Enchanted

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He combed his fingers through his hair for at least the hundreth time but somehow every time one curl decided to rebel against his will. He let out a frustrated groan and twined his fingers in the unruly nest of hair that sat on top on his head. He'd initially thought after deciding for an outfit for almost an whole hour, doing his hair would be the easy part. He had a thing for underestimating his curls that were always up for an interruption of his routine. Not even his wand could do anything against it, and trust me, he's tried it a lot of times, only to become more angry with every unsuccessful atempt. 

Today though, he wanted his hair to be extra perfect. Not because of his inofficial date with the blue eyed boy, noway, just because it was the game of his best friend and he wanted to look good, yes, just because of that. Then he wondered what it would be like if he really had a date with Louis and he closed his eyes, huffing at his thoughts.

After Niall banged on the door of the bathroom and threatened Harry he would go without him if he didn't hurry up, he gave up and simply put on a dark green hat Liam had gifted him once for his birthday. Niall had joked it looked like a hat for a Slytherin but Liam had said it enhanced the color of Harry’s eyes. Some curls sticked out around his ears, his neck and forehead but he ignored them and left the bathroom to slip into his black coat. Niall tapped with his foot impatiently, as if he would lash out if Harry wouldn't be ready in a second. Harry wrapped a scarf around his neck so he wouldn't get sick on the windy stands since the weather got pretty cold in the last few days. But still, Harry’s loved autumn and it’s magical ability to color the whole world in reds and browns.

"Oh, finally!" Niall exclaimed as Harry was ready to go and sent a quick prayer to the heaven, then grabbed Harry's hand and dragged him out of their dorm into the common room. 

That's when Harry's heart began to pound in his chest and the hand intwined with Niall's was becoming slightly sweaty. He pulled his hand back and dried it off on his coat. He'd see Louis again in a few moments, Merlin, how was he going to survive this? And what would Niall say when he'd discover that the boy from Durmstrang was waiting for him in front of the corridor leading to the entrance of their common room? He was so nervous. But he couldn't turn around and avoid any humiliation that he might get into when seeing him again or tell Niall who was awaiting them, when the secret door opened and the daylight shining through the high windows in the hallway hit their faces.

Harry was already close to hyperventilating as he caught a glimpse of Louis leaning against a wall opposite to the archway they now left behind. He wore a thick, open jacket and a blue scarf, underneath Harry could see the dark grey fabric of a jumper. His legs were covered in black pants, the ends disappearing into the big boots that climbed up to just above his ankles. He lifted his head as he heard steps coming towards him and smiled, crinkly eyes and a flash of perfect, white teeth. He waved with enthusiasm at the sight of Harry and Niall just casually greeted the boy, "Louis! You coming with us? Great!" and that was it. 

Louis took his place on the right side of Harry since Niall walked on the left. He still smiled brightly at Harry and the Hufflepuff boy had diffifulties to contain his big grin so he just let it free and beamed at Louis with his dimples digging into his cheeks. 

"Hi, Louis," He greeted the boy and realized how good it felt to spell the name of this angel, the beautiful, gorgeous boy with a name that fit him just as perfect as the raspy voice that answered him immediately.

"Hello, Harold," He grinned. A slight scruff covered his cheeks. Harry thought it looked incredibly sexy.

Harry had the courage to ask, "Why do you call me Harold?"

Louis laughed a beautiful laugh. "I like calling you that, love. But if you'd like, I will stop." 

He was so nice, Harry thought and blushed. Love. "It's okay if you wanna call me that. It's just...My name's just Harry, not Harold." He smiled sheepishly.

"Harry’s not a nickname?" Louis asked and Harry shook his head no, not noticing Niall's smirk while he listened to their conversation and how they completely forgot they weren't alone. "Well, looks like you got yourself a new nickname." He grinned and Harry watched the floor passing by under his feet as he walked. He knew he did a bad job at hiding his red cheeks from Louis since he could feel the piercing blue eyes boring themselves into the side of his head for a while.

They followed the stream of students pouring out of the castle, everyone chattering about who would win the game, Hufflepuff or Ravelclaw. Harry knew his house would win. Liam was a way better keeper than the one from the competing team and he's not thinking this because he was being biased. Liam was just brilliant at what he was doing.

Louis began talking and asking about the game and wondered if the rules were the same as in professional Quidditch (they were). Niall happily answered his questions and fueled the conversation since all Harry could do was to stare at Louis lips as he talked effortlessly and calmly to his best friend. He didn't even think of Louis noticing his stare, so when two shining blue eyes reciprocated his look, his face heated up and he averted his eyes towards the path, hearing Louis' low chuckle. It wasn't a mean chuckle, tough, it sounded fond and a bit amused. As if Louis found it sweet like he'd said Harry's smile was two days ago. Harry'd like for Louis to find it sweet.

On their way to the Quidditch field that was located a mere ten minute walk from the Hogwarts castle, Harry added a few comments here and there and blushed at Louis' glances in his direction or when their gazes met. Finally, they sat down on one of the Hufflepuff stands and Harry immediately grapped the blanket laying underneath the bench, provided for the students that got cold easily. He spread it over his thighs, not asking Niall if he wanted a blanket too since the Irish boy didn't even get cold in piercing ice weather of the winter. But he glanced at Louis, his hand lifting the edge of the blanket, a silent question in his eyes. Louis nodded and took the second half of the blanket to cover his legs. His upper body was turned towards Harry, eyes skimming over his face, his hair and his scarf, the curly haired boy getting fidgety under the stare.

"Thanks, love," He said and smiled thankfully and Harry nearly fell backwards off the bench, instead he blushed again and patted the fabric over his thighs, smoothed it out to distract himself from his violently beating heart. Love.

The soft touch of a finger on his temple halted his breath and his heart. The tip of Louis' finger stroked a curl to the side and behind his ear, that almost disappeared beneath the green beanie. Harry couldn't even think as Louis traced the line of the shell of his ear gently, then touched the skin right under his ear and lightly brushed the finger down his neck until it reached the scarf which blocked the touch. He left a trail of a burning sensation tingling on his skin. The butterflies in his stomach broke free. Harry loved it so much. Louis drew circles on his neck, small ones and some bigger ones, he connected them to a picture Harry couldn't imagine. He closed his eyes, indulging in the caring atmosphere, the silence, the bubble suddenly surrounding them. It was so peaceful. He felt a perfectly manicured fingernail scratching lightly at his jaw where Harry'd found his first few facial hairs a few weeks ago. The touches felt highly intimate, only for them to share and so so pleasant. Harry wished the fingers would touch more of his body. Maybe like they did in his dream... Instead of being breathless, Harry now breathed fast and his blood rushed through his body. He felt his skin buzzing with magic and goosebumps where Louis touched him and he wished his scarf wasn't there so he could be caressed more.

The touch disappeared and with it the warmth that had spread in his body, now he shivered and snuggled deeper in the blanket, hid his underarms underneath. He bit his lip and looked to the side, up to Louis through his lashes. He found the boy smiling warmly and softly, a gentleness had settled in his eyes which calmed Harry's wild heart down. He felt so different around him than he did with his friends. He didn't feel that constant uncertainty and insecurity about being awkward or wrong. After he was met with only positive and encouraging answers from Louis, he wouldn't expect the opposite, he couldn't. Louis seemed too genuine. He felt as if Louis understood. Don't get him wrong, he loved his friends to bits and they have been understanding about his insecurities, but even after five years around them he still got insecure about being himself, about his opinions and words. They had a lot of other friends, were way more experienced with having people around so they sometimes forgot Harry had problems being his true self. With Louis, that feeling had vanished almost completely after their few conversations. 

So now, as Louis smiled at him, sincere and warm, he couldn't help but smile back, his dimples showing and his eyes big. 

"Sorry," Louis wispered above the loud chattering of the crowd and Niall's laughter as he joked with a boy next to him. But his smile remained.

Harry knew why Louis was apologizing. He didn't know if he overstepped a line with this intimate touch. But he didn't. He did the one thing Harry has been too scared to want, to ask for or to initiate himself. He has been scared to want to be touched by another boy, ashamed even. But now that it had happened he wanted more, so much more. "You don't have to apologize," Harry said and his smile broadened, he blinked and looked to the pitch were the teams were standing in a row, the two captains shaking hands respectfully. Madame Hooch was standing on their side, a whistle hanging around her neck, her hands clasped behind her back, awaiting the start of the match. As Harry looked back to Louis, he was met with a sparkle in Louis' eyes, as if the sapphires had been polished, and his teeth shone as he grinned and shortly glanced down to Harry's lips. Harry wasn't sure if he only had imagined it.

"Good," Louis said lowly and winked. 

Oh Merlin, what are you doing to me? Harry's knees would wobble if he'd be standing. Thankfully, he wasn't, so he just grabbed his knees tightly beneath the blanket and forced his lips to not break his cheeks from smiling. His breath hitched as suddenly warmth appeared near his right hand. His eyes searched the blanket from above and discovered movement underneath, not his own. Then, fingers soothed over the skin of his wrist, carefully, until fingers grazed his own, wrapping themselves aroung the side of his hand and slowly turned it around. Harry's lips parted, puffs of air left his mouth, he trembled, not from the cold but from excitement as Louis slipped his fingers between Harry's, the slow movements allowing him to pull away if he wanted to. He didn't. He closed his hand around Louis', again noticing how his was a bit lankier and bigger but still, they fit perfectly and Harry never wanted to let go again.

He smiled down at their hidden intwined hands. Nobody knew. Just him and Louis. He liked it. He liked Louis.

A shrill sound of a wistle ripped him out of his dreamy state. His head whipped up and he noticed that the game had just started. An elbow collided with his, Niall grinning excitedly and jumping on his bum up and down repeatedly while he clapped and shouted "Go Liam!" and "Kick some ass, Hufflepuff!" on top of his lungs. Harry felt guilty. He was here for his friend and rather spend his time smiling and staring at Louis, holding his hand and dreaming about the future touches he'd get from him. He wasn't a good friend. 

His heart ached as he pulled his hand back, seperating their skins, and almost winced at the loss of warmth. Louis didn't say or do anything about it, he just slipped his arms out of the blanket and laid them in his lap, playing with the seam of his thick jacket before he joined the crowd's cheering. Harry clapped and forced himself not to notice the slightly confused expression in Louis' eyes as he dared a short glance to the side where the boy had his eyes trained on the pitch where the players already were up in the air. Altough Louis seemed indifferent, was smiling and also whistled with his fingers between his lips (Harry didn't know how he did that), Harry feared he'd disappointed him with pulling back. He really hoped he didn't.

Harry turned back and paid attention to the game, clapped with Niall and tried to smile, be happy for his best friend playing a match, but all he could think about was the angel sitting next to him and the presence of a hand he yearned to hold again.

Liam was good. Really good. Harry wasn't surprised. He cheered every time his best friend catched a quaffle that was being thrown towards the goals. The seekers had disappeared in the clouds a few minutes ago and were probably chasing the golden snitch. Harry had his head in his neck and tried to see them but the grey clouds were too thick to see shadows through them. While he stared into the sky, loud cheers and whistles arised. He startled a bit and quickly understood that the Hufflepuffs had scored. He grinned and pumped his fist into the air, Niall shouted happily and pulled Harry against his side for a short moment, them sharing their glee.

The game continued, both teams scored multiple times and finally, after almost two hours, the Ravenclaw seeker appeared suddenly, face concentrated and arms outstreched to the front. Harry could make out a small, golden shining ball swishing through the air quickly, being almost invisible due to his speed. The crown became louder, the excitement being clearly sensible. The Hufflepuffs were tense and hoped for a miracle while the Ravenclaws applauded and shouted encouragements. The hand of the seeker had nearly closed around the snitch, when Noah, the seeker of Hufflepuff, shot down on his broom from above in a nosedive and he snatched the ball just before the girl. 

The students and professors erupted in deafning cheering, everone stood up from their seats and clapped. The commetator's shouted words swept over the pitch as he gleefully announced that Hufflepuff had won. Harry jumped to his feet and his cheeks hurt from smiling so wide. He hooted loudly and threw his arms up. He embraced Niall and got shouted in the ear. As he turned to Louis, two arms closed him in and pulled him into a hard chest covered partly by the thick jacket he wore. A unique smell of forest and fresh air stunned him and he breathed in deeply as if he could save the smell in his lungs and smell it every second for the rest of his life. 

He circled his arms around the boy's waist and helt him close, not wanting to let go. Louis' face was buried against the side of his neck, short facial hair tickling him and puffs coming out of his nose hitting him there. He felt Louis pull back, his nose grazing his cheek, and almost let go in disappointment about the hug being over so fast as the touch of soft lips on his cheeks surprised him. He gasped and dipped his head back to look Louis in the eyes, his own being wide and bright. Louis just grinned at him, caressed his cheek in a short touch and let his arms sink. Harry stumbled a bit as he stepped back from him and was grateful for the steadying hand that held his elbow. As he was standing securely, he smiled broadly at Louis after holding his gaze for what seems like an hour. 

Louis lifted his hand and poked a finger into one of Harry's dimples, the one where a soft kiss had been placed only a minute before. Harry's heart raced, he was breathless and dizzy but he was so so happy he could burst. He bit his lips as a big grin appeared on his blushing face and he touched Louis' hand fleetingly, a sudden sting of magic tweaking at his fingertips where he brushed Louis' warm skin. Louis blinked, smiled and Harry could swear he saw a tinge of light pink dusting the freckled cheeks of the boy. 

It made him even happier. And he smiled and grinned and felt so light.

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