Just to clarify, this is post-OOtP. Anyway, I do sooo wish that if you read it, you'll review it, yeah? Even if you hate it, i don't mind constructive criticism. I'm a bit worried as to what everyone else thinks of this story, so do help me out. Here's the next chapter!

Disclaimer: Don't own HP.

CHAPTER FOUR: LAUGH WITH ME

Harry groaned.

"Hi Harry!"

"Hi Colin."

"Harry! Hi! Remember me!"

"Hi Dennis."

"He remembered me!"

"Good on ya Den!"

The two blonde boys were literally jumping up and down at the sight Harry, their hero. Harry, however, wasn't so impressed. Whilst lights were going off all over the cabin, the boy-who-lived himself was attempting to hide behind his trunk, which had been shrunk earlier for easy carrying, thus making his attempts, pointless and utterly redundant. He then attempted to crawl beneath his seat – yet as we all know, he was a growing boy, and growing boys don't fit under most train seats. Poor Harry could only sit and wait for time to tick.

Hermione was unsure whether to feel amused or sorry for her friend. She settled for amused. Meanwhile, Ron and Ginny, needless to say, thoroughly enjoyed seeing Harry's dilemma, and were cheering the Creevy boys on. Zoe however, was more on Harry's side. No, it wasn't because she was a particularly sympathetic girl, in fact, she loved to make a joke out of everything…yet she was beginning to feel dread. Shit, what if they find out who I am…they're bound to…You see, Potters aren't all that fond of…this kind of attention. They loved attention…but…oh you get the point.

It was as if fate was reading her mind. Colin suddenly turned around, camera and all, and pointed at Zoe.

"Who is she?"

Zoe suddenly felt cornered. It was like one of those old detective comics. Everything suddenly went dark in the room, except for Colin, who was under the spotlight, and pointing a gun at her - captured. He had won, blonde hair flowinging in the non-existant wind, cackling his victorious 'mystery-solved' laughter. She was against the wall, arms up, eyes wide open, mouth slightly apart – guilty, red-handed, done. Murmurs could be heard spreading through the room, you could just see the faces in the dark, giving her suspiscious glares. Colin furrowed his eyebrows. Zoe could feel a sweatdrop trailing down her neck. Shit.

"Oh, you'll find out soon, Colin."

At that moment, Zoe loved Hermione more than anything. She silently cursed herself for making such a bit deal out of such a simple matter. Talk about drama queen. Zoe mouthed a 'thank-you' to Hermione.

"Are you a friend of Harry's?"

Zoe looked uncertainly at Harry, who gave her a 'duh' look.

"Yeah, of course."

"Oh cool, can I take a picture of you?"

Without waiting for an answer, both boys began to blind Zoe with what she swore felt like solar flares. It was now Harry's turn to be amused. Zoe now knew the frustration Harry felt, and really felt sorry for him now. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Harry with his feet up, a look of pure bliss written across his face. Zoe gave him the death glare. Harry simply shrugged his shoulders, popped a piece of gum in his mouth, and blew a bubble.

To the amusement of the others, Zoe groaned, a very familiar groan indeed.


The great hall broke into a hoard of whispers. Potter? Did they say Potter? As in the Potter? Damn, she does look like Potter… Students from all four houses were twisting their necks over one another's shoulders. The younger ones were breaking their toes trying to get a better look at the strange girl who stood calmly by the deputy mistress, a look of pure defiance etched across her face. Her intense green eyes seemed to glaze over the crowd, unfathomed by the mutterings which were echoing the hall.

The Slytherin table was in an uproar. Pansy nudged Draco, shaking her head as if ridding off a crown of spiders.

"Who do you think she is? She can't really be related to…him can she?"

But Draco wasn't listening. His eyes were on the Gryffindor table. He saw Harry, with that same look of intense defiance in his eyes, nodding to his sister in what seemed a reassuring way.

Suddenly, the Slytherin table went quiet. Draco's eyes flew back to her. She was watching his table…no, not just watching. That look in her eyes---as if she was daring them to utter even a word more about her, that look of absolute…power? There's something about her…

This time it was Draco's turn to shake his head in disbelief. Why did he suddenly feel so vulnerable? Why did she evoke such fear? He pulled his eyes away from her intense figure and saw that not only him, but the entire hall was silent, watching her every move as if anything she did would be the most important thing in the world. How is it that she just commanded so much…respect? Just like her brother…

Draco wanted to slap himself on the face. Respect? Potter? He snorted. Little did he know that the entire hall now had their eyes glued to him. Perhaps he had snorted a little too loud.

He felt blood rush to his face. He silently cursed, and rummaged his mind for something, no, anything to say to get himself out of this impossible situation. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Potter…Harry that is, grin at him. Hang on… Potter, grin at him? Draco felt like fainting right there right then, but was interrupted by somebody's soft tinkling laugh.

"If you please, Professor, I would like to get sorted now."

The great hall seemed to break out of some sort of trance as Zoe Potter plopped the dusty old hat on her head. Now, they were the same old nosy students Hogwarts has always known, making silent bets as to where this next trophy member would be assigned. Afterall, it's always cool to have a Potter in your house…

Even better if there's two.

"Griffindor!"

The scarlet table burst into cheers, as the girl breathed what seemed a sigh of relief and gave the hat a peck on its brim. Zoe smiled as she spotted her brother standing up, along with the others, clapping his hands like he knew it all along. Her brother…that sure sounded nice didn't it?

She rushed down and gave him a hug, before sitting down next to Fred, who winked at her, and pulled her ponytail as a… well, friendly gesture. She laughed and shook everybody's hands, though what she wanted to do most at that moment in time was to dig in and eat for god's sakes.

After everybody had quite gotten over that there was another Potter in Gryffindor (not much of a shock there, eh?), Dumbledore finally stood up for the second time and announced dinner with the words, "Yippee!" (which only proved to shock the hall into silence once more, before the students found food in their plates and forgot completely about the headmaster's finishing words."

"You know, he seemed almost human back there?"

Zoe turned to face Harry, a quizzical look on her face. "Who?"

"Malfoy."

Zoe simply rolled her eyes and went back to her chicken. Drumstick.

What she didn't notice was the eyes of a blonde boy, two tables away, watching her every move. He didn't know why, but for some reason, he couldn't help but feel a little…disappointed. He mentally slapped himself and went back to his own chicken. Drumstick.


"Harry! Harry!"

Ginny rushed down the girl's dorm stairs, red hair flying behind her. Shewas slightly panting as she stood in front of Harry, who, at the age of 16, was already towering over her. Well, Ginny's always been a petite girl.

"Yea?"

"You got captain! Quidditch Captain!"

Harry's eyes lit up.

"No way! But I'm… sixth year, not even seventh…"

"Who cares? You've always been early…"

Harry laughed half-heartedly, "Yea I guess. "

They stood silently for a while, neither knowing quite what to say, both very well aware of the awkward silence that was growing. Ginny nervously twisted her hair around her fingers whilst Harry – well being Harry, just stood there, not daring to utter a word.

Finally, Ginny let out a laugh. Harry looked at her, confused. Ginny took one look at his face, before bursting into another fit of laughter. As he watched her crouching form, Harry didn't know what came over him but he, too,started laughing. Maybe it was relief, relief from all that tension. Maybe it was just the stupidity of it all, how stupid their awkwardness was. Maybe it was just the opportunity to laugh, to finally break free from all the horrors that would stop once they stopped laughing. Maybe... laughter freed them. Anyway, regardless of why's and who's and how's, before long, they were both rolling around on the red carpet, laughing.

Years later, they'll both look back on that day, and smile at the memories, as they remember that couple of sunshine minutes when all they cared about was the laughter between them, and that feeling of true happiness that would warm their hearts for a lifetime.But for now... God knows what that's about.


alright, hope you enjoyed that. not too cheesy? i was hoping to develope the characters more in that chapter, so that the...audience (that's you) will sorta, get their flow. ok, every author on this site wishes for these: reviews! please make my wish come true. -snorts

-nina