In hindsight I probably could have thought that through better.

I mean, you don't just kiss your best mate during a heated argument without purpose.

Well, I suppose that my purpose was to prove a point…

Which I did prove.

Obviously.

I've never seen Wood move without his usual sharp Quidditch reflexes. In fact he didn't really move at all as my hands latched onto the side of his face and I brought my lips up to his. Hard.

I could sort of feel the shock coursing through his body but I didn't have time to really think on it as I broke away from him, a triumphant smug smile on my face.

"Take that you ignorant prick." I declared as I looked into his stunned face.

"With pleasure," he muttered, before our lips were back together.

And then all thoughts left my head completely. This time his hands came onto me as my own hands became entangled in his short hair.

I barely even noticed myself being pulled flush against his body; all I was concerned with was how his chapped rugged lips were pressed against mine.

Slowly we broke apart for air minutes later, our foreheads resting on each other's.

"What the hell was that?" Oliver asked, breathing heavily as his brown eyes looked into my grey ones.

"You kissed me, you git," I muttered back hoarsely.

"You started it though," He pointed out.

"Oh shut up," I exclaimed before kissing him again.

I didn't even care about my sore body anymore. I could care less that his hands brushed against my bruised side, I just wanted this. I wanted him.

A slight cough from the doorway caused us to break apart instantly though.

I snapped my head to the right to see Tonks leaning casually against the doorframe, a smirk on her face. My skin instantly flushed a deep red and I ran a hand through my hair hurriedly as Oliver took a step away from me.

"Little old to be sitting on the counter, now aren't we Rig?" Dory questioned an annoying grin on her face.

I felt my face turn hotter, if possible, "Shove it Tonks."

Being snogged senseless seems to rid you of all intelligent conversation skills.

She held up her hands in mock surrender, "Whatever, Lovebird. I'd rather not talk about it either."

I got off the counter and ignored her statement.

"I just came back from the Ministry," She told me, moving into the room and throwing a smirk at Oliver as she did. She pulled a chair out from the table and sat in it casually, "Sirius has been cleared, should be in the Prophet by tomorrow morning, as well as You-Know-Who's return."

"The Ministry's actually going to let them print it?" Oliver spoke.

Even his voice made me feel awkward about what just happened.

"Seems Fudge can't deny the facts anymore with so many witnesses, including himself." Tonks replied easily, leaning back in her chair and stretching her long legs out in front of her.

I didn't really understand what she was talking about. Dad had explained that the Ministry knew that Who-Know-Who was back, but I figured they found out from the Death Eaters. Did the Dark Lord actually go to the Ministry?

I cleared my head; of course not. I turned my thoughts back to Dad.

"When will Dad be back?" I questioned, my voice coming out a bit squeaky because of my obvious embarrassment.

"An hour or so, I suspect." She replied, "He went to Hogwarts to see Harry. The kid seemed pretty shaken up. Not unreasonable of course, he just about lost his life. Again."

My brows furrowed, embarrassment leaving at this, "What do you mean?"

"Oh right, you were unconscious." She replied dryly. "After you fell Harry seemed to think you were dead. Well everyone sort of did… You have a lot of blood in your body Rig..."

"Focus, Dory." I replied annoyed

"Right, well he chased after Bellatrix, they ended up in main floor of the Ministry." She explained, "They had some sort of duel before-"

She cut herself off suddenly and her expression turned more serious.

"What?" I questioned at her pause.

"Who-Know-Who showed up." She continued quietly, "And then somehow Dumbledore appeared out of nowhere and another battle happened. I don't know what happened after that as I heard this second hand, but Fudge saw You-Know-Who."

My eyes widened and tripped over my own feet as I moved away from the counter and stood before my cousin, "You-Know-Who tried to kill Harry?!"

"Well obviously, what else would he be doing there? Checking out a permit for a unicorn?" Tonks replied dryly.

"Must you joke about something like this?" I demanded tiredly.

"Sorry." She mumbled.

I brought a hand up to my temple as my mind swarmed with the new information.

"Maybe I should go to Hogwarts as well." I said absently.

"Pfft," Tonks replied, "the only place you should be going is back to bed."

She threw a glance behind me at Oliver, "And not with you Ollie."

My eyes widened at her incredulously but it was Oliver who spoke.

"Now, Now, Tonks." He drawled evenly, "You might want to be careful where you tread here, I know about your 'furry' little problem."

What?

Her eyes narrowed at him, "You really are a git, Wood."

She stood up from her chair and started to stalk out of the kitchen, "Whatever, I'm heading back to the Ministry."

I frowned at the two of them, completely confused.

I didn't say anything though as I heard her trailing feet heading up the stairs to the main floor.

"What was that all about?" I questioned puzzled, turning back to Wood.

"Nothing," he replied, with a slight smile, his hand coming to pull at his short hair.

"I actually don't want to know." I responded quickly, my mind wandering to all the things 'furry problem' could mean.

As a silence passed between us I suddenly realized that we were alone again.

Okay then…

"So…" I started, my word trailing off pathetically.

He raised a single eyebrow.

"What?" I demanded defensively at his look.

"'So' what?" He replied.

Of course he wasn't going to make this easy on me.

"I kissed you, huh?" I stated, resisting the urge to rock back and forth on the balls of my feet.

"I remember clearly, Rigel."

Of course

"You know," I said after a few seconds of silence, "I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to be saying here…"

"You're pathetic."

"Clearly." I muttered back.

He took a step closer to me and I resisted the urge to take one back.

"Care to explain?" He questioned.

I rolled my eyes to the side before crossing my arms against my chest and looking squarely at him.

"I may fancy you." I replied, more evenly than I expected, "A little bit, that is."

"Forget pathetic," He replied wryly, coming even closer, "Now you're just pitiful."

I narrowed my eyes at him as realization dawned on me, "You knew I fancied you."

More of a statement than a question.

His answer came out as a grin.

Prick.

"Why didn't you say something?" I questioned annoyed.

His look deadpanned, "Look where that got me last time."

"I had a boyfriend last time, you idiot."

"Big deal."

"Yes it was a big deal! You told me you bloody loved me!"

"I don't remember you complaining."

"I'm bloody well complaining now!"

"Little late for that."

"I'll decided whether it's late or not!"

"Really now?"

"Yes!"

"…"

"What?"

"What are we even talking about?"

"I have no idea."

And then somehow we were snogging yet again.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

The sound of someone flooing into the kitchen downstairs met my ears and I looked up from the journal I was reading.

I heard faint words being said and then the sound of feet coming up the stairs.

I let out a smile as Harry emerged into the drawing room cautiously.

I stayed curled up in a ball in one of the old plush chairs as he came into the room fully.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, sitting up straighter.

My Dad's voice responded, "He wanted to see you and spend the night here."

I looked to the doorway to see Dad leaning against it casually.

"I wanted to apologize." The black haired boy told me quietly, and my brows furrowed, "I was being stupid, going to the Ministry, and it just about got you and Sirius killed. Dumbledore told me what that Archway does, and because of me you just about fell through it."

I frowned at him and then looked to Dad but he was just staring intently at me. I turned back to Harry and set my book aside as I did so, "Don't blame yourself Harry for the actions of others, it wasn't you who threw the curse, and you were just doing what anybody would have done."

"I wish everyone would stop saying that," He muttered, throwing a glance towards Dad.

"You'd think you would start to believe it then," I joked lightly as I stood up, "Harry, Sirius and I are fine."

The boy didn't respond as Dad came into the room and laid a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"A war is coming Harry," Dad told him softly, "You need to start getting use to the idea that there is going to be loss. You can't blame yourself for everyone who dies."

"But that prophecy was about me!" Harry argued back, "I put everyone in danger for something that concerned only me!"

Dad stared down at him silently before his grey eyes turned firmly on the boy, "This isn't just about you Harry. I know it seems like it as you always seem to be involved, but this war isn't about you and Voldemort. It's about freedom and an unbiased world."

Harry's green eyes looked doubtfully up at Sirius.

"This isn't just your fight." Dad told him, and the boy looked away.

Harry obviously thought that this was just talk to make him feel better. My eyes and Dad's met and I gave a hopeless look.

I was nothing near to a parent. I wouldn't know what to say. Usually I just yell at and threaten the kids.

And this situation didn't seem to call for either of those tactics.

"Harry," Dad continued, I could see from his expression that he had figured out something to say, "In all that you've gone through, you never did it alone have you?"

"What are you talking about?" Harry demanded.

"In your third year, when I had been captured, and you freed me, you didn't do it alone did you?" Dad questioned.

"Well not really," Harry replied, "But I had to cast the spell for the dementers. Nobody helped me do that."

"But you never would have gotten to that point if not for Ron, Hermione and Rigel." Dad replied, "And like tonight, if you would have gone alone, you would not have lived to face Who-Know-Who."

The poor boy looked a bit confused.

"In all of your adventures," Sirius explained to him, "You would have never have lived long enough to face Voldemort. You always had help."

"So?" Harry asked.

"It's the same way for this upcoming war." Dad responded softly, "You can't block everyone out and exclude them from the battle. You now know what you need to do at the end, and you're never going to get there without the people around you."

There was no emotion on Harry's face as he looked to the side silently.

I felt out of place. It was like a father and son type conversation, and I decided that they needed privacy. I quietly moved towards the door and heard murmuring behind me. When I reached the doorframe I glanced behind. The two wizards had moved and were now gripping each other in a comforting embrace.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

I stood outside the apartment door and hesitated as I raised my hand to knock on the hard wood. I took in a deep breath before rapping a few times.

The silence around me made the time pass by slowly.

Then I heard the sound of the door turning and the familiar face appeared.

"Rigel!"

Before I could even open my mouth to say something, a body was flung against me and I felt two arms wrap around me with so much force I could barely breathe.

"Maggie," I choked out, as she clutched me tightly, her arms squeezing my bruises.

"I'm so sorry about everything!" She exclaimed in my ear, "I got the paper yesterday and I wanted to talk to you but I had no idea where you were, of course I wanted to talk to you before that, but you wouldn't respond, and then I was scared that you were mad at me, and-"

"Maggie!" I cut in quickly, trying to stop her rant.

Suddenly the arms came off of me and I was staring into her face.

"I read that there was a battle against Death Eaters at the Ministry!" She cried out, her eyes searching me speedily, "Were you involved, what happened to your face, are you alright?!"

I was getting a headache from her jumbled words.

"Just calm down alright?" I injected quickly before she could start speaking again, "I'm fine, everyone is fine."

"Is it all true?!" She demanded, "What the Prophet says, is it true?!"

"I haven't seen the paper yet," I replied unsurely as her eyes were almost desperate, "The truth could probably be argued…"

"I can't believe this is all happening." She exclaimed, and for a second I thought she was going to faint as she brought a hand up to her forehead, "A second war, I mean it's just so weird. Unreal. Confusing…"

"Why don't we go in and sit down?" I suggested, as she continued to babble.

"Yes, of course, come in." She said hurriedly, breaking out of her stupor and all but pulling me inside the apartment, "I'm just so sorry for doubting you Rigel," She told me, "I was just so scared about my dad, and then you start talking like a lunatic and I just couldn't believe you and-"

"It's fine." I interrupted firmly, as she sat down heavily on one of the couches in the living room area, "don't worry about it. Now, what's happening with your dad? Any news?"

She shook her head quickly and took in a deep breath of air, no doubt needed from talking nonstop.

"I'll get you something to drink," I told her, though I don't think she heard me as I walked into the small kitchen behind us.

"The Aurors don't know anything and of course the police know even less than that." She told me, her face looking to the side as she spoke.

I came back into the living room with a glass of water and handed it to her. Her fingers shook as she took it and took a shaky sip.

"It's like the world is falling apart around me." She mumbled and I sat down on the couch beside her.

"No, it's not." I told her, putting an arm around her shoulder, "it's just changing a little too fast for you."

She didn't respond, just took another drink.

I didn't really know what to say after that so I just remained silent

"What happened to your face?"

I turned my head to look back at her and my finger moved up to the bandage on instinct.

"I fell." I told her simply.

"You look awful."

I let out a small laugh, "Thanks."

She let out a deep breath and ran a hand through her long blonde hair, "I truly am sorry, Rigel. I shouldn't have doubted your word."

"Don't be." I said softly, "I should have told you sooner; then perhaps you wouldn't have had a need to doubt."

Silence. I look to the side as she seemed to be in her own thoughts.

"I'm scared," She responded quietly.

"Me too."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

So I tried to add some Sirius and Harry as requested, I'm not really good at writing bonding type moments but I did try.

Maggie and Rigel are friends again, and Rigel and Wood finally snog each other. You know, not just Oliver snogging her.

A second war is about to begin. I have a few more chapters left till the end of the Order of the Phoenix, Sneak Peak; Sirius is going to tell Rigel about Auriga's past.

Thank-you for the great reviews, I hope I answered your questions in the chapter.