Petunia and Vernon couldn't keep their eyes off her either. Vernon hadn't turned the page of his magazine in ten minutes.
Their son was talking to a girl! And look how Harry stares! I bet Harry is jealous of our Dudley! Look how he is getting all of her attention!
Dinner was called later than Petunia had promised, but no one seemed to notice or care.
Dinner conversation was sparse, as everyone was staring at Millie and could focus on little else.
And whenever Millie would say something, only Harry would answer back with more than just a "yes" or "no."
Dudley dropped his fork twice out of nerves. Harry even missed his mouth a few times when he would bring up his fork. Millie was just so darn distracting!
Harry thought to himself, after he missed his mouth for the second time, what would Hermione and Ron say to him now if they could see Harry going completely nutty over a muggle girl? And on that thought, Harry doubted either of them was having as good of a summer day as he was: Harry had met two bubbly blondes, May and Claire, who were going to play Quidditch with him, and then there was Millie…Damn! He almost felt bad for Ron, stuck up there in the Burrow, the Burrow that Harry used to find paradise. There were no Millies at the Burrow…
When the dishes were cleared, Harry nervously stepped to edge of the room. What should he do? Does Millie want to stay longer? Should he offer to take her home? Does she want to go home? Does she want to stay?
Millie finished putting away her plate and then walked over to Harry. She leaned against the wall beside him
"I had a nice evening, Harry" Millie said, staring intently at Harry.
"Me too" Harry couldn't think of anything better to say, his mind was going too fast for all of the right words to come out.
They stared silently at each other for a few more seconds. Millie broke the silence, "Well, I guess I had better be going home."
"You don't have to. I wouldn't mind if you stayed. I mean, we could um, hang out longer" Harry said.
"Yeah, that would be nice but its getting late and I still have to get home on the bus." Millie looked away from Harry's bright green stare.
"Let me take you home" Harry offered, sincerely hoping she would.
"No, that is too much trouble to ask. But please, Harry, walk me just to the bus stop instead"
"Alright. But you should say goodbye first" Harry said.
"I Know!" Millie responded. She walked over to Petunia, who was wiping down the table and said to her, very politely, "Mrs. Dursley, I had a wonderful evening with you and your family. It was so nice to speak with Dudley again after all these years. Thank you so much."
"You're welcome. How are you getting home?" Petunia asked sternly.
Vernon and Dudley were both sitting on the couch facing the opposite direction, but they both listening to Millie.
"Harry is going to walk me to the bus stop"
Petunia was startled a bit by this; she said "No! You can't ride a bus all by yourself! And Harry is no man to have as an escort this late at night. Dudley should go with you. He is a big, strong boy."
Harry nervously listened to this. Dudley couldn't walk Millie to the bus stop! Then Harry wouldn't get to be alone with Millie! Dudley would be alone with Millie, on a beautiful starry night…
"Dudley is too kind, Mrs. Dursley, but I have already accepted Harry's offer" Millie said with a smile.
"Then Dudley will go too" Petunia said flatly. "Dudley, go get your shoes on! You are walking Millie to the bus stop with Harry!"
"Oh no" thought Harry. "I am going to have to compete with Dudley for her attention. How can I get her alone for just a minute…" Harry thought of an idea!
"Alright, Dudley, Millie and I will wait for you outside. We already have our shoes on" Harry called to his cousin, who was fatly getting off of the sofa.
Millie and Harry didn't have their shoes on, but Harry grabbed Millie's wrist and pulled her towards the door. He picked up his shoes and her pretty red flip flops and led her outside.
"We will get our shoes on outside, instead" Harry told her.
"Why?" Millie questioned.
"Because I want to be away from Dudley for a while"
"Oh"
They sat on the lawn. Their shoes were on, but Harry couldn't think of anything to say. I mean, he could think of things to say, but nothing smart enough, nothing smooth enough, nothing funny enough.
Her hair looked so dark in the moonlight. Harry could barely tell that she was a red head. Her hair now looked the same color as her lips. Her lips. Should he kiss her now?
Harry knew that he wanted to kiss her. But did she want to kiss him? And how does a boy go about figuring these things out?
"Millie" Harry nearly choked on the word.
"What?"
Harry started to ramble, "Um, I uh, I was thinking, that um, if I ever wanted to see you again, then um, I would need a way to reach you, and you probably have a telephone, I know I have a telephone…"
"Do you want my phone number?" Millie interrupted.
"Yeah, that would be nice" Harry said, laughing nervously.
Millie wrote her number on the receipt from her lunch and Harry put that paper into his pocket like it was made of gold.
"You had better give me your number as well, just in case you get too nervous to call me. I do want to see you again, you know" Millie joked.
Harry had to write his number on her hand because he had no more paper.
When he was finished writing he didn't let go of her hand. They were holding hands! Harry got so excited.
Harry sat so still. Millie seemed a little nervous, too. But she didn't pull her hand away.
Harry started to lean towards Millie.
But before Harry could make some suave move, Dudley came bounding out of the front door. He was so fat.
When Dudley got nearer, he saw that Harry and Millie were holding hands. Harry felt bad now. Dudley might have a hard time with the ladies, he is just so insecure. It might take him a lot of pain before he can feel like Harry did just then with Millie.
Dudley had liked Millie, but Harry had beaten him to her. Dudley's runty cousin was growing up to be better looking, smarter, and more popular than Dudley. This hit Dudley all at once as he saw Harry and Millie, holding hands, barely breaking apart when he appeared.
"Um, hi Millie; hi Harry" Dudley said. It was obvious that his mother had had to push him out of the door. Dudley did not want to be here.
"Well, let's start walking, guys" Millie said, diplomatically. She let go of Harry's hand to stand up from the grass.
Harry stood up as well and started to walk on Millie's left side, Dudley moved to her right. Millie was again in the middle.
To make Dudley jealous, Harry grabbed Millie's hand and pulled her towards him. Harry whispered in her ear, "Millie, you look so beautiful in the moonlight" It was cheesy, it was corny, and Harry knew it. But Harry also knew that it would make Millie smile, which would make Dudley mad, and would score Harry some points with Millie. Girls like hearing that sort of stuff.
When Millie finished her soft giggle, Harry let of her hand, and let his own hand swing confidently by his side.
"Where do you live, Millie?" Dudley asked, attempting conversation.
"I live pretty near the high school"
"That's cool" Dudley said, staring at his shoes, feeling beaten, broken, and depressed. He looked again at Harry and Millie giggling about him.
"So how long have you two been dating?" Dudley asked in a hurt tone.
"We're not dating!" Millie shrieked.
"Well then how long have you two known each other?" Dudley asked.
"As long as I've known you, Dudley. But I just re-met Harry today I guess" Millie answered.
"One afternoon. That's all it took you, Harry? Damn! Millie, did you know that I had the biggest crush on you for four years and you never took notice?"
Millie was stunned silent for a moment. "I had no idea, Dudley."
"Girls are so blind" Dudley mumbled, his several chins moving as he spoke.
"No we are not! It's just that you guys never give us any clues!" Millie exclaimed.
"Never give you any clues! What are we supposed to do? Leave hidden messages? What clues did Harry give you? You obviously know that he likes you" Dudley asked, glaring at his cousin.
"Well, he was nice to me" Millie said, blushing. Harry, with those to die for eyes, liked her!
"He was nice to you? hmpf." And then Dudley did something so out of character, so unexpected.
He stopped walked and turned to face Harry and Millie, "Well, I guess can't compete with the one nice gesture that Harry did for you today. I guess I'll never be the great Harry Potter. I'm going back to the house."
Dudley started walking back, he big shadow grew longer in the moonlight.
"Dudley, stop for a second, Harry needs to apologize" Millie called, surprising both boys.
"But I never did anything to hurt Dudley! What should I apologize for?" Harry asked, moving his hand to rub her shoulders.
Millie knocked his hand away, eyes flashing, "Apologize for things like that! Harry, you need to stop taunting your cousin! You should have known that I fancied you! No competition! So you shouldn't have rubbed it in! He is you cousin and that was very insensitive."
Harry stood shocked. Millie fancied him! No competition. But he was going to have to apologize to Dudley? Apologize for being nicer and prettier than Dudley? Apologize because Dudley can barely string together a sentence when he talks to girls?
Millie was waiting for Harry to speak. Dudley was the one wearing a smirk, now.
"I am sorry for flirting openly with Millie, Dudley. That was insensitive of me due your lack of ability to do the same" Harry sneered.
"Harry! That was the rudest apology ever!" Millie scolded.
"Well what am I supposed to say?! 'Dudley, I love you so much, let's never fight again'" Harry exclaimed sarcastically; though he was running his hand nervously through his messy black hair.
"Honestly, Harry, you shouldn't be joking with me right now. You should be doing exactly as I say if you want to get what I think you want" Millie said, with her hands on her hips and her red hair blowing in the cool, gentle breeze.
It was Dudley's turn to laugh at his stupid runty cousin. Harry was striking out, too!
But now was the time for Harry to turn on the Potter charm. "Dudley, I am very sorry. I know that I treated you infernally. I know how we can get competitive and I really hope that we will never let a girl come in the middle of our beautiful relationship as cousins. Family is something so precious and so rare. The blood that binds us is indeed stronger than I had realized" Harry spoke eloquently, though not entirely sincerely.
Millie however bought the whole thing, "That was beautiful, Harry." Millie was beaming at him again with her pretty eyes, and her pretty mouth.
Damn it, thought Dudley, as he watched Millie and Harry gaze at each other some more. So Dudley said a short goodbye and left Harry and Millie alone in the moonlgiht, under the stars.
This past week has been way hectic! I'm sorry that this chapter took longer than expected. But I know I am excited to get this plot rolling!
Review, si-vous-plait (the new RSVP)