The Slytherin Prince and the Gryffindor Goddess::Part 23

''CHH-YEES! ANOTHER POST!" haha(: That's right, I TOTALLYjust read your mind right now! Im actually going to type an introduction thingy today. I mean, i suppose it's alright, giving you TWO posts in TWO days. Im sure you dont mind, you reliable reader, you ;) Well, anyway, i was checking my posts, and i came across these numbers. These numbers, I soon realized, were the dates of my posts! I know, big surprise, right?! But yeah, i finally saw how long I take to update! I mean, it's like, ''HURRY THE HELL UP, ALREADY!" Am I right? x]

Since I just finished my Thanksgiving break--(I hope you all spent it with your loved ones! I also hope you stuffed yourself like a turkey, with turkey! Haha[:)--I was able to write two new parts of my scrumptious story here. It's amazing. I can post ONE more and you wouldnt hate me for it. In fact, im sure many of you would tackle me in happiness, which I would mind, because hugs are THE BOMB DIGGITY. Well, I'll probably post the next story NEXT week, since it's still in the process of being proof-read. I hate finding mistakes in my work, and if you DO find mistakes, please tell me about it. I'll be sure to fix it.

Read. Enjoy. Rate. Message. Faaack, yeah, i added another step to what youre supposed to do! Haha(: Just kidding. XOXO, SHORTIE.

TSP&&GG23: Harry stood there, unable to decipher what he was watching. He turned around slowly, forgetting his urge to use the restroom. That feeling was now filled with confusion and...Jealousy? He had no idea what he was feeling at that moment. He sat down slowly next to Rhea, who was laughing with Hermione as Ron nodded distractedly at the comments they were making as he was reading his magazine.

"--And I’m going to run off with Viktor and have 7 kids," giggled Hermione, trying hard not to laugh too loud. "Then, we'll have our wedding the very day of his most important Quidditch Game."

"That sounds alright," said Ron, grabbing blindly for a piece of bacon, his nose stuck in the magazine. Rhea eyed Hermione mischievously and stealthily placed a bowl of porridge where Ron was about to place his hand. "Oh, bugger--!" said a surprised Ron, finally putting his magazine down to wipe his hand.

Hermione and Rhea laughed happily as Ron watched them, annoyed. Harry watched Rhea as she seemed to glow with every laugh that escaped her mouth. He noted how she had a slight dimple on just beside her lips, towards the right. Her eyes seemed to twinkle as she smiled; twinkling like stars that shown even during the day. He sighed, content at how he felt with Rhea. He was completely happy with her, and he was sure that she felt the same way.

“Harry? What’s wrong?” asked Rhea, placing her hand on his. She looked at him worriedly. “Is everything alright?” She noticed a faint distance towards him.

“Everything’s fine,” assured Harry, lacing his fingers with hers. “I promise.” He smiled at her.

Rhea smiled weakly at him and nodded. She glanced at her hand, on the table, laced with Harry’s. Did he think that because she agreed to go with him to the Festival that they were….dating? Rhea watched her friends distantly. It’s for the best, she thought. Harry and I are better off together, not Draco, she added to her thoughts. I mean, really, a Slytherin and a Gryffindor? They wouldnt hear the end of it.

Hermione saw Harry and Rhea holding hands. She smiled curtly at Rhea. Rhea, noticing this little detail, smiled back, making it as real a smile as she could. Hermione seemed satisfied with the response and continued to talk.

“Hey, there’s Coop and Ginny,” said Hermione, waving towards the Entrance Hall. “A-Are they holding hands with each other?” Rhea and Hermione strained to get a better look. THEY WERE. Rhea and Hermione exchanged wide eyes.

“Oh my goodness!” smiled Rhea brightly. “Congratulations, you two!” Rhea smiled past Harry’s head.

“Yeah, thanks.” Coop beamed, looking at Ginny brightly. “It all just happened.”

“How romantic,” sighed Hermione, looking at them with adoration.

Harry averted his eyes as Hermione and Rhea talked with Coop. Ginny sat silently between Coop and Harry. Rhea smiled at Ginny, completely happy for her, and completely unaware of how Ginny felt towards her. Ginny gave Rhea a forced smile, making sure that she showed how she felt towards her. Rhea saw Ginny’s jaw muscles on the side of her cheeks—it was a forced smile. Rhea looked away, wondering what she had done to her.

“Looks like there’s another need of ‘congratulations’ to go around,” said Ginny with a fake cheery voice, glancing at Hermione and then Harry’s hand entwined with Rhea’s.

“Oh, yes, you’re absolutely right, Ginny,” clapped Hermione. “Congratulations, Rhea, Harry. You’re finally together!”

Harry smiled sheepishly, slightly gripping Rhea’s hand tighter. Rhea, feeling obligated to do so, squeezed his hand back too. Harry looked at his hand, and looked at Rhea. He smiled softly at her. Rhea felt horrible, and tried her best to forget her feelings. She tried her best to forget Draco Malfoy.

The bell rang throughout the Hall, signaling students to make their way to their first period classes. Harry and Rhea stood up at the same time, still hand in hand. (IMPORTANT NOTICE: I just realized that almost everyone’s schedule is COMPLETEY messed up! So, now, let’s just make it a clean slate—I’ll make their schedules up as I go along, whatever fits the story. Forget their schedules! I’ll make up new ones.)

“We’ll see you two later,” waved Hermione. Harry and Rhea nodded. She stood up, grabbing Ron’s magazine as she did. “We’ve got to go, Ron. Or we’ll be late to classes.”

Draco leant against a pillar near the entrance in the shadows near the Great Hall and watched in surprise as Rhea walked past, he began to walk towards her when he realized that she was holding someone’s hand—she was holding Potter’s hand. He seceded back into the shadows to watch them secretly. Rhea turns her head for a moment, as if looking for someone, before turning a corner. He saw something in her eyes; or rather…he didn’t see something in her eyes.

“Draco,” waved Alyssa, walking towards him.

Draco blinked several times, and then sighed, rolling his eyes as he saw who had called his name. He grabbed his satchel from the floor and walked away, leaving Alyssa with a sad look on her face.

Something was wrong with Rhea, thought Draco as he walked to his first class. There was something different about the look in her eyes. He knew what it was, but he wasn’t quite sure about it. He bumped into someone.

“Watch what you’re doing, idiot,” he sneered, not bothering to look who he bumped into.

“I’m glad you’re finally giving yourself some useful advice,” said Ginny sarcastically.

Draco stopped and turned around to face her. He was a whole head taller than her. “Well, here’s some for you then, Weasel,” he smirked. “Why don’t you go and shag Potter already?” Ginny turned a bright red. “Did I say Potter? I meant Jefferson. With that show earlier in front of the Hall, you may as well have.”

Ginny clenched her teeth tightly, resisting the urge to pull out her wand and duel him right then and there. “Maybe I will, Malfoy,” she looked at him angrily. “At least I have someone.” This time, it was Draco’s turn to change color. “Oh, that’s right, Izar left you. And, for who? What’s his name....?” Ginny pretended to think. “I’m pretty sure it was…Harry. And she looks mighty happy now, doesn’t she?” Whether it was something that clicked, or something that didnt, Draco felt something.

Draco began to smirk. “She does,” he answered her. “And now it looks like you’re not. What’s that I hear? The green-eyed monster knocking; and he’s knocking loud. Err, wait, you’ve already let him in.” Ginny watched him as he walked away triumphantly, embarrassed at how well he had read her. She felt her blood boiling at that blonde-ferret. Why did he become so confident all of a sudden?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The day went by as slowly as breakfast had. Ginny and Coop spent every moment they could together—usually somewhere secluded and quiet…and dark. Harry and Rhea spent lunch together and did their work at Rhea’s favorite spot of all at Hogwarts—the Lake. Draco spent the rest of the day in the Slytherin Common Room, ordering 1st years to do his bidding while he smirked at the thought of his conversation with Ginny (me: Wait till later to understand why he’s smirking at his conversation with Ginny—and no it’s not because he’s gone crazy. Goodness, you people and your imagination.)

Harry sat in front of the fire at in the Prefect’s Common Room, his arm draped around Rhea’s shoulder as she dozed quietly on his shoulder. He smiled at her fondly, tucking a small piece of stray hair behind her ear. She moved her head, and opened her eyes sleepily. She looked up at him and smiled.

“Hello, there,” said Rhea. “Have you been watching me sleep this whole time?”

“No,” blushed Harry, taking his arm back as she stretched.

Rhea laughed. “I think you’re cheeks are telling me something different,” she pointed, making Harry blush even more. She laughed, forgetting that they were a couple now. She pinched his cheek softly before she stood up to change into her pajama’s, not noticing that a piece of parchment has fallen out of her back pocket. He picked it up, examining it. Rhea turned around, “I’m going to change really quick. I’ll be right back.”

“Alright,” nodded Harry, hiding the parchment. He watched her as she continued making her way up. When the door finally closed, he opened the piece of parchment. There was writing on it.

Rhea,

The Hogsmeade Trip is coming up. What do you say to letting me bring you? Rather me than Bradin, right?

--D.M.

Harry looked up, his face suddenly heated; But not from the fire, from reading this note. He thought for a moment. Don’t jump to any conclusions, he told himself.

The Common Room door opened as Coop stepped through. “Oh, hey, Harry. Is Rhea here?”

“Yeah, upstairs,” said Harry. “She’s changing though.”

Coop nodded, “It is getting pretty late.”

Harry held the piece of parchment and began to fiddle with the ends. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure, anything,” shrugged Coop, taking his jacket off. “What’s up?” He sat down in front of Harry, just in front of the fire. His face was flushed; the flames of the fire making his cheeks look pink. He threw his jacket on the armrest beside Harry.

“Do you know if…Bradin asked Rhea to go to the Hogsmeade Trip? You know, for this weekend?” Harry glanced at Coop.

Coop sighed, trying to recall if Bradin did. “Well, Bradin wanted to talk to her this morning, just before you asked her to go to the Festival with you. I saw Draco out there with her though too. Why? Playing the over-protective boyfriend, are you?” joked Coop. He saw the writing through the peice of parchment due to the fire. He averted his eyes, as if he had seen nothing.

Harry smiled half-heartedly, gripping the paper. “You could say that.” He tossed the piece of parchment into the fire. Rhea had no clue that she even had the note, and Harry didn’t waste another moment at giving Malfoy the chance to win her back from him.

The parchment began to unravel as it began to set on fire. It began from the middle, the fans working it way outwards. Harry watched it as the flames destroyed Rhea and –D.M. at the same time. Soon, the only remains of the note were the newly formed black ashes in front of him.

Rhea plopped down beside him, connecting her arm through his as he leaned forward. She stared into the flames as well. Harry could smell her watermelon-scented hair.

So, that was fun, wasnt it? I cant wait to see what Draco will do after finding out that Rhea hadnt even KNOWN about the note he slipped into her pocket, let alone READ it. Tsk tsk, Harry. What would your dear Mum and Dad say?! But, we must admit, this bad side to you, is slightly attractive from your usual goody-two shoes self, you.