LESSONS IN LOVE
Chapter One

It had been quiet all summer long. Harry Potter had gotten letters from Hermione and Ron. He was glad to finally live on his own. No more Dursleys for him anymore. He was seventeen, renting a room at the Leaky Cauldron. Today was the first time in a long time that he didn't have to do anything but read the assignments that Professor Umbridge had given him for the summer. They were to read the basics of defense against the dark arts. There were no spells to learn, just the fundamentals and principles of it. To him, it was boring. He had studied for his O.W.L.s (Ordinary Wizarding Levels) and N.E.W.T.s (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests), but without Hermione there to help him concentrate, he was afraid studying was just something he couldn't quite keep his mind on.

There was a knock on the door. He got up to answer it.

"Hello. Are you Harry Potter?" A boy with blond hair and blue eyes looked at Harry.

"That's correct. Who's asking?" Harry shook his head.

"Hi, I'm Jack. Jack Dawson. I was told by someone downstairs that you’re looking for a roommate. Is that true?" Jack had been combing the city, looking for a place to rent.

"Yeah. Come in." Harry had completely forgotten that he was looking for a roommate.

Jack knew exactly who Harry was. It was all over Hogwarts. Harry was the boy who had survived Voldemort's hand. Jack looked around the room. Spell books had been tossed here and there. Clothes had been thrown on the floor. He sat on the couch, since it was empty of books and clothes. His straight blond hair and blue eyes stood out. He didn't look like a wizard. He had just recently transferred from Durmstrang to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was the same age as Harry, although he did look a little older than his age.

"So, where are you from?" Harry asked.

"London. Ah…is this the only room?" Jack looked around the room. He had hoped he would have his own room.

"No. There's a room in the back. It's the same size as mine. It's funny. I don't think I ever saw you before." Harry was interested in Jack, wanting to know all about him.

"Nah…you wouldn't. I recently transferred. I was going to Durmstrang. You probably think I'm your rival, but I prefer to be your friend." Jack shook his head and stood up, looking around.

"I would like that. Are you a muggle?" Harry asked, being forward.

"Muggle is a very strong word, Harry," Jack told him.

"Pardon me for asking that." Harry felt rude for asking.

"Not a problem. I will answer it. I'm a half-breed. My mom's a muggle, my dad a wizard," Jack explained.

"And I'm--" Harry began to say.

"No need for words, Harry. Viktor Krum told us about you in the Triwizard Tournament last year. Pretty good wizard, are you?" Jack was impressed by Harry.

"Not really, but I try," Harry said, feeling a little awkward.

"Don't be modest, Harry. You're well known," Jack said.

Just then, Hedwig popped in from the window. He carried the post. Harry went up to Hedwig. He read the envelopes. He looked at one particular envelope. Jack Dawson. Why on earth would his owl deliver this boy's mail? Had he no pet of his own?

"It's our Hogwarts letters. Dumbledore must know you’re here." He passed the letter to Jack.

"Ah…I wondered how I was gonna get my letter. My rat died. The neighbor's cat got hold of him. Maybe I should get an owl this year," Jack told him.

"Yeah. It would be good to get one," Harry agreed.

"So, Harry, do I get the room or not? Sorry to be rude, but I need to know before it gets late. I circled other rooms that were available here in the area," Jack said, wondering if Harry would let him stay.

"Yeah. Welcome aboard, roommate." Harry walked up to Jack and shook his hand.

"Thanks, Harry. You’re a lifesaver. And when is the rent due?" Jack was happy to be able to stay. He hadn't wanted to go looking anymore.

"The first of every month," Harry told him.

"Great. I will wire my father for money. My dad works in the Ministry of Magic." Jack was proud of his father, Alvin Dawson.

"Aw…great. If you don't mind, I have to study for Professor Umbridge's course," Harry said.

"I heard she makes you do lines the hard way." Jack picked up his bag from the couch.

"Yeah." Harry remembered writing I must not tell lies last year.

Jack went to the back, looked at his room, and lay his bag down. He lay on the bed. Thank God the place was furnished. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, feeling exhausted from searching all day for a place to stay.

*****

Meanwhile, at the Burrow, the Weasleys were all set to have breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron when an unexpected visitor stopped on their doorstep. Rose peeked inside. The room was awfully noisy. Rose saw her cousin, Ron. It had been ages since they had seen each other.

"Hello, everyone!" she sort of shouted.

"Oh, my! Why, hello, Rose. Gosh. Aren't you a pretty one?" Molly asked.

"Thanks, Aunt Molly. My father told you why I'm here, right?" Rose wondered if Molly knew the whole truth of why she had been transferred from Beauxbaton's Academy for girls to Hogwarts.

"Oh, yes. Take a seat next to Ron, love." Rose looked at Ron. His long hair was in very great need of a cut.

"Hello, cousin," Rose said.

"Bloody hell. You look different since last I saw you." Ron eyes twinkled at her beauty.

"As do you, Ron. I will be joining you at Hogwarts this year," Rose told him.

"That's good. You can meet my friend, Hermione Granger, as well as Harry Potter," Ron said.

"Harry Potter? Really?" Rose had heard of him. She was anxious to meet Harry.

"Yes. After we are settled, we are going to the Leaky Cauldron. Harry is there," Ron said, glancing at his book of divination.

Errol came in with the post after bumping into the window for the four hundredth time. Fred got the post. "Ah…our Hogwarts letters." He handed them to his mother.

Molly gave the letters to Arthur. He checked and saw Rose's letter. "Ah…Rose, your letter is here. Dumbledore never misses a trick, that man."

Fred looked at his letter. "This lot won't come cheap, Mom."

"There's only one place we're gonna get all this. Diagon Alley," Molly said.

Rose opened her letter and glanced at all the books she needed. She also was going to need new robes and a new wand, too. After her father had remarried, she had known that things were going to change. Her stepmother was mean to her. She had been caught doing an illegal spell, trying to separate her father from this woman. When her stepmother had found out about it, she had been transferred to Hogwarts.

Molly emptied the fireplace and gave Ron the flue powder to transport to Diagon Alley. He disappeared into green flames. When it was her turn, she ended up at the bookstore and waited for the rest of the Weasleys. Ron wandered off, looking for Hermione and Harry. He bumped into Hermione. "Eh…hello, Hermione. Seen Harry around?"

"No. Not at all. Maybe he's forgotten." Hermione looked around, searching for Harry.

"Sorry. Forgot what?" Harry asked behind them. He was with Jack.

"Bloody hell, Harry. You scared me half to death." Ron rubbed his arm.

Hermione stared at the boy Harry was with. In some weird way, he reminded her of Draco. Jack looked at Hermione. She was pretty, with her own schoolgirl charm. "Who are you?" she asked.

"Ah…where are my manners? Guys, I would like to introduce you to Jack Dawson. He's my new roommate." Harry pushed him forward.

"Jack, you’re not related to the Malfoys, are you?" Hermione asked.

"No. Not at all. Why?" Jack looked at her. He had no idea who the Malfoys were.

"Just curious. I'm Hermione, and this is Ron Weasley," Hermione introduced herself and Ron.

"Nice to meet you." He went up to her and shook her hand, being the gentleman that he was.

"Nice to meet you, too." Hermione blushed.

It was then that Rose appeared next to Ron and tapped him on the shoulder. Jack looked at the girl who had just appeared. His palms started to sweat, his heart started to beat faster, and his cheeks were turning pink. She gave him a look that told him they were meant to be. She was the prettiest thing he had ever seen.

Ron turned around to see Rose waiting to be introduced to his friends. He smiled at her and moved so she could be included in the conversation. "Harry, Hermione, and Jack, I would like to introduce you to my cousin, Rose. She's from Beauxbaton's Academy." Ron saw Harry's face. He blushed. So did Jack.

Hermione looked at her. Everyone stared at Rose. She started to feel jealous that everyone was paying attention to Rose and not her. So, she broke the silence. "Uh…hadn't we better go, Harry?"

"What?" Harry looked at Hermione.

"We gotta get supplies, remember? School? Hogwarts?" Hermione took his hand. Ron's, too. She left Jack and Rose staring at each other.

"So, Beauxbaton's. Why'd you leave?" Jack was interested in hearing her story.

"I didn't. My stepmother transferred me to Hogwarts because I tried to do an illegal spell to separate her and my father." She grinned. "What about you?"

"Me? Well, it's a long story, but I am in the same predicament as you. I was in Durmstrang and transferred to Hogwarts, as well." Jack began to feel comfortable around her now. He loosened up.

"Great. Now I don't feel like an outcast. You're built just like them." Rose blushed.

"Thanks, but I need a little more work." He smiled at her.

They started walking, and ended up at Ollivander's to pick up new wands. Jack's was ten and a quarter inches, hornbeam, and dragon heartstring, quite rigid, and Rose's was nine and a half inches, rosewood, and Veela hair, inflexible.

After they got new wands, they went to get regular robes, not knowing what house they would belong to. Rose looked on her list. A broom was the only thing left to get. Jack was right behind her, looking at the Firebolt 2006. It was the fastest broom on record. However, Rose just needed a regular broom, so she settled for the Nimbus 2000.

By the time they had finished getting all their supplies, it was almost time for departure on the Hogwarts Express. Rose and Jack went their separate ways, not saying anything to each other. She left with the Weasleys, and Jack stayed back with Harry and Hermione.

Jack's mood seemed to dull when Rose was gone. He didn't feel like any company, so he found a compartment by himself. Harry invited him to join them, but he turned them down. He turned around when he smelled a familiar perfume lingering in his presence.

Rose tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, why are you alone?"

"I didn't feel like any company, but now that you’re here, why don't you join me?" Jack smiled. He enjoyed her company.

"Oh, all right." She brought her cat with her.

"Who's this?" Jack asked.

"This is my cat, Titan." She patted the cat, and it began to purr.

"Nice cat," he said.

"Thanks. Let's catch up with my cousin. Maybe he can tell us a little bit about Hogwarts." Rose took him by the hand and strolled along the corridor, searching for Ron.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron looked up when they saw Jack and Rose coming into their compartment. Harry seemed to blush when she came in. For some unknown reason, the look of her made him feel strange. He looked at Ron. Ron knew what was going on with his friend.

Rose sat next to Ron. She stared at Harry, who couldn't keep his eyes off her. She blushed. Never had anyone looked at her like Harry was. She knew he was a year older than her, but knowing his background, she wondered if it was infatuation or love. She intended to find out before the end of her term at Hogwarts.

Jack looked at Harry and also knew what was going on. He thought it was unfair that Rose was interested in Harry when he was interested in her. He knew it was likely that he didn't have a chance with her, but he would be willing to try if need be. After all, he was from Durmstrang. They never gave up on what they wanted.

Chapter Two
Stories