She stared at the fireworks, so different from her yet, yet so much more beautiful. "You do this every year?" she questioned quietly as the London Eye almost twinkled. Dudley nodded, his arm tight around her waist. "It's so beautiful."

"What better way to celebrate the New Year than blowing things up?" Dudley grinned. He glanced up towards the sky as another firework exploded. "Everyone all around the world is probably watching. Like the Dubai fireworks, Tokyo, Moscow... America's will be later." She sighed happily, resting her head against his body. He moved, so that he was behind her, his arms wrapped around her tightly.

"Do Muggles always believe that kissing at midnight brings good luck?" Aquila asked, thinking of the kiss they had shared about six minutes ago.

"Just on New Years," Dudley muttered into her ear.

"Well, that's a shame," Aquila sighed. "I was going to put it on my list to kiss you every midnight." Dudley froze slightly, his chin against her temple. "Oh, well... I suppose Muggles don't know how to have that much fun."

"I mean... well, what I meant to say was, it's always good luck to kiss at midnight. But on New Years it's extra luck." She giggled, biting her lip.

"Is that so?"

"Mmmhmm," Dudley promised, his mouth now close to her ear.

"Well why didn't you say so?" she chided lightly. Her eyes never left the bursting lights in the sky. She barely even blinked. The bursting lights so came to an end and they stayed there a moment, staring into the black sky.

"I like to pretend that there isn't a war going on," Dudley told her quietly. "Because then we don't have to worry about being outside together... And you don't have to worry. And don't have to stress out."

"This is nice," she admitted, closing her eyes as she leaned into his chest. "I think I can start pretending too." But she couldn't. Not really, anyway. "We should find your parents though. And head back... I have to be at the station at ten tomorrow, because I was nearly late last time."

Dudley sighed, but agreed. The drive back, Dudley and Aquila sat in the back of the car, Vernon and Petunia talking about the fireworks - mostly Petunia, that is. Aquila's head rested against Dudley's shoulder, knowing that in just a few short hours, they'd be separated once more by school. But she was thankful there was a lot of traffic leaving the city, as it meant more time in his presence, and less time locked in her room getting ready. Though, she was already packed.

"Promise you'll write?" she questioned.

"Of course," Dudley replied almost instantly. Her breath left her in what was almost a sigh of relief, and her fingers wound themselves around his own. "I wish break didn't have to end."

"Me too," Aquila admitted. "But I'll be back for Easter, and then summer will be by before you know it."

They didn't make it to Little Whinging until nearly four in the morning, and by then, Aquila knew if she went to bed she wouldn't be able to get up in the morning. Vernon and Petunia went inside, intent on getting as much sleep as possible before their day started. But Dudley held Aquila's hand tightly and didn't let her move as they sat in the back of the Dursley's car, in the middle of the night, alone.

"I'm going to miss you," Aquila said quietly.

"Isn't there a way in your world to freeze time?"

"Yes, but usually to prevent accidents from happening," Aquila giggled. The sight that surrounded them was the inside of the Dursley's gate, which really wasn't that spectacular, but Aquila knew she'd fall asleep if she didn't move soon. "And restrictions prevent it from being used for selfish reasons..."

"I don't think this is a selfish reason. It benefits you, too."

She rolled her eyes, glancing up at him and taking his cheek with her other hand. "Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone, like driving while intoxicated or trying one of Piers' new alcohol concoctions." Dudley opened his mouth to inform her something, but she cut him off. "Don't move on too fast, or there might be hell to pay, and ... write me."

"Of course I'm going to write you. And bloody hell. Move on too fast? Who do you think I am?"

"I'm just kidding," Aquila insisted. "I think you're the sweetest bloke to ever grace the planet of the earth, besides my brother - don't let him hear me say that to you. He claimed that title when I was seven because he rolled around in sugar he made the elves fill his bath with, and all of the old people on my black called him Black Licorice until he was in Hogwarts."

Dudley laughed, pulling her closer. "So, did you have any nicknames?"

"I was Ella Eagle... Or Eagle... Nothing exciting like Black Licorice. I flew a lot."

"No kidding," Dudley chuckled. She flushed. Right, she flew a lot now too. Her eyes closed a second, and when she opened them, Dudley was so close she thought he might kiss her, but he stopped millimeters from her mouth. "Promise me that you won't move on too fast."

"Couldn't even if I tried," she said smartly. She closed the distance, giving him a hard, long kiss that would hopefully remind him of her for the next few months. "I wish I could stay here, but I've got to get home to pack my remaining things..." She let her hand drop off of his cheek. "Get some sleep. I'll see you late in an evening in April."

She grabbed the door handle, kicking it open, when he grabbed her, pulling her back against him, and he kissed her so solidly that she felt everything he meant for her to happiness, the appreciation, the attraction.

And though they hadn't gotten to that stage yet, the love.

It made her not want to leave the car. She forgot about the door handle, and instead she melted into the kiss Dudley was giving her, her arms wrapping around his neck, pulling her closer. And when it broke, Aquila was sure some time had passed. "I'll miss you everyday," she whispered.

"As will I." She loved the tone in his voice. Full of so much promise. It made her feel warm, despite the cold air. She stayed with him for just a moment before she slipped out of the car, reluctantly, hesitantly, slowly. And then she was walking away, knowing that she couldn't look back or she'd never have it in her to leave.

When she got on the train, she knew that the next nine weeks were going to be... well, brutal. Exams always were. She stayed quiet most of the ride, requesting Chocolate Frogs from the trolley and her Quidditch book between her knees. She hadn't gotten through it like she traditionally did, which she didn't mind.

The Chocolate Frogs rested in a pile on her lap, and she slowly ate them, enjoying the silence, the solitude, until the twins barged in, their respective girlfriends trailing.

"There you are!" George grinned. "Been looking through the whole train for you."

Aquila rolled her eyes. "I'm always in this car," she answered, turning a page in her book. She was determined to finish it by the end of the train ride. "What can I do for you?"

"Since when did you like Chocolate Frogs?" Angelina questioned. "I thought you preferred sugar quills." Angelina snatched on from Aquila's lap, inspecting it as she sat down in the seat across from her. "And dark chocolate? I thought you hated dark chocolate."

Aquila shrugged. She did, despised dark chocolate for the bitter flavour and the way it melted so fast - especially with the frogs. "I got a sudden interest."

"Is this because of your boyfriend?" Angelina grinned.

Well... Dudley did like the chocolate frogs the most, after he got over the fact that they weren't actually real frogs, despite how they acted. And he especially liked the dark chocolate variety. "No," Aquila said, but the tone was wrong and Angelina knew better.

"Do you think you're moving on too fast?" Angelina questioned. "I mean, Cedric died a little over seven months ago-"

"I know," Aquila said firmly. "And his death will always make me sad, and... it's horrible and everything, but... I can't keep dwelling on it. So, I think this is good for me. Dudley's... well, we're taking it slow, incredibly slow. We're more... friends that kiss a lot than boyfriend girlfriend really."

Angelina didn't quite believe her. She glanced towards her boyfriend, who was silent, before looking at Aquila. "I don't doubt you know what you're doing. I'm just worried that you might be ... upset. Are you alright?"

Aqula sighed. Was she? She thought of the amazing week she had. The amazing time. "I'm fine," Aquila said softly. "Happy. A little freaked out my uncle is sending me body parts for Christmas, but ... it was a good wake up call. I got to be more-"

"Wait, body parts?" Fred spoke up, pushing his way into the room. "What are you talking about?"

"I stayed later after lunch," Aquila told the twins. "On Christmas. And I had this box I got from Evan Rosier, the first gift ever from him, actually. Remus opened it for me... it was a finger." Alicia gasped, her eyes wide. "The ring was Dorcas Meadowes, but ... they don't know whose finger it was. Remus and Sirius are still testing."

"Who would do something like that?" Angelina muttered. "That's disgusting." She tossed the chocolate frog back at Aquila, letting it land in her lap. "And you didn't get any note with it?"

Aquila shook her head. "I suppose it's a way psychopaths show their love for family."

"Bloody hell... why didn't the Order know about this? As in us?"

Aquila didn't know. She glanced back at her book. "So... I've been pushing it out of my mind. I have enough to worry about. Northern European Cup, the Quidditch Cup - sure as hell hope I beat you guys, not going to lie - and the fact that my boyfriend is potentially being targetted by a maniac's minions. I don't want a psychopathic Uncle out to tuck me in and tell me bedtime stories, too."

They didn't press the issue. "So, you sleep with him yet?" Alicia asked, crassly as always, sitting beside Angelina.

"You're started to sound like Fred," Aquila commented. "And no. I haven't slept with him. Haven't really had time. Too much to do."

"Does he want to sleep with you?"

Angelina snorted. "You have seen Aquila change, right? Anyone in their right mind would want to fuck her-"

"Oi!" Aquila gasped. "I'll have you know-"

"You weren't even alone with him once?" George winced. "I thought you were much more rebellious than that."

Aquila smirked, reading the next foul in her book. She knew she had their attention. "Well, he did get me football tickets for Christmas... one of many things." She glanced up, meeting Angelina's eye. "We had a hotel room all to ourselves-"

"You sly dog!" Alicia gasped. "And?"

"Well I was pretty exhausted," Aquila frowned, shrugging. "I took a shower to wash the paint off... and then he took one after me, and... by the time he got out, I had passed out. Pretty embarrassing, actually. I think I even drooled. And the only other time we were alone together was Christmas Eve, his mother and I got drunk and passed out in the dining room and he stayed on the couch." She shrugged again, glancing back at her book. "We haven't really even talked about it. So... I don't think he's really all that into the idea."

"He is a guy," Angelina said flatly. "He probably can't stop thinking about it. Has he seen you naked yet?"

Aquila rolled her eyes. "I have changed in front of him multiple times. So as naked as a swimsuit would make me."

The twins seemed intrigued by the picture it painted. Aquila rolled her eyes, muttering about boys, and continued reading. "He interrupted your Quidditch reading," Alicia observed.

"So... how much interruption was phsyical?"

"You four are incorrigible," Aquila declared. "Leave me alone to my chocolate and reading, in peace, if you can."

They didn't. Apparently the Black heiress gussying up to a Muggle was interesting, and a change of style, even for her. She kicked them out after the asked if Dudley had any dimples anywhere besides his face.

That Saturday she apparated into Ireland's stadium for her weekly practice, before dawn, and was surprised to see Tara and Quigley, suited up.

"I take it my stints over?" Aquila grinned, clapping Quigley and Tara on the back.

"We're going to run a few drills," Lynch said, walking up to the three. "See if therapy has done any good. If not... we'll move from there. We might be keeping your annoying little eagle yet."

"Oi, I'm not that annoying," Aquila called as Lynch flew away. She glanced at her potential replacements. "I really hope you guys can get back on the team. But... well, no hard feelings, yeah?"

"I didn't even want to do this," Quigley muttered to her. "But my phsyical therapist thinks that it'd be good to try playing again, to strengthen the muscles... I disagree. Probably only make it worse."

"They'll go easy on you," Aquila returned to him, passing her broom to the beater. She glanced at Tara, grinning. "I thought that healer said-"

"My back's still aching," Tara interrupted. "So, yeah, there's no way, but like Quigley said, they seem to think its a good idea to try. I think Amos just wants to see if he can do anything... not that Ireland needs the help. You've been doing a pretty wicked job."

She rolled her eyes. "Please, I've just been keeping your spots warm until you get back."

"Merlin, I want to keep playing," Tara admitted as Quigley took to the sky. "But I don't think my back'll be ready. And for the Cup? We're looking at a huge risk if I'm out."

Aquila knew that. "Amos knows what he's doing. If he thinks you can do it, then you can. You know how cautious that man is. He'd rather throw the Cup in the fire before risk anyone's safety or health."

Quigley informed Amos that his arm hurt, and Aquila wasn't sure if he was just saying it, so that he wouldn't have to risk it hurting again, but Amos seemed resigned to signing him off the team. Tara on the other hand agreed to try to play. Which meant either her or Gavin had to go.

"Aquila's got her own team to worry about," Lynch pointed out. And she knew it was true. Her own team had been suffering lately. She had to make a come back if she wanted the Cup. "And Gavin's got the Ministry job that takes up most of his time. We're lucky to get him here to practice on time-" That was also true. Gavin was always late on Saturday practice, the only time he could practice as well. He worked late nights at the Ministry on the week days and would be so exhausted that by the time Saturday rolled around, he ususally was a good hour or two late.

"What if we rotate?" Gavin suggested. "We need a reserve, no matter what. Aquila's got her studies, I've got work. If Aquila and I alter our Saturdays, so that she's here one Saturday, I'm here another, we can each get the time we need to do what we need in our private lives, and also be there for the team. We also run less a risk of injury."

"Is that allowed?"

Eyes fell to Aquila, who knew the rules by the back of her hand. Probably better than most referees. "Absolutely," Aquila said immediately. "As long as the agreement is made public so that all teams that we face in the future have the ability to request the player - which is legal. If they'd rather play with Gavin as their reserve, on a Saturday scheduled for me, that's allowed. If they'd rather play me, instead of Gavin, that's also allowed. Most won't have a problem with it. Teams like Madrid and Ibiza, on the other hand, may be a bit picky and testy-"

"So, just in writing and made on the Quidditch stations."

Aquila nodded. "I'd do paper, globally, Quidditch Weekly, and also write to each team individually. That way there's no chance they don't hear about it. If you hurry, Amos, you might be able to catch Quidditch Weekly before they publish their edition for tomorrow."

Amos nodded, making a note on the parchment in front of him. "How would we go about trainings?" Tara asked. "I know my schedule would be back to normal, but for Aquila and Gavin?"

"Every other Saturday. Who wants the first Saturday?" Aquila did, so she called it. Her eyes travelled to the man across from her, watching her every move. The captain. Lynch. He looked like he had something to say to her, to tell her - either tactically, or otherwise. "I expect you here next Saturday at six sharp. We have a match that night. Come prepared to stay late, and possibly overnight. Think Dumbledore would let you out?"

She nodded immediately. "I have a free pass to go to and from the castle on the weekends whenever I'd like."

"Good," Lynch nodded. "Gavin, I want you to do strength exercises in your home, to keep you in shape. But I expect to see you the Saturday after at six am. We have another match that night."

"If you send me anything to study, plans, whatever," Aquila began. "I can get started on that, so we can save time on trying to catch me up on what you went over in the week. I don't know how you'd do it, but anyway. Also, I plan on being in the pitch every morning this term from dawn to breakfast, so I'll be keeping in top shape."

"Already in top shape," Lynch winked. "That's why you're here."

Aquila flushed at the compliment. So it was decided. And as Aquila kept getting closer to finals, and to her own Cup match, so did the haunting of the Northern European Cup. It was on Gavin's Saturday. And it being on Gavin's Saturday meant that she would miss it.

It was a tight match, between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Potter managed to get a formidable opponent with Ginny Weasley as seeker, and fierce as hell, Ginny knocked Cho aside as she caught the snitch. 240-230. Aquila wasn't pleased.

Wasn't even close to happy. One goal - one goal and it would have been tied and Ravenclaw would have won because of the points they'd racked up from their defeat of the other teams. Her team was undefeated and Gryffindor had lost a match, by a lot.

So Aquila wasn't pleased.

She went to her Saturday practice the following week pissed, and it showed with how hard she hit the bludgers and how frustrated she would get when she missed.

"Tough game?"

"Ten points," Aquila spat, pulling her arm from Amos's grasp. She sighed, glancing out at the pitch as she stood in the coach's box. He had called her in, worried. "It was a fair game, no fouls I could find, but we would have won with the points we had, and the points that we had saved-" Aquila took a deep breath. "Ten points."

"Gavin's unable to continue once the summer hits. The Ministry is putting him in charge of a project." Aquila raised an eyebrow, wondering why that concerned her ... she didn't need to know. "Gavin won't be able to play in the NE Cup."

"And so... you need a reserve."

"Not a reserve," Amos grinned. "Tara's taking reserve. Her back's been hurting... We need a starting player. Know anyone?"

Did she. This was a joke, right? "Is Lynch trying to make a joke, because this isn't-"

"Great. I'll let Lynch know you're on board," Amos twinkled. He glanced out towards the pitch, where the players were flying. "Oh, and there was a foul at that game. I know, I was there. Ginny hit Chang with an illegal blow to the head, knocking her unconscious for a split second. Aquila's jaw dropped, not with the foul information, but-

"I'm playing in the NE Cup?" Aquila whispered. "But... Are you sure?"

"Oh, I've never been more sure. You've proven yourself on and off the field, Aquila." Amos grinned as he glanced at her. "Lynch suggested you almost immediately. If Lynch believes you're good enough to play opening beater, then you are absolutely good enough."

Aquila thought she might cry. She immediately wrote to Dudley that night, inviting not only him, but his parents along to the match. They'd all have to be disguised, of course. This match was big, and Death Eaters would most definitely be watching. The response came not even twelve hours later - which she knew was as long as it took for her poor owl to fly back from Little Whinging. She needed four tickets, and a lot of hope that Dumbledore would agree to let Potter come along too.