A/N: OMG it's the final chapter! I'm so happy i'm going to cry. I'm pleased to say that Mistake of Mischief right now is just about to reach 800 hits so BIG thanks to all you awesome people out there that took the time to read my story, cookies for everyone! I would also like to thank all those that reviewed your words of encouragement really meant a lot so you better know who you are =) So now I present to you all the final chapter I hope this lives up to your expectations which I really hope it does as I'm just biting my nails in anticipation to your reaction. Once again THANK YOU all and enjoy!
It was Saturday and it had been a week since Krista's return to her normal life. Well, as normal as life could be for a witch of the Wizarding world. Krista was once again attending her classes and was warmly greeted by her teachers, besides Snape, of course. Her fellow Ravenclaws welcomed her return enthusiastically, happy to have their team Chaser and classmate back. Everything seemed to be back to the way it was as Krista sat with Becca and Luna under the grand oak in the good old West wing courtyard. Classes were over for the day and outside it was partly cloudy, but it still remained warm enough to enjoy the Fall day. Before they would know it winter would be here and their time would be spent almost entirely indoors.
"By the way, just how did you figure it out?" Becca asked out of the blue.
"Figure what out?" Krista replied.
"Not you-Luna," she clarified looking to her other friend, "How did you figure out about Krista being a cat and all?"
Krista couldn't help but laugh, "You're just asking this now? But ya, how did you do it, Luna?"
"From what Becca had told me about what Professor Trelawney told her," she answered them.
Becca shook her head in slight disbelieve, "You got Krista being turned into a cat from stonewalls, a chilly draft, and catnip?"
Luna nodded her head, "Of course. By stonewalls and the chilly draft she obviously meant the dungeons. And catnip connected with Krista being a cat herself. I'm surprised you didn't see it for yourself."
"I know, Becca, it was so obvious," Krista laughed. It amazed her sometimes how Luna's mind worked.
"But, of course."
Krista got the giggles out of her before addressing her friend, "Luna, you're my hero. If you hadn't shown up in the nick of time who knows what might have happened in that Potions class."
"Snape would have skinned you alive," Becca offered.
"Not before punishing Parkinson for owning that pig cat of her's."
Becca paused in thought for a moment, "That was a cat?" her response caused another round of laughter from three of them. As they started to calm down Becca saw Krista quickly look over to the corner across the courtyard trying not to get caught by the others. Sadly, she wasn't fast enough not to be noticed by Becca.
"You know who still hasn't made an appearance," she observed seeing the spot where the Slythrin prince usually occupied at this time of day.
"So?" Krista replied nonchalantly.
"Come on, you don't remember anything from your time with him?" referring to Krista's time spent as a cat.
"I've told you before, Becca, I don't. No matter how hard I try the memories just refuse to focus."
Becca let out a huff of air, "Well, that sucks. The one opportunity you have to spend a little alone time with the guy and you can't remember a thing. You know plenty of girls would have died to be in your position."
"I thought you despised Malfoy after what he did to Krista?" asked Luna.
"Well, he did say he took care of her the whole time so I decided to let him off the hook. For now, of course." Next time she wouldn't be so nice about it.
Krista scoffed at her, "How very good of you to find it in your heart to do so."
Becca shrugged her shoulders, "What can I say? That's just the way I am." Becca let a short pause past between them before asking, "So, nothing?"
"Nothing." Becca seemed to think that the more she asked Krista about her memory the sooner she would be able to remember. Maybe she would remember over time, but who could say for sure?
Dropping the subject Becca silently began to pick at the blades of grass at her feet.
"So have either of you finished Snape's essay yet?" Luna asked offering a topic to get the conversation going again.
"Ugh!" Becca groaned, "Don't get me started on that…."
As Becca went on complaining to Luna about their latest dreaded Potions assignment Krista slowly began to tune her out as she wondered where the self righteous prince was.
Later, after supper, Krista found herself heading up to the Astronomy Tower. She just found that she needed a little time to herself. Ever since her return Becca and Luna had been around her constantly, afraid that she would disappear before their eyes. Their company didn't annoy Krista, by any means, but every teenage girl needs a little alone time.
Leaning on the railing at the top of the tower Krista breathed in the fresh air as she watched the sun begin to set behind the mountains that surrounded the school. The sky was a dazzling display of colour. A vibrant array of blues, yellows, and reds lit up the sky as she watched the sun slowly make its dissention over the horizon. Birds could be made out in the distance as they flew gracefully over the Black Lake that reflected shimmering ripples of light on its surface. Krista couldn't have imagined a more perfect view. Closing her eyes Krista welcomed the feeling of the chilling air on her skin.
"So, what's a little bird like you doing up here?" a voice said breaking her out of her thoughts.
Krista knew very well to whom the voice belonged, "I could ask you the same thing, Malfoy." Turning to face him she saw that he was still dressed in his school robes just as she was. Krista had barely seen him all week except in class and seeing him stand before her now just seemed unnatural. But here he stood more arrogant and cocky than ever as clearly shown in his over confident posture.
Malfoy shrugged, "I suppose you could, but not before you answer mine first, Autwin."
"What? Is there something wrong with watching the sunset? Is that such a crime?"
"Not really. Though it almost seems a crime that you are all on your lonesome without Looney or Odeir sticking to you like glue. Those two have been clinging to you all week." And he would know as Malfoy had been closely watching the Ravenclaw all week trying to find an opportunity to speak to her privately. Though until now her two friends hadn't let her out of their sight.
Krista couldn't exactly deny that fact knowing just how true it was. "So, what are you doing up here?" she sighed leaning back against the rail. Krista wasn't exactly up to putting up with his words games tonight.
"What do you really remember, Autwin?" he demanded his teasing tone changing into one of suspicion.
"Just what I've been telling everyone else, nothing." Krista was getting tired of repeating herself, "I don't remember anything, Malfoy. I'm not lying."
He scoffed, "And I'm just suppose to believe that?"
"What reason would I have to lie?"
"I can think of plenty."
"Look, I don't know what you're afraid of me telling people, but I don't remember anything. And even if I did I'm not the kind of girl that goes around blabbing to people like so many others. I'm not like that," she insisted trying to convince him that indeed that she remembered next to nothing about the entire incident.
Malfoy didn't know what to make of the Ravenclaw. Perhaps she was being honest and she did in fact have no recollection of anything he had said. But, if she did remember anything, Malfoy knew well enough that Autwin was unlike most of the girls at Hogwarts. She didn't run her mouth off like the lot of them did. "You are a curious one indeed, Autwin," he couldn't help but smirk.
Krista looked disbelievingly at his sudden change of attitude, "What's that suppose to mean?" taken aback at the comment.
"Nothing. Look, I just wanted to come up here and give this back to you." Unslinging a bag off his shoulder Malfoy held it out to her by the strap.
Krista instantly recognized the item as she accepted it. "My book bag. I thought it was gone for good." She couldn't remember how she misplaced it, but she had been using an old tatted one of Becca's for the past number of days. She was hoping of purchasing a new one on their next trip to Hogsmeade.
"Found it the night I found you," he confessed with what seemed to be a touch of embarrassment.
"I never did thank you properly for that." Looking inside Krista noted that all the contents of it where accounted for: her leather glove, pencil case, and even her beloved sketchbook. This had to be some trick surely. There had to be some kind of catch.
"No, you didn't," Malfoy smirked, "and my charity does come at a price, Autwin." This was the perfect opportunity to push Autwin to her limits. He couldn't simply let her off the hook and have her thinking that he was going, Merlin forbid, soft.
'There it is,' she thought. Nothing came without a price from a Malfoy of all people.
"Oh, really?" Krista responded in kind with sarcasm.
"Yep, at the price of one kiss."
Krista laughed nervously at this, "You can't possibly be serious."
Malfoy slowly strolled up to her, "What can I say, Autwin? You owe me." Sure some people would call it mean, but this was a chance to get what he had been wanting for a long time without admitting it outright. And sooner or later Malfoys always got what they wanted.
Malfoy now stood less than a meter in front of Krista not giving her much room for maneuverability. He was a little too close for her comfort. This was all a joke. right? Malfoy really didn't expect her to kiss him, did he? A kiss from her was the last thing she expected him to bill her with of all things. Krista was getting more nervous than she already was. She could already feel her hands getting sweaty. It wasn't that she didn't want to kiss him she just didn't want to kiss him this way. There had to be a loophole out of this.
Krista got the nerve to look him in the eye once more just to clarify, "You're serious about this?"
Malfoy could clearly see the blush start to creep on her cheeks obviously embarrassed by his small demand. She had no idea what she did to him, "Oh, I'm serious, Autwin. And you're not leaving here till you pay up."
It seemed that she had little choice in this matter. Releasing a defeated sigh Krista stubbornly slung her bag on her shoulder, "Fine."
Malfoy was pleasantly surprised at her response. He had thought that she would have a least put up somewhat of a fight. Seeing Autwin move in closer Malfoy let his eyes close as she leaned up on her tiptoes to close the distance. But he never felt the contact on his lips instead he felt the smallest peck of a kiss on his left cheek.
"You didn't say where, Malfoy." With that said Krista quickly passed by him and made for the door that would lead her downstairs back to the Great Hall to rejoin the company of her friends.
The way that her voice had ghosted through his ear sent an involuntary shiver down Malfoy's spine. Letting his eyes open Malfoy was able to see the last few moments of the burning sunset just before it slipped behind the snow-capped mountains leaving only a small trailing glow in its wake.
'Just like she did,' he thought as he unconsciously touched the spot where Autwin had cunningly placed her kiss. Krista Autwin was bright, beautiful, and warm, just like the sun. And just like the sun she was here one minute and gone the next disappearing for the night to take over. But she would come back and this time he would not screw up his chances as he so famously did before. He, the night, would make the sun his.
"Little rascal she is."
A/N: PLEASE review cause that is my life and breath in this awesome, crazy, writing fanfic world. Also for those that really enjoyed this story and would like to see more please definitely let me know your thoughts as I am thinking about writing a sequel. Now if you are really happy with that idea than I would luv to hear any suggestions as to what I can do to improve or anything that you would like to see happen in it.
Thanks a million to all you wonderful readers out there! Ta ta for now =D
Silvergrace