Chapter Two

So Close to You

Harry sat down in front of Emerald. "Hi." He said. They were sitting in a small cozy teashop where Harry had sat last year with Cho Chang. Couples sat all around them holding hands and kissing just as they had last year. The only thing that was different from last year was the fact that Emerald did not try to make Harry feel jealous. Harry fond it much easier to hold Emerald's hand then he had Cho.

Emerald held her head in her free hand and gazed at Harry. Harry was just leaning over the table to kiss her when Draco Malfoy strutted over to them and sneered. "Emmy." Said Malfoy. "Excuse me Potter." Malfoy simpered. He snatched Emerald's hand away from Harry like a rag-doll and pulled her out of the shop in moments.

Harry had no idea what had just happened but he knew that neither he nor Emerald had liked at all. He sat a galleon down on the table and followed them through the door.

Harry stepped out into the blustery day just in time to see them round the corner on their way back to Hogwarts. Harry sprinted after them. He was careful not to get to close because he knew Emerald would be punished for his mistakes.

Emerald and Malfoy walked into the deserted corridors of Hogwarts. Harry followed close behind as they traveled down staircases that were just like a dragon's scaly spine. Malfoy turned and Harry could hear him say, "Solvfiltred."

Harry turned the corner and ran right into a picture of a young, thin, beautiful woman in green with a boa wound around her slender arm. "Password?" she said in a low alto voice.

"Solvfiltred." Harry said impatiently. The woman swung aside and let Harry pass. He tiptoed into the common to see an unwelcome sight.

"Malfoy, you cockroach, get off of me." Malfoy loomed over Emerald.

"Oh come on. Tell me." Malfoy said.

"No." Shouted Emerald defiantly.

"Suit yourself." Hissed Malfoy. He yanked Emerald to her feet and pinned her against the wall. He started to kiss her.

Harry couldn't move. He was shocked. Had this planned? He stood by and watched Emerald smack at Malfoy's strong arms until a sympathetic Slytherin walked up and whispered quietly "Another one of Malfoy's victims."

Victims? Thought Harry. "What do you mean victims?" He asked the Slytherin girl.

"Malfoy's taken to… Well you know." The girl shook her blue hair and walked off.

Unfortunately Harry knew exactly what the girl was talking about. He pulled his wand out and walked up behind Malfoy. "Petrificus Totalus!" Harry yelled. Malfoy went rigid like a board. "Harry." Said Emerald. She ran into his arms and whispered in his ear "Thank you." Harry pulled her up in his arms and carried her out of the Slytherin common room.

They sat by a fire in the empty common room and chatted. "What did Malfoy want to know?" Harry inquired.

"He wanted to know about me." Emerald said as she twirled Harry's messed black hair around her pointer finger.

"Tell me more." Harry said. He looked right into Emerald's eyes.

"Not right now. I just want to be so close to you."