­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Sorry it took so long to put this chapter on and stuff... I was grounded off the phone and the internet for two whole excruciating weeks... hee he! I'm a real bad girl, I defy the law baby! Actually, this is the first time I've been grounded in about six or seven years and all because I walked to the local Ice Cream shop down the interstate! I know why I was grounded, it wasn't a responsible thing for me to do because I could have got hit by a car or something like that – but all I cared about was going to see my friends. Ha, I'm a friggin' goody two-shoes... and you can't guess how much I hate that! But I love my dear Mother too much to really act out, you know?

Well, this is great. Lots of reviews, lots of love, minimal hate-mail... no hate-mail actually! Yay, no hate-mail! Never had a real live hate mail before and I really don't plan on getting one. I probably just jinxed myself huh? Shoot!

I hope you like this next chapter right here. I hope it answers some of your questions as to how Kate is at Hogwarts and how she can see it and all that jazz. That explanation comes nearer to the middle/end not right in the beginning so please be patient with me! Other things were more important than that or so I thought when I was typing this. Whether or not you think it's more or less important – I didn't have any of you here with me when I wrote this so please feel free to review and tell me if you are really upset with where I stuck this information. Lol

On with the show then, no more postponing it!

Chapter 3

Things running through Harry's mind right at this moment: Oh shit, is that really Kate? Is Kate really standing here in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts in front of me or am I dreaming and delusional again like always? This seems more like a nightmare than a dream to me! I am in SO much trouble...

Things running through Ron's mind right at this moment: This doesn't look good. I thought Harry was out making out with guys, but then who's this hot chick with a rather nice arse? I hope Hermione understands this so she can explain it to me later once this is all over...

Things running through Hermione's mind right at this moment: Oh my... good God! What is going on here! Who is this girl anyways? She said she knew Harry, but then why does he look so shocked to see her? For the first time in my life I have no clue as to what's going on...

Things running through Draco's mind right at this moment: Um, who's the strange female teenager? I don't recognize her from anywhere or at least I don't think I do. Is anyone going to bother to introduce her to me or am I just going to lie here and feel like an idiot forever...

Things running through Kate's mind right at this moment: Do all British teenagers think in this format? Oh man, not they got ME doing it too! What happened to the American way of putting people's private thoughts in just italics? Oh well, now to the more pressing problem – who's the exceedingly pale kid in the bed next to Harry and why is everyone looking at me like that way you look at people at a funeral pr when they have no clue they're getting talked about behind their back? Did Harry not tell them about me or something...

(Draco POV)

"Kate? Kate Adair, are you really her?" Harry asked hoarsely. This seemed to me to be one of those times when it would suit my best interests to stay silent, at least for a little while. A Malfoy always knows when to keep his mouth shut – even if they don't ACT on that knowledge. I'm always really bad at that, but I decided now would be a good time to try to act on that. "Is it really you? Here, in Hogwarts?"

"Hello to you too Harry, what a marvelous way to welcome me to England after an overnight plane ride and a jetlagged trip through the English countryside in the riding in the back of a pickup truck because my travel plans got ruined. I obviously missed the train you all get to ride on. Oh Harry, isn't this the best?" The girl giggled in a very American accent throwing her arms around Harry's neck hugging him close. I can't tell you how much it bothered me to see her hugging him like that – after all he is my boyfriend. How long had it been since they'd seen each other last? When did these two meet each other in the first place and why didn't Harry tell me about her before? Did something happen between the two of them? "What HAVE you been doing since I left to get you landed in the hospital like this?"

"Oh you know Kate, just a little drowning and such. Nothing too big or too exciting like magic-ing up a freak hurricane or blowing up a federal building and robbing it." Harry smiled halfheartedly and insincerely only causing Kate to laugh, her head falling back as she giggled. They seemed so comfortable with each other like they might even be... but I was Harry's boyfriend! What was going on here! I moaned from down deep in my throat, clutching my forehead causing everyone to look over at me. Time to drop the silence I had instated for my own safety in favor of being the center of attention. "Oh Draco, are you alright?"

"I don't know Harry. I don't mean to be a pest, but my bloody head's killing me!" I sighed animatedly, putting on those sad puppy dog eyes so Harry looked even more worried about me than he did before. "Are YOU alright Harry?"

"Yeah, I'm feeling great Draco. I'm more worried about you're health than mine. You're the one that swallowed all that water not me, I'm the one who sorta pulled us both into the lake after all, and I'M the one who can actually swim remember?" Harry smiled, patting my hand. All the while we were talking I was watching Kate out of the corner of my eye to see her reaction to all of this madness I was orchestrating, the trouble I was conducting under everyone's noses like the sly thing I am. At first she seemed unaffected as if she thought Harry and I were just good friends concerned about the other's health, but when he touched my hand she seemed to know something more was going on. I smiled to myself inside my waterlogged little head happily. Things were going according to plan – my plan. At least I thought so then anyways... "You think you can pull through this one Draco or is it just too late for you?"

"Of course I can pull through this Harry, don't worry so much about me and work more of healing yourself. Remember my dear Potter – I'm not as weak as you are!" I sniffed playfully shoving his hand off mine. Ron and Hermione collectively giggled together behind their hands as Kate stared at us, Harry looking a bit offended and sad.

"That may be true Draco, but you're the one that's always in the hospital wing after our Quidditch games." Harry stated pointedly, poking me painfully in the side. I wiggled away from his poking finger, half form the tickling feeling it caused and half from the pain it caused me to have his finger shoved into the sensitive flesh of my side. "What do you have to say about that Malfoy?"

"Oh, so we're back to calling each other by our last names again huh?" I sighed quite loudly and airily I will admit. I like being the center of attention, I won't deny it. Looking over at Harry's face I smiled widely. "You're the one who always lands me here Potter and you know it! You're the reason I'm always in the Hospital Wing!"

"That's true I suppose. I really do cause all your accidents don't I?" Harry said thoughtfully. "Oh well, you love me for it though don't you Draco?"

"Yeah, I love you for it Harry." I smiled, taking Harry's hand in mine again. My fingers traced the back of his hand lazily as I smirked at him.

"Aw, give us a kiss! Give us a kiss you two please!" Hermione and Ron cooed together hopping up and down, their arms around each other's waists. I looked wide eyed up at them and they nodded happily at me. They were serious then, they really wanted us to kiss? Yes, the uncomfortableness was gone between my old rivals and I at last!

"What do you say Harry? You feeling up to it or are you too ill for a little snogging?" I smiled leaning towards him as far as I could without falling out of the bed and onto the floor. Harry paused for a second before leaning towards me the rest of the way, his lips firm against mine. After a moment he softened, his lips parting slightly against mine. Smiling broadly to myself, I slid my tongue into his eager mouth sighing in pleasure – until I felt a hand on my shoulder gripping it tightly, pulling me away from Harry. "What the bloody 'ell? Who..."

"I could ask you the same thing!" Kate snapped angrily, grimacing down at me savagely. She was the one that pulled me away from Harry... but why had she done it? "What the hell are you kissing Harry in front of me for?"

"Well, why wouldn't I kiss Harry in front of you?" I asked confused. I was obviously missing something important here, but what was it?

"What?" Kate gasped. Ron and Hermione looked worried and confused, Harry looked... was nervous the right word for it? Harry looked like a bitterly horrible mix of petrified, nervous, scared, confused, and worried all rolled into one if that was possible. It's really not a good look for him either with his face all pink and screwed up as he bit his lower lip wringing his hands in his lap. "What do you mean 'why'? Have you kissed Harry before then Drake?"

"First of, my name is DRACO MALFOY not Drake! And of course I've kissed Harry before, lots of times in fact!" I sneered at her angrily. She was really getting on my nerves, which were running short as it is was with all the sneaking around Harry and I had been doing together lately, trying not to get caught together snogging each other senseless behind the Greenhouses or beside the lake in the bushes. It was really stressing to have to sneak around all the time like that!

"You have?" Kate said softly, tears welling up in her eyes. Hermione apparently was the only one who knew what was actually going on as she took Kate by the arm and tried to lead her out of the Hospital Wing. But Kate wouldn't budge. She stood stock still refusing to move, staring over at Harry with wide eyes and a large frown on her face as her face fell steadily lower.

"Kate I – I just um." Harry started looking bewildered and extremely confused as to what was going on. Looking between Kate's face and mine and back again, Harry paled. "Kate I... Draco I swear I can explain!"

"Explain? Explain what Harry, I'm so confused!" I said, still looking intently into his face for an explanation that wasn't coming. Harry's eyes flitted wildly around for a split second before he fainted dead away falling limply backwards, slumping onto the pillows as his hand dangled limply over the edge of the bed like a limp wet soggy noodle. "HARRY!"

"Oh my God, this can't be happening!" Kate gasped her hands over her mouth as Ron and Hermione rushed to Harry's side. Ron shook him roughly as Hermione squealed, hopping up and down in her spot while she figured out the best course of action. I couldn't do anything being magically attached to the bed by Madam Pomfrey, seeing as I have a disconcerting habit of jerking in my sleep and falling out of bed when I'm ill. All I could do was sit back, watch, and panic in my own hospital bed.

"What is all this then? What's going on here, this is a hospital after all!" A stern voice called from the door. Professor McGonagall came striding into the Ward looking grave, her lips perched tightly together as she stared down her nose at everyone clustered around Harry's bed. "What seems to be the matter here then you four?"

"Harry, he's just fainted away!" Hermione cried out, tugging on the sleeve of Harry's robes. "Professor what do we do?'

"Poppy! Madam Pomfrey, come here quickly!" Professor McGonagall called shrilly through the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey came running to Harry's bedside, shooing everyone. As professor McGonagall forced the chattering crowd out of the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey pulled the curtains closed over Harry's bed so I couldn't see him anymore. God I hope he's alright!

(End POV)

(Harry POV)

Okay, I admit it. I pretended to faint to get myself out of the tight situation only I had gotten myself into. Hermione would call it childish if she found out what I had done so... best not to let her find out about it then. No one can ever find out I faked a fainting spell. If anyone asked, 'the excitement of seeing Kate again and having them all arguing had just been too much to me'. Yeah, I know what you're thinking – 'Harry is such a bloody chicken, he can't even handle choosing between the two people he cares most about.' It's true, I can't choose between them. I love Draco, I really do feel like we just belong together forever... but there's just something about Kate makes me feel so... so different from when I'm with Draco. I'm not sure why, but I just feel different, like I'm two completely different people depending on who I'm with.

I never expected to see Kate ever again once I took her back to America where she lived in some place called 'Ohio.' Even the towns in American were named strange things. Why name a town Ohio and what does Ohio even mean? Oh well, that's not the important part of this anyways. I never thought I'd see her again back in England. I thought maybe I could visit her back in American everyone once in a while like I'd planned on doing during the summer like we'd decided on. I never thought I would have to pay the consequences for my thoughtless actions from the summer night so long ago.

"Is he going to be alright Madam Pomfrey?" I heard Draco asking her as she extinguished the lamps along the walls. "Is Harry going to be alright? I'm just so worried about him, it's not everyday you see someone faint."

"He's going to be just fine dear, don't worry your little head about it." Madam Pomfrey said cheerily, comfortingly. "You just set your mind on getting yourself better and leave Potter to me. Goodnight then dear, sleep well."

Heels went clicking up the ward as the last candle was extinguished, then silence. I heard Draco sniff sadly from the bed beside me before turning over onto his side, the bedsprings straining slightly as he moved. Draco's shallow breathing filled the ward, the only thing interrupting the silence. Now was as good a time as any to talk to him about Kate I suppose.

"Muffliato!" I whispered, grabbing my wand off the bedside table to point it at the door behind which Madam Pomfrey spend all her nights so she could keep an eye on everyone in the Hospital Wing. Now Draco and I could talk freely without being interrupted or overheard. Draco stirred beside me, obviously having heard me cast the spell even if he didn't know what it did. Pulling back the curtains around my bed I saw Draco looking over at me through the dark. "Draco, you still awake then?"

"Harry, you're alright!" Draco whimpered in relief. I hadn't known just how worried he had been never having thought out what everyone might think or do if I 'fainted' before them out of 'over exciting myself at Kate and everyone all being there with me with all the shouting and whatnot'. I just thought it was a rather clever way out of that sticky situation without having to face it just yet. It had given me plenty of time to think things over, just like I had wanted. "God Harry, I was so worried about you! Don't do that to me ever again!"

"It was completely unintentional on my part. Believe me Draco I never meant to worry you." I said honestly. I hadn't meant to worry Draco so much, but I hadn't been thinking about his reaction either. Very insensitive of me I know, but there you have it. "So are you alright then? Feeling any better yet?"

"I feel perfectly fine Harry, but I can't leave until the old bat gives me permission to get out of this bed and unbinds the magic holding me here. Apparently Madam Pomfrey takes almost drowning and being strangled by a Giant Squid very seriously, along with Professor McGonagall as well as it turns out." Draco smiled furtively at me. "You know what would make me feel even better?"

"What, is it something I can do?" I asked hopefully. I felt terrible for landing Draco here in the first place, having him meet Kate like that so suddenly with no explanation and then pretending to faint on him like that. "I'll do anything Draco. Just tell me what it is and I'll do it."

"Why don't you come over here with me Harry and make me feel all better, huh?" Draco giggled slyly. That little sneaky thing, God I loved him and his clever mind! "Well what do you have to say to that Harry?"

"Oh, well if you put it that way." I smirked turning away from him. I heard him huff in astonishment before flipping over himself. Smiling to myself in the dark I slid quietly out of my bed, tiptoeing across the floor to Draco's hospital bed to tug the covers back violently. Draco jerked at the sudden chill rush of air swirling around him as I ripped back the covers and turned to look at me again, his eyes telling me more in the dark then his voice ever could. I climbed onto the bed next to him, pushing him back against the soft comfort that was the bed beneath us as I traced the outline of his jaw with a slightly shaking finger before kissing him tenderly on the lips, using my mouth stealing his breath away. "How's that then Draco, are you happy now?"

"Great Harry, you always are." Draco said delicately as he stroked my hair with a trembling hand. "I love you Harry, you know that don't you?"

"I know you do Draco, I know my dear." I smiled kindly down at him lying down next to him to gather him up in my arms, pulling him closer against my chest as he closed his eyes happily drifting off to sleep in my arms. "I love you too Draco, I love you so much more than you could ever know."

Settling down myself, my head resting on the pillow by Draco's I drifted off to sleep within moments... at least I think it was moments. Who could really tell the difference?

(End POV)

The next morning found Kate sitting on the hill overlooking the lake and the rest of the grounds throwing chunks of bread into the lake for the Giant Squid to eat while Ron and Hermione took a leisurely stroll around the edge of the forest together. Obviously Kate didn't hear about the Giant Squid's previous comments about always having to eat bread. Speaking of which –

Things running through Kate's mind right now: Still have me thinking in this format then? Oh well, back the business then. Where the hell is Harry anyways? Hermione said he'd meet me by the lake during breakfast. He's late that no good son of a...

Things running through Ron's mind right now: Does Harry love Kate or Malfoy? I hope its Kate, she's more attractive and it would be less weird for me to see Harry kissing Kate than another episode like the one in the Hospital Wing with Malfoy...

Thing's running through Hermione's mind right now: This is nice, a quiet stroll around the edge of the Forbidden Forest where anything could pop out and kill us in cold blood... well, not the most romantic of places we could have gone together for a walk but at least Ron's here with me holding my hand...

Things running through The Giant Squid's mind from underwater beside where Kate was throwing breadcrumbs on top of the water to him: Stupid American's and their bloody breadcrumb ideas that anything in or on water likes to eat bread like those dumb American ducks that float on the tops of ponds! Those ducks are the reason we all end up eating breadcrumbs instead of chunks yummy grilled of steak...

Things running through Harry's mind as he ran down the steps on his way to where Kate was waiting for him: I hope she understands, but how could she? I'm kissing her one day and then I'm kissing a boy the next! Why did I ever even kiss her? What demon possessed me to do that? Was I drunk or something? It was pleasant and all that, I liked it... but really why did I do it? And what am I going to do now...

Things running through Draco's dreams as he slept up in the Hospital Wing even though he has nothing to do with the fiasco about to take place on the castle grounds except that he was the one kissing Harry instead of Kate doing it... : Harry... somewhat lumpy rice pudding... Harry again... a fat cat mamma with a red dress on... cold frozen chocolate popsicles... Harry Potter... penguins dancing on glaciers in red bowties... Harry Potter and his sexy body... so on and so forth...

"Kate! Sorry I'm so late, madam Pomfrey wouldn't let me leave the Hospital Wing until she had completely checked over me to make sure nothing was wrong with me." Harry smiled at her merrily, a grin which she didn't return. She instead looked dolefully over the lake before her feet as if it were a precipice she wanted to jump into and fall down forever until her body was dashed to ribbons at the bottom by the rocks settled there by years of formation in the making.

Yes, Kate's thoughts are indeed very poetic, even if she doesn't like the way British teenagers write out their thoughts.

"How did you get here Kate?" Harry asked her. Kate looked up at him miserable and laid her whole sad history down on the cold grass between them for him to soak in – a light pale pink wand with a silver ribbon tied tightly around the handle in a bow. "How did you get a hold of that? Who's wand is it Kate?"

"It's my wand Harry. I can remember it like it was just yesterday." Kate said suddenly, still refusing to look up at him. "Weeping cherry tree wood at ten and a quarter inches with three braided unicorn tail hairs as the magical core, swishy and good for Defense Against the Dark Arts as Olivander put it when I bought it all those years ago."

"You said you weren't magic. How do you have a wand like that if you're not magic Kate?" Harry asked naively, sinking down onto the grass next to her in his immense confusion.

"I lied to you Harry, I lied." Kate exhaled noisily. She seemed rather put out and upset. But who wouldn't be upset if they had just watched the person they cared about kiss someone else right in front of their face? "I lied to you Harry, it's just that simple."

"Why though? Why lie to me like that Kate when I told you the truth?" Harry asked her in a broken and cracked voice. "Why couldn't you tell me you were really a witch?"

"Because I was scared Harry!" Kate exclaimed jumping to her feet to turn away from him. "I was terrified of being found out, that's why I couldn't tell you or anyone else the truth."

"What made you so scared you thought you couldn't trust me with the truth Kate?" Harry asked anxiously.

"It's not that I couldn't trust you with the truth, it's just that I didn't wan the truth leaking out somehow. It's all Lark's fault! He caused all this to happen to me!" Kate cried sadly, sighing and composing herself before continuing. "I suppose I had better explain myself then. Well, around eight years ago when I seven years old and no more than a child my elder brother Lark Adair had taken me out to London from our home in the countryside to do some Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve. As we were attempting to hail a taxi to drive us home, all hell broke loose. In a fit of holiday spirits a group of Death Eaters that had not been captured decided to start blasting the muggles shopping for last minute presents. Lark shoved me inside a broken down phone booth and magically sealed the doors shut so I couldn't get hurt as he went to go help the muggles. He was killed that day before my eyes by Voldermort's supporters. By the time the Ministry of magic got to the scene and let me out of the phone booth it was too late to save Lark. I gave up magic at that moment and moved to American after seeing that Dumbledore took my wand and Lark's to keep the safe up here at the school so no one could ever destroy or use them. I had nothing but Lark before the day he was killed. Our parent's had been killed by Voldermort during the war and so Lark took care of me and raised me up right teaching me to do magic up until the day he died and I gave it up."

"Kate, I'm sorry." Harry whispered. "I didn't know."

"No one knew, no one was supposed to know." Kate sighed shutting her eyes against the tears that were fighting their way out of her body. "I just wanted to forget but Dumbledore says its unwise to let all my magic drain away and forced me to come here to pick studying magic back up. I had no choice."

"I'm here for you Kate, I hope you know that." Harry cooed hugging Kate. Kate wrapped her arms around Harry's neck and cried herself out into his shoulder as the hours flew by. When Kate had stopped crying finally, neither of them moved. They looked out over the lake together as it grew darker and later into the day, the two of the together sharing Kate's sadness so she didn't have to bare it alone anymore.

"Harry I have to ask you something and I want a truthful answer from you." Kate advised Harry swiftly, wasting no time getting to the point like all American's... they always jump right to the point. "Are you in love with that boy I saw you kissing or not?"

()()()()()()Page Break ya'll! I'm a cowgirl! Ha, just kidding everyone!

Okay, some of the Kate jokes may sound like I'm making fun of American's or whatever, but I'm an American and proud to be one so don't get the wrong idea about that. Alright, I hope you found the reason Kate's at Hogwarts good enough and all that... poor Lark, only in the story for about a paragraph and he's dead at that.

Okay, if you didn't like the whole "I had a brother named Lark who was killed so I gave up magic" bit/explanation please tell me. I thought it was rather clever but then again it could just be me I suppose. For example, you could totally hate it but I won't know that you hate it unless you tell me in a review or a personal message. Get the point? PLEASE REVIEW THIS CHAPTER FOR ME! I love reviews and it makes me so sad when I don't get any reviews. Reviews make me so happy I continue to write more and add more chapters for you to review.

Well then, please review and all that good stuff, okay? I love reviews! These person/people with the best review(s) gets a kiss from one of the characters! The winner(s) will be announced next chapter along with who won a kiss from who. All you have to do to win is tell me what you think Harry will say and which character you'd like a kiss from and why if you win the contest. Let the contest begin!