If Only To Feel...

Title: If Only To Feel
Author: Jadestonedreams
Rating: R+For the overall story
Disclaimer: If they aren\'t in the book or the Movie they\'re mine.. if not they\'re J.K. Rowlings…\"sighs\" Lucky duck!!!
Pairing: Harry/Draco, + other pairings
Summary: Changes are taking place that will send Draco and Harry’s life on a whirlwind path destined together. Harry is a veela searching for his mate. Will the secrets that Draco hides, keep Harry from claiming his true love?
A/N: I don\'t follow the book in my stories, so people who may be dead there. Might turn up alive here.
Warning: Slash. Mpreg and sex…You no like.. go away!!

Chapter 10…

Seeing is not always believing…


\"Hey Malfoy wait up!\"

Stopping in the middle of his stride Draco glanced back over his shoulder and smiled. It had been nearly a week since his encounter with Sirius Black and the Weasley twins. He\'d managed to make it the rest of the day and the next without seeing anyone. Well except for Neville Longbottom, for some reason that Draco could not begin to explain he liked the other boy\'s company.

The two of them spent the evenings laughing and talking while Draco helped the other boy study for potions. It hadn\'t taken long for him to see that the quiet Gryffindor had a lot more to him than anyone ever knew. The problem was, right now, he didn\'t feel like any company. The last thing he wanted to do was to hurt the boy who had been more kind to him than he probably deserved.

Coming up along side of him, Neville smiled as he looked around. Luckily no one was there at the moment. Students were still in class and Draco was just on his way to see his godfather.

\"I\'m glad I caught you,\" stated Neville quickly. \"I wanted to let you know that I won\'t be able to make it tonight after all.\" Draco felt a small wave of relief flood over him, it wasn\'t that he was growing tired of helping Neville, he simply was grateful for a break.

\"Besides,\" continued Neville as if reading the other man\'s thoughts. \"I think we could both use a break for one night, don\'t you?\"

Rubbing his eyes, Draco smiled and yawned slightly. Sleep had seemed to either be avoiding him completely for the past few nights or sneaking up on him suddenly in the middle of the day. He\'d nearly fallen asleep during one of McGonagall’s lectures the day before. Luckily Harry had shaken him awake before the older woman could notice. Since he was only there for a little while Harry wasn\'t required to go to any classes but had opted to sit in on a few for the remainder of his time there. They had at least three together. It had struck Draco as odd when Harry had sauntered in a few minutes before class started and sat next to him. A quick smile was the only explanation that he\'d gotten before the Professor had started class.

\"Yeah I could use a break, I\'m really tired,\" commented Draco trying not to sound too relieved.

Smirking slightly Neville tilted his head to the side and smiled. \"Yeah I noticed you nearly fell asleep in class. Good thing Harry was there.\"

Draco could feel his cheeks burn slightly and prayed that the other boy didn\'t notice. The need to be near the raven-haired boy seemed to increase every day. Harry himself seemed to actually enjoy spending time with Draco, often inviting him to join him and his friends whenever they were together.

He had yet to tell anyone of his encounter with Sirius Black. For one thing he really didn\'t see the point of telling anyone about the encounter and secondly what did it really matter in the end. In only a few short days Harry would be gone and not long after so would he. \'Though in a more permanent fashion.\' He thought. If everyone wanted to think the worst of him then so be it. Everyone seemed to have formed an opinion on him. Too bad most of their beliefs were wrong.

Looking over at Neville, Draco couldn’t help but smile. Neville had been the only one who had not accused him of literally being up to no good when the subject of he and his supposed enemy came up. In fact they had never really discussed the matter in all the times they had spent together.

\"Hmmm, yes I suppose,\" commented Draco doing his best to look as if he didn\'t care one way or another about Harry Potter.

If Draco had looked closer instead of letting thoughts in his mind wander to certain dark whips of hair hanging smoothly over emerald eyes that smiled brilliantly back out at him, he would have seen the knowing look that crossed over the Gryffindor\'s face. Neville Ellessedil Longbottom was many things. He was quiet, shy…good at herbology … decent at curses, and horrible at potions…at least he believed so. There was one thing though that the shy Gryffindor was exceedingly good in and it was people. More to the fact, he was good in the study of other people\'s behavior.

Being that he was almost completely ignored the first few years he had attended Hogwarts, Neville had learned to watch others and observed how they interacted. He hung out with his friends of course, but most forgot he was even there. Never really even talking directly too him. Ignoring him as if he were a shadow, always there but for all intended purposes, unimportant. He\'d often wondered for awhile if he simply got up and left would his friend\'s even notice, or would they carry on as if nothing was wrong.

The answer to that particular question had come last year when he\'d done just that without actually meaning to. A trip into Hogsmeade with the boys from his dorm had led to butterbeers at the Three Broomsticks and much enthusiastic fun. It had never really occurred to him to tell the others where he was going when he\'d run into an old friend from home while there. It had simply felt good to be talking to someone and not simply be there, while others monopolized the conversations. In hindsight now, it would have been best to tell the others he was leaving but at the time well it never occurred to him.

Returning to the dorms later that evening he discovered how important that little fact of telling others when you\'re leaving was. An hour\'s worth of yelling and lectures from both Hermione and Ginny had left him with a terrible headache. Not to mention how angry his dorm mates were after having spent a great deal of their time looking for him, completely ruining any plans that they had made for that day. To top that off, he\'d also received a week\'s worth of detention from his head of house, Professor McGonagal, along with another lecture on ‘why it’s bad’ not telling anyone of your whereabouts. That little incident had in itself revealed a lot to him, about himself and the others.

Looking over at Draco now, Neville was glad for those little insights, which he came to see in his friends. It had taken some time over the past few years but constant …well, let’s just call it surveillance of two of Hogwarts greatest enemies had revealed a lot to him. Like the slight hue arising in the other boy\'s cheeks which faded as quickly as it came, that another person never would have noticed. Neville, of course, did.

\"Well, I guess I\'ll see you tomorrow then,\" smiled Neville looking back down the hall and back again. \"I have a new experiment I want to try out.\"

Opening his mouth to speak, the short reply that would have come out was suddenly overtaken by the sudden wave of dizziness that came over him. \'Crap\' thought Draco leaning back against the wall and rubbing his temple \'not now\'. Closing his eyes against the onslaught of colors that invaded his eyes once again, Draco took a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself.

\"Are you alright?\" Neville asked worriedly taking a step forward.

\"Yeah,\" laughed Draco pushing himself away from the wall and trying to sound light-hearted. \"It’s just a little headache. I need to lie down.\"

It wasn\'t until he felt two arms wrap around his waist that Draco realized he must have stumbled forwards a bit, right into the Neville. The other boy\'s arms wrapped around his waist trying to help him stand. His apology was cut off by the occurrence of two things. First, the sudden feel of two soft lips closing over his and then the sound of laughter and footsteps heading towards them followed by a sharp gasp.

Pulling away suddenly Draco looked over at the shocked faces of Harry, Seamus and Dean, then back to the guilty face of Neville standing next to him.

\"So this is where you\'ve been sneaking off too.\" chimed Seamus coming out of his shock to take a few steps towards Draco and Neville. \"We\'ve been wondering where you\'ve been the last few evenings.\"

Neville could feel his own cheeks start to burn slightly as Draco kept staring at him. Turning away to look over at Seamus, Neville shook his head. \"It\'s not what you think.\"

\"Then what is it?\" Harry asked speaking for the first time.

\"It\'s none of your business,\" sneered Draco turning towards Harry for the first time.

Glancing between the two boys Neville shivered inwardly. ‘Why had he kissed Malfoy?’ he wondered. Yes, he had known for a few years now that he preferred guys to girls when it came to dating. Not that he\'d actually told any of his friends that. It wasn\'t that he was ashamed of the fact. It was just that, well, he felt it was really none of their business. He had, of course, noticed how fantastically hot the blonde was, he wasn\'t blind after all. But it had been like an overwhelming feeling of desire had come over him when the other boy had stumbled into his arms earlier. The urge to claim those soft lips near his had been strong. He could still feel the softness of them even now.

\"If you guys don\'t mind, I need to speak to Draco,” stated Neville looking back over at Harry.

\"Yeah alright\" replied Dean speaking for the first time causing Neville to jump as the voice came from right next to him. The sandy haired boy\'s presence had temporarily been forgotten.

Looking over, Seamus smiled faintly at Neville. He felt a wave of sympathy wash over him as he took in the other boy\'s lost and somewhat frightened expression at being caught. Not that he could blame him for what he did. Draco Malfoy seemed to be as close to perfection as possible with that smooth whitish blonde hair caressing that pale porcelain alabaster skin. Making you itch to run your fingers gently through the strands and over that angelic body. Letting a smile sweep across his face as he turned his glance to the pale blonde of his thoughts Seamus\'s smile faded as a shiver ran up his spine. The air seemed to have dropped ten degrees suddenly or at least that was what it seemed like as he looked between both Draco and Harry.

\"Uhmmm… yeah, come on Dean,\" stated Seamus suddenly walking over to the other boy and pulling on his arm. \"We need to get going or we\'ll be late.\"

Narrowing his eyes in slight confusion and annoyance, Dean nodded before heading back the way they had came, followed by Seamus, leaving Draco, Neville and Harry standing there.

\"Uhmm, Harry I…I need to speak to Draco alone.\"

For a moment Neville was sure Harry was going to protest or begin demanding answers to questions that he had no answers to. But Harry had only nodded his head somewhat reluctantly before brushing past them to continue on his way. Which both Draco and Neville noticed, was not in the same direction of Dean and Seamus. The look that he shot Neville as he passed him sent a chill down the other boy\'s spine. Gulping Neville turned towards Draco only to be slammed up against the wall.

\"What the hell was that?\" demanded Draco.

\"I don\'t know!\" exclaimed Neville pushing the other boy off him.

\"What do you mean, ‘you don\'t know?\" growled Draco shaking his head. \"You don\'t just go around randomly kissing people do you?\"

\"Only the ones that fall into my arms,\" laughed Neville trying to lighten the mood.

The glare sent his way told him he\'d been unsuccessful.

Sighing Neville shook his head. \"I\'m sorry; I really don\'t know what came over me. I should not have kissed you like that.\"

Draco for his part wanted to scream in fustration. Longbottom, Neville Longbottom of all people had kissed him and right in front of Harry. Whether it was from the shock of the kiss or seeing Harry and his friends standing there Draco didn\'t know. The affect though had cleared up his dizzy feeling almost immediately. Now though he could feel his headache returning.

\"I\'m going back to my room now. I think my headache is getting worse.\" stated Draco. \"I think maybe we\'re done studying for the rest of the week, don\'t you?\"

\"Draco…I…\"

\"Don\'t,\" sighed Draco turning away. \"Just don’t.”

Watching till Draco\'s silvery blonde hair disappeared down the hall Neville slid to the floor, his head buried in his hands. \'What have I done?\' he thought running his fingers through his hair. It had taken him awhile to figure out, but he knew. He knew that Malfoy had feelings for Harry and what had he done. He\'d kissed him, right in front of the other boy. The little voice telling him that he hadn\'t known Harry was there, was of little comfort as he gathered himself up and headed back to Gryffindor tower. He never noticed the pair of eyes following his movement.

***

In a small town somewhere else:

Reaching into her crumpled popcorn bag Paige Lebeaux felt around amongst the bits of un-popped and half-popped pieces in search of a full-blown kernel of popped corn. \'Gotcha\' she thought, finally locating a rather large piece and bringing it to her mouth to nibble on. The salted butter taste slipped past her lips just as the familiar tingling sensation crept upon the back of her neck. Closing her eyes she let the feeling wash over her.

Magic, she could feel it, could sense it, could see it, and sometimes-even taste it. This magic had a light tingling sensation. Like when the autumn winds brush your hair across your cheeks. Peering through half closed eyes she smiled. Wherever it was coming from it wasn\'t meant to harm, this she could tell. Dark magic, she knew, had a very different feel to it. Dark magic felt cold and itchy. Dark magic cast felt like tiny little spiders crawling through your veins.

Looking up she sighed \'damn\' she though as she watched the credits rolling up \'I really wanted to see the end of that.’

\"Come on,\" laughed a light voice next to her.

Looking over, Paige smiled at her sister. Morrigana Lebeaux, Paige\'s sister and current film buddy stood to leave. She too had felt the magic and like her sister had let the feeling wash over her. Looking around she snickered at a couple not far from them, the movie apparently forgotten in their haste to devour each other.

Rolling her eyes as she pushed her sister out of the aisle and towards the exit, Paige couldn\'t help smiling.

\"What time is it?\" Morrigana asked looking around for a clock.

\"It\'s …damn my watch stopped,\" groaned Paige tapping the glass cover of her wristwatch.

\"Excuse me, do you know what the time is?\" asked Morrigana as two men brushed past them, one shaking his head no before continuing on their way. If it hadn\'t been for their slight rudeness she would have said they were both quite handsome.

Turning to her sister she shrugged and headed to the ladies room.

\"Let\'s just go,\" stated Morrigana coming out a moment later followed by her sister. \"I\'m hungry and Dumont\'s stops serving dinner soon if it hasn\'t already.\"

\"My God, you\'re like a bottomless pit…you just ate a whole bag of popcorn!\"

\"Hey, that was you. Thanks for sharing by the way.\" smirked Morrigana falling in step beside her sister.

\"Rule number 1: no talking during the movie…rule number 2: Unless you are on a rather hot date with person of your dreams; Popcorn is shareable by buyer’s consent only…meaning next time buy your own…rule number 3 be sure to….”

\"Enough!\" laughed Morrigana taking hold of her sister\'s arm and pulling her out into the night air. Taking a deep breath of fresh air as they looked around, the two young women ignored the looks sent their way. Travelling around the globe had brought many comments on the beauty of the two. The fact that they were twins was even more fascinating to many because they looked nothing alike. Paige had her reddish golden hair hanging down her back in wavy curls and with her eyes a deep rich blue which looked out at you from a soft pinkish slightly freckled face. She looked more like one of the Weasley\'s than the twin of the woman walking next to her.

Morrigana Lebeaux brushed finger through the long strands of her hair pushing it away from her face. Like her sister\'s, her hair also hung in long wavy curls down the center of her back. The reddish curls though were as dark as midnight until light filtered through them giving each strand a look of burning coal. Her eyes an emerald green looked back at you from milky white skin; the paleness of her skin only overridden by the slight pale hue of her cheeks.

They were a stunning sight to behold as they walked down the streets of the small town of Waterford. Many bystanders often turned their heads as they walked past. The two women paid little or no attention to these goings on. They had become so used to other people glancing at them they no longer paid any heed, they would move on after awhile.

\"You see, I told you they would still be open.\" smiled Paige as they turned the corner a few blocks from the theater.

Looking ahead Morrigana did indeed smile as they came upon the sight of one of her favorite eatery\'s Dumonte\'s, practically pulling her sister across the street to enter.

Laughing, both women were halfway across the street when the piercing sound of screaming wailed across the night sky causing both women to suddenly stop in their tracks.

The popping sounds coming from all around them as they turned sent chills down them as the feeling of dark magic permeated through the air. Figures in black robes stood not far from them, white masks covering their faces, hiding their identities as they swept through the crowds leaving people screaming in agony from curses.

Paige could feel her heart quicken as she grabbed her sister\'s arm and ran. The shouting and screaming around them seemed to increase as the black robed figures made their way through uncaringly. Their father had told them of these figures ever since they could remember. These Death Eaters or at least Paige believed they were called that. She hated them. She hated them with a passion. They had taken the life of her beloved mother and left her family in hiding.

\"Run faster!\" shouted Morrigana next to her.

Morrigana shivered as she felt the dark magic growing around her in the air. The prickly swooshing past her as she watched an elderly woman fall down a few feet away from her and Paige. Blood seeped from the woman\'s mouth and nose as she convulsed on the ground. Her screams were sending quakes throughout the dark haired woman\'s body. The urge to regurgitate at the site of that poor creature sent her spiraling to the ground pulling her and her sister down.

Quickly getting to her feet to pull her sister up, Paige whipped around at the whispered voices behind her. Her eyes widened at the flash of green light emanating from the end of the wands pointing at them. The next few moments seemed to pass slowly as Paige watched the green light grow brighter and start to spiral towards her and her sister as if in slow motion.

The sound of popping around her as she watched the Deatheater fall from another curse sent his way. There was a flash of red hair turning her way and two pairs of cornflower blue eyes looking towards her sadly as the green light hit her full force in the chest. She could feel the magic explode inside her chest as she fell back across her sister. The two bodies sprawled across the ground, no visible form of life coming from them anymore.

****

Charlie Weasley arrived at the scene along with the other Aurors not long after the attack had begun. The sounds of screaming and panic filled the air as he and the other members of his team did what they could to save the frightened muggles around them. Reports on the attack had come in only moments earlier, leaving no time for anyone to prepare.

Looking over at the forms of the two women as they fell, he couldn\'t help but feel a moment of sadness at the end of such lives. Turning back around he went to help the others. There was no time to mourn the deaths right now. No time to stop and grieve for strangers.

\"Stupefy!\" he yelled out causing another dark robed figure to fall.

\'How much longer will we have to deal with this?’ he wondered as he jumped back just in time from a stray curse sent his way.

It had taken only moments, but it seemed like hours had passed before they were able to beat back the Deatheaters. The price had been the death of at least 2 members of his team. Others, wizards and muggle alike were left in shock and badly injured. It would take awhile to straighten out everything. Members of the Ministry had been called in to deal with the frightened muggles and to clean up the mess left by Voldemorts followers.

\"Charlie.\"

Looking up from the report in his hand, Charlie ran his fingers through his hair as Jared Finchly approached him. The two of them hadn\'t been working together long, but they had become fast friends after the young boy had saved his life in one of the last raids. Charlie was glad to see the other man alive.

\"Both Gordon and Nichols are going to be fine, but they\'ll have to spend a few weeks at St. Mungo’s.\" stated the younger man looking around sadly. \"Why in the world would they attack here anyway?\"

\"I don\'t know,\" replied Charlie sadly. \"Let\'s get back to headquarters maybe they will be able to give us some clue.\"

\"I believe all the muggles have been accounted for and obliviated as to what happened here tonight. A cover story about how a gas explosion in one of the destroyed stores causing the injuries and hallucinations had been set.”

Shaking his head, Charlie let a light smile pass over his face at the story the ministry had set up. Small attacks sometimes could be hidden with a simple charm to make the muggles forget. Others like this one leaving a few people dead and building destroyed required more work.

\"Any idea who those two are?” asked Charlie jerking in the direction behind where he stood. \"Unfortunately I was unable to stop the bastard before he killed them.\"

Looking past his friend and team leader, Jared scanned the area and frowned.

\"Who?\"

\"The two women over…\" began Charlie his voice fading off as he looked out at the empty ground.

\"There\'s no one there.\" replied Jared looking. \"Are you sure that\'s where they were? Maybe the ministry has gotten to them already?\"

\"No,\" replied Charlie as he began walking towards the area.

\"Well they\'re gone now,\" Jared stated following him.

Bending down and letting his eyes roam over the smooth ground, Charlie frowned. It had been here, he was sure of it. The images of the two women falling from the Death Eaters curse cast upon them. The red hair reminded him of his own family, making him wonder for a moment if she might not have been a distant relative.

\"I\'ll go check and see if anyone knows anything,\" stated Jared interrupting his thoughts.

Nodding Charlie stood to follow before a twinkle caught his eye in the grass. Narrowing his eyes as he reached out to feel along the grass, his fingers connected with a slim gold chain. Lifting it up to examine, he frowned at the slim silver chain and Crescent moon hanging from one end, a smooth flat round medallion on the other. Flipping the metal over, he let the tip of his run along the imprinted words.

\'Xilium averda fi\'derium leginon\'

The words had no meaning to him as he whispered them into the night air. Slipping the chain into his pocket as he turned to make his way to where Jared stood with two other ministry workers he noted how quiet the night suddenly seemed after everything that had occurred.

The cleanup was nearly completed, only a few members of the ministry remained now. Running his fingers through the thick strands of his red hair he glanced back over to the area where the two women had fallen once more before leaving, never noticing the two sets of eyes watching his movements from the distance.

*****

\"Dammit,\" whispered Paige rubbing her wrist gently as she peered out at the scene before her and her sister. \"He\'s got my bracelet.\"

\"I know,\" groaned Morrigana. \"There\'s nothing we can do about that now, though. We\'ve got to get out of here before they see us.\"

\"You\'re right,\" agreed Paige turning to her sister. \"I don\'t want to have to explain to them why we\'re still alive and not out there rotting on the ground like those others.\"

\"Yeah,\" snorted Morrigana nodding her head in agreement.

Not looking back both women made there way away from the devastating scene. Now was not the time to explain who and what they were.

*******

Throwing his books on the large desk near what appeared to be an enchanted window giving the impression of looking out at the sky; Draco made his way across the room and sat on the edge of the bed before falling back across, his legs hanging down along the side.

Hearing the tentative knock at the door he groaned as he sat up. He really wasn\'t in the mood to see anyone right now, especially Neville apologizing to him again. Opening the door a moment later Draco wished that it had been Neville standing there instead of the corridor\'s occupant, namely one Harry Potter.

\"Potter, what the hell are you doing here?\" growled Draco taking a look down the hall to see if anyone was there.

\"Can I come in?\" asked Harry not bothering to wait for an answer before sliding pass Draco and entering the room.

\"Sure,\" muttered Draco rolling his eyed slightly as he closed the door. \"Come on in…make yourself at home.\"

\"Nice place. I guess being a Malfoy does have its advantages,\" creamed Harry in a smooth but snarky tone. Walking around the room and stopping in front of the window to peer out at what looked like a spring lake, Harry took a deep breathe to calm himself as he waited for Draco to say something.

\"I suppose,\" muttered Draco heading back over to the bed and sitting at the foot of it. \"Now, is there a reason why you’re here or am I supposed to guess?\"

Now that he was actually here, Harry seemed at a lost for words as he stared across the room at Draco. Seeing Neville kiss Draco earlier had sent a swirl of anger through him like never before. The feeling had left him in a foul mood as he walked along the corridors of the school.

Turning away from the window scenery he shrugged.

\"I was just wondering how long you and Neville have been together.\" questioned Harry nonchalantly. \"I mean you could have told me…\"

Running his fingers through his hair Draco sighed. He could feel another headache coming on.

\"Look Potter, not that it\'s any of your business but Longbottom and I are not together….”

\"So you\'re just shagging?\" asked Harry bitterly.

\"What? No!!\"

\"Then what the bloody hell were you doing kissing in the halls?\" hissed Harry getting annoyed.

\"I wasn\'t kissing Neville!\" shouted Draco jumping to his feet.

\"So, its Neville now, is it?\" sneered Harry, in what could have been considered true Malfoy form. \"Sure as hell didn\'t take you long to use his first name did it?\"

\"So what, now you\'re jealous that I actually use Neville\'s name and not yours?\" scoffed Draco.

\"I\'m not jealous Malfoy; I just don\'t want to see my friends get hurt,\" stated Harry coldly.

The moment the words had left his mouth Harry knew he\'d made a mistake. The flash of pain across Draco\'s face sent his stomach into knots. Inside he berated himself for saying anything. The silence in the room was deafening except for the ticking chime of the old antique clock decorating the wall just beyond them.

\"Get out!\" hissed Draco turning away from him.

\"Look Malfoy I…”

\"What? No … Is that what you think?\" asked Draco icily his eyes shooting daggers at Harry as he spun around quickly. \"That I would somehow hurt Longbottom?\"

\"That\'s not what I meant,\" stammered Harry \"It\'s just that Neville….\"

\"Can take care of himself.\" interrupted Draco bitterly. \"Neither he nor I need your approval on what we do.\"

\"So you are together then?\"

\"I\'ve already answered that question,\" hissed Draco walking over to the door and opening it. \"Now if you don\'t mind, I would like you to leave.\"

Taking a few steps towards the door Harry stopped next to the blonde boy. Opening his mouth to say something he was stopped by the coldness in those silvery Grey orbs staring back at him.

\"I\'ll talk to you later, then,\" he muttered stepping out into the hall.

\"Yeah, later,\" muttered Draco slamming the door shut behind him.

*****~*****

Standing outside the door Harry hit his fist against the stone walls of the castle in frustration. He hadn\'t meant to come here and start an argument with Malfoy. He certainly hadn\'t meant to act as if he was jealous of him and Neville being together.

He wasn\'t jealous at all. After all he and Draco were only friends, nothing more. If Draco wanted to be with Neville then who was he to get upset over it, after all wasn\'t he just thinking earlier about how Neville deserved someone.

Looking down at the broken skin of his knuckles and the blood seeping between his fingers he groaned and headed back to the Gryffindor tower, wincing at the pain in his hand as he trekked along the way.

\"Harry mate, where have you been?\" chimed Seamus looking up from what appeared to be a heated game of wizard’s chess with Katherine Parker a seventh year Ravenclaw. Of course everyone called her Kat and if Harry remembered correctly, she was currently dating one of the Creevey brothers.

\"Just out walking,\" smiled Harry keeping his hands to his side and hoping that none of his friends would notice. He would have to go see Madam Pomfrey later.

\"Well it\'s a good thing you came back when you did, you get to see me humiliate Finnigan here,\" smiled Kat looking up from the board.

\"Is that a challenge Parker?\" hissed Seamus letting his gaze fall back on to the snickering face of the Ravenclaw.

“Seamus I don\'t know why you\'re even playing with Kat, she beats you every time,\" laughed Harry with a smile.

\"Hmmph,\" snorted Seamus giving Harry a quick glare. \"Not this time.\"

\"Sorry luv, but you know it’s true,\" laughed Kat a little gleam appearing in her eye as she added with a smirk. \"And no it\'s not a challenge…. it\'s a promise.\"

Rolling his eyes to himself as he made his way past them Harry smiled. Kat was known for her chess playing skills having nearly beaten Ron on a few occasions. Although after seeing her play some of the other members of his and other houses Harry got the distinct impression that Kat may have just let Ron win after all.

\"Oh yeah Harry!!\" called Seamus from behind him stopping him just as he was heading up the stairs. \"Have you seen Neville…you know, since earlier?\"

Turning back around Harry frowned. \"No. I thought he came back here?\"

\"Both Dean and I came here, to ask him about …you know, but he wasn\'t here,\" shrugged Seamus now looking back down at the board.

\"He\'s probably just off studying again somewhere,\" stated Harry turning to head up the stairs again. \"He probably doesn\'t want to get harassed by you two.\"

\"Why would you want to harass Neville?\" interrupted Kat looking over the board at Seamus.

\"No reason,\" smiled Seamus \"Neville just seems to have himself a new boyfriend is all.\"

\"Longbottom?\" exclaimed Kat leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. \"Well it doesn\'t surprise me.\" she stated leaning forward again and making another move. \"Too bad though, I know a lot of girls in my class who\'ll be disappointed.\"

Seamus frowned and watched helplessly as his pawn was mercilessly crushed beneath the blow of Kat\'s queen.

\"Ahhh, the thrill of victory!!\" exclaimed Kat smiling at him and standing up.

\"I told you she\'d beat you!\" laughed Harry over his shoulders as he headed up the stairs listening to the sound of Seamus groaning.

***~~***

Hermione Granger stood in front of her full-length mirror and smiled at the image before her. The once unruly mop of brown hair a top her head now hung smoothly down her backside in flowing cascades. Her face adorned with only the slightest hint of makeup as she applied a touch of lipstick to bring out her soft lips, which were smiling back at her now as she peered at her reflection.

\"Wow! You look fabulous sis,\" exclaimed Winifred sitting on the edge of the four poster bed, her bare foot dangling off the side as her chin rested on the bend of her knee as she continued to paint her toenails.

At the age of 14 Winifred Granger stood only slightly shorter than her older sister. Her dark auburn hair pulled back into a ponytail that hung loosely down her back. The vast differences between the two sisters were easy to note at first glance. The pale skin tone of Hermione stood in deep contrast to Winifred\'s darker ones. The evidence of womanhood had already begun to appear on Winifred\'s slight form giving her a shapelier and much older look than her age allowed.

Twirling around to smile at her baby sister, Hermione grinned.

\"Thanks Fred, but I\'m only going out with a few of the gang. Nothing big.\"

Smiling at the use of Hermione\'s nickname for her Winifred simply shrugged. Hermione was the only one who ever called her Fred and it always made her smile.

\"I\'m sure Adam doesn\'t feel that way,\" snickered the younger girl ducking away as Hermione reached out to swat her.

\"Winifred Anna Granger, you know I have a boyfriend\" exclaimed Hermione with her hands on her hips.

Rolling her eyes Winifred snorted. \"Geez, you sound like mom.\"

Opening her mouth to give a retort, Hermione quickly shut it before smiling.

\"I do sound like her, don\'t I?\" she laughed.

Nodding slightly as she stretched out across the bed Winifred watched as her older and elusive sister continued getting ready to go out with her friends.

\"When do you have to leave?\" Winifred asked after a moment.

Checking her watch Hermione frowned.

\"Jackie and Nick are picking me up in about half an hour.”

\"That’s not what I….\" Winifred\'s voice trailed off as a loud tapping sound interrupted her.

Looking over Winifred smiled hesitantly at the brown and white spotted owl perched atop the windowsill.

\"That from him?\" questioned Winifred as Hermione opened the window to allow the weary creature in for a bit of rest and a snack.

Shaking her head, as she untied the letter firmly attached to the owl\'s leg Hermione smiled. \"No, this is just from Kat, a girl at school. We promised to write each other over the summer.\"

Sitting up a little Winifred smiled, \"Hey, how about if I go along, you guys will never even know I\'m there.\"

\"Nice try, but you know mom would kill me if I took you out. Besides, you\'re underage and were all going to the new club that opened this week,\" remarked Hermione tearing open the letter to read.

Opening her mouth to give a sarcastic reply Winifred quickly stopped as she watched her sister become engrossed into whatever was written on the pages in her hand.

\"Figures,\" she mumbled getting up from the bed.

Looking over at her sister once more before leaving Winifred frowned and shook her head.

It wasn\'t until she heard the click of her door closing that Hermione looked up from the letter in her hand to see that Winifred had left. She really had meant to spend more time with her sister this summer, really she did. It was just that…. sighing she looked back down at the letter. She\'d make it up to her later. So Neville and Malfoy were caught making out….

\"Who would have thought?\" She smirked.

***