Sorry, I know it's been a while since I last published. Life has just been really busy which I'm sure you can all understand. I promise to be more frequent with my updates from now on.

Thank you all so so much for reading and please don't forget to comment - I love reading what you guys write

This is chapter 20, enjoy!


Time is a funny thing. Sometimes it seems to fly by, while other times it appears to not move. For instance, with all the homework teachers were piling on top of us forth years before the holidays, there had rarely been a spare second in any of our lives.

But now we had heaps of spare seconds.

With all this free time, even though we were still set lots of homework, I often found myself trekking down to the Durmstrang ship. Those long hours I spent waiting for Ivan on the cold winter grounds were some of the longest in my life. Occasionally someone would agree to give him my message; that I just wanted to talk. But not once had he replied or acknowledged me in any way.

On New Year's Eve, I found myself shivering in front of the Durmstrang ship while trying to not freeze to death. I was extra cold because I'd laid my thick cloak on the snowy ground to act as a seat. I'd managed to find a Durmstrang girl who was willing to get a message to Ivan. I told her to tell him this: "Lean's sorry and really, really wants to spend New Year's Eve with you."

It was true. I was feeling truly pathetic sitting here all alone. I had no watch so I had no clue when 1994 would end and 1995 would begin. I figured Hogwarts wouldn't be this quiet once the clock ticked over. The determination to wait for Ivan until midnight was the only thing that kept me from retreating to the Gryffindor common room and curling up in front of the warm fire...

In my own world, I was completely oblivious that someone was approaching me until they were tapping me on the shoulder.

I turned around slowly, knowing it wasn't Ivan as I hadn't taken my eyes off the ship's entrance.

"Harry?" I said in disbelief. "What are you doing out here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he muttered, staring at my snow-covered cloak.

"I'm waiting for a friend," I said, turning to look at the ship. "Although it looks like he won't be coming."

"Then he's an idiot," Harry said. He gestured to the cloak on the ground, "May I?"

I nodded shuffling over to make room. Harry sat down, and our arms momentarily brushed against one another. His arm was warm and I resisted the urge to lean into his body and let the warmth wash over me.

Harry had a completely different reaction.

"Jeez Lean, you're shivering!" He exclaimed and without hesitation, he pulled off his cloak and wrapped it around my body.

"But then you'll be cold," I protested, shaking it off and trying to shove it back in his hands.

"I won't."

"Don't lie to me, Potter."

Harry sighed. "Why do you have to be so stubborn, Lean? Tell you what, we'll share it, happy?"

"Very," I grinned, not resisting as Harry draped half the cloak over my body. This time I did lean into his body. His arm wrapped awkwardly around my back and I snuggled into his chest.

Sure, it looked intimate but it wasn't. We were merely friends trying to make the best of an uncomfortable situation.

"So..." I began, breaking the silence. "I told you why I'm out, now it's your turn."

Harry paused before answering. "I-I was looking for you."

"Why?"

"I was worried you'd do something stupid like try and catch hypothermia. I'm so glad I was wrong."

I lifted my head from Harry's chest to give him a look. "Sarcasm's not a good look on you, Harry." My gaze dropped to his wrist. "How long to midnight?" I asked.

Harry glanced at his watch. "Only six minutes. That was the other reason why I came looking for you. I didn't want you to be alone at midnight."

I tilted my head and noticed – despite it being pitch black – that Harry's face was glowing as he just realised what he'd accidentally implied. "I-I err... no... I just didn't want..."

"Relax Har'," I chuckled. "I know what you meant."

We descended into silence once more. But after a few minutes, Harry broke it. "This guy, the one who's standing you up, is he the same guy from Boxing Day? Aidan or something?"

"It's Ivan," I retorted. "And yeah, although I wouldn't say he standing me up exactly."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we never actually agreed to meet, I just sent him an indirect message.

"An indirect message?"

"I asked another Durmstrang student to ask him to meet me here."

"Ah..." Harry said. "So... he mightn't have even received the invite?"

"It's possible," I agreed. "Only... he's been ignoring me since Boxing Day."

"Oh," he said. "Well... for what it's worth, I think Evan is a jerk who does not deserve the pleasure of your company."

"Okay, now you're just saying his name wrong on purpose," I laughed, rolling my eyes. Then I realised what else Harry had said, and sat up abruptly. "The pleasure of my company? Is that really what you think?"

"Of course," he replied. "How many times do we have to go over this, I think you're amazing, Lean."

I blushed, but didn't look away.

"I think you're pretty amazing too, Harry Potter," I whispered, leaning in closer to him. In the background, I could a faint countdown from ten. As it got closer to zero, I felt my heart pick up.

"Three!"

Harry's emerald green eyes travelled down to my lips.

"Two!"

Now his lips were inches from mine own.

"One!"

I closed my eyes and pictured closing the last distance from our mouths but then...

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!"

Instantly, we flew apart, both of us landing in the snow, Harry's cloak we'd been using as a blanket had fallen with me and I was now hurriedly trying to stand, without stumbling over the fabric.

Once free, I tossed Harry's cloak on top of mine and turned to face the source of the voice.

Ivan was standing there with a look of fury on his face.

"Ivan!" I choked. "What are you doing here?"

"I got your message," he spat. "Came here as soon as I did – Maria's not the most reliable person. Anyway, I thought maybe we could make this work. I see now, I was too late."

"Ivan wait!" I shouted, as he turned and made for the ship. "Ivan, I can explain!"

"No need, 'cause I've already figured it all out," Ivan said confidently, standing on the bank, ready to escape to his ship as soon as I lost his attention.

"You figured what out?" I played along, crossing my arms and frowning.

Ivan snarled as he spoke. "You and Harry Potter are a thing!"

"What?!" Harry and I both shrieked at the same time.

"I saw you Lean, after the Yule Ball when you claimed to be too tired to wait the night out. I went after you, only to find you crying your eyes out to Potter. And in return, he was comforting you—"

"Of course he was," I retorted. "Harry is one of my closest friends!"

"And then the next day," Ivan continued, acting as if I hadn't even spoken. "You and I were trying to have a chat and he comes out of nowhere and steals you away from me!"

Harry stepped in front of me defensively, and I didn't need to be a genius to know his wand was out and pointing straight at Ivan. "Lean is not a mere object I can steal away from you!" He yelled before I could react. "She's her own person, capable of making her own decisions!"

"I didn't say—"

"If we were a 'thing', don't you think she would've made sure I got my act together and asked her out to the ball before you did? Also, I know Lean, better than you ever will. And I know for a fact that there is no way, Leaena Malfoy would ever hurt someone who didn't deserve to be hurt – physically or emotionally."

Ivan opened his mouth to retort but Harry was too quick for him. "Lean is one of the most honest people I know. If you don't believe me then ask her. If she says we're just friends, then we're just friends."

He then turned to me. "Right Lean? We're just friends?"

I nodded weakly. "We're just friends."

Ivan stared between the two of us before snorting. "I don't believe that for a second. There's more going on between you two, even if you won't admit it to yourselves. I can't be in the middle of something like that, so sorry Lean, but we're done – for good this time."

I watched him leave silently, knowing nothing I say I won't regret come morning.

He paused half way up the plank and turned back to us. "Happy New Year," he said curtly, before storming up through the ship's entrance and disappearing from view.

"Well that could've gone better," Harry murmured.

"Tell me something I don't know," I muttered, picking up my cloak and attempting to shake the snow off it.

"Lean, is something wrong?"

"Other than the fact that you just ruined my relationship?"

"Are you blaming me for what he saw?"

"You mean the almost kiss?"

Harry's silence was answer enough.

"Harry," I said sternly. "You can't tell anyone what happened – or what could've happened tonight. Not even to Ron and Hermione. We both know they'll turn this into a much bigger matter than needs to be."

"Lean listen..."

"No, you listen to me. Nothing happened. Nothing will ever happen. We're strictly just friends."

"But..."

"Just. Friends."

"I hear you," Harry said, failing to keep the irritation from his voice. "And I promise not to speak to another sole about it. But you have to answer me this."

"I don't have to do anything."

"Did you want to kiss me?"

I said nothing, pretending to not have heard him as I climbed the slope back up to the castle.

"Lean!" Harry called. "Lean, stop. I know you heard me." Seconds later, Harry's hand was on my wrist. I spun around, underestimating the difference between us. His face mere inches from my own, Harry repeated, "Did you want to kiss me?"

"Yes. No. Maybe. I don't know," I said flustered. "Look Harry, I was upset. You were there, it was midnight on New Year's Eve... it just sort of happened."

"Right," Harry murmured quietly.

I glanced down at my wrist which Harry was still clutching. "So... are we good?"

At that Harry's face softened, and he slowly let his arms fall to his side. "Yeah, of course, Lean."

I nodded once, before abruptly turning on my heels and jogging back up to the castle, intent on putting as much distance between me and Harry before the inevitable feelings of awkwardness came.