# 4:

*Knock! Knock! * Bethany heard a knock on her classroom's door. "Come in," she said as she graded second year essay papers. "Oy, Harry!" she said as he sat in a chair adjacent to hers.

"Beth, how old are you?"

"How, haven't you ever heard not to ask a girl her age?" She said jokingly but realized it was a 'serious' moment. "26, I'm 10 years older than you."

"So you knew my mum and dad?"

"Yah, Uncle James and Aunt Lilly came over once or twice.. A week."

"What were they like?"

"Uncle James was the most comical person I ever knew. He could make anyone laugh, especially you. Aunt Lilly was the most compassionate woman I ever saw. You'd cry and she'd get you to calm down in a flash. You could tell that each time she looked at you, she saw a great future. I was only 10 but I could see all the love she poured onto you," she finished looking at a teary eyed Harry.

" I wish I knew them"

"Hey… It's ok Harry; I lost my parents that year too. They said you were dead, so you couldn't come with me. The ancient power Dumbeldore put on you was for you to stay with blood family. I had to live with my aunt, to my mom's side, in Rome. Wait, I have some old photos of you and your parent when you were baby. You want them?"

Harry nodded happily as she got up and pulled out a folder from a trunk beside her desk. Harry opened the folder to see the moving people in the photos. "I'm going to frame this one," he said lifting a picture of Lilly in a bed tired, and James holding a little pillow like thing. It was the day he was born.

*Slytherin common room*

Helena sat in her regular chair reading another one of Hermione's books when an arm went around her neck. "I swear that better be Draco, or I will cause you extreme pain."

"Only like my hands on you, do you love?"

"Oh yeah very much so…" she said sweetening up as Pansy entered the room, redder than the day they got back.

"Hey, you want to watch us practice for Quidditch?"

"Ahh. Sure, when?"

"Right now."

"Ok, I'll meet you there. I need to change."

"See you then," Draco said he left the common room. Helena headed up the staircase to find an outfit.

*Owlery*

Helena smiled when she read her father's letter; she was getting her own room. 'Thank you Merlin' She thought as she ran to the Quidditch arena. Draco saw her walk into the stadium and his eyes followed her until she sat on the Slytherin bleachers. She was wearing a green chiffon skirt and a black tank top under her opened robe. 'She looks amazing all the time' She saw him looking at her and waved. He waved back.

The practice was going fine. Here and then Draco would stop searching for the Snitch and score a goal for Helena.

"Hey!" Hermione said as she sat next to Helena.

"Hey, how'd you know I was here?"

"Slytherin practice? Draco? Of course you'd be here."

"Oh yeah, huh? Guess what!"

"What?"

"I got a letter from my dad, and…. I got my own room!!"

"That's great! No more Pansy!"

"Exactly!"

Suddenly a large group of Slytherin girls came up to them. "Talking trash about are you?" Pansy said arrogantly as the group of girls stood behind her.

"Actually, yes," Helena said with her 'pureblood' attitude. She stood up heading towards Pansy, she towered Pansy. "What are you going to do about it?"

"Listen, you bitch! I told you last night Draco IS MINE!"

"Yah, I know but I didn't find and 'Property of Pansy' tattoo anywhere. Wait are you going to fight me? Oh Pansy you shouldn't; you're in ground for expulsion already, after your attempt to steal a pretty cheap necklace. "

"Helaine, don't. You're outnumbered," Hermione said trying to pull her friend away from the forming circle around her and Pansy.

"Mione, don't worry, I can handle myself," she said. "Get Madame Hooch," Helena said into Hermione's ear, as Hermione ran following her friends orders. Just then Pansy punched Helena in the stomach.

Helena turned around, pissed off. "Pansy, Pansy, Pansy!" was echoed around the two. She grabbed Pansy by the neck and drove her into the stadium's railing. The blow caused Pansy to scream. Helena punched Pansy as Pansy fell to the floor. Monica Leedey jumped on Helena's back. As Hermione ran back and saw that this was going to be a gang effort. She screamed, "DRACO!!!" He turned to see the girls all over Helena. Hermione speared a girl down to the floor, and pulled a few girls off Helena. Helena tossed the girl off her back and got back to Pansy. She pinned her down with her knees and began to punch her mercilessly. "Fucking bitch! He-is-not-your-fucking-property!!" She said in between punches. Just then Draco lifted a bawling Helena off Pansy. "Let me the fucking go! I'm going to kill that bitch!" She said holding her bleeding knuckles.

"ALL OF YOU, ENOUGH!" Madame Hooch said from afar. "Pansy, Hermione, Helena and all you other girls detention for a week! 10 points from all your houses-EACH! Ten points, Mr. Malfoy for stopping this catfight. All of you to the hospital wing!" Draco carried Helena out of the stadium as Pansy screamed for him, "Draco! Help me! She's the attacker." Draco turned around and Helena looked intently at Pansy. Suddenly she lifted her hand and gave Pansy the middle finger.

*Hospital wing*

Helena was given a private room so that Pansy and the other girls cold go near her. She was told to stay in bed but kept trying to get up and 'finish Pansy'

"Helena give it a rest," Draco said, this was the only time her wished Granger was near, only she could calm Helena down. Thinking of nothing else to calm her down, he leaned in and kissed her. She stopped breath hard and settled down. His left hand was rubbing her back and his right held her chin. She started running her hands through his windswept hair. She pulled away, looking the other direction.

"You fight like a man," he said teasingly.

"You kiss like a virgin," she said turning to him.

He smiled, "are you saying you aren't one?"

"Are you?"

"No."

"Ditto."

"Wow. Never expected that," he said leaning backing his chair, "am I mistaken or were you two fighting over me?"

"She was. I just wanted to beat her up. I already have you," she said as he cracked a smile.

"I have to go, Quidditch practice isn't over."

"Ok," she said as he gave her a short kiss and a hug.

On his way back to the stadium he was smiling, this was the only thing his father did right for him. 'I succeeded, father's happy, and so am I'

*Next Day*

Helena nor the other Slytherin girls were expected to attend classes that day, but just as Potions class began Helena came in. Her hair was up and messy, her green tipped bangs pulled back into the ponytail.

"Ms. Valmont, I thought you weren't going to attend classes today?" Snape said from his desk.

"I wasn't, sir, but I cause so many points to be deducted I thought I should re-earn them." She said sitting next to Hermione.

"Glad to see you."

"Glad to be back" Helena said as a paper ball hit her on the back of her head. "What the!" She turned around to see Draco holding a paper ball in his hands, smiling. She stuck her tongue out at him.

He pointed at hers and mouthed the words 'Open it'

' Our date, remember? Tomorrow night.

Meet me at the Quidditch stadium.

Where you 'pulverized' Pansy….

Draco'

The class passed by easy. Helena got back a fourth of the points taken away. The simple healing potion was easy for Helena and Hermione to do.

The rest of the day went on fine. And so did the next, and before Helena and Draco knew it, it was Friday night- their date. Helena sat at her bureau staring at her reflection. 'Up' she thought pulling her thick hair up. 'Down' she said letting the intentionally curled locks fall around her back. It looked a bit frizzy so she decided to put it up. She examined her outfit, she was wearing a plain black spaghetti strapped dress and heels, but not high enough to tower Draco. She put her robe over her dress and left her room.

The air was perfect that night, there was a slight breeze, one that wouldn't freeze you to death, but one that allowed you to get closer to your date. She walked up to the part of the stadium that Draco was talking about. As she neared the area the path was lit by carefully placed red candles. 'Draco? Red? How odd' She finally reached the spot, and there he was. He was wearing black slacks and a dark green satin long sleeved polo shirt, in his hand a ruby red rose.

"Impressive decorations Mr. Malfoy." She said as she neared him.

"Oh, but this isn't it. I'm taking you out."

"And how, may I ask?"

"With permission of course. I asked Dumbeldore, he was ok with it." he said as she linked her arm to his and walked down the driveway were one of the many Malfoy carriages was waiting.

It didn't take to long until the carriage stopped. "We're here" he said stepping out. When she got out she stepped into a garden of lush rose bushes.

A table for two was in the center, it was draped in white lace.

Helena took the seat Draco offered, as he sat across from her. "Hungry?" he asked as two champagne glass appeared in front of them. She looked at Draco suspiciously. "Apple cider, don't worry I'm not trying to get you drunk."

They finished their appetizers and main course. "Dessert?" Draco asked as soft piano music engulfed them. "Sure, what is it?" she asked knowing something very 'Malfoy smooth' was coming. Draco got up from his chair. "Dance with me first"

"Draco, Draco, Draco, there's always a gimmick with you. First, to get an 'A' in Potions, I have to go on a date with you. Now, before I can get my dessert, I have to dance with you," She said as he pulled her out of her seat. "Shut up," he told her. "Just dance," he said softly as he put her arm around his neck. They moved slowly looking into each others eyes, before Draco realized it, it was 15 minutes until her had to get her back. "We have to get back, I promised Dumbeldore we'd come back before 12."

"Where's my dessert?" she asked.

"Waiting at Hogwarts," he said escorting her back into the carriage. On the ride home she had fallen asleep. 'I can't wake her' he thought. When they arrived he decided he'd carry her to her room.

"Helena?" he said nudging her chin.

"Hmm?" she asked half asleep.

"Which frame is yours?"

"La bellezza malvagia, the one next to the one for the Slytherin common room." he found the picture of the vile yet beautiful woman.

"La parola d'ordine?" the woman said in what Draco guessed was Italian.

"La tigre bianca" she said sleepily as the door swung open. Draco was embarrassed to enter her room, even though he had been in all of the other Slytherin girl's dorms. He laid her on her bed and took of her shoes, then left shutting the lights.

"Good night" he said as he closed the door.