Return to House Phoenix

The sun has already started its inevitable descent in the sky, ushering in the early evening, and the sound of insects chirping fills Seven Winds Courtyard. Confused about what you just witnessed, you get up from the bench and slowly make your way back into the school.

Only a few students and an occasional professor can be seen going about their business through the grand stone hallways but you pay them no mind, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the corridors fall upon your deaf ears. The notion that Harmony has possibly been spying on you nearly has your blood boiling. Did she have some reason? Would it matter if she did? Again, the pang of your own guilt feels like a dagger being twisted in your chest.

Wandering the halls almost aimlessly, you consider how you should approach Harmony. Your anger tells you to confront her or possibly even report her to someone at the school but you don't even know who you could take this to. Would they even do anything, considering she comes from one of the most powerful families who founded the school? Meanwhile, your guilt wishes you could take it all back or throw yourself at her mercy and plead for forgiveness.

Despite the heavy emotions weighing on your mind, you can't forget the memory of Harmony's scantily clad body. Everything from her slender legs to her alluring bosom, and up to her golden hair was flawless. You shake your head, trying to drive the images from your thoughts and focus.

Before you know it, you are standing outside the doors of House Phoenix dreading the possible encounter to come. The wind at your back causes the fall leaves to whirl in the evening air much like the emotions in your heart. Maybe you can slip in and avoid her all together. With some time, maybe this whole thing would just blow over.

Slowly, you push the ornately carved door open and peer inside. Much like last night, the common room is bustling with your fellow housemates. Everyone is cheerful and enjoying the night off from their studies as they converse with friends or play games. You walk past them all as if you were in another world, devoid of their joy and cheer.

Climbing the stairs to the second floor, you round the banister instead of heading down the hall to your room. "What are you doing?" You ask yourself, unsure of your actions, as your feet methodically carry you up the next flight of stairs to the third floor. Before you can convince yourself to turn and run, you are standing outside Harmony's door. You raise your hand and knock.

"Who is it?" Harmony angrily calls out from inside as the door swings open. Her clear green eyes narrow at seeing you there and, without a word, she slaps you hard across your face, sending a sharp pain through your jaw. Two students in the hall you hadn't bothered to notice before look over at the two of you and the sudden commotion.

"Can I come in for a second?" You ask her after giving the other students a quick side look.

"You most certainly can not!" She insists.

"Look, I really think we should talk." You plead.

Harmony regards you for a moment before speaking, anger in her eyes. "Fine." She finally relents and turns to retreat into her room, leaving the door open for you.

Entering her room, you carefully close the door behind yourself. Harmony stands in the middle of the room, her arms crossed over her ample chest. Clearly perturbed at your intrusion as well as today's events, she waits impatiently for you to speak.

"I'm sorry." You start, unsure of how to proceed, let alone what to say. "I didn't mean to see you like that. Honestly. I was only letting Pharos stretch his wings while practicing the spells from our summoning class and I only thought you might like to see him fly. The next thing I know, he was outside your window." Without thinking, the words spill from your mouth in a rush.

"That is no excuse!" Harmony steps forward to point a finger in your face. "You spied on me, you invaded my privacy!"

Her words pierce you sharply and, as if your feelings of guilt had been drained, you are filled with anger. "What about you? How did you even know Pharos was out there? How did you know what I was doing last night? What the hell is that ball you have in there?" You turn the situation on her, pointing at her wardrobe.

"That... That is none of your business." Knowing she has been exposed, her typically perfect speech falters and her anger begins to deflate as she considers her next play.

"I'm not saying what I did was right but at least it was an accident." You continue to level the accusation. "You... You, on the other hand, purposefully spied on me. You went through all the trouble of completing your little project just so you could!"

"You don't know what you're talking about." Harmony insists. "I didn't create the scrying orb to spy on you. It just sort of happened when I thought about you. I can't seem to stop thinking about you." Her eyes went wide at the sudden realization of what she just admitted.

You both stand there in shock staring at each other, the anger that once filled you quickly dissipating to be replaced by something else. A sudden urge to kiss the beautiful blond sorceress takes over and you close the few inches between you. Her soft lips don't resist as you lean in and embrace them with your own. After only a brief second, Harmony is returning your kiss with fervent passion.

"How dare you." She states after your lips finally part, her voice lacking the anger her words imply. Harmony's green eyes look you over before she is the one to close the short distance between the two of you, locking lips with you once more. Her heated passion pushes your back against the wall as her tongue finds its way into your mouth and she lifts a delicate hand to caress your cheek. The warmth of her body pressing against yours sets your heart on fire and the two of you lose yourselves in the moment. "Get out." She orders you between kisses, opening the door with her free hand.

Too confused at the rapidly changing situation, you stumble backward out of the doorway only to be stopped. Harmony's hand on your cheek moves to grab your shirt and pulls you back in for one final impassioned kiss. When it's all over, Harmony slams the door in your face, leaving you standing in the hallway.

Your head still spinning from what just happened, you look around to see the same two students from before standing frozen by what they just witnessed. You give them a nervous chuckle while rubbing the back of your head and quickly excuse yourself. Trying to remain cool, you slowly turn and calmly walk down the hallway to the stairs.