I'm so sorry for not being on in like half a year – I've been so busy what with real life but I WILL be on more – I promise :D And if I don't update kick me in the butt to get working again!

Thank you for all who have supported me and reviewed my story – it's made my day to come back and see all of your kind reviews. I hope this chapter lives up to expectations

Until the next time,

Kyae x

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor will ever own, anything to do with Harry Potter – they all belong to the wonderful hero that is known as JK Rowling, and I will forever be in awe of her.

-O-o-O-o-O-

Chapter 21

Love

Cassi Grim was one happy Reaper.

Not only had she managed to successfully snog her dear Reg senseless, but also – FINALLY – the Potter boy and his soulbonded had kissed!

Sure, she was the first to admit that it hadn't been easy, but she could tell that Harry was beginning to get a backbone – to realise that he actually could do this! The thirty deaths must have affected him somehow, despite not remembering them in his surface memories.

After all, he was almost being too cautious in this life time...

But maybe that was for the best – he hadn't killed himself yet had he?

Sighing contently into her lover, Cassi closed her eyes in bliss, allowing the gentle sounds of the Yule Ball drift into her ears, still alert, but so much calmer than she had been before.

Sure, the soul bond hadn't formed yet, but there had never been a true soul bond out there before had there?

It was only a matter of time.

-O-o-O-o-O-

"Wow..." As their lips pulled apart Harry could hear Hermione's gasp and smiled, for once it reaching his eyes.

"Very." He murmured into her, pulling his (girlfriend?) to him in a soft embrace, relishing in the security he felt as he held her. "Hermione?"

"Yeah?" He could feel her words vibrate against his chest and smiled, bending slightly so he could see her, and she could see him.

"Will you go out with me? I mean like properly... like... boyfriend and girlfriend and stuff?" As soon as he said it he began praying that he hadn't ruined it – the Dursley's hadn't exactly prepared him for asking a girl out, and Sirius had once said to never let a girl know you fancy her and so... But when he had kissed her, he had felt as if his whole world was complete.

And he didn't ever want to lose that feeling.

"Oh Harry!" The next moment he was in a hug tighter than Molly Weasley's, and yet this one wasn't so overbearing – it was warm, and loving, and as he rested his head on Hermione's, Harry realised that he had made the right decision.

And he'd be damned if he was going to let Voldemort or anyone else stop this happiness.

"So that's a yes?" He grinned as she nodded enthusiastically, pecking him again on the lips. "Would you like another dance Miss Granger?"

"Why Sir Harry, I never thought you'd ask." Said lady smiled softly, taking his offered arm, the Griffindor pair sweeping into the great hall and joining Neville and Luna in a night of dances.

-O-o-O-o-O-

Of course, as in life, not everyone was happy with the developments.

Albus Percival Wulfric MOP Brian Dumbledore was wondering why everything felt as if it was going wrong.

Sure, other than Harry not staying friends with Ron – something which had been imperative – nothing appeared to be going wrong. Ms Granger after all was brilliant, and with the campaigns for House Elfs (and the many knitted items that he now wore in private, gracious that someone else shared a similar colour-coding scheme to him) she was bound to discover their charms.

And yet something didn't seem right.

Ron hadn't gone back to the duo, and now he was being even more unbareable for poor Minerva.

But it was for the greater good.

For the greater good he would have to intervene, to continue in his guidance – Ronald needed to be there, to keep Harry alive.

Little did Dumbledore realise that said Ronald Bilius Weasley had been the cause of two of Harry's past deaths.

-O-o-O-o-O-

Towards the end of the ball, just before the slow dance, Neville and Harry swapped partners, Harry bringing Luna across the floor whilst Neville and Hermione talked to each other. Neither of the four minded – they were here to spend the day with friends after all, and none of them felt jealous or overbearing with the deal.

Somehow, Harry knew that Ron (who, coincidently enough had been poisoned by squirt of all things and was now in the hospital wing) had had a miserable time, without his partner Padma from the last time he had been left to sulk on his own, the test rat for all the delicious pranks that Gred, Forge and Dobby had been cooking up in the last few weeks.

But even those instances hadn't dimmed the great time he was having and now, dancing with Luna, and looking forward to the final dance with Hermione, Harry felt that he was experiencing the best day in his life.

"You really should tell her Harry." Luna's voice stunned him for a moment, but as he looked down at her he saw the genuine concern there, and realised that he had made another true friend. "She won't mind... in fact, she'll probably be able to help."

"I... I know... it's just..."

"You're scared?" She asked quietly, her wide eyes looking strangely lucid. "We all are Harry, but things are changing. You're changing it all. You can't rely on your future memories anymore, not when you change more and more things. Tell me – what do you remember of the last ball?"

"I..." And, for a moment he thought about it. "Hermione... she wore a... blue dress I think... and... there was a... wait – how do you know all of this Luna? What's happening?"

In answer she just tapped her head, cursying to him as the song ended.

"Harry, I can see all the possibilities that are to come, and the results, but I'm cursed to not be able to tell them. It's called Cassandra's curse for a reason."

And then Harry knew.

At the signing Cassi had said that she wouldn't be able to interfere directly, and if she had somehow enabled Luna's powers, then that must be why she couldn't speak of his future.

"Thank you Luna – for all of it. You really are – and were then too – a great friend." He smiled, bowing to her, and she smiled back.

"I'm glad. It's nice to think that I wasn't always alone... good luck." And with that, she had flittered off, to be replaced by Hermione.

"You okay Harry?" She asked softly, kissing him on the nose.

"Yeah... just thinking... Hey...urm..." At seeing her encouraging look, Harry brought up his nerve. "I got a box of my mum's stuff for Christmas off Aunt Petunia... would you... I mean... could you be there with me when I open them? It'd mean a lot to me."

"Of course – you only need to ask." She agreed, her beautiful brown eyes as warm as the sun as she smiled, leaning into him for the last dance. "You can trust me."

And, he knew he could.

Someday he'd tell her what had happened.

But not today – not now.

He wouldn't spoil this moment.

Forever this memory would be with him, slowly healing the pain he had suffered over his life.

Little did he know that he was also healing his belovéd.