Erin walked into the Great Hall the next morning very early hoping to avoid anyone and anything. She was still very embarrassed by what had happened and didn't know how she was going to face anybody. The whole school had undoubtedly heard by now what had gone on with the boggart and she was anxious to avoid it.

Erin jumped as she heard someone calling her name.

"Erin!" Harry called as he jogged to catch up to her in the Great Hall. She had been walking so purposely it had been hard to get to her, but now that he was, slowing to a stop in front of her... well now he didn't know what to do. "Why didn't you stop the first time I called?" He asked.

Erin looked down at her feet. "I didn't hear you." She whispered. She knew her face was probably bright red. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright." He said, suddenly feeling out of place. Her embarrassment was catching a little bit. "I just, um...I hadn't seen you since yesterday in class...I was worried. I mean we all were. You ran out so fast..." He stopped a moment, his eyes focused on her downcast face. He noticed her blushing. "Are...are you okay?" He asked slowly, trying to get a better look at her, but it was hard with how intensely she was staring at her feet.

She looked up and noticed how he was looking at her. She averted her eyes quickly. "I'm ok...are you?" Stupid Erin, she thought to herself. Well, at least he'll talk to you that is something. At least he isn't as embarrassed as you are about this. Maybe he didn't see...Erin, he was standing right behind you, there is no possible way he couldn't have seen that...Erin paused with her inner-monologue as she saw Harry's look.

"Me…" Harry said. "I'm fine." He said before managing a small smile, hoping maybe it would put her more at ease. He had seen and it was a little strange he'd admit, but well it wasn't that big a deal...not exactly.

Erin cleared her throat. "Um...that's good...you probably want an explanation, huh?" She grinned awkwardly. He was standing so close and she felt like either stepping a foot back or a foot forward. Erin, she chided, that is how you got into this mess. Stop thinking, for once. She tried to obey what her mind was telling her.

"Not exactly...not if you don't want to..." Harry said shaking his head a little. "I mean it was...You shouldn't have to explain yourself." He finished uncertainly. All the thinking he had done before this little meeting started was now totally down the drain. He was forgetting his carefully laid out, 100-embarrass free speech.

Erin took a deep breath. "Harry, you really do need an explanation about what happened yesterday." She paused licking her suddenly very dry lips. "I-I-well...the body on the ground was yours...and yes, I fear something will happen to you...you-you're one of my best friends, I couldn't imagine life without you...and well as for the second part I have always just really-" Erin's face went totally white as she looked at something behind Harry. "Oh no…" She moaned. "Not now...Harry...I think you'd better turn around..."

Harry had been more than willing and ready to listen to Erin, but a very slight sense of dread crept in as he slowly glanced to the side and then started to turn around. He hadn't even gotten all the way around before the laughter started. There stood four from the Slytherin house and not just any Slytherins, but Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson, who had been glued to Draco's hip ever since he'd gotten his famous Hippogriff injury. Their laughter was sickening. "Looks like we came at the perfect time." Draco said with a devilish grin on his face. "The 'Black' haired girl was just about to confess her undying love." He said amidst his own laughter and those of his friends. "Where's the ring, Potter? I do hope I get a wedding invitation. Why it'd be the event of the century. I'd hate to miss it." He sneered. His blue eyes danced with glee, as it seemed Erin's blush deepened and Harry's anger grew.

Erin hadn't missed the jibe he had made about 'Black' and she was already in a bit of an emotional state. She didn't know what to say, she tried to hide behind Harry...but that wouldn't really work too well. She glared at Malfoy, trying to regain some composure.

Harry was having trouble staying calm even though Malfoy's jabs were somewhat immature at best. He wasn't even worth their time or energy, but that didn't stop him from opening his mouth at every opportunity. "Mock me all you want, Malfoy, but leave Erin out of it." Harry said.

Draco grinned. "Oh, but I can't, Potter! You're a couple now, you get to share the humiliation." He said chuckling. Harry's fists clenched at his sides. Draco continued anyway. "Ya know I don't even know why you'd want her anyway, especially with Black on the loose and after your neck. She's as mad as he is. Things like that run in the-" Draco couldn't continue because Harry had slugged the other boy without another word to drive him. Malfoy fell back into Crabbe and Goyle who barely caught him and Pansy was already all over him as Draco tried to compose himself, brushing the bit of blood from his bottom lip. He could not believe it. "You hit me!" Harry stood in front of Erin, staring down defiantly at Draco, daring him to make another move or remark. The message was clear. The sneering blonde boy struggled up and promptly turned to exit. Someone would hear about this at once! Potter would pay for that!

Erin took hold of Harry's arm. "Are you all right?" She asked him concerned.

Harry blinked and glanced back at Erin. "Oh...Yeah..." He shook his fist a little. "I'm fine, he just-I'm sick of him running his mouth all the time." He said slowly, glancing back once more where they had left. "That's all." He looked back at her.

Erin wondered if he had caught the crack Malfoy had made about her father, but decided that Harry had probably been too angry to even listen to Malfoy's crap. "Um... Harry...I was saying before that I like you...it seems everyone now knows anyway...so..."

Harry nodded a little. "Yeah, it seems that way..." He said, not knowing what else to say for a second. Since yesterday he'd been a little confused about what had happened, but he still worried about her. She was important to him. Was it possible he felt the same way? "I...care about you too..." he finally said without letting himself think for too long. "You have no reason to be embarrassed, Erin."

He would've said more, but he didn't know what to say, all he could do was look at her; his tongue had ceased to work with him. No more words would come.

Erin looked at him. She didn't know what to say either. "So...uh...exactly what did you hear last night while you were listen at the door of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom?"

Harry gaped at her. "Huh?" How did she...? Oh...Moaning Myrtle obviously…or perhaps Hermione. "I...nothing really...Just...well...how upset you were."

Erin grinned. "Well, I just wanted to know how much you already knew, because then I wouldn't have to say anything...uh...is there anything you wanted to know? Any questions you wanted to ask?"

"I'm not sure... I guess I'm still processing things." He admitted with a scratch of his head. "But one thing does puzzle me...Why was your fear…I mean I know you feel... a certain way, but your fear was honestly if something should happen to me?" He asked, studying her face. "Why would you fear that so much?"

Erin's face went pale..."Oh...uh...you see..."She closed her eyes for a moment and swallowed. "Harry, there is something I really need to tell you...you see we knew each other...well we didn't really...I guess we really couldn't have...but, well you know the night that Voldemort killed your parents...well..." She didn't know how to tell him...and what would he do if she told him the truth? Would he still want to be her friend? Would he ever trust her again? How could she tell him the truth after all this time? "Harry..." Erin was about to slip down the neck of her shirt to show him her scar when two very loud voices cut through them. "Oh, great, Fred and George." She murmured.

Harry had trouble following her and was hoping she was just about to get to her point when they were interrupted. What was she trying to tell him? He looked up to see the Weasley Twins approaching. He guessed now...whatever it was...it would have to wait.

Erin tried to smile. "Hi, you two, what are you up to today?"

Fred gave her a very anxious look and just glared at Harry. "Ok, why are we the last ones to know about stuff like this?" He demanded.

"Yeah, what does Harry have that we don't?" George asked.

"History." Erin said quickly and without thinking about it. "And I already told you I am not going out with either of you!"

Fred glanced at Harry sizing him up. "You haven't touched her, have you?"

"FRED!" Erin yelled at him.

"I-No!" Harry protested. As if he didn't have enough problems already.

George didn't look convinced. "Because if you have we are not going to be happy, got it?"

Erin rolled her eyes. "Ok, you two, for the last time you have no control over my love life! And you'd better stay out of it!"

"Got it. Thanks." Harry replied sounding frustrated.