McGonagall and Snape repeatedly shift their attention from the necklace to the four repeated offenders of being sucked into everyone else's drama. And now Leanne. "You're sure Katie did not have this in her possession when she entered the Three Broomsticks?" McGonagall asks.

"It's like I said. She left to go to the loo.
And when she came back, she had the package," Leanne recounts, "She said it was important that she deliver it."

"Did she say to whom?" McGonagall asks.

"To Professor Dumbledore," Leanne says.

"Very well. Thank you, Leanne. You may go," McGonagall says. Leanne leaves then McGonagall looks to us with mild disappointment and disbelief. "Why is it
when something happens, it is always you four?"

"Believe me, Professor, I've been asking myself
the same question for six years," Ron says. I smirk.

"Same," I say.

"Oh, Severus," McGonagall says as sees Snape using his wand to levitate the necklace. Observing it to understand the situation. "What do you think?"

"I think Ms. Bell is lucky to be alive," Snape says. I start to fiddle with my bracelet nervously. Who would have done this? And why now?

"She was cursed, wasn't she?" Harry asks, "I know Katie. Off the Quidditch pitch, she wouldn't hurt a fly."

"She had to be," I say, "especially If she was delivering that to Professor Dumbledore, she wouldn't do it knowingly."

"Yes, she was cursed," McGonagall says. Both of them still not looking at us. But staring at the necklace. Harry looks to me and sighs.

"It was Malfoy." I look over to the boy as the word Malfoy leaves his mouth. He's taking their whole petty shit to far. I mean accusing him of cursing Katie? He would never hurt someone like that on purpose. Yeah I'll admit he'll say some mean things, but never going as far as to cursing.

"That is a very serious accusation, Potter," McGonagall says as she turns to us. Snape follows.

"Indeed," Snape says, "Your evidence?"

"I just know," Harry says.

"Knock it off Harry this is serious," I say sternly.

"I am being serious," he says, "I just know he did it."

"You 'just' know," Snape says in disbelief of Harry's stupidity. "Once again, you're astonished with your gifts, Potter. Gifts mere mortals can only dream of possessing. How grand it must be to be the Chosen One." McGonagall looks at Snape wanting to say something but knowing he was right.

"Mr. Malfoy was not in Hogsmeade today," McGonagall says.

"We already knew that," I huff at Harry.

"How do you know, Professor?"

"Because he was doing detention with me. He has now failed to complete his Transfiguration homework twice in a row. So, thank you for telling me your suspicions, Potter," she says as she marches past us. "but I need to go up to the hospital wing now to check on Katie Bell.
I suggest you go back to your dormitories, All of you." I turn and march out. Harry and the others following behind me.

"I can't believe the audacity of you!" I scream as I march away from him. He grabs my wrist stopping me. As I look back I take note of the empty corridor around us. Then turn to him. Using my free arm to smack him. He steps back in shock while I yank my arm away. "Draco has put all of your stupid arguments behind him because he sees how much you guys mean to me and none of you care enough to do the same!"

"Y/n-"

"Shut up Harry! I'm talking now. Wouldn't want you to accuse my boyfriend of cursing anyone else," I hiss, "we are not our parents. , while his dad is a shit person, Draco is a good guy. I figured you would understand that seeing as your dad was a bullying prat!"

"Do not bring up my father," Harry says harshly. I chuckle dryly.

"Go figure. You can point out every flaw in everyone else's families and life's but can't handle it back in the slightest," I hiss. Then soften up. "I just want to be happy with Draco. I love him. More than anything. And i know he's trying to be better to you guys. I just wish you'd do the same." I look away from them and run off down to the dungeon. As I get to the common room I see Draco sitting on the couch staring into the fire. I slump down beside him and rest my head onto his shoulder.

"You okay love?" He asks as he moves his arm around me to pull me closer.

"The whole world is against us," I sigh, "I thought everyone was over trying to rip us apart." He chuckles.

"They never will be," He says, "it's like in our DNA we were scripted to be another tragic love story." I look over into his grey eyes. The warm fire lighting up his pale face in splashes of orange hues.

"Do you ever think it would be easier to just stop resisting and fighting for us?" I ask him. He looks from the fire to my e/c orbs.

"Never," He says, "do you?"

"I wouldn't dream," I honestly, "I love you too much." For the first time in weeks my nerves were settled as I sit beside him. No racing thoughts or haunting dreams. Just him and I. He looks back to the fire as I move closer. "What did you do while I was at Hogsmade?"

"Talked about careers with Snape, who asked about you. Wanted to know if you've given any thought to a potioner. Then I served a detention with McGonagall for not turning in homework," He recounts, "very boring and slow."

"I can imagine," I say. He did hold anything back. I know originally he didn't tell me about McGonagall. But it didn't seem to matter a detention or two. "Must of been boring."

"It was," He says, "very much so."

"Well," I say to him, "I didn't get chocolate to bring back like normal- something came up. I'm sorry."

"Oh no it's fine," he says, "I just hope you had I good time since I wasn't there."

"It was fine," I say to him. It was true, it was perfectly fine until we stumbled upon Katie and Harry ran his mouth. "You've seemed drawn back. But I guess I have too. Wanna talk about it?"

"Yeah," He says as he turns to me, "But you go first."

"Alright alright," I say to him. I take a deep breath. I trust him. And I had to tell him. "I've been having these strange dreams, Hermione and I think there visions like my great grandmother had, and they've been about death eaters attacking Hogwarts. They are very bizarre but nerve racking." I scan his face. He seems a little taken back. Then chuckles before tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.

"Love there just dreams," He says, "Hogwarts is under lockdown. Very secure. Death Eaters couldn't get in here." I look at him. A little shocked that he didn't believe them. But maybe it was for the best that he didn't indulge the fantasy.

"Right right," I say, "they've just put me on edge. I needed to hear that." I reach down for his hand. "Now what's been bothering you."

"Just- I'm very stressed with how schools going you know. We have to chose careers soon. We are adults soon. It's all very surreal," he says, "the final straw was you pulling away. I was so afraid you were going to dump me."

"I would never," I say as I cup his cheek. "I love you way to much for that." He looks down at my lips before placing a soft sweet kiss on them. As he pulls back I reconnect the kiss. My hands move up to his hair as we make-out. As we pull away from air I look at him feeling an urge and an awkwardness all at once. "I'm going to make a suggestion so don't laugh at me."

"Alright," he says. I bit my lip.

"We've been dating awhile and dancing around going any farther, and we don't even have to do it tonight, I just want to know if that's something you'd want to do," I say to him nervously, "I mean we've both been so on edge and it might be a way to cut lose. And just be with each other? I'm rambling please say something." He smirks at me.

"Yes yes yes we can definitely do more," Draco says eagerly then back tracks, "if that is something you're sure you want to do."

"I've put some thought into it lately and yeah," I say then look towards his empty room. "We've got some time now. Alone even. We can now if you want."

"Yes," He says eagerly now standing, I chuckle and follow him back to his room. As we get inside he locks the door and I sit down on the bed. Pulling off my extra jumpers and jackets until I'm at my bottom one. He walks towards me and awkwardly sits beside me. I knew someone had to make a move. And this boy wanted to. But was for once too scared to do anything, out of fear of pushing me to far. I climb onto his lap and kiss him passionately. As he finally gets into to it he he breaks the kiss to have me lay back and him hover above me. Quickly kissing again. As he trails away down to my neck I start to pull at my jumper. He breaks away from my neck and pulls it off me before going to his own shirt. He hesitates before settling on just tossing it off. His pale chest over over me. He was fairly toned. Possible from quidditch, maybe from just general care. As he reattaches himself to my neck I trace along his chest.

"Merlin's sake Draco," I say desperately at his actions. He pulls back and smirks.

"You are so beautiful," he says lovingly, "probably even better looking naked."

"Someone's eager," I smirk.

"Listen I've been waiting for this since last year," he says, "probably longer than that."

"Then let's cut to the chase," I say. A huge amount of energy was being used for me to front that cocky attitude. But I was extremely nervous. And I could tell Draco was by how slow he was with touching me. Nervously we reach down to my jeans and try to slide them off. I lift up and move with them. As he looks down across my body again I could feel my cheeks turning red.

"You are so perfect," He says as he drags a finger along my skin. "every single inch of you is perfect." We move quickly after that. My nerves melting away with excitement and anticipation as we move through. Draco seemed to anticipate this happening due to a supply of condoms by his bed. What he didn't anticipate is how sloppy, painful, and awkward it would be. In the end it was well enough to warrant a small smile from Draco as he wraps his arms around me. "God I love you so much," He says drowsily.

"I love you too," I say to him. I pull away slightly and pull my jumper and underwear from the ground.

"Leaving?" He asks.

"No no," I say as I pull them on, "you just have four male roommates that I don't fancy seeing me naked."

"I don't fancy it either," Draco says. I climb back into bed with him. Maybe now everything will settle.

*****

Burning everything is burning. The hut once again. The death eaters laughing. But now the person falling is slightly clearer. Quickly I see Harry hiding quietly. Flashes of white hair, black hair, platinum blond hair. I see a wand point towards me. Again it all disappears with a green flash.

I jolt up. This time free of Draco's arms. I do however see Blaise watching me from his bed.

"You talk in your sleep," He says plainly, "now put on your pants and lets take a walk." I look around the bed before responding. Once again it was just me. Draco was missing.

"Fine," I say. I climb from the bed and pull the jeans over my knickers quickly. Hoping to limit the time my undergarment was exposed to the room. As I slip on my shoes. Blaise walks over from his bed and seizes my wrist.

"Come On," He says. As we rush through the common room we see how empty everything is. It had to be extremely late seeing as there was a lack of studying teens and couples in the common room.

"Were are we going?" I ask as he leads me out of the common room.

"Shush," He says. As we sneak through the halls I see Draco down one. I start to walk towards him but but Blaise pulls me back.

"Are you you mad? It's just Draco," I whisper. He puts his hand over his mouth and pulls me back so the light from the windows wouldn't shine on us. As Draco walks off towards the stairs Blaise lets me go.

"We just missed him leaving the room," Blaise says, "and we can't run into him. We need to talk."

"Fine," I whisper. He pulls me along into the potions room. Thankfully it was late enough that Slughorn wasn't here. "Okay we are alone. What do you want?"

"Katie Bell was cursed," He starts out with, "and I have reason to believe it was one of the death eaters in the school."

"Go On," I say dropping my suspicion.

"Well," He says, "Theo and Goyle bailed on going to Hogsmade since Draco wasn't going. And Crabbe ducked out after about an hour. So Pansy and Astoria were with me. Apparently Astoria and Theo got into a fight recently. So when he came into the three broom sticks we bailed. Ten minutes later Katie and Leanne left."

"You think it was Theo?" I ask him.

"Honestly I think it's a group effort," Blaise says watching my reaction, "multiple parties involved."

"Okay," I say, "did anyone see Goyle?"

"Trotted out of the three broomsticks a half hour after Katie left," Blaise says.

"How would they have gotten the necklace out of Hogwarts?" I ask, "Flich was searching us."

"There is a Black Magic shop- apparently you were at it," Blaise says.

"Yeah for a book," I say, "what's your point?"

"That shop is disguised as a book shop. But Is run by a sketchy death eater family. With ties to the Nott family," Blaise says, "there is a port key from Borgon and Burkes to there."

"And the necklace was from Borgon and Burke's," I say to Blaise. The whole thing lining up.

"Theo was bragging about slipping in some potion materials from that shop last year," Blaise says, "it wouldn't be to far of a stretch to suspect that he asked the shop keep to do him a little family favor."

"Why Katie?" I ask.

"First one they saw I reckon," he says, "there aren't any links between them. Now I need you to keep this between us. Keep the other Slytherins out of it."

"Okay," I say to him, "is that all?"

"Hardly," Blaise says, "But this Katie stuff needs to stay quiet. Very quiet. Okay?"

"Why?"

"Because I'm afraid that if they find out we are spying on them there next order will be to get rid of us," Blaise says, "and since you're protecting Harry- I don't think they'll hesitate getting rid of you."

"Fine," I say, "it will stay between us."

"Now it will do you well to spend as little time around Theo and Goyle," Blaise suggests, "because I've seen that they've been watching you. And not in an affectionate way."

"They won't touch me-"

"They won't touch you when Draco's around. But the moment he's gone- You need to be careful okay?" He says.

"Fine," I say to Blaise, "I'll be careful."

*****

The next couple days were spent avoiding Goyle and Nott, while watching out for news about Katie. She had barely survived, and at the moment was at ST Mungos. Harry apologised for blaming Draco. And while I was still upset, I knew in the times we are in its best to just move on.

"Wow, scary thought, the boy You-Know-Who," Ron says quietly, as we sit in herbolgy. I work around the gnarled Snargaluff stumps that formed this term's project, while they delay working, "But I still don't get why Dumbledore's showing you all this. I mean, it's really interesting and everything, but what's the point?"

"Dunno," Harry says inserting a gum shield. "But he says it's all important and it'll help me survive."

"I think it's fascinating," Hermione says earnestly. "It makes absolute sense to know as much about Voldemort as possible. How else will you find out his weaknesses?"

"He doesn't have many, so anything we can get will help," I say as I move ahead of all three of them.

"So how was Slughorn's latest party?" Harry ask us thickly through the gum shield.

"Oh, it was quite fun, really," Hermione says, now putting on protective goggles. "I mean, he drones on about famous ex-pupils a bit, and he absolutely fawns on McLaggen because he's so well-connected, but he gave us some really nice food and he introduced us to Gwenog Jones."

"Gwenog Jones?" Ron asks his eyes widening under his own goggles. "The Gwenog Jones? Captain of the Holyhead Harpies?"

"Yeah," I say, "it was nice. He kept bringing up how Blaise and I were on the team and such. It was weird."

"Quite enough chat over here!" Professor Sprout says briskly, bustling over and looking stern. "You're lagging behind, everybody else has started, and Neville's already got his first pod!" I look back to mine and continue working. I was near getting my first pod.

Okay, Professor, we're starting now!" Ron says adding quietly, when she had turned away again, "should've used Muffliato, Harry."

"No, we shouldn't!" Hermione says at once, looking, as she always did, intensely cross at the thought of the Half-Blood Prince and his spells. "Well, come on... we'd better get going..."

"Way ahead of you," I say as I pull my first pod towards me. "Sucks to be all of you."

"How how do you do the things you do without a damn scratch?" Ron asks as he gets attacked by the plant.

"I'm just good at what I do," I shrug at them as I squeeze it into the bowl.

"You know, I don't think I'll be having any of these in my garden when I've got my own place," Ron says pushing his goggles up onto his forehead and wiping sweat from his face.

"Pass me a bowl," Hermione says, holding the pulsating pod at arm's length; Harry hands one over and she drops the pod into it with a look of disgust on her face.

"Don't be squeamish, squeeze it out, they're best when they're fresh!" Professor Sprout calls out.

"Anyway," Hermione says, continuing their interrupted conversation as though a lump of wood had not just attacked them, "Slughorn's going to have a Christmas party, Harry, and there's no way you'll be able to wriggle out of this one."

"Yeah Harry he asked us to check your free evenings to have it planned so you can come," I say to him.

"And this is another party just for Slughorn's favorites, is it?" Ron asks angrily.

"Just for the Slug Club, yes," Hermione says. Ron drops the pod then snorts. "Look I didn't make up the name 'Slug Club'—"

"Slug Club,'" Ron says. "It's pathetic. Well, I hope you enjoy your party. Why don't you try hooking up with McLaggen, then Slughorn can make you King and Queen Slug—"

"God Ron the only pathetic thing here is you!" I groan.

"We're allowed to bring guests," Hermione says, who had turned a bright, boiling scarlet, "and I was going to ask you to come, but if you think it's that stupid then I won't bother!"

"You were going to ask me?" Ron asks in a completely different voice. More meek.

"Yes," Hermione says angrily. "But obviously if you'd rather I hooked up with McLaggen..." I look to Harry as they argue and push a piece of parchment towards him. Scribbling down the words 'he blew it'.

"No, I wouldn't," Ron says, in a very quiet voice.

Hand that over, Harry," Hermione says hurriedly now looking at Harry failing to crush it. "It says we're supposed to puncture them with something sharp..."

"Idiot," I chuckle, "anyways it supposed to be formal. So thank Merlin Hermione and I got new dress robes."

"I'm glad we did that," Hermione says, "now we have something to wear." And that was the last comment about the party. Ron's huffy puffiness made it annoying to talk about.

*****
The upcoming match between Slytherin and Gryffindor had looked so promising before. Harry and I had teams we both built to work well and work with skill. Both knowing the other would bring a good challenge.

But looking out on my team made me anxious. Our chasers were being fantastic, and our new keeper was great. And our other beater and I were working well together. But Draco was nowhere to be seen. See he was the one who decided the match for us. He absolutely had to catch the snitch before Harry did. And that was a lot easier said then done. Hence why he was needed at practice- and yet here he is missing.

"Alright Blaise I want you guys to run that again!" I order. I see the platinum blond coming running to the pitch. "Malfoy you are an hour late to practice!"

"I had a detention with Flitwick," Draco says.

"And you didn't feel the need to share this with me beforehand?" I ask him, "don't expect any special treatment. You earned your spot on this team and you can damn well lose it. Three laps around the pitch then you can join!" I look back to the team watching me in shock. "Come on run the play again! Do you want to lose to Gryffindor?" They move quickly and I take my place. Beating the Buldger to our second year chaser alternative. I had the alternatives playing as another team to get the team used to playing against people. This was a thing I knew Gryffindor was doing due to Harry and I talking. I had offered the idea up to him. Downside is that he had to add alternatives since he didn't have backups for a position but for the team in general. So his alts kinda sucked.

"Making Draco run? You're really taking this seriously," Blaise says as he flies near me.

"Like I said you all earned the spot now don't do anything to lose it," I say, "now you better get up there." After the play Draco joins us looking pretty pissed.

"Alright so you and Delba are going to work with the snitch," I say to him, "you have to be able to see it before Harry. We are depending on you."

"Alright," he says as he flies off with Delba. She was a really good seeker who missed the original tryouts. So I put her as Draco's backup. They both are about equal. She rivals him and Harry pretty well. Probably even a little better than both of them. Better yet she's a 3rd year meaning she has good amount of time to get better. If I had to take a guess on who would go pro, my bet is her. As practice whines down I stay back to pack everything up. Unfortunately a captains duty. "What was that back there?"

"What do you mean Draco?" I ask as I pack away the snitch.

"Making me run laps, saying I can lose my spot?" He asks.

"Draco we might be dating but that doesn't mean that I'm going to treat you different on this field. When I'm out here I switch to game mode, and that doesn't mean treat you better than the rest of the team. I love you but it's true, I want people on this team who take it seriously and seeing as you knew you had the detention before hand and didn't tell me before practice you at the same punishment as I would give the others. Okay?" I ask him. He sighs.

"Fine," he says, "I get it. I'm just used to-"

"The captains sucking up to you since your dad bought the new brooms?" I ask, "yeah no. I don't roll like that and you know that Draco."

"I know," he says as he takes the case from me to put it away. As we walk back to the shack he packs it up. While I stack the teams brooms back up. I opted to not use one of these brooms since they were bought as a bribe. Instead I used my own broom. Like a decent human being.

"Why did you have detention this time?" I ask Draco as he walks back out.

"Two homework assignments weren't done," He says mocking Flitwick, "What a joke."

"Draco we are NEWT students you need to put some effort in," I say to him, "you're almost done, don't ruin it now."

"Yeah," Draco says softly.

The next couple practices went smoothly. And it was looking well. With game day now here I had to make sure my team was ready.

"I've wanted to be captain of these team since Flint was here," I admit to them as we sit inside the locker room, "because he was an asshole and I knew I could do better. Same with Graham. What neither of them could do was get the team to work together. To have a team that actually wants to succeed and I hope that I actually have that here- also let's be real we want to crush Gryffindor. Like into the ground." Some chuckle others nod. "So do your best and lets crush Gryffindor!"

"Actually um I'm was supposed to tell you," Astoria pops up, "Draco's not feeling well and is missing today's match."

"What?!" I scream.

"And Vasiey is out after that buldger," Pansy says. I now notice those two were with two other girls at the door. I turn to Blaise in panic.

"Breath," He says.

"Okay okay so um Delba you are in for Draco, and um um Adam is he here?" I ask them.

"He's in the hospital wing after he drank a bad antidote," Blaise says.

"Astoria can play well tho," Theodore says, "apparently she's been playing since she was four."

"You play chaser?" I ask her. She nods. I pull my extra uniform out and toss it at her. "Fine your in. Now if you aren't playing today please remove yourself from the locker room."

"I don't have a broom," Astoria says. I groan.

"Use mine, and I guess I'll borrow Draco's," I say, "now are we good? Or does someone else wanna give me news?"

"We need to be out now," Delba says. I nod. Fantastic we are gonna lose.

"Alright come on guys we'll do great!" I lie. Sounding cheerful. As we get out to the pitch I meet Harry and Madam Hooch.

"Captains shake hands," Madam Hooch demands. I smile at Harry and shake his hand.

"May the best team win," He says.

"We will," I say with a wink.

"Mount your brooms. On the whistle... three... two... one..." the whistle sounds and we kick off. As the whistle sounds, we kick off hard from the frozen yard. I quickly move to the buldger knocking Ginny down quickly.

"Well, there they go, and I think we're all surprised to see the team that Potter's put together this year. Many thought, given Ronald Weasley's patchy performance as Keeper last year, that he might be off the team, but of course, a close personal friendship with the Captain does help..." Zacharias Smith says, "Oh, and here comes Slytherin's first attempt on goal, it's Astoria streaking down the pitch, she's filling in for Vaisey. And- Weasley saves it, well, he's bound to get lucky sometimes, I suppose..." I rush towards the horde of Gryffindors to be able to hit them quickly. "And chaser Theodore Nott gets the buldger." It whips past me. "At his own captain."

"Hey dumbass you aren't supposed to hit the buldgers and most certainly not at me!" I scream. As we fly through the game Gryffindor leads by ten points, 60 to 50. And Ron was doing fantastic. To get the goals we had I was aiming buldgers at him to distract him.

"Now guys we don't normally have female beaters, seeing as they aren't as strong and don't have the muscles for it," Zacharias says, "not that Y/n is proving that wrong." I switch my target to hit him. And thankfully the Gryffindors let it pass them and smack him right in the face.

"Oops," I shrug as I high five Blaise.

"And I think Delba of Slytherin's seen the Snitch!" Zacharias Smith says through his megaphone. "Yes, she's certainly seen something Potter hasn't!" I toss a buldger towards Harry but their beater hits it back. I keep hitting it towards him as I watch nervously.

"And Potters got the Snitch!" Smith announces.

"No!" I scream as the Gryffindor team begins to celebrate.

"We went down with a fight at least," Delba says as she flies towards me. I cover my face and groan. "Move!" Before I can do anything a buldger smacks me in the face knocking me off my broom.

"Y/n!"