"You know, I heard an interesting rumour last night." Cedric said as he flopped down on the chair next to me. I glanced up from the book I was reading and for a second, I forgot I was in the library.

"Oh? And what's that?" I asked, leaning my elbow on my book, my head in my palm.

Cedric leaned closer. "That our Levvi is going to the ball with your Jack."

"I can honestly say that, that rumour is correct."

"Really?" He looked thoroughly surprised. "Well, since the whole school thought you would go with him, I'm guessing there is still a chance that you're still available."

"Available for what?" I grinned.

Cedric grinned at me, shaking his head lightly. "Alexandra Fae Lupin-Black, would you do me the honour of going to the ball with me?"

"Before I answer, can I ask you something first?" He nodded. "How come you don't have a date yet?"

"In all honesty? I was hoping you were still available."

"What if I haven't been?" I saw something flash in his eyes, and I chuckled softly. "You had a back-up plan."

"I did. Cho." He admitted with a slight shrug of his shoulders. "But I really don't want to, she was quite mean to Luna."

"Then you don't have to. I would love to go with you, Cedric Diggory." Cedric beamed at me, I smiled shyly before I tapped my book.

"Can I ask something too?"

"Sure." I said intrigued.

"Why didn't you just tell everyone you were single?"

"I never claimed I wasn't."

"Maybe, but with Jack publicly kissing you, he sort of claimed you."

"Claimed me?" I laughed softly with raised brows. "What should I have done then? Stand on the table in the great hall and shout: Jack is just my plaything. I'm single, boys and girls!"

Cedric laughed, earning him a hiss from the librarian. "It would do the trick- wait boys and girls?"

"Receding your invitation?"

"Merlin, no." He gave me a lopsided grin. "Weren't you afraid to be without a date? It's only a week before the ball."

"Nope."

Cedric laughed again, but silently. "You had a back-up plan too."

I winked at him, he shook his head with silent laughter. "But I should really do my research."

"Of course." He nodded but didn't make a move to leave. His eyes flickered over the pile of books. He took the closest one and start flipping through it. "If this is for the second task." He said, then turned the book to show me a terrifying picture. "I really hope you don't come across one of these." He shuddered a little.

Merpeople were sentient magical beasts that live underwater. They are found all over the world. Their customs and habits were mysterious, and, like the centaurs, were offered the being status but refused in favour of beast, as they did not want to be placed in a status with Hags and Vampires. Merpeople could breathe above the water for a time, but it was unclear if they can ever truly leave their habitat

But the thing that struck out the most was.

It is believed that these merpeople used their singing voices to lure unwavering sailors into the water like in Muggle legend. Their voices beautiful underneath the sea but once they break the surface it was a wailing sound that reached the shores miles away.

Cedric found it, at least I think he did. It was the closest thing that made sense. Just the one book I hadn't picked up yet. I held the book against my chest and jumped up. I leaned forward and kissed his cheek in excitement. "You just made my day, thanks Cedric."

"For the date to the Yule ball or the book?" He asked surprised at the sudden kiss.

"Both." I smiled broadly. "I'll see you later okay. I'm sorry but I have to go."

"No, it's okay." He smiled back at me. "I'll talk to you later to meet up for the ball."

I gave him a last smile before I practically ran out of the library.

LB

I was sitting in the shrieking shack; my egg was surrounded by a ball of water as it floated in front of me. I could hear soft singing, but I couldn't make out what it was saying. I'm going to need a large pool of water to get to listen to it. I disbanded the spell and put the egg back into my bag before I walked out of the shack. In the corner of my eye, I saw the black lake. I shuddered at the thought of going in there. Only if it's my last resort. The bathrooms from our dorm only had showers, so that won't work. Moony and mine old chambers had a tub, but I couldn't get in there now. My stomach grumbled when I passed the empty great hall.

"Great." I muttered, having missed dinner again. Draco, Harry and the others were starting to get worried about me. My head in books most of the time, missing dinner or lunch, not really caring for who my date might be for the ball. I should make some time for them, soon. But now, now I need food. I descended the stairs and walked straight up to the painting with the fruit bowl.

The house elves were already scurrying around. I looked to my left to the sitting area and saw George and Fred sitting there, plates filled with food and goblets of pumpkin juice in front of them. I walked over, dropped my heavy bag to the floor and let myself fall between them.

"Hi."

"Hey, what are you doing here?" George asked, a frown of slight concern.

"Missed dinner." I answered, picking up a meatball sandwich and leaned back against the couch. "You?"

"Missed dinner too. Snape made our detention extra long." Fred said.

"You're missing a lot of dinners." George frowned.

"Yeah, been busy with this stupid thing." I kicked my bag and the golden egg rolled out. Relieved that it didn't burst open. "But I'm getting closer." I started to massage my temples. "I could use a break though."

"Headache?"

"Migraine." I sighed.

"Come here." Fred slowly pulled me towards him and laid my head on his lap. I was just about to ask what he was doing when his fingers started to massage my scalp. His long fingers shifting through my hair. I sighed in contentment just before George lifted my feet in his lap and took off my shoes. I opened my eyes and peered at him.

"Just relax, love." He whispered. I closed my eyes again and Fred started his massage again in exact unison as George.

The feel of their hands on me, not in a sexually way, was starting to lull me to sleep. I breathed in deep, letting those relaxing feelings course through me. Without opening my eyes and my voice a little sleepy and breathless, I said. "I don't think your girlfriends will like this."

"What about Jack?" Fred's voice was so close, I could feel his breath. His voice was soft and inquiring, not accusing like before.

"Jack's my best friend." I breathed. "Besides we haven't done anything in weeks."

Their hands stilled for a moment, and without opening my eyes, I knew they were sharing a glance, maybe even a wordless conversation. I almost whined at the loss of movement before they started it up again.

"I've missed this. I mean not this." I gestured to their hands when I opened my eyes, their grins in place. "But us, hanging out." I closed my eyes again.

"Me too." They whispered.

"Maybe you could save me a dance next week." I hated myself for doing this, because I was making it harder for myself. But even with the distance the past few weeks, my feelings didn't grow less strong.

"If your date doesn't mind... Did you find a date?"

"Hm." I hummed with a nod. "First, I wanted to ask Draco, since he was trying to escape Pansy's clutches." I laughed. "But then Hermione said, bringing your cousin to a ball is weird." I shrugged a little. "It's not like it would be a date." I opened my eyes just to roll with them. "But I got him a date that wouldn't go and try to get his nails into him."

"Maybe he would like that." Fred smirked above me.

"I know Draco, and I know whose nails he would like to get on his back." I quickly slapped my hand over my mouth while the twins' eyes grew wide. "Forget I said anything."

"That is hard to forget." Fred laughed. De la Barre, I had missed his laugh. "But-"

"We'll try, for you."

I smiled at them before I closed my eyes.

"Oh, that feels good." I moaned a little involuntarily, arching my back. I heard the twins' breath hitch, but their movements didn't stop, they grew more frantic actually. Fred had two of his hands in my hair, pressing his fingers tips on my scalp. It shot shivers down my spine. While George, his hands had travelled up from my feet, slowly caressing my ankles all the way up to my calf with the exact amount of pressure to make me feel lightheaded. I heard a muffliato surrounding us, but I didn't care. The feeling of their hands on me was everything I had dreamed of. If they would just move a little, like Fred's hands going lower, or George's hands going higher. I moaned again, but I didn't care, this feeling, this was more than the feeling of Jack's body against mine or Jazz's, this was... this was what I was waiting for, this was what I had been missing. And their hands did move, Fred was now massaging my shoulders, his fingers skimming over my collarbone, while George's hands were just above my knees, his thumb caressing just under the hem of my skirt.

It felt amazing, and if they would continue like that, I'm sure I would come undone, even if they didn't touch me in the places I so desperately wanted them to. I shot out off the couch my breathing heavy, just like the twins. Their eyes were dark from lust, and I knew I would look just the same but with a mess of a hairdo after Fred's ministrations.

"I -uhm." I cleared my throat. "I should go." I picked up my bag and stuffed the egg back in. "I'm going over to the Draco, so don't expect me back anytime soon." Without waiting, I strode out of the kitchens and headed straight to the Slytherin common room.

LB

Draco wasn't in the common room, so I walked over to his dorm. None of the Slytherins even commented or looked up anymore when I came charging in. They were used to it by now, they didn't even question how I knew the passwords. Draco was leaning against the headboard, his legs stretched out in front of him, one foot crossed the other. I fell down head first next to him. I could hear him snicker.

"What's wrong, cousin?"

I mumbled the names of my frustrations into his pillow, but he heard it clearly.

"Oh, were they parading around with their girlfriends again?" He snorted.

"No." I lifted my head from his pillow and looked up at him. "We were in the kitchens together, alone. And I was having a migraine from all my research and Fred started to message my temples and George my ankles, then -"

"Stop! I don't want to know." He held up his hand.

I grinned at him. "It's not like anything happened. Besides I didn't know you were such a prude."

"I am not a prude. I just don't talk about these things, especially with my cousin."

"I would want to know, if you and Har-" He clapped his hand over my grinning mouth and with his wand closed the curtains around us and put a Muffliato on them.

"Nothing is going on between me and Ha- Potter."

"Why did you put a privacy charm on the bed then? There is no one here." I taunted.

"Because he's name is like cursed here in the dungeons, the moment someone speaks it everyone knows."

I dropped my head back on his pillow, smothering my laughter. He sounded so serious; it was ridiculous. When I finally got my laughter back under control, I said. "You know, there is nothing wrong for liking him. You're cute, he's cute."

"I'm not cute." He sneered, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm devilishly handsome."

"Alright, you're hot, Harry's hot."

"Oh, don't say that." He whined, scrunching up his nose. "You're family, that's weird."

"Nothing is good enough." I mumbled into the pillow. "So, you're both good looking?" I asked and he nodded, I grinned. "Both have that dry sense of humour. A hero complex. Yes, the both of you." I said when he opened his mouth to object. "You protect the people you love and are smart, not just book smart. You two are not so different as you might think."

"Even if those things are true, which I don't see really, it doesn't matter. Because I don't like him."

"Keep telling yourself that." I snuggled his pillow and wrapped my arms around it. "Can I sleep here?"

"Sure." He said. Then he looked me over with a frown. "You're too tall."

I chuckled and sat on my knees. "You can just ask to turn into Loki, little dragon." I laughed again as he scowled at me before I turned. Without waiting a beat, he started stroking my furry head.

"I like you better this way."

"I can still talk, you know. I can make you uncomfortable when I'm like this too."

"Please don't." He groaned as I grinned my wolf teeth at him.

LB

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!

Happy New Year!