Amelia Bones was very taken aback. She never would have expected the reaction that Harry and Susan had upon learning they would have their own quarters when they got back to school in a week. The headmaster had come late in the afternoon to break the news to the two tens that due to their change in status, that they would be allowed to cohabitate in one of the living quarters reserved for married couples. Both teens had been shocked at this and Dumbledore had explained that a century ago, it had not been uncommon that some students were married in their sixth and seventh years.
"Do we have to?" Harry asked. Susan gave him a hurt look, and Harry went on to explain his concerns.
"Won't this cause quite a bit of talk and rumors? And even though Voldemort hasn't used our connection, he could still find out about me and Susan and…"
"I understand you're wish to keep your personal matters quiet." Dumbledore smiled. "But eventually the story will get out, despite your attempts to hide it. And as you Harry were at Miss Bones side for the last month…"
Harry felt his face get hot and Dumbledore smiled. Susan gave his hand a squeeze and he saw her soft smile out the corner of his eye.
"… it was felt that you both were mature enough to accept this. Now, you're friends will be allowed in the common room so you may study and visit at your leisure. You will have your own bathroom and sleeping quarters where none but the two of you will be allowed."
"Won't people get jealous or whatever when they start noticing we're not going to our own houses at night? Or that we're not even spending time in our common rooms." Susan asked. Amelia smiled, appreciating that Susan didn't seem to want preferential treatment.
"Jealousy is a part of adolescence, I'm afraid." Dumbledore smiled sadly. "Unfortunately I can not remodel the castle to arrange secret passages from your houses to your new living quarters. I'm afraid that no matter what we do, there will be animosity when people discover your new arrangements. But you should keep in mind that it doesn't matter what others think, it is only how the two of you feel about your situation."
"Very wise words." Amelia smiled.
"Now, Do you have any questions?" Dumbledore asked looking at the two youngster. Susan shook her head, but Harry looked apprehensive.
With a great sigh, Harry looked at the headmaster and began speaking.
"I had another change in my scar, sir. You remember that I told you how it started feeling strange."
"I do." Dumbledore nodded. Both Bones woman were staring at Harry in interest. But Harry continued.
"Er, well… the other night I felt a very sharp stab of pain. It was really bad, but it lasted barely a second." Harry said.
Dumbledore eyed him for a moment before he spoke.
"May I ask what led up to this stabbing pain?" He asked. Both Harry and Susan blushed a deep crimson, and Amelia felt her chest tighten. She had been sure nothing had happened between Harry and Susan when she had discovered them in Harry's bed.
"I…uh…" Susan tried, but her voice wasn't working. Harry wasn't doing much better. That is until he noticed Amelia's look of shock and disappointment.
"Susan couldn't sleep and she came to se if I was awake. We ended up falling asleep together. Nothing happened other than that. But just before I fell asleep, I felt the pain.
Dumbledore looked a little pleased at this. "I see. Well, I have been hoping for this and am glad to see that my hopes seem to be coming to fruition."
Huh?" Both Harry and Susan looked puzzled.
"It is a very long story, but I believe that as your feelings for Miss Bones grow, and her feelings for you also get stronger in return, I believe the connection between you and Lord Voldemort is weakening. I also believe that he will likely be experiencing a fair amount of discomfort as well." Dumbledore smiled.
"Wait a minute." Susan said waving her hand emphatically. "Let me see if I understand this. You're telling us that the more Harry and I feel for each other hurts Voldemort? Like physically hurts him?"
"It is my belief, yes." Dumbledore smiled. Amelia looked anxious and Susan noticed her Aunt's face. Amelia looked away suddenly and Susan suddenly felt her Aunt and Dumbledore knew a lot more than they were saying.
"This is a very good thing, though I know that the discomfort is not pleasant. I assure you that soon, so long as you and Miss Bones do not suddenly begin hating one another, it will all become and be little more than an uncomfortable memory."
Harry looked unconvinced, but it was clear that as usual, Dumbledore was not going to explain things properly.
With the promise that he would see them when they arrived back at school where they would be shown their new quarters, Dumbledore left. Susan kissed Harry softly and suggested that Harry go out and get in a good flight on his broom, and that she wanted to talk to her Aunt privately. Harry nodded and with a soft kiss, went outside.
"I saw your face, Auntie." Susan said softly. "I know that you and Dumbledore aren't telling us everything."
Amelia sat heavily across from Susan and smiled sadly.
"Sometimes I wish you were more like your father than your mother. You're too perceptive for your own good sometimes." Amelia said proudly.
"I have an Aunt who's always telling me to be more observant." Susan smiled in return. Amelia laughed and shook her head.
"Susan, I love you very much and I would never keep something from you if it wasn't important, and this is extremely important. I know that you're growing up, and I have no doubt that your body is…"
"AUNTIE!" Susan shouted looking embarrassed. "I don't need the talk again. I just want to know what it is you're hiding from us."
"That's what I'm trying to do." Amelia said quickly." The problem is that I don't want you and Harry doing things that you may not be ready for. I know that you're engaged now, and that you both know it's inevitable that you're going to be physical, but I just want you to be sure that you're ready for that sort of thing…"
"This has to do with me and Harry being… intimate?" Susan asked. Amelia grimaced but nodded.
"But that isn't all of it. It does have to do with how you feel about each other. It isn't all physical." Amelia said. "Susan, how do you feel about Harry? Honestly. Do you love him?"
"I think that I do." Susan said honestly. I mean, when I think about him I get this funny feeling in my chest. And I can't help but smile. I feel better when he's near, and the other night when I fell asleep with him, I felt safe and like… I don't know… like I was safer than I have ever been."
"My mother once told me," Amelia smiled, moving now to sit next to her niece and taking her hand. "That there were three signs to know for sure that you were in love. Number one. His happiness comes before your own. You'd give up anything, do anything to make him happy."
Susan suddenly thought of how Harry had given up Quidditch so he could spend time with her in school. She felt her eyes sting as she smiled softly, looking out the back window wondering if she could se Harry.
"Number two." Amelia said bringing Susan's attention back to her. "You feel like you can't be without that person. Like part of you is being ripped away when you're not together."
Susan knew that she felt that way sometimes. She had been dreading going back to school because she wouldn't get Harry all to herself all the time. They'd be in separate classes and after the other night, Susan liked the idea of falling asleep in Harry's arms more often. After having experienced it, Susan definitely wanted it to happen a lot more. She had even been trying to figure a way to slip into Harry's room that night.
"What's the last one?" Susan asked.
"That you would give your life to save his." Amelia smiled.
Susan gasped. She remembered Harry fighting to protect her, Hannah and her aunt when the Death Eaters had attack her home last summer. Harry was easily the bravest person Susan had ever met, and she had no doubt in her mind that he would leap in front of a curse for her. But she didn't know if she could do the same for him. Did that mean she didn't love him?
"What does all of this have to do with Harry's scar?" Susan asked. Amelia tried to look away but Susan wouldn't let her. Amelia knew that Susan would keep interrogating her until she got her answers, and sooner or later the whole story was going to come out. Yet, Dumbledore's words haunted her.
"It can't be forced. They must find love on their own and in their own time, or all is lost."
"Susan, I'm going to ask you to let this drop. Trust me when I tell you that it is better for everyone if you just keep on with your life and your relationship with Harry. Please."
Susan was disappointed, but as her Aunt had hardly ever asked her to do anything like this, nodded reluctantly. Amelia got up and left Susan alone in the sitting room to ponder over what had been said, and more importantly, what had not been said.
Susan had surmised that Harry and Voldemort shared some sort of connection. Until today, Harry had never mentioned it. Susan was going to have a few words with him about that later on. For now however, Susan puzzled over Dumbledore's expression of relieved happiness when Harry had told the headmaster what had led to the pain Harry had felt in his scar, and the assurance that as she and Harry grew closer, the connection would weaken, and break. Susan wanted to help Harry break any connection to Voldemort, but she wasn't exactly sure how to do that. However, she knew that she might get answers after talking to Harry.
Unfortunately, that meant getting up. Though she was definitely getting stronger, she still felt quite weak sometimes, and right now was one of those times. However, her mind was feeling particularly dominant, and so she heaved herself off of the couch to hunt down her fiancé.
It was just after dinner when the floo flared up and Mrs. Weasley's head appeared in the fire place calling for Harry. Harry greeted her and the Weasley matriarch asked if she could come visit him as she had a few things to say to him and Susan. Harry allowed Mrs. Weasley to come through while he called for Susan to join him.
Mrs. Weasley looked very ashamed when she entered Harry's home. Susan joined them in the sitting room, moving very slowly and looking quite tired. Seeing her made Mrs. Weasley looked even more anxious.
"I wish to apologize to the both of you for my outburst last night. It is not my place to tell either of you what to do. Ron had told me all about the contract between your families, and I forgot all about it. I am of course happy for you both, but I'm concerned that perhaps you're moving to fast. You're both still so young, and Harry, you especially haven't had the childhood you deserve to have had."
Susan looked at Harry who was avoiding her gaze, keeping his eyes locked on Mrs. Weasley.
"I am only afraid that given everything that's has happened, and that could happen, you might be rushing things because you might be afraid you won't live to experience them later." Mrs. Weasley explained.
"Mrs. Weasley, Just because I proposed doesn't mean that we're going to be married tomorrow." Harry smiled. "We still have a year and a half of school, so it will probably be a long engagement."
Susan nodded as she wrapped her arms around Harry's arm and snuggled into him a bit.
"Sometimes it feels fast to me, but I promise you, If I wasn't sure it was right, or it was too soon, then I would not act. I'm learning to think before I act." Harry assured Ron's mother, who was now wiping at her eyes.
"Forgive me Harry." She sniffed. "I only want what's best for you."
"There's nothing to forgive, Mrs. Weasley." Susan smiled. "I think that Harry and I are very lucky to have so many people who care for us the way you do. Thank you."
"Oh my dear." Mrs. Weasley said rushing forward and wrapping both Susan and Harry in a bone crushing hug. Susan gave out a light squeak of surprise and pain. Harry grunted a bit as well. Fortunately Mrs. Weasley let them go and backed away.
"Thank you for hearing me out." she said wiping at her eyes again. "I have to go now. Take care of yourselves."
She headed to the fire place and was about to leave when she turned around and faced them again. "And take care of each other. It's a rare thing to find something as precious as love, but when you have it, you should treasure it always."
They stood and watched Mrs. Weasley go. They stood in silence for a few moments after she left until Susan gave a soft sigh.
"Are you alright?" Harry turned to look at Susan who nodded, though her eyes were closed.
"Just tired. I'm glad to be out of that chair, but I'm so exhausted all the time."
"Would you like me to help you up the stairs?" Harry asked, a smile on his face. Susan grinned and threw her arms around his neck.
"Only if you're taking me to your room." She whispered before kissing him gently.
"I don't know if you're Aunt would like that." Harry smirked.
"Oh, I don't think she'll mind all that much. Besides, she's going to have to get used to hit. After all, when we get back to school, we'll be sharing a quarters, and a bedroom. She had to give her permission to Dumbledore or we wouldn't have been allowed."
"I suppose you're right." Harry said, drawing Susan closer and running a hand through her long red hair.
"I'm always right. Didn't you know?" Susan joked.
"I'm learning." Harry smirked and rolled his eyes.
"I want to talk to you about a few things anyway, and we might as well be comfortable." Susan said seriously. Then her smile returned and she swayed in Harry's arms a bit. "You know, snuggled together under the blankets, your arms wrapped around me all protectively. Our bodies pressed together…" She grinned as Harry's eyes glazed over and she felt a bit of him stir below his waist.
"Yeah… ok." Harry smiled goofily.
"Good. Now pick me up Hercules." Susan ordered jokingly. Harry did as she asked and grabbed her up. However he simply threw her over his shoulder and grunted in a mock caveman voice. Susan screamed that he was doing it wrong and that she had wanted to be carried romantically.
"You should have been more specific." Harry called as he pinched Susan's bottom making her cry out and smacking Harry's bottom in retaliation.
Amelia, who'd been out of sight, but had watched everything since Mrs. Weasley had appeared in the fire, couldn't help but smile at Susan and Harry's antics. Her smiled faded a bit after they went up the stairs. Susan had been right. She was going to have to get used to the idea that her niece and Harry were going to be on their own and without chaperone when they returned to school, and if Dumbledore were to be believed, they would need it in order to let their relationship to grow. Amelia remembered that the headmaster had said they would need to let things happen naturally, but it seemed to her that Dumbledore was giving things a bit of a push. She supposed that this was better than straight out telling them why they needed to fall in love. Still, Amelia had reservations. She simply didn't want Susan finding herself pressured into things.
Amelia felt shame as she realized that it was Harry with whom her niece was engaged, and that she had never met a more noble, and thoughtful boy than Harry. This didn't ease Amelia's mind however. She had the disturbing thought that it could be Susan who could be pressuring Harry, thanks to the pressure from Susan's friends.
"Lord I do not miss being a teenager." Amelia thought as she began heading to her own room.
Susan was extremely happy as she sat with her friends on the Hogwarts express heading back to school. She had finished her potion treatment and as promised, felt perfect once again. At least physically. Mentally speaking she felt she was close to falling into another coma. It was for this reason she was happy to be back with her four girlfriends, Hannah, Hermione and Lavender.
The four had sequestered themselves in a compartment and made their other friends and boyfriends leave them be for a while, as Susan really needed to talk to those she trusted to help her figure out a few things with her and Harry's situation.
"You are so lucky." Hannah sighed staring at Susan's troubled face. "Your own room with your boyfriend allowed in it. If I had that with Neville, we'd never get to classes."
"And I'm the one with the reputation." Lavender smirked. "I didn't even know Hogwarts had married quarters."
"It's in Hogwarts: A History." Hermione siad. Everyone turned to look at her wryly. "Well it is." She said vehemently.
"Look, that's all fine, but it's the reason we're getting it. We're engaged, not married, and like I said, I think Dumbledore wants us to… you know…"
"Have the sex." Lavender provided. Susan went scarlet but nodded.
"Doesn't that seem a bit weird to any of you?" She asked.
"It is a bit odd. Most adults would be telling you to slow down." Hermione said thoughtfully.
"And then Harry mentioned that he'd felt this pain in his scar. Turns out he's been feeling a lot of weird stuff through his scar for a while. I found out he share's this weird connection with Voldemort and that's why you guys ended up at the Ministry last June." Susan said pointedly to Hermione, who shuffled uncomfortably in her seat.
"It wasn't our place to say anything." Hermione tried.
"You've told us loads about Harry and Ron." Lavender accused. "Why leave that out?"
"Yes, I've told you loads, but I've never revealed any of their secrets." Hermione said defensively. "They're my friends and I want them to be happy, so if it helps to make things easier in their relationships to share a few things here and there, then fine. But to outright tell you something like that would be a betrayal."
"Rationalize it however you want, Hermione." Hannah said with a roll of her eyes.
"Stop it." Susan snapped. "The point is that Dumbledore is convinced that as mine and Harry's feelings get stronger, this connection will break and Harry will be free. It's like he's using our betrothal contract to facilitate something else. Something that's going to destroy Voldemort."
"Actually, that does make sense in a strange sort of way." Hermione said thoughtfully.
"Care to explain?" Lavender and Hannah asked after several moments of silence.
"Sorry." Hermione said shaking her head as if trying to clear it. "It's just that Dumbledore has always told Harry his greatest strength, his power is love. None of us have been able to figure out exactly what that means, but maybe this is it. Maybe with you and Harry falling in love, it's somehow making Harry stronger so he can actually face Voldemort and defeat him." Hermione surmised.
"That's a lot of pressure to put on us." Susan sighed.
"Which is probably why he hasn't said anything." Hermione reasoned. "Would you feel the same for Harry if you knew in the beginning that you had to fall in love with him to save the world?"
"I have no idea." Susan said sadly.
"I don't know if I could." Lavender said with a sad shake of her head. "I have feelings for Ron because we've spent time together, and gotten to know one another. We were given the choice to fall for each other."
"That was the problem Harry and I had when we first found out about that stupid contract." Susan sighed, feeling her eyes sting like she wanted to cry. Hannah slipped an arm around her best friend's shoulder.
"But you two have managed to actually come together, and you both do have feelings for each other. It may not be love as such but…"
"Harry loves her." Hermione said, and then realizing what she'd said, blushed and covered her mouth in embarrassment. The other three girls heads turned quickly to stare at the blushing Gryffindor, who was now smacking her head not unlike a house elf.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid."
"Spill it Granger." Susan said emphatically making Hermione recoil. The bushy haired witch quailed under the hard stares of the two Hufflepuffs and her housemate, Lavender, who all looked as if they might rip her apart if she didn't speak up and tell them what she was talking about.
"Ok, but he's going to kill me." Hermione said regretfully.
"Hermione!" Susan said cutting off the tirade she knew was brewing in Hermione's head.
"Fine!" Hermione shouted then let out an exasperated sigh. "It was while you were still in the hospital wing. It was getting late, and I was worried that he might try and spend the night there, so I went to find him. He was sitting at your side holding your hand and just watching you sleep. I've never seen him so lost. We started talking and he told me that if it hadn't been for the contract he might never have bothered to take the time and get to know you, and that would have been a shame. He said that now that he's had time with you, he doesn't want to know life without you in it, and that he hated the fact that it took you getting hurt like that to make him realize just what was important in life.
"People have been telling me what they think is important in life for ages." Harry sighed as he caressed Susan's Hand. He looked up to stare into Hermione's eyes and gave a soft smile. "But I think I get it now. You have to find it for yourself. You have to find that one thing, or that one person who makes you believe that anything is possible. You have to find Love in order to understand it. I found it with her."
"He said that?" Susan asked tearfully."
"You have to have sex with him now." Hannah sighed dreamily.
"No she shouldn't." Hermione countered. "Susan, I know you're getting all these signals and messages and whatever, but you and Harry shouldn't do anything unless you want to, and because you want to. Forget Voldemort and Dumbledore and your Aunt. It's about you and Harry and what you feel. If you have sex because other people think you should then it means nothing, and Harry means nothing to you."
"You're only saying that because you've never had sex." Hannah smirked. Hermione looked angry, but it was Lavender who spoke first.
"I haven't had sex either, and I think Hermione's right. Are you saying that if you didn't love Neville you would have had sex with him?"
That stopped Hannah cold, and she shook her head, her smile fading. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say…"
"It's fine." Susan said holding up a hand. "I just wish this didn't have to be so complicated."
"Love is never simple." Hermione smiled softly. " At least, that's what my mother always says. After what happened with me and Zach, I think she's been right all along."
"My mum always said something similar." Lavender grinned, nudging Hermione." Who would have thought our mothers were actually giving out good advice?"
All the girls laughed and began talking about the remainder of the year, and what they thought might happen. Most of the conversation was centered on finding Hermione a suitable boyfriend as it was felt she needed to begin dating again. Hermione was reluctant to admit to being attracted to anyone, though after a lot of prodding and ribbing, the reserved bookworm finally gave a few names of potential suitors that made her friends want to plot on setting up scenarios in which Hermione and said boys could be together, much to Hermione's dismay.
All the while, Susan couldn't help but ponder on what she had been told by Hermione, and What Harry felt for her. Susan knew that she had very strong feelings for Harry and was sure it could be love she felt for him, but now she was very confused about everything.
"God damned Dumbledore." Susan thought to herself.
Dumbledore rose from his seat at the end of the feast to welcome back the students from the holiday, and make the necessary announcements.
"Now that we have all been satiated by our most excellent feast, I have an announcement to make. Over the holiday, I am very sad to say that Professor Slughorn passed on to the next great adventure."
At this Dumbledore turned to look directly at Draco Malfoy, who actually looked a bit surprised. Dumbledore knew that the junior Malfoy had not expected to hear this news. And though Draco looked surprised, it was clear that he did not care about his mistake.
"Professor Snape has kindly consented to return to teaching potions for first through third year students. I will be taking the remainder of the classes until the end of the year."
Dumbledore saw Draco sneer at the news that Dumbledore would be teaching his potions class. The headmaster hated to see that look on the boy's face. He especially hated to admit that Severus could be right and that Draco had no desire to be protected or saved. And so, he had little choice but to try and find out what the boy's true plan was and put a stop to it.
Dumbledore turned to see young Harry Potter staring hard at his school rival, and wondered if perhaps he could get Harry to help him find out what Draco was scheming. But that thought was thrown out of his mind the moment he spotted young Susan Bones staring hard at him, as if she was angry with the school's headmaster. Dumbledore thought that perhaps Amelia may have revealed to her niece why Susan's relationship with Harry was so important. Amelia had been hinting more and more heavily that she felt the two teens should be told everything. But Dumbledore was still convinced that it would change the dynamic of their relationship and ruin any chances of getting rid of Lord Voldemort once and for all.
Dumbledore had promised that when everything was finished, he would reveal everything to Harry, but until all the Horcruxes were found and destroyed and Voldemort was dead once and for all, Harry was safer not knowing. Dumbledore only hoped that Harry and Susan would become closer now that they would be living together for all intents and purposes.
Dumbledore released the students to head to bed for the night, and went into a side chamber, where he'd promised to met Harry and Susan to show them to their new living quarters. He only had to wait a few minutes before they arrived and greeted him, Susan a little stiffly.
Dumbledore took them into the entrance hall and up the first flight of steps as if they were heading to Gryffindor tower, but took the door at the first landing and down a long corridor. Dumbledore glanced back at the two teens and noted they were holding hands and smiling.
Dumbledore finally stopped in front of a portrait of a wild unicorn grazing in a field with its foal.
"This is your new accommodations. To enter, simply whistle like this." Dumbledore gave a long whistle to which both unicorns looked up interestedly. The adult unicorn then stamped its foot, and the portrait swung open.
"You will find all of your belongings have been moved inside. I bid you both, good evening."
Harry and Susan watched Dumbledore walk away before they entered their new quarters. It was a modest room with two sofas set in front of a fireplace with a low table between them. There were Gryffindor and Hufflepuff hangings on the walls and several candles set in brackets on the walls. Susan smiled at Harry as she went to the window and peered out, smiling at the view of the mountains.
"Pretty big bathroom." Harry said. Susan turned and followed the sound of Harry's voice into the bathroom where she found a shower stall and a very large bathtub that Susan guessed would fit both Harry and herself. She smiled mischievously at the thought and gave Harry a quick kiss before going to the bedroom.
The bed was similar to the Harry's bed at home.. It was the traditional four poster bed that was in every dorm, but much bigger. Both hers and Harry's trunks were nestled at the foor of it, and Susan saw a owl perch next to the window where a familiar white owl was sitting watching her curiously.
"Harry, Hedwig's here."
Harry came into the bedroom and smiled.
"Hey girl!" Harry said as he approached his familiar, who gave a soft hoot and leaned into Harry's hand as he stroked her feathers. "It'll be nice not to have to go to the owlery to send letters." He smiled turning back to look at Susan who had sat down on the bed and removed her shoes. She looked troubled, so Harry turned and came to sit next to her.
"You ok?" He asked. "Do you want me to get Madam Pomfrey?"
"No, I'm fine. I promise." Susan smiled. "No, it's just, well, after everything I learned this week, I'm just overwhelmed."
"I'm sorry, but I did warn you it was a lot." Harry smiled.
Hermione told me something on the train, and I kind of want to ask you about it." She said looking imploringly at Harry who smiled and nodded, urging to continue.
"I know that you were in the hospital wing with me a lot while I was out, but she told me about a conversation you two had, and I wondered why you didn't tell me any of these things?"
"Which things?"
"She said that you loved me. Why haven't you said it to me?" Susan asked, and Harry squirmed a bit.
"I didn't really know how. I mean when I said it to Hermione, it was the first time I'd said it out loud. It scared me because I hadn't even realized that was what I was feeling, but the more I thought about it, the more I was sure that's what it was I was feeling."
Harry look Susan in the eyes now and took a breath. "I'm completely clueless when it comes to this stuff Suze, you know this, and I wasn't sure when the right time to say it was, or if there was a right time. I'm also guilty of holding things in."
"Harry, anytime is the perfect time. I had a talk with Auntie a few days ago, and it got me thinking about my feelings for you. Our relationship has been crazy, and we've done a lot of things backwards. But I know now that What my Aunt said to me, I feel those things. When I'm not with you, I feel incomplete. I'd do whatever it took just to make you happy, and I would gladly give up my own life to protect you. These are really strong feelings and I'm still trying to understand them, but I want you to know that I love you Harry."
"And I love you, Susan." Harry smiled. Susan reached up and cupped his cheek and kissed him softly.
"We should get some sleep." Susan said when she finally broke the kiss. "We're going to be dealing with more than a few rumors tomorrow."
"Oy!" Harry groaned and fell back on the bed as if he'd been punched. Susan patted his stomach and headed for the bathroom.