AN: A small chapter with some fluffy moments so we can return to plot next chapter!

#

The moment she stepped on the corridor that led to the Great Hall, Juvia narrowed her eyes when she spotted her boyfriend talking awkwardly with a girl she didn't know the name of, but knew she was a Gryffindor a year younger than them. She was pretty, Juvia couldn't deny it, with her dark curled hair and bright brown eyes, the freckles on her nose and cheeks enhancing her beauty.

The Slytherin took purposeful steps towards her boyfriend and the girl, knowing she was hitting on her boyfriend by the way she was laughing and touching her hair. Juvia saw red when the girl put a hand on his arm and Juvia knew from experience she would find hard defined muscle there.

The moment he saw her, Gray looked relieved and he was asking for help with his eyes. Oh, Juvia was going to help him, alright.

"Good morning, Gray-sama." Juvia stepped closer to him and tip-toed to kiss his cheek – it was so good to finally do that in the open instead of hiding. "Were you waiting for Juvia?"

"Yes. Yes, I was." He nodded, happy to make sure Juvia was close enough, he even put his arm around her waist and Juvia smiled at him and then lost it when she looked at the brunette girl, whom had her cheeks red and started to look uncomfortable.

"Hello." Juvia's stare was icy cold when she spoke to the girl.

"H-hi." The girl muttered.

"What were you two talking about?" Juvia asked, looking straight at the girl, whose eyes widened and it was clear the Gryffindor wasn't feeling very courageous at the moment, not while facing a jealous girlfriend.

"Uh... about quidditch." The brunette looked down to her feet.

"Crystal here was telling me how disappointing it is we won't have Quidditch because of the Triwizard Tournament." Gray cleared his throat.

"Oh." Juvia nodded. "It is a pity, isn't it? Juvia was looking forward to cheer for her boyfriend." She emphasized the last word and the girl finally decided it was time to leave.

"So..." She cleared her throat. "I'll just... go."

"You do that." Juvia's smile was as fake as her tone.

"Thank Merlin she's gone." Gray whispered to her. "That girl never spoke to me before and today she's suddenly a Quidditch fan?"

Juvia snorted. "She wasn't interested in Quidditch, that's for sure." She took a few breaths to calm herself down. "That's the third girl Juvia saw hitting on you. Two days ago we were slow dancing and kissing at the Yule Ball, why on earth are all these girls suddenly attacking you?"

"Beats me." He groaned in annoyance before he looked around and seeing no one was at the hall, he leaned and finally kissed her properly and Juvia's jealousy lessened a little bit when she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "People are crazy."

"That they are." She chuckled and pulled him down for another kiss before they heard steps and took a step back – it wasn't because they weren't hiding that they needed to snog in public. They waited until a group of older Hufflepuffs entered the Great Hall while snickering at them before Juvia took his hand on hers. "We should go get something to eat too."

"Yeah." Gray cleared his throat and nodded, letting her lead them. The moment they entered the Great Hall, many people looked their way, mostly with disdain and Juvia felt uncomfortable with the looks. She was about to bid him farewell for the moment when Gray started to pull her towards the Gryffindor table where many of their friends from different houses were having breakfast. "Come sit with us."

"Alright." She muttered and she could hear whispering as she walked. Like they predicted, most people were having trouble accepting there was something going on between the two of them. "Good morning." She greeted their friends and they greeted her back.

Gray sat next to her and got her some pumpkin juice before he poured some for himself and it was such a thoughtful gesture, she kissed his cheek and besides his cheeks reddening a little, he didn't complain.

"Guess what." Cana arrived at the table holding up a flyer and squeezed herself between Wendy and Erza. "Someone went through the trouble to rank Hogwarts' girls."

"What do you mean?" Lucy asked, taking a bite of her toast.

"They ranked the prettiest girls of the school." Cana stole the rest of Lucy's toast and then looked over the flyer again. "Let's see..." She snorted. "This list is so predictable: of course first place goes to Erza. It says: 'Miss Scarlet is the embodiment of the Gryffindor spirit, no wonder she was chosen to be Hogwarts' Champion. Not only that, she has a beauty that is difficult to match, her abilities as a witch only enhance it. As far as we know, Miss Scarlet is still single, but we advise whoever wants to make a move, to be very skilled as she is Hogwarts' Champion for a reason.'" She looked to the red-haired girl who shrugged. "No surprise there. 'Embodiment of Gryffindor spirit', so cheesy." Cana snorted. "Second place..." She looked at the paper again and then up to their friends, rolling her eyes. "Lucy. Again, no surprise. They added: 'Miss Heartfilia has the classic beauty most of us look for but rarely find. From an old magical family, this witch is not only beautiful but really talented as we can all see in the articles of her self-publishing school paper. Brains and body, what a combination! But she's off the market, fellas. Her boyfriend is none other than Hogwarts' second Champion, Natsu Dragneel.'"

"I'm happy they didn't just include the beauty thing and actually mentioned my paper." She gasped. "Maybe more people will read it now." The blonde beamed and gave a peck on her boyfriend's lips and Natsu smiled, glad she was happy.

"Third place is... oh, now that is interesting." Cana raised an eyebrow. "Third place is Juvia."

The Slytherin, who was getting ready to eat a biscuit, froze and looked up to Cana, completely confused while Gray, who had been chewing his sandwich, started to cough – Natsu started to slap him on the back a little too enthusiastically.

"What?" Juvia frowned.

"You are ranked third on the pretty girls list." Cana clarified. "Did not see that coming. Not because you aren't hot, but because I thought people didn't like you because you are dating Gray. And some because you are a Slytherin." She shrugged.

Gray had finally stopped coughing and took the paper from Cana's hand to read what they had wrote about Juvia.

"'Miss Lockser has been noticed for years but at the Yule Ball we all could see a different side of her; such a beauty was hidden in plain sight. She is one of the most talented witch in sixth year and one of the most beautiful of the school. It's unconfirmed, but it appears this Slytherin is dating none else than Gray Fullbuster, a Gryffindor. Can you smell the drama?'" Gray looked up. "'Unconfirmed'? What do they mean unconfirmed?" Gray frowned. "We've been together for months. We danced and did way more than that at the Yule Ball together for everyone to see."

Cana raised an eyebrow. "She went with Durmstrang's hot stuff, though-" Juvia cringed at that – her Gray-sama really didn't like the reminder.

"Yes, Cana, I remember, thank you." Gray snapped at her. "This is bullshit." Gray gave the flyer back to Cana. "Why are people doing stupid ranks like this one?" He muttered angrily.

"Someone is pissy his girlfriend is considered one of the most beautiful girls of the school." Natsu pretended to whine and Gray sent him a dirty look. "Come on, dude, it's not a big deal."

"Unconfirmed, Natsu." Gray hissed.

"Gray-sama." Juvia grabbed his hand under the table and he looked her way. "Juvia wasn't expecting to be on the list and this means nothing at all. How many people will read this?"

"Everyone had one when I got it." Cana sang.

"You are just so helpful today, Cana." Gray stared daggers at her.

"Why, thank you, Gray." The brunette said sarcastically and rolled her brown eyes. "But really, just hang out together, give a kiss or two and mention to three or four random people about your girlfriend and word will spread that this is serious." She shrugged.

Gray groaned in annoyance and Juvia bit her lower lip – she wanted their relationship to be out in the open, but she didn't want him feeling bad because of it.

"Maybe... maybe it wasn't a good idea for everyone to know?" She asked him.

Gray frowned and looked at her, seeing her doubting the reveal of their relationship. He shook his head. "It was a good idea, it's just people are too slow and it pisses me off."

"Are you sure?" She asked, still unsure.

"I am sure." He guaranteed and then groaned. "I just need to tell some people about it, let them gossip for a while and it will be fine."

"Maybe you should start with that girl from earlier." Juvia said, the ugly feeling returning.

"Maybe I should." He agreed.

"What girl?" Lucy asked, curious.

"Crystal Hawkins." Gray told her.

"Oh, her." Lucy recognized the name. "She has had a crush on Gray since her first year."

"Has she, now?" Juvia narrowed her eyes and glanced at the direction the girl was seated with two of her friends. "Many girls seem to have that same crush."

"Gray didn't seem interested in having a relationship at all for a long time." Cana said and Juvia's attention went to the brunette. "So the girls didn't even try to get his attention for years. Now that he has been seen being all cozy with you and they aren't certain you two are dating, they probably think he's out for grabs." Cana shrugged. "They want to get his attention."

"Good to know." Juvia said with venom in her voice. "Juvia will deal with them."

"Alright, Juvia." Lucy caught her attention and Juvia looked in the blonde's direction. "Remember: we do not hex girls because they have a crush on our boyfriends, alright?"

"Imagine if Lucy hexed every girl who has a crush on me?" Natsu asked smugly. "When would it end?"

Gray snorted. "Someone is feeling pretty good about himself."

"Hey." Natsu pointed his finger at Gray. "This is a real thing."

"Sure it is." Gray rolled his eyes and looked at his girlfriend. "I told you he is crazy."

Natsu heard him and both boys started to argue while the girls looked at each other and rolled their eyes, but smiled quietly, happy the boys were in speaking terms again, and having fun.

#

"I am just saying: this is far more dangerous than flying." Gray told her as he took his pants off, putting it aside and looked over his shoulder.

"It's not." Juvia told him, already waiting for him by the Black Lake's shore.

They finally agreed on when go swimming and even though Gray didn't like the idea of waking up early on a Sunday morning, there was no way he would be outdone by a Slytherin. And Juvia was wearing a very revealing bathing suit, thankfully to a spell to keep them warm. Also the Second Task of the Tournament apparently was to be held on the Lake and, according to Gray, there was no way he would let Natsu swim there first, not when his own girlfriend was a frequent swimmer there.

Boys and their little pissing contests, it was cute.

"Remember to stun the Grindylows, they are going to be on our right around five minutes in." Juvia told him and Gray nodded, stepping closer to her. "Sassa knows you are coming and remember: we do not go too near of their colony." Juvia took his hand and led him towards the water.

"All this time and you haven't been there?" Gray raised an eyebrow.

Juvia snorted. "Oh, no. If Juvia had gone there without being invited, she wouldn't have made it to Second Year."

He frowned. "That's not something you want to tell someone right before they go face said people who could kill them."

She raised an eyebrow. "What are Gryffindor's traits again?"

"Just because I am concerned, doesn't mean I am a coward." He rolled his eyes. "I can be smart and brave. We aren't all adrenalin knuckle heads."

"Point taken." She said. "Okay, we have around one hour once Juvia casts the spell." Gray nodded in understanding. "Keep your wand with easy access at all times, the Giant Squid is usually friendly but do not provoke it and let Juvia handle Sassa. I explained you were coming today and she's curious about you."

"Lots of instructions for just a swim." He said. "When I am flying, my only goal is to not fall while in there" he pointed towards the lake "there are many more things that could kill me but you say I am the crazy one with a death wish." Juvia rolled her eyes. "I'm just saying: this is way more dangerous."

"Let's go." Juvia chuckled and conjured the bubble around her nose and mouth and then did the same to Gray, since she had more experience with it.

Just as she told him it would happen, the Grindylows attacked them and both students stunned them before they could reach the couple. Annoying little creatures, they were, but dealt with.

Every once in a while Gray would touch her to get her attention so he could show her something curious, like a large fish a few meters away from them and then the large squid peacefully swimming, one of its tentacles clearly greeting them and Juvia waved at it and the blunette instructed her boyfriend to do the same – it was better if he had a friendly relationship with the squid.

Juvia glanced at Gray and she could see he was having a good time and it made her feel good, sharing that with the guy she was in love with.

Just when they were getting closer to the merpeople colony, Juvia halted and Gray did the same. The blunette looked around, searching for Sassa while Gray looked at the colony, curious and in wonder – it was a nice sight.

It didn't take long for Juvia to spot her merperson friend swimming their way. Juvia touched Gray's forearm and pointed towards the direction Sassa was coming and Gray's body tensed for a moment but he relaxed.

Once close enough, Sassa stopped and looked at Gray with her big yellow eyes, assessing the human boy in an unsettling way. Juvia had explained to her the best she could what Gray meant to her the week before.

Gray and Sassa kept their eyes locked – he was doing what she told him to, to not shy away from her scrutiny.

"This your mate?" Sassa hissed, finally tearing her gaze from Gray to the Slytherin and Juvia nodded. Sassa tilted her head to the side. "Too pink." Juvia chuckled when Gray looked at her, annoyed. "You are pink too, so it works, I guess."

The blunette nodded to let her know it worked indeed. With a nod of her own, Sassa started to swim and both humans followed her for a while, the merperson pointing to somethings for Gray, who seemed very interested on the whole thing.

When it was time they returned to shore, Sassa told Juvia: "Your mate is strong, I can see it in his eyes." She told her. "You chose well." Sassa seemed very proud of Juvia.

"I did." Juvia answered and said her good-byes, promising to return the following week.

Gray was waiting for her and both came up for air at the same time, the charm ending the minute their heads were out from the water.

"What did you think?" Juvia asked, while swimming back to shore.

"That was amazing." Gray's grin was huge. "Bloody hell, the bloody squid waved at us! I just spent half an hour swimming around with a merperson!"

Juvia chuckled. "Fun, huh?"

"I can see why you keep coming back." They finally reached shore and Gray took her hand into his. "The colony is very interesting."

"It is." Juvia agreed. "Juvia hopes to visit one day."

"Can your 'mate' go with you?" He asked, raising an eyebrow and Juvia fell into a fit of giggles.

"If he behaves."

Gray chuckled. "I'll let Natsu know about what I saw, it might help out."

"Juvia already told him everything she could think of, but maybe a fresh pair of eyes is better."

"I just need to tell him how the Giant Squid waved at me first to make him jealous, then I'll help him out." Gray decided and Juvia laughed.

#

Juvia arrived at the bedroom she shared with four other Slytherin girls and thankfully they didn't care enough about her to say anything about it even if they were awake, since they too often arrived way past curfew when they were seeing their own boyfriends.

Earlier that day was the Second Task of the Tournament and Natsu, even though he came out last from the water, he still won because of his bravery so Juvia stayed with her friends for a while and then she and Gray sneaked out to the Astronomy Tower.

Quickly changing into her night clothes, Juvia slipped in her bed and bit her lower lip, recalling a few minutes before when she had been with Gray.

Merlin, being with him was so... so... amazing. Whenever they were together, whenever he kissed her, she was lost and that night had been just as great.

They had been kissing for a while when she realized she was pressed against the wall, her legs wrapped around his hips and her hands were under his collar, one on his back and the other unbuttoning his shirt.

Leaving her lips, Gray had returned his kisses to her cleavage, her own shirt had been opened and a few times before he had pushed her bra aside but that night they stopped before that when they thought they heard someone approaching.

They had put their clothes back on its place in a hurry and parted with a kiss, smiling into it and whispering 'good night'.

She didn't know about Gray, but she was more than ready to take the next step. To be honest, Gray seemed he would be on board were she to decide to take the next step.

Juvia knew it was just a matter of time before they lost themselves and didn't stop and she'd rather it didn't happened in a broom closet or out where anyone could walk in on them. If it were to happen soon, at least she could have some control over it.

It could sound silly to some people, but she wanted it to be special.

Once she decided what to do and had taken the necessary precautions, a few weeks later she asked Gray to meet her on the seventh floor by the left corridor. Juvia was waiting for him, nervous and hoping he didn't think she was too forward.

Her heart started to beat faster when she heard footsteps. Taking a peek, she confirmed it was indeed her boyfriend before she stepped away from her hiding place.

"Gray-sama." She whispered and Gray located her, grinning when he saw her, making her stomach get filled with butterflies. They had been dating for nine months and he still made her feel like she did when they shared their first kiss.

"What's up with meeting here?" Gray asked once he was close enough and then pulled her for a quick kiss. "Are we going to the Come and Go Room?"

"Yes." She nodded, feeling nervous again.

He nodded. "Life would be much easier if we could use that room all the time. Sadly, we are not the only couple in this castle."

"Just... stay put for a moment." She told him and went to walk by the room three times, being as specific as she could inside her mind. Before she went there, she made a list of everything they would need and she went over it, praying the castle's magic would grant her. Once she was done, the door or the room materialized and Gray went to stand by her side. "Wait." Juvia opened the door just enough so she could see if it was to her liking and she sighed in relief when it turned out even better than she thought it would. The blunette looked over her shoulder. "Come in."

"Finally a place we won't be afraid someone is gonna walk in on us all the time." Gray got in after her and nodded his approval when he looked around the room. The room was spacious, there was a big bed in the middle of it, lots of lit candles setting a romantic mood and a small gramophone playing one of her favorite songs. "Oh, nice."

"Do you like it?" She asked.

"Yeah, it's definitely better than the Astronomy Tower." He told her and pulled her into his arms to kiss her. "As much as I like to do this anywhere, not on the floor is better."

Juvia chuckled and pulled him to another kiss before she broke it, taking his hand to lead him towards the bed. She told him to sit and stayed on her feet in front of him and by the way he was acting, like none of it was a big deal, Juvia knew he didn't know her intentions for the night.

"Gray-sama..." She put her hands on his jaw to make him look up at her, his hands were on her hips as Juvia stood between his legs. "Do you know why we are here tonight?"

He frowned. "Oh, bollocks. Did I forget some special date? You know I'm bad at that."

"No, nothing like that." Juvia shook her head and her curls bounced and she found quite endearing how he seemed to be thinking the best way to make it up to her. "We are here for... privacy."

"That is good, I've been feeling as if I'm a rare magical creature in display for weeks now. Bloody morons snooping our lives and worse, judging us for being together. Ass faces." Gray told her, pulling her closer by wrapping his arms around her waist – he was really like a teddy bear when they were on their own, in public not so much. They weren't hiding their relationship any longer and the consequences, like they knew it would happen, was the very badly concealed prejudice about people from their Houses being together. It felt as if they were five hundred years in the past. "It is nice to have some privacy."

"It is." She agreed and leaned to bump her nose on his lovingly and before she could get nervous, she kissed him, gently at first and turning hot after a few moments. Her Gray-sama was a man of action so she decided showing him what she wanted was much better for them.

Gray broke the kiss just long enough so he could pull her to the bed and cover her body with his, joining their lips a moment later and Juvia's mind began to focus on only him. Only Gray's lips, Gray's hands, Gray's movements.

He didn't think it was strange when Juvia untucked his shirt from his pants and put her hands underneath it, touching his warm skin. Gray managed to unbutton her the front of her shirt and started to kiss and nibble on her neck and down while his hand went under her skirt to cup her buttock and Juvia couldn't help but to moan lightly.

"Gray-sam-" Juvia tried but his lips returned to hers and his hand cupped a breast gently and Juvia started to pull his shirt, needing more skin contact.

He complied with her unsaid request and took off his shirt, but looked conflicted. "Alright, that's enough clothes gone." He was about to kiss her again when she stopped him.

"Maybe... not enough?" She asked, nervous again – she decides it's better to talk before they are too far gone.

"What do you mean?" Gray frowned.

"Why do you think Juvia had all this..." she waved around the room "planned out? You and me, all alone in the night, with the romantic candles and music and with complete privacy?"

He seemed confused for a moment and then his eyes widened, cheeks getting red. "Are you saying...?" Juvia nodded, feeling her cheeks warm up. "Are you sure?" He asked, gently.

"Yes." Juvia whispered, putting a hand on his cheek. "Juvia is ready. If you are too, I mean." She added. "We will only do this if both of us are ready. Are you?"

"Oh, yes. Very much ready, yes." He nodded without missing a beat. "But I don't want to do this if you- We don't have to-" Gray was trying to say the right words to let her know he didn't want to rush her. "We can wait."

The Slytherin felt herself melt with his words. When she thought she couldn't love him more, he managed to make her fall for him even harder.

"Juvia planned all this so it could be special." She told him gently. "We have been working up to this and at the pace we were going, it would happen on the floor at the Astronomy Tower and she rather not have it happening there." Juvia chuckled and Gray snorted, agreeing with her. "Juvia is ready." She put her hands on his shoulder and then caressed its way to his back "Juvia wants you."

"Yeah?" Gray asked and she saw his breath was caught and he was staring at her with wide eyes.

"Yes." She nodded and suddenly, she wasn't nervous anymore, not really. "Juvia loves you, Gray-sama." The blunette confessed and Gray's eyes widened even more, making Juvia smile.

"Oh." He blinked, releasing a sigh. "I... I..." He tried. "You know I..."

"It's alright." Juvia whispered. "Juvia can say it for both of us." She gave him a light peck on the lips and her hands went from his back to his chest and abdomen. "Is this okay?" She asked and Gray nodded, leaning and capturing her mouth with his, trying to let her know all the feelings he had but didn't know how to voice.

Juvia smiled into the kiss and let Gray take her rational thoughts away, willingly and happily.

#

The moment she spotted him outside the Great Hall the next morning, she told Gajeel to go on and she would join him soon to eat breakfast – her friend rolled his eyes and made gagging noises to make sure she knew his opinion to her lovey-dovey feelings. Gajeel and Gray fist bumped as the Slytherin passed the Gryffindor on the way and Juvia smiled at the sight, the smile growing when her eyes met Gray's.

Pulling her aside to shield them from prying eyes, Gray gave her a kiss once they were concealed enough.

"Hi." She told him, breathless when they broke the kiss, feeling her cheeks burn, the last time she had seen him, they had just made love for the first time and the thought made her whole body heat up.

"Hi." Gray whispered and his own cheeks had pink spots on them. "Are you alright?"

"You have asked this four times since last night." Juvia chuckled, feeling much more comfortable with what they did than her boyfriend and Gray's cheeks pinked up even more.

"I just want to make sure..."

She pulled him down for a quick kiss. "Juvia is fine, Gray-sama." She assured him. "Last night was... great."

Gray cleared his throat. "I just... I have the feeling I enjoyed it better than you did."

"Oh." It was Juvia's turn to get embarrassed. She cleared her throat. "Well... We will get better at it later."

"So I am right and you didn't enjoy it as much." Gray pointed out and groaned in annoyance. "Blood fucking hell."

"Gray-sama." Juvia was exasperated. "Just because..." she looked around to make sure no one was listening "Juvia didn't..." her whole body heated up in embarrassment "you know- doesn't mean she didn't enjoy herself." She whispered. "Being with you was lovely. Like Juvia said, we will get better at it."

"If it gets any better, I don't think I can survive." He mumbled but Juvia understood him and the thought of making Gray feel good made her lower stomach boil with desire.

"Juvia is glad you think that." She managed to say and kissed him lightly.

"I still can't believe we did this here. At school." He was so embarrassed it was cute.

"We live here, where else could it happen?" She asked, wrapping her arms around him and Gray hugged her back. "Besides, this castle is a thousand years old, I don't think we are the first ones to lose our virginities here."

Gray snorted. "There's that."

"Juvia needs to go, she promised Gajeel-kun to have breakfast with him." She told her boyfriend and his eyes widened.

"Oh, damn it. Do not tell Gajeel what happened last night." He was clearly trying not to panic. "You are like his sister and I do not fancy being target practice once he learns what we did."

Juvia couldn't help it but to laugh out loud. "Don't worry, Gray-sama, Juvia will protect you."

#

AN: Sorry about the small chapter, I promise I'll try to make the next one better, there's already some drama planned with the Final Task! :)

BTW, I don't know if you guys remember, but the ranking is real, it's on the color page of chapter 129 and it really went: Erza, Lucy and Juvia so I took advantage of that. HAHA