His Black Rose

by StrangeLittleWeirdo

SEQUEL: The battle is over and Jenna has everything she wanted. A family, friends, and she's in love with her best friend, Harry Potter. Life is back to normal. But, honestly, how normal can life really be for someone like her? please rnr

10. Without You

Chapter 10

Without You

That night had to be the best night's sleep I'd ever had. I woke up as the sun peeked in between the hangings of Harry's bed. I opened my eyes and looked across at Harry. He'd taken his glasses off sometime during the night and his hair was even messier than usual. He was still fast asleep, his arm wrapped round my waist. I smiled. He looked so peaceful when he was asleep. I gently stroked his cheek then carefully slid out from his arms so as not to wake him. I padded lightly across his room and picked up Harry's shirt, pulling it on before bending down for my skirt. From its pocket I took out my wand. I pointed it at my stomach and said the second of the two spells Mum had given me. I felt a cool wash run over my abdomen, indicating it had worked.

Something moved behind me. I turned round to see a pair of green eyes staring at me. I smiled.

'Morning,' I said softly. I walked back over to his bed and sat down on it. I stroked Harry's cheek as he smiled up at me.

'Come back to bed,' said Harry.

Harry sat up just enough to put his arm round me. He put the tiniest pressure on my lower back so I would lie down then pulled the blanket back over me. I just watched him then ran my fingers over his cheek, feeling his stubble beneath them. It felt quite nice, sort of rough and roguish. It reminded me of how Harry and Ron both had stubble while we were on the run; they wouldn't shave for days on end sometime, irritating Hermione.

'Do we have to get up?' I said. 'Can't we just stay here all day?'

'Don't see why not,' whispered Harry. He brought me closer. 'Go back to sleep.'

I turned over so I lay with my back to his front. Harry gently kissed my neck while his fingers started to play with the piercing in my belly, making me giggle; Harry had always liked my piercing since he first saw it. I nestled back into the warmth of Harry's grip, content to stay there for the rest of the day. I felt my eyes begin to droop again. I didn't know what time it was, only that Harry's alarm hadn't gone off yet, not that I didn't wholly mind. I could feel Harry's chest effortlessly rise and fall against my back telling me Harry was almost asleep again as well. I was just on the verge of it when suddenly –

Beeeeeep …

My eyes tensed. I shifted slightly trying to ignore it.

'It's just the alarm,' whispered Harry. He kissed my neck again. 'Just ignore it.'

'What time is it?'

Harry sat up behind me, 'Seven thirty –'

'What?' I gasped, sitting up. 'I've got Quidditch practice! Ginny's going to kill me!'

I jumped out of bed, taking the sheet with me. I scrambled round the room for all of yesterday's clothes.

'Jen, it's only one practice,' said Harry. 'She's not going to kill you for being late to one practice.'

'The match is next week, Harry,' I said. I took off Harry's shirt and pulled on my own and my skirt, not bothering to do them up as I was going to change them when I got to my dormitory. 'Don't you remember what Oliver was like if you were late to practice? He'd flip his cauldron. And it's not like I'm playing Seeker when all you do is fly around looking for the Snitch before chasing after it. I've got moves to learn and everything! While you may have been a natural, I'm not so I need to practice.'

'Jenna, calm down.' Harry had got up from the bed, the sheet I'd now dumped wrapped round his waist. He came up behind me and put his arms round me. 'It's just one practice.'

I pushed him away when he started to kiss me.

'Harry, I haven't got time for this,' I said, removing his arm from my waist. 'Look, I'll see you later. I've got to go.'

I gave Harry a quick kiss then went through the bathroom into my dormitory. I threw off my clothes again and practically raced round my room for some clean ones. Then, not caring about personal safety, I grabbed my broom and opened the window. I took a quick glance outside to see it was quite a drop. Ignoring that, I set my broom hovering outside then carefully slid out of the window on to it. Quidditch uniform in hand, I flew off as fast as I could towards the Quidditch pitch. I landed at the Gryffindor changing rooms and pulled on my robes. I then ran outside to see the rest of the team was already gathered and waiting to start the practice. Ginny looked pointedly at me when I got there.

'Nice of you to join us this morning,' she said. Her eyes went to my hair. 'Good sleep?'

'Er – yeah, thanks,' I mumbled. My hand instantly went to my hair to try and flatten it. 'Sorry I'm late, I overslept.'

Ginny's eyebrow arched but she didn't say anything more, instead turning to the rest of the team, 'Now that we are all here, perhaps now we can start.'

I wasn't sure if it was because I'd been late or because of the match was next week but Ginny was working us a lot harder that morning than before. She had the Chasers zooming up and the down the pitch doing circuits for the majority of the practice before giving us a short team workout together at the end of the session. I was knackered by the time we trudged back up to the castle an hour later. The Great Hall was filling up when the team got there. I looked down the Gryffindor table to see Harry, Ron and Hermione sitting together, a seat free beside them. Just up from them sat Neville with Dean and Seamus. While the rest of the team separated, Ginny and I walked over to the others together.

'So I assume you had a good night last night,' she said as we walked down the aisle. I glanced at her. 'It's not like you to be late for practice.'

'Yeah, sorry about that,' I muttered. 'I guess I didn't hear my alarm go off this morning.'

'I guess you wouldn't if you don't sleep in your own bed.' I stopped, surprised. Ginny stopped too and looked back at me. 'I understand you're in a relationship, Jenna, but when a match is coming up then practice comes first. Don't let it happen again.'

I watched as Ginny walked off then took the seat beside Hermione. What had that been about?

'How was practice? Jenna?'

'Oh,' I shook myself when I realised Hermione had asked me a question, 'it was all right. Ginny's working us a lot harder, what with the match being so close and all.' I pushed back my windswept hair. 'I lost count how many times we did the same circuit.'

It felt good to eat something hot after being outside in the wind for an hour. I let the conversation drift around me as I ate, inputting when it was necessary. Hermione had decided to begin her traditional rant about exams and revision timetables early this year. I let it slide, only because I knew this year it counted and was probably a better idea that we stayed on top of our work. Even Harry and Ron didn't seem to mind it.

'We mustn't be lax on our revision this year one bit,' Hermione said busily. 'We've got to make sure we cover everything that's likely to come up in the exams otherwise we might miss something vital. If we want to get the jobs we want in the Ministry, we all need to work hard between now and May. Oh Merlin, I can't believe our NEWTs are only three months away. Have you decided where you're going to study yet, Jenna?'

I looked up when Hermione asked me this. I hadn't really thought about it since Harry had found my letter from St Heathclithe's.

'No, not yet,' I muttered, taking a sip of my juice. I'd just seen Harry stiffen when Hermione had mentioned my application. When I glanced at him, he was helping himself to more toast. 'I've still got until the end of the month to reply to the Careers Department at the Ministry. I've got time.'

'No, you haven't,' said Hermione. 'Jenna, you won't have time to think about it when we need to start revising. The term ends in three weeks! You need to send that letter off today, the sooner the better.'

'OK, OK.' I finished my drink and got up. 'I'll go to my dorm and get the letter.'

'Wait up, Jen,' said Harry. I looked back over my shoulder. He was already getting up from his seat. 'I'm going to the library later so I need to get my Transfiguration essay.'

I nodded. I grabbed my broom to take back to the Tower then headed up the aisle to the doors of the Great Hall with Harry. I could feel the various eyes on us when Harry took my hand and we walked out the Hall. I rolled my eyes. At first it was embarrassing, now it was just tiresome. As we walked up the marble staircase I waited for Harry to say something about my letter. I had a feeling he might mention it considering he jumped up as soon as I said I'd go send it to keep Hermione quiet. We hadn't really talked about it much since I got all my offers when it was going to effect both of us in the long run. I mean, if I went to study in Scotland, Harry and I wouldn't see each other as much for a start.

We got to the Tower and still Harry hadn't said anything about it. We both went upstairs to our dormitories. I dumped my Quidditch things then returned downstairs. I walked over to the table with my bag on it and dug around for my diary that had the letters in it. I unfolded the one from St Heathclithe's and looked through it again. An unconditional offer. I wasn't going to get anything better than that. But if I picked it, I'd have to move to Scotland for the next three years until I finished my course. I wouldn't want to Apparate to and from Scotland just to study. But three years was such a long time to be away from my friends, friends I'd spent the last eight years with. I took out my letter from St Mungo's; they would only accept me if I got four Outstandings which was a lot of pressure on my part. But if I went there, Harry and I would still see each other everyday, I could visit him at the Ministry and –

'Jenna?'

I looked up. Harry was at the foot of the stairs. He noticed the letters in my hand.

'Still not decided?' he asked, walking over to me. 'Didn't the hospital in Scotland give you a really good offer?'

'It's a big decision,' I replied. 'There are a lot of things that make me want to go there and the course is amazing. But at the same time, there are things that make me want to stay in London.'

'Like what?' asked Harry.

'Well … you, for one.'

Harry stared at me, then said, 'Jenna, if you want to study in Scotland then you should go for it. There's nothing here really stopping you.' I made to reply but Harry stopped me, putting his finger over my lips. 'We'll still see each other. If you think you're going to get away with being at the other end of the country and me not visiting, you can think again.'

'You're really OK with this?' I asked. 'You know it's not just for a year. I'll be there for three years.'

'The most important thing to me is that you're happy,' said Harry. He gently touched my cheek. 'And if studying in Scotland is what's going to make you happy, then I'm happy.'

I thought this through then nodded. Harry smiled. He leant down and pressed his lips on mine for a few seconds.

'Hmm, kissing you feels different this morning somehow,' he breathed.

'Good different?' Harry grinned.

'Good different.'

Harry walked with me part way to the Owlery before heading off to the library to work on his Transfiguration essay that was due on Monday. I headed down the next corridor and opened the door to the Owlery. There weren't many there as it was still early and they were probably still out hunting. Gadget wasn't there either which meant I had a bit of time to write my reply to the Careers Department. I took out some parchment and a quill from my bag and leant on the stone windowsill to write it.

Once it was finished, I read it through several times to make sure I had made the right choice. A few minutes late Gadget swooped in through the window and settled beside me to finish eating the mouse she had caught from her hunt. She ruffled her fluffy feathers in pride then hooted that she was ready for my letter. Not quite as elegant as Hedwig used to be but you could tell she was her chick. I gave the letter to Gadget and she took it in her beak. With another hoot, she spread her wings and flew back out the window. I watched as she disappeared into the pearly white sky until I couldn't see her anymore.

Work for the day didn't stop there. I still had some essays from earlier in the week I needed to finish as well as writing the new patrol timetables and the Heads meeting with Professor McGonagall after lunch. At least I'd sent my letter which meant Hermione would be off my back for a while. Knowing I didn't have time to waste today I went straight back to the Tower and got my bag before heading for the library to join Harry and in all likelihood Ron and Hermione as well.

Now in March it seemed a lot of the OWL and NEWT students were following Hermione's example and focusing on their work. When I reached the library I saw most of our year there; a small group of Hufflepuffs including Ernie and Hannah were sitting around on table near the books on Defensive Spells; some Ravenclaws could be seen working near the Reference Section; and the odd Slytherin was walking around near the Restricted Section. I found where the others were and went to join them.

'Did you send it?' was the first thing Hermione asked me. I secretly rolled my eyes while I took out my Charms textbook.

'Yes, it's all written and Gadget's delivering it to London as we speak. You should have a little more faith in me, Hermione. I know when not to leave things to the last minute.'

'Well you want to get into your top choice, don't you?' said Hermione. 'While they've given you offers, they might still want to give you an interview and by leaving it until March means that you're cutting it close.'

I shook my head and started my work.

The best part of the day was spent in the library with only a break for lunch at around one. After finishing my Charms essay I had the lovely task of searching through the books for my DADA essay as Professor Lupin had set it on something that required some extra reading. I hated searching for books at the best of times but after being in the library for a good couple of hours by then, I was getting pretty bored of staring at books. It was a welcome relief when we finally stopped for lunch but it was only a short reprieve. As soon as we'd all finished it was back up to the fourth floor again. Ron, having not been here the previous term, was having to do twice as much work as he had to keep looking at previous notes relevant to current work; Hermione had finished her essays but was looking for a book in the Creature Section for some personal research; and Harry and I finally made a start on the new patrol timetables once he'd finished his Transfiguration essay.

At three o'clock Harry and I left the others because we had to go to Professor McGonagall's office for our weekly meeting with her. We walked down to the third floor and took the shortcut via the wooden suspension bridge to the second floor. The usual wails from Moaning Myrtle's bathroom could be heard as we walked along the corridor and out to the Transfiguration Courtyard. Across the courtyard was McGonagall's classroom with a door leading to her office next to it. Harry knocked on the door.

'Come in.' Harry pushed the door open. Professor McGonagall was sitting behind her desk writing something on some parchment. She looked up when Harry and I entered, adjusting her spectacles. 'Ah, Potter, Black. I'll be with you in a moment. Do take a seat. You make the place looked cluttered standing there.'

I raised my eyebrow at that but took a seat nonetheless. McGonagall wrote one last thing on the sheaf of parchment then tapped it with her wand. It rolled up and floated over to a shelf.

'Well,' said McGonagall briskly. 'Now I believe we have a few things we need to discuss. There's the upcoming Hogsmeade trip, reviewing the patrol timetables to check everyone's doing their fair share, and the organisation of the Harvest Dance.'

'Everything's arranged for the Hogsmeade trip and the weather looks like it's finally starting to dry up so the path down to the village won't be as slippery this time,' said Harry. 'The prefects know when they have to patrol the village and Jenna and I will be there keeping an eye on things. As for the patrol timetables, here are the copies of previous timetables you wanted to check and the one for next week.' Harry handed McGonagall the folder we kept the timetables in. 'We rotate the pairs from each House every week with who's on and off. It's easier now that Ron's back as he's able to pick up the shifts that he missed and were covered by others last term.'

McGonagall looked through the timetables, her lips pursed together, and nodded.

'And the Dance?'

'We've got a definite theme and date now, Professor,' I answered, 'and we've asked Luna Lovegood to do some designs for the decorations. Once they're done, we're going to speak to Professor Flitwick about Conjuring the decorations and decorating the Hall on the last Friday in June, the 25th. Harry and I are planning to speak to the House Elves about the dinner within the next week and see what suggestions they have. The only other things we have to do are sort out advertising the Dance, sending out letters to the parents with all the information and arranging the entertainment. Professor Slughorn said he might be able to help us with that so we're going to speak to him as well.'

'Well, it seems like the two of you have got everything under control, I'm impressed,' said Professor McGonagall. 'In previous years, we were lucky to even have a theme at this point.'

'Luna and Padma Patil are very creative,' said Harry. 'Put the two together and they're unstoppable. Must be because they're Ravenclaws.'

'Intelligence and creativity is not a trait merely found in Ravenclaws, Potter,' retorted McGonagall. 'You need only look at Miss Granger and Miss Black to see that.

'Very well,' she continued. 'Unless there is anything else you wish to discuss with me, then you may go.'

McGonagall handed me back the folder with the timetables in it. I picked up my bag and placed them inside it, then headed for the door. Harry followed.

'Oh, there is one last thing Professor,' said Harry, stopping. I paused at the door to wait for him. 'Ron and I have our test dates at the Ministry for the Auror program a week on Monday and Ron's is on Wednesday. I think Neville's is the same day as Ron's as well.'

'Thank you for telling me, Potter,' replied McGonagall. 'Please inform Longbottom to come and see me to confirm when his test date is and you may miss class for the days necessary in order to go to London. I'll inform Mr Filch to allow you down to Hogsmeade during the week so you can Apparate there. I presume you've all passed your tests?' Harry nodded. 'Then al that's left to say is good luck, Potter.'

At that point, I swear I saw McGonagall smile. With everything done, Harry and I left her office.

'Finally,' I breathed. I stretched my arms up behind me as Harry and I walked back up the stairs towards the second floor corridor. 'I thought today would never end. That meeting was the last thing on my list of things to do.'

'Make that the second to last,' Harry corrected me. I gave him a strange look. 'We have a DA meeting tonight to go over the Stunning and Confundus Charms. Remember?'

I groaned. Today was never going to end.

At twenty to eight, Harry and I headed up to the Room of Requirement so we could set up for that night's DA meeting. We had discovered much to our relief before we restarted the DA last term that the Room had not been destroyed by the Fiendfyre Vincent Crabbe created during the Battle of Hogwarts which meant that we could still use it for the meetings. The only part of the Room that had been damaged was the Room of Hidden Things, the part we'd been in during the attack. When we tried to access it, the door wouldn't appear which we took to mean that it was no longer able to appear. Harry paced back and forth three times along the wall. The door appeared and we went inside. The same old Room had appeared like it did back in fifth year with the same equipment; the spell dummies to practice on, the cushions in the corners for people to land on, and the shelves of books on Defensive Spells in the corner next to the notice board.

I walked over to the notice board. On it were several photographs of various people along with a list of names next to our original list from when the DA started. In amongst the pictures were ones of Colin Creevey, Cedric Diggory and Noah. I looked at them. They all died so young. It didn't seem fair. I glanced over my shoulder at Harry. He flicked his wand at one of the spell dummies to check it, sending it zooming across the room. He'd come so close to dying too. I could still remember the moment the Death Curse hit him as if it was yesterday. If it hadn't of been for Voldemort's mistakes in the past, Harry would have died.

Mum was right when she told me it was our choices that helped shape the future. Harry had the hardest choice out of all of us, to sacrifice himself. His choice saved numerous lives. So many people could have died otherwise. So many people came close to dying. Fred would have died had it not been for me protecting him, the same for Lavender when Hermione stopped Greyback from killing her. If it weren't for those choices that we made, some people wouldn't be here today, like Noah and Cedric. A part of me still wonders what would have happened if I didn't make some of the choices I did make and where I'd be now because of them.

I looked round when I heard the door to the Room open and a series of footsteps enter the room. Oh well, no rest for the wicked I guess. Taking out my wand, I walked over to join Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville to run the meeting.

Like with most of the meetings I spent my time working with the older members of the DA with Hermione on spells from our classes because there was no point teaching them the same spells as the younger students. At least that way Hermione and I also got some practice in while helping anyone who needed it. Every so often though I got drawn away as someone went flying past me having been Stunned or someone was about to walk into one of the spell dummies while under the Confundus Charm. Some of the newer members of the DA still got rather excitable during the meetings meaning those of us in charge had to keep an eye on things so they didn't get out of control. On more than one occasion we've had to send someone to Madam Pomfrey because people were being too enthusiastic with their spells. It made me glad we didn't accept anyone younger than fifth year so they started the same age we did.

Finally the hour came to a close and Harry blew his whistle to call a halt to the commotion. I ducked as the last wand went zooming over my head. About time.

'Wands down everyone!' called Harry. 'I'm afraid that's the end of the meeting.' There were the usual complaints from the fifth years about having to end. 'Guys, I can't do anything about that. It was a late meeting tonight, we have to call it quits sometime or later.'

'But Harry!'

'Just one more go!'

'Please!'

Harry looked over at us for support.

'If Harry says it's the end, it's the end,' said Hermione, taking control. 'Look, some of you have got ten minutes to gather your things otherwise you're going to be out of bounds while others have got patrols they need to start. If you don't leave now you'll have to lose House points for not being in your common rooms at the correct time.'

That got a popular response. I smirked slightly as some of the fifth years objected to Hermione's threat. That was when Neville spoke up.

'Come on, Harry, I reckon we've got time for one more thing,' he said, walking over to him. Harry looked at him. Neville grinned then turned to the group. 'As you've all made great progress over the last couple of terms, I think we might be able to reward you with a little treat.'

The group was very excited by this. I glanced at Neville, wondering what exactly he was planning. He had taken his wand out again.

'Us seventh years,' Nevillie continued, 'have been learning to duel in our DADA lessons so I thought we could treat you all to watching a proper duel. Harry?'

Even I couldn't help but grin at that. The rest of the group were now all shouting for it to happen. Neville looked expectantly at Harry.

'I can't,' said Harry, holding up his hands. 'Nev, the meeting's over –'

'Scared are you, Potter?'

Several pairs of eyes looked round wondering who had spoken; Neville, Harry and the others all instantly glanced in my direction. I folded my arms, my wand still gripped loosely in my hand, and looked directly at Harry. I raised an eyebrow. Some of the fifth and sixth years were whispering to each other.

'Scared of a little harmless duel, are we?' I repeated. A couple of sparks issued from the tip of my wand. 'The Chosen One not up to much anymore?'

'Depends who's challenging me,' replied Harry. 'No point duelling someone I'll beat in one wave.'

A couple of students "ooh-ed". He really could be cocky sometimes. Well, he was James's son after all. Still Harry was taking the bait, just like I knew he would. A grin was even forming on his lips as he worked out what I was doing. He wasn't one to back down from a good challenge.

'So, are you challenging me?' Harry asked me.

I unfolded my arms and pointed my wand at the ground by Harry's feet and replied, 'I do believe I am.'

'Oh, you guys are in for a treat now,' said Neville loudly. I guess he was going to act as officiator. He directed people to stand back while Harry and I moved so we were standing opposite each other. We bowed to each other. I then raised my wand and stood ready, Harry doing the same. Neville stood between us and lifted his own above his head. 'Basic rules, guys. First person to either be immobilised or be disarmed is the loser. You have two minutes to disarm your opponent using any spell you like but keep it friendly, considering who you're duelling against,' he added as an afterthought. Neville looked between us. I snickered. I knew perfectly well who I was duelling. It didn't mean I was going to go easy on him. 'Is that clear?'

'Oh yes.'

'Perfectly.'

'Right, on my signal.'

A shower of red sparks erupted from Neville's wand as he stepped out from the firing line. Instantly, Harry attacked. He lunged forwards waving his wand as he cried, 'Expelliarmus!'

Quickly I used the defensive movement we'd been taught and said, 'Protego!' The shield appeared around me and blocked Harry's spell. I laughed as it did so. 'You're going to have to try harder than that, Potter,' I then said. 'Who d'you think you're duelling against?'

'I could ask you the same question,' said Harry. 'Have you not been paying attention in class? Expelliarmus might be my opening move, but it's a great distraction for what's to come.'

'Come on, you two,' said Neville from the sidelines. 'Surely you can use non-verbal spells by now?'

I smirked, glancing over at Neville. Harry and I were merely warming up. The non-verbal spells were about to come. I looked back just in time to see Harry throw another spell at me. I ducked and ran to my left. The spell flew past me and hit against the wall leaving a black mark. That had to be a Stunner. Stopping sharply I kept low and changed direction, flicking my wand at Harry.

Depulso, I thought clearly. The invisible spell burst from my wand. Harry was ready for it though and blocked it with the same defensive movement I'd used. The shield protected him from the full power of the spell but he was still pushed back by it. Having watched Harry in his duels during class, I was pretty sure he was now going to drop his shield and try to curse me. So I threw a second spell at him, this time thinking, Levicorpus.

The spell left my wand just as Harry threw another at me. My spell hit Harry's ankles the same time his hit my wand arm. A pain shot through it causing my elbow to snap straight. Damn it, Harry had used the Impediment Jinx and because it hit my wand arm, I couldn't move it until it wore off. I'd forgotten how good Harry's aim was. Across from me Harry was hanging upside down by his ankle. He bent up and pointed his wand at his ankles to use the counter spell. It released him and he fell to the ground. Once he was back on his feet, Harry pointed his wand at me again. My arm was still frozen by my side. I couldn't do anything. But Harry wasn't going to win that easily.

The spell shot from Harry's wand tip. I threw myself to the floor out of the way. It missed. Looking back at Harry, the corner of my lip lifted into a smirk. Seconds later, I vanished as I used the Thestral's invisibility. The DA let out a mixture of oohs and cheers.

'Hiding, are we, Jenna?' laughed Harry. I pushed myself up with my free arm and carefully removed my shoes so I was barefoot. They reappeared the moment they separated from me. Harry cast another jinx. I jumped out the way. Harry laughed again. 'That can't be in the rules.'

'I'm going to allow it,' said Neville. 'Makes it more interesting.'

Good, I thought. Being invisible meant I was giving myself a bit more time for Harry's spell to wear off. Harry moved forwards slowly so he was in the centre of the duelling area. I watched him carefully. He was trying to Sense me. His eyes were darting around everywhere trying to find me while his wand was held loosely in his hand by his side. Well I knew better than to curse him straight away when he knew I was standing just to his left. Crouching down, I crept carefully round Harry. He didn't move. I moved until I was positioned a couple of metres behind him. My arm finally unfroze and I was able to bend it again. I raised my wand so it was above me.

Expelliarmus!

As I thought, Harry span round as soon as he Sensed my spell. He blocked it then lunged forwards with his own. I ducked lower and over to my right but it was nowhere near me as Harry had aimed it thinking I was still standing. Before he had a chance to protect himself again I stood up and ran forwards, my wand ready. Harry looked round just in time to see my next spell.

Stupefy!

The red spark shot from my wand hitting Harry dead in the chest. He was thrown backwards and landed on the floor. He groaned, winded. There was a mixture of groans and cheers from the DA. I walked calmly over to him and turned visible. I crouched down and leant over Harry, my wand pointing at his chest. Harry lay there panting, his eyes staring up at me.

'I believe I win,' I whispered.

I grinned down at him, knowing Harry wasn't in any position to do anything more. It was then, however, I noticed he was grinning too.

'Not quite,' he said. Then, 'Everte Statum!'

I was in such close range to Harry's wand that the spell hit me before I had time to react. Harry had managed to point his wand without me noticing at my legs when I could have sworn I'd managed to disarm him with my previous attack. The Trip Jinx hit my legs right behind my knees and I fell backwards. At the same time, my wand fell out of my hand. In a matter of seconds our positions had been reversed and I lay on the floor, my wand beside me, with Harry leaning over me.

'Spell,' he said, moving closer with each word until his face was just above mine, 'round, duel.'

The DA broke into cheers that Harry had won the duel, others laughing at his final attack. I let out a breath but conceded. I had to admit, it had been a good move. With the duel over, the DA collected their things and started to leave. Harry, however, instead of getting up leaned closer to me and pressed his lips against mine. He then took my hand and pulled me to my feet.

'I've got to admit,' I said as Harry handed me back my wand, 'that was a pretty slick move. I guess I underestimated you.'

'Same here,' said Harry. 'Though I think tuning invisible was a bit sneaky.'

I put my arms round his neck and leant up to him as if I was going to kiss him, then instead said, 'Tough.' and turned away to collect my bag. Harry let out an annoyed huff. I glanced over my shoulder at him. I raised my eyebrow and waited for him to say something. When he didn't I picked up my bag to catch up with Ron and Hermione. Harry followed after me. The four of us walked together back to the Gryffindor common room, Ron muttering something to Harry about playing chess while Hermione told me she'd been asked for an interview at the Ministry with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.

'I got the letter late last night,' she said happily. 'They've asked me to see them so they can assess me and see if they can offer me a job in any of their departments.'

We reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. Ron said the password. The Fat Lady swung forward and admitted us. We went through the portrait hole and headed for our favourite seats in the corner of the common room.

'Well that's good,' I replied. 'Is there anywhere you want to work in particular? You mentioned something about working more on house-elf rights, didn't you?'

'Ideally, that is the plan,' said Hermione. 'By being in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, I'll have access to all the files and information I need on the history of house-elf enslavement but I won't be able to do anything of value until I've worked there for a few years. I was thinking maybe working in liaison with creatures before deciding anything firm.'

'That's something I've always admired about you, Herm,' I laughed. 'You're so organised and you know what you want from life. I could never be like that.'

'Why not?' asked Hermione.

'Because I like the unpredictability too much,' I said. 'Making choices, it's not my strong point. I didn't even know what I was going to do after I finished Hogwarts until just before the Battle of Hogwarts last year. I just, life is boring if there isn't an element of surprise to it.'

'Does this mean you're not the type to settle down or anything?' asked Hermione. 'To have a family?'

I glanced across at Harry. He was watching as his knight paid the price for his ill-conceived move, Ron's bishop enjoying stabbing its sword through the horse. I thought about Hermione's question. Would I? I mean, I wanted to have a family of my own at some point but I'd never really thought about it before. This time last year, I was still wondering if I'd live long enough to see the end of the war.

'Well yeah, I'd want a family eventually,' I said slowly. I watched as Harry laughed at whatever Ron had said; he sat back and ran his hand through his hair, his infamous grin on his face. 'But right now, I just don't see that future for me yet.'

'Not even with Harry?' Hermione looked at Harry too then back at me, a concerned look on her face. 'You don't see a future with him?'

'Of course I do, I wouldn't want to be with anyone else,' I said. 'Don't get me wrong, I don't want to even think about what life would be like if I didn't have him. I just don't know if he'll be the one I marry. If I'll even get married.'

Hermione was very surprised at my answer but it was the truth. I'd never thought about when I wanted to get married or settle down or whatever. At this precise moment in my life I just wanted to pass my NEWTs and get a job. But now that Hermione had brought it up, could I really see myself getting married? And to Harry? I knew I didn't want to be with anyone else and how much family meant to Harry but could I really see myself committing myself to one man, to Harry, for the rest of my life? The honest answer was no; no matter how much I loved Harry I couldn't see myself marrying him or anyone else, not for a long time.

As the end of term drew nearer the work began to pile up again as our teaching came to a close. It was kind of scary in a way. Our classes in our final term were going to be devoted to revision in the run up to our NEWTs so these were the last couple of weeks where we'd actually be learning things. After that it was up to us. The teachers have down what they can for us. How much revision we do for our NEWTs is completely our choice. And once our NEWTs were over the rest of the term was free time until the end of it when we left. That was the really scary part. Sure I spent a year away from Hogwarts last year but I still felt part of the school and came back in the end. When we leave this time, there was no coming back.

I felt a reluctance start in me at the idea of leaving Hogwarts. I didn't want my time here to end. My years at Hogwarts had been some of the greatest in my life, despite all the trouble I got myself into. Time, however, seemed to have other ideas. Whenever you wanted it to go quickly, time always seemed to slow down while when you wanted it to go slowly, it went in the blink of an eye and at the moment it seemed to be doing exactly that. One minute you were flying round the Quidditch pitch practicing circuits, the next you were sitting in the library working on your essay or doing revision. It was like someone had taken a clock and was winding the dial to make time speed up so before I knew it the next Quidditch match against Ravenclaw was upon us.

Ginny got the team down to the pitch before the game to have a warm and so we were waiting in the changing rooms by the time the rest of the school was coming down to watch. I remained near the back entrance pacing from side to side trying to go through Ginny's moves in my head.

'OK, guys,' said Ginny. She was standing by the doorway that led to the pitch. 'The rest of the school's filling the stands. We'll be starting soon.'

I stopped pacing and let out a breath. OK, it's just another match. It was then a head appeared round the curtain near where I was standing. I looked around when I heard my name.

'Harry, what are you doing here?' I whispered. I checked Ginny wasn't looking and moved over to him. 'You know no one else is allowed in the changing room when there's a match on.'

'I know,' said Harry. He snuck through the curtain and pulled me out of sight behind a curtained area that formed the showers. 'I just wanted to wish you luck. Ginny stole you away before I could at breakfast.'

'Well then do it and get out of here,' I hissed. 'Before Ginny sees you.'

I expected Harry to say "Good luck" and go. That was why I was so taken aback when he shrugged then took my face in his hands and kissed me. After being with him this long, this really shouldn't surprise me but it still did. I tensed at first when he pressed his lips on mine but soon responded, gently stroking his cheek. And for some reason, it felt … different, like Harry had commented a week ago.

'Hem hem.'

I jumped as if I'd been Stunned. I looked round thinking I was about to see Dolores Umbridge in the Gryffindor changing room only to find Ginny staring at us, arms folded and an unimpressed look on her face. I swallowed. Beside me Harry cleared his throat and moved back from me.

'I'll see you later, Jen,' he said. 'Good luck in the match, Ginny.'

Harry pulled back the curtain and left the changing room. Ginny was still staring at me. Behind her the rest of the team were lining up with their brooms. I cleared my throat, feeling uncomfortable. Ginny had a fierce stare. I waited for her to say something. She was no doubt going to give me a second warning about this. To my surprise, Ginny turned on her heel and joined the line up. I followed suit, deciding it was probably best I didn't irritate Ginny anymore than I had.

The Quidditch match was an intense one like it always was when we played Ravenclaw. Their teams' play was always based on strategy and tactics so Ginny was constantly shouting at us to be on guard. Their one flaw though was that they were repetitive. Throughout the match we were literally matching each other point for point. As soon as we scored, so did they. It wasn't until a flash of red and blue shot past me that I saw Alison and the Ravenclaw Seeker chasing the Snitch. After a near miss with a Bludger, Alison swooped low and flew back to the centre of the pitch with her hand raised indicating that she'd caught it, giving Gryffindor a clear one hundred point lead over Ravenclaw. We were back at the top of the table until the first match next term where Ravenclaw were to play Slytherin.

Quidditch and the upcoming Hogsmeade visit were the only breaks from revision I got in the run up to Easter. Every free minute I had these days was spent either in the library or in the Head's Tower doing work. And as a result, I was spending less and less time with Harry as the two of us once again struggled to keep on top of things. With March drawing to a close we were lucky if we got five minutes alone with each other that is if we weren't too tired from work or hadn't been up past midnight finishing an essay. We wouldn't even study together all the time as what helped me revising didn't necessarily help him. The fact we were spending less time together even started to get to me which made me even more glad there was a Hogsmeade trip this coming Saturday.

I couldn't understand why not spending as much time with Harry as I had previously in the year was bothering me so much. I'd gone months in the past without seeing Harry and it had never bothered me before. I couldn't understand why it was now. My conversation with Hermione from a week ago kept cropping up in the back of my mind but I couldn't see how the two were connected; that had been talking about things like marriage and the future when this was the present. How did they relate? All I knew was that a part of me just didn't like being away from him anymore so I was going to take full advantage of spending the entire day with Harry without any interruptions.

Unfortunately that didn't happen. At the end of Thursday's Transfiguration lesson, Professor McGonagall had called Harry back when we were packing up our things. Ron, Hermione and I waited outside the classroom while he spoke to her. When he came out a few minutes later he had a worried expression on his face.

'What's happened?' asked Hermione. 'What did Professor McGonagall want?'

'The Ministry,' replied Harry. He handed a roll of parchment to Ron. He opened it and the three of us had a look at it. 'Kingsley's been getting reports of Muggles still being attacked. They don't know what the source of the Dark magic is as all the Death Eaters were rounded up after the Battle of Hogwarts but he thinks it's some of Voldemort's less active supporters from the last war. He's asked me to come to the Ministry this weekend as he thinks that eventually they might target me as they know we finish school this year.'

My mood instantly fell. One, for the fact that there were Voldemort supporters still out there causing trouble but two, because it probably meant Harry couldn't go to Hogsmeade.

'Looks like some things never change, mate,' said Ron, reading the letter. 'Still, it'll be good practice for when you're an Auror, right? Helping the Ministry work out the source of this Dark magic.'

'Yeah, I guess,' said Harry. He ran his hand through his hair.

'What?' asked Ron.

'I dunno,' shrugged Harry, 'I guess I expected all this to stop when Voldemort was defeated. I should've known it would take time for it all to calm down.'

'It always does,' said Hermione. 'It took a good couple of years for wizards to relax in the aftermath of the First Wizarding War. You remember how people used to shiver at the mere mention of his name. Even now that he's gone for good, there are wizards who still call him You-Know-Who. His supporters weren't just going to fall quiet now he's dead.'

We set off back to the Tower discussing who could possibly be harming the Muggles when all the Death Eaters had been caught when the Battle ended and those who didn't go to Azkaban were under strict paroles and observation by the Ministry to ensure they truly had reformed. We couldn't work out who could be the source of the Dark magic. It certainly couldn't be from my family line; all the Blacks who supported Voldemort were either incarcerated or dead.

While Ron and Hermione went through the portrait hole, I held Harry back.

'Do they have to see you this weekend?' I asked. 'Couldn't they see you the same day as your test?'

'They want to keep the matters separate,' explained Harry. 'Kingsley doesn't have anything to do with the interview process in the Auror office now he's the Minister. It's all conducted under the inspection of the current Head, Gawain Robards. He doesn't want to ruin my prospects. And Kingsley didn't want me missing anymore school than I was supposed to for my test.'

'But what about Hogsmeade? Will you still be able to go?'

'I don't think so,' said Harry. My face fell. I'd been looking forward to spending time with Harry all week. Harry saw this. 'I'm sorry, Jen. If there was anyway I could get out of it –'

'No, don't say that,' I said, stopping him. 'You need to go. Kingsley wouldn't ask to see you if it wasn't important. And like Ron said, it'll be good practice when you're an Auror. Any early experience is beneficial.'

Harry smiled then said, 'I'll make it up to you, I promise. Next weekend, you and me are going to have the day to ourselves. No revision, no duties, just us. Promise.'

'I like the sound of that.'

On Saturday morning Harry left for Hogsmeade straight after breakfast so he could Apparate to the Ministry. I wished him luck, hoping his interview went well as I wouldn't get to see him beforehand. Hermione too had decided to leave early for her interview on Monday so she could visit her parents over the weekend and had gotten permission from Professor McGonagall to do so. After they'd gone instead of going to Hogsmeade I left the Great Hall and went for a walk. The entire school apart from the first and second years was gathered in the Clock Tower as Filch checked them out before sending them down the hill. The weather had finally dried up so the path was no longer a mudslide. I watched them go from the wooden bridge then looked out into the grounds. I sighed. My free time didn't feel as great as I thought it would.

'Hey.'

I looked round to see Ron standing beside me. I hesitated, wondering what he was going to say. Last time Ron spoke to me alone he made it perfectly clear that he didn't approve of me and Harry dating.

'Hey,' I replied nervously. 'Hermione gone for her interview?'

'Yeah, she left just now.' Ron turned and leant on the wooden frame. He stared out over the grounds. 'She's going to her parent's house first so she can get some help preparing for her interview.' He stopped, then said, 'How come you're not in Hogsmeade?'

'I, er … didn't feel like going,' I said quietly. 'Not without Harry.'

Ron visibly stiffened. Great, he still wasn't happy about what happened. A part of me felt like I should say something about it as it wasn't fair on either me or Harry but another part of me didn't really know what to say.

'Ron, can I say something about me and Harry without you getting mad?' I said before I could stop myself, facing him. I instantly regretted doing so. Ron looked over his shoulder at me, then sighed and stood straight.

'What?'

'I never intended to fall for Harry,' I said plainly. 'I won't deny that I had feelings for him throughout sixth year – hell, I screwed up my own relationship because of those feelings – but I'm only human. I can't help it if I fall for someone I shouldn't.'

'What's your point?' Ron asked, raising his eyebrow.

'Ron,' I sighed, shaking my head. 'I'm going to tell you something I haven't told anyone, not even Harry. I never wanted to get together with him.' Ron stared at me. 'I never wanted to get together with him because at least that way, I wasn't scared. I love Harry so much but I can't help worrying that I'm going to mess this up or that Harry will just lose interest in me and I'm so scared of losing him now because it would be too damn hard to get over him. He means so much to me and,' I paused, looking away, 'and every time I look at him, it just reminds me of what I did. Everyday I see Ginny and think, "It should've been her" Harry fell for. She made Harry so happy when they were together and I ruined that but I can't change what happened so please don't hate me for something I never wanted. I'd rather you hated me if I hurt your best friend, not for something I didn't want.'

'Jenna, I –' Ron said awkwardly. 'I never hated you, Jenna.' I looked up at him, surprised. 'If anything, I was waiting for the moment when you and Harry would get your brooms in gear and get together. You had something between you, I don't know what, but there was a bond between you that couldn't break. Then he started dating Ginny and I supported them, I had to. I'm her brother and he's my best friend. It didn't stop how surprised I was though. But it doesn't change what happened.

'I know what it's like to be scared of losing someone you love. Before Hermione and I got together, I was worried something was going to happen to her during the war and I'd never get to tell her how I felt. It makes me thankful that I just risked it and did what I did, otherwise I would never have gotten her nor would I have the same bond with her now that you and Harry always had. But seeing Ginny in tears after Harry broke up with her, she was so upset. I hated knowing how alone she must've felt when we were on the run.'

'Ginny was never alone. She had Neville.'

'Then all of a sudden you and Harry were together. It was like you just swooped in when we were on the run and stole him away from her. It was too easy.'

'It's always easy to blame people, Ron,' I said quietly. 'Believe me, I know it is. But forgiving them is harder. Harry thought about Ginny all the time while we were on the run. He'd sit for ages staring at the Marauder's Map at her dot. And believe me, she'll have a claim over Harry I'll never have. Ginny was Harry's first proper girlfriend and people never forget their first love. She'll always have a place in Harry's heart I'll never win and I wouldn't want to change that.'

Ron thought through what I said then smiled. I smiled back.

'You know I'm happy for you, Jen,' he then said. 'When you and Harry were fighting in sixth year, it was like something out of another reality. It didn't seem right that you two weren't friends.'

'Tell me about it,' I muttered. 'A part of me still can't believe I did that.' Ron smirked.

'You know just because Harry and Hermione aren't here doesn't mean we can't go to Hogsmeade together,' he said. 'Beats hanging around the castle when all there really is to do is revision.'

'Some things never change, Ronald,' I laughed. 'But that sounds like a pretty good idea to me.'

Ron and I walked the rest of the way across the bridge and headed down the hill past Hagrid's hut towards Hogsmeade. The town was already busy with students by the time we got there. Neville and Ginny found us shortly after we arrived to ask where Harry and Hermione were so we explained that they'd gone for their interviews and about Harry having to see Kingsley; they were as puzzled as we had been about who could be causing the trouble. After they went off Ron and I had a look round Zonko's and Honeydukes before heading to the Three Broomsticks for a couple of Butterbeers to warm up. Ron grabbed us a table while I went to get us some drinks. I gave Madam Rosmerta our order then waited for her to get them.

'When the Seer said my fortune was going to improve this week, I didn't realise she meant like this.'

I looked round, unsure if the voice had been speaking to me. A man beside me at the bar was facing me. His grey eyes appraised me.

'Jenna Black,' said the man. 'A pleasure it is to finally meet you. Your reputation precedes you, of course.'

He held out his hand for mine. I took it, appraising him in return. His sleek black hair was brushed back neatly from his face, a stark contrast to his quite pale skin. He smiled at me as we shook hands, a set of perfect white teeth visible. He wasn't much taller than me and had quite a lean figure. His grip was certainly firm. I didn't recognise him so he couldn't be a Hogwarts student, plus he looked too old to be one.

'I s'pose I should be used to people recognising me by now,' I replied. 'I miss the days when I could go out and not be recognised by some wizard or another.'

The man laughed and said, 'You could always hide in the Muggle world.' I sent him a look. The man laughed again. 'So am I correct to assume the redhead you were with is one of the Weasleys?' he continued, glancing over his shoulder to where Ron was sitting waiting for me. I nodded. 'Then the famous Potter must be close by.'

'Not today,' I replied, 'so I'm afraid no autograph this time.'

'What makes you think it's an autograph I'm after?' he asked.

'Well if it isn't raving fans that are following us, it's usually the media,' I said.

'Then you can relax,' said the man confidently. 'I am neither a raving fan nor a journalist.' He took a swig from his bottle of Butterbeer. 'I am merely another customer at the humble Three Broomsticks pub.'

'As am I,' I said. Madam Rosmerta had just returned with our drinks. I got out my purse to pay the four Sickles.

'Let me get this.' He handed Rosmerta four silver coins then handed me the drinks. 'Your Butterbeer, Miss Black. And it was a pleasure meeting you.'

I observed him for a moment then took the drinks. With a thank you I went over to the table Ron was sat at.

'Who was that?' asked Ron. I handed him his drink. He took a long sip of it.

'No idea,' I shrugged. Glancing back, I saw he'd already gone. 'Just another person whose read our names in the Prophet, I guess.' I picked up my glass. The warm taste of the Butterbeer was welcome. While the rain had dried up, it was still quite cold outside. Plus the taste of butterscotch settled my need for something sweet instead of indulging myself in some Honeydukes chocolate. I took a deep drink, savouring every bit.

'So how's the revision going?' I then asked Ron. 'You all caught up now?'

'Pretty much,' said Ron, wiping a bit of foam from his mouth. 'Harry's been helping me out when you girls are revising in the library. Still need to do a bit of work on Sensing but other than that, I'm not too worried about our NEWTs.'

'What about your Auror test though?' I continued. 'All ready for that?'

'Oh you bet,' he grinned. 'They won't know what hit them when they test me.'

'Well just be careful,' I warned. 'Those Auror tests are supposed to be the hardest in the entire Ministry. Just because we all managed to survive the war with our duelling skills doesn't necessarily mean we're good enough for Auror level duelling. Don't get too cocky about it.'

'You can be such a spoil spell, Jenna.' Ron upended his glass and finished the last of his Butterbeer. 'I'm done. Anywhere else you want to go?'

'Not that I can think of,' I said. I finished my Butterbeer too. 'We might as well head back to the castle. I think Percy was right when he said Hogsmeade loses its charm after a few years.'

'Never say that in Percy's hearing,' said Ron seriously. 'He'd be boasting about it for a month.'

Ron and I left the Three Broomsticks. We walked up the street towards the path leading back to Hogwarts. When we got to the bridge though I stopped. Something had made me stop. I looked around wondering what it could be. Beside me Ron gave me a strange look.

'Jenna?'

I didn't answer. I was staring at the footpath leading out of the village towards the Shrieking Shack. My eyes narrowed. Something … didn't feel right. I took a step forward. I didn't know why but I had to go there. I couldn't explain it; I just had a feeling I had to go there. I walked off leaving Ron on the bridge. I heard him shout my name but again I didn't answer. I just walked off towards the Shack. I walked quickly along the rocky footpath, my eyes scanning everywhere for anything that was out of the ordinary. My hand was poised by my wand in my trouser pocket just in case.

The broken roof of the Shack loomed overhead. I sped up and rounded the corner. The old house appeared from behind the trees, still standing after all these years on the small hill. I walked through the gap in the wire fence and proceeded up the hill. The strange feeling increased as I got closer. I jogged the last couple of feet up the hill then came to a stop by the front door. I looked around. Still nothing. So I took hold of the handle and pushed open the door.

The floor creaked when I stepped inside. The walls and furniture were still in their ravaged state from back when Remus used to hideout here during the full moons. My eyes fell on the floor in the corner near where the trapdoor that led to the secret passage was. I swallowed, remembering that was where Severus Snape had died after being bitten by Nagini, Voldemort's snake. Something stirred on the floor above making me look up. Quickly I walked over to the stairs. I took them two at a time. I had to find out what was the cause of this strange thing I was sensing. I slowed when I reached the top.

Ahead was the bedroom where I'd first encountered Dad, the only other room in the entire house. I reached out and pushed open the door. I stepped cautiously into the room. The bed was still broken from that day, the mattress half on the floor, and the curtains were in shreds from all of Remus's attacks. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust. On the floor was a trail of dry blood and paw prints from when Dad had dragged Ron by his leg in here. The far end of the room was shrouded in darkness, the dull sun from outside shining dimly on the floor by my feet. I walked further into the room, looking around. The source of the disturbance was in here, I was sure of it, but still I couldn't locate it.

'I knew you wouldn't be able to keep away,' said a voice. I span round. I stared into the darkness, looking for who'd spoken. 'The Prophet didn't lie when they said you had exceptional talent. You've only been studying Sensing for a term – yes? – and yet you were able to pick up my subtle magical interference.'

I didn't respond. Something in me had just frozen. The figure stepped forward a bit but not enough for me to see him properly.

'If I had known it would be this easy to get you away from Potter, I would have done this months ago,' said the voice coolly. 'I could have gotten my revenge as soon as I found out you were hiding out in Hogwarts again. But that would spoil my fun. Killing you wouldn't be satisfying enough. Toying with him though, now that's much more enjoyable.'

What was he talking about? Get revenge for who? These questions and many more were spinning in my mind but I couldn't ask any of them. Who was he? The figure took another step forward. My eyes widened when I saw who it was but no sound came out of my mouth. It was like he'd put a spell on me but had somehow managed to stop me Sensing his attack with the interference he'd created. He walked over to me, his eyes observing every inch of me. He had a thoughtful look on his face like a child contemplating what would happen if he stepped on a large bug. He raised a hand and ran it against my face.

'So delicate …' he sighed. 'To damage such a pretty face.' His hand travelled round under my chin so it was forced upwards, gripping my neck. 'Would be such a shame. I can understand why Potter fell for you. The beauty that's innate in us would attract anyone. Oh don't worry, it's not your looks I'm going to take away, oh no. It's something much more valuable. You see rumour has it that you're the love of Potter's life and what is more valuable to a person than the one they love. You should understand that. But the question is, what if the love of his life suddenly … didn't love him? Now don't worry, the spell isn't permanent but it's up to you how long it lasts.

'I suggest you cherish your last moments with your memories of Potter. It'll just be like you never realised, a choice that never got made. I hope for my sake you break my little curse because, depending on how quickly you break it will tell me how much it'll hurt when I kill you in front of him, just like you killed her. Be seeing you, Cousin.'

My knees gave way as everything else went black.

I turned my face, feeling something soft under my skin. What? I opened my eyes and sat up on my arms. I was lying in a bed in the Hospital Wing. How did I get here? I pushed myself up completely and looked round. There was no one else in the room and the door to Madam Pomfrey's office was shut meaning she was probably working inside. I looked down to see I was in a pair of my pyjamas. I pushed back my hair. What had happened? The last thing I remembered was being in Hogsmeade with Ron. How did I get in the Hospital Wing?

'Ah, Miss Black, you've woken up.'

I looked round when I heard Madam Pomfrey's voice. She came striding out of her office with her wand in hand, Ron following after. He had a guilty look on his face. He stood at the foot of my bed as Madam Pomfrey poked and prodded me muttering various spells under her breath.

'Well, there's nothing physically wrong with you,' she tutted, looking at Ron accusatively like he'd brought me in for no reason. 'However, I'm going to brew you a Restorative Draft nonetheless. I'm afraid you'll have to stay in the Hospital Wing over the weekend, Miss Black, until the draft is brewed.'

'But Madam Pomfrey,' I objected, 'I feel fine. My head's a little cloudy but –'

'My point exactly,' said Madam Pomfrey. I shouldn't have said that. She strode off back into her office. When she was gone, I turned to Ron.

'Want to tell me why I'm here?' I asked him. He came and sat down on the end of my bed. 'How did I get in the Hospital Wing?'

'You answer my question first,' said Ron. 'Why did you wander off like that? You just walked off towards the Shrieking Shack where I found you collapsed, hence why you're in here.'

'I collapsed?' I repeated. Ron nodded. I thought back to earlier this afternoon. 'I'd Sensed something,' I then said. 'There was this weird magical interference coming from nearby Hogsmeade. I'd followed it to the Shrieking Shack.'

'Then what?' asked Ron. 'When you went inside, I couldn't follow you. Someone or something had put a barrier around the house. Was there anyone in there with you?'

I thought about it.

'No,' I said. 'The interference just seemed to short out. It vanished.'

Ron stared at me unconvinced but I had no explanation for why he couldn't get in or why I collapsed. I didn't understand it either. It wasn't like me to just collapse like that.

'Well at least you're not injured,' he then said. 'I better Owl Harry though and let him know you're in the Hospital Wing.'

'Why does Harry need to know?' I asked. 'Come on, he's got his interview on Monday and he's seeing Kingsley today and tomorrow. The last thing he needs is knowing I'm in the Hospital Wing for something trivial like this.'

'So you don't think I should Owl him?'

'No, it's not like I'm unconscious or anything. He needs to concentrate on his test and I'll be out of here by the time he gets back. There's no point in Owling him.'

Ron looked at me strangely for a moment, then said, 'Well, if you're sure.'

I'd forgotten just how dull being kept in the Hospital Wing was, having not visited it in over a year and been kept in against my will by Madam Pomfrey. Sunday went by so slowly that by the end of the day I was desperate to be released. It had taken all day for Madam Pomfrey to brew the restorative draft she wanted to give me. I tried to argue again that I didn't need it but she wouldn't listen. I took it reluctantly, only to find that the draft had the side effect of causing severe drowsiness. I fell asleep about ten minutes after taking it. I still wasn't allowed to leave though on Monday morning. There were a few more spells Madam Pomfrey wanted to check me over with and she had managed to get me out of class that morning so she could do them. I reluctantly let her then had to wait for the results.

It wasn't until lunchtime that it looked like Madam Pomfrey was finally going to let up. However, before she came back out of her office to tell me what the results were, I got a visitor.

'Jenna!'

I looked round to see Harry stride the length of the Hospital Wing towards the bed I was sitting on. The mattress dipped when Harry sat down on it beside me. He wrapped his arms round me in a tight hug. I was taken aback by how tight his grip was. Harry seemed to be holding on to me as if his life depended on it. I hugged him back, glad to see him and everything, but I kind of just sat there until he released me.

'I was so worried when Ron told me you were in the Hospital Wing,' Harry said.

'What?' I said. 'I told Ron not to Owl you.'

'He didn't,' said Harry, obviously annoyed by that fact. 'He only told me ten minutes ago when I got back. He said you hadn't wanted me to know.'

'Well no,' I replied. 'I didn't want you to get distracted from your test.'

'Jen,' Harry sighed. He lifted his hand and touched my face, his thumb gently stroking my cheek. I glanced at it, then back at Harry. There was a pained look on his face. 'Of course I'd want to know if you'd gotten hurt, regardless of whatever I was doing.'

'Not for some trivial matter like this,' I said. 'There's nothing wrong with me. Madam Pomfrey only kept me in to do test after test on me. As soon as I get the results, I'm out of here.'

Harry chuckled, 'Merlin, you're stubborn.'

'Damn right.'

Harry sighed again, then said, 'So what happened? Ron said he followed you to the Shrieking Shack but he couldn't get inside. Something was blocking him from following after you.'

'I don't know,' I shrugged. 'I just remember going inside then waking up in the Hospital Wing. I don't remember getting attacked or anything.'

'You don't remember anyone else being there?' said Harry. 'Anyone strange in the village?'

'No,' I replied. 'There was no one there nor did I see anything strange in the village. I would have told McGonagall if I had.'

'Well, thank Merlin you're all right,' breathed Harry. He moved closer to me, resting his forehead against mine. 'I was really worried something would happen to you while I was gone, especially after Kingsley's note.'

'I'm tougher than I look,' I said reproachfully. 'I can take care of myself.'

'I know you can,' said Harry. 'It doesn't stop me worrying though.'

Harry brushed my hair behind my ear, smiling. Next moment, Harry had moved closer again. He tilted his head, his eyes closing, and his face centimetres from mine. I instantly leant back on the bed.

'What are you doing?' I asked, confused. Harry gave me a strange look.

'Giving you a kiss,' said Harry.

'And why would you do that?' Harry's confused look deepened. I stared back, my eyebrow raised.

'Why else?' he asked. 'You're my girlfriend.'

I sat there for a moment or two then laughed.

'What?' I asked. 'Harry, that's ridiculous. I'm not your girlfriend. Where would you get an idea like that?'

I have to admit, the look on Harry's face when I said that was quite priceless. He just sat there and stared at me like he'd been hit over the head with a Bludger. I waited for him to say something.

'The fact we've been going out for almost a year now?' said Harry slowly. 'We got together the day the war ended.'

'Harry, I think I'd remember if I was dating you,' I said. 'You're the most famous wizard in Britain. If we were dating, it would have been splashed all over the Prophet.'

'But it has,' said Harry. 'During Christmas. You and I were in Diagon Alley together when Rita Skeeter spotted us and wrote an article about us being together. The media hounded us for the following month. You must remember that.' I shook my head.

'Harry, I haven't dated anyone since Noah and I broke up at the end of sixth year,' I said seriously. 'I didn't want to have another boyfriend, especially after Noah died, not for a long time. Are you sure you're not the one who should be in the Hospital Wing? Did you hit your head during your test or something?'

'No, I'm fine,' said Harry impatiently. 'I just – Jenna, we've been together for almost a year. During sixth year, we kept ending up kissing when we were alone together.'

'Harry, I've never kissed you,' I said, surprised at that bold statement. It weirded me out that he thought we had. Kissing Harry would be like, I don't know, kissing my brother. 'You're my best friend. Why would I?'

'But we did,' said Harry. There was a note of desperation in his voice. 'Voldemort even took you to the Forbidden Forest during the Battle and used you as bait to get to me because he knew how I felt about you.' I stared at him. Where was all this coming from? 'Can't you remember any of our relationship?'

'No, because we're not in a relationship and none of that happened,' I replied. 'How can I remember something that never happened?'

Harry stared at me. I didn't know what was wrong with him. I couldn't understand what would have given him the impression we'd ever dated. I'd known him since we were eight years old and he was my best friend. That would be more than a bit weird. It would be ridiculous.

'Because …' started Harry. He then changed his mind. 'Never mind. I'm glad you're all right, Jenna. D'you know if you're allowed out of the Hospital Wing yet?'

'Once Madam Pomfrey's come back with my results then I'm free,' I replied. 'The sooner the better is all I say.'

-o-

'Hey, where's Jenna?' Hermione asked Harry when he got back to the common room after visiting the Hospital Wing. 'Did Madam Pomfrey let her out?'

'Yeah, she left with me,' replied Harry. He sat down in the free seat beside Ron around their usual table. He pulled out his Potions textbook and a fresh sheet of parchment so he could get started on their latest essay.

'So, where is she?' asked Hermione.

'She's gone back to the Head's Tower,' said Harry, not looking up. Ron and Hermione looked at each other.

'Harry, is everything OK?' Now Harry looked up. 'What's wrong?'

Harry didn't reply straight away. He looked between Ron and Hermione, both of whom were waiting for his reply. He let out a sigh and put down his quill.

'It's Jenna,' he said reluctantly. He ran his hand through his hair. 'Something's wrong with her. She … she doesn't remember that we're together.'

'What d'you mean she doesn't remember?' asked Ron. 'She was talking about the two of you on Saturday morning before we went into Hogsmeade. She even didn't want me to tell you that she was in the Hospital Wing because she didn't want to distract you. How could she not remember?'

'I don't know,' said Harry, 'but when I went to kiss her, she pulled away from me. She's never done that before. She doesn't remember how long we've been together, what happened at Christmas with Skeeter's article, nothing. She even said she's been single since she broke up with her ex at the end of sixth year. It's like she's forgotten everything that's ever happened between us.'

'That's strange,' said Hermione curiously. 'Was that the only thing Jenna couldn't remember?'

'I guess so, I didn't really think to ask as I was more concerned about why she couldn't remember us in the first place,' said Harry. 'She seemed perfectly fine when we spoke before I tried to kiss her, annoyed about still being in the Hospital Wing. As soon as I tried, she wasn't herself at all. But why would she forget us?'

'Her memory,' breathed Hermione. Harry looked at her. 'Someone's altered her memory. That's the only logical explanation. Jenna wouldn't just forget about you, Harry, not when it's something like that. Someone's put a memory charm on her and altered her memories of you.'

'But who would do that?' asked Harry. 'And why, of all things, would they make her forget about us? Unless Malfoy –' Harry growled suddenly, eyes narrowing.

'You can stop before you even think about going down that road, Harry,' said Hermione, cutting Harry off. 'As much as you don't want to admit it, Malfoy's kept his head down this year and hasn't been causing half as much trouble as he used to.'

'No,' grated Harry, 'but he did try to get between me and Jenna earlier in the year.'

'But in the last term he's barely said two words to Jenna, and he hasn't come near you apart from passing you in the Potions classroom,' said Hermione. 'Besides, Malfoy never was that good at memory charms. Professor Flitwick never gave him more than an E for his attempts. The spell that must be on Jenna's memory's too powerful for anything Malfoy could do.'

'That man,' Ron said slowly. Harry and Hermione looked at him. Ron didn't react. His eyes had narrowed as if he was thinking something through. When he noticed the other two were watching him, Ron started slightly.

'What man?' Harry asked.

'Jenna met some guy when we were in the Three Broomsticks,' explained Ron. 'He wasn't a Hogwarts student, too old to be. He and Jenna spoke at the bar while she got our drinks. When I asked who he was, she said it was just some guy who'd read out names in the Prophet. I don't think he'd told her his name or anything.'

'Jenna said she didn't meet anyone in the village,' said Harry.

'She met someone while we were in the Three Broomsticks,' said Ron. 'Doesn't she remember?'

'Obviously not.'

'Well then maybe he's the one who's bewitched her. I mean if Jenna can't remember him either, maybe he has something to do with Jenna not remembering you and why she went to the Shrieking Shack. It's not everyday Jenna just decides to wander off like that.'

'So you think he's the one who's put the spell on her,' asked Harry.

'It's a possibility,' said Hermione. 'But it would be too risky to put a spell on her in the middle of Hogsmeade.'

'It didn't happen while we were in Hogsmeade, it was when we were leaving,' said Ron. 'We'd reached the bridge when all of a sudden Jenna just stopped. I think she'd Sensed something because when I followed her, there was this strange energy in the forest near the Shrieking Shack. When I got there, there was some barrier around it blocking the door and I couldn't get in. I only found her when the barrier disappeared.'

'D'you have any idea who it was?' Harry persisted.

'No, whoever it was Disapparated before I reached her.'

'What about the man in the bar?'

'I couldn't see him that well and he disappeared when Jenna came back with our drinks. Now that I think about it though,' Ron added, 'he had a weird similarity to Jenna. They had the same black hair, really dark and neat. I guess if you didn't know Jenna, you'd have thought he was her brother. He looked quite haughty too, kind of like the Malfoys, the same proud air. He could have easily passed for a member of their family too if it wasn't for the fact he had black hair instead of white.'

'Looked like her brother?' repeated Harry. Ron nodded. 'But Jenna's the last of the Black bloodline. She doesn't have any siblings and Sirius's brother never had any children.'

'They're not the only Blacks though,' Hermione reminded him. 'Malfoy's family are related to the Blacks too, remember? Narcissa was a Black before she married Lucius. It's possible he could come from another branch of the family.'

Something about what Hermione had just said set an alarm bell ringing in Harry's head. Suddenly something finally made sense to him.

'No, Kingsley warned me about this,' he said. How could he have not realised?

'About what?' asked Ron curiously. 'What did Kingsley want to see you about?'

'To warn me,' said Harry. 'Kingsley said since the Battle ended, all of Voldemort's less virulent supporters went into hiding. You remember that article Skeeter published about me and Jenna?' Ron and Hermione nodded. 'Just after that was released and all those articles started cropping up about us, the Ministry began picking up traces of Dark magic being used near Muggles, eventually leading to the recent attacks on them. They've only been small, not big enough to cause a stir, but the magical signature that was left behind each time was the same, meaning it's only been one wizard behind the attacks.

'Kingsley believes that they only became active again after that article as it was the first major bit of news about me since the Battle,' continued Harry. 'The attacks on Muggles, he believes that the wizard behind them is using them as practice, like he's planning some bigger attack, and that I could be the one this wizard's after.'

'But I thought all of Voldemort's supporters were arrested,' said Ron. 'All those who'd been Death Eaters are in Azkaban. Who'd be stupid enough to start attacking the Muggles again?'

'There were still people who supported his beliefs even if they didn't have the Dark Mark,' said Harry. 'Only the prominent families like the Malfoys have all been dealt with by the Ministry and are either in prison or under supervision.'

'But who could be behind the attacks?' asked Hermione.

'That's the thing, the Ministry doesn't know,' said Harry. 'Whoever it is has managed to cover their tracks and leave very little evidence. The only thing the Ministry could find was traces of the wizard's magical signature. All we do know is that the magical signature that's been left behind is very similar to one of the families that have already been arrested. Lestrange.'

'But Bellatrix –' gasped Hermione, '– and her husband –'

'I know,' said Harry. 'Jenna killed Bellatrix and Rodolphus and his brother were arrested.'

'So who –?' began Ron.

'We don't know,' said Harry. 'No one knew of any other Lestrange apart from those three. Rabastan, Rodolphus' brother, never married and all records report that Bellatrix and Rodolphus didn't have children. They weren't that sort of couple; they married to retain the bloodline, not for love.'

'Plus everyone knew Bellatrix was an insane worshipper of Voldemort and was in love with him,' said Ron. 'Not that he'd ever understand that.'

'So they think it's someone from that bloodline?' said Hermione. 'But who?'

'We don't know,' said Harry. 'But if it is, the most likely relation they'd be is the son or daughter to Bellatrix which means, if they're anything as sadistic and malicious as Bellatrix was, then I'm not the only target. Jenna is as well.'

Harry returned to the Head's Tower late that night. He'd spent all his time in the library after class and dinner with Ron revising Transfiguration as Professor McGonagall had mentioned a test that was possibly coming up for them in preparation for their NEWTs. Jenna and Hermione hadn't been with them as Hermione was going over her Ancient Runes work while Jenna had a Charms essay to catch up on from the weekend. When Harry finally got back, he found Jenna lying fast asleep on the sofa in the common room, her books and essay lying open on the floor.

Harry stared sadly at her sleeping form. He'd spent almost all of their afternoon lessons staring at Jenna, trying to work out what had happened to her over the weekend. What had happened? Who would do that to her and why of all things would they make her forget she was his girlfriend? It didn't make any sense. And the worst bit was, Harry couldn't tell her. After Hermione explained it could be painful for her to try and recall something she couldn't remember, he couldn't mention it again. He would have only just got away with it back in the Hospital Wing as Jenna had completely disregarded it. Harry just had to give it time to see if her memory came back on its own.

Quietly Harry walked over to the sofa. Jenna looked so peaceful when she was asleep. Harry took out his wand and conjured a blanket to cover her, not wanting her to get cold. He gently laid it over her body then sat on the edge of the sofa beside her.

'What happened, Jen?' he breathed dejectedly. 'How could you forget?'

Harry made to touch her cheek but caught himself. He didn't want to wake her. But as he watched her, all Harry wanted to do was hold her close and hope the contact would make her remember, regardless of how weird Jenna may find it. Risking it, Harry lightly ran his hand over Jenna's cheek, brushing back her loose hair. There was a slight movement but Jenna didn't wake. Harry leant over Jenna and gently kissed her hair before getting up to go to his dormitory. As he was about to leave, however, he felt something on his hand. When he looked back he saw Jenna's fingers lightly clasping his from when he had been sitting beside her. Harry smiled, not a happy smile but a hopeful one, then went upstairs.

-o-

I woke with a start to find I was still in the common room. My essay lay unfinished on the floor with my Charms textbook open beside it. I glanced up at the clock in the common room to see it was well past two in the morning. I pushed the blanket off me (where had that come from?) and got up. I'd been dreaming, of what though I'm not quite sure. I'd been looking for something that I'd misplaced but while I searched for it, I couldn't remember what it was I was trying to find. Shaking it from my head, I got up, gathered my things and put them on the nearby table, then headed for the stairs. But when I got to the part of the staircase that veered off towards Harry's dormitory, I stopped. I stared at it and my dream came back to my thoughts. Huh. I soon tore myself away, dismissing the thoughts going round in my head.

No matter how much I tried, I spent the next hour tossing and turning in my bed. My mind just wouldn't go blank so I could sleep. The dream I'd had down in the common room kept repeating itself in my head and I couldn't stop it. What had I been so desperate to find? I knew not to take the dream lightly but to my knowledge I hadn't lost anything so what was missing? I sat up and pushed back my hair. Without thinking I looked at the bathroom door. I stared at it for a moment or two, then got up. I padded silently across the wooden floor, into the bathroom and over to the door that led to Harry's dormitory. I hesitated though when my hand was over the handle.

I stood there in the bathroom for a few minutes thinking through what I was doing. It was the middle of the night. Harry wouldn't appreciate being woken up because I can't sleep. But what had made me go to Harry's room in the first place? Why did I feel the need to see him? I stepped away from the door, utterly confused. I quickly returned to my room and got back into bed. Something wasn't right. What though, I didn't know.

I was up early the next morning. I got dressed straight away and went down into the common room to finish my essay before breakfast. By 8 o'clock I had written the last sentence when I heard footsteps coming down the staircase. I looked up to see Harry dressed haphazardly in his uniform, shirt untucked and tie loose around his neck. A smirk graced my face as he walked across the room and put on his shoes. Ever since third year, Harry has never looked smart in his uniform. It was his unruly hair that usually made him look untidy. I cleared my throat. Harry looked round and saw me sitting at the table by the window.

'Morning,' I said. 'Oversleep, did we?'

'A bit,' said Harry. 'How could you tell?'

I laughed and got up. I walked over to Harry and started to sort out his appearance.

'I think McGonagall would flip her cauldron if she saw her Head Boy dressed this messily,' I commented, straightening his tie while he tucked in his shirt. Harry always used to complain about the school ties when we were in first year. 'Still, I think this is about as best as we're going to get considering the hair.'

'What's wrong with my hair?' said Harry. His hand sprang up and went through it.

'It looks like you've just come through a hedge backwards,' I said. 'When was the last time you got it cut?'

'Over the summer.'

'That was ages ago! Your hair would have grown since then.'

'Well you always liked it like this,' said Harry casually.

'Maybe so, but that's no reason to keep it like this,' I reasoned. I gently pulled his tie tighter, positioning it so it covered the open collar button. 'Well, that's slightly better,' I added, looking up and down Harry. 'You have shaving foam on your cheek, by the way.'

'What would I do without you, Jen?'

Harry was still adjusting his tie so I reached up and wiped it off. The moment my hand touched his cheek I had a weird sense of déjà vu. I had just done it without even thinking, like it was something I would naturally do. I stared at Harry, not realising my hand was still on his cheek. His eyes … had they always this green? They just seem to stand out on their own. The weird feeling started again. Something about Harry had set it off, just like it had last night, when I almost went to his room after dreaming I'd lost something.

'Jenna?' I came back from my thoughts when I heard my name. I removed my hand. 'Is everything all right?'

'Yeah, got lost on a thought,' I said, brushing it off. 'Shall we go down to breakfast?'

Harry and I walked down to the Great Hall in a comfortable silence. The corridors were still relatively empty as breakfast had only just started. As we walked, I stole a glance at Harry. Why was he bringing up these feelings in me? I couldn't see anything about him physically that would start them. Harry was just … well, Harry. He was the same person he was all those years ago. Granted he had grown taller and developed more muscle, and his hair was longer, and … I looked at Harry's eyes again. Those were what caught me the most. What was it about his eyes that just seemed to entrance me?

'Jenna, watch it!'

I looked round in time to see the staircase pull away from the third floor platform Harry and I were about to step on to. A pair of arms grabbed me round the waist as I jumped in fright, my arms going round the person's neck too as he caught me just in time. I watched at the staircase pulled away, glad when it finally rejoined in another place. Bloody staircases, that hadn't been the first time that had happened to me and it wouldn't be the last. I looked round to see Harry standing there beside me, his arms protectively wrapped around my body while my own were clasped round his neck.

'Merlin, you're half asleep, Jenna,' said Harry, who had also been watching the stairs. 'You could have fallen off the edge if you weren't careful.' Harry looked directly at me. My heart jumped the moment our eyes met. 'Has someone put a Daydream Charm on you?'

I stared at him, physically unable to speak. When I realised I hadn't said anything, I instantly stepped back from Harry, my arms falling to my sides and an embarrassed flush starting in my cheeks.

'Sorry, I was in my own little world,' I muttered, my eyes focused on my shoes. 'Would lose my head if it wasn't screwed on properly.'

When Harry didn't say anything to that, I cautiously looked up. He was staring at me, a pensive look on his face.

'Did you have any strange dreams last night, Jenna?' Harry then asked. I hadn't expected that.

'No, not really,' I replied. We started walking again, going another route down to the Great Hall. 'Well, I had one where I dreamt that I'd lost something but I couldn't remember what I'd lost, but that was hardly what I'd call a strange dream if you mean what I think you mean. Why d'you ask?'

'Oh, no reason,' said Harry. 'Was just curious.'

We reached the Great Hall and went inside. The tables were slowly filling up with students and we found Ron and Hermione sitting near the end of the Gryffindor one. We walked over and joined them. I purposefully took the seat beside Hermione as it gave me less of a chance of suddenly being caught spacing out because of Harry. When he sat opposite me beside Ron, I damned him slightly. I'd just have to focus on the conversation and not him. It was easier said that done. The conversation revolved around how Harry's Auror test went with Ron asking loads of questions about what they tested him on as his was on Wednesday afternoon. I listened to Harry as he spoke, obviously looking at him to show I was doing so. But for some reason I couldn't focus properly and my mind kept bringing up random thoughts on its own accord.

Harry's still got a bit of stubble on his chin, I would think. Or Was Harry's voice always that deep? And even I wonder what it'd be like to run my fingers through his hair; it's so wild, it's like a mane on a lion.

'What d'you reckon, Jenna? Think I passed?'

My head snapped up as if I'd been Stunned. Harry, Ron and Hermione were looking at me, waiting for my answer, but I hadn't even heard the question properly.

'I, er … I think I left something back in my dormitory,' I said, getting up. 'I better go get it before class.'

Without so much as an explanation, I grabbed my bag and walked out the Hall. What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I daydreaming so much this morning? I know I had an occasional habit of doing so but never like this. And why was it all related to Harry? What was –?

'Oof!'

Before I knew it, I was on the floor in the entrance hall having walked straight into someone. I brushed back my hair to see who it was, apologising profusely at the same time. It was Malfoy.

'You really ought to watch where you're going, Black,' he said. He was gathering the books that I'd made him drop.

'Sorry,' I said. I went and helped him, picking up his Transfiguration textbook. 'I don't know what's wrong with me this morning. I keep drifting off.'

'Daydream Charm?' offered Malfoy. We stood up and I handed him back his book.

'No, that's what Harry suggested,' I shrugged. Malfoy snorted.

'Well, if darling Potter suggested it, normally it's right,' he sneered.

'What d'you mean by "darling Potter"?' I asked, curious by his choice of words. 'And no, he's wrong a good five times out of ten.'

'Just jibing at your poor choice in men again,' said Malfoy silkily. He turned on his heel and headed off towards the Hall. 'Well, catch you later, Black!' he called after him.

I watched Malfoy's retreating figure disappear into the Hall, taken aback. My "poor choice in men"? Instantly my mind brought up the conversation I had had with Harry in the Hospital Wing yesterday afternoon where he'd been convinced that we were dating. I had told him it was ludicrous, that if we were dating everyone would know. Now I wasn't so sure. But if we were dating, surely I would remember something like?

The cracks are already forming … The question is, how long until they split?

I gasped, putting my hand to my forehead. That voice, I recognised it but where had I heard it before. What did it mean? The cracks are already forming but how long until they split.

'Jenna?' I looked round to see Harry walk over to me having followed me out of the Hall. I saw his eyes dart towards Malfoy briefly as they past each other but nothing happened. I quickly regained my composure. 'Are you sure everything's all right?' he asked me. 'You don't seem yourself this morning.'

'I'm fine, seriously,' I said, pushing aside Harry's concern. 'It's nothing to worry about.'

'You would tell me if something's wrong though, wouldn't you?' persisted Harry.

I paused, looking at Harry. Why was he so concerned over me this morning? Had something happened to me that I didn't know about that involved him in some way? Everything that had happened so far had. But maybe it was just a whole load of coincidences and I was reading way too much into it.

'Of course I would,' I said. I gently touched his arm in reassurance of my promise. 'If I think something's wrong, you'll be the first one to know.'

The next few days passed by without much notice. Class just seemed to pass by with a flick of a wand while revision seemed to draw itself out as long as it possibly could. My mind was entirely focused now on my upcoming NEWT exams that everything had officially taken a back seat. The only thing that was constantly on my mind was my strange behaviour. Throughout the week I noticed myself doing things that I wasn't consciously aware that I was doing them.

It felt like my body had taken on a mind of its own. I would do things then see I was doing them and think, why am I doing this? And the strange thing was it only ever happened when I was in Harry's company. It was never anything big, just small gestures or moves that pushed the personal boundaries Harry and I had developed over the years. We had always been close but this was pushing it. For example, wiping the shaving foam off his cheek a few days ago; my foot playing with his under the table in the Head's Tower when we were doing homework; and the most noticeable one, getting caught staring into his eyes during conversations. I would just get lost in them and I didn't know why.

Daydreaming had to be my biggest crime though; every time I wasn't doing something I was back off in my own world, trying to think what it was that was wrong with me. I went over everything I had done before Saturday's Hogsmeade visit up to now and none of it could give me a rational answer. It was like I had blanks in my memory, like a book that had the page with the vital potion ingredient you need torn out of it.

I looked up from my Herbology essay and out the window in the Head's Tower. It was raining outside, the drops splattering hard against the window. Not many people liked the rain. I didn't particularly myself but something about being out in a heavy rainstorm with someone made me smile.

'You're doing it again.'

'Huh?' I looked round. Harry had entered the common room. His clothes and hair were soaked and sticking to him as he pulled off his outer robe. 'Doing what?'

'Daydreaming,' said Harry. He dumped his wet robe on the back of the sofa then walked over to where I was at the table. 'You've been doing it a lot this past week.'

'I know,' I sighed. I scooted over so Harry could sit down. 'I've just had a lot on my mind recently.'

'Like what?' asked Harry.

'Just stuff,' I shrugged. 'Nothing important.'

I went to pick up my quill when a hand took mine. I looked across at Harry.

'Jenna, I …'

'What?'

I waited for Harry to say whatever it was he wanted to say. But it never came. We sat there in silence for a good minute or two before Harry sighed. He released my hand and got up.

'Nothing. I'm going for a walk. I'll see you later.'

-o-

Harry left the Tower before Jenna could say anything to stop him. He needed to clear his head. Almost a week had passed since the Hogsmeade visit and still Jenna couldn't remember their relationship though he could see she was struggling to. He would catch her watching him during class and at meals or staring into space with a saddened look on her face but there was nothing he could do to help her. Harry was desperate to help her in any way he could but he wouldn't be able to without directly telling her what was wrong. Then there was the question of who did this to her in the first place. Whoever it was knew what they were doing and was powerful enough to wipe select parts of her memory, and Harry knew something as simple as a counter curse wouldn't lift this one. If he was correct, the only person able to break this curse was Jenna herself.

After a while Harry came to a stop. He slumped down on the bottom step of the nearby staircase somewhere on the fourth floor. He heaved a sigh and ruffled his hair. Jenna would always do that when they kissed. Damn it, thought Harry, why does everything remind me of us?

'Harry?' Harry looked round. Ginny was standing at the end of the corridor, looking concerned.

'Hey,' he said. 'What are you doing here?'

'I saw you come this way when I was on my way back to the common room,' said Ginny. She walked over to him. 'How's Jenna?'

'She's good,' said Harry. Ginny came and sat down beside him.

'That's not what I meant,' said Ginny.

'I know it wasn't,' said Harry. 'She still can't remember us. I can see she's struggling to remember, that things she's doing are triggering her memory, but she isn't able to make the connections. Whoever placed this curse on Jenna wouldn't make it that easy for her.'

'So you really think whoever's been behind these disturbances cursed Jenna?' she asked. Harry nodded. 'What about you?' Ginny then asked. 'How are you coping?'

'I'm fine,' replied Harry, perhaps a little to quickly. 'I just, it's weird. I'd see her in the morning and go to kiss her, stopping myself just in time, or we'd be sitting doing homework and she'd lean against me without consciously knowing why she did it and I can't do anything. It's like her body remembers but her mind doesn't.'

'Jenna will remember eventually,' said Ginny. She took his hand and gave it a squeeze. 'It just takes time.'

'That's what I hope.'

Harry looked away. Ginny fell silent. She watched Harry for a moment or two, a question running through her head. She wasn't sure if Harry had already thought about it, but someone needed to tell him what could happen in the worst-case scenario. Braving it, Ginny spoke.

'What if Jenna's memory doesn't come back?' she asked carefully, worried about Harry's reaction.

Harry didn't reply straight away. He kept his gaze firmly away from Ginny, eventually saying, 'Then I'll have to tell her sometime or later.'

'Harry,' Ginny placed a hand on Harry's arm. He looked at her. 'Memory spells are complex things at the best of times. A memory curse is even worse. Even if Jenna retains some memory of you both like it sounds like she does, trying to restore what's been repressed by the curse could be worse for her in the long run than leaving her be. You don't want her ending up like Neville's parents.'

'Ginny, I can't just give up on her,' said Harry. 'I can't lose what I have with her.'

'But maybe you have to,' Ginny replied. 'If Jenna doesn't remember what happened between you, then telling her will only cause more heartache for the both of you. You know how much she cares for you, even now under the curse. I know it hurts that she can't remember your relationship but what about what it'll do to her? It would destroy Jenna to know she's forgotten you. Letting her go might be your only option.'

Harry thought about this, then said, 'I don't know if I can.'

'There will be others, Harry.' Ginny gently stroked his cheek. 'Anyone would be lucky to have you, like Jenna was. Just like I was.'

Harry paused. He observed Ginny, knowing something was to come.

'Ginny …' he sighed.

'Ssh,' Ginny whispered. 'Don't say anything more …'

The two of them fell silent and remained where they were. After a few moments though, unable to help herself, Ginny closed the gap between them. She lightly touched her lips to his in a gentle kiss. She just wanted to remember what it felt like to kiss him. To her surprise though, Harry didn't pull away. He just allowed her to do it, closing his eyes as well for the length of the kiss. A few seconds later, it ended. Ginny pulled back, her eyes lowered. Harry opened his eyes to look at her. He could tell she felt as uncomfortable as he did.

'I'm sorry,' she breathed quietly. 'I just wanted to remember.'

'I know,' said Harry softly.

A disturbance down the end of the corridor drew Harry and Ginny's attention away from each other, his heart plummeting when he saw who it was.

-o-

I watched as Harry walked out of the common room. He looked so upset. What had happened? What had he wanted to tell me? Quickly I closed my textbook and chased after him. I pushed open Ambrosia's portrait but found Harry had already vanished. Where had he gone? I went back inside the common room and straight up to Harry's dormitory. I went over to his desk and from the drawer pulled out a large sheaf of parchment: the Marauders' Map. That would tell me where he was heading.

'I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good.'

I tapped the parchment. Thin lines of ink began tracing themselves all over the parchment until the entirety of Hogwarts had formed on it. I flicked through the folds, my eyes scanning every dot I came across, until I found the one labelled "Harry Potter". He was walking along the fourth floor. Right. Pocketing the Map, I ran back downstairs and out of the common room.

It didn't take me long to reach the fourth floor; now it was just a matter of finding whereabouts on the fourth floor Harry was. I checked the Map again to find he'd finally come to a stop in a stairwell a few corridors away from me. I was close. I walked quickly down the corridor and into the next. I had to find out what Harry had wanted to tell me. Maybe it would help me explain all my strange behaviour. I rounded the next corner. Maybe he knows what's happen to me. Maybe –

I froze when I entered the next corridor, only just stopping an audible gasp escaping me. Sitting on the staircase together having just broken apart from sharing a kiss was Harry and Ginny. I instantly backed away only to walk straight into the wall and bang my elbow. I winced. The commotion though had drawn Harry and Ginny's attention away from each other and both were staring at me. I stared back, rubbing my elbow as it stung.

'Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt,' I said quickly. 'I'll just … sorry …'

I turned on my heel without a second thought. I strode back up the corridor wanting nothing more than to get away from that sight I had just seen. My heart was pumping so hard from the shock of seeing them together, a weird pain going straight through me. I should have known Harry would eventually get back together with Ginny after Battle. Why it took them this long, who knows, but I should have seen it coming. My pace quickened until the point I was almost running. I went up the nearest staircase and into the next corridor where I finally stopped. I fell back against the wall slightly out of breath. My chest ached but for some reason I didn't think it was from the run. Seeing those two together … Why did it hurt so much?

'Jenna!'

I jumped when I heard Harry's voice. He was running up the corridor towards me. He was the last person I wanted to see. I made to run off but Harry was too quick. He grabbed my arm and held me back while I fought to get away.

'Harry, get off me!' I snapped.

'No, you've got to let me explain,' said Harry. 'What just happened – it didn't –'

'I don't want to know,' I said. I tried to pull my arm from his grip but it was too strong. 'What you do with Ginny is your business, not mine. I don't care.'

'That's not true.' With one last try, Harry pulled me back so I was between him and the wall. He took hold of my other arm to make sure I didn't escape. 'You wouldn't be doing this if you didn't care.'

Those words rang through my head. I had said those exact same words to Harry a couple of years ago. But why had I said them?

'Think, Jenna,' said Harry. 'You wouldn't be acting like this if you didn't care about what just happened. It wouldn't have hurt you like I know it has if you didn't care.' I didn't respond. I didn't want to have this conversation. 'That kiss meant nothing,' Harry continued firmly. His voice had changed; it was deeper, more powerful then normal. 'There is nothing between me and Ginny, there hasn't been for a long time, not when there's someone else important in my life.'

'Why are you telling me this?' I said. For some reason I felt like I was on the verge of tears. I didn't want to hear about who Harry was in love with or anything like that. 'I don't care who you decide to go and snog. It's nothing to do with me.'

'Then tell me why you're acting like this,' said Harry.

'Because …' I started, 'because I was foolish enough to believe something that would never happen. Because I was foolish enough to think there was even a possiblity that you might have feelings for me. The way you've been around me for the last few days, you've never acted that way before so I was stupid enough to start thinking you might have feelings for me.'

Silence followed my statement. I swallowed and looked away from Harry, completely embarrassed at what I'd said. I waited for him to release me, wanting nothing more than to walk away from him right now.

'That's because I do,' said Harry. I gasped looking up. There was so much pain in his eyes. 'But you don't remember them. You don't remember any of our relationship and it's killing me that you can't.'

'Your lying,' I said, not wanting to believe him. 'You're just saying that to make me feel better.'

'I'm not lying,' said Harry forcefully, scaring me slightly. 'Do you know how fucking hard it is watching the person you love not being able to remember you?' I swallowed. Harry never swore and the fact he did just then told me how angry he was. 'What do I have to do to make you believe me? Tell you all the places in Hogwarts where we've kissed? Show you the newspaper article Rita Skeeter wrote when she saw in Diagon Alley together? Tell me, Jenna, and I'll do it if it'll make you remember us.'

'Harry, I …' I stared at him. I was so confused. He was saying all these things about us and none of them were making any sense to me. What did he want me to do? Pretend I remembered just so things could go back to normal for him? 'Please, stop. I don't remember any of this so how can it be true?'

'Then answer me this,' said Harry. 'If we weren't in a relationship, then how do I know that you fantasise about kissing in the rain; that you have a couple of freckles near your hips; that you've loved me since we were sixteen and that it hurt you when I got together with Ginny, just like it hurt now when you saw us kiss. You love me, Jenna, deep down I know you know this. You've got to remember.'

I stared at Harry, not knowing what to do or say.

'No,' I finally said, my voice dry. 'No, it can't – I would remember –'

'Jenna …'

'Don't, Harry – please, just –' I pushed past him finally. I had to clear my head. 'I've got to go.'

I walked away and thankfully Harry didn't attempt to stop me this time. I didn't know where I would go. I simply allowed my feet to take me somewhere where I could just think things through. I'd just had an information overload and I couldn't handle it all. I mean, who would? Being told you love someone when you don't remember loving them, it was bound to make anyone confused. I came to a stop in an empty corridor. I fell against the wall and slid down to the floor. I pushed back my hair, rubbing my forehead.

Something … something wasn't right; how did Harry know those things about me? We'd always been close and I cared for him deeply but I would never tell him my fantasies. And the freckles on my hips, how would he know I had those unless he'd seen them? I shivered at the thought of Harry seeing me naked. That would be so awkward if that happened like it almost did back at Grimmauld Place before fifth year. And yet he knew them.

I closed my eyes and thought long and hard about everything Harry had said. I looked through my memories of him for any that linked to it but none even came close. I tried so hard but nothing came up. I opened my eyes and felt a tear slide down my cheek. i couldn't remember him in that way. The saddest part was though … I wanted to. I wanted to remember being with Harry in that way and I was devestated that I couldn't.

On Saturday morning I couldn't even bring myself to get out of bed. I was still so upest about what had happened the other day between me and Harry that I couldn't face seeing him. I needn't have worried as Harry didn't come back that night and I didn't see him the next morning which I took to mean he was sleeping in his dormitory in the Gryffindor Tower. The day after it happened had been so awkward as neither of us really knew what to say to each other. I could tell Harry was still upset that I couldn't remember anything and it hurt me knowing I couldn't either. In the end we'd spent the day in a mutual silence with each other, knowing it was best not to mention what had happened.

A weird scratching sound started at the window of my dormitory. Getting up, I saw Ebony, Harry's owl, flapping at the glass wanting to be let in. She had a letter in her beak. I opened the window and she flew inside, landing on my desk. I took the letter from her. Ebony hooted happily and gave my finger a gentle nip before flying back outside into the grey sky. Once gone I closed the window again and went back to my bed, turning the letter over in my hands. There was no name on it though I had to assume it was for me as Ebony had delivered it to me and that it had to be from Harry considering she was his owl. But what could he possibly want to write to me? A feeling of dread suddenly cropped up in my stomach. I hoped this wasn't going to be about the other day. Nervously I turned the letter over and opened it.

Go to my dormitory.

What? I turned the parchment over but there was no other writing. Why did Harry want me to go to his dormitory? Partly worried, partly curious, I got up and took the shortcut through the bathroom into Harry's dormitory. He wasn't there. I looked around but I didn't notice anything strange. What was I meant to be looking for? My eyes scanned his room until I noticed his Invisibility Cloak lying on his bed, another piece of parchment on top of it.

Use me when necessary. Now go to the Room of Requirement.

OK, what was going on here? Why was Harry wanting me to go to the Room of Requirement now? What was going to be in there? And why did I have to take the Invisibility Cloak? I didn't like the look of what was going on. My curiousity though got the better of me. I went back into my dormitory through the bathroom and quickly pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt. Pocketing my wand and shoving the Invisibility Cloak into my jacket, I left my room.

I didn't notice anything different on my way to the Room of Requirement on the seventh floor. Not many students were about either as most were probably either still at breakfast, having a lie-in or working in the library. I soon reached the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy to find that a door was already there, meaning the Room was active. That meant Harry had to be in there; the Room only had a door if someone was inside. Time to find out what was going on. I strode over to the door and opened it. But the Room was empty. All there was was the equipment we used for the DA meetings. Why would Harry set up the Room like this for me to find?

My question was soon answered. On the noticeboard there was another piece of parchement pinned to it beneath the rota. I took it down and opened it.

A few weeks ago in a DA meeting, you and I duelled against each other. You pretty much
owned the match. You were always more creative than me when it came to duelling
technique. It was only in the last instant that you let your guard down and I Disarmed you.
I was lucky but I think most people were rooting for you to win. My prize was one of your
kisses. Guess they wanted to see the Chosen One get his wand handed to him on a plate.
You've always been powerful and I've always known that.

I laughed at the note. I remember that. I almost had Harry but he caught me just at the last second. I don't remember the kiss though. It was then I noticed the last setence: "It's one of the things I love so much about you". One of the things he loved about me. A worried feeling started in me; I think I knew what Harry was up to now. Quickly I turned the note over to see it listed the next place for me to go. I had to go back to the Tower, specifically our bathroom. I had a funny feeling about this.

Like I predicted there was another note waiting for me on the door between Harry's dormitory and the bathroom. I swore it hadn't been there when I first went there earlier. And again it had a message for me. It was about how I'd seen Harry in the shower. I felt my cheeks go red at the thought of that. But apparently, it had happened. He'd lured me into seeing him the shower and it had led to us making out in his dormitory. It had only happened a week prior to when we had that duel. i wondered why he had chosen this particular moment. Had it led to something other than us just making out? On the back of the note was the next location: fourth floor corridor near the statue of Merlin.

I set off. It didn't take me that long to get to the fourth floor and I soon found the note. It was stuck on the wall behind a pillar near the statue of Merlin just like Harry had directed me. I took it off the wall and read it. There was two parts to this one:

By now you've probably worked out what I'm doing. We've shared so many moments
together, maybe one of them will help you remember. It's my one last hope, you never know
if something will work until you try it. Now put on the Cloak.

I did so. I stood under it hidden in the corridor and read the rest of the note.

I know how much you like the element of surprise. It was here that I purposefully got us
almost caught by Filch and Mrs Norris. We'd been in a corridor further up when Filch came
after us. I shouldn't need to tell you what we were doing. You easily followed me when you
thought I'd found someone out of bed. With Filch chasing us, we ran into this corridor
where I stopped us and threw the Cloak over us. I'd never seen your cheeks so red
when we stood there with Filch a metre away and you trapped between the wall and me.
You're cute when you blush.

Wow, Harry was quite reckless, wasn't he? I read what the next location was but I didn't rush off straight away. A part of me was concerned about what else I was going to learn if I followed these notes; another part though was curious to what else had apparently happened between me and Harry. He said we'd been together for almost a year; a lot can happen in that amount of time. In the end I decided to follow the notes and take whatever came at me. Like Harry said, I would never know if this would jog my memory until I try it.

I spent the best part of the day chasing round Hogwarts to find Harry's notes. We'd certainly been a lot of places together which seemed to hold a special memory to him. I found myself looking through my photo album for a note; attempting to sneak into the Forbidden Forest and the sixth year boys bathroom; another corridor this time on the fifth floor; having to find Ron who Harry had given one to to give to me; back to the Head's Tower. On and on it went and with each note I learnt something new about mine and Harry's supposed relationship.

But with each note, the worse I felt. Each note contained a memory that, judging by the way Harry had written them, meant so much to Harry and me but I just couldn't place them in my memories, and each note ended with a comment about me like him loving it when I blush or when he's holding me. It almost sounded like Harry was in love with me. I mean, I care about Harry so much and love him as if he was my brother but … would I ever love him the way he apparently loved me? And if I never did remember us, would Harry be able to get over me?

I said the password to the portrait of the Fat Lady as I thought this. The last note had instructed me to go to the seventh year boy's dormitory to find the next one. The common room was full of people. It had started to rain at lunchtime again meaning that the entire student population had retreated back indoors making my task of finding the notes harder. I crossed the common room, glad to see that Seamus, Dean and Neville were all in here and I knew Ron was in the library with Hermione. Made this one slightly easier at least. I climbed the stairs up the tower and pushed open the door to the dormitory. Recalling which one was Harry's bed, I went over to it. I sat down and pulled the curtains round me for some privacy. The note was on the pillow.

This is the last note I'm afraid. I hope there's been some kind of change.

'I wish there had been,' I muttered.

There's nothing particularly special about this place for us seeing as most of our
relationship took place this year. I only wanted you to come here because it was in the
boys dormitories that I did something that was inspired by you. Around your neck you
wear a necklace with a silver heart pendant on it. You once told me that eyes are like a
person's key to their heart and that stuck with me for a good few months. It was then I
realised that, whenever you found someone, no one would be good enough for you
unless they won the key to your heart and I know for a fact that necklace used to
have a key attached to it.

I reached under my t-shirt and pulled out my necklace. There had been a key attached to it? So where was it then? I looked back at the note. i could remember telling him the bit about eyes being keys to hearts; it was during fifth year and we'd been talking about our parents. But the other bit, him realising no one would be good enough for me unless they won the key to my heart. Why did it feel like I'd heard that before? Someone had said it to me, I was sure of it. Someone … someone I was close to …

I know what you're like. No guy would be good enough for you unless he can win the key to your heart … Two people in the snow completely alone …

I gasped, putting my hand to my forehead. That – that had been Harry's voice. We'd been in the snow together outside The Burrow. The necklace, he'd given it to me as a present because … Because he knew I would only give the key away when someone won my heart! That's why the key wasn't there! Because I've already given it to whoever had won my heart!

'No,' I breathed. 'No, I couldn't have –!'

I checked the note for the next location. The Astronomy Tower. I put the note in my pocket with all the others I'd collected and left the dormitory. I ran down the stairs and out of the common room then ran as fast as I could to the Astronomy Tower. I didn't slow until the Tower door was in my sight. I pulled it open then continued up the spiral stairs. They seemed much longer than usual as I walked quickly up them. I finally reached the door at the top leading to the observation platform. I pushed the door open and walked out on to the platform getting instantly soaked. I stopped. In front of me in the rain stood Harry, his eyes staring right into mine. And there around his neck was a thin chain, a silver key hanging off it. I walked over to him.

'I gave my heart to you, didn't I?' I said straight out. 'That's why you have the key that goes with my necklace, because you won my heart?'

Harry nodded, then said, 'Just like I gave you mine.'

'No,' I shook my head. I didn't want to believe it. 'No!' I then shouted. 'This cannot be happening! Why are you doing this to me?'

'Because I can't give up on you,' said Harry firmly. He walked over to me. 'I can't lose what we had. We've been together too long for me to do that.'

'No,' I repeated. I shook my head again. 'No, it's –'

'Jenna,' I felt a hand touch my face. I lifted my eyes only to look straight into Harry's; there was so much pain in them. 'It's OK,' he told me softly. His tone just seemed to go straight through me. 'Do you know why I brought you here?'

'No. Why?'

'Because this is where it all started. We shared our first kiss in this very spot. It was just after Sirius died. I chased you to the Astronomy Tower and followed you into the rain. We were soaked as we stood here like we are now. It was the first time I held you, the first time I knew I wanted to protect you, the first time I kissed you...'

'Harry …'

'And it was here that I first told you I loved you, when I finally won the key to your heart.'

Silence followed until I finally said, 'Why are you telling me this? Why are you doing this to me?'

'Because you have to remember.' Harry took my hands and held them tightly. 'One thing could be all it takes to help you and I have to find it, Jenna, because you have to remember.'

'I wish I could,' I said. It pained me to say it. 'All those notes, all those things you've told me, I wish they meant something to me as much as they appear to do so to you, but they don't.' I reached up and gently touched the pendant around his neck. 'I read them and wish more than anything that I could place those moments because I can tell I was happy with you. But no matter how hard I try, I always draw a blank. I'm sorry.'

Harry stared at me then looked away and sighed. When he looked back, I could see how much he was hurting. His green eyes drove into me. It was almost painful to see.

'Well … I tried …'

Harry ran his hand through his wet hair then made to leave. He took one last look at me then walked past me to get to the door to the platform. I watched silently. Next moment, Harry stopped. I'd grabbed his hand without even thinking. Harry looked back at me, confused. I stared at him not knowing what had possessed me to do it. A part of me just couldn't let him leave.

We stared at each other. I didn't know what I was doing. My body was just telling me what to do and I was following. Slowly I took a step closer to Harry so that only a small gap separated us. I lifted my hand and hesitantly placed it against Harry's chest. I touched my fingertips to the necklace again, my eyes taking in its detail, before finally looking at Harry. At first Harry didn't react. He had no idea what I was doing. Neither did I to be honest. But when I didn't move away Harry seemed to understand something that I didn't and he closed the gap between us.

I hesitated when Harry moved closer and looked away, not knowing what was going to happen. What was I doing? When I looked back I saw Harry was now leaning over me, his face mere centimetres from mine. I felt our foreheads touch. My pulse rapidly increased. I closed my eyes, fighting to keep my breathing even. All I could feel was this strange familiarity in my body as I stood next to him. Harry moved closer, his forehead pressing against mine. The warmth of his skin felt strangely exciting. I hesitated again. Something strange was happening but it felt … natural … like I'd done this before. Slowly I tilted me face just enough so his nose brushed mine. My breathing caught in my throat as I felt Harry's tickle my neck. I knew his lips were centimetres from mine and all I had to do to touch them was tilt my face a little more. I needn't have worried though as Harry closed the remaining gap and pressed his lips on mine.

The moment our lips touched felt like I'd been hit full on by a Stunner. Everything just seemed to fall into place. I gasped from the impact but in seconds I had my arms wrapped round Harry's neck to kiss him back. Harry too seemed to realise the change in me; his hands went straight for my waist so he could turn me round. We stumbled slightly but Harry managed to achieve his aim of trapping me against the wall. I gasped again, the kiss breaking. i opened my eyes, Harry doing so too. We stared at each other for barely a second before Harry resumed the kiss.

It appears you've broken my little curse and sooner than expected. I guess I underestimated you. Well then, until we meet again, Cousin.

It was another few minutes before we finally stopped. The kisses eventually slowed until I pulled away. Harry reluctantly did so too. He observed my face, a worried look still evident in his eye.

'I …' he breathed. Harry took a step back, releasing me from the wall. 'Jenna –'

I placed a finger on Harry's lips to silence him.

'Thank you,' I then said. I removed my finger and proceeded to run my hand through his hair. A hopeful smile started on Harry's face. 'You were right: all it took was one thing to help me remember. I could never forget what it feels like when we kiss, just like I could never fully forget you. It was like my body had a mind of its own in the last week, making me do all these things I'd done before but couldn't remember in my mind.'

'Does that mean …?' began Harry. I nodded.

'If I told you I love you, does that answer your question?' I countered. 'And that you will always own the key to my heart?' Harry laughed gently. 'And no one can change that. My life just doesn't make sense without you.'

That last week had been like something out of someone else's life. It wasn't right that I hadn't been with Harry. Doing all those things I did and not knowing why had been so surreal. But the moment we kissed it was like someone had finally switced the light on in the dark room I'd been in and it had made me realise something a lot more important. Mum said to me that I wasn't in love with Harry yet but when it hit me, I would know it. She told me "only when things are gone do we realise how much they really mean to us". I think now I know what she meant. Before the attack I was already growing reluctant to being away from Harry; now I knew I didn't like it all because of one thing: I no longer simply loved Harry, I was falling in love with him.

---

AN: OK, yes I know it has been a long time. But for future warning, I will only update when I feel I am able to. I'm at University now so I don't have as much free time as I used to so there is bound to be bigger gaps between posts so by repeatedly telling me to update is not going to work. I want to make my chapters decent and worthy for you to read so rushing me is not going to get you anywhere. Rant over. I hope you enjoyed the update and I have no idea when the next one will be.