A/N: I am at a complete loss for ideas here. Hmm… Hope this chapter will be okay with you guys. Y'know, living up to the K+ thing and all… Hahah… See it.

By the way, here's some stuff about me. I'm in my junior year in high school and I hate chemistry! Hahah… And by the way, I'm from the Philippines, so I'm a Filipino… Hahah… I'm not sure if you guys have heard of my country anyway. Hey, to the recent reviewers…

To tuulia: I hope you like this chapter, as something "happens" to Harry and Rose here. Heheh… Anyway, English is just our secondary language. But I think other countries are often surprised that 90 of our population know how to speak English. I want to know more about the German culture as well!

To Cubster: Thanks! Please keep the R&R going!

To StarryEyedStara: Hey, it's been a while since you last reviewed. Check out this new chapter and give me your comments, right? Chill!

To Pherusa: Thanks for reviewing chapter by chapter! Okay, the council was really daimyo-inspired but that's it. I'm not planning to strictly follow the system. The Draco-Harry rivalry… I decided that, well, since the first chapter, but I meant to not make it too obvious yet. Later, you'll find out something about the Draco-liking-Rose thing. Hahah… The thing about Harry and Rose saving wizardkind is something related to what's expected of them since they had after all survived You-Know-Who. And the prophecy… Yeah, the details on it are coming up in the next chapter, or maybe the next to that. Depends… R&R!

Chapter 14: Things to Come

"So, what's with the chill and warmth thing?" Rose asked, settling beside Harry who was sitting on his bed. It was a Saturday the next day, so Harry supposed they could stay up late.

"I dunno… Want to check out the library?" Harry suggested.

"'Re ya kiddin'? I don' go to the library'f I c'n help it. An' besides," she checked the watch on Harry's wrist, sending Harry a minor chill. "'T's almost closin' time for the library. We'll never make it 'n time."

Harry tried and failed to hold back a yawn.

"Ya sleepy already?"

Harry laid on his back. Rose placed a hand on his shoulder, making him cold again.

"Oops, sorry." She lifted her hand.

Silence prevailed for a few moments.

Harry raised his right hand indefinitely. He wanted to hold hands with Rose. But he knew what would happen if they held hands. But still…

Electricity shot through him once again. His mouth, his hands… His chest and knees.

Get a hold on yourself, Harry Potter! What are you doing!

Harry pulled back, panting. He was on all fours, and beneath him was a stunned-looking Rose.

"S – sorry," he said. It was his turn to avert his eyes from hers. He heard her breathing was shallow. "Are you – mad at me?"

Rose shook her head. "Was jus' – surprised, I guess…" she said with uncertainty. "Stop lookin' so worried. Am fine, 'right?" she said to Harry. When Harry continued to look uneased, Rose raised her head and kissed him slowly.

"Does this mean we're – really us now?" Harry said, breathing hard as he collapsed beside Rose. He lay on his stomach and wiped sweat off his forehead.

"What d'ya mean?" she asked, also breathless.

"Are we really – on?"

Rose's face remained questioning.

"I mean, we're officially – together?"

"Ya tell me…" Rose replied sleepily. "I've no 'xperience wi'this stuff… You're the one who's had girls… 'Right?" she ended with a yawn.

Harry was stunned and slightly annoyed that even Rose knew about his past relationships with Cho Chang and Ginny, both which ended not quite well. He wondered whether Rose knew what happened with both.

"Ya mad at me?" she asked, her words again unrecognizable as they always were when she was almost asleep.

"No."

"Let's sleep, then." Rose rolled over and placed a hand over Harry's stomach, so that Harry curled from the chill. "Sorry – again," she said, removing her arm. After removing his glasses, Harry, instead, placed his left arm over Rose's back, and his left leg over hers. Harry felt Rose's slow warm breath on his chest before he himself fell asleep.

Harry was slowly walking down a narrow staircase. It was dark all around him. If he had not known he was indeed going downstairs, he would have fallen. His footsteps echoed, not around him, but more like in his own head. He felt a draft.

He quickened his pace. His one hand found the railing of the stairs while his other was in his pocket, trying to keep himself warm. He arrived at the foot of the stairs. He stopped walking and looked around. There was a somehow dim lighting.

He squinted through the dark and saw the figure of a man standing not far away. Harry stared at the figure. The man bent down. Suddenly, fire lit up in front of him; the man had lit a fireplace. The silhouette looked familiar, Harry just could not think who it was. He felt sleepy, dazed.

"Harry?" a hoarse voice said. The man came nearer and nearer, until Harry finally saw the man's face.

"Sirius!" Harry jumped and hugged his godfather. "What – what're you – how are you able to – "

"I haven't got much time, Harry," Sirius said, breaking their hug and facing Harry with a serious look. "Listen, maybe I can explain things next time, but for now I need you to listen to me. You are in danger."

"What?" Harry blinked.

"You have to be careful right now, at Bridgework," Sirius continued. "I can't tell you much here. But protect yourself, Harry, and protect everyone else around you… before it's too late."

"How do you mean?"

"What?"

Harry was lying in bed. Ron was standing beside his bed, peering over him.

"Ron!" Harry exclaimed, getting up.

"Harry? What's with you?"

"Have you seen Rose?"

"No. She left hours ago. She said – "

"What time is it?" said Harry, jamming his glasses on.

"Ten," Ron answered.

"And she left?"

"Seven."

"What? Why?"

"She didn't say anything – just that she needed to go – oh she left a note for you there, go read it…" said Ron, pointing to a folded piece of paper on Harry's bedside table. "And go down to breakfast after you've read it, all right?"

"Thanks."

Harry –

Sorry I suddenly left. I had to go somewhere. 'Xpect me to get back t'night, 'right? Tell y'all 'bout it when I return. Really sorry!

Rose

P.S. Aish'tteru! XD

Harry did not understand the P.S. but he grinned all the same, glad that Rose took the time to write him something though she was obviously in a hurry. He got up and dressed himself for breakfast. When he arrived at the dining hall, Draco Malfoy welcomed him.

"Hello, Potter," he sneered as Harry passed by his table. "Have you seen Rose? I haven't caught sight of her since last night," this made Harry stop and face Malfoy.

Harry was just considered informing Malfoy that Rose left early without much of an explanation, but Malfoy suggested he knew more than Harry did.

"You know, if I were you, I would be asking the teachers."

"What is the deal with you, Malfoy," Harry hissed as Malfoy got up from his chair to go nearer to Harry and talk quietly with him.

"The deal's not with me, Potter," Malfoy said, casually leaning against the table and crossing his arms. "You know what, I am not too happy with the fact that you suddenly became Rose's boyfriend, I'm sure you have an inkling of that."

Not the right time and place, Harry, Harry told himself. He knew he was blushing.

"But I think what you don't know is I can do whatever I want, or just say whatever I want, to get things done for me," Malfoy hissed at Harry in the face. "And it's not servants that do it for me, Potter. People like… the Dark Lord, for example?"

A/N: Sorry for another short chapter, but I'm getting sleepy now. Promise next chapter will be much longer. And I hope this chapter was okay with you guys. Opinions please! Review, peepz! Thanks! 'Til next chapter! \m/ punks not dead