✧ F A T E D || h. potter a.u. ✧

♛ 6 || Dream

"We all are living in a dream, but life ain't what it seems..."

Harry followed slowly behind the rest of his Gryffindor cluster as they made their way down the moving staircases to the Great Hall for breakfast. His mind was still swimming with the images he witnessed the night before. Goosebumps trailed along the outline of his spine at the thought of feeling Danni's touch on his skin. A soft tingling sensation erupted along his lips as he remembered the moment she had gently kissed them.

But she didn't really kiss me, he thought. It was just a dream, nothing more than a silly little fantasy. She's just a girl, not to mention my enemy.

He mulled over that statement for a moment, taking in what exactly he had just told himself. Danni was his enemy, she had been his enemy for years...right? Had she really been his enemy? Had he really been hers, or was this what they were taught to believe?

For some reason, Harry no longer associated Danni's presence or name with something bad or sinister. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Her name brought a smile to his face, he replayed the sound of her laughter from the library over and over again, the one little genuine smile he managed to see on her face set his doubts at ease. He could not deny Danni was simply misunderstood. Perhaps giving her a chance to prove herself to him, to let him see the true side of her, would make everything fall into place for them.

Harry continued these thoughts throughout breakfast with his friends, finally breaking away from them at the sound of Ginny's voice.

"So, Harry," said Ginny inquisitively, "is Mindy helping you with your Potions essay today?"

"Yeah, she is," said Harry as he looked up to meet her eyes. "We're going to meet during our study hall session." He felt the corners of his lips curl up in an unconscious smile and he let out an almost inaudible sigh at the thought of seeing Danni.

"Harry, if I may interject here," said Hermione suddenly, obviously noticing Harry's smile, "are you and this Mindy girl, you know, together?"

"What?" Harry replied, looking at her with an expression of fake surprise. "No! Honestly, if I did have a girlfriend, you would be the first to know. All of you. Believe me, Mindy and I are just friends."

Harry felt himself mentally cringe at the tone in his voice, hoping he had not come off as too defensive about Hermione's question. Keeping a low profile about a secret as big as Daniella Tyler was not an easy task, especially with these new feelings brewing.

"I'm just surprised that I've never heard of a Mindy West attending school here," said Ron. "What house is she in?"

Harry had expected this and was ready with an answer. "Ravenclaw. She's more of the quiet type, so she normally keeps to herself. That's probably why you've never seen her around."

"Wow, that sounds kind of lonely when you think about it," said Ginny. "You should introduce us to her sometime, mate. I'd love to meet her."

"Me too, Gin," said Ron with a nod and a smile. "She seems like she could use a friend...besides you, Harry."

"Oh, well...I'm not so sure..." Harry's voice trailed off. This was getting too deep, too serious. Harry and Danni were just starting out being friends; the last thing Harry wanted was to shove his life and his friends right in front of her face. He could not bear placing such a burden upon someone like her.

Before Harry could say another word on the matter, Hermione jumped in again with a proposal. "Oh, Harry! I know it's not for a few months, but you should invite her to the Burrow to spend Christmas with us!"