Harry was in front of the Fat Lady's portrait when someone came running out and knocked him over. Only then did Harry see that it was Ron.
"Sorry mate." He said, helping Harry to his feet again. "Guess what? She said yes!!"
As they proceeded into the common room, Ron told him what had happened.
"I walked into the common room and there were two other guys there, talking to her. I think they were trying to ask her out, though I didn't hear what they were saying. But I didn't get discouraged. After the two guys left, I went up to her and asked her what she was doing and if she needed any help. So we started talking and I just sort of, said it. She kind of looked at me for a moment, and I thought she was going to turn me down, but she didn't!! She said, 'I'd love to.' Oh I'm so excited!"
Harry didn't know what to say. He couldn't think of anything, so he said, "Did you tell Hermione?" Though he didn't really care about the answer.
"Yeah, she bloody well muttered her head off! What's gotten into her?"
"I dunno." Harry didn't know, nor cared. He just kept thinking about Michele and her gorgeous brown eyes.
"Hey, guess what else." Ron said, suddenly excited again.
"What?" Harry replied, really very uninterested.
"Since there's an open spot on the quidditch team, Michele is going to try out for Chaser!! Isn't this great? She's really good I'm sure she'll get the spot. We'll all be on the team together!" Ron exclaimed. Harry had been re-instated to the quidditch team and there was only one chaser spot left since Ginny moved from seeker to chaser.
"There's only one thing," Ron said. "McGonagall gave me extra homework so I can't practice with her today. She says she hasn't flown in a while so I was hoping-" Ron stopped short. Michele was approaching. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and he slipped his arm around her waist. "I was just about to ask Harry if he could to practice with you today."
Ron looked so happy; Harry didn't know what to say. Michele chimed in.
"I really haven't flown in a while so I was hoping I could get some practice in. And since Ron has extra homework-" Michele just looked at him and said, "Please?"
Harry didn't remember saying yes. He remembered looking into her eyes and then, there he was, standing at the quidditch pitch, waiting for her to meet him. When she finally came down, she was in normal clothes. She was wearing a fitted deep brown shirt and jeans. She was holding her broomstick behind her back.
"My broom isn't very...well...new." She said quite embarrassed.
Harry suddenly became very aware of the fact that he had a Firebolt. The second he tried to conceal it, Michele noticed that he had it.
"You have a Firebolt? Now I'm really embarrassed of my broom!" She blushed.
"Oh come on," Harry said, trying to sound calm. "Your broom can't be that bad. Let's see it then." With that he touched her arm and persuaded her to show him the broom. And then she revealed a Nimbus 2000. Michele blushed again as Harry gasped.
"I told you it was an old broom." She said.
"No, it's not that. Not that at all." Harry said, trying to formulate something to say in his head.
Simultaneously, they said, "Do you mind if-" They cut each other of. Harry went first. "You see my first broom was a nimbus 2000, and it was destroyed during my third year, I really loved that broom, I'd give anything to ride one, again. Do you mind?" Harry asked.
"Only if I can try your Firebolt!" Michele exclaimed rather excitedly. A minute later, they were both in the air riding each other's broom. Michele's hair was tied back in a neat ponytail so her eyes were extremely bright.
Harry was delighted to be back on a Nimbus 2000, though he wouldn't give up his Firebolt for the world. Michele's broom was in excellent condition, considering how old it was.
Harry quickly zoomed around the top of the stadium. Though he soon noticed that, while he was having no trouble with Michele's broom, she was having quite a time with his. He quickly moved over to her.
"You're trying to hard...a Firebolt isn't that hard to control. Relax." He said to her. He didn't she her face, because he was flying behind her, but he knew from her posture that she had relaxed. Her flying had become better and Harry could see that she was a natural.
They flew for about a half hour before they switched their brooms again. Now that they were warmed up, Harry could see that she was very good. She was really fast and probably wouldn't have been half bad as a seeker. They practiced until it was dark out. As they were walking back to the school, Michele shivered. Harry couldn't help his urge, and pulled her close to him and put his arms around her. She didn't resist him either. They walked like that until they got back to the school. When they finally did reach the gates to the school, Harry (with a heavy heart) pulled away but still kept and arm around her shoulders. They were walking through the corridor when Harry spotted Malfoy.
"Well, look what we have here." He said maliciously. "You must be new because I know I would have remembered your face." He said to Michele. Was he flirting with her? Malfoy continued. "So, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. You don't want to hanging around with scum like Potter here."
"I'm sorry, but I know Harry, and he's very nice. And I don't believe I caught your name." Michele countered.
"My name's Draco, Draco Malfoy." He said, still flirting. Michele looked shocked at the sound of his name.
"Excuse me, but are you in anyway related to Lucius Malfoy?"
Malfoy seemed a little astonished but answered. "Yes, he's my father."
Michele suddenly turned to Harry, mumbled, "I've got to go." And left.
Harry hurried and followed after her. He wondered why she had left so suddenly. She was walking very quickly but he had caught her on the stairs. He touched her arm and she spun around.
There were tears streaming down her face. Harry wasn't thinking and quickly embraced her.
"What's wrong?" He breathed tenderly in her ear. Yet, she was to upset to speak, she was trembling in his arms. He realized that people were staring at them, so he started to walk her towards the common room. The second the Fat Lady's portrait swung open, Michele ran through common room to the girl's dormitory and that was the last Harry saw her that night.
"Harry! What happened? What's that matter with Michele?" Ron asked Harry, extremely concerned.
"I dunno." Harry replied honestly. Malfoy said something to her and then she asked him something...I dunno. She just got really upset. Maybe we should just give her space."
"I'll try to talk to her later." Replied Ron. "So, how was she, flying and all?"
"She was fabulous, I couldn't believe how good she was! She's definitely going to make Chaser." Harry replied.
"Good. Are you sure she's going to be ok?"
"I'm not sure but what else can we do?" And not another word was said.
That night, lying in bed, Harry couldn't sleep. He wondered why she had gotten so upset. Since he couldn't sleep, he decided to sit in the common room. When he went into the common room, he found that he wasn't the only one that couldn't sleep. Michele was sitting in one of the best chairs by the fire looking at something, rather like a picture. She tried to conceal it when she saw Harry, but he asked her not to.
"Michele, I don't know what happened today, but I would like to. There are a lot of people you could tell, a lot of people care about you. Ron cares about you," He paused and took a deep breath, "I-I care about you."
Michele gave him a small smile for a moment, then asked him to sit down. Michele was small so they could fit in the same chair.
"This is a picture of my dad." She said softly. "I was only a year old when he died, so I don't remember him much...I don't really remember him at all." She sniffled. "But I guess I don't have any right, I mean you don't have any parents. Do you remember them?" She said, looking deeply into his eyes.
"No," Harry said honestly. "I don't." Then Harry told her something that no one else knew, except for Ron, his family, and Hermione. "In my third year, I met my god father though," Harry paused for a moment contemplating whether or not he should tell her. "He died at the end of last year." He said nervously, hoping that she wouldn't ask his name. He was denied that hope.
"What was his name?" She asked breathlessly.
Harry paused, un-aware that Michele was looking at him. He spoke when she cleared her throat.
"His name? Umm...his name was..." Harry paused again, but finally told her. "His name was Sirus Black." He waited for her to gasp but she didn't.
"Sirus Black? Isn't that the man that was supposed to be Voldemorts' right hand man? She said, quite calmly.
"Yeah, but he wasn't-" He stopped as he realized something. "You said Voldemort...you said his name." She didn't flinch at the sound of Voldemort.
"Yes, I find it silly to fear a name...but you said it too I thought that after everything that had happened to you, you would...well I dunno. You're different from what I expected." She smiled and Harry's heart melted.
"Okay," He laughed. "I answered your question, now you answer mine. Why did you get so upset today?" He asked tenderly.
She paused, took a deep breath, turned from Harry, and then spoke. "My father, was killed by a Death Eater...it just so happens that, that Death Eater...was Lucius Malfoy. Though they never had enough evidence to convict him. No one believed me or my mother."
She finally looked back at him. There was a single tear running down her cheek. Harry cupped his hand under her chin and wiped the tear with his thumb. Her eyes were bright with tears. Harry hugged her and pressed his cheek against hers.
"I believe you." He whispered in her ear.
"Thank you." She whispered back. She touched the back of Harry's neck and he felt a shiver go through his body. Then he remembered Ron.
He pulled away. "You should tell Ron."
"I don't know if he'd understand." She replied, a little shaken. Harry was a little shaken too.
"He'll understand, he has to, he's your...your boyfriend." Harry said painfully. Michele yawned. "You should go to bed, you have to be well rested for Quidditch tryouts tomorrow."
"No, I cant sleep...I'm going to stay down here a bit longer." She said reassuring him that she'd be fine.
"I'll stay, and keep you company. You shouldn't be down here alone." He replied smiling, not wanting to leave her.
He put his arm around her shoulders. With a small sigh she nestled her head into his chest. Harry felt his heart leap. Was it wrong that Harry had a crush on the girl his best friend was dating? Something occurred to Harry at that moment. He didn't have a crush on her...he loved her. Harry gasped at this revelation and realized that Michele had fallen asleep in his arms. He brushed a piece of hair out of her face, and before he could stop himself, he gave her a soft kiss on her forehead.
Thanks for reading my fic!!! Chapter 3 is on the way!