The look on Michaelson's face when I spoke was just priceless. Even through all the pain that came with his taunting me, I am so glad that it was now that I saw him after beginning to talk again. All the girls in my dorm, Maria, Jennifer, and Emmeline, were all surprised when they saw me and Ananda laughing and talking that evening. In their words, "OMG, I am so relieved! We thought you were just like, a freak or something!"

Okay, gee thanks, really.

Maleah woke the next morning excited to face the world. As she glanced out the window she saw birds and owls flying in and out the school. Glad she could talk, she trilled at the birds and beamed when they trilled back.

She took a deep breath and sank back into her bed.

"Leah?" Ananda asked from her bed, across from Maleah's.

"Yes?"

"Oh, thank Merlin! I thought it was just a dream that you could talk and we were all happy!" Ananda exclaimed as she launched herself onto Maleah's bed-knocking the wind out of Maleah in the process.

"Trust me, Nana, it wasn't a dream," Maleah said breathlessly.

"Come on! We have to get ready and go eat breakfast and go to classes!" Ananda cried getting out of Maleah's bed and pirouetting toward the bathroom.

"Yes, Ma'am!"

Half an hour later, showered and refreshed, the two girls met up and walked to the Great Hall together. "Merlin I can't wait until next year," Ananda said wistfully as she eyed the couples walking hand in hand.

Maleah raised her eyebrow.

"I thought you were going to start talking," Ananda said

Maleah rolled her eyes. "Just because I'm talking does not mean that I'm going to say something when a word isn't need, Nana. You know I hate wasting my time."

"Yeah." Ananda brightened. "Oh yeah, next year we get to go to Hogsmeade. It's going to be brilliant. We get to go on dates with hot guys and everything."

"I hope you have some time for studying," a teasing voice said. The two turned and Maleah's heart dropped into her stomach. There stood a gorgeous fourth year specimen by the name of Charles Michaelson III. Insert drool now.

"Always," Ananda said coyly. She was always up for flirting. "But it depends who I'm studying with."

Charles winked. "If you're lucky I might even take a break and help you out," he flirted back. Then he sobered. "But seriously, McGonagall wants me to help you this year, Potter."

Maleah frowned. She wasn't stupid. Why would she need a tutor? "Why?"

Charles seemed surprised she was talking, but was normal a second later. "She said that you might need help getting used to doing the magic this year. What with you being…you, I guess."

"Merlin," Maleah breathed. "You don't eat or speak for 4 years and people think you've got brain damage or something!"

Ananda tisked sympathetically. "Sorry, babe. Maybe I'll join in on one of those sessions. I might need some help too," Ananda smiled at Charles. He only laughed and walked away.

"He is so…" Ananda began.

"…Fine!" Maleah agreed. The two fell into giggles and continued to the Great Hall.

"You know, I think I might need some help this year. The course load is going to be sohard," Ananda said thoughtfully.

"Wanna borrow my tutor?" Maleah asked Ananda with a sly look.

"You are a goddess," Ananda cried hugging Maleah tightly.

Maleah laughed. "Have you way with him, see if I care, but he'll always be coming back to help me."

Ananda mock glared at Maleah. "What, do you want to fight for him?"

Maleah just gave Ananda a look before sauntering into the Great Hall.

"Potter, Manuel," Michaelson said coming up to him. His "friends" right behind him. He turned to Maleah. "Heard you have to have a tutor this year. Tough break. Maybe you should save yourself the embarrassment and go home and live like the squib you are."

Maleah and Ananda arched the same eyebrow in unison. "How about we save you the embarrassment-," Maleah started.

"-of having two girls insult the hell out of you," Ananda finished. The two girls smirked and walked away.

"That was-," Jason murmured.

"-so hot," Kevin agreed.

Michaelson glared at the spot the girls were in and let out a frustrated groan. "That little-," Michaelson ground out.

"Easy lil' bro, some teacher might hear you," Charles said idly as he walked out of the Great Hall with his girlfriend, hand in hand.

Michaelson inwardly cursed his brother before admitting defeat and walking to his first class.

"Great!" Charles told Maleah.

Two weeks later, Charles was helping her get used to vocally saying spells. He was impressed that she did her first years spells silently, telling her that they wouldn't learn that until sixth year. Maleah had shrugged modestly and said she had no other choice.

"So can I ask you a question?" Maleah asked as Charles cleaned up. They were in an old classroom. Maleah was sitting on a desk swinging her legs. Her hair was in a messy bun and she was still in her uniform, minus the robes. Charles was the same, except his hair wasn't in a bun and his sleeves were rolled up and his tie loose.

"What?"

Maleah cocked her head to the side and captured Charles' blue eyes with her hazel. "How long have you been dating Susan?"

Charles paused and frowned. "Since I was your age," he said after a second.

Maleah's brows shot up. "First of all, you're not that much older than me," she said teasingly as she got off the desk. "Second, that's like two years. Why so long?"

He seemed stumped as he picked up his bag; Maleah did the same. "I guess because that's what is expected of us. My dad owns the company and her dad is like third or fourth in command."

Maleah placed her bag on her shoulder and grabbed Charles' hand to keep him from walking out the room. "You shouldn't date someone because it's expected."

"The way your father did?" Charles retorted. He cursed himself when he saw her face go ashen. "I'm sorry, I didn't-."

"Forget it," Maleah told him harshly before leaving the room quickly.

Charles ran after her.

"Potter! Potter, wait up," he called. She wasn't that tall, so he caught up with her fairly quickly. They both leaned against a wall breathing heavily. "Look, I'm sorry. I was just taken aback with the questions. It made me defensive."

"You know," Maleah gasped out. "I thought you were better than your brother. But you're just the same: cruel and bitter."

Charles chuckled. She had no idea how cute she looked with her hair a mess and her eyes on fire. Before he could stop himself he stepped forward and kissed her. It was not a passionate one by any means. It was sweet and simple. Of course, as her first kiss, Maleah didn't know to expect fireworks.

"Charles?" Maleah murmured against his lips.

"Yeah?"

"You have really hot lips," she whispered before stepping away. A second later she realized what she said and flushed profusely.

"Potter?"

Maleah looked up expectantly.

"So do you," he winked and walked away. Maleah was sure she would melt into a puddle right there.

Oooh la la. Seems like someone has a little crushy crush! Lol. Wow. Okay, summer is here people! But I'm not even going to lie, I haven't been working on this story much. I've been working more on the LMACO sequel and this author's challenge which is FRYING MY BRAINS OUT! It's pissing me off that I can't come up with a cool plot! Oy-I think I'm going to postpone that story until I get my act together. Updates should be more often now seeing how I'm not leaving for vacation yet. When I do though…sorry-no updates, I won't have a computer with me-but that's not yet.

Review Review!