"Where is Harry?" asked Ron, "he didn't come back to the dorm last night, did he?"

"Nope," Neville replied, lounging beside his friend on the banks of the Lake, "well, I didn't see him this morning and his bed was made. The house elves aren't that fast are they?"

"No. He didn't sleep in his bed last night… Man, I could kill that Chang girl. She has bewitched poor Harry and now he is just an empty shell, abandoning his friends and forgetting about the rest of the world…"

"But there is something which will certainly jerk him back to his senses. I heard Blaise muttering to himself during the ball. He saw Harry and now… he's out to get him."

"A challenge!" Ron's eyes glittered.

"But will Harry answer it?"

"He'll have to. Blaise is not one for mercy."

"Ron! Neville!" a voice called from over at the castle.

"Harry!" Neville waved but Ron turned and started walking away. When Harry was closer he turned and gave a mock bow. "Good morrow Harry and goodbye. You deserted us last night and now I am returning the favour."

"Deserted you?" Harry laughed, grabbed his friend by the shoulder and whirled him around, "what do you mean?"

"Abandoned your friends, left your allies… do you need a thesaurus?"

"But I had too. It was important."

"Is Chang more important than your friends?"

"Cho? Please! I forgot all about her and all the pain she caused."

"Really?"

"Honestly and truly."

"But still, whatever it was you were doing was so important to abandon your friends at their moment of glory."

"Way more important than that Charms paper you left for me to finish!"

"That was important."

"Then so was last night. Or do you still get lost in this big castle Weasley?"

"Lost? Who was the last person to get caught at the trick stair?"

"Uh, you actually!" Harry grinned at Ron's shocked expression.

Then his friend laughed and punched him on the shoulder. "See? You're cured! You're sociable now! See what 'love' does to you? It messes up your humour, making you see only one person, the person causing you pain rather than the people that care about you! You've seen the light Harry! Thank god you saw what a bitch that girl really is before something really bad happened!" and the two friends started chasing each other up and down the muddy banks before collapsing in a heap, laughing and panting. Ron rolled on top of Harry, pinning him down, then whispering in his ear, "Isn't it better like this? Just us guys with no girls to worry about?"

"Harry!" a voice called.

"Except that one girl we can't get rid of!" Ron muttered, looking up and seeing Hermione come running down towards them. The two young men stood up and brushed themselves down. When Hermione came to a skidding halt before them, Ron put his arm around her. "How goes it Hermione?"

She shrugged him off. "OK Ron, and don't even think about bragging to me about your little adventure last night. I still think it was too reckless. But I'm not here to lecture you."

"That's a change," Ron mumbled under his breath.

Hermione shot him a withering glare. "I am here to speak to Harry… alone," shooting another look over her shoulder at Neville. Then she grabbed Harry by the arm and marched off, pulling him along. When they were out of hearing range she turned and faced him.

"So?" Hermione began.

"Hermione," Harry said, looking around, "I don't have time to go to the library today. I have to meet someone-"

"Yes. Me."

"Hermione, you know Flitwick's homework backwards-"

"I know I do. This is about," and she lowered her voice, "Draco."

Harry stared at her in shock. "You… Hermione, how do you know Draco Malfoy?"

She sighed. "I got to know him a while ago. Professor Snape paired us together in Potions ages ago. Draco is really good at the prac but not as good at the theory so I offered to help. He hated it at first but soon we found we had a lot in common. He showed me the correct way to brew that Moonlight Potion and then get at least a decent grade from Snape. After that, we have been getting together every so often. He is also really good, surprisingly, at Charms so we practise on each other."

By now Harry's jaw had dropped.

"Oh, come on Harry. Me being friends with a Slytherin is not as weird or crazy as you being in love with one! How did that happen?"

Harry smiled. "I really don't know. It's like nothing else, Hermione. I have found my soul mate, my other half. He's so beautiful, intelligent, amazing…"

Hermione laughed, "And Draco said practically the same thing about you when we spoke this morning!" and Harry blushed, "Another thing, when did you know you were… you know…"

"Gay? When I saw him… it doesn't change anything between us does it?" Harry looked up anxiously.

"No, of course not! You're still Harry, aren't you? Nothing can change that, straight, gay or bi. Anyway, to business. What are the arrangements?"

"Tell Draco that Remus Lupin is coming in to perform the ceremony. I've already sent an owl. Tell him to come to the Room of Requirement at three o'clock this afternoon… if he still wants to marry me."

"I'm sure he will… Remus Lupin. Three o'clock. Room of Requirement. Got it. What about your classes?"

"I dunno. I completely forgot about them."

"I know!" Hermione cried, "Draco has charms next. I can tell Flitwick that he is in the Hospital Wing. You and I have Care of Magical Creatures-"

"And Hagrid already knows so he won't ask any questions! Thanks Hermione! Please go and tell Draco now! Tell him about this afternoon and… tell him… that I love him."

"I will," whispered Hermione as she ran off, looking for a certain someone. Harry watched her go, a smile on his face.

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