That evening Sere was late for her homework session with Draco. She barged into the Room of Requirement in a fluster. "Sorry I fell asleep," she said as she sat down.
"Likely," muttered Draco under his breath.
"What was that?" Sere asked him in all honesty, "I didn't catch that."
"Nothing," the blonde boy replied.
Shrugging Sere happily did her work, it wasn't until later that she noticed Draco's cold, distant manner that he usually used in class. "What's with you tonight?" she demanded, when she finally caught on.
"It's nothing," Draco insisted.
Moving behind him Sere looked down at his work. "There must be something; you did that last equation backwards," she pointed out, "if that's even possible?"
Draco gaped at his work, scratched it out with such ferocity that he poked a hole in the page, crumpled the parchment into a ball and threw it across the room. He then looked up at Sere; this was the last straw. "Do you really want to know?"
"Yes, Draco I really want to know!"
There was a pause, like he wasn't expecting that answer. "All right Wynn. It's you. You're my problem, you and your tainted blood."
If Draco was caught off guard by her insistence, it would be an understatement to say is Sere was surprised by his answer. Without saying anything she summoned her things and walked out the door. 'How could he say that? Um… I mean yes, I kind of pushed him into saying it but did he have to put it so bluntly? You're the one who always likes the truth straight up. Though you never really tell the truth. But even so, why should this time be different?'
Turning around a corner Sere walked into someone. Grabbing this person was all she could do to stop herself from falling. This wasn't the best plan seeing as the person she ran into was just as unsteady as she was. They both fell to the floor, stood up and went to help the other one up, resulting in the pair falling to the ground again.
"Sorry," said two voices in unison. This time Sere took her time standing, in fear of another collision. It didn't really matter because whoever she ran into decided to stay on the floor instead of taking the chance of falling again.
"Hi," said the boy from the floor.
"Hiya Harry," Sere smile down at him, "you want a hand up?"
"That would be nice," Harry responded. Once he was on his feet, there was a pause in which he ran his hand through his hair in thought. "Do you want to go for a walk around the lake?"
"That would be nice," Sere replied with a grin.
The moon reflected off the lake and was lost in the faint mist. As the pair of teens rounded the lake they stopped under a tree. To Harry this tree was special, it was a favourite pass time place of his parents and their friends. Maybe there was good luck to be had beneath its branches.
Harry sat down on the cool grass and motioned for his companion to do the same. The green eyed girl happily complied, even going so far as to lay down at look up at the stars.
Fast, but soft footsteps could be heard echoing across the entranceway. There was however nobody to be seen. This of course was because whoever it was was invisible.
Ron Weasley, intent on keeping his dearest friend Harry safe from any physical or emotional harm, took the liberty of borrowing his friend's invisibility cloak without permission and followed him. The boy walked behind his friend a ways and trailed him from the Gryffindor tower to the library. He saw the collision and went to chase Harry around the lake but a certain call of nature interrupted his plan.
Now Ron found himself frantically trying to catch up with the unknowing Harry. Very close to a full out run, the red head almost missed seeing Harry and Anna sprawled out on the grass under a lonely tree. Quietly retracing his steps, Ron sat himself down on the opposite side of the tree to listen.
Harry slowly inched closer to Anna, bit by bit, until his hand lightly toughed her arm. Sere had to evoke a lot of self-restrain to stop herself from shuddering.
"Harry," she said quietly and slowly, "I have to go it's late."
"Is there any point of trying to convince you to stay?" he asked. Sere shook her head. Harry sighed. "Well, I'll walk with you back up to the castle then."
It wasn't until they were inside and at a parting of ways that either of them spoke.
"That was nice," Sere said at last, "Thanks."
"You're welcome."
"Bye, see you in class."
"Wait."
Sere looked at Harry, expecting he'd say something, instead he grabbed her arm and pulled her close. He then brought his other hand to her chin and gave her a swift kiss.
"Night," he whispered and walked away.
Ron couldn't believe it. He kissed her! Harry's friend didn't really like Anna all that much and in his opinion she spent altogether too much time in the company of Malfoy. Even if it was to do homework. There was something that just wasn't right about that girl. But he kissed her!
"Ron!" a voice hissed. The red head paused and looked for its owner. Hermione was looking at him with a steady, piercing glare and was tapping her foot in impatience.
"Um, hi," he winced under the cloak, "how did you know I was here?" His girl friend pointed at his feet. Ron looked down. "Oh." He then pulled off the cloak and stuck it in his pocket.
"Were you following Harry again?" Hermione demanded, as they began to make their way back to the tower. Ron nodded sheepishly. "Ron! Harry has his own life and he's a big boy who can look after himself. He doesn't need you being a nanny."
"I know, I know, but it was for a good reason."
"Explain."
"He was with HER." Ron tended not to use Anna's name when he could help it.
"Oh grow up Ron. She doesn't have cooties you know."
"I never said anything of the sort."
"No but your acting like you are a ten year old. Beside this will be good for Harry."
"Yeah until she goes and breaks his heart and he gets all depressive again. And there is just something about her not right about her Hermione. She's hiding something, something big and important that could change or damage our entire lives."
"Oh stop being so melodramatic. Pixie dust."
"You two are tardy this evening, the passwords changed. I expected better from prefects," snapped the Fat Lady.
"Damn," said Ron before returning to his rant, "melodramatic. You think I'm being melodramatic. Has it ever occurred to you that she could be a death eater in league with Malfoy Hermione? Have you?"
"Yes, but I thought we were over that Ron."
"You know what Harry did tonight?"
"What Ron?"
"He… he…" Ron couldn't even bring himself to say it.
"Hi guys," came a third voice. Harry had come up behind them. "Where were you?"
"Library," said Ron and Hermione at the same time. "How about you?" They then shot daggers with the identical looks they gave each other.
"I was out for a walk, pineapple, with Anna." After he had climbed through the portrait hole he looked back and casually said, "And I kissed her." Harry left his two friends to scrabble after him.
"You did what?" Ron spluttered once he was through, even though he already knew this.
The dark haired boy brushed him off, "Yes, now good night," and walk
Now while Harry walked away with the most calm composure, Sere was a different matter. She stood it the same spot for at least a minute before even blinking. The fact that Harry Potter had just kissed her was a little more than she could bare.
'Well that complicates things. Uh huh. Very articulate. Give my brain a moment to comprehend what just happened…. I can't believe he just did that! Finally…'
With the most startled, almost horrified expression she made her way back to the Ravenclaw common room. Chelsea and Luna took one look at her and quickly ushered her into her tiny room.
"Where have you been?" asked Chelsea.
"And why to look like you've seen a Crumpled Snorlack?" added Luna.
"A crumpled what?" was all Sere could say.
"Never mind that tell us what happened."
Sitting down on her bed and taking a shuddering breath, Sere began. "I was doing homework with Malfoy, like we were planning and I kinda showed up a little late. I fell asleep. He was acting all strange, so I asked him what his problem was. He exploded at me so I exploded back and left. On my way back here I collided with Harry who invited me to go for a walk. If I… if he… well if it… twas kinda romantic in a way. We went for a walk then laid on the grass looking at stars under this nice big tree. He kinda held my hand. Then we walked back up to the castle. Said good nights, then as I went to go he… he… he kissed me."
"Wow." Luna sat there looking and sounding thoughtful.
Chelsea on the other hand let out I high pitched squeak, "Isn't that a good thing?"
"No!" replied Sere sullenly.
"Well why not?" her freckled friend pressed.
"It's Harry."
"So…! I thought you liked him… you sure talk about him enough, though only when you think no ones listening. And a few times when you've dozed off on a couch you mutter his name. It's actually kinda creepy."
If Sere had had any colour in her face during this ordeal it quickly left. Chelsea failed to notice this and just continued talking.
"it's almost like you have this small underlying obsession with him."
"If am obsessed with something it certain isn't Harry Potter." 'No your just obsessed with answering all these really pointless questions about your past which he just happens to be a part of. Well they don't know that.'
"I still don't see why it is so horrible. Like come on, he's hot!"
"You do have a point there." 'I can't believe I just said that! He he.'
"So you'd go out with him?"
Chelsea looked almost excited by this point. Sere on the other hand had come to term of what was going on and was going to finally put a stop to this madness. Looking at her friends and pointing at them to emphasize her point, she took a deep breath and said, "Lets get one thing clear I will never go out with Harry Potter."
? well the end of another chapter.. after the most hectic time I have finally decided that I can't just leave you all hanging and that I should actually work on my story. Also I am looking for someone to be my beta. It would be most excellent. Thanks. Any ideas please, please give them… MtM?