Harry burrowed his head into her hair and breathed deeply. It was so pleasing. So relaxing. So wonderful.
But he just couldn't do it.
"I'm sorry, Romilda," Harry said finally. "I can't."
Romilda's head shifted, and she stared at him with watery eyes. "Why?"
"You know why."
Romilda gave a sound that could have been a short laugh, could have been a small whimper. "Harry…"
"Listen to me," Harry said, sitting up and staring into her eyes. "Someone is… Someone is targeting the people that I love. First Ginny. Then Cho Chang. And Luna… All… all murdered." His voice was shaking; cracking. "All murdered because of their connection to me. I can't let it happen again. I can't let anyone else get hurt because of me."
"Harry, I know how you feel about these things. But—"
"There's no 'but,' Romilda. I shouldn't even have done this. What if—what if whoever has been after my partners—what if they find out about this? I've endangered their lives to an unknown enemy who will seemingly stop at nothing to destroy me. Not as a person—they're destroying me in a far crueler way, attacking the people that I love, and I can't take any more. No more deaths on my account. I can never love again."
"Love is a powerful magic," Romilda said, tracing his chest with her hand. "Dumbledore said that, didn't he? And death doesn't stop love."
"I can't let you take the risk—"
"But I want to take the risk!" Romilda shouted, and Harry cringed, looking around, as if the sudden sound might awaken a murderer sleeping in his room with them. "I want to be with you, Harry James Potter. This is my choice and I'm willing to take the risk. I've always loved you, Harry, and I want to be with you. We'll just have to be careful, that's all."
Harry shook his head. "What if I refuse?"
"I know you won't, Harry," Romilda said, staring into his eyes. "Because you know how I feel. Not being with you would be more painful for me than death. Please, Harry. I love you."
Harry stared back into her eyes. "I… I love you, too."
They sank back into a kiss.
Romilda smiled through the clashing lips.
Finally… Harry was hers.
All hers.
And all it had taken to get him was three murders.
She laughed.