A/N: This chapter corresponds with the last one, only it's in Harry's POV. Well, enjoy!
LET GO
CHAPTER 6:
SWEETEST ARE THE STOLEN KISSES
"I don't know, Professor... It just doesn't feel right... I mean, deceiving people on purpose... That's not who I am..." Harry was anxiously sitting in front of Dumbledore's desk, his butt resting on the edge of the seat in fervent hope.
"I know, Harry. But keep in mind that the wizarding world depends on this happening. You know that."
"I know, I know. Can't I at least tell Ron and Hermione about it?"
"No. You cannot do that. It could ruin the effect."
Harry sighed. "But still, it might not even work. Right now, she's not even talking to me..."
"Why is that?" Harry told him about the classroom incident and Dumbledore nodded his understanding.
"Harry, I don't think this is really my kind of department. I haven't been out with a young woman in years." Harry sighed. "But I can tell you this much. Although she's never come right out and said it, I think she likes you."
Harry's eyes widened with joy. "Really?"
Dumbledore shrugged. "Yes, well, I do catch her looking at you across the table in the Great Hall every once in a while. She's a smart girl. She'll soon realize she has feelings for you and then the Prophecy can-"
Harry laughed. "I wouldn't go that far, Professor. Right now, I just want to be her friend."
Dumbledore smiled. "Always were a gentlemen, Harry." Harry blushed. Dumbledore glanced at his watch. "Dear me, my next appointment is running a bit late. I hope she has a good reason."
"I guess I'll take my leave then, Professor." Harry held out his hand and Dumbledore shook it. "Thanks again."
He got up from his seat and walked over to the door, closing it behind him. He was halfway down the stairs when something, or someone rather, ran into him. He fell back with an 'Oomph.' Accepting the offered hand of the person who knocked him off his feet, he got up, dusting himself off.
"Oh, sorry Harry..."
It was Sheila. Even when her face was full of concern, she looked cute.
"It's okay." Harry mumbled then continued down the stairs.
~*~*~
Sheila wanted to talk to him and on any other day he would have been thrilled, but right now all Harry wanted to do was sit down. Eating too much could really make someone feel sick.
*'Oh shit. She asked about what happened in the classroom'* He took a deep breath. *'Just act really pissed off or something.'*
He sighed. "Don't you think I know that? Remember, you're the one that walked away from my proposal! You hurt me!" He was starting to get angry. "I really do like you, Sheila, and I understand if you don't feel the same way, but I'll be damned if I'm going to just stand here and listen to you rub it in some more!" He made a grab for the portrait again, but she slapped his hand away.
*'Why does she keep doing that?! I just want to sit down...'*
Sheila took a deep breath and looked at him. "I feel-"
*'This is it!'* Harry reeled back as the portrait swung open, smacking him in the face. He could hear Dean and Seamus on the other side, obviously drunk.
*'Those gits!'*
Harry peeked around the side of the portrait's frame and could see Sheila watching Dean and Seamus go down the hall. Without making any noise, he snuck into the common room, closing the portrait behind him, leaving Sheila out in the hall in complete confusion.
~*~*~
"Why'd you go and do something like that for?" Ron moved his piece two squares to the right. "Go. It's your move."
"I don't know why I even bother." He said, moving his chosen piece.
"I don't either. I mean I kick your ass EVERY TIME we play Wizard's Chess..."
Harry glared at his best friend across the board. "Not that, you wanker, I was talking about Sheila."
"Oh right. Her... So, what about her?"
"Did you not listen to a word of my story? Ron, she finally came up to me, willing to talk, and what'd I do? I go and get hit in the face with a portrait and sneak away with a bloody nose." Harry adjusted the Kleenex that was stuck up his nostril. "I'm so stupid!"
"No you're not. You just got scared that's all. She's a good girl. If she was courageous enough to talk to you just now, she'll be courageous enough to do it again. Don't worry about it." Ron made his final move, grinning triumphantly. "Checkmate!"
But Harry wasn't paying attention. He was too busy watching Sheila walk across the common room and out the portrait hole without so much as a glance in his direction.
"I'm going to bed." He mumbled. He got up from the little table in the corner and went upstairs to his bedroom, despite Ron's objections.
~*~*~
Harry couldn't sleep. He felt tired, but his mind just wasn't willing to shut down as of yet. It was still too focused on Sheila. For some reason, he just had this feeling of impending doom due to this plan. He shut his eyes, but they quickly snapped back open.
"This is impossible..."
He quietly got out of bed, throwing his school cloak on. He rummaged through his trunk and pulled out his inherited Invisibility Cloak. Harry grinned, reminiscing about all the adventures he was able to have due to this silvery piece of fabric. Grabbing his Firebolt, (which he miraculously got back from Professor Umbridge last year) he walked out his dorm and made his way to the Quidditch pitch.
~*~*~
It felt so good to feel the air ruffling through his hair. He leaned down on his broom and saw the ground zooming towards him, faster and faster. He pulled out of the Wrongski Feint just in time, showing off the skills of a true Quidditch Seeker.
He laughed, like he didn't have a care in the world.
"It's so good to be back up here..."
He heard a huge splash coming from the direction of the lake. *'It's probably just the giant squid...'* Shrugging, he circled the Quidditch pitch a couple of times, stopping short when he heard someone yell 'WHY DO YOU KEEP HAUNTING ME?!'. Curious, Harry flew over the stadium wall in the direction of the voice.
He didn't see anybody at first, but then he neared the lake, spotting someone kneeling on the ground, obviously crying. He flew down and landed softly on the grass about 7 feet away. As he walked closer to the figure, he could see that it was a girl. A familiar looking girl at that....
"Sheila?"
Sheila stopped crying suddenly and hastily wiped her face. Looking up him, she jumped in surprise.
"Hello..." She said quietly.
"Hello..." He paused. "What're you doing out here?"
She turned away from him, shrugging. "Nothing. Just enjoying a midnight swim..." She brought her knees up to her chin, resting her head atop them.
"Bullshit."
She glared at him. "Excuse me?"
"Bullshit. I heard you yelling at something. Just tell me what's up."
Fresh tears were already rolling down her face and Harry could see her shivering. He removed his school cloak and placed it around her. She smiled thankfully at him.
"Are you always such a gentlemen, Harry Potter?"
"Some people tell me I am..." He paused, taking a seat next to her. "Are you going to tell me what's really going on out here or do I have to take drastic measures?"
She raised a regally arched eyebrow at him, wiping her face with the back of her hand. "Drastic measures?" He nodded. "Like what?"
He grinned, holding up his hands. "See these." He wriggled his fingers. "They can tickle even the strongest person to death."
Sheila smirked. "You wouldn't dare..."
"Suit yourself..." He poked her playfully in the side. She let out a yelp of surprise.
"Harry!"
He smirked. "I warned you..." He poked her again. "Now, tell me what's going on."
"No." She poked him back.
"Ow..." He rubbed his side. "Okay, if that's how you want to play..." He lunged at her then, but she was much faster. She jumped to her feet, throwing his cloak off, and ran a few feet away from him.
Yeah, he had to admit, she had fast reflexes, but he was faster. He caught up to her in no time, tackling her gently to the ground. She rolled over, giggling, and he pinned her legs down with his body.
"You can torture me if you must, but I will never tell!" She yelled dramatically.
"Tell me what's going on."
"Well, I'm not the one on top of you, so you tell ME what's going on." She said teasingly.
"You know what I mean! All right, that's it." He lunged for her wrists, got one, and held it away just far enough from her side to tickle her armpit. Sheila shrieked, trying to pull sideways, but Harry held on. "Nope, you were asking for it, Williams! Now you're gonna get it..."
The tickle fight ended with Sheila shaking with laughter underneath him, Harry on top of her, digging his fingers into her ribs (which had turned out to be her most ticklish spot).
"Give! Give!" Harry playfully demanded.
"Aaaahhh! Unforgivable Curse number f-four, Potter! I'll have the Ministry on you!" She howled.
He at last desisted and sank down with his forehead resting on hers, laughter still bubbling out of both of them, but it was starting to slow, as they caught their breath.
When they both finally became quiet and they spent a few moments just looking into each other's eyes, Harry slowly moved his head just a little. Keeping his gaze on hers, as though giving her a chance to stop him by just changing the look in her eyes, he kissed her.
A/N: Whoa! Very interesting... Well, I got the fluffy little interlude out of the way... So, yeah... Stay tuned. The next chapter will continue from this one! Please review!
LET GO
CHAPTER 6:
SWEETEST ARE THE STOLEN KISSES
"I don't know, Professor... It just doesn't feel right... I mean, deceiving people on purpose... That's not who I am..." Harry was anxiously sitting in front of Dumbledore's desk, his butt resting on the edge of the seat in fervent hope.
"I know, Harry. But keep in mind that the wizarding world depends on this happening. You know that."
"I know, I know. Can't I at least tell Ron and Hermione about it?"
"No. You cannot do that. It could ruin the effect."
Harry sighed. "But still, it might not even work. Right now, she's not even talking to me..."
"Why is that?" Harry told him about the classroom incident and Dumbledore nodded his understanding.
"Harry, I don't think this is really my kind of department. I haven't been out with a young woman in years." Harry sighed. "But I can tell you this much. Although she's never come right out and said it, I think she likes you."
Harry's eyes widened with joy. "Really?"
Dumbledore shrugged. "Yes, well, I do catch her looking at you across the table in the Great Hall every once in a while. She's a smart girl. She'll soon realize she has feelings for you and then the Prophecy can-"
Harry laughed. "I wouldn't go that far, Professor. Right now, I just want to be her friend."
Dumbledore smiled. "Always were a gentlemen, Harry." Harry blushed. Dumbledore glanced at his watch. "Dear me, my next appointment is running a bit late. I hope she has a good reason."
"I guess I'll take my leave then, Professor." Harry held out his hand and Dumbledore shook it. "Thanks again."
He got up from his seat and walked over to the door, closing it behind him. He was halfway down the stairs when something, or someone rather, ran into him. He fell back with an 'Oomph.' Accepting the offered hand of the person who knocked him off his feet, he got up, dusting himself off.
"Oh, sorry Harry..."
It was Sheila. Even when her face was full of concern, she looked cute.
"It's okay." Harry mumbled then continued down the stairs.
~*~*~
Sheila wanted to talk to him and on any other day he would have been thrilled, but right now all Harry wanted to do was sit down. Eating too much could really make someone feel sick.
*'Oh shit. She asked about what happened in the classroom'* He took a deep breath. *'Just act really pissed off or something.'*
He sighed. "Don't you think I know that? Remember, you're the one that walked away from my proposal! You hurt me!" He was starting to get angry. "I really do like you, Sheila, and I understand if you don't feel the same way, but I'll be damned if I'm going to just stand here and listen to you rub it in some more!" He made a grab for the portrait again, but she slapped his hand away.
*'Why does she keep doing that?! I just want to sit down...'*
Sheila took a deep breath and looked at him. "I feel-"
*'This is it!'* Harry reeled back as the portrait swung open, smacking him in the face. He could hear Dean and Seamus on the other side, obviously drunk.
*'Those gits!'*
Harry peeked around the side of the portrait's frame and could see Sheila watching Dean and Seamus go down the hall. Without making any noise, he snuck into the common room, closing the portrait behind him, leaving Sheila out in the hall in complete confusion.
~*~*~
"Why'd you go and do something like that for?" Ron moved his piece two squares to the right. "Go. It's your move."
"I don't know why I even bother." He said, moving his chosen piece.
"I don't either. I mean I kick your ass EVERY TIME we play Wizard's Chess..."
Harry glared at his best friend across the board. "Not that, you wanker, I was talking about Sheila."
"Oh right. Her... So, what about her?"
"Did you not listen to a word of my story? Ron, she finally came up to me, willing to talk, and what'd I do? I go and get hit in the face with a portrait and sneak away with a bloody nose." Harry adjusted the Kleenex that was stuck up his nostril. "I'm so stupid!"
"No you're not. You just got scared that's all. She's a good girl. If she was courageous enough to talk to you just now, she'll be courageous enough to do it again. Don't worry about it." Ron made his final move, grinning triumphantly. "Checkmate!"
But Harry wasn't paying attention. He was too busy watching Sheila walk across the common room and out the portrait hole without so much as a glance in his direction.
"I'm going to bed." He mumbled. He got up from the little table in the corner and went upstairs to his bedroom, despite Ron's objections.
~*~*~
Harry couldn't sleep. He felt tired, but his mind just wasn't willing to shut down as of yet. It was still too focused on Sheila. For some reason, he just had this feeling of impending doom due to this plan. He shut his eyes, but they quickly snapped back open.
"This is impossible..."
He quietly got out of bed, throwing his school cloak on. He rummaged through his trunk and pulled out his inherited Invisibility Cloak. Harry grinned, reminiscing about all the adventures he was able to have due to this silvery piece of fabric. Grabbing his Firebolt, (which he miraculously got back from Professor Umbridge last year) he walked out his dorm and made his way to the Quidditch pitch.
~*~*~
It felt so good to feel the air ruffling through his hair. He leaned down on his broom and saw the ground zooming towards him, faster and faster. He pulled out of the Wrongski Feint just in time, showing off the skills of a true Quidditch Seeker.
He laughed, like he didn't have a care in the world.
"It's so good to be back up here..."
He heard a huge splash coming from the direction of the lake. *'It's probably just the giant squid...'* Shrugging, he circled the Quidditch pitch a couple of times, stopping short when he heard someone yell 'WHY DO YOU KEEP HAUNTING ME?!'. Curious, Harry flew over the stadium wall in the direction of the voice.
He didn't see anybody at first, but then he neared the lake, spotting someone kneeling on the ground, obviously crying. He flew down and landed softly on the grass about 7 feet away. As he walked closer to the figure, he could see that it was a girl. A familiar looking girl at that....
"Sheila?"
Sheila stopped crying suddenly and hastily wiped her face. Looking up him, she jumped in surprise.
"Hello..." She said quietly.
"Hello..." He paused. "What're you doing out here?"
She turned away from him, shrugging. "Nothing. Just enjoying a midnight swim..." She brought her knees up to her chin, resting her head atop them.
"Bullshit."
She glared at him. "Excuse me?"
"Bullshit. I heard you yelling at something. Just tell me what's up."
Fresh tears were already rolling down her face and Harry could see her shivering. He removed his school cloak and placed it around her. She smiled thankfully at him.
"Are you always such a gentlemen, Harry Potter?"
"Some people tell me I am..." He paused, taking a seat next to her. "Are you going to tell me what's really going on out here or do I have to take drastic measures?"
She raised a regally arched eyebrow at him, wiping her face with the back of her hand. "Drastic measures?" He nodded. "Like what?"
He grinned, holding up his hands. "See these." He wriggled his fingers. "They can tickle even the strongest person to death."
Sheila smirked. "You wouldn't dare..."
"Suit yourself..." He poked her playfully in the side. She let out a yelp of surprise.
"Harry!"
He smirked. "I warned you..." He poked her again. "Now, tell me what's going on."
"No." She poked him back.
"Ow..." He rubbed his side. "Okay, if that's how you want to play..." He lunged at her then, but she was much faster. She jumped to her feet, throwing his cloak off, and ran a few feet away from him.
Yeah, he had to admit, she had fast reflexes, but he was faster. He caught up to her in no time, tackling her gently to the ground. She rolled over, giggling, and he pinned her legs down with his body.
"You can torture me if you must, but I will never tell!" She yelled dramatically.
"Tell me what's going on."
"Well, I'm not the one on top of you, so you tell ME what's going on." She said teasingly.
"You know what I mean! All right, that's it." He lunged for her wrists, got one, and held it away just far enough from her side to tickle her armpit. Sheila shrieked, trying to pull sideways, but Harry held on. "Nope, you were asking for it, Williams! Now you're gonna get it..."
The tickle fight ended with Sheila shaking with laughter underneath him, Harry on top of her, digging his fingers into her ribs (which had turned out to be her most ticklish spot).
"Give! Give!" Harry playfully demanded.
"Aaaahhh! Unforgivable Curse number f-four, Potter! I'll have the Ministry on you!" She howled.
He at last desisted and sank down with his forehead resting on hers, laughter still bubbling out of both of them, but it was starting to slow, as they caught their breath.
When they both finally became quiet and they spent a few moments just looking into each other's eyes, Harry slowly moved his head just a little. Keeping his gaze on hers, as though giving her a chance to stop him by just changing the look in her eyes, he kissed her.
A/N: Whoa! Very interesting... Well, I got the fluffy little interlude out of the way... So, yeah... Stay tuned. The next chapter will continue from this one! Please review!