A/N: can all you readers do me a huge favor? If you don't normally leave a review, could you still leave one that just says "I've read it?" I am just interested to know how many people are reading this sequel. Thanks so much!
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Welcome Back
"So, class…in order for the transformation to work you have to put the emphasis on the last syllable…that will transform your guinea fowl into a guinea PIG, not a rat," Marissa's Transfiguration Professor reiterated. There were a couple of snickers and sounds of muffled laughter that moved around the room. Marissa was glad she had studied because her animal did what the spell was supposed to do…transformed it from a fowl to a guinea pig. A cute black and brown one at that.
It was Monday and she was sitting in her first class of the day, of the week, next to Janet. And as she copied down the homework she relived the run-in she had with Arnold Bosse. He had slid in next to her at breakfast and was asking her about her experience of being kidnapped. After repeatedly saying she didn't want to talk about it, Devon had stepped in and told him to back off.
"Who're you to tell me what to say?" Arnold glared at Devon who was standing across the table behind Dixon who was watching with interest.
"I'm her brother…and so is he," Devon pointed to Dixon, "and him over there," he pointed down at the end of the table where Derek was talking with a friend, "and over there is our sister," he gestured towards Erin. "So, if you don't listen to Marissa you'll have to listen to me…then work your way down the chain…which won't be very fun for you if you get to Erin. Leave her alone about it…she DOES NOT WANT TO RELIVE IT!" Devon had his fists clenched at his sides and was staring daggers at Arnold.
Before Arnold could form a retort, Marissa had heard someone say her name from behind and found Brian standing there,
not looking at her, but looking curiously at Arnold.
"Ahhh…Mister Brian Potter," Arnold changed gears, stood up and turned towards Brian.
"I am…who're you?" Brian asked, standing so close to Marissa she could feel his leg against her back and recognized Devon and Brian circling around her. Janet glanced sideways at Marissa and they just looked at each other, not daring to say anything.
Arnold introduced himself and they briefly shook hands.
"My sister, Claudia, has been dying to meet you…being the famous wizard's son and all," Arnold said grabbing a muffin then picking up his bag. Devon had finally settled down and took a few steps back from the bench, but was still watching intently.
"Oh…well, I'm sure I'll see her in Charms then since we have that with Ravenclaws," Brian said in a guarded voice.
Janet made a kissing motion with her lips and mouthed "Claudia loves him" and Marissa stifled a giggle.
Arnold's amber glance settled on Marissa and he smiled at her.
"I'll see you soon," he said almost warmly to Marissa and walked quickly up the aisle and out the doors.
"What's up with him?" Brian asked now looking down at Marissa who shrugged, but was very aware of his leg pressing into her back until he stepped away as she made a move to get up.
"Going to Transfiguration?" he asked, switching his Charms books from one hand to another.
"Yep…get to learn how to transfigure one small animal into another," Janet said, holding her hand out to Calvin who groaned his usual morning groan. Grabbing one last sip of his juice he stood up and grabbed Janet's hand and allowed himself to be led out of the dining hall. Marissa waved to Devon who was now seated and nodded at her with his mouth full of cereal. Turning away from her table she fell in step next to Brian. As they approached the huge double wooden doors, Brian touched her back indicating she should pass through the dining hall doors first. Marissa felt her heart jump, then felt a flush of warm fuzzies fall over her as she realized HE was walking her to her class. Janet and Calvin were a few paces ahead discussing their Easter break (Janet having gone home to visit with her grandparents while Calvin stayed at school).
Brian walked her to the classroom door then said he would see her at lunch. Marissa thought she probably had the goofiest grin on her face as she said "goodbye" to him and saw the looks of a few of the females faces as they walked in past them.
Janet nudged her out of her daydream and she gathered up her books and followed Janet and Calvin out into the hall, on their way to Charms.
Half of Gryffindor was coming down the hall from the Charms classroom. Marissa had her first two classes on Monday's with Hufflepuffs and rarely saw her cousins in Gryffindor. But here she saw Brian (whom, they had determined during one of their many talks at Nott's, was a second cousin or something to James and Jeremy, but no blood relation to her, Marissa) walking with part of his Quidditch team. He looked pretty intent about whatever discussion they were having and at the last minute before they passed looked up and saw her. Smiling at her he raised his hand in greeting and she responded in kind, then they were past each other, each on their way to different classes.
And her day went on like that. Marissa never really knew if she always saw him that much during the day, around school, or if she was just more aware of him now, after being locked up with him. But by the time she had visited her father and sat down to dinner, successfully keeping away from the Bosse twins, Marissa counted as having seen him three times in the hall, once at lunch and once out in the commons. She noticed, that two of those times, she had "felt" him before she had seen him. A part of her sensed he was in the area. A slight increase in her heart rate, a warm relaxing feeling infiltrating her brain and she knew he was around, somewhere…which was when she had spotted him in the Commons.
He had been sitting under a tree, reading intently when she had spotted him from across the common area. As her gaze fell upon him he had looked up at the sky, stretched languidly and in doing so caught sight of her. Jumping up he walked over and sat down, asking how her day was going, and they had talked for the better part of a half hour; this giving them the "fuel" they needed to make it through their first day back to school in over a week.
He had relayed his meeting with Claudia Bosse in Charms that morning. He described that she seemed a lot like her brother, very upfront and kept trying to talk to him during class. Asking him questions about what it was like to be kidnapped, what it was like having Harry Potter for a father, how close was he to Marissa? now that they had spent four days together. Together, Marissa and Brian decided to be civil and ignore them the rest of the time. They were probably just trying to get used to being taught by a famous wizard and going to school with his son.
But, trying to keep out of Arnold's way was proving harder and harder for Marissa as the afternoon wore on to the evening. He kept sitting next to her while she was doing her homework in the Common Room and for awhile he was quiet. As the evening dragged by, Marissa thought that the longest length of time he could stay silent was five minutes. He was talking to her, saying they should go to Hogsmeade together at the end of the month…which Marissa politely declined and made no move to make eye contact with him.
It seemed that he never got the hint to leave her alone. Finally, thoroughly frustrated that she hadn't finished her Herbology, she packed up and went up to her room where Janet was already asleep since it was close to 11 at night.
Marissa changed into a plain t-shirt and blue checked pajama pants that Devon had outgrown and handed down to her. Now that he was a few inches taller she could wear his clothes and she could've cared less if she was just sleeping in them. Waiting fifteen minutes she grabbed her Herbology book and silently made her way down the stairs. The common room was now deserted and Marissa stealthily snuck out and down to the kitchens, hoping to get her homework completed before she had to hand it in the following afternoon.
Settling down at the table under the window she thanked the house elf for the tea and biscuits and set to work sketching out the biology of the rare Morandus Pine Sapling…a small tree when, in it's first year of growth, yielded sap that could neutralize a burn from a fire crab.
She wasn't sure how long she was down there, working diligently, sometimes humming to herself, when she heard a noise at the entrance to the kitchen. Looking up and blinking to bring the body that stood at the door into focus she saw it was Brian, dressed similarly to her and for a moment they looked at each other, genuinely surprised.
"Hi," Marissa said watching him move towards her silently. He was looking at her with a strange expression, unnerving her a bit. To cover her nervousness she stood up, went to the sink and set her cup down.
"What're you doing here?" she asked turning around to find him a few feet away from her.
"Couldn't sleep," he said quietly reaching out and touching her hair. "You?"
"Studying…Arnold wouldn't leave me alone so I snuck down here," Marissa said feeling his hand slide to her neck and unwillingly her eyes closed, relishing the contact his fingers made with her neck.
"Let's forget about him for a moment, shall we?" he whispered and as Marissa opened her eyes and her mouth to ask what he meant, she felt her self being pushed back against the counter and her hands barely had time to settle on his shoulders before his lips touched hers. It didn't take much coaxing for Marissa to respond, pressing up against him, her arms hooked around his neck her thoughts totally involved in him and how wonderful it felt to be held and kissed. His hands rubbed down her shoulders to her waist and pulled her to him, kissing her lightly down her jaw to her neck bringing up powerful feelings and memories of the previous week. Marissa could feel herself starting to lose control, to just want to give in to him, and let the waves take her where they may but she forced herself to step back a bit gasping his name between his fevering kisses.
"Brian….not in the kitchen…," Marissa felt his mouth settle on the crook of her neck, sucking gently. She heard him moan slightly and felt him rest his head on her shoulder.
"Sorry…I just saw you sitting there and don't know what came over me," he told her talking into her shoulder as she ran her hands up and down his back, taking pleasure in the feeling of his hard muscles quivering under her fingers. She let her hands rub and lightly squeeze his shoulders, still her favorite part.
"So…me studying Herbology in the kitchens make you want to snog me…I'll have to find a better place to do that then," Marissa kidded with him and was rewarded with a strong hug and an amused laugh.
"It was the Herbology…," he joked back, feeling her slap his arm lightly. Slowly he pulled back, seeming to gather himself and bring everything back under control.
"It's late…shouldn't we be sleeping?" Brian brushed a stray piece of red hair off her forehead and Marissa shrugged, her hands linked behind his waist now.
"You're the Prefect, you could get me in trouble for being down here."
"I can be bought," he grinned down at her. Marissa rolled his eyes, grabbed the sides of his head and leaning into him kissed him softly.
"That'll do it," Brian whispered his eyes slow to open.
"You're right though, I should get back. I have to rest up for Potions with you, Arnold and Claudia tomorrow," Marissa said a note of toughness in her voice when she mentioned the twins names.
"If they bother you, just let me know," Brian said protectively which surprised Marissa. She had never seen him argue heatedly with anyone or even hit another person in anger.
"Between you and Devon, I can just sit back and enjoy the show," Marissa reluctantly moved away to finish packing her books then tucked them under her arm. With Brian's arm around her shoulders they walked towards the entrance to the hall. Stopping near the door, she felt Brian turn her around.
"I just wanted to let you know, again, that I don't take anything we did or said for granted from last week. That I meant what I said about trying to be with you and balancing everything else," he began his hand fingering her hair.
"I know…," Marissa answered a bit breathless from his words. `How could one person have such an affect on me?' Marissa thought as her heart began speeding up.
"I've never felt this way for anyone and I'm a bit unsure what to do…to say… so if I do something wrong just tell me," Brian finished in a rush and Marissa smiled, reached over and hugged him, realizing how sweet he really was.
"Me neither, Brian. We're in the same boat together…I wouldn't want it any other way," she admitted and for a moment they stood there silently trying to make sense of this new adventure.
Reluctantly he dropped his arms and put his hand on the door knob. "Let's go back to our towers…I'll see you later this morning," Brian gave her a one armed hug and together they walked out quietly, then separated at the bottom of the stairs each going back to their own tower, thoughts of each other swimming in their heads.
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Inwardly, Marissa groaned as Arnold plopped down beside her in Potions, with Claudia next to him.
"What're you doing in fifth year Potions?" Arnold asked and Marissa quickly explained testing how she tested out and moved up a class.
"I bet having your father as a teacher helped out," Arnold said haughtily and Marissa shook her head, taking out her book.
"He treats me the same as every other student, as he should," she said firmly, glancing at Brian across the aisle who rolled his eyes in response to Arnold, then turned to the front as Professor Malfoy walked out of the stock room.
"Invigoration Draught…can anyone tell me what you CAN use it for?" Professor Malfoy walked around to the front of his desk, leaned up against it and crossed his arms letting his gaze travel around the room.
A Gryffindor girl tentatively raised her hand and Marissa turned to look at her.
"Well, if you are a healer and work a twenty four hour shift, you are allowed to use it one time so you can be refreshed for at least six hours?"
"Good, sometimes it works for six, sometimes more… sometimes less…depending on how much you weigh and such. Any thing else?"
No one said anything so Marissa raised her hand and he nodded at her.
"Sometimes it's given to mothers in labor…if it's been a long, hard one," she said remembering the story of Devon's birth.
"That's another…I know you all know what this potion can't be used for…to stay up longer studying, being used before any sport and so on. So, today," he turned around and waved his wand at the chalkboard, watching the ingredients appear for the Potion, "we are going to make this. It'll only take one class…but for homework, you need to find five other ways this Invigoration Draught can be used, LEGALLY."
Arnold snorted next to Marissa who promptly stood up ignoring him and followed a few other students into the Potions closet, grabbed what she needed then made her way back to her table quickly setting up her supplies and cauldron.
"So, you're a potions expert like your father," Claudia said to her as she assembled her bottles and cauldron.
"I enjoy it," was Marissa's reply as she measured out six ounces of powdered dragon hoof and dumped it into her cauldron.
"Why hasn't Brian moved up in Defense then?"
"Ask him," Marissa sighed slamming down her container harder than she intended causing her father to look up from his desk. She quickly looked down as Arnold made his way back between them. Measuring out some distilled water she added that to her cauldron and stirred for one of the two minutes until Arnold began talking again.
"So, now that you and Potter had that quality time together are you officially an item?" Arnold asked making a lot of noise as he pulled out everything he needed.
Marissa ignored him counting in her head…thirty seconds to go until she could stop stirring.
"I'll take that as a "yes" since you won't answer," Arnold said and Claudia let out a bark of laughter.
A few seconds ticked by and Marissa stopped stirring.
"It's rude to talk while someone is stirring. I was counting, not deliberately ignoring you. Now, please, stop talking to me while I do this assignment," Marissa said looking him squarely in the eye, neither one of them aware that her father was making his rounds around the room now.
"Surely, you should be able to do talk and work…being as talented…," Arnold started with a little smirk on his face.
"If you know anything about Potions, it requires concentration and no talking," a voice said behind them. Marissa felt a flush rise to her face as her father reprimanded Arnold. She felt now that he stepped in, Arnold was going to make more of a scene and try to draw her in to it.
"I was just saying…," Arnold protested but Professor Malfoy interrupted him.
"You shouldn't be "SAYING" anything at all, Bosse. We don't talk unless we are working in pairs. If you wish to pursue the issue I can give you detention tonight, here, and you can try to do some more difficult OWL level potions while I chatter away." Marissa recognized the restraint in her father's voice and decided that it would be a good time to replace the powdered dragon hoof and get the next few ingredients.
Sliding out from her spot she walked to the storage room, running straight into Brian. Reaching out he grabbed her arm, steadying her and making sure she didn't drop the bottle.
"Sorry," he gave her a small smile.
"I'm just letting my father and Arnold stare it down back there…I wasn't watching where I was going," Marissa sighed and placed her bottle on the shelf, taking the next ingredient Brian handed her.
"He giving you a hard time? Arnold that is?" they walked together out of the room. Marissa scanned the room for her father and saw him standing near the back of the room, addressing the girl who answered a question earlier.
"Annoying right now. Trying to talk while I work."
"Oh boy…," Brian said in a mock horror voice.
"Next class I might have to put myself in a corner to be left alone," Marissa whispered and Brian shook his head smiling as they took their respective seats.
For the rest of the class, Arnold and Claudia occasionally whispered to each other in German but said nothing to Marissa. She knew they were talking about her; Marissa knew a few words in German but was not going to tell them that.
Hurrying as fast as she could without making any mistakes, she was the first one finished her Potion which she bottled and walked up to her father's desk.
"If they keep bothering you, you can move your seat," her father said as she handed him her potion.
"I was telling Brian that earlier; I might just do that," Marissa said quietly, nodded at him and walked out the door feeling a load of stress fall of her shoulders as she headed up to her room to relax before her Quidditch practice.
`It's going to feel wonderful to get on a broom again,' Marissa thought slowly changing into her practice robes after she put her books away. `It's been over ten days since I have been on one.'
She had one of her dorm mates throw her Quidditch boots which ended up across the room for some reason and went about lacing them up.
"I'm going to head out early, get in some practice flying since it's been awhile," Marissa said to Valerie who was the only person in their room.
"Have fun!" her always chipper roommate voiced and Marissa thanked her, grabbing her broom and quickly walking down the stairs and out of her tower, relishing the flying time she was going to get…alone.
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