Ten Questions (Harry Potter x Slytherin reader)

Chapter 29

It had been nearly a month since the second task, and Potter and I still didn't know anything about the third and final task. Although the judges had informed Harry that they would tell the competitors what it was rather than have them figure it out themselves, I couldn't help but feel slightly anxious. I didn't like waiting around, especially since Potter would need all the practice he could get for the last task, whatever that was. On one hand, there was something comforting about the fact that the first two were over, but knowing Dumbledore, I could only guess that the tournament was only going to get more difficult from there.

Selfishly, a part of me didn't want the tournament to end, as much as I hated myself for even thinking a thought like that. Going to the potions classroom at night to help Potter train for the tasks was the only time we could meet together without raising suspicion, and we both knew that it wouldn't be like that next year, unless Dumbledore and the other schools decided to host another tournament, which, based on this years events, wasn't likely, and since I was going to be a prefect next year (assuming Dumbledore keeps his end of the deal) I wouldn't be able to sneak out into the kitchens at night, and I certainly doubted that Harry's friends would let him be seen with me, anyway.

Then, of course, there was another factor to consider: Would Potter and I still even have feelings for each other by the time the school year ended? Though I was fairly new to this, I had watched Daphne enough to know that feelings usually came and went, and if the feeling somehow stuck around for longer than expected, getting attached to people would usually only result in bad things, like getting a broken heart. I didn't want to get hurt, but at the same time, it was difficult for me to imagine being away with the stupid bloke.

"Y/n, would you stop staring at Potter for a goddamn second and help me with the potion?" I jumped with a start and looked across the table to see Blaise looking at me expectantly, a single eyebrow raised. I cleared my thoughts and shook my head to myself. I was starting to get sloppy. I couldn't even look away from Harry without glancing back again for two seconds, and it was obvious my housemates were starting to notice.

"Sorry," I leaned forward and grabbed the potions textbook currently standing in front of me. A few moments of silence passed between us as I traced my finger along the print before I finally sighed, then muttered, "How long was I staring for?"

"A good two minutes at least," Blaise answered, his tone irritated yet amused all the same as he fought off a smirk. He went to collect the crushed fangs sitting near the cauldron, but paused mid-reach. His eyebrows furrowed, a concerned look crossing his face. He hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "You... you two aren't together, are you?"

"Potter and I?" I shook my head. "No."

Blaise leaned forward. "There's been rumors, you know," he said. "People are saying you're sneaking around with him at night when you think nobody's watching. Then there's the second task, when you came out of the water as Potter's hostage." He tilted his head to the side and stared directly into my eyes, "Why wasn't it Weasley or Granger?"

"I've been wondering the same thing myself," I answered truthfully, a hint of bitterness in my voice. Ever since the second task, the thought had crossed my mind several times, and whenever I saw Harry at the Gryffindor table during breakfast, laughing as he sat beside his friends, the question always lingered in the back of my head. There was one possibility, of course, as to why it was me, but it was so absurd that it was almost laughable.

He doesn't love me. I was sure of it. Fourteen year olds don't fall in love. Maybe they think they are, but it's just people fooling themselves, convincing themselves they have feelings for somebody when they don't. No, it wasn't possible.

Right?

I pushed the thought out of my mind and turned to face Blaise.

"We're not in a relationship, if that's what you're wondering," I said as I stirred the cauldron three steps clockwise, then two stirs counterclockwise. To be fair, it wasn't too far far from the truth; Harry and I weren't dating. At least, none of us had ever confirmed it or said it out loud. It was better that way. It took away the pressure and the stress, and adding a label made it real. It meant there were stakes, that there was something to loose, that there was a chance you'd come out different than you were before- for better or worse.

Once the cauldron shifted from an orange to a light pink color, I gave a satisfied smile.

Blaise let out a sigh of relief at this, his shoulders dropping slightly. "Well, that's good, I suppose," he said. "I just..." he struggled to find the words, "I don't think it would end well for you, you know? I don't know your parents that well, but I know for a fact that they wouldn't be too thrilled if they found out you were with someone like him." I didn't miss the hint of disgust in his voice as he said the last words. I pretended not to notice, but I couldn't help but feel defensive. I cleared my throat.

"Exactly," I said. I paused for a moment, then looked at Blaise. "You don't believe them, do you?"

Blaise raised an eyebrow. "You mean the rumors?" I nodded. He hesitated. "I'm not sure," he slowly answered. "But if you say they aren't true, I'm sure they aren't." He gave me a reassuring smile, and I couldn't help but feel a stab of guilt. I knew I was lying to him, and I felt terrible about it. Blaise was one of my closest friends. Though I had lied several times throughout my life- more often than not- I always tried to be honest with Blaise and Daphne whenever I could, but this time it was different.

I felt my eyes flicker back to Harry for just a second before they went back to Blaise. Luckily, he didn't notice, as he was too focused on the potion. He sprinkled in an ingredient I didn't quite recognize, then examined the cauldron. After a few moments, he smiled. "I think we're done," he told me. "What do you think?"

It was only then I had realized I was staring at Harry again before quickly glancing at the potion. I hardly looked at it, then spoke. "It looks passable."

"Passable?" Blaise sighed. "I suppose that'll do. Do you mind carrying it over to his desk? I'm too tired to do anything else right now."

"You know, you're really lazy for a Slytherin," I said with a smirk as I lifted the cauldron up, it's weight incredibly heavily as I carried it across the room. Once I reached Snape's desk, I carefully placed it down, making sure nothing spilled from it as I set it on the table. When I turned around to walk back, I was run into by someone. "Watch where you're going-" I looked up to see it was Harry, and I frowned. "Oh. It's you," I mumbled.

"You don't need to say it like that," he said with a chuckle. He glanced both ways to see if anyone was looking, and when he saw nobody was, he slipped a small piece of paper into my pocket. Before I could ask any questions, he was already back at the table, working on his potion with Ron, who was giving me a strange look. I shot him a glare in return, and when I saw him shift uncomfortably, a satisfied smirk worked its way to my lips.

I walked back to my table and sat myself down across from Blaise and grabbed the slip of paper from my pocket, unfolding it as quietly as possible, making sure nobody was watching. Luckily, everyone was so focused on not getting yelled at by Snape that nobody was. I scanned the embarrassingly-messy handwriting on the paper, having to re-read it several times before finally making it out into words.

A maze. That's the last task. Dumbledore showed me and the rest of the champions last night after Transfiguration. It's huge. It takes up nearly the entire Quidditch pitch. I'm not sure what's quite in there- and I'm not sure I want to know- but I doubt it's good. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I figured you wouldn't be too pleased if I broke into the Slytherin common room at night, so I decided to wait. At least we can be together without anyone getting suspicious, right? It beats having to use an invisibility cloak everywhere we go, anyway.

Oh, and meet me in the kitchens tonight. I miss you. A lot.

-Harry

I felt my cheeks go slightly pink as I read the last few words. I allowed myself to glance at Harry when I folded the piece of paper neatly and put it into my pocket. I was surprised to see he was staring back at me, and when our eyes met, he quickly looked away, a smile spread across his face.

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter. I promise the next one will be longer. Don't forget to vote!

Question of the day: Have you watched the new episode of Stranger things yet?