I could scent my victim before I saw it. My sneakers crunched on the dead leaves underfoot, and the earth was chilly under my palms. I knew if someone, student or teacher, saw me in this position - crouched down on my hands and feet like some kind of animal sniffing the air - they would think the assistant teacher had gone off his rocker. But no one was around, except for my prey. I stopped at the end of the Quidditch stands I was slinking behind. The red and gold fabric and my spiky brunette hair rippled in the breeze, and my cloak made a soft slithering sound.

"I am NOT getting on that broom."

"But we need another person so I can practice."

"I said I'm not doing it, and I mean it."

"Will you two stop arguing for five minutes?"

I crawled forward a few more inches until I could clearly see my prey but they couldn't see me. The trio of Gryffindors were standing just within the perimeter of the Quidditch field, a few brooms and the Quaffle on the ground next to them. It appeared that the brunette girl was getting upset at the redheaded male and the black-haired male was getting angry at both of them. I sucked in a breath then released it slowly before bunching up my leg muscles.

"Please, Hermione, I need the practice."

"I already told you - who is that?"

"What the-"

I sprang into the air. Ron was the closest to me and fell under my weight when I tackled him. I gripped his shoulders tightly and growled in his face.

"Oh my God. . ." His face was one of pure shock and fear.

"Talis?"

I stopped growling and smirked down at the teenager. "What's up, Ron?" I hopped off the surprised teenager. "Congratulations on making Keeper." I held out my hand to him, and he took it hesitantly. "Trying to best your brothers, eh?" I pulled him to his feet easily.

"What the bloody hell are you doing?" he demanded once his shock wore off. His brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed. "Attacking me like some kind of wild animal. What the hell were you thinking?"

I shrugged. "I got bored," I stated simply. "And I couldn't tackle Hermione or Harry." I glanced at Hermione. "She'd hex me to Hell. And he may like it too much," I joked, gesturing to the black-haired teenager. "So that left you." I gently slapped my hands against my sides. "Well, that was my fun for the day."

"I hope you got it out of your system," Ron grumbled.

I faked thinking for a few moments. "Yeah," I said, nodding. "Yeah, I think I'm good for the day. Not sure about tomorrow though." My smirk grew a bit. "We'll have to just wait and see."

"What were you really doing out here, Talis?" Hermione stowed her wand in her cloak; I guess she had grabbed it when I tackled Ron.

"You don't really beat around the hedge, do you?" I readjusted the front of my blue shirt. "I scented something unusual and decided to follow it to see what it was. I lost the scent about a quarter of a mile in the Forbidden Forest, so I came back. I saw you guys enter the Quidditch pitch and thought I'd entertain myself by making Ron freak out." I gazed at the bushy-haired girl. "You haven't seen anything unusual, have you?"

She shook her head. "Only a teacher's assistant acting like a wild animal."

"Hey! You heard McGonagall the other day. I am a wild animal."

Ron looked me up and down thoughtfully.

"See something you like?" I teased.

The redhead shook his head and frowned. "You don't seem very wild," he muttered.

"Stick around and you may find out how wild I really am," I said with a shrug. I glanced at the brooms and big red ball. "Need some help?" I looked back at the Weasley. "I don't like flying but I can help you if you need it."

"Yes, he would!" Hermione spoke up before Ron could speak. "I'll proofread your homework while Talis helps you." She looked at me with pleading brown eyes. "Please, Talis?"

"Anything to get out of flying, huh, Hermione?" Harry said, tone full of playfulness. "Come on," he continued, summoning a broom to his hand with a single command, "Up!" He mounted the broom and took off, turning into a black streak.

Ron followed his best friend into the air. "Toss up the Quaffle."

I nodded and grabbed up the red ball. With a hefty heave, I threw the ball into the air. Harry caught it, and I was impressed by how he handled it. I picked up the other broom. "Are you sure, Hermione?" I asked.

Hermione held out her hands and shook her head. "No thanks, Talis. I really hate flying."

"Okay. We'll be done once Ron wears himself out." I threw my right leg over the broom. "Here goes nothing," I grumbled to myself before kicking off the ground. I was almost thrown off as the broom shot into the air. "Fuck!" The wind whistled as I flew to the middle of the pitch. My body slid up the broom handle when I came to an abrupt stop. "Okay, okay. I can do this. It's just fifty feet in the air. . ." I gulped and forced my eyes to focus on Ron, who was circling the goal posts at one end of the pitch. I leaned forward a bit, urging the broom toward the redhead.

"Hey, Talis!" Harry sped passed me. "Catch!"

I turned my head in time to see the red ball being thrown in my direction. I knew I was going to have a hard time catching the ball; my feet belonged on the ground, not in the air. But I surprised myself when I threw my arm out and caught the ball. I tucked it under my arm and flew at Ron. When I was within range, I tossed the ball toward the left goal. Ron swooped down and caught it easily. He threw it back, and I zipped away. "Harry!" I called to the raven-haired teenager. He looked over his shoulder at me and expertly caught the ball when I threw it at him. Harry seemed to be one with his broom as he dipped and dived, trying to confuse Ron before throwing the ball toward the middle goal; Ron almost missed it but caught the ball with his fingertips.

Back and forth we went until the sun was starting to dip below the horizon, staining the world red and orange. Hermione was waiting with her bag over her shoulder at the entrance to the pitch. I landed lightly and hurriedly got off the broom. Ron and Harry chuckled at my mad scramble to get away from the wooden mode of transportation.

"Scared of the broom, Talis?" asked Ron, shouldering his broom and mine.

"My feet belong on the ground," I muttered.

"I thought you wanted to help?"

"I'll always help you guys," I said, readjusting my cloak. "But let's keep the broom riding to a minimum, please."

Ron did not look upset when he nodded. "That can be arranged," he said with a smile. "Thank you for helping out."

"Not a problem." I turned to Hermione and smiled lightly. "Did you get your homework done?"

"You mean their homework?" She huffed but looked pleased. "It's all done. You have two mistakes, Ron, but I got them cleared up. And, Harry, your Potions essay was a bit short. I wrote down more informaiton about the potion on a seperate piece of parchment. Copy it and your essay should be okay."

"Where were you in my O.W.L. year?" I asked, amazed.

A light blush lit up Hermione's face. "I believe I was just a first-year student."

I quickly did the math in my head. "You're right."

"Let's get inside." Ron started walking to the castle. "Before Umbridge or Snape accuses us of sneaking out at night."

Hermione followed him, but Harry stayed back. I instinctively sniffed the air but could not detect anything out of the ordinary. No Umbridge, no Snape. That was a good thing.

"You really don't like to fly, do you?" Harry peered at me with those emerald eyes.

"My family is not full of frequent flyers." That wasn't a lie. The Muggles who raised me were a close-knit family that lived within driving distance of each other. "I heard your father was Seeker for the Gryffindor team when he was in school."

"He was, and I must have inherited his skills," Harry said with a cocky smile.

"Apparently." I smiled back at him. "You're a hell of a better flyer than I am."

"I would catch you whenever you fall off your broom."

Was he trying to flirt with me? "What do you mean by 'whenever you fall off your broom,'" I asked in a fake annoyed voice, setting my hands on my hips and leaning forward a bit.

A chuckled rumbled up Harry's throat. "You know what I mean, Talis." A shiver ran up my spine at the way he said my name. "And I would catch you whenever you fell, broom or not."

I straightened up and smirked at the younger teenager. "Is that so?"

"That's right." His green eyes drifted away for a few moments then returned to me almost shyly. "Would you catch me?" he asked a soft voice, all cockiness gone.

"Of course," I said.

Harry glanced around the Quidditch pitch. My own gaze swept from side to side, but the pitch was deserted. I couldn't see anybody in the deepening shadows nor could I scent anyone except Harry and myself, and Ron's and Hermione's fading scents. I opened my mouth to ask Harry what he was looking for when he threw himself at me in a whirl of black. My arms opened then closed around his smaller body, holding him against me. His warm breath drifted across the pale skin of my neck. Goosebumps rose on my arms and my breath hitched.

"Hi, Talis," Harry whispered, chapped lips brushing against my skin.

I buried one of my hands in his jet black hair. "Hi, Harry."

"I . . . I can't stop thinking. About the other night." His voice was gentle as if he was testing the waters. "I've never kissed anyone before." I knew I was his first kiss. . . damn it. "I didn't think my first kiss would be with a man."

"Do you regret it?" I really didn't want to know the answer, but I had to ask. "Do you regret me being your first kiss?"

Harry looked up at me with those gorgeous emerald eyes. "No."

I smiled lightly and gently nuzzled his nose with mine. "There's something on your mind," I murmured, holding him closer. I had noticed his brow furrowing as if he was thinking hard about something. "You want to tell me?"

"Hermione had an idea about something. She thinks I should teach some of the students Defense Against the Dark Arts." His emerald eyes darkened. "I told her it wasn't a good idea. I mean, I'm in enough trouble so why should I keep digging my grave?" He tucked his face under my chin. "I don't know what to do."

I hummed quietly into his raven hair. "I think it's a good idea."

Harry backed away, eyes wide with surprise. "What?!"

"I think it's a good idea," I repeated, releasing his soft hair. "You would be a hell of a better teacher than Umbridge. You've dealt with things that most wizards wouldn't have nightmares of. And I can help whenever you need me to." I smiled gently. "I know some good spells and curses, and a lot about Dark creatures."

"No one would listen to me," Harry muttered. "I'm a nutter, remember?"

I shook my head. "You don't know how many of us actually support you, Harry." I pulled him close again and enfolded him in a gentle embrace. "You're not alone." I kissed his chapped lips, a small gesture that lasted only a second. "We're going to stand beside you. Not behind you. Not in front of you. Beside you." I licked my lips then pressed my mouth to his again, relieving his lips of being chapped. This time he kissed back.

Harry sighed against my lips then moved away to look into my eyes. "I'll think about it."

"I'm sure no one is going to force you to teach students."

"Just like how you didn't push me to kiss you?"

I nodded. "That's right." I pecked him playfully on the tip of his nose. "And if you do decide to teach others, I'll help any way I can."

"Thank you." He smiled up at me; I felt my heart leap in my chest. "Hey, Talis?"

"Hmm?"

"I know I don't like men, but I-I like being with you."

I cocked my head to the side a bit. "A lot of teenagers experiment to see where their sexuality lies."

Harry's smile fell into a frown. "I don't want you to be an 'experiment.' I don't want to use you like that, or use you at all." His green eyes glimmered with troubled emotions. "I don't know what to do," he muttered.

I could almost feel my heart breaking as I looked down at the teenager. He was in a hell of a position; he isn't gay or into using me, yet he seemed like he wanted to be with me. I like Harry, but if he doesn't want to pursue a relationship. . . I'll just accept it, like how I accepted my heritage.

"It happens sometimes. I will always be around, Harry, one way or another. I know you don't want to experiment, and I'm not going to force you to. But if you every need advice, I'll always be there for you." I offered him a soft smile. "I promise."

Harry slid his arms around my torso and hugged me close. I felt his heart beat rapidly under his cloak and shirt. He buried his face in my neck, breathing deeply as if he was overcome with some kind of emotion. I didn't move him. Instead, I re-enveloped his scrawny body in my arms. I didn't want to let him go. His lips brushed against my neck; my heart rate spiked, but I kept my animal instincts under control. For a brief moment I saw Blue Jacobs in my arms in place of Harry, but I shook away the image.

Blue Jacobs was a negative distant memory.

Harry Potter was a positive right here, right now.

"Let's go back to the castle," I said after a few minutes of holding each other. "Dinner is about to start, and I'm sure Hermione and Ron will be worried about you."

"No," Harry grumbled into my flesh.

A low chuckle rumbled up my throat. "C'mon, Harry." I slowly slid out of his warm embrace and almost laughed at the small pout on his pale face. He was actually pouting, bottom lips sticking out, eyes wide. "Aren't you adorable?" I teased before lightly kissing his forehead.

"Shut up, Creary."

"Now, now, don't make me take points away from Gryffindor, Potter." I smirk at his eye-roll. "Come on, before Umbridge catches us and turns me into the Ministry for kissing you."

"You wouldn't go to jail, would you?" Harry's eyes widened; I was touched by his caring nature.

I shrugged. "Not sure. Last century people were getting married to others who could be thirty years their junior. Sometimes the younger person was below today's age of consent. But times have changed. I probably will go to Azkaban for being with a minor."

"I'm more mature that a minor though."

"True." Harry was mature for his age. "But that won't matter if we get caught. It's against the law." I just severely bummed myself out. "It would not be good if I got caught with you."

"Then we'll have to stay secret."

My head whipped up at his voice. I narrowed my eyes at the teenager. "What?"

"They can't send you away to Azkaban if they don't catch us." Harry looked almost giddy, as if he figured out some great mystery. I think he was minute-bouncing on the balls of his feet. "We can keep this secret. It shouldn't be that hard. I mean, we both know where the best hidden passages are. The pictures seem to like you so they would not tell on us if they saw us. The ghosts wouldn't mind because many of them died before or during the last century; they'll see it as something normal, like you said."

"You want to keep this secret?" I cocked my head at the teen in confusion. "What is this?"

"This is a secret. . . relationship."

"You're not even gay."

"I know I'm not, but I like you, Talis." A sly look crossed his happy face. "And I know you like me too."

"Of course I do." I wasn't going to hide it.

"Then we can do this."

I shook my head with a sigh. "You're going to be the death of me, Mr. Potter." I gazed at the younger teenager and sighed again. "Okay, Harry. We can give this a try. But," I added when he started to grin, "if you start to have feelings for a woman or another man, I need to know. I don't like to be dragged around like a dog on a leash. It's happened before and I swore that I would never let it happen to me again."

Harry looked thoughtful for a few moments then nodded. "Deal," he said, holding out his hand.

I took it, but instead of shaking it I entwined our fingers. I marveled at how our hands fit together. Almost perfect. I pulled him close and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "Deal," I agreed as I backed away. "Now, how about some dinner?"

"Do you always think with your stomach?" asked Harry, turning toward the castle, a smile on his face.

"No. I think with other parts of me too," I said playfully, walking beside him. He smiled up at me, and my heart began to beat hard in my chest. I don't think I've ever seen him this happy, and it was all because we are going to be in a secret relaiotnship. I don't know how long this is going to last. . . but hopefully it won't end in tears and blood.

-tc-tc-tc-tc-tc-tc-tc-tc-tc-tc-tc-tc-tc-tc-tc-tc-tc-tc-tc-tc-

There's the seventh chapter. College is staring to get rough so the wait between chapters can be a bit long. Just giving everyone a heads-up.

The relationship between Talis and Blue Jacobs will become clear in future chapters.

Questions? Comments? Review and I shall answer at the end of the next chapter.

A special thanks to the readers who reviewed! Thanks so much, guys. :)

ww199011 - Thank you for liking the story. :) And I will tone it done on Talis's sexuality. Promise. With Harry's sexuality. . . I agree that he may have been bisexual in canon. There are so many signs to it, especially in Half-Blood Prince. I remember watching it and screaming "Just fuckin' kiss him!" at the screen when Draco and Harry were practically eye-banging. My partner wasn't amused though. . .

ikemengalore2014 - Thank you. :) I've been on this site since. . . 2009, I think. . . And this is my first Harry Potter fanfic. I didn't want to do a cliche story like others that I have seen on here. I hope I can create something fresh. As for the rushing part. . . Others rushing me was the reason why I almost stopped writing The Goth's Mute. I'm taking my time with this one. :]

jukebox56 - I can try my best as making them longer. The chapters are kinda short 'cause usually I think I have already made the chapter too long. But I can do that. :] And Snape's sessions in one of the next chapters. It's pretty much canon, but Snape shows a bit of a good side.

WritersLife3 - Thank you. :) I decided to base Talis off myself. The way he talks is kind of the same way I talk in reality. He's probably my favorite OC.