p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"(FOURTH YEAR) (DURING THE GOBLET OF FIRE)/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya was returning to Hogwarts! She had spent the summer back home with her family and had even invited Harry, Ron and Hermione over for a week or two to have some fun. It was a lovely summer and Arya had grown. She had gotten a little taller, her hair had gotten longer and she had resorted to straightening her hair sometimes for a change./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She was seated at the Ravenclaw table between Cho and Luna. The two were complimenting Arya on how good she looked in long hair and out it really brought out the blue in her eyes. Just then, Arya noticed Seamus, Harry and Ron tense at the Gryffindor table. Turning, she looked and saw that Draco Malfoy, Pansy, Crabb and Goyle had just entered the hall./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya rolled her eyes and looked away, noting that Luna was giving her a surprised look, "Since when did you hate Malfoy?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Since when did I like him?" Arya inquired./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Luna shrugged, "it seemed like you two were on okay terms the past two years. What happened?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Plenty," Arya hissed./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You know Buckbeak is alive now because Harry and Hermione went back in time," Luna pointed out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""But Draco still ratted out to his dad about it and he wasn't the least bit sorry," Arya snapped quietly. "It will take a miracle for me to forgive him.'/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well then don't look now," Cho whispered, "Cuz he's looking this way."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya glanced over her shoulder and sure enough, his piercing gray eyes were watching her intently from beneath his eyebrows. Arya turned around and glared./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I've had just about enough of this."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, she got up and headed over to the Gryffindor Table. She plopped down beside Hermione and instantly Seamus sat on the other side of her, Ron and Harry across from them. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""What's going on?" Fred and George asked as they approached the girl from behind. "Luna talking your ear off?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya shook her head, "Malfoy boring a hole in the back of my head."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"At once, Seamus, Harry and Ron glared at the Slytherin table and inched closer to Arya./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I just want to wring his neck so badly sometimes," Ron whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya chuckled just before Hermione spoke up, "So, I wonder what we're going to be learning with Professor Mcgonagal today. She wont tell a soul about what it is all about."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"TIME SKIP/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya was on her way to classes when she almost collided with Hermione and Ron who looked like they were in a hurry./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""What happened?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""During the quidditch game," Ron explained. "Harry got his arm badly hurt. We have to hurry."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya didn't even wait another second and grabbing their hands, dragged them to the medical bay. When they burst in, Madam Pomfrey was bringing Harry different articles to help with the pain. Draco was surrounded by Slytherin's while he moaned over a small sprained wrist./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Oh you can go Mr. Malfoy," Pomfrey groaned. "Oh that bludger seriously broke some bones Mr. Potter."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Madam Pomfrey," Arya cried, bursting into the room with Ron and Hermione, "What happened?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Just a bludger to the arm Ar," Harry replied. "it's nothing."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya brushed it off, "It's not nothing. here let me."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She ran her fingers over his arm and cringed. "We'll need to reset it. You'll be in a sling for class with Mcgonagal later."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry shrugged, "No way I can avoid it."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya backed out of the way as Pomfrey began to wrap Harry's arm and splinting it./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Can you check on Mr. Malfoy Arya dear?" Madam Pomfrey asked. "he wont stop groaning and he refuses to leave."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya rolled her eyes and looked at Ron, Seamus and Harry who were all glaring at the Slytherin. No way she could avoid it. Stomping over to the bed, she crossed her arms and considered the sight./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco was lying on the bed, nursing his arm. Crabb, Goyle and Blaise were standing around the bed and Pansy was sitting next to him, fawning over him and petting his hair./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Doesn't seem like you're in any pain," Arya remarked, raising an eyebrow./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Blaise tried to not smirk. While Draco found it virtually impossible to even talk to Arya without one of the boys shooing him away, Blaise was one of the few Slytherins that the Gryffindors allowed Arya to talk to. When Arya began to ignore Draco since last year, Blaise had spent more time especially during break with Arya and had found her quite interesting to talk to./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You kidding me?" Draco whined. "I think it's broken."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya rolled her eyes and walked over. She gripped his arm and ignored the whimper he let out. Just by looking at it she knew it was just dislocated. Rubbing his shoulder, she ignored the annoyed look on Pansy's face. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Just dislocated," she remarked before snapping it back into place./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco let out a yelp at the pop but felt immediately annoyed at Arya's keen sense of healing because now she was walking off back to Harry. That blasted Potter got everything! /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You can leave now Malfoy!" Arya called over her. "I would also wash your hair if I were you. I don't think Pansy washed her hands after breakfast."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"There was a snicker that ran up from the other end of the room where Arya and the Gryffindors were standing around Harry. Pansy at once tangled her fingers in Draco's hair but he brushed her off. Why would she never leave him alone? didn't she see that he liked Arya?/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"As Arya was cleaning up the room before class with Mcgonagal, Dumbledore stepped into the Medical Bay./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Hello Arya, I was hoping I would find you here."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Hello professor," Arya greeted. "How may I help you?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""How is Tinkerbell?" Dumbledore asked./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya looked down at her cat who now lived in the Medical bay, "Alright. The kittens will arrive any day now."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Dumbledore smiled, "Babies are always a joy to the heart. Anyway, I came here because I was wondering if you would be interested in doing a dance routine with your brothers."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""What kind?" Arya inquired. "And what for?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well I was going to let you find out at class tomorrow but I should tell you anyway. The Yule Christmas ball is coming up and I wanted it to be special this year what with Harry being here and all."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya nodded, "I think we can figure something out."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Dumbledore smiled, "Thank you dear. Now hurry to class."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Filch was messing with the speaker again and it was making Arya chuckle whenever Mcgonagal got interrupted by a blaring squeak./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""The Yule ball has been a tradition of..." she glared at Filch and raised her voice so that he stopped. "the twiwizard tournament since its inception. On Christmas Eve night, we and our guests gather in the great hall for a night of well mannered frivolity."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya looked over at Fred and George who were sitting across the room from her with the other boys and found them both smirking. it wasn't going to be like that if they had anything to say about it./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""As representatives of the host school," Mcgonagal continued, "I expect each and every one of you to put your best foot forward and I mean this literally because the Yule Ball is first and foremost... a dance."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"AT once, the girls began to whisper together and the boys began to groan. Arya just sat there, not surprised because of the warning she had gotten from Dumbledore. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""SILENCE!" Mcgonagal called. "The house of Godrick Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the Wizard world for nearly 10 centuries. I will not have you in the course of a single evening besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling bumbling band of baboons."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya hid a smirk when she saw Fred and George whisper something which she could only guess was something to do with Mcgonagal's tongue twister./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Now to dance," she continued, "Is to let the body breathe inside every girl a secret swoon slumbers longing to burst forth and tight flight."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Ron was whispering something with Seamus when Mcgonagal turned on him, "Inside every boy a lordly lion prepared to prance. Mr. Weasley."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Yes?" the boy muttered with fear./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Will you join me please?" Mcgonagal asked, pulling the boy up without getting an ascent from him./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry gave Ron a shove and smirked, grinning across the room at Arya who was trying to not laugh at Ron's horrified face./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Now," Mcgonagal said once she got Ron in the middle of the room, "Place you right hand on my waist."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""What?" Ron whispered, earning a snort from Arya which made Harry and Seamus grin bigger./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""On my waist," Mcgonagal replied./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Fred and George let out a wolf whistle when Ron obeyed and Arya hid her eyes, trying to not laugh./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Filch turned on the music and Mcgonagal began to lead Ron through the dance. Fred and George were mocking Ron, humming and swaying to the music./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya grinned and George winked at her, smirking. He knew she found it just as amusing as they did./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Everyone come together!" Mcgonagal called./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The girls got up but the boys, except Neville, refused to rise. Arya trotted over to the boys and grabbed Austen and Aiden by the hands, shoving the two in Luna and Hermione's direction. They knew she would have their heads if they didn't dance so they pulled the two girls into the dance. Soon, almost all the boys and girls were dancing./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya spied Draco who was slowly making his way towards her, Pansy practically hanging on him. She wasn't going to dance with him so she approached Harry who was still dancing./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Come on Harry," she invited./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I'm horrible at dancing," Harry pointed out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled and pulled him up by his good hand, "Well then it wont hurt to practice."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Even though Harry only had one hand, Arya shifted so that she could hold his free hand and put her other on his shoulder. She smiled up at him and they began laughing and chuckling together about Ron and Mcgonagal. Soon Fred and George... who for some reason were dancing together instead of with girls, came over and whispered something./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""We're so never going to let Ron live this one down."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smirked and just then, the music stopped and all the students froze./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Everyone, please take your seats," Mcgonagal called. "I would like to announce something."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Everyone sat back down but Arya knew what was going to happen. She looked across the way at Aiden, Austen, Asher and Axel who were looking back at her. She had warned them about the dance they had to perform together in front of everyone at the ball./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Dumbledore has decided that we will be having a slight change to the ball. it has never happened that we have had a dance performance but it came to our attention that in our midst we had five incredibly talented dancers. In that case, The Gerasimov Family will be performing a dance performance in front of the whole school and our guests nearing the end of the ball."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"At once, all eyes fell on the Gerasimov kids, most of them on Arya. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Aiden, Austen, Asher and Axel. Please come forward. Arya."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya stood up and approached Filch. The man smiled at her and stepped back as she changed the song. She and her brothers hadnt gotten a chance to practice but there was a dance that they had performed together: Rewrite the Stars. It was originally only for two people but they had managed to make some really cool, intense dance moves for Aiden, Austen, Asher and Axel since Arya and Austen always did the main roles together./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She got it ready but paused it. She then approached her brothers who were all talking together./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Ready guys?" she whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The five siblings wrapped their arms around each other, bending their heads to talk./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Just like Christmas three years ago," Arya whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"They all nodded and split up. Axel, Asher and Aiden all went to different parts of the center of the room, making a sort of triangle shape around Arya and Austen. Arya was Standing in the center of the triangle while Austen was outside. The dance consisted of Austen trying to get into the circle but Axel, Asher and Aiden constantly did complicated, fast dance moves, blocking his entrance until halfway through the song./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"You know I want you/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emIt's not a secret I try to hide/embr /emI know you want me/em/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When Austen paused to let the music sink in, Arya glanced at the girls to see that practically all of them were practically swooning from Austen. He was an incredibly talented singer and one of the cutest guys in school. Arya pretended to be upset and torn, refusing to look at Austen. Whenever he began to walk around the circle, she kept moving so that her back stayed facing him./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"So don't keep saying our hands are tied/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emYou claim it's not in the cards/embr /emFate is pulling you miles away/embr /emAnd out of reach from me/embr /emBut you're here in my heart/embr /emSo who can stop me if I decide/embr /emThat you're my destiny?/em/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya had walked towards the opposite side of the circle but she stopped. She looked up at Aiden who was right in front of her. He winked, telling her that she was doing great. Just then, Austen got inside the circle but Aiden took both of Arya's hands and tossed her through the air. She did a clean spin and landed lightly on her feet, outside the circle./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"What if we rewrite the stars?/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emSay you were made to be mine/embr /emNothing could keep us apart/em/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Austen rushed towards her but Aiden blocked him by doing a dance move, keeping Austen trapped inside the circle while Arya began to walk around the circle on the outside, watching Austen. Suddenly she ran forward straight at Asher's back but her brother opened his legs so she could slide under. As she slid under, he reached down and grabbed her hands, pulling her through and pulling her to her feet. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya landed perfectly right in front of Austen who looked at her, smiling./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"You'd be the one I was meant to find/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emIt's up to you, and it's up to me/embr /emNo one can say what we get to be/embr /emSo why don't we rewrite the stars?/embr /emMaybe the world could be ours/embr /emTonight/em/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya had pretended to act like she was relenting but out of nowhere she did a clean backflip and landed on Aiden's shoulders before doing another backflip and landing on the high ledge right behind the girls. All the students gasped at how well she did it and didn't even fall./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"You think it's easy/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"You think I don't want to run to you/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"But there are mountains/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emAnd there are doors that we can't walk through/em/span/emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br / /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"All the students, especially the boys had their mouths dangling open at Arya's amazingly strong, mature singing voice. Just as the next part continued, she jumped clean into the air and grabbed onto the chandelier, dangling there by one hand while she looked down at Austen who was looking at her, pretending to be upset./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"I know you're wondering why/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Because we're able to be/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emJust you and me/embr /emWithin these walls/em/span/emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br / /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She spun around, still keeping a grip on the chandelier till she did a clean cartwheel and landed on the outside of the circle./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"But when we go outside/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"You're going to wake up and see that it was hopeless after all/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya took a running start and jumped straight at Aiden who turned, grabbed her hand and her waist and spun her around his body like a swing dancing style. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"No one can rewrite the stars/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"How can you say you'll be mine?/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emEverything keeps us apart/em/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya let go of Aiden and landed right in front of Austen. She reached up and stroked his face before spinning away./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"And I'm not the one you were meant to find/span/emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br / /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Aiden caught her again but this time threw her far up. Arya did a clean jump and landed on the bench between Harry and Ron who were seated on the highest bench, startling both of them./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"It's not up to you/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"It's not up to me/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emWhen everyone tells us what we can be/em/span/emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emHow can we rewrite the stars?/emembr /emSay that the world can be ours/embr /emTonight/em/em/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"As they began to sing the next part, Austen did a clean summersault and landed on the bench by the girls, gaining squeals of joy from the girls as the two began to sing together. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"All I want is to fly with you/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"All I want is to fall with you/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emSo just give me all of youIt feels impossible (it's not impossible)/em/span/emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emIs it impossible?/em/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Right then they both jumped and both caught hold of the chandelier, wrapping an arm around each other and swinging around till their heads were almost swimming with dizziness./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Say that it's possible/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"How do we rewrite the stars?/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emSay you were made to be mine?/embr /emNothing can keep us apart/embr /em'Cause you are the one I was meant to find/em/span/emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br / /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya let go of the chandelier and held onto Austen's hand till he let go and she went flying. Aiden caught her easily and swung her around so she was on the ground. Austen let go and landed firmly on the ground./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"It's up to you/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"And it's up to me/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emNo one can say what we get to be/embr /emAnd why don't we rewrite the stars?/embr /emChanging the world to be ours/em/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The two had begun to dance a rather fast, complicated dance routine together in the center of the circle... till the music died down and they stood about five feet from each other, Austen holding out his hand. Arya's haunting voice came out in soft whispers./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"You know I want you/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"It's not a secret I try to hide/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emBut I can't have you/embr /emWe're bound to break and my hands are tied/em/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya's hand had been extended, about to take Austen's hand but she pulled it back and turning, walked out of the circle. The moment they stopped, the girls began to wail at how beautiful it was and the five siblings all went around and gave each other high fives./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""That is just a glimpse of what we will be seeing at the Yule Ball," Mcgonagal explained. "I expect most of you to give the Gerasimov family ideas and inspirations about the origin and style of the dance. That way it will suit everyone's imaginations."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Austen grinned and pulled his sister in for a hug, "That was awesome AR!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Thanks," Arya whispered, "You've still got it in you."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Hermione and Luna charged over and drew the girl in for bone breaking hugs while Ron, Seamus, the twins and Harry approached. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""That was brilliant," Ron pointed out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""We have a problem though," Seamus whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"At once, the siblings and friends were listening./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Draco wouldn't stop staring."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"They all peered over Seamus's shoulder to see that indeed, Draco was still sitting between Goyle and Crabb... his eyes fixed on Arya./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco was working hard on making the Potter Stinks stickers. His eyebrows were down, he was gnawing his lip and frowning./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""What's your problem?" Blaise inquired./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""nothing," Draco replied./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Blaise chuckled. "You've been acting funny ever since dance practice yesterday. What's the deal?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Arya's the deal," Draco replied. "I cannot get her out of my head."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Why don't you ask her to the ball then?" Blaise inquired./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""YOu're kidding right?" Draco asked, looking up, "She practically hates me! Besides, there are a dozen boys asking her to go with them every class!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""So that's what's on your mind," Blaise teased, "Afraid someone will get to her before you?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco didn't answer and went back to work./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well you'll never know unless you ask her," Blaise said. "And with the deal of her hating you. Why don't you just apologize?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco sighed, "I guess I should... I just don't know how to talk to her without one of those Gryffindors getting in the way."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well I'll help you," Blaise offered. "The others are going to hogsmeade before the tournament starts and I'm sure Potter is going with Granger and Seamus. Weasley has been avoiding him. I'll distract Ron, you get to Arya."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco nodded, "Okay... when I'm done."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""No, now," Blaise ordered. "The early bird gets the worm!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I hate you sometimes," Draco muttered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"TIME SKIP/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"True to Blaise's word, Draco found Arya alone outside. Potter and Granger were nowhere to be found and Weasley was also scarce. there were a bunch of other students but so far, no one that posed a problem./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya was sitting on a stone bench reading when Draco approached and sat down next to her./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Hey," he greeted./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya didn't reply but kept reading, purposely ignoring him./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Look Arya... I wanted to apologize," Draco said, too quiet for anyone but Arya to hear./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya snorted. "That's a new one."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""It was unfair of me to rat to my dad about Buckbeak," Draco continued. "I didn't know he meant so much to you... and I know I was a jerk in liking the idea but... I'm really sorry I hurt you."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya shrugged and continued to read, "What possessed you to apologize after almost a full year?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco swallowed his saliva and found his mouth going dry, "I know I'm rotten to some people... I'm not exactly upset about being rotten to Potter but I cannot bear seeing you upset and... I miss talking to you... and being your friend."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""We were never really friends," Arya pointed out, "For that very reason, because you make it very difficult to like you even as a friend."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco ducked his head, knowing she was right. Arya closed her book and looked at him, "But not impossible. Apology accepted."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco looked up, his face lighting up and he smiled, "Thanks AR."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The girl smiled, liking how her nickname sounded coming from him./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I was uh... wondering..." Draco continued. "If you would like to go to the ball with me?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya's smile at once disappeared but to one of disappointment, "oh I'm sorry Draco... I already have a date."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Oh... you... do?" Draco stuttered. "Oh right... I probably should have seen that coming..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco shook his head, "No it's fine... I understand...Uh...see you later."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that he got up. he really didn't want to leave for he was liking being on good terms with Arya again but his face was going red from embarrassment and rage at himself for being too late. He collided with Blaise halfway to the dungeons./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well?" Blaise asked./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""She accepted my apology," Draco replied. "We're on good terms... but she already has a date."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Oof," Blaise remarked. "Too bad. Well that's a good start mate. Baby steps."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco nodded, "baby steps."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"TIME SKIP/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When Arya came back outside later after lunch, she saw that almost all the students were outside. Harry looked really annoyed as he stormed in Draco's direction... not good!/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya held her books and backpack in her arms as she watched Harry approach Draco and begin to yell at him about something./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""hey Arya," Crabb called. "Want one?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"He held out a sticker that said: Support Cedric Diggory. Oh it was a badge supporting Diggory. She was about to nod when she saw that the badge changed to: Potter Stinks./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Feeling the fury rise in her cheeks, Arya stormed away from a puzzled Crabb. She had just approached the scene, knowing full well what it was about when she saw Professor Moody change Draco into a ferret!/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Many of the students began to laugh or gasp in shock as Professor Moody made Draco the Ferret float in the air./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Professor!" Mcgonagal cried, "is that a student!?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Actually it's a ferret," Moody replied./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Change him back at once!" MCgonagal ordered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Moody obeyed and changed Draco back... but Draco then changed back into a ferret./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Oh dear," Mcgonagal remarked. "The spell must have backfired. We need to take him to the hospital wing."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"the professor looked around till she caught sight of Arya, "Arya dear! I need your help!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya walked over and considered the white ferret who was looking up at her mournfully./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I need you to get Mr. Malfoy to the medical bay and hopefully get this spell off of him," Mcgonagal explained./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya nodded before flashing Harry a grin. Harry returned it and smiled. Arya put her books in her back, slinging it on her back and knelt down in front of the ferret./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Really?" she asked the ferret, putting her hands on her hips, "Will you ever learn when it's enough?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco gave her big brown puppy eyes and Arya rolled her eyes, "Don't give me puppy eyes because you're a ferret. You're lucky that I don't leave you here to deal with it yourself."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, she reached down and picked the ferret up and held him in one arm. As she walked towards the medical bay, she realized that she was carrying Draco... in the form of a ferret. It didn't register till Draco sat up in her arm and looked at her./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Oh stop it," she remarked sternly. "Don't think that I'm carrying you that we're good. We're just on speaking terms right now."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco tried his best to look hurt but it failed miserably. When they got to the medical bay, Madam Pomfrey was busy behind a curtain with another injured student so Arya took the other curtained off area and set the ferret on the bed./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Let's see," Arya remarked, pouring some ingredients into a cup, "This should do it."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that she held the cup low and Draco drank it, Ferret style. When he finished Arya set the cup down and considered the ferret a moment. She saw Draco try to scratch the back of his head but failed so she did it for him./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You're cute," she remarked before realizing what she had said./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The ferret almost smirked and Arya rolled her eyes, "As a ferret. You should just stay a ferret permanently. I might like you better for it."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco pretended to pout and Arya smirked before a soft mewing sound caught her attention. Turning, she saw that Tinkerbell was lying in the corner on her mat... and with her were four brand new kittens!/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Oh Tink!" the girl remarked softly, coming to kneel down beside the cat, "They're so cute!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, she gathered up the kittens and held them gently in her arms. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She was just trying to think of names when she felt a presence behind her. Turning, she saw that Draco was back to his normal, self sitting on the edge of the bed. He was only wearing his shirt, pants, shoes and sweater vest, not his long robe. His hair was slightly messed up and Arya had to admit, he was pretty good looking like that./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""So I'm cute huh?" he asked smirking./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya rolled her eyes, "As a ferret yes."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Admit it though, I'm cute as a man too."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya chuckled, "In your dreams Malfoy."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""So what are their names?" he inquired, kneeling down beside her./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I haven't decided yet," Arya replied./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well there's four of them. Why not name them after the seasons?" he inquired./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Winter, Summer, Spring and Autumn," Arya said, considering each kitten, "I like it!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco smiled, something Arya hadn't seen before and she felt her cheeks go pink, thinking how cute he looked when he smiled./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The two just looked at each other a moment before Draco reached out and slowly placed one hand on her hand, tracing her knuckles with his thumb. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Arya i..." he said softly. "I... I really like you."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled, "I like you too."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco felt his heart jump but he could tell by how she said it that she didn't understand, "No I mean i... like you... I mean really like you..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When he looked at Arya, her face had gone slightly pale, then slightly red but not from a blush but from anger. She pulled her hand away from Draco and set the kittens down./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""you should have thought of that before you ruined our friendship."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I apologized for Buckbeak," Draco pointed out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""THIS HAS NOTHNG TO DO WITH BUCKBEAK!" Arya shouted. "This has to do with how horribly you have treated everyone and everything! Harry, Hermione, Ron, Luna, the professors... everyone!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""But Arya that's not you," Draco pointed out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""ARGH!" Arya shouted, "Are you seriously that thick? What makes you think I'll ever like you back if you treat everyone else with contempt! You don't get what you want Draco if you treat only the things you care about with care and kindness! Until you learn how to treat others like you want to be treated, this... between us will never happen."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that the girl got to her feet and stormed out of the room while shouting over her head, "AND THOSE STICKERS YOU MADE ARE RIDICULOUS! IF YOU HADNT MADE THEM, YOU WOULDNT HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO A FERRET!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"As she slammed the door behind her, Draco cringed and looked at the cats to see TInkerbel glaring at him./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""What have I done?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"They were dance rehearsing again. Draco was practically in limbo for Pansy wouldn't let him go. She was basically hanging on his arm with all her might, squealing whenever he looked at her and glaring at all the girls who swooned at the sight of Draco./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"However, Draco's mind was at the other side of the dance room where Arya was dancing calmly with Seamus. Draco had grown to not mind Harry or Seamus mostly because he knew they were just protective of Arya but Ron was just downright aggravating./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Seamus spun the girl around and Arya giggled, her face brightening up when she smiled./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Draco," Pansy whined, "What is wrong with you?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Pansy wasn't the only one who noticed Draco's lack of concentration for Mcgonagal stepped over to him and summoned Blaise over./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Mr. Zabini, would you mind dancing with Miss Parkinson today?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Blaise was about to complain but he got the feeling that there was a good reason so he obliged. Draco was left alone with the professor who nudged him in the direction of Arya who had gone to sit down to have a break while Seamus danced with Ginny./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco expertly made his way through the crowd till he was approaching Arya. when he came to stand in front of her, Arya refused to look up at him./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Arya," he whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""What?" she asked in a whisper, looking up at him./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Would you like to dance?" he asked./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"They just stood there, looking at each other, neither speaking till almost every student had left. Soon, the room was absolutely empty. Draco held out his hand and Arya hesitantly took it./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"His soft, pale hand slipped around hers and Arya felt electricity shoot through their hands when warm met cold. Draco gently drew her into the center of the room, his eyes never leaving hers and slipped his arm around her waist./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya felt all the air slip out of her at the feeling of his hand around her waist. Draco slowly led her around the room. there was no music but neither seemed to notice or care. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Every few steps, Draco seemed to either draw Arya closer to him, or Arya didn't notice that his face was slowly nearing hers. She suddenly realized how much shorter she was compared to him, barely reaching his chin. His head was bowed, his eyes looking straight into hers and his eyes never wavering even when she glanced down./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""So who are you going to the ball with?" he asked in a whisper./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When he spoke in a whisper, his voice sounded so soft and gentle and Arya felt her cheeks go pink, "G...George..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""George Weasley?" Draco inquired, his voice still in a whisper but slightly louder. "Why him?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Because he asked me," Arya replied. "I didn't want to wait and decline anyone because if I kept declining, there wouldn't be anyone else I could go with... so I decided to go with him."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Who else asked you?" Draco asked, trying to not let his voice drip with jealousy./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"He knew that Fred and George were like big brothers to Arya so George had probably only asked her out of kindness and had offered to go with a friend which was basically what had happened./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""No one that I knew," Arya replied. "Which was why I turned them down..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco quietly cleared his throat, not lifting his eyes to look at her, "Would you have gone with me if George hadn't asked you first?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya lifted her beautiful eyes and looked up at the Slytherin. Honestly, she had been shocked he had asked her especially since over the course of just a day he had also admitted his feelings so she had been overwhelmed... but now that she thought about it, She wouldn't have minded./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I don't know..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and he felt his heart sink, "Can i... have a dance with you at the ball then?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya seemed to think about it before a smile appeared on her face and she released herself from Draco's strong but gentle grip, "You've got to sing for it."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco was about to object but then he saw the excited, interested look on the girl's face. She wanted to see if he could sing... well nothing bad happened from trying. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya went to the boom box and quickly turned on a new track which was a rather fast, upbeat cello song. There was a moment while the music played while Draco just tried to remember the words... then looking at Arya across the room from him... it all just came out perfectly./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"strongspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"(SONG: Smooth Criminal)(START AT 0.56 and stop it at 2.54:)) I have no rights to the song. It's from the movie GLEE)/span/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When they stopped, both were slightly out of breath and were about three inches away from each other. There was a smirk on Draco's face and Arya was smiling./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Alright. One dance," the girl promised. "How come you didn't tell me you could dance?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco shrugged, "Never thought I was any good."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled and shook her head, "we always think we're really bad at something when we're actually good at it. Never let your mind get the best of you Draco."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, she was gone, leaving a stunned and overjoyed Draco behind./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The Yule ball had arrived and Arya was freaking out. She was excited to go with George but she was so excited for all the dancing, the performance she had to with the boys and she couldn't wait to see what the great hall looked like!/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"As she stood before the mirror, dabbing a minimal amount of makeup on, Luna burst in with Cho behind her. both were already dressed, having dressed ahead of time for a reason unknown./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Come on! We need to try on your dress before we do your hair!" Luna cried, grabbing her hand./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"As the two girls dragged her back into their room, Arya stuttered. "I didn't know you two were put in charge of preparing me... I can Dress myself."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Nonsense," Both remarked, "You are going to be performing in front of everyone with your brothers! You need to look perfect! Besides, after your little showdown with Draco the other day, boys have been preparing to ask you for a dance."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya's eyebrows shot up, "Who knows about the showdown?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Almost the whole school," Cho replied. "Seamus, Ron and Harry went looking for you after practice and when they saw you still in there with Draco, they held back. Ron was seething but Seamus and Harry seemed rather surprised. they made Ron promise to not get onto you about it because he was almost prepared to lock you in your room so you wouldn't go to the ball and run into Draco."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Does he hate me that much?" Arya asked./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Oh he doesn't hate you, he hates Malfoy," Hermione said as she entered, wearing a stunning pink dress./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Mione you look gorgeous!" the three squealed./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Hermione smiled, "Thanks! Now let's make you look better!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, the girl was pulled down into a chair and Hermione busied about doing her hair. Cho got onto her makeup and Arya was glad it wasn't Luna because even though Luna never used makeup, whenever she did someone's makeup, she put too much on but Cho put just the right amount and she knew how to make it match your outfit and your eyes./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Luna got about bringing out Arya's dress which was a rich dark blue./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""So how did the whole school find out about the dance with Draco?" Arya inquired./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well Ron couldn't keep his voice down in class today. Luckily, it was just us Gryffindors and the Hufflepuffs," Hermione replied. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Yeah and then word spread after that," Luna added. "Don't know if Draco knows that everyone knows."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well considering that I didn't know yet, chances are he doesn't," Arya remarked, feeling her cheeks go red. "Oh this is so embarrassing!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""No it's not!" the three girls cried./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Arya, you were absolutely spectacular during that dance war!" Cho remarked. "Harry and Seamus said they never saw anything like it and they had to admit, Draco was rather talented too and they even said you two sound perfect together! Ron was ticked when he heard them say that but he admitted that it was really cool. Now, all the boys within reasonable age are dying to dance with you!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""But I have to sing!" Arya groaned. "And now everyone has their hopes high."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""And well they should!" Ginny said as she stepped in, wearing a lovely green dress that brought out her red hair. "Arya, if you were able to sing that well at the last minute with Malfoy, you will do amazing tonight!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya shook her head, "but I'll be in front of the whole school and the guests!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You sang in front of Malfoy." Ginny pointed out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"At once Arya went quiet and the four girls stopped their prepping to look at her. her cheeks had gone slightly red./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""But... I don't know... I was really nervous when we started singing but then... Draco...I don't..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The four girls knew why she was stammering. she knew that Draco was practically their enemy but Ginny jumped at the opportunity. Kneeling in front of her, she took Arya's hands./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Ar. Listen to me. Malfoy may not be our best friend, but if he makes you happy, we're happy. He might be a brute and all, but not everyone is bad clear through unless their you know who. Listen. None of us thought the day would come when Draco showed a good, kind side but he did the moment he met you. The more he gets to know you, the more his good side comes out and that's not only a welcome to us, but it shows that everyone is good deep down."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Right," Hermione added. "Don't feel guilty or embarrassed if you have feelings for Draco or if he makes you feel comfortable when you're performing. If that's the case, just think of him while you're performing."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya lifted her eyes and looked at Hermione and Ginny. She could talk to Luna and Cho about Draco occasionally because he knew they didn't have experience with him bullying but Ginny and Hermione were veterans of Draco's past bullying./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You sure?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"the two girls smiled and nodded. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Now let's get you dressed!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When Arya emerged from the bathroom with Hermione who had gone in to help her zip up, the others gasped./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Her dress was floor length and got darker as it went up, turning black near the top with some silver. It had one strap sleeve, showing her fair skin that set off the blue perfectly. Her red hair matched the outfit perfectly and looked deep auburn. Her heels of course were hidden but kept her skirts off the ground. The pendent around her neck matched her dress (ignore the ring) and the earrings brought out the color of her eyes. Cho had done perfectly with her makeup and Hermione's hairdo for her was similar to her own put was perfect./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You look perfect!" Luna squealed, rushing over to hug her./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""How do you dance in that?" Cho asked. "Didn't you say the dance with your brothers is kind of fast beat?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled, "Silly, I'm going to chance into my fast dancing dress halfway through. The performance isn't till the end."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Ginny walked over and drew the girl into a hug, "You're so beautiful Arya."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Hermione went down the stairs first, knowing that Arya and Ginny felt nervous. Cho and Luna had met their dates in the hallways and had gone ahead. The two girls watched Hermione head down the stairs and join Victor Krum./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""THAT"S HER DATE?" Arya hissed./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Ginny seemed just as shocked when she noticed Neville so she descended. Arya smiled as she watched her friend join her date. She looked to see that Harry had watched her come down the stairs and she smiled to herself. 'You better notice her Harry,' she thought./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Just then, Arya saw George and at once relaxed. He's a friend! They're going as friends. When had asked her, he had told her that the main reason was because he didn't really know any other girl so they had agreed to go as friends just like Neville and Ginny. Getting all her courage, Arya stepped out and descended the stairs./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She saw Harry look up at her and smile warmly. Padma smiled at her from where she stood with Harry. What Arya didn't see was a particular Slytherin who had been listening bored to Pansy squealing at him. However, the moment he caught sight of her red hair, his eyes lifted and he felt his heart stop. She was gorgeous. The blue dress not only brought out everything about her... her eyes and her hair... but also how perfect she was. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"He didn't realize he was staring until his vision of the girl was blocked by the tall figure of George who stepped over to give the girl a hug. Then, Draco was pulled back by Pansy who dragged him into the hall./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You look lovely Ar," George said, smiling fondly at the girl. "are you sure you aren't one of my sisters? Maybe you were lost at birth?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya chuckled, "You look nice too George. And thank you."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"George held out his arm and taking it, Arya let him lead her onto the dance floor. Before Arya knew it, George had taken her through the first five dances before Seamus came over and danced with her, then Harry, even Ron! Blaise also asked and Arya had the feeling that Draco had put him up to it./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You look very nice Gerasimov," the boy remarked, smiling Kindly at her. "I can see why Draco is practically drooling with his mouth closed. It's a miracle he hasn't swooned yet!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya chuckled, "You make him sound like a girl."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Blaise laughed, "He is when he's around you... or around you and doesnt have your attention."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya snored and Blaise spun her around, "So you're excited for the dance?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya nodded, "Kinda nervous though."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Why?" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Because there's the first dance and song that I'm doing with my brothers... then there's a dance I'm doing with Austen... and then I'm going to be singing by myself.'/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Blaise's eyes widened, "Really? Whatcha singing?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled, "That's a secret wise guy."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Blaise smiled and before he could ask further, the song ended and he led her back to George. The two took a break and Arya was glad no one asked her to do the waltz for she really sucked at waltzing./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""So are you going to dance with Malfoy?" George asked, no sign of annoyance or anger in his voice./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""If he asks I'll have to," Arya replied. "I promised."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Dont worry about it little sister," Fred said, walking over with Angelina. "It'll be fine.'/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Little sister?"Angelina asked. "I thought Ginny was your sister."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Oh Arya is like a little sister to us," both boys said, wrapping an arm each around the girl./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Why is it that everyone supports me hanging out with Draco even though he is hateful to you?" Arya asked./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"George smiled, "Because you bring out the good in him. No one has been able to do that before so we're willing to put bad things behind us if it means Draco changing for the better... besides, you know when he's being a good person and when he's not. And he seems to make you happy."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya sighed and shook her head, "What am I going to do?There are no more dances..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""it's a shame," Fred admitted. "I wanted to see how good Malfoy could dance. Shouldn't you go change for the performance?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, Arya was off. She quickly changed into her new outfit which was a pretty cocktail dress that was a silvery blue that really matched her red hair. With low heels that had soft fuzz on the bottom so they wouldn't click on the stage. She put her hair down but with Ginny's help (Who was summoned by Austen to calm Arya's nerves), she did something to her bangs and it looked adorable./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Finally, Dumbledore distracted everyone to the other side of the room while Arya and the boys got on stage. Aiden and Axel stood to Arya's left, Austen and Asher to her right. Her silvery blue dress really brought out her hair color and the fact that the boys all wore black, she looked like a white bird in a herd of black birds. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She nodded to Filch who had asked her about lighting and with some help from Professor Mcgonagal and little help from magic, they had figured out the right lighting for the whole song. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Now, for a special treat. We will have three songs/dances performed by the Gerasimov family. Aiden and Asher are part of house Gryffindor, Axel is in Slytherin, Austen is in Hufflepuff and Arya is in Ravenclaw." Dumbledore announced./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya felt herself get nervous. Standing up there with everyone's backs to them was fine but soon they would turn to look at them! Just breathe... breathe.../span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She smiled when she saw each house cheer at the mention of their houses. Then.../span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Allow me to give to you. The Gerasimov family!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"At once, the lights went of everywhere but the stage and all eyes turned to look at the four black figures and the single silver figure on the stage... all voices hushed as Arya's voice came out gentle and soft./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"strongspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"(Song: Glad you came)(I know that this song was done by all boys, but imagine the lead boy (Grant Gustin) is Arya.. I know that's weird but hang in there with me:)) (PS. this is from the film Glee. I have no claim on it:))(Start it at 0:13 and stop it at 2:44)/span/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" Arya felt her whole body relax and she took a deep breath. Then, her eyes scanned the crowd and they fell on a particular Slytherin who was probably cheering the loudest, a huge grin on his handsome face and his gray eyes were sparkling. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya took a deep breath. Everything was going to be fine. They had finished Glad You Came and there had been a few minutes while Aiden kept everyone's attention while talking about how he and his brothers and sister began singing. During that time, Austen and the others went backstage and Axel and Asher quietly stole Arya and led her to the other side of the room, behind everyone./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""remember the plan?" Axel whispered, "When your part starts, you reveal yourself from behind the two of us and walk to Austen."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled and hugged her brother. Over the past two year Axel had become nicer and closer to his sister. This was mostly because Axel knew of her secret crush on Draco and the fact that Draco liked her back./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Axel and Asher stood tall while Arya stood behind them./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Then... Austen started./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When Arya' began singing, all eyes turned to her and several people gasped when she appeared from behind Asher and Axel. As she walked towards Austen, everyone made a path for her and she recognized several faces: Ginny, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Cho... Draco. She tried not to look at him for she didn't want to blush or forget her part but she did anyway and her voice only seemed to get stronger and prettier when she did./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"(Song: Everyday from High School Musical 2)(the part where all the kids get on the stage is when Axel and Asher come up:))/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"There was a loud erupt of applause and Arya felt Aiden scoop her up and swing her around, earning a squeal from her./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Ready for your solo?" he whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya's eyes widened and he chuckled, "you've got this. Knock those people on their faces."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Without warning, the four boys left the stage and Arya was left there... alone. Taking a deep breath, she slightly jumped when a single light shone on her. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"For a second, as she looked at the vast crowd of faces... she almost forgot what she was going to sing... then she saw her friends all smiling at her, she saw her brothers giving her grins... and she saw Draco, his whole heart in his eyes. They were all her friends and family... she got this./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Like a soft haunting wind, Arya began to sing and everyone was sure they heard all the boys' jaws drop at her voice./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"(Song: Stand by You by Rachel Platten)/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When she finished, Arya hadn't realized she had put her own soft, gentle but meaningful dance to it. She was breathing to catch her breath and she felt so alive as the whole place erupted in cheers, whistles and clapping. She found herself smiling before she bowed and walked off the stage./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The moment she stepped off she was swept into a hug by her brothers before passed on to George and Fred who practically broke her already broken bones that her brothers had broken when they hugged her. Harry and Ron were gentler but then the girls rebroke her ribs./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You were amazing!" Hermione squealed./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Where did you learn to sing like that?" Cho insisted./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya just smiled when suddenly Harry grabbed her elbow and pulled her to the side while the others congratulated and complimented her brothers./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I have a message for you from Draco," harry whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya's eyes widened, "Draco Malfoy gave Harry Potter a message? What is this world coming to?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry smiled, "He's actually not that bad. I noticed him getting really ticked off with Pansy so I asked Blaise to distract her while I talked with Malfoy. I noticed you never got the chance to dance with him so I told him to meet you in the astronomy tower at 9."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""That's after curfew," Arya pointed out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry nodded. "He really wants to see you Ar... just give him a chance."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Why are you telling me this?" Arya asked. "I mean, you two are the worst of enemies."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well actually Voldemort is my worst enemy. But besides that, he seems to make you happy and he seems happy with you... and a whole different person. I will do anything to see you happy and if he makes you happy, I will let him and I will help him."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled and hugged the boy before kissing his cheek, "You're such a sentimental guy Harry. Thank you."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry grinned at her and mock shooed her, "Go on!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya hurried off and Harry distracted Ron who seemed to notice Arya's absence. Arya ran as fast as her heels would allow her till she reached the astronomy tower... it was empty./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"For a second she thought she had heard harry's instructions wrong but he had told her go come... what if Draco forgot... or didn't want to come... or if he just said that to get away from Harry?/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She was starting to think he wasn't coming when she heard footsteps and turned to see the boy standing there. His hair was slightly ruffled out of perfect and when his eyes fell on her sitting on the sill of the tower, his face lit up and he smiled./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You will never believe how startled I was when I heard that you actually communicated with Harry! What is this world coming to?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco smiled as she stood up and walked towards him. "I guess the only reason I bullied Harry was because I was jealous... jealous of all his friends... how easy it was for him to make friends."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled and brushed a piece of fuzz off Draco's coat, "Well, maybe you should have turned the clocks and just asked Harry to be your friend instead of warning him about other people. There's still time. I think you actually fixed something with Harry tonight."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco nodded, "I think I might try that."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The girl smiled, "So... want to dance?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"A huge grin appeared on Draco's face and without even saying anything, he wrapped both arms around her waist and pulled her two him. Arya slipped her arms around his neck and he began to lead her in a slow dance around the room. Neither said a word... they just danced together, Draco staring deep down into her eyes while Arya kept her eyes at the collar of his shirt, trying to not blush as she felt his steady gaze./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"After what seemed like forever of dancing, Draco removed one arm from her waist and reaching up, tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Arya lifted her eyes at this gesture and found that they were closer than she thought. In the moonlight, Draco's eyes looked silver... and the moon reflected in them. His pale face was slightly shadowed but she could see the soft smile on his handsome face. he looked so calm... comfortable... relaxed without the sneer or smirk he sometimes pulled./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"What Arya didn't know was that Draco's heart was beating faster than a horse's hooves. She looked practically angelic with the moon shining on her heart shaped face. He knew that if he didn't do it now when they were alone, no one to bother and Harry acting as their coverup (Draco never thought he would be so indebted to Harry as he was now), he had to./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco slowly moved his face closer to Arya's and cupping the back of her head with his hand, he gently drew her lips to his. He felt his head spin when her plush, soft lips touched his cold thin ones. He had never felt anything so perfect and if he didn't have so much restraint, he would have caught her up and kissed her hard./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya tangled her fingers in his hair, gripping to him. She felt fireworks go off in her head and she was loving it. Even though Draco's lips were cold... then were so soft and gentle and the way he held her like he was afraid she would break... it made her heart soften. This was the Draco she loved... the one who had taken her heart in first year./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When they finally parted for air, they stared into each other's eyes and both were smiling. Draco drew her head against his chest and Arya heard for the first time, how incredibly fast his heart was drumming. She smiled and looped her arms tighter around his neck and buried her face in the crook of his neck, smiling as she felt him nuzzle his nose in her hair and stroke her hair with his hand./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"They walked together back down but had to separate to go to their dorms. They said goodnight softly in the shadows and Arya hurried off, Draco watching her with the biggest smile on his face he had ever had. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"On his way to the dungeons, he ran into Potter who had gone out to check to make sure they had returned to their dorms./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Thanks... for doing that Potter," Draco said./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry smiled and extended his hand, "Glad I could help. Just want to warn you. Dont hurt her, or you'll have a whole bunch of mad Gerasimov brothers bearing down on you."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco found himself smiling and shook Harry's hand, "I'll remember."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry nodded and they parted ways. That was the first time they had ever parted on good terms and it felt good./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When he reached the dungeons, Theo and Blaise were up and were smirking./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Sooooooo?" Theo asked./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""How did you know?" Draco insisted in a whisper yell./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Potter told us," Blaise replied. "It got kinda suspicious when Arya and you both disappeared. Well?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco just grinned and both boys whisper cheered. Blaise pumped his arm in the air triumphantly and Theo did something weird with his hands. Draco had to laugh at his friends' reactions but honestly, he was glad they were happy for him and he couldn't be happier./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The Tournament's final challenge was coming up and Arya was excited but also worried. She was worried for Harry and she kept asking him if he was sure about it all./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Hermione and Ron seemed just as concerned and would barely let the boy go when it was time for him to join the other competitors in the ring. Arya soon found a seat with Ron, Hermione, Luna and Cho near the front. Harry and Cedric were the first into the maze and after they were gone, everyone quieted down, waiting to see what would happen./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""They probably wont be back for a while," Cho remarked. "I'm gonna go get some cocoa. Anyone else want some?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya nodded, "I'll have some."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Cho nodded and she and Luna headed off to get some cocoa. Arya glanced across the way at the Slytherin's and she spied Draco with Blaise and Theo. His gray eyes met hers and he smirked, giving her a meaningful look and she nodded./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I'm gonna go say hi to Padma," Arya remarked, giving Hermione a meaningful look./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When Ron made a move to join her, Hermione pulled him back down and let Arya go alone. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When Arya finally got down to the lower steps where there was barely a soul, she felt two arms wrap around her from behind and she let out a sharp squeal but stopped when she saw that it was Draco./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Dont scare me like that," she whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco smirked and kissed her neck, hugging her close against his chest, "Sorry."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""What do you think will happen in there?" the girl inquired./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco turned the girl around and shrugged, "No idea. Hopefully no one will get hurt."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled and played with Draco's tie, "So, Draco Malfoy does have a concerning heart."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The boy smirked and fingered one of Arya's long red curls, "Dont tell anyone that. It would ruin my reputation."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The girl chuckled and teasingly pulled away when Draco went to kiss her, "You know, one of these days you need to show everyone your real side, not just me."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco just smiled and realizing that the girl was purposely moving away from him to tease him, he reached over and gripped her waist, pulling her flush against him. HE smirked when the girl let out a startled gasp as he ran his fingers through her bright red hair./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""One day, but let's just be the two of us today," he whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled in response and didn't move away as Draco bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. Arya slipped her arms around his neck and tangled her fingers in his hair. Draco smiled into the kiss, causing Arya to laugh softly./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The two were brought out of their moment by the sound of a horn that signaled the end of the tournament./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""We should head back," Draco remarked. "Dont want to miss the victor's return."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya nodded and grabbing Draco's hand, she pulled him after her back up to their seats. Just when they two came out into the room, they stopped in shock. Girls were screaming in horror, boys were going pale from shock and all the professors were rushing to the center of the ring... Arya could clearly make out Cedric lying on the ground with Harry shaking him as if trying to wake him up./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Mione!" Arya yelled, rushing to the girl, "What happened?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Cedric was killed!" Mione replied. "You know who is back!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"TIME SKIP/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""ARYA!" Cho screamed./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya spun around from where she and Luna had been heading back to their dorms. The professors had ordered the students back to their dorms while they figured out what to do./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Cho," Arya cried, rushing to hug the girl, "Are you alright?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I'm fine," Cho sobbed. "But Cedric..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya nodded and hugged the hysterical girl to her chest, "It's okay, I'm here."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Just then, Snape appeared down the hallway, leading Harry who looked a fright./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Miss Gerasimov," Snape remarked. "Please take Mr. Potter to the medical bay and see that he is taken care of. Miss Chang and Miss Lovegood, please head to your dorms."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The two girls nodded and headed off while Arya slipped an arm underneath Harry's. The boy was incredibly weak and on the verge of passing out from blood loss. Just when Arya thought she couldn't help him anymore, Draco appeared down the hallway. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Draco!" Arya cried, "Can you help me?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco's eyes widened at the bleeding boy that Arya was supporting. The blood from Harry's arm was all over Arya's sweater and she looked exhausted. Draco rushed over and was just about to take Harry's other arm to help her when something caught this eye./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya turned to look behind them at what Draco had seen and saw Crabb, Goyle and Pansy standing at the end of the hallway, arms crossed and watching Draco. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya looked over at Draco who looked like he was have a war with himself. Would he join his friends and leave Arya to help Harry by herself... or would he ignore the taunts from his friends and help Arya? /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco's grey eyes met Arya's and for a split second she thought he would help her... but then he shook his head and headed towards his friends./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Slytherin filth," Arya spat, just loud enough for Draco to hear./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"What she didn't see as Draco followed his friends was that the tall Slytherin's face was twisted into remorse and pain, tears streaming down his face. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Come on," Arya panted to Harry, ignoring the exhaustion in her legs, "We're almost there."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Finally they reached the medical bay and she laid Harry down on a bed. Ignoring her exhausted limbs, she set about cleaning his arm and bandaging it. She removed his blood stained sweater, leaving him just in his shirt and pants, his shirt sleeve rolled up as she bandaged his cleaned wound./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Arya," Harry whispered, "Draco didn't want to do that."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""But he did it," Arya remarked, her eyebrows down in anger. "He had a decision and he chose against me. So what? I always saw it coming. He was always a Slytherin and always will be."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""But Blaise and Theo are slytherins," Harry pointed out. "And they're not so bad."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""They're different," Arya huffed, "I have no idea how they turned out to be so nice when they are best friends with Draco."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry smiled, "Because they learnt how to be nice and to care from Draco."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya stopped her bandaging and lifted her face to look at Harry. Her eyes were glossy with tears and her face pale./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Draco is really a nice person deep down," Harry said. "Even though it may be impossible to see it, he really cares about you. The thing is, he has grown up always thinking he has to live up to the expectations of his parents and his popular friends. It will take a while before he realizes that he doesn't have to live up to any expectations to earn your love."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya shook her head and finished bandaging Harry, "I don't think I'm ready to trust Draco with my love yet."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""But you love him all the same," Harry pointed out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya stopped and nodded, her back to Harry. The boy reached out and took her hand, drawing her to sit down next to him. Harry's kind green eyes smiled at her./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""He'll earn your trust again, I'm sure... just never forget what you feel around him."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The hogwarts express was leaving Hogwarts and everyone was bidding farewell. Arya was saying goodbye to all her friends for she was going to go home for the summer./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Hermione walked over and gave the girl a warm hug, "See you soon," she whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya hugged the girl back before turning to Ron. She grinned and hugged the boy who blushed bright red at the gesture. She then walked over to Fred and George who enveloped her in a bone breaking hug. When she managed to breathe again, she turned to Luna and Cho who both gave her gentle hugs./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Please write," Arya told Cho who nodded, smiling sadly./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Finally, she turned to Harry who hugged her gently and whispered in her ear, "Remember."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya nodded as she smiled and pulled away from Harry, giving Ginny a quick hug before heading down the platform to where her brothers were waiting. Her brothers were saying goodbye to their own friends so Arya hung back, deciding to give them some privacy./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see the very person she was hoping to not run into: Malfoy./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Going to leave without saying goodbye?" Draco asked, grinning./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When Arya didn't smile back and just looked down, Draco's smile faded, "Look Arya... I'm sorry about the other day I just..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""No Draco I get it," Arya remarked. "You think that you cannot be friends with everyone because you are afraid to hurt other people. The thing is, if your friends don't want you to be friends with other people, then they really don't care about you. I love it that you have friends in Crabb, Goyle and Pansy even though they hate me. I love it that you're friends with Theo and Blaise because they're awesome. But Draco, when people don't want you to be friends with other people besides them then they really don't care about your happiness. I want to see you happy and I want you to be friends with other people because I know it makes you happy and I'm happy when you're happy."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco was about to smile but Arya took a step back and shook her head, "I'm afraid that we can only be friends Draco."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"At once, the boy's already pale face went ashen white, "What... why?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Because," Arya replied. "I trust you Draco. I trust you when you tell me that you have feelings for me. I trust you when you say that you'll do something...but I'm a distraction for you. You are still searching for who you are and who you want to be. I don't want to be a distraction for you during this busy time. Until you find out who you want to be, I think it's best we just remain friends."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""And when I do find out who I want to be?" Draco asked./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled and shook her head, "I don't know what will happen after that Draco. If you decide to be the person who allows others to dictate what he does and doesn't do, who he knows and doesn't know... then I don't know if I can be more to you... but if you decide to be the Draco I know is in there, the Draco that cares about everyone... the Draco that I know deep down you want to be, then there might be a chance for the two of us."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco just stood there, trying to not cry and trying to fight the urge to draw the girl in for a hug. Arya seemed to sense his conflict so she walked over and gently wrapping one hand around his neck, she pulled his head down to her level and kissed him gently on the lips./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When she released him, Draco wanted dearly to hug her close but Arya took a step back and smiled sadly at him, "Goodbye Draco."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, the girl turned and headed over to her brothers who were getting onto the train. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The next year was one that Draco would not easily forget for it was probably the hardest of all the years. When Arya returned to school after the summer, she spent much more time with Luna and Cho than before. Of course, she couldnt hang out with Harry, Ron and Hermione as much because they always seemed to be in their own world. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Of course, when the DA was formed, Arya was a part of it alongside her brothers. When Umbridge found out about it and spoiled one of the DA meetings, Arya didnt seem the least bit surprised when Draco was there./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"During the whole interrogation, Arya, who was being held by Pansy none too gently, she refused to look at him. When they escaped Umbridge's cronies after Hermione and Harry left with Umbridge, Arya only looked back once at Draco who was stunned against the wall. She shook her head sadly and hurried off after Cho and Luna./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The next year, Arya didnt return to school. All the students began to inquire about her of her brothers who did return and all her brothers replied, saying that Arya had been instructed to remain home by Dumbledore, not only for her safety as the last faerie, but also because of another reason that no one was alerted to. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry began to worry about Arya especially when she didnt reply to any of his friends' letters. He also began to worry about Draco who was taking a turn for the worse and seemed more than lost with Arya gone. He had been lost the year before after their breakup, but with her not even at school, it was like Draco was losing all reason to live./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Finally, he decided it was time he wrote Arya himself and told her everything that was happening. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Dear Arya,/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"I know I wrote not long ago but I thought I should write again and bring justice to my past letters. We haven't told you because we weren't sure you would want to know. I don't know if you really want to hear anything about Malfoy but you need to hear this. Not for your own sake but for his because I'm worried about him. I never thought the day would come when I was worried about Malfoy but I am really worried. When you didnt return to school, I literally thought he was going to lose it. Something worse happened... I'm afraid the Dark Lord has taken him and not of his own free will. I am afraid that Malfoy is a Death Eater but from what I have seen of Draco's behavior 24/7 and the few times I have followed him... he didnt choose this and it was possibly forced upon him. He never eats anymore and looks ready to pass out during classes. He disappears for hours on end to the Room of Requirement, obviously doing some sort of assignment he was given but he always comes back crying. /span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"I have spoke to Blaise and Theo about it and they're just as worried as I am. Malfoy never sleeps in his room anymore but sleeps on the couch and he actually never gets any rest. Blaise says he stays up past midnight writing letters but he never finishes them. Theo promised to get a hold of some of the letters and find out what is troubling Malfoy. He is going to owl you soon with the results. /span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Besides that, Arya, we're all worried about you. None of the professors will tell us why you aren't returning to school and your brothers have been sworn to secrecy apparently because all they're saying is that its for your own safety. Arya, what is going on? What is happening? Please write back. We're all worried about you because you never reply. Please Arya./span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Sincerely, Harry P/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Just then, another owl flew through the door and dropped a small envelope on her lap. Tearing it open, she saw that it was from Theo./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Hello Arya,/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"I was able to sneak these snippets out of Draco's letters and I thought you might want to read them. Sincerely, Theo/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya looked down at the three sheets of paper and realized that they had been written by Draco for she recognized his sprawled but neat handwriting./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Dear Arya,/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"I know that it is too soon to ask for your forgiveness but please believe me when I say that I regretted all the horrible things I have done to you. You deserve better than me and I know I'm the last person who deserves you but I cannot help it.../span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Dear Arya, /span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"I don't know how to tell you this but my father forced me to become a death eater. I now have an assignment from the dark lord and if I don't do it, he'll kill my parents. I might not love my father the way I love my mother but he is my father. I don't want to see him hurt but I also know that I cannot do what the dark lord has asked of me. If I don't see you again, I just want you to know that I love you and I always have and I hope that you find it somewhere in your heart to forgive me even though I don't deserve it.../span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Dear Arya,/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"I cannot seem to find the right words to say without sounding like a perfect jerk. You probably already know from Potter that I am a death eater and I have an assignment from the dark lord. I'm scared Arya and I hate to admit it but I am horribly afraid. The only thing that helps me sleep at night is knowing that somewhere else you are safe and happier than you were when you were with me.../span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya felt herself choking on her own tears. Draco had written numerous letters to her but never finished them and from the look of it, he had rolled them up into balls and probably threw them into the waste basket./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Arya!" Mrs. Gerasimov called from downstairs, "Do you want some orange juice?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya looked up from where she was sitting in the living room. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Sure mom..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She was just about to finish her reply when there was a loud bang and Arya felt her mind whiz. She felt a particular presence and she glared. Reaching into her pocket she drew out her wand and got up from the couch./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Mom! Get the kids into the bomb shelter!" she yelled./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Mrs. Gerasimov obeyed immediately, shuffling Arya's little brothers down the stairs into the protected basement. Arya gripped her wand tightly in one hand and approached the front door./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Just as she was about to open the door, her mother returned alone and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Arya... please don't."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya shook her head, "I have no choice mom. I thought that hiding here would protect everyone at Hogwarts but he just keeps finding me. I'll endanger more people the longer I try to hide. I have to let him take me."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Mrs. Gerasimov was about to object but Arya hugged her and quickly cast a charm that froze her mother to that spot at least long enough for Arya to keep her safe./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Tell everyone I'm sorry. Please tell dad and the boys when they get back that I'm sorry."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, she opened the door and closed it behind her. Arya looked up into the evil eyes of Bellatrix who smirked at her./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Tired of running Gerasimov?" she taunted./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya shrugged as she spied the figures of several more death eaters approach the house. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""The Dark Lord will be pleased to see you," a man said, stepping forward./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya felt her heart stop and she glared at the tall man: Lucius Malfoy. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""It's pathetic the way my son developed an attachment to you," the man remarked. "You're just a weak, good for nothing witch who doesn't know the first thing about right or wrong."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya rolled her eyes, "Says the man who practically beat his son to become a death eater against his will and since his very early childhood, has pressed him to live up to expectations that will only result in his son's unhappiness."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The girl didnt even blink when Lucius brought the back of his hand across her cheek, cutting the skin of her cheekbone and leaving a bleeding scratch./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Take her," Lucius ordered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Bellatrix smirked and quickly cast a spell on the girl, knocking her out cold. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"raco was worried. Ballatrix had just brought Harry before him for verification. Draco remembered all the times that Arya had asked him to be nice to Harry... all the times that Harry helped Draco when it came to getting close to Arya. How he wished he knew where Arya was and if she was alright./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well?" his aunt insisted./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I cannot be sure," Draco replied, looking away from harry who looked ready to pass out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Listen," his father hissed. "If we were the ones to hand Potter over to the dark Lord, everything will be forgiven. Everything will be as it was. do you understand?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Another death eater stood up, "now we wont be forgetting who actually caught him I hope mr. Malfoy."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Lucius glared, "You dare to talk to me like that in my own house!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Lucius," Draco's mother warned, trying to keep her husband calm. She pulled her husband away from Draco who approached his aunt and Harry./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Dont be shy sweetie," Ballatrix cooed, "Now, if this isnt who I think it is Draco, he'll kill us all. we need to be absolutely sure."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""There's something wrong with his face," Draco remarked./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry lifted his head and mouthed something to Draco to the point where he didnt hear what his aunt had just said. Draco tried to decipher what Harry was mouthing and then it dawned on him: Arya is in trouble./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco was completely distracted till he realized that Harry and Ron were ushered down to the dungeons while Bellatrix interrogated Hermione. Draco slumped in a nearby chair, his mind spinning. Arya... where was she? Was she alright?/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Suddenly, Harry and Ron reappeared, Harry back to his normal self. Draco saw his aunt go and grab Hermione, putting a blade to her neck. She ordered Draco to go and get their wands. He obeyed but just as his father was about to summon the dark lord, there was a loud creaking above them and Dobby sent the chandelier falling down on top of his aunt. Bellatrix released Hermione while backing up./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"While his aunt began to yell at Dobby in a fury, Draco saw his father leave to who knows where. Just when Draco was sure that Harry, Ron and Hermione might escape, there was a loud shout./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Drop your wands or she dies!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"All eyes turned and Draco felt his heart stop. His father had returned and had Arya in his arms, one arm wrapping around the girl's chest, squeezing the air out of her. Arya's head was lulled to the side in an unconscious state and there was a horrible gash on her head, a scratch on her cheek and her left sleeve was torn where a long gash was, still dripping blood. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Arya!" Hermione, Ron, Luna and Harry all cried at the same time./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco's eyes widened and he felt his stomach drop to his feet... how had he been so blind? how had he not known the girl he loved was in his own house, as a prisoner?/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Drop your wands," Lucius ordered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry, Ron and Hermione obeyed. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Draco," Lucius said next, "It's time for you to choose./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Lucius!" Narcissa snapped. "Dont even think about it!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Lucius shook his head, "He has to if he wants to be looked upon with pride."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco had no idea what his father was talking about but his questions were soon answered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Kill the girl," Lucius ordered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco's whole world came tumbling down. He had to kill the girl he loved! The best thing that had ever happened to him! He hadn't seen the girl in almost two years and his love for her had never wained, if anything it had gotten stronger./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The boy slowly approached his father and Arya. He looked down at the girl who was still unconscious before him. He slowly reached for his wand. There were a million things he could do... he could heal her without his father knowing... he could wake her up... but none of them would save her from his father's wrath./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco looked over at his mother who looked like she was ready to cry./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Draco you don't have to do this dear," she said softly./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Shut up," Lucius snapped./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Draco," Narcissa whispered, "The dark lord wont have to know if you don't."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Why shouldn't he do it?" Bellatrix insisted./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Because he loves her," Narcissa replied. "can't you see that? Are you two seriously that blind?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Bellatrix scoffed, "he would have found someone of his own to love if he knew better."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco still had his grey eyes on Arya's unmoving body. He remembered all of it... the first time he saw her... the first time he realized he loved her... when he helped her carry her books to class...when they first kissed... when she told him that she couldn't love him until he found out who he wanted to be. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"He loved Arya and that's all he needed to know. He wasn't going to choose a path that would end in his unhappiness and her probable dead. He couldn't do that to her. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I can't," Draco whispered, "I can't kill her."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"He heard a relieved sigh behind him and knew it had probably come from Hermione or Luna./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Fine," Lucius hissed, "Then I will."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Just when Draco prepared himself to block his father's death blow on Arya, something sounded behind him and he turned around to see none other than the Gerasimov brothers: Aiden, Austen, Asher, Axel and Aaron./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Axel and Aaron soon got Bellatrix and Narcissa disarmed and Asher blocked the blow that Lucius had been about to lay on his sister. Aiden rushed forward and caught his unconscious sister while Austen laid a hard punch on Lucius, knocking him down./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Harry! Ron! Now!" Aiden yelled, picking his sister up bridal style./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"They were just about to disappear when Austen turned and looked at Draco, smiling, "We'll take care of her."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, they were all gone...and Draco breathed a sigh of relief. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"His brothers immediately returned Arya home where she was quickly healed by her own means within three days./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"By then, her brothers had left to help defend Hogwarts which had been taken over by Snape. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya was returning to Hogwarts! She had spent the summer back home with her family and had even invited Harry, Ron and Hermione over for a week or two to have some fun. It was a lovely summer and Arya had grown. She had gotten a little taller, her hair had gotten longer and she had resorted to straightening her hair sometimes for a change./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She was seated at the Ravenclaw table between Cho and Luna. The two were complimenting Arya on how good she looked in long hair and out it really brought out the blue in her eyes. Just then, Arya noticed Seamus, Harry and Ron tense at the Gryffindor table. Turning, she looked and saw that Draco Malfoy, Pansy, Crabb and Goyle had just entered the hall./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya rolled her eyes and looked away, noting that Luna was giving her a surprised look, "Since when did you hate Malfoy?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Since when did I like him?" Arya inquired./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Luna shrugged, "it seemed like you two were on okay terms the past two years. What happened?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Plenty," Arya hissed./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You know Buckbeak is alive now because Harry and Hermione went back in time," Luna pointed out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""But Draco still ratted out to his dad about it and he wasn't the least bit sorry," Arya snapped quietly. "It will take a miracle for me to forgive him.'/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well then don't look now," Cho whispered, "Cuz he's looking this way."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya glanced over her shoulder and sure enough, his piercing gray eyes were watching her intently from beneath his eyebrows. Arya turned around and glared./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I've had just about enough of this."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, she got up and headed over to the Gryffindor Table. She plopped down beside Hermione and instantly Seamus sat on the other side of her, Ron and Harry across from them. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""What's going on?" Fred and George asked as they approached the girl from behind. "Luna talking your ear off?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya shook her head, "Malfoy boring a hole in the back of my head."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"At once, Seamus, Harry and Ron glared at the Slytherin table and inched closer to Arya./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I just want to wring his neck so badly sometimes," Ron whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya chuckled just before Hermione spoke up, "So, I wonder what we're going to be learning with Professor Mcgonagal today. She wont tell a soul about what it is all about."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"TIME SKIP/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya was on her way to classes when she almost collided with Hermione and Ron who looked like they were in a hurry./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""What happened?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""During the quidditch game," Ron explained. "Harry got his arm badly hurt. We have to hurry."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya didn't even wait another second and grabbing their hands, dragged them to the medical bay. When they burst in, Madam Pomfrey was bringing Harry different articles to help with the pain. Draco was surrounded by Slytherin's while he moaned over a small sprained wrist./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Oh you can go Mr. Malfoy," Pomfrey groaned. "Oh that bludger seriously broke some bones Mr. Potter."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Madam Pomfrey," Arya cried, bursting into the room with Ron and Hermione, "What happened?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Just a bludger to the arm Ar," Harry replied. "it's nothing."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya brushed it off, "It's not nothing. here let me."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She ran her fingers over his arm and cringed. "We'll need to reset it. You'll be in a sling for class with Mcgonagal later."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry shrugged, "No way I can avoid it."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya backed out of the way as Pomfrey began to wrap Harry's arm and splinting it./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Can you check on Mr. Malfoy Arya dear?" Madam Pomfrey asked. "he wont stop groaning and he refuses to leave."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya rolled her eyes and looked at Ron, Seamus and Harry who were all glaring at the Slytherin. No way she could avoid it. Stomping over to the bed, she crossed her arms and considered the sight./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco was lying on the bed, nursing his arm. Crabb, Goyle and Blaise were standing around the bed and Pansy was sitting next to him, fawning over him and petting his hair./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Doesn't seem like you're in any pain," Arya remarked, raising an eyebrow./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Blaise tried to not smirk. While Draco found it virtually impossible to even talk to Arya without one of the boys shooing him away, Blaise was one of the few Slytherins that the Gryffindors allowed Arya to talk to. When Arya began to ignore Draco since last year, Blaise had spent more time especially during break with Arya and had found her quite interesting to talk to./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You kidding me?" Draco whined. "I think it's broken."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya rolled her eyes and walked over. She gripped his arm and ignored the whimper he let out. Just by looking at it she knew it was just dislocated. Rubbing his shoulder, she ignored the annoyed look on Pansy's face. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Just dislocated," she remarked before snapping it back into place./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco let out a yelp at the pop but felt immediately annoyed at Arya's keen sense of healing because now she was walking off back to Harry. That blasted Potter got everything! /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You can leave now Malfoy!" Arya called over her. "I would also wash your hair if I were you. I don't think Pansy washed her hands after breakfast."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"There was a snicker that ran up from the other end of the room where Arya and the Gryffindors were standing around Harry. Pansy at once tangled her fingers in Draco's hair but he brushed her off. Why would she never leave him alone? didn't she see that he liked Arya?/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"As Arya was cleaning up the room before class with Mcgonagal, Dumbledore stepped into the Medical Bay./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Hello Arya, I was hoping I would find you here."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Hello professor," Arya greeted. "How may I help you?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""How is Tinkerbell?" Dumbledore asked./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya looked down at her cat who now lived in the Medical bay, "Alright. The kittens will arrive any day now."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Dumbledore smiled, "Babies are always a joy to the heart. Anyway, I came here because I was wondering if you would be interested in doing a dance routine with your brothers."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""What kind?" Arya inquired. "And what for?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well I was going to let you find out at class tomorrow but I should tell you anyway. The Yule Christmas ball is coming up and I wanted it to be special this year what with Harry being here and all."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya nodded, "I think we can figure something out."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Dumbledore smiled, "Thank you dear. Now hurry to class."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Filch was messing with the speaker again and it was making Arya chuckle whenever Mcgonagal got interrupted by a blaring squeak./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""The Yule ball has been a tradition of..." she glared at Filch and raised her voice so that he stopped. "the twiwizard tournament since its inception. On Christmas Eve night, we and our guests gather in the great hall for a night of well mannered frivolity."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya looked over at Fred and George who were sitting across the room from her with the other boys and found them both smirking. it wasn't going to be like that if they had anything to say about it./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""As representatives of the host school," Mcgonagal continued, "I expect each and every one of you to put your best foot forward and I mean this literally because the Yule Ball is first and foremost... a dance."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"AT once, the girls began to whisper together and the boys began to groan. Arya just sat there, not surprised because of the warning she had gotten from Dumbledore. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""SILENCE!" Mcgonagal called. "The house of Godrick Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the Wizard world for nearly 10 centuries. I will not have you in the course of a single evening besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling bumbling band of baboons."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya hid a smirk when she saw Fred and George whisper something which she could only guess was something to do with Mcgonagal's tongue twister./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Now to dance," she continued, "Is to let the body breathe inside every girl a secret swoon slumbers longing to burst forth and tight flight."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Ron was whispering something with Seamus when Mcgonagal turned on him, "Inside every boy a lordly lion prepared to prance. Mr. Weasley."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Yes?" the boy muttered with fear./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Will you join me please?" Mcgonagal asked, pulling the boy up without getting an ascent from him./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry gave Ron a shove and smirked, grinning across the room at Arya who was trying to not laugh at Ron's horrified face./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Now," Mcgonagal said once she got Ron in the middle of the room, "Place you right hand on my waist."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""What?" Ron whispered, earning a snort from Arya which made Harry and Seamus grin bigger./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""On my waist," Mcgonagal replied./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Fred and George let out a wolf whistle when Ron obeyed and Arya hid her eyes, trying to not laugh./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Filch turned on the music and Mcgonagal began to lead Ron through the dance. Fred and George were mocking Ron, humming and swaying to the music./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya grinned and George winked at her, smirking. He knew she found it just as amusing as they did./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Everyone come together!" Mcgonagal called./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The girls got up but the boys, except Neville, refused to rise. Arya trotted over to the boys and grabbed Austen and Aiden by the hands, shoving the two in Luna and Hermione's direction. They knew she would have their heads if they didn't dance so they pulled the two girls into the dance. Soon, almost all the boys and girls were dancing./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya spied Draco who was slowly making his way towards her, Pansy practically hanging on him. She wasn't going to dance with him so she approached Harry who was still dancing./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Come on Harry," she invited./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I'm horrible at dancing," Harry pointed out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled and pulled him up by his good hand, "Well then it wont hurt to practice."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Even though Harry only had one hand, Arya shifted so that she could hold his free hand and put her other on his shoulder. She smiled up at him and they began laughing and chuckling together about Ron and Mcgonagal. Soon Fred and George... who for some reason were dancing together instead of with girls, came over and whispered something./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""We're so never going to let Ron live this one down."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smirked and just then, the music stopped and all the students froze./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Everyone, please take your seats," Mcgonagal called. "I would like to announce something."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Everyone sat back down but Arya knew what was going to happen. She looked across the way at Aiden, Austen, Asher and Axel who were looking back at her. She had warned them about the dance they had to perform together in front of everyone at the ball./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Dumbledore has decided that we will be having a slight change to the ball. it has never happened that we have had a dance performance but it came to our attention that in our midst we had five incredibly talented dancers. In that case, The Gerasimov Family will be performing a dance performance in front of the whole school and our guests nearing the end of the ball."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"At once, all eyes fell on the Gerasimov kids, most of them on Arya. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Aiden, Austen, Asher and Axel. Please come forward. Arya."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya stood up and approached Filch. The man smiled at her and stepped back as she changed the song. She and her brothers hadnt gotten a chance to practice but there was a dance that they had performed together: Rewrite the Stars. It was originally only for two people but they had managed to make some really cool, intense dance moves for Aiden, Austen, Asher and Axel since Arya and Austen always did the main roles together./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She got it ready but paused it. She then approached her brothers who were all talking together./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Ready guys?" she whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The five siblings wrapped their arms around each other, bending their heads to talk./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Just like Christmas three years ago," Arya whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"They all nodded and split up. Axel, Asher and Aiden all went to different parts of the center of the room, making a sort of triangle shape around Arya and Austen. Arya was Standing in the center of the triangle while Austen was outside. The dance consisted of Austen trying to get into the circle but Axel, Asher and Aiden constantly did complicated, fast dance moves, blocking his entrance until halfway through the song./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"You know I want you/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emIt's not a secret I try to hide/embr /emI know you want me/em/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When Austen paused to let the music sink in, Arya glanced at the girls to see that practically all of them were practically swooning from Austen. He was an incredibly talented singer and one of the cutest guys in school. Arya pretended to be upset and torn, refusing to look at Austen. Whenever he began to walk around the circle, she kept moving so that her back stayed facing him./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"So don't keep saying our hands are tied/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emYou claim it's not in the cards/embr /emFate is pulling you miles away/embr /emAnd out of reach from me/embr /emBut you're here in my heart/embr /emSo who can stop me if I decide/embr /emThat you're my destiny?/em/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya had walked towards the opposite side of the circle but she stopped. She looked up at Aiden who was right in front of her. He winked, telling her that she was doing great. Just then, Austen got inside the circle but Aiden took both of Arya's hands and tossed her through the air. She did a clean spin and landed lightly on her feet, outside the circle./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"What if we rewrite the stars?/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emSay you were made to be mine/embr /emNothing could keep us apart/em/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Austen rushed towards her but Aiden blocked him by doing a dance move, keeping Austen trapped inside the circle while Arya began to walk around the circle on the outside, watching Austen. Suddenly she ran forward straight at Asher's back but her brother opened his legs so she could slide under. As she slid under, he reached down and grabbed her hands, pulling her through and pulling her to her feet. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya landed perfectly right in front of Austen who looked at her, smiling./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"You'd be the one I was meant to find/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emIt's up to you, and it's up to me/embr /emNo one can say what we get to be/embr /emSo why don't we rewrite the stars?/embr /emMaybe the world could be ours/embr /emTonight/em/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya had pretended to act like she was relenting but out of nowhere she did a clean backflip and landed on Aiden's shoulders before doing another backflip and landing on the high ledge right behind the girls. All the students gasped at how well she did it and didn't even fall./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"You think it's easy/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"You think I don't want to run to you/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"But there are mountains/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emAnd there are doors that we can't walk through/em/span/emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br / /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"All the students, especially the boys had their mouths dangling open at Arya's amazingly strong, mature singing voice. Just as the next part continued, she jumped clean into the air and grabbed onto the chandelier, dangling there by one hand while she looked down at Austen who was looking at her, pretending to be upset./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"I know you're wondering why/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Because we're able to be/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emJust you and me/embr /emWithin these walls/em/span/emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br / /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She spun around, still keeping a grip on the chandelier till she did a clean cartwheel and landed on the outside of the circle./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"But when we go outside/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"You're going to wake up and see that it was hopeless after all/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya took a running start and jumped straight at Aiden who turned, grabbed her hand and her waist and spun her around his body like a swing dancing style. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"No one can rewrite the stars/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"How can you say you'll be mine?/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emEverything keeps us apart/em/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya let go of Aiden and landed right in front of Austen. She reached up and stroked his face before spinning away./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"And I'm not the one you were meant to find/span/emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br / /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Aiden caught her again but this time threw her far up. Arya did a clean jump and landed on the bench between Harry and Ron who were seated on the highest bench, startling both of them./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"It's not up to you/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"It's not up to me/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emWhen everyone tells us what we can be/em/span/emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emHow can we rewrite the stars?/emembr /emSay that the world can be ours/embr /emTonight/em/em/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"As they began to sing the next part, Austen did a clean summersault and landed on the bench by the girls, gaining squeals of joy from the girls as the two began to sing together. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"All I want is to fly with you/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"All I want is to fall with you/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emSo just give me all of youIt feels impossible (it's not impossible)/em/span/emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emIs it impossible?/em/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Right then they both jumped and both caught hold of the chandelier, wrapping an arm around each other and swinging around till their heads were almost swimming with dizziness./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Say that it's possible/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"How do we rewrite the stars?/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emSay you were made to be mine?/embr /emNothing can keep us apart/embr /em'Cause you are the one I was meant to find/em/span/emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br / /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya let go of the chandelier and held onto Austen's hand till he let go and she went flying. Aiden caught her easily and swung her around so she was on the ground. Austen let go and landed firmly on the ground./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"It's up to you/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"And it's up to me/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emNo one can say what we get to be/embr /emAnd why don't we rewrite the stars?/embr /emChanging the world to be ours/em/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The two had begun to dance a rather fast, complicated dance routine together in the center of the circle... till the music died down and they stood about five feet from each other, Austen holding out his hand. Arya's haunting voice came out in soft whispers./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"You know I want you/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"It's not a secret I try to hide/span/ememspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"br /emBut I can't have you/embr /emWe're bound to break and my hands are tied/em/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya's hand had been extended, about to take Austen's hand but she pulled it back and turning, walked out of the circle. The moment they stopped, the girls began to wail at how beautiful it was and the five siblings all went around and gave each other high fives./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""That is just a glimpse of what we will be seeing at the Yule Ball," Mcgonagal explained. "I expect most of you to give the Gerasimov family ideas and inspirations about the origin and style of the dance. That way it will suit everyone's imaginations."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Austen grinned and pulled his sister in for a hug, "That was awesome AR!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Thanks," Arya whispered, "You've still got it in you."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Hermione and Luna charged over and drew the girl in for bone breaking hugs while Ron, Seamus, the twins and Harry approached. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""That was brilliant," Ron pointed out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""We have a problem though," Seamus whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"At once, the siblings and friends were listening./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Draco wouldn't stop staring."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"They all peered over Seamus's shoulder to see that indeed, Draco was still sitting between Goyle and Crabb... his eyes fixed on Arya./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco was working hard on making the Potter Stinks stickers. His eyebrows were down, he was gnawing his lip and frowning./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""What's your problem?" Blaise inquired./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""nothing," Draco replied./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Blaise chuckled. "You've been acting funny ever since dance practice yesterday. What's the deal?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Arya's the deal," Draco replied. "I cannot get her out of my head."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Why don't you ask her to the ball then?" Blaise inquired./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""YOu're kidding right?" Draco asked, looking up, "She practically hates me! Besides, there are a dozen boys asking her to go with them every class!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""So that's what's on your mind," Blaise teased, "Afraid someone will get to her before you?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco didn't answer and went back to work./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well you'll never know unless you ask her," Blaise said. "And with the deal of her hating you. Why don't you just apologize?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco sighed, "I guess I should... I just don't know how to talk to her without one of those Gryffindors getting in the way."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well I'll help you," Blaise offered. "The others are going to hogsmeade before the tournament starts and I'm sure Potter is going with Granger and Seamus. Weasley has been avoiding him. I'll distract Ron, you get to Arya."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco nodded, "Okay... when I'm done."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""No, now," Blaise ordered. "The early bird gets the worm!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I hate you sometimes," Draco muttered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"TIME SKIP/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"True to Blaise's word, Draco found Arya alone outside. Potter and Granger were nowhere to be found and Weasley was also scarce. there were a bunch of other students but so far, no one that posed a problem./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya was sitting on a stone bench reading when Draco approached and sat down next to her./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Hey," he greeted./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya didn't reply but kept reading, purposely ignoring him./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Look Arya... I wanted to apologize," Draco said, too quiet for anyone but Arya to hear./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya snorted. "That's a new one."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""It was unfair of me to rat to my dad about Buckbeak," Draco continued. "I didn't know he meant so much to you... and I know I was a jerk in liking the idea but... I'm really sorry I hurt you."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya shrugged and continued to read, "What possessed you to apologize after almost a full year?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco swallowed his saliva and found his mouth going dry, "I know I'm rotten to some people... I'm not exactly upset about being rotten to Potter but I cannot bear seeing you upset and... I miss talking to you... and being your friend."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""We were never really friends," Arya pointed out, "For that very reason, because you make it very difficult to like you even as a friend."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco ducked his head, knowing she was right. Arya closed her book and looked at him, "But not impossible. Apology accepted."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco looked up, his face lighting up and he smiled, "Thanks AR."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The girl smiled, liking how her nickname sounded coming from him./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I was uh... wondering..." Draco continued. "If you would like to go to the ball with me?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya's smile at once disappeared but to one of disappointment, "oh I'm sorry Draco... I already have a date."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Oh... you... do?" Draco stuttered. "Oh right... I probably should have seen that coming..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco shook his head, "No it's fine... I understand...Uh...see you later."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that he got up. he really didn't want to leave for he was liking being on good terms with Arya again but his face was going red from embarrassment and rage at himself for being too late. He collided with Blaise halfway to the dungeons./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well?" Blaise asked./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""She accepted my apology," Draco replied. "We're on good terms... but she already has a date."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Oof," Blaise remarked. "Too bad. Well that's a good start mate. Baby steps."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco nodded, "baby steps."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"TIME SKIP/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When Arya came back outside later after lunch, she saw that almost all the students were outside. Harry looked really annoyed as he stormed in Draco's direction... not good!/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya held her books and backpack in her arms as she watched Harry approach Draco and begin to yell at him about something./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""hey Arya," Crabb called. "Want one?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"He held out a sticker that said: Support Cedric Diggory. Oh it was a badge supporting Diggory. She was about to nod when she saw that the badge changed to: Potter Stinks./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Feeling the fury rise in her cheeks, Arya stormed away from a puzzled Crabb. She had just approached the scene, knowing full well what it was about when she saw Professor Moody change Draco into a ferret!/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Many of the students began to laugh or gasp in shock as Professor Moody made Draco the Ferret float in the air./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Professor!" Mcgonagal cried, "is that a student!?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Actually it's a ferret," Moody replied./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Change him back at once!" MCgonagal ordered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Moody obeyed and changed Draco back... but Draco then changed back into a ferret./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Oh dear," Mcgonagal remarked. "The spell must have backfired. We need to take him to the hospital wing."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"the professor looked around till she caught sight of Arya, "Arya dear! I need your help!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya walked over and considered the white ferret who was looking up at her mournfully./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I need you to get Mr. Malfoy to the medical bay and hopefully get this spell off of him," Mcgonagal explained./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya nodded before flashing Harry a grin. Harry returned it and smiled. Arya put her books in her back, slinging it on her back and knelt down in front of the ferret./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Really?" she asked the ferret, putting her hands on her hips, "Will you ever learn when it's enough?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco gave her big brown puppy eyes and Arya rolled her eyes, "Don't give me puppy eyes because you're a ferret. You're lucky that I don't leave you here to deal with it yourself."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, she reached down and picked the ferret up and held him in one arm. As she walked towards the medical bay, she realized that she was carrying Draco... in the form of a ferret. It didn't register till Draco sat up in her arm and looked at her./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Oh stop it," she remarked sternly. "Don't think that I'm carrying you that we're good. We're just on speaking terms right now."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco tried his best to look hurt but it failed miserably. When they got to the medical bay, Madam Pomfrey was busy behind a curtain with another injured student so Arya took the other curtained off area and set the ferret on the bed./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Let's see," Arya remarked, pouring some ingredients into a cup, "This should do it."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that she held the cup low and Draco drank it, Ferret style. When he finished Arya set the cup down and considered the ferret a moment. She saw Draco try to scratch the back of his head but failed so she did it for him./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You're cute," she remarked before realizing what she had said./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The ferret almost smirked and Arya rolled her eyes, "As a ferret. You should just stay a ferret permanently. I might like you better for it."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco pretended to pout and Arya smirked before a soft mewing sound caught her attention. Turning, she saw that Tinkerbell was lying in the corner on her mat... and with her were four brand new kittens!/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Oh Tink!" the girl remarked softly, coming to kneel down beside the cat, "They're so cute!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, she gathered up the kittens and held them gently in her arms. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She was just trying to think of names when she felt a presence behind her. Turning, she saw that Draco was back to his normal, self sitting on the edge of the bed. He was only wearing his shirt, pants, shoes and sweater vest, not his long robe. His hair was slightly messed up and Arya had to admit, he was pretty good looking like that./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""So I'm cute huh?" he asked smirking./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya rolled her eyes, "As a ferret yes."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Admit it though, I'm cute as a man too."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya chuckled, "In your dreams Malfoy."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""So what are their names?" he inquired, kneeling down beside her./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I haven't decided yet," Arya replied./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well there's four of them. Why not name them after the seasons?" he inquired./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Winter, Summer, Spring and Autumn," Arya said, considering each kitten, "I like it!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco smiled, something Arya hadn't seen before and she felt her cheeks go pink, thinking how cute he looked when he smiled./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The two just looked at each other a moment before Draco reached out and slowly placed one hand on her hand, tracing her knuckles with his thumb. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Arya i..." he said softly. "I... I really like you."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled, "I like you too."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco felt his heart jump but he could tell by how she said it that she didn't understand, "No I mean i... like you... I mean really like you..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When he looked at Arya, her face had gone slightly pale, then slightly red but not from a blush but from anger. She pulled her hand away from Draco and set the kittens down./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""you should have thought of that before you ruined our friendship."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I apologized for Buckbeak," Draco pointed out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""THIS HAS NOTHNG TO DO WITH BUCKBEAK!" Arya shouted. "This has to do with how horribly you have treated everyone and everything! Harry, Hermione, Ron, Luna, the professors... everyone!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""But Arya that's not you," Draco pointed out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""ARGH!" Arya shouted, "Are you seriously that thick? What makes you think I'll ever like you back if you treat everyone else with contempt! You don't get what you want Draco if you treat only the things you care about with care and kindness! Until you learn how to treat others like you want to be treated, this... between us will never happen."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that the girl got to her feet and stormed out of the room while shouting over her head, "AND THOSE STICKERS YOU MADE ARE RIDICULOUS! IF YOU HADNT MADE THEM, YOU WOULDNT HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO A FERRET!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"As she slammed the door behind her, Draco cringed and looked at the cats to see TInkerbel glaring at him./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""What have I done?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"They were dance rehearsing again. Draco was practically in limbo for Pansy wouldn't let him go. She was basically hanging on his arm with all her might, squealing whenever he looked at her and glaring at all the girls who swooned at the sight of Draco./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"However, Draco's mind was at the other side of the dance room where Arya was dancing calmly with Seamus. Draco had grown to not mind Harry or Seamus mostly because he knew they were just protective of Arya but Ron was just downright aggravating./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Seamus spun the girl around and Arya giggled, her face brightening up when she smiled./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Draco," Pansy whined, "What is wrong with you?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Pansy wasn't the only one who noticed Draco's lack of concentration for Mcgonagal stepped over to him and summoned Blaise over./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Mr. Zabini, would you mind dancing with Miss Parkinson today?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Blaise was about to complain but he got the feeling that there was a good reason so he obliged. Draco was left alone with the professor who nudged him in the direction of Arya who had gone to sit down to have a break while Seamus danced with Ginny./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco expertly made his way through the crowd till he was approaching Arya. when he came to stand in front of her, Arya refused to look up at him./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Arya," he whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""What?" she asked in a whisper, looking up at him./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Would you like to dance?" he asked./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"They just stood there, looking at each other, neither speaking till almost every student had left. Soon, the room was absolutely empty. Draco held out his hand and Arya hesitantly took it./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"His soft, pale hand slipped around hers and Arya felt electricity shoot through their hands when warm met cold. Draco gently drew her into the center of the room, his eyes never leaving hers and slipped his arm around her waist./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya felt all the air slip out of her at the feeling of his hand around her waist. Draco slowly led her around the room. there was no music but neither seemed to notice or care. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Every few steps, Draco seemed to either draw Arya closer to him, or Arya didn't notice that his face was slowly nearing hers. She suddenly realized how much shorter she was compared to him, barely reaching his chin. His head was bowed, his eyes looking straight into hers and his eyes never wavering even when she glanced down./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""So who are you going to the ball with?" he asked in a whisper./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When he spoke in a whisper, his voice sounded so soft and gentle and Arya felt her cheeks go pink, "G...George..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""George Weasley?" Draco inquired, his voice still in a whisper but slightly louder. "Why him?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Because he asked me," Arya replied. "I didn't want to wait and decline anyone because if I kept declining, there wouldn't be anyone else I could go with... so I decided to go with him."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Who else asked you?" Draco asked, trying to not let his voice drip with jealousy./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"He knew that Fred and George were like big brothers to Arya so George had probably only asked her out of kindness and had offered to go with a friend which was basically what had happened./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""No one that I knew," Arya replied. "Which was why I turned them down..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco quietly cleared his throat, not lifting his eyes to look at her, "Would you have gone with me if George hadn't asked you first?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya lifted her beautiful eyes and looked up at the Slytherin. Honestly, she had been shocked he had asked her especially since over the course of just a day he had also admitted his feelings so she had been overwhelmed... but now that she thought about it, She wouldn't have minded./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I don't know..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and he felt his heart sink, "Can i... have a dance with you at the ball then?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya seemed to think about it before a smile appeared on her face and she released herself from Draco's strong but gentle grip, "You've got to sing for it."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco was about to object but then he saw the excited, interested look on the girl's face. She wanted to see if he could sing... well nothing bad happened from trying. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya went to the boom box and quickly turned on a new track which was a rather fast, upbeat cello song. There was a moment while the music played while Draco just tried to remember the words... then looking at Arya across the room from him... it all just came out perfectly./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"strongspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"(SONG: Smooth Criminal)(START AT 0.56 and stop it at 2.54:)) I have no rights to the song. It's from the movie GLEE)/span/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When they stopped, both were slightly out of breath and were about three inches away from each other. There was a smirk on Draco's face and Arya was smiling./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Alright. One dance," the girl promised. "How come you didn't tell me you could dance?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco shrugged, "Never thought I was any good."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled and shook her head, "we always think we're really bad at something when we're actually good at it. Never let your mind get the best of you Draco."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, she was gone, leaving a stunned and overjoyed Draco behind./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The Yule ball had arrived and Arya was freaking out. She was excited to go with George but she was so excited for all the dancing, the performance she had to with the boys and she couldn't wait to see what the great hall looked like!/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"As she stood before the mirror, dabbing a minimal amount of makeup on, Luna burst in with Cho behind her. both were already dressed, having dressed ahead of time for a reason unknown./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Come on! We need to try on your dress before we do your hair!" Luna cried, grabbing her hand./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"As the two girls dragged her back into their room, Arya stuttered. "I didn't know you two were put in charge of preparing me... I can Dress myself."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Nonsense," Both remarked, "You are going to be performing in front of everyone with your brothers! You need to look perfect! Besides, after your little showdown with Draco the other day, boys have been preparing to ask you for a dance."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya's eyebrows shot up, "Who knows about the showdown?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Almost the whole school," Cho replied. "Seamus, Ron and Harry went looking for you after practice and when they saw you still in there with Draco, they held back. Ron was seething but Seamus and Harry seemed rather surprised. they made Ron promise to not get onto you about it because he was almost prepared to lock you in your room so you wouldn't go to the ball and run into Draco."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Does he hate me that much?" Arya asked./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Oh he doesn't hate you, he hates Malfoy," Hermione said as she entered, wearing a stunning pink dress./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Mione you look gorgeous!" the three squealed./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Hermione smiled, "Thanks! Now let's make you look better!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, the girl was pulled down into a chair and Hermione busied about doing her hair. Cho got onto her makeup and Arya was glad it wasn't Luna because even though Luna never used makeup, whenever she did someone's makeup, she put too much on but Cho put just the right amount and she knew how to make it match your outfit and your eyes./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Luna got about bringing out Arya's dress which was a rich dark blue./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""So how did the whole school find out about the dance with Draco?" Arya inquired./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well Ron couldn't keep his voice down in class today. Luckily, it was just us Gryffindors and the Hufflepuffs," Hermione replied. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Yeah and then word spread after that," Luna added. "Don't know if Draco knows that everyone knows."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well considering that I didn't know yet, chances are he doesn't," Arya remarked, feeling her cheeks go red. "Oh this is so embarrassing!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""No it's not!" the three girls cried./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Arya, you were absolutely spectacular during that dance war!" Cho remarked. "Harry and Seamus said they never saw anything like it and they had to admit, Draco was rather talented too and they even said you two sound perfect together! Ron was ticked when he heard them say that but he admitted that it was really cool. Now, all the boys within reasonable age are dying to dance with you!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""But I have to sing!" Arya groaned. "And now everyone has their hopes high."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""And well they should!" Ginny said as she stepped in, wearing a lovely green dress that brought out her red hair. "Arya, if you were able to sing that well at the last minute with Malfoy, you will do amazing tonight!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya shook her head, "but I'll be in front of the whole school and the guests!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You sang in front of Malfoy." Ginny pointed out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"At once Arya went quiet and the four girls stopped their prepping to look at her. her cheeks had gone slightly red./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""But... I don't know... I was really nervous when we started singing but then... Draco...I don't..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The four girls knew why she was stammering. she knew that Draco was practically their enemy but Ginny jumped at the opportunity. Kneeling in front of her, she took Arya's hands./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Ar. Listen to me. Malfoy may not be our best friend, but if he makes you happy, we're happy. He might be a brute and all, but not everyone is bad clear through unless their you know who. Listen. None of us thought the day would come when Draco showed a good, kind side but he did the moment he met you. The more he gets to know you, the more his good side comes out and that's not only a welcome to us, but it shows that everyone is good deep down."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Right," Hermione added. "Don't feel guilty or embarrassed if you have feelings for Draco or if he makes you feel comfortable when you're performing. If that's the case, just think of him while you're performing."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya lifted her eyes and looked at Hermione and Ginny. She could talk to Luna and Cho about Draco occasionally because he knew they didn't have experience with him bullying but Ginny and Hermione were veterans of Draco's past bullying./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You sure?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"the two girls smiled and nodded. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Now let's get you dressed!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When Arya emerged from the bathroom with Hermione who had gone in to help her zip up, the others gasped./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Her dress was floor length and got darker as it went up, turning black near the top with some silver. It had one strap sleeve, showing her fair skin that set off the blue perfectly. Her red hair matched the outfit perfectly and looked deep auburn. Her heels of course were hidden but kept her skirts off the ground. The pendent around her neck matched her dress (ignore the ring) and the earrings brought out the color of her eyes. Cho had done perfectly with her makeup and Hermione's hairdo for her was similar to her own put was perfect./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You look perfect!" Luna squealed, rushing over to hug her./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""How do you dance in that?" Cho asked. "Didn't you say the dance with your brothers is kind of fast beat?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled, "Silly, I'm going to chance into my fast dancing dress halfway through. The performance isn't till the end."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Ginny walked over and drew the girl into a hug, "You're so beautiful Arya."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Hermione went down the stairs first, knowing that Arya and Ginny felt nervous. Cho and Luna had met their dates in the hallways and had gone ahead. The two girls watched Hermione head down the stairs and join Victor Krum./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""THAT"S HER DATE?" Arya hissed./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Ginny seemed just as shocked when she noticed Neville so she descended. Arya smiled as she watched her friend join her date. She looked to see that Harry had watched her come down the stairs and she smiled to herself. 'You better notice her Harry,' she thought./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Just then, Arya saw George and at once relaxed. He's a friend! They're going as friends. When had asked her, he had told her that the main reason was because he didn't really know any other girl so they had agreed to go as friends just like Neville and Ginny. Getting all her courage, Arya stepped out and descended the stairs./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She saw Harry look up at her and smile warmly. Padma smiled at her from where she stood with Harry. What Arya didn't see was a particular Slytherin who had been listening bored to Pansy squealing at him. However, the moment he caught sight of her red hair, his eyes lifted and he felt his heart stop. She was gorgeous. The blue dress not only brought out everything about her... her eyes and her hair... but also how perfect she was. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"He didn't realize he was staring until his vision of the girl was blocked by the tall figure of George who stepped over to give the girl a hug. Then, Draco was pulled back by Pansy who dragged him into the hall./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You look lovely Ar," George said, smiling fondly at the girl. "are you sure you aren't one of my sisters? Maybe you were lost at birth?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya chuckled, "You look nice too George. And thank you."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"George held out his arm and taking it, Arya let him lead her onto the dance floor. Before Arya knew it, George had taken her through the first five dances before Seamus came over and danced with her, then Harry, even Ron! Blaise also asked and Arya had the feeling that Draco had put him up to it./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You look very nice Gerasimov," the boy remarked, smiling Kindly at her. "I can see why Draco is practically drooling with his mouth closed. It's a miracle he hasn't swooned yet!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya chuckled, "You make him sound like a girl."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Blaise laughed, "He is when he's around you... or around you and doesnt have your attention."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya snored and Blaise spun her around, "So you're excited for the dance?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya nodded, "Kinda nervous though."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Why?" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Because there's the first dance and song that I'm doing with my brothers... then there's a dance I'm doing with Austen... and then I'm going to be singing by myself.'/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Blaise's eyes widened, "Really? Whatcha singing?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled, "That's a secret wise guy."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Blaise smiled and before he could ask further, the song ended and he led her back to George. The two took a break and Arya was glad no one asked her to do the waltz for she really sucked at waltzing./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""So are you going to dance with Malfoy?" George asked, no sign of annoyance or anger in his voice./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""If he asks I'll have to," Arya replied. "I promised."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Dont worry about it little sister," Fred said, walking over with Angelina. "It'll be fine.'/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Little sister?"Angelina asked. "I thought Ginny was your sister."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Oh Arya is like a little sister to us," both boys said, wrapping an arm each around the girl./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Why is it that everyone supports me hanging out with Draco even though he is hateful to you?" Arya asked./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"George smiled, "Because you bring out the good in him. No one has been able to do that before so we're willing to put bad things behind us if it means Draco changing for the better... besides, you know when he's being a good person and when he's not. And he seems to make you happy."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya sighed and shook her head, "What am I going to do?There are no more dances..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""it's a shame," Fred admitted. "I wanted to see how good Malfoy could dance. Shouldn't you go change for the performance?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, Arya was off. She quickly changed into her new outfit which was a pretty cocktail dress that was a silvery blue that really matched her red hair. With low heels that had soft fuzz on the bottom so they wouldn't click on the stage. She put her hair down but with Ginny's help (Who was summoned by Austen to calm Arya's nerves), she did something to her bangs and it looked adorable./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Finally, Dumbledore distracted everyone to the other side of the room while Arya and the boys got on stage. Aiden and Axel stood to Arya's left, Austen and Asher to her right. Her silvery blue dress really brought out her hair color and the fact that the boys all wore black, she looked like a white bird in a herd of black birds. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She nodded to Filch who had asked her about lighting and with some help from Professor Mcgonagal and little help from magic, they had figured out the right lighting for the whole song. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Now, for a special treat. We will have three songs/dances performed by the Gerasimov family. Aiden and Asher are part of house Gryffindor, Axel is in Slytherin, Austen is in Hufflepuff and Arya is in Ravenclaw." Dumbledore announced./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya felt herself get nervous. Standing up there with everyone's backs to them was fine but soon they would turn to look at them! Just breathe... breathe.../span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She smiled when she saw each house cheer at the mention of their houses. Then.../span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Allow me to give to you. The Gerasimov family!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"At once, the lights went of everywhere but the stage and all eyes turned to look at the four black figures and the single silver figure on the stage... all voices hushed as Arya's voice came out gentle and soft./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"strongspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"(Song: Glad you came)(I know that this song was done by all boys, but imagine the lead boy (Grant Gustin) is Arya.. I know that's weird but hang in there with me:)) (PS. this is from the film Glee. I have no claim on it:))(Start it at 0:13 and stop it at 2:44)/span/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" Arya felt her whole body relax and she took a deep breath. Then, her eyes scanned the crowd and they fell on a particular Slytherin who was probably cheering the loudest, a huge grin on his handsome face and his gray eyes were sparkling. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya took a deep breath. Everything was going to be fine. They had finished Glad You Came and there had been a few minutes while Aiden kept everyone's attention while talking about how he and his brothers and sister began singing. During that time, Austen and the others went backstage and Axel and Asher quietly stole Arya and led her to the other side of the room, behind everyone./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""remember the plan?" Axel whispered, "When your part starts, you reveal yourself from behind the two of us and walk to Austen."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled and hugged her brother. Over the past two year Axel had become nicer and closer to his sister. This was mostly because Axel knew of her secret crush on Draco and the fact that Draco liked her back./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Axel and Asher stood tall while Arya stood behind them./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Then... Austen started./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When Arya' began singing, all eyes turned to her and several people gasped when she appeared from behind Asher and Axel. As she walked towards Austen, everyone made a path for her and she recognized several faces: Ginny, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Cho... Draco. She tried not to look at him for she didn't want to blush or forget her part but she did anyway and her voice only seemed to get stronger and prettier when she did./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"(Song: Everyday from High School Musical 2)(the part where all the kids get on the stage is when Axel and Asher come up:))/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"There was a loud erupt of applause and Arya felt Aiden scoop her up and swing her around, earning a squeal from her./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Ready for your solo?" he whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya's eyes widened and he chuckled, "you've got this. Knock those people on their faces."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Without warning, the four boys left the stage and Arya was left there... alone. Taking a deep breath, she slightly jumped when a single light shone on her. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"For a second, as she looked at the vast crowd of faces... she almost forgot what she was going to sing... then she saw her friends all smiling at her, she saw her brothers giving her grins... and she saw Draco, his whole heart in his eyes. They were all her friends and family... she got this./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Like a soft haunting wind, Arya began to sing and everyone was sure they heard all the boys' jaws drop at her voice./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"(Song: Stand by You by Rachel Platten)/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When she finished, Arya hadn't realized she had put her own soft, gentle but meaningful dance to it. She was breathing to catch her breath and she felt so alive as the whole place erupted in cheers, whistles and clapping. She found herself smiling before she bowed and walked off the stage./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The moment she stepped off she was swept into a hug by her brothers before passed on to George and Fred who practically broke her already broken bones that her brothers had broken when they hugged her. Harry and Ron were gentler but then the girls rebroke her ribs./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You were amazing!" Hermione squealed./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Where did you learn to sing like that?" Cho insisted./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya just smiled when suddenly Harry grabbed her elbow and pulled her to the side while the others congratulated and complimented her brothers./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I have a message for you from Draco," harry whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya's eyes widened, "Draco Malfoy gave Harry Potter a message? What is this world coming to?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry smiled, "He's actually not that bad. I noticed him getting really ticked off with Pansy so I asked Blaise to distract her while I talked with Malfoy. I noticed you never got the chance to dance with him so I told him to meet you in the astronomy tower at 9."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""That's after curfew," Arya pointed out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry nodded. "He really wants to see you Ar... just give him a chance."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Why are you telling me this?" Arya asked. "I mean, you two are the worst of enemies."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well actually Voldemort is my worst enemy. But besides that, he seems to make you happy and he seems happy with you... and a whole different person. I will do anything to see you happy and if he makes you happy, I will let him and I will help him."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled and hugged the boy before kissing his cheek, "You're such a sentimental guy Harry. Thank you."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry grinned at her and mock shooed her, "Go on!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya hurried off and Harry distracted Ron who seemed to notice Arya's absence. Arya ran as fast as her heels would allow her till she reached the astronomy tower... it was empty./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"For a second she thought she had heard harry's instructions wrong but he had told her go come... what if Draco forgot... or didn't want to come... or if he just said that to get away from Harry?/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She was starting to think he wasn't coming when she heard footsteps and turned to see the boy standing there. His hair was slightly ruffled out of perfect and when his eyes fell on her sitting on the sill of the tower, his face lit up and he smiled./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""You will never believe how startled I was when I heard that you actually communicated with Harry! What is this world coming to?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco smiled as she stood up and walked towards him. "I guess the only reason I bullied Harry was because I was jealous... jealous of all his friends... how easy it was for him to make friends."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled and brushed a piece of fuzz off Draco's coat, "Well, maybe you should have turned the clocks and just asked Harry to be your friend instead of warning him about other people. There's still time. I think you actually fixed something with Harry tonight."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco nodded, "I think I might try that."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The girl smiled, "So... want to dance?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"A huge grin appeared on Draco's face and without even saying anything, he wrapped both arms around her waist and pulled her two him. Arya slipped her arms around his neck and he began to lead her in a slow dance around the room. Neither said a word... they just danced together, Draco staring deep down into her eyes while Arya kept her eyes at the collar of his shirt, trying to not blush as she felt his steady gaze./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"After what seemed like forever of dancing, Draco removed one arm from her waist and reaching up, tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Arya lifted her eyes at this gesture and found that they were closer than she thought. In the moonlight, Draco's eyes looked silver... and the moon reflected in them. His pale face was slightly shadowed but she could see the soft smile on his handsome face. he looked so calm... comfortable... relaxed without the sneer or smirk he sometimes pulled./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"What Arya didn't know was that Draco's heart was beating faster than a horse's hooves. She looked practically angelic with the moon shining on her heart shaped face. He knew that if he didn't do it now when they were alone, no one to bother and Harry acting as their coverup (Draco never thought he would be so indebted to Harry as he was now), he had to./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco slowly moved his face closer to Arya's and cupping the back of her head with his hand, he gently drew her lips to his. He felt his head spin when her plush, soft lips touched his cold thin ones. He had never felt anything so perfect and if he didn't have so much restraint, he would have caught her up and kissed her hard./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya tangled her fingers in his hair, gripping to him. She felt fireworks go off in her head and she was loving it. Even though Draco's lips were cold... then were so soft and gentle and the way he held her like he was afraid she would break... it made her heart soften. This was the Draco she loved... the one who had taken her heart in first year./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When they finally parted for air, they stared into each other's eyes and both were smiling. Draco drew her head against his chest and Arya heard for the first time, how incredibly fast his heart was drumming. She smiled and looped her arms tighter around his neck and buried her face in the crook of his neck, smiling as she felt him nuzzle his nose in her hair and stroke her hair with his hand./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"They walked together back down but had to separate to go to their dorms. They said goodnight softly in the shadows and Arya hurried off, Draco watching her with the biggest smile on his face he had ever had. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"On his way to the dungeons, he ran into Potter who had gone out to check to make sure they had returned to their dorms./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Thanks... for doing that Potter," Draco said./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry smiled and extended his hand, "Glad I could help. Just want to warn you. Dont hurt her, or you'll have a whole bunch of mad Gerasimov brothers bearing down on you."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco found himself smiling and shook Harry's hand, "I'll remember."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry nodded and they parted ways. That was the first time they had ever parted on good terms and it felt good./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When he reached the dungeons, Theo and Blaise were up and were smirking./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Sooooooo?" Theo asked./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""How did you know?" Draco insisted in a whisper yell./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Potter told us," Blaise replied. "It got kinda suspicious when Arya and you both disappeared. Well?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco just grinned and both boys whisper cheered. Blaise pumped his arm in the air triumphantly and Theo did something weird with his hands. Draco had to laugh at his friends' reactions but honestly, he was glad they were happy for him and he couldn't be happier./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The Tournament's final challenge was coming up and Arya was excited but also worried. She was worried for Harry and she kept asking him if he was sure about it all./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Hermione and Ron seemed just as concerned and would barely let the boy go when it was time for him to join the other competitors in the ring. Arya soon found a seat with Ron, Hermione, Luna and Cho near the front. Harry and Cedric were the first into the maze and after they were gone, everyone quieted down, waiting to see what would happen./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""They probably wont be back for a while," Cho remarked. "I'm gonna go get some cocoa. Anyone else want some?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya nodded, "I'll have some."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Cho nodded and she and Luna headed off to get some cocoa. Arya glanced across the way at the Slytherin's and she spied Draco with Blaise and Theo. His gray eyes met hers and he smirked, giving her a meaningful look and she nodded./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I'm gonna go say hi to Padma," Arya remarked, giving Hermione a meaningful look./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When Ron made a move to join her, Hermione pulled him back down and let Arya go alone. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When Arya finally got down to the lower steps where there was barely a soul, she felt two arms wrap around her from behind and she let out a sharp squeal but stopped when she saw that it was Draco./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Dont scare me like that," she whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco smirked and kissed her neck, hugging her close against his chest, "Sorry."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""What do you think will happen in there?" the girl inquired./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco turned the girl around and shrugged, "No idea. Hopefully no one will get hurt."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled and played with Draco's tie, "So, Draco Malfoy does have a concerning heart."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The boy smirked and fingered one of Arya's long red curls, "Dont tell anyone that. It would ruin my reputation."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The girl chuckled and teasingly pulled away when Draco went to kiss her, "You know, one of these days you need to show everyone your real side, not just me."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco just smiled and realizing that the girl was purposely moving away from him to tease him, he reached over and gripped her waist, pulling her flush against him. HE smirked when the girl let out a startled gasp as he ran his fingers through her bright red hair./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""One day, but let's just be the two of us today," he whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled in response and didn't move away as Draco bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. Arya slipped her arms around his neck and tangled her fingers in his hair. Draco smiled into the kiss, causing Arya to laugh softly./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The two were brought out of their moment by the sound of a horn that signaled the end of the tournament./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""We should head back," Draco remarked. "Dont want to miss the victor's return."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya nodded and grabbing Draco's hand, she pulled him after her back up to their seats. Just when they two came out into the room, they stopped in shock. Girls were screaming in horror, boys were going pale from shock and all the professors were rushing to the center of the ring... Arya could clearly make out Cedric lying on the ground with Harry shaking him as if trying to wake him up./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Mione!" Arya yelled, rushing to the girl, "What happened?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Cedric was killed!" Mione replied. "You know who is back!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"TIME SKIP/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""ARYA!" Cho screamed./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya spun around from where she and Luna had been heading back to their dorms. The professors had ordered the students back to their dorms while they figured out what to do./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Cho," Arya cried, rushing to hug the girl, "Are you alright?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I'm fine," Cho sobbed. "But Cedric..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya nodded and hugged the hysterical girl to her chest, "It's okay, I'm here."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Just then, Snape appeared down the hallway, leading Harry who looked a fright./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Miss Gerasimov," Snape remarked. "Please take Mr. Potter to the medical bay and see that he is taken care of. Miss Chang and Miss Lovegood, please head to your dorms."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The two girls nodded and headed off while Arya slipped an arm underneath Harry's. The boy was incredibly weak and on the verge of passing out from blood loss. Just when Arya thought she couldn't help him anymore, Draco appeared down the hallway. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Draco!" Arya cried, "Can you help me?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco's eyes widened at the bleeding boy that Arya was supporting. The blood from Harry's arm was all over Arya's sweater and she looked exhausted. Draco rushed over and was just about to take Harry's other arm to help her when something caught this eye./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya turned to look behind them at what Draco had seen and saw Crabb, Goyle and Pansy standing at the end of the hallway, arms crossed and watching Draco. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya looked over at Draco who looked like he was have a war with himself. Would he join his friends and leave Arya to help Harry by herself... or would he ignore the taunts from his friends and help Arya? /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco's grey eyes met Arya's and for a split second she thought he would help her... but then he shook his head and headed towards his friends./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Slytherin filth," Arya spat, just loud enough for Draco to hear./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"What she didn't see as Draco followed his friends was that the tall Slytherin's face was twisted into remorse and pain, tears streaming down his face. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Come on," Arya panted to Harry, ignoring the exhaustion in her legs, "We're almost there."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Finally they reached the medical bay and she laid Harry down on a bed. Ignoring her exhausted limbs, she set about cleaning his arm and bandaging it. She removed his blood stained sweater, leaving him just in his shirt and pants, his shirt sleeve rolled up as she bandaged his cleaned wound./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Arya," Harry whispered, "Draco didn't want to do that."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""But he did it," Arya remarked, her eyebrows down in anger. "He had a decision and he chose against me. So what? I always saw it coming. He was always a Slytherin and always will be."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""But Blaise and Theo are slytherins," Harry pointed out. "And they're not so bad."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""They're different," Arya huffed, "I have no idea how they turned out to be so nice when they are best friends with Draco."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry smiled, "Because they learnt how to be nice and to care from Draco."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya stopped her bandaging and lifted her face to look at Harry. Her eyes were glossy with tears and her face pale./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Draco is really a nice person deep down," Harry said. "Even though it may be impossible to see it, he really cares about you. The thing is, he has grown up always thinking he has to live up to the expectations of his parents and his popular friends. It will take a while before he realizes that he doesn't have to live up to any expectations to earn your love."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya shook her head and finished bandaging Harry, "I don't think I'm ready to trust Draco with my love yet."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""But you love him all the same," Harry pointed out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya stopped and nodded, her back to Harry. The boy reached out and took her hand, drawing her to sit down next to him. Harry's kind green eyes smiled at her./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""He'll earn your trust again, I'm sure... just never forget what you feel around him."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The hogwarts express was leaving Hogwarts and everyone was bidding farewell. Arya was saying goodbye to all her friends for she was going to go home for the summer./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Hermione walked over and gave the girl a warm hug, "See you soon," she whispered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya hugged the girl back before turning to Ron. She grinned and hugged the boy who blushed bright red at the gesture. She then walked over to Fred and George who enveloped her in a bone breaking hug. When she managed to breathe again, she turned to Luna and Cho who both gave her gentle hugs./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Please write," Arya told Cho who nodded, smiling sadly./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Finally, she turned to Harry who hugged her gently and whispered in her ear, "Remember."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya nodded as she smiled and pulled away from Harry, giving Ginny a quick hug before heading down the platform to where her brothers were waiting. Her brothers were saying goodbye to their own friends so Arya hung back, deciding to give them some privacy./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see the very person she was hoping to not run into: Malfoy./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Going to leave without saying goodbye?" Draco asked, grinning./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When Arya didn't smile back and just looked down, Draco's smile faded, "Look Arya... I'm sorry about the other day I just..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""No Draco I get it," Arya remarked. "You think that you cannot be friends with everyone because you are afraid to hurt other people. The thing is, if your friends don't want you to be friends with other people, then they really don't care about you. I love it that you have friends in Crabb, Goyle and Pansy even though they hate me. I love it that you're friends with Theo and Blaise because they're awesome. But Draco, when people don't want you to be friends with other people besides them then they really don't care about your happiness. I want to see you happy and I want you to be friends with other people because I know it makes you happy and I'm happy when you're happy."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco was about to smile but Arya took a step back and shook her head, "I'm afraid that we can only be friends Draco."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"At once, the boy's already pale face went ashen white, "What... why?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Because," Arya replied. "I trust you Draco. I trust you when you tell me that you have feelings for me. I trust you when you say that you'll do something...but I'm a distraction for you. You are still searching for who you are and who you want to be. I don't want to be a distraction for you during this busy time. Until you find out who you want to be, I think it's best we just remain friends."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""And when I do find out who I want to be?" Draco asked./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya smiled and shook her head, "I don't know what will happen after that Draco. If you decide to be the person who allows others to dictate what he does and doesn't do, who he knows and doesn't know... then I don't know if I can be more to you... but if you decide to be the Draco I know is in there, the Draco that cares about everyone... the Draco that I know deep down you want to be, then there might be a chance for the two of us."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco just stood there, trying to not cry and trying to fight the urge to draw the girl in for a hug. Arya seemed to sense his conflict so she walked over and gently wrapping one hand around his neck, she pulled his head down to her level and kissed him gently on the lips./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"When she released him, Draco wanted dearly to hug her close but Arya took a step back and smiled sadly at him, "Goodbye Draco."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, the girl turned and headed over to her brothers who were getting onto the train. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The next year was one that Draco would not easily forget for it was probably the hardest of all the years. When Arya returned to school after the summer, she spent much more time with Luna and Cho than before. Of course, she couldnt hang out with Harry, Ron and Hermione as much because they always seemed to be in their own world. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Of course, when the DA was formed, Arya was a part of it alongside her brothers. When Umbridge found out about it and spoiled one of the DA meetings, Arya didnt seem the least bit surprised when Draco was there./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"During the whole interrogation, Arya, who was being held by Pansy none too gently, she refused to look at him. When they escaped Umbridge's cronies after Hermione and Harry left with Umbridge, Arya only looked back once at Draco who was stunned against the wall. She shook her head sadly and hurried off after Cho and Luna./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The next year, Arya didnt return to school. All the students began to inquire about her of her brothers who did return and all her brothers replied, saying that Arya had been instructed to remain home by Dumbledore, not only for her safety as the last faerie, but also because of another reason that no one was alerted to. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry began to worry about Arya especially when she didnt reply to any of his friends' letters. He also began to worry about Draco who was taking a turn for the worse and seemed more than lost with Arya gone. He had been lost the year before after their breakup, but with her not even at school, it was like Draco was losing all reason to live./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Finally, he decided it was time he wrote Arya himself and told her everything that was happening. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Dear Arya,/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"I know I wrote not long ago but I thought I should write again and bring justice to my past letters. We haven't told you because we weren't sure you would want to know. I don't know if you really want to hear anything about Malfoy but you need to hear this. Not for your own sake but for his because I'm worried about him. I never thought the day would come when I was worried about Malfoy but I am really worried. When you didnt return to school, I literally thought he was going to lose it. Something worse happened... I'm afraid the Dark Lord has taken him and not of his own free will. I am afraid that Malfoy is a Death Eater but from what I have seen of Draco's behavior 24/7 and the few times I have followed him... he didnt choose this and it was possibly forced upon him. He never eats anymore and looks ready to pass out during classes. He disappears for hours on end to the Room of Requirement, obviously doing some sort of assignment he was given but he always comes back crying. /span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"I have spoke to Blaise and Theo about it and they're just as worried as I am. Malfoy never sleeps in his room anymore but sleeps on the couch and he actually never gets any rest. Blaise says he stays up past midnight writing letters but he never finishes them. Theo promised to get a hold of some of the letters and find out what is troubling Malfoy. He is going to owl you soon with the results. /span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Besides that, Arya, we're all worried about you. None of the professors will tell us why you aren't returning to school and your brothers have been sworn to secrecy apparently because all they're saying is that its for your own safety. Arya, what is going on? What is happening? Please write back. We're all worried about you because you never reply. Please Arya./span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Sincerely, Harry P/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Just then, another owl flew through the door and dropped a small envelope on her lap. Tearing it open, she saw that it was from Theo./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Hello Arya,/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"I was able to sneak these snippets out of Draco's letters and I thought you might want to read them. Sincerely, Theo/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya looked down at the three sheets of paper and realized that they had been written by Draco for she recognized his sprawled but neat handwriting./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Dear Arya,/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"I know that it is too soon to ask for your forgiveness but please believe me when I say that I regretted all the horrible things I have done to you. You deserve better than me and I know I'm the last person who deserves you but I cannot help it.../span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Dear Arya, /span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"I don't know how to tell you this but my father forced me to become a death eater. I now have an assignment from the dark lord and if I don't do it, he'll kill my parents. I might not love my father the way I love my mother but he is my father. I don't want to see him hurt but I also know that I cannot do what the dark lord has asked of me. If I don't see you again, I just want you to know that I love you and I always have and I hope that you find it somewhere in your heart to forgive me even though I don't deserve it.../span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Dear Arya,/span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"emspan style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"I cannot seem to find the right words to say without sounding like a perfect jerk. You probably already know from Potter that I am a death eater and I have an assignment from the dark lord. I'm scared Arya and I hate to admit it but I am horribly afraid. The only thing that helps me sleep at night is knowing that somewhere else you are safe and happier than you were when you were with me.../span/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya felt herself choking on her own tears. Draco had written numerous letters to her but never finished them and from the look of it, he had rolled them up into balls and probably threw them into the waste basket./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Arya!" Mrs. Gerasimov called from downstairs, "Do you want some orange juice?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya looked up from where she was sitting in the living room. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Sure mom..."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"She was just about to finish her reply when there was a loud bang and Arya felt her mind whiz. She felt a particular presence and she glared. Reaching into her pocket she drew out her wand and got up from the couch./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Mom! Get the kids into the bomb shelter!" she yelled./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Mrs. Gerasimov obeyed immediately, shuffling Arya's little brothers down the stairs into the protected basement. Arya gripped her wand tightly in one hand and approached the front door./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Just as she was about to open the door, her mother returned alone and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Arya... please don't."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya shook her head, "I have no choice mom. I thought that hiding here would protect everyone at Hogwarts but he just keeps finding me. I'll endanger more people the longer I try to hide. I have to let him take me."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Mrs. Gerasimov was about to object but Arya hugged her and quickly cast a charm that froze her mother to that spot at least long enough for Arya to keep her safe./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Tell everyone I'm sorry. Please tell dad and the boys when they get back that I'm sorry."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, she opened the door and closed it behind her. Arya looked up into the evil eyes of Bellatrix who smirked at her./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Tired of running Gerasimov?" she taunted./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya shrugged as she spied the figures of several more death eaters approach the house. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""The Dark Lord will be pleased to see you," a man said, stepping forward./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya felt her heart stop and she glared at the tall man: Lucius Malfoy. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""It's pathetic the way my son developed an attachment to you," the man remarked. "You're just a weak, good for nothing witch who doesn't know the first thing about right or wrong."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Arya rolled her eyes, "Says the man who practically beat his son to become a death eater against his will and since his very early childhood, has pressed him to live up to expectations that will only result in his son's unhappiness."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The girl didnt even blink when Lucius brought the back of his hand across her cheek, cutting the skin of her cheekbone and leaving a bleeding scratch./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Take her," Lucius ordered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Bellatrix smirked and quickly cast a spell on the girl, knocking her out cold. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"raco was worried. Ballatrix had just brought Harry before him for verification. Draco remembered all the times that Arya had asked him to be nice to Harry... all the times that Harry helped Draco when it came to getting close to Arya. How he wished he knew where Arya was and if she was alright./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Well?" his aunt insisted./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I cannot be sure," Draco replied, looking away from harry who looked ready to pass out./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Listen," his father hissed. "If we were the ones to hand Potter over to the dark Lord, everything will be forgiven. Everything will be as it was. do you understand?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Another death eater stood up, "now we wont be forgetting who actually caught him I hope mr. Malfoy."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Lucius glared, "You dare to talk to me like that in my own house!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Lucius," Draco's mother warned, trying to keep her husband calm. She pulled her husband away from Draco who approached his aunt and Harry./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Dont be shy sweetie," Ballatrix cooed, "Now, if this isnt who I think it is Draco, he'll kill us all. we need to be absolutely sure."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""There's something wrong with his face," Draco remarked./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry lifted his head and mouthed something to Draco to the point where he didnt hear what his aunt had just said. Draco tried to decipher what Harry was mouthing and then it dawned on him: Arya is in trouble./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco was completely distracted till he realized that Harry and Ron were ushered down to the dungeons while Bellatrix interrogated Hermione. Draco slumped in a nearby chair, his mind spinning. Arya... where was she? Was she alright?/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Suddenly, Harry and Ron reappeared, Harry back to his normal self. Draco saw his aunt go and grab Hermione, putting a blade to her neck. She ordered Draco to go and get their wands. He obeyed but just as his father was about to summon the dark lord, there was a loud creaking above them and Dobby sent the chandelier falling down on top of his aunt. Bellatrix released Hermione while backing up./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"While his aunt began to yell at Dobby in a fury, Draco saw his father leave to who knows where. Just when Draco was sure that Harry, Ron and Hermione might escape, there was a loud shout./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Drop your wands or she dies!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"All eyes turned and Draco felt his heart stop. His father had returned and had Arya in his arms, one arm wrapping around the girl's chest, squeezing the air out of her. Arya's head was lulled to the side in an unconscious state and there was a horrible gash on her head, a scratch on her cheek and her left sleeve was torn where a long gash was, still dripping blood. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Arya!" Hermione, Ron, Luna and Harry all cried at the same time./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco's eyes widened and he felt his stomach drop to his feet... how had he been so blind? how had he not known the girl he loved was in his own house, as a prisoner?/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Drop your wands," Lucius ordered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Harry, Ron and Hermione obeyed. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Draco," Lucius said next, "It's time for you to choose./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Lucius!" Narcissa snapped. "Dont even think about it!"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Lucius shook his head, "He has to if he wants to be looked upon with pride."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco had no idea what his father was talking about but his questions were soon answered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Kill the girl," Lucius ordered./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco's whole world came tumbling down. He had to kill the girl he loved! The best thing that had ever happened to him! He hadn't seen the girl in almost two years and his love for her had never wained, if anything it had gotten stronger./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"The boy slowly approached his father and Arya. He looked down at the girl who was still unconscious before him. He slowly reached for his wand. There were a million things he could do... he could heal her without his father knowing... he could wake her up... but none of them would save her from his father's wrath./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco looked over at his mother who looked like she was ready to cry./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Draco you don't have to do this dear," she said softly./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Shut up," Lucius snapped./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Draco," Narcissa whispered, "The dark lord wont have to know if you don't."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Why shouldn't he do it?" Bellatrix insisted./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Because he loves her," Narcissa replied. "can't you see that? Are you two seriously that blind?"/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Bellatrix scoffed, "he would have found someone of his own to love if he knew better."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Draco still had his grey eyes on Arya's unmoving body. He remembered all of it... the first time he saw her... the first time he realized he loved her... when he helped her carry her books to class...when they first kissed... when she told him that she couldn't love him until he found out who he wanted to be. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"He loved Arya and that's all he needed to know. He wasn't going to choose a path that would end in his unhappiness and her probable dead. He couldn't do that to her. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""I can't," Draco whispered, "I can't kill her."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"He heard a relieved sigh behind him and knew it had probably come from Hermione or Luna./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Fine," Lucius hissed, "Then I will."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Just when Draco prepared himself to block his father's death blow on Arya, something sounded behind him and he turned around to see none other than the Gerasimov brothers: Aiden, Austen, Asher, Axel and Aaron./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"Axel and Aaron soon got Bellatrix and Narcissa disarmed and Asher blocked the blow that Lucius had been about to lay on his sister. Aiden rushed forward and caught his unconscious sister while Austen laid a hard punch on Lucius, knocking him down./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;""Harry! Ron! Now!" Aiden yelled, picking his sister up bridal style./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"They were just about to disappear when Austen turned and looked at Draco, smiling, "We'll take care of her."/span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"With that, they were all gone...and Draco breathed a sigh of relief. /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"His brothers immediately returned Arya home where she was quickly healed by her own means within three days./span/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.6pt;"span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; color: #222222;"By then, her brothers had left to help defend Hogwarts which had been taken over by Snape. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
