A/N: Yeah, I know, I haven't done any of these yets. That's cuz I was just writing the story and all, and I didn't know about the edit. But as you can see I have condensed the chapters from what it was and yeah! I also changed the distance between when this chapter occurs from the start of school... I realized that Quidditch tryouts are sooner, which affects the next chapter

1 WEEK LATER

Vikky walked into the Great Hall with Hermione, talking about the easy assignment they had gotten from Professor Flitwick on the Speechless Charm, a charm that could be used to make a person quiet for up to 4 hours at a time. But only the most powerful of wizards could make one last that long. Hermione had been able to make hers last an hour, and Vikky's had lasted just as long.

At times, Hermione felt that Vikky was infringing on her status as the smart one, but they got along so well that she really didn't care much anymore.

"I can't believe it only has to be 10 inches! That's like writing a story! That's so easy!" Vikky was saying as they headed to the Gryffindor table, where Harry and Ron were already sitting.

"Did you guys run here or something?" Hermione asked as she sat down across from Ron, and Vikky sat next to her, across from Harry. They both made a face as the two boys continued to eat at an amazing speed. When they seemed to have finished, the looked up and noticed the girls for the first time.

"When did you two get here?" Ron asked, wiping his mouth with a napkin. Harry did the same thing and nodded, his gaze on Vikky, who had just grabbed a sandwich and was starting to eat it at a half-way normal speed.

Hermione shook her head, sighing. "You wouldn't know, you were too busy stuffing your faces. You would think the food would disappear the speed you ate it at," she teased, grabbing a piece of chicken and beginning to eat it. "I asked if you ran here."

Ron laughed. "Yeah, just about. We were just hungry, ok 'Mione," he muttered.

"Yeah, or you just wanted to gross us poor girls out," Vikky chimed in after she had swallowed. Ron sent her a fake glare and Vikky stuck her tongue out at him.

"Oh, I'm so scared. Harry, what do I do? She-SHE STUCK HER TONGUE OUT AT ME!" Ron cried in fake anguish. Vikky started to giggle and Harry hit Ron playfully.

"Stupid ogre," Harry muttered. Both of them reached for what appeared to be the last piece of chocolate cake.

"Pigs," Hermione and Vikky said at the same time. They started to giggle and Harry started to blush, letting Ron take the piece of cake.

Hermione started to laugh. "Oh, someone's embarrassed!" she teased, and Vikky blushed bright red as she said that.

"I think I'm gonna go get a head start on that essay for charms," she muttered, standing up and grabbing her bag.

From across the room, a blonde boy grinned. He would get her. He didn't care what she thought. He would have her. He had already started a plan, and he would be able to complete it soon. He grimaced as he saw Harry stand up.

"VIKKY!" Harry cried, running down the hall after Vikky, who had just turned the corner. He came around it still going full speed when he smacked into something. Harry collided with it and sent both of them sprawling.

"Ouch," a voice muttered as the thing sat up and rubbed her head. "Vikky! I am SO sorry," Harry apologized, scrambling to his feet, offering her his hand, which she took for a second as she stood up, but she quickly dropped it.

"What did you want?" she asked, still rubbing her temple.

"Well, I just wanted to say sorry. I didn't mean to make you leave dinner. I feel bad, I mean, you are Herms were right, we were being pigs, and I realized it, then Herms went and had to be all smart and make fun of me, and in a way, you." He started to blush, and this caused Vikky to blush again.

"It's ok Harry, I just wanted to work on my paper," she fibbed. Harry smiled.

"Well, I have the same assignment. Do you um, want to work together on it?" he asked hopefully. "I swear, just as friends. I'm not trying to do anything. I just want to know if you want to work together."

Vikky nodded. "Sure, it's fine." She mentally scolded herself for accepting, knowing that no matter what he said, Harry would still probably try and make a move on her.

An hour later, Vikky flopped herself down into an armchair, sighing softly as Harry sat in one next to her. "Isn't that so much easier than waiting to the last minute, Harry?" she asked, her eyes closed.

Harry was gazing at her, taking in all of her features. He snapped back to reality when he heard her talking. "Hmm, yeah," he muttered, blushing slightly. "Thanks for the help. I understand it now. I wonder where Hermione and Ron are. They haven't been here in awhile."

Vikky grinned. "Harry, you were so wrapped up in your assignment, you didn't even see them arrive. They both came back about half an hour ago. Hermione went up to our room, and Ron went to your room, grabbed his broom, and left, most likely for the Quidditch pitch. And no, you didn't miss practice. I just think he wanted to avoid Hermione ragging on him to do his homework," she quickly added when she heard him shift in his seat and curse silently when he thought he was missing practice.

Harry started to laugh. "Guess I was just trying to hard on my homework." Vikky nodded and stretched. "This is so much nicer than Durmstang," she mumbled softly, curling up in the chair, her head resting on the arm of the chair. Harry's eyes were still on her, and she opened her eyes just enough to notice this. She sighed softly. Why couldn't she just admit that she liked him? Why did it have to be so hard?

"Harry-" she started, then stopped short.

"Yes?" he asked hopefully, hoping she would say what she really wanted to say, that she liked him and would go out with him.

"-nice job on your essay," she finished, unable to voice her true feelings.

"Thanks," he mumbled, blushing slightly as he realized that either she was too shy to say anything or she really didn't like him. He felt kind of like what his dad had been described as going through for his mom. He sighed. How he really wanted his parents, or even Sirius, back in his life, able to explain things to him.

"And Harry," she continued sleepily, close to falling asleep in front of the warm fire.

"Yes?" he asked, gazing at her again.

"Thanks for being a friend," she mumbled sleepily, yawning as she readjusted herself against the chair.

"No problem Vikky," he muttered. There was no response from her. "And good night. I love you" he whispered to her 'sleeping' form. Unfortunately she wasn't quite asleep yet. Although soon after-about half a second later- she was sleeping. The last thought she had was, 'Well, that was weird.'

'Harry, this is your cue to at least cover her with a blanket,' his conscience told him. He grinned at himself and grabbed a blanket from one of the closets, putting it over her and tucking it in.

He started to walk towards his dorm when Hermione came down the girl's stairs. "Hey Harry. Where's Vikky?" she asked.

Harry held his finger to his lip, shushing her. "She's sleeping. I just got her a blanket."

"Aw, how cute!" Hermione teased, and Harry stuck his finger in his mouth, pretending to gag himself. "And how manly of you Harry." She shook her head at his hopeless cause as he ran up the stairs to his dorm.

Hermione grinned, sitting down on the chair by Vikky. She poked Vikky's side. "Get up Ms. Lovebird," she started to tease Vikky, when she woke up suddenly and put her hand to Hermione's mouth.

"SHH!" she said, slowly taking her hand off Hermione's mouth, looking around and seeing no one was in the common room anymore.

"I helped Harry with his homework and we even talked, and it was normal! Then, I was almost asleep, and he noticed and said good night. He must have thought I was sleeping because he said, and I quote, 'I love you,'" she explained to Hermione.

Hermione was getting giggly over the situation. "It's not funny Hermione! What do I do?" she cried in anguish, but Hermione was saved from answering by the entrance of Ron, who practically flew through the common room and up to his dorm. Hermione turned to watch him disappear, and when she turned back, Vikky had disappeared, leaving only the blanket in a rumpled mess. When Hermione got to her dorm, she saw Vikky asleep in her bed, already out like a light, and Hermione followed suit, going to sleep quickly.