Reading the Mind
Chapter 11
"I swear I didn't put Ginny up to it," Hermione sat on the edge of the huge bed, twisting Where's tail through her fingers.
"It was Draco's idea, not Miss Weasley's," he countered, sitting on the other side of the bed and staring at the wall.
His "Hermione, I – " came at the same time as her "Severus – " and he paused to turn and look at her.
"You first," he offered, with a wave of his hand.
"No, you go ahead," she replied, her eyes still focused on the wolf in her arms.
"If I mooed right now would you cry?"
"Agapi!" she let out a little giggle. "I'm not afraid of cows any longer."
"Just greasy bats?" he asked, his voice soft, his gaze dropping to the coverlet.
"No!" she answered, her voice harsher than she intended as she lifted her chin. "Look at me, Severus."
"I know I'm not what you deserve."
"Oh shut UP! You could at least be a little sympathetic. I've had to call you Professor for six years! How was I supposed to know the crush I had on you was real?"
"You had a crush on me?" His surprise was evident.
"Your voice! Your demeanor. Not to mention your hands, and your talent with Potions. I've had a crush on you for years. Three nights ago you were my teacher, and the thought of the Wizard I was going to someday marry was a mere dream," her voice gave a little hiccup. "Now, I'm supposed to share a bed with you…."
"I'll tell Draco to move," he stood and was quickly yanked back down on the bed.
"No – " she stated flatly. "You're staying. I'm not upset we are sleeping together, I'm simply not sure I'm ready to…"
Severus stared at her in horror as her voice trailed off.
"You can't imagine I mean to make love to you before we are married? And I don't think we should have our wedding until you've finished any apprenticeship you desire."
Her indignation quickly overtook her shyness, as she reared up on her knees and crossed the ever shrinking expanse of the bed to kneel above him.
"You cannot possibly mean you want to wait God knows how long to have sex!"
"I certainly do, it wouldn't be proper, or right, to take advantage of you."
"Of all the brainless, idiotic, dim-witted ideas you've ever had!" she sputtered at him. "I REMEMBER Severus, I can remember us having sex – repeatedly! While still at Hogwarts in your seventh year! You didn't have those morals then!"
"We would have been betrothed, and close to the same age," he said stiffly. "Besides, I had a much harder time controlling myself as a teen than now."
"What about ME!" She laid a hand over her heart – the swell of her breasts peeking out the top of her tank top and distracting him for a moment. "I'm still a teenager!"
"EXACTLY!" he thundered, "You're still 17, or 18, all because of a stupid time turner, and I'm 37! It's wrong for me to be desiring you!"
"What did you think was going to happen?" she asked, incredulously.
"I thought he had sent you a few years into the future, and away from us. Both Remus and I fully expected you to appear from another school, or country, only 3-5 years younger."
He paused to gather his wits and calm his voice.
"What I didn't expect was to be 31 years old and watch you walk into the Great Hall as an 11 year old, sitting under that God-be-damned Raggedy Hat and getting sorted into Gryffindor!"
She gave a little snort, trying to keep the humorous image inside.
"The barmy old wizard actually tried to give me a lemon drop that night when I came to his office."
"What did you do?"
"I told him to shove the entire bag up his arse, and if he ever pulled a stunt like that again I was going to drown him in his stupid muggle treats. I was doing passable ignoring you, or being cruel – exactly as the Head of Slytherin should be to a muggle-born witch – until your fifth year…you grew up, Hermione."
"Girls do that," she answered.
"Last year, in my Defense class," his eyes gazed back over her body. "You really grew up. I'm not worthy of being with you – I would taint you."
"I know you aren't a virgin, Severus, and I forgive you."
"How can you say that?"
"Well, obviously, this is a once in a lifetime pardon – if you ever cheat on me again I'm going to use a slicing hex on the offending bits."
His face turned a bit green.
"Severus, how would you react if I had slept with Ron?"
"Weasley?"
"Or Harry?"
"Dear Merlin – Potter?"
"Or both?"
"At the same time!"
"I'm a virgin! I'm merely stating, Severus, that you would have forgiven me."
"You wouldn't have known," the relief at discovering his love had not been involved in a threesome with her two best friends was evident by his look.
"I don't know if I could have held out for 25 years."
"I should have," he chastised himself.
"I'm not sure if I can hold out for 25 days," she continued, ignoring his comment and slowly advancing towards him on her knees. He tried retreating from her, ending up backed against the wall.
"Hermione," he placed his hands on her shoulders, careful to avoid the incredibly tempting chest she slowly raised and dropped as she breathed. "You've never been able to experience anyone else, and I won't let you go once I've had you."
"I'm not waiting years to have you again," she placed her hands on his wrists, steadying herself as she swung one of her legs over his own, scooting her body up to straddle his thighs. She grinned evilly as she began to run the tips of her fingers between his elbows and shoulder, stroking his upper arms before wrapping her hands around his neck to feel his hair.
"Taioyu…"
"Look, I'm not saying we are going to have sex tonight, or in fact, anytime soon. But if you want to wait until we are married, I highly suggest you begin talking to Minerva about when she can perform the ceremony, because I am not – and I mean it Severus, so listen to me – not going into the final battle without having your name as my own, and your child in my womb."
His hands had slid down her body, coming to rest on her hips. He gently laid his right palm on her lower belly.
"I can't risk that – it will be hard enough to know you are in jeopardy, but not a child also."
"I saw our daughter, our daughter that would have died by Voldemort's hand if I had remained with you the first time. I lost her once, and DAMN IT Agapi, I will not lose you or her again. I want to be bound to you, and at least have the chance of conceiving her, before we go into battle."
"What did we name her?" His hand moved ever so subtly, pressing into her flesh as if willing himself to see it large and full of life.
"Grace Elizabeth Snape. She bore the name Snape proudly, Elizabeth for my mother, and Grace – because that is what she gave us, Severus, both of us."
"And this time?"
"If we have a girl," Hermione looked him in the eye, "WHEN we have our girl, I would like the same."
"When you are ready."
"Yes," she agreed, "when we are ready."
"I want you to be sure."
"Of what? That I love you? That you are prefect for me? That I trust you? That you, Severus Snape, are my hero and my champion?" She gave him a soft smile and lowered her lips to his, barely brushing his with a kiss. "Of all that I am confident."
"Sleep with me?" He asked, releasing her hip with his left hand and throwing back the coverlet beside him.
"Every night," she agreed, sliding off and arranging herself under the blankets. She lay on her side, his arms tightly holding her, the stuffed werewolf lying askew on the foot of the bed cuddled by the ugly orange familiar.
"Nox," came the soft spell, plunging the room into darkness – the good kind that failed to penetrate the heart, but instead wrapped and protected the cocoon of the budding relationship.
The sunlight peeked its beams through the window, causing Snape to turn on his side and snuggle closer to his witch. Yawning, she tried to wiggle out from beneath him.
"Wake up, we need to get Ginny and Malfoy in their proper bedrooms before we go down to break-"
Her speech was interrupted by a banging on their bedroom door.
"Gins, Mione, get up! We're leaving," Ron's voice bellowed.
"Coming Ron," Hermione answered sweetly, giving Severus a vicious kick to the shin.
He gave her a murderous grunt as he rolled out of bed and shuffled to the adjoining door, releasing the wards.
"Miss Weasley – " he whispered, before Hermione scooted past him and shook her friend's shoulder.
"Out of bed Ginny, Ron and Harry are waiting for us."
"Mumpfh – " came the reply from under the huge blanket where Ginny had buried herself.
"Now!" Hermione grabbed the top of the coverlet and jerked it off.
"Cow," muttered the redhead, though she did stand and allow the aforementioned best friend to drag her into the "girls" room.
Hermione let out a small chuckle as Severus fell flat onto Ginny's pillow and was asleep before she managed to close the door.
"What took you two so long?" Ron asked, when Hermione finally let him in the room. "You weren't getting dressed, evidently."
"Thank you for that keen observation, prat," his sister swung her fist and managed to catch him in the upper arm, smiling smugly at his groan of pain.
"Mum's made breakfast…she flooed back from the Burrow to feed us before Dad takes Harry and me to that bleeding hell of a house."
"Ronald Weasley!" Molly's voice traveled up the staircase, "get down here and eat this instant. Your father needs to be at the Ministry by ten!"
"Yes Mum," he clomped down the stairs, the two girls following behind.
"Did you pack everything you needed?"
"Mum! We're only going for one day and one night."
"Then you won't be wanting the snacks I made?"
"Sorry Mum," Ron stood at his chair, tucking it under the table, and came around to pull his mother into his arms. "Harry and I would love the snacks." Hermione gave a sigh at the sight of the practically grown man standing in front of her, holding his mother.
"Yeah, Mrs. Weasley," Harry offered from his seat next to Ginny, "Thanks. I know it's ten times better than anything Aunt Petunia would make."
"Your father will want to leave shortly," her voice a bit muffled from where she was hugging Ron.
"Ginny, can we talk?" Harry leaned into her, whispering in her ear.
"Now?" she gave him a questioning glance.
"Real quick?"
"In the library?"
"Nah," Harry shook his head. "Ron, we're gonna take the stuff outside and wait for the Ministry car."
"Yeah, okay," Ron replied, still distracted by his mother.
"Come on," Harry took Ginny's hand and led her into the foyer, before grabbing his bag and pulling her through the front door.
"What do you want to talk about?"
"Us."
"Us?" she repeated, skeptically.
"I like you, Ginny."
"Funny, Harry, a month ago you loved me."
"I'm sorry, Gin," he sat down beside her on the front step, his forearms balanced on his thighs, staring into the street. "I know you understand about Voldemort – "
"Then why are you pushing me away?" She cut him off, her anger evident.
"Please, Ginny, I don't want you to be mad at me. I only want you to understand."
"Then actually explain it to me, Harry!"
"You're young, too young to be carrying this burden. Too young to be fighting him again."
"I was eleven when Tom invaded my mind. I survived, I'm tougher for it. I'm only a year younger than you."
He turned his head to look at her, her gaze holding steady at a lamppost across the street. Her jaw was set firm, and Harry was reminded of Fred or George when they pulled back their hair to work on experiments. Fierce, determined, all playfulness gone for that brief moment.
"Ginny – "
"Buck the bloody fuck up – either you trust me to be with you, with you completely because you love me. Or this is over between us. I'm not going to hang around and wait for you to decide when it's time for us to be together. Relationships are supposed to be partnerships, and I've waited for six years to be your partner, Harry. If I could have snuck on the train to Hogwarts and come with Ron that first year, I would have. I knew you were right for me."
"In a few years, months even, when Voldemort is gone…we'll still be right for each other then."
"No, we won't be. We grow older and we make choices. If you choose to distance yourself from me, to push me away again…" her voice grew soft. "My love for you is undying and eternal, but that doesn't mean it's unchanging. If you leave me, this time you won't take my heart with you."
"I have to go, Ginny, Dumbledore said I had to go to the Dursleys again."
She stood and faced him, moving to stand between his knees. Her brown eyes met his green ones, and she gave a half-smile, her gaze searching. She lifted her pale hand and stroked his cheek. Leaning down she kissed him softly.
"Are we okay, Ginny?"
"Goodbye, Harry," she let her voice drift behind her as she passed Ron going back into the house.
"Dad flooed in and said the Ministry car should be here in three minutes. Ya ready, Harry?" Ron plopped down on the steps, slinging his bag in front.
Harry gave an affirmative reply, but as he got into the long black car, he was struck with a sense of loss such as he'd never really known.
"Nervous about the night? I'm here with you, and we're out of there tomorrow, forever."
"Right, of course," Harry shook his head to clear it. "24 hours and we're back."
"And Hermione is going to have a crap-load of research for us to go through."
Harry let out a chuckle and relaxed against the seat back.
"Red?"
Ginny could clearly hear Malfoy's voice from her perch in the middle of the backyard tree, however she felt completely justified in ignoring him.
"Weasellette, I know you're out here," he called again. "Professor Snape and the Werewolf want us in to start studies."
She tucked her legs tighter around the branch, gripping the trunk of the tree with one arm.
"Look, Red," he continued, walking through the grass and searching the corners of the yard, while idly heading towards the tree. "I realize it must be earth-shattering to be away from your precious Potter, but he'll be back tomorrow for you to muck around with. Come on, you can compose bad poetry instead of taking notes from the Professors."
"I don't muck around with Harry," she finally retorted, allowing herself to fall backwards, so she was hanging by her knees and swinging in front of his face.
"SHIT, WEASELLETTE!" he hollered, taking a step back. "You could scare a man to death, falling out of trees like that."
"I didn't fall," she countered, flipping herself down to land on her feet. "I swung."
"And now you've landed," he said, now composed and back to his nonchalant voice. "Do you think, perhaps, you could manage to make it to the classroom without causing any more issues concerning your love for the ponce-who-lived?"
"Screw you, prat."
The venom that spewed out of the girl Weasel's mouth kept Draco from chuckling, but wasn't enough to prevent another dig.
"All isn't well with Gryffindor's royal couple? Did he find someone else to share his bed?"
"You…you…YOU – "
Malfoy watched in slow motion as she leaned back and swung, her fist connecting with his nose. The sickening crack seemed oddly disembodied from the wave of pain that swept through his face.
"I'm bleed'd." He slurred, his hands covering his now crooked proboscis. "Y'u pudched me."
"In the nose, you jackass."
"So we see, Miss Weasley."
Draco spun around at the sound of Severus' voice, and was confronted with both professors and Hermione.
"Ginny?" Hermione asked, taking a step forward.
"Sadly, I cannot take house points, however I feel certain there will be cauldrons to clean."
Ginny gave her Potions Professor the defiant stare she had longed to give him for five years.
"This isn't Hogwarts," she said, anger seeping through her words, "so if I'm getting punished for fighting – he's getting punished for insulting me."
She emphasized her words with a shove to the blond's shoulder.
"Remus, fix his nose," Hermione cut in, giving her betrothed a withering glance.
"I thwear, Red – if my dose lood lite S'apes I will kild y'u in y'ur s'eep."
Remus couldn't help but laugh as he fixed Malfoy's nose.
"Ginny, apologize."
"WHAT?" she searched her best friend's face, and growled. "Fine, I'm sorry you got sucker-punched by a girl, git."
"Apology accepted, Weasel. And I'm sorry you have a poofter for a boyfriend."
"I don't have a boyfriend," she snapped, stalking off towards the house.
"Well then," he called to her back, "that should make you accepting you're in love with me easier!"
"Over your furry dead ass, Ferret!" she screamed over her shoulder before slamming the back door.
"That went well," he commented, turning towards the other three while cleaning the blood off his shirt.
"Must you always be a prat, Draco?" Severus asked, leading the way to the classroom, following Ginny.
"It's not my fault she and Potter got into a fight."
"You don't have to egg her on, though," Hermione said.
"Can I have a moment with Snape alone?" Draco stopped at the doorway.
"I'll check on Ginny and meet you two upstairs," Remus answered, nodding at Snape, and giving Hermione a peck on her cheek.
"I'm going to the library to work," Hermione gave Severus a knowing look, before laying a hand on Draco's arm. "Perhaps, after lunch, if you would like, I have a few pictures of your mother from school to show you."
"Thank you," he choked.
"Difficult for you to show gratitude?" Severus asked his student, the boy who was practically his son at this point.
"Please and thank you are not words common in my vocabulary. I'm trying, Snape."
"Professor Snape."
"I'm trying, Professor Snape."
"I would let you address me as Severus, but you bring back memories of your father."
"Believe me, I'm cutting my hair off as soon as possible."
Severus allowed his shock to show on his face.
"A Malfoy? Removing his locks?"
"Removing Lucius."
Severus nodded in understanding. "Is this why you wanted to talk to me?"
"No, I need to tell you something, about Weasley."
"What did Mr. Weasley do?"
"Ginny Weasley."
"So you know her name, anything else of interest, Draco?"
"She looked at me, she's done it at least twice since I've been here."
"She's looked at you?" Severus tried not to scoff.
"Yes, I mean no, I mean –" Draco tried to gather his thoughts. "Like you look at people."
"Are you trying to say you believe…"
"The Weasellette is a Legilimens, and she might be an Occlumens."
"That's impossible, there's no one who could have taught her!"
"Really, Professor? If she was born with the talent, would it take more than a solid year of one-on-one teaching from one of the finest Legilimens and Occlumens ever to make her proficient?"
"Sweet Merlin," Severus pinched the bridge of his nose and stared at the ground.
"While I've never heard him referred to in quite that manner – "
"Have you told anyone else?" Snape took him by the shoulders and shook him.
"God, no! I'm not an idiot!"
"Don't." he commanded shortly. "I'll tell the necessary people, after I confirm it. Go upstairs and tell Lupin to start with your assessments. I'll be there in a few moments."
"Yes, sir."
"And change your shirt…it will take a house-elf to get those stains out."
Draco gave a cocky grin and went inside the house to do as he was told.
Severus leaned up against the side of the doorway and gave a sigh, turning his eyes to the heavens as he quietly ranted at the clouds.
"A woman who loves you, who understands the Dark Lord, who is an accomplished Legilimens and Occlumens – and knows the weaknesses of the man who taught her…good Lord, Potter – I can only pray you haven't killed us all by rejecting the one person who should be standing by your side when this all ends."
"Severus?"
Shaken out of his concentration, he turned to look at Hermione who had poked her head out of the door.
"I'm coming in."
"Is everything okay?"
"It's fine."
"You would tell me if something was wrong?"
"Hermione," he grasped her chin with his thumb and forefinger. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Severus," she answered, mainly to his back, as he slid past he and hit the stairs two at a time.
"For the record, I don't care where you sleep," Remus announced at the lunch table, causing Hermione and Ginny to sputter, Draco to give his patented cocky smile, and Severus to give a low growl.
Hermione regained her voice first, whipping her head around to stare at her brother.
"You're only saying that because you want Tonks to spend the night."
"I can't go to her place…too many people would be up in arms if I left you four alone."
"Mum won't be coming to fix dinner?"
"I told your mother we would floo-in tonight. I had planned on Indian, if that is suitable to Tonks and your tastes, Miss Weasley," Severus said. His scowl barely changing, only Lupin and Hermione could tell he was attempting not to laugh.
"I'll place the order around five from the library floo," Hermione answered for Ginny. "Tonks gets off work around then, and that should give her plenty of time to go home and change, and for you for to finish class."
"How long until my OWL scores arrive?" Ginny asked, changing the conversation.
"If this year is processed as normal, even with the Headmaster's death, Minerva was hoping to have your results at Hogwarts by early next week."
"So, until then?"
"Miss Weasley," Severus laid his fork down and folded his hands in front of his face. "You have no need to worry. You would easily be accepted into my NEWT level Potions class and my NEWT level Defense class, not to mention Flitwick's NEWT Charms and the Headmistress' Transfiguration NEWT level class. What future plans did you have that include more than those classes?"
"You mean, what do I want to be when I grow up?"
"In essence, yes."
She averted her eyes, confirming Draco's suspicions, and giving Severus the last bit of the puzzle he needed.
"Ginerva Weasley!" He called her name loudly, and instinctively she turned to him. "How long have you been able to do it?"
"Professor." The single word seemed like a question to Remus and Hermione, though Draco understood it to be a plea to ignore the situation.
"How long, Miss Weasley." He repeated in his Professor voice.
"I knew it was there before I came to school. Tom showed me how, developed it," she spoke softly, her eyes never leaving his. "I have been able to do it without verbal commands since the end of my second year."
"Impressive," Severus lowered his head, breaking eye contact in understanding that she would speak the truth to him.
"What are you two talking about?" Hermione asked, her head bouncing back and forth.
"I'm a Legilimens and an Occlumens, Tom taught me."
"Can we not call him that?" Draco squirmed uncomfortably.
"I'm not going to call him anything else, that's his name," Ginny picked up her apple and took a bite, looking back at Severus.
They sat quietly as Ginny and Severus seemed to have a silent conversation. The remaining three were a bit shocked when Severus let out a chuckle.
"If anyone could, it would be you or Hermione."
"Could what?"
"Break the one year curse on the Dark Arts position."
"I wouldn't want to teach that when I come back to Hogwarts," Hermione said, pulling her hair back into her bun.
"What do you want to teach?" Severus asked.
"Transfiguration, exactly like before – only this time there is a position available."
"I want to study Ancient Runes."
Four heads swiveled to stare at Draco.
"What?" he asked.
"Ancient Runes?" Lupin raised an eyebrow.
"Mum was good at it…she was my Runes tutor before I came to Hogwarts."
"I'll ask Minerva to find someone to work with you; I have experience, but not enough to prepare you for your NEWTS." Lupin answered.
"If we are all done, may I suggest we go back to work?" Severus rose from his chair and carried his and Hermione's plates to the kitchen.
"I'll call everyone when dinner arrives."
Hermione locked herself back in the library, only half-way through the book Severus had found for her. A stack of notes sat on the floor, where she would drop the parchments as she filled them.
Severus and Remus had spent the morning working on NEWT level potions and incantations for Dark potions.
Severus was a bit surprised that, just as Draco had predicted, Ginny was keeping up with the work. The afternoon was spent in the same manner. Severus occasionally attempting to catch Ginny unaware and invade her mind, and being pushed out every time.
Early in the evening, as Remus and Draco were going over a Runes text, to determine what type of specialization Draco wanted, Severus caught a glimpse of something in Ginny.
Grasping her upper arm, he pulled her to the side of the room and hissed in her ear.
"This is a dangerous game you intend to play, little girl."
"I don't play to lose, Professor."
"Make certain your Gryffindor bravery is enough to carry you to the end."
"I'm not the one you should worry about, sir." She gave him a meaningful glance, and reached for her Potions text. "Can we continue on about the uses of belladonna in poisons?"
"Not right now," he released her arm, and returned to his desk. "Make a list of potions ingredients we will need from Hogwarts to complete the first half of the text. The two of you will work together, on the same cauldron, until it's time to prepare for your practicals."
"Am I going to be ready?"
"Pick your subjects and focus. And if you can handle minimal revision – and study like Hermione studies, both you and Draco should be ready for at least three NEWTS by the end of summer."
"Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, and Transfiguration."
"I want all three of those, plus Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Charms," Draco added from his seat.
"Then our goal is to focus on learning what you need to know to pass the NEWTS, and expanding on what you need only for your future careers."
"I want to be a translator, or a curse-breaker," Draco laid his quill down and look up seriously at Severus.
"Do you even have to work?" Ginny asked, leaning back in her chair and cocking her head to one side.
"Not likely," he answered. "I doubt the Ministry will seize my funds or Malfoy manor. But a life of only Quidditch and parties is boring."
"I want to teach Defense, or be a professional Quidditch player," Ginny propped her head on her hands.
"Chaser?" Remus asked, intrigued.
"Seeker," Ginny answered. "Chaser only if I can't win an open slot."
"Shouldn't you broaden your choices a little bit? That's rather narrow," Remus cautioned.
"I don't want to be an Auror, I have authority issues," Ginny began, ignoring Snape's comment about that being the understatement of the year. "Being a medi-witch means listening to people complain all day. I could hire myself out like Lockhart did, rid towns of evil creatures, maybe."
"Would you wear the same bright robes?" Draco asked.
From there the classroom degraded into silliness, with Severus looking annoyed to the side, as Ginny gave an excellent impression of Lockhart and attempted to 'slay' Remus and Draco. A knock on the door brought them back to seriousness.
"Wotcher!" Tonks said, swinging open the door.
"What time is it?"
"Close to six, Hermione sent me to tell ya the food is on the table," she gave a grin, "so wash up and come on."
"I made tea to go along with dinner," Hermione said, as the group filed in and sat around the table. "And I got an assortment of dishes, help yourself."
"How did you pay for everything?" Remus asked, as he filled his plate.
"Draft on Minerva's Hogwarts account. I had to send Tonks by to pick it up, since we couldn't get it delivered here."
The group all set about to demolishing the platters of food she had laid out.
"After we eat I'm going to organize my notes, then head to bed," she gave Severus a look.
"I'll help you," Severus nodded his head at her, before turning back to Tonks.
"You four do whatever you want," Draco interjected in between bites. "Red and I will spend the evening playing Wizard Chess, and keep your secrets."
The evening passed quietly. Ginny and Draco managed to refrain from arguing in the library, before heading to bed around ten. Tonks and Remus retired early, Remus pointedly ignoring his sister's smirk. Hermione and Severus spent a good three hours organizing the notes she had taken and fleshing out her theory on the magical signatures of the Horcruxes.
All six occupants of Number twelve, Grimmauld Place fell into their beds that night, thoroughly exhausted, after a long, hard (and in Tonks' case: very long and very hard) day's work. Only as the whispers of sleep began to clear their minds did Ginny and Hermione's thoughts turn to Ron and Harry, and the horrors they must be enduring.
If they only knew…
A/N: WOOT to Drakien who betaed this tonight so I could post it. This started out as a four page chapter – and I was worried I wouldn't be able to get it long enough to really feel like I could post it. Seventeen pages later….
In the next chapter we'll see Ron's mental breakdown (poor guy) and Harry will be done with the Dursleys forever (we hope)! Thanks for reviewing. I always appreciate it.
OH! My beta and I will be in Las Vegas next weekend….so depending on internet capability, I may not get Chapter 12 posted until Tuesday. Or – if all goes well – you'll get it posted EARLY, because Drakien, my love, will just beta it on my computer as I write!