"If we all did the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves." Harry Potter, sometimes known as the boy who lived, was capable of overcoming many challenges in his life, including escaping Voldemort multiple times, fighting death eaters at the Department of Mysteries, and a lot more.

The December wind blew harshly as he stepped through the thick snow on Hogwarts grounds. His best friends, Ron and Hermione had stuck by his side during the past five and half years, but there was a problem now, not even they could solve.

Harry was, least to say, somewhat troubled, seeing that the Slughorn's party was the next day, and he still didn't have a date. Romilda Vane asked him to take her, but he didn't want to spend a night with that girl since she tried some not-so-nice ways to get his attention. He also knew that Romilda was trying to give him a love potion, so it would be better to avoid her if he did not wish to be caught in another unwanted situation.

Dean Thomas was a Slug club member. Earlier that day, he told Harry how he'd asked Luna to the party. Dean walked out of the great hall, where he spotted Luna Lovegood. He chatted with her a few times this year, and he believed she was an interesting yet mysterious girl. Later, he decided it was the best choice to ask her to the party.

"Hi, Luna. Would you like to go to the Slughorn's party with me?"

"Yes! Nobody has ever asked me to go to a party before."

"Meet me here at 8 o'clock tomorrow."

"Alright, see you there."

Neville has asked Hannah Abbot from Hufflepuff. Yes, the blond who used to braid pigtails. Being Neville Longbottom, he was a little bit scared at first but eventually did it after everyone encouraged him.

Harry didn't know who Hermione was going with. Sure, she was his best friend and all that and talked to him during his worst times, though she refused to let him know the person she would go within the party. Hermione was acting differently this year, for the days were getting darker and, could there be another reason?

"Password?" the fast lady questions as soon as he almost reached the Gryffindor common room. A quick glance at the Marauder's Map allowed him to walk away from the fat lady to a place where it led him. Two small words, Draco Malfoy, was right there on the map. He already spent half a year figuring out what Malfoy was up to, not ignoring the fact that Harry suspected him to be a Death Eater, and he just couldn't miss the opportunity to find out the truth.

Slowly, he climbed up the staircases that led him to the room of requirement to find out what Malfoy was doing. Half an hour later, having tried many more variations of his request to see what Malfoy was up to, the wall was just as doorless as ever. Harry felt frustrated beyond belief Malfoy might be just feet away from him, and there was still not the tiniest shred of evidence of what he was doing in there. Losing his patience, Harry ran at the wall and kicked it.

"OUCH!"

Broken might his toe be, he clutched it and hopped on one foot, as the Invisibility Cloak slipped off him.

"Harry?" a voice whispered in a tone he could barely hear.

He spun around, one-legged, and toppled over. To his utter astonishment, there was Tonks, walking toward him as though she strolled up this corridor.

"What're you doing here?" he said, scrambling to his feet again; why did she always have to find him lying on the floor?

"I came to see Dumbledore," said Tonks. Harry thought she looked thinner than usual, her mouse-colored hair lank. It was far from the same compared to last year when she still acted like her normal self and the way she used to make everyone burst into laughter by changing her appearance using her metamorph powers, and of course, not forgetting that she once turned herself into a "half-pig" by accident, but what changed?

"His office isn't here," Harry informed, rather taken back by her unusual behavior, "it's round the other side of the castle, behind the gargoyle—"

"I know," said Tonks, her dull eyes glancing at the wall, "He's not there, he's gone away again."

"Has he?" said Harry, putting his bruised foot back on the floor. "Hey — you don't know where he goes, I suppose?"

"No," said Tonks. From the corner of his eyes, Harry once again noticed her mousy brown hair. It used to be bright bubble-gum pink instead, he mused.

Something was definitely off with her then, "What did you want to see him about?"

"Nothing in particular," said Tonks, picking at the sleeve of her robe. "I just thought he might know what's going on. I've heard rumors... people getting hurt."

"Yeah, I know, it's all been in the papers," said Harry. "That little kid trying to kill his—"

"The Prophet's often behind the times," said Tonks, who didn't seem to listen to him. "You have had no letters from anyone in the Order?"

"No one from the Order writes to me anymore," said Harry, "not since Sirius—" He saw her eyes had filled with tears.

"I'm sorry," he muttered awkwardly. "I mean...I miss him, as well." Maybe Sirius' death affected her? Survivor's guilt was not uncommon, after all, or could she be in love with his godfather? He wanted to ask her what was wrong but was unsure of how she would react if he tried, therefore he let the question remain inside.

At the same time, Harry's head was spinning. What if, just think about it, what if he took her to the party? Surely she would say no since the idea was totally crazy. He missed her smile so much, and her going to the party with him might make her happier.

"How would you like to come to the Slughorn's party with me? As friends?"

He hoped she would say yes.

"Why would you ask me, of all people?"

"Because I came here and saw you. I thought you might like to come. Besides, we are friends, right?" They were friends, were they? Harry first met her when she came with the other order members to rescue him from the Dursleys, and have gotten along very well since. Harry asked her out of all the girls he could have chosen not only because she was a friend of his, but he also wanted to help her with her troubles, and cheer her up a little.

She was silent for over a minute. Just when Harry thought she was going to say no, she said "Yes. I'd like to come. What time is it?"

"Eight O'clock tomorrow night at the entrance hall."

Before she made her way down the staircases, Harry suddenly had the urge to speak,"If you ever need to talk about anything, just find me in the common room."

For the first time, a small smile could be seen on her face, "Thank you."

Harry left the 7th-floor corridor and went straight to the Gryffindor common room. On the way, he wondered if she said yes because of their friendship or pity for him?

And then, he spotted Ron's little sister, Ginny Weasley.

"Hello, Ginny." He greeted her with a wave.

"Hi. I was wondering if you are going with anyone tomorrow, if not, you can always go with me."

"Oh, sorry I already have a date."

"What? Who?" He could clearly see the disappointment and...anger? Wasn't she already over him?

"You'll see," said Harry.

In the common room, Ron and Hermione were arguing again. They all turned their full attention to Harry once they saw him.

"Have you been in the Room of Requirement all this time?" Hermione scolded.

"No, can't get in. The good news is that I found Tonks outside the Room of Requirement, so I asked her to the party, and she said yes."

"Congratulations!" Cheered Ron and Hermione together.

Hermione looked thoughtful" Why would Tonks be there? Isn't she stationed in Hogsmeade to keep students safe?"

"No idea. She could be in love with Sirius, although I'm not exactly sure."

"They are cousins! Even if they are in love with each other, which is very unlikely, incest is wrong, and it will deeply affect the babies."

"Come on Hermione. almost every pureblood is related. They marry their cousins to keep their blood pure. Although, I, too, don't think she is in love with him." Ron said.

"Ron, I almost forgot, your sister is kind of mad at me for taking someone else."

"She's just jealous. I'm going to talk to her about this tomorrow." 

A/N: This is my first long-ish story, what do think? I love criticizing comments.