News erupted throughout the school of Myrtle's return like a wildfire. Everyone, especially the trio, had wondered why Myrtle became a ghost. Amber argued that it was obviously because she was afraid of death, like all ghosts are; but Ami decided to keep her idea as to why the young Ravenclaw came back a secret. Tom seemed to agree with Amber and decided against walking near the bathroom the Ravenclaw haunted.

One evening after dinner in the Great Hall, Tom was helping Ami finish her potions homework while Amber was lounging on the chair across from them.

"You know what, guys? I've been doing a lot of thinking." Ami and Tom glanced at each other with a knowing look.

"Oh no, Amber was thinking-"

"-sounds quite dangerous." Ami finished Tom's sentence. She cheekily glanced at an amused Tom, the playful smirk she loved resting on his face.

"Wow you two are hilarious," Amber commented dryly, "but I was just thinking that maybe Myrtle became a ghost for other reasons." Ami looked at Amber curiously, wondering if the blonde was thinking what she had thought of a few months earlier.

"Like what?" Tom asked casually, however Ami heard the edge in his voice.

"Well, maybe she wanted to finish school. You know how those Ravenclaws are always trying to outsmart the rest of us." Amber joked.

"You shouldn't joke about a person's death, Amber." Ami told her, not knowing why she felt the need to come to the girl's defense. Tom shifted himself so he was sitting lazily on the couch, his feet propped up against the coffee table.

"Jeez, sorry. Since when are you so touchy about what kind of jokes I say?"

"Ever since you decided to joke of a recent matter of s girl who died trying to outrun her bully." Ami snapped.

"Amber, I think Ami and I should take a walk while you clear your head of any retorts you want to use against her." Tom suggested, eyeing the two girls who were glaring at each other.

Amber glanced at Tom's hard gaze that had suddenly appeared on his face and took it as a cue to do what he said. Ami watched as he casually lifted himself from the couch and held his hand out for Ami to take, which she gladly did. Ami loosened her grip on his hand after being helped up only to realize that he wasn't releasing his grip on hers. Curious about what had compelled his to do so, but not complaining, she tightened her grip once more as they headed out of the Common Room.

"Will I be in trouble because I'm out after curfew, Head Boy sir?" Ami joked as they continued to walk hand-in-hand. They made a turn to the left as she continued following Tom's lead. He chuckled as she felt his grip on her hand tighten slightly as they went up flights of stairs and turned abruptly to a door a few doors down from a statue of Boris the Bewildered.

"Divination." Tom said in a clear whisper; and the door opened to reveal the Prefect's Bathroom, a place Tom found appropriate when he needed to clear his mind. He watched Ami carefully as she studied the bathroom when they were in it with the door closed.

"I come here, to the Prefect's Bathroom, when I need to clear my head and come to a quiet place. The Prefects, Captains, and Heads use this bathroom but typically before this hour. I usually come here before making my rounds and it seemed like you needed to come here after that brawl with Amber."

Ami sighed. "I know I shouldn't have snapped; but what she said was wrong and I couldn't just let her joke about a per-"

Tom quieted Ami by putting his hand over her mouth, gazing into her eyes with an expression Ami could only describe as a "shut up" expression. "You don't have to explain yourself to me, Ami. I just thought you needed a place to relax. I think the stress of the N.E.W.T.s are upon you already."

Tom watched as Ami blushed and chuckled; but he suddenly felt awkward as he noticed how close they were sitting on the rim of the empty bathtub. He could clearly see Ami noticed it, too; because her blush deepened as she tried to scoot away subtly.

Ami watched Tom acknowledge her scooting away from him. "You know, Ami. I don't bite unless threatened." He joked, and Ami stopped and smiled at Tom. This time, she over-exaggerated her movements to scoot away from Tom as she scooted herself to the other side of the tub, and sat with one leg in the tub and the other out, facing her crush with a goofy grin.

"I bite when threatened as well, Tom; but it seems my 'flight' reaction kicked in instead of my 'fight' action."

Tom surprised himself by his own action as he took a seat in front of her, mirroring her actions, and leaned in towards Ami's face so their noses were practically touching.

"Then do you feel threatened now, Ami?"