Harry Potter and the Black Secret

Chapter Sixteen

Say goodbye to everything you ever knew

Can death be sleep, when life is but a dream,
And scenes of bliss pass as a phantom by?
The transient pleasures as a vision seem,
And yet we think the greatest pain's to die.

How strange it is that man on earth should roam,
And lead a life of woe, but not forsake
His rugged path; nor dare he view alone
His future doom which is but to awake.

~ Keats ~

Kristine sat in the empty Common room with Harry. Everyone else had gone to bed, exhausted from the party that had just taken place. It was two thirty in the morning. Twelve hours ago had been the Quidditch match final that lasted for three hours, finally ending with Gryffindor victory. She had been watching in the stands with Hermione unable to play. Madam Pomfrey couldn't be swayed saying that Kristine's head injury was more serious than previously thought and that she shouldn't over exert herself, and that meant no flying.

Kristine hadn't been sleeping well. Sometimes because of the constant headache that had set up camp in her skull, sometimes she didn't want to go to sleep. There was so much to keep track of. School work; Draco; Ron; the coming apocalypse, and her current concern, Sirius.

"I'm sure he's fine," Harry said trying to reassure Kristine, although not feeling too confident about his godfather's condition himself.

"I know," she replied, "I just miss him, that's all. I'm only just beginning to get to know him, and the thought that I might never get to, well, it scares me a little."

"Hey," Harry said getting out of the armchair and sitting on the couch next to Kristine, he put his arm around her shoulders, "Don't think like that. He's fine, and we're all going to get through this war together. I'm not loosing the only real family I've ever had either."

Kristine smiled and leant on his shoulder.

"Do you want to stay up?" Harry asked.

Kristine nodded and curled her feet up on the couch while Harry pulled the blanket off the back of the sofa and over their knees.

They sat there in comfortable silence. It had been a long time since they had done this. When they first met, before they knew about Sirius and Voldemort's plans, before Draco and before the lies, they had spent hours in each others company. They used to stay up all night talking, either in the common room her Kristine's bedroom where they could be alone. That fact was probably how the rumours over their relationship had started. Kristine felt a wave of nostalgia for that time. It felt like years ago, but it was only a few months. Still, she wouldn't change what she had now for anything.

After a few minutes Harry spoke again.

"Now if you need me, call me. No matter where you are, No matter how far. Don't worry baby, Just call out my name," Harry said and Kristine smiled remembering the game.

"I'll be there in a hurry, you don't have to worry. 'Cause baby, there ain't no mountain high enough," she replied, reciting the lyrics from the song, "That was an easy one," she said smiling.

"I didn't want to strain you," he replied firmly, "That was just a warm up."

"Oh okay then," Kristine said laughing as an intense pensive look crossed Harry's face.

"Right," he said lighting up, "You'll never get this. When you feel all alone,
and the world has turned it's back on you. Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart."

Kristine smiled.

"Crash and Burn by Savage Garden," she said, "Come on Potter you're meant to be challenging me."

"The warden threw a party in the county jail. The prison band was there and they began to wail," Harry said.

"Elvis Presley, Jailhouse Rock," Kristine said happily," Come on Harry, you know better than to test my knowledge of Rock and Roll music, oh and by the way, I believe that makes the century," she said satisfied.

"No way," Harry argued, although he was laughing, "No one is that good, even if they are completely obsessed with music that was created before they were born! Seriously Kristine, I have to worry about some of the stuff you listen to sometimes, I mean Meatloaf? Elvis? Bon Jovi?"

"Hey," Kristine said, "There will be no mocking of the greatest band ever whilst I am in the room! Anyway, you're one to talk Mr 'I love Kylie Minogue' Potter!"

"That," Harry said threateningly, although the struggle he was having not to laugh did take the edge of it, "Is a perfectly justifiable infatuation, and don't you change the topic. You can not have guessed one hundred songs consecutively, it's just not possible."

"Are insinuating that I am anything less than perfect?" Kristine replied in mock offence.

"How foolish of me! Of course you are flawless, totally beyond improvement, you are one step up from Mary Poppins," Harry said imitating worship.

"And don't you forget it," she said closing her eyes and smiling, "So, have you asked Ginny out yet?" Kristine asked.

"Yes," Harry said calmly.

Kristine sat up straight and looked with bulging eyes in amazement at Harry who had a very silly grin on his face.

"You did! Why didn't you tell me? What did she say, oh that's a stupid question, of course she said yes! Oh Harry, that's fantastic, does Ron know? Are you taking her to the ball? When did you ask her?" Kristine said.

"No, yes, and during the party," Harry replied still grinning.

"Oh that's brilliant Harry, I'm so happy for you!"

"I'm happy for me too. Now all we have to do is get you a date," he said.

"I told you, I'm not going," Kristine said exhaustedly.

"Why not?" Harry whined as they got into this same argument for the hundredth time.

"Because," Kristine said, offering no more of an explanation.

"I really wish you'd come, it's not going to be any fun without you," Harry said.

"I wouldn't let Ginny hear you say that if I were you," Kristine teased.

"You know what I mean," Harry said still sombre.

Kristine sighed. The fact was that she would love to go to the Summer Ball, but she wanted to go with Draco. She had decided immediately that if she couldn't go with him then she wouldn't go at all. It wasn't fair that she was the only girl in school who couldn't go to a party with her boyfriend.

"I know you're not keen on going with Dean or anyone else," Harry said, "but it isn't formal, you don't have to have a partner. There are going to be plenty of other people there, can't you just come with us?"

"Harry," Kristine said, getting irritable even though she knew he just wanted her company, "I have asked you over and over to let it go. I don't want to go on my own or with anyone else, why can't you just accept that?"

"Because it doesn't make any sense," Harry replied, "I know you Kriss, and you love a party, I don't understand what the big deal is."

"The big deal is that I asked you to drop it and you keep pushing!" Kristine said angrily now that they were in the midst of a full-blown row.

"Because you're lying!" Harry shouted, "There's something going on with you and for some reason you don't want me to know about it and I wish I knew what was so awful that you felt you had to hide it from me."

"I can't deal with this right now," Kristine said getting up and moving towards her room.

"Hey!" Harry shouted, "You can't just walk away from this, we're not finished yet!"

"Yes we are!" Kristine shouted back and ran up the staircases leaving Harry alone in the Common room.

Kristine reached her bedroom and slammed the door behind her as she entered. She was red in the face with anger and guilt, after all, Harry was right. She was keeping so many secrets from him and she had the feeling that he wouldn't react well to any of them. The Vampire factor, he'd be angry that she hadn't told him, but he'd get over it. Her past, Bill in particular, that might take some getting used to, but it was history and he'd realise that. No, it was her thirst secret that would be the problem. Draco. There was no way he'd accept Draco, and the fact that she had kept it from him for months wouldn't help. And then there was Ron who knew about their relationship now. If the truth got out then it wasn't just her and Draco that would suffer the consequences now. Life was so complicated.

But it was her fault.

She took a deep breath and turned and opened the door to go and apologise to Harry. She opened the door to find the green-eyed boy on the other side, hand in the air ready to knock.

They smiled at the situation and looked sheepishly at each other.

"Sorry," Kristine said.

"That was going to me line," Harry replied.

"Harry, you're right. There are some things about me you don't know, and none of them are very good, but I'm sorry, I'm just not ready to tell you about them yet. I hope you can accept that."

"Kriss, I'm sorry. You're allowed to have secrets, I don't need to know every detail about your life, past or present, but I hope that you feel like you can trust me, talk to me. One day, when you're ready," Harry said.

"I will," Kristine replied, "and about the ball..."

"You don't have to come," Harry said quickly, "I shouldn't have been so pushy."

"No," Kristine sighed, "I was being stupid. I'll come to the ball, but I'm going on my own and I won't be dressing up much."

Harry smiled.

"This thing you're keeping from me, it isn't an aversion to boys or anything is it? You're not gay or anything?"

"Would that bother you?" Kristine replied.

Harry's eyes widened and Kristine laughed.

"No Harry, I'm not gay."

"Oh good," Harry said, "Not that I wouldn't be cool with it if you were," he added quickly, "No problem with it here, none at all, one hundred percent gay friendly."

"Well that's good to know," Kristine said amusedly.

"You haven't had a boyfriend the whole time I've known you Kriss," Harry said, "Has this secret got something to do with a guy in your past?"

"There is a guy in there," Kristine said honestly, referring to Bill in her head, "But he isn't the problem, now stop asking questions."

"Sorry," Harry said grinning, "So are we okay?" he asked Kristine.

"We're good," she replied nodding, "Do you mind if I go to bed? Madam Pomfrey gave me some Sleep Easy potion and I really should just give in and use it."

"Sure," Harry said, "See you in the morning."

"Night," Kristine replied, and Harry headed for his own dormitory.

Kristine was pretty sure she heard a wolf whistle coming from the portrait near her room as Harry walked past, and she smiled closing the door.

*

Ron and Hermione were in the prefects' bathroom together, it was one of the only places they could be alone and not be interrupted. They had snuck out of the party at about midnight and were happily making out in private.

Hermione smiled as Ron kissed her neck. He had the aroma of chocolate and peppermint, he always did.

Things had never been so good between them, and it was obvious. Ever since the Christmas holidays when he had shown up unexpectedly at her window. Somehow they had connected. Hermione, using her intellect to explain her emotions had come up with a plausible reason why. It was because he had come to her. Not Harry, not Kristine or Ginny, but to her.

For the first time they felt truly close, like they could tell each other anything and it would be okay. It had felt so natural to share Ron's worries, it was as if they were partially her own. What affected Ron had an effect on her. They were a couple.

Ron stopped kissing her and gazed into her dark coffee eyes. They contrasted with his own bright blue eyes completely. He leant towards her and kissed her softly on the lips relishing her response. His mind became awash with inarticulate thoughts. He pulled away from her and instinctively spoke the only words that made any sense to him in that moment.

"I love you."

Hermione opened her eyes to see him open his in surprise at what he had said. He relaxed when he saw her face. She was smiling.

"I love you too," she said and without hesitation kissed him again.

It was the first time they had spoken those words to each other, and it felt so right.

Then the inevitable happened. In a sense it could be considered romantic, only true happiness, unadulterated bliss could provoke the reaction that followed. Heightened emotion of the purest kind.

A vision.

Ron had never felt so much pain. He completely blacked out from the physical world and breached a new plane of existence.

He was standing on a cliff edge. It was dark, the stars and the moon buried by a thick layer of cloud. The only light came from the lightning flashes that scorched the sky every few seconds. Lightning, thunder, but the rain had yet to fall. In the distance was a group of figures, some dressed in black cloaks. Death Eaters.

The scene changed and a second burst of pain filled Ron's head, stronger than the first. It felt heavy on his brain, pressure building between his skull and his mind. He was inside the scene. The battle was ferocious, he couldn't focus on one person, all he heard was scream and all he saw were flashes of green light. The killing curse.

Again. Closer into the madness of the fight this time. The pain threatened to split his head in two. In the distance he heard a shriek. Hermione. At the same time he vaguely felt a surge of pain in his shoulder. All these facts dissolved as the figure in front of him raised his head. Messy black hair. Emerald green eyes, not hidden by the usual glasses. Blood obvious on his face. Bruised, battered and bewildered.

Someone stood in front of him. A woman with long black hair. She clutched a dagger. He couldn't see her face, but the look o Harry's. That was something he'd never forget. Untainted grief.

Hermione sent up an alarm with her wand signalling the teachers to come to the bathroom where she stroked Ron's hair, willing the unconscious figure to be okay.

*

Ron opened his eyes and promptly closed them again to shield himself from the bright light that hurt his head. A dull ache filled his head, but it was nothing compared to what he had felt last night.

He felt a light pressure by his side and squinted to see a sleeping Hermione resting on his bed in the hospital wing. He lifted a tired hand and stroked her cheek causing her eyelids to flutter open. She inhaled sharply as if she had been holding her breath waiting for this moment.

"You're awake," she said, relief clear in her tone.

Ron smiled a small lopsided smile but even that drained him of strength.

"How do you feel?" she asked taking his hand in hers.

"Like I got hit by ten bludgers all at once," he replied.

Hermione smiled.

"It'll get better," she said reassuringly.

Ron then remembered what had happened. He had had his first vision. Just the first, there were more to come. He closed his eyes recalling what he had seen.

"Something bad is coming 'Mione," he said.

"What did you see?" she asked softly.

"The end," he replied.

*

Ron came back to school after two days. He hadn't told anyone what had really happened. Hermione had encouraged the story that he'd had a fall, but she wasn't fooling everyone.

Ron entered the dormitory to see Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Kristine all sitting on Harry's bed waiting for him. They were laughing and Harry had an expression of pure shock on his face.

"Either Harry is the luckiest guy on earth and has become so irresistible to women that the three of you have grouped together to do unspeakable things to him, or something depressing is going on," Ron said and he joined them on the bed.

"Neither of the above," Harry said, "Unfortunately," he added, resulting in a clip on the back of his head from Kristine.

A magazine lay in front of Harry, which he swiftly shut and threw across the room as soon as he noticed Ron's curious gaze.

"What's going on then?" Ron said, deciding not to question Harry on his latest action just yet.

The four of them looked at each other, but it was Ginny who spoke up.

"Ron, what happened to you? We know you didn't fall and Hermione refuses to tell us. Please, you can trust us. You know you can. We're just worried about you," she said putting a hand over his.

Ron looked at his friends and his sister's pleading faces, finally settling on Hermione. When he looked at her he felt he could say it.

"I'm a Seer," he said, never once breaking eye contact with Hermione, who smiled supportively as he spoke.

"You're kidding?" Kristine said.

Ron shook his head.

"I had my first vision the other day, and I've got to say, I don't really care much for them," he said, and then he looked at Harry.

"I saw you," he said seriously, "I saw the final battle. The end of the war, and unless you defy the aging process, its going to be soon. Sooner than we thought I'd wager. Harry, you've got to promise never to give up, no matter what. If we all die and you're all that's left, keep fighting. You've got to keep going no matter what. Please promise me that."

Harry looked taken aback by Ron's statement, but he nodded.

"I promise."

The conversation turned to happy topics and eventually Ron said that he needed to go and do some homework. He rose from the bed and then without skipping a beat made a dive for the magazine now under his own bed. Harry dived after him and missed, landing ungracefully on the floor.

Ron looked at the magazine. It was the same one the girls had been looking at that day on the train all those months ago, he recognised the witch on the cover. She was hot, not that he'd ever voice that opinion with Hermione in the room

He turned the pages quickly looking for something obvious, stopping when he spotted Harry's face on the centre fold double page. He looked up at the real Harry whose face was awash with contorted horror, then back down at the magazine.

"Ron," Harry pleaded, "I beg you, for your own good as well as mine, do not turn the page."

Ron considered this for a moment, and decided to let his curiosity get the better of him. He turned the page and was met with the title 'Top Ten Wizard Hunks Bare All!' and a very realistic picture of a posing Harry in all his glory.

The entire house must have heard Ron's shriek.

"My eyes," he screamed dropping the magazine and covering his eyeball, "Oh god my eyes!"

*

Finally, it was here. The night of the ball. The last night they'd spend in Hogwarts until September first when they would return for their seventh and final year.

The whole school was abuzz. Even the students who were too young to go to the ball were excited. Each house had organised their own smaller party in the common rooms for years one to four.

The girls had been getting ready all afternoon, minus Kristine who had simply enjoyed helping Ginny and Hermione with their hair and makeup. Hermione was dressed in stunning amber robes that set off the firelight in her eyes, whereas Ginny looked heavenly in earthy green robes. Kristine was in the middle of pinning up Ginny's curly red hair when Hermione spoke.

"Are you really going to come to the ball like that Kriss?" Hermione said cautiously.

"Is there something wrong with that?" Kristine said, looking down innocently at her torn jeans and blue T-Shirt, teasing her friend.

"Well, its just, you know, I thought that, maybe, you might..." Hermione stammered.

"Don't worry 'Mione," Kristine laughed, "I'm changing later. I've got something to do before I get to the ball," she explained, "All done," she said as she finished Ginny's hair.

"Thanks," Ginny said smiling looking at her reflection.

"He'll go wild when he sees you," Kristine assured her, making Ginny blush, but Kristine was right.

On his way out of his dormitory, Harry saw Hermione standing on the landing talking to another girl. Hermione looked beautiful, but Harry's attention was focussed on the scarlet haired vision she was talking to. When Hermione spotted him she motioned for the other girl to turn around and blush.

Ginny had never looked so striking. Her flame red hair was pinned up in twists held together by sparkling gold clips in the shapes of leaves. Her eyes were made up with gold eyeliner and green eye shadow. She had red lips that matched her hair and her whole guise was set off by a fitted green dress, accentuating her petite figure and revealing her shoulders.

Harry shook off the spell that she had put over him and walked over to take her hand, which he kissed like a true gentleman making Ginny's blush deeper.

"You look beautiful," he said grinning happily.

"You don't look to bad yourself," she replied taking his arm.

It was going to be one hell of a night.

*

The Great Hall looked astounding. The bewitched ceiling reflected a clear starry night sky, and the room was lit by fireflies that moved in groups of various sizes delivering different degrees of light.

The four house tables were lined up along the edge of the room housing a selection of cuisine leaving the centre of the room clear for dancing. At the front of the hall where the teachers' table usually resided was a stage and a clear area of dance floor. Soft music was playing and the students were mingling and chatting with each other. Very few were actually dancing.

Dumbledore had announced that there would be a live band later in the evening, but he refused to elaborate further.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were sitting around one of the small circular tables at the edge of the room chatting and soaking up the atmosphere whilst drinking their Butterbeers.

"Where's Kristine?" Ron asked to no one in particular.

"She said she had something to do, but she'd be along later," Hermione answered, "Oh wait, there she is!" Hermione exclaimed as she waved the girl over.

Kristine smiled and walked over to her friends.

"You look great," Ginny said as Kristine approached.

Kristine smiled shyly.

"Thanks Gin," she replied.

Kristine was wearing a simple cut dress that showed off her slim figure and complimented her colouring. It was dark chocolate brown at the top and faded as the dress descended to mocha and finally white. Printed at the base of the dress was a silver dragon that matched the necklace she never removed, but for once, she had on full view.

Ron smiled at her as she sat down understanding her choice of outfit. A dragon for Draco.

No sooner had he thought of the Slytherin did he enter the Great Hall. No guesses as to what the 'something' Kristine had to do had been.

The band arrived and much to everyone's amazement, they were going to play Muggle music as well as Wizarding. This went down well with most of the school, but not so well with others, specifically the Slytherins.

More and more people danced and eventually the party really got started, probably due to the Butterbeer taking effect on those less used to its alcohol similar qualities. Sure enough, Fred and George had attempted a repeat performance of New Year, but were caught by Snape of all people and had been hauled away from the Great Hall by the potions master.

Ron had watched Kristine and Draco as they danced with various people courteously, and then returned to sit down away from the crowd. He surprised himself when he felt his heart go out to them, to both of them. Only if you knew to look for the glances thrown between them could you see the longing in their eyes to put their arms around each other, to dance together, to just smile at each other without worrying about the consequences. He couldn't imagine how it felt, but he knew that if he weren't allowed to touch Hermione it would kill him. It wasn't fair.

The music kept playing, where it came from no one knew, and no one particularly cared. At the first opportunity he got, Ron slipped away from his friends to seek out the blonde.

He found him standing alone with a drink in his hand on the other side of the room.

"You want to dance with her," Ron said, a statement not a question.

"We can't always have what we want," Draco said.

"Rubbish," Ron said, "I thought Slytherins were meant to be cunning?"

"If I didn't know better Weasley, I'd think that you've got a plan to help me hidden in your strange little mind," Draco said clearly intrigued.

"It's quite simple really. All you have to do is be your usual sardonic self," Ron said, and then he let Draco in on his plan.

On the other side of the room from which Ron had just walked away stood Kristine, Harry, Ginny and Hermione chatting animatedly.

"I'm going to get a drink," Kristine said smiling.

"No need," a familiar drawling voice said from behind her.

She turned around suddenly to face Draco who was holding two bottles of Butter beer. Ron was right behind him. What was going on?

Kristine took the drink he offered her and eyed him suspiciously.

"Its not poisoned is it?" he voice questioned, but her eyes said, "What the hell are you doing Malfoy!"

"No," Draco said calmly, "I'm extending out truce for ten more minutes," he explained, "Care to dance?"

Kristine chocked on the liquid she had just sipped.

"Dance? Here? Now? With you?" she stuttered, "Why?" she said suspiciously, keeping up their usual pretence.

"Because I think that you should humour the guy who saved your life not all that long ago, and I know that you'll hate it, and that Potter over here will hate it even more," Draco said simply.

Kristine couldn't believe her ears and she did her best to look horrified, but inside she was laughing.

"Fine," she said matching his composed tone, "One dance," and she put down her drink and took his arm as he led her onto the dance floor where they were thrown some very confused looks.

The current song ended and a slower one took its place. Kristine hadn't heard it before, but the lyrics made her smile as she danced with Draco.

I could stay awake just to hear you breathing,
Watch you smile while you are sleeping,
While you're far away and dreaming,
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender,
I could stay lost in this moment forever,
Where a moment spent with you is a moment I treasure,

Lying close to you feeling your heart beating,
And I'm wondering what you are dreaming,
Wondering if it's me you're seeing,
Then I kiss your eyes and thank god we're together,
I just want to stay with you in this moment forever, forever and ever,

And I don't want to miss one smile,
I don't want to miss one kiss,
I just want to be with you right here with you,
Just like this, I just want to hold you close,
I feel your heart so close to mine
And just stay here in this moment,
For all of the rest of time

I don't want to close my eyes, I don't want to fall asleep,
Cause I miss you baby, and I don't want to miss a thing,
Cause even when I dream of you, the sweetest dream will never do,
I still miss you baby,

His arm was encircled around he waist and she had his free hand in hers while her other arm rested on his shoulder. It took all her self-control not to lean into him. That would be going to far. She wasn't meant to be enjoying this dance.

And I don't want to miss a thing.

But she was, more than anyone could ever know.

Their dance ended and reluctantly Kristine and Draco broke apart.

"Meet me outside in ten minutes," Draco said, "In the gardens."

Kristine nodded and walked away from what would be the last truly happy moment in her life for a long time, but of course, she didn't know that.

She walked up behind Ron and touched him gently on his shoulder; he turned and smiled when he saw her.

"Thank you," she said.

"Anytime," he said.

They talked for a few minutes; Kristine keeping an eye on the time using the watch Hermione had given her for Christmas. When ten minutes had passed she walked out of the Great Hall and headed for the gardens where Draco was waiting.

He kissed her deeply and she returned the kiss just as enthusiastically.

They broke apart smiling with kiss swollen lips, but the smile vanished when a voice cut through the night chilling them both to the bone, wiping all colour from their faces and turning their blood to ice.

"Miss Black," Lucius Malfoy said, those two words invoking more fear than either of the teenagers had ever though possible, "We meet at last."

To be continued...

[A/N: Here is a list of the songs I have made reference to in this chapter in order of their appearance, all of which by the way, have nothing to with me in any way, I disclaim their use.

Ain't no mountain high enough sung by many artists

Affirmation by Savage Garden

Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley

I don't want to miss a thing by Aerosmith]