With a shocked look on his face, Harry whispered, "Elena Black..."

His mind was reeling.

'How is this possible? Elena is a member of the Black family!? But that would mean... Sirius or Regulus? Surely Sirius would've mentioned her, after all he was not someone to hide her existence because she was a squib, right?'

Harry tried to reason with himself. He firmly believed that Sirius was not someone who had been indoctrinated in the Wizarding culture of viewing squibs as people unworthy of even mentioning. However, another part, small it may be, was fiercely arguing that it was a sentiment so deeply ingrained in the subconscious mind of every witch and wizard that they took it at face value, something that was not to be questioned, it just was.

'Sirius... please let me be wrong...' Harry pleaded within his mind before he slowly stuffed all her articles inside her purse. He slid it over the counter until it reached the spot right beside her empty glass of Hobgoblin. Elena looked over at him and smiled, and Harry tried to return it. She must have noticed something was wrong because her brow creased.

"Oh!" Lavender exclaimed, "You're finished already? Wait, I'll get you two refilled."

Harry started.

"Lav wait!" He called out, and Lavender paused mid-turn. Turning around, she cocked her head sideways and fixed an inquisitive look on her face.

Harry gave a small smile.

"I've had more than enough for the night, so no need to trouble yourself,"

"Huh? That's strange. Usually, you go on for a couple more. What happened?" She enquired before her eyes widened. Harry had a bad feeling as he saw a purely maniacal expression cross her face.

Scooting close to him, she invaded his personal space and whispered in his ear, "Oooohhh willing to push off early, are we? My my, Mr. Savior, you surely work fast," she pulled back and smirked.

Harry sighed.

"That's so not it,"

"Uh-huh, don't mind me, I gotta go soon anyway. You go and enjoy," she giggled and with a wink, turned toward a bewildered Elena.

Said girl sweatdropped when she came face to face with Lavender's maniacal one. Her first thought was to flee quickly, but she controlled herself.

"You listen here missy," Lavender began with a degree of seriousness that contrasted perfectly with her creepily grinning face, and Elena sweatdropped even more.

"U-uh?" She stammered. She tried to turn her head toward Harry but was flabbergasted when Lavender cupped her cheeks and forced her to look straight at her.

"You are in for something special now. I'll bet my entire fortune, however meagre it might be, that you won't get any better, ever!" Her voice was so serious that Elena couldn't bring herself to look away. It was really creepy, and it made goosebumps rise on her skin.

'Why is it so cold suddenly?' She idly wondered.

"So!" Lavender's raised voice brought her attention back to her, "I want you to lose yourself in the feeling. Simply surrender your entire being, let yourself drown and I guarantee you'll be forever enthralled," the blonde finished in a smug voice.

Elena, meanwhile, was confused.

'The hell is she talking about!?'

Lavender patted her cheeks twice, and Elena could only look at her with a stupefied expression.

"So yeah!" Lavender clapped her hands, "That's all the wisdom I'll bestow upon you, number I-don't-know-what, and have a merry time! Hope to see you soon again!" She leaned forward and whispered, "Believe me, your world's gonna get rocked," in her ear, before she pulled away and gave her a smirk.

Elena felt a shudder course through her as she looked at the predatory smirk on the face of the blonde bombshell. Knowing not what to do, she simply nodded once. Lavender smiled widely and patted her cheek for the final time. Turning toward Harry, she saw he had his face buried in his palm and his elbow resting on the countertop.

As if he felt her gaze on her, his head tilted toward her, and he mouthed, 'I'm sorry' before fixing his gaze on the pretty bartender.

"You done?" he deadpanned.

Lavender smirked.

"Oh I'm done here. But you, I expect your A-game. After all, I'm sure I'll need all the details. Even if I'm missing out, I'll be happy hearing all about it."

'Yeah, that creepy dreamy look on her face is not normal,' Elena thought. As she looked over at Harry, she knew he was thinking the same.

"Okay then," Lavender smiled, "My job is done. So I'll be going now. See you too soon," She kissed Harry on the cheek before surprising her by pecking her as well. Elena turned to see her gliding to the back of the bar, presumably where the staff restrooms were and turned back toward the man with her.

"The hell was that about?" She exclaimed in a furious whisper. Harry simply sighed.

"It's better you don't pay too much attention to what she says. She's all kinds of crazy."

"Weird." Elena muttered. Harry chuckled.

"So," he began, and Elena turned her attention back to him.

"So?" Her head cocked sideways, and her brow furrowed once again when she saw the serious look on his face.

'What happened? Everything was good until now... we had so much fun dancing together. And we kissed... he was happy, I know he was... Does he regret it?'

Elena felt very confused. She was sure there was a spark between them, and she knew Harry had felt it as well. Then what happened?

Harry sighed.

"Look... Elena," he began, "I had a lot of fun tonight. More than I thought. And..."

She stayed silent, simply looking back at him. Harry looked at her with a nervous look on his face, his fingers idly drumming on the glass surface.

"When I approached you, I had no idea you were a squib. Hell, I didn't even expect us to get so involved, so soon. All I expected was to get a simple shag out of it, nothing more," Elena's eyes widened, and Harry backpedaled a bit.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you... it's just Lav put me up to it. She and I were supposed to... you know... but she had different plans, and she suggested I try to..."

"To get into my knickers, is that what you mean?" Elena forced herself to calm down.

'The nerve of this man! And he's the savior of Wizarding Britain?'

"It sounds really bad when you put it like that," Harry sighed.

"I can't believe you..." Her voice rose a bit.

"I'm sorry... but-"

"So it was all an act for you, huh?" she whispered, and Harry was surprised to see her eyes moisten a bit.

"Wh-"

"What did you think? That you'll show some sympathy to this little pitiful squib girl and she will fall over her feet for you? Let me tell you something, Mr. Potter, I'm not some cheap conquest who will get on her knees for you just because you showed her some empathy."

"I should've known better," she continued, "you're just like those bigots, revealing your true feelings the moment you get to know I'm a squib. Nice front you put before others, I must say,"

"Hey let me finish please-"

"Shut up!" She snarled as she grabbed her purse and made to get up, but Harry's hand on her wrist stopped her.

"Let me leave," she whispered, her eyes watery and her voice coming out heavily.

"Elena please, just-just hear me out, please,"

"I don't want to hear anything. You famous people are all the same. Giving no fucks about the feelings of others, only caring about what you want. Sorry, Mr. Savior-of-the-Wizarding-World, you won't find such a gullible woman here," her voice was cracking, and Harry could do nothing but look at her sadly.

"That's not what I-," he began with a frown, and Elena tried in vain to break his hold off.

"I know you're not some gullible one night stand. And I don't give a fuck about you being a squib. Hell, I hate the way these people treat their own family like a plague to avoid. I agree that I had intended for this night to go that way, but... but it changed. We talked, and as we did so, my intentions changed completely. Please forgive me, but while we talked, the thought of shagging you never crossed my mind even once, believe me."

Elena had stopped struggling, but her face was still turned around, her eyes fixed on the bottles dotted behind the bar.

"I couldn't care less if you were a squib or a muggle," Harry began, "when we danced," her breath hitched as he spoke, her mind replaying their moment on the dance floor, "I could feel you the entire time, and not even once did I think about having sex with you... I... I know it came our weirdly and I don't even know what I was thinking saying that to you just now but," he sighed, "You felt it too, didn't you?" This time Elena did turn toward him, her eyes boring into his.

"That spark... something, I don't know what, you too felt it, right?" He inquired desperately, and Elena couldn't bring herself to lie.

"Yes. I did," she whispered and Harry smiled.

"You know, there's an old myth that says people compatible sense something like that when they are together. Who knows? Maybe it's true," he smiled slightly, and Elena blinked back the tears that threatened to leak out. Her eyes were searching for something as she gazed deeply into his emerald orbs.

"It was real? Whatever you said, whatever happened? It wasn't something you did just for what you said you expected to do?"

"No!" Harry exclaimed, and with a soft voice, he whispered, "The thought of simply shagging you didn't even cross my mind once we started talking, please believe me! I... I really loved our time together tonight."

Elena bit her lower lip and whispered, "Me too... but I don't know if I can trust you after what you just said, I don't know if what you're saying is really what you feel..."

Harry had a pained look on his face before he nodded in understanding.

"Alright. I'll agree to a magical oath then. Would it satisfy you?" Elena's eyes widened as she looked at his resolute face.

"I know what magical oaths are. You'll lose your magic if you violate it or lie under it,"

"I know. I'm ready. I want you to know whatever I just said is the truth."

Elena looked at him for a long while, and Harry held her gaze the entire time. His eyes desperately tried to convey whatever message his words might have failed to.

Apparently, she had reached her decision, because her hand grabbed his wrist and she took it off. Harry's face fell as she did so before his eyebrows rose as she interlinked their fingers together. Giving him a small smile, she whispered, "I believe you,"

Harry's eyes widened before a gentle smile adorned his visage. Elena felt her heartbeat quicken as she looked at his smile.

"Thank you, but..." he took out his wand and pointed it upward, and to her immense surprise, he intoned, "I solemnly swear on my magic that I don't care that you're a squib, nor do I wish to just have a quick shag with you and go my merry way. May I be judged if I'm found unworthy."

Elena was shocked when a golden spark surrounded him before it dissipated entirely.

"You! I told you I believed you! Why the hell did you do that!?" She shouted when she saw his wand light up. While a part of her was relieved that he had really been honest with her, another part was absolutely furious with what he had just done.

Harry simply looked at her with a small smile.

"That was to eliminate the final hints of doubt that you might have had about me." His hands gripped hers as he leaned forward, and Elena found herself staring deeply into his emerald pools.

"I felt something tonight, Elena, something I've not felt since a long time now... and I don't want it to go away... If it means proving to you that you can trust me, well, that's an easy decision."

Elena was lost for words, and somehow she knew that he was being entirely truthful. How could she not? She felt the exact same way herself. Something had formed between them, and even if none of them was able to explain it, they knew and understood it all too well.

Breathing deeply, she whispered, "Well... next time you decide to jump off a cliff, stop to think first."

Harry chuckled, and Elena rolled her eyes.

"I really cannot believe you said that though. I mean, who says things like that? I'd thought you were a good flirt, but it seems that's where the line is drawn."

Harry scratched his head sheepishly.

"I really screwed that up, didn't I? My mind was occupied with so many things at once that it somehow came out all wrong," he said before whispered to himself, "It seems my womanizing ways have done a number on my skills,"

"Huh?" Elena took a moment to grasp his words before a look of shock appeared on her face.

"You mean you sleep around!?"

"Well, when you put it like that, I guess so. I mean, it started off as a one-time thing, and before I knew it..." Harry shrugged.

"So you're a perverted lecher," she deadpanned, and Harry sweatdropped.

"Uh... that is... yeah..." he said with a downcast look.

"Great. The first man I start to have feelings for, and he's a pervert," Elena sighed.

"Wait what?"

"We're talking about feelings right? So yeah, I like you."

"Already!? We just met!"

"So? I didn't know there was a handbook as to when you can start liking someone. Is there?"

"Uh... not that I know of, no..."

"There you have it then, and don't tell me you don't feel the same way. It's quite apparent from your actions, y'know," Elena stated with a small smile.

"Huh?"

"You took an oath that could take your magic away just to prove your sincerity to me, a girl you didn't even know a few hours ago."

"Well, when you put it like that..."

The pair sat there in silence for a bit.

"So, wanna go out with me?"

Harry could only look at her with a dumbfounded expression on his face.

"Aren't I supposed to ask you out?"

"Really?" She asked with a skeptical look, "Are you capable of doing it? You did a terrible job the last time you tried, y'know? I was going to slap you and go away."

Harry's hand unconsciously cupped his cheek before he shook his head. Mustering all his resolve, he looked her in the eyes, and tightening his hold on her hands, spoke, "Elena, would you like to go out with me?"

She looked at him critically for a few seconds, which felt like hours to Harry. He was starting to get nervous before a shy smile spread on her face.

"I'd love to," she whispered.

Harry grinned, and she smiled back.

"But..." she began, and Harry looked at her inquisitively. She spoke sternly, "you'll stop being a lecher if we're to do this. No more ogling other girls, and no more womanizing."

Harry wanted to roll his eyes.

"Obviously I won't do all that. It's not as if I was born a womanizer, y'know..."

"Uh-huh, you suddenly woke up one day and decided to become a pervert then, huh?" she deadpanned.

Harry opened his mouth to retort but abruptly closed it. He frowned as he recalled how his relationship with Fleur had ended. He was certainly over her but seeing her had still brought those memories back.

'Well... third time's the charm, right?'

He looked back at Elena and simply shrugged. She rolled her eyes.

"So, are you done dropping these bombshells on me now? You said something was on your mind."

"Well... about that..." Harry began before a serious look appeared on his face.

"What is it?" Elena inquired. Harry took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes.

"I saw your ID."

Elena's brows creased in confusion before her eyes widened, and she sighed.

The lights from wall lamps bathed the living room of Zabini Manor in a golden glow. The expensive furniture lined with jewels shined as their occupants discussed matters of grave importance.

And these were matters of grave importance to the pair, for the Wizengamot session was just a month away, and they had to get rid of their primary opposition within that time frame.

"We just need it to happen as close to the session date as possible. The session after the next one will take place in four months, and that's more than enough time for us to squash this silly movement beneath our boots."

The blonde-haired wizard looked over at his dark-haired counterpart, his gaze calculating.

"I'd prefer it if we got rid of Potter as soon as we can. Better it happen quickly, I just can't stand to see that smug face of his." He growled, gripping the glass tightly.

"Now now Draco," Blaise smirked, "don't punish that innocent glass, you'll hurt yourself," Draco scowled before he placed the empty glass on the table. Blaise motioned his elf to refill it.

The diminutive creature shakingly poured more wine before placing it in front of Malfoy. He sneered at the elf before looking at Blaise again.

"I don't understand what the need is for us to do it so late. It's not as if it would make any difference. A dead Potter is a dead Potter."

Blaise chuckled.

"That's where, my dear Slytherin friend, you're wrong."

Draco looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Blaise smirked.

"We are the predators here, Draco. And you know what's the most fun thing for a predator?"

Draco simply raised his eyebrow, and Blaise chuckled again.

"The most fun thing is to play with our prey, and once we've had our fun, we predators pounce upon it. Oh the fun it is to see its hopes taken away from it, we love to relish in that look of disbelief in its eyes." Blaise licked his lips, and Draco was honestly creeped out.

"Just imagine Draco, the progressives" Blaise spat the word as if it were some curse, "will keep rejoicing that their reform is successful, and right at the end, we will pull the rug out from under them. Potter will come so close to fulfilling his goal, only to find himself shattered as his life slowly fades away... oh I can only imagine how it would feel... the look of sheer hopelessness in that asshole's eyes as they slowly dim down until... poof..." Blaise chuckled.

"You'll see, Draco, you'll see."

To be continued...

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