Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, but my OC's are mine.


Chapter Sixteen

"Has anyone put their name in yet?"

Ira looked up from the Goblet of Fire to find Harry, Ron, and Hermione standing there. The large goblet was placed in the center of the entrance hall on a stool with a gold ring surrounding it. Students considering it debated on putting their names in or not. Those that were too young watched from the sidelines. Ira was one of the few watching.

Ira shrugged. "I only just got here."

Ron's eyes widened when he got a good look at her. "Merlin's beard, Ira, you look—" His voice dropped off when she glared.

When Ira woke that morning, after having a full two hours rest, she noted that her eyes were bloodshot and her body limp with fatigue. It took a lot of inner strength not to walk back to her dorm and pass out. But with Pansy's snoring and Ira's unwavering thoughts, sleep was nearly impossible. She woke when Lady mewled for food.

So, Ira dragged herself to the Great Hall for a very early breakfast with Lady on her tail. Now, the feline sat by her feet while Ira nibbled on toast, eyes glued to the Goblet of Fire with intrigue.

Hermione frowned. "Have you not been sleeping well?"

Ira nodded. "Ever since I moved dorms, it's been…rough."

"I think anyone would feel the same if they had to room with Pansy, Millicent, and Daphne," Hermione sighed. "Maybe if you told Dumbledore—"

"No," Ira said curtly. "It's not that serious."

Harry placed a comforting hand on her arm. "Ira, you don't look so good."

"I'm fine." He doesn't need to know what goes on in my head.

"Just consider it," Harry smiled. "Please."

Ira couldn't say no to his smile. He just had that affect on her.

People started laughing behind them, and they turned to see Fred, George, and Lee Jordan walking up to the Goblet of Fire.

"Done it," Fred said to the four of them standing there. "Just taken it."

"What?" Ron asked.

"The Aging Potion, dung brains," Fred clarified.

"One drop each," George said. "We only need to be a few months older."

"We're going to split the thousand Galleons between the three of us if one of us wins," Lee grinned.

"I'm not sure this is going to work, you know," Hermione warned. "I'm sure Dumbledore will have thought of this."

The boys didn't care, ignoring her.

Fred gleamed. "Ready? C'mon, then—I'll go first—"

"They'll learn the hard way," Ira said into Hermione's ear, watching Fred take a step over the Age Line.

For a moment, Fred thought he had done it, and the rest of the hall did too. But in a few short seconds, there was a sizzling sound, and both twins—George stepped over the line already—were thrown from the ring by an invisible force. Besides that, two long white beards sprouted from their chins in sync.

Everyone howled with laughter.

"I did warn you," said an amused voice. It belonged to Dumbledore. "I suggest you both go up to Madam Pomfrey. She is already tending to Miss Fawcett, of Ravenclaw, and Mr. Summers, of Hufflepuff, both of whom decided to age themselves up a little too. Though I must say, neither of their beards look anything as fine as yours."

Fred and George took off for the Hospital Wing with Lee joining them, who continued to laugh on their way out. Ira, Hermione, Harry, and Ron walked into the Great Hall. Since it was Halloween, the hall was decorated to fit the occasion. Live bats were enchanted to fly overhead, and jack-o-lanterns floated about.

Ira followed her friends to the Gryffindor table, finding her friends absent from the Slytherin table.

"There's a rumor going around that Warrington got up early and put his name in," Dean Thomas said when they made it to the table. "That big bloke from Slytherin who looks like a sloth."

He isn't wrong, Ira thought in disgust.

"We can't have a Slytherin champion!"

Ira rolled her eyes, taking a seat next to Harry. Dean clearly didn't acknowledge her yet.

"And all the Hufflepuffs are talking about Diggory," Seamus Finnegan added. "But I wouldn't have thought he'd have wanted to risk his good looks."

Hermione held up a hand. "Listen!"

People cheered in the entrance hall. They all turned to find Angelina Johnson earning applause from the Gryffindors as she entered, taking her seat.

"Well, I've done it! Just put my name in," she grinned.

"You're kidding!" Ron said, impressed.

"Are you seventeen, then?" Harry asked.

"Course she is, can't see a beard, can you?"

"I had my birthday last week," Angelina clarified.

"Well, I'm glad someone from Gryffindor's entering," Hermione said. "I really hope you get it, Angelina!"

"Thanks, Hermione," she smiled, then, her smile vanished when she spotted Ira sitting there. "What are you doing here, Soares?"

Harry interjected. "She's allowed to sit here, Angelina."

"She's a Slytherin, and our opponent on the pitch," she said hotly.

Ira faced off against Angelina a couple times on the Quidditch pitch. They were both Chasers for their houses and didn't take to one another very easily.

"And her father, a Death Eater, is going to be here for the rest of the year. How reassuring."

Ira gritted her teeth. "He's not."

"Right, he was under the Imperius Curse like the rest of them," she chuckled. "He didn't know what he was doing."

Ira knew it was true, what Angelina was saying, but it still got under her skin.

She raised from her seat, looking at her friends. "I'll see you guys later."

They opened their mouths as if to stop her, but she hurried back to the Slytherin table before they could.

Sally and Lily got there just in time to see Ira fuming.

"What happened?" Lily asked.

Ira placed her head in her hands. "Angelina Johnson. I hate her."

Sally sighed. "That's what happens when you remain friends with people of the opposing house."

Ira ignored her.

"If it means anything, here comes your admirer," Sally added with a nudge.

Ira saw Neils come into her view, sitting right across from her. He laughed with his friends who took seats next to him. Trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach, Ira began piling her plate with food. She hoped she wasn't blushing.

Lady dug her claws into Ira's leg and she winced.

"Are you alright?" Lily asked, seeing a look of pain come across Ira's face.

Ira picked Lady up and held her in her arms. "What is your problem? Are you hungry?"

Ira picked a piece of food off her plate and held it up to her animal, who only growled in return.

"Maybe she just sensed Malfoy walk in," Sally said.

"Oddly enough, she doesn't have a problem with him," Ira said, looking at Neils with suspicion. "It has to be—"

At that moment, Lady tried to leap from her arms and across the table. Ira shrieked and grabbed for Lady's tail, missing her by an inch. The feline knocked over food and goblets while the three girls tried grabbing her before she made it to her victim—Neils.

Lady knocked his goblet over, all over his lap.

"Lady!" Ira said in embarrassment, finally catching her. "I am so sorry." It was aimed for Neils, who merely smiled back. "She's—"

"A kneazle—the greatest judges of character," he finished, cleaning up the mess with his wand.

Ira bit her bottom lip, cradling Lady to her chest. "Right."

His friends chortled with laughter, but he wasn't laughing, finding the boys acting immaturely and shushing them.

Ira forgot about her breakfast and stood. "Uh—sorry, again."

All she wanted was stuff her face in her pillow and scream. She flushed deep crimson as she ran out the Great Hall doors towards the dungeons.

"You like Draco, but you don't like Neils?" she said angrily towards Lady.

Lady growled.

"I did it again, didn't I? Called him by his first name?" Ira cringed. "Anyway, Neils seems…nice."

Another growl.

"I wouldn't mind—"

Lady nicked her again.

"Ouch! Will you stop that?"

When they reached their dorm, Ira deposited Lady onto her bed and grabbed her bag from its place on the floor. Without many other plans for the day, Ira figured that studying was a reasonable way to pass time. It also saved her from embarrassing herself more than she already had.

Leaving Lady behind, Ira walked to the library with a bag of books slung over her shoulder. Finding it completely empty, a table near the window peaked her interest. It was secluded enough that nobody would bother her. All she wanted to do was focus on her studies.

Even with fatigue still draining the life out of her, Ira set to work on a pile of parchment due for all her classes. She was content with the work, finding herself satisfied with what she was achieving in a fleeting time.

Ira slipped her hand back into her bag, feeling around for another quill when her finger glided over a lone piece of parchment. She pulled it out and looked at its contents.

SLYTHERIN HOUSE HALLOWEEN BASH

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE (LITERALLY)

YEARS FOUR AND ABOVE ONLY

Every year the houses put together late-night parties for certain holidays, unbeknownst to the Heads of Houses. With help of the older prefects, food and drinks were supplied along with music that tingled in the air without much of a source. Ira wasn't old enough to attend before. She and her friends were always forced into their dorms before the festivities began. Maybe she'd go, just to see what all the fuss was about.

Sally was bound to go—it was her kind of thing. Not really Lily's or Theo's for that matter. Ira didn't know how she felt about a party. From the stories told over breakfast in past years, they were fun. Most of the fun came from the Slytherin's famous spiked punch, though. Ira rolled her eyes and put the invitation away, wondering who planted it there in the first place.

"Are you planning on going then?" The voice belonged to Neils. He invaded her space, taking a seat across from her.

"You mean to the party?"

He held up his own invitation. "I've been invited by the—what were they called? Perfects?"

"Prefects," Ira corrected.

"Ah." He glanced down at the workload Ira had been assigned. "Is this what you do in your free time?"

It made Ira realize how boring she was.

"When I asked where I could find you, I didn't expect a library on a Saturday afternoon," he laughed. "That Malfoy seemed to direct me in the right place."

Ira sighed, "I'm surprised Malfoy is capable of direction."

Neils grinned. "I take it you two aren't close?"

Ira tucked a curl behind her ear. "Something like that."

"Lovers quarrel?"

Ira blanched. "Merlin, no. Malfoy and I aren't even friends."

"Of course, I didn't mean to assume anything. He just seemed very hesitant in letting me know of your whereabouts," Neils said. "But now that I've found you, I wanted to apologize for my friends this morning. They weren't laughing at you. They were laughing at me."

Ira's eyes widened.

"I'm not used to getting pumpkin juice spilled all over me by a pretty girl," he added. "It was a little embarrassing, and I hardly ever get embarrassed."

"I think I was the embarrassed one," Ira said, feeling her cheeks warm up. "I didn't mean for my kneazle to do that, she's not really fond of new people."

"As expected." His smile got bigger. "If you are going to the party tonight, I'll be there."

"And why would that matter?" Ira asked, his smile making her insides turn to mush.

He didn't answer, instead staring at Ira with that grin of his. She shouldn't be feeling butterflies when looking at him. She didn't even know him. The logical part of her brain would yell at her, yet here she was letting herself turn to goo over some hunk of Scandinavian muscle. It didn't make sense as to why he'd be interested in her in the first place. Didn't he see the older Slytherin girls around his age? They were very pretty. Ira was just average.

Neils stood and held out his hand. Not knowing what to do, he grabbed Ira's hand and brought it to his lips, placing a tender kiss along her knuckles. "I'll see you around, Ira."

If Sally was there, she'd squeal in excitement at the display Neils put on. Ira didn't know what to do, finding herself completely baffled with what just happened. Her homework laid abandoned, her mind a swirl of thoughts.


The student body was in hysterics that night. With announcement of the Triwizard champions and the Halloween festivities, everyone was on their toes while finding a place to sit in the Great Hall. Ira sat in between Lily and Sally as per usual. They buzzed around her with excitement, talking adamantly about who they thought the Hogwarts champion would be.

"I'm sure pretty-boy-Diggory will get it," Lily thought grudgingly.

"I hope not," Sally said. "Can you imagine? A Hufflepuff as champion?"

Leave it to Sally to bring his house into it.

The Goblet of Fire had since been moved into the Great Hall in front of the staff table. Ira watched it while listening to the girls talk. She didn't have anything to add to the conversation, picking at the extravagant food without much interest.

When the plates and goblets disappeared, everyone went silent when Dumbledore rose to his feet.

"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," Dumbledore said. "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber where they will be receiving their first instructions."

Dumbledore reached into his robes and took out his wand, waving it around so the lights went out and the Goblet of Fire was the only thing illuminating the room.

People sat there, watching the goblet for any sudden changes. That final minute seemed to drag on for eternity, until finally, the flames became blood red and a shot of fire darted into the air. A charred piece of parchment flew into Dumbledore's grasp.

"The champion for Durmstrang," Dumbledore read loudly, "will be Viktor Krum."

Sally leaned in as everyone applauded and cheered for Krum. "No surprise there."

Ira casted a glance in Neils direction, to see him congratulating his fellow friend.

After Krum exited, the room got quiet once more. Another piece of parchment flew into the air.

"The champion for Beauxbatons," Dumbledore said, "is Fleur Delacour!"

A pretty girl with stark blonde hair rose from the Ravenclaw table with applause. Her thin, tall, frame disappeared into the next chamber. Most of the other Beauxbatons students appeared disappointed in their chosen champion. Some even wept.

Next, the Hogwarts champion. Everyone waited with bated breath.

The third piece of parchment flew into the air, and Dumbledore caught it, bringing it under the blue flames to inspect it.

"The Hogwarts champion," he said, "is Cedric Diggory!"

Every single Hufflepuff roared to life with excitement. Lily and Sally groaned, while Ira clapped slowly for the boy who maneuvered through the thick crowd towards the next chamber. He smiled ear-to-ear over this achievement, basking in the attention he got.

Once the applauding died down, Dumbledore spoke again. "Excellent! Well, we now have our three champions. I am sure I can count upon all of you, including the remaining students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, to give your champions every ounce of support you can muster. By cheering your champion on, you will contribute in a very real—"

He stopped suddenly as something interrupted him. Apparent to the students as well, the interruption came from the Goblet of Fire. It turned red again with flames, another piece of parchment fluttering into the air and into Dumbledore's outreached palm.

Dumbledore cleared his thought after inspecting it. "Harry Potter."

Ira's heart dropped, eyes quickly finding Harry at the Gryffindor table. Everyone else found him too, all completely confused. Nobody clapped, or whistled, or cheered—just a buzzing sound as everyone began whispering in sync. Harry's eyes found Ira's, and she could tell he didn't know what was happening either. She could hear the kids around her sounding their disinterest into the air, complete with insults and jabs towards Harry. Her eyes moved to the staff table. Her father's polite smile morphed into something mischievous. Ira felt sick.

"Ira?" Sally put a comforting hand on her back. "Ira, Potter'll be okay."

"Yeah, honestly, we should've expected this," Lily added.

"Oi, Soares," Draco called from the other end. "Why didn't you tell us your boyfriend put his name in?"

Ira ignored him. Something was wrong, and something in her gut told her not to push past that feeling.

"Harry Potter!" Dumbledore called again. "Harry! Up here, if you please!"

Harry did as told. Ira's eyes remained glued to him while he walked to Dumbledore. She could tell he didn't want to, that something was holding him back. He didn't want this, and Ira knew it.

When Harry disappeared into the next room, Dumbledore wished the rest of them a goodnight to their dorms. Sally was the first out of her seat, clapping her hands together excitedly.

"Well, to the party we go!"

Ira shook her head. "I'm going to wait up for Harry."

Sally pouted. "But you'll be missing out on all the fun!"

I hope so. "It won't take me long."

Lily grabbed Sally's arm. "Have fun with Potter, give him our best."

Ira noted the sarcasm in her friend's voice, watching them follow the rest of the students out. Now, she had to wait. She didn't know how long it would take, so she hoped Filch wouldn't find her there after hours.

The minutes ticked by while she paced back and forth outside the Great Hall. After some time, a door finally opened and closed. She halted.

"So," Cedric's voice said. "We're playing against each other again!"

"I s'pose," Harry responded.

"So...tell me...how did you get your name in?"

" I didn't put it in. I was telling the truth."

"Ah...okay. Well...see you, then." Cedric turned and saw Ira standing there, nodding in her direction politely.

She said nothing.

"Ira, what are you doing here?" Harry asked when he spotted her.

"I wanted to ask you how you were doing."

He sighed. "I—I don't know."

"Are they at least disqualifying you for being underage?" Ira asked.

"I have no choice. I'm bound to a contract."

"That's complete bollocks! You can't compete in something so deadly. You're only fourteen!"

Harry began walking in the direction of the Gryffindor common room, bidding her to follow. "Ira, I'll be okay. I have some time before the first task to prepare myself."

"Harry, I'm worried about you. This isn't just a coincidence." Her mind flashed to her father's smile.

"They know that. Well, Moody does. He thinks someone put my name in to…" He stopped, as if deciding to continue with the statement or not.

"To what?"

"Kill me."

"The only person that would want you dead is—" Ira's mouth clamped shut suddenly, realizing where the conversation was heading. "That person is gone, though. It'd be impossible unless…"

Harry shifted, looking around uncomfortably. "Ira, there's something I haven't told you."

Ira crossed her arms. "What is it?"

"My scar has been hurting for awhile now," he said quietly.

"And you didn't think to tell me?"

"Ira, if you haven't noticed, you're too busy with Perks and Moon and flirting with the Durmstrang lot to even find time in your schedule to make time for us lately."

Ira gaped. "'Flirting' with the Durmstrang lot? Are you kidding me?"

"I saw the way one of them was looking at you." There was a hint of jealousy in his voice. "And you're practically drooling all over him."

"Harry, that's ridiculous," Ira laughed. "You don't honestly think I have a thing for Neils, do you?"

"So, he has a name."

Ira's bad mood disappeared, finding Harry's reaction amusing. "Is Harry Potter jealous?"

Harry froze. "No! I'm just pointing out the obvious."

"Right," Ira smiled. "You know, this is the first time in awhile that we've been alone together. Every other time we're with Hermione and Ron or in a classroom. This is…nice."

Harry agreed with a nod.

Ira grabbed his hand. "Just promise me to keep me updated from now on. I worry about you, Harry."

His eyes moved to their joined hands. He squeezed, and Ira felt a surge of something rushing to the surface. It was different than how she felt with Neils, who was merely a passerby in the grand scheme of things. Harry was permanent and familiar. She had a crush on Harry for the longest time. It only took until then to realize that it wasn't just any ordinary crush—it was longing for the impossible.

Ira's insecurities came crashing down and she removed her hand from his. She realized they'd already made it to Gryffindor Tower. The portrait of the Fat Lady now had a guest.

Harry took a step back from Ira, realizing the distance she was trying to give him.

"Well, well, well," the Fat Lady said, "Violet's just told me everything. Who's just been chosen as school champion, then?"

"Balderdash," Harry said lamely.

"It most certainly isn't!" Violet, the other woman in the portrait, snapped.

"No, no, Vi, it's the password," the Fat Lady informed before swinging open.

Harry turned to Ira just before a dozen hands grabbed ahold of him. "I'll see you tomorrow!"

It was the last thing he said before the portrait swung closed.

Ira deflated, dragging herself down to the dungeons with her mind in a confused daze. She and Harry just had a moment, and she completely closed him off. He felt something too, he was just too shy to tell her. Would it always be this hard gaining something from each other? Other people already noticed it, so when would their time come to acknowledge it?

The common room was alive with activity when she finally entered. People danced in the middle of the room, some sat in circles playing games, others ate and drank by the fireplace, and then there were the wallflowers that didn't participate—like Lily, for example. She stood by the food with a goblet in her hand.

"Having fun?" Ira asked when she approached.

"Not at all," Lily said, "but Sally is."

Ira followed Lily's drink that tipped forward in the blonde's direction. Sally danced with the Durmstrang boys and judging by her appearance she already consumed one too many.

"She's been dancing with them since we got here," Lily said. "And snogged each one of them senseless."

Ira grew alarmed. "Shouldn't we get her out of there and sober her up?"

"I tried but she shoved me away. I think she's trying to make Theo jealous." Lily then looked at Theo, who sat by the fireplace with Draco's band of cronies.

Theo couldn't peel his eyes away from Sally, but he didn't look jealous—more like disappointed.

"I think jealous is a shot in the dark," Ira remarked. "He looks—"

"Guilty."

Ira tilted her head. "That, too. He could be feeling like this is his fault. It has been two months already."

"And you know Sally goes a little overboard on everything."

Ira nodded.

"So, how's Saint Potter?" Lily asked, taking a drink from the goblet. "And don't worry—this is just butterbeer."

"He's…confused, I guess. I think anybody would be if they were in the same position."

"Well, he put his name in—that shouldn't make him confused. He was probably begging for some attention this year."

Ira shot her a look. "He didn't put his name in."

"That's not what everyone else is saying."

"Since when do we listen to everyone else?" Ira asked, feeling anger begin to bubble inside her. "I know you don't like Harry, Hermione, or Ron, but they're my friends, Lily. They've done nothing to deserve yours or Sally's hatred. Just because Draco and his friends treat them like dung doesn't mean you have to. You guys aren't like that."

Lily cradled her goblet to her chest, a look of realization in her eyes. "You're right, Ira. I'm sorry."

Ira cracked a grin. "You better be." Then, she grabbed a goblet from the table and poured herself a drink.

"Ira, are you sure about this?" Lily giggled.

Ira watched the liquid in the cup as if it were toxic. "Not particularly."

The emerald concoction swirled in her goblet tauntingly. Just an innocent sip was all she needed to confirm she finally tried the famous Slytherin House Punch. It was kind of scary—tasting alcohol for the very first time. She felt naïve as she lifted the goblet to her lips, looking at Lily as if for approval. Lily just looked at her doubtfully.

Ira tipped her head back and drank, feeling the warm liquid glide down her throat. At first, she felt the sudden urge to wince at the fire that ignited within her mouth, but there was a sickly-sweet aftertaste that almost made it impossible to taste it. Before she knew it, her goblet was empty, and Lily looked at her with surprise.

"That good, huh?" Lily smirked.

Ira puckered her lips. "It's not too bad."

"Woohoo!" an arm flew around Ira's shoulders and she moved her head to see Sally grinning at her wildly. "Finally, everyone! Ira Soares is letting loose!"

Ira blushed. "Sally—"

The girl grabbed Ira's goblet and filled it again—insisting she needed more—and thrust the goblet back into Ira's hand. Sally latched onto Ira and dragged her into the crowd that continued to dance. Ira glanced back at Lily pleadingly. The girl only shrugged.

Ira knew it was a bad idea, but for some reason, her mind was plagued in that moment of negative thoughts that she needed to get rid of—even if for a few hours. She couldn't deny the feeling that the drink gave her. It made her feel light and free, something she hadn't felt of a long time.

The reasonable part of Ira's brain would yell at her for being so careless, but what could possibly happen in a room full of people? Sally was nearby and kept looking back to make sure she was still there—probably on both of her feet and not stumbling around like most people were. Ira smiled reassuringly.

She threw her head back when her goblet emptied again. Something in her came alive and she glanced around the room to find a certain someone. Neils, perhaps. She didn't know whose face she expected to spot.

The last person she anticipated was Draco, who sat in that armchair again, facing the crowd. Ira saw him watching her. Giving her his calculated stare, she felt another thing come alive inside her. It automatically made her sick, turning around quickly to shake the feeling away.

She ran right into Neils.

Ira stumbled back, almost falling if it wasn't for Neils' large hands grabbing her.

"Whoa, watch yourself," he laughed. "Maybe its time we cut you off."

"I only had two drinks," Ira informed while moving out of his grip.

"Two drinks equate to ten, at least, that's what I heard from one of your housemates."

Ira blinked quickly. "I'm fine." Then, she stumbled again.

Neils was quick to steady her. "Ira, you're unable to stand."

"I was fine before I ran into you," she said not unkindly.

One more look into his eyes and she saw a flash of gray within them, and she no longer stood in his arms—but Draco's. The room disappeared and in its place was just the two of them, a look of longing radiating from his stare. Her face cradled in his hands, it pinched together in thought. Ira's eyes closed, and she breathed out, trying to back out of whatever vision she was experiencing.

When she opened them again, she wasn't with Neils anymore, or Draco. She was in her bed curled up on her side. Her vision was extremely blurry, unable to focus on the figure in her line of sight.

"Ira?"

Ira moved her head and felt pressure building behind her ears. "Merlin's beard!"

Theo reached out and kept her from moving. "Stop it. You fell over and hit your head."

"And you didn't think to take me to the Hospital Wing?" Ira asked.

"And tell Madam Pomfrey, what? 'Oh, I got drunk and fell over.' Go ahead and be my guest, Ira," Theo said, taking out his wand and waving it around. "Rat out all the Slytherin's and tell her we were partying when we should be in bed—real genius."

"Well, nobody said I was Hermione Granger." Ira watched Theo look at his wand as if it was foreign. "Do you know what you're doing?"

"Not entirely," he admitted. "Draco knows more about healing than most of us."

Tell me about it, Ira thought. She moved around to retrieve her own wand before finding it and casting a spell to repair the damage. It came to her like second nature by now.

"How'd I get here?" Ira asked, eyes moving around the room.

"You fell over when you were with Neils. I think everyone in the common room thinks you're completely mental by now."

Ira winced. "Great."

"Luckily, I saved you from more embarrassment and carried you here like the gentleman I am. I think Neils was frightened there for a moment." Theo watched her carefully. "Ira, what happened downstairs?"

"What you just said—I drank too much and blacked out."

He tilted his head. "Don't lie to me, Ira."

And there it was.

"Theodore, I am not explaining myself to a traitor."

He scoffed darkly. "Traitor? I was standing up for my girlfriend."

"Against your friends," Ira clarified. "Your best friends who've been there for you since the beginning."

"I'm not apologizing," he said. "Just accept that and explain to me why you haven't told any of us—your 'friends'—about your visions."

Completely taken by surprise, Ira was silenced by his statement.

"It wasn't hard to figure it out. I mean, I overheard my father talking about a Soares child that possessed a rare gift. I thought maybe he meant one having an amazing arm for Quidditch or book-smarts. Not a Seer."

There was a pause. "How did you find out?" Ira asked.

"I've seen your episodes, Ira. You chalked it up to just coincidental passing out. I needed to know if it was more."

"And you couldn't have asked me?"

"You always dodge the question."

Ira understood that, nodding. "And you knew this whole time?"

"Not until recently, after that stuff at the World Cup happened. I did my digging and I found out that you come from an extensive line of Seers. Your mother wasn't one exclusively—I think she had the gene, but it never came to light. All other woman in your family had it, though."

"How come I never heard any of this?" Ira asked stupidly, feeling a bit outshined by Theo's knowledge of her own family.

"It's in some really old pureblood text I found in my manor. I thought you knew already."

Ira's parents kept their previous lives before having children a secret. It baffled Ira to know there was more to her father and mother she didn't know about.

She sighed and shook her head. "I feel like I know nothing anymore about anything."

Theo agreed. "I know how you feel."

She gave him a look. "Like what?"

He remained quiet.

"Is it Sally?" Ira asked.

He shook his head.

"Theo, you can talk to me," she said, reaching out to grab his hand that rested on his knee. "You're like my brother."

Something in his eyes flashed. Ira knew she'd said the wrong thing—but why? She grew hurtful when he removed his hand, pushing the chair he'd been sitting in backwards.

"I should get back to the party," he said.

"Theo, wait," Ira protested, sitting upwards and trying to maneuver out of bed.

He held up a hand. "Don't. You need to rest. You've had enough fun for the night."

"But what about—"

"I won't tell anybody. Your secrets safe with me."

That helped ease Ira's worries a bit as she watched him leave her dorm. But that didn't help the restless feeling in her heart that told her there was more to even Theo than met the eye.

So, it was true. She didn't know anything anymore, or anyone.