Harry
"Can you believe McGonagall last night?" Isabella said sourly. She stabbed her fork in to the plate of scrambled eggs in front of her.
It was the weekend and Harry, Ron, Ginny, Isabella and Anna were having a late breakfast in the Great Hall.
"You have to admit; your dress was a bit revealing" said Ginny. "Besides, I thought you didn't have a date. Who were you trying to impress?".
Isabella scowled. "And why do I need a date, or someone to impress? Why can't I wear what I want to wear, because I want to wear it?" She pushed her long blonde hair to the side. "I spent all day making that damn dress too."
"Well you looked nice, regardless" Anna piped up. Isabella's expression softened. "So, what are we doing today?"
"Didn't you say you wanted to try a broom?" asked Ron eagerly.
"Oh, I was just saying – I didn't really mean it" she stammered back. She looked weakly at the others.
"Yeah, if she doesn't want to…" Harry began to say.
"Oh yeah, only if you want to. We could always do something else" offered Ron. Anna gave him a reassuring smile. Harry had noticed that Ron had grown quite fond of her. He supposed that it was because she, unlike most of the women in Ron's life, had a quiet and calm nature, comparable to Mr Weasley.
"Did you see Hermione this morning?" Ron asked Ginny.
She shrugged. "Library, I think."
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and stood up. He then grabbed a napkin, placed two pieces of toast on it and carefully wrapped the napkin around it. "Right, I'm going to go see what she's up to." Ginny sighed and slumped on her seat when he left the table.
"What?" asked Harry.
"You guys will all be gone soon" she replied glumly.
"It won't be too long before you leave too."
It had not sunk in to Harry until that very moment that he would be graduating from Hogwarts after this year. That somehow, he, Harry Potter and his two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, who defeated Voldemort, would be graduating. Against all the odds. Against death. What would he do after school? Where would he go? Home? Hogwarts was his home. All at once, he felt overwhelmed, and he quickly excused himself and headed to the library to see Ron and Hermione.
"Hey" he said breathlessly once he reached their table. They both looked at him, alarmed.
"What's wrong, Harry?" asked Hermione.
"Don't tell me Voldemort is back" said Ron sarcastically.
They burst out laughing.
"No, definitely not that" said Harry, sobering up. "I just didn't realise – until now – that we'll be graduating soon."
Ron blanched. "Don't remind me" he grumbled. "Mione's been on my case about it for weeks."
Harry suddenly felt alienated. Hermione hadn't mentioned it to him yet.
But she must have known what he was thinking. "I was going to talk to you about it, but I didn't want to put any pressure on you" she said gently. "I feel like you've finally caught a break…"
"I think the two of you sometimes forget that you defeated Voldemort too" said Harry quietly. Hermione squeezed his hand then and Ron grinned bashfully. "So, what are your plans?"
"No idea" replied Ron, stretching his arms behind him.
"Hermione?"
She sighed. "Honestly Harry, I don't know."
Amaryllis
Amaryllis was meeting Tonks for lunch. She left Momo with Hagrid and quickly apparated to Hogsmeade. They would be meeting at The Three Broomsticks. She arrived an hour an hour ahead of schedule and decided spontaneously to get her hair cut.
"I'm Kristy, I'll be taking care of you!" the young woman said enthusiastically. She looked vibrant with her short pink hair. "So what are we doing today?"
"I think I want to go shorter…maybe just below my shoulders?"
"That will look amazing!" Kristy marvelled. She put a cape around Amaryllis and brushed out her hair.
The cut took around 25 minutes and Amaryllis was happy when she looked in the mirror. Kristy had cut her hair into a long bob. She left the salon and decided to wait for Tonks at The Three Broomsticks. Tonks entered the pub just as she took her seat at a table.
"Tonks!"
"Hey" said Tonks breathlessly. She hugged Amaryllis before sitting down. "I thought I was going to be late. It took me forever to put Teddy down for a nap."
"You should have brought him!" exclaimed Amaryllis. "We could have always gone somewhere else if it was too loud here."
Tonks looked sheepish. "Well, I just thought – I didn't know if you would be Ok with me bringing him."
"Oh please, it's just me," said Amaryllis, waving her hand in dismissal. "The only thing wrong I could see about bringing Teddy would be me getting baby fever!"
Tonks laughed. "I like your hair by the way" she remarked in approval.
"Thank you! I just got it cut before you came. I can't even remember the last time I went to a hairdresser."
"Same" snickered Tonks, and she scrunched her face. Her mousy brown hair turned to bright purple.
"You're a Metamorphmagus!" gasped Amaryllis. "How am I only finding out about this now?"
Tonks shrugged. "So" she dropped her voice. "Sirius mentioned to me this morning you might have some news to tell me."
Amaryllis felt her ears burn. "Is that right?" she said lowly. "What else did he say?"
"Nothing really. He's good at keeping his mouth shut – when he wants to anyway. So what's up?"
"Oh, not much really."
Tonks looked at her doubtfully.
"Ok fine. So…I may or may not have asked Severus to the Ball."
Tonks's eyes widened. "What!" she exclaimed. "No way! What happened?"
"He said no, obviously."
"How?" asked Tonks incredulously, and she leaned in anticipately as if she were watching a game of Quidditch.
Amaryllis laughed. "He literally just said 'no'." She imitated Severus's voice. "Honestly, I couldn't tell you anything else. I legged it out of there pretty much straightaway –" Tonks burst out laughing, and while doing so, banged the table loudly with her hand, drawing the attention of nearly everybody in the pub. "Oh shut up, Nymphadora, it's not that funny."
"Sorry" said Tonks. She tried to quieten herself, but burst in to small bouts of laughter as she began to speak again. "So what happened after that? How are you two like now?"
"I think we're fine"
"Do you fancy him?" asked Tonks.
Amaryllis bit her lip. "I think I do" she admitted; whether to Tonks or to herself, she was not sure. "It doesn't even matter."
Tonks sighed. "I wish I could give you some good advice said sincerely. "But all I can tell you is to hang in there, if you really want to be with him – that's what I did anyway…I guess mine and Remus's circumstances were different though…"
"It just hurts a little because he's always around me."
Tonks reached over the table and gave Amaryllis's hand a squeeze. "I know" she said gently.
Severus
Severus had decided to spend the day reorganising his personal supply of potions. he had considered going to Spinner's End but ultimately decided to remain at Hogwarts. Truthfully, he had found himself hoping to spend time more with Amaryllis, but to his dismay she was absent at breakfast. There was a knock on the door and he groaned when he opened it and saw Dumbledore smiling at him.
"Headmaster" said Severus curtly. He reluctantly opened the door wider. Dumbledore took a seat in the living room; he waved his hand and a pot of tea and two cups appeared on the coffee table. sighed. "Is there something you wish to speak to me about, Headmaster?" He remained standing.
"I just noticed Amaryllis had gone out for the day and I thought you would be free" Dumbledore replied nonchalantly. Severus grunted in response. "She is nice, don't you think Severus?"
He did not respond.
"There is no need to be hostile, Severus. I was just making an observation." Dumbledore paused. "She seems to have taken a liking to you –"
"And so what if she has?" hissed Severus.
"Something can come of it."
"Nothing can!"
"And why not?" asked Dumbledore, unphased at Severus's tone.
"You know why."
"Could you not make room for her in your heart?"
"No."
"Any why not?" asked Dumbledore. "What flaw does she possess?"
"No flaw" said Severus. "Lily –"
"She is not Lily."
"Exactly. I don't want anyone else."
"How do you know that?"
"I know" said Severus. He wondered if Dumbledore could also hear the uncertainty in his voice.
"You are a foolish man, Severus." Dumbledore stood up, as if he had had enough, and the tea pot and cups vanished. Without another word he left.
Severus was dumbfounded as he stood alone in his living room – and then he felt furious. Determined to get the last word, he followed Dumbledore's suit. He slammed his door hard behind him.
"Severus"
It was of course the familiar, soft voice of Amaryllis Swan. She was behind him. He turned around to look at her, expecting to explode in anger, but it all disappeared when he saw her face. And then the unexpected happened: It was as if some powerful force pulled Severus to Amaryllis in that moment. He strode the nine or ten steps between them and kissed her on the lips.