lookit that... another chappie... and do we have 100 reviews? FF.net's not working with me *growls at it* but that's OK cuz Chante-chan will upload for me~!!! ^___^ oh, and you--who tried gettin' rid of Chante-chan? Think not that thy life is safe. I'll follow thee, I'll lead you about, around. Through bog, through bush, through bryer. Sometimes a horse I'll be--sometimes a hound. And neigh and bark at every turn! (and everyone who ISN'T that person? Read on ^_^) And everyone--R/R! there still seems to be a chappie or 3 left in me :)
~Chappie 23~
"Ryoko-chan don't be mad at me! I didn't mean it like..." Kouga sighed as she disappeared from view, "..that..." he sighed and started petting Ryoko's owl. "Does she hate me, Yuki-chan?"
The owl nipped his finger lightly and flew to her perch, next to Kouga's owl, Tori. Kouga smiled, Ryoko had a habit of gloming onto his stuff, and that included his owl. Sometimes it seemed that 'Tori' (who was originally named Bob) liked her more than him. Not that he blamed his owl. Ryoko was perfect in his eyes. Too bad there was no way for him to tell her that.

"Ryoko? What're ya doin' ou' here?"
"Hm?" Ryoko looked up, "Oh... Hi Hagrid."
"Yeh don' sound happy to see me... is summat wrong?"
"It's not that, Hagrid..."
"Then wha' is it?"
"I got mad at Kouga-kun again... I don't know what's with me! I keep getting angry at him for no reason! It's been happening since Hogsmead..."
"Ya' mean th' time when ya came back all loopy and such?"
"Yeah... Kouga's been acting weird too..."
"It's gotta be fer a good reason, Ryoko. Kouga doesn' change much over time. He always gets th' same marks in all his classes... makes eyes a' you all day... makes sure none o' th' other guys looks at ya..."
"What did you say?" Ryoko blinked, "Kouga makes eyes at me?"
"Didn' ya know? He sits durrin' meals watchin' you. Durin' class he payed more attention t' ya then th' creatures I brought in... Got burned a few times fer that y'know."
"But... are you sure he looks at me... like that? Didn't you say he used to look at Hermione like that?"
"Hermione was next t' ya at th' time. I'm jus' guessin'. But I thin' he likes ya." Hagrid winked cherrily.
Ryoko blushed, "But... He can't like me... he never used to like me... how long has he been looking at me like that?"
"He's been lookin' at ya like tha' since yer second year."
"But--that was so long ago! And you're saying he's liked me that long? How come no one ever tells me these things?!"
"Well, we all thought ya were a couple. Ya look like it most o' th' time, y'know."
"But... We haven't been... we're just friends..." Ryoko said, still confused. She liked Kouga as more than a friend. And she wanted him to feel the same way for her--but she didn't think he could actually LIKE her!
"Didn' ya know?"
"No... I didn't know..." She said, standing up, "I should talk to him though."
"A word t' th' wise, Ryoko."
"Hm?"
"Don' tell him anythin' that isn' true. He really likes ya."
Ryoko nodded, "Alright, Hagrid." She turned and ran up the stairs, trying hard not to bump into anyone on her way to the dinner hall. She looked around, 'Where is he...?' Over the next thirty minutes or so she looked everywhere she could think to go to find him. The library, halls, some classrooms, dungeons... everywhere. Finally she gave up and went to her dorm to sleep. She lay down to sleep. In her dreams she felt a splitting pain in her chest. Burning lances of pain shot through her body, and she couldn't help but scream, 'Kouga-kun~! Help me!'
'He can't come.'
'Voldemort...' she hissed, 'what are you doing here?'
'I've come to visit my toy. After all, you are my property.'
'I am not! I never have been and I never will be!'
'Foolish little elf-girl... you were born to be my servant and you'll attend me until you die!'
'I will not! Hush up! Leave me alone!'
'Make me. You may have beaten my past self, but you won't beat me. Kouga cannot resist my will forever, even if he is my son. And a little girl like you has even less of a chance. Even if you are part elf.'
'What are you talking about? Kouga isn't your son!'
'Oh but he is. You're just too afraid to ask him, because you know he'll say yes.'
"SHUT UP!" Ryoko shouted, waking up once more.
"I wasn't saying anything, Ryoko..."
"Oh... Hermione, I'm sorry... I had another bad dream..."
"So I see. What was it about?"
"I..." Ryoko blinked, trying hard to remember it, "I don't remember..."
"I think I read about that kind of thing. You woke up too quickly. If you remember it all it'll be if something happens that was in the dream."
"I don't think that's it..."
"Or you could've blocked it out of your memory."
"Maybe..."
There was a tap at the window. Ryoko got up and opened it, surprised when Tori landed on her arm with a note clasped in his beak. "Tori-kun... what's this?"
~End Chappie 23~
Heh... cliffie... I hate them too... :) BUT! I will make chappie to make up for cliffie :) Everyone R/R!!!