No Alice! You are special.

If Nic had studied for a month to decide how best to touch Alices heart, he could not have found better words than these. More than anything she wanted to be special to him, as special as he was to her. For in loving Nic, her whole world had altered. It was as if her very center had shifted; her understanding had been expanded into new and wonderful regions she had never encountered before. She seemed at times to almost be a different person, although in truth, she knew herself to be the same as she had always been. But she had grown. She had grown in her sensibilities; she had grown in her sympathy of others; she had grown in her understanding of her heart. She had grown in her capacity to love. And she felt that, if Nic thought her special, then that was enough.

Youre the first one to spend time with Whitney.

The first to meet Whitney? Alice had not known that. That was a most pleasant surprise. That meant that she was something different in his eyes. Someone special. By the time Alice had digested this information, she had almost missed the next part of his words.

And I want to take you home and let you meet my family.

Now that was entirely unexpected. Not only because of the traditional connotations attached to the idea that taking my girlfriend home to meet the family but more particularly because Nic had said so little to Alice about his family. There had been the oblique comments made by Whitney with regard to spawns which had been so far unexplained, but almost nothing Alice could call to mind. She had presumed that this might be because of some particular shyness, or uncomfortable feelings because of the constant unpleasant bickering between Pureblood and Halfblood and Muggleborn wizard families. It could make anyone reticent. She must reassure him of her own lack of prejudice. Oh! But what if his family was one of those very Pureblood houses.but no: after all, had he not just this very minute said that he wanted her to meet his family? And she very much wanted him to meet her parents and, strange as it seemed, Godfrey.

As Nic went on to tell her about his tryst with Caelin, Alice was surprised to find that, rather than finding herself feeling worse about the whole affair, she found some strange satisfaction to know that in the midst of his impassioned embraces with Caelin, he had called her Alice. How that must have galled the other girl. And, to be sure, Nic had never, ever, called her by any other name than her own!

Because, well, I knew I wanted you. Caelin knew I wanted you. But Im an idiot, but Im trying to be a good honest idiot and change my ways. Believe me, youre the only He kissed her cheek lightly the only girl for me.

Well, my Darling, if you are an idiot, which I do not for a minute believe you to be, you are a reformed idiot, and you are my very own idiot, and I love you. She stopped again and gave him a hug with her free hand. And I am glad I am the only girl for you, because you are the only boy for me, for ever and always. I dont want another, and I shall never want another. And, she gave a little skip as she walked beside him, I believe I must be the happiest, most fortunate girl in the world, today. For I have met your redoubtable sister, and I hope I did not do too badly, and I know the whole of your sordid little affairs (Im only teasing, you know!) and now I dont give a fig. She stopped dead and wheeled on him quite forcefully, and dropped her cup and flung her arms about him. Standing on tip-toes, and holding onto him with all her might she looked him straight in the chocolate brown eyes and said, Because I love you, Nic Spain, and I dont care who knows it. I am proud to say I love you. So there! And she jumped up slightly and kissed him, where they stood in the middle of Hogsmede.

That the street was disserted where they stood was convenient, but it would have made no difference to her. Right now, where she stood, she was willing to make a spectacle of herself, if that was what it took to show her love for Nic. The only girl for him. It was wonderful.

They walked along and chatted more, and Alice chuckled at the thought of Godfrey trying unsuccessfully to charm Whitney. I suppose you must be right. If he tried too hard, she would doubtless think he was part merman, or something, trying to get under her guard, and keep her from searching him for fins. And as to his friend Ruth, I fear God and I are not much alike. He is both more adventuresome and forward than I. And sadly, has fewer scruples. I hope he is kind to the girl. She walked along in silence and added, I hope she is kind to him, as well. Do you know Nic, I have you to thank for that. I have to confess something to you, dearest, and I hope you wont hate me for it. Before I met you I fear I was a bit of a snob. In our own way, we in Ravenclaw are as much elitists as the Slytherins. Only our pride is in our wit and learning, not in out families. Our intelligence, and nothing more. In one afternoon you taught me how foolish my pride was. How vain I was to think myself better for being in Ravenclaw, rather than your own dear Hufflepuff. I think your house had many lessons it could teach to all of us. My mother and father, and every one of your house who has gone before you have made their way in the world through dint of hard work and courage the like of which any Gryffindor could admire. They may have no special gift of family or wit or foolish nerve, but my parents have made the best of themselves, by being themselves.

Pacing along slowly, and holding onto Nics arm, she smiled and said, I recalled the other night, one time when I was younger, that my mother brought in a cup of tea for Daddy and I was sitting by him, reading together, as we do at home. I dont think Mummy knew I was there. Because she stopped in the doorway, from the kitchen, and looked at my father, and there was such a look ofI dont know....greed in her eyes. Yes, a kind of greed and triumph. I didnt understand it at the time, but I think I understand her so much better, Nic. She really must love him, you see. One doesnt think about that in ones parents, but I believe thats what it was. And I owe that to you. I owe so much to you, already, Nic. Because I well, I hate to own it true, but it is so, and I must confess to it: I never looked for such things before. I never thought much about anybodys feelings. But you charmed me with your music, and you woke me up, just likewell, I dont know. Sleeping Beauty? Hardly a Beauty, but I think I was perhaps asleep. I was awake only to ideas, Nic. Not to real things. Not to people. Not even my brother and parents.

I must have been so horrible. I cant imagine what you saw in me. But I shall be better, Nic. I shall be good, I promise. She stopped yet again, and put both of her hands onto his chest. I dont know why it should be so, but loving you has made me love my family better. I can even say the word love and mean it. I love you, Nic. With all my heart. Sometimes it feels that I must burst, if I dont tell you. She clung to him, her head leaning against his chest. I dont know what I could have done, to disserve to be this lucky. But I am terribly glad.

And once again, Nic took her into his arms, and she could only feel the closeness of him, and her incredible good fortune to have him to hold. Her world shrank down to the circle of his arms, and she was content to be there.

Not as lucky as I am.

To hear him say that, she was the luckiest girl alive.