The boy who loved

Chapter 6.13 (As the world burns)

Katie was removed to St Mungo's the following day, by which time the news that she had been cursed had spread all over the school, though the details were confused and nobody other than Aurora, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Leanne seemed to know that Katie herself had not been the intended target.

"Oh, and Malfoy knows, of course," said Harry to Aurora, Ron and Hermione, who continued their new policy of feigning deafness whenever Harry mentioned his Malfoy-is-a-Death-Eater theory.

Aurora, even though worried about Katie, had something else on her mind too. Caspian.

He had gone on his date with Katarina the day after Katie's accident and she had been quite happy and excited ever since. Aurora wanted to rip her head off more than usual.

What made it worse was that neither Katarina nor Caspian seemed willing to be secretive about their relationship. Aurora already had to witness them together on several occassions.

As they were waiting to enter the Potions classroom, Caspian and Katarina were standing a bit to the side of the group. Caspian was leaning against a wall, using his easy charm and blinding smile to put a spell on yet another girl's heart.

Katarina said something that made Caspian laugh. His eyes sparkling as he answered her. She bit her lip. A motion not unnoticed by Caspian whose eyes immediately zoomed in on her mouth.

And then, in less than a second, his lips were attached to hers. He switched them so she was the one leaning against the wall with him towering over her, pressing her against the stone.

"Annnnd they're off." Complained Elizabeth, rolling her eyes as she walked up beside Aurora.

"Ara...what exactly happened between you and Caspian?" Said Hermione.

"Why do you ask?" Said Aurora, her voice at least two octaves higher than usual.

Elizabeth pursed her lips. "He always does this kind of thing after a fight with you."

"Look, Effie, him trying to get as many STI's as he possibly can is not really my fault."

"No, but Caspian is not someone that deals with his heartache in a normal way."

"What heartache?"

"Dear Merlin, Black, how blind can one girl be?" Exclaimed Elizabeth, face-palming.

Later that week, Harry had another meeting with Dumbledore. He presented himself outside Dumbledore's office at eight o'clock on Monday, knocked, and was told to enter.

There sat Dumbledore, looking unusually tired. His hand was as black and burned as ever, but he smiled when he gestured Harry to enter.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked, as Dumbledore joined him at the front of the desk.

"This time," said Dumbledore, "we are going to enter my memory. I think you will find it both rich in detail and satisfyingly accurate. After you, Harry..."

Harry bent over the Pensieve, his face broke the cool surface of the memory and then he was falling through darkness again...Seconds later his feet him firm ground, he opened his eyes and found that he and Dumbledore were standing in a bustling, old-fashioned London street.

"There I am," said Dumbledore brightly, pointing ahea dof them to a tall figure crossing the road in front of a horse-drawn milk cart.

The younger Albus Dumbledore's long hair and beard were auburn. Having reached their side of the street, he strode off along the pavement, drawing many curious glances due to the flamboyant cut suit of plum velvet that he was wearing.