I'm not sure which was worse—Fred catching us floating in the middle of the room in coitus or the mood dying and George and I falling to his feet in a naked heap. Face pressed into hardwood, I wished for time to freeze for just a minute-Just a tiny little moment to catch my breath and think of an explanation.

I tried to push myself up but George was dead weight on top of me, all of the muscles in his body rigid and posed. Squirming out from under him, no easy feat by the way; I realized what was wrong with him. He was frozen, as if the full body bind had been put on him. He remained half suspended in air as if I was still propping him up. I turned to Fred for an explanation and found that he was still as well, as if put on pause. His mouth still hung wide open and he was leaning slightly backward as if stepping back to make room for our fall.

Panicking, I did the first thing I thought of—getting dressed. I found my shirt and skirt and threw them on haphazardly, all the while peeking up at the twins to see if they had thawed yet. As they continued to stay frozen, I had finished dressing, and put my second thought into action, which was slapping George around the face. He remained suspending in the air, his expression unchanging. The next attempt was just as useless but far less graceful.

"Augumenti!" I shouted, aiming the tip of my wand at Fred's face. An unwise idea, considering his mouth was still hanging open. He looked like a shocked cherub on a fountain that would be highly amusing under other circumstances.

Glancing at the clock that read twenty minutes to CHARMS, completely stumped as to what to do, I allowed myself to give into a moment of weakness. I was thankful for their deaf ears as I sunk to the floor to look George in the eyes and plea, "Just wake up already."

His statue took my plea as a command and woke up instantly, collapsing into my unprepared arms. Fred continued his previous statement as if uninterrupted, "What the hell?!"

"Drella, what was that?" George asked, finally settling himself.

"I'm not quite sure…"

"But you moved! You were…naked….just a second ago and now…now you're fully dressed!" Fred exclaimed.

"Yeah…" I looked to George for help, who was just zipping up his pants. He retained a bewildered expression.

"I guess I stopped time…" I said as casually as possible, staring a hole into the floor.

"You guess you stopped time?!" Fred shrieked.

"Well, there's no other explanation for it, is there? I thought about having a moment to think, and then you were both frozen, as if put on pause or something and nothing woke you up!"

"So that's why I'm dripping wet?"

"Yeah, sorry about that, Fred. If it makes you feel better, I slapped George."

"Not really, but more importantly. What are we gonna do about this?" Fred raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"Do about what?" George asked.

"What do you mean?" Fred repeated, confused, "what I just walked in on."

"Excuse me?" George asked in shock. I would have said the same thing if he hadn't beat me to it.

"Now that you guys are doing the nasty, and in your case, the floaty—what the bloody hell was that about, by the way?-we need to come up with a system." At least Fred's frankness was enough to break the ice.

"A sign or tie?" I offered, pulling at my limited knowledge of clichés.

"No, not flashy enough." They answered simultaneously. They were speaking their twin language, eyes focused on each other and lips not moving except an occasional twitch.

"It's settled then, " George said finally, as Fred nodded his head. They both turned to their door with their wands raised and after an impressive bit of nonverbal magic (that I would have they explain to me later). Moments later they were tucking their wands away in their pockets.

"What's settled? What did you guys just do?"

"We enchanted the door to display a message to anyone looking to get in. Go away, Come in, Come back in one hour, two, three, etc." They took turns explaining, sharing smug smiles.

"So a sign, then?"

"Not at all." Fred said.

"So much better." George added.

"Clever. But now, we've really got to go. I refuse to be late to McGonagall's class again. " I said, gathering up my school bag and making sure my appearance didn't scream out sex.

"But we still have a lot of talk about," Fred whined, looking at me specifically when he said it.

"Okay, well then how about we meet up after classes and finish talking about it," It will give me more time to think of something to say.

"Fine, that will just have to become our dinner time conversation." Fred agreed with somewhat of an attitude.

"Fine." I said, reflecting it back at him,

"Fine."

"Fine."

"FINE!"

And so Fred and I continued until we reached the door to the Transfiguration classroom.

xxx

"They're not there," Renae sighed.

"I know that," I snapped, returning my focus to my mostly full plate. Everything had been moved, swirled around by my fork mindlessly, as I stared at the entrance.

"Then stop looking for them and answer my question."

"What question?" I asked without lifting my head from my hand. My fork continued to cut sausage into miniature pieces I never intended to eat. Why isn't he here?

"Honestly, Andi, don't make me say it again," Renae whispered a harsh reprimand.

I rolled my eyes, but kept my voice down as I replied, "I don't know if I'm the best person to ask about this. I mean, it's not exactly a normal situation George and I have going on."

"'Best person to ask'", Renae scoffed. "As if there was a single other person I could ever talk about this to."

"Okay, fine then. It does sound a little odd." I admitted reluctantly.

"I knew it! There must be something wrong me or I must have done something. I mean why else would he turn me down for—"

"Maybe because he respects you and doesn't want to go to fast and ruin everything." I asserted just as firmly as she was reaching a peak in her freak out.

"Oh, yeah, that's likely."

"Aren't you the one that has been trying to convince me for months that Draco was a decent guy? That he isn't the little ferret I think he is?"

"Well, yeah, but—"

"But what? Was all that just stories you told me to amuse yourself?"

"No, it's just—"

"Just what?"

"What if you were right?"

"About what?"

"About Draco. What if he is a bad guy and the real act is the one that he is giving me?"

"Has he done anything to give you this impression?" I raised an eyebrow, getting ready to analyze every word for clues to his true behavior.

"No, not really. It's just—"

"Wait a second. Define "not really?"

"Well, it's just that he seems busier lately, like he's not around as much at meal times anymore. Look, he's not at the Slytherin table, and he hasn't been since we got here either."

I glanced back at the Slytherin table as casually as possible, which was in no way or shape casual at all. But sure enough, Draco was not there. Just like George wasn't here. Although I doubted that they were together, it wasn't entirely impossible. Though I suspect the word of their dueling would have reached us by now.

"Maybe he's just busy." I said, not reassuring Renae or myself.

"Pansy's not at the table either," Renae noted bitterly. I had noticed that, but hoped she hadn't. Her thoughts obviously jumped to the same place mine did.

"It's most likely just a coincidence." Renae gave me a skeptical look that urged me on at the same time. I couldn't think of anything else to say. The image of George and another girl had danced its way merrily into my mind and refused to leave. I hadn't even thought about it until I noticed Pansy's absence. But George would never cheat on me... would he? No. No way. Fred is gone too, and they are just out doing something stupid or are in a detention they forgot to tell me about because they did something stupid.

"You okay?"

"What? Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Just…just thinking about the meeting with Dumbledore tonight," I brushed off her question poorly, but I knew she would let it go. I could hear that tone in my voice I hated hearing, that uncertainty that only George could cause. I was mistaken in thinking I wouldn't feel it again after he told me he loved me.

"What time was that again?" Renae asked looking up at the clock.

"Seven O'clock?"

"And you still have you go get your broom, right?"

I nodded my head in the affirmative.

"Then you should have left five minutes ago."

"Bollocks!" I swore, throwing my fork down and scrambling to collect all my things as quickly as possible. "If you see George later—"

"Tell him to wait up for you tonight. I know. Now, GO!"

XXX

"I'm sorry I'm late, professor!" I blurted, stumbling to a fast halt at the top of Dumbledore's office stairway.

"Nonsense! You're precisely on time!" He pointed to the clock hanging overhead.

"Oh," I said, out of breathe, cursing myself for the needless running.

"I'd tell you to sit and relax, but what I have planned for tonight cannot be accomplished in the constraints of this office." Dumbledore said, standing up abruptly. "So, I am afraid I must asked you to turn back around."

"What do you have planned, sir?"

"Something that requires a fair amount of walking. I hope you don't mind if we get started?" He indicated the stairs I had just sprinted up.

"No, not at all," replied before leading the way out of the office, pausing in the halway, to allow him to assume the lead before asking where we were going.

"Oh, somewhere with enough room to meet our needs," He said loftily.

"To do what, sir?"

"My if only you were so inquisitive in your classes," Dumbledore chided in his gentle jesting manner.

"Sorry, professor."

"No need to apologize, although I will for my purposeful evasiveness," He said, softly, "I may be wrong…but I think for this kind of lesson, it will be best if you are kept ignorant to certain aspects. I must ask for your trust."

"Of course, sir! I trust you more than anyone in this castle!"

"That is very kind, Andrella," Dumbledore whispered, barely audible over the clamor of the opening front doors.

"It's the truth."

"And highly necessary for me to help you control your powers. Have you noticed any manifestations?"

"'Manifestations'?"

"Sudden outbursts of magic that you did not consciously create, things you did not know you were able to do, all perhaps occurring in a state of extreme emotion?"

"Sir…you are using occulmency against me?" I asked carefully, trying to erase all images of George and myself performing any such "manifestations" from my brain.

"No, not this time," Dumbledore laughed, steering us toward the Quidditch pitch. Broom still firmly clutched in hand, I was not surprised.

"This was something I had been expecting to happen for quite some time now. This lesson, however, was inspired by a recent talk with Professor Snape. Care to guess what we discussed?" Dumbledore asked lightly.

"The fire."

"The fire." He repeated affirmatively.

The fire in question occurred in potions last week. Snape had just taken away ten points from Gryffindor for George and I whispering while he was giving directions. I was outraged, having been multitasking and heard every word. Somehow, all of the burners ignited on my side of the room once Snape turned his back.

Dumbledore paused long enough to allow me to mentally relieve the scenario. "And have you experienced anything else like that?"

"I guess a few things," I was still trying to banish the images from my mind, convinced Dumbledore could still hear them, even worse see them.

"I figured as much. But I ask for you not to tell me about them until you are in the air. I have a very important theory to test out, that only you can help me with," Dumbledore instructed as we walked out onto the abandoned Quidditch pitch.

"But, sir, how will I be able to hear you if you haven't got a broom?" I asked hesistantly, mounting my own Nimbus 2000.

Dumbledore tapped the tip of his wand to his throat with an appeasing grin. I believe you'll be able to hear me just fine. Now go ahead and get flying. I will wait for you down here."

I did as he asked, feeling slightly awkward flying around without a purpose but with an audience.

"Just fly around in circles for a bit. Try to relax. Close your eyes, if that will help you. The key is to be completely calm and totally in control of your emotions."

Even as I flew higher, I was able to hear him as if I stood on the ground next to him. For the first few minutes he was quiet and all I heard was the wind rushing past me as I dipped and climbed, soaring and twirling in whatever way I felt compelled. I took his advice and closed his eyes, imagined I was zooming over a little lake on the burrow, George right behind me as I raced him to the other side.

"Are you feeling more relaxed now?" Dumbledore asked gently.

"Yes," I answered, regretfully allowing myself to be taken away from my daydream.

"Splendid! Time to begin, then. I need you to answer all of these questions with as much attention to emotion as possible. In order to control your emotions and therefore your magic, you must be able to understand them.

"What other things have you noticed about the change in interaction between you and your magic, starting with those you noticed first. " Dumbledore instructed.

"Well…" Crap! How could I possibly telll him about that? But could I lie to him if it could lead to me being able to control my powers, or even figuring out what they all were? "Um…"

"Andrella?"

I zoomed higher, up into the clouds until I couldn't see a patch of earth below me. "When George and I are, um,…"

"I believe I get the picture, Andrella, thank you. But I am afraid I must hesitantly ask you to continue with as little detail as possible for this part." I'm sure he didn't get paid enough for this.

"We sort of levitate into the air and these bursts of colorful lights surround us," I stammered out, reaching so high into the sky I saw ice starting to form on the handle of my broom. My hands were red, but I wasn't cold.

"That would make sense given the intense emotions involved," Dumbledore finally said something. This isn't happening to me. "Are there any other emotions besides love or passion that have caused sudden manifestations of magic." Dumbledore made an elegant segue.

"I think that I paused time once. Or at least a room when I felt extremely overwhelmed."

"'Paused time'? In what way?" He prodded.

"I was very stressed, "I carefully avoided mentioning any clue to circumstance, so not wanting to have that conversation. "And I was wishing I could just have a minute to myself to think, "I took his advice, closing my eyes as I zigg-zagged through the air. "And I looked up and found that George and Fred were both paused in mid-movemtn and nothing I did would break their trance."

"I assume, of course, they are not still posed as statues in some corner of the castle?"

"Of course, not sir!" Some more dips and dives. I had forgotten how freeing it was to just zoom around without a purpose. Just for the fun of it. I forgot how nice is felt to feel the air and really hear your own thoughts. The night sky was peaceful, even when I was not.

"If nothing you did work, how were you able to free them from your enchantment?"

"I started to panic because we were going to be late for class—"

"A first for you, I am sure," Dumbledore jested.

"—And I wanted more than anything else for them to move again, and they did."

"Very interesting," Dumbledore mused but gave no indication as to what he was commenting on.

After a few minutes of silence, my curiosity urged him on. "Sir, did I really stop time?"

"I do not believe so, Andrella."

"Then what, professor?"

"I believe you unconsciously preformed a spell, similar to the full-body-bind curse, but I think it effected every thing, living or not-including the very air they were breathing—in the immediate area you were in."

"But that's impossible, sir. I never learnt how to do any of that stuff." I admitted humbly, circling closer to the pitch, wanting to be able to see him again, even as an ant on the ground.

"That is where you are mistaken."

"Professor?"

"You certainly remember your common and the place you visited then?"

I looked up through the clouds, hoping to glimpse a patch of stars. I felt a longing I couldn't explain as I found them and choked out a feeble, "Yes."

"In The Land of the Knowing, you realized your destiny, perhaps prematurely." his words were resolute unlike my belief.

"My destiny? I don't know about that, sir." But as I raised altitude and felt the misty wisps of condensations passing over my skin, I still did not feel cold and I couldn't understand why that was.

"Yes, your destiny. We all have one, no matter how small it may seem. You knowing yours but not fully understanding it has made you able to perform magic you unconsciously know you can perform, but consciously cannot believe."

The resounding silence was appropriate. I didn't know what to say. He was right. I didn't understand and my belief was faulty with doubt. But as I closed my eyes, forgetting everything for a moment, I felt peace. I was back in the forest near the burrow. I wondered why I wasn't an icicle falling to the ground as the should-be icy drops of condensation fell on my face, damping my clothes and hair. I felt nothing, not even their wetness.

Dumbledore remained quiet and I was remained thankful for that. Feeling more at ease since I could remember feeling after the comma, I felt like nothing could harm me. Not even the air itself as I hurtled through it at alarming speeds.

"Have you ever felt more exhilarated?" Dumbledore broke the silene, nearly startling me off my broom, that I had been barely gripping. I didn't have to answer him for him to know.

"Look down." He instructed.

If I had been holding my broom, I'm sure I would have fallen off it. But I remained soaring throughthe air without any visible support. My broom was gone. I started falling through the air, dropping to the ground fast.

"Close your eyes!" He instructed hastily, "Remember that exhilaration that freedom of before!"

Eager to follow his instructions and remain in the air, I tried to remember what I felt like just a minute before. It was nearly impossible, but I felt myself picking back up. I didn't dare open my eyes. I felt the clouds on my face again and was in complete awe by the absense of sensation of me falling to my death. Soon, I was flying as freely as before, eyes still firmly shut.

I didn't bother keeping up the mount position now that I knew I was supporting myself. I must have looked quite silly before, and was glad that only Dumbledore witnessed it. I moved slowly throught he clouds, belly parallel to the gorund, arms pushing aside clouds with cupped hands as if I was swimming through a lazy stream.

"How am I doing this sir?"

"Elemental control." He answered calmly.

"Awesome."

"It is quite worthy of are. I have only come across others with the ability two other times in my life."

"Can you do it sir?"

"Not without a wand," He admitted humbly. Until he had pointed it out, I hadn't through about my want, tucked neatly away inside my robes' inner pocket.

"Andrella, I apologize, but I must ask you to come down now."

"Okay, sir." I said, disappointed to leave so soon, but eager to dive down through the sky. I couldn't imagine a bigger adrenaline rush.

"Please be careful, you will not be used to landing!"

I was thankful I gave myself a few extra feet for the landing because I needed every one of them. I stumbled, but managed to avoid falling on my face. "What next, Professor?" I asked.

I was right—the adrenaline rush was unimaginable and still coursing through my veins. I have never taken muggle drugs before but had learned about them on muggle television. I left like I had snorted a pile of cocaine and chased it with five shots of fire whiskey. I felt invincible. I couldn't wait to tell George.

"I would like if you would accompany me to my office. We have quite a lot to discuss."

XXXXXX

Hey, guys! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE COMMENTS AND MESSAGES! That is why I kicked my ass in gear to give you this next chapter, which is already written in full and will be broken down into three typed up parts (this is part 1, and the other 2 will come as soon as I possibly can give them to you. Because of that, please excuse some grammar/spelling errors.) I appreciate every single one of you that takes the time to let me know what you think about the story and I love to hear anything and everything you have to say about it in the future. I LOVE YOU ALL. THIS IS FOR YOU!

ANOTHER NOTE: I have realized that I started this story with completely the wrong time line. For the purposes of my plot I must ask you to bare with me as I edit and change some things around. First, George and Andrella got together after the First Event, the second is yet to come. Second, this chapter is taking place in November. Christmas and the Yule ball has yet to happen. I am sorry if this confuses anyone, but the changes are necessary to address for the oncoming chapters to make sense. If you have any questions or anything you're not sure about, just message me and let me know.

Ex's and Oh's

Audrey V. Sullivan