CHAPTER 11

We went back up to the common room to get our essays.

"This is our last lesson with Snape before Christmas break. What's the matter?" he asked, noticing that I was lost in my thoughts.

I looked at him and smiled, "Nothing," I lied.

"Ok," he said stopping me an pulling me aside, "I know something is wrong, what is it?"

"Nothing babe, really, I'm fine," I smiled and kissed him, "I promise," It wasn't exactly a lie. I was fine, but I was worried.

'I dunno how I'll be able to take it if he doesn't beat Voldemort. The prophecy says that only one can live while the other survives. I just hope against hope that the one who survives will be Harry,' I thought.

"Alright," Harry said skeptically, as if still deciding whether or not I was telling the truth or not. He finally started walking again. He put his arm over my shoulders and I put my arm around his waist.

We found Ron and Hermione in the common room, snogging again. I threw a pillow that hit them. Hermione shot me a dirty look until I told them that Potions was going to start soon. She got up and pulled Ron up, then Hermione and I headed to the grils dormaory to collect our bags and Harry and Ron went up to the boys dormatory to get their own things.

'Harry, I'm so glad we get to tell our friends. I wasn't sure how I was going to go home tomorrow and not tell Isabella!' I thought excitidely, figuring that talking to him was better than focusing on the anguish that meets me when we are not together.

'Yeah I know. We'll tell Ron and Hermione tonight after we meet with Dumbledore and make him our secret-keeper, agreed?' he sounded just as excited as I was.

'Yeah,' I replied, prctically running down the staircase.

Once we had all met back in the common room we headed for the dungeons, not wanting to be late.

We got there early and the Potions class was a bore. The only good thing about it was that I could speak to Harry without Snape even realizing it. Although I had to scold Harry several times for pretending to yell at Snape and had to try very hard not to laugh.

Several times Hermione looked at us weird and I finally had to make Harry stop because I didn't want Hermione to expect anything else. Though we were telling her later, so I didn't know why.

When he once again mentioned Snape's hooked nose I knew I had to put it to a stop.

'Harry James Potter, stop it now, or I'll make you sleep in your dorm tonight,' I threatened, but put enought humor into the sound of it so that he knew that I wasn't actually serious, but he did need to stop.

'That's not fair,' he started, but I interrupted, while adding some ingredients to the potion. 'What, are you saying it's not fair that you can make fun of him without him knowing it?'

'No, I'm saying it's not fair that you know my middle name and I don't know yours.'

'Alright,' I thought, slightly suprised that he had been that agreeable about not making fun of Snape, 'my middle name is Nicole.' When he was silent I turned to look at him. He was adding ingredients to our potion.

'What, you aren't going to make fun of my middle name are you?' I was stunned by his silence.

'No, you have a beautiful middle name, I've just seen Hermione look over at us sideways to many times,' there was a pause before his next sentence, That was my mothers middle name,' he said finally.

I waited before I responded, trying to think of the perfect thing to say. 'I'm honored,' I took his hand and gave it a squeeze.

'Hey, we should go see Grimmuald Place during Christmas break. It's been renovated and it looks really nice.'

'I'd like that. I really would.'

We didn't talk much for the rest of the class and finally left the classroom, free for the rest of the day and ready to start Christmas break the next day.

"What do you plan on doing for the Holiday?" I asked Hermione and Ron as we were all sitting under the tree by the lake. I had my head on Harry's shoulder and our hands were linked while Hermione lay on the grass, right next to Ron.

"I'm going to the Burrow. I thought I told you," she looked at us with curiousity in her eyes and when we shook our heads that she didn't she continued, "I promised my parents that I would come home for Easter if they let me go to the Burrow now."

"Have you told your parents about the two of you yet Ron?" Harry asked.

Ron grabbed Hermione's hand, "No, actually we're going to do it in person." She nodded her agreement.

"What are you going to do about her parents?" Ron asked Harry.

"Well, it's only my mom that really matters, she won't care what her husband thinks. That does present a problem though. Dumbledore said he took care of it. I dunno whether or not he told them," I answered for him.

I shared a look with Harry who shrugged his shoulders.

"Though actually I don't care what anybody thinks. Harry and I are going to be together whether they like it or not," I continued defiantly.

"But it would be better if we had your mothers approval," Harry said and I reluctantly nodded.

After a few moments I broke the silence. "Well I'm going to do that Potions essay. I don't want homework over Christmas," I said, reaching for my bag and getting my Potions book, some parchment, ink and a quill out.

Hermione followed my lead, and eventually, after much badgering, Harry and Ron did, too.

"Hey, babe isn't that your owl?" Harry pointed skyward after we had all gotten settled and had started writing our essays.

I looked up and, sure enough, there was Lily, flying towards us. When she landed I took the letter from her leg and reached for an owl treat from my bag. I gave it to her and told her not to move.

"Who's the letter from?" Harry asked.

"I haven't even opened it yet. How am I supposed to know?" I raised my eyebrows at him. "Though it's probably from Isabella," I answered, opening the letter.

I looked at the writing, "Yup, it's from Isabella."

The letter read:

Hey Amy,

I'm sorry to hear about Blaise. I dunno what to say. It's a good thing Harry was fighting for you I suppose. Maybe that means he likes you. Jake and I are still going strong and I am so happy! Well, I guess that is it until I see you. Oh wait! You know Ronnie right? Well he still likes you. I think he's going to ask you out when you get back, again. Just be prepared. Well, see you soon.

XOXO

Isabella

"Who's Ronnie?" Harry asked and I realized he was reading over my shoulder.

"Just this guy who's liked me since last year and already tried asking me out over the summer," I replied absentmindedly.

"Well, maybe I should talk to him."

I laughed and felt his head, "Are you Okay?" I asked, with concern in my voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine, why?"

"Because you must be losing it if you actually believe I'd leave you for Ronnie. I mean, he's Ronnie," I shuddered, "You wouldn't know 'cuz you've never met him, but that would be utterly disgusting. But maybe if some really hot guy were to come along, you never know, I might just have to leave you then."

He actually believed me and I laughed at the look on his face, "Relax, I'm just kidding," I leaned over and kissed him, "You're stuck with me for a long while. I'm not going anywhere."

When I finally decided that I had persuaded him I layed bback down on the grass and got out some new parchment. It was then Harry started petting Lily

When Harry looked at me quizzically I just replied that I had to write a lettewr to Isabella. I jotted a quick note, that didn't reveal that I was dating Harry, in case it got to her before I did, and sent it.

Once I sent Lily off I got back to work on my essay. I finished a half hour before dusk and gave my essay to Harry who shared it with Ron and they finished theirs. I told Hermione that she could use mine too, but she plainly refused and continued with her own work, occasionally sending angry looks to Ron.

She finally finished, "You shouldn't copy," she said, sternly to Ron and Harry, "And you shouldn't let them," she threw a look at me.

"Sorry, but if I didn't let them they would just bug me until I did," I retorted. She looked like she was about to speak, but I continued, "Besides, the faster they get done, the more time we get to spend time with them," she closed her mouth and rolled her eyes, but she knew I was right.

When they finished we decided to go back to the castle and eat dinner before going to the dormatory to pack our bags.

Once I had finished packing, I hurried back down to the common room, to find Harry had finished a while ago.

Deciding not to think abut how unorganized his bag was going to be I forced him up to Dumbledore's office with me so we could perform the spell that made him our secret keeper.

We made it up the spiral staircase and knocked on his door. When we heard him say come in we opened the door to find him behind his desk, as usual. We asked him if we could perform the spell and he agreed, though he said we should do it in the room of requirement. Then he summoned for Professor Flitwick to meet us there.

"Now Harry and Amy, I'm going to have to ask you to hold hands please," Professor Flitwick said in his high squeaky voice when we were ready to start. "You also may not use your connection during the spell."

I looked to Harry and smiled, lacing my fingers through his. Dumbledore stood behind us, resting one hand on my shoulder and the other on Harry's.

It took an hour and most of our stregnth before the spell was complete. I collapsed onto the bed Harry and I were going to share that night, shaking slightly. Harry sat next to me and held me in his arms.

Proffessor Flitwick left almost immediately, but Dumbledore asked if we had any questions.

"How are we leaving?" my voice shook as I asked.

"You can both Apparate at the Apparation point whenever you are ready tomorrow. Though, your mother asks that you are no later than 9:30 because she'll have breakfast ready for you. Anything else?" he asked.

I shook my head and he left with a smile.

I fell asleep in Harry's arms soon after.