Thanks Jennie and Connie for your lovely comments. s you both! Abby is in a very similar position with her magic as Harry was in his second world. I'll be looking for your pm about what you think

Lupin and I sat there for a couple of minutes, neither of us saying anything. Deciding I might as well practice some more with him in the room I started to try some more complicated spells, Professor Lupin merely watching and nodding his head when I managed to cast the spells ice free.

After about an hour Lupin told me that he had to go, so we parted way, Lupin giving me a hug before he left. Professor Lupin was like a second father to me, and I appreciated his willingness to help me even when things are rough. As he closed the door behind him I looked down at my watch to see what time it was. 8:00....if I didn't hurry I was going to be late to our secret Defense Against the Dark Arts meeting.

I ran when I could and walked casually when people were around me, and I made sure the entire seventh corridor was clear before I walked back in front of the portrait three times, and pushed the huge wooden doors open. Almost everyone was there already, Ron, Hermione, and Harry huddled in a small circle discussing what they should teach for the lesson.

"There you are," said Hermione as I joined them. "How did it go?"

"I think I've got things under control," I said, turning to look around the room and meeting Seamus' eyes. He smiled at me warmly and I smiled back.

"We were discussing what we should do for our lesson today," said Ron, giving the ground a gentle kick. I reached in to his mind, wondering what had him so down, and I realized Hermione had received a letter from Krum earlier in the day.

"We could always work on some more protective spells, like Protego," I offered.

"Good idea," Harry said with a small smile before turning to address the room.

"Everyone quiet please," Hermione called out, everyone falling silent at once. Hermione nodded at Harry that he was free to go.

"Okay, so today I thought we would work on Protego, which is another defensive spell that can be quite useful. For those of you who don't know what it is, it basically produces a shield that can deflect spells. Now, in order to do this we need to pair up again, but if you can try to alternate between people you practice with. You know, to get a look at different styles and strength of spells."

Harry waited until they were all paired off before telling them to step to the side so he could demonstrate how the spell worked.

"Mind if you demonstrate with me Abby?" Harry asked, before adding quietly, "you know, if you're ready."

"Sure, I can help," I said with a smile.

Harry nodded happily before heading off to the other end of the room. "Alright, on the count of three I am going to cast Rictusempra at Abby and she is going to block the spell with Protego." Harry shifted his focus to me.

"One...two...three," Harry said.

He flicked his wand and pronounced the spell and just as the spell was about to leave his wand I yelled Protego, the spell being absorbed into the shield before the shield disappeared clearly. Harry nodded encouragingly at me and everyone in the room clapped at the demonstration. To my surprise everyone in the room thought I was just as good of a witch as Harry if not better.

"Now go on everyone and practice, but be sure to space yourselves out. And try not to use offensive spells that will cause a lot of damage in case your partner's shield doesn't work the first time," Harry said, eyeing Colin Creevey who appeared to be plotting a good spell to use against a Hufflepuff that made fun of how attached he was to his camera.

Harry headed back over to me while everyone else started to practice. "So, the teachers were able to help you?" Harry asked as we watched Hermione send Ron flying backwards.

"Yeah, they were great. Professor Lupin actually came and helped quite a bit."

Harry smiled. "I wish we had Professor Lupin this year rather than that old toad."

"You and me both," I said, watching Seamus who casted a perfect shield to block Dean's spell.

"How are you and Seamus doing?" Harry asked, following my gaze.

I turned and looked at him. "Good I suppose. He's very understanding, you know?"

Harry raised his eyebrows at me. "Well...he's understanding now at least."

I smiled slightly. "How was your lunch with Cho?" I asked, shifting my focus to her. I couldn't for the life of me remember the name of her friend, but she was not having a very easy time casting the shield charm.

"It was good, but I don't know. All she seems to want to do is talk about Cedric."

I exhaled deeply. "Well, perhaps she thinks that you can help her grieve, or at least offer some form of explanation as to what happened to him."

"Yeah, but to be honest I don't like thinking about Cedric's death. It's bad enough that I dream about it all the time."

I nodded my head in understanding. The past week Harry had dreamt of nothing but Cedric dying. It was like that scene kept being played, then rewound, and then replayed again, over and over until Harry finally woke up in sweats.

"The nightmares will pass I am sure. It will just take time," I said with a sympathetic smile.

"Abby?"

"Yeah," I said, trying not to laugh as a disgruntled Ron got up after being knocked on the ground for the fifth straight time.

"Do you think you'll stay with Seamus?"

I turned to look at Harry, completely taken off guard by the question. "Well...I don't really know Harry. I'm taking it day by day."

Harry nodded, before turning to look at Cho Chang. We didn't speak for the rest of the lesson and I couldn't help but wonder why it was that Harry wanted to know because he had been trying very hard to think of everything but our conversation.

"Good job everyone. As you know this is our last lesson before the holidays," Harry said, nodding in understanding as people groaned. "But I promise as soon as we get back from the holidays we will continue practicing. But really everyone, just well done. I couldn't be more proud."

Everyone clapped loudly, Fred and George whistling in approval, before everyone collected their things and headed out. I turned to look at Cho Chang who was standing by the mirror, looking at the picture of Cedric that we had posted there.

"Are you ready?" Seamus asked, coming up next to me.

"Yeah," I said with a smile, pulling my eyes off of Harry who was heading over to her.

Everyone in the room had left for the four of us. I knew what Harry was thinking and I definitely didn't want to be there for it. So I took Seamus' hand and led him out of the room, the picture of Harry's lips upon Cho's filling my mind.

It was irrational but all I wanted to do was run back in to the room and tell Harry no. Tell Harry that it was me that he should kiss, not her. But I didn't. Instead I kept walking, lying my head against the comfortable shoulder of the boy who was mine.