"You're thinking about something", Neville snapped me out of my thoughts over breakfast.

Yes, I really was thinking about something, and it involved my transfiguration class and, more specifically, the professor who taught it.

Min and I had never had such a heated argument as yesterday and I didn't know how she would handle it, how she would handle me.

But I wasn't just thinking about Min.

The memorial service was two days ago, which meant Wednesday would be the first anniversary of Grandma's death.

I had promised to go and I would, but I had also promised not to come alone.

That was something I hadn't given a second thought to.

Maybe it really wasn't a bad idea to have someone by my side, especially since Min and I weren't getting along very well at the moment.

But was this really something where I wanted someone else around?

Draco.

If I was going to have anyone with me, it would be Draco.

Neville and Hannah were great, no question but no one knew me like Draco.

With no one I could let myself go like with him. No matter how well or badly I handled the situation, he would understand.

He could hold me.

But was I ready to show him my worst side, my deepest sadness and my worst fears?

My common sense screamed at me that I needed someone but my fears healed me back.

He would never be able to see me as I am now. It would be different.

But then I thought of the moments that had brought me closer to him and in each one of them he had shown me his worst side.

Had revealed his fears and I had been there to hold him.

Maybe I would manage to keep up the façade, maybe I could keep from the world how broken I was but with Draco I couldn't and wouldn't keep from him.

Iwould ask him to accompany me. But I had to convince him of that first and then Min as well.


Apparently our argument didn't seem to affect Min in the slightest.

She conducted her lessons as if nothing had happened. Not even evil glances in my direction.

But this 'nothing-happened facade' only lasted until the end of the lesson.

"Miss Harper, would you mind waiting one more minute", she intercepted me before I could make my way out of the room.

Okay, be prepared for the worst, I told myself, reminding myself that I was in school and it was important to control my emotions.

"I think there are a few things to say", she began when all the students had left the room.

"I've said everything I wanted to say", I explained in a firm voice, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

I had nothing to say to her and what I had to say she had already heard loudly yesterday.

"I was unfair", she began, and with those three little words she had my full attention.

"I have no right to decide about your life.

My opinion is irrelevant because it is your life and your decisions that you should make alone.

I'm sorry I reacted the way I did."

My jaw almost dropped.

Minerva McGonnagal, proud Gryffindor through and through, had just apologised to me and confessed that she had been wrong.

"And if you'd prefer, you can continue to stay with Miss Abbot for the rest of the school year."

The night at Hannah's hadn't been bad but I had realised how much I appreciated having a room to myself.

No one to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and more importantly, no one to snore, except maybe myself.

It must have taken a lot for Min to apologise to me and I really didn't want to argue with her, not when I needed all the support I could get to get through Wednesday.

"No thanks, one night was enough. I'd like to come back if I may", I replied smiling sheepishly.

"But of course."

"I'll come back on one condition.

I want Draco to accompany us on Wednesday. Grandpa thinks it's fine and I'd like him to be there."

"If that's what you want, then I think I'll give him these two days off."

That settled that too, now all that was left was to convince Draco.

The discussion with Min was very liberating, but I still found it hard to concentrate on my lessons, because I had to tell Draco that I wanted him to travel to America with me tomorrow.

However one started such a conversation.

I left him a note in Potions asking him to come to the library after class.


And that's where I sat now, nervously kneading my fingers.

"Hey," he greeted me cheerfully as he stepped out from behind the shelves.

We had agreed yesterday that as long as there was a chance of someone seeing us, we would keep physical proximity to a minimum.

It had been my suggestion because I had noticed yesterday that I was no longer capable of logical thinking when I was around him.

"Is everything all right?", he asked, tilting his head.

"I've talked it over with Min."

"Very well. But that's not what you're actually going to tell me, is it?"

However he did this?

It was like I was made of glass and he could just see through me and my thoughts.

"What would you say if I arranged for you to have Wednesday and Thursday off from class, but in return you had to accompany me to America?"

He looked at me with wide eyes and thought for a moment before answering.

"It's her death anniversary, right?"

I nodded.

"Then the only question I have left to ask is when and where to go."