Part III: Revelation

Chapter III: In Which Malfoy gets Caught

Christmas was quickly approaching as the bleak November turned into bleaker December. Although the castle was decorated in its usual festive glory, there was still an edge to the celebrations, even if the talk of the corridors was about Slughorn's party. Harry, of course, was the most eligible bachelor and Corinna noticed girls putting up mistletoe in hopes that they would get a kiss or an invitation to be his guest. She felt bad for the poor boy who just wanted to get to class, but he seemed to know where to go to avoid the most crowds.

It seemed that Ron and Hermione had not made up as of late, as was evident by their disastrous Transfigurations class one afternoon. They were trying to change the color of their eyebrows when Ron accidentally gave himself a mustache. Hermione laughed loudly at him, and he did a spot-on impression of Hermione raising her hand and jumping in her seat whenever a teacher asked a question.

Hermione had bolted from the classroom right as the bell rang without her belongings. Harry scooped them up along with his. Corinna needed to use the washroom and she found Hermione crying in one of the stalls.

"Listen, he's a prick," said Corinna, but her eyes had strayed to her dark blue eyebrows. She was going for purple, so at least she was close to her mark. But now she was going to have to try to change them back.

Hermione mumbled something that Corinna couldn't quite catch, but she did hear "Ron" somewhere in the statement.

"Why don't you come on out," said Corinna. "You shouldn't get this way over a stupid boy. They aren't worth it."

Hermione gave a humorless laugh as she pulled the stall door open and stepped out. Her cheeks were stained with dried tears and her eyes were red again. "Thanks, Corinna."

Corinna placed an arm around Hermione's shoulder and led her out of the bathroom as others were starting to come in to do whatever they needed to do. "It's what I'm here for." They were heading down the hall when they came across Harry carrying Hermione's things.

"Oh, thanks, Harry," she said and woodenly accepted the books. "Well, I better get going."

Hermione rushed off, hunched over her books. Corinna and Harry watched her retreat down the corridor until she was out of sight. "Whatever is going on is deeply messed up."

"I know," said Harry with a sigh. "I just don't know what to do. Neither of them are seeing to reason, and I have to keep my mouth shut unless I want to get yelled at."

"Communication goes a long way," Corinna agreed, "as long as the other party is willing to listen." Harry gave her a look and she shrugged. "I've been reading some of my aunt and uncle's old healer texts. I'm reading about mind healing, which is a weird bit of magic, not going to lie."

"How would you like to come to Slughorn's party with me tonight?"

Corinna was caught off guard by the invitation. As was Harry, so it seemed. "Slughorn's party? With you?"

"Yeah," said Harry, running his fingers through his hair, making it messier than it normally was. "We're supposed to bring guests, so I thought you might like…I mean…"

"Yes," said Corinna before Harry could babble anymore. "I'll go to Slughorn's party with you."

"Okay, well, it starts at eight," said Harry. "We can meet in the common room beforehand and walk down together."

She nodded stiffly. "Yes, sounds good," she said with a smile. "I'll see you then, Harry. Just um…you might want to get your eyebrows fixed before then."

"So should you," Harry pointed out and Corinna laughed.

"I'll see you then, Harry."

Corinna hadn't even heard Peeves teasing them. She tried to walk normally back to the common room even though all she wanted to do was skip. She saw Seamus walking towards the portrait, so she thought that Terry might be nearby. Sure enough, he was about to head into his own common room when Corinna intercepted him.

"Guess who just asked me to Slughorn's party," she said, unable to stop grinning even if she wanted to.

Terry's eyes went wide. "No."

"Yes!"

"Corinna, that's great," he said, nudging her gently. "It's about damn time, too."

"Oh, shove off!" said Corinna, but even Terry's comments couldn't bring her mood down. She broke away from him to go put her bag away before dinner. By the time Corinna got to the Great Hall, Harry was already surrounded by others, so she sat down just a few places over, in front of Hermione who was just picking at her soup.

"You okay?" she asked as she immediately poured herself a large cup of tea.

"Oh, yes," said Hermione, who was now sitting up a bit straighter. "I heard Harry is taking you to Slughorn's party."

Corinna looked surprised. "How'd you find out? That just happened."

"Peeves was going up and down all the corridors saying 'Potty loves Grouchy,'" Hermione explained and Corinna turned red. "It was pretty easy to tell who he was talking about."

"Great," said Corinna. Now she understood why Romilda Vane was glaring at her with the intensity of a thousand suns. "Are you going with anyone?"

"Yes," said Hermione as she sat up impossibly straighter. In a much louder voice, she said, "I'm going with Cormac!"

Ron immediately turned around from where he was snogging Lavender and stared at Hermione.

"Cormac McLaggen?" asked Corinna, making sure she heard Hermione correctly. Although Corinna didn't have much interaction with the man as he was in the year ahead of them, but his reputation proceeds him. She was surprised his head could fit through as many doorways as it does. There was no way that someone was brilliant as Hermione would go for someone like Cormac.

"That's right," said Hermione sweetly. "The one who almost became Gryffindor keeper."

Corinna's jaw dropped as she couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. "Are you going out with him, then?" asked Parvati, who was only sitting near them since her friend Lavender was all over Ron.

"Oh, yes, didn't you know?" What made the statement worse was when she gave an un-Hermione-ish giggle. It honestly reminded Corinna of Umbridge's girly giggle that didn't match her toady appearance.

"No!" said Parvati. "Wow, you like your quidditch players, don't you? First Krum, then McLaggen."

"I like really good quidditch players," Hermione corrected. "Well, see you. Got to go and get ready for the party." She gave a not-so subtle wink to Corinna as she stood up from her bench, abandoning her untouched stew.

"This is going to be a disaster," said Corinna, mostly to herself. She hadn't even put food on her plate before she was following after Hermione. She refused to say anything else about the subject. In fact, the only thing she said was asking Corinna if she could borrow her lip gloss. She obliged, but only because Hermione had some frosty gold eyeshadow that went with her robes.

Hermione left the common room a few minutes to eight as she was meeting McLaggen at the party. Corinna felt completely out of place standing there in the same pale gold dress robes she wore to the Yule Ball since they were the only set that fit her. She turned around sharply when Harry called out her name.

"Hi," he said, looking taken aback. "Shall we get going then?"

"Yeah," she said happily, ignoring the scoffs from the other girls in the room. She honestly couldn't help but smirk as they walked out of the portrait hole. "Where is the party?"

"Slughorn's office," said Harry as he led the way down the stairs. "Did you hear, there's supposed to be a vampire coming?"

Corinna snorted. "Really? I'll believe it when I see it."

As they approached Slughorn's office, the sounds of laughter, music, and loud conversation filtered out to them. Corinna suspected that Slughorn had magicked his office to be larger than usual to swallow so many people. It was decorated heavily to reflect the festive time of year, and he had hired house elves to go around with trays of food and drink. Although she did not see them too often, she always looked at them to spot Winky, but she wasn't around. She supposed that she could try to sneak down to the kitchens one day, but she wasn't sure what she would say to her old house elf if she ever did that.

"Harry, m'boy!" boomed Slughorn as soon as Harry and Corinna were through the door. "Come in, come in, so many people I'd like you to meet!" Slughorn gripped Harry's arm very tightly and immediately led him through the party. He had to grab Corinna's hand just so she could keep up. "Harry, I'd like you to meet Eldred Worple, an old student of mine, author of Blood Brothers: My Life Amongst the Vampires. And, of course, his friend, Sanguini."

Corinna immediately did not like this Worple man as he launched into a business pitch of writing Harry's biography, telling him that it was something that people would want—no, need—to read. Harry, of course, turned him down easily. When the man was about to continue with his pitch, he interrupted, "I've just seen a friend of mine, sorry." He pulled Corinna after him as he pushed his way into the crowd.

"Hermione! Hermione!"

"Harry! There you are, thank goodness! Hi, Corinna!"

"What's happened to you?" asked Harry.

"Oh, I've just escaped—I mean, I've just left Cormac under the mistletoe."

"Serves you right for coming with him."

"I thought he'd annoy Ron most. I debated for a while about Zacharias Smith, but I thought, on the whole—"

"You considered Zacharias?" said Corinna, surprised. Then again, she would love to have her favorite verbal punching bag around.

"Yes, I did, and I'm starting to wish I'd chosen him. McLaggen makes Grawp look like a gentleman." Before Corinna could ask who Grawp was, Hermione took Harry's hand. "Let's go this way, we'll be able to see him coming, he's so tall." They made their way to the other side of the room. They grabbed goblets of mead on the way and planted themselves off into the corner.

"Let's get something straight," said Harry. "Are you planning to tell Ron that you interfered at keeper tryouts?"

"Do you really think I'd stoop that low?"

"Hermione, if you can ask out McLaggen—"

"There's a difference. I've got no plans to tell Ron anything about what might, or might not, have happened at Keeper tryouts."

"Good. Because he'll just fall apart again, and we'll lose the next match—"

"Quidditch! Is that all boys care about? Cormac hasn't asked me one single question about myself, no, I've just been treated to 'A Hundred Great Saves Made by Cormac McLaggen' nonstop ever since—oh no, here he comes!"

She disappeared so quickly that Corinna was half-convinced that Hermione was never even there. McLaggen looked around, his eyes going right over Corinna as if she wasn't even there. Well, considering she was a girl that wasn't fawning over him, she might as well have used a disillusionment charm.

"Seen Hermione?" asked McLaggen.

"No, sorry," said Harry as he turned to Corinna.

She was about to ask what him and Hermione were talking about, but they were interrupted by Trelawney, smelling strongly of sherry, nearly shouting, "Harry Potter!"

"Er, hello," said Harry.

"My dear boy," she said in a stage whisper. "The rumors! The stories! 'The Chosen One!' Of course, I have known for a very long time…the omens were never good, Harry… But why have you not returned to Divination? For you, of all people, the subject is of the utmost importance!"

"Ah, Sybill, we all think our subject's most important!" Slughorn appeared on Trelawney's other side. His face was ruddy from the drink that was flowing quite freely, among both students, teachers, and guests. "But I don't think I've ever known such a natural at Potions! Instinctive, you know—like his mother! I've only ever taught a few with this kind of ability, I can tell you that, Sybill—why, even Severus—" He seemed to pull Snape out of thin air. "Stop skulking and come and join us, Severus! I was just talking about Harry's exceptional potion-making! Some credit must go to you, of course, you taught him for five years!"

Snape's eyes narrowed onto Harry. "Funny, I never had the impression that I managed to teach Potter anything at all."

"Well, then, it's natural ability! You should have seen what he gave me, first lesson, Draught of Living Death—never had a student produce finer on a first attempt, I don't think even you, Severus—"

"Really?" Snape didn't seem to believe it for a second. Then again, Corinna had to admit she wouldn't either if she hadn't seen it with her own two eyes.

"Remind me what other subjects you're taking, Harry?"

"Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology…"

"All the subjects required, in short, for an Auror," said Snape.

"Or healer," Corinna muttered under her breath, but no one was paying her any mind.

"Yeah, well, that's what I'd like to do," said Harry.

"And a great one you'll make too!"

"Professor Slughorn," wheezed Filch as he elbowed his way into their small crowd, dragging along Malfoy by his ear. "I discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party and to have been delayed in setting out. Did you issue him with an invitation?"

Malfoy yanked himself away from Filch. "All right, I wasn't invited! I was trying to gate crash, happy?"

"No, I'm not!" But Filch continued to smile like a maniac. "You're in trouble, you are! Didn't the headmaster say that nighttime prowling's out, unless you've got permission, didn't he?"

"That's all right, Argus, that's all right," said Slughorn dismissively. "It's Christmas, and it's not a crime to want to come to a party. Just this once, we'll forget any punishment. You may stay, Draco."

Filch's face immediately fell into disappointment and he turned sharply away, muttering to himself. Although Malfoy started off as looking unhappy, he immediately put on a fake smile and thanked Slughorn for his generosity. Slughorn reassured it was no problem at all.

"I'd like a word with you, Draco," said Snape.

"Now, Severus," said Slughorn, "it's Christmas, don't be too hard—"

"I am his Head of House, and I shall decide how hard, or otherwise, to be." He turned back to Malfoy. "Follow me, Draco."

The left, with Snape leading the way and Malfoy looking annoyed.

"What do you think that's all about?" asked Corinna.

"Don't know," said Harry. "But, I'll be right back, Corinna. Er, bathroom."

Corinna gave Harry a look that made sure he understood that she knew what he was planning. "I'll go check on you if you aren't back in five minutes," she said simply. Harry nodded at the thinly veiled threat and left.

"So, Corinna," said Slughorn as he grabbed another goblet of mead from a passing house elf (not Winky), "I haven't had much of a chance to chat with you. Why, I knew your grandfather. I am sorry to hear of his passing."

"Really? I'm surprised. According to my father, he was a good-for-nothing drunk."

"Er, that is to say, your father," Slughorn corrected himself and Corinna immediately turned cold. "Don't worry, Corinna m'dear, your secret is safe with me."

Corinna highly doubted that one. "But, how do you know in the first place?"

"Well, I don't mean to brag or anything, but I do have connections. Yes, yes, you see, you were a ward of the state. He needed help forging some documents, and I knew someone within the Wizengamot administration who would be willing to do it quietly—for a sum, of course. People talk, but money talks louder, if you understand, Corinna."

"So, do you know who my mother is?"

"No idea. All he said that she was a Muggle, which is why he wanted to forge the documents to say that you were his and Claudia's child. I know, I know, it seemed awfully silly to me, too, but you know how some get with their blood status. Didn't want it sully the family name. Besides, you might have an easier time if there were a degree of separation from your brother."

"I suppose," said Corinna, trying to feign disappointment when she was only relieved. "Who did you put him in contact with?"

"His name was Rudyard Gaines."

"Was?"

"Passed away just a few years ago. Dragon pox, at his age!"

"I see. I'm sorry to hear of his passing."

"But, yes, back to your father. I pegged him to be the next Minister of Magic! I even got a couple of my old friends to help him figure out his administration before he put his bid in. But…well, I suppose you know what happened after that. I'm sorry to say that was part of the reason why I did not invite you to the Slug Club in the first place. But, now that I am understand you are a bright, young student, and not to mention if Harry approves of you, then I will continue to extend an invitation to you in the future."

Corinna tried not to looked miffed about that. Only invited because some boy who didn't even ask for any of this approved of her. She had half a mind to spit in his face, but it seemed that he had better people to talk to as he bid his goodbyes.

Corinna muttered curses under her breath as she made her way out of the office. She ran into Neville and Luna who were keen on drawing her in so they didn't have to keep up the conversation with the vampire, but she told them that she needed some air. She broke away from the crowd and looked around the abandoned hallway. She looked around, not knowing where Harry could have gone. She knew it would be wherever Malfoy and Snape slithered off to. She started down the hall only to be yanked next to a doorway. She had pulled her wand out to stun the offender, but he put a hand to her mouth and whispered. "It's me."

She tried to say his name, but it just came out as a garbled mess that never left her mouth. He threw the cloak over Corinna and she could finally see him. She had never been under the invisibility cloak but knew of it in legend. She thought it was surprisingly intimate.

They crouched down again and pressed their ear to the door. They were able to hear Malfoy saying, "…assistance I need, thanks, I'm not alone!"

"You were certainly alone tonight, which was foolish in the extreme, wandering the corridors without lookouts or backup, these are elementary mistakes—"

"I would've had Crabbe and Goyle with me if you hadn't put them in detention!"

"Keep your voice down! If your friends Crabbe and Goyle intend to pass their Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL this time around, they will need to work a little harder than they are doing at pres—"

"What does it matter? Defense Against the Dark Arts—it's all just a joke, isn't it, an act? Like any of us need protecting against the Dark Arts—"

"It is an act that is crucial to success, Draco! Where do you think I would have been all these years, if I had not known how to act? Now listen to me! You are being incautious, wandering around at night, getting yourself caught, and if you are placing your reliance in assistants like Crabbe and Goyle—"

"They're not the only ones, I've got other people on my side, better people!"

"Then why not confide in me, and I can—"

"I know what you're up to! You want to steal my glory!"

"You are speaking like a child. I quite understand that your father's capture and imprisonment has upset you, but—"

They didn't have much warning as footsteps approached the door. Harry pushed Corinna to the side just in time as the door burst open and a fuming Malfoy marched out of the open doorway. They dared not move until they watched Snape emerge from the classroom and returned to the party.

They stayed there for some time, Corinna aware that Harry was perfectly on top of her as they stayed underneath the cloak, but his knee was digging into her leg as to keep his limps from poking out. "You know, Harry," she said in a low whisper, "if you wanted me under the sheets, you could have just asked."

Harry scrambled to sit up and the cloak fell away from them. He was definitely sitting there, but his mind was racing. They both silently agreed not to go back to Slughorn's party. They stood and Harry shoved the invisibility cloak into his pocket.

"What did I miss?" asked Corinna as they took their time going back to the Gryffindor common room.

"Not much," said Harry. "Just more of Snape trying to find out what Malfoy is doing. He even tried scrying into his mind, but I guess Bellatrix has been teaching him Occlumency."

Corinna looked confused. "So, that basically confirmed your suspicion that Malfoy is a Death Eater."

"Hermione would point out that she might have done it solely to protect family." Harry gave Corinna a confused look in return. "Didn't you know that you're his cousin?"

"Merlin, do you want me to get sick all over your robes?" asked Corinna. "I think my aunt might have omitted who her younger sister married."

"He's on the tapestry."

"I was a little more focused on my birth name, thanks."

"Okay, but it all really just means that Snape wants to help Malfoy. Or has to. He mentioned something about an unbreakable vow."

Corinna grimaced. "That is not something people mess around with. If you break an unbreakable vow, you die. Simple as that. No wonder Snape is that desperate to help out."

"I just wish I knew what Malfoy was supposed to be doing. Then I would be able to link him to the necklace."

They made it to the portrait hole but neither didn't make a move to go inside. "So, tonight did not go as planned."

"Evidently not," said Corinna, crossing her arms over her chest. "But, it's fine. That kind of reminded me of the stupid Ministry parties my grandfather would drag me to. I hated every second of it."

"Yeah, me, too."

"Do you mind if I join the quidditch team, so I have an excuse to get out of future Slug Club parties?" asked Corinna. "He is now going to invite me to them now because of you."

"Why me?"

"He figures you are a good judge in character, and anyone associated with you is worth inviting." Corinna rolled her eyes. "Okay, he also knew my grandfather, and hadn't invited me before because of my father. You know, I am really getting sick of being constantly associated with the men in my life. Why can't I be invited because of my own merits?"

"I ask myself that all the time," Harry admitted darkly. "It's just like that Worple guy. He just cares about me being the Chosen One and what he could make off my story. There's a difference."

"There is a difference," Corinna agreed. "Even if you are this supposed Chosen One, you are still incredible, Harry, in your own right."

Harry gave Corinna a small smile. "So are you, Corinna." Before she even fully realized what was happening, Harry leaned in and gave her a chaste kiss. It felt like electricity lighting up every nerve as she automatically moved to wrap her arms around Harry and deepen the kiss. It wasn't like with Terry where she had to think about what she was doing and questioned what she was doing; she moved automatically and Harry responded as if they were somehow connected as one, his hands on her hips to keep him steady.

They might have stayed that way all night if it weren't for the Fat Lady clearing her throat loudly. "I don't have all night, you know. I've got places to be."

Corinna really wished that it hadn't immediately gone to Christmas holidays. The kiss she shared with Harry felt much to brief. She might have been glad to be home and have a break from studies, but she would have given all of that up to stay in the castle and be with Harry.

With the students back home, there wasn't as much of a need to have so many Aurors on a continuous guard. Dora still had report there to make sure that the defenses were still good and that no one undesirable went in or out, but she made arrangements so she could floo back and forth for her shifts and be able to spend the holidays with her family.

She was still glum and virtually colorless. It seemed that, while Corinna finally made progress with Harry—whatever they were now, if anything—she hadn't so much as been able to get a reply from Lupin. If she knew where her old professor was, she might have found a way to get there and give him a piece of her mind.

"How are your classes going?" Aunt Andromeda asked as they sat down for dinner that night.

"Fine," said Corinna, pushing the food around on her plate. "They're really challenging now. I feel like I can barely take a break to breathe."

"I know what you mean," said Dora, who was as keen on eating as Corinna was. "You could not pay me to go back and do that all over again."

Uncle Ted had to work that evening, so it seemed that they couldn't coordinate their shifts perfectly. His usual spot was empty at the table and his plate was set aside so he could heat it up when he got home.

"Have you heard about Katie Bell?" Corinna asked Aunt Andromeda.

"They are still trying to figure out what exactly the curse was," said Aunt Andromeda. "Once they have that, they will be able to come up with a cure. Until then, she is in a coma and we have to give her potion supplements."

Corinna's heart sank. She felt bad for the girl, missing her seventh year over a stupid cursed necklace. And she also felt bad for her parents who were going to have to spend the holidays with their daughter unconscious in the hospital.

"She'll be alright," Aunt Andromeda reassured. "We have the best healers and curse breakers on the case."

"That's good," said Corinna, but it didn't make her feel any better.

They fell silent again and Corinna shoved some roasted carrots in her mouth. "Anything else exciting going on in school?" Aunt Andromeda was trying her best to keep the conversation going. "I heard Slughorn had a Christmas party."

"Yeah, he did," said Corinna as she stabbed a piece of lamb much more forcefully than she intended. "I went with…with Harry."

"Harry Potter?"

Aunt Andromeda looked shocked and Dora gave a smirk. Corinna felt heat rise to her cheeks. She nodded and took a sip of her water to prevent a verbal answer.

"Did you have fun?" asked Dora with a knowing glint in her eyes.

"The party itself was boring," she answered, setting her glass down.

"But?"

Corinna glared at Dora. "But, I still had a good time with Harry."

"Define 'good time.'"

"I define it as none of your business."

"Girls!" said Aunt Andromeda, but there wasn't much venom behind her voice. In fact, Corinna could have sworn her lips had momentarily turned up into the tiniest of smiles. "Dora, quit pestering your cousin. Corinna…" She hesitated a moment. "I just hope you know what you are getting into."

"He's not the first bloke I've dating," said Corinna.

"That's not what I am talking about," said Aunt Andromeda. "You are smart. I know you won't do something that might have consequences later. However," she braced her elbows on the table as she leaned forward, "you know what that poor boy has been through and will continue to go through."

"I know, I was there when—"

"I'm not just talking about the situations he gets himself into, but mind that you better not find yourself in anymore situations like that, capisce? ("Capisce," Corinna automatically responded.) But I am mostly talking about his status in the wizarding world. He is essentially a celebrity. If you do decide to keep seeing this boy, that means you will also be under scrutiny, and not just among your peers. You need to be prepared for that."

Corinna hadn't considered that at all. She should have expected it. She learned of the name Harry Potter at the same time as You-Know-Who. It was a fact she grew up with that he was the reason why, at the time, You-Know-Who was no longer a menace to society. Sure, she grew to learn about the boy who was good at quidditch and had two close friends and always found himself in some sort of trouble. But, at the end of the day, he was still one of the most famous wizards. Wherever he went, people knew his name.

Can she live with the world knowing who she was? The girl always off to the side, the girl never in the spotlight, the girl who was invisible. Can she put herself out there?

It was the question that swirled around in her mind as she stared up at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Between that and the kiss being toyed on her lips, she didn't think she was ever going to sleep again.

She thought back to the common room just as her and Harry were leaving. The girls glared at her as if she was the sole reason that they couldn't have Harry, as if he would be interested in anyone who only saw him as the Chosen One. Corinna liked to think she saw more than that. She saw him at some very low points. She had immediately saw the scared kid during the Triwizard Tournament when everyone else saw an attention seeking showoff. She sat with him when he was grieving his godfather and when they were cornered by Death Eaters with nowhere else to run. She'd like to think that she was above the others who only saw the Chosen One or the Boy Who Lived. But, she also had to wonder, would she have liked him if it wasn't for all of that?

The next few days leading up to Christmas were a blur to Corinna. She did her usual owl-ordering for Christmas presents, and she felt like she could finally do better this year than the last. Once all of them had time off overlapping, they decorated the house with tinsel and baubles and Uncle Ted's enchanted train. It seemed that was the only day all of them were going to be able to spend time together, much to Aunt Andromeda's annoyance more than anyone else's. She was doing her best to make it seem like a normal holiday when there would be no such thing while You-Know-Who was at large.

That Christmas Eve, as Aunt Andromeda made the meal, Uncle Ted and Corinna were sent into the kitchen to clean up after. It didn't surprise her much that, while Uncle Ted was Muggle-born, he did prefer to do some things the muggle way. Cleaning up was one of them. Although it would only take a few spells and a fraction of the time, Uncle Ted seemed to enjoy standing at the sink full of soap and hot water, scrubbing the baked-on food with strength and intensity. Corinna was to dry the dishes and put them away, but she found herself staring out the window and letting the dishes pile up on the counter.

"What's on your mind?" he asked when he found that he was done washing. "You look like you're a million miles away."

"I don't know, it's stupid," said Corinna automatically as she picked up a plate.

"Whatever it is, if it's bothering you, can't be stupid."

She hesitated a moment before relaying the inner turmoil she had been dealing with since the first night she got home. Uncle Ted remained silent, just nodding along until Corinna finished summing up the dilemma.

"I guess I just have one question for you," said Uncle Ted as he grabbed a tea towel and helped Corinna dry the dishes. "Ignoring everything else, just focusing on the two of you and nothing else, are you happy?"

Corinna's brows knit together. It was a simple answer. "Yes," she said, if the night outside the common room was any indication.

"Then there's your answer," said Uncle Ted. "If you are happy with him, then the rest you can deal with."

"How do you know?" asked Corinna. "What if I am happy with him, but can't stand the attention I'll be getting?"

"Then you aren't actually happy with him." When Corinna continued to be confused, he added. "If you are happy together, than you will be willing to work with whatever is thrown your way. If you aren't ready for that sort of thing, then you aren't actually happy."

"That seems very…black and white."

"Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. I just want you to remember that you are young. You are more than within your right to find out you aren't happy."

Corinna paused a moment in contemplation. "Is that how you and Aunt Andromeda looked at it? Since you were both happy, you could handle everything else together?"

"You mean dealing with her purist family?" asked Uncle Ted. "I know it was a hard decision for her. As much as she disagreed with her family, she still loved them. I did not ask her to give them up for me, she did that because she was happy and knew the consequences of marrying me."

Corinna slowly nodded. "I think I understand," she mumbled.

"That's good," said Uncle Ted. "But I also feel like I need to tell you off. I did tell you no dating until you're thirty."

"Are you going to do anything about it?" asked Corinna as she put the plates in the cupboard.

"I could. I'm well within my right."

"Then all I have to say is good luck."

It was only a quiet Christmas with Aunt Andromeda. She didn't like visiting Uncle Ted's family without him, and Corinna could understand her reasoning. Yes, they were family, but there was more to it than that. She grew up without interacting with muggles until later in life. There was a divide between them that was more than just "she's an in-law." Corinna didn't think she could do it either, but it reminded her that Harry also had muggle relatives.

Instead, they had a light lunch together and then just sat around the wireless. Aunt Andromeda was eager to read the muggle novels that Corinna talked about, so she had bought a few. That did require having to recruit Dora, but they went in together to get a few for her to read. Uncle Ted had left the model train in the package, eagerly awaiting to enchant it to go around without a track. Dora, apparently, did not appreciate the pink hair dye Corinna bought her from the muggle chemist she had gone to with Aunt Andromeda, but did like the book on the detailed history of her favorite quidditch team.

"Ted mentioned you two talked last night," said Aunt Andromeda. "Did it help?"

"I think so."

"I didn't mean to scare you," said Aunt Andromeda. "I just wanted you prepared for what might happen. I'm sorry if I am overstepping, but I do see you as a daughter, and I want to look out for you as such."

Corinna's heart swelled up when she heard her aunt say that. "I actually really appreciate that," she mumbled. "I wish you were my mum instead of the one I got."

"I don't think I'm supposed to agree with that, but I do, too."

Overall, Corinna had a nice Christmas and as the New Year came and went, she had mixed feelings about going back to Hogwarts. She wanted to see her friends again, but she liked the time she spent with her family, even if it felt like she had hardly seen them.

A couple of days before the start of term, Corinna went to stay with Dora as she had the time off and Aunt Andromeda and Uncle Ted were pulling longer and longer hours at St. Mungo's as a couple of healers in their department had disappeared and they had to pick up the slack. Dora had a small apartment above the Three Broomsticks that Madame Rosmerta had agreed to rent out to the Aurors staying in Hogsmeade. Since the little kitchenette was barely big enough to make tea in, they had most of their meals at the Three Broomsticks, and Corinna found herself sick of pub food by the end of it.

"Have you talked to Lupin at all?" asked Corinna as they sat on the floor. They had scrounged up some nail polish and were giving each other manicures.

"No," said Dora with a sigh, holding her hands out so Corinna could paint them a dark purple. "He's been underground, being a spy for the Order. It would look suspicious if he kept receiving and sending owls."

"Uh-huh," said Corinna.

"He did visit the Weasleys for Christmas," Dora admitted. "I know he received my owl, just…"

"He didn't send one back?"

She shook her head.

"And I'm guessing you aren't invited to any parties that you can try to strongarm him into going to."

"Is that what Harry had to do?"

"No, but he did wait until the day of to ask me. But that doesn't surprise me. He tends to wait until the last minute to do things. We were doing research for the second task pretty much the morning of."

"At least he eventually got there," said Dora, the humor immediately fading.

Corinna recapped the nail polish and Dora set her hands on her knees. Her fingers splayed out so they would dry evenly and not smudge. Corinna went to pick up their food that they had ordered for take away and spent most of the evening in companionable silence.

The next afternoon, Dora and Corinna trudged up to Hogwarts. Dora didn't leave until they were at the front entrance. "Have a good term," she said, and they gave each other a hug.

She was one of the first ones there, so she dropped her trunk off in her dorm and sat down in one of the good chairs by the fire. Hermione arrived just a few hours later, telling her about her dreadful night with Cormac and how she had faked sick so she could leave early.

"But I noticed you and Harry also left early," said Hermione with a slight smirk.

Corinna's heart pounded in her chest. "How much did Harry tell you?"

"Nothing," Hermione admitted. "I didn't see him after I ran off to avoid Cormac, and I didn't see him before we all left."

Corinna decided it was not her place to say anything, so she decided to let Hermione's imagination run amuck until she talked to Harry.

Speaking of, he had arrived about an hour later, once Corinna and Hermione had exhausted all the subjects that they shared in common. They locked eyes and she felt like she was floating, but knowing that he needed to talk to Hermione, she said she wanted to go find Terry and promised to meet up later."

She had found Terry just as he was walking out of McGonagall's office where everyone was getting flooed in. "Hey," he greeted, shaking the last of the ash off his trousers. "Have a good Christmas?"

"It was quite boring," she admitted. "Yours?"

"About the same," he admitted as she walked with him towards the Ravenclaw common room. "Had a row with my parents about coming back, but I told them that I couldn't put my education on hold. It was too important for me, especially since no one knows how long this thing could go on for."

"I'm sorry," she said gently.

Terry shrugged. "It's alright. I just had to promise to write every week. Now that we have all that boring stuff out of the way. You and Potter. When's the wedding?"

"You are such an arse, Boot," Corinna growled. "We just went to the party. It was boring, so we left early and took a long walk back to Gryffindor Tower. But, well…"

"Well what? Spit it out, Crouch."

"We kissed."

"What kind of kiss?"

"Close to but not quite snogging."

"I am so proud of you," said Terry. "It only took you over a year to get to this point."

"Oh, shove off! We aren't even anything. We just went to one stuffy party and kissed."

"But I know you will," said Terry. "I can feel it in my bones."

"So, what about you and Seamus?"

"Seamus told his mum who didn't take it so well as he had hoped. He's really down about it."

"I'm sure she'll come around," said Corinna.

"Let's hope so," said Terry. "Let's meet up for break tomorrow. Our usual table?"

"Sounds good." She made her way back to the common room. Harry and Hermione were still talking in low voices by the fire, and Ron was off snogging Lavender in the corner. When Hermione spotted Corinna, she seemed to make a hasty excuse to leave and headed up to the girl's dormitory. Corrina took that as her cue and sat down in the seat she had just deserted.

"How was your holiday?" asked Harry as he stared into the fire.

"Fine," said Corinna with a shrug. "Kind of boring, actually. Yours?"

"Er, Rufus Scrimgeour and I had a row," said Harry and Corinna's eyebrows quirked up. "He wants me to be a Ministry spokesperson."

"And you told him to turn around so you can show him where your foot fits?"

"Not so graphically, but yeah."

"Honestly, the nerve after what they did to you last year. Sure, it isn't Fudge groveling for your help, but it might as well be."

"Glad to know everyone is on the same page when it comes to the Ministry," said Harry.

They fell silent. Harry glanced up from the fire and Corinna could feel herself growing hot. "So, about that kiss?" Corinna finally asked. "I rather enjoyed that."

"Yeah?" asked Harry, leaning forward in his seat. "Me, too."

"So, does that mean we're…"

"Only if you want to…"

"In that case, get your arse over here so we can show Ron and Lavender how it's done."

"You do have a way with words." Instead of following Corinna's orders, Harry took her hand and dragged her over to him.

"Terry said I have the eloquence of a well-educated sailor, whatever that means."