CHAPTER TWENTY ONE – INTUITION

After what seemed like forever, I pulled away from my brother and wiped my face with the hem of my sleeve. I smiled at him sadly. "I guess it's just the two of us Potters tomorrow," I mumbled desolately. "It's just that, he won't be able to say bye is all."

"It's alright, Lils," he said soothingly. "It's not like we're never going to see him again."

"Yeah," I said in a falsely bright tone nobody failed to notice but no one pointed out, though, for which I was grateful. "So –"

But I didn't get to finish my sentence because there was a loud popping noise somewhere in the house –probably in the living room. It was the unmistakable crack of someone apparating or disapparating.

"Oh," Andrew mumbled. "Uncle Draco's at home."

The blond cousins led the way towards the living room and I was shocked to see not only Draco Malfoy but also his childhood enemy – my dad. I wasn't surprised to see him nervous of being in the Malfoy Manor. I knew from what they told us that Aunt Hermione was tortured here and they were almost killed in this place. It also didn't help the fact that it was also his old enemy's house.

I met his green eyes – startlingly like my brother's – and said, "Hey, daddy." I smiled at him. I rarely call him daddy ever since I got to Hogwarts but I wasn't in the least embarrassed to call him that in front of many people, let alone the Malfoys.

"Hey there, Flower," dad said in relief and went to hug me. He pulled away and ruffled my hair playfully.

"Dad!" I complained but laughing all the same. All around us, my friends, family and the Malfoy males were watching us amusedly. I smacked his arm and he stopped ruffling my hair. "How come you're here dad?" I asked curiously. "I thought you were busy at work."

He sighed. "I couldn't do my job properly when I kept thinking my little girl wasn't well."

"I'm not little anymore," I said indignantly but in a soft voice. I knew my dad was really worried about me. And my mum – she was sure to be really anxious and frantic this time.

"I know that, but you'll always be my little girl," he said with a smile, seemingly oblivious to our surroundings.

Somewhere behind me, I heard Scorpius mutter, "Merlin, Potter, you look just like him," in a low voice. I knew he was referring to Albus looking exactly like my dad and I giggled. Dad looked at me, confused of my sudden fit, and I beamed at him. He clearly hadn't heard what the other Malfoy said.

I turned around just in time to see Al smacking the Slytherin's arm in a friendly way. "Hey!" my brother protested. "I don't have the round glasses, you know," he pointed out lamely.

My dad turned to me, not noticing the first exchange. "Malfoy said Al looks just like you –'" I explained. "– which wasn't that uncommon for people to tell him. It just bugs Al."

Dad chuckled lightly and stepped in front of Scorpius Malfoy with a polite smile on his face. "Hello," he said. "You're Scorpius Malfoy, right?" He extended his hand to the boy and said, "I'm glad we've finally met."

Malfoy seemed taken aback by the gesture but shook my dad hands all the same. "It's pleasure to meet you," he said politely and when they dropped their hands, he smiled. "I was just telling your son how you look so much like him."

"I get that a lot," my brother muttered under his breath.

"Well," dad said. "You do look quite a lot like Draco, too," dad said and looked at the strangely quiet Malfoy.

"He's my son," he drawled in a bored voice. "That's enough of an explanation."

"Yeah, well," dad said. "I guess I didn't thank you just yet. You let my daughter stay in your house for the night." He smiled at him and turned to Scorpius again. "Thanks for saving her. She might be worse, for all I knew." He patted the younger boy's shoulder.

"I guess we're almost even," Mr. Malfoy said, unsure if he should be saying what it was he was going to say and sighed. "You saved me twice when we were their age," he admitted in front of us.

Dad seemed rather taken aback by this. "Well," he said uncertainly. "It was ages ago." Instead of continuing the topic being discussed, he changed the subject. "This house has really changed, hasn't it?"

Mr. Malfoy smirked. "What? You thought it would still be packed with Death Eaters and Voldemort? I wouldn't have a wife if that was the case, let alone a son."

Dad chuckled. The past enemies seemed to have taken their hatred away over the years. And besides, their old enough now and looked at things in a more mature way. "Well, I guess we'd better get back to work, Malfoy," he told the other man. "See you later, Lils. Oh, and don't forget to pack," he said and disapparated with a crack.

Mr. Malfoy hovered for a second to say goodbye to his son and nephew and nodded in our direction. He, too, disapparated with another pop.

My face blanched. "Oh no!" I said. "I haven't packed yet." I turned to Scorpius and Andrew. "I'm sorry but I've got to go home now." I focused my gaze on only Malfoy and said sincerely, "Thanks for mending me, Malfoy. I guess you could make a great healer."

"Thanks," he mumbled. "But that's not what I want, though," he said casually. I wanted to know what he wants to do but I don't want to look like I'm prying so instead I said, "Do you have some Floo powder?"

He nodded, grabbed a pot near the fireplace and handed it to me. I turned to Des and Al. "You two are coming?"

"Yeah." I turned to my Katrina, Maxine, Nate and Hugo. "Kat? Max? Hugo? Nate? You want to come?"

Kat and Hugo shook their heads while Max shrugged. "I guess I haven't seen your house for ages."

"Great!" I said. It's good to have company, especially when I knew that Al and Des would be spending more time by themselves.

"I guess I'd better go home now," Kat said.

"Mum and gran are expecting us tonight," Hugo said, gesturing to him and Nate.

"Yeah," agreed Nate. "I remember Mrs. Weasley – that is Molly Weasley not her daughter-in-law – telling us firmly that we, including the Potters and our friends, ought to come to The Burrow this evening but Al and Dessie said they can't."

"Well, we haven't packed yet, either," Des admitted sheepishly.

"We were worried sick about you," Al added. "Bye Andrew. Bye Scorpius," he said to the two and I was taken aback a bit about my brother calling Malfoy by first name. Where they...friends?

I didn't have time to think about it a bit more because it's time to go home. "Oh, okay. Let's go." I grabbed a handful of Floo powder and stepped over the large fireplace. Before I go, I told the two blonds, "Bye," and said in a loud, clear voice, "Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place."

I landed in our kitchen fireplace, my hair and clothes covered in soot. I recognized, for the first time, that I was still wearing the jeans and shirt I wore yesterday. I sighed. I'm going to need a shower first before packing.

The next one to arrive was Maxine, followed by Desiree, then Albus. "So, we'd better start packing now," Des muttered and pulled Max and me towards the stairs, Al following grudgingly behind.

"Which room shall I go into?" Max asked as Des and I both opened our rooms. We both shrugged and she sighed. "Is it alright if I go to Lily's?" she asked Des. "Because I was going to ask her something."

"Fine by me," Des replied and went inside her room. "I've already started, regardless!" she yelled when the room was closed and we joined her muffled giggle.

Max and I went inside my room and as soon as I closed the door, I asked her, "What is it you're going to ask?"

She sighed. "It can wait, though," she said uncertainly. "We'd better start your packing."

"Uh, I'm going to need to shower first," I said sheepishly, looking down on my clothes. "You can go to Des' room first if you'd like."

She smiled. "No, go ahead. I'll wait for you here. Merlin knows you're the only woman in the world who only takes about five to fifteen minutes in showering," she teased.

I giggled. "You say that like it's a bad thing," I said, gathering my clothes and bathroom necessities. "I'll be back in ten minutes."

And, just as I promised, I was back in ten minutes, fully dressed in my day clothes and wet hair. "So, let's start."

We were chatting for a few minutes while packing, talking about the upcoming school and friends and my summer and her summer and OWLs and being prefects and, finally, when we were almost finished packing my things, we arrived at the most intriguing topic which just happened yesterday.

"How was Des yesterday?" I asked. "I mean, after I was knocked out by that curse."

She sighed. "If you've only seen her, Lils, she looks ready to murder her brother," she informed me and I winced. "He was lucky that she was more focused if you were fine because if you weren't, he'd be a dead man."

"I guess that's the kind of thing Des was capable of when she wasn't thinking," I sighed. "What have really happened to me, though?" I asked, befuddled. "I don't quite understand what happened to me."

She grimaced. "It wasn't a pretty sight, really," she admitted reluctantly. "One second you're whole body was so flushed and blazingly hot and the next, you were screaming and twitching in agony and the next you stopped screaming and you where so pale that we thought you might be…" she trailed off, not wanting to continue further. I knew what she was going to say so there's no need.

I took a deep breath. "I guess I owe my life to someone."

She gave me a look and queried, "Is he the one you were referring to when you visited me?" My eyes widened in surprise. She wasn't referring to whom I thought she was, doesn't she?

"Pardon?"

"Was it Scorpius Malfoy?" she asked shrewdly. "The one you were talking about when you came at home and asked me about someone you might be having a crush or something."

I sighed and nodded grudgingly. "How did you know?"

She shrugged. "I observed your behavior today," she said. "You were looking at him sometimes in a different way you look at Nate or Hugo or Andrew…well, Hugo really doesn't count because he's your cousin, but you never look at any guy like that.

"And then, you were trying to talk to him casually but there's just something twitchy about you that gave it away," she said simply.

I gaped at her. When I regained my ability to speak, I mumbled, "And I thought I was the only one perceptive in here."

She smirked playfully. "I'm Ravenclaw. I'm bound to be witty and clever and observant, you know," she gloated childishly and I laughed. "But what really did make me realize it was what you said. You said that your feelings could be hatred, and that seemed the behavior between the original Potters and Malfoys."

I pouted and said, "I regretted visiting you that time." I didn't really regret it, though. It somehow felt good that someone has a clue about what's going on inside my head; someone who can give me good advice about it; some who…

"You won't tell anyone, will you?" I asked nervously.

She gave me a look of incredulity. "Of course I won't," she said exasperatedly. "It's your secret to tell, not mine."

"Sorry, I just thought –"

"It's alright," she cut me off. "I know you're just nervous about anyone – especially in Gryffindor – knowing about it."

I nodded.

"Speaking of," she said. "What are you going to do about it? Because I don't think it was really hatred you are feeling."

"I don't know, Max," I said in frustration. "I honestly don't know. How could I know about it?"

She sighed. "You won't know. You'll feel about it. If you just stop thinking for a moment – denying, your feelings – you would know when you finally feel it." She said this as if she knows the feeling. I wonder if she fancies someone…'cause it seems to be.

"But I'm only fifteen," I said lamely. "How could I know it already?" Well, that was a really stupid reason. My mum fell in love with my dad when she was fifteen, and my dad was sixteen that time.

"You wouldn't know unless you give it a try," she said patiently. "And you never get to know anyone enough for you to like him. I know you're the girl who thinks the idea of affection or whatever is stupid…but you're fifteen now and that's a perfect age for girls to show a little or more affection to boys and vice versa. It's not really wrong to do, you know," she finished with a smile.

I looked at her, astounded at the knowing tone in which she said that. She's not really the closest of my friends especially because we're in different houses but she felt like she was at this moment. These were the things you talk about to your best friends.

"Well," I muttered after a few moments of silence and closed the lid of my trunk. "I'm still unsure of myself but…what you said really helped." I smiled gratefully at her. "I guess I somehow figured some part of it out."

She smiled back. "That's better."

Do you know how weird it was to eat dinner at your house with your best friend – who ran away from home and was practically your sister; your brother – who happened to be your best friend/sister's boyfriend; your other brother – who wasn't really your brother but was your dad's godson and happens to be a Metamorphmagus who's hair color changes every time he tasted something sweet or sour; your parents – who were finding it weirder that their adopted daughter and their own son were in a relationship; and your other friend – who was seating on the chair of your faraway brother you happened to missed so much – that wasn't used to this gatherings and found it all amusing.

I wonder if the irony of this situation will ever wear off, with or without Maxine. It's a pity I won't find out eventually because we'll be off to Hogwarts tomorrow.

"Hey, Teddy," I said conversationally as he sat on his seat when he arrived after work. "I haven't seen you in ages!" It's true. I barely caught a glimpse of him in the house all summer because he always went to work early and go home late. It was a rare occasion that he catches up on us with dinner.

He chuckled nervously. "Sorry Flower. I'm a busy Auror, remember?" I scrutinized him. There was something in his tone that made me think it wasn't everything. It also helped that his hair turned blond that made me realize it wasn't just work that made him late sometimes.

"What were you up to?" I asked bluntly. He couldn't lie to me. I wore a satisfied smirk when he flushed in annoyance and embarrassment.

"What makes you say that?" he mumbled, not looking at me in the eye.

I giggled. "It's obvious you were up to something," I said and looked at everyone else, who were giving me a confused and funny looks. They clearly weren't as intuitive as I was. I sighed. "It's obvious to me, that is."

He sighed. "I guess I couldn't keep it any longer," he muttered and his eyes focused on someone beside me – Maxine. "Oh, I didn't realize we have a visitor. Maxine, right?"

She nodded. "I could go out for a while if you'd like," she offered politely. "It it's something only family needs to know."

"Me too, I guess," Des said.

"No, it's fine," he said with a smile. He took a deep breath. "I'm going to get married," he blurted out with a dazed expression on his face.

All of us were stunned by this. After a moment of shock silence, grins spread across our faces. "Whoa," dad muttered in a mixture of happiness and disbelief. "I can't believe you're finally getting married." He shook his head and smiled at his godson…or son, more like it. "Congratulations!"

"Blimey, dad," Teddy muttered at dad's enthusiasm. "I'm not even married yet."

We all chuckled.

"When and where did you propose?" mum asked, giving Teddy an elated look all mothers possess when hearing about weddings.

"Um..." he trailed off, counting on his fingers. "The twenty-seventh," he finally answered. "That was Sunday."

"You've kept that from us for four days?" Al asked incredulously. "Would you still have kept it if Lily didn't notice you?"

"I was really going to tell you today since you're all going to Hogwarts tomorrow," he said impatiently. "But, I would probably –"

"Chickened out," I interrupted with a grin. "Am I right?"

He sighed. There's no point in arguing with me. "Yeah, I guess."

"So, who's your best man?" Des asked promptly.

He beamed. "Jamie, of course."

I smiled. I really miss my other brother, and I know he misses us, too, and I know he would be delighted by this piece of news. "He would love that."

"BYE!" I yelled, sticking my head on the window by the train and waving to my parents and Teddy. I know it seemed childish to still do this on my age but, who cares? I'm going to miss them…and James, too.

The train veered right and I sighed, pulling my head back and went back to finding my friends. They probably had a compartment already. Behind me, someone put a hand on my shoulder and I looked up to see Al.

"You still have me," he said simply.

And beside him, my best friend said, "Me, too."

I smiled at them. "Thanks."

Al went inside his friends' compartment – which, to my surprise, included Scorpius Malfoy. Andrew seemed to have tagged him along because he wasn't in good terms with the other Slytherins on Brett's side and the other Gryffindors seemed a little apprehensive, but fine, about it. Meanwhile Des and I continued to find ours. Finally, near the end of the, we saw Katrina, Maxine, Nate and Hugo in one compartment.

"Hey," we said.

"Hello."

"So, you ready to go?" Max asked me.

I nodded, knowing that she was referring to the prefect meeting. "Yeah."

"Come on," Nate said and the three of us said our goodbyes to our friends, heading to the front of the train.

When we arrived at the prefect's compartment, Andrew and Rose – the new Head Boy and Head Girl – were already there as well as the other prefects including Scorpius Malfoy and some people in my year. To my satisfaction, it was Jonathan Jonas who got the badge in Gryffindor in our year.

"Hello," I said and sat beside him. It's seems much more appropriate to sit beside your partner house mate than your friends. And besides, it's good to have someone else to talk to other than my bunch of friends. They didn't seem to mind, really. "So, you're the other prefect, huh?"

He shrugged. "I guess," he said with a grin. "I didn't expect it, though. I thought it would be Paul or Derek."

I wrinkled my nose in disgust. "McLaggen? Honestly Jonathan, you thought it would be McLaggen?" I asked incredulously. "I would've thought it would be Alex before him."

He chuckled. "It would be fun to see Alex as a prefect," he laughed. "He loves pranks and breaking rules too much!"

I grinned. "He's still better than McLaggen, though," I insisted.

He rolled his eyes. "You obviously dislike Derek," he commented. "I have an idea why, though. We don't like him much, either. We, meaning Paul, Alex and I."

"Good for you," I smiled. Just then, my eyes flickered to Malfoy who was talking to new Heads – his cousin and my cousin.

"Hey Lils," Rose said when she saw me looking. "How are you?" she asked concernedly. Great. Now the news about the Leaky Cauldron has spread already through my family.

"I'm fine," I said, stifling an eye roll. I decided to change the subject. "So, how's Egypt?"

"It's great!" she said with a grin but wasn't able to continue because the last one of the prefects arrived.

Andrew and Rosie began to explain about duties and responsibilities, patrols, docking points, giving out detentions and the opportunities given to us as a prefect. We were given opportunity to use the prefect's bathroom on fifth floor. The password was 'whiplash.' We were also allowed to wander about the corridors past curfew, except in circumstances when we're caught doing something we shouldn't. We were also told to patrol the corridors from time to time to the duration of the train ride, make sure every student was outside before getting out of the train, and leading the first years after the feast later tonight.

They also mentioned that we were to patrol once every fortnight. Every patrol consists of partners – a boy and girl – and was randomly selected by the Heads. That means that we can be paired with persons from different years and different houses.

All the while during the meeting, I noticed as if Andrew was avoiding looking at me. I guess I was probably imagining things because I couldn't see a reason why he would. I'm still not sure, though, but let it dropped and pay attention.

After the meeting, I roamed around the corridors with Jonathan and went back to our compartment. I was exhausted…and hungry.

"Your turn," I told Max and Nate. "To patrol." They nodded and left. "Do you have any food there?" I asked them.

"Nope," Hugo said and grinned sheepishly. "I kind of –"

"Uh, I get it," I said irritably. "I'll just go buy something in front."

I went to the trolley at the front of the train and saw Andrew buying food there, too. "Hello, Head Boy" I said to him cheerfully despite my earlier observation of him ignoring me and turned to the witch selling the food and purchased a couple of chocolate frogs, cauldron cakes and pumpkin juice. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Andrew looking at me in a way that I've never seen him before. He seemed almost…nervous and…cold? About what, though?

"Uh, do you want some?" I asked him, offering the food I bought.

He shook his head. "N-no," he stuttered and sighed. "Well, I've bought some, myself," he said impassively. We started walking back and I couldn't help the flood of thoughts that have been swimming in my mind. Why was he acting like that? He was avoiding my eyes and I couldn't help but feel a little pang of hurt. Why would he give me a cold shoulder? He was one of my best friends and…why was he acting this way? We were alright yesterday…or so I thought. I haven't been paying him that much attention yesterday because my thoughts were always preoccupied. Have I missed something?

I frowned at him and stopped walking. "Have I done something wrong?" I queried uneasily.

He stopped on his tracks, too, and turned to look at me…or rather, look at the space behind me. "I don't know what you're talking about, Lils," he denied calmly.

"Then why are you acting like that?" I asked stubbornly.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said indifferently but I know he was lying because…I just know.

I glared at him and he winced slightly, but regained the façade back in less than a second. "That's rubbish," I said, trying to be calm. "There clearly is something. Spit it out."

He sighed. "It's got nothing to do with you, okay," he said irritably. "It's got everything to do with me." I don't know why, but I still can't utterly believe him. Suddenly fuming for no good reason, I walked pass him and threw myself inside our compartment.

"Whoa, Lils," Kat said warily. "What happened to you?"

I took a few deep breaths before responding. "It's Andrew," I muttered in frustration. "He's acting differently today and it's got the best of my temper."

"Andrew?" Des asked skeptically. "What has he done?"

I sighed. "I told you, he's acting differently around me today. I just hope he'd stop doing that."

"Are you sure it's really that?" Hugo asked dubiously. "Maybe your imagining things, Lils."

I glared at him. "No, I'm not. I know what I'm talking about, okay!"

Just then, Max and Nate entered the compartment and looked at me in alarm. "What's with her?" Nate asked, edging away from me for good measure.

"Something about Andrew being not so friendly with her," Kat answered.

Maxine looked as if she was going to say something but thought better of it and didn't. There was silence and I used that moment to begin drowning myself with food. That's what I do when I'm in a state like this and it usually calms me down.

I still couldn't stop thinking about it, though. Why would he start acting like that? Why me? What have I done? I only remembered being hit by a curse one second and then he's acting like this. He may not be the best of my friends because his best mate would be my brother, but I was one of his first friends at Hogwarts and he's never gotten mad at me before, not once.

I just hope he would tell me so that we could sort this out because I couldn't bear lose a friend. It's just one thing a Gryffindor would never in a million years would bear to lose – friendship.

Thanks for your wonderful reviews! I'm looking forward to your reviews this chap :))

And that's chapter 21! There were clues spread all over the chapter about...some things! Watch out for the next chapter!

Anyway,

Thanks for reading! Please review! =)

-brunette09-