"Vera, I still can't believe that you took part in that fight! I mean, I could see Harry and Ron doing something like that, but you? I just didn't think you would risk getting in trouble."

Hermione and Vera were the only girls in the dormitory. While Hermione ranted on, Vera dressed for bed, barely paying attention to what she was saying.

"Hermione, calm down."

"I'm serious, though. You know how strict your father can be and this was...well, it was really bad," Hermione said looking both worried and annoyed at the same time.

Vera got up off the bed and crossed the room to Hermione. "Herms, will you please just drop it? I really just need some quite right now, okay?"

Hermione sighed and apologized. "Maybe we should just go to bed. We have to make a Distress Draught tomorrow, remember? I really don't want to be tired for it, it's supposed to be very complicated."

"Yes, we'll want to be wide awake for that," Vera mumbled sarcastically. Hermione didn't seem to hear her, though, so she said goodnight and got into her bed. Vera fell asleep with the thoughts of the fight, her father, and that draught going through her head.

Vera didn't know which way to go; it was like she had lost her sense of direction. Two ways were in front of her, and she knew that she was supposed to choose one. The trouble was that she didn't know which one to take. It was driving her crazy. She could faintly recall some key element to this problem. She began to cry with the weight of the decision, knowing that it was an important one. Suddenly she heard footsteps and she turned around. A dark figure was walking toward her, and the sight gave her a feeling of mingled hope and despair.

"Vera!"

Vera sat up quickly, rubbing her eyes. Harry was looking at her with a concerned look on his face.

"Did I doze off again?" she said sleepily.

"Um, yes," he said with a small grin on his face.

It was free period and they were studying for classes. Hermione had dragged Ron off to the library to find a book on human transfiguration, and Harry and Vera were left in the common room to work.

"I'm sorry, I just didn't get much sleep last night. You know, weird dreams." She didn't feel like explaining the entire dream at the moment...she could barely understand it herself.

"Are you sure you're alright? You know, about the fight?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," she said quietly.

Harry sighed. "Well, I think it's time for lunch. We'll meet up with Ron and Hermione there."

They put their books into their bags and left the common room. The walk down the stairs to the Great Hall was completely silent. Ron and Hermione were already sitting down when they came in.

"Find your book, Hermione?" Vera sat down and put some food on her plate.

"Oh yes! It gives a thorough analysis of the many—"

At that moment, a single owl that flew down and landed in front of Vera. She immediately recognized the owl as one of her father's and she prepared herself for the worst.

The worst was more than she had guessed, though, when she saw that the letter the bird carried was scarlet.

"Vera, uh, your dad sent you a Howler!" Ron said, eyeing the letter and remembering his last encounter with a Howler.

Vera knew she had to get it over with sooner or latter. What she didn't know was just how heavy the blow would be.

Carefully, she opened up the Howler, wincing. Immediately, her father's voice filled the hall:

"GUINEVERE RENEE COWAN! I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS! I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT TELLING ME THAT YOU PARTICIPATED IN A FIGHT AT SCHOOL. HAVE I TAUGHT YOU NOTHING? A FIGHT...AND NOT JUST ANY FIGHT, A FIGHT WITH DRACO MALFOY! GUINEVERE, WHY? I HAVE ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH, WHAT WITH YOUR BETROTHAL TO HIM, AND NOW A FIGHT WITH HIM! YOU WILL GIVE A FULL EXPLANATION TO YOUR MOTHER AND I ABOUT THIS."

The note burst into flame and a deep silence followed.

Vera couldn't think straight. She must have heard wrong. 'WHAT WITH YOUR BETROTHAL TO HIM...' no, this was all wrong. She couldn't be betrothed to Draco Malfoy; it was impossible.

Looking up, Vera saw the entire hall starring at her. She felt her cheeks burn as she looked out and found Malfoy at the Slytherin table. The look on his face was of both realization and revelation.

"Vera," someone whispered.

She turned slowly around to face Harry. He looked her straight in the eye and held her gaze. "Vera," he whispered again.

She was starting to feel claustrophobic; She needed to get out of the room. The feeling of five hundred pairs of eyes burning into her was becoming overwhelming.

Harry reached across the table and grabbed Vera's arm just as she stood up, and they looked at each other for another split second before she pulled her arm away and ran from the hall.