AN: Alas, I updated! Yay! This is actually one fic of mine hat doesn't circle around humor. And honestly, to all those people out here who are pairing up Hermione and Ron, you guys are nuts. Harry and Hermione is he couple in the series. They're just too cute together.

Sorry for getting off topic.

I know that this chapter is incredibly short, but I just remembered that one year ago today I joined and I just spent the day at Cheerleading and playing Tales of Symphonia, and I'm writing this at night. It's been such a long time since I've updated this that I might've lost the plotline a little bit. SORRY!

And also, my keyboard is having a bit of trouble with the letter "T". I have to tap it twice, sometimes harder, for it to actually type it. And I'm not that sort of person that goes back and revises things. I wish I were, but I'm not.

Disclaimer: I wish I owned it. That way I could yell at Alfonso Cuaron for leaving out vital facts in the movie, such as telling us HOW Lupin knew about he Marauder's Map, that James, Sirius, and Peter became Animagi to accompany Lupin on his monthly nightmare, their nicknames, the whole scene in Diagon alley with Ron and Hermione, instead of in the pub. takes deep breath But, no, I don't own it: JK Rowling owns it. THE WHOLE DARN SERIES! And do you guys know the title of the sixth book? Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Me thinks it's Tom Riddle. I'm getting off topic again.

Let's get "On our way!" Oh, that sucked.

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Ch6: Confusion

Harry felt a small rustle at his side and turned to see Hermione, her wand out, her jaw set.

"I knew it."

"What?" Ron swiveled to see her, his expression aghast. Even Charalayne looked shocked.

"You knew? But-but how?" She stepped back, sputtering, and turned to Snape, who was sneering down at all of them. She rounded on him.

"And you!" She whipped her wand out of her robes and poked it at Snape's chest. His smirk turned into disgust.

"Now really, Miss Snave, you wouldn't want me to dock points from your House, would you?"

"Ah-ha, Snivellus, that's where you are wrong." Charalayne turned to Harry, who had stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly at her. She gave him a quick smile of reassurance and glared at Snape. "I don't recall Dumbledore saying I was an actual STUDENT. Yes, I may have been Sorted, but I would've had to start from first year again, since I've never once been to America." She turned to Hermione, who had lowered her wand and was blushing. "And I've excelled in all my classes here, just as you have, Hermione."

The ending bell rang, and Snape left the hall, glancing back and shooting daggers at Charalayne. There was a rush of people exiting the Hall heading outdoors for their Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology classes. Charalayne smiled and clapped her hands, jolting Harry, Ron, and Hermione out of their trance.

"Well, what class do you have now?"

Hermione clapped her hand over her mouth and snatched Harry's shoulder. "Shoot! We missed Transfiguration!"

"Well, we'd better get a move on, or we're going to miss Hagrid's class." Ron led them out into the emptying Hall.

Harry turned to Charalayne, who had fallen behind the three and was gazing at them with the look of someone who was missing something. Or someone.

"Hey."

She jerked and saw Harry next to her.

"Yeah?"

Harry looked down at his feet. Hermione's voice was fading in the distance, as she and Ron headed towards Hagrid's cabin ("Honestly, Ron, how can you possibly believe in such a paltry thing like that?"). He turned to Charalayne.

"I have no idea what to call you." He stopped, noticing she was shaking with laughter. "What? Did I say something?"

She shook her head, smiling, and turned to him. "Harry, I believe in choices. Your choices are Lily, Lillian, Charalayne, or Mum. As much as I would prefer Mum..." she quickly averted her stare. "Maybe you should just call me Charalayne, since that was how I was introduced to everyone here."

Harry noticed tears beginning to form in his mother's eyes and changed the topic. "Okay. Well, you get to see Hagrid now, uh, Charalayne, so cheer up."

She brushed her cheek with her finger and gave a feeble smile. "What're you going to do if I don't, throw me onto a broomstick and make me Keep?" His expression turned to one of wonder and she slapped his shoulder. "I'm not giving you any ideas, you hear me? I don't like being up in the air, I only like watching James-" She froze. "Never mind." She started walking so quickly that Harry had to run to catch up.

In her bag, a very small pendant on a long golden chain sparkled, the inside slowly moving upward.

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People were staring at Harry when he entered the Great Hall, this time expecting him to drop dead. He saw Professor Trelawney at the Staff Table lean over to Flitwick("See, I told everyone he was going to die, that I had seen it in his third year, but no, no one believed me.") and ignored her whispers and sat down at the Gryffindor table, next to Hermione and Ron. Charalayne sat opposite Hermione, and the two were soon immersed in "Book Talk" that they quite ignored the food that appeared on their plates. It shocked Harry that within just the previous half hour, Charalayne had been in tears. Yet, now she looked as if she was the happiest person in the world.

Hermione had those mood swings every once in a while. 'Oh well,' he thought, 'They ARE so similar it's scary, and maybe Hermione's character is rubbing off on Mum. Maybe that's it.'

But that didn't explain how Ginny was suddenly threatening to hex someone if they asked her if she was all right.

Harry shook his head and laughed at Ron's joke, all the while keeping his eye on Charalayne. It was weird, how she and Hermione were getting along so well.

Girls.