[A/N: Happy New Year! Have one last chapter before we slide into 2025!]

Harry had to be honest. Things were going too well for him to be concerned with any of the terrible things that were going on. He was doing spectacularly in his classes, he was even doing well in Snape's class. The Half-Blood Prince's notes in his potion book were carrying him in Slughorn's class. Quidditch practice was going well now that Ron had found his confidence.

And then there was Rory. In sharp contrast to the way things had gone last year, right now things with Rory were damn near perfect. She still had choir, he still had Quidditch practice. They spent most of their time together studying, but somehow they always seemed to make time for other things.

He knew that things were going to be different after they had sex. And they were. He felt closer to her. He felt more comfortable around her. Somehow it made things easier. But it also made things more difficult because now he spent a great deal of time wondering when he would next have the opportunity to get her alone.

With the blessing of his teammates, Rory had come to practice today, though he hadn't seen her at all until after practice was over, likely just to make sure she wasn't accused of being a distraction again.

Today after practice, Rory waited for him as always. It was cold and rainy and practice had been a bit miserable. Instead of his usual trek back to the castle to shower, he opted to use the one in the changing room. Most everyone on the team had, but Harry made himself responsible for putting away all the equipment and closing things down after practice, so the rest of the team was on the way out when he was finally able to head to the shower.

He left Rory sitting in the changing room, reading through the plays they'd made for the day- the other advantage of having Rory at practice was that she made copious notes of everything that happened so Harry could review them. He wished she could play Quidditch, although if she did it was likely she'd make a better captain than him.

After his shower, he realized his t-shirt wasn't among the clothes he'd brought with him to the changing room. Harry pulled on his pants and shoes and found Rory standing in the locker room marking something on the chalkboard.

"I was looking at this formation yesterday in an old playbook, and it seemed interesting. It has the disadvantage of leaving this chaser," she motioned to X on the board indicating the chaser in question, "open to attack from the other team's beater, but with someone as agile as Ginny I think it might be worth the risk. Especially if you play against Ravenclaw. Their beaters aim is remarkably bad."

"Sometimes I wonder if the team even needs me if they have you," Harry said. He walked up behind her and kissed her cheek.

"I know. I'm a genius," Rory said.

"Aren't you cold sitting out here?" he asked with a shiver.

Rory shrugged and turned around to look at him. "Aren't you cold out here with your wet hair and no shirt?"

"Yes," he laughed. He kissed her. "I left my shirt in my locker."

She wrapped her arms around him, pushed herself up on her toes, and kissed him. "You should get it on before you freeze to death."

"You're pretty warm," he said, holding her tighter.

"I'm not a good replacement for a shirt in this weather though," she said.

"You'll do for now," he said. He kissed her again, not pulling away this time. He leaned into her and she pushed herself up on her toes to keep him from needing to arch his back so much. He could tell she was going to pull away, so Harry's lips followed, pulling her back. An arm draped around his neck and she smiled against his mouth.

"What are you up to, Lovey?" she asked, still smiling. It sounded more like a challenge than an actual question.

"Just trying to keep warm," he said. He lifted her from the ground ever so slightly. She brought her other hand to his shoulder and kissed him as if that might keep them from parting. They stumbled backward until their knees knocked against the bench at the back of the room. Harry kissed her, pushing her down until she was flat on her back, one leg on the ground to steady herself. Harry had one knee on the bench between her legs, the other he was also using to steady himself.

The only thing Harry could think about right now was Rory and how soft her skin would feel under his fingers. How she would taste if he bowed his head between her thighs. The sounds she would make as release flooded her body. The way she would feel around his cock as he slid into that still-sensitive part of her. He ached for her more and more with every kiss and every breath she took.

They should go back to the castle, he told himself. They should sequester themselves in the Room of Requirement or the Prefect's Bathroom or toss their friends out of one of their dorms. But Harry felt impatient and her fingers left trails of heat as they moved over his back and his chest. All the places he could drag her off to make sure they were alone were so far away. And they were already here.

Harry moved to her neck, not bothering with sweet, featherlight kisses. He bit and sucked and licked at the skin there. Rory hissed, her body tensing slightly as her fingers curled into his skin.

"Harry Potter, what's gotten into you?" she asked. He felt her tremble as he raked his teeth across her skin.

"Just trying to keep warm, like I told you," he said. He undid the first button at the top of her blouse, and then the second. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. He undid another button and dragged his lips across her neck and down to the newly exposed skin beneath her shirt. He kissed along the tops of her breasts and he listened as she took a deep, steadying breath. "As long as you don't mind."

He brought one of his hands to rest just beneath her skirt and she squirmed uncomfortably beneath him.

"I don't understand how getting me all wound up is supposed to make you feel warm," she said.

Harry raised an eyebrow. He stole his hand from beneath her skirt and stroked her cheek.

"You think I'm just teasing you for no reason?" he asked.

"We're in the changing room of the Quidditch pitch. Of course you're just getting me all hot and bothered before you can drag me off to your room or somewhere you can have your way with me," Rory said.

Harry took hold of her hips and pulled her closer. He leaned down to her ear. "What if I told you I was feeling impatient about wanting to have my way with you?"

"You mean right here?" Rory asked. Harry slid his hand back beneath her skirt. Rory inhaled sharply, her chest arched into him just the smallest bit.

"You think you'll be able to wait until we get all the way up to the castle and then all the way up to our tower and then convince everyone in one of our rooms to make themselves scarce for a while?" Harry asked. He could feel the heat radiating from between her thighs, even through the wool stocking she wore. He let his hand brush against the heat there and watched her eyes flutter closed momentarily. "I'm willing to wait if you want though."

His words were true. If Rory demanded he button up her shirt and that they go back up to the castle before he removed a single article of clothes from her body, he would oblige. But he knew she wouldn't say no.

"What if someone comes?" Rory asked. She kissed him, her hands on his shoulders as he started to tug her stocking down her hips.

"The only person you need to worry about coming is you," he said.

Just with his words, he ushered up a whimper from her. She attacked his lips in a frenzy, desperate. He pulled away from her and pulled her stockings off. He tossed them aside and then spread her legs gently apart, letting her foot fall back to the ground beside them. The other leg, he kept bent there. He started at her knee and kissed downward, Harry's eyes watched her for as long as he could. He watched the anticipation building on her face until her head sank back and her eyes closed.

Harry kissed her through her knickers and she inhaled sharply.

"Harry," she started. It was a plea. For more? to stop? He didn't know. She didn't know.

He slid his fingers into the crotch of her panties. He wasted no time in pushing two fingers into her. She elicited a proper moan this time. Even though they were alone she clamped a hand over her mouth. That hadn't helped her keep her voice down in the past and it certainly wouldn't now. But if it made her feel more comfortable, so be it.

Rory's eyes were closed as he pumped his fingers in and out of her.

He kissed down her thigh again, inching closer to the moist heat between her legs. When he had nowhere else to go, he pulled his fingers away. She whimpered at the loss. But then Harry slowly, tentatively ran his tongue up the length of her wetness. She inhaled sharply and her whole body went rigid. He tasted her again, and she raked her fingers through his hair.

Rory writhed beneath him, no longer using any words at all, just moans and whimpers and heaving breaths. At one point, Harry sucked on her clit, just the tiniest bit, and he was sure she stopped breathing altogether. He had to pin her hips down so she wouldn't move.

As she came, her fingers knotted in his hair and the sounds she made, Merlin, it was like nothing he'd heard from her before. It was all he could do to keep her from bucking her hips away from him, so he pulled away. He kissed along the inside of her thighs as she began to settle. Her breathing was still ragged and she let go of his hair. He lifted his gaze to her face.

She had one hand in her hair, the other draped across her forehead. Her eyes were closed, and her cheeks tinted with pink. He hovered over her and gently brushed his lips against hers. She tried to push herself up to meet his lips again, but he pulled away. She pouted and grabbed hold of his trousers to try and pull him closer.

"You can be very impatient when you want to be," he said, returning to the business of undoing her shirt.

"Only when you tease me like this," she said, Harry still undoing the buttons on her shirt. She moved to try and kiss him again, but he remained just out of her reach.

"I always give you what you want. Eventually," he said.

"But I want you now," she said, tugging the button of his trousers so that they popped open. He could hear the need, the ache in her voice. He felt much the same, although he did love teasing her like this. Hearing her desperate "I want you" always stirred something in him.

He reached the last button of her shirt and pushed it aside, unwrapping her like a present. He kissed down the length of her torso. Her chest rose and fell with deep breaths with each press of his lips against her skin.

Rory's hands settled between them and she unzipped his trousers. Her fingers wrapped around his cock and she freed him from his pants, slowly stroking him as she did. He started to feel her desperation, her need.

Harry grabbed her hips, but he misjudged the width of the narrow plank and they both nearly toppled to the ground.

It was dumb to be annoyed, but Harry was. Rory managed a laugh as they caught themselves. He would be damned if he had to worry about that happening again. He moved to standing, grabbing hold of Rory's hips as he did. He used all the strength he could muster to lift her from the bench and took the few steps to the wall behind them. He pressed her back against the wall and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Harry grabbed her thighs and lifted her from the ground. Rory wrapped her legs around him and finally, he pushed into her. The way she moaned his name, with relief and delight, it was a magic all its own.

He moved in her as they exchanged frantic, open-mouthed kisses. She clung to him so tightly, the way her body felt against his, he could get lost in that feeling, like he was a part of her. He kissed and sucked at her neck and her head flopped back against the wall, her eyes closed, he breathing unsteady desperate.

He moved from her neck and pressed her tighter against the wall, pushing himself as deeply as he could into her. Rory started to writhe a bit in his arms. She was close. Could feel her body tightening around him. He brought a hand to her face and tilted her head forward so he could see her properly.

He looked into her gray eyes. They were glazed over, shimmering with want and desire and Harry could not get enough of those eyes on a normal day. But now, he was helpless. He wanted to see everything in her eyes right now. She didn't break his gaze. He could see it building in her face, feel it as her arms held him tighter. There were no more words, not even the breathless plea of his name on her lips.

Harry saw the moment she came. A light seemed to turn on behind her eyes, sweet relief filled them. And then then closed and her head fell against his shoulder and she let out a chorus of moans that were better than any song he'd ever heard.

"Oh, god, Harry," she moaned into his shoulder, her cunt still throbbing around him. "Oh god, oh god, oh god."

One hand left his shoulder and braced itself against the wall, and to Harry's delight, he watched this beautiful girl come again.

And then Harry could not hold himself back any longer. Not with how tight and warm and wet she was. Not with the way she was saying his name-"Harry, I'm coming. I'm coming." He moved faster and faster. Rory's breathing became frantic as he slammed into her until finally, that release found him. He buried his face into Rory's shoulder, taking in the smell of her and the taste of her skin and the feel of their bodies pressed together, Nothing would ever be as good as this. Not Quidditch, not fire whiskey, not treacle tarts. This moment where they were almost one, lost in each other.

Rory kissed his cheek and he lifted his head to look at her. Her eyelids were heavy, a slight smile danced on her lips. her face was flushed and sticky with sweat. He kissed her and she pushed her fingers up into his hair. He pressed her back against the wall tighter.

"I love you, Harry," she said against his lips.

"I love you too," he said.

"You should pin me against a wall more often," she said.

"Oh, really?" Harry said with surprise. "I'll keep that in mind."

Rory was still a little bit flustered when they got back to the castle. They parted ways in the common room, though Harry was going to come by to work on a charms essay with her after he changed his clothes again. But with the way her head was spinning, she was positive that she wasn't going to get any work done.

Rory's bedroom door opened and she was hopeful it was Harry, but it was Matilda and Hermione.

"Oh. Hi," she said returning to her work.

"What a warm welcome that was," Matilda said sitting on her bed. "Expecting someone else?"

"No," Rory replied, her eyes looking to the clock.

"Waiting for practice to end?" Hermione asked.

"She went to practice today. She's probably waiting for Harry to make himself decent now," Matilda corrected. "She's always keyed up like this lately. Haven't you noticed?"

Rory couldn't even argue. It was problematic. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I feel like I spend all day thinking about Harry. And I'm so relieved when he's not here because I can focus, but then I'm just waiting for him to get back so I can, I dunno-"

"Peel his clothes off?" Matilda giggled.

"Honestly though," Rory said.

Matilda laughed again. "It's just psychological, babe. You had a barrier in your head before telling you not to have sex. Now that you've got the first time out of the way and you presumably enjoyed yourself, the only thing stopping you is the lack of opportunity. So you're always looking for an opportunity now. I mean, think about it, weren't you two always fooling around before you ever had sex?"

Rory nodded in agreement. "Still. I wasn't always looking for an excuse to go snog before."

"Well if you want an opportunity when your boyfriend gets back, I'm happy to make myself scarce and tell the others off," Matilda said.

"I have prefect duty tonight, so please be gone by the time I get back," Hermione chimed in. "Why didn't he just come back with you?"

"We walked back to the castle together, but he went to change since he spent most of the walk back trying to make sure I didn't get drenched," Rory said.

"Of course he did," Matilda said. She glanced over to her clock. "Everyone else has been back a while though."

"Harry cleans up all the equipment after practice so the others don't have to," Rory said. "And he had a shower. Lot of good that did him though."

"Was that before after you decided to have it off with him at the pitch?" Matilda teased.

Rory gasped. And then stammered, stumbling over her words. "We didn't plan to. It just happened. It was his idea really."

"I was joking! You really had sex at the Quidditch pitch?" Matilda screeched before cackling. "Maybe you do have a problem."

"Do you know how much trouble you could've gotten into?" Hermione yelled at her.

"Yes, Hermione. I knew and I still just went along with it because I have no sense any longer," Rory said. Matilda was still laughing. "Please stop. I can't believe I even told you."

"Oh, you think he didn't immediately tell Ron?" Matilda asked. "I bet he's already looking to reenact it with Lavender."

"I have it on good authority that Ron and Lavender are not doing anything inappropriate at this point in their relationship," Rory said. "They snog too much in front of everyone, but that's about it."

"You snog too much in front of everyone too," Hermione said.

Rory stuck her tongue out at her.

"I'm actually stunned that Miss Brown isn't here right now. How'd you shake her?" Matilda asked.

"Saturday," Rory said. "I'm going on a stupid double date with them."

"Why?" Matilda asked.

"Because I love my boyfriend and I guess I love Ron too," Rory said. She looked over at Hermione who was pinning her prefect badger on. "One word from you and I could get out of this."

"It's got nothing to do with me," Hermione said. "Have fun on your double date."

There was a knock on the door. Rory snapped her head over eagerly. "Come in."

The door opened and to Rory's utter surprise, Cormac McLaggen stood there. She fought the urge to roll her eyes all the way back into her head.

"What do you want?" Rory asked.

"Don't trouble yourself, Lupin," he said. He held a single rose in his hand and looked across the room to Hermione. If the boy wanted to dig his own grave, she would let him. "Hermione Granger," he said as he stepped into the room, "I hear you haven't got a partner for Slughorn's party."

"How do you hear that?" Hermione asked.

"Well, everyone thought Weasley would be your pick, but he's taken now isn't he?" McLaggen asked with a chuckle. "Better for you though. You've got infinitely better options now, haven't you? I mean, he wasn't even invited to join was he?"

Hermione crossed her arms. "And you have better options for me then?"

McLaggen walked up and held the rose out to Hermione. "Me. And I'll take you out to Hogsmeade this Saturday. I'll show you a good time so you know what to look forward to."

Hermione looked from the rose to Cormac and back to the rose and then to Cormac. She took the rose from his hand. "I'll see you in the Common Room at 10 o'clock on Saturday then."

Cormac looked as smug as ever as he gave Hermione a wink. "Thought you'd see it my way. I'll see you then."

He walked out of the door, closing it behind him, and Matilda, again, burst out into laughter.

"Am I hallucinating?" she asked. "Rory's shagging her boyfriend at the Quidditch Pitch. Hermione Granger just agreed to TWO dates with Cormac McLaggen. What planet am I on?"

"He's quite good-looking," Hermione defended herself.

"And Ron hates him," Rory said simply.

"It's nothing to do with Ron. He's always been nice to me," Hermione went on.

"He's the sluttier, straighter, worse version of my dad," Rory said.

"Which dad?" Matilda asked.

"Sirius," Rory said.

"Of course," Matilda said. "Low bar to be sluttier, straighter, and worse than Remus Lupin. Comparatively, you are all of those things."

"Well, she's only ever dated Harry. Done anything with Harry, so maybe not sluttier," Hermione pointed out. "And not straight either."

"Let's not shift our focus from you, Hermione," Rory said. "Cormac?"

"He's perfectly acceptable when it comes to the standards of that club," Hermione said.

"So you care what Slughorn thinks all of a sudden?" Rory asked.

"It won't hurt to give him a higher opinion of me," Hermione said. "He already adores you and Harry. You don't have to make any effort. The rest of us do."

Rory sighed. "And it's nothing to do with Ron?"

"If Ron doesn't like it then that's not my problem," she said.

"I've heard he's a great kisser," Matilda said. "So at least if he's an idiot you'll have a good time."

Rory wanted to tell Hermione not to go out with Cormac just because he was a good kisser, and that she should look for more than that in a relationship.

But, at the same time, Rory was eagerly watching the clock so she could find her boyfriend and drag him off for some alone time that had nothing to do with how compatible their personalities were. If Hermione wanted to go off with a boy because he was cute, was good at kissing, and would make Ron jealous then by all means, let her.

There was another knock on the door.

"Come in," Matilda said.

The door opened and Ginny leaned in. Rory frowned. What was taking her boyfriend so long?

"Can I talk to you out here for a minute?" Ginny asked, pointing to Rory.

"Uh, sure," Rory said. She got out of bed and walked out into the corridor. She closed the door behind herself.

"I'm not interested in Harry," Ginny said before Rory had the chance to say anything. "And if Dean came to every practice I'd find it annoying and tell him not to do it. Your presence is distracting if you come every single time. Your presence isn't irritating because I like Harry. It's because I like Quidditch."

Rory nodded quickly. "And I respect that. I already stopped coming to every practice. What else do you want from me?"

"Nothing. I'm trying to apologize," she said. "I'm sorry, I came off so harsh about it. But it was really out of line for both of you to just assume it was because I liked Harry. I know I wasn't super nice about you dating Harry before, but give me some credit."

Rory nodded. "Sorry."

Ginny sighed. "Me too. And I want to put this behind us. I mean, Ron and Hermione— what the fuck is happening with that? And Lavender?"

Ginny didn't need to say another word. They were on the same page immediately.

"I have no idea. I have to go on a double date with them on Saturday. Cormac McLaggen's just been here. He asked Hermione out. I'm positive she only said yes because it will make Ron lose his mind," Rory said.

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Ginny groaned. "How is Harry putting up with this?"

"Hermione told him that it's fine and not to worry about it, so that's exactly what he's doing. Except that Lavender didn't like that I wasn't making an effort to be closer to her since she started dating Ron. So obviously Ron took it personally and now, to keep him from being angry with Harry I'm going on a double date that I want no part of," Rory said.

"She asked me about visiting over winter break," Ginny said. She scoffed. "Wouldn't even be satisfying. Anyone my brothers bring home after Fleur is going to seem like a dream."

"No offense, but I would probably avoid your family and Harry the entire holiday if she came over," Rory said.

"No worries there. Ron has more sense than to invite her with everything going on at least. One thing we can thank Voldemort for," Ginny said.

Rory chuckled. Footsteps came up the stairs and Rory turned to see Harry coming up the stairs, looking visibly confused. He seemed even more confused when he saw Rory and Ginny together.

"Hi," he said cautiously.

"We've made up," Rory said.

"On account of my brother's taste in girls is terrible," Ginny said.

Harry rolled his eyes. "I think you're both way overreacting about Lavender, and Hermione wouldn't like you scheming on her behalf."

Ginny scoffed. "Hermione's scheming well enough on her own. She's just got a date to Slughorn's party."

Harry's face fell. "Oh, no. I just talked to Cormac. I thought he was just being an idiot. She didn't agree to go out with him did she?"

"She did," Rory said. Her bedroom door opened and Hermione stepped out.

"Oh! Hello, everyone," Hermione said. "Is there a reason we're all congregating right in front of the door?"

"Are you really going out with Cormac?" Harry asked.

Hermione cut her eyes over to Rory. "You couldn't let me tell him?"

"I'm pretty sure Cormac is telling anyone who breathes that you're going out with him on Saturday," Harry said. "Are you mental?"

"Cormac is perfectly fine," Hermione said.

"Last week you told me you'd seen flobberworms more intelligent than Cormac," Ginny said.

Hermione's face flushed red. "Maybe I've changed my mind about him."

She walked past Harry and went down the stairs. Harry looked at his girlfriend and frowned.

"What?" Rory asked.

"You asked me 'what if they're supposed to be together' and 'don't they deserve what we have?' and instead they're not speaking and also dating the most obnoxious people on the planet," Harry said.

"I knew you didn't like Lavender either," Rory gasped.

"I'm trying to be a supportive friend and this just keeps getting worse," Harry said.

Rory's bedroom door opened again and Matilda walked out.

"Merlin, you're still here?" she asked.

"Just commiserating over Ron and Hermione's poor taste," Ginny said.

"Where are you going?" Rory asked.

"Library," Matilda said. "Won't be gone long. I told you I'd knock off to give you some space. I wouldn't want to deny you the chance at an empty room now that Harry's shown up. Though I suppose the pitch is empty too."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ginny asked.

"Absolutely nothing," Rory warned, looking at Matilda. She laughed as she walked down the stairs.

Ginny looked at Harry. "Don't ever accuse me of being distracted by your girlfriend if you know what's good for you." She walked off toward her dorm.

"Told Matilda about what happened then?" Harry asked.

"It just kind of came out and then Hermione yelled at me about it," Rory said. She opened her bedroom door and ushered Harry inside. She locked it once they were both inside. Even if nothing happened right now, she didn't want to be bothered by anyone else. She climbed onto her bed and lay down beside Harry.

"What sorts of things do you tell Matilda and what things do you not tell her?" Harry asked.

Rory shrugged. "I tell her lots of things but I leave out details. 'I'll have to stop going to watch practice because apparently, I can't control myself around my boyfriend even on the Quidditch pitch.' That sort of thing."

Harry nodded.

"Why? Are you oversharing with Ron?" Rory asked.

"I don't think so," Harry said. "But he's been asking a lot more questions about us lately. Not invasive or anything. Just, general questions."

"Like what?" Rory asked.

"Things like 'when did you and Rory start doing more than just kissing' and such," Harry said. "Like I would know."

"Uh, I remember vividly the first time we ever did more than snogging because Ronald Weasley himself walked into the room while you had your trousers undone and your hand up my skirt," Rory said.

Harry laughed, and Rory was glad he didn't seem to find it as traumatic as she did.

"I think it's just because he's not had a girlfriend before so he's just trying to gauge what's appropriate," Harry said. "I barely remember how we got past snogging. I just remember you asking me if it would be alright if you gave me a handy and I wasn't going to tell you no."

"You're such a boy sometimes," Rory laughed. Harry put an arm around Rory and pulled her close. "Hopefully he's not as interested in your sex life."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I'll tell you who's too interested in my sex life, Seamus."

"Of course he is," Rory said.

"I was talking to him before practice and I left early so I didn't end up smacking him in the head," Harry said. "He's an idiot."

"What did he say?" Rory asked.

"He was just on about how you seemed like a prude and that's probably why I started dating Cho after we broke up," Harry said.

"Wow," Rory said with a chuckle, but she was uncomfortable hearing a thought that she'd had in her head voiced by someone else.

"I told you he's an idiot," Harry said sensing her unease as he always did. "Don't let him bother you."

"I could never be bothered by Seamus," she said. "But... I know I promised to not bring up Cho again."

Rory saw the fear in his eyes immediately. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing's wrong. I just also assumed that... Well, Cho's older than me. More experienced than me. She was dating Cedric," Rory said. "I know that's not why we broke up, but I just thought that-"

Harry was flabbergasted. "Rory I want to be very clear that I never slept with Cho."

"I know that, but... I'm sure you did other things," Rory said. "She told me as much once. And I know it doesn't matter but... It was making me crazy for the longest time, thinking about you with someone else that way. Still does I guess."

Harry was silent beside her, gently stroking her back while he took in her words. At first, she didn't think he would say anything, and that was fine. She didn't know what she would want him to say anyway. Admitting to it wasn't what she wanted to hear. She didn't want him to lie to her about it either. Maybe silence was better.

"Rory, I love you. And you know if I could take back every second that I was dating Cho I would," he said. He took her hand. "Do you remember when I kissed you after we got back together, and I said-"

"This is what it's supposed to feel like?" Rory repeated. Of course, she remembered that. It was exactly what she needed to hear after kissing him for the first time after they got back together.

Harry nodded. "Every moment with Cho felt like that. I never tried to compare the two of you, but I always did and I always just told myself that 'it's not that Rory is better, she's just different.' Which was a lie. Because, maybe you're not perfect, but you are perfect for me. I'm sure of that. Everyone else is just going to be subpar compared to you."

She smiled at him softly and then kissed him.

"I love you," she said and then kissed him again. "Thank you."

"Thank you for what?" he asked.

Rory shrugged. "For being you I guess."

Harry was feeling optimistic about his double date on Saturday morning. Breakfast had been more pleasant than usual. Rory still didn't chat with Lavender unless directly addressed, but she was more willing to keep the conversation going.

The girls wanted to stop by their room before they left so Harry and Ron waited in the Common Room for them.

"I'm glad the girls are getting along now," Ron said. He was in an even better mood than Harry was. Why shouldn't he be? He'd wanted to go on double dates and be in a relationship where their girlfriends were friends. They had that now. Harry wasn't crazy about Lavender, but he was trying.

"Me too," Harry said. "I don't think they'll ever be best friends, but they get on well enough."

Ron nodded in agreement, but then his eyes went to the stairs. Harry turned and watched Hermione walking down the stairs. She walked over to them.

"I'd go upstairs if I were you," Hermione said. "If I was Rory, I'd say that 'the vibes were off' with your girlfriends before I left."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Sure."

Hermione went to respond but someone called out to her from the stairs.

"Hermione Granger. Ready to go then?" Cormac asked as he came downstairs.

"Yes, actually," she said. Hermione looked at Harry. "Seriously. It's getting dicey."

Hermione walked out of the common room with Cormac. Ron was red-faced. So much for him being over Hermione.

"What was that?" he asked.

"She's going on a date with Cormac McLaggen," Harry said. "I guess they're going to Slughorn's party together as well."

"What?" Ron asked. "With that idiot?"

"I have no control over who Hermione goes on dates with," Harry said. "She was going to go to the party with you, but you started dating Lavender so obviously she thought that might be out of the question."

Ron sagged in his seat, defeated. "Yeah, guess you're right."

"You're going out with Lavender so what does it matter?" Harry asked.

Ron pouted but still nodded. He couldn't wait to tell Rory about this later.

Speaking of which, they still hadn't come downstairs.

"Should we go and check on them?" Harry asked.

"Sure," Ron agreed, getting to his feet.

They went up to the girls' dorms, but before they even reached the room they could hear shouting coming from their room.

Harry pushed the door open. Rory and Lavender were standing in the middle of the room. They went silent as they noticed the boys in the doorway.

Rory forced a smile onto her face.

"Have fun on your outing. I'm not going," she said. She marched over to her bed, kicking off her shoes as she did, and climbed onto it.

"Good. I'd rather eat a mouthful of glass than spend the afternoon with you," Lavender hissed.

"The feeling is mutual," Rory said.

Lavender groaned. Ron was visibly shocked.

"I'll meet you in the Common Room, Won-Won," Lavender said. She stomped from the room and slammed the door shut behind her.

"What the hell was that?" Ron asked, clearly trying not to sound as upset.

"Your girlfriend sucks, is what. And I got sick of pretending she didn't," Rory replied cooly.

"You're no peach yourself," Ron said.

"No I'm not," Rory replied quickly. "But if I knew one of my friends was going out on a date with someone I wouldn't jump up in the middle of the common room and start snogging them to steal him away. Not that it speaks too highly of the boy either since he doesn't seem to give two shits that he blew off his best friend and stomped all over her feelings. So maybe you suck too. Maybe you actually suck the most!"

Harry could tell that Ron wanted to say something but held his tongue. Instead, Ron looked at Harry.

"I'll see you around," he said. He walked out of the room and slammed the door behind himself.