Chapter 70: Ingredient!

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The sound of the bell brings my attention back to the present, and as I stand to leave, Professor McGonagall calls out once more. "Potter – a word, if you please."

"Can you believe Harry, saying he isn't going?" Hermione asks angrily while we walk out and wait in the corridor.

I laugh. "Oh, I fully believe he said that, but I don't believe he'll get his way."

"What do you mean?"

"The Triwizard Champions open the Ball with the first dance. He might not be required by magic to attend, but Professor McGonagall will be just as demanding."

Her eyes light up for a moment, but the pair of chocolate brown eyes soon turn back to me with a searching look. "You don't seem too concerned about it," she observes.

"I'm not," I say with a small smile. I had actually gone for a more mischievous grin, but an unexpected pang of sadness and regret disrupted me.

Harry comes out looking a little green, and his face falls even further when he sees us waiting for him together. "Ah, I suppose you've beaten me to it, then."

Hermione's mouth falls open, then rapidly glances back and forth between us.

"No, I haven't. I figure we'll duel for her, just like in the old stories." My voice switches to superhero. "I shall win our fair lady's hand, you dastardly villain!"

"Boys," she scoffs, but she turns her head to hide her blush at the same time.

"S-seriously?" Harry asks.

I sigh, dropping my head onto my chest and slumping my shoulders in mock depression. "Well, you could at least pretend like defeating me won't be a piece of cake." Then I stand up straighter and go for the small smile again. "Actually, I was kidding. I can't go."

"What? Why?" Hermione asks, aghast.

I raise an eyebrow and manage a smirk at Hermione. "I would think you should be pleased, Hermione. Now Harry and I don't have to fight a rather lopsided duel."

"Be serious, William!"

I sigh. "Oh very well, ruin my fun then. I don't have dress robes. I could probably afford a set from Secondhand Robes in Diagon Alley, but I would rather purchase items I might use more than once."

Her face falls. "I-I'm sorry William...I just keep forgetting..."

"It's no big deal," I say in a hopefully unconcerned voice, punctuated by a wave of my hand. I consider claiming that I have plans, but I can't think of a convincing follow-on lie if she calls me on it. What else could I possibly do on Christmas Day, anyway?

We walk in silence for a short time on our way to lunch. I keep hearing Hermione breathing in like she's going to say something, but she never does. I decided to take the initiative. 

"Harry, I know you don't have to worry about me anymore, but if you let this gorgeous witch go unattached by the time we reach the Great Hall, we're both going to miss out."

Hermione tilts her head to look up at me, then drops her gaze and smiles demurely, while Harry misses a step.

I drop Hermione's arm and hop in front of them, bringing them to a halt. With a mischievous grin I grab their unclasped hands and bring them together as well, then bend down and chop the back of Harry's knee so he falls to it.

"William," Hermione says, rolling her eyes but still smiling widely.

Harry, slightly red-faced at my antics, seizes the opportunity. "Hermione, would you do me the honor of being my date for the Yule Ball?"

"Of course!" she says, pulling him up for one of her bone-crushing hugs.

I start to have a coughing fit, but by pure happenstance it sounds like the words 'cheek, go for the cheek.'

They both turn their heads to follow my urging, and they end up kissing just outside each other's mouths – the edges of their lips touching. They both look surprised for several moments, then they break apart with bright red cheeks.

I fight the urge to Ruin the Moment, though I can't stop my face from cracking into a smile. I most certainly do not have to fight down a mild pang of jealousy, because I am well aware of the fact that I don't belong here, and that this is how it should be.

Then Hermione surprises me by throwing her arms over my shoulders, pulling me down slightly while she stands on her tiptoes, and planting a kiss on my cheek. "Thank you, William," she whispers, resting her head on my chest for a moment.

I bite back another Moment Ruiner urge to hide my conflicted feelings and settle for a kiss on top of her head.

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"Sorry, that doesn't sound familiar," Neville says, brows furrowed. "Should it?"

"William hinted that you might know, as if there was some plant that might help," Hermione says, looking at me with an odd expression.

"Perhaps it's a potion ingredient?" Luna supplies hopefully. I do a double take, only just realizing that Luna is sitting with us at the Gryffindor table. Scanning the Ravenclaw table, none of them appear to notice, or at least if they do, they don't care.

Neville shakes his head. "I'm absolute rubbish at potions, if it's that I probably wouldn't know it."

I frown, sure that Neville had known it. Then it strikes me: Neville knew in the movie, but in the book he never got the hint from the books that Crouch/Moody gave to him earlier in the year. 

"I feel like it's something simple, something that I should know but can't remember," I say, hoping that rather pathetic hint does something for him.

"I-is this for the next Task?" Neville asks quietly. "Did you really think I'd know something to help Harry with that?"

Now, how do I answer that without giving myself away? I let out a slow breath to gather my thoughts, trying to come up with a better hint. 

"I'm positive you can, Neville. I bet you have...more Herbology books than Hermione, plus she's busy looking for potential Charms to use."

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