Blaise had become our saviour.

"What can I say?" he shrugged, when I thanked him for supporting us. "I'm a sucker for a good romance. And if you really want to thank me, then you can put me down as godfather to your first born."

We would change where we met up, Blaise always promising to keep watch and deter any passersby. I knew I risked getting sent back to Beauxbatons, but I didn't see the point of anything if I couldn't be with Draco.

I just had to hope that Cedric would one day see sense. Because I also couldn't see the point of anything without my big brother in my life, either.

"A maze?" I repeated, raising my eyebrows, as Cedric met me from the carriage to walk to lunch together. He had just been with the other champions, being informed of what they were to expect in the third, and final task. "Seems kind of... tame for a final. Not that that's a bad thing." I added quickly.

"Oh, it will be more than just requiring a good sense of direction!" He chuckled, draping an arm over my shoulders as we neared the castle. "I'll be fighting dangerous beasts and overcoming death defying obstacles."

"Don't say that," I bit, chewing my lower lip anxiously.

"Don't say what?" Cedric looked down at me in alarm.

"Death." I mumbled. "Don't even joke about it, Ced."

His eyes twinkled amusedly as he pulled me in for a hug. "Oh, Rory. I'll be fine, I promise you. Besides, Dumbledore has everything under control, and he's got Mad Eye patrolling the perimeter of the maze in case anything goes wrong. It'll be safe as houses."

"I just have a bad feeling, Ced," I muttered nervously, as I clung my arms around him. "I don't know why, maybe because something bad always seems to happen at the end of the school year since Harry's been here, but my gut is telling me that something is going to go seriously wrong with this tournament."

"You just worry too much, little sis," he grinned, ruffling my hair. "Honestly, it's sweet that you care."

I felt a prickle of irritation at how dismissive he was being about it all. "Of course I care, despite you being a big embarrassing pain in the butt, I love you!"

"Aw, Rory, I love you too you know, despite your questionable taste in boys."

I narrowed my eyes, feeling my face darken. I didn't want to talk about Draco to Cedric. Not if he wasn't willing to say anything nice.

As usual, my eyes met Draco's as we entered the Great Hall. We exchanged a small smile, my heart never failing to flutter at the way his silver grey eyes twinkled when he looked at me.

We sat down at the Ravenclaw table as we often did these days, due to Cedric and Cho not being able to manage even one single mealtime apart.

They had their usual snog, while I averted my eyes, instead smiling down at Luna as I took my seat next to hers.

"Must be difficult," she said, staring dreamily over my shoulder at my brother's disgusting display.

"What's that, Luna?" I asked, trying not to wince at the slurping sounds coming from behind me.

"Seeing your brother so happy, when he won't allow you yours with a certain Slytherin."

"Oh, Draco and I are not-"

"I don't believe love should have an age restriction, personally." She shrugged, continuing on in her ethereal voice. "I say if you want to have mad, passionate sexual intercourse with the one you've found to be with, then go ahead. Clearly your brother's doing it."

A loud spluttering noise came from behind me, as my brother hastily unstuck himself from his girlfriend.

"Over my dead body!" He roared, glaring at Luna. "Will you please refrain from encouraging my little sister to get sexual diseases and becoming a gymslip mum!"

"Cedric! Please!" I implored, my face going red with embarrassment as the whole of Ravenclaw stopped eating to listen to what Cedric was harping on about now, "you're actually worse than dad, you know!"

"I'm sorry," he said, as Cho gave him a warning look. "I just can't stand the thought of my baby sister growing up... and boys doing... what boys do."

"Well, you would know, I suppose." Luna sing songed before loudly slurping soup off of her spoon.

...

"You know, seeing as it's my birthday on Monday, I thought maybe we could sneak off somewhere and do something fun together?"

Draco looked down at me coyly, as we sat up in the Astronomy Tower, huddled together, and looking out across the clear night sky.

"Get out!" I cried, my jaw dropping open. "It's my birthday on Monday, too! Fifth of June! How are we only just discovering this now?!"

He grinned, kissing the top of my head as he pulled me closer to him. "Then I guess we'll have to do something double the fun, then."

"I don't know if I like the idea of sharing my birthday with yours," I said, wrinkling my nose. "It makes me feel like I can't ask you to spoil me rotten and act as my general slave all day."

"Who says I wouldn't want to do that, anyway?" He murmured silkily, kissing my ear and moving down to gently nibble my neck.

"Do we get two birthday cakes?"

"You can have as many birthday cakes as you like." He moved his lips up to my jawline and slowly trailed kisses to my mouth.

I gasped as he caught my lower lip in his teeth, giving it a gentle nip. He used the opportunity to slip his tongue into my mouth, bringing his hand up to the back of my head, forcing the kiss to deepen.

The door slammed opened loudly, making us jump guiltily apart. Blaise stood there grinning from ear to ear.

"Did I hear something about a birthday cake?"

"I've told you before, Blaise - don't do that! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Draco scowled.

"It turns out Draco and I were born on the same day." I grinned. "I was worried I won't get my own birthday cake."

"Nonsense!" Blaise said, rubbing his hands together. "We'll have a party and a birthday cake each."

"A party?!" Draco scoffed. "And where and when, exactly, are we supposed to do that? We already spend half our time sneaking around trying not to let anyone find out about us! Surely having a joint birthday party is just going to draw attention to that."

"Come on, man," Blaise urged, "the tournament's almost over. They're not going to kick Aurora out of Hogwarts right before the third task just because she had a birthday party!"

"It could be fun," I ventured, squeezing Draco's hand. "And you did want to do something fun together."

"Yes, but I meant just you-and-me fun." He grumbled.

"Hey," said Blaise sternly, pointing a warning finger towards Draco's lap. "You've still got to wait a whole year for that kind of fun, remember?!"

But both Draco and I just looked at one another sadly. We hadn't talked about the fact that I would be leaving Hogwarts very soon. Tried not to think about it, even.

Because the realisation that we wouldn't be able to see one another daily once this month was over, was too horrible a prospect to face.

And it one I wasn't ready for.