justplaindork- I'm trying, I'm trying! Thanks for reading my ficcy; update yours soon!

potts-You're not finding out about Adrienne in this chapter, or the next, or for a while, so get used to it. Well, Sirius had to be taken away. Sorry. I want to see what all my readers conclude about Adrienne before I reveal the truth (which will be at the end, mind you).

Chapter 5: Frustration

Harry,

I've just found something. Meet me by the Prefects' bathroom right away.

A

Harry sighed a long deep sigh. He had liked the "new" Adrienne at first; she had more life in her. But now her perkiness wasn't contagious—it was annoying.

Harry slipped on a cloak and made his way to the Prefects' bathroom. Adrienne was already waiting there.

"What is it, Harper?" Harry rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"Harry, we don't have any horned slugs."

Harry rolled his eyes because he didn't have the energy to get angry.

"So we'll steal some from Snape's office. Is that all?"

Adrienne looked down at the stone floor. "No, that's not all," she said without lifting her eyes. "Um, Harry? I'm… really sorry."

"For what, Harper?"

"For the way I acted."

"Well… good. I have to admit, the perkiness kind of scared me. Well, now that that's settled, I'm going to go sleep."

"What are you talking about, Harry?"

"Your new attitude. It just doesn't work for you. I think you've had too much energy. You've kept me up for three nights straight. I thought that's what you were… talking about," he finished slowly, realizing that may not have been what she meant.

"Harry, I meant how I treated you at the beginning of the year—coldly. It wasn't me, it wasn't me at all."

"Oh. I… sorry. I just meant you might want to tone down the enthusiasm a little."

"I'll… I'll do that, Harry. Since it's Saturday tomorrow, would you like to meet at Zonko's?"

"I… sure."

Hermione sat on the couch, curled up and leaning against an arm, quietly sobbing. She didn't notice when someone came and sat down beside her.

"Hermione?" Ron asked. "What's wrong, baby?"

"It's Harry. I can't believe we're fighting. He won't even look at me. I think we're losing him, Ron."

"I know," Ron said, wrapping his arms around her. "I'll talk to him in the morning—he's not in his bed right now. Dunno why."

Hermione sniffed and nodded. "Ron," she asked, "have you met this Harper girl?"

"No, can't say I have. Why?"

"Don't you think maybe we should? I mean, she's new and all, and Harry's been spending a lot of time with her. I think maybe we should meet her."

Harry woke up the next morning with his feet on his pillow. He crawled out of bed, got dressed and was at the door when something stopped him.

"Harry."

Harry turned around to see Ron. "Yeah?"

"Have you talked to 'Mione yet?"

"No. About what?"

"About the fight you two had. You are going to talk to her, aren't you?"

"Of course not. If she wants to make up, she can come talk to me."

"Harry! You guys are best friends!"

"Know what, Ron? Yesterday Dumbledore told me Sirius is gone. Gone, Ron, do you hear me?" he yelled. "Sirius is gone!"

Ron was shocked. "I… I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"Yeah. Well, I suppose it's not your fault." They were silent.

"So where is he?"

"They took him to St. Mungo's. Dumbledore said he couldn't stop them."

"I'm sorry, Harry. I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got a lot of homework. See you later."

"Fine… wait, you're missing breakfast?"

Ron gave him a sorry smile.

Music played as Harry fingered the exploding cauldrons with faint interest. He didn't know why he agreed to come when he had so much homework to do to prepare for N.E.W.T.s.

"Hi, Harry," said a feminine voice behind him.

"Blue today, huh?" commenting on her hair.

"Yup," said Adrienne. "I really like this place," she said. "I used to play with some old Zonko merchandise as a kid…"

"I thought you said you were new here."

"I am."

"Then how did you get Zonko products?"

Adrienne panicked, realizing she had said too much. "Oh, um… they were from a friend who went here."

"Really? Who?"

"They, uh, graduated a long time ago."

"Oh."

The two walked around the shop for a little while, not saying much. They took a stroll outside gazing into the bright windows.

"Wow, look at that broomstick," Harry said, touching the glass.

"Real beauty," Adrienne agreed.

"You like Quidditch?" Harry asked with interest.

"I like flying and I like watching the sport. Not so much playing."

"Oh."

They chatted animatedly as they walked along, talking about school, weather, magic, Quidditch. Suddenly Adrienne grabbed her forehead.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, I… just have a terrible headache. Maybe it's the cold. Can we go for a drink?"

"Sure." They went to The Three Broomsticks and ordered two butterbeers.

"Mm, that helps," said Adrienne as she sipped hers.

"So Adrienne, have any brothers or sisters?"

"No. I'm an only child. My mother died… in childbirth. I live with my father."

"I'm sorry about your mom."

"It's okay. I don't remember her."

"Is your father a wizard?"

Suddenly an odd look came over Adrienne's face. "Yes. But he doesn't deserve it. He's horrible, absolutely horrible. I'm disgusted to even admit that he's my father. Harry, I'm so sorry, I-" She stopped suddenly. She fell to the floor silent, her eyes wide open, jerking violently.

"Adrienne? Are you okay? Someone get help!" Harry yelled. She looked like she was having some sort of seizure.

Adrienne jerked one last time, then stopped. Her eyes were hauntingly dull and stormy once again.

"Harry Potter," she said in a monotone. "I have to go. I'll see you in Potions class." She turned to walk to the door, then stopped. She turned around to face him. Her eyes were different; she had changed again.

"Harry!" she cried. "Please do me a favor—forget this night. Forget what happened and what is going to happen. I'll see you in Potions, Harry…" and as if something propelled her to the door, she left.

"Adrienne, what is with you? You haven't talked to me all class, and you freaked on me yesterday… what is going on?"

"Nothing, Potter. I'm fine."

"Fine."

"Fine."

They bent over, adding ingredients to their potion. The dungeon was quiet, and Snape paced around the room, making all the students feel on edge.

Suddenly, from somewhere near Crabbe, a cauldron exploded, sending turquoise liquid all over him and a few other Slytherins nearby.

"Run!" Adrienne hissed to Harry.

"Huh?"

"Snape's storeroom. Horned slugs. Go!" Harry ran to the storeroom while the entire classroom was in chaos. Everyone was panicking, girls were screaming, Snape was trying to calm everyone down. It was perfect. Harry whispered "Alohomora" and quietly opened the door. He found the jar labeled "Horned Slugs" easily because the entire storeroom was organized alphabetically. He dumped two into the pocket of his robe and ran back out before Snape had turned around.

"How'd you do that?" Harry asked Adrienne when he had returned.

A little of the spark had returned to her eyes. "Zonko's. You didn't think I'd skip out on buying something from there, did you?" she smiled.

A/N: This absolutely sucked. Sorry. Be a little positive in your review anyway? The next will be better... I hope. I'm having writing issues right now.

OOA