I'm sorry this chapter took so long. I've been so busy now that school has started again. I'll try to make the next one sooner. Happy Reading. Hope you like it. Remember to review it when you're done!

Disclaimer: The wonderful world of Harry Potter and all it's characters do not belong to me, but to J.K. Rowling.

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He didn't arrive for a while. I knew he wouldn't. There was no way he could leave right after me. It would look too suspicious. Percy was already suspecting something. Although I was sure it had nothing to do with Oliver, I didn't want to give him any clues.

So patiently, I sat on an old crate and waited. Percy's behavior not only frightened me, but it broke my heart. I thought that Percy would never let his pride break. He would have kept going. I even expected constant fights. But I never, not for a second, thought he would snap like this.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I let my head fall into my hands and closed my eyes. There was nothing else I could do.

"It's never quite so bad." A juvenile voice came from my side and I snapped up to look around. Standing across the room, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, stood a boy I had seen before. What was his name? A Slytherin. Why, thank you, Mrs. Wood. Malfoy!

"Yeah? What do you know about it?" Just leave me alone.

"I was here that night. Remember? I can put the pieces together. And I see the three of you around. And how he's been fuming lately. I'm not blind." His eyes were piercing. I kept glancing at him, but his gaze wouldn't shift. "Don't worry. I don't bite... in daylight."

"What are you doing here?" Somehow this boy gave me chills and calmed me at the same time. The way he never flinched and no matter how much I spat my words, he didn't seem to care. Also, he knew my secret. And he didn't seem to be judging it.

"Owling my Father another letter. But, that's not the point. Right now, it seems you're the one who needs to be questioned."

"I don't need to tell you anything."

"No, but you need to say it for yourself." Without taking his eyes off me, he moved to his side and sat on another crate. Leaning against the wall behind him, he crossed his arms again and stretched his legs.

"Comfortable?"

"Quite."

"What do you care? So you can gossip with your other Slytherins? You've been kind enough not to say anything so far, I'm assuming, but I don't know or care what you're playing at. Gathering your information to have the whole story, maybe. I'm not going to give it to you." Still, he didn't falter. His voice was steady and his gaze stayed.

"I'm just trying to pass the time. And I do so hate to see my school's Head Girl upset. Listen, I give you my word as a Slytherin, take it or not, that I will not repeat anything that is said here today. Nor will I tell anyone about you and Wood. Well, at least until it comes into the open. Then, as peer pressure will so have it, I'll be forced to talk about it, but never will our conversation now come into play. Honest." He held up his right hand and smiled. Not a smirk or a sly grin, but a kinda smile. I never knew a Slytherin was capable of such.

"But why?"

"I can tell when people need to talk. I would want the same done for me. Seeing as how I could never tell people about my problems, I've become even more...shall we say...sensitive to other people when they have to keep secrets. I'm only trying to help. I guarantee you won't find anyone else in this damn place who will listen and not judge you." I looked into his eyes. They didn't seem to be hiding anything, or look malicious. So, why not? I was at my wits end and I truly did need to spill it out. At the moment, I didn't even care if he ran downstairs and screamed it to everyone. I just had to get it out of me. So I told him. Without even knowing this boy's first name, I told him about Oliver, and Percy, and how scared and confused I was.

"Hm...sounds classic." Was all he said after I was finished.

"How so?" Was he crazy? Or just that insincere?

"God woman, don't you read?"

"If this was so classic, I would certainly be able to relate it to some piece of literature." Who was he to say such things?

"Well, maybe you're just not reading the right literature. Listen, it all seems too incredibly complicated now, but it'll work itself out. It always does. The Weasel is too proud to break for some girl for long, no offense, and Wood is too much of a sissy to let the situation escalate. Again, no offense."

"I would say the same, about Percy at least, but I've never seen him like this before. Something's happened to him. The look in his eyes... And besides, what do you truly know? This isn't some page in a book. It's real. This is really happening to me."

"Alright, fine. Let's just say that Weasel finds out. Would it really be so bad? I mean, sure, he'd be completely pissed, but he'd get over it. Everyone has to grow up at some point. And as for Wood, well, personally I would have chosen a better person to have a fling with, but I'm just a simple Slytherin."

"It's not a fling."

"We'll see."

"Yeah well, keep your eyes open."

"Don't avoid my question. What if Weasel found out? Would it be so bad?"

I couldn't decide. Would it? After all, Percy would just have to accept it. Would he really allow it to break him? But if it did, I wouldn't be able to bear that guilt.

"All I know is that if Percy finds out, something drastic is going to happen."

"Listen Clearwater, I'm sorry to break it to you, but dumping your boyfriend for his best mate is already drastic enough. Don't you think?"

"The fact that he doesn't know keeps us safe."

"Hah! Safe from what? Percy Weasley, do anything that requires any guts? Yeah, right. He's a Gryffindor babe, and by default I might add. Just 'cause he was born with red hair, freckles, and into a family with too many kids than they know what to do with. He should have been a Ravenclaw, maybe even a Hufflepuff with how worthless he is. Everyone knows it. You don't have anything to worry about."

"Don't make fun of him." I said quietly, thinking about what he said.

"I'm not the one shagging his best mate."

"That's not your business."

"Fine. But remember, Penelope," at the sound of him using my first name, I looked up, "If you love Oliver, truly love him...then don't let any Irish bum get in your way. Fight for him. And stick with him. Nothing Percy can do can break what you and Wood have. I promise you it won't be easy, but hey, only a year left, right? By going against your heart, the only thing to lose is Oliver. So don't listen to your head. What's responsible isn't always what's right." With that he got up and started towards the door. Shocked, I just stared after him. "I'll keep my eyes open. And I'll keep my eyes on you three. If I see anything, I may just give you the privilege of my advice again. Good luck... and I trust that I have your word that this conversation never comes to anyone else's knowledge? We both have a lot to lose if this gets around."

Just as he was about to leave, Oliver walked through the door. He looked wildly at Malfoy, who just rolled his eyes in return.

"Calm down, Wood. No harm done." He threw one last look at me and shoved past Oliver.

Before he was out of sight, I called, "Malfoy, thank you!"

In response he simply held up his hand and gave it a slight wave, strolling down the stairs with his hands in his pockets.