Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, they belong to J.K. Rowling. Except the OC.

"Dinnertime!"

The girl came down the stairs, still red in the face. She was so caught up in her thoughts; she didn't even notice George coming up behind her. "AHHHHHHHH!" George threw her over his shoulder and tossed her onto the couch. She was horribly ticklish and George loved to take advantage of it. "Stop, please! HELLLLLPPPP MEEEE!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Everyone came running into the living room only to behold this hilarious sight. Finally, one of her flailing legs managed to kick George in the stomach, causing him to finally let her go and roll onto the floor. Short-breathed apologies were exchanged before everyone was ushered into the next room for dinner.

"Maria is that you? Man, I haven't seen you in ages! And Bloody hell do you look good!" exclaimed Ron, totally naïve to the fact that Hermione was standing right behind him. A hard slap to the back of the head was a great reminder.

"OW! What was that for?" cooed Ron, rubbing the back of his head. "Harry, Mione', this is Maria. She used to live next door. But then she moved to France, all I had after that were letters every few months." Ron reminisced.

"Miss me?" Maria giggled, giving Ron's arm a shove.

After dinner, Maria and Ron went out for a broom ride to catch up. Hermione sat jealously in Ginny's room, watching from the window. "I've never seen you jealous before 'Mione. It's kind of strange." Said Harry. "She's no threat you know."

"I wouldn't be so sure Harry." Interjected Ginny. "He used to have a huge crush on her. I think he held hope that she'd come back one day, that's probably why it took him so long to ask you out."

Hermione's face fell at Ginny's words. Harry looked out the window to see the twosome land and hug before beginning to head toward the house.

Maria was sitting in front of the fireplace reading when Harry came downstairs. Her black rimmed glasses slid to the tip of her nose as she looked up over them at Harry before turning pink. Her shyness made Harry smile. It was kind of cute.

"What are you doing up?" He asked nervously. The idea of this girl splitting up two of his best friends made him uneasy around the girl, not to mention the incidences from before.

"I can't sleep. I guess I'm just stressed. You?"

"Nightmares. I didn't want to wake up Ron, so I came to sleep on the couch."

"Oh…. It must be tough. If you'd like to sleep on the couch, I could just move my butt to the floor."

Harry took a seat on the couch, but continued their conversation. "You don't have to." It was then that he really took the time to give her the once over. She had black hair down to her mid-back, big brown eyes, plump lush lips, Mid-thigh length night gown clinging to her curvy body and the perfect smile.

"So what's stressing you out so much?"

"It's kind if personal..." she smiled sheepishly. "What did you have nightmares about?"

"Uh.. I'm sorry. The war. I still feel very guilty."

"Ron told me everything when we went for that ride earlier." she leaned over to look in his eyes, "You shouldn't feel responsible." She began to tear up. "I felt the same way when my friend died. If i had only called him back, he wouldn't have gotten shot..." Harry awkwardly reached over to her. "That's what keeps me up at night." she quietly whispered. Harry pulled her to his chest, "Everyone tells me that it's not my fault.. but i still feel so guilty..." He felt his shirt begin to wet, and felt her heartbeat quicken.

"I'm sorry I asked." she responded with a whimper and a soft sob.

Maria awoke to a firm but warm pillow, a thick heavy blanket of warmth over her and snoring? She began to move, but the thick blanket wrapped itself around her waist tighter.

Someone coughed loudly, causing her to fully awaken. The snoring stopped. Her eyes fluttered open to find shocked green eyes staring back at her. That's when it hit her. While they slept, they somehow managed to intertwine their bodies, and Harry's face was now a mere two centimeters from her own. She could feel his lips practically touch hers. In her scramble to get away from Harry, she somehow managed to pull Harry with her to the floor. This time Harry was on top. "You know… We've got to stop meeting like this." She laughed.

Harry stood up only to notice that he had a morning "surprise" and it didn't help that her nightgown was now hiked up to reveal her white lace thong. He quickly helped her up while praying to god that she hadn't noticed his morning wood. "Harry, you're poking me in the stomach." Since his 6 ft-self towered over her 5ft 2in, he was indeed poking her in the torso. He mumbled a quick sorry and hurriedly walked past Hermione, up to Ron's room.

Maria dusted herself off and put on her fluffy robe, smiling sheepishly. Hermione "Humph"-ed and walked into the kitchen for breakfast. Maria gave a confused look to the girl's back before going upstairs to brush her teeth.

At breakfast Ron sat next to Hermione but seemed to be more interested in the stories Maria was telling about her time at Beauxbatons. "Fleur absolutely dreaded dying her hair ever again!" She giggled.

"So wait, where were you when Beauxbatons came to Hogwarts?" asked Ginny. "I don't remember seeing you!"

"That's because I couldn't go. My parents thought it'd be too dangerous for me." Maria frowned. "But after I heard about what happened to my cousin's boyfriend, I see what they were talking about."

"Your cousin?" said a confused Hermione. "You're related to Cho? You two don't look anything alike!"

Maria laughed. "She's my second cousin, only related through marriage. We aren't really that close."

"It's alright, we like you more than her anyway right, Harry?" laughed Ron, nudging Harry in the ribs, who nervously smiled and looked away. Hermione narrowed her eyes at Maria. Ginny could see what was happening before her eyes but chose to stay quiet until the two girls had some privacy.

"Thanks guys, haha…. Anyway, I wanted to go for a walk before we go to Diagon Alley. Oh… did I tell you I'm coming to Hogwarts this year?"

"WHAT?" sputtered Ron and Hermione in unison.

Maria simply giggled and walked off. Harry stared after her for a moment before getting up and following her.