Magnetic Attraction


"You didn't see it?"

"Oh, you should have, Harry -"

"He was almost chocking to death in there -!"

"Red as a tomato!"

"Haha... I should have- hey! Were you finishing each other sentences?"

"... no" Hermione and Ron, both Harry's best friends, answered at the same time, not looking at each other's face.

"But, Harry, how could have you missed it! It was the main attraction in there!" Hermione said a little too enthusiastically, way more than the way she looked when planning his torture.

"How could I have seen the boy in the eye while saying that, Hermione," Harry said and the instants he did he felt like explaining at his friend's confused expressions, "I mean- Imagination can play dirty, you know, and I'm not risking -"

"Eww! Harry! Spare us the nightmares!"

Harry rolled his eyes at his friend. He had fully heard Ron's joke the first time, there was no need to repeat it at all.

"POTTER!"

The shout was followed so near by the crash of bodies that Harry had no time to react and just felt himself being shoved at the nearest wall. Looking up he found fierce eyes glaring with their full might at him.

"I'm going to kill you!"

Choking a little but still managing to glare back, Harry retorted "Why, Malfoy. Didn't enjoy my little display of affection? Didn't get enough worship for shagging The Boy Who Lived?"

Something in Malfoy expression changed, but Harry couldn't place what was it. But Malfoy looked quite redder.

Surprisingly, Malfoy let go of Harry, stepped back and looked back more composed than just a while ago. And spoke:

"You think you are funny, eh? You would be the one worshipped any case, that's the only way I can explain such - such disrespectful -"

Malfoy was momentarily muted until finally setting up with the words. "Tonight. Dueling. North Tower."

With that he stepped out of the scenery that was already congregating one too many public. Harry had only reacted when he called back, besides himself:

"Is that a date?"

--SCENE FADES TO--

After a rather big tumult in which Harry lost the appetite for the rest of the day and Malfoy his blade sensibility... not really but come close... anyway, Harry arrived the Gryffindor Common Room in a very foul mood.

"You sure don't want any supper, Harry?" Hermione asked by his side.

"No," he said curtly.

"Man," Ron commented. "I mean, Malfoy actually knows how to muggle duel! That's a new thing."

"Please, can we talk about something else? My head hurts..."

Harry didn't feel as proud of his previous conduct, that was for sure. He regretted since the very bottom of his very being since the fight with Malfoy had started. More points taken off, Snape favouring the Slytherins... typical yet so infuriating. At the worst of all: he was utmost embarrassed. Yes, he admitted, at the present time he thought it as fun and even enjoyed it but now that the whole reality had sunk in...

It only made it worst the girl's reaction to it. Just as he found a seat at the Common Room Parvati and Lavender were passing by making a 'Uuh!' comment Harry could not explain logically. What he could tell was that they found the fight much more entertaining that he did.

Harry moaned his headache.

"Harry," Hermione said looking somewhat insecure. "I mean, are you - ehem - you know, meeting with Malfoy tonight?"

Harry's eyes popped out hysterically.

"WHAT?" he asked outrageously. "How can you ask me, you, after what you made me do -"

"Hermione!" Ron ended for Harry. The both of them stared at Hermione like she had grown too many eyes. Hermione looked somewhat lost.

"What?" she asked. "I wanted of know if Harry was going - I don't think he should, he will get into troubles -"

"But why should he!" Ron said, Harry was silently agreeing with him.

"Well, because," Hermione said frowning. "As it is a duel, Harry has done it before -"

"Wait, are you meaning to say you were asking if I would meet with Malfoy for dueling?" Harry asked

Hermione blinked. "Err, yeah, that's what I was meaning to -"

"Ah, thanks Merlin!" Ron exclaimed. "You are not a perv!"

"I'm a what?"

"Erm... nothing." Harry felt as relieved as Ron looked. Honestly, if he had to deal with such a question!

"So, are you?" asked Hermione again.

Harry considered it. But it needn't much thought at all, his answer was obvious.

"Yes, I am," he responded.

Hermione sighed. "But you will get into troubles! Again!"

"Leave it, Hermione, is the right thing to do, he has to fight for his pride -"

"Now explain it to me how is going to curse each other the right thing to do?" Hermione asked defiantly.

"Well..."

"Said whatever you want, Hermione, I'm still going. I'll not let Malfoy think I'm a coward."

"Last time you did that you were only set up by Malfoy -"

"Last time he didn't have an Invisibility Cloak," Ron added sounding witty but he surely didn't look it when Hermione glared at him. "What!"


.. .. Getting interesting, eh? .. ..