Disclaimer: I am just a mere visitor in the sublime world constructed by the brilliant mind that is J.K Rowling. Anything that rings a bell is hers.

Chapter 28

Ky's POV

"…Carrow was just as good, if not better than Vaisey, but either way looks like it didn't really matter who they had as chasers." Ron smiled smugly as the girls surrounding us cooed in appreciation and agreement.

I smiled at Ron, not in the least bit disturbed by the ego trip he was on; he was having a bad week to say the least. Mi had informed me that Parvarti had told her about Juliette making out with Terry a few weeks back, she wanted to tell Ron and wasn't sure how to go about doing that. Turns out that she didn't have to as the very next day Terry and Juliette had walked into the Great Hall, hand in hand.

Ron it seemed was not informed by this turn of events and when he confronted Juliette she had apologised, not for dating Terry, but for leading Ron to believe that they had any sort of romantic relationship out of the broom cupboard hook-ups they had been engaging in from the last school year.

Mi consoled Ron, somehow letting slip that she had found out the night before and was meaning to tell him which of course resulted in him giving her a earful about not telling him immediately, and the two hadn't spoken in the past few days.

Ron had been in a tyrant of a mood and apparently his game was taking effect from what the rumour mill said, but today's match thwarted all such rumours as he barely let a goal through.

"Speaking of Carrow, what did he want from you?"

I looked to my left, Ron and I were seated in the alcove in the corner of the Common Room, surrounded by our fellow Gryffindors. Dean and Seamus were busy chatting to a group of forth years girls that were smiling up at the boys as they replayed the match from their expert view, Seamus not playing in the team but not shy in the least bit at riding on his best friends coattails. Bobby was seated on my left, smirking at me as she asked her question and I sighed.

Parvarti abandoned her conversation with Alex Silver, a seventh year boy who had a huge crush on her ever since third year; his pointy face fell slightly as she easily turned away from his conversation to focus on me.

I shrugged, "He was actually asking about you." I directed at Parvarti, "He wanted to know if you were single."

Silver's face paled if possible, he was already quite on the pasty side, if he didn't have his crop of black hair you'd think he was a Malfoy, Bobby's brown eyes widened in shock as Parvarti's scoffed, "He hasn't even spoken to me before. You are talking about Carrow? Tallest boy in seventh year, broad shoulders, those jade green eyes with the deep dimples when he smiles-"

"Which he almost never does!" Added Bobby, "He's always scowling in that sinfully hot way that makes him look so…bad." She finished with a squeal.

"Which he probably is." Added Ron, who turned to our conversation as the fifth years girls that were staring up at him in wonder had lost interest at the shocked faces that was resulting in whatever I had said and were now looking curiously at me, "He's a pathetic enough chaser. Did you see his third attempt at scoring; I saved that with my left hand. Just my left."

"What did you say?" Parvarti asked and Silver was staring at me intensely, as if my next words announced whether he lived or died.

I rolled my eyes, "I said I had no freaking clue and that he should ask you yourself."

Why would he even ask me, yeah Parvarti and I were roommates but Bobby was her best friend, plus our conversation was pretty weird. He described Parvarti painstakingly, pointing out her chocolate complexion and her almond shaped light green eyes as well as her shiny black long hair…it was weird…and weirder still because Parvarti didn't have light green eyes, they were hazel, the only difference between her and Padma. Surely he would know the difference between Padma and her if he liked her so much…anyway I was too busy trying to head on back to the castle without having to witness Harry and Ginny celebrate their win to stay and chat to the guy.

Parvarti and Lavender collapsed into an in depth discussion about Carrow and every single time he might have glanced at her. Silver, who looked torn between standing here and listening to Parvarti go on about another boy, or turn and walk away. Thankfully for his sanity he had done the latter, his light brown eyes slightly moist. Jeez…if I wasn't currently an expert at heart break I would have thought the scene pathetic.

I stood, weaving my way through the giggling girls until I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned, slightly surprised to see who it was.

"Hi." Thomas Lee smiled, his blue eyes slightly glassy, someone had gotten into the Firewhiskey reserves. My thoughts were proven by the suspicious scent coming out from the paper cup in his hand.

"Ky!" I was pulled into a tight hug by Anthony Goldstein, who was taking the effects of the Firewhiskey a bit more strongly than his fellow Ravenclaw. He let go off me, his whole being reeking of Ogden's as his face shone red down at me.

"Sorry Ky." Padma extricated her boyfriend off me, glaring at him the whole while as she dragged him off to where her sister was, surely chewing his ear off.

"Are you sure you're not part Veela." Lee spoke, holding his smile the whole time, "Boys can't seem to help throwing themselves at you, can they?"

I didn't bother answering his question, about to turn and try and manoeuvre my way out of the tightly packed room when I stopped as I heard the boy swear, all gentlemanly pretences gone as the contents of his cup splashed across his shirt.

"Sorry! I'm so sorry!" Neville gushed, his face reddening as Lee swore, looking down at his drenched chest.

"You fucking clutz! Do you not know- FUCK!"

Before I could rip him a new one for speaking to Neville in such a way, Neville's attempt at magically siphoning the liquid off his chest resulted in somehow shrinking the Blondes shirt until it now ended just above his midriff, the sleeves bunching up awkwardly at his shoulders…he looked ridiculous and the room echoed with laughter as Lee stormed off towards the exit.

Neville frowned, obviously still guilty at unintentionally embarrassing Lee and I clapped him on the shoulder, "Don't worry about it Nev, you did him a favour, I wasn't going to let him go with just altering his attire, I was going to go for more lasting damage."

A loud booming voice echoed behind me and I turned. Silver stood behind me, his pointy face held in a grimace but the laugh didn't come from him, instead it came from the boy next to him, I saw him around quite a bit but never spoke to him, he was a seventh year who looked much older, he was quite hulking and looked more so compared to Silver's slight frame, his big hands on Silver's shoulders and I noticed that it was somewhat tight compared to the genial look he was trying to give off.

He had very short brown hair, and dull blue eyes that were slightly watery. I continued staring at his laughter in confusion and he shook Silver who gulped, wiping the grimace off his face, "Ky…er…" He turned his light brown eyes on the bulk of muscle next to him, "This is Demeter. Demeter Robins."

I raised my brows, Silver and I hadn't even spoken before…should he not be introducing himself to me first. Demeter smiled at me, "Call me Robby. Everyone does." He pushed Silver away into the mass of people around us, obviously not needing him anymore as his job of introducing us was done.

Neville looked at me, evidently scared to stay and face this brute of a boy yet scared to leave me alone in his presence. "That's a pretty locket."

Robins suddenly had his hand around my gold locket, pulling it closer to his face and in doing so pulling me closer too…I wasn't sure whether the boy was being forward or was too stupid to even be aware of his own strength but I was surprised at the sudden spike of fear that shot through me at the action. All of a sudden an image that had not come to mind in months popped up…

I then felt his cold fingers on my chest, I felt him pull at something around my neck. "I thought you looked sexy with this little locket, I liked the way it shined between your tits. I see it's the hindrance though."

"Shit." Robins shook his hand and let the locket go as if it burned him, his dull blue eyes shocked and I blinked away the memory, I hadn't thought of that in months…I never had to…my heart was racing and suddenly a cold gripped my chest…what was going on…I was over this…was I not?

"Robins." His shoulder brushed my own as he walked forward, and my heart slowed down; I glanced up, seeing the familiar set of shoulders and Robins blue eyes glared at him.

"Potter." He spat out and I could see Harry's shoulders twitch slightly at the way he said his name, they obviously didn't like each other. Harry was barely half the guy's size but he held his ground in a way that had the larger boy take a step back.

I swallowed, jumping slightly as someone bumped into me and suddenly I couldn't breathe, everybody was getting close, too close. I shivered, pushing my way through the Common Room and practically falling out of the portrait.

I took in the deep breaths, ignoring the looks of the third year girls that glanced at me as they made their way into the Common Room.

"Ky?" I ignored the familiar voice of the Fat Lady and slowly walked down the stairs, blood still pounding in my ears. I was riddled with confusion, what was going on?

I sunk onto the large windows ledge, leaning my head back against the cold pane of glass…I was fine…that happened ages ago…I guess nobody's ever…well nobody has ever infringed on my personal space like that since…the incident. Yes Igleby flirted, just like Lee, but nobody dared cross the line…and I knew why…

I was Harry Potter's girlfriend. Nobody even looked at me, not because they were afraid of Harry…he wasn't exactly the most foreboding of people, but he and I… I guess nobody even bothered trying to get in between us because I was so long gone…I wouldn't even notice if someone was staring at me, all I could see was Harry, and how he looked at me.

And now I wasn't Harry Potter's girlfriend. I was single. Alone. And they were everywhere. Yes most of them were polite, Duncan and Lee, even though evidently not my type never pushed themselves at me but Robins…were they going to be more like him…more that were not so respectful…why did I attract so much unwanted attention… I knew I was pretty, I never had any qualms with that and I knew that boys seemed to like the prospect of dating the Headmasters granddaughter…and suddenly I thought about Draco…

I purposely prodded and poked at him, seduced him with well thought of lines that I delivered with ease knowing that it would attract him, it was easy to pull him in, easier than I thought and I knew that had little to do with me being the Headmaster's granddaughter…he was attracted to me…Ky…yet when he was up against me…when I could feel his body against my own when he pushed against me when I taunted him the other day…my whole body shivered…I was doing this to distract him…was I getting attracted to him…why didn't I feel repulsed like I did when Robins merely pulled me to him…

Part of the reason why I quickly extricated myself from his grip was because I was frightened at the way he made me feel…

"Really there is no way to say! It is astounding. Not in all my years of teaching had I seen two potions that are so similar! If it were not Mr Potter and Miss Thornton, I would have thought it was cheating. But then again, great minds think alike hey." Slughorn smirked at me, patting Harry on the back at his place in front of me, the perfectly brewed Winggenweld potion he had in his cauldron filling into the vial he held out for it.

Mi glowered at Harry, she was fine when I beat her at potions because I actually knew what I was doing, but she was offended that Harry apparently was blindly following that book he found. I didn't really care, I could care less what Slughorn thought of me and I didn't care that Harry had somehow usurped me as the best potion maker in class.

Theo flicked his wand from next to me and my cauldron emptied, just like his, Zabini's and Draco's had into the waiting vials in front of them. I started packing things away, reaching for my small knife when I felt fingers around my hand.

I stared at the long pale fingers, letting it rest on my hands and I felt a whisper at my ear, "Granger told you about last night?"

I scoffed, slipping my hand easily out of his, he flinched and I knew I had cut him in the act.

He turned his hand over and I could see the long slant of red erupt on his pale, smooth skin and we both watched as the scarlet drops trickled forth.

I took out my wand and held the tip at the start of the cut, dragging it down and I heard him hiss slightly where the tip touched the wound, by the time my aspen tipped wand reached the end there was nothing but a slightly red line that remained.

"If you think that partnering up with Mi for prefect duty solves anything…you're sadly mistaken. Her wounds won't be so easily healed Draco. That was a poor move, make moves like that and you might just lose your Bishop. Or your knight."

He sighed, pulling his hand away from my grip, "Or Maybe I'd just let the King fall. Maybe you're not as entertaining as you think you are."

I shrugged, "Maybe?" I held his steel grey eyes easily and we both knew he wasn't about to quit…he was too into this…Malfoy needed to win…

And what would I do if he does… yes I was distracting him and I could play with him but soon…what if he did something that makes me… can I give in to him. My body shivered and it wasn't in attraction… it was one thing flirting with Malfoy, it made me feel a little better, not so pathetic…but could I kiss him…I've never had anyone but Harry's lips on my own…not even Cedric's…nobody knew me like that…

"Are you OK?"

My body froze slightly, he was right next to me, I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't realise he was right next to me…

"Robins is a prick, I don't think he meant any harm by it, he just acted without thinking, you should have seen him at try outs, all that muscle but he couldn't aim the bludger to save his life, knocked his own sister out on his first shot…" I felt his little finger nudge my thumb, and my hand stiffen, "He can't hurt you Ky. I won't-"

I turned to him and stared into his bright green eyes, his glasses set low on his nose as he looked down at me and I watched as his lips moved… he kissed that girl…he kissed Ginny… how could he not feel like how I was feeling…how could he just…

I looked away from him, suddenly furious. Weeks, I was doing so well…for weeks I showed him how uninterested I was in the fact that he was dating Ginny…the last time we actually spoke was at the Beach Day… and now all that progress gone at the insignificant little action made by that idiotic boy.

I stood abruptly, too angry to even face him and thundered down the corridor.

"-STOP! I was drunk, and you should have known better!"

"I apologise if you feel that way Gin-

"I am WITH Harry! Do you hear me! WITH HARRY! Stop following me to class-"

"I don't follow you to class, we have the same classes, Gin-"

"Then what are you doing here! Huh? Skulking around the Gryffindor common room."

I stepped around the corner, Ginny was glaring at a boy, who had his back to me. Her brown eyes widened when she saw me and she pushed passed him, "Ky, are you OK?"

I bit back the bile that rose at her concerned look, and I pressed a smirk on my face, "I should be asking you that, it seems you're being stalked?"

The boy turned around and my smirk widened when I saw who it was, his hazel brown eyes glinting in the light from the lamp, his sandy hair in a neat side path, Liam walked towards me, a small smile gracing his face.

"Ky." He nodded in greeting and I couldn't help smiling back, he had really grown, no longer the fourteen year old boy that I could practically lift by the scruff of his neck, he was a good few inches taller than me and his shoulders fit his stature well.

Ginny turned to spare him a glower and then waltzed off, obviously trying to find Harry. I couldn't say I wasn't interested in the conversation that I overheard, it almost sounded like Liam and Ginny… my confusion must have been showing as he walked forward.

"Ginevra and I shared an intimate moment in Bella Île, ever since then she has become quite…wary of me. I have no idea why though, I think she fears I have fallen in love with her."

I laughed, the sound fake as I tried to forget Harry seated a corridor away and all the fresh new emotions his presence evoked. Liam frowned down at me and I let the fake smile fall, "And have you?"

His hazel eyes twinkled, "It would be no pain to do so, she is very beautiful. But I have not. It is actually you I am here for."

"You haven't fallen in love with me now, have you Liam."

He grinned at me, "It would be even less painful to do that, and I do admit to harbouring something of a crush on you after you saved me from the clutches of our eight legged friends last year, I do not however deem myself worthy of being in love with such a girl as yourself."

Liam was a rarity among Snakes, he spoke the truth without batting an eyelash and I couldn't help laughing at his words, and I was happy that it sounded right.

I hooked my hand in the crook of his elbow and suddenly all thoughts of fear and coldness at Robins actions disappeared, all emotions that Harry evoked were batted away and a familiar sensation passed over me…Liam, the way he walked, and talked, his politeness and respect to others…it was very nostalgic.

"However were you sorted into Slytherin Liam?"

"That has often been questioned, but I do not wonder as much as I used to. I find I quite like this green tie these days, the boys who wear it are quite something, don't you agree?"

I rolled my eyes, who knew Snakes had such loyalty, I recognized the shameful advertising for his blonde brother of sorts. Before I could question why he summoned me, we both turned at the sound of footsteps.

Mi rounded the corner, her brows furrowed in confusion, upon seeing me she hastened her pace, a small parchment hanging in her hands, I saw her eyes zoom into Liam's elbow, which I was holding and then flicker to his face, Liam lowered his head in a nod, and she smiled at him easily. Mi had always liked Liam, she was ever the sympathetic type and I knew that she was thinking about the tragedy that befell the boy not months ago. She, much like me, took comfort in the genuine smile that graced his face.

"William, I got your letter."She held the parchment up, "Is everything OK?"

"I didn't mean to worry you Miss Granger, I was asked to escort you and Ky."

"Escort us where?" Mi queried to which Liam returned with a smile.

"I am afraid it is something of a surprise, would you come along?" He held out his other elbow and she glanced at it as if it might bite her. She glanced at me and I shrugged.

She placed her hand into his elbow tentatively and he walked us quickly down the stairs. Liam led us in pleasant silence, Mi and I glanced at each other, her face filled to the brim in curiosity. I wasn't as curious as I usually would be, yes he managed to distract me from Harry and Robins…but he made me miss Vez…the way he spoke and held himself, he was like a person from a different century… I saw Nonno and Linus and Len…yet Vez was still absent…

"William?"

"Yes Miss Granger?"

"Please call me Hermione. Do you dance?"

He smiled, "What gave me away, Hermione?"

"Your posture." Mi concluded and his smile widened.

"My mother was a dance teacher at Purparfait, an etiquette school favoured by many families. My sister attended it just last year."

I remembered Malfoy saying something about that last year, it also explained his painstaking politeness, "Where is she now Liam?"

"Beauxbatons. We thought it a wiser choice to send her there what with Britain being in the state that it currently is." His smile widened as he spoke of his sister, "She favoured Hogwarts but Draco can be very convincing. I must admit I would have liked her here, to see her daily. She has settled well in Beauxbatons. She is a very big fan of yours." He chuckled and I frowned, walking further down the dungeons.

"Me?"

His chuckle died down, and his usually polite face fell into a stern glare, "After the incident with Alya Bellamy in August. I have been meaning to thank you for saving her-"

I stopped, "That was your sister!" I slapped my forehead with my free hand, "Thank Godric! I thought that little girl…" I sighed in relief, when Bellamy disappeared with the little girl I had thought for sure she had…wait, "Liam, you probably know about Jack then. Jack Corner." I knew I couldn't ask Draco such things, but Liam…

He glanced at me, his glare disappearing as his eyes dulled, "Ky…I…-"

"Don't. You don't have to say anything." Mi chided me with her eyes, "We understand."

It was much too risky for Liam to inform us on such things, considering the events last year where all he did was merely sign his name to a sheet of paper ousting the Dark Lord…and that nearly resulted in his death…I wasn't thinking and Mi was right in stopping me.

"William?" I heard the familiar voice, her bright blonde hair shining in the dark corridor.

"Daphne. Were you followed?"

She shook her head in the negative and my curiosity at our destination heightened.

Liam led us further down the corridor as Daphne nodded at us in greeting. The corridor narrowed and I extricated my hand from his arm, he walked ahead until he stopped. He looked at the wall, and then walked straight through it, Mi glanced at me and I nodded, I trusted Liam.

We walked though only to find my heart clench as my skirt flew up as we fell through the air. I could hear Mi screaming next to me and my eyes burned as the wind plagued my eyes. Suddenly we stopped, hovered for a moment and then fell softly to the floor, Liam had me on my feet with a quick pull, moving over to Mi and Daphne.

I clutched my arms, shivering, it was freezing cold and my breath puffed out in front of me.

"Where are we?" Mi rasped out.

"Just a little further." He smiled and I followed him through the darkness.

He led us through a portrait and I heard a sharp intake of breath behind me.

I looked behind me to see Greengrass looking to the heavens in gaping surprise, I saw why as a long pink tentacle touched the glass ceiling above us, it disappeared and all I could see was black…

"Is that the lake…" Mi gasped.

"Through here, ladies."

I followed Liam through the opened door wide eyed, we were beneath the lake? Where were we going?

The room I was in was different to the others, it wasn't cold and there was the shadow of flickering flames that cast the room in brightness, but the light didn't come just from the fire…it came from something I never thought I would ever see here…

Mi walked into me and her eyes widened…

"Impossible…" She muttered.

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Kalina