CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
After much pleading and begging, Harry and Larrissa were once again allowed to eat at the Gryffindor table, after constantly arguing that "without classes, we won't be able to see our friends at all."
Although they had finally won, both were almost positive that Dumbledore's decision had nothing to do with their constant nagging. Quite the contrary, they believed it had more to do with the development in their relationship, which had finally become something resembling a very strong friendship.
If you looked closer, however, you could see that there was more to their friendship than that. Constant glances at meal times and in the corridors, looking at each other with pained expressions whenever the other wasn't looking; all these small signs would tell a perceptive onlooker the depth of their feelings for one another.
But of course, both were too stubborn to do anything about it.
Energy magic training continued throughout the week, the trio spending most of their days in the common room practising. Once the basics were finished, Lara moved on to more complex curses.
Draco was a little bit shaky at first, however Harry seemed to master anything Lara threw at him. It seemed he had a natural skill for Energy Magic, his control over the energy that flowed out of him so precise it was quickly over taking Lara's, much to her distress.
Although the training was progressing, there was still a lot that needed to be covered, a fact which Lara was well aware of. She knew that Voldemort would not sit about idly in his new headquarters for long, and she feared that if they took too long, he would attack before they could stop him.
**************************
"Has anything happened between you and Ron?" Lara asked Hermione the next Saturday morning. She had given training a break for the day, and given them all a well deserved rest. She and Hermione were now sitting in the Gryffindor common room on two comfortable couches and having a girlie talk.
"No, we're still friends." The bushy haired girl said gloomily.
"This can't go on, it's so bloody obvious you two like each other, and yet you're both two scared to DO anything about it. I mean seriously...."
"That's a bit rich coming from you!" Hermione said huffily.
"What on earth are you going on about?"
"You and Harry! It's so painstakingly obvious that you like him, and that he likes you.
"You're crazy...no way." Lara interrupted.
"And the reason you two aren't together isn't even because you're scared, it's because of the simple fact that you're stubborn as hell." Hermione finished, ignoring Lara's comment.
"No, just...no!"
"Lara. I'm you're friend, hell I'm you're best friend. I know these things. Now tell me, when did it start." Hermione said in a determined voice. The other girl let out a deep sigh, sinking further into the couch.
"Just before Voldemort attacked." Lara said softly, finally giving in. "We were discussing stuff, and I dunno, he was so passionate about everything. Like he truly believed in what he was saying."
"That's Harry alright." Hermione said, trying to supress a small smile.
"At first I hated myself for it. I mean of all people, it had to be Potter. But now, I can't imagine NOT liking him. He's incredible. He's so focused and determined. And he's so....good. He helps people not because he expects something in return, but just because."
"He's grown up with a lot of loss in his life, but instead of turning bitter over it, he's vowed to protect everything he has left."
"As opposed to me, who just turned into an all-round-bitch to get over it."
"You're not a bitch Lara."
"Harry thinks so." The girl replied gloomily.
"No he doesn't."
"Have you talked to him about it?"
"No, but..."
"Exactly."
"But it's obvious!" Hermione exclaimed, ignoring the interruption again.
"No it isn't."
"Yes it is."
"Jeez Lara! I've never seen you act like this before!"
"I've never felt like this before."
"Like what."
"Like... like I'd die for him." Lara replied softly. Hermione made a sharp intake of breath, leaning back on the couch as the full meaning of those words washed over her.
"You...you... love him?" Slowly, the other girl nodded.
"With every inch of my soul." Lara said softly, ignoring the silent tears that began to well up in her eyes. "You know that prophecy?" Lara said after a short silence.
"Which one?"
"The child touched by the darkness will fall in love but once in her lifetime, but this love will be greater than all the loves that ever was." Lara echoed softly, smiling sadly at the meaning of the words. "It's a bit sad but it never mentions in there that the love will be returned."
"Oh Lara, don't be stupid! He feels the same, I'm sure of it."
"You're just trying to make me feel better."
"No, I'm not." Hermione said.
"Yes, you are." Lara said stubbornly, and with that, she got up off the couch and walked out of the common room, not wanting the conversation to continue down the road it was.
**************
"There's another Yule Ball coming up you know." Harry said casually.
"Yeah, so?" Ron replied, leaning back on his bed. They were in the Gryffindor boys dormitory, and Harry was using his last few moments (before curfew demanded him to return to his rooms) to catch up with his friend.
"When are you going to get the guts to ask Hermione, before someone else does?"
"Harry..."
"Remember what happened last time? With Krum? Do you want some other guy to steal her away again?"
"No but..."
"But what? Hurry up and ask the girl out! It's getting ridiculous!"
"What if she says no?"
"Ron?"
"Yeah?"
"She's not going to say no." Harry said simply, before getting up from Dean's bed and walking out.
When he reached the common room, he saw Lara getting up from her position on a couch next to Hermione and walk out of the portrait hall. Quickening his pace, he caught up with her just outside the portrait.
"Hey, did you talk to Hermione about Ron?"
"Yeah, though not for long."
"Why not?"
"Our conversation swerved slightly." Lara said simply, not daring to divulge the true nature of their talk.
"Oh?" Harry said questioningly.
"Girl stuff, don't worry." Lara said in reply. Harry shrugged his shoulders as Lara said the password, opening the door to their dorms and making her way in.
The pair made their way to their respective dormitories, changing into their sleepwear before heading to the bathroom at the same time.
"Did you talk to Ron then?" Lara asked through a mouthful of toothpaste.
"Yeah, I'm trying to convince him to ask her to the Yule Ball."
"Oh yeah? And, any luck?"
"Maybe, we'll have to see. He's major fear is that she's going to reject him."
"When it's so bloody obvious she's not."
"I dunno, it is to us, but maybe it's not to him."
"Maybe." Lara said, as she spat ungracefully into the bowl and cleared her mouth with water.
"Are you going to bed now?"
"Don't think so. Why?"
"I....er.... need help." Harry said slowly, disliking the idea of asking her for help.
"What subject?" Lara said exasperatedly, but with an amused smile on her face.
"Potions." Harry said shortly. "It's always potions."
"That explains it then." Lara said, not completely hiding a grin as she exited the bathroom.
**********************************
"Hey Hermione." Ron said casually, plopping himself down on the couch Lara had recently freed.
"Hey Ron, where were you?"
"Up in the dorm, talking to Harry."
"Guys talk?"
"Not like chicks do, we don't need to talk for hours to get the point across."
"We don't either, but we like too. It takes brains to have a civilised conversation."
"It's not like we can't, we just have better things to do." Ron said huffily, defending his half of the population.
"Like what? Perving on girls?" Hermione said, an evil grin the she had caught from Lara flickering across her face.
"And other stuff." Ron said vaguely. Hermione chuckled.
"Sure sure." She said.
"Anyways." Ron said in a tone that clearly said *this conversation is over.* "Have you got a date for the Yule Ball yet?" He said casually, not trying to give away his true meaning behind the question.
"Nope, not yet." Hermione said, just as casually.
"Oh, I see." Ron replied.
The two remained in an uncomfortable silence for a while, each dying to know what the other was thinking. Finally, Ron swallowed his pride and blurted out the words that had been bursting to be said.
"Do you want to go with me?" He said weakly, suddenly feeling queazy. Hermione's face lit up.
"Yeah, that'd be great." She said quickly. Both Gryffindors released sighs of relief.
"It took me a while didn't it?" Ron said.
"To ask me? Yeah it did." Hermione said, a small smile threatening to consume her lips.
"Sorry."
"It's alright." She said, the smile turning into an all out grin as she got up from the couch, gave Ron a quick peck on the cheek and headed off up stairs to her dormitory.
Ron, frozen to his seat, gently touched the spot where she had kissed him.
"Yes!" He yelled, jumping from his seat suddenly and frightening a group of 3rd years nearby. "Sorry." He said cheekily before racing up the stairs to his own dormitory, making a mental note to thank Harry next time he saw him.
*********************
"So the dragons scales needs to be added after the mandrake but before the toads eyes?"
"Yes. And how much of it?"
"Two ounces." Harry said proudly.
"Yes!" Lara said happily, slamming the potions book shut and leaning back on the couch, sighing contentedly. They had been studying for hours, and had finally finished at quarter to midnight.
"That wasn't that hard. How come Snape makes it seem so difficult?"
"I dunno, probably gets some sadistic pleasure out of annoying the hell out of Gryffindor students."
"I don't know why, when the Slytherins are so much more fun to annoy." Lara chuckled.
"Agreed." She said, before spreading out lengthwise on the couch, her feet in Harry's lap. "So." She said, changing the subject. "Who is Mr. Potter going to take to the Yule Ball."
"No bloody idea, and it's beginning to annoy me."
"Seriously? But you've had hundreds of girls ask you! They don't stop coming!"
"True." Harry said, grinning immodestly. "But they're all the same. They want me for the looks, or the fame, I mean seriously, I'm a real person!"
"Really? I took you for the feline type. Sorry." Lara said, trying to sound serious but failing miserably. Harry laughed, looking at Lara with a genuine smile on his face.
"You are something Miss Black."
"No need to remind me."
"So who are you taking?" Harry asked casually.
"No one, and it's pissing me off too."
"Well..." Harry said slowly, trying to control the embarrassed blush the was creeping up his face. "Why don't we...we go together?" He stuttered. "As friends?" He ammened, finishing quickly.
Lara, who's heart had leapt at his invitation, plummeted down to settle somewhere below her stomach at his last comment.
"Yeah, okay." She said casually, not hiding her dissappointment
*Hey, at least I'll be going with Harry, even if it's just as friends.*
"But that's only if we can go." Lara finished, a thought suddenly crossing her mind.
"What do you mean?"
"Voldemort. You guys are getting better. Especially you. You're better at Energy magic than I am, as much as it kills me to admit it." Harry grinned at this, but didn't push his luck on the subject. "We'll be leaving to confront him any time, and we may miss the Yule Ball."
"I'm sure we'll have defeated him before then, the balls only in six weeks time."
"That's not what I'm scared of. I'm pretty sure we will confront him before then too. I'm just scared we may not make it back." Lara said softly, finally voicing the fear that had tortured her for the past week. Harry paled slightly at her words as she sat up, moving closer to him on the couch.
"We will make it back." Harry said determindly, though refusing to look her in the eye.
"I hope so." Lara said softly.
"Hey." Harry said, turning to face her on the couch and cupping her face with his hands. "Don't hope. Believe."
"Like you believe in love?"
"Yes. Like I believe in love." Harry said softly, watching her brown eyes glitter in the firelight. Lara looked back at him, their eyes linking for one brief moment. She opened her mouth to say it; those words that had been dying to pour out from her heart but which she had kept at bay for fear of rejection.
But she couldn't say it.
Instead, she lowered her eyes, breaking eye contact with the green eyed boy. He smiled sadly before getting up off the couch and heading to his rooms. And as Lara watched the retreating Gryffindor, she whispered the words she couldn't say.
"I love you."
After much pleading and begging, Harry and Larrissa were once again allowed to eat at the Gryffindor table, after constantly arguing that "without classes, we won't be able to see our friends at all."
Although they had finally won, both were almost positive that Dumbledore's decision had nothing to do with their constant nagging. Quite the contrary, they believed it had more to do with the development in their relationship, which had finally become something resembling a very strong friendship.
If you looked closer, however, you could see that there was more to their friendship than that. Constant glances at meal times and in the corridors, looking at each other with pained expressions whenever the other wasn't looking; all these small signs would tell a perceptive onlooker the depth of their feelings for one another.
But of course, both were too stubborn to do anything about it.
Energy magic training continued throughout the week, the trio spending most of their days in the common room practising. Once the basics were finished, Lara moved on to more complex curses.
Draco was a little bit shaky at first, however Harry seemed to master anything Lara threw at him. It seemed he had a natural skill for Energy Magic, his control over the energy that flowed out of him so precise it was quickly over taking Lara's, much to her distress.
Although the training was progressing, there was still a lot that needed to be covered, a fact which Lara was well aware of. She knew that Voldemort would not sit about idly in his new headquarters for long, and she feared that if they took too long, he would attack before they could stop him.
**************************
"Has anything happened between you and Ron?" Lara asked Hermione the next Saturday morning. She had given training a break for the day, and given them all a well deserved rest. She and Hermione were now sitting in the Gryffindor common room on two comfortable couches and having a girlie talk.
"No, we're still friends." The bushy haired girl said gloomily.
"This can't go on, it's so bloody obvious you two like each other, and yet you're both two scared to DO anything about it. I mean seriously...."
"That's a bit rich coming from you!" Hermione said huffily.
"What on earth are you going on about?"
"You and Harry! It's so painstakingly obvious that you like him, and that he likes you.
"You're crazy...no way." Lara interrupted.
"And the reason you two aren't together isn't even because you're scared, it's because of the simple fact that you're stubborn as hell." Hermione finished, ignoring Lara's comment.
"No, just...no!"
"Lara. I'm you're friend, hell I'm you're best friend. I know these things. Now tell me, when did it start." Hermione said in a determined voice. The other girl let out a deep sigh, sinking further into the couch.
"Just before Voldemort attacked." Lara said softly, finally giving in. "We were discussing stuff, and I dunno, he was so passionate about everything. Like he truly believed in what he was saying."
"That's Harry alright." Hermione said, trying to supress a small smile.
"At first I hated myself for it. I mean of all people, it had to be Potter. But now, I can't imagine NOT liking him. He's incredible. He's so focused and determined. And he's so....good. He helps people not because he expects something in return, but just because."
"He's grown up with a lot of loss in his life, but instead of turning bitter over it, he's vowed to protect everything he has left."
"As opposed to me, who just turned into an all-round-bitch to get over it."
"You're not a bitch Lara."
"Harry thinks so." The girl replied gloomily.
"No he doesn't."
"Have you talked to him about it?"
"No, but..."
"Exactly."
"But it's obvious!" Hermione exclaimed, ignoring the interruption again.
"No it isn't."
"Yes it is."
"Jeez Lara! I've never seen you act like this before!"
"I've never felt like this before."
"Like what."
"Like... like I'd die for him." Lara replied softly. Hermione made a sharp intake of breath, leaning back on the couch as the full meaning of those words washed over her.
"You...you... love him?" Slowly, the other girl nodded.
"With every inch of my soul." Lara said softly, ignoring the silent tears that began to well up in her eyes. "You know that prophecy?" Lara said after a short silence.
"Which one?"
"The child touched by the darkness will fall in love but once in her lifetime, but this love will be greater than all the loves that ever was." Lara echoed softly, smiling sadly at the meaning of the words. "It's a bit sad but it never mentions in there that the love will be returned."
"Oh Lara, don't be stupid! He feels the same, I'm sure of it."
"You're just trying to make me feel better."
"No, I'm not." Hermione said.
"Yes, you are." Lara said stubbornly, and with that, she got up off the couch and walked out of the common room, not wanting the conversation to continue down the road it was.
**************
"There's another Yule Ball coming up you know." Harry said casually.
"Yeah, so?" Ron replied, leaning back on his bed. They were in the Gryffindor boys dormitory, and Harry was using his last few moments (before curfew demanded him to return to his rooms) to catch up with his friend.
"When are you going to get the guts to ask Hermione, before someone else does?"
"Harry..."
"Remember what happened last time? With Krum? Do you want some other guy to steal her away again?"
"No but..."
"But what? Hurry up and ask the girl out! It's getting ridiculous!"
"What if she says no?"
"Ron?"
"Yeah?"
"She's not going to say no." Harry said simply, before getting up from Dean's bed and walking out.
When he reached the common room, he saw Lara getting up from her position on a couch next to Hermione and walk out of the portrait hall. Quickening his pace, he caught up with her just outside the portrait.
"Hey, did you talk to Hermione about Ron?"
"Yeah, though not for long."
"Why not?"
"Our conversation swerved slightly." Lara said simply, not daring to divulge the true nature of their talk.
"Oh?" Harry said questioningly.
"Girl stuff, don't worry." Lara said in reply. Harry shrugged his shoulders as Lara said the password, opening the door to their dorms and making her way in.
The pair made their way to their respective dormitories, changing into their sleepwear before heading to the bathroom at the same time.
"Did you talk to Ron then?" Lara asked through a mouthful of toothpaste.
"Yeah, I'm trying to convince him to ask her to the Yule Ball."
"Oh yeah? And, any luck?"
"Maybe, we'll have to see. He's major fear is that she's going to reject him."
"When it's so bloody obvious she's not."
"I dunno, it is to us, but maybe it's not to him."
"Maybe." Lara said, as she spat ungracefully into the bowl and cleared her mouth with water.
"Are you going to bed now?"
"Don't think so. Why?"
"I....er.... need help." Harry said slowly, disliking the idea of asking her for help.
"What subject?" Lara said exasperatedly, but with an amused smile on her face.
"Potions." Harry said shortly. "It's always potions."
"That explains it then." Lara said, not completely hiding a grin as she exited the bathroom.
**********************************
"Hey Hermione." Ron said casually, plopping himself down on the couch Lara had recently freed.
"Hey Ron, where were you?"
"Up in the dorm, talking to Harry."
"Guys talk?"
"Not like chicks do, we don't need to talk for hours to get the point across."
"We don't either, but we like too. It takes brains to have a civilised conversation."
"It's not like we can't, we just have better things to do." Ron said huffily, defending his half of the population.
"Like what? Perving on girls?" Hermione said, an evil grin the she had caught from Lara flickering across her face.
"And other stuff." Ron said vaguely. Hermione chuckled.
"Sure sure." She said.
"Anyways." Ron said in a tone that clearly said *this conversation is over.* "Have you got a date for the Yule Ball yet?" He said casually, not trying to give away his true meaning behind the question.
"Nope, not yet." Hermione said, just as casually.
"Oh, I see." Ron replied.
The two remained in an uncomfortable silence for a while, each dying to know what the other was thinking. Finally, Ron swallowed his pride and blurted out the words that had been bursting to be said.
"Do you want to go with me?" He said weakly, suddenly feeling queazy. Hermione's face lit up.
"Yeah, that'd be great." She said quickly. Both Gryffindors released sighs of relief.
"It took me a while didn't it?" Ron said.
"To ask me? Yeah it did." Hermione said, a small smile threatening to consume her lips.
"Sorry."
"It's alright." She said, the smile turning into an all out grin as she got up from the couch, gave Ron a quick peck on the cheek and headed off up stairs to her dormitory.
Ron, frozen to his seat, gently touched the spot where she had kissed him.
"Yes!" He yelled, jumping from his seat suddenly and frightening a group of 3rd years nearby. "Sorry." He said cheekily before racing up the stairs to his own dormitory, making a mental note to thank Harry next time he saw him.
*********************
"So the dragons scales needs to be added after the mandrake but before the toads eyes?"
"Yes. And how much of it?"
"Two ounces." Harry said proudly.
"Yes!" Lara said happily, slamming the potions book shut and leaning back on the couch, sighing contentedly. They had been studying for hours, and had finally finished at quarter to midnight.
"That wasn't that hard. How come Snape makes it seem so difficult?"
"I dunno, probably gets some sadistic pleasure out of annoying the hell out of Gryffindor students."
"I don't know why, when the Slytherins are so much more fun to annoy." Lara chuckled.
"Agreed." She said, before spreading out lengthwise on the couch, her feet in Harry's lap. "So." She said, changing the subject. "Who is Mr. Potter going to take to the Yule Ball."
"No bloody idea, and it's beginning to annoy me."
"Seriously? But you've had hundreds of girls ask you! They don't stop coming!"
"True." Harry said, grinning immodestly. "But they're all the same. They want me for the looks, or the fame, I mean seriously, I'm a real person!"
"Really? I took you for the feline type. Sorry." Lara said, trying to sound serious but failing miserably. Harry laughed, looking at Lara with a genuine smile on his face.
"You are something Miss Black."
"No need to remind me."
"So who are you taking?" Harry asked casually.
"No one, and it's pissing me off too."
"Well..." Harry said slowly, trying to control the embarrassed blush the was creeping up his face. "Why don't we...we go together?" He stuttered. "As friends?" He ammened, finishing quickly.
Lara, who's heart had leapt at his invitation, plummeted down to settle somewhere below her stomach at his last comment.
"Yeah, okay." She said casually, not hiding her dissappointment
*Hey, at least I'll be going with Harry, even if it's just as friends.*
"But that's only if we can go." Lara finished, a thought suddenly crossing her mind.
"What do you mean?"
"Voldemort. You guys are getting better. Especially you. You're better at Energy magic than I am, as much as it kills me to admit it." Harry grinned at this, but didn't push his luck on the subject. "We'll be leaving to confront him any time, and we may miss the Yule Ball."
"I'm sure we'll have defeated him before then, the balls only in six weeks time."
"That's not what I'm scared of. I'm pretty sure we will confront him before then too. I'm just scared we may not make it back." Lara said softly, finally voicing the fear that had tortured her for the past week. Harry paled slightly at her words as she sat up, moving closer to him on the couch.
"We will make it back." Harry said determindly, though refusing to look her in the eye.
"I hope so." Lara said softly.
"Hey." Harry said, turning to face her on the couch and cupping her face with his hands. "Don't hope. Believe."
"Like you believe in love?"
"Yes. Like I believe in love." Harry said softly, watching her brown eyes glitter in the firelight. Lara looked back at him, their eyes linking for one brief moment. She opened her mouth to say it; those words that had been dying to pour out from her heart but which she had kept at bay for fear of rejection.
But she couldn't say it.
Instead, she lowered her eyes, breaking eye contact with the green eyed boy. He smiled sadly before getting up off the couch and heading to his rooms. And as Lara watched the retreating Gryffindor, she whispered the words she couldn't say.
"I love you."