Author: Straw_berry (I don't know why ff.net spells it as straw-berry though…)

Title: Red Rose Petals

Rating: PG13

A/N: (Dated a long, long time ago…) I'm making this one after I finished my other story, which is today. [Proof of how dedicated I am…] I just hope that my diskette doesn't flop.

Anyhow, I know that you'll all ask about Draco's very weird behavior, so don't worry, it will all be explained in this chapter.

For people who might think that Cicero's a cool name, the credit isn't mine. The name Cicero came from my friend. [Hi Mukkie-chan!]

Uh…for people who are asking about Harry and Ron's weird behavior, don't ask. Just popped up the last minute and I typed it.

To: Annoyed ()

          I'm sorry that I haven't updated "Another Sunny Day" yet. Please bear with me and my abnormally slow creative juice flow. It's just that I have been more engrossed in this story for quite a time. However, I promise to make the next chapter for ASD a long one.

                                                                                                          Sincerely,

                                                                                                          Straw_berry

Whipped Cream!

Chapter Three

          The train arrived soon enough at Hogwarts, and all of them were taken up to the castle by horseless carriages. All was happy, seeing their old friends and re-telling tales of gay romps at vacation time. However, we must set apart six students, whose fate was suddenly altered by lord Destiny himself in that fateful train ride.

          Our Heroes, Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley were sitting in one carriage, each deeply imbedded in their thoughts.

          I wonder what made Malfoy call for a truce….it's highly unusual, considering that we have been enemies for a good six years…Harry thought, wrinkling his brows. And Cicero…man, she's beautiful…quite a catch, as Bill would say. Creamy skin, dark hair, purple eyes…she could win the Miss Hogwarts awards anytime…she could look like and angel…and I can imagine her in a devil's costume…

         

          Malfoy and me? Friends? I don't think it's possible…it's as possible as me entertaining lover thoughts about Hermione… Ron thought, smiling in a goofy sort of way. I can imagine it…me and Hermione, all alone in a beach house, enjoying the view—wait! Those thoughts were lover-like! @#%@#$!!! Man…I just contradicted myself…guess I have to put borders up to when I can kick his arse…

 

          Wandless magic! I've read about it somewhere…it's a gift that only a few people have…and what did Malfoy say? He didn't pass the test yet? Yes, I recall reading about that too…wandless magic holders take on a form, when they are in their ultimate…yes, that was why Ci said that she couldn't show her true form yet…does this have something to do with Malfoy? Maybe their powers are linked…Hermione thought, sneaking a glance at Ron. There he is…redheaded, stubborn, headstrong, and absolutely adorable…I wonder why I can't just tell him how I feel…

          I'm happy. Though Ci may be a Malfoy, she's different. She's nice, honest, and a trickster too! And, she's my friend…I wonder what house she's in? And why is that this is the first time I've seen her here? I should bring her home one of these vacations, so that she could meet my brothers… Ginny thought, nibbling on her lower lip. Damn Draco Malfoy…

/flashback/

Ginny sat there, silent, her anger bubbling up inside her.

          "Put away your wand, Potter, I'm not going to hex you all to kingdom come." He said.

          His eyes had roamed the whole room, until they met hers.

          Ginny was stunned still, when his gaze locked on to hers.

          His eyes were a cold gray, making her feel like she was in the Antarctic. She could see his indifference, which was when she believed in the fact that he wasn't going to hurt them.  His eyes told her everything she needed to know. He was there for something else…

          "…Nothing you can give…except maybe…"

          When he said those words, she felt herself blush inwardly. She could see amusement in his eyes, along with something else…was it desire? She wasn't sure. She could never be sure. She wasn't paying quite that much attention, because his gaze was wrecking havoc on her.

          That was when all she could see was a blinding light.

          She had thought that Malfoy indeed cast a spell on them, and she cast one of her own.

/flashback/

          Damn him for those eyes of his…eyes which can read my soul…his eyes, which are always so cold, and calculating—wait—they aren't calculating…or at least not always…it's just that…when I looked into his eyes…I felt, somehow…immobilized…I wonder why?

          Meanwhile, in another carriage not far away, sat our to-be-heroes, Draco Malfoy and his cousin Cicero, also imbedded in their thoughts.

          Red-headed wench…what's with that Weasley that makes me so attracted to her? She's nothing but an ordinary girl…but…there's something…she's got a magnetic force in her that makes me want to go nearer, be closer than close… Draco thought, rubbing his chin with his fist. Then again…I wonder what made me call a truce?

          "Stop lying to yourself man…you know perfectly well why…" he said, thinking out loud.

          He knew alright. He thought. It all had something to do with that dream of mine last night…when I was tele-transported by Cicero outside, and I talked to them, it was like it was meant to be…I felt at ease with them…and as if a compelling force made me say those words out loud…it's as if the words just literally slipped out of my mouth, without even knowing it…

/flashback/

          Draco looked around in wonder around him. He was standing in a dirt path, and all around him, flowers were blooming. Flowers of different variety, of different color.  His gaze traveled up the path, to see a cheery cottage. Smoke was coming out of the chimney, and there was light in the house.

          "Where the hell am I?" he said out loud, to no one in particular.

           Hearing no answer, he turned around, only to come face to face with a brick wall.

          "Oh crap…no choice but to move on forward…"

          He walked and walked and walked on the seemingly never-ending path.  He could see the house right up ahead, but the road was too long.

          After what seemed to him like hours of walking, he reached the house and knocked on the door.

          The door opened to reveal a woman in her mid-thirties. She had wavy brown hair and was wearing a gingham dress.

          "Welcome, sonny. What may I do for you?" the woman asked.

          "Can I please have a cup of water?" he asked, quite politely.

          "Of course! Come on in."

          Draco walked in the small house. Inside, he found a small wooden table with four small wooden chairs. There was a quaint wooden cupboard, and two doors. One was marked bedroom, and the other, bathroom.

          "Here you go, sonny, water."

          "Thank you, ma'am"

          "Why so polite?"

          Draco took time to ponder on his answer. "Maybe because in the world where I live, finding yourself in dirt paths and finding a brick wall behind you isn't exactly normal. You could be a fairy invading my dreams, or a spiritual being."

          The woman laughed, and transformed into a very stunning lady. "Your guess is right, Draco Malfoy."

          "How do you know my name?"

          "That's actually 'quite elementary', quoting from those books you read. I am the Wish Fairy. I heard your wish two moonrises ago, and I have some advice for you, young man."

          Draco just nodded.

          "You wish for someone to see you, as you are, and not as you have built your image, am I right?"

          He nodded.

"Well, my best advice is that you must destroy that image. Pick your worst enemies, and show them, slowly, who you really are. By doing that, others would also try too see you."

"You mean I have to show myself to Potter?"

She laughed. "Not literally. I reckon if you do that, Mr. Potter would have a heart attack."

"Then how?"

"I suggest that you try to do it slowly. Refrain from name calling, and from doing pranks, at least until you win their trust."

"But…you don't understand…there are a lot of complications…"

"I know. But all won't be complicated if you try to understand, and do something about it.  I understand that by doing so, you'd be facing many complications and problems…but, 'tis the price you have to pay, for having withheld yourself for oh so long…"

"Is there any alternative?"

"I don't think so…try being nice…you don't really know what benefits you might reap…" 

"Okay…"

"I think it's best for you to go now, for the sun will rise soon."

"Well, goodbye then."

"Goodbye, Mister Malfoy." She said, giving him a mysterious knowing smile, before shutting the door.

/Flashback/

          I guess I have to be nice to them…I gave my word, and if there's one thing I perfectly know well about me, it's that I always keep my word…darn…why'd I forget to cross my fingers?

          Ginny Weasley. She's so lucky, growing up with all those brothers. They may be poor, as Draco had said, but they share love all around. I wonder how it's like growing up with seven brothers. All I have's Draco, and I don't even see him around that much…but he's the closest family I have, aside from my mom and Aunt Narcissa…Cicero Malfoy thought, drumming her fingers on the seat. I wonder who Blaise is…Draco didn't introduce me to him…and I didn't see him at the train…I spent so much time with Ginny and Harry. Harry Potter…name known to all of the Wizarding world…hero, son of the famous James and Lily Potter…a Quidditch star like his father…famous for getting into scrapes…loyal to Dumbledore…I wonder…these are all what people see from the outside…I wonder…how he is…inside?

          "Stop lying to yourself, man…you know perfectly well why…" murmured Draco, who was seated across her.

          "Stupid Git of a cousin…" she said, at the same time hitting him in the shins. Draco appeared to have not felt it, however, because his face betrayed no emotion. It was as if he was in a trance.

          Wait…I still have to plan revenge…for that pepper gum incident…I wonder if Ginny would help me…she thought, grinning madly. Watch out, Draco…cousin's gonna turn the tables on you…

~

          The carriages arrived in due time at the Hogwarts entrance. The students slowly went down from their carriages, some quiet, some still chattering.

          The Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Years all went straight to the great wooden doors of the Great Hall and sat down at their respective places and houses.

          The First Year students, however, just stood at the Entrance Hall, some nervous, some calm, and some, doing a Hermione imitation of six years past.

          If there was one thing in common of those new students at that very moment, it was that all of them were staring at the older girl at the end of the line.

          "Who do you think she is?" whispered one student.

          "She's awfully tall for a new student, like us." Whispered back another.

          "Maybe she's our teacher?"

          "Naw…she looks too young."

          "But…it could be—"

Their whispers were suddenly cut off by a loud bang. In front of the students was a very, very wet and pissed off teacher wearing green robes and had her graying hair pulled back in a bun, which used to be very neat.

"Form your lines by alphabetical order." She said, in a calm but deadly voice.

The terrified students quickly obeyed. They knew well enough about how teachers could get angry, based from the re-re-re-told stories of pure terror from their brothers and sisters from higher levels.

"Professor?" a voice from the back asked.

The First years all looked back and saw the 'awfully tall girl' out of line, with her hand raised up in the air.

"What imprudence!" sniffed a brown-haired girl, who did a Hermione imitation, loud enough for it to be heard by her.

"Yes?" the Professor asked.

"Where do I stay?"

"What is your Family name?"

"Malfoy."

Those students who had started whispering suddenly shut up. Malfoy was still a name feared and respected, after all. Those who were around the brown-haired girl gave her looks of pure pity; the brown-haired girl herself was trembling, her face definitely paler.

"Ah. Miss Malfoy." The Professor said, smiling. "Kindly take your position at the back of the line. You will be called on, and that would be your 'cue' as to when to come out."

The tall girl at the back nodded.

"Come along then, students. Your sorting is about to begin."

~

          "Hey Gin, what're you staring over at the Slytherin table for? Malfoy got your eye?" said Seamus, teasingly.

          "Well, he is considered 'eye candy' after all…is he sweet, Ginny?" asked Lavander, twirling a strand of hair.

          The Gryffindor Seventh Years all laughed.

          "I am not looking at Malfoy! I was just looking for someone!" Ginny cried out amidst the laughter.

          "Someone that happens to be Malfoy?"

          "Yes!—I mean, No! Oh...I don't know!"

          The Seventh Years hooted.

          "Aw, c'mon Gin! You can tell us!"

          "Gin, you broke my heart!" said Seamus, clutching his heart and pretending to faint.

          "Quiet, you buffoons. Sorting's about to begin!" said Hermione.

          "Yes 'm!" said Seamus and Dean, giving Hermione a salute.

          Ginny smiled inwardly. She had a handful of friends when she was in Fifth Year, but now, ever since Ron announced to the Seventh Years that she was going to be with them, they made her feel instantly at home.

          Ginny scanned the hall one more time, before turning her head to where the Professor was. The Professor was dripping wet, due to a water balloon aimed by Peeves. Peeves was supposed to aim it at Neville, but the Professor stepped in front of Neville, to give him something that he forgot, and she got the full blast of it. Peeves was sentenced to five months in the 'Monastery' with the Fat Friar; he preferred that rather than to a month with the Bloody Baron.

          Where's Ci? I can't find her in Slytherin, nor in Ravenclaw, nor in Hufflepuff, and certainly not in Gryffindor…

          She scanned the Slytherin table one more time. She passed hear by head of brown, black, and golden hair, but she couldn't find her friend.

          She was nearing the end of the table, when a pair of gray eyes met hers.

          Malfoy…

          His eyes were not cold, but just cool and glacial.

          Glacial…

          He reminded her of ice, except that the ice was so thick, that all you could see was a blurry shape, and even blurrier colors.

          Ice…

          He was so different from his cousin. Cicero could be cold, as she was in their first meeting, but she was nice, and she made a move to be nice.

          Yes, she's definitely nicer.

          And they looked so different! Blonde haired, and a brunette, gray eyes and amethyst ones. Ginny had taken up Muggle studies before, and chose to study on Muggle Science, and had found out that between couples, the darker Genes more or less always would come out.

          Then Ci must take after her mom…

          Ginny wanted to break away from his gaze, because he was making her uncomfy, but found out that somehow, she couldn't. His eyes were like magnets, drawing her near, making her move towards him, unable to break away.

          "Gin?" said Harry, breaking into her thoughts and tapping her shoulder.

          Ginny turned around quickly, startled.

          "Are you okay?"

          "Yes, I'm fine."

          "Sorting's underway, and you seemed a million miles off. Penny for a thought?"

          "Convert that into a Sickle, and I'd give you my thought."

          "Naw…I'll stick to the penny."

          "Fine, pennypincher." She said, lightly punching his arm. "I was just wondering where Cicero is."

          "Really?"

          "Yep. Hey, I'd better look up front, McGonagall might kick me."

          "I thought about that too." Harry said, in an almost inaudible whisper.

~

          Draco Malfoy looked up from his empty plate. His best friend, Blaise Zabini, sat beside him, flirting with a girl.

          He was bored…bored…bored. Cicero had to wait outside to be sorted, so he didn't have anyone decent to talk to, any one who wouldn't mention the stock exchange market or the possibility of them meeting in the Astronomy Tower for a quick relief—and Pansy Parkinson was really getting on his nerves.  

          He looked at the Gryffindor table, to see them all laughing.

          I wonder why I had to be placed in Slytherin. I wonder why I was afraid of my father, afraid of him that much that I had mentally begged the Hat to place me in Slytherin?

          He scanned the hall. The Sorting was about to begin, and he was apt to see his cousin.

          "Abbot, Jaine."

          "HUFFLEPUFF!"

          "Acrewood, Joan."

          "RAVENCLAW!"

          "Bomb, James."

          "GRYFFINDOR!"

          He looked as James Bomb, a boy with black hair and brown eyes, be welcomed by the other Gryffindors. He looked as he was thumped on the back, be hugged and hair be messed up. He was about to look away when a pair of dark blue eyes caught his.

          Ginny Weasley…

          The youngest and probably most picturesque of all the Weasleys was there, looking at him, in the eyes. A lot of thoughts were going through her head, that was quite obvious, but still, she didn't break her gaze.

          Strong…

          Her hair was sleek and shiny, and it glowed around her shoulders, making it seem as if she had a halo.

          Glowing…

          He looked at her eyes, deep, dark, blue eyes that were easy to get lost in. She reminded him of fire, actually. Fire drew you in, made you get lost, and sometimes, can make you wind up in the hospital…but fun, nonetheless…

          Fire…like fire…

          "Malfoy." A voice cut through his thoughts like a butter knife.

          "What, Zabini?"

          "I noticed that you seem to be staring there at Miss Weasley…" he said, in a voice that only Draco could hear.

          "So? I happen to know-tice that you often stare at Miss Brown more often then necessary…"

          "Just making plans, that's all."

          "Plans for what? Reproduction?"

          "Aww, c'mon man…you're not fun…"

          "Keep Quiet, will you?"

          "Fine. Grouch."

~

          Cicero Malfoy stood just outside the Great Hall, waiting for her turn to be sorted.

          In front of her was a small boy of eleven, with sandy brown hair, freckles, dimples, and blue eyes.

          "Hey, little guy, what's your name?" she said, bending down to look at the 'kid' straight in the eye.

          "My name's Thyle Rosend. What's yours?" the boy replied, and asked back.

          "Well Thyle, my name's Cicero Malfoy. Nice to meet you."

          "Nice to meet you too."

          "Can I ask a question?"

          Thyle nodded.

          "How do we get sorted?"

          "We put on a hat, then we wait, then we go to our houses."

          "Houses?"

          "Yup. Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff."

          "Oh-kay…thanks."

          "Sure." Thyle said, hesitating for a moment. "You aren't mean, aren't you?"

          "Nope. I'm as mean as your favorite stuffed bear."

          Thyle smiled, dimples popping out.

          "Rosend, Thyle."

          "Time to go." She said, rumpling his hair.

          "Bye."

          "Bye." She replied.

          She watched Thyle go through the door, and then she started pacing again. She was a bundle of nerves, admittedly, but who wouldn't be, when you were just uprooted from your school and transferred to another one?

          "Aww man…" she said.

          Finding nothing else to do, she pressed her ear to the door and listened.

          "—students. Today, at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, we have a new student, who transferred from Annèleiux Academy for Witchcraft and Wizardry, the sister school of Hogwarts. Our new student will be with the Seventh Years, and will enjoy the same privileges as they. I ask you now, to please welcome our new student, Miss Cicero Malfoy!"

           She quickly stepped back and smoothed her already smooth hair, and adjusted her robes. It was good that she stepped back, because a second later, the door had magically opened, revealing the Great Hall. She was actually stunned for a few seconds at the sight. A lot of candles, floating in the ceiling, except for the fact that there seemed to be no ceiling…there was just a big dark blue sky full of twinkling stars.

          She looked at the people at the hall and saw a long table, filled with Professors. At the center was the Headmaster, assumingly, and before him was the green robed Professor she had seen earlier, and beside her, a ragged hat.

          The whole hall of students was silent as she walked past them, robes billowing behind her. She passed many faces, some distrustful, some curious, some friendly, and some, 'oogling'.

          When she reached the Hat, she picked it up, sat on the chair, and put it over her head.

          You're not like the hat in my old school…she's your sister, isn't she? She thought, asking the hat.

          "Yes, she is." The hat replied.

          Where are you going to put me then?

          "I'm still checking, Miss Malfoy. You are a woman of many talents, much like Mister Potter…"

          What about him?

          "I was supposed to put him in Slytherin, but he protested, so I out him in Gryffindor."

          Really?

          "Yes. Much like Mister Malfoy too. He had many Gryffindor Qualities, but in the end, he chose Slytherin."

          It isn't the end yet.

          "Maybe. Maybe not. It is up to the person to decide, actually."

          So where will I be?

          "Where did my sister place you?"

          She placed me at Lady Helaena Liux.

          "Oh…Lady Helaena, I knew her. She was a pretty lass, full of hopes and ideals, and a nasty way of, what do you call it nowadays? Oh yes, kicking arse."

          Kicking Arse?

          "Yes…anyhow, I'm daddling too long already…let me see, you're smart and cunning, but you've a good heart. You're a good person, and you're not afraid for anyone to see…a trickster, eh? Much like Mister Malfoy, unless of course, you want to get sorted into Slytherin?"

          I want you to choose. After all, you know the best place for me to be, right?

          "If that's the case, I shall place you in Lady Liux's counterpart."

          Okay.

          "GRYFFINDOR!"

          Cicero took the hat off her head and looked around at the hall once more. She saw her cousin, on the far right, motioning to the table on the far left. She turned her head there and saw Ginny, waving frantically at her.

          She walked down the steps and towards Gryffindor, when a small figure flew right smack into her.

          "Cicero! Glad you're here!"

          "Thyle! You're in Gryffindor too?"

          "Yup!"

          She walked towards Ginny, Thyle having gone off to join his friend.

          "Hey, Gin!"

          "You didn't tell me you were a transfer student!"

          "You didn't ask!"

          "Students!" The Headmaster said, tapping his goblet. "Now that we're all settled in, let's eat!"

          Food suddenly started appearing on their plates.

          "Holy cow!" exclaimed Cicero.

          "Holy is right!" said Ginny, getting some Devil's Food Cake.

~

          Moments later, all the food got cleared up, and the students were full, sleepy, tired and waiting to go to bed.

          "Students are now dismissed—" Professor McGonagall began, "—and are expected to go to their dormitories, save for Harry Potter and Cicero Malfoy."

          All the students rose and started walking out of the Hall. Excited mumblings could be heard, also a few complaints and a lot of sighs.

          "Harry, Ci!" Ginny called out, "See ya' later!"

          Harry was starting to get nervous. He didn't do anything wrong, right? Or at least, he couldn't remember doing anything wrong…he could still remember, way back in his Third Year, when Madam Pomfrey tried to stuff his face with chocolate…he had an aversion to the particularly delectable sweet a week after that incident.

          He gave out a shudder. If something like that would happen again, and in front of Ci too, he'd die of embarrassment.

          "Is it that repulsive being here with me?" Ci asked.

          "Huh? What? No! Of course not!" he replied, stuttering.

          "Why'd you shudder, then?"

          "Nothing doing." He said, regaining his composure. "Just remembered a nasty incident."

          "What nasty incident?"

          "Well, in our Third Year, when my Godfather, Sirius Black was still on the loose, they let loose a pack of Dementors here at Hogwarts. On the train, there was one Dementor that entered out carriage, and…"

          "And?"

          "I heard my mum screaming…y' know, before she died."

          "At least you can now hear her voice, although it's not a particularly nice memory…"

          "You're…different." Harry said, looking at her. "Everybody keeps on saying 'sorry' or 'I did not mean to bring it up', but you said otherwise."

          Ci smiled at him. "It's nice sometimes, being different. And besides, I'm a frank person."

          "Oh…anyways, when we got to school, Professor McGonagall whisked me off to her office, and Madam Pomfrey, she's the school nurse, tried to stuff my face with chocolate."

          Ci laughed out loud. "Stuff your face with chocolate?"

          "Yup. She wanted me to eat the whole bar, but…I'm not that much of a chocoholic maniac."
          Ci laughed even louder, her hand hitting the table. "Cho-chocoholic maniac?"

          "What?!?"

          "It's just funny! I called Draco that too!"

          "Malfoy?"

          "Yup! Before, when we were little kids, he dared me to eat a box ox caramel creams. And so I did. In turn, I dared him to eat a box of chocolates, and he got really sick, so I called him a chocoholic maniac!"

          "Him? Eat Chocolates?" Harry said, incredulously. He could picture a small Dudley, with all the fat gone, pigging out on chocolates.

          Someone coughed behind them.

          "Professor McGonagall!" said Harry, falling off his chair.

          Ci only laughed harder.

          "Let me begin." She said, causing Ci to keep quiet. "Miss Malfoy, as a member of Gryffindor house, you will be entitled to all the privileges a Gryffindor student has, like wearing the house badge, opportunity to earn points for your house, play on the Quidditch team, and access to the Common Room and to your dorm. You will be boarding with Miss Weasley, you have met her, I presume?"

          "Yes, Professor."

          "I am the Head of Gryffindor House, Professor Minerva McGonagall, and I teach Transfiguration. Professor Snape is the Head of Slytherin, Professor Sprout is the Head of Hufflepuff, and Professor Sinistra is the Head of Ravenclaw. Underneath the House Heads are the Head Girl and Head Boy, who are Hermione Granger and Terry Boot, respectively. They are third-in-command, followed by the prefects of each house. In Gryffindor, it is Adella Smyth and George Brussell, both Sixth Year students."

          Ci nodded.

          "You will be expected to behave properly, because not behaving well may result to deduction of house points, therefore lessening the chances of winning the House Cup. Answering questions correctly will earn House Points, winning Quidditch Games, or, in some cases, doing errands."

          Ci nodded again.

          "Tryouts for Quidditch positions, in case you are interested, are next week, so you have to start preparing. Any questions?"

          "None, Professor."

          "Okay, you are now dismissed." Professor McGonagall said, walking away from them.

          "Wait! Professor!" he cried out.

          "What is it, Potter?"

          "Why'd you ask me to stay then?"

          "To escort Miss Malfoy to the Common Room. I believe that you know Hogwarts more than she does, so make sure she does not get into danger." She replied, and with a pop, disappeared.

          Harry's palms began to sweat.

          What am I supposed to do? Hold her hands? No! I couldn't do that! But I do have to entertain her somehow…because she's my friend! I can't just walk and walk and walk! Oh…if only I had experience with walking girls home… he thought, agonized.

          "So…Harry?" said Ci, tapping her foot from where she sat.

          "Y-yes?" he said, stuttering a bit. Aww man…I had to stutter, didn't I?

          "Where's the Gryffindor Common Room?"

~

          Soft swooshing sounds could be heard as the staircases moved. Cicero stopped as they reached the stairway nearest to the Great Hall.

          "Harry?" she asked.

          "Yes?" he replied.

          "The stairs don't move when you step on them right?"

          "Yes, No, I don't really know…" he replied, half-jokingly.

          "Tell me you're joking…"

          "I really don't know. These stairs have a mind of their own…one minute they move, the other minute they don't. so you can never be sure…"

          She slapped her hand to her forehead.

          "What's wrong?" asked Harry, a concerned look on his face. "Headache?"

          "No…it's just that I'm not used to moving stairs, that's all…"

          "Don't they have them at Annèleiux?"

          "Nope. They only had walking statues, but that was bearable."

          "Walking statues? Cool!"

          "Yeah. But it would put you in a sticky situation if you suddenly bumped into one of them. There was one statue, Grego the Fifteenth, who was very, very vain. If you suddenly bumped him and caused his 'golden locks' to become disarranged, he'd chase you around in rage!"

          "Really?"

          "Yup!"

          "Do you have ghosts there?"

          "Naw…just water nymphs and the stuffs."

          "Really?" said Harry, in an awed kind of way.

          "Yup! Don't tell me that you have never seen a water nymph?"

          He shook his head.

          "I'll take you nymph sighting one day!"

          "Really?"

          "Yeah…hey, we should probably get going now…"

          "Yeah." He replied. "Be careful on this step!"

          "Which one?" she replied, looking at the stairs they had just stepped on.

          "That one!" he cried out as she was going to put her foot down.

          She pulled back her foot in alarm, causing her to stumble.

          "Whoa!" she exclaimed, losing her balance. She felt herself flying, gravity losing her grip on her.

          Oh Merlin, no! I don't want to die this way!

          She felt herself falling headfirst downwards. The staircase they had 'hopped on' to was a very long one, and when she jerked her foot backwards, she had accidentally activated the "move" sensor, causing the staircase to, well, move.

          I'm dying…she thought, as she fell. she saw Harry's face, handsome and concerned, shouting something, and holding his hands out. I'm gonna die…sorry cousin, sorry Ginny…I haven't spent enough time with you guys…

          Something suddenly gripped her ankle, causing her to be suspended in mid-air. She could still dimly sense that the staircase was still moving, but she wasn't. Something or someone had grabbed her ankle.

          She raised up her head a little bit to see her 'hero'. What met her sight was a very red-faced Harry Potter, one hand on her ankle, probably kneeling on the stairs, and looking away from her.

          "Harry?"

          "Yes?" he answered, still not looking at her.

          "Why are you looking away from me? How can I thank you properly if I can't see your face?" she said, worried.

          Why doesn't he look at me? Does he think I'm a klutz? Is he mad at me?

          "Ah…e-erm…y-you see, w-when…when I…" he let out a sigh, still holding on to her ankle. "When I look at you, I happen to get a view of your undies." He turned even redder.

          She felt her face turn crimson. She didn't usually blush, especially in front of guys, and this was a first.

          "Is that so?" she said, feigning calmness. "Could you pull me up now?"

          Harry nodded and pulled her up, red face and all.

          When she was safely on the stairs, she smoothed her skirt and stood up.

          "Harry, let's go. The stairs stopped already."

          Harry just nodded.

          They climbed the stairs in silence, sound of footsteps filling the void between them.

          "This is the Gryffindor Wing." Harry said, breaking the silence. "At the end of the Wing is the entrance to the Tower."

          "Harry, wait." She said, placing her hand on his shoulder. She felt himself tense when her hand met his arm.

          "I want to thank you for saving my life a while ago. If you hadn't grabbed my ankle, I might have been a scrambled egg by now."

          "But still…" she continued, facing Harry. "…that doesn't excuse you from being a pervert!!!"

          She brought her hand, gathering force and slapped him hard on the face, leaving an imprint of a hand.

          "Oww!" Harry said, staggering sideward from the force of her slap.

          She walked away in a huff towards the portrait on the end of the wing, leaving behind a confuse and somewhat bemused Harry.

          Serves you right, pervert!

          When she reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, she found no one there.

          "Oh man…not like our portrait at school!" she muttered, giving the portrait three sharp knocks, as if one would use at a door.

          "Yes?" that Fat Lady said, huffing. She had heard the knocks from her friend, Lady Violet's portrait, and she had come rushing over.

          "Could you please open the door now?" she said, quite impatiently.

          The Fat Lady Knitted her brows. This one was different. "Password?"

          "I wouldn't know. I'm a new student here, and they haven't told me the password."

          "Is that so?"

          Ci nodded.

          "And who might you be?"

          "Cicero Malfoy, transfer student. Nice to meet you."

          "Ahh…you are the transfer student. Well, hurry in, the password's 'golden rainbow'."
          "Thanks!" she replied, flashing the Fat Lady a smile.

          "No problem!" said the Fat Lady, shutting the door with a quiet swoosh.

~

          Harry Potter stood at the hallway, when he heard a quiet swooshing sound. He looked up just in time to see the Fat Lady humming and walking away.

          Holy crap…no!

          Harry ran fast, hoping to catch the Fat Lady before she walked away.

          "Fat Lady! Fat Lady!" he cried out, holding out his hands.

          The Fat Lady stopped in mid-step, head turning to face Harry.

          "Young Potter!" she said. "Password?"

          "I…don't…know!" he said, hands on knees, gasping for breath.

          "Were you with that new student?"

          He nodded.

          "Nice girl that is." She said, nodding. "Password's 'golden rainbow', now hurry up and enter, I still have an appointment!"

          Harry quickly clambered up to the hole, looking around the common room. Only a few people were still up, and that included Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Cicero.

          "Harry! Are you alright, mate? You look as if you've been chased by a ghost, and slapped by one too! Are you chasing after that lovely ghost again?" said Ron, worried and half-joking.

          "Ron!" Hermione said, slapping him at the back, then turned to face Harry. "Did you and Malfoy fight again?"

          "Which Malfoy?" he said wryly.

          "Was it Draco, Harry?" said Ginny, facing the trio.

          "Yeah Harry. Was it Draco?" Spoke up Cicero, her eyes taunting, daring him to speak the truth, a slight smirk gracing her lips.

          Harry turned to face Cicero, eyes laughing, telling her that he knew of her challenge, and wished to bypass it. "Nope." He answered at long last, after staring at Cicero. "It was someone worse. Right Cicero?"

          Ron, Hermione and Ginny looked back and forth at the two, who were exchanging answers. They looked like spectators in a ping pong match.

          "Really? Was that person that bad?"

          "Maybe, maybe not. After all, I haven't known that person for so long."

          "Is that so? Would you like to get to know that person more?'

          "Maybe not. I wouldn't want to risk another slapping session."

          "Really? What if that person won't slap you anymore, as long as you promise that you behave?"

          "I didn't misbehave. I merely did some good."

          "Being pervertive is good? Wow, new fact."

          "Saving a life is good. And shouldn't the 'savee' be glad and grateful that someone saved her?"

          "The 'savee', as you put it, is grateful. She just isn't grateful for the fact that someone had to peek under her skirts!"

          "Well the one who saved her already said that it was an accident!"

          "Well if the one who saved her was a gentleman, then he'd say sorry!"

          "Well fine then! I'm sorry! Happy now?"

          "Ah…I get it…" said Ron, butting in. "Harry accidentally 'violated' you while trying to save you, didn't he?"

          "Yeah, he did! Wait! How'd you know it was me?" Cicero said.

          Ron shrugged his shoulders. "It's quite obvious!"

          "But we didn't m,ention names!"

          "Yeah!" Harry said. How'd you know? I didn't say anything!"

          "I just knew,. That's all!"
          "Really? You must've been spying on me, have you?"

          "Ron! I Can't believe that you would spy on another girl! I thought it was Hermione you liked!"

          "I didn't spy on Cicero, and I don't like Hermione!"

          "Really Harry? Ron likes 'Mione?"

          "Yup. That's the truth Ci. He likes Mione, and Mione likes him back."

          "I DON'T!" Ron and Hermione both said.

          "How dare you Harry!" said Hermione.

          "Yeah! And I thought you were my best friend!"

          "Gee, Mione, if you like Ron, then tell him already!"

          "How many times do I have to tell you, Ci! I don't like him!"

          "Yeah! And I don't like her either!"

          "Awoooh! Yeah right! Ron and Mione sitting in a tree!"

          Ron blushed red. "I said I didn't like her!

          Harry and Ci laughed.

          "I don't!"

          Ginny watched them all with amusement.

          "You guys never do grow up, don't you?" she said.

          "Don't speak to me that way! I'm your older brother!

          "Yeah! And I'm your older brother's girl friend!"

          "See! You admitted it!" cried Ginny, gleefully clapping her hands.

          "I meant girl-space-friend!"

          "Yeah right!"

~

          In the Slytherin Common Room, Draco Malfoy lay on his bed, thoughts drifting back and back to his cousin.

          I wonder if she's alright there? Are they treating her well? Are Potter and Weasley being friendly to her? Or even more than that? His hands clenched into fists. If they hurt my cousin…they'll pay…  

          "Draco, darling…open up! Pansy's here to see you!" a feminine voice said from outside his door.

          "Fine. Come in." he said, sitting up.

          Pansy saw the look on his face. That look meant murder.

          "Who're you gonna murder now?" she asked, massaging his back.

          "A lot of people."

          "Look. I know I'm not as close to you as Blaise, and that you only consider me as your 'plaything on the side', but you can tell me your problems, you know…" she said, sitting down next to him.

          "Have you ever experienced caring for someone so much it hurts? And that you want to kill the people who hurt her?"

          "It's your cousin, isn't it?"

          "Yeah."

          "Don't worry. Potter and Weasley wouldn't get under her skirts. They're too inexperienced and gentlemanly."

          "How'd you know?"

          "Asked them once. Turned beet red and ran off to the other direction."

          "Really."

          "I'm serious!"

          "Well then, I have nothing to worry about."

          "Yup. Nothing at all…"

          "You're a great plaything friend, Pans."

          "Just remember, though, Draco, I'm just a friend, okay?"

          "Why? Don't you wanna get hitched?"

          "Naw…at least not to you. I love being single, and besides, I still have my inheritance and the family business to see me through."

          "Is this Pansy Parkinson I'm talking to?"

          "Yeah."

          "Let me guess. New guy?"

          "Yeah. You know that Blane guy? That seventh year Ravenclaw? He's pretty hot."

          Draco turned around to face her annoyed look on his face. "Did you just come up here to talk about guys?"

          "Naw…"

          His face softened. "You know that we're friends, Pans. You and me and Blaise. We've been friends since ever since I can remember."

          "Yup. Do you still remember what I told you a long, long time ago?"

          "The one about marriage?"

          "Yeah. The only one I'll allow to marry you is the one who'll be able to withstand me, and my tortures and punishments."

          "Why?"

          "Because you don't deserve a namby pamby wife."

          Draco ruffled her neatly styled hair.

          "Hey! Watch the hair, will you!"

          "And what if I don't?"

          Pansy stuck out her tongue at him.

Disclaimer: Fine. I don't own Cicero too.

A/N: Finished this chapter on June 7, 2003.

Thanks to all of those who reviewed! I appreciate all of them!

          V

V

          |

          |

          |

          |

          |

          |

          |

          |

          |

          |

          V Go on! I'm not stopping you! Push that review button! ^-'