Okay guys, sorry about the false alert. I accidentally posted the wrong chapter. Here is the correct one. It should answer some of the quesstions you might have.

Thanks for reading and reviewing. And once again, cheers to Vaughn for proofreading.

Hermione sighed and put down her quill. For once she wasn't in the mood to study. It was odd, but ever since Harry told her he refused to be with her for her own protection, she had actually been more upset than when she thought he didn't love her. Why did he have to be so bloody noble, she wondered. She knew why, of course. It was the way he was. He felt the need to protect people, and the more important they were to him, the more he needed to protect them. He still blamed himself for Sirius' death and until he dealt with that, things were going to remain at an impasse.

Then there was Ron. What the bloody hell was wrong with him? He'd been acting rather odd lately, even more so than during the summer. It didn't make sense. He knew she loved Harry, and despite what he said earlier, he knew Harry loved her. Sure, Ginny said Ron supposedly had a crush on her, but she figured he was over it by now. Unfortunately, it seemed like he was actively trying to keep her and Harry apart. What kind of justification could he possibly have for that?

Take a few weeks ago, for example. Ginny mentioned that Ron threw a bit of a fit when Harry and Hermione didn't come directly back to Gryffindor from Hogsmeade. After Professor Spellsinger left, Harry insisted upon staying with her – not that she minded – and they roamed around from store to store, chatting and enjoying each other's company. They hadn't planned it. And it certainly didn't change how things were between them. Upon returning to the school, Harry went off on his own while Hermione went to the Library. She wanted to follow him, but she recognized that closed look. It meant things were not going to change between them. Since then, she and Harry have been more distant than ever.

She sighed. She was really getting tired of the distance between her and Harry, and the annoying behaviour of Ron. Fortunately he was currently serving a detention with Professor Snape after trying to hex Malfoy in the hall last night. Today was not the day she was in the mood to deal with him.

Ginny could keep herself occupied, she knew, so she decided to ask one of the house elves to pack her a sandwich. The Quiddich field would be unoccupied this time of day and she felt the need for solitude.

That's it, she thought, I'll go back out to the Pitch. It was quiet there and she could really use some more alone time. Harry was not back from his training with Professor Spellsinger yet and probably wouldn't be for a while. Ron was off doing something by himself, and Ginny was in her dorm writing her secret admirer again. She quickly gathered her things and headed outside, making sure to bundle up against the winter cold. The day was slightly overcast, matching her mood, but there were bright patches of sunlight here and there making things less gloomy. It was already December and they were expecting it to snow any day now. She climbed up to the Gryffindor section and settled down to think in peace.

It was then that she noticed Harry.

He was on his broom, flying high overhead doing things that made her stomach lurch just thinking about them. She knew it was him. She'd been watching him play Quiddich since their first year and knew instinctively how to identify him at long distances. He must be upset, she thought. It occurred to her that their separation was no easier on him. He had said he loved her after all. But Harry would sacrifice anything to keep his loved ones safe, including his own happiness.

This was why she loved him.

He cared for her, more deeply than she ever imagined, and from what she remembered, always had. Their first year, he was the one who led the crusade into the loo to rescue her from the Troll. While he may have found her tendency to lecture annoying, he always seemed to value her opinion. She had been incredibly flattered when he told her she was one of the greatest witches he knew. It warmed her to think of how he always seemed to know what to say to her to make her feel better. It got hard, these past few years. Harry had grown more defensive and distant. As a result, she had become fussier and had a tendency to lecture him more than she should. She worried about him, and wanted to find a way to help keep him safe. Unfortunately, it seemed the only way she could help many times was to nag him to do the responsible thing.

She tried to stand by him when she could, and did everything in her power to help him even when it meant breaking the rules. She felt horrible about what happened to Sirius. She had a feeling things were not right, but she couldn't articulate to him why she felt the situation was wrong. There was no way she would have let him go alone, however. Not only was she his best friend, but she loved him more than he would probably ever know.

Her eyes followed him as he flew. He reminded her of an eagle. Protective, proud, and in need of freedom. She wanted to protect him, but did not want to smother him. It was a struggle for her sometimes. He frustrated her with his behaviour, especially over the past year, and her natural reaction was to try and take control of the situation in order to make things right. Maybe that was the worst thing she could do. Thinking about it, she noticed a pattern. As he got older, he became more stubborn and more rebellious. Last year was a prime example. His movements were controlled so much by Headmaster Dumbledore that Harry came to disregard everything the man ever told him by the end of the year. Harry worked better if he knew what was going on. It was his nature. He needed to know why his freedoms were being restricted; why he couldn't see his godfather; why the Ministry tried to make him look insane. No one told him that. Things cascaded until there was no one capable of stopping the runaway situation. Not even her.

She refused to allow what happened between them to dominate their relationship. They were still best friends. She had feared something like this, she remembered, when she had been thinking about telling Harry how she felt. Now that they were estranged, it was far worse than she imagined. It was partially her fault. She had been reluctant to be around Harry because it hurt so much. But now she had to admit it hurt more not to be near him. They really needed to work things out.

Harry's broom took a sudden nose-dive startling Hermione out of her reverie. She gasped as he dove for the ground, stopping mere feet away from the center of the field. He looked up at her, expressionless, and then headed her direction. Gulping with dismay, she put her wand away and prayed he would not be too angry. She honestly hadn't come out here expecting to see him.

She heard him come up the stairs, but couldn't bring herself to turn around and face him. She stared at the sky instead, hoping he would speak first. Her mind was having difficulty finding the right thing to say to him. She felt him sit next to her.

"Hermione."

"Yes, Harry?"

"Uh, I guess we need to talk. Don't we?"

"It might be an idea."

He was silent a moment. "Look, I'm sorry things haven't been doing too well between us. I know I hurt you, but I had hoped you would understand…"

"I understand, Harry. I just don't agree with you."

"It's for your own protection."

"And your piece of mind, I know, Harry. That doesn't mean I have to like it."

She felt his smile. "True. But I had hoped it would not make things so…difficult between us. I miss you, Hermione. I miss you a lot."

Facing him, she smiled. "I miss you too. I just… I guess it's just been a bit difficult to deal with. No, let me finish, Harry. For the past year I was convinced you didn't love me. I thought you didn't know I existed. I always figured you'd wind up with someone like Cho and never give me a second glance. I would remain your best friend forever, but that would be all." She fiddled with her hands. "I was okay with that, don't get me wrong. I never imagined you could love me, or that things would turn out the way they have. I never planned on telling you, you know. I didn't want it to harm our friendship."

"But it has. Hasn't it?"

She sighed. "Maybe a little. But I think that comes more from the hurt of being apart than anything else. I love you, Harry, and I want to be with you. No matter what the risk. But I understand that you feel the need to protect me from Voldemort and his lackeys." He snickered at her terminology. She'd been hanging around Ginny a lot. "Just promise me one thing."

"Anything."

"Promise me you'll never stop being my friend, and that after Voldemort is gone, you will stop being so distant."

"That's two things, you know."

She laughed at his Malfoy-like smirk. "Two then! Promise?"

"I… I promise, Hermione. I just…" He found it difficult to think about the future with the prophecy looming over his head. He had to remind himself she didn't know.

She touched his shoulder. "What is it, Harry?"

"I…" He found the words stuck in his throat. Hermione was the last person he wanted to tell about the prophecy. He knew she would stand by him, no matter what happened. But he didn't want to hurt her. Harry sighed. If there was anyone he wanted to share this with, it was Hermione, but he also didn't want to overload her with his problems. He wasn't sure how she would react to the contents of the prophecy.

Hermione saw him hesitate, and forced herself not to be upset. She knew he had a lot on his mind and didn't want to push him. Perhaps he still wasn't ready. She looked down in disappointment.

She flinched when he touched her face with his hand, raising it to eye level. "Hermione," he paused, gathering his thoughts, "I don't want you to think that I don't trust you. That's not it at all. It's just that…Dumbledore laid some pretty heavy stuff on me last year, and with Sirius'…death…I wasn't really prepared to hear it."

She smiled, briefly holding his hand to her face. "Please, Harry. Let me help…"

He smiled faintly, making a decision. It was time. "Okay. I'll tell you…"

Harry began at the beginning, telling her about his dreams and the training he underwent with Professor Snape. She listened intently as he spoke in detail of everything he saw, and the dreams that lead to his entry into the Ministry of Magic. It was like a balm to his soul, finally telling her the truth about everything that had happened last year. He'd hated lying to her, but he found himself doing it to avoid her lectures. It was wrong he knew, but last year had been different than any other year. His tolerance for many things was very low, and unfortunately his relationship with his friends suffered as a result. It seemed she understood, however. His emotions almost broke free as he spoke of the fight with Voldemort and his Deatheaters, and the death of Sirius Black. He paused for a moment to regain his composure. Warmth flowed through his body as she took his hand.

"It's okay, Harry. Take your time," she said softly.

"The short of it, Hermione, is that when the final confrontation comes, it will be either me or Voldemort. Only one of us will live." Harry closed his eyes, seeing the prophecy burned in his mind.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches.

born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies .

and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not .

and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives .'"

He opened his eyes and gazed at her. "So you see, Hermione. I have to kill him or be killed myself."

"You always knew that Harry. You know he's not going to give up until he kills you and takes over the Wizarding world or dies trying."

"You don't understand, Hermione! To beat him… that means I have to become a murderer. Just like him!"

Suddenly she understood. Harry was a very compassionate person with a very strict code of honor in many ways. He bent the rules, but would always hesitate when the situation called for him to harm another. Neville told her what happened with Bellatrix Lestrange after Sirius died. She was quite honestly shocked Harry was even capable of such a thing. It was a sign of how far he had been pushed. Harry always felt killing was wrong. And now he was being told that he either had to kill another living being – she refused to call him human – or die. Not an easy burden.

"No, Harry. Not just like him. He kills for sadistic pleasure and to terrorize others. You will be doing what is necessary to preserve the lives of people throughout the Wizarding world. Killing in defense of others is not good, but it's not evil either."

"How can I live knowing I had to take another life?"

She looked into his eyes. It hurt her to see the pain clouding the emerald depths. "Because you will remember that doing so saved Ron, Ginny, the rest of the Weasleys, Neville, Colin, Hagrid, and countless other Wizards, Muggles, and half-bloods you will never know." Her eyes caught his. "And me. You'll be saving me as well, Harry, if that means anything."

"It means everything, Hermione. But how…" he choked as the words caught in his throat. "How can you love me if I…"

She placed her fingers on his lips. "Shh. Harry, I will always love you. No matter what. You want to be apart from me for my protection? So be it. I will accept that because I love you. If you want me to go away because you need to be alone I will. Because I love you. I will always be here for you and I will always be your friend. Even if you decide you want to be with someone else. I will always love you. Never forget that."

Hermione wanted nothing more than to kiss him and do everything in her power to make all his fears go away. She feared for him. She loved him. And she wanted to see him happy more than anything in the world. Their separation was hurting him as much as it hurt her. There was no way she was going to let it continue.

"Harry. I'm sorry I've been avoiding you. I… I guess it just hurt too much. But I think it actually hurts more to be apart from you. Maybe we should try to get back to being friends at least?"

He smiled, and in his eyes she could see a hint of happiness. "There's nothing I want more, Hermione."

"Good. Then we should probably go study for Snape's test tomorrow." She stood up.

He laughed at the purely Hermione response.

"Hermione."

She turned back, curiously.

"That's not completely true. There is something I want more, but it's going to have to wait until after I defeat Voldemort."

Joy suffused her face as she realized what he was saying. "I look forward to it, Harry."

Hearts lighter, the two Gryffindors headed back to Gryffindor Tower.

Ron was very unhappy when he came back from Detention later that evening to find Harry and Hermione in the Gryffindor common room studying. It wasn't the fact that they were studying that bothered him. He didn't like the way they seemed more relaxed around each other and kept smiling at each other. Weren't they estranged? He thought the whole point of their separation was to keep Hermione safe. What was Harry thinking? Did he honestly think he could protect her from Voldemort? If he truly loved her he would be willing to do anything to protect her. After all, he was. Despite the fact that it hurt him to see his friends unhappy.

Hermione looked up from her book finally noticing his presence. He tried not to feel offended by her indifference.

"Hey guys. What are we studying?"

Harry grimaced. "Potions, what else? You do remember that we have a test tomorrow, right?"

"Uh, yeah, of course. I was on my way up to get my books now!"

"That's good, Ron. Merlin knows you really need to study."

Ron turned to frown at his sister. She had gotten a lot more belligerent since the "incident" this summer. "Thanks, Gin, I appreciate the moral support."

"You don't need moral support, Ron, you need someone to pound knowledge into that thick skull of yours." Not to mention other things, she thought.

"Ginny, be nice. Ron, go get your books. There's plenty of room for all of us to study. Harry, scoot over so Ron can fit his stuff at the table."

He grinned impishly at her. "Yes, mum."

Ginny chuckled at the glare Hermione threw him. She could almost match her mother for disapproving looks.

Ron came back down a few minutes later with his study materials and unhappily seated himself next to his sister. Ginny had taken the empty spot next to Hermione deliberately and left the end seat for her brother. She wasn't about to have their studies interrupted by Ron's antics around Hermione. That was the last thing they needed.

Ron glowered at his sister. He knew she set him at the end of the table on purpose. For years she had been trying to get Harry and Hermione together, and she didn't appear to be willing to stop. Sometimes she really annoyed him.

The four Gryffindors sat in silence for a while, intent on their studies. Harry and Hermione still cast each other the occasional glance, but both were trying to keep on task. Ron pretended to read while he tried to figure out a strategy to get Hermione alone. He wanted to make sure she and Harry didn't take things farther than they'd already gone. By their behaviour he guessed they'd made up, but were not dating as of yet. It was only a matter of time, however. He idly wondered if Malfoy would be willing to trade patrols with him.

Hermione's reminder bell started jingling abruptly, startling them all. She leapt up. "Oh! I have patrol tonight. I'll see you guys later. Tomorrow I imagine since you all need to get to bed for the match tomorrow." She quickly stuffed her books into her leather pack. "Ginny, would you mind taking this up for me? Thanks. G'night!"

Hermione seemed entirely too cheerful for going on patrol with Malfoy, thought Ron. You'd think she was going to be spending the evening with Harry. He frowned as she gave Harry a quick peck on the cheek. He waited a few moments for the portrait to close before glaring at Harry.

"What was that all about?"

"What?"

"That… display. I thought you were staying away from her for her own protection. What the bloody hell are you thinking? I thought you loved her!"

"Ron…"

"Shut it, Ginny. How can you do this?"

"Be her friend, Ron? Is that a problem? I never said I would stop being her friend."

"You certainly haven't been acting like one!"

"Look who's talking!"

"I said shut it, Ginny! How the hell is it that you can ignore her for bloody weeks and she still moons over you like you're the greatest thing since the library."

"Ron, she understands why I've been acting the way I have, and I know why she's been acting the way she has. We decided we're not going to stop being friends just because we're unhappy about our situation."

"When did you decide this?"

"When we chatted earlier today."

"Oh, and you decided to leave me out of it?"

"What does it have to do with you, Ronald?"

"Ginny, I said…"

"Shut it, Ron. You can just bugger yourself if you think I'm going to stay quiet while you try and get Harry to stay apart from the woman he loves!"

"Ginny, we're just going to be friends for now."

"That's stupid, Harry, but I know that's what you decided."

"Without me, I might add."

"Ronald, the universe does not revolve around you! This is between them!"

"Since when? I thought we were friends!"

"We are, Ron." Harry seemed to be getting annoyed.

"Since you started trying to keep them apart, that's when."

"Ginny! Ron, Hermione and I just talked, that's all. We can do that without you there you know. Just like I can talk with you outside Hermione's presence. I thought you would be happy that we're getting along better."

"I… I am, I guess. I just…" Ron found it hard to explain exactly what he was feeling. He felt betrayed that his friends had come to such a momentous decision without him, but he also knew it was irrational. He should be happy they were friends again. He seriously didn't know what had come over him. Ever since the summer he had been really sensitive. "I'm sorry, Harry. I am glad you too made up. Now we can get back to being the great friends we've been for the past five and a half years."

Harry grinned. "Look out Hogwarts!"

They all laughed.

Meanwhile Hermione was walking into Professor McGonagall's office to meet Malfoy for their patrol. She had to admit that the idea of pairing prefects from different houses up was inspired. It helped keep the favoritism down.

Malfoy was already waiting will ill-disguised impatience. She had a feeling it was not an uncommon occurrence. She refused to be intimidated, however. She was on time, so he could just relax.

"Ah, Miss Granger. Good to see you made it. I do hope you and Mr. Malfoy can set aside your differences for this one night."

"Of course, Professor." Hermione refused to neglect her Prefect's duties just because she was being paired with the biggest prat in school.

"I look forward to it, Professor." Malfoy looked as emotionless as a snake. How appropriate, thought Hermione.

"Well then, here is your route. I'm told these places here are problem spots, as are the assorted closets. Make sure you pay extra attention to Filch's location. The students have gotten very good at predicting where Filch will be, so be sure to check opposite his patrol."

"Yes, Professor."

"Good. Then off with you. I want to see you back here at midnight with a full report."

Draco and Hermione quickly left the room, intent on their duties. By unspoken accord they headed off to the most likely problem area – a closet on the other side of the school from Filch. They patrolled in silence, Hermione not knowing what to say to the Slytherin and Draco not interested in talking to the Mudblood. He hated the fact that she was his chosen partner. Why couldn't he have gotten someone else? Like Cho Chang. At least she had a killer body to go along with that overworked brain. He supposed this was McGonagall's way of trying to get him to be more tolerant. Not bloody likely.

"Malfoy."

"What?"

"Do you hear that?"

"Do I hear what?"

"Shut up and listen for a moment."

He shot her a glare, but remained silent. It was barely audible, but he could hear the faint sound of voices coming from up ahead. Were those moans? Granger must have the ears of a bat, he thought. They were in one of the areas identified as problems by McGonagall. Draco could see why. The corridor was riddled with doors and dark alcoves perfect for a pair of misbehaving students to hide. He would have to remember this place. It might come in handy after he persuaded Ginny to go out with him. Whoa! Where did that come from? He almost slapped himself for what he was thinking. She was a Weasley. How could he possibly find her at all attractive? Because she's an amazingly beautiful and incredible woman, that's why. The only reason he avoided slapping himself that time was because Granger was present. He couldn't believe what he was thinking. Bet. It's just a bet. I must be getting sick or something.

"Malfoy?"

"What!"

"You alright?"

"What's it to you, Granger?"

"Sorry. I just thought you looked a bit… odd, that's all."

"Keep your pathetic observations to yourself, Mudblood. There's nothing wrong with me."

"Fine." He noticed a cold distance had replaced the concerned look in her eyes. He was almost impressed.

"Shall we surprise our friends in the closet there?"

"Of course. They are out after curfew after all."

"Of course. You would never do something like that," he muttered. "Bloody hypocrite."

Hermione ignored him.

The door was locked, but that was not an issue for someone like Hermione. With a wave of her wand the door clicked and Malfoy yanked it open. They were both surprised to find Cho Chang and Thanos Acheron in an incredibly compromising position. Malfoy thought Christmas came early this year. It was all he could do not to toss the Slytherin boy a sadistic grin.

"Out of the closet, both of you." Hermione was all business. She ignored the hostile glare from Cho Chang. The little bint could bugger off for all she cared.

"Yes, Thanos, out of the closet. Do hurry." Draco's silvery eyes glinted with an evil light. "You might want to give her back her shirt."

The Ravenclaw Seeker switched her glare to Draco Malfoy who responded with a smirk. She almost ripped the shirt in her haste to put it on.

"Now, I guess this means detention for the both of you as well as the loss of, oh how many points should we take away, Granger?"

Hermione was surprised Draco was even asking her. Especially since Thanos was from his house. "50. Each. I think would be sufficient along with the detention, Malfoy. What do you think?" Two could play the polite game.

"Hmmm… I suppose that would be fair. Oh, you have something to add Mr. Acheron?"

Thanos glared silently at the Slytherin Prefect but knew he could do nothing. "No, Mr. Malfoy."

"Good. What about you Miss Chang? Any weepy stories you'd like to relate?"

"Bugger off, Malfoy."

"Ooh, I rather think that might be worth a few more points, eh Granger?"

"Leave it alone, Malfoy. You know they've been punished enough." He thought he saw a slightly sadistic gleam in her eye as she continued. "However, I do think it's important they need to learn this lesson as quickly as possible. I would suggest the detention be with Professor Snape. He's good about getting the point across."

She must really despise the Ravenclaw tart. "I must agree on that point. Very well, you two will report to Professor Snape tomorrow night for detention. I think this little escapade is worth, oh, say two weeks?"

He was somewhat surprised when Hermione didn't object.

"Now then. I suggest you two little buggers get off to your rooms. We'll be checking up on you so no side trips." With one final glare at the two prefects, Cho and Thanos headed off to their respective Houses. Draco waited until they were out of sight to display his smirk.

"That wasn't very nice, Granger. You know Professor Snape hates Thanos. I don't think he'll be in for a good time."

"Detention isn't supposed to be fun, Malfoy," the Gryffindor responded primly.

"True. Well now, I guess this means our next patrol will go a lot better."

"Why do you say that?"

"Precedence, my dear. The word will get out that you and I were very tough on the miscreants and that will discourage those who think they would get off easy due to our house rivalries."

"Ah. Well, I have to admit I was surprised you were so willing to punish Thanos."

Draco snorted derisively. "Trust me, Granger. If had been just me he'd probably be doing a lot worse."

"I see."

"You didn't seem to thrilled with Miss Chang yourself."

"She should know better. She's a bloody seventh year for Merlin's sake. It's up to her to serve as an example to all those younger girls that worship the ground she walks on. Getting caught making out in a closet is not the best image to project."

"At least it's an honest one. She's always been a bit of a tart. I've caught her a number of times."

"I never heard about that!"

He smirked. "Neither did anyone else. You really think she came by that squeaky clean reputation honestly. Please. She paid quite dearly for it. I guarantee it."

"I can't believe Harry was interested in her." Or at least that's what Draco thought she muttered.

"Maybe he was after a bit of excitement in his life. Of a different sort than he's used to."

"Malfoy! Harry's not like that. He honestly thought she was very different!"

"Let me tell you a secret, Granger. No one is who they seem to be. We all have secrets. Even your precious Harry Potter."

Her glared was truly impressive this time. "Shut it, Malfoy. Harry doesn't keep secrets from me."

"Really?" His voice oozed skepticism.

"Really. Or at least, not forever. He tells me when he's ready to do so."

"You prove my point, Granger. Even Potter has secrets from you for a time. I wonder what it is he doesn't tell you…"

"Bugger yourself, Malfoy."

"Touchy. Don't worry, Granger. I'll stop. We do have to finish our patrol after all."

They continued on, but Draco could tell Granger was caught up thinking about what he said. Perfect, he thought, anything I can do to disrupt the Dream Team is a good thing. Keeping them distracted and off balance would make it far less likely they would discover his plan to get Ginny to the Ball. He knew the Granger girl had a lot of influence over the Weasley girl and he had no desire for her to figure things out and spoil his plans. Indeed. This patrol thing was perfect. He'd be able to find out if anyone knew anything without revealing too much to others. He knew there was a reason he accepted McGonagall's assignment.

The rest of their patrol passed uneventfully, and it was with a lighter heart Draco returned to his room. His subtle questioning of Granger had produced a great deal of useful information. It was time to move on to the next phase of his plan.

Harry sighed as he dragged himself up the stairs on his way to Professor Spellsinger's office. It was time for his Occlumency lesson again and he wasn't looking forward to it. He freely admitted learning from her was far more pleasant than learning from Snape, but the lessons were still brutal and he felt like he had been through a battle with Voldemort's Death Eaters when they were done. Still, he kept reminding himself that it was for the good of his friends and the protection of the Order that he was doing this. Lately he had learned how to sense when Voldemort was trying to get into his mind, and he was glad for the lessons.

When he arrived at the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's office, he gave a tentative knock before entering. Tonight's lesson was to be in her office since Professor Spellsinger's classroom was set up for tomorrow's classes. Rumour had it that they would be trying out several new offensive spells, which everyone knew had extreme potential for disaster. Harry briefly considered finding a way to get out of class, but he was interested in learning the spells and wanted to see what was going to happen.

Ryselle wasn't there yet, so he indulged his curiosity and looked around. A picture on her desk caught his eye and he stepped behind the mahogany desk to take a closer look. He was shocked to find it was a picture of his godfather. Sirius Black was standing in front of a tall statue outside what appeared to be a Muggle hotel. His hair was still long, but he was cleaned up and cheerfully waving at the camera. He looked happy. Harry tried to think of a time the older man had been that happy and realized there were few he could remember. The happiest he had ever seen his godfather was over the Christmas holiday the year before he died. He felt a pain at the memory. It was incredibly unfair. Sirius deserved better. It occurred to Harry that maybe Sirius had more happiness than he knew. He doubted Ryselle had Sirius' picture on her desk by accident. How does she know Sirius, he wondered. He bent to examine the picture more closely.

"I am sure you were taught that snooping is not polite, Mr. Potter," said a voice from behind him.

Starting guiltily, he quickly turned around. "I'm sorry, Professor. I just caught sight of this picture and thought I recognized the person in it."

Ryselle smiled. "I imagine you would."

"So it is Sirius Black?" he inquired.

"What do you think?" Ryselle's face was oddly closed.

"I think I'm curious to how you know my godfather." replied Harry.

Harry saw a brief look of pain flash across his teacher's face. "We were…friends. Before he died."

Taking her seat, Ryselle gestured for Harry to join her.

"How did you meet him?"

Ryselle hesitated. "Did he ever mention me, Harry?"

"No," he replied, confused. "Were you in school together?"

She laughed. "No, Harry. I was a child when your godfather attended Hogwarts. We met a bit more recently than that."

"When?"

She looked sad. "Let us just say it was in the past and leave it at that, Harry."

He realized she felt it just as painful to remember Sirius as he himself did. She must have truly cared about him, he thought. He decided not to pry further. He had no desire to cause her further pain. With a sharp nod, he dismissed the topic and looked at the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor expectantly.

"Let us begin."

"Yes, Professor."

"Legilimens!"

Harry felt himself whirling down into darkness. He could see the last few moments of his godfather's life. Sirius was his usual, flippant self, taunting Bellatrix Lestrange when the bolt of energy struck him square in the chest. "SIRIUS!" he shouted, and then realized it was all a memory.

"Abdo memoria!" Suddenly he was pulled out of the memory as he willed himself not to be drawn in anymore. He must have pushed too far, because he found himself in a memory he had never seen before.

"Ryselle!" Sirius Black popped out from behind one of her rose bushes. She gave a slight shriek, dropping the packages she carried, and then speared him with a glance. "Sirius! By the heavens, I asked you not to scare me like that!"

He smiled mischievously. "Surely you know by now that nothing you say will stop my antics!" He grinned. "It's all part of my charm." He stepped out of the garden and knelt to help her gather her things. "I hope none of this was breakable," he said.

She smiled despite herself. "No, just supplies for feeding the incredible Dursley eating machine."

"Something from the Weasleys I hope."

"Sirius!" Ryselle looked shocked, but her eyes twinkled.

He laughed. "See? I knew it! You want to prank him too. Come on, it will be fun! I even have some things with me."

She raised an eyebrow. "You just happened to bring something with you, I guess?"

The mischievous grin returned. "You should know me well enough by now to realize I'm always prepared for pranking."

"Of course, how could I forget the infamous Maurader joke-squad? Sirius, I was hoping to make friends with them, not freak them out by turning Dudley blue or making him explode."

He looked at her in disappointment. "I guess you're right. This is all for Harry's benefit after all. I guess this means we'll have to find something else to do with our time!"

Harry could swear he saw a slight blush on Ryselle's face. "Well, first of all I need to get this stuff inside. If you would please…?"

He bowed extravagantly and brandished a small key. "Your wish is my command, my lady!"

Sirius opened the door, and Ryselle stepped into her house. Suddenly, she stopped, shock evident on her face. Harry could see why. Every surface of her house was covered in roses of all colors and kinds. Ryselle's bundle of groceries fell to the floor.

"Sirius…" she whispered.

He grinned. "Surprised?"

She looked at him, her face unreadable. "Very."

He clapped his hands delightedly. "Good! I thought you might like this little birthday celebration. I even…" he slipped into the kitchen coming out a moment later with a rose-decorated cake, "baked a cake!"

She smiled. "Thank you, l…Sirius." Harry swore he could see tears in her eyes. Her godfather, however, seemed oblivious.

"And, for the finale!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the back door. "Take a look!"

Sitting in the center of the backyard was a beautiful rosebush with roses the color of amethysts. Like her eyes. Harry recognized it as the one he had seen earlier in the summer. She gasped.

"It is beautiful, Sirius!"

"But not half as lovely as you, my lady," proclaimed Sirius, bowing extravagantly. Harry could tell by the look on his godfather's face that he truly meant it. He must have truly cared for her, thought Harry.

Sirius abruptly stood up and bounded into the backyard. "So, where shall we plant it…"

"Proteus!" Harry found himself thrust out of the memory back into his seat.

She looked shaken. "Very good, Harry. You might not want to do quite that, however. The idea is to fend off someone reading your mind, not break into theirs. It is very dangerous." Her eyes blinked away the tears threatening to fall.

"I'm sorry, Professor! I just…"

"Defended yourself. I know, Harry." She stood up briskly. "I believe that concludes our lesson for tonight. Be back here the same time tomorrow."

He hesitated, his desire to find out more about his godfather's relationship with Ryselle overriding his natural sensitivity. "Professor…"

Her eyes caught his, a thousand thoughts flashed through her mind. Knowing the conversation was inevitable, she sighed. "You wish to know how Sirius and I knew each other."

He nodded.

She motioned for him to sit down. "It is a bit of a story. The short version is that I met Sirius during the summer after your fourth year at Hogwarts. Headmaster Dumbledore asked me to watch the Dursley's house over the summer, and he told me I might see a large, black dog lurking about. I did, and decided to go make his acquaintance. Alistor Moody made sure I knew Sirius Black was innocent of the charges against him." Her face took on an expression of fond remembrance. "He thought I was a Death Eater and tried to curse me. It took some effort, but I was able to convince him I was not associated with Voldemort. I invited him to my house, since we were pretty much doing the same thing, and the rest, as they say, is history. We got to know each other fairly well and kept in contact during the school year."

"So what happened?"

"I went off to complete my studies while you were at Hogwarts, but continued owling him in the interim." She chuckled. "He had this habit of popping up unexpectedly and insisting that I join him for some fun. He never listened. I had studies to complete, but he said 'all work and no play makes Ryselle a dull witch.' Thanks to him, I was able to have a wonderful time that year while I studied the magic of Europe." Tears welled in her eyes. "I…I wish I could have found a way to be there at the Ministry. Maybe I could have…"

"Professor, there was no way of knowing what was going to happen. Even I didn't know. I thought Sirius was there being tortured."

"That is what Voldemort wanted you to believe. Sirius knew Voldemort was trying to use you to betray your friends. He was very worried, Harry. Not only about that, but about what it was doing to you. He was very angry with the way you were being treated."

"So was I. I think I understand now. I only wish I had listened better earlier."

Ryselle got up and circled around her desk to where Harry sat. Placing her hand on his shoulder, she gave him a sad smile. "Harry, you cannot blame yourself for what happened to him. It was Bellatrix Lestrange, not you that killed Sirius. You should instead remember that you were the source of his joy and that he died doing what he always swore to do from the time you were born. He was protecting you, the godson he loved."

He looked up at her, green eyes glinting in the dim light. "What about you?"

"What about me, Harry?"

"Did he love you?"

Harry was taken aback by the agony that flashed across his teacher's face. He immediately wanted to take the words back. He felt like a git.

"I do not know." He barely heard her whispered response.

"I…"

She abruptly pulled away from him to stand near the narrow window. "I do not know how he felt about me, Harry, but I can tell you how I felt about him." She stood for a moment, deep in thought then turned to face him. "I loved him. I just… never told him."

Suddenly the tragedy of her situation became clear. He was fortunate. After Sirius escaped from the Dementors, Harry had put a lot of effort into getting to know his mysterious godfather a lot better. He found that though Sirius tended toward the arrogant side, his heart was good and he stood very firmly on the side of light. He loved Harry without reservation, and did everything in his power to be good to him. It was only recently Harry had been able to express to his godfather how much he cared for him, and had been looking forward to speaking with him during his fifth year. Umbridge destroyed that idea, and all he could do was wait for the holidays. Christmas had been the peak of their relationship by that point. But at least Sirius knew Harry cared for him. And Harry knew Sirius loved him like a little brother at the very least, perhaps as much as a son.

Ryselle had no such assurance. He died without knowing she loved him, and without telling her his feelings. He felt like a heel. "I'm sorry, Ryselle. I'm sorry I brought it up…"

She shook her head. "Do not be sorry, Harry. I was not sure how to tell you, so at least you now know. He was my friend more than anything. I loved him, but I was perfectly happy being his friend and helping him find happiness for a short time. I will never forget that." Her eyes caught his. "You should not, either."

"I won't, Professor."

"Good. Harry, feel free to ask me anything you want about our time together. It is your right to know after all. I would just ask that you… let me be for tonight."

He nodded, backing away to leave his teacher to her thoughts.

She must have really loved him, he realized. He wondered how Sirius had felt about her. It was time to write Remus Lupin.

Dear Moony,

I found out something this evening that I need to ask you about. Do you know of a woman named Ryselle Spellsinger? Apparently she knew Sirius and it seems to me like they had something of a relationship. Were they dating? Did he love her? Why didn't Sirius mention her to me? She's one of my professors and I'd like to find out what was going on.

Harry

So he found out about Ryselle, eh? Remus Lupin set the letter down next to him and leaned back into the deep cushions. Thoughts raced through his head as his mind turned to his brief introduction to the beautiful Gypsy witch. It had been while Harry was at school, he remembered, and he had been more than a little shocked to find out that Sirius was gallivanting about Europe in the company of such a delightful young woman. He was even more surprised when he found out she knew exactly who Sirius Black was and didn't seem to care about his criminal past.

Interestingly enough, he seemed to be more concerned about it than her. Lupin knew Ryselle and Sirius had met shortly after Harry's fourth year. He had been intrigued by her after their rather exciting meeting outside the Dursley's. He could hardly believe it when Sirius told him about it. Even he would not have thought his friend so impulsive. Attacking a strange woman outside his godson's window was pretty over the top, but Remus knew the man had been on edge about Harry for quite a while. Fortunately it appeared the two had been able to work out their differences, and a deep friendship had been the result.

When Harry came to Grimmauld's Place later that summer, it seemed Sirius forgot completely about Ryselle. He never talked of her, or made any attempts to contact her. Lupin figured the relationship had been a temporary thing – two adults agreeing to a short fling for whatever reasons. But when he asked Sirius about it, he came to realize that was not the case. Sirius would disappear for a few days, mumbling something about needing to get away from it all, and then return a lot happier than when he'd left. He knew something was going on, but Sirius refused to say anything. It was only by accident that he found out Sirius had been visiting the young witch during her travels. Remus was convinced Sirius had fallen in love with the woman before his death. That might explain why Harry wanted to know. The knowledge that his godfather had found love before he died might do a great deal to assuage his fears that Sirius never got to enjoy his life.

Knowing how much the death of his godfather affected Harry, Remus decided it wouldn't hurt to tell him what he knew. It was very little, but perhaps something was better than nothing.

Several days later Harry got his response.

Harry,

I only got to meet Ryselle briefly, but what I saw of her indicated she was a rather extraordinary young woman. She reminded me of your friend Hermione in several ways, but seemed to have a much greater capacity for humour. Perhaps not as much as Sirius, however. They got along very well despite all their differences. I can't say they were dating, but they did spend a great deal of time together at the beginning of the year and during the summer before you came to stay here.

I am of the opinion that he loved her, but I have no idea how she felt about him. She was very good at hiding it if she was, but was obviously very fond of him if she was not. I'd say Sirius never mentioned her because he didn't really mention her to anyone. The only reason I knew about her is because I happened to be staying here. Dumbledore probably knew, but he knows everything. I think he wanted to keep her safe by making sure no one knew they were associated. He worried about her. He was concerned that the Ministry of Magic would find out that they were friends and would try and use her to get to him.

I would suggest you speak with her yourself to find out the specifics of her relationship with Sirius.

Lupin

Harry placed the letter on his desk, speculations running through his head. Professor Spellsinger was quite beautiful and very friendly, but she was also a lot younger than Sirius. Was it possible that they had some sort of furtive relationship? If so, how serious was it? He really wanted to know anything he could about the last days of his godfather's life. It hurt that Sirius was not there to answer his questions, but perhaps his DADA professor might shed some light on things.

Straightening his back with resolve, Harry threw on his robes and went in search of Hogwart's newest teacher.

He found Ryselle sitting next to the lake gazing into the distance. Her eyes were sad, so much so that Harry hesitated to disturb her. It occurred to him that this might not be the best conversation to have with her at this time.

"I assume you have questions for me, Harry." She turned to him, a gentle smile on her lips. A quiet gesture indicated he should sit, and another advised patience when he would have begun the inquiry. They sat in silence for several minutes while she tried to articulate answers to what he wanted to know. She knew he wanted details, but it was hard for her to delve back into those happy memories knowing she would never see him again. Neither would he, she thought. Knowing there was no way to avoid it, she began.

"As I told you before, Sirius and I met each other at the end of your fourth year shortly after the return of Voldemort and your return to the Dursleys. I was living across the street by this time, as you know, after Headmaster Dumbledore asked me to keep an eye on you. It was sheer coincidence in all honesty that enabled me to purchase that house. I was on the lookout for unusual activity when I spotted a large dog lurking about. Albus told me to expect him, and identified him as Sirius Black so I would not be alarmed. I decided to go out and meet him." She paused for a moment, thinking, and then nodded as if coming to a decision. "I think, however, this might be a bit easier for you to watch." She reached into her robes and pulled out a small bowl. With a gesture it expanded to normal size, revealing to him that it was a Pensieve. He could see her memories whirling about in the silvery mist and he found himself curious as to what she felt the need to store away.

To his surprise, she answered his unspoken question. "I've been keeping my memories here when we have our Occlumency lessons. I did not think you needed to see things involving your godfather so shortly after his death."

"Then the two of you did have a relationship?"

"Of a sort. We were friends, Harry, very good ones. I wish it could have been more, but he died before I had a chance to tell him how I felt, and I never knew if he felt anything other than friendship for me."

Harry was hesitant to tell the older woman what Lupin had written. She seemed hurt enough by Sirius' death. How would she feel if she knew he had loved her?

"Here. You will want to see this one." Ryselle took Harry's hand and guided it to one of the tendrils in the stone vessel. His hand made contact, and suddenly he found himself in another place…

It was clear out. The sky was black velvet scattered with the shining gems of the stars overhead. Ryselle sat inside her house in front of the large bay window, idly reading a new book on Magical Plants and Their Effects on Potions. She glanced up to see a large, black dog lurking outside the Dursley's residence. This was the second time this week he had posted himself under Harry's window, and she knew it would be the second night he was to be disappointed by his godson's absence. Harry had been grounded since the beginning of the summer. She figured Sirius didn't know, so she decided to go out and make his acquaintance.

Ryselle cast a Disillusionment Charm on herself so she could pass unseen over to the Dursley's. She silently snuck over to a nearby tree and carefully hid herself. From there she watched while the dog waited under Harry's window. Half an hour later the black mastiff lifted his head and sniffed the air. Uh oh. A slight breeze sprang up and it appeared Sirius caught a whiff of someone nearby. The dog growled menacingly and came over to sniff near her. His hackles rose, and he let out a fierce snarl, jaws snapping on the spot where she stood a moment earlier. Ryselle figured the time for hiding was at an end, and quickly dispelled the illusion before the dog woke up the neighbors. About a second later, she had a wand pointed at her by a handsome, dark-haired man. His haunted eyes focused narrowly on her. "Who are you?" he demanded hoarsely.

"I am called Ryselle Spellsinger," she replied, slowly backing away, "I am here to watch over your godson."

"For the Death Eaters, I would presume." His eyes grew cold. "I'm sure you're aware of who I am, so I'm also sure you're aware of what I am capable of. Leave here now, or I will force you to!"

"Sirius, you do not understand…" her statement was interrupted as a bolt of eldritch energy erupted from his wand. "Stupefy!" Ryselle dodged behind a tree narrowly avoiding the spell. "Sirius!" She whispered urgently, "Stop this! I am not here to hurt Harry!"

"Bloody likely story." His voice came from nearby, over to her left. She gave some serious consideration to what she could do in the next few moments. It was only a matter of time before he found her and she wasn't sure she could keep dodging spells all night. But she also wasn't sure what she could do to escape.

The snap of a twig cut into her reverie, and she quickly made a decision. Pointing her wand at the source of the sound, she whispered "Expelliarmus!" A short curse told her she was successful. She stepped out from behind the tree, and aimed her wand at the dark figure. "Sirius, stop!" She said. "I do not want to do this, but you have left me no choice. You are going to stand there while we talk about this sit…oof!" The air was knocked out of her as Sirius Black tackled her, wresting her wand out of her hand. Well that worked well, she thought wryly.

"Who are you? What do you want? Why are you here?" Sirius demanded, pinning her to the ground. "Ryselle Spellsinger. World peace. To guard Harry." She replied. She let out a small gasp as his grip tightened. "Be more specific, Ryselle," he grated, his face inches from hers. Idly, her mind observed that if he were to improve his grooming habits, he'd be a very good-looking man. Stop that, she chided. "Sirius, I am here at the behest of Albus Dumbledore. I have been watching to make sure no one comes to threaten Harry." She grimaced, "Well, aside from that fat little Dudley bastard." His lips curved into a slight grin. Yes, she thought, he just needs to pay a bit more attention…stop it! Nice smile, though. Ryselle closed her eyes briefly and took firm control of her thoughts. This is what I get for dedicating my entire life to magic, she observed silently, the first time I get pinned to the ground by some strange wizard the only thing I can think of is how handsome he is. She opened her eyes to find him gazing at her, puzzled.

"Dumbledore never mentioned you," he said suspiciously.

"That would be because he is not exactly broadcasting my presence," she replied. "He felt it better that I remain unknown. No one knows who I am, so they cannot tell the Death Eaters."

He grimaced. "No, you're right about that. Until they find them all this is probably the smartest thing he's ever done." His gaze sharpened. "Who are you that Dumbledore would trust you with Harry's life?" Sirius demanded.

Ryselle sighed. "I am the student of one of his old friends, Sirius." His curious look compelled her to continue. "Aechyrus. I am his apprentice." Sirius tried not to look impressed, but failed. It was hard for him to believe that this woman, this exotically beautiful raven-haired woman was the only apprentice of the legendary and reclusive Archwizard. Beautiful? Exotic? Why does that make a difference, he wondered. He looked down at her, trying to fathom the ability she must possess to have been chosen for such an honor. One thing is for certain, he thought, if she's truly Aechyrus' apprentice, then she's certainly no Death Eater.

Ryselle was starting to become tired of being pinned to the ground, no matter how handsome the man was. She cleared her throat. "Excuse me," she began, "might I have the use of my body back?" Sirius started at the sound of her musical voice. For one brief moment, he had found himself being drawn in to her mysterious violet eyes. Unusual color, he thought. "Sorry," he muttered, letting her go. I was in Azkaban too long, he thought, if the first woman I meet has such an effect on me. I need to get a grip. Even if she is beautiful. Sirius mentally slapped himself. "Uh, well, I'm sorry for, uh, tackling you, Ryselle." She smiled. Beautiful, he thought. "I understand, Sirius. I was just surprised." Ryselle laughed, "I will have to remember that tactic the next time I find myself disarmed." Sirius held out his hand to help her up.

"Thank you."

"Here, don't forget this." He handed her back her wand.

As she walked away, a thought occurred to Ryselle. She turned back to Harry's godfather. "Sirius." She called softly. "You are aware that Harry has been grounded since the beginning of summer? It will be sometime before his punishment is complete. I do not think you will be able to see him anytime soon. Feel free to drop by my house if you want to watch him. It has got the perfect view." She waited a few moments for a response, and then Disillusioned herself for the short walk to her house.

Sirius Black watched her go. He was stunned by her offer. He was a convicted murderer, yet here she was inviting him to come over to her house. She was either extremely foolish, well informed, or powerful enough not to be worried. He didn't think it was the first. The idea appealed to him, however. He refused to acknowledge the part of his mind that suggested his interest was for alternative reasons. Changing back into his canine form, Sirius settled down for the night under Harry's window. Sleep was a long time coming, and his thoughts were filled with fascination for the beautiful and mysterious witch he had just met.

One week later, after missing yet another opportunity to visit with Harry, Sirius decided to take Ryselle up on her offer. From that point, it had only been a matter of time before she fell in love with him. The realization was abrupt, as was the despair she felt when she realized he would never return her feelings. But it was nothing compared to hearing about his death…

Harry blinked as reality returned. Feeling her pain, he knew the knowledge that Sirius loved her would only make things worse. He resolved to never mention his godfather to her again.

"Uh, thanks, Ryselle. It helps to know that he found some happiness before his death. I was always so afraid he died…unhappy."

Ryselle smiled. "Never think that, Harry. He loved you as he would have loved his own son. He was happy to know you and to be able to spend what time he could with you. I have no doubt that Christmas was one of his happiest memories."

"Why weren't you there?" Harry couldn't help but ask.

She gave him a sad smile. "Headmaster Dumbledore did not want anyone to know about me. The so-called 'secret weapon' of the Order and all that. I was not a member yet anyway, since I was not free to dedicate myself. I understand why he wanted to keep the location of the meetings secret."

Part of Harry's mind thought rather uncharitably that the headmaster had a tendency to be too cautious and unwilling to let others into his confidence. If he had, Sirius would not be dead and Ryselle would probably know how he felt about her. Rationally he knew Dumbledore had no way of knowing how things would work out, but a part of him was still angry. He supposed he would eventually come to peace with things, but Sirius' death was still too close for him to be rational about it. He wondered how Ryselle felt.

"Do not worry for me, Harry. Sirius and I got to spend a great deal of time together. He was quite insistent, you know. He took me to places I never would have gone by myself. Muggle places, interestingly enough. I learned a lot." Her eyes grew distant and filled with delight at the fond remembrances. He found himself reluctant to disturb her. Moving quietly, he got up and headed away, leaving Ryselle alone to her memories.

Harry turned for a moment to look back at his professor, an impulse born of the love they shared for Sirius Black. He spoke softly, hoping to help her as she helped him this summer.

"He wouldn't want you to stop living, Ryselle. You told me that. I know you say Gypsies typically mate for life, but the last thing he would want would be for you to give up that part of your life for his memory. Maybe I'm not the only one that needs to move on."

Her pained eyes met his and read the unspoken message there. Sirius would be the first to slap some sense into her if he saw her like this. She smiled sadly and nodded.

"Thank you, Harry."