"I'm sorry...I am just too happy to be here. Though, it's so unfair that it's just for today." Melinda said, looking at her watch. Time was running out, soon that alarm would be sounding and a poofing house-elf would be coming over to check that she left along with her.

"Two years...yeah, it's scary." She said, letting out a deep breath while she nodded her head. "Just keep on studying...have fun, friends...and it's easier...but you know all that." Mel told him with a playful smile.

"Oh, yeah...Rian. I couldn't believe it when she told me by her letter she was leaving Hogwarts. And poor Lily..." She couldn't think of anything else but them, but gladly she had some time to visit them over the summer. "Though, I went to visit her, it was an amazing experience to see the little girl back to healthy stage..." She commented.

Melinda smiled at Chris, still hugging him.

"I know it's unfair. But at least we did get this chance to see each other. Each if I did mess it up with the fall." Chris told Melinda.

"Yeah I know keep studying... blah blah blah." He said and laughed. "No I know." He said and smiled back as he saw Mel giving him that playful smile. He then gave her a slightly kiss on the lips.

"Yeah I know I felt bad for Rian and her family." He said nodding. "Oh you did get to see them that's good." He told her.

Chris also kept hugging Melinda. "I love you." He said smiling wide.

Melinda listen. She just could nod to everything Chris would say. She wasn't ready to just talk again, a bump in her throat just avoided that from happening. Good-bye time was almost coming. She just hated that...

Then came that beautiful feeling whenever Chris kissed her. Those butterflies bursting inside her stomach, then the need for a longer kiss, maybe. So, she kissed him back quite having a wide smile.

"Yeah, Lily is in much better health, but you know...Rian prefers to stay home with her." Melinda said, giving Chris a smile.

I love you...three words...pronouced that way and at that minute just made Melinda smile wider, she kept hugging him and maybe enjoying her last hour at the Kaplans.

Chris looked at Melinda as she nodded. He looked at his watched and sighed. Why could time just stop? Oh well no use trying, he then reached next to him and grabbed his guitar. He then pulled a pick out of his pockets and started playing softly.

Chris felt Melinda kiss him back. He knew she wanted the kiss to last longer. He smiled putting an arm around her waist and his hand on her cheek. As he kissed her back.

"Yeah I can understand that. Rian was probably really worried about her, being sick and all." He said nodding.

Chris smiled wide when Mel smiled wide. He rested his cheek on top of her head. "Do you really have to go???" He asked knowing it was useless to ask.

Melinda watched as Chris just started playing. A soft tune...she just loved it. And the promise had just been made. He actually played for her.

Her heart begain pounding harder...just too harder. It was too much emotion for her at the moment, so she stopped. "I'm sorry...I didn't feel well all of the sudden." She explained her reaction as she pulled away.

"Kaplan..don't even go for it. Time runs out. And Mimi is a bit nervous these days..." She told him.

Chris saw Melinda watch him as he started to play. "Anything you want to hear?" He asked but he sort of knew that she would be ok if he played you and me. So he did and sang the first part of the song. What day is it?And in what month?This clock never seemed so aliveI can't keep up and I can't back downI've been losing so much time

Chris felt as Melinda pulled back. And knew why he could actaully hear her heart beating. He let go of her."Sorry I forgot. Are you alright?" He asked.

He sighed. "I know I know. But hey it was worth a shot." He said shrugging.

Ok. Enough...Melly was crying, for reals! She let go of tears as Chris sang their song. "I've missed that song...it's been ages since I last heard it. Thanks..." She told him and ran to hug him, really tight.

Her breath started to ease up a bit. She might have just felt it wrong. "Yeah...I'm alright. I just need to take a deep breath and rest." Mel told him and smiled.

Melinda giggled. "It is worth the shot..." That was the only thing she said and started to kiss him.

Chris looked over and saw Melinda cry. "Actaully I haven't heard it in awhile either. No problem." He said smiling wide as she came and hugged him and hugged him tight. He laughed slightly he had missed these hugs.

Chris nodded. "It's alright I get." He said and shrugged use to it sort of...

He then felt Mel kissing him again. Her lips on his, he smiled and kissed her back. Not ever wanting to let go.

"I thank you for this day. It will never be forgotten, in fact: I think I will use the pensieve effect to keep this as a memory that can't be touched, nor tempted." Melinda said, quite sure she'd do such thing when she got home, then she would send it to Jade.

Alarm...alarm!! Oh, no!

That stupid sound, that horrible beep. Melinda frowned and stopped kissing Chris. "I'm sorry..." She told him. Then she noticed a poof, Mimi was already there.

"Miss...it's time to go." She told Mel, noticing the sad expression of her girl.

Chris heard that beeping. He at first tried to ignore it and kept kissing Melinda. But soon she pulled back, not wanting to he did the same. "Don't be sorry." He told her taking his thumb and caressed her cheek.

But then he saw the house elf cause it was really time for her to leave. Sigh... "So I guess you have to go now." He said sadly.

Melinda looked at Chris and took his hand as it caressed her cheek. That last breath, that last second to just have his smell and touch. She let out tears, her expression showed sorrow and despair.

Her nod came obvious, it was time for her to leave. She stood up, not without kissing his cheek one last time. "I love you..." Mel whispered to his ear, then rushed to hug him.

Then, she pulled out of the hug and walked towards Mimi...

Chris watched as Melinda let out tears. He took a deep breath, this would be the last time they would be together like this til who knows when.

He couldn't even smile when she kissed his cheek. He hugged her back. "I love you too. Promise me you will at least try to write to me." He said to her as he kissed her cheek.

Chris also pulled back from the hug. He stood up and watched as Melinda walked away, he gulped and put his hands in his pockets. He gotten say anything.

"Writing is my job now..." Melinda said, standing next to Mimi then making a military gesture towards Chris. She smiled, trying to cheer up...but tears just let out. "Bye...Chris.." She said, mostly between tears and that twist inside her throat.

"Let's go, Mimi...Grandma will be at Greece any time sooner..." She told the house-elf and they just popped out.....

Chris tried to smile but it was worthless. Nothing happened he just stood there sort of like stone. He then nodded. He saw that smile the smile that always made his heart melt. He smiled back but saw more tears, the smile faded quickly. "Bye Melinda." He said.

He watched as Mimi and Melinda left with in a second. He looked around the room and shock his head slightly. He left the room and headed for his bedroom. Once there he went and sat on the bed. Tears stared to form and he didn't care anymore. He just felt so empty.

Life was easy, Christmas was near, actually just around the edge of the weekend, which made it easier for Melinda to just come around the Kaplan Residence and drop some presents for the family. She ahd some time to warn them she would be coming, right? Yeah, that quick note she sent before her grandmother stepped into her room...saying...I'd be there for Christmas..weird...but a warning was so...

She carried a bag with presents: Some clothes for Chris, Emily, Charlie and Nick as well and this package along. How about new Quidditch clothes??? Eh...it was kind of worth it. She was going to be coming around once in a while to spend some time with the kid and the family.

So...she knocked the door....and waited to be opened. A wide smile spread along her face, trying to get the little pain off. Her hand was itchy again...

Christmas was here again and the whole Kaplan house was decorated for it. Lights hung on both the inside and out. In the living room was a tree and there was a fire in the wood stove. Charlie and Nick had been sitting at the piano in the living room when they heard a knock.

"Nick it's like this." Charlie told his son, as his fingers moved swiftly over the keys. He heard the knock at the door. "Wonder who it is." He said.

"I got it." Nick said running from the piano to the door. When he opened it he saw Melinda, his smile had gotten very wide. "Mel!" He said and hugged her.

Charlie come to the door and found Nick hugging Melinda. He laughed. "Hey Melinda." He said smiling warmly to her.

The decoration was excellent, so was the smell of almost Christmas cooking. Aw...she adored that scent. Nick opened the door and made Melinda open her arms wide for a hug. "Hey, you..." she greeted and smiled. "How've you been, hun?" Mel asked, hoping for great news, a wide smile...

Then, Charlie came out as well. "Oh, good day, Mr. Kaplan...how are you?" She said, sort of feeling weak now. The carrying of the bags was something weird to be done without magic.

Nick kept hugging Melinda. "I've been great." He told her still smiling wide. "How 'bout you?" Nick asked.

"I'm fine thanks. What about you?" He asked. Yet then noticed the bag in Melinda hands. "Here let me take those for you." He said taking the bags from her. "You should probably come inside and warm up a bit." He told her.

ooc. Sorry, hun. Had to get over a headache...

Melinda let go of Nick giving him a wide grin and giggle. "I'm glad you're alright..." Once she gave the bags to Mr. Kaplan, she murmured a thank you and smiled to him. "This house is amazing...I shall say that again...and it smells delicious." Maybe Emily was cooking. Ahh...delicious Christmas cookies.

But...where was Chris?

It was time to answer Charlie's question, once snapping out of her own thoughts. "Oh, I've been alright. Thanks for asking. Just busy with school...and competitions..." She commented as she gestured having a balance on her hand.

Nick also pulled back from Melinda. He then took a big breath in through his nose. "Yeah I think mum is cooking something." He said. "I will go see." He said and went into the kitchen.

Charlie shut the door behind Melinda. Then headed to the living room to put the bags down. "Ah yeah that's got to be tough finding the balance. You are going to chef school right?" He asked walking back to her. "You know Chris is in the forest outside. If you want you can go see him, or I can get him." He offered.

Melinda watched as Nick headed to the kitchen. She grinned and payed attention to Mr. Kaplan as he referred to where was Chris. "Oh, I'll go get him...I want to give him a surprise, kind of..." She mentioned with a giggle, then headed towards the kitchen just to say hello to Emily.

"Good day, Mrs. Kaplan..." She said with a smile, walking into the kitchen to go hug her. "How have you been?" Mel asked with a smile.

Emily turned when she heard some else come into the kitchen. She saw Melinda and smiled. "Hi Melinda." She said and hugged her back. "I've been alright, and you?" She asked.

Melinda smiled and let go of Emily. "Oh, busy busy...but great, thanks for asking." She said, looking at one plate in particular. "How's cooking going, I think I can help after I go look out for Chris..." She told her, shrugging her shoulders slightly.

"Well, I will try to catch Chris at the forest..." Mel said, walking towards the background door and already searching for the boy.

Once outside, she walked towards the woods, ready for any surprises.

Emily also let go and the giggled a little. "Umm alright I guess." She said and pushed her hair back out of her eyes. "Yeah if you would like to then that would be great." She said and smiled. She then watched as Melinda walked out to go find Chris. She turned back around still smiling.

Chris was up in the same tree he had fell out of during the summer, only this time he was higher. He had his back rested on the tree and sat side ways on the branch. Then he heard footsteps coming into the forest. He raised an eyebrow. He then climbed down out of the tree carefully and jumped when he was close to the ground. He walked towards the footsteps and saw Melinda. "You just going to stand there or give me a hug?" He asked opening his arms for a hug and smiled wide.

Melinda tried not to go completely surprised at the great size Chris was now. "Erm..." She didn't hesitate, Chris was her guy and she so had the right to hug him and give him a kiss on his cheek, even if it meant tiptoeing to do so. And so she did.

"How are you?" She asked, letting go of him and showing a bright smile.