I went through past chapters and changed a lot of things to keep this story true to the books, detail-wise.The story-line did not change drastically. If you have't read HBP and are reading this, be warned, there may be spoilers in coming chapters. There are no spoilers in this chapter, but if you let me know, I can post a warning beforehand in folowing chapters. And now onto the story!

Chapter 9

She was sitting on a grassy knoll, on a day where the weather couldn't have been better. It was cool, but not so much to warrant a jacket or jumper, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The grass echoed the warmth of the setting sun, brushing gently against her legs in the breeze that also made her skirt flutter. Looking around, Lia realized that she was in a dream; one she thought she might have had before. A few feet in front of her was a lakeshore. The water ebbed and flowed quietly. Across the lake was a castle. In her dream, she recognized it, but knew it wasn't Hogwarts. Her dream self laugh almost nostalgically at the thought of Hogwarts. As the moments past, she could feel herself getting anxious. Something was supposed to happen, and it was taking a while. But what was it? As the minutes past, she was getting more anxious to go, but worry was also creeping around her thoughts. I'm not supposed to be waiting this long. Yet she still had no idea just what she was waiting for. She stood up as she heard footsteps behind her.

"Finally," she heard herself say.

"Sorry I'm late," whoever had walked up, replied.

"We're going to be late you know." Lia found herself turning slowly, to face whoever she was speaking with.

"I know, I know—"

Before she even finished turning to face the speaker, a bright light shined in her eyes. The sunlight. It was streaming through a crack in her bed curtains. Great timing.

Turning over, Lia knew there was no way she would be going back to sleep. Instead, she stared at the canopy above her head, trying to make sense of the dream. She knew she had it before. Right before Quidditch tryouts. There was more to it that that time though, even though she still had no idea who was in the dream with her. Although, that voice did sound familiar.

In the few minutes she lay there, her roommates began waking. One by one, the bed curtains were opened, not all with occupants happy to see the sun shining brightly.

"It can't be morning already. I swear I went to bed only five minutes ago," one girl said. Several groaned in response.

"What time is it anyway," someone asked.

Lia reached an arm out from behind her bed curtains to her bedside table, feeling around for her watch. "9:03."

"Oi Lia, open up and join the world of the living," Jackie said from her bed. "I didn't see too much of you last night," she said as Lia opened the curtains. "And when I came up here, you were already asleep. That bad, eh?"

"Its never too early for your tongue is it,' Lia joked. "Well, I'm awake, anyone else for heading to breakfast?" Within an hour Lia, Jackie, and their three roommates were heading down for breakfast.

"Whoa, look who's up," one of the seventh year boys said as the girls came and sat down across from them. "We didn't expect to see you guys until at least lunch."

"Hahaha."

"Hey you two," Ginny smiled as she caught up with her friends on the stairway.

"Wow, you shot out of there quick," Chloe said. "I just saw you giving mouth-to-mouth with that mysterious wallflower," she added, making Colin laugh at the muggle phrase.

"What are you looking at," Ginny asked, noticing Chloe scrutinizing look aimed over her shoulder.

"A phantom," Chloe replied. Ginny laughed as she looked over her shoulder, not seeing whatever her friend was. Whoever Chloe was looking at had disappeared.

Who Chloe had seen, was no phantom. Even without the arrogant lies crossing his face, with looks of curiosity and confusing lighting it instead, there was no mistaking the platinum blonde hair peeking out from the pulled–up mask. He was gone when Ginny turned, making her wonder if he really had even been there.

"Chloe," Ginny said worriedly. "Are you all right?"

Her gaze lost on the crowd, Chloe replied airily, "I'm not the one to be worried about."

"Lia, are you nuts? Why are you sitting next to an open window in this weather," Jackie asked seeing her friend sitting on the floor next to the window in their dormitory. She had her Potions book open in her lap, and a pile of notes beside her, both looking a bit neglected at the moment.

"What? Watching snow fall never killed anyone. Well, unless you were part of the Donner Party."

"The Donner Party? Never mind," Jackie replied. "That may be the case, but people do die of weather exposure, with or without spells and charms. And from the looks of it, you have neither. Now shut that window and let's head to dinner. Kevin, Jules, and Taylor are waiting for us." Lia did so, like a scolded child.

"Yes Mommy," she teased.

Jackie softened, and smiled. "Did you find what you were looking for yet?"

"No, but I know the answer is somewhere, I just haven't found it yet. The Professor wouldn't have let me do it if I couldn't find it."

"I'll never understand why you chose such complex equations for your project. But your right, the bat may be strict and meticulous, but he wouldn't let you waste time with something you couldn't do. And now, to food! And besides, we don't need you to catch a cold right before our game against Slytherin on Saturday, now do we? Libby'd have my hide if you get sick," she finished as they left the common room.

Days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months, and before they knew it, the winter holidays were almost upon them.

Saturday morning dawned bright and clear, with perfect conditions for that day's Quidditch game, Ravenclaw verse Slytherin.

Ravenclaw's Quidditch team waited in their locker room, beneath the pitch stands. Each member sat in a spot that had become their own, talking amongst themselves, laughing with their teammates. They were done with the pre-game pep talk, something that their captain kept mercifully short.

"Teams to the pitch," they heard Professor Potter yell. Quickly each person grabbed their broom and lined up as they walked out of the locker rooms. "Now I don't want to send anyone to Madame Pomfrey before this game is over, is that clear," he said, looking pointedly at Marsden and Lia. "I mean it, "he added, trying to conceal a grin. "All right then, players to the air." A few moments after everyone had kicked off, he released the balls, saving the Quaffle for last.

As soon as the maroon ball was in the air, a green blur swept it up and headed down to the goal posts. Kevin was ready though. He caught the ball and tossed it to Libby who shot downfield. One of the Slytherin beaters barely missed his mark as Libby swerved to the side and dropped the ball into the hands of Tyler Watson, the other Ravenclaw chaser. Before he got too far, he was blindsided by one of the Slytherin Chasers. He tried to pass it to Libby, who was open, across the pitch, but it was intercepted by Marsden. His throw to score was caught by Lia, who was waiting for him. She zoomed downfield, dodged a Bludger, and tossed the ball to Tyler, who scored.

"Ten points to Ravenclaw, scored by Tyler Watson, a fourth year who made the team this year, replacing Sophie Macon," the announcer said.

The Slytherin Keeper waited until her teammates were spread out around the field to throw the Quaffle to the nearest Chaser. Tyler left the player he was guarding to help Lia, who was now playing defense. Together they gained the ball back.

Coming under pressure, Tyler tried to throw the ball to Libby, but it was intercepted and taken for a Slytherin goal.

"Ten points to Slytherin! The score's tied, ten-ten."

Lia watched the two seekers circling above, out of the corner of her eye as she waited for Kevin to get rid of the Quaffle. Lia flew some crazy eights to lose her guard and get the ball. She raced to the goal posts on the opposite side, with two Slytherins on her tail, coming up on the sides.

"Oh heck no," she said to herself, pulling up and throwing to Libby who was off to her right.

The game continued with the ball passing back and forth. 20-10, 50-30, 90-50. By the time the seekers set off for the snitch, the score was 130-90, Slytherin. Cara was moments behind the Slytherin seeker, reaching to catch up.

"Daphne Tucker and Cara Taylor have seen the snitch! Both are in their first year on their house teams. They're winding around the Slytherin goal posts, creating enough of a distraction for Malfoy to shoot one in! 130-100, still with Slytherin. Taylor and tucker are neck and neck now, and Marsden's racing downfield with the Quaffle. Oh and Malfoy's was waiting for that one! She steals it and passes to Watson. He tries to pass, but it's intercepted by Warren. And he takes it past Wood for a score! 140-100, Slytherin. The seekers are still lat it, and it looks like Taylor's pulled even with Tucker, no, she's ahead of her now! And she's got it! Ravenclaw wins, 140-240!"

The players came down to the grass and headed to their locker rooms, some to sulk, and some to celebrate.

"Good job today," Professor Potter told Lia as they left the stadium. "I'm glad there was no repeat performance of last year," he told her.

"Yeah, well he started that one," she insisted, smiling. The last time that Ravenclaw and Slytherin played, Lia and Daren got a bit rough. Both ended up with several detentions and a single-game suspension, and had to spend the night in the Hospital together. It had been the climax of their malicious behavior toward each other, and while some of their peers walked on eggshells around them, the incident had not repeated itself.

"It seems like you two have figured out how to share the same oxygen in a room without going at it," he commended.

"Oh yes, it has absolutely nothing to do with that we're so busy with NEWTs just a few months off. We've been getting study packs and tutoring schedules in every class. They're gonna work us to death before the tests even come around," Lia smirked.

Professor Potter laughed. She was definitely a Malfoy. "I wouldn't doubt it. Just don't celebrate too hard now, you may be a Ravenclaw, but I know that doesn't mean you're head's stuck in a book," he said as Lia reached her friends. "I mean it."

"We'll try." He smiled as he headed into the castle with the rest of the staff and students.

Jackie had an arm over Kevin's shoulders, and put her other over Lia's shoulders. "Good job out there today. Both of you. You realize that we're on our way to being in the running for the Cup, don't you? Although I have to say that if we are going to get that far, Lia you might want to work with this one a little more in practice," she joked.

"Hey now, " Kevin defended, acting hurt.

"He didn't do that bad of a job," Lia replied. "Libby was just so concerned with offensive training with Tyler, that defensively, we kinda suck."

"Well whether you suck or not, first round of butterbeers next weekend, is on me."

Kevin laughed. "Now that's what I wanna hear!"

Ginny was slaving away in the library working on her Arithmancy essay as dusk approached. Both Colin and Chloe were outside enjoying the last of the sun before an approaching blizzard came in. It was the Friday before the holidays, and since Ginny was the only one who had chosen to take Arithmancy, she was left in solitude to do her work. If only she could concentrate to write a few more inches of parchment. Tomorrow was a Hogsmeade day, and Sunday the castle would empty of most of the students for three weeks.

Sitting with her back to the door, the window table she was at had a breathtaking view of the grounds. Snow lined the path from the castle, awaiting Saturday afternoon when it would most definitely be made into snowballs. Sighing as she put down her quill and capped her inkbottle, she felt the little hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Someone was watching her. The library had been almost empty when she arrived, most students enjoying the outdoors or packing, and she hadn't heard the door creak open since a group of third year Ravenclaws left. However, once she turned in her chair, she saw no one. She could have sworn someone had been there moments earlier.

Deciding she wouldn't get more work done on an empty stomach, Ginny packed her things. As she left the library, a familiar smell caught her attention. She recognized the spicy smell from somewhere, but her mind couldn't quite place it. Realizing she had been standing there for longer than normal, she shook her head of its thoughts; perhaps she had just imagined the familiarity. She made her way to the Gryffindor common room where she waited for her friends and for the dinner hour.

A/N: sorry this took so long! Part of it was done when I left, but I couldn't think of anything to add while I was gone, so it was finished just a few days ago when my muse came back, having stayed behind in Jeselo.

And for those who may not know who the Donner Party is, or need to refresh their memories of 4th grade, they're a group of pioneers that came west and became stranded in the Sierras when winter came. Many who didn't freeze starved or resorted to cannibalism.