Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Finally, the chapter I couldn't wait for you to read! Just wanted to point out a few of things, one I wrote chapter twenty-two ON MY BIRTHDAY. So, be grateful I didn't leave it until next week, considering this is Potter week. Another thing is that I will have another is I have disclaimer this chapter, too, but that wont come until the AN at the end. AND, I also wanted to explain why I chose Chicago as the play. My plan was to choose the play less people wanted to see, because I didn't want to to the obvious, which was Sweeney Todd who won the poll. Chicago was tied with Repo at the end, so I chose the play more appropriate for the timeline. Lastly, I just wanted to say that the beginning is not only a

vital part

of the

story. you must

read it. I cannot stress how much it's important.

but it was also difficult for me to write, because during the time, a couple of days prior to writing it, I had lost my dog for 16 hours. She had snuck out on July 1st, at midnight because of the fireworks, and I can't even describe the dread I was feeling. My dog is my life, and the amount of panic matched the amount of panic that Katherine in the story is going through, so I was crying when I wrote the first few paragraphs. However, the good news is my dog was found, and called in by a really nice couple who took care of her for the night. My dog is old, see, and is really small and has medical conditions so I was worried about what other animals might do to her, or that she would have a heart attack from fright. But she's back home, happy, and still be adorably silly. So I just wanted to dedicate this chapter to her, who is pretty much like my own child.

Moka-Girl: No problem, just remember next time read closely, because vital details could be staring you right in the face ;P

Rue Dawn: Yeah, I've said before that the next few chapters will have no Tom in it, until the Twenty-second chapter which is worth the wait. And this chapter will answer a lot of questions, so~ hope you like it.

SlytherinSins: Don't worry about being shy! Haha, but thanks for finally reviewing (: Hope you enjoy the update.

Happy Skinny Pants: Haha thanks. Yeah, it was difficult to decide when they will kiss... I just hope I don't disappoint when that comes up.

Souseiki no Tasogare: I can't really answer what Tom feels about Evangeline, other than it will be partially explained sooner than you think. Also, the Lequilae Guitar does come up eventually, but not in a way you'd think. ;D

RANDOM FACT:

Voldemort is French origin, and the 'T' is supposed to be silent, but only JK Rowling ever pronounces it 'Volemor', and only pronounces the 'T' when talking to fans or certain people to avoid confusion.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE.
Larger Predators

November 9th, 2010

"Hello? Oh, hi mom. No, I've got no news yet... I know... I know. The police are still searching for them," There was rapid knocks coming from the front door. "Mom, I've got to go. Someone's at the door... I don't know, I hope to God. I really do... I'll call you when I hear anything. Love you, bye." Katherine hung up the phone and whipped the tears that streamed down her face as she ran to the front door and wretched open. All four of her kids have been missing for months, and the only evidence that they were at the Exhibit was the car that was left in the parking lot. The last person to see them was someone that worked at the exhibit, and he had said that they looked fine to him, but they did not see them walk out. In the security cameras all they could find was a video of them going into the room of "Dumebldore's Office" a flash of night, and they were not seen since. All of London was looking for Katherine's kids, as their story has become increasingly mysterious. When the story of where they went missing reached the internet, people have been making mock-posters of Azkaban prisoners with pictures of her kids saying "WANTED: ALIVE AND HEALTHY", or "No. 1 DESIRABLE" and with the hype of the moving coming up in a few days, it was really blowing up the town. There were even the crazier fans who would say that they were snatched by snatchers, or transfigured into ferrets. Though that was not at all amusing to Katherine, as she had been crying for months non stop, and had quit her work in order to find her kids.

She was beginning to lose faith, something that she hated to admit. Until she opened the door and saw the person she thought she would never see again.

"Robert?" He had aged considerably for such a short period of time, though still handsome. He had bags under his eyes, and his clothes looked as if he had wore them all year. He was unshaven, with gray hair at the sides of his short brown hair. "What...What are you doing here?"

His jaw clenched as he examined his ex wife, still as beautiful as the day he left, "Katherine... I-I..." he closed his mouth and swallowed. It's been so long, how could he possibly talk? Especially after he abandoned his family. But he knew why her face was tear streaked, and her eyes red and puff. She didn't want to know why he was here, or his story, she just wanted to know one thing, and one thing only, and she heard it come from him, "I know where they are, Katty."

Katherine's heart thudded against her ribs, her fingers began to shake, and her eyes bulged out of her head, "You...you what?" She couldn't believe her ears. Was she dreaming? Did her husband really come back after nearly four years to tell her that he knew where their kids were? Or was she hallucinating him after all those cups of coffee she had been drinking just so she could avoid sleep?

"I don't have time to explain... You have to come with me," he grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the house and shut the door after her.

"Robert! Where are you taking me!"

"Where it all started, come on," he pulled her into the car and drove off into the city.

"Have you lost your mind? You come back after all this time-"

"Katherine, we really don't have time for this, you're just going to have to believe me," he looked at her briefly and then back at the road. "This was the reason why I left, all right? I hoped that if I left... That this wouldn't happen..."

Katherine scrunched up her eyebrows, "What are you saying? You knew someone was going to kidnap our kids? And you never told me about this, why?"

"It's complicated."

"It's complicated? How complicated can this get? I'm driving in a car with my ex husband, who I haven't seen in four years, who tells me that he always had known that our kids have been kidnaped. Tell me were does that get more complicated?"

"If you shut up, maybe I could tell you..."

Katherine glared at him, but kept her mouth shut. He sure hasn't changed at all, not since the day she met him.

"I knew that something was going to happen ever since I met you, Katherine. When I left, I left to protect you and the kids. But it seems like she didn't want me, she wanted them-"

"She? Who's she? You left me for another woman, you piece of shit?"

"No! Bleeding hell, woman, you never listen. Look," he turned to a street where there was yellow police tape around a building, the building in which the exhibit was held. It had been closed for months, as it still held potential evidence. Robert climbed out of the car after parking the car behind the building and took Katherine with him. They walked over between the building to an awfully familiar alleyway. "Do you remember this? This spot?"

Katherine walked further in and looked around. The years had took its tole on it, but it seemed like the tape that held up the posters from over 20 years ago was still on the wall. "This is where we first met... When you fell."

"Yes," he walked to the corner on the spot where he had fell on the trash bags. "I fell on this spot... But did you ever wonder how I fell?"

Katherine crossed her arms and walked over to him, "I don't know, I figured you fell off the top."

"... Kat, the building is over 50 feet tall."

She shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know, a window then!"

Robert's lids dropped a fraction and then he pointed up. Her eyes followed and then she noticed that the side of the building was bare of any windows, except for one really small one that no person could ever fit in through, unless they were a child, it looked as if it once held a air conditioning machine. The rest of the wall just had pipes and airvents. Of course, why would a business building have windows overlooking a brick wall?

She rolled her eyes anyway, "What's your point?"

He groaned and squeezed his eyes with his fingers, "How did I fall, if I didn't jump off of anything, Kat? I'll tell you how," he pointed to the sky with a finger. "I fell fifteen feet above the ground, from thin air."

Katherine looked at him, "Uhh...how is that possible?"

"How do you think?"

She blinked, looking at him oddly. This was such a waste of time... the cops could have called her by now. "I have no idea. Magic?"

Robert crossed his arms and gave her an expected look.

"Oh, sweet Jesus, I cannot believe you. Are you insane? Don't tell me you're one of those insane fans that believe this is all the plan of Lord Voldemort's or some shit," the look he gave her was nothing but serious. "Oh my God, Robert, you have issues! What is the matter with you? Is this a joke? If it's a joke, it's not fucking funny. Do you see me laughing?"

Another groan came from Robert and he took her by the shoulders, "Shh, just shut up. I'm not crazy. But I'm not surprised you think that way. It's not a joke... Listen to me. Don't you think it's weird that our kids went missing the place that I appeared?"

Katherine grit her teeth, getting tired of this insanity, "It's just a coincidence. Besides, they were inside not out here when they went missing."

"There are no such things as coincidences, Katty. Everything happens for a reason... Me meeting you, Evan being attacked by wolves, the kids missing, that time you wore white pants and your period came early..."

"You better be coming to a profound ending..."

"Everything. Happens. For. A. Reason. We are all connected, our actions effect other's actions, and things must be done, and certain people must have been born."

"What, like the butterfly effect?"

"More like destiny. Unlike the butterfly effect, if someone intervenes, fate will always find a way to correct the time period, because history and the future are indefinite. You cannot change it."

"So, what, you're saying that our kids were kidnapped for a reason?"

"Not kidnapped. Transported. Up until a month ago I just realized that they didn't just disappear by chance..."

Katherine sighed, ran her fingers through her hairline and turned away, "This is ridiculous. I'm going home."

"Katherine, stop," he gripped her shoulder. "Just give me a benefit of a doubt. We don't have a lot of time." He pulled her to a large vent that was in the wall, and then began unscrewing the hinges.

"What the hell are you doing?" She tried to take the screw driver out of his hand, but he pulled his hand away.

"Woman, will you just let me do this?"

"Don't you 'woman' me, you chubby fuck. You owe me four years of child support!"

"Shu~t up, holy shit, I do not miss your psycho babble," he went back to work, trying to ignore her. Finally he opened the vent, it was big enough for someone to crawl through. He would know. "C'mon," he gestured for her to follow him as he crawled inside.

"Are you crazy? This is breaking and entering."

"Technically, it's just entering as I didn't break anything. Now are you coming or not?"

"I'm not."

"Katherine, I will crawl out of this, grab you and throw you in if I have to."

With a groan, Katherine found herself climbing in behind him, then the two grown adults went crawling through the dusty and dirty vents of the building. "I can't believe I'm doing this. So gross... Ew, ew, ew, ew, daddy long legs, ew, ew... How far is it?"

"Um, you better get used to the spiders,"

"I hate you. So much. When we get out of this, I'm going to kick you in the face."

"Rather get kicked in the face than listen to that shrill," he stood up as he crawled up another vent, and then offered his hand to help Katherine up, but she swatted it away and climbed up herself.

For five minutes none of them spoke as they crawled on, turning at sharp turns and climbing slight inclines that would make Kat almost slip, because she was wearing jeans. Once they finally got to a normal vent was when Katherine looked up and something dawned on her.

"I really, really, really hope you don't fart."

Robert snorted, "Don't tempt me."

"I'm serious, Robert. I'm pretty sure the Bog of Eternal Stench is hidden in your ass. One of the reasons why sharing a bed with you was a living hell."

Robert laughed this time, "Well I'm pretty sure The Black Forest is located on your crotch. One of the reasons why I never went down on you."

"Watch it, Bilson. I have the perfect view for me to punch you in the balls."

"Perfect view huh?"

"Don't test me-"

"Shh, we're here," Robert pulled out the screwdriver, and wedged it between the wall and the vent in the floor. He managed to pop open the bolts with a loud clang, and then went through legs first. Robert waited for his ex wife to climb through, and before she could let go of the edge, he wrapped his arms around her waist so she didn't have to fall.

Though this resulted in him holding her so close and in alignment of her breasts, "I remember these used to be bigger."

Katherine smacked his head, "Put me down."

He did so reluctantly, and she turned around in the room. It was the exact place that their kids went missing. They landed in front of Dumebledore's Office, there was still tape all around the area, but one thing concerned her, "What about the security cameras?"

"Already taken care of. C'mon," Robert walked into the office and then towards the very back that was protected by the velvet rope, then went behind the desk where a curtain was draped. He moved it, showing the small window she noticed earlier. With a finger he told her to come here, and all she could do was roll her eyes and follow him. She looked out side and saw that it was indeed the same window she saw.

"Okay, you're showing me your secret window..."

"This window is about fifteen feet from the floor, right? It's how high I was when I fell."

"So you say," Katherine still looked skeptical.

With an irritating sigh, Robert walked over to an empty display, "Read the plaque."

Katherine walked over and did as she was told, her voice now bored, "Sorting Hat... It's empty."

"Empty. The cops didn't notice that did they? Strange isn't it? It's so obvious, they would have notice that it was missing."

Katherine groaned and rubbed her her eyes, "Robert, I seriously think you need help. This is ridiculous. The cops did notice it, but the staff assured them that there was a delay with shipping the hat here from the set of Harry Potter. There was never a hat here at all."

"Just listen... okay, I'm almost done," he put his hands on her shoulders and looked at her with all the seriousness and eagerness in the world. "This spot we are standing in, at this altitude, has a rip, a rip in space that links us with another world. But the only person that could walk through it is someone that has a certain ability, and could bring others with them. And if my theory is correct, than this is the only place in the entire universe that you can do things that the other world can only do."

"Like what?"

"Magic."

There was a silence between them as they both stared at each other, Robert with wide eyes, and Katherine with skeptical.

"You. Are. Insane," she said finally, turned to walk away and stepped over the velvet rope. However, before she could even exit the office, Robert said a familiar saying, an incantation that belonged in a child's book. She was about to roll her eyes too, but she had to stop dead in her tracks.

"Wingardium Leviosa," Before her eyes, a book that was on a side table that had no significance hovered a foot, then two, and then towards a mentally petrified Katherine. Her breathing sped up as the book floated to her and landed in her hands. She felt around the book, trying to find any wires, but nothing was holding it up. Spinning around she looked at him with wide, frightful eyes.

"I...I don't understand... Did you?"

"I can do more than just that..."

"What are you?" Her voice was so soft right now, as if she was frightened of him, but mostly she was scared at the fact that his psycho babble was fact. She was scared that magic was real; it opened doors to horrors that she had never even heard of.

"I'm a wizard, Katherine. I attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft of Wizardry, and was sorted in Slytherin. I had no brothers or sisters, only a single mother. I was supposed to become a Deatheater, but I was tricked into coming into this realm before that could happen, and since then I've learned that isn't the path I want to be on, because I met you. You changed me. I know I've lied to all these years, but I knew you wouldn't understand, wouldn't believe me, and I had no way of proving it to you. So after these books were published, I had to find out why the author knew this. But also, I was finding traits of magic in our kids, but mostly in Iris. That's why I spent so much time with her... When I found out they went missing at this very spot... The spot where I appeared... I knew it wasn't a coincidence. There was a reason that they were taken. I know the how, but the why is still out there."

Katherine was streaming with tears at this point, her hands shaking and her heart beating out of her ribcage. Her head started to hurt, thinking that maybe this was just a very vivd dream. It all seemed unrealistic, starting with the arrival of her ex husband. "What...What else are you not telling me?" She forced herself to ask, afraid of the answer.

"My name. My name isn't Bilson. My real name is Robert Peter Marcus Sarkozy."

"To dream of a cat and a snake being friendly with each other means the start of a angry struggle. An enemy, or a malevolent being is entertained with you, with the intention of finding out a secret that concerns you. You seem to be avoiding this conclusion, but refuse to divulge information that may risk the safety of your private life, or secret."

"Dove ... To see a dead dove in your dreams means the separation of a husband and wife either by infidelity or death."

"Doctor or Matron ... To dream of a doctor giving you bad news signifies differences between members of a family."

"Ashes ...omens of sadness and many bitter changes are to come to the dreamer."

"Forests ... to dream you find yourself in a dense forest... quarrels among the family... forced to make a long journey to settle an unpleasant affair."

"Father ... dream of your father signifies that you are about to be involved in a difficulty... You will need wisdom if you wish to go through with it."

"Yew Tree," I finally got to the one that I was dreading to read. "... To visit a Yew Tree and find it dead and stripped of its foliage, foretells a sad death in the dreamer's family..." I slammed the book shut and shoved it into the slot where it fell from. I know Dumbledore said that it would have benefited me somehow, but this all seemed just so bleak and frightening. If they were right, then someone, someone in my family was going to die. I couldn't let that happen. Not Basil, not Hector, not Iris. If I can't look after them by myself, I'll just get people to help me watch over them, right? I will even mention this to Dumbledore. But there were still some things that didn't add up about my dreams. Who was that little girl? And why was that doctor so familiar? He had blue eyes, that I remembered, and a long nose and thin lips. But for the life of me I couldn't put the features together and make a face. The dove was another thing I was confused about, as my parents were the only people I know that are married, and they are already split. The one thing I did understand was that the cat and the snake, it represented me and Tom. He was interested in me, because he some how knew that there was something about me that made me different, and I don't mean in appearance or personality. I already knew that, because he had Daniel befriend me for that. I just figured that he forgot about all that. However, seeing that I haven't had that dream for weeks, maybe it no longer mattered anymore, maybe I had nothing to worry about when it came to Tom. Well, except for the obvious.

All this was killing my muse. I put away all my things into my bag and went to leave the library. Maybe I can finally get some peace and quiet in the Room of Requirement. I haven't been there in a while. But I didn't reach the stairs to descend down to the first level of the Library, because someone grabbed my arm and pulled into a long and unlit aisle of books. I was about to scream, or yelp from surprise, but a large hand clasped over my mouth and pushed me against the bookcase. He was rough and violent, and the colour drained from my face. What did he want from me? Who was this?

He nuzzled his face into my neck as he held me still, "Well, well, well. I've finally caught ya all on yer lonesome. You ain' on Riddle's arm no more, makes ye up fer grabs-"

I bit his hand and kneed him in the crotch. I knew that Scottish accent, it was Macnair. "I am no ones to grab," I growled, kicking him off me and making sure my heel dug into his thigh. I pulled myself off the bookcase and was about to walk into the light when I heard Macnair from behind me.

"Ye little cunt. Imper-"

I was just turning around to him when I heard his swish of his wand, I hand my hand on mine, but I didn't have a chance to react, though someone else certainly did. In a jet of red light, someone disarmed him before he could finish the curse as well as knocking him into the wall, and opening the curtains to spread some light in the dark corner. I looked at Macnair on the floor and watched him open his lids and glare up at the hero. I turned to follow his glare and found myself staring at a head that was lit on fire. He looked like a flaming red lion, Dimitiri did.

"Get up, Macnair," Lestrange seethed.

When the Scot pushed himself up, I automatically inched over to my savior who held his wand high at him.

"You know better not to touch things that aren't yours."

Macnair laughed as he leaned against the window's ledge, "She ain' yers anymore, Lestrange. Never was. Always Tom's... Ye were just too stupidily-"

"Watch it," Dimitri threatened, "I should report you to The Dark Lord."

"Then why aren' ya? Oh, tha's right... Ye are his least favourite Knigh'."

I was beginning to feel invisibility, even though this was all because of me. By now I was behind Lestrange, and all I could do was put my hand on his shoulder and encourage him to leave him be. He just spared me a side glance before returning his glare to the smug grin of the Scot.

Slowly Lestrange put his wand down and then walk to the fellow Slytherin. With a scowl, he spat, "Eat shit, you ugly cunt." And punched him in the face. I guess I'm rubbing off on people around here. Sunday, bloody Sunday.

Lestrange escorted me out the library, but once we stepped outside and turned into a corridor, he picked up the pace and left me five feet behind him, as if trying to get away from me. I came into a jog just to keep up with his speed walking. Damn these men in the 40s, and their long legs.

"Lestrange! Lestrange! Dimitri, wait!" I finally caught up with him and held onto his forearm. "What you did back there-"

"Save it, Bennett. I didn't do it for you," now his spiteful tone was directed to me.

I put my hand down to my side, "Then who? Tom?"

"Yes, who do you think? If anything happened to you-"

"Like last week? Where were you? Where was Tom? No one was around to save my ass before it happened, and the only person that actually helped was Pocock. I haven't seen any of you take 'revenge' on the shits that done that prank on me. There's something more, isn't it, Lestrange? You did do it for me, don't lie!"

Lestrange stopped walking and spun around, "I should've left you there, you know? Be glad that I didn't, Bennett, or else you would be spread eagled and bare and will not have the power to stop yourself."

"Then why didn't you just leave me there?"

"Because...Because in some deep hole in me, I still care about you even though you stabbed me in the back."

My face softened when he finally let it out, and the guilty feeling came back from when this started, "I'm sorry, Dimitri. I didn't think you cared."

"How could I not? You used me the entire time. You know, people are right about you - you are Slytherin. The perfect princess for Tom. The Hat must be daft to have sorted you in Gryffindor."

I looked down at the floor, because I knew he was right. I have not been showing the qualities of a Gryffindor at all. This week alone I've been showing cowardice and indifference, and even though Brevis was a right git, he did deserve forgiveness. He was trying so hard. To top it all off, I've been sneaky and manipulative. I clenched my jaw and looked up at him, "I am sorry, Dimitri. I would take it back if I could. But right now I need to figure something out..." I walked passed him and I felt his eyes on me as I walked down the corridor and disappeared around a corner. He didn't say anything or followed me, which was good.

I got to the Grand Staircase and started climbing towards the floor where the Headmaster's office was. Professor Dippet wasn't in his office, but I knew his password. He was a distrusting person, very private, but dating Riddle had its advantages. I remember waiting for him when he went to visit the Headmaster a few weeks ago, and he had said the password loud enough for me to hear. I reached the entrance, already missing the Phoenix door way. Dippet's was different, it was just of a warthog sitting and facing you.

"Fanged Geranium," I told the statue.

The Warthog snorted and stepped aside showing me spirals of stairs. I turned to look over my shoulder and found the coast was clear, and then bounded up the stairs. There was also a locked door that Dippet made sure people wouldn't open it with any spells, but that didn't mean it was muggle proof. I pulled out a bobby pin from my hair that held the sides of my bob in place, and began to pick the lock. I've done this far many too times to really be proud of, but the difference with this lock was that I was overestimating it. I thought it was going to be difficult because it was old, but the only thing hard about it was trying to turn the lock with a small bobby pin. I twisted the knob when I felt the lock turn back and walked in. His room was bare, nothing like Dumbledore's. All there was was a few books, a desk, and some paintings. There was nothing more, no substance to it. I suppose it fitted him well, but there was no point in being so over protective of a room that had nothing in it.

I glanced around the room and spotted the old hat sitting on a stool. I made a beeline for it and grabbed the old thing. It was limp and lifeless in my hand, so I put the hat on my head, and it flopped over my eyes like the first time. I waited for it to do something, but it remained limp on my head for the most part. I wondered if it was sleeping or something until his voice in my head nearly made me jump out of my skin.

"Miss Bennett, what may I be of service?"

"I was just wondering... If you put me in the right house."

"A student coming back to me to see if I sorted them right... Can't say this is the first. Listen to me, Miss Bennett... I make no mistakes."

"But, I think you did... I am clearly not Gryffindor quality."

"You believe you belong in Slytherin? Dear, you harbour all four popular traits of the houses, which is more common than you may think."

"Then why did you sort me into Gryffindor?"

"You might be cunning and ambitious, Miss Bennett, and I question your taste in men..."

I glared at my forehead.

"But you are not the first person in your family that has such qualities. What makes you stand out amongst your siblings, Bennett, is that you would put all your fears aside to protect someone else, but not yourself."

I furrowed my brows at the last bit, "But not myself? What is that supposed to mean."

The hat chuckled, "Based on the events of the past few days, I think you do know what I mean. Do you know what a lioness does when she is being attacked by a pack or a larger predator?"

"What?"

"She fights back."

I left shortly after that, making sure to lock the door so Dippet wouldn't get suspicious. The best thing I did today was seek the wisdom of the Sorting Hat, because he did shine some light on my situation. It was like an epiphany, or really an awakening. I knew what I had to do... It was something I didn't think I would even think about let alone attempt. I don't know what he would do, what he would say, but I knew why he hasn't even bothered to talk to me, to acknowledge me. Before I confronted him, however, there was something I needed to do.

I left the castle and followed the pathway towards the Quidditch pitch just in time to catch people walking out. I waited silently a few yards away with my arms hugging my shoulders in the cold. I saw the usual crowd, and when they approached I said that I would see them later. Kay was reluctant, but I told her that I just needed to talk to someone. When Abbott and her group walked out, I thought about looking passed her, to show indifference, but that was too easy. I stared right at her, in the eye, and followed her with my glare alone until she looked away. When she was behind me, I tried to bite back a victorious smirk. I quickly pulled a serious look when the person I wanted to see came out. Birch was with Grudgeon, but when he saw me waiting here I saw him dismiss him and jog up to me.

"Hey, you came..."

"I just needed to talk to you."

"Um, okay?" He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "About what?"

I motioned with my hand to follow me. Grudgeon was still lingering behind him and I wanted to make sure it was just the two of us. He followed and I lead him to where it started, the Pumpkin Patch. When we got there, I could feel his unease already, and I had a hunch that he wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. Once we got to the crushed jack-o-latern that his friends hid in, I sat on a pumpkin near it and patted the one next to me. Birch looked at it and eventually sat down.

"So~ what did you want to talk about?"

"Something important," I turned to him on the pumpkin with my hands clasped on my lap. "I want to quit the Quidditch team, even if I am second string."

His mouth open, "Evan, if it's about what hap-"

I rose my hand to stop him from finishing, "No, it's not. I'm going to be busy for the next few months, what with the play, my music, and the dueling competition. I just need to get my priorities straight..."

"So out of all those things, Quidditch isn't a priority?"

I couldn't help but smile, "Maybe not for me. But I think, no, I know that you're going to be one of the most famous Quidditch players out there some day. And maybe you will remember me then, but I don't think you will."

He chuckled, "You're the first female Quidditch player in Gryffindor. I don't think I can ever forget you, no matter who I end up being."

I kept my smile and then looked down at my hands, "That's not the only thing that I wanted to tell you," I looked up again to meet his gaze. "The last week I have been an incredible bitch."

"It's not like I don't deserve it..."

"You don't. Even though you were forced to apologize, you're still the only person that tried to be my friend again. And I waned, finally, to forgive you. For everything."

He held my gaze for the longest moment before he moved from his pumpkin seat and enveloped me into an thankful hug. When he pulled away, I could have sworn I saw glaze in his eyes. "Thank you..." he sat back down and shifted uncomfortably before letting out a chuckle, "Does this mean you will go out with me?"

My face dropped then, because I was hoping we would walk away from this with a good feeling in our chests, but that wasn't going to happen. "I'm sorry, Brevis, but I am going to go back to Tom."

His face twisted in sudden anger, "Riddle? You're going back to him? Why on Earth would you do that?"

"We broke up under a misunderstanding..."

"He's a terrible bloke! He hasn't even looked at you all bloody week! Why would you go back to a snake like that?"

My voice remained calm as I watched him stand up and look down at me, "Brevis, I'm sorry. He needs me... I don't expect you to understand, and I don't think I will be able to explain it to you."

Birch looked at me long and hard from where he stood before he forced himself to look away, and rubbed his hand over his stubble. "Fine... go back to Riddle, I won't stop you," he lifted his arms in defeat.

I stood up and wrapped my arms around his waste and gave him a gentle hug, "I just hope we can still be friends."

I felt his muscles go from tense to soft as he wrapped his arms around my shoulders and rubbed my back, "Of course, Bennett."

When we went back to the castle, we were in time to catch dinner, and things turned almost normal at the table. Septimus was reluctant to forgive Birch as easily as I did, but to prove myself I sat beside the Quidditch Captain. However, by the time it was over and we all went to the dorm, I only lingered there for ten to fifteen minutes. I told everyone I was going to go on a late night stroll and left the Gryffindor Common Room. I didn't bother with the invisibility cloak because I intended in staying in the shadows as much as possible. I made sure to wear soft souled shoes so my footsteps could not be heard. I snuck out of the portrait and stayed near the suits of armour and began my trek to the Hieroglyphic Hall near the Ruins classroom. I knew that there was a secret passageway there from the Marauders Map I had back at home, and if I'm not mistaken, it leads to the Slytherin Common Room.

I found the Corridor eventually. I only had to dodge two prefects and a professor, but I managed to get to it. Coincidently, it was free of anyone else. I walked up and down the hallway, but couldn't for the life of me remember where along the wall was the passageway. But, you know how these things work...With a sigh, I fell against the wall and hit a protruding piece of a hieroglyphic, making it press into the wall and reveal a passageway. I didn't question my luck, I just lit my wand and scampered off into the black entrance and followed it. There were rats, cockroaches, and even spiders, however for what ever reason the spiders didn't bother me. Sure, I tried to not get near them, but usually I would be running the opposite direction.

I went down narrow stairs that seem to never end, eventually it became damp and cold, and I wished that I brought my robes; I just didn't want anything bulky with me. I did thank myself for choosing flats than heels, because the deeper I got, the more bumpy and thin the stairs got. It came to a point where I had to get on all fours and crawl backwards down them. I went to take my next step, but felt that there was none, meaning I had reached the bottom finally. I pointed my wand a head of me and saw the back of a painting at the dead end, finally. When I approached it, I could hear the murmer of people in the room. I silently groaned, and scratched my head with the tip of my wand thinking.

Okay, okay, I got this.

I put the wand up to my neck and cleared my throat to turn up the volume of my voice, and in my best Peeves voice I began to laugh manically. "I hear a couple of snakies out of their bedsies!" It came out perfectly, and the echo from the long passageway really helped the illusion. I heard from beyond the portrait the students gasping.

"Peeves? Bloody hell, what is he doing down here? The Bloody Baron never lets him down here!"

"We better go before he does something... I really don't want to wash out purple goop out of my hair like last time!"

I heard the squeak of leather sofas, and the pitter patter of heels and shoes clambering up the stairs. I waited a moment, listening to absolute silence and decided to nudge the portrait open. I was right above the fire place. What a place to make an exit. I side stepped on the ledge, shut the painting and attempted to climb down the fire place without hurting myself. I looked up once I was on the floor, and found a very discontented wizard glaring at me.

"You woke me up, you know,"

"My bad," he laughed and tore up the stairs to the dorms and found Tom's door right away. I didn't know if he was in there just yet, so I decided the safest way was to knock. No answer. Time for lock picking, I suppose. I pulled out my bobby pin and began to pick. As I've hoped, it was easily opened. I suppose Tom never thought of muggle ways, like most wizards did. When I walked in and closed and locked the door behind me, I then realized something. I out smarted Tom Riddle. I wanted to laugh, but instead I took a seat in his arm chair and crossed my legs.

And waited. I don't know how long I waited, but I know I was getting tired. I almost nodded off, but the sound of a click made me snap up and straighten up. I watched in slow anticipation as the doorknob turned and the door opened revealing just who I wanted to see.

"How did you get in here?"

DISCLAIMER: The source I've used has only been one site, since I don't know anything about psychic symbols of dreams (just psychological ones). I've used the website dream-psychic dot com for all my symbols, and used word for word, but changed it around a bit hoping it would sound better, and to make more sense to her situation. I won't be doing any dream foreshadowing since now everyone could just look up the website what I meant. Or maybe I will, I haven't decided yet. I don't know if this website is at all correct, but for the sake of my story, let's pretend it is.

Thanks for all the reviews, alerts, faves, and support! Maybe I'll see some of you on Friday? Happy Potter Week.

xoxox.