Disclaimer: HP isn't mine… just this plot…

By: RR and AC Beta: CS

CHAPTER 12

Author's Note: Okay, to clarify things… no one has had sex… Neville does not yet have a girlfriend… close though… oh yeah… this is going to be a long chapter… I think around 3.3K words… so it was worth the wait… Oh and thanks for the reviews… ) I also have a new co-writer and a beta reader… that's why it took so long… she had a lot of suggestion… I was also on vacation… anyway… I'm posting on mugglenet now also… and they need their mods to approve things and alas chapter 4 failed and 5-6 are probably gonna be shaky… so after this chapter 4-6 will be changed… you do not need to re-read them… no major plot changes… but read them if you want too… so ive rambled enough… ENJOY!

Once Harry and Draco had assigned people rooms, they toured the whole place with everyone. As they entered the first bathroom that they encountered, Ginny reached onto the shelf on the inner wall of the large bathtub and grabbed the yellow rubber duck. It mystified her. As she grabbed it, it squeaked, and she dropped it. Harry and Hermione chuckled.

"What is that thing?"

"It's evil," Draco said.

Ginny picked it up again. Written in permanent marker on the back was 'shortie522.'

"A muggle must have left it," Hermione said.

"What does it do?" Ron asked.

"It's just a toy," Harry said in a 'this is so obvious tone'

"I see," Ginny said.

"Where is Neville?" Hermione asked all of the sudden.

They all stepped out of Harry and Hermione's room, and into Neville's. He was sitting on the bed, looking very alone. He did not notice them as they approached the door. He did not look happy. They all backed up quickly.

"He's lonely, we are all paired up except him," Draco said slowly.

"That's sad," Ginny said.

"Neville?" Harry called.

"Yeah?"

"Come on and have lunch with us, there's a nice restaurant right below," Harry continued.

"No you can…"

"Please Neville?" Hermione said sweetly.

"Alright."

He walked out and followed them down the stairs.

They had an excellent lunch. The nice thing was, it was covered by the room cost. Completely stuffed, they make their way back to the room. Harry opened the room with his key card.

He heard a noise. They all drew their wands and walked into the room. It was just as they left it.

"Hedwig!" Harry said as he rushed forward towards the owl on the TV.

"Harry, your trunk!" Hermione exclaimed, pointing to the door to their room, where his trunk lay open.

"Check your room," he said. Everyone ran off towards their rooms. Harry put Hedwig in her cage.

"Anything," he said entering his room.

"No," Hermione remarked, "but I'm not done searching my trunk for missing items."

- - - -

Neville walked into his room slowly, his wand's tip in the air. His foot made contact with the air beneath him. He hit the ground and turned around to the solid air. Harry's invisibility cloak was lying on the ground next to a girl. She looked at him and managed a smile, while blushing.

- - - -

Everyone heard the thump. The three boys went to investigate. On the floor, half covered by Harry's invisibility cloak, was a girl. She had grey stormy eyes and black, raven colored, windswept hair that went down slightly past her shoulders, though it had a gleaming, almost silvery tint to it. Her skin was a fair peach color. She was dressed in black jeans and a plain black shirt. She looked slightly underfed, but still rather pretty. As Draco, Ron, and Harry stared at her, and she stared at Neville, the three girls walked into the room. They, like Neville, were fazed at seeing someone in the room that they didn't know. Oddly enough, Neville recovered from her sudden appearance faster than everyone else, who were just staring at her. She didn't really like this. Once Ginny, Luna, and Hermione noticed that their boyfriends were staring, they, obviously, got really mad. Ginny elbowed Draco in the arm. He blinked. Ginny sighed, and dragged him from the room. Hermione's constant talking finally seemed to have affected Harry, and she was pulling him from the room. Luna kicked Ron in the shin, and pushed him out.

"Why were you guys goggling at her like that?!" Ginny asked furiously.

Draco, Ron, and Harry suddenly seemed to have awakened.

"She a veela!" Ron exclaimed.

"No she isn't," Luna said, also upset.

"Actually," Harry said, "I think she is."

"Neville wasn't affected," Ginny remarked.

"Well," Ron said, "Maybe he's gay."

The remark caused a long second of silence. It had seemed funny in Ron's brain, but lost its appeal on its way out.

"Sorry," he said.

They all eased back towards the door.

"Err, who are you?" they heard Neville asked quietly.

"I uh…" she started, but then she adopted a cute, slightly frightened voice and said, "My name is Melinda cough. I just was looking for some food cough." She herd the others return, but did not look up as they entered. "Please don't cough send me back out into the cold cough.

Hermione sighed and said, "Don't be so over dramatic. It's at least 27 degrees…" she paused then continued, "eighty degrees Fahrenheit out there."

"If you have a better way for me to eat, other than stealing, please do not hesitate to enlighten me," Melinda said with fake excitement on the last part.

She stood up and made to leave.

"You are not leaving," Harry said defiantly.

She looked at him in a 'and I'm going to listen to you' stare.

"Where are your parents?" he asked.

"Dead."

"Oh," he said slowly, "I'm sorry."

"I never knew them; they died when I was one. So I got stuck with my lousy aunt and uncle. So I ran away. Then I was stuck in a foster program, which I hate."

Harry stood frozen. All the others looked at him.

He shook his head slightly and flicked out his wand. "Do you know what this is?"

"A stick?" she guessed.

"Err… no. It has a very rare core…" her eyes gleamed and turned slightly bluish, "and it… it… disappeared."

Harry searched the ground for his wand. Melinda was half way to the exit of the suite.

"PERCIFICUS TOTALUS!" Ginny yelled.

Melinda gave a little "eeep" as her legs snapped together and her arms slammed down into her sides, while she tipped backwards and thudding to the ground. Then circled her and Ginny mumbled the counter-curse. Melinda leapt up and looked frightened. She waved the wand.

BANG!

The tip exploded in scarlet and yellow sparked.

Everyone including Melinda stared at the wand's tip.

"Uhhh, what did I just do?"

Harry, Ron, Draco, Ginny, Hermione, and Luna all launched into wildly different explanations.

"Well, you see, that's a hydrostatic...." began Hermione.

"It's a toy that...." started Ginny.

"THAT'S MINE!!! GIVE IT BACK!!!" Harry bellowed.

"You see, it's far too complicated for you to possibly comprehend, but..." said Draco.

"It's uh, this thing that sends out sparkling things and makes noises and..." stuttered Ron.

"That is a small device previously thought to be imagined that...." Luna whispered.

The only one who seemed to be able to keep his head was Neville. The others babbled on senselessly, each second becoming more incomprehensible. This went on for a few minutes before the unknown girl spoke up.

"Alright, alright, enough already. Here you go." she said handing the wand to Harry. "Well, I'll be going now."

"OH NO YOU WILL NOT!" declared Ginny. "I mean, please, stay a while. Neville here was just going to get some lunch. You'll be going with him. He can explain some of this to you."

"Why are you doing this?" Luna hissed "Didn't you see how they were all staring at her? She'll have all our boyfriends drooling after her in no time."

"Whoa! HELLO still in the room here. Easy there, I'm not into all that. Come on, I just take the necessities." Melinda said, clearly abashed.

"Oh, she didn't mean it." Luna said sweetly "Just go along with Neville. Or better yet, you two stay here, we'll go, we uh have that thing to get anyway right Ron?"

"Uh wha....?" Ron started, but was cut off by Luna's foot slamming down on his own "Yes, err that err thing... right."

Without another word, Hermione, Ginny, and Luna turned and to leave the room, dragging their boyfriends with them.

"You just wait a minute." Neville said meekly, then went to Harry and whispered "Okay, so what am Isupposed to do?"

Harry raised his eyebrows with a devilish smirk and said lowly "You like her don't you… just figure it out"

Neville gaped at him in disbelief, "She's too thin." He stated bluntly, then, more to the point, "I mean, what do I tell her?"

"You'll figure it out," Harry said encouragingly and everyone but Neville and Melinda left without another word, shutting and magically locking the door behind them. (AN- this is JUST so that Melinda does not try to knock out Neville and run off.)

"So, you want to tell me what's going on here?" Melinda asked in a voice that sounded much more confident than she felt.

"Why don't you tell me what you are doing here first, Melinda, then I'll tell you." Neville countered.

Melinda looked unfazed, and began telling Nevile what had happened to her.

- - - -

The others returned to find Melinda and Nevile watching TV.

"So, what are we going to do?" Draco asked. "What did you tell her?"

Neville walked towards the group of teens. Once she was out of ear shot, Neville explained to the group what had happened. "Melinda is an orphan. Her parents died and left her with nothing. She was in several foster homes, but ran away from every single one and at the last home; the father was an abusive drug addict who she believes might still be looking for her. She actually didn't seem at all effected while telling me. It's kinda sad but she just… really seems tough."

Neville looked sympathetic.

"That must suck… Losing you parents…" Ron said.

He instantly looked to Harry, realizing what he had said.

"Forget it," Harry replied. "It's okay…"

- - - -

After Nevile finished talking to the teens, they all walked back over to Melinda.

"So..." He said and, for the first time noticing Melinda's surprising beauty, let his eyes linger on her.

"You wouldn't happen to have some food would ya?" Melinda asked. "I'm famished."

Harry snapped his head up, looking away from Hermione who had been reading. "Neville, why don't you take her to that little deli?" He suggested more to Melinda than Neville, then quieter so that Melinda would not hear, he said to Neville "She seems to have taken a liking to you"

"What are you whispering about there?" Hermione asked Harry, looking up from her book.

"I'll tell you later." Harry replied, winking, earning himself a death glare from Neville.

"Well let's go then." Neville said to Melinda and crossed to the door, opening it for her as she slipped on her shoes.

- - - -

The deli was packed with so many people Neville was surprised they could all fit without magically expanding the place. He wondered at this for some time before looking back towards Melinda. She was skimming the menu carefully trying to find the least expensive item. Neville could tell that she was struggling by the slight wrinkle in her smooth forehead and focused stormy eyes.

"Are you having trouble?" Neville said.

"What?" Melinda asked.

"Oh, um why don't you just order the first thing that sounds good? Actually, the food here is good." Neville replied.

"Are you sure I can order whatever I want?" she asked, "because I'm really hungry, I might just eat the whole building." Her humor had sincerely.

"No… we have… enough money."

"I'll take, uh, that one." Melinda said, pointing to one of the sandwiches behind the counter.

"Let's make that two." Neville said, pulling some cash out of his pocket and handing it to the man behind the counter.

Neville and Melinda found the only table that was open, a booth in the very back corner and the cashier brought out their order. They ate for some time and Neville described his friends to Melinda more fully. Everything else seemed to be manufactured conversation.

"So… you haven't mentioned yourself. Anything interesting happen to you Nev?" she asked.

"Why do you call me that?"

"I think it's cute," she replied.

"Okay…"

- - - -

While Neville and Melinda had been at the deli, Ginny and Draco along with Ron and Luna decided they would study, as did Harry and Hermione.

"Er, Ginny, why don't we go study in the kitchen area, come on Ron, you and Luna come too," Draco said, noticing Hermione gazing slyly over her book at Harry who was seated on the floor, resting his back on a plush leather chair.

The four of them scooted off to the kitchen and Hermione silently stood, walked around the small glass table and sat on the chair behind Harry. He felt her sink into the soft leather and leaned forward slightly so that she could drop her feet to the floor. The instant her feet hit the carpet, he leaned back against her legs, completely relaxed. Hermione dropped her hands onto his shoulders and started to rub the tension out of them.

"You have wonderful hands," Harry said, "but I don't think this is the best way for me to stay focused on studying."

"Then forget the studying," Hermione said directly, shocking Harry. He closed his book and set it aside, then leaned back against Hermione and let her rub his shoulders gently for some time.

"Hey, now it's your turn," Harry said. "Switch."

Hermione smiled gently and stood, nudging Harry with her foot as she did so. He stood as well and dropped into the chair. Instead of sitting on the floor, Hermione took out her wand and pointed it at the chair. Muttering the incantation under her breath, she enlarged it slightly. Hermione then sat beside Harry and turned toward him, draping her legs over his lap as she did so.

"Uh Hermione, I'm not sure how I'm going to rub your shoulders from here," Harry said in mock seriousness, but giving himself away with a grin.

"You know that's not the point," she said as she wrapped her arms around him and moved closer.

"Well, you said..." Harry began, but was cut off by Hermione saying: "Oh just shut up." and pressing her lips to his.

Time stood still; for a long time Harry and Hermione remained in their deep kiss. When she finally drew away from Harry, she looked into his eyes. "You look tired. You haven't been sleeping well have you?" she asked.

"I feel wonderful, so long as I'm with you," Harry said. "I did not sleep so well last night, but I don't want to leave you now just to take a nap. I can sleep some other time, who knows how often we'll be able to be alone together like this."

Hermione considered for a minute before resting her head on his shoulder "Then let's rest together." she whispered softly. Harry tightened their embrace and rested himself against Hermione. "That sounds wonderful." he said, and they fell asleep in the chair feeling completely content.

- - - -

Harry and Draco stepped out onto the street. They knew they would be here a while, so they were going to trade in more gold. The old jeweler's face lit up as they entered.

"More gold?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"You know I sold each of those for $522… if you have more, I'd be glad to buy them too… Oh yes, and I'll give you $521 each…"

Harry put the remaining 34 galleons on the desk.

At this, the jeweler frowned.

"You didn't steal these did you…?"

"No, and just make it $500… easier math…" Draco said.

The man looked skeptical, until he happened to glance down at the thin wand end sticking a little bit out of Harry's pocket. He looked at Harry's forehead and gasped.

"Mr. Potter… this is illegal… you can't sell galleons for the gold value…"

"How did you know my name?"

The man removed a wand from his pocket.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

"Staying away from Death Eaters and Voldemort."

The man flinched.

"I suppose… but no more after this…"

"It's all we brought."

The old man put one hundred and seventy one hundred dollar bills ($17,000) onto the counter and said, "Go quickly. Los Angeles isn't safe."

- - - -

"Los Angeles isn't safe?" Ginny said slowly, after hearing about the jeweler from Harry and Draco.

"But Dumbledore sent us here," Hermione said.

"Can you follow port keys?" Ron asked, "Because it's probably mentioned in Hogwarts, a History."

Hermione glared then said with obvious sarcasm, "Page 361."

Ron's jaw dropped. "You memorized the page number?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You can trace them only if you set a spell before it happens, but only the Ministry of Magic records them all…"

This sank in quickly.

"That's bad I presume," Melinda said, pulling Neville's wand from his pocket.

"Uh don't touch tha…" Harry said, but was cut off.

BANG!!!

The room filled with scarlet and gold sparks.

"You did that again," Hermione said… "Legimens!"

"I think its cute" blur… "New clothes, you little bitch! I need the money for my dope!" blur… "Mel… stay here I'll be back soon! No mom! Listen it's too dangerous for you! No mom, you be killed like daddy!" I have to go! POP!" blur… "Your mom is dead… I'm sorry, but I have to do this… OBLIVIATE!"

Hermione released Melinda's mind.

"She is a veela… Or her mom was…"

"What did you do…? That was weird…" Melinda asked.

"I read your mind… and she retained an obliviated memory… another vela trait…"

"What's a veela?"

"A magic creature… your mom was at least part veela… so you are to… and you were more than one when they died."

"But what does a veela do?"

"Unimportant… Neville will tell you later."

"So she can do magic…" Ginny said.

"I suppose we should get her a wand…" Draco said.

"Dumbledore will let her join the…" Hermione started.

"Somebody asked for me?" Dumbledore said.

Melinda jumped.

"Yes, I will allow Melinda to attend Hogwarts… but you had better train her well… she has to enter at the sixth year level… and as to Los Angeles not being safe… you are leaving now."

"Where to?"

"You got Los Angeles right… I think Mrs. Granger will get the next one too… most of you should."

"But Professor, they traced the last one from the ministry… how can we…"

"The traitor was caught… but we are apperating."

"What we don't know how too… and Melinda can't…"

"Luckily, I know a spell."

Dumbledore muttered as if he did not want them to hear the spell, and they did not.

A shimmering blue sphere appeared around the eight teens.

"My best wishes to you all," Dumbledore said softly.

The blue sphere closed quickly and they felt as if they were ripped into millions of pieces.

They landed conveniently in another alley. Hermione, Harry, and Draco instantly knew where they were.

"Whoa look at all the buildings…" Ron said slowly.

They had landed in Manhattan.

Author's Note… Okay almost 4K but uhhhhhhh a lot longer than my other chapters… so uhhhh anyways… my new co-writer helped a lot… and my beta will make the problems go away… but you wont see them anyway… that would be stupid… REVIEW!