Disclaimer: No I do not own any of the characters, they belong to J.K. Rowling. I do own Erica, Voula, and brief characters mentioned during the sorting and other chapters. Oh! I own the plot too!!!

A note from the author: For those readers looking for angst, you are looking in the wrong spot. As this is a romance fic, my characters will not go any farther than kissing and innocent caresses. There will be no consummating the love. They shall remain innocents. There will be war though.

Ok, one reminder of a character you all might not remember. Ashlyn, I love that name, is Erica's cat.

"__" Speech '__' Thoughts ~__~ Song

Chapter 10

Erica was awoken when something landed hard on her stomach. "Oof! What was that?" she looked down and saw Ashlyn pawing at the blanket covering her stomach. "Oh, hey there girl," Erica reached down and patted the sweet cat.

She sat up and parted the hangings, "Where am I? I am obviously in a Gryffindor dorm, it's not mine though," she whispered looking around the room. There were a few quidditch poster on the wall around one of the beds and by another there was a few obviously muggle posters. She suddenly remembered why, and noticed she had fallen asleep fully clothed, she spoke to Ashlyn, "How did you get in here?" The cat just mewed back, seemingly dignified with its nose in the air.

Erica looked to her right where a big lump was laying next to her under the comforter she barely remembered transfiguring last night.

'He loves me. He told me the loves me. I told him I love him and I do.' She watched as Ashlyn walked up to Harry and curled herself right above his head, licking an exposed ear in the process causing Erica to laugh. When Harry reached up to rub the irritation. 'Ashlyn likes him too, that's a bit strange. She doesn't normally like people.'

Harry pulled the blanket down so she could see his emerald eyes, shining even in the morning. "What?" he asked with a grunt.

"Nothing, Ashlyn likes you," she responded with a sparkling smile, "She doesn't like people. Actually she doesn't like any human except for me."

"So? Is this why you woke me up?"

"I didn't wake you up on purpose. It was just cute," she looked at her spelled wristwatch. "Besides, we should have been up an hour ago. Breakfast is long over and don't you have quidditch practice in about twenty minutes?"

"What time is it?!"

"About ten fifteen."

"Damn! Why didn't Ron wake me up?"

"Dunno," she parted the hangings peeking at Ron's bed. "From the looks of it, he wasn't here last night," she said with a giggle. "I wonder if they found the Room of Requirement last night."

Harry just groaned, ripping back the hangings on his side of the four- poster bed.

"I'm guessing you're not a morning person, Hun," Harry just grunted in response as he retreated to the bathroom. "Yea, you definitely answered my question."

=^..^= =^..^= =^..^=

Twenty-five minutes later, Harry was running out onto the quidditch pitch where he found his team member waiting for him. Ron was the first to notice him, "What took you so blinking long Harry!?"

"Sorry, I only woke up twenty-five minutes ago. Slept right through breakfast. You were supposed to wake me up Ron."

"Hey! It's not my bloody fault. I came this morning and some crazy black cat was outside the door and wouldn't let me in. It was super strange really. Hermione met me in the common room this morning and she said Erica hadn't been to her bed. Any idea where she was this morning Harry?"

"How would I know?" Harry said with a blush.

"Not saying you did bud," Ron replied with a smirk, "Just asking. Come on we should get to practicing."

=^..^= =^..^= =^..^=

*Twenty-five minutes ago*

When Harry had gone into his bathroom Erica stayed a minute or two to make his bed then left for her room. She stepped out of Harry's dorm and ran into Hermione. "Erica? What were you doing in Harry's room?"

"Umm... I was... he... umm... they... we were..." Hermione started to crack up. Erica's mouth gaped open, "What?"

"Nothing. You didn't sleep in your bed last night."

"Like you did. Ron wasn't in his bed last night; I'm betting you weren't either. Used the Room of Requirement did you?"

"So what if we did." Hermione flushed a bit. "Did you just confess to sleeping with Harry?"

"I guess. That's all we did though. Sleep. We didn't 'do it'," she replied raising her hand into the air and made quotes as Doctor Evil had in and Austin Powers movie she had seen. "I am saving that for marriage, if you meant sleep in that way. We were just super tired. Harry more so. He ended up using Occlumency lessons last night.

"I used empathic healing to help him. I'm just glad I didn't mess up. It was super dangerous to do that, as I have never used it before. It might have been stupid to do that I don't know if it'll have long term affects.

"If I hadn't done that though, Harry might have passed out from over exhaustion. He was having a hard time fighting off the vision. I had to help or let us go into the vision or whatever you want to call it."

"Wow, Erica. Do you think Voldemort knows of the link between you two?"

"Well, maybe. He was wondering after the first time I shared a vision with Harry. He was really pissed then. I don't really know though. Maybe he is using Harry to get to me, or the other way around. He could want to get two birds with one stone."

"Even I hadn't thought of it that way. You could be right. We shouldn't be talking about these things here. Later, though."

"You're right of course. We don't know when he'll strike. Where can we go?"

Erica and Hermione stood there for a few moments in deep thought before Erica sneered and slapped her forehead, "Duh!"

"What?" Hermione seemed a bit worried about the girl before her.

"I don't know how I didn't think of it before. We need a room that is spy-proof, has everything we need, and can fit a large number of people. Right?"

"A large numb-."

"All we need is the Room of Requirement! We need to talk about this with the D.A., it's their fight too. They should know what's going on."

Hermione gasped, "Of course, I don't know how I could have been so stupid as to not see that! We'll talk about this later and if I were you I would go change before someone sees you by Harry's door with wrinkled robes. Just think of the rumors." She had spoken the last part with a small giggle and walked off before Erica had a chance to respond.

=^..^= =^..^= =^..^=

Harry entered the team changing room a while later, his robes clinging to his fit body with all of the water and mud, quickly followed by his team mates. It had started raining halfway through their practice and Harry had been trying some new moves, many of which had gone wrong and dragged him through the muck.

Harry had just removed his quidditch robes when he heard someone yell his name and felt arms go around his waist from behind. "Hi Erica."

"Hiya. You were great out there," she had been watching for half an hour from the stands. "Pity you had to leave so early this morning, though." Erica said with a kiss to the crook of his neck. "You were such a grump earlier. It was cute though."

"Sorry, I'm not a morning person."

"As I found out when you didn't answer that question," she scoffed.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry."

"Can you, please, stop saying you're sorry?"

"Okay, sor- okay."

"Good, just never say it unless it's warranted," turning him around she grazed his lips with hers, "You left too quickly."

"I know, I'm beginning to regret it," he growled against her lips placing a hand at the small of her back and the other behind her head, pulling her closer. She would have collapsed onto the floor had Harry not been holding her up.

A minute or two later he noticed everyone in the room watching them. He pulled away leering a bit before he whispered into her ear. "Erica, as much as I would enjoy snogging you into eternity right here, I need to change into dry clothes and we have an audience."

Erica turned to see wide eyes on them. Ron was smirking, "thought you didn't know where she was last night Harry."

Hearing a giggle from Erica, Harry looked down at her shining face before she spoke, "I bet you would have told Harry you didn't know where Hermione had been."

Ron's face flushed and his mouth just flapped. his voice finally returned, "How much do you know?"

"Only what Hermione told me Ron," she replied wrapping her arms around Harry's waist and resting her head on his chest. Harry unconsciously started to run his fingers through her scarlet strands.

It took them a while before Erica noticed that Harry was still standing there soaked to the bone, not seeming to care, "Harry?"

"Hmmm?"

"You should change before you catch a cold, I would feel terribly responsible. The sooner you finish here, the sooner I can change," she smirked, "my front is soaked now because of you."

"You're the one who hugged me."

"I know, and I will never regret it."

=^..^= =^..^= =^..^=

Harry and Erica had hurried back to the common room so Erica could change into dry clothes. She and Harry had not yet planned their meeting with the D.A. so she figured she would have to force that talk. He would not willingly do anything besides look into her eyes and hold her hand. She could have sworn he would have followed her into her room had it been allowed. They had just found each other and now they had to consider the war. It just wasn't fair.

'Well nothing in life had ever been fair for you, Erica. Why would it start now?' she thought as she changed into black jeans, a dark purple long- sleeved v-neck shirt, topped off with her hair pulled into two loose braids over her shoulders and a black cotton trench coat.

She would have bought a leather trench coat but she was against wearing animal skin, not to mention the price of those things. Shoes were an exception; she did after all have to have her running shoes. After adding silver earrings to her ears and a chain to her jeans he walked downstairs to see Harry waiting on the couch.

He was in a daze, staring into the fire. She couldn't resist. Walking up behind him almost soundlessly she went right up to his ear. "hi Harry!"

He bolted off of the couch yanking out his and. Erica started laughing, loudly. Then she noticed how frazzled he she had made him and knew what he had been thinking of. Her face fell; her smile was turned upside down.

"Oh, Harry. I'm sorry."

Harry sheathed his weapon, "It's ok."

"No, it's not. I knew we would have to talk about it sooner or later. I was just hoping it would be later," Harry tried to cut her off but she wouldn't let him, "No, We have to speak of the upcoming war, Harry, with the club tonight. We cannot avoid reality, Harry. I know it's not fair. But we have to. We all have responsibilities, one of them being the D.A. We should have planned the meeting earlier."

"I know."

"We were avoiding everything. Harry?"

"Yes?"

"can you just promise me one thing?"

"Sure, Erica. What is it?"

"Don't let worry control your actions. You may not know what I mean now, but later... promise me that, Harry."

Like so many times before, indeed, Harry was utterly perplexed. He did not have any idea, as she said he would, what she was talking about. 'is she a prophet as well as an empath?' he didn't voice these thoughts though, and quickly agreed, not wanting to upset her. "Of course, Erica."

"You promise?"

"Yes, I promise." Erica leaped over the couch, pulling Harry into a tight hug.

"Good. We should really go. We need to gather the gang; they need to be involved in this talk. This army needs to strategize."

"Right, I'll find Hermione and Ron, they're bound to be together. You can find Voula and Chris."

"Ok. Meet you in the Room of Requirement?" Harry nodded and Erica stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. "I'll see you later then... I love you."

"yes, I love you too. Hey have you heard that Draco has a new girlfriend?"

"Really?" one of her eyebrows rose along with a corner of her mouth, her patented confused/amused look, "Do you know who it is?"

"No, all I know is that he dumped Parkinson about two days after you passed out."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Who is this new girl? What will be her role in Harry and Erica's future if she has one at all? Why did Erica have him make that promise? What did she mean? Why am I asking so many questions that will have no answer till the next chapter is written? Ok, I'm done with that. Answers next chapter!! Right Harry?

Harry: Right. They should at least know that the girl is- ::Esgal covers his mouth with her hand::

Esgal: All they will be told is that she is a girl. Which I hope they knew.

Harry: Yes, but cant they just-

Esgal: No.

Harry: Well what about-

Esgal: Nope.

Harry: Fine you're the writer. Do as you please.

Esgal: Do as I please? Are you sure about that Harry? What is I made you deathly ill? What if you were kidnapped? What if you fell out of love with Erica and started cheating? Not that I would do that, you are too sweet and emotional in this story.

Harry: Yes, do as you ple- wait a minute. Damn my mouth! Not again! You would think I was out of your system after you little crush o-

Esgal: Say one syllable of his name, Harry, and you will not even remember yours. I promise that.

Harry: ::he gulps:: Right then. A secret it will remain.

Esgal: That's what I thought. What do you want to happen in my story, Harry?

Harry: Just stop making new characters. There are too many to begin with belonging to J.K. Rowling. Colin Creevy and his little brother are too much to begin with anyways. Just don't create any more to create havoc.

Esgal: Well, Harry. I don't think I can promise that. I should at least create a few death eaters to mess up your life a bit. It wouldn't be fair to my readers not to do it. It's expected! I have to screw with Erica a bit too. I must keep these people guessing. My story is becoming a bit of a bore I think. I haven't gotten any reviews for the past three chapters; I'm becoming a bit worried. I hope I can rile them up a bit. All you two have been doing is kissing. That's all you will ever do. Even if it will bring me more reviews. The highest rating I will have is pg-13. ::She lets out an agitated scream and grabs him by his shirt shaking him:: What am I doing wrong Harry?

Harry: I don't know. How am I supposed to know if you don't? Maybe you are repeating things a bit too much? Hello! I'm a figment of your imagination! I only think what you make- No!

Esgal: ::suddenly happy and upbeat:: Oh yeah! That's right. ::smirks:: I very much like when you remind me of that. Does that mean- ::someone coughs from behind Esgal and she turns around to look at the disturbance:: Draco! How very nice of you to join us! I was just thinking of you!

Draco: No doubt. ::glares at Harry::

Esgal: So, Draco. How do you like your new girlfriend?

Draco: Umm... I can't say. You don't want her to be revealed just yet, Esgal.

Harry: Of course she doesn't. ::chastising tone:: Why did you have to think of my enemy Esgal Fey?

Esgal: Did you have to ask? ::blinks and their shirts are gone revealing their quidditch toned muscles:: Mmmm... You're both biscuits.

Harry: Sometimes I think you belong in Slytherin.

Draco: She's a mix of all the houses, and no doubt a pureblood, a hot one at that.

Esgal: ::eyes shining:: Why, thank you Draky.

Harry: ::He wrinkles his nose in disgust:: Draky? How can you call the prick anything other than Malfoy?! He's my worst enemy!

Esgal: Yes, we know that, Hun. But remember this is my mind. You do what I want and I think this has gone on long enough. I should leave these poor people alone. So I will say adieu to you all. ::Harry and Draco begin to walk off stage:: Hold on, I wasn't saying adieu to you two. ::Esgal runs up to them and threads her arm through theirs, walking off stage:: I'm not finished you guys. Bye All! Remember Read and Review!