Chapter 22( a chapter to follow 21)

Sarah woke up in a strange bed. She slowly sat up, trying to figure out where she was, when she realised there was another in the bed next to her.

"Oh... My…God…" Sarah said, not caring that the other person was actually sleeping.

"If you don't mind, I'm trying to catch up on some badly needed Zs." Jareth said, rolling over and scowling at her.

"Ho. Ly. Cow." She said, still not thinking straight.

"What's wrong now?" Jareth asked, opening one eye to peer at her.

"I… slept.. I… Slept…" She uttered, stuttering

"You slept like a log. Snored the entire night, it was horrible!" Jareth said disdainfully

"You!" She shrieked, pointing at him. "You did this! It's all your fault! Now you'll get fired for sure!"

"What? Me? Fired? Why? It's more fun here than I thought. I can torture students all the time, and make them do stupid homework tasks which won't actually help them at all…"

"I told you it would be good" Sarah said smugly. "Hey! That's not the point!" She cried

"Well, if you're thinking what I think you're thinking, then you'd be wrong. A- you are still fully dressed. B- I am also still fully dressed. And C- I would never do that to a semi-innocent child, such as yourself."

Sarah looked down and noticed that she was fully clothed, and so was he.

"Oh, right. Didn't realise that. So why am I in your bed then?"

"Well, you were kissing me…"

"Hold it! No way! YOU were kissing ME!" She cried.

"Minor details, minor details." He said, waving his hand. "Anyway, we were kissing, and then you pulled away and tried to say something, but you started to yawn heaps, so I sat you down on the couch, because you were swaying and stuff, and I thought you were going to fall over. And then you fell asleep."

"A likely story" She said suspiciously. "Besides, why didn't you take me back to my dorm room?" She asked, hands on her hips

"Well, what would the other girls think if I took you in there in the middle of the night? Plus, I can't transport myself with another person. That's just silly, how would I ever be able to do that?" He asked incredulously.

"I don't know! You could've carried me when you apparated over there, or whatever it is that you do when you disappear."

"Firstly, I do not apparate, that is only for wizards. And I need both of my hands to do my transportation spell!"

In the distance, Sarah could hear the Great Bell of Hogwarts chiming the seventh hour.

"Oh my god, I have to get back to my dorm room!"

Jareth rolled his eyes.

"Come see me after school, I still have to teach you how to use crystals, remember?" He said, tossing her a crystal. In the blink of an eye, Sarah was back in her dorm room. She grabbed a fresh uniform and jumped into the shower in the adjoining bathroom, trying to wash away his scent.

When she emerged from the room (from which also emerged a whole lot of steam), Sarah found Hermione sitting on one of the beds.

"Hey Herms." Sarah said, towelling her hair dry.

Hermione muttered a charm, and with a flick of her wand, Sarah's hair was dry and straightened.

"Wow, remind me to remind you to teach me that one." Sarah said, placing the towel back in the bathroom. "What can I do you for Hermione?" She asked, sitting cross-legged on the end of her bed.

"I… I just don't know what to do!" Hermione managed to whisper, before hunching over and bursting into tears.

Sarah rushed to her side, rubbing Hermione's shoulder.

"What's wrong?" She asked

"I… it's… Harry said…" Hermione stuttered, before crying even harder

"What did he say? Was it something stupid again?"

"No! He… he said… love… me?"

"He loves you?" Sarah asked

"He loves me!" Hermione cried.

"But I already knew that…" Sarah said thoughtfully

"What?" Hermione asked suddenly, looking up from where her face had been in her hands.

"Yeah, I kinda guessed." Sarah said shrugging. "I thought you knew…"

Hermione shook her head.

"I never would have imagined that Harry… would…" Sarah silenced her with a hug.

"It's ok Hermione. If you don't feel that way about Harry, then I guess there's nothing more to do than tell him…"
"But that's not the problem!" Hermione yelled, standing up and pushing Sarah away. "I do love him! Christ, Sarah, I've loved him for so long I can't fathom it. But, I just… for years everyone always said we were an item, and I just never paid any attention to it… but now…I… I don't know what I'm supposed to say to him, or how to act!"

Suddenly the door opened and Ginny peeked through. "Breakfast you two! Don't want to be la... Hermione, what's wrong?" She came in, shutting the door softly behind her.

Hermione could only shake her head, placing it back in her hands as the tears returned

"She's just… a little confused I think." Said Sarah, smiling at Hermione. "Just think it over; I'm sure you'll find a solution. But we'll be waiting for you when you make your decision, I promise, ok? Come on Ginny, I think Hermione may need a little time alone."

The younger girl nodded, before placing her hand on Hermione's shoulder for a moment, and following Sarah out of the room.

When Hermione heard the click of the door as it shut behind them, she sat up and looked around. Sighing, she stood and took herself to the window seat, sitting upon it, her knees drawn up to her chest, her arms encircling her shins, her chin on her knees.

She remained this way the rest of the day.

LATER, AT BREAKFAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked through a large mouthful of bacon.

"She's not feeling well." Sarah said, avoiding eye contact with Harry.

"oh man, and just when I thought she was getting back to normal." Ron said, his mind already slowly turning to other subjects

"Hey Sarah, you like to fly don't you?" He asked

"Yeah, it's so exhilarating (AN: speaking of flying, where the hell has Numy been?!?!?!). That's one of the reasons why I wanted to buy myself a Fleagle."

"Speaking of Numy, where's he been all week?" Ginny asked

"Oh, he was kinda stolen by an evil wizard. But I think he may be starting to fly soon, he was trying to do it the night before last."

"ANYWAY!" Ron said loudly. "You should try for the Quidditch team!"

"Yeah!" Ginny said excitedly.

"Don't you think so Harry?" Ron asked

"Sure" His friend said dejectedly.

"Seriously, can you play ball sports?" Ginny said, almost ignoring Harry completely

"Well, I did a little bit of baseball in primary school" She said, also remembering a time only a few weeks ago, when she had used those skills to save a dear friend of hers.

"Excellent! I think you could be a great Chaser." Ron continued

"well, I'm all up for a new sport. But when are the try outs? I have no idea how to play!"

"Well, they're this weekend." Ron said.

"But we'll take you out to the field this afternoon and show you the ropes. We'll even get the twins and Harry to come too, isn't that right Harry?" Ginny said, kicking Harry under the table.

"Uh, sure." He said. "I'm going to head off to class now. I'll see you guys."

"Come on Ron, I guess we'd better be off too." Sarah said, picking up her books. Ron followed suit, grabbing a piece of toast to eat along the way.

"Bye Ginny!" Sarah called, waving to the fourth year Weasley.

AUTHOR'S NOTE FOR THE 22ND TIME!

Yay!!!!!!!!!! Ready? high fives everyone reading this YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just felt like doing that…

Anywho, I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. I thought the beginning was pretty funny myself, just because I find that sort of thing hilarious…

I think I have tonsillitis, which could mean more updates for you, but pain for me…

Have a nice day!

Your very sick Queen

PS 1, 365 words, a little under my averaged average.