Chapter Twenty Eight

S.P.E.W S.U.C.K.S

He narrowed his eyes as he watched the two walking across the grounds at break, feeling a knot of anger form in his stomach. He thought she was one of the most beautiful girls he'd even seen, with her long black hair, pale Russian complexion and foreign accent. But as usual bloody Saint Potter had her and he didn't.

Malfoy ground his fingernails into the palm of his hands in disgust, he got everything…he thought he was so smart and clever all the time, running around solving all of Hogwarts' little mysteries. Had anyone ever stopped and actually realised how much of a show off the scrawny git was? He played the martyr so well didn't he, everyone felt so sorry for him all the time…just because his parents were killed. Loads of people lost there parents, so why was he so special?

Because he was Potter that's why. Got all the attention, got all the praise, even got the bloody girl. It drove Malfoy insane watching them around the castle. Everyone knew they were going out, they certainly acted like they did anyway. They were always together, such good little buddies, knowing each others secrets, sharing those smiles, giving each other secret looks that were frankly sickening.

And all because he's Potter. How does he do it, thought Malfoy bitterly. He had fully expected to meet and get along with the Firelight girl when she had started last year, even though she was a Firelight. His father had told him enough about her family to arouse his interest, and the photo of her in the Daily Prophet had cemented that view. What better match could there be than between two prominent pure-blooded houses such as their own? He could have got over the fact she was a Gryffindor, he knew he could, even if his father had warned him away. However, she hadn't chosen him had she? Oh no, that privilege had gone to none other than the Boy-Who-Bloody-Wouldn't-Die.

He secretly watched them walking across the grounds, laughing at something. They paused and faced each other and Malfoy flinched in expectation. He couldn't help but grimace in disgust when he saw Potter reach out and brush her hair away from her face. Life was so unfair.

And now they were off on holiday together for two months, Draco hated to think of what they would get up to, feeling somehow cheated by fate again. Well, he would soon put a stop to their fun he decided angrily, making a mental note to tell his father through the floo tonight about their imminent departure before vaguely wondering why he hadn't done so already.

All thoughts were drove from his head when his focus returned to Catalina, who had the first smile he'd seen on her face for some days now. He'd tell his father tomorrow, for definite….

Harry headed straight down to the library at the end of last lesson, throwing off the others with excuses and getting down to addressing the envelopes and stuffing in the tiny parchment notices. He only had an hour's worth of letter writing to do before he had the huge stack finished and all ready to deliver to the owlery.

He went into autopilot as he wrote, mind back in Greenhouse Three with everything that had happened there. He didn't know what had come over him, he was so overcome by the topic of his and Hermione's conversation and the revelations she'd caused him to see. It was as if for the first time he fully appreciated what might and probably did happen during her 24 hours in the 'care' of the Death Eaters. It was all he could do to not search out the Death Eaters and thrown the ultimate unforgivable at them, it was the first time he'd ever thought like that and he knew with a certainty that if and when he next saw any Death Eater, he would kill them. And face the consequences.

He meant it when he said he'd do anything for her.

He rubbed his eyes distractedly, trying not to dwell on evil thoughts, thinking instead of the way they had stood together, just holding on to each other. It had taken every ounce of willpower he owned not to just lean forward and kiss her, and even now he wasn't sure why he didn't. He just knew that if he hadn't have stopped then, he wouldn't have at all and they would have missed much more than the first quarter of Lu Tze's lesson.

Shaking his head from all the thoughts vying for attention, he got up and stretched, gathering the enveloped into his arms, holding them in place with his chin and setting off, well aware of his grumbling stomach. He still had an evening worth of language charm practise with Flitwick and the others at 8, as well as a mountain of homework and checking up on his last potion from Snape's after schools lesson. He felt like this evening was going to be a long one, and he eyes were already drooping from staying up all night watching over Catalina.

He decided to let his feet do the walking as he closed his eyes briefly, if only to relieve the stinging, but found himself instead being knocked to the floor after colliding with something solid. He cracked his head on the floor and let out a moan as he sat up, gazing balefully at the mass of envelopes on the floor now, as well as the elderly witch climbing to her feet.

"Watch where you're going Potter," she growled as she winced slightly, rubbing her elbow.

"Sorry Professor McGonagall," apologised Harry, scrabbling on his hands and knees for the scattered invitations, "I didn't see you coming…"

"Obviously not," she said, before being sidetracked by Harry's fallen load, "what have you got here?"

"Just some letters I need to post," he said hastily, as she picked some of them up for him.

"You must have a lot of friends then," she said suspiciously, noting the hundreds of envelopes before looking at a few in her hand and adding in surprise, "in India? And China…Russia…South Africa? What is the meaning of all this?"

"They're er, they're invitations," he admitted finally, not seeing how he could wriggle out of what he was doing.

"What for?" she asked, still flipping through some of the addresses with interest.

"Er…Mary Firelight's funeral," he said, slightly defiantly.

McGonagall gave him a long look over the rim of her glasses that Harry couldn't really interpret. It may have been a faint flicker of pride, or it could just as likely have been worry but before Harry could translate it she became all business like.

"I see, and how, may I ask, are you planning to deliver all this envelopes around the world?"

"Er…school owls," said Harry weakly, noting for the first time how big the pile actually was.

Professor McGonagall gave him a withering look, before scooping up the rest of the envelopes with an easy charm, "Follow me Potter."

Feeling no good could come of protesting, Harry followed her silently, arms still overflowing with the invites and head thumping from where he hit the cold floor. She led him to her office and immediately lit a warm fire, which made the room heat up instantly.

"The school owls will take weeks to reach those sort of destinations, and there isn't nearly enough of them for you to take the whole flock," the Professor told him, not unkindly.

"Oh, right," mumbled Harry feeling panicked, "I just don't know how else I can post them…"

"There are other ways than owl post to deliver messages," she told him with a faint smile, obviously he was showing his muggle upbringing, "here's a crafty little spell."

She raised her wand at the first letter on top of the pile, threw it up in the air and blasted it with a shot of red light. The letter vanished instantly.

"Mr and Mrs Lai of Bangkok should be opening it as we speak," she told him, already reaching for the next letter. "Now this charms a bit too advanced for you, but it's a NEWT standard test though, so remember it. I'll do these for you, if you don't mind waiting?"

"Not at all Professor," said Harry gratefully, "thanks a lot."

She disappeared a few more letters and in the mean time Harry was offered tea and a ginger newt biscuit.

"So all that is left to discuss is the reason why you are sending these letters?" she asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Professor Dumbledore told me to deliver them," lied Harry unconvincingly, "since I had the address book from Catalina…"

"I highly doubt Professor Dumbledore told you to steal the schools population of owls to deliver messages to the other side of the world," said McGonagall, with a strange glint in her eye, "we were under the impression that the hospital was dealing with all of this."

"They are," said Harry, eagerly jumping upon this useful excuse, "they just asked me to…"

"Steal the schools owl population?" she finished, sounding highly unconvinced.

"No," Harry finally said mulishly, "but it's no big deal, everything is sorted now apart from these."

"You are very much like your mother at times Harry," said McGonagall fondly, surprising Harry slightly with her tone, "you both let pride get in the way showing everyone what caring people you were, are."

"Erm…thanks Professor," said Harry, blushing slightly, not knowing how to answer the compliment, if indeed it was one. He hadn't heard very many people compliment him on being like his mother, only in the sense that their eyes were the same colour.

"She's a very lucky girl indeed to have a friend like you Potter," she said a little more briskly, though Harry could see a tiny smile playing on her lips when she stressed the word 'friend'.

He blushed a little more.

"So, Potter," began McGonagall after a slight silence, "are you prepared for your task ahead?"

It took him a few seconds to figure out to what she was referring to and he gave her a nod.

"Yes, we're having our last few nights of language charm practise with Professor Flitwick and potion brewing with Snape -"

"Professor Snape," cut in McGonagall

"With Professor Snape before the weekend," added Harry quickly.

"And how is the charm coming along?" she asked him, as five more letters disappeared into thin air.

"Oh, it's a little hard, but I think we've got it down though. But it only lasts half and hour before you have to put a new one on, and it gives you a little bit of a headache after a while," said Harry thoughtfully.

She nodded knowingly and flicked a few more invites away before turning to him, "You will have to practise speaking the language on your own. After a month of solid use its efficiency will wear thin. You may find yourself needing to go entire days without it."

"Yeah we've been warned about that," said Harry, a little anxiously, "it's alright for Catalina because she is just the best at languages, full stop. And Hermione already speaks French from her holidays and school. But me and Ron…well, I don't think we've got a hope really."

"You never know, you may surprise yourselves," said McGonagall, "but try not to worry to much. Your job is vitally important and you'll need your full concentration if you are to stay out of too much trouble. I sure even you could manage that for a few days at least?"

"I'll try," said Harry.

"Well, I'll finish these off for you Potter," said McGonagall when the pile grew considerably shorter, "you better get off for some dinner before your charms lesson."

"Ok," said Harry gratefully, getting up from his seat, "I really appreciate this Professor."

"Not at all Potter," she said briskly, "off you go now."

Harry walked out of her office and checked his watch. Dinner would almost be over now, so he ran through the corridors, hoping to get a roll at least before his language lesson. He was starving, having missed lunch, as well as being up all night. In fact he was feeling quite run down, altogether, his thoughts still dwelling on yesterday's events, even if Catalina's weren't. The only thing that kept him going was the thought of Greenhouse Three.

He entered the Great Hall and made his way over to the Gryffindor table. The others were no where in sight and the place was pretty empty, with only a few stragglers around now. He sat down wearily and pulled the Lancashire hotpot towards himself, going into a daze as he ate in auto-pilot.

He was thinking about how much Charles Firelight actually knew about the Orders whereabouts. He obviously knew that a lot of the members had disappeared without a trace, but thankfully he hadn't heard about his and Catalina's imminent disappearance. Harry wondered vaguely how he didn't know, surely Malfoy would have told his father, who was well-placed to let all the Death Eaters know.

"Hey Harry," came a voice, breaking him from his reverie.

He looked up to see Ginny sliding into the seat opposite him with a nervous smile on her face. He looked at her for a few seconds before replying.

"Hey," was all he said, going back to his meal.

Harry noticed that she hadn't made any move to get food after a few moments and looked back up to her questioningly. She was staring at him anxiously, chewing her bottom lip. Harry felt a flicker of irritation, he still hadn't forgot how she'd been treating Catalina this year and especially her resignation from the Quidditch team.

"Do you want something Ginny?" he finally asked when he could pretend for no longer he wasn't aware of her stares.

"No, no, not at all," she said hastily, looking down at her plate blushing.

He sighed and went back to his meal, pulling out his folder on Grimbit's and propping it up in front of the drink jug and beginning to read up on the local town. He was halfway through reading up on the fact that the countries Ministry, or Duma, was located next to the school, when he felt someone staring at him. He looked up and sure enough he found Ginny's brown eyes looking his way.

"What?" he asked her irritably.

"Ok it's like this," she said, blushing deeply, "Catalina did me a favour today and I need to make up for her what a bitch I've been this term."

"Huh?" he asked, caught off-guard, he was sure she was going to ask to rejoin the Quidditch team.

"I need to make it up to her," she repeated patiently.

"She did you a favour?" he asked blankly, wondering why the hell she'd done that.

"Yeah, I had a run in with Cassandra Grimes this evening," she said, "and she helped me."

"Right…" said Harry feeling confused, "who's Cassandra Grimes?"

"She's a Slytherin fifth year," she explained, looking pained, "she absolutely hates me, ever since our first train ride. Anyway, to cut a long story short, she was about to completely deck me this evening. See, she found out that it was me who slipped one of Fred and George's latest experiments into her pumpkin juice, she didn't like having tentacles growing out of her nose I don't think…Anyway, Catalina helped me no end."

"Ok…" said Harry slowly, trying to imagine what Catalina actually did to get the Slytherin off Ginny's back.

"She's ok you know," said Ginny, sounding a mix between embarrassed and in awe, "she didn't need to help, but she did…"

"Yeah," agreed Harry, thinking he probably wouldn't have, given past history.

Ginny gave a deep breath and ran a hand through her hair, a trait Harry had seen much used by Ron. He hadn't really appreciated how much alike they really were until then, all their mannerisms were almost exactly the same, even the way they spoke.

"Harry," she pleaded desperately, "I need to make up for what I've been like and I don't know how."

He sat back, forgetting his dinner and reading material and looked at her thoughtfully. She seemed quite genuine, and even looked quite upset at the memory of her behaviour.

"Maybe, you could start by apologising?" he told her.

"Yeah…yeah, that's a good start," she said thoughtfully, before giving another Ron-like facial expression, "but how can I? After everything that's happened? What do I say?"

"I don't know," sighed Harry, "that's down to you isn't it."

She nodded again, and looked down at her dinner plate, which was waiting expectantly for food but was shoved away instead.

"What did she do, by the way?" asked Harry suddenly, "to the Slytherin?"

"Oh," said Ginny, before grinning in a very twin-like way, "gave her right mouthful - she wasn't going to use magic or anything don't worry. But I didn't think Cassandra knew that! Oh, I tell you what, I've been waiting for this moment for years."

Harry grinned, before checking his watch. He realised with a jolt it was five to eight, by the time he reached Charms he was going to be late.

"Hey, listen I better go, I've got somewhere to be," said Harry hastily, getting up and ramming his folders into his bag, "but if you're going to apologise it better be quick, we're leaving on Sunday and we're going to be at the funeral all day Friday."

"Ok, thanks a lot Harry," she shouted after him, looking slightly pale at the mention of the funeral.

He ran through the corridors once again, slightly annoyed he hadn't managed to finish his meal once again. He bumped into Neville on the way, shouting his apologies as he entered the second floor corridor. He finally skidded to a halt outside the door and hurried through.

"Nice of you to join us Mr Potter," said Professor Flitwick with a smile.

"Sorry I'm late professor," said Harry hastily, "I lost track of time."

He hurried over to the others, who were leaning against the tables, smirking at him. Hermione however had a thoughtful look on her face - Harry hated it when she looked like that because it inadvertently meant she knew what you were up to.

"Where've you been there Harry?" asked Catalina when he took up his space next to her, "I haven't seen you all afternoon."

"Oh, here and there," he replied, "had an evil Snape essay to finish."

"Right!" called Professor Flitwick, brandishing his wand, "you all know what to do. A gentle wave and good pronunciation of the incantation - Linguistico Franco and Linguistico Polska."

Harry sat on one of the desks, facing Catalina, before waving the charm onto himself, using his wand. She did the same and he felt the familiar slight rush in his head that told him it had worked.

"We both sorted?" he asked Catalina, knowing for a fact he was speaking Polish, even though it just felt like English to him.

"Sounds like it to me," she replied, again he knew she was speaking Polish.

Hermione, Ron and Professor Flitwick were watching them in polite incomprehension, and Harry tried to work on switching from English to Polish while the charm was still on.

"Is it working?" Harry asked Hermione.

"Yeah," she said happily, "and you're switching languages well!"

"That will be useful for when you need to speak about something that you don't want the other students to hear," Professor Flitwick told them, "But just to be safe, you ought to devise a series of code words for things. You can never be sure of the extent of which foreigners can understand English."

Harry nodded and lifted the charm along with Catalina and turned to watch Hermione and Ron practise theirs. They could both do it now and switched languages perfectly and Harry and Catalina laughed at the refined ways with which Ron and Hermione spoke in French. Ron sounded positively upper class, very much different from his English Westcountry accent.

After about half an hour of practising, Professor Flitwick called them to attention.

"Well I think you're pretty much up to speed with this charm now. Take a look through your folders for the defensive spells and make sure you have them covered. But for now, I don't think you need to come back in the evenings. Make sure you practise though."

"Of course Professor," said Hermione as they all climbed to their feet.

They trooped out calling their thanks back and chatting away between the four of them happily.

"Could we swing by the kitchens on the way back?" asked Harry after his stomach rumbled for the second time in as many minutes.

"You're already hungry?" asked Hermione in surprise, "we've just had dinner!"

"You did," he pointed out, "I haven't!"

"Why not?" she asked him, as they altered path.

"Told you didn't I? Lost track of time," he lied, as they walked down the painting lined corridor to the kitchen's secret entrance.

They reached the painting of the fruit bowl and Harry showed Catalina how to get into the kitchens, where she'd never been before. The pear morphed into the handle and they walked in, immediately engulfed by a swarm of helpful house-elves.

"Dobby! Hey Dobby!" called Harry, noticing the small elf sitting by the fire, wearing what looked like a miniature wizarding robe that had twinkling blue stars on it.

"Harry Potter Sir!" called out Dobby excitedly, rushing over and bowing lowly to the floor.

"Hey there Dobby, long time no see," said Harry, crouching down to meet his friend eye-to-eye.

"You remember Ron and Hermione don't you?" asked Harry, motioning behind him, "and I'd like you to meet someone, this is Catalina."

"Hello there," she said, still standing next to Ron.

Dobby bowed low to her and squeaked a warm welcome.

"Do you mind if I get a sandwich Dobby?" asked Harry.

Before he knew what was happening a tray of sandwiches had been pushed into his hands, all with various filling's and types of bread used. He wondered just how the elves managed to do that. He looked around and saw Hermione in deep discussion with a few elves, who looked slightly scared by her presence. Catalina sat down on the floor and took one of his sandwiches, shortly followed by Ron.

"Dobby heard tell that Harry Potter and his friends is leaving this school!" said Dobby in a strangely woebegone voice, "Dobby will miss Harry Potter sir!"

"It's only for two months Dobby," reassured Harry, "and then we'll be back."

"Dobby does hope so," said the elf, looking transformed at the news Harry wasn't emigrating.

Hermione had returned back to the floor, looking strangely disheartened with her attempt to cause a coup in the castle for equal rights and fairer pay. She also took a sandwich, despite her earlier indignation of Harry's request and looked around suddenly.

"Where's Winky, Dobby?" she asked kindly, nibbling the corner of her coronation chicken sandwich.

"Alas, Dobby has put poor Winky in the Room of Requirement," he told them all, his ears drooping sadly, "she has been at the butterbeer again!"

"The Room of Requirement?" asked Ron, "what's that?"

"A hidden chamber in the school - it gives whatever the user needs the most. Winky is sleeping off her hangover there in a nice comfy bed," said Dobby, carefully tidying around the seat usually occupied by Winky near the fire.

"She's still drinking then?" asked Hermione, looking even more dispirited.

"Yes. Dobby did hope that Winky would get better with time as," and at this point he lowered his voice and head towards them conspirationally, "Dobby does like Winky."

Harry attempted to hide a smile by taking a large bite out of his sandwich and raised an amused eyebrow at Catalina, who had been following the conversation avidly. She forced a straight face and looked at the house-elf kindly.

"Have you told Winky that you like her?" she asked as if she were speaking to a toddler.

"Well no, miss," he said speaking even lower now so they all had to lean in, "Dobby does not know how…"

"Seems common these days," muttered Ron, who suffered a glare from Harry.

"Well Dobby, maybe you should giver her a present, something she would really like," suggested Hermione helpfully.

"Winky is needing some new dishcloths," he said excitedly, nearly toppling over in his haste to speak, "would that do?"

"Erm no Dobby," said Hermione gently as the other three sniggered, "maybe something a little more…romantic?"

"Romantic?" asked the elf, sounding puzzled.

"Flowers," Catalina told him, "or chocolates. Something pretty she can keep."

"Something pretty…" he said in a faraway voice, before turning his orb-like eyes to Harry, "and this will work for Dobby?"

"I wouldn't ask him Dobby, his track-record isn't perfect," laughed Ron, earning an elbow in the side from Harry.

"Yes it'll work Dobby," said Harry, gritting his teeth and glaring at Ron pointedly, who merely tried to hold back the sniggers.

"You is all helping Dobby very much!" exclaimed the house-elf happily, "Dobby will not forget!"

"That sounds ominous," Ron muttered to Harry as they made to leave, wading through the sea of elves who were all offering food.

Ron's eyes were clearly bigger than his stomach and he took a large handful of cakes as Hermione whispered messages of support to various elves, who were pointedly looking the other way. Catalina however was walking through their midst looking unconcerned, accepting a cake without even acknowledging the elf. Harry closed the door behind him, and spent a fruitful few minutes eating his cakes, feeling fuller than he had for some time.

"I think it's scandalous that Hogwarts is still refusing to pay the house-elves," Hermione was saying in a clear voice beside Harry.

"Hmm…scandalous," agreed Ron, more interested in his chocolate éclair.

"It's glorified slavery!" she continued to rant, "in the muggle world that's been abolished over a hundred years ago!"

"Yeah…abolished," said Ron, with a cream moustache.

"Imagine, bossing around some poor defenceless creature who has been brainwashed into thinking they are subservient to humans!" she said, gesticulating wildly, and causing Harry to duck slightly.

"Brainwashed…totally," supplied Ron.

"Will you stop doing that!" said Hermione irritably, giving him a glare, "if you don't agree with what I'm saying at least don't make fun of it!"

"I'm not making fun of it," said Ron despairingly, "it's just, you don't understand - they want to do the work, I've been telling you for years!"

"And I've been telling you for years, slavery is wrong!" she argued, going quite red in the face.

Harry shot Catalina a warning look as she watched them with a carefully blank expression, carefully licking the chocolate off her fingers.

"Well if slavery is so wrong, why don't you make your own beds and cook your own meals?" pointed out Ron.

He had guts, you had to give him that.

"I can't believe you are being so…so…narrow minded! You can't even see my side of things can you?" she practically yelled, before whipping around the Harry and Catalina.

"You think it's wrong don't you Harry?" she demanded, looking quite scary.

"Well…I suppose -" he began hesitantly.

"And you Catalina?" she appealed, obviously hearing enough of Harry's answer, "you think it's wrong don't you?"

"No," she said calmly.

"Thank you -" she said, nodding her head fervently, before stopping and staring at her, "WHAT?"

"I said, no, I don't think it's wrong," repeated Catalina.

Ron and Harry took a step back.

"How can you say that!?" exploded Hermione.

"It's their job, Hermione, that's what they're born to do," she said, seemingly unconcerned at Hermione's steadily flushing face.

"It's brainwashing," she said through clenched teeth.

"No, it's inbred. Wizards have always had house-elves," she said, shrugging, "I bet Harry's family used to have one, we certainly always had one. And I bet Ron's family would like one."

"And that makes it right?" she said, outraged.

Catalina merely shrugged and Harry found himself wondering whether his mum and dad really did have a house-elf. They probably did he decided, what with all their gold they had, the Potter's had probably always had house-elves. He however didn't think he'd ever want one, not with him knowing Dobby and Winky as he did. He didn't like giving orders to anyone.

Meanwhile the argument was still raging, on Hermione's part anyway, and Ron and Harry watched as if they were following a tennis match, looking from side to side in awe.

"See, it's outdated thinking like yours," she said, pointing a shaking finger to Catalina, "and yours Ron that means another generation of the wizarding world will grow up thinking it's ok to enslave these poor defenceless creatures! You two are just…just…"

"Just telling you the truth Hermione," said Catalina, still calm as millpond, "if they didn't serve what would they do?"

"They can still serve, they should just be treated more fairly! Get given sick pay, and holiday pay, day's off, pay even."

"They wouldn't take it," she told her, as Ron nodded fervently, he'd said the same thing years ago.

"See…this is what I'm talking about!" continued Hermione, obviously feeling her point had been proven totally, "you and Ron are just the same! You both think there's nothing wrong with it at all! Its brainwashing I tell you! I blame the upbringing, oh I do. It's bad parenting! I blame the parents for not teaching their children -"

"Hey," cut in Catalina, suddenly sounding harsh, "It's ok to have an opinion, but don't start insulting people just because you can't see the flip side of the coin!"

Harry and Ron shared an uneasy glance, Harry sensed that Hermione could maybe chosen her wording a little better about parents, especially in light of recent events. She seemed to have realised this as well, and her angry disposition disappeared quickly and she had the decency to look ashamed.

"Oh Catalina, I'm sorry," she said at once, "I didn't mean anything against your -"

"It's fine," she snapped in an aggrieved voice, climbing through the portrait quickly.

"Well done," said Ron under his breath, so only Harry heard.

"Please," she said, sounding quite tearful at her blunder, "I'm really sorry! I'm sure your parents we're really -"

"Hermione," she growled warningly.

"Sorry," Hermione said meekly, "I didn't mean to offend your -"

"Say one more word, one more," threatened Catalina, "and I'll hex you seven ways till Sunday."

"I -" began Hermione, looking even more upset.

"Drop it Hermione," said Harry, pushing between the two and pulling Catalina over to their seats by the fire.

She made as if to say something else and Ron also took her by the arm and place her in the seat with a stern look. There was a long tense silence as they all rooted around in their bags for their homework books and parchment's. Harry was slightly worried to see Catalina had a particularly evil look on her face and he could tell she was stewing over what Hermione's words had reminded her of.

Hermione still looked on the verge of trying to apologise.

In fact she was just opening her mouth, rather unwisely in Harry and Ron's opinion, to try again when Catalina caught sight of it.

"Shut up!" she hissed furiously and Hermione's mouth snapped closed.

She looked on the verge of tears and an extremely strained minute of unfolding parchments and inking quills followed in which everyone tried to ignore Hermione's sniffles. It was unbearable.

"I think I'm going to hit the showers," she Catalina suddenly, already up and away from the sofa before they could reply.

They waited until she was safely out of earshot before Ron and Harry turned to her with a glare.

"Hermione," hissed Harry, "can you say insensitive any louder?"

"I'm sorry!" she moaned, face in her hands, "I didn't mean…You know I didn't mean her parents in particular!"

"Well it didn't sound like that," whispered Ron, gaze darting over to the dorm staircase to check she wasn't around.

"I know, I know," she said, sounding anguished, "but I didn't mean it! And you've got to admit, she has a very pure-blooded type view on the matter -"

"Don't start on the house-elves again," begged Harry wearily, "what's it to you if she has a different opinion?"

Hermione sensibly held her tongue and Harry gave her one last stern look before settling down to his work. He had to write Flitwick's Vanishing Charm essay he'd been too busy to write in this morning's lesson. He was halfway through writing out the title to his essay when there was a sudden red glow in the air. He looked up to see a letter frozen about eye height in front of him, which ceased to glow and began to drop to the floor. He reached out a grabbed hold of it before it hit the table, merely as a reflex action.

The others looked at it with suspicion, and Harry flipped it over to see the words, 'Catalina Firelight' written on in curling green script.

"It's for Catalina," said Harry blankly.

"Who do you think it's off?" asked Ron curiously as Harry flipped it over and shook it experimentally.

"No idea," he said slowly, "I guess I'll leave it for her to open…?"

"Yeah, I should," agreed Hermione.

They all went back to their work, taking occasional sneak glances at the letter, as if it was about to burst into flames or begin a song and dance routine. Catalina didn't return for nearly an hour, a long shower indeed, but Harry knew she wasn't really just having a shower. She had been crying, he could tell almost instantly after she'd been gone for about ten minutes, he felt her sadness and anger all mixed up into one. He supposed her self-made promise not to cry any more about these things didn't stretch as far as the shower. But he doubted she'd show any sign of it when she returned, or even of her argument with Hermione, and sure enough when she sat back in the seat next to Harry silently, she gave them all a small smile.

"There's a letter for you," said Hermione timidly, pointing at the envelope lying on the side of the desk.

"Oh," she said blankly, picking it up and casting an eye over the address, "I wonder who it's from…"

She unsealed it and Harry watched out of the corner of his eye as she slipped out the parchment, eyes darting to the bottom for the sender. Her eyes widened with recognition and she sat back to read it. Harry forgot all pretence of working and watched her, as did Hermione and Ron eventually, waiting for her verdict.

She finished it, and with a slight frown laid it down on the table.

"Well," demanded Harry after she said nothing, "who's it from?"

"A friend of my mama's in Russia," she said, looking confused, "she said she couldn't come to the funeral and was very sorry and for me to give my regards to my father."

"Really?" asked Harry, picking up the letter and casting an eye over it.

It was pointless however as it was written in the same curling green script, but entirely in Russian. Harry stared at the foreign words and even letters for some time trying to make heads or tails of it before giving up. He wasn't even sure if he was holding it the right way around or not.

"I guess Dumbledore must have sent out the invitations already," offered Ron.

"Yeah, I guess," she said, before taking the letter from Harry's hand and reading through it once more as fast as she would an English textbook.

Harry was secretly very impressed at her ability, without even the use of a language charm but didn't say anything, it didn't seem very appropriate somehow. He was about to say something else when another letter appeared mid-air, he snatched it and checked the address before handing it over to her.

He leaned over her shoulder as she read it, but again couldn't understand or recognise the language, though she seemed to.

"Well, they're coming," she said, laying it down next to the other one.

"What time do we leave?" asked Hermione curiously, but in a timid voice that wasn't quite sure whether she was forgiven or even allowed to speak.

"Twelve," Harry told her, and when she gave him a surprised look, hastily informed her that, "Dumbledore told me earlier. In his office at twelve to use the floo network."

They didn't say anything for a while, in which two more letters appeared and were quickly read. Catalina finally disappeared off to bed sounding quite despondent and sad for the first time since she'd returned. Harry was quite shocked as he was usually used to her hiding everything behind a sunny façade, or at least to Ron and Hermione.

Harry received two more letters before he went to bed, guessing they were coming to him as he was the one who had sent them with Professor McGonagall, wondering vaguely if she was being pestered by them too.

Apparently she was, she turned up a breakfast with an armful of envelopes, which she handed to Catalina wordlessly. Harry also had a bag full of them, waking up that morning to find them dumped at the foot of his bed as if Christmas had come early.

Catalina sighed heavily at the sight of them, and began to open them one-by-one, unable to ask for the others help as they were unable to understand most of them. She had nearly finished the pile McGonagall gave her when Harry sheepishly showed her his over brimming bag.

"I'll be here all day," she moaned, before waving an irritable hand over the letters with a few muttered words.

They leapt out of his bag and neatly stacked themselves on the table in front of them - she picked them up and slipped them into her own bag.

"I'll sort them out at break," she muttered, reaching for the pumpkin juice as the people in the surrounding seats looked at her brimming bag in curiosity.

Just then another owl flew towards them and Catalina looked up incredulously, "Come on already! We don't know that many people!"

"It's addressed to both you and Harry," said Hermione, who had relieved the owl of its burden.

"You open it," said Catalina dismissively with a wave, and Harry got the feeling it was probably still another funeral-related correspondence, since his name had been at the bottom of the letter, though he didn't tell her that.

Harry accepted the letter and flipped it over, surprised to see the Hogwarts crest on it. Frowning slightly, he looked up at the Head Table, which was almost empty now as the Professors were making their way down to their classrooms. He broke the seal and pulled out the small scrap of parchment, hoping it wasn't a detention notice.

His eyes scanned down to the signature.

"It's off Dumbledore," he said blankly and Catalina looked up from her toast in surprise.

"What's he want with us?" she said stupidly, before recovering slightly and giving a wry smile, "apart from the obvious."

"Not the obvious," Harry replied looking confused, "want's us all to meet him for a meeting, before taking part in some experiments."

Everyone's eyebrows shot up at this, and Harry looked at Catalina with a frown.

"All of us?" asked Ron, looking slightly worried.

"No, just me and Catalina," he said, re-reading the note, which was only one line long.

"What kind of experiments?" she asked, eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Doesn't say."

"Well it's obvious what they're for isn't it?" said Hermione, not looking worried at the letter and buttering her toast with every care.

They all turned to her expectantly. She continued buttering.

"If you feel like sharing anytime soon?" said Ron peevishly when Hermione didn't continue.

"I will," she said, with a swift look at him before munching on her toast and taking ages to swallow, "come on guys, what have you two got that we haven't?"

"Media attention?" asked Catalina innocently.

"Apart from that," she smiled, looking like she was thoroughly enjoying her game.

"Under eight OWLS?" guessed Harry and Catalina gave him a look of surprise.

"No," sighed Hermione, "Magus powers ring any bells?"

"Oh," said Harry leaning bag on his chair, "oh, right…"

"I wonder what kind of experiments…" began Ron, looking confused.

"Who knows," shrugged Harry, "guessed we'll soon find out."

"Is that how many OWLS you got?" Catalina suddenly asked, completely side-tracked from the conversation everyone had been having.

"Uh-huh," mumbled Harry through a mouthful of soggy cereal.

"That's really good," she said, looking impressed as Harry flushed happily, "well done."

"I got eight too," cut in Ron cheekily holding up his hands waiting for the round of applause.

"That's fantastic Ron," chuckled Catalina, "how many did you get Hermione?"

"Ten," she said, looking slightly abashed, previous conversation forgotten.

"All O's," said Ron as well with a roll of his eyes, "she got 112% in Charms! That's mathematically impossible, but does that stop her?"

"Stop gloating," said Harry, laughing at Ron's praise disguised as teasing.

"Hey Catalina," said Hermione suddenly, as if she'd suddenly remembered something, "what did you do about OWLS since you were, away, for the exams?"

Harry turned and looked at her expectantly, he'd completely forgotten she wasn't even present for the exams, and that he'd never even asked how she'd done.

"I took them in St. Mungo's," she said unconcernedly.

"And…" prompted Harry when she didn't continue.

"Oh come on Harry," she laughed with little trace of humour in her voice, "did I look in any state to take exams when I was there?"

There was a lingering silence in the air, and Catalina peeled the crusts of her toast. Harry remembered his visits to her in the hospital and shuddered.

"So…" said Ron slowly, "you didn't take them?"

"No, I took them," she said, giving another odd laugh, "It was the week they changed my medication and I had that allergic reaction to it…I collapsed in my Potions exams, threw up on my Charms examiner and knocked my Defence one out…I think they may have taken points off me for that…"

She gave another laugh.

"Freaked out in the rest of them and tried to escape during astronomy, so they wouldn't give me back my wand after that…not that I needed it, but you know."

Harry felt a little bit sick.

"So, you failed them all?" whispered Hermione in a horrified voice, looking as if all her worst fears had just come true, and, as Harry remembered Hermione boggart, he thought that maybe they had.

"I got a D in potions," she said brightly, then held her hands up like Ron had, waiting for the applause, "smartly managed to wait until after finishing my potion to fall unconscious…"

"But…But doesn't that stand for…" began Hermione.

"Dreadful? Yeah I know," she said, "but it was a pass, and a pass means you can continue to the next year, so…"

She gave a helpless shrug.

"But that's…that's terrible," said Hermione before she could stop herself, looking as if she was in some kind of trance.

"Hermione!" said Ron indignantly.

"I think you'll find it's Dreadful," said Catalina, ignoring Ron, "Don't stress about it 'Mione, I'm not."

"Yes but…one D…" continued Hermione, "it's so unfair! You're the best in our year at Potions, and you're only second to Harry in Defence!"

"Not anymore," she said, "and anyway, you're top in potions, even if Snape won't admit it."

"Well…" she spluttered, looking outraged, "that doesn't matter, you're still good. Really good. How are you going to get a job with one OWL?"

"I don't know mama," she said with a smirk, "I'll just have to live off my wit and cunning I guess."

"Catalina!" wheedled Hermione, "Apply to retake them at the end of this year with the fifth years!"

"Hermione!" said Catalina in the same tone of voice, "we have NEWT modules at the same time and they're much more important than OWLS. Don't worry, I'll catch up. Don't make it an issue, it'll just make things worse."

"Well," frowned Hermione looking as if she was about to disagree and begin again when Ron cut her off.

"Time to get to Charms I'd say!" he said loudly, yanking her to her feet and Harry chuckled and shook his head.

They all abandoned their plates and picked up their bags, Catalina's bulging slightly at the seams with letters as they made their way out.

"So what do you reckon, now you know that I really am a dunce and not the smart gal you thought you knew?" she asked Harry cheekily, remembering he hadn't given his opinion yet.

"Oh I never thought you were smart," he joked, dodging her arm as she tried to wack him one, "kidding, kidding!"

"Ha ha," she said sarcastically, hefting her heavy bag up slightly.

"Being serious now, what do tests know?" he told her, wondering if her humour was just a cover for how bad she must have felt to have got the worst scores in the year, including Crabbe and Goyle.

"Yeah, what do tests know," she agreed with a half-hearted smile, then after a few moments, "Do you think I ought to retake them?"

"Like you said, NEWT's are more important," he said, "and you'll ace them."

She gave a slight smile and Harry, thinking maybe she was more upset than she'd let on, reached out and took her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. She looked slightly surprised but within milliseconds her fingers had laced into his own, fitting perfectly as if they'd been used to it for years.

"So, did you get any O's?" she asked him as they walked down the corridor, unaware of the quite open stares directed at them.

"In Defence," he said, flushing slightly, but looking proud nonetheless, "got a pass in Divination, big surprise, all the rest were E's, including Potions can you believe it?"

"Well, being able to stir your cauldron was beyond Snape's expectations," she joked, before sobering up, "but seriously, that's fantastic, how did you do so well?"

"You sound surprised," he laughed, "well, the exams were about four weeks after Riddle Manor, and because of all the attention everything got, I kind of just shut myself away with my textbooks, took my mind off things you know?"

She nodded heavily, thinking that while Harry was revising she had been sat in that cell, that same five by five trap of rotten, mouldy stone, walls covered in the scrawl of previous prisoners, scratched into the surface with the only tools they had, their own nails. Harry seemed to sense her despondency and gave her hand another squeeze, her eyes coming back into focus with tears in them.

"Here," he said, shaking the cuffs of his robe away from one hand.

She watched him with dulled eyes as he flicked his wrist in an odd movement she dimly recognised. There was a flash of white from beneath his fingers before he held something out to her.

"A beautiful flower for a beautiful girl."

Held out in his hand was a pure white lily and she gasped in awe. She didn't know what to say, and picked it up reverentially, not noticing Harry had a blush to rival Ron's thanks to his corny line.

"Harry…I - wow," she stuttered, examining the flower as a huge grin split across her face, "when did you learn to do that?!"

"A little while ago I guess," he shrugged, feeling embarrassed now.

"It's beautiful," she whispered, turning it over and examining, "a lily…how did you know I liked lilies?"

Catalina missed the pause he gave before answering, and when he did it was in a quieter tone, "I didn't know to be honest. I didn't know that…it was a, lily either, it's just what always comes out…"

"You must have a sixth sense," she laughed.

"It won't last long," he said grimly, and as soon as the words left his mouth the flower rapidly changed colour to a horrible brown before dropping and falling to the floor.

"Oh," she said, looking deeply disappointed, completely missing the look of Harry's face.

"It always dies," he told her as they approached the classroom door where everyone was waiting.

"Do it again for me quickly," she said, and he gladly obliged.

"No corny line this time," he said, recovering slightly, "just a flower I'm afraid."

"Conservo," she whispered, discreetly using her wandless magic as a white light settled on the flower.

They met up with Ron and Hermione at the door, who were chatting to Dean about the football match he was trying to organise. Hermione smiled dreamily at the flower, but continued listening to the boys' conversation as Catalina smelled to flower happily, every trace of her worries of exams or her thoughts about the past completely disappeared.

"What was the spell you did?" asked Harry for want of a better conversation topic.

"The preservation spell," she told him, still examining it closely, "it'll stay like this forever now."

She missed the slight sigh Harry gave at this.

That breaktime they found a sheltered alcove from the bitter wind and Catalina pulled out the pile, leaning against an ugly gargoyle as Harry sat down next to her. To his surprise Hermione and Ron wandered off and Harry had a sneaky feeling they were trying to give them special alone time, they were desperate for them to properly get together before they left on Sunday. Either that or he and Hermione wanted 'special alone time'. Harry tried not to dwell on this thought too much.

He let his attention wander as he watched the students on the grounds going about their normal lives as he tried to pull his robes as tightly as possible about his knees for warmth. He looked across to Catalina, who was frowning deeply at one letter, following the bizarre looking script with a finger from the right hand side of the page to the left. During their Charms lesson Flitwick had been called away to look after one of his House who had been in a rather unfortunate accident involving a mispronounced hex in Defence and the class hadn't bothered to do the work he'd set them. As such he, Ron, Dean and Seamus had spent the whole time discussing the Quidditch team and their chances whilst they were away in France and Poland at beating Slytherin. He hadn't noticed but Catalina had been talking to Lavender and Parvati (a fact he couldn't believe when she told him later as he thought they hated her) who'd shown her a special charm to plait her hair. She now had a long intricately woven plait hanging down her back, Harry's lily fastened at the bottom. He took his eyes away from it, he didn't know why but his heart ached when he looked at it.

Catalina got through about ten letters before she sighed and dropped one of them onto her lap.

"What's up?" asked Harry, noting she had tears in her eyes again.

She continued to stare at the page in front of her, apparently trying to get her emotions under control.

"Oh Harry," she said tearfully, "what am I going to tell them about Him?"

"Your father?" he asked, knowing full well who she was talking about.

"Yeah," she said sadly, "they'll want to know why he isn't there, what he's doing…What do I tell them?"

"I don't know," he told her truthfully, wondering why he hadn't thought of this himself.

She took another deep steadying breath and began to pack the letters back into her bag roughly. Harry watched from his seat next to her with a building sense of despair, she really wasn't handling this well at all. She'd been alright yesterday, but ever since last night she'd been emotional.

"It's all wrong!" she finally choked out, tugging on the straps of her bag which were twisted around it, "it's not supposed to be like this!"

"Catalina I -" began Harry, unsure of what to say but spared from thinking when she cut in.

"I don't want to go! We're just going to have to tell Dumbledore I'm not going to the funeral. It's a stupid idea anyway, I don't care if she's dead," she spluttered, "I don't care!"

"We've been through this," said Harry patiently, feeling quite shocked by her outburst, "If you don't go, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

"I won't," she cried, still battling with her bag with increasingly hysteria, "I can't stand there with all those people who'll be asking me questions constantly. Not after May, not after Hogsmeade…I can't."

She threw the bag down eventually and she put her head on her knees and began to cry. Harry felt in over his head and had no idea what to do, so merely wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder.

"Come on Catalina," he said worriedly, trying to appear jovial and failing miserably, "me, Ron and Hermione will be there ok…we'll help you get through it…"

She said something, but it was lost on him as it sounded like a mix between and gurgle and a sniffle with a bit of choking mixed in. Harry looked around desperately for help but Ron and especially Hermione was nowhere in sight. They sat like that for about two or three minutes and Harry finally heard her give a sniff.

"Sorry," she muttered, rubbing her red eyes with the hem of her robes, "I feel like such a whinger."

"It's been a long week," he said quietly, "I think you have cause to."

She gave a watery laugh and he fixed her with a worried look, she was frantically rubbing her face with her hands, still quite obviously crying, but making like she wasn't.

"I was fine this morning," she muttered to herself, "what's wrong with me?"

She had returned back to the bag for the second round and Harry watched mutely as she frantically tugged the twisted straps, becoming increasingly more upset and frequent in her curses until she jumped up, kicked the bag away with a foreign curse and stormed off.

He seriously debated whether he should have gone after her, but felt that maybe the reason she ran off was because she didn't actually want to talk to him about it, and decided to leave her. He wondered seriously about what she'd said. She was right, everyone would want to know where her father was, people who didn't know anything about the news in England, they'd also wanted to know how Catalina's mum had died, which also wasn't an easy question to answer.

Ron and Hermione turned up a few minutes before the bell went off and looked around blankly.

"Where is she?" asked Ron, as Hermione looked down at Catalina's broken bag and glanced around quickly.

"Gone for a walk," said Harry.

"Ah," he said, lowering himself onto the paving slab next to Harry, "she's been in a weird one today eh?"

"Hmm," agreed Harry, arms wrapped around his knees tightly as he chewed on a nail, "definitely a weird one."

"I think maybe the other day has just hit her," supplied Hermione, conjuring up a warm fire for them that they quickly shuffled around to hide from view, "what with her mum, the funeral and his reappearance…I'm surprised it's taken this long."

Harry didn't say anything, merely nodded in agreement. They only had a few more minutes before next lesson and Hermione was pulling out her textbook to do some prior revision.

"She doesn't want to go to the funeral," said Harry a while later, still staring at the fire.

Hermione looked up and gave him a characteristic look. She carefully folded the book together and stared at the fire as well.

"Why?" asked Ron looking confused.

"It's not because she doesn't love her mum if that's what you're thinking," Harry said defensively, not sure if this was actually true.

"It's because she's ashamed," said Hermione in a far off voice, "she's ashamed to have to face all those people from the past and have to tell them what's happened isn't it?"

Harry was about to agree, feeling he shouldn't have been too shocked at Hermione's perceptiveness when Ron stood up quickly.

"I'm going to kill her!" he growled angrily, stalking off across the grounds towards two figures.

Hermione and Harry shared a bewildered look and jumped up and ran after him, and Harry looked ahead to see Catalina talking to someone. He couldn't understand the reasons for Ron's behaviour until he saw who she was talking too.

"Ginny!" Ron bellowed, "Oi, Ginny!"

"Ron, wait," began Harry, sensing a gross misjudgement was on the cards.

They had meanwhile caught up with the two who both looked as confused as each other, Catalina more so though, looking red in the eyes and slightly out of it. Ginny had in her hands a small package that she was now trying to hide surreptitiously behind her back.

"What have I told you about this?" demanded Ron angrily, grabbing hold of his sisters elbow and pulling her backwards.

"What?" Ginny was saying in confusion as she was dragged along, "no, wait Ron, I'm not being mean or anything! I'm just -"

"Save it little sis," he said, still leading her off as Catalina made a silent protestation, seemingly not quite up to speed with the rest of them.

"Ron," she pleaded, a little more angrily this time as she struggled against him, "let me go!"

"I told you not to pester her anymore Gin," he said, carrying on regardless as his sister kicked him in the shins.

"Actually Ron, I think maybe -" began Harry, sensing maybe this was the apology Ron's sister had been working up to.

"Get off me you great big prat!" Ginny shouted, twisting out of his grip and stumbling slightly.

She stood up straight and brushed off her robes in a dignified way. She caught Harry's eye briefly, and gave him a look that he knew meant she was in fact here for the apology not to bully Catalina, hugging the small package to her chest.

"I only wanted to -" she tried before glaring angrily at Ron, who was giving her a warning look, and gave a huff, "Fine. It doesn't matter."

With that she turned on her heel and walked off and Ron was left to glare after her.

"I've gotta do something about that girl," he said, shaking his head.

Harry was about to tell Ron about what was really happening when the bell went. They all trooped in and Harry handed Catalina her bag wordlessly as Hermione rushed forward and angrily informed Ron on what Ginny was actually up to.

AN/ Well then, another few weeks go by, another few pages of words! Sorry about the delay as usual, it's exam time across the country at the moment and I'm sure most of you should be REVISING, like me (not!). Hope you liked this chapter, any ideas/suggestions/queries/hates/loves ETC there is this little button labeled 'review' you might find useful!

Good luck everyone!

athenakitty - The question mistress is back! Yes Catalina is going against her lovely family, and I can't tell you the fate of Mr Firelight, you'll just have to wait and see. Who knows if they find a way to get rid of Catalina's dark mark, and doesn't his plans always go a little screwy?

Dragongirl14 - I'm glad you like Catalina, I think a lot of readers have a bit of a problem with her character so it's great to meet a fellow fan! I like the fact you missed Catalina in the actual fifth book! That's is so something I would do! Glad you like the plot and that your waiting impatiently for this next chapter!

GLowStick - Thanks for the review - and well done on knowing the riddle!

goldensnitch3 - Hello again! Congrats on getting the answer to the riddle right you crazy one! Love the excess use of the YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYA keys!

Juniper Kiayla - Another new reader of BOTH stories!? You must be made to want to keep reading lols! But I don't blame you for not wanting to review every single chapter! As to the IMS quill, I love that idea and Hermione's little ramble about it made me snigger out loud to (bad form laughing at your own jokes, but you know!) And the timescape I like too (god, I am blowing my own trumpet today! Sorry!) and the time lag, I like limiting stuff in this so it doesn't seem too unbelievable (we're talking about witches and brooms and I'm using the word unbelievable?!)

I know what you mean about H/C finally getting together, although what went before was necessary you're right -time to cut them some slack! I really liked your analysis of their characters together, it made lots of sense and you've managed to say in one paragraph what its taken me 28 chapter to say!

Keldore - Thanks for the review, I'm glad you like the story so far!

mrs-osborne's-class - Thanks for the lovely review - I know what you mean, when I look back at my prequel I just have to laugh - it's so bad! And I can see definite room for improvement in this one too! Less rambling for a start…I'm glad you liked the last chapter and the introduction of the Timescape, I could have such fun with that!

Nasser Himura - I know what you mean! After so long seeing them edge around each other to actually see action sort of shocks you! It's even harder to write. It would be cool to see Harry and Catalina timescaping, but we'll have to wait and see. Powerful but weak is an excellent way to view them, they are still young. But we'll see…

FrostWing - Congratulations, you're one of four people I think who go the answer to the riddle - five points to the house of your choice!

nyermen - aha! Guilty as charged, yes I am a fan of Red Dwarf, and I didn't realise how much of it I'd put in here! Its all subconscious! Well at least I wasn't doing Brecon Beacons, more static caravan in rain, but you know! Wales is all the same to me! Hehehe, thanks for the review! P.s - it was Rimmer lols.

Pheonixdor Dragonclaw - aha - finally someone who knew the answer to the riddle -junk e-mails are great aren't they! Thanks for the review!

Randomreaderguy - Thank you so much for declaring this story spiffalicious, I think that's the first time I've been accused of that! Lols. I know what you man about being engrossed in stories you find on here, I spend hours up reading! Sorry about having to wait for an update, I have a lot of work to do with my uni course and my writing (unfortunately) has to take a back seat to my work! As to the riddle - don't worry, I didn't get it until I was told the answer either! The red letters is a sort of sub-plot which I tend to drop in every so often to remind people about - so don't worry it'll be becoming more important as time goes on! You're a very astute reader - do you know that? You pick up on a lot of key stuff that I think people miss! As to how long this stories going to be, God only knows! I haven't got a rigid structure sorted out so it might to carry on indefinitely…

Rich - Hey there again - thanks for the review! I'm glad you liked the whole timetravel/timescape idea, I've been really interested in time travel for years - especially after reading Steven Hawkings books recently! As to the new scar, plot spoiler - can't say much here, but your right, one more reason to be glad to see the back of Firelight! Thanks for taking the time out to read, hope your exams go well, that's the whole reason it takes me so long to get these chapters written and up - too busy revising and going to lectures etc!

Rini Sayian-jin - Ahhh, a little bit of romance at the end of the chapter (not to soon I might add). And as the author of the red letters, well you'll just have to wait and see! I like the IMS quill too, don't know if it would be possible in JK's world but what the hell, its mine now (cue evil laughter). Anywho, feel free to use it in any story you like! As long as you link me so I can read it to and pay back the reviews!