Harry noted Maya's distressed appearance with a twinge of pain. He wondered what Malfoy had done, but knew now he couldn't save her unless she wanted to be saved. He stood and caught her arm, stopping her from going anywhere.

"Maya," he said in a calm voice, though his heart was beating quickly. He was nervous. How would he start? What would he say? She looked at him with the saddest expression he had seen, and it broke his heart. "If you want to talk to me, I'm here." Maya seemed to become herself for a moment which made relief wash over Harry where he stood. She truly answered him as herself.

"Thanks Harry," she said, smiling bitter sweetly. She really did accept his kindness but she couldn't talk about it now. And she could forgive Malfoy. Perhaps Malfoy would change. Harry loosened his grip on her arm, letting her go. He watched helplessly as she walked up to the girls' room where Kayla had run earlier. Harry watched after her, worry in his eyes. He pitied Maya, and yet envied her strength.


"So Hermione, how is the new pupil?" Ron asked, distracting her from the scene behind. She seemed to accept it quickly as f she had been searching for something.

"Pupil?" she said questionably. Ron laughed to himself, and Hermione eyed him like a loon. Then it hit her like brick. Kayla.

"I completely forgot!" Hermione groaned, mentally smacking herself. "Do you know if she's finished reading the book I gave her?" Hermione sensed he knew more about the goings on about the girl than she.

"Well, I think she's working on it," Ron said, shifting his weight uncomfortably. He was eager to move onto a different topic suddenly. He couldn't quite explain the uncomfortable sensations in his stomach and somewhere in the back of his mind he didn't want to know.

"Ron… are you blushing?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow. He coughed and looked at the other side of the room.

"No, you must be seeing things." He said sounding as uneasy as he felt. How was he supposed to explain all the times Kayla's shirt just 'disappeared'?

"But you are!" she insisted, laughing to herself. He huffed to himself in a very Ron like way, unable to let his pride go.

"It's warm in here." He said, excusing his behaviour. If his brothers had taught him anything it was how to fib.

"Ron, how do you feel about Kayla?" Hermione asked curiously, the association building in her mind. He had mentioned Kayla, and when she asked him about it, he was suddenly uncomfortable. She began to see.


Meanwhile Cho and Demiarez Black were laughing and drinking away. Cho began to think and looked at her companion curiously.

"Where'd you get the money to pay for all this?" she asked, gesturing to their drinks. Demiarez laughed coldly, bringing the whole pub to an uneasy silence. She glanced around at them before choking out a giggle she copied from Maya. They all returned to the buzzing of evening conversation. She grinned at Cho.

"Well, let's just say that I had some extra writing utensils around." She said mischieviously. Cho suddenly understood and began to laugh, hiccupping. This was one of the many reasons she didn't see the Potions Professor standing behind her in a looming manner.

"What are you doing here?" he said suddenly solemn. Demiarez looked him in the eye and didn't stop grinning. Cho was beyond her senses, and thus didn't look at Snape until she saw she no longer had Demiarez's full attention. She turned to her professor indignantly like a spoiled child.

"What do ya want with Demi?" she asked in a very drunk voice. She sounded protective, which caught Demiarez by surprise.


AN

Draco: … Why wasn't I in this chapter?

Kita: Meh. I don't know. What you were doing didn't really matter at the time. I mean you're off doing what that is so important?

Draco: Whispers in Kita's ear

Kita:Hits Draco with a huge mallet This story is rated for 16+ as it is! Are you mad!

Draco:knocked out

Kita: Ah, sweet peace and quiet.

Maya: … Hey, what's happened? I just went to get some juice!

Kita: Well… I don't own him.

To my reviewers:

Armadia- Are you happy now! I updated! Please don't hurt me…

Falron- Glad to have you back! I thought you were gone forever. And I was saddened. Also, thank Armadia for making me update, she can get to me while I'm in school. And she's scary.