✧ F A T E D || h. potter a.u. ✧

♛ 4 || Beautiful

"Tomorrow comes and goes before you know, so I just had to let you know..."

As Danni meandered her way through the Great Hall past the students crowding the aisles to the tables, she couldn't help but think about her encounter with Harry.  Her initial surprise from his offer to help her with her homework still lingered, and she was even more confused about why she had even offered to return the favor.  Did he really deserve her help, and did she really deserve his?

Why am I so torn up about this? she thought to herself, biting her lip nervously.  It's not like this is gonna become a regular thing with us.  I just have to be sure I'm careful; the Slytherins would have my head if they found out I'd been fraternizing with the enemy.

"Ah, there you are!" called a voice from across the hall.  Danni looked up to see Crabbe waving his arms, beckoning her to an empty spot near Malfoy and the rest.  She gave them her trademark devilish smirk and walked over, dumping her book bag under the table and kicking it aside.

"About time too," said Goyle with a mouthful of chicken and pork.  "Where've you been?"

"I told you, I went to the Library to try and finish that bloody Herbology homework," she replied.  "Thank God I did, it was torture."

"At least you finished it," said Pansy.  "I'm surprised you didn't crack and ask the Mudblood Granger to help you!"  The entire Slytherin table erupted in laughter, but Danni could only manage a nervous smile and a worried lip bite.

From the corner of her eye she saw someone walking in through the doors and out of curiosity she looked up, only to meet Harry's gaze.  He'd been looking at her, staring even, as he made his way to the Gryffindor table.  He smiled casually and gave a gentle wave in her direction with a look of secrecy.  For a moment, Danni just stared back at him.  She found herself getting lost in his eyes, entranced by his smile, admiring his genuine kindness.  Then she waved back, tossing him a casual wink and a coy smirk.

"Danni?" said Malfoy with a look of concern, waving his hand in front of her face and snapping his fingers.  "Danni!  Are you alright?"

"Huh?" she said quickly, blinking her eyes as she snapped out of her odd little trance.  "Sorry, I was a little lost in thought for a moment there."

"Yeah, no kidding," said Blaise.  "You sure you're alright?"

"Yes, Blaise," she replied.  "Don't worry, I'm fine."

Except, she wasn't fine.  Danni felt odd, off, and uncertain.  She felt her stomach churning uneasily, but that could've meant she hadn't really eaten any food for the majority of the day.  She felt sweat sliding down the back of her neck, but that could've meant it was hot in the Great Hall.  She felt her heart fluttering in her chest, but that could've meant...actually, she couldn't pinpoint a reasonable cause for that.

It wasn't until she accidentally made eye contact with Harry again from across the room that her heart fluttered again, and realized what could be happening.

"No," she whispered almost inaudibly under her breath, "this can't be happening.  Not like this..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Harry, Harry are you with us?" said Hermione, waving her hand in front of Harry's face.

Harry blinked and turned his attention to Hermione.  It hadn't occurred to him just how long he'd been staring at the Slytherin that intrigued him so.  However, the thought that she intrigued him was even more perplexing.  He was so transfixed on her; the way she moved, the looks she gave, the smile she flashed, and the eyes he seemed to get lost in.