Chapter 14: Thinking it through during Christmas Break

It was the next morning and Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting in the common room drinking hot chocolate. It was Christmas break and everyone was happy and excited. Christmas was in a week and everyone was staying at Hogwarts. Victor was staying in a guest dorm to be with Hermione, and everyone thought Shiann was going home but she all the sudden said things got canceled and switched around so she was staying at Hogwarts.

"I was thinking last night and there are tons of weird things Shiann has done," Hermione said sipping hot chocolate.

"Great here we go again," Ron sighed almost laughing.

"No seriously think about it. Reddington School? There's no such thing. The time she was done with Snape in his room talking to him about something. The night Harry and Cho were outside and she ran all the way around to make it seem like she was coming from Hagrid's and lied and said she had the Marauders Map and that Snape was coming, when in reality there was something in the forest. Then last night, spotting whatever it was that shows that Voldemort's back. I mean there's something up. Seriously."

"That is pretty weird, and there probably is something she's not telling us," Harry said agreeing looking at Ron.

"I'm going to have to admit that's pretty weird," Ron said looking down.

"Well howa bout we ask her some stuff about where she lived and Reddington School. We'll be able to tell if she's a little uneasy about the whole thing and maybe she'll crack and say it's not true. I mean come on we've known he for awhile maybe she'll tell us something." Harry said.

"Okay but if she doesn't then I'm doing some serious research and asking her some things," Hermione said.

"Okay deal," Ron said.

They all sat there a moment before Hermione got up, "Well I told Victor I was going to meet him for Quidditch Practice today, so I'm gonna go and get ready and I'm guessing you two should too?"

"Oh yeah practice," Ron said sliding down in the chair, "I mean come on the day after the Ball?"

"I know but we need to get ready for our first official game," Harry said getting up.

"Yeah I guess," Ron said also getting up only slower. Ron had developed more skills in Quidditch and was getting very good. He started to get upper arm and chest muscles which Harry thinks is the only excuse for him going to practice.

"Is Shiann still sleeping?" Harry asked Hermione.

"Yeah last time I checked," Hermione replied.

"God that girl sleeps so much," Ron laughed walking with Harry out the door to quidditch practice.

"Yeah she does," replied Hermione as if it was another thing she can put to her "Weird things Shiann has done" list.

Well practice started and as they all walked out onto the field Harry and Ron saw Hermione with Victor. She was wearing a big pink fluffy coat with light blue pants. Her hair had once again been straightened and she looked real good.

"God Hermione sure has to dress up with Victor here," Ron said sarcastically as they mounted their brooms, but Harry wasn't listening. He was too busy looking at Cho who had obviously come to see him practice. She was with one of her other friends. She waved and smiled at Harry as they all got into their positions on the Quidditch field. They started doing warm-ups and other goal shooting and practicing before getting into a scrimmage. Ron had been doing real well and he looked up to the stands to find Shiann sitting up there with Cho and her friend. She had obviously just gotton out of bed, again. Just then Fred scored a goal and Ron snapped back into the game as everyone laughed. Ron had just let the ball fly through the ring. Shiann, Cho and her friend all looked at Ron who laughed along with them so it made it seem like an accident.

It was the end of practice and everyone was now leaving. Hermione and Victor sat cuddled up in the stands but besides that by the time the players left the field no one else was on the stands.

Ron got out of the locker rooms to find Shiann standing by the door, "Hey, nice practice,"

"Were you awake to see any of it?" Ron joked.

"Haha, yes I was," She smiled back.

"So what are you doing?" Ron asked as he started walking back along the castle with Shiann.

"Well they just announced that there was gonna be another Hogsmead Christmas Eve and I was wondering if you wanted to hang out there with me for a while till like 7?" She looked at him and smiled.

"Then at 7 you're meeting up with Draco?" Ron said annoyed.

"Well, Yes but, Hermione's gonna be with Victor and Harry with Cho and I just didn't want you to go with someone else cuz you know we don't spend that much time together without Harry and Hermione."

"Who else would I go with?" Ron joked.

"I dunno," Shiann said as they approached the castle.

"Yeah we can hang out for the day,"

"Cool," Shiann smiled as they walked in the castle to find Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle sitting in some chairs. Shiann and Ron didn't see him but Draco saw them.

"Hey," Draco said casually walking up towards them.

Shiann turned around, "Oh hey, what's up."

"Nothing much," Draco said, "Just going up to the Library to work on some potions homework. What were you up to?"

"I just went down to the Quidditch field to watch Ron and Harry," Shiann said getting a little nervous.

"Oh yeah our first game is in a week," Draco said looking at Ron.

"Yeah," Ron said, "We've been training real hard."

"So have we," Draco said raising an eyebrow, "So do you wanna study with me for a while?" he asked Shiann.

Shiann looked from him to Ron, "No, that's okay, But I'll talk to you after dinner tonight or something."

Draco looked down disappointing as Ron smiled and walked with Shiann up to the Gryffindor Tower.

"So what do you wanna do?" Ron asked Shiann.

"I dunno, I'm so tired and I look so bad, I can't believe I walked outside like this," She said looking down at what she was wearing. She was wearing baggy white pants with a pink zip up hoodie and her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. She did look tired but Ron still thought she looked great.

"You look fine," Ron said looking at her in disbelief.

"Sure whatever," Shiann laughed.

They walked into the Gryffindor common room to find groups of people scattered around. Harry had gone out with some guys from the team and Cho. Hermione was still at the field with Victor. So Ron and Shiann sat got some hot chocolate and sat down on the couch.

"So where did you say you went to school?" Ron asked her.

"Reddington. In Virginia,"

"Oh it wasn't that good I'm guessing?"

"No it was a bad school, they weren't equal or anything."

"But didn't you say you moved there just to go to school."

"Well yeah, my sister was a year older than me and our parents really wanted us to be good at defense against the dark arts, and the school was suppose to be a great at teaching it but like I said it wasn't equal to girls."

"Your sisters a year older than you?" Ron questioned.

"Yeah,"

"Then why isn't she at Hogwarts?"

"She... ummm... she's going to a different school where my parents live now."

"Where do they live?"

"Near France,"

"Oh wow!" Ron said looking down.

"Why didn't she want to come here,"

"Oh I guess it's just the whole sister thing. She didn't want me around and all I guess." Shiann's voice cracked.

"What's wrong?" Ron asked.

"Nothing, my voice must be going or something,"

"Oh, yeah it would be nice going to a different school than Fred and George and Ginny."

"No you wouldn't it really sucks not having her here," Her voice cracked again.

"I guess, but if you really miss her why aren't you still going home for Christmas or what all happened with the plans that got canceled."

"I would have loved to go home for Christmas but things just didn't work out because it's so far away and stuff."

"Oh I see," Ron said, "So you're coming back next year though right?"

"I don't know what's gonna happened."

"Well are you gonna be around during summer break? Because my family usually has Harry and Hermione come stay with us for a while because Harry hates it with aunt and uncle and it's real nice to be together with them when were not in school."

"I have no clue what's gonna happen but it would be nice to talk to you guys during the summer."

"Yeah you get school sick," Ron said laughing.

"Wow that's hard to believe," Shiann replied.

They talked a while longer before dinner, then they met Ginny and harry down in the Great Hall. Victor and Hermione were already sitting at the table eating. After Dinner Shiann and Draco met up and so did Hermione, Harry and Ron.

HERMIONE HARRY AND RON

They all walked back to the Library to finish some homework. Ron had told them all about his and Shiann's conversation. Harry and Hermione listened intently until the end.

"France?" Hermione questioned.

"yeah, she said her parents live there and her sister is going to school in France," Ron said not thinking much of it.

"That's not right," Hermione said as if there was something very weird about living in France that Harry and Ron didn't notice.

"Why isn't that right?" Harry questioned.

"Because one night we were all writing letters home and she had one for her mom and dad and the address said somewhere in Poland."

"Are you sure?" Ron asked leaning in forwards.

"Yes I'm positive."

"Well did you see the name on the envelope?" Harry questioned.

"No I tried but I couldn't,"

"Maybe she wasn't writing to her parents," Ron said.

"That's the only people she writes to unless she's lying and writing to someone else that lives in Poland." Hermione replied. She got up and got a book and returned back to the table they were sitting at. Ron noticed the cover: "Schools in the USA."

"What are you doing?" Ron questioned annoyed.

"You'll see," Harry and Ron looked at each other puzzled, just then Hermione turned the book around to let them read. It was a list of all wizarding schools in each state.

VERMONT: Alexis, wizarding school for boys

VIRGINIA; None

"See?" Hermione said closing the book, "She's definitely lying about that."

"Yeah she is," Harry said leaning back. Ron just looked at both of them and layed down in his arms. They sat awhile before harry spoke.

"Tomorrow's Chirstmas Eve, I told Cho I'd go with her but I have to go shopping for people including her. Any ideas?" he asked.

"I've never had a girlfriend how should I know?" Ron joked.

"Well what would you want to get Hermione?" Harry asked her.

"Something from the heart, that you know she'll like, even if its not the most expensive."

Harry thought there for a moment, "I still have no clue what to get her," Ron laughed and Hermione gave him the "It's not funny look"

"What? What are you getting Victor then?" Ron said looking at Hermione.

"I'm planning on getting him a new broom cleaning kit and those new quidditch gloves."

"Oh yeah from the heart," Ron said sarcastically.

"Those quidditch gloves are nice though," Harry said looking at Ron.

"Well it's hard shopping for guys!" Hermione said defending herself.

"Like its any easier shopping for girls!" Harry replied.

"Yeah I have no clue what to get Shiann," Ron said suddenly.

Harry and Hermione smiled.

"Shiann told me she asked you to go with her to Hogsmead," Hermione said smiling.

"Yeah she did but it's not like a date. She's meet Draco at 7. She just didn't wanna walk alone till then." Ron spat back at her.

"You don't know if that's what Shiann thinks!" Harry said.

"You don't either!" Ron replied.

"Well you two can fight all night but I'm going to bed I gotta get up early and get ready for Hogsmead."

"Yeah we know, you spend hours getting ready when Victors gonna see you," Ron joked as Hermione got up and walked by him hitting him on the back of the head.

The guys sat in the Library a while before leaving to go to bed. It was going to be a long day.

SHIANN AND DRACO

Shiann and Draco started walking towards the lake after dinner. It was getting kind of dark. Shiann changed clothes so she now was wearing blue jeans and her white leather jacket.

"So were still meeting each other at 7 tomorrow right?" Draco said hopefully.

"Yeah we're still on," Shiann smiled.

"What are you doing before that?" Draco questioned.

"I'm gonna go Christmas shopping with Ron," She said quieter.

"Hey it's okay if you hang with Ron. I don't care." Draco said as they sat down by the lake.

"I know but sometimes it seems like you might, but me and Ron are just friends,"

"I know and it's not like you were the one making out with him last night." He said almost joking, "I'm so sorry for that, I really am," He said again.

"It's okay as long as nothing happens like that again." She said smiling at him.

They sat there a moment. "You know the only reason I'm letting this start over is cuz I really like you." Shiann said looking at the lake.

"I know, I'm really lucky," Draco said holding her hand.

"Yeah you are," Shiann laughed looking at him.

They sat awhile talking before Shiann got up, "we better start heading in, It looks like its gonna rain,"

"Yeah it does, Come on," Draco said as they started walking.

"Race you," Shiann smiled at him as she took off running. Draco not ready for that started running too. They ran all the way up to the castle, Draco was right behind Shiann the whole time, but Shiann won in the end. They stopped running when they got to the castle stairs. Shiann sat down laughing.

"You totally let me win!"

"No I didn't!" Draco replied plopping down next to her.

"yeah you did!," Shiann said laughing as she playfully hit his shoulder.

"Hey! No I didn't I swear!"

"Sure, okay," Shiann said now out of breath. Draco laid down and Shiann laid down too on him arm.

"You're so fun," Shiann said.

"I'm fun? Wow no ones said that to me,"

"That's cuz I don't think you act like yourself when you're with other people." Shiann replied simply.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you try acting tough and you can say things that make you seem mean, but if you act like this all the time I think a lot of people would like you,"

"Yeah I guess I do, but I feel comfortable around you I guess,"

"Yeah I guess you do," Shiann said turning towards him. She kissed him and got up. He sat up too.

"Well I'll see you tomorrow at 7 then?"

"Yupp," Shiann said smiling as she walked in the castle, "See you then,"

A/N: Thank you FSI for reviewing for every chapter and getting me to my 50 reviews I wanted but now I'm going for 100 so everyone please read and review and send this story to everyone you know! This chapter seemed long but it had a lot of important things in it that I wanted to bring up ( HINT HINT) and I'm trying to make this story the least chapters as possible because I think it might get too long but I'll see what I can do. So keep reviewing and I'll get the next chapter up as soon as possible! Thanks!