Neither Harry or Ron have talked to Hermione or I for the last week and a half. Every time Hermione and I walk into the common room to see the two of them talking in hushed voices, they'd suddenly become silent as soon as they see us.

I get why they're angry at us, more Harry than Ron though. But Hermione and I were just trying to be safe for once. It's better to be safe than sorry as they say, and I'd rather not risk Harry being hurt by a cursed broomstick.

When the rest of the school come back shortly after New Year, Wood straight away seeks out both Harry and I the night before term starts.

"Did you have a good Christmas?" He says to both Harry and I, who is refusing to look me in the eye. Wood doesn't wait for an answer before he continues to talk, "I've been doing some thinking over Christmas. After that last match, you know. If the Dementors come to the next one...I mean...we can't afford either of you to - well-"

"We're working on it," I say quickly, cutting him off. "My Dad - Professor Lupin - said he'd train us to ward them off. We're starting this week, so there's no need to worry."

"Ah," Wood says, relaxing. "Well that's good. Now, have either of you ordered a new broom yet?"

"No," Harry says.

"What! You'd better get a move on, you know - you can't ride those Shooting Star's against Ravenclaw!"

"We got Firebolts for Christmas," I say. "But-"

"A Firebolt?" Wood exclaims, cutting me off from telling him what happened to them. "No! Seriously? A - a real Firebolt?"

"Don't get too excited, Oliver," Harry says, shooting me a glare. "I haven't got it anymore. It was confiscated." Harry then explains to Oliver about how Hermione and I handed them to McGonagall to be checked for jinxes.

"Jinxed? How could they be jinxed?" Wood asks. "How could you hand them over, Sarah?" he adds, angrily.

"I just wanted to be safe!" I say defensively. "Would you rather us play with bad brooms or not at all? And as for why, Sirius Black could have jinxed them, and he's after us."

Waving aside the fact that a famous murderer is after Harry and I, Wood says, "But Black couldn't have bought two Firebolts! He's on the run! The whole country's on the lookout for him! How could he just walk into Quality Quidditch Supplies and buy two broomsticks?"

"I dunno, Oliver," I say. "But it was for the best. Anyway, I don't have to ride the Shooting Star. My Dad also bought me a broomstick for Christmas. It's a Cleensweep Eleven, I can ride that."

"Well, that's good, Sarah," Wood says. "But Harry, I will talk to Professor McGonagall about the Firebolts. I'll make her see reason...Firebolts...real Firebolts, on our team...she wants Gryffindor to win as much as we do...I'll make her see sense...Firebolts..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Monday, lessons had begun again.

The last thing any of us wanted to do, was spend two hours in the grounds on a raw, January morning. However, for Care of Magical Creatures, Hagrid had provided a bonfire full of Salamanders for our enjoyment. We spent out lessons collecting leaves and dry wood to keep the fire going, while the flame-loving lizards scamper up and down the crumbling, white-hot logs. The first Divination lesson of the term on the Tuesday was much less fun. Professor Trelawney is now teaching us palmistry, and most of the time she finds ways to tell Harry and I that we're going to die.

At least Wednesday is a good day. Not only do we have my favourite classes, but Dad is going to begin teaching Harry and I to fight the Dementors. Plus I get to see The Weird Sisters with Draco in the evening.

After a long lesson of re-capping Grindylows, Harry and I remind Dad of the lessons.

"Ah yes," he says. "Let me see...how about eight o'clock on Thursday evening? The History of Magic classroom should be large enough...I'll have to think carefully about how we're going to do this...we can't bring a real Dementor into the castle to practice on..."

After Harry and I leave the classroom, he and Ron quickly go off together, while I move over to Hermione, Amy and Bonnie who are waiting at a suit of armour.

"Still looks ill doesn't he?" Ron says and they walk past us. "What d'you reckon is wrong with him?"

"Tuh," Hermione says impatiently and loud enough for them to hear her. Both Bonnie and I glance at each other. Does Hermione know about Dad's being a werewolf?

"And what are you tutting at us for?" Ron says irritably.

"Nothing," Hermione says.

"Yes you were," Ron says. "I said I wonder what's wrong with Lupin, and you-"

"Well, isn't it obvious?" Hermione says in a matter-of-fact tone.

"If you don't want to tell us, don't," Ron snaps at her.

"Fine," Hermione says, slinging her bag over her shoulder angrily. "Let's go," she adds to Bonnie, Amy and I.

As we walk, I move closer to Hermione. "What was that about?" I whisper in her ear.

"I'll tell you later," she whispers back, looking ahead as she speaks.

I sigh, "we should probably go to Ancient Runes, remember?"

"Oh, yes!" Hermione gasps.

"Guys," I say, turning to Bonnie and Amy. "Hermione and I have to go to Ancient Runes."

"But classes have finished..." Bonnie says, eyeing us weirdly.

"Don't worry," Hermione says quickly. "You know how it's been all year."

"O-Kay..." Amy says, and she and Bonnie walk off back to the Common Room.

"So, Hermione, what was that about?" I say, turning back to her.

"I figured it out, Sarah," she says. "I know what's going on with your Dad." I raise an eyebrow, allowing her to continue. "I know he's a...werewolf." She whispers that last word.

"How did you figure it out?" I ask her quietly, panicking.

"I put two and two together," she says. "After Snape set that essay, it became obvious. I mean, he goes off class every month, and never misses. But don't worry, I'm not scared of him. For one, he's our teacher, he wouldn't hurt us. And he's your Dad, surely he can't be that bad."

"Yeah," I say. "He takes the Wolfbane potion every month to stay safe, so he can't hurt anyone. Pleas, don't tell anyone or he'll be sacked."

"Of course I wouldn't!" Hermione says. "He's the best teacher we've ever had for Defence Against the Dark Arts. And like you said, if he's not dangerous then there's no problem. I'll keep it a secret."

"Thanks Hermione. Now, we should probably get to Ancient Runes before we're late."

Hermione nods and we both pull out our Time Turners. After turning back another hour, we head to Ancient Runes. Straight after the class, we head back up to the Common Room.

"How did you guys just come back from Ancient Runes," Amy says as we enter the barely crowded common room. "When we just got here?"

"Huh?" I say, acting confused. Hermione and I didn't think of this, we should have gone to the library after class to do our homework.

"Didn't you guys just have a class?" Bonnie says.

"Oh, we thought we did," Hermione says, quickly coming up with a lie. "We forgot that Ancient Runes wasn't until tomorrow. Our mistake."

"Right..." Amy says. "Hey Sarah, you have that date with Malfoy tonight, don't you?

"Well, it's not a date, just a friendly outing, but yes!" I say excitedly. "I should probably start getting ready!"

'Friendly outing' Amy mouths, pulling up two fingers to show quotation marks to Bonnie who just giggles, making me glare at the both of them.

"Sarah, don't you have two hours?" Hermione says.

"Two hours is barely enough time!" I say. "Are you guys going help?"

The three of them nod eagerly as we all race up to the dormitory. Amy and Bonnie set on getting me an outfit and Hermione helps by finding some makeup while I go and have a quick shower to freshen up. Once I'm finished, there is an outfit laid on the counter int the bathroom, ready for me to put on. It's a nice black and white striped sweater, some dark skinny jeans, the brown leather boots Amy gave me for Christmas, and a red hairbow that they just have borrowed from Lavender. Smiling after I put the outfit on, I exit the bathroom, where the girls are waiting for me.

"You look great!" Amy says, clapping her hands together.

"If this is what you call a 'friendly outing', then I don't know what a 'date' would look like," Bonnie says, grinning.

"Oh, shut up, you," I say, trying to glare at her but failing. To be honest, I'm really excited about tonight. I've never been on a proper date, unless you call that one time with Seamus a date.

"Come on, I want to do your makeup!" Hermione says excitedly, holding up a handful of makeup brushes.

I sit down on my bed and Hermione gets to work on my face, adding slight foundation, blusher, mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow and lipstick. As Hermione does my makeup, Bonnie twists around with my hair, braiding it into a side-ponytail.

Once they've finished, Amy holds up a mirror to my face and I look at my reflection. Hermione has done a great job on my makeup, making me look as natural as you can possibly be with makeup but adding a pop of bright red lipstick to match the hairbow, and Bonnie's braid is amazing, and also quite casual-looking.

"I love it," I say, smiling. "What's the time?"

Hermione looks past me at the clock on the bedside table. "Time for you to go."

Grinning, I grab a black over-the-shoulder bag and head out of the dormitory, bidding farewell.

I go down to the common room, where there are a heap of people milling around like usual. I leave the common room and go all the way downstairs to the Entrance Hall, which I hope is where Draco would meet me.

Just like I hoped, Draco is already waiting, leant against a statue. He looks good, in a dark grey button up shirt and jeans. As soon as he sees me, he jumps up, smiling.

"Hey," I say, walking up to him.

"Hey," he says. "You look...great."

"Thanks," I say, accepting the compliment. "So, how are we getting there?"

"Exactly how we'd get there any other day," Draco laughs. He grabs my hand, and our fingers entwine. "Let's go."

We walk out the great doors and the cold air hits us. Shivering, Draco and I walk down to Hogsmeade station, and keep going until we arrive and the almost-night-fallen familiar street of Hogsmeade.

"Where is it, exactly?" I ask, as we trudge through the snowy street, past blackened shop windows.

"The Three Broomsticks," Draco says happily, as we approach the bar where aline of people are waiting outside, ready to see the famous band.

"You got the tickets?" Draco says, glancing at my bag.

"Mhmm," I say, as I reach into it, and pull out the two official looking tickets. The Weird Sisters are definitely not as official looking as the tickets are. They look like they just came off the streets.

After ten minutes of waiting in the line, Draco and I finally show our tickets to the man at the door, and we enter the stifling hot pub. This is a complete contrast to outside which is freezing cold.

Squeezing through the crowds, Draco and I head to the very back where there is one last table left. We quickly snatch it before another group of fans can get to it.

"Did you want anything?" Draco yells over the crowd, motioning over to the bar where Madam Rosmerta and some other employees are working hard.

"I'll just get a Butterbeer, thanks," I say, and pull out my coin purse, but Draco waves me off.

"I'm paying," is all he says before heading over to the bar, dodging between people. When he comes back five minutes later with two Butterbeers in hand, the crowd begins to scream loudly which can only mean that the band is here.

"Hello people of Hogsmeade!" The lead singer yells into the microphone at the other side of the pub. "Are you ready to rock and roll?"

Everyone screams in affirmation, before the band begins to play. Everyone around the pub is screaming their heads off and dancing like there is no one else in the room.

Draco and I sing along to the songs, both of us knowing every line. We sing and scream and dance like everyone else, having the time of our lives. This is completely amazing!

As soon as the band finishes their last song, the crowd begins to boo loudly, asking for one more song. Unfortunately, the band are ushered away, leaving the crowd still screaming.

After at least another five minutes, the screaming quietness down to the loud sounds of chatter as everyone either stays or leaves the pub.

Draco and I grab our things, leaving two empty tankards of Butterbeer on the table, and join the group of fans leaving.

The fresh night air outside is a relief after coming out of the humid, sweaty pub. Still abuzz from the performance, Draco and I head back to the the castle, hand in hand.

"Did you have a good time?" Draco asks as we reach Hogsmeade station.

"A good time?" I say. "I had a great time! I can't tell you how amazing that was. They're my all time favourite band, thank you so much!"

"Well, at least the tickets weren't too hard to get," he says.

"This is the best Christmas present ever!" I say skipping a step.

"I'm happy you liked it," he says. "We should do stuff like this more often."

"We should," I say. "Because that was loads of fun. No 'bumping into Harry' stuff, that was a horrifying experience."

"It was more horrifying for me, Sarah," Draco says. "You should have seen your brother's face when he saw me, that was what you would call horrifying."

We both laugh as we head up the stone steps of the castle, but turn silent as we open the front doors. Marlin give us luck in getting to the common room without being caught by Filch or Mrs Norris.

"Well, Sarah," Draco whispers. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah," I whisper back, and he pulls me into a hug.

A noise from nearby pulls us apart, and quickly waving goodbye we run off in our different directions - Draco heading downstairs to the dungeons, and me heading upstairs to Gryffindor Tower.

As soon as I slip through the portrait hole, I'm come crashing into Hermione, Bonnie and Amy who are waiting for me.

"Merlin's beard!" I exclaim, startled.

"How was it?" Amy asks excitedly, pulling me over to the couch.the rest of the common room is empty; everyone must have gone to bed.

"Oh my gosh, you have no idea how amazing it was!" I gush, and I tell them a full recount of what happened, careful not to leave out any minor details.

"I totally wish I were you right now," Hermione says. "But obviously not with Malfoy. I'm still coming to terms of why you like him."

"He's not that bad, Hermione," I say. "Yeah, he may be a jerk on the outside, but once you actually get to know him he's great."

She scoffs, but doesn't say anything.

"Look guys," I say, yawning. "I'm tired and my ears hurt so I'm going up to bed."

"Oh good, because I'm tired," Bonnie manages to say through a yawn.

"It's eleven, way past my bedtime," Amy jokes. She's been out loads after this time of night.

Together, the three of us head up to the dormitory, none saying a word. As the other hop straight into bed, I head into the bathroom to take off my makeup and freshen up a little bit. I'll have to shower in the morning.

As soon as I'm ready, I head over to my bed and straight away fall into a soundless sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N:

I know I said I wouldn't be updating until later next month, but I really needed a break from all the assignments and thought I might write a quick filler chapter for this book.

I really enjoyed writing this one, and I hope you guys liked a bit of Sarah/Draco. Do they have a ship name yet?

Anyway, now I have to get back to business with my assignments(only 4 important ones left!) and then I can get back into writing. I might be able to update sometime around 8th-15th :)

Peace out guys, love you!

~Elise

Ps: can I just comment on how short my chapters are now getting? This was only approximately 2,500 words and I'm so proud of myself. I'm going to try and keep them this short(I emphasise on 'try')