Vera woke up in complete bliss. She crawled out of bed and slipped into the bathroom for a shower. By the time she was finished, Hermione was up and ready.

"Come on," she said as they walked down the stairs to the common room.

"Yeah, because I really want to rush for Snape's class," Vera said sarcastically.

Hermione barely heard her as they walked toward Harry and Ron. Harry smiled at Vera as Ron yawned.

"Let's go down to breakfast," he said wearily. "I'm starved."

With that, they walked in silence down to the Great Hall. As they stepped onto one of the moving staircases, Vera felt Harry's hand brush her wrist. She looked up just as he turned his head in the opposite direction, though a small smile played noticeably on his face.

They entered the Hall and sat down at the Gryffindor table; Ron immediately loaded his plate with food.

"Do you think Hagrid will be angry that we aren't taking Care of Magical Creatures?" Vera said as she buttered a piece of toast.

"'Ow can 'e?" Ron said through a mouthful of fried egg. "You have to be as thick as Goyle to not know that nobody likes the class."

They all agreed solemnly. Soon after finishing their food, Professor McGonagall passed out their schedules, and they went off to the common room for their first break. After a short period of Hermione goading them all to work, the conversation of Harry's ascension to captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team began.

"Great, we have Snape next," Ron groaned towards the end of the break.

Defense Against the Dark Arts class was a complete disaster that resulted in a detention for Harry.

"Oi, Potter!" came a derisive voice from behind them as they left the classroom.

"Ignore him," Hermione whispered.

"Tell me, Potter," Malfoy said, walking steadily behind them with Crabbe and Goyle faithfully at his side. "How exactly do you get detention in the first class back, Potter?"

Vera gave Harry a side-glance and saw that he had stopped walking.

"How exactly is your head able to look normal sized considering your huge ego, Malfoy?" Harry said through gritted teeth. He whipped around, and Vera saw him fingering his wand.

"Harry, come on," Vera said silently.

He turned and looked at her. She shook her head and his fingers left his pocket.

"Yeah, listen to your girlfriend there, Potter," Malfoy said haughtily as Crabbe and Goyle laughed maniacally in the background.

"Shove off," Ron said as the four of them stalked off around the corner.

As they entered the common room, Harry and Vera remained overcome with anger, unlike the others who shook off the meeting with ease.

"Ron, I hope you spend this time studying like we're supposed to be doing," Hermione said pointedly as he stretched out on the sofa.

Vera and Harry sat at a table and pulled their books out of their bags. They sat working in silence for quite some time until, finally, Vera felt compelled to say something.

"Harry, I'm sorry about the whole thing with Malfoy, I didn't mean to, um, boss you around or anything. The way Malfoy was talking to you though…"Listen to your girlfriend, Potter!" I can't believe him! Gullible git!" Like Harry and me are really going out, she thought faintly.

Harry's eyes seemed to glaze over at the sound of the world girlfriend, as if in thought. It took him a while to register what she had said.

"Vera, I don't blame you in the least, don't ever think that I would," he said with a small smile.

She returned it and they continued with their work.

"Hey Harry, I'm sorry to bring it up again but…well, why did you go into Malfoy's compartment last night?" The question had been bothering her all day.

After a short silence he answered, "I had a feeling he would talk more about what he was doing in Knockturn Alley."

"Did he?" Vera said, intrigued.

"Well, sort of."

Vera thought of Malfoy breaking Harry's nose and she felt her face flush with anger.

"I can't stand him!" she burst out fiercely.

"What?"

"Malfoy," she spat. Vera hated saying his name at the moment.

"Me too," Harry said, not meeting her gaze. "I can't believe what he said about Voldemort in the compartment, though."

"Harry," Vera pried gently. "Are you sure he was telling the truth?"

He stared her right in the eye with so much intensity that she felt her jaw drop slightly. She could finally comprehend the different shades of green that made up the emerald of his eyes. Beauty beyond her capability of seeing was looking directly into her soul, numbing her fingers and impairing her state of mind. Harry's voice seemed to come from far off.

"Yes, I do," he said quietly.

She nodded; his eyes told her all that she needed to know at the moment.