Juvia and Gajeel always stayed in Hogwarts during the Christmas Holiday, since neither really liked the idea to return to their foster homes. Since their third year they had been allowed to go to Hogsmeade, the little village close to Hogwarts, so they had a nice time, like always.

During their time off, they still dueled to not lose practice and Gajeel insisted Juvia needed better skills ever since the Basilisk, even though she had told him it was her skills with casting the Aguamenti spell that saved her life.

Even so, they were very happy when people returned to the castle – Juvia wasn't too excited to see her roommates, who didn't like her very much and the feeling was mutual – but the moment she saw Gray sitting on the Gryffindor table for dinner, her heart started to beat faster.

"You never looked like this when you were dating Scumbag." Gajeel told her while stuffing himself with food. Juvia looked his way, an eyebrow raised. "You aren't even dating the guy and you look like this."

"Like what?"

"You are drooling." Gajeel snorted. "Don't get me wrong, it's a step up from Bora."

The blunette glanced towards the Gryffindor table and how they were laughing at some impression Natsu was making and she sighed. "It seems to be such a different world over there."

"Yeah." Gajeel agreed. "But at least you are in now, you are going to a girl's night with them tomorrow, right?" Juvia nodded. Lucy had told her that as soon as they returned that the girls had finally decided on a date and she was invited. "They are all friends with Fullbuster, they might be able to put a good word in for you." He shrugged.

Juvia looked surprised. "Look at you playing cupid." She teased him and he groaned in annoyance.

"I just want you to stop being annoying all the time with your sighs."

She giggled and kissed his cheek. "Thank you anyway." She knew some people around the room had seen it, but she didn't care; she was a Slytherin, but human. "And Juvia is certain Levy-san is going to be there, so she'll praise you a lot to her." She whispered.

Gajeel became so red it was funny and he looked her way, their faces just a few centimeters away when he whispered back. "I don't know what-"

"Please." Juvia giggled. "You two got a lot closer during that month Juvia was petrified" he opened his mouth but she didn't let him speak "and don't tell me it was all for research on how to cure me. It's alright to like her. She seems sweet."

They stared at each other for a while and Juvia was certain he was going to argue, but instead, his shoulders dropped with a sigh and he returned his attention to the food in front of him and Juvia resumed eating as well.

"She is sweet." Gajeel mumbled after a while and Juvia smiled. "And nice. I don't want to break her."

Juvia snorted. "Not your decision to make." She glanced at the Ravenclaw table and the blunette had a small book in her hands, reading it while eating absent minded. "Just... be yourself."

"Good advice." It was Gajeel's turn to snort.

"It seems to be working so far." She shrugged and his red eyes focused on her again, confused. "Juvia caught her looking at you, she looks at you like Juvia looks at Gray-sama."

If possible, he became even redder. "Shut up." He mumbled and looked back to his food, but Juvia could see his lips curl in a small smile and she laughed.

Scanning the room, she was surprised to see Gray looking straight at her, and when he noticed he'd been caught, he was quick to look away and Juvia frowned in confusion.

With a shrug, Juvia began to eat again.

#

The next night, Juvia prepared her overnight bag and went to wait for Lucy at the seventh floor, as instructed. The blonde came from her left and put a finger in front of her mouth to indicate the blunette should be quiet and Juvia nodded.

Lucy, then, led her through the left corridor to a small door – small for Hogwarts standards at least – and when she stepped inside, Juvia was amazed to see a big bedroom in pastel colors with many beds around and, in the middle, a large space with pillows of all sizes and shapes, where most of the girls were, talking excitedly.

"What the bloody hell...?" She whispered to herself.

"This is the Come and Go Room." Lucy told her. "It appears when someone needs it to. We needed a place to host girls' night and this appeared. This time there's an extra bed, yours." She pointed to a bed and Juvia stepped closer putting her bag on it. "Now go on and change into your pajamas! We already started."

Juvia nodded and took her wand, whispering the spell so she changed from her regular clothes to a very modest long sleeved pink pajamas. Comparing to the others, she was hiding much of her skin, but since she wasn't very keen into showing skin anyway, she pushed the thought aside.

"Good." Lucy nodded and grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the middle of the room. "Girls, here's Juvia!" She said, excited and there was s round of hellos and hey, Juvia just waved, shy and sat next to Lucy when the blonde did so, a pretty brunette on her other side.

"I know you." The brunette said and she recognized Cana Alberona, a Hufflepuff her year. "You kidnapped Lucy and got petrified by the Basilisk."

Juvia blinked in surprise with the straight-forwardness. "Yes." She answered while Lucy said Cana's name in disbelief.

"Hm." She narrowed her brown eyes. "I would say you are not boring at all and since Lucy invited you here, I guess you two are all good and if she is alright with you, so are we." Cana shrugged. "Introductions, now! I'm Cana, that's Lisanna" she pointed to a pretty white haired girl she knew was a Ravenclaw, and she waved, offering a smile "that's Laki" she pointed to a girl with a long purple hair also their year, from Hufflepuff, "you know Erza" the Gryffindor nodded her way "that's Mirajane, Lisanna's sister" the white haired girls had a lot in common, she could easily see the family resemblance from the white hair down to the big blue eyes and she smiled sweetly "Levy," she pointed to the petite blunette girl who smiled shyly "that's Biska" a green haired girl, Juvia was almost certain was a Hufflepuff a year ahead of herself, tilted her head in acknowledge.

"This little nugget is Wendy." She put an arm around a girl who was clearly younger than the rest of them and squeezed her. She had deep blue hair and brown eyes and was holding to her white cat as if her life depended on it. "She's our mascot."

"Cana-san!" The younger girl said and Juvia chuckled. Juvia was almost sure she was a Ravenclaw.

"And at last, there's Ever who is currently sulking in her bed." Cana pointed to a bed where there was a girl lying down.

"Argh, Cana!" Came the complaint and Juvia was surprised to see another Slytherin there. Evergreen was in her last year, if Juvia wasn't mistaken. "I'm not sulking."

"Sure." The brunette snorted and turned to Juvia, pretending to whisper, but speaking loudly enough for Evergreen to hear. "She's sulking because the guy she's into is as clueless as they come."

"Aren't they all?" Lisanna snorted and the girls agreed.

"I thought it would take a while longer to get into the boys' subject, but since we got there already..." Lucy turned to Juvia. "What's going on between you and Gajeel?" The blunette was so surprised with the question she just stared at Lucy as she kept going. "You two have always been together, but yesterday you seemed pretty cozy. Cheek kissing and all that."

"I..." Juvia blinked.

"We thought you had a thing for Gray, not Gajeel." Erza said and there were nods around the room.

"Oh, Merlin." Juvia hid her face in her hands. "Does everyone know about that?" She moaned in frustration.

"Pretty much.", "Yeah.", "Only the boys are unaware." Echoed around the room.

"That's why we were wondering about you and Gajeel." Lucy shrugged.

"He was very... distraught when you were petrified." Levy said, quietly, but Juvia could see she was curious and a bit heartbroken. Oh, that wouldn't do. "So we wondered..."

"No, no, no." Juvia shook her head and looked straight at Levy. "Yesterday... he was giving Juvia advice and he said something nice." She looked around. "We met the first day of school, we've been best friends ever since. It's... hard to make friends when many people in our House think we are not worthy of their time because Juvia is muggle-born and Gajeel-kun is half-blood. We stuck together, protected each other." She sighed. "Joining Professor Jose's little duel club didn't help; everyone became afraid of us."

"They did. I've seen you duel, it was quite impressive." Ever said from the bed, lying down and looking up to the ceiling. "We were part of it for a couple of years, every year he got a different group. He stuck with yours longer." Evergreen raised her upper body and prompted herself on her elbows so she could look at Juvia better. "People, especially in our House, get jealous when someone without pure blood succeeds more than they do. They think blood somehow gives them rights we shouldn't have." She arranged her glasses. "Well, they all can suck it. I'm a half-blood and I am more talented than some pure-bloods I know and so are you. Don't let them belittle you, I can see you like to be good in what you do. Be proud of that, you've worked hard, own it; let them fear you, let them get jealous. The people who stick around are the ones who matters."

Juvia was surprised to hear Evergreen talk so much, and apparently, everyone else at the group was too: "Wow, Ever. Never knew you could say so many sentences in one go." Biska teased and a moment later there was a pillow flying her way and the girls laughed. "Hey."

"She's right, though." Erza said, getting everyone's attention. "We are all good at something, we are all special in our own way, no matter our Houses or blood. Some found out what they are good at, some others haven't yet." She shrugged. "That's why we don't discriminate Houses or blood in here."

"We are all prejudiced in a way." Mirajane said. "But that's because we were programmed to be that way when we got in. Imagine the scandal, a Gryffindor and a Slytherin friends? Lovers?" She told them. "It would've make us all get surprised and a bit disgusted with it during the first couple of years."

"And then we grow up." Cana snorted. "Nothing is black and white, nothing is unchangeable. What if they put the Hat on us again today, right now? Would we still be at the same Houses? Some would, some wouldn't." She shrugged. "We grow up, the people around us change us and we change them."

"I know you must feel very alone, Juvia." Lucy grabbed one of the blunette's hands. "That's why I asked you here. I've only seen you around with the Element Four and when you guys disbanded... not even that, it was only you and Gajeel. Not one single female friend, not that gender matter for a real friendship." Juvia was surprised she noticed. "I was determined to be kind to you, but then we had that mess during Summer Vacation and you actually fought the Imperius Curse to try to make me leave, to help me. That's when I knew I wanted to be your friend."

"I think if you let us, we can all be your friends." Levy told her, kindly.

"If you need anything, anything at all, we are here." Laki said with a small smile.

Was she hearing right? Were they really offering her... friendship? "But..." Juvia looked confused. "I'm..."

"Don't say 'I'm a Slytherin', they will talk and talk and talk until they got you." Came Evergreen's bored voice from the bed. "They wore me down so I accepted it."

"Oh, you love it." Cana mocked and then bumped shoulders with Juvia. "So... come on, what do you say? Want to have a bunch of life meddlers that won't leave you alone no matter what?"

Juvia didn't understand why her vision was blurry until she sobbed an "Yes." And thick tears came out.

Suddenly, she found herself in a group hug that turned into just a pile of young women giggling and yelling they were getting smashed and all Juvia could do was laugh. Those girls wanted to be her friends. In the end, Professor Jose had been right: she had people who liked her, but it wasn't about her power. It was about her.

It was always her.

Most of the girls were red faced from laughter when they finally stopped the group-hug-turned-to-a-big-pile and went to sit back at their places again (eve Evergreen was seated on the bed by then, looking rather amused).

"Okay! So since we are all friends now, come one and let's talk about Gray and how you loooooooove him." Cana wriggled her eyebrows. "Come on."

Juvia looked down. "He doesn't even notice Juvia likes him that way."

Cana snorted. "Oh, please." She looked to the girls. "By a show of hands, who, in this room, has interest in a guy who is clueless about your feelings?" Everyone's hands but Wendy's, Erza's and Mira's went up in the air. Even Cana had her hand up. "See? Honey, we will understand whatever you are going through, trust me." They lowered their hands. "Come on, give us something. We've known Gray for years, if anyone can help you, it's us."

Juvia thought for a moment and then finally said: "So, remember that first Quidditch game?" The girls nodded. "Before that game, Juvia went to wish Gray-sama a good game and she kissed his cheek..." The blunette laughed with their shriek and resumed talking her story while the girls gave their opinions at some points.

It was truly one of the best nights of her life.

#

Chins up and shoulders back, Juvia walked with purpose towards the Gryffindor Quidditch team who had just finished her training and were talking. One of them, a girl a year above Juvia, raised her chin in Juvia's direction and everyone looked her way. Gray's expression was pleased until a boy said something and the team laughed, but not Gray. Instead, he turned around and told them something, to which all of them became serious and nodded, being dismissed. He was not the captain and seeing the actual captain wasn't there at the moment, the others followed his orders. Juvia was confident he would be the captain next year.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" He asked nicely when she was close enough, he brought his broomstick with him, thankfully.

"Well..." She cleared her throat. "Today seems as much as of a good day to break my neck as any." Gray looked confused for a moment. "Juvia was promised flying lessons?"

Finally understanding her words, Gray chuckled. "Oh, those. I didn't expect you to actually cash that out."

Suddenly she felt insecure. "Erm... unless you don't want to anymore or can't right now." She whispered. "Juvia waited until you were done to-"

"No, no, it's fine." He assured her. "I guess we have a couple of hours until dinner, I can teach you a bit." Juvia beamed in excitement.

A couple of weeks before during the girl's night, Lucy had sat next to her on the bed while the others were going to their own beds and told her in a whisper: "Levy-chan was curious about you and Gajeel as you are probably aware" Juvia nodded "but it was actually Gray who told me about the kiss on the cheek you shared with Gajeel. He seemed awfully interested to know if you two had grown closer during the Christmas Break..."

Juvia had hope, then. She could do that and according to the girls, Gray was a bit uncomfortable with feelings and never dated anyone for more than a week or two. If she wanted him, she'd have to work hard to get him.

Hence, flying lessons, which she hated but was an opportunity to spend some alone time with him.

"Alright." He put his broomstick on the ground and took a few steps back and Juvia looked at him – he looked so handsome in his scarlet and gold Quidditch uniform. "Let's see what you can do first."

Juvia looked a bit offended, but she had told him she wasn't so good at it, so of course he'd want to see what she knew. "Up." She said and the broomstick went straight to her hand. "This is not the problem, the problem is-"

"Fly around for a bit. I need to see your form." He had turned all clinical while looking at her and even though it wasn't her most preferred look, at least he was looking at her. The blunette sighed and slowly got on the broomstick and started to sly around, not high enough that she would get hurt if she fell. "Come down." Gray told her when she passed by him a third time. Her landing was anything but gracious, but at least she didn't trip on her cape when she came off the broomstick. It would've been humiliating. "You are afraid of going too high, you are afraid of falling even with the small height you just flew. That makes you fly... um... a bit crooked."

"Crooked?" Juvia asked.

"Yeah." He scratched the back of his head. "You see, instead of going straight, you were putting your weight to your left, which is weird, by the way, because you are right handed." Juvia was surprised with the information; she never noticed. "And you were thinking too much."

"The fear of falling can make a person think." She pointed out and he grinned.

"That it can." He seemed to think for a moment. "Okay, you won't become an expert with one lesson or two, but we can improve your flying skills so if you ever need to fly instead of swim, you can do it."

"Not crooked, you mean."

"Not crooked, yes." He agreed.

"Alright." Juvia nodded. "How do you propose we start?"

"You need to lose that silly fear of heights." He told her. "You need to fly higher."

Gray hadn't even spoken the whole sentence before Juvia had been shaking her head and let go of the broomstick. "No. No, Juvia will fall. Juvia has seen people fall. You included." She took a step back.

"Okay, I fell that day because of a Bludger, not because I don't know how to fly or am bad at it." He stepped closer to her. "I didn't fall the game after that, or in any other practice we've had."

Juvia shook her head again. "No. I'm sorry, Juvia won't go up there on her own."

He raised an eyebrow. "Who said anything about going on your own?"

She blinked twice before asking, confused: "What?"

Gray put his hand out and said "Up" so the broomstick returned to his hand and he hopped up. "I'm not letting you up there when you still fly all crooked up to the left. Come on, I'll be there with you." He offered her one hand and Juvia's eyes were wide. "I won't let you fall. Promise."

Juvia was afraid, so, so afraid but in a burst of courage, she accepted his gloved hand and sat in front of him. There went nothing.

"Alright." He told her from behind her, he was looking over her right shoulder. "I won't go too fast but I will go far up enough and just for a while, this broomstick wasn't really meant for two people."

"What?" She looked over her shoulder and saw him grinning, mischievously. "No, no. Juvia gives up. She wants to step d- ahhh!" Before she could step down from the broom, Gray took off and aside from the initial squeal, Juvia closed her eyes and held on to the broomstick.

The wind was cold and she could feel they were getting higher and higher, but just couldn't open her eyes. She was going to fall. She was going to fall hundreds of meters from up in the air for a guy she hadn't even kissed yet.

What a crappy way to go.

The thought of dying from the fall actually stopped her from realize they finally had stopped going higher and were still up in the air.

"Juvia? Are your eyes are closed? Really?" He asked, amused, from behind her. "Come on, open them."

She shook her head and she could feel her hair move with the wind. "No."

"You are going to miss a beautiful view if you don't." He informed her. "And the point of this is for you to stop this silly fear."

"It's not a silly fear." She told him, eyes still shut.

With a sigh, Gray put a hand over her stomach and pulled her towards his chest so she could sit straighter and Juvia, for some reason let him, but her hands were still on the broomstick. She felt him rest his chin on her right shoulder for a moment. "Are you afraid of heights when you are, let's say, at the Astronomy Tower?" She shook her head. "Alright. You've come this far so I don't think you'll give up now. I need you to open your eyes-"

"But I..."

"I need you to open your eyes and look forward, not down."

She frowned and tilted her head towards him. "What?"

"Think you are at the Astronomy Tower and just look to the horizon." He said and his voice was actually calming her. "Don't look down. Just look to the horizon." Gray repeated. "Do you think you can do that?"

"Look to the horizon." She made sure to repeat.

"Just that. If you're still afraid after that, we go back down. But you have to at least try." He had a point so Juvia took deep breaths.

"Just look to the horizon, Juvia." She whispered to herself, not caring if Gray was listening. "Just to the horizon."

"You can do it."

Slowly, Juvia opened her eyes and her breath got caught in her throat. Her heart started to beat even faster after seeing how high up they were and she put one hand on top of the one Gray had on her stomach and took in the scene in front of her.

From up there, she could see the sun setting behind the lake, the reflection was just as beautiful as the sky was, from the darker shade of blue to the specks of pink and orange.

It was beautiful.

"I told you it was a good view." He said and only then she realized she had spoken out loud.

"It is." She smiled and gasped when he started to fly around.

"Look to the horizon." He reminded her and Juvia nodded, grasping harder on his hand but after a while, she started relaxing, seeing all the angles possible. Gray was right, it was a good feeling and at some point, she even smiled when she looked behind her to let him know she was beginning to enjoy it and he seemed very pleased with himself.

They stopped again at the same spot as before and Juvia was much more relaxed. "Juvia will try to look down now." She told him and took a deep breath before she took a peek and seeing how high they were, she looked up again. "Nope. Maybe next time. Juvia doesn't want to ruin this."

"Okay." Gray laughed and Juvia looked over her shoulder.

She brought a hand to his cheek and brought his face closer, kissing the other cheek. "Thank you for doing this."

"I... You..." He looked down at her, gaping. "You're welcome." She smiled and for a moment, the broomstick lost height and she squealed in surprise.

"Oh, Merlin, I knew it was too good to be true." So it was the day after all. Well, at least she had shared that moment with him.

"Sorry. Don't worry! Sorry!" He told her after he stabilized them again. "Damn it, I lost focus for a moment. Shit." Gray said and she wished she could see his face but she was too busy wondering if she was going to die from the fall or not. "I'm sorry, but you did just kiss my cheek. My mind went... elsewhere." He said too fast she almost didn't get it. "But forget about this okay? Remember the rest? It felt good, right?" She nodded, eyes closed again. "Good." He started to go back down. "And uh, warn a guy next time, alright?"

Juvia couldn't help it but to laugh.

#

On the next Hogsmeade visit, Juvia and Gajeel were walking together when they caught Levy getting inside Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop – she had been complaining about her quills and how much she needed more for the O. W. L's exams the next week – and Juvia told Gajeel to go inside too.

"But I don't need quills." He told her in a hiss.

"Well, don't buy any, then." Juvia pushed him. "Go. Be yourself, strike a conversation!"

"Merlin's beard, I hate you so much sometimes." Gajeel cursed and then after glaring at her, walked towards the shop while Juvia looked very entertained.

After watching through the window Gajeel awkwardly approach Levy, who seemed pleased to see him there, Juvia sighed happily, pulled her coat closer to herself and started to walk slowly around the village. She couldn't get enough of it, it was one of the prettiest places she had ever been. Sure, she hadn't been in many places but even so-

Her train of thought was cut when she heard a female voice call her name. She frowned and smiled when she saw Lucy, followed by Natsu and Gray not too far behind.

"Hi, Lucy-san, Natsu-san, Gray-sama!" Juvia greeted them and they all greeted her back.

"Boys, stay here for a moment?" Lucy asked, already getting Juvia's hand and pulling her aside. "I need to talk to Juvia. Girl talk." Both boys looked confused but shrugged and nodded. "Good." Once they were far enough so the boys couldn't hear them, Lucy whispered to her friend. "I need you to take Gray away from Natsu and me."

"Wha-?"

"I love him, he is my friend but he can't take a freaking hint!" Lucy said, frustrated and even though Juvia's green eyed monster howled with the confession, it calmed down with the blonde's next words. "I've been trying to get Natsu alone so I can tell him what I feel, since he won't notice it" she pouted "but Gray has just been glued to our side ever since we left the castle and it was all good when we were thirteen but not that much fun when we're fifteen, this is out last trip here before the O. W. Ls and a girl is trying to confess before we get buried in studying and freaking out about tests!"

"Alright, take a breath." Juvia never saw Lucy freak out like that and they were hanging out a lot, which warranted them all types of looks; their little group was very uncommon. "Juvia will take Gray-sama. That way she can also have some alone time with him, huh?"

"See? Win-win." Lucy grinned and then paled. "Oh Merlin, Juvia. I'm actually going to tell him. I finally worked up the courage but I feel sick. What if he rejects me and we stop being friends? He is my best friend." Her voice shook. "I can't lose him."

"You won't." Juvia assured her, certain. "Even before Juvia had properly met you, she knew he was enamored with you. He might be a little thick, but he knows his feelings and once he hears yours... everything is going to be fine."

"Do you think so?"

"Juvia knows so." The blunette nodded. "Now, she thought you Gryffindors were supposed to be courageous."

"Give me a Basilisk any day instead of a confession and I will show you courageous." Lucy mumbled and Juvia giggled, making Lucy giggle as well and feel less tense. "I can do this. I will do this."

"Yes."

"If this doesn't work, I'll be at the Hogwarts' kitchen eating every sweet they have around two in the morning if you want to join me."

"Alright." Juvia smiled. "Now, shall we?" She tilted her head towards the boys and after a moment, Lucy took a deep breath and nodded. Once they were close enough to be heard, Juvia said: "Gray-sama? Didn't you tell Juvia yesterday you needed to go to Honeydukes? She needs to go as well." Juvia was referring to the sweet shop down the street.

Gray looked confused but before he could say anything, it was Natsu who spoke: "Oh, I have to go there as well! I need to buy some stuff." Lucy's eyes widened and she threw a look Juvia's way.

"Oh, did Juvia say Honeydukes? No, she meant... Uh..." She thought about a place Gray would like to go "Spintwitches Sporting Needs! Yes, that's the store Gray-sama needs to go. And... so do I, apparently." She mumbled the last word.

Natsu was frowning. "I get it Gray going, but you don't play Quidditch or any sport as far as I know."

"Well..." He was right, but she couldn't let him know that. "You said it:, as far as you know. Juvia plays... stuff."

"What stuff?" Natsu was looking at her with suspicion.

Juvia just couldn't think about any other sport, so she stepped closer to Natsu and whispered low enough the other two couldn't hear them: "Natsu-san, Juvia really needs some time alone with Gray-sama and you are making it very hard to get it."

When Juvia stepped away from him, Natsu's lips were in an "o" shape and then he snickered. "Oh, Spintwitches Sporting Needs, of course! My mistake." He winked at her not as sneaky as he thought it was. He stepped closer to Gray and elbowed him on the ribs. "Enjoy getting your supplies, mate." The innuendo in his voice was so obvious, Juvia's face couldn't be redder.

She looked at Lucy, who mouthed a 'thank you' before Juvia grabbed Gray by the hand and pulled him towards the shop.

"Juvia?" He heard him ask from behind her as they walked. "What was that about? I never said I needed to go to Honeydukes or Spintwitches Sporting Needs."

"I know." Thankfully the village wasn't too large, so they were in a deserted part of it soon enough and Juvia could stop walking. She let go of his hand, missing its warmth already.

"So...? Can you tell me why you brought me here?" He raised an eyebrow.

Juvia sighed. "Lucy-san wanted to talk to Natsu-san. Alone. And you were not getting the hints."

The blunette saw Gray frown and then realization hit him. "Is she telling him? Today?" He was incredulous. "She is confessing today? Why didn't she tell me? I would've made myself scarce a long time ago."

"Wait, you know?" Juvia was surprised.

Gray scoffed. "Of course I know. We met on the train and I've known since day one. Those two were always drawn to each other." He waved a hand in dismissal. "I don't believe in soulmates and crap, but they are different from others. It's weird."

"Do you think he'll return her feelings?"

"Oh yeah." He snorted. "Don't worry, the feelings are pretty mutual. He just never really realize it. I think he will today."

Juvia sighed in relief. "Good. Juvia was afraid for a second he would reject her."

"Nah." Gray shrugged. "It's Natsu and Lucy." He said as if it were an explanation. "Now, how about we actually go to Spintwitches Sporting Needs? I actually need to buy new gloves."

"Alright." Juvia smiled and Gray waited for her so they could walk together back to the village.

#

After Gray had chosen a very good pair of Quidditch gloves, they went to Honeydukes for some sweets supplies for the next couple of weeks and, just as they were getting out, they saw a very red-faced Lucy being pulled by the hand by an equally red-faced Natsu towards the path that led to Hogwarts and just as they were about to exit the village, Natsu stopped her and gave the blonde a peck on the lips, before they resumed their walk, hand in hand.

Juvia beamed in happiness and Gray was grinning when she looked up to him. "Well, now I'm officially the third wheel." He snorted and they slowly started to make their own way back.

"As long as they are happy, though..."

"Yeah, of course." Gray agreed promptly and they walked a bit in silence before he called her name and she hummed in acknowledgment. "Why do you always look at old photos so hard, as if you are looking for something?" She looked his way. "I've noticed that you do that a lot whenever pass by a picture, even at school. It's not just out of curiosity."

Juvia was surprised, she never thought people noticed her habit. "You are going to think it's silly."

"I'm assure you I won't. But it's alright if you don't want to tell me, I was just curious because you did the same thing at Spintwitches."

"No, it's fine." She took a deep breath. "Juvia's an orphan. She never met her parents, she was just found with a note with her name on it and that's that. Not even an explanation. Since she was a little girl, Juvia would try to look at pictures to try to find someone who looked like me." Her smile was sad and she was tearing up a little bit. "Just to find some sort of connection. She stopped after no results."

"When Juvia learned she was a witch, though... There was a whole other world to look for information." She told him, drying a tear. "That's why. I look for blue hair, for a last name close to mine. Anything. Juvia knows she'll probably never know and this is not about blood, is not proving she's a half-blood or anything." She assured him. "Fifteen years later and this i's one of the questions she always had and she still wants an answer."

Gray was serious, then. "I'm sorry, I thought you had met them at least, like the rest of us. I never thought..."

"It's alright." She shrugged. "Juvia got used to it. She didn't realize she still did the photo thing."

"You do." He told her gently. "I don't think anyone else noticed, though, I think it was just me."

Juvia nodded. "So, have you been watching Juvia?" She teased him. She sure had been watching him, she would've noticed if he had.

"Maybe." He said in a non-committal way with a shrug.

Juvia stopped walking, not believing her ears. Did she just hear him...? No, she was being crazy. Unless she wasn't. They've had met lots of times because of their little group, she was having flying lessons from him and whenever they were alone she could feel... Did that mean he felt a bit that way too?

There was only one way to find out. And Lucy was right, it was hard. She'd rather take on a Basilisk, but she'd be brave. Maybe she would be the one eating sweets at two a.m.

"Gray-sama?"

"Yes?" He stopped walking and turned around.

Juvia took a few steps his way so she could stand really close. "You... uh... you told me to warn you the next time, right?" He seemed confused for a moment, until he remembered.

"Yeah?" He whispered.

With all her courage, she said: "You have three seconds to step away from Juvia."

He blinked in surprise. "Why?"

"Because Juvia is about to kiss you – and not on the cheek – and if you don't want her to, you have three second to step away and she'll understand." She whispered.

"Alright." He nodded.

Five seconds later, Juvia whispered to him: "You didn't move."

"You didn't kiss me." He whispered right back.

"Because Juvia thought you were going to step away from her." He frowned with her words. "Now what, then? Juvia really didn't think this through."

"I think it means someone needs to kiss the other?" He asked.

"That makes sense, but who-" She was interrupted by his lips gently touching hers.

Juvia felt as if there was electricity passing through every cell of her body, her heart was beating so fast and her hands were sweating. It was only a light touch of their lips in a very sweet kiss but she was already melting.

He stopped kissing her for a moment to take a look at her and what he saw must've been of his liking, because he dove in again, joining their lips, deepening the kiss, an arm around her waist to support her and pull her close and the other on her jaw.

If Juvia didn't have him holding her, she would've fell on the ground, that's for sure. Juvia didn't care about that at all, all she could think of was how amazing it was to kiss Gray, to put her arms around his neck and kiss him, over and over again while he matched her enthusiasm.

"So maybe I won't be the third wheel." He whispered between kisses and she giggled into the kiss.

"Gray-sama?" She asked when they needed air. He hummed and rested his forehead on hers. "What are we doing? What is this?"

It took him a moment to answer. "I don't know. But it is something, isn't it?"

"It is." She nodded.

"Alright. We can work with that, right?" Gray asked her.

"We can." She pulled him down to a kiss, one he gladly reciprocated and Juvia let herself get lost into his kisses, touches and secret smiles.

They could figure the rest, later.