Daylight ࿐ Harry Potter

━━━━━━ (𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑦-𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡)

September 13th 1996

Ivy enters the Grand Hall, smiles at her friends in the Slytherin table before making her way to the seat at Hermione side.

- Good morning, guys. - she greeted, settling into her seat. She tried to avoid Harry's gaze, but her eyes betrayed her, flickering up and meeting his for a fraction too long. Her heart gave a little twist, and she forced herself to look away, steadying her resolve.

I'm not doing this again, she reminded herself. It was nothing.

She can feel Hermione judging eyes on her.

- Stop being denying it. - Leaning closer, Hermione whispered

Ivy shot her a warning glare, but before she could respond, Ron leaned in with his usual curiosity.

- What are you two gossiping about now?

- It's nothing. - Hermione says - Ivy has to speak with Harry.

- Do I now? - she said, trying to keep her tone light, but her nerves were starting to fray.

- Yes.

Harry watched her expectantly, brow raised, and she could tell he was waiting for her to speak.

- It's about Potions.

- What is it? - Harry asks

- Maybe we should give them privacy, Ro-

- Do you want to be my potions partner this year? - Ivy blurts out the first thing that comes to her mind

Harry blinked, taken by surprise, but a small smile crept onto his face.

- Really? I mean, yes, of course. But what Theodore?

- I'm sure he will understand. - she said, though she doubted it. Theo wouldn't be happy, but right now, avoiding her own tangled feelings felt more urgent than managing his. - Well, I'm heading to Herbology. - she pushed her half-finished plate aside.

- I'm coming with you. - Harry said, standing up almost too quickly, his chair scraping back. Ivy raised an eyebrow, glancing at Ron and Hermione.

- Uhm, are you sure? - she stared at Hermione and Ron - Wouldn't want to leave these two alone.

Ron opened his mouth to say something, but Hermione silenced him with a swift piece of bread shoved in his mouth. Ivy stifled a laugh, but Hermione's smile—a little too pleased, maybe even slightly diabolical—made her pause.

- It's fine, really. - Hermione said sweetly, the glint in her eyes unmistakable. Ivy swallowed, suddenly more unnerved than she'd like to admit. Granger could be terrifying when she wanted to be.

As Ivy and Harry left the Great Hall, their steps fell in sync as they moved toward the greenhouses for Herbology. The crisp morning air filled the corridor, and the buzz of students around them faded as they walked side by side, their pace slower than usual, as if neither was in too much of a hurry to reach their destination.

- So, Ivy. - Harry said, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. - Any particular reason you barely sat down in the Great Hall before darting out the door?

- I just didn't want to be late to class.

- Uh-huh, sure. - he replied, his smirk widening. - Because you've always been the picture perfect of punctuality, right?

- Hey! - Ivy nudged him with her shoulder, barely containing her laugh - Looks who's speaking. The person who was late to his very first class in first year. And just so that you know, I'm very punctual when it counts. Maybe it's you who's a distraction, keeping me from the, you know... serious academic pursuits.