A/N: AU after HBP! This is Harry's 6th year, my style :). All creds to JKR, except for Marie who belongs to me.

Chapter One: A Veela, and A Vampire

Professor McGonagall stopped Harry as he was leaving the great hall after dinner, and bid him walk with her back towards Gryffindor tower. He waved Hermione and Ron on, a little apprehension building inside of him, before he asked,

"Yes, Professor?"

"Your Herbology marks, Harry." She said, going straight to the point. Harry could see her frustration in her face, her lips pressed tightly together, eyebrows knit. So that was what this was about. He asked himself again why exactly he had taken Herbology; it wasn't necessary for becoming an auror, and he wasn't exactly planning on going into gardening.

McGonagall waited for his reply, upon being disappointed, she elaborated;

"Three failing grades in three weeks, on practical exams? In the first month of school?"

"Yes, I know, Professor" Harry responded. Herbology had been the last thing on his mind these past few weeks.

"You have an obligation to the house and to the team, Harry! You know what happens if you can't keep your grades up! The team can't suffer the loss of its captain and seeker. So, I have take the liberty of assigning you a tutor." She told him, her expression indicating that the matter was not up for discussion.

"Neville--?" Harry started to ask, before McGonagall cut him off.

"Not Mr. Longbottom. Your tutor will be a Ravenclaw sixth year by the name of-Marie Prince. You will have sessions every Friday, at 6:30 in greenhouse three, starting tomorrow. I expect your marks to be improving very soon, Harry."

"Yes, Professor." He mumbled, and she turned in the direction of her office, as he sped up walking towards the tower. Grinding his teeth in frustration at the thought of having to spend Friday afternoons with some snippy, knowitall Ravenclaw, studying Herbology.

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Classes went by quickly the next day, Friday at 6:00 or so, Harry bid goodbye to Ron and Hermione (who had protested that she could very well give him lessons) and headed outside to greenhouse three. The September air was crisp and cool as Harry walked briskly up to the magically enhanced greenhouse, before taking a deep breath, and walking in.

Whatever he was expecting, when he opened the door of the greenhouse certainly didn't prepare him for what he saw. Inside sat an exquisite, and proper looking girl, jotting notes with her quill on a piece of parchment. Hearing the door, she straightened up and smiled at him, with perfect white teeth.

"Hello, I'm Marie, Marie Suzanne Prince, actually, but just call me Marie. You're Harry Potter, right? I've heard all about you. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." She extended her slim white hand, and Harry, overcoming his initial shock, grinned warmly and shook her hand.

"Nice to meet you too, Marie." He said, trying to wipe a silly grin off his face.

She bid him to have a seat next to her, and stowed her quill and parchment in an impeccable, blue bag next to her. She related to him what Professor Sprout had told her about what topics they should cover, as Harry nodded absently, using the time to look Marie over again. She was stunning, really. He thought. There was no other way to put it. Her silky, raven black ringlets were in a ponytail reaching halfway down her back, tied with a small, blue, silk ribbon. A few curly black tendrils framed her very pale face, where heavy-lashed, large, deep blue eyes, flecked with navy contrasted her pale skin. Her nose was perfect, as if chiseled from alabaster, and her full lips were naturally rosy. Her quality robes, with a Ravenclaw crest embroidered in silk, and her pleated grey skirt complimented her slim frame, and she smelled lightly of roses, and cleanliness.

Finally she stopped talking, and Harry was pulled from his admiration, back to attention as she pulled a pair of small leather gardening gloves from her bag, which fit her long, slim fingers perfectly.

"Do you have yours?" She enquired of Harry.

"Yep." He grinned at her again, and followed as she made her way to a dangerous looking plant in the far corner of the greenhouse. He paid attention as best he could, while they worked together, pruning, planting and harvest several plants that they'd worked with in class.

Unexpectedly, the image of Ginny Weasley popped into his mind, as he and Marie pruned, and Marie hummed. It was common knowledge that Harry was romantically interested in Ginny, and she with him, though they had not gone on a date, nor had he told her his feelings. The redhead was completely different than Marie- not that he fancied Marie, but Ginny's long red hair was straight and silky, her chocolate eyes were so warm and laughing, she was freckled and tan, often loud, brave, and not afraid to play rough, in quidditch. Harry suspected it had something to do with growing up with her brothers. The pale, somewhat reserved, breathtaking girl next to him seemed so opposite. He sighed a little before turning to Marie.

"Why don't you tell me a little about yourself?" He asked her, her deep blue eyes startling him, when they met his own. She smiled at him, and told him about herself.

"Well. I'm the youngest in the Prince family. We're a very old family, stretching back eons, apparently. Somewhere along the line, one of my ancestors married a veela, and another a vampire, see?" She opened her mouth and Harry saw that her canine teeth were slightly more pointy that most peoples. "Don't worry-" she laughed a silvery little laugh "I don't bite. Anyways, I was raised in France, though my family is Brittish, which accounts for the accent." The accent to which she referred, Harry noted, was but kind of pleasant musical lilt to her voice. "I transferred to Hogwarts in second year, when my family moved back here. I love to read, and my favorite subject is Charms, though I enjoy them all. What about you?" She asked.

Harry related to her his past, some of which she already knew, and of quiddich.

"I really enjoy going to quidditch games." She said. "I've seen you fly- it's amazing."

"Do you fly?" He asked, eagerly.

She smiled sadly "Not very well."

"You should come along with me sometime" Harry invited "If you want to, that is."

"Really? Wow Harry, I'd love to!" She said, amazed at the offer.

Before Harry knew it, the two hours of tutoring were up.

"Are you free during the week, if I need extra help?" He found himself asking.

"Of course. Any time, Harry. It was wonderful meeting you." She said, as she gathered her belongings.

"And you." He whispered, as he watched her retreating form crossing the grounds.

'Merlin. What have I gotten myself into?" He wondered, heading back towards Gryffindor tower.