This fic is rated PG-13

Chapter 1

“To all of our new students, welcome. To all of our older students, welcome back,” greeted Dumbledore, genially. “I have a few start of term announcements to make. . .”

Keely Chambers had heard it all before, four times, well, now five, she sat back in her chair, twirling her slender fingers in her black hair, lost in her thoughts. A soft jab in the side brought her back to her surroundings. She turned to Hermione and mouthed, “What?”

“A newspaper!” she exclaimed excitedly.

Keely looked up and down the Gryffindor table looking for the paper her best friend was talking about and wondered what in the world was so great about it. “Where?” she asked, confused.

“Where’s what?” asked Hermione, just as baffled.

“The newspaper,” explained Keely, exasperated.

“Shh. . .” George scolded from across the table.

“You are a prefect, Hermione!” continued Fred, who was sitting next to his twin.

“You should be listening to Dumbledore,” said George.

“Yeah, so we don’t have to,” agreed Ron.

“. . . If you would like to apply for a place on the school newspaper, place your application in the box that will be just inside your house entrances where they will be collected every night. The deadline will be this Friday and the chosen paper staff will be alerted on Sunday so they can start to work straight away starting on Monday. Blank applications will be pinned to your house bulletin boards,” said Dumbledore happily. “Now, enough rambling. . . Tuck in!”

Keely jabbed Hermione with her elbow and said in a hushed whisper, “Did you hear that, My?”

“What?” she asked as she turned away from talking to Harry to talk to her best friend.

“A newspaper!” Keely squeaked happily.

“I know,” clapped Hermione, flashing a bright smile.

Harry and Ron looked at each other and rolled their eyes at how easily their two friends could be pleased.



Hermione and Keely sat on their beds, quills in their hands, filling out the application for the student paper.

“Why do you suppose they need to know who our favorite reindeer is?” asked Keely.

Hermione scanned through her application to find where her friend was looking. “Where does it ask that?”

“Right after the question that says, ‘If you could do anything you wanted without any repercussions, what would you do, and why?’ and right before the question that says, ‘If you could date anyone in the school, who would it be?’” She slowed at the last question, wondering why anyone would need to know that. ‘What kind of joke application is this?’ she thought.

“I can’t find that anywhere on mine.” Hermione got to her feet and walked to Keely’s bed. Keely handed her application to her best friend who perused it and compared it to her own. “Mine is different. It has more relevant questions like; ‘What are your views on house segregation?’ and ‘If you could change anything about Hogwarts what would it be and why?”

Keely chuckled at the second question. “Well, hopefully Dumbledore is in charge of choosing the paper staff and will weed out all of the Slytherins, whose answers would all be, ‘I would invoke Salazar Slytherins pureblood creed because purebloods are the only wizards that should be here!’”

Hermione thought for a moment, furrowing her brow. “I don’t think Dumbledore would weed out the Slytherins. I have a sneaking suspicion that he would pick the most diverse students and put them together.”

Keely sighed, “I suppose you’re right. Dumbledore would do something like that, because there is nothing better than discord in the workplace.”

“I think, Keels, that he would do it to see how well we could work together.”

“Ah well, I’m not going to try and understand the mad way Dumbledore thinks. Now,” she said as she crumpled the application she had been working on and tossed it into the rubbish bin, “I’m going to go downstairs and get a real application. I wonder how that one got into the pile,” she mused aloud.

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“Sure, if you want,” she shrugged.

Hermione climbed off her bed and fell into step beside her friend.

Keely pulled another application from the bulletin board and looked it over. “Alright, this one is better.”

Instead of going back to their room, they found some empty seats near the fire in the common room. Keely put her quill to the parchment, and paused in confusion. The questions had changed. “My?”

“Hmm?” She looked up from her questions.

“Look at this,” she said as she handed the application to Hermione. “Now they’re all the same as they were before.”

Hermione looked at the paper, then looked around the room. Fred, George and Lee were sitting in a corner, their heads in a huddle, whispering rapidly. “I have an idea what’s going on.” She motioned with her head to the three boys.

Keely followed Hermione’s gaze and groaned. “Of course! Well, perhaps I’ll just answer their little questions. Care to help me, My?”

Hermione giggled, “I’d love to.”

“Let’s see, ‘What would you do if you could do anything without any repercussions? Oh, I know. . . How about, ‘I would attend every class naked because our robes are way too cumbersome.’”

Hermione tried to stifle a laugh.

“My favorite reindeer is. . . Let’s see. . . ‘You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen.’ Um. . . My, I don’t have a favorite reindeer.” She scrunched her forehead in thought then brightened. “Ah ha! ‘Rudolph is my favorite reindeer. Who wouldn’t love that red nose. Ahh. . . Red. There is no better color.’”

She scratched her quill to the parchment and read the next question. “‘If you could date anyone in Hogwarts, who would it be?’” Keely chewed on her bottom lip in thought.

Hermione laughed again and suggested, “What about Crabbe or Goyle? Or better yet, Ron! They’d be flabbergasted if you put that you fancied their little brother.”

Keely shook her head, “No, they would know for sure that we were on to them if I put any of those three. They know how much I loathe Malfoy’s goons and they know I think of Ron as a broth. . .” Her sentence trailed off and a look of triumph crossed her face. “That’s it!”

Hermione’s face lit up with excitement. “What’s it?”

“Malfoy!”

“Malfoy?”

“Yes!” She put her quill back to the parchment. “If I could date anyone at Hogwarts, it would be Draco Malfoy!”

“Perfect!” squealed Hermione.

With one last glance at Hermione, then at the corner where the twins and Lee were sitting, Keely stood and loud enough for others to hear she said, “Aren’t you finished yet, My?” and she walked purposefully over to the box where the applications were being collected and dropped hers in.

“Now, My, since they have obviously put a charm on those applications to change every time I touch one, would you mind filling mine out for me?”

Hermione looked at Keely with a look that said, “Duh,” and she walked over to the application box and dropped hers in before grabbing a new one for her best friend.



There you have chapter 1. I hope you'll leave me some feedback here.

~Dayna





Hermione and Keely sat in a remote corner of the Gryffindor common room talking quietly until late into the evening, trying to catch the twins at their prank. Their hopes perked when Lee Jordan announced that he was going to go to bed and Fred and George told him that they would be up shortly, that they had one more thing they needed to do.

They strolled casually over to the two girls sitting in the corner. George sat on the armrest of Hermione’s chair and put his arm around her shoulder, while Fred did the same with Keely.

“So, are you two going to apply for the newspaper?” asked Fred.

Keely gave Hermione a knowing smile and said, “Yeah, we dropped our applications in the box a couple of hours ago. What about you? Are you two going to apply?”

Fred winked at Keely and twisted his fingers in her hair. “Well, I wasn’t going to, but if you’ll be there, I might be persuaded otherwise.”

Keely shivered as Fred’s fingers found the back of her neck and moved in feather light circles. She grabbed his hand with hers and moved it out from underneath her hair and placed it on his knee. “Oh no you don’t. Hands to yourself, Don Juan.”

“Who?” asked Fred, confused.

“He’s a fictional Muggle lady’s man,” answered Hermione.

Fred smiled at George and nodded, “So you think I’m a lady’s man, do you? Was this Don Juan,” he flicked his head and ran a hand through his ginger hair, “handsome?”

Keely laughed genially and grabbed the front of Fred’s robes and pulled him towards her. “Oh, my dear Freddie, Don Juan has absolutely nothing on you.” She pulled him closer as if to kiss him. Right before their lips met, she pushed him away.

Fred grabbed his heart and fell to the floor. “You little minx! How dare you tease me so?”

“You play with fire, Fred, and you’re going to get burnt. You should know that by now. And by the way. . . Don Juan gets pulled down to hell by the ghost of the father of one of the women he seduced,” teased Hermione. “You’d better be careful.”

Just then, Minerva McGonagall stepped through the portrait hole and bent to retrieve the applications. Already there was a sizable stack. She glanced at the four students curiously for a moment before saying, “Don’t you four think it’s about time to be getting to bed. Classes start in the morning, you’ll need to be rested.”

“Yes ma’am,” they all said in unison.

McGonagall gave them a curt nod and turned on her heal to leave.

Keely, in a panic grabbed Fred’s sleeve, remembering some of the answers she had put on the joke application, particularly the one about attending classes naked and wanting to date Draco Malfoy. “Aren’t you going to collect the one you charmed?”

He looked at her in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

She laughed nervously. “You mean, you didn’t charm my application to ask me nonsense questions?”

He grinned. “No, but had I thought of it, I would have. What kinds of questions did it ask you? And more importantly, what kind of answers did you give to make you so nervous?”

Keely jumped off her chair and onto Fred, who was still lying casually on the floor, her knees on either side of him. She pulled him to a sitting position with both fists wrapped in the front of his robes. “Please, Fred, oh, please, please, PLEASE tell me that you’re joking! And that you already collected my application without me seeing you!” She was shaking him and pounding his chest with all her might.

He grabbed her hands to halt her assault and laughed, “Now you’ve really piqued my curiosity, dear. What’s on that application?”

Instead of answering, Keely jumped to her feet and sprinted after McGonagall. She didn’t know where McGonagall’s private quarters were and her head of house was no where in sight. She decided that she would head to Dumbledore’s office. Hopefully, that’s where the applications were being taken.

It was late and the halls were dark, but detention would be a small price to pay if she could retrieve that paper. There would be absolutely no way she would get a place on the paper if she didn’t. She ran into something very hard. She didn’t remember there being a wall here. The wall then grabbed both of her shoulders.

“It’s a little late for students to be out of bed. Is it not?” came a cool voice.

“Oh, I, um. . . Sorry, Professor Snape. But it’s really important that I see Professor McGonagall.”

“Is a student dying?”

“Well, no. But. . .”

“Is someone seriously injured?”

“No. But. . .”

“Then it can wait until tomorrow. I suggest, Miss Chambers that you go back to your dormitory and get some rest. Ten points from Gryffindor and if I catch you out of bed past curfew again, it will be detention.”

“Yes, Sir.” Dejectedly she turned around and started back toward Gryffindor Tower.

Fred, George and Hermione were waiting for Keely by the fire. “Did you catch her?” asked Hermione.

“No,” she sighed and plopped down horizontally onto the sofa. She placed a pillow over her head and mumbled, “My life is officially over. Someone, please just curse me into oblivion. I’m doomed!”

Hermione tried to hide her amusement. “Come on, Keels, what’s the worst that could possibly happen?”

“Oh, I don’t know. . . Perhaps the person that really charmed that freaking paper and my professors are going to think that I want to attend my classes naked and that I have a thing for Draco stinking Malfoy!”

Hermione chewed a fingernail in thought. “I wonder who else besides these two,” she motioned towards the twins, “would do that.”

Harry entered the common room from the boys dormitory and looked curiously at the four of them.

Hermione continued without acknowledging the newcomer. “Have you noticed if anyone else fancies you besides Fred?” she asked, looking at Keely.

Keely sat up and looked at Harry then back to Hermione, sliding closer to George to make room for Harry. “No one comes to mind,” she said, her blue-violet eyes scrunching up in thought.

“What’s going on?” asked Harry.

Keely leaned into Harry and laid her head on his shoulder and sighed, “It’s a long story.”

“Well,” he offered, having overheard Hermione asking about others that might fancy Keely, “There are several wizards here that fancy you.”

Eight eyes suddenly rested on Harry.

“Who?” asked Keely.

“Er, well. . . Neville does.”

“What?!” cried Keely. “Really?”

Harry nodded.

Keely thought for a moment then shook her head. “This was definitely not the work of Neville. Anyone else?”

“Dean does. That’s all I know of, in Gryffindor, anyways.”

Keely shook her head again. “I can’t really picture Dean doing it either.”

Hermione looked curiously at Harry. “You know of people outside of Gryffindor?”

Harry nodded. “A few,” he admitted.

“Who?” asked Fred.

“Justin Finch-Fletchley and Anthony Goldstein.”

“And just how do you know this?” asked Keely, clearly disbelieving.

Harry shrugged, “Easy, they’ve both asked me if you were dating anyone. I told them no, but that Fred Weasley would change that if he could.”

“When? We’ve only been back one day,” stated Fred.

“Justin asked me tonight, while Ron and I were walking up here after the feast. Anthony asked me last spring before term ended.”

“Well, he could have changed his mind over the summer,” observed Keely. “I think I’ll cross him off my list.”

“I don’t think so,” added Hermione. “I caught him staring at you during the feast tonight.” She turned to Fred and George. “Are there any in your year that you know of?”

They both shook their heads and George added, “Everyone knows that Fred would box their ears if they looked twice at her. I’m sure there are some, but they must be keeping it quiet.”

“Slytherins?” asked Keely, attempting to cover every base.

Everyone shook their heads.

“Well, that’s a relief,” she sighed. “Well, I suppose it’s done and all I can do is wait to see what happens. I’m going to go to bed. I have a migraine from all of this.” She stood and walked to the stairs. Leaving four of her friends behind her.


Keely slept fitfully that night and was no where near rested when morning came. She knew deep down that she shouldn’t really be worrying about the application. It was trivial really, but she couldn’t help but wonder who the culprit was, and what Dumbledore, or whichever professor was in charge of the paper, would say when he read her answers. She dressed slowly and combed her hair into some semblance of order before going down to the common room.

“Good morning,” greeted Hermione cheerfully. She looked at her friend and pressed her lips together tightly to keep herself from smiling at the look Keely was giving her. “Rough night?” she asked.

“You could say that,” grumbled Keely.

“That was some dream you had last night, eh?” Hermione said innocently.

“What are you talking about?” asked Keely, horrified. Draco had starred in her dreams, but she was nowhere near going to admit that. The fact that she had put Draco’s name as who she would like to date must have played with her subconscious.

Hermione giggled. “Oh, you know.” Hermione waved a hand airily.

“My, you had better tell me what in the world you are talking about.”

“I’ll just say this. . . You just gave Parvati and Lavender something to gossip about. I thought that you were joking when you said that you wanted to go around with Malfoy.” She couldn’t hold it in and laughter bubbled over.

Color drained from Keely’s naturally pale complexion, turning it paper white. “My. . . what did I say?”

“Not much. Only his name,” she giggled. “And it wasn’t Malfoy. It was Draco. And it wasn’t only once. You kept saying it, and not angrily, if you know what I mean.” She bounced her eyebrows seductively.

“Parvati and Lavender heard me?” asked Keely shakily.

Hermione nodded.

“Wonderful. By now the whole school has heard and thinks I have a thing for the git.” She grabbed Hermione’s hand and pulled her towards the portrait hole. “Let’s get this day started, hiding out in here will only make things worse.” She puffed out her chest and held her head high as she stepped out into the corridors, ready to face whatever this day would bring.



Dun dun dun. . . Who could have charmed her application? Hmm. . . I guess we'll just have to see. Please leave feedback here. You know you want to, there is a plateful of cookies waiting in the feedback thread.

~Dayna

Keely tried to ignore the sidelong glances and snickering as she went about her day. She leaned toward Harry to whisper in his ear as they were walking towards the dungeons to their Double Potions class. “How do you stand it?”

“How do I stand what?” he asked.

Pansy Parkinson’s gang of Slytherin girls passed, sneering. Keely saw Pansy look over her shoulder and shoot a contemptuous glare before she turned to her friends and said, “And she thinks she has a chance with Draco? As if! He’s way too good for the likes of that goody-goody Gryffindor.”

“That! That’s what I’m talking about. How do you stand people gossiping about you, about stuff that is absolute rubbish? I’m going to murder Lavender and Parvati for this!”

“You said yourself, Keels, that they would end up spreading it to the whole school that you fancy Malfoy. You can’t honestly be surprised that you were right,” stated Hermione in a matter of fact tone.

“I’m not surprised, My, but that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow. Parvati and Lavender are nothing but a couple of prissy little rumormongers and they do everything they can to get on my nerves. There is absolutely no truth to me liking Malfoy. End of story,” huffed Keely as she pushed open the door to Potions.

“Well that’s a relief, Chambers,” said Draco from behind. Keely whipped around and folded her arms over her chest and aimed her fiercest glare at him. “When I heard that you fancied me, I was a little worried there for a moment that I may have to do some damage control and curse your pretty little face. What a shame that would have been.” He smirked as he ran his middle finger along her cheekbone down to her jaw.

Keely jerked away from his hand and snapped, “As if I would ever want to be seen near you. Shove off, Malfoy!” She pulled her wand from beneath her robes and aimed it at him, her violet eyes sparkling in contempt. But before she could utter a word, Hermione grabbed her wand hand and lowered it, while Harry grabbed her other, and began pulling her backwards, towards her seat.

“Definitely not worth it,” Harry whispered desperately. “You don’t want to get into trouble over that git.”

Keely followed her friends to their table, but muttered under her breath, “That’s what you think.” She looked over her shoulder to find Draco’s leer directed straight at her. She narrowed her eyes and pressed her lips together, made a sound that signified disgust, rolled her eyes and turned to the front of the room. She could feel Draco’s icy blue stare on the back of her head and she shivered involuntarily. ‘Who in Merlin’s name would ever want to be with that snake?’ she thought bitterly.

Snape strode into the classroom, his black robes billowing behind him. He cast a sidelong glance at Keely as he passed. A very unusual smirk was plastered on his face, Keely pretended not to notice it.

She pulled her Potion book and quill out of her book bag and placed it in front of her. She looked around quickly, her head held high, determined to not let the rumors bother her. It was after all, her own fault. She’s the one that started it all with that stupid application. She even accepted that she wouldn’t get a spot on the student paper. It wouldn’t be that bad. She would have more time to spend on other things in the evening. So what if she was going to be separated from Hermione, because let’s face it, she would be a shoo-in. Keely had plenty of other friends with which to spend her time. And it wouldn’t be long until the rumors about her stopped. If Harry could endure all the rumors that floated around about him, she could, too.

She sighed and turned her attention to her (although she would never admit it to anyone) favorite professor.

“Welcome, to your O.W.L. potions class. At the end of the year I will be privileged enough to say good-bye to some of you for good. I will accept nothing less than an Outstanding into my N.E.W.T classes. With that being said,” he flicked his wand and instructions for the day’s potion appeared on the board, “get to work. You have fifty minutes starting now.”

Keely studied the instructions for a moment and set to work. Half way into the hour, Snape made his rounds. Looking intently into some potions, trying to find something to criticize, and looking cautiously into others, as to not lose an eyebrow, or worse. By this time the potion was supposed to be an electric blue color. Keely carefully measured her slivered elm root and dumped it in. It bubbled with the new ingredient for a moment as she stirred it. She looked once more at the instructions and heard a soft plop as something fell into her cauldron. She looked down, and her potion that had been moments ago only two shades away from the desired color, quickly turned blood red.

Professor Snape peeked into her cauldron and sniffed, “I’m disappointed, Miss Chambers. I’ve come to expect better from you.”

“But, Sir, someone just threw something into my cauldron. It was blue, I swea. . .”

“No excuses, Miss Chambers.”

“But. . .”

“Shall I say, five points from Gryffindor?” asked Snape coolly.

“Bu. . .” Keely started to argue, but found Hermione’s hand over her mouth.


Keely looked over her shoulder. Directly behind her, Crabbe and Goyle were squinting at the instructions and arguing about why their potions were no where near blue. Draco was too involved in his own potion for it to be entirely genuine. Keely noted Snape’s whereabouts and reached under the table to pick some old chewing gum from the underside. With one more quick glance at Snape and a look over her shoulder to gauge her aim, she nonchalantly tossed the hardened gum over her shoulder. She smiled to herself as she heard Draco cuss under his breath.

Keely giggled softly. The noise caught Hermione’s attention and she looked curiously at her friend. Keely just shook her head, signifying that she would explain it later, as she tried to rectify her spoiled potion.

By the time the bell rang Keely had managed to get her potion to a bright green-blue. It definitely wasn’t her best work, but it could have been much worse. She had chanced a glance at Malfoy’s potion. His was a charcoal gray.

Before Keely could escape the dungeon classroom, Snape called, “Miss Chambers, come here.”

“Do you want us to wait for you?” asked Hermione.

“No, I’ll catch up. Save me a place, and don’t let Ron eat everything.” She winked at her red-headed friend who in turn, grimaced.

Keely held her breath and spun around. She strolled casually toward Snape’s desk. “Yes, Sir?”

“Was that your chewing gum that happened to end up in Mr. Malfoy’s potion?”

“No,” she answered truthfully.

“No?”

Keely shook her head. “It wasn’t my gum.”

“Then whose, pray tell, was it?” he asked, confused by her obvious honesty.

“I don’t know whose it was, Sir.”

Keely was a horrible liar and she was praying that Snape wouldn’t ask the question about how the gum ended up in Malfoy’s potion. It would be utterly unfair if she were to receive punishment and Malfoy didn’t.

“Any idea how the gum ended up in the potion?”

‘Crap!’ she thought bitterly. “I. . . I have no idea?” ‘Double crap!’ she thought as she noticed how her answer had come out as a question.


A smirk crossed his face. “Well, Miss Chambers. You should know that meddling with other people’s work is prohibited, and punishable by detention.”

She met her professor’s gaze unblinkingly. She hated being a tattle tale, but she would not go down alone. She would get Malfoy back for this. “Sorry, Sir, but he started it. I have no idea what he tossed in my potion, but whatever it was really messed me up.” She folded her arms across her chest.

“Detention, then,” he finished.

Keely didn’t even flinch. “Will Malfoy be receiving detention, too? After all, meddling with other people’s work is prohibited, and punishable by detention.”

Snape’s eyes narrowed, but Keely could have sworn that she saw the corner of his mouth twitch. She stared at him expectantly.

“That is all,” he said as he waved her away.

She rolled her eyes and shook her head slightly as soon as her back was to him. She was starving and there was a hot lunch in the Great Hall, waiting just for her.



Draco makes his appearance.

I hope you liked this chapter. Sorry it's short. Leave feedback here.

~Dayna

“SowhadidShnapewan?” asked Ron with his mouth full of beef stew.

“He wanted to give me detention,” explained Keely. She plopped down onto the bench beside her friends, grabbed a roll and began picking it apart and putting the pieces in her mouth.

“For what?” asked her three friends together. None of them witnessed what Keely had done so she quickly explained for them, the events of the class.

“So that’s what you were laughing at,” stated Hermione.

Keely nodded, putting another bite of bread into her mouth and chewing slowly.

“When do you have to do it?” asked Hermione.

“I have no idea, I think I stunned him into silence when I threw his words back at him. He waved me off before he gave me the when.”

“You were cheeky with Snape?” asked Ron in wonder. “And you weren’t expelled or anything?!”

Keely shrugged as she spooned some stew into a bowl for herself and grabbed another roll and poured herself a glass of water. “He really doesn’t scare me. You should all know that by now. I don’t scare easily.”

At that moment there was a tap on her shoulder. She jumped in shock and spilled her water down the front of her robes. Her three friends sniggered.

“Don’t scare easily, huh?” teased Hermione.

Keely joined in her friends’ laughter, her strange violet eyes twinkling at the irony of the timing. She turned to see who had tapped her shoulder. A minuscule Hufflepuff first year boy was standing timidly behind her, holding a piece of folded, sealed parchment. She wanted to laugh at the look of utter fear on his face. The poor lad! she thought. It’s the first day of lessons and Snape probably scared this boy senseless. It was probably just his misfortune that he was the first student Snape had crossed paths with after he had written the note. Keely thanked the boy who scampered off to the Hufflepuff table and was quickly welcomed by someone who was obviously his older sister. She whispered something to him and he nodded. Keely slipped her finger under the flap to break the Slytherin wax seal.

Her laughter died and she sighed. “It looks like the mystery of when is going to be solved.” She quickly scanned the missive and groaned. “I have to scrape all of the gum from under the tables. No magic, of course. Sunday at 6:00. What a fabulous end to my weekend,” she said sarcastically. She spooned some stew into her mouth and chewed slowly. It could be a lot worse, she thought. She wondered briefly if Malfoy would also be receiving detention. She doubted it. It was a very rare occasion indeed when Snape gave detentions to his precious Slytherins. She may like him and admire his intelligence, but that didn’t mean she didn’t think he was a biased git when it came to his house. Especially Malfoy. It seemed that according to Snape, the platinum-haired pretty boy could do no wrong.

The week flew by in a blur. The rumors about Keely and Draco were subsiding, but not entirely extinguished. Keely sat with her friends for dinner in the Great Hall on Sunday evening. She was scheduled for her detention in a about a half an hour. She was busying herself over her plate of green salad. She popped a tomato into her mouth and looked up as a handful of owls came through the windows. “What’s going on?” she asked curiously.

A large brown owl landed gracefully in front of Hermione. She took the note from the birds outstretched leg and unrolled it. A look of glee crossed her face as she skimmed the letter.

Understanding dawned on Keely. The newspaper staff was being alerted. She looked up at the raised ceiling, hoping, but not expecting an owl to fly in her direction. There were happy squeals heard throughout the Great Hall as people received their letters. Keely’s shoulders sank. She had been trying to tell herself that she knew there was no way she would get a place, but she didn’t realize just how much hope she had been hanging on to until there were no owls left in the Hall, and not one of them had been addressed to her.

She plastered a smile onto her face as Hermione’s warm eyes sparkled. Hermione sensed that her friend’s happiness was not complete. “Well Keels, go on then, what position did you get? I’m the ‘Special Interests reporter’! This is going to be perfect for advertising S.P.E.W.”

“That’s perfect for you, My. I’m really happy for you.” Keely looked at her watch and scrambled to her feet. “Sorry guys, I’ve gotta go. I can’t be late for Snape.”

Hermione watched curiously as Keely stepped out of sight. She turned to Harry and Ron. “Did she tell you what spot she got?”

“Er. . . well, an owl didn’t come for her,” explained Harry sadly.

“Oh no!” wailed Hermione. “I was so insensitive! It didn’t occur to me that she might not be chosen. She’s so much fun and full of life, and so insightful in things like this! She’s exactly what the paper would need.” She began to rise. “I’d better go apologize.”

“She’s probably already in Snape’s classroom, Hermione,” said Ron. “Sit down, you can apologize later. There’s nothing you can do now.”

Hermione sighed and plopped back down. “You’re probably right.”



Keely stepped into her potions classroom. Snape was sitting behind his desk and looked up when he heard the door squeak open.

“Ah, Miss Chambers. Right on time. Have a seat.”

Keely sat down quietly. Awaiting further instructions.

“As I said in your letter, you’ll be cleaning the undersides of all the tables in here. There is a whole collection of chewing gum under these tables, I’m sure.” He handed Keely a small scraper and as she took it he kept his hand out, palm up. “Your wand, Miss Chambers.” She sighed in resignation and handed over her precious wand. “I’ll be back in an hour to check on your progress. You will have this back at the end of the evening.” He rose and took his leave, his black robes swishing magnificently as he went, leaving the door open in his wake..

No Malfoy! she thought bitterly. She walked slowly to the first table and crawled underneath it with her scraper in hand. She looked at the underside of the table and made a small face of disgust. Didn’t these ever get cleaned?! She decided to take a new approach on the gum after the first piece she had scraped off fell and hit her in the eye. She crawled out from under the table and tipped it onto its side, then completely upside down. It was much easier and she chided herself for not thinking of it in the first place. Within fifteen minutes she was finished with the first table and had a healthy-sized pile of old, hardened gum. She wondered how many years it had been there. It was disgusting! She told herself then and there that if she ever caught one of her friends, or anyone for that matter, sticking their gum under the table she would have words with them.

She stood and righted the table then moved to the next one. Fifteen minutes before Snape was to return, she had only one table left. With sweat running in small rivulets down her forehead she tipped the next table onto its side. And sat for a small break. She wiped her brow with the sleeve of her robes. She had never before noticed just how stuffy this dungeon room was.

A small ooh hoo brought her attention around. There was a little owl perched on the over turned table, a note tied to its leg. Her hand trembled, not daring to believe. She reached out tentatively and took the note. She scratched the owl’s chin and said, “Sorry, little one, I haven’t got any food for you. I’ve got a whole pile of gum, though, if you’d like.” The little owl flew to the pile, sniffed it, shook its head and ruffled its feathers in indignation before flying through the door. Keely unrolled the parchment and read:

Miss Keely Chambers,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been chosen as the Hogwarts Herald’s advice columnist. We have had this letter delivered in private due to the fact that it would indeed be wise to keep your identity a secret, for the sake of your column, so that any student that may hold a grudge against you would still be willing to ask your advice. You will answer at least three letters in each weekly edition.

We ask that your opening column, introducing yourself as an alias of your choice, be ready to print by no later than Wednesday next at 2:00 p.m. to Professor Flitwick who will be the overseer of your column. All letters to your column will be sent directly to Professor Flitwick for you to pick up at your leisure.

Thank you for taking an interest in the Hogwarts Herald.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
and Editor and Chief of the Hogwarts Herald

Keely could hardly control her excitement. She read and reread her letter and was overly giddy when Professor Snape came to check on her progress. “Had I known how much you would enjoy this, Miss Chambers, I would have asked you to do it last term as an end of term treat, rather than as a punishment.”

Her amethyst eyes danced merrily as she hopped up, and without thinking threw her arms around her professor and tiptoed up to kiss his cheek.

Speechless and wide eyed, Snape stared at Keely. “Is that the last table, Miss Chambers?”

“Yes, yes, Sir!”

Snape noticed the note clasped tightly in her hand and gave her the same smirk that she had seen on his face in her first potions class of the term. Understanding dawned on her. “This detention was bogus, wasn’t it, Professor.”

“You needed to be alone for this letter to be delivered. McGonagall had asked me to do it that morning, she knew the instant that she read your application that you were the one she wanted for the position. It only happened on good fortune that I could hold you in detention for a legitimate reason.”

Keely smiled up at her professor and teased, “It’s never seemed to bother you before to hold us in detention for illegitimate reasons.” Keely was the only Gryffindor that had seemed to creep underneath the infamous potions master’s cold exterior. She was the only one that dared to tease him and she was the only student besides Draco that could do so without terrible retribution should they get an extra dash of daring mixed in with their breakfast. With a wave of his wand, Snape cleared the gum from the underside of the last table and set it up straight, then vanished the large pile of the sticky mess with another. He handed Keely her wand and she sprinted out of the door towards Gryffindor tower.

She could tell Hermione, she would probably end up needing some of her help on some things, and there would be no chance of her best friend spilling the beans. She had proved herself in the secret keeping department time and time again. Should anyone ever slip Veritaserum in Hermione’s morning pumpkin juice, Keely would have to move to Antarctica and change her name to save herself from embarrassment. The same would go for Hermione should the potion be slipped into Keely’s. They shared everything and this would not be an exception.



Here you are, everyone! I hope you liked chapter 4.

Let me know what you think in the feedback thread!

~Dayna

Keely sprinted through the halls at break-neck speed. As she rounded a corner she ran into something and fell backwards. “Ouch!” she cried as she rubbed her backside where she had landed. She took the hand that been offered to her without looking into the person’s face. She was too embarrassed for that right now. She only hoped that it could be Fred, or George, or any other of her Gryffindor friends. However looking at the hand, she knew instantly that it wasn’t Fred or George, for the hand was entirely freckle-free. It was however, very warm, and very strong. Once she had been helped to her feet, there was nothing left for it, but to look at the person she had nearly plowed over. The color that had leapt to her face the moment she landed on her bottom raced to her stomach, leaving her face paper white the moment she met eyes with her victim.

“Better watch where you’re going Chambers. I might just have to give you a detention for running me over.”

“Shut it, Malfoy. Like you have the right to put anyone in detention,” she spat.

“Au contraire, ma belle.” He pointed to the prefect badge pinned to his robes.

Keely looked disbelievingly at the badge, her mouth slightly ajar. How could she have not known this until now? “Who in Merlin’s name would make you a prefect?”

Draco flashed her a superior crooked smile. “Well, Dumbledore, obviously. And Snape.”

“Hmm. . . Yes, Snape I can understand. He loves you, I’m surprised he hasn’t tried to adopt you by now. But Dumbledore? I guess he is a bit mad, but still. . . To give you any type of authority. . .” She waved an airy hand over her head as she walked away. She called over her shoulder, “By the way, Malfoy, I’m not your anything, so you can just keep that silver tongue of yours in your mouth around me and save the poison that flows from it for someone deserving. Like Pansy, perhaps. Or maybe Millicent. . .”

Draco stared after her as she walked away, the way her hips swayed was enough to drive any man mad. He knew she wasn’t enticing him intentionally. She was a flirt, that much he knew. Even the insults she flung at him could be construed as flirting. But he also knew that that was just her nature, and that she didn’t purposely lead people on.

But she was a blood traitor! Her best friend was a mudblood! Not just any mudblood, but Granger! The know-it-all, brainiac, buck toothed friend of Potter!

But still. . . Those eyes. . . the most peculiar color. She was the only person he knew that had purple eyes. But with her porcelain complexion, short, raven-black hair and her fiery personality, the color of her eyes would look out of place if they were any other.

And her scent. . . he had a difficult time placing it. It was nearly like oranges and cinnamon and something else. . . Sugar quills? Or vanilla? Or coconut?

And her curves. . . Oh Merlin help him, her curves! Everything about her shouted femininity. He chewed his lower lip and craned his neck as he watched her turn the corner.

But she was a blood traitor, he reminded himself again, and there was nothing else for it. His father would never approve. He spun around and a sly smile crossed his face. Of course, what his father didn’t know, wouldn’t hurt him. He’d just need to be extra careful. He only wanted a little taste. It wasn’t like they were going to get married.

He turned the corner that Keely had come from when she had run into him. His smirk was still plastered on his face as his mind tried to work out the bugs, like her friends, something would have to be done about those.

Three first year Ravenclaw girls stared up at him in utter fear as he suddenly appeared in front of them. He laughed to himself, pleased at how quickly the little pipsqueaks had learned to fear him. “What are you looking at?” he spat. They didn’t move, unless the widening of their eyes counted. “RAWR!!!” he growled, his hands in front of him as if he were going to capture them, as he took two exaggerated steps forward. They let out high pitched screams of terror and scattered like Gryffindors when faced with Snape! He chuckled to himself all the way back to the dungeons.

He heard Pansy’s shrill voice before he saw her. He ducked into a small alcove behind a suit of armor. He was not in the mood for her whining. He held his breath until she and her little gang were past. He wouldn’t be able to get to his dormitory for hours if she spotted him, and there were things that he needed to think through, and there would be no quieter place than his dormitory. If Zabini, Crabbe or Goyle were in there, he could send them away in an instant. Only Zabini would dare argue, but in the end, Draco Malfoy always wins.



Keely ducked into the portrait hole and quickly scanned the common room. The person she was looking for was nowhere in sight.

She made her way to the staircase. Fred and George tried to call her over. “Hi, guys! Bye guys!” she called over her shoulder. “Sorry, can’t talk now.”

They stared after her curiously for a moment, then shrugged and turned back to their newest design for the skiving snack-box.

She threw the door to her dormitory open, hoping desperately that Hermione was in there and Parvati and Lavender weren’t. She was in luck, Hermione was the only one, she was cross-legged on her bed with books scattered in front of her.

Hermione looked at her friend and spoke before Keely could say a word. “Keels, I am so sorry. I was so insensitive. It didn’t even occur to me that you might not get a place on the paper. Even with that ridiculous joke application. Your answers to the proper one were absolutely brilliant. I can’t believe that McGonagall didn’t give you a spot.”

“My. . .” Keely tried, but Hermione didn’t seem to hear her and she continued on with her apology. “My. . .” she said a little louder. Still Hermione didn’t acknowledge that Keely had said anything. “My!”

Hermione looked up to see a piece of parchment being waved in her face. She grabbed the paper and scanned it quickly. Her eyes widening in relief and joy. She flew off her bed, scattering books onto the floor and jumped up and down, squealing with her best friend.

“I’ll probably need your help, My,” Keely said, still bouncing.

“Of course, I’d be happy to help. Anything,” offered Hermione.

“I need an alias,” Keely said, her eyes sparkling.

“How about Angel?” Hermione suggested, sobering a little. “Your column could be called Ask Angel.”

“I don’t think so,” Keely said, scratching her chin in thought. “That would be a dead give away that it was me,” she teased.

“Yeah, right,” laughed Hermione, sarcastically. “I forgot, St. Keely!”

Keely smiled innocently and ducked her head, her palms placed together as if praying. “That’s right, and don’t you forget it!”

Hermione giggled softly for a few more moments then made another suggestion. “What about Violet?”

“Ugh! No. . . Way!” She began pacing the room. “Every girl in this school that has been named for a flower is a complete cow! We’ve got Pansy Parkinson and Lavender Brown! I will not be a,” she made a face and finished with a shudder, “Violet!”

“Come now,” argued Hermione. “Lavender isn’t that bad.”

“Oh yeah?” countered Keely. “You didn’t have her tagging behind you all through primary school, making your life miserable and spreading all sorts of awful rumors about you. You didn’t have to grow up down the street from her and hear from your parents, ‘Why can’t you be more like Lavender Brown?’ and ‘Mr and Mrs Brown say that Lavender is on the highest level at the piano. Why won’t you practice. You should be more like Lavender!’ Blah. . .Blah. . .Blah!” She sighed and said, “I told my parents once, that if they liked her so much, then they should just adopt her and have done with it.”

Hermione’s eyes went wide. “You didn’t!?”

Keely nodded. “I did.”

“Oh, honey, what did they say?” Hermione asked concernedly.

“Nothing really, they just grounded me for a week. . . And you just gave me my alias! Thanks, My!”

“Er. . . You’re welcome. What’s your alias?”

“Honey! Ask Honey!”

Hermione smiled. “I love it!”



Hi everyone! There you have Chapter 5. I hope you liked it.

I think I may have this fic moved to the OC section as it is mostly centered around Keely. So if it disappears from your subscription list, that will be why.

Anyway. . . Leave me some love here!

~Dayna

Keely searched the first edition of the Hogwarts Herald, looking for her column. It was on the second page and her eyes sparkled when she found it.

Dear Readers,

Welcome to Ask Honey, your Hogwarts Herald advice column. I’m Honey and I’m here to help you with your life troubles. Girl/guy problems, troubles with a teacher or subject, or anything else, just write to Honey and I’ll give you the advice you need to get you through your day.

Just send your anonymous letters to Ask Honey, care of Professor Flitwick.

I look forward to being your mentor!
Yours sincerely,
Honey

She closed the paper and set it aside as she reached for her plate of bacon, eggs and toast with raspberry jam. She took a sip of milk and speared a bite of egg with her fork. She couldn’t reveal how pleased she was with seeing her article in writing, because Hermione was the only one who knew Honey’s true identity and that would not be changing. And Harry, Ron, Fred and George were all within hearing distance.

She did wonder how many students would write and when the letters would begin filtering into Flitwick’s office.

Ron was sitting directly in front of Keely, too focused with his food to notice the two girls talking, Hermione to his left. Hermione winked and whispered, “Someone can’t take his eyes off of you.”

Keely looked at her best friend quizzically and mouthed, “Who?”

Hermione motioned with her head to a spot behind Keely, before ducking her head with a sly smile and taking a bite of her own breakfast. Keely took a bite of her toast and casually looked over her shoulder in the direction Hermione had indicated. There was no one staring.

She turned back to her friend and said, “What are you talking about? I didn’t see anyone.”

Hermione giggled. “He became interested in his breakfast as soon as he saw you turning around.” She took a sip of orange juice. “Remember that conversation we had with Harry, Fred and George on the first night back?”

Keely groaned. She hated being reminded about the fact that she had humiliated herself to some unknown person with the answers she had given on the rubbish newspaper application. “How can I forget?” she sighed. “What about it?”


“Well, I don’t think we can rule out all of the Slytherins,” said Hermione, nonchalantly.

Keely had just taken a mouthful of milk and at the declaration she choked and spewed it across the table right into Ron’s surprised face. “What?!” she cried.

The students at the Gryffindor table looked around at the shout and upon seeing Ron dripping with milk, they laughed heartily. Ron’s face went red. Hermione shook with silent laughter as she conjured a handkerchief and began a gentle mopping of his face.

“I’m so sorry,” laughed Keely, her hand over her mouth.

“That’s funny,” grumbled Ron, “You sure don’t sound very sorry.” He yanked the handkerchief from Hermione’s grip and roughly wiped the rest of the wetness away. “What was that for, anyways?” he asked grumpily.

Keely sobered somewhat and was actually able to say without breaking into laughter again, “I really am sorry, Ron. I was just shocked at something Hermione said.” She reached across the table and took the cloth from Ron. “You missed a spot,” she said as she wiped a spot that was lingering near his hairline with a small corner of the handkerchief. She did it with such care that Fred and George erupted in a fresh wave of laughter.

“What’s so funny now,” asked Ron, turning red all over again.

Keely looked curiously at her favorite twins of all time.

They raised their eyebrows at her and said, “You acted like our mum just then.”

Keely gave a small snort as she brought the handkerchief to her mouth and dabbed it on her tongue. She stood and reached across the table once more and firmly took Ron’s chin in her free hand. “What, you mean this?” She wiped at a spot on Ron’s nose with the saliva-dampened end of the cloth. She gave the tip of Ron’s nose a friendly kiss before she sank back to her seat.

Fred and George guffawed then Fred said, “Hey, Keely? I think I have something on my lips. Could you clean it for me?”

“Oh, well. . . Here you go,” she said as she handed the handkerchief to Fred who was sitting at her right side. She winked playfully at him.

“Oh, come on, honey, what will it take to get you to go out with me?” he asked, half desperately.

Keely choked on another mouthful of milk and Ron was once again showered. “What did you call me?” she asked, thinking that he had somehow found out about her column. She hadn’t even started it yet. How could he know?

Fred looked unabashed. “I rather like the sound of me calling you ‘honey,’ don’t you?”

Relief washed over Keely and she laughed as she conjured another handkerchief for Ron. “Oh, yeah, and then I could call you ‘Freddie weddie,’ or perhaps ‘snuggle bunny,’” she teased in a simpering tone.

Fred beamed and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “You can call me anything you like. I especially like ‘snuggle bunny.’ It gives the impression of cuddling on a sofa in front of a fire on a snowy day.”

Keely rolled her eyes at him and lightly punched him on the shoulder as she rose and lifted her leg over the long bench seat.

“Where are you going?” asked Fred. “Classes don’t start for another thirty minutes.”

“Well, not that it’s your business, but I need to use the loo, and I forgot my charms homework in the dormitory. I’ll see you all later.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” asked Hermione.

Keely looked at Hermione’s unfinished breakfast and said, “Nah, stay and finish your breakfast. I’ll see you in charms.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” asked Fred as he pushed his empty plate away from him, a mischievous smile on his face.

“Please do,” she answered sarcastically. “You can hold my hand while I pee, to make sure I don’t fall in.”

“Alright!” Fred cried triumphantly as he began to rise from his seat.

Keely laughed and pushed him back to his seat. “Oh, just sit down! I’ll see you later,” she said as she strode out of the Great Hall.

Unknown to any at the Gryffindor table except Hermione, a pair of gray-blue eyes at the Slytherin end followed Keely’s progress from the hall. Hermione’s eyes narrowed curiously as Draco rose from his seat seconds later and turned in the same direction her best friend had just disappeared from.



Draco followed Keely through the corridors, staying far enough behind that he didn’t draw attention to himself. He watched silently as she turned into a bathroom.

-:-|-:-

Keely hummed happily to herself as she exited the bathroom and continued her way to the dormitory to fetch her homework. The halls were seemingly empty, everyone was still in the Great Hall for breakfast. She turned a corner and hit into someone. ‘Oh Merlin!’ she thought bitterly. ‘Why can’t I go anywhere without plowing someone over? Three times this year, already!’ She shook her head, her eyes closed. She opened them and saw someone’s chest. She groaned audibly as she took in the Slytherin emblem on the school robe. She hardened her face as she looked up. Draco Malfoy was staring down at her. His ice blue eyes boring into her violet ones. A smirk played across his face.

“Fancy running into you again, Chambers. Or should I say, fancy having you run into me again?”

“Move it, Malfoy!” She tried to shove past him, but he had a hand fastened to her shoulder.

She glared at his hand malevolently then up to his face. “If you don’t mind, I’d like my shoulder back before you soil it too badly.”

“Oh, but I do mind, Chambers. This is what, the second time you’ve run into me? I believe I told you I might have to put you in detention.”

Keely glared hard at him, sensing where he was going with it all. “Just try it!” she hissed.

His eyes narrowed as his smirk widened. “I think I just might.”

“You have to have a good reason for putting me in detention, Malfoy. Dumbledore and McGonagall don’t let prefects put students in detention unless they were clearly breaking rules! I didn’t break any rule! But if you don’t move I may just break your nose,” she said sweetly.

“Temper, temper,” purred Draco as he moved his hand from her shoulder up to the back of her head to play with the soft spikes of her hair.

Keely jerked away from his hand and slapped him across the face with all her might. “Hands off!” she spat as she pushed past him as hard as she could, gone was her good mood of the morning. ‘Now I need another shower to wipe all of this slime off!’ she thought angrily.

Draco stared after her, rubbing his cheek, his smirk, if possible, even bigger. Before she was out of hearing distance Draco called, “When are you going to admit it to yourself that you don’t hate me nearly as much as you want to, Chambers?”

Keely stopped short as if suddenly frozen and swallowed a sudden lump of apprehension that had formed in her throat, she turned around to look at him. For the briefest moment she forgot to keep the glare on her face. Her eyes were round and full of curiosity and shock. Was Draco admitting to having feelings other than hate for her? It sounded like it. Their eyes met, free of malice on both sides.

He looked like a different person to Keely. Without the sneer, his eyes looked warmer. She shook her head, remembering who exactly she was looking at and said in a light tone, “When hell freezes over, Malfoy. When hell freezes over.”



Yay! It seems the ice wall she has when it comes to Draco is beginning to melt. . . Even if it is just a tiny bit.

I hope you liked the chapter. Please let me know by leaving feedback here.

~Dayna

“Miss Chambers,” squeaked Professor Flitwick at the end of charms the next day. “I need a word with you, if I could.”

Harry and Ron looked curiously at their friend and professor. Hermione just smiled and winked. Keely matched Hermione’s smile and said, “You guys go ahead. I’ll catch up.”

Hermione herded the boys through the door.

“Yes, Professor?” she asked. Butterflies seemed to be trying to make an escape from her stomach.

“Oh, yes, yes,” he said. “Have a seat, young lady.” He waited for Keely to sit down before continuing. “It seems you’re going to have your work cut out for you. Already fifty inquiries were in my office this morning. This is your final class of the week, I presume.”

“Yes, Sir,” she answered.

“Good, good,” he squeaked. “Would you like your letters now? Or would you rather come back later?”

“Er. . . Now, I guess.”

“Very good. Follow me.” He led the way to his office and opened the door. He allowed Keely to enter first. He shut the door after himself.

“Oh my, my, my. It looks as if even more have arrived since I was last in here.”

Keely stared open mouthed at the pile of rolled up parchment sitting on his desk. “Professor? Are those all for me?”

He hurried over to his desk to check the pile of parchment. “Yes, they are for you,” he said as he placed them in a bag that was already half full.

Keely let her book bag fall off her shoulder and unfastened it. She placed a shrinking charm on the bag of letters so they’d fit easily in with her books.

“Now, I’m sure you’ll remember from your letter that you will be required to answer no less than three letters per week. The newspapers will be left in house common rooms every Thursday morning, therefore you will need to have your column ready every Wednesday by 2:00. Any questions?”

“No, I think I understand, Sir. Thank you,” she said as she flung her bag back over her shoulder.

“Very good, dear. Good luck.”

She gave him a small smile and a wave. “Thank you, Professor. Have a nice weekend.”

“Indeed,” he said with a smile.

Keely left his office to catch up with her friends. She didn’t reach them until she entered the common room.

“Detention again?” asked Ron.

“No, he just needed to ask me something.”

Before anyone could ask her what Flitwick had asked, she said, “My, I need some help with something in the dormitory. Can you help me?”

“Of course,” she said as she got to her feet and hurried after her friend.

Keely pulled the minuscule bag of letters from her book bag and removed the shrinking charm. Hermione gasped. “Those letters are all for Honey?”

“Yep. I feel a bit like Father Christmas,” she giggled quietly. “Will you help me keep an ear out for Lavender and Parvati?”

“No, Keels, I think I will let them just barge in and catch you,” Hermione said sarcastically.

“Pathetic question?” Keely asked with a smile.

“Just a little bit,” agreed Hermione.

“Well then, should we get started?”

“Let’s.” Hermione grabbed one of the letters and unrolled it.

Dear Honey,

I have a problem and I’m not sure what to do. I think I may be. . . never mind.

“Well that was a waste. Why did they even send it?” asked Hermione, shaking her head, as she tossed the partial letter and reached for another.

“Why don’t we vanish the rubbish ones and put the decent letters in another pile,” Keely suggested.

“Good idea.” Hermione waved her wand over the letter she had just tossed and it disappeared..

Keely unrolled one and read.

Dear Honey,

I need help in potions. Snape is horrible to me and I swear he gives me bad marks just to be a foul git. I think he may even drop things in my potion when I’m not looking so it will spoil and he can ridicule me in front of the entire class for it.

Sincerely,
Sick of Snape

Keely giggled. “That’s a good one. I think I’ll answer it.” She set it down next to her and grabbed another.

Hermione read the one she had grabbed.

Dear Honey,

I like this girl but she won’t even give me the time of day. How do I get her to notice me? I thought that because you’re probably a girl (the name, Honey), you’d have some advice on how girls think.

Truly,
Baffled by Girls

“What do you think?” asked Hermione. “Do you want to keep this one?”

Keely smiled. “Of course I do. Maybe I can help the poor prat get his girl.” She read the next one.

Dear Honey,

Can you help me in potions? I can’t seem to get anything right. And Snape is really mean to me.

~Abysmal in Potions

Keely shook her head. “I don’t understand why it is so hard for people to make a decent potion. I think Snape is a good teacher. Don’t you?”

“Yeah,” Hermione agreed. “But he is rather intimidating. Just because he doesn’t scare you, doesn’t mean the rest of us don’t get really nervous whenever he comes around to check our work.”

“Maybe he is a bit intimidating, but it doesn’t bother you. You still make perfect potions. Snape never criticizes your work.”


They sat together for the next couple of hours, laughing at the ridiculousness of some of the letters Honey had received. They had vanished more than half of them, and there were more than a dozen that were about Snape. They decided to give the Snape letters their very own pile.

There was giggling coming up the stairs and Keely and Hermione froze to listen. It was clearly Lavender and Parvati. Keely quickly placed a disillusionment charm on the letters that were scattered on her bed, threw a blanket over them and lay on top of them. She was lying on her stomach, her feet in the air. Hermione was sitting cross legged in front of her and they quickly fired up a conversation about the day's classes.

“Flitwick said that I. . .” Hermione looked over at the door as soon as it opened. “Oh, hi Lavender, Parvati.”

Keely looked at Lavender and rolled her eyes and turned back to Hermione. Lavender shot a baleful glare back at Keely.

“How’s the rumor spreading going, Brown? Anything new and juicy today? Whose life are you going to make miserable tomorrow?”

“Well, it so happens. . .” started Lavender. Keely rolled her eyes again and looked away from Lavender who didn’t seem to notice and kept talking. “I overheard Pansy Parkinson talking to her friends in the hall as Parvati and I passed them tonight. It seems that Malfoy is no longer interested in her. He fancies someone else, but Pansy can’t figure out who it is and it’s driving her mad.”

Keely’s breath caught in her throat. She looked at Hermione who looked at her curiously and a sly smile crossed her face.

Parvati bent to her trunk and retrieved something. “I’ve got it,” she announced. She straightened and held a book out to Lavender and the two of them left the room again.

Hermione’s smile widened as soon as the door closed behind the other two girls. “I think I know who he’s got his eye on.”

Keely pretended she had no idea what Hermione was saying. “Who?”

“Come on, Keels. You know exactly who I mean. You’ve never been a good liar, so don’t even try to play dumb. I saw him follow you from the Great Hall yesterday. Did he catch up to you?”

Keely became suddenly interested in a loose stitch on her quilt. And Hermione pounced.

“Alright Keels, I know you’re keeping something from me. Spill!”

Keely sighed. “Alright, yes. He caught up to me. I ran into him, literally, when I turned a corner heading here for my homework.”

“You ran into him?”

“Yes. That was the second time. I wish I would have knocked him down at least.”

“Why am I now just hearing this?” Hermione tried not to laugh, but she couldn’t help it when the picture of her friend running into Malfoy came to her mind. “What did he do?”

“He tried to put me in detention yesterday.” At Hermione’s look of disbelief, Keely quickly continued. “I wouldn’t hear it though. I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”

Hermione waited for a few moments and when it looked as if Keely wasn’t going to say anymore she said, “Then what happened?”

“Nothing really, My. He played with my hair for a second before I slapped his face and shoved past him. Then he told me to admit it to myself that I liked him.” She shook her head in disgust and muttered to herself more than Hermione, “The arrogant prick.”

Hermione looked thoughtful. “And do you like him?”

Keely sighed. “No, My, I don’t. I will, however, admit that he isn’t hard on the eyes. He’s grown a lot over the summer and filled out some, too.” She chewed on her bottom lip in thought, remembering how his hand felt on her shoulder and in her hair.

Hermione laughed again. “Keely, you’re blushing! What did I tell you not ten seconds ago? You’re a horrible liar! You do like him!” Her expression was one mingled with disgust and awe.

“Fine! You win, My. I do like him. But he can never know.” She looked imploringly at Hermione.

“My lips are sealed, Keels. As always.”



I know this isn't the best chapter ever, but there was definitely a break through! And Keely's advice will be in the next chapter, along with some more Draco.

Feedback makes me happy!

~Dayna

Keely woke up early on Thursday morning. She gathered her robes and toiletries without disturbing her roommates and left the room to shower. Today would be the first edition of the Hogwarts Herald in which her advice would be published. She was curious as to how her fellow students would receive her. She was more than slightly nervous, and she hoped that she could be a good mentor.

She stepped out of the shower and toweled herself dry. She quickly dressed and fixed her hair in careful spikes at the back and smoothed into a neat frame of her face in the front. Her mother never approved of short hair on girls and in a fit of rebellion after a row with her over the summer, Keely had hers cut. To her mother’s horror, Keely loved it and refused to let her mother regrow it. She loved twisting her fingers in the soft three inch spikes, she loved how easy it was to fix, she loved pretty much everything about it. She turned her head in the mirror to look at her profile. Deciding that her hair looked as good as ever, she applied a bit of eye-liner and lip gloss before taking her things back to her dormitory.

Hermione stirred as Keely opened the door. “Why are you up and around so early?” she asked sleepily.

“I woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep, so I thought I would get a jump start on McGonagall’s essay.” Keely ducked as a pillow from Lavender’s bed came flying at her head.

“Quiet,” growled Lavender as she rolled over grumpily and put her other pillow over her head.

Hermione looked at her watch and groaned. “Five more minutes before my alarm is set to go off. I hate it when that happens!”

Keely grimaced. “I’m really sorry, My. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Hermione sat up and turned her alarm off, then rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “Don’t worry about it.”

Keely picked up her book bag and said, “I’ll see you in a bit,” and left for breakfast and a jump start on her homework.

As she passed the Gryffindor bulletin board she saw the newspaper basket. She mentally squeed and grabbed one before leaving through the portrait hole.

She sat down at the Gryffindor table. There were only two other students in the Great Hall, both of which were reading the newspaper. Hannah Abbott and Zacharias Smith. Keely turned to the second page, skipping the entire front, and started reading.

Ask Honey

Dear Honey,

I like this girl but she won’t even give me the time of day. How do I get her to notice me? I thought that because you’re probably a girl (the name, Honey), you’d have some advice on how girls think.

Truly,
Baffled by Girls

Dear Baffled by Girls,

Have you told her that you fancy her? That usually gets a girl’s attention. If you’re too shy to go up and tell her, there are more subtle ways. Get her some flowers, or chocolates, or even a teddy bear. If you don’t have the funds, write her a note. But whatever you do, do not, I repeat, do not act like you don’t like her, and don’t pull her hair or put frog spawn in her book bag or anything mean or disgusting! We are no longer in primary school, we are adults, or nearly so anyways, and childish means of showing girls you like them will not work! Good luck!

~Honey

Dear Honey,

I need help in potions. Snape is horrible to me and I swear he gives me bad marks just to be a foul git. I think he may even drop things in my potion when I’m not looking so it will spoil and he can ridicule me in front of the entire class for it.

Sincerely,
Sick of Snape

Dear Sick of Snape,

Are you kidding me? Professor Snape is a teacher. While he may give you bad marks, it is most likely because you deserve it, not just because he wants to be foul to you! Besides that, he is foul to most students. What makes you think you should get preferential treatment? And furthermore, it is more than incredibly unlikely that he drops things in your potion to spoil it. Because again, he is a teacher and I don’t think he or any teacher for that matter would purposefully ruin anybody’s work. My advice to you is to work hard and do your very best. If you pay attention and listen carefully to Professor Snape’s instructions, you should see an improvement. If not, look into getting a tutor. Good luck!

~Honey

Keely pulled a bowl towards herself and helped herself to some Cheerios and a glass of orange juice while she read the next letter.

Dear Honey,

Kids like to tease me and I’m tired of it. How do I stop them doing it?

Thanks for any help you can give me.
~Bullied

Dear Bullied,

I hope that I can help you with this. It is unfortunate that you are being teased and I am sorry. If the person teasing you is of the opposite gender, take a look at the first letter in today’s column. It could be that they fancy you and are still stuck in the primary school mentality and need to grow up. Of course, obviously if they are bullying people, they need to grow up regardless. I know that it can be disheartening, but if you keep a stiff upper lip and try not to let it bother you too badly, things will get better. Talk to your friends. If they are good friends, you can talk to them and they can comfort you. Rely on them as you would want them to rely on you. Good luck!

Best wishes,
~Honey

Keely scanned the paper for Hermione’s article. It was to be on S.P.E.W. Hermione had told her that much about it. Keely’s family had an elf and it was the happiest elf she had ever seen. Her name was Chandly, and in Keely’s opinion there was no cuter elf in the entire world. Keely agreed that elves needed better treatment and was Hermione’s biggest advocate for her organization.

Keely took a deep breath and her nostrils were assaulted by the most intoxicating scent she had ever experienced. Peppermint and a summer storm. She knew instantly who that scent belonged to and she was determined to ignore it, for soon he would walk past her and she would be able to think clearly once more. Any second now. . . She took a bite of her cereal and began flipping through her newspaper again. Any time now and he would be gone. A sip of her orange juice. She could sense him standing behind her, his eyes were on the back of her head. Why wouldn’t he walk away?

“Feel free to walk away at any time, Malfoy,” Keely said, without looking at him. She took another bite of cereal and kept reading.

“I’m impressed, Chambers. Not an easy thing to do, that. I had no idea that you were so aware of my presence that you could identify me without looking,” he said with a sneer.

“How could I not be aware of your presence? I can smell you from a mile away.” He didn’t have to know that she enjoyed his scent.

She turned around to look up at him. “Why don’t you just tell me what you want so we can both get on with our day.” She stared at him waiting expectantly for his answer.

Draco looked around the Great Hall. It was still mostly empty, only three more students had entered and every one of them had their nose buried in the Hogwarts Herald. Draco bent to whisper in her ear, “I should think that was quite obvious.” He pulled gently at a lock of her hair, letting it slip slowly between his fingers as he straightened himself to his fullest height and walked away without another word.

A shiver coursed through Keely’s entire being. The smell of his sweet breath and the feel of the warmth of it on the side of her face had made her dizzier than she had ever been in her life. If he kept this up, she didn’t think she was going to be able to keep up her pretense much longer.

She turned back to the table, her transfiguration essay and the newspaper forgotten, and with her elbows propped on it, she placed her head in her hands and inwardly groaned. ‘What am I going to do?’



Thanks for reading! You know what to do. . . Feedback goes here.

~Dayna

Hermione took a seat next to Keely fifteen minutes later and asked, “How’s the essay going?”

Keely turned her head toward her best friend without really seeing her. “Huh?”

Hermione became anxious. Keely was never one to be short of words. “Are you alright, Keels?” she asked as she placed her hand on Keely’s forehead. It was clammy. “Keely! What happened?!”

“Uh. . . I think I have a problem, My.”

“Are you feeling okay? Do you need to go see Madam Pomfrey?”

Keely shook her head.

Hermione grabbed her friend’s shoulders and shook her roughly. “What is the matter?!”

“Well, uh. . . I think the serpent just offered me some forbidden fruit,” she said quietly.

Hermione had to lean close to hear her. Hermione put a hand to her mouth and whipped her head around to the Slytherin table. Draco was fixing her with a disgusted glare and she quickly turned back to her friend and sighed. “What did he do?”

“Well, I asked him what he wanted and he said he wanted me. Not in so many words, but that was the gist of it.”

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows and frowned concernedly at Keely. “I know you said that you liked him. But I don’t think I’d be a very good friend if I didn’t offer you a word of warning.” She looked over her shoulder again to look at Draco. He was talking animatedly with Crabbe and Goyle. She sighed and faced Keely, shaking her head slowly. “Please be careful, Keels. I love you, and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“What’s going to hurt you, Love?” asked Fred, sitting down on the bench next to Keely.

Keely jumped slightly. She hadn’t noticed Fred and George approach. “Oh, er. . . Hermione and I were just talking about quidditch,” she invented.

Fred brightened. “Surely you aren’t going to try out for the team? Are you any good? We do need a new keeper. I could put in a good word to Angelina for you. . .”

“Fred!” Keely nearly had to shout to interrupt his rambling. He stopped talking and looked at her intently. “I don’t think I’m going to try out. Hermione talked some sense into me. It was an errant suggestion, really. I’d end up falling off my broom and hurting myself. That’s what My was telling me. I’m much better use in the stands.”


Fred frowned. “Well, I think you’d be brilliant on a broom. And if you needed extra help, I’d be happy to give you private lessons.” He winked at her.

Keely laughed, she pushed Draco to the back, well, more like the middle, of her mind. She placed her hand on Fred’s face and gave him a slight shove. “Oh, go on, you! I don’t know why, but I get the feeling that you don’t really want to teach me quidditch.” She put an arm around Fred and gave him a friendly squeeze.

He returned the gesture, but let his arm linger. Keely didn’t even think to shake it off. She had sat with Fred in exactly this manner, many times before. She loved Fred like a brother, and she did her best to make that clear to him. He had asked her out countless times and she told him flat out that she didn’t have any romantic feelings for him, whatsoever. If he wanted to torture himself, so be it.

Harry and Ron took a seat opposite Keely, Fred, George and Hermione.

“What’s with Malfoy?” asked Harry, amused. “He looked like he was about ready to have kittens when we came in.”

Keely squirmed. Fred’s arm suddenly felt extremely heavy. If she wanted to take Malfoy up on his offer, she would need to be careful. Her friends would never accept him. Hermione would try, but the Weasleys and Harry never would.

Fred grabbed Keely’s copy of the Hogwarts Herald and began flipping through the pages, reading only the headlines. “I still can’t believe that you didn’t get on.”

Keely shrugged nonchalantly.

He stopped at the advice column and read through it. “Who do you reckon this Honey is?”

Another shrug from Keely. She kept her face downcast, pretending to be interested in her soggy Cheerios, so her eyes wouldn’t give her away.

Hermione saved her from having to answer. “I don’t have any idea. She gives good advice though. Don’t you think?”

Keely shot a sidelong glance at Hermione and smiled slyly.

“Yeah, not bad,” consented Fred. He seemed to be mulling something over.

Keely glanced at her watch. Care of Magical Creatures started in twenty minutes. “Are you guys ready to go?” she asked to Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Hermione pushed her half-finished breakfast away and stood up. She took one more sip of her pumpkin juice and grabbed her bag. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. I wonder what monster Hagrid will be showing us today,” she mused with a shudder.

“Are you coming?” Hermione asked Harry and Ron.

“You two go on. We’ll catch up.”

Halfway down to Hagrid’s hut, someone shoved hard into Keely’s shoulder as they passed, causing her to drop her bag. “Ouch!” She rubbed her shoulder and stared after the culprit. He was flanked by his goons and he didn’t even look to see if she was okay. What was his problem?! She bent to retrieve her bag and stood up.

Hermione stared after him curiously. “I wonder what his problem is.” She picked up a book that had fallen from Keely’s bag and handed it to her.

Draco was horrible to Keely all through class. More so even than the last four years combined. By the time the class had ended Keely was near tears. She was so confused. She could have sworn that he liked her. He had more or less told her just that. Was it jealousy? Did he see Fred’s arm draped around her and think that he was too late? ‘What’s with Malfoy? He looked like he was about ready to have kittens.’

Keely was sure that Draco had seen Fred with is arm around her. She hung her head in thought as she and her three friends made their way back up to the castle and their next lesson.

Harry bumped shoulders with her lightly, to claim her attention. Hermione and Ron were several paces ahead, their heads bowed in conversation. “A knut for your thoughts?” he asked kindly. “You’re being awfully quiet.”

Keely looked up at him, her eyes were dark blue-violet, and she smiled feebly. “M’alright,” she mumbled.

“You can’t lie to me, your eyes are giving you away. Perhaps others don’t notice, but I do. They change color with your mood. And right now they’re so dark, it looks like someone just killed your kneazle.”

She just shook her head and returned to watching her feet. If she opened her mouth to answer, she would probably start crying. As long as she didn’t look at anyone and she kept her mouth shut, she would be able to keep the tears at bay.

Besides that, how could she tell Harry that Malfoy had hurt her feelings. Malfoy had been teasing her and being horrible to she and her friends ever since their first year and she had never let it bother her before. And there was absolutely no way that she was going to admit her feelings for Draco to Harry.

Harry realized that Keely wasn’t ready to talk about whatever it was that was bothering her and wrapped an arm around her, letting her know that she had a friend on whom she could lean. She laid her head against his shoulder and they continued up to the castle in communal silence. A single tear rolled unbidden down her satiny cheek.



By the end of the day, Keely was in a relatively better mood. Although her appetite had been almost nonexistent all day and she had taken only a few bites at both lunch and dinner. She sat cross-legged on her bed with Hermione, playing a Muggle card game by dim wand light. Lavender and Parvati were in bed, asleep, so conversation was limited. They played mostly in silence until Keely’s stomach loudly protested the lack of food it had received that day.

Hermione giggled softly. “I told you. You should have eaten something at dinner.”

“Yeah, I know, but I really wasn’t all that hungry.” She looked at her cards before deciding on the one to play. “Maybe I’ll sneak down to the kitchens and grab a bite of something.”

“Are you crazy? It’s nearly 11:00. If you get caught, you’ll get detention for sure!”

“Then I’ll just have to not get caught. I’m starving, My. I’ll be right back,” she whispered.

She had been to the kitchens several times with the twins, so she knew her way easily. She walked cautiously. Stopping at each corner to peer around and make sure the way was clear.

She jumped and let out a little scream when there was a sudden tap on her shoulder.

“Well, well, well. Look who is clearly breaking the rules. I’m going to have to give you a detention for being out past curfew, Chambers.”

Her heart skipped a beat, then began fluttering so quickly she was sure she was going to pass out. She turned around to face her captor. His wand was illuminating his face and casting shadows in the most flattering way. She was entranced. She couldn’t speak and she could barely breath. She swallowed a lump that had lodged itself in her throat.

His actions toward her throughout the day came to the forefront of her mind and her face hardened. “Leave me alone, Malfoy!” she spat and tried to move past him.

He stepped to the side to block her way without touching her. “Not so fast. Where are you going?”

“It’s none of your business. Why are you out of bed?”

“I’m looking for rule-breakers, obviously. Snape asked me to patrol the halls. My shift will be ending in another few minutes, and I was afraid that I wasn’t going to catch anyone. But it looks as if luck is on my side, after all.”


Keely tried to side step him again and moved closer to the wall. His arm shot out, hitting the wall and blocking her progress.

She pulled her wand out from under her dressing gown and pointed it at him. “Outta my way, Malfoy!”

His face hardened. “Or what? Are you going to go and tattle to your little boyfriend?”

Keely shook her head in shock. “What? What are you talking about?” ‘So it was jealousy over Fred.’ “Are you talking about Fred?”

He gave her one curt nod. And she burst out laughing. That seemed to infuriate Draco further and his face flushed.

“Fred’s not my boyfriend, Malfoy. Not that it’s any of your business who I date, but Fred and I are just friends. I’ve told him many times that I’d never have feelings other than friendship for him.”

His scowl evaporated immediately and was replaced with a new determination. He placed his other hand on the wall, trapping Keely between them.

Keely was frozen. She could do nothing but stare at the face that was coming closer to hers by the second. He whispered, “I’m making it my business who you date,” before claiming her lips with his.

The world stood still, or perhaps it had dropped out from beneath her feet. She couldn’t think. Her wand fell from her slack grip. She didn’t bother picking it up. Her hands snaked around his neck and she held him to her as though he were a life preserver and she was in danger of drowning.

He broke the kiss after what seemed like an eternity and retrieved her wand for her. He put his lips to her ear and said softly, “If I ever catch Weasley touching you again, I’ll curse his arm off.” He kissed the tip of her nose and said, “I’ll let you know when and what your detention will be as soon as I talk to Snape about it.” He straightened and ran the back of his middle finger along her cheek bone and walked away.



Thanks for reading! You know what to do!

~Dayna

Keely stumbled into the Gryffindor common room in a daze, her hunger forgotten. Hermione was sitting in a chair by the fire, waiting for her.

“Did you get something?”

Keely giggled nervously. “You could say that.”

Hermione shot Keely a disparaging look, “You were caught.”

Keely nodded.

“By who?”

“Malfoy,” she said woodenly.

“Well, that’s a relief. At least you didn’t get in trouble.”

“He gave me detention.”

Hermione was outraged. “What?! He was out of bed, too! What gives him the right to give you a detention for a rule that he was breaking, as well? What a hypocrite!”

“He was patrolling on Snape’s request.”

“Oh! I forgot! And that reminds me, next month Gryffindor is on patrol duty.” Hermione looked curiously at Keely’s flushed complexion. “What else did he do?” she asked slowly, guessing the answer for herself.

Keely’s face flamed and a small smile began to curve her lips.

“He kissed you!” she exclaimed.

Keely nodded sheepishly.

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows and frowned. She sighed loudly and said, “I can’t believe he had the nerve, after the way he’s been treating you all day. He’s no good, Keely. You deserve so much better. If you go along with him, you’ll be putting yourself on a wild roller coaster.”

“He was jealous. He saw Fred with his arm around me and thought we were together,” explained Keely.

Hermione’s frown deepened. “What gives him the right to you? Has he asked you to be his girlfriend? Have you accepted his offer? Or does he just assume he has right to you because he wants you?” She sighed and walked over to where Keely was sitting. She bent and put her arms around her friend and said, “I’ll support you in whatever you decide because you are my best friend, but he has to treat you right. He has to go about this the right way. He has to ask you properly. Don’t let him lay claim to you like you’re something to be owned. Promise me?”

Keely’s eyes were shining as she returned Hermione’s hug. “I promise, My. I won’t let him mistreat me. But more importantly, I won’t let him mistreat you! Or any of my friends. I’ve loved all of you for over four years now. I’m not going to let a guy I like come between me and my friends.”

Hermione broke the hug and said happily, “Good! Now that we’ve got that settled. I want details!”



Keely woke late the next morning. Her dormitory was empty and her stomach was growling loudly. She looked at her watch. Breakfast would end in thirty minutes. She got up and quickly dressed and combed her hair.

Her friends were nearly finished when she entered the Great Hall. She almost didn’t sit by Fred who was obviously saving a seat for her. But he was her friend, and she wasn’t about to let Draco tell her who she could or couldn’t be friends with. They were sitting facing the Slytherins today, so she wouldn’t have to look over her shoulder to steal glances at him.

She met his eyes, he was undeniably displeased by where she was sitting. She challenged him with her stare.

Without breaking eye contact she saw him hand a piece of parchment to a first year Slytherin and his lips moved. The first year looked directly at Keely then said something. Draco nodded and the boy stood up and made his way to the Gryffindor table.

“Oi! What do you want?” asked Fred, annoyed.

The little first year glowered at Fred, handed the note to Keely and walked away with the swaggering confidence known only to the Slytherin house.

“What’s that?” asked Fred, looking curiously at the piece of parchment.

Keely slid her finger under the flap and broke the wax seal. “My detention, I think.”

He frowned at her. “Another one?”

“Yeah,” she sighed.

“For what? Two already, and we haven’t even been back for a month.”


“I was caught sneaking down to the kitchens last night.” She sighed and said, “It’s tonight at 7:00. I have to wash all of the potion cauldrons in Snape’s classroom. Why can’t I just do lines?! I’m tired of doing Snape’s dirty work.”

She looked up to the staff table and caught Snape’s eye. She waved the note at him, with incredulousness. He raised his eyebrows and nodded once. Keely let out a long sigh and rolled her eyes, while shaking her head in defeat.

She grabbed a piece of toast and spread apricot jam onto it. She served herself some scrambled eggs, bacon and orange juice.

“What do you want to do today, Keels?” asked Hermione.

“I need to go for a jog and run off some steam. I think I’ll head down to the quidditch pitch after I’m through here and make a few laps. Do you want to come with me?” Keely asked, without much hope. She knew that Hermione wasn’t a jogger. She had attempted to get her to go with, several times, but in the end, no one ever wanted to join her. Which suited Keely, she only asked in the first place, to be kind. She didn’t really like jogging with others. They would either slow her down or make her feel pressured to go faster than she liked.

Hermione gave her a look that suggested Keely was daft and shook her head in answer.

“Want to go swimming in the lake later? The good weather is sure to come to an end soon and I haven’t had a chance to get my feet wet yet,” Keely asked making sure to look at each of her friends, to let them know she wasn’t just inviting Hermione.

Fred, George and Lee agreed immediately. Hermione, Ron and Harry agreed after a few moments of deliberation.

Keely stole a quick glance at the Slytherin table. Draco had gone. She wondered briefly if she would see him again before tonight, and if she would see him tonight at all. The letter didn’t say that he’d be overseeing her detention.

She finished her breakfast and stood up. “I’ll see you in a bit.” With a wave, she left the Great Hall to change into her jogging clothes.

She hoped for a glimpse of Draco as she navigated the halls, but she had to accept that she wouldn’t as she reached the oak front doors and stepped out into the sun. She walked casually down to the pitch, enjoying the warm September weather. The leaves on the trees were showing signs of changing. She took a deep breath to inhale the fresh air.

She sighed when she saw figures flying around the pitch. It was being used. But Keely was too far away still to tell which team was practicing. All she knew was that it wasn’t Gryffindor, because Fred, George and Harry had said nothing about practice this morning. She thought briefly about moving her run to another part of the grounds, but decided against it. The pitch was the only area in which she could jog without the fear of tripping over tree roots or rocks. The players wouldn’t be paying attention to her anyways, they’d be too busy with the quaffle, bludgers and snitch.

Her breath caught in her throat as she saw a flash of green and silver. Slytherin had the pitch. She reminded herself that they wouldn’t be paying her any notice and started running. At the end of her first lap, she felt a buzzing near her ear. She swatted at the pesky insect and kept going. Two more laps and she would be done.

She heard the stir of air he was causing before she saw him. Draco was speeding directly at her. She let out a little scream and covered her head as she scrambled out of the way. Draco pulled to a halt, in his hand was the snitch. Apparently, what she thought was an insect was the little, golden, winged ball.

She looked up at Draco who was stopped only six or seven feet away. He winked at her and flashed a smirk before speeding upwards to join his team.

She shook her head to clear it so she could finish her run.

-:-|-:-

Keely and her friends stepped into the Entrance Hall dripping wet and laughing, just before dinner. Mrs. Norris stared up at them for a moment before darting off to no doubt find her master, and tell him about the puddles that were being made inside the castle by students.

Keely laughed, and cried, “Run!”

The seven of them sprinted toward Gryffindor tower, still laughing. Weaving between students, knocking some of them over, and only glancing apologies at them as they hurried past.

Keely looked down the staircase as they reached the fat lady. Filch was panting up the stairs after them.

Lee yelled out the password and the little group scrambled inside and fell onto each other in a heap.

Neville stood at the opening of the common room with an amused expression on his face at the sight of his house mates soaking wet and in a pile.

They took one look at him and broke out into renewed laughter.

-:-|-:-

The mood at the Gryffindor table at dinner was a happy one. Fred, George, Lee, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Keely were still laughing at their narrow escape, over their meat pies.

The hall began to empty and Fred, George and Lee announced that they had some business to attend to and left the four younger students.

At 6:45 Keely rose. “I’ve gotta go, guys. I’ll see you in the common room when I’m finished.”

Keely pushed the door to Snape’s classroom open. Snape was sitting at his desk. Draco was leaning casually against a wall.

“Have a seat, Miss Chambers,” instructed Snape.

Keely sat in front of Snape’s desk and he stood to walk around it. Draco moved forward. Keely felt very small looking up at the towering figures before her so she stood also.

“I thought I told you to have a seat,” Snape reminded her.

“I’d rather stand, if you don’t mind.”

Snape raised his eyebrows at her and Draco smirked.

She folded her arms across her chest and she looked up at the two men that were still towering over her. She hated being short.

“As you wish,” said Snape. “Mr. Malfoy tells me that you were caught out past curfew last night.”

Keely nodded, but said nothing.

“Would you care to tell me why?”

“No, Sir,” she said, looking into his eyes without so much as a blink.

Draco raised his eyebrows in shock. He knew Keely had guts that most Gryffindors didn’t when it came to Snape, but to outright refuse to tell him something he requested, without even a hint of intimidation was something that even Slytherins had a hard time doing.

“Very well. I will assume the worst. Twenty points from Gryffindor, I think, for whatever it was you were up to last night.” He began pacing in front of Keely as he spoke. “The spare cauldrons for students, need to be cleaned.”

Keely looked over to the sink that had been magically placed at the far wall. There were at least thirty cauldrons, of different sizes, piled in the corner.

“I’ve other commitments tonight, so Mr Malfoy has kindly offered to supervise.”

Draco’s pale eyes bore into Keely’s vibrant ones.

Snape motioned his head toward the pile. “Get to work.”

Keely walked purposefully to the corner and hefted the first cauldron into the sudsy water. Draco strode with his arms folded over his chest to lean against the wall next to the sink, and faced Keely.

Keely ran her tongue across her suddenly dry lips and located rubber gloves and a scrubber.

“So. . .” started Draco.

“So. . . what?” asked Keely. She scrubbed at the first cauldron and when she was sure it was clean she lifted it out of the soapy water into the clear water to rinse it.

“I thought I told you to stay away from Weasley.”

Keely’s head snapped up to stare at Draco, her eyes narrowed. “Who in Merlin’s name do you think you are?” she hissed. “The Weasleys are my friends! I will not stay away from them. I won’t stay away from any of my friends. Who gave you rule over my life? I certainly don’t remember giving it to you. If I want to sit with his arm around me, if I want to hold hands with any of my friends, while walking, I will! You’re not my boyfriend, Malfoy!”

Draco’s smirk turned to a sneer. He wouldn’t put up with this kind of behavior from his girl. He would have obedience. “I beg to differ, Chambers.”

Keely was incredulous. “Excuse me? I don’t remember you asking me. I don’t remember asking you. Tell me, when did we come to this agreement? Because I sure can’t remember!”

His eyes narrowed menacingly. “I thought we agreed last night.”

Keely shook her head, “No, I don’t think so. I think I would have remembered something as monumental as a boy asking me to be his girlfriend!” In her anger she dropped the next cauldron roughly into the bubbly water, soaking herself and Draco and slopping water all over the floor.

She wiped the water from her face with her upper arm. She looked up at Draco, and she couldn’t stop the laughter from spilling over, at the sight of him.

He wiped his face with the sleeve of his robes and glared at her.

She put one hand in the water and splashed him again. He spluttered in surprise and took a step toward her. He slipped on the wet floor and groped for the nearest thing to him, Keely’s shoulder, in an attempt to regain balance.

He fell hard onto his back and pulled Keely down on top of him, knocking the sink over on the way down. There was water everywhere. Keely’s eyes sparkled in amusement. Draco looked momentarily shocked as he stared into her dancing eyes. He turned his head and looked at the flooded classroom then looked back up at the girl that was still lying on top of him.

A chuckle rumbled in his chest. He couldn’t remember the last time he wanted to laugh. He reveled in the feeling.

They were soaked from head to toe. He reached up a hand to wipe away some suds that were sticking to Keely’s cheek.

Her laughter died and her eyes darkened as she stared into his stormy gray ones. He pulled her face toward his and kissed her as she had never been kissed before.



Ahh. . . Lucky Keely!

Feedback please!

~Dayna

Severus Snape stepped into the flooded classroom and cleared his throat. Keely leapt off of Draco as if he were on fire, blushing furiously and at a loss for words, for once. Draco rose graciously to his feet, looking unabashed.

“Well, Ms Chambers. I suppose I don’t need to ask how the detention is going, and whether or not Mr. Malfoy is a gracious supervisor,” he said with a hint of amusement in his voice.

Keely bit her bottom lip in embarrassment and relief that he didn’t seem too angry about it. She had a suspicion that had it been any other two students caught in this predicament that they would be facing a far more severe punishment. She felt her nerve returning. Did she dare be cheeky with Snape right now? She stared into his onyx eyes while her indigo ones twinkled in mischief. “Sorry, Sir. I just figured that while I was cleaning, I may as well do a thorough job of it and clean the floor, and wash mine and Malfoy’s robes. I also thought Malfoy’s mouth needed a bit of cleaning, so I figured while I was at it. . .”

Draco coughed and spluttered, trying to keep from laughing, not knowing what to say, or how to act. Who was this girl, and where did she get her nerve and cheek?! There was no wondering why she was in Gryffindor. He’d never known anyone to have the guts to talk to Snape like that! Did she treat all of her teachers in a like manner? She certainly didn’t talk to the great oaf Hagrid like that. But that was the only other class he shared with the Gryffindors, so he couldn’t be sure how she spoke to the rest of her teachers. He was intrigued. There was a lot he had to learn about this girl who had somehow claimed his attentions. But he still needed be careful. No one could know of this relationship. Well, besides Snape. There was no keeping it from him now. But would he be supportive? He supposed he would find out soon.

He wondered if Keely needed help. She seemed to be holding her ground well enough. He watched amusedly as this girl, his girl, he corrected himself, even if she didn’t know it yet, had a stare down with the most intimidating teacher at Hogwarts. He switched his gaze to Snape. His head of house wasn’t blinking and his face was hard. If Keely wasn’t careful she would soon taste his wrath. Draco decided to step in. “Sir, it wasn’t Keely’s fault. I pulled her down when I slipped in a puddle and I knocked the sink over.”

Keely whipped her head around to stare at Draco. She had to have misheard him. Draco Malfoy would never stick up for someone when there was a chance of discipline. She looked at him curiously. He was looking intently at Snape, who was holding the gaze with the same curiosity that Keely was feeling. She was sure Snape was thinking along the same lines she was. Draco Malfoy just didn’t do things like take the blame when there was someone else around that could do it.

“And did you force her to clean your mouth with hers?” he asked, his eyebrows raised in interest. He looked from one student to the other, resting his gaze on Keely.

Keely shuffled her feet and stole a glance at Draco. His face was now tinged with pink. Keely giggled quietly. Draco Malfoy was blushing!

The corners of Snape’s mouth twitched slightly. He couldn’t believe the nerve of this child! Why he didn’t send her straight to McGonagall, he couldn’t be sure. He only knew that she had a gift, yes, that would be it, a gift for creeping under a person’s skin to destroy their defenses. He was never himself around this infectious girl. He had a difficult time keeping his cold mask on whenever he was around her.

Lucius would never approve of this match, for Keely was not in sympathy with the Dark Lord’s cause. But he himself could not be happier. She would loosen Draco up and remind him what it was to be a teenager. He wished he could have met a girl like Keely when he was in school. Perhaps his life would have been different if he had. She was kind to everyone and everything, unless they happened to offend one of her loved ones. In which case, you had better be on your guard. Keely had a fiery temper that if unleashed, would be sure to cause one to retreat to nurse the burns. But a more loyal friend and companion, you could never find. He wondered momentarily why she hadn’t been sorted to Hufflepuff, but then he remembered her nerve. She was a Gryffindor to the core!

She was a hero to underdogs and outcasts. He had witnessed the day that Miss Granger and Keely had become inseparable. It was the first day of lessons their first year. They were standing in a queue with his house for their double potions class, and Draco had started teasing Miss Granger about her bushy hair and buck teeth and of course, her Muggle heritage. Keely had stepped up to Hermione’s defense and had nearly punched Draco in the nose. She would have, if he himself had not stepped in to stop it. He had taken five points from Gryffindor for it.

Keely had kept her mouth shut for the rest of the lesson, but approached him alone after class. It was then that she had first crawled under his defenses. Had she complained of the unfairness aloud, in front of everyone, like most students, it wouldn’t have had nearly the same effect. But she came up to him with all of her eleven year old fire and innocence and demanded to know why he had treated her so unfairly when she was only protecting a fellow student from humiliation. The pout of indignation that she had plastered on her face was so endearing that the Dark Lord himself would have wanted to gather her up and hold her close, to apologize for every wrong thing he had ever done. Yes, she was one dangerous little filly. She could melt the coldest of hearts with a single pout. He nearly smiled at the thought. If he had a daughter, he would want her to be just like Keely Chambers.

That was also the day that started a war, of sorts, between she and Draco. Strange, that they should put that behind them now. How did one simply put five years of animosity aside? Yes, Keely was an attractive young woman, but what would Draco want with her. He was a proud, spoiled prat, just like his father. Keely was the exact opposite. It was surely just lust. Or was it? Draco had stood up for her and taken the blame for something he could have just put off on her. That would have been the Malfoy thing to do. Yes, Keely was exactly what Draco Malfoy needed. Perhaps with Keely by his side, there would be hope for him after all.

“Something is funny?” Snape asked Keely.

“Of course there is. Look at this place,” she explained, waving her arms at the mess of dirty water and bubbles on the floor. “Look at me, I’m soaked!” She looked at Draco and laughed merrily. “And look at Draco!” She turned back to Snape, still giggling and said, “What’s not funny in here? Even the look on your face is worthy of a laugh, Sir.”

Draco and Snape just stared at her in disbelief. Was nothing sacred to this girl?

Something registered in Draco’s mind that nearly knocked him off his feet, more so than the fact that she had more or less just told Snape that he looked funny. She had called him Draco, not Malfoy. That was the first time he could remember her calling him by his given name. He liked it. He liked it more than he cared to admit.

“Well, Draco, I can take over the supervision now. You may go.” Snape waved Draco away and turned to Keely. “Now, Miss Chambers, I believe you have more work to do. You said you were into your cleaning, so you may as well get on with it.” He conjured a mop and handed it to her, and with a wave of his wand, the wash basin righted itself and filled with hot, soapy water once more.

Draco shot an apologetic look at Keely and retreated from the room.

Keely turned her attentions to her Potions Master and asked with the mop in her hand, “I have to clean all of this now?”

“Of course, Miss Chambers, what makes you think that you should deserve preferential treatment?”

Keely looked at him incredulously and giggled, “Ah, touché , Professor.” She shook her head and laughed. “You know, I was sticking up for you there. I can’t believe you just threw my words back at me like that.” She began to mop the floor, still giggling.

Snape smiled to himself and sat at his desk to grade some essays.

Neither Keely nor Snape noticed the flash of platinum blonde that streaked past the door. Draco had a look of triumph in his eyes. Keely was Honey. He could have fun with this!



Uh oh! Her cover is blown! heehee

I hope you liked the chapter. Please leave feedback here.

~Dayna

Keely watched the next morning at breakfast as the owls began soaring through the Great Hall. A large barn owl landed gracefully in front of her, a rose tied to its leg. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and untied the string securing it. A note was wrapped around the stem. She unfurled it and read silently, “A red rose for you.”

Hermione stared curiously at her friend. “Well, go on Keels, who’s it from?”

Fred leaned close from his seat beside her to read the note, and looked around the Great Hall to see if he could see someone watching for a reaction from Keely.

“I don’t know who it’s from. There was no signature.” She handed the note to Hermione and copied Fred. Her eyes wandered covertly to the Slytherin end of the hall. She had a guess about who it was from, but wanted to be sure. Draco was nowhere to be seen.

She lifted the flower to her nose and breathed deeply, inhaling the sweet scent. A demure smile curved her lips.

“Why would they emphasize red?” wondered Ron aloud. The note was now in his hand. “We can see for ourselves what color it is.”

The observation brought Keely back to her surroundings. She held out her hand and Ron handed the note back to her. She read it again. ‘Why did they emphasize the color?’ She shook her head and shrugged. “I don’t know,” she said slowly. Something stirred in her memory, but she couldn’t quite place what it was.

Keely stood up and made to leave the table.

“Where are you going?” asked Hermione.

“I need to go put this in some water.”

“I’ll come with you.” Hermione pushed her plate away and got to her feet. “I need to go back to our dormitory before classes start anyway.”

“Do you think it was Malfoy?” asked Hermione, once they were out of the Great Hall.

“At first I thought so,” admitted Keely. “But now I’m not so sure.” She held the rose close to her face, still breathing in its fragrance while with her free hand she lightly fingered the velvet petals. “Whoever it was though, they’re very sweet.”

Hermione looked at her watch. “We’d better hurry. Care of Magical Creatures starts in thirty minutes.”



Keely tried to think of a way during Care of Magical Creatures to talk to Draco and ask him if he had sent the flower. But to no avail. If they had been sitting in potions she could possibly pass a note to him somehow. But she couldn’t do that in this class. Draco was surrounded by Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy Parkinson.

She did, however, steal glances at him at every chance. She had caught him doing the same thing several times. At those times he would wink inconspicuously and allow his lips to turn up slightly. Keely would smile back and look quickly away, her heart fluttering wildly every time.

There had been several boys that Keely had found attractive during her years at Hogwarts. But her feelings for Draco were entirely foreign to her. Why should she get butterflies when he spoke to her? Butterflies had never before made an appearance in her stomach over something as trivial as boys before! She had never before hoped for a look or a smile, as she was now. And that the feelings should be manifesting themselves for Draco Malfoy was even stranger to her. He was arrogant and rude and pretty much everything Keely had always detested in people. So why was he causing her heart to race? Why did she hope that she could encounter him alone in a dark hall like she had when he caught her sneaking to the kitchens? Why did she crave to feel his arms around her? Why did she want him to run his finger along her cheek as he had done before? Why did she want to stand close to him and put her face in the crook of his neck to take in his scent? And why in Merlin’s name did she want to beat Parkinson to a bloody pulp for looking at him like that?!

There were too many whys and not enough becauses. It was making her head spin, and she just wanted the class to end.



Keely didn’t get the chance to talk to Draco at all that day. She would have left the dormitory after curfew in hopes that he would catch her again. But Hermione wouldn’t hear it. “You might not be so lucky next time,” she had said. “What if you’re caught by someone else? You could get into real trouble.” In the end, Keely had decided that Hermione was right and resigned herself to not being able to really see him that day. Besides that, she had Honey duties tonight. She needed to read through her letters that she had picked up today after lessons, and decide which ones to put in this week’s edition of the Herald.

Hermione was sitting cross-legged on her own bed writing her article for the newspaper.

Keely picked up the first letter, immensely pleased that Lavender and Parvati rarely entered the dormitory except to sleep.

Dear Honey

My boyfriend no longer seems interested in me. He barely looks at me anymore and he seems really distant. I’m afraid he is seeing someone else. What should I do?

Sincerely,
Won’t Give Up

Keely chewed on her bottom lip in thought, and put the letter in the pile of letters to answer.

Again there were several letters about Snape, most of them having to do with needing help in the class. One of them, however, really stood out and she snorted in laughter. The sound caught Hermione’s attention and she looked at her friend in question.

“Listen to this, My.”

Dear Honey,

I hope you can help me with my problem. I'm a seventh year girl and I have an enormous crush on one of my professors. I want to tell him before I leave Hogwarts forever, but he's a bit unapproachable, sort of unfriendly; I guess the best word to describe him would be severe. It may sound weird that I fancy him, but I can't help it. He's so clever and Sevy I mean sexy. What should I do? Should I tell him?

Desperately Awaiting Your Reply

“Sevy?” asked Hermione. “Surely she can’t mean. . .”

“Severus?” giggled Keely. “This girl has a crush on Snape!” The two girls laughed for several more moments before finally sobering. “I wonder what Snape would do if I published this letter.” The thought brought on another round of giggles from the two girls. “I think I will publish this one.” She put it in the to answer pile along with Won’t Give Up’s.

The color drained from her face as she read the next letter.

Dear Keely Honey,

I’m watching you. . .

She swallowed loudly and looked at Hermione who was once again engrossed in the continuation of her last week’s article about house elves.

“My?”

“Hmm?” she asked as she once again looked up from her work. Her eyes widened as she took in her friend’s paper-white appearance.

Keely handed her the note with shaky hands.

Hermione’s jaw dropped. “Who could know?” She looked frightened. “You should go to McGonagall.”

“I don’t think there’s anything she could do. These letters are anonymous, there isn’t any way to track who sent them.”

“Did you tell anyone besides me?” asked Hermione.

“Of course I didn’t. The professors know and you. And someone else, apparently.”

“Keely! This sounds like a threat! It reminds me of a Muggle horror film. I still think you should show it to McGonagall. What if this person means to hurt you?”

“I don’t know. . .”

“If you don’t, then I will! This isn’t funny, Keely! Have you ever watched a Muggle horror film?” At the shake of Keely’s head, she continued, “Everyone dies! Everyone dies a gruesome death!” She waved a hand in afterthought, “Well, except one girl and one boy, but that’s beside the point,” she said hurriedly.

“Come on, My! This isn’t a horror film, this is Hogwarts. No one’s going to kill us.”

“Maybe not, but it isn’t something to take lightly. This person may not kill you, but they could make your life miserable. What if they let it out to everyone that you’re Honey?”

“That would hardly be the end of the world. The worst thing that could happen is people that don’t like me, wouldn’t write. Oh what a disaster that would be,” Keely added sarcastically.

“Or, people would start openly criticizing you for your advice. Hate mail is not fun! Remember last year when that blasted Rita Skeeter started spreading it around to everyone that I broke Harry’s heart by dating Viktor? People were horrible to me.”

“My, I really don’t think that Dumbledore and McGonagall would let that go on. They would cancel the column before they let that happen.” She sighed. “I think I’m just going to keep my eye out.“ At Hermione’s look of outrage, she continued. “I promise that if it gets worse, if this person keeps sending messages, if they seem to get obviously malicious, I’ll take them to McGonagall.”

“Keely. . .” pleaded Hermione. “I’m only trying to help.”

“I know you are. And I appreciate it. But I really don’t want my column cancelled, and it will be if I turn this letter in.”

Hermione shook her head in defeat, “Alright, but only if you promise to turn them in if they get worse.”

“I promise, I already said I would.”

-:-|-:-

Faceless people haunted her dreams, faceless people holding their wands aloft, shouting curses. Dreams of her friends lined up in rows, dead and bloody. Hermione, Fred, George, Harry, Ron, Lee and. . . Draco. She screamed and sat up suddenly, she was drenched in a cold sweat. Hermione hurried to her side. Even Parvati and Lavender seemed worried, their eyes were widened in fear.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” asked Hermione in a rush.

Keely took a deep, calming breath in an attempt to slow her heartbeat and said, “I just had a nightmare. I’m alright.”

Hermione put a hand to Keely’s forehead. “Are you sure? Do you want me to take you to Madame Pomfrey?”

“No, My, really, I’m okay,” she assured her. She looked at her other two roommates and nodded. “Really, go back to sleep. I’m sorry I woke you.”

She laid back down, but didn’t attempt to go back to sleep. What was going to happen? Someone knew she was Honey, and they were watching her. Was this some kind of sick joke? Did they intend to scare her out of her wits? Or was it merely to let her know that they knew who she was? These questions and many more floated through her head for most of the night. Finally just before dawn she drifted back to sleep.

Hermione shook Keely roughly awake a few hours later. “Keels, wake up! We’re going to be late for potions!”

Keely sat up sleepily and looked at her clock. Double Potions started in twenty minutes. “Great Merlin!” she cried as she shot out of bed and threw her school robes over her head. She ran a comb through her hair and brushed her teeth in a rush and grabbed her potion supplies before running out the door after Hermione.



haha, The Happy Dementor I guess he is having some evil fun. . .

I'd also like to thank lisasnape for one of Honey's letters.

I LOVE feedback, and I have plenty of cookies. . .

~Dayna

Chapter 13

Keely spent the next days on the look out for any clue that might solve the mystery of who knew she was Honey. So far she was coming up empty handed.

She sat with her friends at the Gryffindor table on Thursday morning at breakfast. She was idly stirring her scrambled eggs around her plate, lamenting the fact that she had not had a chance to be alone with Draco, or even talk to him since her last detention in the potions classroom.

Her friends had their copies of the Hogwarts Herald open, reading the columns. Ask Honey seemed to be the column that most were reading.

Ask Honey

Dear Honey,

I think I’m in love with one of my friends, but I’m afraid to tell her. My best mate tells me I shouldn’t go there, at least not until I know how she feels about me. I don’t want to cause troubles. Please help!

-In a Bind


Dear In a Bind,

How are you going to ever know how she feels about you if you don’t tell her? Of course, it is a pretty sticky situation. I’m guessing that you’re afraid things will get awkward if you tell her and she doesn’t feel the same. My advice to you is to just spend some time with her, get to know her on a deeper level than friendship. Perhaps your relationship will grow naturally. If she reciprocates your feelings, you will have gained invaluable moments together. If she doesn’t, well then, you will have gained invaluable moments together. And it may also be that once you’ve spent that time with her, you will realize that there could never be more than friendship between the two of you.

Good luck,
~Honey

Dear Honey

My boyfriend no longer seems interested in me. He barely looks at me anymore and he seems really distant. I’m afraid he is seeing someone else. What should I do?

Sincerely,
Won’t Give Up

Dear Won’t Give Up


Boys. . . Boys will come and boys will go. If he is stepping out behind your back, then he doesn’t deserve you in the first place. Confront him. But be careful, because if you do it wrong, he will most likely deny it, if he is. Be kind about it. Ask him if his feelings have changed. It may just be that he has a lot on his mind and doesn’t realize that he isn’t paying you the attention you need. But if his feelings for you have diminished, don’t let it get you down. You can do better. I repeat - if he is stepping out on you, he doesn’t deserve you!

Good luck,
~Honey

Dear Honey,

I hope you can help me with my problem. I'm a seventh year girl and I have an enormous crush on one of my professors. I want to tell him before I leave Hogwarts forever, but he's a bit unapproachable, sort of unfriendly; I guess the best word to describe him would be severe. It may sound weird that I fancy him, but I can't help it. He's so clever and Sevy I mean sexy. What should I do? Should I tell him?

Desperately Awaiting Your Reply


Dear Desperately Awaiting Your Reply,

Unapproachable and unfriendly? Yep, I can definitely see why you are attracted to him. . .
Only joking! Well, perhaps he isn’t quite as unapproachable and unfriendly as you think. Perhaps he is just misunderstood. Cleverness and sexiness are two things that are very uncommon in one package. You are of age, or will be soon, so if the right opportunity arises, I’d go for it. Tell him, but I would like to advise you against trying to get serious until you are out of school. But I wouldn’t let this one get away. . . Clever and sexy. . . I think you’d be the luckiest girl in the universe if things worked out for you!

Best of luck,
~Honey

“Who is this Honey?” wondered Fred.

“No idea,” said George as he forked another egg onto his plate. “She sounds cute though. Maybe she’d go out with me. If she wants clever and sexy, she couldn’t do better than me.”

“Oh, yes she could, she could choose me!” argued Fred. “But why in Merlin’s name would she tell a student to start a relationship with a teacher, who is probably about twenty years her senior?”

“I don’t know,” said George thoughtfully. “If I had a chance to date Professor Sinistra, I’d take it!”

Keely studied her breakfast as she never had before, trying not to laugh.

Fred misconstrued Keely’s silence and put his arm around her. “Don’t worry, love, there’s no need to be jealous of Honey. You’ll always be number one.”


His arm felt heavier to Keely than it ever had before. She shrugged out from under it and said in a teasing note, “You actually think I’m jealous of this Honey girl? Ha! You can have her. She’s probably ugly, anyways.” She gave him a playful shove and stood up to leave.

Hermione bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing.

“I need to go to the library. I’ll see all of you later.”

-:-|-:-

Keely sat in the library putting finishing touches on a transfiguration essay that was due later that day. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to decide on the wording for her ending paragraph.

She heard someone approach and sit down across from her. She didn’t look up, but the butterflies in her stomach told her who it was.

“Chambers,” said Draco in greeting.

“Malfoy,” she returned. She lifted her eyes while she kept her head low. A smile played around the corners of her lips. She tried to focus on her homework, but it was no use. She could feel Draco’s eyes burning into her.

She lifted her head to study the intruder. He looked pained, like he had something of dire importance he needed to say, but couldn’t get the words out.

“Are you okay?” she asked, when it became apparent that he wasn’t going to say anything.

“Fine,” he said, more harshly than he’d intended.

“Alright then.” She looked down and put her quill back to parchment.

“I. . .”

Keely turned her attentions back to Draco, her eyebrows raised in waiting. After several moments she took pity on him and broke the silence. “Was it you?”

He looked relieved and grasped at her words. “Was what me?”

“The flower.”

He smiled, “A flower?” His eyes lit up. “Who else would it be?”

Keely chewed her bottom lip and her eyes brightened mischievously from indigo to violet. “How did you know I liked daisies?” she fished.

Draco shrugged nonchalantly, “A Malfoy knows things.” He picked up Keely’s quill and ran his fingers up the silky softness.

Keely rolled her eyes and stood up. She gathered her homework and shoved it into her book bag, then reached for the quill that Draco was still holding, he was now brushing it along his cheek.

He looked around at the empty library. Everyone seemed to either be at breakfast or on their way to their first lessons. He stood up and held the quill over his head.

Keely looked up at him and put her hands on her hips, a playful smile was hitched to her face. “Give me my quill, Malfoy,” she said softly.

“What, this?” He appraised the feather in his hand and said, “Nah, I don’t think I will. I need a new one and this one is quite nice.”

Keely raised her eyebrows. “I need to go to class, and that happens to be my last quill, so if you’d please. . .”

“What class?”

“Divination,” she said.

“Are you set on going?”

“Why?” She looked at him quizzically as she started slowly toward him.

Draco put the quill behind his ear and smirked as she approached. “How do you feel about skiving?”

It was Keely’s turn to shrug. “Depends on the day.” She was nearly to him now.

His smirk turned to a crooked smile. “How do you feel about skiving today?”

She sighed, “I don’t know. . .” she said slowly. “I don’t really have a reason to skive off.” She was toe to toe with him now.

She lifted herself up to tip toes and reached for her quill. Draco backed away and encircled her fragile wrist in his hand. She tried a quick swipe for it with her free hand, but with the skill of a seeker, he captured it, too. “I don’t think so, Chambers. You’re going to have to do better than that if you want this quill back.”

“Oh, yeah?” She looked into his stormy eyes for several moments and pressed her body closer to his. She raised herself to her tip toes once again and lifted her face.

As his face moved closer to hers, he released her captive wrists and moved his hands to her back. She whispered in his ear when she was close enough, “A Malfoy knows things, eh? You mean like how to take credit for something someone else did?” She smiled and finished, “It wasn’t a daisy.” And with the speed of lightning she snatched her quill and ducked out from beneath his grasp. “Ha!” she cried triumphantly as she danced backwards.

Draco was to her in an instant. He made a grab for the quill but she ducked under his outstretched arm. He whirled around and caught her by the waist before she even knew what happened.

She shrieked playfully and lifted the feather quill above her head in an attempt to keep it away from him. He took it easily from her and said with a smile, “You can’t go to class without a quill.”

“What is going on in here?” an angry voice from behind a bookshelf cried. “This is a library!”

“Go!” Draco hissed. He retrieved her book bag for her and hurried out of the library behind her.



Oh. . . naughty Keely and Draco, for skiving! And he's a prefect! I wonder what they'll do. . .

I love feedback.

~Dayna

Draco and Keely opened the doors to a dark, overcast sky. Keely turned her face to the heavens and inhaled deeply. “I absolutely love this weather! I hope it rains.”

Draco raised his eyebrows at her in disbelief. “You’re kidding?” he asked, not sure if she was pulling his leg.

Keely looked at Draco. Her eyes were alight with pleasure. “No, I’m not. I really do love this.” She inhaled the crisp air once again and sighed. A teasing smile played at the corners of her lips. “Alright, Malfoy, you got me out here, I’m skipping class, now what?”

Draco shrugged. “I don’t know, what do you want to do?”

As if on cue, the first of the fat rain drops began to fall. Keely’s face split in two. She grabbed Draco’s hand and attempted to tug him out onto the grounds. He protested and halted in the door frame. “You’ve got to be joking!”

Keely dropped his hand and shot him a look of mocking disbelief. “You’re not telling me that a Malfoy is afraid of a little rain, are you?”

“Pff. . . Malfoys aren’t afraid of anything!" He puffed out his chest and pounded it once with his fist, in a show of exaggerated masculinity. "I just don’t want to get wet is all.”

Keely jutted her bottom lip out into a pout that made Draco’s heart skip a beat. “Well I think you’re afraid. . .”

Draco shook his head slowly.

“Yep, I think you’re afraid it’ll mess up your hair." She giggled at the look Draco was giving her. He looked as if he couldn’t decide whether she was teasing him or being serious. She took his hand again and began pulling. “Come on, you can’t tell me that you’ve never danced in the rain.”

He followed, mostly because he couldn’t bring himself to pull his hand out of hers again. He was afraid that if he let go, he would never have this chance again.

She looked over her shoulder at him as she led him close to the castle and started skirting it.

He looked confused. “What are you doing?” he asked.

She looked at him incredulously. “You’re kidding. . .”

Draco shook his head.

“You’ve had to have skived before,” she said, unsure.

“Of course I have, I don’t know of anyone that hasn’t, at least once.”

“What do you usually do when you skip class?”

He shrugged and said, “I usually just go back to my dormitory and sleep or whatever.”

“You’ve never gone outside? You’re missing out, my friend. Fred and George showed me this trick.” She didn’t see the sudden look of jealousy that crossed his face at mention of the Weasley twins and she continued on. “If you stay right up against the building, anyone that happens to be looking out of the window won’t see you. Then, there’s a place at the corner over there where you can keep behind the trees until you’re to the lake. And that’s too far away to make out who is there, exactly. We could be sixth years on their free period for all anyone at the castle would be able to tell.” She tugged at his hand again. He didn’t move. Keely once again turned to look at him. “What’s wrong?”

“You’ve skived with the Weasels?” He couldn’t quite keep the contempt from his voice.

Her playfulness evaporated, and her face took on a coldness that Draco knew all too well. She rolled her eyes and started to stalk back toward the oak front doors, her arms folded across her chest.

Draco rushed to her side and took hold of her elbow to turn her to him.

She glared daggers at him and started in, “Look, Malfoy. . . We need to get a few things straight! The Weasleys are my friends! I’ve been friends with them since first year, along with Harry and Hermione. They’re practically my family. I love them! I love them more than my own life. Yes, we’ve skived together! We’ve done lots of things together! I’ve spent time at their house, I’ve hugged their mum!” She took a deep breath to try to calm herself, then continued, “Never! I mean never insult my friends in front of me again, Malfoy! Not if you like your face the way it is,” she finished menacingly.

He looked down at her incredulously. He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know what to do, or what to feel. He was completely torn between wanting to hold her and kiss that scowl off of her face, and saying good riddance. Sure he received threats from people; he got them on a regular basis. It was one of the drawbacks of being who he was, a Malfoy. People all around him were jealous, so they lashed out the only way they could think of, by threats. But this little wisp of a girl? She thought she could rearrange his face? The idea was nearly laughable.

When he didn’t say anything, Keely started again toward the front doors.

Draco groaned and ran a hand through his hair. He couldn’t believe what he was about to do. He didn’t know who he was when he was around this girl! All he knew was that if she walked away from him now, he might not ever have this chance again. “Keely, wait!” he called.

She let out her breath in exasperation and turned to face him, her lips pressed firmly together.

“I. . .” he started.

“Yes?” she asked impatiently.

“I. . . er, don’t go,” he said quietly. “We still have most of the period, and,” he smirked at her, “I still have your quill.”

She wasn’t amused. “I don’t really need it. I can get another one whenever I want. I only let you bring me out here because I wanted to. You can’t honestly think that I’d let some boy get me to skive over a quill? It’s not easy to get me to do things I don’t want to do. And right now, I’m so angry with you that I don’t want to see you. So if you’ll excuse me, I think Fred and George have a free period this hour. In fact, I think I see them down by the lake. It’s a good thing we didn’t go down there. I have a feeling that they wouldn’t take too kindly to seeing you with me. I think I’ll go down and dance with them.” She pushed roughly past him along the side of the castle.

Draco’s face flushed crimson in his anger. He felt he had right to Keely and the thought of her dancing in the rain with the Weasel twins incensed him. She wouldn’t get away from him. They had a little over an hour left to them and he was going to spend it with her if it was the last thing he did.

He didn’t know why, but he felt an intense desire to tame her and bend her to his will. In fact, the more she shouted at him, the stronger that desire became.

He grabbed her by the elbow and began pulling her in the opposite direction of the lake. If it was true that Fred and George were down there, he didn’t want them to see him with Keely. She was right, they would not be happy to see him with her, and as much as he hated to admit it, they probably could rearrange his face, or make his time at Hogwarts completely miserable. He would never be able to drink his morning pumpkin juice without testing it first for poisons or pranks, again.

Keely tried to jerk free of Draco’s grasp, but it was no use. He was holding her much too tightly and he was a lot stronger than she was. She dug her heels into the ground but the rain was falling hard and the ground beneath her feet was getting very slippery with mud, so even her planted feet were being pulled forward. In desperation she folded her legs and sat down. The sudden jerk downward halted Draco momentarily. He looked down at Keely’s determined face and started laughing.

Keely’s scowl deepened. “Let go of me, Malfoy!” she hissed.

“I don’t think so.” The laughter had barely died from his face when he bent over and picked her up. He flung her over his shoulder like a bag of potatoes and started toward the quidditch pitch - he highly doubted there would be anyone there in this weather - but not before disarming her.

“Draco Malfoy, you let me down this instant!” She pounded his back with her fists and kicked her legs furiously, but she could have been a toddler throwing a temper tantrum for all the good it was doing her. She forced the breath to and from her lungs in short angry bursts.

By the time they were to the pitch, Keely had calmed considerably, and she grudgingly admitted to herself that the view from her position could have been a lot worse.

Draco stopped and set her gently to her feet, his eyes were wary as if waiting for another tongue lashing. Neither said a word for several moments, each just waiting for the other to say something. Keely once again was the first to break the silence. “Well, now what? You kidnapped me, we’re alone, no one at the castle will be able to see us from here, and most people that are on free periods wouldn’t be caught dead in this weather.”

The torrential downpour beat down on them unmercifully. There wasn’t a dry inch on either of them, and their hair was plastered to their heads while the rain ran in rivulets down their faces. Keely’s nose was beginning to turn red with cold. She sniffed and rubbed her arms vigorously in an attempt to warm herself.

Next week would be the start of October and she knew that the last of the late summer pleasantness was gone and the colder autumn weather was upon them.

Keely looked at Draco expectantly while trying not to freeze to death. She chided herself for not bringing a coat. Her teeth began to chatter. “Are we just going to stand here and freeze, or did you have a particular reason for bringing me here?”

“Excuse me, but I believe it was you that wanted to play in the rain.”

“Well, I did want to, before you decided to be a prat. I know you don’t like my friends. I don’t like your friends either. Parkinson is a cow and Crabbe and Goyle are baboons, but I don’t go around insulting them in front of you, do I?”

A familiar smirk broke out across Draco’s face. “You just did.”

Keely smiled reluctantly. “Well, alright, I suppose I did. We’re even!" she conceded grudgingly, then fired up again almost immediately, "But if you insult my friends in front of me again, I swear to you, you will regret the night you were conceived!”

“You wouldn’t want to make my life miserable, Chambers,” he said with an odd smirk.

Keely looked confused by the look on his face. “What do you mean? Why wouldn’t I?”

“I’ll just say this; I could make your life just as miserable, if not more so, than you could make mine.”

“I’d like to see you try!”

“Ha! I highly doubt that.” He took her hand and started leading her to the Slytherin team’s locker room. “Come on, let’s get out of the rain, your lips are turning blue.” He pulled her inside and grabbed a dry towel, wrapped it around her shoulders and began rubbing her upper arms to stimulate the blood flow. “Are you feeling warmer now?”

Keely nodded and smiled sweetly up at Draco. “I am. Thank you.” She looked at her watch. “As much fun as this hour has been,” she started sarcastically, “It’s time to start back to the castle. I don’t think Snape would be too forgiving if we skived off of potions.”

Draco looked at his watch. They still had forty five minutes left to them before potions started. But he supposed she was right. People would get suspicious if they both ran in right before class started, dripping wet.

Why in Merlin’s name did he let her convince him to go out in the rain? They could have had another good half an hour before he had to say good bye to her if he had insisted upon staying in the castle. There were plenty of abandoned classrooms down in the dungeons where they could have gone.

He toweled himself dry and fished in a closet full of spare quidditch robes. He searched through them and pulled out the smallest one he could find, though he could tell that it would still be several sizes too large. He pulled the wet towel off of her and put the dry robe over her head. She put her arms through the sleeves and hugged herself tightly, looking up at Draco with a curious expression on her face.

He smiled down at her.

“What?” she asked, smiling, too.

“You should have been in Slytherin. Green and silver look great on you,” he said appreciatively. He stepped back to get a better look at her and nodded in assent at his own observation.

Keely blushed and ducked her head, but recovered quickly. She held her arms away from her and looked down at the robe she was wearing. Her hands disappeared into the sleeves, and the hem of the robe bunched on the floor around her feet. “I don’t know. I think I look better in red and gold, although I do like the color green better than red.”

He smirked. “I beg to differ. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite as stunning as you in that Slytherin robe.”

“Oh, right,” she said sarcastically. “I look absolutely gorgeous, dripping wet and in over large robes with my hair plastered to my forehead.”

“Well, I agree about the size of the robes. You would look much better in something that fit a bit better. But the color does look incredible on you. It compliments your eyes. . .” He let his words trail off as he stepped to her.

He brushed her cheek with the back of his middle finger in the way that Keely loved so much. It left a trail of fire burning her face. Keely gulped as he brushed his thumb over her bottom lip and lowered his head to claim them both with his own.



Well, they didn't have as much fun as I meant for them to have, but I suppose it wasn't a total loss. . . *ahem*

I hope you'll let me know what you think. Feedback goes here.

Thanks for reading,
~Dayna

Keely gave the password to an amused looking fat lady and stumbled through the portrait hole. She had forgotten to give the robe Draco had given her back to him when they reached the castle and she now had it wadded up and hidden under her school robe. She made a quick check of the common room to make sure it was empty and rushed upstairs to change out of her wet and muddy robes.

“How come you weren’t in Divination?” asked Ron, when Keely joined the queue for Potions.

She shot a sidelong glance at Draco who had obviously heard the question and was listening intently to what her answer would be. “I lost my quill,” she explained as she tried to suppress a smile.

Draco smirked in Keely’s direction before grudgingly allowing Pansy to claim his attention. Keely glowered at her. How she wanted to punch that pathetic, pug-nosed, spoiled rotten heifer right in the face. Keely strained her ear to listen to what she was saying. She clearly heard, “I need to talk to you. Can we talk after class?”

“Keely. . . Keely. . . yoo-hoo?” Hermione was waving a hand in front of her face. Keely turned to look at her best friend. “You’re a million miles away.”

“Sorry, My. I’ve just got a lot on my mind, is all.”

Harry was fixing Keely with a strangest expression. He looked from Keely, to Draco, where her eyes had obviously been resting, and back to Keely again. He wasn’t satisfied with the excuse she had given Ron. How many times had she asked to borrow a quill from him when she had forgotten hers or lost it, or whatever? But surely she hadn’t spent the period with Malfoy, had she?

Potions that day passed in the way it did nearly every lesson. Snape was horrible to the Gryffindors and class ended with Gryffindor having approximately fifteen house points less than they had at the beginning of the lesson.

Keely watched as Pansy grabbed Draco’s elbow and lead him from the classroom. Keely waited for Hermione to finish gathering her books and ingredients, hoping she would be able to hear a bit of whatever it was Parkinson wanted to talk to Draco about.

The two girls hurried from the room and met up with Harry and Ron right outside the door. There was arguing coming from around the corner, but as it was an opposite corner from the direction they were going, there wasn’t much chance to hear what was going on. Keely tried to fall back to listen. Pansy sounded like she was near tears. “Why weren’t you in Herbology? You were with another girl, weren’t you?”

“It’s none of your business where I was or who I was with!”

“What do you mean; it’s none of my business? Draco, I love you. . .”

Keely wasn’t able to hear Draco’s response, because they had turned the corner and were no longer in hearing distance. Bile rose in Keely’s throat. Was it possible that Pansy was Won’t Give Up? Was Draco the boyfriend that seemed different and distant? Was she- Keely, the other girl? She couldn’t stand Pansy, but to be stepping out with her boyfriend. . . Keely wouldn’t do that to her worst enemy. Cheating was something that Keely would never dream of doing, and here she was, skiving with someone else’s boyfriend, kissing him, dreaming about his arms being around her. She refused to be the other girl. Hermione was right; Malfoy would bring her nothing but heartache. Already, she felt like her heart was in a vise grip.

She followed her friends into the Great Hall for lunch. She didn’t say a word the entire way. She wanted to be alone. “Look, guys, I’m not really hungry at all. I think I’m just going to go the dormitory and get a jump start on Snape’s essay. I’ll see you all in Charms.” She turned around and walked slowly out, watching her feet as she went.

“Oi, Keely!”

She sighed and turned around. She wasn’t in the mood for company right now. “Hi, Fred.”

“Why so down?” he asked kindly.

Keely shook her head and said nothing, biting back the tears. She was so angry at Draco she could scream! If he could cheat on his girlfriend, he was worse than she ever imagined him to be. And if he broke up with Pansy to be with her, who’s to say that he wouldn’t cheat on her with the next girl who caught his eye? Her heart felt as though it had just been shattered into a million pieces, and that, in turn, fueled the anger even further.

Fred pulled her into a hug, and Keely returned it as though this were to be the last time she would ever see him. Why did she have to have friends like this? If she didn’t have such wonderful friends, she would have been able to make it to her dormitory without losing control of her emotions in front of the entire school. Her shoulders began to tremble, and Fred held her and rubbed her neck and back soothingly while making soft shushing noises.

“What’s wrong, Love?” he asked quietly, concern written all over his face.

Keely just shook her head again. Her relationship with Malfoy was more trouble than it was worth. There was no way in Hades that she was going to tell any of her friends- well, except Hermione- about Malfoy. If she had chosen someone from any other house than Slytherin to fall for, she would be able to tell Fred what was wrong. She looked up at Fred and smiled as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’m alright now. Thank you.” She put her hands around his neck and pulled his head down so she could give him a friendly kiss on the cheek.

Draco stepped around the corner at the precise moment that Keely’s lips touched the freckled face. His eyes hardened and his lips pressed together into a tight line. He looked murderous. He pulled out his wand and aimed it straight at Fred’s back.

Keely saw him and pulled away from Fred. “I’ve got things I need to do, Fred. I’ll see you later.”

“Aren’t you going to have some lunch?” he asked, placing a hand lightly on her shoulder.

“No, I’m not hungry.”

“If you don’t want to tell me what’s wrong, perhaps you could ask Honey. She seems to give some pretty good advice,” he suggested.

Keely gave a soft snort of derision. “I don’t think she would be able to help me.” And she gave Fred one more quick squeeze before leaving to her dormitory.

Draco watched in angry silence as Fred entered the Great Hall, before sprinting to catch up to Keely. Hadn’t he made it clear to her that she was to stay away from that git?

He caught up to her in the next corridor, but there were people everywhere, on their way to lunch or the library, or wherever else they were in a mind to go. He followed a few paces behind her until they hit a stretch where there were no students to witness. He timed his attack perfectly. He opened the door to an empty classroom and grabbed the back of Keely’s robes at the same time, pulling her into the musky old room.

“What in Merlin’s name were you doing down there?” he asked angrily.

Keely glared and her eyes sparkled dangerously. “It’s none of your business, Malfoy! Leave me alone, I never want to see you again! Get out of my way!” She tried to shove past him but was halted again by his arm. Why wouldn’t anyone just let her walk away when she wanted to? She felt as if she needed to put a stinging charm on her arm so that anyone that touched it would be stung!

She pulled out her wand and directed it at Draco’s throat. “Get. . . your. . .hands. . .off. . .me!” she hissed menacingly.

Angry and bewildered, but not wanting to be jinxed, he dropped his hand to his side.

Keely pushed past him, but before she could open the door he took out his own wand and locked it. She tugged then pointed her wand at it and whispered, “Alohamora.” She tried the door again, but it remained as solid as ever. She whirled on Draco her wand at the ready. “Let me out of here!”

“Nope,” he said calmly. “I don’t think I will.” He, too had his wand positioned, ready to defend himself if needed. “Not until you tell me what’s going on.”

“I don’t owe you an explanation. I don’t owe you anything. Like I’ve said before, ‘You’re not my boyfriend!’”

“The time we’ve spent together?” He smirked and moved cautiously closer to her. His arms open in surrender.

Keely backed away from him and gripped her wand a bit tighter. “Stay away from me. I can’t be your girlfriend.”

“I don’t see why not.”

“That’s because you’re an arrogant prat, who thinks he can have anything and anyone he wants, without a thought to how it might affect others!”

Draco looked confused. “What are you talking about; how it might affect others?”

“You may not care if I’m the other girl! But I do! I won’t be the other, and I won’t put up with someone that thinks cheating is okay! Now open the door!”

“Are you mad? You’re talking nonsense! I don't think cheating is okay. . . and what do you mean other girl? There’s no one else!”

“Don’t lie to me. I heard Pansy after Potions today; ‘Why weren’t you in Herbology? You were with another girl! I love you, Draco!’”

Draco looked taken aback then laughed. “You weren’t wrong when you called Pansy a cow earlier. I ended things with her during the summer, but she just won’t give up. You didn’t hear the end of the conversation, obviously. I told her that if she didn’t give up the sick notion that I’m still her boyfriend, I’d make her life at Hogwarts unbearable.” He took a tentative step toward Keely, not sure if her temper had yet abated.

Keely blinked in shock. “You mean, Pansy isn’t. . . You’re not her. . .” Her grip on her wand loosened slightly and she lowered it a fraction of an inch.

“No, she’s not. Now,” he said calmly. “It’s your turn to explain. What were you doing with Weasley?”

Keely shrugged, her wand still in a half offensive position. “What did it look like I was doing? He was comforting me because I was hurt and angry.”

“You kissed him,” he accused.

“Yes, I did kiss him. Would you be upset if I kissed my brother? Because that’s about all it was. My feelings for Fred are completely brotherly.”

“You don’t see how he looks at you,” he said coolly.

“Yes, Draco, I do. I know that Fred would change my feelings for him if he could. But I’ve also told him that there would never be anything more than friendship between us. I’ve told you this all before.” She sighed and continued. “Besides that, you still are not my boyfriend. I refuse to just assume that you are. If you were my boyfriend, I’d be more sensitive to you about how I act around Fred or anyone else. But let me tell you this. . . Even if you were my boyfriend, I would not cut the Weasleys out of my life completely. I won’t let a boy come between me and my friends! Any boy I date will have to accept the fact that I have friends that are boys, just as I would except that he may have friends that are girls.”

Draco made a sound somewhat like a child that was being forced to do something unpleasant. “You’re really going to make me,” he gulped, “ask?”

Keely gave him a teasing smile and said sweetly, “Ask what?”

“Keely, will you, er. . .”

“Yes?” she prompted.

“I mean, can I be. . . Will you be my girlfriend?” Why in the world was he so nervous? Surely she would say yes.

Keely wanted to laugh at the look on his face and couldn’t help herself. “I don’t know. . .”

“What?” He had to have misheard her.

Keely giggled and kept him waiting no longer. “Of course I will.” She stepped to him and tiptoed to kiss his cheek. “Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”



And so it begins. . .

I love feedback

~Dayna

Keely sat in a cushy armchair with her legs folded beneath her in the Gryffindor common room on the first of October, watching the sun as it began its descent, from the window. She was alone tonight. All of her friends were busy. Draco had quidditch practice, Ron and Hermione had prefect duties (tonight would be their first night patrolling the halls), and McGonagall had them in her office, telling them what they needed to do and how to go about dealing with rule breakers, Fred, George and Lee were off selling something or other, and Harry was somewhere. . .

Being alone tonight, however, suited Keely just fine. She was wearing her favorite old navy blue sweats that were two sizes too large, and a thick pair of woolen socks. She was holding a warm ceramic mug of hot cocoa close to her mouth, taking small sips and feeling quite content. Her homework was done and Hermione’s cat, Crookshanks was curled up next to her, purring, adding to her contentment.

She let her mind wander over the last few days. Her new relationship with Draco was always at the forefront. ‘Oh, Draco,’ she sighed. He put on a hard exterior for the world, but the more she was getting to know of him, the more she found there was to learn.

They had mutually agreed that they would keep their relationship a secret. Neither was quite ready to deal with what the school would do when they found out. It was only a matter of time, really, but Keely hoped that it would be a long time. She did feel guilty, however, about keeping the secret from her over-protective male friends, but they would never understand. There was a good chance they would disown her, and she definitely didn’t want that to happen.

She smiled to herself, remembering the arrangement she and Draco had come up with to communicate without it being too conspicuous; the insults they now threw at each other were to be taken as terms of endearment. Ron had asked her at lunch yesterday what she had done to Malfoy to deserve the upsurge of contempt. Keely just chuckled, which earned her a curious look from Harry. She then decided that she would need to take extra precaution around him.

She let out a long, slow breath and wished she could have more time alone with Draco. It seemed that it was easier for them to find time alone before he had asked her to be his girlfriend than it was for them now. But perhaps not, perhaps it was just that she was now more aware of the time they spent apart.

“Hi, Keely!”

Keely snapped out of her thoughts and turned to face the voice. “Ginny! Long time no see. Where have you been hiding? In the month we’ve been back, I’ve barely seen you at all.”

“Oh, here and there.” She plopped down on a loveseat opposite Keely. Crookshanks hopped down from Keely’s side and jumped onto Ginny’s lap. Ginny scratched his ears and he pressed his head further into her hand while purring louder than ever.

“Hey, you traitor! I thought you were cozy here by me,” cried Keely.

Ginny laughed as she stroked his long fur. “Have you seen Harry or Ron?” she asked.

“Ron is with Hermione right now, being briefed by McGonagall on how to patrol the halls. And I don’t know where Harry is. Why?” asked Keely.

“I ran into Angelina in the entrance hall. She wanted me to pass on a message if I see them. She wanted to have quidditch practice tomorrow after dinner. Will you pass it on if you see them before me?”

“Of course I will. How’s Ron doing, anyway? I haven’t had the chance to see him play. Is he any good?”

“Well, no. He’s not. He’s quite pathetic really,” lamented Ginny. “I’m surprised you haven’t been out to see a practice. You were always out there last year. What’s changed?”

“I don’t know. Bigger work load now, I suppose. I don’t know how the players manage it. We’ve only been back here a month and already we’ve had more homework than the last four years put together.”


“I’m definitely not looking forward to that next year.”

“Hey, Ginny!”

Ginny turned around at her name. “Oh, hey Lauren.”

“Are you ready?”

“Yeah, one minute.” She stood up and stepped to Keely to give her a hug. “I miss you!”

“You’re the one that’s never around!” teased Keely, then she sighed and said, “I miss you too, Gin.”

“What are you doing for Christmas?”

Keely smiled. “I don’t know. Christmas is almost three months away still.”

“Well, I know Mum and Dad would love to have you at the Burrow. They love you! And Mum has told me several times that she hopes someday you and Fred will get together.” Ginny gave her a conspiratorial smile. “Mum isn’t the only one. Practically the entire Weasley family is pulling for just that.”

Keely sighed in exasperation, “Ginny. . .”

“I know, I know, you don’t feel that way about him. But a girl can dream, can’t she? I’d love to have you in the family.” She started to walk away but looked over her shoulder and said, “I’ll talk to you later. And start thinking about Christmas.”

“I will. And don’t you be such a stranger.”

Ginny smiled and said with a wave, “Kay.”

Keely watched Ginny disappear through the portrait hole with her friend then turned back to the window. Crookshanks jumped back onto the chair beside her and curled up. “Oh, now you want to sit by me. How do you think it makes me feel; to always come in second for you?” She smiled and scratched his head. He looked up at her sleepily and blinked then yawned widely and fell asleep, his never ceasing purr roaring louder than ever.

Keely allowed her heavy eyelids to close. But no sooner had she rested her head against the back of her chair did she hear her name again.

“Keely?”

“Oh, Harry. There you are. Did Ginny find you?” Keely asked, stifling a yawn.

“No. Was she looking for me?”

“No. I just thought I would ask the next person I saw, if Ginny had found them,” she teased, a smile curved her lips.

Harry gave her a sheepish grin and asked, “What did she want?”

“She just wanted me to tell you that Angelina told her that if she saw you, to tell you that there’s quidditch practice tomorrow after dinner.”

Harry nodded his understanding and sat down in the seat that Ginny had just vacated.

Keely turned back to the window. The sun was now just above the horizon. It would be dark soon and the sky would then be littered with millions of glittering diamonds, or at least that’s what Keely’s mum had told her what stars were when she was growing up.

Harry watched Keely as she admired the view of the Hogwarts grounds. She had changed a lot over the summer, matured. She had also cut her hair drastically. When he had said goodbye to her at the end of last term, her hair had hung nearly to her waist. He liked it short, he decided. It fit her personality better than her long hair had. The short hair was spunky just like she was.

Keely felt Harry’s eyes on her and she turned her attention back to him. “What?” she asked. She quickly ran her finger under her nose. “Do I have a booger?”

Harry chuckled softly, “No, you don’t have any boogers.” He continued to watch her.

“What?!” asked Keely, beginning to feel uncomfortable. “Do I have broccoli in my teeth? Is it my hair?”

“No, no!” Harry assured her. “You look fine. Just perfect. Although. . .”

“What is it?” she asked, feeling exasperated.

Harry shook his head. “It’s nothing really. You just seem, I don’t know. . . different. Somehow. . .”

Keely smiled and said, “I’m the same Keely I’ve always been.”

“Are you busy right now?” he asked suddenly.

“Terribly busy. Can’t you see that? And I can’t believe that you would just come and interrupt me like this. The nerve!” she teased. “What’s on your mind?”

“Do you want to walk with me? There’s still forty-five minutes until curfew, and I’m rather bored.”

“Sure,” she said as she unfolded herself from the chair. Crookshanks looked up at her reprovingly, yawned widely, then hopped down and trotted up the stairs, to no doubt, start warming a spot on Hermione’s bed. “I just need to run upstairs and grab my shoes. Be right back.”

Harry watched her climb the stairs and disappear around a corner. He pulled the Marauder’s map out of his pocket and unfolded it, and while pointing his wand at it, he whispered, “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.” He stared at it. In the dungeons there were several abandoned classrooms. There was one last night, however, that wasn’t abandoned. He studied the now empty room carefully, where last night two labeled dots had been; Keely Chambers and Draco Malfoy.



Uh, oh. . . Now what?

You know I love feedback. . .

~Dayna

Just a reminder that I am not JK Rowling, whose mind this world originated from. Only Keely is mine and I'm making no money for this.

Also a friendly reminder that this story is PG-13



Harry and Keely walked together in silence through the castle corridors for nearly half an hour. Keely could sense that Harry had something on his mind and that he was working out how best to approach whatever it was he wanted to say, so Keely allowed him the peace to do it.

Finally Harry took a breath and said, “So, I had my map out last night.”

Keely smiled. She loved that map! How many times had she used it with him, Ron and Hermione, to sneak down to Hagrid’s or to the kitchens or anywhere else? She couldn’t count them. “Any particular reason?” she asked, not quite sure where he was going with the conversation.

He eyed her for a moment then shook his head. He looked at his feet as he walked and kept his hands in his pockets. “But I did see something that worries me a bit.”

“Don’t tell me,” said Keely in a dramatic voice. “Snape is up to something!”

Again Harry eyed her and shook his head. “No, it’s not Snape.” He stopped short and pulled Keely around to face him. “What’s going on with you and Malfoy?”

Keely’s stomach dropped and she held her breath and gulped. She and Malfoy had snuck into an old classroom last night for some private time. Harry must have seen them together. She changed her mind, she hated that map! She stared wide-eyed at Harry, but could think of no excuse to give him. She was a horrible liar, but more than that, she didn’t want to lie to Harry. But how would he take it if he knew that she was getting cozy with Draco?

Her silence seemed to confirm his suspicions. “You’re snogging him, aren’t you,” he said. He didn’t sound angry, but hurt and betrayed.

“Harry. . .” she pleaded. “It’s not like that. I’m not just snogging him. . .”

“So you are snogging him!” he interrupted. Blood was beginning to rush to Harry’s face.

Keely bit her lip as a couple of students passed them. She pulled him into a secluded corner and said, “So what if I am? What are you going to do about it? I like him, Harry! I like him a lot! And nothing you say is going to change that.”

“Keely, you’re mental! His father’s a Death Eater! And if I’m not mistaken, he’s on his way to becoming one as well! You need to get shot of him, and you need to do it before he hurts you!” The anger was rising in Harry and his breathing was becoming short and ragged. This couldn’t be happening! She could not be falling for that git! “And I’ll tell you what I’m going to do about it; I’m going to make Malfoy pay!”

Keely grabbed tightly onto Harry’s arm. “NO! Harry, you can’t! Draco is not his father, he’s not a Death Eater, and he’s definitely not going to hurt me! Leave him alone!”

Harry shook his head in an attempt to clear it. “Since when have you called him Draco?”

Keely’s dark indigo eyes bore into Harry’s green ones, challenging him. “Since he asked me to be his girlfriend and I accepted.” He had already seen them together. There was no use trying to hide it from him any longer.

It was worse than he thought. Harry looked as though he were going to be sick. Keely. . . Gryffindor’s Keely. . . his Keely. . . with Malfoy? The stinking, arrogant, evil Malfoy? One of his best friends with his enemy? There had to be something he could do. . . “He’s your. . . You’re his. . .”

“Girlfriend?” Keely finished. “Yes, I am.”

“Does anyone else know?” He seemed resigned, but the anger and disappointment had not abated.

“Hermione does. She’s the only other one besides you.”

“And she’s okay with it?” he asked, clearly disbelieving. There could be no way that Hermione would approve of this relationship. Hermione was Keely’s best friend in the world and for her to just stand by and let Malfoy steal Keely away, was mind-boggling. Was this development causing a rift between the two of them? Was Keely choosing Malfoy over Hermione? It didn’t seem like anything had changed between them. They still seemed as close as they ever had been.

“Of course she is! As long as I’m happy, she’s happy. She’s not standing in my way, and neither should you, Harry.” Her voice then took on a pleading note. “Please don’t tell anyone. I’ll do anything!”

“Anything?” he asked, doubtful. “Alright then, if you break up with him now, I won’t tell anyone that you had this lapse in judgment concerning Malfoy!” he said stubbornly.

Keely looked at Harry as though she were seeing him properly for the first time in her life. “Who are you, to tell me who I can and can’t date?!” she shouted. Her temper was rising at an alarming rate, and she felt her face growing hot. “You can’t be serious!”

“Oh, I have never been more serious in my life! Malfoy’s no good for you, Keely. Choose someone else!”

Keely’s face hardened and though her tone was soft, it was more menacing than if she had still been shouting. “You have no right, Harry Potter, to tell me what to do.” She gave him one last contemptuous glare and stomped, not towards Gryffindor Tower, but to the dungeons; she needed to vent, and she was craving more than ever, the feel of Draco’s arms around her.

Harry hurried to Keely’s side when he saw the direction she was heading, grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. Keely whipped out her wand and directed it at Harry’s chest. “Let go of me. Now!” she hissed. “You aren’t my father, you have no right to tell me what I can and can’t do and who I am and am not allowed to spend time with.”

“I’m only trying to look out for you, Keely. I thought you said you hated Malfoy. Remember the first day of lessons? You said there was no truth to the rumors that Lavender and Parvati started.”

“I changed my mind. Haven’t you heard, Harry? Girls are good at changing their minds. Some call it a woman’s prerogative!” She stared up at Harry, her wand still aimed at him, daring him to object again and said, “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go look for my boyfriend.”

Harry was livid! How could an evil ferret like Malfoy win Keely’s heart when Fred had been trying to do just that for years? ‘When I. . .’ He let his thought trail off and called after her, “How do you think Fred and George will take this news?”

Keely spun around so fast that the movement was barely a blur. Her eyes were wide and her jaw looked about ready to hit the floor. “You wouldn’t,” she hissed.

“Oh wouldn’t I?” he asked innocently.

Keely stepped toe to toe with him and stared up into his emerald eyes, her violet ones blazing and her wand gripped tightly. “You are not the same Harry Potter I met five years ago. The Harry Potter I knew back then would not hurt his friends like this. I don’t like you very much right now, and just so there’s no confusion; we. . . are. . . in. . . a. . . fight! And if you don’t want me to tell McGonagall about that little map of yours, I’d keep my mouth shut to everyone, about Draco and I, if I were you!”

They glared at each other for several moments until, “Keels? Harry? What are you two doing here?”

“We’re fighting because Harry won’t keep his nose out of my business!” she spat. She shoved hard past him, continuing her way to the dungeons.

Keely heard Harry ask Hermione, “Aren’t you going to stop her? She's going to go find Malfoy!”

Then she heard Hermione’s response and smiled. “No, Harry, I’m not. And she’s right; you really should keep your nose out of her business. I know, you don’t like Malfoy, I’m not fond of him either, but he makes Keely happy and you should be happy for her. She’s not stupid.”

“She sure is acting it!”

“Look, Harry. I’ve already talked to her about this. She knows the risks, besides, have you noticed that Malfoy hasn’t been as foul as he normally is to us?”

Harry didn’t respond.

“That would be Keely’s doing. Just butt out, okay. She won’t be afraid to end it if he gets out of hand.”

“But it’s Malfoy, Hermione,” he sounded desperate for someone to understand what a drastic mistake Keely was making.

Keely wanted to punch the prat in the kisser! Why did he feel like he needed to control her life? She got enough of that at home. Keely loved her parents, but they were much too overbearing; trying to control every little aspect of her life. She shuddered to think what would happen if they ever found out she was dating the son of Lucius Malfoy. They hated everything to do with the Malfoys and they would probably end up storming into the castle and dragging her out by her ear if they knew.

She made her way cautiously to the dungeons, pausing at every corner. It was the Gryffindors on patrol duty tonight, which meant if she got caught, she probably wouldn’t get detention, but she would have a lot of explaining to do about why she was sneaking around in the dungeons. She would rather have detention. . .

She opened the door to the room they usually met in as quietly as she could, hoping that he was there. She smiled when she saw him. His back was to her, his hands clasped behind his back, studying a painting of dragons that was hanging on the wall. He turned at the sound of the door clicking shut and smiled.

“There you are. I was wondering what was keeping. . .” He took in her distraught appearance and became concerned. He hurried to her and gathered her into his arms. “What happened?”

“Harry! Harry happened!”

Draco’s expression became stony. “What did he do?”

“He knows! He saw us together and he knows! He told me to break up with you, to choose someone else.”

“Someone else? Who, someone like. . .him?”

His response threw Keely off guard. “What do you mean; someone like him? Harry isn’t interested in me like that.”

“Come on, Kitten, you’re completely, albeit adorably, oblivious. I don’t think anything would please Potter more than to have you on his arm. You refuse to believe that your friends would love the opportunity to snog you silly. You’re too blasted desirable. Especially since you cut your hair, it shows off your shoulders. . .” He bent down and kissed her left shoulder. “And your neck. . .” He kissed that next. “And your ears. . .”

A shiver ran down Keely’s spine and her anger towards Harry dissolved, along with her shock at Draco’s speculation about him. The thought of Harry liking her was absurd, wasn't it?

“Oooh. . . ickle lovebirds,” cackled Peeves. “Peevesie can’t wait to tell everybodies about this. Malfoy and Keeeely. Weeee. . .”

Draco whipped out his wand and shot a jinx at the pestering poltergeist. “Keep your mouth shut, or I’ll get the Bloody Baron to make your less-than-amusing existence miserable!” he cried.

Keely groaned. All of this was getting way too tiresome. She wondered briefly if it wouldn’t just be easier to go over to the Slytherin table tomorrow at breakfast and start kissing him in front of everyone. Of course, the latest edition of the Hogwarts Herald would be coming out in the morning, so kissing him at breakfast probably wouldn’t have much of an effect. She could do it at dinner. . . It was a very tempting thought, to let the proverbial cat out of the bag. . . Of course, she may not have to at all. Peeves was infamous for outing couples. His most recent discovery, until tonight that is, was Cho Chang and Zacharias Smith. He shouted about it for three days, making sure everyone in the school was informed.

“Oooh, the Malfoy is upset! Hehehe. . .Malfoy and Keely kissing! Malfoy lurves Keely, hehehe.” He bounced around the room, throwing spit balls at the two teenagers. Keely covered her face as a particularly large, wet one came soaring towards her. Draco threw a book at him. He caught it easily and chucked it at Draco’s head. Draco ducked and it hit the blackboard with a resounding CRASH.

“Hehehe. . .” laughed Peeves as he started throwing everything that wasn’t fastened down at Draco and Keely.

Draco grabbed Keely’s hand and ran out the door, dodging and ducking the onslaught of objects.

“We’re doomed,” said Keely morosely. Seconds later, however, a smile split her face as she picked spit wads off of Draco’s cheek and out of his hair.

Draco smirked as he did the same with Keely. “I’ll get the Bloody Baron to keep him quiet.”

Keely cocked her head to the side. “Will he?”

“I think so. Come on, let’s go out to the grounds. The moon is perfect tonight.”

“Are you mental? It’s freezing outside,” she said, although the thought exhilarated her.

He shot her a look of mocking incredulity. “Do you really think I’d let you freeze. We’ll stop by my dormitory before we go out, and I’ll grab you a traveling cloak.”

“You really are mental! I’m not going into your dormitory! There’s no way I’m setting foot in the snake pit! I’ll be eaten alive!”

“Trust me, you’ll be fine.”



Keely in the Slytherin's dormitories? Hmm. . . I wonder what will happen.

I love feedback (hint hint)

~Dayna

P.S. Congrats to those of you that guessed that Harry had a crush on Keely, too. Whether or not he sent the rose though, is a different story. . .

Draco pulled Keely to a stop in front of a bare space of wall. Keely looked around, wondering why they had stopped. “Why are we stopping?”

Draco smirked at her and said, “This is our stop.” Then at Keely’s confused expression he said, “The Dark Lord,” and a door appeared.

Keely raised her eyebrows in question. “The Dark Lord?”

His smile widened. “I didn’t pick it.” He tried to pull her through the door.

“Draco, I’m not going in there! It’s full of Slytherins, and I don’t have any anti-venom with me!”

Draco chuckled. “Do you really think I’d let someone bite you?” He pulled out his wand and placed a disillusionment charm on her. “No one will even see you.” He tugged on her hand. “Come on, fraidy cat.”

“Where did you learn to do a disillusionment charm?” she asked in wonder. “They’re N.E.W.T. level.”

“My mother taught me. Hold on to my shoulder.”

Keely raised an invisible hand and placed it on Draco’s shoulder and stepped apprehensively in after him.

“There you are, Draco. You sure have been making yourself scarce lately. What have you been up to?” asked Blaise.

“That’s none of your business, Zabini,” replied Draco coolly.

“Fair enough. Care for a game of exploding snap? We’re using a picture of Potter’s face as a mat.”

“No, I wouldn’t. I’m kind of in a hurry.” He turned to the left toward a staircase that could only lead to his dormitory.

“Draco!”

Keely winced. She should have just stayed in the hall! Why, oh why did she let him talk her into coming in here with him?

Draco sighed in exasperation and turned slowly around. “I’m in a bit of a hurry, Pansy.”

“I’ll make it quick then.” She went up on tiptoes and whispered in his ear. “I miss you” Her tone was full of suggestion.

Draco felt Keely’s grip on his shoulder tighten considerably.

“Yeah, alright,” he said coldly, and without another word he went upstairs before anyone else could stop him, with Keely gripping tightly to his shoulder, leaving a hurt Pansy in his wake.

Draco opened a door and led Keely inside. Crabbe and Goyle were sitting on their beds. By the looks of it, they were getting ready to kip. Draco snapped his fingers and pointed at the door with his thumb. Like mindless servants, they stood and strode out of the room. He turned around and took Keely’s invisible hand off of his shoulder. He whispered the counter-charm and she came back into view.

Keely looked around the room. There were five four-poster beds. It looked nearly identical to Harry and Ron’s dormitory, with the only difference being that everything was green and silver rather than red and gold. “Nice room,” she said lamely.

Draco smiled at her as he began rummaging in his trunk.

She spotted a photo of Draco’s parents on a nightstand. She sat on the bed and picked up the picture to study it. “Your mother is really beautiful,” she said quietly.

He straightened, holding a traveling cloak. He walked to his bed and sat down next to her.

Keely studied the photo more carefully then turned her attention to Draco. “I see her in you. Your eyes are your father’s, but everything else. . .” She looked at the photo again, and ran a finger along Narcissa Malfoy’s face and let her sentence trail off.

Draco reached around her and took the photo, placing it back on the nightstand. He cupped her face and turned it to him. They stared at each other for several moments before Keely rose to her knees and kissed him.

The door to the room was thrown suddenly open. “Malfoy, Pansy wanted me to ask you. . . Oh, sorry,” said Theodore Nott upon seeing Draco and Keely together. “I’ll just. . . er. . . go now.” He removed his tie from around his neck and hung it over the doorknob.

Keely was mortified at Nott’s assumption! Her face flamed bright red and she suddenly became extremely interested in the quilt covering Draco’s bed.

“No need to leave on our account, we were just heading out,” explained Draco. He stood up and took Keely’s hand, helping her to her feet. He bent and picked the cloak that had been dropped to the floor and wrapped it around Keely’s shoulders. He performed the disillusionment charm for the second time that night, but not only did he perform it on Keely, he did it to himself as well. He groped the air around him until he found Keely’s hand and said, “Tell Pansy to shove off, and that I would marry a Muggle before I ever got back together with her.”

Keely noticed the smirk on Nott’s face, and felt her face burn even hotter. She was eternally grateful that she was now invisible.

“From the looks of it, it seems you won’t have to stoop to marrying a Muggle. Although I don’t see how a Gryffindor is much better.”

Keely smiled as she heard a thud. Nott bucked backwards and clutched his nose. A small stream of crimson began running into his mouth. He wiped it angrily and whipped out his wand, but too late, Keely and Draco were already halfway down the stairs.

They stepped out into the chilly night, still invisible. Draco performed the counter-charm first on himself then on Keely. They strolled casually down to the lake and sat under a tree. Keely hugged herself tightly in an attempt to keep the cold away.

She looked up at the sky. Draco had been right. The moon was full, and brighter than she could ever remember it being. She brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She laid her head on them and looked over the lake. The stars reflected on the surface like millions of flickering candles. “It’s beautiful,” she said, her breath visible in the stillness. She turned her head to face the man she was falling for harder than she thought would ever be possible. She let out a long sigh and said, “Is there any use in trying to keep it a secret anymore?”

“Nott won’t say anything.”

“You sound so sure.”

“I am.” He smiled and lightly tapped Keely’s nose. “We Slytherins tend to mind our own business when it comes to stuff like this.”

Keely raised her eyebrows. She didn’t believe it for a second. Pansy came in second in the rumor spreading category only to Parvati and Lavender.

He seemed to be reading her mind. He chuckled. “Let me rephrase that; Slytherin males tend to mind their own business when it comes to stuff like this.” He put his arm around her and pulled her close. She snuggled into his warmth and allowed her heavy eyelids to close.



Keely walked down to breakfast with Hermione the next morning, wondering what kind of welcome she would receive. Fred was once again saving her a seat. ‘At least nothing has changed there,’ she thought wryly. However, she didn’t sit next to him, instead Hermione did and Keely sat on the other side of her.

Fred looked momentarily taken aback, but brushed it off and continued with his breakfast.

Keely unfolded her edition of the Hogwarts Herald and asked to no one in particular, “Is there anything good in here today?”

George answered, “Well, Honey’s advice is always worth a read. And Hermione’s article on the barbaric slaying of dragons for the sole purpose of getting wand cores, is sure to cause a stir. There’s a speculation article on who will win the upcoming Gryffindor vs. Slytherin quidditch match; as if there is any chance that Slytherin can beat us, and Susan Bones interviewed Dumbledore.”

Keely shot a glance at Harry who was studiously avoiding looking at her. She looked next at Ron who was likewise avoiding her gaze. ‘Of course he would tell Ron,’ she thought. ‘But at least the twins don’t know. . . yet.’ She made up her mind last night as she was watching the stars with Draco. She needed to tell Fred. If he found it out from someone other than herself, it would hurt him all the more. And hurting him was the last thing she wanted to do, but really. . . he needed to give up on the fantasy he had about the two of them getting together.

She turned to her column and read without really taking anything in.

Ask Honey

Dear Honey,

I have a huge problem. My friends and parents, particularly my father, would likely murder me if they ever find out. I’ve fallen in love with someone they could never approve of. What do I do?

Perplexed

Dear Perplexed,

Your letter really hit home to me. I don’t really know how to help you with this, as there is someone close to me that is in the same predicament. I think all I can really tell you, is to do what you feel. If you really love this person and they make you happy, then your family and friends should just accept it. Prejudice in this area really sets my blood boiling. Why can’t people let bygones be bygones and mind their own business? Perhaps your loved ones won’t take it as badly as you think they will. Perhaps they will see how happy you are and leave well enough alone. One can only hope. . .

Best of luck,
~Honey

Keely had a vague idea of who the next letter was from. She had hoped that even if it wasn't from him that he would take a hint. But things had changed since she handed her column into Flitwick. There wasn’t time to wait to see if he took Honey’s letter to heart. People were finding out and the chances of Fred finding out from someone other than herself were increasing rapidly.

Dear Honey,

I fancy more than friendship from one of my best friends, but she will hear none of it. She insists that she doesn’t feel the same, but I will hear none of that! How do I woo her properly and get her to realize that she could never be as happy with someone else?

Sincerely,
Me

Dear Me, or you, or whoever you are,

You don’t. You don’t woo her at all. If she has made her feelings for you clear, you should accept it and move on to someone who can reciprocate your feelings properly. You would be happier with someone who loved you as I know you deserve to be loved. She is out there, I know it!

Best of luck,
~Honey

She shoved the paper aside, the next letter was another one asking for advice on their infamous potions master. You’d think that the people that read her column would take the hint. Yes, Snape was strict, and biased, but he wasn’t an awful teacher, and if they were having such a problem with Potions, a tutor could come in handy.

She rested her elbows on the table and put her head between her hands. Her appetite was non-existent and she dreaded what she was about to do. Draco had tried to talk her out of it when she had run it by him last night. But if she were to have any chance at all of retaining any part of her friendship with Fred, she had to be the one he heard it from. He finally agreed to let her try.

She stood up warily and said in a shaky voice, “Fred, can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Of course, Love.” He stood up to follow her.

Keely looked at Hermione who smiled her encouragement. She agreed whole-heartedly with Keely about Fred needing to hear it from her.

She looked at Draco who was watching her. He nodded his assent, and Keely motioned for Fred to follow her.

Draco rose from his seat and started toward his girlfriend and Fred. Keely had told him last night that she needed to tell Fred about the two of them, but that didn’t mean she had to go through it alone. He would stand in the shadows and be there for her if she needed him.



Poor Fred!

I hope you like this chapter. For some reason I had a bit of trouble with it.

Feedback goes here.

~Dayna

“What’s up?” asked Fred when they were clear of the Great Hall.

Keely remained silent and screwed up her face in concentration as she studied the floor while they walked.

Fred pulled her to a stop. “What’s wrong?” he asked concernedly, his eyebrows knitting together.

Keely sighed. Delaying this would not make it any easier. “Fred, you know how I feel about you, right?”

“Of course I do, Love. You’re deeply in love with me, but you don’t know it. . .yet,” he said with a wink, and put his arm around her shoulder.

Keely winced, but didn’t pull away from him. “No, Fred. I love you with all of my heart, but I’m not in love with you. There is a difference. I love you like I love my brother. I’ve tried to make it clear to you and,” she sighed and said really quickly to get it over with, “I have a boyfriend.”

Whatever Fred had been expecting, this news was definitely not it. “What?!”

Keely sighed again and looked up into Fred’s bright blue eyes. “I have a boyfriend, Fred,” she said more clearly. “We’ve been seeing each other for a week now.”

Fred still looked confused. He shook his head to clear it. “A boyfriend?” he asked as though he didn’t know what the word meant.

“Yes, a boyfriend.”

“But I. . . Who?” he asked.

Keely cleared her throat. She had been hoping he wouldn’t ask that particular question. “Well. . .” she paused and said in an effort to make him understand, “Now, I don’t want you to flip out or anything, okay?”

He was listening intently, but still seemed somewhat confused. “Okay.”

Keely started again, and mumbled something that sounded to Fred like rako my boy.

“Who?” he asked again.

She sighed and lifted her head to look directly at Fred. “Draco Malfoy,” she said confidently.

“What!? You’re joking, right? It can’t be Malfoy! I thought you were playing when you wrote that you fancied that git!” He made a face that suggested that he hadn’t meant to say that.

It was Keely’s turn to look confused. “What are you talking about?” Then it dawned on her. “It was you? You charmed the newspaper forms? But you said you didn’t do it!”

“Of course it was me. Who else in this school would do something that clever?”

“But you told me it wasn’t you.” She felt betrayed.

“Of course I said it wasn’t me. I wasn’t going to let you know I did it. I was going to keep sending you little secret gifts. But Malfoy?” he asked, not wanting to be sidetracked.

“The rose?” asked Keely. “That was you, too? You acted just as confused as I did when I got it.” And as an afterthought she added, “Why did you emphasize red?”

“Of course I did. I already told you, I didn’t want you to know it was me. I was good, eh?” he asked. “And I emphasized red because you said it was your favorite color. But enough about me, we were talking about you. What happened? It was a love potion, right?” He gently grabbed her shoulders and pulled her close and looked closely into her eyes for any sign that she was not herself. “You haven’t been imperiused, have you? Has he threatened you? Are you confunded? Are you really you? Has someone taken polyjuice potion to pretend to be you? Who did you compare me to on our first night back here?”

“Fred!” she exclaimed. He didn’t hear her as he kept rattling off ridiculous questions. “Fred!” she cried again. “I’m not confunded, I’m not imperiused, no one has threatened me, I haven’t taken a love potion and of course I’m really me! I compared you to Don Juan on the first night back!” She huffed exasperatedly.

“But I thought you were joking when you wrote that,” he tried again.

“I was joking. How did you collect the application without me or Hermione seeing you?”

Fred brightened slightly. “So you’re not going out with Malfoy,” he said hopefully, ignoring her question.

Keely rolled her eyes and put her hands on Fred’s shoulders. “Fred! Listen to me! I was joking the night I wrote that I fancied Malfoy. But now, I more than fancy him. I like him. I like him a lot!”

“Why?” He made a disgusted face.

“Why does it matter? All you really need to know is that I do.”

“It just does, okay."

Keely frowned. “Don’t do this, please.”

“I’m going to do this. Why do you like him?”

“I don’t know, Fred. There are lots of reasons. He makes me laugh. . .”

“I make you laugh,” he interrupted.

Fred was making this harder for Keely than it should have been. Wetness began pooling in the corner of her eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. She was breaking her best friend’s heart. Had she been giving him mixed signals by letting him wrap his arm around her, and every time she winked at him and flirted? She tried to make her feelings clear by telling him that she could never feel for him as anything other than a brother. She had thought he was mostly just playing with her, that he knew he didn’t ever have a chance. But every time she held his hand, did she void her words. The expression, ‘Actions speak louder than words,’ flitted through her mind. She felt sick. She had made everything worse by playing with him, she had given him hope, even after her measly words had told him she didn’t reciprocate his romantic feelings.

“Yes, Fred, you make me laugh. But Draco, he makes my heart skip a beat every time he touches me. . .”

Fred winced at the words. The thought of Malfoy’s filthy hands anywhere near Keely made him want to murder the git. “Are you sure that’s a good thing? Maybe you’re so disgusted by his hands on you that your heart flips out. Isn’t a steady heart better?”

Fred’s determination to make her words not true was harder for Keely to take than if he had been angry. A lump was beginning to build in her throat. “No, Fred, it’s not. Not in this case. I get butterflies in my stomach every time he smiles at me.”

“That’s just because he’s new to you. I would give you butterflies if we hadn’t been best friends for five years.”

“Fred, just stop, please. Don’t do this. You’re making this harder for both of us.” Her attempt at keeping the tears at bay was not working. Her heart was breaking just as fully as Fred’s was.

“I won’t stop until you give me a good answer to why you like him. Butterflies and skipping hearts are not good enough.”

“What else do you want me to say?!” she cried desperately. “I don’t know what else to say! I like him! I’ve never felt like this with anyone before. And when he kisses me, the world disappears beneath my feet and I feel like the only way I can keep from flying to outer space is to hold on to him with all of my strength.”

In an effort to prove that he had everything Malfoy had, he pulled her to him without another word and kissed her. Keely was so shocked by the act that she was momentarily frozen and unable to pull away. When she regained her senses she pushed at Fred’s chest. He wouldn’t budge. She grabbed his face
and pushed again while she tried to pull away. He sighed and broke the kiss. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes and her heart breaking for him and said, “No, Fred, I can’t do this. I’m so sorry!” She wiped her eyes hastily and ran up the stairs toward Gryffindor tower.

Fred stood dazed, and rooted to the spot as he watched Keely go, with a sinking heart. He knew that he never really had a chance with her, but he could never quite give up on her. Even with everything she had just told him, he didn’t know if he could.

Draco stepped out from around a corner and stopped in front of Fred. “She wanted to tell you personally because a few people have found us out by chance and she thought it would hurt you more if you found it out from someone besides her. I didn’t kill you when you kissed her because I know how much it would have hurt her,” he said conversationally. “But if you touch her again, I won’t hesitate,” he finished menacingly, then climbed the stairs after her.

“I’m not afraid of you, Malfoy,” called Fred before Draco was out of hearing range. “And I loved her first.”

Draco turned to face Fred with an evil sneer on his face. “Unfortunately for you, Weaselby, it’s not who loved her first, but who she loved first that counts.”

“I’ve beat you there, too! She’s loved me for five years now,” he retorted.

Draco’s sneer widened. “Yeah, she has. Tell me, Weasel, how does it feel to be her brother?”

Fred’s anger rose with a ferocity that he didn’t know he possessed and he whipped out his wand, challenging Draco to a duel.

Draco mirrored the move and shouted, “Stupefy!”

“Protego!” bellowed Fred. The curse ricocheted off of the shield charm and smashed into a suit of armor that fell to the ground with an enormous CRASH. “Petrificus Totallus!” cried Fred.

Draco ducked and the jinx whirred past his head, causing his hair to blow with the wind of it. He aimed his wand, but froze as McGonagall, came into view. He lowered his wand.

Fred was elated at Malfoy’s hesitation. He aimed his wand again, ready to fire his next curse when McGonagall cried, “Mr. Weasley, what do you think you are doing? The ruckus we heard in the Great Hall led us to believe that Peeves was out here.”

Fred turned around to look up into the face of his head of house. “Professor McGonagall, it’s so nice to see you today. I was just showing Malfoy here, the correct way to hold a wand when in a duel. You know, in case someone were to challenge him. I’d hate to see him get hurt because of his improper wand positioning.”

“I see,” said McGonagall, clearly disbelieving. “And did you suggest to Mr. Malfoy to use this suit of armor for target practice?” she asked, pointing to the fallen armor.

“Why yes, Professor. That’s exactly what I did. And I think he’s got the hang of it now. Well done, Malfoy,” he said in a falsely cheery voice. Then he said to McGonagall, “Well, Professor, I think I’m going to go back to the Gryffindor table to finish my breakfast.”

He started past McGonagall but was halted as she said, “Not so fast, Mr. Weasley. Do you think I was born yesterday? I’m not to be taken for a fool. That will be ten points from each of you, I think. And if I catch you fighting in the corridors again, it will be detention! Now off with you both!”

Draco turned around and dashed up the stairs to find his girlfriend, who was no doubt distraught, while Fred walked into the Great Hall to join his brothers and friends, feeling more down than he could ever remember feeling while at Hogwarts.



I hope you liked Chapter 19.

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~Dayna

Chapter 20