Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers!

Chapter 5

"Drakie poo!" screamed Pansy as she ran over to Draco. He cringed as she hugged him tightly.

"Get off me, Pansy," he said with disgust, detaching himself from Pansy's arms.

She looked offended, but then brightened momentarily.

"I brought you something," she said in that childish, sticky sweet voice. From her pocket she drew out a silver necklace that said BF in big letters printed on it.

"Pansy," he said. "You're not my girlfriend. I am not your boyfriend. Do you understand?" he finished slowly.

"But… Draco!" she wailed superficially. "I thought we haaaad something."

"Well then you were wrong. We don't have a damn thing," he replied.

"It's because of another girl, isn't it? You found another girl!" she said suddenly, through her "sobs".

Draco was thrown off guard. "Another girl?" he stammered. "Of course not. Leave me alone, Pansy."

So I was right, Pansy thought to herself angrily as she watched him walk off. He has another girl. Now to find who she is. She smiled.

Sarai waved to Draco across the Great Hall. He waved back, a smile playing on his lips. Their eyes met for a split second, then someone tugged on Draco's arm and he vanished into the sea of people.

"Pansy," hissed Draco. "What the hell was that? Don't touch me!" he said vehemently.

She let go of his arm, but smiled slyly.

He didn't like the way she smiled.

"Sarai!" called Draco on impulse. He had just watched her disappear down the hall in a throng of people, hurrying to get where they wanted to go.

Her head bobbed up. "Yeah?"

"Sarai?" he called again, hurrying after her.

She managed to extricate herself from the crowd and was leaning on the side of the wall.

She smiled at him. A smile. He couldn't help smiling back. That's what she liked about Sarai. Whatever she had been through, obviously a lot, she kept smiling. Her heart didn't turn to stone.

"Do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me?" he asked, before he could chicken out. The next trip to Hogsmeade was in two days.

She widened her smile in surprise. "I'd love to," she said.

She and Ginny giggled.

"I can't believe he asked you out," said Ginny, her face glowing with happiness.

"Well, it's possible he just asked me, as, you know, friends," Sarai answered practically.

Ginny shook her head vigorously. "Nuh uh."

Sarai smiled wryly. Her friend had unfailing cheerfulness and an unruffled good humor.

"I'll fix you up," said Ginny excitedly. "What do you have to wear?"

"Not much," said Sarai ruefully.

"Well then, I'll lend you something," said Ginny. "We're about the same size."

Then, suddenly, without warning, Sarai threw her arms around Ginny. They hugged each other happily.

"Thank you," Sarai said softly. "Thank you."

Hugs and kisses and candy and ice cream to all of my reviewers!