Chapter VII

I lay on my back in the soft, cool grass and felt the warm sun on my face. Ceri was beside me, leaning on one elbow and reading quietly. The wind blew gently, tossing strands of hair over my face and tickling my neck. I heard Ceri moving beside me, and after a second, heard the snap of a camera. I smiled and squinted up at her, shading my eyes with my hand.

"Ceri, put the damn camera down. I look like shit."

"No you don't. You were so beautiful just now with the sun on your face and the wind blowing your hair. You looked so peaceful. It was entrancing. I wanted to capture the scene forever."

"I'll move around in the picture you know."

"Not much. You'll probly just lay there and fall asleep. Besides, I'll make two copies. One regular and one the muggle way. Then the moment really will be captured."

"We should make a scrapbook. We have hundreds of pictures of us since we were kids just lying around."

"Mine aren't lying around. They're alphabetized."

I rolled my eyes. "Well that's you. All mine are in a box in my closet."

"We'll have to go through and pick the best ones. And make sure we don't have the same ones in there."

"It'll be our summer project." I smiled. She nodded happily, holding the camera up again and quickly snapping another picture. I sat up and grabbed the camera, taking some of her. We laughed and talked on the grass in the sun, thinking about the past year. Footsteps rustled through the grass and I knew without looking it would be the Weasleys and Oliver. I was right. Oliver knelt behind me, putting his arms around my shoulders as Fred, George and Katie sat down with us.

"You guys looked like you were having fun so we decided to crash the party." George said, leaning back on his elbows and pulling Ceri down with him. She settled comfortably on her back, her head on his stomach.

"We're taking pictures."

Kate snatched up the camera and took pictures for a while as we laughed and talked. Oliver and I didn't talk much, just listened and laughed. He was on his side, leaning his head on his elbow, and I was stretched out on my back in front of him, taking advantage of the shade he provided. I laughed as the others got in a grass fight, thanks to Fred, and looked up at the clear blue sky. I was so happy with these people. I loved them all. They were my best friends, and it was thanks to Oliver I had them. I was much more contented with them than I had been with Malfoy and his cronies. Oliver noticed the change in my face as I thought about Malfoy and trailed his fingers on the side of my face.

"Don't think about him. Not today."

"I won't. Just a momentary mistake." I smiled. I was about to say something when some grass flew into my face and I heard George laugh. I scowled at him as I brushed the grass from my face and neck, everyone laughing. Oliver chuckled and pulled up a handful of grass and scattered it in my outspread hair.

"Hey, you're supposed to be on my side!" I protested, laughing. He grinned and kissed me, stroking my arm. I reached out and pulled up some grass and dropped it on the back of his neck and head. He pulled back and brushed at his neck as the grass tickled. I laughed and put my fingers on his neck, toying with the key on the soft black cord he wore.

"What's this for?" I asked him, marveling at the softness of the cord.

"Key to the equipment room."

"What kind of cord is this?" He put his hand on it and smiled.

"Tail hairs from a black unicorn."

I raised my eyebrows. "Really? I thought they were all gone."

"There are only about ten left in the whole world. The hairs were in the wands of my female ancestors. They've always had unicorn hairs in them. My mum's is in it, my grandmother's, great grandmother, and so on."

"How many are there?"

"About twenty-five I think."

"Wow..." I breathed. "twenty-five generations of witches. Do they add one every time?"

"They did, but there aren't any more girls, so it's ended."

"So you wear it now?"

He nodded. "I'll give it to my first daughter when she starts school, then it'll just keep going."

I smiled. "That's really amazing."

"Yeah, weird too. All the men in my family have had white unicorn hairs in their wands, and all the women have had black."

"You'd think it was the other way around."

"You would, but guess not." He sighed and looked at the others who were having a discussion about the final exams. They were actually talking about something intelligent! I mentioned this to Oliver and he laughed, laying his hand on my stomach.

"Yeah..." he sighed. "it's tough being the smartest one of your friends." he said loudly. They didn't hear him, and we laughed to eachother. Our eyes locked and we looked at eachother, forgetting the others. He kissed me lovingly and I put my hand on his neck. He pulled his lips from mine and we put our foreheads together, our eyes closed, happy just...to be. He opened his eyes and looked at me, I back at him.

"I love you." he said quietly, and I smiled. "I love you, Oliver. I always will." I returned. We both heard the click of a camera and looked sideways at the others. They were all silent and smiling at us, Ceri holding the camera.

"That one is going to be mugglefied." she announced happily. I laughed a little and looked back at Oliver.

"Good. I want to remember this forever."

He smiled. "Don't worry. There are many more like it to come." He pressed his mouth to mine and put his arms around me. I slid my arms around his neck and we smiled as the others laughed and jeered. We didn't care. I'm not sure if we even actually knew they were there, actually.