When We Fell In Love

Chapter 7: Friends

"Thank you, Marlene, for being honest with me. I really appreciate it. I just want to know if I did something wrong." They were back from Hogsmeade. Harry was not offended or particularly upset. After all, it was just a first date, and he knew things could go this way. Sure, he liked Marlene, but she was not the love of his life. For that, he had time.

"You didn't do anything wrong, really. You were a sweetheart. It's just... I don't think I'm cut out for this," Marlene said, clearly embarrassed. Harry wanted to spare her any further awkwardness.

"Okay, no problem. See you at dinner?" he asked calmly.

"Sure, maybe we can meet for dinner." Marlene waved goodbye and then disappeared up the stairs, arm in arm with Dorcas.

"Well, buddy, it could have gone a lot worse. They're cute, don't get me wrong, but I'm a free spirit ," Niall said, his laughter contagious, making Harry laugh as well.

"Stop being a fool. Nothing happened; these things occur. And besides, it's clear that Marlene is more interested in someone else ." Harry had noticed how Marlene looked at Dorcas, as if her entire world revolved around her. Probably neither of them was aware of it, or if they were, they did not care, but Harry certainly noticed. This made him smile.

"What do you mean by that?" Niall looked at him in surprise.

"Nothing, nothing, just my usual mental movies." Harry waved off the topic with a gesture. "Shall we play chess in the common room?" he proposed, changing the subject.

"Sure, I'll beat you again."

As the two boys headed toward their common room, another person appeared at Harry's side.

"Hey, curly ." That voice sent shivers down his spine. It haunted him, just like the blue eyes and dazzling smile of its owner.

"Hey, Louis," Harry replied, managing for the first time not to come off as a complete idiot.

"How did your romantic rendezvous go?" Louis began to raise and lower his eyebrows quickly in a suggestive manner. Harry started laughing because the expression was so amusing.

"Well, it went well, if you don't count the fact that I just got dumped." Louis' face lit up with new excitement.

"I'm sorry."

"That's not true."

"You're right, it's not true; I'm a liar." Harry felt blood rush to his cheeks. He could not shake the embarrassment: no one had ever talked to him like that.

"Oh, what have I ever done to deserve a liar like you?" Harry asked, hoping to dispel the strange tension beginning to surround them. The people around them disappeared, as did the castle; it was just the two of them left.

"I'm not always a liar, even if I'm good at lying."

"Clearly, you're not that good, since I caught you right away."

"And have you ever thought that maybe I wanted to get caught?" Louis moved dangerously closer. Harry's breath grew short, shorter, until he felt like he could not breathe at all. "You can breathe, you know?" That did not help Harry.

"What are you doing?"

"Me? Absolutely nothing." The proximity was becoming too much. Harry tried to step back, not realising that Niall was still behind him, nearly falling into his arms and stepping on his foot.

"Ouch! Watch it, playboy." Why did he call him that? Harry shot Niall a glare, not wanting to start that discussion in front of Louis.

"Hey, lads, don't argue." Louis raised his hands in a sign of surrender. "I'll go; I won't bother you anymore. See you at dinner." With that, Louis vanished into the crowd.