Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize.

Third Year

"Rina! You're not going to have time for breakfast if you don't get up soon."

I rolled over and pulled the covers over my head. It was Hermione attempting to wake me. She was my personal alarm clock, whether I liked it or not.

"Come on Rina!" Hermione called as she walked out the door.

I grudgingly pulled my covers down and stumbled out of bed, grumbling as I did so.

"Ah. So she's alive." Ron joked as I took my sit next to him in the Great Hall.

I stuck my tongue out at him as I scooped scrambled eggs onto my plate, he chuckled and turned his attention back to his breakfast.

"Are you guys excited for the Hogsmeade trip? I hear there's always loads of stuff to do on Halloween." It was Neville talking.

"I can't go." Harry sighed.

"McGonagall wouldn't let you?" I asked

"Nope."

The owls arrived and dropped a copy of The Daily Prophet in front of Hermione and small piece of folded up parchment in front of me.

Don't forget. Noon at the Shrieking Shack.

It wasn't signed, it didn't have to be. I knew who it was from, Draco. He was the only person who sent me letters by owl. Luckily no one noticed the letter, they were all paying attention to Harry.

"It's alright, mate. There's always the feast," said Ron, attempting to cheer Harry up. "You know, the Halloween feast, in the evening."

Harry still looked gloomy, "Yeah, great."

"We'll be sure to bring you lots of sweets back." I said.

"Yeah, of course we will." said Ron.

"Don't worry," said Harry, "I'll see you at the feast. Have fun."

We all walked to the entrance hall, where Filch, the caretaker, was standing inside the front doors, checking off names against a long list, making sure that no one was sneaking out.

Harry turned around and made his way up the staircase.

"I feel horrible that he has to stay here alone." I said as I turned away from him and looked toward Ron and Hermione.

"I know, me too." Hermione replied.

"He'll be OK." Ron reassured us.

I smiled, "I hope so."

"It's wonderful." I looked around at all the shops and all the Hogwarts students milling about.

"It really is." Hermione was gazing around with the same look of wonderment that I'm sure I had on my face.

I glanced at my watch, almost noon, I had to make it to the Shrieking Shack.

"C'mon lets go into Honeydukes and get the sweets we promised Harry." Ron grabbed Hermione and my arm and dragged us into the shop.

There were shelves upon shelves of every sweet imaginable. Ron and Hermione walked over to examine a tray of blood-flavoured lollipops. And I slipped back out the door, heading toward the Shrieking Shack.

I arrived at the Shack and looked around for Draco. He wasn't there, I looked at my watch and frowned, 12:10. I know ten minutes isn't that big of a deal, but Draco is never late.

I took a seat on a large rock by the edge of the forest to wait. I didn't have to wait long.

I was looking toward the Shrieking Shack when I felt someone sit down next to me. I turned and saw Draco smiling at me. "You're late." he mocked.

"By ten minutes."

"And it was ten minutes I was riddled with worry." he joked.

"Oh I don't know how you handled it." I replied sarcastically.

He rolled his eyes then pulled me to my feet, "C'mon let's go see the Shrieking Shack."

I followed him over to stand by the fence that circled the Shack.

"It's haunted you know." Draco looked at me.

"Yeah, right."

The wind blew through the shack and we heard the shrieking noise it was named after.

I shivered and Draco took off his cloak and draped it over my shoulders. Though it wasn't the cold I was shivering from, it was a nice gesture, and I would never let him know that I was scared.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

If it was anyone else saying that I would have smiled and thought nothing more about it, but with Draco it had a deeper meaning, because I really couldn't mention it. We had to keep our friendship a secret. Our houses were as different as could be and our friends considered each other mortal enemies.

He noticed the look on my face, "Oh, Rina I didn't mean it like that."

I gave him a weak smile, "I know. It's just so stupid. Having to hide like this."

He pulled me into a hug, "I know."

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