The next morning Cedric met Krystal at the foot of the staircase and instead of having breakfast in the great hall the two snuck off upstairs to their favorite retreat.

"Oh how I've missed this." Cedric sighed contently as he held Krystal's laying form in his arms.

Krystal smiled and kissed his lips softly. She couldn't deny that she too missed cuddling in the room of requirements with her boyfriend, without an Order member around.

"We should probably get going though." He added, "and I want you to promise me you will keep your nose clean today."

"I promise."

He kissed her once more before he walked her to Charms.

Krystal settled in with the trio for a double Charms class followed by double Transfiguration, both of which were filled with strong lecturing on the upcoming O.W.L.'s and the importance on passing.

"I see no reason why everybody in this class should not achieve an O.W.L. in Transfiguration as long as they put in the work." Said Professor McGonagall grimly.

No on remarked except for a few sounds of disbelief and protest.

"... Today we are starting vanishing spells. These are easier than conjuring spells, which you would not usually attempt until N.E.W.T. level, but they are still among the most difficult magic you will be tested on in your O.W.L."

Krystal perked up and even sat a little straighter, Sirius had in fact worked with her on both Vanishing and Conjuring spells as he felt they were "basics" she should know. Kreacher even praised her on her spells and techniques more than a few times, but to be fair he could have just been saying kind words.

The students began the Vanishing spells for the entire second half of the double class, by the end of Transfiguration both Hermione and Krystal had successfully vanished their snails. Earning them both Ten points each for Gryffindor, and they were also the only two to not be given homework.

"Where are you lot off to?" Krystal asked them after class.

"We're headed to the library to try and catch up on all this homework." Ron said, "how bout it Hermione you coming?"

Hermione simply lifted her head and stomped away to The Great Hall for lunch, she was obviously upset about something.

"You should join us." Harry added.

"Thanks but I really don't have much homework left, and to be honest you two better hop to it, it took me a solid hour to read up on Moonstones last night, an interesting read though."

The boys groaned.

"Hey Harry, we didn't get a letter this morning?" She asked. Harry shook his head and the three said goodbye before parting their ways.

Krystal sat with her friends at lunch and as she ate, it was Angelina who nudged her.

"What's up with that?" Angelina asked as she looked in the direction of the doors to The Great Hall.

Krystal turned her head and saw Cedric walking in with Gertrude. Krystal rolled her eyes before returning to her food. "It's nothing, they're probably just talking about patrols or something."

"I don't like her." Alicia put in as she scowled at the little blond happily chatting up Cedric.

"The quicker you get done with your O.W.L.'s the better!" Katie added pointedly, "who knows what that little snake is up to."

"Guys," Krystal sighed "there's nothing I can do without looking like the obsessively jealous girlfriend, Cedric won't like that, plus I know Cedric has no interest in her anymore."

The four friends all looked at each other before moving on to Angelina's Quidditch try-outs.

Soon Krystal was telling them bye and headed out of the castle to get to her Care For Magical creatures class.

Since she had gotten to the "class" before the trio she went and stood with Neville.

"Hi Neville." She smiled.

He seemed a bit in awe that she was talking to him.

So with a slight smirk she held out her hand, "I'm Krystal Montgomery."

"I-I know, but, well...why are you talking to me?" He rambled out nervously.

Krystal giggled at how much of an introvert he really was. "Well we are classmates as well as housemates, we have all the same friends, so I thought it would be alright." She said softly, "but if you don't want me here then I can just stand with Parvati and Lavender."

"N-no, that's fine." He said giving her a weak smile before the class started.

Professor Grubbly-Plank started off by asking about the species of creatures she had presented to them, of course Hermione's hand flew into the air and she answered every one correctly. earning her ten points for Gryffindor and rude snickers from Malfoy and his gang.

The class went on, Krystal didn't seem to know if she actually liked the class or not. Whilst the creatures intrigued her she didn't know if it was something she would care to do in the future, and as O.W.L.'s are coming up, isn't that what the professors have been drilling into them these past couple of days?

The lot of them had been assigned the task of drawing the creatures called Bowtruckles and unfortunately drawing wasn't Krystal's strongest point.

"Is that your Bowtruckle?" Neville laughed.

"Is it that horrible?" Krystal smiled.

"It definitely needs work." He said. As the loud bell echoed out of the castle, "Herbology's next, you can sit with me if you fancy."

Krystal was happy that Neville had begun to open up more, "I'd like that."

After another class of O.W.L. lecturing and another assigned essay as homework the Gryffindors made their way back up to the castle for dinner.

"I-if you'd like, um, I'm going to the library after dinner...that is...well, you could come if you'd like." Neville rushed out, his cheeks slightly pinked now.

"Thank you so much Neville, trust me I would like nothing more" Krystal honestly replied, "unfortunately tonight starts my first day of detention with Professor Umbridge."

His spirits seemed to have fallen a bit as he silently nodded his understanding. Krystal began walking toward The Great Hall for dinner until Neville's words stopped her.

"For what it's worth" he said confidently, "Umbridge was wrong, completely wrong. Americans are kind, caring, and extremely well mannered, at least from what I can tell."

Krystal smiled at her newest friend, "thanks Neville."

All through dinner however, Krystal's happy mood had turned sour quickly. Angelina was complaining about Harry possibly missing the Keeper Try-Outs on Friday mixed with the fact that Krystal knew exactly what she and Harry were in for tonight only made her stomach tighten up in knots, she couldn't be bothered to eat.

At five to five Harry approached Krystal and her friends.

"You ready?" He grumbled.

Krystal got up and quickly told her friends goodbye before the two took off to Umbridge's office.

The two entered the overly opulent and lace filled room, it reminded Krystal of an antique shop her and her mother had visited once.

After the initial greetings Umbridge told them to have a seat, which Krystal did. Harry remained standing as he asked about being let off the hook for Friday's detention to attend Quidditch try-outs.

"Oh no, no, no. This is your punishment for spreading evil, nasty, attention-seeking stories. Mr. Potter, and punishment certainly cannot be adjusted to suit the guilty ones convenience. No, you will come here at 5 o'clock tomorrow, and the next day, and on Friday too," Umbridge went on. "You will do your detentions as planned. I think it rather a good thing that you are missing something you really want to do. It ought to reinforce the lesson I am trying to teach."

Krystal watched on as Harry struggled with himself before he dropped his school bag and finally took a seat.

"Now, you two are going to be doing some lines for me." she said as she finally stood up and approached them. "Mr. Potter. No, not with your quill." She acknowledged as she watched him lean down and open his bag, "You're going to be using a special one of mine. Here you are."

She handed them both a long, thin black quill with an unusually sharp point.

"Mr. Potter, I want you to write 'I must not tell lies,'" Umbridge said softly with a small smile, "as for you Miss Montgomery, you shall write only one word but it weighs so much, your word to write, is 'Respect.'"

Krystal swallowed back the tears that were beginning to spring forward as she knew what was to come.

"How many times?" Harry boredly asked.

"Oh as long as it takes the message to sink in."

"You haven't given us any ink." He commented.

"Oh you won't need ink" said Umbridge with the merriest suggestion of a laugh in her voice.

Krystal put the quill to her parchment and very elegantly wrote out her word.

Respect

She crunched her forehead and bit her bottom lip to keep from giving Umbridge the satisfaction of knowing she was in pain. Harry wrote out his first line and let out a gasp of pain, Krystal could feel his eyes in her to see if she was having the same effect as him.

Krystal looked up at him and gave him a sad smile before returning to her own parchment, on and on the pain went, on and on the word was etched on the back of her hand before it healed its self only seconds later.

The two worked silently, and after what seemed like hours Umbridge finally called them. "Come here." They stood and walked over to her desk. "Hands."

They extended their hands, she took them into both of her fat little hands.

"Oh Miss Montgomery, I see you have been working hard to learn your lesson." Umbridge commented on Krystal's now etched hand. The word respect had cut itself into the back of her hand in her own elegant script.

"Yes ma'am." Krystal acknowledged softly.

"I do love good manners." She spoke so energetically now, then looked to Harry's hand. "Tut, tut, I don't seem to have made an impression yet," she smiled, "well, we'll just have another go tomorrow evening won't we? You may go."

The two left her office without a word, as soon as they were safely away from her office Harry pulled Krystal to the side.

"Let me see." He said angrily.

Krystal showed him and he began to pace angrily.

"You two, what are you-...oh it's you guys." Cedric said with a smile and a sigh, "I've been waiting for you two for hours." He acknowledged then noticed something was wrong. "What's wrong?"

"It's Umbridge's detention assignments, she's evil, absolutely evil!" Harry shouted.

"Now she's a professor Potter, she can't be that bad." He countered as he worriedly looked around to make sure no one had heard Harry's shouting or bad words.

"Show him." Harry growled at Krystal.

Krystal's eyes went wide and suddenly she felt extremely embarrassed about the markings on her hand, with a sigh and a much softer tone he said it again a little pleadingly. "Show him."

Krystal kept her head down and lifted her hand up.

Cedric gasped as he took Krystal's hand into his own, "professor Umbridge did this?"

"It's the quill we use," Krystal nearly whispered, "it takes the blood of the user and in return it cuts into the back of their hand, Harry's got one as well only his isn't as bad since he had an actual sentence to write out."

Cedric looked down at Harry's hand before closing his eyes and placing a light kiss on the back of Krystal's hand, "I don't think there's anything we can do."

The three walked to the Gryffindor common room where they told Cedric good night.

Once they got in they found the common room virtually empty, with the exception of one sleeping body on one of the comfy sofas, it was Neville.

"Neville?" Harry sounded as he tapped his shoulder.

"Oh hey guys." Neville said as he sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"What are you doing down here?" Krystal asked as she cradled her hand.

"I was waiting for you," Neville admitted. "I figured you'd need some help on your remaining homework."

Krystal smiled at him then the two asked Harry to join them but he declined. The two set up at one of the tables before Krystal called for Dobby.

"Dobby is happy to see Miss Montgomery." Dobby said as he balanced more than a few horribly crocheted hats on the top of his head.

"Dobby do you think you can bring us up some food and drinks, we have a long night of homework ahead of us."

"Dobby can do this

Miss Montgomery." He smiled.

"Also can you bring me something to, um, to wrap my hand with?" She asked a little embarrassed.

"Is miss Montgomery hurt?"

"Not too badly Dobby." She smiled, Dobby nodded and then snapped himself away.

The two started on their Herbology essay when Neville first noticed Krystal's hand. "Oh gosh, are you alright?" He asked worriedly.

"It's fine, really." She tried to assure him then Dobby returned.

He set out the food for them and poured them both two cups of butter beer before holding out the white bandage to Krystal.

"Thanks Dobby." She said as she reached out to grab.

"Oh Miss, what has happened." Dobby asked, his big watery eyes looked like they were now on the verge of tears.

Krystal sighed and filled both him and Neville in on what had happened to her and Harry tonight.

"Is mister Harry Potter alright?" Dobby questioned.

"His wasn't as bad as mine, it will be though as he's got a whole week of detention with Umbridge." Krystal said as Dobby kindly wrapped her hand up with the bandage.

She thanked the free house elf and he went on his way and the two students continued to work until early in the morning.