Chapter 5

She watched as Harry helped some third years with their homework. She could barely pay attention to her own runes assignment, which was a first for her. Usually, once she opened rules book that would be the only thing that held her attention. But know she couldn't help but watch from over the edge of her book as he corrected the wand movement of a Ravenclaw girl for the freezing spell.

It was Friday night after she came back. A day after she agreed to date Harry officially, well more trick him into asking her to date him. It still counted though she was now the girlfriend of Harry Potter. Unlike most girls in her age group, she was not brought up on Harry Potter's legend. Her auntie reminded her time and time again that no one really knew what happened the night that a one-year-old boy lost his parents. And that he was famous for what was probably the worst night of his life.

She could sympathise with him. Parents who died when you were young and never really knowing them. Always being jealous of the bond that your friends had with their parents. Don't get her wrong. She loved her auntie and everything she did for Susan, and she loved the Abbotts who basically helped raise her as their own child. There was something different to that kind of love, though. It wasn't the unconditional parent-child love that her friends had.

Her friends never understood that. She wanted that love that they took for granted, which they didn't even realise they were lucky to have. Harry could understand that though; she guessed Neville could understand a little too. She at least had her caring, loving, a little overprotective auntie to watch her. From what she has found out about Harry's life, not at Hogwarts, has been anything but good.

She remembered her first time in the Great Hall after being sorted, watching the rest of her year be sent to their own houses. She was surprised to see how small the Boy-Who-Lived was. It was a far cry from what the books pictured him as. Throughout the year she watched as a shy, to quick to flinch boy try to survive. She remembered hearing rumours from his fellow male year mates about the status of his body, of the bruises and skinniness of it.

And then each year he was so downcast leaving Hogwarts and always came back skinny and hallow no matter how well he looked before he left the school. Something was wrong with his summer life. She tried to ask Hermione earlier, hoping that she wasn't invading into a too personal area of his too quickly, but Hermione said she honestly had no idea about what it was really like and only heard rumours from Ron and the twins.

Harry was too private about his personal life. He was also very anti-touch. From before this year, there were only very few people that could touch him without making him flinch away. Hermione was the first one and as far as Susan could tell the one that was the most intimate with Harry, before Susan that was. Ron, Ginny, and the old Gryffindor quidditch team could give him a short hug. Everyone else never went more than a slap on the back even then, that was a risk.

Susan was told and teased often about how touchy she was. She just liked to give hugs and hold hands with her female friends. She was very affectionate. It was one of her main worries about being with Harry; it is still one of them. Even Hermione's words that if Harry allowed her to be close earlier that he will secretly love any physical contact of love you give him.

That he was starving for any loving physical contact brought another line of worry about him. Who could hate such a kind person? All he does is help people. He saved Hermione from a troll before he knew her. He killed a basilisk to save that student and stop the attacks on the students that loathed him. He fought to save that Hippogriff. He brought Cedric's body back from where ever he went after he fought Voldemort. He taught them all DADA last year and then broke into the Ministry to save his godfather. And now even though he didn't want to, he is helping people once again with DADA.

He has more love in him than anyone she knows, and yet he probably was never given that kind of treatment when he was younger. It just makes her want to hug him.

She fidgeted in her seat, getting ready to hug the raven-haired boy just for that reason.

"You're staring again." Susan blushed before turning to smile at the grinning Hermione shyly.

"I was reading my book." She lied, hiding her face as she tried to remember where she left off.

"You haven't turned a page in over 5 minutes." Her study partner said with a hint of amusement.

Yesterday night Harry agreed to help the small fourth-year study group. He managed to drag along Hermione and Ron with him. Susan was sure Hermione wouldn't let Harry go without her because she wanted to make sure he was doing it correctly. Susan went because she wanted to spend at least some time with her new boyfriend.

During the meeting, Hermione and Susan studied their own subjects while Harry helped the fourth years. Ron did some of his homework before trying to help. Ron left shortly after as he was bored and the fourth years did not want his help. Hermione and Susan agreed to bring their runes homework for this meeting so they could get their work done together while they watched over Harry for different reasons.

"Where's Ron?" She tried to change the subject so she can do some teasing.

"Off in another Exploding Snap tournament." The girl huffed before glaring down at their runestone.

Susan smirked, "What? You want him here, studying with you?"

"Yes." The girl's cheeks immediately reddened. "I mean, I want him here studying."

"So you don't care who he is with?"

"No."

"So I can try and set him and Hannah up on a date when she returns? Or maybe him and Lavender. I know she has a crush on him. She will probably snog his brains out by the end of their first date."

The brown eyes glared at her, "Don't you dare."

She was interrupted by saying anything witty back as she felt a body sit down next to her. There was still some space between them, so she unconsciously moved to eliminate it. She leaned against Harry to give him a peck on the cheek, watching him grin wildly. She also caught a glimpse of the same Ravenclaw student give a wistful sigh as she stared at them, well, mainly Harry.

She knew soon she will have to deal with the looks of jealously from other students soon. It has been just over a day since it has been official, so the news hasn't actually made it around the school yet as they have been preoccupied with classes and assignments. Most likely by the midpoint of Saturday, she will be stared at with contempt and jealously. They will probably call her names in private and behind her back. But she didn't care.

"What are you two talking about?"

"Runes."

"Girl stuff." He shrugged at the two answers. "How are they doing?" She nodded her head towards the table of students.

"Good, I suppose. They are a little behind where we were at their age, but they also didn't have Remus teaching them. I am sure they will catch up once they get used to Snape's teaching style. How's your runes assignment going?"

Harry peeked at their assignment, which was to make a basic mini runestone for a house. They just had to have a detection ward set up with a shield ward that would cover a toy house. He was looking at one of their rune schemes, upside down. She smiled and rolled her eyes before turning it the right way up for him.

"Good, we have it so it can cast the shield ward around the house." She pointed to a set of runes that someone unfamiliar would think was complicated. "We are working on the power runes now before we finish the detection runes as that is the easiest." She pointed out the other two patterns.

"If you say so."

As he looked at the piece of parchment, Susan pulled his arm around her before snuggling into his side. She sighed in content, leaning her head against his shoulder. She was happy to forget about her homework as she sat there on the couch with him.

Harry had decided to use the Room of Requirement to hold the DADA study groups. They were in the room that the DA used the year before. The room provided them with two tables and chairs to go around both of them. There was a bookcase filled with defence books that she knew Harry secretly wanted to go through. There was also two couches and two armchairs facing a coffee table.

Hermione had taken an armchair for herself. Susan and Harry shared a couch, though they probably could just share an armchair since she was so close to him. Their runes homework was on the coffee table.

"Stop distracting her, Harry." She playfully glared at Hermione.

"He is not distracting me." Though true, there was no runes book for research in her hands anymore. "He is helping me go through our rune scheme."

"He doesn't even know what any of the runes mean."

"This one means protection." She looked to see him pointing at one that actually meant sphere. She grabbed his hand and moved his finger to point at the right one. "See, protection." She couldn't help but feel giddy and smile at his cheeky grin.

"Susan, we need to get this done before next class."

"Fine."

Susan grabbed the parchment out of Harry's hand before trading it with one of his defence books. She picked up her previously discarded runes book. She snuggled in close to her boyfriend as he read his book and she hers.

"You know if you get a boyfriend Hermione, you can study like this too; it is really comfortable." Hermione ignored her. The pink cheeks betrayed the brown-haired girl's attempt at answering her.

She was in bliss cuddling with Harry while he read a book and she read her favourite subject. She would write down notes every once and a while, but the three of them just sat in silence for the most part.

She glanced up at Harry, who was engrossed with his book. His always unruly hair covered the famous scar. She often wondered why he never used the potion that his grandfather made for wild hair like his. She wondered if it was a curse on the Potter family. She was sure all the descriptions she read of James Potter mentioned the unruly hair.

She blushed when he turned looking her in the eyes. "What?"

"Nothing."

They stared at each other for a few seconds. She returned his smile. Their faces were mere inches away. They began to move closer before a cough stopped them.

She turned to smile at Hermione's glare sheepishly. "As much as I am happy for the both of you, I would also like to get this work done. Harry go back and help the third years. I am sure they will love to have you help them more. And Susan, focus."

Harry and Susan muttered their sorries as Harry stood up to leave them. He gave her a quick kiss before walking back over to the table. She watched him get quickly barged with questions by the young students.

"I did do some of the work." She handed the sheet of runes to Hermione. Susan had finished half of the rune sequence already.

She returned to her book as Hermione checked the work. She made an effort not to look over at the table. Hopefully getting this runestone almost done tonight or even done their weekend would look better. Despite being given some leeway with the week's assignments, some professors such as Snape did not give her any break.

She would be able to get it all done this weekend, but she would likely have to spend all of Saturday working on homework. Sunday she had quidditch practice so waiting until Sunday was not an option. Plus she wanted some time with Harry. She would also need to study for some of next week. Plus she had prefect patrols tonight and Sunday night which will get in the way of her study time.

It was nearing curfew. Only Hermione, Harry, and Susan remained in the Room of Requirements. The third years left over an hour ago to avoid their curfew. Hermione and Susan were almost finished with their assignment. Harry took to reading his charm book.

"I think we need to call it quits for tonight." Susan nodded to the suggestion.

"I can try and finish it tonight." The last bit they needed wasn't that hard. She could honestly finish it tonight. It would probably cause her to lose an hour or two of sleep, but she could sleep in the next morning.

"No, it is okay. I know you have your first patrol tonight. I can do some of it tonight so we can finish it during breakfast."

"Are you sure?"

The Gryffindor girl nodded her head, "It is fine, Susan, I will see you tomorrow, good night. See you later, Harry." Susan waved back.

"Hm. Oh, sure I will see you later, Hermione."

They silently gathered their things before leaving the room. Once in the hallway and the room disappearing, she grabbed Harry's hand with a smile, that he returned.

"We should hurry, I don't want to take points from you." She started leading the way to the Gryffindor Tower.

"I don't think you will."

"Oh?"

"Well, you are a temporary Prefect. I don't think you even have the powers to do so." He grinned teasingly at her.

"Well, I guess we can find out in the morning—ten points from Gryffindor, talking back to a prefect."

She smugly grinned as he looked shocked. That would show him.

"What am I going to tell my house when they asked why I lost us ten points?"

She shrugged, "Not my problem."

"Well, what can I do to earn them back." He pulled her close to him. Her heart started to flutter at the look of he wore.

"I, uhh, I am sure you can think of something." She could feel her face being to blush.

"How about a late-night walk through a castle?"

"I have to patrol the castle, and I don't want to take away alot of points from you."

"You don't have to if you don't see me."

She rolled her eyes, "You are powerful, Harry, but I doubt you will be able to keep up a disillusionment charm for the whole patrol and one good enough to fool the professors."

"Who said anything about a charm?" He smirked before she watched him begin to dig through his disorganised bag.

"What are you doing, Harry?"

She glanced down at her watch; it was getting closer to the curfew for him. He pulled out a blanket with an interesting pattern. It moved like water as he draped the blanket around him. She gasped as he disappeared from her sight.

"You have an invisibility cloak? How?" She reached out to touch him, only to find air where he last was.

"Yup." His voice came from her right side, turning she saw nothing. "Had it since my first year here."

His head appeared right in front of her, startling her. She didn't have time to gasp as he kissed her.

"It is still working well?"

"Still works like it is brand new."

She inspected where his body should be. There was nothing. Usually, with cloaks of invisibilities that are a few years, you will be able to start seeing ripples in the fabric. It is likely the Potter's would get a very high-quality cloak. Still, Harry said he didn't know about the wizarding world until his eleventh birthday.

"So, late-night walk around the castle?"

She shrugged, "I guess."

"Where off to now? Catch some couples in broom closets? People sneaking away from the library? Going into the broom closets to snog?" He disappeared under the cloak again.

"Well," she began to head off into the direction of her common room, "I have to meet with Ernie in the common room, and then we can go on a patrol."

They made the rest of the trip in silence. She could barely hear his footsteps behind her. Having some fun, she would kick her back foot out, trying to get him; she missed every time. Harry, in turn, would push her bag. They continued their game all of the way down to the entrance of the Hufflepuff common room.

She knocked the rhythm into the door, having it swing open for her. She tried closing the door before it was blocked open.

"What are you doing, Harry?" She whispered not to attract attention.

"I want to see your common room? I have seen the Slytherin's, and I want to see how Hufflepuff's compare."

She rolled her eyes, "Fine, but stay quiet and close. I don't want for you to get in trouble." She held the door open for a few seconds before shutting it." She led the way through the tunnel.

"Wow."

"Shhh." She made her way to Ernie, who was sitting in one of the beanbags. "Hi, Ernie."

"Ready for the most boring time of your life?"

"Yea, I just need to drop my bag off on my bed and then we can go." She turned around, heading to her bed before turning around again. "I know Hannah, and you do it alot so can we split up for our patrol, try and get more of the area cleared?"

"Uh, yeah, sure. Are you sure you will be okay? I know there isn't much to the patrols, but it is your first time. I also would hate to have to face Harry if he finds out I let you go on your own and you got hurt."

She rolled her eyes, "My aunt was the head of the DMLE, I can handle myself quite well, thank you very much."

Ernie raised his hands in surrounder, "If you are sure, then I don't see why not."

"Great, back in a moment."

She took the longer route around the edge of the common room, where there were fewer people. "You have to stay out here, Harry. The girl's dorms are charmed against boys entering." She didn't hear any reply before she went into her dorm.

She waved bye to Ernie and promised to be back at the entrance before midnight. She began to walk the opposite direction, fidgeting with a loose thread on her sweater.

She wasn't sure why she was so nervous. It wasn't like anyone would be able to see Harry. And having him with her made her feel better. Plus going on a walk that some would say was a date was an excellent way to spend her night.

"I just want to say, if someone catches me talking to you, they will think I am crazy."

"Don't worry; I will let you know if someone is coming. You know if we speed up you can catch your first pair of students in a broom closet."

"How do you know?" She stared at the place where she heard Harry's voice.

"I will show you later. It is down the next corridor and the 3rd door on the left."

She followed his directions and opened the closet door. She was greeted with a Ravenclaw girl and Gryffindor boy snogging each other. They were less than pleased with being found. She took them to Professor Flitwick, who was less than happy with one of his students out past curfew.

"So how did you know they were there?" She asked once they were away from the professor's office.

"My dad and his friends made a map. It is an almost complete map of the castle and the grounds. It also shows everyone and where they are. Nothing can fool it."

An old parchment appeared next to her. She gingerly took it. True to his words, the map showed alot of people in their dorm rooms. Some professors were out on patrol. She could see Ernie in the transfiguration hallway; it showed the Fat Friar with him. She rubbed her thumb over the names of Susan Bones and Harry Potter.

She looked flipped the page over, looking for any runes on the back. Seeing none, she turned it over and began to inspect the front. Surely such a piece of magic would have some runes on it. She couldn't think of any charms that would do this. Not a single charm that could at least.

"This is amazing."

"My dad and his friends liked to do the amazing. He and his friends became animagus in their fifth year for, well to keep Professor Lupin company during his monthly transformation."

"Wow." She could see the headmaster pacing in his office.

She continued walking around the castle, holding the map in her hand. Sadly it seemed no one else was out past curfew near her.

She couldn't help but wonder how gifted Harry was. The books she has read have always said how extraordinarily talented and smart his mother and father were. It was evident that Harry had it in him to be one of the most gifted wizards. She wondered where he would be if he didn't slack off so much in his earlier years.

"What is your favourite dessert?" His question came out of the blue for her. It took her a moment to realise what he was doing.

"Mmm, knickerblocker glory."

"I had one before; it was okay."

"What about you?"

"Treacle tart."

The rest of the night continued with them knowing each other. They would ask each other questions to know the other more. They would tell each other stories from their younger years. However, she would share far more of her life before Hogwarts than he did.

He would keep an eye on the map, making sure she wasn't caught talking to herself. Thankfully they had no close calls. They did not catch any other students out. She ran across Ernie twice and a few of the professors.

They stole a few kisses in the abandoned hallways. They also took a small, enjoyable, break in a broom closet.

The night ended with Harry walking her back to the common room. They paused away from the entrance when they saw that Ernie was waiting for them there on the map. They shared a good night kiss and a goodbye.

She was positive; her cheeks were still flushed when she met Ernie at the door.

"Have a good patrol then?"

"Yes, I caught two people snogging. What about you?"

"No one tonight. Why are you so happy?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "I just had fun tonight, patrolling."

She headed to her dorm room. Laying in bed, she was giddy for a weekend with Harry, a weekend with her boyfriend.

Author's Note

Just another fluff chapter while I try and figure out where the story goes. I have some of the future plot down. Perhaps another chapter or two at most before stuff will start to go down.