The Diary

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Chapter 13*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

~Outside of Hogwarts~

All was quiet till the great doors slowly opened and closed, yet nothing exited the castle. Suddenly three forms appeared from under a shimmery cloak.

"Where are they?" Will gasped.

"I dun... there by the lake," Thomas said.

"Where? I don't see anyone," Rhiannon said.

"By the Willow tree," Thomas answered. They threw the invisibility cloak over themselves once more and quickly made their way to the tall tree near the edge of the lake. As they neared the couple, their pace slowed. They crept close and hid themselves on the opposite side of the tree.

"You must be kidding me!" Kay laughed.

"No," Harry laughed with her, "Fred and George took all the credit. They even served a month of detention with Snape for it."

"So if they didn't do it then who did?" Kay asked.

"That's just it. They never told us and the only reason we know that they didn't pull the prank is because they let it slip that they had another silent partner. When we questioned them all they said was that they were a friend from Hogwarts who was the one who pulled that prank on the Slytherins," Harry answered.

"Weird," she commented, "I'd like to get my hands on that person. My hair was pink for a week because of their handy work."

"At least it wasn't lime green like Malfoy's," Harry laughed. Their laughter subsided and an uncomfortable silence quickly took its place.

"So," Kay said, "It's late and I better go." She stood up quickly but lost her balance. Harry stood and was able to catch her before she met the ground. Her head laid against his chest as her helped her stand. When she looked at him and held her breath as she realized how close they were to each other. She looked into pools of emerald green as his face inched closer to hers.

"He's gonna kiss her!" whispered an overexcited voice, which was soon followed by a chorus of, "Shut up!" from his companions. Harry stopped his lips' slow descent, closed his eyes and chuckled to himself.

"Would you care to do the honors?" he asked softly as he let his eyes return to her face.

"I'd love to," she answered, "POTTER, MALFOY AND WEASLEY REVEAL YOURSELVES THIS INSTANT!" There was an audible gasp of shock from the three children which was shortly followed by the sounds of three pairs of feet making a mad dash to the castle. "They're making a run for it," Kay said as she shook her head, "When will they learn?"

"They're young," Harry said as he shrugged his shoulders. He quickly pulled out his wand, pointed it in the general direction of the noise and shouted, "Accio invisibility cloak!" A shimmery cloak, that felt like water, flew into Harry Potter's outstretched hand as three eleven year olds stopped dead in their tracks. Knowing that there was no escape, the trio walked back to the area the adults were occupying. "'Allo Rhiannon, Will and Thomas," he greeted disapprovingly.

"Hi Mister Potter," muttered Rhiannon and Will as they stared at their feet, which had become very interesting after they met Mister Potter's glare.

"Hullo Dad," Thomas said as, he too, looked down in shame.

"And pray tell, what are three young Gryffindors, such as yourselves, doing out of bed at this late hour?" Kay Covington asked sternly as she quickly slipped into professor mode.

"Well, you see it's like this," Thomas started.

"Rhiannon heard about your date with Professor Wood," Will stammered.

"And I thought it would be fun to follow you," Rhiannon continued.

"But when you and my dad went off," Thomas said, "I just had to follow."

"You had to follow?" Covington questioned.

"Yes, ma'am," Thomas answered.

"Why?" Harry inquired.

"I don't feel like answering that question," Thomas mumbled.

"Thomas Harry Potter, you answer..." Harry began but was stopped when Kay gently placed her hand on his arm.

"It's ok Harry. He doesn't have to answer," she said before turn toward her three students, "Fifty points will be deducted from Gryffindor... each, for serious lack of judgment and invasion of a professor's privacy. Furthermore, each of you will serve detention with me alone and I will hold the invisibility cloak in my office till after all three detentions are served. Is that understood?"

"Yes Professor," they chanted dully.

"Very good," she conjured a slip of parchment and handed it to them, "Here is a pass back to your dormitory in case you are caught by another professor or Filch. Now off with you." Thomas, Rhiannon and Will nodded and hurried back to the castle. "I better go too," she said as she turned to Harry, "I really did have a nice time with you." She turned back to the castle and began walking away, leaving Harry alone to think.

"Wait!" Harry shouted as he caught up with her, "You want to do this again, but for real?"

"You mean like a date?" she asked with a smirk.

"Um yeah," he answered as a blush crept over his cheeks.

"I'd love to," she said with a smile, "Well till then." With that she started to walk away again, but stopped. She stood still for a second before turning on her heel. She strode with purpose to Harry and kissed him. "Goodnight," she whispered as she pulled away. Her hazel eyes locked with his for a moment before she took off and quickly half walked half sprinted back to Hogwarts. After she disappeared from sight, Harry sighed and kicked at the ground.

"Smooth move Potter," he said to himself, "Stand there with your mouth hanging open as she walks away." And with that said he walked toward the carriage and rode back to the Three Broomsticks.

~Entrance Hall of Hogwarts~

Kay Covington slowly closed the door behind and sighed as she leaned against it.

*I kissed him,* she thought, *I kissed Harry Potter* She stood there reveling in the feeling of his lips on hers when someone decided that she had daydreamed enough.

"Ah, Miss Covington I see you are back from your date," greeted a voice from the shadows, "But where is Mister Wood?"

"Professor Dumbledore! You startled me," she said as she pushed herself off the door, "Oliver is still at the Three Broomsticks with a Miss Giovenco."

"A shame you had to ride back alone," He said with a twinkle in her blue eyes.

"Harry Potter escorted me," she answered, "but I assume you already knew that seeing as that you seem to know everything."

"You should never assume Miss Covington," Dumbledore told her.

"And why is that Professor?" Kay inquired knowing full well what his response would be.

"Why because when you assume you make an ass out of you and me," he answered with a chuckle, "But enough with pleasantries. May I speak with you in my office?"

"Of course, Professor," she answered as they both began to walk toward his office.

~Gryffindor Common Room~

The portrait opened and three young Gryffindors stepped through the hole and into the room.

"I can't believe this! We lost one hundred and fifty points and we all have detention!" Will exclaimed as he plopped down on an armchair by the fire, "My mum is going to kill me."

"Puhleeze Will! My mum is going to kill me also, so don't worry about it. We'll suffer through the howlers together just like we always have," Rhiannon said as she too plopped down onto the sofa.

"I have it worse than both of you combined," Thomas muttered as he took his seat next to Rhiannon. He chanced a glance at her. The flickering firelight danced upon her face highlighting her youthful features. He had known her his whole life, but she had never acted like this before. They are eleven years old! They should be thinking about cooties not kissing, right?

"You're right," Rhiannon said as she turned to face him.

"About what?" asked a startled Thomas, who silently hoped that she did not catch him staring.

"About you being in the most trouble, of course," she stated. "It was your father's date we ruined."

"More like his snogging session with Professor Covington," Will snickered.

"Will! Do you have to mention my father and snogging in the same sentence?" Thomas exclaimed with disgust.

"But that's what they.." he began to state.

"Weasley will you shut up?" Thomas shouted.

"Alright, alright. You don't have to get all tiffy with me," Will glowered.

"Did you just say... tiffy?" Rhiannon asked.

"Yes, do you have a problem with that Ann?" Will inquired.

"Nope, I was just wondering if you really meant to say tiffy," Rhiannon replied, "Do you have the time Thomas?"

"Um uh yeah it's about ten thirty," he stuttered in surprise. This had to be the first time Rhiannon had not yelled at Will for calling her Ann.

"Really? I best be getting to bed then. Goodnight guys," Will said.

"Night Will," Rhiannon and Thomas bided as he went up the stairs.

"So spill," Thomas told Rhiannon when he was sure Will was out of hearing distance.

"Spill what," Rhiannon responded rather calmly, too calm for Thomas's liking.

"The reason why you didn't give Will a good tongue lashing after he called you Ann," he said.

"Is it so unusual to see me not lose my temper? I mean, I don't always lose my temper," she told him.

"Rhiannon, I've known you for as long as I can remember," Thomas stated, "and I can't remember a single time when you've kept your cool."

"Well what about the time when Ben Longbottom made fun of me because I missed that shot when we were playing quidditch," she asked.

"You 'accidentally' threw a quaffle at his head and he spent the next three days unconscious in a hospital," he reminded her.

"Oh yes, my mum was not very happy about that one," Rhiannon reminisced, "Of course Ben never made fun of me again."

"Actually, he never talked to you again," Thomas corrected, "and he runs away whenever he sees you coming toward him."

"Oh well his lose," she retorted.

"Rhiannon about the other day in the library..." Thomas started.

"Well, it's late and I'm sleepy," Rhiannon yawned, "Night Tom."

"Night Rhi," he sighed as he watched her go up the stairs, *Drats!*

~Professor Dumbledore's Office~

"Please take a seat," Dumbledore offered as he took a seat behind his desk.

"I suspect that you want to discuss something of importance," she said as she sat down in the chair.

"Not really, just wanted to see how you were adjusting to life at Hogwarts," he said with a glint in his eyes.

"I am fine. It's kind of like being in school again, every hallway has a memory and every classroom has a story," Covington answered, "It's like a constant walk down memory lane."

"It's good to see that you are adjusting well," Dumbledore paused as if he were pondering whether or not to ask next statement, "How was your evening with Mister Potter?" As the words slipped out of his mouth he leaned back in the old leather chair and searched her face.

"Is there anything you don't know?" she asked with a hint of laughter in her voice, "If you must know, though I already suspect that you do, I had a lovely evening with Mister Potter. He was very nice." At this the Headmaster chuckled lightly. "What's so funny?" Kay questioned.

"You're very different now. The Kay Covington I use to know would not have been able to stop giggling after a date with her school crush," he told her.

"Well I grew up... Now if we are finished, I'd like to retire to my room," she answered. She lifted herself out of the chair and began to head toward the doorway, but before sh passes the threshold Dumbledore speaks.

"One more thing Miss Covington," he stated, "Your eyes... they lack a certain look about them, a look that someone of your... experience would have."

She clenched her fist and closed her eyes, She stood still for a moment and spoke to him without turning, "So you know? What am I saying? You're Albus Dumbledore, of course you know. " She paused again, took a deep breath and spoke just above a whisper, "There are a lot of emotions that they don't suck out of you and those emotions saved me." After she was done she walked down the staircase and returned to her room.

"But at what price?" Dumbledore asked himself as he lean forward and rubbed his tired eyes. "Fawkes, I am getting too old for this," he said to the phoenix. Fawkes looked at him and merely sang a note before falling back asleep on his perch. "Good idea. I am feeling a bit tired myself," he said as he got up and retired to his own room.