"Should we wake her?" a deep yet smooth voice enters my dream. This voice rumbled and I felt the voice from the surface my head was on.

"She was up late patching us up," another voice says.

"She looks kind of cute," another adds.

I let a yawn out. I snuggle closer to my pillow and hold it tighter.

"She doesn't seem as scary now," the second voice says.

"Shush," I demand in a sleepy mutter. "Sleep."

Silence. I smile as my head shifts on the pillow. Thump. Thump. My eyes fly open.

I sit up and pull away from the bare chest my head had rested on. Remus smiles shyly at me. My face flushes a red that would battle my hair.

I stand and look at my watch. 9:57.

"Merlin!" I cry out. "I'm going to be late for my date."

I ignore the looks as I gather my things. I rush down the stairs and into the hole. Feet pound after me.

"Date?" Sirius asks as he and James catch up. I had been jogging.

"Who asked who?"

"Who asked when?" Sirius amends.

"Theodore Revette asked me on my way to Divination yesterday."

"Theodore?" James asks in disbelief.

"Good job," Sirius says thumping my back.

I groan in pain. I push on. My back hurt from when the dog tripped me. Sirius lifted me without warning. Before I could cry out I was sitting in front of the hole.

I sat stunned by the bright light of the sun. Dust, cobwebs, and dirt cover my hair.
"Move your arse," Sirius snaps pushing me.

I fall over and gaze up at the sky. I jumped up when his head peaked out. My feet pounded the ground as I ran for the commons.

Girls yelled as I threw the door open. Most were dressing. I push past them and into the shower. I didn't care if the door was open and a girl was putting make-up on.

I was out quickly. I pulled on a white blouse and white flowing skirt. My hair was hanging down in wet locks. My watch was on and I had a white clutch.

I ran out of the dorm and Common jumping and trying to get my heels on. I jumped in place while one didn't want to go on.

A hand held my elbow to steady me. I put the shoe on and stood, flipping the hair from my face. I blush. My blue eyes locked on to his brown ones. His brown hair was messy, but cute.

"Sorry about that. Woke up late," I say dropping the acting over my normal indifference.

"It is alright. You're only a little late. So, fashionably late," he says smiling at me.

I smile back. The short sleeved blouse was great. It was a rather warm day for fall. We went up to the Entrance with our arms linked.

Sirius, James, and Remus were there with two girls. Peter was staying for a tutoring session.

They looked at me. I waved with a smile as we went out.
"What are the plans?" I ask as we walk into Hogsmeade.

"I thought we could look in the shops. Around noon we could go to The Three Broomsticks, if you like. Then I thought you might have some shopping you need to do."

I look around. People were noticing me again. I shrug it off as we look in a window. The joke shop. I have no use for such things. Theo walks toward the next. Quality Quidditch. He opens the door for me.
We look at the brooms. I had a Cleansweap. That is all I need. He was telling me about the brooms.

"This is the fastest for those with skills. Slow with maneuvering. The cushioning charm is weak," Theodore explains.

He had me in here for a few hours now. I looked out the window. Sirius was out there with his date and Remus. He was looking for something. Remus was watching me. I blush lightly.

I duck away from the window as Sirius looked toward me. Theodore was oblivious to it all. His eyes were on the broom. I smiled and looked interested when ever he looked up.
"Ethriana," a voice drawls happily from behind me.

I turn to look at the person. Sirius, pulling his date along. I lift one perfectly arched brow. Theodore had stopped and looked up.

"Sirius Black," I drawl back.

"What are you doing in here?" he asks making it seem like a fluke that I was here.

"Looking at broomsticks."

"I thought you had one."

"What do you want, Black?" Theodore asks frowning.

"Just visiting a friend."

Dear Merlin. A macho contest. I roll my eyes. Remus stood like the third wheel.

"How are you today, Remus?" I ask with a smile.

"Good. You?"

"Good, just a little peckish."

"Have you not eaten?"

"You haven't eaten yet?" Sirius cuts in. "It's almost 2. You haven't even had breakfast."

He was starting to rant. I frown. Theodore was getting angry at how he was pointing out his flaws. I grab Theo's hand.

"Excuse us while we go find some polite company," I hiss at Sirius. "Excuse me, Remus. Anna."

I lead Theodore from the shop and the stunned Sirius Black. I smile at him as he takes the lead. We enter the Three Broomsticks. It was crowded, but Theodore pushed in.

He pulled a chair out for me. I smile as I smooth my skirt and sit. He pushes the chair in before sitting next to me.
Lucius sat with Narcissa Black. Regulus had no date. I smile at them. They nod. Narcissa smiles at me. I spot Severus at the table.

"Hello," I greet.

"How is your date?" Narcissa asks.

"Greet."

"What would you like?" Theodore asks.

"A water and salad."

Theo stands and heads to the bar. I flip my hair from my eyes. Severus passes me a book. I look at the title. Potions.

I smile as I sit back and open the book.
"I'll give you mine tonight."

"You trade books?" Narcissa asks watching me read.

"Notes."

"Trade notes?"

"Trade notes."

"Why?"

"Why not?"

She smirks at me. I glance at her.
"Here you go," Theo says putting my order in front of me.

"Thank you."

I eat in silence. Theodore sat with his friends. I read the book while eating. I sit for a bit.
"What would you like to do?" Theodore asks after a while.

"I have to buy more parchment, quills, and ink. Then I thought we could stop at the sweets shop after I stop in at the book shop."

He smiles. In the book store he holds my bag and book from Severus. I stand in front of a shelf in the very back. I lean against the shelf while flipping through the book.

It was an advanced book on potions. I snap it shut and turn to grab the other book I had pulled out. I was taking my time.

"Why are we hiding back here?" Theodore ask understanding that I had come to hide.

"Sirius has been following us since we left the Quidditch shop. He won't look for me here. He hates books."

"Why is he following us?"

"I think he wants to know how the date is going or ruin it. He has been working with July on getting me a date."

"Working on what? Why?"

"I've just come out of my shell. Or how ever July explains it. I'm being assimilated to people. I'm not one for crowds or such. So she and Sirius are trying to make me outgoing and nice. Either way he has started to become a pest."

He laughed. I flushed but tried to act it out.

"I was wondering how you go from Pureblood to regular. You're good," he says looking at me in a new light.

"Does this mean I can quit acting with you? At least when not in public."

He laughs. I just look at him calmly. A head pokes around the corner. Lily and July. What on Earth?

Theodore doesn't notice. My eyes return to my book. I gather the books and straighten.

"Sweets next?" he asks offering an arm.

I loop mine with his and pay for the used books. Outside I spot James hassling Lily. Huneyduke's was crowded.
Theo holds my bags and puts an arm around my waist. I ignored it as I found a huge box of chocolate and a box of candy sticks. Both were huge boxes.

"Stocking up?" the man behind the cash register jokes while tying a ribbon around the boxes.

"Yes. Always best to get them before the rush."

I smile as I leave with Theodore.
"Theo act like you're telling a joke," I say glancing over my shoulder.

"Still following us? Does he do this a lot?"

I laugh and smile happily at him. Sirius looked relaxed now. Theodore smiles back.

"Only today. So why did you ask me out?"

"You looked pretty and I thought a girl who can look after herself would be a nice change. I liked how you stood up to Davies. How you talk to who ever you wish. I like your company. You don't push me to act like a Slytherin Pureblood. Or push yourself on me. Or talk constantly about frivolous things."

He smiles at me. I smile. No acting this time. I felt at ease with him like I do with Severus, Lily, Remus, and July. I didn't think I would like him.

"To tell the truth; I didn't think I would like today. I had told Sirius that I liked you so he would quit pestering me about a crush. You're different than I thought you would be."

He smiled at me. His hand slipped into mine.

"Glad I met your standards. Would you like to date? I know you're a year bellow and all, but..." He nervously pulls his hand through his hair.

I pause. What would one say? I hardly know him. I smirk up at him.

"Why not?" I ask shrugging.

He walks me to my commons and waits while I drop my things off. I come out with my hair half up in a clip.