Aly smiled approvingly as she watched her two best friends laugh as they practiced the Impedimenta spell. She grinned as Damien was knocked off his feet by Amanda, and she laughed. Damien jumped up and kissed her.

"Isn't it amazing?" Aly sighed as she turned around to face Char. They were in the Room of Requirement again for another meeting.

"Well, he had been talking about her for a while," Char shrugged. "Impedimenta!"

"Protego!"

Char's jinx was deflected by Aly, and he was knocked off his feet again and landed with a thump on the hard floor. Aly giggled and walked over to him. He groaned, rubbing his head. Aly crouched down next to him. He sat up.

"You can't keep doing that," he protested. "The point of this whole organization is that we learn to defend ourselves. All I'm learning is that I have a girlfriend who can kick my sorry arse at dueling."

"Well," Aly shrugged, "Maybe you should've picked a better girlfriend."

Char grinned up at her. "But that wouldn't make my life so interesting, would it?"

Aly rolled her eyes. "Come on, stand up and I'll give you an honest try."

"Thanks." Char brushed himself off and faced Aly. "Impedimenta!"

"Protego! Stupefy!"

Char's spell was deflected and then he was knocked off his feet again as Aly burst into laughter.

***

"You're so ruthless," Char growled as they headed back to the common room that evening. Harry sent Aly and Char back together because going in twos is less conspicuous.

"What? That you didn't pick a better girlfriend?" Aly teased. They turned a corner.

"No. That I picked a better girlfriend who is ten times better then me at dueling."

"Well, then, maybe you should learn," Aly suggested, trying to keep a straight face. She walked ahead of him smugly.

"How can I, when you're constantly knocking me to my feet?" Char demanded.

Aly giggled as she pictured Char's bewildered face as he was knocked to the ground.

"Oh, you think that's funny, do you?" Char said, a sly grin forming on his face. He walked up behind her and poked her eyes. She jumped in surprise and turned around, glaring. Char seized her waist, grinning.

"If you value your life, don't."

Char poked her sides anyway and Aly backed away, shrieking. "Don't!"

"Aw, little Aly's ticklish," he grinned, poking her sides again and again as she tried to swat his hands away.

"Stop it!" Aly grinned, poking him back. Char raised his eyebrows in surprise and jumped back.

"Look out! Aly's on the offensive!" he mocked, poking her back. Aly giggled and tortured his sides.

"Ack! Aly, geroff!"

"No!" Aly smiled, watching Char laugh.

"Come on!" Char yelled, trying to poke her back.

"Be a better sport?" Aly grinned, poking his sides, earning a yell of laughter.

"Yes! I promise!" Char laughed.

Aly suddenly stopped and looked up at him with a grin. While Char tried to regain his breath, a smile spread to his features. "You are truly...truly...a devil."

"I know," Aly said lightly. Char grinned wider.

"Excuse me."

Aly looked to her left and saw Adam standing there with a look of disgust.

"Hey," Char said breathlessly, wiping away tears of laughter. "What's up?"

Adam raised an eyebrow. "It seems that you and Char are...busy these days?"

"No," Aly said, grinning wickedly at Char, "I just persuaded him to behave better." Char grinned back.

"At what?"

Char glanced at Aly quickly. "Never mind that, did you need something?"

"Yes, I have a question. Who's John?"

Aly's mind froze. "What?"

"Who is John?" he repeated. "And don't even think about snapping up and kissing your boyfriend, because Amanda already tried it, and it worked."

I'll have a few questions for her, Aly thought bitterly.

"All Damien told me was that he's a close relative," Adam said, scrutinizing Aly. "Obviously, there's more, and I want to know."

"Adam, I can't tell you that," Aly said sharply.

"Oh and why not?" Adam asked angrily.

"It's personal business," Char snapped. "Nothing of your concern, thank you very much."

"Well, apparently, she knows," Adam said defensively.

"Well, his business is my business as well," Aly replied defiantly, locking eyes with Adam.

Char frowned at him. "We'd better get going; I bet that Harry's worried."

"Why would he be worried?" Adam asked quickly, seizing an opportunity for information.

"Nothing. Come on, Aly, let's go," Char said, grabbing her hand and leading her away. Aly stared at Adam and she disappeared around the corner.

Adam growled at them once they disappeared out of view. He whirled around and stomped in the opposite direction down the corridor.

How hard can it be to get some information around here!

Suddenly, his eyes snapped up and he noticed Marietta, a Ravenclaw, walking down the corridor in his direction. He smiled.

"Hello, Marietta," he said pleasantly. "And where might you be coming from?"