Chapter Fifty-Two: Don't Let It Show

"Without truth, there is no trust. Without trust, there is no love! And jealousy, yes, jealousy, will drive you…mad!"
            -Jacek Koman (The Narcoleptic Argentinean.)

"Where are they?" Snape inquired of nobody in particular.

"I find that the longer one lets women get dressed, sir, the better they usually tend to look," Aldous observed.

"An' if I know Mitch an' Chloe, they'll look splendid."

"What do you suppose the Slytherins and Gryffindors will do to each other this year?" Malfoy wondered. "Remember my seventh year, when-" He succumbed to giggles at the memory, whilst Ron looked just a little bit less chipper.

"It wasn't quite that funny from the receiving end, you know. And we did get you lot back later."

"True. Your graduation prank was much cleverer."

"Yours did sort of cheer us up a bit, though. And of course, there was what happened the next day." Ron smiled and thumped Draco on the shoulder, as the first source of their peace was his best friend's return. Lupin was surprised indeed to see them getting along.

"The Apocalypse wouldn't by any chance be at hand, gentlemen?"

"Only setting a good example for the boys, Remus," Severus explained, gesturing to the little knot of awaiting Gryffindors. "They'll start fighting as soon as the girls arrive."

"Naw, I've finally gotten used to the pureblood fop."

"And I've taken rather a liking to the redheaded beggar."

Donaghan and Aldous laughed heartily and Lupin smiled his approval. Just then, an idea frolicked into Severus' mind.

"Donaghan, do you happen to know who asked Julia to the dance?"

"Er- no, sir, I'm really not sure. Sorry."

"I believe Alexei Malgryevic and one or two Ravenclaws whose names escape me did ask her, sir, but according to Chloe she hasn't any specific escort."

"As I feared. Draco, would you keep an eye on her? Make sure she doesn't drink anything that's been past the Slytherins, all of that? Do you mind?"

"Actually, I was planning to do something like that, since I couldn't get a date myself. Firehead here had already asked Judy Parkington, and I didn't even want to try Madam Pomfrey."

"Oh, good. I'm starting to worry about her. She seems nervous about –well, you know."

"If it makes you feel any better, sir, Chloe's almost as bad. I'm hoping the dance will cheer tham up a bit." The professors looked at Aldous in surprise, having had no idea he could keep a secret like that. He smiled and gave them a look to indicate Donaghan was still oblivious.

"Professor, d'you know whether tex'books need illustrated or not ter' be published?"

"I find that illustrated versions are more educational, McPhersen, especially history volumes, but it's not considered totally necessary."

"I was wond'rin, on account of I can't draw ter' save m'life. Mitchie can, though, pretty well, too." With a nervous smile, Donaghan produced from his pocket a clever if slightly mean little caricature of the entire teachers' table. Snape gave alternately the picture and the Scot disdainful and finally lightly amused looks, before handing it to Lupin, who positively howled. Draco studied the picture with an uncharacteristically curious look, adjusting his hair as he handed it to Ron. The Auror could scarcely restrain what sounded remarkably like a snort. Lupin turned with a cheerful smile to the Head of Slytherin House.

"I was completely unaware of just how much you can be made to resemble a crow, Severus. You didn't by any chance give the Yank detention recently?"

"Just the four in the past five days. Her spelling's atrocious to the point of hilarity."

"Come on, sir, she's not bleedin' from England! Y'know 'Mericans tend ter' spell differently."

"I don't believe they switch the letters 'd' and 'b' or 'f' and 'e,' McPhersen. I'm sure it's merely moderate carelessness caused by writing too fast."

The fact that it routinely took Mitchie twice the time it took Julie and Jen to finish their homework was not mentioned, for at that moment, a positive inundation of beautiful females descended the stair. Not a single jaw among the males failed to bounce on the stone floor from the sight.

Hermione had succeeded in finding Judy some more-than-suitable dress robes in a stunning soft emerald color that made her eyes look wonderful. She ran to hug Ron, who for some reason had completely lost the ability of coherent speech. Lately, as the mission's departure time grew nearer, Judy had become progressively more emotional and clingy whenever Ron was around, and tonight was no exception. She was kissing him quite thoroughly, and had it not been for a resounding 'Ahem,' from Professor Snape a minute later, they might not even have made it into the Great Hall.

It had taken a tap on the shoulder from Lupin, however, to get Severus into a position of authority after his wife arrived. There was something about light, shimmering blue that never failed to make his heart jump when he saw her in it, and the new dress robes had a wonderfully suitable fur collar that set off her cinnamon eyes beautifully. She descended the stair like a queen or goddess, ever so gracefully, and gently took her Severus' hand just before a brief, but fully lovely kiss.

Aldous and Chloe behaved similarly, for all they were smaller, and only Draco, Lupin, and Donaghan were left without ladies as Tom and Tim met their girlfriends.

"Er- Hannah?" Donaghan asked. "Have y' seen-?"

"Oh, yes. Mitchie's coming. She and Julie had this mad idea…well, you'll see."

Donaghan and Draco gave each other confused looks, and then shrugged as all but Lupin went on into the Great Hall.

**********************************************************

"No consideration! Heartless, the lot of you, picking on me!"

"Oh, come on! We honestly do think you ought to come."

"Yes, the entire school's going to be there."

"The entire school just loves to pick on me!"

"Really, no they don't, Myrtle," Mitchie pressed. "I bet guys never come in the girl's bathroom."

"N-no, they d-don't…I'll never get a d-date because I'm d-dead!"

"Oh, that's a load of rot, Myrtle, you can dance with Sir Nicholas and Professor Binns and probably even Peeves."

"I expect my boyfriend's grandfather may be by as well," Mitchie suggested. "He's a really nice Scottish ghost, wears a kilt."

"Y-you're inconsiderate, you know that, talking about boyfriends when I n-never h-had one!"

"Whyever not, though, Myrtle? You're nice-looking."

"I g-got asked to g-go by a R-ravenc-claw once…but then he said he was joking, he wouldn't take a f-f-foureyes-" Myrtle again burst into tears and Mitchie lost her temper, smacking the ghost solidly through the face. The effort was a bit much and the werewolf landed on her side on the slippery floor with a dull thud. Myrtle came the closest then Julie had ever seen her to a laugh.

"See, Myr', at least you aren't a clumsy American."

"Yeah!" Mitchie agreed, suddenly laughing as she realized she'd insulted herself. Myrtle finally gave them a wan smile. "An' specs have turned right fashionable lately. See, I've got 'em. Yours aren't nearly so big as mine."

"Y-you honestly w-want me t-to c-come?"

"Yes, Myrtle, we do, but only if you stop crying."

"I h-haven't g-got-"

"Anything to wear? But we've handled that. Chloe taught me the spell 'specially so you could come." Julie turned her wand on the still sniffling ghost and used Madame Delacour-Davies' spell. It was a bit like a translucent Cinderella effect, as Myrtle's damp-looking school robes became beautiful see-through gray dress ones.

"You look splendid!" Mitchie exclaimed. "Look in the mirror, Myr'." The teary-eyed ghost did.

"Wh-wh-why are you two b-being so nice to me?" she asked partly in awe and partly in suspicion. Julie grinned cleverly and explained.

"Might as well be honest with y', Myr'. I owe you for lookin' out for my mum."

"Your mum?"

"Yeah, she an' her two friends cooked up some Polyjuice Potion here a good while ago, and hers went wrong. You stayed with her and I imagine you made her feel a bit better."

"You're her daughter?" Myrtle asked in awe. "I heard she married her professor, little Sevvie Snape."

"Tha's Dad, alright," Julie agreed. Myrtle actually grinned mischievously at her.

"Did you know he once got the doors confused in his first year? He was crying because somebody'd been teasing him and we would have had such fun together if 'Cissa Armfeldt hadn't come in and found him there."

"Was she his girlfriend?"

"No, she was a sixth-year who liked to take care of him. One time her boyfriend tried to kiss her in here and I frightened him away, calling him 'Lucy'."

"Lucius Malfoy?" Mitchie inquired.

"That's him, alright. I heard they got married."

"Myrtle, do you suppose you could keep a secret?" Julie asked. The ghost smiled and nodded eagerly and Julie whispered in her ear. "Her son Draco's a professor here and I think he's cute."

"Wow, you're just like your mum…?"

"Julie. Some kids call me Starcatcher."

"And I'm Michelle Tyler, everyone calls me Mitch."

"I never had a good nickname like that, just M-moaning-"

"Oh, don't worry, we aren't goin' to call you that. It's too alliterative."

"How about 'Myr' for short? Mine's really 'Julia'."

"I've never had a nice nickname."

"Sometimes the kids at school used to call me Mitchie the Collie. I'm a werewolf, you know." Mitchie showed the ghost her star mark.

"And I got this scar just a bit after I was born."

"I have a scar on my finger where I picked up a broken vial in Potions class," Myrtle offered, showing them her hand.

"Nice one."

"We're going to be late, we should get going."

"Wait!" Both fifth-years turned and looked at Myrtle. "I'm scared."

"Aw, come on! You look so different, I bet nobody even recognizes you!"

"It'll be like Cinderella, except you get to dance with everybody, not just the prince."

"Oh...alright."

**************************************************************

"Mitch!" Donaghan cried, seeing his girlfriend a few moments later. "Where were y', love?"

"We've brought our friend Myr' along to the ball. Myr, this is Donaghan."

"Lovely ter' meet yeh, miss." Donaghan bowed acceptably, making Myrtle blush. "May I 'ave the firs' dance, if y'aren' busy?"

"Wh-why, thank you!"

Mitchie gave Donaghan a radiant grin from behind her ghostly 'friend.' Draco looked quizzically at Julie, impressed by the clever kindness of she and the Yank. Remus Lupin also greeted the ghost.

"Why, Myrtle, I haven't seen you in years! You look wonderful!"

"Remus?" she asked. "I remember when you were just twelve years old! You're so…tall."

"Not too tall, I hope. You will dance with me after Donaghan, I trust?"

Myrtle, overjoyed if slightly suspicious, mumbled her thanks and Julie whispered something to the effect of 'told you so' in her ear.

A few minutes later, Myrtle, Donaghan, Mitchie, Julie, and Malfoy were all seated at a table with mostly other Gryffindors. Julie picked up her glass to drink and suddenly made a bizarre face.

"Vodka in this," she announced to the others. Mitchie, however, was whispering something in Donaghan's ear and didn't hear this news. Jen leaned over toward Julie behind Mack, who was seated between them, and voiced her suspicion of the Slytherins.

"Most likely," Julie agreed.

"Will vodka make you sick?" Mack inquired.

"No, just wildly, humorously drunk," Jen explained.

"Makes your tongue furry," Julie added.

"Oh. Jen, you look…" Mack was again gazing hopelessly at his date for the umpteenth time. "I barely recognized you when you came down."

"Chloe made my robes, you know," Jen told him.

"You look wonderful in them."

"I mean, I really had very little to do with it,"

"You seem so much better…are you happier here in Gryffindor?"

"Yes, MacAndrew," Jen smiled. He kissed her hand and put an arm gently on her shoulder part affectionately, part protectively, for Lyff Grudgett had appeared.

"Any of you lot seen Jen?" he asked, fuming.

"Why, no, Grudgett," Julie observed patronizingly. "You, Mitch?"

"Why, no, Jules. How about you, Myrtle?"

"Not I."

"Donaghan?"

"Na, nowhere."

"Jen, have you seen Jen about anywhere?"

"Why, nowhere. I don't expect she's been here, Lyff."

The outraged Slytherin suddenly realized that this stunning creature under Mack's arm was indeed his cousin, and in his blind fury, he lashed out at her. Malfoy spat out a curse at him quicker, however, and his fist detached itself seamlessly from his arm at the elbow and began flopping about on the table. Lyff shrieked like a woman or an elephant who has seen a mouse, and Mitchie, having just finished a gobletful of the spiked punch, applauded.

"Lovely, Malfoy! Il fait beau c'est magnifique!" Chloe stared at her as she picked up the wriggling arm, examined it as if it were a particularly funny sex toy, and offered it to Lyff fingers first. "Madam Pomfrey's over with Hagrid, why don't you have her fix it  back on for you?"

As Lyff took his arm, sniffling, and fled, Chloe gave the female werewolf an unfriendly look.

"Your French has almost worse grammar than your English."

Owls suddenly began deluging the Hall, dropping the contents of the slotted boxes almost into their addressees' plates. Myrtle immediately began to pout, knowing she would not have one, but to everyone's surprise, one landed by her plate.

"Open it, Myr!" Julie encouraged. Nervously, the ghost undid the envelope and read it aloud.

"'She's not so ugly as she was,
And when she's not crying, as often she does,
She's really a nice one, with beautiful eyes,
And I only play jokes trying to make her smile.'"

"Peeves, I bet," Chloe whispered in Aldous' ear. "Read yours next, Julie."

"I've got two." Julie opened the smaller one first, blushed furiously, and put it aside. The second she read aloud, with a bit of a confused expression on her face at the abysmal misspellings:
"'I like her for her way she flyed
And how she keeps freinds by her sighed,
She watches out for my freind Jen
And elped me out in class again.' Alexei?"

"Definitely."

"You next, Jen."

"I've got two as well." Jen opened the first, which had a small green serpent drawn in the corner:
"'She walks in darkness as the moon,
And to my heart came she so soon,
I fear she knows not what tempts minds of men,
But I know well she will be by my side again.'"

"Grudgett?" Mack asked, as if offering to kill him for her.

"Nope, Lyff can hardly write, let alone make up rhymes." She opened the second, but did not read it aloud, and kissed Mack gently on the cheek.

Next, Donaghan opened his. There were no words in it, but the picture was fairly self-explanatory.

"D'y' kna' I love y', Mitch?"

"I had supected it, you did tell me once or twice…you do know I love you?"

"Y' really do, m'girl?"

Chloe's and Aldous' were both written in French, but judging by the way they behaved immediately after, the meanings were perfectly clear to both of them. Music was playing by then, and Peeves appeared in what for him was formal dress.

"Well, can I have this dance, Myrtle?" he asked, looking at his feet as he hovered. For a moment, Julie and Mitchie were afraid she'd take the opportunity for revenge, but she didn't, and the two started dancing a few feet above the floor.

***************************************************************

"Dance with me?"

"Of course, darling."

The gentle sounds of the band began to play, and two professors danced effortlessly around the floor of the Great Hall. In their rooms in the dungeon, a painting of Tobias Ragg was watching their sleeping baby son, and just across the room, their teenage daughter was engaged in an animated but not unfriendly argument with Malfoy, as usual.

"I don't suppose she likes him all that much in any more than a friendly way," Hermione observed. "They aren't even dancing yet."

"I think you're right, dear." Severus agreed, pulling her a bit closer. "Draco, I think, is starting to appreciate just how –advanced for her age she is. And Lupin's absolutely no help at all."

"What did he say?"

"He just made one of the more disturbing suggestions in a long career of annoying me. Apparently, 'in ten-odd years' time, who's to say? They may start dating.'"

"Tell me you didn't hex him badly, dear?"

"I'm only hoping Chloe and Michelle can keep a good eye on them in America. Jennifer as well."

"I don't think we have much to worry about for a while, though. Maybe in ten years you'll approve of it."

"He'd have to save your life a few more times for that," Severus remarked direly. "I mean, it's nothing personal, I just don't want anyone thinking he can…well, if she wants to get married at thirty-five…"

"Dear, my father said the same thing, as did my grandfather."

"They were Muggles, though, thank God."

"I mean, you're really a wonderful father, Sev." Hermione kissed him gently. "And just think! In twenty years' time you can worry about A.J.!"

"Incorrigible Gryffindor," he mumbled, kissing her again.

************************************************************** 

"Jen?" Mack asked, as they danced almost lazily around the floor.

"Yes?"

"I was wondering, what does the Slytherin Common Room look like?"

"Sort of like the Gryffindors', actually, only the walls have different tapestries and it's in green and silver instead of red and gold. There are also skulls of infants instead of glass paperweights."

"What?"

"I'm joking, silly."

"Oh." Mack smiled and brushed a bit of Jen's hair out of her face gently. "You seem so different now that you're out of there…remember that time we went out before?"

"Yes…I was rather funny about it, wasn't I?"

"You never did say…did you really want to go with me or was it just to offend Grudgett?"

"Mack, I liked you ever since we were little first-years on the train and you told be dirty jokes to keep me from being scared. When you asked me, my first impulse was to go with you." A mischeivous smile flitted across Jen's face. "Offending Lyff was just a lovely side effect."

"He didn't…hit you because of me?"

"It's not like he wouldn't have anyway. He'd failed an exam that day."

"Jen, why didn't you say something sooner? And still! He should be expelled for that."

"If you want to tell on him, go ahead. He's got enough about me to get me expelled as well, so I'm not really going to bother. He'll be gone by the end of the year anyway."

"I thought he was in your Care of Magical Creatures class."

"He failed it two years running, actually, is why. Lyff's strong enough and fairly decent on a broom, but not overly endowed by the brain fairy. If my uncle wasn't so desperate for the first heir, I sincerely doubt if he'd have adopted him."

"See, I would have never known Lyff was adopted. He looks just like his dad."

"That's because my uncle is his dad. Dark Revel, Muggle girl, you know the tale."

"So you are related, really?"

"Not by blood, no. I'm related to my uncle by marriage."

"I've lost track of which of my cousins are second and first, how do you keep track of all that?"

"Geneology and family trees are more important in Slytherin. So is race."

"I only know I'm Irish and English, maybe some others. If you don't mind me asking-?"

"I'm English and one-quarter Italian, mother's side."

"I was curious, because you said that whole thing about 'sacrificiamo la frateri de la bastia' when Jem came by."

"I didn't think anyone recognized that was Italian."

"At first I did think it was a spell actually…what does it mean?" Jen blushed slightly and whispered in his ear. "Oh. You know more dirty jokes than me, I bet."

"Or at least more insults."

"Jen, I know you just got out of…well, you know, and if you don't want to get into something now, I understand…but…"

"What is it?"

"I was sort of wondering…could I kiss you goodnight?"

The novelty of this was such that Jen had a hard time not laughing at Mack's gentle earnestness. Asking for a kiss…she was used to not even being asked for a shag.

"Of course, Mack. You can kiss me whenever you like."

"Really?"

"Sure."

"Oh." Very nervously, Mack did so, brushing her lips for barely a second with his own. Jen smiled tolerantly and stroked the back of his neck before showing him her idea of kissing. It neatly reduced the Gryffindor's knees to what felt like strawberry gelatin and poor Mack found himself panting and holding tightly onto Jen's waist to keep from falling.

"Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah, just a bit –I've never been kissed that way." Mack kissed her gently again and they resumed dancing, unnoticed by the throng. "Fancy something to drink when the song's over?"

It ended that very moment. They moved back to the table, where Julie, Malfoy, and Lupin were happily discussing what sounded like Animagic. Jen was about to pick up her goblet when Draco stopped her.

"Somebody's spiked all our cups, you know."

"Really? The Yank's been drinking from hers all evening," Mack observed.

"Oh, no!" Lupin cried. "Why didn't somebody stop her?"

"She doesn't look drunk at all to me," Julie observed, indicating her friend, who seemed to be chatting with the band's roadie about a guitar he was tuning.

"Don't you know what happens when female werewolves are intoxicated?" Malfoy asked.

"They become clumsy and smell of alcohol?" Jen suggested.

"No…" Just then, a peculiar sound started from the stage, and a voice began singing:

"Jeremiah was a bullfrog-"

"That happens," Lupin explained with a sigh and a look of horror, covering his ears. The American had charmed the roadie into lending her the guitar and the band into backing her up. Actually, she wasn't all that bad.

"What's wrong with a sudden uncontrollable urge to sing?" Julie asked.

"Ever see what a veela does to guys?"

"Nope. Read about it, though."

"Drunk female werewolves are worse." Draco had his ears covered up as well.

"Omigod, look at them," Jen observed, covering her ears on the side of caution. Just about every male in the room and a small number of females were positively riveted to the stage, where even the musicians' jaws were dropped at the sound of Mitchie's singing. Professor Snape, however, seemed unaffected and stalked right over to their table.

"Who got her drunk?"

"Somebody's spiked the entire table's cups."

"Merlin's sinus blockage! Couldn't you have –well, stopped her?"

Malfoy and Lupin still had their ears plugged.

"Pardon?"

"Gads, you bachelors! Julie, why don't you go short out the microphone or something?"

"At least you could let the song end, Dad."

"Whatever, just make sure she doesn't go wandering off alone."

"You got it."

About a minute later, Mitchie and the band finished the Muggle song, she swung the guitar off, hanging it on the roadie like a human coatrack, and then rejoined Donaghan, who looked like he had just been given an entire house full of brooms. There was a small murmur of protest that she had stopped, and a few other students decided to try singing as well. Generally, the dance was uneventful after that, even if Malfoy and Julie did dance together twice, grinning contemptuously at Flint where he glowered in a corner.

At that moment he decided to make his move toward the second part of his plan.

********************************************************************

"Be right back," Jen told her date, heading toward the girls' room. Once inside, she started furiously scratching the inside of her arm, a rather unladylike reaction to her strawberry allergy. It hadn't seemed polite to not eat chocolate-dipped strawberries when Mack seemed intent on hand-feeding her like an owlet. "Gar," she mumbled, stil scratching as a back passage opened and an old acquaintance slunk in from behind.

"Strawberries?" a surprisingly kind, if raspy voice inquired.

"What do you want, Flint?"

"Aproxa cortizonus," he said, curing the itchy welts with his wand. "Why don't you ever call me by my first name?"

"Because I don't like you. Haven't I made that point crystal clear?"

"Why don't you?" he asked, sounding unnaturally sad.

"Oh, think about it, Matius! Maybe if you'd stopped Lyff or not cursed my friend with a Quarnificatus!"

"I did stop Lyff often enough, though, didn't I? It wasn't like I could tell him off in the middle of the common room."

"You could have gone to Snape when you found me bleeding in second year instead of teaching me to hide the marks and…" Jen couldn't quite bear to speak the memory aloud.

"Tell me you never liked me and I'll go away."

"I'm not the liar most Slytherins tend to be. I did like you. You were kind to me, quite often. But as kind as you seemed to be, you used me. You use everyone and I don't have time for you. So just leave me alone."

"You used me, though, didn't you?"

"Tell me someone who never used anybody else!"

"Look, Jen, Lyff's been threatening to beat up on Jem lately."

"What do I care? He seems to have forgotten we ever shared a room, let alone-"

"You still care. You always cared more than any girl I knew."

"So?"

"I'll protect him. I just want someone to come back to my room and talk. Jen, I miss you. Will you believe me?"

"Talk? You? Oh, sure."

"Well, if you don't want to talk, there are other alternatives."

"Flint, if you want a lay, go find some ignorant second-year."

"I've already got one, except now she lives in Gryffindor." Flint kissed Jen lightly on the neck. "I need you, Jen. Just an hour?"

"Why?"

Suddenly his contrite manner evaporated like a liquid disguise.

"Because if you don't, I'll let your cousin into Starcatcher's room tonight."
Jen spun around, fire blazing in her eyes.

"You bastard."

"You will. I knew it." Flint kissed her harshly and she pulled away. "Just relax and er- enjoy the fun."

"You bastard," Jen repeated, her voice cracking. Flint opened the back passage and led her away even as she bit back tears. He had left her with no choice.

*************************************************************************

Mack noticed Jen wasn't back, but assumed she was simply correcting her makeup or some female thing. After all, he had no sisters or female relatives besides his mum, and heaven knew what it took to maintain such beautiful appearances.

At half an hour, though, he wondered aloud where she had gotten to, not wanting to pry or offend her.

At forty-five minutes he finally got worried and asked Julie to check on her.

"No problem, Mack, why didn't you say something sooner?"

A few seconds after she had left, a knock sounded on the outside door of the Great Hall. Snape walked over and unobtrusively opened it.

"Are you Ronald Weasley or Draco Malfoy?" the figure asked hurriedly.

"No, my name is Professor Severus Snape. Who are you?"

"Oh, it's you! I'm Dennis Martin, from the American Aurory. The mission has to leave immediately, did you know?"

"What? We had no word of this!"

"There's been a bit of an emergency overseas. I have the warrant from President Feldman right here." Severus fairly tore it from his hand and read it.

"Damn!"

By then Draco had joined him at the door. Severus finished with the parchment and told him the news. He sighed in a combination of anger and resignation.

"I'll get them together, Severus. Best tell Minerva and Hermione."

*********************************************************************

Flint had pretty much done everything he liked, and now Jen was back in the girls' room, concealing traces of tears. Julie opened the door and called her name.

"Jen?"

"Right here,"Jen announced, feigning cheerfulness. "What's up?"

"You've been missing an hour. Anything wrong?"

"Naw, just a bit allergic to strawberries."

"Oh, well I know the feeling! Fixed all the itchy spots?"

"Yeah. Is Mack angry?"

"Naw, just a bit worried. Come on."

They stepped outside and ran directly into Malfoy.

"We're leaving tonight. Go get your things together."

"What?"

"De Diablo's just wreaked all kinds of havoc in America. We've got to go early. There's an Auror here to get us."

"Damnation!"

"I'd better go try and explain to Mack," Jen remarked, her heart secretly leaping as she realized it would be at least a month without Slytherins.

"I've no idea where Mitch and Donaghan have gone. Have you seen Chloe?"

"I'm here," the little first-year squeaked.

"What's the matter, Chloe? You look as if you'd seen a ghost," Malfoy observed gently.

"My eyes have been scarred," she announced melodramatically. "I got the numbers confused and well…"

"Teachers kissing?" Julie asked sympathetically.

"One of them was, sort of." Chloe stood up on tiptoe and whispered in her friend's ear. Julie's eyes widened and for a minute neither girl could say anything. Then Julie abruptly turned to Malfoy in disbelief.

"The Headmistress and Minister Dumbledore?"

"Oh, it was only them? I thought everybody knew."

"They were kissing," Chloe announced direly.

"What's so wrong with that?" Draco asked.

"They're just so…" the French girl struggled for a word. Draco patted her on the shoulder older-brotherly.

"Gives whole new meaning to antique romance, doesn't it?"

Julie considered that for a moment and frowned.

"Remind me never to become old. I'm far too fond of kissing."

*********************************************************************