All that we see or seem

Is but a dream within a dream.

-Edgar Allen Poe

"Harry! Hey, Harry!"Genoa, Harry, Ron and Hermione looked around to see Jack Sloper, one of the beaters on last year's Gryffindor Quidditch team hurrying towards them. Their last lesson with Snape had left them all in very bad mood, Snape trying to jinx Harry and all. They were all quite ahead of the game though, unbeknownst to Snape, Harry had previously taught them all how to perform a Shield Charm in the D.A. last year. Hermione's ability to repel jinxes without speaking would have otherwise earned them points, if Snape hadn't been the one teaching. Jack was trying to catch his breathe before speaking to Harry.

"Hey, Jack." Harry said.

"Here, this is for you. Listen, I heard you're the new Quidditch Captain. Any idea when tryouts will be?"

Genoa had nearly forgotten all about the Quidditch tryouts and suddenly felt sick. She knew she was a good flier, but somewhere deep down she felt like she was going to be rubbish.

"I'm not sure yet, but i'll let you know." Harry said and Jack frowned a little

"Oh alright, I was hoping for this weekend-" and Genoa prayed that it wouldn't be. She hadn't even practiced yet, but she quickly stopped thinking about her Quidditch problems when she noticed Harry's expression become stern after reading the paper in his hand.

"Um, excuse us Jack." Genoa said, smiling, making Jack turn a shade of red.

"Who is it from?" Hermione pressed on, as Genoa led them away, so as not to be overheard and Harry showed them the letter and they all finished reading it at the same time.

"He enjoys acid pops?" Ron said, perplexed.

"Its the password to his office," Harry replied.

"Well, this is good, You can talk to Dumbledore now about our suspicions," Genoa stated,"After you're lesson, of course. You really need to pay attention to that, whatever it is."

"Yea, i'm not so sure what he's teaching me exactly. It's got to be something to do with Voldemort, hasn't it?" he inquired.

"Well, I don't see what else it would be, and I'm sure it won't be anything illegal. Probably advanced defensive magic," Hermione said in a-matter -of- factly tone.

"I'm starting to get more concerned about someone betraying us than I am at learning." Harry frowned.

"C'mon mate, Dumbledore won't let anything happen, you know that." Ron said and Genoa could see Harry's brain in thinking mode and she wished she could read minds, however, she had a pretty good idea they were thinking the same thing, as usual. She felt as if there was something going on and it would end up horribly wrong. She wished Harry's lesson was now so he could talk to Dumbledore, because she felt if she waited any longer, things were going to build up.

"Ready for potions?" Hermione's voice came swimming into her head and they all nodded, Harry folding Dumbledore's letter and putting it away, as they began walking to the dungeons. It was very different to know that they would no longer be being taught by Snape in potions, but rather Professor Slughorn. Genoa knew that he had taken a large liking to Harry, having told them about his trip to Slughorn before term started. Genoa hoped she would be able to focus a lot more now that Snape was gone. When they finally made it to the classroom, there were already students there, including, to her dismay, Malfoy. He looked up at her when she entered and she met his eyes, but quickly turned away as odd smells filled her nose. There were some cauldrons lined up and they were each admitting different colored vapors, and she almost puked at the smell of the last one as they took their seats. Moments later, Professor Slughorn came bouncing into the room, looking extremely jolly, and throwing a big smile to Harry and Hermione.

"Now then!" he began,"Everyone please take out your copies of Advanced Potion-Making so we can begin and your scales and kits as well, please!"

"Sir?" Harry said, raising his hand,"I don't have one, nor does Ron, you see, we didn't realize we would be taking this class."

Professor Slughorn still smiled,"Ah, yes, Professor McGonagall did mention…not to worry, we should have some extras in the cupboard back there, until you can write to Flourish and Blotts."

Genoa watched Harry and Ron stroll over to the cupboard and fight over two copies of advanced potion-making. When they walked back over, she saw that Harry had clearly gotten the beaten one, Ron's face gleaming with triumph.

"Now, lets begin. Today I have prepared a few potions, just for you all to look at. You ought to be able to make these after completing your N.E.W.T.'s. You will probably have heard of them though. Can anyone tell me what this one is?" Professor Slughorn asked and to no one's surprise, Hermione's hand shot up.

"That's Veritaserum, a colorless, tasteless potion. It will make any drinker tell the truth."

"Very good!" Slughorn replied and Genoa watched as he moved over to the cauldron in the middle, and she recognized it immediately thanks to Fred and George.

"Now can anyone tell me what this one is? Yes, Ms-?"

"Valence, sir," Genoa stated and she moved out of her seat and closer to the potion. She distinctly saw Hermione's face fall and she knew she had been keen to answer the question as well.

"This is Amortentia,"Genoa began,"It's the most powerful love potion in the world." Malfoy looked up at her as she spoke, his insides squirming."It's rumored to smell different to each person based on what attracts them. For instance," she went on and felt herself getting closer to the bubbling cauldron,"I smell rain, mint and cinnamon…" she finished breathlessly.

"Very good, Ms. Valence,"Professor Slughorn said, snapping her out of her dream-like state. Embarrassed, she scurried back over to her seat."Now, Amortentia doesn't create real love, no, that would be impossible. It does however, cause extreme obsession or infatuation. Now, last but not least can anyone tell me what this last potion is?"

Hermione's hand shot up so fast Genoa thought she would shoot through the roof,"Its Felix Felicis! Liquid Luck! It makes you lucky!"

"Indeed ! Take 20 points!" But Genoa was not congratulating Hermione like the others. At the sound of becoming lucky she noticed Malfoy become unusually attentive. His eyes wide in what looked like, in her opinion, a way out of something.

"And that students," Slughorn spoke,"Is what I will be offering today. A bottle of Felix to the student who can brew a batch of Draught of Living Death perfectly. I must ask, that whoever wins, uses the bottle wisely. Can't have too much of a good thing you know. Draught of Living Death is a very complex potion than what you have done, but I believe you will be successful. Off you go!"

Genoa did not start right away but kept her eyes on Malfoy, who seemed to have noticed. He didn't make a face at her or a rude gesture, only looked at her intensely before turning his back on her.

"I can't believe you won it, Harry," Ron said patting Harry on the back after Potions. Genoa had managed to brew hers almost perfect and poor Hermione, to her surprise, failed misearbly,"Did you see the look on Malfoy's face!"

Harry played around with the little vile of Felix as they entered the Great Hall for dinner, they all watched as it gleamed in the light.

"Yea, Malfoy seemed pretty keen to get his hands on it,"Genoa huffed as they sat down at the Gryffindor table.

"He did?" Hermione asked.

"Yea, it looked as if he had been overcome with shock when he found out he could get lucky. I mean it makes sense. If he was given a mission, then he would need it."

Harry looked at her, his expression comprehensive,"Yea, anyone who is doing Voldemort's biding would need all the help they can get."

Hermione pushed her curly hair behind her ear before she spoke,"Let's just stop worrying about Malfoy right now. It can't be healthy to keep worrying about him all the time."

"Hey guys!"

The all looked up to see Ginny looking rather flushed. She sat herself between Ron and Harry.

"Where have you been?" Ron snapped.

Ginny rolled her eyes,"Nice to see you too. I was just finishing up some homework. How was everyones first day?"

"It wasn't bad," Harry replied as Ron loaded his plate with stew.

"That's an understatement. Harry aced his potion in class today. Its amazing what you can do now that Snape's gone." Ron laughed.

"Wow, that's pretty good, Harry," Ginny smiled and Genoa saw him blush slightly.

"Um, hey, Genoa?" Ginny said sounding confused.

Genoa looked up from her food, uncertain,"What's up Gin?"

Ginny was not looking at her directly, but at something in the distance behind her.

"Draco Malfoy is staring at you."

The rest of them looked up as well and began to turn their heads.

"Stop it! Don't look over!" Genoa snapped.

"Why is he staring at you?" Hermione asked.

Genoa turned her head slightly, only to see that he was in fact looking at her. She turned back to the others but could feel his gaze still on her.

"I have no idea. Just ignore him. He's probably just trying to intimidate me or something."

None of them argued, but went back to eating and conversing normally. Genoa didn't pick her fork back up. She suddenly wasn't hungry anymore. The fact that Malfoy was now staring at her during dinner was becoming overwhelming. Perhaps he was trying to push her till she broke, and she had a feeling he was losing it.

"I'm gonna head up to bed," Genoa stood up and they all looked at her with a hint of surprise,"I'll see you later."

She didn't wait for them to respond or try to stop her and she could see Malfoy look up at her as she left the Great Hall. That prat was seriously demented. She felt herself become entwined in frustration as she made it back to her dormitory. She was glad it was empty because she suddenly felt herself screaming. Every ounce of pain she had been feeling burst out of her. When Genoa could no longer feel her throat, she undressed and buried herself deep in her sheets. Draco Malfoy was puzzling and malicious. He was vile an cruel. And for some reason, and it sickened her, she couldn't get him out of her mind.

He was secretly destroying her.

"I've decided to have Quidditch tryouts tomorrow,"Harry told them in the common room the next day.

Genoa was not happy about this, seeing as she felt Harry could have given her a few days warning. She hadn't even practiced since the burrow and she felt her passing could use more work.

"Are you mad? I haven't even had time to practice since we got back!"

Harry suddenly turned pink,"I'm sorry, Genoa, but it just was a time that worked for everyone. I promise to work with you tonight, and so does Ron."

Genoa folded her arms and became interested with a spot on the floor,"No, thanks. I'll be fine on my own. I really only need to work on my speed," she lied, knowing very well that she did need their help with passing, but she was far to mad to care.

"Don't be like that, I'm sure you're going to be brilliant. Everyone was practically rubbish last year. You know how good you are." Ron said trying to clearly butter her up.

She still kept her arms folded tight for 5 more minutes before she stomped upstairs to change and retrieve her broomstick.

"I'll be back in a little," she assured them as she strolled over to the portrait hole,"No need to come."

They watched as she disappeared and turned around when Hermione made a disapproving noise.

"What are you on about?" Ron snapped.

"Oh, nothing. You can't not expect her to be nervous though. You did spring it on her last minute."

"Well, she doesn't even need the practice!" Harry shouted, causing Hermione to shake her head.

"Yes, you are right, but she does have a lot to deal with and I think this just added to it. You need to understand how she feels."

Harry and Ron didn't speak for a moment, but then rather than fight, they simply agreed. Harry knew that Genoa was under a great amount of stress and perhaps he should have told her to start practicing. He suddenly felt like a git as he began his History of Magic essay. Something else though, and he was certain, was bothering her. Though, he hadn't brought it up, he felt like he was a horrible friend for not doing so. Then again, she wasn't the only one dealing with Voldemort. He hoped she understood that things for him were also becoming quite difficult.

"Its not like it was such an inconvenience for him to tell me "Genoa mumble to herself as she flew around the Quidditch pitch. It was getting dark and she hadn't even realized she had been out there for hours. Luckily for her, she was able to charm balls so that she was able to practice without the help of anyone. She didn't know why she was getting so upset about the tryouts. She knew she would make it on the team, but she felt that that was the problem. She sincerely hoped that Harry wouldn't pick her just because they were friends. Ron also seemed nervous, since he had barely made it on the team last year and had to tryout again. But, Genoa was sure he would make it again. There weren't that many good keepers since Wood. When she figured there wasn't much more she could do in order to prepare, she made her way down to the ground, catching her breathe. Genoa felt extremely dirty from when it had rained and her body ached. Perhaps she shouldn't have pushed herself so hard. What if she was too tired tomorrow? Pushing the strands of hair that fell from her ponytail behind her ears, she sat herself down for a moment and conjured up some water.

It was a rather chilly night and the stars were unusually bright, as if they were putting on a show for her. The moon wasn't full, but she was sure it would be tomorrow and she made a note to take a look tomorrow night. Her father had once told her that her mother said that the stars held all the secrets of the world. That in a million years, no one would ever know who we were, but they would still know the same stars in the sky. Genoa had always thought that whenever a new star formed, it was because someone died. She was certain that her mother was up there as well as Harry's parents and Sirius. Maybe that was silly, but it eased the pain. She suddenly felt herself interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Oh, er-sorry. I didn't know anyone else was here."

She looked up to see Malfoy. He had his broom in one hand but wasn't wearing his robes. He didn't look disgusted to see her and his voice sounded strangely kind. She hadn't known Malfoy to ever apologize on intruding on someone.

"Oh, its fine. I was just leaving. Don't want to be in his Majesty's way." She said rather coldly and she hadn't meant to. She could make out his frown in the darkness as she got up and he opened his mouth to speak.

"Look, I know that I've been a prat to you."

Had he seriously just said that?

"Yea, you can say that. Are you feeling alright?"She eyed him suspiciously and he looked away from her.

"Yea, just forget it."

He threw his broom over his shoulder and started to walk away. Something inside her possessed her to do it, she didn't know what, but the next thing she knew, she had grabbed his arm. He looked up at her with an expression she couldn't read, but she was sure he looked ill. Was it because she, a Half-Blood had touched him? But he didn't pull away, only looked at her with the same stare he had given her in potions yesterday.

"What the bloody hell is going on with you?" she spat out, frustrated, because she truly wanted to know.

"It's none of you're business Valence," He removed his arm from her grasp,"And even if it was, there's nothing you can do."

She stared at the boy in front of her, unable to comprehend what was going on. Draco Malfoy seemed to her, to be a walking time bomb. She could hear the desperation somewhere in his voice and she didn't like it.

"Draco, I know I'm the last person you would talk to but, please, if there is something you need to say, I'll listen."

She sincerely meant it and she had also meant to call him by his proper name. It felt right to her all of a sudden and she secretly liked the way his name sounded when it left her lips and so did he. And it killed him. He turned his back on her and the pleading in her eyes. He turned his back on the beautiful thing that had secretly been haunting his dreams. He turned his back on the one person he knew he could confide in. And for what reason?

Because she was destroying him.

"Don't call me Draco." He said with no ounce of emotion in his voice and she watched him walk away and she could not explain the things she was feeling at that moment. Without another look back at him, she made her way back to the deserted common room and sat in her favorite chair by the fire. What was happening inside his head and more importantly, what was going on inside hers? She kept replaying everything that had been happening over and over in her mind, before she finally fell asleep in her muddy clothes. It wasn't until the sun shown through the window, waking her, that she remembered the No Nerves pill that Fred and George had given her.