Despite what had happened on the bridge, it was not well known around the castle. After all, Malfoy had more tact than to shout out how he had been embarrassed by the elder Potter. So by and large the student body remained ignorant of what had happened on the bridge. All except for two individuals.

Ingrid Greyback and Victoire Rousseau both had been spying on their intended mate, unknown to the other of course.

Both women, were fuming as they hid behind their respective columns and listened in on the confrontation. Both were giddy at the sight of the arrogant man being put in his place, and they couldn't help but watch Harry with a hunger that seemed almost integral to their inhuman natures. However, it was quickly replaced with rage when they saw him link arms with the English tart who had ensnared him before either got a chance to get near to him. Ingrid growled when she saw Minerva and Harry kiss and a spider web of cracks appeared on the pillar that she had placed her hand against.

Victoire's face hardened, her urge to transform into her veela form and incinerate the girl growing more and more by the second. Both calmed down enough however to head back towards the castle before they gave into their darker desires and followed through on the evil thoughts they both had. There was one predominant thought in both of their minds. They would need to plan their approach more carefully.

"Future Lady Potter? Pfft. Non. That will not do. Not Minerva McGonagall" the blonde veela spat the name contemptuously. "Non. The Potter family needs new blood and it will be French" she says to herself as she walks the halls, careful to avoid any other students who may not have gone to Hogsmeade.

"Who does this whore think she is?" asks Ingrid to herself. "Harry is mine. He is the one who stood by me. And he is the one I will stand by. That mouse will not do for my mate. No. He will be mine" she says as she moves back towards the lake, not wanting to be seen by anyone else either.

Hogsmeade

"Harry that is not funny" says Minerva as she desperately fights to hold in her laughter.

He just smiles and nods. "You're right. It isn't funny. I'm more inclined to say it's hilarious. Krum hanging out by his fingers of that tower. Screaming at us to help him as he's dressed on in underwear. Hysterical all in all" he continues, reaching across the table to grasp her hand.

It makes Minerva blush and she can't help but turn her hand to entangle it in his, trying her best to maintain eye contact. She would not have him think she was just a giggling girl who couldn't keep her wits about her because of a random romantic gesture. No. She was a strong and independent woman. That would never change, even if Harry turned her into a pile of goo. "Maybe it is a little funny" she says with an open smile as she stares into Harry's green eyes. It suddenly hits her that no other Potter has the same eye color.

"Harry? Why are your eyes green? I know that's an odd question but none of the other Potters have green eyes. Perhaps a distant ancestor?" She asks to which he shrugs. "I couldn't tell you Minerva but if I knew I would. But the real question is why are you ogling me like that? Do you like me just for my eyes?" He asks teasingly as he leans in and wiggles his eyebrows, sending her into another giggling fit. It was just such an absurd motion for him to make. "And what of it ? Can I not ogle you, as you eloquently put it, any time I want to?" She asks teasingly, deciding to return fire with fire.

"Well I won't lie and pretend I don't relish the thought of being ogled by the most beautiful witch of our age" he says to which she rolls her eyes. "Flatterer. We both know that is not true" he says to which he leans in, all mirth gone from his eyes and replaced by seriousness. "It is to me. I am no liar Minnie" he says, sending her heart pounding against her chest. She was thankful for the first time that there were so many people around. If they were alone she knew she would have thrown herself into his arms and done things no proper girl should. She wasn't ready to trust him. Not like that and not yet. She inwardly sighed as she realized that Malfoy had done so much damage after all.

"I...I believe you. And I am sorry Harry. I wasn't calling you a liar. I just…..well I remember things that Lucius said and I am sorry if I am viewing you through the same lense. You most assuredly don't deserve that"

In response he simply takes her hand and kisses it gently. "Minerva, will you be my girlfriend? I know it's only been one date but...I want to further explore what we have here" he asks to which the Scottish witch can't help but falter. On one hand she wanted to be his girlfriend. She wanted to be so much more to him. But on the other, he had just come here. He didn't know any of the other women. He hadn't had any real experience with her or others. She was tainted in the eyes of the school to boot. How could she say yes to that? Not to mention her fears of being used once more, although her heart, her treacherous sadistic heart, tells her that Harry will be different.

"No Harry. Not yet. You….well you may like me, yes but what if it's not more than friends? You haven't been here long enough and we most certainly haven't known each other long enough. It wouldn't be fair to you Harry" she says simply as she caresses his hand, still entwined with hers.

He is silent for a moment but before long he nods. "You make many fair points Minerva. You're very rational. Let me ask another question. May we go out on more dates to get closer to a point where you may answer yes to my previous question?"

Minerva blushes, a little surprised by his perseverance. It wasn't often that pure blooded men were fine with being told no.

"O..of course Harry. But don't be afraid to get to know other women here at Hogwarts. I don't want you to miss out on who you're really meant to be with" she says, hiding her own insecurities.

Harry nods, a light smile playing on his lips. "I will win you Minerva McGonagall. And I intend to keep you when I do" he says, having leaned in so that he was practically whispering against her ear, his breath tickling her skin. She lets out an involuntary shiver, her hand going to his shoulder to push him away, lest she take her original answer back. "Well, be that as it may Harry, you will always be able to count me as your friend" she says with a smile. "Now, be a good date and take me back to the castle".

Courtyard

Ingrid growled again as she say Harry escort Minerva into the open space before the opening onto the great Hall. It was all wrong. He was not supposed to be walking hand in hand with her. These memories were not the Scottish witch's to have. These were supposed to be hers. Stories to tell her cubs when they wanted to know about her school days. She was supposed to tell them that their father had eyes for her and only for her and of how he was besotted with her. She was supposed to tell them that she resisted their father, although that wouldn't be even near to the truth, and eventually caved into his demands for a date.

This was how she saw it unfolding and it was certainly not how things were going.

Luckily for her Minerva rushes off into the castle, having told Harry she needed to meet with Augusta Longbottom. Before she went she kissed Harry passionately, her hands on his robes before she lets him go and a startled Harry quickly comes back to his senses. "I thought you said you weren't my girlfriend?" He teases hopefully to which she smiles. "I am not…..as of right now. That doesn't mean I can't kiss you. Now go make new friends, meet other girls and see me when you know I'm the one for you" she says teasingly before heading off in that direction.

Harry continues to stand in the empty courtyard, a smile on his lips as his hand moves to his lips where she had kissed him.

Ingrid took the time to steady herself, calming her canine instincts into allowing her to take charge as a woman rather than werewolf. 'it'll be much easier to speak to Harry without growling' she says to herself before walking up to the young man and tapping him on the shoulder. "Hello Harry" she whispers into his ear, standing on her tippy toes to reach him, causing the young man to whirl around, ready for a fight.

His eyes soften as they fall on Ingrid and he can't help but roll his eyes. "Ingrid, I'm going to put a bell on you. You're always sneaking up on me" he says chidingly to which she smiles and throws her arms around his shoulders, moving so that they are very close. "Hmm, you smell of McGonagall" she says, her nose now turned up as she gets the scent of the girl off of him. She hoped, desperately hoped, that they hadn't gone farther than kissing.

"Well yes, I have spent most of the day with her" he says, for the first time feeling uncomfortable about their close proximity. Why did it seem so strange to him all of the sudden? She was always very affectionate with him when they were studying at Durmstrang and always more flirtatious than anyone else, especially when it came to him. No other wasn't strange. He was just dealing with Minerva now. He was uncomfortable because he didn't want to seem like he was betraying her, which he wasn't even if he was because they weren't dating.

'This situation is completely strange' Harry thought to himself, his hands on Ingrid's waist.

"You know Harry, I wonder why you never took me out when we were at Durmstrang. We would have had a very fun time. And if you had asked me to be your girlfriend I most certainly would have said yes. All the...privileges included of course" she whispers, her breath tickling against his skin. Harry can't suppress the shiver that involuntarily shakes his frame and he looks down at the dark haired girl. "Well, we, uh, we hung out all the time and I consider you my best friend Ingrid" he says, not knowing what to say as the girl he once thought he knew perfectly comes onto him.

"And where is this all coming on from? How did you know Minerva said she wouldn't be my girlfriend?" He asks, his eyes narrowly as he gently pushes the girl back, gently but firmly. She is off put by his reaction but hides it well, instead smiling gently up at Harry. "Well, I was in the courtyard and I heard what she said before putting two and two together. She turned you down. As for where this is coming from, well it's always been there Harry" she says, her hand moving to his face. "I just never had to worry about anyone else taking what was mine. Everyone at Durmstrang knew you were mine so all those chits stayed away. But I realize now that was selfish Harry. I don't want to be with you on my terms anymore. I want it to be on your terms. I love you Harry Potter" she says before leaning in, her considerable strength able to push her past the young man's hold, before she wraps her arms around his shoulders and kisses him, her tongue moving in to gently explore his mouth.

Harry is once again, shocked, and he stands there, his arms splayed to either side, before he closes his eyes and returns the kiss. Ingrid tasted like nothing else and he wanted to savor it. Until images of a certain Scottish witch entered back into his mind. He pushes Ingrid away, ignoring the scowl on her face as he blushes wildly.

"Ingrid….we shouldn't… do this. I'm sorry but I don't feel the same way" he says not wanting to upset or hurt her but seeing no other way but to tell the truth.

Her eyes narrowed and her lips curl. "And why is that Harry? Because I am a werewolf? Is that it?" She asks to which he quickly shakes his head. "Not at all Ingrid. You know that doesn't matter to me. It's just…..you're my best friend. You're like a sister to me. I just don't see you that way. And….I think I'm in love with Minerva" he confesses simply.

Ingrid laughs loudly, throwing her head back before looking straight at Harry once more. "You just met her and went out on one date with her. There is no way you love her. Aside from that she told you she doesn't want to be your girlfriend. What more of a message do you need Potter?" she asks to which causes Harry to stop and think clear pain registered on his face. It hurts her, to see him upset that is. But he must be broken of his delusions of being with anyone else other than her. When he accepted that she would make it all better. She would soothe and calm every injury or distress of his. But first she needed him to want to be in her arms. And this nonsense about her being a sister to him? That wouldn't do either. Nobody wanted to snog and make love to their sister and Ingrid knew she was certainly NOT his sister.

"And I am not your sister Potter. Remember that. I am a woman. A woman who clearly wants you, and you alone. Discard that nonsense from your mind instantly" she says before moving in close again, her hands going to Harry's face as she looks up at him. "And yes. We are best friends. We always have been and always will be. But…..the best friends are also the best lovers are they not?" She asks with persistence. Harry however, pushes her back once again gently, making the small werewolf want to howl in rage. She hated being pushed away, especially by him. He was never to push her away.

"Ingrid, I'm sorry. I really am but I have feelings for Minerva and even if I don't know exactly what they are they are there. Yes she said no to being my girlfriend and she even said to see other girls but...she is all I want Ingrid. I'm sorry. I don't know where all these feelings came from but I hate that I can't return them. Trust me, you'll find someone special and when you do you'll never let them go and they'll never let you go. One thing you can count on though is that I will always be your friend" he says with a gentle smile, hoping that that had assuaged the girl.

Ingrid is silent and when she looks up at him he can see that her eyes have shifted. They almost looked predatory. "You listen to me Harry Potter" she says, her voice deeper and more menacing. "You are mine. You are my mate and soon, a day very near, you will be like me. I swear it. I do not want your friendship any longer. You owe me much more than friendship for the way you have made me feel about you. That little mousey English witch is not for you and I will do whatever is necessary to make sure you do not win her. You will be mine Harry" she says before pulling him in for one last foery kiss before storming off, tears threatening to spill forth from her eyes as Harry continues to sit there, hoping that what she said wasn't what she meant.

Hey guys, hope this story is okay. Full disclosure I have no idea where I'm going with this. Just shooting from the hip. Let me know what you think.