Chapter 4

Meetings

What Mum said to me on my birthday remained in my head for the rest of the holiday leading up to September when we were to return to Hogwarts. I loved Harry but I wasn't in love with him? What had Mum meant by that? Was there a difference between the two? It puzzled me. I wasn't in love yet but when it hits me, I'd know. Hadn't it already? I mean, every time I was close to Harry when he didn't know how I felt, I experienced such a rush of emotion; whenever I was near him, my heart would rush, I wouldn't be able to think straight, and I would stare into his eyes. I thought about him constantly and missed him so much when he wasn't around. How could that not be love? Even my Patronus had changed from a horse to a doe last year. Surely that meant I was in love with him.

'Jenna, come on!' shouted Ginny over to me. I looked up from my seat at the garden table to see her and the others all gathered further down the garden. 'Get your arse in gear! I want to do my first bit of legal magic!'

I sighed and got up. My problems were just going to have to wait. It was Ginny's seventeenth birthday and she was taking every advantage she had of being of age now. All the family turned up so The Burrow was once again full of Weasleys and their various partners in the case of Bill and Percy. Molly had told Ginny she wasn't to use her magic until after lunch when everyone was here so that we could all see her skill and Ginny had been getting very impatient. Part of being a redhead I guess. Still, I went over and joined the others. Molly and Arthur were still in the kitchen washing up the things leftover from lunch while Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Percy and his girlfriend, and Fred and George all made their way across the lawn to where we were gathered. Ginny tapped her foot impatiently.

'Mum, I'm doing it now whether you're outside or not!' Ginny called back to her parents. 'You said after lunch!'

'Patience!' Molly snapped back at her. 'You're just like Fred and George, Ginevra, too hasty for your own good.' Ginny shivered at her full name. 'If you're that impatient then just do it now. Your father and I are watching.'

'Fine!'

Ginny looked at Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville and me and shrugged.

'So what spell are you going to do first?' asked Hermione. 'Your signature Bat Bogey Hex? I don't mind if you use Ron as a target.'

'Hey!' said Ron indignantly. Ginny smirked.

'As tempting as that may be,' she said, 'I have a better one in mind. I've never been able to produce a proper Patronus so I intend to try that one first.'

'A Patronus? Bit gutsy, isn't it?' said Bill.

'Have you ever been on the receiving end of her Bat Bogey Hex?' Fred asked his older brother. Bill shook his head. 'The little pixie isn't as weak as she looks.'

'Don't call me that!' snapped Ginny, pointing her wand threateningly at him. Fred hastily held up his hands.

'Big things come in small packages,' said Harry. 'I can safely say Ginny's more powerful than you think. She held herself up against the Death Eaters at Hogwarts, remember?'

Ginny beamed at Harry. A strange twinge went through my stomach.

'So come on,' said Ron. 'Let's see your Patronus already.'

'Why don't we all cast them?' Ginny then suggested. 'That'll look cool, right?'

Everyone seemed on board with the idea but Bill excused him and his brothers from it, saying that us younger wizards should show them ours. Neville was a little apprehensive as he'd never been able to cast a Patronus before. As for me, I was also wary; last time I cast this charm, a doe had been my Patronus. I didn't particular want the others to see it but Ginny insisted I had to.

'You have one of the strongest Patronuses, Jenna,' she told me. 'You've got to show yours.'

I hesitated but Ginny's insistent moans made me agree.

Harry was the first to cast his, conjuring Prongs. He dazzled in the sunlight. The pure white stag cantered around us. Next was Hermione's; her otter Patronus shot out of her wand and began swimming through the air, gracefully twisting and turning. Ron's followed, a Jack Russell terrier bounding off across the lawn. Luna's hare soon joined the menagerie. I waited for Neville to go before me. He looked longingly at the other silver animals, his wand grasped loosely in his hand. We all tried to encourage him.

'Come on, Nev. You'll never know until you try.'

'You can do it.'

'Give it a try!'

Unsurprisingly, it was Ginny who managed to convince him. She whispered something in his ear we didn't hear then kissed his cheek. A red flush spread across his round face.

'Now try,' whispered Ginny.

Neville raised his wand and said the incantation. A ball of white light shot from his wand. It wasn't clear at first. We watched and waited to see what it was. Neville's concentration tightened, his hand gripping his wand, and the Patronus began to form. First the body, then the legs, its tail, finally the head. A silver golden retriever dog stood in front of us before running off to join the other Patronuses.

'Not bad, Nev,' said Ron. 'Golden retrievers are meant to be really brave and loyal animals.'

'Just like you,' I told him. 'And you showed that last year.'

Neville looked across at me and smiled. I smiled back, remembering how much he'd helped me. I then raised my wand and summoned up my happiest memory. That was easy: the day Harry and I got together. I spoke the charm, 'Expecto Patronum!'

The form my Patronus took surprised me. It was no longer a doe. Hooves stood in front of me tossing her long mane back and forth. I stared at her. She looked back, her white eyes blazing. All of a sudden she reared and cantered off to join the rest of the animals in the garden. The doe had gone. My eyes didn't leave her form but my mind once again drifted back to Mum's words and I didn't hear Ginny call out the Patronus Charm herself. My Patronus was no longer a doe. My feelings for Harry weren't what I thought. I was only drawn away from them again when Ginny's Patronus appeared before us.

A second horse burst from Ginny's wand fully formed, not a wisp of smoke around it. I started. Ginny's Patronus was also a horse? The new animal began to canter round the group showing itself off. The other animals watched as did their conjurers, Hooves doing so intently. She seemed shaken by the arrival of this new horse. I was too. I hadn't expected Ginny's Patronus to take the form of a horse like mine did. Did it mean something? My eyes involuntarily went to Harry. He was watching the new Patronus like everyone else. A second twinge went through me.

I looked back at the group of silver animals. The otter, hare, two dogs and horse were all running around together as the stag stood beside them watching. Hooves, however, had backed away. As I watched I started to see subtle differences between the two horses. Ginny's horse looked like a much purer breed, a thoroughbred perhaps, it's mane and tail were neat and it galloped about with a proud air around it. Hooves, in contrast, was not a discernable breed but certainly more wild than Ginny's, her mane and tail long, straight and untidy, but she moved with a lot more grace than the other.

They said Patronuses represented their conjurers. Was this showing the difference between me and Ginny?

'What are the odds on that?' I heard Ginny say to me quietly. 'We have the same Patronus, not to mention the same taste in other things. Strange, huh, Jenna?'

'Yeah,' I murmured in agreement. 'Strange.'

The end of August just seemed to fly by after Ginny's birthday and soon September the first was upon us. The Burrow was in the usual mad rush as it had been the previous years. When I went downstairs with Hermione and Ginny we saw Molly hurrying around the kitchen trying to organise breakfast, the various trunks and pets sitting by the front door, and shouting at Arthur in a panic in case the transport didn't turn up. He was standing by the fireplace talking to Kingsley's head. It looked like he was trying to set up a Ministry car to come get us.

'How many people are you talking about?' Kingsley was saying. 'The Ministry taxis can't always be used for this.'

'Not many,' said Arthur. 'There's only Ginny, Harry, Hermione and Jenna plus Molly and myself. We'd only need the one.'

'I'll see what I can do,' said Kingsley. And his head disappeared out of sight.

By the time Ron and Harry appeared downstairs Molly was in full blown panic stations. She gave the pair of them a reprimand shouting, 'What time d'you call this? You're going back to school today! You can't be late!' followed by taking our breakfast things before we'd even finished. Ron, of course, as he wasn't going back to Hogwarts, was able to sit back and relax. That is, until Molly jinxed his legs to get him outside to wait for the taxi.

The Ministry car turned up at half past nine leaving plenty of time for us to get to Kings Cross Station for eleven. The driver put the four trunks, Ebony and Gadget's cages, Crookshanks' basket and Arnold the Pygmy Puff in the car. Molly and Arthur got in the stretched front passenger seat as the four of us and Ron climbed into the back with the various animals sitting beside us.

We arrived at Kings Cross Station at twenty to eleven. Even with the spare time we had Molly still marched up the platform towards platform nine and three-quarters, Harry, Hermione, Ginny and I pushing our trunks on trolleys behind her as we tried to catch up. Ron smirked all the way. We reached platform nine and ten. Ahead of us another couple with their young son disappeared through the barrier completely unnoticed by the Muggles.

'Quarter to!' called Arthur to us. 'Let's not be late on the last one! Ginny, go!'

Ginny ran ahead. Her trunk, Arnold and herself vanished through the wall. Arthur called out the next name and Harry went through the barrier, followed by Hermione, then me. I ran at the barrier and passed through it. I reappeared on the platform next to the others. In front of us stood the gleaming Hogwarts Express, smoke billowing from its engine. It was good to see it again. Families were gathered together down the length of the platform, new wizards and witches looking anxiously at the huge train before them. The older students were already pilling on to it, helping each other with their trunks and hurrying to find a good compartment. Through the crowd I saw some familiar faces of people in our year. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan waved at us as they got on the train; further down from them I saw Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbot with their fellow Hufflepuffs had come back as well.

Molly and Arthur came through the barrier.

'No time for staring,' said Molly. She bustled us down the platform to where there were less families gathered. 'You've got ten minutes. You need to get on the train.'

We found a emptier carriage and loaded our stuff into one of the compartments that was still free. With our trunks and pets stowed, the four of us got off the train to say goodbye to Molly and Arthur. She enveloped us in the usual bone-crushing hugs then handed us some packed lunches she'd made.

Hermione tried in a last vain attempt to get Ron to change his mind but he was adamant, telling her that he'd see her at Christmas. They shared a kiss but Hermione's frown remained as she turned for the train. With a last warning about misbehaving Harry, Hermione, Ginny and I got on the train. It started to pull away from the station. We turned back and waved out the window at Molly, Arthur and Ron until the train pulled out of the station and it disappeared in the clouds of smoke.

'Here we go then,' said Harry. 'Our final year.'

'Yes, and we've got to go,' said Hermione. 'You and the Head Girl have got to assign the prefects their duties for the train journey up to Hogwarts,' she said to Harry. 'We've got to get to the front carriage.'

Harry nodded, then turned to me.

'We'll see you later, Jen. Just wait in the carriage for us.'

'Oh, no problem,' I said. 'I'll see you guys in a couple of minutes.'

Harry and Hermione walked off up the corridor towards the front of the train. I heard Hermione wonder out loud who the Head Girl was. I smirked. They'd find out sooner than they think. Ginny also excused herself to go find Neville.

The train sped along the tracks, the countryside soon turning to a blur of green. I walked into the compartment we had put our stuff in. I stepped on to the seat and grabbed on to the luggage rack, pulling myself up so I could get into my trunk. I opened it and began to search around in it. My Head Girl badge was in here somewhere. I needed to find it quickly so I could get to the meeting. It wouldn't look good if the Head Girl was late. It had to be in here somewhere but it was so small it could have gotten mixed into anything.

'Got you!'

I'd just found the badge when the train gave a sudden jerk along the track. My foot slipped off the seat and I fell backwards. I let out a small scream of surprise. Next moment, instead of feeling the floor beneath me, I felt a pair of arms go round my waist and catch me. My arms automatically went round the person's neck. When the falling sensation had ended, I opened my eyes to look at the person who'd caught me. I was surprised to see who it was.

'Hey.'

'Hi.'

'What are you doing here?'

'Catching you by the looks of it.'

I looked down to see I was still being held up in Malfoy's arms, half falling off the seat. I placed my foot down on the floor and stood straight; Malfoy's arms released my waist, I removed my own from his neck.

My eyes took in Malfoy's appearance. He had changed a lot since I last saw him three months ago. He still wore the same smart dark clothes, a pair of dark jeans and high collar jacket with silver buttons down the chest. I lifted my eyes to look at his face. It had changed, no longer so defined nor were his eyes so piercing. They seemed almost soft. His hair had grown too but still in its neat cut, white strands falling gracefully into his grey eyes. Malfoy stared back at me, appraising me in return.

'Can't seem to leave you alone for five minutes without you getting in trouble, can I?'

My surprised look instantly changed to an unimpressed one. Malfoy saw this.

'Still,' he said indifferently. Malfoy looked away from me. 'Trouble follows you around like a Niffler follows gold. Kind of your charm.'

Oh, very smooth. I held back the urge to roll my eyes.

'You didn't answer my question,' I then said. 'What are you doing here? I didn't know you were coming back this year.'

'Mother wanted me to finish Hogwarts and get my NEWTs or she thinks I won't get a good job,' said Malfoy. I noted he was back to calling his mum "mother"; he'd gone back to his straight-laced persona from the more human one I'd seen before. 'Believe it or not, we didn't actually sit our exams last year due to the fight between Potter and the Dark Lord.'

'Yeah, I kind of figured,' I said.

'As to why I'm here, I was walking through your carriage towards the front compartment for the prefects meeting when I saw you fall off the seat,' muttered Malfoy. 'Didn't want you to hit your head or anything.'

'How gallant of you,' I replied. It was then I realised what Malfoy had said beforehand. 'Shit! The prefect's meeting!' I gasped. 'We're meant to be there now! I've got to assign the prefects their duties on the train.'

'I take it by your outburst you've made Head Girl,' said Malfoy smoothly. I nodded and showed him the badge. 'Well then I don't know why you're still standing here. We better get moving. Can't have the Head Girl being late.'

Malfoy stood aside and let me out of the compartment. Together we walked down through the four carriages that separated mine and the front compartment; I walked briskly, not wanting to be any later than I already was, Malfoy strolling behind me with his hands in his pockets. I'd never been to the very front of the train before. It was the area I expected the teachers to ride if they went on the train but they all Apparated to Hogsmeade to get there. The carriage was exactly the same as the rest. There was a door at the end where the corridor stopped which led to the engine room of the train. The first door on the left of that had a sign on it that read "Prefect's Compartment".

I looked through the window to see a lot of people gathered there already, including Harry and Hermione. The compartment was much larger than I expected and it could comfortably accommodate the numerous prefects it needed to. My guess was there was a Expansion Charm of sorts on it. I took a deep breath to prepare myself and pulled open the door to the compartment. Everyone looked up to see who'd entered.

'Sorry I'm late,' I said, walking inside. 'I had to find my Head Girl's badge in amongst the things in my trunk.'

Harry and Hermione stared at me in amazement. They couldn't believe I was Head Girl. I smiled at them.

'Jenna, you're Head Girl?' asked Hermione, shocked. I nodded. 'Merlin, why didn't you tell us?'

'I wanted it to be a surprise,' I shrugged. Well I'd achieved that; Harry was looking at me with a raised eyebrow.

'Yes,' said Harry slowly. 'Surprise indeed.'

I went and sat next to Harry. He gave me a pointed look which I chose to ignore. Just after me Malfoy walked in, muttering his apology for being late.

'I got held up,' was all he said.

'Sorry, what was that?' said Harry. 'Prefects are meant to be on time so the meeting can begin before we get to Hogwarts. Having been one since fifth year, I would have thought you knew that, Malfoy.'

I guess he was taking his position as Head Boy seriously. Please don't let him be like Percy, I thought. Either that or he was just trying to wind up Malfoy like he had done in our fifth year when he became a prefect. Malfoy glared at Harry.

'Well, if you must know, Potter,' grated Malfoy, 'I was talking to our new Head Girl, so I have a legitimate excuse for being late.'

Harry's head instantly twisted towards me. Now was not the time for Harry to be jealous so I quickly proceeded on with the meeting.

'So, I take it we're all here,' I said. I looked around. I saw all the Gryffindor Prefects from the last couple of years, including the two new ones from the fifth year, Dennis Creevey and Demelza Robbins; there were also a bunch of faces I recognised but didn't know the names of from the various other houses; then, of course, there were the prefects from my year. 'As you can probably tell, Harry and I are the new Head Boy and Girl and we're here to assign you your duties on the way up to Hogwarts.'

So far so good. To say I was nervous would pretty much cover how I felt at that moment. I looked across at Harry for a bit of support.

'Yeah,' he said, stepping in. 'Most of you by now know the process but for the new fifth year prefects, here's what you've got to do.' Harry picked up a few sheaves of parchment that had been on his lap and looked at them for a moment. 'Basically, each year is assigned a carriage and you have to patrol it in turns for an hour to make sure no trouble occurs,' Harry read out. 'If you spot any, then because there aren't any points to deduct yet, you take their names and give them to Jenna or I to report to the Headmistress when we get to school. Everyone clear with that?'

There were various nods from the new prefects. The Slytherin ones were all looking sulkily in their seats, their arms folded or glares on their faces. Between us Harry and I divided up the carriages and groups and sent off the students one by one, starting with the younger ones. Slowly the number in the carriage diminished until there was only the various seventh year prefects left.

'OK, Luna and Peter, you can patrol the fifth carriage at one o'clock, three, five and seven,' Harry said, looking at the list, 'while Kate, can you patrol it for the rest of this hour and at two, four and six. You can ask a friend to help if you want.'

The three seventh years got up and left. It was a pity Colin died, I thought as they passed. He was a good prefect, just rash.

'Finally, the rest of you can patrol the sixth carriage,' I finished. I looked at the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins. 'Slytherins take the odd hours from one o'clock and Hufflepuffs, the even hours from now. As for you guys,' I added. I turned to Ernie, Hannah, Antony, Padma, Hermione and Malfoy. 'As we're not officially a school year, you don't have to patrol the train. You're in charge of helping get everyone to the carriages.'

The Hufflepuffs seventh year prefects nodded and left. Ernie and the others also left. As they passed they each said a well done to Harry and I for getting the positions of Head Boy and Girl.

'If it was to be anyone, you deserve it, especially after last year,' said Ernie, still as pompous as he always had been. He shook Harry's hand, grinning. 'Congratulations.'

'Yeah, well done, Jenna,' added Padma. 'Parvati had been really hoping it would be her but I guess she'll be happy that it's you.'

Behind them trailed the two Slytherins seventh year prefects I knew vaguely to be Isabella Montague and Mark Pritchard, both of whom had or have siblings at Hogwarts. They got to their feet sharing an equally disgruntled look about having to patrol the train. With the meeting over Harry and I began to tidy up the parchment instructions. Hermione had already gone, telling us she'd meet us back at the compartment.

'Taking orders from a half-breed,' I heard Pritchard mutter. My cheeks flushed and I looked up. He and Montague had their backs to me. 'Hogwarts really has gone down the toilet.'

'Did you say something, Pritchard?' said Harry. He must have heard the slur too. Harry stood up, glaring at Pritchard as he turned around. 'You want to repeat that?' he asked.

Pritchard glared right back at Harry, his thin lips clenched together. He didn't say anything. Montague stood behind him in silence. I watched the exchange, wondering what Harry would do and hoping he didn't.

'You call Jenna a half-breed again, I'll personally make sure you get more than a detention for it,' warned Harry. 'Clear?'

Pritchard stared at Harry, then turned away.

'Whatever.'

Harry glared at his retreating back. I got up and went over to him.

'Harry, you didn't need to do that,' I said. 'I'm used to those kind of slurs. I got them all the time when the school first learnt what I was.'

'That doesn't give him the right to do it,' said Harry. 'You're not a half-breed and I will not stand around watching as someone calls you it.'

'And threatening people is not going to stop it,' I said. Harry let out an irritated breath. He knew I was right.

'After all that happened last year, you'd think these prejudices would have died with Voldemort,' Harry muttered.

'They'll always be people who still support his ideas and we've just got to live with it. Not everything's going to change with a flick of a wand.' Harry nodded. I smiled gently at him. I brushed back his hair, my hand stroking his cheek. 'I know it's frustrating but you can't keep jumping on people's brooms the moment you hear one.'

'I know, Jen,' Harry sighed. Then, 'Is there something you want, Malfoy?'

I followed Harry's stare to see Malfoy was still in the compartment. I hadn't realised he was still here nor that he'd seen the confrontation. He stood with his hands in his pockets facing the window, looking at us over his shoulder.

'No,' he said bluntly. 'Didn't know it was a crime to stare out the window.'

Malfoy turned away again. I held in a sigh. It was going to take a while for him and Harry to bury their differences and learn to leave each other alone. For now I would just have to separate them.

'Come on,' I told Harry. 'Hermione, Ginny and Neville will be waiting for us, Luna too if she's not patrolling.'

'You go on,' said Harry. 'I'll catch you up. I need to hand these back to the teacher on duty.' Harry held up the sheaves of parchment. 'I'll see you there.'

My eyes briefly flicked towards Malfoy's back. I hoped Harry wouldn't do or start anything with him while we were still on the train. Looking back at him I nodded and walked out of the compartment.

-o-

Harry watched as Jenna left. She walked through the door and glanced back at him, giving him a smile, before walking off. Harry walked to the doorway to make sure Jenna wasn't likely to come back for anything. He then glanced over his shoulder. Malfoy stood behind him, this time facing Harry. His grey eyes were fixed on him, his pale pointed face hard. Again Harry looked out into the corridor. Jenna was gone.

'Seeing as the meeting's over, there's no point in staying here,' muttered Malfoy.

Malfoy walked towards the door to leave, however, Harry put his arm across the opening and blocked his way. Harry turned so he was facing Malfoy, his arm still in place. Malfoy held in the frustrated groan.

'If you don't mind, I'd like to get back to my compartment,' he said. His voice was calm and level. Harry could tell it was killing Malfoy trying to keep his temper.

'Let me just make one thing clear to you, Malfoy,' said Harry. He stared at Malfoy, his eyes narrowed in warning. 'Stay away from Jenna.'

'What?'

'You heard. Stay away from Jenna.' Malfoy's eyes darkened. Harry kept his face neutral. 'Now I don't know the full story of what happened when Bellatrix captured her last year,' said Harry, 'and I don't know what you did to gain her trust. But if you think for one minute that your feelings for Jenna will ever surmount to anything, you're wrong.'

'What makes you think I have feelings for Black?' sneered Malfoy. 'So she's the most attractive girl in our year, she's nothing special. Just another witch.'

The creature in Harry's chest growled angrily when Malfoy called Jenna "attractive", hating those words coming from his mouth, the same mouth that had once called her a half-breed and Hermione a Mudblood. His hand clenched around the doorframe.

'Just keep away from her, and me,' said Harry in a final warning. He removed his arm from the doorway. Malfoy turned to leave. 'I've promised her to keep out of your way and not start any fights with you, so do the same. If you care for her, then you will.'

They stood in silence once Harry had finished; they stared at each other unblinkingly, green eyes into grey, their seven year rivalry as tense as ever. Harry raised his eyebrow, questioning if Malfoy would abide by his conditions.

'All well and good telling me to stay away her,' shrugged Malfoy, turning out of the doorway. 'Doesn't mean she'll stay away from me. Sometimes things happen out of our control.'

Malfoy strode down the corridor without looking back.

-o-

The moment I walked back into our compartment I was bombarded by Hermione and Ginny's questions and in some ways accusations for not telling them I'd received the Head Girl's badge. Luna was not there and still on patrol in the fifth carriage but Neville was sat in the seat next to Ginny, his toad Trevor sat on his knee croaking happily. I held up my hands in surrender and sat down by the window. I explained to them my plan had been to surprise Harry that I'd got the badge and so that meant I couldn't tell them, simple as that.

Speaking of him, Harry turned up a few minutes later only to join in the questioning. He too was intrigued why I hadn't told him and gave me a pointed look like he had back in the prefect's compartment. Exasperated, I said, 'Guys, it really doesn't matter. So I didn't tell you. It's not a big deal. You all found out and I managed to surprise you so let's leave it at that.'

Only Neville stuck up for me and the questioning eventually stopped. Luna soon joined us having done her hour's patrolling and together she and Ginny began to read up on what was in the latest edition of The Quibbler. In his corner Neville had taken out his copy of Flesh Eating Trees of the World and was happily perusing the pages. Trevor had been returned to his cage. Beside him Hermione had taken her wand out and was muttering various charms under her breath practicing for when we got back. Relieved that my interrogation was over and with the others distracted I went and sat beside Harry.

'Glad that's over,' I muttered. 'Not that you were any help.'

'All I said was they had a valid point,' shrugged Harry. 'I wasn't to know they would keep going.'

I glanced at Harry out of the corner of my eye. He had a grin on his face telling me he was enjoying this. It was then I also noticed the small flush in his cheeks.

'Harry, are you all right?' I asked, concerned. I shifted my position so I had one leg on the seat and was facing him. 'Your cheeks are flushed.'

'Oh, yeah,' said Harry. His hand sprung to his hair and he ran his fingers through it. 'It's just a bit hot in here, that's all.'

I watched Harry for a moment or two. He seemed distracted or something. Harry looked at me and smiled.

'Jen, it's nothing,' Harry assured me. 'I'm fine. It's just hot.'

Even with Harry's assurance a part of me was saying his flush wasn't anything to do with the weather, however, I didn't question it. I trusted Harry and he wouldn't lie to me. Nothing more needed to be said.

The rest of the journey passed like it always did. The old witch pushing the lunch trolley came along around half past one and we bought a couple of Chocolate Frogs and boxes of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans to keep us happy until we reached Hogwarts. in a brief moment Hermione's mood saddened as she thought of Ron (Chocolate Frogs were one of his favourite sweets). Ginny consoled her, reminding Hermione that she if ever needed to shout at someone just send Ron a Howler. We all laughed, a weak smile also showing on Hermione's face.

Outside the countryside sped past us. The sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky, a great comparison to what it was like the previous year. As we neared Hogwarts the countryside got wilder and the sky began to darken as night set in. When the train started to slow, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna and I all changed into our school robes. It was good to put them on again and I tied my Gryffindor tie neatly under my shirt collar. My theory was look neat on the first day then the rest of the year I could go back to my more relaxed appearance of my collar undone, tie loose so it didn't feel like I was being strangled, and my shirt untucked. Buttoning the front of my robes, I added the finishing touch and pinned my Head Girl's badge to the front of them.

Night had completely fallen when the Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade station. The students soon filled the corridors dragging their trunks on to the platform to be collected and taken up to the castle. In the distance a light could be swinging above the heads of all the students, a gruff voice calling, 'Firs' years, this way!' It was Hagrid. He saw us when we got off the train and waved his giant hand at us. Harry waved back glad to see his old friend. The new first years all walked nervously to the end of the platform where Hagrid towered over them and he led them towards the boats to take them up to the castle. As they headed in one direction the rest of the students walked up the dark footpath towards the Thestral drawn carriages.

The prefects in our year were already helping the younger students get to carriages as Harry and I instructed, each doing their own House. Between us Harry, Hermione and I shepherded the Gryffindors into carriages and they set off towards the castle. The seemingly horseless carriages set off as soon as they were full of students and travelled up the dirt track. The six of us got in one of the last few once the rest of the students had gone.

The Hogwarts castle loomed over us as welcoming as it had the first time I laid eyes on it eight years ago. It was good to be back. Bring lights flooded into the night from the open oak doors. One by one the carriages stopped in front of the main doors and the students got out to go inside. They walked into the Great Hall and started filling up the four House tables. At the top were all the teachers, Professor McGonagall sitting in the throne-like chair that had once sat Professor Dumbledore. While Luna went and sat with the Ravenclaws in her year, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and I took our seats at the Gryffindor table. Seamus, Dean, Parvati and Lavender soon joined us all looking happy to be back.

'Aw, Harry, you got the Head Boy badge,' groaned Seamus, seeing the silver badge pinned to Harry's chest. 'Does that mean we got to take orders from you now?'

Harry laughed and shook his head, saying only if they were breaking the rules did that have to listen to him. On the other side of Hermione, Parvati and Lavender were looking disgruntled at the badge that was on the front of my robes and whispering to each other like they always did.

The doors to the Great Hall re-opened and in walked the new first years in a line. In front of them I could just see a green hat bobbing up and down which I realised to be Professor Flitwick walking ahead. A snicker ran through the Hall as the students saw this; small as he was and shorter than some of the new first years, you couldn't really help laughing as he bobbed along. The line proceeded up to the front where a stool stood ready, an old hat lying motionless on it. The Sorting Hat. It did its part of telling us what the different qualities of each House were, a different song from the last one I'd heard, then fell silent. The new students gathered in front of the stool and Professor Flitwick stepped on to a platform that had been put next to it so the rest of the school could see him.

Just as Professor McGonagall did with us, Professor Flitwick took out a scroll and held it up to read from.

'Now when I call your name,' he squeaked, 'you are to come forth and sit on the stool. I will place the Sorting Hat on your head and it will decide which House you will be placed in. Once Sorted, you may go and sit on your House table with the rest of your Housemates. Branstone, Sophie!'

A small girl with blonde hair walked forwards and sat on the stool. Professor Flitwick, instead of reaching up, pointed his wand and Levitated the Sorting Hat on to her head. It remained still for a moment or two before announcing loudly, 'Hufflepuff!' The little girl took of the Hat and ran over to the cheering Hufflepuff table and Professor Flitwick called the next student forwards. We watched as the number of students gathered at the front slowly diminished and the new students were divided into the four Houses. When I heard the name "Daniela Oakley" I sat up curiously to see which House she'd be put in.

'Oakley?' repeated Hermione. 'Wasn't that Noah's surname?' she asked me.

'Yeah,' I said. 'When I went to see his family over the summer I found out that his younger sister, Daniela, had received a letter from Hogwarts. That must be her.'

The resemblance between Daniela and her older brother was remarkable. She had the same brown hair down to her shoulders that Noah had and I was pretty sure on closer inspection she'd have the same hazel eyes. The Sorting Hat was placed on her head. Within seconds it shouted out, 'Gryffindor!' As I watched Daniela run happily to join the two other girls and boy who'd already been Sorted into Gryffindor I felt a sadness creep in; a part of me still missed Noah deeply, his jokes and caring nature and the way he looked out for me, and I regretted greatly the fact he'd died. I'd broken up with him to protect him but still Noah had been killed for reasons out of my control.

When the Sorting had finished Professor Flitwick took the stool and Hat away then took the seat at the teacher's table along the back wall. Professor McGonagall, dressed in her usual tartan colours and her hair scraped back tightly into a bun, stood and addressed the school.

'To all our old students, welcome back,' she said briskly, 'and to our new students, welcome to Hogwarts where for the next seven years you will receive your training in the different magical arts. I'd also like to welcome back those from last year's seventh year who have returned to sit their NEWTs with the correct syllabus after last year's intriguing tuition.'

There was a scattered amount of laughter at her comment.

'As usual there are a few start of term notices including the usual complaints from Mr Filch,' Professor McGonagall nodded her head to the back of the Hall where Argus Filch, the Hogwarts caretaker, stood with his cat Mrs Norris in his arms, 'about the use of magic in corridors is not allowed and that the Forbidden Forest in the grounds is strictly off limits to all students.'

Harry, Hermione and I shared a look like we did every time that warning was given. We'd somehow managed to end up going into the Forbidden Forest almost every year since we started, even last year when we weren't even at school! Would this year be any different, we didn't know.

'I'd also like to thank Professor Slughorn for continuing his role as Potions Master and Housemaster of Slytherin,' continued Professor McGonagall. Sure enough, looking along the staff table, I saw the large round belly wrapped in velvet and walrus moustache of Professor Slughorn looking as jovial as ever. Continuing down the line I saw another familiar face. I smiled. 'New appointments to staff include Professor Roberta Grahams, who has taken on Muggle Studies to replace Professor Burbage, and welcome back Professor Lupin who has agreed to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts for the next year until we find a more permanent member of staff.'

All the students who had been previously taught by Remus – sorry, Professor Lupin – started clapping and cheering. Seamus and Dean were particularly enthusiastic about his return. Lupin had been a very popular teacher up to when Snape let slip about his werewolf condition. Of course, now, that was not a worry but it was understandable why he was only staying for a year. Still, it meant he was my NEWT level Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. We were bound to pass with his teaching.

With a final note reminding the Head Boy and Girl and House Captains about their meeting, Professor McGonagall sat down and we were able to tuck into the start of school feast. Over the last year I'd forgotten how good the Hogwarts feasts were. There was so much food. The house-elves had excelled themselves. The Hall buzzed with noise as the students talked while they ate. It was like it always had been. It was good to be back. The main courses were soon replaced with an array of deserts and I was glad to see they still had chocolate sponge on the menu. It was as tasty as ever.

The Great Hall began to empty as the students finished their food. Several people that I knew from the Gryffindor table and some from the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables came and congratulated Harry and I on becoming the Head Boy and Girl as they passed us. I guess my desire for anonymity wasn't really going to happen. I smiled and thanked the people who congratulated me, glad when they moved on so I could finish my meal. Hermione left before us to help the fifth year prefects get the new first years up to the Gryffindor Tower. When I was done, I waited for Harry.

'We'd better get to the Headmaster's office,' I said as he finished his last spoonful. 'Got to find out what sort of duties we have.'

'Hmm,' Harry murmured in agreement. 'McGonagall would kill us if we were late.'

I smirked and nodded. Once Harry had finished, the two of us got up and joined the throng of students leaving the Hall and separating in their different directions towards their common rooms. As we walked up the marble staircase, out of the corner of my eye I saw Malfoy standing by the corridor leading down to the dungeons, staring in my direction. Weird. I watched him for a moment before moving on. We walked through the corridors to the changing staircases and proceeded to climb them. When we reached the fourth floor I made to turn into the secret passageway to the seventh floor; I always took it to avoid the crowd that filled the stairs until the Ravenclaws left on the fifth floor. Harry didn't. I quickly backtracked and followed after him, wondering why he didn't take the corridor.

The crowd thinned when we reached the seventh floor as the Gryffindor students headed towards the portrait of the Fat Lady. Harry and I headed in the other direction towards the stone gargoyle that hid the staircase leading to the Headmaster's Tower. Looking around I saw the corridor had been fixed completely after the fight, even the gargoyle standing happily in its proper place. Already outside were three of the four House Captains: Ginny, Nicholas Faraday for Hufflepuff and Rachel Montgomery for Ravenclaw. Not surprisingly the Slytherin one wasn't there yet. He eventually turned up, a boy named Jonathan Harper, with Professor McGonagall appearing a few minutes later. She said the password to the Tower and the spiral staircase appeared.

The Headmaster's office hadn't changed much since I was last in here. Around the walls the various portraits of the previous Headmasters and mistress sat quietly, some asleep, some watching to see who was entering the office. On the wall behind the desk I saw Professor Dumbledore's portrait; his eyes still retained their twinkle as he looked down on us over his half-moon spectacles, smiling. Around the room were all the various spinning and whirring objects on their tables that had previously belonged to Dumbledore but McGonagall had added her touch; a tartan tin sat on the desk I knew to hold her ginger newts and there was an elegant grey owl sitting on the perch that had once belonged to Fawkes.

Professor McGonagall took a seat behind the desk. Her sharp eyes behind their square glasses looked each of us gathered, almost as if she was observing a carefully chosen team of elite wizards and witches, before motioning us to sit.

'Now, as you all know, you have been chosen as the Captains of the school, representing each of your individual Houses,' said Professor McGonagall. 'As House Captains, and as Head Boy and Girl,' Professor McGonagall looked at Harry and me, 'you are the ones whom the younger students will look up to and you are to set them an example of what Hogwarts expects of its pupils having been here for six years already.'

Professor McGonagall dealt with the House Captains first. The four of them had been chosen by their House Staff. Their main duties were to aid their House staff, for example keeping trouble in the common room down and stopping trouble on Hogsmeade trips. They had the same prefect duties of patrolling the corridors at night and the power to dock points. Their final responsibility was to aid the Head Boy and Girl in posting duty lists up in their common rooms, things like that.

As I listened I was getting more nervous every second. If that was what the House Captains had to do, what was it Harry and I had to do?

With a curt nod, Professor McGonagall dismissed the four students. They left the office. Ginny gave Harry a wink as she passed, also smiling at me. I watched as she left, a weird feeling in my stomach. With them gone, Professor McGonagall turned to us.

'Firstly, I'd like to congratulate you both on receiving the Head badges,' she said briskly. Same old McGonagall. 'I'm sure if Professor Dumbledore was still here, he would have agreed with my decision on appointing you as the Head Boy and Girl of Hogwarts.'

'I am more than in agreement, Minerva,' said Professor Dumbledore's portrait above her. Harry and I looked up at it. Professor Dumbledore was still watching us, a content smile on his face. 'Harry and Miss Black will make excellent Captains.'

'Thanks, Professor,' said Harry, grinning. 'But I think I speak for both me and Jenna when I say neither of us expected the badges.'

'True, both you and Miss Black were not exactly model students, Potter,' said Professor McGonagall. 'Between the pair of you, I'm sure you broke every school rule ever instigated.'

Harry and I shared a look; I tried hard not to smirk at that statement which I'm sure Harry was also doing.

'But I believe you will deal well with the responsibility.'

'Not all would be in agreement with you, Minerva,' sneered a low voice.

I looked round to see who else was in the room. But it wasn't a person, it was a portrait. Above the cabinet that once held Professor Dumbledore's Pensieve to the left of me was another portrait; it had the Slytherin colours in a banner for the background, and sat in a chair in front was Severus Snape. His black eyes were fixed upon Harry and me, looking down his large hooked nose at us; his pale sallow skin stood out against the portrait's emerald green background, his thin lips pressed together in his customary scornful look.

'Potter and Black were no more than a pair of troublemakers like their fathers before them,' sneered Snape. 'They disregarded every rule this school ever put into place, flouting them and never receiving the punishments they deserved. Expecting them to now set an example for the other students seems to me out of the question.'

Even when he was dead, Snape didn't change.

'However,' he continued slowly, emphasising the word. I looked at him, curious to what he would say next. 'Much to my surprise, the pair of them do retain some sort of skill in the magical arts and seemed to be respected by the younger students. There might be a slight chance they won't completely mess it up like many of the potions they made under my tuition.'

I think that has to be the closest thing Snape has ever come to a compliment, twisted and backwards as it was. If he wasn't already dead, I would have said that must have killed him to say it.

'Thank you, Severus,' said Professor McGonagall curtly. Snape gave her a small nod then sat back in his chair to observe the rest of the meeting. She then turned back to us. 'Now, your duties.'

Professor McGonagall flicked her wand. A piece of parchment appeared in front of her on the desk.

'Your main duty around the school is arranging the timetables of patrolling the corridors for the prefects. They are expected to be up at the beginning of each week so you have the weekend to arrange them between you. Some past Head students preferred to keep the Slytherins and Hufflepuffs patrolling the lower floors and dungeons and Gryffindor and Ravenclaws the upper ones to make the job easier and avoid any conflicts between certain Houses. My advice would be along these lines, however, it is also wise to alternate who does which floor. You also have to patrol the corridors, making sure no students are out of bed after eleven o'clock for an hour. As Head students, you are trusted to be out of the Tower until midnight. Do not disappoint us.

'Other duties include assisting the various members of staff when they require help, such as posting any notices or passing them on to the House Captains to post in the common rooms of each House and aiding them on Hogsmeade visits. Also, you will be expected to arrange with the house-elves in the kitchen the various important feasts, decorating the castle for Christmas, Hogsmeade visits and, as it is your final year,' Professor McGonagall put a gentle stress on the word, 'at the end of term there is normally a formal dance for the seventh year students, staff and parents which you must help organise.

Professor McGonagall stopped and looked between Harry and me.

'As Headmistress of Hogwarts, I look to the both of you to set an example to the other students,' she told us. 'Any rule breaking on your parts will reflect badly on myself and my decision to appoint you. Therefore, I expect you not to abuse your positions. You must not take points from students nor give out detentions for biased and petty reasons and any rivalries you may have must be put aside. Do I make myself clear?'

'Yes, Professor,' Harry and I said together. It seemed straight forward enough I guess. It was only the organisation of things like the end-of-year dance that I was worried about but that was ages away.

'Now, do either of you have any questions?' asked Professor McGonagall.

'Just one, Professor,' said Harry. He glanced at me then back at McGonagall. 'Why us?'

Professor McGonagall looked at Harry curiously.

'I don't understand the question, Potter.'

'I'm asking why you picked us,' said Harry. 'Why me and Jenna? As you said, we weren't exactly model students or anything and there are plenty of other people who certainly beat me in exams. I was just wondering why in particular you picked us.'

Professor McGonagall watched Harry for a moment or two as she thought about his question.

'That is a very good question, Potter, to which I'm sure you can think of an answer for yourself. However, as you asked, the reason I chose you and Miss Black was not because of grades or magical skill and prowess. It was because of your loyalty.'

'Our loyalty, Professor?' I said, confused.

'Yes, your loyalty, Miss Black,' repeated McGonagall. 'The pair of you, along with many other students including Mr Weasley, Miss Granger and Mr Longbottom, showed great loyalty towards the school during the war, displaying the attributes that are in any true Gryffindor or whichever House they are in. You, Miss Black, helped get the younger students to safety not to mention what you and Longbottom did when you first came back to Hogwarts, while you, Potter, fought admirably in the final confrontation. As I'm sure Professor Dumbledore would agree, you and your friends showed bravery wizards and witches twice your age didn't in the face of death. I have no doubt in my choice and the other Heads of Houses share my view. The two of you deserve the badges.'

Harry and I looked at each other.

'Does that clear it up for you, Potter?' asked Professor McGonagall. Harry nodded. 'Well, I believe that's all we have to discuss. My final note is about your new living area.'

Professor McGonagall adjusted her spectacles, pushing them a bit further up her nose. She then looked pointedly between the two of us.

'It has been tradition for many years for the Head Boy and Girl to share a Tower instead of living in their Houses though that option is open for them whenever they choose. So far, we have not had a reason to stop this. Don't let this year be the first. The entrance of the Heads Tower is located on the sixth floor behind a portrait of a young girl in a yellow dress. The password is Snidget.'

Having been told what to do and where our Tower was, Professor McGonagall dismissed us. Harry and I left her office and walked back to the Gryffindor Tower. The Fat Lady was still in her portrait meaning we could get inside. She too congratulated us and, giving her the password, let us into the common room.

-o-

'I mean it's so obvious,' said Ginny.

She and Hermione were sitting together in their favourite chairs in the corner of the common room. They had their heads together and were talking in low whispers over the table between them so as not to be overheard, not that that was something to be worried about. There was so much noise coming from the other students talking about their holidays that it was hard to hear yourself think.

'Jenna and Harry spent virtually every minute they could together during the holidays when they came over,' argued Ginny. 'And when they weren't with each other, they were glancing at each other and sharing smiles across the room. If they think they're hiding the fact they're together then they can think again. They've never acted like that with each other before.'

'Ginny, I can see the logic in your argument but there are still flaws in it,' said Hermione. 'You've got to remember Harry and Jenna have known each other for years, before they even came to Hogwarts. Maybe now that all the stress of Voldemort has gone it means they can go back to how they used to be when they were kids. If they were as obsessed with each other as you believe they are then by now we would have caught them at least once.'

Ginny shook her head.

'No, not Jenna. She's very observant although she didn't even see Harry had feelings for her in the first place. She's probably already guessed we're trying to expose them by now.'

'Then how are we going to?' asked Hermione.

'Simple, Hermione,' said Ginny, smiling. 'Make her jealous. A little flirtation on my part and Jenna's bound to get protective of Harry. It shouldn't take much. Like you said, they've known each other for years so it'll be easy to make her protective of him.'

'Well here they come,' said Hermione, looking up. Harry and Jenna had just entered the common room. 'Let's hope you're right.'

-o-

The common room was full of students catching up with their friends from after the holidays. In the corner were Hermione and Ginny sitting in our favourite chairs. They waved us over.

'So, how was it?' Hermione asked. Harry and I sat down. 'What did McGonagall say?'

'Basically we have the same duties as you guys do,' I told her. 'But we also have to help organise things like the Hogsmeade trips. Apparently we have to arrange a dance for all the seventh years at the end of the year. That'll be something.'

'Oh yeah,' said Ginny. 'The Harvest Dance is supposed to be the highlight of the seventh year. Dancing and music and all kinds of things. Bill said the dance gets the same sort of reaction and hype the Yule Ball got when the Triwizard Tournament was here. Every seventh year looks forward to it and every other student hopes to get invited to it, even the first years though only fourth to sixth year can be invited.'

Ah, the Yule Ball, now that was an experience and a half. It was the first time I'd ever had to dance with a guy, not to mention have a date with one. And that Durmstrang student I went with was one of the most arrogant guys I'd ever met. But then I danced with Noah and we left together. I held in a sigh, remembering. Now it was the turn of the Harvest Dance and Harry and I had to arrange it. Great, not exactly one of my strong points.

'It's always formal,' continued Ginny. 'Everyone has to wear dress robes meaning there's no escaping, Harry. I know how much you hate your dress robes.'

'Those green ones I had, yeah,' shrugged Harry. 'Those black ones from Bill and Fleur's wedding weren't too bad. Feel like an idiot wearing them though.'

'I thought you looked rather dashing in them, even though you were pretending to be a Weasley,' said Ginny. I looked at her. 'Then again, you could pull off almost any look.'

Ginny flashed Harry a smile. Harry grinned. I stared between the two of them. What the –?

'So do you have any other duties, Jenna?' Hermione asked me, drawing my attention away from the blatant flirting going on between Harry and Ginny.

'Not really,' I replied. Harry and Ginny were still talking to each other about the Harvest Dance. I forced my eyes away from them to Hermione. 'Other than organising things, it's the same for us. Patrolling the corridors, docking points and giving detentions, that sort of thing.'

'Well, so long as you enforce the rules and don't break them then it should be quite easy for you,' said Hermione. 'Only people like Malfoy would use their position to abuse the system. Remember what he did when he was part of that Inquisitorial Squad? Docking points because I was Muggle-born indeed.'

As much as I wanted to speak out in Malfoy's defence that he had changed since then (although, I was still wary of believing it myself as I'd had little evidence of it) I decided against it.

'Yeah,' I said, 'and docking them because he and I were related. I would never abuse my position like that. Especially seeing as I never even thought I could make Head Girl, I don't particularly want to blow it.'

'Jenna, I'm sure you'll make a great Head Girl otherwise Professor McGonagall wouldn't have picked you,' said Hermione. 'You've just need a bit of confidence in yourself. I'm sure once school gets into the swing of things, you and Harry will live up to McGonagall's expectations.'

'Otherwise I think I'm going to be brewing a Confidence Concoction,' I muttered.

'Ooh, Jenna, Harry's just told me,' said Ginny next. I looked up, startled somewhat. Harry had told her what? 'You two get to have a Tower to yourselves, eh?'

'Er, yeah,' I replied. 'It's on the sixth floor behind the portrait of a girl in a yellow dress. Why?'

'Don't you know what they say about the Head students?' asked Ginny. I shook my head. 'It's a well known fact that the Head Boy and Girl tend to get … a little amorous with each other during the year. Spending all that time together alone, patrolling the corridors with no one else around, having a common room to yourselves. Sparks are bound to fly and I don't mean from wands. There are loads of examples. Percy and that girl Penelope he dated in his seventh year were both Head Boy and Girl and Bill went out with the Head Girl in his year for a month.'

'Even my Mum and Dad got together in their seventh year and they were both Head Boy and Girl,' said Harry. He glanced across at me. 'Anything's possible, Jenna.'

I held back sending Harry a sharp look at that; he'd said the exact same thing to me before I found out I was Head Girl.

'I'm telling you,' said Ginny. 'It'll be a matter of time before you and Harry are seen snogging in the corridors. Unless some other guy snaps you up first.'

I felt my cheeks grow hot and hoped to Merlin I wasn't blushing. Just then the bell of the Clock Tower rang out. It was ten o'clock. Good timing.

'I don't know about you guys, but I think I'd like an early night,' I said. 'Seeing as the rest of the year I imagine late nights doing overdue homework and revising for our NEWTs, I'd like to get at least one good night's sleep.' I got up and looked across at Harry. 'I'm going to find the Head's Tower. Are you coming?'

'Yeah,' he replied. He too got up then turned to Hermione and Ginny. 'We'll see you guys tomorrow at breakfast. Night.'

'Night, Harry.'

'Sweet dreams,' added Ginny.

I gave Ginny a careful look before walking towards the portrait hole with Harry. On the way we got stopped by a couple of people asking Harry about Quidditch, including last year's Chaser Demelza Robbins. Now in the fifth year and one of the prefects, Demelza hurried over to us to catch Harry on the way out. Demelza was shorter than I was and had short auburn hair. She was a bubbly girl and a good Quidditch player too. I was pleased to see she'd become a prefect.

'Sorry, Demelza, it's not up to me this year,' Harry explained to her. 'Ginny's the Quidditch Captain now. All I know is that there are openings for Keeper and Seeker. I don't know if she'll change the entire team or not.'

'Oh, I hope she doesn't,' said Demelza. 'I was looking forward to the Quidditch season this year. I've been practicing all summer. And it's a pity you're not the Captain anymore. You were a great Captain. It won't be the same without you.'

'I might fill in for Ginny if she asks,' shrugged Harry. 'Otherwise, I'm taking a break from Quidditch to pass my NEWTs if I want to get into the Auror program.'

Demelza wished us luck on our exams and we left the Gryffindor Tower. As we walked down to the sixth floor I didn't say anything. I kept my head lowered, thinking about what Ginny had been doing throughout that conversation. Flirting with Harry though she was with Neville. What was she playing at? We turned into the sixth floor corridor and started to look for the portrait of the girl in the yellow dress. We found it on a blank wall just past the classrooms. The girl was sitting in a field picking daisies and making a chain out of them. She looked up when we approached her.

'Oh, you must be the new Head students,' she said in a light voice. She smiled at us. 'My name's Ambrosia and I hide your new common room and dormitories. I keep out anyone who you don't want inside or who you haven't given the password to. Whenever someone or a teacher is looking for you I'll let you know about it.

'So, who've we got here?' Ambrosia then asked. She looked at each of us then turned to Harry. Her smile broadened. 'I heard that Harry Potter would be coming to live in these dormitories. I've been looking forward to it since the Fat Lady went around telling everyone that you had been made Head Boy. And you must be Jenna,' she said, turning to me. 'I've heard a lot about you too. You certainly got a lot of attention from what I've heard. Girls were jealous of you and guys wanted you. I can see why. You're very pretty.'

Ambrosia seemed a very pleasant portrait. She was definitely a bit chatty though.

'I'm sorry, I tend to ramble when I meet the new Head students. You must want to get inside. Do one of you have the password?'

'Yeah, Snidget,' said Harry.

Ambrosia smiled and swung forwards to let us into the Heads Tower. It was nothing like how I'd imagined it. The common room was a circular room with a staircase at the back of it leading up to what I assumed were mine and Harry's dormitories. It wasn't as big as the Gryffindor common room but it appeared to have the same comfortable furniture; there was a sofa in front of a fireplace with five or so chairs dotted around the room with a couple of tables; on the walls hung several portraits of which the inhabitants were asleep; there was a window on the far side opposite the entrance; finally there were four banners hanging around the room, one representing each of the four Hogwarts Houses. I assumed this was because any of the students from the Houses could become the Head students.

I went to have a look out of the window when Harry grabbed my hand. I was pulled back round and Harry pressed his lips on to mine. It caught me by surprise at first but I didn't break the kiss. It lasted a couple of seconds before we broke apart.

'I've been dying to do that all day,' Harry murmured. He smiled down at me, his face close to mine. I smiled back. He gave me a second quick kiss then asked, 'Do we really have to keep this a secret, Jen? Hermione and Ginny practically know we're together.'

'Harry, we've talked about this,' I said. I moved closer, wrapping my arms round his waist. 'I'm not ready for the others to know. I don't want them getting the wrong idea about us.'

'What idea d'you think we're giving them?' Harry asked. 'We're together, what more is there to be said about it?'

'Believe me, because it's us, they will come up with anything.' I saw the disappointment in Harry's eyes. 'Harry, I know it's hard for you but please do this for me? The rest of the school probably still think you're with Ginny so if they saw us together like that they might get the wrong idea.'

Thinking I'd stolen him away or something. Yes, it was pure accident that Harry and I found out about our feelings and got together but we genuinely did have feelings for each other. I may not have had many relationships (OK, one relationship) but I've never felt what I've felt for Harry for any other guy. I just had a feeling the moment someone finds out about us, they'd think I'd stolen him from Ginny and I was the bad guy. That was the last thing I wanted because it wasn't true.

'It'll only be a couple of weeks max. Besides …' I tilted my head back and gently kissed Harry's neck; Harry had now somehow reached the grand height of six foot one, five inches taller than me. As I did so I felt Harry sigh contently. 'Having a secret relationship … could be fun, sneaking around trying not to get caught.'

'Hmm, that does sound fun,' mused Harry. His hands slid round my waist bringing me closer while I continued the light butterfly kisses on his neck.

'Plus we have this place to ourselves,' I added. 'A place for us to be together without any disturbances.'

I stopped the kisses and looked up at Harry. I smiled gently at him.

'Are you all right with that?' I asked.

Harry looked at me for a moment or two, then said, 'If it's only for a couple of weeks then all right. But not for too long, yeah?' Harry's grip around me tightened, our bodies pressing into each other. 'You are my girlfriend. I don't want other guys thinking they can try it on with you or anything like that.'

I didn't reply straight away to that statement. I understood Harry had the right to feel protective over me but I didn't want him getting overly protective of me the moment a guy so much as looks at me. I certainly didn't want him starting any fights.

'Yeah,' I said eventually. 'Just promise me you'll keep a cool head if a guy starts flirting with me and remember it means absolutely nothing to me. I have you and that's all I want. It's not like I can flirt anyway and there are loads of girls who are more attractive than me.'

'Trust me, Jenna, you flirt,' said Harry, chuckling gently. 'That small smile you always have when you're with me, it would attract any guy. Makes you look innocent when I know you're blatantly not.' I looked at him huffily though I couldn't help the grin. 'And you shouldn't put yourself down all the time. I know I think you're beautiful.'

I smiled, lowering my eyes. Harry placed his hand on my cheek, his thumb gently stroking.

'But I promise,' finished Harry. I looked up at him. 'I won't start anything.'

My smile grew and leant up to give Harry a kiss on his cheek. We then bade goodnight to each other, sharing another quick kiss on the lips, and separated to our dormitories. Mine looked exactly the same as my dormitory did back in the Gryffindor Tower; there was a four-poster bed with the red hangings and sheets, a window, and a door that led to what I assumed was the bathroom. My trunk was sitting at the end of my bed. I opened it and changed into my pyjamas then got into bed. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit those comfy pillows.

AN: so Malfoy's up to something (probably), Ginny and Hermione want to expose them and Harry's already showing some of those Potter traits James had mentioned. intriguing. well, thanks those who reviewed the last chapter, hope you enjoyed this one and leave a review. BlAcKdAuGhTeR