A/N: Aries and I would just like to thank everyone who reviewed, and to tell you to keep them coming, we love to read them.

This is our longest chapter to date, and we're really sorry for the long delay, but we had to go through finals and adjust to summer. Thanks for waiting.

Disclaimer: Don't own so don't sue

Chapter 7

When potions class was done, Professor Snape asked each student to hand in a vial of their potion.

"Now, before you leave, I would like to make an example out of Mr. Longbottom, it would be unwise to use pixie 'dust' instead of pixie 'wings'. For this insolence, you will all have to take a portion of your potion and drink it. Depending on the outcome of how well you did, you will be graded." He snapped.

Turning to look at Harry, Sarah shrugged and grabbed a ladle full of potion. Holding it to her lips, she drank the vile liquid. It tasted exactly like cherry cough syrup.

"Gross!" she coughed as she waved her hands in front of her face.

"Oh suck it up! Cherry cough syrup tastes good." Teased Steph as she came up behind her.

"Nuh uh." Protested Sarah. Rolling her eyes, Steph watched Harry drink the potion he had brewed with Sarah.

'How long before anything happens?' wondered Steph as she looked around the classroom, studying the students to see if they were reacting already.

"Who knows," Draco replied outwardly.

"Huh?" asked Steph, turning to face Drao, "who knows what?"

"I was just answering your question," he rolled his eyes, "you asked when this stuff takes effect."

"Well yeah," she answered with a confused expression on her face, "but I didn't say it out loud." Draco's eyes widened suddenly and Steph gasped audibly as they both realized what had happened.

"Oh great!" she exclaimed, "you can hear my thoughts now."

"Well at least we know two things now," said Draco, not seeming bothered by the change of events. "We know when the potion takes effect..."

"Yeah, right away." Groaned Steph.

"And we know that our potion worked," finished Draco, smirking as if he had done all the work and should therefore receive all the credit.

"Well of course it did you nitwit." She spat angrily, "no thanks to you. I swear, I have no idea how you get good marks in this class, you have no idea what you were doing. You skipped a step and almost completely messed everything up!"

"I got distracted, it's all Potter's fault, otherwise I would have been fine." 'Actually it was all your fault, you distracted me you annoying little bitch.' He thought.

"Oh please," she contradicted, pretending she hadn't heard his thoughts. "Harry didn't even talk to you, you're just looking for an excuse."

'What a joke,' she thought, 'Who does he take me for anyway? One of his cronies?'

"I don't think of you as one of my cronies, one of my inferiors maybe, but not my crony."

"Argh!! Stay out of my mind you asswipe!" she cried as she stormed off towards her next class.

'Not my fault the potion worked,' growled Draco to himself.

'I heard that dumbass,' he heard in his mind.

"This is going to be a long day." He sighed out loud.

Meanwhile, Sarah was rather enjoying the tie she had with Harry. Before he discovered what was going on, she figured she'd have a little fun with him.

'Harry...' she thought in a ghostly manner, 'I am you conscience.'

"My conscience?' He asked out loud, making a few students stare at him. "Why would my conscience have a female voice?"

'Because I am the conscience of your inner feminine side,' thought Sarah laughing out loud in her little corner. 'You have been neglecting me Harry, you never even listen to me anymore.'

"I'm sorry, I never really knew you were there." He answered guiltily, immediately regretting his answer.

'Never knew I was there?' shrieked Sarah, 'How dare you! From now on you have to do everything I tell you to do, if you do I may forgive you.'

Harry was still unaware that Sarah could transmit her thoughts, he didn't understand what the potion actually did. He figured that a binding potion would make them stick together, like they were handcuffed or something. Unsure of what to do, and unwilling to make anything female angry, he figured he should go along with what his female conscience wanted.

"Er, alright, what do you want me to do?" he asked.

'I want you to face Sarah and promise to be her friend.' Snickering, Sarah took a deep breath and gave Harry an innocent look as he regarded her with a frown of confusion.

"Problem?" voiced Sarah aloud. Thinking in the back of his mind that the two voices sounded oddly similar, Harry's train of thought was disrupted when...

"Nuh uh, don't sound the same." replied Sarah. Eyes widening as she realized what she had just said, she covered her mouth with her hands as a red tint worked its way across her cheeks. Crossing his arms across his chest, Harry raised his eyebrows in curiosity.

"Don't they?" he chuckled, shaggy brown hair covering his eyes. He didn't notice Sarah pouting until she stomped her foot.

"What's wrong?" he asked curiously.

"Nothing..." she replied. Forgetting about the mental link, she thought to herself, 'All I wanted was a friend, obviously I can't even do that much.' Sighing inwardly she wrapped her arms protectively around her waist as she diverted her attention to the floor. Eyes widening in surprise, Harry let out another chuckle at Sarah's muffled squeak as he pulled her into a hug.

"I'll be your friend, and don't think so lowly of yourself like that." he whispered into her right ear. Squeezing her reassuringly, Harry slowly pulled away. "Look, I have herbology right now, so I have to get going. I'll see you at lunch?" he inquired with a lazy grin. Nodding her head, Sarah waved him off.

'Hmm... now how to get out of the dungeons.' thought Sarah as she took her schedule out of her bag.

'Take the corridor on the left, turn right at the second passage and then keep walking until you get to the great hall.' replied Harry's voice in her head. Jumping up in surprise, Sarah thanked him as she walked down the long corridor that seemed a little too dreary for her tastes.

Outside the school, Sarah made her way past the quidditch pitch and headed towards the greenhouse #3. Wondering what she would be doing in herbology, she was surprised to find Harry there, idly chatting with Ron and Hermione.

'Hey,' Sarah greeted mentally. Whipping around to see her enter the greenhouse, Harry grinned and waved her over. Nodding politely to Ron and Hermione, she inwardly thought, 'Wonder if they'll be somewhat nice to me today.'

'What are you talking about?' questioned Harry as he stared at Sarah, blushing embarrassingly, Sarah shrugged her shoulders.

'Nothing' she replied hastily. Ignoring the funny looks she got from the other two, Sarah positioned herself at an empty workstation while Ron and Hermione questioned Harry.

"Let's play 20 questions," she snidely muttered under her breath. Coming up beside her as professor Sprout told them to pair off, Hermione shot Sarah a warning glare.

"What?" snapped Sarah as she turned to face an annoyed Hermione.

"Leave Harry alone LaChance." warned Hermione.

"Why?" she asked curiously. Crossing her arms across her chest, Sarah didn't notice Harry looking at her strangely. Feeling her becoming angry and annoyed, he walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. Turning around, Sarah frowned in confusion.

'Why does she want me to stay away from you?' she asked telepathically as she let out a sigh. Turning her back on Hermione, Sarah stared into his emerald green eyes. Stare never wavering, she ignored the class and awaited an answer.

'Hermione's just a little overprotective around me since the whole Cho incident, she doesn't. She doesn't want me getting hurt again.' He replied with an added role of his eyes for dramatization. Snorting rather unlady-like, Sarah put her hands on her hips.

Continuing their telepathic bond, she said, 'Well too bad for her, we're just friends anyways. And whether it's out of protection or not, it still doesn't give her the right to tell me to stay away from you.' Nodding his head in agreement, Harry promised to talk to Hermione after class. Hugging her in spite of the glare Hermione shot her, he went back over to his station with Ron and listened to professor Sprout ramble on about today's lesson.

Flipping off Hermione, Sarah as well listened to the professor's instructions. Leaving Hermione behind, she paired off with a fellow Gryffindor named Michael.

In transfigurations with professor McGonagall, Stephanie was skimming through her textbook while thinking about how to conceal her thoughts from Draco, when he interrupted her train of thought.

'What Malfoy?' she bit out in irritation. Looking across the room at him, she raised one delicate eyebrow as she idly tapped her finger on her crossed arms.

'Watch your tone Malefice.' He warned, smirking at her he continued. 'Now quit thinking so much about me, I know everyone thinks I'm irresistible and impossibly charming, I mean, who wouldn't think that? But you should discontinue your thoughts unless you know occlumency, which I doubt you would -'

'Don't be so full of yourself, Malfoy,' she glared, cutting him off. Blocking him out of her head, she listened to professor McGonagall explain how to turn a candle stick into a cockatoo. She paired them off to work on their candles, luckily Steph narrowly avoided Draco this time. He had been making his way towards her table when he was intercepted by Pansy Parkinson.

"Oh Draco, isn't it great?" she cooed obnoxiously "we get to work together, maybe we could even make our 'own' magic." She added slyly. She clung to his arm and muttered little love quotes to him. Steph caught the revolted look on his face and just had to laugh.

'Well Draco,' she mocked, 'looks like popularity has its drawbacks.'

'Shut up Malefice, you're just jealous that she beat you to it.' He retorted.

'As I recall, it was you who was trying to get to me.' She smirked. She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to stare into the bright lavender eyes of Blaise.

"Hey Steph," he greeted with a wide grin. "I was wondering if you'd like to be my partner."

Grinning back, she answered sweetly, "I'd love to, but you'd better be ready to work."

He rolled up his sleeves to add to the effect as his eyes gleamed with malice. "I'm always ready to work."

In the meantime Draco had just finished prying Pansy off his arm. He glanced over at Steph and saw her with Blaise, he growled unconsciously; momentarily forget his mental bond to Stephanie.

'Down boy,' she said snidely, 'you don't want little miss Pansy to think you're not giving her your undivided attention, now do you.'

'I'd watch your back if I was you.' He bit back. 'Zabini is known as the Hogwarts player. He doesn't care about anyone but himself and he's always looking for a fresh piece of ass.'

'Aww... how sweet Draco, you actually care about what happens to me.'

'I don't give a shit about you, I just don't want to hear him gloating about nailing you like he's done with all the others. His voice is like nails on a chalk board and when tinted with superiority it's deadly.'

'Do I detect a note of jealousy in your voice?' she giggled.

'Me? Jealous? You must be joking. Why would I be jealous of him?'

'Because he gets me as a partner and you're stuck with Starry Eyes over there.' She teased. Draco glanced over at Pansy who was batting her eyelashes flirtatiously at him.

He shuddered, 'Ugh, I'm going to regret this... Stephanie, I'm sorry about the way I treated you, there, I said it. Now will you please save me from this drooling female?' he pleaded.

'Sorry Draco, I'm a Slytherin, we don't just save people like that. However, Canadians are a bit more forgiving...' Draco smiled expectantly. 'However, I just agreed to be Blaise's partner, and I don't like going back on an agreement.' Draco's face fell. 'But I promise that next time I won't let your sweet Pansy get you as a partner, even if I have to take her place, but lets hope that never happens.'

'So I'm stuck with her!?' he growled in disgust.

'Yup!' she smiled, 'at least for today. You said yourself, everyone is madly in love with you, now bask in the glory of your popularity.' she finished sarcastically.

'Bitch!' he retorted.

'Thank you.' she shot back. She turned back to Blaise who had returned from the teacher's desk with their candles and their set of instructions.

As the class struggled, Steph explained the spell to Blaise and demonstrated with her candle. The candle turned into a perfect cockatoo that sang sweetly when it was done.

"Well done Miss Malefice, 10 points to Slytherin for being successful on the first try," clapped McGonagall, "I want the rest of the class to make an example of her, no one may leave until they make some improvement on their candle. Anything as small as a beak or some feathers will do, please continue."

'Goody-two shoes,' mocked Malfoy.

'You know what Malfoy? Your jealousy is really immature. I thought you were supposed to try and gain my respect. I'd say you're doing a really horrible job!' she yelled into his mind. Draco quickly stopped his next thought and focused all of his attention on his candle. Pansy had already made an attempt on her own candle and a small feather had sprouted out the top. He quickly performed the spell, turning his candle into a slightly imperfect cockatoo.

"Well done Mr. Malfoy," congratulated professor McGonagall. He turned to smile smugly at Steph, whose own cockatoo was perched on her shoulder. "However, he is rather cylindrical, he still maintains his candle form. I will not be able to award you full marks." The smile vanished from his face as his head shot back to look at his bird, who indeed, was still in its candle form.

'Not a bad job Malfoy,' came Steph's voice in his head.

'Don't bother gloating, I already know yours is better.' He growled.

'I wasn't gloating, I was just saying you did a good job. I mean, look around you, aside from me, you're the only student who managed to turn it into an actual cockatoo.' She gave him a warm smile, 'you should be proud of your accomplishments, not disappointed in your mistakes.'

'Are you sure you're not a Gryffindor Malefice?' he asked after a moment's hesitation.

'I'm a Slytherin silly, but I could have been in any of the four houses.'

"Oh I see," Blaise suddenly exclaimed, he tapped his candle and muttered the spell as he watched as it sprouted a beak and wings. "Damn, not quite."

"Pronounce the word slower and louder, and roll your 'r' a little more." tutored Steph. He did as he was told and watched as it turned into a full cockatoo with a candle holder instead of feet. "Close enough," she laughed.

"Thanks," he said with a sexy grin, "at least now I can get a passing grade."

'I can't wait until this cursed potion wears off,' groaned Draco to himself.

'You and me both,' answered Steph. 'I feel like I'm babysitting a spoiled brat.'

'Babysitting!?'

'Yeah, seeing as I can hear your thoughts I gotta make sure you don't do anything stupid.'

'Yeah, right, like you could ever stop me. Hey! You read my thoughts, but how come I can't read yours anymore?'

'You reminded me of my complementary class back in Canada; Occlumency. I can block my thoughts at will.' She answered with a superior grin.

'God damn it, now I Really can't wait until this potion wears off.' he complained. 'You're like an evil version of that stupid mudblood Hermione Granger.'

'Who?'

'Some know-it-all Gryffindor.' he shrugged.

'Oh, so someone who knows more then you,' she guessed. 'You know, just because someone is smarter then you, doesn't mean they're a know-it- all.'

'You'll understand when you meet her.' He explained.

'Whate –' she was cut off. Apparently the diluted version of the potion only lasted an hour. Stephanie grinned, she was finally free of his thoughts, she was getting tired of his snarky attitude. She looked over at him to make sure that he knew what was going on.

He was staring back at her with intense silver eyes. He nodded once to reply to her unasked question. He too realized the potion had worn off. Having completed the assignment in transfiguration, she packed up her books into her shoulder bag and said goodbye to Blaise, who was still working on the feet of his cockatoo, hoping to fix it in order to get a higher grade.

She headed off towards her common room to relax a bit and drop off her bags before lunch. She began reading a book when the wall to the common room opened up. Draco walking in, dropped his bag on the floor and plopped into one of the plush armchairs near Stephanie.

"Miss me?" he asked casually.

"Like the flu" she replied sarcastically, "what do you want Malfoy?"

"Well this is my common room, I'm allowed to seat here. Do you have a problem with me sitting here? Cuz I could always go and sit in that chair." He pointed to a chair closer to her.

"I don't give a shit where you sit, just leave me alone." she complained.

"Well you're the only one here, and I have nothing else to do." he explained like it as the most logical thing in the world.

"Didn't you get enough of me in class and through the potion?" she mocked.

"Nope, that little taste only made me want you more." He winked. Steph couldn't tell if he was joking, or if he was being serious.

"You talk as if I'm a piece of candy," she frowned, placing her bookmark to keep her page.

"Maybe you are." he said lightly as he stood up.

"Candy is sweet and I'm a bitch, you need a new comparison." She laughed quietly.

"Well, in Blaise's eyes, you're a piece of ass, in my eyes, you're a Gryffindor with an attitude and a spot in the wrong house." He walked up to her and placed a hand on each of the armrests of her chair, pinning her loosely to the chair. The motion loosened his hair and a few strands fell into his eyes. "You shouldn't be in this common room, whore."

"Then move your ugly mug out of my face so that I can leave!" she stood up forcefully, which resulted in pushing him out of the way with her body. They glared at each other.

"I'd watch who I called ugly, you Gryffin-whore." he poked her shoulder.

"Keep your bloody hands off me you poor excuse of a wizard." she snarled, reaching slowly for her pocket.

"Look who's talking! I'm a pureblood, I'm rich, my father is well known, I'm handsome, and I could go on, but I'd rather not waste my breath on you."

"Well considering you don't want to waste any breath, you're being pretty long-winded." she smirked. "And I'm a pureblood too, I'm rich on my own, not because of my parents. I'm not pretty, but then, for me, looks are insignificant, and I'm smart, independent, evil and nice, I know the difference between right and wrong, and I know that you're an ass with no common sense." She suddenly whipped out her wand and pointed it in his face. "Now move your sorry excuse of a wizard ass out of my way before I make you!"

"You wouldn't – "

"FLIPENDO!!" she cried as she knocked him across the hall, she picked up her book and stalked out of the common room, she didn't hear him mutter behind her back.

"Not pretty my ass, you need more self-confidence."

She ran through the halls towards the dragon room, she was so furious, 'Who did he think he was?' she yelled to herself, 'he makes me so mad, it's a good thing the mind link is gone, I never want to hear his voice again.' She fumed. She came up to the room and stopped to calm her nerves before she muttered "Canadian eh?" and walked into the room. She tossed her bag onto the table and threw her book onto the dark green chair she had recently added. She pulled open the lavish doors that led to the balcony.

They had added the doors and balcony after a week of the stuffy room. They each thought of how they wanted it to look and wished for it together. The result had been gorgeous; dark mahogany double doors with ornate golden handles and dark curtains that hung down or looped to the side depending on the occupant's mood. The balcony was a circular ledge that went all around the tower and had a hand rail that wasn't very high. Steph had performed a spell on the railing so that it was impossible to fall off.

Once on the balcony she took a deep breath of fresh, fall air. She walked around the tower until she was able to see the greenhouses. She summoned Ixi using the summoning charm and gave him a message to deliver to Sarah. Ixi scampered off down the tower walls using the stones as grips. She saw him run off towards the greenhouses #3. He was well trained and would wait until the class filed out instead of bothering them.

The bell for lunch rang a few minutes later and the Gryffindor's came out of the greenhouse. She saw Ixi leap onto Sarah's back and climb up to her shoulder. At the same moment, down on the grounds...

"Hey Ixi." exclaimed Sarah, when she recognized the monkey on her back. "Is that a note for me?" she indicated the note that protruded from the small bag on his back. Jumping up and down on her shoulder in response. She took the note out and stepped off to the side to read it. She didn't notice Hermione step off the path behind her. The note read:

Hey Sarah,

If you're looking for me at lunch I'm in the Dragon Room, I need time to cool off, some asshole pissed me off (you know which one I'm talking about). Anyway, if you can, try to bring me some food. I may be angry, but I won't starve myself. I'll see you soon, send Ixi back with your answer to the food part.

Steph

As Sarah folded the letter back up, a voice spoke up from behind her.

"What's the Dragon Room?" asked Hermione, who had obviously been reading over her shoulder.

"None of your damn business. Hasn't anyone ever taught you not to stick your ugly nose into other people's private matters?" scowled Sarah.

"If it was private, you wouldn't have opened it here." replied Hermione, shrugging her shoulders.

"Well if it wasn't private I'd still be walking with the class." shot Sarah.

"Yeah, whatever. So who's Steph? Is she a Revenclaw or a Hufflepuff?" continued Hermione.

"She's a Slytherin."

Hermione was silent for a minute. "Sorry, I thought you said she was a Slytherin."

"I did, do you have a problem with that?"

"Well, she's a Slytherin, Gryffindors do not become friends with Slytherins."

"I was her friend before she was sorted and her house doesn't mean I have to stop being her friend. We Canadians don't discriminate against people because they hang out in a different room. Now bugger off, go shove your big nose into someone else's business." Sarah shoved the note into the pocket of her skirt and stalked off towards the castle fuming and complaining about whore's who thought they could do anything they wanted.

Watching from afar, Harry witnessed the animosity between Sarah and Hermione.

'I really need to talk to Hermione...' he thought. Waiting for her to catch up with him, they both walked towards the main doors.

Replying to Steph's letter, Sarah told her she'd meet her there with some food since she had some fuming to do herself. Heading towards where she had heard was the kitchens, she stopped in front of a portrait of painted fruits. Looking on either side of her, she reached out and tickled the pear. The pear giggled and transformed into a doorknob. She walked into the kitchen and was immediately surrounded by the Hogwarts house elves.

"May Glimmer offer sandwiches miss?" asked a short and chubby elf on her right.

"Would miss like a drink?" asked a skinny one on the left, "Pinky has butterbeer available."

"Manky would much like to serve miss."

"Jockly is at miss's service."

"Woah guys," laughed Sarah, "calm down a little, I'll let you serve me. I need food and drinks for two people please." The house elves ran around before she even finished her sentence. Within minutes they had two baskets ready, one with food and one with drinks. She thanked them and they bowed her out of the kitchen. She quickly ran through the halls and traced the now familiar path to the dragon room. She didn't realize that she was being followed, and by more then one person.

Harry was worried when he didn't see Sarah at lunch, he thought Hermione had really upset her. He was heading towards Gryffindor tower when he spotted Sarah walking out of the dungeon corridors carrying baskets. He decided to follow, he wasn't a stalker or anything, he was just concerned about her.

He kept behind her enough to that she wouldn't become suspicious, but she seemed to be preoccupied with something else and didn't even look back. She went through a series of halls then disappeared behind a large tapestry. He waited a few seconds and followed her. Seconds later, a third figure passed through behind them.

When Sarah got to the Dragon Room, she said the password and walked in. Harry had to run to catch up in time to grab the door before it closed. He left it open a crack and looked in to make sure that the coast was clear before sneaking in. He looked around the room in shock, he was so shocked he didn't notice someone else grab the door before it closed.

He slowly walked around the room, taking in his new surroundings. Plush chairs, mahogany desks, hanging basket chairs, bookcases, and ornate rugs littered the room in a half-hazard way, giving the room a calming and welcoming atmosphere. He didn't see Sarah anywhere, but he heard voices coming from behind a set of double doors. He slowly opened the doors, hoping to get the speakers within earshot...

"Don't forget Steph, the quidditch tryouts are Friday afternoon," he heard Sarah's voice say.

"I know, it's the only thing I have to look forward to right now, the people in my classes are assholes, well, most of them anyway," said an unfamiliar voice.

"Well I don't think anyone takes us seriously because we're Canadians," continued Sarah, letting Harry know that she must be talking to another transfer student. "We'll show them exactly what Canadians are made ou – "

"Shh, I heard something..." Harry covered his mouth to hide his breathing. "Patrick?" called the mystery girl.

"Sebastien?" called Sarah. Harry was thinking they were calling for their boyfriends. He didn't understand why he felt a little pang of jealousy over the fact that Sarah might have a boyfriend. But he had other things to worry about, the two girls were heading back into the room and he was about to be caught eavesdropping in a room he probably wasn't supposed to know about.

Too late... he was frozen to the spot as Sarah pulled open the door.

"Harry?" asked Sarah quizzically, "what are you going here?"

"Er...I...er..."

"Were you following me!?" she raised her voice slightly.

"well, not exactly...you see...er..." he stammered, unable to look her in the eyes.

"You were following me! What are you? Some freaky stalker?" she shrieked.

"I was concerned! I was just worried about you!" he said hurriedly. "When I saw you and Hermione have another row, and then I didn't see you at lunch, I got worried. I was heading up to the tower when I saw you. I decided to follow you to make sure you were ok." he hung his head guiltily. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."

"Well, it's not that big of a deal." She said slowly, slightly shocked by the confession. "You didn't hear the password did you?"

"No, I caught the door before it closed."

"Ok, then I guess there was no harm done." Sarah chose that moment to look up at the door. She saw a young boy sneaking towards it dressed all in black and wearing a black bandana over his hair.

"Hey you!" she yelled. The figure froze for a second, then tried bolting out the door. Stephanie was too fast for him, she pulled out her wand, pointed it and yelled.

"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!!" The figure seized up, his legs and arms snapped to his sides, off balance, he fell onto his back. Steph ran over to him and looked him in the eye.

"I don't believe it," she said slowly. "What the hell are you doing here?" she reached down and pulled off the bandana.

Who can guess who the mystery person is? Aries almost killed me when I wouldn't tell her. I have no idea how this is gonna work out, Aries and I had a general outline made, but there was no detail, so all of this is made up as we write, it just goes from my mind to the paper, if you catch my meaning. I'll try to post the next chapter sooner this time, I'm getting used to this summer thing. Anyway, hope you guys enjoy this chappy!

Read and Review plz!

Ja Ne

Kie and Aries