Here is the second half to todays uploads. I hope you enjoy. Please forgive me for little mistakes I might have made due to the fact I rushed through the editing just to make sure I uploaded today. Thanks to all of those who follow, review, and favorite my stories.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter

Chapter 8: Hogsmeade

There were two days between the fight between me and Pansy and the trip to Hogsmeade, something I would've hoped to do with Fred and George, but because we still didn't get along, Zach said he would show me around. It was two days of waking up early to avoid seeing Pansy and going to bed late even though I knew she stayed awake every night waiting for me to go to bed. However, on Saturday, I didn't wake up till 9, when Zach jumped on the couch I had passed out on, gave me a piece of toast, and dragged me off the common room couch to drag me to Hogsmeade.

I had grown used to the weather, which was not as nice as Healdsburg, so when I saw it was raining I wasn't as surprised as I felt stupid for forgetting a jacket. Lucky, year sevens cover duplication spells and I was able to wear a copy of Zach's jacket. Along without dark wash jeans and black shoes, we matched, other then the fact that the jacket was way to big for my shortness. I didn't mind though because during our trip to Hogsmeade all my worries and stresses were cleared with my hand in Zach's as we ran to the small, sleepy town that was now livening with students.

We visited Zonko's, Honeydukes, Tomes and Scrolls, and ended our day in the Three Broomsticks. I sat in the corner booth by a window while Zach got our drinks. I watched the rain hit against the window and wash away the dirt, leaving more clarity to see the rain grow harder. There is nothing more hypnotic then watching the rain fall in small drops only to break when they hit the earth, then followed by another and another, a never-ending cycles. I liked cycles they're certain, you can always guess what's going to happen next, but I was in a completely new place with a completely new schedule that varies, and even though its been a little more than 2 months, I was struggling to adjust. Life at home was in circles, everyday in the same, time never mattered cause it looked the same day in and day out. Weather varied, so did meals, and once a month, the first Monday, I would ride into the city, buy a new book and visit the local sweet shop to get the chocolate covered honey comb and green tea. Now, I was living and it felt good, I hated it at times and loved certain moments, but that's what made me even happier.

Zach took a seat across the table and slid the hot liquid to me. I picked it up immediately and took a large gulp, the sweet taste filled my mouth then slid down my throat with ease. I didn't even notice the burning sensation on my tongue and roof of my mouth until the liquid could no longer be felt. I stuck out my tongue in pain, the way a dog would stick his tongue out like he was panting, except less drool…a lot less drool. Zach laughed, then looked back outside.

"That sucks." He said, smiling. "You burned you tongue?"

"Yeah." I replied turning my attention from the rain to Zach. "But you guys have a cure for it, right? Like a potion or some spell that can fix it."

"Surprisingly, no." He smiled as my face fell in regret of chugging the hot drink. "It's called Butterbeer, by the way."

"Wait beer?" I asked, I had promised my mom and dad I wouldn't drink.

"Don't worry this can only get a house else drunk, it is not like beer at all." He reassured me, and I calmed.

"How would you know about regular beer?" I asked, taking a sip of the now cooled down Butterbeer.

"I had a Muggle mom, although she totally understands what all of this is." He told me, gesturing a circle in the air that I'm guessing meant the strange world of wizards. "So I was Muggle homeschooled till I came here, and you can learn a lot about the world you live in by living."

"Is that the key?" I asked. "Living? Cause I guess I don't know anything about anything then. I've never really been out of the house before this and now look at me. In a place called the Three Broom Sticks, burning my tongue Butterbeer, and more importantly, in London."

"I guess this is quite different for you." Zach agreed holding the mug up to his mouth and looking out at the rain that refused to surrender.

"You could say it like that." I said. "What about your dad? What was he like?"

"Well, he was an asshole to start off." He smiled, but it soon faded and the contents in his mug became interesting apparently because he broke eye contact and stared down. "I don't know, it's just when I think of the way I don't want to be, I think of him. He didn't care that my mom and I didn't want him to join the death eaters, but he thought it would protect us, but it put us in more danger. He will remain the worlds worst dad."

"I'm sorry." I said. "But maybe he only wanted to protect you because Voldemort" – Zach cringed- "Sorry, but He-who-must-not-be-named is dangerous and that could be the reason. Cause he loves you, like my dad almost didn't let me leave."

"I hate him so much, though, the way he betrayed my mom. Why are you defending someone who is killing innocent people?" He asked, clearly getting visibly angry.

"I'm just saying maybe you're being a little selfish-"

"Oh and you would know about that." He interrupted me, practically yelling. "You keep on complaining about Fred and how it's not your fault and everything has to work your way and everyone must treat you specially cause you're oh so special. You just need to calm down and learn that there will be people who hate you and they have reasons and it IS your fault and you also have to learn it's not all about you all the time." I didn't know what else to say, I agreed with him. I've pretty much only been complaining, in fact, I think that only positive thing I've said was at the opening feast and before we got into this discussion. "I am so sorry I didn't mean that, I just-"

"No." I said, it was my time to interrupt. "You're right, I just need to stop complaining because what happened, happened and I have you and I have wonderful tutors and teachers, and I go to the best school in the world."

"Well okay then." Zach said, shocked. "Just don't be like one of those people who don't have problems or faults, because they are annoying."

"I know, I just don't need to talk about me all the time." I said. "Like that was one of the first things I've learned about you. Tell me more."

Over another two rounds of Butterbeer we talked about anything we could think of like music, family, friends (he had more to say on that subject than I did), movies, and even our favorite super heroes, which lead into a very large debate if Spiderman was better than Batman. I of course was right when I said batman is not as cool as Spiderman, but still Zach refused to accept defeat. By the bottom of the fourth glass, the rain started to lighten and more people started to come in and soon our conversation was drowned by others talking over us, so we started people watching and telling stories about them. In the middle of Zach's story about why a Hufflepuff girl was crying, Fred walked up to our table with soak hair and clothes, looking mad.

"Hi Fred." I said stiffly, making Zach stop his story. I could feel his foot gently pressing on mine in a way to let me know he was there for me.

"I thought we had practice today." He said skipping polite introductions.

"I'm sorry," I said. "Were you waiting out there? I just thought since it was raining and it was a Hogsmeade weekend that we didn't have any."

"Then you should've told me." He said.

"We already agreed that-" I started but I felt Zach staring me down. Don't always blame other people, take responsibility. "Yes, so lets just say on Hogsmeade weekends or when it's really bad weather, we skip it and we'll make sure the other knows at least 24 hours before."

"No. It's rain or shine, all Saturdays. The more often we do it, the quicker we can get it over with." He said, obviously testing my patience.

"Fine, Fred." I said. "Draco offered to teach me any way so don't worry about it."

"So you are truly one of them now?" George asked.

"What is that suppose to mean?" I asked, I wouldn't be calm much longer.

"You have turned into a true Slytherin. Actually talking to Malfoy and getting lessons." George said. "I don't want to be around you anyways."

"Fine." I said, and as soon as he left and I turned to Zach. "What is with him?"

"I don't know." Zach shrugged.

"Whatever, what were you saying?" I smiled as Zach finished the rest of the story, concluding that the girl looked into Umbrige's eyes for too long and we made it back to the castle, describing the fight between Batman and Spiderman to see who would win. Eventually Iron man came in and conquered all or bought both of them to be on the same side and work for Tony Stark, we couldn't decide, but at the end of our journey and as we made it to the great hall to eat a little dinner and sneak the rest out because we were too full from butterbeer to eat. We stood facing each other, completely silent.

"Well, I'm going to change and clean up before dinner." I said.

"So I'll meet you down here." He said.

"Yup, okay, so see you then." I said awkwardly, still not going anywhere. I didn't know why things had changed from just a few moments ago, maybe we just know a lot about each other now, but I felt the difference. "I'll just go now."

"Yeah." He said, he leaned in and kissed me…on the cheek and I just walked away.

I know right? I WALKED AWAY. I mean it's not like I could say anything, how awkward would that be? What are you suppose to do? Say thank you or kiss him back. So I just did what would make it easier on the both of us, I walked away, but on the way back to the common room I felt the place on my cheek where it buzzed, where this kiss resonated on my cold, pale skin. I couldn't cover my smile, and I didn't try. I just got my first cheek kiss from a boy, who isn't my dad. Things were looking up.