Harry looked out of his window. He had planned on getting up and riding his broom before everyone else was up. It was a glorious spring day, Harry thought thankfully. He quietly got his robes on, grabbed his broomstick, and headed for the western side of the castle.

Harry had remembered his first time riding a broom. He had often thought of it on days like this. He usually did most of his serious thinking at this time, for that matter. Harry's mind quickly switched to the amazing kiss he had shared with Lavender the previous night. He had never expected Lavender as a prospect for a girlfriend, but she was definitely buzzing in his head like a wonderful mental bumblebee. Harry felt the cool, fresh wind on his face and in his hair and continued to toy with the fact of liking Lavender. And the more he thought about it, the more he realized that she was perfect for him. He hadn't really fathomed before how beautiful she really was. She was also clever, caring, and sharp as a tack. Lavender was perfect for him! Harry landed his broom and headed towards the Great Hall.

He entered the Great Hall, already filled with students talking and loading breakfast onto their plates hungrily. He passed the place where Lavender was sitting, and she looked up with the same sheepish smile, only it looked a bit different. It was perhaps more meaningful to Harry now. Harry smiled back, a wide grin across his face. He wasn't watching where he was going, for as he passed, he ran into Draco, arm in arm with Pansy Parkinson.

"Ugh, Potter! Watch where you're going next time. These are new robes and I don't need your filthy mudblood disease all over them."

"Why do you care so much, Malfoy? You let Pansy all over you. Not much of a difference, if you ask me" Harry retorted coolly. Malfoy grimaced, speechless, and stomped off, dragging Pansy behind him. Harry continued to his seat.

The first thing he heard when he sat down was the shrill scolding of Hermione. "I heard about your little rendezvous with your stalker. A certain Lavender Brown?" Harry scowled at her. "Don't call her a stalker." Ron's eyes got very wide and he spit out some of his omelet. "Lavender? You like Lavender Brown?" Ron exploded with laughter.

"What's so bad about Lavender Brown?" he responded. "She's beautiful, she's smart, she's… she's…"