Hey guys! Change of plans, I will write more of this story, and there will be a sequel. So here it is, chapter nine, and please R/R for me!

Recovery and Rita Skeeter

Madam Pomfrey insisted that all five teenagers stay in the hospital wing for as long as it took for them to recover completely. Especially Victoria, who had actually died. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, and Victoria all lay in hospital beds across from each other. Draco and Victoria, after much persuasion, had convinced Madam Pomfrey to let them have beds next to each other. "We need to talk to each other," Victoria had said.

"Yeah, that's right," Draco had agreed. "I want to know what it feels like to die." Victoria had snorted at this.

After about a day of total rest and sleep, Harry and Ron's relationship with Malfoy had gone back to normal. They spent most of the time that they were awake hurling insults at each other across the beds.

"Well well wee, for once the famous Harry Potter didn't save the day all by himself," Malfoy had sneered almost as soon as they had all woken up. "What's the matter, losing your touch?"

"Shut up Malfoy, I don't seem to remember you contributing much except for rolling around on the floor screaming like a baby and letting Victoria rescue you!"

"Ron…" said Hermione with a warning tone in her voice, as she could see Malfoy turning red and Victoria's frown. In her present condition, Victoria could not afford to be stressed or strained in any way.

"Need I remind you, Weasley, that that was the Cruciatus curse. I'd like to see you handle that!" snarled Malfoy. "And I did help cast the Avada Kedavra curse; without me it wouldn't have worked! And I switched sides, much to my disgrace, no offence Victoria."

"None taken."

"Oh come off it Malfoy, you know the only reason you switched sides was because of Victoria! You'd still be with the Death Eaters if it wasn't for her!" scoffed Harry.

"Sod off you 'boy who lived for the sake of showing off his non-existent talents!'"

"Puncey!"

"Muggle-lover!"

"Scumbag!"

"Show-off!"

"DEATH EATER!" this had come from Ron.

"RON!" yelled Victoria. "Now you know that's not true. Apologize now!"

"What?! I'm not apologizing to that slime ball!" said Ron.

"Um, Ron, I think you'd better do what Victoria says," said Hermione. As usual, she had noticed Victoria's face become strained and pale, and Draco looked mortified.

"Yeah," said Harry, seeing it too. "if only for Victoria."

"Alright fine then. Sorry Malfoy," said Ron. Malfoy smirked.

"And you apologize to Ron and Harry, Draco," said Victoria. "You started the fight."

"What…?!"

"I mean it Draco!"

"Okay, sorry."

"Thankyou. Now can you boys be quiet so I can get some sleep?" sighed Victoria, exhausted.

"Yeah, sorry honey," said Draco, and lay back down to rest. However, within the next two hours they were fighting again, until Madam Pomfrey came in and reminded them that they were all in a critical condition, especially Victoria, and if they kept on like this then she would have to move her into a separate room. This shut them up, particularly Draco. After about two weeks, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco were ready to go back to school. Hermione was freaking because Madam Pomfrey had refused to allow her to do any work until she was better. "But I'll be so behind!" she had cried.

"Don't worry Hermione! The teachers are going to make special allowances for you. Now sleep!" Madam Pomfrey had said.

When they went back, the whole school cheered at them as they walked down the corridors. Though most of the Slytherins were giving them very subtle death glares, particularly to Draco since he had swapped sides, or "turned traitor" in their opinion. But the person that everyone wanted to see most was Victoria, since she was the one who had actually died. Draco went to see her every day, as many times as he could until she came back to school a week later.

"Dumbledore has told everyone not to ask you any questions about what death is like," he assured her the day before she returned.

"That's good, I was dreading people asking me that," Victoria replied.

"And also, Rita Skeeter wants a word with all five of us, separately. She's putting a piece in the Daily Prophet, much to Dumbledore's disapproval."

"Oh, no!" Victoria wailed. "Harry told me what her interviews were like, yuk!" Malfoy smirked.

"And don't you give me that look, I know you thought those stories about Harry were funny, but there's no need to gloat over them!"

"Okay, okay, sorry honey," Draco said. "Well, I'd better go now, lunch is over. I'll see you tomorrow then!" He kissed her goodbye and left the room.

Three days later Rita Skeeter pulled all five of them out of class to be interviewed. "This won't take long Professor McGonagall," she had purred. So off they went to the usual broom cupboard. She interviewed Harry first, and after about seven minutes Ron, Hermione, Victoria, and Draco heard Harry's raised voice say, "I have not been having a secret affair with Victoria since the attack, she's with Draco!"

"Ah, but can you prove that?" Rita persisted.

"Heck yeah I can, you want to see them snogging in the hospital wing when nobody's looking?!" and with that he kicked open the door, and was immediately greeted by Victoria cuffing him around the head.

"Why in God's name did you tell her that?!" she hissed, but Harry could see a faint smile as she said it. Ron, Draco, and Hermione snorted.

Hermione went in next, then Ron, and they both came out with expressions of disgust and loathing on their faces.

"She wanted me to tell her whether I thought that you were losing your tough since it wasn't only you that saved everyone Harry!" Hermione said, outraged. "And of course I said no!"

"Yeah, and she asked me if I thought I had finally stopped living in Harry's shadow!" said an angry Ron. "I mean, how mean is that, I felt quite hurt!"

Next came Draco. He strutted into the cupboard looking oh so full of himself, but came out four minutes later yelling, "There is no way, no way in the world that I would ever tell you whether or not I had ever…done that with Victoria, you nosy cow!" Harry, Ron, and Hermione heard that and were immediately in fits of giggles.

"Victoria, will you come in now?" said Rita Skeeter sweetly.

"Yeah, sure," answered Victoria, but not before crossing herself several times. It was hot and stuffy in the broom cupboard, and Rita's cheap perfume didn't help much.

"Ah, Victoria, here are a few questions I would like you to answer for me. First of all, would you consider yourself the real hero of the day?"

"No," Victoria answered firmly. "I just saw what was happening faster than the others. I did exactly the same amount as they did." She glanced at the Quick Quoted Quill, which was writing, "ever modest Victoria Dreanadia, denies the fact that she was more heroic than the others. "They did the same as me, only I have faster reflexes and a lot more guts," she says.

"I did not say that!" said Victoria. "You're making me sound like a stuck-up bitch!"

"Pay no attention to the pen, dear," Rita said. "Now, can you tell me why you almost sacrificed you life to save Harry?"

"He's my friend," she said simply. "Friends look out for each other."

"So you're sure you're not having a secret affair with him behind Draco Malfoy's back?" Rita asked.

"No I'm not!" Victoria declared. "I love Draco, not Harry."

"Interesting," said Rita. "Now, how old are you? Fifteen? Well, if you're so close to Mr. Malfoy, then considering you're age you must have come near to…"

"It's none of you're business where my and Draco's relationship is going at this point in time, Rita Skeeter," snapped Victoria quickly.

"Right," said Rita. "Well, I have just one more topic to cover, Victoria. What did it feel like to die?"

"I'd rather not answer that," said Victoria. Rita ignored her.

"Was it painful? Was it frightening? Do you think that from what you've experienced that there is life after death?"

"I told you that I'd rather not talk about it," said Victoria, a warning note in her voice.

"But come now my dear, surely you must have felt something," Rita persisted.

"No!" yelled Victoria. "I'm not saying anything, Skeeter, because I don't really remember it! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm getting away from you an your nosiness before I die of claustrophobia, frustration, and disgust!" So she banged open the cupboard door and stormed out to the others.

"Well, that sounded fun," said Draco. "Did she ask you that rather personal question about…"

"Yes she did. How embarrassing, what's that going to look like in the Daily Prophet? And what are you three laughing at?" she rounded on a snickering Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "You try being in out position and see how you like it! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to class before I start throwing things."

"So am I," said Draco. "She's right, how embarrassing is that article going to be?" He walked after her.

"Come on," said Harry to Ron and Hermione. "Let's go before McGonagall blows her stack." And they set off to class after Victoria and Draco.

Hee hee, what's the article going to say? What will Rita Skeeter's twisted mind come up with now? If you want to find out, then read the next chapter, and please review for me, I love everyone who reads this story!