Bewitched ║ H. J. P oneshots

Old Friends

"I'm going to go get us some cake," the girl told Harry. Her sweet smile melted his heart like it always does but there is a frozen part in him that won't let his heart warm up to her.

"Okay, I'll wait here,," Harry nodded. Ruby Wiles was his date for today's event of the Annual Gatherings of International Aurors Society. They had met in Harry's second year in Auror training as she was a year younger than him. Ruby Wiles was and is a girl who is not ashamed of chasing what she wants. Everyone, including Harry himself, knew that she wanted him.

It has been three years, Harry was surprised she hadn't tired herself with him. After countless rejections, Ruby Wiles still pined after Harry. And If he was being honest, he could feel himself liking her more and more each day. Only that he can't entirely like her, and certainly not the way she wanted him to like her.

Harry looked around, a glass of wine in his hands. She should be here, he thought. Unless she quits her job. The Auror Society is no small community, and it would be a miracle if he could take even just a glimpse of Y/n in the crowded space.

A miracle indeed. Y/n was standing barely five feet away from him. She changed, but not enough for Harry not to recognise her. She was his first love after all. Y/n was wearing a one-shoulder red dress with a matching red lipstick and a familiar ruby pendant. She had cut her hair short, something he remembered she swore never to do. She looked pretty.

"For you," Harry grinned, taking a small box out of his pocket.

"Oh my, Harry," Y/n gasped. "What for?"

"I just thought of you when I walked past the store," Harry admitted. "Figured it would look good on you."

"You really should stop spending so much money on me—"

Harry shushed her with a peck on the lips,"Won't you just try it, love?"

Harry didn't know whether to feel happy that she had kept it, or sad. Does he mean that much to her for her to keep the necklace, or does he mean so little to her that the necklace does not bother her the way it would have bothered him?

Out of Harry's expectations, Y/n turned her head and her eyes widened when it landed on him. She quickly looked away as if she had done something wrong.

Perhaps it was the wine or the hot air that allowed Harry to walk to her, "Y/n?"

"Harry! Hi," Y/n smiled awkwardly.

"Hi," he replied.

"How are you?" Y/n asked, placing her wine glass down.

"I'm great, you?"

"Likewise. How is Ron and Hermione by the way?"

"They're married."

"They are?"

"Yeah, nice necklace by the way," Harry complimented, gesturing his hands towards her neck.

Y/n rolled her eyes, "I know you know it's from you."

Harry looked down and smiled. "How's Australia? I heard about the cases."

"Yeah, it's been rather busy lately with the young witch and wizards dropouts," Y/n answered. "How—"

"Harry! There you are," Ruby came by with the cake. "Oh! Who's this?"

"I'm Y/n L/n. An old friend of Harry's," Y/n greeted her. "You must be his—"

"Date for the night," Ruby sent her a smile, which only another girl would understand. For Harry it might just be a casual greeting, but Y/n knew better than that.

"Oh, well I should leave you two then. I hope you both enjoy the rest of the night," Y/n smiled. "It's— It's nice to see you again, Harry."

Y/n turned and walked away, approaching her friends who seemed to have gotten an empty table for them.

Harry didn't even realise he was watching her the entire time, until Ruby nudged him by the arm, "Harry?"

"Yeah, uh, thanks," he smiled at Ruby. For the rest of the party, Harry couldn't focus on the event, yet alone his date.

At some point of the night, Ruby seemed to have realised this, "Harry, I need to ask you something."

"Hm?"

"Is that girl the reason behind all the rejections I've received?" Ruby asked.

Harry was clearly caught off guard by this question. Yes? No? Both? He can't blame Y/n that he had trouble trusting people now, nor can he blame just himself because it technically was because of her. "Maybe."

"Why don't you talk to her then? Staring won't bring you anywhere," Ruby suggested.

"Why?"

"Because it might give you the closure that you need to accept me," she said with a smile. "Or you might still not do so. I will accept whatever comes out of it. Go. Go on."

"I—"

Ruby pushed him, "You can do it."

Harry scratched the back of his head as he gathered the courage to talk to her. The girl who left when she had already promised him not to.

"Excuse me," he said as he approached her friend and her. "May I steal Y/n from you for a moment?"

"Sure," the other girl said.

Harry quickly got hold of Y/n's familiar soft hands and led them out of the ballroom.

"Harry, what—-"

"I am going to keep this short and simple," he began. "I need you to give me closure."