Chapter 11: Good v.s. Bad

The rest of Potions was strained. Nobody did anything, not even the Slytherins, because Snape's fury was apparent. Raven had did what few ever achieved: she got to him. Harry and Neville were tortured more than ever and both ended up with zeros for the day.

Harry never thought he would be happier when class was over. He bolted out the door and headed off in search of Raven. He didn't know which he wanted to do more: congratulate her on upsetting Snape or throttle her for it.

She was not in the common room when he entered. Nor was she in the Great Hall with most of the students. He asked Hermione if she had seen her and Hermione assured him that she wasn't in the library.

He decided on a whim to go up and check in the Owlery. When he entered, he instantly caught site of her. She had her back to him when he entered and was stroking a large, black hawk with intense silver eyes.

"Take this to him Corbett, and hurry. I need an answer soon."

The black hawk took off and Raven turned to leave. She stopped as soon as she spotted Harry standing in the doorway watching her closely. How long had he been standing there? she wondered.

Suspicion filled her eyes as she studied him. Did she think he was spying on her? Harry asked himself. No, he told himself, she probably just wonders what I want.

"Harry?" She inquired after a uneasy silence.

"Hello….I was…uh…I was just coming to get you from lunch. I couldn't find you earlier."

"I went for a walk," she replied simply. Her eyes still shown suspicion as she gazed at him.

"Okay…um…is everything okay?"

Raven's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, everything's fine. Why wouldn't it be?"

"I don't know, you were just acting strange this morning."

A small smile broke out across her face and her features relaxed. "You mean me walking out of one class and getting kicked out of another?" she joked.

Harry smiled back. "Yeah, that's what I mean."

"I've been told I have a temper."

"I don't think I would just put that down as 'temper'," Harry replied.

"Well," Raven said thoughtfully, "how about the fact that I hate frauds and people that try to walk all over other people plus the fact that I come from Durmstrang."

Harry stared at her. "Okay, that sounds fine."

Raven smiled at him, "I'm not a bad kid, at least I don't think so. Sure, I have a temper, voice my opinions, break some rules, hurt people, do some stuff others think is bad, don't take crap, come from a bad…," she sighed, "maybe I am a bad kid."

Harry looked at her, really looked at her. "No, no you're not a bad kid. Those traits make you, you. You are unique, not another girly clone. You're good."

Raven couldn't meet his gaze. "Harry…you can't say that, you don't even know me. I might be some evil person out to get you."

Harry chuckled. "I doubt it, you have to many…good emotions inside you to be bad. You've probably never done anything really bad in your life."

"You'd be surprised," she mumbled under her breath.

"What?"

"I said, you don't know. I come from a bad past Harry. You have to realize that."

"People aren't always like their families Raven."

"But more than likely, they are. You can't change how you are raised and what you're taught, no matter how much you wish to forget." Raven walked over and looked out the window, turning her back on him.

Harry just stared at her, not knowing what to say. She didn't sound sad; she sounded…. Bitter. He walked over to her, but he didn't say anything for a couple of minutes.

Finally he found his voice. "I believe in you Raven. I don't know your background or your life up until this point, but I can see so much good in you. I think…I think that you can be anything you want to be."

Raven looked at him but did not say anything. Instead, she nodded her head slowly. She looked down at the ground, afraid that he would see the truth in her eyes.

The truth was, she didn't believe in herself. She knew the lies that boiled inside of her. She knew the deceptions that hid inside her heart, body, and soul. She knew the pain that was in her past, present, and future. She couldn't let Harry see any of that.

"Thanks Harry," she said after a while. "You've helped me see a lot." And he did. She didn't mention that what he helped her to see was that she wasn't a good person.

"You're welcome."

Then he did something that surprised them both. He took her in his arms and hugged her tight!

She was surprised by his actions but did not pull back. Instead, she melted into his embrace and allowed herself to receive comfort for the first time in her life. She did finally pull back though and looked at him.

She smiled a warm and enticing smile. "I am a little hungry, you know."

Harry smiled back at her. "Then let's go eat."

They walked towards the Great Hall and one thought swirled through Harry's head: How was he falling so fast for a girl he just met yesterday?

A/N: And isn't that just the question…. Question: What's Raven feeling guilty about? Anyone want to wager a guess? PLEASE REVIEW!