Authors Note ( Well sort of):

Me: Iggy, how goes the Blufadoodle quest?

Iggy: *Dejectedly* Not so good.

Me: You still haven't gotten that darn Blufadoodle from my sisters?

Iggy: Don't judge me! They are vicious!

Me: Don't I know it.

Iggy: Still, I'm not leaving 'till I get it!

Me: Oookkaayyy . . . but on the bright side, I'm being a good author and updating in good time!

Iggy: It's still not a Blufadoodle.

Me: Oh good grief *shakes head sadly*

Chapter -:Seven:-

The Day We've All Been Waiting For . . . And The Day I've Secretly Been Dreading

I hovered a few inches away from the ground. Okay, I was admittedly stalling . . . but I just couldn't bring myself to land. The gesture probably doesn't seem like anything, but in truth it meant so much to my flock and I. The second my feet touched the hard Earth, it would have a note of finality in it. It would mean everything all at once. It was a promise . . . and a curse at the same time. Yes, a promise that we would stay here. A promise that we would be warm and comfortable. A promise that we would forever have a home inside those castle walls. Yet, it was a curse that we would be stuck in one place. A curse that we would grow soft under the faulty front that we were safe. A curse that we would never be able to forget.

Would I ever be able to get past the unease that was still smoldering in the pit of my stomach? Would I ever be able to breathe deeply again? Would I ever be able to not question every move I make? Would I ever stop wondering if I was making the right choice? Most important of my inquires at the present moment though . . . Could I really bring myself to do this?

There was barely a sound as I made contact with the grass.

Well I guess I got one of those questions answered. Oh joy!

"Ohhh! This is just sooo exciting! Don't you think this is just sooo exciting? Man, I really missed this place. I don't remember it being so big though! Do you remember it being so big? Has it always looked this pretty too? 'Cause I don't remember it being this pretty. I can't wait to start classes though! Can you wait to start classes? We finally get to use our wands! Aren't you excited that we finally get to use our wands? Oh look! There's the lake thingie where Max had to go and save Fan-" Nudge immediately stopped, her own hand clamped across her mouth this time. She had realized what she was about to say just a bit too late.

I stiffened slightly, but then tried to relax as best as I could.

"Yeah, where I had to get Fang back from the mermaids and we found out that Fang II was trying to pretend like Fang," I said, proud that my voice was so steady. It didn't crack or shake once! That meant I was making progress. Of course all the progress would probably be lost when I saw Fang again.

This thought made me take note to the fact that I had convinced myself that I was fine with it. I had actually had the nerve to think that during my days of silence I had patched up the newest wound Fang had inflicted upon my heart. I was wrong, though. The cut he had made was still fresh, and the closer I came to the time when I would meet him again was slowly stretching the still un-healed skin painfully, and I could feel the blood beginning to swell.

I set off for the castle entrance, the flock trailing after me. I shot a quick glance behind my shoulder, to take a head count, and found Iggy lagging behind the rest.

I slowed my pace and said to the younger kids, "Go on ahead. Iggy and I will meet you inside. Get us some goods seats."

Translation: Find us seats as far away from Harry as possible.

They nodded in assent and hurried forward.

I gazed after them with a small smile playing on my lips. They really were excited to be back, so could it really be such a horrible thing? They were happy weren't they? Yes, yes they were, that much I could tell. It was obvious in the way they skipped forward, halfway running in their haste to be inside Hogwarts. I couldn't deny the pull I felt towards it either. It was all just so . . . surreal . . . so . . . magical.

"Was there something you needed to talk to me about?" Iggy asked.

"Oh yeah. I've noticed something lately . . ." I trailed off.

"And that would be?" he prodded.

"See if you can guess," I said with a smirk.

Smirk . . . Fang always smirked.

Oh God! What was I thinking!? I was acting like some boy crazy nutcase, and that was so not me.

"Max," he sighed in exasperation. "I don't want to play any games. Yeah, I know, surprise, surprise. Remember my whole, I've grown up speech?"

"Yes I do, very well actually. In fact I was wondering if that was still in affect, amongst other things."

"It is," he replied.

"Good to hear."

There was a pause . . .

"Was that all?" he inquired.

"Didn't you hear me say amongst other things? Clean your ears out boy!" I ordered jokingly.

"Come on Max! What is it?" He was growing impatient. It was hilarious, in my personal opinion.

"Sorry, sorry. I just noticed how you seemed to be kind of upset lately. Is something wrong?" I asked him.

He seemed to ponder my question for a moment before replying.

"No," was all he said.

"Really? Are you sure?"

"I'm positive . . . Now can we please get inside? I'm starving and they should be serving dinner soon. Ahh, I can just imagine the food now. Yes, so many choices . . . and in such unlimited amounts. It's like a buffet only ten times better!" he cried enthusiastically.

Did he really think I was going to give up that easily?

I gave him a stern glare, crossing my arms across my chest and moving to block his path.

"You lie. I can tell when you're lying. You change the subject as quickly as you can, and try to make an escape. It's the oldest tactic in the book . . . and kid, I wrote the book. Now trust me when I say that we will stand here for however long it takes you to tell me what the problem is."

"I-" he began to protest.

"Don't. Lie," I said through gritted teeth.

"Fine," he gave in with a sigh. ". . . It's Hermione."

"Hermione? What happened with Hermione? Oh God, did she break up with you?" I asked in concern. Oh poor Iggy. He finally stops acting like an immature two year old and his girlfriend decides to dump him. It's tragic, really.

"No! Actually . . . I was thinking I might have to break up with her," he stammered out.

"What? Why?"

"Look, don't get mad at her Max. She didn't mean any harm by it."

"By what?" I had to inquire, my face hardening into an unreadable mask. "What did she do exactly?"

"Well, it was the day you let me go back to Grimmauld Place to see her," he explained.

"And?"

"She . . . uh . . . she tried to convince me to stay there . . . to um . . . to show my support for Dumbledore. She thought that it was unfair that you made our decisions for us, and I tried to explain that you didn't, at least not about something as big as this. She wouldn't listen though. She started getting all bossy saying that you had a lot of nerve to criticize someone as kind and wise as Dumbledore, just to turn around and act like a dictator . . ."

I felt like I had been slapped. I mean, I had always thought Hermione was my friend. When I left there, I figured she of all people would not judge me too harshly on my actions, but look here. Now I'm hearing that she was going off and blabbing her mouth to someone that would never feel as close to her as he felt close to me. Iggy was like my brother! More than like, he was my brother. Except we didn't share the same DNA. All of sudden because they're boyfriend and girlfriend, she thinks they have a bond stronger then the one we have? Psh, oh please. Only in her wildest dreams.

I could have said any number of those things, instead I asked, "And what did you say?"

"I said that I believe everything you said about Dumbledore, and that if she ever tried to insult you again, she'd be sorry. I'd make sure of it."

I laughed slightly.

"What did she have to say to that?" I questioned.

"She looked at me with a shocked expression and her jaw dropped to the floor. It was actually pretty funny. Then she was all, 'but Iggy, how can you think it's right for her to sit there and say that Dumbledore tries to control everything, when she does the same thing with you? You're a human being, you have a choice who to follow. Why can't that person be someone who respects you? Someone who cares for your well being? Dumbledore will do all of those things and beyond.' It made me want to barf. She was all gay rainbows and fluffy unicorns. After that, I totally told her off about how you always gave us a choice, and that I wouldn't have walked out that door after you if I hadn't thought it was the right thing to do, and that if she had a problem with that, she could go find somebody else's ass to kiss."

My eyes widened.

"You didn't seriously tell her that ass kissing thing did you?" I was astonished.

"Hell yeah I did!" He smiled triumphantly.

"Right well, that's enough profanities I think. We're about to enter a school, after all," I scolded him.

"Oh, right. Sorry." He grinned at me sheepishly.

"And Iggy?" I said as we began to walk briskly towards the castle entrance.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for sticking up for me . . . and for handling the situation well. I would have knocked that bushy haired head of hers right off if she had been telling me these things. Can't promise I still won't."

"Now Max, don't do anything rash . . . and anytime, sis, any time."

We continued towards the entrance, arm in arm.

Thank God for Iggy.

Authors Note:

*Iggy walks in with a bunch of markers and poster board*

Me: Uhh, Iggy . . . What are you doing?

Iggy: What do you think I'm doing?

Me: *shakes head* Deja vu much?

Iggy: I said guess!

Me: Drawing pictures of a Blufadoodle?

Iggy: NO! I'm not in kindergarten.

Me: . . . I still don't know what you're doing.

Iggy: Ugh. I'm making Help Wanted adds, isn't it obvious? *holds up a finished poster*

Me: What? Why? . . . You know what? Don't answer that question. I have a feeling that I don't want to know.

Iggy: *shrugs* Whatever.

Me: Just don't make a mess of things . . .

Iggy: *says all kid like* OKAY!

Me: And suddenly I have an intense migraine. I'm going to go lay down.

Iggy: I'll come too *gets up*

Me: Alone . . .

Iggy: *grumbles* Fine.