Chapter 28: The one with Bobby Brown

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

A/N: Ky calls Lavender Brown Bobby after famous muggle Bobby Brown-just to annoy her.

Chapter 27

"Shit." Clank. My eyes shot open…. something had fallen next to me. I jumped off the bed, seeing the silhouette behind the bed curtain. My heart was in my throat; I grabbed my wand just as a body jumped through the curtain and closed their hand over my mouth. I hit the bed as the moonlight caught on flaming red hair and familiar brown eyes.

"Ky?" Brown's voice floated through the curtain.

"Sorry Bobby…I dropped my…bra." I shrugged at George, who clamped his free hand over his own mouth, stifling the giggle. Well, forgive me for not being quick on the up take once woken from sleep. Plus, it was the first thing I saw. Just as I looked at the black garment, George made a grab for it. I guess it serves me right for flinging it on the floor. I jumped down and grabbed the other end, trying to wrestle it from his grip. I heard light footsteps; I stuck my head out, looking up at Bobby from my crawling position.

"Hey Bobby." Ever since I found out Lavender's surname was Brown, I would call her nothing but Bobby, a reference to famous musician Bobby Brown in the muggle world. This frustrated her to no end as she was the self-proclaimed most feminine person in the world and did not take lightly to being called by a 'man's' name.

"What are you doing on the floor Ky?" She asked, as she rubbed her left eye sleepily.

"I'm not on the floor…. you're flying."

"What? No. What?"

"You're dreaming Bobby."

"Dreaming?"

"Of course. Why else would Brad Pitt be under your bed."

"What? That hot muggle actor? No way." She quickly turned to her bed and dropped to the floor. I grabbed George's hand and made a run for it through the door. He was lucky Mi was so exhausted from doing homework that she was out for the count and Parvati slept with earmuffs, apparently her beauty sleep was not to be jeopardised at any cost. I let George lead me down the stairs and through the portrait; I made a grab for my bra again. He held it above my head, and I slapped him on his chest.

"Aww come on Princess, I always wanted one."

"Why?"

"Do you know what range I can get with this thing? I can hit an unsuspecting victim feet away with a gobstone and they would be none the wiser. Plus, I kind of always wanted to make a bra hammock for the gnomes back home and it's too weird stealing Gin's."

I sighed, who was I to deny George his sling shot toy or 'brammock' for his little friends. "Fine. Keep it, but I don't think we're whispering in a dark corridor because you snuck into my dorm for my bra."

He smirked at me, "You think I wouldn't do something like that."

I chuckled quietly at him, "Of course I do. I don't think you would do it without Fred though. Where is your better half?"

I followed him as he began walking. I know it might seem strange following a boy into the unknown in the middle of the night, but it's George. Wherever he took me, there was sure to be a laugh at the end of it.

"Since I like you so much, I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that last part." He stopped at a portrait of the night's sky, jabbed at a few stars, and walked through as it slid open. I followed him through.

"Finally, I was afraid we might not need the ageing potion at all with the amount of time you were taking Georgie. Ahhhh, I see you brought our secret weapon, Ky, welcome to our humble abode."

I looked around the small room, taking in the little couch and the bunch of junk stacked in corners. Fred was sitting in front of a little cauldron, the fumes permeating throughout the room, forming a thick haze. I sniffed at the air,

"Ahhhh the sweet aroma of disobedience." I plopped down next to Fred, and he smiled at me,

"I like to call it resistance…like against oppression and dictatorship."

I laughed, "So Nonno has oppressed you by restricting your entry into the tourney so it's just natural to want to overcome the obstacle."

"I knew you'd understand." George sat on my other side, "We have a problem."

"I see it. You have no armadillo bile."

They smiled at each other and then at me, "You're brilliant." They said in unison.

"That's just observation. You know what's brilliance though…triple the dosage of the Billywig Sting and add three more sprouts of lavender. That should be the right amount for a substitute. A drop should do, you two know that already of course."

George smiled at Fred, "I told you we should have asked her in the first place. Poor Lee is out there somewhere looking for Armadillo bile."

Fred shrugged, "Didn't want to get you more detentions Princess. People would start to think we're a bad influence."

"And we couldn't have that now. It would decimate the reputation we have worked so hard to create." I laughed at George's impression of Percy and stood,

"Well, if that's all, I don't want to push it. Mi just might wake up whilst I'm gone and then I would never hear the end of it."

Fred stood as well, "I'll escort you back. And I hope you have a spare of what you gave George because if you don't give me one too, I'll think its favouritism." He held the door open for me, "And if anyone is to be favoured it is to be me, we all know I am his better half."

I jumped back into the bed; two bras down than I was in the morning. I began wriggling into a comfortable position. I stopped mid-wriggle as I heard a scratching sound. I grabbed the Parch that was next to my bed.

Ky?

Lenzo?

No, Linus, how are you doing? Why are you up so late? Not another detention?

No complaints. ME? Detention? I shudder at the accusation.

Haha, very funny. Seriously though, no more detentions

Yeah yeah

Do not 'yeah yeah' me, I know what 'yeah yeah' means, it means you are not listening to a word I am saying.

Well of course I'm not listening, I'm reading, aren't I?

KY!

Haha sorry, you kind of walked into that Li. So, is everything Ok? I highly doubt you're messaging at this time of night to nag me.

You're actually right. I'm messaging to tell you tomorrow is cancelled. Please tell the Old Man as well.

Woohoo, who do I have to thank for saving me from having to dine with Nessie?

Her father

What did the old billionaire do this time?

He died.

Oh…. you could have started with that….

But then I couldn't make you feel guilty about it like I can now.

You're evil. When's the funeral?

Day after tomorrow.

Oh, sneeze bits, that's the day of the Goblet of Fire naming champions thingy

I know. It's fine though…. I think she wants to be alone for a while. I'll just pass her your sympathies.

Yeah, do that…. she ok?

I have to go now Ky. I love you, sweet dreams.

I love you too Li.

I rushed down the stairs. Oh, crap if I was late for this feast as well Minnie will have my head. She screamed at me for ten minutes straight for not only showing up at a 'despicable' time but looking like a 'hobo' for the last one. I laughed at that. Imagine Minnie saying hobo! But that just got me another detention and five minutes more of scolding.

It's not my fault really. I can't help losing myself in something interesting. And I really didn't mean to, I just got caught up with making a few adjustments to the Wide Eye Awakening potion. I managed to increase its intensity and decrease its brewing time by five minutes. I could tell Sev was proud even though he had covered it well with some retort of his.

I had monopolised on all those detentions I served with him and really enhanced my knack for potioneering. Sev let me have a go at all the ingredients too, and sometimes he stayed and even brewed a potion or two with me. Our relationship would never be normal, but then again how can a whole be normal if its halves were insane.

I finally entered the Great Hall and snuck to the Gryffindor table and sunk into the seat next to Mi just as the French girl Ron fawned over left the room through a door to the side. Nonno caught the third piece of parchment from the Goblet of Fire, and he cleared his throat.

"The Hogwarts champion is…Cedric Diggory."

I clapped along with everybody else and smiled. As he made his way to the front, amidst the handshakes and pats on the back, he made a side long glance that I caught, and he smirked. I rolled my eyes at him. He was always humble and polite to everyone except me! I thought back to the day that Harry had grabbed me and stopped me from hurting Malfoy, I internally groaned. What an ass I was, I was both hurt and relieved that Harry did not follow me that day. I was hyperventilating in the dungeons so angry at my stupidity that I punched a wall.

"Yes, break your knuckles. That would solve all your problems." I didn't turn around at his voice and continued to stare at the wall.

"I don't have any problems."

"And the trip down denial continues. I'm guessing by your little display up there you still haven't confided in anybody?" I snapped around at that. Display? Did everybody notice? Shit, I thought only Harry saw….

"Don't worry. Nobody noticed. They were too busy with Moody's antics. Seems like he up staged you again."

I knew he was talking about Mad-Eye's entrance at the welcoming feast. He walked towards me and held out a hanky, I didn't take it and rubbed my face on my robes. He rolled his eyes at my stubbornness. He then held out his hand, I just looked at it.

I gave him a questioning look which he just returned with a small reassuring nod, and I placed my hand in his. Two minutes later we were in a little stone room in the basement. He had muttered something to the fat little goblin statue that made the bare wall next to it turn into a small door. The room probably couldn't handle more than four people.

"Ok. Talk." He sat down on the pillow that he conjured and just managed to stretch his legs in front of him. I sat down opposite him, slightly surprised at the softness, seems he conjured a pillow for me too. I crossed my legs and didn't answer. Instead, I started tracing rings on my lower thigh thinking about my absurdity.

I remember the sudden warmth that rose within me when Harry brought me up against his chest and his hands that felt like fire against my waist. I could feel my whole body heat up and I'm sure my face had a deep blush. But suddenly the hands stopped feeling warm and started feeling cold and the fact that I couldn't move seemed to send me right back to that time.

"There's nothing to say." I was stalling… looking down, hypnotizing myself with the circles I made. We sat silently for a few moments, he then laid a gentle hand on mine, and I looked up.

Having achieved his goal at eye contact he let go of my hand. I stared him down and he returned it easily, I'd win this contest. Ten minutes later I couldn't take it though and leaned forward and squished his cheeks together.

His eyes widened in surprise, and I burst out laughing at him – he looked like a fish. He laughed too and I leaned back against the wall and looked up at the ceiling.

"His hands were cold. Like ice. I've never felt hands that cold. Thinking about it now, it's weird, seeing as the weather was warm. Or maybe they weren't cold. Maybe they just felt cold because I didn't want them near me. He wasn't very big either, around your size." I looked at him and smirked as he resisted the urge to defend his manly stature. "I couldn't see his face, just his eyes behind the mask, they were black and hungry. He smelled…. nice. I know… he is supposed to smell like cheap cigars and fire whiskey, but he actually smelled of fancy cologne. He really didn't touch me anywhere that would ruin me… I mean people…girls in this world go through so much more."

"Don't compare yourself to the situation of others. It's all equally disgusting."

I looked at him in the eye, he was such a Hufflepuff, his whole face exuded care. I dropped my eyes to the little birthmark I had on my knee and busied myself with tracing patterns on it.

"I guess…I think it's because I've never…I was home schooled prior to coming here and I never went anywhere without my brothers and I…"

"It's OK Ky, and it's nothing to be ashamed of."

I laughed a hollow laugh. I knew it wasn't anything to be ashamed of but at the same time it's not normal to only be exposed to your brothers for socializing. There were the nannies and the tutors, but they never overstepped their duty, kept it strictly professional. That's why I made such an effort with Sev and Minnie, hoping that when the time comes, they won't just be my teachers. I don't blame Linus and Lenzo, they were only trying to do what was best for me. I guess they sheltered me, and my guard was lowered. I knew how to defend myself, but at the time I failed to.

Apple moved forward slowly and took my hand. I let him hold it, let his presence be felt.

"There's nothing wrong with feeling the way you are. Even if he didn't touch you somewhere… intimate…he had no right laying his hands on you at all. You'll learn in time that even the most normal of touches on the most normal of places can make you feel things that are not normal. So don't minimalize this by thinking about where he touched you, but that he did at all. And Ky…don't blame yourself. Stop being disappointed that you-"

"That I did nothing until the last minute! I didn't throw him off until the last second and I've mastered karate and aikido and I let some insolent jerk put his filthy hands on me! On me! To touch me! To make me cry! I'm not this weak girl who freaks out when a friend touches her. When she feels…I'm not weak!"

"Of course, you're not. You're feisty and strong and smart and powerful. And you're OK."

I creased my forehead at him, wasn't he always telling me I wasn't OK.

He smiled at me, "You've finally faced it. You are going to be OK. I still think-"

"I can't tell anybody because my brothers would freak out and take me back home…I don't want to leave Nonno, to leave Hogwarts…"

He did take a second to respond, "I won't tell a soul. Thank you for telling me."

"Thank you for…you know. You think the next time someone grabs me I'll freak out?" He looked at me unwaveringly, not judging the fear in my voice.

"I think you will." He smiled, "But that's a normal reaction if some stranger just grabs you. But if a friend grabs you, you're not going to freak out."

"How do you know?"

"Because Ky you learned how to trust today…to trust someone other than yourself or your brothers. You won't freak out if someone you trust grabs you… if they touch you. Even if you can't see their face, trust is one of those senses that transcend the physical realm. There is safety you will feel that comes from the touch of someone you trust. I mean I've moved my hands up your arms and have them rested on your shoulder and you didn't even flinch."

I realized he was right, and he let go of my shoulders and stood. He held his hand out for me, and I took it without hesitation.

My daydreaming was stopped by Nonno's voice cutting through the room,

"Harry Potter."

I turned and looked at him, breaking my own code of ignoring him just as he was doing to me for these past few days. Heaven knows why but I had my guesses.

He was blabbering that he didn't do this and Nonno continued to call him. Mi actually gave him a slight shove and he still didn't move. All of Gryffindor House was staring at him, and he was rooted to the spot. I got up and walked the two seats down to him and grabbed his hand and physically pulled him up.

"I didn't-"

"I know. But when Nonno says go, you go. Except if you're me, then you do what you please."

I lightly pushed him, and he slowly walked away. I walked back to my seat and suddenly the Great Hall burst into noise. I looked up and realised that Minnie, Sev and the headmasters as well as the Ministry delegations had all left. I turned and looked at Mi who was ashen faced and Ron whose face was slowly matching his hair. He suddenly shot off his seat and walked out and I rose to follow him, but Mi stopped me.

I gulped down the water and pushed my hair out of my face. It really had been a while since I enjoyed a good old-fashioned jog. I looked up at the large hoops with the pretty blue Sunday sky in its background.

I knew Mi would want to spend this morning with Harry. I didn't see him yesterday, choosing to have a cup of cocoa with Nonno instead. Not that he would miss me, seeing as he had been ignoring me for ages. My theory was that he had a clue that I had a crush on him, and he was trying to let me down without using words. Coward.

I jogged in the spot for a bit, really missing my iPod. I stretched and made my way to the changing rooms. Just as I opened the Gryffindor one my head lightly hit a chest. I didn't have to look up to know who it was; there was only one person I could place a scent to.

I lightly kicked his shin, "Watch where you're going Scarhead!"

"Yet again, you were the one that walked into me. What are you doing going into the Gryffindor Changing Rooms anyway?"

"Erm…let's see…they're changing rooms…so I must be going there to-"

"I know that. I mean, how did you get a key to this place. It's for quidditch players only?"

"You doubt my powers of persuasion Potter."

"More like powers of plundering. Nicked it off one of the girls?"

I made a mocked shock face, "I'm wounded that you would think I would ever do something…OK that even sounds weird to me. Fred lent me his."

A weird expression flitted across his face at that. He then shrugged and shouldered his broom and crab walked passed me.

"I'll leave you to it then."

I left the door and followed him instead. He turned around, giving me a quizzical look.

"I thought you said were going to teach me how to play quidditch?"

"When did I say I was going to teach you how to play quidditch?"

"Oh, thanks Harry, it's so kind of you to offer. I don't have a broom yet." I put my hand on his broom, "So you'll have to use one of the schools."

He lifted his broom up out of my reach, exposing his armpits in the process. Of course, that was like an open invitation for me, and I pounced on them with feather touches. He quickly dropped his arms, and I snatched his broom, he let out involuntary chuckles. Stroke of luck that he was ticklish.

"Look Ky, I'm not really in the mood. I actually came down here to de-stress a little." I ignored him and walked to the pitch.

"Best broom-up Potter, last one to the goal post has to be vice president of SPEW."

I put my legs on either side of the broom and emulated what Harry did the last time. It worked and I was off, I shot up too high and then descended too quickly and then veered too much to the left. I eventually got to the goal post.

Unfortunately, a blur passed me, and a mess of dark hair hovered in front of the second post smirking. He tossed the quaffle at me and I caught it easily,

"I guess congratulations are in order Miss VP."

I tossed the quaffle back at him hard; he was a seriously good flyer to beat me on the school broom, which was notorious for being slow, even with my head start. We ended up throwing the quaffle at each other for a while and then flew around the grounds for what felt like seconds but must have been an hour. Harry's broom was a beauty, life just rushed passed me. My heartbeat fastened and my eyes zoomed all around, the cold air cleansed my skin and every cell in my body committed to the experience. I landed a few minutes after Harry; it had already gotten dark. I walked up to him, sitting in the stands.

"I was about to come up there and bring you down myself."

"It would have only made me stay up there longer." I sat one level above him. All was silent for a moment.

"You didn't ask." He murmured into the darkness.

"I didn't have to." He turned and looked at me and I sighed.

"You're not smart enough to get passed Nonno's age line. That means whoever did is smart enough to trick the cup into thinking Hogwarts can have two students. But at the same time whoever did this does not want to kill you."

"What?"

"It's quite obvious. Nonno wouldn't allow anything life threatening in these tasks you are going to perform. Adding to the fact that you pretty much eat trouble for breakfast and chuck it up for lunch, you got this thing in the bag."

"I wish I had that kind of faith in myself."

"Oh, it's not faith Potter. It's fact." He rolled his eyes at me. He sighed,

"Too bad Ron doesn't see it that way."

"He does. He's just blinded by jealousy at the moment. Don't see why though hey?"

I didn't have to explain to Harry, he knew it was not an insult. It was true, Ron had all the things that mattered in life. He stood and stretched, and the wind brought over his musky masculine scent. I inhaled and simultaneously mentally slapped myself.

I followed him down the stairs, off the pitch, the winds of flight washing the previous days awkwardness away, replacing it with vibes of relaxation.

A/N: I know this was quite long, but I didn't want to split the chapter, hope you enjoyed it, nevertheless. Thanks to EmberRee for giving me the idea about Ky helping the twins with the ageing potion. What do you think about Ky and Harry's friendship so far?

Reviews, as always, will be appreciated.

Kalina