Sixth year, N.E.W.T. year, was very, very hard. More difficult than I could have anticipated. All of our classes suddenly advanced to levels that even Hermione sometimes had trouble understanding. Our homework was the most it ever had accumulated to.

In that next week though, I was really looking forward to Quidditch! I was holding try-outs Wednesday. When I checked the list Tuesday, I had never seen so many people interested in playing.

"I'm sure it's not the sport that's attracting the people," Hermione told me smiling.

"What?" I asked her, over breakfast on Wednesday morning.

"It's you!" Hermione said, giggling. "Haile, I can't believe you sometimes. Haven't you noticed all the stares or random 'hi's' you've been getting? You've never been more fanciable!"

Ron cleared his throat. "Actually, it's, um, true, Haile. I, you know, talk to the guys and no matter what, they always say you're the hot—I mean, the prettiest girl at Hogwarts."

"Thanks, guys," I said shrugging. "But really, I think it's just because I'm the 'Chosen One.' You know?"

"Haile?"

I turned around, setting down my cup of pumpkin juice. "Hi, Corey," I told a familiar Ravenclaw I knew from the D.A. lessons. "How's it going?"

"Well, actually, I had a question. My friend, Peter, he kind of digs you. He, like, really likes you. And he wanted me to introduce you two."

I was stunned. "Um…that's really sweet. Maybe I'll talk to him later? To be honest, I can't really see myself dating right now. I kind of have a lot on my mind."

"Yeah, that's what I figured," Corey told me, shrugging. "But you know…if things don't work out between you and Pete…" His voice dropped. "Let me know if you're interested." He winked and walked away.

"That took guts," Ron said, shrugging.

I turned back around and hid my face in my hands. Hermione was laughing hysterically. "Oh, Haile, do you believe us now?"

"Ha, ha," I said, finishing my juice. "Well, Ron, ready to go down to the field?"

"You bet," Ron said.

"I'll come down to watch, too," Hermione said agreeably.

On the way out to the field, Lavender Brown came up to Ron. "Hello, Ron," Lavender said, smiling widely. "Just wanted to wish you good luck!" She gave him a kiss on the cheek, and hurried away with Parvati.

Ron turned a shade of scarlet.

I stole a glance at Hermione. She was looking very distant and cold. She went to the bleachers to take a seat without another word.

Everyone whose name was on the list showed up. I decided to have them split up in groups, and fly around the pitch. It took a very long time.

Finally, I decided on three Chasers. Ron's sister, Ginny Weasley. She was a brilliant flyer. Katie Bell, of course. And Demelza Robins who was surprisingly rather good. After, I tried out the Beaters. I liked a pair—they worked well together and were very easy-going: Ritchie Coote and Jimmy Peakes.

The last part of trials was trying out the Keepers. There was a very large crowd now, and I saw Ron getting nervous. Cormac McLaggen was Ron's only competition. The others were dreadful.

Cormac saved four out of five goals, and Ron saved a solid five. I cheered him on happily and announced he was Keeper.

Afterwards, Ron was ecstatic. "Oh that was brilliant, Ron!" Hermione said, grinning, seeming not to be mad anymore.

"Thanks!" Ron said beaming. "You should've seen McLaggen. He was pissed. But that last save was dreadful! He looked like he had been Confunded…"

Hermione turned a shade of pink and said nothing. I narrowed my eyes in suspicion.

We went to see Hagrid afterwards. He was a bit grumpy with us because none of us had taken on Care of Magical Creatures for N.E.W.T. We apologized and after a while he said it wasn't us, but he was upset about Aragog, because he was dying.

As we trudged back to the castle, I whispered to Hermione, "Any idea why McLaggen missed that last save?"

Hermione turned pink again. "Okay, okay, it was me. Don't tell Ron, please. I just…you know you wouldn't have wanted McLaggen on the team! He's moody and annoying…"

"Uh huh," I said, winking at Hermione. "Thanks, Hermione."

As October came, we were scheduled our first Hogsmeade trip. I was still curious as to who the Half-Blood Prince was, but I didn't worry about it too much. I mean, it was probably no one very important, just a very smart Potions genius.

The morning of the Hogsmeade I received a letter from Professor Dumbledore. He wanted to meet me again that night for another private lesson. I had noticed lately he was not in the Great Hall for mealtimes, which I assumed meant he was not in the castle often. It made me uneasy, but I knew he had his reasons. I planned to ask him about it that very night.

Hogsmeade was an uneventful trip. It was quite enjoyable actually. We just shopped around, had lunch and a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks, and came back early so Hermione could continue studying her Runes homework.

However, while in the Three Broomsticks, I saw Pansy drag Draco to a back booth, concealed by a lot of people. My heart lurched with jealousy and my stomach fell miles down under. Why did I even care?

That night, I eagerly set off to Dumbledore's office. "Hi, Professor!" I exclaimed, taking a seat.

"Hello, Haile," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Glad to see you are so excited to be here."

"Where have you been?" I asked.

"Well, I am sure I will tell you in good time. For now, let's concentrate on the next memory we will be looking at. It is the memory of which I came to fetch young Tom Riddle from the orphanage and bring him to Hogwarts. I think you'd find it rather interesting."

I was actually very, very interested to see Lord Voldemort as a child. It was intriguing, really. As we once again plunged into the Pensieve, I readied myself to memorize every part of the memory. If Dumbledore was showing it to me, it must be vital.

I watched the memory of the young Voldemort with a strange curiousity. I was engrossed.

When it was over, when we were back in the office, I asked Dumbledore, "Professor…did you know?"

Dumbledore looked at me strangely. "Did I know that I had just met the most dangerous Dark wizard of all-time?"

I nodded.

"No."

"He was powerful for a little kid. More so than I was. I mean, we're really nothing alike," I said casually, not making eye contact.

"Haile, I think both you and I know that's not true at all, as much as you might want to deny it. Yes, Tom Riddle was crueler than you, but you both were orphans at a very young age. You both always hoped for a different life. You spoke to snakes. Haile, the similarities are endless. But there is a very, very important difference."

"What's that?"

"You have learned to love. If not your living relatives that never showed you love in return, then your friends. Cedric Diggory. Sirius Black. Lord Voldemort has never loved anyone in his entire life. Nor has he ever befriended anyone."

"He was always stealing the other kids' stuff too," I remembered thoughtfully.

"Yes, which will be important to remember later on," Dumbledore said. "And Haile…I have just a quick word of advice."

"Yes, Professor?"

"You've already proven so apt at opening your heart though it's been shattered many times. However, do not be afraid to open it, just once more, for someone who might just be your true love. Even if he might seem like the most unlikely person." Professor Dumbledore offered a small smile.

"My true love? Professor, who are you talking about?" I asked, confused.

"I think you might already know."

I resisted the urge to laugh. "Excuse me, Professor, but I hardly think this is…the time…for 'true love.'"

"Haile," Dumbledore said, gently. "There is never not a time for true love, especially in times of war. Do not forget this. Do not miss out on opportunities because they might not always be there. Seize every moment, and take risks when it comes to the heart. Your heart is usually right. Well…goodnight then, Haile."

I stood up to leave. "Good night, Professor," I offered, still puzzled.

I walked back to the Gryffindor common room deep in thought. Just mulling the memory over and over again. Voldemort knew he was different at a young age…just like I knew I was special. Maybe we had more in common than I thought, like Dumbledore said. And what on Earth was Dumbledore saying about opening my heart open again?

Someone was walking towards me. The corridor was darkly lit, but I caught a glimpse of white-blonde hair in the candlelight.

"What are you doing here?" I asked coldly.

He stopped in front of me. "Oh, it's you, Potter."

"Hello, Malfoy," I said, narrowing my eyes. "So. Had a fun time in Hogsmeade the other day? Caught a glimpse of you with Pansy."

Malfoy scoffed. "That's the day I ended it with her."

I snorted. "Oh yeah? Why, she isn't good enough for you?"

"She was too…clingy. Not to mention I am much too good-looking for her. Don't know what I ever saw in her."

"All the attention she gave you?" I guessed sarcastically. "Ugh. You're disgusting. You probably just used her for the physical aspect of a girlfriend."

"The physical aspect?" Draco feigned confusion. "What ever are you talking about?"

"Oh, don't tell me you forgot our conversation last year already. Bragging about how you two were moving along so fast." I made a noise of disgust.

Draco rolled his eyes. "And you believed me, Potter?"

"Wait…" I said confused. "So…you…never…uh?"

"Like I would do it with that troll?" Draco sneered. "You've got me all wrong, Potter."

"Then why did you tell me that?" I asked him. "To impress me?" I laughed without humor.

"I was trying to make you jealous," Draco said, smacking his forehead. "Merlin's beard, you reallydon't get it, do you?" He sounded annoyed.

"I don't know what you're trying to make me understand."

And then it came, out of the blue, the most anticipated words since my first year.

"I'm trying to make you understand that I like you! That I like you a lot! I've been trying to tell you for the past four, five years! But all we've done is fight because I've never been able to tell you the truth because we're supposedly 'enemies' and now we're on two different sides of a war. But you know what? I don't care! I don't give a fuck. I don't know anything about my life or where I'm going, but what I do know is thatI want you."

I stood there, shocked. I think I should have been more surprised actually. You grow up for years thinking someone hates your guts and wants you dead to find out that he actually likes you. Draco Malfoylikes me. And he wants me.

What the flipping hell has happened to the wizarding world?

"Are you going to say anything?"

I just stood there, looking at him incredulously. I must have looked moronic.

"You're a Death Eater," I told him, without really any emotion.

"Forget it, I'm sorry I took a chance on you." He pushed me past me, and when he walked away, I felt like a part of me left with him.

I'm sorry I took a chance on you.

I went back to the dormitory, feeling dazed. Hermione was waiting for me. Ron, thankfully, was not.

"Sorry, Haile; Ron was tired," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. "But tell me all about it! What did you do tonight?"

"Can I tell you about it tomorrow with Ron? Hermione—the weirdest, most unpredictable thing just happened to me. You would not believe it. I ran into Draco Malfoy on the way back here, and he just confessed that he likes me. That he likes me. I mean, all these years with me thinking—"

Hermione was listening with a strained patience. "Well, it's about time."

My jaw dropped. "And just what are you talking about?"

Hermione groaned. "Ugh, H! You can be so thick! I've known he's liked you since…hm, second year? But I thought I was just being smart like usual." She smiled with pride. "But I was sure you must have noticed by now, and was just ignoring it…" She looked at me. "But you really had no clue!" She laughed. "Oh, you're hopeless. Come on, let's go to bed. I'm sure you have a lot to think about."

As I crawled into bed, I realized I did have a lot to think about.

Draco Malfoy…well, I always tried lying to myself, but he was fine! A lot of girls like him, too. But that doesn't matter! He's a Death Eater! Yeah, but that doesn't matter because I'm crazy about him. Since when!? Oh, come on, you know deep down you've always… Deep down! Why is it all coming out now? I liked it better when we hated each other. This is confusing.

My silent debate with myself didn't help. All I determined was that I really was crazy about Draco Malfoy all these years, though I tried to hide it, and that he was a Death Eater. Malfoy didn't care. But did I?

"Hermione…" I asked her. She was still awake, reading a book by wand light.

"Yes?" she asked, looking over, her eyes amused.

"On the train…Draco grabbed my wrist to pull me inside the compartment…and—and when he touched me, I felt…like this weird magical sensation. I mean, it's magic like I've never felt before. Was he doing something? I mean, have you read about anything like that happening?"

Hermione was silent for a few moments, deep in thought. "No…it wasn't him doing anything. I mean…I've felt it, too. I mean…that's how I feel when Ron touches me." She turned scarlet and shut her book. "I think I'll go to bed now."

"But Hermione," I started, but decided to drop the subject. She'd tell me what this all means when she's ready.