Harry and Katie hit the dance floor as several were leaving it. Harry put his arms around her waist and began the steps easily as Katie put her arms around his neck.

"So how was life like without Kelly Damen?" Katie asked, grinning.

"Oh, I lived without you," Harry said.

"But it was boring," Katie interjected.

"It was sad," Harry said.

There was a pause.

"Harry, would you like to come with me over the summer?" Katie asked.

"Where?" Harry asked.

"Oh, I couldn't tell you. I could show you, though, when the time came. Over the summers we used to get breaks off, and we'd go to this secret little base to train."

"I don't see why you do. I mean, it doesn't seem that hard. You kick a guy, you punch him in the nose. There's only so many times you can punch a punching bag."

"A what?" Katie asked.

"Oh, never mind. Muggle thing."

There was another pause as the music droned on.

"Would you want to come? You might be surprised," Katie said. "All the stuff we could teach you…."

"Wait… are you saying you'd want me to become one of you?" Harry asked.

"Well… no," Katie said. "I mean, we don't need or want another member on our team. But it could help you, ya know? You have to defeat the Dark Lord, and for all you know, a simple punch in the nose may be what finishes him."

Harry looked at her disbelievingly.

"Hey, it could happen," Katie said.

"So… I'd learn some of the stuff you guys know?" Harry asked. "What's my other option? Go to the Weasley's?"

"Yes," Katie said. "At the base, you would learn some stuff we know, and the really cool stuff, too. That's what that base is for, our training camp. Your other options are the Weasley's and, your favorite, the Dursley's."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, the Dursley's for sure."

Again there was a pause.

"But you still haven't answered my question."

Harry thought about it. It would be cool, to learn even a little of what they knew. But the Weasley's was so homey, a place he knew well. Change was supposed to be good, though, right?

"I'd be interested, at least," Harry finally said as the music came to a close. "I can't tell you exactly, but I'd most definitely be interested."

"Good," Katie said as Harry led them back to the table. "It's not a no. I can deal with that."

Katie and Harry said down. Katie looked around her. "Hey… where's my butterbeer?"

Heather's and Elyse's eyes grew very wide.

"Er… I'd love to stay, but I really must go see what Dumbledore wants for the next mission," Elyse said hastily.

"Oh, yes," Heather agreed. "And I have to… er… go check that the base is all right. We can't go there for the summer it's a pile of rubbish!"

"Bye!" the two said simultaneously.

"Oh no you don't…" Katie said, rushing after them and grabbing them by their collars. "And I actually thought you were going to be nice to me tonight…."

"We are nice to you!" Heather exclaimed, offended. "Just… not all the time…."

"Just when we really feel we love you, we have to be mean. What would happen if I went that sentimental on you?" Elyse pointed out.

"Life would be grand. Now go buy me two butterbeers. Now!" Katie ordered.

She sat down pleasantly as Elyse and Heather rushed for butterbeers. "Now… where were we?"

"Nowhere in particular," Harry answered.

No one spoke as an awkward silence lengthened between them.

"Harry," Katie said, "I'm really sorry. I really did want to tell you all about my secret. You can't imagine how much it hurt. I could see that you really liked me, it was so obvious in your eyes. And there I was, falling--well, I guess you could say I was falling in love with you, and you didn't even know who I really was. It was terrifying. I dreaded the day you would discover my true identity. You would probably make me out as a liar who couldn't be trusted."

"I did at first," Harry admitted quietly. "But some sense got knocked into me. I'm sorry I doubted you."

"I should never have taken on such a mission," Katie said.

"No, I know you had the best intentions," Harry said.

"Intentions? Harry, at the beginning, before I had even seen you, when I was first given this mission, I didn't want to do it. I didn't want such an important job on my hands, one that could change the world if I played my cards right. Anyone linked with you can change the world. But at the beginning, when I hadn't even met you, Harry, you were just another person part of the mission. I didn't care about what you thought or felt. I was doing my job. How is that good intentions?"

Her words hurt.

"Then I met you," Katie said, and a smile played across her face. "And boy, did that ever complicate things. I must tell you, this has to have been the worst mission I've ever done. I did it terribly. I got yelled at every night because I can do it so much better. A pathetic sixteen-year-old boy invaded my heart, ruining all decent sense in me. Worst, my identity was discovered by those outside Headquarters. Under normal circumstances I'd have to kill you, Ron, and Hermione, but something tells me Dumbledore might not be too happy."

"Yeah, I would think that, too," Harry agreed.

Two goblets of butterbeer came floating in front of them silently, as though trying to get there unnoticed. Katie looked around to see Elyse and Heather stealthily heading towards the exit.

"She saw us!" Elyse whispered.

"Run!" Heather urged, and they swept out of the Great Hall.

Both Harry and Katie grinned a bit, looking down at their butterbeers.

"Ya know," Harry said after a pause, fiddling with his butterbeer glass, "I wouldn't have expected you to invade my heart either."

There was a pause.

"Why did I?" Katie asked.

Harry thought. "I dunno. Beautiful, intelligent, action-lover. You like the same things I do, but I would never have thought of it when I first saw you in that carriage."

Katie grinned. "When I first saw you, I'd never have thought you would either."

Harry grinned. "Wonder why…?"
"No idea," Katie said, the grin still placed on her face.

There was another pause as Harry struggled to find what to say. He opened his mouth and closed it several times.

Katie looked up. She looked as though she, too, was having difficulty in finding just what she wanted to tell him.

Fred and George gained control of a spotlight as both were trying to figure out what to say. The two were having fun blinding people with it, sneaking up on the Slytherins, and giving the excellent dancers a few moments of fame.

Katie finally got out what she wanted to say first. "Harry… I love you."

Harry was struck momentarily dumb with the words. They were exactly what he had been trying to get out. Harry looked into her eyes. There was no smile behind the words. She was serious about what she had just said.

Katie met his eyes and for a moment, the two just stared in another awkward silence. Then Harry did something he'd only dreamed he would be able to do for the last week--he kissed her.

The favored spotlight flashed on them in the middle of Harry's kiss and the crowd began to "ooh". Katie broke away, laughing, and Harry had a permanent grin on his face.

"Harry and Kelly sittin' in a tree," George started. "K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

Katie laughed harder and Harry turned scarlet. "Shut up, George."

"He only wants me to shut up because he knows it's true!" George yelled. "Shall I continue with the rest of the very true song?"

Harry shook his head, laughing slightly. Katie smiled at him, and Harry smiled back at her. "Dare you," she whispered.

Harry didn't have to ask what she meant. Getting a leaping, reckless feeling, Harry grabbed Katie and kissed her again, not stopping for the even more "ooh"s that were flying about.

Harry let go to mountains of applause.

"Finally it happens!" Harry heard Dean say. "I'd been waiting for months!"

Harry looked at Katie, who was now just as scarlet as he was.

"I didn't think you'd actually do it," Katie said, a relishing smile on her lips.

"Neither did I," Harry said, smiling.

Katie looked at him, and her smile turned to one of delight. "I'm getting stuffy. I think we should go."

"I was thinking along those same lines," Harry said.

Katie and Harry stood.

"Where ya going, Harry?" Fred asked suspiciously, grinning.

Harry grinned back as a foolish daring seized him again. "Where you can't find us."

"Us?" George followed up quickly.

"Yeah, wanna come along?" Harry asked. "We're having a kissing contest."

George stuck out his tongue in a repulsed sort of way, making Harry smile.

Katie raised her eyebrows as he turned. "That was bold."

"I dunno what's up with me tonight," Harry said. "But it'll be interesting to see how things are tomorrow morning."