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Harry, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Luna, and Fleur sat in a circle on the soft carpet in front of the fireplace when Luna, with a dreamy smile, suggested,
“Let’s play spin the bottle?”
Her voice broke the silence, interrupting the soft crackling of the fire. Ron squinted suspiciously, not expecting anything predictable from Luna.
“Spin the bottle?” he echoed, frowning. “Are we back in first year?”
“Don’t be such a bore, Ron!” Ginny had already picked up an empty bottle and was twirling it in her hands with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “It’ll be fun, and we’ve got nothing to lose, right?”
“Just our dignity,” Ron grumbled, crossing his arms, but his words were drowned out by the general laughter.
Harry glanced nervously at Ginny, but she just playfully winked at him.
“Alright, let’s get started,” Harry said, clearly trying not to look too serious.
He leaned toward the bottle and made the first spin. It whirled around, flashing in the circle, and everyone held their breath. Slowly, the spinning slowed, and it pointed directly at Ginny. The room filled with soft giggles.
“Oh, what a surprise!” Ron exclaimed with feigned astonishment, rolling his eyes. “Who could have guessed?”
“Ron, shut up,” Harry muttered, his ears turning as red as Ginny’s cheeks.
“Well, what now, Harry?” Ginny stood up and, unable to hide her smile, walked over to the wardrobe. “Seven minutes, as agreed.”
She opened the heavy wooden wardrobe door and looked at Harry challengingly. He awkwardly stood up, not taking his eyes off the floor, and after taking a deep breath, followed her. The others giggled as the door closed behind them.
Ron let out a loud sigh, as if he had just come out of the wardrobe himself.
“Well, let’s hurry up so we’re not sitting here in this awkward suspense. As if it’s their first time,” he grumbled, but Luna, as always, replied with a dreamy note in her voice:
“Sometimes the anticipation makes everything much more interesting...”
A couple of minutes later, the wardrobe door creaked open. Harry and Ginny emerged, both looking as if they had just been hit by a spell of embarrassment. Their cheeks were bright red, as if someone had cast a “blushing” charm on them. Harry didn’t know what to do with his hands, while Ginny innocently blinked, trying not to laugh.
“Well, how was it in the wardrobe?” Ron asked sarcastically, narrowing his eyes. “Cramped, huh?”
“Nothing special,” Ginny quickly replied, avoiding his gaze, but her face was already giving her away. Everyone burst out laughing.
“Alright, alright, enough,” Harry muttered nervously, feeling that things were getting out of hand, and sat back down in his place. “Let’s keep playing.”
Now it was Hermione’s turn to spin the bottle. Everyone silently watched as the bottle spun in circles, gliding across the carpet, each person wondering who it would point to this time. As it began to slow down, they all leaned slightly forward.
The bottle stopped, pointing directly at Fleur. A pause hung in the room. At first, no one said anything, then Ron furrowed his brow, clearly unhappy with the unexpected turn of events.
“O-oh,” Ginny drawled with a smirk, glancing around at everyone. “This is getting interesting.”
Hermione felt a tightening inside as she looked at Fleur. Fleur, with her usual confident smile, raised an eyebrow.
“The wardrobe?” Fleur asked, her voice soft but playful. “Please. I’m no stranger to these games.”
Hermione tried to hide her embarrassment, but a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. She stood up, feeling her heart race, and followed Fleur to the wardrobe. The others watched them with obvious interest. Ron instantly jumped up from his seat.
“Wait! What the... This isn’t fair!” he exclaimed, his face turning bright red with indignation. “Why does Hermione get Fleur?”
“What do you suggest?” Ginny asked mockingly. “Spin the bottle again?”
“Yes! Spin it again! Or... Or at least set some rules. This is too much!”
“Rules?” Luna tilted her head slightly, as if pondering. “I don’t think spin the bottle needs rules, Ron. It’s just chance.”
“It’s not chance!” Ron continued to rant, waving his arms in the air. “It’s a mockery of me!”
Ginny patted him on the shoulder.
“Calm down, Ron. It’s just a game, and they’ll be in the wardrobe for only seven minutes.”
“Seven minutes is an eternity!” he shouted despairingly as the door closed behind Hermione and Fleur.
Luna laughed and gently patted Ron on the shoulder.
“You’re overthinking it, Ron. Just relax.”
Ron could only shake his head furiously, not knowing where to go with the overwhelming feeling of helplessness.
As soon as the wardrobe door closed behind them, the only sound in the silence was their breathing. It was dark and cramped inside, and the air felt a bit heavier than in the living room. Hermione felt her heart racing so fast it seemed like it might leap out of her chest. She took a deep breath, trying not to show her excitement, but inside, she was bubbling with mixed emotions.
“What should I do?” she silently asked herself, hesitating to meet Fleur’s gaze, even though it was nearly impossible in the pitch black.
Fleur stood nearby, just a bit closer than she should have been. She was silent too, but Hermione could feel her presence: the warmth of her body, the light scent of her perfume—fresh like a sea breeze. Every moment in this cramped space stretched out endlessly, and Hermione didn’t know what to do.
Fleur broke the silence first, her voice slightly louder than a whisper but sounding so confident:
“Well, Hermione... you’re always so serious. Even at a moment like this?”
Hermione awkwardly laughed, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment.
“I... just... don’t know what to say,” she honestly replied, taking a step to the side, but the space didn’t allow her to go far.
Fleur moved a little closer, and Hermione felt a slight chill run down her spine.
“You’re so cute when you’re embarrassed,” Fleur said, her voice now even softer, almost a whisper.
Hermione didn’t know how to respond. It was too unexpected, too close. She felt her breathing become uneven and didn’t know where to hide from the rising tension. She felt uneasy, but at the same time, she couldn’t deny that there was something special about this moment—almost magical.
“You... you’re making me blush,” Hermione admitted, unable to suppress a slight smile.
Fleur laughed softly, her laughter gentle and calming.
“Don’t be afraid, chérie. It’s just a game,” Fleur said these words, but there was a hint of teasing in her voice, as if she knew the game had long since crossed the line from mere entertainment.
Silence hung in the air once more. Hermione felt Fleur carefully touch her hand. Their fingers brushed against each other, and Hermione froze, unsure how to react. Something new ignited inside her—something she hadn’t even considered until that moment.
“I’ve always admired you, Hermione,” Fleur unexpectedly confessed. “You’re so smart, determined... And there’s something about you that I... find incredibly attractive.”
Hermione didn’t know what to say. Her throat felt dry, and it became even harder to breathe in this confined space. She had always perceived Fleur as a strong, charismatic person used to being the center of attention. But now, as Fleur spoke to her so sincerely, she felt that something more had developed between them.
“I didn’t expect this,” Hermione said quietly, her voice slightly trembling.
Fleur slowly moved even closer, and now their faces were so close that Hermione could feel Fleur’s warm breath on her lips.
“Sometimes the best moments are the ones you don’t expect,” Fleur whispered, her voice carrying a soft confidence.
Hermione froze, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Everything around them faded away—no more game, no friends waiting outside. There was only this dark, cramped space where every word, every movement mattered.
Fleur looked at her, though in the darkness, it was nearly impossible to tell. Their faces were so close that Hermione felt her heart begin to race wildly again.
“You... want me to...” Hermione began, but her voice betrayed her with a slight tremor.
“Only if you want it,” Fleur replied gently.
The moment stretched until Hermione realized she truly wanted it. She took a timid step forward, their lips almost touching. At that moment, the wardrobe door swung open abruptly, and bright light from the living room flooded inside.
“Time’s up!” Ginny announced with a mischievous smile, standing in the doorway and clearly enjoying the situation.
Hermione recoiled sharply, her heart racing like mad. Fleur smiled calmly, as if nothing extraordinary had happened.
“It’s a shame there wasn’t enough time,” she said quietly, winking at Hermione, and leisurely made her way out.
Hermione stood frozen in the wardrobe, trying to catch her breath, her cheeks burning and her thoughts tangled. She knew one thing—that this moment had changed something inside her.
A loud voice from outside called out Ron’s:
“Well, how was it? Nothing crazy happened in there, right?” He threw up his hands, still angry at the world.
Hermione slowly stepped out of the wardrobe, her heart still pounding, but she tried to hide it with a light smile:
“Nothing special... Ron, really.”
But there was a hidden depth in her voice that no one but her and Fleur could understand.
She sank back into her place, feeling her skin literally burn under Fleur’s gaze. However, she couldn’t resist stealing a fleeting glance at the girl. Fleur, sitting beside her, looked at her with a slight smile, her eyes sparkling with playful mockery, but there was something more behind it—something that made Hermione hold her breath.
“Why is this all so complicated?” Hermione wondered to herself, feeling an invisible spark pass between them again. Fleur raised an eyebrow slightly, her gaze filled with hidden hints, and Hermione quickly looked away, hoping no one noticed.
Fortunately, the others were too absorbed in the game.
“Now it’s my turn,” Luna said cheerfully as she serenely spun the bottle. It whirled faster than before, and everyone leaned forward with interest again. The bottle began to slow down, making its final spins, and then it stopped, pointing directly at Neville.
Neville’s eyes widened, and he froze, as if someone had stunned him with a spell. Ron stifled a laugh, covering his mouth with his hand.
“Wow, Luna and Neville!” Ginny exclaimed joyfully; her excitement evident as she looked at her friends. “I knew something interesting would happen sooner or later.”
Luna, maintaining her usual dreamy demeanor, looked at Neville, who still seemed unable to recover.
“It looks like we’ll be spending seven minutes together, Neville,” she said calmly, her voice carrying such confidence as if she had invited him to stroll through a garden instead of being locked in a wardrobe.
Neville cleared his throat nervously, unsure how to respond to the invitation. He glanced at his friends, hoping someone would intervene and save him from the embarrassment, but no one was going to. Everyone was smiling, waiting for his reply.
“Well… okay,” he mumbled, trying to hide his excitement as he got to his feet. Luna easily stood beside him and calmly headed for the wardrobe.
As they disappeared behind the door, Ron couldn’t help but burst out laughing:
“What a twist! Never would have thought!”
Ginny nudged him in the side, smirking:
“Ron, don’t be so rude. Luna’s a lovely girl.”
“I’m not arguing,” Ron squinted again at the wardrobe. “I just didn’t think Neville had the courage to go through with this. Although… he might surprise us yet.”
Fleur leaned slightly forward, her eyes still fixed on Hermione.
"What do you say, Hermione?" she asked quietly, her voice barely audible amidst the general noise. "They must be having a lovely time."
Hermione felt her cheeks start to flush again as Fleur spoke to her in that tone—both innocent and provocative. She pretended to focus on her friends' conversation, but every fiber of her being felt Fleur's presence.
"I think Luna can get along with anyone," Hermione finally replied, but her voice was a bit quieter than she had intended. She looked at Fleur again, and their gazes met.
An invisible spark seemed to fly between them. Fleur's gaze was so penetrating and challenging that Hermione almost looked away. Yet at that moment, she felt a strange desire not to break this silent connection, not to run away.
Fleur smiled slightly—a smile that spoke more than any words could.
Meanwhile, Ron continued to mumble:
"Well, seven minutes, I'm sure they're just discussing magical plants."
"Luna and Neville?" Ginny laughed. "Who knows? Either way, they’re definitely not bored. Luna always finds a way to surprise."
Fleur leaned closer to Hermione again, her voice soft, almost a whisper:
"And what do you think, Hermione? Did you have a good time in the closet?"
Hermione couldn't hide her reaction—her heart raced so fast that she feared Fleur could hear it.
"I...," she hesitated, her voice trembling. "I probably..."
Fleur chuckled softly, and it made Hermione feel a strange warmth.
"Sometimes you don’t need to say much to understand each other," Fleur whispered, her voice gentle, yet it carried that same confidence that nearly knocked Hermione off her feet.
Their gazes met again, and Hermione realized that neither of them wanted to break this moment. The noise of the room seemed to fade as they looked at each other—two different personalities connected by something unexplored, mysterious, yet real.
It's just a game, Hermione reminded herself, but something inside her whispered that it had become much deeper.
Meanwhile, the closet door slowly creaked open again, and Neville, as red as a poppy, stepped out, rubbing his neck, followed by Luna, wearing a light smile as if nothing unusual had happened.
"What?" Neville began, flustered, glancing at his friends. "We... we were just talking about mandrakes."
Ron burst out laughing:
"Of course, you were discussing mandrakes! Right at the perfect moment!"
Luna, as always unflappable, added:
"Mandrakes are very interesting plants. But that's not all we talked about."
Everyone laughed, but there was a special lightness to the moment. Hermione, catching Fleur's gaze, felt the sparks between them beginning to ignite.
The game continued as Dean, Lavender, and Parvati entered the common room, laughing and chatting. The three of them were clearly in a good mood and immediately noticed the group playing spin the bottle.
"Oh, spin the bottle?" Lavender asked curiously as she approached. "I thought we had outgrown this!"
"Never too late to return to the classics," Ginny replied with a smirk, holding up the bottle. "Join us!"
Dean looked at the others and then shrugged:
"Why not?"
"Great!" Parvati settled onto the carpet next to Ron, nudging his shoulder lightly. "Let’s see who gets lucky."
Ron, still processing what had happened with Hermione and Fleur, tried to hide his awkwardness behind a facade of false enthusiasm. As everyone got settled, the bottle spun again. This time it was Ron's turn.
"Alright, Ron, spin it," Ginny nudged her brother with her elbow, winking. "Let’s see who you get."
Ron took a deep breath, spun the bottle, and it began to slowly rotate on the floor. The entire room held its breath, and Ron looked like he was ready to meet any outcome with excitement and skepticism. The bottle gradually slowed down and, after a few final spins, came to a stop, pointing directly at Parvati.
Ron’s eyes widened.
"Wow..." he mumbled, unsure how to react. Parvati, seeing his confusion, just smirked.
"Well, Ron, it looks like you’re my partner again," she said with a playful smile, reminding him of the failed Yule Ball.
Ginny immediately burst out laughing:
"It’s fate, Ron. Maybe this time it’ll go better?"
Ron sighed heavily, looked at Parvati, and nodded, but his eyes betrayed genuine concern. Everyone knew that his previous experiences with Parvati had been, to put it mildly, awkward.
"Alright, seven minutes isn’t too long," he muttered, getting to his feet.
Parvati, clearly entertained, winked at Ginny before standing up as well.
"This time, let’s try to make it as minimally awkward as possible," she said with a smile, heading toward the closet.
As they closed the door behind them, Ginny turned to the others:
"Well, now the fun begins."
Fleur glanced at Hermione, and their eyes met again. An unmistakable spark seemed to fly between them this time. Hermione felt her cheeks begin to flush again and, trying to distract herself, shifted her gaze to the closet where Ron and Parvati had locked themselves in.
Dean laughed:
"Poor Ron. I’m sure seven minutes will feel like an eternity for him."
Lavender watched the unfolding scene with a smirk, clearly amused at the thought of how Ron would handle the situation.
"Well, let’s see what they get up to in there," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Hermione sat in her place, trying to ignore the growing tension between her and Fleur, but each second of their silent exchange only heightened her nervousness. Suddenly, she stood up as if something had pushed her:
"I think I’ll get something to drink for everyone," she announced, not looking at anyone in particular. Her voice came out a little louder than usual.
Everyone in the room looked at her in surprise, especially Ginny. She raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Fleur, maintaining her grace, stood up right after Hermione.
"I’ll help," she offered, her tone soft, but her eyes showed a clear determination not to let Hermione go that easily.
Hermione paused for a moment, as if contemplating something, but then nodded and headed toward the exit. Fleur followed her.
As the two girls left the room and the door closed behind them, Ginny glanced at the others and smirked slightly:
"Strange. We could’ve just conjured up drinks, right?"
Lavender and Dean exchanged puzzled looks but said nothing, while Harry squinted, clearly understanding what was happening.
"Very strange," he muttered, watching the door close behind Fleur and Hermione.
Luna, as if reading Harry’s thoughts, added in her dreamy voice:
"Maybe they just want some time alone."
Everyone fell silent for a moment, and Ginny barely suppressed a laugh, rolling her eyes.
"Well, time will tell," she said, crossing her arms and looking at the closet where Ron and Parvati remained.
Hermione and Fleur entered the kitchen, where several bottles of drinks stood. The atmosphere was calm and cozy, but Fleur, as always, tried to lighten the mood.
"Well, if we’re going to drink something," she began, picking up a bottle of bright blue liquid, "I hope it doesn’t turn us into frogs. I’m not ready to become one of your pets, Hermione!"
Hermione smirked but quickly replied with a playful grin:
"That’s unlikely to happen to you. You’re too beautiful to turn into a frog."
Fleur laughed and bowed dramatically:
"Oh, merci! You’re just trying to cheer me up, but I’ll take it as a compliment anyway."
Then she stepped over to the shelf to grab another bottle.
"What if this wine makes us even bolder?" she continued, turning to Hermione with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Maybe after a couple of sips, you’ll finally confess how much you love me!"
Hermione, caught off guard by such directness, flushed, but her expression immediately became serious.
"Fleur, that’s not what—" she started, but her voice trembled, and she couldn’t finish her thought.
Fleur winked at her, laughing:
"Oh, I’m just joking! But if you do decide to, I wouldn’t mind."
Hermione felt something more than just curiosity rising within her. Suddenly, time seemed to stop. Their gazes met, and something indescribable hung in the air.
"I..." Hermione began, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she suddenly pressed Fleur against the wall, her heart pounding so hard that it felt like it could be heard beyond the kitchen.
Fleur`s eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Hermione, but there was also a spark of understanding and desire in her gaze. It was as if everything that had happened before didn`t matter, only this moment, just the two of them.
Emboldened in a way she had never felt before, Hermione leaned in and gently kissed Fleur. Their lips met in a tender dance, filled with caution and anticipation. Hermione felt Fleur`s softness, and in that touch was so much warmth and sincerity that she couldn`t help but smile.
Feeling that warmth, Fleur responded to the kiss, her lips trembling slightly with excitement. This moment felt magical – time ceased to exist, and there was nothing around them but each other.
But gradually, with each passing second, the tenderness began to grow into something more. The hearts of both girls raced faster, and their breaths quickened. Fleur slightly parted her lips, and Hermione, feeling a surge of courage, mirrored her. The kiss deepened and became more passionate as their lips began to connect in a more fervent dance.
Hermione placed her hands on Fleur`s face, intensifying the kiss, while Fleur wrapped her arms around her waist, pulling her closet. The gentle touches became more insistent, and the air was thick with tension, filled with desire. Each movement became more confident, as if they were rediscovering one another.
What had started as mere exploration had now transformed into a genuine flow of emotions, carrying them into a world where only they existed. The kiss became hot a passionate, their lips melding together in a rhythm that reflected their feelings – tenderness, excitement, and all that they had been afraid to acknowledge.
When Hermione and Fleur finally pulled away, their hearts still raced in unison. The atmosphere was charged with a light tension, and both girls shyly smiled at each other.
"I never thought you were this bold, " Fleur said, her voice soft and full of surprise. "I expected jokes, but not this."
"You brought this on yourself. You were teasing me the whole time. I just... couldn’t resist."
Fleur leaned in a little closer and whispered,
"And I’m glad you couldn’t resist. It was... magical."
Hermione felt warmth rising within her from Fleur's words. She took a step back to ease the tension a bit.
"Maybe we should go back to the others? We shouldn’t leave Ron and Parvati alone for too long," she suggested, though there was a playful tone in her voice.
"True," Fleur agreed, but her smile was mysterious. "But I wouldn’t mind staying here a little longer."
Hermione felt her heart start racing again and nodded, but she still wanted some time to think about what had happened.
"I... want to, but let’s not rush it," she said, her voice becoming more serious.
Fleur looked at her, her eyes shining with understanding.
"I want that too," she admitted, raising her hand slightly to touch Hermione's cheek. "I agree with you. Let everything happen naturally."
"Naturally," Hermione repeated, feeling a sense of calm settle within her. "Yeah, that sounds right."
Suddenly, loud voices echoed in the hallway, and both girls exchanged glances.
"It seems our friends aren’t too worried about us," Fleur remarked with a smile. "I suppose we really should go back."
Hermione nodded, and they both smirked as they returned to the door, grabbing their drinks. Before stepping out, Fleur turned to Hermione one last time and whispered,
"Thank you for your courage."
Hermione responded with a smile, feeling a new sensation stirring within her. They exited the kitchen, leaving all doubts behind, and prepared to return to the living room, where their friends and many surprises awaited.
As the evening came to an end and the living room emptied, only Hermione and Fleur remained. Silence enveloped them, with only the soft light of the fireplace illuminating their faces.
Fleur, with a slight smile, looked at Hermione:
"I still can’t believe this happened. You know, I always thought of you as just a smart bookworm."
Hermione smiled absently:
"And I always thought of you as just a beautiful star. It seems we were both wrong."
Fleur leaned in a little closer, her eyes sparkling:
"So what now? Are we just going to go back to our usual routines? Or will something change?"
Hermione pondered for a moment and then, gathering her thoughts, said:
"I don’t want to go back to normal. I want to get to know you better. It was... astonishing."
Fleur leaned in with interest, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear:
"And what do you suggest?"
Hermione quickly replied:
"How about we meet tomorrow after classes? We could take a walk by the lake."
Fleur nodded, her face lighting up with a smile:
"That would be wonderful. I want to show you some secret spots that not everyone knows about."
Hermione felt joy fill her heart:
"I can’t wait! It will be like a new adventure."
Fleur, looking at Hermione with a playful expression, added:
"I hope you’re ready for surprises, Hermione. I’m not going to do everything the usual way."
Hermione laughed and replied:
"I’m ready for anything you come up with."
They exchanged glances filled with anticipation and tenderness. At that moment, Hermione realized that this was just the beginning of something amazing, and she was eager to find out what the future would bring them.
With these thoughts, they left the living room, holding hands, ready for new adventures and romantic moments that awaited them ahead.