The Legend of Chime

Chapter three Common Ground

Some of the numbness had worn off by the time Elizabeth step through the portrait hole to the Gryffindor common room. All she wanted now was some time to think. She leaned against the wall before coming into view of everyone and closed her eyes.

If she was truly honest with herself, nothing had really come as a great shock to her. She had known she was different from the time she could complete an intelligent thought. She should be grateful really. She finally knew who she was, if only the information hadn't come with a painful price; the realization that she had missed meeting her father by mire weeks. It seemed fate had played a very cruel joke indeed.

"Not fate. Voldemort and his Death Eaters," she seethed.

 The taste of bitter resentment rose in Elizabeth and she clenched her teeth to keep from screaming. She wanted to hurt something as much as she was hurting. She brought her hands up and covered her face for a moment before allowing them to drop back down to her sides. She felt her body slip down the wall, her robes catching but she kept her eyes closed not caring.

It was better when I didn't know. Elizabeth shook her head against the thought. Knowledge was power and with power comes strength. And strength is something I desperately need right now.

 After several minutes, she opened her eyes and took several deep, shaky breaths. When she felt she had her emotions back under control, she pushed herself up and away from the wall, straightened her robes and continued into the common room.

It was late and most of the students had already retired to their beds. Hermione was curled up in an arm chair reading a book in front of the fire, Crookshanks resting in her lap. Elizabeth smiled. She had waited for me.

 Her eyes scanned the rest of the room for familiar faces. Harry and Ron were in a corner hunched over some rolls of parchment. Harry seemed to be giving Ron a pep talk of some kind.

Elizabeth made her way over to Hermione and sat down in one of the remaining armchairs and stared into the fire.

After a few minutes, Hermione said quietly, "Want to talk about it?"

Elizabeth continued to stare into the fire and shrugged. "Nothing to talk about really."

"So that would be a No then," said Hermione with an understanding smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Elizabeth felt too drained to even pretend to deny it. "Not now. . . . maybe later," she said.

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Harry watched as Elizabeth joined Hermione by the fire. He could tell by her expression something was terribly wrong. She sat there and said nothing, just stared into the fire as if her world had suddenly been turned upside down even more than it had been already. He had gotten over the fact she was so pretty. Even now with the firelight catching in her hair, her beauty wasn't what drew him. It didn't hurt but it wasn't what fascinated him about her. It was the sorrow that was reflected on her face when she wasn't plastering a smile to it every five seconds. He didn't think many people noticed that about her, but he did. She hide herself away from everyone. She gave them what they wanted to see, what they expected to see. He had seen her at it. She would watch how a person acted and reflect it back, like she had with Nearly Headless Nick. He didn't think it was a conscious decision but something that had been drilled into her over many years and was now second nature. Sort of like his interactions with the Dursleys.

"Uh . . . Harry? Do you want to give this a rest for now?" asked Ron, his eyes also finding Elizabeth.

"Yeah . . . good idea," mumbled Harry, already making his way over to the fire. Ron followed.

"Is there something we can do?" Harry softly ventured as he and Ron sat down on the sofa beside her.

Elizabeth gave him a sad smile. "Nothing really. I'll be fine soon." Wanting to change the subject, Elizabeth asked, "So found the map to a lost treasure, have you?" She flipped her head indicating the rolls of parchment he and Ron had been so immersed in.

"Oh. No. We were just going over some strategies for the Quidditch team this year," Harry explained.

She was doing it again, but at least she hadn't plastered on the fake smile. He understood her need for privacy but he wished she felt she could share it with them, whatever it was. He asked instead, "Do you know about Quidditch?"

"I've read about it some. It looks very exciting," said Elizabeth, glad to focus her mind on something else.

 "What's everyone talking about?" said Ginny plopping down in the floor in front of the fire.

"Quidditch," Elizabeth said quickly.

"Did Harry tell you he was Gryffindor Team Captain this year?" said Ginny teasingly. "Best Seeker the likes of which Hogwarts has never seen," she said in a voice imitating Colin Creevey.

"We hadn't got that far into the conversation," Elizabeth managed a smile at the faint blush that was coloring Harry's cheeks, "but no, he didn't. Congratulations, Harry."

"Thanks."

"So, Ginny? Are you going to tryout for Chaser this year?" asked Ron, curiously.

"I dunno." An evil grin crossed Ginny's face. "Are YOU going to be Keeper this year?" she finished, sniggering.

"Very funny. I finished the year off fairly well if you ask me," Ron replied indignantly.

Hermione suppressed a laugh. "Ron is the Gryffindor Keeper, a good one, in fact, but ah . . . well, he had a slight . . . confidence problem last year," informing Elizabeth. "But he worked it out over the summer, I'm sure. Not to mention, during the last game, when he saved several goals helping to win the cup," she quickly added when Ron flashed her a betrayed look.

"Yeah, the game that both of you missed," Ron mumbled under his breath and slouched back in his seat looking very much like a child that had just dropped his ice cream.

"Oh, cheer up, big brother. You'll have plenty of time to show them what you can do during the season," Ginny said as she smacked him on the leg and then turned asking, "Have you ever ridden a broom, Elizabeth?"

"Once for a very short time a couple months ago." Elizabeth allowed a laugh remembering. "It seems the broom kept insisting that I land face first in the mud every time I tried to stop. Never had much use for it after that. I'm happy to say I prefer my feet on the ground. Thanks. I'd rather learn to Apparate then get on a broom again."

"I can't believe that. Finally something that you're not good at!" Hermione seemed delighted as this revelation.

"Yes, not to mention Herbology." Elizabeth shuddered.

The whole group laughed at this, including Elizabeth.

"Well, I'm off to bed," Ginny said as she got to her feet. "See you in the morning!" She leaned over and pinched Ron on the cheek. "Sweet dreams, Ronnikins!" Ron swatted at her hand.

"Good night," the group sporadically said to Ginny's retreating back.

Ron watched Ginny disappear up the staircase and turned to Elizabeth, seeming to contemplate her for a moment.

"Do I puzzle you?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yeah, you do," came Ron's honest answer. "We are your friends, right?"

Elizabeth frowned and nodded hesitantly, starting to understand where he was going. She wasn't really in the mood to go through all the details concerning her past and present life.

"So why don't you trust us?" challenged Ron.

"Ron?" Hermione said in soft reproach.

"Well, obviously something has happened and for some reason she doesn't want to tell us!" Ron complained. "We never let Harry wallow inside himself, and he's tried plenty of times. Why should we allow her to? She's one of us now, isn't she?"

Hermione thought for a moment, for once not trying to argue. "He's right, Elizabeth. You're one of us now. If something has happened, we want to help," she finished, giving her an encouraging smile.

Elizabeth looked into their caring faces and then down at her hands. "To be completely honest, my mind wants to tell you, but my heart wants to hold on to it a little longer," she said, looking into the fire. "I feel like I need to own it first. Make it mine before I can share it. Does that even make sense?" she asked, more to herself than to anyone in particular.

Ron and Hermione exchanged worried looks.

"Yeah, it does," said Harry, in a voice filled with understanding.

 Elizabeth looked at him and saw her own feelings of absolute sorrow reflected in his green eyes. "So, Harry . . . have you made it yours yet?" asked Elizabeth, in a voice barely above a whisper. She knew in her heart that he was struggling with something of his own.

He searched her eyes for a moment. A smile of acceptance spread across his face and some of the sadness left his eyes as he said, "Not really. But I'm trying." Harry turned his head and looked at Hermione and Ron. "There's something I neglected to tell you last year. I want to tell you now if I can." Harry looked quickly around to make sure they were the only ones left in the common room.

"What's that, Harry?" said Ron hesitantly.

Harry looked intensely at Elizabeth and she understood his silent request, like he knew she would. They both held something close to them that would turn them bitter if held too tight.

 Harry took a deep breath and he said, "I heard the prophecy, all of it."

Ron gasped, his face a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "You've known it all this time and you didn't tell us?" he said, unable to keep the hurt out of his voice.

"I'm sure he had a good reason," Hermione said softly, glancing at Elizabeth. "You had to accept it first. Make it your own, like Elizabeth said?"

Harry shrugged. "I didn't know that's what I need to do, until Elizabeth said what she just did," he said looking at Elizabeth again.

"What did the prophecy say?" Ron asked as if he really didn't want to know.

"It said I am the only one who has the power to destroy Voldemort," Harry said softly, "or I am to die trying." He chanced a look at Ron and Hermione's faces. Tears had sprung to Hermione's eyes as if she had guess his fate but never voiced it and Ron was shaking his head in denial.

"Maybe it was wrong. Maybe it . . . " Ron said frantically, his face completely white.

"It hasn't been so far," Harry said talking over Ron. "It said that Voldemort would mark "the one" and I'm the only one that sports a scar put there by him," Harry said sharply, pointing at his head."That's why Voldemort killed my parents, to get to me. He wanted to kill me while I was still a baby. He found out about the prophecy, and figured he would fulfill it on his own terms. The problem was that his spy had only heard half of it. He didn't know it said he would mark me first."

Harry answered the question on Hermione's face before she asked, "Dumbledore told me after he brought me back from the ministry. He was interviewing Professor Trelawney for a position when she went into a trance and revealed the prophecy sixteen years ago. He said he didn't tell me before because he didn't want to burden me with so much while I was still so young. He admitted it was a mistake." He turned to Elizabeth. "That's probably why he told you whatever he did. He didn't want to repeat the same mistake."

 Harry looked over at Ron and Hermione, he could tell by their expressions they were already mourning him. "See, and that's why I didn't tell you. I don't want you treating me any different. I'll remind you, I'm not dead yet." Harry said with a weak smile, "It shouldn't come as that big a surprise. We've known he's been after me for sometime. Now we know why."

The room was silent for several minutes, except for the crackling of the fire. Harry studied Elizabeth for a moment. She seemed to be struggling with her thoughts. He didn't know what it was she needed to say but he hoped his admission had given her the courage to let down her facade and share it with the rest of them. For some reason, he knew it was important.

Elizabeth felt Harry's eyes on her and knew he was waiting for her to keep her side of their unspoken agreement. Her life didn't seem as unfair now as did it before Harry's confession. She was grateful for that at least even though she had been stunned to hear it.

 She glanced into Harry's eyes. The sorrow she saw there had now been explained. It wasn't just being an orphan and losing his godfather so recently. He is not the man she thought he would be when she first read about him. He was someone to admire, but he wanted nothing of it. He had hidden his burden from others, not wanting to cause pain to the ones who loved him. Brave face, I know it well. She understood now how Hermione and Ron could love him so.

She turned to Hermione and Ron, both seemed to be trying to appear normal after what must have been as a terrible blow. Finding out your best friend must become murderer or victim, was not something one took lightly. It would take time to deal with the knowledge. But they were trying for Harry's sake to regain their composure. That's what real friends do.

"Can you trust us with your secret now?" asked Harry, his face a mask of emotion.

"Are you sure you still want to hear?" Elizabeth asked Harry as she watched Hermione and Ron. They both looked up suddenly, slightly dazed as if they had forgotten how it had all started but remembered at her question.

Harry answered softly, "We are willing to listen if you're willing to tell. But only if it's the right thing for you to do. We can wait until you are ready if it's not." Hermione and Ron nodded their agreement.

Elizabeth took a deep breath. It was only fair after all. Harry had trusted me with his secret. I could at least do the same. Brave face can disappear for awhile.

 She preceded to tell them everything that had happened in Professor Dumbledore's office, about being Chime, about her mother and father, and about how Dumbledore seemed to think it best not to let it become public knowledge of what she was and where she came from as long as possible. He had been most grave when stressing the need for secrecy. When she was through, she ventured a look at each of their faces.

They seemed very disturbed by what she had just told them. Hermione was the first to recover some what.

"May I see the picture?" she asked, hesitantly.

Elizabeth pulled the picture from the inside pocket of her robes and handed it to Hermione.

 Hermione took one look at the picture and all the color drained from her face again. She whispered, "Oh, Elizabeth." She quickly looked at Harry and handed him the photograph.

A rush of pain and guilt crossed Harry's face as he looked at the picture.

Ron seemed to have completely lost his ability to talk.

"We knew him, Elizabeth. We stayed at his home during summer break last year and again during Christmas. He was a wonderful man," said Hermione, exchanging a tragic look with Ron before tears filling her eyes again.

"He was my godfather," said Harry in a numb voice still looking at the photograph. He looked up at Elizabeth but couldn't quite bring himself to meet her eyes. He looked back down at the photograph. "Ron? Hermione? Do you mind if . . . "

"We were just leaving, weren't we Ron?" Hermione interjected tearfully as she pulled Ron to his feet.

"Oh, yeah. It's probably better that way. Goodnight, Elizabeth," said Ron, softly as Hermione pulled him along.

Harry waited until the sound of their retreating footsteps subsided then slowly forced himself to look at Elizabeth. She waited patiently watching him with those eyes and an expression so similar to Sirius's, he couldn't believe he hadn't seen it before; his heart hurt to look at her.

He turned to stare into the fire searching for the words. How do you tell someone that you are the reason that their father is gone? The guilt washed over him in waves and he closed his eyes.

Elizabeth placed her hand on top Harry's and he opened his eyes and peered into her face. "You loved him very much, didn't you?" she asked softly.

"Yes, I did," confessed Harry in a hoarse voice. "But that's only part of the reason this is so difficult."

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, "I didn't mean to cause you more pain."

Harry pushed himself up off the sofa. "You of all people should never feel sorry for me," he said in a voice much harsher than he intended.

"I don't understand." Elizabeth said quietly.

He swung around to face her. "Your father was a wonderful man. He was honest and kind and loyal. But you'll never know him . . . " Harry swallowed and turned back to the fire, "You'll never know him because of me."

Elizabeth watched Harry as he fought with his emotions, guilt and anger eating away at him. She stood and placed her hand on his shoulder and forced him to face her.

"Stop it, Harry! It wasn't your fault!"

 He still refused to meet her gaze so she put her hand up to his cheek and forced him to look her in the eye. "He loved you and you loved him. You should never feel guilty for that," she whispered, a slight tremble in her voice.

A glimmer of hope came into Harry's eyes but it was gone in an instant and he shook his head. "You don't know the whole story of that night . . . "

"But I do," she said. Harry's eyes met hers and she continued, "I asked Dumbledore to tell me everything and he did. He told me how Voldemort lured you there, using you dreams and your love for my father. You risked everything to try and save him."

She had said Voldemort's name without flinching. She knew everything about that night and she still didn't blame me. Was that even possible?

Harry shook his head. "But he was never in any danger before that. I put him there by running off to play the goddamn hero," he said desperately wanting her to hear the truth. He didn't deserve her understanding, surely, she must see that.

"Stop being so damn noble! You take too much on yourself, Harry. You're only human," Elizabeth said looking into his tortured eyes, her heart breaking. "You ran off to save someone you loved. There was no way for you to know he wasn't in danger. It isn't a mistake to love someone and try to protect them. It's a mistake if you think of yourself as more than human, above them. My father was blessed to have you as a godson and I'm blessed to have you as a friend, Harry. Never doubt that," said she softly, putting her arms around him, wanting to wipe away the pain from Harry's face. "For me, there is nothing to forgive. The question is, can you forgive yourself?" 

Harry stood there unbelieving for a moment. He didn't feel worthy of her forgiveness. He wrapped his arms around Elizabeth, held her to him, and his heart felt more comfort than it had since Sirius's death. The scent of vanilla and lilacs flooded his senses.

She pulled slightly away. "You didn't answer me," she said softly, looking at his lips and then into his eyes.

How can someone be so beautiful?

 

Harry bent his head and took her lips. He kissed her gently at first, testing her response. She opened to his kiss and deepened it seeming to sense his need for her touch. Harry molded her to him and she felt his body's response to her. She had never wanted someone's kiss so intensely before. She felt his hands move up her spine and gradually make their way back down to her hips, instinctively pressing her toward him.

Harry came to his senses when a light gasp escaped Elizabeth and he ended the kiss before it got out of control. He looked into Elizabeth's face. It was flushed and more beautiful then he had ever seen it. She smiled and his heart melted.

"I think we should probably say goodnight," she whispered breathlessly. Good Lord, he's a good kisser.

Harry nodded. "I'll walk you to the stairs," he said in husky voice and reached for her hand.

They walked silently together, fingers entwined, until they reached the staircase to the girls' dormitory. As she reached for the rail, Harry turned her around and quickly gave her another kiss before he lost his courage.

"Good night, Elizabeth," he said.

"Goodnight, Harry." Elizabeth smiled and slowly made her way up the stairs.

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The snores of his roommates filtered through the air as Harry made his way to his bed. He knew Ron was awake in the bed next to him but waited for him to speak. He pulled off his robes, put on his pajamas, and slipped between the sheets. He couldn't have imagined he'd ever feel like this. His burden didn't seem so ever-present anymore. Elizabeth had done that. He smiled. For a moment she had dropped her guard and allowed him a peek at the real Elizabeth. The Elizabeth who swore and wasn't so innocent. He heard Ron sit up in his bed, his silhouette visible in the darkness.

"So, how did she take it?" whispered Ron.

Harry smiled in the darkness, remembering the kiss. "Loads better than I expected, actually."

"Well, that's a relief. She didn't go crying all over you did she? That's something you don't need," said Ron, the worry evident in his voice.

"No, she didn't cry." Harry's smile got bigger in the darkness. He decided not to tell Ron unless he specifically asked about the events in question. "She didn't blame me at all."

"Good. I have to admit she had me worried, afraid she'd pull a Cho. I knew I liked that girl for some reason. Made of more than fluff, if you ask me," said Ron as he fell back down on his bed. "You should ask her out, Harry. She seems to fancy you, I could tell."

Harry was glad that Ron seemed to have given up on the notion of him and Ginny. "Maybe I will. Good night, Ron."

" 'Night, Harry."

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Elizabeth felt exhaustion creep over her body as she stepped into her room. Her emotions had never been on such a roller coaster ride in her life as they had since stepping through Hogwarts' large oak doors. She made her way to her bed in the darkness and tripped over Crookshanks as he wove his body through her legs welcoming her.

"OUCH! Thank you, Crookshanks, but do you mind?" Elizabeth hissed in the dark as she stumped her toe on the foot of her bed.

"Lumos."

 A light glowed from the end of a wand in the dark, revealing Hermione sitting up in her nightclothes on the edge of her bed. She looked very anxious.

Elizabeth hopped to her bed still rubbing her foot. Crookshanks leapt into Hermione's lap and Hermione started to stroke his head absently.

 

"Are you very upset?" Hermione whispered, the worry in her voice quite evident. "You must understand, he was having a lot of strange dreams last year, he saw Mr. Weasley attacked and he almost died, Mr. Weasley, I mean. And then when he saw Sirius being tortured, he was frantic. He was the closest thing Harry had to a father. He tried to find out if he was okay but Kreacher, he . . . "

"It's okay, Hermione. I know what happened last year," Elizabeth quietly interrupted her. She was sure if she didn't, Hermione would soon be going into conniptions and wake the other girls. "Professor Dumbledore explained everything. I don't blame Harry for what Voldemort," Elizabeth saw Hermione wince, "did."

"You don't!" Hermione said a little too loudly and Lavender stirred in her sleep. Hermione waited a moment before continuing, then whispered, "That's wonderful. I was so worried you would be too devastated over hearing about Harry's involvement to understand. I'm sure that Harry is relieved." She gave Elizabeth an admiring smile.

"Yes, he seemed a bit relieved." Elizabeth smiled remembering the kiss as she turned away from Hermione to pull off her robes. "He takes too much on himself."

"Yes, he does," Hermione agreed then gave a deep sigh, "but then again that's Harry. Proud, loyal and stubborn but also very noble. He's had so much happen to him. I don't know how he keeps it together. But I'm glad he's stopped yelling so much."

Elizabeth slipped on her night gown then raised an eyebrow to this and asked, "You don't . . . you know . . . have a thing for him do you?"

Hermione snorted. "Heavens No!" she said, sounding completely appalled, and paused, eyeing Parvati who turned over in bed. She whispered, "Not that there is anything wrong with him or anything. He's quite dashing in his Quidditch uniform, but he's one of my best friends. I can't even think of him in that way." She gave a little shudder.

"What about Ron?" Elizabeth ventured, watching for Hermione's reaction.

"Ron is . . . Well, he's really sweet . . . and I've known him as long as Harry . . . and . . . "

Elizabeth suppressed a grin as Hermione stumbled over her words, "And you really like him, don't you?"

Hermione started to deny it then remembered to whom she was talking.

"You're a real prat, you know that! You and that ability of yours!" She hissed as she flounced back on her bed and put her pillow over her face to hide her blush.

Elizabeth quietly laughed as she slipped under her blankets. She knew Hermione clearly thought she could tell if she was lying just by talking to her and she didn't feel the need to enlighten her. "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me," she said instead.

Hermione peeked out from under the pillow. "Promise?" came the muffled reply.

"I promise but . . . honestly . . . Why don't you just tell him how you feel? It's obvious to everyone else. Besides he seems to share the same feelings." Elizabeth whispered as she closed her eyes. She made a mental note to ask him the next time she saw him alone.

"Because Ron doesn't know what he wants yet and until he does, I'm keeping quiet," Hermione said with a slight note of anger in her quiet voice. She thought for a moment. "He does seem to get quite upset when I mention Viktor though . . . Oh, well . . . no use thinking about it now. Nox."

The light went out and Elizabeth heard Hermione crawl back under her blankets.

"Good night."

"Goodnight, Hermione." Elizabeth yawned and was soon fast asleep.

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The next morning Harry was up bright and early, anticipating seeing Elizabeth. He quickly dressed and attempted to tame his unruly hair. He glanced at Ron and decided to let him sleep before making his way down to the common room.

He was slightly disappointed when Elizabeth was no where to be seen and hoping she hadn't already gone down to breakfast, he decided to wait. He took a seat in front of the fire, remembering the past night's events.

He was glad he had told them about the prophecy. He didn't have to worry know about them finding out accidentally from Mr. or Mrs. Weasley now and Elizabeth's reaction to his confession was a definite welcomed surprise.

He had to admit he had been troubled about the possibility of her blaming him for Sirius' death and hating him for it. He was utterly humbled by her open acceptance of his innocence, which he still had difficulty with himself. He couldn't help but think if he might have done things differently, Sirius might still be alive and the guilt was sometimes overwhelming. But all that had faded when he had kissed her. He had felt indescribable peace when she was in his arms. Well, that along with a few other sensations.

 But If he was really truthful with himself, he was concerned that the kiss was just her way of comforting him. She lets people see what they want to see. Had he just imagined her acceptance? He thought about how she responded to him. Surely not! He had given her plenty of time to pull away, hadn't he?

Harry mentally shook himself. Ron had even said he thought she had fancied him and he didn't even know about the kiss yet.

But what does Ron know about whether a girl fancies him or not? He still doesn't have a clue about Hermione.

The longer Harry sat there and thought about it, the more anxious he became.

 If I could just see her, I would know by her reaction, right?

"Why didn't you wake me?" complained Ron as he shuffled toward Harry, sleep still visible in his eyes.

Harry shrugged. "It's Saturday. I figured you wanted to sleep in a bit."

Ron yawned and ruffled his hair. "Well, thanks for waiting for me." He stretched and asked, "Have Hermione and Elizabeth come down yet?"

"I don't think so," said Harry distractedly looking toward the girls' staircase. 

"Well, let's go down and . . . Harry?" Ron noticed Harry wasn't listening and swung around to see what had caught his attention.

Elizabeth and Hermione had just entered the common room. Sixth year students were allowed to wear anything they liked on the weekends as long as it was considered decent. Both girls were wearing Muggle clothing and looked extremely fit. Elizabeth was wearing a pair of snug jeans and a cropped blue sweater that slightly showed her flat stomach when she moved. Hermione was wearing a much shorter skirt than usual with a matching shirt and had done something to her hair to make it smooth. She was holding Crookshanks in her arms, scratching him behind the ears. The sight of them together made most everyone in the common room take a second glance.

Elizabeth's eyes found Harry and she smiled. She and Hermione made their way toward Harry and Ron through the early morning crowd. Harry met them halfway and Ron followed close behind.

"Good morning," Harry said as he reached Elizabeth. "Sleep well?"

"Yes, I did as a matter of fact," replied Elizabeth, dipping her head as a slight blush started to cross her face.

Harry smiled at her blush with a hint of satisfaction and turned to Hermione. "You look great. What did you do to your hair? Use Sleekeasy's again?" he said.

"Thank you. No actually, Elizabeth helped me with it this morning." Hermione beamed. "She used a Silkening hair potion that she made during one of our tutoring sessions. It's never been so soft." She pulled her hair over her shoulder and ran her fingers through it. "It's a lot easier than using Sleekeasy's, and I must confess I hadn't really thought about using it before." She looked up and smiled again, "Ron, are you okay?"

"Looks nice, doesn't it, Ron?" Elizabeth asked Ron who seemed to be lost in thought as he stared at Hermione.

"Yeah, it does," Ron said without a bit of embarrassment. "It looks even better than it did at the Yule Ball . . . down and all . . . it suits you, Hermione."

Hermione was slightly shocked at Ron's answer and tried to cover her reaction by turning to put Crookshanks in a nearby chair. "Thank you," she mumbled at a loss for words.

Elizabeth smiled and Harry's heart fluttered in his chest. He didn't know why he had been so worried, she obviously didn't regret what happened. He gave a inward sigh of relief and reached for her hand. Elizabeth entwined her fingers in his. They stared at each other for a moment.

"Well, let's go down to breakfast, shall we?" Harry said and led Elizabeth through the common room, leaving Hermione and Ron behind. Harry leaned over to Elizabeth as they walked away. "Didn't take you too long to figure that out, did it?" he said under his breath.

Elizabeth laughed as she followed him through the portrait hole, "Those two are so obvious? I'm amazed that they aren't already together. How have you stood the tension between them for so long? I've only been here a week and I couldn't keep my mouth shut. Do you think Ron will get the hint?"

"Who knows? He's never really been able to see things clearly when it comes to Hermione."

They continued the rest of the way down to breakfast in comfortable silence. Elizabeth noticed how their presence together received a lot of attention from the people they passed in the hall and noticed how well Harry was at ignoring it all. She took her cue from him and also chose to ignore it.

But the passing glances were nothing compared to the outright gawking, when they entered the Great hall.

"Are they holding hands?"said a dark-haired Ravenclaw girl loudly.

"When did that happen?" whispered a girl at the Hufflepuff table.

"How lucky is Harry?" A large Ravenclaw boy said as he hit his neighbor on the back to get his attention.

"She only likes him because he's famous," said Parvati Patil stiffly.

"Who cares? I wish I was famous," said Seamus, grinning.

Harry and Elizabeth sat down at the far end of the table, as far from prying eyes as they could and still be in the Great Hall. They loaded their plates with sausages and griddle cakes and began to eat.

Elizabeth subtly watched Harry for awhile as he ate. "You are definitely not how I imagined you," she confessed as she popped half a sausage into her mouth.

"Really? Exactly how did you imagine me?" Harry asked curiously.

Elizabeth thought about it for a moment. "Well . . . now, don't laugh." She looked at him trying not to smile. "After what I read and heard about you, I didn't think I would like you much. I thought you would be this very arrogant man who would love to retell how you had brought down Lord Voldemort as a baby and escaped him some many times on his rise back to power, with a lot of fawning girls around you, waiting to do your bidding and hanging on your every word."

Harry laughed. "Sounds more like Professor Lockhart." He watched her push her cakes around her plate and prompted softly, "And how do you see me now?" He was only slightly embarrassed to be asking.

She peeked up at him from under her lashes then she looked back down at her plate and smiled. "From what I've seen so far, you seem . . . very sweet . . . and stubborn . . . confident but not arrogant . . . you have put my feelings above your own which makes you very compassionate . . ." she blushed as she continued, "and you're a very good kisser," she said honestly.

A flash of a camera, broke of the web of intimacy that had surrounded them.

"What the . . . Colin! What do you think you're doing?" yelled Harry as he stood to face the Creevey brothers.

"Sorry, Harry. Sorry, Miss. Just needed a picture for the school paper and you seemed to be enjoying your conversation. I didn't want to disturb you. I thought we would get a quick one and be off," stammered Colin, with Dennis smiling like an idiot beside him.

"Well, you got your damn picture! Now be off!" Harry shouted, looking at the brothers as if he would very much like to throttle them.

Elizabeth watched as the brothers scurried off like frightened church mice out of the Hall. She had recovered from the sudden intrusion of the flash. Harry was still rather annoyed, she could tell, as he sat back down with a very disgruntled look on his face.

 Elizabeth started to laugh and for the life of her, didn't know why. She couldn't stop herself. She laughed so hard her stomach started to hurt and tears were running down her cheeks. When she finally regained control of herself, she noticed Harry chuckling a bit, watching her with a very confused smile on his face as if seeing her for the first time but seeming quite pleased.

"I apologize," she said as she wiped her eyes. "I don't know what came over me really. I promise you, I'm not mental or anything . . . It's just the look on your face when he took that picture . . . then the way they scampered away . . . the absurdity of it all. I guess I was just shocked is all," she finished rather embarrassed now.

"I'm glad you find it so amusing. Stupid stuff like that happens to me all the time," Harry admitted, giving Elizabeth an apologetic smile.

"By the way," Elizabeth said as a teasing expression spreading across her face, "has anyone ever told you, how handsome you are when you're angry?"

Harry choked on his pumpkin juice and Elizabeth laughed. Suddenly Ron appeared and started pounding on Harry's back.

"All right, Harry."

"All right if you stop pounding me," Harry admonished.

"Oh, sorry," Ron said as he took a seat next to him and turned to look at Elizabeth. "That seems to be a regular occurrence when you're around I've noticed, people choking. What are you trying to do, kill us off one at a time?" Ron asked with an impish grin and Elizabeth laughed again. "What were you talking about anyway?"

"Tempers." Harry smiled at Elizabeth.

"Oh, so you told her how frightening you can get when you're angry. Good idea. Wouldn't want her running off every time you started yelling," said Ron nonchalantly as he filled his plate.

"Running away or laughing hysterically?" mumbled Harry, winking at Elizabeth as he pushed his plate away.

"What?" Ron gave Harry a puzzled look.

"Ron, where's Hermione?" asked Elizabeth quickly.

"Oh, she stopped by Professor McGonagall's office to tell her that you would be using her classroom today. She'll be down in a minute," Ron said between bites of his griddle cakes.

"So Ron?" ventured Elizabeth. "Why do you not ask out Hermione?" she continued ignoring Harry's shaking head, "You like her, don't you?"

Ron became perfectly still, looking up at Elizabeth, though panic-stricken eyes. She waited patiently for him to recover. He swallowed his sausage and started to shake his head then stopped and pondered her question a moment longer.

He said finally, "It's complicated."

"What's so complicated, Ron? Are you afraid you might ruin your friendship?" asked Elizabeth.

Ron shook his head, "That's only part of it. She's been writing to Viktor Krum? How am I supposed to compete with him? He's a famous Quidditch player, you know? If I asked her out and she told me to take a flying leap . . . I don't think I'd be able to show my face again."

Harry was quite surprised Ron was telling them all this. But then again, He did notice Elizabeth had a way of getting things out of people.

"But Viktor isn't here now, is he? Who knows maybe she just thought he was an interesting person. The point is, there's a risk anytime you set yourself up for rejection, Ron, whether it's Hermione or someone else." She looked at Harry and smiled."Sometimes the risk is worth it in the end. Knowing is better than wondering what might have been. You'll never know until you talk to her about it, anyway. Just be careful she doesn't move on to someone else before you can make your decision. That's all."

 Ron stared into space, weighing her words.

"Well, we'd better get going," Harry said reaching for Elizabeth's hand and helping her up. "See you later, Ron."

"Bye, Ron," Elizabeth said as she squeezed Ron's shoulder.

 He nodded his head and looked down at his plate, throwing a wave over his shoulder.

They ran into Hermione on their way out of the Hall. "Oh! Are you done with breakfast already?" she asked, staring at their entwined fingers.

"Yeah. Is it okay for us to use Professor McGonagall's classroom?" asked Harry, in a mock casual voice.

"Oh, yes. I just spoke with her and got her permission. She wants to meet with you, Elizabeth, tonight after dinner to discuss what classes you'll be taking after the O.W.L. exams," Hermione said looking up with a silly grin. "Did this happen last night?" She waved her finger between them.

Harry smiled. Leave it to Hermione to just come out and ask. "Yeah, it did actually."

Elizabeth blushed. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but it didn't really come up."

Hermione let out an undignified snort. "So . . . that's why you wanted to know if I had feelings for Harry! Honestly, Elizabeth, you could have told me then."

Harry looked down at Elizabeth who was giving Hermione a I-can't-believe-you-said-that look and suppressed a satisfied smile. She had asked Hermione about him. The knowledge did wonders for his ego.

"You can't imagine Ron and my surprise when Harry grabbed you and ran off with you. Ron was quite impressed with you, Harry. He thought you had done the old-conk-her-on-the-head-and-drag-her-off thing." She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

 Harry and Elizabeth laughed at the image that conjured.

"Well, I'm happy for you both," said Hermione. "Now, here is a list I made of all the spells you should probably work on, Elizabeth. It's not that long so it probably won't take but an hour or two, three at the most. Harry is an excellent teacher," finished Hermione, sounding quite business like, but sporting a silly grin again.

"Well, I guess we'll be off again," said Harry. "Ron is in there finishing."

"Thank you, Hermione. I'll talk to you later," Elizabeth said giving her a meaningful glance as Harry led her up the stairs toward the Transfiguration classroom amid more pointing and staring from the students they passed.