I felt like an idiot after talking with Michaelson. What if he wanted t get back together? But, I think that maybe it happened for the best. I learned not to be so dependent on people and how to take care of myself.

In other news, James and I had a breakthrough. It happened about on Saint Valentine's weekend. I had no date (not for lack of trying on Ananda's part), so I stayed in the common room while other couples toured Hogsmeade village. Michaelson went with some Slytherin girl, but that's not the point. I was working on some homework and saw James and a friend of his watching this other first year girl. She was adorable and then…well, read for yourself…

The left side of Maleah's mouth curved upward. She noticed the look on James' face clearly. It was full of adoration. She stood and walked over. The little boy with him was short and stocky but perfect body-type to be a future beater on a quidditch team.

"Hi," Maleah smiled at the two.

James glared at her. "What do you want?"

Maleah sat on the coffee table in front of the boys. "You know, if you want that girl to like you, you should probably quit it with the rude-ism."

"You know nothing about it," James assured her.

"Oh?" Maleah lifted her left eyebrow. "Well, I happen to know that she's my friend Maria's cousin."

James flushed. "That brunette you're always hanging out with?"

Maleah nodded. "And I know for a fact that little Isabella loves chocolate," she hinted.

The boy looked at her in awe. "What about her friend?" he asked bluntly.

Maleah's brows creased. She looked behind her shoulder and the blond Isabella was talking to. "Well, I don't know her, but I can find out."

"Do you," James said briskly.

Maleah lifted her eyebrow, incredulously.

James sputtered. "I mean, please."

Maleah smiled and nodded. "No problem. Be clean for the Valentine's party tonight."

She stood and waved goodbye on her way out of the portrait. Needing to talk to someone wise, she took a back staircase and headed to Hermione's private chambers, hoping she hadn't left to go home yet.

She hadn't.

"Maleah," Hermione greeted her when she walked in. She sat her desk, probably grading the quizzes the class had taken the day before. "How are you?"

Maleah sat on a desk in the classroom and sighed. "I don't know. I'm kind of numb."

Hermione nodded sympathetically. "I'm sorry," she offered.

"No big deal," Maleah shrugged. "I just wish that this emptiness would just leave."

"It'll be there for a while," Hermione said. "I don't think it ever goes away."

Maleah frowned. "Do you still have feelings for Ron?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, but sighed. "I can't help it. I am in no means still in love with him, but he was my first love. Those feelings don't completely disappear."

"Why haven't you ever gotten married?" Maleah asked curiously.

Hermione shrugged. "No one was ever good enough. I suppose they were good for a date or two, but they weren't men I'd want to share my life or children with."

"What about Daddy?"

Hermione froze. "What about Harry?"

"Do you want to marry him?"

Hermione laughed. "That's the funniest thing I've ever heard. Need I remind you that your father is married to Ginny?"

Maleah rolled her eyes. "He doesn't love her. I can feel it."

"Are your powers getting stronger?"

Maleah nodded. "Sometimes it's kind of hard because I feel too many emotions at once. Then there are sometime I feel this intense jealousy, but I'm not sure where it is coming from."

Hermione said nothing. She knew all too well where this intense jealously was coming from. "That's wonderful!" she said instead.

Maleah smiled. "I probably should leave you alone now."

"Actually, I'm glad you interrupted me. I was going mad with all the letters. They're starting to become a blur."

"Ooh," Maleah said as she walked out. "Are you going blind in your old age?"

A sharp quill barely missed her neck.

"I could've gotten you should I wanted to," Hermione called after her.

Of that, Maleah had no doubt.

When Maleah walked back into the common room, after a detour to the kitchens for a hot chocolate, she found Ananda sitting in front of the fire with a magazine. Maleah took the arm chair next to her. "You know, I've never seen you read a book that wasn't for school."

"Why read those boring things when you can read this," Ananda shoved the magazine toward Maleah.

A large headline caught Maleah's attention. "Potter Marriage in Trouble?" she read. She turned to Ananda. "What is this?"

"Witch! Magazine," Ananda answered.

"But this couldn't be accurate, could it?" Maleah asked. "I mean, any problems between Daddy and Ginny are kept quiet."

"Well, according to the article, at someone's New Year's party, Ginny got completely pissed and began spouting a bunch of dung about Harry never loving her and stuff like that."

Maleah stared at the magazine in horror and began to furiously skim it. "Merlin," she gasped. "She threw a glass of champagne on Daddy? The only person to ever do that without him going completely furious is Hermione."

Ananda nodded. "What's worse is that, apparently, Ginny's been having an affair."

Maleah's eyes widened. "No," she breathed. "Ginny would never do anything to jeopardize her position as Mrs. Harry Potter."

"Well, this is just a trashy tabloid," Ananda shrugged. "I don't give it that much merit, but the stories are just wonderful. Like this one about Spear Britney," Ananda rambled on while Maleah tuned her out.

Could there possibly be trouble between her father and Ginny? What on earth could have caused any friction between them?

"Anyway," Ananda changed the subject. "What are you wearing to the party tonight?"

Maleah blanched. "Um," she said carefully. "I wasn't planning on going."

"Why the bloody hell not?" Ananda snapped.

Maleah shot Ananda a pointed look.

"Maleah Lily Potter, if you tell me you aren't going because of that boy, I will slap you so hard," Ananda warned.

"I'm only going to set up James with little Isabella and then it's going to me in pajamas with Hogwarts, A History the newest version."

Ananda looked disgusted. "You're bloody obsessed with that book. I mean, you've read practically every version."

Maleah shrugged. "I'm a history whore, what can I say?"

"That you'll come tonight," Ananda begged. Her grey eyes were like a puppy's. "Please, Leah. Don't make me come alone."

"Why don't you just hook up with someone?" Maleah asked.

Ananda made a sound from the back of her throat. "I-."

"You're still hung up on Henri," Maleah said plainly. "You guys dated in fifth year and broke up a week after my sixteenth. Why are you still in love with him?"

"I am not in love with Henri DuPont," Ananda said smarmily. "It's just that I'm having trouble finding a guy that compares."

"Then stop comparing," Maleah suggested.

"I can't," Ananda pouted.

"Maria did," Maleah pointed out.

"Maria's a slag," Ananda snapped, then sighed. "I'm sorry. That's mean. But, really, how many guys has she hooked up since she discovered hormones? She dated at least two of the "Britney exes". Plus, she did hook up with two Hufflepuffs-in one day."

"There was that one Slytherin in the broom closet," Maleah murmured.

"And the Ravenclaw in the Astronomy Tower," Ananda reminded her.

"That doesn't make her a slag though. She's our friend."

"I know."

"You're jealous!"

Ananda's eyes widened. "Stop feeling me!"

Maleah laughed. "You're jealous that Maria can go through men like you go through Billy Changs!"

Ananda crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. "Stop teasing me."

"Too bad that's not the jealousy I've been feeling for a while," Maleah said a moment later.

"Are you still feeling that?" Ananda asked, concerned.

Maleah nodded. "It's really bothering me because sometimes I feel like snapping at someone because of the intense feeling of jealousy that comes at the most random times."

Ananda nodded in understanding. "That's horrible. Isn't there something you can do to block the feelings?"

Maleah shook her head. "Even if there were, I wouldn't want to until I could control it."

"Yeah, I understand."

"Anyway-."

"Hello," Maria dropped onto the rug before Ananda and Maleah. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold and from pure delight. "Hmm, Dominic from Ravenclaw is an exquisite kisser."

Ananda shot Maleah a triumphant look.

"Really?" Maleah asked, ignoring Ananda. "That's…great?"

"It's fabulous," Maria assured her. "You want to go pick out something to wear for tonight?"

"Yes!" Ananda exclaimed. "Get Jake. I totally need him. We'll sneak him up."

Maleah stood. "I'll go get James' broom."

Ten minutes later they were all together in the girl's dorm room. Maleah and Jake on Maleah's bed. Ananda and Maria in front of their respective bureaus of clothes.

"I'm thinking white," Ananda said.

"No!" Jake cried. "That'll clash with your eyes!"

Ananda sighed. "You're right."

"You should wear green," Jake offered.

"Too envy," Ananda wrinkled her nose.

Maria pulled out a green halter top. "Maybe, but it looks fabulous on me."

Jake nodded. "True. Wear a dark pants."

"I was thinking of a skirt," Maria told Jake.

"Wear a black one," Maleah said. "Then you can borrow the green and black shoes Ayanna sent me for Christmas."

"You rock," Maria grinned.

"Pink and red are so over played," Ananda murmured.

"Black is too depressing," Maleah said.

"White is bad for your eyes," Maria said.

"A pastel color would be great," Jake said.

"Uh, I think I'm going with my black turtleneck with the long grey skirt with black boots," Ananda decided a minute later.

"That'd be perfect," Maleah said after picturing the outfit in her mind.

"And you?" Jake asked, tickling Maleah for a second.

Maleah giggled before shaking her head. "No. I will not be attending the festivities."

Maria, who had been about to enter the bathroom for a shower, froze. "Why not?" she asked turning around.

"I'm not in the party mood," Maleah answered honestly.

"She's a stupid cow," Ananda scowled at Maleah.

Maria laughed and walked into the bathroom.

"I do not forgive you," Ananda said before following Maria.

"I love hanging out with you guys," Jake said. He was laughing.

"Shut up," Maleah shoved him off her bed.

"Ow!"

Now Maleah started laughing.

"Cow!"

Maleah looked up from her book after hearing someone back against the wall. Obviously someone was able to sneak a boy up to the girl's dorm…or…yeah, Maleah didn't want to think of that. She sighed and marked her place before closing the book. That was the fifth time she'd been interrupted. She might as well join the party.

She quickly changed into a pale sweater and her school skirt. Her hair was a mess, but she didn't mind.

However, all thoughts of the party flew out of her head when she saw what was outside her door.

FAQ:

Why don't I have a beta?
Simple, I get too frustrated if they're not available when I want them to be.

How long will the story be?
Um...no idea. It shouldn't be much longer than forty chapters, if it reaches there.

How often will I be updating from now on?
I will update whenever I get a chance, however, I make no promises to when the next chapter will be up.

Will Maleah and Michaelson get back together?
Hmm. Not sure. Like, I had originally wanted them to, but now, I'm not so sure.

Who's feeling this immense jealousy toward Maleah?
Well, if you haven't guessed from previous chapters, then it'll all be revealed in the next chapter. Promise.

What other story am I working on?
I had originally planned to begin work on editing Lily, Meet a Charmed One, but I'm going to do Is Dumbledore Sane? first. I'll start on that later this weekend. That means the story will be deleted. I hope you guys read it again and review.

Thank you guys so much for reviewing! I loved hte reviews, they made my day. I'm about...a quarter done with the next chapter, so I'm shooting to have it up next weekend, however I make NO PROMISES. My teachers might stick me with some project during hte week, so I don't want to commit to anything. I have previews of the next chapter. If you want one, just let me know, and I'll put it in your review reply. If you're an anonymous reviewer, then I'll e-mail you with it if you ask. So, that's that, I think.