"That narrows down our search quite a bit. I don't imagine snake creatures that can petrify people is a long list. Maybe we'll find out what it is by the end of the year!" Hermione said, recomposing herself after the revelation. "We should make our way to the library right away!"
"Nope. Food first. Harry hasn't eaten in two days, and you didn't eat at all yesterday." Luna said. "After THAT you can go to the library, and I'll make sure Harry apologizes to all the girls for making them worry. Then you all will kiss and make up." Luna said, nodding confidently.
"Ooh, can mine be literal?" Padma asked, leaning in close to Harry and interlocking her fingers with his.
Harry flushed.
"Of course, I'm never not literal." Luna said, intertwining her fingers with his other hand.
Harry flushed deeper.
"You guys really need to stop with the teasing." Harry said, trying to build up his courage.
"Who says we're teasing Harry?" Padma asked, batting her eyelashes at him,
"You better stop." Harry said, reaching his breaking point.
"Or what Harry? What are you going to do?" Padma asked, quirking an eyebrow at him.
"This." Harry said, as he grabbed Padma's face and kissed her.
'Oh I'm SO dead for this… worth it though.' was Harry's thought as he let the kiss take hold.
"Finally." Luna said, looking at the two Ravenclaws who had just broken from their kiss.
"Oh, most definitely yes." Padma said, looking at Harry.
"Okay… why am I not in trouble? I was trying to pay you back for all of the teasing, now you're looking like you've been waiting for that." Harry asked, very confused.
"Harry, I've been wanting you to do that since last year. Hermione's been longer." Padma said, pointing to her bushy haired friend.
"Wait, what?" Harry asked, even more confused.
"Harry, half of the girls in the Sphinx Club have crushes on you. We've been trying to drop hints, but you're about as dense as lead." Padma said, swinging their interlocked hands back and forth.
"Who?" Harry asked, still bewildered by what was being told to him.
"Me!" Luna said, grabbing his other hand. "I haven't known you as long as the others, but I like you."
"I'm afraid me as well, Harry… I guess it started when you complimented my teeth on the train.. And then with the Troll and the studying and everything it just got deeper and deeper… Oh!" Hermione said, before grabbing his face in both hands and kissing him.
"Woo! Go Hermione!" Padma said, cheering on her friend.
"Oh NO!" a few voices throughout the Ravenclaw common room cried out. "Hermione was first? I could've sworn it was going to be Padma." one said.
"Mine was on Parvati, figured she'd be the braver one." a male third year (Third year male maybe?) Harry couldn't name called out.
"I think you'll find I was first actually!" Padma called out, excitedly.
"No, we were going on who would initiate their kiss first, we kind of didn't plan on Harry taking initiative." A fourth year girl called out.
"I did! Check the pool guys: Harry gets tired of teasing and kisses one of them." Penelope Clearwater called out.
"She's right… should have known." Cho Chang said, a third-year girl who had a long roll of parchment in her hand. "You'll have your galleons by the end of the week, we have to assemble all the keys."
"You guys were betting on us?" Padma asked.
"Yeah, Harry was the only person in the school who didn't know about how you guys felt about him, we were betting to see what would take him to get a clue." Penelope said.
"Well… that's embarrassing." Harry said, shrinking into himself.
"Oh well, now it's over. Let's go get something to eat, then we'll tell the others. They'll surely be excited!" Luna said, dragging Harry, and by extension Padma toward the door.
The situation in the Sphinx Club room was different as Padma and Hermione explained that they had finally revealed their interest in Harry to him.
"So… he kissed you first?" Daphne asked.
"Yeah… didn't expect it at all." Padma said, somewhat dreamily.
"Was it nice?" Tracey asked.
"Most definitely." Padma confirmed.
"Well poo, there goes my plan." Daphne said, as she got up and kissed Harry, shocking him. "Hi Harry, I like you too. I had other plans, but they ruined it."
"Are there any other girls who like me like that?" Harry asked, continuing to be confused as to what was happening in his life. A couple hours ago he was convinced that all his friends hated him, now four of them had expressed some deeper feelings for him that he could barely process.
"Me." Susan raised her hand.
"Oh. I didn't expect an answer." Harry said, sinking into the couch in bewilderment. "What does this mean now?"
"Well, do you like us like that?" Daphne asked, looking to Harry.
"I don't know. I certainly care very strongly for all of you, but I hadn't even had friends before I met you guys last year, much less be interested in a girl like that. Now five of you are all interested in me? I have no idea what to do." Harry said. He felt bad for the girls. Even if he did return their feelings, he'd have no way of knowing what those feelings even were. He did care about them very deeply, and wanted to see them happy. He also did think those kisses were nice, and would rather like to have more of them.
"Well, here's something we can do. Are you opposed to us being more affectionate?" Daphne asked.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, confused.
"Holding your hand when we walk together, more hugs, occasional kisses. Maybe trying to find some alone time together." Daphne listed.
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