THE BINDING OF FATES

CHAPTER 26

OF WOLF AND MAN

Gryffindor Hero, 17, is grievously injured facing a Dark Wizard.

Harry put down yesterday's Daily Prophet on the tray alongside the Healer's clipboard at the foot of Oliver's bed. Four days had passed since the capture of Ellewyn-Sare. They were in one of the more comfortable rooms used for long term Curse Recovery at St. Mungo's.

"Ollie, mate, you're the real deal. Not some stupid newspaper's gimmick to sell copies," Harry reinforced. "I don't know if you can hear me. But I'm so, so sorry. I wish I could have done more, anything, something.. I should've helped, instead of.. just blurt out-"

Oliver Wood lay sleeping, deeply sedated. Harry watched the young man's chest rise and fall evenly, and the amputee dressing on his right shoulder. The memories of what happened to George's ear after Snape used the same curse was vivid in his mind's eye. The Healers confirmed to the Headmaster and Oliver's parents what Harry knew all along: the Sectumsempra curse was incurable when it cut clean through.

St Mungo's afternoon visiting period was now finished. The Hogwarts contingent that came to visit had eventually trickled out the room. Jon and Katie were the last to leave a few minutes before. Professor McGonagall and all of her students who chose to visit today were currently waiting for him in the public seating area six levels down.

Harry had asked Professor McGonagall if she would allow him to stay behind for a bit, he wanted some time alone with Ollie. She agreed and gave him ten minutes to come down. He thought about Oliver's future plans of becoming a Quidditch player. He contemplated if Oliver knew that his dream was over at the precise moment his arm was severed in the Great Hall. Harry felt the pressure of responsibility weigh heavy upon him. He was the mastermind behind the whole incident.

It was his fault.

Did blaming himself really matter now, though? He needed to fix it; damn it, not wallow in guilt. Right now, he did not have a bloody clue about how to fix this. Nobody, except Snape and himself, knew how dangerous this spell really was. No, that was not one hundred percent correct.

Michael knew.

For him to know about Sectumsempra- that Ravenclaw snake must have found the 'Half Blood Prince' textbook. That potions text in the wrong hands was an aspiring Dark Wizard's dream. Especially to a genius-level Alchemist like Michael. A genius-level Azkaban detainee by this time next week. Harry hoped they somehow incriminated Lucius Malfoy in the process, even though he knew that was going to be a longshot.

"I knew you wanted to go pro. The others and I followed your debut match on the wireless." Harry's voice choked up. Memories of his previous life kept pressuring him with added guilt. Some of the students downstairs that died alongside him that terrible night; Colin Creevy, Lavender and Fred, were part of that listening party that weekend. The were all so proud that Oliver made it into the big leagues.

"You didn't do it for me, or for the money. You did it because of what you believed in. Gryffindors protect those who need it, and are brave enough to stand up for what's right. You didn't do it for the bloody boy-who-lived, neither all the galleons in the world. He... that fucker... raped Penelope- and almost killed Katie and Hermione! I would have taken him out myself if I..."

I wasn't afraid I would instantaneously fall into the Darkness and become another Voldemort...

The Horcrux inside of him was no more. He knew this. But that didn't mean Harry James Potter of Godric's Hollow could not be corrupted. In fact, due to his soul being cleaved twice, he suspected that he was prime material for the Darkness to embrace him.

Harry was afraid to think that was why his eyes turned Red when he descended into one of his magically empowered rages. That was another problem he had to figure out.

"I don't know for sure what is going to happen ...about this..." Harry murmured in frustration, both of his own predicament and also about Oliver's grave injury. Harry thought about Voldemort's 'Metal Hand' spell he used on Pettigrew's severed wrist. Useful as it was, he was afraid to even research it. If he found that Dark magic spell the temptation to actually use it and re-grow Oliver's arm would surely drive him insane. Anything Voldemort did couldn't be good, he was sure it would negatively affect the both of them in the long run. Harry cursed in frustration.

"Gryffindor will remember. I will remember the sacrifice you made."

Harry patted Oliver's good shoulder. Harry felt a hollow tug on his heart, watching his first mentor's tragic fate. He rubbed his face, trying to centre himself before the tears came. He forced a positive tone upon what he said next, trying to push back the sorrow building up.

"Oh yeah. I didn't forget what you said on the first day back either. You wanted the Double championship, right? So here's the latest: there's been a repeat of a first year becoming Seeker. She owned the tryouts, I hear."

On the bedside table was Oliver's Special Award For Services To the School. Next to it, was his wand and his well-used but immaculately cared for Keeper's reinforced gloves.

Harry stood up, ready to leave and join the others downstairs. He picked up the gloves. "I'll let Ginny do the Snitchin'. I'm going to win your Cup back. I think I have some mighty big gloves to fill..." Harry wiped back tears that escaped. "And an arm to replace," he promised quietly.

Harry picked up the quill and wrote his message on Oliver's Get Well Soon card.

To Ollie the Brave

Stay strong. We will fix this, together.

-Harry

Two weeks after Oliver's duel Hogwarts was finally getting back to normal. Over the course of the first week Aurors interviewed Penelope, Katie and Hermione separately. Marcus Flint's trial was cancelled and he was allowed to return home. Due to his official expulsion, his parents opted not to send him back to Hogwarts, but to ship him off to finish his NEWTS in Durmstrang. Auror Drinkwater was hospitalized for a few days at St Mungo's and was sent home for bed rest while his arm healed.

The majority of students were either angry or somber, going through the motions of class with the tragic events of the fight weighing down on their minds. Also, the surge in school spirit brought about by the extra-curricular dueling practices waned without a Defense against the Dark Arts instructor/ facilitator to Champion the tournament. The Gryffindor Quidditch team was still mourning the absence of their Captain, being severely injured and hospitalized under observation. Practice was unofficially cancelled for those two weeks.

Harry did not tell anyone as yet of his plans to volunteer as Keeper. It felt too soon. The first Quidditch match was coming up in a few weeks, so sooner or later he would have to let Angelina know. Jon had encouraged him to learn combat techniques in the Room of requirement during the Defense free periods and after dinner. Harry felt like a punching bag after some of these sessions.

During the month of October Harry and Jon kept Tonks informed of what was happening through owl correspondence. Tonks reported that their guest had recovered sufficiently by Monday night, and she gave him the 'all clear' to leave by Tuesday morning. Remus implied that he would be in touch, but Harry didn't think that he would actually keep to his word. He got the impression that Remus remembered the things that he did while he was a werewolf, and it embarrassed him. Tonks, being Tonks, had persuaded him to leave reliable contact information as a courtesy for his rescue and her hospitality. Remus had reluctantly agreed before he eventually left the mansion Tuesday after lunch.

Focused solely on finding a way to help Ollie, Harry brainstormed with Katie, Hermione, Penelope and Lee Jordan every other evening after dinner in the Constellation Skydome Tower.

On their third meeting, Hermione eventually came up with a great idea. She put forward that they copy the same knowledge group format that the Official Arithmancy Guild used. Basically, they should encourage Professional Spell Creators to work together in a network to research ways to cure Oliver. Harry nodded enthusiastically. He should have thought of that as well, as he and Jon did sign up to the Guild to facilitate the legal creation of their bracers.

Ironically, it was Michael Ellewyn-Sare who had initially signed the both of them up. It was also how he came to know of Hermione's lack of magical heritage in the first place. Going into Diagon to fix his wand this second time around definitely made a big splash in the pond of Fate.

"Hermione- you're brilliant. Simply wonderful," Harry raised his hand for a high five. Hermione grinned, and connected. However, she did something strange at the end of the friendly gesture. Instead of simply clapping their palms, she lightly entwined her fingers between his.

To Harry, it felt very intimate and personal; and a tad bit awkward. She held his hand between them lightly for a few heartbeats, smiling at him. Harry got the impression that Hermione forgot that there were three other people in the room. Katie and Penelope frowned from the other side of their makeshift meeting table. Eventually Hermione caught on.

"Um," Hermione gently moved away her hand, leaving Harry's hanging in mid-air awkwardly. She cleared her throat as she composed herself. "No problem. That's what we're here for, right?"

Harry looked at her face, partially hidden behind her once again bushy hair. She was blushing, all right. He gave her a reassuring smile.

"Right," Harry agreed, nodding, taking back up the quill and dipping it into the ink bottle. He could feel Katie's eyes boring into the top of his head as he wrote down notes.

You're an idiot, Potter. And you thought it was Jon she fancied.

Harry cleared his mind and emotions using all of his occlumency ability to keep a straight face as he finished writing down her idea. When he knew his expression was composed, he looked up from the parchment. He opened his palms in an inviting manner towards the other three. "So, how about it? Sounds good? Suggestions? Bell? Penelope, Lee?"

Lee Jordan nodded, oblivious to the undercurrents happening between the junior Gryffindor students. "Great idea, Granger. I think his mom would like that. She's a researcher herself, works in magical transportation. Very pro-academic when it comes to things like this."

The other two girls nodded in agreement, but did not add anything further.

"Good. I'll discuss this with my Instructor, see how he can get things moving. As soon as something concrete happens, I'll let you guys know." He began to pack his things.

"Potter. You're a cheeky one," Penelope said suddenly. Harry froze. "Very informed and ... organized. How old are you, again?"

Harry raised an eyebrow. Ever since Michael's confession at the duel, Penelope had become very direct with him, and Jon. Like if she suspected that Harry had a much larger role in what happened. She remembered that the three girls were supposed to meet with Drinkwater after that weekend, but everything escalated very quickly that fateful Sunday. Oliver and Michael had put on a show, similar to what Jon and Harry had done at the lake, just with vastly greater stakes.

He wasn't sure what suspicions she had, but he had to tread carefully. Ravenclaws were perceptive. Very perceptive.

"Thirteen next July," Harry answered calmly. "And yourself?"

Penelope scowled at him. "Seventeen next September... I'll be in seventh year."

"And I'll be in third year," Harry said smoothly, using the same obvious tone.

"Hm," Penelope said, folding her arms. Her eyes contested his with a glare.

Harry got the feeling that Penelope was investigating him. He would have to get Alexandria or someone he trusted to find out if the revelation of what happened to her was causing this aggressive shift in personality. Finding out you were forced into having sex but having no memory of it happening could mess a girl up.

"The chill is coming through the barrier," Katie said abruptly, cutting the confrontation off and rescuing Harry. She pulled her outer cloak tighter around her. "If that's all, let's get going."

"Yeah, good idea," Harry said under his breath. The five of them got up and made their way to the drop ladder used to climb into the Telescope Skydome. Lee offered to escort Penelope to wherever she was going from there, but she shook her head, all the while giving Harry strange looks. The Gryffindors waved bye at her, and she waved in return, a skeptical smirk on her face.

"What was that about?" Lee asked as they walked back to the common room.

"I'm not sure," Harry said. There were times he got the vibe from Penelope that she considered him her hero rescuer from the severe hex that had her in the hospital wing. Other times he got the impression that she might somehow be interested in him, strange as that may seem. Now he suspected that she had a morbid fascination with him being the key puzzle piece to solve the critical mysteries going on right now in her life.

He couldn't really blame her. Since interrupting that kissing session on the train ride things went downhill for her, fast. Putting himself in her shoes, he could understand her weird behavior.

A psuedo-boyfriend on the Dark path who robbed her of her virginity; forcing her to walk on a Confundus trap under control from lust potion- and now on the other side of the scale, a fabled boy hero who conveniently was able to rescue her from her sickness and then orchestrate a campaign against the same boyfriend, bringing him to justice.

He wasn't sure if he should talk to her one on one, or somehow let it all settle down on its own. He would ask Jon later for advice.

The following week Harry and Jon asked Tonks, with the help of Master Ollivander, to create a non-profit Arithmancy Organization called Walk In The Light. Using this as a vehicle to put forward an agenda, they appealed to the Seniors in the Arithmancy Guild to research new methods to cure Witches and Wizards who were crippled by Dark Magic. Harry, in his alias role as Roderick Hallow, wrote a letter to Monsieur Loic Lebouf, Remus Lupin, Mr. and Mrs. Wood, and Senior healer Wanderley Warthington Jr.; inviting them to be the lead Researchers of their magical Charity Foundation. The Crow's Vambrace donated a sizable amount of gold into this organization's newly created Gringotts account, with Nymphadora Tonks, Eleanor Potage, and Master Ollivander as the Board of Directors. Remus was the only one yet to respond via post.

The last Friday in October, Angelina held her first formal meeting as Quidditch Captain. It was the evening before Gryffindor's launch of the Quidditch season with the highly anticipated match against Slytherin.

"Right. Thanks for coming, everyone. I'll get straight to it. I apologize for not getting around to this before. It's hard to get motivated... with everything about Ollie and all. This team, this school, meant so much to him." Angelina's eyes were slightly red from crying. Harry always thought she was strong, but Olliver's injury had hit her hard. "That, might have changed. I've visited him at his home a couple times. He wouldn't want me to say it to you guys, but I can tell he's not doing well. He tried to hide it, but I've never seen him like this before. Before, even when he's sad, or upset, he's passionate about it, you know? Now, it is almost like he's gone...cold."

The rest of the team nodded, waiting for her to continue.

"He didn't mention anything school wise; other than he was following the trial. And that Auror Drinkwater came and visited him with his arm in a sling. I got the impression those two are getting along well since the fight."

Harry nodded gravely. Jon told him that men who didn't connect initially usually did after surviving a battle.

"About the team- he didn't give me any hints, tips, or even a blessing. In fact, he didn't say anything at all. I'm not sure that visiting him so soon was a good idea, come to think of it. He wasn't rude or anything, very polite, but...I don't know. He came across, indifferent to the point that maybe we weren't as important as I thought we were. It's hard to explain. I didn't want to pry. I can't really blame him... he might be still trying to adapt. But he did ask me to deliver a message to you, Potter."

"What? What did he say?" Harry asked.

"Keep your promise," Angelina said solemnly.

"I will," Harry nodded. Oliver had heard him!

"May I ask what promise is that?" Angelina asked politely. Harry thought that the night before the match was a good time as any to bring this up.

"Um. I don't know if you have a shortlist - from tryouts..."

"I have the list of attendees here, but that was mainly for your spot," Angelina said. She pointed at Ginny who was simply sitting there, listening quietly. "She was our pick, as you know. Nobody else made reserve members, yet. Now that you're back..." Angelina shot Ginny a quick glance. Ginny nodded at Angelina briefly, and smiled, as if to say "It's okay."

"Right." Harry dug in his bag and took out Oliver's gloves. "I want to take Ollie's position. I want to be keeper."

"What?" the twins said at exactly the same time. Angelina's eyebrows shot up. Ginny looked flabbergasted.

"I don't really care about anyone else you think might be good enough. It's mine. That was my promise."

"Oh," Katie breathed in awe. She studied Harry with hero worship in her eyes. It was a good thing at that moment Harry was having an intense stare down with Angelina, because he would have buried himself into the couch in embarrassment at her expression. Angelina smiled, nodding immediately.

"Done. That message was the only thing that made him...come alive. So I assume it means a lot to him. It's yours. Any objections? Anyone?" Angelina asked. There was none.

"Glad to have you back," Katie said, her eyes slightly damp with emotion. She got up. "You are something else, Potter. Give up the glory position to take on the scapegoat role? Only you would do something like this." She performed the mind numbing Gryffindor handshake with him. "Now I know why that Carrow girl calls you two heroes."

"Harry. Would I still be able to ride on your broomstick?" Ginny asked. The twins blanched in mock horror. Harry and his perverted mind thought instantaneously of Tonks' naughty gesture in France when she mounted his Quicksilver. Harry nodded to Ginny immediately. He was not entertaining any thought that Ginny would have meant what she said in any other way.

Tonks was Tonks. Ginny was just another little girl. An eleven year old girl.

Now he knew exactly how Tonks felt. Sorta. He, on the other hand, was a special case.

"Sure," Harry reassured. "I have another."

"Well! That solves that issue!" Angelina said delightedly. The somber atmosphere of the meeting vanished. Angelina spoke up, revitalized. "Tomorrow... stick to strategy A, nothing fancy. Flint is gone as well... so Bole probably took over. He's a beater... doubt he has any good strats to worry about. And Malfoy thinks new brooms can compensate for a lack of skill. Easy win, then. We'll make Ollie proud! Bring it in you lot!"

Angelina offered her hand face down in the middle of her teammates. The rest of them immediately got up and placed their hands on top of hers.

"Roar, the Red lions!" She chanted.

"Gryffindor!"

"Roar, the Red Lions!" She demanded.

"Gryffindor!"

"Roar, the Red Lions!" She cried.

"Gryffindor!"

The group chant completed, Angelina folded her arms and scrutinized her team. "Ok. Be at the dressing room promptly at 11:30. Match on at noon." With the meeting finished, the rest of the team filtered out the empty classroom. "Harry, thanks," she said as he passed.

"Don't mention it," Harry waved off. Angelina watched him go, fascinated. Something was off about those two lads.

"Tonks has mailed again," Jon said quietly as soon as Harry sat down for dinner in the great hall. Jon had already eaten and was waiting on him to finish his Quidditch meeting.

"What's up?" Harry asked. Any mail from her around full moon, or a weekend, had him uneasy. Jon shook his head as he got up.

"Eat quickly. Then meet me in the dorm." Jon left the table. Ron and Hermione watched him leave. Harry could have sworn that she looked disappointed as her eyes followed him out.

That couldn't be, could it? Bookish Hermione fancied both Jon and I?

Harry sighed. He dished out a plateful of mash potatoes, beans, mutton, and vegetables. He attacked it with vigour. Katie plopped down right next to him. Very close, in fact.

"Careful," she warned. "Sleeping on a heavy stomach is bad luck for Keepers," Katie teased.

"Mm-hm," Harry dismissed that talk. Katie was wearing a perfume that smelled nice. It definitely caught his attention. He looked across to her. "Hey," he greeted.

"Hey," she said, pouring herself some juice. "You want?" she offered to pour a glass for him.

"Sure," Harry agreed. Ginny and Hermione's eyes narrowed.

"So," Katie lowered her voice. "You are a tough one to find. Where do you disappear to sometimes?" Katie's eyes twinkled mischievously.

"Looking out for me, huh?" Harry smiled, spooning another mouthful.

"Maybe. You're dodging, though," Katie teased.

"What's it to you?" Harry asked, intrigued. Katie never really paid this much attention to him.

"Um. I was kind of wondering... Next week is my first Hogsmeade visit. I know you sometimes disappear on the weekend. Maybe you could set it up with your Instructor so..." Katie trailed off, nodding encouragingly for Harry to connect the dots.

Harry watched her for a few moments, Katie anxiously waiting for his response. It finally dawned on him. Harry's eyes widened a bit, and he sipped on the juice she graciously put in his hand.

Katie was asking him out on a Hogsmeade visit!

"So you know about my apprenticeship then?"

"A girl has her sources," she said airily. Harry touched his chin in thought.

"I'll try, I will have to mail him," Harry said truthfully. He didn't know if Master Ollivander would put in a request for them to leave school grounds next week. Wait, next week was the first week in November. "Is next weekend the eight and ninth?"

"Yeah, that's what the form says," she double checked the permission slip.

"Right, I think I do have a workshop thing going on. The Hogsmesde trip, um.. day off is on Sunday, right?"

"Yes..." Katie bit her lip. "Will that be a problem?

Jon and himself had to travel to London that weekend to meet Master Ollivander. He informed the both of them that as part of their training, they were required to shop for the heavy press and bench carver they would need to set up a functional workshop at Hogwarts. Also, they would have to source the hand held tools themselves.

"I will technically have permission for the weekend off, so once we bring everything back by Saturday evening, I could hang out with you on Sunday."

Katie beamed prettily. Harry smiled back at her. Katie was radiant when she smiled, usually she was taking the mick out of other girls with her partner in crime Alicia Spinnet. She could be mean with her insults when she was ready, but that was her style. She was funny, and was a steadfast teammate and friend.

"So..." Katie rolled her hands, eager for a response. "That's a Yeah?" she indicated between the both of them; subtly out of view under the table.

Hogsmeade seemed like innocent fun. "Sure, yeah," Harry agreed.

"Sweet," Katie drained her juice and touched him on his arm as she got up. "Remember to go in early and get some rest. Tomorrow we're going to be a bit rusty, seeing as we had no practice for a while. We need everyone to be sharp," she winked at him.

"Right-o," Harry agreed. Katie left with a happy smile on her face. Harry caught Hermione spying and she immediately ducked around to talk to Ron. Ron, on the other hand, looked a bit down. Harry hoped that allowing his younger sister to use his Nimbus wasn't a sore spot for him. Knowing Ron, that was probably the exact reason he had such a gloomy look.

Harry pushed those thoughts aside and hurriedly ate his dinner. Jon was waiting on him.

"Remus mailed Tonks this morning. She says that he wants to come back and spend the full moon locked away. Something about the silver cage helping him to curtail the self mutilation cuts and injuries."

Harry read through her post. She was coming in that evening on the Hogwarts express because she had lecture whole week in London, along with all the errands the Walk In The Light Foundation pressed upon her. Eleanor Potage handled most of the administrative work, but moving around freely in the Ministry of Magic and various other locations was Tonks' responsibility.

She also gave him a heads up that Drinkwater would return the next weekend. Her main concern was getting the silver cage back inside the barn, and making sure it could be locked again. Precious metals were resistant to magic and her levitation spell barely nudged the heavy cage. Remus would be popping in around eight, and was hoping to spend the night and following day under 'supervision'.

"Jon," Harry's brain was in overdrive. "This is not good."

"What do you mean?"

"Life and Luck are fucking with us!" Harry retorted.

"You forget that I do not know everything that happened before," Jon shrugged.

"They got married before, man. If this becomes a regular thing, as it's every full moon... Damn it all to hell!"

"Ah. There is a term we used in my world. Remus is going to be a massive problem in your future... romantic endeavors. That, Harry of House Hollow, will be a Cock Block of the highest order."

"We use the same term. And it's not funny," Harry deadpanned. Jon laughed at him. "I need to put in some serious leg work for about three years before I am old enough to be remotely in her league. Remus already has this broken wizard with a mysterious past thing going on. Plus he is a man... while I'm just... well, I don't know what I am, actually..." Harry sighed dramatically.

Jon folded his arms. "And you say assassination is completely out, yes?" Jon's eyes twinkled.

Even Jon's twinkle ability surpassed his. What the hell was he doing wrong, dammit!

"Ha. You're a funny guy, Snow." Harry did well to suppress his chuckle.

"My advice is to divert his attention away from Nymphadora."

Harry felt a pang of jealousy how Jon called Tonks by her first name. Nobody called her by her first name, except for him of course. But Jon was on to something... a diversion? Hm.

"Diversion you say. Like what?"

"Freeing your godfather of course," Jon stared at Harry. "You forgot, didn't you?"

Holy shit. He did forget!

"I'm surprised you remembered, to be honest." Harry was putting all his energy focusing first on Michael and the basilisk, then Ollie, that he totally forgot about Peter Pettigrew and Sirius.

"I'm Jon Black, Harry. I cannot forget my own last name."

"Right, silly me. It's a bit after seven. I have to think about that plan in detail sometime soon. For now, we'll need to sneak out."

Harry and Jon used the Marauder's map to plot a course out of the castle relatively unobserved. When they emerged at the exit to the Quidditch pitch, Jon mounted his broom. Harry put on his apprentice mask and took a running leap into the sky. Jon was going completely the wrong direction until Harry tapped him on the shoulder in midair, indicating they should fly over the Forbidden Forest instead of following the road to Hogsmeade and then east towards the station.

To Harry's discomfort, there were random Threstrals already doing their mating rituals, aggressively jumping in and out of the canopy.

"JON!"

"YEAH!"

"ARE YOU GOING FULL SPEED?" Harry shouted right next to him.

"YEAH!"

"WE'RE ATTRACTING A CHALLENGER!"

"WHAT DO WE DO?"

"I'LL HAVE TO GO FASTER. IT'S ME THEY WANT! TRY TO STAY ON ME!"

Harry accelerated like a slingshot. Jon tried his best, but Harry shot off so fast, he was nought but a speck of magical light in the distance within the night sky. Jon leaned lower on his broom coaxing as much speed as he could. Harry was already gone and out of sight. Within five minutes he was clear of the forest and bearing down on the horse pasture and Barn.

Jon landed next to Harry. Harry shot up the Fireworks spell using his Fwooper on Cedar. Minutes later a warmly bundled Tonks, and a heavily cloaked Remus Lupin walked across the backyard and met them at the frost covered cage.

"Wotcher, Jon, Harry!" Tonks waved. "Come and meet a (sane) Remus Lupin. This is Jon Black," Tonks introduced.

"Jon who?" Remus searched his face as they shook hands. "I don't know anything about another Black," Remus countered.

"Regulus Black and Gemma Ollivander are my parents," Jon bowed slightly. "They passed when I was very young."

"Gemma? She was the sweetest, quietest girl ... why would she choose him, I wonder..." Remus muttered. "Pardon me young man, I am sorry for your loss."

"I have grown accustomed," Jon said simply. "I take no offense."

"Right," Tonks said awkwardly. "So I got the lock," Tonks clumsily dropped it as she took it out a shopping bag. Remus instinctively caught it but dropped it immediately upon contact with his skin.

"Ow!" he hissed.

"Sorry about that," Tonks picked up the sturdy Silver Lock and key set. "Harry, move this back in please."

Harry levitated the cage off the lawn and carefully manipulated it back into the barn. Remus pursed his lips as he followed them inside. Tonks stood up casually under the five hundred pounds or more Silver Cage. She made sure the trapdoor floor was still intact.

"Aren't you... worried, Miss Tonks?" Remus was uneasy seeing this young girl shining her wand underneath the heavy contraption.

"About?" she asked absentmindedly, making sure all the moving parts were not frozen or rusted over.

"The cage falling!" Remus snapped.

"Course not. Harry has it," she began fiddling with the keys and lock in her hand, making sure it snapped shut and opened freely.

"It's... disturbing."

"Harry's strongest magical spell is levitation. He can also fly," Jon said simply.

Remus laughed at his joke. "I like you lad, wait..." Remus looked around the barn. "I fought with you in here!"

"Yes." Jon nodded. Tonks was now watching the both of them avidly.

"I distinctly remember... getting my arse kicked," Remus said, embarrassed.

"You were not yourself," Jon explained.

Remus and Jon stared at each other for a few moments. Remus grinned. "Dart hits bull. And the Executioner's swing, right?" Remus prodded.

"Correct."

"I've been experiencing a strange dream. Of the White Wolf. A wolf in a man's body, and man in a wolf's body."

"Really," Jon folded his arms, defensive.

"Really," Remus said, intrigued. "I believe this wolf kept saying those two terms in my dreams: Dart Hits Bull, Executioner's Swing."

"A remarkable coincidence," Jon deadpanned.

"It still works," Tonks declared. She demonstrated the trapdoor mechanism and snapped the padlock on the bolting pin. "We have a problem, though."

"What problem?" Remus asked, coming next to her and looking up.

"I can't lift the cage without Harry here. How am I to lock you in, then set you free?" Tonks put her hands on her hips. "Ten o'clock you start to transform, right?"

"That is the earliest time, yes," Remus agreed. "The reverting stages usually start around dawn."

"I can lift it, whenever you are ready," Harry offered.

"Harry, that will be late, then very early. You can't spend the night," Tonks said absentmindedly. Harry felt a tingle run down his spine at those words. Memories of her Sauna incident jumped into his mind. Tonks pointed towards the roof of the barn. "And I'm not trusting those beams to support the weight, especially if I have to stand under this, with Wolfie inside."

"Wolfie?" Remus repeated, chuckling.

"Put the cage on it's side." Jon offered.

"No," Remus said. "We get exponentially stronger the longer we are locked up through the night. The cage is designed like this so we can't reach the lock. It must be physically impossible to reach." Remus demonstrated crushing an object with his bare hands.

"Then, you may need a geared windlass," Jon said.

"A what?" Harry asked.

"The chain and pulley system back at my home."

"Oh, a winch, you mean," Harry translated.

Jon stared a Harry a few seconds. Jon had no idea what a winch was. "Yes." Jon hoped that Harry was thinking of the same thing.

"The Silver lancers would design special broomsticks designed for flying with heavy weight. They attach a chain to two or more of them and carry us around," Remus said quietly.

"How long were you captured for?" Tonks asked.

"Twelve days."

"I'm so sorry," Tonks said, her heart going out to him. "How did they get you?"

"Was looking for work in Romania. Charlie Weasley works there, thought I'd visit him."

"What happened then?" Harry asked.

"Their ICOP wizards seized me when I entered the country. I didn't know their Runic Circle could sense the Lycan Curse. It appears that their new regime has made Werewolves illegal in Romania. Within the hour the Lancers came, and offered them a tidy sum. They broke my wand too. I've been using Miss Nymphadora's Fwooper feather on Cedar. It's a bit wonky, but I get by."

'She loaned out Jon's wand, to a stranger?' Harry thought. The Tonks he knew simply would not do that. Was their thing happening already? Harry's stomach clenched in uncertainty.

"We can make you a new wand, we have a few requests lined up already, Ser Remus," Jon nodded.

"What?" Remus asked, confused.

"We're Ollivander's apprentices," Harry explained. "Believe me, we need to get as much real top class wands out as soon as possible. We'd be happy to help," Harry said halfheartedly. He was beginning to dislike this man, through no fault of Remus'. It was all on his own personal agenda.

"Can I suggest a combination?"

"Sure," Harry said.

"Hair from a white wolf, braided with hair from my alter ego, on Silver Fir," Remus said confidently. "Full bough, no sanding, twelve inches." Harry and Jon repeated the combination to themselves a few times.

"Was that your previous wand?" Harry asked.

"No, not at all. I just had a strong inclination right at that moment to tell you that," Remus shrugged.

"Interesting combination. You wish to be able to counter your Lycan curse with a Wolf themed wand?" Jon asked.

Remus looked at Jon strangely. "Yes, actually. I believe that the wand will counter balance the curse. Hopefully, if my theory is correct, I can at least suppress the blood lust. Or the combination fails and I have a nice stick to play fetch with."

"You will need blood of an enemy to polish this wand," Jon said. "I believe blood spilled unwillingly is the final element for Elite wands."

"Elite wands?" Remus asked, fascinated.

"Wands that are unique to the wielder, custom weapons that are superior to All-purpose wands." Jon stepped back and drew his Diablo claw on Threstral wingbone. "This is an elite wand." With a flick of his wrist it turned into the Claymore sword. "This cut through the original lock like butter."

Remus watched the gleaming sword in Jon's hand. "I'm a lucky man, then. You could have put me out of this misery easily," Remus pointed at the cage.

"I Walk In The Light," Jon said solemnly. Remus regarded the young man with acute interest now.

"A Black that will not turn to the Dark?" Remus muttered. "Very peculiar." Harry resisted correcting him about Sirius. Now was not the time.

Tonks coughed.

"A male Black, that is," Remus corrected himself. "Apologies, Miss Tonks."

"The Ollivander Family has never produced a Dark Wizard, or so I am told," Jon explained.

"You know; that could be true. All records of the Sacred Twenty Eight claim the Ollivanders were an ancient family of smiths that never went rogue, or brought any scandal to their House. Gemma having you with Regulus Black is as pretty far reaching as it gets."

Jon raised his eyebrow.

"I seem to have my foot permanently stuck in my mouth. Sorry, Jon," Remus raised both palms in apology. "Harry, after dinner, you can put me in. I've a few potions to help me sleep. Miss Tonks, you may use whatever means to topple the cage in the morning to unlock me, as you see fit."

"Alright," Tonks said hesitantly. "The Fish and Chips are getting cold. And I could whip up a cottage pie pretty fast. Come on in, before I freeze."

After dinner was finished and Remus and Tonks enjoyed a tumbler of Whiskey, Remus slowly got to his feet. He focused his attention to the west, staring directly through the wall. "It's time for Mr. Hyde," he sighed. "Might you have an old rug, and a bathrobe that you will not miss?" Remus asked his hosts. These items were brought for him. Remus changed in the bathroom, donning the bathrobe and wrapping the old dusty rug around him like a blanket. "Water," he coughed. "Bring me a couple buckets and I'll fill it from the taps. I vaguely remember being fed and watered... I was content for a while. Maybe in another life I was somebody's pet!"

Nobody laughed at this attempt of a joke.

Jon and Harry filled a bucket each and offered to carry it for him. The night was frighteningly cold as they walked across to the Stable House.

Remus went inside, and hesitated when he saw the gleaming silver cage. His whole mannerism deflated. "This is for the best," he reinforced, straightening his shoulders once more. "Come Harry, what you are doing for me is a great service. Thank you in advance. Put the cage on its side."

Harry levitated the cage and rest it smoothly on its side. Tonks looked sad as she slid open the massive dead bolt below the trapdoor. Remus got on all fours, spread the heavy rug on the inside of the cage wall so he wouldn't touch it more than he had to.

"Here," Remus picked up something frozen on the floor of the cage. It was a clump of bloody Werewolf hair. "For the wand project."

Harry took it and put it into a pocket. He felt terrible doing this, locking Remus in a cage. Looking at his friends, he knew they felt the same.

"Tonks, a dozen boiled eggs in the morning and some fresh water and I should be fine, if you can. Do not come within arms length towards the cage. And thanks, once again. You can lock it now."

Tonks came forward slowly and locked the trapdoor with the silver lock. Remus curled up on the rug, gripping tightly to the bars with the rug as insulation. "Put it right side up, I'm ready."

Harry gently maneuvered the cage to the upright position. Remus stood up in the cage, looking at his feet. "Can you tie a rope to the buckets and leave it in arms reach? When I feel thirsty, I will figure out how to pull the buckets close. Miss Tonks, the spell to create a window illusion is Demum Speculo," Remus said sadly. "Can you please put it there," he pointed towards the western wall of the barn. "It lasts only a few hours, but it should be enough for me to get settled in."

Tonks sniffed a couple times as she cast the spell on the wall. The moon was now visible behind the clouds in the night sky. Remus began to cough, loud, racking coughs. "Thank you, everyone," Remus said. He opened a potion bottle and swallowed it down. He sat down with legs crossed, facing the moon. "Lock the doors behind you. All of them."

"I'm sorry," Harry said truthfully. This was tearing him up inside. Remus did this willingly, even though he was imprisoned like a zoo animal in this same cage not even a full month ago. Every full moon, for years, he had to endure something like this.

"You were in Gryffindor, correct?" Jon stated.

"Yes."

"I can tell," Jon nodded gravely. "Fare thee well, Ser Remus," Jon bowed slightly. "We shall be in touch." The Crow's Vambrace stepped out the massive barn and Jon shut the heavy doors with the long two by four length of lumber. Tonks was sniffling as they walked back to the house. She took a deep breath and composed herself.

"No way for a man to live," Tonks said sadly. Jon picked up his broomstick that was leaning up against the wall.

"Agreed. It is a very unfortunate state. Stay safe, milady," Jon gave her a hug.

Harry approached and hugged her after. "We have to go. Stay safe," Harry said sincerely.

Tonks nodded, distraught. "I'll owl you two tomorrow," she promised. "Be careful on the way back."

Harry leapt into the sky, hovering while Jon mounted his broom. The both of them put on their apprentice masks to protect their face against the chill. With a few final waves and a round of goodbyes, they two boys shot off towards Hogwarts.

Harry woke up minutes to nine the following morning. There was a post from Tonks.

'Our guest was nearly frozen in the morning. Had to stun on release. I have him safely secured in the master suite. Showing split personality traits, similar to last time. He should fully recover by Tuesday. Good luck today!'

Harry smiled and thanked Hedwig for getting his post. Hedwig sat on top of her cage, watching him. "Wake me up in fifteen minutes," he yawned sleepily and turned back into bed.

"Harry! What are you doing still in bed!" Ron came charging up the stairs. Harry turned slowly. Ron yanked the sheet off.

"Mwha?" Harry said blearily.

"It's almost half past eleven! Ginny asked me to check up on you!"

Harry shot up in bed. He jumped on the floor and completely missed the bed rug, and the shock of the cold stone surged through his spine. "Yow!" Harry literally jumped six feet in the air.

Ron froze as Harry collapsed in a heap on his bed.

"Mate- how did you do that..." Ron's jaw was detached.

"Kick those over please," Harry begged, pointing at his trainers. Ron tossed them on the bed for him. "Didn't know it was so late! Can you let the others know I will be there in the changing room in ten minutes?"

"Make it five!" Ron pointed a finger at him and dashed back down the steps.

Ten minutes later Harry came skidding into the changing rooms, his Quicksilver in hand.

"Whoa," Angelina remarked. "That's a Quicksilver, innit?" Angelina frowned.

"Yeah."

"Those are the fastest propulsion brooms available," she stated.

"I think they're pretty fast, yeah."

Angelina huffed. "Potter, those aren't Quidditch brooms. They are designed for long distance travel."

Harry shrugged.

"As a keeper, you need to be agile, and able to change direction quickly."

Harry saw where she was getting at. A seeker may need a quick burst of forward speed much more than the keeper. "I got this," Harry said confidently, pulling on his gloves and then adding the keeper vambrace from Gryffindor's gear trunk. The rest of the gang came over to inspect the broom.

"This is a heavily rear-distributed stabilizer propulsion model," Fred said. "Straight-line launch and top end speed of one hundred and eighty six kilos per hour! Brakes are like non existent," George said. "You planning to punch through on a Keeper-counter?"

"That's a Tornadoes' tactic, Potter," Alicia Spinnet laughed. "Too bad they are only a mid table team!"

"No, I'm planning to pick up the slack when these two don't protect our... delicate Quaffle handlers," Harry nodded at the twins.

"Cor- he's late and cheeky. We're offensive beaters, you know that. Ollie could have handled it just fine. Crying about buckling under pressure already, Potter?"

"Unlike you two, I make Quidditch look easy, gentlemen. This is what an Immortal Hero does for fun," Harry shrugged nonchalantly. Angelina used her hand to stifle her laugh at the two red-heads.

"Ouch," Fred said.

"Nice," George nodded in defeat.

"Conditions?" Harry asked Angelina.

"Snow, a lot of glare off the Ravenclaw tower windows. If we get the southern hoops, I think they would attack from that angle to blind you."

"Got it," Harry nodded.

"Let's get acclimatized. Mount up!" Angelina ordered. The team took to the field and warmed up for ten minutes. Harry saw the students filling up the stands. He didn't spot Tonks in the visitor section. She must be still guarding Remus.

Harry felt a bit of panic. Tonks was really affected by Remus' circumstances. Jon had a point. He had to get them away from each other or it was all over before he even had a chance to begin. Sometimes he hated knowing future events. It made him believe he could change everything through manipulation. Long term strategy was never one of his stronger points.

Before he even knew it, both sides were hovering above the pitch, Angelina Johnson and Andrew Bole listening attentively to Madame Hooch's instructions. Lee Jordan's voice came over the megaphone.

"And Good Day to everybody out here on this chilly Saturday! Welcome to the first match of the season, the eternal rivalry- Gryffindor vs Slytherin! Alongside me assisting with the color commentary is the new kid on the block- give it up for Jon 'Defense Against Defense Against the Dark Arts' Black!"

There was a cheer and a round of applause from the crowd. Harry looked across to the commentator booth. Jon seemed to be quite a popular student. He was simply dressed in his white shirt, Gryffindor tie, with only the Hogwarts pullover as protection against the cold. His hair blew free in the chilly breeze.

"Hello, fellow students. Honored guests." Jon's voice joined in without emotion.

"Aren't you cold?" Lee Jordan laughed.

"No. This is wonderful."

"Alright then. Make that Jon 'Defense Against Defense Against the Dark Arts aaaaaand Hypothermia' Black! Bell and Bole are poised and ready for the Quaffle toss! Katie Bell has a 14 out of 15 stat record for first possession! Bole doesn't have a chance! She is lightning at tip off!"

"The toss goes to Bell of House Gryffindor." The Gryffindor section cheered.

"Yes it does! 15 out of 16! Tip off specialist stats we're seeing here, folks!"

"Challenge on Miss Spinnet from behind. This is allowed?" A boo came from the Gryffindor section.

"It isn't! First foul!" Slytherin's supporters whistled the call.

"An act of intent. A sign of things to come- the Cowards."

"That it is! Slytherin form up defensively!"

The Gryffindor team executed a perfect set play of four passes and a dummy catch. Angelina swooped down and caught the defense unaware.

"And Angelina sinks it in the middle hoop! 10-0!"

"Slytherin's vanguard was decimated into a feast for maggots."

"Um, Yes! What he said!"

Draco Malfoy made a sweeping dive towards Harry's hoops. Harry glanced in his line of sight. He definitely would have noticed if the Snitch was in his vicinity. Draco changed direction and was charging directly towards him in front of the posts. Ginny was quick on his heels.

"Is it a feint? Or Has Draco spotted the snitch?!" Lee cried. "Gryffindor's new Seeker, First year Ginny Weasley is giving chase!"

Draco wasn't feinting. He was simply charging Harry down. Harry hovered protectively in front of the three goal hoops. He continued tracking the Quaffle, ignoring Draco's chicken run.

"It's a ram! Ladies Gentlemen we are witnessing Durmstrang's The Viking's Lance maneuver!"

Harry wasn't impressed and Draco eventually had to veer off before he slammed into the goal hoops.

"A Lion does not waver when the baby snake hisses."

"So true! So True! Uh Oh! Here comes Slytherin's first attack on Gryffindor's new keeper, Harry Potter! Slytherin's attack strategy assigns Bole to escort their top goalscorer, Montgomery 'Canon-Ball' Montague as a Wizard-guard!"

The two largest Slytherin seventh years rode in tandem from the angle Angelina warned Harry about. The glare off the windows was shining right into his eyes.

"Forge can't Bludger him off! Forge number two is coming in for a body check! Montgomery Montague shields the Quaffle strongly and deflects the shoulder barge! Ouch! Katie's attempted steal is intercepted by her opposite number Montell Montague! Good brotherly combo that!"

Harry swerved left and right, randomly hesitating before his three hoops in preparation for the shot off Montgomery's powerful right arm. Fred and George were scrambling to get back in formation to protect him, but the three Slytherin attackers and their beater Bole had excellent flight trajectory and were bearing down on him, unimpeded.

"It's four on one!" Lee wailed. Montgomery executed perfect technique and slung the quaffle while simultaneously whipping his broom around. Harry had never seen a Quaffle blur that fast. Harry instinctively darted to his left.

There was a loud SMACK and Harry's right palm was ringing in pain. His muscles trembled with the shock running through his arm. Time appeared to come to a standstill as his breath misted against the back of Ollie's glove. At that speed, it would have broken his face.

The four Slytherins flew past in celebration, sure it had gone in.

"SAVE!" Lee shouted over the megaphone.

"He is the Light that Brings the Dawn. The Shield that Guards the Realms of Men."

"The 'Realms of Men'? Really? It's only Quidditch, Black!"

"Pass it off, Potter!" Angelina's shrill scream broke Harry's momentary lapse in concentration. He launched it towards her. Angelina caught it and the three Gryffindor girls swerved in a synchronized u turn. Harry's heart began to race. Adrenaline ran through his veins as his team's counterattack sped towards the opposite end of the pitch. They scored easily without the Slytherins in proper defensive formation.

Wow. If this is the adrenaline Ollie and Ron went through, I've been playing the wrong position this whole time.

"Alright! Defence!" he encouraged his mates as the Slytherins were once again on the attack.

Harry trudged through the light snow on the pitch. The noise of the crowd was nothing compared to the ringing in his ears. He felt as if he was struck in the head with Jon's boxing gloves, or better yet, Tonks' high kick to the ear. He stared at the immediate path in front of him, lost in a trance. His teammates were a dozen or so yards behind him, being swarmed by the Gryffindor supporters.

Harry had slipped free, mindlessly putting one foot in front the other as he made his way towards the slightly warmer conditions of the Gryffindor changing room.

Ron ran up to him, concerned. He realized Harry wasn't in the crowd celebrating with them.

"You all right, Harry?" Ron said, concerned, yet full of infectious energy. The mob was chasing after them, he could hear the chant and their rushing footsteps.

"I think so," Harry nodded.

"This has never happened before!" Ron said excitedly, out of breath. "Bill and Charlie are going to go absolutely nutter! Oh shit, here they come!" The entire Gryffindor house had sprinted upon them from behind. Fred, George and Alicia were the last to reach and literally threw themselves on top the swarm of heavily bundled up students that crushed around Harry.

Harry could have sworn that George's knee guard was pressing painfully into his neck. There was a girlish scream as Cormac had to frantically grab Alicia by her hips because she was falling head over heels into the mosh pit. Colin Creevy was somewhere in the mud, almost trampled by the crush. So was his mate, Jean Marc, but both boys didn't care. They contributed relentlessly to the raucous house chant; regardless of potentially being trampled by seventy-something Gryffindors.

"CLEAN SHEET ! CLEAN SHEET ! CLEAN SHEET ! CLEAN SHEET ! CLEAN SHEET !"

Harry himself could not have believed it. Twelve catch and returns, sixteen blocks, one steal, and one kick out. Thirty saves on thirty shots on target. Even to his vast and articulate Quidditch knowledge, that was impossible.

"CLEAN SHEET ! CLEAN SHEET ! CLEAN SHEET ! CLEAN SHEET ! CLEAN SHEET !"

"Harry, you were a fucking demon out there!" Angelina cried in joy. She grabbed him in a headlock. Out of all the Gryffindors, Angelina had the most poise and elegance of all his housemates. This unexpected scandalous behaviour brought him back to reality.

"Erm... thanks," Harry grinned. He didn't know what he was feeling inside. This was impossible.

By the time Angelina managed to kick all non-players out of the changing room, it was snowing heavily.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Ollie wanted records to be broken," Angelina said solemnly as they geared down.

The team all looked up to her. Her face cracked open in the widest smile Harry had ever seen on her face.

"We bloody shattered them!"

There was a rousing cheer from the team, with fists in the air.

"Two hundred and ninety to zero!" Angelina screamed in victory.

"Zero!" George screamed.

"Zero!" Fred chorused.

Harry smiled at their antics. He unstrapped the leather reinforced vambraces on his arm. His hands were smarting something terrible. Montgomery Montague and his younger brother Montell both had a rocket of a shot. When he took off Ollie's gloves and protective Vambraces, he hissed in pain.

Both hands were swollen and painful, and there were two large black and blue bruises on his forearms, the force of impact still managing to do this much damage even under the Quidditch protective gear. It hurt to even try to make a fist.

"Yowza," Alicia said, spotting his hands. "Katie! The rub!" she called. Katie looked across. She frowned at her friend's concerned expression.

"I'm on it," Katie said, digging in Angelina's Quidditch bag. When she came to use the healing balm she looked at Harry seriously.

"This is going to smart like a bloody hell, but it will stop it from keeping you awake overnight in pain. Hold still."

The balm was hot on his hands. Katie tended to the welts and swollen joints. Harry flinched suddenly when she pressed a spot on his right hand. "Crap. You might have broken one of the metacarpals. Pomfrey time. Skip, I'm taking him to the Hospital wing," Katie said over her shoulder towards Angelina.

"Smashing job, Potter. Keep it up. I'll see you later," Angelina said as they walked out. When they were alone, Harry cradled his right arm in his left hand.

"You don't have to walk with me," Harry smirked. "I know where it is."

"It's team etiquette that someone walks with the injured to the medical wing," Katie countered with a smile.

"Oh, since when?" Even in the previous life he had never heard of that. Probably because he was the one usually knocked unconscious. Thinking back, people must have thought he was a soft-bellied little flower to be fainting and passing out every other month.

"Since I said so," she chummily walked sideways into his shoulder, pushing him playfully to the side. Harry returned the favour. "And... I wanted to. That's what counts, actually."

"Fair enough."

"Good game. I had my doubts. You're a bit .. on the slight side."

Considering that Ollie was over six foot, that was an understatement. "I have to bulk up a bit to take this on a regular basis."

"Oh I don't know. The Montague brothers train with a professional shooting coach. But they're dumb. They never went for a lay off."

"True. It's like they wanted to score right through me, each and every time," Harry agreed.

"Well there was the couple of times Carrington got a few trick shots off. That kick was probably save of the match!"

"You're a fucking cheat, Potter!" Draco shouted at him from across the hall. Harry turned at his voice, but kept walking.

"Don't mind him. He's a sore loser," Katie tugged at his arm. Harry nodded as he ignored Draco.

"And who is this? Oh- another half blood. Why don't you go on off and open some boxes or something?" Draco taunted, making a figure eight with his finger. Crabbe and Goyle laughed at Katie. Katie looked straight ahead, increasing her pace. Her eyes began to water.

"Yeah. Go and cry into your little Diary," Draco said. Katie doubled the pace, but Harry was no longer walking with her. He had frozen still.

"What, does Potter want to do something?" Draco teased, drawing his wand. "Greg, do you know what's worse than a half-blooded bint playing Quidditch?"

"No, what?" Goyle said.

"A Mudblood bint with a bad haircut!" Draco laughed. Harry lowered his centre of gravity at that moment, feeling the Red boiling. He stared at his trainers, forcibly willing his rage back down into his gut.

"I'm going to give you a fucking haircut, Malfoy," Harry declared.

"Is that so? With what, your shoelaces?" Crabbe and Goyle laughed at Malfoy's joke with synchronized idiocy. "Oooh, I'm scared!"

Harry shrugged his left sleeve free from the wrist. With his right hand he pulled out the wand from the bracer.

"A bit off the top," Harry whispered darkly. With the practiced motion Jon helped drill into him, he spun the wand around his wrist and snapped the massive scythe down in front of Draco's face with a fluid motion. A chunk of blonde hair fell across Draco's nose. Draco flinched a lifetime too late.

Crabbe and Goyle were long gone by that time.

Harry slowly turned his wrist and rest the flat of the Scythe's blade on Draco's shoulder. Draco whimpered, not daring to move a millimeter. The blade radiated a dark heat against the back of his neck.

Katie covered her mouth with both hands. Draco inched forward, trying to avoid the feel of the blade against his collar.

"Listen to me, you little shit," Harry whispered. He was so close he could smell the minty potion on Draco's breath. "I will cut you if you, or Lucius, tries anything like that shit again." Harry delicately maneuvered the blade against Draco's collar. It cut cleanly through the material. Draco's hands went up slowly in surrender.

Harry finally looked at Malfoy in his face, the Red glow searing from his eyes. "Do you hear me, Draco?"

Draco nodded approximately fifteen times in rapid succession. Tears were rolling quietly down his face.

"Say it," Harry commanded, silky smooth.

"I hear you," Draco said. "Please," he begged.

After ten seconds, Harry released the magic on the wand. "You may go. Speak of this to no one." Draco took a few steps away from him, then broke out into a run.

"Ammm... Harry?" Katie said hesitantly. "What was that?"

"My custom wand," Harry said simply, making sure his eyes were back to normal before he turned around.

"Fucking awesome," Katie whispered.

Harry shrugged. "I hate that guy."

"No shit. I would never have guessed."

"Over the hols; his father was the one who was working with Michael. He tried to plant a cursed object in your purse," Harry explained. "I nicked it before you could open it, which is why you were casting Alectrono obsessively. You were trying to open the package he wanted you to use."

"So that's it. I did have some strange nightmares about Lucius Malfoy. Now I know why..." Katie grumbled. She came up closer to him. "Hm. How many times is that now? What...so... you're like my fairy tale hero, then?" she joked.

"I ..." Harry shrugged. "I don't like seeing things go down and... no one stands up to them," Harry pointed over his shoulder as they continued on to the hospital wing.

"The 'Hero of Wizardry' is a heavy title to live up to," Katie teased. She looped her arm around his elbow, and leaned a bit into him. They walked together like this for a couple halls before she sighed and continued speaking. "Don't stop though. I don't know... what might've happened to me. Just keep doing what you do best, yeah?"

Harry looked across to her. Katie smiled at him. He ducked his head in embarrassment as they walked on. They walked a few more steps when he felt her lips on the side of his face. Katie had kissed him tenderly on his cheek.

"Thanks, anyway," she said gratefully. They reached the front of the Hospital Wing's double doors. She embraced him in a firm hug. "Let's get your hand checked out."

AN: Thank you for reading. Hope you like it!