"I kept her bracelet…those two years we were apart. Seeing how beautiful she looked at the Ball, and leaving her in the dust, pretending to not care, was the hardest thing I'd had to do at that point in my life. Of course, she ended up throwing her bracelet at me one day in Hogsmeade, and I knew all hope was gone of us getting back together- because she hated e, and she hadn't gotten the clue. I went out with school rival and at first; I resented Pansy, only pretending to be having fun with her…I loved someone else… And every time I saw her, my heart would soften, and I tried to keep her safe, even if she no longer belonged to me. She moved on, at least I thought so, she hated me so much in her 5th year…I helped bust the secret club she was in…but helped her escape- which I know confused her greatly. It's pathetic, how glad I was, to have an excuse to touch her again, to speak with her- even if she yelling at me, she was talking to me.

"During that year, I learned she kissed Potter. And I finally understood how it felt to have your heart betrayed. I was with her archrival, as she had snogged mine. She most likely had other secrets that year, like when we got off the train at Platform 9 ¾, I saw her hug Fred Weasley…and they seemed so close. But all she ever told me was he replace the gaping role of the older brother left by the late Cedric…she has way too many "siblings." The Weasleys, Potter, Granger, Chang…they all love and treat each other as brothers and sisters. Cedric was her very best friend, and even though he's gone, not even Ginny can reach that level of companionship."

My dad was rambling endlessly now, but I was getting my dad's side of the story. From years 1-6…somewhat. And I was treasuring this too much to stop him.

All I had to was get my mother's side of the story, and I'd have both logs and know the whole story.

"In my 5th year, I still could tell Denise loved me deep down from how she tried begging Harry to stop beating me up after a Quidditch match…at the time, Pansy came to my rescue, and I wanted Denise to have taken her place- but your mother realized the truth of reality once more, and she turned away from me, regretting her thoughts to comfort me…that happened once or twice- her urge to protect me- then realizing she couldn't. But somewhere along the way, I started to actually like Pansy. In our 6th year, I allowed her to play with my hair- something only Denise had done before. I'd put my head in her lap…the only thing that upset Pansy was I seemed different…off somehow. When I said I probably wouldn't be returning to Hogwarts for my final year, because I'd have moved onto bigger and better things- she was hurt. But she felt secure- that she'd won. And she did, for a few months."

I looked at him with a surge of pity.

"In December, I realized I would forever lose Denise if I didn't do something fast; but if she didn't want me, I wouldn't push her, because I was now the enemy, not only to her but to all of Hogwarts…And I didn't want to ever put her in danger or at risk."

So Father knew, that he was now a Death Eater, and his mission, if he succeeded, he'd never return to Hogwarts- and my parents would cease to ever speak again- being one of those tragic tales of people who cross paths for a time, but obviously don't end up together- star-crossed.

"See, you were a good guy!" I started to insist, but he ignored me.

"So, I pulled her into a deserted corridor as she passed one night after dinner and snogged her."

"Ewwww." I shriveled away in disgust.

He chuckled. "She was so afraid at first, but hearing my voice she calmed…It was Potter and his now-wife who found us. That was awkward…Potter told me off…and then he told me how he'd snogged Denise at the end of the last term to spite me. I nearly killed him, but held myself back. I knew I'd regret it, and I knew I couldn't kill him if I tried."

I did not speak, or move.

"When we got back together, I gave her the bracelet back- along with two more charms…it was as if we'd never gone our own ways. Your mother was…so grateful. She…she was just so glad to have me back I broke it off with Pansy," he smiled widely for a moment, "and then the worst hit us." His smile fell. The clock chimed midnight.

"Midnight?" We'd been talking for three hours. "Well, long story short- don't go for Patricia- if she's anything like Pansy, because you'll be trapped until she likes you so much- that she wants you to happy no matter what, and that she'll make one lousy threat, and vanish. Go for the worthwhile one- like your mom is to me."

He stood up and then looking at the old family portrait, of when we was a teen- he motioned for me to follow.

"Ask your family for the truth on the past, Scorp. Not strangers. And Potter and Weasley's children will not say anything unless-"

"Someone else says something, they told me."

My dad blanched at me for a second, and then said, "Right…right." Then he pulled out his wand saying, "Before you go to bed, I want to show you something. "

I wondered what my father was about to do. He said an incantation, and on the right side of the portrait, in the large empty space I'd always questioned, appeared a woman that looked very much like my grandmother, but had curly, funny hair and looked more…insane…and…slutty.

"My maternal aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange, formerly Black, a Death Eater…she taught me scary things, Scorpius. She's dead, thanks to Weasley's mum…but still, we got rid of anything relating to her, so she couldn't possibly somehow influence you, and I stopped contacting my parents because I didn't want you to grow up as I had- as a slimy git. Everything I've done in the past eleven years has only been out of love and devotion for you and your mother."

I was starstruck. What…how…I'd gotten ten more answers then I could have hoped for, but I was left with a thousand more questions.

My father did another spell, and my great-aunt Bellatrix vanished from the portrait once more.

"Merry Christmas, Scorpius." He kissed my forehead, and went upstairs to bed.

"One more thing, Father…how come Hogwarts is better than Durmstrang?"

My father paused at the head of the staircase, and looked down at me and said, "Because you learn so much more…don't be up too late now." He winked and disappeared.

I stood frozen, still looking at the empty spot in the portrait. It was eerie. To see how one person could be here one moment, and gone the next. I reached a slightly shaking hand towards the spot my father was in, as if touching that spot would help me understand him more, to get closer with him, and once a centimeter away, my father called to me from upstairs.

I jumped back, coming back to reality, and my hand fell limply to my side "Coming!" I shouted up to him, and I went upstairs, with one final glance at the portrait, and then I continued on my way, trying to ignore how the portrait now scared and intrigued me.

...

A/N: The one person here, next gone in a moment line foreshadows something in the story. ;) Take your guesses at what it is in REVIEWS!