Author's Notes: Hey guys, I'm back once again with another chapter. Sorry it isn't very long and kinda sucks, I had a hard time finding inspiration for this chapter.

Thanks as always to Mike, who is doing a great job as my beta.

Also, thanks to SashaBT245 and Lilybet Edyvean for your reviews. I'm glad you're still enjoying my story and really appreciate your comments.

Chapter Nine: Precious Time

The following few weeks passed quickly, as Amelia was absorbed in her studies. The only bright spots were letters every day from Regulus and seeing him on most weekends.

The time the couple spent together varied; sometimes they met alone in Hogsmeade, on other occasions Regulus visited Malfoy Manor. Infrequently the couple were alone at Amelia's home, but more often than not Lucius and Narcissa joined them. At other times, Amelia went to Grimmauld Place, but the presence of adults was always there.

Amelia and Regulus cherished the time they had alone together, growing closer with every passing day. They felt comfortable around each other and had moved to the stage where physical contact was no longer embarrassing or awkward. However, the couple hadn't got close to kissing again since the day in the forest.

Amelia was dreading her return to Hogwarts in a few weeks; she hated the idea of being parted from Regulus for so long. For her, September wasn't far enough away. By this stage, Amelia was completely besotted with Regulus. He meant everything to her and she couldn't imagine life without him. To her, he was handsome, charming, warm, clever and funny. Amelia knew inside she was falling in love with him.

Meanwhile, much to Regulus' dismay, Lucius was delighted on how the plan was advancing.

"By the time she goes back to school, she'll be so wrapped up in you, that nothing else will matter. However, I want you to make it perfectly clear that she is the most important thing in your life and that your feeling won't change once she returns to school," Lucius had said to Regulus on evening as they chatted in the drawing room.

Regulus merely nodded in agreement, inside however he was consumed with guilt.

At first, Amelia was just a naive girl he had no problem in using to please Lucius. However, as the weeks had progressed he felt increasingly bad, slowly developing an attachment for her. Now, Regulus positively hated himself. To him, Amelia was the sweetest person he'd ever met. She was beautiful, funny, caring, loving and intelligent.

Every day that he spent with her, he felt himself falling for her more. To hurt her like this, and use her in such a way was hell.

Part of him wanted to back out of the whole arrangement, but knew he couldn't.

Even if Lucius and the other Death Eaters didn't kill him, he couldn't live with himself if he stopped seeing Amelia and broke her heart.

The only solution was to continue with the plan, and hope Amelia never found out the truth. Regulus convinced himself he wasn't really lying to her. He did have genuine feelings for her, he'd just been pushed in her direction, and if Amelia never discovered that, it wouldn't hurt her. The outcome of the plan would remain unaffected, and so everyone would be happy.

As the couple became closer with every day together, life carried on as normal. Narcissa and Lucius were ecstatic at the prospect of becoming parents, and were now putting a great deal of effort into the arrival of their first child. The Ministry of Magic pushed ahead with their Muggle Protection Act, to the disapproval of most of the pure-blood community. Voldemort continued to gain supporters and power, now not a day went by with out the report of a death at his hands.

Amelia was unaffected by this however, she was a pure-blood, so therefore safe from Voldemort's harm. What did she care if there were a few less Mud-bloods in the world?

Finally, a week before Amelia's return to Hogwarts, something interesting happened. In honour of her upcoming departure, a party was to be thrown for Amelia. This gathering wouldn't be as lavish as the one to find her a suitor however.

Among those invited were; Regulus and his parents, the Lestranges, Professor Slughorn and a few Slytherin girls from Amelia's year.

Amelia hadn't seen nor heard from her fellow classmates all through the summer, but Narcissa felt it was only right that her niece's 'friends' should attend.

Amelia didn't really care either way, they weren't people she liked or disliked. If keeping up appearances allowed her to see Regulus, and flaunt their relationship, she was happy.

By now, the little girl who needed help with everything was gone and a woman had taken her place. She had reached a stage where she was confident to pick out formal robes without the help of her aunt. Regulus' constant attention and affection had given the young woman belief in herself. She was no longer the timid girl of a few months ago, now she proudly dressed nicely and liked her appearance.

Because of this, Amelia was looking forward to the up coming gathering. She was excited by the prospect of dressing up in fine robes and getting everyone's attention. Part of her looked forwards to seeing the jealous looks on the faces of girls who had teased and looked down upon her for most of her school life.

Regulus meanwhile was both excited and dreading the party. For the night of it would be when he'd have to make a huge public declaration. Lucius had instructed him that on the night of the gathering, he was to confess his feelings for Amelia.

Regulus, the heir of the Black family, wanted nothing more than to tell Amelia how he felt about her, but to do it so publicly scared him to death. If he went through with tonight, Regulus knew there'd be no escaping. Amelia would be thrilled by his admittance, and he couldn't shatter that. Everyone, including his parents, would be talking about the couple and speculating on when they'd marry; therefore, he could embarrass himself by walking away from it. Lucius would be delighted and this would be passed on through the ranks of the Death Eaters, so Regulus couldn't risk his life by changing his mind.

Amelia could tell by the tension in the manor that something big was going to happed. Her guardians hadn't looked so happy since the news of Narcissa's pregnancy. The house hadn't been so clean, nor had Dobby worked so hard, since the last large public affaire. What ever was going on was bound to be exciting.

Finally, the weekend arrived and with it the preparations for the biggest night of the young couple's lives.