Lets see. I own nothing. Most of it is JKR's. Another fairly large portion goes to whoever owns the rights for the Mighty Ducks Movies.

I've got a bit of a problem on my hands. I can't get a mental picture of Astrid. She basically looks like a little Draco with longer, fluffier hair. Unfortunately, every time I try to imagine that, I come up with Tom Felton with long fluffy blonde hair, and that's not quite the look she needs. I guess what I'm saying is I would greatly appreciate any fan art of Astrid anyone would be willing to draw. I will love you forever!

Lets see. What else.

I LOVE reviews.

Thanks to all those who have reviewed so far.

That being said:

*****

"The School Quidditch team will practice with their new coach for the first time directly after this meal," Dumbledore announced Wednesday night at dinner, "you all have 15 minutes to report to the pitch ready to play."

"Only fifteen minutes?" Fred complained to everyone seated around him.

"At least its after dinner when we've all been awake for more than five minutes," George laughed.

"Any clue who the coach is?" Ron asked.

'I heard it was a professional player who agreed to come back and coach you lot," Astrid said. Hermione looked at the little girl.

"Did you really?" she asked. The boys and Ginny had taken off on a conversation about the possibilities of the coach.

"No," Astrid said with a smile, "I figured that would keep them guessing though." Hermione shook her head at Astrid.

"What if its KRUM!" Ron cried.

"Would Krum really come coach the Hogwarts team? Come on man, use your brain!" Fred said. Hermione shuddered at the thought of her ex returning to Hogwarts to coach Quidditch.

"Besides, I don't think Olga would let him leave her for that long," Astrid said. Hermione glanced up at the ceiling and noticed a familiar snowy owl circling towards the group.

"Ginny, look, its Braeden," Hermione said. Ginny immediately looked up.

"No, I'm fairly certain that's Hedwig," Ron said. Everyone looked towards the ceiling. Hedwig drew closer and finally landed on Harry's shoulder.

"Not Braeden," Harry laughed, raising eyebrows at Hermione and Ron. They both immediately understood.

"Who is it from then?" Fred and George asked at the same time.

"Don't be so nosy," Hermione scolded her boyfriend. As Harry looked down at the parchment in his hand, he noticed Hannah walking out of the Great Hall.

"Hannah," Harry lied smoothly. He flipped the parchment open and surveyed it quickly on the pretense of reading it. "She needs to meet me in the Entrance Hall about our project." He jumped up and took one last sip of his pumpkin juice. "See you guys at practice."

"See you," Fred, George and Ron replied. Hermione, Ginny and Astrid just watched him go.

"I'm officially worried about him," Hermione announced as soon as the door closed behind Harry.

"Why?" Fred asked innocently.

"Did you see him when he came back from the meeting with Snape yesterday?" Ron queried.

"He didn't look so good," Astrid said.

"When did he finally get back?" George asked.

"He wasn't at dinner," added Fred.

"He didn't come into the common room until almost 8, and he went straight up to our room. When I went up later, he was in his bed with the curtains drawn, so I didn't try to talk to him," Ron explained.

"What was his problem when he came from the meeting?" George asked.

"He just looked really tired," Ron said.

"So he went up and went to bed," Fred explained logically.

"But he didn't look sleepy tired. He looked mentally exhausted," Hermione replied.

"He looked old," Astrid added.

"What?" Fred, George, Hermione and Ron all asked her.

"What do you mean what?" Astrid replied, "He looked old. As in not fifteen. As in old and tired."

"Did he say anything to you about the meeting?" Ginny queried when everyone finally turned away from Astrid. Ron and Hermione both shook their heads.

"What's the topic of his project?" Fred asked.

"The night he got his scar," Ron replied.

"Maybe they uncovered some research that was particularly upsetting to him or something," George suggested, rather logically.

"What else is there to know?" Fred asked. "Not to sound particularly harsh or anything, but the big bad wizard broke in his house, killed his parents and then tried to kill him. I don't see how much more there could be to learn."

"Matters concerning Voldemort aren't always that cut and dry," Astrid snapped.

"So guys, how about that new coach," Ron said smoothly, to avoid any tension Astrid statement would have otherwise caused.

%%%%%

Harry sank down on the steps of the entrance hall and opened the letter from Sirius. He silently thanked Hannah for needing to leave the hall for whatever reason she had.

Harry,

I'm glad to finally get a letter from you, but what have I told you about using Hedwig? At any rate, I'm doing very well. Moony and I are traveling quite a bit going to see old friends of ours from school and such. It has been very interesting to see everyone again. Bill Weasley and Arabella Figg are engaged. Most of us have been waiting for that since they were at Hogwarts. Arabella always had a bit of a thing for Bill, but she wouldn't say anything because he was three years younger. I'm sure with Ron, Ginny and the twins all in Gryffindor tower, you'd probably already heard of the engagement. If I know Molly Weasley, you've probably also been invited to the wedding already. How is Jason doing? Keep an eye on him for me and make sure he doesn't cause as much trouble as I did when I was in school.

Congratulations on making the school Quidditch team. I wish I could come see you all play. You should have a fairly good team with the Weasley twins and Angelina Johnson. Rumor has it that the Harpies are thinking about recruiting her, but you didn't hear that from me. Of course you didn't. So you don't know that, okay? I also know who your new coach is, but as you may not know yet, I'm not going to say anything. Dumbledore has done a very good job at keeping it a secret. Just wait. I think you all will be very surprised.

Your project sounds very interesting. If I were you, I would interview Snape. However, be prepared, because he'll be able to offer a side of the events you'd never thought of before. Also, I'd be willing to talk with you about it if you need me too. You can always list me as an un-named eyewitness, as having my name in your project would give everyone in the room a coronary. Except for perhaps Binns. He's dead so it doesn't really matter in that case now does it? Hannah Abbott? I'm not sure I knew her parents in school. Is she muggle born?

Astrid Malfoy sounds like a pretty interesting kid. I wasn't even aware until this year that the Malfoy's had daughters at all. I knew about their other son, Keiran, but not the daughters. And you say she's Keiran's twin? Any more ideas why she went off on George Weasley the other night? I would keep an eye on her, though, being Keiran's twin and being a Malfoy and everything. If you notice anything suspicious, go straight to Dumbledore. I would say tell a prefect, but as the prefects are you, Ron and Hermione, I don't think that would be a wise idea.

Well, I believe this is all for now. Write back but send the letter by A DIFFERENT OWL! Tell Ron and Hermione I say hello.

S

Harry smiled to himself and refolded the letter. He wasn't surprised that Sirius didn't know anything about Astrid, as Astrid hadn't even been born when Sirius went into Azkaban. Harry was, however, surprised that Sirius had heard of Keiran. Why would Sirius know of Keiran but not of his twin sister?

"Harry, how are you?" Hannah asked from just behind him. She stood at the top of the stairs.

"Oh, I'm alright," Harry replied.

"Why aren't you in there?" Hannah asked, pointing to the Great Hall.

"I could ask you the same question," Harry countered.

"Bathroom," Hannah explained, shrugging her shoulders.

"Oh. I needed to read a letter without the Weasley twins peering over my shoulder," Harry said.

"A letter from whom?" Hannah asked.

"A friend," Harry half-lied, "You wouldn't know him."

"All right," Hannah said, believing Harry's tale, "shall we go back in if you're done reading your letter?"

"Sure," Harry replied. He jumped up and followed Hannah towards the Great Hall. She arrived at the door first but he reached around her and pulled it open so she could go inside.

"See you later," Hannah said, and she turned towards the Hufflepuff table. Harry went over and rejoined his Gryffindor friends.

"What did HANNAH want?" Ron asked, emphasizing the name Hannah a little more than necessary.

"Project stuff," came Harry's vague reply.

"Ron, why do you pick on Harry about Hannah?" Fred asked.

"Cause I sure don't see any girls sending you owls to meet them in the Entrance Hall during dinner," cracked Astrid. Fred and Astrid exchanged a quick high five over the table.

"Don't you all need to go to practice?" Hermione asked, mostly to prevent Ron from attacking his brother and Astrid.

"YES!" George and Harry said. They both stood up and looked over at Ron and Fred. Fred jumped up and stepped back from the table. Draco and William had already left the hall.

"Come on!" George called down to the three chasers. They were seated a safe distance down the table from the Weaselys and their friends. Katie and Alicia both glared at George and reluctantly stood up. Angelina joined her boyfriend a little more happily. The entire team started out of the hall. They stopped to collect their equipment from where the house elves had deposited it in the Entrance Hall before continuing towards the field.

"Last bets on the new coach," Fred said as they exited the castle.

"Bradford Gianmarco," Alicia immediately replied. Katie and Angelina both sighed.

"Branford Gianmarco?" Harry asked. All six of his teammates looked over at him with awe-struck looks on their faces.
"American seeker for Puddlemere United," George explained.

"And the best looking pro Quidditch player since Aidan Lynch," Katie added.

"Witch Weekly's Most Eligible Bachelor," Alicia said.

"Five time winner," Ron quipped. Harry had to laugh at Ron, even if no one else did.

"What if it's Aidan Lynch?" Angelina asked.

"Anyone see him?" Fred questioned as the field came into view.

"Who is saying the coach is a him?" Angelina asked, jokingly defensive.

"It could be one of the Harpies players," Katie added.

"And the Harpies aren't the only witches in the league," Alicia reminded them all.

"I see two guys on the field," Ron, the tallest, announced. Harry jumped onto his broom and hovered up to a little more than Ron's height.

"Dolt, those two are Malfoy and William," Harry laughed. He kicked Ron lightly in his ribs. Ron grabbed Harry's ankle.

"Whoa there Ron, don't injure our seeker before the first practice," Fred scolded his brother.

"Who cares about the ruddy school team? He's our Gryffindor seeker! We need him for the match against Slytherin," George exclaimed. Ron released Harry's ankle and Harry landed his broom.

"So the coach hasn't showed up yet?" Katie asked.

"Evidently not," Angelina laughed. Ron jumped on his broom,

"Last one to the pitch has to kiss Snape!" he cried before zooming towards the pitch. Fred and George scrambled onto their Nimbus 2003's and sped after their younger brother. Katie and Angelina jumped onto their Nimbus 2000's and Alicia urged her Cleansweep 7 after the twins. Harry hopped onto his Firebolt and pushed it to accelerate. In less than five seconds, Harry was even with Ron.

"Eat broom twigs, Weasley," Harry laughed. He re-accelerated and rocketed towards the center of the pitch. He easily landed a few meters away from Draco and William.

"Potter," William said as Harry dismounted the Firebolt.

"Sanguinis," Harry returned. Draco simply glared at Harry.

"LET ME GO!" Ron shouted as the other six Gryffindors sped into the pitch area.

"Go Alicia, GO!" Katie and Alicia cried.

"LET GO OF ME!" Ron screamed again. Alicia sped over and landed next to Harry. Fred and George almost bowled her over, and Angelina slid in right behind the twins. Katie rolled onto the ground and stopped just at Alicia's feet. Ron still held Katie's broom. He had grabbed it to try to make her let go of his broom, so she had simply dived over to the group sans broom.

"Good luck with the Snape kissing," Harry laughed at Ron while Angelina and Alicia pulled Katie to her feet and dusted her robes off.

"Leave it to you bloody Gryffindors to make an entrance," a familiar voice said from just behind the team. Draco and William looked slightly confused, but all of the Gryffindors turned to face the source of the voice. Fred found his voice first.

"OLIVER WOOD!" Fred cried.

"You bloody," George began. A well-placed hand over his mouth from Fred silenced George.

"You bloody wonderful coach!" Angelina corrected for her boyfriend.

"Sucking up will get you no where, Johnson," Oliver joked.

"If you Gryffindors are done with your damned reunion, I'd like to practice some Quidditch," Draco spat.

"Not yet," Oliver said, instantly stepping into his role as coach. "Everyone pile your brooms over there." He pointed to a spot on the pitch about five meters away from where he stood. The Gryffindors and William all tossed their brooms in the general direction of the spot. Draco gently placed his broom down on the edge of the pitch.

"Now run two laps," Oliver commanded. All of the Gryffindors looked at him, open-mouthed.

"Nice dental work guys, but I'm serious," Oliver said. Reluctantly, everyone started off around the pitch. Ron and Angelina took the lead with Draco and William in close second. Harry and Katie were next with the twins and Alicia last. Quickly enough, everyone completed their laps and gathered back at Oliver.

"Not bad," he said, "But not necessarily good either," He looked down at his magical stopwatch.

"Not good?" Ron gasped. He had finished his laps faster than everyone.

"Everyone needs to go be able to go as fast as you did," Oliver explained. Alicia and the twins both groaned.

"If you want to be on the school team, you're all going to have to keep up with Ron," Oliver said. Ron flashed a smug smile at his teammates. Fred, George, Draco, William and Angelina all glared at him. Katie and Alicia didn't respond and Harry just let his friend gloat.

"Now, everyone stand in a circle," Oliver instructed. Harry, Ron, Fred, George, Angelina, Alicia and Katie gathered in a rough semi circle. William stepped over to Harry. The eight looked expectantly at Draco. Draco stepped in between Katie and William.

"We're going to do a team building exercise," Oliver announced. He stopped into the circle between Fred and George. Draco snorted loudly. Oliver glared at him.

"Why?" William asked.

"Because some of you guys don't act very much like a team," Oliver replied, glaring specifically at Ron, Harry and Draco. " Now move the circle in until you're all standing shoulder to shoulder." William and the Gryffindors complied. Draco kept his right shoulder several inches away from Katie's.

"Malfoy! What part of shoulder to shoulder don't you understand?" Oliver snapped. Draco roughly and reluctantly shoved his shoulder into Katie's.

"Now everyone turned to the person on your right," Oliver instructed. To demonstrate his direction he turned to face Fred. Everyone else turned clumsily.

"Now sit," Oliver said when everyone had finally turned.

"What?" came the unanimous response from Fred, George, Ron, William and Draco.

"You heard me," Oliver replied, "Sit. If everyone does it at once, then no one will fall and everyone will have a sort of a seat to sit in."

"Are you daft?" William exclaimed.

"No, I'm your coach. One more word from any of you and you'll all run laps for the rest of practice," Oliver snapped. His level of control over his former teammates and opponents wasn't necessarily what anyone would call high. Luckily for him, the team remained silent.

"Much better," Oliver said. "Now lets try this again. Everyone sit." On cue, everyone began to lower them selves into sitting positions. Slowly, makeshift chairs formed and everyone took their seats. Everyone that is, except Draco. So as not to be sat on by Katie, Draco remained standing. When Alicia's weight hit Katie's legs, Katie had no support. She toppled backwards causing a Domino effect that ended with Katie, Alicia, Angelina, George and Oliver lying in a heap on the ground.

"Malfoy! Laps!" Oliver cried.

"How many, Coach?" Draco asked, quite acerbically.

"Until I say stop," Oliver replied. Draco took off around the pitch.

"Now, would the rest of you like to try again?" Oliver asked. The remainder of the team picked themselves up from the ground.

"Sure," Harry said. They got back into their circle and attempted the exercise again, this time successfully.

"Alright, now I want Fred, William, and George to take the bludgers and go to that end of the field and work on hitting them to each other with control and precision. Angelina, Alicia and Katie, come with me. We're going to work on some drills for the three of you to work on speed and accuracy. Harry, take the snitch and try to get some practice in. Give it a 5-10 second head start then chase it," Oliver instructed.

"What about me?" Ron asked. Oliver waved his wand and a basket of Quaffles appeared. He quickly banished them to an area in front of the goals at the opposite ends of the pitch.

"Take shots on Draco," Oliver said. He waved Draco over to the group from where he was running.

"Yes?" Draco asked.

"Go down there and practice with Ron," Oliver instructed.

"The Weasel?" Draco asked.

"No, Ron," Oliver corrected, calling off the twins, Ron and Harry with a cold glance. Draco glared at Ron before picking up his broom. Ron picked up his identical, albeit newer 2001 and started towards the end of the pitch. Draco mounted his broom and flew over to the hovering basket of Quaffles. Ron followed Draco's example and was soon on the other side of the basket.

"Get in front of the goals, Malfoy," Ron said, plucking a Quaffle from the basket. Malfoy went over to the goals. Ron slung the Quaffle at him.

"Come on, Weasley, my baby sister could do better than that," Malfoy said as he grabbed the Quaffle out of the air.

"Leave Astrid out of this," Ron said as he threw another Quaffle at Malfoy.

"Who said I was talking about Astrid?" Draco asked, raising his eyebrow at the tall redhead. "I have two other sisters you know. Well, had." Ron threw another Quaffle at Draco, not noticing the momentarily sad look cross the boys face. Draco knocked the Quaffle back at Ron.

"Why are you so touchy about me talking about the traitor anyway?" Draco asked. Ron chucked another Quaffle at him. This one slipped by and went through the right goal. Ron grinned broadly and threw another ball.

"Finally deserted the mudblood for my traitorous sister so you could get your grubby paws on some of the Malfoy fortune to buy food for that filthy group you call a family?" Ron delivered the ball slightly harder and before Draco had a chance to react to the first Quaffle, Ron threw another one. Draco knocked the first away but the second smashed into his face with a resounding crunch.

"YOU BLOODY RAT BASTARD!" Ron began.

"FUCK YOU WEASLEY! I THINK MY NOSE IS BROKEN!" Draco screamed. Both hands flew to his bloody face.

"IF I EVER HEAR YOU!" Ron continued.

"IF YOU EVER GO!" Draco said.

"SAY ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR SISTER!" Ron shouted.

"NEAR MY SISTER AGAIN!" Draco cried.

"I"LL!" came Ron's threat.

"I'LL," said Draco.

"You'll both run laps NOW!" Oliver cried from the pitch. Draco glared at Ron and Oliver over his hands. Blood dripped through his pale fingers and down onto his Quidditch robes.

"I'm bleeding," he mumbled. Oliver pulled out his wand and muttered at charm towards Draco. His nose stopped bleeding, but it still pointed at a Snape-ish angle.

"NOW RUN!" Oliver screamed. Ron and Draco both landed their brooms and dismounted. Oliver waved his wand again and suddenly Ron felt ropes around his left wrist and ankle. Draco felt the same around his right.

"WHAT THE HELL?" Draco screamed when he realized who was on the other end of his bindings.

"BLOODY HELL!" Ron yelled at the same time.

"You two will learn to get along, one way or the other. Now run," Oliver instructed. He turned to the remainder of the team. "And any of you who finds this funny may join them."

*****

"Someone licked my ear!" Angelina cried. George laughed loudly and quite guiltily from the middle of the tied together team.

"That was my ARSE!" Katie squealed.

"Sorry Kate," Alicia replied.

"What's that smell?" Harry asked. William laughed nervously.

"You all will learn to be a team," Oliver said from his position in front of the team. Harry and Katie glared at him from across a large rope that crossed both of their stomachs.

"Now to win as a team, you must be able to run as a team," Oliver said.

"How is this bloody rope going to help?" Ron asked grumpily from his spot towards the back of the group, next to Draco.

"Run, Mr. Weasley." Oliver instructed. Ron tried to run forward but the resistance caused by his teammates didn't allow him to get anywhere.

"Now everyone run," Oliver commanded. Harry and Katie tried to run forward. Angelina pulled Alicia and George to the right and Fred and William went left. Ron and Draco both tried, unsuccessfully, to turn in the rope and run backwards. When Ron and Draco started pulling the rope backwards, Harry and Katie pitched forwards over the rope and onto their heads. The slack in the rope caused by Harry and Katie's quick exit caused Angelina to fall over and George and Alicia to land on top of her. Fred and William stopped dead in their tracks and Ron and Draco both toppled backwards over the rope.

"Everyone runs their own way, everyone falls down. Now get back up and try it again," Oliver insisted. The magical rope re situated everyone within itself.

"EVERYONE RIGHT!" Angelina called.

"Who makes you boss?" William asked. "EVERYONE LEFT!" Draco, William and Fred all ran left. George, Alicia, Katie, Ron and Harry followed Angelina right. Again, everyone fell.

"Try again," Oliver said. Before anyone could protest, they were back on their feet and wrapped in the rope.

*****

"Bloody hell, I think I'm going to die!" Angelina cried. She flopped onto a couch in Gryffindor tower.

"Please don't," George said. He fell onto the couch next to her.

"AARGH!" came Fred's highly intelligent statement as he collapsed onto the rug in front of the fire.

"Kill me now," Katie begged. She fell into the floor next to Fred. Alicia wordlessly sank onto an armchair.

"Captain Blood," Harry muttered. He sank down next to Katie.

"At least none of you were tied next to Draco Malfoy for the better part of an hour," Ron spat. He fell into a different armchair on the other side of the couch.

"That bad, huh?" Hermione asked. Not one person on the entire team made an effort to look at her.

"A kiss from my favorite girl might make me feel better," Fred said from his spot between Katie and Harry. Hermione went over to him and dropped a kiss on his sweaty forehead.

"Oliver is a bloody wanker," George muttered.

"Oliver is your new coach?' Hermione asked.

"New drill sergeant," Katie corrected.

"That bad?" Hermione queried.

"YES!" came the unanimous reply.

"What happened at practice?" Hermione asked.

"What didn't," Harry countered.

"Draco got his nose broken and we all got tied together and told to run," Angelina explained.

"How long did that take?"

"Dumbledore made Oliver let us loose," Katie said.

"Where are Ginny and Astrid?" Ron asked.

"Why?" Hermione answered.

"I figure they might want to hear about Malfoy's bloody nose," he explained.

"Ginny is off writing to Braeden, and, well, Astrid is over in the corner," Hermione said.

"Get her to come over here," Angelina laughed, "I think she'll like to hear this story."

"Maybe it would be better if you all would go over there. She fell earlier and hurt her ankle," Hermione explained.

"Which corner is she in?" Ron asked. Hermione pointed towards the back of the common room. Harry pointed his wand in the direction Hermione was pointing.

"Accio Astrid," he muttered. "OOF," he muttered a moment later when Astrid landed squarely on his chest.

"I think that's the first time I've ever been literally summoned," Astrid said. She made no move to remove herself from her perch on Harry's chest. She had both hands clasped tightly around her left ankle. The Gryffindor team and Hermione all laughed weakly.

"So what did you boys need?" she asked.

"I broke your brother's nose at practice!" Ron said gleefully.

"Good job," Astrid said weakly. She still hadn't removed her hands from her ankle or moved from Harry.

"You should have seen the look on his face," Harry laughed.

"I'm sure it was great," Astrid said.

"How is your ankle?" Ron asked.

"It's fine, now Harry, if you could banish me back to my corner," Astrid began. Harry complied with her request before she could finish her sentence.

"Why won't she go to Pomfrey?' Ron asked.

"Shall I banish you over there to ask her?" Harry asked.

"Maybe the two of you should go talk to her. She won't let me or Ginny see or touch her ankle and has threatened to hex us into next week if we bind her to take her to Pomfrey," Hermione explained. Ron looked over at his friends and raised his eyebrow. Harry slowly dragged himself to his feet and started towards Astrid. Ron followed him closely. Astrid was sitting in the far corner of the common room on a pile of pillows with both hands still clasped tightly around her ankle.

"Hey chica, what's up?" Ron asked as he and Harry approached her.

"Not much," Astrid replied through clenched teeth.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked. Astrid nodded in the affirmative but the look on her face told them otherwise.

"How did you hurt your ankle?" Ron asked.

"I fell down the stairs," Astrid said.

"Come on, let's see," Ron said. He kneeled down next to the girl and reached for her hands. She swiftly turned away from him.

"I think not, Ronald Weasley," she said.

"We can't help you if you don't let us see," Harry said.

"No offense, but I don't think you could help me anyway," Astrid attempted to joke.

"Go to Madame Pomfrey, she'll probably be able to fix you in a minute," Harry suggested.

"No can do, Potter," Astrid said, sounding a lot like her older brother.

"Will you go if we carry you?" Ron suggested.

"All of the way to the hospital wing?" Astrid asked. Ron and Harry nodded. "After the Quidditch practice you two just had?"

"Sure," Harry said. Ron nodded his agreement. Astrid paused to consider the offer for a moment.

"I suppose. If anything, I can get something from Madame Pomfrey to kill the pain for a while," Astrid said. Before she could say anything else, Ron scooped her up in his arms and started towards the portrait hole. Harry trailed after them. Hermione and the rest of the team watched the three of them leave. George looked over at his twin brother with a maniacal grin on his face.

"As captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, I'm ordering you all to hit the showers now," George said, sniffing the air before heading towards the showers himself. Katie, Angelina and Alicia all stood up and headed towards their dorm room.

"And as captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, I'm ordering myself to shower later and spend time with you first," Fred said, smiling up at Hermione. He crawled up onto the couch and stretched out.

"And as your girlfriend, I'm agreeing with your brother," Hermione laughed, surveying her sweaty, smelly boyfriend. Fred picked himself up off of the couch, glared playfully at Hermione and started off towards the showers. Hermione sank down onto the couch and summoned her potions book from her bag in the corner. She began to read while she waited for Fred.

%%%%%

"When did you fall?" Ron asked Astrid as the three made their way towards the hospital wing.

"Earlier today, but it didn't really start hurting till during dinner," Astrid replied.

"That's odd," Harry mused.

"That, it is, but sometimes sprained ankles can be like that," Astrid said.

"You've done this before?" Ron asked.

"I'm clumsy," Astrid half laughed. She leaned her head weakly on Ron's shoulder. Harry dragged his knuckles across the scar.

"Does your head hurt?" Ron asked.

"No, but it's tingling again," Harry said.

"Tingling?" Astrid asked.

"Yes, tingling. It does that occasionally," Harry explained.

"Does it mean anything?" Astrid queried.

"Not that I know of," Harry replied.

"Has it been tingling long?" Ron asked.

"Not really, that I've noticed," Harry said, "of course, I just may have ignored it through Quidditch practice." He and Ron both laughed. The two boys turned the corner into the hospital wing.

"Potter, what are you doing here?" Draco asked from his seat on the bed in the far corner.

"I'm," Harry began.

"Damnit Weasel, put my sister down, NOW!" Draco roared as soon as he caught sight or Astrid in Ron's arms.

"Shove off, Draco," Astrid spat weakly from her spot.

"Stay out of it," Draco commanded.

"So I'm your sister now am I?" Astrid asked, "What happened to traitor?"

"Wait until Lucius and Keiran hear about this," Draco replied.

"They won't," Astrid said, glaring at her older brother.

"That doesn't work for you," Draco said, "and why are you here anyway?"

"My ankle," Astrid said, still glaring.

"Why the fuck did you come here for your ankle?" Draco spat.

"Last time I checked, you come to the hospital wing, to get sprained ankles fixed," Astrid said, casting nervously pointed glances at Harry and Ron. Neither of the Gryffindors noticed but Draco caught on.

"What did you do now, clumsy arse?" He asked.

"Fuck off Malfoy, don't talk to your own sister that way!" Ron cried. He almost dropped Astrid. She squealed rather loudly.

"WHAT is going on in here?" Madame Pomfrey asked as she bustled into the room.

"I need pain potion," Astrid said, "I fell down the steps and hurt my ankle."

"Very well then, Miss Malfoy," Madame Pomfrey replied. She turned and headed back towards her stores.

"What in the world?" Ron asked.

"Madame Pomfrey never gives away pain potion that easily," Harry added. Astrid glanced nervously at Draco. He glared at Harry and Ron and then rolled his eyes at her. Madame Pomfrey returned with a small vial of potion and handed it to Astrid. She downed it swiftly and handed the vial back to Madame Pomfrey.

"Will you be okay to return to the tower?" she asked. Astrid nodded from Ron's arms.

"Want me to carry her now?" Harry asked his friend.

"Nah, she's really light," Ron said.

"I think she can walk for herself," Draco spat from the corner.

"I think I'd be happy to re-break that nose for you," Ron replied, glaring at Draco. Draco sat back and watched his two archenemies leave, one of them holding his little sister in his arms.

"Just wait until Lucius hears about this," Draco muttered to himself.

%%%%%

"He's such a bastard," Astrid muttered thickly when the door to the hospital wing closed.

"That, he is," Ron replied. Harry nodded. Astrid's head fell back against Ron's shoulder and her eyes closed.

"Did Madame Pomfrey give you sleep potion too?" Ron asked. Astrid nodded weakly.

"Sprained ankles are hard to sleep with," Astrid explained just before a quiet darkness overtook her.

"That's certifiably weird," Harry said, looking over at the sleeping form in his friend's arms.

"And coming from you, that's saying something," Ron laughed. Harry dragged his knuckles across his scar again.

"Still tingly?"

"Yes," Harry replied.

"Weird," Ron said.

"I wonder if she really did sprain her ankle," Harry said.

"Why would she lie?" Ron asked.

"Good point," Harry agreed.

*****

"Guess who smells good!" Fred cried, leaping across the back of the couch and landing next to Hermione. He shook some of the water out of his hair towards her.

"Thank you, Fred," Hermione laughed, wiping a few drops of water off of her face.

"No problem sweetie," Fred said. He dropped a kiss on Hermione's cheek. Potions book abandoned, Hermione turned in for a real kiss from her boyfriend. After he pulled away, Fred picked up the book.

"Whatcha reading?" he asked.

"Potions," Hermione replied. Fred looked at the book for a moment before tossing it over the back of the couch. He pulled his wand out of his pocket and pointed it at the fire. A moment later, bright purple flames sprung up in the fireplace.

"How did you know purple is my favorite color?" Hermione asked.

"Ron and Harry," Fred admitted sheepishly. Hermione smiled over at him. He pushed her to the front of the couch and stretched out along the back. She turned towards his head.

"Lay on your stomach," she instructed. Fred did as he was told and Hermione reached up and began massaging his shoulders.

"God Hermione, that feels good," Fred mumbled into the pillow after a few minutes. Almost immediately, the portrait squeaked open and two figures hurried in.

"We're not looking!" Ron cried as he rushed towards the first year girls' dorm.

"SORRY!" Harry added as he followed his friend.

"Honest, we're not," Ron said. He was looking the other way. Harry had his eyes partially covered with his hands. Hermione leaned over on Fred's back and they both laughed quietly. Ron and Harry escaped into the first year girls' dormitory.

"What do you think we interrupted?" Harry asked quietly as Ron placed Astrid in her bed.

"I hate to know, and I don't want to go back out there," Ron said.

"We very well can't stay in here," Harry spat.

"How about you banish me across to our room then I'll summon you," Ron suggested. That way we'll fly above them and don't have to be near them."

"Good plan," Harry said, heading for the door.

%%%%%

Hermione finally recovered from her laughing fit and sat up. She reached for Fred's shoulders again and she heard a door on the girls' side creak open.

"Here they come again," she warned Fred. Then she noticed Ron flying across Gryffindor tower towards his dorm. Shortly, Harry followed him.

"I don't see them," Fred said. Hermione smiled to herself.

"They just flew across the top of the room so they wouldn't interrupt anything," she laughed.

"Perfect," Fred said. He rolled over onto his back and pulled Hermione's mouth to his.