It wasn't long before the seventh years called it a night, they were more than tired from an eventful day of classes, and Ripley knew that she wasn't the only one who cherished sleep like it was going extinct. The Gryffindor's fell into bed, prepared for a restful night's sleep, but in the third year's dorm, Ron Weasley awoke to Sirius Black leaning over him with a glinting knife. Minerva McGonagall kept her cool even as she began evacuating the Gryffindor Dormitory. She sent the first, second and third years out with one of the prefects, waited for the next prefect to return before sending the fourth, fifth and sixth. She reached the seventh years at the top of the circular stairwell. "Come, everyone up! Quickly," McGonagall's voice held little fear, but her nerves were fraying.

Jess groaned from her bed. "'Fessor McGonagall?" The Head of house tapped Jess' leg.

"Now Jess," Minerva moved along as the girl sat up. The seventh years were the last to be woken up, because they were older, they knew how to defend themselves. She scowled at the lump that was Ripley Todd. "Ripley up!" She tugged the sheets away from the American who cursed to the high heavens. Rae and Alice were scrambling out of bed, accents thick with sleep egging Jess to get out. Rae grabbed Ripley's arm on the way and yanked, the hockey player grabbed her teddy bear on the way out, cursing softly.

They joined the mob of students in the hallway. "Fuckin'A!" Ripley cursed quietly to the girls, her bare feet stinging from the cold stone floor. "Whoever's bright freakin' idea it was to wake us up at midnight is on my—"

"Quiet Ripley," McGonagall ordered. "We'll sleep in the Great Hall tonight."

"First years?" Ripley, now awake and alert, drew even with Minerva.

"First ones out."

"What's happening?"

McGonagall opened her mouth to tell the girl before remembering her place. "Miss. Todd."

"All right, all right, I'll listen to the rumors." Ripley fell back among her friends. They entered the Great Hall to see the entire school, faculty included in pajamas, and Dumbledore conjuring sleeping bags. It took twenty minutes for everyone to settle, Sirius Black's name on everyone's lips, circling like wildfire. Ripley lay in a circle in the far right corner of the hall with her friends, the twins, Carson and Oliver. She was squeezed in-between Jackie and Oliver in a poufy purple sleeping bag. She had her stuffed bear, dressed in a Bruin's uniform, matching her own jersey she wore and booty shorts, as the Americans called them, which had Snoopy on them. Unlike her friends who had short lacey night gowns, or like Jess who were matching pajamas year round, she went for comfort, and unlike Oliver she couldn't sleep with just pants; though she had no issue looking at him.

Oliver lay awake and felt Ripley gently bump him as she rolled over once again in a ten minute span, a turn every few seconds, her sleeping bag rustled and unzipped. Stealthily, she crawled out and knelt next to Jackie's bag, checking on her. Sweet innocent of sweet dreams left the heart shaped face looking more like a child then an eleven year old. She smiled, moving a tendril from her cousins' cheek. There hadn't been any fights within the last week, her grades were good, and she was spending more time with her friends that she had made.

Ripley stood, stepped over Wood's body, and made to walk forward. A hand wrapped around her ankle, she muffled her scream with her hand. Her hand dropped to her throat as her breathing steadied. "Yer not goin' anywhere," Oliver whispered, voice rough with lack of sleep. He tugged hard on her leg, caught off balance she fumbled around and fell to his side with a quiet thump.

"What the hell?" she whispered heatedly.

"Yer not goin' anywhere," he repeated with a yawn.

"What if I need to go to the bathroom?" she challenged. They both knew better, she had been going to snoop around and find out if she could get into a scuffle with Sirius Black.

"Hold it," Oliver watched her dark form scoff softly, and slip back into her sleeping bag, with a tired pull on the edge he tugged her close enough to his body to wrap his arm around her. "Go ta sleep, lassie there's nothing here." She heaved a sigh, she hated to admit it, but she felt safe with him. A little crack broke into her hearts defense.

Ripley turned to face him, snuggled a little closer; she covered his bare arm with hers. He was out in five minutes; softly she grazed her fingertips over his stubble roughened cheek. "I don't know how to love you." She moved her hand away, rested it on his forearm again and closed her eyes. She slid into dreams of the Highlands of Scotland, and the man who would take her there someday.

McGonagall paused at the last group of Gryffindor's as she completed her 5am loop of the Hall. Jess and Carson lay together, spooning through sleeping bags, she smiled an unlikely pair to say the least, but love was often blind. Alice, Rae and Jackie were in a heap, overlapping each other like kittens to keep warm in the chilly Great Hall, but the one pair that caught her eye, the one pair that had her smiling and thinking I knew it, were Wood and Todd. They lay together as intimate as lovers, contentment on both young faces. Minerva mused, fire and ice; Ripley's hot temper, fueled by anger and rebellion. Oliver's coolness matched it, cool towards harsh comments, and calmness in the heat of things. Oh yes, of course they switched off with it, but they were a complimentary pair.

She watched as Ripley pulled away from Oliver and sat up, ran a hand over her face, and scanned the Great Hall. Minerva shook her head and turned away from the group. Ripley was once more on guard and prepared for the worst.