Disclaimer: all I own is the plot.. .am obviously not J.K. Rowling
Chapter 1 Hermione shivered. It was a dark night and she was patrolling the Hogwarts corridors as was her duty. Carefully she paced the passages looking for anything out of order or unusual. Everything seemed to be just fine but she wouldn't be fooled. NOT Hermione Granger protector of the otherwise slumbering school(with a couple of exceptions). She leapt around the corner and SAW.................................................................................nothing She let out the breath she hadn't noticed she'd been holding."Get a grip girl!"she muttered and strolled on trying to calm herself. What use would she be if something really happened and her nerves cracked? But Hermione couldn't help herself. She just had this... feeling... darkness coming.... Hermione protectively drew her cloak more closely around herself and doubled her pace. Time was nearly up and Ron would be taking over. If some thing happened tonight it would be Ron's turn to cope. And she didn't like THAT any better!
These patrols hat become necessary since Voldemort and bad guys found new means of making everyone's lives miserable nearly by the day.
All the prefects and members of the young order of phoenix took turns in patrolling.
The shadows around her grew. At first she thought it was her imagination. But it got darker by the minutet and the light that came from the tip of her wand seemed to shrink, fighting a loosing battle against the looming darkness. It didn't exactly go out. It seemed as if its light just didn't reach the surroundings. This was unnatural. Hermione started to run she didn't exactly know why. Running didn't exactly make the darkness go away but she didn't care. A horrible panic was rising inside her. She knew she was being terribly irrational, which was rather novel for Hermione and a voice inside her said "Its only darkness. Unnatural yes but nothing to go berserk about." but it was getting weaker and more fear was pouring in. She felt like a little girl being chased by shadowy nightmares. All rational thoughts gone, Hermione screamed and ran while shadows whispered and clawed at her. It was becoming unbearable. She was loosing herself in her fear and was nearly unconscious. Then all of a sudden something changed. She ran into something hard. It was bound to happen. Luckily the something was no way as hard nor as cold as a wall. It was warm and soothing.
Hermione felt arms wrap around her. Feeling the panic lift slightly she broke into uncontrollable sobs letting her emotions free reign. She felt the someone she desperately clung to stroking her back in gentle movements and a voice coming as if from a far entered her consciousness: "Shhh...shhh...... its alright now shhhhhhh.... you'll be safe...shhhh" she listened rather unfocussed still crying "Your fear is groundless. Hermione..",the voice was calm and tender as it spoke her name, ".... Listen the darkness isn't real. It's in your mind. And the panic will leave as soon as you let reason back into your mind...as will the shadows. What also helps is human warmth ... so just hold onto me and be reasonable, I know that's what your best at.. " now the voice also carried a hint of a smile. It carried on. The calm, reasonable and comforting words guided Hermione slowly back from the nightmare dimension she had fallen into. She snuggled closer to the warmth of the one holding her.
His (for it was male)voice seemed in a way familiar. She couldn't quite place it but for the moment she didn't care who her rescuer was. Her eyes still tightly shut, she felt like waking from a terrible dream. All she felt was relief at the unnatural panic that had taken hold of her, was finally leaving.
Finally her sobs subsided. "Feeling better now?" "Yes" was her muffled reply. She detached herself slightly "thank..." she looked up and her voice trailed of as she she saw just who her rescuer was, "... you.." "Good! That means you can now take your hands of me lil' MUDBLOOD!" Hermione could do nothing but stare incredulously up at the boy in front of her.
There he stood, his pale hair and features illuminated by the dim light of Hermione's wand which lay on floor and the moonlight flooding through a high nearby window ...and contrary to his own words.... still holding her.
She was seldom lost for words and her thought were nothing like coherent but who would blame her. The situation she found herself in was certainly bizarre. "Draco Malfoy... holding me... ferret boy?.... gosh he looks cute bathed in warm and cold light.... .just called me mudblood.. how DARE he!!... and stroked my hair and back, his touch gentle and kind.... no way!... that heavenly voice,his???...HA!.. somebody swapped my rescuer while I wasn't looking!"she she thought triumphantly, "..No no couldn't have.."she shook her head in a perplexed manner "... I've been holding onto him all the time... HOLDING ON TO HIM!?" Hermione forcefully jumped away from her nemesis as if stung, her face a mask of terror. "And there's no way you look good in the moonlig.......!" She didn't finish this not very witty, confused and non Hermione style statement for as soon as she let go of him some of the former panic washed back over her.
In a blinking of an eye she was again clinging to him."Why is this happening to me?? And why am I talking such crap" she thought feeling exasperated and braced herself to be pushed away ... into the dark and tightened her grip on the hated Slytherin. He was less terrifying than what awaited her away from his touch. To her surprise he once again placed his hands on her waste. Hermione looked up at and saw him smirking down at her his gaze sort of.... knowing. She glared daggers back while her mind worked feverishly "What's going on why is Malfoy's touch keeping those feelings away... and why, for CHRIST's sake, is he helping me? Very good question!!!" she mentally patted herself on the shoulder and voiced it frowning indignantly. "Yes! Why on earth are you helping me Malfoy?!" She searched for a hint of tenderness in his slanting grey eyes that would fit what she thought, she had detected in his voice earlier on. But they were as steely as ever, beautiful but cold and the grin one of pure and tempting evil.
He pulled her closer and his face dangerously close to hers. Hermione's heart missed a beat. Then he answered sneering: "For the novelty of the experience, I've never held a chaste little Griffindor like you so close to me..... aw look at that blush, isn't that cute, the girls usually in my arms are of a different kind," Hermione struggled outraged to free herself as he continued, " ... now that's over and done with I can't say it was particularly good." The cheek he had! "Course holding me was good!" she thought inwardly pouting. "Anyhow it makes no sense! How does that go together with being protective and sweet???" she thought.
Hemione managed to free herself from his grip "You mean, you experimented on being nice to me, to see what its like??" she spat. "Now how low is THAT???" "If you want to put it that way.." he answered in a calm and satisfied manner now crossing his arms loosely in front of his breast. "You seriously need some counselling for that deranged mind of yours! Malfoy! You don't make much sense." With a little after thought she added as coolly as her anger permitted, "And maybe a good girl is just what you need! But there's no chance of YOU getting one." And with that she stormed off towards the Griffindor quarters.
"Yes, maybe that's just what I need." Draco mumbled long after she was gone.
Hermione lay in her bed. The rage she had felt while storming back to the Griffindor Tower had changed into sadness. She was hurt which was silly. She shouldn't let Malfoy get to her like that. But she couldn't help remembering how nice he had been when holding her. It had felt as if some dear friend was there. Someone who truly cared for her. ..... "Stupid me," she thought sniffing, and wiping away the unwelcome tired tears "...shouldn't let the manipulative git, get to me like that. That just what he wants to achieve!" Hermione hated the thought that Malfoy had any effect what so ever on her and blamed it on the rough time she had had this night. "For goodness sake! He rescued me from that darkness thingy! Who wouldn't get emotional?...." Moodily she stared into the darkness."...Oh Gods and what's worse, I bet he thinks I fancy him." After another while of contemplating and some tossing around Hermione finally drifted into redeeming sleep.
In the morning things already looked rosier.
She overslept. Her sleep had been too exhausted and deep to let the ring of her alarm clock penetrate her dreams. But when she finally woke things where rosier simply because didn't have time to give the nights incident any thought. All she managed, went something like this: "... aaaaaaaaaaaah I'm late, aaaah!..." She rushed into the shower. Magically dried herself and magicked her clothes on. She could have magically cleaned herself too but in a way, she felt that was unhygienic and besides nothing made her feel as fresh as her morning shower.
Hermione rushed into the Great Hall purposefully not looking at the Slytherin table and hopped into her seat next to Ron and Harry.
"Morning Mione, you look awful!" Ron said said somewhat muffled, his mouth crammed with egg and toast. "Thanks Ron. Never short of a complement, are you." she replied dryly. Harry gave Hermione a you-know-what-he's-like smile and she genuinely smiled back at her friend her smile saying "yeah but it doesn't really make it better. Does it?" "You two quit smiling across my head like I'm not there. I know what this is about!. Its about look at silly unreliable Ron. Didn't even patrol last night, because he didn't her the waking charm..." With that he continued scoffing down his breakfast. His ears, a bright shade of red, gave his embarrassment away. Unusually Hermione'd have scolded him for his light hearted approach to his duties, but today she just was relieved. "Thank god that he's reliable at being unreliable" she thought with a giggle. She patted him on the shoulder.
"You know that the purpose of a waking charm is actually waking you up. You must have ignored the load singing in your ear for half an hour."she said with a good natured smile. "Well I was dreaming something about, you and Harry hiring a choir that followed me around.... It was terrible ! I couldn't' get away from it! And the songs they sang were awfully unoriginal" Both Harry and Hermione couldn't help laughing at their friend. He was most adorable.
Finally Harry asked "So how was your patrol Mione?" The question wasn't unexpected and yet Hermione was a little at a loss. Should she tell them? She hadn't had time to consider this. Well of course she SHOULD! She had to. But just now she had no information on what happened and the incident with Malfoy was rather embarrassing.
"Guys..",she began. Both Harry and Ron looked at her expectantly, "....something did happen last night. Its hard to describe I had some sort of unnatural panic fit. But I have no idea what caused it. I need more information on this." "But where can you start looking? Under unnatural panic? That really is vague? And you seem to be alright is it really dangerous?" Harry asked frowning slightly.
Hermione was slightly flustered she didn't want to retell the nights events just yet. "Look, I'll tell you all about it later. But I think I can gather more information on what happened." She stood up her food half eaten and rushed out of the hall. She had just seen a certain someone leave.
"Malfoy!" Hermione cornered him just outside the Great Hall and pushed him into a convenient small niche.
"Yes, Granger? Came for more hugs?" Hermione winced but brushed the comment aside. He didn't seem as full of malice as he usually was. More playful. Which was weird. "I don't have time for this. Malfoy this is important! What do you know?" He raised an eyebrow, "Know what?" Hermione gave him an irritated glare. "Oh come on! Drop it! I 'm not stupid you know... You know something!" "Look Granger, I don't have all day either... Of course I know things. But what do you want to know and what makes you think I'll tell you? Spill. And I shall see if I can help you." Hermione sighed "You know very well I'm speaking of last night..." "Painful memories eh?" Draco interrupted happily making Hermione want to punch him hard.
She could see this was going to be difficult. In order to calm herself, she drew a deep breath and carried on speaking at a quicker pace hoping to get away sooner.
"Last night some thing unnatural was happening and you know what. You knew how to drive my panic away, so you have information. You told me that the shadows where in my head and the where. You said that thinking rationally helped and it did. You said that human warmth helped and it did..." she trailed of looking at Draco as if seeing him for the first time.
Opposite of her he stood casually leaning against the wall, arms crossed in front of his chest, looking as cool and arrogant as ever. His eyes mocking her. A broad grin spread across Hermione's the face, lighting it up. Her eyes shone with mirth and her manner was gleeful."HA!... ..Ha ha ! I know why you helped me!" A panicky look crossed Malfoy's face but he almost instantly regained his composure as Hermione excitedly carried on , "You're weak Draco Malfoy. You helped me because you needed help yourself! You needed human warmth......MY warmth. You needed to be level minded. You needed me just as I needed you!" she finished triumphantly. The reaction she got was not quite what she had hoped for but it wasn't exactly bad. Draco doubled in a fit of laughter. Hermione watched a little puzzled. His laughter was honest which was novel. "So what's the joke?" she asked half smiling. "You!" Malfoy managed. Hermione raised a questioning eyebrow. "That was precious Hermione!" He did a high pitched impression of her voice "Ha! You used me to save your own skin... your weak! Ha ha.." he carried on with his normal voice still half giggling. "I'd have thought that you'd work that out quicker." Hermione looked even more puzzled. He explained "Look Granger I'm a Malfoy."-as if that explained everything- "Of course I used you to save my own skin. It goes with what I am and I'm not going to be ashamed about it. But enough about my motives. You came to me because you wanted to know what caused this. Right?" Hermione nodded. "What makes you think I'll help you?" He looked at her in a what-have-you-to-offer-manner. Hermione was quick to adjust to the change of topic. "I'd didn't think you'd be easy to pump for information.... But I believe I can make you want to tell me.",she finished smugly. The look he gave her was more than unbelieving. Hermione blushed. "I didn't mean anything of the sort..." "Shame",was Draco's dry reply making Hermione blush even more. "I was going to bribe you..." Draco smiled like a fox "Now you're speaking my language! What's the deal?"
A/N end of chapter 1.. hope you liked it. Sorry about the cliffhanger... but more is certainly to come..I'm enjoying myself thoroughly.
Chapter 1 Hermione shivered. It was a dark night and she was patrolling the Hogwarts corridors as was her duty. Carefully she paced the passages looking for anything out of order or unusual. Everything seemed to be just fine but she wouldn't be fooled. NOT Hermione Granger protector of the otherwise slumbering school(with a couple of exceptions). She leapt around the corner and SAW.................................................................................nothing She let out the breath she hadn't noticed she'd been holding."Get a grip girl!"she muttered and strolled on trying to calm herself. What use would she be if something really happened and her nerves cracked? But Hermione couldn't help herself. She just had this... feeling... darkness coming.... Hermione protectively drew her cloak more closely around herself and doubled her pace. Time was nearly up and Ron would be taking over. If some thing happened tonight it would be Ron's turn to cope. And she didn't like THAT any better!
These patrols hat become necessary since Voldemort and bad guys found new means of making everyone's lives miserable nearly by the day.
All the prefects and members of the young order of phoenix took turns in patrolling.
The shadows around her grew. At first she thought it was her imagination. But it got darker by the minutet and the light that came from the tip of her wand seemed to shrink, fighting a loosing battle against the looming darkness. It didn't exactly go out. It seemed as if its light just didn't reach the surroundings. This was unnatural. Hermione started to run she didn't exactly know why. Running didn't exactly make the darkness go away but she didn't care. A horrible panic was rising inside her. She knew she was being terribly irrational, which was rather novel for Hermione and a voice inside her said "Its only darkness. Unnatural yes but nothing to go berserk about." but it was getting weaker and more fear was pouring in. She felt like a little girl being chased by shadowy nightmares. All rational thoughts gone, Hermione screamed and ran while shadows whispered and clawed at her. It was becoming unbearable. She was loosing herself in her fear and was nearly unconscious. Then all of a sudden something changed. She ran into something hard. It was bound to happen. Luckily the something was no way as hard nor as cold as a wall. It was warm and soothing.
Hermione felt arms wrap around her. Feeling the panic lift slightly she broke into uncontrollable sobs letting her emotions free reign. She felt the someone she desperately clung to stroking her back in gentle movements and a voice coming as if from a far entered her consciousness: "Shhh...shhh...... its alright now shhhhhhh.... you'll be safe...shhhh" she listened rather unfocussed still crying "Your fear is groundless. Hermione..",the voice was calm and tender as it spoke her name, ".... Listen the darkness isn't real. It's in your mind. And the panic will leave as soon as you let reason back into your mind...as will the shadows. What also helps is human warmth ... so just hold onto me and be reasonable, I know that's what your best at.. " now the voice also carried a hint of a smile. It carried on. The calm, reasonable and comforting words guided Hermione slowly back from the nightmare dimension she had fallen into. She snuggled closer to the warmth of the one holding her.
His (for it was male)voice seemed in a way familiar. She couldn't quite place it but for the moment she didn't care who her rescuer was. Her eyes still tightly shut, she felt like waking from a terrible dream. All she felt was relief at the unnatural panic that had taken hold of her, was finally leaving.
Finally her sobs subsided. "Feeling better now?" "Yes" was her muffled reply. She detached herself slightly "thank..." she looked up and her voice trailed of as she she saw just who her rescuer was, "... you.." "Good! That means you can now take your hands of me lil' MUDBLOOD!" Hermione could do nothing but stare incredulously up at the boy in front of her.
There he stood, his pale hair and features illuminated by the dim light of Hermione's wand which lay on floor and the moonlight flooding through a high nearby window ...and contrary to his own words.... still holding her.
She was seldom lost for words and her thought were nothing like coherent but who would blame her. The situation she found herself in was certainly bizarre. "Draco Malfoy... holding me... ferret boy?.... gosh he looks cute bathed in warm and cold light.... .just called me mudblood.. how DARE he!!... and stroked my hair and back, his touch gentle and kind.... no way!... that heavenly voice,his???...HA!.. somebody swapped my rescuer while I wasn't looking!"she she thought triumphantly, "..No no couldn't have.."she shook her head in a perplexed manner "... I've been holding onto him all the time... HOLDING ON TO HIM!?" Hermione forcefully jumped away from her nemesis as if stung, her face a mask of terror. "And there's no way you look good in the moonlig.......!" She didn't finish this not very witty, confused and non Hermione style statement for as soon as she let go of him some of the former panic washed back over her.
In a blinking of an eye she was again clinging to him."Why is this happening to me?? And why am I talking such crap" she thought feeling exasperated and braced herself to be pushed away ... into the dark and tightened her grip on the hated Slytherin. He was less terrifying than what awaited her away from his touch. To her surprise he once again placed his hands on her waste. Hermione looked up at and saw him smirking down at her his gaze sort of.... knowing. She glared daggers back while her mind worked feverishly "What's going on why is Malfoy's touch keeping those feelings away... and why, for CHRIST's sake, is he helping me? Very good question!!!" she mentally patted herself on the shoulder and voiced it frowning indignantly. "Yes! Why on earth are you helping me Malfoy?!" She searched for a hint of tenderness in his slanting grey eyes that would fit what she thought, she had detected in his voice earlier on. But they were as steely as ever, beautiful but cold and the grin one of pure and tempting evil.
He pulled her closer and his face dangerously close to hers. Hermione's heart missed a beat. Then he answered sneering: "For the novelty of the experience, I've never held a chaste little Griffindor like you so close to me..... aw look at that blush, isn't that cute, the girls usually in my arms are of a different kind," Hermione struggled outraged to free herself as he continued, " ... now that's over and done with I can't say it was particularly good." The cheek he had! "Course holding me was good!" she thought inwardly pouting. "Anyhow it makes no sense! How does that go together with being protective and sweet???" she thought.
Hemione managed to free herself from his grip "You mean, you experimented on being nice to me, to see what its like??" she spat. "Now how low is THAT???" "If you want to put it that way.." he answered in a calm and satisfied manner now crossing his arms loosely in front of his breast. "You seriously need some counselling for that deranged mind of yours! Malfoy! You don't make much sense." With a little after thought she added as coolly as her anger permitted, "And maybe a good girl is just what you need! But there's no chance of YOU getting one." And with that she stormed off towards the Griffindor quarters.
"Yes, maybe that's just what I need." Draco mumbled long after she was gone.
Hermione lay in her bed. The rage she had felt while storming back to the Griffindor Tower had changed into sadness. She was hurt which was silly. She shouldn't let Malfoy get to her like that. But she couldn't help remembering how nice he had been when holding her. It had felt as if some dear friend was there. Someone who truly cared for her. ..... "Stupid me," she thought sniffing, and wiping away the unwelcome tired tears "...shouldn't let the manipulative git, get to me like that. That just what he wants to achieve!" Hermione hated the thought that Malfoy had any effect what so ever on her and blamed it on the rough time she had had this night. "For goodness sake! He rescued me from that darkness thingy! Who wouldn't get emotional?...." Moodily she stared into the darkness."...Oh Gods and what's worse, I bet he thinks I fancy him." After another while of contemplating and some tossing around Hermione finally drifted into redeeming sleep.
In the morning things already looked rosier.
She overslept. Her sleep had been too exhausted and deep to let the ring of her alarm clock penetrate her dreams. But when she finally woke things where rosier simply because didn't have time to give the nights incident any thought. All she managed, went something like this: "... aaaaaaaaaaaah I'm late, aaaah!..." She rushed into the shower. Magically dried herself and magicked her clothes on. She could have magically cleaned herself too but in a way, she felt that was unhygienic and besides nothing made her feel as fresh as her morning shower.
Hermione rushed into the Great Hall purposefully not looking at the Slytherin table and hopped into her seat next to Ron and Harry.
"Morning Mione, you look awful!" Ron said said somewhat muffled, his mouth crammed with egg and toast. "Thanks Ron. Never short of a complement, are you." she replied dryly. Harry gave Hermione a you-know-what-he's-like smile and she genuinely smiled back at her friend her smile saying "yeah but it doesn't really make it better. Does it?" "You two quit smiling across my head like I'm not there. I know what this is about!. Its about look at silly unreliable Ron. Didn't even patrol last night, because he didn't her the waking charm..." With that he continued scoffing down his breakfast. His ears, a bright shade of red, gave his embarrassment away. Unusually Hermione'd have scolded him for his light hearted approach to his duties, but today she just was relieved. "Thank god that he's reliable at being unreliable" she thought with a giggle. She patted him on the shoulder.
"You know that the purpose of a waking charm is actually waking you up. You must have ignored the load singing in your ear for half an hour."she said with a good natured smile. "Well I was dreaming something about, you and Harry hiring a choir that followed me around.... It was terrible ! I couldn't' get away from it! And the songs they sang were awfully unoriginal" Both Harry and Hermione couldn't help laughing at their friend. He was most adorable.
Finally Harry asked "So how was your patrol Mione?" The question wasn't unexpected and yet Hermione was a little at a loss. Should she tell them? She hadn't had time to consider this. Well of course she SHOULD! She had to. But just now she had no information on what happened and the incident with Malfoy was rather embarrassing.
"Guys..",she began. Both Harry and Ron looked at her expectantly, "....something did happen last night. Its hard to describe I had some sort of unnatural panic fit. But I have no idea what caused it. I need more information on this." "But where can you start looking? Under unnatural panic? That really is vague? And you seem to be alright is it really dangerous?" Harry asked frowning slightly.
Hermione was slightly flustered she didn't want to retell the nights events just yet. "Look, I'll tell you all about it later. But I think I can gather more information on what happened." She stood up her food half eaten and rushed out of the hall. She had just seen a certain someone leave.
"Malfoy!" Hermione cornered him just outside the Great Hall and pushed him into a convenient small niche.
"Yes, Granger? Came for more hugs?" Hermione winced but brushed the comment aside. He didn't seem as full of malice as he usually was. More playful. Which was weird. "I don't have time for this. Malfoy this is important! What do you know?" He raised an eyebrow, "Know what?" Hermione gave him an irritated glare. "Oh come on! Drop it! I 'm not stupid you know... You know something!" "Look Granger, I don't have all day either... Of course I know things. But what do you want to know and what makes you think I'll tell you? Spill. And I shall see if I can help you." Hermione sighed "You know very well I'm speaking of last night..." "Painful memories eh?" Draco interrupted happily making Hermione want to punch him hard.
She could see this was going to be difficult. In order to calm herself, she drew a deep breath and carried on speaking at a quicker pace hoping to get away sooner.
"Last night some thing unnatural was happening and you know what. You knew how to drive my panic away, so you have information. You told me that the shadows where in my head and the where. You said that thinking rationally helped and it did. You said that human warmth helped and it did..." she trailed of looking at Draco as if seeing him for the first time.
Opposite of her he stood casually leaning against the wall, arms crossed in front of his chest, looking as cool and arrogant as ever. His eyes mocking her. A broad grin spread across Hermione's the face, lighting it up. Her eyes shone with mirth and her manner was gleeful."HA!... ..Ha ha ! I know why you helped me!" A panicky look crossed Malfoy's face but he almost instantly regained his composure as Hermione excitedly carried on , "You're weak Draco Malfoy. You helped me because you needed help yourself! You needed human warmth......MY warmth. You needed to be level minded. You needed me just as I needed you!" she finished triumphantly. The reaction she got was not quite what she had hoped for but it wasn't exactly bad. Draco doubled in a fit of laughter. Hermione watched a little puzzled. His laughter was honest which was novel. "So what's the joke?" she asked half smiling. "You!" Malfoy managed. Hermione raised a questioning eyebrow. "That was precious Hermione!" He did a high pitched impression of her voice "Ha! You used me to save your own skin... your weak! Ha ha.." he carried on with his normal voice still half giggling. "I'd have thought that you'd work that out quicker." Hermione looked even more puzzled. He explained "Look Granger I'm a Malfoy."-as if that explained everything- "Of course I used you to save my own skin. It goes with what I am and I'm not going to be ashamed about it. But enough about my motives. You came to me because you wanted to know what caused this. Right?" Hermione nodded. "What makes you think I'll help you?" He looked at her in a what-have-you-to-offer-manner. Hermione was quick to adjust to the change of topic. "I'd didn't think you'd be easy to pump for information.... But I believe I can make you want to tell me.",she finished smugly. The look he gave her was more than unbelieving. Hermione blushed. "I didn't mean anything of the sort..." "Shame",was Draco's dry reply making Hermione blush even more. "I was going to bribe you..." Draco smiled like a fox "Now you're speaking my language! What's the deal?"
A/N end of chapter 1.. hope you liked it. Sorry about the cliffhanger... but more is certainly to come..I'm enjoying myself thoroughly.