DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN ANYTHING HARRY POTTER!!!! IT ALL BELONGS TO J.!! THE ONLY THING WE OWN ARE OUR OWN IDEAS, PLTS, AND OCs!!!

This story is co-authored by XxCynthiaDeadwoodxX (aka me (Izzy)) and SlytherinLuver (Amanda).

Chapter 4

(Amanda's POV)

I woke up to the sunlight streaming in through the window and glanced around the room. A wall clock indicated that it was only 4:30 A.M.. I rolled over and pulled the soft blue blanket over my head. When I laid still for more than five minutes and got nowhere near falling back to sleep, I threw the cover off of me and swung my legs over the side of the bed.

When my feet touched the cold floor, I flinched from it, pulling my legs up to my chest. Slowly, I put my feet down again, anticipating the coldness and not flinching from it. I quietly stood and tip-toed over to my trunk.

I opened it, thankful that I had the hinges oiled and it didn't squeak. I pulled out the outfit I had set on top the night before so that it'd be ready this morning. (Thankfully, we didn't have to wear the Hogwarts uniforms for the first term.)

I pulled it on and glanced in the mirror hanging on the wall. I looked so pale compared to the dark blue off-the-shoulder baby-doll top and dark capris. I slipped on my black ballet flats and quickly braided my hair expertly. My natural red streaks created swirls in the braid and I left some of the red hanging out of the braid in my face.

I grabbed a deep, offset red ribbon with a garnet, crescent moon and tied it around my neck. I also grabbed a matching pair of earrings. They dangled down to my chin, glinting in the light from the window. I dug through my jewelry bag and slipped on a sapphire ring in the shape of a sun, and a matching bracelet.

I sighed as I looked more closely at my reflection. I looked fourteen though I was only eleven and I hated it. I always looked more mature than I really was.

I walked quietly across the room and out the door, swiftly gliding down the stairs. I whipped across the deserted common room and out the door. I caught sight of the long railing on the side of the stairs and got an idea. I hoisted myself up onto the rail and pushed on the wall. I stifled a shriek as I went flying down it. My hands covered my eyes as I spun around and around for about five floors worth of stairs.

I came to the bottom and tried to stop when I saw Malfoy, Mark, and some other Slytherins walking past. When they heard my shriek, they stopped and stared at me. I really tried to stop now, but I ended up flying off the end, doing a flip through the air and landing on top of Malfoy. I pushed myself up onto my hands and realized my face was inches from his, his gray eyes wide from shock. I blushed and jumped up, muttering a quick apology and running off quickly.

I rounded the corner and leaned against the wall, "Stupid, stupid, stupid! From now on, no more sliding down the railings!" I pushed off the wall and ran down the Grand Staircase and through the Entrance Hall. I pushed open the large doors and took a deep breath. I smiled and ran down the hill towards the lake.

When I got to it, I sat down against a tree and took out my sketchpad. Before drawing though, I wrote a message to Erika.

(Erika's POV)

Meanwhile…

I woke up to Lavender's snoring in conjuction with Romilda's loud breathing. I turned over onto my other side and rested my weight on my arm. I glared at the prone forms of my dorm mates before plopping back down onto my bed. I grabbed my pillow and used to it cover my ears.

It did nothing to help what-so-ever, so I threw my pillow onto the floor and got up quietly. I walked into the connected bathroom and turned on the water.

Then I walked back out and started going through my clothes for an outfit to wear while the water was getting hot. I pulled out my outfit for today and walked back into the bathroom, closing the door. I stripped of my PJs and climbed into the shower.

***********

My shower only lasted about ten minutes, and when I climbed out, the air chilled me. I quickly dry my hair and twisted the blood red towel. I slid on my black polka dotted bra and matching panties. I pulled up my tight bootie shorts showing the bottom of my butt, then pulled a small rope belt through the loops. I grabbed my top and pulled it over my head.

I turned to the mirror to see my reflection. My pale complexion stands out against the rare Gryffindor colors I hardly ever wear. I wore a blood red camisole with lace along the top of my breast.

On the sink sat my gold dangly earrings, bangles, and black choker. I put each on and glanced at my refection again. Everything looked the same as always, down to the sapphire sun pendent on my choker necklace and earrings.

I walked out of the bathroom and went back to my trunk.

'I can't believe I forgot these.' I thought as I pulled out a small bag with a ring and bracelet in it. My father had told me these were gifts to my mom from one of her two closest friends, and I intended to wear them.

I lifted from the bag a garnet colored crescent moon ring and a bracelet with the same garnet shape. I slipped them both on and smiled happily.

A slight tapping on the window beside my bed grabbed my attention and I turned to see a light gray owl there with a letter tied to its leg. I opened the window and it fluttered onto my bed, lifting its leg up and waiting for me to untie it.

I slipped the letter from the bird and opened it.

'Erika,

meet me down by the Black Lake. I'm behind the willow tree on the eastern end. You won't see me until you get level with it.

Amanda

P.S. Sorry if this woke you up, but I need someone to talk to.'

I sighed and grabbed my small handbag before walking toward the door. As I got closer, Paravati and Hermione both sat up and asked tiredly, "Where are you going?"

"To meet my friend Amanda. Wanna come?" I offered.

"Sure." They both threw their covers off and darted to their trunks, grabbing their clothes and pulling them on. We left the girls' dorm together and crept quietly through the common room. We ignored the fat lady in the portrait as she reprimanded us for being out before it was time and we cracked jokes about her accent.

We slipped quietly down the Grand Staircase and out the large doors. I ask Paravati and Hermione if they knew where the eastern end of the lake was, and Hermione pointed in the right direction. Even from here we could see the large willow that Amanda said she was sitting behind.

We ran down the hill, stumbling over rocks and stubs of grass. Reaching the willow, we heard a drawling voice.

"Malfoy," I sneered slightly.

(Amanda's POV)

Malfoy stood above me, smirking as the other Slytherin boys taunted, "Zabini and Sere sitting in a tree: K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love then comes—"

"Then comes my fist crammed into your mouth!" Erika says as she stumbled down the hill and around the tree. She positioned her fist near Malfoy's face, and held his shirt in her other hand.

Two other girls came around the tree and stood near me. I knew the Slytherins expected me to be upset and scared, and Erika and her friends expected me to need comforting, but I just busted out laughing hysterically.

All of the kids present just turned and stared at me like I was insane. It was especially Malfoy, Mark and Erika to look like I was a nutter they just realized was present.

Erika raised an eyebrow at me, asking silently if she could continue with what she was waiting to do. I just smiled at her and she took that as a yes, so she punched him lightly in the jaw. Malfoy stepped backwards, rubbing his sore jaw but still smirking.

"Need this vampira to fight your battles, forme a tramoyista?" he sneered.

*I threw my sketchpad to the ground, got up and stalked over to him, getting right in his face. I was so close that I felt his breath on my cheek as I leaned over to whisper in his ear, "Yo le digo ahora, usted pastey encaró ningún mocoso rico, estropeado y bueno." I paused and smirked as I felt him take in a deep, shaky breath. I saw goose bumps appear on his flesh and the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end in anticipation, "I puede luchar mis propias batallas, usted justo no es suficiente de un hombre de tomar lo que imparto. Y Erika, bien, ella fue justo el primer al puñetazo." I started pulling back before laughing and adding, **"Ah, y a propósito, yo soy WAAAY" I scoffed slightly, "demasiado bueno para usted y para sus actos de la inmadurez, crecen así, y quizá. ..maybe usted tendrá una oportunidad."

I stepped back and smirked as Malfoy looked between the four of us girls and stalked away. I turned to Mark and pointed at him out of all the other Slytherins who were backing away, "You." I pointed at Erika, "You. Come."

Now was the moment for me to think about the odd sparkling in Mark's eyes whenever he saw Erika.

Erika raised an eyebrow, "What are you doing?"

I smiled, "Oh, nothing." I turned to Mark, "¿Así que cuándo iba usted decirme que usted estuvo enamorado de ella?" ***

Mark narrowed his eyes at me, "Yo no estoy en el amor con un dhampire, Amanda. Usted sabe que yo nunca adoraría una criatura como ella." ****

I chuckled as I noticed Erika's sudden confusion before looking back at Mark, "Por supuesto usted hace no, el osito de peluche. ¿Entonces por qué será que cada vez usted le ve sus ojos se iluminan?" *****

Erika snapped her fingers in front of our eyes, drawing the attention to the fact that Mark and I were really close and glaring at each other angrily. She looked pissed as she said, "Me no speaky Español. Only English, if you don't mind."

The two girls who came with her started laughing slightly and I rolled my eyes. "Erika, Mark, come with me for a minute. Sorry, guys," I added to the other two, "this'll be real quick and then we'll be back."

They nodded and I dragged Erika and Mark, each by one of their arms, to the side of the lake.

"What the hell are you up to, Yin?" Mark asked.

The corners of my mouth lifted up into an evil smile as I suddenly pushed both of them into the water. Luckily it was shallow, so neither had the opportunity to drown, but the water currents were strong, so they'd have to work together to get out of it.

Erika fell into the water with a shriek that caused me to fall to the ground laughing. Mark looked at me from the water and glared before trying to walk towards me. The water twisted around his legs and caused him to tumble towards Erika. She caught him and kept him from going under, and she helped him stand up.

I got back up off the ground, though I was still laughing insanely, and gave them a small military style salute before walking back to the tree and the other two girls.

I smiled, "I'm Amanda. You are?"

"Hermione Granger," replied the bushy-haired girl.

The other girl, who looked Indonesian, smiled, "Paravati Patil. It's nice to meet you."

"You too." I smiled, "I see you're entertained by my little…stunt."

"Do you think we should help them out? We're going to be late for breakfast and getting our schedules." Hermione said, biting her nail.

I sighed guiltily, "I feel kinda guilty…but then I remember what Mark did to me the one time and I feel loads better about it." I smiled somewhat evilly as I picked up my sketchpad. I raised an eyebrow, "Coming?"

"But, what about…?" Paravati indicated Mark and Erika in the water and I sighed, walking over and yanking the two out. Mark performed a small drying charm on himself and Erika before we all set off up the hill.

I muttered to Erika as we walked, "So much for my talking to you. Come on, let's hurry or else the food will be cold."

***********

We came up to the crest of the hill right by the greenhouses and turned the corner towards the entrance doors. Erika and I weren't paying much attention so we ended up plowing right into an older student, a Hufflepuff…a cute Hufflepuff.

I noticed a light go on in Erika's eyes as she gazed at him.

'Well, it's no wonder why I find unrequited love so amusing. It creates love-triangles.' I thought as I looked from Erika's awed face, to the boy's boyish grin and then to Mark's jealous rage showing in his eyes.

"I'm so sorry…?" I left it as a question so as to find out the boy's name. God knew Erika was too busy staring to talk. She blushed when she saw my look and looked down at her own feet.

The boy smiled at her, "Cedric. I'm a fourth year and I was just helping Professor Sprout get everything ready for the first year classes." He eyed Erika and I, "You two look new. I don't think I've seen you before."

"That's probably because we're first years," I said.

"Really?" he looked shocked, "You look fourteen."

I brushed my bangs behind my ear and smiled, "Yeah, I get that a lot. I don't know about Erika, but she probably does, too, even though she's a little tongue-tied at the moment."

Erika hit my arm forcefully and glared. I just laughed internally and smirked.

"Amanda, you know I'm not always tongue-tied. It's only when I'm around cute—" she shut her mouth quickly, causing Paravati, Hermione and I to giggle.

Cedric just raised an eyebrow before turning to me, "Would you like me to walk with you to breakfast?" He glanced at the others, "It would seem Erika and…Zabini…need to change their clothes, and these two girls" he indicates Hermione and Paravati, "probably wish to go with their housemate."

Hermione and Paravati shared a look and nodded, "Yeah, we'll go with Erika to get changed. We'll see you at breakfast, Amanda!" They dragged Mark and Erika away, Mark looking smug and Erika wearing a look of pure, cold-hearted hatred. I flinched mentally before smiling.

"Shall we head in then?" he asked. I nodded and he took my bag from me and slung it over his shoulder. "So, are you one of the Americans?"

"Yeah," I watched him as we walked towards the doors from the greenhouse. "I live with my half-brother, Justin, and our dad in Washington."

He turned to me, wearing a crooked smile that made me weak at the knees, "Are you missing home at all?"

"A little," I answered, "but I still have Mark, Yang, and…well, Erika, though I just met her yesterday." I shrugged sheepishly, "She's usually less quiet…She's usually more hyper than a crazy cat addicted to Catnip and that hasn't had any in the past five seconds."

Cedric laughed heartily, "Maybe she went to rehab yesterday while we were sleeping."

We came to the doors leading into the Great Hall. The sounds of talking and silverware against plates echoed through the open door way. A few people sitting right next to the open doors saw Cedric and I and started whispering to their neighbors, resulting in a suffocating silence as we walked through the door.

I hesitated on the threshold, but Cedric just grabbed my hand reassuringly and led me to a neutral table. Everyone there wore mixed colors; some green, some blue, some red and the rest yellow. Everyone turned to watch Cedric lead me to the table by the hand…carrying my books…smiling like an idiot.

Ooooh, crap.

He helped me sit down and then sat down right next to me. I helped myself to some eggs and toast as Cedric quickly talked to a few of his friends. He positioned himself to talk to me and I went to take a bite of toast.

Before I could even bite into the food, I heard Mark yelling, "Amanda, hide!"

Everyone started muttering and looking curiously at the door as Mark yelled, "She's on the loose!…Somebody get something to tie her down with!…I need some toast here people!"

"Excuse me for a second," I said to Cedric politely, and I jumped up from my seat. I ran out the door and up the Grand Staircase. The sight that greeted me caused me to stumble backwards slightly. It was very unpleasant.

There was Erika trying to fight against Hermione's and Paravati's hold. There were two other Gryffindor girls there also trying to hold her back. Mark was searching for something on the floor: probably toast. When Erika saw me she struggled harder.

"What the hell is going on?" I asked, concerned for Erika's state of mind.

Erika growled, "You friggin stole him from me! You knew I liked him, and you flirted with him!"

"Hold up," I walked up to Erika, "Cedric is his own person. He can choose to hang out with whoever the hell he pleases. I did not steal him from you, especially since it isn't possible to steal something from someone who doesn't and would never own it."

Erika broke free of the four girls' grasp and lunged at me. She hit right against me and we tumbled down the stairs, kicking and hitting at each other and pulling each others hair. Luckily the staircases didn't move as we tumbled down them, and when we reached the very bottom I kicked her off me.

All the students and teachers rushed out of the Great Hall when they heard the final, resounding crash, and Erika and I stopped fighting and stood up.

Erika muttered, "Smooth."

"It was your own fault!" I snapped.

"Really? Really?" she wore a look of confusion mixed with hatred and faked a fall to the ground, "Ow! My ankle!"

Professor McGonagall rushed forward, "What is going on here?!"

Erika had fake tears streaming down her face, "Amanda came at me all of a sudden and we fell down the stairs. I don't know why she did it, but –"

"That is such a lie, Davis!" I heard someone say. I turned to see the two girls whose names I didn't know coming down the stairs. Mark was behind them with Hermione and Paravati running after them.

"All right, each of you, tell me what happened." McGonagall demanded. Erika restated her story, and Hermione and Paravati supported it. When she turned to me, I told part of the truth…

"It was all an accident, professor. I heard Mark yelling, so I decided to see what was wrong. When I got up where they were, Erika was struggling against Lavender, Romilda, Hermione and Paravati. Apparently she got a…" I paused to think, "A letter from her father. It said some things that are quite personal to Erika and she was angry. The others didn't know that Erika would calm down when she saw me, so she struggled more against them. When she broke free, she tripped over her own feet and crashed into me."

McGonagall eyed me for a few seconds before looking at Mark, Lavender and Romilda, "Is that what happened?"

"Yes, ma'am." They all nodded.

She eyed all seven of us before simply saying, "Ten points from Gryffindor for each of you five for unsafe behavior on the staircases. Ten points from Ravenclaw and Slytherin each for causing disruptions." She went to turn away but looked back. She pulled out her wand and conjured seven parchments, "Your schedules, but I do believe Miss Davis and Miss Sere will be missing their first classes. Mr. Zabini, please, carry Miss Davis to the Hospital Wing. Mr. Diggory, help Miss Sere."

She turned on her heel and walked through the throng of students, "Back to breakfast! Now!"

(Justin's POV)

Meanwhile…

I was eating my breakfast when everything got quiet before muttering began. I followed everyone else's gaze to the doorway, where Amanda stood with some Hufflepuff boy. She looked hesitant, but the boy took her hand and pulled her along towards the neutral table.

I narrowed my eyes at the guy as I realized everyone was whispering. He was holding her hand, carrying her bag, smiling like an idiot, and helping her sit.

I was about to get up and talk to her, but my vision blurred as I went to get up. I sat back down as an image filled my head:

Amanda jumping up from the neutral table as Mark's voice yells throughout the school. She runs out the door and her footsteps echo as she runs up the stairs. There's fighting, though the words are distant, and then a shriek.

Loud bangs and crashes float through the door to everyone in the Great Hall, and everyone gets up and runs out, including me. When we get to the bottom of the Grand Staircase Erika and Amanda and standing up and staring at us like they were about to die.

Erika's hair is all over. Tangled and knotted, her hair stuck out from her head.

Amanda's hair, which had been in a braid had come loose and was just as tangled as Erika's if not more. Both bare bruises, but Amanda has the most that are already noticeable.

Erika falls to the floor in pain –

"Dude, you okay?" a voice snapped me out of the image. I turned to the voice and the kid said, "You were staring all wide-eyed and entranced at McGonagall. It was kind of freaky."

The kid was a pudgy redhead with curls falling in his eyes.

I rolled my eyes, "I wasn't staring wide-eyed and entranced at McGonagall. I just had this weird…" I trailed off, unsure of what exactly had happened. Before I could say anything else, Mark yelled, "Amanda, hide!"

We all turned to look out the open doors, "She's on the loose!…Someone get something to tie her down with!…I need some toast here people!"

My mouth dropped open when I realized that that was what Mark yelled in that weird image thing. I whipped my head around to look at Amanda just as she jumped up from her seat and ran out the doors, footsteps echoing.

Yelling followed before a shriek ensued. Bangs and crashes filled everyone's ears and we all got up and went out to the Entrance Hall. When by the Grand Staircase, I saw Erika and Amanda as I had in the image: hair everywhere, standing up, and bruises littering Amanda's body.

Erika muttered something to Amanda, which she retaliated against before Erika fell to the floor with a cry of pain.

McGonagall pushed past us, asking what had happened. Erika replied immediately with tears running down her cheeks. She said that Amanda had launched herself at her and I imagined kicking Erika for lying. I knew that Amanda wouldn't do anything like that, especially since she was too shy to do anything.

Some Gryffindor girl called Erika on her lie, and McGonagall looked pissed and demanded each of them to tell her what happened.

In the end, fifty points were taken from Gryffindor and only ten from Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Nothing too major, but Erika and Amanda still needed to go to the Hospital Wing. I shook my head at the morning's happenings and just turned back into the Great Hall to finish my breakfast.

A/N: Hoped you liked this chapter! We wanted something different and comical to happen, so TA-DA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (If you ask my advice, don't oush your friend down the moving staircases...It hurts.) -----Izzy

SlytherinLuver ---- Translations: Spanish to English:

* (Amanda to Malfoy) "I tell you now, you pasty faced no good spoiled rich brat"..."I can fight my own battles, you're just not enough of a man to take what I dish out. And Erika, well, she was just first to the punch."

** (Amanda to Malfoy) "Oh by the way, I'm WAAAY to good for you and your immaturity acts, so grow up and maybe"..."maybe you'll have a chance."

*** (Amanda to Mark) "So, when were you going to tell me you were in love with her?"

**** (Mark to Amanda) "I'm not in love with a dhampire, Amanda. You know I would never love a creature like her."

***** (Amanda to Mark) "Of course you wouldn't, Teddy-Bear. Then, why is it every time you see her your eyes light up?"

Izzy ---- We finally got some awesme reviews! Thanks to Ninimaru Uzumaki for our very first review, and BlueSunsetWaters! BlueSunsetWaters earned a Virtual Cookie, so therefore BlueSunsetWaters must inform Amanda and I what kind they would like. !_!

Anyways, hope you're enjoying this so far and we'll update soon! Please follow the Three R's...Read, Review, Re-read! ---SlytherinLuver

Izzy--- Just think of us as a less famous version of Stephanie Meye and J. K. Rowling, and we teamed up for the best story ever! --- SlytherinLuver