Morning came faster than Aquila was ready for. She had cancelled the silencing charm before she had gone to sleep and then tucked the sheet around her as she got as close to Dudley as possible for warmth. The sun was shining through the crack under the door and Aquila stared at it as she waited for Dudley to awaken. She truly didn't want to move, despite the rumbling of her stomach.

There was a knock on the door of Dudley's bedroom, making Aquila squeak and jab her elbow into Dudley's side on accident.

"Sorry," Aquila whispered when he sprung awake. She scrambled out of the bed silently, grabbing her jumper and shorts, throwing them on.

"What, Mum?" Dudley asked calmly, falling back to relax on his bed. Wasn't he freaking out? Aquila certainly was. Petunia would think so little of her if she knew what had happened-

"I'm making breakfast for you and Aquila. If she's awake, you're welcome to join for coffee and tea," Petunia's voice drifted through the wood. Aquila blinked. What? How had the woman known? Sure, Aquila had come over pretty late last night, but they had gone to bed. Wouldn't Petunia and Vernon have thought she went home?

"Coffee?" Dudley asked her. "Or sleep in?"

She considered her options. "Sleep in sounds good, but... I don't want to be rude."

Dudley shifted onto his side, his eyes closed as he made room for her to rejoin him. "Door's locked. Mum'll live."

Aquila took a deep breath before getting back into bed, not bothering to apologize for her scratchy clothing against his skin. He was warm and she was freezing and still tired. "How did your Mum know I stayed?"

"I locked the door. That's code in the house that you don't open the door no matter what." Dudley smirked as he rested his mouth against her shoulder. "And my door's hardly ever locked, so I'm pretty sure it's obvious."

"Oh, Merlin," Aquila muttered.

"Well, just that you stayed over, that is." Dudley cleared his throat before saying louder so his mother could hear. "We're sleeping in!" He kissed her shoulder lightly as the footsteps faded away. "Now she knows that there was a bit more going on than just staying over."

"What? Dudley!"

"Kidding," he insisted. She honestly didn't think he was, but sighed. Shutting her eyes, she felt his arm tightly go around her waist. "Honestly though, sleep sounds great."

She agreed on that and didn't know how long she was asleep for until Dudley was shaking her awake. "Lunch's done."

He was showered, dressed, and smelled delicious. Aquila reached for her wand on instinct, comforted it was there, and squinted at him. "What time is it?"

"Almost eleven."

She groaned, blinking to get a better look at him. He was staring at her, like she was … Aquila didn't know but it was weird. "What?" Pushing the hair out of her face, she yawned and rested once more against his pillow, watching him where he was a few feet away. Eye level with her. He was kneeling on the ground, his chin resting on the edge of the mattress.

"You're always beautiful."

Aquila rolled her eyes, shoving at the hand outstretched on the mattress playfully. "Saying that won't make anything happen between now and lunch."

"I never said it would," Dudley smirked. She grabbed his hand suddenly, feeling the skin against hers. He seemed confused as to what she was doing. She closed her eyes.

"Your energy feels nice." Yawning once more, she shifted. Her grip on his hand tightened slightly.

"You really should get up for lunch, though. Because Potter's threatening to barge in here."

Aquila's eyes shot open. "Why?"

"He's convinced I'm keeping you captive." Dudley sighed in exaggeration. "I insisted that wasn't the case, but you know how dramatic he is."

Aquila rolled her eyes. "Potter's a baby." Aquila let go of him and sat up, straightening the jumper she had put on that morning. She slid out of the bed, flicking her wand so that it was made, and then eyed him. "How long have you been awake?"

"Fifteen minutes."

"Oh," she murmured. She kissed him lightly, having to stand on her toes to reach, before she eyed herself in the mirror. Flicking her wand, the shorts and shirt changed to a different pair of shorts and another shirt, one she knew was distinctly in Dudley's wardrobe. He raised an eyebrow at her choice in clothing.

"My sweats and rugby jacket?" he asked.

"I'm cold," Aquila admitted. "Is this alright?"

"Maybe lunch can wait," Dudley admitted quietly. She giggled, full on laughing as he picked her up and threw her onto the bed, causing her to bounce slightly at the action.

"Dudley!" she scolded, trying to get up, but his hands were on her waist as he leaned over her, silencing her with a kiss. She melted into him, happily putting of lunch. And they did. Not for an overly long time, it was quick, and the silencing spell was in place for only a few minutes.

She sighed into the blankets under her, reaching for the rugby sweater. It was getting cold again. "You want to take a shower?" Dudley asked. "We've got shampoo and stuff... I may have tangled your hair."

She frowned into the mirror, noticing that it did look a little ratty. "But isn't Petunia waiting with lunch?"

He shrugged. "It's up to you. The option's open." She bit her lip, thinking about it, before nodding. A shower sounded nice. She dressed in her shorts and shirt, using his actual rugby jumper and sweats to change into once she was clean. "Right, towel is right here," Dudley said, placing a towel on the counter. "And there should be plenty of soap in the shower."

"Your soap?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said, biting his lip. "Why?"

"I just want to smell like you," she said innocently.

"Oh, bloody hell," he murmured. "Go take a shower."

"Think of me," she laughed, listening to him shut the door. She heard him laughing in the hall and she turned the shower on, finding it was much like the one in her own home. She sniffed the shampoo in the little aclove and noticed it smelt just like him. She lathered it into her hair, sighing and washing.

She loved him so much. And she was going to be heartbroken when she had to let him go for Quidditch. But she tried not to think of it, instead of the glorious five weeks ahead of her, ahead for them. She was going to make sure each one was full of something special. Each day was meaningful and full of memories.

When she got out of the shower, she cast a quick combing charm on her hair, not bothering to towel it. It would dry on its own. She transfigured her shorts and jumper into a lace bra and matching panties, before pulling Dudley's sweats on, rolling them up and tying them off with a piece of toilet paper transfigured into a belt. The sweater was large on her, but it made her feel all the warmer, and she sighed, casting a spell to make the bathroom spotless, before throwing the towel into the hamper and exiting.

Dudley was leaning against the kitchen counter, talking to his mother when she walked downstairs, and he grinned when he saw her. "So, sandwiches and soup or sandwiches and crisps?"

"Whatever's fine," Aquila admitted. She glanced at Petunia. "Good afternoon. Do you need any help?"

"Oh, no, no, don't mind me. You two be love birds on your own time, I'm just in the background," Petunia insisted, waving her hands towards her son.

Aquila laughed. "That doesn't mean we can't enjoy your company, too."

"Just no children until I'm gray," Petunia said seriously.

Aquila giggled. "Of course not. Is Vernon at work?"

"Oh, yes, he leaves quite early. I'm surprised you didn't wake up with all the ruckus you were making," Petunia laughed lightly. She began slicing some vegatable items. "Now, I don't want to know what went on last night, but I do want to know that you were safe-"

"Mum!" Dudley groaned.

"Of course, Petunia," Aquila insisted. "We rewinded the tape afterwards so that it's all ready for the next time someone wants to watch it."

Petunia's laughter was loud, amused, and she waved the knife in Aquila's direction. "You better keep her Dudley, or you're grounded for life."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Mum," Dudley snorted, pulling Aquila into her arms. His face buried itself into her wet hair, inhaling along her neck. "You look great in my clothes."

"I don't think we need a repeat of twenty minutes ago with your mum present," she whispered quietly into his ear.

"You're probably right," he agreed quietly. They were silent for a moment as he embraced her, her own arms around his middle. "I love you."

"And I, my dearest Dudley, love you," she returned equally as quiet. She swallowed as she pulled himself from his grasp, glancing at Petunia. "Are you sure you don't need help?"

"No, you two go do something productive... but not reproductive."

"Mum!" Dudley cried, yet again, and Aquila just laughed. Her and Dudley sat in the entertainment room, where Potter was watching some show. As soon as they entered, he groaned and tossed the remote towards Dudley. Aquila caught it, mainly due to his horrible aim.

"You'd make a horrible Beater or Chaser, Potter," she snorted. She passed it to Dudley and sat down next to her boyfriend. He changed the channel to some comedy show and she watched it in interest, her feet tucked in as she tried to stay warm - she didn't know why, but she was freezing.

Dudley seemed to notice and brought her closer, rubbing his hand up and down her arm. It made her feel warm, and she sighed in content. Petunia called them to lunch a few minutes later, a selection of turkey and ham sandwiches on a platter and an abundance of crisps to follow. She even had a few bowls of soup. "I decided to go all out," she admitted. "Never can have a nice meal anymore."

"I'm sure it's lovely," Aquila murmured. She sat across from Dudley, and Potter sat next to her, as they ate.

"So, what are your summer plans, Aquila? Now that you're an international sports player and all," Petunia asked conversationally.

"Well I have training every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from four to ten. And then Saturday trainings from six to noon. And I'll have two matches before trials, so I'm not free much in the mornings, or some Saturdays. But I intend to spend every second of the rest of it having fun."

"And what about after trials?" Potter asked. "Heading to the Burrow?"

"Er, no," Aquila admitted. She glanced at Dudley, his gaze dropping to his soup as he spooned another mouthful. "After I try out for the team, I already guaranteed a spot, but it's, uh, mandatory I do a formal try out and go through the formal process. Immediately after trials, I'm going to be with a personal trainer pretty much sixteen hours a day, for the next year, until the trials for next year... And I will have no access to the outside world, except for Hogwarts and letters sent to me." She winced at Petunia's surprised look. "It means no holidays, no ... parties, and pretty much no fun."

"So you're not coming back here?"

She hesitated. "Yes, but not... right away. I have to go through conditioning and mentality training first."

"I think it's utter rubbish," Dudley muttered.

Aquila sighed. "I know, I'm sorry."

Petunia frowned slightly. "I didn't know that," she admitted. "When did you find this out?"

"Two weeks ago," Aquila admitted quietly. "Amos mentioned it when he took a number count for the trials tent. And I only just got back Wednesday-" She let out a breath, forcing a pleasant smile on her face. "It's been a tad hectic." He still wouldn't look at her.

"And you'll be living with the team?" Harry asked, his mouth full. It was something she noticed he had picked up from Ron.

"At the pitch, actually," Aquila admitted. "There's a few rooms for when we get injured or something. And it's pretty safe. If not, I'll probably move in with Tara or something, now that she'll be back."

Petunia made her promise to come back for tea, and so Aquila agreed, but left the house in Dudley's clothing, which she suspected Dudley liked by the way he kissed her goodbye.

When she returned home, her mother was gone and Angelina was sitting on her bed, an annoyed expression.

"I was expecting a welcome party, not complete abandonment."

"So, I found the contract," Aquila said instead of an apology. She ran her fingers through her near dry hair. "And looks like Malfoy was telling the truth. Simon Otterburn, Christmas break."

"What?" Angelina cried. "You're kidding!"

"That's what I thought at first, until I actually read it," Aquila said lightly. She explained to Angelina a few highlights of the terms, nodding each time Angelina asked her if she was serious - which, unfortunately, she was. She wished she could come up with some of these for spite. "Mum was not happy," Aquila supplied. "So, I left for the night."

"And morning," Angelina grinned. "So, you're in his clothes, you're wet, meaning you took a shower there... how was it?"

Aquila sighed, falling onto her bed as she considered the question. "It was nice..." Getting onto her elbow, she turned towards the older witch. "Really nice."

"Any details?" Angelina pressed.

"No, I don't want details of you and George," Aquila reasoned. "You don't get details of Dudley and I." She flopped onto her back, again, sighing. "Told mum I was going to do it, too. It was fantastic, the look on her face."

"There was a bit of a fight when I first got here this morning. Apparently your elf had confiscated her wand?"

"Wait, you said she was gone?" Aquila demanded, sitting up.

"Er, yeah, is she not supposed to be?" Angelina asked, confused.

"I enacted that really old law where I'm in charge since she's endangering... Shit," Aquila cursed. "Polly!"

"Polly is sorry, Mistress!" the elf wailed as soon as it saw her. She saw the bruises where he had tried to punish himself. "Mistress used her strength against me!"

"It's alright," Aquila insisted. "Where did she go? Did she say? Do you know?"

"Mistress went to Malfoy Manor, to discuss the contract," Polly said in a whisper. "Polly told her not to go, that it would be very dangerous, but Mistress Black would not listen. She left an hour before Mistress came back from her Dudby's." Aquila bit her lip, running through possible scenarios. But all ended up with her unable to go to her mother due to the fact that she'd be walking into a Death Eater lair. "Poppy will do anything Mistress asks."

"Go to the Order, tell them what has happened - including everything you heard last night about the contract. They need to be informed. And make sure to stress that she went to Malfoy Manor this evening. Tell no one else but the Order."

"Yes, Mistress. Of course, Mistress," the elf wailed and then was gone with a pop. Aquila glanced at Angelina.

"Well, I moved in at an excellent time," Angelina snorted. She fell back on the bed, sighing. "So, why do you think the Dursleys like you?"

Aquila snorted. "Wow, real self-esteem boost."

"No, I mean... It's just... Potter always talks about how his aunt and uncle hate magic, hate anything to do with it. And how they hate it so much he was locked away in a cupboard for eleven years - they even moved across the country to try and keep him from Hogwarts... Why do you think they suddenly like you - basically nothing Muggle about you?"

"I don't know," Aquila admitted. She had thought about it often. "It could be the fact that I knew how to cure Dudley, after the Dementor attack. Or... or the fact that my mother is horribly rude to them and I was rather kind. Or ... I don't know, I treated them like people - which I doubt our kind has done in the past, often. And no matter what, they're stuck with me, I mean, I'm not only dating their son, but I'm sort of their protection - and now you are. I think they've come to terms with the fact they can't accept it."

"But how do you feel about you dating Dudley?"

"Oh, Petunia's been nothing but happy," Aquila said after a moment, thinking. "And she whole-heartedly supports it. I mean, her sister was a witch. She's got to... think something about it, that isn't negative." Angelina made a hum of agreement. "Vernon... was difficult. But, he wasn't openly hostile to me, after the first night we met. It was also the night my mother showed up for dinner, which... I think ... I don't know. He seemed to be generally intrigued by her - not in a personality way, but... in an asset way. And yesterday, at the tent, when I told him that the pay was bloody awesome, for Ireland, he was a little more accepting of everything around him."

"You think he's okay with it, because if you marry Dudley, you're bringing in a shit-load of money."

"Essentially," Aquila agreed. "Which is okay. It's natural for a father to want their child success - lord knows Mum does it for me, always trying to get the most money-"

"She wants the money for herself, though."

"I don't think Vernon wants it for himself," Aquila admitted softly. "No, I think he's far too intimidated by our world to consider that being an option to anything. But if he doesn't forbid Dudley and I from dating because of it, I guess it's alright..." She bit her lip. "But he's opened his eyes so much - he even has a Wizard Device in his car now, to stop it from being too expensive on petrol and everything. So... I would say that it was an initial thing, but..."

"Now that he actually knows you, they both do, they actually like you and are willing to be more open," Angelina supplied. "I guess that makes sense. And Dudley?"

"He's curious, about our world," Aquila shrugged. "Always asks questions, always is more than willing to explain things about his. And he always tends to do the daring - I mean, on the flight to your place, he wanted me to splash Fred and Petunia back for splashing us - in the middle of the Irish Sea. I really do think he loves me, and not for the same reason as his parents. As a person."

"It also helps that you're bloody gorgeous," Angelina countered.

"That, too," Aquila laughed. She sighed. "How did I get so lucky?"

"Because your entire life, you've been pretty damn unlucky. It's about time things started turning around."