Title: Show Me Your Colors

Author: Sweet Canadian

Email: sweet_canadian@pigpig.net

Category: Romance

Ships: mainly Draco/Mika with traces of Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione

Rating: PG for kissing, mushiness and things younger readers may not understand

Summary: Mika is slowly drifting away from her best friends...and into the arms of the Fab Four's most hated enemy. Is there something more behind the hateful facade that Draco puts on? Is he scum like his father or something else? As the fiery redhead discovers the true Draco, thanks to Professor Snape, she begins to question everything, from her best friends' opinions of the blond to her own confusing feelings. Is Mika, whose hate for the boy was the most passionate and fiery of the Fab Four's, under his spell or is it...true love?

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Basically, I don't claim to own anything in this story!

Author's Note: Well, this is the halfway point of the story practically. Mika patches things up with her best friends...she starts hanging out with people who aren't Gryffindors. What else can I say??? I don't really know...

~*~*~^~*~*~^~*~*~
Chapter 8: All Is Right Again...Mostly...

~*~*~
"Come on, people, hustle, hustle, HUSTLE!!!" Harry screamed at us.

Ron, Ginny, Fred, George, Katie and I flew around the Quidditch field a little faster. Harry was really power trippin' and I couldn't stand it! Training is training though and I really couldn't complain. It was part of the game that I loved since forever.

"Okay, people!!! Chasers, takes shots against Ron!!!" Harry screamed again after 10 laps, "Beaters, you guys practice keeping the bludgers away from them."

We did as we were told and continued our training.

"Mika, you okay?" Katie asked me as we passed the Quaffle around.

I glanced at Ron and Ginny and replied, "Yeah...sure..."

"She's still upset about last month..." Ginny explained, "Which I still think she overreacted..."

"Hermione, Ron and Harry seem to think my loyalties are mixed up!" I replied pointedly.

As she took a shot against Ron, Katie replied, "Relax, Mika, everything's gonna be okay!"

~*~*~
After a totally exhausting Quidditch training session, we all headed back to the Common Room. A whole bunch of people were there and Professor McGonagall was trying to get everyone's attention.

"Students!!! Students!!! STUDENTS!!!" she said in her stern voice.

Everyone stopped what they were doing.

Professor McGonagall went on, "Students, tomorrow morning, there will be a carriage leaving for Hogsmead for students third year and above who have signed permission forms."

Another Hogsmead weekend...I had the tendancy to skip that since this school year started. I mean, third year, it was cool...fourth year, yeah, it was okay...but the novelty's wearing off. I guess Christmas shopping's the reason I'd want to go...or maybe to buy someone a birthday gift. But it wasn't the most important thing to me to go there.

~*~*~
After grabbing a bite and studying in the library, I headed for my dorm. I walked to my bed and saw Hermione sitting on it.

"Mikaila Avalon, we need to talk," she told me, looking me straight in the eye.

I sighed and replied, "What's there to talk about?"

"Plenty...like what happened these past few weeks..."

"There's nothing to talk about, Hermione."

"Listen, you wouldn't have given me the cold shoulder if I hadn't used that card against Malfoy...I see how miserable you are during Potions and I feel bad. Could ya forgive me?"

I looked into her eyes and sighed.

"Listen, Herm, I've just realized that...there are more people at Hogwarts than just you, Ron, and Harry. I've decided I want to expand my horizons. This isn't about you anymore, it's about me...my growth. I'm not upset at you anymore."

Hermione's eyes seemed to comprehend but I saw fear. She didn't believe me when I said I wasn't mad.

"So, we're still friends, Mika?" she asked me.

"Sure...you can tell Harry, Ron and Ginny that too...I'm just trying...to find myself...and find what I really want," I explained.

"Is this about..." she began, then lowered her voice, "Draco?"

"I need to know where I stand with him," I went on, "I mean, for all we know, that nice act could be his idea of a sick joke..."

"I thought so at first, but..." Hermione said, her voice fading.

I thought about it for a bit. I mean, for the past month, Draco wouldn't talk to me. I don't know why I felt bad about that...I mean, if he doesn't talk to me, he's not insulting me...but the tension was rough for me. I wanted to be friends, I wanted to have a friendly conversation with him. I don't know why, but I can't get this perfect Draco out of my head. I really should stop dreaming about that...

Finally, when curiosity overwhelmed me, I prodded, "But what?"

Hermione looked at me surprised. "You really wanna know???" she asked me.

"Yeah..." I answered honestly.

She raised an eyebrow and replied, "Are you sure??? You promise you won't bite my head off?"

Maybe Hermione could offer some insight...maybe it's not so farfetched for him to like me or for me to like him.

"I promise," I told her.

Hermione took a deep breath and said, "Well...he's been acting strange. He's been in crowds but he wasn't enjoying the attention he's gotten...he doesn't seem as arrogant he usually was...and he asked about your birthday party. He tried to make it seem like he was interested just so he could gather up a bunch of Slytherins to crash it...but I doubt that's what it was. Of course I told him you were mad at me and that you hadn't invited me but I heard Hufflepuffs talking about it."

"Oh of course you're invited, Herm...so are Harry, Ron and Ginny!!! I'm sorry about this past month and a bit..."

I didn't realize that I wasn't the only one who had changed.

"It wasn't completely your fault..."

Hermione and I hugged each other and I was glad we'd finally patched things up!

"Hey, are you going to Hogsmead tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I guess I am, Herm..."

"Have fun!"

Hermione sat on her bed, and things were finally back to normal between us.

~*~*~
I found Ron, Ginny and Harry in the Common Room. Ginny was watching Ron and Harry as they played Wizard's Chess.

"Can we talk?" I asked them.

"What's there to talk about?" Ron asked, then mumbled, "Check."

"Plenty...like how I've been a total brat for the past month," I replied as Harry moved his piece.

As the game went on, Ginny said, "Okay, we're listening..."

"I was just so confused and I didn't mean to take my frustration out on you. Hermione and I talked and she made me realize that I was wrong. I overreacted...I shouldn't have jumped to the conclusion that you guys thought that I wasn't being loyal."

"So you thought we thought you were a traitor?" Harry asked me as he moved another piece.

I nodded slowly.

"I'm sorry you felt that way," Ron said, taking his turn.

Ginny smiled and replied, "See...everything's okay now! This past month was just a huge misunderstanding!"

I smiled at all of them and we shared a good group hug.

~*~*~
I went to bed that night feeling a lot better...I hadn't lost my best friends! I still wanted to after Draco...he was hurt and I wanted to show him that I wasn't the enemy. I spent a good part of the night looking up at the ceiling before falling asleep.

~*~*~
I woke up the next and got ready for my trip to Hogsmead. Hermione, Lavander and Pavarti were too.

"So you gonna be hanging out with your new friends?" Hermione asked me.

"For a while..." I answered.

"Have fun..." she said to me.

"Yeah...don't worry though, I'll hook up with you guys later though..." I assured her.

"Okay...that would be great!"

We all headed out to the Common Room.

~*~*~
After Professor McGonagall sorted us all out, we headed out to the carriages. She gave us all permission to sit with our friends from other houses so I went to join up with a group of Hufflepuffs. Hannah and Susan were sitting together in one carriage, along with Kerriann Veerman and Laura-Elizabeth Moore. I sat next to Hannah and smiled.

"Hi-ho!" Kerriann greeted me, returning my smile.

Hannah smiled back at me too and said, "Glad you could join us!"

Susan and Laura-Elizabeth smiled too and I waved at them.

"So Mika, how's life treatin' ya?" Laura-Elizabeth asked.

I smiled and answered, "It's good, really..."

"That's good to know," Susan said.

"Hmmmmm, you know what I heard?" Kerriann piped up.

My eyes and Susan's turned to face her. We were both curious. Hannah and Laura-Elizabeth rolled theirs.

"What is it???" I asked.

Kerriann smiled and said, "Apparently, there were two students outside past curfew a couple of weeks ago...and they were snogging by the lake."

Feigning interest, I asked, "Oh my gosh! Seriously??? I never heard...! Guess I've been too busy!"

"Well," she continued, "The reason the rumor's been spreading like mad in our house because one of them was a Hufflepuff...at least, that's what's going around."

Rolling her eyes again, Hannah said, "That's not true! It's just a stupid rumor! If anyone goes out there snogging past curfew, it's got to be a Slyhtherin..."

"Maybe it's a girl Hufflepuff student snogging with Malfoy!!!" Susan whispered.

"EWWWW!!! Sue!!!" Laura-Elizabeth said in a disgusted tone of voice.

I just kinda tuned out the conversation...no one knew the details but how could people have known Justin and I were outside? And who the hell thought we were snogging??? Well, the good thing, if there is a good thing about a rumor, is that no one knows it was us out there.

~*~*~
Once we got there, the girls and I went shopping around Hogsmead.

Our first stop was Honeydukes. Kerriann's eyes lit up brightly the second we entered the store. We went for all our favorite things, like Sugar Quills and Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans and all sorts of sweets.

"Hmmmmm, you think Ryan Cauldwell would like all this???" Laura-Elizabeth asked.

"The best way to a man's heart is through his stomach..." I said, "...although men aren't exactly what we're dealin' with right now...more like boys!"

"Close enough!" Kerriann said, "Just a technicality, Mika!"

Hannah added, "Relax, it's all good, Laura!"

We looked around, ate free samples...

~*~*~
Later, we headed towards a boutique called 'Magical Style' to check out the latest threads out there and to see what kind of dress robes we could buy. When we came in, I found that Hermione and Ginny were in the store too. After the pleasantries were exchanged and everyone was introduced, we decided that we'd all browse the store together.

Laura-Elizabeth and Susan went in one direction while Hannah and Kerriann went in another. Hermione, Ginny and I were by the dressing rooms, looking at the newest collections of dress robes, the 'Moonlight Princess' collection, by Sophia Desire, one of the most popular fashion designers in the wizarding world and the 'Angel Sweetness' collection, by Serena Logan, an up-and-coming designer. Hermione seemed bored, complaining about how she got dragged by Ginny to the store.

"I don't see why people enjoy shopping so much!!!" Hermione commented, "It's a waste of money, and a lot of standing around and looking..."

"Geez, everything's so expensive..." Ginny whispered.

I said, "You've got spending money, Gin! What about Harry's prize money from the Tri-Wizard Tournament that he gave you??? I mean, he loves you...I'm sure he meant for that to be a gift..."

"Yeah, but every knut counts and you never know when that money could come in handy..." she explained.

"She's right," Hermione piped up, "This is just a waste of time and money!!!"

She seemed bored...

"It's time to splurge!!! Besides, this is kinda a necessity..." I told her, "You can't wear your brothers' dress robes...you're the only girl, you need this."

"True...but mom said she'd make me one...and she bought me one secondhand!"

"That saves money..." Hermione pointed out.

"Ginny, I'll buy this one for you!!!" I said at the same time.

Ginny smiled at me, and I took it as a yes. While Hermione waited by a mannequin, Ginny and I began grabbing dress robes left and right. Ginny grabbed a light blue one, I grabbed a red one and we each ducked into a dressing room.

"Hmmmm, I really like this one!" Ginny commented, "It's from Serena Logan's 'Angel Sweetness' collection..."

"That's great!" I told her.

I looked at myself in the mirror and noticed how sophisticated and older I looked.

"I have to see you!" I told them.

"Okay," Ginny replied.

"On the count of three, we have to come out together, okay?" I continued.

Ginny answered, "Okay!"

"One, two, three!" I said then I came out.

I saw Ginny come out. We looked at each other and smiled.

"You look totally awesome, Ginny!" I said.

"You too," she said.

I began to twirl around a little. Ginny was smiling and giving me this 'Oh-grow-up-you're-so-immature!' look while I saw Hermione's gaze drift off. I stopped and looked at Hermione.

"What?" I asked him.

Hermione said quietly, "Hmmmmm, nothing, just don't look behind you..."

The second she said not to look behind me, I turned around and accidentally hit the person behind me with my hand...Draco. I stared into his eyes and he did the same into mine. I heard the sound of a bag falling on the ground but I didn't move my eyes. He didn't either.

"Well, if this is a staring contest, I bet a galleon on Mika!" Ginny said jokingly behind me.

Finally, Draco said, "Hey...you look...nice."

"Thanks," I said softly. I painfully pulled my eyes away from him and picked up the bag next to him. "Did you drop this?" I asked, extending the bag out to him.

"Yeah," he said quietly, taking the bag from me.

"Well...I guess I better get going..." he said.

Alecia and Katia came from another aisle at the other end of the store with their own bags and walked over to Draco. He smiled very lightly before turning and leaving with the girls, so lightly that I was the only one who noticed.

"Goodbye, Draco..." I said softly to Draco's retreating back.

When Draco, Katia and Alecia left, Hermione said behind me, "Are you okay???"

"Yeah...I'm fine..." I said to her.

I went to the cashier with Hermione and Ginny to join Kerriann, Hannah, Laura-Elizabeth and Susan.

"Was that Draco Malfoy himself???" Kerriann asked.

I nodded, taking some of my money out of my yellow velvet pouch.

"Maybe he wasn't the one..." Hannah said.

"Or maybe it wasn't a Hufflepuff...maybe he was snogging another Slytherin..."

"What are they talking about, Mika?" Hermione whispered.

With a shrug, I whispered back, "It's a rumor in Hufflepuff house that people were snogging outside after curfew...a Hufflepuff and someone else..."

Hermione gave me a curious look as the Hufflepuffs quit gossiping and we all paid for our purchases. As a group, we decided to go to the Three Broomsticks to get some butterbeer and cauldron cakes.

~*~*~
At the Three Broomsticks, we took a table for ten and put all our purchases on the three extra chairs.

Kerriann was explaining the rumor to Hermione and Ginny while Hannah, Susan and Laura-Elizabeth were talking about boys. I kinda just pretended to listen for a while...I had drifted off...my thoughts were someplace else...with someone else.

"You know what I heard?" Laura-Elizabeth's question brought me back to reality.

"What's that?" Ginny asked.

I quickly began to listen.

"Well...I heard that a male someone in Hufflepuff house has a mad crush on a female Gryffindor..." she announced.

I laughed lightly. Ginny smiled and Hermione became even more curious.

"Oh yeah," Hannah said, "I heard that..."

"Well, you practically invited everybody who's a somebody to your party, right?" Kerriann said.

I nodded.

"Maybe he'll reveal himself there..." she continued.

This should be fun...

As the girls were talking, my eyes drifted off to another table full of male Hufflepuffs, including Justin Finch-Fletchley. I quickly focused my eyes back to my butterbeer.

Later, I heard a giggle from Susan and Laura-Elizabeth. I looked up and found that the boys had made their way to our table. I waved and smiled politely at Justin, who had this shy look on his face. I sighed when they left.

We gossiped some more over butterbeer and cauldron cakes and had a few good laughs. Overall, the day was great!!!