My dear acquaintance it's so good to know you

the strength of your had that is loving and giving

and happy new year with love overflowing

with joy in our hearts for the blessed new year

-Regina Spektor, My Dear Acquaintance

Chapt er 19—

Mackenzie's POV

It's surprising how quickly holidays go while the regular school year seems to drag on. Before I know it, I'm leaving the comfort of the Weasley and Potter houses and on my way back to Hogwarts on the Hogwarts Express.

I got a surprisingly good haul this year. (Not that presents were the only thing I care about, the food was good too. Haha- joking). From Rose I got some lovely cosmetics and some perfume, from Scor I got a pretty charm bracelet, and from Al I got a new red notebook and a quill charm for my charm bracelet! Assorted gifts of Honeydukes chocolate and things from WWW were also given to me by various other Weasley/Potter/Lupin family members. Oh, and Ben gave me my favorite chocolate caramels from Honeydukes. So, all in all, it was a fairly nice Christmas.

Except for the fact that I decided I'm going to break up with Ben. But, that was going to happen some time or another anyway.

The compartment door opens, and Al comes in looking flushed.

"What's up Al?" I ask.

Rose is immersed in some book or another, too immersed to care about the rest of the world, and Scor is down the train talking to Anthony Zabini about something or other (ok, so I wasn't paying attention).

"Do you know Amy Buchanan?" He asks.

"Um…yeah I think so, cute redhead a year behind us in Ravenclaw?"

"That's her." He replies.

"Yeah, she seems pretty nice. Why?"

"Oh well I just met her on the train. That's all."

"Oh come on! She must have made some kind of impression if you're telling me about her!"

"It's weird. I mean, she's only a year younger, and she's probably been at Hogwarts for a good 5 years, and I've never met her before." He says.

"Well, do you want to get to know her more?"

"I think so," he says and sighs. "Anyway, up for a game of exploding snap?"

I comply but fight the urge the entire time to slap him across the face. Seriously? I wonder if the fates are just against us. As soon as I'm about to break up with my boyfriend Al has to go meet a fantastic girl whom he wants to get to know better!

When we finally reach Hogwarts, I decide to go and take a nap (and hopefully find some peace and quiet) before I go find Ben. Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with the Weasley/Potter/Lupins, but spending an extended amount of time with them is emotionally taxing and tiring.

After a quick nap, I started walking around Hogwarts at random, enjoying the sound of emptiness in one of the 3rd floor corridors. When, suddenly I heard laughter. Familiar laughter.

"…you did not!" a female voice screeched. "I can't believe you did that to a professor!"

"Well to be fair, he insulted me first and it's not like Professor Cassella knows that it was me" the familiar voice chuckled.

I peered around the corner to see Al and Amy walking together, casually stealing glances at each other when they didn't think the other was looking.

"Hey Al, Amy!" I said.

"Oh, hey Kenzie"

I smiled quickly at Al and Amy as she greeted me in the same fashion.

"I was just looking for Ben, you haven't happened to see him, have you?"

"Ben Armstrong?" the pretty red-head quietly says.

"Yes, he's my…boyfriend" I smile again at her. Damn her! She's just so nice!

She giggles, "I know! I mean, not that I stalk you or anything, but well, oh gosh I'm embarrassing myself. I'll just stop talking now!" she blushes.

I laugh, not unkindly, at her. "Don't worry about it, this Hogwarts, things tend to get around!"

"Haha right…what I really wanted to say is that I think you sing amazingly and I can't believe you write all your own songs!" she blushes again.

I'm surprised. The girl is quite nice and if I hadn't been totally jealous of her position with Al, I probably would be interesting in being friends with her.

"Oh! Well thank you! It's just a little hobby of mine, really." I smile at her, deciding to like her anyway. It wasn't like she could stop Al's affections.

"Most of the songs you write are autobiographical, right?"

"Well, yes they tend to be about things that I have experienced because I find it easier to put words to my own emotions."

"Have you ever considered writing a song for a friend? Like, and I swear I'm not stalking you!, but Rose seems to be a good friend of yours. Maybe you could write a song about her experiences?"

I stare in shock at the girl in front of me. I quickly glance her up and down and see a fairly ordinary girl, dressed in school robes with a Ravenclaw tie, with beautiful red hair and hazel eyes. Who knew this girl could give me such an inspiration?

"Well I've thought about it a little…but it's definitely something I'd be interested in doing! Oh! And I'm sure some great songs, or at least poems, could be written if I contacted Harry or any other of the war participants…just to get their own personal story…not the gore…"

And in my mind's eye I saw a million different scenarios and songs that could come from them until a hand waved past my face, grabbing my attention.

"Kenzie?" Al questions, wondering if I'm still in the land of the living.

"Right! Sorry, I must have drifted off there! Amy that's a brill idea! Well I will talk to you guys later…I have to find Ben and you distracted me! Shame on you!"

Amy smiles and waves goodbye but as soon as I'm on my way, I turn back.

"Amy?"

She turns around, surprised.

"Yes?"

"Would you be interested in being in one of my songs? I think it would be fab if the person who put the idea in my head could get a song!" I offer kindly.

Al smiles at me "I think that would be a great idea!" he contributes to my cause.

"Oh…I don't know…I mean I'm not that interesting…" she says uncertainly.

"Of course you are! I mean everybody has a story just waiting to be sung…I just have to find it first!" I wink at her. "Anyway, you don't get a choice in the matter anymore. Be frightened. I will find you and get a song out of you!" I proclaim as I quickly depart from the couple.

I decide before I find Ben to make a quick trip the Owlery. I pen a few letters and give them to Thaddeus before I get interrupted by a person entering the Owlery.

"Z!" Ben exclaims.

"Ben! Hi! I've been looking all over for you!" I smile at him, because if Al can talk to Amy then surely I can talk to my own boyfriend! After all, Ben isn't that bad, just a little clingy at times. And that can easily be fixed.

"It seems like I haven't seen you in forever!"

I giggle. "That's because you haven't seen me in two weeks! And I think I know how we can get reacquainted."

He quirks and eyebrow at me, "Really?" he says then smirks.

I step closer to him and wrap my arms around his neck. "Yep…"

"… 20 questions! I'll go first! How was your brea-" but I'm cut off by his lips.

I smile into the kiss and pull away for a second. "Or we could snog, that's always an idea…in fact I think I like that idea better." I say and capture his lips with mine once again.

Oh, this is going to be a good new year!

A/N: Don't kill me! I actually had Amy planned all along, but I had no idea she'd be introduced in this chapter! It just came out that way! Anyway, I'm curious, has anybody else predicted this? And I assure, more surprises along the way! (I hope to keep the majority people surprised, but I'm certian a few of you will prove to be excellent guessers) Let me know what you think!

~wwccd