The next afternoon at an 4:00 dinner, I heard whispers all around me. Surely more Harry "The Hero" Potter stories." I thought to myself. "Why do these people care? Especially the Slytherins? My question was quickly answered by Pansy Parkinson, "So Andromeda," she asked in a suspicious, jealous sounding voice, "what happened between you and Draco? You sure did get back to the room late." She glared at me, waiting for an answer. She favored the boy, I had a fight with him, and so she's jealous? I didn't understand it at all.

Draco came up behind my chair and said, rather loudly "Hello Dearborn. Are we meeting again tonight for another tickle fight on the common room floor?" We winked, laughing loudly with his friends Crabbe and Goyle. "Really Malfoy? That's how you're spinning it this time? Because from what I remember, you were Rictusempra'd. Because you…" I paused. Did I want people to know that I made a heartfelt apology to this git? "…insulted me, and you were too slow to grab your wand to protect yourself. However, you were fast enough to threaten telling your father, which is your signature move." He looked a little thrown off, but not defeated.

"I noticed that little pause in there, Andromeda." He said, smiling maliciously. "Listen, Malfoy. We haven't been on a first name basis in four years. Don't start now." I spat. He continued on. "I believe that in that pause, you were going to say that you apologized to me. Down right got on your knees and begged for forgiveness after you insulted me." He beamed, which he didn't do often. "I have no problem insulting you, you disgusting self-absorbed, Malfoy filth. Sure, I apologized. But not for that. It was for all of the times that I almost brought you to tears with my insults and my wit. I could never insult an innocent normal person, with a heart. And an apology is nothing to be ashamed of! And if that makes me a failure as a Slytherin, then so-freaking-be-it. So yes, I'm still sorry that I hurt you so badly, but I'd be so much more sorry if I hurt someone who actually had a heart that could break." I stormed out of The Great Hall and out near the black lake.

As I ran across the castle grounds, tears of anger welling in my eyes, I noticed that it was a beautiful day. The sun shone bright over the astronomy tower, there was a light breeze, and the birds were singing sweetly. But I was still running at full speed, thinking "How dare you be so beautiful at a moment like this? Have you no idea what's going on… no pity?".

I abruptly stopped running and sat on the ground at the edge of the lake, and wrapped my arms around my knees and buried my face in my arms. I never let anyone hear me cry, so I usually turn on music or do something loud to cover it up the sobbing. But I'm here, confused, angry, sad, and out in the open with no way to hide my tears. I heard teasing laughter coming from the hill, the recognizable cackle of Draco Malfoy burning in my ears. I began to cry harder. Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder, and a semi-familiar voice. "An-Andromeda?" stuttered the voice. I looked up to see his face.

"Neville? Oh my, I don't think we've talked since first year, after that time in potions when you-" "Yeah, I remember." He said quickly. We both laughed lightly, though I was still soaking in tears. "I just wanted to tell you that I would've never expected you to apologize to Malfoy, and I think that it was really honorable, what you said back there. And I wanted to check on you, are you okay?" Neville asked in his awkward manner that made me smile. "Yes, I'm okay. I just really wish it were raining." I said, as he sat down next to me. "Why would you want that?" He questioned. "So no one could see me crying."

We sat in silence for a moment listening to the sound of the other students chatting, and the birds chirping alongside them. The sun really had never looked so radiant, so lovely. I hated it. Every second that it stayed beautiful, I wanted to cry harder, though I still felt vulnerable and exposed. In the corner of my eye I see Neville take out his wand, and I hear him whisper something so quiet that I couldn't understand it. Suddenly a dark cloud rolled west and covered up the sun, He and I stood up, and I felt a drop on my forehead. Neville and I looked at each other, and I understood at once. It began to pour. I grinned and hugged him, and looked up to see him smiling awkwardly, apparently not used to girl-hugs. As the other students ran at full speed back to the castle, Neville and I took a slow walk, soaking in the rain.

When we got inside, people were still talking about Draco and myself. The Slytherins talked about how pathetic I am, and the other three houses talked about how Draco has no soul and discussed theories as to how he could've lost it. Neville and I were about to part ways, when softly grabbed my arm and said "Hey, would you like to come and hang out with me and my friends? The Slytherins don't look to be a real friendly group." There was a short pause, "Except for you of course." He added hurriedly. This shouldn't have been a hard decision, but yet it was. I didn't want to ignore my house any longer, but the Gryffindors looked so… brave, and caring, and like they didn't want to shank me.

As I walked towards the Gryffindors, I felt something strange. I saw them laughing together, and smiling at me. And I felt… warm. "Uh, everyone, this is Andromeda. The girl who told off Malfoy." Neville awkwardly introduced me to the people I'd already met once before, four years ago. Harry, Ron, and Hermoine all said "Hi" in unison, clearly a symptom of spending far too much time together. "Hello, it's wonderful to meet you." said Luna sweetly. "How do you do?" asked George, the twin to the right. And suddenly, Fred, the twin to the left, stood up so fast that I jumped a little bit. He extended his hand, and I shook it. "It's wonderful to meet you, Andromeda." He said, smiling widely. "He wants you, bad. Has since your first year." said George. Fred's face turned crimson as he stepped back to punch his brother in the arm. "But hey, so has Neville." George added. He blinked furiously, blushed, and glared at George.

At Fred and Neville's expense we all had a good laugh, and they even laughed along too. It was great being around people who cared for each other, and knew that they were cared for. But it was getting late. The time had passed so quickly, and it was now 7:30pm, and there was half an hour until everyone's common room curfews, except for Fred and George, who had until 9:00pm. I dreaded going back to my dorm so terribly, that I began to feel sick as we walked through the halls, then I felt lightheaded. I started to lean, more and more, until I fell over. Neville caught me, beating Fred by less than a second, and Fred glared at him. He probably thought I didn't see that. "Neville, let me takeover. I'll carry her to Madame Pomfrey." said Fred. "No, I've got her, mate." replied Neville. But Fred gave him a look of warning, and Neville let him carry me.

Oh the mix of emotions. I wished I were fully unconscious, so that I wouldn't have to hear worried tone is everyone's voices. Yet I was glad to be partially awake, because the worried voices seemed to care about me. And perhaps… I might have even been glad to have been carried in Fred's arms. He was warm, and he smelled like cinnamon and some kind of smoke. Not from a cigarette or pipe, but from a fire or an explosion. He smelled a lot like something that I had smelled in Potions class once… but he couldn't…. But I quickly shook this thought, because I didn't need anymore emotions at the time.

When we arrived, Fred set me down in a chair. That's all I can remember, before I blacked out.