Author's Notes: Well i finished harry potter 6 in record time and even got a chapter done quickly :) yay for me i am going to try to keep it up, but lets not count on it ;) In this chapter i have used and song from Phantom of the opera, so i dont own it, but i am a huge POTO fan so that explains that. thanks to my reviewers.

Queentatooine: I feel the plot is getting thicker the more i write ;) glad you are enjoying it so far.

Gabi Web: thank you i just put the scene between her and her father in at the last minute i thought it fit nicely. glad you like it so far

and again thanks to Gabi Web for beta reading this chapter :)

i dont own POTO or anything else really. so lets not sue me ;) enjoy the chapter.

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"What are you doing here? Someone will see you!" Christine moved out of Derek's embrace quickly.

"I've come to meet your sister, who ever she is," Derek said calmly, "I don't want to lose the friend I made." Just then, Melanie made a loud entrance, practically running towards the two. Christine quickly put more space in between them and lowered her eyes to the ground.

"Your Highness," she said in a sickly sweet voice, giving a graceful curtsy "I wasn't expecting you." Christine held back a snort of laughter.

Yeah right. Christine thought it was funny. Melanie must have sniffed the prince out or something because she said she didn't know what he looked like, or maybe she was just presuming it was the prince.

"I thought my visit shamefully over due; I hope it is not an inconvenient time?" Derek replied bowing slightly

"No of course not, you are always welcome here at Datson Manor. Won't you please come inside?" Melanie glanced at Christine with cold eyes. "Maid, take the Prince's horse to the stables, then go and prepare us some refreshment, which we will take in the drawing room." Christine bobbed a curtsy and went and collected the horse. Glancing only once at Derek who was watching her instead of listening to Melanie.

This is going to be really hard. I hope he has tried to put two and two together and gotten five. If he figures out that Melanie is my sister… it would be bad for everyone! She handed the reins to Jack and told him to take special care of his highness's horse and left to get the refreshments.

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Christine walked in to the drawing room minutes later with a tray of refreshments.

Derek and Melanie were sitting down talking together; they stopped when Christine entered. She put the tray down silently and began pouring the tea.

"How do you like your tea Highness?" Christine asked quietly keeping her eyes down.

"Milk and three sugars, thank you Chris." Christine set to work pouring the tea.

"How do you know her name?" Melanie asked sharply, looking between the two; Christine froze.

"She told it to me in the front garden, when I asked," Derek said without missing a beat. "I must say it is an odd name for a female, is it short for anything?"

"Don't pay any attention to the servant; Maid leave now." Christine curtsied and left silently.

Derek watched her leave before his attention was, again, claimed by Melanie; she really was a nice girl.

"How about a tour, your highness?" Melanie suggested sweetly.

"That would be wonderful." Derek stood up and offered Melanie his arm, which she took without a moment's hesitation.

Soon they were walking around the manor with Melanie pointing out interesting designs and feature points. She is rather nice, Derek admitted silently to himself as he listened to Melanie talking about the main ballroom. She has a really beautiful, clear, sweet voice and she isn't falling all over me like the other kingdoms' girls, whenever they spot me.

"Your highness, are you ok?" Melanie asked quietly.

"Sorry lady, I must confess my thoughts are wandering, I do apologize."

"Do not trouble yourself; I often know the feeling, how about a nice walk in the garden?" Melanie suggested, "You can maybe think of whatever troubles you some more."

"I could not do that in the presence of such a beautiful lady."

"I insist; it is rare to find someone you are completely comfortable with when you are silent as much as you are when you talk." Melanie blushed slightly, she knew she was winning the prince over playing it the way she was. Her mother was right not clinging to him and becoming his friend was the easiest way to win his heart.

"Thank you, that would be nice." They strolled out in to the back garden, and soon sat down on one of the benches along the path in the rose garden.

Derek was looking around silently and he saw in the distance a beautiful red-head in riding gear and boots walking her horse back across the paddock to the stables; she had her sword strung around her slim waist by a belt and even from here he could hear her singing quietly.

Think of me, think of me, fondly,
when we've said goodbye.
Remember me once in a while -
please promise me you'll try.

When you find that, once again,

You long to take your heart back
and be free - if you ever find
a moment, spare a thought for me ...

She was just far away he could hear her beautiful voice carrying on the wind. Derek could tell that Melanie was trying to ignore her and regain his attention.

"I am afraid that my presence is required at the Palace, I must take my leave." Derek said suddenly as he stood, preparing to leave

"So soon?" Melanie sounded so disappointed.

"I'm afraid so."

"I'll accompany you to the stables."

"No, do not trouble yourself lady." Derek bowed

"You will come and see me again? Won't you?" Melanie blushed slightly as she said it.

"I will, but for now goodbye."

"See you soon." Melanie gave a slight nod of her head and watched the Prince take his leave.

Everything is going according to plan, just play it cool and at the right time reel him in…

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Christine had reached the stables and Jack seemed to have disappeared. Silently, Christine moved and began un-tacking her horse.

"Hello," said a voice behind her; she knew who it was before she turned around.

"How was tea with Lady Melanie?" Christine managed to call her sister by her name this time.

"She is a real nice girl; I can see her and myself becoming close." Derek replied truthfully. Christine bit back the laughter that was threatening to escape, then, hearing his second comment, she felt a slight jolt in her stomach that she couldn't explain.

"That's good," she replied, quietly hiding her feelings well… whatever they were.

"Chris, I want to see you again, we can still be friends can't we?" Christine sighed; she wasn't sure what to do, if Melanie and him continued to get closer Christine would be in a large amount of trouble when Melanie found out. But she still wanted this, this friendship.

"Same place tomorrow for a practice?" Christine agreed quietly.

"We shall see if we can be friends."

"Ok." Derek looked around for his horse. It was in a stall completely un-tacked. Christine noticed where he was looking and immediately walked forward and began tacking up the horse so that Derek could leave.

Derek, feeling stupid, walked forward and began helping Christine. Once the horse was finished Derek bid her goodbye and mounted his horse and rode away.

Melanie was nice; but Chris...who is her sister and when do I have to meet her? I still don't get it. Maybe I could question her about it tomorrow.

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yay another chapter down as always tell me what you think i love to hear it because i cant read minds as well as i used to ;)

R&R

E J Riddle