Chapter 14

Harry and Ann walked through Hogsmeade hand in hand next to Ron and Hermione. The three friends were chatting happily, but Ann couldn't seem to join in their merriment. Harry smiled at her and squeezed her hand. She smiled back.

"You ok," he whispered so Hermione and Ron couldn't hear him.

Ann nodded. "I'm just a bit tired," she said smiling. They continued walking and talking.

Draco Malfoy and his usual pack of cronies went past them and when they did Draco turned and gave Ann an impertinent smile. Ann narrowed her eyes at him, angrily.

"Ignore him," muttered Harry. Ann jumped. She hadn't realized Harry had seen Draco. "He's an idiot," he continued.

"Yeah," Ann agreed. She glanced at Ron and Hermione, who were walking a few feet ahead of them. "Do you think, maybe, the two of us could sneak off on our own?"

Harry glanced at his friends, who were clearly off in their own world. "I don't think that will be a problem," he said softly. "Come on," he guided Ann off to the side of the path they were on and soon all the other students were out of sight.

Immediately, his arms went around her waist and he pulled her close. "That's better," he said.

"Definitely," smiled Ann, reaching up and pulling him down to her until their lips met.

Harry responded hungrily to her, tangling his hands in her hair and pulling her even closer. A small moan escaped Ann's lips, which only served to spur Harry on.

After a few heated minutes, Ann pulled away and Harry groaned. "What's the matter," he asked breathlessly.

"Nothing," said Ann, running her hands down his arms. "We're just a little out in the open here."

Harry glanced around. "There's no one here."

"Not now," began Ann. "But anyone could come by."

Harry took both of her hands in his own and laced his fingers around hers. "I think I know a place that's a little more private," he smiled. He guided her back toward the main road in Hogsmeade.

"Harry," called out Ron. He and Hermione hurried over to Harry and Ann. "What happened to you guys," he asked. "You just disappeared."

"Sorry," mumbled Harry. "I was just showing Ann something."

Ron raised an eyebrow at his best friend and gave him a sly grin. "Yeah, there's been something I've been meaning to show Hermione too."

Hermione smacked Ron across the chest, hard.

"Ow, Hermione," yelped Ron clutching his chest.

"Don't be gross," she scolded.

Harry and Ann burst out laughing. "Sorry, mate," said Harry clapping his hand on Ron's shoulder. "You walked into that one."

Ron rolled his eyes, still rubbing his chest.

"Stop being such a baby," said Hermione. "I barely touched you."

"A bludger doesn't hit as hard as you," complained Ron, smiling slightly and pulling Hermione to him.

"I'm sorry," she said mockingly. Then she turned back to Harry. "We were going to get a drink at the Three Broomsticks. Do you guys want to come?"

Harry looked down at Ann who shrugged. "Actually, we were going to go take a walk. Can we meet up with you guys later?"

"Sure," said Ron immediately, eager himself for some time alone with his own girlfriend.

Harry smiled his thanks and each boy led their own girl away.

"You know, I like Ron more and more every day," said Ann seriously and Harry laughed.

"He's not too bad," he agreed.

"So where are we going," asked Ann, taking Harry's arm and placing it around her shoulder.

"Someplace no one else will go."

Ann was curious, but also slightly worried. Draco had given her specific instructions to be someplace where he and the photographer could find them. She had no idea where Harry was taking her or if it was even in Hogsmeade.

As they walked she looked around for any sign of Draco, but couldn't find him. She and Harry continued walking down the street until they came to the Shrieking Shack. Ann looked at him curiously.

"Come on," said Harry climbing over the fence surrounding the house.

"Harry, have you lost your mind. That place is one of the most haunted houses in England," protested Ann.

"I'll keep you safe," smiled Harry extending his hand to help her over.

Ann hesitated. "Come on," insisted Harry. "Trust me."

With a sigh, Ann grabbed Harry's hand and climbed over the fence. Harry led her around to the back of the house. He pulled out his wand and pointed it at the window. "Alohomora."

Ann watched with an amused expression as Harry tried unsuccessfully to open the window. He glanced at her and shrugged. Ann was about to make a smart remark when she spotted Draco and an older gentleman. She tensed and shot a look at Harry.

"What?" He asked.

"N...Nothing," she stuttered. "Harry, did you really think you'd be able to break into the Shrieking Shack?" She tried keeping Harry's attention focused on herself as Draco and the photographer inched closer.

Harry shrugged. "I just thought it'd be someplace private."

"Well this is pretty private," said Ann leaning back against the house.

"I guess," said Harry. He started to turn toward Draco and the photographer and Ann quickly grabbed the front of his robe. She pulled him to her and brought her mouth to his in a bruising kiss.

"Ann," he said breathlessly, leaning into her. His hands roamed down her arms and then he tucked them into her robes. Ann forced a giggle when he tickled her ribcage. She pulled away from Harry's mouth and nuzzled his neck. She could see the photographer snapping away, and suddenly she realized that she couldn't put Harry through this.

She had spent so much of the last couple of weeks thinking and planning her revenge on her father that she never stopped to think what her plans would do to Harry. She still wanted to get even with her father, but she wasn't going to include Harry in her plans.

Quickly, she pulled Harry's hands from beneath her robes. "Stop," she whispered.

"I'm sorry," he said immediately, stepping back.

"No, it's not that," she began, but just then Harry turned slightly and caught a glimpse of the photographer.

"Hey," he shouted.

The photographer brazenly continued snapping pictures. "What the hell do you think you're doing," shouted Harry.

"New girlfriend, Mr. Potter," asked the photographer, putting down his camera.

Harry turned back to Ann, his face full of anger and embarrassment. "I'm sorry," he said.

Ann shook her head. "No, it's my..." she began, but the photographer cut her off.

"What's your name, sweetheart," he asked crudely.

"None of your damn business," snapped Ann angrily.

"So Harry, have you and Hermione Granger split up then? How did that happen?"

"Sod off," yelled Harry.

"Come on Miss, give him a little kiss for the camera," the photographer said raising his camera again.

"Let's get out of here," Harry said. He took Ann's hand and pulled her around to the front of the house. As they rounded the corner, they ran straight into Draco.

"Malfoy," said Harry in shock.

"Where you running too, scar head?" Sneered Draco.

"None of your business," said Harry angrily, pushing Draco out of their way. The photographer was still behind them snapping pictures.

"What's the matter Potter? Tired of your picture being in the paper," gloated Draco.

"Did you do this?" Asked Harry.

Draco grinned triumphantly. Before he could even react, Harry's fist landed solidly on his jaw. Draco staggered and fell to the ground.

"Harry," shouted Ann in shock.

"Come on," he said pulling her away.

He helped her over the fence and then followed, pulling her quickly through Hogsmeade. "Harry, slow down," Ann panted. "The photographer's gone."

Harry stopped and looked behind them. "I am so sorry," he said turning to Ann.

"Please don't be," begged Ann. "That wasn't your fault."

"Yeah well, you wouldn't have to deal with that if you weren't with me."

Ann felt sick with guilt. "Let's just go back to school."

"No, I'm not letting Malfoy run me off," said Harry stubbornly.

"They're not going to leave us alone out here," insisted Ann. Harry crossed his arms stubbornly. "Come on," she said trying to smile. "There are plenty more places to be alone in the castle then out here."

"Well," began Harry hesitatingly. "If you're sure."

Ann responded by slipping her hand into his and pulling him along. They made their way back to the castle and Ann pulled him up to their own private retreat, the astronomy tower.

"You really like it up here," said Harry in amusement.

Ann nodded. "Harry, about that photographer..."

"Forget him. I don't want to talk about that."

"I know, but there's really something..."

Harry silenced her by covering her mouth with his own. Ann closed her eyes happily, concentrating on the taste and feel of him.

"You were saying," murmured Harry against her mouth.

In answer, she reached up and pulled him back into a searing kiss. Her hands circled his back pulling him to her possessively. She had kissed other boys before, quite a few actually, but for some reason, kissing Harry was different. No matter how practically she tried to explain their relationship to herself when she was alone, when they were together, all she could think was how much more she wanted.

Harry and Ann were so lost in the feel of each other that they were completely unaware of the fact that Draco Malfoy had quietly stolen up the staircase and was finishing the job he had started earlier.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next morning the Great Hall was abuzz with talk. Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Ann were all chatting animatedly as they walked in when the students erupted into raucous cheers.

The four friends stopped short and looked around the hall in surprise.

"What's going on," asked Hermione. Ron and Harry shrugged, but Ann had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. They all looked around at the crowd that was continuing to clap as they made their way to the Gryffindor table.

The other seventh year Gryffindors looked very grave as they approached. "What's going on," repeated Hermione to the group. The seventh years glanced uneasily at each other before Seamus pulled out a copy of the morning's Daily Prophet.

On the front page was a picture of Harry and Ann kissing behind the Shrieking Shack with a large caption that read. Harry Potter's New Love.

"Oh God," moaned Harry reaching for the paper.

"Yeah and that's not all," Seamus said pushing a second copy of the Prophet into Ron and Hermione's hands. "There's a two page spread on pages eight and nine."

Ron quickly opened the paper and Harry thumbed his own copy to page eight. Ann peaked over Harry's shoulder to see even more incriminating photographs of the two of them locked in some very passionate embraces.

"These weren't all taken in Hogsmeade," said Harry suddenly. "These two are from inside the castle. How the hell did he get inside?"

"Malfoy," muttered Ann under her breath.

Harry glanced up at the staff table. "Where's your father," he asked Ann.

Ann shrugged following his gaze to the staff table.

"We're going to catch it," said Harry more to himself than anyone else.

Ann's insides gave a lurch at the frustration in Harry's voice. "I'm sorry," she whispered to him.

"It's not your fault," Harry assured her.

Tears sprang to Ann's eyes as a wave of intense guilt flooded over her. She searched the hall for any sign of Draco and caught a glimpse of him leaving the Great Hall.

"I'm going to take care of this right now," she said softly turning to leave the Hall.

"Ann," Harry called after her.

"Just stay here, Harry," Ann said.

Harry turned to Hermione and Ron. "Where's she going?"

They shrugged their response, but before any of them could make up their mind if they should follow her or not, she had disappeared.

"Hermione, will you go see if she's ok," asked Harry quietly.

"Of course," said Hermione hurrying after Ann.

Ann caught up with Draco quickly and grabbed his arm. "We need to talk," she said angrily.

Draco nodded, unable to keep the huge smile from his face. She pulled him into an empty classroom, but before she could speak he burst out laughing.

"You should have seen Potter's face," he said laughing uncontrollably.

"Oh shut it, Malfoy," shouted Ann.

"What's your problem? This is exactly what we wanted. The plan couldn't have worked better."

"It was a stupid plan," said Ann angrily.

"No it wasn't," countered Draco. "As soon as my contact sees those pictures, we're in."

"I'm not doing this anymore," said Ann turning to leave. She was almost to the door when Draco grabbed her in a vice-like grip.

"Don't tell me you've started to have feelings for Potter," said Draco incredulously.

Ann didn't answer.

"It's too late to back out of this now."

"I can back out of this whenever I want to," countered Ann.

"Like hell," sneered Draco. "We're almost in. And once we are in, we can become two of the most important servants of the Dark Lord. More important than even our father's are."

"Our father's," repeated Ann slowly.

"That's right," said Draco. "So you just keep a cool head on and keep your emotions in check. You're not going to mess this up for me." Draco released his hold on Ann's arm. "I'll come find you as soon as I've heard anything."

Ann couldn't respond. She sank slowly into an empty chair wondering how things had gotten so out of control.

Unbeknownst to Ann, outside another girl was sinking against a wall wondering precisely the same thing.