* * *

When dinner was over, Hattie led Dallin up to her room and just to appease her family, she kept the door open. They sat on her bed and instantly Hattie held him close. "You can breathe properly now." She told him and watched as he exhaled like he had been holding his breath the entire time.

"That went...uh, better than I thought." He said, twiddling with Hattie's fingers.

"I know, it's strange I thought they would be harsher but I guess they have learnt that their actions have consequences and a lot more serious ones at that. I'm sorry I didn't tell you my dad is also a dog, I thought you'd not want to come." She smiled meekly, glancing into his eyes briefly.

"S'okay, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about uni."

"Don't worry about it. If it's any consolation I'm very proud of you for going to university. I've heard Hermione and her parents discuss it before and it doesn't seem as easy as films make it out to be but then again, this is 'Mione we are talking about. She wouldn't go to any big standard uni, she's probably aim at Cambridge or Oxbridge. Not that I'm saying you're not capable of going to them-"

"I get what you're saying, I'm dumb, she's smart..."

"No! Merlin of course not I was just saying that she'd-"

"Tee, I'm teasing. Don't fret." Dallin kissed her head and flattened down her hair which had ruffled up. "I can kiss you here right? I don't want to overstep the boundaries."

"I don't see why not. Everyone else seems to kiss whenever they like. Actually, can we talk about something? There's something that's been on my mind for a little while now and I know it's dragging up the past but curiosity is killing my cat or whatever the saying is."

Dallin adjusted his position, worry lines burrowing deep in his forehead as his eyebrows closed together. "Of course, go for it. I'll answer and talk about anything. No limits." He said confidently but with a slight waver in his voice. Dreading to think what she was ask about, his heart pounded and stomach began to flip.

He could practically hear the cogs turning in Hattie's mind as she silently debated how to bring up her questions, she had this look of concentration that was unique to her. Nobody else he knew expressed it in the same way, one eyebrow (the left to be specific) would arch just slightly, and her lips would shift to one side like she was being pinched in one corner. It was adorable, when he knew she wasn't about to ask him something that could ruin their relationship if he answered with something she didn't want to hear.

"How did you do the necklace and why did you do it?"

Dallin gulped. A heavy lump clogged his throat and as he tried to swallow it his body reacted as though he was swallowing his tongue and hindered him from gulping after a third try. His hands grew clammy and he wiped them generously on his trousers but it was no use, the moisture returned swiftly.

"Please. Please tell me."

"I didn't do anything to it. Not at first. There was no way I could have figured out that you would have liked the blue quartz. Even if I steered you in the right direction. Neither did it cross my mind. Not until late into the first few weeks of term. Actually, now I'm not trying to make excuses for myself nor frame myself innocent because I'm not. I hold my hands up with responsibility. But, it was actually something Robbie mentioned about love potions that put the idea into my head. I was mad about you from the minute I saw you as cliche as that may be, and the mere thought of you with someone else sent me batchy! It's so stupid. I'm stupid. I'm so sorry. I regret it hopeless amounts, I do. Really, I do."

"S'okay. All is water under the bridge now I just wanted an explanation. That's all."

Hattie leaned forward, her hand resting on his cheek. She pressed a small, tender kiss to his lips, a smile creepy in behind and he couldn't help but smile too.

"You're too kind for your own good, you know?"

"Nah, I'm a brat."

"You'd never be a brat. There's no capability for you to be."

"Ah that's where you're wrong. I was a brat, to Charlie, I didn't mean to be but I was. We are all good now though. At least, I hope. He doesn't really like you."

"I figured as much. I don't blame him. I wouldn't."

"Glad we are all on the same page, Derek."

In the doorway leaned Charlie, his legs and arms crossed and a sneer sneered across his bristly face. Hattie rolled her eyes and pulled away from Dallin, sitting back properly on her bed and flattening down her clothes. Not that there was any reason for her to, it was simply a force of habit.

"Derek, Sirius requests to talk to you. Only you. I thought I'd keep Hattie company whilst it happens. Off you toddle. Don't want to leave the dog waiting, eh?"

He left quickly as he was told and as he left, Hattie hurtled a cushion in Charlie's direction. "Why do you have to be so cruel?"

"Hattie! He hurt you! I'm not just going to let that slip and slide!"

"But he-"

"No! You're my baby girl, I can't have anyone who hurt you near you." He cried heading towards her, his eyes wide with pleading.

"Then I shouldn't be here then, should I?"

"Hattie that's different!"

"Actually. It's not. Charlie I get it, you care for me but I'm a big girl and it's time your realised that. I'm fine, I'll always be fine now, you're not losing me. Certainly not to a boy."

"You make it sound as though I'm jealous."

"And are you?"

"Like hell am I!"