Harry Potter and the Shadows of the Forest

[fire_angel]

I have made another fanfic about Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts. I hope to make lond and action-packed. Well, enjoy, and please stop by to share your opinion about it in the feedback forum .

DISCLAIMER: This magical world is not mine! All characters are JK's or based on JK's wonderful novels.

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Chapter 1

The middle of July had caught Harry Potter wandering the streets of Privet Drive. He was a rather short, skinny and unhealthy looking boy with jet-black hair and amazing, almond-shaped green eyes. The most unusual thing about him though was that he was a wizard. He was about to start his sixth year at Hogwarts school for witchcraft and wizardry.

The sun burnt his neck, but he just walked further down Magnolia Crescent, deep in thoughts. The previous year he had once again narrowly escaped Lord Voldemort’s attempt to kill him. But he had also suffered a great loss. His godfather, Sirius Black, was killed during a fight between the Death Eaters and the members of the Order of the Phoenix.

Halfway along the street he passed the narrow alleyway down the side of a garage where he had first seen Sirius. He could feel a big void in his heart. If only he was alive…the best friend of his father. Why did everyone that cared for him ended up dying?

‘They should all get away from me!’ Harry thought angrily ‘I just bring bad luck!’

A wave of despondency took over him. There was nothing he could do to prevent death. Voldemort was back, really powerful and bloodthirsty, thirsty for his blood.

Harry looked up: he had arrived at the small park where he liked to hang out. His cousin, Dudley, had succeeded in ruining the last swing, so Harry sat down on a bench and played with a stick in the sand.
He had received a letter from school the day before: the results of the OWLs. Fortunately, he had got passing grades at all of them; surprisingly, at Potions too. He would have to continue receiving lessons from Professor Snape, the teacher he hated most. This feeling was mutual, though, as Snape hated him too, and never lost any opportunity to take points from Gryffindor, the house Harry belonged to.

In the same house with Harry were also his best friends: Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Ron came from a wizard family and usually was Harry’s source of information about things only wizards could know. On the other hand, Hermione was muggleborn, but she was the best student in her year.
The thought of his friends made Harry smile, a thing he did really rare lately. He had received lots of letters from them. They had also passed all their exams.

Harry looked around him. It was already dark and he had to go home. The Dursleys didn’t like it when he came home after their son. Stifling a yawn, he got up and walked slowly back to Privet Drive number four.
He crept up in his bedroom, took off his glasses and went to bed.

*

The next day broke sunny and hot. The air was really humid and it threatened to be one of the hottest days yet. Harry stretched his limbs and reached for his glasses on the night table.
From outside came the noises of something like a big truck being parked very close to the Dursleys’ house.

Harry scrambled out of his bed and ran to the window. There was indeed a truck parked at number 5. He watched a couple talking to the driver, then the man opened the back of the truck. There were many pieces of furniture inside. Some other men came to carry them inside the house. This could only mean one thing: a new family moved next to the Dursleys!

He dressed up quickly then ran down for breakfast. The subject of the new neighbours had to be discussed. Aunt Petunia liked to gossip over the tiniest bit of information, and this was a big one.

Harry walked in the kitchen and was greeted with the same reaction he was used to: indifference. Not that he did not like this, it was way better than the mean remarks to his hair, behavior, or even to the fact that he existed. He sat down at the table, helped himself out of the “rabbit food” and waited for his aunt to open the subject about the new neighbours. And he didn’t have to wait to long. Petunia peered through the window and gasped with surprise.

‘ They’re here!’ she cried excitedly ‘Our neighbours are here!’

‘ What neighbours?’ grunted Uncle Vernon.

‘ The Birchwoods!’ answered Petunia following every movement outside.

After a few moments of deep silence and spying, aunt Petunia came back at the table, a deep look of triumph.

‘ Seems like a very nice and NORMAL family.’ she threw Harry a quick look ‘I’ve heard Mr Birchwood is a doctor and his wife is a wonderful cook!’

She smiled happily and continued to eat her breakfast. Harry’s heartbeats slowed back to their normal intensity. For a moment he had thought this family would be different, like him. He had hoped they would be wizards and he would have someone to talk to and make his stay at the Dursleys better…

‘ I think I will bake a cherry pie and pay them a visit!’ Petunia continued ‘The Birchwoods have two children, did you know? A girl and a boy…’

Harry didn’t pay any attention to the things his aunt said next; it had no use. He finished his breakfast, then ran upstairs to have a real meal out of the food his friends had sent him.

Being alone in his room, Harry threw another glance outside. On the lawn in front of number five were two children. They had to be from the Birchwood family.

The girl was short and thin, with shoulder-length, curly, chestnut hair and warm, greenish eyes. She had to be around fourteen. She was holding her brother’s hand tightly. The boy was younger, about nine or ten. He was also short and had blond hair and big, grey eyes. In his other hand, he was clutching a small teddy bear.

Harry stuffed his wand in his pocket, then left the house. After he had slammed the door shut, the Birchwood children turned quickly to look at him. The boy just threw him a glance then turned back to watch the men carry the furniture inside. But the girl’s eyes followed him all the way from the moment he had left the house till he turned the corner to Magnolia Crescent, an expression surprise on her face.

He went to his favorite place in the park and sat down. He could feel someone was watching him, but didn’t rise his eyes to see who. A voice made him startle.

‘ You’re Harry Potter!’ said someone with an obvious american accent.
The Birchwood girl had not only watched him go by, she had even came after him. She must have also heard about Harry: “that disturbed Potter that attends St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys”.

‘ Yeah, it’s me alright!’ he answered a little ruder than he intended and looked up at the girl ‘You should run now! If my cousin sees you with me, you’ll really regret it!’

The girl smiled, her eyes twinkling.
‘ I don’t care about your cousin. I could deal with him with my eyes bound!’ she answered sitting next to him.

Harry snorted.

‘ Anyway, I haven’t introduced myself!’ she continued cheerfully ‘My name is Rya, Rya Birchwood.’

She reached Harry a small, fragile-looking hand and he shook it.
‘ You already seem to know me.’ he answered gloomily.
‘ It’s a nice town!’ she said trying to make conversation ‘ Unfortunately there’re only Muggles around here.’
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Well this is the first chapter! Don't forget about the feedback. Hugs!

[fire_angel]

i made the update for the New Year. Happy New Year then and please don't forget to leave feedback , it makes me really sad you didn't

Enjoy

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Chapter 2

Harry turned so fast that he cricked his neck. He stared at the girl sitting next to him.

‘ Are you-’ he began, but Rya interrupted him.

‘ Yes.’ she answered frowning ‘Didn’t anyone tell you?’

Harry shook his head vigorously. His mind was racing: next to him, in Little Whinging, sat a witch. It had to be a dream. He pinched his arm and it hurt.

‘ But how-? When-? Why-? Who-?’

Rya began to laugh.

‘ You should see your face right now!’ she answered.

Harry realised his mouth was open and he closed it quickly.

‘ Tell me about you. Where are you from? Why did you move here?’ he began watching her eagerly.

It was really interesting to find some more about foreign students.

‘ My father wanted to move here. He hated New Orleans. His parents were from London and my mother was from America.’

‘ Are they wizards?’ asked Harry quickly.

‘ No, they’re not. My father and my brother are muggles and my mom’s a squib. Her parents were both wizards. It was really a shock for me when I received the letter from Wadlow!’

‘ From who?’

‘ Wadlow. The school I’ve attended. It was really nice, you know. The highest tower you’ve ever seen.’ Rya answered dreamily ‘ I had lots of friends in there. We used to do the stupidest things you can imagine…’

‘ Were you organised on houses?’

‘ On what?’

‘ Houses. You know, you play Quidditch games against each other, win the House Cup. Things like these.’

‘ No, no. We were just sorted into years: first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh.’

‘ By the way, how old are you, Rya.’

‘ I’m gonna be sixteen in August.’

Silence followed. It was really weird now that he finally had a witch next-door. He was a little shy, a feeling Rya didn’t seem to have ever felt. She was very talkative, sociable and pretty.

‘ I’ve heard you have a Firebolt!’ she said, her eyes gleaming suddenly ‘Is it true? It’s the best broom ever!’

This subject loosened Harry’s tongue. He told Rya all about his smashed Nimbus 2000, about getting his extraordinary Firebolt, then their talk extended to Voldemort. He found himself telling her all about his time at Hogwarts: about Quirrel, that was possessed by he-who-must-not-be named, about Tom Riddle and hid diary, about his godfather, known as a dangerous murdered, about the Triwizard Tournament, then about the fight at the Ministry of Magic. He opened his heart in front of her, as if they had been friends all their life. Maybe it was just because he hadn’t seen a wizard for quite some time.

At the end of his story, Rya patted him gently on the shoulder.

‘ I’m really sorry for your godfather.’ she said sounding really honest ‘He seemed to be a good man.’

Harry nodded and felt a big knot in his neck.

‘ Oh, look at the time!’ he said, his voice sounding hoarse ‘I should go home! Lunch must be ready!’

*

At lunch, though Harry had a great surprise. Aunt Petunia had invited the whole Birchwood family over to her house. Harry was supposed to eat quickly before they came. Petunia didn’t want the Birchwoods to find out about Harry’s abnormality. Little did she know that the Birchwoods’ daughter was a witch too.

Harry waited in patiently in his room for the door bell to ring, then heard four pairs of feet step inside his uncle’s house.

‘ Please, don’t give us away!’ whispered Harry to himself.

If Rya said even a word about having met him, the Dursleys would never let him out of the house again.

But, to Harry’s relief, Rya didn’t mention a word about him.

A fluttering noise announced the arrival of an owl in Harry’s bedroom. He looked on his bed: it was Pigwidgeon, a big letter tied to its leg. It had to be from Ron.

Harry,

I’m sure you’re feeling horrible at your aunt and uncle, so I asked mum if you could come at our house to spend the rest of the holidays. Send me a letter if the muggles agree and dad will come to pick you up tomorrow at 10 am.

See you soon — Ron
P.S. Hermione’s here already.

Harry felt a little sorry he would leave his newest friend, but nothing compared with Ron and Hermione and two months at the Burrow.

After he heard the Birchwoods leave, he hurried down to Uncle Vernon to tell him he was going to the Weasleys for the next couple of months. He caught a glimpse of Rya’s dress disappearing outside. Uncle Vernon returned to the living room with his family to chatter about their neighbours.

‘ I’m telling you, Dudders. That Rya girl likes you! I saw her look at you and smile!’ Harry heard his uncle say proudly.

He walked inside the room, trying not to laugh out loud and turned to Uncle Vernon. He could see his face growing red.

‘ I’m leaving to the Weasleys tomorrow.’ he said coolly.

Grunt. Uncle Vernon wasn’t very keen on talking to Harry. When he did this, though, it was to yell at him. But he couldn’t treat his nephew badly, as he thought his godfather was a murderer on loose.

Harry turned on his heel and climbed back to his room. He rummaged in his trunk and took out two pieces of parchment.

On the first one he scribbled a note to Ron.

Ron - I’ve told my uncle I’m coming. Can’t wait to see you and Hermione. I’ve got wonderful news.

He tied the letter to Pigwidgeon’s leg, that had been hooting in Hedwig’s cage, then turned to the other piece of parchment

Rya,

I’m leaving to my friend Ron tomorrow. Thank you for not saying anything to the Dursleys about knowing me. I appreciate that. See you in school.

Harry

He watched Hedwig flutter with the letter to the neighbour’s house. A window opened and Rya’s head peered outside. She waved to Harry, then took Hedwig inside.

‘This is it!’ said Harry to himself ‘I’m finally leaving the Dursleys again!’
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This was the second chapter. Don't forget about my request!

[fire_angel]

This is the third chapter. Finished it earlier than I expected! Leave some feedback to let me know if you liked it! *hugs*
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Chapter 3

The next day, Harry woke up with a big grin on his face. It was still dark outside, but he couldn’t sleep any longer. He was looking forward to telling Ron and Hermione about the witch next-door.

Hedwig had come back from Rya, a letter tied on her leg.

Harry hurried over to her and untied it, really curious about the answer Rya had given him.

Harry - I’m really glad for you. Those Dursleys seem to be the typical magic-hating Muggles. Can’t wait to see you again in school!
Rya

P.S. Maybe we’ll bump into each other in that Diagon Alley of yours.

‘She seems to be a really nice person.’ Harry found himself thinking ‘I just hope Ron and Hermione will like her too!’

A loud snort from the next room let Harry know that the Dursleys were still sleeping. He turned on his lamp and began to flick through the first volume of Practical Defensive Magic and its Use Against the Dark Arts, a book Lupin and Sirius had given him the previous Christmas.

After about two hours, Harry was sitting at the table having breakfast with the Dursleys. Aunt Petunia seemed to be very happy about something, but Harry didn’t care. His mind had already traveled to the Burrow.

After eating he hurried upstairs to put all his books, pieces of parchment, quills and robes into his trunk. Exactly when he had closed it, he heard the doorbell ring.

He raced downstairs to open the door.

A tall, thin, red-haired man was standing in front of the doorstep.

‘ Hello, Harry!’ he said smiling.

‘ Mr Weasley!’ Harry cried out happily. To his surprise, Mr Weasley wasn’t alone. There was also someone else with him.

With his horn-rimmed glasses and very red ears, Percy Weasley was waiting patiently behind his father.

‘ Percy?!’ Harry asked frowning, his eyes wide with surprise.

‘ Umm, hello Harry!’ he answered reaching him his hand ‘I wanted to come with my father to apologise to you too. I have to admit I have acted very irresponsible. I should have believed you, Harry-’

‘It’s all right, Percy!’ said Harry feeling himself blush.

He was really happy, though, seeing Percy back to the his family. It had been a really hard time for Mrs Weasley to see her son act like a total stranger.

‘ I’ll go get my stuff, then!’ grinned Harry and ran back to his room. Hedwig hooted excitedly in her cage, seeming to understand she was leaving.
Harry grabbed his trunk with one hand and the cage with the other and dragged them down the stairs.

‘ All right, Harry!’ said Mr Weasley ‘You go and say goodbye to your aunt and uncle. Me and Percy will take your things to the Knight Bus!’

Just then did Harry realise there was a big, triple-decker, violently purple bus in front of the house.

He hurried to the living room. The Dursleys were watching TV as usual, but Harry had a feeling Uncle Vernon had heard everything that had been spoken in the hall.

‘ I’m leaving.’ said Harry ‘Goodbye!’

Uncle Vernon’s eyes looked at the living room’s door. He could still remember Harry’s departure two years ago. His face had an expression of anger, but also fright as if he was expecting Mr Weasley to jump from behind the door and hex him.

‘ Goodbye!’ he answered making a great effort to say such a kind thing to Harry.

Harry turned on his heel and ran all the way to the opened door of the Knight Bus. He threw a last look at Rya’s house and then, with a loud bang, the bus landed on another lane.

*

‘ Harry!’

There was an ambush as Hermione, Ron and Ginny hurried to hug Harry first, as he had stepped into the Burrow.

‘ Harry dear, so nice to see you!’ said Mrs Weasley and hugged him too after the others had settled down.

The Burrow, in Harry’s opinion, was the greatest house ever. Even though it wasn’t too big or tidy, it had the warmth of a home.

‘ We should be going to the office now!’ said Percy to Mr Weasley looking at his wrist watch ‘Mr Pebsworth surely needs me!’

‘ Who?’ asked Harry goggling at Percy.

Percy threw him an offended look and answered his question:

‘ Mr Magnus Pebsworth is the new Minister of Magic, Harry! A great man-’
Ron rolled eyes, then grabbed Harry’s arm and dragged him to his room, being followed by Hermione.

‘ Percy came back to mum just after some days from the end of the school last year.’ Ron told Harry ‘He had apologised to both mum and dead. You should have seen her! She couldn’t stop kissing and hugging him. He’s really changed now, you know, never says a word that would remember her of the times he had been away.’

‘ Oh, I just remembered!’ said Harry jumping from the chair he had been sitting on ‘I have to tell you something really interesting!’

Harry told his friends about his new neighbour, Rya.

‘ Amazing!’ cried out Ron closing his wide opened mouth ‘A witch? A real, authentic witch in your home town? I bet the Dursleys weren’t so happy about this.’

‘ They didn’t even know!’ laughed Harry and sat on the bed.

‘ Which school did she come from?’ asked Hermione eagerly.

‘ Wadlow, I think.’ answered Harry trying to remember if this was the correct name of Rya’s wizarding school.

‘ Really?’ answered Hermione, her eyes really wide.

At this point she resembled Mr Weasley greatly, as he used to ask Harry about the weird habits of muggles.

‘ I’ve read about it!’ she continued.

‘ Oh, did you?’ asked Ron, a supposed-to-be-genuine puzzled look on his face ‘Who could have guessed?’

Hermione didn’t pay attention to him.

‘ It’s somewhere next to New Orleans, isn’t it? I’ve heard it’s really good, one of the best in fact. The knowledge rate is very high!’

‘ We might meet her in the Diagon Alley!’ said Harry excitedly at the thought that Ron and Hermione would actually like her too.

*

Holidays at the Burrow were so comfy and nice, that they would always seem to pass very quickly. Harry had also seen Ron’s two twin brothers Fred and George there. They had told them their business was going on very well and all their new inventions were sold out.

A day at the Burrow would usually be filled with Quidditch practice on a hill very close to the house. Harry wished he would be able to play Quidditch in the team again, as this was his favorite sport.

But as everything that is enjoyable passes very quickly, the date of the return to school drew nearer and the Weasley family, Harry and Hermione had to go to the Diagon Alley to buy the things they needed for school.

‘ Harry, what are you looking for?’ asked Hermione as Harry stretched his neck to see in the crowds of people in Diagon Alley.

‘ Rya.’ answered Harry disappointed ‘She said we might meet here, but I can’t see her.’

Indeed there was no trace of a mane of brown curls.

‘ Oh, well.’ sighed Harry entering Flourish & Blotts with Ron and Hermione ‘It seems you’ll not meet her today.’ ************************************************** ********
Liked it or not?

[fire_angel]

I had some free time, and here’s the update. Don’t forget to leave some reviews in the feedback forum
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Chapter 4

The morning of their departure came. Mrs Weasley stormed inside the boys’ bedroom and woke them up.

‘ Wake up or you’ll miss the train! The girls are already down. They’re having breakfast!’

Harry yawned and rubbed his eyes. He and Ron dressed up quickly and ran down in the kitchen.

‘ Good morning!’ Hermione beamed at them.

She and Ginny were sitting at the table, eating toast with butter.

‘ Quick, boys!’ Mrs Weasley urged them.

They ate their toast as fast as they could, then hurried up the stairs to get their trunks while Mrs Weasley called for two taxis.

After about two hours all four of them were aboard the Hogwarts Express waving goodbye to Ron’s mother. The train began to move and after rounding the corner, Mrs Weasley had disappeared.

‘ Rya must be in here somewhere!’ said Harry and looked inside each compartment he was passing by ‘Help me find her!’

Hermione and Ron exchanged looks:

‘ Umm, Harry, we are prefects and we have to go to the prefects’ carnage, remember?’

‘ Ah, yeah. I had forgotten. Let’s just-’
‘ Harry?’

Rya was standing just behind him, one hand dragging her trunk, the other holding a cage. She had a very pretty, grey eagle-owl.

‘ Rya!’ Harry cried out and a broad smile spread on his face ‘I was looking for you! These are my friends: Ron, Hermione and Ginny, Ron’s younger sister!’
Rya shook hands with all of them, smiling very friendly.

‘ Let’s go find an empty compartment!’ she proposed heading towards the end of the train. They soon found one where Neville was sitting alone with Trevor in his lap.

‘Hello Neville!’ panted Harry and dragged his trunk inside ‘Can we sit with you?’

‘ Yeah!’ Neville answered and his eyes followed Rya.

‘ This is Rya, Neville! She’s a new student from New Orleans.’

‘ H-h-hello!’ stammered Neville and shook Rya’s hand.

Harry noticed for the third time that Rya wasn’t shy at all, but really sociable. It was very hard not to like her.

‘ Well, we’re leaving now.’ said Hermione, grabbed Ron’s hand and they both disappeared out of the compartment.

A small pause followed, but Rya broke the silence:

‘ So, what can you tell me about Hogwarts?’ she asked looking from Neville to Harry, then to Ginny.

‘ Y-y-you’d better stay out of Professor Snape’s way.’ squeaked Neville.

‘ Why?’

‘ Well, let’s just say he’s not very fond of students.’ Ginny answered grinning darkly ‘He is the head of the Slytherin house. By the way, Rya, there are four houses at Hogwarts: Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Usually Slytherin is the house with most dark wizards of all.’

‘ Yeah, I knew that…’ said Rya frowning ‘What does this Professor Snape teach, anyway?’

‘ Potions.’ answered Harry and Neville at the same time.

A big grin spread on Rya’s face.

‘ Potions?’ she asked eagerly ‘That’s my favorite subject! Our teacher back in Wadlow was really good and we really learnt some potions that come up in the seventh year. I don’t want to brag, but I’m really good in this subject!’

‘ I’m sorry to disappoint you, Rya, but Snape can really humiliate you, even if you have learnt the whole Potions book. The living example is Hermione. She knows everything, and still Snape can always say something bad about her.’

Neville gulped and Rya nodded silently. They continued their talk about Hogwarts: about the teachers, ghosts, Filch and his awful cat Mrs Norris, Peeves the poltergeist, Hagrid.

After about two hours Hermione and Ron returned too.

‘ Ron, you shouldn’t have answered to him!’ Hermione said worriedly ‘Who knows whom he’ll tell that we knew about Sirius all along!’

‘ He can’t tell anyone important !’ grunted Ron ‘The minister knows everything. Dumbledore told him.’

‘ What happened?’ asked Harry frowning.

‘ He was provoked by Malfoy!’ snapped Hermione ‘Couldn’t you just bear and shut up, Ron?’

‘ Malfoy?!’ asked Rya ‘Draco Malfoy?’

‘ You know him?’ Ginny asked, her jaw falling open.

‘ Yes, I know that worm!’ Rya answered angrily ‘He was a good friend of my neighbour, my worst enemy. He visits him during summer holidays! Draco Malfoy and Morris Fogg. The dream team! They used to sneak in my yard and sort of kidnap my brother to “play” with him.’

Rya was so angry now, that everyone else took a step back from her.

‘ They pulled his ears and pinch his arms and legs, smacked him on the head. He always came home crying!’ a big, evil grin spread on her face ‘But one day I did it! I couldn’t help it and I hexed both of them! I got a warning from the ministry, but at least my brother was revenged.’

She looked at the others, having returned to her usual, pleasant self.

‘ I also sneaked in Morris’ yard and heard them talking. I know things about Malfoy and his family that would keep his mouth shut for the rest of his life!’

‘ I’m glad to hear that, Rya. Hope you’ll come in Gryffindor.’ said Harry smiling widely ‘You’ll be a great asset to whichever house you’ll be sorted in!’

As the train headed for north, the weather outside got worse and it soon began to rain heavily.

‘ We’ll soon reach Hogsmeade.’ said Hermione looking at her watch ‘We’d better put on our robes.’

As Hermione had said, the train soon slowed down then stopped. Their took their luggage and stepped out in the pouring rain. To their great relief, the voice that was calling for the first years was Hagrid’s.

‘ Firs’-years over ‘ere! Firs'-years …’

‘ Hi, Hagrid!’ yelled Harry, Ron and Hermione at the same time.

‘ All righ’, yeh three?’ Hagrid smiled at them ‘See yeh inside!’

They waved to him, then continued their way to the carriages. But Harry stopped suddenly, making Neville bump into him.

‘ Wait!’ he said ‘I think Rya has to go with Hagrid in the boats! I know she’s not exactly a first year, but she has to be with the group that will be sorted!’

‘ All right, then.’ Rya shrugged heading for the edge of the lake after Hagrid ‘See yeh inside!’ with a big grin on her face, Rya disappeared in the wall of raindrops. Harry watched her leave for some minutes, then realised there will soon be no more empty carriages left. He was thinking hard about something, walking in front of everybody and not saying a word.

‘ Is everything all right, Harry?’ asked Hermione, catching up with him.

‘ I hope Rya won’t be sorted into Slytherin.’ he answered not looking at Hermione ‘I’ve told her almost all our secrets. She knows too much and probably Malfoy will succeed creeping under her skin.’

The rest of the way to the castle Harry sat silently in a corner of the carriage. He had done a huge mistake trusting a stranger so much. What if she was Malfoy’s friend, sent to spy on him and find out his secrets. He gulped looking at the many towers of Hogwarts and a warm feeling crept in his heart at the sight of his real home.

Soon their carriage came to a halt before the great oak front doors. Harry looked upon the Thestrals and a shudder went through his body at the sight of their white, empty eyes. They hurried in the Entrance Hall, then walked in the Great Hall that was magnificently lit by thousands of candles that were floating in midair.

Harry sat down at the Gryffindor table, followed by Ron, Hermione and Neville. Almost all the other students were already there, so the Sorting Hat’s ritual would soon begin.

Indeed, after about ten minutes, Professor McGonagall came in with the three-legged stool and the hat, being followed by a long line of frightened looking first years. At the end of the line was Rya. She didn’t seem frightened, just excited and really amazed at the Great Hall’s ceiling.

Many students pointed at her and whispered to their closest colleague. Harry heard Seamus talk to Dean:

‘ Is that a first year? Doesn’t seem so to me!’

‘ Maybe she’s half giant, like Hagrid!’

McGonagall put the Sorting Hat on the stool. The first years eyed it terrified. Harry remembered the time he had first seen the hat. He smiled as he saw himself thinking he had to take out a rabbit out of it, how he had asked the Sorting Hat not to put him in the house Slytherin. He also remembered that Malfoy wanted to be his friend first. What would have happened if he had become friends with Malfoy? He would have been surely put in Slytherin. With a shudder he realised that the hat had just finished it’s song and the Sorting Ritual would now begin.

‘ When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted,’ McGonagall said. ‘ Aberley, Abigail.’

A girl with long, wavy, blond hair stepped forward and put the hat on her head.
‘ Gryffindor!’ shouted the hat after a short pause.

The Gryffindors began to clap loudly as the girl sat at the table.

‘ Alstead, Benedict’

A black haired boy put on the hat.

‘ Ravenclaw!’

Harry’s heart began to beat really fast. Rya would be sorted now.

‘ Cawthorn, Melissa’

‘ Hufflepuff’

He frowned looking at Ron and Hermione. They were a little puzzled a little.

‘ Maybe the first years get sorted first!’ whispered Hermione next to him.

‘ Colinger, Hilda’

‘ Hufflepuff!’

‘ Criswick, Tristan’

‘ Gryffindor’

The line soon got shorter and finally McGonagall reached the last first year, an unusually big boy for his age.

‘ Wegerly, Knox’

‘ Slytherin!’

‘ Now!’ thought Harry tensed ‘ They will sort Rya now.’

‘ This year’ began McGonagall ‘we have a girl that had moved all the way from America! She will be sorted in one of the four houses too, but in the sixth year. Birchwood, Rya.’
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He he, got you curious? Just wait for chappie number 5. Coming soon.

[fire_angel]

Here's the fifth chappie. I want to thank on this way to my beta reader, leenielou. She gave me some great suggestions, you know? Thanks, lou! So this chapter is dedicated to her:
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Chapter 5

Rya stepped forward, threw Harry a smile and put on the hat. The hat was too big for her and it slipped down on her shoulders. A small voice that whispered in her ear, made Rya startle.

‘ Hmm, a difficult choice!’ said the hat ‘A bright mind, bravery and very much ambition. Which house should I put you in?’

One minute passed, then five, then ten. The students began to whisper excitedly throwing curious glances at Rya.

‘ What’s taking it so much?’ Harry heard Ron whisper next to him ‘I’m starving!’

Harry bit his bottom lip, the tension was hard to bear. Horrible scenes began to play before his eyes: Rya heading for the Slytherin table, sitting next to Malfoy and beginning to whisper in his ear, laughing out loudly and pointing at him. He shuddered and threw another look at her. She was still sitting on the three-legged stool and cluched the edges of the chair, her nails almost cutting in the wood.

Dumbledore shifted slightly in his chair but continued to watch the sorting, a look of interest and respect on his kind face.

Finally, after about fifteen minutes the rip near the brim opened wide.

‘ Gryffindor!’ shouted the hat and Harry’s heart began to beat fast with happiness and relief.

Under loud cheers, Rya hurried to the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Hermione.

‘ Congratulations, Rya!’ yelled Harry and shook her hand ‘Glad to have you among us!’

The buzz of talk in the Great Hall faded away as Dumbledore rose from his chair for the short speech before the feast.

‘ To both our new and old students: Welcome!’ he beamed around at them ‘But for now I have just two words: Tuck in!’

The two magic words had an amazing effect: the plates on the tables filled with delicious looking food: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots and gravy.

An impressed moan came from Rya, next to Hermione.

‘ Wow!’

Harry couldn’t help to grin. He was really proud of Hogwarts.

‘ It’s amazing. Really!’ continued Rya, not knowing from which dish to take first.

After all plates have been emptied, Dumbledore rose again.

‘ Now that we are all fed and watered I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First-years ought to know that the Forest in the grounds is out-of-bounds to students. Mr Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr Filch's office door.’

Harry smirked. No student would ever approach Filch’s office, not even to read that list.

‘ I am also pleased to introduce you your new teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher: Professor Warwick!’

Harry had been so tensed about Rya’s sorting, that he had forgotten to look at the staff table for the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

A lady sitting next to McGonagall smiled at the students. She was quite old, but had a very pleasant appearance. Her warm, blue eyes surveyed the four tables. She wore her long silvery hair tied in a bun.

Students began to clap respectful. After they had finished, Professor Dumbledore continued his speech.

‘Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.’

Rya turned to Hermione.

‘ I’d like to try it out.’ she said smiling widely ‘ I've tried out at my school but got rejected. Are you on the team?’

Hermione shook her head.

‘ No I prefer to stay on solid ground. But Ron and Harry are.’ she stopped thinking hard ‘At least I think so. Harry was banned last year. I hope he can get back on the team. He’s a very good player.’

Dumbledore sat back down and the students began to flood out of the Great Hall, heading for their Common Rooms.

‘ Ron!’ hissed Hermione jumping from the bench ‘The first years!’

With a disgruntled look on his face, Ron followed Hermione to the gathering of first years. Harry had a strong feeling Ron was beginning to regret he had been chosen as Prefect.

‘ Where are you leaving?’ asked Rya frowning.

‘ To the Common Room.’ answered Harry yawning widely.

The food had made him a little sleepy. He thought longingly at the dry pyjamas waiting in his trunk and the smooth four-poster beds.

They soon reached the portrait and stepped inside the round Common Room. Rya looked admiringly around.

‘ I have to admit Hogwarts is nicer than Wadlow!’

Her eyes flashed from the fireplace to the squashy armchairs, then to the spiral staircases.

‘ Good night!’ said Ron yawning.

Hermione and Rya went up to the girls’ dormitory and Harry followed Ron up the spiral stairs to his dorm. He put on his pyjamas and crawled under the blanket, soon falling asleep.

*

The first day of school broke grey and rainy. It was pouring heavily outside as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Rya headed for the Great Hall.

‘ Here’re the sixth-year curse schedules!’ said Ginny, who had come to the Gryffindor table before them.

‘ Let’s see.’ said Ron ‘Monday. Umm, not too bad: double Charms, double Transfiguration, double Care of Magical Creatures and’ he swore loudly ‘double Potions.’

They ate quickly and headed for the Charms class. The tiny Professor Flitwick took the roll call and reaching Rya’s name, smiled friendly and wished her a nice time at Hogwarts.

‘ Today’ he squeaked ‘we will learn a very important charm: the Stopping Charm. Can anyone tell me what it is about?’

To no one’s surprise Hermione’s hand shot upwards.

‘ Yes, Miss Granger!’

‘ The stopping Charm is used to pause an action. For example, if performed while someone is running the person will stop in the middle of the action and will remain in the same position for several minutes. The person in question will never have remembered anything about having been stopped.’

‘ Excellent!’ beamed Professor Flitwick ‘Ten points for Gryffindor!’

The first school day had begun very good, too good to be true.

A shudder went through Rya’s body as the four of them stepped down the stairs to dungeons some hours later.

‘ It’s really cold down here!’

‘ It will get really warm when Snape will began to humiliate us in public, don’t worry!’ grunted Ron ‘Really hot.’

They sat at the table at the end of the classroom and waited for Snape to come. After a few moments he arrived, entering the class in his usually brisk way.

He started the class by taking the roll call and at Rya’s name he made a pause and looked in the class. As he spotted her next to Harry, his black eyes narrowed. Harry knew very well why he did this: another student he could torture. As she was Harry’s friend it would make Snape much more pleasure to do this.

‘ We will brew the Ice-Blood Potion today!’ Snape sneered ‘You have the ingredients on the blackboard!’ he barked making Hermione startle ‘What are you waiting for?’

Ron turned to Rya, a dark grin on his face.

‘ We are happy to present you our dearest, favorite teacher: Professor Snape!’

Rya was smiling too, but for another reason. Her eyes gleamed with pleasure as she read the ingredients and instructions on the board.

Snape swept up across the room and rested behind Rya, breathing in her neck. Again, Harry knew what he was trying: this was his intimidating technique, he wanted to annoy Rya for her not to be able to concentrate and screw up the potion, so he could humiliate her and take some more points from Gryffindor.

But it seemed to had no effect on Rya, a thing that made Snape really angry. With a concentrated and calm expression on her face, she cut her roots in small pieces following the instructions step by step.

Rya hadn’t lied at all: she really was excellent at Potions - performing all of the tasks meticulously and patiently. Her dedication was shown when her potion proved to be absolutely perfect.

‘ Longbottom!’ Snape shouted briskly and everyone, except Rya jumped ‘How big do I have to write on that blackboard for you to see? You have to steer twice clockwise, not ten times!’

Snape looked at Rya to see if he had succeeded making her ruin the potion. With a disgruntled expression he headed for his desk as the bell rang.

At the end of the second hour only Hermione and Rya had succeeded making the potion. It had to be a bright yellow, but there were many variations in the class.

As they were preparing to get out of the dungeon a sneering voice shouted behind them.

‘ Hey, Birchwood!’
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Just write me some feedback, alright? Feedback makes me happy, and might also make chappie six come quicker...

[fire_angel]

He, he. Long time, no update... anyway, here I am with the sixth chapter. Enjoy and don't forget to leave me at least one word in the feedback forum. Hugs.

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Chapter 6

Malfoy had followed them and now his cold, grey eyes were measuring them from head to foot.

‘ What’s your brother doing?’ he asked smirking ‘I really miss him, you know?’

To everybody’s surprise, Rya didn’t get angry, she just smiled in her friendly way, but with a menacing note in her tone.

‘ Just shut your face, Malfoy!’ she answered speaking sweetly ‘You should watch your back. I don’t think you want me to blabber all the dark secrets you have told Morris.’

Malfoy’s pointed face grew even paler than usual and the smile on his face got wiped quickly. He turned on his heel and left, being followed by his cronies. Harry heard him clear saying “stupid mudblood”, but with a big amount of fright.

‘ That was brilliant!’ croaked Ron looking at Rya like at a hero.

*

Wednesday came with the first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson with their new teacher Eleanor Warwick. They hurried to be able to take the best places in one of the desks at the front of the class.

‘ I hope she’s not like that Umbridge woman!’ whispered Harry, but stopped as Professor Warwick had stepped inside the classroom.

‘ Good evening.’ she said sitting down at the teacher’s desk.

Her voice was very soft and warm. It remembered Harry somewhat of Professor Dumbledore. She was a short thin woman with a small, slightly pointed nose.

‘ As you probably knew, this year we should have learned the Unforgivable Curses, but I have been informed that Professor Crouch Jr. had taught you these in your fourth year!’

A smile appeared on her thin lips revealing pearl-like, white teeth.

‘ So, today we will be learning about a dark creature: the Pogrebin. Does anyone know anything about it?’

The students looked puzzled at each other, but Hermione’s hand shot upwards.

‘ Yes Miss Granger.’ said Professor Warwick smiling again.

‘ The Pogrebin is a dark creature native in Russia. It resembles a grey rock with a small hairy body and it hides by crouching down and pretending to be nothing but a harmless stone. It loves following people around, infusing them with a sense of hopelessness until the human collapses, at which the Pogrebin attempts to devour them.’

‘ Very good explained, Miss Granger!’ said Warwick ‘Ten points for Gryffindor.’

Rya gave Hermione the thumbs up.

‘ Wow!’ she said grinning ‘You’re really good!’

Hermione smiled too, turning pink.

‘ The Pogrebin usually lives in rivers or lakes,’ continued Professor Warwick ‘But some wizards have found some of these creatures in their pool. They don’t need too many favorable conditions. Just water.’

She flicked with her wand and a large tank of water floated on her desk. Harry recognised the tank as being the one Lupin had used in their third year for the Grindylow. Only that this time there were only some rock at the bottom of it.

‘ Please make a line in front of the desk and come one by one to look inside. For the Pogrebin’s comfort I have also put some rocks inside, for it to be able to camuflage better.’

As Harry came first to the tank, Warwick continued.

‘ Take a very close look at the rocks. It might fool you first, but you can recognise the Pogrebin by those small hairs that sprout out of it’s body.’

At the end of the lesson, everybody had passed by the tank and seen the Pogrebin. They had also written down a roll of parchment about it.

‘ That was a really great lesson!’ said Hermione excitedly ‘I really didn’t know the Pogrebin can live in pools!’ she shuddered.

*

The next day, Rya was the first one that woke up. She waited for them in the Common Room, looking over her Transfiguration homework.

‘ Mornin’, Rya!’ said Harry and Ron at the same time.

‘ What are you doing here so early?’ asked Hermione.

‘ I couldn’t sleep anymore, so I came down here to make my homework for Transfiguration. How many rolls of parchment did we have to write?’

‘ Three. Answered Hermione sitting next to her in an armchair.

‘ D@mn! I only have two! I don’t know what else to write!’

‘ Let’s just go and have breakfast!’ said Ron stifling a yawn ‘You can finish that later.’

They headed for the Great Hall, sat down at the Gryffindor table and buttered their toast. A fluttering noise announced the arrival of the owl post.
A big, grey eagle-owl landed softly on the table in front of Rya.

‘ Muffin!’ she cried out happily untying the letter from her owl’s leg ‘This must be the answer from my parents. I wrote them I arrived here and everything was alright.’

Her eyes moved quickly on the piece of parchment and, after some seconds, she let out a squeal of delight that made Ron jump.

‘ He’s a wizard!’ cried out Rya ‘My brother had received a late letter from Wadlow! He’s a wizard! He’s not a muggle! Oh, my God! He’s coming here today!’

Rya hugged the nearest person she could find: Neville, who started and the piece of toast he was holding fell on the floor.

‘ My parents sent an owl to Dumbledore to tell him. I’m so happy! Who would have thought? Little Chris is a wizard too! I’ll just go ask Professor Dumbledore if I can go and take him from the station!’

Harry remembered that short, cute boy that was holding Rya’s hand the first time he had seen them. He really seemed younger than he was, just like Rya.
She sprinted back to the Gryffindor table.

‘ Professor Dumbledore said I could go! That guy, Hagrid is going to Hogsmeade this evening. You can come too if you want!’ she said sitting back next to the petrified Neville.

Harry, Ron and Hermione were really happy they could come too, so they would have some time to speak with Hagrid.

Rya was in a wonderful mood all day, but she was also a little dreamy, not paying too much attention to the lessons.

When the sky finally grew darker and all the lessons were ready, Rya ran as fast as she could to the Gryffindor Common Room to leave her bag. Harry, Ron and Hermione had to do their best to keep up with her.

‘ Take… it… easy!’ gasped Ron, holding his left side ‘We’re going to get there dead!’

‘ Oh, come on Ron! What if Hagrid leaves without us! Hurry, now.’

They ran on the humid grass down to Hagrid’s Hut where Rya knocked loudly.
Hagrid’s hairy face appeared in the doorstep.

‘ It’s yeh three… I mean four. Ah yeh’re tha’ girl with yer brother, ain’t yeh?’

Rya nodded happily and the four of them walked inside the hut. Fang, Hagrid’s boarhound, put his head in Rya’s lap for her to scratch him behind the ears.

‘ Would yeh four like a cup o’ tea?’

‘ No, thanks, Hagrid!’ answered Harry that was as eager to go to Hogsmeade station as Rya was ‘Can we leave now?’

Hagrid smiled and put on a cloak.

‘ All righ’, all righ’!’

They went to the edge of the lake to take some boats.

‘ Why aren’t we going with the carriages?’ asked Ron that was in a boat with Harry, very close to Hagrid.

‘ Well, is some kind o’ tradition fer the firs’ years to go to Hogwarts by boat.’

It was really weird to go by boat over the lake. Harry had almost forgot the strange sensation in his stomach as the small boat floated without a noise on the smooth surface of the lake. He closed his eyes, feeling the breeze blow on his face. He threw Rya a look from the corner of his eye. She was very nervous and played with the tips of her fingers. She looked up at Hagrid.

‘ You don’t think something bad could happen to him, do you?’ she asked in a worried voice.

Harry looked up at Rya. Why would she be worried about her brother. Maybe it was just because he had just stepped in the wizarding world.

‘ Nah!’ answered Hagrid smiling at her through his bushy beard ‘Yeh don’t need ter worry, Rya. Yer brother’s all righ’! ’

They soon reached the station and waited some minutes in the pouring rain that had begun. Rya didn’t try to go somewhere dry like the others. She just walked down the platform, her hair soaked. Soon, the train arrived and Harry watched Rya’s small brother jump down. He ran directly into Rya’s outstretched arms and didn’t let go of her until Hagrid and the others had come there too.

‘ Look, Chris! This is Hagrid, he’s a teacher at Hogwarts.’

Hagrid shook the boy’s hand, seeming to rip it off.

‘ And these are Harry, Ron and Hermione, my friends from school.’

The boy shook their hands too and smiled shyly. Harry could tell he would grow up into a very handsome boy. He reminded him of someone, but he couldn’t remember exactly of who.

They walked back to the boats and Harry heard Chris blabbering excitedly to his elder sister.

‘ And I went to a wand shop and there was this ancient looking man that gave me some wands to try out. Mine is made of ash and has a unicorn hair inside it. Can you imagine that? And there was this animal shop and there were so many owls and cats and rats and some slimy toads…’

Harry smiled to himself. He saw Hermione and Ron approach him.

‘ He is so adorable!’ said Hermione with gleaming eyes ‘That boy is incredibly sweet! Just look at him! He’s so small and handsome!’

Harry looked back at Chris again. He really was the sweetest first year he had ever seen. He had some features of a girl: red lips, his skin had the color of a ripe peach and his blond hair shone in the moon light. He could see there was a very strong connection between him and his sister. He had noticed this from the first time he had seen them. She acted like a mother with him.
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As a last note, thanks to HP lexicon for the Pogrebin thing!

[fire_angel]

Hello, guys! Hope you like the update! *special thanks to leenielou again!*

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Chapter 7

They came in the Great Hall just in time for dinner. There was a gasp from Chris at the sight of the castle and of the bewitched ceiling. Rya took his hand and they headed for the staff table. Harry watched Dumbledore nod, a friendly twinkle in his eyes.

‘ May I have your attention, please?’ he said rising up from his seat.

Suddenly the hall became silent.

‘I am extremely happy to announce to everyone that we have received a new student today!’ he continued beaming at Chris ‘He had received his letter a little later than he was supposed to, but here he is. Minerva, can you please bring the stool and the hat?’

Everyone was now staring at Chris with great interest. He did not seem to be comfortable with this at all though, and Harry could empathise with him- he was well used to receiving unwanted stares. Harry looked around the hall and his eyes rested on Cho. She had a very strange, empty look on her face, staring at the new boy too. She leaned her head on her friend Marietta’s shoulder and began to cry silently. He frowned watching her, but his gaze soon rested back on Chris.

After some painful minutes for the boy, Professor McGonagall returned with the three-legged stool and the Sorting Hat.

Chris’s eyes met Rya’s, that had come back to the Gryffindor table. She gave him a reassuring look and the thumbs up. He seemed calmer now.

‘ When you hear your name, sit on the stool and put the hat on!’ said McGonagall. Harry found this very awkward, but also funny: she didn’t need to do this, there was only one person to be sorted.

‘ Birchwood, Christian!’

Chris sat on the stool trembling and put the hat on. It only lasted some seconds and the rip near the brim opened wide:

‘ Ravenclaw!’

The whole hall clapped except the Slytherins. Chris threw Rya a relieved look that everything was over. She sighed, being a little disappointed.

‘ I wish he were sorted into Gryffindor so we could be together. It would have certainly be been better to keep an eye on him. But I guess Ravenclaw is good too…’

Harry watched Chris get into a talk with another first year.

After dinner Rya hurried over to her brother.

‘ Well done, Chris!’ she beamed hugging him.

‘ But I wanted to be with you!’ he said looking in his sister’s eyes.

‘ It’s alright.’ smiled Rya ‘You’ll make friends and probably you’ll be really happy later of having got rid of me.’

Chris smiled too and followed his new friend down to the dungeons where the Ravenclaw Common Room was.

‘ I’m feeling so empty!’ said Rya watching her brother go ‘Don’t know why. I just have a bad feeling!’

They headed for their own Common Room and went straight to bed.

*

The week drew to an end and the next one followed. As they woke up and went down in the Common Room on Monday there was a big crowd gathered in front of the notice board.

Quidditch Tryouts for the Gryffindor team will take place on Tuesday at five o’clock on the Quidditch pitch.

‘ Can’t wait!’ said Rya excitedly ‘I want to try it out too.’

‘ You’ll surely be in!’ Ron assured her, then lowered his voice ‘Most of the ones that tried out last year really sucked!’

‘ What broom do you have?’ asked Harry.

‘ Well it’s not as good as yours any way, I have a Cleansweep Six.’

‘ Not bad.’

Tuesday came too and Harry, Ron and Rya headed for the Quidditch pitch together. On their way there they also met Colin Creevy.

‘ Hey, Harry, guess what?’ asked Colin excitedly.

‘ What Colin?’ asked Harry grinning.

‘ I’m trying out for Beater!’

Harry measured him from head to foot. He was reluctant at first, but then realised that Colin had grown up very much since he first came to Hogwarts. He was a bit taller than the last Beaters, Fred and George Weasley had been, but he was also quite stocky, a thing that was just perfect.

‘ Are you good?’ asked Ron suspiciously.

‘ Well, I’ve trained all summer for this!’ grinned Colin.

They soon reached the pitch. Alicia came to greet them.

‘ Hey Harry, Ron! Guess what? I’m the new captain of the team.’

‘ Great!’ shrugged Harry ‘By the way, this is Rya, Alicia. She’d like to try out for a place on the team.’

‘ We need two Beaters and a Chaser, we’ll see what she’s good for.’

Harry saw there was Ginny there too and another third year, whose name Harry didn’t know.

‘ Well Rya, you go first. Let’s try Beater. Take the bat.’ said Alicia bossily.

Rya grabbed it with shaking hands and Alicia let out a Bludger. It sore into the air and then shot straight for Rya’s face. She let out a squeal and ducked, forgetting she was holding a bat.

‘ No, no, definitely not!’ said Alicia shaking her head and threw the bat to Colin.

He caught it and, when the Bludger aimed for Rya’s head again, he hit it so hard that it almost flew out of the pitch. It was clear he had done his best, overreacting a bit, for now his arm hurt badly.

‘ Very well, quite impressive!’ said Alicia and threw the bat to the third year.

She took him by surprise and he didn’t catch it. The Bludger now headed for his face. It was really odd how they knew for who to go, for the ones that had more fear.

‘ Ugh!’

The boy had hit the Bludger, but it flew just some meters away. This seemed to be a bad point for him as Alicia bit her bottom lip throwing the bat to Ginny now.

She caught it quickly and hit the Bludger in the last moment as it had got just some centimeters away from the third years’ face. Alicia seemed pleased.

‘ All right!’ she said happily ‘We’ve got our Beaters. I must say you two are very good. I was really worried.’

Ginny and Colin grinned back to Alicia then sat down next to Harry, Ron and Katie.

‘ Now, the battle for Chaser is given between you two!’ Alicia continued turning to Rya and the third year ‘Ron, you go in front of the rings. You two will try to get that Quaffle past the team’s Keeper. You’ve got three times. You first!’ she said pointing at the boy.

Both the boy and Ron soared into the air. He succeeded to score just one goal out of three. He was pretty good, a thing that made Harry a little nervous.

‘ Your turn, Rya!’

Harry gave her the thumbs up. She mounted her broom and stopped in mid air, the Quaffle under her right arm.

‘ Now or never!’ she muttered under her breath and aimed for one ring.

Ron blocked it and Rya’s heart sank. Two more tries. She breathed deeply and pretended to aim for the left ring. When Ron rushed to block it, she changed directions quickly and scored through the right one. Harry and Hermione cheered from the ground. One more try. She had to do it. She aimed for the middle ring and threw it. Desperately, Ron went for the left one, apparently fooled. She scored.

‘ I did it! I did it! I’m on the team!’ shouted Rya while hugging Hermione and Harry at the same time. She then walked to Alicia that wanted to congratulate her.

‘ That was close!’ said Ron that had landed next to Harry ‘Did anyone notice I pretended?’

‘ No.’ muttered Harry from the corner of his mouth ‘We’ll have to train her till the first match. She’s not exactly excellent.’

Ron nodded but stopped as Rya had come back to them.

‘ Very good, Rya!’ he said sounding really honest.

He watched the third year leave the pitch with a burning feeling of guilt in his stomach. Rya hadn’t been better than him.

Alicia hurried to the members of the team.

‘ All right, guys! Welcome to our three new players. We’ll begin training this week. See you six on Thursday. I want to beat up those Slytherins this year too!’
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if you have time, just drop by at the feedback thread. The link is in my siggy!

[fire_angel]

I'm really sorry for not posting for quite some time... school sucks :angry: Anyway, here it is. I would really, really enjoy some feedback!
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Chapter 8

Weeks passed and the friendship between Harry, Ron, Hermione and Rya grew stronger. It was odd how Rya had got so attached to them, being the ones she had met first. This, though didn’t mean she had no other friends: it was amazing how many people said hello to her on the halls. Not even Harry, Ron and Hermione together had so many acquaintances in the school.

Rya’s brother, on the other hand was very shy. He had only one good friend, a boy called Benedict Alstead, but in Harry’s opinion it was enough for him to be happy.

‘ Harry!’ Ron’s voice made him startle ‘Next weekend we’re going to Hogsmeade!’

Harry ran to the notice board where Ron was grinning broadly.

‘ Honeydukes, here we come!’ he said patting his belly.

Harry was really happy too. He had missed the wonderful butterbeer served in the Three Broomsticks. Rya came to them, frowning slightly.

‘ I’m so sorry first years aren’t allowed there.’ she sighed ‘I don’t want to leave my brother here all alone.’

‘ Don’t worry, Rya.’ said Ron grinning and lowered his voice ‘He’ll have fun with the other midgets. Just kidding!’ he added at the sight of her glare.

‘ I’ll just go up in the dorm and …um… write him a letter.’ said Rya disappearing up the spiral staircase to the girls’ dormitory.

‘ We have to go to Zonko’s. I’m feeling mischievous these days and some Stink Pellets would really make the day for Filch.’ laughed Ron.

They returned in front of the fireplace where Hermione was sitting in an armchair, her homework spread across two tables.

‘ Seems like Professor Vector wasn’t too kind with you.’ grinned Ron looking at the pieces of parchment filled with really complicated-looking notes.

‘ Well, I’m done with them.’ Hermione glared at Ron ‘I’m starting Snape’s essay now. You two should do the same, or your homework will soon become a big pile. Aren’t you using the homework planners I gave you last year?’ she asked raising an eyebrow.

Ron snorted loudly.
‘ Anyway!’ snapped Hermione abruptly ‘Have you seen Rya? I have a small question. I think I wrote this ingredient wrong.’

‘ Yeah, she’s in the dorm.’

Hermione sprinted up the staircase.

‘ I think Rya improved a little in Quidditch, don’t you?’ asked Harry.

‘ Maybe because she isn’t so stressed any more. Anyway, she’s on the right path. A little more training and she’ll be ready for the match.’

Loud steps made them look at the girls’ stairs. Hermione was coming down furiously.

‘ Ha, ha, ha, Ron! An incredibly good joke!’ she snapped angrily ‘You know I’m in a rush. I have better things to do than climb those stairs up and down!’

Ron looked taken aback.

‘ What’s the matter?’

‘ Rya. She wasn’t up there!’

‘ But, Hermione, I saw her go up too!’ Harry tried to help Ron ‘I’m sure she hadn’t climbed back down!’

‘ Where is she then?’ asked Hermione, having calmed down a little.

The portrait swung open and Rya came in beaming at them.

‘ Hello!’

‘ When did you get out of here?’ asked Ron frowning.

‘ A little earlier!’ answered Rya frowning too ‘I just went to meet my brother.’

But Harry knew this wasn’t true. He was sure she hadn’t crossed the Common Room and realised Rya was hiding something from them. And he didn’t like this, he didn’t like this at all.

*

‘ New sweets!’ cried out Ron at the sight at the brand new developed Raspberry Wands ‘Mmm, they have chocolate coats!’

Harry, Ron and Hermione had taken Rya on a Hogsmeade tour. They had already showed her the post and now they stopped at Honeydukes.

‘ I’m gonna buy some of these Chocoballs for Chris.’ said Rya eyeing them.

Their next stop was Zonko’s where they had some good laughs at the thought of Filch’s angry face in front of some nasty Stink Pellets.

‘ It’s pretty cold outside!’ said Hermione wrapping the robe tighter round herself.

The chilly air blew through their hair announcing the end of October.

‘ Let’s go in the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer.’ said Ron shivering from head to foot.

They entered the pub and had some hard time finding a free table for themselves. It seemed like the whole Hogwarts had gathered there.

‘ I’ll go get them, alright?’ said Harry heading for the bar.

Ron licked his lips as Harry returned loaded with three big tankards with hot butterbeers. Rya raised suspiciously an eyebrow.

‘ Doesn’t butterbeer exist in America?’ asked Harry intrigued by her reaction.

‘ No, it’s traditionaly english!’ Hermione answered quickly.

‘ Didn’t know that.’ Ron frowned ‘Anyway, Rya, after warming up and after it gets a little darker outside we’re going straight to the Shrieking Shack, the most haunted house in whole Great Britain!’

It seemed Ron had not had the heart to tell Rya the house wasn’t haunted at all. It was a more exciting place so.

‘ Can’t wait!’ she answered sipping from her tankard ‘This stuff is really good.’
Harry grinned as Rya took a bigger sip of butterbeer.

They had a small talk about the twins’ shop, Weasley' Wizarding Wheezes then left the Three Broomsticks and headed for the Shrieking Shack. It had got really dark outside and the wind blew in a very eerie way. It was perfect for a stroll to the supposed-to-be-haunted house.

‘ Wow!’ said Rya at the sight of the Shrieking Shack with its boarded windows and dank overgrown garden ‘It’s so creepy. Being so close to this forest makes it even worse!’ a shiver went through her body.

Harry surveyed the surroundings. His eyes focused on a dark figure coming out of the shadows of the forest. It looked like a huge dog, or better, like a baby elephant.

‘ Hey! Look at that!’ he said pointing at it ‘What do you reckon it is?’
The others looked too.

‘ It’s a wolf or something.’ said Ron narrowing his eyes to see better ‘Or a deer.’

After loosing their interest, they headed for Hogwarts, their pockets pull of sweets from Honeydukes. Chris seemed very happy about the Chocoballs he had received from his sister. He shared them with his friend, Benedict. Harry noticed a group of second year girls eyeing Chris hopefully.

*

The next day, being Halloween, Harry woke up with a very pleasant smell of backed pumpkins. He walked down the spiral case yawning and found Hermione and Ron engrossed in a discussion about S.P.E.W.

‘ Are you ever gowing to give this up, Hermione?’

‘ No, these elves need me! Don’t you understand, Ron? Deep down inside their hearts they really want to be free!’

‘ Morning Ron, Hermione!’ said Harry stiffling a yawn.

‘ Mornin’’

They waited for Rya to wake up too, then headed for breakfast in the Great Hall. Harry loaded his plate with sausages and croissants.

There was a fluttering noise and hundreds of owls sore inside, each of them flying to it’s owner. A big tawny owl landed in front of Hermione, nearly knocking over her milk jug. It was the owl that delivered the Daily Prophet. Hermione gave it a knut and it flew away hooting happily. She disappeared between the newspaper and began to eat her toast. Her hand stopped at the half way to her mouth and fell with the buttered part on the floor.

‘ Oh, my God!’ she gasped, her voice filled with horror.

‘ What?’ asked Harry, Ron and Rya at the same time.

‘ This is unbelievable, blood curdling!’

Ron snatched the newspaper out of Hermione’s hand and they put their heads together to be able to read at the same time. The front page bore the title “Horror at Hogsmeade”. Ron began to read aloud:

‘ “The whole village Hogsmeade is panicked as this morning was discovered a body of a man next to the forest. Mr John Simpleton left his house in the morning of October 30. He never came back. A woman passing by later that day discovered his mutilated corpse. His robes were covered in blood and the healers in St Mungo’s had reported that his heart had been ripped out of his body. One of the healers working on this case had found some time to talk with us.
<I have never seen this before! There is just a small gap in his chest. His heart must have been squeezed through that.>
In conclusion, we advise you to take care of your children, for there is a mysterious and dangerous creature lurking in the woods.” ’

Ginny, that had heard everything, gulped loudly.

‘ You don’t think it can come in the Forbidden Forest, do you?’ she asked.

‘ The woods from Hogsmeade are connected with it.’ Answered Hermione ‘From what we know it really can.’
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Liked it? Don't forget about my little plead. Snuggles!

[fire_angel]

Here I am, back again! I can't hope to suppose you missed me as you haven't fed me back , but I shall once again prove what a good person I am...
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Chapter 9

After breakfast, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Rya decided to pay Hagrid a visit. They hadn’t seen him since the day Rya’s brother had come to Hogwarts.

‘ Can I take Chris too?’ asked Rya looking around for her brother ‘He told me he really likes him, and wants to meet Fang!’

Harry nodded, so the five of them made their way towards Hagrid’s Hut. Rya was talking to her brother, teasing him for not having been sorted into Gryffindor.

‘ Well, if you would have been braver, you would have surely come to Gryffindor. But what can we do if you’re such a chicken?’ she said grinning.

‘ I’m not a chicken!’ Chris said indignantly ‘I made a contest with Ben, who goes deeper in the Forbidden Forest, and I won.’

Rya shook her head.

‘ Any way, I love my brother, even if he is a coward. ‘ she said hugging him.

‘ I’ll show that I’m not a-’ began Chris again, but stopped as Harry had knocked on the door from Hagrid’s house. Fang began to bark loudly and the door opened wide.

‘ Ah, it’s yeh four, I mean five!’ he added at the sight of Rya’s brother.
Fang ran to Chris and put his front paws on his shoulders, almost knocking him down. They began to play in front of the hut.

‘ When yer’re done playin’ come in fer a tee!’ said Hagrid winking to the boy.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Rya walked inside and sat on some chairs. The usual rock cookies Hagrid use to make were towering in a big pile on the table. Harry made Rya desperate signs not to eat them, but she didn’t understand.

‘ So, how’s school fer you. D’yeh like that new teacher, Professor Warwick?’

Rya tried to answered but her teeth had been glued together.

‘ Yeah she’s really good. I just hope she’s not another Death Eater on the loose.’ said Harry grinning widely.

‘ Nah, she’s an old friend of Dumbledore.’

‘ So was Moody!’ said Ron darkly.

They continued their talk till it got quite dark outside, then headed for the Great Hall where the Halloween feast was about to begin.

‘ Oh, look at you, Chris! Your robe is full of mud! Why didn’t you take care?’

Rya scolded her brother on the way to the castle.

‘ I just played with Fang!’

When they arrived in the Great Hall, their mouths fell open. Even though they were used to the wonderful decorations, Harry, Ron and Hermione were still amazed: thousands of live bats fluttered from the walls and ceiling while others swooped over the tables in low black clouds and hundreds of candle-filled pumpkins were grinning from each corner of the hall.

‘ Wow!’ said Rya looking around ‘I’m really beginning to stop regreting having left Wadlow!’

She parted from Chris, who hurried over to the Ravenclaw table at his friend Ben.

They all loaded their plates with all the dishes on the table, mostly having the main ingredient pumpkin.

After the feast they were all so stuffed with food, they could barely move; it was amazing how they had reached the Gryffindor tower without blasting.

‘ I think I’m going straight to bed!’ said Ron rubing his belly ‘If not, I will fall asleep here and now!’

The others seemed to think he was right, for every student headed for the spiral staircases to their dormitories.

Harry put on his pyjamas and crawled under the fluffy, warm blanket. It didn’t last much and he fell asleep.

*

Harry had a very unusual dream: he was back at the Dursleys and Uncle Vernon was yelling at him for having blown up Dudley, like he had done to his aunt Marge. His uncle was really angry, spraying spit all over his face.
Harry opened his eyes. Peeves, the poltergeist, was floating in mid air blowing raspberries at him.

‘ Go away, Peeves, or I’ll call McGonagall!’ Harry said angrily.

Peeves cackeled and blew one last nasty raspberry, then floated away. Harry looked at the clock on his night table: it was five o’clock in the morning. He swore loudly and got out of bed, not being able to sleep anymore. He dressed quickly, then went down in the Common Room. The window was wide open and a very cold air floated inside. Harry hurried over and took a look outside before closing it. The grounds were deserted. There was no movement, not even an owl coming back from hunting. Just a butterfly swept swiftly past Harry’s nose heading for the other side of the Gryffindor tower.

*

After about three hours the others woke up too. Rya looked horrible that morning, again: she was very pale and had dark circles under her eyes, the result of a big lack of sleep.

‘ G-g-good morning!’ she said trying to stifle a yawn.

‘ Are you alright?’ asked Harry giving her an appraising look.

‘ Yeah.’ answered Rya smiling mildly ‘It’s just that time of the month.’

Harry felt his cheeks burn, realising he had become as red as a boiled crab, and began to stammer, suddenly interested in the architecture of the ceiling.

‘ Oh…um…l-l-let’s just…err…g-g-go for breakfast.’

He would have really liked to sink through the floor and not see the pitiful look on Hermione’s face.

They arrived in the Entrance Hall and Harry noticed a big group next to the door that lead to the dungeons. They approached the place. Seamus and Dean were there too.

‘ What’s going on?’ asked Ron.

‘ Malfoy’s taunting a first year.’ Dean answered and pointed over the heads of some scared-looking second years ‘A Ravenclaw boy.’

Harry felt Rya startle next to him, then pushing the people away to get to middle of the crowd. Harry, Ron and Hermione followed her.

Chris was lying on the floor, cowering while Draco was laughing loudly.

‘ Leave him alone, Malfoy!’ thundered Rya and everyone became silent.

Draco’s cold eyes narrowed with hatred and he turned to her, leaving time for Chris to hide hehind Hermione.

‘ Ah, mudblood Birchwood!’ Crabbe and Goyle began to guffaw stupidly ‘I was really wondering when you would come to save your brother! I was about to umm…how shall I put this?... hurt him.’

As quick as lightning, Rya took out her wand.

‘ Diffindo!’

A deep gash appeared on Malfoy’s right cheek, sprinkling his robe with blood. Several girls gasped loudly. Draco reached for his wand quickly, but Rya was faster:

‘ Furnunculus!’

Huge boils began to pulse on Draco’s face making him howl with pain.

‘ Impedimenta!’ he yelled, the other hand pressed on his wound.

Rya ducked and shot another incredibly good aimed hex at Malfoy.
‘ Petrificus Totalus!’

The fight was over: Malfoy was lying on the ground, his body as stiff as a board and his face covered in blood and nasty looking boils. Crabbe and Goyle were circling round the fallen Draco like eagles, not knowing what to do and cracked their knuckles menacingly at everyone that dared to take a step too close to him.

‘ Let’s just go and eat.’ said Rya, turned her back at Malfoy, and marched inside the Great Hall with Harry, Ron, Hermione and Chris after her.

‘ Blimey, that was brilliant!’ said Ron finally recovering from the shock ‘How you took out your wand and WHAM!’ he gestured the hex hitting Malfoy and blood sprinkling everywhere ‘And then POOF!’ he waved with his hands frenetically suggesting the boils appearing on Malfoy’s face ‘And then, the cherry on the cake, you-’

‘ Ron, we were there. We saw everything.’ Hermione said calmly ‘But you shouldn’t have done that, Rya!’ she continued sternly ‘You should have called a teacher-’

‘ Ah, Hermione,’ said Ron gloomily ‘you really know how to spoil someone’s pleasure!’

Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but a big, tawny owl landed clumsily in front of her, knocking over the pumpkin juice jug. She paid the owl for the newspaper and disappeared behind it.

‘ There was another victim!’ her voice sounded hollow and shaky ‘A child.’

At first they didn’t realise what she was talking about, but then it dawned to them: the mysterious case of the creature lurking in the forest.
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Well umm...have mercy on me poor ego and write some feedback!

[fire_angel]

Hey! Finally wrote chapter 10! I'm dedicating it this time to someone ( when I say someone, I'm referring to PnkRawkPwincess ) out there that likes my fic and wrote me some really nice feedback. You should all do that ,for writing is going on really hard lately
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Chapter 10

The day of the first Quidditch match drew closer and closer and Harry was in a mournful mood. Even though they had trained hard and even several times a week, Rya was still not prepared. She had a very good aim, but panic attacks kept increasing during the game and she would just stop in mid air and drop the Quaffle.

‘ I can’t do it! I just can’t do it! Find another Chaser, I’m not good at all!’ she continued to complain to Alicia ‘I’m dreadful, you don’t have to tell me!’

‘ Rya, please stop with this nonsense! You’re a good player and if you try to concentrate we will surely win!’ Alicia tried to cheer her up.

‘ No, no. I know why you’re saying this. But having me feel happy will only make you lose the match.’

They sometimes succeeded to convince her, but at the next training she would start all over again.

‘ What shall we do?’ asked Ron in a hushed voice ‘She’s worse then that day at the tryouts! With her like this we will surely lose the game. I’ve heard the Slytherins have built up a very good team this year.’

Harry shrugged looking worriedly around. Thank God only one player sucked. Ron had improved very much during the summer and had become almost as good as Oliver Wood had been.

They trudged up to the Gryffindor tower without exchanging a word.

‘ I know what you’re thinking.’ Rya’s sad voice sounded from far, far away ‘I wish you would have chosen that other boy. I wasn’t better than him. I noticed how Ron helped me.’

Neither Ron nor Harry said anything.

‘ I’m really, really sorry I haven’t worked too much at the training. Always being moody and everything. I’m really sorry!’ she said once again and stormed past them disappearing out of sight.

‘ Rya!’ shouted Harry trying to call the girl back, but useless.

He exchanged glances with Ron, then hurried after her. They arrived in front of the portrait to the Gryffindor Common Room just as it was being slammed shut. The Fat Lady was about to fall into a dose again.

‘ Banshee’ said Harry and Ron together.

‘ Righto’ the Fat Lady mumbled and swung open without opening her eyes.

The Common Room was full and noisy, but Harry and Ron were able to squeeze in and join Hermione in the far corner she was sitting in.

‘ Let me guess’ said Ron looking at all the books and pieces of parchment spread on the table ‘homework again?’

Hermione didn’t answer and continued to write the essay for Defense against the Dark Arts Professor Warwick had given them.

‘ Are you mad at us?’ asked Ron, a bit insecure.

Nothing.

‘ Hermione! Why aren’t you answering?’

Nothing again.

‘ I’m sorry if I did something wrong, but can you please stop acting like this.’

Hermione stretched her arm for a book and Ron grabbed it. Just then did Hermione look up at them. She smiled and pointed her wand at her ears.

‘ Audius! Hey, Ron, Harry! How was training?’

Ron threw Harry a flabbergasted look.

‘ Aren’t you mad at us or something?’

‘ No. Should I be?’ she added in a suspicious tone.

‘ No, you were just ignoring us for the past ten minutes.’ said Harry absentmindedly.

‘ Ah! You’ve been here for a long time?’ she asked smiling, but didn’t wait for the answer ‘I was trying a spell I’ve just learned. With this pack here it was impossible to think.’

Ron seemed to feel better.

‘ Anyway’ he continued ‘Have you seen Rya? She was really upset and we’d like to cheer her up before the game tomorrow.’

Hermione shook her head.

‘ I didn’t pay much attention around here. Ask Parvati, she should know.’ she continued and began to giggle pointing at a dark-haired girl sitting in an armchair next to the girls’ staircase.

Harry turned to see and smiled shaking his head: Parvati was really busy with a blond seventh year. Lavender, on the other hand, just looked bored around.

‘ Hi’ said Harry approaching her.

‘ Hello, Harry.’ she answered gazing lazily in the fire.

‘ Have you seen Rya, by any chance?’ he asked trying to sound casual.

‘ Oh, she just got up in the dorm.’ Lavender answered falling in the same odd mood as before.

‘ Err, would you like to call her down here for me, please?’

She shot him a suspicious look before getting up and climbing the spiral staircase. After some seconds she came back.

‘ She isn’t there. Might have left earlier. Didn’t see her.’

She sank back in the armchair next to Parvati- that seemed glued to the boy- and sighed loudly.

Harry frowned. This was the third time Rya disappeared from the dorm without anyone actually noticing her. He returned to Ron and Hermione and sank in an armchair too. Crookshanks stretched lazily, then leapt into Hermione’s lap.

‘ Gone again, isn’t she?’ she asked watching Harry’s reactions. He nodded.

‘ I wish she would tell us her problems. This is what friends are for.’ he sighed.

‘ Maybe she’s just not ready yet and-’ she stopped, Rya having come in.

She walked slowly to them and wiped a tear in the corner of her eye. Today, her eyes had the color of the sea at storm, a dark green.

‘ I’m sorry for leaving you two like that.’ she said, her voice sounding shallow ‘But I needed some time alone, to put myself together.’ she smiled ‘I won’t let you down tomorrow, I promise!’

Harry had not the heart to inquire her about her mysterious disappearing. He just smiled too and told himself he would do it some other time.
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Well, um... I think you know what to do! *points at siggy* feed me back!

[fire_angel]

Well, I have found some time to post this long, nice chapter. Hope you enjoy it, don't know when the next will be, though...
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Chapter 11

The day of the match broke sunny and a little warmer, despite the storm of the previous day. Harry woke up in a good mood, having a feeling Rya would really do her best this time. He slipped into his clothes quickly, then joined the others in the Great Hall for breakfast. Rya seemed determined to make them forget the last evening: she had loaded her plate with food and ate furiously fast, just to show Harry she wanted to gain strength for the game.

The tawny owl that delivered Hermione the Daily Prophet, landed in front of her. Hermione threw a nervous glance at the others, then reached a trembling hand at the newspaper.

‘ Again!’ she said reading the front page ‘This is really beginning to give me the creeps! It’s the third victim already.’

She realised this wasn’t doing any good to thei others’ already nervous moods and changed quickly the subject for the rest of the meal.

After eating, they parted from Hermione and the whole team headed for the changing room. They put on their scarlet and gold robes and waited for Alicia’s speech. But she seemed too excited to talk. She wasn’t the only one: Rya was a little green in the face and Colin had a stupid, nervous grin on his lips.

‘ Well, umm...you know what I want from you. Just do your best! Is everyone ready?’ she asked briskly, without really waiting for an answer ‘Alright then!’

They marched into the sunlit pitch and Harry startled at the sound of a familiar voice commenting the game. It wasn’t Lee Jordan as he had been used to, but Dean Thomas, a boy in Harry’s year. He had forgotten Lee wouldn’t be here any more.

‘ And here comes the Gryffindor team!’

There was deafening applause, not only from the Gryffindors, but also from the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs.

They strode to the Slytherin team, that was grinning stupidly, ready for another unfair game. Madam Hooch walked over to them.

‘ Captains, shake hands!’ she ordered, glaring at the captain of the Slytherin team.

He grabbed Alicia’s hand and squeezed it so hard that she let out a yelp of pain.

‘ Mount your brooms! On my whistle, three, two, one!’

Madam Hooch had released the balls and the game began. As he was flying up at the height of the goal posts, Harry felt his worries remaining on the ground. He made a few loopings to get himself in the mood and looked around for the snitch, not wanting to catch it yet, though.

‘ Gryffindor in ball possession, Bell passes to Spinnet, who passes to Birchwood, who lets it fall- Pucey from Slytherin gets the Quaffle, passes to Warrington who goes straight for the rings and- nice block from Gryffindor Keeper, Ron Weasley-’

Harry sighed: Rya seemed so tense and kept letting the Quaffle fall every time she had it in her hands.

‘ Montague has the Quaffle, passes to Pucey who passes back to Montague who’s heading for the goal and scores.’ Dean said, finishing his sentence in a loud sigh ‘Ten to nil for Slytherin.’

Harry looked at Rya and she looked back, a very sad expression on her face. She flew away then, trying to do what was in her power not to let the team lose.

After another seventeen goals from the Slytherins, Harry felt his heart sink, as low as it was possible. He had to find the snitch or they would be beaten up cruelly. The new Keeper from Slytherin was so big and massive that he could cover two goal posts at once. Not even Alicia and Katie -who were very good indeed- couldn’t get the Quaffle past him. Rya couldn’t stand a chance. He watched Katie being surrounded by all the Chasers and throwing the Quaffle to Rya. Harry closed his eyes tightly. He had seen the empty expression on Rya’s face before catching the ball, she would surely drop it again. He opened one eye slowly: the Quaffle was about to slip out of Rya’s hands, but suddenly, her fingertips gripped the ball back. Rya was determined to snap out of it. She took an incredible speed and took the Keeper by surprise.

‘ And Birchwood scores! One hundred and eighty to ten for Slytherin!’ announced Dean under the lout cheers that rang over the boos of the Slytherins.

Harry gave Rya the thumbs up. She still couldn’t believe it.

‘ Montague in ball possession, knocks Spinnet out of his way, he’s going straight for the goal pos- hey, what do you think you’re doing?’

Warrington had grabbed Ron in a tight “hug” and was dragging him away from the front of the goal posts, leaving Montague free to score.

‘ Somebody do something!’ yelled Dean fuming with anger.

Madam Hooch blew her whistle: penalty to Gryffindor. Alicia took the ball. There were loud cheers as she scored.

‘ That was amazing! Good job Alicia, it’s one hundred and eighty to twenty for Slytherin!’

Harry remembered what he was on the team for and continued circling around the Quidditch pitch in search for the snitch. He looked around and saw just in time how Malfoy dived towards a flash of golden light. Panic rose up in him and he changed directions quickly, ducking a Bludger from Goyle.

‘ It seems the Seekers had seen the Snitch. Go Harry!’ he added before McGonagall could stop him.

It wasn’t very easy to catch up with Malfoy, he was much closer to the ball than him. And it happened: Harry saw with despair how Malfoy reached his arm to grab it.

‘ No you’re not!’ Harry found himself shouting and almost fell off the broom, so flat he was lying to gain speed. He was next to Malfoy and saw his fingers touch the snitch. Harry pushed his arm away, sped a little more and felt the small wings flap to get out of his fist, but without success.

‘ Harry gets the Snitch, but Slytherin wins.’ said Dean without enthusiasm ‘One hundred and eighty to one hundred and seventy. Very close.’

Hermione hurried on the field to Harry, Ron and Rya, a fake happy smile on her face.

‘ You three were very good!’ she said hugging them in turn ‘You did a very good job!’

Harry shook his head sadly and headed for the changing room, clutching his Firebolt tightly. They put on their robes without exchanging too many words, then trudged up to the common room.

‘ I’m really sorry, Harry.’ he heard Rya say next to him.

‘ It’s alright.’ he answered trying to smile, but just succeeding a fake grin ‘It’s not so bad. If Ravenclaw beats Slytherin, then we might have a chance.’

They reached the portrait of the Fat Lady in awkward silence.

‘ Banshee.’ said Harry stepping inside.

They headed for the armchairs at the fire where Hermione was waiting for them and Ron took out his Exploding Snap to bring the spirits a little higher.

The dark soon began to creep inside the castle as they returned from dinner in the Great Hall. Harry still felt sad about their failure, even though Hermione did her best to cheer him up.

‘ It’s not like the Slytherins had won the cup. You still have a chance to win. And it’s just a game anyway!’

They entered the Common Room and Hermione, Ron and Rya headed back for their squashy armchairs.

Harry, on the other hand, didn’t follow them. He began to climb up the spiral staircase to the dormitory.

‘ Where are you going?’ asked Ron frowning.

‘ I’m just sleepy.’ Harry answered shrugging and disappeared inside the dorm.

It had been a lie. He wasn’t sleepy at all, but just wanted to be alone and think for a while. Whose fault had it been, really? His, because he hadn’t caught the snitch earlier? Ron’s, for not having stopped the Slytherins from scoring so much? Or was it Rya’s fault for dropping the Quaffle in the Slytherins hands? Either way, they had lost. There was nothing to do about this than wait and see what happened in the next Quidditch game. Harry rummaged in his trunk for the pyjamas and his eyes traveled to a yellow, old piece of parchment: the Marauder’s Map. Like hypnotised, he tapped it with his wand.

‘ I swear I’m up to no good.’

Harry scrambled in his bed, pulled the hangings around it and turned on his lamp. Small dots labeled with name tags walked up and down the corridors. The points named Rya, Ron and Hermione were still in the Common Room in front of the fire place. Dumbledore seemed to be sitting at his desk and Snape was in his office, probably brewing something or planning how to humiliate Harry. Hagrid was in his hut with Fang. Just as he wanted to wipe it, Harry’s eyes fixed on something he hadn’t seen before: somewhere after the lake, in the opposite direction from Hagrid’s Hut was something like a big square on the map, one of its sides being the stone wall that surrounded the castle. It seemed something like a hidden place. He folded the map carefully and ran downstairs to the others.

‘ I thought you were sleeping!’ grinned Ron and waved with his hand at an empty armchair next to him ‘Come and sit down.’

Harry rushed to them, looked around to see if anyone was watching and took out the map, unfolding it.

‘ Look in here!’ he hissed putting his finger on the mysterious square.

‘ Looks like some kind of…’ Hermione didn’t seem to find the correct word ‘place.’

‘ Let’s go check it out!’ said Harry with enthusiasm. Both Ron and Rya were excited at the prospect, but Hermione snorted loudly.

‘ For God’s sake, Harry! If it’s hidden like that it might be dangerous!’

This seemed to make Harry even keener on going there.

‘ Oh, come on, Hermione!’ said Ron ‘You’re talking as if we hadn’t been through dangerous situations before.’

This made up Hermione’s mind.

‘ Okay, okay!’ she said grumpily, but Harry saw clearly she was smiling.

He went back to his room and brought the Invisibility Cloak.

‘ Just in case.’ he said at his friends’ puzzled looks.

They checked on the map if the coast was clear, then ran out in the deserted corridors. They walked hurriedly, but trying not to make too many noises. Harry suddenly put a hand on Ron’s shoulder and pulled him back.

‘ Filch!’ he whispered and all four of them squeezed under the cloak in a far corner of the corridor.

Just as Harry had covered his leg, Mrs Norris’ lamp-like eyes glowed from behind a pair of feet.

‘ What is it my sweet? Any students out of bed?’

Mrs Norris stared for some seconds in the corner where Harry, Ron, Hermione and Rya were hiding, then walked further in front of her master.

‘ That was close!’ whispered Ron, followed Harry in the Entrance Hall, then out on the dark grounds.

Rya was quivering with excitement hopping from one foot on the other. She followed Harry hastily on their way towards the lake. He realised he was quickening his pace, but didn’t care, even though his friends were almost running to catch up with him. They finally had the lake behind them. This was the first time they had gone this way. Harry checked his map. The wall was lying only a few feet away and was getting closer and closer. He was now sitting in front of it. He looked up. If he wouldn’t have had the map, he wouldn’t have realised there really was something behind this ivy covered wall.

‘ Well, this is it!’ Harry said turning to the others.

‘ But…umm…how do we get in?’ asked Hermione, her voice sounding cautious.

Harry threw a glance at the wall with the thick layer of ivy, then back to the Marauders’ Map.

‘ Well…err… there must be a door somewhere.’ he said making a few steps around it. He felt a little awkward, having dragged them to that place planning an adventure and now having to go back, without any excitement.

He looked back at the map thinking hard of a way in and almost dropped it as a thing that looked like a door appeared on a side of the wall. He looked at Hermione grinning broadly.

‘ It seems like the door is right in front of us!’

Rya stepped forward, put her hand on the curtain of ivy and looked behind it. To her surprise, instead of a solid rock wall, there was a big wooden door with a silver handle.

‘ After you!’ she said taking a step backwards.

His mouth really dry, Harry put a hand on the door handle and pulled it. The door began to creak, opening slowly and Harry walked inside. He stopped dead in the doorstep, making Ron, Rya and Hermione bump into him.
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Please, oh, please feed me back!

[fire_angel]

I'm sorry for not posting for such a long time, but fate has been keeping me away from the computer. Anyway, enjoy!
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Chapter 12- Part I

It was a graveyard. Big, murky grey stones loomed out of the ground bearing black letters, the names of the deceased. Rya had grabbed his arm so tight, that it already felt numb. Everything was silent, not even a breeze blew.

‘ This is so creepy.’ whispered Hermione next to him ‘I didn’t know there was a graveyard at school. I never read about anything like this in Hogwarts, a History.’

Ron was too shocked to say something about Hermione’s statement. He just goggled at the closest headstone. It bore the name Cedric Diggory. A dark shadow landed close to the grave: a big, black crow. Harry was staring at the tomb in front of him too. So this is where Cedric had been buried. He had thought Cedric’s parents would bury him in a muggle graveyard. He stepped around the place. The others followed suit, walking after him. They also found Moaning Myrtle’s tomb, Professor Binns’ and several other people, probably also Hogwarts former teachers.

‘ Look there!’ whispered Hermione excitedly pointing at a tomb surrounded by a low, black, iron fence.

Harry rushed to the place, feeling his heart thump like mad. There were some fresh picked flowers in front of the grave. At the sight of the name on the headstone, Harry felt the air vanish from his lungs: Sirius Black. He sank on the ground, his eyes resting on the black letters. After some minutes of awkward silence, Harry finally talked, his voice sounding hoarse.

‘ But, is his bod- I mean is he really buri-’

He hadn’t the heart to say the words that brought so much sadness in his heart. Hermione quickly answered his silent question.

‘ No, no. Look at this.’ she said pointing at a smooth piece of marble in which the following words were carved.

“ In memory of SIRIUS BLACK, loyal friend and devoted godfather.”

Harry felt his eyes fill with tears, but bit his bottom lip. Crying wouldn’t bring Sirius back. But in his mind another thought popped. If Sirius’ tomb-so-to-say was there, then-. He stood up so briskly that Rya started, having watched him closely for the past minutes. He ran around the graveyard, throwing feverish looks at the names on the headstones. He stopped dead in front of one, almost at the back of the graveyard. Ron, Hermione and Rya, that had followed him, stopped too, slightly out of breath. Ron exchanged nervous glances with Hermione after seeing the name of the deceased: James Potter. Next to this grave was the one of Harry’s mother, Lily Potter. Here were also some fresh flowers. It seemed to be too much for Harry: he couldn’t stop the tears roll down his cheeks. He wiped them with his sleeve, but this didn’t put an end to the stream. They were all just standing there behind Harry, watching him, but not daring to say something, or even move. Just after about ten minutes, Rya put her hand on Harry’s shoulder. He turned to face her, still crying silently.

‘ I’m- I’m really sorry, Harry.’ she said looking embarrassed.

It was very painful for Harry, a sixteen year-old boy to cry in front of so many people, even though they were his best friends. It was a sign of weakness that a boy wouldn’t show.

‘ I’ so stupid!’ he said trying to smile ‘Look at me!’

He didn’t seem too convincing, not even to him. Harry knew his friends didn’t believe a thing he was blabbering. He was painfully aware that he sounded like a really young kid trying to be “macho”.

‘ Let’s just leave this place. It gives me the creeps.’ his voice sounded unusually hollow.

‘ It alright, Harry.’ said Hermione watching his reactions ‘You don’t have to be ashamed. We can understand what you are going through and-’

‘ No you don’t!’ he yelled, suddenly angry.

His voice echoed loudly and a crow soared into the air croaking menacingly. Rya frowned, loosening the grip on his shoulder.

‘ Look Harry, you don’t have to scream at us. We’re just trying to make you feel better-’

‘You’re not succeeding.’

‘- because we know it’s really hard for you to face such strong feelings.’ she continued pretending she hadn’t heard him.

‘ Alright, you’re right. I’m sorry, guys. It’s just that I wasn’t prepared for this.’

Hermione and Ron nodded, showing everything was ok, then they all headed for the way out.
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[fire_angel]

Missed me? Hope you did! Here's a rather small update, but it's sonmething. The last part of chappie 12.
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Chapter 12- Part II

During the next weeks they seemed to have come to a silent agreement not to mention anything about that night. Though, Harry secretly crept out of the castle to his parents’ and Sirius’ tombs at night, covered in the Invisibility Cloak. He found freshly picked flowers every time he went there, this meaning someone else used to go there too.

One evening, Harry, Ron, Rya and Hermione were sitting in the Common Room, doing their homework. Some scared-looking third years walked in, talking frenetically.

‘- what if it happens?’

‘- and she is a Seer, isn’t she?’

Hermione stopped working and began to listen to the talk of the third-years, frowning slightly. She stood up and rushed to the group.

‘ What’s the matter?’ she asked interrupting their discussion.

A small, blond girl decided to answer.

‘ It’s Professor Trelawney!’ she squeaked, sounding really frightened ‘She-she said someone will die at the end of winter!’

‘ Rubbish!’ Hermione snapped so briskly, making the small girl start.

Ron snorted: he and Harry knew very well what sort of person Trelawney was and Hermione’s opinion about her.

‘ But-but-but-’ began the little girl, obviously disturbed.

‘ You should stop believing that old bat.’ Hermione continued sternly ‘She’s just a fraud trying to scare you. She does the same every year and no one has actually died yet.’

Some of the third years seemed relieved, but not the blond girl. In Harry’s opinion she would probably become somewhat like Parvati or Lavender, who idolized Professor Trelawney.

Weeks passed, Christmas coming closer and with it the Christmas holidays, a thing Harry was really looking forward to. Meanwhile, the match between Slytherin and Ravenclaw took place resulting with the victory of Ravenclaw, a thing that lifted Harry’s mood considerably.

Some days before the Christmas holidays Pigwidgeon flew inside the Great Hall at breakfast, carrying a big letter tied to his foot.

‘ Look Ron!’ frowned Harry ‘You’ve got a letter!’

Ron frowned too and stretched one hand to catch Pig before he could do any damage to his breakfast.

‘ It’s from mum.’ He said opening the envelope ‘But I didn’t do anything wrong this time!’

Hermione and Harry read the letter over Ron’s shoulder. Mrs Weasley was inviting them to spend Christmas at the Burrow, as the whole family was going to be there.

‘ What do you say Harry, Hermione? Shall I write back and say we ain’t coming. I can imagine you two would rather spend Christmas here.’ he continued his ears reddening ‘I mean, it’s not so loud as at my home and the food’s maybe better and-’

‘ Are you crazy?’ cried out both Hermione and Harry.

‘ Of course we want to come!’ continued Harry ‘I haven’t seen your brothers for quite some time. Christmas at the Burrow sounds absolutely great!’

A broad grin spread over Ron’s face.

‘ OK then, let’s go in the Common Room and ask Rya if she wants to come. Mum wrote she’s invited too. We have to write a letter back. Come on!’

But Rya couldn’t come: she and her brother would return home to spend Christmas with their parents. Being weekend, Harry, Ron and Hermione spent the whole day daydreaming about Christmas. Harry was sure it was going to be great fun: the Weasleys were a very cheerful family that he really liked.

As evening came, they all trudged up to their dorms and quickly changed into pajamas. Harry crawled under his warm blanket feeling very happy about the plans he had made with his friends. He fell asleep almost instantly.

Again, like some years before, he traveled back to the graveyard where Cedric was killed. He was once again tied to the tombstone of Voldemort’s father and the Death Eaters were standing in a circle round him and Voldemort. He was saying something.

‘... the dementors will join us ... they are our natural allies ... we will recall the banished giants ... I shall have all my devoted ser¬vants returned to me, and an army of creatures whom all fear...’

Harry woke up with a start, his pajamas soaked in cold sweat. He looked around: fortunately he was still in his four-posted bed, nothing had happened, everything had been just a dream…
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Oh, well, I'm hoping you'll tell me your opinion about this!

[fire_angel]

Hello! You people really deserve this part, having waited so much time! Enjoy!
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Chapter 13- Part I

Before Christmas holidays finally came, Professor McGonagall wrote down all the students that would stay in the castle on a list. It was a little weird for Harry to pack his trunk one day before leaving, trying not to forget anything. But it also pleased him immensely. He just couldn’t wait to get to the Weasleys.

Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Ron got on the Knight Bus early in the morning of their departure. Harry was already used to this mean of transportation. It was really bumpy and chairs, tables or beds would move around the bus at every turning or break.

He sat down at a table close to the window and watched Hogwarts with its many towers getting smaller in the distance. Just yesterday, it seemed to him, he had entered the castle for the very first time. But almost six years had passed since then. Time went by so quickly! Suddenly panic and an odd feeling of fright rose in him: he realised he had just one year and a half before he would leave Hogwarts, his real home, for ever.

Harry looked up, staring directly into Hermione’s eyes. She had been watching him for some time.

‘ Is everything all right with you?’ she asked sounding a little worried.

‘ Yeah…I mean…I don’t know…it’s just that…you see… Hogwarts…next year…for ever…never again.’ He stopped realising he had been blabbering only nonsense. He just couldn’t express his feelings, he was too overwhelmed. But Hermione just nodded, smiling sadly.

‘ I know what you mean. Leaving Hogwarts will be like giving away a part of my soul. I don’t know, it’s just that we’ve gone through too many things in there.’

She looked out of the window, as if she was expecting to see Hogwarts there, just at a throw of a stick. But the scenery had changed several time since they had left. Ron, who had been talking to Stan and Ernie, came back grinning widely.

‘ Did you know that just for sixteen Sickles you also get a hot chocolate?’

Harry smiled broadly, then gave Ron the money for the drink. After some games of Exploding Snap, they finally reached a place close to the Burrow, having to go on foot from there.

‘ I don’t think mum knows we’re on our way there right now. We’ll make her a great surprise!’

At the thought, Harry quickened his pace without even realising what he was doing, just trying to get to the Burrow as soon as possible.

After some time, they finally began to distinguish the outlines of a small, but very high house. Harry grinned widely looking at the homey looking building in front of him. Ginny rushed past him and entered the Burrow. There was a surprised scream from inside and the sound of breaking porcelain.

Harry found Mrs Weasley in the kitchen, hugging her youngest child.

‘ No one told me you would arrive so early!’ she snapped, trying to look angry, but Harry could see how pleased she was to see them all there ‘Get your luggage to your rooms, wash your hands, then come down for lunch!’

She hugged all four of them in turn, then went back to her steak in the oven.
They began to walk the screeching rungs up to Ron’s room. Hermione and Ginny slept in another dorm, a floor or two down.

Ron’s room was exactly how Harry remembered it: the walls were covered with the orange posters of the Chudley Cannons and the fish tank was in it’s usual place, on the windowsill. The players on the posters were waving at them, zooming around, sometimes disappearing from the picture.

‘ I see we’ll sleep with Fred and George again.’ Said Ron looking sadly at the two additional beds crammed in the already too small room ‘Oh, well, they are responsible men now.’

He looked at Harry and they both burst out laughing. Responsible was the last adjective that could have been found for Fred and George.

They put their trunks in one corner of the room, then went downstairs.

Hermione and Ginny were already there, helping Mrs Weasley to lay the table.

Harry threw a quick look at the clock on the wall. The hands from Mr Weasley, Percy, Bill, Charlie, Fred and George were all pointing to work.

‘ They should be arriving by now!’ said Ron, who had followed his gaze.

‘ How come Charlie is here too?’

‘ Well, he’s working in the ministry now. There’s something with the dragons from Romania. He brought some wizards here. They also work for the Order!’ he added whispering, for Mrs Weasley not to hear.

Harry nodded silently, then sat down at the table, still watching the hands of the clock. Suddenly they all moved somewhere between work and home.

There were several loud cracks and the rest of the Weasley family joined them.

‘ Ah, you four are here already!’ said Mr Weasley, his eyes gleaming with happiness at the sight of his children, Harry and Hermione.

He shook hands with all of them, then sat down at the table too, being followed by Bill, Charlie, Percy and the twins.

‘ I’m starving!’ groaned Fred, letting himself fall in one of the wooden chairs.

‘ Today was hectic at the shop!’ said George.

‘ All those kids buying Christmas presents for their friends and relatives...’

Mrs Weasley snorted loudly but, fortunately, didn’t say anything.

‘ What’s for dinner, mum?’ asked Charlie looking hungrily around.

‘ Roast beef, dear.’

‘ Mmm, sounds yummy.’

Bill, Percy and Mr Weasley sat down at the table too. They looked very tired and it was obvious Mr Weasley hadn’t slept for quite some time.

‘ What’s new about you-know-who, Dad?’

‘ Nothing, son. Absolutely nothing!’ answered Mr Weasley sadly ‘This is our problem. It seems like he had vanished into thin air! From that day at the ministry there was no trace of him anywhere, no murder, no tortured muggles, nothing!’

He stuck the fork in his piece of roast beef and began to cut a small bite. After swallowing it, he continued to complain.

‘ And I was so sure everyone would now believe us, that Voldemort is back…but people have begun to doubt it! They say Fudge and all those aurors that have seen him are crazy. It’s exactly what Voldemort wants!’

Ron looked worriedly at Harry, then took a sip of butterbeer.

‘ But anyway, let’s stop discussing this matter. What about school?’ Mr Weasley tried to cheer them up.

‘ There were some strange murders at Hogsmeade.’ Ginny said darkly ‘It was in the newspapers. People were found without their hearts.’

‘ Oh, stop it, Ginny. This is not the kind of discussion that should be talked while eating.’ Snapped Mrs Weasley.

The rest of the meal was spent talking about boring subjects like the weather or the newest hit of The Weird Sisters.

Outside, the weather was fairytale-like: it had begun to snow with big, dense snowflakes. Mr Weasley had made the fire in the living room and the whole family was gathered in front of the fireplace, drinking cups of hot chocolate. Harry and Ron were engaged in a very tight chess game, Hermione was talking with Percy about the career she should follow after leaving school and Charlie was telling Ginny about the dragons he had encountered till then. Mr and Mrs Weasley were whispering in a corner with Bill, probably order problems.

When evening came, Mrs Weasley sent them all to bed, not listening to Ginny’s furious comments about wanting to hear more about Herbert, the Norwegian Ridgeback.
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This is it! I really hope I'll be able to write the next part soon! Snuggles!

[fire_angel]

Hello again! This is the next bit of this chapter. I have to tell you guys, this is going to be a pretty long chapter! Hold on and enjoy!
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Chapter 13- Part II

The days until Christmas Eve passed really enjoyable: snowball fights, Quidditch training in the snow, Exploding Snap and chess. They would wake up in the morning, eat something really quick, then run up a hill, protected from the curious eyes of the muggles.

But one day, just as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were preparing to leave for the hill, there was a soft knock at the door.

‘ Who is it?’ asked Mrs Weasley frowning slightly.

Harry looked inquiringly at Ron. The Weasleys didn’t have any neighbours close to them, not even muggles. After some seconds of silence, a sweet girl’s voice with French accent answered.

‘ It’s Brianna, Brianna Thayer.’

At first, Mrs Weasley just looked confused at the door, but then her features lightened up and she rushed over to welcome the girl in. She opened the door and smiled friendly at a really pretty young woman that was waiting patiently at the doorstep.

‘ Good morning Mrs Weasley!’ said the girl smiling, then stepped inside.

She was rather short, but really slim and fit. She had long, wavy, dark hair, tied in a ponytail and warm, brown eyes. She threw a quick glance around the kitchen and, spotting Ron, smiled clumsily, her cheeks reddening.

‘ Hi, Ron!’ she said looking at the floor ‘Haven’t seen you for quite some time.’

Ron, who had been staring at Brianna grinned stupidly and, as usual when he felt uncomfortable, his ears became scarlet. He also couldn’t look the girl in the eyes.

‘ Hello, Brianna.’

An awkward pause followed while Hermione looked bemused from Ron to Brianna, then back to Ron. When she looked at Brianna, her eyes narrowed coldly, a thing that she would never do.

‘ Let me introduce you to Ron’s friends.’ Mrs Weasley broke the silence ‘This young man in here is Harry Potter, this is Hermione Granger and, you might not remember her, my youngest daughter, Ginny.’

Brianna shook hands with all of them, then, noticing the puzzled look on Harry’s face, explained who she was.

‘ Me and Ron used to play together when we were young.’ She said smiling widely ‘I lived just about five hundred meters away from his house. But my family and I moved to France when I was four. We’re here for the Christmas holidays.’

‘ Are you-‘ Harry began to ask, but got interrupted by Brianna’s quick answer.

‘ Yes, I am a witch.’

Another pause followed.

‘ You go play on the hill together.’ Mrs Weasley said smiling friendly ‘The weather is too nice to spend your time inside.’

They all walked outside where they stopped again.

‘ Are we playing Quidditch?’ asked Brianna noticing Harry and Ron’s brooms.

‘ Yeah. You remember the hill, don’t you?’ asked Ron, his ears reddening again ‘It was our favorite playground.’

‘ Of course I do.’ Answered Brianna smiling.

There was something in her tone that made Harry realise she had said that with a hidden meaning, a meaning only she and Ron knew.

‘ Oh, I should go fetch my broom then!’ Brianna said looking Ron for the first time in the eyes ‘Would you like to come with me? It’s an awfully long way till my house.’

She touched him lightly on the arm and smiled sweetly, revealing her astonishing white and straight teeth.

‘ Alright.’ Answered Ron stammering and looked at Harry, feeling helpless.

‘ We’ll wait for you two on the hill.’ Said Ginny taking the broom from Ron’s hand ‘See you there.’

Brianna turned on her heel and began to walk really fast through the snow towards a small path, Ron following her. Hermione watched them, her eyes narrowed, until they were lost in the distance.

‘ Can we go now?’ Ginny groaned ‘I want to try out this feint I have seen.’
Hermione clutched her Charms book tighter, then followed Harry and Ginny up to the hill, not hesitating to crane her neck once in a while to see whether there was any trace of Ron and Brianna.

‘ Brianna is really pretty!’ Hermione heard Ginny say after about five minutes ‘I’m sure I’ve heard Mum say that Ron used to fancy her when they were young.’

She giggled and quickened her pace to get to the hill as soon as possible.
Finally arriving to their “Quidditch pitch”, Harry and Ginny mounted quickly the brooms, then began to throw a ball at each other.

Hermione, on the other hand, sat down on a tree trunk and opened her book. She tried to concentrate on a very difficult charm, but after some minutes she just slammed the book shut and stood up.

‘ I can’t see them!’ she shouted scrutinising the distance ‘What’s taking them so long? Shouldn’t they be here by now?’

She began to pace through the snow, stooping once in a while to look around again. Ginny landed lightly next to her.

‘ Stop worrying, Hermione. Nothing wrong can happen.’

‘ I’m not worrying!’ answered Hermione ‘What makes you think I’m worried? I’m just-’

But she didn’t finish her sentence, not knowing what to say. After about twenty minutes, Hermione finally recognised Ron’s red hair approaching quickly.

She saw Brianna and Ron stop at the foot of the hill, the girl pressing her sides and panting.

‘ Finally!’ shouted Hermione from the top of the hill looking down at them ‘I thought you were never coming!’

‘ We came-as fast-as we-could!’ panted Ron and breathed deeply several times.

‘ I can’t- walk up-this-hill!’ complained Brianna measuring the thick layer of snow that had covered the surroundings ‘It’s slippery. I’m too tired right now.’

‘ Oh, come on!’ said Ron ‘I wanna play some Quidditch!’

He took a step further and reached Brianna his hand.

‘ Come, I’ll help you climb!’

Being helped by Ron, Brianna climbed up the hill in no time. They walked over to the tree trunk Hermione was sitting on, to rest a little before mounting their brooms. Ron realised he was still holding Brianna’s hand and let go of it, his ears reddening. This didn’t pass unnoticed by Hermione, though.

They spent almost the whole day playing Quidditch, taking a break just to go and have lunch. Hermione seemed to be in a foul mood, complaining about everything and everyone. Finally, when the sun began to melt down behind the hill, Harry, Ron, Ginny and Brianna landed somewhere next to Hermione. They were all sweaty and exhausted.

‘ I just can’t wait to drink a cup of hot chocolate and go straight to bed!’ yawned Ginny, stretching her limbs.

‘ I suppose we’ll see each-’ Brianna began, but Ron rudely interrupted her.

‘ Wouldn’t you like to join us? I know you love hot chocolate!’

Hermione furrowed her brow and turned quickly to see Brianna’s reaction, hoping she would refuse.

‘ If you insist…’ said the girl smiling sweetly and followed Ron to the Burrow.
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I would really appreciate feedback, telling me what you liked and what you didn't like at this update! You know, constructive criticism is highly treasured!

[fire_angel]

OK, I've said before. This is one of my favorite chapters! I will dedicte it to my favorite fans: PnkRawkPwincess and Warozaka. Cheers, mates! Enjoy!
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Chapter 13- Part III

They had a really enjoyable evening in front of the fire, drinking hot chocolate and talking about the day spent on their little “Quidditch field”, discussing feints and other stuff related to the game. Hermione felt thoroughly beside the point and couldn’t do anything but look boringly around, sighing once in a while. She looked at Ron from time to time, glaring reproachfully. It was only his fault that she was feeling so miserable that moment. She took a small sip of hot chocolate. If Ron hadn’t invited that annoying girl to his house, they would have been discussing much more interesting things than Quidditch now. How could boys be so insensitive? How could Ron just not realise that she wasn’t feeling good in Brianna’s presence? She just walked in his house that morning and everything changed. No, she was the guilty one! No one had asked her to come to the Burrow. Why hadn’t she remained in France? Why had she come to England?

‘ I should be going by now.’ Said Brianna’s voice from some place far ‘My parents must be worried sick!’

Hermione saw Brianna standing up and looking outside the window. It had got dark and big snowflakes were flying densely down to the ground. Mrs Weasley walked in and noticed Brianna was preparing to leave.

‘ Oh, look at your clothes, dear.’ She said measuring her from head to foot ‘It’s freezing outside! You’ll catch a cold!’

‘ I know, Mrs Weasley, but staying in France made me forget how cold it is in here! I don’t have any warm clothes with me!’ she gave Mrs Weasley one of her bright and charming smiles.

‘ You poor dear!’ sighed Mrs Weasley and turned to Ginny ‘Would you please lend Brianna something warm to wear. I really don’t want her to catch a cold.’

‘ I would gladly bring her something but you washed all my clothes today, mum.’

‘ Ron, don’t you have something clean?’

‘ Um… I have a Weasley jumper.’ He shrugged, then turned to Brianna ‘You don’t have anything against maroon, do you?’

Hermione watched Ron as he walked past her, towards the staircase and came back holding a really warm looking jumper, made by Mrs Weasley herself. Brianna put it on, over her blouse. The jumper was a little too big for her, but she seemed to feel really cozy in it. She put on her jacket and prepared to leave again when Mrs Weasley stopped her.

‘ You shouldn’t be going alone, dear!’ she said looking at the dark sky outside ‘It’s dangerous for a girl to go by herself all that way!’

‘ No, I’m not afraid, Mrs Weasley!’ Brianna answered back smiling.

‘ No, no, no! It is my responsibility if, God forbid, something bad happens to you. Ron, dear, would you please go with her?’

Ron nodded, his ears reddening again. He put on his jacket and waited patiently for Brianna to say goodbye to everyone.

Hermione watched him leave as if she were surrounded by some thick fog. Her brain didn’t seem to be working alright at that moment. The scene began to play in her mind again, this time slowed down. Ron, holding the door for Brianna to get out, her arm slightly touching his, Brianna smiling widely, then-

‘ Hermione, are you alright?’ Ginny looked at her frowning ‘You’re a little pale.’

‘ I’m just sleepy.’ Hermione lied shrugging and stood up from the cozy armchair she had been sitting in.

‘ Let’s go in Ron’s room. Who’s in for some Exploding Snap!’ Harry asked happily and stood up too.

‘ You two go if you want’ said Hermione, a sad tone in her voice ‘I’m really tired right now. I think I’m going to bed.’

‘ Suit yourself! But I’m going to beat up Harry at Snap. You won’t know what hit you!’ laughed Ginny and began to climb the stairs up to Ron’s room, being followed by Harry and Hermione.

Hermione stopped two floors before them, opened slowly the door to Ginny’s room and walked blindly over to her bed. She didn’t turn on the light. She just slipped into her night gown and crawled under the warm blanket. But sleep wouldn’t take over her. She had lied to both Harry and Ginny. She wasn’t sleepy at all. She was sad and angry. She understood her feelings very well, but didn’t want to admit them, she didn’t want to admit she liked Ron, more than just a friend, that she was jealous. But now, sitting here, remembering how Ron had gone with Brianna to get the broom, how he had held her hand, how their arms had touched and the fact that he was all alone with her that moment, made her insides literally burn with envy and jealousy.

Meanwhile, up in Ron’s room, Ginny was close to achieving her goal for the third time. She had almost all the cards in her hand and she was sure she would win. Only a miracle would save Harry from being beaten cruelly. He put down his last card and Ginny threw her arms up in triumph.

‘ Ha! I won! Which game is this? The fourth that I win?’

‘ The third. I won one too, remember?’ groaned Harry, pretending to be upset.

‘ Oh, don’t be such a sore loser!’ giggled Ginny and looked at him slyly ‘You’ll have time to make up!’

He raised an eyebrow, then laughed heartily. He soon stopped and began to analyse Ginny. She had matured so much! Only yesterday had she stepped for the first time in Hogwarts, scared and lost. She had gone through so many things as a young girl. Being possessed and kidnapped by Voldemort wasn’t such a wonderful experience. But she had really grown up, physically and psychically. She wasn’t the same small girl with scared, chocolate-brown eyes. She was almost a woman. This thought scared Harry. He had always considered Ginny Ron’s baby sister, he had never imagined himself being anything more than a friend to her. But there she was now, sitting in front of him, smiling so sweetly…

‘ You should see your face now!’ she said waking him up from his deep thinking ‘You’re so funny, Harry! Look, you’ve got some chocolate here.’ She gestured to the corner of her mouth.

‘ Where? Here?’ he asked rubbing the wrong place, fearing he would look silly in front of her, not being able to drink some hot chocolate without getting dirty.

‘ No.’ Ginny answered, bending slightly ‘Here.’

She began to rub gently the corner of Harry’s mouth, then stopped, their faces just some inches away from each other. He looked into her warm eyes, loosing himself in their depth. Everything began to swirl around them, their lips slowly moving towards each other.
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Please tell me what you thought of this chapter! Pretty please!

[fire_angel]

OK, I know I've been a bit*h lately, but here it is. It really took me a lot to write it, so please leave at least a word at the feedback forum
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Chapter 13- Part IV

Hermione lay on the bed, her ears sharp, trying to hear every sound that might announce Ron’s arrival. She was scared of what might have happened between him and Brianna. The small creek of a rung made her start. Someone was walking up the stairs. It had to be Ron! Hermione got out of the bed and ran to the door, opening it as slow as she could. It was him, indeed. He didn’t seem to have noticed her, so Hermione followed him soundlessly up the stairs, to his room.

Harry was so close to Ginny that he could actually feel her hot breath on his face. She bit her bottom lip and looked into Harry’s emerald green eyes. Their lips had barely touched when a creek made them jump away from each other.

The next second, Ron opened the door, walking inside. He had a weird expression on his face as if he were drunk. He walked slowly to his bed and let himself fall on it’s silky sheets.

‘ What’s the matter, Ron?’ asked Harry looking worriedly at him; he had never acted that way ‘Are you OK?’

Ron just let out a baby-like gurgle and continued to stare at the ceiling.

Ginny furrowed her brow and approached him, her eyes narrowed slyly.

‘ Has someone attacked you, Ron?’ asked Harry, measuring him from head to foot to see if he was injured.

‘ I think I know what had happened!’ said Ginny slowly, a big grin on her face ‘You and Brianna kissed, am I right?’

There was a small pause while Ron didn’t say anything, but then, slowly and firmly, he nodded.

‘ Aha!’ laughed Ginny and tumbled over her brother ‘I knew it! Ron and Brianna, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G-!’

She began a wild dance across the room, singing at the top of her lungs.

‘ Ginny, shh!’ groaned Ron ‘Mum will hear you!’

He stood up and began to chase her around the room, laughing and sometimes falling, exactly like a young man in love. On the other side of the door, Hermione was leaning against the wall, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. Ron and Brianna… it didn’t even rhyme!

After hearing the story of Ron’s first kiss, Ginny decided it was time for her to go to bed. Fred and George had arrived home and Ron didn’t want them to find out about his kiss with Brianna. She opened the door to her room slowly. Hermione was lying in one of the beds, her eyes closed. Ginny crept to her own bed, took her clothes off and dressed in the night gown. She felt tired, her muscles hurt. She slipped under the sheets and closed her eyes, trying to sleep. But who could? After she had almost kissed Harry, the boy she had secretly loved since she had met him. She could still feel the soft touch of his lips on hers. If only it had lasted longer! Why did Ron have to appear exactly that moment? On the bed next to her, Hermione turned on the other side.

It was a serene night with full moon, streaks of silver light crossing the end of Ginny’s bed and Hermione’s face. She changed her position again, her feet tangling in the sheets. Ginny watched the dust swirl in the beams of moonlight. What a perfect night this has proved to be! She had almost kissed Harry, Ron had had his first kiss with Brianna… Hermione sniffed loudly and hiccuped. This wasn’t right! Wasn’t Hermione sleeping? Ginny turned on the other side to face her and saw she was awake. Her face was shiny with tears.

‘ Hermione, you’re crying!’ Ginny stood bolt upright on her bed ‘What’s wrong?’

‘ It’s nothing, Ginny, go back to sleep. I just…broke a nail!’

‘ We both know this is a fat lie!’ Ginny rolled her eyes ‘You, crying over a broken nail! Now, tell what’s wrong!’

Hermione still didn’t answer. She just wiped the tears from the corner of her eye.

‘ OK, you don’t want to tell me!’ snapped Ginny ‘We’ll do it my way, then! I think I already know why you’re acting so strange, anyway.’

Hermione looked up at her, her eyes wide and somewhat frightened.

‘ You’re in love with Ron!’

This made her start and blush violently.

‘ This is absurd!’ Hermione said frowning ‘I’m not in love with-’

‘ I haven’t finished yet!’ Ginny cut her off sternly ‘You’ve surely heard him telling us about his kiss with Brianna, haven’t you?’

Hermione nodded. She had to give up. Ginny was a smart girl, she must have looked straight through her.

‘ You don’t have to hide from me. I’m your friend and Ron’s sister. You must see this as a big advantage.’ She grinned widely and Hermione gave her a watery smile ‘You know, sometimes you have to have the feeling you’ve lost something before realising how much you need and love that thing.’

Hermione knew she was right. It was exactly how she felt. Before Brianna had appeared into the picture, she had never taken Ron seriously, even though he had sent her so many “signals” that he liked her. Now it was her turn to win him back and she knew she somewhat should have been thankful to Brianna for opening up her eyes. But she felt so hopeless, powerless and…ugly comparing to that girl. She could see Brianna was much prettier than her, with her sweet French accent and her wavy, long hair…

‘ Hermione, he loves you!’ Ginny said smiling at her ‘He would gladly give his life for you. I know him, he’s my brother. Brianna is some kind of a, let’s say, winter fling. Their relationship isn’t going to last. There’s no need to worry.’

Hermione nodded, sniffing loudly and didn’t say anything for about ten minutes. Ginny was about to fall into a dose when she finally spoke.

‘ I hate the fact that he had his first kiss with her!’

She turned on the other side, with her back to Ginny and muttered a faint “Night”.

The next morning, on Christmas Eve, Hermione woke up with her eyes swollen and bloodshot. Even though Ginny had told her so many reassuring things, she still hadn’t slept all night, crying and complaining about her bad luck. She was the last to come for breakfast.
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Love you all for your patientce! Hope it was worth it!

[fire_angel]

Hurra! Finally finished the fifth part of the 13th chapter. Phew, hard job! I'm sure you'll just love Brianna after this update! Anyway. enough blabbering, ENJOY!
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Chapter 13- Part V

‘ Mornin’ ‘moine!’ Ron managed to say through a mouthful of toast with marmalade. He seemed really happy, in a very good mood. Hermione didn’t answer to his cheerful greeting. She just sat down on a chair as far as she could from him, took a piece of toast and buttered it slowly.

‘ Are you alright?’ asked Harry eyeing her suspiciously ‘You look a little sick.’

‘ Oh, I’m feeling great, Harry! Absolutely extraordinary!’ she answered ironically and continued to eat her toast.

‘ I want to show you a really nice block, Hermione!’ said Ron trying to cheer her up ‘It’s amazing: I have to do a weird looping and then-’

‘ I’m not interested, Ron!’ she snapped angrily and stood up briskly ‘Just run over to Brianna and tell her about you wonderful Quidditch feints!’

She began to stomp up to Ginny’s room, sat down on the bed and took a thick book out of her trunk.

‘ What’s wrong with her?’ Ron asked frowning, still holding a piece of toast in front of his mouth ‘Did I say something?’

‘ It’s not what you’ve said, Ron. It’s what you’ve done.’ Ginny answered quietly.

‘ What? What did I do?’ he asked raising an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth smeared with marmalade.

Ginny shook her head in disbelief, then ate the last bit of her toast. She walked up the stairs to her room and knocked softly at the door.

‘ Hermione, it’s me. Can I come in?’

There was a snort from inside, a thing that probably meant she could enter.
Hermione was lying on the bed, the thick book in her hands. Its pages were soaked in tears.

‘ Please, Hermione don’t cry!’ said Ginny sitting next to her on the bed ‘You’re definitely a fighter, not a scared bunny that’s hiding in it’s den!’

Hermione’s chin was trembling. She hiccuped, then looked into Ginny’s eyes.

‘ Go and play Quidditch, Ginny. I’m just going to learn this charm and feel better afterwards…’

Ginny rolled her eyes.

‘ Yeah, this is you. Always finding comfort in books. Sorry, I had forgotten!’

‘ Well, it distracts from the problems and I also learn some-’

‘ Stop it! It’s not good to keep everything inside you! You might explode one day.’

Ginny sat up from the bed and made for the door.

‘ Stop being so stubborn, Hermione. It’s for your own good.’

She snapped the door shut, then ran down the stairs to Harry and Ron. They met Brianna in front of the doorstep.

‘ Hi, Ron!’ she said smiling widely. Ginny shot her a dark look, a thing that Brianna missed. ‘Should we go?’ she continued turning to the others ‘Where’s that other girl, Harmony?’

‘ It’s Hermione.’ Ginny answered through clenched teeth and stormed past Brianna, bumping into her shoulder.

Brianna frowned watching her go by, then shrugged, her face lighting up again.

‘ I can’t stay too much today, Ron. My parents want me home in one hour. Can you imagine that?’

Hermione was staring at the door, at the place where Ginny had been seconds before. She remembered her discussion with her from the night.

‘ Hermione, he loves you! He would gladly give his life for you. I know him, he’s my brother. Brianna is some kind of a, let’s say, winter fling. Their relationship isn’t going to last. There’s no need to worry.’

What if Ginny was right? Why was she punishing herself like this? She was a fighter! Hermione wiped the tears from her face, jumped out of bed and got dressed with some warmer clothes, brushed her hair quickly, then left the room, a book under her arm.

‘ How are you feeling, Hermione?’ asked Mrs Weasley, who was just climbing up the stairs to clean up around the house while everyone was gone.

‘ Much better!’ Hermione answered beaming, feeling her hopes rise.

She rushed quickly to the door and opened it just a little, having heard voices outside.

‘ Come on, let’s go!’ said Harry and Brianna grabbed Ron’s hand, smiling charmingly.

Ron’s ears flashed red and he smiled nervously. Brianna leaned even closer to him, then gave him a quick kiss on the corner of his mouth.

This certainly wasn’t something encouraging for Hermione. Her wide smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. How could she had been so stupid to think everything was so easy? Had she expected to find Ron standing ten meters away from Brianna? Had she thought she could just go to Ron and tell him she loved him? She closed the door soundlessly and leaned against it, letting herself slip slowly to the floor. She closed her eyes, for they had begun to itch and burn. What was now left for her? She just didn’t have the heart to go after her friends, to see how Brianna cuddles with Ron at every moment. Hermione bit her bottom lip, sighed, then stood up, having taken a decision. She would go for a walk down the snowy paths, to clear up her mind.

‘ You‘re so sweet!’ giggled Brianna and looked into Ron’s eyes.

‘ Must be the marmalade.’ Ron said beginning to rub the corners of his mouth.

They had almost reached the hill and Ron seemed to be mute. Brianna had to squeeze every sentence out of him. No “I love you”, no “you’re so beautiful”, no “we’ll be together for ever”. For a certain reason this made Ginny very content. She had been listening to the small talk between Brianna and Ron. Every insensitive answer from Ron made her smile cunningly.

Hermione opened the door once again. The cold air that floated inside felt really pleasant on her heated face. She began to walk slowly down a path in the snow, the only one besides the way that led to the hill. If she hadn’t been so sad she would have certainly cherished the wonderful scenery: the many trees around were entirely covered by fluffy, freshly fallen snow. Everything was like a vast, white sea. No footprints had ruined the perfection of the layer of snow. She stepped lazily along the edge of the forest, looking for a place where she would be able to stop. Soon, she spotted a tree trunk, being concealed by a thick layer of snow. Hermione approached it, brushed the snow carefully, then sat down. She began to look around, breathing in the fresh air of the forest. She closed her eyes, feeling every gust of wind that spread cool snowflakes on her face, that filled her lungs with the wonderful smell of pine. She just stood like that, meditating, without realising how quickly time passed.

After a while, she opened her eyes slowly, just in time to spot a small figure approaching quickly. It was Brianna. She was heading home. Hermione rushed behind a tree, not to be seen. She wasn’t in the mood to have a conversation with her. Brianna’s face was very red from the wind, but Hermione could also see she was angry. Drawing closer, she realised the girl was cursing in French. Luckily, Hermione had learned French during the summer holidays between the third and fourth year. She decided to follow Brianna to her house; she could feel there was something wrong.

It didn’t last long until they got there. Brianna had a very nice house.

Hermione could tell her parents were rich. In front of the house, on a wooden bench, was another girl. She must have been waiting for Brianna because, after spotting her, she had ran in her way.

The girl was quite pretty: she had shoulder-length, straight, silvery blond hair and clear, blue eyes. She began to talk to Brianna, in very fast French.

‘ Well? How did it go? He’s eating out of the palm of your hand isn’t he?’

‘ Oh, Desiree! If you would only know! He’s so boring! God, I had to pretend so much. I think my jaw might have frozen into that stupid and charming grin I had to wear!’

The girl named Desiree began to laugh heartily.

‘ It was so painful! I was like “Oh, you’re so sweet, Ron!”, “Oh, I like you so much, Ron!”’ Brianna was speaking in a very high-pitched voice making Desiree laugh even harder than before ‘and he just answered dumb things like “It’s because of the marmalade!” How stupid can you get?’

‘ This is so funny!’ Desiree managed to say, pressing her sides.

‘ Ha, ha, ha!’ said Brianna, a sour expression on her face ‘Anyway,’ she continued, the tone of her voice changing to a more cheerful one ‘I did kiss him, didn’t I? Even though it was gross, I won the bet! I can stop pretending I have deeply fallen in love with that weirdo!’
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Tell me what you think, please!

[fire_angel]

Hurra! After long weeks of waiting, it's finally here! The new update! Special thanks to Wep to whom I must have been a pain in the .... Anyways, Enjoy!
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Chapter 13- Part VI

Hermione just couldn’t believe her ears. Brianna had been pretending. All her charming smiles, Ron’s first kiss, everything had been just a façade.

‘ You worm! You filthy, little maggot! I’m going to break your neck and feed you to Hagrid’s Blast-Ended Skrewts!’

Hermione was boiling with anger. She could barely restrain from getting out of her hideout and grab a handful of Brianna’s shiny hair. How could she have been so cruel? Ron had really fallen in love with her and what had she done? Pretended to like him, just to win a stupid bet with her idiot friend! Tears ran down her cheeks, this time of anger. She watched Brianna begin to act like Ron, walking like him, talking like him and laughing like him, but in a more grotesque manner.

It was too much for Hermione. She turned on her heel and crept through the forest, heading back for the Burrow. Even though everything had made her so angry, Hermione was ashamed to admit that a small voice in her brain was actually happy about the event. Ron was all hers again. No stupid pretty-face would ever come between her and Ron. But was she actually going to do anything? Was she going to go straight to him and confess her feelings. The small voice screamed “YES” with all it’s might, but Hermione just shook her head to get rid of the idea. As much as she wanted it, Ron wasn’t ready for this. Also, why ruin such a wonderful friendship when relationships at this age didn’t last more than a few months?

But what about Brianna? What did she have do about that horrible girl? She could go straight to Ron and tell him everything she had heard. But what if he didn’t believe her and thought she was just jealous. No, she couldn’t do that. She would hurt him too much. She could pretend not to have ever been there and keep her mouth shut. But she wouldn’t be able to bear seeing Ron suffer again. The best thing to do was to talk to Ginny, tell her everything. The both of them would surely find a solution to the problem.

She suddenly stopped walking and looked around. She had been so preoccupied about what she should do next that she hadn’t paid any attention to the direction she was heading for.

‘ Great!’ she muttered under her breath ‘Exactly what was missing right now. For me to get lost in the forest on Christmas Eve!’

She took a few steps further, looking around, trying to recognise the place where she was. She reached for her wand in the pocket, as usual when she had a problem, but remembered she wasn’t in Hogwarts and wasn’t allowed to perform magic out of school yet. Why on Earth had she been so absent-minded?

‘ Oh, even better!’ Hermione groaned sarcastically.

She closed her eyes, breathed deeply and cleared her head of all the panic thoughts. The forest seemed quiet and peaceful, but also dark and mysterious. The snow made everything so soundless. There were just about three hours until dusk. She shuddered looking around and erased the word peaceful from the depiction of the woods. It was something creepy about the forest that made Hermione think she was not alone. She felt someone looking at her, observing her every move.

‘ This is paranoia! I’m going crazy!’ she thought.

Though, she didn’t know exactly whether she was imagining or it was for real. Sometimes, while being alone, there’s the odd feeling that there actually is someone else watching you.

A frosty layer of snow had gathered in Hermione’s hair and on her clothes, making her shiver with cold. She began to rub her hands together to get them warmer. If only she could use magic! Everything would be so simple and quick! Sometimes, muggles were to be admired, how they could get out of the worst situations without a wand. Hermione looked up at the branches of the tall trees: they were bending heavily under the big amount of snow, sometimes shaking it down in fluffy heaps. She just stood there, as if petrified, thinking hard about her options. She could go back, following her own footsteps, but she wouldn’t be able to get too far, as it was snowing so densely.

Exactly when Hermione wanted to turn, there was a small creaking sound. She stopped dead again, looking around. There was no one to be seen close to the spot where she was standing. Her heart began to beat faster, hammering against her chest. She took a few steps further, moving slowly, her ears sharpened for every sound.

‘ Probably just a bird or something.’ Hermione whispered to herself, trying to calm down.

Suddenly, the creaking noise echoed again. The girl felt a really painful blow on the top of her head and everything went black.
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I just hope you don't consider this a cliffe, just something to add a bit of tension. :P

[fire_angel]

Finally after more than one month, the update is ready! Thanks to my beta reader Wep and to everyone that had been so patient and wrote me feedback! Hugs!
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Chapter 13- Part VII

‘ Hermione! Hermione! HERMIONE!’

Ron, Harry and Ginny had arrived earlier at the Burrow that day, finding Mrs Weasley all alone, tiding up the rooms. They had brought Hermione a bunch of magical winter flowers to cheer her up, but she wasn’t there. They had thought Hermione was at the Burrow and Mrs Weasley was sure the girl was on the hill with the others. Immediately they had left the Burrow in a hurry to go look for her before it got too dark.

‘ Where can she be?’ asked Ginny looking at the sinister scenery around her.

The sun was beginning to melt down, bathing the surroundings in a very creepy darkness. They had been looking for Hermione for about an hour and still there was no trace of her.

‘ Maybe she went for a stroll in the woods.’ Whispered Ron, biting his bottom lip ‘She was so angry before we left! I should have apologised to her. What if something bad has happened-’

‘ Hermione is a smart witch! She must be alright.’ Harry cut him off, though didn’t sound convinced himself. The forest was a dangerous place, one could never know what creatures were lurking in there.

‘ I’m going in there! I must make sure she doesn’t have problems-’

Without waiting for the others to answer Ron began to run as fast as he could towards the edge of the forest.

‘ Wait for us!’ yelled Harry, closely followed by Ginny.

Having just entered the motionless forest, Ron stopped abruptly, causing Harry and Ginny to bump into him.

‘ We should split up or something.’ He said, his voice sounding more serious than it had ever sounded before ‘I’ll go this way’ he continued pointing straight ahead, at the darkest and creepiest way ‘Harry, you go right and Ginny left, alright?’

The other two nodded and wanted to make for the shown direction, but Ron stopped them.

‘ If you find her, shout as loud as you can. I’ll do the same. And, if anything happens, you get attacked or something, just use your wands. It’s better to be alive and expelled than in a coffin or at St Mungo’s.’

Harry raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything and headed his direction. He was a little mad at Ron. Who did he think he was, giving him advice? After all wasn’t he Harry Potter, the boy who lived? Hadn’t he escaped Voldemort’s attempts to kill him so many times? He was the one that had founded the DA after all, he was the one that should give advice to everyone and he should have gone the more dangerous and dark path, not Ron.

Ginny had been walking for a few minutes, but to her it seemed as if she had been on a life-long journey. She was shivering, both with cold and fright. If only Harry were with her! She stopped, ashamed at the thought. She was supposed to be looking for Hermione, not day-dreaming about Harry. She sighed bitterly and continued walking, jumping over a fallen branch.

Ron wasn’t feeling anything, the cold, the fright, he didn’t pay attention to the eerie and spine-tingling feeling on his back. A thought popped into his head, making him feel guilty. Ginny had said Hermione had been acting awkward because of him. Maybe this was the reason for her flight. If he had apologised for whatever he had done, they would have been home now, laughing and thinking of the presents they would find the next day, on Christmas. He bit his bottom lip and moved aside a lowered branch, loaded with snow. He stopped dead on the spot, noticing Hermione lying on the ground.

He rushed so quickly to her that he fell on his knees in the snow. Hermione was stiff and cold, a gash on her forehead from which blood was flowing.

‘ Hermione! Can you hear me?’

He lifted the girl from the ground and turned on his heel, heading for the edge of the forest.

‘ Harry! Ginny! I’ve found her! Come back to the Burrow, I’m going ahead in front of you.’

But Harry and Ginny were already waiting for him at the edge when he got there. They had been running to get there in time. At the sight of Hermione, Ginny let out a horrified yelp.

‘ Is she dead?’ she asked, her voice shaking.

‘ No, I don’t think so.’ Ron shook his head, not even wanting to think about this possibility.

They began to run through the snow, on the path they had made by walking to the forest. Ron had covered Hermione with his jacket. He could feel her getting warmer, this meaning she was still alive. They finally arrived home, all sweaty and panting.

‘ Merlin’s beard, what happened?’

Mr Weasley had just arrived home. He was taking off his coat and preparing for dinner when Ron opened the door wide and stepped quickly inside, heading directly for the crackling fire. He put Hermione swiftly down in front of the fireplace, then took a moist cloth and began to rub her wound.

‘ What happened?’ Mrs Weasley came running from the kitchen ‘Is she alright?’

‘ We found her in the forest.’ Ginny answered her parents’ question and hurried over to Ron, being followed by the rest of her family and Harry.

‘ But why is she wounded?’ asked Mr Weasley watching Ron worriedly.

‘ There was a fallen branch next to her.’ The boy answered, not taking his eyes from Hermione ‘Must have hit her, it was a very big and heavy one.’

‘ Poor dear.’ Mrs Weasley sighed, her eyes filling with tears ‘Better take her upstairs and tuck her in bed. I’ll brew a warming potion. She’ll feel better in no time. I just hope I have all the ingredients…’

She left the room wiping her tears and headed back for the kitchen. Mr Weasley took out his wand and pointed it at Hermione, muttering a few words. The unconscious girl began to float in mid-air, heading for Ginny’s room. Ron wanted to run after her, but Ginny stopped him with a swift move.

‘ I’ll go help her in her night gown.’ She whispered and disappeared up the stairs.

A few minutes later, Hermione was lying in her bed, covered by at least three warm blankets and Mrs Weasley was pouring slowly some hot liquid down her mouth.

There was a soft knock at the door and Ron, Harry and Mr Weasley came in, trying not to make any loud sounds as if they had entered the room of a dying person.
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I'm dying to know what you think about this bit!