*~* Chapter Fourteen: The Beginning of the End *~*

"Harry . . . you have protection powers . . . does that mean you have power to heal things too?" KayKay asked slowly as they sat facing each other at one of the desks of the Library.

"I don't know." He said honestly. "I've never tried—"

"Let's find out," she said, pulling out her pocketknife and flicking it open all in one smooth motion.

"KayKay, what do you think you're doing? Put that away!" Harry exclaimed angrily, trying to grab it from her.

It had been two weeks since the Valentine's Day incident, and the Heir had remained eerily silent. This, however, gave Harry and KayKay a chance to explore their powers more and also to work on KayKay's Quidditch skills. She was improving quickly, and Harry assured her that, at this rate, Ron wouldn't need any persuasion to place her on the team.

However, right now KayKay was holding her knife out of Harry's reach, and he was becoming quickly frustrated. He hadn't yet forgotten what had happened last time she messed around with her pocketknife.

"Really, Harry, you're being so narrow-minded on all of this! I'll just give myself a tiny cut on my palm, and we'll see what we can do to heal it, okay?"

"No. KayKay, give me that right now and stop being stupid! For all we know, the Heir could've done something to this so it'll penetrate deeper or put a curse into your blood as soon as you cut yourself with it!"

"Hey, do you have any other suggestions on how to see what kind of things we can do?" KayKay snapped. "Dumbledore said—"

"To work together, not to go at ourselves with a knife!" Harry said, standing up and grabbing it from her. "I'm sure there's other things we can try."

He closed the blade as KayKay slouched in her chair with her arms crossed over her chest. Okay, so she was angry at him. So what? He wasn't going to let her cut herself.

"Harry, why do you always have to be so antagonized by the silliest of things?" KayKay asked.

"Maybe because you're always so provocative?" Harry suggested. "Now come on, let's be serious about this."

"I was." KayKay said from behind her book about Godric Gryffindor.

"KayKay . . ." Harry sighed, exasperated.

"What? I'm supposed to be happy when I'm called stupid, suicidal, and provocative?" she snapped, lowering the book just enough for her eyes to show over the top of it.

Harry thought there had to be something better than this. They loved each other, they got along great most of the time, but when they got mad at each other, it was over tiny little things and they made a big deal out of it. Both of them thought the other was overreacting.

Some people said that the fact that they were so loyal and loving, even right after a fight, proved that their relationship was good. All couples fight, they would say.

But Harry just didn't feel the same way.

He looked over as he heard someone set books down on a nearby table. Turns out it was Madison Jacobs.

KayKay must have still been watching him, because she leaned across the table and hissed, "I still can't see why you're always so quick to defend her."

"I don't see why you're always so quick to accuse her." Harry countered, tearing his gaze away from Madison and back to KayKay.

"Okay, you tell me honestly that her suddenly moving here this year, and the Heir suddenly coming into appearance at about the same time isn't suspicious."

"Coincidence" he shrugged. "Her parents moved here. Nothing weird with that."

"Wizard parents who move rather than apparate to commute?"

"Still, nothing to be suspicious of."

"So why did they have her change schools? This is a boarding school; it doesn't matter if they're on a different PLANET. I came here for a year without moving."

"Listen, let's just . . . not argue about this, okay? We've been going in circles about this for ages. Besides, you'll be late for Quidditch tryouts." Harry said, looking at his watch. KayKay checked her own.

"Dang it!" she exclaimed, shoveling her books into her bag. "I need to get down to the Pitch! Accio Megan's Broomstick!."

She and Harry hurried into the hall and headed quickly for the Pitch. They were already almost to the front entrance when Megan's broomstick flew up beside KayKay.

"Come on!" she said to Harry, "Let's go!"

She mounted the broomstick, Harry behind her, and they took off. Unlike in November, when Harry had pulled her onto the broomstick, KayKay didn't appear the least bit afraid. The best part of it?

They had never given her the Confidence Charm. She'd gotten over her fear of flying all on her own. She didn't know . . . she still thought Dumbledore had cast the spell . . . but Dumbledore had confided to Harry that any progress she had made was all on her own. And she was definitely ready.

As they met up with the small cluster of Gryffindors trying out for the open position, Harry and KayKay dismounted the broomstick. Harry had to go into the locker room to meet with the rest of the team, but KayKay needed to get in line.

"Hey," Harry said, grabbing her hand gently as she started to walk to the end of the line. KayKay turned around inquisitively, and Harry gave her a quick kiss.

"Good luck." He said with a grin. KayKay smiled back.

"I'll make you proud," she said, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

I'll make him proud, I'll make him proud, I'll make him proud, KayKay thought desperately as she went down the stairs early the next morning to check the results of Quidditch tryouts.

I'll make him proud . . . has it really come to that? I never used to think about having to make him proud of me before . . . is our relationship slipping? We've had a few arguments, yes, but with all this stress because of the Heir . . . isn't it to be expected?

Should I really be this concerned about giving him pride in dating me, though?

Ron was across the Common Room, tacking a piece of paper onto the bulletin board. From where she was, she could not read it. Did she want to know? What if she'd failed? There were many other good players out there . . .

Ron was done. He turned around, gave KayKay a half-smile, and left. KayKay watched after him for a moment, listening to his footsteps die away as he want back to his Dormitory.

Okay. Just check the list. You won't know until you've checked.

She made herself walk . . . one foot, then another, one foot, then another . . .

She couldn't get there fast enough. She couldn't get there slow enough.

KayKay slowly lifted her eyes and read the paper.

* * * * *

"Harry!" KayKay exclaimed softly. "Harry, I made it! Harry, wake up!" she said, bouncing on his bed.

"Grm-umfff" Harry lifted his face from his pillow and blinked at KayKay. "What?"

"I made it, Harry, I made the Quidditch team!" she said with as much enthusiasm as she could get into a whisper.

"That's swell, KayKay." He said, propping himself up on one elbow. "Never mind the fact that I already knew since I'm on the team."

"Oh . . ." KayKay said softly, her excitement dying as she stopped bouncing. " I see . . ."

"But hey," he said, putting a hand on her cheek, "you did a great job out there. I'm really proud of you."

Hearing him say it shouldn't have made her so pleased. Guys should be proud of their girlfriends no matter what.

Still, that didn't keep an ecstatic smile off of her face.

"Really?" she grinned.

"Really," he said. "Now, why don't you run off and get some sleep? It's awfully early."

"We'll only get in another half an hour or so before we have to go to classes." She said, looking at his clock.

"KayKay, it's Saturday. Go to sleep."

* * * * *

Hermione unrolled the Daily Prophet casually as she continued talking to everyone.

"It's scary, really, that the Heir is suddenly doing nothing. They've been quiet for . . . how long now? Almost two months?"

"Yeah. It's a bit eerie, that—"

"Oh, good lord!" Hermione interrupted KayKay. She set down her paper in exasperation.

"Oh, great. What did those freaks do now?" KayKay picked up the Daily Prophet and began reading the first article.

FLY AWAY INSTEAD OF PLAY

On March 24, the day of the Chudley Cannon's game against the rookie Salem Stallions, a group of Death Eaters apparated onto the field mid-game and began to attack. Of the panicked spectators, 23 were killed, and 19 were badly injured before Aurors arrived on the scene. None of the Death Eaters were captured . . .

The article continued, but KayKay dropped the paper, not minding the fact that the back page was being soaked in syrup.

"Those . . . those . . . imagine! At a Quidditch Game! Why—"

"Speaking of Quidditch, you'd better get that paper off of your plate and eat some more pancakes." Ron said, only catching the end of the conversation. He moved the newspaper and poured some more syrup onto KayKay's breakfast. "I have a hard practice planned for you guys today, and you'll need all the energy you can get."

"Hopefully not energy for dodging the Unforgivables" KayKay growled, shoving the Prophet into Ron's face.

Ron took the paper and read the first few sentences. "Those bloody—"

"KayKay, I have something for you." Remus said, walking up to the small group and giving Ron reason to shut up. He propped a long box against the edge of the table.

"Uncle Remmy . . . what's this for?" she asked. It was a broomstick, she was nearly positive.

"Just call it catch-up for missed holidays. Besides, I think you'll want to get used to it before your game against Slytherin."

KayKay gasped as she opened the box to see a Firebolt. How could Remus afford something so expensive? He didn't have that kind of money.

"Remus . . . I—I—"

"Don't worry about it. Just have fun with it." He instructed, giving her a paternal kiss on the forehead.

"But . . . I mean . . ." it was obviously something he wasn't going to discuss. "Thank you." She finished sincerely. He chuckled and patted her on the shoulder.

"Anything. Now go on out there and play hard. We don't want Slytherin to win now, do we? Not that I'm supposed to take sides . . ." he winked, then strolled back up to the head table.

"Yeah, let's go. I'll bet the rest of the team is down there already." Ron said. "And technically, I shouldn't be the one to keep them waiting."

"Eh, just blame it on me. Bye, Hermione." KayKay said, standing up. She looked at the Firebolt a moment before slowly and gently pulling it out of the box and weighing it with her hands.

"I'll bring the box back to the tower. You two get going." Hermione said.

Ron wasn't exaggerating when he'd said they'd have a tough practice . . . he'd set up a strenuous workout for them. First, they had strength and conditioning exercises.

"Hold on, hold on . . . you want KayKay to run with me on her back? I'll break her!" Megan protested.

"Wow, thanks for that vote of confidence, Megan. Great to know how weak your friends consider you."

"I didn't mean it that way, and you know it. Come on, Ron, give us a break!"

"Yeah, how is this supposed to help our Quidditch playing?" someone else complained.

"Guys!" KayKay said loud enough for everyone to hear her over the complaints, "Nobody said this would be easy. We all knew when we tried out for the team that we'd have to work hard."

"Easy for you to say, Newbie. You're probably just sucking up so that when you can't do it, Weasley will go easy on you." Andrew Knoll sneered.

KayKay threw the Third Year an icy glare and, without uttering a word, took a very shocked Megan and hoisted her onto her back. Noticing in passing the uncharacteristically serious look on Ron's face, KayKay turned and walked out of the locker room, the rest of the team following curiously.

Upon reaching the Quidditch Pitch, KayKay broke into a run. Megan clutched her shoulders a bit more tightly as she bounced uncomfortably.

"Ummm . . . KayKay? What are we doing?" she asked.

"Proving a point," KayKay said before running faster. When she'd circled the pitch once and was coming up to the rest of the team, she slowed her sprint so that Megan wouldn't fall off when she stopped.

"Well done," Ron said. "Let's go back into the locker rooms and sit down, shall we?"

A sermon was coming. They could all tell it by Ron's serious composure, not to mention the fact that he told them to sit down, which he only did when a speech was coming.

"Just a few minutes ago," Ron said, "KayKay was given a challenge. Spoken or not, Andrew challenged her dignity. But that's not what I'm talking to you about. Andrew, when he talked to KayKay, challenged her place as a member of this team."

Ron paced in front of the others as he spoke.

"We have no room for rivalries among this team. I'm sure many of you don't see KayKay as your teammate yet. It takes a hard Quidditch victory to do that. But I need to stress the point that we don't have time to have that kind of attitude. Our game against Slytherin is coming up sooner than we think, and we need to work together to get to a point where we can be confident!

"I know it doesn't feel right to replace Dawn, but we have no choice. Also, I can remind you all that we voted on this. We all watched the tryouts, and we all agreed that KayKay was the best player for the position. So why is it that she's treated like an outsider? Save rivalries for the Slytherins!" he banged a fist against the table his plans were spread upon, making everyone jump.

"No member of this team should ever have the feeling that they need to prove their worth to another player! That's the sort of thing that divides a team, and that's the sort of distraction that we do not have time for! I will not tolerate any member of this team making others feel unwanted, unneeded, or unfit, do I make myself clear?"

He watched, waited as everyone nodded solemnly.

"Good. If I were a Slytherin Captain, I'd make Andrew do double duty. If I were a Ravenclaw Captain, I'd make him make it up to KayKay. If I were Hufflepuff Captain, I'd make him apologize. But I'm not. We're Gryffindors, and I know that I wouldn't solve any problems that way. So, I trust that no one on this team will be causing any more of these problems. I can trust you all with that, right?"

More nods.

"Good," he said again. "Now lets go out there and get ready for our game. Let's show those Slytherins what we're made of!"

So they carried partners. They were carried by partners. They did an obstacle course on broomstick. They did an obstacle course on foot. They did speed conditioning on broomstick. They did strength conditioning by doing pushups.

On all ground exercises, KayKay excelled. By the time they were doing pushups, Ron joked that KayKay was making him look bad.

"But really—forty five—how is it—forty six—that you got—forty seven—so strong? This—forty eight—is really killing—forty nine—me."

"Me—fifty—too!"

Ron and KayKay, who'd been the only ones still sticking it out, both collapsed with a sigh.

"Boot camp." KayKay answered, rubbing her abdomen. "Used to be able to do more, but I guess I went soft over the winter." She said with a wink that let Ron know she was joking.

Actually, she still had a good fifteen more in her, but she thought fifty was good enough when Ron's pride as a Captain was at stake.

"All right, guys, good practice!" Ron said, standing up. Everyone else was still stretched out on the ground. "Next week we'll do more flying."

"Come on," Ron said, giving KayKay a hand to her feet. She looked around for Harry, having not spoken to him all day. Ah, there he was. Already off to shower.

How sweet of him to take time out of his busy schedule to say hello to me, KayKay thought, rolling her eyes.

* * * * *

"Come on, Sunday morning. Last day of freedom before the school week starts. Out of bed, KayKay."

"No, please, just five more minutes."

"That's what you said five minutes ago!" Megan exclaimed, tugging her arm to get her out of bed faster.

"Ow, ow, ow, watch the arm!" KayKay yelled, sitting straight up in bed and yanking her arm back.

"Sorry, KayKay, I—I thought it was the other arm that was burned . . ." Megan apologized.

"It is, I—" KayKay stopped and looked at the arm she was rubbing in pain. It the tattooed one. "You probably just yanked it funny." KayKay said, rolling her shoulder a bit. "It seems better already . . ."

"Sorry . . . well, at least it got you up."

"Yeah, and at least my abs don't ache this weekend. I'm so glad that our Quidditch practice yesterday was strictly Quidditch."

"Definitely" Megan agreed. "Now get dressed. I'm hungry for something drenched in liberal amounts of syrup."

"Yeah, where else would you get the energy to be . . . you?" KayKay joked, opening her trunk and looking for clothes.

"I'm debating whether or not to be mad at you for that comment." Megan said.

"Oh, don't be. I get far more blackmail material when you're talking to me than when you're angry."

"Oh, in that case . . . okay!" Megan bounced a bit on her bed while she waited for KayKay to be ready.

"Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall, ninety-nine bottles of—"

"Okay, okay, we can go now . . ." KayKay laughed as Megan started singing.

"Yay! All right, let's go!" Megan said, grabbing KayKay's hand and dragging her with down the stairs.

"Hello again! This is Megan, your KTRT radio host, and it is Sunday, April third!" she announced as she skipped along. "In the weather today, expect . . . expect . . .bad things on the horizon, bad—I mean, lovely sunshine and few clouds! Sorry about that, I was looking at the chart upside-down! Traffic is nice and clear, no congestion, making it a perfect opportunity to get someone—no, for God's sake, we're just kids! Only kids, why us!?" Megan shouted, clutching her head with her hands.

"Megan!" KayKay gasped, "Are you all right?"

"No! Yes! I don't know, I . . . I just . . . I need to lie down, I think. I just got a killer headache. I'll meet up with you later if I'm feeling better."

"Do you want me to walk you up?" KayKay asked in concern.

"No, I'll live. I just . . . I don't know . . ." Megan mumbled, stumbling a bit as she turned and walked back up to Gryffindor Tower, one hand brushing the wall for balance, the other clutching her head. KayKay watched after her, stomach knotting in anxiety. Megan seemed to be becoming increasingly worse. Was it connected to the heir? Did Megan . . . know things?

"Hello, mate! Why are you just standing around like a stupefied goldfish?" Ron asked cheerily, coming up behind KayKay. "You need to eat. We're getting into evening practices this week. Need to keep your strength up." He just then seemed to notice the expression on KayKay's face.

"Is something wrong?" He asked immediately, all animation falling out of his voice.

"No . . . I mean, I don't know. It's just Megan . . . I dunno, maybe she's just sick. She seemed fine a bit ago . . ."

"Oh, Megan is feeling down again? Probably all the stress of finals, Quidditch, the heir . . . everything. I'm sure she'll be fine, she always is." Ron said reassuringly.

"But . . ."

"What?"

KayKay didn't answer. She didn't know why, telling Ron what Megan had said would probably not have hurt anything. But still, something was stopping her.

"Nothing. You're right, I guess. Why don't we go to breakfast? Like you said, gotta keep my strength up."

"Spoken like a true Gryffindor. Come on, Hermione and Harry are already down in the Great Hall." Ron said, clapping KayKay on the back as they turned and walked down to breakfast.

"Ron," KayKay ventured cautiously after a moment's silence, "may I ask you something?"

"Sure" he said with a shrug. "What?"

"Well, this is a bit awkward, but . . . has Harry said anything about me? I mean, anything out of the ordinary?"

Ron looked at her in surprise. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, I dunno," she sighed, scuffing the ground with her tennis shoes. "He just seems so distant lately. He barely seems to talk to me, even at Quidditch Practice or meals. I can't even remember the last time he did something sweet, like kiss me. I was just wondering if he'd told you anything, I guess."

"No, he hasn't." Ron answered. "I'll let you know, though."

They'd reached the Great Hall, and KayKay could hear the sound of careless chatter drifting out.

"Thanks," she said, with a truly grateful smile. She nodded towards the door. "Shall we?"

* ~ * ~* ~* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Harry looked up as KayKay and Ron sat down at the table. KayKay smiled tentatively. He responded with a half-smile that didn't reach his eyes, and KayKay's smile faltered. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but appeared to think better of it and simply closed it again, lowering her eyes to her plate of waffles.

"So, what's everybody going to do today?" Ron asked, seemingly oblivious.

"Study," Hermione replied, not looking up from her Herbology textbook.

"Hermione, it's only April!" Ron exclaimed.

"And finals now will be even harder than they were every other year." She replied.

"Well, I'm going to polish up my broom, maybe even do a bit of practicing. Big game coming up." Harry said. "How about you, Ron?"

"I'll probably go over our practice plans for the week . . . with a few breaks for Exploding Snap, of course. How about you, KayKay?"

KayKay pushed her food around on her plate and mumbled something about not having any plans.

"Hey, you can always join me for Quidditch Planning . . . not the most fun . . . but I'm sure you'll find something to do. Or hey, you haven't practiced your guitar for a while." Ron started rattling off ideas to occupy KayKay's time. Harry got quickly bored and looked around the Great Hall.

It seemed like a very mediocre day. All the students were going about their normal business . . . talking and reading and laughing. He caught some movement at the Slytherin Table and he looked over.

Madison was getting up to leave. Ron's ramblings must have either ended or bored KayKay, because as he followed Madison with his eyes, he noticed KayKay watching after her too. When he looked directly at KayKay, she was staring back at him with an expression he couldn't read.

"What?" he asked defensively.

"Nothing," she replied, looking back down at her breakfast. Harry noticed that she hadn't touched it one bit.

"KayKay, are you feeling all right? You're not sick or something, are you?" Hermione asked. So she'd noticed too.

"No, I—I guess I'm just not hungry." KayKay said passively, pushing her plate away. She set her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her hands, the very image of woe. She stared down at the table, not meeting the eyes of any of the others.

"Hey, do any of you guys feel like . . . like something bad is about to happen?" KayKay said slowly.

"No," Ron said. "It's a normal Sunday, we haven't heard from the Heir in months . . . what could possibly happen?"

KayKay looked at Ron in horror. "Why did you say that? Now something's bound to—"

"Hey, watch where you're going, Jacobs!"

Everyone looked to the entrance of the Great Hall, where Madison had just knocked Malfoy over. She didn't reply, just ran up to the Head Table. Dumbledore was on his feet before she even reached him, and as she talked to the Headmaster, Madison looked . . . frightened? No, that wasn't it . . . panicked. Yes, panicked was more like it.

"Students, please go to your Dormitories at once! You are not to leave them until your Head of House tells you otherwise." Dumbledore announced loudly. Without waiting for any of the students to start moving, he left the Great Hall.

"Not again." Hermione gasped. "Who would be daft enough to walk around alone after everything that's been going on?"

"Pansy Parkinson."

Harry looked over his shoulder to see Madison standing behind him with a grave expression.

"Who?" he asked.

"Pansy Parkinson," she repeated. "I had just left the Great Hall, and she was right there . . . right on the stairs, kinda as if she'd sat there and fallen asleep, you know?" She looked a bit shaken, and she stared at her hands most of the time. "So I went to tell her to wake up and move, and that's when I noticed the tattoo on the side of her face."

"What did it say?"

Madison finally looked Harry in the eyes. "It said 'THE'. Which doesn't make sense, if you ask me. It doesn't seem to fit anywhere with the rest of the messages that were left. I'm wondering if maybe the Heir did that by accident, since the last one said the same—"

She stopped abruptly the moment her gaze fell past Harry.

"I'm going to go to my Dormitory. You guys should go to yours too." Madison said quickly, turning and leaving. Harry looked at KayKay, who was scowling at Madison as she left. In silence the group stood up and followed the crowd up to Gryffindor Tower. Once there, the group went to their customary table in the corner of the Common Room.

"What was that for?" Harry immediately rounded on KayKay, who had just sat down. She, Hermione, and Ron looked at him in shock, and KayKay drew back a bit.

"Harry, what are you talking about?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah Harry, settle down!" Ron said.

"So what if you don't like Madison? You don't have to chase her off like that when she's being nice!" Harry exclaimed.

"Harry," Hermione said quietly, "it's not like she was telling us anything we couldn't have figured out any other way."

"Settle down, okay? Just sit down, what's done is done." Ron said.

"Why do you have such a problem with her? Has she ever done anything to you?" He continued, oblivious to Ron and Hermione.

KayKay had shrunk, if possible, even further back in her seat. At one time, this would have made Harry stop and think about what he was doing, but at the moment, he felt indifferent, maybe even angrier, if that was possible.

"Well?!"

"You wouldn't understand." She said slowly. Harry could hear the edge in her voice.

"Oh really? Care to enlighten me?"

"Harry, back off!" Ron exclaimed angrily, putting an arm in front of KayKay protectively.

Harry looked from Ron, to KayKay, then back to Ron. His best friend, taking KayKay's side over his. Something strange was happening. Something was definitely going on. Harry glared at them and turned, walking away to go and brood in his Dormitory.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

KayKay sighed deeply and rested her head on her arms. Harry had been acting so different lately . . . and so what if she'd glared at Madison? Harry would do much more than glare at a guy if she were looking at him the way Harry was looking at Madison.

Well, at one point he would have. I don't know if he would now.

"I should go talk to him, huh?" she mumbled, not lifting her head from the table.

"No," Ron said, causing KayKay to look at him in surprise.

"Why not?"

"Because," he said, pulling a chair out and sitting down with her, "what do you have to talk to him about?"

"Well, I mean, perhaps I should apologize for—"

"KayKay, you didn't do anything wrong!" Hermione exclaimed, sitting down as well.

"She's right," Ron said. "Harry was way out of line there. I'm surprised he treated you like that."

"Nobody should be treated like that, especially when it's just because they don't like someone." Hermione agreed. KayKay was quiet for a moment.

"I've been getting along with Jacobs lately . . . we can even manage civil conversation, it's just . . ." KayKay stopped, not wanting to say what she was remembering.

"It's . . . just what?" Hermione asked softly.

KayKay sighed deeply and rubbed her face, stopping with a hand over her mouth as she blinked back what she was afraid could be tears.

She whispered, "Did you see the way he was . . . looking at her?"

Ron and Hermione glanced at each other in confusion.

"No, we didn't," Hermione confessed, "why? How was he looking at her?"

KayKay cursed herself as a lone tear escaped her eye.

"The same way he used to look at me."

* * * * *

By dinner, Harry still hadn't spoken to KayKay. She kept her gaze lowered towards her spaghetti, pushing it around with her fork dejectedly and not lifting her head in case Harry was looking at her. She could sense that he was doing the same.

She wasn't sure how long she'd been not eating—Five minutes? Half an hour?—when she heard Harry whisper in her ear.

"Walk with me?"

KayKay was a bit startled, having not even heard him get up. Nonetheless she nodded, standing up.

Maybe this is a good thing, she thought with a wistful smile. I'm sure he just wants to apologize for this morning. And I, of course, will forgive him and we can be happy and everything can go back to how it was around Christmas . . . perfectly perfect.

"Is outside okay?" Harry asked as they got close to the doorway. KayKay nodded again, and Harry pushed open the door, guiding her through with a hand on her waist. KayKay grinned to herself. Another good sign.

The sun was just setting, and it's fiery reflection danced on the water of the lake. It was fairly nice out, but since it was only early April, there was still a bit of a chill to the breeze that made the trees rustle.

They walked together towards that lake, that shimmering vision of light, in silence. KayKay's mind was racing with thoughts, but she didn't voice any of them. She wanted to see what Harry had to say first.

A sharp breeze whipped about them as they reached the lake, and KayKay shivered involuntarily. Harry must have seen it, because as they stood quietly looking at the setting sun he wrapped his arms around her from behind. He still hadn't said anything, and KayKay was about to speak up when he finally spoke.

"You know, we really haven't talked for a long time."

Talking? What does that have to do with this morning? Why—

KayKay realized Harry was still saying something.

"It seems like we've been too caught up with our daily lives to really spend much time with each other since Christmas. Add that to the stress of classes and Quidditch, and the Heir . . . it would make it hard for any couple."

KayKay couldn't help but say, "But somehow, Megan, Ron, and Hermione manage to be social."

Harry didn't even miss a beat. "But they aren't like us," he pointed out. "KayKay, what I want to talk to you about has been on my mind for a long time now, not just this morning."

The sun had set very quickly, and was now below the horizon. The sky took on a misty lavender hue as the light slowly faded. The lake rippled with the wind, and a lone cricket chirped. Even with Harry there, it seemed so lonely and sad.

They both waited, in silence, as the sky darkened and the first few stars began to sparkle in the sky. They twinkled anxiously, matching the staccato rhythm of KayKay's heart. She felt the need to say something to prompt him.

"Go ahead then," KayKay said, "I'm listening."

"KayKay, let me first say that I'm sorry for the fights we've had lately. I really think a lot of it is because of all the worrying about what's happening, and about us not talking . . . almost like a miscommunication problem. After all, we didn't try to fight . . . we have enough problems as is, and fighting makes that worse Are we okay on that? Do you forgive me?"

"Of course I do." She smiled, even though he couldn't see. "We'll try harder now, huh?"

Harry didn't answer, just continued. "Second, I have to say I'm sorry again. I think we—"

It was at that precise moment—that brief suspension in reality—that KayKay realized with a blow that this was not "a good thing", that this talk was not happy, joyful, reuniting talk. How she knew it she wasn't sure. But the wind seemed to howl louder, the stars seemed to darken, and KayKay went stiff in Harry's arms.

"—Should stop seeing each other."

It was a total shock. But again, she'd known it was coming. She'd never thought that he would—but of course, he had been showing signs of disinterest—

Why was he still holding her? Why were his arms still over her shoulders? Why was she still letting him hold her?

She pushed his arms away slowly but deliberately and turned around to face him.

"Why?" was all she said, and she was pleased to hear her voice much steadier than she'd anticipated.

"KayKay, don't think for a minute that this is because of you. I just . . . I don't feel like this relationship is working, and if we take some time off, then maybe I can be ready, maybe I can understand better where I'm going wrong with my part in it. It's not you, it's—"

"Don't give me that, Harry Potter, don't think I'll buy that for a second!" she exclaimed, giving him a "how-stupid-do-you-think-I-am-you-jerk" look. " 'It's not you, it's me. Oh, wait until I'm good enough for you and can win you back. I don't deserve you yet. This isn't because of you' . . . those are all men's ploys to keep their ex-girlfriends from crying so that they don't feel guiltier than they are for breaking up with them in the first place. Do you see me crying? Do you think I'll cry? Give it to me straight, Harry Potter, I asked you why!"

"Do you want me to tell you why?" Harry shouted, obviously having lost the composure he'd had to fool KayKay.

"Uh, jeez, I wonder if I just said that?" KayKay replied stupidly.

"Fine! The reason I don't want to date you anymore is because you don't know how to be part of a relationship!"

"Oh, really? By all means, enlighten me."

"Okay then. You are too spontaneous. You feel the need to have your way once you latch onto an idea. You think your ideas are always right." He counted them off on his fingers. "You have no faith in people, you seem to always feel the need to have approval, once you've established a rivalry with someone you won't stop . . . you're stereotypical, you think that if our relationship is suffering it's my fault, and you're a flirt!"

KayKay looked at him in disgust. "Name one time a flirted with anyone besides you."

"That kid, Matt . . . even Ron!"

"I have never flirted with Ron in any way, shape of form!" she gasped. "And that incident with the mistletoe on Christmas was something I was against, might I remind you! You were urging us on!"

"If you've never flirted with Ron, why are the two of you so chummy all of a sudden? Why is he suddenly taking your side over mine?" Harry accused.

"He and I talk more now because you have barely been speaking a word to me! And as for him taking my side today, have you ever considered that he did because you were in the wrong?"

"See? There you go again! Saying that you're right, blaming our problems on me!"

"You know what? If it'll make you happy and it'll get you to shut up, be my guest!" KayKay yelled in frustration.

"Go ahead and what?" Harry snapped.

"Go ahead! Date Madison! Ask her to the next Hogsmeade weekend for all I care! We both know that that's what this is about!"

"I never—"

"I've seen the way you've looked at her, I'm not as blind as you seem to think I am! During Potions, during meals, most of all, this morning! So go ahead, who cares about me, go! Go and chase after someone else. The grass is greener on the other side, after all!"

There was a pregnant pause in which she and Harry stared at each other, both with a countenance of anger, layered over frustration, impatience, regret, and sadness.

"Fine." Harry said finally. "This is a waste of my time."

He turned on his heel and began to walk away, and KayKay rubbed her face with her hands as she tried to calm herself. Something cool and smooth brushed against her cheek.

KayKay looked in surprise at her hand, on which was still the promise ring given to her by Harry. She snorted at the irony. Some promise.

"Hey!" she yelled at his retreating back, "What happened to Forever, huh? What happened to 'every star in the sky'? Do you have an answer for that?"

She watched him stop, saw him go rigid . . . and sighed silently as he continued walking, not taking a glance back at her.

The cold wind whistled through the woods and ruffled KayKay's tee shirt, making her shiver and rub her arms for warmth. The light of the moon made the silver ring on her hand shine and, with a cry of anger and sadness, she yanked it off of her finger.

KayKay pulled her arm back, aiming the ring towards the lake. She would drown the ring, drown the memories, drown her sorrow. Harry would be out of her life, or at least off of her finger. She would throw it . . . throw it in the lake . . .

She dropped the ring on the ground, falling weakly to her knees beside it. She couldn't do it. She should have . . . but just couldn't.

She rubbed her arms again. She couldn't look at the sky, couldn't look at the stars . . . they had surely burnt out, surely fallen into the sea . . . he'd promised her . . . he'd promised her by the stars!

KayKay brushed away a tiny tear that began to spill forth from her eyes. She'd said she wouldn't cry.

But then again, Harry wasn't here anymore. He'd left, gone up to Gryffindor Tower, no doubt.

So it was safe to cry. She let the tears spill forth, her shoulders shaking from her sobs as her heart seemed to break. She hadn't done anything to prompt this from Harry. She didn't deserve this. How could he be so cold and cruel? How could have changed so much from the boy she'd fallen in love with?

The wind was so cold . . . it's mournful howling so empty and lonely . . . even the hooting owl in the distance didn't seem to be real, didn't seem to be a part of the world. It was simply a noise, not an animal, not a companion in her sorrow. For the first time in more than a year and a half, she felt completely and utterly alone.

Through blurry eyes, KayKay looked at the sandy ground along the edge of the lake. Already the wind had blown his footprints from the sand, leaving only herself and her own footprints.

As if he'd never even existed at all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi again! Yes, it's the lovable, annoying moi! Kiwiswims, thanks for the review! *laughs* The irony of calling someone else "Kiwi" . . . see, Kiwi was my name when I first started reading and chatting on the Harry Potter Message boards . . . I still have a couple of the screen names somewhere in cyberspace! But any-who! Thank you so much! *blushes* I'm glad you enjoy my story, it makes it all the more fun to write!

The reason you can't find my Fifth Year story is because I don't have it up anywhere. Please. Really. It's an embarrassment to nature. I swear. I was just starting writing then, and I'm ten times better now. (Which really makes you stop and think about how bad I was in the first place, LOL) All the things you need to know from it, all the "vital information", you could say, is in the beginning of the first chapter, and you can ask me anytime if you're curious about something. *calls out hopefully* THAT GOES FOR EVERYONE! *sighs* Like anyone else is reading.

I update every time I finish a chapter, which is . . . eh . . . two weeks, give or take? Sometimes a bit longer . . . but I post every night on my thread, just like Sorceress Flame does, and just like many others do. If you're interested, the link is on my bio page, and I announce in big letters whenever I update here so you know where to pick up with it if you decide to switch between. *shrugs* I'm rambling now.

But thanks again, and don't worry *winks* I have no intention of quitting now.

And thanks for reviewing again, Icy! *smiles*