all eyes on me.
You had finally found a comfortable spot on the couch in the Gryffindor Common Room to read your book. You sat next to Hermione, whose feet were in your lap. The fire was crackling, warming the room up. The both of you were enjoying a night of rest in silence. You had a rough day, having been hit by a bludger twice during the Gryffindor/Ravenclaw match today. The excitement of the Triwizard Tournament hadn't stopped the Quidditch matches from occurring, it only encouraged them. In fact, you had become considerably close with Viktor Krum, talking all you could about Quidditch with him.
The day wasn't all too bad since the game ended in a win with you scoring 70 points. It was your fourth year as Chaser on the team with Katie Bell and Angelina Johnson who, yes, also happened to be your best friends. The three of you had a connection like no other, able to read what move the other was going to make beforehand which made you an unstoppable team. Due to this very fact, you had led the Gryffindor Quidditch team to victory last year and planned to do the same this year as Captain in your fifth year at Hogwarts.
You love Quidditch. Love it. If your nose wasn't buried in some book, you would either be going through agility drills or practicing your throws. In fact, you had gotten so good in your fourth year that the national English team was waiting for you to finish school so that you could play for them.
You were determined to overthrow the dumb jock stereotype which was why you spent so much time reading. You were the smartest in her year, rivaling Hermione's knowledge. This made the two of you extremely good friends. You met one day when you were both in the library during the weekend. You were in your third year, Hermione in her second. You were finishing up a Potions essay when you ran out of ink. The library was half empty since everyone was off doing something else. Except for her. The girl with the soft curls that went on for days. You had approached her in a frantic tizzy, asking her if she had any spare ink. And of course, Hermione did. The day would then end with the two of you joking and sitting side-by-side in the library, getting shushed by the librarian every ten minutes. Since then, you have never spent a day outside of each other's company.
You both felt something growing between the two of you, something more than a friendship. But the two of you brushed it off, chalking it up to what best friends were supposed to feel. So you both ignored it as it grew. Choosing instead to call each other friends even though you were more physical with each other than best friends were supposed to be.
You were already friends with Harry when you met Hermione. You were the daughter of the infamous Sirius Black and ex-professor Remus Lupin. In fact, the trio had helped you rescue your father during your fourth year. You had been friends with them ever since.
You concentrated on your book, your nerves began reviving up as you got to the most exciting portion of the book. Just as you were about to flip the page, Angelina burst into the room.
"Y/N!" She said panting.
"What?" You asked, not taking your attention off of the book.
"You have to come down. There's something you need to see," Angelina said, slowly beginning to catch her breath.
"I'm in the middle of something, Ang."
"Y/N Hope Remus-Black, as your best friend, I am telling you to put your book down and come over. Right now."
Angelina's change in tone finally got you to put your book down. Your excitement from the book slowly began to be replaced by anxiety and a touch of fear. Hermione put her book down too, following you out of the Common Room, grabbing your arm in the process.
"What's going on?" She asked.
You shrugged, unsure.
You and Hermione followed Angelina out of the Common Room where you were greeted by none other than Fleur Delacour holding a massive bouquet of flowers and a gathering of 30 people, most of whom were either your friends or Gryffindors.
"Fleur? Ce qui ce passe?" (What's going on?) You asked even though you had an inkling as to what was about to happen.
Katie came from behind and shoved you forward causing Hermione to lose her grasp on you.
Fleur took a deep breath and opened her delicate mouth, "Y/N, would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me?"
You froze, and you heard Hermione's breath hitch. You were unsure of what to do.
You had talked to Fleur a couple of times. She was attractive for sure, but she wasn't really your type. But for some reason, in this crowd of people, with 30 people staring at you, waiting for a response, instead of no coming out of your mouth, you found yourself saying yes.
Fleur squealed in delight, pulling you into a tight hug and kissing you on the cheek. The crowd applauded, bursting into aww's. As you and Fleur finally pulled apart, you turned to look for Hermione but was met with no sign of the girl.
—
Hermione had hurried off to the library when she heard your answer coming out of your mouth. God, that sweet, beautiful, perfect mouth. Hermione could listen to you talk all day, your words were like music. A siren's song and Hermione was a sailor, perfectly fine with crashing onto the rocky shores if that meant that she could listen to your song. Hermione shook herself as she caught herself thinking these thoughts. It wasn't right. She shouldn't be thinking like this, especially about her best friend. She wasn't even attracted to women, why was she so bothered by Fleur asking you to the Ball? She should be happy for you. She had seen the way you talked to Fleur with a bright smile on your face. The two of you would be a perfect match.
Hermione's thoughts were so distracted that she bumped into a startled Viktor Krum walking out of the library with a transfiguration book in hand.
"I'm so sorry," Hermione stuttered. Her cheeks began heating up with embarrassment.
"It's no worries," He said, "You can bump into me, anytime."
He flashed her a smile. Hermione reciprocated.
"Are you alright?" He asked, noticing her troubled expression.
She nodded before quickly shaking her head, tears beginning to form.
"What's wrong?" He asked, pulling her to the side of the hallway, out of the way.
She sniffled, "Y/N just got asked to the Yule Ball by Fleur."
"I see," He said, realization dawning on his face, "Don't worry, Hermione, I'm sure you'll find a date to the Ball. And if that doesn't happen, perhaps you'll consider going with me."
The tears stopped flowing as she realized what he was asking.
"That's sweet of you, Viktor, but I'm not sure I should be taking that offer. There must be plenty of girls you would rather go with."
"Nonsense," he said, "If you won't take my offer, perhaps you'll join me as a friend then."
"I'm not sure..."
"I can think of no one else I would rather spend the dance with."
This put a smile on the curly-haired girl's face.
"If that's so, perhaps I'll go with you then."
"Fantastic," he replied.
Hermione gave him a kiss on his stubbled cheek.
"Thank you, Viktor. That was very sweet of you."
"Of course, Hermione."
The Durmstrang boy took her hand, kissed the back of her palm, and bowed before leaving.
—
The week passed by in a blur with you and Hermione barely seeing each other unless you happened to pass each other in the hall. You were swamped with your suit fittings, Quidditch practice, and schoolwork. You barely even had time to sleep, let alone eat. It wasn't until Katie and Angelina both dragged you to the dining hall that you reluctantly began eating.
"You haven't eaten in two days, Y/N," Angelina said, "This is for your own good."
"Believe it or not, RB," Katie said, "You are starving."
The three of you sat together with their Ravenclaw friends Christopher and Jason and the Weasley twins. Christopher and Jason were the Ravenclaw Quidditch team beaters.
They had been the result of many many of your bruises which had resulted in you scoring against them many many times. However, the beautiful thing about Quidditch was that it brought together people and although you, Christopher, Jason, Katie, Angelina, and the Weasley twins were on opposite teams when you all came off of the pitch, all bad things were put behind you guys and you were all friends once more. In fact, you were all such good friends that they all became Animagi. You chose to be an eagle. Katie chose a cheetah. Angelina, a cat. Christopher, a lion. Jason, a wolf. The Weasley twins both chose to be magpies. As a celebration for completing your trainings, the seven of you all got tattoos of your respective animals. This was why you were all so close.
"Look who decided to show up," Christopher said.
"We had to force her to come and get a bite," Angelina huffed.
"Stop complaining. I'm here now, aren't I?" You said.
You sat down and started piling food on your plate.
"What did I say," Katie said.
"Alright mum," You said, shooting her a look.
As you ate, your gaze wandered over to the infamous trio, Hermione, Harry, and Ron. You caught Hermione's gaze who quickly looked away to focus on the book she was reading.
Jason notices this and gives Christopher a nudge, nodding in your direction. They both snicker. Jason kicks your leg.
"Stop gazing so longingly at Granger and ask her out already," Jason said.
"What?" You said, nearly choking on your food. The rest of the group chuckles at your reaction.
"We all know you like her, RB," Fred whispered, "Make a move before someone else does."
You turned red instantly, "I- shut up and eat."
The boys snicker again.
"Leave her alone," Angelina said, "At least she's interested in someone, unlike you lot."
"And she's going with Fleur to the Ball," Katie added, "None of you have even asked anyone yet."
The boys' snickering quiets down and you send Katie and Angelina an appreciative look.
"Speaking of the Ball," Christopher said, poking Katie's arm, "Would you like to go with me?"
All around the table, jaws drop.
"Me? Really?"
You look at your best friend and see a blush creeping onto her cheeks.
"Of course you," Christopher said.
"I would love to," she said, "Took you long enough to ask me."
Katie leans in to kiss Christopher and you and Angelina coo.
"Adorable," Angelina said.
"Get a room you two," George said.
You didn't miss the way Fred was looking at your other best friend and you smiled to yourself knowingly.
—
Across the hall, Hermione watched as you and your friends goofed off, smiling to herself as she saw your beaming smile. It made her happy to see you happy.
"What are you smiling about?" Ron asked and Hermione tore her gaze from you.
"Nothing," she said, closing her book, "I've got to go. I have to get to class."
"Lunch isn't even over," Ron said, with his mouth full. He shook her head as Hermione rushed off to her dorm.
"Harry," Ron said, but the boy was too busy reading his textbook for his next class. "Harry," he kicked him.
"Ow! What?" Harry asked in an irritated voice.
"Hermione's acting weird," Ron said.
"She's probably got a lot on her mind," Harry said, "We have a test next class."
Ron drops his fork, "We do?"