A/N – as always, I own nothing, so don't sue me. Blood from a stone and all that....

JKR is my hero – and she owns everything, I am merely an addicted fan with a really quirky sense of humor and a growing desperation for my next HP fix....thus reducing me to writing my own fanfic to fill the UNBELIEVABLY LONG AND ANNOYING gap BETWEEN BOOKS!!!!!!!

Okay, folks, here's the next chapter. I know it's short, but it's just a bridging chapter...the next one will have more....stuff. I hope to have something for you by later this week, this is so much fun!

CQ

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Chapter Five: Maura's Magic

When Maura came down for dinner, she was determined. She had laid on her bed, but she hadn't slept. She had thought, though. A lot. About the meeting, about the prophecy, about a lot of things, and she had questions for Harry.

Dinner was simple. Ginny had prepared a chicken pie and a salad for them, and had quickly excused herself afterwards to floo to George's home to visit with Angelina for the evening. Maura, Ron and Harry retreated to the library afterwards, discussing plans. They had been sitting comfortably for an hour when Ron stood.

"I'm off to the Leaky Cauldron. I told Seamus and Neville that I'd meet them for a pint later. Why don't you and Maura come along?"

"We may later," said Harry, not rising from the large leather wingback chair he was seated in. "I believe that Maura and I have a few things to discuss first."

"Darned right we do, Mr Potter," she said.

"Fine, then. You know where we are." Ron stepped into the fireplace. In a flash, he was gone.

"So, Miss Kennedy..."

"I want you to try to teach me," she said quickly, before she could lose her nerve.

"What?" That stopped him.

"You said that you thought only children could be taught, because their minds are more open. Well, I'm a pretty open-minded kind of person. I want you to try to teach me. Call me a test case."

"Not a good idea," Harry said, standing and walking towards the windows, his back to her.

"Why not?"

"It just isn't, Maura."

"I don't accept that. Either you have a reason, or there is no reason to not try."

"Magic isn't... it can be very dangerous."

"That's why I'm asking you to train me."

"I'm not..."

"I could ask Ron."

"No!" Harry was horrified. Ron would think it a wonderful idea. Harry couldn't even begin to think about the trouble that might cause.

Harry turned, looking at her determined face. He watched as she caught her bottom lip between her teeth. It reminded him... well, it was better to not even begin to think about what it reminded him of. He certainly didn't want to go there, at least, not tonight.

"What is the problem, Harry? Either we try and I can't do anything, in which case, nothing is lost, or we try and I can do something..."

"Which is exactly why we aren't going to try!" he stated. Why did she have to be so stubborn about this?

"Harry, if I could be of some use..."

"You are, Maura. Your job is to liaise between our worlds."

"Think of how much more convincing I would be if I could prove that magic existed!"

"You have no idea..." Harry rubbed his forehead exasperatedly with his left hand.

"The Ministry doesn't regulate magic users. I know, Harry, because I asked Ginny."

"There is regulating and then there is regulating, Maura."

"But..."

"Do you realize how much trouble you can get into by even doing magic in front of a muggle? Actually teaching them..."

"But that is exactly what the Order is suggesting we do. Teach magic to people who would otherwise be considered muggles.

"Look," she continued. "I probably won't even be able to do it. Just let me try."

"Oh, you'll be able to do it," Harry muttered. "That's what bothers me."

"What? What do you mean?"

"I..." he paused, realizing what he had said. "I can see the magic in you, Maura. You have an aura..."

"Then teach me what to do!"

Harry took a deep breath, looking into her eyes. How on earth did he get into this position? Why couldn't he have been born to a nice, normal, suburban muggle family?

He sighed, "You'll need a wand."

"Diagon Alley?" She asked hopefully.

"No. Oh, no," he said immediately. "Maura, no one can know about this. Do you understand? No one. Positively, absolutely, not a single soul."

"But why?"

"Because I could get in more trouble than you would ever believe possible, that's why. Merlin! I can't believe I'm actually considering this..."

"Harry! Please!" she looked up at him, a hint of desperation in her eyes. "I feel... ever since you brought me here I feel, well, strange. Displaced. I want to be part of this world, Harry, but..."

Harry watched her closely, considering for a moment.

"Maura, you have to promise me that you will never, ever use it in any way that might be discovered. You can't talk about it... not to anyone. Not even Ron, or Ginny. You can't possibly understand the risk, so you'll have to promise me and tell me you'll trust me on this before I agree. Do you understand?"

Maura wanted to question him, but thought better of it. She did trust him, so there was no reason not to agree, right?

"If you tell me that that is the way it has to be, then I won't question you. But please, Harry, teach me. I feel...."

"I know, Maura. Trust me," he swallowed. "Merlin, I could get in so much trouble for this. Very well..."

"Where will I get a wand?" she asked.

"I..." Harry walked over to his desk and removed a box from the bottom drawer. From it he took a beautiful wand. The color and texture of the wood...it actually seemed to glow. Maura reached out, then pulled her hand back, hesitating. She felt drawn to it.

"Harry?" Confused eyes met his.

"You can use this."

"Whose is it?"

"It belonged to a very good friend who we lost during the battle with Voldemort."

"Not...not Dumbledore?" she was shocked rigid.

"No," Harry's eyes were on the wand. "No, not Dumbledore. Hermione Granger."

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Maura reached for the wand slowly. Harry held it out to her. He didn't know if what he was doing was right, but he knew he had to do it.

The moment the wand was in her hand, she sighed, then smiled.

"It feels warm," she said, looking down at it.

"Try this," Harry suggested, producing his own wand and doing a little swishing motion with it. Sparks flew from the tip.

Maura imitated his wand movement, and was surprised as a rainbow of sparks trailed from the tip.

"Wow..." her voice was hushed, "Just like the sparklers kids play with."

"A little more powerful than firework sparklers," Harry said. "Okay, first spell..."

He put a quill in the middle of the desktop and swished and flicked his wand, "Wingardium Leviosa."

She giggled, knowing that this was one of the first spells that first year students learned. The scene from the book, where Hermione corrects Ron's pronunciation came to her, and she laughed harder, but then collected herself and imitated his movement and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

The quill shivered, then lifted several inches off the desk.

"Harry! Harry, I did it! Look!" she squealed. Immediately the quill exploded in mid-air.

"M...Maura! Watch how you wave that thing around, okay?" he grabbed her wand hand and held it still.

"Oh," she looked down to where he was holding her wrist firmly. "Sorry."

Raising her eyes to his, she felt a shiver of awareness. Harry Potter was a very handsome man. It was impossible to be this close to him, within inches of him, and not feel it.

"Harry?' She whispered.

"What are you doing to me?" His own voice was hushed. "I've never felt this way about..."

For a moment, she really thought he was about to kiss her. Every female instinct she possessed screamed that that was what was a moment away from happening.

And then he let go of her wrist and turned away.

"You're a witch," he said gruffly.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me..."

"Maura, I meant that literally. You can do spellwork. You're a witch."

"I'm a witch."

"Yes," he turned back to her, a rueful smile on his face as he looked her over. "You're a witch."

"Not a muggle."

"No."

"Truly?"

"Truly."

"What's next?" her eyes were sparkling with excitement. "What do we do next?"

"We go to bed," he laughed, then blanched, his face went totally white, then totally red. It reminded her of the Weasley hair.

"Harry?"

"I mean... I... we each..." he swallowed and took a breath. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded."

"I know," she grinned. "But maybe I wish you did."

He was speechless as he watched her leave the room. Thw sway of her hips told him she knew exactly what she was doing to him.

Witch.

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A/N -- To my reviewers -- thank you so much!

Katherine Rose -- I think we've all wondered, maybe even wished for that....as for where it's going, you'll have to read on and see! I THINK I know where it's going, but my muse has been playing mind games with me....so you never know!

James Milamber -- I'm glad you think so, as that is what I'm trying for! Thanks for adding me to your list -- you have no idea of how good that makes me feel, as Mind Mage is one of my absolute favorites! Oh, and thanks for the tip -- I appreciate it, being new to this fanfic thing!

CQ