Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. No duplication of characters or circumstances made up by Lord Wablachips that are not JK Rowling's.
Stephanie needed to find Draco. Needed to find him, because during Ancient Runes she found his initials on the bottom corner of the last page of her notebook, and she was now convinced it was him. But she had a plan, and first plan of action on her list was to have a little overdue chat with Ryan. She waited by the Slytherin Common room, hiding out in the shadows, the way Fred and George had taught them when they had tried to discover where the kitchens were. She saw a nasty young brute of a girl walk towards the entrance, and after the first year entered she ran inside.
The girl in front of Stephanie immediately turned around, but thankfully Stephanie had dived behind the couch.
Oh god I hope no one saw that… thought Stephanie.
She heard the mousy haired girl walk up the stairs to her dormitory, and after hearing nothing but silence for the following minute Stephanie decided it was time to get up and find Ryan. She went up to the 6th year dormitory and slipped a note under the door.
" 'Ey Ryan! There's a note for you—haha a pretty damn good note if you ask me…" yelled Edward as Stephanie heard him pick it up.
" Shut up! Give it here."
" No no, this is the kind of note that deserves to be read aloud…
Ryan, this is your mother. I am waiting for you in the common room, your brother is with me and Grandma Elbert.
Mamounette
Hahaha what is this Ryan, got home sick?" Edward said with a snarl and laughed himself to his knees.
Ryan was furious and confused so he decided to go down and find out what the hell was going on. After exiting his room, Stephanie grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the portrait hole.
" What the Bloody Hell Stephanie!?"
" You and I need to talk, come on."
" No." He stopped easily, seeing as he was much taller and built then Stephanie and proceeded to turn back around when she whispered harshly, " Don't worry Slytherin, no one will see, but you have always been my friend, and as your friend I'm telling you: you and me need to talk."
" What the hell was that note about, that caused a lot of shit Steph. Only you could have managed that. And do I even need to ask how you came into the Slytherin House?"
" Come with me and I'll tell you."
He reluctantly followed, looking stern and distant, as Stephanie pushed back a doorway to an empty classroom used as storage. It was filled with broken desks, burned down chairs, potion stains, and it was now the perfect place to talk. Stephanie lit a candle and sat down as Ryan sat on the desk, looking down on her.
"Fine I'll start, what's going on with you? I've missed our jokes, our chats, and advice, and don't you dare tell me this has to do with Gryffindor vs. Slytherin, because you know as well as I that those sorts of rules or guidelines are made to be broken."
Ryan raised his left eyebrow and pursed his lips, then finally, a veil lifted from his glare and breathed in deep.
" I can't."
"Why!" Stephanie asked with disgust and hurt.
" Stephanie, you don't live in Slytherin, you don't get it."
" Ryan, come on, it's us we're talking about, we've always been mates."
Ryan smirked and finally opened up and said, " all right look, someone has it in for you in Slytherin, and I can't really be in the middle or take the downfall because I have to live there, and to be honest I don't hate it—but—Stephanie, you are one of my best friends, I just don't know how we can be friends openly."
Stephanie smiled, thankful he trusted her enough to be honest and said, " Well, we could always send letters, I say every two days, no wait better then that, how about we send a notebook back and forth through owls, and that way it could be like an ongoing conversation---wait wait, you said something about someone having it in for me? Who we talkin' about here?"
" Let's put it this way, you don't stand in the way of a Malfoy if he has some score to settle, but, it's my personal belief you do everything you can to warn the person who is their target."
Stephanie looked outraged, but she said in an out of breath voice, " Let's get some food." And together they snuck in the kitchens and caught up on jokes and shared some poetry.
The thing Stephanie loved about Ryan was his articulate ability, he was wise with his words, and his tongue was as quick as lightning and always the wittiest of wits. There had never been any sexual tension between the both of them, because their friendship had always been innocent, based on laughter and pranks.
As Stephanie munched on a slice of thick chocolate cake she thought,
So Draco has it in for me? Guess I was wrong to go back and get him out of our prank. What's the matter with that boy—OH NO! The git is going to get that note…
Indeed, after Stephanie had slipped the note under Ryan's door, she had done the same to Draco, but Draco's note simply said,
I know you took my notebook dear Sir, but I think you wanted me to know. Meet me in the Room of Requirements in 3 hours.
- Lady S
Stephanie looked at her watch and saw it was 10 minutes past the rendez-vous and told Ryan she had to go, and without further explanations she tried to hurry to the meeting spot. Once she got there, she saw that someone was already in there, and assumed it was Draco. He had been amused when he had recieved the note, and intrigued to see what she woud say.When she opened the door, the insides looked like a compartment of the Hogwarts' Express, and Draco was sitting on the plush seats looking at the fake scenery go by.
" 'Ey." Stephanie said coldly as she sat across from him.
He looked at her without speaking with a cocked eyebrow as though he didn't know what she was doing here until she said, " Forget it, I shouldn't have come, you—"
Draco frowned and said, " How did you get into my House?"
" Please, child's play."
He tried to hold back a smile, and smirked his imfamous smirk instead.
" Did you read all of it?" Stephanie asked finally, her voice small, as though she was ashamed.
" Would you believe me if I said no?" Draco asked with more warmth, " I found it on the ground after your ambush that night, and yeah I read it…"
Stephanie's heart was beating faster, it wasn't attraction she was feeling, but fear. Fear that he had seen the insides of her soul, before she had even dropped her guard. She couldn't speak, she had expected his answer of course, but she didn't know she would have felt so small, she was flustered and tried to get up when he caught her arm to pull her back down, this time next to him and said, "Don't worry, and don't be so scared. It blew me away, it really did. Don't presume you'll know what I'll think before I've even told you, I read it and was speechless—"
Stephanie had finally looked up, and once again made him speechless, because her eyes twinkled with passion, her heart was beating fast, her lips parted…
She knew they would kiss, knew it was a perfect moment, but she knew she wasn't his, nor he hers, she loved Fred, sweet, funny Fred;so instead she said, "You've seen a side of me that's very personal, I know it may be hard for a Slytherin, but please keep it to yourself. Might I add that I would love to read any of your stuff if you write yourself?"
Draco's eyes looked deep and stern, they seemed to have frosted over as though a thought, or memory was bringing him back to his old vicious self the rest of the school knew him as.
" Ahh yes my Lady, but another time." He scooted away from her and she stood up.
" Good Night Draco Malfoy."
Stephanie crept back to her dormitory leaving Draco staring out of the imaginary train, the train; the train because he thought that's were it all started, the first time they had spoken, the first time he had seen her eyes light up with sparks of fury. She'd never called him by his full name before, and the slow melancholy way she had said it churned a spot deep within him, so he just sat, eyes narrowed, brow taught, and tried to control his emotions, tried to suppress his human side.
Stephanie couldn't sleep, she was tired beyond expression, and yet incredible restless. Every time she closed her eyes to try and fall asleep, she would instead find herself day dreaming of Fred kissing her, or Fred and her going a little further…but occasionally her imaginary Fred would be short with her, even a little mean with quick retorts, the type that Malfoy had used on her every time they met, and things would get really steamy. It was really confusing, because the thought of a personality like Malfoy's turning her on was…well in this point in time she couldn't deny that it was hot.
Making sure she wouldn't wake Laura or any of the other girls in the dormitory, she slowly crept out of bed, and decided to go surprise Fred, but first she stopped by the mirror to scrunch up her bed to make herself look more like she rolled out of bed and quickly dab on some lip balm and all the while smirking to herself crept to the boys' dormitory.
She listened at the door to make sure the boys' were asleep and crept in, she heard the scuffing of her feet on the carpet, and while trying not to giggle, she tip toed to Fred's bed. He was sleeping on his side, and she climbed on top of him as he rolled over and opened his eyes, " Stephanie, what are-"
Stephanie giggled and silenced him with a kiss that he returned with more passion then Stephanie first intended. His hands roamed her back, feeling every curve, and exploring the valley between the base of her neck to her posterior. She slowly pulled away, lips plump and rosy from kissing him. The scene was much more intimate then Stephanie could have imagined, with the dim lighting, only picking up on the twinkle in their eyes, and the shadows hiding parts of their faces.
They both smiled at each other with tenderness and a hint of mischievousness.
Fred had known he loved Stephanie for awhile, he sometimes imagined what his life would be without her, and it tore in apart, her friendship meant the world to him and he couldn't even believe the fact that she was his. She knew how to shut him up, how to retort a joke, and didn't hold back her laughter by covering her mouth, but let the hilarity explode, often making everyone around her laugh as well, even if it was for no reason.
" Frederic, I lo—…" Stephanie said in a husky sweaty tone, and swooped down for another kiss.
They both realized these kisses were unlike anything they had ever felt, it was like the promise of something longing to happen until—"RRRBBLLRR"
Stephanie looked up and tried not to laugh, " Was that George?"
Fred covered her mouth so she wouldn't make a sound and looked over at George's bed, " Yeah."
Stephanie's eyes were alive with mischeviousness and she rolled off of Fred and crept over to George's bed. She was giggling silently as George once again
"RRRRRRBBLLLRRR"
" Fred, who the hell snores like that?" she whispered.
Fred shrugged and dim light kept watching the way she moved, wanting to kill George for disrupting what could have been a very eventful night.
" Can I borrow your wand really quickly?" asked Stephanie.
Fred pointed to his nightstand with his wand and she grabbed it.
" Vernispedi"
George's toes were painted bright pink, and his hands were given long red femme fatal fingernails. Stephanie giggled and crept back to Fred's bed.
She climbed under the covers as he wrapped his arms around her, until Fred's heartbeat was able to lullaby her to sleep, finally and peacefully. Fred couldn't sleep, at least not right away, and he just played with her hair with the one hand that was free, wishing there was a way he could take the pain, or whatever had been bothering her away.
The next morning at breakfast, Stephanie looked refreshed, and Laura cocked an eyebrow while glancing at the way Stephanie and Fred would occasionally steal glances at each other, while Lee tried to finish his potions homework last minute.
" Where's George, we have matters to discuss?" asked Laura.
" What 'matter?'" interrupted Fred and Lee at the same time.
Before she could make up something, George walked in, his face red, looking furious, and little scratches around his face.
" What's the matter George, forgot how to shave?" asked Laura lips trembling of laughter.
" I want to know—WHO DID THIS?!" said George whipping his hands out of his pockets glaring at Stephanie.
Stephanie was doing a bad job of trying not laugh, and exploded, making Laura, and Lee laugh until they were all shiny with happy tears.
" I-haha-don't know—haha" Stephanie tried to say.
" Can you at least take them off, I nearly gouged my eye out this morning!"
" Revernito" she said trying to hold off her laughter for an instant and his nails here back to normal.
" I hope you know the George Revenge is to be feared." He said ominously, as he grabbed an apple and got up with Lee to go to class.
" Would that be the revenge before, or after he notices he got a pedicure to match those hands?" whispered Stephanie to Laura, whose eyes got large and the three of them started laughing again.
" Fred, you're going to tell us what he planning before he executes right?" asked Laura to make sure.
" No my dear, we Weasley men must stand together."
Stephanie tilted her head and looked at him defiantly and said, " Oh really?"
" Yes, if anything, I might help him plan it." Fred said smiling from ear to ear.
" Well then, I guess I'll just have to sleep in my room from now on…" Stephanie replied nonchalantly, as Laura's eyebrows raised higher in confusion.
Fred's eyes narrowed and he retorted, " It's not like you don't enjoy yourself when you visit—"
" Woah! Woah! Stop right there you two, I've barely had breakfast, or woken up for that matter, I am not prepared to hear this sort of talk this early!" Laura said horrified and got up as Stephanie and Fred looked at her leave to go to class incredibly amused.
" I should go to class too," Stephanie said as she leaned in for a kiss, but right before she kissed him, as her hot breath was softly caressing his lips she whispered, " Seeing that you boys are teaming up again, I guess it's on!" and she kissed him deeply, and got up, leaving him dazed.
Damn it woman! I can't be this awake, up and ready to go this early in the morning! Fred thought.
What an imbecile, thought Draco bitterly watching Fred smiling to himself gathering up his bag to follow Stephanie and the other out of the Great Hall. It was now clear to him, whatever he might have felt for Stephanie was nothing more then lust. She would have been a nice trophy to add to his wall, but now he wouldn't be so friendly.
What if I shared some of those things she wrote, he thought evilly, but as soon as the thought came to his mind it touched his heart and he couldn't do it.
Damn it all to hell, what is wrong with me?!
It had been a couple weeks now and Laura still hadn't seen Oliver, but Halloween was approaching, and as promised they were all going to meet up with him at the Three Broomsticks.
The night before, Stephanie and Laura had had practice with Snape, but this time, in order to save time, they had done their training and occlumency at the same time. Each girl doing one, the switching.
Laura was looking at her clothes, wondering what to wear when she saw Oliver, because other then a couple letters she hadn't seen him since the summer. As she held up her favorite green shirt she remembered the night before, the way Sirius had placed his hands on her shoulders to position them correctly when she was training. The hot tingle each fingertip had left on her skin. A sensation of something forbidden. When Sirius had backed away, she knew he was just pretending, he was feeling something too.
When she had tried a flip and fell, he swooped down concerned and worried, all masks falling to make sure she was all right, and then one by one all masks were back in place. They pretended. Laura's heart was soaring through her chest, but they both continued training, both alert, both…
" One more time." Snape said to Stephanie as she got up, round beads of sweat forming at the nape of her neck.
I don't want to push him out. I've never seen what I just saw. A man standing over me, I must have been a child. A knock at the door. Who's memory was this?
Stephanie stood looking defiant, and once again picked up her wand, and they began again.
A baby cries in the distant. A wooden table. A man stands to check up on the baby, as he looks over the edge—it looks like—it's—
" OUT!" Roared Snape, " How many times are we going to have to do this?" asked Snape angrier then ever, but nonetheless frazzled.
Stephanie looked up from the ground in horror, she looked for a difference, some feature that didn't make Snape the man peering over her cradle.
" Prof. Snape, was that you?" Stephanie asked tentatively.
Snape looked at her furious, enraged, but didn't move.
" Prof. Snape, did you know me when I was a child? Did you know my parents?" asked Stephanie thinking she would finally get some answers.
" I think that's quite enough for tonight."
Snape exited to retrieve Laura as Stephanie was to train with Sirius.
There was a mystery there, a mystery she had to resolve, and Stephanie felt like for the first time in her life there was place to start searching.
Back at Hogwarts, Laura was still holding her green shirt daydreaming, the few precious moments when dreaming in unhinged by the reality of what may lie ahead.
" Laura, Come on!" yelled Stephanie.
She hadn't told Laura what had happened with her and Snape just yet, but now they had to meet the boys to sneak to Hogesmeade because Oliver had just sent Fred and George and owl saying he was already in town.
" What is it Stephanie?" asked Laura as Stephanie threw the door open.
" Guess who's here?! Oliver! He came back 2 days early. Surprise! Haha"
" What?" Laura looked confused and started to panic. She didn't look horrible, but she could have definitely used running a comb through her hair. Laura started changing as fast as lighting, and making herself presentable as Stephanie laughed to herself.
"Ok well we'll be downstairs when you're ready."
Seeing Laura so frazzled into making herself presentable for OIiver made Stephanie want to go find Fred. She went downstairs to the boys huddled at a table, and as she approached Lee tapped George, who tapped Fred, who in turn looked up turning red and said, " Hey, Laura ready?" As Lee and George hurriedly cleared the table to papers they had been concentrating on.
" What are you lot up to?" asked Stephanie eyeing George and Lee.
" Nothing." They replied in unison.
" Oh, so it's something big. Fine, don't tell me just yet, but you know when me and Laura find out it will be huge."
" Hey now, you haven't even gotten your just deserved for that manicure trick you pulled on me so you have no room to talk" said George leaning back, " but as for these two, they're all yours."
Lee elbowed George who almost fell of his chair and Stephanie eyed Fred suspiciously.
Fred casually took Stephanie's hand and motioned for her to come closer and said quietly, " Where were you last night? I had a surprise for you, but you were no where to be found."
Stephanie turned red and said, " Oh, I –"
" Hey mates, ready to go?" asked Laura coming down.
" Yeah, let's go." Said Stephanie looking up, only making Fred more suspicious.