That day was the Quidditch Match that would decide who would win the Cup. Everyone looked anxious, but looking around, Kim realized that, had she and the group of students taken to the castle not gotten back yet, Evan Youngblood would've been the only player on the team.

"So," James concluded his and Kim's silence as they walked to the Locker Rooms. "Big game today."

"I suppose," Kim replied, personally not keen on playing today, as there was all the chance that she might get another black eye whilst dealing with Bludgers.

"What's got you all depressed?" he asked, tracing the wall's stones as they walked along the hall.

"Nothing really. I suppose I'm a bit concerned about getting another black eye," replied Kim, laughing dejectedly. She'd only changed emotions twice since she'd gotten back: once when she was talking to Lance, and once when she'd walked in on Ron and Hermione snogging as if there were no tomorrow and Harry not too far away, trying to do his homework and looking disgruntled.

James laughed a bit, "Why d'you have that in the first place? It's quite the shiner."

"I got in a fight," she muttered.

"Woah! A real fist fight? Like Muggle dueling?" his eyes seemed to light up. "Did you win?"

"No," Kim replied, cringing.

"Oh," his face darkened, "sorry." There was more silence. "Look," he said exasperatedly, "I think we should put all of our differences behind us at least for the game. You know – so we can work together." He looked slightly hopeful.

Kim smiled slightly, the first slight improvement since she'd talked to Lance last night. They'd reached the Locker Rooms now.

"Sure," she replied.

"Friends?" he asked, holding out a hand to her.

She looked at his hand and then took it. "Friends," she agreed and shook his hand.

0-o-0-o-0-o-0-o-0-o-0-o-0-o-0

"And it's Gryffindor versus Slytherin in the final match of the season, battling over the Cup," Harold Azaka shouted into the magically magnified microphone. "The Quaffle is released... taken into possession immediately by Evan Youngblood of Gryffindor... Youngblood to Weasley, Weasley to Youngblood, Youngblood to Gardner, and he scores against the Keeper! 10 - 0, Gryffindor!

"Slytherin in possession of the Quaffle. Nott to Zabini, Zabini to Lashapell, Lashapell... OH! Nice Bludger work by the Gryffindor Beaters! …And it's stolen by Gryffindor! Weasley takes it... she scores! 20 - 0 Gryffindor!"

The game raged on. Over suddenly becoming friends with James, Kim felt herself being able to work with him much more easily.

While Harry flew around in search of the Snitch, Malfoy got a maniac glint in his eye and saw the Snitch, instead.

"And Malfoy looks as though he's found the Snitch!"

Kim looked over. There was a golden blur in front of Malfoy's outstretched arm... Harry would never catch up in time.

"OH! Nice Bludger hit at Malfoy by Barkley of Gryffindor! Is he going to be all right? He looks out cold! It's fair, however, as my favorite Professor has informed me," Professor McGonagall rolled her eyes behind him "and the Snitch has disappeared again! Quaffle in Slytherin possession, Lashapell to Nott, Nott to Lashapell, Lashapell back to Nott, again... and they score! 60-50 Gryffindor."

Suddenly, Harry dove. Kim finished sending a Bludger over in Goyle's direction to watch. Harry captured the Snitch with amazing ease, now that Malfoy had gone. He held it above his head triumphantly and landed with great gusto as he was lifted onto the shoulders of the Gryffindor supporters. Kim leaned on her broomstick with her head on her elbow to watch him smiling, still holding the struggling Snitch and yelling and grinning with the rest. The Slytherins brushed past angrily and muttering amongst themselves as Kim watched her teammates rush over to accept the Quidditch Cup. She looked at Harry's grinning face and she smiled her first real smile. Ever.

0-o-0-o-0-o-0-o-0-o-0-o-0-o-0

The O.W.L. exams were over. Kim felt as though she'd passed everything but Divination. She wasn't really worried about it.

However, she was worried about the Summer Holidays and wondered nervously whether she'd be forced to give in to Karl several more times over the summer. Then a sickeningly horrible thought struck her and she wondered if she might get pregnant. She decided that she'd simply have to avoid Karl at all costs and shook her head sadly, thinking of poor Nassandra, who'd gotten pregnant at thirteen.

Upon a happier note, as she'd finished packing and was sitting in the Common Room reading her newest book that Professor Sprout had kindly given her, How to become an expert Healer, Harry sat down next to her without saying a thing. Kim did not acknowledge his presence at the moment and continued reading four more pages until she realized that he was staring at her.

"What? Did my black eye come back?" she asked, rubbing the eye on which her shiner had once been.

"No," Harry replied slowly.

"Well, what, then?" she wondered, "Do you want to know where Ron or Hermione went? Because I wouldn't go into your Dormitory if I were you... the last time I saw, Neville had gone up there and came back down looking as though he'd walked in on something important-"

"No," Harry replied, still gazing at her.

She blinked, "WHAT, then?"

He continued to stare. Then, finally, "Do you remember at the castle how I wanted to tell you something before I disappeared?"

"Yes," Kim answered slowly. "What were you going to say?"

"I wanted to say," he paused, "that I think that I... love you..."

Those words trailed off into nothingness while Kim just stared back at him for the longest time.

"Y-You... what?" Kim repeated, but she was sure that she'd heard him correctly.

"I love you, Kim. Plain and simple," he repeated, watching her reaction.

She watched him a moment longer. Was it just her, or was he getting closer? Yes, he definitely was. He didn't seem to be joking... what was going on? Why was everything falling to quickly out of her original routine?

Kim quit thinking after a moment and whispered, "I love you, too, Harry."

Harry looked slightly taken aback, but didn't waste any time before kissing her. It was much the same as the kiss he'd given her before, but this time, Kim thought she knew it was a real kiss. It wasn't a thank-you from Orlando, a kiss to prove that he could get anyone from James, or a strange kiss that somehow didn't feel quite right from Terry... this was real. And Kim enjoyed it.

She wasn't sure how long exactly they'd been kissing, but a loud noise like someone clearing their throat was made and they stopped, Kim remembering that they were in the Common Room and then found with much surprise that Harry was practically on top of her. Then she saw Ron and Hermione looking at them with grins.

Kim blushed and tried to get up, but Harry was frozen stiff.

"Er, Sorry," he muttered and got up. "I guess I got a bit carried away..."

But Kim didn't think this was true at all. To prove that she felt this way, she leaned over and began kissing him again, not caring that Ron and Hermione were both staring. This felt great. She didn't want it to end. She wanted to go to the Order for the summer and stay there with Harry.

But I can't, she realized bitterly. I've got to spend the summer with Karl.

Ron and Hermione seemed to have left in sheer amazement when the kissing broke apart the next time. Harry's emerald eyes were glittering and Kim felt her heart rise and fly away like a bird.

"Harry, you weren't joking around when you said that, right?" she asked quietly.

"No, of course not!" he answered, kissing her again.

Kim sighed, "But I've already got a path lain out for me. Remember?"

Harry's expression darkened a great deal and so suddenly that it was alarming. "I don't care, Kim. I don't care if you marry Karl, because I'll still love you. You've just confirmed it."

"When I come to the Order's Headquarters to report what I've found out, I'll look for you. I hope you'll be there. I'll look for you, and I hope I'll find you, so I can be reassured that there really is love in the world."

"And I'll be there," he replied firmly and sealing the promise with a kiss.