Chapter 14

Invitation Accepted

His vague answer did not really seem to satisfy Cassie's curiosity, but since he didn't say anything more, she allowed the subject to drop and turned over again onto her stomach to look over at her brother, who was currently jumping into the pool. Harry leaned back against the tree trunk again, thinking. He had got the impression that she was going to ask if he would go swimming with her sometime. He had to admit that it was a tempting thought. He allowed his mind to contemplate what she would look like in a swimsuit for just a minute and then pushed his mind onto the practicalities of the situation. For one thing, hair did not stay in place when it was wet and the last thing he needed was for his scar to be plainly visible to a whole pool full of people when his hair was pushed back. For another thing, it might be little awkward to try to hide his wand, which Dumbledore had specifically told him to keep with him all the time, hidden under a swimsuit. It wasn't the getting wet part. He had taken his wand, after all, into the lake and it worked fine. Yes, he could wear a T-shirt but once it was wet, it would not hide anything. No, it was probably best just to pretend he was terribly frightened of getting wet at all and leave it at that. He opened his eyes again. She hadn't said anything for a few moments, and he hoped he hadn't hurt her feelings.

She was still lying on her stomach but had picked up her book and turned to the bookmark like she was going to start reading instead of talking to him. He laid down next to her, propping his head on his hands and glancing at the book to see what she was reading. It was a novel he had never heard of. She turned to him, smiling.

"I thought you were asleep, you were so quiet."

"I could sleep, but that would be rude."

"No, it wouldn't. If you're tired, you should sleep. We still have about a half hour before the lesson is over."

"I'd be embarrassed to fall asleep. I mean . . ." Harry didn't want to admit that he did not want to miss a moment of talking to her but he was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. He took his glasses off, laying them next to him on the blanket, closed his eyes, and put his head down on his arms. "I'll just rest for a second. Wake me up if you need me, all right?"

He woke up a few minutes later with a start, jumping suddenly. He was alone on the blanket and he couldn't see Cassie anywhere. His scar was hurting again, vaguely, the usual level of pain that let him know that something was going on with Voldemort back in the wizarding world. He rubbed it instinctively, worried most at this moment about making sure that Cassie was okay. Her book was there. He grabbed his glasses and things came into focus as he looked around. He stood up quickly looking at the pool to make sure that John was still swimming with his class. He was not sure he would recognize one wet little boy in with the others, but it seemed he was wearing a green swimsuit. His eyes scanned frantically through the crowd and he felt another jolt of panic when he couldn't pick him out. He had just decided that he needed to start searching for them when the two of them came around a corner. Harry was amazed at the feeling that overwhelmed him at the sight of her. She looked up at him and smiled, and he truly felt like shouting. Even the pain in his scar did not do anything to damper his joy at being with this girl.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up when I got up."

"No, you didn't. I just suddenly woke up and you weren't here. I got nervous." He probably should not admit that. It made him sound paranoid, but he could not help it.

"John needed to use the loo. He doesn't like to go by himself."

"Oh. I guess I didn't need to worry then." He absent-mindedly rubbed his scar again, the pain was receding and would be gone in a minute. He took a deep breath. He better be heading home after he delivered them safely back to their house.

"Why would you worry? Did you think we'd been attacked or something?" She was laughing as she lay back down next to him, this time on her back, staring up at the tree that was shading the blanket where he had laid back down on his stomach.

"Well, anything could happen." Harry noticed a little defensive note in his voice and cringed inwardly. He was so used to being on a high state of alert that it was hard to remember that she lived in a world where they knew nothing of dark wizards, curse scars, and threats to anyone who was ever seen in his presence.

"Is it hurting now?" She asked suddenly and it took Harry a minute to realize that she was watching his hand rub the scar under his bangs.

"Uh, a little. It hurt a little earlier today and now it's hurting again. I just kind of rub it out of habit sometimes." He hoped that this sentence did not sound as stupid to her as it did to him. He was sure that he was really impressing her with his conversation right now, acting like he was paranoid, frightened of water, worried about a little pain, etc. She didn't say anything in response, just watched him for a moment, and he felt himself growing warmer under her steady gaze.

"It's all right to admit it bothers you, you know." Her voice was soft and serious. She reached up a tentative hand and placed her fingers over his. He moved his hand slowly away, and she left her fingers there, covering the scar. The pain, as he expected, had gone completely by now and her fingers felt cool against his warm skin.

"It doesn't bother me . . ." She just smiled up into his face and let her index finger trace the scar again. "Well, okay." He said these words like they were dragged from him. "I admit it. I hate the stupid thing. I wish . . . I wish things had been different." He shrugged and pushed his glasses back up on the bridge of his nose. He had long ago decided that since nothing could change what had happened, he should just accept it and do his best to live up to the big responsibility that the scar had set squarely on his shoulders. It seemed that the responsibility just got bigger as time went by also rather than diminishing. Sometimes it was just completely overwhelming. He felt the ache of tears forming in the back of his throat and he searched his mind desperately for something to say. He absolutely refused to break down in front of her. She'd really think he was nutters then.

Once again, luck seemed to be on his side as the little feet came into view again and John threw his wet body right on top of Cassie. Harry guessed that the lesson must be over as all the other little kids were heading over to their parents also. Cassie jumped at the shock of cold water and then flipped over and started tickling her little brother. They both laughed loudly and Harry could tell this was a game they had played several times before. He sat up and watched as she allowed herself to be "beaten" by her brother who was now standing with one foot on her stomach and posing like a weight lifter.

"I did it. I won you. I won you." John started dancing around in a victory celebration as Cassie stood up and gathered the blanket and book.

"It's 'I beat you,' John. You win a trophy, not a person." She smiled at Harry again, shaking her head at her brother's antics. Her shirt and shorts were wet from where the two of them had made contact and Harry forced his eyes back up to her face. She was so beautiful . . . It amazed him that she seemed to want to be with him at all. She must have a million boys who wanted to date her. He did not know why she was spending time with him. She started packing things into her bag again, blushing slightly, and Harry realized that she must feel his gaze on her face. She pulled a box of something out of the bag and called to John, who was running away from them over the grass. "Come get your snack!" She offered one of the bars to Harry. He took it and looked it over. It was, as he had thought, some kind of health bar granola thing. He was not sure he was brave enough to eat it.

"After his swimming lesson, he likes to play at the park for a few minutes," Cassie said hesitantly. "Would that be all right with you?"

"Sure. That's fine."

Harry sat on one of the benches near the play area and watched as she pushed John on the swing. He had opened up the granola bar and found that although it was a little dry it was okay to eat. Having finished it up, he looked around. He really needed a drink of water to wash it down with. There did not seem to be a water fountain around, and just as he had resigned himself to his thirst, Cassie came back and threw herself onto the bench next to him. "He still hasn't learned to push himself on the swing. I don't let him swing too much, it wears me out. Did you want a drink? Those make me really thirsty." Harry nodded and she reached into her bag and pulled out her water bottle and handed it to him. "Hope you don't mind sharing. I forgot to throw one in for you." He drank, glad that she didn't mind sharing with him. She took a long drink after he did, and then blushed again when he looked at her.

"Cassie, I was wondering . . . " Oh, boy. Harry was not quite sure how to proceed. He wanted to spend more time with her but didn't want her to get tired of him. "I was wondering if, maybe tomorrow, we could get together again?" There, that had not sounded too desperate, had it? He hoped not.

"Well, I have plans tomorrow with some friends." Harry thought from her tone of voice that she was hoping he would ask if he could come along. He would have done just about anything she wanted, but he didn't dare take a chance meeting even more new people. He was already really pushing his luck. So, he pretended he had not been able to understand this unspoken invitation.

"Oh, too bad. Maybe another time, then." He really did feel badly. He knew that he would want to kick himself tomorrow while he sat in his house with nothing to do, remembering how he could have been with her.

"Well, actually, my mum wanted me to invite you to dinner again, if you want to come." She asked him very quietly. Harry could tell that she was really embarrassed about asking him again. She continued when he did not immediately decline the invitation. "You could come tomorrow night."

Harry pretended to think it over. He was definitely going to accept this time, but he wanted to tease her a little bit. He could suddenly understand why Ron found it so fun to tease Hermione. Teasing a girl who would get all flustered and aggravated in response was just about one of the most fun things he had done in a while. "Am I going to have eat sprouts and tofu?" He was not really sure what tofu was, but he did remember Uncle Vernon yelling about it one time when Petunia had suggested it for Dudley's diet.

She reacted just as he had thought she would. A slow flush crept up her neck and her eyes flashed. "I . . . My . . . She's a very good cook and no, she would not feed you tofu! She just tries to make sure we eat healthy! Is that so bad?" She was practically sputtering, seemingly defending her mother's honor against all challengers. "Is that why you said no the other day? You thought we'd feed you something nasty? Honestly, . . ." Harry put his hands up quickly as she looked like she was about to punch him.

"I'm kidding. I'm kidding." He hadn't meant to really hurt her feelings. "I had to turn you down the other night but it wasn't because I was afraid what you would serve me. Honest." She quieted down immediately. "I'm sure your mom is a good cook, just judging by all your great ideas." She seemed to take that as a compliment and an apology combined and smiled.

"All right. So you'll come?"

"Yeah. I'd love to. What time should I come over?"

"About 6, I think." She gathered her things together again and called John over. "Come on, we've got to go. Mum'll worry."

They walked home in silence, hands linked again in a way Harry had gotten used to, listening to John who was talking a mile a minute about all the things they had done in class. Cassie just made agreement noises when there was a pause in the steady flow of words and that seemed to start him going again. When they reached the house, Harry was not quite sure whether she would expect him to come in again or what, but it became a moot point when Cassie's mum came out on the porch, telling her that they had to leave immediately because a neighbor had called and she needed Cassie to come and help her with something. Cassie shrugged, laughing into Harry's eyes. He tugged gently on her hand and pulled her close to him. He put his arms carefully around her and hugged her, remembering how she had felt in his arms the last time. She didn't pull away. In fact, to his amazement, she stood on tiptoes, put her hands on his shoulders, and kissed him briefly on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow night then, Harry?" He nodded and watched bemused as she ran up the stairs and headed into the house.