I was completely rooted to the spot. Even if I had wanted to move I wouldn't have been able to because there, snogging before me, were Maria and Michaelson.

Maleah couldn't move. She tried to open her mouth to shout at her supposed friend and ex-boyfriend, but her muscles refused to move. Her brain couldn't seem to unfreeze itself to send commands to her joints. Finally, she heard a crash downstairs and it broke her out of her stupor.

She turned mechanically back into her room and shut the door behind her. She sank onto the floor and felt numb.

At the back her mind she knew she should be crying or raging mad, but she couldn't drum up enough energy to have any reaction.

Without realizing what she was doing, Maleah stood and undressed. Simply in a wife-beater and short shorts, she climbed under her duvet and stared at the wall. Her back was to the room so she didn't notice when, hours later, Ananda entered.

"Leah, you awake?" she asked.

Maleah made no sound and she didn't move.

Ananda leaned over her. "Oh," she smiled. "Good. You missed an amazing party. Federline got pissed and completely wrecked the architecture of the fireplace. It was hilarious."

Maleah said nothing.

Ananda didn't notice as she was walking away and undressing as she continued her monologue. "Then, Timberlake made out with that Kirke girl. She's a fourth year, so it's kind of gross when you think about. I think he was pissed too, so I'm not sure he knew what he was doing. Maria disappeared within half an hour. I wonder who she hooked up with."

I know, Maleah thought.

"Jake was snogging some fifth year. I don't know her name, but she's pretty cute. I don't know if they're dating, but, they would be completely cute," Ananda went on. "If I told you that I snogged Kevin Alexander, would you completely hate me?" she didn't wait for an answer. "I totally let him get to second base. If it was anyone else, I'd say they were a slag, but it felt awesome. I never even let Henri get to second base. I mean, Kevin isn't completely moronic like the rest of his friends. Speaking of, I didn't see Michaelson all night, so you could have came."

Maleah said nothing.

"Maleah, are you listening to me?" Ananda asked finally. She joined Maleah under her duvet. Ananda poked Maleah on the shoulder.

Maleah shifted to nod at Ananda.

"Okay. Anyway, your brother was talking to Isabella all night. It was adorable. You should've seen it. And his friend, Polyss, I think, was talking to Isabella's friend, Madeline. It was so cute. The little first years and their first crushes. I'm sure Sirius has more experience though. I mean, didn't you mention that you caught him snogging Miss Tonya's niece's daughter when she came to visit? Well, I'm not surprised. If I wasn't double his age…eew, never mind."

Maleah giggled in her mind since she couldn't bring herself to talk.

"You're being really quiet," Ananda said. "Is something wrong?"

Maleah shook her head against the pillow.

"Are you sure?" Ananda asked in concern.

Maleah shook her head again and finally began to cry. Ananda wrapped her arms around Maleah and made little sounds of comfort.

"Leah, what happened?" Ananda asked.

Maleah still couldn't bring herself to talk. She wasn't surprised when Ananda figured that out.

"Is it your father?"

Maleah shook her head.

"Ayanna?"

Maleah shook her head.

"Will you be able to tell-," Ananda broke off and tensed. "Michaelson."

Maleah nodded.

Ananda wasn't Maleah's best friend for anything because suddenly something clicked and Ananda swore. "That little slag."

Ananda had always been able to tell what happened with Maleah ever since they were kids so Maleah wasn't surprised Ananda figured it out, only that it took so long.

"I can't believe her. Were they drunk?" Ananda asked.

Maleah shook her head. Michaelson kissed Maria like he used to kiss her.

"I'm sorry," and Maleah knew that Ananda knew what she had just thought.

Maleah shrugged.

"He doesn't deserve you," Ananda said honestly. "She's a dirty whore, so, it's like, whatever. Cool?"

Maleah shrugged her shoulder again.

Ananda leaned over and planted a wet kiss on her cheek. "Forget them. Tomorrow, it'll be just me, you, and Jakey-poo."

Maleah said nothing and began to drift off into sleep, listening to Ananda's somewhat soothing words.

The next morning, Maleah sat in the common room with Jake working on homework she had yet to finish. Jake was looking over sketches his mother sent over for his approval.

Maleah looked over and squeezed his hand. She knew Ananda had informed him of what had happened the previous night.

"You know, you should be the one to approve these. I mean, the line is designed after you," Jake said a moment later.

Maleah Lily was the line his mother thought up for teens since she had only designed adult clothing.

Maleah looked over at a sketch of a floral sundress. It was cute, but Maleah hated the neckline and pointed it out to Jake.

"I know I'm not as close to you as Ananda is and she can practically read your mind, so you're going to have to specify," Jake said sadly.

Maleah still couldn't form the words to say anything so she tore off a piece of parchment and quickly scribbled horrible neckline. Too slutty Filmation Alley.

Jake read the note and looked back at the drawing. "Too true." He tore the drawing. "Are you ever going to talk to me?"

Maleah sighed and wrote: it's hard. Give me a while.

Jake nodded in understanding. "I can't believe she did that to you," he murmured.

Maria walked into the common room, floating on air. She saw Jake and Maleah sitting at a table working and floated to them. "Good morning," she said chirpily.

Maleah raised her eyebrow at the girl while Jake ignored her.

"That was some party last night," Maria breathed, sitting next to Jake. Se leaned over to look at a sketch of form-fitting dress robes. "Ooh, I love that."

Jake looked at Maleah who stuck her finger up her throat. "I'm going to agree with Leah," he said pointing at Maleah.

Maria shrugged, unconcerned. "Whatever. I've got to go anyway."

"Where are you going?" Jake asked.

Maria grinned secretively. "I'll never tell," she sang before floating up the stairs.

"Michaelson," Jake scoffed in disgust.

Maleah looked down but said nothing.

The next morning, Maleah walked into the Great Hall with Ananda for breakfast before class. Maria had left the room before either girl had woken up.

Maleah, out of habit, glanced down the table and was shocked to see Maria eating with Michaelson and his friends. She saw a few nosy Hufflepuffs staring at her to gauge her reaction, but Maleah only flipped her straightened hair over her shoulder and sat across from Jake.

"Whore," Ananda said referring to Maria.

Maleah was about to argue but Jake beat her to the punch.

"I'm inclined to agree with Ananda."

"It's a known rule," Ananda explained. "Ex-boyfriends, especially an ex that you're bound to get back with anyway are completely off-limits. Harmless flirting is one thing. Blatant slag-iness is another."

Maleah said nothing but thought that it shouldn't matter who Michaelson was whoring around with now that they were over.

Ananda, of course, read her mind. "The hell it doesn't," Ananda snapped. "He is still yours. All others should know to back off. For example, no one I actually talk to goes after Henri. It's just not done."

Maleah rubbed her temples.

Ananda sighed. "The rules aren't written," she admitted. "But they're known universally."

Maleah grabbed an apple and stood. She left the hall without a word. However, had she had been paying attention, she would have realized that Michaelson and Maria left the hall at that moment too.

"Maleah!" Maria exclaimed.

Maleah looked up and wished to death that there were no apple bits in her teeth.

Maria kissed her cheek and Maleah squashed the urge to shove the girl.

"I would have shoved her," Ananda whispered to Jake, as they walked out of the hall to see the going-ons.

"Hey, Potter," Michaelson said easily.

Maleah smiled falsely.

"Honey, I hope you aren't upset," Maria began.

"Upset?" the word was ripped from Maleah's vocal chords. "Upset doesn't even begin to describe how I'm feeling."

"Maleah-," Maria started again.

"You-," Maleah broke off. She walked up to Maria and slapped her across the face. "You are a two-faced, back-stabbing whore, Maria."

Maleah ignored Michaelson's pleading glanced toward her and walked down the hall with her head held high.

"That was even better," Jake told Ananda.

Ananda's grey eyes locked with the brown of Maria's. Ananda shook her head. "I don't get it," Ananda said. "I just don't get it."

She grabbed Jake's hand and followed Maleah.

Maria placed her hand on her stinging cheek. It felt as though someone had placed a well-directed Cruciatus on her cheek. "She hit me," Maria breathed in disbelief. "I can't believe she hit me."

"What is going on, Carmichael?" Michaelson asked, gruffly.

"Do you realize that the only person you call by their first name besides your brother is Maleah?" Maria asked abruptly. "Why is that?"

"Carmichael," Michaelson ground out. "What the bloody hell is going on?"

"I mean, even your girlfriends, you called them by their last name or nothing at all," Maria continued.

"What is you point?"

Maria looked at him, imploringly. "Do you think I'm pretty?"

The air rushed out of Michaelson's lungs. "Do I think you're-?" Michaelson broke off. He felt a tensing of his body and realized a minute later that it was anger. "Did you tell Maleah what happened at the party?"

Maria looked away. "No. Nor did I mention about what happened yesterday by the lake."

"You-."

"You don't want me," Maria realized. "Even after all this, you still want Maleah. Why is that?"

Michaelson ran his hand through his hair. "I don't know."

"I guess it's true," Maria said sardonically. "Girls like me always get dumped for innocents."

Michaelson let out a long breath. "It doesn't matter. We never started."

"Yeah, just a quick fuck," Maria said carelessly. "It's been fun, Michaelson."

As she walked away, Michaelson wondered if all people associated to Maleah were completely barmy.

FAQ/FYI:

Will this be a Hary/Hermione?
Hmm...it would be a new twist, but then I'd have to build a relationship from scratch, and something would have to happen to Ginny and it'd make this story REALLY REALLY long. And my focus is Maleah's eventual happiness or...suicide, if I keep doing this to her, lol. So, I don't know. Maybe I can write a companion story of Harry finding love again, or even falling in love with Ginny. Cause, even though I really hate H/G, it would be my ULTIMATE challenge as a writer, and now, I can like, feel plots just forming in my mind. You know what...tell me what you think, and we'll see what happens. For now, I'll plan for all and nothing.

Who was behind the door?
Answered. lol.

Will Maleah and Maria remain friends?
I'm not sure. I'm writing that chapter now, so, I don't know. It might seem melodramatic for them to be complete enemies. I did that in Lily, Meet a Charmed One, but...sometimes you have to let people go, you know? So, again...input is appreciated, and we'll see what happens

What happened to the review responses?
Um...I kinda update in passing now, and I keep forgetting to answer reviews personally so, I figured I'd just do the FAQ/FYI section instead.

Why'd you update so quickly?
Moment of truth: the chapter has been done since last weekend. I would have updated sooner, but homework and stuff, then there is the factm that I totally loved the response to the last chapter, so I thought it'd be cool to let you stew over that for a while. Will I update again next Saturday? God willing, sure. If not, I'm sorry. But I think I'm going to have a day off school in a few weeks, so if now update by then, I'll write like a maniac then.