Chapter XXII

"Even though it's far from our first meeting, I'm still surprised to see you in a place like this."

"Why's that?"

Rita Skeeter slid into the booth in the back of the White Wyvern, where her contact was waiting. "Well, one would think that an auror would prefer to not spend their time at a pub in Knockturn Alley."

Yaxley cast a number of privacy charms before lowering his hood. "Would you rather we met in the atrium at the Ministry?"

"Let's just get down to it. What do you have for me?" Rita adjusted her acid-green eyeglasses, and readied a quill and a pad of parchment.

"I thought you might like a followup on our last discussion."

A smile of pure greed slowly wormed its way across her features. "About the Potter boy? Do tell!"

"There's a house just outside of muggle London. Number Four Privet Drive; it's where Potter spent most of his childhood."

She scribbled the address down. "So what? You expect me to do a profile on a bunch of muggles? I thought you'd have something a bit more interesting than that."

Yaxley rolled his eyes. "You'll need to do some actual investigating this time. Don't worry, there's no wards on the home, you can use whatever tricks you have up your sleeve and no one will be the wiser."

Skeeter was still skeptical. "What's newsworthy about this? I've got better things to write about."

"Just do what you want. A mutual acquaintance asked me to pass the information on, and I have done so." Rita didn't visibly react to his words, but she looked down at the address with renewed interest. "I also expect my usual payment, Skeeter."

"This had better pan out, Yaxley." She tossed a small sack of gold onto the table as he stood from their booth and raised his hood once more.

"Or what?" He asked in amusement. 'I almost wish the stupid bint would. She'd be signing her own death sentence.' "We're done here."

October 10, 1992

"Rise and shine, apprentice!"

"Wha- Professor? What are you doing here?" Harry fumbled for his glasses while Anthony groaned and covered his ears with his pillow.

"We've got things to do today, no time to sleep in. Up and at them!"

"How did you even get in here?"

"I was a Ravenclaw myself, Harry. Besides, it's not as though the entrance is all that secure. Anyone able to answer the riddle at the door knocker can easily gain access."

"Right. That's a great comfort. If you'll excuse me, I'll need some time to get ready."

"Very well! I'll meet you at the Entrance Hall in a half hour!" The blonde-haired professor swirled out of the room with a twirl of his bright purple cloak.

"Why you signed on with that ponce, I'll never know."

"It's not all bad, Tony," Harry told his roommate, though he was unsure whether he was trying to convince Anthony or himself with his defense of Lockhart. "Sorry for waking you."

"No worries, I should get up anyway. Terry, Mandy and I were going to put the finishing touches on the banner we're making for the match today."

Harry gave a wistful smile. He'd yet to attend a quidditch match this term. "Who are we playing, again?"

"Gryffindor. Their chasers get better every year, but their seeker is still pants at finding the snitch. I like our odds, especially with Chang developing the way she has."

"Right, I don't think that's the kind of 'developing' that made you such a fan, mate."

Anthony's response was to send his pillow flying into Harry's face. "Get going, I don't want Lockhart coming back up here because you're late."

Harry grinned and tossed the pillow back to his roommate before gathering his bathing supplies and heading to the showers. Twenty minutes later, he pulled on the silver robes that Lockhart had ordered him to purchase, and made his way out of the Tower. As he was heading down, he caught sight of a familiar face heading up.

"Susan! Wait up!" The redhead turned, and seeing who it was gave an easy smile.

"Good morning, Harry. You look good today, why so dressed up?"

His cheeks pinked a bit at her casual compliment, and he settled alongside the Hufflepuff, matching her stride with his own. "Lockhart's taking me on another field trip today. Where are you going? I'd have figured you'd be going to the Great Hall for breakfast."

"I already ate. Going to the Owlery now, so I can mail my aunt a letter."

"How is Madam Bones?"

"Busy, a lot like you I guess. I haven't seen much of you this term."

Harry winced. "Sorry. Maybe I can eat dinner with you at the Hufflepuff table tonight? I think since we're leaving now, we'll be- Shoot! I have to run! I should be back at Hogwarts by dinner!"

"Wait! You're leaving the castle? Where are you going?" But Harry had already taken off running towards the nearest staircase. Susan sighed, and continued walking towards the Owlery.

"Hey Norm, how's life? You guys enjoying the peace and quiet with Harry back at school?"

"Not so much. You want anything?" They'd met at a Costa Coffee down the road from Sam's apartment.

"No thanks, I had some tea with breakfast. Diane's not coming?"

"I thought it was best if she didn't."

"Uh-oh. I've heard that tone enough times to know I've stepped in it now."

Norm clenched his teeth. "You're damn right you have. What right do you think you have to keep secrets about our son from Diane and I?"

Sam leaned back in his seat. "I'm guessing he came clean about that whole mess before Christmas, then?"

"He did. I see you're not even trying to pretend you didn't know about it already."

"Harry told me the day after he got back from the hospital."

"And you didn't inform us, why exactly?"

Sam tapped the lacquered tabletop with his fingertips. "I didn't tell you because I was concerned that Diane would keep him from going back to Hogwarts. Harry doesn't need you two trying to pull him away from that world. It would only end badly for both him, and especially you."

Norm tried to parse through his friend's reasoning. "We know that Harry will never lead a nonmagical life. I spent the last week of his summer holiday reading his history textbook about that Statute of theirs. That doesn't mean we don't have a right to know." He visibly calmed himself, taking a sip of his coffee, making a face at the taste. Too sweet. "Is there anything else?"

"Anything else about what? Why I didn't tell you?"

"Anything else that has happened to Harry that we don't know about. I'm giving you a chance here, Sam, to come clean."

"There's nothing to tell. Harry really only writes to me for help in his lessons, we don't talk much about his day-to-day life. You know all about our trip to America, and now about this apprenticeship he has with that oaf, Lockhart."

Norm regarded his oldest friend silently for a long moment, seemingly coming to a conclusion. "Diane and I don't want you to see Harry any longer."

"What?!"

"Tell him you have to move overseas for work, like to that lab you visited in Germany over the summer."

"I think you're overreacting."

Norm shook his head. "No, Sam. I've defended you over and over, but you crossed the line. This wasn't covering for Harry acting like a yob or getting into trouble. You deliberately encouraged him to lie to us about him having to kill a man, for god's sake!" Norm angrily ran a hand through his hair. "I mean, what were you thinking? That a twelve-year old would just brush it off? This is the kind of thing people need years of therapy to get past, and you decided he should deal with it completely alone. You're done."

"So that's it? What, you're just going to cut me out of your life?" Sam tried to bluster, but really he was afraid. Not of missing out on access to Harry, but of losing his oldest and best friend.

"Of course not. You'll always be a part of my life. And maybe Harry's again, someday. But we'll be seeing each other like this," he gestured to the coffee shop they were in. "And once Diane cools off, at our place when Harry's at school."

"She's pretty upset, yea?"

"She is."

"Right. Well, I guess I should go write a letter to Harry. Send Hedwig my way next time he mails you, would you?"

"I will." The two men stood up, and gave each other an awkward hug.

"For what it's worth, Norm, I'm sorry. I was just trying to do what I thought was best for Harry."

"It wasn't a decision you had a right to make by yourself, Sam. I'll call you soon."

Harry was hungry. And irritated. He'd spent the afternoon following Lockhart around the Ministry for Magic, popping into various departments and sub-departments, sitting idly while the man chatted up different Ministry workers on the latest news and gossip. He'd wanted to throw up at the sight of Gilderoy flirting heavily with possibly the most unpleasant looking woman he'd ever laid eyes on. 'She looked like an actual toad!'

Even when they'd followed a trainee from the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes to the cantina, Harry hadn't been able to eat. This was the absolute last time he'd go anywhere with this man without first having a solid meal in his belly.

"Well, that was a rather rewarding trip, don't you think, Harry?"

"Was it? Seemed to me that we just walked around while you talked yourself up to a bunch of strangers."

Lockhart let out a deep laugh, taking no offense at his apprentice's harsh tone. "Harry, Ministry workers aren't strangers; they're bureaucrats. And there is nothing a bureaucrat loves more than talking about how important their work is."

"So? I didn't hear anyone say anything important."

"Didn't you? Let's see; the Department for International Magical Cooperation is trying to figure out a way to piggyback off the Quidditch World Cup Final being in Great Britain to increase our country's global profile. That's a moneymaking opportunity in the right hands. The DMLE is putting a lot of hope in getting the Muggle Protection Act passed to justify a funding increase. And the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures let slip that there is a giant that recently tried to cross the English Channel."

"When did you hear all of that? I don't remember people saying any of those things."

They passed through the Atrium, where Lockhart made a show of spinning a Galleon along his knuckles to the delight of a group of young witches, before he emptied a small coin purse into the Fountain of Magical Brethren. "You weren't listening the way I was, Harry. Don't worry, you'll catch on to it eventually. Just remember, especially when it comes to the Ministry, the people here are dying to tell you all about their work. All you have to do is give them a sympathetic ear."

"Can we go back to Hogwarts now?" Harry really was hungry.

"Not just yet. We have to meet with this wizard, the one that has been hassling ol' Thad for an appointment. I've got the Floo address here, and we're right on time. Or at least," he cast a quick tempus charm, "still only fashionably late."

Harry groaned, but followed Lockhart to the public Floo, enunciating the address he was given clearly and stepping into the green flames. The residence that they emerged into could barely be called that. Moldy food sat uneaten on plates, flies buzzed around the kitchen sink, and garbage and refuse coated most visible surfaces. Harry held his sleeve over his mouth and nose, only to remove it after Lockhart sharply elbowed him.

"Hello there, you must be Nathan Cleese, pleasure to meet you." He pumped the hand of a man who, despite having impeccably groomed hair and a well-trimmed mustache, was dressed in filthy, stained robes. "I'm Gilderoy Lockhart, Professor Emeritus of Hogwarts, Order of Merlin Third Class, Honorary Mem-"

"Yes, I know who you are. You're late."

"We came as soon as our schedule permitted, my dear fellow. Now, what was this opportun-"

"You brought someone with you?" The wizard interrupted again.

"Merely my apprentice, you can pretend he's not here if it makes you feel more at ease. Now, shall we get down to business?"

The man, Nathan, looked closely at Harry. "There's nothing you can learn from this man. You shouldn't have come." There was madness in his eyes. Harry edged closer to Lockhart.

Lockhart seemed as at ease in this setting as he was in the Ministry. "I don't suppose there's room to sit down, is there? Also, I would absolutely love a cup of tea if you have some."

"Tell me, Gilderoy, how did you manage to defeat the Bandon Banshee?"

"I take it you haven't read my bestselling Break with a Banshee, then? I suppose I can tell you, though I still recommend buying a copy for all the really good details." Lockhart winked knowingly. "Let's see – a banshee had been a right bother to the people in Bandon for generations, taking up residence in the ruins of Castle Bernard. The Ministry had set up a rather intensive set of wards to keep muggles away, and limit the danger to wizards, but I realized that all of the ambient magic was actually attracting the banshee, like a moth to a flame. That was why it had haunted the area for so long. With a bit of cunning, and a lot of daring, I initiated a cascade in the ward scheme that ended up blowing the ruins sky-high, and the banshee hasn't been seen since."

"LIAR!" Flecks of spittle came out of Cleese's mouth as he shrieked at Lockhart.

"What's this about? My publisher said you'd been seeking a meeting with me for some time. If you have nothing for me, then I'm afraid you've wasted my time, sir. Harry, come along."

"Confringo!" The blasting curse demolished the fireplace, precluding any easy exit out of the hovel.

Lockhart looked at the pile of smoking rubble and gulped audibly. "Sir, we, ah, we aren't looking for trouble. I'm not sure what I've done that has offended you so, but.."

"You've ruined my life!" The wizard's voice was warped, sounding as though two people were speaking at the same time. "You took everything from me!"

Lockhart cocked his head as the man's skin began to bubble, features going misshapen and his entire frame morphing. After several seconds, where there was once a man, now stood a woman with unkempt wild hair, overgrown nails, and brown, crooked teeth. "Now that was unusual. Nathan, my good man, you don't seem to be at your best, I believe that Harry and I will-"

"Shut up! I'm not Nathan Cleese, I took Polyjuice potion you incompetent moron! I'm Veronica Haslett! The woman whose life you stole!"

Recognition dawned on Lockhart's face. "Ah, Miss Haslett! It's been too long!"

"You took what should have been mine. It wasn't easy, but I found a healer to reverse what you did to me. I'm going to take what you owe me, right now! I've been planning this, you see, for months, waiting, I knew you'd pop back up eventually, it was inevitable, just the type that you are, I know all about it..." The woman continued ranting at Lockhart, foaming at the mouth as she waved her wand at them in a threatening manner.

Harry couldn't make sense of what she was yelling, but from the concern on Lockhart's face and the angry sparks emanating from Haslett's wand, he knew things weren't going well. He tensed, feeling for his magic the way he had during his training this last week, readying himself for what he was afraid would happen.

It didn't take long. Mid-sentence, the unhinged woman suddenly waved her wand in a horizontal line across her body and hissed, "Vulnus." A wide, glowing silver light, nearly the length of the room, rushed out of her wand, just missing Lockhart, who dove beneath the kitchen table. Harry gasped, having spun to the right too slowly, blood from the dark cutting curse staining his silver robes.

"Osseus fragmen!" Lockhart's shield charm dissolved after a single spell impacted it. "You can't hide forever! Reducto!"

Harry, eyes ablaze in anger, summoned a wall in front of Lockhart to absorb the blasting hex. "Stop this."

Haslett was too far gone, lost in rage and madness. She turned her wand on Harry. "Confringo!"

Harry conjured a block of sandstone in the path of the blasting curse, not even flinching as the rock dissolved into a fine dust that coated him. He pushed at the woman, but her wand was ready and a shield charm absorbed the energy. She cast another spell at him, this time a silent severing charm. Harry twisted out of the way, grimacing as he felt the wound on his side open even further.

There was a sudden gong sound, as though someone had rung a large bell, and Haslett cackled in delight. "I put up a disapparition jinx, you fool! Did you think I would allow you to escape so easily?"

Harry whipped his head around towards Lockhart with a look of disbelief on his face, but the stone wall he'd conjured to protect his professor blocked his line of sight. That momentary lapse cost him, as a silent piercing hex went through his stomach before he'd turned back toward his crazed opponent. 'That's it, gloves are off!'

Harry flung one arm out towards the woman, and a moment later flames exploded around her. Over the hiss of the fire, he heard a muffled "Inflamma frigis." The firestorm he'd conjured fell to the floor in frozen chunks from her charm revealing Haslett, missing most of her hair, robes singed and smoking, but still standing. Two more blasting curses issued from her wand, but were easily intercepted by Harry's conjurations.

Employing as much focus as he could manage, Harry made a slicing motion with one hand. Haslett sprang to her left as a conjured iron sword slashed the space she'd just vacated.

Haslett whipped her wand in a strange pattern, but no spell emerged. Harry relaxed fractionally, only to yelp in surprise as the patch of floor he was standing on was transfigured into hot tar. He tried to lift his feet to step out, but he had sunk past his ankles in the blink of an eye, effectively immobilizing him. She was peppering him with curses now, Harry having to continuously conjure to deflect them. Raising a barrier with one hand, his eyes shining brightly in the dimly lit shack, Harry extended his other arm and pulled it back towards himself as though he were pulling a fishing line out of the water.

The entire wall behind the woman suddenly cracked and collapsed, burying her before she could even scream. The immediate stillness in the small shack was broken by Lockhart emerging from behind Harry's barrier, his wand outstretched, looking every bit the hero he shamelessly portrayed himself as.

"Professor," Harry ground out, trying to free his feet. "Can you help me?"

"Right-o, excellent work by the way." He waved his wand, managing to reverse the witch's transfiguration, though Harry's shoes and pants were ruined. "Quick thinking, there, Harry."

"That's it?" Harry was furious. "I get shot up with spells while you hide under a table, and all you say is 'quick thinking'? What the hell was that about, anyway?"

"Obviously the woman was mad. Who knows what drove her to attempt such a foul assault on us?"

"She said you ruined her life."

"Crazy people tend to say crazy things, Harry." Lockhart was entirely nonplussed.

"You definitely recognized her." The adrenaline fading, Harry's side and stomach were in a great deal of pain.

"Yes, well, celebrities such as myself do attract some unstable people. She's sent some threatening letters over the years. I think she'd developed a bit of an obsession with me."

"Pro- ow, Professor, did you try to apparate away and leave me here?"

Lockhart looked stunned, as though shocked Harry would even presume such a thing. "Certainly not! My plan was merely to apparate behind her, so that you and I could catch her in a pincer move." He clapped his hands together like he was catching a fly. "You can't think I'd ever abandon a child to such a vile person!"

Harry pressed one hand against the cut on on his side, hissing in pain. "You didn't seem too eager to get involved once the spells started flying."

Lockhart stared at Harry intently for several seconds, eventually leading the young Ravenclaw to the door. "Wait outside, just a moment. I need to make sure she's properly restrained before I escort you back to Hogwarts."

"Shouldn't we call the aurors?"

"Shush, Harry. Just keep walking, you should reach the edge of the ward line in about twenty or thirty feet. I'll be along in a moment." He closed the door behind Harry, who released a frustrated sigh and started walking.

He heard muffled sounds of spellcasting, and a minute or two later Lockhart came jogging out of the house to return to his side. "I think we should be clear. Hold on tight, Harry, I'll have you to Madam Pomfrey in a jiff!" Latching on to Harry's arm, Lockhart spun and the two vanished with a crack!

"But I'm really hungry. I haven't eaten all day!"

Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips. "Well, next time you decide to skip a meal, don't take a piercing curse to your gut, Mr. Potter."

He gave the healer a crooked grin, not knowing how similar he looked to his father in that moment. "You need to work on your bedside manner, Madam."

"You're far too regular a patient for me to worry about such things, Mr. Potter." He glanced around her towards the entrance to the Hospital Wing, where Dumbledore and Lockhart were having what seemed to be a fairly intense conversation under a silencing charm.

"I'm afraid I can't allow you to continue to take Harry off on these jaunts of yours, Gilderoy. Attending parties is one thing, but magical combat is something entirely different."

"Albus, Harry is my apprentice. Do I need to show you the paperwork?" Lockhart had given a very abbreviated version of the events that afternoon to the Headmaster. "Under the Crafting and Bonding Act, all decisions regarding an apprentice outside of actions concerning family ties and duties fall under the purview of his or her master. In Harry's case, that would be me."

Dumbledore's mind raced, trying to recall the statute that Lockhart had cited. "That law is nearly two hundred years old."

"And yet, still valid and on the books, Chief Warlock. Rest assured, today was an aberration. I certainly don't intend on Harry encountering any other danger this year."

Removing the silencing charm, Dumbledore approached Harry. "Harry, given what transpired today, wouldn't you feel more comfortable dissolving this apprenticeship you have with Professor Lockhart?"

Glaring at Dumbledore, Harry immediately responded, "No." Still at the door, Lockhart's smile was ear-to-ear.

"Why not? Harry, surely you can see that continuing this would be the height of irresponsibility..."

"You hired him, Headmaster, he can't be that irresponsible. Besides, there are worse people I could be learning from." He met Dumbledore's eyes in a challenge, daring him to repeat what he'd tried over the summer.

"I see you have not yet forgiven my lapse in judgment. Very well. I hope you remember, in the future, that I am always someone you can turn to when you find yourself in need. Please be well, and focus on your recovery." The Headmaster turned and left the infirmary.

Lockhart came and took a seat next to Harry's bed, waving his wand to set up another privacy charm. "Glad you're still on board. I assume you'd like to talk more about what happened today."

"Why was she asking about the Bandon Banshee?"

"It was the one of my more popular books. My second one, after Gadding with Ghouls."

"And you can't think of any reason why that would set her off like it did?"

"I truly cannot explain how she came to react in such a way." Harry eyed Lockhart, searching for any sign of dishonesty.

"That still doesn't excuse the way you abandoned me in there."

"Harry! I didn't abandon you, I was merely caught off guard by the suddenness of that woman's dishonorable attack. I must say, you were rather impressive. I can see that my training has really improved your skills."

"Caught all that from behind my walls, under the kitchen table, did you?"

Lockhart gave him a winning smile. "You should get some rest. I'm sorry for your injuries, Harry. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Harry suddenly sat up in bed, or tried to at least before falling back with a groan. "I was supposed to meet Susan for dinner! It's got to be near curfew by now. Would you be able to pass a message on to her?"

"Don't want the missus upset with you, eh Harry?" Lockhart nudged the Ravenclaw's side, ignoring the wince Harry gave. "Not to worry, I'll take care of it. Now this Susan, she'd be..."

Harry rubbed the side of his head. He'd just about reached his limit with this man. "Susan Bones. She's in my year, a Hufflepuff student."

"Of course! Amelia's niece. Lovely girl. Don't you worry, Harry, I'll make sure everything's taken care of. If there's one thing you can rely on, it's that Gilderoy Lockhart knows how to smooth over a witch's feelings. Why, there was one such time in Istanbul when I..."

"Professor!"

"Got it, I'll save that one for when you're feeling better." Lockhart chuckled, and gave Harry another nudge. "Maybe I should add some lessons on how to deal with the opposite sex, what do you think?"

Harry's eyes flashed with a momentary green light, which Lockhart took as his cue to finally leave. Settling back in his bed, Harry tried to ignore the growls from his empty stomach, closing his eyes and relaxing for the first time all day.

It was cold. Susan rubbed her arms, wondering just why it was so drafty, and reached out blindly for a blanket. Finding nothing, not even the feel of her mattress, her eyes jerked open and she let out a surprised cry.

"Finally woke up, then? Really, Miss Bones, you're a shockingly heavy sleeper. We're nearly to the Hospital Wing."

"Professor Lockhart?! What's going on? Let me down!" He released the levitation spell that she was under, her bare feet settling onto the ice cold stone floor. "How did you get me out of my dormitory?"

"As a member of the faculty, I'm able to bypass the House entrances and charmed staircases. As for what's going on, my apprentice asked me to reach out to you and offer his apologies for missing your dinner date."

Her cheeks on fire, very aware that she was only in a dressing gown without her robe, Susan frowned. "It wasn't a date. I just assumed he was with... that he was busy."

"I'm afraid that I must bear the guilt for this unhappy occurrence. You see, Harry and I were ambushed by the most unusual woman-"

"Wait, ambushed? And Harry's in the Hospital Wing?"

"That's right. It's a rather exciting story if you'd just let me-"

But Susan was already running, her bare feet slapping against the polished stone floor. She had the sense to slow down and quietly push open the door to the infirmary, not wanting to rouse Madam Pomfrey, having extensive experience with the tempestuous healer's attitude towards visitors. Susan scanned the room, seeing only a single bed occupied. She slowly approached him, trying to ascertain the extent of his injuries in the darkness of the Hospital Wing. As she did so, Lockhart caught up to her.

"As you can see, he's fine, though he was a bit put out upon learning he'd missed you at dinner. Naturally, I couldn't let your opinion of Harry be diminished by actions outside of his control, so I thought to arrange a surprise for you both."

"And that's why you didn't let me get dressed, or even wake me up?"

"Well, that wasn't quite what I intended. I had imagined you being a bit less unhappy about the whole situation, if I were to be totally honest."

Their whispered conversation must not have been all that quiet, as Harry began rouse from his slumber. "I'll take my leave, then, Miss Bones. Goodnight!" Lockhart quietly made his way out of the room, closing the infirmary doors behind him.

"Harry?"

"Susan? What are you doing here?"

"Professor Lockhart brought me." Harry reached out for his glasses, but she held his hand before he could find them. "Please don't. I'm, uh, I didn't exactly have time to grab a robe."

Now Harry was wide awake. "What?"

"Listen, can I sit down? My feet are freezing."

"You aren't wearing shoes, either?"

"It's a long story. Are you okay? What are you doing here?" He shuffled to one side so she could sit down on the bed next to him, resting her back against the headboard.

Harry grimaced. "Somebody set up Lockhart and there was a fight. It wasn't anything serious. I'm more hungry than anything, but Madam Pomfrey said no food until tomorrow."

Susan wasn't sure she believed him about it not being anything serious, but didn't want to pry. "And you told him we had a date?"

"No! I mean, I told him that I had planned to eat dinner with you. Sorry about all of this, really. I think he's trying to make up for what happened."

"I see."

"Here, you can share the blanket with me." Harry hissed as her cold feet made contact with his under the covers. "Jeez, your feet are like icicles!"

"Watch it, Potter!" The two awkwardly shared the bed, both unwilling to say anything about the situation they found themselves in.

"Thanks for coming, Sue." She could hear the smile in his voice.

"It's not like I had a choice. I'm a little surprised you asked for me, though."

"Who else would I have? We had plans, after all." His voice was getting thicker, as the warmth of the bed made him drowsy.

Susan thought about saying out loud who she'd expected him to want to see, but decided she'd rather not hear his response. "Harry?"

"Hm?" He was barely awake.

"How am I going to get back to my dormitory?"

"Dunno." She sighed, sliding further down the headboard to escape the autumn chill. Harry was like a furnace, putting off so much warmth. 'I guess it won't hurt to stay for a little while,' she thought, pulling the blanket up to her chin and resting her head next to Harry's on the pillow. 'Just for a little while..'

A/N: I don't care what any of you say, Lockhart is *so much fun* to write. It's a shame he won't be around for the whole story...

Thanks for everyone's kind words. I really do appreciate it, and I do appreciate the constructive criticism. I want this story to be well-written, and know it needs work. Glad you're all sticking with me.