Chapter 20

It was so nice to see Montague upon my return to school. We had both missed each other terribly and enjoyed a lovely evening in front of the fire swapping gifts. It had been our year anniversary just before Christmas so the gifts were extra special.

For Montague, I had purchased a wand holster with his name and family crest branded on the green leather as well as a very expensive Quidditch through the ages - it was a first edition copy and they were incredibly hard to come by. I opened a large green box, tied with a silver ribbon, to find the most gorgeous set of witches robes I had ever seen. They were perfectly cut for my size and the darkest black velvet. The bottom hem changed colours depending on your mood and small stars were stitched in silver on the back. I was also pleasantly surprised to find a box from his parents. It contained three small packages. One, wrapped in silver paper, was a long white scarf. It was extremely fluffy with a permanent heating charm placed on it. A small box was wrapped in a blue ribbon. I opened it carefully to find a small, expensive looking, brooch inside. It was in the shape of a half goat, half snake Hippogriff and I was honoured when Montague told me that it had been his grandmother's. The third and final package was wrapped in traditional Slytherin colours. Inside was a small mirror, about the size of the ones the girls carried around so they could check their make-up. However, the package also contained a scrap of parchment with the words - I Merry Christmas - Kevin ./I

It was a few weeks of merriness after the Christmas holidays. Everyone was pleased to be back in the castle with their friends. However, the atmosphere turned stale when the front page of the Daily Prophet became I Mass Breakout From Azkaban. /I Looking over at Montague, who was sitting opposite me today, I saw that he didn't look surprised. In fact, I wasn't either. Voldermort had informed me of his plans though the mirror - I hadn't said anything as I had sworn to stay neutral in this fight.

By now, nearly four weeks into the Spring term, Umbridge had finished interviewing the teaching staff. The Inqustrail squad, basically all of Umbridge's favourites, were informed of her decisions late on Tuesday evening - it had meant I would have to miss Charms club and so it had been postponed until Friday.

"Hum, Hum," she coughed, bringing the rooms other occupants to attention once again, "I have called this meeting so that I may inform you of my decision of what I shall do to the teaching staff. My decision is that all teachers meet the high ministry standards - except Rubeus Hagrid and Sybil Trelawney, both of whom I am placing on probation. Any comments on this?"

"My father will surely agree that you have made an excellent choice there Professor," stated Draco, we all nodded in agreement, "neither of them have ever been able to teach."

"I think you should employ the one that covered his lessons earlier this year," I suggested, "she was really good when she covered the lessons in my third year."

"Why did you drop it Miss Potter?" she asked, looking interested.

"I was stick of tramping back up to the castle looking like I had been pulled backwards through Dragon dung after participating in a lesson," was my explanation. Actually, I had been sick of Hagrid's glares that always informed me that I was a disgrace to my parents and not worth the ground I walked on. Though the situation hadn't been helped much because I stood with Draco and my fellow Slytherins - though I didn't join in with their mockery.

Before I knew it, February had arrived. I was in bed, having a particularly pleasant dream where peace had settled on the wizarding world and Montague asked me to marry him, when I was rudely awoken by Pansy.

"Kirsty!" she hissed, "get up! Do you realise what day it is?"

I shook my head tiredly, not quite awake yet.

"Valentine's day!" she exclaimed, as if that was the most obvious thing, "Montague's been done stairs for the last hour on tenterhooks, I recon he's going to propose."

Now sitting up in bed, I shook my head, "I doubt it's that Pansy. You know what he's like giving gifts, he's always frightened it won't be perfect."

She smiled, "I hope he does at some point, you two would be the most perfect couple. What are you going to do next year, when he leaves?"

I shrugged and said, "Don't know Pansy. I'll expect you find out over the summer."

With that I slipped into a strap T-shirt and jeans before pulling on the robes he had given me for Christmas - I had told friends in other houses that they had been from one of my house mates, which wasn't really a lie to be honest….. After picking up the small box, wrapped in red paper and a silver ribbon, from the top of my trunk I smiled to Pansy and we both walked down stairs together.

By now Montague was sitting nervously on the sofa. I spotted him quickly as we reached the bottom of the girls staircase. A small smile lit my face as I slipped over and wound my arms around his neck from behind, kissing the top of his head.

"Happy Valentine's day Love," I whispered, placing my gift in his lap.

He turned and pecked me on the lips before gesturing for me to sit beside him. I watched as his then carefully untied the package and opened the small box. It was a silver locket with a Rose engraved on the front, his favourite flower, and a picture of our first kiss inside.

"Thanks Beautiful," he whispered, "it's gorgeous, just long enough to hide it under my robes so I can wear it around school."

I smiled, that had been one of my considerations when I had ordered the piece. My smile widened slightly when he drew out a long thin package. It was wrapped in light blue and tied with a red ribbon. He passed it over carefully and I placed it on my lap so I could unwrap it. The paper and ribbon came off quickly, all that was left was a gold gift box. Opening that allowed to me to see the watch. Sunlight that shone off the diamonds almost blinded me. The watch face was black and I could see lots of little planets slowly moving round. However, Montague explained that if I tapped it with my wand - which I did - it would turn into a normal face.

"It's beautiful," I whispered, examining it, "I love it!"

"Turn it over," he commented, putting his hand around my shoulder.

I did so and discovered the words, I My heart is yours until the end of time, Montague /I

Needless to say the watch went straight on. However, one of the main problems with keeping your relationship a secret from the outside world was that I couldn't spend the day with him. As it was, I moved my books to the library and did my homework - glaring at couples who were kissing in the dark corners. I hate my life sometimes….

It was a week later that the sludge from my cauldron mucked up my life, once again. The next thing I knew I had a random article of the Quibbler was delivered, via my brother, to the Slytherin table.

The idiot had sold his, and mine, story to the magazine. That was not what I wanted. The Ministry thought that I believed it was a lie - this couldn't be happening to me! I was so going to kill my brother. It was time to publicly say something. Standing up, I strode over to the Gryffindor table and slammed the magazine down on the table. The entire hall turned round to see what was about to commence.

"So, you weren't going to ask me before you stupidly did this?" I hissed.

Harry looked up, surprised, "But I thought that's what you wanted, everyone to believe us?"

I "You don't have any idea of the position I'm in Harry," /I I hissed in Parsletongue.

I "Then tell me!"

"I can't Harry, you wouldn't understand. The world's much bigger than you! I'm in the middle of a war that's about to begin. I don't have a place and I'm trying to stay neutral, you're not helping Harry! It's not all about you! /I

"Harry!" I exclaimed, in English this time, "don't you dare try such a stunt again without consulting me first!"

I then stormed off towards the common room.

Thankfully, Umbridge believed me when I told her that I was severely angry at my brother for pulling such a stunt - I don't know what would have happened otherwise. My entire cover would have been blown. As it was I had to get all the fan mail delivered to the common room. What a joke!

Harry had also ruined Hogsmeade for the rest of the school. Everyone but people accompanied by a member of the Inqustrail squad was not allowed out of school grounds.

The tension came to a high when the entire school gathered in the front courtyard. The Divination teacher, a mystical Professor called Sybil who had long white hair and large round glasses, was crouched - sobbing - in the middle.

Umbridge, closely followed by the Inqustrail squad, walked to the front of the circle. From here I had a better view of the women. She seemed distraught and I felt ashamed to have been involved in the proceedings which had lead to this.

A/N: Sorry! I know I said this chapter would be longer! But I swear to Merlin's pants that the next one is!!

TBC….