DISCLAIMER: I am not British, never been to London, and only know a handful of British words so I cannot possibly own Harry Potter.

Chapter 13: The Mind's Trick

"I told you they would like the costume," Raven gloated to Hermione as they got ready for bed. Hermione had invited Raven back to the head dorms and Raven accepted.

Hermione gave a small secretive smile that Raven couldn't help but notice. "Yeah," Hermione murmured dreamily, "they did."

Raven flashed her a mischievous smile. "Bill seemed to particularly like it. In fact, I don't think he ever took his eyes off you the whole time."

Hermione blushed a deep, scarlet red and looked at her feet. She mumbled something inaudible.

"What was that?" Raven asked.

"He…um….sort of asked me out," she replied shyly.

"And you, of course, said yes."

Hermione blushed even more and smiled brightly. "Yeah, I did." Then she smiled teasingly. "I saw you dancing with Harry."

"Yeah I did," Raven replied. She then noticed Hermione smiling stupidly and was confused. "What?"

"Do you like him?"

"I choose not to answer that question on grounds of incrimination.."

"That just means you're guilty."

"No, it does not. It just means I neglect to answer such a ridiculous question."

"Oh come on Raven! I told you…."

"Goodnight Hermione," Raven said climbing into the extra bed they transfigured and pulling the curtains tightly shut.

Hermione stared at the closed curtains for a moment. She smiled secretly at her friend who just gave so much away in that simple action. "Goodnight Raven, sweet dreams of Harry."

In the guy's dorm, a similar conversation was going on. Harry was questioning Ron about Lavender, who danced with Ron all night. While Ron questioned Harry about Raven.

"So mate," Harry started, "are you going to ask her out?"

"Depends," Ron replied. "Are you going to ask Raven out?"

"I asked you first."

"I've already asked Lavender out and she said yes."

"Oh." Harry looked at his friend. "I'm happy for you."

"Thanks, but back to you," Ron tossed back. "Are you going to ask her out?"

"What's there to say? She tells me stuff, yet she doesn't. Sometimes we get along, sometimes we ignore each other. It's complicated."

"Whatever you say," Ron dismissed. "Sounds to me that you two are just in heat."

Harry glare at his friend. An evil plot formed in his head to rile up the redhead. "I saw Hermione and Bill getting along real well."

"Yeah, yeah, I saw that too," Ron grumbled.

Harry decided to fuel the fire. "I heard that he really likes her." Ron grunted and Harry decided to go on. "In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he asked her out."

"I did," a voice said from behind them. Harry and Ron spun around to find Bill standing in the doorway.

"What!" Ron asked at once.

"I said, I asked her out," Bill repeated slowly for his brother to comprehend. "And she said yes."

Both boys just stared at him. Bill laughed and said, "Get some sleep," and closed the door.

Harry woke up in a cold sweat after a horrific nightmare. He looked over at the clock and noticed it was a little after three am. He laid back on his bed and tried to remember the dream.

He rose and grabbed his journal out of his trunk and a quill. He wrote frantically in his journal. This was the first "real" dream since coming back to Hogwarts and decided to let Lupin know. He skillfully wrote a letter using the secret phrases him and Lupin made up. He studied his letter carefully after he was done and leaned back in his chair in satisfaction.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood as a cold breeze swept through the room. He glanced nervously over at the window and saw it swaying in the breeze. He got up and walked over to it.

He almost had the window closed when something caught his eye moving near the edge of the Forbidden Forest. It was almost unnoticeable, it blended in so well. But the gleam of its' teeth and the glisten of sleek fur gave it away.

It was a panther. Harry stared openly at it, wondering why there was a panther here where they do not inhabit. Furthermore, how did it end up here at Hogwarts?

Harry watched as the panther made its' way along the edge of the forest. It was coming closer to the school but then…it stopped. It seemed to glance up at him and Harry could of sworn it smiled. But before he could think on it anymore, the majestic animal turned and bounded off into the forest.

Harry stood there for a moment longer, waiting for it to reappear. It didn't though and Harry closed the window before turning and heading back to bed. The thoughts only stopped when sleep engulfed him.

A/N: Author bows humbly, asking for forgiveness. I am SOOOOO sorry this took so long to update. I've been so engulfed in my other story. I am terribly sorry. Please forgive me.

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