"So, you didn't win Felix, huh?"

"Shut up, Hayden."

Aly glared as Hayden smirked. "If Amanda hadn't screwed me up, I would've gotten that luck."

"Why is so important to you?"

They were sitting in the library, contemplating their Transfiguration homework. They were over in the back, away from the others.

"Can you imagine what would happen if I had that luck? I'd get an O on every test, everything would go my way, and I bet I would be able to see Adam without getting caught!"

Hayden frowned and rolled his eyes. "Don't get started on that again."

"Hayden, come on! What do you have against him?" Aly pleaded. "He's not bad!"

"Ok," Hayden said disbelieving. He turned and looked out of the window for a few minutes, while Aly sat quietly.

He turned back to face her. "Char misses you."

"I know," Aly groaned. "We barely have any classes together. Only Ancient Runes, and this year Babbling decided to separate us."

"Were you two trouble makers?"

"No, actually," Aly grinned. "We were one of her better students." She frowned. "Babbling announced earlier today that she was separating us so we can help other students who aren't so good in that class."

"Oh, so she wants to spread your geniuses to others, huh?"

"I guess so," Aly smiled. "I just barely get to see him anymore. I didn't think sixth year would be that hard."

"It's not that hard," Hayden yawned, leaning back in the chair.

"You're just saying that because now you have a girl to snog when it gets to hard for you," Aly teased.

"Hey, that's not true. Me and Kylie are starting over," Hayden said, a small smile forming. "You know, taking it slow."

"Taking what slow?" Char asked, as he peered around the corner. His eyes lit when he noticed Aly and a grin appeared on his face.

"Char!" Aly exclaimed happily.

"Hullo, you," Char smiled, sitting down next to her. He kissed her cheek, grinning.

Aly smiled brightly at him. She noticed his stud earring shining in the light from the window.

"I missed you," Char grinned.

"So I've heard," Aly replied, glancing at Hayden.

Char rolled his eyes. "What don't you talk about, mate?"

"I didn't say that much," Hayden frowned.

Aly chuckled and got back to her Transfiguration. "Free period, Char?"

"Nope. I had to meet with McGonagall, so I got out of Herbology early. She just told me to wander around the school until lunch."

"What'd she say?" Hayden asked, interested.

"You first," Char replied.

"Well, she thinks I'd be well suited as an Auror. Somehow I got a reasonably good grade in Potions and Defense against the Dark Arts, even with Umbridge."

"That's interesting. She said I'd be well suited in the International Magical Office of Law," Char replied. Aly's heart thumped slightly when she recalled her "dreams."

They looked at Aly expectantly.

"Oh. Well, Department of International Magical Cooperation, McGonagall said," Aly shrugged. "She said that since I'm good at Ancient Runes, it'd be some good experience."

"Wow. That sounds cool," Char grinned.

"But, think of it, Char," Aly smiled. "International Magical Office of Law. It sounds so..."

"Official?"

"Exactly."

Déjà vu.

Aly heard that familiar rush of students, and knew that it was time for lunch.

Char groaned and Hayden stood up.

"Well, I'm in a hurry. I heard there's a stack of turkey legs today," Hayden grinned. "See you!"

Aly smiled and waved at Hayden as he left the library. She turned and looked at Char. "I need to drop off my books. Coming?"

He nodded and they left the library together.

"I think Babbling separated us on purpose," Char decided while they were walking. "She had no idea about us before, and now she's put us on separate sides of the room."

Aly shrugged.

"You don't like it, do you?"

"Of course not. Just...you'd think that maybe she'd want to keep us together because of what's happened. I'm getting stares at everyone now. 'Look, it's that girl from the Daily Prophet.' 'She's the one affiliated with the death eater family!'"

"You too."

"Yes."

"I'm sorry," Char sighed. "I wish this had never happened. If Damien had never told you our family secret, I bet none of this would've happened."

"I was bound to find out anyway," Aly shrugged.

"Really? And why is that?" Char asked, smiling at her.

"Well, John probably would've attacked me at the Quidditch World Cup anyway," she answered. "I am a muggle and all. The only difference is that I probably wouldn't have known his name, but eventually he'd tell me."

Char sighed with defeat. "I guess you're right. But still...I just want this all to go away."

"Who doesn't?" Aly asked softly. They climbed up the stairs into Gryffindor tower.

"I'll wait for you in the common room," he said as Aly went up into her dormitory. She came back down a few minutes later and they departed.

"Next Saturday is Hogsmeade," Char said absently, intertwining his fingers in hers. "We should go, seeing as how I won't see you the rest of the week."

She nodded. "Sounds fine. I could use a break."

"I could use some quality time with you," Char replied, smiling gently at her. "I never thought sixth year would be so hard."

"Me neither. I mean, I knew it would be hard, but not this hard. I barely see my friends anymore, and now I have to think about my career."

Char nodded sympathetically. "How'd you do on non-verbal spells in Potions?"

"I didn't have it yet. I have it after lunch. What is it?"

"Well, it's like jinxing someone, you just think it instead."

"Well," Aly grinned, "That means I can jinx you more often and catch you off guard."

"In your dreams."

"You're in every one." She smiled up at him.

"Aly, that was mushy." He wrinkled his nose.

"Char, you said it to me back on the train, remember?"

"Oh..." He grinned as the memory came flooding back.

"Yeah."

"Fine." Aly smiled.

"Come, Sir Char, let us stuff our faces," Aly said, extending her arm.

"Aly, this isn't second year," Char said disapprovingly.

"Guess what, big head? Next year I'm graduating, so I'm reliving the moment," she snapped.

"Well, I'm sixteen, and I'm not reliving a twelve year old moment."

"Fine!" Aly snapped, wheeling around, her green eyes glittering. "When you think back ten years from now, don't expect me to jump up and down to relive your little memories either!"

Char smiled down at her. "Aly, I'm kidding."

Aly flushed and stomped down the stairs. "Idiot."

"I am not. You love and adore me."

"In your pathetic, worthless dreams."

"You're in every one of my pathetic, worthless dreams," Char replied brightly.

"Well, that makes me feel better."

"I was joking."

"Sure." Aly fumed as they stepped on the moving stairs. Aly tapped her foot impatiently as the stair moved slowly to connect them to the second floor corridor.

"Shall I convince you I was joking?" Char grinned, turning Aly around so quick she stumbled on the step. He grabbed her waist to hold her up, grinning widely. Aly looked up with a frown.

"Don't think those eyes will help you at all," she sniffed, standing up. They jumped off the stairs and Char grinned, pulling her over into a corner.