CHAPTER 7: Getting to Know You

'Daisy! Hey Daisy!' Amy waved manically at her friend, who was obviously short of sight and hearing. 'Oi, Brocklehurst!' Finally, the mass of chestnut curls turned round.

'Amy!' Daisy grinned. 'Hi.'

'You- You are-' Amy panted, skidding to a halt next to her friend. 'The deaf- the deafest- person I have- I've ever- met…'

'Oh.' Daisy frowned. 'Sorry. You OK?' she asked, observing Amy who was bent over double trying to catch her breath.

'I just-' Amy gasped. 'Just need- breathe…' Daisy waited with a grin until her friend had recuperated.

'I hate running.' Amy announced, straightening up again, rubbing her chest.

'Glad to hear it.' Daisy grinned as they began walking again. 'Did you have a good morning, reading?'

'Erm… Actually-' Amy began sheepishly. 'I did go to the task in the end.'

'Oh.' Daisy frowned. 'I didn't see you.'

'Well I tried looking for you guys but I couldn't find you…' Amy fibbed guiltily. 'So I sat with George Weasley and Lee Jordan.'

'Oh.' Daisy said again. 'You're getting pretty friendly with them.'

'Oh well…you know.' Amy lowered her eyes to the floor. 'I just talk to them sometimes because of the books and the library…' She hadn't told Daisy about the offer she'd accepted from them yet. She meant to do it soon though.

'Oh yeah.' Daisy nodded. 'I meant to ask you. How's that going?'

'Fine…' Amy said vaguely. 'I met Lee this morning at the task.' She said, hurriedly moving the subject on.

'What's he like?' Daisy asked, noticing the small smile on Amy's face.

'He's nice.' Amy grinned.

'Oh?' Daisy raised her eyebrows. 'Just nice?'

'OK,' Amy confessed, 'actually he's great. I really liked him. We went for a walk together by the lake afterwards…' she grinned.

'And?' Daisy asked interestedly.

'Nothing happened! Amy laughed. 'We just talked. I liked him a lot.'

'Oh this is great!' Daisy beamed at her friend. 'Just wait until Bethany finds-'

'Oh no.' Amy shook her head. 'Not going to work Daisy. I am not making up with Bethany just to tell her about some guy.'

'But you guys just need to apolo-'

'No.' Amy said firmly. 'She was the one who didn't listen to me so why should I be the one to apologise?'

Daisy sighed.

'You two are possibly the most stubborn people I have ever met.'

'I am not stubborn!'

'Argumentative as well.'

'I am not!'

Daisy raised her eyebrows and sighed.

'Fine, I won't mention it again, but this is starting to get completely ridiculous.'

Amy shrugged. 'Don't care.'

'Childish too.' Daisy muttered.

'I am not!'

Amy,

You up for some researching and sorting out stuff this afternoon?

Will meet you in the Entrance Hall at three o'clock.

Amy checked the note she'd received form George that morning and glanced round the Entrance Hall again, frowning. It was just past three on Saturday afternoon and she couldn't see Fred, George or Lee anywhere.

'Right.' Amy thought. 'A watch. That's what I'm getting them for their birthday. Maybe then they'll be on-'

'Amy!'

She swung round and grinned, recognising Lee's signature dreadlocks approaching her from across the Hall.

'Hi.' He stopped in front of her and grinned.

'Hey.' She said with a smile.

'You ready?'

'Yeah.' Amy nodded. 'Where are we going?'

'Kitchens.'

'I thought students couldn't get into the kitchens?' Amy said confused, feeling her stomach begin to squirm –in a nice way- as he took her hand and led her over to the marble staircase.

'You can if you know where to go.' He grinned at her.

'So I tickle the pear and it turns into a door?' Amy said sceptically looking at the painting of a bowl of fruit in front of her.

'Yep.' Lee grinned. 'Don't you trust me?'

'Canary creams.' Amy crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

'OK, good point…' He conceded with another grin. 'I'll do it then.'

He reached forward and tickled the pear with one finger. Amy jumped as it giggled and turned into a door handle.

'How do you guys know these things…' she asked wonderingly.

'We're clever.' He smiled cheekily at her and Amy rolled her eyes.

'You coming?' Lee held open the door.

She grinned at him.

'Definitely.'

'Merlin.'

'It is pretty incredible the first time you come in here.' Lee agreed, waving at several house-elves who beamed and waved back happily. 'But you get used to it.'

'It- it's so big!'

'Yeah it is a bit.' Lee grinned at her. Amy stared around in awe, taking in the size of the enormous room, the height of the ceiling that –to a witch of only 5'1- was extremely high, the brilliant sparkle of the brass pots and pans hanging around the walls…How many house-elves were there? Fifty? A hundred? A thousand? Amy couldn't tell. They were all scurrying around in their toga-tied tea towels, stirring here, adding spices and herbs there… They all seemed very friendly as well, smiling and bowing in their direction when they noticed them. They reminded her of Grandmother Ophelia's house-elf, Poppy, a sweet little thing who-

'Amy? Hello? Earth to Planet Amy…'

'What?' Amy started. 'Sorry. I wasn't listening. What'd you say?'

'Ouch.' Lee said pretending to stab his heart with a dramatic gesture. 'That hurt.'

'Sorry.' Amy laughed. 'I was in my own world. What did you say?'

'George is waiting by the fire.'

'Just George?'

'Yeah. Fred's with Angelina.' Lee said. 'That bother you?'

'No.' Amy said, noticing the not-so-casual glance in her direction. 'But doesn't it bother you guys that you always do all the work?'

'Not really ' Lee shook his head. 'He'll be doing his part once the stuff's ready. George told you he does the publicity and stuff right?'

'Yeah.' Amy nodded. 'Labels, packaging and names or something right?'

'Right.' He nodded. 'Come on, George'll be wondering where we've got to.'

He led the way –without holding her hand this time though, Amy noticed ruefully- past four long tables Amy realised belatedly were the house tables, past house-elves, stoves and pans, over to the other side of the room where Amy could see a large brick fireplace, empty and unlit. Near this, in a corner, someone had set up a medium sized round wooden table and three chairs. The former was scattered with parchment, quills and books, and, sat on one of the chairs, was a ginger-haired sixteen year-old boy reading a book and occasionally making notes on a piece of parchment with his quill.

'Hey Weasley!' Lee said as they drew closer. 'Look what I found wandering around the Entrance Hall…'

George turned round and grinned.

'Hi Amy.' He said, indicating one of the chairs. 'Come sit down.'

'Miss Amy! What is –hic- you doing here!'

Amy looked to the right, where the squeaky female voice had come from, and started with surprise.

'Winky? What are you doing here?'

'Oh Miss Cassidy!' The house-elf burst into tears. She was clutching a bottle of butterbeer, which Amy eyed apprehensively: she knew that stuff wasn't good for house-elves in large amounts.

'How much of that have you had Winky?'

'Amy?' Lee said looking bemused. 'Erm…who's this?'

'Guys this is Winky, Winky these are my friends Lee Jordan and George Weasley.'

'Weasley -hic?' Winky lifted her head and blinked her large brown eyes at them. 'You is master's –hic- assistant Weasley?'

'Erm…I don't think so.' George said slightly nervously. 'Who's your master?'

'Winky is Mr Crouch's house-elf.' Amy explained as Winky sipped from the almost empty bottle again, her eyes filling up with tears.

'You're Crouch's house-elf?' George exclaimed.

'I thought she got dismissed.' Lee said with a frown.

'Master!' Winky howled suddenly.

Amy looked bemused.

'Erm… I seemed to have missed half the story here…'

'Didn't you hear about the Quidditch World Cup this summer?' Lee asked.

'I heard Death Eaters attacked some Muggles…and that someone sent the Dark Mark into the sky…'

'That's it?'

'I was in France for the whole month of August…and then I came straight here.' Amy explained. 'Plus I sort of had other things on my mind…' she muttered. The boys didn't hear her last comment over the noise Winky was making.

'Well they found this house-elf -you called her Winky right?' Amy nodded at George's question and he continued. 'They found her in the middle of the woods clutching the wand that had made the Dark Mark.'

'So Crouch sacked her.' Lee supplied. Winky's howls grew –if it was possible- even louder at that.

'But what is she doing here?' Amy was still confused.

'Dunno.' Lee shrugged. 'Maybe-'

'Winky!' Another house-elf, male this time skidded to a halt next to the group dressed in a strange arrangement of socks, shorts that were so long they passed as trousers on him, and a tea cosy decorated with pins and badges. Amy sighed.

'This is just getting stranger and stranger…'

'Winky! I is telling you not to drink so much butterbeer!' The new arrival reprimanded. 'You is going to-'

'Dobby is not Winky's master!' she shrieked. The rest of the house-elves had by now stopped working and were staring at the hysterical elf. 'Only master is telling Winky what to do!'

'But Winky, you is going to get ill!'

'I deserves to be –hic- ill!' she shrieked again. 'Winky is being –hic- sacked by master…oh my poor master…' she wept.

'Dumbledore is our master now.' Dobby said, sounding proud. 'Dumbledore is-'

'Poor, -hic- poor master…All –hic- alone…' Winky continued, not hearing Dobby. 'Poor master…poor –hic- master…poor master…poor…-hic-...' she repeated again and again, her voice getting weaker each time, until she suddenly collapsed in the middle of the floor.

'Winky!' Amy rushed to her side.

'Don't worry miss.' Dobby sighed. 'I is telling Winky that too much drink is bad for her…but she is not listening…'

'But is she OK?'

'I is taking her to sleep somewhere and she will be OK soon.' Dobby smiled up at her. 'I is trying to tell her Dumbledore is our new master but she is not wanting new master.' He sighed again.

'Thank you.' Amy nodded. 'What's your name again?'

'I is Dobby miss.' The little house-elf beamed at her. Suddenly noticing the reproving glances of the house-elves around them he bowed low and picked up Winky's small body with difficulties. 'I is taking Winky to rest now! Goodbye miss and masters!' And with that he staggered over to the door with her. The house-elves scurrying around looked on with disapproval but didn't say anything, shaking their heads as they got back to work.

'That has to be one of the weirdest things I have ever seen in my life.' Lee stated, shaking his head as he sat down in one of the chairs round the table.

'Poor Winky…' Amy sighed, collapsing into the other one.

'It is a bit sad.' George said. 'But alcohol is never the solution…Even if it is only butterbeer.'

'I just feel sorry for her.' Amy shook her head. 'I know how much she idolised Crouch…'

'How do you know her?' Lee asked curiously.

'My dad's the Head of the International Magical Law Department at the Ministry, he has a lot of dealings with the Head for the Department of International Magical Cooperation.' Amy explained. 'So sometimes when I was a little girl and he had to go to Crouch's house to go over something he'd take me with him to give my mum a break. I haven't been since his son left home though…'

'Crouch's son…' Lee scrunched up his nose. 'If he's anything like his dad bet he wasn't much fun to hang out with…He seemed like a very boring guy when he was here in November…'

'Oh yeah, he was judging the first task wasn't he?' Amy said, suddenly remembering. 'I'd forgotten. He wasn't at the task on Wednesday though, was he?'

'Nope.' George shook his head. 'Apparently he's ill or something.'

'Wasn't at the Yule Ball either.' Lee put in.

'That's why Percy was there instead.'

'Who's Percy?' Amy was very confused now.

'My older brother.' George explained. 'Winky mentioned him. Crouch's assistant.'

'Oh yeah…'

'Do you think she really did do the Dark Mark?' Lee asked, lowering his voice.

'No.' Amy shook her head. 'No way.'

'She did have the wand though.'

'So?' Amy frowned. 'Ever heard of planting?'

'Sure.' Lee nodded. 'That's that thing with the earth and the seeds and-'

'Idiot.' Amy grinned, punching him lightly.

'Come on.' George said. 'We should get started.'

'Right,' Amy nodded. 'What are we doing?'

'Well before you guys came in I was just checking some references we might need.' George indicated the open book in front of him. 'But now you're here, Lee can do that and I'll-'

'Can't.' Lee said, taking his wand out of his pocket. 'I need to re-check the method on that hurling hex…'

'Can't you do that later?'

'Nope.'

'OK, fine.' George sighed. 'I'll get Fred to do it if he turns up later. Right now, I want to go over what you've got so far, Amy, and see what might be useful for you from our stuff.'

'Sounds good to me.' Amy nodded, taking a bundle of parchment out of her bag and spreading it out in front of her. 'Where do you want to start?'

'I'm hungry.' Lee announced suddenly.

'It's nearly seven.' Amy said, raising her eyebrows in surprise as she checked her watch.

'Time flies…' Lee grinned at her.

'Yeah, I'm hungry as well.' George interjected.

'Erm…excuse me.' Amy said to a passing house-elf.

'Yes miss?' He –she knew it was a he by the less squeaky voice- said politely.

'Could you possibly find us some food, please? Anything will do…'

'Of course miss.' The house-elf beamed. He turned and spoke to a few elves who nodded and hurried off. A few seconds later they were back, clutching a tray piled high with sandwiches, cold sausages, small jam and custard tarts and three bottles of butterbeer.

'Wow.' Amy said, her eyes widening as they carefully set the tray down on the table.

'This looks great.' Lee said, rubbing his hands together.

'Thanks.' Amy grinned at them.

'Anytime miss.' They chorused before hurrying off back to work.

'I love the service here…' George sighed happily, popping the top off a bottle of butterbeer.

'Me too.' Amy agreed, helping herself to a sausage.

'Mphree.' Lee said through a mouthful of cheese sandwich. There was silence for a few minutes as they ate steadily.

'Hey.' George swallowed a whole sausage.

'You pig.' Amy giggled. 'How did you fit that in your mouth?'

'Easily.' He grinned. 'I've had practise.'

'What were you going to say?' Amy said, rolling her eyes.

'I want to propose a toast.'

'To what?' Amy said, selecting a jam tart and nibbling on it.

'To our new partner.' He grinned, holding up his bottle.

'Hear hear!' Lee said, lifting his own.

'Oh well, if it's to me…' She grinned and held up her bottle. They all clinked glasses and then drank.

'To Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes!'

'To the old partners!' Amy said, grinning.

'To us!' Lee and George said in unison. They all drank and a few minutes later they were all sitting back in silence, full to the bursting and comfortably warm.

'That was maybe the best food I've ever eaten.' Amy said sleepily.

'Agreed…'

'Agreed…'

'Why is it when you're hungry, food tastes even better?' Amy wondered half-consciously.

'Dunno...'

'No idea…'

'You know-'

'Amy?'

'Yeah?'

'You talk too much…'

'Amy…'

'Mnf…'

'Amy.'

'Nyumph…'

'Amy!'

'Go away…' She turned over and suddenly felt herself hit the hard cold floor with a thud. 'Ouch!'

She looked up to find herself looking up into a pair of dark brown eyes, just inches from her face.

'Oh!' she jumped back and banged her head on the edge of the table. 'Ow!'

'Sorry.' Lee winced. 'I've been trying to wake you up for the past five minutes…You OK?' he sounded concerned as Amy stood up, rubbing her head.

'Yeah I'm fine…Sorry about that.' She smiled awkwardly.

'No problem.' He smiled warmly at her again, and Amy felt her insides squirm pleasurably again. 'You sure you're OK Amy?' George asked. She turned and noticed him watching them from the other side of the table.

'Yeah I'll be fine.' She said, slightly embarrassed. 'I've had worse. How long have we been asleep?' She asked with a frown, trying to see her watch in the dim light.

'It's about one o'clock we think.' George stated.

'Oh dear…' Amy mumbled.

'You'd think the house-elves could have woken us up, wouldn't you.' Lee said ruefully.

'Yeah…' Amy sighed. 'My friend is going to kill me…'

'We should get going…' George said.

The others nodded and began collecting up their things. Soon they were quickly and quietly hurrying up the corridor to the Hall. After checking the coast was clear, George led them over to a portrait of a short old man with a thick moustache, who was –thankfully- asleep and after pressing on it hard, he motioned them through. Lee quickly passed through the opening and Amy slipped inside after him, to find herself in a tiny square room of about a metre across. Lee was pressed against the back wall and, as George pushed his way in behind her, Amy found herself squeezed in between them.

'Sorry about the space guys.' George whispered. 'Normally it's only me and Fred using this thing.'

'No problem.' Amy breathed, thanking Merlin for the cover of darkness on her red cheeks.

'No problem at all…' Lee murmured. Amy's insides tingled again as she felt his warm breath on her hair. She tried concentrating on something else but in the small, dark space the only thing she could feel was his hard chest pressed against her back and all she could smell was his spicy, tangy scent.

'We're here.' George whispered. Amy started; she had almost forgotten he was there.

'Right.' She murmured. She felt George move around in front of her and suddenly he disappeared forwards, exiting through large hole. Amy blinked as he turned and offered her his hand. She took it and carefully stepped out into, what she realised, was a corridor on the sixth floor.

'Wicked.' She said, shaking her head at the portrait. 'It's like a lift right?'

'A what?' George frowned.

'Never mind.' She grinned as Lee stepped out of the hole behind them. 'Where do we go now?'

'You go up a small staircase behind that portrait there and you'll be at the spiral staircase to your tower.'

'What about you guys?'

'We've got another passage to go through yet.' Lee grinned at her.

'And you're sure I won't get caught?' Amy said, slightly worried.

'Nope.' George grinned mischievously. 'But what's life without a little risk?'

'Thanks...' Amy muttered. 'I'll remember that when I'm in detention...'

'You won't get caught Amy.' Lee said with a smile. 'Trust us.'

'Remember what I said before about the Canary Creams?'

'No.' George frowned, confused.

'Yes.' Lee grinned. 'OK. Point taken. But it's the only way up. Unless you want to try the main staircase to the seventh floor but Filch is normally-'

'I'll try it your way.' Amy said quickly.

Lee laughed quietly.

'Good to hear it.'

'See you tomorrow guys.' Amy whispered as she turned to the right and pulled at the corner of the indicated portrait.

'Night Amy.' Lee whispered back.

'OK. What is going on with you and Amy?' George demanded as soon as Amy was in the portrait and out of earshot. 'You two have been flirting and looking at each all afternoon. What's up?'

'Nothing.' Lee shrugged. George snorted at that. 'It's true.' Lee insisted. 'There's nothing going on between us...yet.'

'Yet?' George raised his eyebrows.

'I like her.' Lee admitted. 'She's easy to talk to. Plus she's pretty, which is never a bad thing...'

'Course it isn't.' George rolled his eyes and grinned. 'So are you going to ask her to Hogsmeade next weekend?'

'I dunno...' Lee said. 'D'you think she'd say yes if I asked her?'

'Don't know if you don't try.' George shrugged. 'But from the way she was looking at you when you woke her up... I'd say you're in with a chance.'

'You know what?' Lee grinned. 'I think I might just do it.'

'Amy!' Daisy whispered. 'Where've you been?'

'Oh.' Amy winced. 'Sorry Daisy. I was trying not to wake you.'

'I was waiting for you anyway.' she shrugged. 'What have you been doing?'

'I'll explain in a minute.' Amy said, grabbing her pyjamas. 'Let me just change and stuff and I'll be right there...'

She quickly changed into her pyjamas and brushed her teeth before joining Daisy on the bed. She drew the hangings around them and cast a silencing spell, to make sure no unseen ears could hear them. She turned back to her friend and hesitated. The time had come to tell Daisy what had been happening in the past few weeks.

'OK. I'm gong to tell you a secret but promise you won't tell anyone.'

'Promise.'

'Fred and George asked me to be a partner of their joke business.'

'What!' Daisy's eyes widened.

'They said they had a few problems making their merchandise and could I help them...'

'But Amy, what about-'

'My dad? Yeah I know. But I figured he's been ignoring me so efficiently for the past few months that he'll probably never notice a thing.'

'So...you said yes then?'

'Yeah.' Amy said. Then, deciding that she might as well be totally honest, 'well, actually, they asked me a few weeks ago. On my birthday. That's why I was so late back that night. We got cornered by Filch and had to wait for him to leave.'

'OK.' Daisy nodded slowly, comprehension dawning. 'So is that where you've been disappearing off to these past few weeks?'

Amy nodded.

'They asked me to help them with the Potions part of their merchandise and I've been researching some stuff to help me out.'

'If they needed help with Potions it makes sense they'd ask you.' Daisy nodded again. 'So where were you tonight?'

'I was researching with George...and Lee.' Amy cursed inwardly as she felt herself turn slightly pink. She'd turned redder today than she had in probably two years... 'We all kind of fell asleep and didn't wake up till about half an hour ago.'

'With Lee?' Daisy raised an eyebrow with interest.

'Yeah.' Amy grinned involuntary.

'And?'

'I really like him Daisy…'

'Do you think he feels the same way?'

'I don't know...' Amy sighed. She quickly outlined what had happened in the Hall, Kitchen and then in the small secret passageway.

'What do you think?' She asked finally.

'It sounds like he definitely feels something for you...' Daisy said thoughtfully. 'Maybe he'll ask you to Hogsmeade next week.'

'I don't know...' Amy bit her lip, a small smile playing around her lips.

'He is pretty good-looking.' Daisy said raising an eyebrow at Amy after a short silence.

'Hey! Hands off!' Amy said jokingly. 'I saw him first!'

Daisy laughed.

'Don't worry, you know me.' She smiled slightly. 'Not interested in relationships.'

'You still don't like anyone?' Amy asked fidgeting as her leg started to get cramp.

'Nope.' Daisy said, shaking her head. 'And I'm not bothered. I need to concentrate on my O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s anyway if I'm going to be a Healer…'

'It will come…' Amy grinned. 'You'll see… One day you'll be hit and then you'll forget all about your O.W.L.s…'

'Yeah I don't think so…' Daisy laughed.

'Hey Fred.' George poked his brother. It was Tuesday afternoon and the twins were on their way to Transfiguration after Potions. 'What's up? You've been off all morning.'

Fred sighed

'I don't know...'

'What's wrong?'

Fred was silent for a few moments.

'I'm thinking of finishing with Angelina.' He admitted finally.

'Whoa.' George raised his eyebrows. 'How come?'

'Dunno...' Fred shrugged. 'It's just not the same anymore, you know?'

'Do you like someone else?'

'No!' Fred answered a bit too quickly. 'It's just...I don't know. I just don't feel the same about her anymore...She's always bossing me around all the time as well. Telling me not to do this and to do that better...'

'So you're going to finish it?' George asked.

'Yeah.' Fred nodded.

'When are you going to do it?'

'Tonight I think.' Fred sighed again.

'What are you going to say to her?'

'I don't know!' Fred frowned slightly. 'Any ideas?'

'It's not you it's me?' George suggested. 'We can still be friends?'

'She'd probably castrate me if I said that to her...'

'Well I don't know.' George shrugged. 'I've never broken up with anyone.'

'Yeah well neither have I!'

'Why don't you ask Lee?' George said as they entered the Transfiguration classroom and took their seats. He lowered his voice. 'You know he was the one who broke it off with that Hufflepuff girl in our third year...'

'Yeah but that was different.' Fred said quietly, checking to see no one was listening. 'He just wanted to get off with her and then didn't know how to get rid of her.'

'She was pretty irritating...' George remembered.

'Yeah but I'd like to stay friends with Angelina...' Fred muttered. 'I don't think she'd be too happy if I told her I'd decided to be celibate the rest of my life...'

'OK I get your point... How about Amy?'

'What about her?'

'Well she's a girl.'

'Nicely spotted.'

'I mean she might be able to tell you the best way of breaking it off with someone...' George said quietly as McGonagall entered the classroom.

'I'll think about it.' Fred muttered as McGonagall started the class.

'There she is.' George nudged his brother as they descended the marble staircase to the Hall.

'I can't see her...' Fred squinted.

'In the corner over there with- ah.'

'I see her.' Fred nodded. 'Come on.'

George grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

'Wait a minute.'

'Why?' Fred was mystified.

'She's talking to Lee.'

'So?' Fred was still confused. 'Even better. I can get both their opinions...'

'No.' George shook his head. 'I think he's asking her to Hogsmeade.'

'What!' Fred exclaimed, his eyebrows shooting up. 'Lee's asking Amy to Hogsmeade? Since when!'

'Shh!' George shushed his brother as he watched the couple. Fred shook his head and turned to the pair in time to see Amy smile, blush slightly and nod. Lee in turn grinned, said something and then left, going into the Great Hall for lunch.

'I knew she'd say yes.' George said triumphantly.

'I'm lost.' Fred shook his head again. 'Lee fancies Amy?'

'And Amy fancies Lee.' George grinned. 'I figured it out on Saturday when we researched in the kitchen together.'

'Oh.'

'Come on.' George motioned to his brother. 'She's on her own now. You can ask her about-'

'No.' Fred said a bit too quickly. 'I mean, no. It's fine. I've figured out how to do it.'

George shrugged.

'OK. Lets go eat then. I'm hungry...'

'Lee asked me to Hogsmeade this weekend!' Amy said in a low excited voice to Daisy.

'Amy that's fantastic!' Daisy said enthusiastically. 'When did he ask you?'

'Just now!'

'Oh this is great Amy!'

'I know! I can't wait!'

'How did he ask you?' Daisy asked, attacking a piece of shepherd's pie, her eyes on Amy.

'Well he just came over to me and-'

'Excuse me.' An icy voice said coldly. 'Some of us are trying to eat. We don't need to hear your about your cutey-pie love-life...'

'Well excuse me Young.' Amy replied equally as coldly. 'But I don't seem to remember actually talking to you, so do us all a favour and stick your large over-sized nose out of my business.'

'With pleasure.' Bethany stood up and left the Hall. Daisy shut her eyes and sighed.

'Amy...'

'I can't stand her.' Amy said matter-of-factedly.

'But-'

'No.'

'But if-'

'No.' Amy stood up as well. 'See you in class.'

Daisy sighed and shut her eyes, rubbing her temples.

'We have to get them talking to each other again.'

Daisy opened her eyes and looked up. Kia and Jacob were sitting in front of her and Eddie had moved over to sit next to her.

'I know.' she sighed. 'But it's going to be impossible! You saw what-'

'They'll have to forgive each other some-'

'I'm with Daisy.' Kia interrupted Eddie. 'Trust us. It's going to be almost impossible...'

'Almost.' Jacob smiled.

'Jacob...' Daisy said tiredly. 'This isn't a film or TV programme. We can't just lock them in a cupboard together and expect them to sort it out between themselves...'

'Why not?' Eddie asked.

'Because, Eddie.' Kia rolled her eyes. 'It never works in real life.'

'Well have you got any better ideas?' He retorted.

'Hmmm...' Jacob said thoughtfully.

'What do you think?' Amy said nervously, giving Daisy a twirl. 'OK?'

'You look great Amy.' Daisy smiled at her friend. They were alone in the dorm, the others having already left.

'D'you think?' Amy asked, looking at herself critically in the mirror again. She was wearing a simple pair of blue jeans and a white long-sleeved T-shirt with a green zip-up hooded sweater. She had a blue woolly hat on over her black curls and a thin silver chain with a small daisy hanging off it, that Daisy had given her for luck, round her neck.

'You'll need you cloak as well.' Daisy handed it to her. 'It's probably cold out there.'

'Yeah, thanks.' Amy quickly flung it round her. 'You sure you don't want to come?' she asked as she tied the fastenings.

'No.' Daisy shook her head as she handed Amy her moneybag. 'I've got to go to the prefect meeting and then I'll do some revising...I'll be fine.' She smiled at her friend.

'I really need to do some revising as well actually.' Amy said, tucking the money into her small khaki satchel.

'Sure you don't want to join me today?' Daisy asked with a grin.

'Thanks but I'll pass.' Amy grinned back. 'Wish me luck!'

'So.' Amy said as she and Lee left the mild, sunny grounds. 'What are we doing today?'

'I thought we might just wander around for a bit. Get to know each other better, and then maybe get a drink seeing as we just had lunch.' He replied with a grin. 'That OK?'

'Sounds good to me.' Amy nodded. 'So what do you want to know?'

'OK.' Lee said with a thoughtful grin. 'Erm...What's your favourite colour?'

Amy laughed.

'Blue.'

'House colours?'

'Of course.' she smiled. Plus it was the colour of my mother's eyes, she added silently.

'OK. Very important question.' Lee said seriously. 'Favourite Quidditch team?'

'Bournemouth Beetles.'

'You're kidding.'

'Nope.' Amy shook her head. 'They're my local team.'

'You can't be serious!'

'Why shouldn't I be?'

'But they're rubbish!'

'They're not!'

'Oh come on! Everyone knows they're rubbish! They're what? Thirtieth in the-'

'Twenty-ninth actually.'

'And that's so much better…'

'Yes actually.' She retorted.

'But-'

'Next question.' She said firmly.

Lee sighed.

'Fine. But this isn't over. Favourite animal?'

'Cat.'

'You like cats?' Lee tilted his head with interest. 'Have you got one?'

'Yeah.' Amy nodded with a smile. 'Figaro. My mum and I named him after the cat in a film.'

'What's he look like?'

'Black and white with a black patch over his right ear, his left eye and the right side of his back. He's got three black feet too.'

'Sounds cute.' He commented with a grin.

'I'll introduce you some time.' she smiled.

'Excellent.' He grinned. 'You can meet my tarantula too some time.'

'Tarantula?' Amy raised her eyebrows. 'You've got a tarantula?'

'A huge hairy one.' He nodded. 'I brought him to school one year but I had to send him back after about a week because my dorm-mate was scared.' He rolled his eyes. 'Wimp.'

Amy laughed.

'Sounds cool.'

'Seriously?' Lee asked, surprised.

'Yeah.' Amy nodded. 'I mean, how many people have huge hairy tarantulas for pets, right?'

'I thought most girls were terrified of spiders.' Lee said with a grin.

'I'm not most girls.' She grinned back.

'No you're not...' he smiled down at her.

Amy smiled slightly and pulled her cloak off, folding it up and tucking it into her bag as they entered the village. It was getting quite warm and several people around them were imitating her.

'Next question.'

'Right.' He thought for a few moments. 'Favourite film?'

'Ooh...erm...The Little Mermaid.'

'Seriously?' Lee laughed.

'It's my favourite fairy story. Plus I love her hair.' Amy grinned. 'I liked The Nightmare Before Christmas as well...And Breakfast at Tiffany's. Classic.'

'I liked Nightmare Before Christmas.' He nodded. 'Skeleton Jack was cool.'

'Yeah.' Amy laughed. 'How about you?'

'The Godfather.'

'Just that one?' She asked.

'And Wallace and Gromit in the Wrong Trousers.' He admitted with a grin. 'But don't tell anyone.'

'Why not?' She laughed. 'It's a good film.'

'OK, my turn to change the subject now.' He grinned and stopped walking. 'Favourite drink?'

'Butterbeer.' She said automatically. 'And hot chocolate when I'm in the muggle world. You?'

'Firewhisky.' He grinned. Amy rolled her eyes and he laughed. 'Actually I prefer butterbeer.' He indicated the Three Broomsticks pub next to them. 'D'you fancy going in.'

'Sounds good.' She nodded. He held open the door and grinned.

'Madame...'

'Why thank you...' she replied in a posh voice, grinning. She went through and sighed as the heat of the warm, cosy room engulfed her.

'Busy isn't it?' Lee remarked. 'Come on.'

He took her hand and smiled at her before leading the way over to the bar. Amy felt herself turn slightly pink as several people stared at them when they went past. Once they'd ordered their drinks, they found a small, quiet-ish table in a corner and sat down.

'OK.' Lee said, setting the large foaming tankards carefully on the table. 'Your turn.'

'Hmmm...' Amy said thoughtfully, taking a sip of her drink. 'OK. My turn to ask an important question. Favourite book?'

'Oh dear...' Lee grinned and shook his head. You want me to try and remember the name of something I've read?'

'Yes.' Amy laughed.

'OK, OK...' He thought for a few moments. 'Quidditch Through the Ages.'

'No!' Amy laughed, covering her face with her hands.

'Yep.' He grinned. 'Great book. Also Commentators Through the Ages.'

'You strange, strange person...' She shook her head.

'Hey!' He laughed. 'I had to learn my excellent commentating skills from somewhere...'

'Excellent?' She raised an eyebrow. 'Weren't you the person who swore halfway through the-'

'Yeah, yeah...' Lee grinned. 'How about you? Your favourite book, I mean.'

'Pride and Prejudice.' She answered automatically. 'And Jane Eyre. And Peter Pan. And Alice in Wonderland. Oh and the Chronicles of Narnia series. Oh and Ballet Shoes!'

Lee was laughing and shaking his head.

'Oh and I nearly forgot the What Katy Did series.'

'And I'm the strange one?' He asked, still laughing.

'Hey!' She said, joining in the laughter. 'They're great books!'

'If you say so…'

'OK, my turn.' He said, taking a swallow of butterbeer. 'Favourite food?'

There was a slight pause.

'My mum's Christmas dinner.' She lowered her eyes and smiled. 'What about you?'

'Easy.' He grinned again. 'My mum's Jamaican chicken and pineapple curry.'

'That sounds good.' She smiled, taking a sip of her drink.

'It is.' He nodded.

'OK…' Amy leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table. 'What's your favourite season?'

'Season?' He thought for a minute and then grinned. 'The Quidditch one.'

Amy rolled her eyes and laughed.

'OK, autumn.' He grinned.

'Why?' She asked, curious.

'I dunno...' He shrugged casually. 'Why'd d'you ask the question?'

'Because.'

'Well I like autumn, because.'

'Oh go on!' Amy begged. 'Tell me!'

'OK, fine.' He said with a sigh. 'There's a bench in a park near my house. When I was little my Nan used to take me there when the leaves started to turn red and gold and brown… We'd sit there and she'd teach me the names of all the different trees and stuff. I used to love just sitting there listening to her talk, watching the leaves fall and smelling the woody, burnt smell in the air…' He turned slightly red as he finished talking.

Amy smiled.

'You know…you're really a very sweet person Lee.'

'Considering I'm a man and we hate being called sweet, I should take that as an insult.' He smiled slightly. 'But coming from you I'll take it as a compliment.'

'You should.' She felt her cheeks grow warm as he smiled at her.

'So…I believe it was my turn to ask a question.' Lee said, leaning back into his seat.

'Go ahead.' She said, picking up her drink and taking a sip.

'What's your favourite flower?'

'My favourite flower?' she laughed.

'Yep.' He grinned. 'I want to know your favourite flower.'

'Erm…I like daisies.'

'Daisies?' He smiled, one eyebrow raised.

'White daisies.' She nodded.

'Why daisies?' He lifted his drink up to his lips, his eyes still on Amy. She blushed slightly.

'Because.'

'That's not an answer.'

'That's all you're going to get.' She smiled slightly.

'I told you why I liked autumn.' He pointed out.

'Don't care.' She shook her head. 'Not telling.'

'But that's not fair!'

'Life's not fair.' She grinned.

'I really hate that saying.' He sighed dramatically.

'OK, my turn.' Amy grinned. 'What do you want to do when you leave Hogwarts?'

'Radio presenter.' Lee said immediately.

'Seriously?' Amy rested her chin in her hand.

'Yeah.' He grinned, leaning forward slightly. 'I like doing the commentaries here at Hogwarts but I don't want to do that forever…Radio is the next step.'

'You know, actually I think you might be quite good at that.' Amy smiled.

'Might?' He raised his eyebrows.

'OK, you'd definitely be quite good.' She grinned.

'Quite good?'

'Yep.' Amy grinned and leaned back into her seat. 'Quite good.'

'Thanks a bunch…' He shook his head with a laugh.

'Anytime.' She grinned.

'So what about you?' He asked. 'What would you like to do once you've finished here?'

'Honestly?' Amy shook her head. 'I don't know.'

'Not a clue?' His eyebrows went up in surprise.'

'No. Well, my dad wanted. Wants.' She corrected herself. 'He wants me to go into the Ministry. Maybe into his department.'

'But you don't want to.' He guessed.

'No.' Amy shook her head. 'I don't know… Law's never really interested me. I did think of maybe being a teacher, like my mum, but…'

'What?' He smiled.

'I just… I've kind of been thinking lately…'

'Go on.' He nodded encouragingly.

'I just… I've really enjoyed researching the potions and stuff these last few weeks.' Amy said, her eyes lowered, following her finger as she trailed it round the rim of her tankard. 'And I've been thinking that maybe I'd like do something like that when I leave…'

'You really enjoy hanging out with us strange people so much?' He grinned. Amy smiled at her glass.

'Yeah, actually. It's fun. Researching the potions, trying to figure out the best methods and whether if I add a half drop of this will help that or not… Plus the company isn't that bad either.' She lifted her eyes and grinned.

'I think I can agree with that.' He grinned back.

'But it's a stupid idea anyway.' She said, lifting her tankard. 'I'd never be able to do it.'

'Why not?' His brow was furrowed as she drunk some of the warm butterbeer.

'Because.' She shrugged. 'My dad would never let me. He'd probably disown me or something. Failure to the Cassidy Ravenclaw pride or something...'

'Seriously?' His eyes widened. 'You're parents don't know?'

'Nope.' She shook her head. 'I told you he wants me to go into the Ministry. Eleven perfect O.W.L.s, and at least five perfect N.E.W.T.s, followed by magical law college in America and then working at his side at the Ministry, in time to take over from him when he retires. That's his plan. Not helping out in a jokeshop.'

'Does he know you don't want to go into the Ministry?' Lee asked, frowning.

'Nope.' Amy shook her head. 'That's why I told Fred and George I'd only help you out if you didn't tell anyone about it.'

'What about your friends? Lee asked, still frowning. 'Won't they wonder if you're disappearing every day to help us out next year?'

'My best friend Daisy knows.' Amy admitted, lowering her eyes again. 'I'm not talking to one of my friends though, and that's kind of cut me off from the others a bit.'

'And what about your mum?' Lee asked. 'You said she was great. Couldn't she try and talk to your dad?'

'Not really.' Amy smiled mirthlessly, her eyes still on the empty tankard in front of her. 'It's complicated.'

'I just don't think it's fair.' Lee was still frowning. 'Why should you have to do what he wants instead of what you'd like? Have you tried talking to him? Maybe-'

'No.' Amy shook her head. 'And I'm not going to. Not in the near future anyway.'

'But you would?'

'Maybe.' Amy lifted her eyes and sighed. 'If it got too bad I might. Can we change the subject now please?'

'Sure.' Lee nodded. 'Do you want another drink?' he asked, suddenly noticing their empty tankards.

'Oh yeah.' Amy nodded and started rummaging through her bag for her moneybag. His hand stopped her.

'On me.' He grinned.

'Thanks.' She smiled back at him.

Her eyes followed his back as he turned and made his way through the crowd to the bar. She smiled as she watched him say something to the barmaid, Madam Rosmerta, who laughed and pretended to hit him over the back of the head. She suddenly realised she was staring at him and she'd look pretty stupid if he suddenly turned round and saw her there, gawking at him. Quickly she turned her head and observed the various groups and couples chatting and laughing at different tables. She smiled as she spotted Cho and Cedric Diggory sitting at a similarly small table in a corner, holding hands and leaning forwards, talking to each other in low voices. She saw Marietta Edgecombe sitting to one side, snogging the face off one of the boys from Beauxbatons and grinned, it wasn't strange to see her there with a boy. Hesitantly she waved and smiled back, feeling a bit self-conscious, as several people greeted her from around the room.

'Here you go.' Lee set the two drinks down on the table and sat back down in his chair. Amy started and turned back to him.

'Oh. Thanks.' She grabbed one of the butterbeers and took a long sip.

'OK.' Lee said, setting his drink back down. 'I believe it was your turn to ask a question.'

Amy thought for a minute.

'OK,' she grinned, 'I told you cats were my favourite animal. So are large hairy tarantulas yours?'

'I like big cats.' He grinned. 'Jaguars.'

'Why jaguars?' Amy grinned.

'They're sleek, dark and sexy-looking like me.' He smiled sexily.

'Really?' Amy said, tilting her head in interest. 'Are their heads as big as yours too?'

'No, no, no!' Amy laughed as they came back out of Honeydukes into the cold street.

'Yes!' Lee argued. 'I'm telling you Leicester will top Huddersfield this year!'

'Nope.' She shook her head. 'The Hedgehogs are too good.'

'The Lizards have got Hunter Jameson, though.'

'So? The Hedgehogs have got Gary Hound.'

'Oh come on!' Lee exclaimed. 'Gary Hound? He's the biggest prat on the planet!'

'True, but he's also the best Chaser.' Amy pointed out.

'I can't believe you think he's a good Chaser…' He shook his head. 'Sarah Commons is way better!'

'She's never scored a point!'

'She's excellent at stealing the Quaffle though.'

'True.' Amy conceded. 'But so's Hound!'

'Yeah but-'

'And he scores goals.'

'OK, yeah but-'

'Best beaters?' Amy asked, raising her eyebrows.

'Fred and George.' He said automatically.

'We said only official players.' Amy reminded him.

'Don't care.' He shrugged. 'Still Fred and George.'

Amy laughed.

'OK. Agreed. Just don't tell them I said it.'

'Deal.' Lee grinned. 'So. We've got about an hour before we have to get back. Where do you want to go?'

Amy looked around and considered for a few moments. They'd been in the pub for a couple of hours, talking about every subject under the sun and having a great time. Amy's slight self-consciousness had slowly disappeared as the afternoon wore on and they grew more comfortable in each other's company. They'd then gone into Zonko's and stocked up on essentials, checking out the competition as they went. As they'd walked over to Honeydukes Amy had spotted Bethany coming out of a pink, girly-looking café with a blonde boy Amy recognized form the Beauxbatons group. She'd turned her back on her and had continued talking animatedly to Lee.

It was just starting to get dark on the horizon now but there were still people out on the streets: groups of Hogwarts students talking and laughing, couples walking along hand in hand, and as she glanced round, Amy saw a group of three hags come out of the Hogs Head and head off down the street. She'd been everywhere she wanted to go really.

'I don't mind.' She said, finally. 'You decide.'

'How about a walk up to the Shrieking Shack?' He suggested.

'Sure.' Amy nodded, suddenly feeling the butterflies in her stomach reappear as she realized they'd probably be alone up there. She may not be the most experienced witch love-wise, but even she could guess what would happen then, and this suddenly made her mind dry up. They'd been talking non-stop all day but now she couldn't think of anything to say. As they walked in silence, side by side, through the streets, Lee reached out and took her hand. She looked up at him. He was smiling at her. She smiled back, feeling her cheeks get warm.

As they trudged up the hill to the Shack, Amy felt the butterflies begin to flutter faster. She took a deep breath and told herself to calm down, that she was being stupid. He might not even be meaning to kiss her or anything. Maybe he just really wanted to see the scary, old, dark house in front of them.

'Or maybe not…' Amy thought, swallowing as they stopped walking and he put his arm around her shoulder. She looked up at him and saw that he was once again smiling down at her. She felt her face smile back as she suddenly noticed the gold glints in his warm, dark chocolate brown eyes. She swallowed again. He really did have amazing eyes. As he leaned his face closer, she tilted hers up to meet it.

Then they banged noses.

As he pulled back a bit and chuckled, Amy felt her butterflies complaining intensely. He turned to face her and moved his hand to the back of her head.

'Lets try that again…' He murmured, gently bringing her face closer to his.

The moment his lips touched hers, her eyes flew shut and she felt the butterflies in her stomach go into overdrive. So this was what a real kiss felt like. She'd only ever kissed two boys before and they didn't really count as proper kisses. The first had been a Scottish boy called Owen Caughy when she was in France one summer two and half years ago. He'd been both nearly two years older than her and drunk. She hadn't really liked him but had wanted to see what kissing a boy felt like. She hadn't been impressed.

The second one was Eddie. He probably didn't even remember it. They'd been joking around at her birthday party the year before -when they were all drunk- and they'd ended up kissing. It hadn't meant anything though and Amy hadn't felt a thing, apart from sloppy, wet, Firewhisky-tasting lips on hers.

Lee's hand was now running through her hair, causing shivers up and down her back, and his other hand was at her waist, pulling her closer to him. She smiled into the kiss and lifted her arms to wrap them around his neck.

This was nothing like kissing Eddie or Owen.

Lee tasted of butterbeer and the toffees they'd bought in Honeydukes. Closer then they'd been in the secret passageway, she could now smell his spicy scent to perfection, and she liked it. It reminded her of warm summer days and spicy Jamaican food. His kisses were almost as soft as his lips and Amy felt herself relax totally. This was what it was meant to be like. So there were no fireworks like the ones described in her books…She had a feeling they were probably exaggerated anyway. She didn't think any kiss could be better than the one right at that moment.

AUTHORS NOTE: OK. I'm sorry. I'm late. I know. I'm sorry. But here it is! Chapter 7 is up! I also want to apologise about the "35 reviews" thing...I've realised it was a très bad idea, and I definitely won't be doing that again. I hope no one feels annoyed about it, but please keep in mind that this is my first long fic online and that I am learning as I go along! Thanks to you lovely reviewers who put up with me anyway and thanks also to Moonlight's Serenity for the advice!

Couple of things:

1)My list of excuses is now on my profile. I figured I was repeating it so much, it might be a good idea to have it fixed somewhere, so there you go.

2)Some of you aren't happy about the Amy/Lee pairing...Bear with me. Please.

3)I'm doing so much research and preparation on my characters and stuff that I really want to share it with you guys so I'm oging to start putting an Interesting Notes bit at the end of my Authors Note. You don't have to read it if you don't want, but I'd like to put it anyway.

4)Chapter 8 will be up as soon as I can get it written through h/w, studying etc.

5)I've posted a new "short" two part fic called THE WEDDING based on Harry and Ginny's wedding day. Please go read it! Part one is up and the second should be up soon now I've finished Chapter 7 of Beautiful Prank...Thank you!

6)Can someone please try and explain to me how it is I have more hits on the 6th Chapter than either the 3rd, 4th or 5th? Please?!

INTERESTING NOTES: Names

Cassidy: Clever (perfect for Ravenclaw no?)

Daisy: Have any of you ever heard of a little fictional girl called Milly Molly Mandy? Her real name is Millicent Margaret Amanda. The three Brocklehurst sisters are called Mildred (Milly), Margaret (Daisy) and Amanda (Mandy)...

Jacob: Jacob Black from Stephenie Meyer's Twilight!!

Conary + Morathy: (Amy's dad & uncle) wise (again perfect for Ravenclaw no?)

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