A/N: Just to be clear: No, you aren't expected to remember the Alfaerus past Geoffrey. Just so no one panics. This is Harry's story, and remains so. Thanks! F & N

The Prince-Who-Lived

Chapter Thirty-Six

Regulus opened the door and gave a strained smile.

"Come in, would you? Excuse the noise, it's just Ginger's children acting up. Chris doesn't want to share a room with Sean and Adam; the younger twins are screaming in sympathy, and Vivica is feeling ignored."

From up the stairs, came the sound of running, and then a pale blonde youth came down to find the door open. Alan immediately brightened, and Harry fought down an ironic smile.

"Andrew!" Alan called happily. "What the Hell are you doing here?"

Andrew strolled across the entrance hall and shrugged smoothly. "Felt like visiting my dearest friend, is all. Need a hand?"

"Trunk's still shrunk. Mrs. Potter's good with charms. And the tantrums?" Alan asked, cautiously.

Andrew shrugged, and lost his smile. "They're seven, four, and two. Plus siblings. It was easier dealing with Quinton at home, but Ginger's attached to her kids."

Harry felt his reluctance return four-fold. He did not want to deal with a bunch of little brats. However, his mother had led the way in behind Alan, and so Harry grudgingly followed. Once inside, he was quite surprised to find it thoroughly clean, and looking a lot brighter than he had thought possible. It was a pleasant change. As everyone entered, Lily turned to smile at Regulus.

"Does Ginger need any help?"

Regulus smiled wryly. "Has she ever accepted any when she didn't have to? She's got Geoffrey up there helping out. The meeting is waiting for Severus to arrive, so he's free at the moment. Otherwise I'd be the one getting hauled about, and Doe would've answered the door."

Alan looked up, and turned back to Andrew to ask, "You came with Ginger's twins?"

"Course. Why waste the trip? Koreol hasn't liked my dad coming over here since the last war. Now that he's back," Harry was idly surprised Andrew didn't say his name outright, "he hasn't let him come without being a silent shadow. Since they needed to apparate here anyways, I just asked to come along. Koreol will be back to take them home after Velorian goes, which should be within the week. Wouldn't want to offend by staying too long into the season." Andrew finished primly.

Shortly after he finished, Harry noticed that the noise from upstairs had finally died down, and then a blonde woman came down with a bright smile on her face, a redheaded toddler balanced on her hip.

"Ah, hello Lily, children. I recognise Harry's eyes easily enough, but the others …"

Lily smiled. "Ginger, the black-haired girl is Nanna, my daughter, and Neville is there," She waved at him and Neville gave a short bow, "and his sister is behind him."

"Lovely to meet you all." Ginger chirped. "The ruckus is dealt with, and I'll just show you to your rooms so Lily can return to keeping James in line. Reggie, Chris is in his room for the time being, setting himself up with Adam and Sean. Can you go keep an eye on them while I take care of these children and check on the twins, please?" Regulus nodded and left with a smile.

Neville huffed curiously at Ginger. "How many kids do you have?"

Ginger smiled at him and patted her belly. "This will be number ten, unless it's twins again."

Harry felt that confirmed she was insane. He got another look at her face and frowned. "Have I met you before?"

She laughed. "I'm Ginger Alfaerus, green eyes. You ran into me at the World cup. I'm Geoffrey's wife."

"More like my keeper." Geoffrey rumbled pleasantly, coming down the stairs. "You left Chris up there without putting a watch to make sure he got it done without picking another fight?"

"He wouldn't do that." Ginger smiled warmly. "And Reggie's playing warden. You must have passed him on your way down."

"He didn't complain?" Geoffrey asked, eyes wide.

"Would I have made him do anything?"

"Ginger, you run a mean guilt trip."

"Silence, or you can go relieve him of his duty. I do have to take care of guests, too, you know." Ginger shot back, still utterly pleasant, before turning back to Lily and the teenagers. "Anyways, the meeting is downstairs, and the den is clean, if you want. I think I got all your rooms clear, but I could be wrong. I'm working off of Reggie's memory of who went where, really. I felt I should make sure you all got in place. I … hmm, Lily, can you cancel the shrinking charm on the trunks? I must say I tried to work through one of your spells a few days ago and, well, let's just say it didn't go over."

Lily blushed. "I'm so sorry –"

"No worries." Ginger blithely brushed her off. "I'm used to it. Half the time I can't unspell anything Geoffrey's done first without picking it to pieces, either, and that takes a fair bit of time. Rather not take the time if I can just ask."

Lily smiled and quickly unshrunk the trunks, stepping downstairs with Geoffrey to the meeting and leaving Harry and the others to follow Ginger as she led them, smiling, to their respective rooms, her daughter resting quietly on her hip. Harry wondered if any expression ever crossed her face but that pleasant smile. When she showed the girl's into their shared rooms, she promised that supper would be in a few more minutes. Harry wasn't sure whether to look forward to it or not.

In their room, however, Harry found that Ron was already there, lying solemnly on his bed, and that apparently Kreacher's good mood was more useful than he'd thought. The room had been expanded, and there were now three beds within. Thinking clearly, now, he remembered that it had been that way in the other rooms as well, the rooms holding the beds properly once more. Neville happily took the bed at the far end of the room, where it sat recessed into the wall, and Harry was left across the room from Ron. The noise of their arrival finally appeared to sink in for the previous occupant, and he sat up.

"Hey."

"Hey Ron." Harry offered. He didn't know what to ask. He knew Arthur had been attacked, but not much else, and he wasn't sure … no, he knew he couldn't tell Ron he'd heard about it from Alan …

"It was my dad." He offered, finally. "He got bit by some ruddy snake of You-Know-Who's while doing something for the Order. He's stable, finally, but …"

"St. Mungos is full of excellent healers." Neville piped in. "They'll get him back together just fine. Is there any trouble coming his way, or …"

"Nah." Ron shook his head. "Professor Dumbledore came up with a good excuse for him to be there."

Harry merely nodded mutely, letting the conversation fall into silence as all of them settled into their nooks.

The call to supper was fortunately not long in coming. Getting downstairs, however, was a tad interesting. They exited their room only to have to immediately step aside as two children raced by, going down the stairs at unsafe speeds.

"Chris, if you don't stop chasing Sean I'm going to hang you from the rafters by your ears!"

Harry blinked, and watched as Regulus descended the stairs at a quick, but sane pace behind the children, and heard the two boys yell childish insults back up the stairs, and then at each other. Abruptly, both children stopped, as a young woman spoke up.

"Boys! If you don't stop this instant, I'll see about giving you turnips for ears! You know better, so stop giving me a headache!"

Harry, Neville and Ron traded looks and immediately set down the stairs after Regulus. At the bottom, a brown-haired girl who looked about Nanna's age was glaring at the two boys, who'd stopped in place and were eyeing her mutinously. Another girl from out of sight spoke up,

"Andi, if mum hears you talking like that, you'll be the one with turnips on your head."

The girl addressed turned to look into the stairwell. "You wanna listen to them screaming again? I've had enough of that!" She turned back to the boys. "Downstairs, now. Or I scream for mum to deal with you. Merlin, Mary and Morgan, she's downstairs, so go see how she likes your bickering. Scat!"

The boys stuck out their tongues but sullenly descended the stairs, the blonde running, followed sullenly by the one Harry guessed was younger. In front of him, Regulus sighed.

"And you girls need to be downstairs as well. C'mon, boys. Supper's coming."

Harry didn't want to run into Alan again. Unfortunately, he saw no way out of it without skipping supper, and that would leave him hungry and open to questions. He did not want to be hungry. Silently, he followed Neville and Ron down, coming out to find the room and table expanded by several seats. Present, Harry saw, were the majority of the Weasley family, minus the older boys, and then what could only be Geoffrey's children and wife besides his own mother, Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape. The only seats left were beside Alan and Andrew, and Ron was clearly uncomfortable at the thought of sitting by Andrew much less the Slytherin. Neville's mutinous face told him all he needed to know: He wasn't getting any quarter, especially since James was not there, most likely having only dropped by during a break in work.

Harry sighed. Caught between a rock, and one Hell of a hard place.

Awkwardly, Harry sat down. He was unsure of how to handle treating Alan. His actions last summer seemed so long ago; he remembered being vaguely polite, but Alan's difficult request at the end of term left him unsure of how to deal with his lingering frustration. Alan only gave him a short, quiet look before turning back to a whispered conversation with Andrew. Harry had never imagined he'd be this uncomfortable sitting between the people he counted as his best friends, but here he was, wishing he were elsewhere.

No conversation was required of him between sitting down and the array of food arriving. Quiet requests for food were easy enough and a full mouth prevented invasive questions. However, ignoring conversation to eat meant he finished long before everyone else, and he was thus left stuck at the table, waiting for it to be polite to leave.

It didn't promise to come anytime soon.

Several conversations were going on around the table. Harry could tell through looking that Lily had Severus, Ginger and Geoffrey all talking with her about something she must really love considering the amount of hand motion going on. Ginger kept turning away to attend to Vivica and the other two youngest children Harry had seen. Across the table from them were the two boys Harry had seen running downstairs. Seated between them was a clearly irritated older sibling, possibly the boy named Adam Harry had heard mentioned since the rest of the children across from him were all girls. Nanna and Melanie had apparently taken to them immediately, as they were throwing ideas back and forth between them without stop, handling the identical girls like they would the Weasley twins. Harry was pleased to see that Ginny was smiling. He hadn't been able to do much to get a smile from Ron himself.

The other end of the table was an apparently serious conversation that surprisingly included both Black brothers in civil conversation. Remus, beside Dumbledore, was pointing at his napkin on the table and drawing some form of lines without care for the food getting on the cloth from his dirty knife. Fred and George were listening intently. It seemed only Neville and Ron and Alan and Andrew were having anything resembling individual conversations, and Harry felt mildly lonely. He was considering tuning into his little sister's discussion when Andrew laughed loud enough to get the majority of attention. Apparently he missed the sudden lull, and his answer to Alan was perfectly clear.

"Hel-lo, Alan, Draco is a stubborn little snotrag with delusions of grandeur. My father may be pureblood enough for Lucius' tastes, but myself? There's that vampire problem, and proper purebloods do not associate with vampires even if they are blood children. Lucius would have a cow, and then my dad would lose that lovely proposition he's been trying to get Lucius to make since summer. It'd be lose-lose if I tried to go along. I'd be miserable, and dad would be set back again."

Across the table, one of the twins laughed. "Andrew, I didn't know your dad wanted Lucius."

Andrew threw his napkin at her. "Doe, stop being a brat. You know what I mean."

"Did you also mean for the entire table to overhear that?" The second girl twin asked. Andrew paused. Harry felt he should have noticed sooner, as the Order was now staring at him in mild horror. A chuckle went through the Alfaerus family as Andrew smacked his hand into his forehead.

"What Andrew is referring to is that his father's family has been long-term friends with the Malfoy's since the two split upon the Mayfair's emigration." Geoffrey spoke up. "It's expected that they remain friends. The 'proposition' he referred to is indeed an invitation to join into Death Eater activities, but Velorian has been feeding information about Lucius' illegal exploits to several aurors he trusts since he was a teenager."

"What's some American doing that makes Lucius want to hang out with him? I thought he would have detested Americans." Sirius asked cautiously.

Regulus answered. "The Mayfair's have maintained, by an admittedly fine line, the pureblood standard of only marrying purebloods. Tara is pureblood by … two generations?" Regulus directed the question down the table. Geoffrey started a short count on his fingers.

"It was her … great-great grandfather that was a muggleborn. So yes, two generations."

"So, yeah. And since Velorian became the Head of his family when he was about … nine, I think?" Geoffrey sent another affirmative up the table, so Regulus continued. "Do you really think Lucius would not court such supposedly easy prey?" He didn't wait for an answer. "But then he did something wrong and Velorian's hated him for years. Takes vindictive pleasure in foiling him and Lucius still hasn't caught on."

"I don't trust a man who hangs out with Malfoy when he knows about the Order." Molly scolded. "It's not safe."

"Velorian actually doesn't know anything about the Order." Geoffrey interjected. "He insisted he not be told, in fact. He finds it highly amusing to be free to drink the tea no matter what truth serum Lucius has put in and give him evasive answers all the time." Several people choked. "Stop freaking like that, besides a vampire guardian, Velorian has an antidote to veritaserum and good enough Occlumency to avoid giving answers he doesn't want to give. Not to mention an exceptionally irritating ability to speak half-truths. Andrew is here because he insisted on seeing Alan, and as a vampire he's already got exceptional mind defences. Koreol knows of the location as well. That's it. Dumbledore," Geoffrey gave a short nod to the leader of the Order, "approved both of them being informed. With Koreol knowing, Velorian felt no need to be informed himself."

Harry noticed a murmur of dissent, and felt like snorting. Knowing that a very old vampire knew the location of their Headquarters had sent a shiver of fear through everyone present. Harry had dealt with knowing Koreol last summer, and he found himself trusting the man completely. Andrew's attitude was contagious. It helped that he knew Koreol knew how much he meant to Alan – and with how much Alan meant to Andrew, Koreol would not want to hurt either boy by extension.

"Sheesh," Andrew whispered. The silence allowed Harry to overhear what was most likely meant only for Alan, "Am I really that scary?"

"Sometimes." Alan whispered back. Harry could hear his smile, and then felt him flinch and turn a sharp look at Andrew again.

Finally the main silence broke as Severus spoke up.

"It is enough for me that Koreol would not do something to harm Velorian or Andrew even by extension. As such, their family and closest friends are a 'resource' Koreol will protect as well. There is no reason for him to go against their interests. With Velorian feeding a grudge against the Malfoys, it places himself and Koreol against the Dark Lord; a position advantageous to us right now. The information of this building could not be forced from Koreol by torture or guile, and any attempt against Andrew courts his wrath. He is a much better ally than an enemy."

The veiled threat sent the more conservative members of the Order into frightened whispers. Harry could hear Molly's voice with a thin thread of panic, and he sighed. She'd take the absolute longest to calm down. He was considering standing up and leaving when Alan, followed by Andrew, stood quietly and begged off. Severus sent them on their way, and Harry waited a few minutes himself. But when he wanted to ask, Lily was engaged in conversation again, much as the rest of the table was. Harry was stuck in place for nearly ten more minutes before he finally caught his mother's eye and excused himself to head back upstairs. She'd have killed him if he hadn't cleared it with her.

He wasn't sure where he was headed. His room wasn't private enough, and he was still conflicted on how to deal with Alan. Currently, everyone else was at supper – the house was empty, and unlikely to fill again soon with how the conversations were going. The most likely people to leave next were Neville and Ron who would either go to their room, or play chess – leaving Harry alone.

Well.

If he wasn't going to be disturbed, he could try and work out with Alan the issue of when to deal with the matter of informing his father that he thought his concepts were outdated and elitist. Which would not be the week before Christmas. Maybe the week after; Hell, three days after, but not before. Alan would understand that. Hopefully.

Going by Ginger's comment that they were all in the same rooms as before, Harry went up the stairs and found that the door that had led to Regulus' rooms now was decorated with a small wooden sign engraved, 'Do Not Disturb; Alan'

Harry raised his eyebrows and opened the door anyways. He paused when he looked through, and it took a moment before he could really follow what was going on.

Alan was laid back on the bed, shirtless and completely lax, with Andrew kneeling over him. His head was turned to one side, and Andrew's face was completely hidden as Harry could only assume he fed off Alan's neck. It was shocking, Hell, disturbing, but also completely fascinating. He couldn't look away, couldn't even really think, only stand there and watch, noting small details of Alan's breath quickening and Andrew's mid-long hair as it fell across his cheek and hid any sight of the point of contact. He couldn't even feel time passing until Andrew's head lifted, and he looked up and met Harry's eyes, his white eyes glowing as he licked traces of blood from his lips and teeth. His mind finally kicked back into gear, and Harry felt, for the first time, truly afraid of Andrew, truly aware that Andrew was indeed a vampire.

"Hey," Andrew said quietly, "next time a door reads 'Do Not Disturb' it's there for a reason."

Harry blinked again and looked to his side, and then turned around completely to realize the door was shut behind him and he'd stepped into the room. A shiver ran up his back as he realized he was shut in a room with a vampire. Firmly he closed his eyes. Alan was his friend. Andrew was Alan's friend. Alan, quite obviously, completely trusted Andrew. Andrew wouldn't do anything to him without his permission. Irritably, Harry finally turned around and opened his mouth to answer.

Nothing came out.

Harry tried again, and, finally, just asked, "How did the door get shut? And don't just say I shut it, because I want to know why I don't remember it."

Andrew's mouth quirked. "It's minor hypnosis. I just wanted the door shut so no one else would look in, and since I'm not quite good enough to send you out, shut the door, and keep you from reacting, I felt it best to bring you in since I know you're a smart kid anyways. Or at least I hope you are." He folded to sitting on the bed beside the still quiescent Alan, and while Alan was clearly breathing he hadn't otherwise reacted yet.

Harry nodded slowly, and swallowed the lump of fear in his throat. "I just wanted to talk to Alan."

"Give him a few minutes." Andrew assured him.

Harry looked back at Alan and found it was still creepy. He could see the small holes from the bite marks, which, although they were no longer bleeding, were very red and very prominent with his skin looking whiter than normal. Alan's eyes were still closed, but he was stirring slowly as though waking from a deep sleep. He didn't sit up, though, but just lay quietly in place, apparently oblivious of his surroundings. Andrew sat quietly beside him on the bed, but he was watching Alan with a slightly disturbing fascination.

Harry made a note to not walk through the door like that again.

Finally, Alan asked something Harry couldn't hear, but Andrew quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him into a sitting position. Once he was up, he crossed his legs and scooted around to face Harry with a blank expression. Harry shifted awkwardly. Alan's mouth twisted into a bitter smile.

"Enjoy the show?"

"No, actually." Harry answered honestly. "It was creepy as Hell and probably started a 'List of Things I Never Wanted to Know About My Best Friend.'"

Andrew barked a laugh, and then leered at him before licking at the bite mark he'd left on Alan's neck. Alan swatted irritably at him, and turned back to Harry.

"Why'd you walk in anyways?"

"I hadn't thought Andrew would be …" Harry couldn't think of a word to use that wouldn't be taken as impolite. What did they call it? There weren't exactly vampire etiquette classes, even for purebloods.

"Feeding." Alan offered, smiling. "Politically correct and everything."

Harry nodded shortly, and at Alan's raised eyebrow, continued, "I just wanted to try and … explain why I didn't take you up on the offer of studying." Alan's face closed immediately, so Harry hurried to explain. "It's not that I'm still scared, or not so much. It's just … I don't want a repeat of second year. I want to enjoy my Christmas with my whole family, and not ruin it for everybody by getting my dad angry. I'll do it the week after, a few days after – but not the week before. Please, Alan."

Alan eyed him for a moment longer, and then shrugged. "That makes sense. I guess I didn't think about it." He turned a sharp gaze back at him. "So. Do you want to join the study group after the holidays, then?"

Harry gave him an honest smile. "Sure." He ignored the twisting nervousness in his stomach. "I'd love to. I'll bring Neville along, too."

Alan smiled warmly back at him, and Harry felt the nervousness disappear. He could do this. His dad needed to just grow up. His dad, not him. He was right in this. He was.

Andrew leaned over Alan and slung his arm around his throat. Alan turned back to him with a frown. "Andrew, personal space." He growled.

"Awww," Andrew whined, "you didn't mind earlier."

"Andrew," Alan sighed, and then huffed. "Grow up already."

Harry laughed quietly, and frowned slightly. "What …"

"Harry, vampire questions equal too much information. Maybe if you come over for the summer or something, but not now. If you don't want to cause a stir, you'd probably better go cheer Neville on in playing chess against Ron or something." Alan answered calmly.

Harry frowned, and then nodded slowly. "Yeah, I suppose. You will explain eventually, though."

"Careful," Alan began. Andrew cut him off.

"I'd love to take the time to explain the nuances for you, Harry." Andrew's tone was soft, warm and sent shivers up Harry's back that weren't fear, or weren't entirely. Harry swallowed and shook his head before leaving quickly, hearing Alan begin to berate Andrew again and, as he went lower, he felt a smile work it's way onto his face. It was amazing how getting rid of one trouble could make everything seem much brighter. Grimmauld wasn't looking so gloomy anymore. A few days here wouldn't hurt at all, little kids or not.

IIII

It was only a few more days at Grimmauld before everyone split to their respective homes for the holidays, leaving the Alfaerus to take over the house in peace. With only two days, there wasn't much going on before it was time to open presents. Nanna was all over him being home, and wouldn't stop chattering during the dinner Christmas Eve, but he didn't really mind. Harry went to sleep smiling and watching the small mantle clock Neville had given him last year, impatient for the morning. He'd open his gifts, and then it would be supper with the Longbottoms. There had been a promise of a New Year's party at Grimmauld, since most of the families had plans for Boxing Day, and then … well, then it would be return to Hogwarts and the High Inquisitor, and the start of studying with the Slytherins. The thought sent him into a cold sweat, but Harry stubbornly stood by his decision. He would do it.

He woke in the morning without the worry of the night before, and climbed into his dressing robe to hurry downstairs. They opened gifts at the Christmas tree, and Harry came down, passing his barely woken parents on the way. They both gave him sleepy smiles, and continued to join Nanna, bouncing impatiently on the loveseat. Both parents smiled.

"Have at it." James ordered. Harry and Nanna eagerly complied.

The selection was brilliant. Ron, Hagrid and Molly were predictable: Ron gave food, Molly, the snacks and the sweaters, and Hagrid had sent him a furry wallet prone to biting anything put near it's mouth. Supposedly it was an antitheft device, but Harry supposed it'd be better as a decoy or purse protector – once you figured out how to control it. Remus, Sirius and his father had gotten him a very large present that Harry opened and gaped at. It was another auror-level gift: a ten volume set of Practical Defensive Magic, which covered everything defensive from house wards, to hexes and jinxes, to magical items and armour. James finally nudged him to encourage him to move along, and Harry stuck his tongue out at him before turning back to the opening.

The next gift was marked from Hermione and Neville both. Harry couldn't help but smile. They were definitely a couple. Inside were American Duelling robes, probably owl-ordered, that were slit up the sides and made from some strange magically enhanced fabric Alan had tried to explain once and confused himself on, since it was a Australian import Harry had never heard of either. Surprisingly, beneath the duelling robes were another set of casual robes, coloured rust to the duelling robes' charcoal. Pinned on top was a small note in neat writing Harry took a moment to place as Alan's. It simply said, 'Gift from me'. Suitably cryptic for the quintessential Slytherin. When Harry picked up the paper to pocket it, it darkened a shade, and then vanished in his hand a few seconds later. Harry shrugged it off and stood up to show them the second set, which he soon realized with a laugh were also slit up the sides much like Geoffrey's were. James was very impressed with 'Neville's' taste. Harry cynically wondered what James would say if he knew Alan had bought him the casual robes. Determinedly, Harry asked permission to change into them for the day and ran upstairs after getting it. He hesitated, and then put on his serpent pendant as well. The colours went well together.

Neville definitely noticed the statement when he came over that evening. None of the parents did, but Melanie was eyeing the pendant carefully. During the meal, Harry and Neville were seated together and took advantage of Sirius and Remus engaging their parents to have their own, private conversation.

Neville laughed as he finally commented, "Feeling a tad rebellious are we?"

"Of course not. Dad thought the robes looked nice and I wanted to check out how comfortable the slit sides were."

"And the necklace?" Neville raised his eyebrows pointedly.

"The colours suit each other. Besides, my parents like both."

Neville's eyebrows really sought his hairline at that point, and he turned away and shook his head, running his hand over his wrist where a new watch rested and chuckling to himself. "You really make a statement when you choose to make a statement, Harry."

"Yep. Now, where'd the watch come from?"

Neville flushed. "Hermione. She bought it from where they're out skiing, and enchanted it herself to be pretty much the standard wizarding watch. You know, unbreakable, glows on command, tarnish-proof. She did a really good job, too. The spells should last several years, maybe a few decades really."

Harry took his turn to chuckle. "You two are so cute. What did you get her?"

Neville's face coloured even more, and he murmured, "The family clock you got last year. I already put on you, Ron, and myself; didn't have the materials to add her parents. I didn't know whether to add our little sisters, but I left a note with the instructions and told her to ask me when we got back if she wanted the others added."

Harry smiled widely. "That's so cute."

"So," Neville straightened and continued, "Did you get Susan or Alan something?"

His tone was quiet enough no one else would catch the extra name, but Harry still felt himself swallow around a disproportionate lump.

"Well," He forced himself to answer calmly, "I got Susan a small bag of hair clips and ties – she's growing her hair out again, and Blaise got a wand holster since I noticed he doesn't actually have one, or if he does he certainly doesn't use it and should. Alan got a set of novels, actually." Harry had been extremely surprised to find that Alan liked reading muggle true crime novels, but it had been surprisingly easy to slip away from his mother in a grocery store in muggle London and buy three books he thought Alan might like. They were almost expensive, so he wasn't worried if they were ones he already had. Besides, he'd admitted most of his books were American, and the selection differed between the two countries.

"Novels?"

Harry snickered. "Muggle ones to boot. He likes those 'true crime' stories."

Neville shook his head. "That's just weird."

"Neville, did he ever claim he was not?"

Neville shook his head and just laughed. "Lay off, eh?"

Harry smiled victoriously. He then paused, and carefully asked, "Do you want to join me in studying in the library after we get back to school? I found a table that we'd be welcome at."

Neville turned back to him with full attention and snorted incredulously. As he realized what Harry meant a small smile crossed his face. "Sure. Sounds like fun."

Harry smiled at the agreement and turned back to his meal. Yes, he did like this change in pace. They were right; he'd been stifled, because he was finally feeling like he could breathe again.

IIII

New Year's Eve was the party at Grimmauld with most of the Order. Hermione had been invited over, and Neville and her had disappeared somewhere to snog or raid the library – Harry wasn't sure which, and didn't really want to know. Ron had gaped after their quick exit, but shaken himself out of it and wandered around. After the supper was over, Ron had gotten a taste of the alcohol Sirius had brought and been almost instantly lightly buzzed, much to Molly's chagrin. She wasn't too worried though, as the worst thing he did was challenge Alan to a chess match. It'd been four hours since. They weren't anywhere near done. Apparently Ron played as mean a game buzzed as he did normally, and even if it were wearing off, he was still focused enough to not care that his opponent was a Slytherin. James had sent several disapproving frowns their direction, but Lily was – exasperated and annoyed – herding him away every time he turned a glare that way. It was probably for the best, as Severus had been sending him angry glares all evening when James wasn't looking. Harry had almost wanted to disappear several times.

An hour or so before midnight, on a walk up the stairs to escape the noise, Harry found himself walking into Dumbledore who was looking into the library with a small smile. Harry frowned, and walked around him to glance in, barely refraining from a strained chuckle. Hermione was sitting on Neville's lap with his hands resting lightly on her waist beneath her shirt. Clearly they were completely oblivious to the world. Harry sent a raised eyebrow at the Headmaster, and Dumbledore quietly eased the door most of the way shut, ushering Harry to follow him down a landing. On the floor below, Dumbledore quietly smiled at Harry.

"Do not start giving me such a suspicious look. I was merely seeing if the library was empty and clearly it was not. They are not engaged in anything of concern, although I can also clearly see you don't believe me."

Harry shook his head and tried to clear his face. Yes, he did actually believe. He just didn't like Dumbledore and hadn't for years. He was too manipulative.

"Harry." Dumbledore asked softly, "How is school for you? You seem to be doing fine, although your minor hostility to Alan has been a concern in the past."

"Sir, it was mostly just rivalry. We were equal on the Quidditch pitch, and both male." Harry reassured him, and then struggled for an answer to quell that in turn. "It's … it doesn't seem right to keep up with it after what happened last year, though. That was just unfair. Rivalry doesn't belong when someone has everything else stacked against them." Harry forced himself to look up and meet Dumbledore's eyes as he finished, "I certainly don't believe the trash about you and him the ministry is throwing around, though. He is not a liar and you wouldn't have done anything so underhanded."

Dumbledore smiled warmly at Harry, and Harry felt something against his forehead. He couldn't think of what it was for a long moment until it went away and Dumbledore nodded to him with the same smile and wandered off. It hit him like a ton of bricks, and Harry leaned against the wall and cursed himself. Legilimency. Thank Merlin for Alan insisting he learn to keep everything about their friendship behind his shield. Dumbledore had no right to do that to him! No right, especially without reason.

"Look, it's not your fucking problem!"

Harry turned at the furious yell and darted down the stairs to find the drawing room again. He stumbled into it and found the adults were all in a circle, and in the middle were two men Harry sadly thought he could name even without seeing them clearly: Regulus and James. His father, and a Slytherin. Harry didn't know whether to thank god it wasn't Severus and James, or to curse his father himself for being an arrogant fool.

Off to his left, it was almost hilarious to see that Ron and Alan were still playing chess, the older Alfaerus children watching with interest. Harry looked between the fight and the chess game and then firmly pulled himself away from the yelling match that Kingsley and Sirius were trying to break up to go attend the Chess game. Curious, he sat next to the older boy, whom Harry couldn't remember his name, and eyed the board. Most intriguingly, it appeared Alan was losing. A second thought reminded him it wasn't that odd; it was Ron Alan was playing, after all. Slytherins did not monopolize tactical skills.

"I don't care how many times you say it, there is nothing to redeem the Slytherin house!" James shouted again.

Harry gave up and buried his face in his hands. "I got all my genes from my mother, I swear."

Alan started laughing quietly, and playfully ruffled Harry's hair. Ron gaped at them a moment, and frowned.

"Harry, you just –"

"What?" Harry interrupted. "Got Slytherin germs?"

"He's had those for years." Alan calmly answered. "After all, I helped you people out when you got the bright idea to go after the Sorcerer's stone."

"Alan!" One of the Alfaerus twins watching the game cried. "You're not allowed to break your opponent with extraneous double-talk! It makes the game not fair."

"Sorry Andi, but it's just too easy."

"Hey!" Ron snapped back to attention and frowned. "You move your castle back to where it was, and don't even try to argue it!"

Alan sighed and obeyed. Flashes of light behind them indicated what Harry hoped was the end of the fight. As Ron finished the chess game, he watched Harry and Alan carefully, ignoring the soft giggles coming from the Alfaerus children around him.

A half hour later, and with the end of the game finally in sight, the clocks announced midnight, and the New Year. Silently, Harry met Ron's still confused expression and just smiled thinly. New Year's resolution: Stop playing dumb. The Slytherin could come out to play.

A/N: Christmas! In August! But hey. It works. There are several long involved parts involving likely confusing characters, but I promise - the story is mainly Harry's POV, in Britain, focused on Voldemort. They will not take over. Several points mentioned here will come up again affecting events regarding Harry and Alan, but those won't be clear for a while yet. Capiche? So don't give up because the strangers are taking over; remember, Geoffrey was teaching here so he'd want his family near and Grimmauld's as safe a place as any.

Cackles evilly And you will kill me next chapter, I promise. Cliffhanger and everything. The rating will be met once more fairly soon, and not for the last time. Enjoy? Thank you for reading, please review!

Fire & Napalm