Sorry for not updating in... about five days? Anyway, I'm back. Sooo... I think this is a considerably longish chapter in my history, so please review, and don't kill me.

Charms classes weren't as dull as they expected today.

"Yes, Miss Harper, come here. Now someone has told me that you have a wonderful singing voice." Professor Flitwick smiled widely.

"Well, umm… Who told you that, Professor?" Rose asked through slightly gritted teeth.

"Well, I can't tell you, I'm sorry. But if I may be so bold, can you give me a demonstration of your singing?" Flitwick asked earnestly.

"Well, Professor…" She started, her eyes on the rest of the Gryffindors practicing their levitation spells on each other, some looking at her, wondering what Flitwick wanted.

"Can I not do it here?" Rose begged.

"Alright, after class, maybe?" The charms teacher suggested.

"Sure." She smiled uneasily.

After class, Rose lagged behind as the other Gryffindors and Ravenclaws left, hoping to god that nobody would lag behind with her.

"Miss Harper, if you please." Professor Flitwick stepped aside and Rose stood beside him, taking a few deep breaths before starting.

She remembered a story her mother had told her in a song a long time ago. It was as though it was readying her for the pains to come.

(A/N: I really like this song, but I don't own it. I don't exactly know who wrote it, but Rachelle Ann Go sang my favorite version)

Baby cried the day the circus came to town

'Cause she didn't want parades just passing by her

So she painted on a smile, and took up with some clown

While she danced without a net upon a wire

I know a lot about her, 'cause you see

Baby is an awful lot like me

Don't cry out loud, just keep it inside, learn how to hide your feelings

Fly high and proud, and if you should fall, remember you almost had it all

Sirius stopped in surprise when he was about to come into the charms classroom.

He had forgotten his special parchment and had returned for it when he heard the unmistakable singing voice of Rose drifting around the room.

Baby saw that when they pulled that big top down

That they left behind her dreams among the litter

The different kind of love she thought she'd found

There was nothing left but sawdust and some glitter

But Baby can't be broken, 'cause you see

She had the finest teacher that was me

I told her…

Don't cry out loud, just keep it inside, learn how to hide your feelings

Fly high and proud, and if you should fall, remember you almost had it all

Don't cry out loud, just keep it inside, learn how to hide your feelings

Fly high and proud, and if you should fall, remember you almost made it

Don't cry out loud, just keep it inside, learn how to hide your feelings

Fly high and proud, and if you should fall, remember you almost had it all

(A/N: This is probably an excuse to put in this song into my fanfic, or something to make it longer. Eh)

How hard was it to sing that song? Somehow Sirius could sense that the song meant EVERYTHING right now, after everything she'd been through.

Do I have to hide my feelings from EVERYONE? Rose demanded to herself.

Sirius trusted her enough to not be suspicious of her actions, Belle trusted her enough to become her best friend; but the most important thing, she couldn't even tell them.

And Christmas was nearing… And so was the Christmas ball.

This meant something to look forward to and something more to worry about.

Mare, hey, are you avoiding me?

Oh my- I'm sorry, I'm kind of out of it at the moment.

Have you decided yet?

I'm assuming you're talking about the ball.

What else? ;)

Hehe, I think I'll make you wait a little while longer for my answer.

You're EVIL!!!!

I love you too, Padfoot, now just be patient.

NO.

No?

No.

Yes.

Yes what?

Yes, OF COURSE I'll go with you.

YES!!!!

You made a hole in the parchment.

Ooops…

Okay, then I'll see you at the ball. How long 'til then?

Eight days, remember? If you get more absent-minded than this, you'll forget me!

As if.

Hey.

What?

Can you tell me then?

What?

Who you really are.

… I can't. Not yet.

I'll wait. :)

"Last match before holidays! I'm so hyped!" Belle said, stretching her arms.

"Against Gryffindor, Belle. No way you'll beat Potter for the snitch." Heathis muttered.

"Never know. Maybe luck will be on my side." Belle said.

Rose never really paid attention to Quidditch, but Belle had somehow gotten her to attend the game THIS time.

She was decidedly horrified to know that Rose hardly ever attended Quidditch matches.

Now, along with the other Gryffindors, she was walking up the stands, finding herself near the front, seeing where all the action was.

As the names were called, Quidditch players from Hufflepuff and Gryffindor stepped out onto the field.

Cheers erupted from the scarlet and canary yellow crowds, and a new atmosphere of excitement filled the whole field.

And it started, the Hufflepuffs taking first possession of the quaffle with their seeker floating near the stands, looking for the golden snitch.

Belle's eyes were squinting, and Rose could see James Potter tailing her whenever she moved towards a certain point.

Belle floated near the Gryffindor stands long enough for Rose to catch her attention and mouth the word 'stalker' while averting her eyes to James.

Belle stuck out her tongue at her, but still moved in a way that James couldn't catch her off guard.

"Oh, AND LEVI HAS SPOTTED THE SNITCH!" The commentator roared as Belle dive-bombed towards the Slytherin stands, the little bit of gold glinting in the sunlight.

James sped after the Hufflepuff seeker in close pursuit, and as close as Belle was to victory, something prevented that.

A bludger whizzed over and hit Belle in the back, knocking her off course and allowing James a millisecond to zoom past her and grab the snitch herself, making loud frenzied cheers erupt from the Gryffindor stands.

"Where does it hurt anyway?" Rose asked as Belle walked fidgeting beside her.

"My pride." Belle said, giving an exaggerated twitch.

"That was good flying, you know. The bludger was a fluke; you should have won." Rose said encouragingly.

"I'm sure. I just want custard. Shouldn't you be celebrating with the other Gryffindors or something?" Belle said.

"Cheer for Potter's win? You're kidding. I'd rather eat a thestral." Rose muttered.

"Now I wonder if there's any other way to see them than seeing someone get bumped off." Belle said.

Happy for the change of subject, Rose followed Belle to the tables, but lagged behind as she saw Sirius and the other Gryffindors carry James on their shoulders.

The night before hadn't affected anything much, as Rose had pretended that she had no idea of what he did for her, and 'woke up' a little after he had gone.

"Miss Harper, your next lesson is tomorrow, don't forget." McGonagall seemed to appear out of nowhere and gave her a parchment for her schedule.

"Why would Harper have extra lessons? She does fine in Transfiguration." Sirius said.

"Probably isn't for that, but it still does seem strange." Remus said almost boredly.

"I wonder what she's hiding." Sirius said suspiciously.

"That's the same thing the teachers will be wondering for us if James comes to class with a hangover. Sirius, why'd you have to sneak in firewhisky anyway?" Remus asked, though not actually wanting an answer.

Sirius didn't give him one, and instead shifted his gaze to the other people in the common room.

Other than some students chugging down bottles of almost harmless butterbeer, the party wasn't as interesting as he had hoped, and he found his thoughts drifting away again.

He half-expected to see Mare materialize in his mind's eye, but instead, a thought occurred to him.

Mare's eyes seemed oddly familiar, though he couldn't remember where he had seen them.

"Hey, Remus, do you know anybody in Gryffindor who's a metamorphmagus?" Sirius asked politely, acting as though it was a by-and-by question that he didn't mind.

"No, but the teachers would know who it is. I just know that someone like that DOES exist. McGonagall let slip something like that." Remus said, knowing that this would catch Sirius' attention.

"Alright, I'll ask Mcgonagall." Sirius said, getting up.

"Not right now, Sirius. You'll get this 'Mare' issue taken care of later on." Said Remus sternly, pulling him back down again.

"Who said it was about Mare?" Sirius said in an innocent tone.

"You. Particularly in your slumber. Who knew you could say a whole unabridged sentence in your sleep?" Remus laughed.

"Heheh, shut up Moony." Sirius said dryly.

At that moment, James collapsed on the hearthrug and both lounging boys dragged him up to the dormitories for an early rest and came back down again.

Rose had just come in, and it was already nine thirty in the evening.

She randomly batted her hand in what was supposed to be a greeting at the only two people left not leaving the common room.

"Probably doesn't want to be locked out again." Sirius muttered coolly.

"I'm sure she didn't mind that much about last night." Remus said in a strangely malicious voice.

"Shove off." Sirius muttered half-heartedly.

"Oh, and Sirius, I almost forgot. You're not leaving with James for Christmas break, are you?" Remus asked.

"Nah, he and his family are gonna be off on a trip. Why? I'll just be staying here." Sirius said.

"Well, you can't." Remus said.

"What?" Sirius looked at him questioningly.

"You can't." Remus repeated.

"Because of that new uprising with that Lord Voldemort character, remember him? Dumbledore wants students to go for Christmas. He's closing down Hogwarts for the break for about a week or more. You missed the news when you were in the hospital wing." Remus explained.

"WHAT? But I've got nowhere else to go for winter. Why didn't you tell me before? I can't go back to my mother's house, you know that!" Sirius said hysterically.

"I'm really sorry. But I'll tell you what, I'll help find someone who'll let you come with them over Christmas." Remus said.

"Moony!" Sirius whined.

"Dumbledore said. And don't worry, I'm sure you'll find a solution to that problem." Remus said encouragingly.

"Right." Sirius muttered.

He slumped over the couch dejectedly.

The coming solution, though, wouldn't make much difference to a new problem.

You'll see in a bit what their 'solution' shall be. Don't kill me for the song!!!

Billie hides under sheep)

Anywee, R&R. I love you readers!

Sheep: Baah.