Skill and Seclusion [2] || Harry Potter x OC x Draco Malfoy

134. The First Step

DISCLAIMER

I do not own Harry Potter ... but every time I get unmotivated to write this fic I just think of the story I have to tell and I'm instantly back on board

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Another week went by.

Another week where Harry had to question everything about how courageous he was.

Another week where he hadn't found it in himself to ask Bel to the Yule Ball.

Last Wednesday, Harry had meant what he said when he told Ron they had to pull themselves together.

He was going to ask her.

But it appeared that certain circumstances made it slightly trickier.

Harry had trekked out into the freezing cold temperatures to Bel's clearing. The place he wanted it to take place.

That had happened once on Thursday and again on Sunday.

She hadn't been there either time.

When he did see her in person between Wednesday and Sunday, the same initial problem he had held up.

She was always with her Hufflepuff friends, and so Harry couldn't ask her then, either.

But when the next week came around, Harry found that he couldn't approach her on either Monday or Tuesday.

According to Cedric, Bel had suffered from an intense migraine on Monday afternoon, leaving her indisposed that evening and during lessons on Tuesday.

Of course, Harry demanded to see her immediately.

Cedric had told him she didn't wish to see him, and that she needed to rest.

Harry had then asked if she was in the hospital wing, planning on checking up on her anyways.

Cedric said she refused to go, claiming it was just a bad headache and that it would fade soon.

Harry had a feeling that something else was wrong with her. But he had been feeling that way all year, and so far, Bel didn't show any immediate signs of spiralling.

Besides, her Hufflepuff friends all cared for her immensely. If they really thought something was horribly wrong with Bel, they would have carried her to the hospital wing themselves.

He had seen them do it before.

Which left him to wait until she was better, and alone.

The former came before the latter.

The first time Harry saw Bel again was during a silent study session in the Great Hall on Wednesday.

Each house sat at their respective tables, working on whatever assignments needed completing before the Christmas holiday's arrived next week.

Of course, this meant Harry was seated at the Gryffindor table with Ron and Hermione, whilst Bel was seated at the Hufflepuff table behind him with Riley, Ollie, and Tia.

Since she had arrived, Harry had made a mental note of the fact she looked much paler than usual.

Weaker, limping again, bags under her eyes, appeared to be aching.

Even worse than three weeks ago when he had seen her exit the hall after their dance practices.

But her smile was the same. Her eyes still had life behind them.