to properly talk to one another. And no, I'm not helping you plan your date."
"Please Hermione…"
She rolled her eyes, "well if he's never been to Hogsmeade, have him try Butterbeer. I can recall the first time you tried it. Other than that, you're on your own. I'm not going to help plan a date that will end in disaster because I don't know what they like."
Harry instantly looked relieved and thanked her before rushing out. It was something of an idea, which was better than the nothing that he had started with.
Hermione shook her head, hopefully both Harry and Akylas had a good time. Though she doubted he would stop talking about him, now, even more so. But she rather have that comparted to when he was gloomy and just bemoaned about everything.