So i guess i have a bit of explaining to do, huh? see, here's the thing: when i started this story, i was obsessed (and when i say obsessed, i mean obsessed) with Harry Potter. but a couple weeks after i updated the 24th chapter, i realized that i really didn't like it anymore. / oh well. but since i wasn't really interested in Harry Potter anymore, i just stopped the story, cuz i just had so much to do, and i was so busy, and well, idk i just wasn't that enthusiastic about it anymore. so i just stopped writing for about a year. (don't kill me)
so yeah i was reading a new chapter of my friend's story before and then i decided to go to my story (this one) and jsut read it for the heck of it. so i read it, the whole thing, all 24 chapters (no, not in one day lol, i do have a life ya no). and by the end of the day that i finished it, i had decided that i kinda missed doing the story, so i've decided to come back and start writing again.
i mean, i had alot planned for this story, and, lets face it, its really pretty fun to write an actual story and have other people read it and stuff ya no? but, like i said before, i'm not hardcore obsessed anymore, so its not like i'll be updating every other day. just when i have some free time or something, u no?oh yeah, and if ur all mad at me for not updating for so long so ur not gonna read the story now or something like that, and i guess i can understand that, lol. oh well.
so, here's the 25th chapter u've been waiting for (if anybody's even reading this, lol) and sry. :D
-Jess
oh, and if anybody is reading this, it would probly be a good idea to go back and re-read some of the other chapters (or at least skim a few of the previous ones) and stuff so ur not lost. (just a suggestion, because i had to do that before i started writing again). and sry this author's note is so long. lol.
oh yeah, and just some things to keep in mind while ur reading: 1) this chapter is taking place sometime in Novermber-ish. 2) Harry's adn Katie's secret plan from the previous chapter to get Ronand Hermione together right after the Quidditch match is over. 3) remember all that wierd stuff that happend with malfoy a few chapters ago (like when he kept staring at her and stuff like that) just keep that in mind. 4) Malfoy and Katie are twin brother and sister, even though they usually don't really acnowledge it. 5) Katie was originally from the muggle world, but started her sixth year late and has read the Harry Potter books in the muggle world so she knows everything (well, mostly everything) that is going to happen in the future of this year at Hogwarts. 6) After the Quiddtich game that is taking place in this chapter, harry and Katie are going to take Ron and Hermione upstairs to the Gryffindor common room to get them to go out (finaly lol). But in the muggle book at this exact time (after this Quiddtich match) in the common room, Ron and Lavender would start snogging (lol, sry funny word) and then start going out. But harry adn Katie are purposely changing that. OK got all that stuff? lol ok go ahead and read now, and sry this autor's note is so long. :D
"Ok, so here's the plan for Saturday: The Quidditch match ends, then you, me, Ron, and Hermione start heading up here to the party or whatever. Then you see Lavender Brown and go over to her. You tell her that Slughorn wants to see her in his office. Then she'll be out of the way, so me and you will be able to get Ron and Hermione together." Harry was reviewing the newly-formed plan of how they were going to get Ron and Hermione together this coming Saturday, after the Quidditch match. He and Katie were sitting in front of the Common Room fire, the sounds of the few other students chatting and the crackling of the fire easing their minds.
"Sounds good. But what exactly are we going to do once the four of us are up here? What are we going to do that will actually get them together?" Katie asked, poining out the only flaw in the plan.
Harry was silent for a moment, then replied" We'll improvise. It'll make it more fun." He said with a wide grin.
Katie was about to add something else when Hermione took the empty chair on the other side of Harry. Knowing full well that they couldn't discuss their plans in front of her, Katie quickly changed the subject.
"So how's the team doing Harry?" Katie asked, trying to hide a smile: Just as Hermione had sat down, she and Harry had shared a look; they had been talking about Hermione and Ron's future relationship seconds before, and Hemione had no idea. "You think Gryffindor will beat Slytherin on Saturday?"
"As long as Ron's on form, we should do just fine." Harry's eyes showed the worry that was behind his smile: As of the practice earlier that day, Ron was definitly not on form. 'But then again,' thought Harry, 'Katie just told me a couple minutes ago that we'll do fine. I shouldn't be worrying'.
As Katie went back to her Potions essay, Hermione began correcting Harry's. They sat in silence for about twenty minutes, until Katie finished and decided that she should get to bed. Saying goodnight to Hermione and giving Harry a kiss, she left the common room and went up to the dormitory, thinking about how fun it would be to be getting Ron and Hermione together; in the muggle world, she had been a huge Ron-Hermione shipper, and to actually be (partly) responsible for finaly getting them together...
Saturday morning dawned bright and warm, and without a cloud in the sky: a good omen. Katie got up and dressed in unison with Hermione, while thoughts whizzed through her head (99.9 percent of which involved Harry) and then the two of them went down the stairs and met up with Ron and Harry, both of which were wearing the Gryffindor Quiddtich uniforms.
"Hey Harry," Katie said, as Harry approached her and gave her a kiss on the cheek and grabbed hold of her hand.
Taking notice of Ron's pale visage, Hermione asked, "You ok Ron?"
Ron, who had been staring at the floor, looked up at the sound of his name. "Look, can we just get down to the Great Hall already?"
With Hermione leading the way, the four of them proceded on thier way downstairs to the Great Hall, where hundreds of students were making their way in through the giant wooden doors, anticipating their first meal of the day. Harry and Katie walked a little behind Ron and Hermione, and quietly enough so that they wouldn't be able to hear her, Katie asked, "So are you ready for today?"
Harry looked at her and smiled. "Well, the skies are clear and the weather couldn't be more perfect, so the Quidditch game seems like it should go rather smoothly. As for afterwards," Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione, who were a few feet ahead of them, before continuing with a smile, "the plan is foolproof. All systems are go."
Five minutes later, when Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Katie entered the Great Hall, they took their usual seats at the Gryffindor table, and began piling food onto thier plates, all with the exception of Ron, who simply sat and stared at nothing in particular. Katie glanced at him, and then at Harry. Under normal circumstances, the captain of the Gryffindor Quiddtich team would be uncomfotable with the thought of an important Quidditch game against the Slytherins less than an hour away, and would thus be nervous or at least a bit fidgety at the moment. But instead, Harry was shoving food into his mouth, the look on his face one of pure joy; there wasn't a trace of nervousness there.
Katie thought this over in her head. In the muggle book, Harry had been fretting over this game for weeks, and the day before the game, had been practically as nervous as Ron. But the Harry that was sitting in front of her now was, well, the complete opposite. But thinking back, Katie remembered Monday night, when she had told Harry "not to worry" about the game, and that "everything would be fine".
'So that's why he's acting so confident' thought Katie to herself. 'He already knows that Gryffindor is going to win'.
Katie drew her eyes away from Harry, who was now wolfing down a plate of pancakes, and placed them on Ron who, unlike Harry, didn't know the outcome of the game. It seemed that Ron's face was getting more and more pale as the minutes passed; Katie thought that it would be best to get him out of the Great Hall as soon as possible, because he wasn't eating anyway, and because the Slytherins were beginning to shout names at him from two tables away.
But before Katie could suggest that the four of them should head outside to the Quidditch field, students began standing and heading out of the door: apparently everyone was greatly anticipating the upcoming game, and didn't want to hang around the Great Hall for too long, especially when there were only twenty minutes until the game would start.
So, following the example of the other students, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Katie got up out of thier seats and joined the long line of Hogwarts students that were eagrly waiting to get down to the Quidditch field. Finally getting out of the Great Hall, the four of them made thier way upstairs to the Gryffindor common room, so that Harry and Ron could get thier brooms and other equiptment, and Katie and Hermione could get thier gloves and scarves; the cold wintry weather was already starting to set in, even though it was only the beginning of November.
Less than five minutes later, the four of them were ready, and began to make their way out of the common room, so that they could join the rest of the school at the Quidditch field.
The corridors were nearly empty as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Katie raced down flight after flight of stairs, save for a few students here and there, who were also quickly making their way outside. Had the four Gryffindors not been rushing so much, and had they taken the time to observe their surroundings, they would have noticed the tall, blonde, Slytherin student that was racing down the corridors also, keeping just feet behind them. They also would have noticed that this person had been following them the second that they had stepped out of the common room.
Just as they finished coming down the last few stairs and started heading for the door that lead to the Quidditch field, Katie dropped one of her gloves. After stopping to pick it up Katie put it in her hand. But that was when she realized that she only had one glove, not two.
"Katie what are you doing let's go." Hermione said, not yet realizing that Katie was missing a glove.
"Where'd my other glove go?" Katie asked no one in particular and holding up her bare left hand.
Harry and Hermione gave the floor a quick search while Ron's pale face just stared ahead, not aware of his surroundings. After a group of Ravenclaws rushed their way past the group and went out onto the Quidditch field, Katie realized how late it was getting, and that Ron and Harry would have to get out to the Quidditch field because the game would be starting soon.
"You know what guys, why don't you just go ahead and I'll catch up after I find my glove." Katie told Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Are you sure you don't want help finding it?" Harry asked her as Hermione prepared for the chilly outdoors by wrapping a scarf around her neck.
"Yeah I'll just go back the way we came and look around on the floor and stuff really quick. Maybe its even still in the common room. But just go ahead, I'll be out there in a couple minutes." Katie reassured them.
"Well, if you're sure," Harry said. He walked over to her and gave her a small peck on the cheek.
"Good luck Harry." Katie told him.
"Thanks. And don't forget about later alright?" He asked in a low voice so Ron and Hermione wouldn't overhear.
Katie realized that he was talking about their plans to get Ron and Hermione together after the game was over. She smiled at him and said, "Don't worry, we planned it out already and everything. It'll be fun." And with that, Katie watched as Harry, Ron and Hermione walked towards the door and the Quidditch field beyond it. As she watched them walk away, she couldn't help but think that the three people walking away from her were the original trio of the Harry Potter series, and all of a sudden in the tiniest part of the back of her brain, Katie couldn't keep away the thought that somehow she was intruding on their lives.
But the next second she was remembering her missing glove, the reason why she wasn't with Harry, Ron and Hermione right now, but a little bit like an outsider, separated from them. She turned around and began walking in the direction she had come from minutes before, her eyes trained on the ground. After walking up a flight of stairs, and around a corner, she saw a small object lying on the ground at the end of the hallway. She walked up to it and was about to pick it up when she realized that it wasn't her glove, which was what she had been thinking, but a piece of newpaper, ripped apart and lying abandoned on the tiled floor. She was about to continue walking when she heard something behind her. Turning around, Katie saw a tall blonde figure emerging from around a corner nearby.
"Looking for this?" Malfoy asked her, holding up Katie's other glove.
Katie looked at him and a million thoughts whizzed through her head at once. What was Malfoy doing up here when he should be at the Quidditch game? Why was he following her? Why would he pick up a glove off the floor and know that it was hers? "Yeah, I am actually." Katie kept her eyes locked on his as she took the glove out of his hand. She saw in Mafoy's eyes the icy coldness that was so often described in the muggle books, but could have sworn there was something else there, something strange and unidentifiable...
"Your welcome." Malfoy said, even though she had never said thank you, and letting his hand drop to his side.
Katie said nothing, just put her glove back onto her hand, her eyes finally breaking the long stare that they had just held. Malfoy watched her put the glove on and then said, "So, uhh, you were going to the Quidditch game just now?"
Katie looked at him. Why was he trying to talk to her and why did he care where she was going? "Yeah, I was just getting my glove first."
"I see...So umm I saw you drop it before, just after you left the Gryffindor common room." Malfoy said.
'This is getting a little wierd' Katie thought to herself. But outloud she said, "And you just decided to give it to me now?"
Malfoy looked up from the floor where he had been staring. "Huh?" he said, trying to buy himself some time.
Katie let out a sigh. "If I dropped my glove after leaving the common room on the seventh floor and you saw me drop it, and then I went all the way downstairs and halfway back up again, why did you only just tell me now?"Katie asked him and added, in her head 'now that I'm alone'.
Malfoy just stared at her, and that's when Katie realized that he wasn't sneering at her like he normally would.
"Malfoy what do you want?" Katie asked, starting to get a little impatient now. Then she remembered, from the muggle book, that Malfoy was a Death Eater. She began to get nervous.
Malfoy smiled, but it wasn't a smile that made Katie feel any more comfortable. "I need to talk to you."
Katie stared. "...well here we are, you and me, go ahead and say whatever you have to say."
Mafloy shook his head "No. Not here, we can't talk here." he said. He looked around to make sure no one was there and then said, "Follow me."
Katie couldn't help but let out a humorless laugh. Malfoy, who had already begun walking away, turned at the sound.
"Sorry, but umm, what??" Katie asked. Malfoy just looked at her.
"What makes you think that I'm going anywhere with you?" She asked him.
Malfoy took a few steps over to her and grabbed her upper arm, not hard, and said, "Let's put it this way: I really need to talk to you and this may be the only chance that I'm ever going to get. Just come with me," and then added, "please."
Normally, Katie wouldn't have even wasted her time like this. The Quidditch game surley was about to start any second now. On any other day she would have just taken her glove and gotten out of there immediately. But there was something in Malfoy's voice, something in his eyes, that made Katie trust him only a little more than she normally would have...
Back at the Quiddtich field, Harry was just finishing up his pep talk with the Gryffindor Team. All eyes were on him, even Ron's, although Ron wasn't really paying attention to the words that were coming out of Harry's mouth like the rest of the team was. And out in the stands, Hermione was standing with Parvarti Patil and Lavender Brown, completely unaware of the fact that she was standing with what would be Ron's girlfriend later that evening if Harry and Katie weren't changing things around. But as she stood there and watched the two teams come out onto the field she began to wonder where Katie had got to, whether she had found her glove yet, and why Katie wasn't outside yet, watching the Quiddtich gme begin with her...
Katie was now following Malfoy through the main hallway, the place where she had been just a few minutes before with Harry, Ron and Hermione and where she had realized that she was missing her glove, and was starting to wonder the same things as Hermione. 'What am I doing following Malfoy?' she started thinking. 'Maybe I can slip through those doors and get outside to the Quiddtitch game before Malfoy even knows i'm gone, and-'
"Don't even think about it." Malfoy said, stopping for a second and turning around to face Katie. Katie looked at him, a little surprised, but then she remembered that Malfoy had been taught Legilimency by his aunt in the muggle book.
Malfoy started walking again, but Katie stayed where she was, looking back and forth between the door and Malfoy. Noticing this, Malfoy walked back to where Katie was standing and pulled out his wand. "Lets go. Now."
Katie sensed the urgency in his voice and eyed his wand cautiously. She gave one last look at the door before saying, "Fine lets go."
Malfoy looked around, making sure no one was around, and then started walking again, Katie in tow. They hadn't been walking for more than a minute when Katie asked, "So where is it that we're going?"
"Shhh." Was all that Malfoy said, and Katie was silenced, for a while. But after they walked through the doors that led to the dungeons underneath the castle, Katie couldn't resist. "Malfoy seriously where are we going?"
"Would you shut up? We're almost there."
Katie gave him a suspicious look, even though his back was turned, and decided that she should take her wand out also, just to be safe.
"You won't be needing that." Malfoy said, his head turned slightly and looking at her wand out of the corner of his eye. Katie, however, ignored him.
Finally, after turning a corer, the two stopped at a big green door. Katie was about to ask where they were or what this door led to when Malfoy faced the door and finally spoke. "The Dark Lord."
Katie assumed this was a password of some sort, and then realized her assumption was right when the door began to slowly creak its way open. Once it opened all the way, Katie found herself facing an almost entirely green room, with a view of what looked like an underground river or lake. Katie began to wonder why it was completely empty, but then remembered that everyone was at the Slytherin vs. Gryffindor Quiddtich match outside.
"This is the Slytherin Common Room." Malfoy said, and gestured with his hand that Katie should go inside. But Katie just looked at him, confused. "And why are we here?"
Malfoy turned around, checking again that there was no one around. "I told you. I need to talk to you. And this is the only place and time that I can say what I have to say."
Katie thought that Malfoy had to have planned this all out, and she had to give him a little credit: it was a pretty good plan. Everyone was at the Quidditch game, so the common room was completely empty, and so were the hallways, so no one would see Malfoy bringing her down here.
"But why?" Katie asked. "Why here? Did you forget that I'm in Gryffindor?"
Malfoy sneered at her, for the first time that day, and just said, "Just get in there and I'll explain everything." But when Katie hesitated, Malfoy just grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into the common room, shutting the door behind them.
Katie couldn't help it, she was completely overwhelmed, and was getting nervous. 'Why did Malfoy have to bring me here where it would be empty? I'm so stupid, what am I doing here, why did I even follow him? What is so important that he has to tell me in complete privacy?'
Okayyy then. now i know that this chapter isn't really that long, but i wanted to end it here mostly because i wanted to end the chapter on a cliff hanger...so i hope you liked this chapter (whoever is actually reading this) and if i find out that people actually start reading this story again then i'll be sure to update again ok? but i don't want to write a story if nobody's going to read it, ya no? ok, so i would be absolutely thrilled to recieve some reviews but my hopes aren't very high. but yeah hope u liked this chapter becasue i had a lot of fun writing it, especially the end. and if i do actually have some readers then i'll try to update really soon ok? :D