Disclaimer: All rights belong to JK Rowling

Previously:

Draco smiled lovingly at her. "If we only had one hundred days to live," he whispered. "I'd only want to survive for ninety-nine, so I wouldn't have to live a day without you."

Grinning, Skye reclaimed Draco's lips. "I love you," she murmured. "Even if you use the most corny and overused lines."

A few days later, Skye was ready to head down to breakfast. She was yet to actually talk to Ri, but she had a feeling that today might be that day. Skye had, of course, told her friends and Harry exactly what had occurred between her and Ri. Harry was just about ready to hex him into oblivion for hurting his sister.

Flashback

"HE SAID WHAT?" Harry exploded after Skye had finished recounting her tale of what had happened down by the lake.

Skye cringed at her brother's angry tone. Even Hermione, Ginny and Ron eyed their friend warily.

"It's okay Harry," Skye tried to reassure her brother.

"No it's not fucking okay, Skye," Harry said furiously. "He made you cry! And we all know it takes a lot to make you cry."

"Yeah, well," Skye shrugged. "Ri's always been a special case."

"HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE YOUR BEST FUCKING FRIEND!" Skye sighed, Harry was off again. "How could he do this to you?"

He drew his wand with a murderous glint in his eye.

"Wh...what are you doing?" Skye asked nervously, eying her twin's drawn wand.

"I'm going to teach him a lesson or two," Harry snarled.

"Harry please," Skye begged, laying her hand on his arm. "Don't do this. You'll wake up tomorrow and regret it. I know you will."

"Regret hurting him for hurting you?" Harry asked incredulously. "I don't think so. I could never regret standing up for you."

"I don't need you to stand up for me!" Skye exclaimed. "I can do that myself. Please, just let this go."

"Fine," Harry said grudgingly. "But if he comes anywhere near you I can't be responsible for my actions."

"Thank you," Skye said gratefully, ignoring the last sentence her brother had muttered darkly.

End Flashback

Heading into the Great Hall, Skye felt a feeling of dread building in the bottom of her stomach. Somehow, she just knew that something was going to happen. She sat down with her friends, ignoring the fact that Harry had sat down next to her as well.

He had taken to following her around the school, almost as though she needed someone to protect her. Between him and Draco, Skye was certain that the second Ri tried to talk to her, he would be attacked by at least one angry teenager.

Harry following her around wasn't really ideal either. It meant she got almost less alone time with Draco due to Harry conveniently having somewhere to go whenever Skye felt the need to leave the Common Room. She had confronted him the day after that incident, but Harry admitted nothing.

Flashback

"I just need to go to the library," Harry said, when Skye asked him why he was following her. "I'm not going because you are."

"So explain then, please," Skye snarled. "Why you have been following me to every class this week."

"I'm not sure if it's escaped your notice or what, but we have the same timetable. Being in the same year and sharing similar interests and all," Harry pointed out innocently.

"You are insufferable," Skye exclaimed exasperatedly. "You have been following me. I just know it!"

"Prove it then," Harry said, crossing his arms and smirking.

"I CAN'T!" Skye exploded. "And you know that!"

With every word, she jabbed a finger into her brother's chest.

"Can't you just leave me alone? I don't need you to protect me all the time," Skye said, a little calmer. "I can look after myself you know."

"No, I don't know," Harry said. "But let's not fight; I only want what's best for you."

"Oh please," Skye scoffed. "You're starting to sound like Dad. If it wasn't for your eyes, I'd be beginning to question who you actually were."

Harry snorted. "Oh come on," he said, laughing. "I'm much better looking than Dad."

"Huh," Skye grinned evilly. "You wish Potter."

End Flashback

So really, Skye reflected. It wasn't her fault. She just couldn't stay angry enough at her twin to scare him into leaving her alone. It was, she concluded, her only downfall. How she wished she could just yell at Harry, like her mother used to do to her father, so he would finally, finally accept that she would be just fine on her own.

Skye hated the fact that people seemed to just have to look after her. Sure, she was her father's first daughter, but he had others now! Surely it was possible for him to look after Iri, or even Suzie, the way he looked after her? Of course, he did look after them, but Skye believed that he was most protective of her. And it annoyed her to no end.

Then, of course, there was Harry. His overprotective streak came into play for anything between what she was wearing and guys who looked at her on the streets. His need to protect her was, perhaps, a little understandable due to the close bond the twins had always shared. Now that she was growing up, Skye thought grimly, he needed to loosen up a bit. She could look after herself.

She smiled at Draco across the Hall, who winked at her and blew her a kiss.

"Aww," Ginny grinned. "Young love."

"Like you can talk," Skye smirked at her friend. "How's Blaise?"

"He's fine," Ginny muttered, blushing.

"Not so confident now, are we?" Skye asked grinning.

"Oh, give the girl a break Skye," Hermione said. "She's going to need all her concentration if she's going to pass her OWLS this year."

Rhia groaned loudly. "Do not talk to me about OWLS," she said. "If I even hear the word OWL one more time, I'm going to scream!"

"Yeah," Ginny agreed readily. "I don't think I can take anymore. All we hear about is how it's so important to study throughout the whole year and not to cram before the exams and so on."

"It is important though!" Hermione said indignantly.

"We know Hermione," Skye said. "But let them have their fun as well. I know I study best when I'm more relaxed."

"Studying?" Rhia asked incredulously. "Is that what you were doing down by the lake with Malfoy yesterday?"

"Shut it Rhia," Skye said. "I actually got a lot done. Believe it not."

"Huh, I'm going with or not option," Rhia grinned. "Didn't look like you were studying much more than Malfoy's tonsils."

"RHIA!" Hermione exclaimed. "I really did not need to know that."

"What?" Rhia asked innocently. "It's true."

"Whatever," Skye said. "Just cause I have a boyfriend and you don't...Besides, how's it going with what's-his-face? You guys going to Hogsmeade together or what?"

"Oh!" Ginny exclaimed, her eyes lighting up excitedly. "Rhia has a crush! Tell me, tell me, tell me!"

"You knew and you didn't tell me?" Hermione narrowed her eyes teasingly. "Some friend you are."

"I'm sorry!" Skye laughed. "I just got caught up in other things."

There was a silence between the four girls, each remembering the aftermath of the fight between Skye and Ri. It affected most of the Potter, Lupin and Black children as they were all fairly close. Nobody wanted to pick sides (Skye wasn't expecting them to) so the teenagers spent most of their time going between one or the other. It seemed to Skye that Cathy, Mickey and Mike had almost made a roster. One day they'd sit and talk with Skye in the Common Room, the other day they'd be with Ri.

In all honesty, Skye preferred it this way. Although it was quite awkward, it was better than creating a whole family divide over something as trivial as her boyfriend's surname.

It was only Harry really, that still had a problem with Ri. But then again, he had a problem with anyone who hurt his sister. Skye was hoping though, that Harry would be able to forgive Ri even if she didn't. She knew that, while not as close to each other as Skye and Ri were, they were still pretty good friends. She would hate them to lose that over her.

"Anyway," Skye said, breaking the group out of their thoughts. "I didn't even get a name."

"Aha," Ginny said interestedly. "Give us a name."

Rhia blushed. "I don't think so," she said.

"Come on," Hermione coaxed. "We won't tell."

Rhia raised an eyebrow sceptically but refused to answer.

"Would you rather we just followed you around Hogsmeade?" Skye asked. "Because I actually will."

"I thought you were going with Malfoy though?" Rhia eyed her friend.

"Yeah, so what?" Skye shrugged. "Doesn't mean I can't follow you around with Draco now does it?"

"You wouldn't," Rhia asked, eyes wide.

"Try me," Skye smirked evilly.

"You suck, you know that?" Rhia asked in a resigned voice. "Xavier Benson, 5th year Ravenclaw. Plays Keeper on the House team."

"Ohh!" Skye exclaimed, gesturing to a guy in the Hall. "Him?"

Rhia nodded her confirmation.

"I see," Skye grinned. "Good choice. He's cute."

Rhia looked at Skye in mock outrage. "Just cute?" she asked. "Ginny, give me some better adjectives to describe that God please."

"He's smoking hot with the most dreamy eyes. Short blonde hair, toned body," Ginny sighed wistfully. "If I didn't have a boyfriend he would be top of my list."

"Short hair?" Hermione asked, wrinkling her nose. "I prefer longer hair myself; I go for the messy look myself."

"Like Harry!" Rhia exclaimed.

Harry, who was previously locked in conversation with Ron turned at the sound of his name. "What about me?" he asked.

"Hermione said she digs the messy look," Rhia said. "Well, not in so many words but something along those lines. Like yours!" Rhia grinned, ruffling Harry's already messy raven hair up .

Both Hermione and Harry blushed, but Skye was certain she was the only one that saw it. Harry turned away quickly, and Hermione looked down at her plate, avoiding anybody's eyes.

Skye grinned to herself. That was interesting. Her brother and Hermione? Could be interesting, she thought. It was worth pushing them in the right direction, just to see what happens.

"Skye?" Ginny was waving a hand in front her face. "You in there?"

"Oh, right, sorry," Skye said, shaking her head. "I zoned out there for a while."

"Damn straight you did," Rhia grinned. "What were you thinking about?"

"Draco," Skye lied flawlessly. "We have first period together."

"You're looking forward to class so that you can see your boyfriend?" Ginny asked, raising a disbelieving eyebrow.

"He's going to walk me to class," Skye explained, rolling her eyes. "We might make a couple of detours."

"The third floor broom closet?" Rhia grinned. "I've heard that one's..."

"Skye, can we talk?" A voice interrupted.

Skye reflexively stiffened, but didn't turn around as she answered. "I don't think so," she said. "You've said enough."

"I just want to..." Ri continued, a slight plead to his voice.

"Just don't," Skye said. "Not today."

"But Skye I..."

"She said she didn't want to talk," Harry interrupted coolly.

"Can I at least sit?" Ri asked resignedly.

"I don't think..." Harry began heatedly.

"Forget it Harry," Skye said, cutting in. "I was just leaving anyway."

Leaving her friends and brother at the table, Skye got up and walked from the Hall, as quickly as she was able to. Ri, of course, followed her.

"SKYE!" he yelled, as she stalked up the hallway. "Please just hear me out!"

"I don't want to hear another word you have to say!" Skye screamed turning to face him. "You've hurt me enough already."

Ri winced. "I'm really sorry about that," he began.

"Forget it," Skye cut him off. "I don't want to hear it."

She started walking away again, until Ri finally yelled out, "I'm a selfish jerk okay?"

Skye froze and despite her brain's protests, turned to face him once more.

"Why?" she ground out.

A/N So, a bit of a longer chapter. Anyone guess Harry's crush yet? But be warned; it may not be as obvious as you think it is...Anyway, don't forget to review–they make my day!