Author's Note: Hey gang! Sorry it's been so long. Those of you who are still with me, thanks for your patience! Those who are new, enjoy the latest chapter. Sorry it's a bit short, but I wanted to get something up so you didn't think I'd forgotten! Read on :)

Chapter 8

The next few weeks passed in a whirlwind of studying, exams, and homework. However, it was very difficult to dampen Clara's spirits, even with the long hours she spent reading books and writing essays. She and Ron spent as much of their free time together as they could, generally with Harry and Hermione, but occasionally they'd wander off onto the grounds without them.

Classes were becoming more difficult than ever. Clara managed to keep up, though some days she wondered how, with her head so full of thoughts of Ron that there was room for little else. She also found that she was making a few friends in her classes, particularly Neville Longbottom, a fellow Gryffindor, and Hannah Abbot and Ernie McMillan from Hufflepuff. She had also finally met Ron's sister (and Harry's girlfriend) Ginny, who had in turn introduced her to Luna Lovegood from Ravenclaw. Overall, Clara learned, the Hogwarts students as a whole were quite nice.

The only Slytherin she really knew anything about was Draco Malfoy, and what she knew she did not like. Having heard a somewhat biased, but mostly factual, back-story on him from Harry, Ron, and Hermione, Clara found herself forming opinions that, she had to admit, he had not really earned, having never so much as looked at her. Still, she could not deny that she felt a smug arrogance around him, and certainly disapproved of the way he looked at others as though he were somehow above them.

As October came to a close, the temperature dropped lower each day. Halloween morning dawned bright and cold. Clara snuggled down under her comforter as the sun fell across her pillow, very reluctant to leave her warm bed for the chill that had settled in and around the castle. The sooner you get up, the sooner you can see Ron, coaxed a small voice in her head. She grinned in spite of herself as she threw the covers aside and gave a violent shiver.

Lessons passed slowly that day, with the promise of a delicious feast in the evening. Clara couldn't hide her relief when the bell finally rang to signal the end of Ancient Runes. With Hermione at her heels, she ran up to the common room to deposit her book bag. They met Harry and Ron on their way back out and waited for them to reappear a moment later with Ginny and Neville in tow.

Clara was astounded by the decorations in the Great Hall. Enormous jack o' lanterns grinned from every corner, while live bats fluttered over the heads of those already seated. She stared around in wonder and amusement. She laughed as she saw a couple of first years duck to avoid the bats. Suddenly, she felt a hand in hers.

"If you think this is good, you should see the place at Christmas," Ron said, admiring the jack o' lanterns and waving to Hagrid. Clara grinned at the look of pride on Hagrid's face, realizing that it must have been he who'd grown the massive pumpkins. She led Ron over to the Gryffindor table and sat down, anxious for the moment when the food would appear and dinner would begin.

The Halloween feast outdid the start of term feast. Clara felt that was quite an accomplishment, considering she'd thought then that she had never had such a delicious meal. True, she was still unaccustomed to some of the foods – steak and kidney pie, for one – but generally she was very impressed with it all.

Full to bursting, Clara and Ron left the table before the others had quite finished dessert. She smiled at him and took his hand. He leaned in close to her ear. "Shall we take the scenic route back to the tower?" he whispered, giving her hand a squeeze. Clara giggled, reveling in the butterflies she always felt around him.

"You read my mind," she whispered back, winking. Ron laughed and led her past the House tables. As they passed the Slytherin table, however, they came to a stop. Clara looked questioningly at Ron, who appeared to be shielding her.

"What's the hold-up?" she asked, peering around him. She took a startled step backward as she found herself looking into the arrogant face of Draco Malfoy.

"Seems your boyfriend doesn't want me too close to you," Malfoy drawled. He gave Clara an appraising look, then turned his disdainful gaze to Ron. "What's the matter, Weasley? Afraid she might realize that she could do better?" He grinned maliciously, and Ron's ears reddened. Clara, recognizing the warning sign, stepped in.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" she asked, doing her best to match his disdain. Malfoy smirked at her.

"I'm just a little surprised at the company you keep, Edwards," he said casually. Ron's eyes narrowed. Clara grabbed his hand and flung an angry look at Malfoy.

"I don't see why you care," she said, stepping around Ron. "I don't know you and you don't know me, so the company I choose to keep is none of your business." Clara turned back to Ron and said in a low voice, "Come on, let's get out of here."

"That's true, but my father always spoke so highly of your grandfather. I expect he'd be ashamed to know that a granddaughter of his was hanging out with blood traitors and Mudbloods," Malfoy said quietly. Clara felt angry color rising in her cheeks. She turned to face him, struggling to keep Ron at bay.

"I think he'd rather I did that than spend my time with a pompous bastard like you," she spat. Malfoy looked maddeningly superior.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that if I were you," he replied coolly. She shot him a scathing look and finally succeeded in forcing Ron away from him and through the double doors.

Out in the Entrance Hall, Clara tried to calm Ron down. "You know I don't care what Malfoy thinks," she murmured. "And you should also know that, as far as I'm concerned, there's no one better for me than you." Ron looked at her sulkily as he considered her words. His shoulders relaxed and he sighed. Clara grinned and brought his hand up to her face to kiss it. Ron smiled warily and looked at the floor.

"Now,"she said softly, "About that scenic route..." Ron's eyes snapped up to meet hers, and he started laughing. Then he took Clara's hand and all but dragged her down the nearest empty corridor.