Harry Potter: Dragon Eyes

Harry continued reading the book as the common room started filling up again. He had found only one useful spell.

However, it wasn't really the spell that interested him, but its effect.

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Spell Name: Reflected Light

Incantation: "Lumina Reflexa"

Effect: Creates a mirror-like barrier that reflects spells and light-based attacks back at the caster or towards a specified target…

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'Finally! I'll learn to batt away spells like that pink-haired woman and Dumbledore,' Harry thought, excited.

He got up from his chair, planning to make his way to the Sal's chamber and try the spell out.

'I'll need someone to cast spells at me,' Harry realised and turned to look back.

Noting Neville's nervous expression, he shook his head and decided to get Fleur instead.

'Right. Fleur. Wasn't I supposed to meet her at dinner?' Harry felt creeping guilt. 'Oh shit. I'm doomed.'

Suddenly feeling an overwhelming amount of dread and fearing for the continuation of his existence, he rushed to the door.

"Harry, what's going on?" Neville shouted behind his back, but Harry didn't hear him.

He was about to push the portrait door open when it opened from the other side, and he bumped into Hermione.

"Right. Hello, Hermione. Neville's sitting right there on the sofa," Harry said quickly, pointing at the room's fireplace. "He also wants to tell you something really, really important. Don't leave without learning what."

Passing a thoroughly confused Hermione and ignoring her calls, Harry exploited every hidden passage he knew and arrived at the emptying Great Hall in record time.

Looking around frantically and receiving some odd looks because he was wheezing from exhaustion, his eyes finally landed on Fleur, who was sitting in the middle of the Gryffindor table, alone and obviously bored.

She was playing with her food…

Mustering all of his legendary Gryffindor courage, Harry slowly walked towards his girlfriend and tried to hopelessly calm his breathing.

Unluckily, he seemed to have caused a small commotion when he arrived at the hall, which drew her attention.

Her head snapped up, and those striking blue eyes fixed on him with a mixture of annoyance and something else.

Harry could already tell from the slight quirk of her eyebrow that he was in trouble.

Flashing her a charming smile, Harry gave her a slight bow.

"Fleur, je ne peux m'empêcher de remarquer à quel point tu brilles ce soir."

"Oh really? So I'm shining now, huh?"

"Ta présence illumine la pièce, comme une étoile dans la nuit sombre," Harry added quickly, seeing that his first compliment didn't have as much impact as he had hoped.

"Ah, a poet in distress. So original."

"Je suis désolé si je parais un peu émotif, mais tu es incroyablement inspirante," he said, almost lamely.

"Inspiring? Really? It's the first time I've heard someone trying so hard," Fleur replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Je suis juste émerveillé par ta beauté et ton intelligence," Harry murmured, pushing his French to its limits.

"Please, stop," she said with an exasperated groan, pressing her palm to her forehead.

He realised, perhaps belatedly, that his flustered attempt at French flattery was doing more to highlight his desperation than to placate her.

With as much dignity as he could muster, he sank onto the bench beside her and tried to calm his ragged breathing.

The lingering, inquisitive gazes from the last few students finishing dinner only added to his discomfort.

"I'm sorry," he said, reverting back to English, softly enough that no one else could hear. "I got a bit… caught up."

Fleur's eyes flickered with annoyance, though her features softened a fraction. "Clearly. You're panting like you've just sprinted a marathon."

Harry made a face. "In my defence, I practically did. I ran across half of Hogwarts. I lost track of time."

That slender eyebrow rose again, and Fleur lowered her hand from her forehead. "Lost track, or forgot entirely?"

He bristled, but her tone wasn't quite as icy as before—she was at least willing to hear his explanation. Taking a steadying breath, Harry shifted closer, conscious of the hush that fell around them.

He reached for the plate in front of her, where she'd barely touched her food. "Hungry?"

She gave a slight shrug, though the tension in her posture was less severe now. "I was… but I lost my appetite."

He bowed his head in contrition. "I'm sorry," he repeated, more sincerely this time. "Neville needed some advice, and then I got caught up reading—"

At Fleur's pointed look, Harry grimaced. "Yes, reading. I know, it's unexpected, but I promise it was important. I found a new defensive spell I want to try."

Her expression shifted, curiosity briefly overtaking her annoyance. "Defensive? Do you mean more snakes?"

Harry couldn't help a quick grin. "No. Something much better. I was actually going to ask you for help—thought you could help me test it."

"Sure, 'arry. I'd love to test your defensive spell," she stated innocently.

Harry swallowed hard, suddenly wondering if asking for her help had been the wisest decision.

The glint in her eyes suggested she might take a bit too much pleasure in testing his defensive capabilities. Still, he reasoned, 'It's better to let Fleur get me with a spell or two and cool off.'

He noticed Fleur's lips twitch in what might have been a reluctant smile. "But next time, do me the courtesy of telling me you'll be late. I do not enjoy sitting alone, feeling like a fool." Her voice held the faintest quiver that betrayed her frustration.

Harry's guilt surged anew. "You're right. I really am sorry… I'll make it up to you. Promise."

She regarded him for a moment longer, then gave a slow nod. "I'll make sure of it."

Harry swallowed hard again, contemplating fleeing from his fiery girlfriend.

He passed her a jug of pumpkin juice, which she accepted with a small, regal dip of her head.

For a short while, they fell into a comfortable silence, the clatter of cutlery and the soft hum of conversation around them reminding Harry just how hungry he was.

'Huh. Nev's probably hungry as well,' he realised and piled a few bites onto his own plate, his stomach rumbling in gratitude.

They remained like that for a few seconds—Harry eating in companionable silence, Fleur nibbling at a bread roll, her manicured fingers picking delicately at the crust.

Despite the swirl of students finishing their meals and milling about, a small cocoon of relative privacy enveloped them.

Finally, Fleur relented and began to eat a bit more. Her posture eased as she sampled the shepherd's pie and took a second helping of juice.

Harry let out a silent breath of relief, sensing the last of her annoyance ebb away.

That's why, when she suddenly frowned, she caught him off guard.

"Something happened earlier that I wanted to tell you," Fleur said, and Harry looked at her inquiringly.

"I'll tell you later. We'll go down again, I presume?" she asked, pointing at the remaining students.

Harry gave her a nod and looked at her to make sure that she was okay.

"Don't worry. Nothing bad happened," she assured him with a small smile.

Knowing there was nothing more he could do, Harry returned to his—or rather Fleur's—plate.

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Guess what, I've just finished with my damned exams.!

ALSO. HAPPY VALENTINES TO THOSE OF YOU WHO AREN'T SINGLE!!!

AND if you are single for whatever reason, it's never too late to go grab that crush of yours...!

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Chapter 79: Stinging hexes

Chapter 80: A Web of Intrigue

...

Chapter 87: Always