"Mr. Wood! Miss Gryffindor! What are you doing out here?" Hayleigh blinked, and looked up at McGonagall. She looked behind her, and Oliver was blinking still, trying to wake up. "Its freezing out here, lets get you inside," she said, pulling them off the ground. Hayleigh put her arms around his waist as they walked, his arms still around her shoulders, and they headed inside, shivering.

Hayleigh lifted the shawl from her bed, wrapped it tightly around her shoulders, and walked down stairs, sneezing.

"Bless you," a voice said. She lifted her eyes. Oliver and Ron were on the couch in front of the fire, Ron doing his homework and Oliver drinking hot cocoa. Hayleigh smiled, and sat between them, her legs pulled up under her.

"Thank you." She looked over at Ron, and glanced at his homework. "Having fun?" she asked.

"Tons," he muttered sarcastically. Hayleigh turned to Oliver.

"Classes are over, aren't they?"

"Yea.we got excused cause we.we.." He paused, sneezing. She patted his shoulder, and he smiled.

"Thanks.cause we're sick. But they said that we can still go to Hogsmeade tomorrow." Hayleigh clapped her hands.

"Goody. I love Hogsmeade." He smiled.

"Of course. It gets us out of here for a while."

She brushed her hair out that morning, carefully, and put a single red bow in it, pulling the top layer of her hair up a mini ponytail, that rested on the bottom layer of hair. Since it was Valentine's Day, she dressed a little nicer than usual, and headed downstairs, to meet up with Oliver. As she came down the steps, he was standing near the picture with Ron, Harry, Seamus, the Weasley twins, and Neville, laughing. He looked up, and waved. She jogged down.

"So, what are your plans for today, Wood? What shops are you going to hit?" George asked.

"Thought I'd buy some candy, actually, and I found this really neat broom kit, so I can keep mine looking good," he said. Hayleigh smiled, and saw Ginny and Hermoine come down the steps. They each took one of Hayleigh's arms, and pulled her through the portrait hole, giggling. The boys followed behind them, and they ran outside, catching up with everyone else. Hayleigh dropped back for a minute, slipping in between Oliver and Harry.

"Didn't get to see you this morning, so.good morning," she said, kissing his cheek.

"Morning," he said, smiling down at her. She hesitated for a second, and hurried up beside Hermoine and Ginny.

They walked down the street, looking in the windows of every shop, Hayleigh wondering where Oliver was. She finally turned around, and spotted Seamus, laughing, with Harry a little ways off.

"I'll be back." She jogged over, away from Hermoine and Ginny, and stopped in front of them.

"Hey, Hayleigh," they said.

"Guys? Have you seen Oliver?" she asked. Seamus and Harry looked around.

"I think he went in that shop.over there," Harry said, pointing to one across the road. Hayleigh nodded.

"Thanks," she said, and jogged over, pushing open the door. A little chime placed above the door gave a tinkling sound, pretty to her ear, as she walked in, and looked around. Across the shop she saw the counter, and a woman was behind it, filing her fingernails. Hayleigh smiled faintly; the store had been decorated for Valentine's Day, and it had been a while since she actually enjoyed one. She browsed among the shelves, seeing the things they had around, and she stopped in front of a little jewelry display. A gold chain supported a dangling silver heart locket decorated with very tiny diamonds. Hayleigh smiled at how beautiful it was, glittering in the faint sunlight from outside. She closed her eyes, trying to imagine something like that against her robes at graduation, when the hands clasped over her eyes.

"Hey," a voice breathed into her ear. She turned around, and smiled up at Oliver.

"Hey. I was actually looking for you," she said, touching his waist.

"You were looking for me in a necklace?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No. I was looking for you, and stopped to look at the necklace. It's beautiful," she said, turning around, running her finger over it. He pulled her carefully from the display, and headed outside.

"Come on, let's go get a butter beer," he said, opening the door to the tavern. She smiled, and walked in, sitting down near the back with him, and Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and Seamus, who had already been there.

She waited in the line, and looked for Oliver. He ran up, pulling his hands from his pockets, and smiled.

"Sorry.had to get one last thing," he said, taking a deep breath. She smiled, and slipped her hand into his, as they headed back Hogwarts.

Hayleigh was sitting down on the couch, eyes closed, thinking to herself, when she heard the portrait open, and close, and someone walk past her. She didn't look up: it really didn't matter to her. It felt to her that Oliver forgot it had been Valentine's Day, so she had just taken the bow from her hair and dropped it into the fire, not wanting it anymore. Sighing to herself, she got up, and walked out of the common room, and roamed through the halls for a little while.

When she returned, she saw Oliver at the fireplace, looking into the flames, his back to her.

"Oliver?" she asked. He didn't turn his head.

"Yea?"

"Are you alright?" she asked, slowly walking closer.

"What happened to your bow, Hayl?" She blushed.

"Well.I don't know.I must have dropped it." she said.

"Into the fire?" he asked. She saw the burnt remains of it laying on the floor, and sighed.

"Yeah. Into the fire."

"What's wrong?"

"Today was Valentine's Day, you know," she whispered, placing her hands on his sides and her head against his back.

"Of course I know. How could I forget?" he asked, turning around. She turned to see his hand, but he jammed it into his pocket.

"You didn't say anything."

"Neither did you, Hayleigh," he pointed out. She nodded, and leaned over, gently kissing his cheek. He smiled. She turned away, and went to sit on the couch. He walked up behind her, and threw something around her neck, pulling it and hooking it in the back. She jumped, the feel of it cold against her skin. "Is it still cold? Sorry." he said as she turned to face him. Looking down, she saw the silver heart locket from the store glittering in the light from the fire. She popped it open, and the light danced about on a small picture of her, and another small picture of him, laughing. Her face lifted, eyes watering, and she looked at him.

"You.got this for me?"

"Of course I did. You said it was beautiful, remember?" She smiled, and put her arms around his shoulders.

"Now I feel bad for not getting you anything."

"You got me out of Azkaban. That's enough for me." She smiled again, and kissed him, sitting on the floor, pulling him with, giggling.

She yawned, and slowly opened her eyes, to find herself looking at the charred remnants in the fireplace. Hayleigh rolled over, and looked at Oliver, whose eyes were closed, breathing softly, still asleep. Smiling, she carefully pulled out from under his hand, and, feeling the chill in the air, turned to start up another fire. As it flared, she turned to find him standing at the bulletin board, scratching his head, yawning.

"Morning, sleepy head," she said, smiling.

"Morning." She walked over, and slid her hands over his back, kissing his neck. He put an arm around her shoulder, and pointed to a notice on the board.

ATTENTION STUDENTS! The Graduation dance will be held on April 30st, and anyone who is currently a fourth year or older may attend. (Anyone younger who attends has to have been asked by a fourth year or up!!!) Start getting
ready! It shall be upon you before you know it!

Hayleigh smiled.

"Graduation dance.was it always for fourth years and up?" she asked, looking up at him.

"I don't remember." he said, shrugging. She smiled, and placed her head against his chest.

"I'm surprised we fell asleep out here," she said, turning and walking back to the fireplace, holding out her hands.

"I actually wasn't paying attention. We did fall asleep out here, didn't we?" he asked. She smiled, giggling, and nodded. Turning around, she picked up her sweater from the table on the opposite wall, sliding it over her head. "Your cold?"

"Yes. Aren't you?" she asked. He shook his head, and smiled, jogging up to his room, to get his shoes. Hayleigh, giggling, went after him, and leaned towards the window, looking out, to see what it was like outside. A fresh coat of snow had fallen during the night, and she turned around to him.

"What's it look like?" he asked.

"Snow." She turned around, and smiled, heading back down the steps, him right behind her. She jammed her gloves into her pockets, and headed for the portrait hole.

"Where do you think your going?" he asked, grabbing her around the waist. She laughed.

"Breakfast. I'm hungry," she said, smiling, and turning to face him. He smiled, and kissed her, quickly, before passing her and heading out the door. "Hey!" she exclaimed, running after him. They raced each other through the halls, to the Great Hall, and found the other students still filing in. Smiling, she pushed him to the side, and sat next to Harry, leaving him to sit a ways down the table.

Breakfast was appearing on the plates, and the mail began to arrive. Owls swooped down, crying out, dropping the letters and packages onto the tables, and into the hands of the students. Hayleigh caught a letter that Tallie dropped, before flying away. She flipped it over and over in her hands, looking for a name, but found nothing but her initials on the front. Shrugging, confused, she opened it, and read the letter to herself. She dropped her jaw, tears forming in her eyes, the color on her face draining. A small cry escaped her lips, and those at the table around her froze, looking at her. Oliver had just picked up his fork; Seamus and Neville were holding their glasses to their mouths, some juice slowly dripping onto their plates; Harry had his teeth bitten into a piece of bacon; Ron and Hermoine were bringing their slices of ham to their plates; and George and Fred had their forks halfway to their mouths, the eggs hanging off them, yolks broken, dripping onto the table. She looked up, and glanced at them all. Lifting her eyes, she saw McGonagall at the front table, nodding. Hayleigh wasn't sure how she knew, but then turned her head to the Slytherin table. The only person who was looking back was the one person she had never expected. Draco Malfoy. Hayleigh lowered her eyes back to the paper, and slowly stood up, walking out of the room. Those around her quickly finished their breakfast as it started to disappear.

She stood in the hall, hands shaking, tears spilling over her eyes, still pale, still staring at the letter. Oliver, George, Seamus, Neville, Fred, Harry, Ron, and Hermoine ran out, standing around her, a small gap to her side. As the kids flooded out, Draco stopped, looking over at her. Hayleigh looked back at him, and let go of the letter, walking over. He faintly nodded, and she began to cry, finally.

"What does it say?" Harry asked softly, looking at the letter. Hayleigh turned back towards them, picking the letter up off the floor.

"It says.it says.it says." she repeated, trying to catch her breath, and stop crying. Oliver put his arms around her shoulders.

"Do you want me to read it?" She nodded, unable to stop herself. Oliver held the letter in his hand, and read it over.

Hayleigh~
I hate being the one to tell you this. In fact, I hate being the good guy for once. It sends a chill up my spine. But I guess I should, since it is your life we're talking about.but it's mine too, I guess. I know that they still do not know who caught the person who killed your father, and for that.I am sorry. Ugh. Made myself sick saying that. but I can tell you who did do it.My father killed him, accompanied by your mother. They have been having a secret affair for years, and your father found out. That was why they killed him. I wish you didn't have to hear this from me, and I know you hate me, but you must believe me. I wouldn't blame my father for something like this unless it was true. You probably should know that.somehow. I know that you know when to believe the right thing.believe me, now. Please.

~Draco Malfoy.