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Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and I am certainly NOT J.K. Rowling. Obviously. I just own Layla Dawes and now, Michael Shamus. I am getting tired of disclaiming...

Harry

Layla, Hermione, Ron and I pile in to the carriage along with Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas. Lay sits on my lap and I wrap my arms around her waist while Hermione sits in Ron's lap. Of course. Seamus and Ron are chatting about Quidditch and I catch Dean staring at Lay. I guess Ron and I aren't the only ones who have noticed Lay's new-found attractiveness. I have a feeling this will be happening a lot this year.

"So, Harry." Seamus says to me. "Are you and Layla finally dating?" He appears to be joking, but I detect a note of curiosity underneath his light manner. I guess he got the wrong message, due to our cozy position. Layla looks down at me, a playful smile on her lips. She seems to be asking a question and I grin. She continues to look at me and ruffles my hair.

"Yes, it's true. We are dating." Lay says, nuzzling her nose into my neck. I try not to notice that she smells really good and her hair is tickling my face. I try to keep in my laugh, but it's hopeless. Dean looks at us, like he is trying to figure out if she is for real. Seamus looks confused, while Ron and Hermione just look amused. Layla resurfaces and stares deeply into my eyes. I return her gaze, as we both try not to lose it.

Dean gives a cough. "When did this happen?"

"When a pig flew over my head and shitted rainbow unicorns!" I laugh hysterically. Lay shakes with giggles and buries her face in my shoulder. The others laugh along with us, two out of six looking relieved. Soon, the sprawling castle that is Hogwarts comes into view. I let Lay scramble over my lap because I know she has to see the view. I don't know, whatever makes her happy.

Layla

I climb over Ron and Hermione to get to the window, so I can see the castle. Harry doesn't know why the hell I need to see it every single time, but what can I say? It's my thing! It symbolizes the start of a new year, even before I get in the castle. I have this superstition that if I don't look, then I will have a terrible year.

I finally look out the window and I'm not disappointed. The dark castle is illuminated in the moonlight, as if it is shimmering. I smile and make my way back over to Harry. I sit in his lap again.

Harry raises his eyebrows in question. "Are you good now?"

"Yep!" I answer. Even though Harry doesn't get it, he knows it's important to me. The carriages land and we are led into Hogwarts by Hagrid. Harry and I are still holding hands, earning suspicious looks. I glance at Harry and he seems to be noticing too. He shakes his head at me, smiling.

The first years are ogling at everything in amazement, as they go to the waiting chamber. I laugh to myself. I probably looked just like that when I was a First Year. I guess Harry heard my laugh, cause he is looking at me like I am mad. I smile big, and widen my eyes, earning a chuckle from him.

As we reach the Great Hall, I see a lot of familiar faces and some greet me. I notice Blaise Zabini, who is looking very fit. He sees me staring and winks at me. I wink back. Then, I see Malfoy standing beside him. I puke internally, looking away. Hermione and Ron sit across from Harry and I at the Gryffindor table. We all watch the anxious little first years get sorted into Houses, cheering for the new Gryffindors. After that, Dumbledore steps up to the podium.

"Welcome, students to another year at Hogwarts!" he says. "I know you probably want to get to the feast, as do I, so let me just say shiss bam bob! Thank you!" and he sits back down. I truly believe he is the best Headmaster ever, as well as the nuttiest.

Food appears on the table and everyone digs in. Especially Harry and Ron.

"Animals!" Hermione mutters under her breath. I snort.

"My thoughts exactly, Mione!" I agree. The boys inhale their dinner, totally oblivious. I sigh and eat a spoon full of shepherd's pie. Yummy! I didn't even realize how hungry I was! As I take a second bite, I see that slag Pansy Parkinson throwing herself at Malfoy. I smirk and then I catch Malfoy's eye. I glare at him and this time he's the one who smirks. I scowl and return to my food. Bloody git!

"Hey, Layla!" I hear someone call. I turn around and see Cedric Diggory grinning at me.

"Hey Cedric!" I reply and look at him. He's tanner and his hair has a bit of blonde in it. The sun, I guess. I have to admit, Cedric is really cute and on top of that, he is older. We talked a few times and hung out in groups, but he isn't one of my closest friends. I wonder why he is talking to me now...

"Did you have a good summer?" he asks, grinning even more. Wow, his teeth are really white...Oh wait, I am supposed to be answering his question!

"Yeah, how about you?" I answer. I really need to focus more.

"Pretty good. You look great, by the way." I smile at his words.

"Thanks, you too." I reply. I hear his friends calling for him, farther down the table. He looks over at them at holds up his pointer finger, saying just one second. He rolls his eyes at me, exasperated.

"Well, I gotta go, but I'll see you later." Cedric says, his grin still in place.

"Yeah, definitely! Bye!" I wave and he walks back to his seat. I turn around and see Harry glaring at the retreating Cedric.

"What?" I ask. I notice Ron is glaring at him too. I am way confused.

"The wanker was hitting on you, Lay!" Ron claims angrily. Oh. So THAT'S what is going on.

"No, he wasn't! Was he?" I wonder. I look at Harry. He nods.

"He was Lay. I could bloody see it in his eyes! I swear..." Harry threatens. Oh Merlin!

"He was not 'hitting on me', guys!" I tell them, using my fingers as quotation marks.

"He was!" Harry assures me.

"Why would he be?" I ask, incredulously. Cedric wouldn't hit on me. He's never been interested before!

"Because you're hot now, Layla." Ron explains slowly, as if he is speaking to a child.

"Thanks, Ronald." I glare.

"You know what I mean! Diggory's a fucking womanizer! Do not talk to him!" Ron warns.

"I can do whatever the hell I want Ron! You are both acting like overprotective bis brothers!" I scold them.

"We technically are your big brothers Lay and I forbid you fraternize with him!" Ron orders. I roll my eyes, but before I can respond, Harry interferes.

"Layla, Ron is right. Diggory is always talking about the girls he manages to bed and I don't want him hurting you." Harry tells me. AW! That is so nice that Harry is worrying about me! But still.

"Guys, I appreciate that you are worried about me and are trying to protect me, but I can make my own decisions." I look to Hermione for support.

"Layla is right. She needs to make her own choices and even if she makes the wrong ones, you need to be there for her." Hermione announces. Mione always takes my side.

I smile at her gratefully. "Thank you, Mione! At least one of us has some sense!"

"You can make your own decisions? What about Michael Shamus?" Ron challenges. I cringe as I recall what he is referring to. In Third Year, I dated Michael for a month, even though everyone told me not to. One day, I caught him making out Daphne Greengrass in the hallway. In the hallway! Like he didn't care if anyone saw him. I guess he didn't because when I saw him standing there with her, he said "Hey" and kept kissing her! I cried for three weeks and Harry was there the whole time. After Ron found out, he punched Michael and broke his nose. He said it was worth the two weeks of detention. That was when I realized I had the greatest friends in the world. Ron even mentioning that, hurts. A lot.

"That was low, mate." Harry shakes his head at Ron.

"Ronald, that was a terrible thing to say! How can you be so insensitive?" Hermione demands. I feel my face warm in anger. And I stand up.

"How could you say that? You know I cried for three bloody weeks! And you STILL mention it? You are an insufferable, heartless git Ronald Weasley! I cannot believe you!" I scream. Everyone is staring at me with wide eyes and Ron looks absolutely bewildered.

I stalk out the Great Hall with steam practically coming out of my ears.