Harry passed a couple of bookcases, lightly touching the spine of the books as he combed through, trying to find the Transfiguration book he needed.
Today was the day for his and Lilith's practice date. He decided that he could kill two birds with one stone by bringing up their Transfiguration assignment if things become awkward somehow, which was inevitable for the two dorks. Other things he brought were of course the cloak and map, just in case they decided to continue with their previous mission of tailing Umbridge.
A splash of sun caught his left hand as he kept searching; embellishing the mark that Umbridge had given him and so many other students. This caused his stomach to tie into a knot; he had agreed readily to go on with the act of being in a relationship with Lilith, but after sleeping on it he began to worry about his involvement with the young P.I., that it will bring a spotlight of attention towards her, including the unwanted attention of Umbridge. He could handle the pain of Umbridge's detentions; but the image of Lilith having to write lines and seeing her writhe in pain as the blood quill etched the dreaded mantra of I must not tell lies on her hand, he wouldn't be able to handle it.
During his search he heard hushed voices behind the bookcase in front of him, normally he wouldn't care for the gossip in Hogwarts - being the main topic of several of these aiding in his derision of the Hogwarts rumor mill - until he heard a name he wouldn't have thought would come up.
"I'm telling you, Lilith was acting really strange this morning."
Harry stood stock still. Before trying to keep quiet to hear more of the conversation.
"Yeah, but isn't that just her being her? It's not like she was acting any more strangely than she usually does."
Harry wanted to be offended for Lilith, but a slight part of him understood their point. Lilith wasn't exactly normal, but that's what he loved about her so much, her exuberance and passion made life so much more colorful.
Harry shook his head clear, 'Now is not the time to daydream.' Harry mentally chided himself. He moved the books slightly and peeked through to see two Hogwarts students, the blue lining on their robes giving away their house. Afterwards, he opened the map - which he brought to keep surveillance when he and Lilith had their picnic - and saw his name with two other names in front of his little dot: Lisa Turpin and Mandy Brocklehurst. He checked again and he could ascertain that the girl with her back to him was Lisa and the girl in front of her was Mandy.
"But I heard her talking to Sue Li about conversation topics and how to tell if a boy likes her." The now identified Lisa said, "And really, by what I heard of their interaction, it seems like Lilith's got her boy hook, line, and sinker."
Harry got a bit flustered at Lisa's comment, 'I'm not that whipped.' Trying to convince himself. Anyway, he should really talk to Lilith about discretion.
Mandy gave a girly giggle, "Ohh, who do you think it is?"
Lisa gave a hum of concentration as she tried to come up with any boy that she had seen interact with Lilith, "Maybe it's that Slytherin boy, Theodore Nott? I saw him working with her in potions last week."
Mandy then gave another suggestion, "Or maybe it was that Hufflepuff in Charms? Wayne Hopkins, I saw him asking Lilith a question about the silencing charm last lesson."
Harry felt a pang of jealousy, which he promptly felt ashamed about. Just because he liked her didn't mean he should think that every man was coming to get her and he definitely shouldn't assume that he should have any say in who Lilith talked to. Plus, that line of thinking reminded him of Aunt Petunia's soap operas that she watched everyday; something about a guy who obsessively took control of his wife's life. Something he didn't want to ever emulate.
Glancing at a nearby clock, he saw it was almost time to meet Lilith. Fixing the books that he had moved to keep watch on the two Ravenclaw gossips, he then made his way to exit the library, but right then he heard what he dreaded to hear:
"It could be Harry Potter, you know."
His heart leapt to his mouth at that. He then shuffled back quietly to hear what they had to say about him.
Lisa gave Mandy a look of disbelief, "Harry? As in the Harry Potter?"
Mandy gave an eye roll of exasperation, "Do you know any other Harry Potters?" At Lisa's glare she started to explain herself, "I mean, didn't you see who Harry went to during Transfiguration and Herbology? It wasn't Weasley or Granger, but Lilith!"
Lisa goggled at Mandy, "Really? Why didn't I notice any of that?" Lisa questioned, in which Mandy gave her an incredulous look.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because you were too busy making googly eyes at Dean to notice?" Mandy replied, making Lisa turn beet red.
Dean's love life notwithstanding, Harry was now slowly panicking. If news spreads of his and Lilith's involvement with each other this early, Umbridge might hear and their jobs will suddenly become much harder to do; but what could he do? Maybe try and alleviate their notion? But that would need him to reveal that he was eavesdropping on the girls' conversation and he didn't need that characteristic put upon him along with the other slander that the ministry was already printing about him.
Before he could do anything he might regret however, the girls resumed their conversation.
"A- anyway, even if Harry partnered up with Lilith. Do you really think she would be able to pull someone like Harry Potter?" Lisa argued, her faint blush still radiating from her cheeks.
Mandy pondered for a moment, "I dunno… Maybe? It's not like we know anything about Harry's type right? He might be into those types of weird girls." Mandy shrugged.
Now Harry's panic slowly transformed into outrage that they would talk about Lilith like this. He had half a mind to leave right then but he needed to stay just in case they talked any more about him and Lilith.
Lisa just gave Mandy a shake of her head, then a leer "Well, if you think she has a chance, do you think we might?"
Mandy burst into a fit of giggles, "Oh, if I was given a chance. The things I would do to him."
'Alright, that's my cue to leave.' Harry thought, holding his head down to hide his red face as he briskly walked to the exit, leaving the two girls to their… risqué discussion.
Before pausing near the entrance way of the library.
He forgot to find the Transfiguration book.
Lilith waved at him as he neared the tree that sat atop the hill overlooking the Great Lake.
He waved back, displaying the book held tight in his hand.
After realising his blunder, he had returned quickly to the bookcase and silently looked for the book he came to the library for. Luckily, he managed to find it; unfortunately, he had heard a snippet of the two Ravenclaw's conversations. Which included something about whips, chains, pickle juice, salt, candles, and whip cream. Suffice to say, he would need a shower tonight. Ice cold.
He subdued the slight shiver coming right up his spine as he sat on the checkered fabric Lilith had set on the grass. A picnic basket was placed next to her. She hadn't looked him in the eyes yet and it began to dawn on him the severity of the situation. Namely that this could technically be considered their first date; whether or not they came as a fake or real couple.
With a modicum of anxiety settling in on his shoulders, he tried to come up with a topic that would incite them to start conversing with one another.
"So… what do you think of the weather?" Harry awkwardly began.
'Good thinking on that one, idiot.' Harry thought insultingly to himself.
Lilith softly shuffled a bit on her spot and blew a bit of hair on her face out of the way, "Um, it's nice I guess. A bit of a breeze is always nice when out in public."
Harry nodded, "Yeah, I guess it is nice."
Silence…
'Bloody hell, why is it so hard to talk to her now?' Harry asked himself frustratingly. Before he could handle talking to her, even built up the courage to be her partner-in-crime and ask her on a half-real half-not date. Maybe it had to deal with the fact that now, there was a certain expectation of him to act somewhat like a boyfriend to Lilith; which he normally would be delighted about, but there was still a sliver of uncertainty that made him hesitant in further developing their friendship; the fear that maybe she wouldn't like his advances and throw him away to the curb. Which was stupid of him to think really, but his life always found a way to take away the hope he had always reached out for, maybe the same thing would happen with Lilith?
The silence was now becoming unbearable for Harry. He had to find something, anything to talk about. He had thought of immediately using the book to finally revive the flatlining conversation, when Lilith suddenly spoke up.
"Harry, look!"
Lilith pointed her finger over Harry's shoulder and he quickly turned around to see what she had seen; and it was none other than Umbridge.
Harry watched as Umbridge briskly paced into the surrounding forest of the Great Lake, nearing a spot where a dirt path was settled in.
"What do you think she's up to?" Harry asked Lilith, his eyes never leaving Umbridge.
Lilith gave a disgruntled hum, "I don't know, but I'm guessing it's not anything good." She quickly stood up, bringing Harry with her, and brought her wand over their picnic spot. The fabric floated up and wrapped itself on the picnic basket, before being promptly shrunk and floating to Lilith's robe pocket.
"Did you bring your cloak?" This question was directed at Harry, who firmly nodded and flourished the invisible piece of clothing out of his knapsack.
Lilith took his hand and led the way to where Umbridge was last seen, "Come on, we can put it on when we're near her."
Harry fumbled a bit by the sudden contact but nevertheless rushed with her to the dirt path where Umbridge entered. After reaching their destination they took a surreptitious glance and saw Umbridge slowly traversing through the mud-filled path not too far away from them.
Harry watched the slowly vanishing back of Umbridge as Lilith gave a few unhappy huffs, "Of course she had to walk through a place where we could leave footprints. Let's try following her through the sides, maybe she won't notice us then." Harry hummed in agreement and stepped onto the soft, brown dirt, with Lilith shadowing him closely. Both cloaked by Harry's invisible fabric.
Wherever Umbridge was going, it certainly wasn't for a relaxing walk. Numerous pieces of branches and leaves were cut down as Umbridge made her way deeper into the forest. Meanwhile, Lilith and Harry were stalking near her; the abundance of shrubbery and the near deafening sound of amphibians and insects aiding in their stealthy pursuit. It wasn't long before they arrived at a clearing in the forest, where a dead tree laid horizontally. Umbridge sat with an angry grunt while Harry and Lilith stopped and hid behind a tree.
And there they waited, Umbridge occupied herself with trying to salvage her pink coat by flecking pieces of dirt and leaves off of her. Harry surveyed the area; keeping watch on anybody or anything that may pose a threat. Lilith busied herself by taking in what she could, gazing over her surroundings with unblinking eyes.
After several minutes, the telltale sound of branches crunching and mud stomping gave way to a heavily clothed and cloaked man, donning several belts around his person and carrying a backpack.
"Why, hello there Dolores. Fancy seeing you here." The cloaked man gave a raspy laugh at Umbridge's fire fueled glare, "Now now, don't get your panties in a tussle."
Umbridge snarled at him, "You were the one who requested I meet you here in this dreadful location instead of just owling as you usually do."
The man gave a small tut at Umbridge, "And I would have continued, if you had some kind of control. Really Dolores, 3 sets of blood quills in a month? Now that's just asking for trouble." The man said mockingly, then pulled down the hood of his cloak revealing a short mass of brown hair, with a few specks of gray sprinkled near the top of his head.
Harry's blood ran cold at that, so this was the man supplying Umbridge with the torture device, and he sounded like as if he knew what she was using it for; then again of course he should have, the news of Umbridge being the High Inquisitor were on the front of the papers so often with the new decrees she would install in the school. Out of the blue, he felt Lilith's hand grasping his forearm in a vice grip, she gave a shudder of fear as the cloaked man slowly unbuckled a few of his belts and settled the backpack on his back gently down on the ground.
"Well, the bosses aren't that unhappy. So long as you keep quiet and make sure nobody knows where your supply is coming from we'll keep your inventory in stock." The man flipped open his backpack and brought out a couple of boxes, before opening one and showing its contents to Umbridge, "So, is it to your liking?"
Umbridge slowly picked up one of the quills and gave a simpering little sneer, "Why yes, it's perfect." She then produced a small pouch from inside her coat and gave it to the man's waiting hand.
The man flipped open another pocket on his backpack and loftily dropped it in the awaiting opened flap, "Well that concludes our business for today. Thanks for your patronage." The man donned a cocky, shit-eating grin before trekking his way back to where he came.
Umbridge gaped at the sudden dismissal from the arrogant contraband merchant, "Wait! Do I have to keep coming back here to purchase from you!?"
The man gave a hearty chuckle, "Nah! Just wanted to see you dirty yourself for me!"
"What!?" Umbridge's angry shout was not effective at quelling the man's laugh; if anything it further empowered the man to laugh even harder.
After the man's grating laugh finally subsided, Umbridge muttered a few choice insults at the man. She hid the box of blood quills on her person before finally making her way back to the school.
After a couple of minutes, Harry checked on Lilith, she was white as a sheet and shaking.
"Lilith, are you alright?" Harry's worried words seemed to have broken Lilith out of her daze.
Lilith gave a shake nod, "Yeah, just… Can we go back? To our spot?"
Lilith's small voice and request tore at his heart, but he complied and softly took his hand to guide her back towards the Great Lake.
After coming back and setting the picnic blanket back into place, they sat quietly near each other.
Harry took a sidelong glance at Lilith as she gazed towards her feet sullenly, "Are you alright?"
A moment passed before she softly nodded, "Yes, thank you. For staying with me." Lilith gave Harry a serene smile.
"Of course, we're in this together, remember?" Harry tried to reassure her, but it seemed to have the opposite effect as her eyes dimmed at his words. As she returned her gaze back to her feet he had to wonder, why had she been so afraid? Granted, he was also fearful of them being caught; but something told him that there was something more to Lilith's sudden terror at the man who Umbridge knew.
But that could wait, he had to comfort Lilith to the best of his abilities.
He contemplated once again using the book but thought better of it; something tells him homework was the last thing on her mind. So he had no other alternatives. After racking his brain, a simple thought came to him.
They always say what a friend needs is a shoulder to lean on.
So he scoots closer to Lilith, hip to hip. She recoils a bit and stares at him, and Harry tries his best to return a solace stare back. After a while, she slowly leans her head on his shoulder, as if she expected him to pull away.
They stayed like this for a couple of minutes. The sound of the leaves rustling and the soft dance of the grass as the wind breezes past them, the waters of the Great Lake slowly moving as the giant squid looms in the lake. Her presence brought a gentle heat that beats any feeling of cold that was brought upon by the draft.
Harry heard Lilith's sigh, before she finally spoke, "I'm sorry."
Harry's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "For what?"
"For… Being weak I guess. I'm supposed to be the one experienced in this line of work and yet I froze up." She fiddled with her hand as she spoke, "I know that man. His name is Robert Tassler, he's a part of a black market wizard operation; mostly Purebloods who sell dark wizard items like blood quills, books containing dark spells, and items that have curses put upon them. My father and my mother have come across them a couple of times and have been trying to find some damning evidence against them, but so far they've always been giving them the slip."
Lilith then gave another tired sigh, "I've snooped on my parent's files before, and the crimes that man has committed can get him immediately kissed on the spot; and seeing someone that dangerous, that I've only seen in a picture in real life, kinda stumped me a bit."
Harry gently put his hand on her shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze, "Hey don't be like that. We did our job well; we got in, got our information, and got out. If you ask me that sounds like mission success."
Lilith's head rose up to meet his, a twinkle of joy emanating from her brown orbs, "You think so?"
Harry reciprocated her look with a tranquil smile, "I know so. So what about we celebrate with some food? I don't know about you but I'm feeling a bit peckish after tailing Umbridge."
Lilith nodded her head in delight and opened the picnic basket, pulling one plate of food after the other; once she was done, the whole blanket was filled with food. Sandwiches, pastries, meat, chips, fruits, salads, pudding, cakes, it was a buffet!
Lilith gave an amused giggle at Harry's goggling, "Come on, this food won't eat itself you know." She scooped up some salad, chicken, a sliced apple, and a scone on his plate and handed it to him. Harry waited for her to fill her plate before digging in. It was magnificent; each item of food was delicious and unnaturally complemented each other. Though there was a vast amount of food, he never stopped trying out each piece of food that Lilith had brought; a sentiment that she seemed to share as the comfortable silence droned on during their attempt at devouring the mountain of food. After a while, a sizable dent had been made but the food seemed to have been neverending in Harry's point of view.
He sat back with a satisfied exhale; he could feel his stomach trying to contain the multiple food stuff he ate. He closed his eyes for a moment, he never felt so relaxed, before hearing the sound of liquid being poured and a cold sensation on his cheek. He opened his eyes to see Lilith placing a cup of water on his right cheek, "Here you go." Lilith gave a grin and Harry returned it with one of his own before taking the cup and drinking it's contents.
"Seems like I got a bit overzealous with the food. I'll pack up some for you and your friends, if they ask, just say you got it from the elves." Lilith gave a wink, then started putting some assortment of food in a container, magic enabling her to put more than the container could look like it can handle. As Harry gave a nod of gratitude, he remembered the conversation he had heard earlier in the library, along with the niggling bit of worry he had experienced then.
"Oh yeah, I overheard two Ravenclaws talking in the library earlier. They noticed that we had worked together on a couple of subjects."
Lilith dusted her hands after closing the lid on the plastic container, "Really? Hmm, well it isn't unprecedented. If anything, now that we're acting as a couple we should probably spread the news sooner rather than later; keeping it a secret will blow up on our face."
Harry let out an affirmative hum, "I guess."
The change in demeanor in Harry did not go unnoticed, "What's wrong Harry? Indigestion?"
Harry shook his head, "No, nothing of the sort." Harry kept his eyes at the sky, watching the clouds stroll by.
Lilith inched her way to him, knees sliding as she neared, "Then why are you acting so down?"
Harry ran his hand through his hair, collecting his thoughts. "Don't you think it would be better to keep us a secret for now?" He at last said.
"What for? I mean, they'll assume that we're going out if we keep being together, so it's just an easy explanation if Umbridge ever notices us." Lilith remarked, and Harry grunted in agreement.
"Yeah, but when the news gets to her..." Harry went silent, not wanting to think of the possible ways she would try to get to him through Lilith.
Lilith for her part only gave a small snort, "Come on Harry, I wouldn't have done this if I didn't know the risk." Lilith gave a small pat on his head, "Besides, I've got a plan in case she does ever try to get me."
Harry's heart skipped a beat as she started slowly twirling his hair in her hand, "Er… Alright, d'you mind then if you tell me?"
A hum of consideration arose from Lilith's throat as she continued playing with Harry's hair, "Well, I wouldn't mind; but this plan's kind of a business secret. Maybe in the future when you finally get to work for me, I'll tell you then."
"Hey, since when did I say I'd work for you?" Harry asked, a flavor of humour in his words.
A short snicker from Lilith made its way to Harry's ears, "When you so graciously gave your services to me."
Harry let out a content smile as her ministrations on his hair finally took a toll on his mind. A yawn made its way out before he could stop it.
Lilith sniggered a bit, "Looks like someone's a bit sleepy"
Harry rolled his eyes, "Well I can't help it; good food on a beautiful day like this, it's only natural I'd want a good nap as well."
Lilith paused to ponder for a bit, before grabbing Harry's head gently.
"Lilith? What are you-" But the question died on his lips as his head was gently steered to the young lady's lap.
A burst of red made its way to Harry's face, and as he moved his head to face Lilith, he could see her blushing as well.
At Harry's incredulous look, she let out an embarrassed cough, "The whole point of today was to practice being a couple right? So I'm just being a dutiful gi… Girlfriend and letting you sleep on my lap."
Lilith's face reddening at the word "girlfriend" made Harry smile a bit out of amusement, though his face reddened as well. He was glad that the awkward atmosphere from before had not returned and he could feel himself becoming more confident; coming with it an idea that would definitely bring a fantastic reaction out of her.
Gameplan was a go.
"Won't your legs go numb?" He began, "I mean, it'd be unfair of me as a boyfriend to let you suffer loss of blood flow for my own leisure." Harry sat up, sitting cross-legged in front of Lilith.
Lilith pouted a bit at him - a pout that almost convinced him to lay back on her lap - and said, "Well it's also unfair if my boyfriend doesn't get his needed rest, rest that I can give. So come on mister!" She glared at him and pointed to her lap.
He playfully massaged his chin in thought - In actuality, it was because he needed time to swallow down the laughter bubbling up from his stomach - before responding to Lilith's demand.
"You know, I know a way where both of us can get what we want. I get my nap and you don't have to lose the feeling in your legs." Harry gestured to Lilith to come closer. Lilith's eyes shot up in interest and she neared towards him, and as she did she felt her body suddenly being pulled towards the ground. She shut her eyes, awaiting the impact of the blanketed grass, but only felt a soft thud as her head landed on something else. The smell and warmth registered in her mind first before her eyes opened to… black. Confused, she raised her head up to see two emerald eyes twinkling with mischief.
Lilith was laying her head on Harry's chest.
Harry couldn't help but laugh as Lilith's face was trying its best to impersonate a tomato, "See? Much more comfortable." Harry snickered at her as she gaped at him.
She huffed and turned her head to the side, "You know, for someone who hasn't been in a relationship you're really proactive."
Harry smirked and looked up at the sky, "Well I am the youngest seeker in a century, maybe I'm a dormant Casanova?" Lilith gave a snort at that.
"If you're Casanova then I might as well be Carmen." Lilith retorted. Harry didn't know who Carmen was, but it felt like she had rebutted his statement.
The conversation then went silent, though Harry was still fighting off the sleep that was slowly overtaking his mind; wanting to savor the tender moment with Lilith.
"Hmm… You won't be getting away from me, you scum…"
Lilith however, did not seem to share the same sentiment; although the small murmurs in her sleep that he could understand filled him with mirth.
Harry took one last glance towards the Transfiguration book sitting atop the picnic basket.
'Eh, homework can wait.'
With that last thought, his eyes closed as he drifted off to a restful slumber. The slight chilly breeze bringing them closer to each other.
A/N: An OC, ooooh~. Don't worry, he won't matter... Or will he? Leaving a trail of reviews is a good way to trap me!