She found that familiar spot that she'd taken a liking to in the past two weeks she's been here: a nice shady spot that was surrounded by trees. She walked between the trees and sighed sadly.

"Why can't I ever do anything right?" she yelled out loud, sinking down the trunk of the tree and sitting down.

She rubbed her eyes.

"Why is it so hard?" she said to herself. "Why do I have to choose?"

She stared out under the shade of the trees at the dusty road and the field that was beyond it.

"It's so hard," she mumbled. "Why can't Adam just be with his family back in France? Why can't John be dead so none of this had ever happened? Why can't Voldemort just be dead like we all thought he was? Why can't I live life without having so many choices?"

"Aly! Aly, where are you?!"

Aly looked up as she saw Char wondering around the road shouting for her.

"Aly, come on! It's ok! We talked!" he called, wondering around the road again. "Aly, please come back!"

Aly choked back a sob as she watched Char stumble on the road, calling for her. He looked so pitiful.

Char gave up miserably and hung his head. He started walking back to the house, dejected.

"Char," Aly called out from under the trees in a wrangled sob. "Char, I'm here!"

"Aly?" Char exclaimed, looking around. "Where are you?"

"Over here," Aly called, from under the tree. Char spun around a few times and then caught her stare from under the tree. Char sprinted for Aly and he sank to his knees in front of her, hugging her tightly.

"Don't you ever do that to me again!" he shouted, making her flinch. "I was worried sick!"

"I'm sorry," Aly said quietly, looking down. "I just needed to think."

Char stared at her sadly. "Oh, Aly..."

He sat down next to her and pulled her head to his shoulder. "Talk to me. I said we should talk."

"Well, that was before Bella decided to show up," Aly said bitterly, looking at the grass.

"We talked," Char said quietly. He looked down at her. "Aly, if it's that important you, go."

"No," Aly growled. "I won't. I'm not leaving any of you. Adam needs me, but I'm not deserting you guys for him. That won't happen."

"You're not deserting us," Char said gently, rubbing her hair. "He's your friend. He's just as important as Amanda, or Damien or Hayden."

"Then why does it seem that everyone is making a big deal out of it?" Aly yelled, startling Char. "Sorry," she said quietly. She sighed. "Think of it. Imagine that your best friend needs you more than ever. You'd go and help him, right?"

Char nodded.

"So why can't people accept that he's my friend and he needs my help? Why is that so hard to understand?"

"Some people just don't," Char said plainly. "They just don't and they never will."

Aly absently picked at some grass.

"I want you to go. I want you to be happy," Char protested.

"But..."

"No. You're going."

"Then you're coming with me."

Char looked surprised.

"I'm not leaving you. You're the only one that supports me; Damien and Amanda sure don't. I dunno about Hayden, but I don't want to get him on their side. Come with me, Char."

Char looked unsure. "But my Mum...she'll never let me go..."

"I've got a plan, then," Aly said, brightening somewhat. "Does your Mum trust us?"

"Yes, I think so," Char replied.

"Then maybe she can send us to the Leaky Cauldron the day that we go back, with Tom's strict supervision and we can go then! I don't want to leave and cause your Mum any worry now."

"Aly, that sounds pretty risky," Char said worriedly.

"It's a chance I'm ready to take," Aly said fiercely. She looked up at Char and he couldn't help but smile widely as he saw her ferocious spirit.

"Aly," he laughed, "That sounds like a plan, but let's think on it, ok?"

"Think?" she said in disbelief.

"I mean, let's think of a better way to do this, preferably not as deceptive?"

"Fine," Aly sighed. Char chuckled and tilted her face up.

"Don't worry. I'm with you on this issue. But let's think on it."

"Fine," she sighed, defeated.

"Hey," he said gently, "It's going to be okay, you'll see."

Aly smiled as she sighed for the third time, "Fine."

Char took her face tightly between his hands and kissed her until she was so dizzy the trees were spinning. Then he leaned his forehead against hers, breathing hard, and he smiled, his brown eyes twinkling.

"We haven't done that in a while."

"We should try to keep up a regular schedule," she said suggestively. She smiled slightly and they stood up. "Come on, let's go in. We'll just say we, er..."

"Needed to talk," Char finished, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Sure."

He took her hand reassuringly and they walked back to the house.