Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Passing Notes ❯ Shades Of Grey ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

I never knew how the one I hated would become the one who changed me. I was born into a life of privilege. From the day I was born I was told what to do, how to act and with whom I would associate. My life had been planned since the moment it began leaving me little room to become my own being.
 
I never rejected the life I was given in fact I embraced it. I was royalty above all others because of my name and pedigree. I loved it. I then embarked on my magical education only to find I was not the one who needs to be educated. So many people not knowing their place and whom they had the gale to speak to. I had to spread my education to those in the most need of it, and it brought me to her.
 
She was nothing more than a filthy Mudblood. I had never seen her kind before and had expected something grotesque and putrid according to my father's teachings. But she was nothing of the sort. She was elegant, well spoken, and kind hearted, and everything I had not expected a Mud Blood to be. I believe that was the first true day of my education. I ignored her obvious abilities as a witch and disregarded that she had surpassed me in marks. I refused to acknowledge that someone of lesser birth could be better than me, but soon I had to succumb for my grades were always second best to hers.
 
That's why I hated her; because she was where I was supposed to be, on top. I had the breeding, the looks and the life long understanding of magic where as she had only known it a few short years. I hated her, but only out of jealousy. I would never have imagined that my supposed hate could morph into my change.
 
It had been another boring day of Defense Against the Dark Arts with the stupid gryffindorks. The rain was hitting the windowpane adding an undertone to Snapes droning. He was talking about some curse that I already knew everything about, the disadvantages of being so brilliant, I was so incredibly bored that I thought I was going to fall over and die in that instant. Crabbe and Goyle were having their daily `who is the dumbest' contest as they tried their hardest to follow along with Snape. I had given up on paying attention and was scanning the room for something to help relieve my boredom.
 
Pansy was flapping her clumpy eyelashes at me, thinking she looked marginally attractive. Her pug little nose seemed to be turned up even more today as her harshly red lips made the kiss shape. I swore I wanted to vomit all over my new Italian cloak. She really did need to get the hint that we were never going to be together, no matter what our fathers said. If I had to spend my life kissing that pug then I'd rather be killed by the Dark Lord now.
 
The Brown girl was also sending flirtatious glances my way. At least she was more agreeable to look at than that dog in my house. Maybe I would have to send her an owl and plan a little after hours get together. I was imagining the Brown girl and I shagging on McGonagall's desk when Crabbe grunted something at me. Merlin, he wanted my attention.
 
I glanced over at him giving him my `you-better-not-be-wasting-my-time' look when he shoved his huge fat finger toward the front of the room. I thought he was trying to ask me a question about what Snape had been saying when I saw it. Pothead was leaning on his hand, in a deep sleep, drooling all over the place. Finally, something that would make the time fly. I stole Crabbe's notes, it's not like he would use them anyway, crumbled it up and chuckled it right at Potter's stupid scarred head.
 
I almost died from laughter. Potter practically jumped out of his seat, screaming something about chocolate frogs and flinging his drool all over his books. I would have to place that memory in a pensive so I could always remember it. It was the funniest thing I had seen pothead do in a while. Snape, of course, took points away for disrupting class, which got weasel all, fired up. Weasel was spouting about how that wasn't fair that his little boyfriend got points snatched away only to get MORE points taken for disrupting the class again. The day couldn't have been going better if I had planned it.
 
The class started to settle again and Potter had refused to let himself fall back to sleep. My boredom started to set in again. I sighed. Pansy was still gawking at me, the Brown girl had moved from shy glances to blowing kisses and I was still not amused. I looked around the room, thinking of what could help in continuing my fun. That's when I spotted bushy hair.
 
She had her head crouched down over a long piece of parchment scribbling every word Snape wrote on the board. She was always like that, hunch back and bushy. I had spent some time observing her. Not that it was because I liked it, oh no, it was because…. It was because…. It was because she was the brains of the operation and by knowing what she's doing you know what the dunderheads are doing. Yes, that's why I watched her. I thought it would be fun getting a few words in against her. She was always a little spitfire when it came to our verbal spats. She could match my wit blow for blow.. Not that she was my match at any other place. No she wasn't even my match in wit, let me take that back. She was just fun to bother. There.
 
So I wrote down some words that I know would get a rise out of her, or at least start her down the path of blowing up. I took out some of my parchment and wrote down the phrase `Kept your precious potter up all night did you Mudblood?' I showed it Crabbe and Goyle who snickered. I then balled it up and threw it at her. It hit her right in the head and got caught in her frizzy hair. I couldn't help but chuckle at the way it just stuck there in that tangled mess of weeds she called hair.
 
She reached behind her and removed the parchment from her hair. I waited, wanting to see her turn around with her face aflame from anger. I waited, and waited, and she didn't turn around. Damn, she was in her `Ignore me' mood. There goes my fun. I looked down at my parchment, trying to ignore the not so subtle looks Pansy AND the brown girl was now flinging at me.
 
Women like that just weren't as exciting. I knew I was handsome, everyone knew that, but they didn't need to throw themselves at me. I missed the hunt, the chase, and for ONCE could I have a girl who HADN'T slept with half of Hogwarts. I sighed again as I started to make a list of girls who I hadn't heard much sex stories about. Millicent was at the top of my list, followed by a few six years who I suspected to be lesbians, then came the most obvious of all, pure little Granger.
 
Besides me, no one was honestly saying anything about her being promiscuous. I am sure the frizzy head was a turn off for men but she wasn't all bad. She had fairly pretty brown eyes. If her hair ever calmed down I bet it would be nice too. I don't really know how her body is though, seeing as she wears…
 
That's when I felt something hit me right between the eyes. I screamed out in surprise and a bit of pain. That thing hit me so hard I KNEW it would leave a mark. That infuriated me. Whoever threw that had it coming to them.
 
“Can I help you mister Malfoy?” Snape questioned me as I could feel my cheeks heat up a bit. Everyone was looking at me now and I must have had a bit welt on my head from whatever hit me.
 
“No sir.” I replied, trying to maintain my pride. How embarrassing. I looked over at Crabbe and Goyle who were still snickering. The second I glared at them they shut up and pretended to understand the words coming out of Snapes mouth. I looked down to see what hit me. It was the parchment I threw at Granger. So she was the one who had slammed it into his face.
 
I opened the parchment to see what the bint had to say, only to be a bit shocked. There, in her stupid girlish writing was `yes, and it was fantastic.' Now THAT was not what I was expecting. I was expecting a `shut up ferret' or maybe a `grow up Malfoy.' But to see those words written by little miss innocent did something to me. I couldn't explain what I felt at that but I knew what I was going to say in response.
 
I picked up my quill and with a self-satisfied smirk I wrote my reply `I never knew you were Potters whore, Mudblood. You shagging Weasel too?' That would get the response I wanted. There was no way she would be able not to get mad at that. She would get mad and tell me off in her little way then I would win.
 
I threw the parchment ball back at her bushy head, laughing when it got stuck once again. I don't think I would ever not find that funny. She once again reached up for the parchment and I was once again left to wait for her anger. I watched her this time, not wanting to be hit in the face again.
 
She seemed to sigh before picking up her quill again. This was it; here came her tidal wave of anger. She turned around in her seat and I set my glare on her. I was very disappointed when she turned, gently threw me the parchment ball and smiled. Not just any smile but a smile so sweet you could feel the sugar in it. That made me very curious as to what she was so proud to tell me. I un-crumpled the parchment and looked down at her words. Again I was blown away.
 
This time I had no idea what to say. I re-read the words she wrote. `Oh yes, and sometimes both of them at once.' That upset me. I didn't know why it upset me but it did. How could she even think to do anything with those two? They didn't deserve her. She was so smart, hell she was smarter than he was. She had a few little qualms about herself but they had become somewhat endearing over the years. Sure I made fun of her rats nest she called her hair but I couldn't imagine her without it. It was her signature. You could point her out of a crowd just by her hair and it made her different.
 
She also was great because she wanted to be. I knew if I didn't have my father looming over my shoulder to get good grades I wouldn't work as hard. I would slack off of my duties and just enjoy my time at Hogwarts. She was great because of something deep inside of her. I hated to admit it but I had to respect her for that. She was going to do great things. She could even be the next minister of magic with her brains and skill. Before I knew it I had ripped the parchment to pieces. I didn't know why I was so enraged by her words.
 
I dusted the torn pieces off my clothing and pulled a new one out. I wrote what was repeating over and over in my mind again. `Really Granger, I thought you had higher standards then twiddle dee and twiddle dumb. I never knew you would fuck down the social ladder.' I balled the parchment up tightly and threw it at her with a bit more force than I intended. I was just so upset and the fact that I was upset was upsetting me more.
 
I was glad when potions was over and I had a chance to get away from everything. Potions was my last class of the day so I ignored Pansy and Brown and went straight for the pitch. Whenever I had things to think over I found flying to help. When I flew it was like being free from everything. I could forget my father, the Dark Lord, and hopefully, even Granger.
 
I ran right into the Slytherin changing room and pulled on my quidditch uniform. I was in a rush, just wanting to get out there and start forgetting. I grabbed my broom from my cubby and ran out into the field.
 
The pitch was like heaven to me. If you listened hard enough you could still hear the chanting from the quidditch games. I could see everyone filling the stands, waiting for the game to start. I smirked as I walked to the center of the field. I could hear my house chanting for us, hoping for a victory. The other houses would boo and curse but I never cared, it just drove me to prove to them that I could lead my team to victory. We would get on our brooms and hover over the well-manicured grass.
 
I looked around; it was as if I wasn't alone. I could clearly see the stands full; hear the deafening roar of the crowd. It was a rush, knowing all eyes were on you. This was what I lived for I lived for the rush. Every time I got on my broom I could feel the energy of the crowds soak into my skin. My heart would start to pound in my chest. My heartbeat would mix with the cheers and roars of the crowd and my mind would drift into euphoria.
 
The game was on. I zoomed around the pitch, watching the game mostly but still keeping an eye out for that tiny flicker of gold that would alert me to the snitch. I could see my teammates as they whizzed back and forth, tossing the quaffle between them. The other team just couldn't keep up with us. We worked as one. I worked my team hard so that no matter what anyone said about us they couldn't say that we didn't have skill.
 
I would continue to fly around the pitch, not only watching the game but also watching my main opponent. His actions could alert me to the snitch. He was sneaky. I had to be careful. He may dive just to get me to dive then shoot up and catch the snitch. It had happened before and I would never let it happen again.
 
I eyed him; cautious of every movement he made when suddenly he headed for the ground. But he hadn't planned on me catching sight of the snitch. I smiled as I shot up, gaining a lead on him. There was no way he would be able to catch me. I was one with my broom, crouching low so that there would be less air resistance. I reached out my arm, holding tightly to the broom with the other.
 
This was always the best part of the game, when I was in a dead heat to catch the elusive gold ball. Seconds turn to minutes as I kept reaching for it. When you are just about to catch the snitch it's as if your world becomes highly sensitive. You can feel the wind ripping at your flesh; the harsh brittles of the broom butchered your skin. My eyesight would become enhanced and the second I felt the smooth metal I would clamp down.
 
Time would resume back to normal as the roar of the crowd assaulted you. You could fell the snitch wiggling, not willing to be captured. But you had done it, you had beaten everyone who thought you couldn't do it, you had caught the snitch.
 
I looked around at the empty pitch and opened my hand to find air. I smiled, satisfied that I once again felt calm. I lowered my broom down to the grass and jumped off. I closed my eyes one more time and could once again hear the crowd chant. I smiled and walked back to the changing rooms. I knew dinner was soon so I took a quick shower.
 
Dinner was maddening. Pansy had found me and had refused to let me leave her side. She sat next to me and ate her food in what she must have thought as a `sexy' manner. I don't see how anyone could eat chicken sexily. Usually I sit at the table and look around, admiring my kingdom. I always felt like a prince when I was with my house. Everyone respected me and I was head dog. But today, I just didn't feel that way.
 
I had looked at her. I could feel hear eyes on me at one point during dinner and I had looked up to meet her eyes. I never knew how beautiful they were until then. Even from across the Great Hall I could feel the warmth and love that accompanied her gaze. She looked at everyone like that, everyone but me.
 
I didn't deserve that gaze but how I longed to have it. In a world filled with darkness it was nice to feel the rays of sun on your face. I don't know if she knew she was giving me this look but I hoped she wouldn't stop. I thought back to earlier in potions and how I had felt at her comment. I still didn't understand why I was so upset by it. I couldn't grasp what had caused my suffering at hearing her say she was with those two. Even if she was joking, just trying to get a rise out of me, I still didn't like it.
 
I looked down at the table. I didn't want to see her eyes anymore. They just cause me more confusion than I wanted. I knew how my life would run. I knew what my father had planned for me. I would marry, serve a mad man and die young. I had no hopeful ideals about my future; I wouldn't let myself have them. No matter how much I wanted to graduate from Hogwarts and become a professional quidditch player I knew it wouldn't come true. I was trapped by the Malfoy name, forever forced to do this that would keep me stuck in this life.
 
I stood up from the table and glanced over at the Gryffindor. She wasn't there. I felt foolish for looking. What was I hoping to find by looking? I shook my head as I felt Pansy leech onto me. Crabbe and Goyle stood on either side of me as I headed for the door.
 
As soon as I walked out of the Great Hall I felt her heated stare. I instantly turned my head and there she was, hiding in the dark, staring at me. She seemed to want to speak to me. I didn't know how I knew that but I just did. Maybe it was my want to speak to her that drove me to think that but I knew I had to go to her.
 
I turned to my personal leech and shrugged her off. “Go back to the common room, I'll meet you there.”
 
Her pug face squished together as her shrill voice assaulted my ears. “But Drakey where are you going? Can't I come with you?”
 
I glared at her, knowing she would become frightened and obey me. It worked, she had stomped her foot and began to walk away, Crabbe and Goyle following behind her. I waited until they were out of sight before I nodded my head toward her and started walking.
 
I could feel my nerves starting to build up. What would I say to her? I had never truly spoken to the Gryffindor princess. I had insulted her, yelled at her and called her horrible names, but I had never honestly SPOKEN to her.
 
God how stupid was I being. She is a Mud Blood. Everything that I am not supposed to like. She is not someone you should want to talk to. You should not be thinking about her. She is dirty, she is beneath me, and she is everything I could ever want in a woman.
 
I shook my head, hating my thoughts for being against me. No. I would never want a Mud Blood. I would never taint my bloodline.
 
We reached the astronomy tower and I entered the empty classroom. I could feel her behind me; she never came close to me. She probably feared me. Good. That's how it should stay. Least she forgets her place. I tried to get mad, I tried to build up my walls so that I could face her and find out what she wanted from me.
 
She didn't speak though. I stood there waiting for her to speak but she never did. It was maddening, the silence between us. My mind was a buzz. I couldn't help thinking why I had come here. What I had been thinking. I then had to break the silence, so I asked her one of the questions that I had on my mind. “Why were you watching me at dinner tonight?”
 
I didn't look at her I couldn't look at her. Just being in the same room as her was causing me to feel things I couldn't explain. She forced me to question myself, question why I had allowed myself to be in her presence, question if the life I had was what I really wanted.
 
“I was trying to figure out why you said those things to me today in potions.”
 
I scuffed, didn't she know WHY he called her a Mud Blood. I had said it to her so many times it was common now. Mud Blood. That word brought a whole new bash of thoughts. What did it mean to be a Mud Blood? Was she really so much different from me? We both had eyes, hair, fingers, and toes. Was her blood really different from mine? If I cut her, hit her, forced her to bleed, would she have the same colored blood?
 
“Why did you say those things to me?” her soft voice cut through my thoughts.
 
I was caught off guard and thus revered back to my typical behavior. I scowled at her and scuffed at her words, trying to make them seem worthless. “Because that's what you are, a Mud Blood.”
 
My voice didn't hold as much conviction as I wanted it to. I heard her sigh as she shook her head. She took out a piece of parchment from her pocket. I didn't know what it was but I was sure she would tell me, being the know-it-all she was.
 
“No, This.” She took a few steps toward me, each step was tense as if she was afraid I would reach out and hurt her. She handed me the parchment and I took it without looking up at her.
 
I looked over my words. `Really Granger, I thought you had higher standards then twiddle dee and twiddle dumb. I never knew you would fuck down the social ladder.' I read them once, twice, at the third time I knew she was expecting answer, I just didn't know what to say. How could I tell her what I was feeling at that point, what I thought of her without seeming completely out of character?
 
“It's because it's true.” I said simply, still not looking up at her.
 
She seemed to have been deep in thought as well. Her voice squeaked as she asked. “What?”
 
I took a step toward her and handed her back the paper. “I said it's because it's true.” She was so small compared to me. The top of her head barely reached my shoulders. She wasn't looking up at me but rather at my chest. I could feel her warmth as her eyes roamed over my body. I took that moment to actually see her. Before she had always been the Mud Blood know it all but now, in this room, in this light, she was a woman.
 
She wasn't wearing a cloak so her arms had tiny goose pimples all over them. She had a few top buttons un-done on her blouse so I could see down her shirt. Merlin, who knew she had the loveliest breasts I had ever seen. She had milky white skin that glowed in the moonlight. I could see the outline of her simple white bra as it cupped her. She wasn't too large but she still had at least a handful.
 
I watched her watch me. She was looking at my arms, her gaze searing my skin. I licked my lips as her eyes started to travel up to my face. When she looked up at me I was finally able to take in her beauty. She was wonderful. She had a soft, round face with perfect skin. Her cheeks were flushed red as she looked intently at my face. Then she looked up into my eyes and I melted.
 
Her eyes were her best feature. They were deep chocolate pools that were smooth and looked like rich silk. How could I have missed her? How could I have not seen the unique beauty she possessed? Had I really been blinded by my prejudice, my misguided hatred? How could an emotion keep me from seeing her? I shifted my weight, unsure of what to do.
 
She looked away, her face turning bright red. I'm sure she was just as confused as I was.
“What do you mean by that? `Because it's true'?” she whispered, her voice sounding small and weak.
 
I scuffed again, more as a way to delay so I could think of how to respond. Now I had to think of an answer. “Look Granger,” I started as I pushed my hand through my hair. I had to tell her something but I didn't know what to say. Somewhere, in the back of my mind, a voice was telling me to tell her the truth. “You..” I stopped as that little voice came close to speaking. I turned to my defenses and started to think of Mud Blood comments. “Look you're..” a Mud Blood, come on say it. But I couldn't I just could call her that while she stood so close to me, smelling so good. My weakness gave that little voice enough time to win. “You're better than them, ok. You are so much smarter than those blundering idiots you associate with. You are going to do great things, become incredibly successful and all on your merits alone. You don't have anyone's name to fall back on and you don't need it. Pot head has his stupid legacy and Weasel isn't going anywhere but back to his hole while you will go out and take over the world.”
 
Merlin, what had I done? My mind was moving a mile a minute. It felt like I was about to catch the snitch. Everything became intense and before I knew it I was leaning down to kiss her.
 
Her lips were just as smooth as the snitch. I could feel the warmth of her eyes as she looked at me, but I kept mine closed. If she was glaring at me I just didn't want to know, and if she wasn't, I don't think I would be able to handle it. I stood there, simply pressing my lips to hers. Part of my mind screaming my fathers words at me for telling me how wrong this was and another part finally feeling content. I felt more at peace with my lips against hers than I could have riding my broom for a hundred years.
 
I pulled back and opened my eyes to see her reaction. She seemed like a frightened jackrabbit that was waiting for the wolf to eat her. She didn't seem happy not as content as I felt. I felt embarrassed by my actions. How fucking thoughtless I was to let my guards down like that. I should have known better, I don't know what I was thinking.
 
I looked away from her, the anger I felt toward myself building by leaps and bounds. I shouldn't have come here, I should have just glared at her and forgotten the note had ever happened. Maybe then I wouldn't be so weak; maybe then I wouldn't be feeling all these emotions. I walked to get my cloak, ready to head back to the common room and back to my old life where it was much simpler. I was just at the door when she grabbed my arm.
 
I had to stop myself from turning around and yelling at her. I was so angry with myself but more so I was lost. What was I doing, thinking, and feeling. Life had been so black and white before she came and made shades of gray. This stupid little Mud Blood had gotten under my skin and no matter what I did she was going to stay there.
 
She walked in front of me and looked into my eyes. I tried to keep my shields up, block her out so she couldn't do more harm. I needed to go, I needed to get back to a place where everything made sense again. But she wouldn't let me as she moved toward my face and I felt her lips touch mine.
 
I was a broken man. I moved my arms to encompass her waist and brought her closer to me. She had won, beaten me down and made me want her. No matter how dirty her blood may be I didn't care, I simply enjoyed the way she fit into my arms, the way her hair smelled of lilac. I felt her hands run through my hair and I all but broke. I wanted to put her up, throw her against the wall and demand answers as to how she had come to posses my mind. I wrapped my arms tighter around her, trying to control myself. I moved one hand up to her hair and forced her head closer to mine.
 
This was madness. I was mad with insanity. Who would have thought I would be kissing the most notorious Mud Blood at Hogwarts. I couldn't understand how this was happening. I shouldn't be doing this, I should be pushing her away, screaming at her for tainting me, not wanting to pick her up and plant myself deep inside of her.
 
I pulled back, my erection becoming a major problem. I had to stop. I couldn't do this. I had to go to a bathroom, wank off and forget thing ever happened. I noticed she had pulled away as well. I couldn't take the heat of her eyes as she looked up at me. She was too pure, to innocent. I couldn't ruin her; bring her down to the horrid level I dwelled upon. I tried to pull back more, get away from her and everything that was happening but she wouldn't let me go.
 
I just looked at her, willing her to understand my desperation. I needed to stop this, gain control again. I couldn't be ruining everything I had built up. In this one moment I had destroyed the man I was and I was left wondering who I was going to become. She just stared at me, her eyes pleading with me to stay, begging me to bring her to my world. I could hold back any longer. I had already brought shame to my family name; I might as well enjoy it.
 
I moved my head closer to hers and took her lips. I couldn't be gentle anymore. I had to have her. She had ruined me, taken everything from me and I wanted nothing more than to have her. I lifted her up and felt her slim legs wrap around me. My erection was pulsing as I felt the heat coming from her core. I had to know what she felt like; I had to see what I had given everything up for.
 
I laid her against a table as I began to pull her shirt up, her soft skin burning my fingers. She was a goddess. She had to be. No other woman had ever made me so hungry with need before. No women had ever ensnared my mind with such desperate want. I could feel her touching my chest and back. I moved from kissing her mouth to lavishing her neck with nips and licks. Her eyes may have been chocolate but she tasted of vanilla. Her hands were so small, so delicate. I feared I would break her but was to far gone to care. I moved from her sides up toward those amazing breasts when I felt her stiffen.
 
No not now, please, please don't do this to me. I moved my head to look her in the eye and saw her doubt. I could ignore her, continue on and take what I needed but the look on her face held me still. I couldn't do it. Her spell on me was too strong and I pulled back.
 
I was dazed, not sure of all that had just happened. I fixed my clothing and tried to gain some relief for my pounding erection. I knew I would have to take care of that later.
 
“Let me take you back to your common room.” I said feeling defeated as I placed my cloak over her. I couldn't look at her, for I knew I would push her against the nearest wall and ignore her pleas to stop. We walked in silence as I tried to figure everything out. I had gone through so many emotions in the span of a few hours to leave me emotionally drained for weeks. I followed her as she led me to her portrait were she had to wake the woman up to get in. She turned toward me and I lost my control for a moment longer.
 
I pressed my lips against hers, keeping it simple yet satisfying my need. I pulled back and cupped her face in my hand. She had forever changed me with a simple kiss and she didn't even know it.
 
“Good Night Granger.” I all but whispered.
 
“Good Night Draco.” She said as she rushed into her portrait.
 
And here I was, completely mad. I had lost it. I had lost every sense of who I was and every sense of what she was. In the moments we had been together I had shattered any hope of living my fathers life for I could never see the dirty mongrel I once saw in her.
 
I walked the halls, just thinking. I finally reached my common room and walked in to find a very miffed Pansy. She had obviously been waiting for me.
 
Her shrill voice broke through my thoughts as she stood from the couch and rushed to me. “Where have you been!?!? And where is your new cloak!?!”
 
I simply pushed her aside and told her good night. I wasn't in the mood. At the mention of my missing coat I had thought of her small frame hidden under it. I would have to get it back some how and by doing that I would have to be alone with her again. I wondered what our next meeting would bring.
 
Author Note: I would first like to say thank you to everyone who reviewed, you guys were the reason I decided to write and post this. I would also like to thank everyone who added my humble story to your favorite/ alert lists. That made me very happy to see!! And last, but most definitely not least, I would like to say how much I love my new Beta Stephanie Also Known As DracolikesototallyROCKS. I love you and I praise your wonderfulness!!! You all are wonderful and I hope you will review and let me know what you thought of this second installment.