Two days before Graduation… Two weeks had gone by and Krys' body still lie in the hospital wing of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but her soul, mind and wellbeing were in her past.

A four year old Krys sat in a dark and gray basement as a skinny Ethnic woman walked towards her with a heavy leather belt in her hand. Krys looked at the woman and shook her head. The woman struck Krys back down, but she stood up once more. As she stood up, Krys grew to her seventeen year old self. The woman raised the belt to her, but Krys summonsed it. The lady just stared at Krys with wide eyes. Krys smiled sweetly and whipped out her wand. "Lethere Deludere!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. The woman got to her knees and started to hold and shake her head. The lady's screams were shrill, high pitched and piercing, then chunks and slices of bone started to cut through her skin slowly. Her body started to shake. She lay on the floor crying in pain. Krys started to scream along with her, as the basement faded away.

Krys continued to scream at the top of her lungs as she sat up in the hospital bed, and looked around the hospital wing. She finally stopped, and started to pant. Krys looked at the nightstand, picked up her toothbrush and started to brush her teeth. When she was done, she snapped her fingers and changed into her clothes. She was dressed in baggie light blue jeans, with a double break. She wore a white thermal under a big, tan, short sleeved Pepe t-shirt. Krys wore tan construction Tims and a tan and white Yankee fitted. Then she walked out of the hospital wing and straight to the Great Hall. Outside of the Great Hall was a picture of her and all of her friends during Christmas break. It was the picture that her father took of them. Over the picture was a sign that said, 'Wake Up, Krys'. There was an arrangement of lilies under the picture. When Krys looked behind her, she saw Harry. He was smiling. Krys looked at him and smiled. They started to walk towards each other.

"What'd I miss?" she asked, as they met up. Harry gave her the swing around, lift up hug. Then he let her down and pulled away.

"You did this on purpose didn't you? You know- planned it so you wouldn't have to go to Slughorn's party." joked Harry. That's when the rest of them ran out of the Great Hall doors. Ron, Hermione and Ginny's eyes widened.

"Um… I'm glad you're okay. Thank you for everything. I don't suppose you ever want to talk to me again… but, I am very, very, very sorry." said Hermione, as she walked back into the Great Hall.

"Um… I'm also glad that you're okay. I'm sorry for everything." said Ginny, as she joined Hermione. Krys looked at Ron and Harry.

"What the- what happened?" she asked. "The last thing I remember was this flash of Hermione dying. Then- I also remember everything during the nightmares. But- I don't wanna talk about that."

"Well… you almost got tortured to death… physically and in your mind." said Ron. Krys nodded.

"Good to know." she said cheerfully. "So… what's today?"

"The Ball is tomorrow."

"Cause it would've been a shame to miss that." Krys said sarcastically. Harry laughed. "Oh- but I don't have a dress anyway so-"

"Ms. Delgado sent it. She said that you were too strong to not to wake up." said Ron. Krys lowered her hat on her head. She nodded, then walked into the Great Hall with Harry and Ron behind her. The two boys decided to sit with Hermione and Ginny. Madam Pomphrey was talking to McGonagall and Lupin. Krys walked over to the head of the Gryffindor table and cut a slice of chocolate cake. She started to make weird noises, as she cut the cake. McGonagall, Pomphrey and Lupin looked up at her.

"Excuse me, you- young man… take off the hat." said McGonagall. Krys stood up, walked to the staff table, then took off the hat.

"Hey Minnie, Poppy, Moony. Young man, Minnie? I think not." she said. They all just stared at her, before they smiled. McGonagall shed a few tears.

"You're awake." she said softly. Krys chuckled.

"If you cry… you're gonna make me cry. And I don't like crying- so… don't cry, Minnie. You're supposed to be the strong one." she said. McGonagall smiled and laughed a little.

"Welcome back." she said. The other two just continued to stare at Krys, with open mouths.

"You're catching flies, Moony. And Poppy… you've seen this too many times to be so shocked." said Krys. She winked, put on her hat, then skipped back to the Gryffindor table. She started to cut the chocolate cake into little squares. Krys started to eat her chocolate cake, when Brookes slipped into the seat in front of her.

"I've been waiting for you to wake up." he said. Krys looked up at him.

"Hey." she said. "Why have you been waiting for me to wake up?"

"Well- I visited you in the hospital wing. I kinda missed you." Krys nodded.

"Wow. I'm mildly flattered. Partially disgusted." she said. She wasn't sure if she was joking or not. Brookes smiled.

"And that was the part I didn't miss." he said jokingly. "So… I've been thinking about our date… and I was wondering if you'd go to the ball with me tomorrow." Krys looked up at him. "Only if you want to-… 'cause you know- our date didn't happen because… you kinda got hurt… and- I was just wondering- you don't have to. I'm sorry… we can forget all about it."

"Um… you can ask almost any girl in this school to go with you… but, you're asking me?" asked Krys. Brookes nodded. "Okay. Why me, though?"

"Well… I've never liked a girl as much as I like you. And… I've never been rejected by any other girl. I like that." said Brookes. Krys looked at him.

"Are we talking about 'like' like- or friend like?" Brookes looked at Krys, then he took her hat off of her head.

"'Like' like." he said, before he leaned across the table and pecked Krys on the lips. He pulled back, smiled, got up, then left. Krys looked to the side. McGonagall, Pomphrey and Lupin were all staring at her. Krys scrunched her face, then started to tap her head. McGonagall raised her eyebrow. Krys groaned, then started to bang her head on the table. She hopped up, put her hat back on, then ran out of the Great Hall. She ran to the Heads Dorms, and knocked on Harry's door urgently. Harry answered the door with his clothes disheveled, his lips bruised, and his hair messy.

"Ill- do you guys ever stop?" Krys asked in outrage.

"We stopped for a month." said Harry. Krys laughed.

"Try holding out for seventeen years, you horny adolescent."

"I've already done that one."

"Brookes just asked me to the ball- then he kissed me. Why didn't you tell me that he liked me like that, Prongs?!"

"I told you, Padfoot. You said, and I quote, 'nothing but friendship is coming out of the relationship Prongs'. I'll talk to you in an hour or so." he said, as he started to close his door.

"Dickhead." said Krys, as she walked to her room. She stared up at the ceiling. "Ares… who you love. Brookes… who you don't like that much. Ares… who is… way beyond sexy and just gorgeously cute- very, very, very gorgeously cute… and looks good in any and everything... Henry… who is cute. Ares… who is sweet and a gigantic pervert. Henry… who is a pervert." Krys did this over and over again, until the door knocked and Harry walked in.

"Okay- I'm here for you." he said.

"Wow… what happened while I was asleep? Did Ares come and visit me?"

"He didn't take a shower for two weeks, because he stayed at your bedside. He almost didn't play for the cup, because he was here."

"Are you kidding?" asked Krys. Harry shook his head.

"We told him that you wouldn't've wanted him to do that. So- he played, and they won." said Harry. "Oh- and Brookes came to visit you while Ares was there." Krys shot up. "That was an awkward moment."

"What happened?" she asked.

"They talked…about you."

"And what did you do?"

"I redirected the topic to how you got hurt."

"And…"

"They started to talk about you again."

"And…"

"You know, you should really get meaner, self involved suitors."

"And…"

"Brookes mentioned that he liked you." Krys' eyes widened.

"And…"

"Ares didn't say much. He asked what Brookes liked about you, then he said… 'make her happy, then keep her happy'." Krys looked at Harry.

"What?!"

"He said 'make her happy, then keep her happy'."

"Did he say it in the jealous ex-boyfriend who's still in love with me way, or did he say it like a friend?"

"He said it like the boy who's still in love with you, but wants you to be happy… no matter who you're with."

"Prongs- why?! First Brookes kisses me in front of Minnie, Moony, and Poppy… now you're telling me that Ares wants me to be with Brookes."

"Wow."

"Prongs… if you don't say anything to make this a little easier… I will punch you in the mouth." Harry laughed.

"Nice to know that after a month of me worrying about you… Padfoot hasn't gotten any nicer." he said. Krys nodded.

"Prongsie… all I've seen for a month is the woman that screwed my life, doing what she did to screw my life up. You're lucky as hell that I'm not crazy right now. Speak to me, Prongsie! Speak to me!" Harry looked at Krys, then started to laugh.

"You are crazy." he said. Krys shook her head.

"None of that. Ares just proved that he no longer loves me… and Brookes just asked me out, then told me that he's never liked a girl like he likes me. I have no idea what to do… I have no idea what I'm doing. I just woke up to a shitty day. I should've woken up late tomorrow."

"No… then you wouldn't be able to go to the ball." said Harry. Krys looked at him.

"That's the point." she said.

"I know… I kinda just wanted to bother you." Harry got up, and walked to Krys' closet. He came back with a dress bag. He tossed it to her.

"What's this?"

"It's the dress that Ms. Delgado picked out for you." said Harry. Krys opened it.

"Oh… wow Harry. The dress is amazing, its just… not a lot of fabric there." Harry laughed.

"She dropped it off, when she came to visit you." he said, as he stared at her. Krys looked at him.

"What?"

"I've missed you." said Harry. Krys laughed.

"Deer Crossing, Prongs. I've missed you too." she said. Harry laughed.

"Question."

"Cock it back."

"What the devil were you thinking, when you decided to redirect the black shadow?" Krys looked at him.

"Well- as soon as I saw that Hermione wasn't paying attention- I thought that she would die if I didn't."

"What about you?"

"I didn't die."

"You could've."

"But I didn't."

"Okay- another question. At the moment, did you know that the chances of you living were slim to none?"

"Yes. But- I also knew that Hermione wouldn't make it at all. So… I figured that my chances were a lot better than hers." Harry nodded. "Prongs- can we not talk about this now? You know- I'm alive… I have a problem."

"Okay- Gin taught me this. Clear your mind." said Harry. Krys nodded. "Answer fast."

"Okay."

"If you had to choose one person to spend the rest of your life with… who would it be?"

"Ares." Krys said automatically.

"There you go." said Harry. Krys nodded.

"Of course, but- Ares is like a piece of meat that's been thrown into a cage full of dogs. Everybody wants him."

"Then go with Brookes."

"But I want to be with Ares."

"Then there's your answer."

"But Are-"

"Padfoot!"

"What?"

"Stop coming up with excuses." said Harry. He waved his hand, and two holograms appeared in front of Krys. One was Ares, the next was Brookes. "Pick one." Krys pointed at Ares. "Ares it is."

"But- you can send him out into a mall… and he'll come out with like six dates… without having to say anything. He can not talk, and come out with like six dates. We went to the arcade once… every girl was just grilling me because I was with him."

"Then Brookes."

"Brookes… he's not Ares."

"Then Ares." said Harry. Krys nodded.

"Although he no longer loves me. He wants me to be with Brookes." Harry laughed and Krys glared at him. "Is this funny?"

"Yes." said Harry. "You should've seen him when Brookes said that he liked you. He looked at him for about ten minutes before he said anything… and you're the one that agreed to go out with Brookes."

"Because- if Ares and I have any chance to get on with the friendship, its to forget the relationship."

"Then why are we having this conversation?" asked Harry. Krys looked at Harry.

"I should just bludgeon you." she said. Harry laughed.

"You know… Brookes actually does seem to like you." he said.

"Yeah- but he's no Kingie." Harry lied down next to Krys.

"Isn't it a coincidence that you wake up on the day that it stopped raining." Krys laughed.

"Okay… this is what I've come up with." she said, as she sat up. "Sit up." Harry groaned, and sat up. "Special handshake."

"Padfoot-"

"Don't interrupt me, Prongsie." Harry laughed. Krys took his hand, and they started to make a special handshake. "This is better than the theme song." Harry nodded.

"When did your love life become more complicated than Hermione's?"

"When my cousin decided that she wanted my boyfriend." said Krys. Harry looked at Krys.

"You know- she spent a lot of time in the hospital wing." Krys shrugged. "You know- you can at least forgive her." Krys looked at him.

"Stephanie wasn't in the hospital wing." she said obliviously.

"I was talking about Hermione."

"Okay… I really don't want to start arguing with you. But- I'm gonna say this. The least I could do was be her friend again, most that I could do was keep her alive… and I already did that." Harry nodded. "So… lets not get into this."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"I'd be really immature and point out that you just did, if I wasn't so deep in thought. Cock it-"

"Stop saying that." said Harry. Krys laughed. "Why would you save her? Why would you sacrifice yourself if you no longer give a damn?" Krys looked at him.

"I never said that I didn't give a damn about her. I said that I didn't give a damn if we ever spoke again. That's what I said."

"What about that waters been poisoned crap?"

"You'd think that you forgot after a month."

"Never."

"Okay… listen up. I know this may make me seem like I'm a cruel- unforgiving frigid bitch… but- who cares? Its just… it feel like we're at the point where its just too late. You know?"

"Okay- but what about all the stuff you said about backing up your apologies?"

"Which is what brings up the too late part. Prongs- I know that I screwed up what I had with Ares. And… I know that that's the reason that he no longer loves me. Its just too late."

"I swear you're crazy." said Harry. Krys smiled.

"Part of my charm." she said. "Well- I'm gonna go to sleep… because it seems like I haven't slept in… a month." Harry laughed.

"Which is ironic, because we've been trying to wake you up for… a month." he mocked.

"Prongs- I don't think I'm going tomorrow."

"Than you'll have to tell Brookes." Krys groaned.

"How about… you tell him for me."

"How about… no."

"That's mean, Prongsie."

"Part of my charm." said Harry, as he took her hand and they did the special handshake.

"You got it."

"Okay- listen. I have to go." Krys nodded.

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The afternoon of the ball, Hermione and Ron sat in Hermione's room.

"Okay- so, we have to start decorating soon, right?" Ron asked stiffly. Hermione nodded.

"We do." she said. "We have to makes sure that we have enough balloons?" Ron looked at her.

"We do." he said.

"Then the dance planning is done. All we have to do is decorate. The End Of the Year Ball is officially planned. We're almost done." Hermione said, as she hugged him. As she touched him, he flinched. Hermione looked at him. "Is something the matter?" Ron shook his head.

"No, I'm fine."

"Okay. So… are you going to be my date?" Ron nodded.

"Sure."

"Nic- are you sure that you don't want to talk about what's bothering you?" she asked. Ron looked at her.

"Nothings bothering me." he said.

"Are you sure?" she asked gently.

"Yes, Saint Hermione. I'm sure." Ron snapped. "You know- you're not always in a happy mood. I shouldn't always have to be Mr. Bloody Sunshine!" Hermione looked at him.

"You know what, Ronald?!" she asked dangerously.

"No but I'm sure you'll tell me." Ron said rudely. Hermione looked at him.

"You are a real mess." she said. Ron looked at her.

"Mess? Mess? No, Hermione- do you know what bloody mess is?! Obviously not! Mess, is telling me that you love me, then telling me that we're better as friends! Mess, is kissing me- then apologizing!" Hermione looked at him with tears welling in her eyes.

"Ron- that's really foul. You know that. And you know why I did it!" she yelled, as the tears fell. Ron looked at her, then turned away. "Ron- I like us the way we are."

"Yeah, Hermione? Well- you can't have your cake and eat it too."

"Ron-"

"No, Hermione. You keep saying that you don't want to destroy the friendship- but the truth is that its been a right mess for a long time. So you can save yourself the trouble."

"What trouble?" she asked, tears liberally falling.

"You supposedly feel that its hard to be near me because you love me? Well- I'll fix that problem. Don't come near me. We're no longer friends. I can't take it."

"Ron, don't do this. Don't destroy the friendship-"

"No, Hermione. You already did that." he said, as he walked out the door. Hermione just watched the door close behind him, as she sobbed.