Chapter Notes: Er…I had a bit of fun writing this chapter. And I felt kind of bad for splitting this day in two, but the last chapter was getting a little long…Plus, I wanted to add more significance to Raven and Harry's first meeting back at school.

Anyway, LOTS of interesting stuff going on this year…hehehe…most of it's already written…I just need to get there. :D So, I hope you all stay along for the ride…'cause Raven's life isn't getting any easier.


Mind Games
"I will have the potion to you by tomorrow evening, Miss Harrell. I trust you still have the runic map?"

"Yesh, sir." I said around my smarting finger.

My head of house had just taken a bit of my blood, for the potion for my new door, and seeing as it was still bleeding, I was currently sucking on it. I thought I saw a smirk form at the corners of my teacher's mouth, and I took my finger out of my mouth.

"Yes, sir. I do."

"Good. You may go now."

"Thank you, Professor Snape."

Again, I thought I saw a smirk form at the corners of his mouth, but I left before I could think anymore on it, heading down the corridor and turning right, away from my common room.

Skirting away from the pools of light cast by the torches on the wall, I made my way to the meeting place. As I turned another corner, I felt a sense of déjà vu as I bumped into something invisible.

"Harry? Is that you?" I whispered.

There was no answer.

"Harry, don't play games with me, I know it's you."

There was still no answer, and feeling exceedingly paranoid, I kept walking down the same hallway where Harry and I first met. I was almost to the next corner when I was suddenly grabbed from behind and enveloped in a light cloth. Whirling around, I nearly yelled,

"I knew it was you! Harry, you prat!" I swatted him on the shoulder, as he laughed silently.

"Oh, that was great. I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist."

"Yeah, well, you nearly scared me to death! Don't do it again!"

"Okay, I won't," he said solemnly, but he was still smiling.

I gave him a suspicious look. "You promise?"

"Yes, I promise."

Still not quite sure I believed him, I gave him another swat on the arm before giving him a hug around the middle. "You've gotten taller, you know."

"Yeah, I know." Silently, we parted and walked the rest of the way to the broom closet, where we closed the door, discarded the invisibility cloak, and put up the usual spells. Sitting down knee-to-knee Harry asked, "So, what did you need to tell me?"

"I overheard Draco say that you fainted on the train."

A scowl came over Harry's face. "Yeah, I did."

"Was it because of a dementor?"

Harry nodded, wrapping his arms around himself. "Yeah. It was…horrible. I just felt so cold all of a sudden, and then I heard someone screaming…and then I guess…I fainted." He looked back up at me. "Why do you ask?"

"Because…I fainted too."

"Really?"

"Yes, but…there was no dementor. I fainted before the dementor came to our carriage."

"You did?"

"Yes, and…this is going to sound really odd, Harry, but I think I fainted because of you."

"What? How?"

I wasn't quite sure how to describe what I meant, so I raised my left hand and reached out to touch Harry's scar. I traced it again, wondering, if what I thought was true was true, what it meant. Lowering my hand, I caught Harry's green eyes with my own, and finally said,

"I felt cold too. But it came from here," I touched my forehead, just above my right eyebrow, right where Harry's scar was on his own. "I felt cold, and then sick to my stomach, and then I passed out. Blaise told me that the dementor came after that."

"So you…you think that you fainted because…because I fainted?"

"Yes, I think so. I'm not sure how I know, I just do."

"And you're sure? I mean, are you saying that…whatever strange connection we thought we made last year is…is real?"

I nodded. "Yes, that's what I'm saying." After a few moments of silence I said, "Look, Harry, there really isn't any other explanation. I mean…there have been plenty of times last year where I felt like I knew something, but didn't know why. Like when Ginny went into the Chamber of Secrets, and all of the students were supposed to go back to their dormitories, I had first thought that something might have happened to you, but I somehow, I knew I was wrong. And later, afterwards, when I heard that you did go down there, I was worried again about if you were okay, but again I knew that you were fine."

Harry looked down to his lap. "Yeah. I remember you telling me something like that last year. So maybe then…it is real. This connection we have."

"Yeah. Maybe it is. Does it scare you?"

"No, it's just odd, is all. And I don't want you fainting because of me."

"Harry, I'm fine."

"But still…"

"Well, maybe we could try and look at this like it's a good thing. Maybe we can communicate through it."

"You think so?"

"Maybe. You wanna try?"

"Sure. But how do we…?"

"Hmm…well, how about I concentrate on a thought, and you…focus on your scar, and we'll see if you can figure out what I'm thinking about."

"Okay."

I searched for thought, and came up with the ear piercing Blaise had gotten and said, "Ready?"

"Ready."

I closed my eyes and focused only on that thought, waiting for Harry to say something. After what felt like five minutes, I heard Harry let out a huff of air like he was frustrated, so I opened my eyes to gaze back at him.

"Did it work?" I asked.

"I don't think so. What were you thinking about?"

"Something about Blaise," I replied.

Harry rose what looked like a suspicious eyebrow, before saying, "Really? Well, I didn't get anything like that."

"What did you get, then?"

"That's just it. I don't think I got anything."

"Hmm, well, let me try it on you."

"Okay." I waited a moment.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Ready." I focused all my energy on the spot just above my right brow, hoping that I could pick something out. I soon started to feel a little tingling right where my 'invisible scar' should have been, but I got no images, or any words in my mind. I let out a breath like Harry did and said, "It's not really working. I feel a little tingle, but that's it. Maybe the connection's just not strong enough yet."

"You sound like you know a lot about this sort of thing."

"I don't, but there's been similar kinds of things in muggle fiction books I've read."

"Oh."

"Usually it works better over time; like a muscle, it just needs to be used more to become stronger."

"So we should work on it?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Okay. So, I guess you'll need to show me that trick you did tonight. To talk to me?"

"Yeah, Mum taught me that one. That was my first time doing it, actually. I'm glad it worked."

So I showed him, and we were just about to get ready to leave before he said, "I can't believe I forgot! I had something to tell you too."

"What is it?"

"I found out what Sirius Black is up to."

"Really? What?"

"He's coming to find me."

"You?" I had a bad feeling about this.

"Yes."

"And…do what?" I think I was starting to panic now.

Harry sighed. "And kill me."

I stared at him a moment. "You're joking."

"No."

I shook my head. "Goddess…why?"

"I'm not sure exactly, but Ron's dad told me that because of what happened to Voldemort, Sirius is basically out to exact revenge. Because his lord's demise was my fault."

"Oh god, Harry. That's…that's horrible."

"To be honest, I'm not scared. I guess I've kind of gotten used to it. Having someone out for my head. I suppose it'll be never ending until Voldemort is somehow gone for good."

I sighed, moving forward and wrapping my arms around Harry's waist, settling myself between his legs. "I just don't want to lose you, Harry." I mumbled into his shoulder. "You're really one of my only friends here. And the only one I can be completely honest with." I paused. "You're my best friend, Harry."

Harry hugged me back. "I don't want to lose you either, Raven. And I hate keeping secrets from Ron and Hermione, but there's just…it's just easier to talk to you sometimes, do you know what I mean?" I nodded. He stroked my hair a little before pulling back. "I'll be fine. It's you I'm worried about."

I smiled back up at him. "I'll be fine too. For now anyways. I have friends in Slytherin…for the moment."

Harry smirked. "Like Blaise?"

"Still on about that are we?"

"Hey, you mentioned him first. What were you thinking about by the way?"

"I'm not telling. You'll just have to figure it out on your own," I said as I tapped his scar once with my finger.

Harry rolled his eyes. "I'll work on it."

I smiled. "I know. So will I."

"Well, we better go. It's well past curfew, and we were even early."

"Yeah, we should go." We stood and left as usual, both under the cloak. When we reached the Slytherin common room, I turned and hugged him again. Pulling back, I looked up at him and realised that I had an urge to kiss him. I had never really been into boys before…they tended to make me nervous. And the last thing I wanted to do was make things awkward between Harry and I. So all I did was give him a peck on the cheek.

"Goodnight, Harry."

"Goodnight, Raven."

Without looking back, I slipped into the empty common room and down the girl's hall to the second door. Entering, I placed a simple locking charm on the door and got ready for bed. Settling into the sheets, only one thought permeated my mind:

This was going to be a long year.


A/N: Don't hate me! I know this chapter was short…but it just ended where it wanted to, ya know? I have no control. I swear. This chapter is actually…half as short as the last one. And now I feel like I totally ripe you guys off. But I uploaded two chapters today…and I'll be working on the next one soon. Really.

And…as sort of another poll, but more like that I just want to know…I want you guys to tell me what YOU think is going to happen to Raven this year (or any other year, for that matter). You never know…I may just add it in… Love and huggles to you all! I love you!

Review Responses: None yet, because I just uploaded the last chapter!

Thank you all, and please review!