Author's Note: Thanks everyone for not killing me! It is greatly appreciated. Anyway, this is a deceptively important chapter, so read it carefully. Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed. You all are so amazing and encouraging! Oh yes, a little Shakespeare reference in here: I don't own him, blah blah blah. (Isn't that a lovely disclaimer?)


CHAPTER 42: Life With You

Kellyn liked being Sam's girlfriend. That was an understatement as nothing, except flying, gave her greater joy than when he smiled at her. Their first weekend together was blissful. After Katima screamed when walking in on them snogging in the Slytherin common room, they decided to take a walk, hand in hand, and show each other off.

"We are a marvelous couple," Sam declared. "What catches we are!" He said this all jocularly, but then softly smiled at her, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "Actually, I'm lucky to have a girl like you," he confessed.

"Funny, I was thinking the same thing," she said with a sly smile.

"You're calling me a girl? Fine, I see how it is!" Sam stomped off, pulling his hand out of Kellyn's grasp. Kellyn called after him to come back, laughing, and ran to him, pulling him into a deep kiss. When they parted, they realized that they were in the Great Hall and all eyes were on them.

"Five points from Ravenclaw and Slytherin for being sickeningly cute," said Glen with a knowing smile.

"But Glen, you can't do that!" protested Shaylee with a whine. "They are just too… cute!"

"I know," said Glen as if talking to a five-year-old, patting her on the head. However, Kellyn and Sam were not listening to this. Sam kissed her on her temple and sat down next to her, fixing her toast the way she liked it, with butter and strawberry preserves. Everyone cooed around them, but from other tables, jealous and disappointed looks were shot their way. They, however, were blind with their adoration for each other and quickly finished their breakfasts, hurrying out of the hall for a little privacy.

His kisses were almost as strong as unicorn blood. After the first kiss, it seemed like being with out him was living a half-life. However, Kellyn knew the difference between wanting and needing. She wanted Sam and she had him. She did not need to need him then, nor did she want to: they were young and it seemed like necessity would be the end of the world, the end of silly afternoons tangled up in each other and the end of discovering every nook in the castle for secret snogging sessions.

Days with Sam were always an adventure. Kellyn's curiosity and Sam's spontaneity made every day interesting, new, and exciting. They were so caught up in each other that sometimes the world faded and they forgot everything else. Kellyn even missed her usual tutoring session with Drew on Wednesday because she and Sam were caught up in a very heated kiss. She profusely apologized to Drew later: she was sorry about wasting his time, but she was not sorry how she used her time in place of studying. Sam was good for that, dragging her away from her schoolwork when she needed the break. He stayed up with her when she inevitably had to do her work, or fell asleep on her just to force her to stay with him longer.

The first week of January was bitterly cold and everyone huddled inside the castle for warmth. It was too cold for snowmen and snowball fights, so Sam treated her to a day in, complete with hot chocolate and raspberry pie from the generous house elves in the kitchen. He was always giving her things: new quills when she snapped her others with anxiety, flowers just because, a book because she professed how marvelous it was, a sandwich when she was too busy studying to get dinner in the Great Hall.

"Why? You don't have to do that," she would chastise him.

"But I wanted to," he would profess.

"And you just do whatever the hell you want, huh?"

"I'm a Malfoy. It happens." This was his explanation for many things. One day, Kellyn called him Scorpius a second time and he was shocked. He wrinkled his nose.

"Why did you call me that? Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?"

"No," she insisted, perplexed, kissing him on his jaw.

"Oh. I don't like being called that."

"Why? Rose calls you that."

"Well, that's Rose. She might as well be a Malfoy because she thinks she can do whatever the hell she wants too." Kellyn pretended to be jealous for a moment to satisfy his ego. "Besides, my father calls me that, so…" Kellyn was studying at the time on Sam's bed. He sat at the foot of the bed, picking at her jeans. She shut the book she was reading and crawled to him, looking into Sam's beautiful green eyes.

"You are your own man, Sam, but Scorpius is still a part of you. It is your name, but your name doesn't have to define you. I mean, what's in a name?" she asked, quoting Romeo and Juliet.

"'That which we call a rose, by any other name, would smell as sweet,'" he quoted and Kellyn looked up at him and could have died happy.

"How do you…?"

"Muggle Studies." Kellyn pounced on him, kissing him passionately and tugging her shirt off to be closer to him. "I love that class," Sam murmured blissfully before Kellyn captured his mouth in an intoxicating kiss. He drew lazy circles on the smooth skin of her back and shoulders and everywhere he touched tingled. He had a way about him like that. Gone was the bad boy Slytherin player and in his place was a trophy boyfriend.

Everyone had something to say about the new couple. Helen and Amadi professed that they knew it was only a matter of time before they got together, saying how they remembered the chemistry between the two at the first Football Friday. After having Ancient Runes together, Kellyn walked with Helen, jabbering about how wonderful Sam was to her.

"Enough about me," said Kellyn with a shake of her head. "How was your New Years?" Helen paled a moment.

"Funny you should mention that. Frankly, there are a number of spots that I cannot quite remember, but I have been assured by numerous witnesses that I was alive and well until I collapsed on one of the mattresses in the 7th year's room."

"Didn't do anything you regret, did you?" Helen gave a funny laugh.

"Can't regret it if I don't remember it!" Albus approached them, his green eyes imploring Helen.

"Helen, can I talk to you?"

"I'm a little busy here right now, Albus," Helen snapped. Albus seemed slightly taken aback, but plowed on determinedly.

"Later? Can we talk later?" Helen eyed him for a moment, giving him her best death glare.

"Fine," she growled, grabbing Kellyn and walking off. Kellyn gave her red-haired friend a questioning look. "Merlin, the Potters and their Quidditch will be the death of me. They think that anything pertaining to the game is a matter of life and death!"

"This is very true," said Kellyn and they continued on their merry way.

Later that week, there was a Transfiguration test that Kellyn found herself woefully unprepared for, as she had missed her tutoring session with Drew that Wednesday. Professor Lupin passed back the test and both he and Kellyn were less than satisfied with her score.

"Not a good way to begin the year, Miss Wood. I do not want to have to force Mr. Indovinello on you again."

"Me neither. It won't happen again. It was just a fluke: I missed the review session I was going to have with Drew and I neglected to study over break. Family, you know…" she said wistfully.

"And this missing of your study session has nothing to do with Mr. Malfoy?" asked Teddy deprecatingly. Kellyn looked at the professor, astonished. "People love to talk, Kellyn," he whispered.

"I swear, if you tell my da, I don't care if you're a professor, I will hex you from here to—"

"Relax, relax, your secret is safe with me: that is, if your grades do not begin to suffer."

"Like I said, it won't happen again. Good-day, professor," Kellyn said with a nod and went to bury herself in Sam's strong arms.

Time passed by oddly with Sam. Everything was slow: when he kissed her, she completely lost track of the hour as she concentrated on each sensation… his touch, his smell, his taste were all unique sensations that seemed to envelop entire memories with astonishing clarity. Hours seemed to be devoted to a single second in which his fingers caressed her collarbone. Time without him was even slower. The world seemed dull without his perspective and opinions so readily given. Thus, for the first time in a very long time, Kellyn found herself distracted during Quidditch practice that Thursday. Ironically enough, it was the day she finally managed to touch base with Earth after having her head in the clouds and her hip permanently attached to Sam's.

"Wood! Are you bloody paying attention?" snapped Drew while he was trying to explain a new play to them.

"No," responded Kellyn, with what she was sure was a rather goofy grin on her face.

"And pray tell, what do you find so much more interesting to daydream about than Quidditch?"

"Please, no!" cried Seb, covering his ears. "There are virgin ears at stake!" Everyone except Drew found this rather comical, and Kellyn was sentenced to extra laps after practice. While running, she pondered her conversation with Sharon she had the night before when she came in late and found Sharon still up. Kellyn noticed that she had been very quiet since New Years and asked the girl how she was doing.

"Honestly, not that well. I am just… confused, I suppose."

"About what?"

"When you kiss a boy and he kisses you back, it is supposed to mean something, isn't it?"

"Are you talking about New Years?"

"Yeah. I kissed Drew and he definitely kissed me back and then initiated a second kiss, and he hasn't talked to me since. We are really good friends: I know him like the back of my hand. I suppose, the only thing I don't get is his humor: I'm really bad with hearing sarcasm and that seems to be his forte. But, I digress. So, he hasn't talked to me and it is weird and I cannot think of any explanation for it."

"Well, maybe he is a little freaked out. I mean, to everyone else it has been rather apparent that you two belong together for the longest of time, but you have never really done anything blatant to show it, and so maybe he is just trying to process that his best female friend is no longer content with simply being his friend and doesn't know how to convey his own feelings to you. So, he's probably trying to figure out exactly how to go about telling you his undying adoration of you because he's a gentleman and a perfectionist and would take his time with this sort of thing."

"Or he doesn't like me that way and is avoiding me in hopes that this will all blow over," said Sharon, pouting.

"Somehow, I highly doubt that. I can tell that every time he looks at you, he's waging a mini-war against himself because he obviously feels something for you, but something is stopping him. And that something is probably someone and that someone is probably himself, his own conscious. We Ravenclaws tend to get wrapped up in our minds. Well, you've made your emotions pretty clear, but sometimes, boys need words to accompany actions, so if he's still being elusive, confront him."

"There is Hogsmeade trip this weekend. No doubt there will be a party afterwards. I'll talk to him then."

"That sounds like a very good plan."

"Thanks Kellyn. I know we did not get off to the best of starts, but you've been really nice with this Drew thing. I'm kind of surprised, honestly."

"Why?" asked Kelly, confused.

"Well, for awhile I thought that… well, never mind, it is silly, really." Sharon quickly said goodnight and pulled the covers over her head.

Kellyn pondered this conversation as she ran her punishment laps, wondering what Sharon thought that made her surprised that Kellyn would help her. Kellyn enjoyed jogging and could have continued for awhile, especially since her shin was not giving her any problems recently, and was snapped out of her reverie when Drew finally told her to stop running and called her over to him.

"What is with you? You are so distracted. Merlin, you still have that dazed look on your face!" he exclaimed, waving a hand in front of her eyes.

"My face sends its deepest regrets and apologies."

"Well, your arse is going to be sending its deepest regrets and apologies unless you get your fucking act together because if you can't focus and keep your mind out of the broom closet, I will kick you from here to Timbuktu."

"I don't recall leaving my mind in a broom closet," she retorted with a wry grin.

"That tends to happen when girls like you get a boyfriend and are snogged senseless—you lose your sense!"

"Just because I am able to release my sexual tension in a constructive, satisfying manner with my wonderful charming boyfriend and you aren't, being single and in self-exile, does not give you the right to chastise me like an inexperienced, love-struck little girl," Kellyn said sweetly and coolly. This threw Drew for an entire minute as he sputtered for words to say.

"I don't know what the hell you are talking about."

"Of course you do," Kellyn said suavely and sauntered off. "I think you would be wise to pick up a distraction of your own." She moseyed off the pitch and hit the showers before joining Sam for dinner. However, they both decided to skip dinner and go directly to dessert as Sam drew on her upper thigh with his fingertips. The heat on her skin was unbearable and they shamelessly found the nearest broom closet and explored the crevices and curves of each other's mouths.

By Saturday, they were quite nearly burnt out and were more than content to walk around Hogsmeade together. They were restless from being stuck inside the castle due to the bad weather and were excited to venture back out into the winter wonderland on that clear Saturday. Sam was excellent at keeping conversations going until they stopped in front of the nice French restaurant in Hogsmeade.

"We're eating here?" asked Kellyn, her eyes wide. Sam nodded with a smile. "Do you have a reservation? Aren't I dressed too casually?"

"To address your questions, no, I do not need a reservation, I am a Malfoy, the best table is always available for me, and two, it doesn't matter what you wear because you are already too beautiful for words. Now, are we going to gawk at the shiny sign or do you want to see what it looks like on the inside?"

"Option number two please!" Kellyn squealed and took Sam's arm. He gallantly led her inside and sat her down, discussing the scrumptious menu to her.

"I am so glad I am dating you," sighed Sam as Kellyn cleaned every course that was placed in front of you. "You eat your food."

"Whadya mean?" asked Kellyn uncouthly, with food in her mouth. Sam laughed at her bad manners and explained.

"I've taken other girls here before and they order salads when there are so many other delicious things to eat. Or they will order something, take two bites, and declare they are full." Kellyn swallowed what she was chewing and responded.

"I'm not a skinny ass girl and I like food. I will eat as much as I want when I damn feel like it," Kellyn declared. The customers at the table over looked at her oddly. Kellyn realized she was probably not supposed to swear in fancy restaurants. Etiquette was never her strong suit…

"You are so refreshing: I have never met a girl like you," he said, taking her hand. "Champagne?" Kellyn nodded with a mischievous smile. They finished off their meal with two desserts: one was a grape and cheese platter, which Sam fed her, and the other was a spectacularly prepared bananas foster. It the most magical culinary experience Kellyn ever had as the banana, sugar, and rum were combined with a swish of a wand and then ignited into brilliant flames that were charmed to change color. It was neatly served over ice cream and after another glass of champagne, Sam called for the check and decided that Kellyn needed to take a walk.

"But I normally hold my liquor so well," she lamented, holding onto his arm for balance.

"It's the bubbles, princess," he explained. "It makes you drunk quicker. You probably should not have had the second glass."

"But I have never had champagne before! It was a new experience I could not pass up!" she insisted with wide eyes. Sam laughed at her rationale and the couple bumped into none other than Katima Senalda.

"Oh, taking the Ravenclaw rampallian out on a date?" she asked snidely.

"Her name is Kellyn and you will call her such, as she is my girlfriend, and yes, I am taking her out on a date, as that is what happy couples do," snapped Sam, covering his anger with an ironic, charming smile.

"Although I applaud the alliteration of your insult," said Kellyn with a giggle. "You must have spent all day coming up with that."

"Let me guess: she got drunk off of the champagne and now you are taking her for a walk. So typical, Sam. It is insulting that you cannot find a girl with class," Katima drawled and Kellyn felt her blood boil, lunging at the girl. Katima laughed. "So uncivilized she forgets that she is a witch and can use her wand."

"Better a witch than a bitch," sneered Kellyn. Sam finally dragged Kellyn away and she reluctantly followed, satisfied with having the last word. "Can you believe her?! I swear, I thought I was ballsy, but she takes that to a whole new level." Sam laughed and kissed her forehead. With the spell Orchideous, a bouquet of flowers popped out of Sam's wand; he gave Kellyn the bouquet and tucked one delicate flower behind her ear.

"Never thought I would live to see the day," said James, who had seen Sam's gesture.

"I could say the same for you, mate," said Sam, looking at Stella, who was at James' side. James and Stella both looked at each other bashfully. They were so wonderfully awkward, obviously affectionate toward each other, but unsure how exactly to express it. Instead, they settled for meaningful, coy glances to each other and endless blushes that painted their cheeks. It was a cute spectacle to see them stand so close to each other with complete adoration in their eyes.

"Five points from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor for being sickeningly cute," declared Kellyn, borrowing Glen's words from that morning.

"Kellyn, you aren't a prefect," said Stella, slightly confused.

"You got her drunk on your first date?" admonished James, slightly appalled.

"Apparently she cannot hold her champagne as well as she holds her Firewiskey," Sam explained.

"It's because of the bubbles," Kellyn added with a giggle.

"So we are taking a nice, long walk until the giggling ceases… even though she is terribly cute when tipsy."

"You just like it because then you get to dangle me on your arm," said Kellyn with a grin.

"Oh no!" cried Sam with mock horror. "Now you know my true motives," he said, kissing her temple. "Well, we'll see the both of you later," Sam said jauntily. Stella smiled and offered a hand to James, who sported a goofy, love-struck grin. Sam pulled her into a hug. "Are you warm?"

"Between you and the champagne? Infinitely so," she murmured into his chest. "Sam, what did James mean when he said he never thought he would live to see the day?" Kellyn could feel his chest rumble with a soft laugh.

"He meant he never thought I would settle down and date a respectable girl while not looking at every other girl's arse."

"Oh. I see," Kellyn gulped.

"You're freaking out a little now, yes?"

"A little."

"Hey," he said, cupping her face in her hands, "I'm not asking you to marry me—only asking you to stick around and humor me for awhile. Humor me in a serious, mutual way."

"I think I can meet that job description," she said with a wry grin.

"But you should know that I adore you. And even though I have not always been in the right or a complete gentleman to you, you should know that as of now, although I say I want you to stick around, really, I just want to stick around you. I like monopolizing your schedule and I'll have you know you are penciled in every hour of the day in mine." He leaned his forehead against hers and let their noses touch. "I just thought you should know my intentions."

"Every hour, huh?"

"You got me," he surrendered and Kellyn kissed his cool lips.

"I'm not giggling anymore," she said quite seriously.

"Don't jinx it!" Sam cried and Kellyn had to stifle her own giggle. "How about some tea?" Kellyn responded that tea would be nice and they cozied up in Madam Puddifoot's, basking in each other's warmth.


That evening, the 7th years held a party. With Sam at her side, Kellyn felt secure and giddy. They spent the night dancing, laughing, and drinking butterbeers. (Kellyn had sworn off any more alcohol for the evening—her champagne at lunch was plenty.) She had split off from Sam to go to the bathroom and was heading down the stairs coming back from relieving herself when she heard two people arguing.

"You have been avoiding me all week!" cried a female voice Kellyn recognized to be Sharon.

"No, I haven't," said a male voice and Kellyn knew it had to be Drew. She would know that voice anywhere.

"Yes, you have. Ever since New Years, you haven't been able to look me in the eye. I know what I did was kind of unexpected—well, really it should not have been, but that is beside the point—but you kissed me back. You kiss me back and then don't talk to me for a week. That is kind of sending mixed signals, don't you think?"

"I have just been—"

"I know, thinking. You do that a lot. But you need to stop thinking and start acting. I like you… a lot. I don't want to be your friend anymore, I want to be your girlfriend. I just need to know what you want so we can move on. What is holding you back?" she implored.

"We do almost everything together—Quidditch, classes, we study together, hang out together—what if it changes everything?"

"How will us being a couple change anything if we already do everything together?" Sharon pointed out the obvious. There was silence as Drew seemed to consider this for a moment.

"This will change everything," Drew said quietly and Kellyn instinctively knew that Drew kissed Sharon on the spot.

"Change is not always a bad thing," Sharon said and they kissed again. Kellyn leaned against the wall in the dark and waited until their footsteps faded before making her way back down the stairs. Drew and Sharon leaned against a wall, holding hands as Drew whispered something in her ear. They seemed so at ease together, on the same page, and entirely in sync. He looked into her eyes with an earnest, tender, doting expression which she mirrored. It was a look of happiness that rivaled the blissful expression on his face while playing the guitar or flying on his broomstick. It made Kellyn's stomach flip-flop for a moment before she skipped over to Sam, planting a kiss on his lips.

"Life with you is good," he murmured, his lips still touching hers. As he kissed her, Kellyn could not agree more.


Things are definitely starting to get interesting around here. You thought shenanigans happened before New Years? Well, I'm just getting going, because the new year in Kellyn's world is going to bring plenty of craziness. Buckle up, youngins. The next chapter is super long and will be released in two parts. (Muhahaha I am so evil!) Oh, and please review!

-Off Dreaming