A/N: There was a fair amount of feedback about the story ending too soon. I have an outline for 3 chapters that occur over several years in the story, both during and after our characters' time at Hogwarts. Below is an early draft from the first chapter that I'm using as a teaser right now. Sorry, I don't expect to complete these chapters for several months - I'm talking summer 2023. Not sure whether I should publish as additional chapters for this fic or as a separate follow-up fic titled "Patient of My Life".


His right leg was bouncing from the nerves, causing Hermione to quietly growl in his direction. She looked up from her book to stare at the object shaking the sofa, then she glared at Harry, and then motioned across the room with her head.

Harry sighed at Hermione's silent insistence. "Fine. I'll do it, I'll do it. Talk to you two later," Harry said to his two best Gryffindor friends.

Hermione's face brightened as she put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Harry, you can trust Katie. She cares about you. Good luck and don't make snide remarks. Something is obviously bothering her," Hermione whispered.

"Yeah, I'm sure it's nothing, mate," Ron added encouragingly, then went back to reading his Quidditch magazine. "It beats detention," he said a little too loudly.

The bushy-haired witch shook her head in exasperation at her redheaded friend as she tugged on his arm to stand up. "C'mon, Ron. Let's give Harry some space. Find us later at the library, Harry."

Ron reluctantly let himself get pulled to his feet and whined, "I didn't agree to go to the library, Hermione. I'm doing it for Harry." They gathered their things and walked off toward the portrait hole.

Harry looked across the Gryffindor common room to his girlfriend of over a year. She looked relaxed talking to Angelina and Alicia, which was the opposite of what she had been with him the last few weeks. Her demeanor towards him lately reflected a Scottish winter - cool and cloudy. She had been that way since shortly after returning from the Christmas holidays. Harry knew what event had set Katie off, but they had yet to really talk about it and didn't think it merited the standoffish behavior he was receiving.

Katie must have noticed he was staring because she looked over at him and made eye contact, furrowing her eyebrows immediately. The reaction agitated him. This had gone on far too long in his opinion and it was time he confronted her to find out why she was being distant. He had been a good boyfriend since they started dating over a year ago and didn't know why she wouldn't talk about what happened in the Room of Requirement.


A/N: So that is part of what's written thus far