"What's going on between you and Slughorn?" Erin asked Harry one day as they sat down at the Gryffindor table for breakfast.

"Dumbledore showed me a memory of Slughorn's with Tom Riddle as a student of his asking about some bit of magic…but the memory was tampered with. Dumbledore thinks it's the last link in the chain and we can't go forward until we have the memory. I asked Slughorn about it and he's been avoiding me ever since."

"I will never understand why people are ashamed of their memories and keep them hidden."

"That's because they have never lived without them. I'm just glad you're getting yours back." Harry said smiling giving her a one armed hug.

She smiled at him and kissed his cheek. "So am I. Dad was so excited when I wrote him to tell him about it. He's much happier now that he's not required to stay in the house and go out and walk or go to the pub when he wants to."

"I would be too. I've been on house arrest before, nowhere near as long as he was, but it was awful."

She nodded. "On another note, I received a reply back from the person I asked to Slughorn's Christmas Party."

"What did he say?"

"He said he will be here the day of the party. I'm meeting him in Hogsmeade and I got permission from McGonagall to invite him. Have you asked Luna yet?"

"Not yet, haven't had the time, I will soon though."

It seemed everyone had heard that Erin and Harry weren't going to Slughorn's party together. Of course this meant to most girls that they had broken up. Harry was having a hard time circumventing the hallways and corridors because girls were trying to waylay him and clustering under the mistletoe that hung on the ceiling. He was using all the secret passages he knew of to keep away from them. Romilda Vane was the most persistent of the bunch, always popping up when he least expected it. So far he was able to stay out of trouble.

He was with Hermione in the library one day and she told them that at least a dozen girls were trying to give him love potions. "What? Why didn't you confiscate them?"

"They didn't have them with them. They were only discussing stratagem to give them to you."

Harry groaned.

"Speaking of stratagem and love and all that…"

Harry gave her a look. "What?"

"Why aren't you and Erin going to Slughorn's Christmas party together? Everything's okay between you right?" Hermione asked concerned.

"Of course it is." He assured her. "We just decided to go with other people so others could enjoy it too. I'm planning to ask Luna to go as soon as I get a moment to ask her."

"Oh," she nodded smiling. "That's nice of you two. Who is Erin going with?"

"Oh, I don't know, some guy."

Erin met Viktor in Hogsmeade at the Three Broomsticks. He smiled hugging her. "Thank you for inviting me. I have missed all of you."

"We've missed you too." Erin told him giving him a hug.

"Is Her-mo-ninny seeing anyone?"

"No, she's going to the party with someone, but she didn't really want to go with him. She was trying to get back at Ron because he upset her and he's dating Lavender Brown."

"And you invited me to also get back at Ron?" He asked smirking.

"Yes." She nodded. "It's so annoying living with them anymore. Especially Ron," She made a face. "This should shake things up a little bit. I hope so, anyway."

"I will do my best."

Erin got Viktor to the castle and into the boy's dorm while Harry had Hermione in the library. Ron wasn't there, but that was normal these days. Neville, Dean, and Seamus were more than happy to hang out with Viktor before the party. Erin left them there and went to get ready. She was happier than she had been in a long time. Despite the threat of Voldemort and his Death Eaters over their heads it was a happy time. It was Christmas and she had everything in the world to make her happy. Harry was by her side, her Dad was a free man, and she had all her friends together, even if they weren't speaking at the moment. There was about to be a new baby in the family.

There was a knock on the door and Ginny came in dressed in a pretty green dress, her red hair spilling everywhere. "Could you do my hair?"

"Sure, sit down." She got up so Ginny could sit down in front of her vanity. Ginny was looking about ready to pop, despite that she looked happy. Erin brushed her long hair and pulled some back turning it into loose waves, leaving the rest straight.

"Do you think Donovan will like it?"

"That boy likes everything about you." Erin told her smiling. "Of course he will. You could show up in a potato sack and dirt and he would still think you were the prettiest girl in the room."

"Kind of like you and Harry?"

"Well, I hope he has a little more sense than Donovan, but he doesn't, so yes."

Ginny chuckled. "They are kind of adorable."

"They do have their moments," Erin agreed.

Hermione was dancing with McLaggen…actually, more like he was trying to pull her as close as he could and she was pulling back as much as she could. "Excuse me? May I cut in?" The both looked up and Hermione was surprised to see Viktor there.

McLaggen wasn't sure what he should say. It was Viktor Krum after all. "Yes!" Hermione said pulling away from the now uncertain older boy and Viktor took her hand.

"Thank you." Viktor told McLaggen dancing off with Hermione.

Hermione was a little breathless. "What are you doing here?"

"I came with Erin." He said smiling.

"She invited you? Why didn't she tell me?"

"It was a surprise." He said softly smiling at her. "You have grown even more beautiful."

Hermione blushed not even sure what to say to that. He had that affect on her though. The music stopped though as Filch came in with Malfoy. "Professor, I caught him lurking in the corridor outside," Filch said to Slughorn. "He said he was invited. Did you issue him an invitation?"

"I did." Kaeli said coming over. "He is with me."

"If she says he's with her, then he is invited," Slughorn said.

"I wasn't lurking I was making sure I looked all right." Draco said as Filch let him go.

"Mr. Malfoy, a word, please," Snape said taking the boy's arm leading him out into the hall.

Once they were out of earshot Draco getting jittery and nervous said, "What is it? I need to get back."

"You are being very foolish, boy. We cannot afford these mistakes, because if you are expelled…"

"I didn't do it!" Draco rushed in eyes wide. "It wasn't me, I swear it. I didn't curse Bell."

"If I thought you were lying—"

"I'm not, ask Kaeli. I don't have any secrets from her." He said in a hushed voice. "I don't know who did…but it wasn't me. I swear to you it wasn't me. Hey, don't look at me like that. I know what you're doing!"

"Aunt Bellatrix is teaching you Occlumency. What thoughts are you trying to conceal…?"

"Nothing!" he said too quickly in a strangled voice.

Snape was silent for a moment. "You're keeping a secret about Miss Monson."

"Stop, please! Please, just stop!" Draco pleaded.

"I won't tell the Dark Lord, Draco." He said sighing. "But I know what the Dark Lord has chosen you for a specific purpose."

"I know that! But Kaeli is the only thing keeping me doing them instead of….instead of…" Draco was getting almost hysterical. "I need Kaeli."

"Calm yourself, Draco. I am here to help you." He pushed him against the wall.

"Kaeli!" Draco was yelling now. "Kaeli!"

The blonde girl appeared around the corner. She had scared Harry almost half to death appearing, but she barely gave him a second glance as she hurried down the hall. Draco pushed away Snape's hands going to her. He wrapped his arms around her burying his face her shoulder. She tried to calm knowing how bad his anxiety was getting, how much pressure was on him.

"He wasn't the one that cursed Miss Bell?" Snape asked the girl.

Kaeli looked up at him and shook her head. "No, he did not. I don't know who else has been charged with killing him, but I do know they are at Hogwarts. Draco is not the only student that is a Death Eater."