Chapter Thirty-Six

One reason Olivia was so keen to join Dumbledore to fetch Harry was the desire to see and meet the Dursleys for herself. She'd heard about them for years from Harry, and even Ron, Fred, and George had gotten the chance to meet them when they'd collected Harry to attend the Qudditich World Cup between his third and four year. She was curious to meet them in person and observe them through her own eyes rather than Harry's alone.

She decided quickly that she'd had her fill of Harry's relations as she stood in their sitting room next to Harry longing to take his hand into hers as she would have done in any other circumstance. As it was, she felt uncomfortable and stared at under the critical gaze of Harry's aunt, uncle, and cousin. Harry was uncomfortable, too, she could tell. In fact, only Dumbledore seemed unfazed by the unnatural silence from the family standing across from him as he conjured a tray of drinks for himself.

"Harry, why don't you and Miss Townsend gather up your things? We'll be leaving soon," the Headmaster said calmly as he poured himself a drink.

"Umm," Harry jumped and turned part of the way towards the door and stopped in an unnatural jerky movement, "yeah. It's this way, Vee."

Olivia smiled with pity and followed Harry out and upstairs to the smallest bedroom of the house. Her smile deepened as Harry stood among his things with a sheepish look. It didn't appear he'd begun packing, and things were strewn about all over the place.

"Harry, why didn't you pack?" Olivia asked stepping inside the room and stood before her boyfriend.

"I wasn't sure Dumbledore was coming. I didn't know you were coming along at all. I thought—"

"You though he might not come," Olivia said finishing Harry's thought before he could. She smiled sweetly up at him, he grown some more and she'd not grown at all, and placed the palm of her hand against his cheek gently. "You've already been here too long and forgotten that there are some who love you, Harry. We'll always come for you."

"I didn't forget you love me," Harry replied pressing his cheek into her hand. Had it always been so soft? Or was it his harsh surroundings that made her so much softer and pleasing? "I could never forget you."

I missed you, he said softening his eyes as he spoke mind to mind.

Olivia couldn't resist. She let her hand drop from his cheek and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. She placed her cheek against his bony chest further proof he'd been with these people too long. Her head barely reached his shoulder now.

Someone cleared their throat from the door way, and Olivia and Harry separated quickly reflexively. Harry was shocked to see Dudley standing in his doorway. His cousin had never visited his room while he lived there ever before. The couple looked at the massive boy with confused looks.

"I thought I'd offer a hand with your things," he said explaining his appearance.

Harry began chucking things into his trunk.

"Here, let me," Olivia said pulling her wand from her pocket.

"I thought you weren't supposed to do that outside of school," Dudley protested with a fearful look.

"Shhh," Olivia hissed with a smirk and placed a finger over her lips.

She waved her wand wordlessly and clothing, books, quills, and parchment began flying around the room to pack themselves neatly into Harry's trunk. Olivia noticed that many of his clothes were dirty, so she began cleaning them before packing them away.

"Harry, let Hedwig out and send her on to Grimmauld Place, will you?" Olivia suggested as she moved to his bedding which was messy and dirty.

"You don't have to do that," Harry replied letting his owl free from his cage and opening the window.

Olivia had moved on to the trash which hadn't been taken out. "Honestly, Harry, it's like a pig was living here. This cannot continue when we get married. I won't be cleaning up after you for the rest of our lives."

This last part had been more for Dudley's benefit than anything else. Olivia knew that of all the boys in their year Harry had to be the neatest. She didn't have to worry about the future, but Harry wasn't happy with the way that Dudley stared at her despite the blatant displays of magic. She wanted Dudley to know she was taken, and that it was serious.

"Mar—married?" He stammered from the door as Olivia joined hair and cleaned out Hedwig's cage. "You're getting married?"

Harry and Olivia locked eyes on other another. "Yeah," Harry answered. "We are…one day…soon, I hope."

Olivia smiled sweetly and reached up on tip toe to kiss him on the cheek. "That everything?" She asked closing the lid of his trunk and surveying her work.

She'd turned her back on Harry and faced Dudley when Harry came around on kissed her on the cheek in return. "Yes. Thank you."

Dudley had a strange look on his face as Olivia led the way downstairs with the boys carrying each end of the trunk behind her. His face was screwed up in disbelief and anger mixed in with a little irritation that he'd gotten stuck actually helping his cousin.

Dumbledore came from the sitting room humming a pleasant tune under his breath as they reached the hallway. Dudley had been interested in Olivia and had been willing to overlook her magical ability for that reason, but he was fearfully of Hogwarts' Headmaster who seemed to fill the room with magic without using a single spell. He quickly ran to the protection of his parents leaving the other three to depart on their own.

Later that evening, Olivia lay in her bed at Grimmauld Place mulling over the nights events not bothering to try sleeping. She knew she could not. She had not known when they left Privet Drive that Dumbledore was taking them on another mission. She had not liked it.

Vee? Harry probed her mind tentatively. Why aren't you sleeping?

Why aren't you?

I would be, but your feelings are keeping me awake.

Olivia slapped her hand to her forehead and groaned aloud in her silent room. I'm sorry. I'll cut them off. You can sleep now.

Why does what Professor Dumbledore did tonight bother you? Harry asked obvious fully awake now and unwilling to sleep.

You were a lure, Harry, didn't you feel that? Dumbledore paraded you about in order to lure Professor Slughorn back to Hogwarts. It was wrong, and I didn't care for it. I'm sure Sirius would have something to say about it if he knew.

"I think Sirius knows I'm old enough to make these decisions on my own," Harry said in a quiet voice.

Olivia had been lying on her side with her back to the door, so she hadn't noticed he had entered her room until he spoke. "Harry," she exclaimed sitting up in the bed.

Harry came to sit on the side of the bed near Olivia's feet beneath the covers. "Besides, I would do anything to help Dumbledore, and if making an appearance helps him get a professor for school then it's a price I'm willing to pay."

"It's not right. You're still underage, and he's taking advantage of you. He used your celebrity to attract Slughorn when he wanted to stay away. That's wrong."

"What's the point in being me if it can't do some good every once in a while?" Harry shrugged in the darkness.

"But Harry," Olivia scooted forward and placed he hand over Harry's which lay on her knee atop the covers, "Slughorn doesn't, can't, or won't see you as anything but a trophy. To him you are Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived or the Chosen One, not the Harry I see."

"So he's joined the rest of the world. What difference does it make any more? No one but you sees me as anything but what the Daily Prophet tells them to see. You're the only one who sees the person beyond the celebrity."

"I'm not the only one, Harry."

"Well, it's still a small group."

"And Dumbledore is one of that number which is why he shouldn't have used you like that or me for that matter."

Olivia withdrew her hand from Harry's and leaned back against the headboard of her bed. She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs.

It bothers you more than me, doesn't it? Harry asked scooting towards the head of the bed to be closer to Olivia.

"Well, of course, it does! You don't deserve to be treated—"

I don't mean for me. It bothers you to have a share of the lime light, doesn't it?

Olivia looked down and studied her knees at Harry's probing question. After the reports and pictures taken from the battle at the Ministry had been published, Olivia had begun to be recognized as the Boy Who Lived's girlfriend. She'd been out in public little, but the few occasions had been more than enough. The articles speculating on her and her relationship with Harry in the Daily Prophet were enough to make up for the rest.

When Dumbledore had so carefully introduced Harry to Professor Slughorn, he had not missed introducing Olivia as well bragging that she was a gifted witch in her own right. She'd seen the look in Slughorn's eye observing the young couple. He could not help but recognize the pretty blonde from the pictures in the newspaper. The old professor saw them as a matching set that could be added to his collection, and Olivia had resented her humanity being taken away so easily.

"That's what I thought," Harry said pulling her into his arms and folding her into his chest. "I'm sorry that being with me brings all the attention to you as well. I wish there was something, anything, I could do about it."

Olivia placed her hands over Harry's chest and hid her face there between them. I wouldn't have put up with this much for anyone else, but for you I'll endure far more than this. I've just got to get used to the idea. Eventually, the reporters have to tire of me, right?

Harry was silent. He suspected that if that day ever came it wouldn't be any time soon.

Mostly, it bothers me how people look at me as if they know exactly how things stand between us. They cheapen it by believing things are less between us than they are. It hurts to have our love exposed so openly.

I'm sorry, Harry said kissing the top of her head and resting his cheek there. I'm sure they look more because you're so beautiful than because you're my girlfriend. Why did you have to be so pretty?

Olivia laughed at that. You wouldn't love me if I were ugly.

It wouldn't matter. It never has.

Well, I'm going to have competition this year. My boyfriend's the Chosen One if you haven't heard. He's the savior of us all, and all the girls at school are going to be vying for his attention.

There is no competition, Vee, Harry replied seriously having heard just a touch of jealousy and self-doubt behind her sarcasm. You are the only girl for me. You're the only one I'll ever want…have ever wanted.

Harry said the nicest things sometimes, and Olivia appreciated them so much more than she could express in words. She pulled away from Harry to look him in the eye. She placed soft palms to either side of his face as they stared at one another.

Sleep here tonight, Harry, please? She asked after a long time of wordless communication. The others will be here soon. I'll be sharing the room with Hermione and Ginny, and you'll be with Ron.

They only had a few days before the Weasleys arrived to spend the rest of the holiday with Harry, Sirius, Lena, Olivia, and Remus when he was around. They both believed that the adults wanted others around their age to make it more difficult for the two to spend time alone together. It was just as well, and both would be happy to see their friends again.

Harry nodded slowly, and Olivia gently removed his glassed and turned to place them on the nightstand while Harry slipped under the covers beside her. It took several minutes for the two to settle down and get comfortable, but at last they accomplished it. Olivia rested her head on Harry's shoulder, and he cradled her with that arm. She traced circles on his chest with her fingers as they both tried to sleep.

Neither were prepared for the school year that lay ahead of them. Neither could have guessed how correct Olivia had been in predicting that unwanted attentions Harry would begin to receive from the other girls just because the papers claimed he was the Chosen One. Neither could have guessed what lies and evil grew and flourished within their own school until one night when the hope of their future came crashing down from the Astronomy tower beneath a sky lit up by the Dark Mark all for a false locket. Olivia had been meant to save Dumbledore once, but there was no vision the day he was killed at the hands of Severus Snape.