Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Harry Potter.


Chapter 7

The rest of the year was spent avoiding Narcissa and Lucius, along with the few guys that decided to try to see her on their own. She spent most of the time working, visiting with Audrey, and consoling Hermione when Ron would be gone. It was the middle of March when she decided to just stay home instead of seeing any of her friends, hoping that it was safe to do so. Zariah was sitting on the couch with Ash when someone knocked on her door. She turned down the television and peered out the curtains to see who it was. She sighed and followed Maeve to the front door to let Audrey and Draco in. Audrey burst through the door and grabbed Zariah in a big hug. "Guess what?"

Zariah looked to Draco as he closed the door behind himself. "What?"

Audrey pulled away and held out her left hand flashing a very large diamond on the ring finger. "Your cousin asked me to marry him. Isn't that great? Plus I have some other exciting news."

Zariah sat down in the armchair while they took the couch. "You're expecting a baby as well?"

She watched Draco's eyes widen and laughed while Audrey said, "Oh please Zariah you know we would be married right now if that was the case. I got that job as a head healer at St. Mungo's."

"That is great Audrey. I bet your mum is proud?"

"She's not too excited about it as dad is, but that is to be expected since she still thinks I should be a housewife. But I told mum that Draco doesn't want a wife that sits at home and does nothing all day except nag him. She told me to go to my room and think about what I said."

Zariah laughed and said, "I bet she did, I am surprised she didn't make you do chores as well. I am glad you guys are finally going to be getting married, after all it is about time."

Audrey nodded her head. "I have loads to plan though; mum has taken it upon herself to make sure everything is perfect. Well we better head out I promised mum we'd go to dinner tonight to celebrate."

Zariah walked them to the door. "Oh before we go how is the love life of my spinster cousin?"

She shoved Draco out of the door past Audrey and said, "Shut up Malfoy or I'll hex you."

Closing the door she made her way back into the living room and was just about to sit down when a knock sounded at the door. Looking to Maeve she made her way to the window first before relaxing at the sight of Harry standing there. Opening the door she said, "Fancy seeing you here Mr. Potter. To what do I owe a visit?"

"I was in the neighborhood and decided to stop by."

"Funny Potter you will always be in the neighborhood just further down the lane. But please do come in."

He stepped inside and she made her way back to the living room to the couch. "Was that Malfoy and Audrey that just left?"

"Spying on me now I see. Yes they came by to tell me they are engaged."

He ignored her comment and sat down next to her. "You do know that there is a guy outside a few blocks down that is watching your house."

"He's short, brown hair, and could be mistaken for the tree he's standing near?"

Harry nodded his head and frowned at her. "He's one of the many suitors that Narcissa had arranged for me to meet. However he's too grabby, breathes funny, and has decided to stake out my house for the better part of the week."

Harry put his arm around her and pulled her against him. She stiffened slightly then relaxed a little bit. "I had time to think about your pretend boyfriend proposal and I really don't think it's very fair to you. What if you find someone, then what happens?"

"I think I already did find someone though, she's just not seeing it."

Zariah moved away from him, pushing a few curls out of her face. "Then what are you doing here, shouldn't you be there? Have you even asked her yet, I mean if you haven't asked her then why would you think she doesn't see it?"

"I haven't asked her officially because things are complicated and Hermione says I'm shy. I just figured she felt the way I do, but either I'm wrong or she hides her emotions too good."

"I can't believe I'm having this bloody conversation with you. You should just ask her how she feels about you. Boys can be so dense."

She turned back to the television waiting for him to tell her he was leaving to go see the girl when he brushed a few strands of hair behind her ear. Zariah looked at him with a blank expression, waiting for him to say anything. "Zariah I want to tell you something."

"Sure Potter."

She was waiting for the I cannot be friends with you anymore, not that what you could call their weird relationship friendship. She recalled the times he had taken her to dinner and the snogging. She felt like Hermione did when he and Ron disappeared without word. It was going to hurt letting him go, but she'd just focus on her cats and the shop. Maybe that would make her feel better after a while. "I wanted to tell you I love you."

Zariah opened her mouth to tell him that she understood that they were not going to be friends anymore when what he said was beginning to sink in. "You what?"

He laced his fingers with hers and whispered, "It's fine if you don't want to say it back, I can wait."

Zariah wished she could be alone for a minute to collect her jumbled thoughts. She felt like someone had pulled the floor out from under her and she was falling. Zariah frowned a bit and chewed on her bottom lip. She sighed before turning to face him. He was frowning at their joined hands when she said, "Harry I am not really sure how to say this, but I suppose I love you as well."

She watched as his frown deepened and he glanced up at her before his emerald eyes lit up and he smiled. "You suppose you do, that is much better than what I was imagining."

Zariah ducked her head and sighed. He released her hand and brought her chin up so she was looking at him. He leaned in closer till she felt his warm breath on her lips and kissed her. She hesitantly kissed him back before linking her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her. He tangled his hand in her hair, while his other hand came to rest on her thigh. She parted her lips slightly and he tentatively traced her bottom lip with his tongue. Zariah shivered which caused him to pull away a bit.

He pulled her to him so she was sitting closer to him and they continued to watch the television. He placed his arm around her shoulders and rubbed her upper arm. "I guess the Malfoy family is not going to be too happy with you, muddying the pureblood name."

Zariah snorted before shrugging her shoulders. She figured if she planned things right the whole family would be too consumed with wedding planning to notice anything new with her. "I'm betting Hermione already knows."

"Of course she does Harry, she probably figured it out long before we even figured it out."

"Did you want to see about dinner with Ron and Hermione tomorrow?"

"We're going to trust Weasley to keep quiet?"

"I am sure everything will be fine. Let's have dinner."

She nodded her head and they left the house, making their way to the little pub in town. They sat down at one of the tables, and ordered sandwiches and drinks. Mrs. Taylor came out with their food and served them. "I just came over to be introduced to the young man that seems to be taking our Zariah out."

"Mrs. Taylor this is Harry Potter."

Mrs. Taylor nodded her head in his direction, picked up the tray and said, "You take care of our Zariah she's something extra special."

Zariah ducked her head, feeling her cheeks heat up as Harry took her hand that was on the table. "I plan on taking good care of her."

Mrs. Taylor nodded her head and walked back into the kitchen. The rest of the meal past in silence and they made their way back to her place. "I'll see you tomorrow night then; just don't think about it too much."

Zariah nodded her head and he kissed her on the forehead before heading off to his house. She made her way inside, locked the door and made her way upstairs to bed.

The next morning she showered and entered the kitchen to have breakfast. She fed the cats and decided to head to Diagon Alley to obtain some potion ingredients. She left the house and entered Diagon Alley; there were a few people about browsing the windows when she entered the Apothecary. She browsed the shelves as quickly as she could and purchased her items before heading to Flourish & Blotts to browse. Zariah was holding onto a few books while rounding a corner and ran into Hermione. "Zariah, it's good to see you. How are things going?"

"Just fine, where's the other half?"

"At the Burrow, did you want to grab lunch?"

"Sure shall we go to The Three Broomsticks, I haven't been in years?"

"That sounds wonderful just let me finish up here and a few other shops before we head over."

Zariah nodded her head and followed Hermione to pay for her books. They entered a few of the other shops before apparating to Hogsmeade. There were a few students milling about that pointed at the both of them. They found a table in the back, ignoring the stares turned towards them. Rosmerta glanced in their direction before making her way over. "Hermione it is really good to see you. How is everyone?"

"Ron and I are doing well. I believe everyone else is getting along well too."

"That's what I want to hear. The usual girls?"

Zariah and Hermione nodded their heads while Rosmerta made her way back to the bar. "So how are you and Weasley doing?"

"Just fine, happily moved into my flat, which is now too small for the new Weasley brood I should be popping out any day now."

Zariah laughed at the expression on Hermione's face and said, "Oh Hermione, you have plenty of time for that. Just smile and nod."

Hermione laughed as well. Rosmerta brought out their food and butterbeers. "Enjoy girls."

"I heard Audrey and Malfoy are engaged. I wonder how much of that was her mother's doing."

"Hermione be nice, you know she loves Draco even if we can't seem to find a redeemable quality in him some days."

Both girls laughed at that. "I can't believe he was nice to me when I ran into him and Audrey a few days ago."

"I think he's turning over a new leaf and making much better judgment calls. So you will be married a year soon, how does that feel?"

"It's wonderful, although I miss him when he leaves me for long periods of time. Our honeymoon in France was nice. We got to see a lot of the countryside and the city as well."

"You did, I'm surprised you weren't working on the Weasley brood you're supposed to pop out."

Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head. "So are you and Harry finally dating or do I have to lock you two in a room till you figure it out?"

"We decided to date now; I suppose we were really seeing each other before too."

Hermione nodded her head and said, "I am happy that you two figured it out, before something happened. Are you coming over for dinner tonight then?"

"Yes, didn't Harry tell you?"

"I haven't spoken to him today. He said he was sure the both of you would be coming over to dinner, but I just wanted to make sure. Have you seen Harry's new place?"

"I haven't been to see it since he moved in, why?"

Hermione waved Zariah's question away and said, "I should get going and collect Ron so we can go shopping for dinner tonight. We'll see you at five then."

Zariah nodded her head and watched Hermione leave. She left a few minutes later, making her way home. She apparated down the block from Harry's new house and walked up the drive to the door. She noticed the poor dying plant by the door and looked around before casting Aguamenti. She knocked on the door and waited for a few minutes before it was opened by Harry. "Zariah what are you doing here?"

"I was in the neighborhood and noticed your lovely plant and decided to stop by."

Harry glanced at the plant before shrugging. "It's hard to remember to water it, when I don't see it much."

"I saw Hermione today and we had lunch."

"She sent you over didn't she? I guess you can come in then."

She entered the house, noticing a light coming from the sitting room behind the staircase. She followed him into that room glancing in the few rooms she walked by, noticing they were empty. In the sitting room there was a small couch, a table and a lamp. "I just love what you've done with the place Harry. It says barely lived in."

Harry ducked his head as he sat down on the couch. "I suppose, Hermione gave me some catalogs to look though. I just haven't found anything that I want to purchase."

Zariah picked up one of the catalogs on the table and opened it to a random page. She set it back down and took his hand in hers. "Did you want me to help you find stuff? I can go through these for you and we can try them out before you commit to one you like."

"How do we do that?"

"I am excellent at transfiguration Harry, or did you forget."

"That sounds like a good idea to me."

"Great so I'll take these with me then and get started on browsing for furniture for you. I assume you want to keep what you do have?"

"I guess, unless you don't think I should?"

Zariah looked around the room and sighed. "What else do you have Harry?"

"A small bed, a dresser, this couch, table, and lamp. I have a few pots, pans, silverware, and plates. I have two cups and a few towels."

"Is that all you and Ron had in your flat before you moved?"

He nodded his head and glanced at her. "We ate out quite a bit or at the Burrow."

Zariah sighed and said, "I guess I have my work cut out for me. Are you home next weekend, we can start then?"

He nodded his head and stood up at the same time she did. "I'll pick you up a little before five."

"Sure Harry."

She picked up the catalogs and made her way to the front door followed by Harry. She leaned over and kissed him before heading down the porch steps and heading back to her house. Ash greeted her at the door rubbing up against her legs as she made her way into the great room. She set the two catalogs on the table, but kept the third as she sat down on the couch to browse through it. She marked a few pages in it for Harry to go through on Saturday. By the time four came around she was halfway through the third catalog. She decided to feed the kitties before heading to the living room to wait for Harry.

He knocked at her door at ten minutes to five. They walked to his place before apparating to an alley by Hermione's flat. Hermione let them in after they had knocked on the door. She bustled them into the living room to sit for a few minutes with Ron, while she made the finishing touches on dinner. Hermione came out a few minutes later announcing that dinner was done and to grab a plate. Zariah trailed behind Ron to the kitchen. She filled her plate with food and made her way to the living room, seating herself on the couch next to Harry. Hermione smiled at her and said, "Did you go by Harry's house?"

Ron paused in shoveling food into his mouth to frown at her. "Yes I did, you could have told me what to expect though."

Harry shrugged when Ron looked at him. "Why would it matter if she went to his house?"

"Oh Ron, I just wanted her opinion on decorating that's all."

"Leave the bloke alone, if he wanted furniture he would get furniture."

"Actually I asked Zariah for her help."

Ron looked at Harry like he had suddenly sprouted wings and was flying around the room. "Why?"

"I didn't want to bother Hermione with the task of helping me since she's busy with work and you."

"It's no bother for Hermione; you know her and multi-tasking."

"Ronald Weasley did it occur to you that I may not have wanted the responsibility of decorating our friend's house because I didn't think it was my place."

Ron sighed and said, "And why should it be hers?"

"Because she's a good friend Ron, honestly just let it go."

Zariah watched as Ron looked at his plate and began shoveling food in his mouth. The rest of the meal passed in silence. Zariah helped Hermione wash dishes when everyone was done. "Are you going to tell Ron that Harry and I are seeing each other?"

Hermione shook her head and said, "Maybe some other time; he'll come around."

Zariah nodded her head and the two girls made their way back into the living room. They sat and chatted for a bit about mundane things before Harry and Zariah decided to leave. They apparated back to her house. He made himself at home in the living room while she went to the bathroom. She came back out and sat next to him on the couch. He put his arm around her shoulders and she leaned against him while they watched a movie. "You know Ron isn't that bad right? He's just a little misguided and dense at times."

Zariah rolled her eyes and said, "Of course, it's not like I expect everyone to jump for joy when we do things together."

After the movie finished he said his goodbyes with the promise to keep Saturday open for furniture trying.