Hello again! I'm finally on break so that means I have more time to write!

The first two sentences are exactly like they're written in GoF, so I take no credit for writing those. The rest was written by me. Enjoy!

When Harry woke up on Sunday morning, it took him a moment to remember why he felt so miserable and worried. Then the memory of the previous night rolled over him. He wanted to speak to Ron, to convince him that he wasn't lying, but Ron's bed was empty. He had already gone downstairs for breakfast along with the rest of his roommates. The second he set foot out of the common room, he was face-to-face with Hermione, who held up toasts on a napkin.

"Thought it'd be a good idea to bring you these with how everyone's been acting towards you." She beamed, handing him the stack.

"Good idea, thanks." He replied, eagerly biting into the first toast.

They walked around the lawn surrounding the Great Lake, the only sound being Harry's chewing, until Hermione decided to break the ice.

"I know you didn't enter yourself. You were paler than the usual when Dumbledore read your name out loud." She said, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Does Ron still think I entered myself?"

Hermione hesitated before murmuring, "He's jealous, Harry." When she saw Harry's face scrunch up in confusion, she continued talking before he could reply. "You always get all the attention even if you don't do it on purpose. He's got competition with his brothers at home and his best friend's the famous 'Boy Who Lived'. He copes with it all very well, but I think he's finally cracked."

"Well, he's welcome to switch places with me any times he wants." He spat bitterly.

Hermione was obviously uncomfortable about the situation. She didn't want to pick sides between her two best friends so she decided to drop it before things escalated. "Anyways, you should write to Sirius. He asked you to keep him updated."

Harry just nodded slightly and they started walking to the Owlery. When they arrived, Hermione gave Harry what he'd need and started examining the long lines of perches, all stocked with different owls. As Harry looked for a window sill to write his letter against, he noticed the nearest one was taken by Malena. Her auburn hair was in a long plait with a few loose ringlets near her ears. After Malena had finished scribbling down her own letter, she turned around and faced a frazzled Harry.

"How long have you been standing there?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.

"I-I, n-not long." He stammered, swallowing hard. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights. "I was waiting for you to finish so I could write my letter against the window sill."

"Oh, well it's all yours now." She stepped aside so he could pass and started tying her letter onto her owl, a small, brown tawny owl. "Send it to mum, Pedro." She whispered to her owl, stroking its feathers.

Harry snorted and turned his head in her direction. "Pedro?"

"What about Pedro?" Malena asked defensively.

"Nothing." He stifled his laughter and continued writing.

"Potter, what's wrong with the name Pedro?" She questioned again after her owl had flown away.

"Isn't that an … odd name for an owl?"

"I named her after Spain's best seeker. My dad was close to his record though." Malena stated, picking up her things and putting them inside her bag with a leather tag that read J.M.V.

"So it's a she? Named Pedro?" Harry teased, his smile widening.

She jerked around to face him, failing to hide her smile any longer. "I found out it was a she a month after I got her. It was already too late." She laughed as she swung her bag on her shoulder.

Harry eyed her playfully and tried to tie his letter to another barn owl, remembering Sirius had asked him not to use Hedwig for safety precautions.

"Let me help you," She stepped in after seeing him struggle to tie it on the frenzied owl. Her small hands brushed against his as she gently tied a knot on its small leg. "There you go." The owl gratefully hooting at her before leaving. She noticed her hands were still grazing Harry's and turned around to face him, the balls of her feet slowly lowering until they were flat against the cobblestone floor. Their eyes met. Their hands still touched and she even swore she felt him stroke his finger against the top of her hand.

"Harry, are you finish-" Hermione hollered, but stopped mid-word when she saw Malena's long braid swing around to face Hermione, slapping a flushed Harry in the cheek.

"Hermione! Uh, I should get going now." Malena adjusted her bag on her shoulder and darted to the exit, but Hermione stopped her.

"No, no. I was going to ask Harry if he'd finished writing his letter because I have to go finish my Potions homework now. I didn't want him to be alone here though." Hermione explained quickly. Malena raised her eyebrows and opened her mouth to speak but Hermione interrupted her, "Thanks for keeping him company! See you later!" and bolted out.

"Well," Malena sighed, sitting on the floor. "Are you writing to anyone else?"

"Not really," Harry said, his hand nervously scratching the nape of his neck.

"Then Hermione left me alone with you for no reason," She huffed, getting up and brushing the dust off her clothes.

"I reckon we were laughing a few minutes ago," Harry recalled, smiling as he walked up to where she was.

Malena's face flushed as she not only remembered their conversation about her owl's bizarre name, but how his hands felt warm against hers and how his cerulean eyes had studied her face so closely even dropping down to her lips once.

"Malena?" Harry called her from outside the Owlery. As if she wasn't burning up already, she was sure she was the color of a tomato by now.

"Sorry, I got caught up in what I was thinking about." She shook her head and they started walking back to the castle.

"What were you thinking about?" Harry asked curiously.

"My mum. I've tried writing to her on a daily basis. She hasn't been right ever since.." Malena trailed, biting her lip.

"I'm sorry about your loss, Malena." Harry's tone was soft and sympathetic and it sent shivers down her spine. Why they did, she didn't know.

"Who were you writing to?" Talking about personal issues wasn't Malena's favorite hobby. Having told Harry about her Mum's situation was already enough of a revelation for the day. She didn't even understand why she'd told him anyways. It just rolled off her tongue. She already felt comfortable around Harry despite having started off the wrong foot. She didn't understand that either, but then again she didn't understand a lot of things when it came to Harry.

"My aunt and uncle," Harry couldn't tell her about Sirius just yet.

"Oh."

They were quiet for a few minutes, but Harry knew if he break the ice again, Malena wouldn't either. She had too much pride.

"Do you miss Quidditch?"

"I haven't gotten on a broom since summer." Harry noticed her stiffen up a bit as she pushed her hands deeper into her jean's pockets.

"Why haven't you? I thought you of all people would love flyi-"

"I just haven't, okay?" She mumbled.

Harry hesitated on whether he should drop the subject or not. He decided on the latter. He knew it was a touchy subject and that he had to handle carefully, but he was too curious about Malena. She was mysterious and he wanted to figure her out.

"It reminds you of your father doesn't it?"

"Potter, I don't want to talk abo-"

"You're still dealing with your father's death. That's okay you know. To feel."

"Stop it! I've dealt with it just fine! He's dead! Buried! Six feet underground! I'm just fine! Okay!" She muttered, clenching her jaw, accentuating each word by jabbing her index finger on his chest. For a second there, her brown eyes seemed clouded, but after a flew blinks, they were back to being clear and angry.

"I'm sorry, Malena. Just trying to help."

"How? Analyzing me? I'm not some puzzle, Potter. Not a puzzle, not a charity act, not anything. Just Malena. So I suggest you stop treating me like anything other than that."

"You're right, I'm sorry." Harry agreed, bowing his head down.

"Besides, you don't see me pitying ickle orphan Potter."

It was supposed to sting, but it did the complete opposite. Harry started laughing.

"Why are you laughing?" Malena asked irritatedly, elbowing him.

"Ickle orphan Potter. That's a new one." He said, flashing her his toothy grin. She couldn't help but smile too.

"I shouldn't have called you that. I'm one parent short from being that too." She whispered, chuckling dryly.

"Don't say that, icke almost-orphan Malena."

They had been so involved in their own arguments that they had already reached the castle's entrance.

"Although we've added yet another quarrel to our feud count," Harry breathed in, "I didn't have such a bad time accompanying you, Valverde. Probably wouldn't mind doing it again."

"Accompanying me? If I remember correctly, Hermione asked me to keep you company, Potter." Malena corrected, looking up at him. This time her eyes weren't cloudy, or angry, but shiny. They actually sparkled. Meaning she was happy.

"Well I'd like it if you accompanied me to my first challenge." Harry smiled smugly.

Malena seemed hesitant at first, but agreed. "Just tell me when and what it is. I can help you if you'd like."

"Thanks, Malena." Whenever her eyes met his, he felt warmth crawl up to his face.

"Yeah, well, see you around." Malena smiled warmly before pecking his cheek and heading inside the castle.

See you around, Malena.