𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝐿𝑋𝑋𝐼𝐼.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮-𝙩𝙬𝙤

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

THE FOUR FRIENDS walked to Hogsmede in the snow weeks later. Caroline's gloved hand was being held by Harry, a scarf around her neck. Her hair, covered in snow, was coiled around her head, growing longer every day. Hermione walked beside Caroline, Ron on her other side. School was off to a fairly well start. Caroline's sixteenth birthday had come and gone. It was better than last year, but it still wasn't the same. It never would be. Harry gave her a bracelet, with the Summer Triangle displayed on it. "For weeks you carry about this book. You practically sleep with it, and yet you have no desire to find out who the Half-Blood Prince is?" Hermione said, annoyed with Harry.

"I didn't say I wasn't curious, and I don't sleep with it." Harry defended himself.

Caroline brushed the snow from his glasses. "You pay more attention to that book than your lovely girlfriend." she said, Harry sighing quietly.

"It's true. I like a nice chat before Igo to bed. Now all you do is read that bloody book. It's just like being with the girls." Ron added.

"Well, I was curious. So Carol and I went to–" Hermione started, Harry gripping Caroline's hand tighter when he felt it twitch.

"The library." Ron and Harry cut in, Caroline rolling her eyes.

"And?" Harry asked.

"And nothing." Hermione wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck.

Caroline wiped snow from her face. "We couldn't find a single reference anywhere to a Half-Blood Prince." she said.

"There we go, that settles it then," Harry said as the friends came upon Professor Slughorn talking to Professor Flitwick. Caroline looked at Harry, able to tell exactly what he was thinking. He was supposed to get to know Slughorn, per Dumbledore's request "Does anyone fancy a butterbeer?" Harry spoke after watching Professor Slughorn enter the Three Broomsticks.

Harry directed them where to sit, Caroline to his right, Ron across from her with Hermione beside him. They took off their coats as a server came over to them. "Something to drink?" he asked while they sat down.

"Um, four butterbeers and some ginger in mine, please." Hermione answered, the server walking away.

As Harry carefully dusted snow from Caroline's hair so as not to muss up her curls, Ron noticed something in the corner. "Oh, bloody hell," he sighed, directing his friends' attention to where Ginny and Dean sat. "Slick git."

Hermione looked towards Ron. "Honestly, Ronald, they're only holding hands," she said, Caroline wincing as the new situation would only annoy Ron further. "And snogging."

"I'd like to leave." Ron said as the server brought them their butterbeers.

"What? You can't be serious. Carol and Harry snog all of the time." Hermione pointed out, Harry blushing from where he watched Professor Slughorn, Caroline saying nothing because it was true.

Ron looked appalled. "That happens to be my sister." he pointed out.

"So? What if she looked over here and saw you snogging me? Would you expect her to get up and leave?" Hermione asked, both Ron and Caroline looking at her oddly.

Harry raised his hand suddenly, waving to Professor Slughorn to get his attention. Slughorn noticed and walked over to their table. "Harry, my boy!" the man smiled.