AN: I utterly fail at even somewhat timely updates, I'm not even going to bother apologising or making excuses. I was going over what I've written and I'm far from satisfied with several things... One day I might even stop utilising the sin of sloth and fix that. Well, anyway, here's the next chapter, I hope you enjoy. The next update will come either soon or later depending on how much I'm distracted by shiny things that aren't this fic.

Thank you, of course, to all my lovely reviewers! I present you with virtual blood pops as tokens of my gratitude.

"Harry!" shrieked Rhode, and launched herself into his arms, uncaring of the slick blood that transferred itself from Harry's robes to her previously-pristine white blouse.

"Hello Rhode," Harry smiled warmly. "How's the homework going?"

"Splendidly. Papa stayed up all night to finish it."

Harry rolled his eyes and gave a good-natured laugh. "He really does spoil you."

"Well of course he does. I'm his wonderful, cute daughter after all."

Harry grinned and shook his head, not least because he knew that Sheryl Kamelot would back up that claim with incredible, even overwhelming, enthusiasm.

"Ha-rry," said Rhode with a pout, and looked up at him with the biggest, most adorable eyes he had ever seen. "Don't you agree? Aren't I the cutest?"

"Of course you are!" Harry rushed to reassure her. "You're the cutest, most adorable girl I've ever seen!"

Rhode smiled smugly and nudged his nose with hers. "Of course I am."

An amused Lulubell patted them both on the head. "You should clean up, Harry. I shall inform Master of the completion of our mission." That said, she vanished through a wooden door painted white, setting off to navigate Noah's Ark with all the ease of a long-time Noah.

Noah's Ark was not an actual ark. Rather, it appeared from the outside to be a giant shining cube in the sky, while inside it was a vast white city. It was filled with doors that opened to various scattered parts of the world. By all accounts it was a very useful artifact, especially now that they had the Musician on their side. The Musician who played the piano that controlled the Ark. Allen Walker.

"You look like you've been having fun," said Rhode, her gaze roving over the bloodstains. "You got rid of a new General, didn't you? Lenalee Lee."

"That's right. Do you know her?"

"Mm-hm. I made her my doll once, and dressed her up very prettily. Allen was so angry." She smiled brightly, but then her expression fell to a frown. "He's not going to like it when he hears."

Harry looked down and scuffed his feet awkwardly. There was a forboding feeling in his stomache, almost like guilt. He liked Allen. He never wanted to upset him.

The grip of Rhode's arms around Harry tightened. "Don't worry too much," she whispered into his left ear. "She was an enemy, a dispicable obstacle. You did good, Harry-kun."

Harry smiled weakly, the look in his eyes turbulent even as he deliberatly smoothed out the rest of his expression. "I guess I'd better clean up. If I stay away from Hogwarts for too long, it'll be noticed."

"So what if it is?" said Rhode, her embrace tightening. "What's the worst they'll do, Harry-kun?"

"Well who knows? Either way, I'm going to clean up now." His voice was firm, and Rhode reluctantly let him go.

It was as he stood in the shower with the soft thunder of rapidly-falling water all around him that he heard it. It was something between a yell and a scream, and it conained grief, despair and anger. Harry shivered in spite of himself and in spite of the heat of the water that struck him and gave rise to copious amounts of steam. "Allen," he whispered, the unease in his voice almost tangible.

Some time later he stepped out of the bathroom clad in new, clean school-robes, and immediately received an armful of adorable lolita girl. "Rhode?" he asked, ruffling her hair. "Did Allen...?"

"He's gone," she said, and Harry tightened his embrace around her as he heard the distress in her voice. "He left through a door he made and closed behind him, so I don't know where he went. I... I don't think he'll be coming back, Harry."

Harry looked away, his shoulders slumped and his head low. "I-I'm sorry Rhode. If I hadn't..."

Rhode drew back, her expression suddenly angry. "Don't apologise," she snarled. "You did what you were meant to do, that's no reason to be sorry! It's Allen who's being an idiot... Allen..." She gave a quiet and unhappy laugh, and the look in her eyes softened. Harry's stomach twisted uncomfortably.

"Just like always," she whispered, smiling sadly. "That's why I like you, Allen-kun."

Harry took a step back, his eyes closed and his arms wrapped tight around himself. He only opened his eyes when he felt a small, warm hand caress his face. The hand belonged to Rhode, who was staring up at him with a sly smile. "But not as much as I like you, Harry-kun," she told him. "Not anymore." And she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. He returned the kiss, and backed off only when he found himself in need of air. His face was flushed and his eyes were bright.

"Go back to Hogwarts," said Rhode. "Continue learning magic, wrap up your unfinished business, and when it's all over return to us. That's the most important, return to us!"

"O-Of course, Rhode," he told her. "How could I do otherwise? The Noah are my family, and you..." He trailed off with a blush. Rhode grinned, and then her expression sobered once again.

"Never apologise for doing the right thing, Harry," she said fiercly. "It's stupid and weak and pointless and wimpy. It's entirely like a normal, weak human, and you're not that anymore, Harry. You're a Noah."

Slowly, thoughtfully, Harry nodded. "Yes. I understand."

Rhode beamed and hugged his arm. "C'mon Harry-kun," she chirped. "Say goodbye to the others before you leave."

They found Tyki in the library, reading a book on philosophy. When Rhode saw who it was written by – Marquis de Sade – she fell to the floor in a dehabilitating fit of giggles. Tyki pretended to be affronted, but his grin gave him away. Harry tried to peek over his shoulder at the book, to see what could have possibly invoked such a reaction from Rhode, but Tyki held it up out of his sight, and no amount of pouting would convince him otherwise. In fact, it only served to amuse the older man, and when Rhode came out of her amused fit enough to see Harry's expression, she was once again reduced to spasming with laughter upon the carpet.

Jasdevi were out on a mission, so Harry wasn't able to see them before he left. He was three parts disappointed and two parts relieved – they were family, but were also, at all times, incredibly overwhelming. So he exchanged nods of farewell with Lulubell and was put through a somewhat embarrassing goodbye from Sheryl.

Sometime while he was away, Rhode's doting father seemed to have decided that he, Harry, would make an utterly wonderful and adorable son, and spent fifteen whole minutes trying to shove adoption papers at Harry to sign before Tyki intervened. The look Noah's Pleasure sent him immediately afterwards clearly stated 'you owe me'. Harry gave a grateful nod to disgruntled Tyki, who was currently suffering the exuberent attentions of his doting and possibly flirtatious brother.

Harry left quickly. He rather did not want to notice any more evidence that Sheryl was trying to flirt with Tyki. At least this way he could pretend he didn't suspect Sheryl of incestuous tendencies.

"Sorry I'm late, Professor," Harry said politely as he entered the Defense classroom. "I was recovering from a Potions accident."

"Excuses will get you nowhere, Mr. Potter," Umbridge simpered. "I think... an additional three detentions should allow the lesson to sink in." She smiled unpleasantly at the staring class. "Continue reading, class."

Harry laughed. Umbridge was unable to hide her subsequent surprise, and that only caused Harry to laugh harder. "As milady wishes," he said, and gave a low, mocking bow that served to hide the gleam in his eyes.

Umbridge's eyes narrowed and her lips curled into a sneer. "Two more detentions, Mr. Potter. If you keep this up, I am afraid that I shall have no choice but to have you serve detention for the rest of the year."

Harry tilted his head and smiled mock-sweetly. "I would expect nothing less from you." Before she was able to reply he sat down next to Hermione, who was looking at him with clear disapproval.

"She's just looking for excuses to punish you, and you're giving them to her," she hissed. "You need to..."

"I know," he interrupted. "Calm down, Hermione. I'm just playing." Not to mention, venting some of his frustration over Allen's disappearance, but Hermione didn't need to know that.

Far from appeasing her, Harry's explanaion prompted Hermione to puff up with fury. "Playing?" she spluttered, only just remembering to keep her voice down. "That's... You..."

"Yeah, for fun. It's all just so boring and, well, not fun, to just keep my head down like you'd prefer. I would apologise for that, only I'm really not sorry at all."

Hermione couldn't help herself. She was all for being level-headed and logical, but this was just...

She screamed in frustration. Her friend was completely missing the point, on purpose if the mischief flooding his eyes was anything to go by. Not only that, but he had changed; not only over the holidays, but while he was at school as well. Even since this morning he had changed, and for all her booksmarts she could think of nothing to do about it.

"Detention, Miss Granger, for disrupting the class," Professor Umbridge announced with poorly disguised glee. Hermione bit back tears and resisted the urge to bang her head against the desk.