Yello... more now! Should I split up my fic in two? The drop down menu is getting so long...

Chapter 29

I followed the trail of Slytherins to Care of Magical Creatures class, which I have been looking forward to. I've always loved animals. I thought about what was happening at home... father must be at home, it isn't safe for him to go out. Sapphire might be so lonely in his stable without any visitors, I wished I could go home for a day and tell him everything.

Before I knew it, I was at the edge of the forest. There was an enclosure fenced with gray stones and a small picturesque cottage at the end of it. Small wisps of clouds were drifting out of its chimney, creeping green vines climbed the brick walls and a burst of colour decorated the window ledges.

I entered and strayed away to one of the walls, pulling myself up and sitting on it. I sighed to myself as I watched the other Slytherins happily chatting away. A group of Gryffindors was entering through the wooden gate... James and the marauders, Lily and Nikki.

Lily and Nikki immediately separated from the boys and settled themselves at the furthest end of the fence. Nikki was looking awfully energetic, bouncing by Lily while talking really fast as Lily walked patiently.

Sirius, James, Peter and Remus lounged leisurely close by, though nobody seemed to have noticed me there though Peter did give a little wave.

"How can you ask her out?" asked James heatedly with a frown on his face.

"Why can't I?" replied Sirius defiantly.

"Because... well, her name's funny."

"What's wrong with her name? I think Holly is such a sweet name."

"Er... Sirius?" Said James in a sarcastic voice. "Holly Wood?"

Sirius, though, seemed unperturbed. "Wood's a common last name!"

"Never mind..."

I felt my heart drop like a stone. I sighed then turned towards the cottage, hugging my bag tightly.

A woman with graying hair and a navy blue satin witch's hat emerged from behind the pearly white doors of the cottage carrying a box in her arms. As she got closer, we could distinctly hear a small shimmering sound accompanied by tiny squeaks.

It seems we were studying fairies that day. Well, nothing particularly eventful happened for the rest of the day except for the usual Slytherin guys trying to annoy me again.

But what really caused a stir was what happened that night...

It was clearly after midnight and the fire burnt low in the fireplace. The Slytherin common room was deserted; there wasn't another soul in sight. The only sounds heard were the slow scratching of my quill, the gentle ticks of the grandfather clock and the last crackles of the fire.

I yawned and tried to blink awake. My brain didn't seem to be able to work and that Transfiguration paper was due the next day. Deciding I'll do it in the morning during breakfast, I laid it down onto the table and started packing up my things.

Suddenly, there was a small grinding of stone against stone. I perked up, ears alert for any sound. There was nothing else for a long time, so I paid no attention, eager to get to bed.

I was just passing by the row of bookshelves full of books that nobody really touches when that one shelf suddenly got sucked into the wall and disappeared. I stopped short and stared in disbelief. Suddenly somebody jumped out of that space in the wall where the shelf had disappeared behind.

I let out a scream and dropped everything I was holding. My scream was muffled when a hand was pressed onto my mouth. James had his hand pressed tight against my lips with a look of warning on his face. After he was sure I had recovered from my shock, he slowly released his hand and flashed a heart-melting smile.

"What are you doing here?" I asked in disbelief.

Just then, Sirius and Peter emerged with Remus following last, looking right and left suspiciously.

"What are you all doing here?" I asked again.

"You don't know us yet, it seems..." mused James thoughtfully.

"We're just wandering... around school," explained Sirius. "We've never really been to the Slytherin common room yet."

"Tis... very cold," said James with an air of arrogance as he strolled around the room. "Green... green... silver... and more green... tsk tsk."

"Well, what do you expect?" I shrugged.

"You should see the Gryffindor common room sometimes!" Suggested Sirius enthusiastically.

"You can't be serious!"

"No, I assure you, I am Sirius," he added.

Peter burst into laughter and quickly stifled it with his hands when Remus shushed harshly at him.

"Going into another house's common room is already strictly against the rules... sneaking in?" I said in disbelief.

"Here," said Remus, handing me my Transfiguration textbook and my scrolls.

"Oh thanks so much Remus," I said gratefully as I took them. I had completely forgotten they had been on the floor.

"Well, everything's perfectly legal until you get caught!" said Sirius with a cheeky grin and a playful wink.

I walked back towards the sofa and placed my things back on the chair. Remus took a seat on the armchair and looked as if he was waiting. Waiting probably while his friends explored every nook and cranny of the Slytherin common room.

"We should be getting back," he called about five minutes later.

"Oh c'mon..." said James disapprovingly. He ventured around the other side of the common room, examining any weird items students have left around and occasionally purposely misplaced them or placed jinxes on normal items.

I yawned and leaned my head against the back of the chair, my eyelids heavy from fatigue. I barely noticed when Sirius settled down on my right. The last thing I saw before I finally fell asleep was the last embers of the fire burning away... slowly... eventually... its orange red glow dimmed.

I could just imagine what the sight was like if one were to walk up from the dormitories and saw.

One: He or she would probably notice that a Gryffindor is in the Slytherin common room and think that he must be removed at once and be reported to his respective Head.

Or Two: He or she would probably be speechless for words when they see two people sleeping together. And what's more, one of them is a Slytherin girl and the other a Gryffindor boy who shouldn't be there in the first place. Insane thoughts of what might have happened may run through his or her head.

The truth was...

Dum dum dum... What was the truth really? cackle