Author's Note Okay, people, what the hell is up with this utter lack of reviews? I'm a little bit upset by it! Review! If you don't review I don't know you like it and then I stop updating! Let's go!

Last Chapter Raelyn had succeeded. Karlee began to bawl. She was satisfied, even though making Karlee cry wasn't especially hard to do.

"You are a bitch, Raelyn Malfoy!" she screamed angrily and stormed out of the dormitory, Renilda tailing her, calling comforting things.

"Well, at least now I can get a good night's sleep!" Segan said brightly as Karlee's sobs faded. Raelyn caught Brite smiling slightly. She wouldn't punish them. She'd pretend she'd never seen it happen.

Chapter 3

Over the following week Raelyn waited anxiously for her parents' reply about the Tri-Wizard Tournament. She knew she didn't need their permission, seeing as how she was of age, but she still wanted their approval. Finally, it came on the twenty-eighth of September. She opened the evelope reluctantly, fully expecting what she liked to call her mother's 'panic writing' lining the parchment, but what she saw surprised her. Relaxing slightly at the sight of her father's casual scrawl, she began to read.

Dear Raelyn,

Congratulations! You must be so proud of yourself! The Tri-Wizard Tournament is not for the weak of heart. I'm so proud of you!. So is your mother, but she shows it in different ways...

I'm sure you remember that your mother rarely swears. Well, I'm sorry to say that when she received your letter she was cursing like a hag in the Leaky Cauldron. She's very worried about you, after what happened last time. Her favourite phrase has been "No fucking way!" usually followed by the sound of something smashing. She's costing me a fortune in dinnerware. It's not that she doesn't have faith in you, she trusts you, but she's slightly... wary. The crystal is paying for it.

If you're wondering what Harry thinks about this, he trusts you and McGonagall. He says the chances of what happened to him happening to you are slim to none. As for me, I'm all for it, as well. I think you'd be brilliant as a champion. Your mother is the one who needs convincing. I fear I may need to invite your godfather over for a bit to help persuade her.

Now I know you don't need our permission, but you have our blessing, though your mother's will be a little bit slow in coming. I only want you to promise that you'll write to us and tell us all about it.

Love, Your Father,

Draco Malfoy

P.S.

Be careful.

Raelyn refolded the letter, smiling slightly.

"What's it say?" Macon asked, catching her expression.

"Mum's been breaking stuff and swearing," Raelyn replied smoothly. The reaction she was expecting followed.

"Your mum?" Segan asked, shocked. When Raelyn nodded the affirmative, Segan said, awestruck, "Bloody hell..." Raelyn smiled at her friend and a look of amusement flitted over Seth's features.

"Oh, Seth! There you are, love!" An annoyingly familiar voice called from the entrance to the Slytherin common room. Karlee.

"Shit!" Seth hissed as the owner of the voice began making her way towards the small group sitting in the corner. "Raelyn, kiss me?"

"What? No!" Raelyn refused.

"Please?" Seth pleaded hurriedly in a quiet voice. "It's not like you've never done it before."

Raelyn rolled her eyes. "Seth..." she warned as she stood to leave. Seth misinterpreted.

"Thanks!" he whispered appreciatively, grabbed the blond girl's hips, and pulled her into his lap. Reluctantly, Raelyn decided to play along, but scowled at Seth in warning.

"Seth, I was thinking-" Karlee's voice came to an abrupt halt as she gazed at Raelyn, who settled herself on Seth's lap, straddling him, as they kissed eagerly, or so Karlee assumed. His lips were soft and warm as usual, his mouth gentle as it moved over hers. As Raelyn felt his tongue brush her bottom lip lightly, she had to admit they put on a very convincing show. She smirked into his mouth at the look of shock she couldn't see on her dorm mate's face, but knew was there. Seth smiled slightly, too, and playfully bit her lower lip before pulling away slowly. Raelyn played her part and kissed along his jaw and down his throat.

"Sorry, Karlee, you were saying?" Seth asked innocently. Raelyn pulled away and looked at the other girl. She had to see this. Karlee looked back and forth between Seth and his partner in crime before bursting into tears and running away. They watched her go, and as soon as she disappeared down the staircase to the girls dormitories, the four of them burst into laughter.

"That was priceless," Seth concluded, shaking his head, his hands slid from Raelyn's hips as she began to slide out of his lap.

"Did you see the look on her face?" Segan chuckled to Raelyn, who nodded with Seth.

"Thanks, Rae, for getting me out of that," Seth said appreciatively with a heart breaker's smile, and then added with a sidelong glance, "I forgot what a good kisser you were."

"Haha," Raelyn said sarcastically.

"Well, what's there to expect? You learned from the best after all!" her friend proclaimed arrogantly with a wink to top it off.

Raelyn decided to humor him. "Of course, Seth, you taught me well."

"Bloody right, I did!" he affirmed proudly.

Another week passed and another, until finally there was less than a week left before they were scheduled to depart for Durmstrang. Segan's and Macon's parents had both replied to their children's letters with words of pride, encouragement, excitement, and a few words of advice as well. However, Seth still hadn't notified his parents.

Their remaining days passed in a flourish of packing and last-minute arrangements. On the eve of their voyage, a party was held in Slytherin house in celebration. There was Butterbeer, Chocolate Frogs, Canary Creams, and every other manner of food and drink known to the wizarding world. Some of the more devious student had even managed to sneak in Firewhiskey and the like.

Raelyn found Seth brooding in a corner. She made her way through a crowd of mulling people to him, throwing a threateningly cold glare at his silent admirers. The girls immediately tore their eyes from the boy and scattered. Seth didn't acknowledge Raelyn's appearance in front of him. He seemed to be deep in thought, in a trance-like state, his eyes wide open, unmoving and out of focus.

She gently cupped his chin and her friend quickly focused in on her. When he saw it was her he sighed.

"Hey, Rae," he said softly, leaning back in his arm chair. Raelyn took the opportunity to settle lightly into his lap. His arms wrapped around her waist and she leaned back against him, letting her head fall back onto his shoulder and rest there comfortably.

"What's wrong, Seth?" she asked him quietly. The party raged around them, but Raelyn wanted to make sure they weren't overheard.

Seth's chest rumbled at her back with his answer, "Nothing, just thinking."

"About?" she prompted.

"How pissed my dad's gonna be when he finds out I didn't tell him about being chosen for the Tournament," replied Seth after a momentary pause. "I feel bad because he'll probably take it out on my mum." Raelyn felt her friend bury his face in her neck and sigh again, breathing in her scent.

"You haven't told him yet?" she asked, almost certain she already knew the answer. Sure enough, Seth shook his head, face still buried in her neck. "You should tell him," she advised.

His head shook again and his lips moved against her skin as he spoke, "I don't want to." Kissing her neck lightly, his fingers absently traced patterns along the flesh of Raelyn's hands. He exhaled softly and his breath felt hot against her skin.

"Yes, Seth, you have to," Raelyns pressed, not one to be distracted, though she let him continue his ministrations.

"Rae, c'mon..." Seth groaned.

"No, you have to tell them," she said firmly, pulling away from him and straightening into a standing position. "C'mon, I'll come with you." Seth glared defiantly up at her, searching her eyes with his equally blank ones. Finally he inhaled deeply and looked down, releasing the breath loudly.

"Alright, let's go," he said and rose.

The owlry was cool and dark and abandoned when they ascended it's last step. At the sight of his master, Ramses fluttered down from the ranks of owls and waited patiently while Seth scrawled a short letter and attached it to the owl's outstretched leg. Raelyn watched Seth from the doorway, and as Ramses soared out through the glassless window, she saw a flash of regret flicker in Seth's eyes. It hurt her, but she didn't utter a word to Seth as they left the owlry and slinked back to the dungeons.

As soon as they reentered the common room they noted that their presence had not been missed and Seth made a bee line for the boys dormitories. Raelyn followed him until they came to the stairs.

"Going to bed so soon?" she asked him. He paused, one foot on the first step down, and pivoted.

"I'm tired and I just want to get away from all this," he nodded at the party, so uncharacteristic of him. He was always up for a party.

"Alright," Raelyn said finally, "G'night, Seth." She turned and took a step back towards the party.

His voice stopped her dead in her tracks. "Wait." Raelyn turned and looked at him questioningly. "Come with me?"

"Seth," whined Raelyn, "No."

"C'mon, Rae," he persuaded, climbing back onto the common room floor to stand face-to-face with her. "I just don't want to sleep alone."

"No, Seth, I can't-"

"Please?" he asked, interrupting her. Raelyn hesitated. Seth very rarely said please... But she shouldn't spend the night in the boys dormitories... She argued with herself, but the memory of him in the owlry broke her.

"Alright."

She let him tug her down the steps and down the familiar corridor to his and Macon's room that they shared with three other boys. He dropped her hand as they reached the room. He opened the door and Raelyn followed him in, turning to shut the door behind herself. When she turned back around Seth was already riffling through his trunk for his pajamas. She caught the over-sized t-shirt when it was thrown to her and began to change out of her clothes. Seth had found his pajama pants and was doing the same. She pulled the shirt over her head. It almost reached her knees.

She crawled into Seth's bed beside him. As soon as she settled, Seth's arms encircled her, pulling her right up against him. Raelyn let him; she was used to it. His lips grazed her head, her cheek, and her neck.

"Thank you, Rae," Seth whispered lowly and buried his face in her hair.

Macon and the other boys entered to find them like that later, fast asleep. While the other boys snickered softly and made suggestive comments, Macon smiled softly. It wasn't a rare occurrence for Raelyn to crawl into bed with Seth or, on occasion, Macon. Segan was the same, though she restricted herself to Macon only, due to her strange relationship with Seth.

Macon changed and got into bed. Sleep captured him, his last thoughts were of their departure the next day.

Author's Note Remember, review!