Sarina left the hospital wing on Saturday back to full strength. Harry came and collected her in the morning and they were heading down to the Quiddith pitch for the Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw game. As they walked along the corridor hand in hand they spotted Draco Malfoy and two little girls walking towards them and Sarina felt Harry tense beside her.
“Just leave it Harry, don’t do anything that will get you into trouble” she warned.

Malfoy laughed his wand in his hand. “Better listen to your girlfriend Potter” he sneered.

“Don’t tempt me Malfoy, I still owe you for that little stunt you and Parkinson pulled” he growled.

“Be my guest give it your best shot” he drawled.

Harry made to step forwards but Sarina put out her arm to stop him. “He’s not worth it, don’t do anything foolish.”

“Where are you going anyway Malfoy?” snapped Harry.

“Like I’m going to tell you, Potter, aren’t you going to be late for your little Quidditch game” and with that he sauntered away the girls following him.

“Come on we’re going to be late” said Sarina.

They walked off down the corridor and Sarina looked over her shoulder at Malfoy and saw that he was standing at the other end of the corridor looking at her with….not loathing or hatred but sadness and longing in his eyes. But then he turned away and rounded the corner, she shook her head must have been her imagination.

They continued down to the pitch. “I want to know what he is up to” said Harry fuming.

Sarina who was still lost in thought about the look she had seen on Malfoy’s face jumped slightly coming back to the present.

“Well we can work that out later, come on Harry the game is about to start” sighed Sarina.

“Good luck Harry” Sarina said giving him a kiss on the lips as they stood outside the changing rooms.

“Thanks” and he went inside to change into Quidditch robes.

Gryffindor won by two hundred points with outstanding performances by Harry and Ron. They celebrated Gryffindor’s victory with a party up in the common room and an extra cheer for Sarina for her miraculous comeback.

A couple of weeks later Ron and Hermione were preparing for their Apparition test, they were all sitting outside in the courtyard enjoying the sunshine. A girl walked over and gave Harry a message which turned out to be from Hagrid informing them that Aragog had died and could they attend the funeral.

“We’re not allowed outside the castle at night, how could he ask us to do this” Hermione cried.

“Yeah I know” said Harry. “What do you think Sarina?”

“Well I don’t think it’s a good idea to be leaving the castle at night but if you go then I’ll come too” said Sarina.

“Harry!” exclaimed Hermione looking at Sarina with narrowed eyes. “It’s just not worth getting into trouble for and I thought you had better sense” she said pointing at Sarina.

Sarina simply shrugged her shoulders, but Harry agreed with Hermione in the end. “Okay we won’t go.”

Later that evening Sarina went off to her Charms Club and Harry, Ron and Hermione were in the boys dormitory, Harry took a swig of the Felix Felics and with help from Ron and Hermione left the room to go and retrieve the memory from Professor Slughorn.

A couple of hours later with Slughorn’s memory clasped firmly in his hand Harry set off to Dumbledore’s office. They studied the memory and then discussed Voldermort’s Horcruxes.

“Harry” said Dumbledore quietly. “If I was to ask you to describe how you feel about Sarina, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?”

“That I love her deeply she makes me extremely happy, the happiest I’ve ever been in my life and I couldn’t imagine living in this world without her in it” he whispered. “She is my life; I live and breathe for her.”

Dumbledore smiled. “That’s what I thought. You will not have realised this but the two of you together is a beacon of hope for the Wizarding World. The love you two share is the strongest I have ever witnessed. Since the Dementors joined forces with Voldermort they have been spreading misery everywhere – everywhere except where you and Sarina are.”

“Yeah I had noticed that it disappeared” said Harry.

“But in the two months that you separated, it returned and was thicker and denser because you two were feeling so miserable, but once you got back together it disappeared again and as your love for each other grows stronger it grows weaker” said Dumbledore excitedly.

“I don’t quite understand….”

“You two are the key to destroying Voldermort and his Death Eaters. Love Harry is the absolute power, one in which Voldermort detests and the one he underestimates. You and Sarina were destined to be together right from the time you both entered this world. The longer you two are together the stronger you will become; you will acquire powers that will soon match those of myself and Voldermort. I have a feeling that Sarina has already noticed that she has powers that she didn’t have before.”

Harry remembered back to the beginning of school term when they had arrived late and how Sarina had performed that magic against Snape.
“But I don’t feel any different” said Harry. “I haven’t done any magic……”

“That because you haven’t let go of your feelings fully” said Dumbledore slowly. “Sarina has given her heart to you openly, Harry, she loves you completely but you are still holding back, you won’t allow yourself to give in to your feelings completely.”

“I don’t want another person who I love die because of me” cried Harry.

“Harry” sighed Dumbledore. “I know that you are scared but to be truly happy you need to let go these insecurities and let your true feelings show, let go and embrace her love and then you will see your powers grow.”

Harry sat there thinking about what Dumbledore had said. “So if I do get these powers and something happened and we were apart, would we lose these powers? He asked.

“No but they wouldn’t be as strong. Understand this Harry, Voldermort has already seen the connection between you and Sarina, that night at the Ministry, he will try to separate you both and by that I mean he will try to kill you both. Why else do you think he sent Bellatrix to Sarina’s house he will go for her first” stated Dumbledore.

“So I have put her life in danger” Harry cried.

“Listen to me carefully Harry, you were destined to meet and fall in love with Sarina just as you are destined to fight Voldermort. You said it yourself she is the love of your life breaking up with her now is not going to protect her; Voldermort will try and kill her anyway. You two are the shining light against evil, love each other and protect each other and I believe you can win the war” his voice was barely a whisper and there was a tear in his eye.

Harry nodded and left Dumbledore’s office and walked back up to Gryffindor Tower, he climbed through the portrait hole and noticed Sarina asleep in one of the chairs. She had obviously been waiting up for him and had fallen asleep; he sat in the chair opposite and watched her as she slept. She looked so peaceful like an angel and he remembered what Dumbledore had told him. Both their lives were in danger now, Voldermort would hunt them both, he wanted to protect her but he didn’t want to be apart from her either. He got up and bent over her and shook her lightly to wake her.

“Wha – What” she said groggily. “Oh Harry it’s you, I was just dreaming about you” she smiled.

He looked at her with a lump in his throat; he didn’t know what to do.

She looked at him with concern. “Are you okay” she whispered.

Did he dare tell her what Dumbledore had told him, he couldn’t lie to her and she had a right to know? So he told her the story that Dumbledore had told him in his office making sure he left nothing out.

She looked at him with love in her eyes. “Oh Harry I love you nothing will ever change that and with you beside me we will face the dangers together okay” she said softly.

“I’m scared Sarina not for myself but for you I….”

She put her fingers to his lips. “We’re in this together always and forever.”

She took her fingers away and replaced them with her lips, the kiss was light, soft and warm, and she felt his hesitancy and moved forwards pressing her body against his and wrapped her arms around him. He drew her in even closer and parted his lips wider; he explored her mouth with his tongue. She moaned softly and tightened her arms around him trying to bring her body in even more closer to his. She ran her hands over his back and felt his lean and muscular body through his shirt. She pushed her tongue into his mouth and found his, a small explosion took place in the pit of her stomach and she felt that power surge through her body once more. She drew him back onto the couch where they laid down, his body covering hers she stretched her arms up over head and he snaked his hands up towards hers and entwined his fingers with hers. He drew his lips away from hers and lightly kissed her neck and continued around to the front of her shirt where a couple of buttons were undone. He continued his kisses down her neck, down to the top of her chest and then stopped and groaned.

“As much as I want to keep going, I think we better stop” he panted.

“Yes you’re right” she said breathlessly, she was shivering with excitement.

He lay down beside her and put his arms around her, she laid her head on his chest feeling the beating of his heart.

“I love you Harry Potter” she whispered feeling her eyes growing heavy.

“I love you Sarina Taylor, always and forever” he whispered back.

And they fell asleep in each others arms, small smiles upon their faces.

Harry woke some hours later to find that it was still dark and Sarina still in his arms, he looked down at her and smiled, she was the love of his life. They were both now marked for death and that scared him, if anything happened to her he didn’t think he could go on but then again she had survived three attempts on her life maybe what Dumbledore had said was true, the love they shared was keeping them safe. He ran his hand across her face and felt a powerful tingle run through his fingers. Sarina stirred beside him and opened her eyes.

“What time is it?” she asked.

He looked at his watch. “Almost five o’clock.”

“Maybe we should go back up to our rooms” she whispered.

“Nah I like it down here” he said and tightened his arms around her. “I don’t want to let you go, I like waking up to find you right here beside me.”

He brushed his lips over hers and kissed her softly, he placed his hand on her cheek and moved his head and kissed her passionately. He felt that strange sensation run through his body again and felt power surge through him. He kissed her more deeply, he ran his hand down from her cheek along her arm and around to her back, he pulled her in closer so that he could feel her body against his. The magic that was building up inside him was reaching a fevered pitch. He wanted her so much; he wanted them to always be together. He ran his hand up under her shirt and started kissing her on the neck, she moaned softly and he felt her press her body in closer to his. He continued his kisses down to the front of her opened shirt and had just lightly brushed his lips against the top of her breast when all of a sudden there was a loud bang and sparks flew into the air like a fireworks display they both sat upright. The sparks flew around them and there was a bright silver glow encasing their bodies.
“What in the name of Merlin…”

“Shh Harry….” They could hear doors opening from the dormitories, the noise had obviously woken everyone. Sarina waved her wand in the air and pointed it towards the rooms, she waited a moment and then all was quiet.

“What did you just do?” Harry asked

“Sent them all back to their beds, they won’t remember a thing. I think I need to go and have a cold shower” said Sarina breathing heavy.

“Me too” Harry replied. He grabbed her hand and pulled her back down as she made to get up. “I love you so much” he said huskily. “I never want to be away from you.”

“I don’t want to be apart from you either Harry but we are still at school, I somehow don’t think the teachers are going to allow it” she giggled.

“I know” he sighed with a faraway look on his face.

“What are you thinking?” she asked.

“Nothing – I think we better go up and have that shower now.”

A few days later Sarina and Harry were walking back to the common room after dinner, Sarina was chatting away while Harry was studying the Marauders Map.

“Hey look at this” he said stopping in the middle of the corridor. Sarina looked over his shoulder at the map, he pointed to a spot on the map that showed Malfoy in a bathroom below them with Moaning Myrtle.

“I’m going to see what he’s doing” and he sped off towards the bathroom with Sarina running after him.

“I’ll wait right here” said Sarina. “And Harry, be careful.”

She lent up against the wall opposite the boys bathroom as Harry entered. He’d been in there about sixty seconds when she heard yelling and crashing and banging. She ran over to the door and went inside, just as she was entering the room she heard Harry yell out “SECTUMSEMPRA” and then great big slashes went across Malfoy’s body and blood was spilling out everywhere.

“Oh my god Harry, what did you do?” she gasped.

“No I didn’t mean…..:

Harry went over and knelt down beside Malfoy, Sarina stood there transfixed and then a thought came to her out of nowhere. She strode over to Harry and grabbed his wand, she pointed it at the wall and said the first spell that came to her mind “Aguamenti” she muttered.

A jet water flew out of the wand, she put the wand back onto the floor beside Harry and then knelt down beside Malfoy and placed her hand on Malfoy’s forehead and put the tip of her wand on top, she concentrated with all her might when it was done she turned to Harry.

“What did you do?” he asked.

“I’ve placed a different memory in Malfoy’s mind showing that it was me who cast the spell” said Sarina grimly.

“Why?”

“Because you’ll most likely be expelled and I haven’t been in trouble before.”

She turned on him quickly catching him off guard, she placed her hand on his forehead and then her wand on top and just as she had done with Malfoy she placed the memory in his mind. He fell backwards his eyes rolling into the back of his head. She quickly stood up and fired the “Sectumsempra” spell at the floor with her wand.

Moaning Myrtle was floating above her crying hysterically. “You tell no-one of this Myrtle understand, it was me who did it okay and if I hear different I will make your death a misery” she said threateningly.

Myrtle looked at her with eyes wide and then nodded the affirmative.

“Then go” said Sarina just as Severus Snape rushed into the room.

Snape bent over Malfoy and waved his wand over his wounds and took him to the Hospital Wing.

“You two wait here” he hissed over his shoulder as he left the room.

He was back within ten minutes. “What happened?” he seethed and then put his hand up when Sarina opened her mouth. “Potter can tell me the story.”

Harry proceeded to tell him the details of what had happened exactly how she planted it.

“Is that so” he sneered looking at Sarina. “We shall see.” He turned back to Harry and stared at him after a few moments he turned back to Sarina. “Give me your wand.” She handed him her wand and watched as he placed the tip of his wand against hers and said “Priori Incantatem.” Her wand showed the last spell to be performed was indeed ‘Sectumsempra’.

“Wait outside Potter – NOW” yelled Snape.

Once Harry had left the bathroom Snape turned on Sarina. “Where did you find that spell?”

“I read it somewhere, I can’t remember where” she said.

“I know you are lying – you are covering for Potter I just know it, since I can’t prove it you will do detention with me every Saturday until the end of term” he spat.

“Fine” she said coldly. “Is that all?”

She walked out of the bathroom and over to Harry who was waiting for her.

“What happened?” he asked anxiously.

“I’ve got detention with Snape every Saturday until the end of term” she muttered.

“Uh Sarina where did you learn that spell?”

“From the Half Blood Prince, Harry you need to get rid of that bloody book it’s more trouble than it’s worth. And Snape is going to be on the lookout for it now as well” she ranted.

They entered the common room; word had obviously spread because everyone in the room was staring at Sarina. She sat down in the chair and leaned back miserably, she looked over at Harry he didn’t seem to have a clue of what had really happened, that was one good thing she supposed.

The next morning she was called up to the Headmaster’s office. She knocked on the door and was told to enter; she walked into the room and could see Professor Dumbledore sitting behind his desk looking very sombre.

“You wanted to see me Sir” she said nervously.

“Yes Sarina, please take a seat.” She sat down and looked at Dumbledore fearfully. “I understand that you were responsible for Mr Malfoy’s injuries yesterday” he said.

“That’s correct Sir.”

“Your powers are not that strong yet Sarina, I know that it was Harry and not you who performed that spell” said Dumbledore quietly.

“Oh right” she mumbled.

“Although it was a noble thing to do and I know that you would do anything to protect Harry, but you cannot manipulate people’s minds to suit yourself. I believe that you have received punishment for your actions.”

“Yes sir.”

“Then let this be a lesson to you, your powers grow stronger everyday please do not abuse them” said Dumbledore softly.

“I promise Professor Dumbledore” she vowed.

“Then we will say no more of the matter, but you will go the hospital wing and apologise to Mr Malfoy”

She looked into the bright blue eyes for a moment about to argue but thought better of it “Yes sir” she mumbled and turned and walked out of his office.

Sarina left Dumbledore’s office and walked straight up to the hospital wing. She pushed open the doors and entered the room walking straight into Madam Pomfrey.
“Over there” she said nodding towards a bed at the far end of the wing.

“Thank you” Sarina mumbled as Madam Pomfrey left the room.

Sarina walked towards the bed in which Draco Malfoy lay. He watched her approach with narrowed eyes, this girl was going to literally drive him crazy.

“What do you want?” he asked gruffly when she had reached the end of his bed.

“I was sent here to apologise to you for what I did” said Sarina stiffly. She wanted to make sure that he knew that she was not here of her own accord.

“Well I’m waiting”

“Sorry” she said and started to walk away but then turned around again and faced him. “But I believe that makes us even.”

“What are you talking about?” he asked warily.

“Well you see I attacked you and I do believe that just a few weeks ago, you attacked me. The difference is mine was an accident, but yours Draco was on purpose…..you tried to kill me” she said quietly.

“You’re raving” he said looking away.

“Am I, so I’m just imagining you coming to me every night spilling your guts out to me. How you were given orders to separate me and Harry, how unhappy your home life is and how you have to kill Albus Dumbledore” she whispered.

Draco stared at her mouthing wordlessly at her. “You heard everything” he gasped.

“Yes I did, now the question is what do I do with this information.”

“How long have you known?” he asked fearfully.

“Not long, a couple of days. Ever since I seen you in the corridor after I got out of the hospital and I saw that look in your eyes, I knew something was up and I have been having flashes of your visit ever since then” she said sitting down in the chair beside the bed.

“Why haven’t you said anything to anyone?”

“Because I am hoping that you will come to your senses and not go through with it Draco, I got the feeling your heart is not really in it and that you really don’t want to do it anymore – am I right?”

Draco took a deep shuddering breath and swallowed hard, “he’s going to kill me if I don’t.”

“Go to Dumbledore he will be able to help you, Draco, he’s the greatest wizard alive he will protect you” said Sarina. “Redeem yourself Draco, stop it now and all will be forgiven” she added.

He looked at her for a long moment, after all he had done to her, she was willing to forgive him. He knew he didn’t deserve it but he was grateful all the same.

“Okay I will speak to Dumbledore and tell him everything. But not everyone is going to be so forgiving are they?” he said raising his eyebrows at her.

“No they won’t” she said truthfully. “But in time they will remember what you did and they will all say how brave you were.”

He let out a harsh laugh “I doubt it, too much has gone on but I’ll live with it.”

“I’ll leave you to rest now, Draco, promise me you will see Dumbledore or I will” she said fiercely.

“I promise” vowed Draco. “Uh…Sarina before you go, did you here absolutely everything I said?”

“Yes Draco I did and I’m flattered, but Harry is the one I love. He and I are meant to be together, I’m sorry” she whispered and she reached out and took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“Do the right thing Draco” and she got up and walked out of the hospital wing.

Draco watched her leave and thought about what she had said. He would go to Dumbledore and tell him but only because of Sarina he would do it for her. He was in love with her more now than he had ever been but she loved someone else and even though the knowledge of that hurt him like crazy, he still felt happy that she was willing to be his friend.

A couple of days later Sarina sat in the dungeons pickling rat’s brains for her detention with Snape but was not really paying attention to what she was doing, she kept wondering whether Draco had gone to see Professor Dumbledore yet. She looked up and stared at the blackboard at the front of the room, she was so absorbed in her thoughts that she did not notice that Snape was staring at her, reading all her thoughts.

Snape watched Sarina very carefully and was surprised at what her thoughts contained and he knew that he would have to do something about it and the sooner the better.

“Very well Miss Taylor you may leave for today” hissed Snape.

Sarina shook herself out of her reverie, she’d only just caught what Professor Snape had said. “Oh right, thank you. Same time next week” she said stiffly.

“Yes same time” he sneered.

Sarina cleared everything from the table and got up and walked towards the door. Still consumed with her thoughts Sarina didn’t realise that Snape was standing behind her with his wand raised there was a flash of light and when she reached the door she couldn’t remember what she had been thinking about. The only thought in her head now was going to the Great Hall for lunch.