DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

A/N: I apologize for the lack of update, my oh-so-faithful readers. I've been really busy lately, and it's been really hard for me to update. So, without further ado, please continue reading the next chapter.

Chapter 20: Persuasion

"So you and Terry aren't together anymore?" Hermione asked as the four teenagers gathered in Ron's room.

"Nope," Maddy answered, lying on Harry's bed with her arms relaxed behind her head.

"And, you're okay with that?" Ron asked, watching her curiously.

"Yep," Maddy said.

Ron and Hermione exchanged glances, wondering why she wasn't more broken up than she should have been. They also noticed a sudden change in Harry as well. He seemed too happy for comfort as he sat beside her, his had resting only an inch from her head.

"Did he say why?" Hermione continued.

Maddy shrugged. "It doesn't matter. Honestly, I'm not that upset. He was possessive and immature. I don't need somebody like that. And to be honest, I've never felt more free in my life."

"Have you heard from Sirius lately?" Ron butt in, changing the subject abruptly.

"I haven't," Harry answered, frowning slightly.

"I did, but he didn't say much of anything," Maddy said, her cheery tone suddenly fleeing from her voice. "I'm not sure where he is."

"You don't suppose someone's found him, do you?" Ron asked.

"RON!" the others yelled unanimously.

Maddy had shot upward, glaring in Ron's direction. "Don't even think something like that! And besides, if he had, I'm certain we would have heard something about it."

Harry nodded, glaring as well. Hermione refused to say anything as the room delved into complete and utter silence. Maddy began to play with the edge of her day robes. She had taken to wearing them recently, although Mrs. Weasley had constantly told her it was much too hot for her to be wearing robes.

"Is there any more news of what's supposed to be going on this year?" Harry brought up, fishing around for a new topic of conversation.

"No, and if Percy mentions it one more time I might just have to knock him out," Ron said through gritted teeth. "That's all I hear about when he's around. He thinks he's special or something, being Crouch's assistant."

Harry glanced in Maddy's direction, finally remembering something that she'd told him only a couple days before. "Hey Mad, do you know what's going to-"

Maddy stood hastily, shaking her head. "Nope. Nuh-uh. I don't know a thing." She hurried toward the door. "Don't even bother asking."

"Wait," Ron watched her as she reached for the knob. "You know what's going to happen this year? How come they told you?"

"Nobody told me anything! I don't know anything!" Maddy insisted, wrenching the door open. "I told you. Don't even bother asking."

She slammed the door shut behind her, blocking their voices from her mind. She knew it was going to be difficult to keep things from Harry from now on. He knew her secret and knew she could use it to help him, if she wanted to.

And of course she'd want to.

She just needed a little persuasion, that was all.

XXXXX

"Why couldn't you tell us anything?" Harry asked, taking his place beside her as they met in secret once again. The clock in the kitchen of the Burrow, the one without the faces of the Weasley members, struck midnight as Maddy pulled a blanket tightly around her.

"I'm not supposed to, Harry," she said simply. "You know that. I've already told you."

He nodded. "I know, but you've said things to Sirius." Maddy gave him a look, but Harry knew better. "I know you have, don't say you haven't."

She couldn't lie about that. Certainly she'd revealed things to Sirius. There was nothing he'd be able to do about it, and it was better for Maddy to have someone to talk to about these things. He could help her look at the situations from a more unbiased point of view. His vast knowledge of the characters that seemed to almost instantly pop into their lives whenever possible was certainly helpful as well.

"So, what's going to happen?" Harry asked, this time hoping that she'd finally give in to him.

Maddy shook her head vigorously, starting to become annoyed. "I'm not going to tell you, Harry. To be completely honest, I'd much rather you'd never learn about it."

"Is something bad going to happen?" Harry continued. "Is it something to do with Voldemort?"

Maddy didn't answer immediately. She couldn't lie to him, nor could she tell him the truth. Instead, she decided to skate around it a bit. "Not...exactly." she answered.

"What do you mean, 'Not exactly'?" Harry stared at her, his green eyes piercing hers.

"I mean..." Maddy avoided his gaze. "He's...not entirely the only one involved."

Harry shook his head. "You talk in riddles, Mad..."

"I'm sorry," Maddy apologized, looking down at her hands.

"It's not usually a problem," he added. "But sometimes, like this, you leave things unanswered. It bothers me, you know? It makes me think you're keeping things from me."

"I don't want to, Harry..." Maddy admitted. "You know I don't. But I've promised Dumbledore. I would be in a great deal of trouble if I revealed anything." her voice became panicky. "I don't want to go back to Azkaban, Harry. I never want to-"

"I know," he stopped her. "I don't want you to go back either, but if it has something to do with Voldemort, then I think you should be able to say something."

Maddy sighed. "I know what you're trying to say Harry, but Dumbledore won't hear of it. You don't know how many times I've tried to reason with that man. He won't hear anything I say. He says everything must play out as it must and I'm not to interfere." Harry opened his mouth to protest, but Maddy quieted him. "He seems to have everything figured out, Harry. I wonder about him a lot, but he's a bright man, Dumbledore. Even though he can tend to be a bit...off."

Harry shook his head, refusing to speak the words on his mind. He wondered about Dumbledore sometimes too, but not in the same way as Maddy. He wondered if the old man were truly as amazing as the others made him out to be.

"I want to help, Harry..." Maddy hugged her knees tightly. "I want to so badly. You have no idea..."

"Why?" He asked, glancing at her. "Why do you want to help me?"

"Why do you think?" Maddy shot back. "Your my best friend, Harry. Why wouldn't I want to help you?"

Harry didn't answer. He chewed on the end of his nail in an irritated sort of way. Maddy glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, then quickly looked away.

"Maddy?" Harry said softly.

"Mmm?" Maddy lifted her head, turning her face toward him.

He stared at her momentarily, only to move forward quickly, capturing her lips in a small gentle kiss. Maddy felt her heart skip as her eyes shot open in surprise. But as soon as he had started it, he pulled away, looking forward at the wall, entirely avoiding the strange look she'd given him. Maddy could feel the color rising in her cheeks as she looked at his embarrassed form.

"Don't stare at me like that..." he said abruptly, breaking the silence.

Maddy was slightly taken aback by his sudden remark. "How do you expect me to look at you after you do something like that?" He looked away, causing her to continue. "Why did you do something like that? Why did you kiss me?"

Harry didn't answer, determinedly avoiding her gaze. Maddy bit her lip, her mind swimming with many thoughts. She had never really gotten the impression that Harry liked her as anything more than a friend.

Gently, she nudged his shoulder, letting him know that she was okay with it. He turned his head slowly, facing her.

"Is this weird?" he asked.

Maddy shook her head. "Why would it be?"

"I mean," Harry started. "You're my best friend. I don't want thins to be...awkward, between us."

Maddy didn't see how anything would change. Certainly, they'd be closer physically, but nothing else.

"What will everyone say?" Maddy asked, voicing her own concerns.

Harry frowned. They both had to think this over. They didn't want anyone to treat them differently because of this. Especially not Ron and Hermione.

"Maybe..." Harry started hesitantly. "Maybe we shouldn't tell anyone about this..."

Maddy nodded, considering the idea of keeping it secret. "It may be for the best."

Harry agreed, nodding shortly. Unsure of what to say next, they sat in silence for a while, sneaking glances at each other out of the corners of their eyes. Finally, Harry casually wrapped his arm around her shoulders, brining her closer to him. His chin rest gently on the top of her head as she placed her cheek to his chest. With a great sigh, Maddy closed her eyes, finally feeling content with where she was.

XXXXX

"Come along, you lot!" Mrs. Weasley shouted back at the lagging teenagers loaded down with their school supplies. "You're going to miss the train!"

Maddy hurried ahead, struggling a bit from the weight of her trunk. Harry caught up easily, flashing an arrogant smile in her direction. Taking this as a challenge, Maddy threw her entire weight against the trolley, forcing it forward.

Mrs. Weasley screeched as the two hurtled past her aiming for the barrier between platforms nine and ten. The others seemed to find their antics hilarious, while Mrs. Weasley continued to shout after them. "Maddy! Harry! Slow down!"

Reaching the other side, they came to an abrupt stop. Maddy leaned over her trolley, unable to control her laughing. Harry rose his arms above his head triumphantly.

"No," Maddy gasped. "There is no way you beat me..."

"Did you not see that?" Harry asked, pointing back at the barrier. "I was about a hundred feet ahead of you."

Maddy shook her head, "I don't think so."

Harry opened his mouth to retort, when another trolley came rushing through the barrier, narrowly missing his back. Ron appeared next to them, grinning broadly.

"Fred and George tried to imitate you guys..." Ron said, allowing room for Hermione to come through. "But Mum caught them. It's a pretty nasty sight out there..."

Hermione pulled up next to them, looking a bit startled. "We should probably move..."

Moments later, Mrs. Weasley came bursting through the barrier, shortly followed by a very disheveled set of twin boys. Fred and George both bore signs of a struggle, their faces marked with dirt and blood.

"Hey Lee!" Fred waved his hand in the direction of their friend, completely disregarding the fact his face was bloodied.

"Fred Weasley, get over here!" Mrs. Weasley called to her son, brandishing a wet handkerchief and her wand.

"Yeah," Ron nodded, pushing his trolley forward. "Yeah, let's get out of here."

The four of them moved hastily away from the twins and their bothersome mother before she could flag them down as well. Hurrying onto the train, the girls set out to find a compartment, while the boys met up with some of their fellow Gryffindors.

"Harry Potter!" Maddy called back at him, sticking her head out from the compartment.

Harry turned quickly to see who'd called after him, smiling when he realized it was Maddy. He waved secretly. Maddy frowned, and signaled for him to come. Still waving, he turned back to the others, who were talking loudly about the World Cup.

Maddy turned back to the compartment where Hermione was stuffing her trunk into the slot above the seats. Sighing, she flopped down, kicking the edge of her own trunk. She regretted it immediately, for the pain that followed was hard to ignore.

"What's wrong with you?" Hermione asked, glancing up at her friend.

"What?" Maddy yelped, looking up.

"You look bothered," she pointed out. "Is something wrong?"

Maddy shook her head, feeling a small headache growing. This wasn't true of course. Harry had been acting so odd lately. It was hard to get him to even look at her while they were in the presence of others, let alone acknowledge her existence. Then, when they were alone, he treated her as though she were some kind of goddess.

"...my Dad wanted to tell me, but my Mum wouldn't let him say anything..." a voice came from outside the compartment.

"I already know what it is," another voice said, slightly more familiar. "My Dad told me all about it, but I'm not supposed to tell anyone. I suppose I could reveal something for a price..."

Maddy stood abruptly, peering out the window. Passing the door, were a group of Ravenclaws. Hermione didn't seem to notice them as she pulled out a book Maddy was certain Hermione'd read a thousand times.

"...how much exactly?" one of the others asked.

"Well," the second boy started slowly. "It depends on what you wan to know, and how much you have in your pocket..."

"Uh oh, Girlfriend alert..." one of the boys said, noticing Maddy standing in the hallway behind them.

"Girlfriend...?" the boy asked, sounding confused. He turned and Maddy stared at him as though she were a deer in headlights. She hadn't intended on him noticing her. She'd only wanted to see if it were truly him. "Maddy."

Maddy nodded curtly in his direction, keeping her lips tightly shut. The other Ravenclaw boys chuckled lightly as the two continued to stare at each other silently.

"How was your summer?" Terry asked, searching for a topic of conversation.

"Fine," she replied bitterly, not bothering to ask how his was in return.

He nodded. "That...That's good." Maddy didn't respond as he glanced uncomfortably at his cronies. "Well...I guess I'll see you later then?"

"Yeah," Maddy responded. "I guess so."

Before he could leave, she closed the door to her compartment, not only locking him out, but Harry and Ron as well. Curling into a ball, she leaned against the windows, waiting for them to return.

As the train jerked into motion, the door slid open and the boys re-entered. Ron muttered angrily about something that Malfoy had done, taking his place next to Hermione.

"Can you believe him?" Ron asked. "He's nothing but a dirty, slimy, ba-"

"Ronald..." Hermione said warningly.

"But Hermione, he..." Ron's voice began to drift off as Harry turned to face Maddy, finally realizing her position.

"Are you alright?" he mumbled to her under his breath.

"I'm...tired." she answered, still staring out the windows, seeing nothing but the back of the train station.

"You're lying to me..." his eyes narrowed. "Don't lie to me, Maddy..."

She didn't like lying to him. She knew that, but she really didn't want to talk to him about Terry. It would only anger him, and then bring about that awkwardness they'd been trying to avoid.

"I-" she started.

"Everyone's talking about that thing that's supposed to happen this year!" Ron interrupted abruptly. "Have you heard anything yet?"

Harry's focus snapped onto Ron, as he shook his head and answered that he hadn't, but really hoped that they found out soon. Maddy, now staring at him, was grateful for the change in subject, and would soon find that, despite her run in with Terry, the ride back to Hogwarts would be enjoyable after all.

A/N: There you are. I know you've been waiting for something like this, so I really hope you enjoyed it. There will be more Maddy/Harry coming up soon, so please stay patient. Thank you so very very much, and in the meantime, would you please, please, please review. I would like to know if you're still interested in this. I know it's rather long, but...thanks still.