"HEADS!" called Neville, as he shot his arrow towards the target but him being the clumsy bloke he is accidentally shot it towards where his best mate Cherish Carnation was standing.

She grinned goofily at him and said in a teasing way, "I didn't know you wanted to kill me so much Nev. A simple I hate you would have sufficed."

He rolled his eyes but went back to his targets. He had just started the academy a month ago and he had discovered that he couldn't make perfect targets to save his life. He, Ginny, Ron and Hermione were all tutored by Harry, Cherry and Annie as they were the best in their respective years. It was not all fun and games. Maybe because the three siblings had egos the size of Earth and Hellia put together.

It had been fun but Cherry got very sick of having Neville duty. She didn't know what Harry and Annie were up to but she always ended up with tutoring Nev while Harry and Annie tutored the other three. Not that it hadn't been good to catch up with one of the only people she had liked on Earth but sometimes the constant ducking and running for your life got tiring and on one's nerves. Cherry sighed and went back to reading on Phoenix's. She was finally discovering the full extent of her phoenix abilities.

She was a silver and gold phoenix with a couple of red feathers on her temple to represent her lightning shaped scar that her brother and her shared. She discovered that as a phoenix could regenerate itself and each life lasted for roughly 500-1000 years (except for tame ones) she could never die even if she was hit by the Avada Kedavra curse. She boasted to her siblings about that one immodestly.

She also couldn't eat human food as it made her sick and so ate the main phoenix foods which were all natural seeds, fruit and vegetables which made her vegetarian. One of her favorite abilities was that she could tap into other people's minds and read them or have a mental conversation with them. She could also flash out of places without the temporary lack of air or loud noise and could escape any wards even if Merlin himself had cast them. She could also tell the future which was a bit of a nuisance as sometimes she would see during class and get into a heap of trouble for not paying attention to her Professor. Then of course was the mainly known phoenix facts that she could carry immense loads which made her very strong and had tear healing powers.

Her last gift she had not told anybody about as she still found it scary. She was empathic and could change the moods of anybody. She never tested it but sometimes when she was very happy, sad or angry everybody else would share the emotion. She often wondered if she could make Voldemort so remorseful that he would go mad. She would never try it of course but it was hilarious to think of.

She stopped reading and stared out into the Aragon forest that stood, determined and old, much like Hellia's King Jonah. She watched as all of the trees swayed and made a whispering noise as if they were sharing secrets as old as the universe.

She sighed softly and brought herself back to Neville. His face was screwed up as he concentrated on hitting his target. She chuckled lightly but it came out more as a smile as she still couldn't show her emotions properly. She saw it as a weakness.

Her motto was: never show the enemy what you're feeling. But somehow Cherry had twisted it to mean don't show anybody your emotions.

Neville loosened his grip on the bow just as he was about to shoot and lost his concentration trying to retain his grasp as he once again let the arrow loose towards the empty fields around them.

He smiled apologetically in Cherry's direction and ran over to get the arrow. She watched him for a moment before getting up and walking over to where her bow and arrows were.

She picked them up and walked over to where the targets were. She mounted and hit the target on every shot. By that time, Neville was back, "Show off."

Cherish rolled her eyes and replied sarcastically, "Jealous."

"I have every right to be. I have been practicing for two hours once a day for the past month and yet when I first started Maria said that I shouldn't take too long to learn because you began getting your targets one week in. And you were only 5!"

Cherry smiled mockingly and said in a superior voice, "Not everybody can be as awesome as me."

They stared at each other for a moment before they both began to crack up. 5 minutes later they stopped laughing and, wiping away tears, Cherry ordered Neville to get mounted up.

Neville got into position and looked at her curiously. Cherry nodded approvingly and said, "What I noticed is that every time you shoot your hand slips at the last moment making you lose your concentration and shooting it in any random direction. So really, if you keep going like that you will never get a perfect target."

Neville shot her a look and said sarcastically, "Thanks for the vote of confidence Cher."

Cherry shot him a winning smile and said sweetly, "You're welcome Nev. Anyways, what you've got to do is maintain your hold. Your grip is slackening because you don't have enough confidence in yourself so make sure that you tell yourself that you can do it otherwise you will continually nearly kill me. And I would prefer to live seeing as how disappointed everybody would be of my death."

Neville rolled his eyes before standing up straight and holding onto the bow and arrow tightly. He imagined the events that would occur if he got a perfect target. He imagined him and Cherish laughing and hugging. He saw Cherry looking at him adoringly and then confessing a deepest love for him…

Concentrate Neville! He commanded himself.

He held onto the bow and arrow as tight as he could and slowly released the arrow maintaining his target. He watched as if in slow motion as the arrow flew gracefully towards the target like a magnet attracting its counterpart.

The arrow hit the board perfectly and Cherry laughed happily as Neville stared amazed at the perfect shot. Cherry wrapped him in a huge hug that immediately shook him out of his stupor as he span her around laughing excitedly while inhaling the sweet scent of her black hair: ginger and mango. He felt as if somebody had just given him a boost of confidence that he had long lost from his Grandmother's awful critiques.

He felt as if he had just downed a Felix Felicis and knew that it was a good time to kiss Cherry, tell her how much he had missed her and how he had felt about her during their past month together.

He dropped her on the floor and stared at her ready to lean in and give her the snog of a lifetime but then he noticed her far away look. She was seeing the future. All of a sudden his confident demeanor washed out of him and he waited for her to finish the vision.

After a minute her eyes became more focused and Neville asked her impatiently, "So… What was it that you saw?"

Cherry rolled her eyes and said, "Pfft. Nothing. Just some things going to happen tomorrow…"

Neville chuckled softly before stepping away as he realized that he was still embracing her.

That seemed to break her out of her trance as she said quickly, "Oh, I'm sorry Nev. What a bad time for a vision. CONGRATULATIONS! You did it. Finally."

Neville felt the familiar beginning of one of their playful arguments and said, "I know. I know. Praise the almighty king Longbottom."

Cherry smirked happily and said, "I wonder if last names are significant to the person…"

Neville looked at her confused, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Cherry smiled innocently but mischief was playing at the corner of her eyes. "Oh nothing… Long Bottom."

Neville, finally understanding her idea, said sarcastically, "Oh ha-ha really mature Cher."

Cherry smirked but said nothing in reply to his sarcastic comment. She then told him, realizing what his successful target meant to her, "Well, now that you have finally learnt how to shoot an arrow without potentially killing someone it means that I now get an extra two hours to myself instead of tutoring you."

Neville felt a little downtrodden about this but on the outside he beamed and said enthusiastically, "And I get a full two hours without your bitter and sarcastic comments."

Cherry rolled her eyes and said, "You need to work on your insults."

Neville shook his head, laughing, and said, "Let's head back. Hey, I bet that Ginny and Harry will get together soon."

"No way. Ginny is too shy to say anything and Harry is too scared of hurting his best mate by going out with his younger sister to actually act on his feelings. I say it'll be a couple of months now."

Neville shook his head, "I heard 'Mione and Gin talking about it the other day. Hermione told Ginny to move on and go out with someone else so that she might actually speak more around and Harry will begin to notice her more. Not that he needs to…"

"I know. One mention of Ginny and whatever daydream he was in will suddenly vanish. I wonder who she'll go out with."

"I hear that she's going to go out with Leo."

"NO WAY! Leo knows that Harry likes her. Leo wouldn't do that to his best mate."

Neville stepped back, afraid. "Don't shoot the messenger."

Cherry calmed down and said, "Sorry, I just can't believe that Leo would do something like that."

Neville shrugged as they walked vivaciously into town where they were going to meet up with the rest of the gang. They walked over to their favorite café where they noticed a booth full of their friends and family.

They walked over to them and greeted them all. Hermione beamed at them and asked cheekily, "So… Nev, did you finally get a target?"

Neville smirked and said proudly, "I did."

Everybody at the table burst out laughing and for 10 minutes every time the group tried to say something they would once again fall into fits of laughter. During that time Neville's proud smile and superior attitude washed away as he realized that they didn't believe that he could do it.

Eventually Cherry said, above the laughter, "No guys, he really did."

They all stopped laughing as they realized that he actually go a proper target. Ginny squeaked out, "Sorry Nev but we thought you were joking."

Neville just huffed impatiently and said, "So what are we going to do for the rest of the day?"

"Er…," Harry replied staring wistfully at the Aragon forest.

"No way bro!" Cherry cried, "Unlike you, I've spent the past month, once a day for an hour in that darn forest trying to teach Nev how to use a bow and arrow!"

Annie curiously asked, "Why are you so in love with the forest Harry?"

The table burst out into laughter but Harry did not blush. This was a daily question the group asked but he just couldn't explain his adulation for the forest. He just loved it; the trees, the wild flowers, the wild animals and the beautiful song that seemed to play from the combination of the waterfalls, the whispers of the tree and the chirping of the birds. It was his haven. His place. In fact, he knew some places in the forest that nobody else knew of with such perfect views that you would think you had died and left for heaven.

So instead of muttering an indignant reply, Harry shrugged and started rememorizing the ancient Hellian language that was on an upcoming exam. Separate conversations broke out across the table.

Ginny and Leo were flirting outrageously with each other, Cherry watching irately, while Ron and Harry were talking seriously about the night's bonfire festival that was coming up. Ron asked Harry, "Are you going to participate in the drumming tonight?"

Harry shook his head, "No, I'm not very good at it."

"Are you kiddin' mate? If I could drum half as good as you I'd be first in line."

Harry fidgeted, "Nah, too much attention anyway," as he looked across the café to a table full of girls from the academy (much to Harry's horror one was still in Junior Schooling) smiling at him and fluttering their eyelashes at him while they tried to get him to move over to their table.

Ron smirked at this and said, "If I was you mate; I'd be over there before you could say 'wait'!"

Harry stared across the table to where Ginny was for a second before looking back at Ron, "Nah, I'm interested in someone else anyway." Then trying to cover up for the secret he just spilled he told Ron, "But you're good at drumming anyway. If you have as many years practice as me you'd be just as good. I think you should have a go tonight."

Ron, realizing what Harry was trying to do, latched onto the change of conversation as he was no good with emotional conversations. "Yeah, maybe I'll do that."

Harry looked back over to the forest wishing that he could be there, there he could sort out his thoughts and set his priorities. He once again stared over at Ginny and felt an angry monster build up in his chest at the sight of Ginny and Leo flirting. Ron must've also looked that way because a second later he yelled out, much to the amusement of the café, "Oi Ginny! Leo! Time and a place!"

Ginny grew red from embarrassment and anger and Leo looked awkwardly around the café. Ginny demanded of Ron, "Since when is it your decision of when and where I flirt with somebody?"

Now Leo grew red.

Ron shook his head and sighed, "I'm not fighting with you Ginny but how would you like it if I started flirting with one of your friends? Take Hermione for example."

Hermione went bright red.

Then, as if just realizing what he said, Ron turned the famous Weasley red.

Ginny smirked, "Oh, I'd be just fine with that."

Ron and Ginny stared each other down before Harry shook Ron's shirt and shook his head. Ron snapped out of it and shrugged apologetically towards Harry. Ginny stared at the raven haired teenager for a while before catching herself and blushing bright red before turning towards Leo, "Let's go. As Ron said there is a time and a place and I think that though this may be the right time this is not the right place."

Harry stared furiously out of the window and the rest of the table quickly shifted their eyes from Ginny to Harry before going back to Ginny.

Leo shrugged noncommittally before heading to the door where Ginny was standing. The couple waved goodbye and left without any further comment.

As soon as they were gone the whole table, bar Harry, burst into laughter. Harry, of course, was confused as to why they were all pointing to him and laughing.

Eventually Cherry choked out, "You." Laugh "Should." Laugh "Have." Laugh "Seen." Laugh "Your" laugh "Face!" Ecstatic laugh.

Harry blushed and entered his twin bond with Cherry.

'Was it really that obvious?" Harry asked to Cherry's mental mirth.

No reply was given to his question.

'Er… Cherry?'

Silence.

'Cherrrrrryyyy…?'

Chirp.

Chirp.

'CHERRY!"

'Jeez! No need to yell!' Cherry said, coming out of her mental fits of laughter.

'I said: Was it really that noticeable?'

'What; the fact that you were just going through some insane jealousy or that you luuurrrve Ginevra Molly Weasley?'

Harry mentally groaned, 'Do you think she knows?'

'Definitely! How could she not?'

Harry all of a sudden became more alert, 'Oh no, oh no, oh no!'

'I'm just jokin' stupid. She is completely oblivious.'

Harry replied sarcastically, 'You're a great sister Cher.'

'I know.'

They cut their mental conversation, but because they had become so fast at having these conversations, hardly any time at all had past.

Harry stared, once again, wistfully out to the forest before deciding to do something useful with his spare time. Looking towards his sister's best friend he called out, "Oi Eliza!"

Eliza, hearing Harry's voice, instantly turned her head towards him ignoring the previous conversation she was having with Nate. She fluttered her eyelashes in an obvious attempt to be flirtatious and said harmoniously, "Yes Harry?"

Harry, swallowing back the irritation of her persistent quest to gain his love, asked her in the friendliest, but not lovingly, way possible, "Do you want to have a fighting match with me? All powers allowed?"

Normally Harry would have asked Cherry but because of how far she had gotten in her Phoenix abilities she would crush him in a fight. Eliza instantly jumped at the opportunity to be near him. "Alright Harry. Name a time and a place."

Harry smiled, noticing that Eliza wasn't being all stumbling and blushful like she was normally. "Now in the forest."

The table whooped at the news of another famous Harry fight. They enjoyed the fights that Harry was involved in because he was the most talented fighter out of all of them except for his twin sister. Neville instantly called out, "Dibs on fighting the winner."

They all smiled and nodded, soon after Annie called out, "Then me!"

Jumping up and down, faces eager for the upcoming fights, the group walked out of the slowly closing café and walked towards the forest. Harry was already a light-year ahead of them because of his eagerness to once again be in the forest depths.

They slowly caught up to him and laughed as they saw Harry flexing his obvious muscles trying to look impressive. Slowly they performed a spell that made their invisible armor and sword flesh out and looking at the pair was enough to make any person on Earth wet their pants in fright. Unfortunately, at the current moment they were in Hellia and the other teenagers remained in mirth.

As Cherry was never allowed to participate in fights because of her obvious advantage so she was chosen to be the official judge and referee for all of their fights the group had. Cherry conjured up armor like Harry and Eliza had done previously and a whistle to show her superior position in this fight. Nobody could argue with the ref, especially not once as fierce as Cherish Carnation Potter.

"There will be no-" Cherry was cut off by the distant sight of a red head and blonde head bobbing up and down. She cursed, "We have company." Even though it was two of their group members everybody feared Ginny involved with their fights. Whenever she could get the chance she challenged Eliza to a fight. A messy match as Eliza had the chosen gift of water and Ginny fire. Everybody except for Harry realized that Ginny's and Eliza's fights were more a battle for Harry as they both had feelings for him.

Slowly the group watched as the distant silhouettes of Ginny and Leo became larger. Ginny pouted, "If you had told us that we were going to be fighting today we would have picked another time."

Everybody caught the second implication in the word time and Harry's face, thankfully hidden by his armor, turned bright red in indignation, embarrassment and anger. He didn't think he would ever be so jealous which only made his face brighter. After all, hadn't Ginny seen him go on a few dates with other girls? But then, he thought back to himself, their cases were entirely different. Ginny did not view Harry as any more than a mate.

Cherry clapped her hands to bring order back to the situation, "Are we just going to stand here waiting for the grass to grow or are we going to FIGHT!"

The group cheered and chanted, "FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT…" to Eliza and Harry.

Cherry looked towards them and said, "I want this to be a clean match with no blood spilt. Maria will have a fit if she see's any more blood from one of our fights. Both of you go to opposing sides of the clearing."

The group of non fighting teenagers waited with breath abated in a cleared section behind the clearing that they had made for situations like this as Harry and Eliza both walked to a different side of the clearing.

Cherish continued on, "Bow."

Eliza and Harry made more of a curt nod then a bow. Both of them wanted to win badly if only to prove something to the desire of their hearts.

Then Cherry said dramatically, "Fight!"

The group cheered but Eliza and Harry didn't do any physical moving. Annie watched amusedly, the best part of these fights was how Harry used his gift in offense and firstly Eliza used hers in defense before suddenly switching to offence. Both of them won and lost equally. Their matches were always awaited eagerly for the group never knew which one of them would win. It was a silent agreement between the two of them that which ever one of them would lose would have to give up a skill that only he or she knew or a weapon.

Slowly dark grey cloud drifted over to their clearing and the field went dark. The only source of light was the lightning striking down creating a jail around Eliza. Slowly, almost invisibly, a shield surrounded Eliza made of pure water keeping her safe from the lightning strikes. Upping his game, clouds tinted with a green shade began to cover the clearing and the lightning stopped.

Wary of Harry's new tactic, Eliza kept her water shield around her body though not close enough to wet herself. Suddenly the wind picked up to lethal levels though only where Eliza stood. A huff of indignation came from her side of the field as she was thoroughly soaked from the water being pressured into her. Her brown hair stuck to her like glue and her olive green eyes shone with fury. She was in a rage and God help Harry. Her small features crunched up into a frown and she fumed as Harry poked his tongue out at her. Why did she like him again?

Slowly she began to cry and Harry began to feel guilty for letting his anger at Ginny and Leo out on Eliza. It wasn't her fault after all that she had a crush on him. He called out to her, "I'm sorry Liz. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings or anything like that."

Slowly the clouds drifted from the clearing and the sun shone on the field drying the grass. The group that stood behind the cluster of trees was confused. There was no way that Eliza would give up so quickly. She didn't cry. Not even when she found out that Harry was going out with Lusatia, a girl in their year who was in a few of their classes.

Eliza began to stand up and straighten out of the pose she had been crying in. Before Harry had the chance to curse lightly at his oncoming fate a rush of water was thrown at him roughly. He gasped and spluttered for air before another rush of water was thrown at him. Slowly he began to rise with the water as a giant ball of H2O surrounded his frame. Feeling like he was caught under a tsunami wave but with the ability to breathe he began to wonder when Liz would cool down enough to let him out. He was beginning to feel bored.

He would even give up if it meant that he could see his beloved forest once again. A huge sacrifice on his behalf he was sure. Abruptly he fell down, the water crashing with him. He gasped as if he had been suffocating though the water had clearly kept away and allowed him to breathe. Using the same tactic as Eliza, though more manly, he sat down slowly and began to breathe quickly as if Liz had accidentally taken away his ability to breathe. Eliza, thinking that, that was the case instantly ran towards him as a sign of surrender. "I'm so sorry Harry. I thought that the water was away from your body."

She sat down next to him, a big mistake. Unexpectedly she was overwhelmed by the sight of Harry's trusty sword staring her in the face. She knew that there was no hope of getting her sword out at the chance of being struck by Harry so she put her hands up in surrender. A smug expression lit up Harry's face and Eliza sighed at the loss. She now had to give Harry the method for the armor that she made that had been passed down her family for generations to him. As Harry greedily snatched the old piece of paper from her hands she felt a pang of loss. She felt like she was betraying her family despite the fact that she had asked her father for permission after Harry first began badgering her about it.

She walked dejected from the clearing and gave a small smile to Neville as he proudly walked onto the clearing. Cherry once again started the procedure that had started up Harry's and Eliza's fight. Before long a whistle was heard and Neville instantly got his armor and sword out. He was never one to beat around the bush, preferring to get straight into the fight. Sometimes it was a good thing. Sometimes not.

Harry, prepared for Neville's usual attack instantly took out his sword out. Seconds had passed before Neville reached 10m within Harry's radius. He unexpectedly stilled. The crowd was perplexed by this sudden change. Harry rubbed his neck in confusion. Why wasn't Neville attacking?

Suddenly long, sturdy vines wrapped around Harry keeping him in place. He tried to use the sword to cut through but could not move his hand enough to do it. He was scared that if he used a normal spell like Bombarda he may end up blowing himself into smithereens. He concentrated, trying to find a way out of this problem. An idea struck him and he wouldn't have been surprised if a light bulb had switched on above his head. Once again clouds covered the clearing and lightning struck in several, deliberate places. Suddenly Harry was freed from the unyielding vines; all that remained was several shriveling sticks, dying from the sudden lightning attack.

Neville didn't miss a beat though, already expecting some sort of defense from Harry and not in the least bit surprised that he managed to get out of his first plan. After all, what was plan B for?

Quickly Neville ran back, his sword already tucked in his halter. Slowly a shield of the strongest plants in the world wrapped around Neville's body like an armor and some of the most dangerous, offending plants grew around Harry. But Harry wasn't having any of that. Tornadoes began to form around Neville, sucking up his protection and slowly he discovered the weakness for all of the plants around him. He let sunlight leak onto his body and scare away the Devils Snare. Lightning killed the Toxicodendron Succedaneum.

Before long Neville and Harry were back to square one. Each sizing up the opposition and snatching a glance at their audience for ideas on how to win. Suddenly, so fast that the group hardly noticed it, Neville had gotten out his arrow and bow. Remembering what Cherry had taught him that afternoon he breathed deeply and held onto the bow and arrow as tightly as he could. He told himself he could do it one more time before releasing his tight grip on the arrow.

He waited with abated breath as the arrow once again flew to the target – Harry – like it had done previously. He was surprised when all of a sudden the arrow stopped half way towards Harry and turned around, flying towards him. Harry whooped triumphantly, using his weathering abilities he had used pressurized wind to turn the arrow around and fly towards Neville.

"Take that Nev!" Harry cheered and ran as fast as he could towards Neville with his sword out. Neville, distracted with the arrow coming towards him, was to busy getting out of the way to notice Harry's approaching figure. He breathed a sigh of relief after evading the arrow before cursing. A small pinch at his neck told him that Harry's sword was threatening his wellbeing. He sighed, "Fine. You win."

Harry cheered and began doing a victory dance. Although there was no prize won, Harry loved the feeling of victory. It didn't hurt that his ego was stroked. Neville walked dejectedly towards the bushes and Annie danced towards Harry. She smiled mischievously and whispered under her breath to her older brother, "Prepare to lose!"

Harry smirked, "Unlikely."

Annie just smiled and gracefully ran to the other side of the clearing. Cherry, looking warily between her brother and sister, said reluctantly, "Fight!"

Suddenly the group felt the ground shake as if they were experiencing an Earth earthquake and abruptly Harry felt his body fall to the ground as he was trampled by a stampede of animals. He cursed and heard a couple of people gasp and groan sympathetically. He got up and found a circular wall of dangerous animals surrounding him. He looked towards his youngest sister and saw her wink happily towards him.

There was no way he was giving her the satisfaction of winning. If he was going down she was going with him. Knowing that for the moment being there was no way to avoid the situation he decided to distract Annie. A tornado was built and Annie felt herself get sucked into it. Before falling to the ground she cursed a word inappropriate for a lady's mouth before finding herself once again get picked up by the tornado.

She decided that since Harry wasn't playing safe big brother for this fight she was going to show some of the extents of her gift. Concentrating she found all of the animals inside of the woods and through a mental link she told them to surround Harry but be wary of the current tornadoes. A soft pitched laugh escaped her throat when she heard Harry curse loudly. It had worked.

She didn't use spells very often because in Hellia they weren't as important as learning your chosen gift. Nevertheless, all Hellians by the end of first year had to know all of the Hogwarts spells up to seventh year and then some Healing spells and defensive spells more powerful than any Hogwarts spell book. Because of their enhanced minds, knowing all of this was simple. Along with the average Hellian advantage Harry, Cherry and she found the education in Hellia a lot simpler than any other Hellian. Sirius had told them that their parents had also found school easy so maybe it was something to do with hereditary.

With all of her concentration, she focused on the spell that would diffuse the tornadoes. Suddenly she fell and felt a rush of relief when she wasn't lifted back up into the tornadoes. Looking around she noticed that Harry was concentrating on how to get out of his situation. Using her chosen gift she got a few of the animals to carry Harry to her. Annie laughed when she noticed Harry's panicked expression when the wolves started approaching. They carried Harry to her and sat him on the ground in front of her before walking back to their forest homes.

She got her sword out, pointed it at his neck and asked, "Do you give?"

Harry winced when the sword poked harder into his bare neck. As much as it killed him to do it he sighed and said, "Yes."

Annie beamed before falling into fits of laughter. She jumped up and down on the spot and cheered. Finally, deciding that the fight had finished everybody else came out onto the field and lifted Annie up onto their shoulders. She poked her tongue out mischievously towards Harry and basked in their attention.

"Suck it Harry!"

"Ha ha!"

"Take that weather man!"

Harry sighed; he had suddenly remembered why he hated losing. His family and friends loved to tease him and it worked better when he was upset about it. Hence the reason that the only things that his family and friends teased him about was when he lost a fight and his feelings for Ginny.

Thinking of Ginny, he suddenly looked up and towards her. Her hair was the colour of the strawberries she smelled like, shining in the dying light of the sun. Her brown eyes sparkled with happiness and love, making him instantly forgive her for teasing him about his loss. She looked up at him and quickly blushed before looking down again.

Harry, feeling the red seep down his neck, looked at the majestic forest. It always looked better in the sunset and he wished that instead of the Hellian drumming party that evening he could sit in one of the tall trees and overlook the peaceful village.

Cherish, noticing what he was staring so intently at, said, "Hey we better get back home. There's still that party tonight and we'll get in a heap of trouble if we don't go now."

They all nodded in agreement. Cherry, decided for one more game while they were leaving. "Race you there!" Then she turned into her grandiose Phoenix and flew speedily away from them.

Before they had time to blink Harry was in his cheetah form and was tearing across the floor of the forest. Annie, the first to catch up with the idea, turned into her wolf form and was chasing Harry's cheetah shape.

Hermione shifted next, turning into a peregrine falcon and flying nearly as fast as Cherry away from the group. Ron began running and with a simple leap was a lion. Leo and Ginny, holding hands both turned into slow birds, flying at their own pace back to their homes. Eliza shifted into a coyote and quickly outran Ron, Leo and Ginny and was on Annie's tail. Nate sighed and continued walking on. He knew that he wouldn't win anyway. All of his animals were lithe but not fast.

When Nate got back it was to see a smirking Cherry, Harry and Annie. They had obviously, once again, won the race. Ginny and Leo were no where to be seen implying that they had probably found a new time and place. Eliza, Hermione and Ron were huffing from the strain of the race but smiling widely. It was just another day for the group.

They all went their separate ways, each going to their homes.

Harry, Cherry and Annie walked to their little cottage and Maria was instantly at the door. In the background they could hear Kyra yelling and playing with pots and pans. "What took you so long?" Maria chastised.

Annie smiled and told her, "I just beat Harry in a fight."

Maria attempted to prevent the smile spreading on her face but it was no good. Harry would never hear the end of this. Harry, seeing the smile, tried to storm off but Maria quickly stopped him, "No, no. It doesn't matter anyway. You're a great warrior and just because you lost one fight doesn't mean you're any less of a brilliant person. You're my son and you're beautiful."

Cherry and Annie laughed and Cherry mocked, "Yes, you are pretty gorgeous and with a body like that you should go into the modeling world."

Harry sighed and muttered, "Thanks Ma."

Maria groaned silently wondering how she could make her only son feel better. At that moment the answer came in the source of her husband.

Sirius, a huge smile written across his face, asked, "What's up buddy?" And then ruffled Harry's already messy hair.

Maria, falling into the exasperated mother and wife role, reprimanded Sirius, "Harry's hair is already a bird nest! He doesn't need you to go and mess it up any more."

Despite the fact that Harry's hair was to his shoulders, his hair was still untamable. Something that bothered Maria greatly. Harry walked disconsolately to his room, and knowing that she would not be able to make him feel better, Maria watched Cherry and Annie follow him.

When they were all up in Harry's room Annie hugged him, and said laughing, "Harry, we were just messing with you a bit."

Harry shook his head, "It's not about that?"

A crease developed over Annie's right eye as she tried to think of what could possibly be bothering Harry other than that she just won their fight. She came up blank. Cherry, on the other hand, knowing her twin brother better than she knew herself, muttered one word, "Ginny."

A knowing expression crossed Annie's face as she recognized that that was the most likely reason for Harry's soreness. Harry sighed and nodded despondently, "Yes."

Cherry went to hug him, "It's alright Harry-"She was about to continue when she had a vision of the future. She was annoyed that the vision came up so unexpectedly and settled herself in to watch it.

It was of Annie, Harry and her about a mile away from the drumming party and in the distance you could hear that the party was a huge success.

In spite of the near party the expressions on their faces were varying from furious to frustrated. Harry was raving, "I thought you said that she liked me!"

Annie nodded before backing away when Harry went near her. A storm was developing over where they stood. She saw her future self walk over to Harry and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "She does like you Harry."

Harry shook off her hand and yelled, "Then why did she kiss Leo!"

Annie sighed and informed him, "She's trying to make you jealous!"

Harry shook his head, "If she did like me then she wouldn't have kissed him. I know that you guys were lying before!"

He then walked off in the opposite direction of the party, Annie and her following after him.

Cherry, noticing that she was back in the present, saw Harry and Annie staring at her intently. Annie quickly asked, "What did you see?"

Cherish shook her head, still unsure of exactly what she saw. "Just something about the party tonight."

Annie accepted that without second thought but Harry knew that the vision was more than just something. Before he could pester her Cherry said, "I know something that'll make you feel better."

During the time that Harry realized that there was more to the vision then what Cherish said, Cherry realized that she would have to tell Harry how Ginny feels about him.

Harry sighed, but didn't let his suspicions be dropped. Nevertheless, he asked, "What?"

Cherry quickly glanced at Annie to gage her reaction to what she was about to say. Annie nodded ever so slightly approving of what Cherry was about to say. After a deep swallow Cherry said as fast as she could, "Ginnylikesyou!"

Harry was confused, what did Gnlkou mean? Annie, realizing his current predicament said the thing that had for so long been unknown to him. "What Cherry meant to say was that Ginny likes you."

Harry refused to believe this. Why would she be flirting and most likely snogging Leo if she liked him? Instead he said, "Yeah, as a brother maybe or a friend."

Cherry and Annie groaned. Leave it to their brother to be as daft as Ron when it came to love. Cherry shook her head, "No, Ginny like likes you."

Annie quickly nodded in agreement. "It's true."

Harry knew, somewhere in the deepest crevices of his mind and heart that his two sisters were telling the truth but denied himself the hope of thinking that Ginny may like him back. Instead he just pretended to nod and said, "Alright I believe you."

Annie and Cherry knew that Harry was just appeasing him in hopes of getting them out of his room. They knew that no matter what they said he wouldn't believe them so they sighed before walking out of their only brother's room and into their own.

When they were gone Harry smashed his head against his blue pillow and tried to imagine himself being swallowed up. He wished that he didn't like Ginny so much. He wished that Ginny liked him back. He wished that Ginny wasn't his best friend's younger sister. He wished that his sisters didn't give him the small amount of hope that was flaring in his chest.

"Get ready guys, we're leaving in 20 minutes!" Maria called upstairs.

Looking at his current outfit he knew that Maria wouldn't let him go to a big community party in such appalling clothes. There were holes and rips from the fights and dirt smudged everywhere. Deciding that this evening was going to be a cool event he had a stifling shower before putting on a pair of loose jeans and a red and white checkered button up shirt. He combed his hair to conciliate his adopted mother and put on a pair of clean runners.

Deciding that he looked fine he walked to Kyra's room. In there he noticed that Kyra wasn't yet dressed. "Do you want me to get Kyra ready?" he called out to Maria and Sirius."

"Yes!" Maria called back.

Getting out a cute dress with leggings and a small jumper he dressed his 2 year old sister. Brushing her dark brown hair he tickled her for a little while, thriving in her blissful giggles. Looking into her deep blue eyes, something she got from her great grandmother from Maria's side he wished that all moments were like this.

He sighed when Maria came into the room telling him that they were going now. Holding Kyra he walked downstairs and put her in a pram. Maria then grabbed hold of the handles and Sirius, Maria, Kyra and he waited for his younger sisters.

Finally they came downstairs, Cherry sporting a pair of loose black jeans and a jersey from her current boyfriend's sports team. Harry hated that guy and wasn't the only one. He was a jerk, only ever being polite to the rest of their group when Cherry was around. Not that any of them would tell her. As they say ignorance is bliss. Annie was wearing a knee length blue skirt and a white singlet with a denim jacket.

They all walked to the party which was on the other side of town.

After the long walk, with many jokes in between, they got to the bonfire. In a large circle was practically the whole town.

Sets of drums everywhere, Harry noticed that Ron did end up deciding to drum. Maria asked Harry and Sirius, "Are you guys drumming tonight?"

Sirius nodded but Harry declined. He didn't need any more attention from the girls at school then he already had. They waited for Sirius while he got in the queue for the drums and then they walked to the circle. The three siblings quickly walked over to where their friends were. Annie beamed when she noticed Jonathon, he had recently been ill and this was the first time in 3 weeks that she had seen him.

Cherry walked over to her boyfriend, Riley, who was sitting with the other jocks at the school. Riley gave her a long and passionate kiss before Sirius came sauntering over and telling the two off. Cherry blushed and all of her boyfriend's friends were laughing. Sirius and Cherry then walked over to where the rest of their friends and family were.

"Hey mate," Ron said to Harry.

Harry nodded, "Good luck with the drums."

Ron smiled and took a quick glance at Hermione before smiling towards his drums, "This'll help me with the girls."

Harry knew that there was only one girl that Ron wanted the drums to work on but he didn't comment. How could he expect his friends to not pick on him about his crush on Ginny if he wouldn't extend the same courtesy to his best mate?

Instead Harry looked towards Kyle, his oldest adopted cousin. "Hey Kyle."

Kyle, the big headed prat that he was, replied, "Ah Harry old chap, so good to see you again."

The group stifled their laughter but Harry, who loved hearing Kyle's responses to some of his statements, continued. "How have you been?"

"Ah splendid. How have you been my dear cousin?"

Harry fought the smile threatening to cross his face and replied back, "Ah splendidly as well. How has Vicki been?"

Kyle smiled. If there was one thing he was passionate about it was his fiancée Victoria. "Ah, Victoria is very well. She unfortunately couldn't make it this evening as she had to go out of town for a business meeting."

Harry nodded, as if he was enraptured by Kyle's every word. Annie interrupted at this moment, "Ah I just love Vicki. Don't you Harry? I mean she's so, what's the word I'm looking for?" A faux confused expression was on Annie's face before a mischievous smile spread across. "Sexy."

Kyle gaped, obviously not thinking that that was a word that would be fitting for their conversation. "I don't think that that is appropriate Annie."

Annie beamed, mischief hidden in her emerald eyes, "Ah, I don't know Kyle. We're all family here aren't we?"

The group of teenagers cheered while the adult's mouth's twitched; a sign that they were fighting the urge to laugh at the tormenting.

Kyle stuck his nose in the air and walked to the opposite side of the circle. Jonathon followed, claiming that Annie and Harry meant no harm.

Harry was staring into the fire in the middle of the circle, enchanted by the flickering flames. It wasn't until he heard several gasps that he came back to the present.

He looked around before feeling his heart and jaw drop. Ginny and Leo were snogging passionately. It wasn't anything like how he felt when he saw Cherry and Riley kissing. There he felt protective and brotherly. Now he felt anything but. Leo was one of his best mates and yet he wanted to punch him straight in the chin.

He swallowed back a mouthful of bitterness. Hadn't his sisters promised just that afternoon that Ginny also liked him? Why would they say that if she so obviously didn't?

He had to get away. Fast. Before he did something he would regret. He quickly stood up leaving Ron's screams behind him. Ron was just as angry at his sister's and Leo's snogging as he was. Though for a completely opposite reason. He was stunned when all of a sudden the noise, that had once been so close and loud, was now just a hum in the background.

Looking around he noticed that he was no longer in the towns square but near Eliza's home. This could only mean one thing. Turning around confirmed his assumption. There, standing sheepishly was Cherish and Annie. Cherry had shifted them all away from the party.

Harry instantly turned furious at his sisters. Why would they tell him that Ginny liked him when she clearly liked Leo? In a calm voice that only frightened his younger sisters more, he asked, "Why did you tell me that Ginny liked me? Did I look so pathetic that you had to lie to make me feel better? Because all you did was make me feel like a horrible pile of rubbish?"

Cherry said softly, "We didn't lie to you. We were telling the truth."

"I thought you said that she liked me!" Harry yelled and he wouldn't have been surprised if the people from the party heard him.

Annie nodded, but flinched backwards when Harry walked towards her, his face red and his eyes glinting furiously. He wouldn't do anything of course, how could he hurt his baby sister? But he did want to scare her a little bit. He didn't think his sisters would go as low as to telling him a lie about Ginny's feelings for him. A storm began developing over their heads, designating his anger for them.

Cherish walked gracefully towards him and put one of her small, pale hands on his shoulder. "She does like you Harry."

Harry shook off Cherry's hand and turned towards her. A grumble in the clouds told them that this storm was getting worst and if they didn't comfort him soon then one of them could be fatally harmed. "Then why did she kiss Leo?"

Annie sighed and said loudly, "She's trying to make you jealous!" She looked like she wanted to smack him for his thickness.

Harry shook his head, "If she did like me then she wouldn't have kissed him. I know that you guys were lying before!" He then turned around walking in the opposite direction of the party. Cherry and Annie were quick to follow him.

Cherry quickly ran in front of him blocking his path. Mentally she began talking to him.

'How could you be so daft? Sometimes I don't know how I'm related to you?'

Harry mentally narrowed his eyes, 'Not really helping Cher.'

'Ginny likes you. But she needs to snog someone. She's not going to wait for you forever for you to ask her out on a date. You're going to need to man up and tell her how you feel or risk losing her to someone like Leo.'

Harry sighed, 'Does she really like me?'

Cherry mentally nodded, 'Harry I've never told anyone this before but I'm an Empath.'

'What's that?"

'It means that I can sense and change emotions at my free will. I got it with my chosen gift.'

'What does it have to do with anything though?'

Cherry mentally slapped him and Harry made a slight noise in protest. 'If there's anyone who knows that she likes you it's me. I can sense her emotions and she really does. I would never lie to you unless it was about a prank.'

Harry rolled his eyes, 'Ha ha, real funny Cher.'

'I know.'

They cut off their mental chat but we're not quick enough to evade Annie's suspicions. "You guys told me that you wouldn't do that anymore!'

Cherry sighed, "Sorry Ann."

"You also told me that you wouldn't call me that anymore!"

Cherish sighed again, "Fine Annie."

"That's better Cherish. Now more to the point did you convince dumbo over here that Ginny likes him?"

Cherry beamed, "Yep."

While Harry said, "Hey I am not a dumbo!"

Annie smiled is satisfaction, "Well my work is done here. Now that Harry is on the right tract to asking Ginny out I can work on Hermione and Ron."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Well aren't you little Miss Cupid?"

Annie smirked smugly, "That's me."

They all started walking back to the party, a silent understanding that instead of shifting there they would prefer to spend a little while together. Cherry asked, "At least I don't have to worry about you doing any of that to me. Thank God I have a boyfriend. I would hate to think that you guys were setting me up with somebody."

Harry and Annie quickly evaded her eyes and shifted uncomfortably. Cherry gasped, "You didn't?" When they didn't answer she said, "You did."

They began walking away as fast as they could without fully running. Cherry asked, "Who? And why? You guys know that I have a boyfriend and that I have for a month now."

They didn't answer, keeping on their fast pace towards the party, "Who else was in on it?"

No reply.

"Who were you trying to set me up with?"

Hoot hoot.

"Were you guys ever planning on telling me?"

Annie did reply to this one, "Yeah, when you guys were a married old couple, who wondered how they were ever so lucky as to have each other and then we would come in and say that's us."

Cherry narrowed her eyes, "You want me to marry this guy?"

Harry quickly shook his head and went into protective older brother mode. "No! Not yet anyway. Maybe when you were 50 and he had asked my permission then I might allow it. But not any later."

This only made Cherry angrier, "So now I have to get your permission to marry a guy that is still unknown to me?"

Harry nodded, "Otherwise I would never speak to you again."

Cherish groaned before shifting away to the party. Annie sighed, "Now you've done it. She has a horrible temper and probably won't talk to us for a month."

"Well it's your fault anyway. You just had to go telling her about how you love to be the match maker didn't you?"

Annie scoffed, "Well maybe if you didn't have to get into a big jealousy pit about Ginny and Leo then I wouldn't have made a comment in the first place."

"I wasn't jealous!" Harry claimed but quickly shrugged when Annie raised an accusing eyebrow at him. "Ok maybe I was a little bit jealous but you shouldn't have felt the need to comment anyway. This all leads back to you."

Annie groaned and was about to retort when Jonathon came up to them. "Annie, Harry there you two are! When Cherry came back a little while ago we had no idea where you guys were. Where were you anyway? Cherry has been mute ever since she came back."

Annie and Harry exchanged guilty glances and quickly looked at their sister. Cherry was sitting around a group of their friends and family, each trying to get a response out of her. Annie quickly responded to her best friends' question, "We were trying to cool Harry down. He got really angry at something!"

Harry shot an accusing glare towards his youngest sister but Annie just shook it off. This was revenge, in her own, unique way. Jonathon looked suspiciously at the two of them before hearing the drumming start. "Come on guys! The drumming has just started!"

Harry and Annie were reluctant to follow him but they needed to apologize to Cherry. They hated when they would get in a fight with each other. They sat down next to Cherry and Annie quickly murmured, "Look, I understand that you are upset. And if it'll make you feel better than we won't try to set you up with this guy."

Before Cherry could respond Ron started playing the drums and so were chastised by Maria. They avidly watched Ron with a blank stare, each in their own world.

Finally Cherry decided to respond to the two, but because of the silence around the fire it would be rude to talk aloud. Knowing that, Cherry began to mentally talk to Harry and Annie.

'I want to know who you were setting me up with.'

Cherry heard Harry and Annie breathe a sigh of relief mentally and rolled her eyes. Annie quickly said, 'Why do you want to know?'

'Because you're already planning my wedding!' Cherry said shrilly.

'No we're not,' Annie replied. 'I just know that you will get married. I don't think I'll start planning your wedding until you're together at least…'

'Haha Ann. Real mature.'

'How many times have I told you not to call me Ann?'

'I've lost count,' Cherry said dryly. 'And don't change the subject. I want to know who it was!'

Harry sighed, 'Why do you care?'

'How would you like it, Harry, if Annie and I started setting you up with somebody completely random when you already had a girlfriend?'

'I wouldn't like it at all.'

'Exactly. Don't dish out what you can't eat.'

'Do you really want to know?'

'Yes!'

'Fine then!' Annie mentally trilled, 'Its Neville!'

'N-N-Neville? You mean Neville Longbottom?'

Harry rolled his eyes, 'Honestly Cher, how many Neville's do we know?'

Cherry didn't respond, still mentally shocked.

'Er Cher?' Harry asked.

'Cherrrrrrryyyy?' Annie droned.

They cut out of the mental chat when they realized that Cherry was too out of it. They quickly turned their heads to look at their silent sister. Cherry was staring towards the sky with a blank expression. They started when they heard strident applause. The drumming had finished.

Quickly they began to applause along with the rest of the community and nobody realized that Cherry was having a mini mental breakdown and her two siblings were worried as hell for her. When later asked by Cherry about why they were so worried they would shrug it off and lie about how they didn't want to get in trouble from Maria and Sirius for not paying attention.

Slowly they watched the rest of the village get up and Maria told the trio, "We're just going to head back home. Ask Cherry to flash you back when you're ready. Remember, no later than midnight."

Annie and Harry nodded absentmindedly, their gazes still locked on Cherry's vacant one. Finally Maria sighed and with Sirius and Kyra followed the rest of the village out of the town square. With a worried glance thrown in their direction the rest of their friends followed suit. Finally only a few elder people and gossipers remained and Harry and Annie declared it safe enough to have a private chat.

"Cherry!"

"Cherry!"

"CHERISH CARNATION POTTER!"

At the use of her hardly used last name Cherry snapped out of whatever held her attention and stared at Harry, who said it, surprised. "You used our last name?"

Harry nodded sheepishly, "Sorry Cher. I know you don't like it but it got you out of your little spaz attack didn't it?"

She sighed but didn't say anything. Gently, Annie said while wrapping her pale arm around Cherry's small back, "We're sorry Cher. We didn't know that you would be so angry. We'll stop trying to set you guys up."

Cherry sighed and muttered, "It doesn't matter, I'm with Kyle and Nev's a good guy and all but he's not my type."

Harry and Annie knew that Cherry was lying but they didn't confront her about it. They knew that when the time was right Cherry would admit to herself that she had feelings for one of her best friends and the rest would fall where they may.

Slowly they stood up and Cherry started a topic that they had been ignoring for a while now. "So one more year until we go back to Earth huh?"

Harry sighed forlornly and nodded, "You excited Cher?"

She shook her head. "What if Dumbledore figures out that we are the missing Potter children and decides to bewitch James, Lily and Vanessa again? I don't want to be abused again."

Annie stopped her, knowing how much longer Cher could go because of her panic. "Don't worry Cher. We have greater magical abilities then Merlin himself. We just have to disguise ourselves and nobody will know the difference."

Cherry sighed, "I suppose you're right. I'm just scared is all. I don't want to leave the first place I could call home."

Harry nodded. He and Cherry remembered their abuse more than Annie could and so despised their childhood home more than their youngest sister. Nevertheless Annie could neither call Earth home because it scarred the most important people in her life's childhood's.

Annie decided to change the subject, "So Harry? Have you decided how you're going to win Ginny's heart yet?"

Harry and Cherry knew what Annie was doing but didn't bother to call her out on it. They were just as grateful for the change in subject as Annie was. Harry laughed and stuck his hand out in a brave manner, "I will simply slay a dragon in front of her and then she will be so amazed by my sheer bravado that she won't be able to help falling in love with me."

Annie and Cherry nodded and laughed along with him. Cherry fanned herself in mock amazement, "Wow she won't be able to help snogging you right then and there."

They all laughed, thankful for the small grasp of the childhood that they missed out on. For now they would enjoy themselves for they didn't know what tomorrow would bring.

Sorry that this chapter took so long but I have been so busy with school and rewriting one of my story's and all that I couldn't finish editing this chapter until a couple of nights ago. But as you can see this is my longest chatper ever including all of my other story's.

So if this doesn't get me some reviews then I don't know what will.

Thank you to all of the people who reviewed my last chaper. It was you guys who gave me the inspiration to update this chapter to you. So give yourselves a pat on the back. Remember that a review doesn't hurt.

Ta ta