Italics are dreams... I think I'm going to need to make this a cross over story, as I've decided the main pairing and yeah... We'll see if you can guess ;)

I grinned at Mione and scrambled to my feet. The huge tawny owl flapped up, off the ground and landed heavily on my shoulder, his wing cuffed me lightly on the back of the head and I giggled. I reached up and took the letter from his beak, and he ruffled his feathers importantly. "Is it okay if I stoke you boy?" I cooed softly, and the beautiful bird hooted a quiet reply. I trailed my fingertips lightly through the down on his chest, and Mione walked over and copied me. It seemed the snowy owl didn't much like her; it was sitting on the fence with its back to us! We spent a few minutes feeding the owl tiny pieces of biscuit and gently stroking its feathers, until a loud POP made us all jump. The two birds flew off together over the roof of the house and the professor 'Gonnagel appeared right next to our water pistols.

"Good Afternoon, Mrs Granger. Is your husband home?" Professor 'Gonnagel looked the same as last time; right down to the deep green dressy thing (robes, she called them) and her big pointy hat. I stared a little, but it was Mione's mouth that fell open. The Professor cracked a tiny smile at us and looked back at our rather flustered mother.

"Yes, yes of course. He's in the living room I think. Please, come on in" Our mother replied rather hastily, brushing invisible dust off her hands on her apron. "It's lovely to see you again, Professor McGonagall" Ahh, so that was her name!

"You girls had best bring those letters through too, mm?" The Professor commented as she passed us. We trooped into the house after her, Mione grabbing her letter from the patio table. Once we were all in the living room, Hermione and me sitting on the rug by the fireplace, she proceeded to explain about a magical place in London called Dragon Alley, and how we needed books (finally!) and wands and cauldrons and so much cool stuff! It was probably the most exciting moment, ever.

Hermione and I were totally hyper all day, and even mum and dad couldn't stay confused for too long. Together we were infectious, and mum always loved shopping so the idea that the next day we would go to Dragon Alley with Professor McGonagall was something even she looked forward to. It took absolutely ages to get us to bed that night. And even after the lights had gone out and we were meant to be in our rooms, Mione crept back into mine and snuggled into my bed. We talked and talked, far too keyed up to rest. Until I heard a soft "Sarah..."

"Mmm hmm" I murmured, too close to sleep to form a proper response.

"Do I have to go back to my bed now?" She whispered, her voice almost as tired as mine. I couldn't be bothered with actually voicing a reply so just shook my head and let my arm rest over my sister.

I could hear waves lapping against sand, their ancient rhythm calling my soul closer. The sunlight flickered through the trees as I followed a winding path down towards a beach. My hands stretched out to feel the green ferns rushing through my fingers. I saw the shore ahead and jogged the last short distance but just as I reached the end of the forest, a girl stepped in front of my path and before I could stop myself I had run into her.

"Oof!" She was so so small, I noticed again as I helped her up. She must have been older than me, by a few years, but she was still only just about my height. Her dark black hair was all mussed up but held carefully in disarray with gel. Her deep brown eyes sucked me in, until I could see the slight specks of lighter butterscotch in them. Pale but full lips parted to reprimand me for my carelessness but I slid my finger over them, not wanting to break the spell. I gathered her slight frame into my arms and just hugged the tiny pixie of a girl. I felt so protective of her, and I felt something... Something strange, un-nameable to me then. So, like I had every night for as long as I could remember, I just held the girl who visited me in my dreams, savouring those funny feelings until I...

Awoke. It was still pitch blackness. Two fifteen, the clock read. I sighed heavily, and slipped out of the bed, careful not to jostle my sister. I pulled out my notebook, and the manuscript paper I kept with it and opened them up to my latest song. I started strumming the air, leaving my guitar in its bag so as not to wake the sleeping hurricane in my bed. My mind filled with the chords and lyrics I had so far, until all I was focussed on was those soft melodies.

"Did you see her again?" My sister's voice carried across the room and I jumped.

"Go back to sleep!" I whispered, really not wanting to be accountable for the force of nature that Hermione was when she didn't sleep enough.

"You did, didn't you? I knew you were lying when you said you'd stopped seeing her at night!" I sighed, exasperated with my know-it-all sister. "Fine, you don't want to talk about her; that's fine. I'm just saying you didn't have to lie..." I hummed in thought, desperately non-committal. "... Sarah... Sing for me?" I slid the guitar out of its case, knowing she'd be asleep within minutes of me practising.

"... Instead of counting sheep, I count the stars within your eyes,

I wish that I could sleep but,Those stars are way too bright,

Its all about you, with or without you, ..."

The song at the end is Awake All Night - Cody Simpson

ie: NOT MINE! I don't own it, it's his... but it's a good song.. listen to it ;)