CHAPTER TEN

Whew! FINALLY! I'm back! YES! Okay, literally no announcements!

Disclaimer: I am sooo JK ROWLING! TOTALLY! I JUST GOT DEAGED TO A TEEN AND DYED MY HAIR SHORT CROPPED BLACK! YEAH! AND I LIVE IN USA NOW! (heavy, heavy, sarcasm)

No. Obviously, I do not own anything! Obviously, I am not Rowling! I love you readers and all, but if you think I'm Rowling, I really have nothing to say….

I won't be responding to reviewers any time soon because of my tight schedule, but know that I AM reading them! The chapter titles will most likely be longer now, btw.

Onwards…!

Celia's POV

I bit my lip in rage as I sat down next to Draco. The trio gave me a confused look, and I glared at my dad, who now had a completely-oblivious-to-everything look. Hermione gave me a kind of hurt look, but I couldn't reply since we were so far away. 'Later,' I mouthed, but she just lowered her eyes and turned back to the trio.

I stabbed the egg and yolk spilled out. With my teeth I forcefully ripped the egg in half and chewed.

"What did that egg ever do to you?" Draco examined my face.

"Shut up." I retorted.

He raised his eyebrows at my grumpiness. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed."

I muttered as I chewed, "That is so old." I probably would have said the same thing, but I just needed something to say.

For the remainder of the meal Draco tried to make small talk before giving up and turning to talk, or complain, to his cronies.

Apparently some nasty water-goblin-thingies had gotten into the hallways, so we all had a free few periods while the teachers tried to sort out the problem quickly.

I waited until my dad walked out and followed the trio to the library. They moved pretty quickly, and I had to weave through the crowd.

The trio had already chosen a spot to sit, claiming a table. Hermione, obviously, had a stack of books next to her, while Ron was badly hiding a piece of tart in his chipmunk-like cheeks. Harry was running his hands through his hair and blushing, something I never saw him do. I smiled; Hermione was a good match for him, if he liked her that would be great.

"-wouldn't do that! If Celia didn't want to sit with us, I'm sure she had a reason." Hermione was arguing. I sighed and walked up behind her.

"Wouldn't be a conversation about me if I wasn't there, huh?" I grinned. Hermione let out a tiny cry and twisted the top half of her body around.

Harry's cheeks flushed. "Y-you heard the whole conversation…?" Obviously he was talking to Hermione…wow, Ron must be really close to Harry for him to be brave enough to say something in front of Ron.

I flashed him a reassuring smile. "Just enough to get the gist. I have a feeling I have some explaining to do…?"

Harry slumped against the chair, looking relieved. Hermione and Ron snapped awake like I had triggered something, then shot each other angry looks, catching that they had made the same movement. I whistled and sat myself down on an empty chair.

"It's okay, you two. Couples argue daily." I gave them a wry smile, forgetting that I was playing with Harry's feelings. (AN: Nope. I'm not giving away the conversation.)

Instantly, both of them shot up in their seats and snapped," We're not a couple!" earning an angry look from the librarian, whom I surprisingly forgot her name. Usually the librarian was the first person I knew and recognized.

Hermione let out a little huff. I grinned. "Alright. I'll relieve you guys of your anxiety." Before they could protest, I explained everything.

Ron interrupted me, eyes widened. "You…ripped the parchment out of his hands? And you're alive?!" Harry laughed and shook his head in disbelief.

I smiled and said," So, I'm trying to let him trust me for a while…before I hit him with 'disobedience'." I made bunny marks with my fingers.

Hermione nodded in approval. "I can't believe Snape doesn't know. He used to be a Slytherin; he should know you wouldn't bend so easily."

I gave her a sly smile. "You never know."

"Did you hear?" A new voice said.

"The professors-" A second voice said.

"-are having a-"

"-meeting, so we-" By now, I was smiling. I didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

"-have the day-"

"-off!" The Weasley Twins announced in hushed tones. I grinned.

"That must have annoyed so many people. You guys are the best!" I raised my hand for a high-five, and George took the bait.

He slapped my palm and immediately yelped, clutching his own palm. "What was that?" He struggled to keep his voice down as Fred grabbed his sides in fits of laughs.

I shook my head in mock disappointment. "Really, I thought you guys were pranksters!" Waving my wand from my sleeve, I muttered a Revealo (AN: I'm trusting my memories here…) and a red button strapped to my palm was revealed.

Harry grinned. "It's one of those muggle devices that send electricity out when you press the button." Then his grin faded a little. "Dudley used to have one."

I said as coolly as possible, "Who's Dudley? Harry, you didn't tell me you had a pet pig!" The last sentence was said with excitement.

Ron laughed so hard he snorted. I feigned surprise. "Ron's catching the Dudley Plague!" Harry smiled a crooked smile, staring at me. I looked away a little at his gaze.

George massaged his hands and grinned. "Celia, what do you say we prank some mates after Hogsmeade?"

Harry cleared his throat.

3rd POV

All eyes turned to him. Harry felt his throat constricting.

"Uh…actually, I was wondering…since Celia said she wouldn't be going…maybe…I could teach her…quidditch." Harry's face was beet red, and he had to force the words out. This was not the way he rehearsed it-uh…of course he didn't rehearse this!

Fred and George whistled and waggled their eyebrows. Ron was shooting him looks, like, it's not a date, it's just hanging out, right? Right?

Harry felt a small victory when Celia's cheeks turned pink. "Sure. But can I meet you at the field? I'm supposed to be in my room." She warned.

A ball of panic fluttered in his chest. Was it a fluke? Did she just not want to be seen walking in the hallways with him? Harry tried to hide his worry and nodded. "I'll be there." He was worrying too much.

Ron spoke up. "It's okay if you guys argue." Harry cast him a confused look. Celia cocked her head. "What do you mean?"

Ron shrugged and his red curls bounced on his forehead. "Only because couples are supposed to argue all the time."

As soon as that sunk in, the Weasley twins were roaring with laughter, and the librarian reprimanded them, shooing them away.

Celia groaned and put her hands to her face. "Why do my insults always turn on me?"

HHHPPPOOO

Celia's POV

I have this list. It's called "Things That are Unfair in Life". It's pretty long.

I blew the hair out of my face and considered bellowing the unfairness from my mouth again. Gazing out the window, I absentmindedly noted the dim stars.

Letting out another groan, I kicked the air, lying on my back on the bed. Trying to get my frustration out was useless.

"I need to keep an eye on you," I mimicked under my breath. "You 'shall' stay here, not in the Slytherin common room, where I can't supervise you. I don't need supervising!"

At first it had felt like he was protecting me from all that dumb Sirius-Black-business, but after a few days it had felt like he was just cutting me off from friend-making.

I had been dying to sleep in the Slytherin dorm, where there were girls my age. This. Was. Totally. Unfair.

9:30. Might as well sleep. Rolling over off the bed, I crossed to room to brush my teeth. There was a conversation going on outside. I frowned and rested my hand on the doorknob.

"Will you be able to get it to me by the end of the week?" Professor Lupin? What was he-

"Yes, Lupin. I will get you your Wolfsbane potion by tomorrow. Now, I do believe nobody has invited you in-" Dad began. I had opened the door fully.

"That's a little rude, isn't it?" I asked calmly, and both men turned to me in shock. Inside I was whirling and shrieking. I had to be cautious, it warned. But another part of me said that the Headmaster trusted Lupin.

"Celia?" Lupin gasped. Dad wasn't so nice. He glared and, still shocked, managed to say, "What are you doing here?"

I frowned and leaned against the doorway. "Well, to answer Dad's weird question, I live here…and secondly, wouldn't the question you guys would want to ask be 'how much did you hear'?" Dad glared again at me.

Lupin was breathing heavily, and he glanced wearily at me. "How much did you hear?"

"Enough to know that you're a werewolf." I replied instantly. Dad tensed and he crossed his arms. "That's enough. Brush your teeth and go to your room." He ordered.

"Fine. Good night. Good night, Professor Lupin." I went into the bathroom and kept quiet as I brushed my teeth. The only sound in the bathroom was a quiet swish swish of my brush moving back and forth.

In the other room, Lupin was laughing a little. "Really, Severus, you should lighten up on her. She's a very sweet girl."

"I hardly think you should tell me how to treat my own daughter, Lupin. Now, I believe you should go." Dad said coldly. I choked on the foam of the toothpaste. His name was Severus?

I spit out the minty paste and washed my mouth. Opening the door, I smirked, crossing the room. "What kind of name is Severus?"

He grumbled something and said, more clearly, "Good night." I smiled easily and yawned. "G'night."

As he passed me, I gave him a quick hug, and peeked up to see a faint smile/smirk play on his lips. An arm reached out slowly and gave my arm a side-squeeze, which was probably the closest thing to a hug he could get to.

I hadn't fully forgiven him, but he was all I had for now. That was the last thought before I collapsed on the bed.

HHHHPPPOOOO

I brushed out the last painful knot in my hair and left the bathroom. Dad stared impatiently as I dashed back into the bathroom to fasten a clip on the side of my ponytail.

We headed out, but he said he needed to go back and get something, so I walked to breakfast myself. I turned a corner and blinked, freezing.

I could've sworn I saw a black dog rush in a blur past me, but when I looked back, there was nothing.

I shook my head. In the dining room, I deliberately passed the trio and whispered, "I think I saw a black figure in the halls." Into Hermione's ear.

Her eyes widened but she nodded. I made my way to the Slytherin table. "It's probably nothing." I muttered to myself.

But of course, whenever I think something's probably nothing, it's something. If that makes sense.

Padfoot sighting! These last few chapters are getting harder to write, so I'm sorry if it's not very good!