Chapter Eleven

Kate smiled. She and Harry were eating their dinner alone in the coolness of the Tower. Earlier, she'd visited the elves in the kitchen for some food and drink. With their help, she'd also found some candles and a pretty lace tablecloth in a forgotten storage room. The green eyes danced in the candlelight; they had eyes only for each other.

"Do you want to dance?" Harry asked, surprising Kate. Harry wasn't one for spontaneity.

Kate nodded and took the hand he offered. His fingers felt callused and rough, from the demanding Quidditch training he was putting himself through, Kate guessed, against hers. "There's no music."

Harry moved his hand to the small of her back, pulling her body toward his. With the other, he held her hand, letting the twined arms hang at their sides. They felt comfortable, like this. Standing close, feeling the other's warmth, while turning slow circles, lost in each other's eyes. Harry began to hum some tune he'd half forgotten.

Kate began to laugh. "What are you doing?" The blissful smile traveled to her eyes shining in the small amount of light.

"I'm making music for you," he half-smiled and kissed her forehead, then her lips.

Kate rested her head on his shoulder, breathing in his boy-smell. To her, it seemed every kiss they shared had been slow and caring. He never rushed her. He made her safe.

"Thank you, Harry," she whispered; she was not only talking about the music.

Harry woke up and it was dark in the Tower. It had become their custom for him to sleep there. It wasn't a sex thing, but a comfort thing. When he woke from a tortured dream, she was there, soothing him in a hushed voice.

He'd woken up because he thought he heard music from far off. Strange music. Like pipes.

Unable to fall back into sleep, Harry disentangled himself from Kate's arms and stood at the window. He could see a garden blocked off by a high stone wall. Harry's heart began to pound out rhythms in his chest. It was The Garden.

Once Harry found himself outside, he marched through the dew-covered grass to the Garden. It wasn't far. The peculiar circular could be seen at the ground entrance to the Tower. As he neared, the music grew louder. A black cat perched on top of the wall meowed at him. He blinked. Kali. That was the cat's name. Harry pressed his hands to the door once again. The magic seeped into his body, making his whole being tingle, not only in his hands. He felt ready for this.

"Show me," he said to the cat. Kali stared at him through deep sapphire eyes. Harry thought of a knob, still looking into Kali's eyes. A tarnished silver knob materialized under his fingers. It was unlocked. Harry turned it and the door creaked open. He took off his shoes, it seemed more appropriate. He moved into the Garden and followed the eerily familiar stone pathway that he'd dreamt of following but never been.

Returning from the Garden, Harry held Kali in his arms. He had gone to the Garden, but only poking around. It gave him an eerie feeling like he was somewhere he shouldn't be.

Harry let himself into the Tower and climbed the stairs. As he passed windows along the staircase, he noticed the sun was already starting to rise. He'd been gone longer than he'd realized. Harry opened the heavy door to their quarters. A fuzzy feeling filled his chest. Their quarters. Kali jumped from his arms and settled on a chair.

In the bedroom, Kate was still sleeping, the golden light washing her face and hair. Harry wasn't tired. The Garden had awoken him.

"Kate?" he said, gently waking her.

She stirred and blinked open her eyes. Kate's eyes watered slightly at being woken so suddenly. Harry rubbed the moisture away with his thumbs. "Good morning, Sunshine," she said mischievously, yawning. Or as mischievously as Kate could sound at the crack of dawn.

He wanted to share the beauty he saw outside with her. "I want to show you something." He pulled a blanket draped over a chair and draped it over her shoulders as she stood up. The Tower had a patio of wrought iron. He led her onto it, an arm around her shoulders. When Kate saw the tangerine sky, she gasped.

"Harry, it's beautiful."

"I know. Beauty for my beauty."

Kate smiled at him. It was one of the few 'smooth' things he'd ever said. "Thank you."

Harry stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her frame, resting his chin on her shoulder. "You're welcome."

Slowly, the sun migrated into the sky, running from the horizon for the day. "I love you, Kate." Harry turned a surprised Kate around and kissed her. She relaxed into his body, running her hands over his back and shoulders in unhurried circles. Kate didn't know what to answer. In truth, she didn't know if she loved Harry or not. She couldn't say it if she wasn't sure. "I don't know what to say, Harry," she said truthfully into his chest.

He didn't make her look at him. "Are we okay?"

"Yes."

"Then it's okay if you don't know. I love you so I can wait."

Kate nodded into his chest and rubbed a tear from her cheek. "Okay."

The sun warmed them and Kate shed the blanket. 'I went to the Garden last night.' He formed the words carefully in his head, unsure about the whole experience. He wanted to tell her so bad, share his news. But the words wouldn't come out. He wanted to tell her, but something deep inside stopped him. What it was, he didn't know.

A/N: Hey. I know it's short. I cut off the next part because I thought it more appropriate to start it on a new chapter. Thanks for checking out the newly re-written chapters. --Ali