disclaimer: if i owned Harry Potter, I would have Daniel and Rupert on each of my arms holding my shopping bags as I paraded around England. Considering the fact Im here in Mi-well, here, then I guess you would have to say I dont own Harry Potter do I?

Oodles of love to my reviewers! I love you all for reviewing!

toad: thanks.

holly: well, i updated! go me!

gldnsunsprite21: believe me, she'll get her share sometime soon...

laen: glad you like it.

SilverBelle: haha, i know, its so much harder to update now that school is back and alll...blah..anyways, thanks for reading and i love the sequel. keep up the great work!

tamarshaki: thanks! im glad people dont like her, i made her thinking she wasnt the type of person i would like to know, so i hoped everyone wouldnt like her either..

beautyandbrainz101: im glad you're still reading! what would i do without one of my best reviewers? thanks so much and keep up the reviews!

Galaxy of Dreams: thanks! yeah, i know what you mean. in some stories the two of them just confess their undying love for each other in the first chapter and they're shagging each other in the next.

madelf78: thanks!

bb: lol, thanks!

blue bell-uk: author alert! woo hoo go me! thanks!

padfootmoony13: thanks, and im glad you like how i made Harry dumb to some things. most of my reviewers think i make him too "dumb" to some things, im glad you like it. and this way it makes it obvious that he doesnt realize what he's feeling for hermione. glad you like the cliffhangers, i personally love them! keep reading, and thanks!

celiaia Devil Angel: thanks, and im sorry it took so long to update...

sweet-as-hunny: well, i think you're the first person who doesnt hate alexa! everyone else is like, die alexa die! lol, anyways, thanks for reading!

Ok, and now, chapter sixteen:

chapter sixteen...Regrets and Chicken Pocks

Hermione winced as the bright morning light spilled through the window. She didnt want to leave the comfort of her own bed and face the usual Saturday morning bustle. She snuggled deeper under the covers.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Hermione didnt move. She didnt feel like dealing with anyone right now.

Hopefully they'll go away if I dont answer...

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Ron set off to the Head Boy's and Girl's dormitories after Harry and Alexa had departed from him. He didnt understand why Harry would want him to check on Hermione, but he was doing it all the same.

I mean, for all I know, she's sleeping in...he thought

He climbed the stairs that would lead him to the entrance to the Head common room. As he approached it, he grimaced when he saw the knights were still there. He walked up to them as casualy as he could, pretending as if he belonged there. Coming up to their portrait, he faced the one of the knights.

"Wilanot," he said, just as Harry had done.

"You know, going from black hair and glasses to absurd orange hair and chicken pocks is extrodinary wand work.." one of them said to Ron.

Ron looked outraged.

"They're freckles! And it's red hair, not orange!" he cried.

"Well, it is clearly not your best look. Better change it quick-you might scare someone.."

"Listen you- my best friend is in there and could very well be dead for all I know and you won't let me go in and check on her? I could tear this picture down so quick you wouldnt be able to ask for the password first. " said Ron in a menacing voice.

"That sounds about right," said the knight.

Ron opened his mouth to reply but then was struck by a new idea.

"How do you think Dumbledore would feel if he sent me off to get her and I came back empty handed because one of his brainless portraits wouldnt let me in? I dont' think he would be too happy do you?" Ron asked.

The knights seemed to consider this for a moment.

"Y-you were sent by Dumbledore?"

"Do I have to repeat myself?" asked Ron.

"Well in that case...what did you say the password was?" asked the knight.

"Wilanot." proclaimed Ron proudly.

The portrait hole opened and Ron set off to Hermione's room, but not before helping himself to a couple chocolate frogs on the nearby table.

Once he came to her door, he raised his hand to knock first. Pounding his fist on the wood three times, he stood waiting for someone to answer.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Harry looked back to the castle before he mounted his broom. Alexa was standing infront of him, looking expectantly at him. Harry's eyes traveled back to Gryffindor tower. He wondered if Ron had reached Hermione yet. He was sure Ron knew the password to the dormitories. But what if Hermione hadnt slept in her own dormitory last night? What if she didnt even make it to her dormitory? What if something happened to her on the way back from the lake?

Harry's mind flashed back to last year when he had gone to fight Voldemort. Being stupid he had gone alone, not wanting to put anymore people in danger like he had in fifth year. But Ron and Hermione had shown up just in time. He remembered how great he had felt to see them there, to see her there, to know they would risk their lives to help him fight.

Flashback

This is it, Im over. The end to the life of the Boy Who Lived. No more Harry Potter...Im over...

Voldemort loomed over Harry, smiling. He flicked his wand and Harry was once again hit with the Cruciatus Curse. Althought the pain didnt seem so intense now. He was use to the pain; it was like nothing now.

"So Harry..the pain doesnt affect you now? You are too strong to take it? Does this mean you are ready to die?"

Voldemort's cold voice echoed around the walls. His white face was mere inches from Harry's. He was leaning over to face Harry who lay on the cold ground. He sneered at Harry before flicking his wand once more at his limp body resting on the ground. Harry shot upwards to a standing position.

"We cant have you dying on the ground like that, now can we? What would the wizarding world think if I killed you while laying down..that would be unfair to you Harry...You must die like your worthless father..standing proud.."

Harry felt a surge of hate flow through his body.

"My father was not worthless!" he yelled.

"Oh but he was Harry..you dont understand.."

"He was a-" but Harry couldnt finish the rest of his sentence. Suddenly everything went quiet and he was surprised to hear a voice other than his own echoing inside his head. At first he thought he was going crazy..who was talking to him? Someone was trying to communicate to him..the voice was faint, but Harry strained to hear it..

Hold on Harry...we're coming...

Hermione.

Pushing aside the fact Hermione was communicating to him through his thoughts, Harry's heart filled with love and gratitude at the sound of hearing her voice. He was not alone...he was not going to die... Hermione and Ron were coming to save him. Then Harry came back to his senses. Everything returned full blast. He couldnt hear her voice anymore, but he knew she was coming. And Harry knew what he had to do..

Harry focused his mind on distracting Voldemort. He had no idea when Ron and Hemione would be coming, but he knew he had to distract Voldemort until them.

Standing up properly, Harry gained his balance. Clutching his wand in his hand, he faced Voldemort, hatred running through him. He was shaking slightly, but forced himself not to do anything..yet..

"Wooks wike wittle baby Potter is ready to fight and get avenge for his dear Godfadder..."

That horrible voice that haunted Harry's dreams for the past year rang out through the crowd of deatheaters. Several laughed, throwing their heads back, crackling like maniacs.

Harry, letting his eyes travel from Voldemort to the deatheaters that surrounded them, started searching the crowd for the owner of the voice.

Oh I'll get avenge for him all right...just not now...I'll get you one day..mark my words...

"Do you really think so Potter? Do you really think you can fight me and win? Think again..I will always win..."

Bellatrix Lestrang stepped out from the crowd. She had her deatheaters mask pulled down so it reveled her face. She was looking straight at Harry, smiling that horrible smile.

Harry burned with hatred. He wanted nothing more than to rip her to pieces, to watch her scream with pain..

"If you think you can take me wittle Potter, then why dont you? Rip me to pieces like you desire..get avenge.." it was obvious Lestrang could read his mind. Harry took advantage of this.

Go on ahead..ladies first..take me if you want..kill me...I know you want to. You want to make me suffer just like you had to...it was my fault the prophecy was smashed..and you got blamed..

Keep them distracted...

Bellatrix dropped her baby manner. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at Harry. In one swift movement she had her wand pointed at Harry and was in the process of cursing him.

"NARRO-"

"BELLA NO! Not yet! I still need him for other purposes! We cannot kill him yet!" Voldemort yelled.

Harry smiled grimly at Bellatrix. So, still taking orders from this worthless piece of nothing?

She glared at him.

"Looks to me as if my master has efected you in ways also Potter..still dreaming about my dear cousin I see? Tell me, how often do the nightmares come?" she asked, clearly trying to get a rise out of Harry.

Harry opened his mouth to reply but stopped. The voice was back.

Just stay calm Harry, we're on out way...

Hermione's voice rang once again in his head, reminding him what he was fighting for.

Please hurry Hermione..he prayed silently.

Lestrang's face leered infront of Harry. Gritting his teeth, Harry looked her straight in the eyes.

Then, as if on cue, the door to the left of Harry burst open and Hermione and Ron stumbled through. Bellatrix and Voldemort turned to the pair with confused looks on their faces, as did many deatheaters. Regaining their balance, Hermione and Ron stood up properly.

At once, several wands were pointing at Hermione and Ron, the deatheaters ready to shout curses but stopped at Voldemort's orders.

"No, leave them. They want to fight, let them."

Harry got a glimpse of Hermione and Ron standing, wands out, just before he turned to Voldemort.

I have to keep his attention on me...he thought frantically...

Voldemort was watching the two with an amused look on his face. "Come to help your dear friend? How sweet..but I must warn you..the dark side always wins..you must die too.." he said.

Ron stood with his wand out, pointing at the surrounding deatheaters/ his eyes on Voldemort. Hermione, who was also looking at Voldemort, broke her stare to rest her eyes on Harry for a second. Harry met her gaze and suddenly felt an electrical charge shoot through his body. A new energy.

Keep fighting Harry..dont give up...we need you....

Harry turned to Voldemort.

"Not if I have anything to do with it.."

End of Flashback

Harry shook his head. He was sure if it hadnt been for Ron and Hermione that night, he wouldnt be here.

I dont think I thanked them enough for being there for me..

"Harry?"

Alexa stood in front of him, waving her hands in front of his face. "Wake up! You have a flying lesson to teach me remember?"

"Oh, sorry.."

"What were you thinking about anyways? You looked like you were in a whole other world.." she asked.

"Oh, just you know..things...So, where should we start?" he asked.

"You're such a dreamer..." Alexa smiled at him before ruffling his hair. "I like that." She mounted her broom and shot off from the ground. Grinning, she looked at the ground where Harry was standing. "Catch me if you can Potter!"

Harry flattened his hair before climbing on his broom and pushed off from the ground. As soon as he reached Alexa, she shot off in the other direction. She was a good flyer.

"Come on Potter, I know you can do better than that!" and with that she flew off to the end of the pitch, and started circling the goal posts, waiting for him to chase her.

Harry was desperatly starting to regret this..

The sooner I get this over, the sooner I can talk to Hermione..

And with that thought stuck in his head, he set off to the end of the pitch, causing a delighted Alexa to squel with excitement.

I knew you would give in...she thought

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

Ron knocked again.

Come on Hermione..Im not going away until you answer...

Finally he heard footsteps on the hardwood floors on the other side of the door and a minute later, Hermione's face appeared.

"Oh"

She looked slightly taken aback seeing him. Or maybe it was because his mouth was full of chocolate...

"Hey Mione," Ron said.

"Ron, uh, come in.."

I know, short chapter, im sorry, but the next will be longer. and just to let you know, i suck at action scenes so that flashback was totally sucky and i apologize. but i figured the whole Hermione communicating with Harry thing was kinda cool, so i had to add it somewhere. anyways, thanks for reading and dont forget to review!

loads of thanks,

Ashton