Outstanding powers

Two different proposals:

"Miss Black! Please pay attention to what I am saying!"

Isabella looked at her Ancient Runes teacher with a fake innocent smile that always got her out of trouble. Professor Welkins smiled weakly at her and resumed his explanation. He was a tall blond man who was about thirty-something and had a soft spot for girls, especially Isabella. He went on and on about ancient Phoenician languages and Isabella looked at Colin who was actually looking at her with disbelief and Ginny who was laughing silently.

"What the hell was that?" Colin asked.

Isabella shrugged. Colin shook his head while mumbling something about girls, which made Ginny laugh even harder, her shoulders shaking violently.

"Is something wrong, Miss Weasley?" Welkins asked. Ginny sobered and shook her head.

"No professor, nothing is wrong," she answered so solemnly that it was Isabella's turn to laugh. She however, was not as subtle as Ginny and a giggle escaped her mouth. Welkins looked at her and smiled. He was about to say something when the bell rang.

"Happy Christmas students!" he called after the fifth years. Isabella and Ginny stayed behind and wished him a happy Christmas with a kiss from each on both cheeks. Welkins turned tomato red and didn't notice the flash of light that illuminated the room. When Ginny and Isabella got out, they found Colin waiting for them with a triumphant look on his face.

"Did it work?" Isabella asked while they were walking to their Transfiguration class.

"Like a charm!" Colin answered. He showed them the photograph he had taken earlier. It showed both girls kissing a crimson-faced Welkins and walking away.

"Now show me the photograph you took of me and Lupin, please," Isabella pleaded. Colin shook his head.

"Later," he said. Isabella pouted.

"I wonder why we were sorted into Gryffindor, we should have been Slytherins!" Ginny laughed.

"Ginny, never say that again...even if you're joking," Colin said seriously. Ginny nodded solemnly.

Isabella laughed behind her hand. These two were absolutely hilarious when they were together. When they got to the Transfiguration classroom, Peeves flew out of the armor on their right, causing Ginny to yell in fright and fall backwards. If Colin hadn't caught her, she would have toppled down a few stairs. Isabella yelled as well but wasn't quick enough to freeze the armor, which fell on top of her. She felt her vision blur before darkness engulfed her.

~*~

"Do you think she'll be okay Madam Pomfrey?"

"She'll be fine Mr. Weasley, for the umpteenth time!"

Isabella groaned and stirred slightly in her bed. "Why am I in the Hospital Wing? I can't remember anything. Oh, wait a second, I remember Peeves popping out of nowhere-I'll get him for that-and Ginny getting caught by Colin and the armo-it fell on me! Why didn't I freeze it? Ow! The headache!!" Isabella's eyes snapped open.

"Miss Black! Are you feeling better?" Madam Pomfrey's voice just made Isabella's head pound even more.

"Better? My head's gonna split anytime now!" Isabella grunted. Harry patted her shoulder.

"I know what you're going through Is," he said.

Isabella attempted a smile but it turned out as a grimace.

"How long have I been out?" she asked with a strained voice. Every single action demanded a great deal of effort and hurt like hell.

"You've missed Transfiguration, lunch, Double Arithmancy and now it's almost dinner time, so I'd say you've been out most of the day," Hermione said.

"Madam Pomfrey, when can I get out?" Isabella asked. She hated the Infirmary. Madam Pomfrey clucked her tongue.

"Not before a full checkup dear!" she said.

Isabella rolled her eyes and the others politely stepped out of the Infirmary to give her a little privacy. Isabella turned to Madam Pomfrey.

"Do you think I should hunt tonight?" she asked in a neutral tone. The nurse nodded silently. Isabella smiled at her and joined her friends outside the Great Hall. As they were having dinner, Ginny came up to her and told her the photo album was ready. Isabella grinned wickedly and excused herself from Harry, Ron and Hermione. She and Ginny met Colin near the Whomping Willow.

"Hey Colin!"

"Hey Is, you feeling better?"

"Yeah, I am, thanks for asking."

"And stop talking like Jar-Jar Binks for Merlin's sake!" Ginny laughed. Colin glared at her.

"Anyways, here it is, our masterpiece!" he said.

He took out a leather photo album from under his cloak. On the cover, in shiny golden letters, were written these words: "The Book of Embarrassing Hogwarts Moments."

"Anyone want to look?" Colin asked. Isabella and Ginny nodded furiously. Slowly, Colin opened the album. On the first page was a picture of the three of them, waving at the camera.

"Nice one Colin!" Ginny said. She turned the page and giggled. It was a picture of Minerva McGonagall chasing after her flying hat. The hat kept changing colors and flying a bit higher every time the furious Transfiguration teacher almost caught it. She showed it to her friends. They laughed as well, remembering that day. They flipped through the pages, laughing at the pictures. The funniest ones were these: Snape dressed in baggy muggle clothes, attempting to break-dance; Dumbledore wearing his fuzzy pink slippers, licking peanut butter off his fingers in the Hogwarts kitchens; Draco Malfoy being hit by Isabella in the face with a pie.

"I've made copies of this album. One for Ginny and one for you, Is." He took out two albums from his bag and handed them to his friends.

"Hey, let's dedicate these albums to each other!" Isabella said. The two others agreed and they swapped albums. When Isabella got hers back, she laughed.

Making this album cost us a great deal of detentions, but it was worth the fun, huh? Next year, we do this for the students only, okay? Love, Colin "The Amazing Photograph who looks stunning" Creevey.

Hey fireball! Save lots of pies for next semester because the Draco-gets-hit-in-the-face picture is amazing. Oh, and try to freeze students in awkward positions so we can get all the angles we want and chose the best picture. From Gin-joon with love to the Hogwarts second position fireball.

Isabella hooked her arms in her friends' arms and headed for the castle.

"You guys are amazing. Wait till you see what I got you for Christmas!"

"Aw, you shouldn't have gotten us anything! I say that just because I have to, don't believe me!" Colin said. Isabella and Ginny laughed along with him, but their laughter died out when they entered the Entrance Hall. Harry was holding a frightened looking girl behind his back and glaring at Malfoy.

"What in the bloody blue hell happened here?" Colin asked.

~*~

Cristina Kassab was just your average everyday Ravenclaw, got great grades and had her nose stuck in a book the whole time. She never got into serious trouble and had a whole bunch of friends. Really, a normal third year Ravenclaw. So why Draco Malfoy decided to pick on her that night, she never knew.

She excused herself from her friends, claiming she had to pack her stuff. When she got out of the Great Hall, she was slammed against a wall. She looked up to her attacker's face and paled. It was Draco Malfoy. Determined not to show her fear, she swallowed and asked in what she hoped was a disdainful tone.

"What do you want from me?"

"I need you to go to the restricted section tonight and take out a book for me, then drop it at the Slytherin common room."

"The...restricted section? Isn't that against the rules?"
Draco Malfoy rolled his eyes. For a Ravenclaw, she was pretty slow.

"Kassab, you really should be in kinder garden. Yes, it's against the rules, and I suppose you are smart enough to come up with a plan to get this book and not get caught."

"Whatever, I'm not doing it."

Cristina let out a yelp of pain as Malfoy slammed her against the wall again. Just then, Harry came out of the Great Hall and saw them.

"Malfoy, what are you doing to her?"

Malfoy let go of Cristina, who slid down to the floor, having lost her balance. She rubbed her bum, then her head. Harry walked to her and held out a hand to help her up. Thanking him, she took it and stood up. He held her behind him

"Malfoy, you are pathetic! Go get this book yourself!" Harry yelled. Just then, Isabella, Ginny and Colin walked in.

"What in the bloody blue hell happened here?" Colin asked. Harry, Draco and Cristina whipped around. Malfoy glared at them and sauntered away to the Slytherin dungeons.

"Stupid git," Harry mumbled. He turned to the pretty Ravenclaw girl and asked her if she was okay. She blushed madly and nodded. Whispering something that resembled a "thank you", she ran back into the Great Hall, and told her friends what happened to her.

Isabella walked to Harry and hugged him from behind.

"My big hero of a brother, you just saved another innocent soul," she laughed. Harry whacked her on the head. With a fake outraged look, Isabella hit him lightly in the stomach. Feigning pain, Harry playfully punched her arm. Soon, they were chasing each other around the Entrance Hall, laughing like crazy.

"Isabella Eleanor Black! Come back here this instant!" Harry yelled at Isabella who was doubled over with laughter on the marble staircase. She had levitated him ten feet in midair and was currently laughing her head off.

"Ginny, can I talk to you in private for a moment?"

"Sure Colin," Ginny answered. They walked into a small classroom and closed the door.

"Lumos," they both said. They smiled at each other.

"So, what did you want Colin?"

"Well, Ginny, I have been wanting to say this for the longest time, but I never had the guts to say it. Some Gryffindor, huh?" Ginny chuckled lightly and Colin smiled a somewhat embarrassed smile. "I don't know the best way to say this, so I'm just going to say it, okay? Ginny, I think I am in love with you. Would you be my girlfriend?"

Ginny smiled as Colin squeezed his eyes shut. They could hear someone yelling "Wingardium Leviosa" and then "Harry James Potter you put me down right now!" "Not until you put me down!" and then two loud thuds and two people laughing hard.

"Colin, you have more guts than I have. I admire that."

With this, Ginny walked up to Colin and kissed him fully on the lips. When they parted, Colin smiled sweetly and she returned the gesture.

"I'll take this as a yes, then?"

"Definitely. Oh, and don't worry about Ron, I'll talk to him."

Colin had paled slightly at the mention of Ginny's over-protective brother, but nodded. They came out of the small classroom, hand-in-hand, and gaped at the scene in front of them. Harry was sitting on Isabella's legs, holding them still. One of his hands held Isabella's own above her head, as she lay on the floor, and the other hand was digging into her sides, tickling her mercilessly. Isabella was laughing loudly, and a fair number of students were watching them, amused looks on their faces.

"Harry...please! Stop it! I can't breathe!" Isabella laughed. Harry bent down towards her.

"What? I can't hear you!" He continued to tickle her until Isabella orbed out from underneath him and appeared behind him. Pushing him over, she pinned his hands over his head and sat on his stomach.

"I beat you, Harry Potter."

"You didn't beat me! You broke the rules! We agreed to not use powers! In a fair match, I would have beaten you!"

"Well, that's not enticing me to play fair now, is it?"

"Can you move this to someplace else? Some of us want to keep our dinners down!"

Harry and Isabella looked at the person who had spoken. Sure enough, it was Pansy. Some Gryffindors students eyed her menacingly. Knowing she would get what she deserved. Isabella orbed Harry and herself to the common room.

"That slimy bitch!"

"Harry! Watch your language! There are first years here!"

Harry looked sheepishly at the few students who laughed. Muttering an excuse, he sat on his (and Isabella's) favorite armchair, near the fire. Isabella pushed him over and sat next to him, after magically enlarging the chair. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. It felt great to have a protective (not over-protective) older brother. Well, kind of brother.

"Is, I have something to ask you."

"Yeah Harry, what is it?"

"I want you to stay here at Hogwarts during the holidays."

Isabella sat up straight and looked at Harry.

"You want me to stay?"

"Yeah, I do."

"But...my dad! I want to see him!"

"And you will, I promise! Just trust me on this one Isabella. I understand how you feel..."

"No, Harry, you don't! I've never seen the man, barely talked to him through letters, because it was too dangerous. Now that I can finally see him again, you want me to miss out on that opportunity?"

"Isabella, please, trust me. I do know how you feel, I really do! I haven't seen him in ages and, along with you, he's the closest thing to a family I have. Please, think about it."

Isabella shook her head and ran up to her dorm. When her dorm mates had fallen asleep, she snuck out of the castle, all dressed in black. Closing the heavy doors behind her, she rubbed her arms and shivered. It was really cold. She started walking towards the forest, her speed heightening gradually. She reached an inhuman speed and she wasn't even tired. She ran around the grounds one time then headed to the forest, unaware that two pairs of eyes were watching her, one from the top of a tower, and the other from the Gryffindor sixth year dorm window. When she came back from her hunt, she walked to McGonagall's office. Outside of it was the list of students going home for the holidays. She ran a finger over it, stopping at her name. Harry's name, she noticed, was scratched out. Sighing, she took the pen that was attached to the paper and scratched her name off.

~*~

The next day passed rather quickly, as everyone bid their goodbyes to everyone. Colin was going home for the holidays, along with his little brother. Ginny, Ron and Hermione were going to the Burrow. Seamus, Neville and Dean were going home as well.

"I will send you your presents tonight by Floo or owl!"

"Isabella, you are choking me!" Ginny told her friend who was hugging her and Colin at the same time. She let go of them and gave them each a kiss on the cheeks, then turned to Hermione and Ron and kissed them too, promising to send them their presents.

As they were waiting for the Hogwarts Express to pull into Hogsmeade station, (Harry and Isabella huddled under Harry's Invisibility Cloak) it started to snow. It took all of Isabella's willpower to stay under the cloak. She wanted to run and catch snowflakes with her tongue, like she used to do back home, when she was a kid. When the train finally arrived, they wished their friends a safe ride and went back to the castle for lunch. When lunch was over, they went to study in the library. Amazingly, they finished almost all their homework, but when they came out from the library, they realized they had missed dinner. They went down to the kitchens, and Isabella asked for a dinner for two hungry teens. Harry had stayed outside because he didn't feel like facing Dobby. They went back up to Gryffindor Tower and ate in front of the fire. Isabella showed Harry the album Ginny, Colin and she had made. Harry's favorite picture was undoubtedly the one showing Snape trying to break-dance. They played a few games of chess, Harry winning most of them, and then bid each other goodnight at a very late hour. Isabella's dorm was empty, as well as Harry's.

"I can't wait to open my presents," Isabella thought before she fell asleep.