Warning: Contains Smut (hence the rating of the overall story). Written in my Grade 12 Physics class. Needless to say, I barely passed.

The next day dawned dark and gloomy, mirroring the mood inside the castle. Harry tried desperately at breakfast to make Kit smile, laugh, or even look at him, but she remained stubborn. Hermione was also acting oddly, constantly casting glances to the Slytherin table. Ginny was equally quiet, smiling at Harry, but when he looked at her there was something in her eyes that he could not quite place. Something cold.

"Are you coming, Harry?"

He looked up at Ron, noticing for the first time that morning that the Great Hall was emptying.

"Yeah," he said, getting up clumsily, his eyes searching the crowd for Kit.

A laugh echoed behind them, and the two boys turned to find Draco and Kit laughing together, standing very close together.

"What the –?"

"Come on, Harry," Ron intoned, turning him back around. "Just leave it."

"But it's Malfoy!"

Ron sighed. "I'll talk to her later."

"Really?"

Ron nodded, pulling Harry through the hall as he tried to keep Kit in his sight.

"Hey, have you seen the Daily Prophet today?" Seamus asked them as they neared the Charms classroom.

"No, why?" Ron asked, steering Harry away from Kit, who glared at them as they passed.

"Harry's in it," Dean said in an undertone.

"With Kit," Seamus added loudly. "Some reporter got a photo of them coming out of the Alcoholics Anonymous building in Muggle London."

Ron's face turned pale as Harry and the rest of the class froze, staring at Seamus.

"Can I see it?" Harry asked quietly.

Seamus pulled the paper out of his bag and handed it to Harry. He flipped the pages, and (sooner than he had hoped) found the article titled "Potter More Troubled than Believed."

"Damn it," Harry breathed, his eyes roving the article, phrases jumping out at him like 'increasingly unstable', 'needs a proper guardian', and 'rumoured to be bribing and harming –'

" – 'Fellow students in order to obtain his disgusting habit'?" Hermione read over his shoulder.

Harry looked up at her, pleading her with his eyes that she would –

"Oh," she breathed, nodding her head slightly.

"Take your seats please!" Professor Flitwick interrupted from the front of the class.

Harry settled himself between Hermione and Ron, directly behind Kit.

"Who wrote that?" Ron asked under his breath to Harry, whom of which was still looking at the article. He pointed to the name written there. "Damn," Ron muttered, turning back to take notes.

"Who? Why?" Hermione asked, quill moving incessantly.

"Earl Molson," Ron said, turning his attention from the lesson to Harry and Hermione. "Mum practically worships the ground he walks on."

"That's not good," breathed Harry.

"And Kit's in the picture with you," Hermione whispered. "Mrs. Weasley isn't fond of her as it is. This is bad."

"You can say that again."

Kit had turned around to the trio.

"I've been put into your group for practice," she stated.

"So you're going to talk to me now?" Harry asked hopefully.

"Silencio," Kit said, pointing her wand at Harry. "Here's the list we're practising," she added, not missing a beat as she laid out a piece of parchment in front of them.

"Brilliant," Hermione muttered, pulling out her wand.

"You sure love learning, don't –?"

"Silencio," Hermione interrupted, cutting Ron's words short.

The two girls laughed as the boys scowled, but Harry noticed that Kit's smile did not quite reach her eyes. The class sped by, and in no time they were walking down the corridor to Transfiguration when Jonathon grabbed Hermione's arm.

"What's going on?" he asked as she turned around.

"Nothing," she answered, not meeting his gaze. "You have to go to –"

"Tell me what happened last night," he said, interrupting her.

"It – I mean – you don't –"

The first bell rang and Hermione pulled out of his grasp as the students around them hurried o get to class.

"I'll tell you later," she called, leaving him standing in the middle of the corridor.

"Will you tell us, too?" Harry asked as they took their seats in class.

Hermione did not seem to hear as she pulled her books from her bag. Harry shot Ron a look. Ron nodded, slipping a piece of parchment from his bag and scribbling on it. As he passed it to Hermione, Kit passed a note to Harry.

"What, you won't talk to my face?" he whispered, but she turned around without answering as McGonagall began the class.

He unfolded the note and read:

Harry, you know the one thing that will make me forgive you. But it won't be easy. You'd better be ready to bend over backwards for me. And speak to me like you did again, and I will run off with Malfoy. You know I will. Use your own discretion. –Kit.

"Mr. Potter, are you paying attention?"

"Yes, Professor," Harry replied. "I'm hanging on to your every word."

"See me after class."

Harry bowed his head. God, did he screw up this time.

"We'll meet you after dinner," Hermione said as the bell rang.

"You aren't going to class?" Harry asked suspiciously.

Hermione shook her head. "I need to talk to Ron about … well …"

"I get it," Harry said, nodding as Kit passed.

"Are you going to patch things up with her?"

"Yeah," Harry said, watching her leave the room. "But she said it's going to be hard."

"You screwed up?" Hermione said, looking at the note in his hand. "What did you say to her?"

Harry shook his head as McGonagall beckoned him to the front of the class. "See you after dinner."

"Potter, what is going on with you?"

Harry bowed his head again as McGonagall stared at him. "I'm Harry Potter," he muttered. "Isn't that enough?"

"No," she said sharply. "You're falling behind in your classes, and if you still want to be an auror you have to shape up."

"Yes, Professor," he said as the door closed behind the last student.

"But that's not why I wanted to talk to you."

Harry's stomach dropped a couple notches at the tone in her voice. "What happened?"

"Your aunt and uncle have been attacked."

"What?"

"Death Eaters have tracked them down. They were attacked last night. Only your aunt survived."

"What?"

"She's now at Grimmauld Place. The charms put on their home seem to have worn out over time. Your cousin does not know yet. Dumbledore wants you to tell him."

"Tell him what?"

"That they have to live at Grimmauld Place."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"I wish I was," McGonagall sighed.

"Why me?"

"That damned Prophesy."

"You said it, not me," Harry sighed.

"So what did you want to talk to me about?"

Hermione sighed as she sat on his bed. "Last night."

"Oh."

"I – I mean – I figure that you should know."

"Not Harry?"

Hermione looked up at Ron. "I don't feel the same way with him as I feel with you."

Ron fell silent as he sat down next to her. "What did you find out last night?"

"I'm related to Malfoy."

"What?"

Hermione sighed as tears filled her eyes. "Malfoy's mom is my aunt. Draco and I are cousins."

"How? I thought you were a Muggle born," Ron said, aghast.

"I thought so too. Dad's a Muggle, but mom is a Black. She was put into an orphanage when she turned out to be a Squib."

"Wow."

"And Lucius Malfoy … he – he – he killed them both," she breathed as tears fell down her cheeks.

"I'm so sorry," Ron whispered, wiping away the tears with his thumb.

"And Narcissa just stood there while he did. I watched it happen," she added softly.

"I'm so sorry," repeated Ron, wrapping his arms around her and letting her cry onto his shoulder.

"So am I," she sobbed.

"Are you going to tell Jonathon?"

She shook her head against his shoulder. "I can't. Not yet."

"Okay."

"Oh, sorry," a voice said from the door.

Hermione broke away from Ron as Ginny came into the room.

"I just needed to – um –"

"To what, Gin?" Ron asked hoarsely.

"Nothing," she whispered, backing out of the room, covering her wrists as though she was cold. "Sorry I interrupted."

"We should go anyways," Hermione breathed, wiping her eyes.

"Okay."

"Where have you been?"

"No where," Harry said, sitting next to Hermione on the couch.

"You missed dinner."

"You missed class. Can we skip the third degree?"

"Sorry," she said softly, noticing the edge to his voice.

"No, I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to bite your head off like that."

Hermione shook her head. "It's okay. Do you know what's wrong with Ginny?"

"No, I haven't seen her in a while. Why?"

"She came into your dorm today when Ron and I were talking."

"Just talking?" Harry said slyly.

"Harry!"

He laughed. "I was kidding! Why, was she acting oddly?"

"Yeah, she sort of covered her bare skin when she left."

"That is odd," Harry said nonchalantly.

"And you don't care," Hermione snapped.

"Sorry, but my uncle just died and now Aunt Petunia is living at Number Twelve," Harry said softly.

"What?"

"I'll explain later. I only want to say it once. Do you know where Kit is?"

Hermione's jaw had fallen open. "Umm, no, she wasn't at dinner."

"Damn. I need to find her. See you later."

"Curfew!" Hermione called after him as he left through the portrait hole.

"Tell me now."

"Tomorrow," Hermione said, turning away from her brother with tears resurfacing in her eyes.

"You're crying, tell me now."

Hermione shook her head as she hurried up the girls' dormitory stairs, leaving her little brother without answers for the second time that day.

Harry wandered the halls for half an hour before he found Kit coming out of the girl's bathroom.

"Kit!"

She quickened her pace as she recognized his voice, tears welling up in her eyes. She willed herself not to cry as she turned the corner.

"Kit," he said, grabbing her elbow. She wrenched herself out of his grasp, turning to face him with anger in her eyes.

"Bugger off."

"I have Skittles."

"What?"

He pulled the red bag out of his cloak pocket. "Does it work?"

She eyed the bag hungrily, but backed away from him. "No."

"Please," he said, ripping it open and offering her one. "I need to make this better between us."

"Why?"

He took a red one and popped it into his mouth. "Because I love you," he said.

The skittle in his mouth had her gaze. She licked her lips.

"I just want a minute," Harry begged, holding out his other hand to her.

She eyed it warily before taking it. "I'll give you five."

Harry smiled, putting the bag back in his pocket. "Come with me."

He led her higher into the castle, up into the tallest astronomy tower. Entering the tiny, circular room, Kit gasped as she ran to the window. The sight of the grounds through the window was magical. The crescent moon barely lit up the new buds on the endless expanse of trees of the forest, and the lake shimmered as the moonlight hit its surface. Most magnificent of all, however, were the stars that sparkled in the dark sky, almost seeming to wink at all that gazed upon them.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Harry asked softly, coming up behind her, not touching her. She could feel his warmth behind her and closed her eyes.

"Breathtaking," she whispered.

"I didn't know what else to do to –"

Kit turned to look at him. She stared into his green eyes, her expression softening as his eyes sparkled with the stars.

"I love you," he whispered, taking in every speckle of gold of her eyes. "I love you and I would never – never –"

"Harry," she breathed, taking his face in her hands. She ran her thumb along his jaw line, feeling his unshaven fuzz. His midnight shadow, she thought, smiling gently.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, his breath warm on her lips, eyes still glued to hers.

"I'll always forgive you," she said softly, eyes filling with tears.

"Please," he breathed, his breath now mingling with hers, "don't cry."

"I love you," she breathed, pulling his face to hers and kissing him deeply. His hands found her waist and he pulled her to him. He spoke softly when they broke for breath.

"I don't want to bugger it up again."

"You won't," she breathed, letting her hands fall to her chest.

"Let's hope not," he whispered against her cheek, leading her to the solitary bench against the wall.

She kissed him again, sliding her tongue into his mouth as he moaned, sliding his hands up her shirt. She began unbuttoning his shirt as he kissed farther down her neck, then up to her ear. As she slid her hands along his chest and shoulders his breath hitched, and he pulled her shirt over her head in one smooth motion.

"Wow," she whispered as he threw it to the floor, "that was good."

"Yeah," he agreed, kissing down her collarbone as fresh air hit his body and his robes crumpled at his feet. His hands quickly found the clasp of her bra, and in a matter of seconds Harry had lain her down on the bench. Kit, kissing him frantically, easily undid his belt, and together they kicked off the remainder of their clothes, exposing themselves to the night air.

As the rhythm of their movements increased, he raised himself off her, about to get up.

"Where are you going?" she breathed as his eyes searched for his robes.

"I need a co–"

"No, you don't," she moaned, sitting up and kissing his ear.

"But I don't want –"

"Just shut up and kiss me," she whispered in his ear, and his eyes ceased searching the room as he did as she ordered.

"Mmm," Kit moaned in his mouth as her hands pulled him closer. "You taste like candy."

"I have more," he breathed, kissing her neck, massaging her breasts.

"Later," she whispered, wrapping her legs around his and arching her back. Complying with her actions, Harry slowly began to enter her, little by little.

"Are you –?"

"Will you just get on with it?" she breathed, eyes closed.

"You first," he smiled against her neck as she moaned in pleasure and he closed the space between them. Their motions increased in ferocity as their breaths became heavier and there was wetness between them. Kit held onto his shoulders, leaving bruises where her fingers were as he moved inside her, his swollen lips against her neck, his sweet breath becoming her perfume. Her hands moved to his sweaty hair as his lips moved up to meet hers. They kissed passionately, the motions of their bodies ceasing as they both climaxed. Their breathing became one.

"Oh, Harry," she moaned as he pulled out and lay on top of her.

"I love you, Pheonix," Harry whispered, looking at her through sparkling eyes. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"How can you say that?" she asked softly, turning to gaze into his emerald orbs. "We're still so young –"

"And an evil wizard wants my head," he finished. "I've spent too much time not living … not loving."

"Harry –"

"Kit, if I'm still here by the time we graduate –"

"You will be –"

"Will you marry me?" he finished, raising himself up on one arm to see her reaction.

She stayed silent. His expression fell. Why would he even bother to –?

"I'd love to."

"Really?" he said sceptically.

"Really, really," she whispered, getting lost in his eyes as tears blurred her vision.

Instead of saying anything else, Harry leant down and kissed her tears, slowly making his way down to her swollen lips. Kissing softly, they wrapped their arms around each other and lay entwined as they fell asleep.