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 22

I raced down the empty basement corridor, running for so long and so fast I was surely half dry. I suddenly made contact with something hard, and as I began to fall backward I felt a hand circle around my waist. I looked down...at the warm body that I now lay on top of, which appeared out of thin air…to save me from these all consuming thoughts. I didn't think for a second more, this whole day had been one horrendous thought and I crashed my lips onto his.

He returned the kiss in kind…no, there was nothing kind about this kiss. It was rough and greedy and it bled of desperation. I pulled myself to him and he held me tightly, his eyes closed, relying totally on his sense of smell and touch. I looked down as he opened his bright green eyes, the intensity of the stare causing my blood to flow like lava through my veins.

He suddenly stopped, and pulled himself back, steadying me with his legs. I leaned forward but he stopped me with a delicate touch. His fingers caressed my cheek as if it was porcelain, as if he would break me if he exerted any kind of pressure. He traced a line over my lips, his eyebrows knotted together,

"What are you running away from this time, Kyrianna?"

My name fell of his lips so effortlessly; it was as if he had called me nothing but that from the very beginning. Yet not one fibre of my being objected to the use of the name like it usually did, there was something about the way it sounded in his voice, in his breath, that fit perfectly. It wasn't the fact that I didn't like my name all this time; it was that it wasn't said with this voice….

I didn't respond…I couldn't respond. The images flashed through my head and all I wanted to do was distract myself. He held my face steadily in his hands,

"Tell me."

It seeped with sincerity, as he held me chained by his emerald gaze. I wanted to tell him…I wanted to tell him everything. Let him know it all, but I remember what had went on earlier that night…and honestly I don't know which confrontation with Chang hurt more. That thought had the fire burn in my stomach again.

"I need you."I stopped thinking as he leaned forward and kissed my right cheek, moving with a finesse I never knew Harry to possess, to my ear, "You are mine." There was something about the way he said it that sent a shiver down my spine. This was not Harry Potter and Kyrianna Thornton…somewhere between his lips and mines, the roles reversed. He became braver and I submissive…free…care-free.

I moved my face to capture his lips again, and he maneuvered out of the way with a smirk on his lips, "Not till you agree."

"I didn't know it was a question."I laughed, placing a small kiss on his scar. I felt a tingle across my lips as if electrocuted, it didn't frighten me though. It provoked me to do it again. And again. Harry's hands held my waist, his chin resting on my breast as I playfully kissed his scar.

I pulled back and looked down at him and suddenly saw deep grey eyes looking up at me. I scurried off him quickly, my heart thumping in my chest. I clutched at it, begging for it to slow down. Harry reached for me, utterly in shock.

"I'm so sorry…I didn't mean to-"

"I can't!"

I stood up and turned quickly. He grabbed me and pulled me roughly to him, "Can't what!"

"Be with you…"

We were both breathing so heavy and were so close I couldn't tell whose movement was whose, "Why?"

A pang shot through my insides and I wriggled away from him. He let go and I looked at his crestfallen face and ran away, knowing all hopes of distraction were gone.

I raced down corridor after corridor, concentrating hard on feeling. Just feeling…the feeling of the air as it rushed through my damp clothes making my hair stand on end from the coolness. The feel of the cold stone of the lower level floors of Hogwarts as my sneakers slammed against them, the pain not even being processed. The tickling of my hair as it whipped my cheeks as I took turn after turn. But nothing distracted me. The grey eyes had changed to bright emerald green, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered, as it shorn with the same disappointment. It plagued me like some kind of rash that infested my skin…slate…onyx…chocolate…emerald…

I slammed the door behind me, not waiting to catch my breath as I launched myself onto the stool, magic beyond me right now as I physically grabbed my solution, my hands shaking uncontrollably, my breath long left me and my heart following suit…

"Miss KY!" I heard the squeaky voice float over and felt the slight nudge at my shoulder, I turned away from it resolutely, determined to descend deeper into sleep. I woke up quickly as my shoulder hit the floor and let out a painful groan as my butt followed suit, it's seemed one turn was all it took to usurp the queen. I looked at my scarlet throne and wiped the sleep away furiously. I looked up to see a frowning Kinky,

"I thought a good house elf doesn't wish harm on their master."

"That am the truth. Lucky Master Sirius is not being in any danger." I glared at her and got to my feet. She looked me up and down, for a slight creature she was doing a very good job.

"You is still in yesterdays uniform."

"Doesn't make a difference, does it, same thing, different day." I walked to the sink and splashed some water on my face. I picked up my toothbrush, observing it as if I had never seen it before; I turned to Kinky, an eyebrow raised in question,

"There is a new set of robes." She pointed at the scarlet arm chair that I just fell off, I smiled slightly at her proper use of the preposition but it quickly fell as my head throbbed. She came forward quickly, her stern face morphing into worry,

"Everything am OK?"

"Yeah. Thanks for the clothes Kinky. And the toothbrush."I had an idea as to how she knew I wasn't in my dorm last night, a habit she had gotten in to over the holidays. She seemed to come and check up on me in the night, I guess the change of venue wasn't going to stop her.

"No. It is not. But Kinky won't ask more. Kinky just wants miss Ky to know that…hiding in her potions room won't help anything. Plus, armchairs are not beds. You must be going if you don't want to miss breakfast. I must be going back to the kitchens."

She nodded at me and vanished with a click. The announcement of her desired location had me climbing into my fresh clothes with speed, the door banging shut when I was already halfway down the corridor, breakfast long forgotten.

I didn't need to wait long; it was almost like déjà vu as he maneuvered his way through the barrels. He didn't get far when I descended on him, my wand jabbed to his throat.

I didn't see his black hair, or his surprised face as a cloud of red descended on me. It blocked all reason from view.

He didn't step back or try to defend himself; actually he returned my glare and gesture with a look of concern that angered me beyond words.

It seemed that did it, and his surprised face quickly faded to confused, then blank, then gagging, as he pulled at his neck.

I blinked hard, trying to push the red poison away as it egged me on. I managed to overcome it and he fell to the floor spluttering.

He looked up at me, spluttering,

"Ky-"

"Don't! Just tell me why!"

He massaged his throat, giving me the same infuriating look of concern. I held my breath, starving my magic of power to retaliate with. He got to his feet, staggering slightly.

"Why- "He croaked out, his throat dry. He coughed a bit and my magic swirled around me, impatient. "Why what?"

Was he really going to do this? Really?

"Did she bribe you? Did she threaten you? At least tell me it was torture Corner. At least let there have been bloodshed for your…." What was it? Betrayal? Was it really? His only allegiance was to a boy that had no power over this realm. I hissed inwardly at that lie, that boy had more power over this realm presently than he did when he was alive.

"Please forgive me for any slight that I made against you Ky, but it wasn't intentional. I have no idea of what you speak of-"His eyes shone with a sincerity that made me take a mental step back of doubt.

"Umbridge."The name was marred as I growled it out. He shook his head in confusion,

"The new Defence teacher? What is it? Is this about what Potter was saying yesterday-"

"Stop your blubbering Corner. This is about you. You telling her about…us."He knew who the 'us' pertained to and he shook his profusely at the statement.

"What…no…why would I…I wouldn't…he wouldn't..."

I looked at his flustered face of honesty and my magic calmed down instantly. It wasn't him. He wasn't the one that told Umbridge about us.

"Ky I would never…why would I even have to…he's not here to explain…"

I walked away from his unformed thoughts, my head aching worse than before. He was the only one, Mi wouldn't, and Harry definitely wouldn't…who else knew?

I bumped into something, blinded by thoughts and a firm hand steadied me and let go just as quickly. I didn't have to even look up to know who it was, the touch and smell was clue enough. I took a deep breath expecting the molten green eyes…the breath never let out though. It was trapped within me, confusion turning into pain at the blank eyes. His expressionless face lasted all but one second until he broke into a smile; he nodded his head to the table,

"Breakfast?" And walked ahead…leaving me standing there, wondering if I had dreamed of midnight snogs on floors of deserted corridors. I waited for a heart beat…and then turned around, heading in the opposite direction.

A/N: Don't be angry … Just remember a good thing is worth the wait…and I think Harry and Ky definitely deserve our patience, thank you for reading.

Please review,

Kalina