~Of Silver and Gold~
Chapter 30: Confessions
"Harry Potter!" Dumbledore screamed for the third time.
Harry was in shock, and the Great Hall being so quiet did nothing for him but made him hide.
"Get up Harry" Hermione whispered pushing him.
He got up nervously and was aware that every head at the Great Hall had turned to look at him. He was stunned, and he felt numb and was surely dreaming. He heard no applause, and he turned to his friends.
"I didn't put my name in the cup, you know I didn't" he whispered.
Both looked at him blankly and he then turned towards the Professor's table, as he heard Dumbledore speak again.
"Harry Potter!" Dumbledore roared. "Harry! Up here if you please!"
Harry walked towards the table, tripped slightly on his robe, making him stumble, but despite his face flushing, he continued to show some sort of dignity. He tried to ignore the looks he was being given all staring at him making him feel so awkward.
…
"Sit down!" Draco whispered.
Angel looked confused for a moment that is until she saw that she was standing up to stare at Harry in shock. She saw him looking so surprised, but as he walked towards the other room, did she realize a fool she was making herself out to be and she sat down immediately.
People were beginning to talk once more and soon there was a ruckus, people were screaming at the unfairness, but Angel heard nothing. His name. His name! She couldn't believe that his name was called out from the Goblet of Fire. She felt some tears coming out of her eyes but she kept the tears back, she refused to show that she was visibly shaken.
"Look at that, I knew that he would always find a way to get into the spotlight" Draco drawled out.
Angel frowned and stood up walking out. She was glad that no one noticed, because she couldn't really hold her composure anymore. She felt some tears running down her cheeks, and she wiped her tears immediately frustrated at herself. She disliked the fact that despite how strong she thought she'd be, she would break her composure and cry.
She began to walk towards the viaduct and took in a deep breath letting the cold air into her lungs. She let some tears drop into the Black Lake, knowing that the tears would immediately be lost. She hated thinking so much about him, damned it as much as she tried to fight it, she loved him.
She lifted her head immediately as she heard someone running her direction. She tensed up and she saw that it was the person she was least expecting.
There was Harry, his chest heaving, anger coursing through him making him tremble. He hadn't noticed she was there because he was staring out at the Black Lake. He gripped the viaduct tightly, angrily at that, as if someone had done him wrong.
She knew that he might need some comfort, so she walked towards him. She had no idea why she was doing it, but she did so. She placed her hand on his shoulder and she felt him tense. He immediately whipped around and pinned her towards the side of the viaduct. She gasped in surprise as did he.
He immediately let go and his shoulders began to shake. His cheeks were becoming red and his eyes began to tear once more.
"Harry.." she whispered.
"No one believes me" he croaked out.
She tilted her head sideways and looked at him frowning. He lifted his head and looked at how she was genuinely concerned. He walked towards her and before she could even react, he hugged her. He needed comfort and she gave it to him.
Automatically her arms wrapped themselves around him and she placed her head on his chest. She felt him tremble in her embrace and she let him. She figured that if he needed someone, she'd be that person hands down.
"No one believes me. I didn't put my name…I wouldn't" he cried softly in anger. "I tell the truth and no one believes me, I can't believe people think I'd want to put myself at that death sentence….not even Dumbledore believes me."
He sniffled and clung to her smaller frame. She winced slightly as he was pressing her against the side but she said nothing, merely raising her hand and ran her fingers through his hair.
"I'm sorry" she whispered. "I'm really sorry"
He pulled back slightly to look down at her and she felt her cheeks flush at the close contact.
"Do you believe me?" he asked.
She looked surprised but she looked right up into his eyes. He was wondering just what she thought, but as she stood up straighter and after what he thought was a lifetime he knew she had the answer.
"I believe you…" she whispered.
His eyebrows rose showing his surprise and he looked down at her with a gaze she couldn't recognize. She bit her bottom lip and looked up at him finally showing her vulnerability. Harry saw that the wall had come down and she showed nothing but the affection she felt for him.
He smiled softly at her and she lifted her hands to wipe his cheeks from the tears that had run down them. She smiled softly and leaned closer to him to kiss his chin.
"I believe you" she whispered.
He wrapped his arms tighter around her waist and hoisted her up on the side of the wall. She tensed and clung to him, making him smile softly knowing she was slightly frightened. He placed his head in the crook of her neck and his breath made her shiver slightly.
"I like you" he whispered.
"I've always liked you" she replied.
He pulled back and looked at her. Now propped up, she was at the same height as his. He knew that this was the moment, he leaned forward and his eyes were beginning to close showing her that he was ready. Her eyes fluttered shut as well, and she felt a tightening in her stomach showing her nervous excitement. She felt his breath against her lips and she leaned towards him.
Angel opened her eyes suddenly when he ended up kissing her cheek. He missed. He groaned in annoyance and she couldn't help it she giggled softly. She felt him tremble in amusement and knew he was better.
She decided to push him back slightly and brought him back down to kiss him for real. She felt their bottom lips touch and she shivered, as did he.
"Merlin" he whispered.
He felt his heart racing and before they could do a proper kiss, they heard a giggle. Both froze and turned to see Pansy looking at them. Her cheeks were flushed and covered her mouth showing that she felt guilty at the fact that she ruined what could have been the best memory of Angel's life.
"Sorry" she whispered.
"It's not what it looks like!" Harry said jumping away from Angel.
Angel practically clung to the side of the viaduct in surprise. She felt embarrassed, as her cheeks obviously showed, and she glared at Pansy. Harry obviously thought that Pansy had just found out and he was basically hyperventilating.
"Pansy!" Angel hissed.
"Sorry! Draco was looking for you, but if I knew that you were doing this…I would've stalled" she giggled at the end.
"Wait… you know?" Harry asked confused.
Pansy looked at him as if he was the stupidest person in the world.
"I know all" she said.
Harry rubbed the back of his head nervously and smiled sheepishly.
"I should go…Hermione and Ron might be looking for me." Harry said nervously.
"Oh they are" Pansy said. "Beaver-teeth was looking for your frantically along with the Weasel…oh and Weaslette too"
Harry glared. Angel hopped off of the viaduct and wiped her skirt to take off the dust. She walked over and she looked right at Harry.
"You should go" she whispered.
He was surprised at how she was being so open about her emotions, especially in front of someone like Pansy. He let her wrap her arms around him and was surprised as he felt a kiss on the corner of his lips. He wished it was directly on his lips, but he felt her smile.
"If you want a real kiss then you have to give one to me first Mr. Potter" she whispered.
He blushed and looked at her sheepishly.
"I believe you…just remember that" she said softly.
"Come on Angel, we can't keep them waiting for long!" Pansy said keeping watch.
Angel nodded and squeezed his hand.
"Bye Harry" she whispered.
He waved surprised, but figured that it wasn't the right time. No matter how frustrated he was, he knew that it'd be better if he left to meet his friends. He never suspected that she would be comforting him, but when she did, he was comforted and felt love.
He felt himself blush at the thought and when he snapped out of his daydream, he saw that he was already in his room.
"Oh hello," said Ron.
He was grinning, but it was a very odd, strained sort of grin. Harry suddenly became aware that he was still wearing the scarlet Gryffindor banner that Lee had tied around him. He hastened to take it off, but it was knotted very tightly. Ron lay on the bed without moving, watching Harry struggle to remove it.
"So," he said, when Harry had finally removed the banner and thrown it into a corner.
"Congratulations."
"What d'you mean, congratulations?" said Harry, staring at Ron.
There was definitely something wrong with the way Ron was smiling: It was more like a grimace.
"Well. . . no one else got across the Age Line," said Ron. "Not even Fred and George. What did you use - the Invisibility Cloak?"
"The Invisibility Cloak wouldn't have got me over that line," said Harry slowly.
"Oh right," said Ron. "I thought you might've told me if it was the cloak. . .because it would've covered both of us, wouldn't it? But you found another way, did you?"
"Listen," said Harry, "I didn't put my name in that goblet. Someone else must've done it."
Ron raised his eyebrows.
"What would they do that for?"
"I dunno," said Harry. He felt it would sound very melodramatic to say, "To kill me."
Ron's eyebrows rose so high that they were in danger of disappearing into his hair.
"It's okay, you know, you can tell me the truth," he said. "If you don't want everyone else to know, fine, but I don't know why you're bothering to lie, you didn't get into trouble for it, did you? That friend of the Fat Lady's, that Violet, she's already told us all Dumbledore's letting you enter. A thousand Galleons prize money, eh? And you don't have to do end-of-year tests either. . ."
"I didn't put my name in that goblet!" said Harry, starting to feel angry.
"Yeah, okay," said Ron, in exactly the same sceptical tone as Cedric. "Only you said this morning you'd have done it last night, and no one would've seen you.. . .I'm not stupid, you know."
"You're doing a really good impression of it," Harry snapped.
"Yeah?" said Ron, and there was no trace of a grin, forced or otherwise, on his face now. "You want to get to bed, Harry. I expect you'll need to be up early tomorrow for a photo-call or something."
He wrenched the hangings shut around his four-poster, leaving Harry standing there by the door, staring at the dark red velvet curtains, now hiding one of the few people he had been sure would believe him.
He felt anger coursing through him at the thought of Ron not believing him. He looked down at his hands and felt lost. How could he do this? How could his friend not be able to believe him? He got up and grabbed his broom angrily. The door slammed behind him and he needed to get out.
...
Angel had a rough day. After the whole afternoon dilemma with Harry, she had felt distracted. She breezed through lunch, and dinner was nothing but her picking at her food. Not even Viktor Krum, who was moody, could distract her from her thoughts.
Pansy saved her from the whole day by becoming very chatty. No one really noticed the difference considering that Pansy had handed Angel a book where she hid herself behind it so she could think about Harry.
She was pulled aside after dinner by Pansy.
"I can't stand it" Pansy whined. "Go to bed, I can't keep talking, my throat is starting to hurt."
Angel let out a small smile and nodded walking upstairs towards her room. She knew that none of her roommates would be there, after all they were too interested in talking to the Bulgarian and French students from the other schools, it was still fresh to them.
She began to change out of her uniform and slipped on her usual nightgown. She was by no means tired, but she decided that she might need some sort of quiet. So she blew the candle out and climbed onto the bed. She sighed and laid on her head cuddling softly into her covers.
She began to feel some tiredness and she closed her eyes dozing off. Around an hour later she felt Coeur nudging her face.
"Mmm...Coeur? What's wrong?"
The constant meowing was enough for her to realize that it was important. Sitting up, she follow her familiar as it scratched the door. Opening it slightly, Angel began to go up the stairs towards the balcony that faced just slightly over the Black Lake. She wondered if Fortis or another owl couldn't figure out how to come in, but as she opened the double door, she realized that was not the case.
She was shocked at the fact that he was there: Harry sat there sheepishly, relieved to see that Coeur successfully got her to come towards her.
"Hi" was all he could say to her.
"Hey" she whispered softly.
"…Can I come in?" he asked meekly.
She was so shocked, but as the cold breeze hit her face she realized just how cold he probably was. She nodded slightly and grabbed his hand tugging him inside.
"Be quiet okay? You aren't supposed to be here, but none of my roommates are here yet." She murmured as she lead him downstairs to her dorm specifically. He looked around shocked at being in not only a Slytherin dorm, but a female's dorm too.
As she closed the door behind them, Harry stopped looking around and turned to face her once more. To him she looked breathtaking. Her hair was all over the place, wavier than usual, having small curls at the bottom showing she was resting before he interrupted her. Her skin was glowing from the moonlight hitting her figure, and her eyes showed nervousness.
"I'm sorry, I just needed to talk…" he said nervously.
She walked across the room towards the door. For an instance he thought that she was kicking him out, or yelling for help, but she leaned against the door frame and looked at him expectantly.
" Sit" she said.
He nodded obediently, and sat tentatively on a bed.
"That's Astoria's bed" she said.
He jumped up and looked at her nervously.
"Sit on the one nearest to the window, that's my bed." She said.
He nodded and as he sat down, Coeur hopped onto the bed and curled up against his side. He smiled and purred as he petted her. He felt a little comforted by Angel's familiar and soon he was distracted as he felt a shift on the bed and saw her sitting beside him and looking at him curiously.
"Well?" she asked.
He looked down at the floor and sighed. Silence loomed over the pair and he was relieved that she wasn't pushing him into answering.
"They don't believe me" he admitted.
"Your friends?" she asked already suspected what he was going to say.
"Yeah…it hurts. Ron got mad at me because I wouldn't confess how I did it, but I didn't….I would never.."
"I know" she said placing her hand over his.
He looked up at her and she sighed crawling over and wrapping her arms around his neck as he placed her on his knee. She was getting more used to being near him, feeling him touch her, and touching him in return. And as she ran her fingers through his hair and rubbed his shoulders, he felt some tension leaving him, no matter how angry he was.
"I'm sorry they don't believe you.."
She felt him tense slightly and tightened his grip around her waist.
He smelled like water and nature, and she loved every second of him. She inhaled softly and he sighed exhaling air as if they were a cycle.
"Why do you believe me?" he asked.
She sighed and snuggled closer to him.
"I….I told you I lo-like you" she said hiding the seriousness of her love for him.
"Because I'm the Boy Who Lived" he added bitterly.
"No…not that." She protested. "I- Harry I liked you the the moment I saw you when I was ten. Your eyes really got to me"
He pulled back and saw her cheeks pink from her confession. He knew that it was rare if she let her walls down for him and it was twice in one evening…that had to be a new record.
"You love me?" he asked nervously.
She looked away from him and instead stared at the window showing the night sky. She didn't push herself away, she didn't deny either, but instead stayed quiet once more.
'If I tell him how I feel…he might reject me. Cho Chang, she's still there I'm not stupid, he can't ignore that emotion and my confession could ruin what little I can get of him' she thought scared.
She looked to see him and his eyes glittered in a way that took her breath away. He was so gorgeous in her eyes. His messy raven hair stuck out in different places making her think of him as untamable, and his eyes, showed such beauty. They glittered more than any emerald she had ever owned, but she sought to have him look at her that way always.
'Take a leap of faith and hope to Merlin it works out'
She lifted her hand and caressed his cheek. His eyes closed briefly and relaxed to her warm touch. She knew that she had to admit it, she had admitted it to herself and to Pansy, but she needed to tell him, even if she wasn't ready.
"I-I think I love you" she rushed out of her mouth.
The spell was broken immediately. He tensed and got up, knocking her off his lap immediately. She groaned on the floor and he stared at her showing his true surprise. She looked away feeling her eyes water at the foolish thing she did.
'Idiot' she reproached herself.
"You what?" he rasped out.
"I love you?" she repeated a little more unsure than before.
It was easier to say, but the tone in which she said turned to an embittered one. She regretted loving him, but she figured that heartache had to occur sometime.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Stop asking me if I'm sure. I know how I feel, but leave just leave please" she said lifting her hand to wipe her cheek.
"No" he said.
She looked at him surprised and he got on his knees hitting the floor once more. He climbed over her body and looked down at her. His eyes searched within hers and saw she was very serious about her emotions.
"I'm not sure if I-" he said awkwardly.
"I know…I know you don't love me" she whispered.
He shook his head and kissed her forehead.
"No look it's just that…I've never felt love. It's not one of the things I was ever given. And...I never want to lie to you.." He said sadly.
She felt a pang in her chest thinking about how someone like him wasn't ever loved.
"I don't know what love is…but I like you" he said nervously.
"You really do?" she asked.
" Merlin Angel, I've been trying to kiss you since forever!" he called out in frustration.
She felt a tug at her heartstrings and she smiled.
"Hey…Harry?" she whispered.
"Yeah?" he said looking down at her once more.
"What's stopping you?"
"What?"
"What's stopping you from kissing me now?" she asked.
He looked down at her and saw her brown eyes glitter from the moonlight. Her smile was definitely sinful and he thought that it summarized her altogether. He felt his heart beating so quickly and so loud that she should have clearly heard it.
"You're right" he whispered.
She closed her eyes and felt her heart beating like crazy. It was happening! Her first kiss, no interruptions, and it excited her more than anything. Once she felt nothing ,she opened her eyes half-way to see him looking at her nervously.
"What?" she whispered somewhat frustrated.
"I'm waiting to be interrupted" he admitted with a glint in his eye.
She laughed softly and lifted her hand. He raised his brow in confusion, and she merely placed it behind his neck and brought him down for a proper kiss. As soon as they kissed, they felt that a part of them was being completed.
The kiss was every bit like them. It started out awkwardly, he had almost bitten her lip, and their noses brushed hard against one another, but soon they got the hang of it.
It took him a long time to be kissed and now that it had happened, he knew it was worth it. There on the ground of Angel's room, had it finally happened. He was looking for that comfort, and as she lay her heart there for him to see just what her feelings were, he knew where to find it. He never stopped kissing her, the awkwardness was gone, and soon the peck was no more, but a true kiss, one like the movies.
He felt her panting and pulled back letting both of them catch their breaths. She looked at him wide-eyed and her cheeks flushed beyond belief. He smiled at her wolfishly and she smiled a small friendly smirk at him.
"I really like you" he whispered.
She smiled softly and placed a hand on his cheek.
"And I love you" she admitted.
"I'm sorry that—" he said.
"You're not ready, and I understand…but I want you to know that…that you can no longer say that you aren't loved…because you are."
He looked at her and pressed his forehead against hers in a comforting manner. His whole idea of love was really fuzzy but he fancied her, that was so obvious that if no one really connected the dots it would still be there.
"Are you my girlfriend?" he asked.
She laughed softly and shook her head no.
"No Potter we aren't boyfriend and girlfriend" she replied.
"Why not?" he asked frowning.
Angel smirked and began to play with his tie.
"You see….I'm a very selfish person." She began. "and I won't commit myself to anything unless I get all of what I want. I don't want a small bit of you Potter, oh no. I want all of you, and until you can offer me that…you don't get me either."
He finally understood her. He was very impulsive compared to her, and despite their age differences she was obviously the more mature one. He looked at her and pressed his lips against her once more and she laughed pushing him back.
He let out a groan of frustration and pouted slightly.
"What?" he whined.
"Only a boyfriend gets to give me kisses Potter" she explained and pushed him off of her.
"What?" he said. "Do you…do you…is it Blaise?" he spat out.
She shook her head and caressed his cheek.
"I've never had one before…but I plan to have one soon…if you play your cards right Potter." She whispered.
He blushed and understood. He nodded and kissed her cheek.
" You were my first kiss" he admitted.
"I know. The Boy Wonder isn't very smooth you know" she said teasingly.
"Neither is the Slytherin Princess…I am your first kiss right?" he asked nervously.
"Mhm" she murmured agreeing.
"Good."
She smiled and soon it all ended as she heard a knock on her door.
"What?" she called out making Harry wince.
"Damn it Malfoy let me in, I want to go to bed!" Astoria screamed from the other side of the door.
"Coming!" she replied.
She got up and wiped the inexistent dirt from her nightgown. She then tugged Harry up and he looked confused. But as soon as she shoved his broom to his chest and rushed to the seemingly normal wall. Pressing her hands to certain bricks, the door appeared. As she shoved him through the exit she muttered:
"Up the stairs and take a left. Coeur take him to the balcony!"
The familiar was immediately going up the stairs why Harry looked at her incredulously.
"You're kicking me out?" he teased.
"Yes, shame I know…" she played along.
"Goodnight" he whispered.
"Bye…" she whispered breathlessly.
He pushed it by kissing her once more. He was expecting her to push him away, but instead let him steal it and kissed him in return.
"Don't get used to this" she said breathlessly.
He winked and ran up the stairs following her familiar leaving her standing at her entrance in a daydreamed state. She heard the click of the door closing from the balcony and sighed in relief as her familiar returned. She felt her cheeks burning bright, but the day dream ended as she heard Astoria slamming her fists on the door.
"Hold your horses Greengrass!" she called out and ran over to unlock the door.
She had admitted it, she had admitted that she loved him, to him and she had poured her heart out to him. While it hadn't been reciprocated with a love confession of his own, she decided that she didn't need it. He had made a small step towards her, and she'd take it in stride. Sure she wished that Cho would disappear and not take any of the affections she sought for, but it was fine. She knew that if she was patient she would get what she wanted. After all, a Malfoy always gets what a Malfoy wants.