Chapter 6

Keely searched the first edition of the Hogwarts Herald, looking for her column. It was on the second page and her eyes sparkled when she found it.

Dear Readers,

Welcome to Ask Honey, your Hogwarts Herald advice column. I'm Honey and I'm here to help you with your life troubles. Girl/guy problems, troubles with a teacher or subject, or anything else, just write to Honey and I'll give you the advice you need to get you through your day.

Just send your anonymous letters to Ask Honey, care of Professor Flitwick.

I look forward to being your mentor!
Yours sincerely,
Honey

She closed the paper and set it aside as she reached for her plate of bacon, eggs and toast with raspberry jam. She took a sip of milk and speared a bite of egg with her fork. She couldn't reveal how pleased she was with seeing her article in writing, because Hermione was the only one who knew Honey's true identity and that would not be changing. And Harry, Ron, Fred and George were all within hearing distance.

She did wonder how many students would write and when the letters would begin filtering into Flitwick's office.

Ron was sitting directly in front of Keely, too focused with his food to notice the two girls talking, Hermione to his left. Hermione winked and whispered, "Someone can't take his eyes off of you."

Keely looked at her best friend quizzically and mouthed, "Who?"

Hermione motioned with her head to a spot behind Keely, before ducking her head with a sly smile and taking a bite of her own breakfast. Keely took a bite of her toast and casually looked over her shoulder in the direction Hermione had indicated. There was no one staring.

She turned back to her friend and said, "What are you talking about? I didn't see anyone."

Hermione giggled. "He became interested in his breakfast as soon as he saw you turning around." She took a sip of orange juice. "Remember that conversation we had with Harry, Fred and George on the first night back?"

Keely groaned. She hated being reminded about the fact that she had humiliated herself to some unknown person with the answers she had given on the rubbish newspaper application. "How can I forget?" she sighed. "What about it?"

"Well, I don't think we can rule out all of the Slytherins," said Hermione, nonchalantly.

Keely had just taken a mouthful of milk and at the declaration she choked and spewed it across the table right into Ron's surprised face. "What?!" she cried.

The students at the Gryffindor table looked around at the shout and upon seeing Ron dripping with milk, they laughed heartily. Ron's face went red. Hermione shook with silent laughter as she conjured a handkerchief and began a gentle mopping of his face.

"I'm so sorry," laughed Keely, her hand over her mouth.

"That's funny," grumbled Ron, "You sure don't sound very sorry." He yanked the handkerchief from Hermione's grip and roughly wiped the rest of the wetness away. "What was that for, anyways?" he asked grumpily.

Keely sobered somewhat and was actually able to say without breaking into laughter again, "I really am sorry, Ron. I was just shocked at something Hermione said." She reached across the table and took the cloth from Ron. "You missed a spot," she said as she wiped a spot that was lingering near his hairline with a small corner of the handkerchief. She did it with such care that Fred and George erupted in a fresh wave of laughter.

"What's so funny now," asked Ron, turning red all over again.

Keely looked curiously at her favorite twins of all time.

They raised their eyebrows at her and said, "You acted like our mum just then."

Keely gave a small snort as she brought the handkerchief to her mouth and dabbed it on her tongue. She stood and reached across the table once more and firmly took Ron's chin in her free hand. "What, you mean this?" She wiped at a spot on Ron's nose with the saliva-dampened end of the cloth. She gave the tip of Ron's nose a friendly kiss before she sank back to her seat.

Fred and George guffawed then Fred said, "Hey, Keely? I think I have something on my lips. Could you clean it for me?"

"Oh, well. . . Here you go," she said as she handed the handkerchief to Fred who was sitting at her right side. She winked playfully at him.

"Oh, come on, honey, what will it take to get you to go out with me?" he asked, half desperately.

Keely choked on another mouthful of milk and Ron was once again showered. "What did you call me?" she asked, thinking that he had somehow found out about her column. She hadn't even started it yet. How could he know?

Fred looked unabashed. "I rather like the sound of me calling you 'honey,' don't you?"

Relief washed over Keely and she laughed as she conjured another handkerchief for Ron. "Oh, yeah, and then I could call you 'Freddie weddie,' or perhaps 'snuggle bunny,'" she teased in a simpering tone.

Fred beamed and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "You can call me anything you like. I especially like 'snuggle bunny.' It gives the impression of cuddling on a sofa in front of a fire on a snowy day."

Keely rolled her eyes at him and lightly punched him on the shoulder as she rose and lifted her leg over the long bench seat.

"Where are you going?" asked Fred. "Classes don't start for another thirty minutes."

"Well, not that it's your business, but I need to use the loo, and I forgot my charms homework in the dormitory. I'll see you all later."

"Do you want me to come with you?" asked Hermione.

Keely looked at Hermione's unfinished breakfast and said, "Nah, stay and finish your breakfast. I'll see you in charms."

"Do you want me to come with you?" asked Fred as he pushed his empty plate away from him, a mischievous smile on his face.

"Please do," she answered sarcastically. "You can hold my hand while I pee, to make sure I don't fall in."

"Alright!" Fred cried triumphantly as he began to rise from his seat.

Keely laughed and pushed him back to his seat. "Oh, just sit down! I'll see you later," she said as she strode out of the Great Hall.

Unknown to any at the Gryffindor table except Hermione, a pair of gray-blue eyes at the Slytherin end followed Keely's progress from the hall. Hermione's eyes narrowed curiously as Draco rose from his seat seconds later and turned in the same direction her best friend had just disappeared from.

-:-|-:-

Draco followed Keely through the corridors, staying far enough behind that he didn't draw attention to himself. He watched silently as she turned into a bathroom.

-:-|-:-

Keely hummed happily to herself as she exited the bathroom and continued her way to the dormitory to fetch her homework. The halls were seemingly empty, everyone was still in the Great Hall for breakfast. She turned a corner and hit into someone. 'Oh Merlin!' she thought bitterly. 'Why can't I go anywhere without plowing someone over? Three times this year, already!' She shook her head, her eyes closed. She opened them and saw someone's chest. She groaned audibly as she took in the Slytherin emblem on the school robe. She hardened her face as she looked up. Draco Malfoy was staring down at her. His ice blue eyes boring into her violet ones. A smirk played across his face.

"Fancy running into you again, Chambers. Or should I say, fancy having you run into me again?"

"Move it, Malfoy!" She tried to shove past him, but he had a hand fastened to her shoulder.

She glared at his hand malevolently then up to his face. "If you don't mind, I'd like my shoulder back before you soil it too badly."

"Oh, but I do mind, Chambers. This is what, the second time you've run into me? I believe I told you I might have to put you in detention."

Keely glared hard at him, sensing where he was going with it all. "Just try it!" she hissed.

His eyes narrowed as his smirk widened. "I think I just might."

"You have to have a good reason for putting me in detention, Malfoy. Dumbledore and McGonagall don't let prefects put students in detention unless they were clearly breaking rules! I didn't break any rule! But if you don't move I may just break your nose," she said sweetly.

"Temper, temper," purred Draco as he moved his hand from her shoulder up to the back of her head to play with the soft spikes of her hair.

Keely jerked away from his hand and slapped him across the face with all her might. "Hands off!" she spat as she pushed past him as hard as she could, gone was her good mood of the morning. 'Now I need another shower to wipe all of this slime off!' she thought angrily.

Draco stared after her, rubbing his cheek, his smirk, if possible, even bigger. Before she was out of hearing distance Draco called, "When are you going to admit it to yourself that you don't hate me nearly as much as you want to, Chambers?"

Keely stopped short as if suddenly frozen and swallowed a sudden lump of apprehension that had formed in her throat, she turned around to look at him. For the briefest moment she forgot to keep the glare on her face. Her eyes were round and full of curiosity and shock. Was Draco admitting to having feelings other than hate for her? It sounded like it. Their eyes met, free of malice on both sides.

He looked like a different person to Keely. Without the sneer, his eyes looked warmer. She shook her head, remembering who exactly she was looking at and said in a light tone, "When hell freezes over, Malfoy, when hell freezes over."

Thanks to everyone that's reviewed this. I really appreciate your support!

~Dayna