Okay, maybe I was overreacting. But he gave me every bloody reason to be upset with him. I mean, what kind of bloke calls their date a slag…in their face! Merlin he's an ass. Okay, maybe I miss him a little. Can you blame me? He's smoking! But I'll get over him…maybe that gorgeous sixth year Raymond Bradley will help…

Maleah knew when someone was avoiding her. And at this moment it was very obvious that Ananda was avoiding her. So of course she had to host an intervention to get to the bottom of whatever was wrong with her best friend.

With Maria's help they were able to sneak Jake into their dorm room and wait for Ananda to get back there.

"You know, when I imagined sneaking into the girls' dorm room, it wasn't for this," Jake stated wistfully.

"Uh huh," Maria said giving him a weird look. "Whatever."

"Shh! She's coming!" Maleah hissed.

"I heard you hissing half way up the stairs Maria dah-ling," Ananda sang as she walked into the dorm. "Where's my surprise?"

Jake looked around as though stupid. "Uh, in case you haven't noticed this is an intervention."

"Really?" Ananda squealed in delight. "I've always wanted a pair of their sunglasses. Gimme."

"No, stupid," Maleah cried. "An intervention. Meaning we're exposing your deep dark secrets. Like now."

"Oh," Ananda said deflated. She sat on her bed. "That doesn't sound like much fun." Then she brightened. "Do I get the sunglasses after?"

"There are no sunglasses!" Maria exclaimed.

Ananda sat stiffly and pouted. Maleah knew her best friend was beautiful, many said that Ananda was prettier than Maleah, but Maleah at that precise moment felt very bad for Ananda's future husband. He would be broke before the end of the honeymoon! But Maleah supposed he would be satisfied with Ananda's raven hair that flowed down her back to her waist and her smoky grey eyes which at the moment held apprehension toward the intervention-and a hint of a tantrum toward the fact that there was no sunglasses-In addition to full figure Maleah so desperately secretly coveted.

"Where have you been sneaking out to these past few weeks?" Maleah asked, not even beating around the bush.

Ananda froze. "Uh…I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about."

"And I'm sure that you are aware that I can keep nagging for the rest of the night," Maleah responded.

"You know what Maleah Lily Potter," Ananda retorted then sagged. "You suck some major ass. Okay. Picture it: Cicely 1948."

Jake, Maria, and Maleah were not amused and Ananda noticed that.

"Fine. Okay, see what had happened was that I met a guy," she mumbled really quickly.

"Ooh," Maria was interested now. She hopped on Ananda's bed. "Details. Who? What? When? Where? Why? And How?"

"Yes, I, too, am most curious," Jake said.

"Stop with the weird old English," Maleah and Ananda snapped at Jake.

"Sorry," Jake said raising his hands in peace. "So," he sighed. "Who?"

The girls all giggled and snuggled on Ananda's bed while Jake sat on the floor listening to Ananda tell about her latest beau.

"I just realized something," Ananda murmured to Maleah during a History lesson later that week.

"What?"

"Enri is really good friends with a certain Raymond Bradley," Ananda giggled quietly.

Maleah flushed. "I suppose that's wonderful for him," she said coolly.

"For you too. Double date," Ananda quietly sang. "Then you'll fall in love, and we'll have double weddings and we'll both have adorable twin girls. Maybe a boy to keep the line going."

"Like your mum?" Maleah snickered.

Kia Manuel didn't choose to grace her husband with a male heir until Ananda was twelve. That was about fifteen years after they married in the first place.

Ananda giggled. "Exactly."

"Is there something you'd like to share with the class ladies?" Hermione asked archly. Even though Hermione was a wonderful teacher and everyone loved her class, she did not tolerate anyone interrupting her for foolishness.

"Sorry."

"Not at all."

Hermione held their gazes for a beat longer before she went on about the Goblin Revolution. Which one, Maleah wasn't sure.

Michaelson admitted that Maleah had bruised his pride a bit. He got over it. Yeah, he still wanted her badly, and he was almost positive that she felt the same, and even though they were technically not together anymore, it did not excuse Maleah for being all over that sixth year prick, Raymond Bradley.

"I hate him," Michaelson growled.

Maria, who was in a little fling with Jason at the moment, sighed happily. "He's a sweetheart. Leah's crazy about him."

Michaelson shot her a dark look.

"Sorry," she mumbled. Her eyes and slight smile told Michaelson different though.

Maleah's laughter was heard throughout the small village of Hogsmeade. She and Raymond walked hand in hand window shopping and he'd tickle her a bit to make her laugh. A moment later Maleah found herself pushed against a wall, snogging him.

Maleah was no fool. She didn't feel the same passion and electricity she did with Michaelson, but most of it had been lust and hatred anyway (statistics show that only sex with your true love was better than sex with an enemy-not that she was planning on sleeping with either of course). With Raymond she felt tingly down to her toes, not boneless, but she genuinely like Raymond. He was a great guy and treated her like a princess.

"You're beautiful," he whispered to her. Maleah stiffened for a second but relaxed and forced a smile onto her face.

"Of course, I look just like my mother," Maleah smiled brightly-and falsely.

He smiled at her and took her hand. They continued down the lane and Maleah couldn't help but wish that he had just left the snogging alone and not add the "b" word.

"She's not happy," Jake told Maria.

Maria sighed and watched the couple walk on down the lane. "I know."

"We should do something."

Maria shook her head. "No. She thinks she's happy-let her enjoy it until it fades away."

Jake looked dubious but in the end, complied with Maria's wishes.

...nothing much to say. Happy late Fourth of July to all mi americanos! Hope you celebrated by getting fat!