Authors Note: So it's gonna be two or three more chapters of memories, and then the real fun begins, so hang in there. This was not my best chapter, I admit, but I needed to establish some….things….that have been asked of me so, there ya go!

So I will be a long wait for the next chapter, writers block and all. So I plan to finish my MASH story first and then all my attention will be shifted to this, sorry for the wait that is in store.

Chapter 24

Romancing in the Quiet Nights

He was standing back in the wretched temple again, along with the wretched priest, having a wretched conversation about a wretched situation.

"You realize, Ashitaka, if you speak to anyone about your…punishments….your mother will be killed," the calmness in the way the priest spoke was what frightened Hermione so much. He was ever so cool about the fact that he held the rope that stopped the blade of the guillotine from chopping off both their heads.

"Yes…sir,"

"Good, now go along and do whatever it is you do, wouldn't want you getting into trouble here after all –."

"PRINCE ASHITAKA!"

They both turned at the voice, there was Lea running after them, "Prince Ashitaka," she said when she reached them bowing formally, panting out of breath, "I just heard of your return, and I wish to congratulate you on your survival of your first year with the humans,"

"I thank you, Lady Leanore," he said nodding his head formally, it looked to Hermione that he was also trying to hide his laughter. Apparently the priest didn't know of their obvious friendship.

"Well," the priest cleared his throat, "Good day Prince Ashitaka, Alonah," he put his hand to his chest and slowly drew it away in a Demon farewell.

Ash and Lea imitated the movement and as soon as he was out of their sights, took off, down the hill that the temple was built on, through the back alleys of the city and into the woods.

When they were along in a clearing of the woods they both erupted into fits of laughter, "that was close…did you see his face?" Lea gasped out, "I thought he was going kill when he saw me,"

Ash laughed harder and longer, looking so carefree.

Hermione smiled, it was nice to see that, nice…but strange. She didn't even think about romancing with him, that was just…well, wrong, but she often thought about becoming…friends, getting to know him. She was on pleasant terms with all of her teachers, why shouldn't she be on pleasant terms with him?

………

The Temple

"You insolent brat," the strike fell hard across his cheek, "what were you doing out with that….girl, spoiling my good name!"

"We weren't doing another, sir," the plea was answered with another strike.

"Don't you lie to me, did you think that fucking around with a lower class girl was going to make you better, stronger?"

"I wasn't -,"

"You little whore!" he was grabbed by the back of the shirt and pushed into another….room, more like a closet, and the door was shut and locked.

………

Back at Hogwarts

It looked hard for Severus to hide his limp, and the fact that he was reluctantly moving his right wrist.

"Hi AS….SEVERUS!" Sinclair was there in an instant, being louder than usual and Severus visible cringed, "what happened to you?" her voice dropped, "looked like you got beat up, didn't get into a fight with the older kids again now did you?"

"Yeah….I did,"

"Oh Sev, you're gonna get yourself killed one of these days," she laughed and put an arm around his neck, hugging him reluctantly to him, ruffling his hair as if he was her kid brother, "or….your gonna get yourself caught!"

"Hey….Sarah!" Sarah spun around at her name, releasing a very relieved looking Severus.

"What do you want, Potter? Oh I see you've learned your lesson, can't fight anyone unless you make it unfair….how noble of you, it's a wonder you even made it into Gryffindor,"

James Potter….and his cronies….all got angry, which was an understatement, "Fuck off, Sarah, we don't want you, just the little whore you've been sleeping around with,"

"You bastard!" Severus pushed in front of her wand drawn, "Petrificus Totalus!" the spell didn't hit just James but all of them, and Hermione had a sneaking idea that he had help from his elemental powers.

Sarah stared at him, "you're a little bit scary sometimes, brilliant….but scary,"

The Trio exchanged looks that was a very familiar situation.

Severus looked accomplished and stalked off, not even glancing at Sarah.

………

"So, who are you staring at Evans?" Severus voice cut through the silent library. Evans was indeed staring away at someone….or thing.

"No one," she gained control of herself, "why do you think I'm staring at some one?"

Severus moved his head so it was right next to her so he could see her line of vision, "Having a fancy on Potter, are we? Or is it Black? Please tell me it's not Pettigrew….hell, is it Lupin?"

Evans blushed furiously, "None of the above, Potter and Black are insufferable bastards, Pettigrew is a sniveling coward, and Lupin, do I even need to get started, he's a know-it-all prick, who only tolerates Potter because it gets him to the restricted section,"

The Order glanced briefly at Lupin who, to say the least, looked surprised.

"A little touchy, aren't we Evans?" Severus raised a curious eyebrow, "what are you trying to hide?"

"I'm not trying to hid anything, so shut up or leave me alone," she turned her attention back to her book as did a very amused Severus.

Every once in a while, Evans would glance up at him, he was putting on a very good hurt look.

"Oh... I'm sorry, Severus, alright? I didn't mean to snap,"

His head shot up and he smiled – smirked, Hermione wouldn't use the word smiled, "So you do fancy him!"

Evans slammed her book down and got up and stalked away with a curt, "Good day, Severus,"

Sarah, who was silently sitting next to them the whole time, was smiling.

………

The screen went blank for a moment and they thought that maybe the magic was broken, but it fizzed and once again came to life.

They were older now, maybe 13, and all had matured. Evans and Sarah looked like young ladies, both blossoming beautifully, Ashitaka (who was actually Ashitaka) looked…well, handsome, strong and sturdy with a very determined look.

"So it's the end of third year already," Sarah said softly, for some reason this parting looked like it was a lot harder than the ones before.

"Yep," Evans said smiling.

Ashitaka didn't say anything.

"Evans!" another voice called, instantly Ash seemed to sink in to the ground in a wisp of black smoke.

It was another girl that they hadn't met before, but looked strikingly like Neville Longbottom, and followed by another boy who looked familiar.

"Hi Alice, Frank," Ah... that was why. It was Mr. and soon to be Mrs. Longbottom.

"Come on, Evans, we got to go! My mom's here," they were standing in an alley at the station making there farewells.

Evans turned and gave Sarah a hug, "Write me from America, I know you're going to have a great time. I tell Ash I said goodbye, see you next year,"

Sarah smiled as she walked away and whispered softly: "all clear,"

Severus reappeared in another wisp of smoke and smiled at Sarah, "America, huh? You didn't tell me,"

"Thought you wouldn't be interested, I have to go Ash,"

Ash smiled and hugged her tightly, "Goodbye Sarah," she pulled away for a minute and looked like she was going to say something, but instead leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek and then on the lips.

She pulled away and out of his arms and took off, "Goodbye Severus!" and she disappeared, leaving a very surprised and blushing Prince.

………

"So Ash, everyone wonderful and interesting in the human world?" they were back in the woods. Lea was lying on her back next to Ashitaka just watching the skies.

"Mm…hmm…"

"Whatcha thinkin' about? You've been quite, is there a certain someone I haven't heard about?" the soft teasing in her voice made Ash blush and he turned his head away to hide it, "Ashitaka Jodiki, are you blushing?" she grabbed his shoulders and flipped him over, "You are! There is some one, isn't there, Ash?"

"NO!"

"Come on, cough it up!"

"No, Lea,"

"So is she pretty, gorgeous, smart?"

"LEA!"

"Just joking with ya, Ash," she smiled and laughed and they fell back into a comfortable silence.

A few minutes passed.

"I bet she is beautiful,"

"Who?"

"The girl you're thinking about,"

"Lea…."

"No, you can't deny it, but I'm sure she is pretty,"

"Why do you say that?"

"Because you hang out with me, you've always had a taste for pretty women,"

Ashitaka looked at her with a bemused expression, "You never cease to amaze me, Lea,"

"I know, I'm such an amazing person after all," and they both laughed, "So what's she like?"

"LEA!"

Their laughter filled the otherwise silent night, and the seventy of the woods wrapped around them, leaving a soft blanket of ever lasting peace.

End Chapter 27

Romancing in Quiet Nights