heather; chapter seven

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'SIDELINES'
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"I was starting to think you weren't coming," Harry said to her approaching figure. The soft spring breeze ruffled his hair as he leaned against the broom shed, holding the broom she'd used last time. Mina smiled knowing he'd waited for her.

"Sorry," she said once she got close enough, and held up her bandaged hand; squinting in the sunlight. "Got held up in the hospital wing."

"Shit," he stepped closer, inspecting the bandage. Harry made to reach for her hand, but stopped himself; not wanting to hurt it. "Are you alright?" his gaze moved to her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah," she cleared her throat, flushing under his concern. "It's just a burn."

"Madame Pomfrey couldn't fix it?"

"She did mostly," Mina lowered her hand. "But the skin is still damaged, apparently. And sore."

"Maybe we shouldn't practice tonight then if it hurts," he said and smiled a little. "We wouldn't want our star flyer be unable to hold the broom now, would we?"

"It doesn't hurt that bad," she lied, and he raised a brow; not believing her. "See?" Mina grabbed the broom in his hold, and Harry hesitated, but let go. As soon as her bandaged hand clutched the wood, however, she winced as pain shot throughout her palm, and dropped the broom.

"It doesn't hurt that bad, she says," he repeated her words lightheartedly and picked up the broom from the vivid green grass of the pitch. "I'll let you off tonight...but don't think this means you can get out of our lessons!" Harry said jokingly, and his voice became echoey as he walked inside the broom shed, putting hers away on top of a tall shelf so the first years wouldn't be able to reach it.

"Wouldn't dream of it," she said from outside the shed, and as he came out and locked the door, Harry tugged his uniform jumper over his head. Mina failed to pull her eyes away from the sliver of his toned stomach exposed as his white shirt became untucked, and laughed as his hair fluffed up even more than usual once he'd untangled himself from the fabric. Harry ran a hand through it to tame the tousled dark strands.

"Pretty warm day, eh?" he pulled on his tie, loosening it, and she nodded.

"It's beautiful," Mina looked from him to the bright, cloudless blue sky. It wouldn't be long until they'd be bogged down with Scotland's rain, so she didn't mind these warm afternoons outside with him. She quite liked it, actually.

"There's still a while 'till dinner," Harry motioned to the stretch of soft grass behind a painted white line that acted as a border for the pitch. "Sidelines?" he asked, and she nodded. "May as well make the most of the sun while it's here," he dropped his jumper on the ground and laid down on his back next to it.

"Gotta keep up that tan of yours," Mina grinned and sat cross-legged beside his head.

"It's my pride and joy," Harry's eyes closed in the sunlight as he rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt; small freckles dotting his lightly sunkissed arms. Mina bit the inside of her cheek and tore her gaze from his heavenly face to the grass; picking at the green stems as she spoke.

"How am I even supposed to get Heather to date you?" she asked genuinely, her voice quiet. "I know as much about her as you do. I'm not even in Gryffindor!"

"You sit next to her in potions now, yeah?"

"...yeah."

"You could talk me up next class." he chuckled a little, resting his hands over his stomach, keeping his eyes closed from the bright sun. "You could tell her how incredibly handsome I am, and that I'm the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, super smart--"

"Now that one I can dispute," Mina laughed, and he sat up a little, propping himself up on his elbows.

"But you do think I'm incredibly handsome," he said with a teasing grin on his lips which formed endearing dimples on his cheeks.

"I didn't say that," she scoffed, smiling, averting her gaze from his to the small pile of grass blades she was making. He hummed in mock-suspicion before laying back down, closing his eyes again. His hair looked so soft against the grass, and was so close to her hands that she had to suppress the urge to reach over and run her fingers through it. Holy hell, she thought, pull it together, Mina.

"Hey, Mins?" Harry spoke after a moment, and her heart fluttered at the sound of her nickname in his voice.

"You're spending too much time with Josiah," she grinned, and he snickered. "But yeah?"

"How's your love life going? got any secret boyfriends I should know about?" he asked casually, and Mina stopped picking at the grass. His voice was low, and he spoke with less effort; tired and warm beneath the sun.

"Less than none," she said, and looked over to the castle in the distance, admiring its grand architecture against the blue sky. "It feels like I'm wearing your invisibility cloak, like, all the time."

"You sure?"

"Mhm."

"Well, Miss Invisible," Harry started, and she turned to give him an amused glance to see him already looking up at her, squinting in the sunlight. "I saw Charlie Donahue, the Ravenclaw guy in our year, giving you eyes this morning at breakfast."

"What? Again?" Mina said, confused, and his brow raised a little.

"It's happened before?"

"Just last night in the library."

"Ah," he nodded his head a little, face leaned toward Mina from the grass. His gaze flickered over her face as her hair moved slightly in the breeze. "You should give yourself more credit, you know," he said.

"Meaning?" she looked down at him.

"You seem so surprised that a guy noticed you. Or, by the sound of it, is currently noticing you," Harry said and she shrugged a little.

"I'm not very noticeable."

"Bullshit!" he sat up, and Mina laughed. "Of course you're noticeable! you're awesome."

She gave him a look.

"I'm serious!" he said, a smile playing on his lips. "You're literally the only reason I passed Transfiguration last year. And you, so kindly, and very willingly, offered to set me up with Heather! Mina, you're noticeable as hell."

"'Offered' is a stretch," Mina said, but gave in and shared his grin. Satisfied, he laid back down. The light was softer now, and more golden as the sun lowered, so Harry kept his eyes open, looking up at her.

"I can always set you up with a Gryffindor guy if you want."

"Hard pass. Last year you sent me on a date with Cormac McLaggen," Mina scrunched her nose. "He's got more tentacles than a Snarfalump plant."

"Oh yeah...I forgot about that," Harry cringed. At the time, he thought McLaggen was a good guy--until of course, Mina got back from the date early and told him all about it with tears threatening to spill from her eyes. It was, simply said, definitely not one of his finest moments. "Remind me to hex him later, eh?"

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a/n:

how are you guys liking the story so far?

-g <33