Chapter Four

Remus sighed. He, Sirius and Peter were in the middle of the battlefield created by James and Pertida. They were still in their rooms, and it had been four hours since their tongue-fight.

"We need them to talk," said Sirius, stating the obvious. Remus rolled his amber eyes.

"Well, obviously!"

Sirius glared at him. "I'm serious, Remus!"

"I know you're Sirius, Sirius."

Sirius' glare darkened. "That joke is so old."

Remus smirked, as they lounged on the chairs and sofas in the Gryffindor common room.

"I don't think Pertida likes me," murmured Peter.

"Of course she does," Remus lied. Peter yawned and he closed his eyes.

A snore told them he was fast asleep. Remus turned to look at Sirius. "Do you think she does?"

"Pertida? No."

"I don't understand why she doesn't like him, Sirius."

"As I said a few days ago…perhaps he does remind Pertida of who she hates from Durmstrang."

"What confuses me is," muttered Remus, thoughtfully, "that she doesn't sound Bulgarian."

000

Lily collapsed on her bed, her heart thumping away in her chest. Her green eyes were bright, while her fiery red hair was tightened back in a long ponytail.

Her mind was on Potter. She kept on replaying the strange encounter he had with Pertida. She had a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach that she couldn't explain. Lily pitied Pertida that all her family and friends were dead, no matter how much she annoyed her.

Lily even knew whom Pertida and James were discussing, while Remus, Sirius and Peter did not. They were discussing the rising Dark lord, Lord Voldemort.

Lily tucked herself in her duvet, and she felt frightened. Frightened that she felt attracted to Potter.

000

His friends forced him out of the Head quarters. James glared at Sirius, Remus and Peter in turn as they headed to the Ouidditch Pitch. James would've been happy to be out in the Quidditch Pitch, but the air being cold and chilly, deposited every complimenting thought he held of it.

"I-am-so-going-to-kill you," said James through clenched teeth, as Sirius and Remus frog-marched him onwards. Peter held his broom: the Shooting Star.

"You'd like our surprise," smirked Sirius, but there was a mysterious note in his voice. James' eyes flashed.

"I-don't-ruddy-care!"

"You will," Remus predicted.

"Oh, James!"

Remus, Sirius, James and Peter stopped. In front of James was Pertida smiling, showing her very white, even teeth. Her cheeks were red from the cold; she already had on her scarf and gloves.

"Isn't that a bit…over the top?" said James, with desperation. Pertida chuckled.

"I'd prefer to enjoy outside rather than freeze with cold."

James gave her a very forced smile, and realised Pertida was carrying a broom.

"That looks like Sirius'," he accused her. Pertida flashed him another smile.

"It is. He lent it to me."

"For what?" asked James. He frowned.

Pertida gave a hearty laugh. "You're going to give me flying lessons."

"Flying lessons?" echoed James, horrified. He swung around to his friends, but they weren't there.

"Yes," Pertida giggled. "To get to know each other better."

James wrinkled his nose. "But how comes Peter, Sirius or Remus doesn't have to join?"

"It's to make up from the fight," admitted Pertida, reluctantly. James nodded his head, and then spotted that Peter had left his broom next to his feet.

He picked up the Shooting Star, and sent Pertida a mischievous grin. She stuck out her tongue at him, and they both laughed.

"Okay, Pertida, you have to say: up!"

000

Hermione loved how the wind messed around with her hair, as she flew faster and faster around the Pitch.

James flew up to her, and gave her a cheeky smile. "I'll race you," he said.

"Okay," Hermione agreed, "let's start here, and race around the Pitch three times. The last one who gets back here has to…"

"…Be the other's slave for three weeks," proclaimed James, a very delighted expression on his face.

"Okay. Three…two…one…GO!"

She didn't know why she hadn't found out how much she enjoyed flying around on a broom earlier. How she felt elated when she zoomed around the field. She threw back and laughed, and in the process her hair fell into her eyes.

It happened too fast for her. Hermione's broom went straight into a tree, and Hermione yelled for help.

"Pertida!" James shrieked, in horror.

Falling…falling…and until Hermione blacked out completely, she heard strange voices…

000

(flashback)

Hermione's mouth formed into an 'O'. "You want to…marry me?"

"Yes," answered Ron, quickly. The end of his ears turned cherry red. "Yes, I'm asking you to be my wife."

Hermione got up, and paced around her Head Girl quarters. Ron, on her bed, gave a moan.

"You're rejecting me, aren't you? Just say 'no' to my face, please. You walking around like that is making me nervous."

Hermione stopped, and put her clammy hand on her face. "I'm not rejecting you, Ron," she whispered.

A beam broke out onto Ron's face. He got up, and hugged Hermione. "Our wedding day will be today, next year," he said, softly.

000

"Pertida! Pertida!"

James breathed a sigh of relief as he saw her eyes flicker open. She was in his arms; he had caught her before she had smashed down to the ground.

"Oh James," she sobbed, burying her face into his chest, "I keep on hearing voices. So many voices."

James hugged her, and Pertida felt like as if she wanted to crawl away. "Everything's alright, Pertida," he told her.

"No, not everything's alright," she wept. James was only glad Pertida was alive.

A/N: so SORRY it was such a short chapter! Next one will be longer, I promise!

Feel free to give me any: tips/ideas/praise, for as you know: reviews will get you quicker updates!

Thanks to:

Crystalshard: thanks! swirlywhirlynutcase: thanks for your support Daniel Radcliff's Angel 10689: everything will be revealed in later chapters… Night-Dreamer4: awww! You're so sweet! ForgottenIceTea: There might be…Rinnya: here it is! Gryffindorchic: :in shocked silence: WOW! You made me so happy :):):)

Rane2920072: thanks for words of encouragement. Aussie Trebs: is this alright? Amrwao: yeah…I was debating whether or not I should make her interrupt! Padfoot's Sidekick: thanks! ghilliekitten: yeah…that certainly would've changed my personality! String bean 458: aww…it made you cry! Kaichai: thanks Amaherst: will this time be alright? little mimi: now you know. Kates Master: ahh well, that answer will give everything away! Pruepiperphoebepaige: thanks! avalon64: lol… babygirl36554: trust, I won't stop with this! RainynDawn: thanks!