Erin whirled around as the clock tower started to chime. "We have to go..." She pulled the others after her and they ran through the courtyard and up the stairs just making it to the hospital wing. They saw Dumbledore in front of the door closing it.

Dumbledore turned to them. "Well?" He asked looking at them.

"He's free." Harry said cheerfully as they stood before Dumbledore. "We did it." He said.

"Did what?" Dumbledore asked leaving them there. "Good night."

Harry looked at the girls confused. Hermione just glanced at him before she pushed passed him, opening the doors to the hospital wing, the three of them returning to a very confused Ron Weasley.

Ron looked flabbergasted. "How did you get there? I was just talking to you there. And now you're there." He was pointing everywhere.

Erin laughed and looked at Harry and Hermione.

Hermione smiled, playing dumb. "What's he talking about, Harry?" She asked. Harry shrugged helplessly in response, a smile on his face as well. "I don't know. Honestly, Ron, how can somebody be in two places at once?" He asked to the chorus of the two girls giggles.

"Something is going on here and you'd bloody well tell me! I'm injured I almost had my leg chopped off!" Ron whined.

That just caused Erin to giggle more but then she got dizzy and sat down on her bed. Harry stopped his laughter as Erin sat down. "Erin? Are you alright?" He asked, going to her.

"Maybe you ought to get Pomfrey, Harry. To check her injuries." Hermione said, ignoring Ron for the moment.

"It's not that bad is it?" Erin asked touching the side of her face. "It's not bleeding anymore. I'm ok, just a little dizzy."

"How did she get injured again?" Ron called from his bed noting he was being ignored.

"I'm sure it's at least a concussion, Erin. You fought a werewolf." Hermione sat, going over herself to have a look. "Just because it stopped bleeding doesn't mean you're okay." She said softly before grabbing the washrag out of the water basin next to the bed.

She wrung it out, but Harry took it from her. "I'll do it." He said, gently going about cleaning away the drying blood from the wound.

Erin closed her eyes. "I really feel ok though..." She said as she felt Harry's hand on her face. "I've been in fights before...I got hit by a mountain troll...and by falling rocks. This is so not major in comparison."

"True enough, but Hermione's right." Harry said as he went about his task. "Better to be safe then sorry."

Hermione got up. "I'll go get Pomfrey." She said.

Erin opened her eyes and looked at Harry thoughtfully. She reached up and brushed the hair from his forehead gently touching his scar. "Who would have known that such a small thing could be so important?"

Harry looked down at her curiously. Humbly wondering what she meant by that. Though obviously the scar was infamous, her tone was strange.

Erin's hand went to her own scar that had bandages over it. "I've thought about it a lot these last few years, Harry. How we knew each other and how it happened. We've both just lost so much..." Her voice caught on the next words, "And yet...we have more than most could ever dream."

Harry nodded a bit in understanding. "We're very lucky." He said.

Erin smiled. "You know, Harry, for maybe an hour today I saw a life that I could almost hold on to, just me, you and Dad...that would have been such a life. We would be together and I wouldn't be stuck at the orphanage. I wouldn't have clean all the time...I wouldn't have to deal with the snide remarks or being forced to defend myself every time someone came along that felt they had to take on the 'Black Girl'. You wouldn't have to go back to the Dursley's...Oh, Harry, I am happy that he's alive and innocent. I'm sorry...I know this is probably hurting you just as much as it is me..."

"It's okay." Harry said, keeping his emotions under control. "It's alright to want things...and one day we can have that life. We just...have to be patient." He said.

Erin nodded and just looked at him. Erin smiled and then kissed him. "Thanks, Harry."

Harry smiled down at her. "Anytime."

"Anytime?" Erin asked raising her eyebrows. She looked quickly to see if Madam Pomfrey and Hermione were heading back yet.

"Well... that's what I said." Harry said back with a grin. He leaned down and kissed her. Erin was lying on her back now as Harry kissed her.

Erin liked this side of Harry. Suddenly a voice interrupted them. "Well...I was told we had another injury to deal with...but you two can't be that hurt..."

Harry sat up quickly; a little embarrassed to be caught. "I was...trying to make her feel better." He added lamely, trying not to smile. Hermione blinked at them, mouth agape.

As it turned out Madam Pomfrey did have a sense of humor. "Be that as it may." She said sternly but with a glint in her eye like she was trying not to laugh. "Back to your bed." She looked at Erin's scratches. "Yes, like the other ones, can't imagine why I didn't see them before, perhaps your hair was in the way." Erin didn't say a word as Madam Pomfrey checked the wound and her other signs. "Yes, you have a slight concussion." She said and cleaned the wound thoroughly and used her wand to do a few quick bandages before giving her a potion to help the concussion. "All right. You four settle down now. If you need anything call." She left.

Erin burst out laughing then. Harry was laughing as well as Pomfrey left them and Hermione walked further into the hospital wing. She got a little smile on her as she stopped near Ron's bed. They looked at each other, both looking rather surprised by the behavior of the other two and then very suddenly Hermione swooped down, grabbed Ron's freckled face in both hands and planted a kiss on him, straight on the lips. Far more interesting then that kiss on the cheek earlier. When she finally pulled away she giggled at his expression and patted his head. "That was to make you feel better." She said laughing.

Erin's mouth dropped and then she laughed. "Hermione finally did it!"

Ron wasn't able to speak; he was staring strait ahead as though he were in a coma or something.

Harry let out a loud burst of laughter. "Alright Hermione!" He cheered. Hermione, grinned and blushed, giving them a little bow for show.

"Hermione, I think you've killed him!" Erin laughed. Ron was now lying back with his eyes closed and a huge grin on his face. Hermione giggled at him. Thinking at least he looks peaceful. She couldn't believe she just did that.

Erin still laughing got up off of her bed sat down next to Harry on his. "I think we're a bad influence on them."

"I think you're a bad influence on everyone." He teased.

"Oh really?" Erin asked with that familiar glint in her eyes. "Well, I don't think you've ever complained about that." Harry just grinned at her cheekily for that. Erin pushed Harry back on his bed and cuddled up next to him. "Ah, now I'm comfortable. Are you?"

"I am now." He said putting his arms around her.

"Good." Erin said. "Harry, can I ask you something?"

"Sure." He said. "What is it?"

"Earlier...you remember when you conjured the Patronus?" Erin hesitated a little.

Harry nodded in recognition, looking at her curiously. "Yes."

"I was just wondering...I know you have to have a very happy memory. And I was just wondering what the memory was...I mean I know it had to be something really big to conjure the Patronus as corporeal as that..."

"It was..." He started thoughtfully. "Well... when we were standing on the hill... me, you, and your dad... and I remember holding your hand, thinking about what it would be like to all be together after he talked about us going to live with him." He explained, staring up at the ceiling. "And when I saw us there and realized my dad wasn't going to save us... I just remember thinking I didn't want that dream to die. I didn't want Sirius to die. I didn't want to die... and I didn't want you to die... so I just... I guess I just did it." He told her.

Erin swallowed. "Harry, did you mean it when you said you loved me? Or did you just say it because I did...and we were dying?" She thought she knew the answer but she needed to hear it from him.

"I meant it Erin." Harry said, looking into her eyes, showing her he was telling the truth.

She smiled and hugged him tighter. "I love you, Harry." She snuggled up to him closing her eyes. "I'm just going to stay like this all night."

"I love you too." He said, wrapping her in his arms, smiling to himself.

Erin suddenly grinned. "Hey, Hermione, I am sure Ron won't mind if you cuddle up with him tonight!"

Hermione smiled. "Oh, I don't think so...one step at a time." She said from her seat by his bed. "Besides I wouldn't want to bump his injury." She said with a little smile.

"Like he would care." Erin said yawning and then she drifted off to sleep.