October 15 - October 21

It was a rainy evening by the time Harry was on his way to the headmasters office. He had gotten through his classes and done as much of his home work as he could just in case the meeting took a few hours. He stood glaring at the gargoyle for a moment not wanting to go in but knowing he should. With a sigh he gave the password and watched the gargoyle moved aside before heading up the stairs. When he got to the top the door was already open so he simply walked in.

Dumbledore smiled at him. "Harry, come in, sit down."

"Professor." Harry greeted and took a seat in one of the chairs. He stared back at Dumbledore's smiling face and decided to cut to the chase but Dumbledore beat him to it.

"I'm sorry I haven't been around much. I actually wanted to speak with you sooner but a lot of things have been coming up lately." Dumbledore said as an opening. His grandfatherly smile in place along with his twinkling eyes.

"Did something happen with the order?" Harry asked in concern. While he would never forget how Dumbledore had held on to his vault keys and lied about blood wards and who knows what else. The rest of the Order of the Phoenix probably didn't know these things. He wasn't pleased with Dumbledore at all and neither was his Neko. He really didn't want to be here. He would rather be in the common room with Seamus or Ron and Hermione.

"Oh no no. Nothing of the sort. Lemons drop? Rock candy?" Dumbledore said and at Harry shake of his head continued. "As you know the Death Eaters are still roaming around wreaking havoc despite Voldemort being put down. The Aurors are doing a magnificent job capturing them. Just recently they managed to get a hold on Bellatrix."

"What are they going to do to her?" Harry asked. He had a personal interest in the punishment Bellatrix deserved. After killing Sirius there was no part of Harry that wanted to forgive her or even give her a second chance. He had no sympathy for a crazy bint like her.

"Well currently she is under heavy sedative in the Janus Thicky ward at St. Mungo's. They will soon be moving her back to Azkaban but putting her in a better containment cell. They may even keep her under the sedative so that there is no chance of escape." Dumbledore informed him. His expression was solemn but not entirely serious.

"Why the ward for spell damage?" Harry asked curious. Bellatrix was crazy, no spell had made her that way.

"She was heavily injured in battle." Dumbledore answered simply. "We had originally thought that she was the one in charge of the Death Eaters but it seems that we were incorrect."

"Who is it then?"

"Lucius Malfoy." Dumbledore said and Harry raised his brow in shock. It wasn't something he expected but it made sense on some level. The man was smart enough to lead and could be cunning when need be. "It hasn't been made common knowledge yet. I don't think it will be."

"What about mini Malfoy?" Harry asked. He hadn't seen Draco since the school year started. Hadn't heard a peep from him either. He'd got glimpses but hadn't actually interacted with him. To be truthful he had been happy to not have to deal with the blond and hadn't spared much thought about him. He should have realised he it was a little weird but then again he had his own things to worry about.

"Not so mini it seems." Dumbledore said solemnly but with a small air of amusement at the name. "He's here but I haven't had a chance to speak to him being busy and all. Severus isn't letting me anywhere near him either. From what I can tell he's looking after Draco while he is here. The Malfoy's don't seem to be in touch either. From what I can see Draco is alright but there is no way to be sure."

Harry nodded but said nothing. He felt nothing for Draco. There was nothing he knew about Draco that could make him feel anyway about this towards him. Lucius Malfoy was evil his son not much better. Not evil per-say but on his way there. Just because they weren't in contact didn't mean anything as far as he was concerned. In essence Draco wasn't really his problem. Neither was the whole Death Eater war going on really. Things had stopped being his problem when Voldemort died.

Dumbledore was smiling again. Harry mentally frowned and his Neko's hackles rose. He wasn't going to like this. That smile could mean nothing good for him.

"Anyway, enough of this boring talk. How was your summer?" he asked and Harry almost rolled his eyes.

'Knew it!' he mentally screamed. He put on a smile. He had expected it to turn to this at some point.

"It was great." he said joyously.

"And what this I hear about you leaving? Did you go exploring?" Dumbledore asked in an interested tone. Harry knew what he was interested in. Not interested in if he left because he already knew that but interested in where he went and with who and probably if it had anything to do with a certain destroyed Gringotts key.

"You could say that." Harry said brightly. Two could play this game. Harry was become a master of avoiding questions and it was just so much fun to mess with people like this. That was probably a part of being Neko.

"Oh do tell me about your exploits." Dumbledore told him with an old man's excited smile.

"No. I can't do that professor. What happens on vacation stays on vacation." Harry said brightly and put on a smile that was just as bright. Viva Las Vegas!

"Ah." Dumbledore commented and Harry saw the hardening behind his smiling features. He put on a concerned look and Harry almost rolled his eyes again. The guilt tripping and fake worrying was about to commence. How he hadn't seen these things before was a mystery. They were glaringly obvious now. "Well Molly told me you were talking to strangers and Harry you know you must be more careful."

Harry really did roll his eyes now playing up the not so bright teenage role perfectly. "No worries. I made friends with his nephew and he offered to drop me off."

"Oh and which school does his nephew attend?" Dumbledore asked fishing for clues. Any scraps he could use for his purposes.

"Home schooled. He's not old enough to go to magical school yet. I'm not sure he'll even be coming to Hogwarts. They might send him to one outside of Britain." Harry stated not that Cappy would really be going anywhere. Harry had to ground his lies in some truths right? Using his house elves as truth anchors was good for that.

"What about his parents?" Dumbledore continued to fish.

"Very busy people." Harry answered. Pots and Letty were always doing things. Never resting.

"Oh poor child." Dumbledore said sympathetically. Harry was sure his Neko snorted at the thought of Dumbledore caring.

"He has his uncle." Harry defended.

"Where did you meet them?" Dumbledore asked not hiding his curiosity.

"On vacation." Harry stated blandly. "What happens on vacation stays on vacation sir. Remember. That's a rule somewhere I'm sure." Yea. Las Vegas.

"Can't have you running off Harry. Death Eaters are about." Dumbledore stated seriously. "It's very dangerous these days. Even with Voldemort gone, his followers are still out for you."

"I'm still alive and one more vacation won't kill me. Best summer I've ever had. Can't wait for Christmas." Harry said the last part excitedly and watched as a muscle in Dumbledore's jaw ticked. He hit a nerve there. Dumbledore didn't want him to go anywhere. He didn't want him to leave Hogwarts.

"Now Harry-" Dumbledore began but Harry cut him off in the same excited tone.

"You know I've never been to the beach until this summer. Definitely going back next summer. Oh and this Christmas. No Dursley's and I won't have to stay here. On the road again! Can't wait to get on the road again!"

"Harry-" Dumbledore began again but Harry yawned tiredly and loudly just barely covering it with his hand.

"What time is it sir?" Harry asked when he was finished. 'Time to get out of here.'

"Eight thirty." Dumbledore answered.

"Can I go now? I've got assignments to do and I'm tired and there will be Quidditch practice tomorrow. I have to be rested." Harry said and Dumbledore looked back at his completely innocent look. He was clearly contemplating whether he should push more or just let him leave.

"Yes but first I need you to answer a question for me." Dumbledore said and Harry nodded with a sigh. "Where were you?"

"Now or in summer?" Harry asked just to be difficult. He rose from his seat and Dumbledore leaned back to look at him.

"In the summer." Dumbledore humoured him. Harry smiled again.

"At the Dursley's then I went on vacation." Harry answered as he approached the doorway. "Goodnight professor."

With that he left the office and hurried back to the Gryffindor common room. He slipped in and found Ron and Hermione by the fireplace. Seamus was with Dean doing assignments. Harry sat on the arm of the armchair that Ron was sitting in.

"You're back." Ron said happily. "Thank goodness. I was just about to explode from studying!"

"You were not." Hermione said rolling her eyes. She turned her attention to Harry. "What was it about?"

"Death Eaters. Mad Bella got caught. The elder Malfoy is in charge and mini Malfoy is around but not a part of this whole thing." Harry summarised.

"They caught Bellatrix?" Hermione asked shocked.

"Malfoy is in charge?" Ron asked frowning. "I knew that guy was evil. I'm not even surprised. Bloody git."

"Yup. Then he was asking about summer and I told him I went on vacation." Harry told them and Ron nodded. He had promised not to tell anyone about anything relating to Harry's summer or his inheritances. So had Hermione.

"Where did you tell him you went?" Hermione asked.

"I didn't. What happens on vacation stays on vacation." Harry said smirking. Dumbledore was obviously not pleased with his avoidance of the topic. It had been entertaining.

"You went to Vegas?" Hermione asked shocked. It was evident she was thinking about all the gambling he could have done and who knows what else he could have gotten up to.

"No! I'm just using the saying." Harry placated her. He didn't want to get into another impromptu conversation about another awkward topic like they had when he told her about Seamus.

"What's Vegas?" Ron asked

"Las Vegas in Nevada in America." Hermione answered quickly. Ron shrugged

"Lots of women, hotels and casinos. Mostly known for its casinos." Harry told him and Ron raised a brow in interest.

"Doesn't sound like a bad place." Ron commented thoughtfully. Hermione shot him a glare.

"That's what you say until you lose all your money." Hermione grumbled and turned back to her books. Harry shrugged when Ron looked to him.

"So. Are your assignments finished?" Harry asked and Ron groaned. He really seemed to be becoming more like Hermione.

XXXXX

"How come you and Seamus are so close now?" Neville asked Harry from in front of him. They were sitting on the floor of their room playing wizard chess. Dean was beside them sketching. Seamus was digging around in his trunk and Ron hadn't come up yet.

"We have a lot of free sessions at the same time so we started helping each other with assignments. So I guess we got close." Harry answered with a shrug. Dean snorted from beside him. Harry ignored him and made his move on the board. This was their reason for hanging out with each other in case anyone asked. "And both our best friends are dating people so we hang out with each other when they're busy too."

"Oh." Neville said also making his move. "I was wondering since you two haven't always gotten along in the past."

"I'm not that bad Neville." Seamus commented coming over to the group. Neville blushed. Seamus smiled taking a seat beside Dean with some chocolate frogs. He shared them with the others before digging into his own. "When is the next Hogsmeade weekend?"

"November 2." Dean answered licking his headless frog. He smirked behind his chocolate. He could now officially tease Seamus since he was in on everything. "Why? Got someone you want to take?"

Seamus playfully glared at him and shoved him. He knows what Dean is doing. "I want to stock up on my chocolate and sweets."

"Your sweet tooth is acting up?" Dean asked amused.

"Yes. Need more candy." Seamus stated with a nod. He was already on his third chocolate frog.

"It doesn't act up unless you've eating something sweet recently." Dean stated but was watching Seamus with suspicion. Seamus tried to pull of an innocent look but Harry's snort gave him away. Dean wasn't going to let this go now. "What did you eat?"

"Pie?" Seamus answered and Dean glared at him.

"You didn't eat it when I could see you and I can bet it wasn't just one slice either." Dean stated and Seamus looked downright guilty now but that didn't stop him from biting into his fifth frog. He would eat as much of them as possible before Dean took them away. Three more to go and he would have accomplished this. Dean looked to Harry. "Did you see?"

"Two slices?" Harry answered sheepishly. It was a lot more than two slices, more like half the entire pie, but Harry wouldn't tell on him. Dean eyes him in suspicion too and Harry turned back his chess pieces. Dean turned back to Seamus and realised what he was trying to do.

"No you don't." Dean said snatching Seamus' last chocolate frog.

"Hey! I was going to eat it!" Seamus whine reaching for it.

"Not happening." Dean said strongly and Seamus pouted bringing out his super-cute-kitty-innocence-look.

"Pwease." Seamus pleaded and Harry was struck with how needy he looked. He would have caved instantly. Neville watched in surprised amusement while Dean seemed to struggle against the wide-eyed pleading look. Dean was very close to giving in when he made up his mind.

"No." he announced unwrapping the frog and pushing the entire thing in his mouth before it could even kick. Seamus gaped at him horrified.

"You ate it." he said hollowly. Then he was devastated and getting up agitatedly. "You ate my last Chocolate Frog! I was going to savour that! Don't talk to me. Don't come near me."

They watched as Seamus went away to sulk in his own bed. Harry and Neville were shocked at his outburst. Dean swallowed the chocolate careful as not to choke on its chocolaty goodness.

"You see what I have to put up with when he starts eating this stuff?" Dean complained putting away his sketch book. He shook his head and went off to wash his hands. Neville and Harry turned back to their game.

"Weird." Harry muttered and Neville nodded his head vigorously. They turned back to playing their game until eventually they got tired and decided to go to bed. By then Ron had come up and Dean had already gone to bed.

It was dark and most of them were sleeping when Harry lay in his own bed contemplating whether he should go see if Seamus was still awake and if he could sleep with him. They had only been sharing their beds for three days but it was comfortable and Harry didn't want to miss a night. Harry was just getting up the nerve to go check on him when his curtains parted. He looked up as the person he had been thinking of visiting crawled into his bed and under his sheets. Seamus put up their usual wards before pushing his wand under the pillows and snuggling up to Harry. Harry wrapped an arm around him pulling him closer and Seamus shuffled into him and rested his head on Harry's chest. Harry didn't say anything but his fingers found Seamus' hair and combed through it slowly. Soon he could hear what sounded suspiciously like a purr coming from Seamus but the younger boy was fast asleep. It wasn't long after that he fell asleep too.

He woke again to luminescent blue orbs staring down at him. Harry swung a fist up out of reflex and loud exhale of air was heard on impact. Something fell on the bed beside him and a low groan was heard. Green eyes focused on the lump of Seamus beside him. The sandy haired boy was curled in on himself groaning. He must have hit him hard.

"Don't just watch me in my sleep like that, it's creepy and waking up to two glowing blue things right in front of your face is not fun." Harry chided trying to calm himself down from his sudden adrenaline spike.

"It's painful that's what it is." Seamus groaned out and Harry shifted to hover above him.

"I didn't get you in the jewels did I?" Harry asked concerned as he rubbed Seamus's back gently to soothe him.

"Nice to know you care about them and thankfully no, you didn't. I don't think they would work anymore if you had." Seamus answered tightly. He had been hit in the abdomen and it hurt so much he couldn't breath for a moment. A few inches lower and he might have been hit in his previous jewels. They would have been destroyed. Completely obliterated.

"So I didn't hit you in the balls?" Harry asked to be sure and Seamus shifted his head to look at him disbelievingly.

"Did you want to hit me in the balls? 'Cause that's what this is beginning to sound like." Seamus said wearily. Harry shook his head.

"No. Just checking. You're going to need them in the future." Harry said and Seamus's eyes widened at him. Seeing Seamus' look Harry thought back to what he had said and turned crimson as Seamus brought out a huge smirk.

"Hell yes." Seamus answered then gave him a suggestive look. "Want to kiss my wound better?"

Harry cleared his throat and shifted away slightly. "What time is it?"

"Three." Seamus answered finally rolling onto his back and stretching out. He still rubbed his aching lower abdomen. It had been a really close call. Way too close. He was never going to stare at Harry like that again. Not when he was sleeping at least and not from so close either.

"Let's go back to sleep." Harry said shuffling closer to Seamus this time. He reached a hand over to help him rub away the pain.

"You mean nap. There is no way I can sleep again." Seamus chuckled enjoying the feel of Harry rubbing away his pain.

"We should just take turns sleeping in each other's beds." Harry said suddenly.

"I can do that. I like that idea." Seamus said planting a kiss in Harry's hair.

"Sorry about punching you." Harry told him.

"It's ok." Seamus assured him and gave him a squeeze with the hand wrapped around him.

XXXXX

Harry glared at the group before him. Quidditch practice was on again to gear everyone up for the next match. Thankfully they wouldn't have to play Slytherin until after the break because they would need a lot of practise to get through all the tricks the snake would try on them. As it was this was their second match coming up in November he had started practice this early to ensure they were prepared and because he needed something to do. Halloween was coming up and Seamus had gotten two weeks detention for blowing up something in transfiguration the day before. Harry wasn't sure how it had happened. One minute everything was fine then the next there was an explosion and Seamus was covered in soot and ash and there was no longer a table before him. It always amazed him how things just spontaneously combust around Seamus when he's practicing. Granted it hadn't happened in a while but obviously it was still a problem.

Glared at them again and shifted to stand a little straighter. He hid the flinch when the movement caused a bruise on his back to smart. The pain didn't help his mood at all. He berated them for getting more injuries than they used to in their last practise and urged then to still keep fit even if they were given a break for practise or else he wouldn't give then a break at all. At the end of the practice he sent them off and followed them up at a slower pace. He wondered idly if Seamus would be fascinated with the bruise he was sure to have now.

He need not worry about it because the moment he showed it to Seamus he was pushed face down in the bed and told to relax. Soon he was getting progressively drowsy with Seamus massaging his back with bruise balm. He hadn't even noticed the compromising position they were in. He was that out of it.

Seamus had comeback from detention and almost panicked when he saw the bruise. Apparently it looked a lot more painful and vivid than the last one had and so he had skipped right over the morbid fascination to the absolute horror of finding his mate hurt. He had then jumped right into taking care of Harry. He worked delicately on Harry's back until he could give it a good massage and spread about the bruise balm. He smiled at the adorable half asleep look that Harry had on his face and the gentle purring he could hear coming from him. He half expected Harry's panther ears to pop out and his tail to make and appearance.

He revelled in the feel of having Harry shirtless and below him and when he noticed that Harry had fallen asleep he leaned forward to kiss him on his nape just below his hair line and got off. He washed his hands and brushed his teeth before returning to bed and lying down facing Harry so that he could see his face. He got as close to Harry as he could without waking him and gently rest an arm across his lower back. He fell asleep watching Harry sleep.