It was Quirrell.

"You!" the twins gasped.

Quirrell smiled. His face wasn't twitching at all.

"Me," he said calmly. "I wondered whether I'd be meeting you here, Potter's."

"But I thought – Snape –" muttered Harry.

"Severus?" Quirrell laughed, and it wasn't his usual quivering treble, either, but cold and sharp. "yes, Severus does seem the type, doesn't he? Such a pity only one of you could be fooled," said Quirrell, looking directly at Selena, who was scowling. "should've believed your sister Potter, she had it right the whole time. So useful to have Snape swooping around like an overgrown bat, though. Next to him, who would suspect p-p-poor, st-stuttering P-Professor Quirrell?"

Harry couldn't take it in. This couldn't be true, it couldn't.

Selena couldn't either, but she was fuming in mixed anger and disbelief. "I knew it wasn't Snape, but…you!"

"Snape tried to kill me!" Harry shouted.

"No, no, no. I tried to kill you. Your friend Miss Granger accidentally knocked me over as she rushed to set fire to Snape at that Quidditch match. She broke my eye contact with you. Another few seconds and I'd have got you off that broom, though I couldn't quite place where all the extra force was coming from, even when Snape was muttering a counter curse, trying to save you, though it seemed to be stopping you from falling."

Selena felt her face grow hot, trying to hide her guilt. Thankfully, Quirrell didn't notice.

"Snape was trying to save me?"

"Of course," said Quirrell coolly. "Why do you think he wanted to referee your next match against Hufflepuff? He was trying to make sure I didn't do it again. Funny, really…he needn't have bothered. I couldn't do anything with Dumbledore watching. All the other teachers thought Snape was trying to stop Gryffindor from winning, he did make himself unpopular…and what a waste of time, when after all that, I'm going to kill you both tonight."

Quirrell snapped his fingers. Ropes sprang out of thin air and wrapped themselves tightly around Harry and Selena.

"You're too nosy to live, Potter's. Scurrying around the school on Halloween like that, for all I knew you'd seen me coming to look at what was guarding the Stone."

"It was you," Selena said, "you let that troll in?"

"Certainly. I have a special gift with trolls – you must have seen what I did to the one in the chamber back there? Unfortunately, while everyone else was running around looking for it, Snape, who already suspected me, went straight to the third floor to head me off – and only did my troll fail to beat you two to death, that three-headed hound of Hagrid's didn't even manage to bite Snape's leg off properly.

"Now, wait quietly, Potter's. I need to examine this interesting mirror."

It was only then that Harry and Selena realized what was standing behind Quirrell. It was the Mirror of Erised.

"This mirror is the key to finding the Stone," Quirrell murmured, tapping his way around the frame. "Trust Dumbledore to come up with something like this…but he's in London…I'll be far away by the time be gets back…"

All Harry and Selena could think of doing was to keep Quirrell talking and stop him from concentrating on the mirror.

"I saw you and Snape in the forest –" Harry blurted out.

"Yes," said Quirrell idly, walking around the mirror to look at the back. "He was on to by that time, trying to find out how far I'd get. He suspected me all along. Tried to frighten me – as though he could, when I had Lord Voldemort on my side…"

Selena paled. "V-Voldemort?"

Quirrell came back out from behind the mirror and stared hungrily into it.

"I see the Stone…I'm presenting it to my master…but where is it?'

The twins struggled against the ropes binding them, but they didn't give.

Selena gave Harry a wink and the ropes started to slither out of their coils.

"But Snape always seemed to hate me so much." Harry said.

"Oh, he does," said Quirrell casually, "heavens, yes. He was at Hogwarts with your father, didn't you know? They loathed each other. But he never wanted you dead."

"But Snape treats me the complete opposite?" Selena demanded.

"Yes, indeed. He even had the generosity to provide you with a secret place to practice your telekinesis."

Selena's eyes widened as she remembered what Draco had told her: "Maybe someone else in the school has psychic powers. I heard that Snape can also read minds, but look at it again Selena. Whoever this person is, is trying to help you,"

"Snape sent that note?"

Harry looked at Selena in confusion. "What note?"

Quirrell gave them a cold chuckle. "So, you haven't told him yet, have you girl? I'm quite surprised, twins usually share each other's secrets."

"We do," Selena snapped. "How did you know I'm a telekinetic?"

Quirrell chuckled again. "The art of Mind Reading, commonly known as Legimancy or telepathy, is not as rare as you think, Selena. Telekinesis on the other hand, is something that has been a mystery for centuries. It is something of a pseudo-magic, being that you don't have to be of the magical art to possess it, it only requires the force and focus of a person's brain,"

"Magnetic waves, you mean," Selena corrected.

"Whatever the Muggles call it," Quirrell scoffed. "Telekinesis is something that the Muggles can possess. I suppose the Malfoy boy told you about the case of Jane Hopper, the Muggle Telekinetic?"

"Yes, he told me on the train here. He also warned me of people who would use my powers as a weapon, people like you and your master!"

"Indeed, and you listened to his warning."

Harry could not believe this. Selena looked over at him with sorrowful eyes. "Selena, is this true?"

Selena hung her head. She did not want this to come out under these circumstances.

Harry didn't need a mind-reading to know she was sorry. But that wasn't important right now.

"I heard you a few days ago, sobbing – I thought Snape was threatening you…" Harry said to Quirrell.

For the first time, a spasm of fear flittered across Quirrell's face.

"Sometimes," he said, "I find it hard to follow my master's instructions – he is a great wizard ad I am weak –"

"You mean he was there in the classroom with you?" Harry gasped.

"He is with me wherever I go," said Quirrell quietly. "I met him when I travelled around the world. A foolish young man I was then, full of ridiculous ideas about good and evil. Lord Voldemort showed me how wrong I was. There is no good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak to seek it…Since then, I have served him faithfully, although I have let him down many times. He has had to be very hard on me." Quirrell shivered suddenly. "He does not forgive mistake easily. When I failed to steal the stone from Gringotts, he was most displaced. He punished me…decided he would have to keep a closer watch on me…"

Quirrell's voice trailed away. Harry and Selena remembered their trip to Diagon Alley – how could they have been so blind? They'd seen Quirrell there that very day. "We give shook your hand," Selena muttered in disgust.

Quirrell cursed under his breath.

"I don't understand…is the Stone inside the mirror? Should I break it?"

Harry and Selena's minds were racing.

We they wanted more than anything else in the world at the moment, was to find the Stone before Quirrell did. So if we look into the mirror, they thought, we should see ourselves finding it – which means I'll see where it's hidden! But how can we look without Quirrell realizing what we're up to?

Selena loosened the robes around their ankles and they edged to the left, to get in front of the glass without Quirrell noticing, but the ropes trailed over the floor: they tripped and fell over. Quirrell ignored them. He was still talking to himself.

"What does this mirror do? How does it work? Help me, Master!"

And to the twins' horror, a voice answered, and the voice seemed to come from Quirrell himself.

"Use the twins…Use the twins…"

Quirrell rounded on Harry and Selena.

"Yes – Potter's – come here."

He clapped his hands once, and the ropes that were binding the twins fell off. Harry and Selena got slowly got to their feet.

"Come here," Quirrell repeated. "Both of you, look in the mirror and tell me what you see."

Harry and Selena walked toward him.

"We must lie, then we can look for Stone while Quirrell's distracted." Selena said to Harry.

Quirrell moved close behind them. Harry and Selena breathed in the funny smell that seemed to come from Quirrell's turban They closed their eyes, stepped in front of the mirror, and opened them again.

They saw their reflections, pale and scared-looking at first. But a moment later, the reflections smiled at them. Harry's reflection winked at Selena's and reached into its pocket and pulled out a blood-red stone, show Selena's reflection, who grinned – took it – winked and put the Stone into her pocket – and as it did so, Selena felt something heavy drop into her real pocket. Somehow – incredibly – she'd gotten the Stone.

"Well?" said Quirrell impatiently. "What do you see?"

Harry screwed up his courage. "I see myself shaking hands with Dumbledore," he invented. "I – I've won the House Cup for Gryffindor."

"I see myself on the banks of the Black Lake, playing my lyre while watching the sunrise." Selena said when Quirrell turned to her.

Quirrell cursed again.

"Get out of the way," he said. As Harry and Selena moved aside, Selena felt the Philosopher's Stone against her hips. "I've got the Stone," she said to Harry.

"Can we make a break for it?" Harry replied.

"Let's not lose our chance,"

But they hadn't walked five paces before a high voice spoke, though Quirrell wasn't moving his lips.

"They lie…they lie…"

"Potter's, come back here!" Quirrell shouted. "Tell me the truth! What did you just see?"

The high voice spoke again.

"Let me speak to them…face-to-face…"

"Master, you are not strong enough!"

"I have strength enough…for this…"

Harry and Selena felt as if Devil's Snare was rooting them to the spot. They couldn't move a muscle. Petrified, they watched as Quirrell reached up and began to unwrap his turban. What was going on? The turban fell away. Quirrell's head looked strangely small without it. Then he turned slowly on the spot.

Harry and Selena would have screamed, but they couldn't make a sound. Where there should have been a back to Quirrell's head, there was a face, the most terrible face Harry and Selena had ever seen. It was chalk-white with glaring red eyes and slits for nostrils, like a snake.

"Harry Potter, Selena Potter…" it whispered, "we meet again…"

Harry and Selena tried to take a step backward but their legs wouldn't move. "Voldemort," Selena uttered.

"Yes, see what I have become?" Voldemort said. "Mere shadow and vapor…I have form only when I can share another's body…but there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and minds…Unicorn blood has strengthened me, these past weeks…you saw faithful Quirrell drinking it for me in the forest…and once I have the Elixir of Life, I will be able to create a body of my own…Now…why don't you give me that Stone in your pocket, Selena?"

So he knew. The feeling suddenly surged back in their legs. Harry and Selena stumbled backward.

"Don't be a fool," snarled Voldemort. "Better save your own lives and join me…or you'll meet the same end as your parents…They died begging me for mercy…"

"YOU LIAR!" Harry shouted suddenly.

"THEY DID NO SUCH THING!" Selena added.

Quirrell was walking backward at him, so that Voldemort could still see them. The evil face was now smiling.

"How touching…" it hissed. "I always value bravery…Yes, your parents were brave…I killed your father first; and he put up a courageous fight…but your mother needn't have died…she was trying to protect you two…Now give me the Stone, unless you want her to have died in vain."

"NEVER!"

Harry and Selena sprang toward the flame door, but Voldemort screamed "SEIZE THEM!" and the next second, Selena felt Quirrell's hand close on her wrist.

At once, a needle-sharp pain seared across their scars; their heads felt as though they were about to spilt in two; Harry yelled "DON'T TOUCH MY SISTER!", wrestling Quirrell's hand off with all his might, and to his surprise, Quirrell let go of her.

The pain in their heads lessened – Harry looked around wildly to see where Quirrell had gone, and saw him hunched in pain, looking at his fingers – they were blistering before his eyes.

"Seize them! SEIZE THEM!" shrieked Voldemort again, and Quirrell lunged at Harry. Selena flung herself at Quirrell, shoving him with all her strength. "DON'T TOUCH MY BROTHER!" she growled as Quirrell wrapped his hand around her throat, choking her. Her scar was almost blinding her with pain, yet she could see Quirrell howling in agony.

"Master, I cannot touch her – my hands – my hands!"

And Quirrell, though close to beating Selena, let go of her neck and stared, bewildered, at his own palms – Harry and Selena could see they looked burned, raw, red and shiny.

"Then kill them, fool, and be done!" screeched Voldemort.

Quirrell raised his hand to perform a deadly curse, but Selena, by instinct, reached up and grabbed Quirrell's face, digging her nails into his flesh –

"AAAARGH!"

Harry joined in and Quirrell backed away, his face blistering, too, and then the twins knew: Quirrell couldn't touch their bare skin, not without suffering terrible pain – their only chance was to keep hold of Quirrell, keep him in enough pain to stop him from doing a curse.

Harry jumped up, caught Quirrel by the amr, and hung on as tight as he could. Quirrell screamed and tried to throw Harry off – the pain in Harry and Selena's heads was building.

Selena felt a boiling rage build up inside her and suddenly she heard two loud snaps, followed by Quirrell howling and collapsing to the floor. "Master, she broke my legs, she broke my legs!"

"Harry!" Selena screamed, joining in taking hold of the other arm. Neither of them could see a thing – they could only hear Quirrell's terrible shrieks and Voldemort's yells of, "KILL THEM! KILL THEM!" and other voices, maybe in their own heads, crying, "Harry! Selena!"

Harry and Selena felt Quirrell's arms wrenched from their grasp, knew all was lost, and fell into blackness, down…down…down…

Something gold was glinting just above them. The Snitch! They tried to catch it, but his arms were too heavy. They blinked. It wasn't the Snitch at all. It was a pair of glasses. How strange.

They blinked again. The smiling face of Albus Dumbledore swam into view above them.

"Good afternoon, Harry," said Dumbledore, "you too Selena."

Harry and Selena stared at him. Then they remembered: "Sir! The Stone! It was Quirrell! He's got the Stone! Sir, quick –"

"Calm yourself, dears, you are a little behind the times," said Dumbledore. "Quirrell does not have the Stone."

"Then who does? Sir, we –"

"Selena, please relax, or Madam Pomfrey will have me thrown out."

Selena blinked in confusion. "What?"

She looked around the room and realized she was in the hospital wing. She and Harry were lying in beds with white linen sheets, side by side and in between them was a table piled high with what looked like half the sweet shop.

"Tokens from your friends and admirers," said Dumbledore, beaming. "What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows. I believe your friends Misters Fred and George Weasley were responsible for trying to send you a toilet seat. No doubt they though it would amuse you. Madam Pomfrey, however, felt it might not be very hygienic and confiscated it."

"How long have we been in here?" Harry asked.

"Three days. Mr. Ronald Weasley and Miss Granger will be most relieved you have some round, they have been extremely worried."

"But sir, the Stone –"

"I see you are not to be distracted, Ms. Potter. Very well, the Stone. Professor Quirrell did not manage to take it from you. I arrived in time to prevent that, although with the combined strength and bond between you and Harry, you were doing very well on your own, I must say."

"You got there? You got Hermione's owl?"

"We must have crossed in mid-air. No sooner had I reached London than it became clear to me that the place I should be was the one I had just left. I arrived just in time to pull Quirrell off you two."

"It was you."

"I feared I might be too late."

"You nearly were, I couldn't have kept him off the Stone much longer –"

"Not the Stone, girl, you and Harry, of course – the effort involved nearly killed you both. For one terrible moment there, I was afraid it had. As for the Stone, it had been destroyed."

"Destroyed?" said the twins blankly. "But your friend – Nicholas Flamel –"

"Oh, you know about Nicholas?" said Dumbledore, sounding quite delighted. "You did do the thing properly, didn't you? Well, Nicholas and I have at a little chat, and agreed it's all for the best."

"But," Selena stammered, "that means he and his wife will die, won't they?"

"They have enough Elixir stored to set their affairs in order and then, yes, they will die."

Dumbledore smiled at the look of amazement on the twins' face's.

"To those as young as you two are, I'm sure it seems incredible, but to Nicholas and Perenelle, it really is like going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. You know, the Stone was really such a wonderful thing. As much money and life as you could want! The two things most human beings would choose above all – the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them."

Harry and Selena lay there, lost for words. Dumbledore hummed a little and smiled at the ceiling.

"Sir?" said Harry. "I've been thinking…sir – even if the Stone's gone, Vol – , I mean, You-Know-Who –"

"Call him Voldemort, Harry. Always use the proper name for things. Fear of a name –"

"Only increases fear of the thing itself," Selena finished, cutting Dumbledore off.

Dumbledore, instead of being ticked off, gave her a smile.

"Yes, sir. Well, Voldemort's going to try other ways of coming back, isn't he? I mean, he hasn't gone, has he?"

"No, Harry, he has not. He is still out there somewhere, perhaps looking for another body to share…not being truly alive, he cannot be killed. He left Quirrell to die; he showed just as little mercy to his followers as his enemies. Nevertheless, Harry and Selena, while it may only have delayed his return to power, it will merely take someone else who is prepared to fight what seems a losing battle next time – and if he is delayed again, and again, why, he may never return to power."

The twins nodded, but stopped quickly, because it made their heads hurt. Then Harry said, "Sir, there are some other things I'd like to know, if you can tell me…things I want to know the truth about…"

"The truth." Dumbledore sighed. "It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution. However, I shall answer your questions unless I have a very good reason not to, in which case I beg you'll forgive me. I shall not, or course, lie."

"Well…Voldemort said that he only killed our mother because she tried to stop him from killing me and Selena. But why would he want to kill us in the first place?"

"Harry's right, I don't understand. We were only babies, why would he want to kill two innocent little babies?"

Dumbledore sighed very deeply this time.

"Alas, the first thing you ask me, I cannot tell you. not today. Not now. You will know, one day…put it from your mind for now, Harry and Selena. When you are older…I know you hate to hear this…when you are ready, you will know."

And the twins knew that it would be no good to argue.

"But why couldn't Quirrell touch us?" Selena asked.

"Because your mother died to save you. She sacrificed her life you that you two would live. There is something about the two of you that Voldemort could never understand. It is something that leaves a mark. Not a scar, no visible sign, yet it shows itself when you least expect it. It lives in your very skin. It is something that you both displayed during the battle against Quirrell, side by side."

"And what is that thing, Professor?" they asked, eyes filled with wonder.

Dumbledore smiled at them. "Love, Potter's. Love. Your mother loved you both so much, she was willing to die so that you two could live. To be loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us a protection forever. It is also shown when you both put yourselves between the other and danger, showing just how much you love each other. Because you are twins, you were born with a special person to always be your anchor, your shoulder to cry on and your best friend. And they are always right next to you," he paused as the twins looked over at each other smiling. "Quirrell, full of hatred, greed, and ambition, sharing his soul with Voldemort, could not touch you for this reason. It was agony to touch a person marked by something so good."

Dumbledore now became very interest in a bird out of the windowsill, which gave Harry and Selena time to dry their eyes on the sheets. When Harry found his voice again, he said, "And the invisibility cloak – do you know who sent it to us?"

"Ah – your father happened to leave it in my possession, and I thought you might like it." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Useful things…your father used it mainly for sneaking off to the kitchens to steal food when he was here."

"And I suppose my secret's no longer a secret anymore," said Selena.

"That you are a telekinetic? Yes, I'm afraid there is no point in keeping it to yourself anymore, Selena."

"I'm definitely going to get an earful when I'm out of bed." she chuckled.

"There's something else…" Harry said.

"Fire away."

"Quirrell said Snape –"

"Professor Snape, Harry."

"Yes, him – Quirrell said he hates me because he hated our father. Is that true?"

"Well, they did rather detest each other. Not unlike yourself and Mr. Malfoy as well as Selena and Miss. Blackwood. And then, your father did something Snape would never forgive."

"What?"

"He saved his life."

"What?"

"Yes…" said Dumbledore dreamily. "Funny, the way people's minds work, isn't it? Professor Snape couldn't bear being in your father's debt…I do believe he worked so hard to protect you this year because he felt that would make him and your father even. Then he could go back to hating your father's memory in peace…"

"But he treats Selena well, it doesn't make sense?"

"I think…it may have to do with the fact that Selena resembles your mother through and through?"

"Did Professor Snape know our mother too?" Selena asked.

Dumbledore suddenly looked grim and sighed. "I'm afraid that's a story for another time, but in time, you will know the whole truth."

The twins tried to understand what he meant, but it made their heads pound, so they stopped.

"And sir, there's one more thing…"

"Just the one, Selena?"

"How did we get the Stone out of the mirror?"

"Ah, now, I'm glad you asked me that. It was one of my more brilliant ideas, and between you two and me, that's saying something. You see, they who wanted to find the Stone – find it, not use it – would be able to get it, otherwise they'd just see themselves making gold or drinking Elixir of Life. My brain surprises even me sometimes…Now, enough questions. I suggest you make a start on these sweets. Ah! Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans! I was unfortunate enough in my youth to come across a vomit flavoured on, and since then I'm afraid I've rather lost my liking for them – but I think I'll be safe with a nice toffee, don't you?"

He smiled and popped the golden-brown bean into his mouth. Then he choked and said, "Alas! Ear wax!"

Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, was a nice woman, but very strict.

"Just five minutes," Harry pleaded.

"Absolutely not."

"You let Professor Dumbledore in…"

"Well, of course, that was the headmaster, quite different. You need rest."

"We are resting, look, lying down and everything. Oh, go on, Madam Pomfrey…"

"Oh, very well," she said. "But five minutes only."

And she let Ron, Hermione, Adeline, Odessa, Vanessa, Evan and Asha in.

"Harry! Selena!"

Hermione looked ready to fling her arms around them again, but Harry and Selena were glad she held herself in as their heads were still very sore.

"Oh, Harry, Selena, we were sure you were going to – Dumbledore was so worried –

"Neville nearly fainted when he heard –" said Adeline.

"The whole school's talking about it," said Ron. "What really happened?"

It was one of those rare occasions when the true story is even more strange and exciting than the wild rumours. Harry and Selena told them everything: Quirrell; the mirror; the Stone; and Voldemort. They were a good audience; they gasped in all the right places, and when Harry mentioned what was under Quirrell's turban, Hermione screamed out loud.

"I guess you were right all along, Selena. Next to Snape, I would've never suspected Quirrell." Said Ron.

"Just goes to show, one should never judge a book by the cover." Vanessa said.

"So, the Stone's gone?" said Adeline finally. "Flamel's just going to die?"

"That's what we said, but Dumbledore thinks that – what was it?" Harry asked.

"'To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.'" Selena answered.

"Yeah, that,"

"I always figured he was off his rocker," said Ron, looking quite impressed at how crazy his hero was.

"I'm sure Dumbledore was right in his words," said Odessa, "he is the greatest wizard in the world."

"I never said he wasn't,"

"So, what happened to you two?" said Harry, to Ron and Hermione.

"Well, I got back all right," said Hermione. "I brought Ron around – that took a while – and we were dashing up to the owlery to contact Dumbledore when we met him in the entrance hall – he already knew – he just said, 'Harry and Selena have gone after him, haven't they?" and hurtled off to the third floor.

"D'you think he meant for you two to do it?" said Ron. "Sending you your father's cloak and everything?"

"Well," Hermione exploded, "if he did – I mean to say that's terrible – you two could've been killed."

"No, it isn't," said Selena thoughtfully. "He's a funny man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give us a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know. I think he already had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help. I don't think it was an accident he let us find out how the mirror worked. It's almost like he thought we had the right to face Voldemort if we could…"

"Well, Voldemort killed your parents. Seems only fair that you two kick his arse." Evan chuckled.

"But they're kids, Evan. Who sends two eleven-year-old kids to fight a powerful Dark Wizard?" said Asha.

"Yeah, Dumbledore's off his rocker, all right," said Ron proudly. "Listen, you've got to be up for the end-of-year feast tomorrow. The points are all in and Slytherin won, of course – you missed the last Quidditch match, we were all steamrollered by Ravenclaw without you Harry – but the food'll be good."

At that moment, Madam Pomfrey bustled over.

"You've had nearly fifteen minutes, now OUT!" she said firmly.

As they all got up to leave, Adeline whispered in Selena's ear. "Between you and me, it wasn't Neville who nearly fainted, it was Draco. The second he heard that you were in the hospital wing, he nearly fainted on the spot. Lucky Blaise was there to brush it off as a slip, we came quite close after that, me and Blaise." She said, blushing.

Selena gave her friend a painful smirk. "Sounds like you weren't just curious about his name that day in Potions."

"True, but Draco was so worried about you. He visited you on the first night when you were out. Never left your side, until Madam Pomfrey threw him out."

Selena's eyes widened as she visibly blushed. "Draco did that? For me?"

Adeline nodded, then gave her a smirk. "If I didn't know any better Selena, I'd say you were in love with the boy."

Selena's face flushed. "What? No, he's –"

"Oh, come off it Selena, I'm not stupid. I've seen the way you look at him all year, admit it."

Selena looked at Harry to make sure he wasn't listening, which he wasn't, he was too busy fishing through the boxes of sweets to hear.

She turned back to Adeline. "Okay, fine. But it's just a school girl crush, nothing more."

Adeline giggled. "That so adorable. I think he might have feelings for you too, after all, he stayed by your side when you were unconscious."

"You think so?"

"I know so," said Adeline, "who knows, maybe one day you'll be walking down the aisle to him."

Selena rolled her eyes, laughing. "Yeah, that's gonna happen," she whispered sarcastically.

Madam Pomfrey stormed over. "What did I just say? OUT!"

Later that night, Harry had been asleep for almost three hours, but Selena lay awake, thinking about what Adeline had said. She admitted it. She, Selena Potter, had a crush on Draco Malfoy. A Gryffindor and a Slytherin. "That'll never work out, Gryffindor's and Slytherin's are rivals." She said, rolling over onto her side.

She heard footsteps approach her bed, and a hand pressed onto her shoulder. Selena gasped and rolled over to see Draco Malfoy standing over her in a black bathrobe. "Hey Moonlight," he said in a hushed whispered.

"Draco?" she murmured, sitting up. "What are you doing here? You'll get caught,"

"I had to see you, I'm glad you're okay Selena."

"How did you get here?"

"Short cut,"

"And Filch didn't catch you?"

"Nah, that old git is upstairs, checking over the third floor. Are you okay?"

Selena shrugged. "I've had better days,"

"I've missed you," he said, wrapping his arms around her.

"I've missed you two,"

"So, the whole school knows your secret?"

"Yeah, even Quirrell knew. But the oak tree is going to remain between the two of us, unless that's out to the school as well."

"Nah, only the telekinesis part."

"I found out who sent the anonymous note."

Draco looked up at her in surprise. "Really? Who?"

"Professor Snape, he must've figured out my secret through mind reading sent me that note to let me in on a spot where I can practice."

Draco looked over at Harry's bed. "Potter's not awake, is he?"

"No, he's been asleep for hours, he won't wake up anytime soon, not after this whole ordeal."

"I was so worried about you," Draco said, cupping her face. "I thought you were dead. I didn't even le –"

"Leave my side the first night, until Madam Pomfrey threw you out?" Selena whispered.

Draco smirked at her. "Telepathy, I'm guessing?"

Selena shook her head. "No, Adeline told me. I'm touched you would do that for me."

Draco blushed. "You coming to the feast tomorrow?"

"If I can get out of bed." Selena said. "Congratulations on the win, by the way."

"The Slytherin's win every year. Okay, I better go before Madam Pomfrey catches me." Draco said, planting a kiss on her forehead, just in the centre of her scar.

"Goodnight, my moonlight."

Selena, completely at a loss on what to say, so she said: "Goodnight, my dragon."

After a good night's sleep, Harry and Selena felt nearly back to normal.

"We want to go to the feast," Harry told Madam Pomfrey as she straightened the many sweet boxes. "We can, can we?"

"Professor Dumbledore says you two are to be allowed to go," she said stiffly, as though in her opinion Professor Dumbledore didn't realize how frisky feasts could be. "And you two have another visitor."

"Really?" said Selena. "Who is it?"

Hagrid sidled through the door as he spoke. As usual when he was indoors, Hagrid looked too big to be allowed. He sat down in between Harry and Selena, took one look at them, and burst into tears.

"It's – all – my – ruddy – fault!" he sobbed, his face in his hands. "I told that evil git how ter get past Fluffy! I told him! It was the only thing he didn't know, an' I told him! Yeh could've died! All fer a dragon egg! I'll never drink again! I should be chucked out an' made ter live as a Muggle!"

"Hagrid!" said Harry, shocked to see Hagrid shaking with grief and remorse, great tears leaking down into his beard. "Hagrid, he'd have found out somehow, this is Voldemort we're talking about, he'd have found out even if you hadn't told him."

"Yeh could've died! Both of yeh!" sobbed Hagrid. "An' don' say the name!"

"VOLDEMORT!" The twins bellowed, and Hagrid was so shocked, he stopped crying. "We've met him and we're both calling him by his name."

"Cheer up Hagrid, it wasn't your fault at all. No one makes right choices when drunk, that's just what alcohol does to you. We saved the Stone, it's gone, he can't use it. Have a Chocolate Frog, we've got loads…" said Selena.

Hagrid wiped his nose on the back of his hand and said, "That reminds me. I've got yeh a present."

"It's not a stoat sandwich, is it?" said Harry anxiously, and at last Hagrid gave a weak chuckle.

"Nah. Dumbledore gave me the day off yesterday ter fix it. 'course, he shoulda sacked me instead – anyway, got yeh this…"

It seemed to be a handsome, leather-covered book. Hagrid opened it carefully and showed the twins. It was full of wizard photographs. Smiling and waving at them from every page were their mother and father.

"Sent owls off ter all yer parents' old school friends, askin' fer photos…knew yeh didn' have any…d'yeh like it?"

Harry couldn't speak. Selena felt tears in the corners of her eyes, but Hagrid understood.

Harry and Selena made their way down to the end-of-year feast side by side that night. They had been held up by Madam Pomfrey's fussing about, insisting on giving them one last check-up, so the Great Hall was already full. It was decked out in the Slytherin colours of green and silver to celebrate Slytherin's winning the House Cup for the seventh year in a row. A huge banner showing the Slytherin serpent covered the wall behind the High Table.

When Harry and Selena walked in there was a sudden hush, and then everybody started talking loudly at once, pointing. They slipped into a seat beside Ron, Hermione and Selena's dorm-mates at the Gryffindor table and had to ignore the fact that people were standing up to look at them.

Fortunately, Dumbledore arrived moments later. The babble died away.

"Another year gone!" Dumbledore said cheerfully. "And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink out teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they were…you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts…

Now, as I understand it, the House Cup here needs awarding, and the points stand thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with three hundred and twelve points; in third Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; Ravenclaw has four hundred and twenty-six and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy-two."

A storm of cheering and stamping broke out from the Slytherin table.

"Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin," said Dumbledore. "However, recent events must be taken into account."

The room went very still. The Slytherins' smiles faded a little.

"Ahem," said Dumbledore. "I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes…

"First – to Mr. Ronald Weasley…"

Ron went purple in the face; like a radish with a bad sunburn.

"…for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

Gryffindor cheers nearly raised the bewitched ceiling; the stars overhead seemed to quiver. Percy could be heard telling the other prefect, "My brother, you know! My youngest brother! Got past McGonagall's giant chess set!"

At last there was silence again.

"Second – to Miss Hermione Granger…for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

Hermione buried her face in her arms; Harry strongly suspected she had burst into tears. Gryffindor's up and down the table were beside themselves – they were a hundred points up.

"Third – to Mr. Harry Potter and Ms. Selena Potter…" said Dumbledore. The room went deadly quiet. "…for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house, thirty points – thirty points, each,"

The din was deafening. Those who could add up while yelling themselves hoarse knew that Gryffindor now had four hundred and seventy-two points – if only Dumbledore had given Harry and Selena just one more point.

Dumbledore raised his hand. The room gradually fell silent.

"There are all kinds of courage," said Dumbledore, smiling. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom."

Someone standing outside the Great Hall might well have thought some sort of explosion had taken place, so loud was the noise that erupted from the Gryffindor table. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Selena stood up to yell and cheer as Neville, white with shock, disappeared under a pile of people hugging him. He never won so much as a point for Gryffindor before. Selena, still cheering, glanced at the Slytherin table and frowned. Draco was sitting there, looking more stunned then as if he'd just had the Body-Bind Curse put on him. Her happiness quickly faded.

It didn't seem fair to her, Draco had done some good things worthy of a few points in the year, but those moments were known between herself and Draco. Until Dumbledore silenced the room one again.

"Now, before the Gryffindor's celebrate, there is one boy in Slytherin who has gone above and beyond the call of duty of the traditional Slytherin. He has welcomed a Gryffindor into his life, been helpful and kind to her, and overall proved to be a good person after all. Therefore, I award Mr. Draco Malfoy ten points."

The reaction was mixed, only the Slytherins cheered much and a few people booed as Draco locked eyes with Selena and they both blushed.

Eventually, the whole Great Hall exploded into cheers. It didn't matter anyway, Slytherin wasn't the only one carrying the House Cup. Gryffindor was finally on the same level as Slytherin.

"Which means," Dumbledore called over the storm of applause, "we need a little change of decoration."

He clapped his hands. In an instant, half the green hangings turned scarlet and the silver became gold; the Slytherin banner spilt into two smaller banners, one remained a Slytherin, the second was gold and scarlet, and the towering Gryffindor Lion was embroided on the fabric.

Snape was shaking Professor McGonagall's hand, with a horrible, forced smile. He caught Harry's eye and Harry knew at once that Snape's feelings toward him hadn't changed one jot. This didn't worry Harry, nor Selena. It seemed as though life would be back to normal next year, or as normal as it ever was at Hogwarts.

It was the best evening of their lives, better than winning at Quidditch, or Christmas, or knocking out mountain trolls…they would never, ever forget this night.

Selena smiled at Draco at the Slytherin table. She was sad to know she wasn't going to see him until next term, but she would wait. There was no way she was ever going to forget him. She remembered how she was before she came to Hogwarts; sad, quiet, confused and eager to learn.

Then she met Draco. Her Slytherin Prince. She would be leaving Hogwarts with new friends, stories to tell, magic learned and a crush. That was the cherry on top for her night.

Harry and Selena had almost forgotten that the exam results were still to come, but some they did. To their great surprise, both of them and Ron had passed with good marks; Hermione, of course, had the best grades of the First Years. Even Neville scraped through, his good Herbology mark making up for his abysmal Potions one. Selena had hoped that Veronica, who implied that she had no other intellect other than to decide what shade of lipstick would look good with her hairstyle, and might be thrown out, but she passed, too. It was a shame, but as Ron said, you couldn't have everything in life.

Selena sighed heavily, folding her clothes and packing them into her trunk, her classmates called "The Muggle Way".

She was doing so, so she could stay in the Castle a little longer, even if it was just for a few precious seconds. With any luck, she would miss the train back home. She was sad that the term was over and wished that she could stay in Hogwarts for the rest of the Summer.

"Packing already Moonlight?" called a voice that shocked Selena to the core.

Whirling around she saw Draco Malfoy leaning coolly against the doorframe. "Draco! How is Merlin's name in you get in here? You're a Slytherin!"

Draco chuckled and walked towards her. "I bribed the Bloody Baron to persuade the Fat Lady to let me into the common room just this once. Selena, would you mind if we take a little walk around the grounds before we leave. The train doesn't leave for another two hours." He said, holding out his hand.

Selena blushed furiously. "I'd love to Draco, but…" she looked back at the rest of her luggage still unpacked. "I haven't finished packing."

"I can fix that," Draco said, pulling out his wand and giving it a wave.

Within seconds, all of Selena's clothes and school books were folded up and packed in her trunk. "Now, about my offer."

Two figures walked around the Hogwarts School grounds. One in robes trimmed with red and gold, while the other trimmed with silver and green. A Gryffindor Girl and a Slytherin Boy. "So, terms ended." Draco muttered, kicking a pebble.

"Yeah, but it feels like the year went by so quickly. This year was best year of my life, well aside from facing Voldemort a second time and winning."

"From what I heard, you used your telekinesis against Quirrell down in the dungeons,"

Selena nodded.

Draco pulled her to the side and faced her. "Cunning move. Such a shame you're not a Slytherin, Selena."

Selena smiled. "Thanks, but I think I'll stay with my brother."

They then continued walked side by side. Their hands nearly touching. "What are your thoughts on going home back to live with Muggles?"

"Dreading them, Hogwarts is my home now. I think if I hide under my dormitory bed no one will find me." She chuckled.

Draco chuckled along with her. "I hate to ruin your day, but they magically search the castle for any students who got left behind, you'd be found within the hour."

"I could slip by them, you said yourself I'd make a decent Slytherin."

They stopped at the top of a hill, overlooking the entire school grounds, The Dark Forest and The Black Lake.

"Beautiful view, isn't it?" she sighed.

"If you put it that way, I suppose it does take your breath away." Draco turned to Selena, holding her hand, making the girl blush. "Selena, I must admit. You defiantly surprised me with your kindness and consideration for others. I have never met a girl with a heart as gold as yours!"

Selena felt her heart flutter as he said those words, leaning in a bit closer. "Draco…"

"Which is why I wanted to give you this." Draco reached into his robe pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.

Selena decided to have a little fun and grinned cheekily. "Draco, are you trying to propose?"

Draco stared at her, shocked, his normally pale face was now beet red. "Merlin no! We're too young for that and we're not even dating, Selena." He opened the box and pulled out a silver chain necklace with silver snake with emerald eyes coiled around a golden lion with ruby eyes. "This is your present,"

Selena's eyes widened as she gasped, covering her mouth. "It's beautiful."

Draco clipped the necklace around her neck and stepped back. Selena glanced down at the piece of jewellery with affection. "Take care of it and if any of them rotten Muggles gives you beef, owl me, yeah?"

"Promise you'll write to me?"

"I'll write to you every day, Selena Potter. Friends?" he asked holding out his hand for her to shake.

"Friends," she replied, shaking on it.

"SELENA! WHERE ARE YOU?! THE TRAIN'LL BE LEAVING ANY MINUTE!" The voices of Harry, Ron and Hermione echoed from the courtyard. Selena glanced at Draco, who was smiling.

"I think we better run. Last one to the courtyard is a mouldy cauldron!" she cried, taking off.

Draco chuckled, pursuing the red-haired girl at full speed. "And the first one's gotta clean it without magic. Get back here Moonlight!"

"I win!" Selena cheered, fisting bumping the air.

"Only by a minimum!" Draco whined, coming up behind her, out of breath.

"Please Draco, when you spent your whole life running away from your cousin and his gang trying to beat you up, you learn a few skills."

Three pairs of footsteps approached them from the arch to the right. Selena and Draco turned around and saw Harry, Ron and Hermione running towards them. Selena quickly removed the necklace and stuffed it into her dress pocket. "There you are Selena, where have you been. The trains leaving any minute now." Hermione barked.

"Hermione's right sis, where have you been?"

"I was taking one last look at the school before we leave."

Ron finally noticed Malfoy and glared at the Slytherin boy. "What's he doing here?"

Draco glared back. "If it's any of your business Weasel, I had the same idea as Miss Potter right here."

Selena jumped in between the two boys, with her arms outstretched in case things got physical. "Come on boys, is a fight really necessary?" she scolded.

"Selena's right," Hermione stated. "Right now, we've really got to get to the train."

Harry sighed. "Alright Hermione, come on Selena." He said to his sister.

Selena looked back at Draco and whispered. "See you on the train,"

"I'll be waiting for you Selena."

The train ride back was very much like the trip at the start of term, but instead of sitting alone in an empty compartment not knowing anyone at all, the Potter Twins were sitting in a full compartment, eating wizard sweets and laughing with new friends. Selena had tried to convince Harry, Ron and Hermione to let Draco join them, but they refused. Draco, instead went to hang out with the other Slytherins in the compartment next door. Selena stayed with her brother and best friends. About halfway to Platform 9 ¾, all four Gryffindor's had traded their Hogwarts robes for normal, Muggle clothing. Selena wore her signature blue dress, stockings, and trainers.

When the train pulled up into Platform 9 ¾, Selena didn't see Draco through the crowd of people running towards their families and taking their luggage off the train. Selena and Harry piled up their trunks and owls onto a trolley each and waved goodbye to their friends. Selena found herself tackled into a group hug.

"Write to us remember!" Odessa cried.

"Take care Lena." Adeline smiled.

"Tell your folks I said: 'Thank you for the material and sewing kit.'" Selena cried out to Adeline.

"Will do,"

"I'll miss you," Vanessa cried. "Evan and I are having a sleepover in the holidays, you should come two, I'll send an owl!"

"That would be great, I look forward to it." Selena said, choking.

"Have a good holiday!" Evan cried.

"So long Selena," said Asha, squeezing Selena tighter to the point she thought her ribs had cracked.

"Girls! I need to breathe!" Selena wheezed.

The girls let go and giggled. "Sorry, sorry, but make sure you write?"

"I won't forget." Selena chuckled, before parting ways with her friends.

"Promise you'll write every day?" Hermione begged.

"I promise, I'll miss you Mione." Selena uttered, hugging her best friend.

"You two must come and stay this summer," Ron said, shaking the twin's hands, "I'll send you an owl."

"Thanks," said Harry, "We'll need something to look forward to."

People jostled them as they moved forward the gateway back to the Muggle World. Some of them called:

"Bye, Harry! Bye, Selena!"

"See you, Potter's!"

"Still famous," said Ron, grinning at them.

"Not where we're going, I promise you that," said Selena.

She, Harry, Ron and Hermione passed through the gateway together. "There he is, Mum, there he is, look!"

It was Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister, but she wasn't pointing at Ron.

"Harry Potter!" she squealed. "Look, Mum! I can see –"

"Be quiet, Ginny, and it's rude to point."

Mrs Weasley smiled down at them.

"Busy year?" she said.

"Very," said Harry. "Thanks for the fudge and the sweater, Mrs Weasley."

"Oh, it was nothing, dear."

A head of platinum blonde hair caught Selena's eye through the crowd. Her eyes brightened and she started pushing through the crowd, immediately recognizing that hair. "Draco!" she cried, when she finally reached the boy. He had traded his school robes for a white button up shirt and black trousers.

"Selena?!" Draco gasped in surprise, hugging her. "I was looking for you,"

"Same, I couldn't leave without saying goodbye."

"Where's your brother?"

"With the Weasley's."

"Do you want me to walk you back?" Selena smiled with a hint of red coming to her cheeks.

"I'd be honoured, Mr. Malfoy."

The two students walked together back to Selena's trolley. "So," Draco muttered, turning to Selena. "Terms officially over."

"Yeah, sorry I couldn't sit with you on the train." Selena apologised.

Draco chuckled. "It's fine, you wouldn't liked it anyway, Crabbe and Goyle were making a huge mess of the compartment, then Crabbe ate too much threw up into an Every Flavour Bean box."

"Yuck!"

"Well, I guess this is goodbye, until next term." He added with a chuckle as he moved in a bit closer.

"I'll miss you, Selena Potter," he murmured. Selena blushed as his lips were inches away from hers. She leaned in too, waiting for that special moment when a loud voice interrupted her thoughts.

"SELENA'S GOT A BOYFRIEND!"

"Dudley!" Selena hissed, feeling an overbearing rage as she jumped back away from Draco.

"Hurry up girl! We haven't got all day!" Uncle Vernon snapped, gesturing to Aunt Petunia, Dudley and Harry. She hung her head and looked at Draco. "Well, I'll see you next term."

Selena slowly leaned in and kissed Draco on the cheek. "Goodbye Draco," she whispered to him, wheeling her trolley to the Dursley's car.

Draco just stood there on the Platform, a hand cupped over the cheek Selena had kissed. Little did Selena know, she had just given him the best goodbye present ever.

Selena climbed into the car besides Harry, blushing. Harry noticed. "What are you blushing about?" he teased.

"Nothing," she lied.

In truth, she was fuming at Dudley for ruining the moment she and Draco were having. Selena touched her lips for the first time once they were pulling out of the Kings Cross car park, remembering how soft Draco's skin felt against her lips. Reaching into her dress pocket she pulled out the necklace he had given her.

Smiling, she clipped the precious jewellery around her neck.

Maybe Summer wasn't going to be so bad after all. The Dursleys didn't know they weren't allowed to use magic at home, but even that wasn't going to stop Selena from using her telekinesis, because it didn't require magic to use. She was going to have a lot of fun messing with Dudley this summer.

She looked over at Harry and the mischievous wink he gave her told her one thing. Yep, he was thinking the same thing.