Alright, another chapter. Not much happens, I admit... but i like it. Brings back memories. You'll see what I mean...

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or that song Zoe sings.

CHAPTER SIX: Losing Control

"Fernunculus!"

A rash of boils appeared on Draco's face. He growled and fought the strong urge to start scratching his face. What sort of person starts a duel off with that spell anyway… He narrowed his eyes and shot a spell back.

"Locomoto Mortis!"

Zoe dodged it easily and grinned.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Draco rolled over and crouched behind the desk.

"Stupefy!"

But Zoe was ready for him. She shouted "Protego!" before the spell hit her and laughed easily as he peered at her from behind a pillar. "Very James Bond, Malfoy…"

Not having a clue what she was talking about Draco only continued to attack.

"Tarantallegra!"

Unfortunately, Zoe wasn't so quick this time. She started tap dancing at an impossible speed whilst Draco launched across the floor.

"Expelliarmus! Expelliarmus!"

To the Slytherins' dismay, Draco's wand dropped and rolled under a chair.

"Rictusempra!"

Draco thrashed around the room violently as he reached for his wand, laughing soundly as the tickling charm took hold of him. If father were to see me now he'd be sure to call me soft…

Taking the opportunity to attack whilst he was still wandless, Zoe yelled "Densaugio!" and much to Hermione's pleasure, Draco's teeth began to grow at a rapid speed. He swiftly got hold of his wand and pointed it towards his mouth to stop the growing. Zoe simply rolled her eyes.

"Silencio!"

The Griffindors were cheering wildly now. Draco could do nothing but gape like a goldfish. He felt his ears burn as he fell to Zoe's feet. Enjoying the attention she was getting, Zoe turned and waved her hands around like royalty.

Seeing his chance, Draco scrambled up onto his feet and shouted, "INCARCEROUS!" which distracted Zoe for a split second before she retorted with a "Impedima!", and slipping herself from harm's way.

By now, Draco was angry, frustrated, and worst of all, embarrassed.

"STUPEFY! STUPEFY!"

Zoe waved her wand lazily, blocking all the spells which were shooting out from Draco's end. She winked and stuck her tongue out at him. Draco meanwhile slashed his wand around in the air in irritation. She's good… But I'm better, I am better…

And that was when he lost control. He wasn't sure what made him do it, maybe it was just the familiarity of the whole situation… staring into those fierce green eyes…tears of panic blurring his vision…he didn't know what he was doing. He just …did it.

"SERPENSORTIA!"

A giant snake fell dropped onto the floor. The entire class fell into a hushed silence, and several heads turned towards Harry , who was looking from Draco to the snake in a dazed manner, as if assuring himself that they were both real. Even Draco himself seemed to have lost his voice as he stared at his wand with his eyes wide open, horrified at what he had just done.

Yet Zoe stood calm, and smirked. With one flick of her wand the snake disappeared.

"Is that the best you can come up with, Drake?"

Draco looked up in shock.

"Did you just call me Drake?"

"Sure did, Drake. Stupefy."

Draco fell to the floor, stunned. Zoe beamed.

"Bad luck Drake."

Suddenly all tension melted and the entire class burst into laughter.

Professor stepped onto the platform, a twinkle in her eyes."Alright thank you Ms Potter. I'm sure we all agree that Ms Potter won fair and square, yes?"

Girls from all four houses cheered, which was a big feat, I mean, even the Slytherins cheered. Well, not all of them of course. Snape was not so impressed.

"A remarkable effort, Potter. I see both you and your brother have an insatiable love of fame." He walked up to Zoe and looked down at her through the two slits which had formed on his pale face. He sneered. "You both just can't seem to get yourselves out of the spotlight, with that foolish arrogance you flaunt around solely for the sake of achieving attention. I suppose you find yourselves funny?"

Harry stiffened. Zoe shot him a warning glare. Calm down Harry, Calm.

"You are both too obnoxious for your own good. And believe me, you'll go nowhere in life. History only proves that you'll either end up dead or a flea-ridden animal. Oh wait, he died too, thanks to another heroic act of the Potter family. Seems like anybody associated with any Potter would – "

But he never finished. He was cut off with a roar of anger. Ron charged at Snape and tackled him to the ground, thrusting his fists angrily into his face. Commotion broke out. Neville rushed forward joined Ron on the floor, and Ginny started kicking him violently. Professor Myers looked on with stony silence whilst the class broke into a rowdy crowd, cheering Ron and Neville on.

Behind the platform, Harry stood, frozen, eyes blank with utter shock. In all his years of Hogwarts, Snape had always been particularly nasty to him, but this time he was just sadistically blunt. At that moment, he couldn't bear the venom in Snape's voice, couldn't bear the image of Sirius being warped so hideously. It suddenly stung, how casually his death was thrown around, how much his loss meant to Harry, and the guilt which he had tried so hard to block flooded into his veins once more. Harry felt the words rage in his head… dead … animal… my fault…

He felt a throbbing pain in his head and then, nothing.


Zoe watched in horror as Harry tumbled to the ground. She didn't know why, but something about the way he fell seemed so alarmingly surreal... it was like waking upfrom a dream and finding yourself in a nightmare... it brought panic, and an undescribable pain...she just couldn't take it.It was something about the way his eyes suddenly emptied, the way blood drained out of his face, the way his happiness suddenly fell apart - it triggeredup all thefear she had always hidden from the rest of the world to suddenly pour out at that very moment.Zoe rushed over and put his head in her lap, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Harry…Harry… wake up you ass…."

She gently slapped his face and whispered into his ears. Everything seemed to have suddenly gone blurry.A shadow hovered over her.

"Lets get him to the hospital wing."

"No!" she put her hand on the arm that was reaching out for Harry. "Take him to his dorm. He'd like that better."

The figurenodded, and levitated Harry gently up into the air. Zoe looked up and their eyes met. Her emerald orbs widened for just a second, before melting into a pool of understanding.

"Thanks, Draco."


Harry sighed as he looked out the window at the pleasant summer scene unfolding before him. It had been several hours since the incident in Defense, and he was now lying in the cosiness of his own dormitory, lost in thoughts. He found his eyes wondering over to the mirror laying silently on his bedside table.

The truth was, he missed Sirius. He didn't mourn anymore, he just… missed him. You see, the day-to-day being without him was worse than his actual death. What he missed most was the certainty of being able to share the small details of your life with someone who knew you so well. Who else could possibly care what you'd thought while looking out of the window or what you'd eaten for breakfast? Sure, Ron, Hermione, they were great… but still, it was sure nice to know that there was somebody out there who would listen to anything you say, who would do anything for you because their sole purpose of living was for you…all because they loved you like… a parent.

There, he'd faced it. A sudden chill ran down his back. Is this what he had been hiding from? His insecurities about being… an orphan? Orphan. That word alone already held so many second meanings, it came with so many strings attached. An orphan was helpless, miserable, alone…

But you're not, Harry. He scowled at himself for even thinking those ugly thoughts. Pity does you no good. No, he won't dig a hole for himself to hide himself in. He shook his head vigorously, grabbed a sweater and lumbered out of his dormitory, tripping on the second step as he skewed his glasses onto his face, stepping into the Gryffindor common room.


Harry stopped suddenly as he entered the scarelt and gold cosiness of the common room. It took several seconds for him to survey the scene in front of him, and register what was going on.

Slowly, bit by bit, he raised his eyebrows, and took a deep breath. Damn, she spotted me. He panicked.

At the sight of Harry, Zoe squealed, did a cartwheel, and ran up to him, pinching his cheeks like he was a bunny, all the whilst screeching…

"Ooooh STOP right now, thank you very much, I need somebody with the human touch yeahh…. Hey you, always on the run, you gotta SLOW IT DOWN baby gotta HAVE SOME FUN yeahh! ""

She set a roll of parchment against her mouth and skipped onto the table, whilst pointing at Harry and wiggling her fingers around.

"Doo doo doo dooooooo doo doo doo doooo dooo doo doooo ALWAYS BE TOGETHER!"

Harry slapped his forehead.

"BAAbaabaabaaBAA BAABAA baa baababaa STAY THAT WAY FOREVER!"

She jumped off the table and started jumping up and down, flinging her head of black locks around in what seemed to be an artistic fashion.

Personally, Harry thought she looked like she had just come off a violent boat ride, and was having a really good hurl. He took one step back as she pounced towards him, shaking her shoulders, and eyes wide with insanity.

Luckily, before Zoe could perform any more of her little dance sequence, Hermione bounded in, red in the face, book in the hand and prefect badge shining. Harry looked up and thanked the heavens.

"Zoe Potter!"

The petite brunette winced.

"Can't you be a LITTLE more considerate! This is the COMMON ROOM, not a playground! People are trying to STUDY here! And…"

Zoe put her hands up to her ears, ready for the outburst she knew was coming up.

"Seriously, Spice Girls?"

Hermione had a look of pure distaste on her face, though you could just see a smile tugging at her lips. Zoe laughed and pounced on Hermione. Pretty soon, they were both belting out Spice Girl Songs in horribly off-key shrieks, whilst jumping on the couches, with their Griffindor Ties tied around their heads. And you'd be sure to think she had been summoned there, because before you say "Blimey", Ginny had joined the two hysterical girls, tucking her tie in her skirt and using it as a tail, twirling it around at an impossible rate, whilst strangling her vocal chords.

Harry just stood back and watched in awe.

"Too much sugar."

He turned to see Ron, solemnly shaking his head. "C'mon Harry, we've got better things to do. I've got a brillian plan."

And so, with one arm flung around each of their shoulders, they lumbered up towards their dorms. Harry smiled as he felt the warmth of friendship flood through him. Life is good.


how was that? i always laugh when i hear spice girl songs nowadays - used to be a die hard fan when i was... six? oh those were the days. anyway, pleaase review. alright im going to be nastier this time, 3 reviews before i update again - that's not too harsh is it? next chapter there's a prank! thanks guys(:

xoxo nina