Chapter Three: Finally at the Castle

After the feast in the great hall, which passed by uneventfully since Dumbledore was sick, and the next day also, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Lauren, Nick, and Ginny all walked back upstairs to the Gryffindor common room. That day they had done potions, charms, and transfiguration. The girls took a seat on the comfy coach while the boys took their favorite chairs. Hermione and Ginny were playing with Lauren's hair as they all talked.

Lauren and Nick were definitely the lives of the party. They laughed, joked, and talked until they had everyone excited and energetic. They continued laughing and joking until Seamus Finnigan came into the room.

"Hello mates!" said the Irish boy, smiling. "Ginny, I've been wondering if I could have a word with you. Meet me in the library in an hour?"

Ginny grinned and blushed all the way to the roots of her hair. "Try not to get caught by any prefects." She said, eyeing Ron and Hermione.

"I was just about to say the same to you." Seamus replied laughingly.

In the end they exited together early, sneaking so not to be heard by anyone.

"They're so cute together!" Lauren giggled.

"Oh, I know!" Hermione sighed.

"Girls, girls, girls." Nick sighed. "You're much too romantic for your own good. Now, guys aren't like that. We're just cool chillin' with our brothers from another mother."

Harry looked at him, confused.

"Oh, that means our homies. Like, we're tight with them… oh never mind. It's a cool way of saying 'friends'." Nick explained. "Wow, you Brits have a lot to learn!"

Ron laughed and glanced at Harry. He noticed that he had been staring at Lauren all day. Harry needed a girl in his life after Cho, so why shouldn't it be the vivacious, street smart American?

"Erm, Harry, can I talk to you for a moment? We'll be right back." Ron asked, carefully.

"Sure. I needed to talk to you anyways… about… potions class today." Harry replied.

"Bye, Harry." Lauren called to his retreating back. Ron saw him blush and murmur, "See ya."

As soon as they got to the dormitory, Ron forced him up to the wall. "Harry, we need to talk."
"What is this, a police interrogation?" asked Harry, annoyed.

"The po…po… what?" asked Ron, confused by the muggle word.

"Oh, never mind Ron. We have to talk." replied Harry.

"Oh, you bet we do!" Ron said, changing his expression to a grin. "I was thinking, you might need a little someone in your life to feel better and take your mind off of things."

Harry gasped. "Did I really make anything that obvious?"

Ron laughed. "Yes, you actually were staring at a certain someone all day… and all yesterday…"

"I don't know what it is, Ron. I've never felt like this before. I go from being really happy, to really jittery, to feeling like I'm going to throw up. Whenever she touches me or gets near me, I feel all warm and happy. I feel like a complete blabbering idiot when I talk to her. Ron, what is it?"

"You like Lauren… A LOT!" Ron replied, happily. "Now, why don't you go for it? Do you think she likes you?"

"She might." Harry replied truthfully. "When we were partners in potions our hands kept touching and she didn't seem to mind an awful lot."

"Go for it, dude!" replied Ron, with one of his new words. "Bloody hell, those twins talk so funny I love it. Right my brother from another mother?"

Harry and Ron burst out laughing and went downstairs to see the three left behind joking and doing impressions of people. Lauren's hair was done amazingly, with flowers and jewels threaded through it. It was obviously Hermione's work of magic. Nick's hair was spiked up, which Harry had learned was the only way Lauren could tolerate her brother. They just had got out the trick wands when the two were noticed.

Nick winked at Harry. "I'm really tired, I'm off to bed. Have fun and stay away from those mean Slytherin prefects. I assume you're all leaving, what else would you do on such a nice night like this? Just make sure Lauren gets back by eleven, since it's a school night. Harry, I leave that to you." He got up and walked to the boy's dormitory.

Just then, Parvarti Patil and Dean Thomas were walking by, holding hands, with Lavender and Neville (shocking everyone) following close behind in a similar fashion.

"Seems like everyone is finally finding someone." Sighed Hermione and she and Lauren shared a smile. Hermione and Lauren were quickly becoming the best of friends and they seemed to have a lot of inside jokes, which actually made the guys feel left out.

"Well, Hermione, who are you in love with?" asked Ron, trying to be sarcastic but in part anticipation.

"You." she answered, matter-of-factly.

"What?" asked Ron, amazed at what she had said.

"Yes Ron, you heard me, I like you. I've liked you since I first saw you on the train when we were looking for Neville's toad." She replied again.

Ron eyed the surprised Harry for a moment before responding. "Well, erm, I like you too. But why didn't you tell me before?"

"You didn't ask." She stated, as Ron came over to sit next to her.

Lauren started to head for her dormitory. She obviously didn't want to get in the way of anything so long in the making. Harry was itching to run after her and grab her by the waist.

Instead he decided to just yell to her. "Hey Lauren, it's too early to go to bed. Let's go for a walk on the grounds or something."

Lauren beamed her heart warming smile at him and glided down the stairs next to him.

"Come on, lead the way. I want to learn the grounds here better." She smiled and linked arms with Harry. He smiled and the two walked out of Gryffindor tower… not before a few whistles by some first year boys and girls. Harry was embarrassed, but Lauren smiled right back. All of the boys blushed and the girls laughed.

"Wow, nice fan club you've got there." Harry laughed, when they were free of Gryffindor tower. Lauren laughed but didn't respond. Harry noticed how pretty she looked in her American Eagle sky blue shirt and Abercrombie white shorts. She also had her silver, diamond studded necklace in a strange but cute shape that she wore everyday, and a visor that said "Cleveland Browns", her favorite American football team. Her J. Lo sunglasses were unneeded but she loved them so much she wore them. Her favorite accessory, however, was probably the shell necklace that was identical to her brother's. Harry was just dressed in a white and red striped polo shirt and jeans, so he felt sort of out of place with her. She had this cool aura that made you beg to be around her.

"You know, you and Nick are really alike. I can see you two as best friends if you weren't twins." Harry said, as soon as they were out on the castle grounds. They had taken the invisibility cloak just in case they wanted to sneak up on someone or end up staying out too late.

"Oh, lots of people say that. I absolutely love Nick, he was all the family I ever really needed. He gives advice like a mom, throws the football and baseball with me like a dad, tells me where I have to shop like a sister, and is protective and friendly like a brother. I grew up in a world where my family was always too wrapped up in the boys and the little girl… never enough time for me. Nick is so fun, I can't imagine life without him… but I'm babbling again." Lauren said, smiling weakly.

"No, you're not." Harry smiled and discreetly pulled her a little closer. Was that just him, or did Lauren squeeze his arm just a little tighter?

They talked about little things for a while, and joked around. Then Harry saw an unwelcome figure: Draco Malfoy. He instantly pulled the invisibility cloak over them, but Lauren went out to talk to him. She tried to be friends with everyone, which Harry found amazing.

"Hey Lauren!" Draco cried, but without the usual sarcastic tone in his voice. "What's up?"

"Harry was just showing me the grounds… now where did he go?" Lauren pretended to be confused.

"He tends to leave pretty often… not too reliable at times." Draco said, sneeringly. "I'll show you around, though." Draco took her arm and started to walk with her.

"Oh, darn it, I promised Nick I'd meet him soon. You know, he'll tell Hermione or Ron or something and I'll be skinned alive. Maybe tomorrow, though!" Lauren kept up her charm until she had bid Draco goodnight and he finally retreated toward the castle.

"Lauren!" Harry came out of the cloak, "I think he likes you! Oh, that's why you can't be nice to a Slytherin!"

Lauren grinned. "Do you think so? Well, in that case I can't wait until he shows me around tomorrow." Eying Harry's shocked face, she laughed and continued, "I was just kidding! Blond slime balls aren't my thing."

Harry smiled at Lauren's constant happy-go-lucky attitude. He seemed to be smiling a lot lately, more than ever before. He felt so special in Hogwarts, and even more special with Lauren and her brother around. If all Americans were like those two, he knew where he was moving when he got older.

Suddenly Lauren sighed and said, "Please Harry, if you don't mind I'd love to see the lake. It reminds me of Tinora."

Harry smiled and started leading her towards the lake. He softly asked, "You miss America a lot, don't you?"

Lauren gave him a sad smile. "I might be here now, but my heart will always be with the land of the free and the home of the brave. It's so beautiful; I never really could imagine myself anywhere but there. The hardest thing I've ever had to do was leave my country and friends behind. But there I go, babbling again."

Harry took her hand as they reached the lake and turned to her. "No, you're not babbling at all." He sighed. "Listen, I know it's hard, but I remember what you said about Gianni. I've seen a lot of people die, one person that was like a father to me. If you ever need to talk…"

Lauren gave a weak smile. "Thanks, Harry. It's just really hard to understand. But some things are sacrificed in life for a bigger cause." Then Lauren started sobbing. "Harry, I saw him trying to fight back. He tried to save us. He tried so hard. And I couldn't do anything about it. I didn't know he would die! I didn't see it happen! I didn't know until they gave us the shell necklace he always wore! I lost a lot that day, and he was just one more sacrifice that could have been spared. And it was all my fault!"

Harry gave Lauren a hug and held her until she was done crying. "Oh Harry, I'm sorry. I never cry, I'm just being such a homesick baby!"

"Don't worry. We all need to be one sometimes." Harry smiled lovingly at her. She smiled back. Lauren looked at the lake and commented on how beautiful it was, but Harry didn't hear. When she turned back to him, their eyes locked. How it happened, Lauren had no idea, but the next thing she knew she had kissed him.

"Oh, Harry, this is a bad idea…" Lauren started to pull away, just making Harry even more determined. He grabbed her again and started to kiss her, this time she kissed back… but only for a moment. Then she pulled away again.

"Oh, Harry…" Lauren gave him a terrified look and then ran away towards the castle. Harry tried to follow her, but gave up after she had reached the castle door. He went back to think by the lake until the sun rose.