Expelled Chapter Nine:

by Oldie. Dra

Harry, Emerald, Tera, and Allegra sat around their common room, each reading a book, looking as bored and disinterested as one could look. The silence of the room was broken only by the ticking of the large mahogany Grandfather clock that sat in the center of the wall opposite the entrance.

Cassandra was, as was usual since the reunion between her and Sirius, was out 'catching up' with her lost love. No really believed they spent that much time filling each other in on the last seventeen years, due to the fact that each night she was with Sirius, she came in with many more hickeys than when she left.

Harry and Emerald were sitting together on the love seat, leaning against each other and sharing a book on the Properties and Reactions of Powdered Pheonix Feathers. Both were ready to fall asleep, but for reasons they couldn't even figur out themselves, they refused to get up and go to bed.

an onlooker, with insight to their feelings, might suggest that they were just to tired to get up. Others might believe their refusal to move was a subconscious reluctence to leave the comfort of each others presences.

Allegra was reading a historical christian romance taking place in the US State of Alaska, while Tera read a self updating boook on newly discovered medical potions.

It had been three hours since dinner ended in the Great Hall, and just as long since either Cassandra or Sirius had been seen. The remaining four Elementals had retired to their rooms as soon as dinner was through, and had unconsciously made a decision to wait up for Cassandra.

but as it drew closer and closer to midnight, all of them were begining to think they wouldn't be able to make it. They had already been up since six that morning and after four hours of vigorous training, they were ready to drop asleep at any moment.

as it would happen, ten minutes after midnight, Emerald and Harry had fallen asleep on the couch, Emerald laying with her head in HArry's lap and Harry resting against the arm of the love seat, his hand resting on Em's head, peaceful, comfortable looks on their faces.

Tera sat up and raised her arms abover head, stretching as she yawned. She glanced at the clock as she lowered her arms.She book marked her page as she spoke to Allegra. "I need to go to bed. Cassie's a big girl, we don't need to stay up all night waiting."

Allegra agreed and put her own book up. She left it sitting on the corner of the coffee table and stood up. After she stretched, she made her way to the love seat and summoned a comforter. After unfolding it, she layed it over the sleeping best friends and walked over to Tera, who was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, next to the light switch, waiting. She flipped off the main light, leaving only a small lamp on so Cassie wouldn't trip when she came in.

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There was a soft giggling as the door opened and a pair of people stumpled into the room. "Shh! stop. . ." there were some rustling. . ." we're going to wake someone up. . .." The man had his face in the womans neck and she started giggling again as they walked and stumbled towards the stairs.

It wasn't till the woman, cassie, nearly fell over a chair, that she saw Harry and Emerald asleep on the couch. She raised a finger to her lips and pointed to the sleeping duo. Sirius looked at them and almost laughed out loud at how close they had come to waking them up. he nodded, a smirk on his lips and they continued their trek to and up the stairs.

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The room wass cool, too cool. The warmthless sunlight shone softly on the sleeping duo, bathing them in gold glow that mixed with the darkness of the lightless room. You could see dust particles floating in the air in glow, and Harry tightened his arms around the girl in his arms and burrowed deeper under the comforter, seeking warmth.

A crow cawed outside and harry stirred. He woke easily when h heard unfamiliar noises, or noises not caused by those close to him, whom he considered safe. He blinked his eyes open and blearily looked around. he flt the light weight of Emerald in his arms and looked down. A large grin over took his face when he looked at her peaceful face.

he layed his head back down and enjoyed the apple scent or her hair filling his senses. he her head was tucked under his chin now, and he closed his eyes, wanting to enjoy the feel of her in his arms and the warmth she filled him with for a little while longer. before he had to get up and start the day.

He lay there, trying to figure himself out. He'd know for awhile he had feelings beyond friendship for his best friend. But he couldn't make himself risk their friendship over a relationship that might fail, as much as he wanted it to succeed. Then, there was the matter of whether Emerald even liked him that way. He doubted she did. Why would she? he was her best friend! Maybe I should ask her out. . .NO! She'll sy no, or she say yes because she feels sorry for me that I like her that way when she doesn't feel he same, and she wouldn't want to hurt my feelings so she'd go out out, and. . .And he heard the floor creak under someone's foot, a few seconds later, he heard a shower start.

He sighed. It was his day to cook breakfast. He slowly extracted himself from Emeralnd and Got off the couch without disturbing her. When he was standing,he tucked the comforter more tightly around her and lit a fire in the fireplace.

Then he made his way to the kitchen and began the breakfast.

"Did anyone see Cass come in last night?" Emerald asked, before taking a bite of her waffles. Tera, Allegra, and Harry were seated around her at the table, all eating the delicious waffles harry had made them.

Tera shook her head. "No. Allegra and I went to bed soon after midnight. You two were so darn adorable last night, we decided to leave you alone. Anna, surprisingly slep throughout the whole night." Harry and Emerald blushed and glared at the two laughing woman.

Their laughing was put on hold, however, when two figures stumbled their way down the stairs and into the kitchen dining room. The figures stopped short when they saw the four around the table, their eyebrows raised in surprise, amusiment and smugness.

"I guess she did come in last night. . .or should I say they came in." allegra said with a smirk. Harry clucked his tongue and shook his head. "cassandra, cassandra, cassandra, What will we do with you? Bringing a man into your room? Honestly. What if the baby had heard you two?" Harry asked, a one of dissaproval and dissapointed exasperation...Only the light, barely there twinkle in his eyes Emerald saw let her and her alone know he was playing.

Cassie and Sirius seemed to sober up considerably. "I'll have you know, MR. Roulette, that Sirius and I did nothing last night that would be deemed inappropriate by any level headed person. And even if we had, I resent the insinuation that i would not be considerate enough to place some sort of silenceing spell up to prevent any. . ." she trailed off, see Harry, Emerald, and the now clued in Tera and Allegra fight to keep the grins off their faces. Her eyes narrowed and she growled. That did it. they all started laughing. She hit Harry on the shoulder and glared. He just laughed harder.

"Well Ms.Aiden, I resent that you would think me so little confident in your abilities to behave as an adult should such a situation arise! I suppose this means I shouldn't be so confident, seeing as you think yourself not to be so capable, as you express doubt of my confidence, as if you regularly display non responsible behaviour." Harry shot back. they stared at each other , eyes narrowed and glaring. then, they both started laughing.

Sirius was staring at Cassie, his mouth slack jawed. When they finally noticed his expression, cassie asked, "What's wrong, Siri?"

"You two sound exactly like Snape when you do that." They frowned. "Do what?" Sirius shook his head. "Ms. Aidan, Mr.Roulette...You sound like Snape! It's not funny!" he said as they started laughing again.

Harry was sitting on the lawn, holding baby Anna in his arms while she slept, watching the giant squid float around the lake. the sun was shining brightly on the school that day, and Harry had decided to enjoy it while it lasted. He had volunteered to the baby for a couple of hours, so Tera could have a much deserved break.

over the last few days, The group had tried to contact any kin Ella might have had, but sadly, there was none. They had decided to bury Ella in the garden of Harrys Ireland home, Where they could bring Anna to visit her mother anytime after they were done with their stint at Hogwarts.

Harry had sealed the pensive and sent it to safe location inside one of his many homes. Then, Harry and Tera had went baby shopping. The group had agreed to let Tera adopt Anna, like she had wished. But Harry haad insisted on being the first to buy Anna any toys or things she would need. he had said it was a thing he wanted to do as her new Uncle.

Harry and Tera had went to every imaginable baby store they could find. Harry nearly bought out every store, which made for very happy sales clerks. He had bought her blankets in every style, color, texture, material. stuffed animals of every sort, muggle and magical alike. Food, formula, clothes, bassinets, room accessories and decorations. Tera had just laughed and watched, letting Harry choose everything. She wasn't worried about him buying something she wouldn't like, because he bought it all.

Now Harry was rocking the baby gently in his arms, just watching her sleep. he was dreaming of the day he would have his own baby to hold , and to spoil rotten. He could see himslef holding his child in the baby's room, rocking it back and forth to sleep. And then the baby's mother walked up to stand next to him. she raised a hand to his shoulder and leaned against him, looking over his shoulder at their baby. He turned his head to look at her and his eyes locked with his Emeralds and . . ."You look a million miles away." Allegra sat next to him, snapping him out of his daydream. Harry almost scowled, but didn't.

Allegra looked at him, giving him a chance to collect his thoughts.

"I was just thinking about Anna..." he trailed off, looking at the sweet baby in his arms.

She nodded. "And thinking about your domestic future, am I right?" she asked. Harry grinned. "Yes, you are right. After I'm finished with Voldemort, I hope it won't be too late for me to start a family of my own." "It won't be. It'll never be too late untill your dead and buried. and that won't happen for a very , very long time to come. You'll live to be at least two hundred years old." Harry laughed.

"That's good to know. I was getting worried there.I thought you would pull a Trelawny on me and say I had two months to live." She laughed and rolled her eyes. "Please, my Inner Eye is for real, Mkay?"

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"It's a beautiful night," Tera stated walking into the kitchen where the others were debating what to eat for dinner. "Why don't we have a picnic near the lake?" she asked.

The others looked at each other, and then smiled, liking the idea very much. Cassandra summoned a picnic basket and the others ran around, collecting food to take.

They grabbed grapes and strawberries, a cheese pizza, vegetarian chikin nuggets, grape juice, salad, and chocolate candies for dessert.

After they packed it into the basket, they summoned a blanket, and they were ready. They walked to lake, Harry carrying the basket and walking in between Emerald and Allegra. Tera carried Anna and walked next to Cassandra.

They chose a spot and layed out the blanket and set the food out. Cassandra cast some bug repelling charms and made a few vegan candles float above them, giving them enough light to see, but not to take away from the naturaal light of the moon and stars.

They sat down and ate.

TBC

AN: I hope you enjoy. I know there wasn't much action, but when I sat down to write, this is what came out. Chapter ten out soon!