[A/N: Happy birthday Rory! Bonus chapter again!]

Rory walked back into her dorm and collapsed back into her bed. Matilda was sitting on her own bed.

"Thought you'd be with Atlas," she said.

"Thought you'd be with Neville," Rory replied.

"Nope," she said. "What happened to you? You look a bit flushed."

Rory sighed. "I finished up with Atlas and went to see Harry. He got this potions book-"

"Don't worry. Hermione filled me in," Matilda said. "Get anything from it?"

"Nothing of note," Rory replied. "But after we finished with the book, we were just making out, as we do. And things were getting kind of intense so we..."

Matilda gasped. "Did you have sex with Harry?"

Rory laughed humorlessly. "I most certainly did not, but I assure you that was both of our intent. He'd practically got my shirt off when Dobby and Kreacher popped into his room."

"You got caught messing about by house elves?" Matilda asked.

"To add insult to injury, Kreacher said I was a whore just like Sirius," Rory said. "Anyway, Dobby had a letter from Dumbledore and wants to have a private lesson with Harry on Friday so he's gotten out of detention with Snape and I have to go alone. And we were leaving and Ron slammed the door open into Harry's face and broke his nose."

"Tough afternoon for Harry. Cock blocked by a house elf and a broken nose," Matilda said.

"Tough afternoon for me," Rory said. "I keep dissociating in the middle of conversations, I got cock blocked and slut shamed by a house elf, and I still have to go to detention with Snape."

"I think you're equal on the shitty afternoon scale. You'll feel better once you're not frustrated and horny anymore," Matilda said. Rory sat up and glared at her. "What? You will. I've been there."

Rory laid back on her bed again. "Maybe we just got carried away because we hadn't been alone all summer."

"Wasn't that your excuse for what happened in Surrey?" Matilda asked.

"That does not make it any less valid," Rory said. She sat back up. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," Matilda replied.

"How did you know you were ready?" Rory asked.

She shrugged. "I liked Fred. All the fooling around was great so I assumed going all the way was better."

"Was it?" Rory asked.

"Not the first time. But after that it was... Not better, but different. Still good," Matilda said. "If you want my advice, despite all my teasing, I don't think you should rush into it. The right moment will come. And when it does hopefully you will too."

"I'm going to change for dinner," Rory groaned as Matilda laughed.

Harry kept to his promise to talk to Rory about Quidditch after dinner and he was surprised that she moved on from it so quickly. By the end of the night, the two of them sat on the couch together, their friends had gone. Rory was scribbling away in her journal. He noticed it was almost filled and made a note to maybe her a new one.

"Did you write to your dad?" he asked.

"Yes. I'll probably have a whole stack of letters to give him by Christmas," she said. "I wrote to Sirius too. Be nice to hear from him more than just once every few months. Hope he doesn't get sick of me writing."

"I highly doubt that," Harry said. He should probably write to Sirius more often as well.

She finished writing and closed her book.

"How are you feeling about your new class schedule?" Harry asked.

Rory shrugged. "Dunno. Relieved a bit. I think McGonagall is right. I would've drowned if I took all those classes, but… I think I feel even more uncertain about the future now. I didn't have any direction before. I have even less now."

"You can do whatever you. It doesn't have to be magical law enforcement. It doesn't even have to be in the ministry. You can open a bakery or be a singer or just do something that makes you happy," Harry said. "You don't have to decide your whole life right now. You said so yourself it's kind of insane to have it all figured out right now."

"You've got it figured out," Rory pointed out.

"Well, I'm a crazy person," Harry said. She leaned into Harry and he put an arm around her. "I know it's not in your nature to not worry constantly about the future."

"I have no choice, obviously," she said.

"Maybe just… Worry about taking care of yourself," Harry said. "You're only taking classes now that you're excited about instead of classes that you have to take. Just… Don't worry so much about what you can do for everyone else and just, be selfish. Take care of Rory. Spend all day accumulating knowledge and reading your smutty romance novels and overanalyzing Quidditch while you sing in the choir and just… Be happy."

She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly.

"Self-care is not my forte," she said.

"Well, you'd better try, because if you don't make yourself happy, I will be forced to do it myself," Harry said.

Rory managed to laugh. "Ominous positivity."

"If it works," he said.

"Well, for your information, you already make me happy," she said. "So you'll have to make a different threat."

His mind was filled with thoughts of love potions and kissing and the skin beneath the buttons of her shirt. It was hard not to think about it with her close to him like this.

Harry kissed her and he didn't want to stop, but there'd be plenty of time to revisit the thoughts in his head. He wasn't in any rush. She wasn't going anywhere.

"You seem tired," he said.

"I am," she said. "I'm always tired. I sleep like the dead now. I don't even dream. I think it's my body's way of putting me in self-preservation mode. Can't imagine I'd dream of anything good."

Harry kissed her again. "Come on. I'll walk you to your dorm." He got to his feet and held out a hand to her. She took it and stood.

"You keep being nice to me like this and people will think you're in love with me or something," she teased.

"Good," he said, putting an arm around her and leading her up the stairs.

Day two of classes started off far better than the day before. For starters, Rory didn't have to see Snape at all. And she had charms and transfigurations today. Herbology was always an easy class for her and remained so at the NEWT level. But her last class of the day was Alchemy. She was practically skipping down the hall to class with Harry who was dragging himself.

"It'll be fun, I promise," Rory said.

"No offense, Rory, but you and I have different definitions of fun," Harry said.

"If it's terrible, I promise I will make after class fun for you and we can start working on Quidditch," she said. "We can even work at the pitch which I know for a fact will be empty today, except for Madame Hooch I expect."

Harry gave her a look, thinking it over. "You make a strong argument."

She kissed him and continued down the corridor to the classroom. When they stepped inside Rory saw Stephen and waved. She felt a pang of disappointment when she saw Zach sitting in the room.

"Well if it isn't Hogwarts' favorite couple," he said.

"Hi, Zach," Harry said as they sat down.

"So what's your secret, Potter?" Zach asked.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Secret to what?"

"How do you keep scooping up this one?" Zach asked, motioning to Rory.

"Helps that he's not you," Rory said.

"Wow, Rory, that hurts," Zach said. "Won't even give me the time of day?"

"I have to strongly suggest you stop hitting on my girlfriend directly in front of me," Harry said.

"Simmer down. It was only a joke, mate," Zach said. "Don't remember you getting so bent out of shape about it last year. Probably because you were looking after Cho as well."

"I'm running out of reasons to not hex you, Zach," Harry said.

"Don't," Rory said tugging on Harry's sleeve. She looked at Zach. "Knock it off."

Zach turned around in his seat as the door to the classroom opened again. Rory looked over her shoulder and instantly deflated. Blaise and Draco were walking in the door.

"You've got to be kidding me," Harry grumbled.

Draco looked about as enthused for them to be in the class as well. He took a seat on the other side of the room and started to whisper to Blaise.

"This is starting off well," Harry said.

"It'll be fine," Rory said as Slughorn came in the door.

"Looks like we're all here," Slughorn said setting his things down at his desk. "I like for my classes to be more hands-on, but for this first week, I'm afraid you'll be doing a lot of reading. You've been allowed to take this class because you did well on your OWLs in transfigurations, potions, and charms. You'll need your skills from all of these classes to be successful."

He turned around to face the class. "Can anyone tell what the study of alchemy focuses on?"

Rory's hand shot up. To her surprise, Draco also raised his.

"Mister Malfoy," Slughorn said with a nod.

"The study of the four elements, and transmutation," he said.

"Excellent," Slughorn said.

Slughorn delved into the history of Alchemy. Rory seemed to be the only one who was riveted. Harry was making a good effort at taking notes and being awake at least. He wanted to make a good impression on Slughorn so he was going to have to make an effort, whether he liked it or not.

"I know history can be rather dry, but context is important," Slughorn said when he finished his lecture. "Your first assignment for class will be an essay on the doorway I mentioned. The Porta Alchemica. In your books, you'll have a copy of the inscriptions around the doorway. I'd like you to translate them from Latin and explain how you think they all go together."

Rory's heart skipped a beat. That was a hefty order. She'd spend ages in the library just doing the translations.

"I know this may feel like a tall order, but not to worry. You'll share the load on this assignment; you'll have a partner," he said.

Everyone seemed to relax a little at this.

"But, because alchemy is quite out of the comfort zone for most of you, I'm going to give you a challenge and choose who your partner will be for you," he said. "You'll need new ideas, thinking outside of the bubbles that you and your friends have created with each other."

Rory did not need to be a seer to know that this was not going to end well.

"Mister Zabini, I'll have you work with Mister Cornfoot," Slughorn said.

Rory restrained a groan. This was not good.

"Harry, how about you and Mister Malfoy—."

"No!" the class exclaimed all at once. Slughorn was taken aback by the outburst. At least everyone knew that partnering Harry and Draco would inevitably lead to murder.

"Alright then. Lupin with Malfoy. Potter with Smith," Slughorn said. "Any other strong objections to these pairings?"

Rory looked over to Draco who already seemed exhausted at the prospect of spending time with Rory. The feeling was beyond mutual.

"Well, in that case, I'd like you to have this essay in by next Tuesday. Split the work however you see fit. I expect you'll have to spend some time together in the library. There are quite a few texts there about Alchemy that I'm sure you'll find useful. Class dismissed," Slughorn said.

Harry brought his hands to his face beneath his glasses, rubbing his face in frustration.

"I love you. I love you. I love you," he repeated.

"You okay?" Rory asked.

"Yes. I'm just reminding myself that I love you and that this class means a lot to you," Harry said.

"Thank you," she said. She looked to Draco who seemed to be making a hasty retreat from the classroom. Rory got her feet and followed him into the corridor. "Malfoy."

"What?" he asked turning around to her.

"I care more about my grades than how much I hate you, so I'd like to do well on this," she said.

"I'm dropping this class. You won't have to worry about me," he said.

Suddenly, Rory was very irritated. He turned away from her again, but she grabbed the strap of his bag and yanked it hard. It fell to the ground. He glared at her.

"What the hell is your problem?" he asked.

"I have been wanting to take this class for ages and I'm only getting to now because we've reached the bare minimum threshold for the required number of students to take it. You're not going to fuck this up for me," she said. "So I'll see you tonight in the library at 8 o'clock to work on the translations and I promise that if you don't show up you'll wish that I'd only broken your nose or smacked you in the face in the middle of the Great Hall. Got it?"

Draco leered at her. He picked up his book bag and started down the corridor away from her. She knew he'd show up.

"How'd that go?" Harry asked.

"We're meeting in the library tonight or I'm going to make him wish he was never born," Rory said.

"You scare me," Harry said.

"I scare Malfoy too," she said taking his hand. "Quidditch time?"

Harry nodded.

Harry and Rory rejoined their friends at dinner after a quiet afternoon. Harry wondered how many of these he would get. He was already thinking about the studying he'd need to do this week. It was only going to increase from here.

"Where've you two been all afternoon?" Ron asked.

"Don't ask questions you don't want the answer to," Rory said with a wink.

"Ew," Ron said.

"We were at the pitch," Harry said. "She was helping me plan for tryouts."

That had been in fact what they were doing for most of their time there. Yes, there had been quite a bit of making out, but it was all pretty innocent compared to what Dobby and Kreacher had stumbled on.

"You picked a date for tryouts yet?" Ginny asked, eagerly.

Harry nodded. "Next Saturday. Already booked the pitch and everything."

"Excellent," Ginny said. But Ron looked ashen. Harry knew how nervous Ron got about Quidditch. Despite winning the cup last year, his doubt seemed to have crept back in. The last thing Harry wanted to do was to cut his best friend from the team. He'd spent a lot of the time at the pitch telling his concerns to Rory.

Rory kept assuring him that Ron wasn't stupid and if there was someone better suited to the team, that Ron would not take it personally.

Except Harry knew Ron very well and he would take it personally.

But Ron didn't say anything, so Harry didn't say anything and he ate dinner instead.

Rory was watching the clock all of dinner, between bites of food.

"Do you have somewhere to be?" Neville asked.

"Alchemy paper. Slughorn's put us with a partner for it. I have to do research with him in the library," Rory said.

"Him? Not Harry?" Hermione asked.

Harry grimaced and shook his head. "Our class consists of Stephen, Zach—."

They all groaned.

"And Blaise and Draco," Rory finished. "Guess who I got stuck with."

"Imagine Zach being the lesser of two evils," Matilda said.

"Don't worry. Slughorn stuck him with me," Harry said.

"After the whole class unanimously and unprompted vetoed putting him with Draco," Rory said. "Had to take one for the team to avoid homicide."

"Didn't you threaten him immediately afterward?" Harry asked.

Rory shrugged. "I'm not going to let his stupid little attitude problem ruin my chances at taking this class. I just wanted to make that perfectly clear that if he dropped the class I would make him miserable until the end of his life."

"Yes, that's very rational," Hermione said rolling her eyes.

Rory had already gathered up the books they'd need for the first part of their alchemy assignment. She was fairly confident that Draco was going to show up, but she still found herself getting antsy at 10 minutes had passed and he hadn't shown up.

But then he did. He didn't look pleased about it, but in Draco strolled. He dropped his bag on the table and sat across from Rory.

"Nice of you to show up," she said.

"I almost didn't," he said. He looked her over. "Suppose you'd know that wouldn't you? Being a seer and all."

Rory was surprised Draco was the first person who'd approached her about this. Mostly people just stared at her. And they whispered when they saw her with Harry, so who knew just what the whispers were about. The whispering was better than people asking her about it all the time she supposed.

"As if I'd waste my talents on something as trivial as you showing up to study, Draco Malfoy," she said. She grabbed a book from the stack and sat it in front of him.

"What's this?" he asked.

"It's an alchemy book. Says it right there on the cover," Rory said tapping it.

"Don't be condescending," he said.

"You've spent the better part of five years being a condescending ass to me. I think this is at least a little bit warranted," she replied. He rolled his eyes.

"Let's just get this over with," he said flipping open the book.

"And what are you planning to look up?" she asked. "What part of the assignment are you about to dive into?"

"Merlin, I don't know! Are you going to be difficult the entire time?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied bluntly. "But only if you don't listen."

"You listen—."

Rory shushed him. "Talking is not conducive to listening, cousin. Here's how this is going to work. This book is full of alchemical symbols. A lot of them are already super familiar from—.

"Divination," Draco said. Rory was taken aback. "What? Think I'm an idiot or something?"

"Yes, but no one takes that class seriously unless you're like Parvati and Lavender and want to use it to predict who your next boyfriend is," Rory said rolling her eyes.

"I got an E in Divination as it turns out," Draco said. "So maybe don't treat me like I don't know anything."

Rory conceded. "Fine. Since we're both well versed on these symbols," she paused to open her book to the page with the door on it, she tapped on a different symbol. "This is one I've never seen before. One of us should look this up while the other takes notes on what these symbols mean in alchemy. I'd planned on simply cross-referencing the symbols to what they mean in terms of Divination because I'm sure there's overlap, but since you're so smart you can help with that as well."

"Fine," Draco said, taking the book of symbols. "Astronomy will probably help as well."

Rory was just about to dive in, but she paused. She looked up at him. "I'm sorry, did you say you were taking Astronomy this year as well?"

Draco hadn't stopped looking annoyed since he walked into the library, but now he seemed horrified.

"For fucks sake, are there any classes you're not taking?" he asked.

"A few," Rory replied, pulling out her notebook. "Not bothering with Divination at all."

"No need to when you're a seer I guess. Maybe you and your boyfriend should drop Snape's class since you think you're Aurors already," Draco said.

Rory felt her body go stiff and her palms go sweaty. Her heart pounded in her chest. She felt like she might be sick thinking about that class yesterday.

She tried to steady herself, looking at the pen in her hand and the lines on the page.

"I did, actually," she admitted.

"What?" Draco asked, looking up from his book.

"I said I dropped Defense Against the Dark Arts yesterday after class," Rory said.

"Why?" he asked. "Embarrassed that I got the jump on you?"

"Actually it's because the last time a Malfoy disarmed me I ended up getting tortured by a dark wizard for hours in the Ministry of Magic," Rory said. Her voice was low, and steady. But she was shaking. Draco was surprised by Rory's outburst. "I'd rather not spend my time having flashbacks, so I dropped the class."

Her hands were still shaking and she closed her notebook.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I have to go. I can't do this right now," she said. "We can try again tomorrow."

Draco didn't argue as she gathered her things and left the library.