Dedicated to my friend, Eric. You once asked me if we would always be friends because you didn't want to lose me. Without a beat, I responded we'd be friends until the end of time. I didn't know that time would run out so quickly for you. I didn't know I'd lose you at the age of 17. May you rest in peace and in the knowledge that I will, as I always did, hold you dear to my heart. R.I.P Eric Morales. June 1987 - April 2, 2005

Chapter 20: Elbows off the Table

There were many yellow flowers. They were daffodils, her favorite. She carefully fingered one and sighed. She tossed her red hair in a ponytail and looked out the window. Rain drizzled down the panes. Mia came to her side.

"They're actually called Narcissi. They're gorgeous but if you place them with other flowers, they'll kill the others." Mia said quietly.

"Narcissi?"

"Narcissus in Greek legend fell in love with his own reflection in a stream. He stayed transfixed by the stream and the gods thought he would die of starvation. So, they changed him into the flower to stay there forever. People believe it symbolizes new hope and life. He's going to be okay, Ginny."

"We've been in the waiting room for three hours and I don't know anything about his progress," Ginny sighed.

"Look, here comes someone now." Mia got up and walked to the doctor. "Excuse me, Sir"

"What?" The doctor scowled.

"We just want to ask about . . . "

"Ask the front desk." He walked off.

Draco saw this and blocked him. "Sir, this lady asked you a question. So, I suggest you turn about and politely answer her."

"And if I don't?" The doctor questioned. Mia saw Draco whisper into his ear. The doctor turned around and smiled. "I'm sorry, Ma'am. What was your question?"

"Yes, a patient by the name, Harry Potter. How is he?"

He flipped through the papers on his clipboard. "Harry Potter . . . has a case of pneumonia. However, he got here just in time and is in intensive care. Things are looking good for him in a few weeks."

"May we see him?" Ginny asked him, meekly.

"No," The doctor responded. Draco cleared throat. The doctor glanced at him and plastered a fake smile on. "I mean, no nurse shall walk you there. I'll have the honor." He quickly walked them to Harry's room.

As the group walked, Draco and Mia hung in the back.

"What did you say to him?" Mia asked.

"Sorry, it's a secret." Draco responded.

As they entered Harry's room, Faye gasped. Harry was in bed, pale with an IV in his arm. The doctor went to Draco.

"Is that all you require, Sir?" He asked nervously.

"A deal is a deal," Draco extended his hand. The doctor shook it and left in a hurry.

"Harry!" Ginny ran towards him.

"How are you?" Ron asked.

"Could be a lot better." Harry winced. "What are you guys still doing here?"

"What? You want us to leave you? Because I got better things to do." Draco joked.

"You guys should leave. Seriously, I know today was a big day for Ron and Mia with her date with Krum. So, go. It's not like I'm going anywhere, " Harry coughed.

"Are you sure?" Mia asked.

"I'm positive." Harry nodded.

One by one, they said their get wells and good byes. All except Ginny. Harry tried to sit up. It hurt so bad, he laid back down. "I thought I told you to get, Missy." He said in a mocked stern voice.

"You're going to have to try a lot harder to get rid of me," Ginny fluffed his pillows.

He reached over and held her hand. "I'm glad."

"Now, let's get started with our training" Ron smiled as soon as they got home.

"Yay, what fun," Faye muttered. "Okay, first thing is food." Faye entered the kitchen. .

"Yes!" Ron cheered.

"Because your table matters suck," Faye smiled.

"Oh," Ron stopped cheering.

Mia pulled on her shoes as she walked down the stairs. She stopped at the foot of the stairs. "What do you want?" She coldly asked.

Draco looked up from his book. "What?".

"I can feel you staring at me. What do you want?"

Draco slammed his book shut and tossed it to the other side of the sofa. There was no point keeping up the charade. "Are you still going . . . ?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"No reason."

"Okay then." She turned on her heel and started to walk to the door.

"Hermione?" She looked over her shoulder. "Just be careful." She nodded and left.

"Okay, Here's some easy macaroni and cheese to practice on." She placed a bowl and a glass of water in front of him. "It's the normal stuff with a hint of my secret ingredient," Faye added smugly. Ron took a bite.

"What? The paprika?" Ron questioned. Faye raised an eyebrow. "Don't be shocked. You can taste it."

"No, you can't. I didn't even put a dash in!" Faye was amazed. "Get your elbows off the table!"

"Faye!"

"Draco, thank god. Tell Ron to get his elbows off the damn table." Faye pouted.

He looked at Ron, "Get them off or I'll break them off. Your choice." Ron's ears turned red but he did get them off. "Okay, if I told you to be careful with a guy, you'd?"

"Make out with him like there's no tomorrow".

"Thank you."

"No problem!" He kissed her on her forehead and headed for the door.

"Wait, you're going to follow her? Piss her off more? Is that the plan?" Faye followed him.

"I don't like him." He shook his head.

"Like him or like the date?" She pointed out.

"Something isn't right and you know that."

"Yeah, your behavior?" They looked at each other for a few seconds.

"Here." Ron said, holding out Draco's jacket. "I know what you mean. There's something creepy about him. I feel it too."

Faye threw her hands in the air. "What is this, a feeling convention? Since when have you guys been in touch with your feelings?"

Draco chuckled and grabbed his jacket. "Thanks, man and remember what I said," he glared at him before leaving the house.

"What'd he say to you?" Faye raised an eyebrow. Ron looked at her and turned completely red.

"Elbows?"

Mia pulled her jacket closer. She was shivering. "Would you like to go up to my room? It's a lot warmer and we could talk in private." Krum asked. Mia was impressed with his English. It had improved greatly over the years. Although, she had a bad feeling about this, she was cold and agreed. Once inside, Mia sat on the bed. Krum sat next to her and kissed her neck. After awhile of kissing, Krum moved his hand under her blouse. She moved his hand away. He chuckled and placed his hand there again. She tried to move it away but this time, he refused to budge.

"Krum! Stop! I said no!" Mia yelled. She shoved him away and jumped off the bed.

"Hermione, come on. You know you want to," Krum smiled. His smile was cruel, twisted, and frightened Mia.

"No, I don't. Please take me home now." Mia tried to remain calm to keep from showing just how scared she was. In one fluid motion, Krum grabbed her and threw her on the bed. Mia furiously fought back screaming but Krum was too strong. He straddled her. "So, you want it rough? I can do that too. Silencio!" Mia opened her mouth but nothing came out. He started to take off his shirt. She turned her head to the door and prayed. "Oh, come on. It'll be fun." He kissed her on the cheek. There was a knock on the door. "Go away!" Krum yelled.

"Sorry, Mate!" a voice called from the other side. Mia froze. She knew that voice from anywhere and it was time to find hers.

"DRACO!"

After a few hours of talking, Ginny was rather hungry.

"I think you can steal some ice cream from the freezer in the hall."

"Yum, want some?"

"Yeah, can you grab me some vanilla?"

"No problem. Are you feeling any better?"

Harry felt worse by the second but he refused to worry Ginny. "Yeah, I'm so hungry, though."

"Say no more, I'm on my way." As the redhead bounced out the room, Harry allowed himself to wheeze. To breathe was getting harder and harder. He started to hyperventilate and that's when the alarms started to blare.

"Okay, well . . . At least, we got your elbows off the table?" Faye sighed. Ron smiled and looked quite pleased with himself. "Okay, moving on to the movie section of our training."

"We sit and look at the big screen. I have been to a muggle movie before." Ron reminded her.

"Yeah, but not with a date. The rules are completely different," Faye shook her head as she placed three chairs next to each other and placed a glass on one of the end chairs. "Ok, what seat do you pick?"

"That one. " He pointed at the seat with a glass.

"It's taken."

"By a inanimate object."

"It's a person!"

"It's a glass!"

"That's Mr. Glass to you!"

The door flew open. "GET OFF OF HER, NOW!" Draco thundered. He stalked over to Krum, picked him up by the collar, and threw him against the wall. He knelt by Mia. "Did he touch you at all?"

Mia sniffled. "No," she barely whispered.

"Ok. Hermione. I need you to stay here. Ok?" He stroked her hair. She numbly nodded. By this time, Krum regained consciousness and was pissed.

"What's wrong with you?" Krum hissed.

"Shut your mouth. What's wrong with you?"

"Well," he liked his lips and looked over at Mia. "I was always a rebel."

"No, I'm a rebel. You are an asshole that's about to be beaten into oblivion." Draco stalked over to him.

"Really?" He lazily raised an eyebrow. "How do you . . . " His word were disrupted by a punch in the mouth.

"But when do I get to kiss her?" Ron asked. Faye covered her face with her hands. It was a long day.

"First, you take her to dinner." Faye calmly explained.

"Then, I kiss her?"

"No. You take her to a movie."

"Now, I kiss her, right?"

"Boy! No! You walk her home. Get to know her more. Make her laugh." Faye waited for it. "Then! You kiss her." She rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"Maybe she knows someone for you," Ron smiled.

"I'm not looking for someone," Faye looked at him, "rather than looking at . . ."

"Shit!" Faye jumped back. "Look at the time. I'm going to be late. Let's go"

"Draco! DRACO! Enough!" Mia was trying to pull him off of Krum. "Draco! He's not moving! You're killing him!" He turned and grabbed Mia by the shoulders. She gasped. His face was hardened. She dropped her hands and took a step backwards.

Draco shook his head. He looked around in a daze. His eyes fell on Mia, who was still trembling. "Hey! It's okay, now. I'm here." He took a step towards her. She took a step back. "No one's going to hurt you anymore, Baby. Not while I'm around, I swear to you." Mia went into his arms and cried.

"Why isn't anyone coming to him? We have to do something," Lupin started to put his coat on.

"We have to be strong," Dumbledore said quietly.

Lupin stalked towards him, knocking a chair over. "Look at him!" Lupin screamed, pointing at the screen. Dumbledore stared straight ahead. "LOOK AT HIM! He's dying. He's DYING. I'm all for the cause, you know this. But don't you DARE, for a second, look me in the eye and tell me the ends justify the means!"

At that moment, Harry shot up straight. His eyes were white. The alarms stopped blaring. He closed his eyes and returned to bed, no longer wheezing.

Lupin offered a weak smile and went to turn the chair right-side up. "I hate it when he does that," He blushed.

"I do too. That's why I keep my mouth shut," Snape replied.

Faye had the privilege of walking Ron to his date. God, kill me now They stopped in front of the restaurant.

"Okay, pop quiz! Which seat do you sit in?"

"Not the one in which Mr. Glass is in?" He grinned.

"I'll take it!" Faye smiled back and they high-fived.

"She's truly an awesome person, you know," Ron said. Faye felt like strangling him. It hurt already, why couldn't he let her be?

"Then, why are you still here?" Faye asked.

He put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. She raised an eyebrow. "I found someone better," he smiled as he leaned in.

"Come on, Mia," Draco stroked her cheek. "We have to go report him."

Mia snapped her head back, "To who?" She yelled. "The muggle cops. 'Oh, he silenced me with a spell!'"

"Fine, we'll go to . . . "

"Nowhere! That's where. Draco," She sobbed. Draco sat down and held her. "They wouldn't believe me. And, if by some chance it did go to court . . .who are they going to believe? The Quidditch Superstar or the lowly Mudblood?"

Draco pulled her head back and looked her in the eye, "You don't ever say that about yourself, ever. You are so much better than that." Mia sniffled.

"Now, I don't agree with what your decision is. Yet, it's your choice. You okay?" Mia offered a small smile. "That's my girl."

"What are we going to do about him?" She nudged Krum with her toe.

"Err, just leave him."

As Faye tilted her head, she heard someone behind her. It didn't even register in her mind until Ron snapped his head back. His grip around Faye tighten and every muscle in his body tensed. Faye turned around. In front of her, was a man. Faye could smell the alcohol reeking on him.

"Get in the alley," he menaced.

"Ugh, vanilla was all the way at the bottom. Sorry it took so . . ." Ginny trailed off. A perfectly healthy Harry was pulling his hooded sweatshirt on.

"Awww, thanks." He took it and kissed her on the cheek. "You ready to go?"

"Did the doctor . . ."

"Nope, but life is too short to care."

"No," Faye spat out.

"Excuse me?" The robber flashed a knife under his jacket.

"I said 'no'" Faye stood up straighter.

"Uh, Faye. Maybe I should handle this," Ron started to take his jacket off.

"No, I will. I'm sick and tired of people like you. You better be prepared to use that knife right here and now, because I am not going anywhere with you. I am prepared to stand and fight. And buddy, you better be prepared to do the same thing, because even at the very least, one of us is going to be walking funny." Faye took stance in the fighting position she was taught many years ago. "In other words, bring it, Bitch." Without a word, he turned and ran.

"Let's go," Ron pulled her back. Faye turned and looked at him.

"But . . . " Faye stuttered.

"I'm sorry." Faye felt a splash of water hit her on her nose. Looking up, grey clouds had gathered above them.

"Okay, home it is," Faye sighed and started to walk home, side by side with Ron.

Ginny walked pass the waiting room with Harry.

"Harry! Come on! I wanna show you the gorgeous . . . "She stopped dead in her tracks. Instead of the daffodils being bright and cheery, they were brown and dead. She looked around the room in vain. All of the daffodils were dead.

"Gorgeous dead flowers?" Harry questioned. Ginny carefully fingered one and it crumbled away.

"Let's go home, Harry." Ginny took his hand and they walked out.

Ginny was in the kitchen when Ron found her.

"What's wrong? I thought you had a great time with Faye?" Ginny questioned.

"I just feel bad. I stood the other girl up," Ron frowned.

"Yeah, but when your world crumbles around you again, who would you rather have next to you? Besides, are you truly in your heart of hearts happy?"

Ron hesitated and before he could answer . . .

"What did you ask me? I have to go to bed," Ron staggered backwards.

"That boy is getting weirder and weirder," Ginny shook her head.

"Thank you for seeing me, Cornelius," Dumbledore sat down in the Minister of Magic's office.

"It's 'Minister Fudge', Professor." Cornelius corrected him.

"It's 'Headmaster', Minister Fudge." Dumbledore smiled.

Cornelius scowled "You said this was of importance." He dragged his finger across his cherry oak desk.

"Oh, yes. Why is it The Department of International Cooperation, The
Goblin Liaison Office, The Council of Magic Law, and The Improper Use of Magic Office have no idea about the owls I sent you?" Dumbledore leaned in.

"That's none of your concern!" Cornelius started to turn red.

"When the dozens of owls carrying warnings about possible attacks, I believe are going to happen soon, don't go past your door, it's my concern." He leaned in closer.

"I'm protecting them!" He got up and paced.

"You're letting them die slower," Dumbledore sat back.

"And what would you have me do?" Cornelius stopped and turned to him coldly.

Dumbledore leapt to his feet, "Fight with me."

Cornelius was silent for a while. "I guess I can't ignore it anymore. I'll train mine and you train yours. Tell me when you want them and you shall have our services."

"I have your word on this?"

"You have my word." Though the color in his face drained out, he stuck his hand out. Dumbledore shook his hand, grabbed his cloak, and walked to the door.

Cornelius took a fire poker and started to poke the fire. "Envy the country that has heroes."
Dumbledore put his cloak on, "No, pity the country that needs heroes" and with that, he walked out.