Well here's another chapter for whoever's reading this! I know that things have been a little confusing so far but I promise that everything starts to clear up soon in fact I guess it sorta starts in this chapter so bear with me ok. And I already have the next chapter written and I promise that if I get more reviews I will post it quickly ok? So enjoy! I got the idea for this chapter title from Michelle Branch's song "Sweet Misery"

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine he's J.K. Rowlings

Aaralyn was pulled back into reality by the steady sound of footsteps on the pavement across the street. Cold fingers wrapped around her lungs and inhibited her breath. Harry's curiosity was killing him, who was it that had Aaralyn so utterly terrified? He thought about glancing around the tree trunk in order to get a better look at them but his thoughts were interrupted by the sudden change in the mystery person's footsteps. They were coming closer to Harry and Aaralyn's hiding place. The person was crossing the street!

Aaralyn went rigid in Harry's arms. Her thoughts were chaotic, one after the other they streamed into her head, giving her no rest. 'If she sees us were both dead. She'll know that Harry wasn't with the other men and she'll realize I helped him!' She shivered as an old memory sprang into her mind; it was the memory of what had happened to the last friend she had helped. 'Why did I do this anyway? Haven't I learned by now?' But just as soon as she had asked the question a little voice answered it. 'You did the right thing and you know it.' The voice was right she'd only known Harry for a few weeks but he was the best friend she'd ever had. Maybe more… She stopped herself there, reminding herself the no matter what she and Harry could never be more than friends.

Harry listened carefully to his unseen enemy and his breath seemed to stop as the footsteps started to slow as they approached the tree. Then they stopped.

"Aaralyn?" A woman's voice called quietly. The sound of her voice enraptured Harry and made his blood run cold at the same time.

Upon hearing her name Aaralyn flinched and buried her head in Harry's chest. Harry in response instinctively pulled her closer with one hand and slowly started to reach for his wand with the other. But as he touched the polished handle he remembered that it was still summer and he could and probably would be expelled from Hogwarts. That thought stopped him dead in his tracks. 'Screw the rules,' Harry thought recklessly. The only thing that he was thinking about right now was the shivering girl in his arms. 'Her memories will be erased.' His voice of reason announced abruptly and in remembering what had happened to Lockhart second year Harry let his hand drop from his wand.

The woman on the other side of the tree spoke again. "Aaralyn is that you?" Harry and Aaralyn heard the threat in her question.

'Damn now what!' Harry looked around frantically for ideas of what to do. He had to shield her from view. His eyes caught on a couple now on the other end of the block. A light blush crept onto his cheeks as an idea came to him. 'This could ruin our friendship.' He thought ruefully. Before he could think things through the woman took another step around the tree. His instinct kicked in and before he knew what he was doing his plan was in action.

In one swift motion Harry switched places with Aaralyn so that her back was against the trunk of the tree. 'Thank you quidditch' Harry thought to himself. Aaralyn in the meantime had snapped her head up and was looking at Harry very confused. 'Are we caught? What is Harry doing?' Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden sensation of Harry's lips on hers. Aaralyn's eyes shot open in shock as a sweet warmth swept through her. Harry pulled back a fraction of an inch; he could feel her warm breath on his lips. He watched as a deep pink blush rose to cheeks. 'What just happened?' Aaralyn asked herself, a little afraid to hear the answer.

"Follow my lead," Harry whispered softly before leaning in to kiss her again not quite sure what he was doing himself. Understanding dawned on her. Aaralyn smiled (as well as she could anyway) and started to kiss him back. She noted that Harry carefully kept her face blocked so when the woman finally came into view she couldn't see who was standing there.

"Aar- Oh! I'm sorry I thought you were… erhm nevermind, so sorry," The woman spoke quickly clearly a bit shocked at what she'd stumbled upon. Aaralyn despite herself found her head turning to face the captivating voice's owner. Harry though, caught on and brought a hand up to her face holding her head in place. 'I can't believe I'm doing this,' he thought to himself. It wasn't that he didn't like it; in fact that was what scared him. Nothing had ever felt like this. It felt… right to have Aaralyn in his arms. Little did he know that the person on the other end of the kiss was thinking the same thing.

After what seemed to be an eternity the woman turned and left. Harry drew back slowly a furious blush showing under his now crooked glasses, he saw that Aaralyn wore one that matched. Aaralyn let out a sigh of relief as she watched the woman grow smaller against the horizon. Harry followed her gaze still wondering who it was he had just "saved" Aaralyn from. Aaralyn now noticing Harry's glasses started to laugh and reached up to fix them. Harry in the mean time went to wipe the blood from the cut on her face but found that only more blood had been smeared onto her cheek from the cut on his thumb.

"Thanks," Aaralyn laughed again and went to wipe her face herself.

Harry couldn't stand it anymore; he had to ask, "Aaralyn who was that?" He watched as her face visibly fell and her shoulders slumped.

"She's my mother," Aaralyn's voice was just above a whisper. Harry's mouth formed an "O" and he immediately regretted asking. "I- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…" Harry dropped off. 'What didn't I mean to do?'

"It's ok Harry really," Aaralyn smiled weakly, the late afternoon sun throwing dramatic shadows across her face.

"Would you like to talk about it?" Harry asked kindly. He and his friends had been through a lot of hard things and he had always found that talking about them helped relieve the pressure they presented. But he also understood that sometimes people needed time to think things through before they wanted to share. He knew that feeling very well.

"No really I'm alright." Harry hated the sound of the false cheeriness Aaralyn had forced into her voice. Quite suddenly his mind recalled the days past events and his blush once again dusted his face.

"Umm… about today?" Harry shifted his feet uncomfortably. God he hated being nervous. For him nervousness and fear could mean his death if he wasn't careful.

Aaralyn looked at him quizzically then what he was asking dawned on her. 'About the kissing…' and the exact opposite of what she was thinking popped out of her mouth.

"Oh! That? Just forget about it." She spoke a little too quickly. 'If only it were that easy to forget.' Her thoughts betrayed her. She couldn't afford the emotions she was feeling, no matter how much she wanted them. "Well I've gotta go," She started to step back. If she couldn't close off these feelings she was going to run from them.

"Alright goodnight, and be careful." Harry watched her walk away, realizing for the first time that he wouldn't see her the next day, he was leaving for Hogwarts. Then something on his thumb caught his attention, a silver liquid was sticking to it.

"Yeah, yeah, you too!" Aaralyn called as she ran down the street. Harry was relieved to see that she was really smiling now.

"Damn," Aaralyn whispered to herself once she was out of earshot. Like it or not she could tell she was falling head over heels for Harry. "At least I can let my feelings cool while I'm away at school," she sighed. It was going to be a long school year. Little did she know that Harry's mind was following the same train of thought.

Hey everybody so yeah I know things are still pretty confusing but I promise that things will slowly start making more sense. And just a side note Harry and Aaralyn met after Harry's Birthday and Aaralyn's isn't until January. Remember the more you review that faster I update! The next chapter is looooong.