Longbottom Rose, the hollywood remake

by Billybob - csagun36

This narative ship is primarily Longbottom-OC plus loads of space given to Ron-Hermione and a Ginny pairings that actually makes Blood status sense - all done - with a very adult twist. This is a remake with the full-permission of the original author'

1. Chapter 1

Longbottom Rose

Fanfiction (dot) net ID # 1822668

First Pub: 04-16-04 completed 07-12-05

Author: ForeverLaDonna

Original Word count total: 97,626

Rated 'T'

oooooo

I have received permission from the original author's to do this rewrite via e-mail 10/15/2010

oooooo

Hollywood Re-write part ONE - - by billybobcsgun36 - - id# 641050

Chapter's 1 through 12

Begun; 10-23-09… published; 11/08/2010

Redo-Word count; 40,012 (just this part)

Rated 'M'

Category: AU, this replaces the later parts of book six and in its entirely HP book seven; Deadly Hallows.

Summary; why does Harry or Draco paired with Hermione get the bulk of all the stories? What's wrong with a minor character getting a little screen time. This tale of mine is a primarily a Neville Mary-sue relationship. With a fair amount of time given to a particular favorite paring of mine; 'Rbw/HJG' and for all the 'Draco' lovers out-there I put him into a 'ship'with an in-cannon blood-status correct character.

Rewrite-Author notes: I love the original and suggest everyone check it out. In fact I suggest dear reader that you compare her version to mine. She'll win I'm sure, hands down ;-) Do keep in mind, however; that as a rewrite the differences between the original and mine will be subtle at times, especially at the beginning. Like any Hollywood remake, I put my personal spin on a great story and I hope you'll like it.

Now for the warnings;

I am not a professional writer; I have been called by critics; long-winded with a tendency to go off into tangents that distract from the main plot… to these charges; I plea, Guilty. I also openly admit to the gross-abuse of the King's English. If you look for perfection in writing; grammar or spelling, by all means go elsewhere. I don't claim to be anything else than a story teller… plain and simple

Warning two; this story is thick with sexual innuendo and the discussion of sexual preferences that are unusual to say the least. This story is rated M for a reason …okay? I feel that JK Rowling's notion that teenagers of seventeen and eighteen have no interest in sex; is laughable.

Final warning; Take a glance at the word count; meaning… pop some popcorn, get a drink and relax, I've got five parts after this one; filled with subplots galore. So if you have a short attention span …most definitely go elsewhere

Disclaimer;

Is there someone somewhere who doesn't know who owns all legal rights to the Harry Potter series? If there is; please tell this person, that I will not profit in any way, from this tale, beyond the entertainment of my few readers and the annoyance of the grammar-Nazi's.

OoOoOo

The house lights fade, the curtain opens … roll film

OoOoOo

Chapter # 1

As the sun set over the lake at Hogwarts, lighting up the sky in a variety of gentle hues. A dark haired boy looked out over the scene from a room in the east tower of the castle. Neville Longbottom could just see some of the colors from the window of his study.

Normally, it was unusual for a student to have a private study, but Professor Sprout had arranged it for Neville, her prize student of last year. Neville's private study was a place he would work on his Herbology experiments, especially his current one.

The tiny sprout was a cross hybrid of Neville's own design. It combined three different hybrids — passionflower, firerose and moonflower. He wasn't sure what all the flower would look like, but based on the properties of each of those plants, not only would it be beautiful, but would only bloom when its owner had found true love. That was almost a fatal flaw, Neville thought. He'd have to give it to someone, who had or could find a true love, just to see if it worked.

Noting the time and that the sorting was about to begin, Neville charmed the window so that light would continue streaming through the window even after dark. He would take it off first thing in the morning when the sun rose. Peaking out of the window, he could see the first-years coming up the path from the docks. Something unusual caught his eyes.

There was a larger figure, not as large as Hagrid, but bigger than the first-years with them. The individual had on a dark blue cloak on that seemed to glitter and dance in the last rays of the sun while sparkling in the moonlight as the moon rose behind the figure.

Neville stared for awhile and hoped that his flower would sparkle and shine like that cloak. Glancing at the time again, turned on some soft music for his plant before rushing out of the room and toward the Great Hall.

Neville rushed down the hall, in time to see the golden-trio heading to the great hall. He followed behind them, hearing snatches of their conversation as they entered.

"I'm bloody starving," Ron said flopping down at the Gryffindor table. "What do you mean the sorting's going to be longer this year 'Mione?"

"All I know is that McGonagall said there would be more than the sorting of first-years this year at the feast and stop calling me Mione!" Hermione snapped harshly sitting next to Ron, as she always did.

"Well maybe we're going to have another bloody-ball," groaned Ron.

"I hope not," Harry said sitting down beside Hermione. Looking to his side, he saw Neville had taken a seat Next to him. He gave and received a small smile of recognition.

"Let's get on with it," Ron said. "I'm starving."

"As usual," Neville heard Hermione sarcastically remark.

Very soon, a bunch of first years entered the hall. However, at the rear of the group, followed a tall individual wrapped tightly in the sparkling cloak that Neville had seen earlier. Everyone peered around the table hoping to see who it was, but the individual kept the hood of the cloak up and pulled the cloak closer to his or her body. There were whispers that went everywhere, but they were hushed as McGonagall called for silence and the sorting hat started its song.

As soon as the first years were finished being sorted, everyone watched the one person that was left. With a quick movement, the figure tossed off its cloak to reveal its wearer.

A girl stood in pale blue robes that sparkled in the enchanted moonlight from the ceiling. As the girl pulled down the hood of her cloak, she revealed her strawberry-blonde hair which was cut-short; level with her chin and a pair of midnight blue eyes that seemed almost black. She seemed anxious but excited as well. A small grin crossed her face as she looked around at the students searching for a friendly face.

"This is Alaire Goodnight. She is from the United States. Louisiana to be precise," Dumbledore said to everyone. "She will be studying with us this year. I'm sure you will all have questions for her, but I ask you to please give her time to adjust first."

The blonde's girl's midnight-blue eyes scanned the other three 'House' tables in the dinning room briefly… before settling at searching the Gryffindor table very carefully. Alaire quickly found the two she sought, and she examined both boys carefully. She had always found men with dark hair far more attractive and appealing than a fire-tempered red-head. Luckily for her there were two dark-haired cuties …sitting next to one another …both very nice indeed, seeing this her choice became simple. Alaire had been forewarned about one of them, but such warnings were useless in her case. She wondered just how she would be able to sit with them. It seemed every place at that particular spot at the table was already taken.

On queue, McGonagall then addressed her.

"Because of certain differences between cultures, I do not think the sorting hat would be very accurate," McGonagall said putting the hat down. "So the headmaster has decided to let you choose which house you wish to be in."

"So I can sit wherever I want?" the girl said eyeing the two raven-haired boys at the Gryffindor table.

"Yes, who you sit with will determine your house."

"All right then," she grinned, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a piece of paper. Suddenly, a brilliant flash of smoke filled the spot where the girl once stood. Everyone had to turn their eyes away for a moment from its brilliance. When the smoke cleared, Alaire wasn't there. Instead, she could be found sitting between Neville and Harry, who were shocked to see her there.

"Was that necessary Miss Goodnight?" asked Minerva McGonagall in a sour tone.

"Just a bit of flash, professor," she answered turning back to Neville and Harry. "Hello."

"Hello," the two boys answered almost in unison, before everyone at the other tables began to talk and Hermione's voice loud voice echoed down the Gryffindor table.

"But that's impossible!" Hermione snapped to herself as she began rambling. "No one can apparate in Hogwarts! I've read it a thousand times. With the wards up… that's impossible, even for the most advanced magic. Dumbledore can't even do it."

"It's all right Hermione," Ron said patting her gently on the shoulder.

"Ah," Alaire said amused as Hermione continued to sputter on. "I've comforted the distressed and distressed the comforted. My work here is done."

She motioned for Harry and Neville to lean closer to her… before she whispered, "It was flash paper. I used it as a diversion and just simply walked over here, but don't tell her that."

Both Neville and Harry snickered, as Hermione turned and glared at all three of them.

"So," Alaire said scooping some potatoes onto her plate, "You all know who I am now, but I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you."

"Sorry," Harry said quickly before extending his hand. "Harry Potter."

"Name rings a bell. Got any family out in the bayou?" she said shaking his hand.

"Er; no," he said, slightly amazed that for once… someone didn't know who he was.

"And who is this other extremely handsome and raven-haired man beside me?" she asked turning to Neville, who actually looked on the other side of him wondering to whom she was referring to.

"I mean you, silly."

"Neville Longbottom," he answered, bewildered.

"Ahhh …now you; I have heard of," she said with genuine surprise.

"You have?"

"Flourishing flowers, you wrote an article in the 'Herbology Quarterly' concerning some experiments you did on a type of passionflower and its properties. I read it on the trip over here. I guess you're the person to ask about Herbology."

Neville …blushed; bright red as Harry, Hermione, Ron and Alaire looked at him. Ron mouthed "Passionflower …Neville …published?" to Hermione, which earned him a kick. The motion caused Alaire to turn toward the pair.

"And who are you?"

"Hermione Jean Granger, I am the Head Girl for this year," Hermione said proudly extending her hand. "I'd be interesting in learning more about the United States and how its magic schools conduct themselves, but-later… if you have time."

"Sure. I'm afraid there might be a big cultural difference though. School's here and schools there are run by completely different administrative systems. I'm sure it would be very dull to hear about."

"No," said Hermione excitedly. "I find it quite interesting actually."

"Oh, well," Alaire said dully before motioning to Ron. "Is your boyfriend going to introduce himself?"

"He's not –"

"I'm not –" Ron said loudly a beat later. "That is to say, we're not –"

"Ah commitment issues …Lovely. I have a book from Dr. Ruth the two of you must read together," Alaire said fighting to keep a straight face.

"Ah, all right," replied Ron, unaware of whom Dr. Ruth was, as Hermione shot Alaire an evil-glare. "I'm Ron… Ronald Weasley."

"Pleasure," she said shaking his hand. "Weasley …is Ginny Weasley any relation of yours?"

"That's my sister,' he said pointing to a red-haired girl sitting further down the table."How do you know her?"

"I don't, but my cousin does," she said motioning over to the Slytherin table.

"You're cousins is a Slytherin?" Harry asked cautiously.

"Yeah …the big one beside the thin-little blonde 'jerk' over there," Alaire said pointing toward the Slytherin table.

"Do you mean Crabbe or Goyle?" Ron asked disbelievingly. "How would either of those Gits know my sister?"

"Vincent Crabbe is my first cousin. His mother and my mother are sisters. He visited my home for a bit …early this summer, and I stayed at my aunt's place for awhile before coming here. He introduced me to several of his friends. Apparently, there was an incident during a sleep-over …Vinnie talks in his sleep you see and …," she said before shivering. "Believe me when I say that he would 'LOVE' to know your sister loads better …intimately better …if you get my drift."

Ron turned red and mumbled something about "killing the git."

"Don't worry about Vinnie …it's just a case of teenage lust with him," Alaire said in an offhanded manner as she watched Ron's heated reaction. "that Blonde haired wimp sitting next to him is the one you really should worry about …he heard Vince too and threatened serious bodily harm to my cousin if he was to make any kind of move on 'his' Ginerva."

This only seemed to make Ron even angrier, and he tried to get up from his chair only to have Hermione sharply order him to sit back down and Ron… of course, instinctively obeyed …while Harry just chuckled in amusement nearby, mumbling-softly something about a 'short leash' . Quickly the Head-Girl tried to change the subject. "So, Alaire, what are you going to study at Hogwarts?"

"Well," Alaire said after swallowing a bit of biscuit. "This is really a finishing school for me. I've already finished my formal training back in the states. I hope to become a healer some day. I know charms, transfiguration, defense and some of the more basic forms of magical healing. However as things are so different over here …plant wise I will need to do some remedial work in herbal remedies and potions."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I mean I'm used to dealing with plants native to the U.S. in Herbology based potions," she said picking at the potatoes on her plate. "For example, in Louisiana, we have the sweet smelling Magnolia and honeysuckle that are used in a wide variety of potions. As I wish to specialize in …herbal remedies for illness. I need to become more aware of alternatives to Magnolia and honeysuckles because those plants don't grow in Europe. Here in the U.K. healers use things like . . . stinking hellebore."

Neville chuckled. "I assure you that while our plants are not as beautifully named as yours, they're equally useful medically …and just as fragrant."

"Are all English Herbology experts as handsome as you?" Alaire asked lightly smiling big at him, before turning back to Hermione. "Different plants mean different potion ingredients and that means different effects on patients."

"I'm sure I can help you there," Harry volunteered. "In the potion department, I mean."

He ignored the amazed stares of Ron, Hermione and Neville.

"But, you ha –", Ron's remark was cut short by a well-placed kick by Harry.

"I am going to black and blue by the time this dinner is over," he muttered to Hermione.

"Ah, two handsome, dark strangers come to my aide," Alaire said smiling at Harry too. "I think I'm going to like Britain."

OoOoOoOo

Chapter 2

Very soon, the Great Hall was beginning to get quiet as more and more people left for their common rooms. Alaire covered her mouth, yawned, and then looked at the men beside her.

"I believe it is time to retire," she said getting up. "Would you two gentlemen please escort me to wherever it is we have to go?"

Quickly Harry hopped off his seat, "I'd be glad too."

"Uh, sure," Neville said as he quickly wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"Great!" Alaire said linking her arms with the two men. "Shall we?"

Walking out of the Great Hall, Neville and Harry both felt a little nervous. The American girl between them seemed be highly curious about everything. She asked about the portraits, the armor, and the house elves - which they did not have in the States. Surprisingly …she knew quite a bit about the architecture of the castle. She pointed out bits of stonework and gave them bits of trivia about them. The boys had never noticed any of the decorations she pointed out but acted appropriately for teen boys and assumed the arrogant postures of two people who had seen it all before.

Alaire was asking about the stairs when, suddenly, a staircase began to swing out as they stepped on it.

"We'll have to go the long way now," Harry complained, watching as the fourth floor disappeared and the sixth floor came into sight.

"This is great!" Alaire said looking down. Her demeanor switched smoothly from nerd extraordinaire to smooth adventurer. "Do you have anyone that does stair surfing or jumping?"

"Er," Neville looked at Harry, who just shrugged. "What do you mean?"

"Like say, jump from this stairway, down to that one," she said pointing to a staircase about three meters away that was also moving.

"No," Neville said. "Filch would skin us alive even if we didn't break our necks."

"Spoil sport," Alaire teased. "You can't tell me neither of you have ever broken a rule nor done something dangerous and exciting."

Neville looked accusingly at Harry who just looked grim.

"Not for fun," Harry said solemnly.

"No hang gliding, Bungee-jumping, Sky-diving or Extreme-biking? "Alaire asked as the two boys shook their heads, with each question.

"Skinny-dipping?"

Both turned red with her last query.

"Well, I'll just have to fix that," she told them with an amused smile.

"Are all Americans mental?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Yes and no," Alaire said happily. "You've heard of laughing in the face of danger? Well, we Americans prefer to give danger a wedgie and send him on his merry way."

A sudden image of Alaire giving Voldemort a wedgie flashed in Harry's head as he burst out laughing. Never before had he thought anything involving Voldemort would be funny, but Alaire had proved him wrong.

Neville looked over at Harry, who was holding his side from laughing. Shaking his head, he turned to Alaire and asked, "Were you serious about needing help in Herbology?"

"Yes," she sighed. "I am afraid I don't know much about the native plants over here. I'm more used to Venus Gatortraps than Whomping Willows. If magical plants could grow just about everywhere, I'd be better off."

"Gatortraps?" Harry asked having never heard of such a thing.

The trio was now in front of the Fat Lady. Harry gave the password and the door swung open as the three of them continued into the common room.

Alaire gave Neville a grin; "Just kidding, Gators taste too good to let the plants eat them." Neville didn't know how to take this. Was she still joking? Did they really eat alligator in New Orleans? Deciding to simply ignore the possible joke, he told her, "I'd be willing to help you after classes if you want. Madam Sprout won't mind if I take you into the greenhouses and filling you in on some of the things the younger classes are dealing with that you perhaps haven't seen before."

"That would be wonderful."

"And I would have no problems going over potions with you, that is if you don't mind," Harry said catching his opportunity to get some time with Alaire.

"Mind? Well I have always relied on the kindness of strangers," she said in her best southern accent. This however, was met with confused stares from the two Gryffindor's.

"Ok you don't get it," she said, unlinking her arms from them. "Then how about this."

She leaned over and kissed Harry then Neville on the cheek. Harry raised his hand to his cheek as Neville turned red. Alaire smiled at their reactions. She saw a younger girl go up the stairs and decided they must lead to the dorms.

"Thank you for the wonderful evening," she said softly before going up the stairs. "Pleasant dreams."

OoOoOoOo

The next morning, Harry, Ron and Neville sat at the table waiting for the girls to come down for breakfast. Neville was scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment while Harry and Ron compared notes on the upcoming Quidditch season. Neville had stayed up late re-visiting his knowledge of American plants while at the same time looking for some books that may help Alaire learn about European Herbology. He had several picked out, but didn't want to overwhelm her. Hermione had done that to him and the rest of the Gryffindor's too many times. He had narrowed his selections down to two books with medical applications that he hoped she would be interested in. Unfortunately, by doing that for Alaire he'd forgotten to finish the rest of his summer homework for charms. Now, He was quickly trying to finish his essay before breakfast.

A few moments later, someone bounced down the stairs from the girls' dormitory. Looking up, Neville saw Alaire attempting to adjust the clasp on her robe. "Cumbersome thing," she snapped at it before sitting down at the table between Neville and Harry.

"Sleep well?" Harry asked.

"All right," she answered. "And how are you boys today?"

"Starving," Ron answered looking at the stairs to the girls' dormitory. "Where's 'Mione?"

Harry and Neville just rolled their eyes.

"I picked out a few books that you might want to read about herbology," Neville said, digging out "Primal pharmaceutical Plants" and "British Bubbling bio-medical Botanicals".

"Thank you," she said taking them then opening "Bubbling Botanicals".

"Some of those are in greenhouse four if you'd like to take a look," Neville said. "The hellsbore you mentioned last night and the timid lovesnaps."

"That reminds me," Alaire said turning around and pulling out a book from her book-bag. "Here you go. I thought you and your girlfriend could use this."

A yellow book with big block letters landed on the table. The three boys leaned forward to look at it. A grin crossed his face reading the title, and he held the parchment closer to him so no one could see him trying not to crack up laughing. Ron's ears turned bright red.

"Romance for Dummies?" Harry asked trying not to laugh.

"We . . . I . . . I told you last night we weren't a couple," Ron sputtered while turning red and trying to look anywhere but at the book on the table.

"Oh please, denial isn't just a river in Egypt," said Alaire sarcastically as she turned back to one of the books Neville had given her and opening one to scan the index. Neville quickly started coughing trying to cover his laughter.

"Like Hermione would read this anyway," Ron grumbled under his breath. Then he paused for a moment; "Then again, it is a book."

"I don't think she's the one that really needs to read it, Ron. Where is Hermione anyway?" Harry asked impatiently.

"I don't know really. Two of the girls that share a dorm-room with me were having a fit over something, and the Head-girl was called-in to mediate," Alaire said still reading further.

A moment later, a loud ruckus was heard coming from the girl's dormitory. Hermione came down, almost tripping as she was trying to calm down the two seventh-years behind her. Lavender and Pavarti did not look at all happy. Scanning the room, Hermione's eyes locked on Alaire as she stormed over to her.

"What is this I hear about you putting up walls in the dormitory to create your own room?" she asked sternly.

"I put up a folding screen partition, not a wall. I don't appreciate people gawking at me as if I was on exhibit in a zoo," Alaire said, not bothering to look at her as she turned a page.

"That's against the rules," Hermione explained in an unbending tone. "Everyone here lives in joint dormitories. All years share a single dorm room!"

"You don't."

By this time, Neville had finished his homework assignment and looked-up to watch the argument unfold, although not before seeing Ron slip the dummies book into his own book-bag. By the tone of Hermione's voice she meant serious business. Alaire, on the other hand, seemed nonchalant but firm.

"I'm head girl," Hermione said proudly.

"So I've noticed."

Ron inhaled sharply, waiting for Hermione to explode.

"I have special privileges. I have worked hard to earn them."

"So that makes you better than everyone else?"

"Well, yes, as far as a separate room is concerned," Hermione snapped. "It says in 'Hogwarts: A History' . . ."

"Ah," Alaire said putting down "Bubbling Botanicals" and pulling-out a familiar book from her book-bag and putting it down onto the table. "It says here in "Hogwarts a History" that all students from the United Kingdom Attending Hogwarts share a dormitory. I'm not from the United Kingdom. Nowhere in this rubbish does it say anything about students from the United States, France or anywhere else in the world… for that matter."

Hermione turned bright red.

"Merlin, this is not going to end well. She just told Hermione that 'Hogwarts: A History' was rubbish," Ron whispered to Harry.

"I have ears Ron," Harry snapped. "I've never seen Hermione this angry at anyone… other than you."

Hermione took several breaths, trying to calm herself down. "While you are here, the Gryffindor House will be your home, and you are expected to abide by the rules of the house."

"And you were asked by the headmaster to let me adjust."

"Adjust, yes. Create your own rules, no."

"You might not be aware of this, Hermione, but in the United States our personal space is a lot larger than those of Europeans or Asians. We can get terribly irritable and feel threatened when that space is invaded upon. How would you feel if someone you didn't know invaded your personal space and insisted on doing so because of cultural differences?"

Hermione's mouth opened, closed, and then repeated the gesture. Neville was reminded of a goldfish, a very, very angry goldfish.

"I assume you only want me to feel at home and get used to my new surroundings. Don't you think that by taking away the cultural definition of the amount of personal space I need will hinder any progress made to make me feel at home?"

"Er, well yes, but -" Hermione said caught off guard.

"So you agree that I will need time to adjust, and therefore, should have my own space to adapt?" Alaire asked smiling.

"No, I don't have a problem with it," Hermione huffed before stomping back-up the stairway.

OoOoOoOo

"Good;" Alaire turned to the amazed crowd around her. "My father's a business lawyer for an architectural firm and my mother handles works as a pro-bono lawyer for the homeless." She gave them another smile. "You do not push us around."

She turned to Neville. "Do you think you have a few moments to look over my schedule and come up with a meeting time to teach me more about European herbology?"

"Yeah," he said nervously as he got up. "Let's walk down to breakfast and I'll take a look."

"Wonderful," she said, linking arms with him before turning to Harry. "Are you coming, Harry?"

Harry looked at Ron. His best friend's mouth was open and he seemed quite astonished. "I'll be down in a minute."

"Suit your self," she said before tugging on Neville's arm to leave. Harry watched as they left the common room, before turning to Ron.

"What's the matter with you?" he asked irritated.

"Wow," said Ron astonished, looking at where Hermione had disappeared. "Do you think she could teach me to do that?"

"Do what?" Harry asked confused.

"Render Hermione speechless during an argument."

Harry snorted, and patted Ron on the back. "I'm sure just snogging her would do it mate," he laughed softly "…as to how to bring that about …why not just read the "Romance for Dummies" book that you just stuffed into your book-bag.

OoOoOoOo

Chapter 3

Alaire and Neville were already eating by the time that Harry, Ron and Hermione entered the Great Hall. Harry took a seat next to Alaire, so that she was once again sitting between him and Neville.

Harry reached over and began placing a few strawberry scones on his plate, "So what class do you have first, Alaire?"

"Care of Magical Creatures," she answered before taking a drink of her milk. "I am really looking forward to seeing what kind of creatures you have here. I've only seen pictures of animals native to Western Europe. I really hope that the professor has something interesting."

Ron snorted as he piled scrambled eggs upon his plate while Hermione, Harry and Neville bit back smiles.

"Did I say something wrong?" Alaire asked perplexed by their response.

"Let's just say that interesting is a bit of an understatement for Hagrid's creatures," said Harry.

"Really? What sort of things does he have?"

"Hagrid has a, um …predilection towards obscure animals," Hermione said delicately.

"Just don't get too close to them, OK?" Neville said in a concerned tone of voice.

"Why? What does he have? Raging hippogriffs? Wild, oversized man-eating lobsters?"

Ron snorted again which earned him a glare from Hermione and a kick from both Harry and Neville.

"Ow! You'll see," Ron said as he stuffed a forkful of eggs into his mouth.

"Don't talk with your mouth full Ron," Hermione scolded. "Honestly!" She turned to Alaire and said in her best head girl voice, "Hagrid is a gentle soul who has been one of our best friends here at Hogwarts. This is just his fourth year teaching, however, and he sometimes has problems with his lesson plans."

"Oh," Alaire said with a smile. "Well, that's a relief. From the way y'all were acting, it was as if Hagrid liked to turn dangerous animals loose on the students."

At this, Ron choked on his milk which gave Hermione an excuse to pound him soundly on his back, perhaps a bit longer than necessary.

Alaire moved her eggs around her plate with her fork and sighed, "You know, I really didn't get to learn much about y'all yesterday, except for the fact that Ron and Hermione are a couple, but not dating."

"We're not a couple!" exclaimed Hermione loudly as her cheeks turned red and the tip of Ron's ears did the same.

"Uh, huh," Alaire said sarcastically before turning to Harry and Neville. "What about you two?"

"We're not a couple either," said Harry jokingly.

"That's not what I meant," Alaire laughed. "I meant, do either of you have girlfriends?"

"Blunt, isn't she?" Ron said under his breath. Unfortunately, it was loud enough for Harry, Alaire, and Neville to hear. The comment was met with three swift kicks from under the table. "Bloody hell," Ron said rubbing his leg. "I do have to walk to class today, you know."

"Sorry, my foot slipped," Alaire said feigning innocence, before turning to look at Harry and Neville …"So?"

"No girlfriend," Harry said smiling as if this lack meant nothing.

"Me, neither," Neville replied blushing in embarrassment.

Alaire grinned so bright it nearly lit up the room, "That's good."

Soon, the Great Hall began to empty as students began to make their way to class. Hermione stood up and swung her book-bag over her shoulder.

"We have to be getting to transfiguration," she said addressing Ron and Harry. "I do hope you finished your summer assignments, Ron."

"You bloody-well saw me doing them last night," he snapped before getting up.

Harry rose to leave too, but a thought struck him as he turned to leave.

"Do you need someone to show you the way to Hagrid's class, Alaire?" he asked.

"Harry!" Hermione snapped. "You don't want to be late for transfiguration, especially on the first day."

"I can take you to Hagrid's," Neville said as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. "I don't have a class for the first period."

"That would be wonderful," Alaire said linking arms with Neville. "Tomorrow, can you show me the way to potions, Harry?"

Harry nodded numbly as he watched Neville escort Alaire out of the Great Hall and towards Hagrid's. He just hoped that Hagrid had something semi-tame this year.

Alaire kept up a running narrative of the types of animals, both Muggle and magical, in Louisiana while she and Neville walked down to Hagrid's hut. As they approached the class, Neville saw some familiar boxes in the clearing near the front door. Excited, Alaire ran forward to examine their contents.

"Wow!" Alaire exclaimed loudly as she bent down to look at the Blast-end skewerts. "Look at the size of those crawdads!"

"Those aren't whatever you said," Neville said, pulling on her cloak and trying to get Alaire to get away from the animal. "Those are sort of dangerous. You don't want to get on the wrong end of them as flames sort-of spurt out of their backsides."

"Wow. I've never seen anything like this," she said, allowing Neville to take her back where the rest of the class was gathering. "What are you doing this class period?"

"Actually I have a special project in the works at the moment. I'm working on a totally new cross-pollinated plant which should prove interesting if my experiment works. But I doubt you'd find it of significance …as this high-bred has zero medical applications. After I drop you off here …I'm going to check on it," Neville said softly.

"A special project …what is it, another passionflower?" Alaire said interested.

"Not exactly," Neville replied reluctant to give too much away

"Can I see it later?" Alaire asked in an excited tone

Neville was awestruck. No one usually wanted to see anything he was doing herbology wise, except for Madam Sprout and a handful of - 'outside of school' - professional botanists.

"Maybe …I don't exactly know what's happening with this project. I want to have everything well documented before I bring in anyone to see it."

"Oh," she said deflated …looking down. "But that's still a maybe?"

Neville couldn't help but smile. "Yes, that's a maybe," he said before looking around at the other students. "Are you going to be all right here until class starts?"

Alaire smiled at him, "I'll be fine. Thank you my noble knight."

Neville grinned and his mouth moved before it consulted his head. "You're welcome, my most beautiful lady."

It wasn't until he was halfway to his study that he realized he wasn't scared to flirt with her.

A hot blast of air escaped into the hallway when Neville opened the door to his study. A few spells and a magical mister had turned the small study into a virtual hot house for his plants.

Neville took off his cloak and set it on a chair by his small desk. Picking up his watering can, he began watering all the various plants in the study. He saved the hybrid rose for last. Entering the special section where he kept the plant, Neville saw sun flowing through the windows and the little plant on the sill.

Smiling, he asked the plant how it was doing. Sure, a lot of people thought it was insane to talk to plants, but Neville found that it helped them grow and also helped him relax. Making his way over to it, he noticed something unusual.

"What in the world?" he exclaimed before setting the watering can down and running into the other room to his desk. Picking up his notes and the growth charts he had constructed, he rushed back into the room. Using a ruler, he measured the plant's stem and counted the leaves. Flipping through his notes, he looked at the numbers.

"This can't be right," he said to himself as he rechecked the numbers. According to the figures, the plant had literally grown an inch over night and two new leaves were sprouting. That was unusual. Quickly he checked the soil temperature, the room temperature and even the music he had turned on before he left yesterday. Everything was the same as it was when the plant was at his home with Gran. What was so different that the plant was growing at such a rate? Could it just be the Hogwarts grounds? Did it relate to something in the environment?

Double checking everything, Neville couldn't come up with an answer. By the time he looked at the clock, the period was almost over. He had fifteen minutes to get to charms, and he should probably go get Alaire so she knew where that classroom was as well.

Sighing, Neville closed his notes and looked over at the plant.

"Well, if you keep growing at this rate I'll have to give you away soon," he said sadly. "I was hoping to bond with you a little more. I know that probably sounds weird. I'll be back to check on you after dinner and I'll look into your growth more on Saturday. Maybe I've just missed something."

OoOoOoOo

Neville sprinkled a little water on the plant before picking up his robes and heading outside toward Hagrid's hut. Outside he was surprised to see Hagrid's class was already dismissed. A number of people rushed by him without a second glance …but not, Ginny Weasley.

"Neville," she said happily as she walked over to him. "I think you better go help Alaire. She keeps casting warming charms on herself and shivering. She says it's freezing here. I offered to get her winter robe, but she said she hasn't got one yet."

"Thanks Gingin," Neville replied as the younger Gryffindor smiled and continued up to the castle.

Neville walked a few more feet until he saw Alaire. She was shivering and had her arms wrapped around herself for warmth. She was standing near a tree a few feet away.

"Alaire!" he yelled to get her attention.

Her eyes darted around until they came to rest on Neville. She smiled before she ran up to him and wrapped her arms around him. Neville was shocked at first, but that was nothing compared to when she snuggled up and put her head on his chest. She then pulled both her robes and his around her, forming a cocoon.

"It's so cold," she said in a little voice that made his heart beat a bit faster.

"It's only September," he said, trying to relax. "It's not cold yet."

Alaire looked up at him in bewilderment then snuggled closer to Neville. "I'm going to freeze to death here by myself. You're so warm."

A light blush colored Neville's cheeks. "Do you always, uh, do this to people when you're cold?'"

"No," she said smiling as she looked up at him. "I only do this when there are extremely good looking and friendly men available to keep me warm."

Neville cleared his throat uncomfortably. He wasn't used to women flirting with him like this. He wasn't quite sure how to handle it.

"Come on let's go inside," he said as he maneuvered them toward the entranceway to the castle.

OoOoOoOo

The rest of the day went quickly and soon it was suppertime. However, with the amount of Charms and Defense homework given in preparation for the NEWTS, most seventh years were in the library or common room instead of eating in the Great Hall.

Neville was working on his Defense homework in the large chair by the fireplace, as Ron, Hermione and Harry occupied the table. They all looked up when the common room door swung open.

"There you are!" Alaire said holding a stack of books. "I was wondering where y'all were. I had to eat dinner with some guy named Seamus." She dropped the books on the floor beside Neville. "I thought I wouldn't have a problem with the Irish since New Orleans has a few but between his accent and his wandering hands . . ." she shook her head as Neville and Harry looked up sharply.

"NEWTS homework," grumbled Ron as he turned back to the book in front of him.

"Don't you have any homework Alaire?" Hermione asked nodding toward the stack of books.

"A little," she said before looking around for a place to sit before finally taking a seat by the fireplace. "Warmth," she sighed as she sat down. "Is this y'all have here …Gumbo weather and colder?"

Ron raised an eyebrow in confusion before concluding, "It must be an American thing."

"I'm surprised you don't know what gumbo is, Ron," Hermione huffed. "It is a food, after-all."

"I don't believe it. A food Ron doesn't know about," Harry teased.

"What's in it?" asked Neville. "It might be interesting to do a Muggle studies project on it."

"Gumbo?" Alaire asked amazed. "You're telling me that none of y'all know what gumbo is?"

"Tell you what. You fix it and I'll eat it," Ron grumbled.

"I need some cayenne pepper, chicken stock or shrimp, some flour, oil, leeks and a whole bunch of stuff. Unless someone has a portable kitchen around here, I'd say I'm not going to make or have any gumbo until I get back home," Alaire said opening a book.

"Actually," Harry said sitting back. "I can help you with the kitchen stuff. Why don't you make it tomorrow night, if you still feel up to making something after potions."

"That would be great," Alaire said as she began writing on a parchment. "I could use a touch of home. When are you planning on helping me with potions, Harry? Neville's planning on doing a visual review of English shrubbery with me in the Greenhouses on Sunday. I don't want to get behind in potions."

"How about …late Saturday night?" Harry replied after some thought

"Late …Saturday night? Don't y'all take a break on weekends?"

"Not with NEWTS coming up," Hermione said in an exasperated voice.

"Come on, you can't study all week all year long. You know what they say, 'All work and no play makes Harry a dull boy!' Or, haven't you seen 'The Shining'?"

"The what?" asked Ron clearly missing the reference? "Is this another American thing?" he said in a knowing voice.

"Oh, I thought y'all would have seen it. It's a classic movie where this guy locks his family into a huge resort," she stood up and wandered to the window. "Sort-of like Hogwarts, actually. Then it snows and snows and snows …so they can't get out..."

"…Sort of like Hogwarts," said Ron warily.

"Yeah …and then their little boy starts to be haunted by visions of someone trying to kill him."

"…Sort of like Hogwarts," whispered Harry to Ron with a wink.

"And then the father goes mad and grabs an ax and tries to murder his family after these ghosts egg him on."

"That's quite enough!" Hermione retorted with a touch of anger. "No one at Hogwarts is going to turn into an axe-murderer because they have to do homework on a Saturday night. I do it all the time, and I'm perfectly fine!"

Four pairs of eyes looked at her in wonderment.

"You do get a-bit tense at times," Ron ventured meekly.

"Ronald Bilius Weasley, don't tempt me."

In an attempt to avoid yet another Ron/Hermione argument, Harry offered, "How about this then? I'll study with Alaire on potions but," he looked at Alaire with a smile. "We'll do it down by the lake during daylight. That way, it won't be so cold."

Alaire smiled and answered, "That will work …as long as I find some warmer clothes. I almost turned into an ice cube this morning. And I think Neville is still cold from where I hugged him."

This time all four pair of eyes turned toward Neville …who stammered, "She was cold."

Unfortunately, the first potion class of the year did not go so well for Alaire. She started off by asking Snape for some dirt from a fresh zombie grave, which is apparently illegal in the United Kingdom, but according to her a witch could find, 'such things' …just about anywhere in New Orleans or around the state of Louisiana for that matter. Then, she accidentally created the draught of the living death rather than the draught of eternal sleep. Unfortunately, Snape overheard her when she muttered to Harry that it looked like the Professor had been drinking his own special potion.

By the end of the lesson, the Gryffindor's were happy with just 50 points taken away. Harry found it unsettling that he hadn't been the target of Snape's wrath for once and became worried about how the rest of the year in potions was going to be like. His half-blood-prince textbook was of no further use to him as it covered sixth year material only. Confronted with highly advanced N.E.W.T.'s level material …Harry began to wonder if he could pull off the tutoring sessions with Alaire. Snape seemed to dislike Alaire nearly as much as he hated Harry, if that was at all possible. It wasn't until later that night …an hour after Harry had dropped Alaire off in the kitchens, did he truly find out how much Snape disliked Alaire.

OoOoOoOo

The door to the common-room swung open and much to the amazement of the Gryffindor House, Professor Snape stormed in holding Alaire up by the collar of her robes. Alaire was arguing with him, while he never said a word. However, the vein on the side of his neck throbbed uncontrollably. He threw Alaire into a chair and a small cauldron of odd smelling bubbling brew on the tabletop.

"Really Severus!" exclaimed Professor McGonagall as she entered behind him.

"Professor, I swear …I wasn't making any dangerous potions in the kitchen!" Alaire exclaimed. "I was making roux for my gumbo!"

"Don't try to confuse us with your silly American slang, you silly girl," snapped Snape harshly. "I know people like-you dabble in the dark arts in the states!"

"I'm telling the truth! I'll even eat it …just let me finish fixing my gumbo. The roux is all done. All I have to do is add some chicken stock. It's really good. You can have some if you wish."

"I am not in the mood to be turned into a zombie today, thank you," Snape said snidely.

"Severus, calm your-self," Professor McGonagall said firmly. "Is it possible that the girl is telling the truth? Although I'm not all that sure myself …that this particular mixture …would be edible," McGonagall looked down at the pot on the table and shook her head. "It is up to Miss Goodnight if she wishes to continue. As far as I am aware of, chicken stock is not a poison."

"That," Snape said pointing to the cauldron on the table, "is not edible. I'll prove it …Weasley!"

Ron gulped and made his way over to the table, "Yes, Professor."

"I want you to tell me if you'd eat this vile concoction that Miss Goodnight has brewed."

Ron looked at the cauldron and gulped. "No sir. She says it's not done. Would you eat an uncooked piece of mutton? Maybe …after it's finished …it will smell better."

"Oh …for heavens sake!" Alaire yelled as she got up from the chair. Placing a cooling charm on the cauldron, she lifted it to her lips and took a huge sip. "It would be a whole lot better with a damned spoon and some chicken stock. But, let me assure y'all, it wouldn't poison a mouse …or turn any Professor …ignorant of American cuisine …into a zombie."

"That will be 20 points for your cheek," sneered a furious Snape.

"Cheek? I'll have you know, I'm not the one who dragged my ass –" she was quieted as Harry placed his hand over her mouth to stop her venting.

"Language, Miss Goodnight. I'm afraid I have to deduct another five points," sighed Professor McGonagall. "Severus, I don't believe the child would intentionally poison herself. Miss Goodnight next time you decide to try some American cooking, I suggest you see me or Professor Dumbledore first for pre-approval …to avoid any …problems."

With that McGonagall and Snape left the common room, leaving a very angry American in their wake.

It wasn't until he was sure that Alaire wasn't going to explode that he let go of her. Her face was red with anger as she just looked around and everyone and let out a shriek of rage before heading up the stairway.

"Who needs piles of snow to go crazy? I think I might go polish up my axe! This place is as hospitable as the weather," Alaire huffed as she climbed the stairs to her room. "I miss home."

OoOoOoOo

Chapter 4

"Ron, I was thinking about movie night," Harry said as he sat down beside his best friend.

"Yeah, what about it?" Ron replied.

"Well, it's the boys turn to pick the movie?"

"Yes. Merlin! I thought I wouldn't survive that artsy crap Hermione picked last time. I can't believe I bloody wasted two hours watching that. Binns is more exciting," he said indicating his History of Magic homework.

"You didn't have to sit through all of it, you know." Harry said. "I didn't …nor did Seamus or Dean …in fact you were the only one …besides Hermione, to see the credits roll."

"I know, I know. But, Mione would just quiz me later just to see if I was paying attention. It's not like she watches our movies anyway," he said shoving his quill and parchment into his bag.

"Well, I was thinking it would be kind of nice for Alaire if we showed an American movie, a new one."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Name some movies with something American in them."

Ron shrugged, before leaning back in his chair and yelling to the rest of the Gryffindor's in the common room. "Oi! Name some movies with something American in them!"

"An American Werewolf in London."

"American Beauty."

"Yankee Doodle."

"There's that one with that Costner guy where he's waltzing with dogs ...or wolves ...or something."

"Yeah, then there's that other one with that one kid. What is it — Home Malone?"

"How about an old one? 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.'"

"Nah,

"American Pie."

"The Patriot."

"Wait, go back!" Ron yelled. "What was the one with the food in it?"

"American Pie."

Setting his chair down, Ron looked at Harry. "What about that one? If it's about food, it can't be all bad."

"Sounds good," Harry said. "I'll talk to McGonagall about it but don't mention it to Alaire. I want it to be a surprise."

Ron lifted an eyebrow and gave his friend an appraising look. "We wouldn't be forming some sort of attachment here, would we?"

"What? Oh Hell-No. I've got no-intention of making some poor-girl a target for every DE wantabe in Hogwarts. I just thought it'd be more fun this way," Harry stammered.

"Can't fool me, mate," Ron told him as they walked out the door to class. "That kind of denial can be found on page thirty-eight of that-little; dummies' …yellow-book."

The next night, Alaire came down into the common room to see it packed full of 6th and 7th years. Looking around the room, she saw Harry, Neville and Ron sitting on the couch talking. She noted that the only one doing any homework was Hermione.

"What's going on?" Alaire asked the three boys.

"Muggle movie night," Neville explained. "Every Saturday night that doesn't land on a Hogsmeade weekend …the 6th and 7th years get to pick a Muggle-movie to watch."

"Really? I thought Muggle electronics wouldn't work here?"

"There is a complex spell involved," Neville replied …"ask Hermione for the technical details, as the whole thing is based in Arithmacy.

"Are Gryffindor's the only one's who does this?"

"Nope …the Hufflepuff's have a movie night too, but they hold theirs on Friday. Ravenclaw and Slytherin don't engage in such …'rubbish'," Ron said putting extra sarcastic empathize on the last word. "Ravenclaw regard 'the cinema' as a distraction from important pursuits like studying …while Slytherin reject anything Muggle based.

"What a bunch of assholes." Alaire said contemptuously, before asking "so how did this come about?"

"Don't know …don't care," Ron said, getting up. "Hermione read about it somewhere last term and then approached McGonagall about it …as an offshoot of something they discussed in her Muggle-studies class. Our Glorious Head-of-House thought it would be a wonderful way to introduce students here to the Muggle world, for a lot of us …myself included …don't know all that much about Muggle stuff.

"McGonagall got Dumbledore to sell the idea to the 'Hogwarts Board of Governors' and now here we are. She approves the movie choice for Gryffindor and then enchants a magical projector and the screen …is an open piece of castle wall …pretty handy …actually. My dad loved the idea so much that we now one of those BVD's at our house."

At this, Alaire broke into such loud giggles that Hermione's head snapped up from her book.

"Oh for heaven sakes; Ron! You mean DVD!" Hermione said correcting him.

Alaire leaned over placing a hand on his shoulder to whisper quietly in Ron's ear. "BVD is a slang term for 'tighty-whities'!"

"Huh?" Ron looked up confused.

Alaire leaned back. "You really don't know …do you?" She made a couple of gestures toward her hips. Ron sat as clueless as ever.

Suddenly, she heard Hermione shrill voice declare, "She mean's Y-Fronts, you dolt!"

Alaire turned around to see Hermione slamming her books shut. "Seriously, I don't know how you expect anyone to get any work done with all this idle-chatter going on!" Hermione continued to mutter under her breath as she gathered her materials and dumped them rather Ron-like into her bag. Ignoring the amazed stares of her fellow Gryffindor's and Ron's bright red face of embarrassment, she turned and in a very, very un-Hermione like way flounced up the stairs to the girl's dormitory.

A few moments later, a door could be heard being slammed shut. There was a pause before Alaire heard a collective release of air as the Gryffindor's breathed again.

Alaire turned to the boys; "that girl desperately needs to get laid." Harry and Neville chucked at the joke …Ron, however …"

"She needs …WHAT!" Ron shouted jumping to his feet.

"Once again, my work here is done." Alaire said as she ignored a suddenly flustered Ron …she then bounced onto the couch between Neville and Harry. "So …what are we watching tonight?"

"American Pie," said Harry.

"Really?" Alaire asked amazed as she turned to look at all three boys. "Wow. I didn't think that would be approved. I mean, it isn't really a tame movie."

"What are you going on about? McGonagall was so busy that she didn't get a chance to approve it." Ron snapped. "Besides, it's about food. How can food not be tame? I love food."

"Ron, you do know there is a difference between loving food and LOVING food right?" Alaire snickered.

"What are you going on about?" Ron asked

"You'll see," she said.

"Everyone ready?" Seamus asked as he stood at the projection table.

"All right then," Seamus said. "You know the rules. Only 6th and 7th years. The rest of you kiddies get upstairs or we'll give you to Fred and George Weasley for test subjects."

There was a yelp from the corner as two fourth-years made a mad dash to the dorms. Seamus pulled out his wand …smiled and yelled out "Cinema Octulus!"

For the next hour, one could hear a pin drop in the Gryffindor common room. The silence was punctuated by a few random giggles from the girls or appreciative grunts from the guys.
Alaire had already watched the movie back in the States, so she was having more fun watching the faces of her classmates than the film itself.

Ron for example …sat with his mouth open so often that she was tempted to reach over, grab his chin and close his mouth to stop the drooling. Harry on the other hand …kept squirming uncomfortably every time she got within six inches of him. Finally Neville, who had turned every color in the rainbow within fifteen minutes into the movie …in fact the only person who didn't seem embarrassed …was Seamus Finnegan. They traded glances once and, with a shiver, Alaire made a mental note to never be alone with the Irish rogue.

"Are you cold?" Harry asked her.

"Hmm. Just a bit, would you mind?" she asked as she placed her head on Neville's shoulder and her feet in Harry's lap. "This is more comfortable."

Neville tensed up as she laid her head down. Merlin, no one had done this before to him. It was weird, not as weird as the movie, but weird nonetheless.

Alaire turned her head to look up at him. "This isn't making you uncomfortable is it?" she asked, giving big puppy-dog eyes at him as she snuggled closer. "I'm just so cold and you and Harry are just so warm."

"No," Neville's voice cracked. "I'm fine," he said as he turned back to the movie.

Finally, it was time for the infamous pie scene. A few disgusted groans went up from the crowd as others cringed or laughed. However, one voice stood above them all. Quite a few heads turned away from the movie to see a distraught red-head near one of the chairs.

"Tell me he didn't!" Ron begged. "Merlin, tell me I didn't see that. I can't eat pie ever again."

"Ron, man, he did," Seamus said with a laugh.

"Someone Obliviate me, please!" Ron whined.

"Shut up Ron!" Dean hissed, "We'll miss the rest of the movie."

"I don't want to see the rest of it. That was an injustice to pastry everywhere!"

By this time, Alaire was shaking uncontrollably with laughter. Loud guffaws accented with snorts filled the room. Neville turned to quiet her. "Shh."

Alaire attempted to breathe but the sight of Ron's amazed face set her off again. In desperation, Neville put his hand over her mouth and whispered, "If McGonagall comes in and finds this movie on, and we'll be on detention for the rest of the year with no more movies."

Nodding, Alaire swallowed the last of her giggles. Grasping Neville's hand, she pulled it away from her mouth but didn't let it go.

"It's Okay. I'll be good. I promise," she whispered to him. Nodding Neville turned back to the screen while attempting to retrieve his hand only to find his fingers intertwined with Alaire's. Suddenly, the movie wasn't funny at all… as his entire body broke into a cold-sweat.

"Oh …no. She'll think I'm a slimy git," he thought as he felt beads break out on his forehead. At this point, Alaire let go of his hand and leaned forward to Harry to ask a question. Neville didn't know whether to feel relieved or hurt.

Eventually, Alaire leaned back on his shoulder and whispered, "If you think this was funny, wait until tomorrow at lunch."

Neville's eyes opened wide as he stared into her mischievous eyes. She gave him a smile then snuggled in to finish the movie with both hands in her lap.

OoOoOoOo

Alaire had been hoping to sleep in the next day, but it wasn't meant to be. As the sun cracked through the window, she pulled the blankets closer to her and tried to go back to sleep. Unfortunately, those other two girls in the door room wouldn't shut up. They were talking very loudly right beside her partition just to irritate her, and it was working.

Grumbling to herself, Alaire formed a cocoon of blankets around her and made her way to the bathroom for her morning ablutions. It was still too early for any sane person to be awake in her opinion, but she managed to get herself out of her warm blankets and head downstairs to the common room. There wasn't anyone there yet, save the head girl who was still finishing homework.

"Morning Hermione," Alaire said sitting next to her. "Those girls won't be quiet. They keep yelling to see if I'm in the room."

"Well, that's what you get for putting that partition up. I do wish you would take it down."

"What are you working on?" Alaire asked …leaning over and looking at Hermione's parchment. Instead of seeing notes on various astronomy maters, she saw little hearts with RW + HG drawn in. "It's nothing," Hermione snapped putting the parchment away.

"Oh," Alaire said smiling. "You know what? I just might be convinced to take that partition down."

"Really?" Hermione replied suddenly excited.

"Maybe, but I'd like to do it in a sporting manner. I bet you that I can get Ron to say he won't eat something. If I lose I'll take the partition down, if I win you owe me a favor."

"You mean 'something' as in some American spicy Cajun or Creole food you've concocted?"

"No. We'll go down to the kitchens and politely ask the house elves to make or give us a pie."

"A pie?" Hermione snorted. "You're betting me that Ron Weasley will turn down pie?"

"Yes," Alaire said grinning.

Hermione smiled. "Normally, I don't approve of gambling, however I think it best for that partition to be down so I accept your bet, on the condition that Ron is presented the pie right before lunch, that way I know he's hungry."

"Agreed," Alaire said extending her hand for Hermione to shake. Hopefully this little scheme would get Ron and Hermione together, she thought.

Right before lunch Alaire grinned evilly as she thought about her plan. So far Hermione hadn't heard anything about the movie. The head girl kept telling people haughtily that she didn't want to hear about that "ridiculous film."

It was a half hour before lunch time when Alaire asked Hermione to come to the kitchen with her.

"Hermione, we don't have house elves in the States, so do you mind talking to them for me?"

"You talk to them like anyone else," Hermione said huffily. "They're not slaves… like you-lot kept in America or our European serf system."

Alaire stopped dead in her tracks. "Excuse me?"

"Look, I'm simply saying that you should be more aware of the plight of the house elf. It's very difficult to get anyone to listen to their cause."

"Have you tried suing someone for their release?"

Hermione shook her head.

"Oh. Well, in that case, I'll contact my mother for any legal action you can take. She does stuff like that all the time." "Thank you. It will be nice to have an ally finally." The two girls looked at each other warily neither quite trusting the other, yet. "Now, I believe we are here for a pie?" asked Alaire.

She motioned for Hermione to walk ahead of her. The pie was procured and they returned to the common room. Smiling, Alaire motioned to Hermione that Ron and Harry were sitting at the table. Hermione grinned. There was no way Ron Weasley would turn down pie, she thought as she set the desert down on the table.

The smell of food automatically attracted Ron's attention away from the game of chess that he and Harry were playing while Neville, Seamus, and Dean offered suggestions that Harry knowingly ignored.

"What's that?" Ron asked as his stomach growled.

"A freshly baked pie, just for you," Hermione said handing him a fork.

Harry arched his eyebrow and looked over at Alaire, who was holding back a laugh. The remaining boys just stared at her in bemusement. "

Who baked the pie?" Harry asked cautiously.

"The house elves," Alaire answered, "its apple pie, Ron." She grinned conspiratorially at the boys. "You know. It's considered to be the all; AMERICAN PIE."

Ron who was about to take a bite suddenly dropped the fork and looked in horror at Hermione, who had been trying to get him to eat the pie.

"I can't eat this!" he exclaimed.

Hermione's face fell. "What in the world do you mean?"

Shaking his head, Ron just repeated himself, "I can't eat it."

"We didn't do anything to it! Right, Hermione?" Alaire said slyly.

"That's right, Ron."

Ron just continued to shake his head and moved a little further away from the offending pie.

"Honestly!" said Hermione getting flustered. "Don't you believe us? Here look."

Swiftly, Hermione picked up the fork from the table and stuck it into the pie, pulling out a big bite from it. She put the end of the fork into her mouth and ate the piece of pie.

"Umm. Good. See Ron," she said as she took another bite of the pie. Juice ran down her chin and bits of crust stuck to her lips. Ron watched as Hermione licked her lips. By this time, Ron was sweating as his eyes darted back and forth between Hermione and the pie.

"Mione, please stop," he pleaded.

"Why? This is delicious. Come on, Ron, just one bite?" Hermione poured every bit of her charm into the request as she dug her fork into the desert then slowly ate the pie filling off the utensil. Ron's eyes darted back and forth between Hermione, the pie and then Harry. His eyes pleaded for help. Harry just shrugged.

Hermione was getting fed up with everything. "Look, there is nothing the matter with this pie. Do I need to take another bite to prove it to you?"

"No!" Ron said panicking. "I mean . . . bloody hell!"

Quickly he sprang up from his chair and raced as fast as he could up the stairs to the boys' dormitory, leaving a very confused Hermione behind.

"Ron, what in the world is the matter with you?" Hermione yelled as she started up the stairs behind him, only to be stopped by Harry.

"Let Ron calm himself down, Hermione," Harry said as Hermione cast a worried look up the stairs.

"Would he use his right hand or left hand for that," Alaire whispered into Neville's ear before he elbowed her in the ribs.

"Are you sure he'll be all right. I mean I've never seen Ron like that," Hermione said worrying. "Maybe he should go see Madam Pomfrey."

"No," Harry said stifling a laugh. "I'm sure he'll be fine in about five . . . I mean," he coughed to cover up his laughter. "I'm sure he'll all right in time for dinner."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Well, I guess I'll just go upstairs and study," Hermione said still looking up the stairs to the boy's dormitory. "But if he comes down, you will come and get me, won't you?"

Alaire let out another snicker, which was met with another elbow this time from Dean.

"Yes ''Hermione," Harry said as he watched his friend go up the stairs. As soon as he heard her door close, he fell on the floor laughing with the others. Quickly he turned to Alaire. "That was evil."

"A necessary evil?"

"No, just evil. Funny as hell, but evil," he said smiling before erupting into laughter again.

"Sorry, but you're the ones that picked the movie."

"We picked it so you'd have something American to watch," Harry said gasping for breath.

"How about I'll pick the next movie? Not that I didn't enjoy watching Ron's reaction or this little spectacle, because it was just hilarious."

The group sat on the couches reliving the moment. The giggles had just died down for the third time when the grandfather clock chimed noon.

"As much fun as this is, my stomach calls. I think I'd like some lunch," Alaire said standing up. "Anyone else hungry?" she asked with a laugh.

She stood and offered her hands to Neville and Harry. Linking arms with them, they headed down to the Great Hall.

Dean turned to Seamus as they watched them leave, "Wow. If she's having lunch, I wonder which one of them will end up being dessert."

OoOoOoOo

Chapter 5

The next morning; Sunday, dawned bright and clear, a perfect day for studying by the lake. Or, as Harry spied his broom, it's a perfect day for some early Quidditch practice. He quickly dressed then grabbed his broom. The rest of the guys were already gone on individual pursuits. Ron was probably doing 'Prefect 'stuff. Seamus would be in the Great Hall chatting up his latest seduction-victim over breakfast. Dean would be outside practicing football drills. And Neville would be in the greenhouse. Perfect. He could fly undisturbed for once.

He had almost made it down the first floor corridor when he came across a crowd of boys standing on a stairwell outside an unused classroom.

"Shhh!" he heard Seamus shush someone who was gasping.

"I'd eat dog biscuits everyday for a crack at that randy-bitch," he heard some bloke say in a loud whisper.

"What's going on?"

A pair of hands quickly grabbed him and dragged him into the stairwell out of sight of the open door.

"It's a all girl's yoga class," said Dean.

"Yeah, so?"

"Educate the boy," said Seamus.

"Budge-over Weasley." Harry looked over surprised to see Ron move down a step while continuing to stare at the classroom. Harry sat down in the vacated spot and looked to see what the fuss was about. He almost fainted.

One of the rarely used classrooms had been transformed into an exercise studio. Instead of the usual stone walls, the room was covered in mirrors and windows. There was a long, picture window in the outer wall facing the stairwell. Harry focused on the figures inside. There were about 20 girls in various stages of dress. Some wore tight, long-sleeved shirts and leggings. Others were in shorts and sleeveless tops.

Then Harry spotted the trio that made him grasp the banister for support. Leading the class through various poses were Ginny, Hermione, and Alaire. Each was wearing some-sort of exercise outfit …a short form-fitting top with thin straps. Harry had to suppress a spike of intense arousal when he noticed that Alaire's fully-erect nipples were actually visible …pushing out clearly defined from the front of her skin-tight top. As his gaze lowered Harry saw Alaire belly-button ring proudly displayed on the American girls bare midriff …clearly exposed above the tight white pants that ended at their knees and left little of Alaire's groin area to the imagination.

Every girl in the class was covered in hot-sweat. So were the boys in the stairwell as they watched the girls go through the exercises

"Well, Harry?"

"Forget Quidditch!"

"Brilliant, isn't it?" Ron whispered.

"When did this start?"

Ron answered without taking his eyes off of Hermione …bending-over this way and that …in the room. "Apparently, Ginny discovered yoga last year during Advanced Muggle Studies. She mentioned it to Alaire who had done it back in the states. Then, they talked to Hermione about getting a room and, it turned out that Hermione had done yoga over the summer-hol at her parent's house. They were going to keep the location a secret but …" Ron's voice trailed off as the twenty girls leaned over and grasped their ankles

"You followed Hermione?"

"Oh Yeah," Ron replied his total attention fixated on his bookworm.

"You told the others …but not me?" Harry asked Ron feeling a-bit offended.

"Don't be daft, Potter," Jack Sloper spat. "I overhear Goodnight chatting with Granger about it and followed Alaire here. Weasley didn't tell any of us …the git".

There was a collective sigh from the boys as the girls slowly straightened then leaned backwards stretching their arms over their heads. Too soon, the class was over. The girls began to pack up their mats and pull-on warmer clothes and shoes. The boys quickly backed up the stairwell and ran as the room emptied.

Safe on the second floor, Dean called out, "The next meeting of the Yoga Watching Club will be meeting next Sunday at the same time and same place."

"Keep your-gobs shut! Don't let them know!" Jack Sloper said loudly.

As the others wandered away; Ron turned to Harry as they made their way out to the Quidditch pitch, "That's it, mate. I'm toast."

"What do you mean?"

Ron stopped and looked his best friend in the eyes, "The pie was bad enough but this . . . this." He looked down at his toes. "How do I ask-out someone who has been one of my best friends for the past seven years? What if she doesn't feel that way about me? What if I screw it up?"

"Ron; mate …listen to me? You couldn't screw it up worse than you already have." Harry declared bluntly as Ron looked back slightly hurt. "Now Hermione as a girl …doesn't do squat for me …I think you know that. I consider her to be like an annoying semi-sister …for Merlin's sake.

"Most of the other blokes our age - that actually know her... are all; 'put-off' by her know-it-all attitude. Luckily for you, it's also been clear to me for ages …that you find Hermione to be very attractive as a woman, in-spite of her domineering tendencies. She may not have much of a figure, compared to the other girls in that room, but if you don't get in there and take a chance SOON ...someone else besides Krum; who fancy stick figured girls; is going to take your place."

"You're right." Ron said …completely ignoring… for once, Harry's criticism of Hermione's lack-of-figure.

"Yeah, I know I'm right. Look, I'm going to take a cold shower. After what I saw of Alaire I unquestionably need one. Then I'm going to bring Alaire out by the lake to study. Why don't you suggest to Hermione that you and she study in the Room of Requirement? It's quiet. It's private and if she turns you down, you can imagine a noose and do-yourself in."

"That's a good idea."

"What? The room - or the noose?" Harry was rewarded with a cuff to his head.

OoOoOoOo

Alaire found Neville down in the common room after she changed from the Yoga workout, and had asked him if he was ready to go to the 'Hogwarts Greenhouses' to help her with herbology. Neville seemed a bit flustered at first, which confused Alaire, but had smiled and agreed to go. They soon found themselves in greenhouse number three looking at several plants the third years were working on. While Alaire recognized quite a few of them, there were some plants she could not identify.

"What are these?" Alaire asked as she reached out to touch a crimson flower with blue tips.

Quickly Neville …yanked her hand back. Alaire could fell the fear and anxiety in him. "You really don't want to touch that."

"What is it?"

"A Devil's Fork. It's a relative of the Devil's Snare."

"The Devil's Snare is a vine that chokes people right?"

"Basically."

"What does this do?"

"This emits a moderate level toxin into the blood stream. You'll be bedridden for weeks if you touch the petals. You have to touch the stems only. It's used to protect precious items and when harvested the toxin is used in certain sleeping potions."

"Oh," she said slightly disappointed.

"Why don't we look at something ... less hazardous."

"You mean something boring."

"No," Neville said sternly before he continued wholeheartedly. "Nothing in this greenhouse or any of the other six active greenhouses is boring. Everything has a greater purpose."

"Including us?" she teased.

Neville was slightly thrown off by the question. "Especially you," he said before a blush crept up into his cheeks. Looking anywhere but at Alaire, he said lightly, "Let's go over here, shall we? We need to look at the hellebore."

An hour later, the couple had gone through most of the plants in the greenhouse. Alaire had been given a list of new plants to research and, in turn, Neville had a new appreciation for the American's knowledge of plants …plus a healthy fear of her seemingly endless curiosity and courage. He had promised other trips to the other five active Greenhouses and puzzled …Alaire asked something about the oddity.

"You keep saying six active …but from the outside, I count seven Greenhouses?"

"Oh the smallest Greenhouse is empty, it's used for storage …I think?" Neville replied

By the end of the tour Neville had saved Alaire from the Devil's Fork, but they had even nearly died laughing when a tickling tentacle plant attacked them as they passed it and Alaire spent almost fifteen minutes sneezing after sniffing a 'FeverFew' plant by accident.

"It had such – Achoo! – beautiful – Achoo! – flowers! Achoo! Why does it have to – Achoo! – be such a – Aaaachoo! – pain!"

"What time is it?" asked Alaire looking out at the Hogwarts grounds as she daintily wiped her nose for the twentieth time.

"Don't know. We've been here for awhile," said Neville shrugging. "Do you have to go somewhere?"

"I have to meet Harry by the lake after lunch."

Suddenly Neville felt his heart fall to his knees. 'Of course this girl was more interested in Harry than in me', he thought. Oh well.

"Are you all right?" Alaire asked him as she took his hand.

"Fine," Neville croaked out. "Why don't you go-on? I have some work to do in my study anyway."

"When am I going to see this famous study of yours, you said I could?" Alaire said smiling.

"No …I didn't!" Neville retorted without heat. "I promised to let you see the project I'm currently working on, and it's not ready yet. Besides …I'm not allowed to have student visitors to my study, it's against the rules." Neville sighed in regret as he opened the door to the greenhouse for her to leave. Going back to the window he watched as Alaire left the castle walked toward the lake.

Sighing again, he decided to go and check on his rose. It had been growing extremely well, though he couldn't exactly pinpoint a reason. Besides, a little voice said in his head, 'you'll be able to see Alaire by the lake from the study window'. Smiling lightly at the thought he headed up to the study.

OoOoOoOo

With a packed picnic basket lunch of sandwiches and pumpkin juice, Harry gathered his potion books and walked slowly down to the lake. He found that Alaire had preceded him and was waiting for him by the water. Alaire worn her warmest clothes but he could also see that she was shivering …already feeling the chill beginning to eat at her fingers and toes.

Harry spread a blanket her had brought on the ground while Alaire unpacked the food a set of books, some parchment, and two quills. Alaire then out of her own school-bag set out two cups and a thermos of hot chocolate. Lastly, she pulled out a package of cookies. Harry looked at them with interest. "What are those?"

"Only some of the best cookies in the world …they're called; 'NutterButters'. Want one?" she asked.

"Yeah." Alaire took one out of the package then stopped and asked, "Not allergic to peanuts, are you?"

"Nope, only Death Eaters." Harry replied which made Alaire chuckled.

"Ok. Close your eyes and open your mouth." She said and Harry looked at her warily. "Don't you trust me?"

Harry swallowed. "Of course, I do," he said and timidly closed his eyes to a slit and open his mouth. Alaire placed the cookie in his mouth.

"I hope you like it." Harry bit down then chewed the cookie. There were no surprises, only peanut butter cookie. "Hmm. That's good. Don't let Ron know about this. He'll be pestering you for them all the time."

Alaire shook her head as she bit into her cookie. "Does that boy ever think about anything other than food and sex?"

Harry thought for a moment then responded; "Is there anything else?"

Alaire had to laugh. "That's such a stereotypical answer for a boy! However, for you I'd substitute food with; Quidditch and for Neville… plants. As for Seamus, I'd just delete the food part."

"If you'd like …I'll have a little chat with Seamus . . ."

"Don't you dare? I can handle that jerk all by myself. But if Seamus shows up one day with a black eye, you'll know I've run out of patience."

"You should ask Ginny about her bat-bogey hex." Harry said with a smile "Its really quiet effective."

"Who did she use it on …you?" Alaire asked with a chuckle.

"Oh …no! Draco Malfoy was on the receiving end last time she used it."

Alaire giggled as a mental image of the scene filled her mind. "Ah, the course of true love never runs smoothly."

"You better never let Ron hear you say that! I don't know who he'd kill first, you, Ginny, or Draco."

"You know …I've been meaning to ask you about Draco," Alaire said seriously. "He's a bit self-centered …and believes his manure doesn't stink …I grant you all that. He's also a stuck-up aristocratic …old-money snob …and we have loads of his kind of rich country-club types running around back-home. But really …what's so terribly evil about him? The mere sound of his name tends to push y'all into overdrive."

"His father is a Death Eater who has tried to kill us ...several times"

Alaire sat up shocked. "Excuse me …are you serious …tried to kill you?" She looked at Harry's grim face. "I'm missing something big here …aren't I?"

Harry stared out at the lake wishing this conversation didn't have to occur, with the weight of the world sitting heavily on his shoulders.

"Look, if it makes things easier …I know you're 'THE' Harry Potter." Alaire said softly. "Even in the States, we've heard what happened. But I only know what was reported in the papers and then in our History of Magic textbooks."

Harry shuddered. "I'm in the textbooks?"

"Afraid so …but it's not all that much. Just a little inset at the end of the book with a drawing of you as a baby."

Harry fell backward onto the blanket, rolled onto his stomach, and buried his face in the soft wool. "Ugh."

He felt Alaire touch his shoulder. "It's a cute picture; although it would have been better if they'd picked a picture when you had a diaper on, though. Showing off your …ahem, assets that early in life..."

Harry looked up horrified. "NO!" he began to squeal …but stopped abruptly when he saw Alaire trying so hard not to laugh. "You are so bad."

"Gotcha," Alaire said gleefully.

"All joking aside …am I really in your history books?" Harry asked in a whisper.

Alaire sobered up quickly. "Yeah, Harry, you are."

"Then you know my story." Harry said as he looked down at the blanket whose lint suddenly seemed far more interesting than the girl sitting beside him.

"Yeah …I know your story." Alaire replied softly.

"Well, I'll save you from asking," Harry said petulantly. He sat up and placed his face close to hers. "Here's the world famous Harry Potter lightning scar."

Alaire held her breath as she looked into Harry's green eyes for what seemed an eternity. Then, slowly, she looked up at his forehead. Her fingertips reached out to trace its shape. She looked back into his eyes. "May I?"

Harry could feel his insides turning to jelly. He managed a quick nod.

Alaire's fingertips traced the scar as lightly as possible then Alaire left her fingers on Harry's forehead and closed her eyes. Harry watched as Alaire's face contorted in pain. She removed her touch as a single tear fell down her face. "I'm so sorry, Harry. I had no idea."

"What did you just do, Alaire?" Alaire looked up at him more serious than he had ever seen her.

"You've got to promise not to tell anyone; only Dumbledore and two other professors know." Harry nodded cautiously. "I mean it, Harry. If this gets out, I'll never have a friend here at Hogwarts. I'll have to go home."

Now Harry was worried. He nodded again.

"Harry, I'm empathic." She watched as he furrowed his brows. "Not in some weird Star Trek way; but," she paused to gather her thoughts. "I'm just very sensitive to people's emotions especially negative ones. I could feel a lot of sadness from you. You were thinking of your past and, possibly, your future. It doesn't make you happy. I'm sorry."

Harry just looked at her. Alaire felt tears coming to her eyes. "I'm sorry. I understand. No one wants to be around someone like me." She started to grab her books to leave.

"Hang-on! Did I say that?"

"No. You don't have to …I've seen that look enough. One minute, you're friends and the next you're afraid that I'm going to feel …every little emotion you have. So you start acting different …holding your-self in check. Finally, you won't be able to take it anymore …you'll begin to outright hate-me …for what you see as an invasion of your privacy. And then …" Tears began to stream down her face. "And …that'll be it." She wiped her face and turned toward her books again.

"How often does that happen to you?" Harry asked

'(Silence)'.

"Is that why you're here?" He asked.

Alaire nodded. "I …I lost my best friend at home when she found out. We had been friends since we were in kindergarten together. When this 'gift' showed up a few years ago, I thought she'd help me deal with it when actually the opposite happened. Soon, no one in my school would come near me.

"I transferred to a school in South Carolina and even graduated there; but another bad-experience with a wizard from there ...ended-up ten thousand times worse than what had happened to me in New Orleans."

Harry watched as she hunched her shoulders over and hugged her knees.

"I thought about going to a Muggle university but I would have been so far behind in their studies that it didn't make sense", Alaire admitted sadly. "Mom had heard of Hogwarts though my aunt …Vincent's mom and my parents decided that a fresh-start in the U.K. would solve two problems. I could learned more control of my gift and advance my Healer ambitions at the same time. So here I am."

"Can you turn it off?"

"At first …not at all", Alaire admitted. "After some training …I got a-bit better. Now, I can block certain people …some of the time and if I concentrate really-hard …I can tune-out an entire room …depending on how many people are in it …and their emotional state. So naturally … sitting in the Great Hall has been a big challenge for me. Physical contact allows me to tune-in on an individual more sharply. So to sum-up, I'm still working very hard on controlling my 'gift'."

Harry looked at her quizzically.

"Alright then …I'll save YOU …the bother of asking. Yes, I have been tuning in to you. Even from this distance …I've felt kindness emanating off of you and some of the others. And," she paused and looked directly into his eyes. "You are feeling very curious right now as to whether or not, I've felt some of your 'more-than-kindness' thoughts."

Harry felt himself blush. "Um, well. That's not a bad thing …is it?"

"No, its not. It's a good thing." She replied

Silence fell between them. They sat staring at the lake for a very long time before Harry broke the silence. "Come here."

He patted the spot beside him. Reluctantly Alaire move up beside him. "So is this the real Alaire? The quiet-shy girl, who's afraid of losing a friend again?"

She nodded then smiled as Harry hugged her tight. "You know, it might just be nice to have someone know how I feel and not have to fight with them about it."

"Really?"

"Yeah… besides, we could all use an early-warning system as to when Snape or McGonagall are in a really, really bad mood."

Alaire sighed and put her head on Harry's shoulder. "Don't tell anyone, OK? People are just starting to trust me. I couldn't stand to be here if you-guys quit talking to me."

"Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."

They sat quietly together enjoying each other's comfort when Alaire broke the silence. "Don't you think we'd better at least look at the potion's book? Hermione might quiz me when we go inside."

With a laugh, Harry opened up the book closest to him, wrapped his cloak around them both, and began to read.

oooooo

Inside the castle, Neville stared out a window at the cuddling couple by the lake. He shook his head sadly as he thought. "Harry and Alaire …it had always been inevitable …really, for no bloke in Hogwarts really stood a chance against the chosen-one. It was common knowledge that all the girls in school want to be his girlfriend. Cho Chang was the first girl Harry had fancied but the silly-bint had blown her chance. Most thought Granger would get him, but I know better. How many times had Harry confided in me …when Ron wasn't in the room, of course …how bossy and annoying Granger was?"

"That Harry fancied Alaire that was ruddy-obvious. And why not, she was beautiful and fun to be around. But, when they officially become a couple …perhaps he could at least stay friends with her. He could be satisfied with that …couldn't he"? Neville told himself with a sigh as he examined his rose hybrid. "It was thriving beyond belief. It would be ready to test by Christmas". He gave it a smile as he walked out the door. "At least something in my life was going right".

OoOoOoOo

Chapter # 6

"Why are we using the Room of Requirements for studying?" Hermione Granger asked as she tapped her foot impatiently.

"You yourself said the common room and library are full of people. I know you like someplace quiet to study and that's where we're going," he said as he started walking back and forth in front of what would be the door. "Now, be quiet, please, so I can concentrate."

Ron thought about how the room should be filled full of well-organized books, a nice table and comfy chairs, and soft lighting — not so soft that she would expect something, but not as bright as the lights at the Quidditch World Cup. It should be somewhere where Hermione would feel comfortable and where she wouldn't get to suspicious about the real reason he had asked to study with her.

A minute later the door appeared. Quickly Ron peeked in to make sure everything was all right. During his third pass by the door, the image of Hermione in Yoga class had flitted through his mind. He did not want to have to explain why the Yoga classroom had appeared instead of a place to study. As he opened the door, he was glad to see that the study area was perfect. There was a cozy leather loveseat with a table just the right height in front of it. A fireplace on the back wall gave off …cheery warmth. Side tables held lamps that glowed softly in the darkness. Another light illuminated the work table. The only imperfection was a small yoga mat under the table. He prayed that she wouldn't take notice.

"I must say I am impressed Ron," Hermione said as she entered the room.

"Thank you," he said as he led her over to the table, before whispering under his breath. "Room of Requirements, get rid of that mat."

A second later, it was gone. Smiling, Ron sat down next to Hermione who had already opened a few of the books that she had brought with her.

"What subject do you want to start off with?" she asked.

Ron sighed. This was not going as he planned, but maybe they could study for awhile while he thought of what he was going to say. "Charms, I guess."

A half-hour later, Ron had not gotten a single thing done. His charms homework remained mostly untouched after he caught himself scribbling Hermione's name on them. He was just looking at her now, wondering how he should do this.

Hermione felt his gaze on her and lifted her head. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing," he said quickly.

"Are you stuck on a problem?" she asked grabbing for his parchment. "Let me see."

"No!' he exclaimed ripping the parchment out of her grasp. "That is . . . I don't really have a problem."

"Fine," she said slightly hurt. "Just don't try to get me to proof your answers for you then."

"I don't need you to proof-read everything I do 'Mione," he said shortly. "I can do some things myself, you know. I'm not stupid."

"I never said you were stupid."

"No, it's just implied."

"I don't think I can work anymore," she said with a tired sigh. She stood up and started to gather her books into a pile. "It's clear that we're just going to get into another row."

"No, we're not."

"Ron, we're already in one!" She gave him an exasperated and tired look. "I'm so tired of this," she muttered under her breath.

Ron cursed to himself as he stood up from the table. "Harry's right. I might as well imagine myself a noose, as well as this is going," he thought to himself. As soon as the thought was finished, the item appeared in the corner of the room catching Hermione's attention.

"Ron, why is there a noose hanging in the corner?" she asked cautiously.

"What?" he asked turning to look at it. He scowled. The room was mocking him. He just knew it. "Room of Requirements, get rid of that thing," he growled out.

"Ron, what is going on? We have studying to do!"

"I know we do. It's just that there is something important that I need to talk about with you."

"Everything is more important to you than studying. Wait, this isn't about Voldemort or Harry is it?" she said worried.

"No!" he exclaimed. "It's something else."

"Well? What is it?"

Ron looked at Hermione as she waited patiently for the answer. He could tell she was already agitated, and that wasn't good.

"Bloody hell," Ron thought to him-self, "this isn't what I had planned. I wish there was some way that I could tell Hermione exactly what I fell. A bloody banner proclaiming my love probably wouldn't even do it."

Unfortunately for Ron, the Room of Requirements was in a mischievous mood and read his thoughts. A moment later a banner appeared behind Ron adorned with ribbons and floating hearts reading

"Hermione, I fancy you load's …although I'm a bloody-idiot most of the time. I hope you'll look past that. Love …Ron."

Hermione's eyes grew wide as she read the sign behind Ron. Ron was still looking down at the floor trying to come up with something to say to her.

"Is this a joke?" Hermione asked harshly trying to not let the tears drop that were forming in her eyes.

"What?" asked Ron confused as he looked up at her.

"I should have known," Hermione said trying not to sob as she gathered up her books. "Here I thought …well, it isn't important what I thought. All that matters is that you brought me up here to play some stupid, asinine prank on me Ronald Weasley! How could you!"

"Mione," Ron began as he reached for her, completely clueless to the banner behind him.

"That's not my name …damn-you," she shouted. I really don't know why I even bother with you, Ron Weasley," Hermione said, her voice cracking.

Ron put his hand on Hermione's wrist to halt her. He placed her books back on the table.

Hermione continued to look down, her hair covering her face. Slowly, Ron placed his hand under her chin and pulled her face up to his. He felt his heart ache as he saw a trail of tears running down her cheeks. Putting his hand on the side of her face, he rubbed his thumb over her cheekbone.

"Mione, I am not pulling a prank on you," he said softly as he wiped a tear off her cheek.

"Then what are you doing Ron? What exactly are you doing?" she asked timidly looking up at him.

"It's just …I just …you see the thing is …ah, bloody hell," he said frustrated before he brought his lips down to hers. It only last a few seconds as he felt Hermione tense up before him.

He broke the kiss and stood back. Ron's face scrunched up as he held his breath completely prepared for the smack he was certain Hermione would deliver. Still squinting, he tried to open one of his eyes to find Hermione looking at him in an expression that was part astonishment, part amusement, and part anxiousness.

"Why?" she asked softly.

Ron's shoulders sagged as he felt a heavy pressure on his chest. He had just completely messed everything up between him and Hermione. "This was all a bad idea," he thought to himself.

"I just thought …but I guess I was wrong," he said, before anger flashed in his eyes and he raised his voice. "Just forget it ever happened. - - I should have known better. - - You deserve someone far better than just me. - - Just go. - - Go write Vicky and tell him how pathetic it was when I tried to tell you how much I love you."

"Ron Weasley, you are a bloody-idiot," she snapped before grabbing the back of his neck and pulling him toward her, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss which stopped only when they had to breathe. "I love you too," Hermione said, slightly out of breath.

"Wow," he said before he could stop himself.

A blush crept up in Hermione's cheeks, "Thank you."

"'Mione, the Halloween Ball's coming up and I don't want what happened at fourth year to happen again. - - I don't want you to go with any bloke other than me. So would you …"

Another earth shattering kiss followed, where Ron was quite sure he would die a happy man if the world ended at that moment.

"Yes," she said with a smile.

"Merlin, I love you so much," he whispered out loud. "For a long time …you know."

"I know. - - I've been waiting and waiting to see if you felt the same way …I did."

"Um. - - For how long?" Ron asked in a timid voice.

"Well," Hermione stared at a button on Ron's shirt. "I sort-of liked you that year we had the Yule Ball and the competition and all that. But when we became Prefects, we got to spend so much more time together. Then I knew …that I really-really liked you. I guess I've loved you since then." She looked up with a shy smile. "It seemed so natural to love you that I couldn't tell you exactly when it started." She looked down surprised at the romantic words that had come out of her mouth. She had to stop reading Ginny's romance novels.

"Really? - - Oh wow." Ron cleared his throat then took a courageous leap. "It's the same way with me. I didn't want to risk our friendship …because I didn't think that you could ever feel the same way about me."

"What made you change your mind and bring me here?"

Visions of Hermione eating pie while leading the Yoga class …floated in his memory. He quickly dampened them before the room was flooded with apple pies and yoga mats.

"I . . . I guess I just did." He looked down at her beaming face. "The feelings just grew too strong."

"I know," she said with a giggle. "The banner was a bit much, though."

Ron turned to look behind him, wondering what banner she was talking about. When he saw it, his face turned slightly red and he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Bloody-room," he muttered smiling as he turned around again …took Hermione gently into his arms and began to snog 'his' bookworm …utterly senseless.

Kissing led to touching …at first with reluctant hesitation …which soon faded under the encouraging moans of response from Hermione …still all in all …Ron exploration of his new girlfriends body would have remained relative chaste for a first date …had not Hermione due too her own too long suppressed sexual frustration …decided to turn up the heat a major notch …by reaching down and boldly stroking the length of Ron's now rampant erection.

After that Ron lost all rational thought, however luckily for him, his surprisingly randy new girlfriend didn't object at all to Ron expressing in physical terms …years of repressed feelings.

OoOoOoOo

Chapter 7

The fire in the hearth in the Gryffindor common room crackled merrily as a handful of students sat doing homework and talking. There weren't many left awake at this late hour, but a lucky few were able to witness the entrance of Ron and Hermione walking into the room hand-in-hand. The young couples clothing was in a state of serious disarray …buttons done up in the wrong order - as if the clothing had been put on in great haste. Hermione hair was mussed beyond anything previously seen on the appearance perfectionist and last but not least …there was a light scent of something burnt that followed the pair into the common room.

Laughing softly, Hermione was trying to pat down her hair. "I don't believe that my hair almost caught on fire," she giggled.

"I guess that's what happens when the two people in the room imagine fireworks at the same time," said Ron his ears turning a slight tinge of pink. "The whole room gets filled with the bloody things."

"Not the WHOLE room, Ron," Hermione teased.

Ron's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets as he began to stutter, "I swear I didn't …I wasn't …"

"I believe you, Ron," Hermione said putting a hand on his shoulder and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I'm off to bed now …pleasant dreams."

"If they are of you, they certainly will be," he replied smugly as he reached up with one hand …gently cupped her chin gave her a slow passion filled kiss on the lips, before stepping back to watch as Hermione literally skipped up the stairway to the girls dormitory.

With a smile that was plastered on his face, perhaps permanently, Ron sat down at the table where Harry, Neville, and Alaire sat …pretending to work on potions homework.

"I take it that went well," Harry said fighting a smile, without looking up from his textbook.

"Bloody brilliantly," Ron muttered literally beaming with Happiness

"So you and Hermione aren't going to deny that you are a couple anymore, right?" Alaire asked.

Ron just continued to grin big …while nodding.

"So, what did she mean fireworks weren't the only thing in the room?" Alaire said curiously.

Ron's smile abruptly vanished as his face turned beet red. "I swear …it wasn't my doing! I didn't think of anything else but Mione and fireworks when she kissed me."

"That didn't answer my question." Alaire said short tempered, "what kind of room was this?"

Harry interrupted. "There's a special room here that will kind of read your mind and decorate itself the way you want or, rather, the way it thinks you should have it."

"You have to be really careful with that Bloody-room," Ron commented dryly. "Not the place to take a bird on a date …that's plain."

"Ron, answer the damn question right now," Alaire threatened clearly irritated.

"Itwasabed," Ron said really fast.

Harry eyes went wide as he started coughing while his best-mate turned dark-red. Neville choked on the pumpkin juice that he had just taken a drink of while Alaire just shook her head.

"Hmmm. Well …maybe Hermione was the one imagining that," Alaire suggested.

This caused Ron's jaw to drop, and he began to open and close his mouth like a fish.

"She ...that's...Ah, no-way!" He said.

Alaire raised a knowing eyebrow and just shrugged, while Ron sputtered on for a bit.

"So we're not going to have to listen to your rows anymore?" Neville asked hopefully.

Ron wasn't even listening. His goofy grin had returned to his face and as he leaned back in his chair his arms slipped behind his head.

Seamus came over and waved a hand within inches of the front of Ron's face which didn't even phase his trance. "He's a total-goner. I think that brainy-bird broke him …and if I didn't know better …because Granger would hex his bits-off for even suggesting it. I would say they just shagged …That the only possible conclusion for the expression on his face," he said.

"Don't be so sure Finnegan;" Alaire said with a knowing smile, "Librarian types like Granger are often secretly …very sexually repressed nymphomaniacs. She could be a total wanton behind closed doors."

Harry holding-up both his hands in surrender then said. "The mental image you both just gave me …is going to haunt-my dreams for years to come."

"Well, perhaps Alaire has a point; Harry …or didn't you notice? …that Ron's is only wearing one sock and his fly is undone …besides - since when does Ron forgo wearing underwear?" Seamus pointed out with a chuckle.

"For Merlin's sake, Ron, zip-up." Harry said short-tempered; as he glanced down and saw red-pubic hair poking out of Ron's open fly.

"Speaking of perverted mental images," Seamus said abruptly changing subjects …licking his lips as he glared at Alaire …mentally undressing the girl. "What lovely American movie are we looking forward to this Saturday? Same sort of virgin-boy loses cherry movie like the last one?"

"I realize your twisted perverted mind resides in the gutter, but no. McGonagall turned down one of my first movie suggestions for being inappropriate. So we'll be watching my second choice."

"And that is?"

"Grease."

"I've heard of that one," Harry said in a surprised tone.

"Pretty tame, if you ask me," said Seamus. "What was the movie McGonagall turned down?"

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show," Alaire declared in a dead-pan tone.

Now Seamus stared at her gob-smacked and then started coughing. "Don't tell me you actually had the stones to ask that old-bird to let us see that movie!"

"I did. It's considered a cult classic in America and totally appropriate for the Halloween season. We watched it every year back in New Orleans.," Alaire said crossing her arms. Neville and Harry were clueless as to what was so bad about the film. "There are midnight showings all over and people come out in costumes to watch it. I guess Britain's just too stuffy."

"I've been to that picture-show, thank you very much, but I had to sneak out of my house to see it. So you're telling me that your parents saw you dressed up like Magenta and let you out of the house", Seamus said skeptically. "Although I must say …I would like very much to see some female-members of Gryffindor house dressed-up like Magenta or Janet."

His eyes wandered over to the remaining girls in the room mentally undressing any girl older than fourteen. Alaire glared at him unappreciatively when he looked at her.

"What's that movie about anyway?" Neville asked confused. "Growing up in the wizard world, I think I missed out on it."

"I've never actually seen it either," Harry confessed.

"Fine. I'll tell you two, but only if you'll both go to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow."

"Both of us?" Neville asked more than a bit confused. After what he had seen …Harry and Alaire down at the lake, he though the chosen-one had won.

"Yes."

"What could you want in Hogsmeade that would possibly involve me?" asked Neville puzzled.

"I need some potion ingredients for one thing and I also heard there was a commercial greenhouse in the village. I thought you two were tutoring me". Alaire pouted for a moment. "Plus, I need some winter robes before I freeze to death."

"She needs someone to hold her purse for her," snickered Seamus. Alaire, Harry and Neville shot him nasty glares. Ron simply continued to stare out in space with a dazed look and a smile on his face.

"All right we'll go," Harry said. "Don't know about shopping, though."

"Sure, I guess. I'd love to go to the greenhouse with you," Neville said before nervously asking, "I really don't have to hold your purse, do I?"

"Fine," Alaire pouted …gathering up her books. "Don't come. I'll find someone else to go with me. I'm sure my cousin, Vinnie, would be more than happy to go with me. Maybe, he can introduce me to a cute Slytherin who won't mind watching me try on some new lingerie!"

"No!" the boys chorused together then gave each other odd looks.

"I'll be happy to go with you, Alaire. I need a new winter jumper from Madame Malkin's myself," commented Neville. "I forgot my old one and I don't want to write Gram about it," he added sheepishly.

"I'll go, too," Harry added with a nod. "I need new socks."

"Ooohkay." Alaire looked from one boy to another sensing the budding jealousy between them and taking an evil pleasure in the rivalry. "But just to be fair, Harry, you can hold my purse on the way to Hogsmeade and, Neville; you can hold it on the way back."

She gave them the sweetest, most sarcastic smile she could. "By the way, the Rocky Horror Picture Show… the movie's about sweet transvestites from transsexual Transylvania." Neville and Harry's jaws dropped to the table as they watched Alaire make her way up the stairs to the girls' dormitory. Only after a few moments of shock were they able to form sentences.

"Was she joking?" Harry asked turning to Seamus.

"No, mate, she wasn't," the Irishman replied.

"Ha, ha. I get it now! - - Holding her purse and transvestites …Ha, ha …oh that's rich!" Ron laughed having woken from his stupor long enough to chuckle at his roommates predicament. His riotous amusement earned him a thorough pummeling from them both.

Alaire stomped up the stairs. What was it with men and shopping anyway? She had half a mind to really try on some lingerie and make them suffer. She continued to rant to herself about it until she heard someone calling her name from up the stairs.

"Alaire," Ginny Weasley said motioning for the older girl to come over to her.

"What is it, Gin?"

"You have got to see Hermione. If I didn't know better I'd swear she has been inhaling some illegal potions down in the dungeons by the smile on her face."

"Speaking of the dungeons; how is peroxide-boy anyway?"

"He's not as anal as everyone thinks …full of him-self certainly …but he's not a Death Eater like his dad or I wouldn't be giving him the time of day.

"Hermione says he's a pure-blood bigot" Alaire pointed out.

"Yeah …well he is …to a point, but he's not half as bad as his parents. Besides …I'm working on that prejudice in him. He's seen with his own eyes how bigotry gets in the way of important opportunities in life …like being with me.

"Become more tolerant or lose you," Alaire said with a wicked smile.

"Exactly …he's had more 'Fun' with me than any Slytherin snake he's ever dated …He tells me that constantly. I'm also the first girl that made him laugh. Naturally …he wants in my knickers, like any bloke …but to his credit the three date rule has come and gone, and he's still with me …even though all he's gotten from me is the occasional grope and a snog. I refuse to be nothing more than a notch on his bedpost and he knows it. Not getting any from me has him currently out of his perverted little mind, but outer-wise he's fine," she huffed as she led Alaire up the head girl's staircase.

"He's been faithful?"

"As far as I know, yes", Ginny said with a smirk, "And as Vinnie has been told by me; personally …that he's next in queue with me …when or if he can prove any romantic indiscretion on Draco's part. Up to now my sexually frustrated Slytherin Boyfriend has been careful to not cheat on me."

"Does Draco know that my cousin is spying on him?"

"Nope,"

"Wise move," Alaire said. "How long are you going to make him suffer?"

"Until he proves that what he feels for me is loads more than just lust." Ginny said in a deeply serious tone. "Merlin knows he's getting really frustrated, his banter is becoming thick with sexual innuendo."

"What he'd do?"

"He wants me to go to the Halloween Ball dressed as Lady Godiva."

Alaire emitted a choked laugh. "You'd be naked."

"Don't be daft. I'd be wearing a flesh colored body suit. But it would be a skin tight one and he really likes that idea."

"What would he be?"

"He wants to be the horse."

"Lady Godiva's horse?" Hermione asked amused.

"Yes, I told him that it would be appropriate since most people think of him as a horse's-ass!" Ginny replied with a snort.

"That'd certainly be interesting," Alaire said with a laugh as Ginny opened the door to Hermione's Head-girl bedroom.

OoOoOoOo

Inside the two girls beheld Hermione Jean Granger sitting on her bed staring out into space with a large grin on her face. She almost seemed to be glowing with happiness. Alaire shook her head when she saw her.

"Ron has the same look plastered on his face, as well."

"Come on, Hermione, spill it," Ginny said nudging the head girl. "What happened?"

"Ron told me he loved me," she sighed whole-heartedly.

"No news-flash there. I told you that …three years ago," Ginny teased.

"Then he kissed me or I kissed him. It doesn't matter anymore," Hermione sighed. "Ron loves me."

Ginny rolled her eyes, while Alaire suppressed a giggle.

"Where and when did this all happen?" Ginny asked smiling.

"He took me to the Room of Requirements to study tonight," Hermione sighed. "At least he said it was to study. But I think he actually had something else in mind," she said with a wicked smile. "You should have seen the room. It was perfect to study, except for the exercise mat on the floor. I distracted him halfway through the opening sequence and I guess for some reason our Yoga lesson slipped into his mind. I mean honestly, it's not as if I don't know that he's been following me to class."

"My brother's has always been obsessed when it comes to you." Ginny said pointing out the obvious.

"You don't think Ron told anyone else about the class, do you?" Hermione asked suddenly worried.

"Please," Alaire said. "I doubt that Ron would want to share the sight of you …all but naked in that skin-tight outfit you wear to yoga class …with anyone else. That boy loves you so much its frightening.

"Yes …I Know!" Hermione said blushing hard.

"Besides …Ron is too scared of losing you to someone better than himself …" Ginny began only to be interrupted.

"…It's the years of non-stop abuse of his self-worth by Fred and George that's made him doubt-himself," Hermione said becoming angry on Ron's behalf. "You're guilty of that too Ginevra."

"I know I am," Ginny admitted, "That's why I been encouraging you two to get together, you complete each other. He adores you too much to push you into something you're not ready for."

"So …do you think he has told anyone else" Hermione asked again blushing hard …in a suddenly desperate attempt to change the subject.

"No …I sure he hasn't," Alaire said in a confident tone. "That's not to say that one of the other girls has been followed to class like Ron has followed you. It's only a matter of time really …before our secret yoga class becomes public knowledge. When that finally happens …those stairs outside the yoga room will be filled with boys. I'm sure Ron's the only one watching, for otherwise we would have heard or seen them by now. It's not like boys are a quiet bunch, as a rule ...in the presence of scantily-clad ladies more like a herd of buffalo on speed …if you ask me."

"She's right," Ginny said nodding. "I'm pretty sure we would have heard Seamus or Jack self-combust sometime during the exercises."

"Now that we've settled that …I demand details …Ron took you to the room of requirement …I got that …allegedly to study and then what happened?" Ginny pressed eager to hear smut.

"Anyway, we studied for awhile and then we got into another row. Then this banner shows up proclaiming his total love for me. I'm not sure if he meant to do that or not and then… I think out of frustration; he just-up-and kissed me!" Hermione said excitedly as she fell back on her bed indescribably happily.

"So …do you have my brother's - 'boxers?' Or did you leave them behind during your rush to escape the fireworks?" Ginny asked in a dead-pan tone …cutting directly to the chase.

"GINNY!" Hermione screamed; sitting-up again abruptly… utterly horrified.

"What, knowing my brother as I do," Ginny replied calmly. "I'm certain that Ron didn't have the self-confidence to think he was going to get lucky on his first date with you. So the idea of him doing something sexually inappropriate with you, this soon... is frankly unthinkable. That means that our so-called prudish head-girl made the first move to get physical …right?"

"Ginny that's was cold. Does Draco know you're such a bad girl?" Alaire said fighting the urge to chuckle.

"I've given him enough hints to my inner-slut to keep him hooked," Ginny admitted casually with a wicked smile. "Alaire you have to understand one thing about me. I'm one of seven children, so you can take for granted that all we Weasleys have very-overactive sex drives.

"So …Hermione fess-up. Once you knew for sure that my brother loved you …" Ginny began

"…I take it you and Ron are going to Hogsmeade as a couple," Alaire interrupted, highly amused at the gob-smacked …dazed and hopelessly embarrassed Hermione.

"Yes, he's mine now, and I intend to keep him coming back …hungry for more of …what little I have to offer a man." Hermione admitted reluctantly her normal blustering self-confidence suddenly gone. "I don't have the figure to compete with the likes of Lavender, but what I lack in curves... I can compensate for with heartfelt enthusiasm.

"Don't be daft, Ron wasn't seduced by your body …its …who-you-are not what you look like that my brother fell-in-love with. Besides …the air-head Brown affair last year was done out of jealousy over your snogging-experience with Viktor Krum," Ginny pointed out harshly. "I was to blame for that delay in you two getting together last year and it's something I'll always regret. But getting back on track …how far did things go before the fireworks started?"

"Silence" was the reply.

"Maybe we should press this Ginny", Alaire said trying to defuse the situation.

"No, it's alright", Hermione said-finally, making up her mind to tell-all. "There are things I can't find in books, and I going to need loads of girl-advice on how to keep a romantic relationship going with your brother. To tell the truth …I could have easily lost my virginity tonight. I wanted to shag Ron …I wanted it badly, but he said no …which honestly confuses me to no end. I though boys couldn't stop themselves when a girl is actually arching for it …and I was …eager and willing.

"Yeah, that's normally how it works," Alaire said softly with a hint of bitterness.

"I just can stop thinking; that maybe …I came on to him too strong tonight; once I knew for-sure that he loved me all my normal inhibitions' …just vanished. Perhaps he thinks me to be some sort of Scarlett-woman …a sex-starved hussy." Hermione confessed really worried now that she had taken things too far.

Ginny just rolled her eyes. "Hermione …you silly-cow, there is no other woman in this school for my brother …but you. I betting that he said no …because he didn't want to rush you into something you might regret later. I sure he wanted to give you more time to decide if you really wanted to do-it …with him.

"But I do, I've hungered for his touch for so long," Hermione confessed her desire obvious.

"You don't understand," Ginny said candidly. "Your current randiness …is an attitude that is the complete opposite …to the general perception of you as an asexual …frigid bookworm with zero interest in sex," Ginny said bluntly.

"That's not true, just because I refused to dress like a slag doesn't mean I'm asexual!" Hermione protested in a pouting-tone, sounding hurt.

"To be honest," Alaire began somewhat embarrassed, "I also thought you to be a major prude when I first met you. Your Ron is a fine bit of beefcake and I would have aggressively-flirted with him my-self; that first night …if it hadn't been so painfully obvious - that he belongs; body-and-soul …exclusively to you. He's always been yours for the taking Hermione, too afraid of your possible rejection to make the first move."

"But he did, he found the courage tonight …somehow," Hermione said amazed.

"I have been telling you over-and-over that my brother has been in love with you since fourth-year, but you refused to believe me," Ginny said utterly exasperated. "But now that he has finally told you how he felt …you must understand this …Ron never envisioned you as one girlfriend among many …my brother has always wanted to marry you.

"However due to your perceived disinterest in him, romance in general and sex …I'm sure made him foresee a slow drawn-out courtship campaign over months if not years, just to get you to go-out with him," Ginny said in explanation.

"Marriage?" Hermione asked meekly… gob-smacked and more than a little frightened by the concept.

"If you're not serious about him, if you can't envision spending the rest of your life with him, it would be kinder in the long run …that you break his heart now rather than later," Ginny said in earnest. "You're everything to my brother; even Dean told me …when we were dating last year …that his dreams …are about you exclusively. All my other brothers had dozens of other girlfriends, with Ron it was just Lavender; briefly …out of jealousy-hurt and even then you still owned his heart.

"Why would Ron want to marry me, he can do better." Hermione asked …her long hidden self-doubt suddenly very evident …deeply afraid her dreams for Ron might not come true.

"Let's cut to the chase …shall we? Can you see yourself as Ron wife, by this time next year?" Ginny asked on pins and needles, scared senseless for her brother's sake.

"That soon?" Hermione asked going into a semi-daze of contentment just at the thought.

"Well in the next five years anyway." Alaire offered as a compromise.

"That's too much time, three years would be preferable, after all we need to get a place to live, acquire the right furniture and jobs to pay for it all." Hermione said thinking out-loud …her mind already fixated on the vision of a summer wedding at the Burrow.

Alaire waved a hand in front of a suddenly insanely smiling Hermione, to no effect. "She a goner …her mind is in romantic la-la land. From the look on her face I'd say you've just acquired a sister-in-law.

"Looks that way don't it?" Ginny said smiling back big at Alaire. "And before we start discussing possible names for Hermione's future first born, let's dial this time-turner back to the present. For example …which of your two suitors are you going to Hogsmeade with tomorrow morning?"

"Neville and Harry."

"Both of them? Ginny asked amazed. "What kind of game are you playing?"

"All's fair in love and war and I'm just keeping my options open?"

"This is going to be an interesting year," Ginny said smiling smugly.

OoOoOoOo

Chapter 8

The crisp early October air caused a chill to rush through Alaire as she tried to bundle herself up more tightly in her robes. It was time to go to Hogsmeade. She had read about the all-Wizarding village in her books in the states. People there viewed the town as "quaint", a term that Alaire personally hated. She wanted to see in person just what such a place was like.

In the States, witches and wizards lived alongside Muggle's just like anyone else with the exception of a few concentrations in such places as Salem, New Orleans, Coven, a small town just outside of Vancouver and Sedona. She had even heard of a Hogsmeade-like place in Southern California. She figured people there were so strange that a coven of a thousand witches could hold a convention and no one would bat an eye.

She pulled her robes tighter against the wind as she and Neville walked down toward the castle gates. He had surprisingly asked her if he could hold anything for her. Smirking, she had handed over her purse. She had purposely put a heavy weight spell on it as she handed it over. It was cruel, she knew, but in her option he 'deserved' it for not showing her his top-secret special project.

She looked up to see Harry hurrying toward them. He made his way toward Alaire, who still had on the shimmering robes she had worn during the welcoming feast.

"Sorry, I'm late," Harry said. "Ron had some questions about a place to eat in Hogsmeade. I think he wants to impress Hermione."

"That's quite all right. Neville's all ready decided to be a gentlemen and take my purse for me," Alaire said smiling. "Will you carry it for me on the way back, please?"

Harry looked over to see Neville struggling to hold a small brown purse. Gulping, Harry just nodded his head.

"Let's go to the Greenhouse first, then shopping and then to the Potion ingredients store," Alaire said lacing her arm through both of the boys and smiling smugly to herself. On her arms, she had two of the most charming and cute boys in the school. She knew that many of the girls of Hogwarts thought she was mental for paying any attention Neville at all.

However, she looked past his memory problems to see someone who was considerate, kind, and thoughtful. Besides, her mentor here at Hogwarts had told her not to underestimate someone like Neville, while her mom had also advised her to wary of the "quiet ones" and their emotional entanglements. Alaire naturally, could never back down from such a challenge.

Quite literally on the other hand was Harry …the polar-opposite to Neville. He was beyond cute, a great athlete, just smart enough, and extra self-confident. But even with all of these great attributes, he still managed to be nice and even humble ...at times. The two boys provided a nice contrast to each other.

The three kept up a running conversation about Quidditch, English football, American football, and American basketball all the way to Hogsmeade. Harry promised to teach Alaire the finer points of Quidditch before the next game.

"So let me get this straight. You climb on a broom, fly hundreds of feet up in the air, and chase a little golden ball. If you catch it, you win?"

Harry nodded.

"And while you're attempting to do this, someone is chucking big, heavy leather balls at you trying to knock you off your broom so that you fall to certain death?"

Harry laughed and nodded. Alaire turned to Neville. "And this is the most popular sport in Wizarding England?"

Neville nodded.

"I thought rugby was insane, but y'all with Quidditch beat that... hands-down? I prefer American basketball, myself." Alaire bemoaned

"Yeah, but you need to be tall to play that," Neville replied. "And with Quidditch, there's a position for almost anyone."

"Well, I look on basketball as an art, like ballet," Alaire retorted. "Not only does it take a certain height but a good player will have an incredible sense of balance, anticipation, and knowledge of exactly where the hoop is and his body in relation to the ball."

"Well, you can count me out, then!" Neville told her raising his hands in surrender. "I'm about as athletic as that rock." He pointed a large granite boulder. "As for the game of Quidditch itself, I can't – no …that's not true, I simply refuse …to fly on a broom."

"Hmm. That's a shame Neville, for I do want to learn to fly while I'm here. Those witches from up in Salem are always showing off at the conventions. It would be nice to be able to show them something for once."

Harry, who had been silent during Neville's self-deprecating speech, now piped up. "I could give you some lessons if Madame Hooch approves."

Alaire turned to Harry with a wickedly seductive smirk. "Harry Potter, are you offering to show me how to ride your broom?"

The question made Harry stop in his tracks while Neville dropped her purse in gob-smacked surprise. With a sigh, Alaire pointed her wand at the purse and canceled the weight spell under her breath. A half-moment later Alaire said a cleaning spell overly-loud to cover the weight removal spell, she then hoisted it easily in the air declaring the purse as good as new.

Totally ignoring Neville's now suddenly suspicious and rapidly growing resentful look, she put the purse over her shoulder and continued towards Hogsmeade at a brisk pace. Looking back at the boys standing in the lane behind her she said: "Coming, boys?"

It was smoldering hot when they arrived in the commercial greenhouse that sat just across the lane from the Hog-Heads Pub. Neville and Alaire quickly took off their robes. They had cooler clothes on underneath. Harry on the other hand had not planned on this and was sweating heavily in his thick, woolen Weasley jumper.

They had just finished quick tour of the first aisle when there was a knock on the window. Harry turned to see Dean waving to him. He opened the door letting the sweet cool air in and sighed in relief.

"There's a new broom at the Quidditch shop and a really new 3-D board for plays. You've got to see it, Harry," Dean said eagerly.

Harry was torn. He really wanted to see the new broom and strategy board at the Quidditch shop, but then he didn't want to leave Alaire in case she made good on her threat to find a handsome Slytherin instead of him to snog. However, at the same time Harry felt totally safe leaving Alaire with Neville alone …for Harry didn't think of him as a serious rival for her affections. He did see him as the kind of "dorm-mate" that he could leave a potential more than a friend with. Since Neville had never been more than that …to any girl in Hogwarts …as far as Harry knew.

"Go ahead, Harry," Alaire said from behind him. "I'm sure Neville will keep me company here. I'll go pick up some things at the clothing shop after this. Then we'll meet you at the Three Broomsticks in about two hours for Lunch."

Harry smiled. "Excellent," he said before dashing out of the greenhouse, not even saying goodbye in his eagerness to see the new broom.

"Look its okay …really. If you'd rather go with Harry to see the broom — "Neville began in a resigned tone.

"Nope," Alaire said taking his hand. "I'm right where I want to be. Now; what else is in this greenhouse?"

"Mints and other plants used to make butterbeer."

"Interesting. It's like the fixings for a moonshine-still."

"Sort of," Neville smiling as he looked at their interlaced hands.

"There's a surprise here for you too, but you have to close your eyes."

"Is this a good surprise?"

"Yes," he said making sure her eyes were closed and leading her by the hand further into the greenhouse.

"I can smell it! Honeysuckle!" Alaire exclaimed happily as she rushed over to the vines that cascaded down the corner of greenhouse. The vines were so thick they almost formed an alcove around them.

Neville watched as she seemed to dance in and out of the vines in a pixie-like way. He couldn't help but be enchanted at the way she twirled around the branches and how her laughter rang out around the greenhouse.

"Did you know this was here?" Alaire asked as her eyes danced with happiness.

Neville nodded. "It's actually an ingredient for a special brew of butterbeer. It's grown here for some brews the Three Broomsticks has."

They spent about half hour in the greenhouse before they decided to walk the one hundred feet to the Gladrags Wizard-Wear a clothing shop …located between the former Zonko joke shop and Scrivenshafts Quill shop.

"Why don't you try on jumpers and I'll try on robes and some other things," Alaire said as she grabbed a few winter robes from the racks along with some jumpers and other items. "We'll come out and show each other. I'll tell you what I think and you tell me what you think. Agreed?"

"All right," Neville said not knowing what to expect. His grandmother usually picked out his clothes. This "shopping" thing was new to him.

Alaire tried on the first winter robe which was a dark Gryffindor maroon with large gold buttons.

"I'm ready! Let's see you, Neville!"

Neville just mumbled something about him looking silly …before he exited the dressing room. Alaire felt her mouth go dry. Neville was wearing a cashmere jumper. She adored cashmere with a passion, and seeing him in it just nearly undid her.

"I look like banana," Neville complained tugging at the yellow jumper.

A nasty thought popped into Alaire's head and she tried not to say it out loud.

"I think you look delicious," she said, kicking herself for opening her mouth.

Neville turned pink, which clashed horribly with the jumper's color. "Maybe just a different color then," Neville said. "I've got a lot more in there just like it."

"Just like it?" Alaire asked hoping to keep the want out of her voice.

"Yeah."

"I love cashmere."

"That's all I have in here. Gran always says get the best if you can."

"Your Gran sounds like a very wise woman. Can I?" She lifted her hand to touch the soft yarn on his chest. "Mmmm. If I could have my wish, I would wear cashmere head to toe in the winter-time and buy sheets made of it for my bed."

Neville swallowed then backed away. "I-I got more in there. Should-should I try them on?"

"Yes, please, but first, how do you like this robe?" Neville eyed the maroon robe then looked at Alaire's face.

"It's okay but you might want something that matches your eyes."

Alaire smiled brightly at him. "Alright, I'll go try on another one."

They both turned away to change. Alaire came back in a light blue robe with silver buttons. Neville had changed into a navy blue cashmere turtleneck.

They stared at each other for a moment before Neville broke the silence, "You look great but everyone will think you belong in Ravenclaw."

Alaire sighed. "Ok …one more time. By the way, I like that sweater, I mean, jumper, but it covers-up too much."

She reached over to tug at the neck. She gave him a beguiling smile and returned to the dressing room. Neville stayed rooted to the spot thinking, "She's a tease, and she'll kill me if she keeps this up". Finally, he managed to return to the dressing room where he ripped off the offending article of clothing.

When they both returned, Alaire was wearing a ruby red robe with dark black buttons. It gave her cheeks a warm-glow and highlighted her strawberry blonde hair.

"That's the one!" Neville said without thinking.

"Well, it's nice to have a man who's not afraid of voicing his fashion opinions! Now, let me see that sweater."

Neville stuck his arms out and turned around in a circle. The latest sweater was purple with a v-neck. "Mmm. I like. Although, I have a thought; that turtleneck you had on earlier might come in handy sometimes."

Neville looked at her puzzled. Alaire gave him a knowing look.

"That high neck might come in handy if you have a hot date and you end up with hickies. You know …a love bite."

Neville turned bright red then dark red then went pale.

"It's your choice, though, but I highly recommend cashmere," she said rubbing her hand on his sleeve.

"I-I have another few to try on."

"I pulled a couple out for myself. I want your opinion since Ginny isn't here to help out and Hermione probably could care less."

She quickly changed and came back in a light blue cashmere jumper that matched her eyes perfectly. To Neville it seemed like the necklines of Alaire choice of sweater was very low thus exposing a dangerous amount of cleavage while the rest of the jumper was very form-fitting tight.

"Like it?"

Neville simply tried not to stare …then he nodded, turned about and without a word …returned to the dressing room.

Merlin, it was getting way too hot in here, Neville thought as he unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt to get more oxygen. It didn't help. Sighing, Neville pulled on another jumper.

This was scarlet and gold tweed, like the Gryffindor colors. Maybe this one would look better on him. The purple one had left him feeling like an overgrown grape.

Alaire had just took off the last jumper and went to grab another when noticed that one of the jumpers she had picked up was one she had meant to hand Neville. She just had on a sports bra and the exercise pants she was trying on. A wicked grin crossed her face as she thought "I'll just give him a taste of his own medicine - tempting me with his body in cashmere all day."

Unfortunately, fate had plans to play a trick on both of them and the two of them came out of the changing rooms at the same time.

"Here's this —"

"Neville, do you —"

The two of them bumped into each other falling on the floor.

Tumbling down on the floor, Neville looked up to see that Alaire was on top of him, wearing very, very little. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on breathing before he realized where approximately his hands were.

Alaire could feel a wide range of emotions flood through Neville, shock, surprise, a flicker of lust and a tidal wave of panic. Hoping to relieve his tension but very pleased she got her hands on him in cashmere, she teased "Well, I've never been in this position before. I believe your hand is quite well introduced to my …"

"I can't breathe," he wheezed, interrupting her as he rolled out from under her and staggered to the exit.

Hyperventilating, Neville opened the door to the shop and stumbled out into the snow to catch his breath.

"Great Merlin, I've killed him," Alaire panicked as she threw on her robes and rushed out of the shop to Neville's side. Kneeling down beside him, Alaire apologized profusely as Neville slowly gained control of his breathing.

"I really over did it," she said apologetically. "I didn't mean to."

"You (wheeze) should get back (wheeze) inside (wheeze) before you catch your death of cold," Neville sputtered out.

"I cast a warming charm on myself," Alaire said rubbing his back. "You've got to learn how to control your breathing and relax. Have you ever tried Yoga? A few of us have a workout on Sunday morning's and you could join us."

With that Neville took a sharp intake of breath and tried not to pass out.

OoOoOoOo

A half-hour later, after finishing purchasing a few items from the shop, Alaire helped Neville into Three Broomsticks. As soon as Neville and Alaire entered, they caught the attention of Harry, Ron, Hermione, Lavender, Seamus and Dean. Gingerly, she set him down onto a bar-stool and then rushed off to get him a Butterbeer.

"Are you all right mate?" Ron asked looking at Neville's expression.

Neville nodded yes, then no …and then just shrugged his shoulders.

"Do you need me to help you to the hospital wing?" Hermione asked.

"No," Neville sighed. "I'll be fine, eventually …I think."

"Good lord, man! What did she do to you?" Seamus asked very-amused.

Neville turned slightly pink. "I don't want to talk about it. I don't think I can think about it properly …even now."

Seamus eyebrow's shot-up, but he didn't say anything as Alaire rushed by him with a butterbeer. "Here you go, Neville," she said with concern still in her voice before sitting the butterbeer down in front of him. Neville proceeded to pick it up with a trembling hand and drank it down in one gulp.

"I am terrible sorry" Alaire said. "Next time I'll warn you before I pounce on you wearing little more than a sports bra and latex pants."

A sudden spurt of butterbeer flew across the room as Seamus began choking violently. Dean smacked his friend on the back several times trying to help him. Harry had turned a peculiar shade of red.

"That's quite all right. I just wasn't expecting it that's all," Neville said deeply embarrassed and overly shyly, trying hard not to look at the shocked faces of his friends. "I thought it was just winter robes you were trying on. I was just a bit shocked. I'll be all right now."

"Are you sure?" Alaire worried.

"Positive."

"All right then," Alaire sighed and as if dismissing him from her mind turned to Harry and in a bright cherry tone declared; "Ready to go?"

Harry threw back the rest of his butterbeer and jumped up from the table.

"Yeah, let's go."

"I'll see you later, Neville, and please think about my yoga suggestion."

Neville nodded and watched as Alaire and Harry left the pub. He ran an unsteady hand through his hair as he turned to order another butterbeer. "This American woman may turn out to be the death of him", he thought, "but what a way to go".

OoOoOoOo

Chapter 9

"What was that all about?" Harry asked glancing back at a white-faced Neville as the two of them left Three Broomsticks.

"Neville and I had a bit of an accident in the dressing rooms of 'Gladrags'. We kind of fell into each other half-dressed. It was my fault actually. Or maybe it was the cashmere's fault," she added with a smile. "It doesn't matter. I just hope he'll be all right."

"Cashmere?"

"Oh, I adore cashmere. It just feels so nice. I can't help but want to touch it." She gave Harry an appraising look. "Yeah, really odd, I know. It comes from when I was a little kid. Someone gave me a cashmere baby blanket." She grinned sheepishly. "I still have it; it's on my bed right now."

Harry just nodded his head while making a mental note to pick up something cashmere before he left Hogsmeade. 'I do need socks after all', he thought with boyish logic.

The trip to the potions ingredients store …one of only three such places in the entire U.K. went as well as could be expected. Alaire was fascinated by all the odd ingredients. She continually badgered Harry and the store attendant for the origins and properties of various bits and pieces. The storeowner was so impressed by her curiosity and knowledge of American equivalents to English ingredients that he gave her a large book on the topic …which Alaire promptly gave to Harry to lug around for her along with her other purchases. With a smile and many thanks, they finally left after two hours, both a bit giddy from all the vapors of the shop. Standing in front of the store, they took deep breaths to try and clear their foggy brains.

"What a cool place! My mother will love it! I couldn't believe all the stuff they have in there."

"What was that book you gave me?" Harry pointed to the bag he was now carrying.

"Oh, it's a book of comparative potions ingredients between Europe and north America. I'm sure Neville has a copy somewhere. For instance, we have wild honeysuckle in American love potions but over-here you use wild roses."

"Love potions? Aren't those …like …illegal?"

Alaire found herself chuckling, "No, silly. It's just that they won't work unless there is already some kind of feeling there." She gave him a shy smile and stepped close to him. "For instance, the first time I met Ron and Hermione, I could see that they had really deep-feelings for each other. I could have brewed a potion that would have let down the inhibitions that had been keeping them apart. Then all you need is a quiet, private place . . ."

Harry's mouth fell open. "You didn't?"

Alaire stepped closer to him. "No, I didn't. I didn't need to. Apparently some people have enough courage to say what they feel without any help. After-all, Gryffindor does stand for courage."

Looking down at Alaire in the middle of Hogsmeade at that moment, courage was the last thing Harry had. Weak knees …hell-yes! Butterflies in his stomach …certainly …Courage? Nope – Nada - Not one bit. Sensing this and with a mischievous smile, Alaire hooked her arm around his and steered them down the street to where a large crowd of excited students were milling about.

"Let's see what's going on," she said.

OoOoOoOo

What the fuss was about …was Fred and George new joke-shop in the old Zonko building. The two pranksters had opened another WWW shop in Hogsmeade during the last weeks of Summer-Hol, and with this being the first Hogsmeade weekend of the school term, the place was packed.

It never ceased to amaze Harry how much Fred and George's shops looked like the Burrow. There were no right angles anywhere in the building. It seemed to be held together by magic, spell-o-tape and hope, if nothing else. Every once in a while, a small explosion would happen and the chimney would burst forth with some sort of glittery powder.

"This looks like fun!" Alaire said grabbing Harry's arm and pulling him towards the shop.

"Yeah, fun," Harry said, with a sense of dread not knowing what pranks Fred and George may have in store for Ronniekins best-mate.

Entering the shop, Harry and Alaire had to dodge a 'Fillibuster firework' as it sprang out the door. Several third-years followed laughing as one of their members burst into feathers as the result of a canary cream.

"This place is a blast!" Alaire said happily as the chimney belched forth a cloud of blue sparkles.

"You have no idea."

"Oi, Harry!" yelled George from across the busy store.

"You know the owners?" Alaire asked.

"They're Ron's brothers."

"Here," Fred said tossing something at Harry …which he caught easily, "On the house!"

"What is it?" Harry yelled over the crowd.

"Try it! It's our newest creation." One of twins declared.

Harry examined the candy in his hand carefully. Alaire watched as he gently nudged it with his finger …as if he half-expecting the damn thing to explode.

"Honestly, don't you have any sense of adventure?" Alaire tisked as she snatched the candy out of Harry's hand, tore off the wrapper, and then popped it into her mouth.

"Not where Fred and George are concerned," he warned …too late, as he watched Alaire chew the sweet half-expecting her to turn blue or morph into a giant bow-truckle.

"Oh, you'll like this one, Harry," Fred said smiling big.

A second later, Alaire's spun around and with both hands aggressively pull Harry to her …next second … her lips connected with Harry's in a passionate kiss that blew all thoughts out of his head.

Everyone in the shop stopped what they were doing …to openly stare gob-smacked as the boy-who-lived was snogged senseless by the shameless American. For Harry this was heaven on earth …Kissing Cho had been nothing like this. In fact, nothing in the world could compare to this feeling, even flying. After a few moments of having his mouth devoured, with tongue. The prolonged …deep spit swapping kiss …abruptly ended. Alaire opened her eyes in shock, while Harry stood there in a stunned daze …trying to savor the memory of the earth shattering kiss.

"Ah, I'm so sorry ... I mean to say ...that was...I gotta go," Alaire said in a flustered voice before she turned and rushed out of the shop, leaving her bags behind with him. Harry barely heard her as he was trying to stop the world from spinning. When he was finally able to form a coherent thought, he sought out Fred and George. The twins were grinning from ear to ear from behind the counter.

"What in the bloody-hell was that?" Harry asked, still catching his breath.

"Passion pills'. They're part of a whole new-line of candies we've created to stir-up the love lives of Hogwarts students during the February 'Valentine' season. Those products are still in the testing stage …though. I mean it's not even Halloween yet, but we thought you …of all people …could use a mind-blowing snog."

"I never thought I'd say this, but Fred, George, thank you for letting me be your guinea pig."

"Do you want a sample-box of our other 'love-products', Harry?" George said smirking.

"Others?"

"Of course we've got others. There's the Pucker-up Pop, Lust-filled Lollies, Snicker-snogs," Fred explained, "Although; we're having a slight problem with the 'Bondage Bars'."

Harry's eyebrows shot up as he looked at the twins.

"Long story…"

"I don't even really want to know."

"Good choice," George answered before motioning out the window. "Don't you think you better catch-up with that bird of yours?"

"Uh, oh… yeah!" Grabbing his bags and Alaire's, Harry then flew out of the door.

"That went well. Don't you think, Forge?"

"Bloody brilliantly; Gred."

"Do you think we should have mentioned to Harry that we sent Ickle Ronniekins and his bookworm; a sample-package of Tantalizing Taffies, Snicker-snogs, Lust Lollies and the rest?"

"Best he not fuss about …that-lot. It's our duty as brothers …to see that Ickle-Ronniekins gets some action from the bookworm he fancies. Poor Harry has other issues …especially with such a pretty …well-build bird like that …to chase down," Fred replied.

"I never knew Harry fancied Yanks?"

"The way she looks …do you blame him?"

"I guess not."

OoOoOoOo

Harry searched the street for any sign of Alaire. Glancing up toward the Shrieking Shack, he thought he saw a glimpse of blue through the trees. Hoisting their numerous bags over his shoulder, he hurried toward the house.

He found Alaire sitting on a log staring into space and shaking her head. Her face had gone pale except for two bright spots on her cheeks.

"Alaire?" he asked cautiously.

She jumped up and whirled to face him. Words began to spill out. "Oh, Harry. I am so sorry. I don't know what came over me!"

"It's OK."

"One moment, I was fine and the next I was . . ."

"No, really . . ."

"This has happened before . . ."

"Alaire, honestly, it wasn't your fault."

"But I attacked you like a sex starved mink in heat" Alaire lamented "I kissed you with wild abandon if front of everyone …and you hadn't ask me-out on a date yet …or anything . . ."

For a second, Harry thought that perhaps the only way to shut Alaire up was to kiss her again but seeing her anxious state, he decided against it. Instead, he put-down the bags and took her by the shoulders. He gave her a little shake as he said her name.

"Alaire! It was the candy you ate!"

"What?" She said and she stopped babbling for a moment.

"It was a rigged candy. That's what they do in there!"

"Rigged …candy?"

Harry nodded.

"Then it wasn't me?" She paused to catch her breath. "It wasn't my empathy gone wild?"

"No. Alaire, calm down and listen. First, right from the off …I do like you …I mean …I like you a lot," Harry found himself admitting, "and I'm sure that you never had any intention of snogging me senseless …in a public store …in the middle of Hogsmeade …surrounded by loads of gossiping students."

"Oh. Yeah …that is a bit out of character for me …isn't it," Alaire said before turning quiet. "Do you understand why I was worried? I thought I had lost control and that wouldn't be good," she said shaking her head. "I wouldn't be able to go anywhere alone with anyone. I couldn't even be in a crowded room with Seamus!" she added with a slight grin.

Harry could feel her relaxing but he kept his arms on her shoulders. She smiled at him and moved closer to him so that he couldn't help but hug her.

"Don't worry. The moment I see you kissing Seamus Finnegan", Harry whispered softly into her ear. "I'll know you're out of your mind."

They both began laughing softly and soon the awkward moment was over. Alaire raised her head to look at Harry and the playful look came back into her eyes. "So was it so bad …our first kiss?"

Harry swallowed hard. Why was it so hard to say what he felt? The kiss had been wonderful, one of the best things to happen to him in a very long while. But he found himself stammering out an answer. "N-No," he spluttered. "It was f-fine."

"Oh, just fine? Hmmm." Alaire stepped back out of his arms and gave him what he now recognized as her teasing look. "Well, next time I kiss you, Harry Potter, I will be doing so of my own free will and without any witnesses," She loudly declared as she reached over for the candy wrapper that Harry still clutched. Looking at the fine print she read in a whisper that only the two of them could hear;

"W.W.W. ltd. - 'Passion Pills' Candy (patent pending) – Guaranteed to create a dramatic snogging response in anyone with a pulse! - - Caution: Effects last for only …60 passion soaked seconds. After that …you're on your own!"

She walked back over to him and drew so close to his body …that their noses were touching and Harry could feel her soft breath on his cheek. Instinctively his arms wrapped around her waist as hers went around his neck in a semi-intimate embrace. Staring deeply into his eyes, she added once again in a boastfully-loud …Southern drawl. "Our next Kiss will be much more than merely 'fine'…ya-hear …I guarantee that!"

Now it was Harry's turn to blush. He stood rooted to the spot, unable to find the courage to kiss her again. Finally the moment passed and with an amused smile that made Harry wonder if she had been just being a tease …before he could figure-out what to do …Alaire had step back-out of intimacy range …she then held out her hand. "Now, shall we seek-out our friends and tell them what really happened …or would y'all prefer to let the rumor-mill go crazy …for awhile?"

With a smile, Harry took her hand and together they walked back towards the village and their friends.

Neither heard the sound of crunching leaves behind them or the soft thud of a bunch of honeysuckle fresh from the greenhouses being tossed as far as it could be thrown. With his Hogsmeade visit irreversibly ruined, Neville didn't go back to the village; instead he returned to the castle deeply depressed.

OoOoOoOo

Chapter 10

Word had spread quickly about the 'alleged' Passion Pill kiss before the pair had returned to the school. The two involved had tried to make it clear to their friends in the Gryffindor tower that nothing had happened by design. But when the incident brought them even closer as friends …their new found comfort with one another …seemed to throw into genuine-doubt their trick candy explanation.

Alaire also was impressed that Harry had not taken advantage of her and the situation; therefore, he had gained even more of her trust. Harry, on the other hand, was happy with the way Alaire's sense of humor had taken over. Part of him also admitted to truly enjoying the kiss, as well. As a result, Alaire and Harry began sharing private smiles, sitting extra close to each another during social times and especially at meals. Alaire began to lean in Harry's direction in the Great-Hall which meant she unintentionally; turned her back on Neville. They seemed engrossed in each others conversations while eating and were also joking with each other more often than they had before …the kiss.

This allegedly 'innocent' newfound closeness …did not go unnoticed by the Potter-watching fans of the boy-who-lived. To the Hogwarts rumor-mill in general and Neville specifically …Alaire and Harry seemed to be on the unshakable path to certain coupledom.

No one seemed to notice that they hadn't shared any public displays of affection beyond the occasional hug or pat on the back. However, the friendly hug they did share was therefore misinterpreted as an intimate embrace. Not even her closest friend; Ginny took-note that Alaire had been …outside of mealtimes …desperately trying to get Neville's into a conversation ever since that fateful day.

With the rumor-mill going hog-wild …as each attempt to speak to him failed, the distance between Alaire and Neville began to grow. Suddenly his place at her side at meals was taken over by Jack Sloper, the sixth year Gryffindor beater who had replace Fred in the spot on the house team. Jack's attempts to chat-up Alaire were pointedly ignored and she looked longingly toward were Neville now sat in virtual-exile from his peers; some twenty paces down the table, mingled in among the fifth-years and far closer to the entrance doors.

He didn't not ignore Alaire as a boy of less maturity would, but beyond casual greetings while passing in the hallway or walking through the common-room at night on the way to bed. Neville took pains to avoid the company of the Potter 'inner-click' of Ron, Hermione, Alaire and Harry. Nor did he set with the Potter 'outer-click' of Seamus, Jack, Lavender, Dean and Parvati. Once again the botanist felt like an social-outcast among his age-mates, preferring to spend his free-time either in the school Greenhouses' offering homework help to all comers or entrenched in his private study.

The gossips in the Castle that had loudly theorized that the American had used the notoriously-gullible Longbottom to win Harry's heart …where now openly bragging of their insightfulness to anyone who would listen. Soon …everyone in Hogwarts …even the teachers …simply made assumptions based on those rumors …even though the reality was quite different.

As a result of the generally accepted perception …many a boy had given Harry a pat on the back and muttered, "Way to go!" while Alaire found more than one girl staring daggers of pure envy at her. Alaire and Harry had to put up with the carnal innuendo jokes from Seamus and the occasional vulgar cat-calls out of Malfoy …which was usually cut short by a slap on the back of the head by a disgusted Ginny.

For a solid week after the infamous Hogsmeade kiss …everyone took for granted that they were a romantic item. Even the 'Daily Prophet' hinted in a front-page article that the boy-who-lived was now romantically involved with an unnamed American witch.

Unable to disprove the perception of their peers …in the end, Alaire and Harry simply agreed to put on brave faces and use their sense of humor to wade through the maelstrom of erroneous gossip. In fact Harry's stock response became, "It was either kiss Alaire …or Fred Weasley and Alaire had-on the better lipstick." Alaire would simply smile and say, "Kiss Harry Potter? Ugh! Only a 'Passion Pill' could make me do that."

But no matter what they said …no-one believed them and so a difficult week passed by.

OoOoOoOo

As the following Friday couldn't be the start of another Hogsmeade weekend …that meant it was movie night on Saturday in the common-room and as the older Gryffindor's had gathered in, everyone was surprised to see one person - in particular - …enter carrying a handful of snacks.

"I don't believe it," Ron said turning to look at Hermione as she filled a bowl with popcorn. "You're actually watching a movie with us mere mortals?"

"THIS is a good film Ron," Hermione said happily as she maneuvered her way over to the couch to sit by him. "Not like those idiotic ones you normally select. Honestly, if I see one more Mr. Bean episode, I will scream."

Ron started to argue with her, but thought better of it. A devilish smirk crossed his features as he reached a hand up and tugged on Hermione's wrist causing her to land in his lap.

"Ron!"

"Just making a seat available for someone else, Mione," he said happily giving her a peck on the lips.

Alaire shook her head at the whole scene. She was sitting on an extra-large denim beanbag chair beside the couch. Next to her sitting on the floor at her feet was Harry having deliberately sat as far away as possible from Hermione and Ron, while Seamus and Dean were sitting on the opposite side of the room in large comfy chairs. The rest of Gryffindor house scattered in-between.

Alaire POV OoOoOoOo

Way in the back of the room …deliberately all-by-himself …next to the portal hole as if in self-imposed quarantine sat an unhappy Neville Francis Longbottom.

Looking over at Neville, Alaire sighed. He had been taking pains to avoid her since the 'Kiss'. He seemed to rush out every time they were in the same room for longer than a few moments. Alaire didn't have to be an empath to know that Neville had heard the rumors about being used to get Harry and she didn't have to touch him to sense his pain, if was plain as day on his face.

Ginny had told Alaire privately; that when she had cornered Neville on the subject of the kiss …he had declared with false-bravado that …"the best man had won and he wished Harry and her …the best of Luck". But Ginny hadn't believed a word of Neville's line of crap when he'd gone on and on to her about; "not wanting to be accused of poaching; by being alone with Potter's girl. He feels rejected Alaire… its just that plain and simple."

Neville had even suggested, through Ginny; that any future tutoring sessions in European-Herbology; be conducted by Alaire's new boyfriend… as the boy-that-lived was – undoubtedly - was as equally-skilled in Herbology as he was in Potions," a suggestion; that Alaire's best friend found hilarious.

Ginny told her friend bluntly; due to 'alleged' other-commitments of Neville's limited free-time and other issues. The botanist felt that Alaire's marks in that subject made tutoring not the necessity it had been at the beginning of term. "I can't really fault Neville for his attitude, Alaire …for he was just another victim of the generally accepted perception of the alleged Potter-Goodnight love-affair. - And just so you know …your couple-like closeness with Harry these days …isn't doing squat; to dispel the public mindset that you are not 'Potter's girl."

Hearing this Alaire fully understood the hurt feelings that she could see on Neville's face from across the room. She also hated the way he felt around her whenever she was close enough to pick-up his emotions. Her empathic powers got waves of dread, aggravation, sadness and loneliness …all tainted with nearly overwhelming feelings of bitter-jealousy and failure. She could feel it pouring out of Neville in waves …very time they were in the room together …which wasn't very often, admittedly.

Her Hogwarts mentor was angry with her over the estrangement and in rather blunt terms told the American to; "fix-it… post-haste. Potter can't do-it for you, with him you're just wasting your time here, so get-back on task... at once." She really liked Neville and empathically she knew… beyond doubt that he liked her …in fact …far more deeply than Harry did and that's what she needed to heal. Actually …she had sensed it …his attraction to her was strong enough to be nearly overwhelming every time she found an excuse for a casual flesh contact and briefly managed to tune him in.

Alaire was breaking all the rules by doing it and she had promised her parents and her Hogwarts control instructor mentor …not to abuse her 'Gift'. But Neville's actions; his ...ever-so-proper; English gentleman-manners… of stepping out of the way… as any good loser should …was not only pure crap …it was also putting everything she came to England for at risk and becoming for Alaire; personally …really-really …frustrating.

Alaire had begun to deeply resent the silly gossip that was forcefully narrowing her choice of boyfriends down to one. She sensed Harry's lazy-smugness at getting a girl without any real effort, and it irritated her to no end… because Neville's bouts of flaring jealousy were unnecessary. With each casual touch of Neville's hand …her desire to set him straight about she felt about Harry …which wasn't at all as serious as everyone though …increased …however, Neville would not give her the chance to explain.

OoOoOoOo

"Harry," Alaire whispered leaning toward him. "Have you noticed Neville's been acting odd lately?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "To tell you the truth, he hasn't said five words to me in days. Every time I try to talk to him …he gives me a sour look and storms off in a huff …always with the same lame-excuse of attending to some special project he's working on. Ron says he overheard him mumbling under his breath the other day something about; 'tried of being the third wheel on someone-else's two wheel cart'. I guess he's bought into the Potter/Goodnight love-affair rubbish like everyone else," Harry said with an amused chuckle "Even Ron's assumes that we're …"

"…but you set him straight right away …didn't you?" Alaire interrupted with a hiss.

"Of course …for all the good it did." Harry replied in a semi-resigned tone.

"Enough is enough, Harry" Alaire said in an angry tone. "The more I think about it …the more I'm convinced that we have to 'Stage a public Breakup' to end this nonsense.

"Let's not be too hasty," Harry warned.

"You enjoy living a lie?" Alaire accused.

"It's not a complete lie …is it? I do like you," Harry pointed out sounding a-bit hurt. "Besides aren't we both benefiting from this? It's kept the lovesick 'fame-whores' around here that use to chase after me all the time at arm's length …for awhile, so being a kept-man has its perks."

"Oh I get it now; our rumor-based relationship has been nothing more than cover for you from female starker's." Alaire said feeling outraged …but suppressing any outward sign of it. "Well what about me? What do I get out of this?"

"Jack Sloper and Seamus Finnegan haven't tried their lame chat-up lines on you lately …now, have they?"

"So …I'm cover for you and you're cover for me, is that it?"

"If it isn't broke …don't fix it, I say," Harry said casually,

"Oh that's just swell, thanks-loads, Harry"

"Why do you want to end this... all of a sudden? You've said to me more than once …that there wasn't anyone here …that you've even remotely fancied. Haven't you've also told me that romantic entanglements have been nothing but trouble for you in the past? We share that trait in common you-know, love just complicates everything," Harry snarled as his temper flaring hotly, resenting greatly what fate had done to him.

"There isn't" Alaire lied, "but Neville's taken a huge step-back from our little trio and I miss his …herbology lessons.

"I could …"

"No Harry, Neville is the expert …everyone says so …He's also a friend …same as you.

"Go talk to him then", Harry said as he relaxed - for to him …Neville posed no threat.

"Has Ron ever been in Neville's private study?" Alaire asked curiously changing the subject.

"Nope, no-one has …not even Hermione has been in there. I know this to be true because after you brought it up last time …I went and asked her," Harry answered casually. "He claims there are plants in there that are too dangerous for the average bloke. Seamus says that Neville uses the place as a private love-nest …but that's pure rubbish. He's ruddy-invisible too all the girls here …and too ruddy-shy to put the moves on anyone".

Alaire resented the way Harry kept dismissing Neville's romantic potential ...at the same time she admitted that what Harry had said was based on particle of truth. Neville wasn't invisible to the Girls of Hogwarts… he had been instead; stereotyped into the big-brother role. Every girl Alaire spoke too thought Neville was kindhearted and the type to go the extra Kilometer to be helpful. He was just the kind of harmless big-brother type that a girl could seek-out with boyfriend problems.

No-one saw him as special …not one girl in school saw him as a potential boyfriend and that sad-truth made Alaire sigh. She hoped that Neville would stay after the movie. Maybe then she could talk to him about what was going on. The movie flicked on and soon everyone was enchanted, although a little thrown-off by some of the Muggle things in it. But some things, however, are universal.

OoOoOoOo

"Ron, you and the rest of the boys in the dormitory don't talk like that about us do you?" Hermione asked slyly. "You know, exaggerating."

"Nah. No. I'd never sing out-loud to other blokes about what happens between us 'Mione," he replied in an amused tone, while sneaking a glance at Harry who was snickering quietly. "Come on, it's a movie! Don't get ideas! Do you think guys really act like that?"

"Yes."

"Mione! What do you think we are? Slobbering idiots who walk around hoping for any glimpse of a girl's . . . well, you know . . ."

"Ron, shut-your-gob. You're giving away all our secrets!" Jack Sloper said with a laugh.

"Girls never have gab sessions about blokes either, do they, Alaire?" Seamus asked with his usual cynicism.

"We only meet to discuss how to do our make-up, the latest fashions, and how to avoid meeting you in a dark hallway."

At this, Harry and Dean lost it. The two enjoyed a good laugh while everyone else shushed them.

"Remind me to stay on your good side," Harry said as he wiped a tear from his eye.

"Loads of people say you already are," Alaire whispered back, her previous displeasure with him forgotten due to the happy mood she was in because of the movie.

"Well, it's a nice place to be," Harry replied with a smile as he moved closer to the bean-bag chair to sit even closer to Alaire. He felt her hand fall down onto his shoulders as he leaned his head gently against her right knee. Automatically she then leaned back toward him and although body-posture-wise they weren't 'technically' cuddling …the actual position of their bodies was close enough to what a romantically involved couple would do …to make the assumption of 'couple-cuddling' an easy conclusion to make by the others sitting in the dark watching them.

Harry and Alaire obvious to the additional ammunition that their sitting arrangement was giving to the rumor mill …sighed in contentment as they turned back to watch the movie. In the back of the dark common-room Neville saw what everyone else did and finally conceded that the struggle for the American girl's affection …was with certainly… over

A few minutes later, every-one …but Neville …began humming as John Travolta began the Grease Lightning scene. Dean Thomas and Colin Creevey began talking about painting flames on their broom-handles. It was a hit with everyone, especially Ron and Harry.

"Wicked! I want a car like that," Ron said.

"Yeah, me too!" Harry exclaimed. "It sure beats that Ford Anglia your father enchanted."

Hermione shook her head. "Ron, I do adore-you but I would never get into a car with you behind the wheel; especially with your singing."

"I'm an excellent driver," Ron argued softly. "And when have you heard me sing?"

"This coming from the man that crashed a car into the Whopping-Willow second year," said Hermione said scornfully ignoring his question.

"Who cares? Would everyone stop bickering so we can watch the rest of the movie!" snapped a very foul mood Neville as the movie continued.

The crowd quieted down until Alaire could hear Harry breathing quietly behind her. Then she heard a whispered conversation that made her jaw drop.

"So when did you hear me sing?" Ron asked

"You sing in the shower." Hermione replied

"Yeah I do," he admitted, "so when did you hear me sing in the shower?"

"Ummm."

"Mione Luv …you've been caught-out …so just tell me …when did you hear me singing in the shower?"

"When we were at the Burrow …this last summer-Hol," she admitted somewhat embarrassed.

Alaire was afraid to steal a glance behind but Harry's hand had suddenly stilled. She knew he was also listening closely.

"Hang on. You spied on me in the shower this summer?"

"No. I didn't spy. I didn't know you were in the shower and I accidentally …walked in … -"

Silence fell. Alaire could feel waves of embarrassment wash over her, followed quickly by uncertainty, then a tiny …tentative …lust.

"Sooooo… Did you look?"

Harry's hand tightened on Alaire's head until it hurt. She knew he was trying not to laugh. She carefully put her hand on his and loosened his grip.

"I'm not answering that Ron Weasley. Watch the movie."

"You did, didn't you?"

(Silence).

"Well?"

"Ron, your head is big enough without any extra comment from me."

Alaire risked a glance back and saw Ron's face break out in a huge grin as he arrogantly stretched his arms out with a sigh and said;

"Nuff-said; 'Mione, Nuff-said."

OoOoOoOo

All was quiet until the dance scenes. Soon everyone was trying to do the hand-jive. Some were failing miserably. The only people who could it properly were Dean, Seamus, and Alaire. Neville didn't even try. He simply watched the movie from the back of the room with a cold glassy stare.

"The sock-hop thingy sounds like a great idea though," Lavender Brown said as the movie ended. "We could do something like that just for the Gryffindor tower. Have everyone dress up like Muggle's and everything for Halloween."

"It does sound nice," Hermione said as she glared at Ron. "Maybe someone will not wait around to the last minute to ask me to go with them. I haven't even been asked to the Halloween celebration yet."

"What do you mean?" Ron sputtered. "You're going with me."

"I am?" Hermione questioned coyly. "Funny. I don't remember being asked."

"But I did, in the room-of-requirement …remember the banner?" Ron pleaded.

Hermione eyes went wide; she then blushed bright-red and shyly nodded her head

"Here's a thought …we could go as that couple in the movie. That Sandra-Dee person is a-bit like you 'Mione," Ron commented as the lights went up.

"I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or an insult," She retorted passionately.

"I bet you'd look 'hot' in that last outfit," He whispered in her ear. Hermione blushed again and then swatted Ron affectionately on the arm.

"You know, I'm wondering about your taste in movies, Alaire." Seamus comment from across the room. "First, its "American Pie" then "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and now, "Grease". I think you Yanks must be obsessed with movies about sex. Not that I really mind; of course."

"Oh please!" Alaire drawled out. "Things you Europeans watch are 100 times more explicit than what we have across the pond. I've seen things on PBS that you could never see on regular American television …"

Seamus raised an eyebrow. "For example?"

"Fine," Alaire puffed thinking. Finally a smirk crossed her face. "Take you historical movies for example like "I, Claudius" which has a full-on naked Roman orgy scene or "Queen Margot" who certainly enjoyed herself!"

As soon as the words 'Orgy' and 'Queen Margot' escaped Alaire's lips, Hermione turned red.

"You dog," Seamus said teasingly as he nudged Dean in the shoulder. "The telly is one of the many perks of being a half-blood. Going to the cinema on summer-hol is another. Watching movies in the dark with a bird is a great place for a snog-fest." He said while pointing dramatically with one finger at how closely Alaire was standing next to Harry.

OoOoOoOo

Neville who had heard enough romantic chit-chat for one night from the 'couples' in the common-room and feeling more of a loser than normal …muttered something bitterly to him-self about 'enough self-abuse for one night' at the back of the room, shoved his chair back, and excused himself.

Alaire just happened to glance in the direction of the portrait-hole in time to watch a silent and depressed looking Neville leave the common-room. She lingered for a few more minutes, half-listening to Ron and Hermione's conversation before she decided that this might be the best time to speak to Neville alone about what was bothering him.

"…Roman Orgy? Queen Margot?" Ron asked smirking. "And what exactly is that movie about 'Mione?"

"It's a historical depiction of a holy war that raged across Europe — you know the Catholics versus Protestants— set in Paris. It's educational with subtitles and everything," she said matter-of-factly trying to keep her blush to a minimum.

"Subtitles?" Ron asked.

"It's French with the written dialogue in English at the bottom of the screen."

"Speaking of bottoms," smirked Dean. "What your bird is neglecting to mention is that Queen Margot also was quite the lady of the night and didn't mind proving it to every bloke that she fancied. The movie shows her . . ."

A heated glare from Hermione suddenly silenced Dean. Ron all but got whiplash turning quickly to look at his girlfriend, as Alaire made her whispered excuses to a bemused Harry, leaving him to watch yet another episode of "Muggle-Dumb" starring Ron Weasley.

OoOoOoOo

Alaire was now determined to make peace with Neville or die trying. Darting down the dark hallways toward the grand staircase, she pause to search the moving staircases for movement and it took her a minute before she noticed dark robes descending the stairway to the fifth floor. The flickering of the torches lit Neville head briefly, letting Alaire know it was him.

She rushed down the stairs to find him, but he disappeared into the shadows before she caught up with him. Cursing under her breath, she walked the floor looking for any sign of Neville.

As she was peering off a balcony that dead-ended the short corridor, when she heard a hiss and looked down to see a very shabby, red-eyed Maine Coon cat. As she bent down to look at the cat better, two strong hands grabbed her and hauled her into a room behind her.

The last thing Alaire heard before the door to the room being closed behind her as her assailant cast a silencing charm.

OoOoOoOo

Chapter 11

"Let go of me …I resent being manhandled!" Alaire yelled franticly in near total panic …as her mind reliving the terror filled experience of sexual assault from two years ago. She struggled desperately against her unknown captor as he dragged her into what seemed to be an abandoned classroom.

"You didn't seem to mind before …Mrs. Potter" a voice she recognized as Neville's said as he let go of her wrists and stepped away from her. Alaire greatly relived …instantly began to calm down, spinning about as her heart rate slowed …with a stunned and angry expression on her face she looked up at Neville. He seemed to be very upset about something and she could tell that he was clearly trying to regain some control over himself. "Argus Filch was coming! That was his cat you saw outside. You should know that by now!

"I know all about Mrs. Norris …Neville", Alaire countered in an angry tone as she willed her heart to cease trying to bust out of her chest.

"I have special permission to be out after curfew …whereas you don't. Are you trying to outdo Fred and George record in collecting the most Detentions in a single term? Besides, you should be spending the waning hours this Saturday-evening snuggled in the arms of your boyfriend …instead of trying to spy on me." Neville said bitterly, but also …remarkably …more calmly

"First of all …and for your information, I deeply resent being called …Mrs. Potter especially when Harry is not my boyfriend, officially or in secret. Secondly; I know the real reason that you've been avoiding me since Hogsmeade! I have wanted to explain things to you but I haven't been able to say more than three words to you …without ten other people being in the same room," she said as she gingerly rubbed her arms where he had grabbed her. Neville had a far stronger grip than people gave him credit for.

Neville said nothing at first and Alaire suspected he was literally biting his tongue to avoid being thought of as an even bigger fool than he'd already suspected that he was. Finally, just to fill the silence Alaire changed the subject;

"Thanks for saving me from Filch, by the way …but that's no reason to manhandle me." Alaire said attempting to fill the awkward silence. The empath part of the American …could feel the embarrassment mixed with jealous-rage rushing through Neville. It began to seep into her being like a fog rolling across the floor. She tried as hard as she could to keep his emotions from overwhelming her own, though she was already feeling the exact same embarrassment that he was.

"Forgive me if I'm a-bit …premature with the title of Mrs. But in the six years I've known Harry you're the first bird to ever …all but climb into his lap in public," Neville said accusingly. "I touched you intimately …exactly once, and that was done-accidentally, so I can only imagine how delighted Harry must feel to have the 'privilege' …to so openly 'grope' …his very close …'friend' …so often during a public gathering."

SLAP… Neville felt his face slapped hard by Alaire. "How dare you imply…" she said outrage.

"Thank-you for reminding me of the inappropriateness of my remark …Ms Goodnight," Neville said with ice-cold formality a moment later …his whole body becoming ramrod stiff, "but if I spoke out-of-turn about the movie slap-and-tickle that I just bore witness too …then allow me to point out that the error of my perception concerning tonight's …Potter-Goodnight sideshow …was without doubt shared …by everyone who watched you two 'cuddle' tonight."

"I wish I knew where in the hell you're coming from!" she said her voice taking a rough edge as she tried not to shout.

"Don't act all innocent with me …Ms Goodnight. I know that everyone at Hogwarts considers me to be gullible to the extreme about girls; but I'm not totally stupid. All the rubbish you've both been spreading about some 'Passion pill' when I saw you cuddling in the street afterward …not five minutes later …chatting-up like lovers about your first kiss.

Alaire had the deer in the headlights expression on her face which prompted Neville to continue in his rant.

"I thought I'd bring you some honeysuckle as an apology …after that little escapade in Hogsmeade dressing rooms …and when I found you with Harry …what did I see …you were all over him?" Neville growled before pausing …to run his hands franticly through his hair …while backing-away from her even more …'take another step back Longbottom and don't forget to breath", he said to himself.

"In some ways I have been an easy bloke to fleece," He said a moment or two later to a openly stunned-speechless Alaire. "I spent all that time the library looking up stuff about the American-South and the Muggle culture that lives there. Cramming like crazy everything I could find on America before that Hogsmeade trip …just so I would be able to talk to you without feeling like a dupe." He ignored Alaire's sudden hurt expression and continued unabated.

"Do you think I'm the only one who has noticed your touchy-feely relationship with Potter… since the Joke-shop kiss? That we are all blind to the fact …that you haven't 'cuddled on movie-night' ...or hugged with equal enthusiasm; 'Dean, Seamus, Jack …or any of the other blokes from the other three Hogwarts Houses… with one-tenth the intensity that you have shown just tonight ...with Potter?

"You should hear some of the things being said about you. You know what how the other girls around here describe you? The ancients Saxons would call you a Jezebel. It's a colorful Biblical term. Here, in more modern Britain the term for girls like you …they're called …a cock-tease."

This time Neville was fully prepared for the strong second slap that cracked across his cheek. As Alaire felt like someone just jabbed a knife through the middle of her stomach.

"You have no right to judge me?" she said, nearly choking on a sob. "You don't know what happened . . ."

"Bullocks …Alaire, I saw what happened with my own two eyes. I may not have seen you kiss Harry in the Joke-shop …but I did see and heard what you did directly afterwards! You spent the whole morning flirting with me …then not twenty minutes later you threw yourself at Potter. And ever since that kiss …you've turned your back on me, suddenly I have nothing to say of interest to you at meals. I got the hint, and even Sloper can't get the time of day from you in my old seat. Because you've been stuck to Potter …like an extra appendage.

"From the day you arrived your behavior has been clearly over the top, but I chalked-up your wildness to being born a Yank. It took tonight's movie to make me finally realize that you've been behaving just like that Rizzo girl in the movie …playing two guys off one another. That game is over; thankfully, I yield the field of battle to the victor. Last Saturday at Hogsmeade, I saw with my own eyes the moment when you made your final choice. Does this little phase ring a bell?

"Our next Kiss will be much more than merely 'fine'…ya hear …I guarantee that!"

Alaire just continued to stare at Neville …utterly gob-smacked.

"There is no further reason for you to string poor pathetic Neville along …as an incentive to prompt Prince Charming-Potter into making his move. Do you know how often I've heard that explanation …not only from Slytherin's …but from my so-called friends as well? All's fair in love and War …where the ends justify the means?"

To fill the silence by Alaire's lack of response, Neville instinctively continued his rant.

"I mean honestly, who am I …or any bloke here …compared to the Chosen One? I was just a pawn in some sick girly-game to capture 'king' Potter. Well-done Ms Goodnight, you've won the game …Potter is yours," Neville growled in heated frustration. "I swear the only two people that treat me like I'm worth a grain of salt in this place …are Ginny and Luna. Why should I have expected a Yank… to be any different than Pansy Parkinson? After all, you are related to a Slytherin! So using people must be second nature to you."

For a moment, Alaire couldn't breathe. The raw hurt filled emotions coursing off Neville almost overcame her.

"You jerk!" Alaire screamed feeling a hot tear roll down her face. "You accuse me of being a …cock-teasing bitch, that manipulate guys …as a ploy to win-over," she paused gasping for air. "You think I would use you to get him. . ." She paused again pressing a hand against her throbbing temple. "The only reason I kissed Harry was because I ate some stupid candy in some joke shop! I didn't even know what I was doing - - and it meant nothing! Do you hear me? Nothing! If and when I do decide to kiss someone, it's going to mean something, not because some stupid Passion Pill forced me to do it!"

Neville nursed his cheek. He knew he had gone too far. His Gran always told him to be polite to women, but his temper - for once - had gotten the better of him. Still …he was hurting …and here she was …spewing the same old-rubbish that no-one in Hogwarts believed …about some pill making her do that?

"If you think I'm going to believe …that the only reason you kissed Harry was because of some stupid –"

He was cut short when Alaire shoved a wrapper into his hands. Looking down at it he saw the trademark WWW on the label, and immediately felt like a fool. He looked back up at her in shock.

"Read it!"

Neville found it difficult to speak. "W.W.W. ltd. Passion Pill . . ."

"I know that no-one here believes us. Everyone jumps to conclusions around here. But …You … You …" Alaire just shook her head as tears streaked down her cheeks, then turning she ran out the door.

"Bloody hell," Neville said as he took off after her. Panting he ran up the staircase toward the Gryffindor common room.

"Boy, that woman can move fast when she wants to", he thought to himself as he turned a corner where he caught a glimpse of her. Pushing him-self to run a little faster, he caught up with her. Wrapping his arms around her, he turned her around to face him.

"Alaire, look …I'm so sorry. You're right …I have no right to judge anything you do. Ask anyone and they'll tell you …I'm clumsy and stupid, with no clue when it comes to why women do what they do.

"I freely admit to being jealous of Harry, but then most blokes here are on some level or other. I also admit that I find you very attractive …but then again I'm not alone in thinking that either… just ask Sloper and Finnigan?

"But in my own defense …have you given any thought to the way you two interact with one another …like any involved couple does. Potter gets-away with murder here, and there are loads of girls that would do anything for half the attention he's been showering on you. You're also spot-on about the fact that I have no right to second-guess you. Whether-or-not you fancy somebody is none of my bloody-business." Neville said sincerely in way of apology.

"For six years, I've been a big brother to all the pretty-girls here. None of them flirted with me before you arrived… so I wasn't use to the playful-banter. I've clearly mistaken the attention you shown me …as being more serious than you intended. Being around such an outgoing-person like you; has made-me totally mental …it's just that simple. I've never met anyone like you before …I don't know how to react …it makes a total idiot of me."

"How could you say …what you said? I thought you were my friend."

"Merlin", Neville thought to himself, "why do all the girls here regard me as nothing more than a friend . . ."

Alaire pulled back to look-up at him. "You're right …you have no right to judge me, that's true. Since when," …Alaire interrupted herself and brought her voice down to a whisper as she brought her emotions under control and tuned-out Neville's feelings of overwhelming sadness and regret …from her mind. She looked around for a more secluded place to talk. Pulling Neville into an alcove under a set of stairs, she turned to face him.

"I know you're jealous of my extra-close relationship with Harry, and I know that everyone believes that I'm Potter's girl. We have both tried to tell people otherwise but …I can't force people to …" Alaire voice faded into silence. She stared at him urging him to say something, anything to indicate how he felt. She could feel it …but she wanted to hear it too.

Somewhere deep in the back of her rational mind, Alaire knew that her behavior with Harry had crossed the line and gone way beyond the limits of mere friendship. Ginny had told her repeatedly that her body language with Harry was sending the wrong message to anyone with eyes. But Alaire wasn't listening to her rational mind at that moment. Frustrated, and feeling more than a little hurt …Alaire lashed out with more heat than she intended,

"Harry and I are just friends – very close friends… I'll grant you that …but for now …just friends, maybe we will be more than friends …someday …I haven't made up my mind about that yet. Do you have a problem with that possible future? Or do I have to choose here and now …between the two people who have been the kindest to me since I arrived?" Again her threat was unanswered verbally and having tuned-him-out empathically …Alaire didn't sense the brutal-blow her more that friend's threat had been for Neville. To fill this second awkward silence she tried logic.

"Harry is a very close friend with Hermione and I don't see Ron trying to kill him or her."

Neville stared at a spot slightly above Alaire's right eyebrow as he tried to think of the proper response from a big brother-figure point-of-view. Looking at someone without looking them in the eye made conversations with certain people a-lot more bearable. He didn't want to see the disgust; the same… never more than a friend rejection… he'd seen in Ginny's eyes so long-ago.

However; that still left him with a problem, for the only thing that came to mind about the Hermione and Harry question was; "Hermione hasn't snuggled-up in Harry's lap as 'a friend' right in front of Ron …now has she?" Neville didn't give voice to this thought because it wouldn't have helped matters one iota. So instead as his depression deepened he said …nothing.

(Silence)

"Besides, I don't know why you think you have to compete with Harry anyway." Alaire said thinking of something else Ginny had told her. "Honestly, if you think you're going to start a pissing contest …in which I am the prize, you'd better think again."

Alaire felt Neville's despair deepen even further at this statement …and sensing from his facial expression alone that she might have gone too far …she decided to soften the blow. "And don't think it's because you wouldn't win."

Neville's head snapped up at this and then he; snorted …contemptuously.

"You don't believe me …do you?" Alaire declared.

"Again; Silence (…no sense in beating a dead horse)"

"Every single bloke here thinks they can't compete with the famous Boy-who-lived …I get that …alright? Universal fame and wealth always and without exception …trumps everything else," Alaire lamented. "But that's pure bull-crap; Neville …Harry doesn't own the key to every girl's Knickers in this place …especially mine. Slytherin girls all hate him …at least publicly. But this isn't about the girls that fancy Harry, this is about you.

Again Neville remain silent …his overwhelming disbelief plain as day on his face. Neville stood-there, as if in military attention awaiting the firing squad, thinking; 'I've apologized; she'd told me that I'll never be more than a friend. I've even given her the last word. Why prolong this… just scurry your way back to Potter and end my misery'

Alaire sensed him withdrawing emotionally… saw his eyes lose there sparkle and knew instinctively, that comparing any guy to Harry was a huge tactical mistake. 'Time for damage control' she said to herself.

"With that in mind I'll tell you what I've already told some other people. I like you …a-lot, Neville Longbottom. You're cute and you're smart in ways other people have no clue. You have a big heart and a great smile. If you just believed in yourself, none of this would have been a problem. You would have just laughed it off with Harry and me."

"You-you… don't understand how things work here. No-one beats Potter. I thought you were just …"

"... Just playing you …until I could get Harry," Alaire said interrupted him.

"Well …Yeah."

"Neville, the problem with people with low self-esteem is that they think of themselves as nobodies and no-one cares if a-nobody gets hurt." She paused. "That's a bad assumption for you to make, Neville… especially about me. You are somebody to me and I fully realize that my closeness to Harry has given the wrong impression to the dimwitted that he and I were or are a couple. At the moment …that's not true.

That stung Neville's pride. But he took being called dim it as best he could, thinking, 'At least Ginny didn't insult me when she dumped me'.

"People around here and their assumptions and gossip have the power to hurt my feelings …luckily I don't give a-shit about what most people think of me. Your assumptions about Harry and I …are important to me did it did hurt …very badly. I didn't deserve for you to ignore me for a week just because everyone else in this stupid place …thinks I'm shagging Potter's brains out. If you want to know if I'm somebody' girlfriend …the best way to find out is to ask me …directly."

"I'll keep that in mind in future," Neville retorted stiffly trying hard to be reasonable. "You were however… all but in his lap tonight, Alaire. You may not care what people think of what you do, but those same peoples perception of who you are is based on what they see. What kind of message were you sending to everyone who saw you and Harry tonight? Maybe body language is different in America … I don't claim to understand Yank Pissing matches over girls. But here in England cuddling in the dark during a movie is a means of marking territory.

We were …NOT CUDDLING!

Neville had no counter to this; not that she would believe …anyway; so instead, he just shrugged his shoulders in defeat as he said to himself.

"American birds were stubborn and mental,' he thought to himself. 'Alaire had been spot-on about one minor issue. I have always faded into the background by assuming that I didn't matter, its safer that way. Now here was a wonderful girl hinting that I have a remote …wild-card chance with her …which is frankly confusing the hell out of me.

"What kind of sick courtship-game was she playing here; she said she likes me (a-lot) …while at the same time hinting strongly; that she may become Harry's girlfriend in the semi-near future? Was she just keeping her options open when she just encouraged me to continue fighting for her affections …because she was genuinely undecided concerning whom she really fancied. Or…is it far more likely that; she is still using me as pretend-rival as a motivator to keep Potter interested?"

Now more confused than ever, Neville reluctantly acknowledged to him-self …that Alaire still held the all the trump cards.

"I'll just have to wait and see if she came after me tonight …to prevent me from steeping aside like a gentleman too soon for the perceived winner …or that she doesn't want to lose the thrill of two suitors. After all… a romantic triangle does have huge-perks for the single lady at the heart of it. Perhaps what she really fears is that without a rival …Potter would start taking her for granted.

"But honestly what choice do I have ...really. The hope of one shot in a million is better than nothing; she is going to make a fool out of me in the end… or the happiest bloke in Scotland, only time will tell. Until then …I'll play her game," Neville thought emotionally torn and didn't know whether to smile or cry. He looked up to see Alaire looking at him waiting patiently.

"Alaire, I wish to apologize yet-again for the Harry thing."

"And?"

Neville looked at her puzzled. "And-what? Hum. - - oh-yes …and I'm sorry I didn't come to you sooner with my suspicions. I should have trusted you since you're my friend". He mental winced at thought of never being anything more to her, but pushed-on anyway. "You have every right to smack me again or hex me. In fact …I'll give you my wand …straight-away so you can do it now," he said as he reached into his robe pocket for his wand.

"I'm not going to hex you Neville," Alaire said, with a slight smile on her mouth.

"You could. I've been a complete prat."

"No, you're not. Well, maybe you were a minute ago, but you're not now."

"Thank-you …all forgiven? He asked,"

"Yeah."

He surprised Alaire by pulling her into a tight hug. They would have stayed like that too, Neville thought, if that damned cat; Mrs. Norris, hadn't come by after a few minutes forcing them to go inside with the rest of their housemates.

OoOoOoOo

Chapter 12

The next week saw a return to relative normal for Hogwarts. Only two toilets exploded. Peeves even managed to dump a load of Fizzing Whizzbees into the under the dungeon pool. The Headless Hunt romped through Potions three times much to the chagrin of Professor Snape. While Harry continued his attempts to coach Alaire in English Potions. Neville and Alaire return to the greenhouses from the much delayed herbology tutorials, but all requests to visit his private study were still repeatedly refused.

When Alaire pouted about this Neville pointed out that none of his other 'friends' were allowed inside. Alaire very public 'non-couple' cuddling with Harry and their so-called non-lover Hugs continued unabated, she also continued to focus exclusively on Potter during meals and sit extra-close to him in the common-room. Saying one thing and acting another, didn't give Neville any motivation to challenge Sloper to get his seat back in the Great Hall. No other boy including Neville got anywhere near the same quantity of 'friendly' hugs that Harry received, or was flirted with half as often… but having accepted his role as spare wheel, Neville said nothing. When Ginny confronted him on the disparity, Neville would just shrug his shoulders and declare;

"Potter is just more high-maintance than I am …it's her choice …so just drop it."

"She's using you; Neville."

"Yes she is," was his curt reply

OoOoOoOo

Now that 'thing's' were somewhat back to normal for her …with two attentive boys at her beck and call. Alaire didn't take the proper notice that Harry was still getting the lion's share of her attention, although everyone else did. Neville remained distant and his tutoring sessions with her were far more formal now and took place only when she requested them forcefully. Her Hogwarts mentor repeated reminders of the plan were countered with Alaire's assertion that Neville didn't seem to mind all that much …her close friendship with Harry. So Alaire felt comfortable ignoring her control instructors' comments of 'wasting time' and Ginny's complaints of Longbottom mistreatment

On the following Saturday evening, a week and a day after their 'discussion', coming back into the common-room from another rare greenhouses tutoring session …Alaire and Neville were struck by an unusual sight. Everyone was in near hysterics from laughter, except for Hermione. She was red with anger and was shouting loudly at two identically tall red-heads who were trying their best not to break down laughing as well.

"You bloody-wankers! You fix this right now or I swear… " – Hermione fumed.

Neville was a bit shocked. He had never heard Hermione curse before, and it looked like she was just getting started. He wondered what in the world the twins had done now. Looking around, he noticed Ron wasn't there. He then started looking for a canary or any other animal that was out of place in the common room. Fortunately, he couldn't find anything

"What's going on?' Alaire asked Seamus, who was laughing so hard that he had developed a bad case of hiccups. The Irishman couldn't even get a word out. He just kept laughing, hiccupping, and shaking his head. Dean was in a similar shape. Alaire looked over at Harry whose face was a portrait of shock.

"Harry, what happened?" Alaire asked again moving over to him abandoning Neville at the door.

"Ron and Hermione had gone to an empty-classroom for a-bit of private revisiting. Apparently, Ron took some 'Honey-dukes' chocolates for snacks with him. The problem was that it turned out to be a valentine-day sample-basket from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes."

"The same guys who made that-that …kiss pill?"

"The same,"

"So you're saying …that there was more snogging than studying …what wrong with that?" Alaire asked anxiously but the question, however, was answered by Fred.

"Now, Hermione, it wasn't our fault."

Hermione snorted, "Do you take me for an idiot, Fred? Do you?"

"But, we didn't mean for a few; Bondage Bar's to get into that package of goodies we sent you two and we just snuck in here now …to retrieve them, actually. We had no idea that the two of you would actually sit down and eat it together. I mean, that's almost 'chummy' for you two."

"I don't really care how you rationalize it; GET HIM DOWN – RIGHT NOW!" Hermione's wand sprung out of nowhere into her hand. "I am the Head Girl! I cannot have my boyfriend hanging four feet above the floor …stuck to the wall of a classroom spread-eagle …like a map!"

"Guys can't get into the head-suite it's up in the Gryffindor girl's dorm," Alaire mentioned causally to Harry.

"Yes I Know, just like the Head-boy suite is currently in Ravenclaw, its location changes each year when new heads are appointed." Dean replied from nearby.

"The room of requirement must have been occupied by another couple tonight, otherwise Ron and Hermione wouldn't be using empty classrooms to …study?" Alaire smirked at Harry amused emphasis on the word study …as if Hermione needed privacy for her favorite pastime. She then glanced around the room with a smile on her face …to see who-else was enjoying the show and that's when she noticed that Neville was no longer by her side …instead he was standing alone up-against a far wall… keeping out of the way once again; whenever she came anywhere near Harry. Her smile faded at once, knowing he'd been doing that a lot lately, however, before she could gesture for him to join her conversation with Harry she was distracted by Hermione's continued shouting.

"He can't hang there all night!"

"Especially with a small rubber-ball strapped in his mouth …while wearing a form-fitting leather thong and cowboy chaps …although I'll admit the chains, shackles, nipple clips and leg-irons were a nice touch." Fred said smirking at the memory his brother current condition.

There was a loud roar of laughter from the others in the common-room when Ron's state of undress was revealed.

"Honestly, Miss Head-Girl …we're all aware that our Ickle-Ronniekins isn't the type of bloke …to suggest this kind of 'bondage' kinkiness," Fred declared too fearful of his safety …to laugh along with the others. "George and I really didn't expect the dominatrix side of your personality to come out until after your-wedding. - - - Of course, it's always the quiet ones,"

"Role-playing is a healthy aspect of any mature relationship …" Hermione began to explain feeling indescribably embarrassed …but and then paused. "You're not going to distract me with some off the topic tangent that's none of your business anyway; I want him down …NOW.

"You see, that's easier said than done," George tried to explain; finally realizing the seriousness of the situation …as he slowly began edging away from the irate witch. "The answer to getting him down has everything to do with your state of mind at the time the magic took hold."

"What my dear brother is trying to ask is, Ms Granger …what exactly were you …as the perverted little witch that you are …thinking of when you two were eating the candy?" semi-teased Fred.

Hermione had raised her wand to cast a hex when Harry jumped in front of her. Trying hard not to laugh at the situation, he put his hand on Hermione's wand. He wasn't stupid enough to attempt to take it away from her. He just made her lower it.

"We just need to know exactly what you were thinking when this happened so we can figure-out how to get him down," George said cautiously as he eyed a very irritated Hermione. "That you are still dressed normally indicates to me; that Ickle Ronniekins deepest wish was to please you… his thoughts were of pure devotion and innocent love …yours on the other hand …"

"…If you asinine prat's must know," Hermione interrupted George. "I wanted him to shut up about the whole American-Pie 'thing' and help me study my potions assignment!" she snapped.

"Judging by how Ron is hanging there, combined with how he is currently …dressed …that's not exactly all of what you were thinking," said Fred smugly. "Now, why not tell the truth, dear Mione?"

"No one calls me Mione, except your brother and he'll rearrange your face good-and-proper when I tell him what you called me," Hermione threatened. "But to get back on task, what was I thinking …I don't know for certain …I think I was getting frustrated; all Ron wanted to do was snog me.

"Oh that's a surprise …isn't it Gred," George spat sarcastically.

"So I was thinking that if we were going to get any real revisiting done, I was going to have bound and gag him with shackles' to the wall …before I'd get my assignment done," Hermione spat before she went around Harry and pointed her wand threateningly at the twins. "And now, I think I'm going to hex the living daylights out of your bits …unless you get Ron unchained and down in one piece …right now!"

"Now, now Hermione," George said in a slightly panicked voice as he and Fred scurried around the table so it was separating the twins from her. "We can't do that!"

"Merkur Acura!" shouted Hermione as a jet or orange light shot out of her wand as the twins ducked for cover. The spell missed them, but barely.

"Turning us into bugs won't help anything," Fred said as he crawled as fast as he could behind a chair nearby.

"It'll make me feel better after I step on you," she growled.

An audible gulp could be heard from behind the chair as well as behind the couch, where George had ran off for cover.

"Now, now, this is just a huge misunderstanding Hermione," George said trying to calm his voice.

"So is me hexing the daylights out of the two of you, if you don't help 'my' Ron!," Hermione said letting out a frustrated scream and lunged for Fred behind the chair.

Thankfully Harry grabbed Hermione around her waist and hauled her up so her feet weren't touching the ground. Hermione lost her grip on her wand which fell to the floor when Harry yanked her up into the air.

"Now Fred, George," Harry said fighting to keep hold of the struggling and livid witch in his arms. "Explain to us all real quick …why you can't get Ron down?"

"Remember we told you there were problems with the Bondage Bars, Harry?" George asked still trying to keep his distance from Hermione who was struggling against Harry's hold on her.

"Yes."

"Well, the only way to end the bondage magic …is for whatever Hermione was hoping for while eating the chocolate …to actually happen. So Ron really has to help Hermione learn the potion assignment chained to the wall like that. I don't know how exactly, considering that he's gagged, because he can't ask questions or correct her mistakes. But, may we politely point out …that from family experience growing up with us …Ron does his best if there's some sort of a reward involved."

"So, Hermione will have to give Ronniekins rewards for getting something right …and punish him for doing it wrong," Fred piped in.

By this point, Harry was having difficulty holding Hermione who was shooting the twins daggers from her eyes as everyone else in the common-room were falling-down laughing.

"I'm 'Owling' your Mother," she shrieked like a mad woman. "Then-then I'm telling Argus Filch about all your products so you can say goodbye to the Hogwarts market. Then I'm going to use the most powerful shrinking charm I can find on you so the world will not have to put up with your spawn!"

"We'll see ourselves out," Fred and George said quickly before sprinting through the portrait hole. Alaire heard them muttering something about finding a one-eyed witch as quickly as possible.

"Come back here, you cowards! - - Harry, let go of me!" bellowed Hermione.

Harry waited until he was sure Fred and George had a sporting chance of escaping before he released Hermione. She was huffing with anger as both feet settled on the ground.

Taking deep breaths, she tried to calm herself, while Harry tried to brace himself for anything. Hermione took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Opening them, she reached down and picked up her wand. Harry's breath hitched in his throat as he wondered what she was going to do to him.

"Fine, then," Hermione said in an eerily calm voice. She turned to address Harry, and for a second he actually thought facing Voldemort might have been safer than what she could do to him.

"Harry," she said sternly. "I am going back to the classroom where I left Ron. If those two cowards come back, I will not be responsible for my actions. I'm putting up wards so no one can get in. If McGonagall comes in and needs to speak with me, use the DA gallon to contact me."

Harry just nodded dumbly as Hermione marched past a few brave Gryffindor's trying to control their laughter. As she walked out the door, Alaire could hear Granger mumbling about how the twins were lucky Harry had been there and how glad she was that Ginny had promised to get rid of the remaining candy.

Looking around the room, Alaire noticed that Neville had slipped out of the Common-room unnoticed …Ginny Weasley was also mysteriously absent and Alaire suddenly felt a small amount of pity for whatever Draco Malfoy was going to have to undergo that night.

OoOoOoOo

No one saw hide or hair of Ron and Hermione until the next day at breakfast. As they entered the Great Hall, half of the Gryffindor House let out catcalls as the two of then walked to their spots at the table and sat down across from Harry, Ginny, Alaire and Neville.

Harry and Neville tried to hide their smirks, but they didn't do so well thanks to Ginny.

"My dear brother," Ginny began with a straight face. "I do believe you've come down with something."

"What?" Ron grumbled.

"I don't know, but I can see several red marks on your neck and there are even a few I can see through your half-buttoned shirt," she said teasingly. "So either you're becoming a leper or you have some of the biggest love bites I've ever seen."

A collective snicker went up around the table. Neville looked hard at Ron and feeling nearly overcome with envy rose from the table and left the Great Hall unnoticed.

"I told you to use glamour charms," hissed Hermione quietly to Ron.

I can't charm everywhere you put a love-bite 'Mione. I'm not a contortionist you know," ground out Ron.

"Well, this is just lovely," Hermione snapped. "Now everyone's going to know something went on between us in that classroom."

"That's the least of my problems. I'm half afraid of my body's reaction to any question I'm ever asked about Wolfbane Potion."

Alaire snorted at this. Quickly, she covered up her budding giggle-fit by acting as if she was coughing into a napkin. It was during this time she shot a look across the hall at the Slytherin's. It was then that she noticed Draco Malfoy looked very uncomfortable and winced ever time he moved in his seat.

"Ginny," Alaire whispered to the girl sitting next to her, a threat involving a bat-bogey hex had abruptly banished the annoying Sloper to the fringe of the seventh-years place at the Gryffindor table during meals. Jack now sat next to Neville; although they didn't speak to one another at all. So while Harry and the other boys… except Neville of course… took the 'mickie' out on Ron, the two girls had time for a private whispered conversation.

"What exactly happened to the rest of that candy Ron and Hermione received from your brothers?" Alaire asked softly.

"I disposed of it last night," Ginny replied picking up a muffin off the serving plate.

"Did 'disposing' of-it have anything to do with why a certain fair haired Slytherin looks very uncomfortable sitting today?"

"Maybe …but then again; maybe he finally got his head out of his ass and that's why it's so tender."

"Is that all that he learned from that naughty candy?"

"Not quite."

"Then what?"

"Let's just say that; Draco learned last night that at least one member of his family can beg for mercy. As for me …I learned more about my boyfriend's …true feeling on certain issues that have up to now …stood in the way of our future together …such as - blood-purity - than I ever suspected, " Ginny said smiling slyly as she helped herself to more eggs

"Did you have to use the same punishment and reward system that Hermione employed?"

"Do you mean …is Draco covered with love bites?" Ginny said with a soft chuckle. "If that's your question then the answer is most-definitely …NO. Draco and I are way-beyond the childish Love bites stage. Hermione is all about dominance in every aspect of her public life and in a way …so am I.

"You don't say," Alaire said as an understatement of the obvious.

"Definitely! Our Head-girl used chains and humiliation last night to get her way and that will be here undoing. What my pathetic brother hasn't realized yet …is that Hermione has unintentionally revealed a long suppressed bondage fetish, that I for one …never suspected she had. Hermione may boss my brother around in public, but I believe in my soul …that behind closed doors …it's our Head-girl that wants to be dominated in the bedroom …dressed in latex …fur-lined hand-cuffs and treated like a sex-slave."

"Yeah, I've been thinking along those same lines myself …since last night. Do you think we should point out Hermione's fetish to your 'thick' brother?" Alaire asked in a knowing tone.

"Nah, I'm sure Seamus or Jack will do the deed for us. So don't be too surprised if Hermione ends up wearing nipple-rings and a dog-collar …underneath her uniform …before the end of term," Ginny said with a truly evil grin. "As for my personal preference in controlling any man and Draco in particular, I find that I can get better results with more direct oral manipulation of my man's tool.

"You're been giving-head to a Malfoy?"

"Do you know a better method to reduce a bloke to a quivering mass of goo?" Ginny retorted with her normal shocking cantor. "The mere hint of a good blow-job and your average bloke will do whatever you want."

"Do you enjoy it?"

"Of course, but what I really take pleasure in; Alaire, is the power that oral sex gives me over men."

"So it's all about power?"

"Partially, the last bondage bar from Fred and George allowed me to get my Slytherin boyfriend bare-arse naked and hog-tied …flat-on-his-back on top-of a bench in the weight room down in the dudgeons' last night. You have to understand, Alaire …sex is an act that requires planning to be earth shattering. Spontaneous spur-of-the-moment copulation is rarely spectacular. "Draco has shagged a respectful-number of girls here, so for me to stand-out from the rest of the herd of heifers he's humped …I knew going-in; that I had to be different from any other bird he'd ever known". Ginny confessed in a whisper to her best friend without hesitation …as if she was casually discussing the weather.

"Step One in standing out from the crowd; I didn't put out for Draco on our third date. Step two; I wasn't at all embarrassed …like some shy little virgin by his crude and blunt sexual banter, in fact I out-did him in talking smutty. For I quickly realized that he was actually very attracted by female-generated sex laced innuendo …the more I talked-dirty, the more desirable I became to Draco. But the main key to becoming irresistible to Malfoy was when I discovered how much he was turned-on by sexually aggressive …relationship dominating women …that all of his big talk and public posturing; is just an act.

"How does a sixteen-year old teenage become so knowledgeable about bondage and other sorts of kinky-sex?" Alaire asked finding the courage at last, for her friend's expertise in such matters was very unusual.

"I was possessed by Voldemort when I was twelve years old," Ginny said reluctantly with a whole-body shudder. "Old Tom was a very-sick puppy… sexually speaking. He got-off through torture and abuse of his bed-partners. He… shared those memories with me. I lost my innocence mentally with him and the pervert …tainted forever my relationships with men.

"I had no idea," Alaire said while thinking: 'I'm not the only one with sexual abuse scars'

"I'm not looking for sympathy, 'that which does not destroy-us makes us stronger' and all that rot. My family doesn't know about this and I trust you not to repeat it …especially to Ronniekins. Anyroad …back to last night. I intent to buy a full case of bondage-bars from Fred and George during the next Hogsmeade weekend, for you'd be surprised what you can learn from a hogtied bloke. My original intention for the bondage-bar was to get to Draco core beliefs …and it worked beyond anything I ever imagined. In fact …I think I know him well enough now …and I mean the real Draco …not the self-absorbed Prat that he shows to everyone else …to let him into my glory-hole sometime soon."

"So you gave him a blow-job as a reward for his total cantor," Alaire said ignoring for the moment her friends stated intention to shag a wimpy Slytherin.

"That was a big part of why I did it …that's true enough ...but not the reason that I gave him the best hummer he ever had …or so he told me. I did it because last night I found-out that my Draco doesn't dislikes Hermione half as much as people around here thinks' he does, Draco is actually turned-on her bossiness. Which is odd actually …because the Hermione I know …can be like Draco in ways that neither of them realize; a pair of arrogant cows most of the time - and annoying to the point of distraction."

"Yes I know, Harry complains about that …all the time. He dare not say anything to Ron because his best-mate worships' the ground Granger walks on," Alaire admitted. "I honestly don't understand what your brother sees in that girl."

"Join the club," Ginny snorted.

"So Draco envies Hermione's commanding presence …alright …I'll accept that. But how is that the key to understanding a Malfoy?" Alaire asked now completely confused

"Hermione is annoying, but she is also respected," Ginny retorted, "she's beyond smart …so her marks are always top of the class. Draco on the other-hand is at his best …only an average student. For example; for years now he has attempted to get Harry and my brother expelled, but all of his plots were never good enough to succeed.

"Last night I discovered his greatest fear, he is terrified of being thought of as incompetent. He constantly feels isolated, surrounded by enemies on all sides …ready to pounce the moment he shows weakness. Dating me has also been …his first ever act of defiance against an abusive and bigoted father.

"And found all this up by tieing him up?"

"Yup," Ginny said smiling big, "that and his deepest secret desire."

"Which is?"

"The same as Granger's, really," Ginny declared in a confidential whisper. "He wants someone he can trust to guard his back, someone to find the practical flaws in his big plans just like my brother does for Hermione and Harry. Draco wants someone he can publicly-dominate, but who is the real power behind the throne. Ultimately …behind closed doors …and in the privacy of his bedroom, I believe my Draco is looking for a semi-dominatrix; a strong-willed woman that will treat him as the BDSM slave and I can fill that role …easily… thanks to Voldemort the pervert.

"This need to be dominated in private is another trait that he shares in common with the bossy Hermione. It's ironic really;" Ginny said with a self-amused smile, "that what they both want, only a Weasley can provide. Draco became so excited by being tied-up last night; he …well …he …went off prematurely … twice …just at the thought… of having me in charge.

OH …sweet Merlin, I never would have guessed that a Malfoy and Granger would both be in the closet; masochists. Alaire said trying hard not to laugh.

"Tell me about it …but I can come to no other conclusion," Ginny reluctantly confessed. "He didn't resent being rendered helpless like I bet Ron did …during my brother's brief experience with bondage. I'm sure that Ron …legitimately struggled to get free all that night. Draco on the other hand …reacted very-differently …in fact I have never seen him more turned-on than when he was hogtied to that bench.

"Go figure?"

"We Weasley's are known for being grounded with the ability to think on our feet …my brothers natural talent at adapting on the spot to any situation… has saved Harry's arse more times than Potter will ever admit. So when I saw with my own eyes …how very much Draco actually enjoyed being rendered totally helpless …I instantly took full advantage of the opportunity …adapted to his newly revealed fetish and played it up for all it was worth.

"Yes; that sounds like something you'd do," Alaire said with a chuckle.

"I made our first BDSM experience together; 'delicious torture' …as he called it," Ginny casually confessed in a whisper. "I transfigure a bit of left-over rope into a cat of nine-tails and pranced around that weight-room shamelessly naked for two hours. The whole time I teased my Slytherin boy-toy …by gently whipping my helpless victim ever so lightly with the cat. I left no marks on his flesh beyond a red and tender buttock …but words can't describe how much he liked what I did to him …I'm certain of that much …anyway.

"But then why the blow-job?"

"Draco except for going off too-quick… twice… stayed rock-hard the whole time," Ginny said smiling in delight. "I couldn't just leave him in that state, so just before curfew, I gave him a deliberately prolonged hummer. A good dominatrix mixes pain with pleasure, Voldemort taught me that. After twenty minutes I finally allowed him to cum in my mouth, swallowing every drop. Then I untied him; we both got dressed without a word and then went our separate ways. No other Hogwarts girl had done to Draco what I did, and although we didn't discuss it verbally; we both knew, that after last night; that his tender …whipped arse …belonged; exclusively to me.

Alaire smiled at her friend before turning in her seat for a good long-look at Malfoy. Draco paid her no mind for his full attention was riveted on Ginny. Alaire had only seen such an expression of unbridled longing on a boy's-face twice …since coming to Hogwarts. She saw it every-day on Ron's face, as he worshiped with his eyes his beloved bookworm.

Tuning in Hermione's lover …briefly …Alaire was nearly overwhelmed by the intense love the red-head had for the head-girl. Alaire feared for a moment …that there was no possible way for 'prim and proper' Granger to be aware of the level of Ron's total devotion, however when she switched her empathic power toward Granger, she was pleased to discover that although she wasn't looking in the direction of her boyfriend, her mind was filled with feelings of love mixed with an embarrassing level of unbridled lust for the boy who's hand she held so-gently. Prudish in outward appearance; it shocked Alaire to discover that the most-randy person in the Great Hall at breakfast …was the same-girl whose peers considered to-be totally frigid.

Tuning out Hermione, Alaire sat back and felt utter gob-smacked at the realization of how much sex was going on around her by her so-called stuffy English House-mates. Clearly Ron and Hermione had moved beyond snogging. Ginny was engaged in bondage games with a now surprising emotionally-committed Malfoy. Dean Thomas had come back to the common-room the previous night with his clothing in great disarray and a mind filled in the post emotional disorder of a bloke fresh from a discrete slap and tickle with Luna. With only Seamus emotions remain dependably in the gutter while totally free of feelings of Love.

The bondage bar incident was Alaire's second encounter with WWW LTD. lust enhancing candy. Neville was somewhat-alright about the Passion-pill incident now, but was still playing second fiddle whenever Harry was in any room that she was in. Alaire knew she was flirting way too much with Harry; but the boy absorbed it all like a sponge. It took extra attention to make high-maintenance Harry even a little-bit happy; as he was so easily distracted by serious mood-swings literally at the drop of a hat.

Neville on the other hand wore his heart on his sleeve as Ron did and was therefore far easier to please with the bare minimum crumbs of effort. It didn't take lust enhancing candy to earn Neville's undivided attention or devotion. Alaire's two encounter's with Weasley Love-products had combined had made the American extremely gun-shy and stranger still; she had become convinced that Harry wasn't above using such products on a girl… given the right circumstances. Vowing to herself to always make-sure to never eat anything any Weasley had ever touched …Alaire learned a lesson that every Gryffindor experienced at one time or another.

Alaire got up from the table in the Great Hall and headed back to the Gryffindor tower, in a very disturbed state of mind. She was a-bit envious of her friends and the surprisingly adult relationships they had developed. A feeling of loneliness swept through Alaire as she tossed about in her mind the pros-and-cons of acquiring a boyfriend of her own. From past experience she knew that a boyfriend meant more trouble than they were worth, but she still felt tempted. She knew that on any path to any kind of romantic-relationship …well …that path led to a dragon's cave, tainted with past emotional damage that were very-disturbing and only recently scared-over.

For her mentor had proven to be right after all, there was only one boy in all of Hogwarts that looked at Alaire with the same unbridled longing that Ginny was getting out of Draco; or Hermione was getting from Ron. The trouble was that boy wasn't Harry; his feelings for her …were typical for a horny teenage male. The boy who felt as Ron did for Mione, with love beyond measure, who's feeling grew stronger every day was frankly …scaring the-hell out of Alaire.

OoOoOoOo

To be continued

Kris, I couldn't wait any longer... please forgive-me ...I'm weak.

So what do you think?