Thanks to Lazy-anji and Mandi who seem to be faithful readers!! It's good to know someone is interested in what's happening.
Chapter 10:
Harry made his way back from Hagrid's enjoying the crunch of a light snow under his shoes. It was Sunday afternoon and he'd gone down to visit. Ron and Hermione had stayed in the castle. Hermione had accepted Ron's rather awkward and vague apology for their earlier "disagreement." Back on speaking terms with Ron, Hermione offered to help him study for an upcoming History Of Magic exam. Harry wasn't sure how he escaped the study session. His best guess was Hermione must have thought he'd been paying attention in class just because he'd been awake most of the time...unlike Ron.
Turning down a path, Harry wandered over to the Quidditch pitch. Match or not, Harry always felt better when he was there. He stepped onto the field and slowly walked along the oval shape. Coming close to the Gryffindor stands, he could just see someone sitting on the first landing. He moved closer to the steps leading up to the seating area. Climbing up, he saw it was Michelle sitting alone.
"Hey Michelle..." Harry spoke quietly to not startle her.
"Harry, what are you doing here?" she sounded surprised.
Harry watched as she quickly began to wipe her eyes with her coat sleeves. Her face looked a little red and her cheeks were wet from crying.
"I was out for a walk. You okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
Harry gave her a look. He wasn't believing her for a second. He came over and sat down next to her.
"You sure?"
Michelle inhaled deeply, her breath coming out in a slight stutter as she tried to regain control of her emotions.
"Just feeling a little homesick I guess..."
"You miss your friends."
"I miss my friend Amy. She's the closest thing I have to family."
Harry hesitated, unsure of how to continue the conversation without seeming pushy. "Neville told me you lived in foster homes for awhile."
"'Till I was 4 or something. I don't remember it very well. A member of the Federal Department of Magic placed me in a weird sort of wizard orphanage. Seems I started showing some of my magical skills pretty young and the muggle foster parents didn't know what to do with me."
"That must have been hard growing up without parents."
Michelle gave him an odd look. "Well, I think you would understand what it was like."
"Sure, but I know who my parents were and..."
"And I have no idea." Michelle said quietly.
"Have you ever tried to find out who they are?"
"I thought about it. Maybe when I'm done with school..." she shifted uncomfortably on the step realizing she was probably sharing too much with Harry.
"I don't know if it would help at all, but Ron's dad works at the Ministry of Magic. Maybe he knows someone you could talk to back in the States..."
Michelle couldn't help herself. He was looking at her so sincerely, like he really did want to help her. She looked at the space between them and reached out carefully, covering Harry's hand with hers for just a moment.
"Thanks..." she squeezed his hand before letting go.
Harry's heart was racing. "For what?"
"For making me feel better."
She was rewarded with a broad smile from Harry. She stood and adjusted her coat.
"I don't know about you, but I'm freezing. We should go back inside."
Harry got up as well and they walked to the castle in relative silence. Once inside, Harry kept meaning to speak, to say anything to her. But, he got more and more nervous. What he really wanted to do was kiss her. He had been thinking about it all the time. He knew she was hiding something, but right now he didn't really care. It was moments like their talk today that helped convince him she was a good person. They had just reached the portrait when Harry mustered up his courage.
"Michelle..." He put his hand on her shoulder to get her attention.
She turned to face him, an expectant look on her face. When Harry didn't speak again, her brow furrowed in confusion. Her hazel eyes widened as he stepped closer and gently pulled on her shoulder to draw her near. Harry felt her shake, but she didn't move away.
In his mind, Harry kept saying over and over again...this it it, this is it, this is it.
In her mind, Michelle kept saying...you're in trouble, you're in trouble, you're in trouble.
He took hold of her other shoulder, his face moving slowly towards hers. He saw her lifting her chin, bringing her even closer to him. Just inches away from kissing her, Harry was startled hearing a loud bang behind the portrait. The picture suddenly opened and Seamus and Dean spilled out into the stairwell. Michelle turned and Harry abruptly let go of her. The four students stared at each other.
Michelle was the first to speak, "What was that sound?"
Dean gave her and Harry an appraising look. "Extra strong Dung bomb. Ron got them from Fred and George. We decided to try one out."
"Very smelly...had to open the door quick. What were you two doing?" Seamus could see the red filling Harry and Michelle's cheeks.
"We were walking outside and just got back." Michelle could see that was not the answer the boys were looking for from her. "I have tons of homework to do so if you'll pardon me..."
She slid past the boys and headed through the portrait opening, coughing as she walked into the common room. Harry could just give his friends a goofy grin before he followed Michelle inside. When he hit the common room, Michelle had already run up the stairs. A thought crept into his head...next time...next time for sure."
Chapter 10:
Harry made his way back from Hagrid's enjoying the crunch of a light snow under his shoes. It was Sunday afternoon and he'd gone down to visit. Ron and Hermione had stayed in the castle. Hermione had accepted Ron's rather awkward and vague apology for their earlier "disagreement." Back on speaking terms with Ron, Hermione offered to help him study for an upcoming History Of Magic exam. Harry wasn't sure how he escaped the study session. His best guess was Hermione must have thought he'd been paying attention in class just because he'd been awake most of the time...unlike Ron.
Turning down a path, Harry wandered over to the Quidditch pitch. Match or not, Harry always felt better when he was there. He stepped onto the field and slowly walked along the oval shape. Coming close to the Gryffindor stands, he could just see someone sitting on the first landing. He moved closer to the steps leading up to the seating area. Climbing up, he saw it was Michelle sitting alone.
"Hey Michelle..." Harry spoke quietly to not startle her.
"Harry, what are you doing here?" she sounded surprised.
Harry watched as she quickly began to wipe her eyes with her coat sleeves. Her face looked a little red and her cheeks were wet from crying.
"I was out for a walk. You okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
Harry gave her a look. He wasn't believing her for a second. He came over and sat down next to her.
"You sure?"
Michelle inhaled deeply, her breath coming out in a slight stutter as she tried to regain control of her emotions.
"Just feeling a little homesick I guess..."
"You miss your friends."
"I miss my friend Amy. She's the closest thing I have to family."
Harry hesitated, unsure of how to continue the conversation without seeming pushy. "Neville told me you lived in foster homes for awhile."
"'Till I was 4 or something. I don't remember it very well. A member of the Federal Department of Magic placed me in a weird sort of wizard orphanage. Seems I started showing some of my magical skills pretty young and the muggle foster parents didn't know what to do with me."
"That must have been hard growing up without parents."
Michelle gave him an odd look. "Well, I think you would understand what it was like."
"Sure, but I know who my parents were and..."
"And I have no idea." Michelle said quietly.
"Have you ever tried to find out who they are?"
"I thought about it. Maybe when I'm done with school..." she shifted uncomfortably on the step realizing she was probably sharing too much with Harry.
"I don't know if it would help at all, but Ron's dad works at the Ministry of Magic. Maybe he knows someone you could talk to back in the States..."
Michelle couldn't help herself. He was looking at her so sincerely, like he really did want to help her. She looked at the space between them and reached out carefully, covering Harry's hand with hers for just a moment.
"Thanks..." she squeezed his hand before letting go.
Harry's heart was racing. "For what?"
"For making me feel better."
She was rewarded with a broad smile from Harry. She stood and adjusted her coat.
"I don't know about you, but I'm freezing. We should go back inside."
Harry got up as well and they walked to the castle in relative silence. Once inside, Harry kept meaning to speak, to say anything to her. But, he got more and more nervous. What he really wanted to do was kiss her. He had been thinking about it all the time. He knew she was hiding something, but right now he didn't really care. It was moments like their talk today that helped convince him she was a good person. They had just reached the portrait when Harry mustered up his courage.
"Michelle..." He put his hand on her shoulder to get her attention.
She turned to face him, an expectant look on her face. When Harry didn't speak again, her brow furrowed in confusion. Her hazel eyes widened as he stepped closer and gently pulled on her shoulder to draw her near. Harry felt her shake, but she didn't move away.
In his mind, Harry kept saying over and over again...this it it, this is it, this is it.
In her mind, Michelle kept saying...you're in trouble, you're in trouble, you're in trouble.
He took hold of her other shoulder, his face moving slowly towards hers. He saw her lifting her chin, bringing her even closer to him. Just inches away from kissing her, Harry was startled hearing a loud bang behind the portrait. The picture suddenly opened and Seamus and Dean spilled out into the stairwell. Michelle turned and Harry abruptly let go of her. The four students stared at each other.
Michelle was the first to speak, "What was that sound?"
Dean gave her and Harry an appraising look. "Extra strong Dung bomb. Ron got them from Fred and George. We decided to try one out."
"Very smelly...had to open the door quick. What were you two doing?" Seamus could see the red filling Harry and Michelle's cheeks.
"We were walking outside and just got back." Michelle could see that was not the answer the boys were looking for from her. "I have tons of homework to do so if you'll pardon me..."
She slid past the boys and headed through the portrait opening, coughing as she walked into the common room. Harry could just give his friends a goofy grin before he followed Michelle inside. When he hit the common room, Michelle had already run up the stairs. A thought crept into his head...next time...next time for sure."
