It Hit Me Like Never Before

by The Hazel Eyed

HP!Glee crossover. Starts at their first year at Hogwarts, and ends at their last. This is the story of Santana and Brittany, how they grow up together and how they end up together.

3. Third year

AN:

I think all of you have already figured out a lot about Santana and Quinn's families.

I want to give you a real insight about what Santana thinks about all of it, and why she wants the same thing as them.

There is more information at the end, and some spoilers as well.

"Soundtrack" of this chapter (or this whole story):

And Then You Kissed Me - The Cardigans (The title is from this song. I guess I get a little of my inspiration from it..)

And

Radio - Lana Del rey

---

During the summer, they kept the promise to owl each other. Santana didn't want to use the family owls, because like before; she didn't know how her father or mother would say about her owling a Ravenclaw.

So they used Brittany's father's bird, Hank. He was big and brown, and at first, (she would never tell Brittany), she was scared of him.

Turns out he really likes ham.

Her parents had gone to the Malfoy Manor for weeks; she only met them like… ten days in a row. But Caleb was home with her. And he trained her every day, the only break she had was when Draco and Quinn came over, which was rare. And then they had to eat, but that's about it.

Caleb couldn't make out her animal form just yet, barely, but all they knew so far was that her form had paws and four legs.

She almost envied Brittany, because in her letters she described what a fun time she had with her family, and that Cara had grown. They went to the beach to swim and ate ice cream in the sun, built castles in the sand and went out for dinner almost every night.

She wanted that. She wanted a normal family, like Brittany's. Caleb was nice, but he was different. Santana had this feeling that it was because she was older now, and was supposed to have more responsibility with her life and her actions. He was strict, and didn't smile like he used to do.

Santana didn't like lying, but she didn't consider it as that either. She just bent the truth when she told Brittany what a fun time she had with Caleb, and that her parents was at a business meeting over the summer.

Even she knew better than to think that those meetings were nothing. She accidently overheard a conversation between Lucius and her father one night, about 'how the Dark Lord will rise soon' and that 'soon Draco and Santana will be-'

She hadn't heard the last thing, because her father had lowered his voice.

When she tells Draco about it, he sighs. "My father told me all about this, you know… who Voldermort is, right?"

When she nods, he continues. "The Dark Lord and Voldermort is the same person."

"Oh," she breathes in realization. "Our parents served him before Potter in some kind of way killed him?"

"Yeah," he confirms and sits down on the armrest on her couch were she is seated, Quinn is next to her, listening to them talking. "Except they want him to rise again, so they are trying to find ways for him to do so. Then we will control the Ministry of Magic and be the most powerful wizards in the whole world."

"My dad told me all about it," Quinn says all of a sudden, "how the Dark Lord is the most strongest wizard of all time, and we need to stick with him, because he is going to take over, and control every thing when he comes back to us,"

A rush of respect and wonder coarse through her at the thought of the Dark Lord. She wanted to become like that, worshiped and respected- her parents would be so proud.

"He will make us powerful as well, and wealthy in exchange of our efforts, and give safety to our families." Quinn finishes and Draco nods in agreement.

"We're called Deatheaters," the blonde boy states, "his followers is called Deatheaters. Our parents have these tattoos on their forearm, once we're one of them we get one as well."

'We' he says, and she gets that he means them. The three of them in this room is going to follow their parents' footsteps and honor their families. And join Lord Voldermort once they get old enough, together.

She's not planning on telling Brittany about anything of this. She knows that the blonde has the knowledge of the legend of Voldermort, and who Harry Potter really is. What he has done for the world.

And she is probably thankful about it too, that he made the Dark Lord fall. That he made her Lord fall.

She hates him for it. Draco and Quinn do too.

---

The summer goes on in the speed of a snail; Caleb looks tired and snaps easily when she doesn't get it right. He locks himself into his room after dinner and doesn't talk to her if isn't important or about animagi. At the end of the summer, the news about that mass murderer Sirius Black shakes the whole wizard world.

When she was little, Caleb told her all about Azkaban and dementors as horror stories, how it was impossible for anyone to get away from there once they're locked up. How it's impossible to escape from that damn prison, and no one gets how Black could do it.

Of course she worries about Brittany, if something happened to her she would break apart and hunt the person who hurt her down and kill them.

The day after she gets a letter from Brittany that says how worried the blonde is about her, because she is still back home, the same country as Black. And Brittany is in Germany- away from all the danger.

It makes her a little calmer, and she smiles when she reads that Brittany wants her to come to their summerhouse there, so she can be safe.

---

This year Draco, Quinn and her go to the Diagon Alley with Caleb. He seems happier when other people are around, but he still looks tired as hell. While they wait for their robes to be finished, she takes Quinn with her and hurries to the hair salon to cut off some hair- Santana's hair is too long, and she hates it.

She peers over at Quinn in the mirror and studies her features. Her friend is beautiful, no doubt about that. Their bodies has grown a lot over the summer, they both have breasts, more curves and more mature expressions.

Maybe the latter is just because they've finally learned the truth about their families and their stories. She feels like a grown up, even though she knows she's far from it.

Quinn catches her eyes through the mirror and quirks a perfect eyebrow.

"What?" she asks, not irritated but actually curious.

"We've grown," she mumbles, "it feels like we're so old but we're really not."

Quinn nods absently and sucks in her bottom lip. "I guess,"

"And," she smirks, "we're going to be hot when we get older,"

The now brown haired Quinn laughs behind her, waiting for her to get finished. "Totally," she winks.

When she steps out of the saloon, her hair doesn't reach her lower back anymore, just the middle of her bicep. Quinn gushes all the way to Madam Malkin's how pretty she looks, and it really means a lot coming from Quinn of all people. Draco and Caleb is already there, her brother's shoulder bag draped over Caleb's left shoulder were they would keep all of their books and all the stuff they need this year.

They just step into the shop to get their new Slytherin uniform and they puts them on like last year. She wonders where Brittany is; she said she would be here with her parents today as well, but she hasn't seen her.

"Draco, have you seen Brittany?" she asks quietly so her brother doesn't hear something he's not supposed to.

"No," he shakes his hand, "is she supposed to be here?"

She nods in response and looks around, and misses when Draco smiles at her, and starts looking around as well.

But she's not in Flourish and Blotts, nor the Slug and Jiggers Apothecary where they but the potions supplies they need. They head towards Amanuensis Quills when her brother speaks up.

"Santana," he calls and she turn around to see what he wants. "I need to run an errand, here is the money you need for new quills and ink, I'll find you later. Go buy ice cream or something." He tells her and gives her five galleons- way too much for buying quills. But he is gone before she can say anything, and she follows her friends- confused.

They enter the shop and starts looking at funny-looking quills and various inks.

"Santana!"

Before she knows it, strong arms wrap around her from behind and almost lift her up. She smiles widely at the familiar scent of Brittany, and struggles to turn around to give her a proper hug.

"I'll buy these for you," Quinn says and eyes the scene that plays in front of her with a bored expression, but doesn't comment. She takes the things Santana was supposed to buy and drags Draco to the cash registers to pay.

"Hey Britt," she chuckles while wrapping her own arms around the blondes neck.

"Oh God, I missed you so much," Brittany squeals in her ear, and her grin starts to hurt.

"I've missed you, too," she answers and tightens her grip around her. Her whole body relaxes and the weight on her shoulders is gone for a moment. No Deatheaters, no snappy Caleb and no careless parents. Brittany makes her happy with her smile and the way she smells. She is so happy and carefree all the time that Santana's mind seems to have picked up some of it when Brittany is around.

They pull away, and when Santana sees her face she actually stops breathing.

Beautiful.

Brittany's sapphire eyes are filled with adoration and giddiness, her skin is more tanned and those chubby kid cheeks are gone. She looks way older than thirteen, maybe fifteen. She's taller, and her hair is longer and it falls loosely around her Ravenclaw uniform. A hint of bigger breast is playing under her white button-up shirt and Ravenclaw tie. The thought that she even noticed that makes her blush lightly and snap back into to reality.

She is not the only one who has been staring; actually, she is the first to notice that both of them are. The intense gaze Brittany is giving her makes her blush some more, and she tucks some hair behind her ear, which visibly makes Brittany tense and realizes that she has been staring.

"You look…" Brittany begins, and matches Santana's burning cheeks, "pretty,"

She blinks, and a small smile playing on her lips as Brittany's eyes widens.

"I mean, y-you have always been pretty, b-but you have grown and-"

"Britt, stop rambling," she laughs and grabs her wrist affectionately, making Brittany stop explaining. "you're pretty, too,"

She averts her eyes downwards when Brittany lights up and grins fondly down at her. The blonde grabs the hand around her wrist and pulls her close so she can embrace her. She can't believe that Brittany told her that… she thinks she's pretty. Even if Quinn said it before, it didn't feel the same as when Brittany told her.

A man speaks up from somewhere behind her, and she turns her head when Brittany looks up, and the latina blushes even more.

"So Brittany, are you going to introduce us to your friend?"

The blonde lets go of her, and Santana gives her a confused look, but takes a real look at the man this time. He is blonde, with green eyes that just bore into her soul. His eyes flicker down to her robes, and for a second his eyes flashes with despise, but replace with a look that says 'I'm watching you'

Next to him is a woman- she is just really an older version of Brittany; the cat-like eyes and the happiness that dance in them. They flicker down to her robes as well, but she doesn't seem to really think about (or care) that she's a Slytherin.

It takes her a couple of seconds to understand that this is Brittany's parents.

"Mother, father," Brittany starts and looks down at her briefly before averting her eyes to her parents again. "This is Santana Lopez," she introduces, "San, this is my parents."

Brittany's mother moves forward before none of them can say anything. "Oh, call me Mary, dear," she says and shakes Santana's hand. It's almost scary, their eyes are so much like each other, it feels like grown up Brittany is shaking her hand. She tries to smile as cutely as she can, but she is not sure if it's a success- she is so nervous about meeting Brittany's family.

"A Lopez?" Mr. Pierce asks, but it's more like a statement. And she realizes that he knows who her parents it, and probably what they are as well. His eyes are betraying his kind smile, they're hard and they judge her, just because of her last name. But she doesn't blame him.

"Yes, sir," she confirms and shakes his hand too. In the corner of her eye, Brittany is watching the exchanges with interest. She feeling unsure under his gaze but holds it anyway.

His eyes leaves her first to size her up, from her shoes to her eyes, and his eyebrows knit together.

"We're going now Brittany, come on." He tells his daughter, and Santana gets a weird feeling from him, he obviously doesn't like her. And the last thing she wants is that Brittany's father don't approve of her. What if he tells Brittany lies to keep his precious girl away from the "evil Slytherin girl"?

He and Mrs. Pierce steps out of the shop, and Brittany turns to her. "I'll see you at school?" she asks hopefully and Santana forgets all about Mr. Pierce for a second. "Same time at the library?"

"Sure," she replies, and she looks forward to be alone with her and talk to her in private.

Brittany leans in to press a kiss on her cheek, dangerously close to the corner of her mouth. She almost swallows her tongue by the gesture, a blush creeps up her neck and cheeks, and Brittany gives her a dreamy expression. "See you," she smirks and skips out to find her parents.

It's a nervous habit she has, gripping her wand tightly in the pocket of her robe. It gives her away often. Her wand is bent, the first time she saw it at Ollivander's she thought is was broken. Yet, it is long; 13 ½ inches.. Dark walnut wood and runespoor fang- the core that is best for the use of dark magic.

She smiles as she wonders what kind of core Brittany has, but she wouldn't be surprised if it was unicorn hair.

She looks around, and finds that Draco and Quinn are yet to pay, so she joins them in the line.

"Took you long enough," Quinn states and smirks at her flushed face.

"Shut up, Q," she mutters, but can't help but smile.

The three of them has just started talking about what they like to eat the most when Caleb comes into the shop and spots them talking in the line.

"Not ready yet?" he asks them as he makes his way to them. Santana rolls her eyes.

She hates how he can be so kind to her now when he hasn't been during her vacation. Maybe he feels bad for it? Nah, Caleb isn't like that.

"No, long line," Draco explains.

Santana is glad that Draco finally stopped hanging after her brother, now you can talk to him without him being afraid of Caleb thinking he's lame or something like that. Draco turns his gaze towards the register at the same time as Quinn and they start paying for everything.

Caleb meets her questioning look with a quirked eyebrow- challenging her to say something.

She just looks away. Suddenly she doesn't like him at all anymore. What happened to the sweet and over protective brother she once had?

---

"I need you to practice every day, by yourself, after dinner."

She looks up from their food to watch him across the massive table. He doesn't meet her eyes, just continues to eat his food like he didn't say anything.

Their house elf, Steff, is standing by the doorframe- ready to serve them.

"You'll never manage otherwise. We wouldn't want to disappoint mother and father, right?"

This time he looks up from his plate, watching her with cold eyes. Her whole being fills with anger and doubt. How can he use that on her, just to get her to do as he says? He has never, ever, used that card. Because he knows how badly she wants to please their parents, to make them proud.

He was her brother. Why was he treating her like this?

"No." she hisses between her teeth, still holding his nonchalant stare. He smiles, but not out of happiness- but because of him 'winning'.

"But you know," she continues and her anger vanishes when she knows exactly what to say to make his smug grin disappear. "If you fail, they won't blame me. They will blame the teacher." It's her turn to smirk at his chest fallen expression.

After dinner, she makes her way up to her room as always. Hank arrived this morning, so she better write a reply for Brittany before they go to Hogwarts the next day. She had just picked up her new quill when there is a knock on her door.

She scowls, who could that possibly be? Steff went to bed after dinner and Caleb went to his room as always.

"Can I come in?"

Indeed, it's her brother. She really hopes that he has come to say that he's sorry for being an asshole the whole summer. Or the fact that he used one of her weakest spot to get what he wanted.

"Sure," she says and turns around from her desk as he steps through the doorframe. "What do you want?"

I wasn't meant to come out so harsh, but once again; he had treated her like dirt during these last weeks.

Then she notices the large package he's holding behind his back- unsuccessfully hiding it. His face is uncertain and full of hesitation when she speaks up.

"Yesterday, in the Diagon Alley, when I went to 'run an errand'," he begins and holds the package in front of her with both hands. "I went to buy you this,"

Without any doubt in her mind- she can conclude that it was a broom wrapped up in the brown paper.

"I know how much brooms matter in the Quidditch team, especially if you're a chaser."

He takes a few steps forward with a guilty, yet genuine expression, and offers her the broom. She takes it in her hands to test the weight. Her eyes met her brothers' and he nods at her hesitation, so she unwraps it.

"C-Caleb," she stutters and finds his gaze again, her mouth hanging open and eyes wide in surprise. "This i-"

"The new Firebolt," He smiles and went to sit down on her bed, still facing her. "You never once complained or whined when we trained this summer, I think you deserve it."

She gives him a face splitting smile in return and feel her insides get all mushy again. "Caleb, I can't tell you how grateful I am," she breathes out, looking down at the broomstick in her hands. "It's perfect."

"You only deserve the best sis," he murmurs, but Santana can't hear him. Her own thoughts are screaming out in happiness and her heart expands until it's almost painful.

"Go to bed, we leave early tomorrow."

Her head snaps up to catch him walk out of her room, and closes the door after him. But why? Why did he get her this, was it just because she never once questioned him or refused to work on her animagus form? Was he proud of her?

Her brain fills with so much questions- that needed answers. But she knows that she would never get any.

---

The lingering eyes has never been so intense as when Quinn and her stepped into the trailer on the Hogwarts express. Jesse, Goyle and Crabbe were openly staring while Sebastian and Draco pays them no unnecessary attention to them.

"Hey guys," Quinn greets with her bored tone- Santana knows she isn't, but everybody else really thought she was bored all the time.

"Hey," she greets as well, receiving a nod from Sebastian and Jesse. Crabbe and Goyle were just gawking.

"I'm sorry," she says and sat down next to Jesse, opposite side sat Draco with the rest of the drooling boys. "Is there something you would like to say?" she asks in a sugar-sweet voice, but the boys weren't fooled by it. After all; they have gone to school with her for two years. Two years of bitchy-ness.

They both grumble an apology, and Santana smirks. Quinn just rolls her eyes.

She is hardly listening to her friends talking. All she can think about is that a blonde girl with the most beautiful eyes and features is somewhere on the train.

Santana could kill, just to meet her a few minutes. The minutes in the Diagon Alley were enough for a few hours, but now she needs to see her. A whole summer had gone by without them meeting, just owling. And that girl was in a trailer, with her friends, somewhere.

Just to hear Brittany's laugh right now would be such a satisfaction- and to get away from Jesse's lingering eyes would be such a satisfaction as well. She didn't like his eyes on her.

With a halt, she is thrown out of her head by the train stopping, and she almost flies forward into Goyle's crotch. Thank you God.

"What's happening, are we already there?"

Sebastian's question hangs in the air a couple of seconds before Quinn answers.

"No, we're not even halfway yet."

Canus, who is sitting dutifully in her lap, tenses visibly. Everyone eyes the now full-grown cat. She coos and strokes him, but her actions don't seem to calm him.

Suddenly, it's like something hits the train; because it shakes back and forth for a second. The water on the window of the trailer slowly turns into ice before their eyes. The lights flicker to suddenly die out. Jesse and Crabbe, who is closest to the window gazes out in hope to find answers.

"W-what?" Jesse squints through the window, and so does Crabbe. "There is something black out there."

Just when he has spoken the words, the air turns ice-cold as well; their breathing coming out in short puffs. And then-

Caleb telling her that she isn't good enough.

Her parents disappointed faces.

Her grandmother's death,- her grandfather's death.

Death. Death. Death.

Brittany.

"Britt," she whimpers and tries to stand when she train shakes again.

A dark figure, it reminds her of the way seaweed moves in the water, or grass swaying in the wind. But all of that is a beautiful sight, but this isn't. Black. It floats in the air. The creature makes a stop at the door. She doesn't pay attention to the others- she's mesmerized and all of her bad memories comes up to the surface. It feels like she's dying, like everything in the world is lost. Canus hisses from somewhere near, but she can't find him.

And then, the creature is gone. But the feeling remains, the bad memories linger and she can't shake it off.

Brittany.

She needs to see her.

"Dementor."

Santana's best friend breathes in surprise, or even shock is lacing her angelic voice. Or Fear.

"Q," she whispers as she snaps out of the haze. She meets Quinn's gaze and becomes uneasy. Her best friend looks like an albino; her hair, eyebrows and eyelashes are white. Quinn looks scared, and never in her life has Santana seen something so fragile, and the fact that Quinn of all people is scared, makes her scared too.

A cold hand grabs a hold of hers and squeezes. She can barely register Canus movements on her lap- curling into a ball and almost tries to disappear into her body. She lays a protective arm around him, and she feels him relax a little.

She squeezes Quinn's hand and inch closer to her.

They sit there, paralyzed, when suddenly the train jerks forward and the lights goes on again. Just like nothing has happened. She can think properly now, the ice melts and the air turns warm again.

Now, all of it feels like a dream. Like a nightmare. Canus is purring in her lap like nothing has happened. They all look at each other, like they want proof that it wasn't imagination.

"Draco, take Canus," he doesn't get a chance to reply before she stands up and drops the cat on his lap. "I'll see you at the feast."

She runs down the train corridor, which seems dead. The people she passes gives her scared looks. Some are still in shock. She can hear running coming towards her, but she can't see the person coming her way yet. Turning to look in every trailer, she never finds her blonde, but a passed out Harry Potter, with his friends in one of the trailers. She rolls her eyes. Really? The Boy Who Lived, passed out? Heroic.

And then she turns to the left, to enter the next carriage; Brittany is comes running down the hall towards her.

"Brittany," she whimpers in relief when they reach each other. The blonde's warm embrace makes her forget about all of the bad memories and the hopelessness she felt just seconds ago.

Brittany pulls her tight against her body, both of her arms wraps around her waist and she lets her arms fall around Brittany's neck.

The blonde is saying something she can't make out, it's out of breath and coming in short pants. She rests her head just above her collarbone and nestles her nose in her jaw. And then she finally makes out Brittany's words.

"You're okay…" another breath. "you're okay.."

Santana refuses to leave her side, and since Brittany's friends doesn't like her at all; they sit down in the deserted hallway.

"How are you feeling?" Brittany asks her gently.

She has her arm around Santana's shoulders, so they can sit as close as they possibly can. The latina's legs are bent up towards her body, which is leaning fully into Brittany.

"I'm fine," she chuckles, because the blonde has asked her like a million times already. "how are you?"

She can feel how Brittany buries her nose in her hair and takes a deep breath. "I guess it was horrible before, but not anymore." She murmurs, and Santana link their fingers together on Brittany's lap.

"How come?" she murmurs back, she buries her head further into the blonde's neck so she can get more of her calming scent.

"I'm with you, silly," Brittany says, like it's a most obvious thing in the whole wide world. Santana can hear the smile in her voice; it only makes her happier to know that Brittany feels that way around her, because she feels the exact same thing.

"Me too," she admits quietly and runs a thumb over milky knuckles. She can't help but notice, her slightly darker skin tone matches with Brittany's lighter one perfectly. "I was so afraid that something could've happened to you, it was the first thing on my mind."

Brittany tightens her grip around her, and whispers in her ear.

"Me too," she repeats, and Santana chuckles.

---

And of course Draco can't shut up, like always. He has this craving of bullying Harry Potter. At least she and Quinn just hate him in silence. Draco is digging his own grave.

The feast was great after that- except the part when Dumbledore's had his speech.

'Hogwarts will play hosts for the Dementors' of Azkaban until such time as Sirius Black is captured. The Dementors will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds Now whilst I've been assured that their presence will not disturb our day-to-day activates; a word of caution. Dementors' are vicious creatures.'

Oh, Dumbledore honey. I'm vicious.

'They'll not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one who comes in their way. Therefore I must warn every one of you- to not give them any reason to harm you. It is not in the nature of a Dementor to be forgiving.'

They scoff at each other, why would any student in this room every want to go outside the grounds, when there is Dementors' all over the place?

Their headmaster continues. 'But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times- if one only remembers to turn on the light.'

Her eyes finds Brittany's in the crowd, because she actually understand the headmaster's speech this year and she knows exactly what he means by this. Caleb told her about the Patronus Charm years ago, but he thought she was way too young to learn it. But he told her about how it works as a shield- to repel the Dementor (or just send massages.) He even showed his- a raven. He told her that you need to use the strongest memory, the happiest, memory you have to make it possible to cast.

Brittany is her light. And some part of her knows that she's the strongest source of happiness she can get right know.

---

She remembers Caleb's word at their last dinner before she went to Hogwarts. That she needs to practice by herself after dinner. Which means she can't meet Brittany in the library anymore. Or she could just bring her with her, to make Brittany keep her company?

No. She promised Caleb not so say anything about this to anyone. Even if he was acting like a complete asshole, she wasn't going to break her promise. And she won't make her parents disappointed, she wanted to show them that she is good enough, and that she is strong enough.

She would still meet Brittany in class, right? And this year they were allowed to visit Hogsmeade, so they could go together. Maybe she should just go to the library twice a week… or just tell Brittany about all of this. But no, a promise is a promise.

All of these thoughts are still bothering her when she finally falls asleep in her four-poster bed, with Canus resting on the pillow next to her.

---

They share both of the new subjects with the Ravenclaws', Care of Magical Creatures and Study of Ancient Runes. But with the Hufflepuffs' and Gryffindors' as well.

Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms and History of Magic with all of the Houses mixed together and the rest was just shared with Gryffindor.

Sigh.

The first lesson she has, is Ancient Runes. None of her peers choose it; they all took Arithmancy class instead. She had just split up with her friends when Brittany caught up with her.

"Hi," she says happily and linked their arms together. "How are you today?"

Santana can't help but smile at the ecstatic Ravenclaw beside her; there is no doubt in her mind that she is anxious to learn some new subjects. After all, she is a Ravenclaw.

"I'm good, you?" she asks as they turn around a corner. She can see that Hermione Granger is standing by the classroom door, waiting. By herself. Great, one the two Harry Potter lovers is sharing another class with her.

"I'm great," Brittany says, and Hermione's head snaps up from her book when she realizes that someone is approaching. Santana gives her the best glare she can manage, and the bushy haired girl starts reading again.

"Good," she smiles as they sit down next to each other on the floor. Closer than they need too.

"I'm so excited, aren't you? And after this is Care of Magical Creatures, San. I hope we can touch something cute." The blonde squeals and Santana nods with fond a smile.

"Yeah, I've grown tired of the other subjects, I need something new to survive this year."

More students from every House join them, and soon they are all taking seats in the new classroom. Brittany is practically clinging to her side so they can sit together. They find a seat in the back of the classroom, so they have a good view of what everyone else is doing.

Their teacher is okay. She's nothing like the other teacher who favor the Gryffindors' or every House except Slytherin. Well, Professor Snape is favoring them, but all of the other Professors' almost despises them.

"So, what do you think?" she asks Brittany halfway through class. It was her who begged Brittany to take this class with her last year, and she hoped that the blonde didn't regret it.

"It's okay. I think it'll be more interesting when you learn more," Brittany motions to the book in front of her.

"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have made you take this subject…" Guilt is seeping through her voice and heart.

"Santana, I didn't mean it like that. The firsts lessons are always confusing because you've never even heard anything about it." She explains in a murmur. The Professor seems to know that they're talking.

"So, you like it?" she murmurs back, and inches closer to her to point in the book- so the Professor thinks they're talking about something written there.

She can feel Brittany's eyes on her. "Yeah, I like it."

Santana looks up to return Brittany's gaze. There is a fond smile adores her lips, and her blue eyes are filled with joy. It feels like she can't capture all of her features, so she let's her eyes roam over the freckles on her face- they are much more now than last year, but she knows that they will vanish when the winter comes, and her perfect eyebrows. Her eyes find her lips.

She studies the corners carefully, how they are tugged up and she can make out that Brittany is biting at the inside of her bottom lip.

"Miss Lopez, if I remember correctly I wasn't asking you to study your partner, but your book."

She snaps out of it then, when the Professor interrupts her thoughts about how beautiful the blonde is.

"Sorry Professor," she murmurs back, and she can see that Hermione is watching them with careful eyes. But she doesn't give her a glare this time; she just looks back at her until the Gryffindor girl turns her gaze away.

Brittany is looking down at her book when she turns her gaze to the left. The moment is gone. Confusion fills her when she finds that her heart is beating fast, and that her palms are slightly sweaty.

The blonde glances to the side and meets her eyes, and she finds that Brittany's cheeks are a little red.

She feels it, too.

---

They don't talk about it. Santana is way too confused to even get what this is all about, and there is no way that she can talk about it if she doesn't understand.

The next lesson is on the grounds, so they make their way outside. It's a sunny day, the wind is blowing a little and the birds are singing. But her attention is drawn to the person who is walking beside her. How the wind plays with her hair and how her eyes tries to look at every thing at once. Her face is so full of life and excitement that Santana almost feels bad for not feeling it, too.

Suddenly Brittany is looking at her, but her expression doesn't change at all; it's still full happiness and life. She can imagine that she looks just like that as well. Brittany smiles, and then links their pinkies, and starts swaying their hands back and forth between them.

When they reach Hagrid's cottage, Brittany doesn't let go. The blonde's friends are right there, and they're giving Santana skeptical gazes. Quinn just smirks at Santana, and then turns around again to listen of what the giant has to say.

She doesn't get how her Slytherin friends can accept Brittany so fast, but Brittany's friends can't. How can they not see how good she is to the blonde? And that Brittany seems happy when she is with her. Sure, she (,Draco and Quinn) knows that they're up to no good when they grow up. But she would never hurt Brittany. Ever.

If her parents are so obsessed with Lord Voldermort, then he must be something quite special. Maybe he'll understand that she'll do anything to keep Brittany safe. He must be a great leader if he had so many followers before he died.

Hagrid takes them to a glen and asks them to form a group a little further in and open their books. She can hear Draco ask how, and Hagrid says that you need to stroke the spine. Santana looks down at the book under her left arm. Even Caleb had seemed hesitated to buy it in the first place, because it was kind of a little monster. You must have a belt around it so it won't attack you.

"Hey Brittany!" Tina calls, and Brittany turns around. But Santana doesn't. "come be with us,"

She scowls at these words, and turns around as well. Why can't she just leave them alone? That black girl gives her a glare, like she is something the cat brought home. So she drops the blonde's pinky, and in return Brittany turns to her, a confused (and maybe a little hurt) look in her eyes.

"I should go join Draco and Quinn," She murmurs, and Brittany gives her a questioning gaze. And then she looks back to her friends. "I'll see you later."

"No," Brittany hisses, "are you going to do this again, Santana? I know you're too proud or whatever bu-"

"Your friends hates me Brittany," she pleads in a whisper. "I want them to be okay with me, so I want to show them that I'm not trying to steal you or something,"

Brittany's eyes soften and she looks away towards her friends again, and shakes her head at them. "No, I'm fine here."

They're closer now, just four feet away. Their glares dig holes through her head, blaming her for taking Brittany away from them. She can't look them in the eyes, so she just averts her gaze to the ground.

"But Britt," she hasn't noticed the weak-looking boy who is with them until he speaks up. He's a Hufflepuff, with glasses and brown hair. His big ears are making him look ridiculous. He leans in a little, like she is some kind of animal that doesn't understand them, so that it's okay anyways if she hears what he's saying. "she's a Slytherin, and she hangs out with Draco and Quinn, don't you remember what they did last year with Blaine?"

She hates that he talks about her like she isn't there, and as if Brittany is dumb or something. It makes her want to hex the shit out of him.

Brittany scoffs at him, and her friends. "But Santana didn't have anything to do with that, Artie." She defends her, but it doesn't make Santana feel any better. Her hands are twitching, and she can barely contain her fury.

"But she hangs out with them, I-"

Quinn has noticed that something is wrong. She tends to do that sometimes, even if Santana doesn't even know it yet. An arm wraps around her shoulders and pulls her body towards them.

The scent of Quinn fills her nostrils, and she can feel tears stinging her eyes, and she hates that Quinn just knows. She isn't supposed to be weak like this, to break down just because some damn boy offends her.

Santana feels Brittany's worried eyes on her, traveling back and forth between her friends and Santana. She is arguing with the boy, Artie, who still talks to her like he knows exactly what it is she wants and feels.

"Is there a problem?" a sleepy, but nonchalant voice asks beside her. Santana can picture out how Quinn is looking right now. When she is mad, her hair turns deep red and her teeth turns sharper. Santana looks up then, to catch Artie's panicked expression. None of them except Santana seemed to notice that Quinn was standing there.

"I-um, sorry… I-" he stutters and his eyes darts between the two of them.

"If you ever," she chances a look up at her best friend, and it looks like her thoughts about Quinn's red hair is true, "talk about her like that again, I will personally hurt you,"

Artie's eyes widen, and he opens his mouth to say something, but nothing comes out.

"And that you even had the courage to talk about her in front of her, it will have consequences." Quinn growls and pulls her with her when she turns around. All she can see is that Draco is giving her a concerned look when they reach their gang.

She can hear Quinn muttering death-threats under her breath. Jesse even gives her a look that says he is suffering with her. She can feel everyone's eyes on her, so she swallows hard and looks up like nothing has happened. Slytherin pride. She needs to show them all that she doesn't care.

They're standing behind the golden trio, and she can hear Hermione say, "I think they're funny."

Draco, who is standing beside her protectively, laughs. He obviously thinks that she was talking about them. Or what just happened to her.

Even if he doesn't show it often, Draco is a great friend. But can also be a huge douche when he get the right moment. He is just like her in a way, he wants his dad's approval and be able to show them that he can honor their family. He is very loyal, and when he even get the slightest of hint that someone is talking about them, or his friends, he goes mad.

"Oh yeah. Terribly funny," he starts to get the Trios' attention. They turn around, so does the rest of the students around them. "Witty even. God, this place has gone to the dogs."

He knows exactly what to say to get Harry Potter furious, and she can't say she admires his ability to do so. Actually, he can get anyone angry, just by saying the right things.

She doesn't look at Brittany. She knows that she is standing there with her puppy-face, pleading that she will forgive her. But right know it feels like she can't, if her friends talked about Brittany that way, or worse, in front of her- she would kill them with her bare hands. So yeah, she is pretty mad. Brittany hadn't even sounded angry when she 'defended' her.

"Wait until Father hears Dumbledore's got this oaf teaching classes." Draco continues with disgusted face.

Wow, now she really feels that she would like to insult someone, too. It kind of makes her feel better, and maybe everyone won't think that she had gone soft for a certain Ravenclaw girl. Maybe that is Draco's angle. She smirks at this. Wow, he actually is smart. Now everyone will forget the incident with Artie, and how he humiliated her in front of everyone here.

Crabbe, Goyle, Jesse and Sebastian laugh at his last comment mockingly. Quinn just makes a noise in her throat, like she is trying to hold back a chuckle.

To her great surprise, Potter is even angrier than she thought. "Shut up, Malfoy." He replies and takes a few steps towards them. It sounds like he tries to hold back the fury, but he fails miserably. Draco got him just were he wants him.

All of the Slytherin students chuckle at this, and she can't help but look Brittany's way. She finds Brittany's hurt gaze, the blonde knows her enough to know what this is all about. Her gang needs to keep their reputation up, and Artie showed all students there that one of the girls in the gang actually cared of what people said about her. Which wasn't good reputation.

Brittany scowls at her, silently telling her to make it stop. But she refuses, and puffs her chest up and turns her gaze to where Draco is meeting Harry halfway. A little circle is built around them, but the rest of the 'gang' stays where they are. She can see that Harry clenches his jaw when Draco gets into his personal space. The blonde boy is taller than him.

But then, Draco jerks away from Harry and looks up next to his shoulder and points his finger that way.

"D-Dementor! Dementor!" he says in his best 'scared' tone and she smiles. Always knows the best things to say to get into peoples heads.

Everyone except the Slytherin's turns around, frightened, and they can't hold back the laughter when Harry realizes that it was just made up. The student's turn around again when they hear that they're laughing. Draco pulls the hood of the robe over his head, and they all do the same when they get what's going on.

They all start to sound like ghosts', and puts their hands in the air to wiggle their fingers just to mock him even more, but starts to laugh again at their expressions. Precious. When she looks over at Brittany, she is staring back at her with an 'I-can't believe-you-right-know' face. She just shrugs at her, and nods in her direction. Like you could say anything about it.

Hagrid clears his throat to get their attention; she didn't even notice that he was gone. He holds his hands up in the direction of where the most weird-looking creature is standing. It's big, clad in feathers like a bird, and has a bird head. But it has a horse body.

What the hell is that thing? She thinks, and Draco's face mirrors her own when they look at each other.

Hagrid quickly answers their inner thoughts.

"Isn't he beautiful…?" he throws something that looks like a ferret at the creature, who almost breathes it in. She scrunches her nose together, because that is not even near her definition of beautiful. "Say hello to Buckbeak." He says, but no one dare to 'say hello'.

Someone asks Hagrid what it is, and he answers with "That, Ron, is a Hippogriff." They all just stare at it as it eats.

"First thing you wanna know is that they're very proud creatures."

Oh yeah, like Slytherins?

"Very easily offended," he continues and she rolls her eyes.

Hm, something sounds familiar.

"You do not want to insult a Hippogriff."

Yeah, totally sounds like us.

"It may just be the last thing you every do."

She turns her gaze towards Brittany and her friends to find that Brittany is staring at her already. The blonde looks a little worried, her eyebrows knitted together and her mouth in a thin line. When she notices that she is looking back at her, she motions with her finger to come over. Santana just scoffs back and quirks and eyebrow and nods to the direction of her friends.

"Please," Brittany mouths, but she just turns her attention back to Hagrid. She is furious at the moment, and she is not going to be humiliated again by that boy.

She is confused by why everyone backs away from the new Professor, but soon enough, she gets that the famous Harry Potter is going to ride that thing.

Well, of-fucking-course.

Draco sneers something that she can't hear, but she can bet her left arm that is was something that goes hand-in-hand with her own thoughts.

He takes off, and when he is out of sight, Draco starts talking about how Potter just 'likes the attention' and that he thinks that he's better than everybody else in this whole damn world. Harry's friends just ignore him, which she thinks is for the best. Draco would tear them down as well. By the time Harry get's back, Brittany has attempted to talk to her more than ten times.

Would Brittany talk to her, if her friends had talked shit about her in front of her, and Santana would've just barely defended her?

No.

Brittany wouldn't have talked to her for days. So she is giving her the silent treatment as long as she can stand it herself.

Draco is so riled up about this Harry Potter business, so when Harry lands he rushes past everybody, and before she can stop him, the blonde haired boy is talking to that bird like it was a piece of shit.

"Draco, no!" she calls and goes after him. But it is too late, when he is in front of that thing; she hasn't even passed all of the students.

And of course it fucking attacks him, what else could he expect? Hagrid told them not to.

She runs after Hagrid when he takes her best friend to the hospital wing. Draco is groaning, and for a moment she is kind of worried of his arm that was attacked.

But at the same time, Draco is over-dramatic and is probably putting on a show.

Turns out she knows him well.

---

That night before dinner, Santana and Quinn are in the dormitory. Quinn has this weird desire to read all the time, and right now she pulls out a copy of the Daily Prophet out of her school bag.

Santana is fiddling with her wand nervously. She hasn't talked to Brittany since yesterday. The blonde tried to get her attention at Charms this afternoon, but she wouldn't have it.

"They've seen him," Quinn murmurs and Santana's head snap up. "Sirius Black, they've seen him in Dufftown."

"But that's…" she whispers, "nearby."

Quinn just sighs and closes the magazine and throws it on the floor next to her bed.

"He's coming here," Quinn murmurs and stands from her bed, Santana is watching curiously. "I just have this feeling."

She watches as her best friend takes off her robe and puts in on the hanger next to her bed.

Santana doesn't reply, instead she looks down at her homework that she can't finish because all of her thoughts are occupied with thinking of Brittany. It has been a day, and she has this weird stomach ache ever since the incident.

Why didn't Brittany get angry with Artie? She knows that she would've been outrageous if someone spoke to Brittany like that, especially her friends. Was she ashamed? She didn't get it.

Quinn pulls out the chair next to her, but she doesn't acknowledge it.

"You should talk to her, give her a chance to explain herself."

That sure gets her attention. "What do you mean?"

Quinn smirks, and her eyebrow shoot up. "Really Santana, you don't know what I am talking about?"

She doesn't reply. Just averts her gaze to her clock. "It's dinner in five, let's go."

After dinner, she hurries to the one place she knows that she can practice alone- moaning Myrtle's bathroom, without a second thought about heading to the library to meet Brittany.

Her cloak is thrown on the taps, as she concentrates hard just as Caleb have instructed her. It's impossible at the beginning, but soon her thoughts are just black- free from Brittany and the desire to please her parents.

It's always a weird sight when her legs and arms turn into paws and soft fur. It takes a couple of minutes to get her tail, too. And another half an hour to get the back and head.

And there it is. Her form. The tricky part is to hold on to it for as long as she can. Caleb can hold his for months, maybe years. But she can only hold it for about five minutes, because in the beginning it's exhausting. She counts the minutes in her head. She stands still, and tries to keep her mind clean from anything that is bothering her.

An hour later, she arrives to her bed to fall into a deep slumber.

---

The Defense Against the Dark Arts class this time is rather interesting. Today, it is about boggarts.

Brittany is staring so hard at her, that she thinks it will make a burn mark on her skin. Draco and Quinn are standing on either side of her, and she thinks that Brittany knows better than to try talking to her right now.

But she misses her so badly that her skin crawls and her hands itch. It's almost like her body misses her touch.

Maybe she should just talk to her…

Professor Lupin explains that a boggart is a creature that takes the form of ones greatest fear. It feeds of it, and she can't help but compare it to a Dementor. But the best way to defeat the boggart, is a laugh.

They learn a simple charm word that turns the boggart into something amusing, but they have to imagine it in their heads to get it to work.

When Professor Lupin tells them to form a like, Draco grabs her elbow and pulls her forward so him, Quinn and she are standing at the beginning. The Gryffindors' groan in protest, but Draco just sneers down at them.

"Quinn, right?" Lupin asks her best friend, who just hums in response. "I know that you're a very clever girl. And I think you know exactly what to do."

So he opens the closet, and out comes Frannie Fabray walking towards them with so much arrogance. Santana can see that Quinn tense at the sight of this, but lifts her wand anyway.

"I've always known that you and compare to me, Quinn. What are mother and father going to say when they finds out that you've failed your at your finals?"

The boggart looks almost disgusted. Is this what Quinn fears the most? Failing her final exam?

"Riddikulus!" Quinn utters without a hint of fear and Frannie's lips and breasts grow bigger, until it comes to a limit where her whole body just let's out a 'poof' and disappear.

"Good, good," Lupin smiles at the blonde, but Quinn just turn away from him to go sit in the back. He just shrugs and smiles at Santana when she steps forward.

"Miss Lopez." She greets, and she nods in a silent 'hello'.

The air starts moving and transforms into Caleb- who is wearing a smug smile. "I knew it. I knew it all along. You're nothing but a disappointment to mother and father. You'll never measure up to me." He grins, and she is just about to raise her wand to make his painful words go away, when the boggart transform again. This time; into Brittany.

There are a few gasps among the students in the room. She can only imagine Brittany's face right now. She is a little ashamed of this, and before the boggart speaks she knows what this is all about.

"He is right, you know. You're nothing but a disgusting Slyth-"

"Riddikulus!" she raises her left arm and points her wand at the boggart, and as soon as she utters the words, big red marks appear on its whole body. The boggart starts to scratch its skin furiously and Lupin laughs a little with the students.

It's pretty boring after that, she and Quinn watch as Draco has his turn- until it's Harry's turn.

For a moment, she believes that every one of them in this room is about to see Lord Voldermort's shape. But they all get shocked when a Dementor emerges. It all happens so fast; Professor Lupin takes Harry's place and the boggart turn into a full moon.

She doesn't dwell on it, but Quinn's forehead is creased and she can almost see the wheels turn in her head.

Lupin dismisses the class, and they all starts to leave when a hand grabs her wrist.

She knows those fingers very well, and the person they belong to even more. Quinn, who is waiting for her by the door, smirks at her and walks through the door like the rest of the third years.

"I'm sorry," Brittany whisper and makes a move to walk out of the classroom- her wrist in a tight grip. They step out to the corridor, where they are all alone. "I really am, I should've yelled at him, the way he was talking to you… I was so shocked that he even dared."

She can't look her in the eyes yet, so Santana just stares down at her shoes. "Please, at least look at me?" Brittany murmurs carefully and lifts her chin up with the tip of her finger.

Their eyes meet for the first time in two days. Brittany looks tired, and she can imagine that she does the same. The blonde smiles weakly, unsurely, but she isn't happy enough to return it. And she doesn't want to fake it.

"I miss you so much, San. It's only been two days, but it feels like years already."

She can help the shy smile that breaks out all over her face.

"Really?" she mutters. God, why is she so shy all of a sudden?

"Yeah," Brittany confesses and her eyes are so intense when she says is, so she averts her gaze down again. "It's not true, what he said about you…" she trails off, just like she knows that the topic feelings are hard for her to talk about. But Brittany has always been able to figure her out anyways, but they never really talk about it.

So she doesn't reply, and waits for Brittany to continue.

"You're not like Quinn and Draco, I know you,"

You don't know what you're talking about. She thinks, and wonders briefly how Brittany will react when she finds out about her family, and how her biggest dream is to join Lord Voldermort to please her parents. To serve him like they have.

But the blonde knows her. Her reactions to everything, what she likes the most, what she doesn't like at all and all of her thoughts that doesn't involve her parents, Caleb or Lord Voldermort. But her darkest secrets… Brittany is far too innocent to know this. Yet.

"Britt, I am like them," she begins and Brittany is just about to protest when she cuts her off. "But I'm different around you. You make me want to be a better person."

Brittany surprises her when she takes a step closer and wraps her arms around her neck. "But you're not like that," She whispers, "you think you are, but you're not.

In that moment, she knows that Brittany knows. She gulps and wraps her arms around a lean waist. And suddenly she is highly aware of Brittany's breasts molding into her own. It feels so good when their bodies are close, or whenever Brittany touches her. Better than Caleb giving her the Firebolt. Better than the first time she saw Canus.

She doesn't have anything to compare it with, because her childhood and life have never been really great or anything. But she knows that when Brittany is holding her, she is the happiest she has ever been. So she doesn't reply, she just leaves this topic- that's about her and what she are. That's a thing they will have to talk about eventually, but none of them wants it now.

---

Both her and Quinn make the team this year as well. In fact, even Draco could fly better with an 'injured' arm than the other Slytherin who was at try-outs. Her Firebolt was amazing. Never in her life she had such a great broom. When she, Draco and Quinn was walking to try-outs some of the students they passed had gasped, and even asked her if it was a real Firebolt. She couldn't be irritated by that though, and she even let a first year Hufflepuff boy hover just above the ground.

Marcus gave her these weird looks that she didn't like, the whole try-out and he was always a little to close when they were talking. He had studied her broom with a smirk and purred a compliment.

"I think he likes you," Quinn teases when they had just scored 10 points again with their awesome teamwork. It was no secret that they had a great connection on the field; it was like they could read each other's minds.

"Who?" she asks, but she just wants to make sure they're on the same page and is talking about their team captain.

"Marcus," Quinn says and gives her a 'Duh' look.

"Oh… I don't know…" she trails off, and Quinn smirks at her hesitation.

"You should go for it,"

She laughs as that, "Quinn! I can't date him, everyone would think I was using him to get on the team!"

"I must say, ever since he fixed his teeth… I wouldn't say no to that." Quinn winks, and flies away.

She won't lie, he actually looks good. Or not good, she knows that most of the girls on Hogwarts would kill to go on a date with him. But she get's this odd feeling in her stomach when she even thinks about kissing him, or letting him touch her in any way. She even has problems with Quinn touching her sometimes, and they have been friends since they could walk.

She is used to think about Brittany when these thoughts come up in her head. Whenever Jesse gives her those looks, she always thinks of Brittany. Why, she doesn't know- maybe it's because she wants her approval, she is one her best friend after all.

Quinn calls her name, and a second later the quaffle is thrown her way, and she barely has time to catch it. Marcus flies up to her and gives her a loop-sided smile.

"Daydreaming?" he asks and she smiles back at him. He isn't bad at all, but she decides to not 'go for him'.

---

Hogsmeade. Today is the first time ever that they have permission to visit it during school. She's excited, and she can tell that Quinn is, too. They don't have to wear their robes, which is a great thing. You grow tired of it after a while.

Santana and Quinn are getting ready for breakfast, but this time Santana put on some jeans, dark kensington boots and a long, dark green, woolen cardigan that reaches her knees. Santana let her hair down for once; she always had her hair in a tight ponytail.

They met the boys in the Great Hall to eat breakfast. They where talking about the hundreds of things they wanted to do, while Santana were just listening.

She and Brittany hadn't made plans about going together, but she really wanted to. She glances up towards the Ravenclaw table to find Brittany chatting with her friends. Even that Artie boy from Hufflepuff is there. The looks he is giving Brittany makes her stomach drop and raises her urge to beat the shit out of him. That adoring gaze makes her want to gag. But to her big satisfaction, whenever he opened his mouth and said anything; Brittany didn't even pay him any attention.

They're on their way down to Hogsmeade when Santana catches a glimpse of Brittany further down the hill together with her friends. In that moment, she just can't keep away from the blonde. She needs to talk to her, she want to visit the village with her.

"I'll see you later." She says to Quinn, who just shrugs in response as she runs towards Brittany.

"Britt!" she calls, and the blonde stops abruptly, causing Artie almost to walk into her. Her group turns around as well when Brittany steps around them to meet her halfway.

Brittany's embraces are always warm and intimate. It kind of makes her blush every time; they always hug longer than necessary.

"Hey San," Brittany says happily, and Santana can see that Artie is glaring daggers at her.

"Hi," she grins when they let go of each other. Brittany's eyes travels down her body to inspect her clothes. Or something.

The blonde is wearing sneakers, tight jeans like her, and an army green jacket with a yellow scarf. Her hair is blowing in the wind like the other day, and her eyes are twinkling.

"Do you want to visit Hogsmeade with me?" she asks quickly, because she knows that if she waits another minute she won't have the guts to ask her. The shy smile Santana receives makes her blush.

"Yeah, sure," Brittany replies gently and hooks their arms together, turn them around and starts walking down towards Brittany's friends.

Something is different though. Tina and the black girl aren't giving her disgusted faces anymore, in fact; they are smiling at the two of them together. But Artie is still looking at her like dirt.

"Is it okay if I go with Santana, instead? I know I sai-" Brittany starts, but the black girl interrupts.

"Of course,"

Tina nods and finds Santana's eyes. "I'm sorry, for you know… judging you just because you're a Slytherin…"

"Let's not turn this into some mushy-shit, okay? Like someone cries and then I apologize too…"

"Yeah, ue. But I'm sorry." Tina keeps her straight face, and so does Santana.

"I'm sorry, too, Lopez. But you know, Brittany is our girl and we're protective of one another," the black girl says as they begin the walk to Hogsmeade again.

"It's cool, I know what you mean."

Turns out that the black girl, Mercedes, and Tina are hilarious. She fits right in with them, even if she is tense in the beginning- and kind of still is- but they're goofy and nice when you get to know them. But it doesn't mean she let's her walls down.

Artie still hasn't said anything, but she doesn't care. She despises him, and if he doesn't have the balls to apologize, she isn't going to be nice to him either. He keeps giving her looks and tries to talk to the blonde who is glued to her side until they reach Hogsmeade.

They say goodbye to each other, but Brittany just ignores the boy when he tries to give her a hug.

Fuck yeah, that's right bitch.

"I made the Ravenclaw team yesterday," Brittany says with a proud grin.

"What? Oh my God, Britt! That's amazing!" she gushes and takes Brittany's hand and squeeze. The blonde blushes down at her. "I'm so proud of you, I knew you could make it if you tried."

Brittany just nods, her cheeks still tinted red. "you tried out for the chaser position, right?"

Brittany nods again, "yes."

"Then you better watch out Pierce, you'll have to get past me," she winks and smiles up at her. "but, where do you want to go now?"

She looks around them at all the stores, and the people but can't decide. So she just asks Brittany, Santana will go where she wants to go.

"I want to look at the candy store!" Brittany squeals and makes a cute little jump.

"Then candy store it is," she says and drags the blonde with her towards Honeydukes Sweetshop.

Twenty minutes later, and three bags of sweets later, they exit the shop, hand in hand.

"What now?" she asks the taller girl, who is holding a lollipop in her other hand.

Santana is carrying all of the bags of candy in a white plastic bag.

"I think I want some tea." Brittany points to Madam Puddifoot's café.

She stiffens at this; because all she knows about that place is that the couples that goes to Hogwarts go on dates there. Does Brittany think this is a date? Is it a date? The word of it makes her blush deep crimson. Brittany is playing with her fingers, looking anywhere but her right now to because of the desire to see every thing that is Hogsmeade.

"Or," Santana begins; her nerves is getting the best of her. Does she like Brittany? This thought has never crossed her mind before. She has never liked anyone like that. She hasn't even gotten her first kiss yet. "We can just find a bench and eat all of our candy."

Brittany doesn't object, just pulls her to the closest bench and plops down on it, licking on her lollipop happily.

"This is so awesome," Brittany breathes as she opens one of the bags. "I've never had so much candy at once."

Santana chuckles, because Brittany seems to blown away by it all. She pops a chocolate in her mouth and her eyes roll back into her head. "Oh my God," she moans and takes another. She realizes that she has just fucking moaned, and chances a look at the girl beside to see if she noticed it, too.

Brittany's face is crimson, and when she realizes that Santana is looking back into her shocked eyes, they flicker down to her lollipop again. "Was it good?" Brittany asks and her eyes flicker down to her lips, which makes her heart flutter.

"Myeah, want one?" she asks, and holds her bag out.

"No, I'm good."

They continue to chew on their candy and watch people walk by. Santana can feel that the air is charged; it felt like she could cut it with a knife or something. Is it because she didn't want to the café were all the couples goes on dates? The thought of taking Brittany on a date feels kind of weird, but not wrong or anything. Girls that were friends were close, right? They hugged and braid each other's hair and gives each other gifts for Christmas.

She can just feel that Brittany is different, not like Quinn and Santana. Quinn was funny, she listened, and they were kind of in 'the same boat'- no one could understand them, how they really felt and such. Just them.

But Brittany she was… just different. She made her happy when she smiled and she got tingles when they touched or hugged. When she would lean in a little too close while studying, her breath would hitch for a second and her heart would begin to race. And Santana thinks she knew what was going on with her family and what they were. And if she knew, Brittany didn't criticize her for it.

She looked at the blonde beside her, her hair was flowing down her face and her innocent smile was so big and adorable. Brittany didn't notice her watching her, but sometimes she nudged her side and pointed at something she thought was cute or interesting so they could share it together.

Santana's heart filled with an unfamiliar feeling every time she spoke, her whole being felt different.

She wasn't sure if she liked it yet.

---

When they come back from the visit, they split up and head to their respectively House's, Santana barely made it to the dungeons' until the Slytherin Prefects' made the whole House of Slytherin to go to the Great Hall.

The students looked at each other, confused, when every Professor stood on the podium and Dumbledore started speaking.

"We need to search the Castle, I'm afraid all of you will need to sleep in here tonight."

Instantly, the students started talking and Santana scowled in confusion. Why?

Some of the Gryffindor students were talking to the other Houses and she caught something they were saying. 'Sirius Black'.

Her first thought was 'Brittany', and she almost laughed at herself for being so protective of the girl. Her eyes flickered everywhere to find the blonde, but they were too many people. Jesse came running, pushing people aside to reach them.

"It's Sirius Black…" he takes a deep breath to collect himself, "he's in the castle!"

Quinn gasps and her eyes widens. Santana recalled what the (now pink haired) girl said a couple of days ago, the she had this feeling he was coming here. They exchanged worried looks and Draco took a couple of steps forward to stand beside her protectively.

"This is bullshit," he hisses in her ear and she nods. All of Hogwarts entrances', to the grounds and the castle was supposed to be secure. How the hell did he get in? "When my father hears about this, he'll be even more furious."

Draco was (she would never utter the words to anyone) a daddy's boy. He sought his father's approval just like her, but he has real spoiled and got whatever he wanted. So when that Hippogriff, Buckbeak, injured his arm, his father went nuts. He even had the incident to go to court.

She took a deep breath and looked for Brittany again, and this time she found her talking to Artie, who was fawning over her like a boyfriend would. Brittany was in his arms, but to her great pleasure she broke away from the embrace as soon as Brittany's eyes found hers. The pang in her chest that she felt when she had seen them together didn't make sense.

Santana knits her eyebrows in confusion and Brittany fidgets with her fingers. Draco places a hand on her shoulder, "let's find two sleeping bags beside each other."

She nods and throws Brittany one last look before turning away to follow Draco. The look Brittany is sending her way is pleading, but she chose to ignore it.

---

Marcus insists that when their seeker was injured there was no way they could play the Quidditch game against Gryffindor in a couple of days. Which she thought was hilarious. Draco wasn't even in pain!

But when they saw the weather that day, she had to admit that she was rather smug about not playing that day. It was raining, not little, but it was like fucking hail. On their way to the field they became soaked instantly, and she regrets not bringing an umbrella. But she figures that she would've become soaked anyway.

Brittany caught up with them, and Draco and Quinn actually acted civil towards her. They didn't ignore her presence like they did before. They had always accepted her though, and if she talked to them before they would answer; but they could hardly be described as friends.

"How is your arm, Draco?" Brittany asks.

"Been better," he winks at her and gives her a mischievous smile.

Quinn just chuckles, "Thanks to this fuck, we can't play in this nice weather. We're quite happy about it."

Brittany just smiles in realization and nods in understanding, "yeah I wouldn't want to play in this weather, too."

The tall blonde beside her links their fingers together and her whole body heats up at the gesture, "how are you?" she murmurs and walks closer to her, so both of them can walk under Brittany's umbrella.

"I'm good, I'm worried about Black though." She murmurs back truthfully and Brittany gives her a sad face.

"I am, too. But I'm more worried about something happening to you…"

Santana blushes crimson and looks away to hide it, but she doesn't miss the huge grin Brittany sends her way.

Hufflepuff, to her great surprise, wins the match against Gryffindor. But it's just because Harry, who plays the seeker, went unconscious and fell off his broom. She knows that they're the only threat to win the Quidditch Cup this year.

School goes on after that, as always is she and Quinn at the list of top students with Hermione Granger. Autumn was in the air, and the leaves on the grounds started falling and changing colors.

It was Saturday, and Brittany had asked Santana to join her when she took her daily walk outside.

"So," Brittany says as they walk over the bridge.

She doesn't continue, making Santana confused. "So?" she repeats and Brittany looks at her.

"It's a week left until we play Quidditch against each other," Brittany explains, and Santana nods in understanding.

She didn't know if she even could play like she used to with Brittany on the field. She had always been one of those chasers who were rough in their game, but when the blonde was involved she didn't know anymore.

"Well, if anyone of my teammates ever hear me say this they will kill me. But… good luck." She says sincerely, and Brittany gives her that look that says 'Awh, you're too cute…'

She flushes and looks down at her feet as they walk down towards the lake.

"I'm afraid that they'll hurt you, you're the best chaser on the Slytherin team, San," Brittany murmurs. "I think they want to teach you a lesson because of what you did to Roger last year."

Santana laughs skeptically, "I'm not worried, I have my Firebolt now. So don't worry,"

Brittany still looks like a sad puppy, so she wraps her arm around her waist and pulls her close. "I promise, B, nothing will happen to me. And I will make sure that Marcus doesn't make you a target. And I promise that I will not let anything happen to you."

---

It's her first match this season, and she easily say that makes her nervous. When they practice, everything is perfect. But anything can happen now. If something happens to Brittany, she is going to be furious.

"Remember," Marcus says to the team, "it's Ravenclaw for God's sake. It's Gryffindor we have to worry about."

With those words ringing in her ears, they make their way out on the field.

'And here comes the Slytherins! Flint, Malfoy, Lopez, Fabray, Derrick, Bole and Bletchley. They're looking very focused today, I think this is goi- is that a Firebolt in the star chaser of the Slytherin team's hands?'

Their fellow Slytherins' on the bleachers is clapping their hands and sheering.

'It seems like Lopez is indeed holding a Firebolt, it will make the Slytherin team even more dangerous that they already are…'

She smirks as the crowd goes wild; it makes her deaf for a couple of seconds.

'Here comes the Ravenclaw team as well; Davies, Chang, Page, Samuels, Inglebee, Burrow and their new addition this year- Brittany Pierce!'

The Slytherin team is already standing in a half-moon in the middle of the pitch as the Ravenclaws' walk out. The crowd goes wild again when they say Brittany's name and she can't help the smile that creeps up on her face.

Madam Hooch makes a quick reminder of the rules, and that this is going to be a fair game- then she release the snitch, the bludgers and holds the quaffle under her arm as she counts down from five.

"Five, four," Santana looks at Brittany who is in front of her and winks at her with a charming smile. "Three, two," Brittany's eyes widen and she chokes. "one."

She is the first one to kick of the ground, and she is also the one who catches the quaffle first. She angles the broom upwards even more, and takes off towards the Ravenclaw hoops where she can see their keeper, Page, is getting ready to deliver.

'And Lopez is in the air first! Her reflexes are remarkable, I must say… Slytherin has the quaffle and is quickly closing in on the Ravenclaw hoops.'

Maybe it's her sixth sense, but she can practically feel that Brittany is close to her. She looks down, to see that Quinn is hovering under her. Her best friend is ready to take the quaffle when someone tries to steal it.

'It looks like Pierce doesn't know that Lopez isn't one to play with,'

She looks around her shoulder, and lays her eyes on Brittany who is three feet away to her left. Brittany knows that she is left-handed, and that she isn't really great with her right yet. Which makes it hard to change the quaffle position to her right arm.

'Aaaand Pierce is closing the gap between them, but oh no-'

She can't hear any more of what the commentator is saying, because a bludger flies past her right ear and she can hear Brittany gasp.

"Fuck," she mutters under her breath and calls out for Marcus.

He appears right on time, just when Brittany is about to tackle her and she fakes that she is going to throw it to him, so Brittany takes off the wrong way; towards Marcus, while she simply drops the quaffle to Quinn.

'Ouch, Lopez tricks Pierce to take off the wrong way! Fabray takes off, she is near enough to throw one of her famous long shots! But- she passes the ball to Flint... who scores! 10-0 to Slytherin!'

Santana smirks as Brittany makes her way to her, the blonde's eyes a little irritated.

"What now Britt, why the sour mood?" she teases and Brittany shoves her playfully, trying to not grin.

"Karma is a bitch, Santana," she just says and takes off towards the Ravenclaw hoops to retrieve the quaffle.

Santana just grins after her and looks around for Draco. He is still just hovering in the air, watching every corner of the pitch to find the snitch. She waves at him, and he waves back.

'Pierce hands the quaffle to Davies, and in turn Davies hands the quaffle to Burrow- away from Fabray and her dirty ways. We all know that she's the sneaky one, great game Ravenclaw!'

"Santana!"

She turns around and watches as Quinn tries to tackle Roger Davies, one of Brittany's fellow teammates, who are currently is in the posses of the quaffle.

"Taste the Rainbow!" Quinn calls, and she nods in understanding as Flint takes over Quinn's position next to Davies- but a few feet to the right. Quinn angles her broom up, to hover about ten feet over him as she makes her way down under Roger.

'It looks like Malfoy has seen the snitch! He takes off outside the pitch and Chang is right behind him!'

Just when they hear that, she flies up towards Roger (who is trying desperately to find his teammates so he can hand the ball to them) and uses her elbow to knock the quaffle up; so it flies in a rainbow shaped angle and into Quinn's waiting hand.

'Slytherin is on top! Their team play is fantastic! But it looks like Malfoy has lost sight of the snitch, or was he just trying to trick Chang?'

She looks up just in time to see Brittany tackle Quinn, who loses her balance and needs to let go of the quaffle to not fall off. And then it's in the possession of Brittany, who turns around to the Slytherin goals.

'It looks like Ravenclaw's new player got some attitude! No one has ever been successful with stealing the quaffle from Fabray!'

With a growl, she turns and hovers above the blonde, looking down at her.

Ten seconds later and Brittany makes an impressive spin and scores Ravenclaws' first points.

'Looks like Davies made the right choice to pick Pierce, because she scores the first points for Ravenclaw! 10-10!'

They are turning impatient, Ravenclaw is in the lead with 30-70 and Draco still hasn't caught the snitch.

"Draco, come on!" Marcus yells as he tackles Burrow and receives the quaffle and throws it down to Santana, who is flying just below them.

"Santana! Watch out!" Quinn calls and she spins to avoid the bludger that was aimed to hit her shoulder. Right in front of her is Jason Samuels, the Ravenclaw beater, who just aims the bludger right back towards her again.

She barely has time to avoid it by leaning to the side until it flies next to her chin.

Before she can catch up with what happens, the hard shoulder crashes into hers and she registers Davies hair as he tackles her to the side and manages to take a firm grip around the quaffle and takes off with it.

'And once again, both seekers' are on the hunt! Apparently, this time it's Chang who gets a glimpse of the golden snitch!'

She looks up to see Draco race after the asian girl in full speed, and soon they are shoulder-to-shoulder.

"Derrick, finish Pierce off, she is making it way to hard for us!"

Marcus demand makes her blood turn to ice and she turns around quickly to see her fellow beater waiting for a bludger who is coming his way- and he looks at Brittany the whole time, angling his bat to strike.

"NO!" she yells, but Derrick doesn't hear. So she takes of in Brittany's direction, her whole being is aching to not let Brittany get hurt. She is about three feet away when she hears Derrick's strike and she looks to the right to see that she is soon too late.

She raises her arm in the air, just as the bludger is about to hit the blonde in front of her.

A second later, the bludger crashes into her elbow. The pain is insufferable, she cries out in pain as she watches her arm elbow break and slumps down in a weird angle. Without her doing it, her left hand slips off her broom and her vision goes black for a moment. Her arm is throbbing, she can feel something warm and sticky running up her arm as she falls down from her broom.

She is numb, in the back of her head she prepares for the hard landing on the field but it never comes. Instead she is placed safely on the ground below her.

And then it hits her like a freaking train.

The broken yell she let's out even sounds sickening in her own ears. She can't get enough air in, because her arm hurts so badly. Nothing else matters in that moment, all she can feel and think about is the pain that sends out waves of pain through her body and makes her body stiffen.

She can't get any sound out, and she can't get any air either. She squeezes her eyes shut and her body jerks in pain. Nothing has ever hurt like this before, even when she broke three fingers on her hand when she was playing by the stairs and feel down.

"San,"

Her throat is clenched shut and her mouth wide open in a silent scream that can't come out. A hand is placed on her cheek, and the familiar touch tells her that it's Brittany.

"Santana, you need to breathe," Brittany's light voice says, it sounds so broken and fragile. "Please, San,"

The throbbing coming from her arm increases and she spasms in pain, trying to get air into her lungs. A thumb wipes away something wet on her face, and she realizes that she is crying.

She opens her eyes, squinting in pain. She can see Brittany beside her, on her knees. Santana tries to search for reassurance that everything is going to go away but get none. Brittany looks so broken beside her, barely holding back her own tears with a scared and hunted expression.

"Santana, this is going to hurt. I am so sorry," a voice says, and she can hear that it's Madam Pomfrey.

Three seconds later, her eyes widen and with a yelp she feels someone touching her elbow. It's burning; like someone had just grabbed her elbow and fucking snapped it in half.

So she passes out.

---

She squints in the bright light that is hitting her face. Instantly, there is a hand on hers and her eyes snaps to the person beside her.

"How are you feeling?" Quinn asks and swipes her thumb up and down the back of her hand. With her other hand, the now light-green haired girl grabs a glass of water and holds the straw out for her so she can drink.

A few gulps later for her sand-paper throat, she takes a deep breath and blinks.

"Been better," she says honestly, and briefly wonders where Brittany is. Another presence is at her other side, and her eyes locks with blue eyes. "did we win?"

The blue eyes smile and she smiles back at him.

"Yeah, just as you were hit I caught it," Draco announces proudly and her smile gets even bigger.

"That's great Draco," she trails off, her thoughts occupies of another blonde. "Where is Brittany?"

Her friends look at each other with smirks playing on their lips.

"She… um…" Draco starts and looks at her again. "We kind of forced her to go eat, she hasn't left your side since yesterday."

"She was really mad… she wanted to stay and she started yelling and all," Quinn chuckles and let's go of her hand to lean back in the chair she is sitting in.

Santana's eyes widen. "I have been out since yesterday?" she asks in disbelief.

"Madam Pomfrey needed to fix your elbow, like turn it into place before giving you the potions you needed and it was far to painful to be awake," Quinn explains, her eyes not teasing anymore, but worried and empty. "You passed out of the pain as soon as she laid hands on your arm… it was practically torn apart at your elbow and there was blood everywhere."

"B-but I'll be fine?" she turns her head to Draco for reassurance, "I can play Quidditch soon, right?"

Draco's eyes soften and his features go happy. "Yeah, you'll be fine."

The doors open and their attention is drawn to the blonde who enters with a anxious expression on her face, but when she looks up and finds Santana's eyes, Brittany grins and almost runs to her bed side.

"You're awake," she breathes and caresses her cheek with her hand. Her other hand grabs a hold of the latina's. "How are you feeling?"

"Better now that you're here," she surprises herself by saying and she can hear Quinn choke next to Brittany. Brittany blushes crimson and Draco looks down at his feet.

"I think we should go Quinn… you know we had that thing…" he says hurriedly and Quinn nods furiously in response.

"Yeah, that thing we were supposed to do yesterday? Yes… We'll catch you later, Santana."

Draco grabs Quinn's wrist and they awkwardly look up at each other with wide eyes. Santana laughs at their expressions and Draco blushes and drags Quinn out with him.

"They're weird," Brittany murmurs with knitted eyebrows.

"They're idiots," she chuckles and entwine their fingers. Brittany sits down on the bed and looks down at her.

"You saved me," she says fondly with a small smile on her lips. "You didn't have to."

"Yes I did," she insists and Brittany opens her mouth to protest but she quickly cuts her off, "I promised I wouldn't let anything happen to you,"

"Yeah… but you promised that nothing would happen to you as well," Brittany points out, and Santana rolls her eyes.

"I kind of didn't mean that… I don't care of what happens to me if I know that you're safe. It will always be like that, I can't help it."

Brittany looks at her adoringly and lets out a shaky breath. "I was so scared," she admits, "you were in so much pain and it hurt me to watch you struggle and not be able to help."

Santana pouts and brings Brittany's hand to her lips. "I'm sorry you had to see that," she says and gives her knuckles another kiss. "But I think it was worth it, they aimed for your head you know, they always do."

"I know," Brittany mutters and a light blush creeps up her cheeks at Santana's gesture. "I would've done the same."

---

Christmas comes around soon enough and this time Brittany is going home to her family. Santana figures that she needs to go home too, so they say goodbye at the Hogsmeade station and Brittany promise to owl her as soon as she gets home.

Caleb is the one to meet her, and his eyes actually lights up when he sees her.

"Wow, you've grown," he says and pats her shoulder. Then he takes Canus cage from her and to say hello to the cat.

"Where is mom and dad?" she asks, disappointed that her parents isn't here to greet her for once. She thought that she would be used to it by now but she still fills up with hope every time.

"They're coming tonight, so it's just you and me for a couple of hours." He explains and she is happy to at least meet her parents this Christmas.

They come home and eat lunch together. He seems happier now, and not so tired any more. He asks about if her animagus form has enveloped enough to show what it is, and she tells him yes. So they are now in the living room so she can demonstrate how far she has come by herself.

It's easier now when she has done it a couple of times already, so it goes rather quickly for a change.

Caleb's words of proudness are going on and on in her head when she is lying in her bed after dinner with the whole family gathered. At least she did something right and made him pleased.

---

She is eager to get back to Hogwarts. Brittany owled her once, telling her that she was home and safe, and she replied and said that she was fine, too. But she knew that Brittany wanted to spend time with her family, and not owl her all the time. So she had not replied Brittany's next letter.

Her parents came with to King's Cross this time to say goodbye. And when she catches a glimpse of Brittany, she calls her name. It's just fair that Brittany get to meet her parents as well, and by know she knows that at least her mother will not care about which house Brittany belongs to.

"San!" she calls back just as happily and makes her way to her. The blonde seems to realize that the people standing behind her is her family, and her eyes widen a little and she becomes nervous.

"Mamá, papá," she says when Brittany has given her a brief and shaky hug, "Caleb. This is my friend, Brittany." She turns a little to the side to stand beside the blonde. "Britt, this is my parents and my big brother Caleb."

They shake hands, and her parents seem happy that she has more friends than just Quinn and Draco. "Brittany, what a beautiful name," her mother gushes and Santana rolls her eyes. Gloria has always been the 'nice' one. "please call me Maribel."

Brittany nods and her nervousness seems to ease up a little, she turns to her father. "Pleased to meet you, Brittany," her says as he shakes the blonde's hand. "you can call me Álvaro,"

Caleb is the only one to eye Brittany skeptically when he shakes hands with her. "You're not a Slytherin, are you?" he asks and Santana growls at him.

"No, I'm a Ravenclaw," Brittany replies, and anyone can hear the proud tone she uses.

Her mother nods in acceptance and eyes her up and down.

"Anyway…" Santana starts, "we should go on the train so we get a good carriage, Britt."

"It was nice meeting you," Brittany says politely and Santana can see her father fight a smile. Her mother embraces her.

"I can see the way your eyes lit up when you saw her, amada. I'm happy for you." her mother whispers and she blushes even more. "I'll see you when you get home Santanita,"

"Ah, querida. Have a great time at Hogwarts," her father says and hugs her as well.

Caleb gives her a short hug and glares at her, but she doesn't care. All that matters is that her parents likes Brittany and didn't have anything against which House she belongs to.

The train ride to Hogwarts is uneventful, when Tina, Mercedes and Artie joins them they talk for a bit until Santana and Brittany fall asleep, leaning on each other.

Artie is still rude to her, but she simply ignores his comments to focus on the girl next to her.

They exchange gifts. Santana gives Brittany a camera, because once in her letters, Brittany told her that she would love to take photographs of everything so she could 'keep those moments forever'.

Brittany gives her Broomstick Servicing Kit. Just proof enough that Brittany know about her Quidditch and broom addiction. Canus and Lord Tubbington were sleeping peacefully together with them, and to her surprise, Canus hates Artie.

When the boy had tried to pet him, Canus hissed at him and jumped up into her lap. Artie muttered something with 'just like…' But she couldn't care less; she wasn't the only one who hated him.

---

There was no word about Sirius Black in a month. School went on as usual, they went to Hogsmeade but not together. But they always hung out when they had free time and when Santana wasn't training on her Animagus form.

She had thought a lot about what her mother said to her at the station, the thing about Brittany. Did she like her? And if she did… did Brittany feel the same about her?

Every time she was with Brittany, she felt something. It wasn't the same feeling she got with Draco or Quinn or any other person. Brittany made her truly happy with her carefree nature and child-like thoughts. Of course, the blonde wasn't a kid, nor dumb like some people said, she just had another way of thinking and that was refreshing.

She had soon known her for three years. And every single minute without Brittany, she missed her deeply. Was this how love was supposed to feel?

She didn't have anyone to ask except her mother, but she didn't want to talk about love over a letter. How does it feel? Is it all butterflies and happiness and all that cliché-y things?

Was Brittany supposed to be her one and only, like she couldn't imagine her life with someone else, or without her? Confused was just her first name. As fuck was her last.

But even if Brittany did like her back, were they going to get together? They are like thirteen and fourteen, even in her ears that sounded a little weird, people wouldn't think they were serious. And if she didn't like Santana back and the latina told her, was their friendship going to turn weird? What if Brittany didn't like her at all?

She snapped back when the girl she was thinking about sat down next to her and gave her a smile that would've made her knees give in if she was standing. Another sign that she indeed had something for the blonde.

"What are you thinking about?" Brittany murmurs, because they were seated in the library, and were supposed to study for a test coming up.

"Nothing," she mutters and looks down at her paper to ease the feeling in the pit of her stomach. The blonde inches closer to her and it becomes harder to concentrate.

"You looked like you were trying to figure something out, is it something with the potions test?" Brittany asks and looks down at what Santana is looking at. A warm feeling embraces her chest when the blonde entwines their fingers on the table.

"No… it was nothing, Britt. Forget it." She argues, and Brittany seems to let it go.

She looks up to find Brittany staring at her with a face she has never seen before. She's deep in thought, because the blonde doesn't realize that she is staring.

"What?" she whispers as Brittany leans a little closer to her, their noses almost touching.

"Your… eyes are so pretty, San," Brittany murmurs, her breath hits Santana's lips and Brittany's eyes flicker down to them.

For the first time, she feels the urge to lean in and kiss the blonde. But that is not normal. She is not supposed to feel that way with her friend. She gulps and Brittany finds her eyes.

Her heartbeat has increased by thousand since Brittany sat down next to her, but now it's all that she feels and hears.

"I-" Brittany starts, but is interrupted by someone approaching them. The jump apart, and Santana blushes when Quinn gives them a suspicious look but doesn't dwell.

"Here you are, I've been looking everywhere for you two!" she says and plops down in the stool across from them, "I need to study, too, but Draco doesn't know what 'study' means… he keeps talking so I went here." She explains quickly and Brittany nods when Santana chances a glance her way.

She can't help but notice the disappointment in her eyes when Brittany looks back at her.

---

They catch Sirius Black one evening on the Hogwarts grounds a week before school ends. It's late when they catch him; the Professors' wakes everybody up in the middle of the night to tell them to not worry. Snape is calm as always when he finally gathers them, but she can tell that something is wrong.

She is relieved, like the rest of them. Walking around at the school hadn't felt secure since Black made his way into the castle. But mostly, she's relieved because that means Brittany is safe.

But the happiness they all feel vanish at breakfast the next day; somehow that damn man escaped and got away. Rumor has it that Potter and his two friends where at the scene when Black was captured. God, that damn boy is practically begging for attention!

---

"I hate this," Santana admits as they sit by the lake again this year. It's kind of their way to say goodbye, just the two of them at their usual spot.

Brittany glances at her, and she returns her gaze. It feels like a rollercoaster but worse in her stomach, it aches when she think about that she won't meet Brittany until after the summer.

"I hate this, too," Brittany says quietly and inches closer to her so they are shoulder-to-shoulder. "You already know that I'm going to miss you, right?"

"Yeah, I know," She murmurs and Brittany rests her head on hers. "You know that I'll miss you as well."

There is a brief silence when Santana just enjoys the closeness. Her feelings are going wild right now and she is scared that Brittany will feel her heart beating like a fucking hummingbird's.

"I'm sorry you lost the Quidditch cup," Brittany says so sincerely that Santana almost starts crying. "I know it meant a lot to you."

She shrugs, it really didn't matter so much. All she loved was Quidditch, and even if her teammates wouldn't agree, she was in it just to have fun. Well, mostly…

"There's other things that more important than Quidditch."

"Like what?" Brittany asks innocently. She smirks a little, because Brittany is just playing a little dumb right now just to get her to say it out loud.

"You," she mutters and Brittany turns her head towards her. "I mean… you're my be-"

"San," Brittany says sternly and she blushes as she meets the blonde's gaze.

"Yes?" she asks and her eyes can't help but flicker down to Brittany's soft-looking lips.

One second later, she is pulled close to the blonde in a hug. They sit like that for a while and when Brittany pulls away she gives her a affectionate kiss on the cheek. She lingers far too long for it to count as a simple kiss between friends. But she figures that Brittany has always been cuddly and loved being close to her, so it's probably nothing special.

Still, her whole body trembles lightly and she is sure that Brittany can see it, but the blonde doesn't say anything- just pulls her close with her arm and rest her head in the crook of her neck.

It's intimate and so couple-y that it makes her heart beat even faster than before.

She has never been in love, or even had a crush on someone. But in this moment, with Brittany in her arms all cuddled up against her, she has never been more sure of anything in her whole life.

She is in love with Brittany Pierce.

---

AN2:

So I decided that they are far too young to really get together. And I want a little jealous-drama in their forth year, but I promise that I won't make it a major thing.

I also decided that Santana won't be scared to 'be gay' or 'come out' or anything like that. J.K Rowling has never mentioned how the wizard world sees homosexuals, but I think that it's completely normal and so it will be in this fic. But she WILL struggle with her family and their acceptance and so on, but she won't hide the feelings she has for Brittany.

I guess that is enough of the spoilers for now, and I hope you guys tell me what you think about it all and if you have any suggestions or so ever, TELL ME! I would love to get your thoughts about it all and grow in my writing!