When Evanna arrived at the tapestry of the dancing trolls, she almost thought that Ginny had decided to play some sort of prank on her. There was no door anywhere around, no hint of people, or any sort of space to be able to practice any sort of spellwork or dueling.

"This is ridiculous," Evanna muttered as she paced in front of the tapestry and nothing happened.

If there had been anywhere to hide when she heard footsteps coming up the hall, Evanna would have if only to save herself the embarrassment of pacing in front of an empty wall. As it was, there was nowhere to hide when the so-called "Golden Trio" rounded the corner. Granger's eyes immediately narrowed on Evanna as Harry flushed. Ron Weasley, for his part, had yet to look up from the candy bar he was devouring. Evanna wrinkled her nose, wondering how her friend was related to that ginger ape.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Granger demanded

"I signed the parchment, Granger, so I imagine I'm here for the meeting," Evanna said blandly.

"Who told you-how-I didn't see you sign the parchment!"

"I signed it with Harry the night after Hogsmeade," she said. "It seems he forgot to tell me when the first meeting was held. Luckily, he is not my only friend."

Harry flushed more, running his hand through his hair. There was a little lurch in Evanna's stomach as the movement caused Harry's hair to look even messier, a look that would have been ridiculous on anyone else.

"I just figured things had changed," he mumbled. "Y'know-because of Nott."

"And what does he have to do with anything?"

"Aren't the two of you betrothed or some other ancient nonsense?" Ron said, putting in his two knuts finally.

"That hardly affects me now," Evanna said. "It would be at least until after Hogwarts, if it happens. I've no idea what my father was thinking."

She placed heavy emphasis on the word 'if', looking straight at Harry when she said it. He seemed to brighten a little at that. Granger, however, was still looking at Evanna with that suspicious look.

She has been acting so odd this year…. And the way she interacts with Harry is entirely too suspect…

Evanna pursed her lips, not wanting to acknowledge the nosy Gryffindor. Luckily, at that moment, Luna and Bridget rounded the corner.

"Hallo Harry," Luna said brightly. "Hallo Ev. Ron. Hermione."

"What're we just standing around here for? Are we waiting for Umbridge to catch us out?" Bridget said.

"This Slytherin is trying to get into the meeting," Hermione said. "Likely to run straight to Umbridge and let her know what we are-"

"Oh, come off it, Granger," Bridget said. "You were the one who told Ginny to invite anyone she thought trustworthy. She thought Evanna trustworthy. So do I."

"So do I," Luna added, taking Evanna's hand.

"So do I, Hermione," Harry said. Evanna had to fight the wide smile that came to her lips. "Now, come on, we have a meeting to get to."

"Where, exactly, is this meeting?" Evanna asked, gesturing at the empty corridor. Harry grinned and her stomach flip-flopped. She could practically feel Granger's frustration, but found she did not care.

"It's in the Room of Requirement," Harry said impishly. Before Evanna could ask, he had very deliberately walked in front of the wall across from the tapestry of dancing trolls three times. Only, it wasn't a wall anymore. There was a door there.

"That-that wasn't there a moment ago," Evanna said.

"It's called magic," Harry told her, a playful lilt to his voice as he opened the door for her. "After you."

Granger looked rather like someone had set off a Dungbomb under her nose as Evanna passed in front of her. Evanna knew that the muggleborn had never much liked her, but was somewhat surprised by the level of hatred and suspicion coming off the Gryffindor girl.

I need to go to the library. They must have records of some sort.

Evanna frowned, trying to puzzle it out, but at that point had been distracted by the large training room, complete with soft pillows for duelists to land on, books on all sorts of techniques, and even a spell dummy dressed up like a Death Eater. Several groups of students were already standing around in clusters. Ginny was standing with the twins and another older Gryffindor boy when she saw Evanna and the other two girls walk in and bounded over to them.

"You're my partner for today. I refuse to be partnered with Lee Jordan again," Ginny said, linking her arm with Evanna's as she pulled her away to the opposite side of the room, Bridget and Luna not too far behind.

"This should be interesting," Evanna muttered to Bridget. The Hufflepuff snickered.

"Good luck!" she said.

Harry POV

Harry kept one eye on the far corner of the room through the entire lesson. Evanna, of course, was more skilled than Ginny, was more skilled than Harry. However, she did not seem to go outside of her core group of friends to offer help, and everyone else in the DA seemed to be keeping their distance from the Slytherin.

Harry himself had been keeping his distance since hearing that Evanna and Nott were back together and to be married. He had figured that would be best after all the years previous of Evanna trying to distance herself from him because of her father. And maybe he had been a little upset by the announcement, especially after their moment together in the Chamber of Secrets. Alright, he had been a right terror to his friends and been in such a mood that Professor Snape had seen fit to assign him two detentions.

Already, Zacharias Smith had pulled Harry aside to demand what a Slytherin was doing in the DA, and a Malfoy to boot. Harry had promptly told the pompous swot that he could either get over it or leave. If he was being honest, Harry knew that Smith was not the only one wary to have a Slytherin in their midst. Ron had been shooting Harry looks at every spell Evanna cast and Hermione had never liked her. But, Evanna had saved Harry's life on more than one occasion, often at great risk to herself. Beyond that, she had been his friend, even when the school thought he was the Heir of Slytherin or when they thought she had put his name in the Goblet of Fire. She had chased after him in that maze and helped make sure he got home. This term, she had been helping him train to be able to fight Voldemort, something no one else had done.

And she had broken up with Nott.

Harry would not claim to know how upper Pureblood culture worked or what exactly a betrothal entailed. It was enough to him that Evanna had said that it would not happen. And though he knew that that should not make a difference, that Evanna was so far off limits as far as dating any girls went, that it would not be wise for him with his target on his back to date anyways, the thought still made him grin. He hoped that the girl had more control over her powers this year, so as not to embarrass himself with those thoughts.

Harry dismissed the group at large, shaking hands with some people, giving pointers to others, all the while keeping his eye on the back corner of the room where Evanna and her friends were teasing each other. She had quite the pretty smile, the rare times she actually smiled. And a great laugh-Ginny had evidently said something quite funny, leading Evanna to throw her head back in mirth, her dark hair, which had just reached her shoulders again, swaying behind her.

"Harry, mate, did you hear us?"

Harry blinked, facing the twins again.

"Sorry, lost in thought," he said. Fred and George exchanged knowing smirks. "You were saying something about the Snackboxes?"

"We were thinking-"

"-we could pass them out to the DA members-"

"-as a sort of insurance should anyone get caught," one of them finished.

"A get away quick device, if you will," the other added. Harry nodded somewhat absently.

"Yeah, that sounds alright," he said, watching as Evanna began to make her way to the door. "Can we talk more in the Common Room?"

Fred (or maybe George) snorted. "Sure, Harry. Don't worry, we'll be careful which confections we give to the ladies."

Harry made the decision to ignore that comment as he made his way across the room. Hermione interrupted his path, however, with questions and comments about the lesson, Ron skulking along behind her.

"Can we talk later, 'Mione? I'll catch up to you and Ron later," he said.

His friend followed his gaze and her face hardened. "Ron and I can wait-"

"No need for that," Harry said, shooting Ron a look. Though he did not look entirely happy about it, Ron nodded and pulled Hermione along with some sort of excuse about needing to look at her potions essay.

Finally, Harry reached Evanna's side. The dark-skinned Hufflepuff-Bridget, he thought he remembered-nudged Evanna and pointed at him. Harry grinned shyly as Evanna waved her friends off. Ginny gave them both a suggestive wink as she quickly ushered the rest of the DA members out of the room.

They were left alone.

"So, what did you think?" he asked after a moment of silence.

"Well, I was a little behind, having missed the first meeting," she said pointedly. Harry snorted and she gave a smirk; both of them knew she was anything but behind when it came to duelling.

"Perhaps I could give you a private lesson," he said, trying to keep his tone casual. "The student teaches the master."

Her face went a very pretty shade of pink and something in Harry was very pleased with the reaction.

"Don't think I'm not upset with you for missing our lessons, Potter," she said. "Or for not telling me about the first DA meeting."

Harry hung his head. "I am really sorry about that. I should have known better. When have you ever been anything but trustworthy?"

She seemed to pause for a moment, unsure of what to say. Finally, she simply said, "It's fine. I… understand, I suppose."

They both stood silent for a moment, Evanna's cheeks still tinged that pretty pink. Finally she said, "You did well, Harry. Really well. You could still use some practice with your footwork-"

"It's harder when I'm teaching a room full of people-"

"Is the great Harry Potter making up excuses?" she teased, a smirk on her lips. He awkwardly ruffled his hair and noticed as her purple eyes followed his movement. He smiled at her.

"Of course not," he said. "I leave that to the Slytherins."

Evanna scowled playfully at him, swatting his arm slightly. He caught her hand in his and she looked up at him with round eyes. Harry knew that he was not tall, especially in comparison to some of his dormmates. But, Evanna was very short as she looked up at him, barely brushing his chin. Somehow, that thought made something catch in his abdomen.

"You are quite something, Harry Potter," she said softly, something serious showing through her teasing as she seemed to search his face.

Harry was still holding her hand.

Without making a conscious decision to do it, Harry began leaning towards Evanna. Her eyes fluttered, her long lashes dancing across her cheek. He could feel her breath against his face and he looked directly at her lips and…

Without warning, Evanna danced out of his grasp and towards the door, her fine dark purple robes swirling around her.

"Tomorrow evening, Potter, nine o'clock in the Chamber. Bring trainers-no student of mine will be accused of shoddy footwork," she said in her usual bossy tone. "Don't be late."

Without hardly looking at him, Evanna was out the door, hips swaying as she left him behind. Harry watched her go with equal amounts of relief and disappointment. Though she claimed things were over between her and Nott, she was still technically betrothed. Beyond that, her father was one of the nastiest followers of the man out to kill Harry, her brother the boy that had been a thorn in his side since he had begun at Hogwarts. Evanna had been far smarter than he had been, leaving when she did. He couldn't possibly kiss her.

But, oh Merlin, did he want to.

Harry took the long way back to Gryffindor Tower, not wanting to run into Hermione in the Common Room. He knew she was looking out for him, he really did, but he did not want to hear it. By the time he got back, most of his dormmates were asleep. Exhausted from their duelling, he figured. Ron rolled over as Harry crept to his own four-poster, half-awake.

"Is tha' you, Harry?" he asked, words slurred.

"Yeah," he said. "Was 'Mione worried?"

"She's not the only one, mate," Ron said. "I know Malfoy's sister is pretty and all, but… Just be careful, yeah?"

Harry was silent, trying to think of what to say. Before he could answer, Ron's soft snores had begun again.

A/N: Did you really think we were going to get a Evarry kiss yet? It's only chapter 75! *evil grin*

But on a more serious not, thank you to my reviewers! To my guest reviewer-we will be hearing from Ev's mother very soon! Though Ev is certainly glad that Lucius is not her father & that her father is someone who can kick Lucius' arse, she is quite attached to Narcissa. Because of that, she has almost blocked the thought of her "other mother" from her mind. Soon, however, she will have to deal with her mother, who she will perhaps not take to as swiftly as she did Voldy.

Anywho, let me know what you all think, any theories you might have, any scene you desperately want to see (y'know, besides Harry & Evanna finally getting over themselves to be together, haha!). Let me know what you're reading/watching during this quarantine and stay safe!