The Depth of Deception // H. Potter

flashback: dumbledore's army

"So you all know why we're here. We need a teacher. A proper teacher. One who's had real experience defending themselves against the dark arts." Hermione spoke a bit too quietly. A few trusted, reliable students sat in the shrieking shack. Some of them didn't know why but others did.

Everyone seemed shocked to see that Amara Malfoy was invited. Everyone seemed to ignore the girl and avoid her, which only made her feel worse.

"Why?"

"Why? Cause you know who's back you tosser!" Ron spat out, looking at the kid like he's stupid. To be fair, Amara agreed with Ron. It's obvious that Voldemort's back. Cedric's dead body was all the proof they needed.

"The point is...where's the proof? Potter could tell us more about how Diggory got killed." Another boy spoke. Amara hated to admit it, but Harry really hadn't given many details about Cedric's death. Only that Voldemort had been the one to do it.

"I'm not going to talk about Cedric, so if that's why you're here then you might as well clear out now." Harry said harshly.

"Is it true you can perform a Patronus charm?" Luna Lovegood asks, in her soft, sing-songy voice.

"Yes," Hermione answered for Harry, "I've seen it."

"Blimey Harry! I didn't know you could do that." Dean Thomas commented, stunned. Amara smiled at Harry, giving him as much reassurance as she could conjure up. Everyone began encouraging Harry by telling him everything he had done. The basilisk included.

"Look, it all sounds great when you say it like that...but the truth is most of that was just luck. I didn't know what I was doing half the time, and I nearly always had help." Harry spoke, looking down at his hands. Amara knew what Harry was capable of. Harry was our best hope of surviving Umbridge and most certainly beyond that. 

"Facing this stuff in real life is not like school. In school, if you make a mistake you can just try again tomorrow. But out there, when you're a second away from being murdered or watching a friend die right before your eyes...you don't know what that's like..." Harry spoke, his voice getting lower as he continued. Amara felt horrible, she knew that her father had caused a lot of his pain and hardship, especially since she knew her father had helped capture Harry that night after the Triwizard Tournament.

"You're right, Harry, we don't. That's why we need your help because if we're going to have any chance of beating Voldemort, we need you." Hermione said, mostly talking to Harry. Everyone agreed and began to feel excited.

"Let's do this." 

~X~

After about two weeks of practice in Dumbledore's Army, the group decided to learn how to defend ourselves, everyone seemed to be progressing rather nicely. Even Neville.

Amara had managed to not get in any more trouble with Professor Umbridge. She had decided it wasn't worth her looking into my extracurricular activities.

"Alright..." Harry began to speak, "Amara and I will demonstrate." Amara was snapped out of her daze when she had heard her name being called. Harry walked to the opposite side of the room that Amara went to, standing ready to duel.

Amara smirked at Harry before tossing a rather nasty spell his way, "EXPELLIARMUS!" Amara was successful in disarming him. Satisfied with herself, she moved back to the line, but not before Harry pulled the girl aside and smiled. 

"Nice one, Malfoy." Harry spoke, whispering in her ear. Amara smiled, feeling butterflies flutter in her stomach.

"No need for compliments, Potter."

~X~

After the day of working with disarming charms, the only two people left were Amara and one Harry Potter. Amara was gathering her belongings, searching for her notes in the meantime.

"Hey, can we talk?" His face had been full of smiles and positivity, but this time he was washed over with concern, and it worried Amara. Was something wrong?

"Sure. What do you need to talk about?" Amara asked, smiling in hopes of cheering him up. She had never spent this much time with Harry, let alone the Gryffindors. She had to admit, they were a very fun group to be around.

"Well..." Harry seemed to look at everything but Amara, "us." That was vague.

"What do you mean 'us' Harry?" Amara dropped her arms to her side, looking at him suspiciously. Deep, deep down Amara already knew.

"I mean, I..." Harry stuttered. Amara watched as he walked closer to her, licking his lips. Amara's breath seemed to falter, watching him intently.

"I like you, Amara. I have since the first time I laid eyes on you." He spoke, brushing a stray hair behind her ear. She smiled as she felt the warmth radiating from his fingertips.

"What?" Amara spoke, as his eyes trailed her face and she felt her body heat up. She was sure her cheeks were a crimson red, but she didn't care. She needed him.

"Harry, this is..." She was shocked, speechless even. When she looked back on the times she had seen him, the time she had spent with him, and all the times she apologized to him and friends, and tried to make amends, she realized that she did feel the same on some level. Like on some level, she had always known that he was the one. He had been right in front of her the whole time.

 But what would her father say? He would be furious!

"Let me show you how I feel." Harry stopped and walked towards Amara slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. Amara knew what he was doing, yet she couldn't move a single muscle to stop it. Was it wrong of her to want him like this?

Their lips touch, and Amara takes her hands around his face, feeling the slightest stubble of his beard. She ran her fingers through his dark hair, causing him to smile against her lips. Their bodies shifted together, and she could feel his hands wandering around my body. Not that she minded it. She welcomed the feeling with open arms.

~X~

Everyone had been working on their Patronus charms; the spell everyone had been so eager to learn. However, seeing Harry's face and watching as he laughed, things seemed to be okay. 

All of a sudden, the room of requirement seemed to rumble. It was as if an earthquake had shaken its way into the room. A hole began to appear in the entrance wall, and with that came a flash of pink. Great, it was Professor Umbridge back to destroy everything they had all worked so hard for.

"I'll make short work of this." Umbridge shouted, pointing her wand at the hole, making it explode. Harry grabbed me, holding his hands around my head protectively.

Umbridge burst into the room, sending Cho and Harry to Dumbledore's office. Leaving the rest of us to wonder in silence on the way back to our common rooms.