MNS: Hey, guys. I know it's been a while since I've updated. I have the chapters pre-written, so I try not to post them all at once. Since I've not written much for upcoming chapters, I've almost forgotten about this story. Sorry.


Part 12

"Tori? Tori, wake up."

I groaned and rolled over, only to find grass in place of my bed. "I fell asleep outside again, didn't I?" I mumbled into the grass.

"Yeah, you kind of did."

Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes and stretched – then promptly laid back down and tried to sleep.

"Tori, it's almost 11. You've already missed breakfast. Do you want to miss lunch, too?"

"Alright, alright. I'm up. Sheesh."

He helped me up and I dusted myself off. "Tori--"

"Ugh. I have to get a shower at this time?"

"Tori–"

"It's still too early."

"Tori!"

I jumped about 5 feet in the air. "Oh! How many times have I told you not to do that!? What do you want?" He looked hurt. Instantly, I regretted saying that. "I'm sorry, Draco. What did you want to say?"

"I just wanted to know...last night, what I said about...what we had--"

"What we have, you mean. Oh, Draco. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let him get to me like that." I pecked him on the lips. "Now come on, or you're gonna make me late for lunch." Taking my hand in his, we ran up to the castle.

Valentine's Day

"Go on. Open it."

I carefully opened the wrapping paper and lifted the lid of the box. Inside was a beautiful silver necklace. It had a heart and two small diamonds. "It's beautiful, but...I didn't get you anything. I'm sorry."

"I don't need anything. Here," he said, "Let me." Reaching out, he took off the ruby necklace he had given me (yes, I've worn the jewelry he gave me. All of it, I might add) and put on the new one. "Perfect."

It was just about dinner, and, of course, I was headed towards the Great Hall when someone's hand was placed on my shoulder. "Tor, we really need to talk."

"Not now, Harry. It's dinner time."

"Yes now. I can't stand you ignoring me all the time."

I sighed – partly in defeat, partly because I was sick of ignoring him, and partly because...well because I was missing dinner. "Lead the way."

We were walking down by the lake; I tried to skip a few rocks across the lake, but to my dismay, they fell into the water after about two skips. "I don't know how many more times I can say I'm sorry, Tor. I just...I just don't want to see you get hurt."

"Harry, I'll be fine. I can take care of myself. Besides, how many times have I saved your neck — in the past year or so, I might add?" He sighed. "Look, I know, as my older brother, it's your job to look after me. Ever since we were little, you've be there. You have a place in my heart, Harry, and you always will. But so does Draco. And one day, you're going to have to accept it, no matter how you may feel about him. He does love me."

"I'm glad you found someone, but Malfoy? Why not someone else? Like...Neville!?!"

"Neville? The guy's my friend, but I wouldn't take it further. Plus, he asked Luna to be his girlfriend today. So, dating him might be a slight problem."

"Alright," he sighed, "You can date him — but I still don't like him!"

"You don't have to. Just don't hex him or anything." He nodded and I ran and gave him a hug. Unusual for me.

"Come on. Let's eat." We went inside and, after dinner, Harry told Draco that if he ever did anything to me, he'd kill him. Needless to say, they began to argue. I sighed. Boys.

A few months flew by and now it was May. Joy. Don't get me wrong. I love May, but something about it makes me kinda depressed. Maybe it's the rain, I don't know. But I digress. It was around five in the afternoon one Saturday and I kept hearing students as they went to send presents to their moms and loved ones for Mother's Day. Everyone was excited and hardly two depressed faces could be found. Yes, I said two. I was the first, but I don't think there was a second.

I ran outside and down to the lake, my intentions bad. I dove into the freezing black waters. The chill from the water seeped through my clothes and my skin. In a way, it was soothing. It numbed the pain, but did not make it go away. I embraced the freezing water, wanting it to take the pain completely away. My lungs began to scream. I needed oxygen and I needed it fast, but I didn't stop. I was so close. Just a bit more—

I gasped and took deep breaths, everything spinning. Actually, I felt like I was high in the air. I looked down. Oh, snap! I am! I was 30 some feet in the air, sitting atop one of the giant squid's tentacles. I frantically looked for my wand, then remembered I had left it on the ground. Panic overtook me, but then the squid lowered me down to the ground and disappeared. Struggling, I stood up, my wet hair, clinging to my neck and face. I would have shivered, but I was no longer cold – or wet, for that matter.

"Tori! Are you ok? What happened? You had me so worried!"

"I'm fine," I said, my voice shaking.

My green eyes met with his blue-gray ones. He leaned in to kiss me, but I turned my head. I was too...depressed is a good word, I think. I would have run off, but his firm grip held me in my place. "Tor," was all he could say.

"Just...leave me alone," I replied sadly and ran off.

"What's wrong?!" he called out to me before he fell to his knees. I ran a good 20 yards before I finally collapsed beside the lake, my tree a few yards behind.


Draco's Point of View

I saw her run down to the lake, tears in her eyes, so I decided to follow her. I saw her dive into the icy water when I was still a good distance away. I broke into a run, hoping I wasn't too late. By the time I got down there, she was being set down by the giant squid. I quickly mumbled a spell and instantly she was dried.

"Tori! Are you ok? What happened? You had me so worried!"

"I'm fine," she replied.

Our eyes met and I leaned in to kiss her, but she turned away causing me to brush her cheek. She was about to bolt, so I held her tight. "Tor," I managed to say. I didn't really know what to say.

"Just...leave me alone," she sadly replied, before running off. "What's wrong?!" I called out as I fell to my knees. "What did I do?" I muttered.

I heard footsteps, but was still to stunned to really care.

"Malfoy! What did you do?" That pathetic Gryffindor and his gang ran up to me.

"Me? What makes you think I did anything?"

"Well, maybe because you were talking to her and she suddenly ran off!"

"First of all, I didn't say anything to upset her. Secondly, if you had been paying any attention on the way down here, you would have noticed her being set down by the giant squid after taking a little swim in the lake."

He grabbed my shirt. "You're a liar! Why would she have done that unless you did something to her earlier?"

"I don't know what's wrong with her? If it's something I did, then please! Tell me what it is!" I looked from him to Tori.

He looked like he was about to beat me within an inch of my life. "Harry! We don't have time for that! We have to go check on Tori!" Reluctantly, he let go of my shirt and ran off with his friends, and I was right on their heels.

When we reached her, she was talking to what appeared to be the icy black waters of the lake. "Why couldn't you have left me? I was so close."

"Tori!" She turned her head away slightly and stopped talking. I stood a few feet away as they all gathered around her.

"What's wrong? Are you alright? What happened?"

"Nothing, guys. I'm fine," was all she said as she stood up and walked over to the base of the tree and sat down. Her mudblood friend sat down and tried to get her to talk, but nothing would work.

"Guys, I don't want to talk right now, okay?"

"You should, though. It helps, I promise."

"I know, but...maybe later."

"But tomorrow's Moth--" Harry looked at her, then at his friends. They nodded and left, leaving me and the twins out in the cold night air.

Walking over to the tree, Potter sat down and put his arms around Tori. Apparently, this was all that she could take. She cried into his chest as he sat there, stroking her hair. "Shhh. It's alright. I miss them, too."

After a few minutes, Tori calmed down enough to talk, although she kept her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry I made you worry," she sobbed.

"It's fine. But tell us next time, don't run off." Nodding, she wiped her eyes and sat up. "Come on," he said, "Let's see what's in the kitchen, huh? I know you love going down there."

"Thanks, but maybe later. I just wanna sit out here for a while." He nodded, got up, and made his way to the castle.

She jumped a bit when I sat down beside her and put my arm around her."Oh, it's you. You startled me."

"Sorry. Are you ok?"

"I think so," she replied, but as she did, I saw the tears form again. "I've never really let it bother me this much, is all. Normally, I'd use my wand to blow up random objects or something, but...I don't know. I just couldn't take it."

I laid down and pulled her close. We laid there for a while until I heard her breathing slow. I looked and saw her sleeping, the moonlight streaming through the leaves and onto her delicate face.


MNS: Once again, sorry if you guys forgot what happened. I know it's been a while, and I apologize.