Chapter Sixteen: Ask No Questions

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Kay, so I'm really glad that people reviewed! Thanks so much for the honesty! I hope this chapter is better than the last one! Be sure to read the bold part at the end, it's actually more important than my usual banter! Enjoy!

I was let out of the Hospital Wing the next day and the four of us went back to the common room as though nothing had ever been wrong. Things weren't quite back to normal though, seeing as Hermione mentioned my agreeing with her on the Firebolt issue. It got bad enough between Ron and Hermione that she and he held a shouting match in the common room the night before everyone returned and both decided to turn to me at the exact same moment, demanding I tell them who was right and who was wrong.

"Um…can I just be Switzerland?" I asked timidly. Ron's ears were almost glowing bright red and Hermione's hair looked frizzier than normal. I didn't want to be on the receiving end of either of their anger.

"NO!" they shouted in unison before glaring at one another.

"But it's the holidays still, sort of, and I really don't think--"

"Kailey, please, for both our sakes, just give them an answer," Harry, who was sitting next to me on the couch, muttered in my ear.

"I would but it'll only make things worse," I whispered back, frustrated. He gave me a look that clearly stated his disbelief that things could get worse between those two. "Ugh, fine," I grumbled. "Hermione's intentions are none too far off course," I said quickly.

"You see, Ronald? Imagine what would have happened!" she said triumphantly, sounding much calmer.

"Wait, she said not too far off, that means you aren't right!" he argued back, though he had quieted down as well. "Anything you want to add?" he directed at me.

Is it too late to change my New Year's resolution and lie…?

"ThebroomisjustfinetorideaslongasHarrydoesn'tdoanythingstupid," I said in a rush to get all the words out and then I grabbed a pillow from the end of the couch and hid my face in it.

"What?" all three of them chorused, though Hermione sounded more angry than confused, probably because she had assumed I wouldn't actually tell them.

"Don't make me say it again," I groaned, shrinking into the couch.

"I was right?" Ron asked, surprised.

"Who was it from?" Harry wondered aloud.

"Wait, I was right! Ha! I told you Black couldn't get anything to Harry from out there! He's on the run, when would he have time to stop at Gringotts?" Ron gloated, and Hermione flushed before rushing out of the room.

"Brilliant, Ron," I said, throwing the pillow at him. "Bloody, freaking awesome,"

"What? She's the one sticking her nose where it doesn't belong," Ron muttered, sitting down grumpily on one of the chairs.

"By doing what, exactly? Trying to protect her friends? You know she only told Mickey 'cause she was worried," I argued.

"Yeah, well, why didn't she just think to ask you, then?" he countered.

I just scowled at him.

"Do you know who it's from?" Harry asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't," I replied, pointing my nose towards the ceiling. "It's not an excuse for people to just take advantage of so they can win their petty arguments," I stated.

"I think she's got you there, mate," Harry nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, well…it doesn't matter, she'll get over it," Ron muttered, scowling as he stood and stalked off to the boys' dorms. Harry and I both flinched as the door slammed from upstairs and I sighed.

"Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"D'you think they'll ever get along?"

"You know, your asking that makes me incredibly nervous about their future as friends," Harry informed me, rubbing the back on his neck.

"Right, sorry," I replied, dryly. "Should we do damage control or let them sort it out themselves?"

"Well, considering how well damage control worked out the last time we had an argument I'd have to say let them work it out themselves," he answered, nodding his head as though to emphasize his point.

"Right you are, mate," I replied in my best fake British accent.

"I totally agree, bud," he answered in his version of an American accent.

"Bud?" I asked, laughing out loud.

"What?" he asked, frowning. "Is that not okay?"

"No, it's fine, you just say it really funny," I laughed.

"You say everything really funny," he countered, giving me a small shove.

"What? I do not!" I protested. "Name two words that I make sound weird,"

"When you say 'merry' it sounds like 'Mary' and when you say mostly any word ending in '-ing' you make it sound like it ends with an '-in'." he answered almost too quickly for my liking.

"Yeah, well, you use 'bloody' as a derogatory term," I answered, sticking my tongue out at him.

"I hate to be the one to point it out, but you've been using it too," He laughed at me and I huffed before grinning in reply.

"I've got a question," Harry said suddenly, sounding serious.

"Thanks for the warning," I replied, leaning into the couch. "What's up?"

"Well, I talked to Remus the other day about defense against dementors and I was wondering if maybe you wanted to come and learn it with me,"

I thought for a moment, looking away from Harry and into the coals of the dying fire. "I suppose that would be a good idea. I haven't been able to make one since…well, Keena hasn't been able to since…for twelve years," I answered. "And considering the current circumstances…sure, I'll come with you, but I won't promise to stay conscious the whole time," I agreed, looking at him with a serious expression. "When's the first lesson?"

"I dunno, I'll get back to you on that, though," he answered, turning away and watching the fire himself. "I have another question," he said, this time he was a little quieter, though he didn't wait for me to make a sarcastic comment this time. "Since I know now about why Keena couldn't take me in when I was younger and since we're still friends now, d'you think I could maybe…get away from the Dursley's? For good? No one really knows where you went, right? I could just go and live with Remus or something,"

"Harry, if you want to live with Remus, you need to ask him, not me," I answered. "But I don't think there's any way to really get rid of the Dursleys for good,"

"Because of my mother's bloodline?"

"Yes," I answered. "Maybe one day when you don't need the protection from them anymore, but not just yet,"

"But Voldemort isn't even around anymore," he grumbled. "Not really at least," he amended after a moment. Then his expression darkened. "You know when he's coming back, don't you,"

"I do, yes," I replied, just as darkly. "I'm doing what I can to prepare for the moment, but no matter what I do, he needs to come back before he can truly be destroyed, though I'm not exactly positive why,"

"Then why let him come back at all,"

"Dumbledore is the one who told me that he couldn't be destroyed fully before he came back," I answered truthfully. "He didn't mention why, but hopefully I'll find out soon,"

"Hopefully," he echoed.

The students returned the next day and all was chaos. Everyone was chattering about what they'd done over the holidays and how many presents they had received and so on. Hermione avoided all three of us the entire day, even when I tried to catch up with her at lunch she just fled muttering about picking a side and sticking to it. I'll admit that that frustrated me so I followed her to the library. Seeing as school hadn't come into session yet, not even the Ravenclaws were in the library.

I found her in the empty history section and sat down across from her silently.

"Good book?" I asked, leaning my elbow on the table and resting my chin on my hand.

"It would be better if I could read it," she snapped in a whisper.

"Did you really expect me to lie after all of this, Hermione?" I snapped back. "You know that Ron is just being hot-headed as usual, don't blow this out of proportion."

"I'm trying to concentrate, do you mind?" she replied angrily.

I huffed and picked up one of the books surrounding her.

"I need that," she said, making a grab for it, but I pulled it out of her reach.

"Why are you researching court cases on animal…trials…oh, Merlin and Founders, you're joking, right?" I slammed the book down onto the table and she jumped. "Who the bloody hell…? Ugh, Malfoy, right? When did Hagrid find out about this?"

"You and Harry were still not speaking when we found out, apparently they forgot to tell you," she said with disdain.

"And your excuse for not telling me is?"

She glared at me before leaning across the table, "I thought you knew everything, of course, then you wouldn't have lived with a werewolf,"

I could feel my face heating up with rage at her prejudiced assumption. "You honestly think that he kept that a secret from me? From Dumbledore? Why do you think it is that Harry is stuck with the stupid Dursleys every summer? The ministry wouldn't stand for it if I had even tried to get them to allow us to take Harry in,"

"So you decided to stay living with your friend and allowing your godson to endure whatever sort of life it is he has at the Dursleys then?"

"No, the only choice I made was to keep the fact that I have two souls a secret and I've already admitted to that being a really horrid mistake," I corrected her. I stood up, glaring at her. "Obviously it was a mistake to come and try and work this out with you as well, have fun with your books,"

I stalked out of the library and found Harry and Ron engaged in a battle of chess in the common room. Harry had two pieces left on the board.

"Where were you?" Ron asked as Harry searched for a safe move.

"Attempting to have a civil conversation with Hermione," I grumbled, noticing Whitetip rubbing against my leg and picking her up. "It failed miserably and I think she's angrier at me than at you, but only by a little,"

"It must be a girl thing," Ron concluded, knocking over one of Harry's final pieces. "Check,"

"Yeah, because I'm definitely not a girl," I replied dryly, rolling my eyes. His ears turned light pink.

"I meant British girls," he muttered.

"Nice save," I smirked before grinning as Whitetip purred.

"Yeah, Ron, really brilliant and I forfeit," Harry added, flicking his king over. "So even if she wasn't angry with you before, she is now?" he asked, separating out all of his deceased pieces so that they could put themselves back together.

"Yeah," I replied. "I'm not so good at the whole apology thing I guess,"

"What would you apologize to her for?" Ron asked, bemused.

"Telling you guys that there isn't anything wrong with the broom," I said exasperatedly.

"I still don't understand why you won't go and tell that to your dad," Harry replied shaking his head. "It doesn't really make all that much sense,"

"Well, it sort of does because I know where the broom came from," I argued. "Don't bother asking me who, though, I'm really serious about not telling," I bit my tongue to keep myself from grinning at the really bad pun I had made.

Classes resumed the next day and Snape ordered Harry and me to stay after class. The Slytherins didn't bother trying to hide their pleasure at the two of us being in trouble, though they hurried out of the classroom at the look Snape gave them.

"What is it, Professor?" I asked once the room was empty.

"I simply wished to remind the both of you to report to my office tonight at seven sharp. Do not be late," he said, giving us each a pointed glare. "Now, off to your next class before you are late," he dismissed us and we headed off.

We arrived at his office at six fifty-nine and stood in front of the door.

"You go in first,"

"He's your dad, you should go first,"

"You volunteered to be here, you're obviously much more excited about this than I am,"

"Exactly I volunteered,"

"So go in,"

"It isn't seven yet,"

"Early bird catches the worm,"

"I don't think he'll appreciate my interrupting his final seconds before a detention,"

"Nonsense, he lives for this stuff,"

"So why aren't you going in again?"

"Because, I'm just the weak little damsel in distress,"

"What does that make me?"

"The knight who hath volunteered thyself to eternal damnation," I said grandly.

"Eternal?" he gulped.

"Yes, now go,"

The door opened suddenly from the inside. "You are late," Snape stated, moving aside and gesturing for us to enter.

"Are not," I muttered, giving Harry a look which he gladly returned.

"What is it that we'll be doing tonight, Professor?" Harry asked instead of honoring me with a comeback.

"Tonight's detention will be spent cleaning every surface of Potion's room without magic. You will wear these protective gloves seeing as the explosion Longbottom made in class today is extremely hazardous,"

"But the only place that it landed was on the ceiling, sir," I said, confused.

"Yes, I said every surface," Snape replied, handing me the gloves.

"But you also said without magic,"

"Well, obviously that means that you will not clean with magic, I did not say that Mr. Potter would not be allowed to levitate you, Ms. Snape, seeing as you are lighter and therefore easier to levitate," he replied. "Unless you wish to use a ladder of course," he added, gesturing to an old, moldy looking ladder that didn't look as though it could handle the weight of an owl.

I couldn't help but let my jaw drop. That meant that I would have to be levitated, therefore not controlling how fast I went up or how slow I went down. In short, levitation meant height and height meant bad. Very bad. It was going to be a very long night.

"Any brownie points that he's gained over the course of this year have just disappeared," I said falling onto the couch in front of the fireplace in the common room.

"Agreed," Harry said, moving his wrist around experimentally. "Levitating people is harder than I thought it would be," he added.

I grinned. "Are you saying I should lay off the sweets?"

He turned bright red. "That's not what I meant!"

"Sure," I said, shoving him a little. "Jerk,"

"Prat,"

"Nitwit,"

"Twit,"

"Hey! Twit is my word!" I complained, folding my arms in protest.

"You didn't use it, so I assumed it was alright to use," Harry shrugged.

"Would you two give it up? You sound like a bloody old married couple," Ron complained, scratching something out of his Transfiguration essay. "Kailey, could you help me with this? I can't make heads or tails of it," he added.

"No problem," I said, accepting the essay from him. "Oh, there's your problem," I said pointing to his introduction. "You're trying to tell her that the spells are the most important part of animagus transformations but that isn't true. In order to have a successful transformation you must have the proper potions brewed perfectly or else you'll get stuck as whatever it is you turn into when you make the final transformation."

"You sound like you speak from experience," Harry noted.

"I should," I answered, handing the essay back to him.

"What d'you mean you should?" Ron asked suspiciously.

"I've already written this essay once, haven't I?" I replied, smoothly covering up my slip. "Any way, just switch around your argument a bit and you'll be all set,"

"Thanks,"

"Don't mention it," I said, waving it off.

"Oh, Kailey, I almost forgot to tell you, Remus said he could do the lesson at 8 on Thursday night," Harry said. "He said he wouldn't mind you coming along either,"

"What about my dad's detention?"

"Remus said that he'd deal with Snape," Harry shrugged.

I grinned.

"What? Does that mean we get to see a fight?" Ron asked, curiously.

"Nope, but knowing Remus, he may just get us out of the remaining detentions all together," I replied. "He's got a way with words,"

Sure enough the next morning at breakfast Snape approached the Gryffindor table. Some of the first years sitting near us shrank away from him as he came nearer. He looked livid, after all.

"Mr. Potter, Ms. Snape, if you would join me a moment in the hall," he said, his voice not above a whisper.

"Kay," I said, standing up and we followed Snape out of the hall where the whispers followed us. "Sup?" I asked once we were standing in the hallway.

"Excuse me?" he asked in return, sounding confused.

"What is up?" I clarified.

"Well, I have decided against giving you detention on Thursday night, as well as any other night during which Professor Lupin chooses to give you instruction involving defense against dementors," he answered grudgingly. "I will not require you to make up your missed nights, either," he added. "I expect you both, therefore, to take Lupin's instructions very seriously,"

"Will do, sir," I said, saluting him and causing a couple of fifth years to gawk as they passed by. "Geez, dad, did you see their reaction? It looks like they thought you'd skin me alive for doing that," I laughed, looking after the fifth years before turning back to face Snape. I no longer blamed the fifth years for gawking and I gulped.

"Refrain from that in public," he hissed.

I nodded mutely and he walked away towards the dungeons. I turned to Harry as we made our way back into the Great Hall.

"He's scary when he wants to be, isn't he?"

"Maybe you really don't know when to be afraid," Harry muttered, shaking his head.

I frowned and gave him a shove. "Don't talk to your elders like that, Harry; I do so know when to be afraid,"

"Didn't I tell you I knew when to be afraid?" I muttered, sitting up for the third time that night. It hadn't even been my turn yet that day and I had passed out for every one of Harry's tries against the false dementor. It was nearly March now and still all I had been able to produce was the little wisp of a cloud instead of my full fledged corporal patronus. It was really frustrating and I had come into this session filled with doubt, probably accounting for my passing out so much seeing as I had previously been getting better at staying alert. "Professor, I'm sorry," I added, accepting the chocolate. "Maybe I should stay out of the room while Harry has his turn,"

"That was the last one I'm allowing Harry for tonight in any case," Remus said helping me up as Harry lit the candles around the room. "Do you still want to have a go tonight?"

"You have to ask?" I replied easily, trying to mask any fear, though I was trembling a little, I'll admit. I held my wand at the ready. "I'm ready,"

"Remember, happy thoughts," Remus said, he and Harry standing behind me. I took a deep breath and concentrated. "Do you have one?"

I shook my head no and thought for a moment more. The night Harry and my dad told me I was alright seemed happy enough. I had been positive I'd ruined both relationships and I hadn't. I focused. "I've got it,"

"Alright, on my count. One, two, three," he released the boggart and the hooded beast stepped out.

Screams and shouts crowded my ears as they had been all night, but this time I refused to let myself back down. I had to do this. "Expecto Patronum!" A faint silver wisp was all I got. That wasn't nearly good enough. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" I shouted with as much force as I could muster. A large silver orb shot out of my wand, but it took no shape as it circled around the dementor. "C'mon," I muttered, willing the patronus to show itself. "Please, c'mon," I muttered again through gritted teeth. My whole arm was shaking as I concentrated on keeping the patronus alive.

"One more incantation, Kailey, try one more," Remus called from behind me, not bothering to tell me to give in as he had when the lessons had first begun.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" I shouted one last time and the silver orb glowed so brightly I shut my eyes before opening them. In front of me stood a large, silver wolf.

Not a dog…? Where did my dog go…?

The wolf chased the dementor back into the chest where it turned into a boggart once more no doubt, before trotting over to where I stood. It looked at me with a tilted head as though waiting for something.

"Um…thanks," I said. The wolf nodded before disappearing. Then I fell over. Harry and Remus practically ran over to me.

"Kailey, are you alright?" Harry asked as Remus dished out more chocolate.

"Wow," was all I said, taking the chocolate and stuffing the whole bit in my mouth at once before chewing and swallowing at lightning speed. "Why did it change shape, though?"

"Change shape?" Harry asked, turning to Remus.

"You expected it to stay the same? You have two souls, so it only makes sense that you have different soul protectors," Remus answered. "I wouldn't think Keena's patronus changed, though you should check; just let me lock the door,"

"Hang on, what's going on? You just change into Keena at will?"

I nodded, "Like an animagus transformation, minus the years of work it takes,"

"Technically, it did take years for you to develop two souls," Remus said after putting up a silencing charm and a locking curse. "Alright, go ahead,"

I changed into Keena and stood up, facing the boggart's chest once more.

"Why don't you do it without the dementor first?"

"Why?" I asked, grinning a little at the sudden return of my British accent.

"You might need a different memory. As Kailey, you probably used one of her memories, right?"

"Yeah, I was going to use a different memory in any case, though," I answered.

"Anybody mind if I voice how strange this is?" Harry asked, looking from me to Remus.

"Not at all," I answered. "Hopefully Snape will have that potion figured out soon, though, thinking confuses me,"

"Don't let her fool you, Harry, she's always been that way,"

I glared at Remus before sending a complicated little jinx his way. Harry attempted to contain his laughter for all of two seconds before he burst out laughing.

"What did you do to me?" Remus asked before clutching at his throat. "My voice! What did you do?" Remus was dressed as a woman and his voice made him sound and look like a drag queen. "You had better turn me back!" he threatened.

"Where is that camera from DJ?" I asked innocently.

"Don't you dare," he growled.

"Keena? Maybe you should change him back now, I think his eyes just changed color," Harry suggested timidly.

Remus' eyes widened and I changed him back in a flash before he could make anything out of what should have turned into an awkward silence. "Let's see if you can do your patronus now without the dementor, shall we?" Remus asked. I nodded.

"Expecto Patronum," I said it simply, with much less force than I had had to as Kailey and my dog patronus began bounding around the room. "Still a dog, then," I said. "And I think he wants to play," I added with a smile, looking up to see Harry's reaction.

"He looks familiar," Harry said. The dog noticed him and bounded over. "Could you look more serious?" Harry asked. The dog tipped its head sideways, confused. It thought it was Sirius after all. "He looks just like a silver grim," Harry concluded. "Like the one I keep seeing,"

"The one you keep seeing?" Remus asked, sounding slightly amused. "Figures your patronus looks like a grim," he added to me. I opted to stick my tongue out at him before changing back into Kailey, and as I did so the patronus disappeared. "I think we're done for tonight, and here, I've brought butterbeer."

"Yum!" I exclaimed, accepting the bottle from Remus without question. Harry did the same with equal eagerness.

"To the Quidditch cup," Harry toasted. "Are you coming to this match, Remus—er, I mean Professor?" he added after we had all taken a swig.

"I don't see why not," Remus said. "And we aren't in a classroom, Harry, you can call me Remus."

"But we are in a classroom..." I muttered. They both turned to give me a look before shaking their heads.

"Good, so we'll have at least three people there who can perform a patronus of some sort," Harry said happily. "I really hope we win, I don't think Wood would be able to handle us losing," he added, shaking his head. "Maybe I'll have my broom by then, too,"

"The Firebolt? I'm sure they won't find anything wrong with it," Remus decided.

"Do you know who sent it? I've asked Kailey and she's not budging," Harry pouted.

"If Kailey hasn't told you then I won't either," Remus said, checking his watch. "Alright, that's enough for tonight; I don't want to have to get you two out of a detention for being out late,"

"Goodnight, Professor," Harry said.

"See you!" I chirped.

Harry and I finished off our butterbeers and headed towards the tower, talking a mile a minute about the patronuses.

"What d'you reckon mine will look like?" he asked eagerly.

"Oh, I've got an idea," I said, turning around to walk backwards.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Oh, well nothing really, just seeing if I can still walk around the castle without looking where I'm going."

"But you're going backwards,"

"An extra challenge,"

"Don't you think you might bump into--?"

"Oh, Mr. Potter, watch yourself," McGonagall said as she and Harry collided on the staircase. I couldn't help but laugh. I had been able to hear her coming.

"Sorry, Professor," Harry muttered, embarrassed.

"Oh, the irony," I grinned. "Hey, is that Harry's broom, Mickey?" I asked.

"As a matter of fact it—did you just call me 'Mickey'?" she stopped midsentence.

"Sorry, old habits die hard," I shrugged.

"No, that is not what I'm referring to, you called me Mickey in front of him," she frowned.

"Yes, well, I'll thank you very much for that," I said, folding my arms. "Ron and Hermione overheard our conversation a couple of months ago in the Three Broomsticks and they let Harry in on the secret. I told you we should use some secluded, warded place, but no one would bother listening to an ex-unspeakable and ex-auror about secrecy,"

"It seems there is no lasting damage," McGonagall said, holding out the broom and ignoring me. "Although I suppose you wouldn't mind giving away where this came from, Ms. Snape," she added, as she handed the broom off to Harry.

"What does it matter? There's nothing wrong with it, just let it go, both of you," I added as Harry and McGonagall opened their mouths to protest. "C'mon, we'd better go before Ron faints from excitement,"

"Oh, and Mr. Potter, please win the cup," McGonagall said with a pleading look she rarely…alright, I'd never seen her look that way. "Or Professor Snape will be kind enough to remind me that this is our eighth consecutive year without a win,"

"I'll do my best, Professor," Harry promised.

"Your best is not what I am asking, I am asking for a victory," McGonagall informed him.

"Um…alright, Professor,"

She nodded and continued on her own way. Harry and I bumped into Ron and Neville on our way back to the common room and both their eyes lit up when they saw the Firebolt.

"It's beautiful," Ron and Neville chorused. Even Sir Cadogan had nothing negative to say other than his usual "Give me the password or I shall have your tails, you cowardly fiends!"

Ignoring the annoying portrait, the boys and I entered the common room. I shook my head as the better half of the tower came over to inspect Harry's Firebolt. Honestly, it was just a broom. Once everyone was settled again, Ron, Harry and I made our way over to Hermione who was sitting by herself, surrounded by charts and books and half-done essays. The three of us had agreed to try and make up with Hermione again. What could it hurt?

"Hermione, could we sit down?" Harry asked, the Firebolt still shouldered.

"I'm not going to stop you," she replied a little stiffly.

After shifting some of the books and papers around, the three of us sat down. Hermione continued scribbling away and the silence between the four of us began to grow awkward.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," I blurted out when nobody said anything. Her quill paused, but she didn't look up.

"We're sorry too," Harry added. She put the quill down but was still waiting.

"Yeah, and I shouldn't've yelled at you, you were only trying to help," Ron said and Hermione finally looked up.

"Thanks you guys, I suppose I shouldn't've overreacted either," she said, stretching her wrist.

"How are you doing all of this work, anyway?" Ron asked, noticing what she was doing. "It can't be healthy and you always look dead tired."

"I'm handling it fine," she answered. Ron shook his head but opted to say nothing.

"Oh, I've got to go give Scabbers his rat tonic, I don't know if I've actually gotten him to take any or if he just spits it all out when I'm not looking," Well, gee, I wonder why…? "Harry you want me to bring the Firebolt upstairs too?" Ron said, checking his watch.

Harry nodded and handed the broom over to Ron who took it as though it were a newborn king or something. Regardless, it was just ridiculous the way everyone was treating that broom.

"Hermione, maybe you should drop a class or two," I said delicately. "All of this running around over and over," I said, emphasizing the over part. "Well, it's just not good for you,"

"I'm fine, really,"

"Hermione, you look as tired as Lupin," Harry stated. Hermione jumped and stared at him. "What? Bad comparison?"

"No, no, she does look very tired," I agreed. "But you shouldn't compare a thirteen year old with an old man,"

Hermione just grinned and shook her head. That was when we heard the yell from upstairs. On reflex, I jumped up and took out my wand before any of us saw Ron racing down the stairs, holding his bed sheets.

"Merlin and Founders, Ron, please don't yell like that!" I growled, shoving my wand away and sitting back down. He ignored me and stalked over to Hermione, shoving the sheets in front of her face.

"LOOK AT THIS! WHAT D'YOU SUPPOSE IT IS, EH?" He yelled, and the entire common room went silent as Harry, Hermione and I leaned over to see what had Ron so upset. There was quite a lot of red stuff covering a corner of the sheet. "IT'S BLOOD!" he roared.

"H—how—?" Hermione began but Ron just threw something onto one of her various essays. Again, we all leaned over to see orange cat hair.

"Ron, that could be months old," I said immediately. "You can't know for sure that that is what happened."

"AND YOU KNOW DIFFERENT THEN? WELL?" I just gave him a warning look but he ignored me and took my silence as conformation. He just shook his head and stomped off upstairs. The common room continued to stare at Hermione, who was beat red and looked as if she might start crying.

"Alright, you lot, shows over," I shouted though no one moved. "I said shows over," I growled, trying out Snape's creepy-threatening-loudish-whisper-thing. To my pleasure (and slight dismay) it worked perfectly and everyone went back to what they were doing.

"You—you don't think that…" Hermione started in a trembling voice.

"No matter what I say, I think he's going to be angry. You're the unlucky scapegoat," I replied, moving over to Hermione and giving her a hug.

"Um…I'll go and see if Ron's okay," Harry said quietly as Hermione began to sob into my shoulder.

"Actually, Harry, if you wouldn't mind getting her stuff organized first? C'mon, Hermione, let's get to the dorm," I said, standing her up. She didn't argue and followed me up to the dormitory. I shut the door behind us and led her over to her bed.

"N-no matter what I d-do, or h-how hard I t-try something always g-goes wrong!"

"That's not true, Hermione," I said, rubbing her back.

"B-but it is! F-first year with the d-dragon and l-last year with the b-basilisk! And n-now it's Ron's r-rat!"

"None of that is your fault, and I'll talk to Ron, don't worry about him. Everything will be fine," I said soothingly. "You'll see,"

"Well, what about B-buckbeak? Is—is he going to b-be alright? I-I've tried to get a g-good defense b-but—"

"I'm going to talk to my dad and see if I can witness for the defense," I said. "It means I might miss the cup, but that doesn't matter. It'll be alright, c'mon, let's get your face cleaned up then I think you should go to bed, you're over tired."

I left Hermione in the dorm once she was done crying and had fallen asleep and headed to the common room to gather all of her things. Lavender and Parvati came over to help me carry all of her things into the dorm, asking if Hermione was alright.

"I think she's just stressed and Ron blowing up like that didn't exactly help," I said, balancing three large texts in one hand and trying to get the door handle with the other.

"It's been quite the year for you four, hasn't it?" Lavender asked, shaking her head.

"Huh?"

"Well, don't take this the wrong way, but you've been more distant with them all throughout the year, Harry's not been himself either, he's been even stranger since we came back from the holidays. Ron's been yelling a lot more and Hermione is over working herself." Parvati informed me.

"Have I really been distant?" I asked, frowning. They both nodded. "Huh…I never would have noticed,"

"I suspect the others haven't exactly noticed either, considering you're all going through different stages," Lavender said expertly. "I'm sure you'll all stay friends though,"

"Well, you and Harry at least, Ron and Hermione…they might need some time to work their relationship out," Parvati said.

"Yeah, they always seem to, don't they?" I smiled.

"I don't know how you and Harry stand their constant fighting," Lavender said. I just shrugged.

"Of course, it probably makes you two a stronger couple just watching the other two fight all the time," Parvati added.

"Couple?" I asked, nearly dropping the books as I finally got the door open. "Who's a couple?" I asked in a high whisper.

"The four of you guys are two pairs?" Parvati asked, not bothering to hide her confusion.

"Um…no," I said, setting the books down on Hermione's trunk.

"Well, that's a pity, it would be so cute," Lavender said dreamily.

"Yeah, um…it's been a long day, I think I'm going to follow Hermione's example," I said, heading for my bed.

The other two just shrugged and said good night before going back down to the common room to spread about some gossip no doubt. I sat on my bed for a few minutes pondering what they had said. Then I began to wonder about how awkward of a conversation that would be for me to have with Harry.

That's it…I'm going to help Snape make that potion. This two soul's thing just reached a new level on my weird-o-meter…

Wow, long chapter! Sorry, I just couldn't break it off! Oh well, consider it a combo of a New Year and Christmas (or whatever holiday you prefer) present! Please review! Oh and I've got a question that I need answered in at least three people's reviews to be certain of! Do we want Lily and James to be publicly alive by the end of third year or by the end of fourth year? PLEASE ANSWER! Kay next is number 17!

:-D