"What do you mean Ron?"
"I mean haven't you noticed that she's hesitant just to hold your hand? Unless she's sick mate I think you have a problem on your hands."
Harry shook his head and made his way out of the common room. He walked down the deserted cooridors with his head facing the floor.
'Does Christina really love me? I mean she never truly said it but I really just figured she did but what if she didn't?'
Before he could gather his thoughts, Harry had reached the library. He found Christina sitting towards the back. He slipped into the seat across from her silently.
"Hi Harry."
"Hullo Christina, Can I talk to you?"
"Shoot."
"Do you love me?"
Christina's eyes looked as if they might burst out of her head but she just calmly put down the book she was reading and looked down at the table.
"Can we talk about this later Harry?"
"No, now, I need to know, Do you love me?"
"No...wait...I don't know...I'm sorry."
She picked up her bag and book and she literally flew out the open window. Harry got up to see her slowly floating down the grounds towards Hagrid's hut. Harry sighed and headed out of the library.
That night Harry helped Ron finish packing and then he decided to take a walk. He strolled out into the moonlight and towards the lake. He sat down on the edge and stared at the moon. It reminded him of Lupin and he longed for Grimmauld Place and Sirius and everything that was right with the world, but that would never be. He felt someone sit down beside him,
"Isn't it beautiful?", asked Harry
"It's magical.", said Christina.
"Almost as beautiful as you."
"Don't start Harry, I came to talk to you."
"What is it?"
"I was thinking and the only reason I'm so scared to be close to you is because........because..."
"You're afraid to lose this magic?"
Christina fell onto Harry's shoulder and began to cry. He stroked her hair as she sobbed. When she began to calm down. He lifted her chin towards his face.
"No Harry, I just don't want anything to happen. I know my feelings will get in the way of my protecting you. What if we should have to part ways? I could never handle the pain of losing someone again."
"Christina, I can't tell you what'll happen in the future, I can't even tell you what we might eat for breakfast , but I can tell you that I love you this very minute and I never want that to change."
"Harry....", sobbed Christina. "I barely knew him. He left before I knew him...."
They sat there in the dark, enveloped in each others arms all evening. The next morning they went back up to castle for breakfast. At noon they saw Ron and Hermione off.
Hermione ran down the stairs frantically, "Where's Liz? I have to tell her something."
"I dunno, is she going on holiday too?", asked Harry.
"No, she's not, thats why I have to talk to her now."
"Why?", asked Ron.
"It's between her and I, not you."
"Fine.", said Ron, frowning.
Hermione sighed,"I'll just have to send her an owl."
Hermione hugged Christina and Harry. Ron hugged them both also and the two, with the rest of the students who left for Christmas, walked hand in hand out the door towards the carriages. Harry turned to go back upstairs and spotted Malfoy standing by the now empty doorway to the dungeons.
"Not leaving to see your mum Malfoy?", asked Harry.
Malfoy began to strut towards them, " You know damn well that I don't have a house anymore. You know my mum is living with my aunt. You know...."
Harry smiled, " Yes...Yes I do, it was in the morning paper, terrible business that."
Draco smirked, "You'll get yours Potter, you'll get yours."