'So, what did you think?' said Harry breathlessly after finishing their morning flying drills.
Sophie removed her sunglasses and said, 'I think you were showing off for me. But you are a very talented flyer.'
'Of course he was showing off,' said Suresh. 'You won't get to see him feint this weekend, so this was his only chance to show you his death wish.'
'It's not a death wish,' said Harry. 'I know that's how it looks, but this is all about living.'
'Then you are very much alive, mon cher.'
Darren landed and said, 'Sophie, ma belle, we meet at last. Will you be joining us for lunch?'
Harry introduced them, and Sophie said, 'No, my portkey is at one o'clock, so I cannot eat with you.'
Darren insisted she had time, but Harry said, 'She's being polite. The real reason is that she doesn't want to eat English food before taking six portkeys in a row, and I don't blame her. But she'll at least make an appearance, and we've planned a little surprise, as you'll see.'
The rest of his teammates introduced themselves, but Gemma was uncharacteristically reserved. 'You are the other Seeker?' asked Sophie. 'Harry talks about you often—he says you will be the best in all England, and I believe it after seeing you fly today.'
Gemma just looked at Harry, and he said, 'I live in dread of you leaving the Cannons, since you know all my tricks.'
'I'll bet Sophie knows a few more,' said Janet. 'But yeah, Snitchbottom is screwed when you switch teams.'
'That's not true,' said Gemma. 'He still beats me to the Snitch more often than not.'
'Just wait until you have a whole stadium behind you,' said Renée. 'He won't stand a chance.'
Gemma's expression was hard to decipher—it was something between a smirk and a grimace—and Harry made a mental note to ask her about it later. 'Renée's right,' he said. 'You may not be vicious like Gilstrap and Hobbs, but you know me better than anyone on the Cannons, except maybe Owen.'
'Maybe, but you're not exactly helpless up there. Anyway, nice to meet you, Sophie,' said Gemma abruptly, making haste for the building.
After showering, the starters gathered outside to walk to the pub together. 'Where's Sophie?' asked Darren. 'I thought she was coming with us.'
'No, we'll meet her there,' said Harry. 'Come on.'
'What do you have planned exactly?'
Harry just grinned and said, 'You'll see.'
They arrived at the pub and took their usual semi-private table. Candice greeted them, then lowered her voice and said, 'There's someone watching you.' Several of the players turned, and she added, 'Over at the bar. She was here when you came in.'
'She?' said Janet, glancing at Harry. 'Are you sure it was us she was watching?'
'I can't be certain, but she was jabbering in French on her mobile until you walked in. But then she hung up and just watched as you walked past.'
'When did she arrive?' asked Harry, with a note of urgency. 'Did she order anything?'
'She arrived about a quarter hour ago and ordered a white wine.'
He narrowed his eyes. 'Are you sure? Not red wine?'
'No, definitely white. She asked for a Sauvignon Blanc, but we only have Chardonnay.'
'And she's alone?'
'Yes, it's just her and the regulars out there. And believe me, she's given them something to talk about.'
'I don't doubt it,' said Harry, rising from his chair. 'Excuse me a moment.'
He walked from their alcove to the bar, where he found Sophie. She was still wearing the white shirt and slim black trousers she'd worn to practice, but she'd tied her foulard like a headscarf and charmed her lips and fingernails dark red, which was enough to make her look dangerous.
Harry pressed her against the wall and kissed her hungrily, drawing the attention of the entire pub. 'Ma chère,' he said, 'can it be true?'
'Yes, but I cannot stay long. They've arranged transport.'
'Do you need anything? I know people.'
'So do I, mon amour. But will you be safe?'
'I've never been safe,' he said. 'How long? I can requisition a caravan.'
'No, I must go now. I just needed to see you one last time.'
They kissed again, and she was crying when they pulled apart. 'You mustn't wait for me,' said Harry, drying her tears with a Slytherin handkerchief.
'I know,' she replied, sniffling. She took the handkerchief and walked to the exit, turning to look at him once more. 'Adieu, Henri,' she said, putting on her sunglasses and slipping through the door.
Everyone stared at Harry in shocked silence. 'Right, then,' he said, returning to the table. 'Sorry about that.'
'Will she be all right?' asked Candice when he sat down.
'What? Of course. She knows how to take care of herself.'
Ryan cleared his throat. 'We should order. Candice, I'll have the usual.'
After Candice left, Harry's teammates praised his performance. 'Between that and your scene with Walburga last night, you're an awfully good liar,' said Suresh. 'Use it wisely.'
Harry's face fell. 'I don't want to use it at all. Not for anything that matters, at least.'
'Right, that's the challenge,' said Gary. 'What you did just now was hilarious, and probably good for protecting secrecy. But it's a slippery slope.'
Janet rolled her eyes. 'Don't let them ruin your fun, Snitchbottom. Obviously you're not going to lie about anything important.'
'Unless it's for a good cause,' said Darren, and he told everyone about the Prosecco incident. 'Jocelyn and Maryann looked sceptical when I said it was better than champagne, but as soon as Harry backed me up, they swallowed it hook, line, and sinker.'
The conversation drifted, but Harry realised he was uncomfortable with Darren's story. I betrayed their trust, he thought. Jocelyn and Maryann believed me without hesitation, and I lied just to avoid the awkwardness of paying more than half the bill. But how many more times could he lie before people decided he wasn't trustworthy?
He recalled what Alistair had said about integrity, and how lying tears a soul apart. I'm not a vampire, so I'll recover, but it can't be good for my Light magic. Remorse washed through him, and he felt Light energy rise within his torso.
Candice returned with their drinks, and Harry blurted, 'I'm sorry, Candice—I was having you on earlier. Sophie's just leaving town for a week, and we thought we'd go out with a bang.'
'I'm sorry?'
'She's not in danger, and I'm not either. At least not right now. We joke sometimes about how she's a femme fatale, so we decided to put on a show.'
Candice frowned. 'You gave me a real fright. Is she your girlfriend, then?'
'We're seeing each other, but it's nothing serious. Could you tell the others it was just for laughs? I don't want to mislead anyone.'
'Do I have to?' she asked. 'The lads'll be talking about it for weeks.'
'Er, I'll leave that up to you, since I don't know them. But I felt bad giving you the wrong impression, after everything you do for us.'
She studied him for a moment. 'Henry, you're a mystery wrapped in an enigma. But you have a good heart, I think. Just keep listening to it.'
Harry's teammates were all looking at him, and at first no one spoke when Candice left. 'What just happened?' asked Gary.
'I realised I don't want to lie. You were right to point out the problem.'
'But you can't just blurt out the truth,' said Darren irritably. 'What are you going to announce when she brings our food? Will you tell her about the Cannons, or just pull out your wand?'
'Obviously I can't tell the truth about everything, but there was no need to mislead her about Sophie. It was one thing when I lied to Walburga last night, but Candice is different.'
'Actually, it wasn't that big a lie,' said Janet. 'Isn't that more or less what happened when you and Ginny split up, during the war?'
'It was,' admitted Harry. 'But we didn't have an audience, and there was nothing funny about it.'
'But wasn't it, I dunno, therapeutic to joke about it now?'
'Maybe a little, but it's not worth lying about. I was accused of lying for years, back when it was a matter of life and death, so it's absurd that I'd lie now just for kicks.'
''I get it,' said Ryan. 'I've had to lie a million times to safeguard secrecy, and I'll be doing it my whole life. The worst part is I'm really good at it. So I respect what you did just now.'
'Even though you laughed as hard as any of us did earlier?' said Darren accusingly.
'It was a well-executed joke. But Harry's right—it's not worth it.'
'So Harry, are you going to take Jocelyn and Maryann aside this weekend and apologise for misleading them?' persisted Darren.
'Er, no,' said Harry. 'And I'm sorry—I didn't mean to touch a nerve.'
'Who said you touched a nerve?'
'You did, by acting like he shat in your porridge,' said Janet. 'But relax, he's just having another "Light Lord" moment. It's the price we pay for hanging around with him.'
'The price you pay?' exclaimed Harry. 'Am I that unbearable?'
'No, not at all. You throw great parties, for one thing, and you're a snappy dresser. And according to Ron you're much more fun than you used to be. But everything that happens to you is on an epic scale, including moments of clarity like this one.'
Harry wanted to ask more, but he remembered Vampire John Lennon and decided to drop it. One way to avoid lying is to keep my mouth shut a bit more often.
Gemma was back to her usual self during their afternoon match. 'So Toffer, what'll you do on Saturday now that your femme fatale has flown the coop? Will you line someone up in advance, or just play it by ear?'
'I'd just like to have a good time, and maybe even dance for once. I was stuck greeting guests at both my other parties, not to mention being trapped in a wheelchair. But this time I just want to interact like anyone else.'
'Good luck with that. Do you even know how to interact like normal people?'
'Excuse me, I thought I did pretty well with your friends on Saturday.'
She snorted and said, 'Are you referring to when you communicated telepathically with your house-elf, or when you casually described what it's like to sacrifice your own life?'
Annoyed, Harry flew off to clear his head. But Gemma found him and said, 'I'm sorry, I crossed the line again. My mates were thrilled by your bursts of weirdness, and you were pretty normal the rest of the time.'
'Maybe, but you raise a good point. I have no idea how normal people behave at a party. What did you do last time?'
'Er, I glued myself to Caroline for fear of not having anyone to talk to. But people talked to me anyway, since I'd caught the Snitch that afternoon. Although they mostly asked about you.' Harry frowned, and Gemma said, 'There was also dancing. In fact, the dance floor is perfect when you're feeling socially awkward, although you personally might need to cast a Shield Charm to keep witches off you.'
Depends on the witch, he thought absently. 'I'm not worried about having no one to talk to, but I am afraid of getting cornered. I suppose I could call Kreacher whenever I'm trapped and have him invent a crisis, but that could seriously backfire.'
'I think the traditional approach is to make frantic eye contact with your mates when they pass by. I'm sure any of the Cannons would do that for you, and I can too,' said Gemma.
'Bollocks—Janet would probably cast a Notice-Me-Not Charm around us, for added privacy.'
Gemma laughed. 'Good point. But I'll keep an eye out—it's the least I can do in exchange for the tiara. And robes, assuming I can still borrow some.'
'Of course, I promised both you and Lisa.'
'Lisa Black?'
'Yeah, though I haven't talked to her in ages, except for a few minutes after the match. That's the problem with getting my Light magic under control—I never go to the Black Olive anymore.'
'I was there yesterday ... between the French baguettes and wizards trying to chat up Lisa, it's definitely more crowded than before.'
'Wizards chatting up Lisa?' he asked, feeling a prick of jealousy.
'Oh yeah, she has a following now. Although they'll have to get through her uncles first.'
'Did she seem interested?'
'No, she was reviewing a textbook the whole time. She has an interview next week at St Mungo's.'
'Are you serious? Healer training?'
'No, just a desk job. But she says it's a good way to get into the Healer programme, since she'd get to know everyone.'
'Good for her!' said Harry. 'She really is clever, and I'm glad she finally has opportunities.'
'Yeah, between that and her dowry her future's assured.'
Harry flew off and resisted Gemma's attempts to follow him, and they engaged in a feinting war for the rest of the match. Gemma caught the Snitch, which Harry took in stride. Not wanting to spend the evening alone, he invited her for fish and chips, and they watched another video at her house.
'This is nice,' he said. 'Sophie is brilliant, but there's a lot to be said for fried food and crap films.'
'How can you call "Clueless" a crap film?' she argued. 'It's actually a faithful adaptation of a Jane Austen novel.'
'Is it? I didn't realise Jane Austen wrote about Los Angeles.'
'Well, not that faithful. But true to the spirit.'
'Fair enough,' said Harry. 'Though I wonder what Lydia would think.'
The next night he ate at Pratt's, and on Friday he and Simon attended a piano recital at St Martin in the Fields. Harry was impressed by the pianist's skill and artistry, but he found his mind wandering. In particular, he kept thinking about what Simon had told him about his budding friendship with Andromeda.
'I saw her twice this past week, but it's clear she only wants a friend. She frequently mentions Ted and even says how much he would have liked me. Which is flattering, but obviously not romantic.'
'Do you really think so? Maybe she keeps mentioning Ted because she's, I dunno, conflicted about spending so much time with someone else. Or because being alone with a wizard reminds her of him.'
Simon looked sceptical. 'Do you think about your prior girlfriends when you're alone with someone you fancy?'
'Well, no. But let's face it, I have a one-track mind.'
During the concert, Harry worried he might have given Simon false hope, but he also doubted Andromeda would carelessly lead him on. She probably is conflicted, he thought, and he hoped she'd get over it and give Simon a chance.
The next morning Ron turned up for their customary pre-match visit. 'Are you nervous about facing the Tornados again?' he asked over breakfast.
'Because of Carl Wainwright? Not particularly.'
'No, because they're the ones who broke your pelvis. Morgan Maddox, to be precise.'
'Oh right. Before my last party, in fact. But no, I'm not worried. Last time we didn't have our usual Beaters, since Gary was injured.'
'True. And Lydia stayed over the night before, which was just asking for trouble,' noted Ron.
Harry rolled his eyes. 'Have you bought into Janet's superstition?'
'What choice do I have? She denies me access on Friday nights, and there's no use arguing about it.'
'I thought arguing was your version of foreplay,' said Harry. 'Or have I misunderstood your relationship?'
Frowning, Ron said, 'It really is a relationship, isn't it? Blimey, I didn't see that coming at all. I just wanted to get into her knickers.'
'That you did. How was the countdown party, by the way?'
'It was completely mental, and George and Lee pulled out all the stops, with what they called "cigarette girls" giving away sample merchandise. They were dressed like Muggles, in short skirts and fishnet stockings, and they practically needed Banishing Charms to keep the blokes away. So you can imagine what it was like when the timer went off.'
Harry smiled. 'I can definitely imagine what that was like.'
'Right, good point. People kept their clothes on, but otherwise it was a sea of hormones in there. I hope "Mothers Against Harry Potter" weren't hiding out, because they'd have wet themselves with outrage ... But what's your plan for the party tonight? Have you got someone lined up? More than one witch, perhaps?'
Smirking, Harry said, 'Is this the part where you're living out your manwhore ambitions through me?'
Ron sighed. 'Yeah, but Janet and I also want you to enjoy your own party for once. I know the first one ended with a threesome, but otherwise it was a disaster, with that Rita Skeeter article.'
'It was. And in answer to your question, I'm keeping my options open. All I know for sure is that I won't drink too much, and I definitely won't stand around greeting guests. If people think I'm aloof, they can bloody well cope.'
After eating they moved to the sitting room, and Harry resumed signing photographs. 'So what did you make of Lockhart?' asked Ron.
Harry paused to consider the question. 'Frankly, I thought he was sincere. He's still a selfish bastard, but at least he admits it now. What did you think?'
'Same. Which is weird, right? I feel like I've gone soft or something.'
'I know,' said Harry, performing a wordless Drying Charm on a photograph he'd just signed. 'But at least we finally know why he took the Hogwarts job.'
Ron sniggered and said, 'To shag Muggles in the Room of Requirement. You of all people should have figured it out, given how much time you and Ginny spent up there.'
Harry looked up in horror. 'Oh my god, we used the same bed. I've used the same bed as Gilderoy Lockhart.'
'Mate, you've used the same bed as Walburga Black. Get over it.'
'Ugh, you're right.' After signing another photograph, he said, 'Is it wrong that I'm kind of glad he's back?'
'What, because you finally have competition?' Harry nodded, and Ron said, 'No, I get it. And he's not really competition, since he'll always be a huge fraud.'
'Yeah, but at least now the paparazzi will have someone else to follow.'
'I'm sorry, but you only have yourself to blame,' said Ron. 'You don't even try avoiding them anymore. Showing up at Penumbra dressed for your wedding was brilliant, but you've completely lost the right to complain about not having any privacy.'
'I know. But it's hard not to show off Sophie, and of course we're doomed once those adverts come out.'
Ron made a face. 'I still can't believe I'm going to have to see you in those photographs.'
'Yeah, I'm sorry about that. But at least they won't be in Britain.'
'You forget who I'm dating,' grumbled Ron. 'I made the mistake of telling Janet I didn't want to see them, and you should have seen the look on her face. She'll probably paper my entire flat with them.'
They chatted for the next few hours, amid a flurry of activity by a team from Gringotts and the four French house-elves. 'I should warn you,' said Harry, 'I've given the elves permission to go overboard. Hermione suggested I show the world that Light wizards can entertain in style.'
Shrugging, Ron said, 'It's a good idea, actually. I've been to parties hosted by Auntie Muriel, and they're about as glamorous as my mum's Christmas jumpers. But just how overboard are we talking?'
'I suspect Fleur will be impressed. They do this thing with floating flowers, which Hermione said would probably cause people to fall in love.'
'Bloody hell, Potter—that's the last thing you need!'
'I know, but Davina said people might even experience Light magic for the first time.'
Ron raised his eyebrows. 'Maybe it'll be my turn,' he mused. 'And thanks for the warning, in case Janet gets all gooey.'
Talk of Harry's party was rampant at practice before the match, to the point where Tuttle threatened to jinx the next person to mention it. 'Talk about it all you want after we win, but until then, keep your mind on Quidditch.'
But furtive conversation continued during lunch. 'I'm all in,' said Suresh. 'A sari, kohl eyeliner, nose ring, bangles—the works. My sister is helping me in exchange for one of my extra invitations.'
'Brilliant. What about you, Darren?'
'A Muggle minidress—flapper style, with lots of fringe and a long string of pearls. And the best part is that flat chests were all the rage back then, so I don't need to simulate breasts.'
'I want Ron to wear breasts, but he's resisting,' said Janet. 'I think he'd be perfect as a six-foot-four Viking goddess, with long red hair and massive tits, but he says that's not manly enough.'
'What if they were obviously fake?' asked Renée. 'Lopsided, even.'
'Definitely,' said Harry. 'Janet, I'm counting on you to make it happen.'
She nodded crisply. 'On it. By order of Lord Snitchbottom.'
Harry glowered at her, but there was no deflating his mood that afternoon. He was looking forward to flying against Carl Wainwright and optimistic he might actually enjoy his own party. The third time's the charm, he thought hopefully.
When he flew into the stadium, his spirits rose even higher. 'Well done, Harry!' announced a banner which displayed a completed countdown timer. 'Congratulations, you kept it in your trousers!' said another sign, adorned with flowers and lightning bolts. And a third said, 'Never bet against Harry Potter-Black!'
'We meet again, Potter,' said Carl, who approached him as soon as the balls were released. 'I'm looking forward to your party tonight.'
'I'm glad. Are you and Cho coming together?'
'No, we've split up. Nice girl, but she's addicted to long talks of the "Where is this going?" variety.'
'And that's not your thing?' asked Harry.
'Once or twice I can deal with. But every bloody week? No thanks.'
'Poor Cho. It was rough losing Cedric like that.'
'I know, I heard all about it. Someone really should tell her that men don't want to hear about her perfect, dead boyfriend. Especially not in bed.'
Harry looked at Carl in disbelief. 'She told you about him in bed?'
'Yes. Post-coital. There was crying.'
'Oh dear. She should probably get help for that.'
'That's what I suggested,' said Carl. 'It didn't go over well.'
'No, I imagine not. Are you dating someone new, or will you be on the pull tonight?'
'The latter. And you as well?'
'Most likely. Sophie doesn't mind, and the ambiance will be highly conducive.'
Carl nodded in appreciation. 'I know I'm supposed to taunt you, but I just can't generate enthusiasm for it. Between your parties and punching Gilstrap, you've been a brilliant addition to the league.'
'Cheers,' said Harry. 'I'm grateful to be here.'
Harry was enjoying talking to Carl, and it was nice not having to worry about Bludgers, but he realised he should start earning his pay cheque. So he fixed his gaze on a distant point and shot towards it. Carl had to follow, and just for fun Harry led him on a wild race among the other players.
'You're a born showman, Potter,' said Carl afterwards.
'So I'm told,' said Harry. 'Yet another thing I wouldn't have known about myself if I'd died on schedule.'
'As a baby, you mean?'
'I was thinking of the second time, but I suppose it's true for both.'
The match continued thus, with friendly conversation between the two Seekers, punctuated by the occasional feint. But Harry was far more daring than Carl, and after flying against Gemma all week, it was almost boring. Maybe I should fly for England, he thought. I probably wouldn't win, but I'd have some great competition.
Carl was no competition for the Snitch; Harry caught it easily, less than ninety minutes into the match. The crowd roared and his teammates swarmed him, but all Harry could think was, 'I won't be knackered for the party!'
Janet said something to that effect when they landed. 'Drop in at the Spyglass, but then take it easy before your night of sweet debauchery.'
Harry did just that, and several hours later Gemma arrived at Grimmauld Place to get ready for the party. 'I see your florist arrived,' she said, looking at the reception hall with wide eyes.
'This is nothing,' said Harry. 'The house-elves are waiting until the last minute to arrange the flowers, which will be floating in all directions. But you can see the ice sculptures in the dining room. And feel free to give me your worst.'
'No, I decided to cut you some slack, on account of the tiara. Is Lisa here yet?'
'Not for another half hour. Do you want to wait before picking out robes?'
She didn't answer, since they'd entered the dining room and she was staring in awe. 'This is amazing,' she said dreamily. 'When you said ice sculptures, I was picturing a giant swan on the buffet.'
Floating in the air were dozens of large snowflakes, which twinkled in the candlelight from the sconces and chandelier. 'They are pretty,' he murmured. 'And you won't believe when they add the flowers later.'
Gemma turned towards Harry and said, 'You really aren't like other blokes, are you?'
'You're only just figuring that out?'
'No. But it's not an act. You'd react this way even if you were all alone.'
'Yeah, I would. Banthora can tell you, I got a little weepy when I first saw them.'
The portrait nodded. 'Harry is an aesthete,' she declared. 'There was a streak of it amongst the Blacks, you know.'
'What's an aesthete?' asked Gemma shyly.
'A lover of beauty,' said Banthora.
'No, it's more than that,' said Harry. 'I think it goes with my Light magic, because it's getting stronger. I see beauty everywhere, at least to some extent, and it's overwhelming sometimes.' After a pause, he said, 'Though I think it contributes to the manwhore thing.'
'You're not a manwhore,' said Gemma and Banthora simultaneously, but Banthora's tone was stern, while Gemma's was unusually gentle.
'Maybe,' said Harry, 'but I can hardly blame people for getting that impression.'
As they went upstairs, she said, 'I can't believe I'm finally seeing your bedroom. Tyler wants me to measure your bed, but he'd never keep it secret, and isn't it funnier if people just imagine how enormous it is?'
'You tell me,' said Harry, opening the door.
'Oh my god!' she blurted. 'That thing needs its own postcode.'
'Yes, I know. They probably had it made for some Dark ritual, but I don't care—it's bloody comfortable.'
'Can I try it?'
'Go right ahead,' he said. 'You won't be the first Cannon on it.' She looked at him in shock, and he said, 'Darren, remember?'
'Oh, right. Don't scare me like that!'
'What, you thought I broke the fraternisation rule? No, I'm uncharacteristically law-abiding when it comes to the team.'
She climbed on the bed and lay down. 'Ahhh,' she sighed blissfully. 'No wonder you kept it. I can't believe Helena broke up with you after sleeping here.'
'Yeah, and it's apparently not enough to tempt Sophie into moving to London.'
Gemma sat up and said, 'Are you two that serious?'
'No, it'll probably just be an intermittent fling. Her previous boyfriend cheated on her, and I think she's afraid I'm too impulsive.'
'Are you? I know there was the thing with the prostitute, but did you ever cheat on Ginny?'
He shook his head. 'No, it never crossed my mind. And I like to think the situation with Lydia was unique, but really, I have no way of knowing. I doubt I'd cheat on Sophie if she were here, but if she were travelling for work I can't say for certain I'd be faithful.'
'But you just finished a two-week celibacy vow,' argued Gemma.
'Yeah, but it was hard. Really hard. And when I fall for a witch ...' he said, thinking of Ekantika Singh.
Blushing, Gemma rose from the bed. 'Yeah, I know. Can I see your wardrobe now?'
He opened the door and they entered. Harry braced himself for mockery, but she just stared in fascination. 'Take your pick,' he said. 'Except for these ones, which I haven't worn yet,' he added, indicating the formal robes modelled after the portrait of Robert de Montesquiou.
In a quiet voice, she asked, 'What was it like? Going out the first time in fitted robes, when you'd only dressed normally before that.'
This time Harry felt himself redden, but he answered her. 'The first time was here at the house, with Hermione. That's when she called me a dandy and explained what it meant. But she was supportive, which gave me the courage to wear robes with Helena the night we were photographed together.'
'And she hid from the camera!' scolded Gemma. 'What was wrong with her?'
'She's very private. And I can't blame her, considering she received Howlers when her name finally was published.' After a deep breath, he said, 'In answer to your question, it was pretty intense going out like that. I realise now that I craved attention, which I'd never felt before. I'd always avoided it.'
'Why do you think that changed?'
'I can't say for sure, but Davina says it's part of my journey as a Light wizard, to finally get attention on my own terms. Which, I realised, hasn't really been the case since I was a baby. Or alone with a witch I fancy,' he said, thinking of Ginny and her successors.
Gemma looked up at him before turning her attention back to his wardrobe. 'Do you have a preference?' she asked.
'It's up to you. Mind you, Lydia's going to be here tonight, and she'll definitely notice if you wear robes she helped choose.' With a smirk, he said, 'These are the ones I wore that first night at Pratt's. In fact, Charles Selwyn admired them.' He indicated the burgundy and black embroidered robes, with the flocked buttons. 'I think those colours would suit you.'
She smiled. 'And how would they look with the tiara?'
'I don't know—Selwyn didn't mention it.'
'Knock knock,' called Lisa Black from the corridor. Harry and Gemma poked their heads from the wardrobe and saw her in the open doorway. 'May I come in?'
'Yes, please do! We're just choosing what Gemma's going to wear.'
She entered, and Harry felt an unexpected wave of desire. Definitely an option, he thought, and he wondered what effect the house-elf decor might have.
Gemma exited the wardrobe and held up the robes Harry had suggested. 'What do you think?' she asked Lisa.
'That's definitely your colour. And I'm sure Plouche can adapt it brilliantly to your figure.'
'Plouche?'
'He's the house-elf assigned to my branch of the family. He was trained as a valet, which means he's a genius at tailoring. Harry, I should warn you that my brother Seth is likely to out-dandy you.'
'Oh?'
'He already has Plouche shaving him, which is a joke considering he only needs it once a week. And he foiled my mother by having Plouche transfigure his school robes—she had refused to buy him fitted robes, ostensibly because he'd outgrow them, but mostly because he's her baby and she couldn't bear to see him strutting around like Harry Potter junior.'
'I don't strut!'
'Sorry, you preen like a peacock,' said Lisa. 'Which is exactly what Seth does now, and it seems to be working, based on the red mark on his neck last night.'
It sounds like someone will enjoy a trip to the Boudoir, thought Harry. 'How does your father feel about it?'
'He makes a show of backing up Mum, but I think he's secretly chuffed. Seth's a good kid, and he's not likely to turn into a snob, so Dad is enjoying watching him spread his wings a bit.'
At Gemma's prompting, Harry produced the tiara. Addressing it, she said, 'We meet at last, my pretty.' After placing it on her head, she asked, 'What do you think? And yes, I know a tiara isn't drag, but what could be more backwards than me wearing the Black family jewels?'
'I love it!' exclaimed Lisa. 'Do you mind if I call Plouche? I need to see the ensemble.'
Gemma assented, and the house-elf appeared with a loud pop. 'Oui, mademoiselle,' he said to Lisa.
'Mademoiselle?' repeated Harry, amused.
'I've asked him to teach me French,' she said. 'But we've only just started, so it's just the basics so far. Plouche, could you please transfigure these robes to fit Gemma? Only temporarily, of course. S'il vous plaît.'
'S'il te plaît,' he corrected. 'Et oui, avec plaisir, mademoiselle.'
Gemma went into the bathroom to change, and Harry and Lisa returned to the wardrobe to pick out her outfit. 'And how are you doing?' he asked. 'Gemma told me you have a job interview at St Mungo's.'
'I do,' she said excitedly. 'It's just a desk job handling patient files, but I'd learn a ton in the process. Jobs like that are considered the best way for someone from a school like mine to get into Healer training, but of course you need connections to get the job in the first place.'
'How did you get the interview? I haven't introduced you to anyone but Lee and George.'
'I hate to burst your bubble, dear cousin, but you're not the only well-connected person I know. Andromeda's husband Ted was a Healer, and she introduced me to one of his former colleagues.'
'Oh right! Brilliant!' Turning back to his clothes, he said, 'So, what do you want to wear?'
Smiling mischievously, she pulled out the dove grey robes and floral waistcoat. 'Would it be untrue to the spirit of drag if I wore your most effeminate robes?'
A vivid mental image formed of Lisa wearing the robes, with red rosebuds in her hair, and Harry caught his breath. 'I'm sure you'd look terrific,' he said in a low voice. 'And it's up to you how masculine or feminine you go. Personally, I'm staying close to the middle.'
'Oh right, I need to see your outfit! Is it in here?'
'Yes, in the back,' he said, pulling out a suit bag. 'My tailor concealed it even from his staff—it was all very cloak and dagger. His idea, not mine.' Harry unzipped the bag, revealing the dress.
Lisa's jaw dropped, and she ran her fingers over the soft velvet. 'I thought you said on the radio you don't have any velvet,' she said accusingly.
'Blast, you're right! Although in my defence, I didn't have this on Tuesday.'
'It's brilliant—I love it. And I need to see you in it,' she said, exiting the wardrobe and closing the door.
Harry, who had already endured another shave from Kreacher, changed into the dress and put on the matching boots. He emerged to find Gemma facing the other way while Plouche put the finishing touches on her robes; he was about to comment when Lisa started to applaud.
'Well done, Potter-Black,' she said. 'Hang on, how high are those heels?'
'Four inches, including the platform. But they're specially charmed for comfort, so I'll be able to dance.'
'Marvellous. Of all the times to shamelessly augment your height ... it's perfect.'
Gemma had turned around and was staring in shock. 'Toffer, you've outdone yourself!'
'So have you,' he said sincerely. 'Those robes look really good on you.'
'It's all Plouche's doing,' said Gemma. 'Plouche, you're a genius. Can you do hair?'
'Not for witches, mademoiselle. But Lodie is very talented.'
Plouche got to work on Lisa's robes, and Harry called for Lodie, who styled both witches' hair. Gemma's hair was short, but Lodie lengthened it to go with the tiara, and she styled Lisa's hair into a gorgeous crown of rosebuds. She also applied cosmetic charms, and Harry thought they both looked great. But Lisa was an absolute vision, and he had to remind himself not to stare.
'Lodie, are you ready to tart up Harry with some eye makeup?' asked Gemma.
'Yes, Miss Rees. Mademoiselle Tavernier taught Lodie what to do,' she said, producing a cosmetics bag Sophie had left.
Gemma and Lisa watched in fascination as Lodie worked on Harry. She took less time than Sophie had required and, when she finished, both witches gaped at him. 'No wonder that Frenchman came on to you,' murmured Gemma.
'Those eyelashes should be illegal!' grumbled Lisa. 'But, yes, you look terrific.'
Lodie excused herself to help decorate the house, with a hint that the three humans should keep out of the way. 'Exploding Snap, anyone?' said Harry.
'No, we mustn't ruin our outfits,' said Lisa. 'How about Truth or Dare?'
'God, no!' said Gemma. 'Not without drinking first. Should we get started?'
Harry fluttered his eyelashes and said, 'No, I'm not that kind of girl. And the last thing I need is to get plastered again.'
'It's not fair that you're held to a higher standard than everyone else,' said Lisa. 'It's your god-given right as an Englishman to get trolleyed and make an arse of yourself, but everything you do gets scrutinised and recorded for posterity.'
'Welcome to my life,' he said. 'That's just how it is.'
'Thank heaven I'm not famous enough to warrant that kind of attention,' said Gemma. 'The worst thing I'll do if I get drunk is spill your secrets, which you don't actually have.'
'He must still have some,' said Lisa.
'Except for classified stuff, not really,' said Harry. The witches looked sceptical, and he said, 'Go ahead, ask.'
Lisa and Gemma looked at each other. 'Is there anyone you secretly fancy?' asked Lisa.
Harry took a deep breath. 'No one I can mention,' he said enigmatically. 'And besides, that's not a secret Gemma could spill.'
'No, you're right,' said Gemma. 'Oh wait, I know one! The real reason you and Lydia broke up.'
Lisa raised one eyebrow, and although Harry was embarrassed, he admired the playful gleam in her eyes. 'That's true, though in a sense it's also classified, since it involves a private organisation,' he said, referring to Pratt's.
'Doesn't she know about your secret club?' asked Gemma. 'She's your cousin, after all.'
'Secret club?' exclaimed Lisa. 'Now I have to know!'
'Thanks a lot, Gemma. But you're right, she'll find out soon enough.' He told Lisa about Pratt's, including the tradition around a wizard's seventeenth birthday.
Her eyes shot open. 'So that's what they were fighting about!'
'Who, your parents?' asked Harry.
'Yes! I heard my mum saying something was sexist and degrading, and that it was the last thing Seth should be exposed to. But my dad said he'd made a few discreet enquiries and that it was generally considered a positive experience, and better than the alternative. And then Mum got really mad and said, "I was the alternative, you bastard!" and one of them cast a Privacy Charm and I didn't hear the rest.'
'When's your brother's birthday,' asked Gemma.
'December. And I can guarantee he'll love it. But Harry, what do you think?'
He sighed. 'I had no intention of bringing anyone there, but when the Whites demanded dowries, Narcissa pointed out that I should also bring their sons to the Boudoir. But I won't go there myself.'
'Why not?' asked Lisa, but then realisation dawned. 'That's why Lydia broke up with you! You shagged a prostitute!'
'Fille de joie,' said Harry and Gemma simultaneously. 'And yes,' said Harry. 'Lydia insisted I go, because she wanted to hear about the decor, but neither of us anticipated how ... compelling it was.'
'You poor bastard!' said Lisa, grinning. 'You're the randiest wizard in all England, and she sent you to a brothel thinking you'd sip tea and admire the flowers?'
'He does like flowers,' noted Gemma.
'Not as much as the other thing on offer,' said Lisa. 'So, what was it like?' she asked conspiratorially.
Harry glanced at Gemma before answering. 'Overwhelming. It smelled like a Love Potion, although technically there wasn't one. And half a dozen witches were fawning over me. The one I, er, picked said it was on the house, and after that it was all instinct. Lydia was a distant memory, and I didn't even realise I'd forgotten her until I heard church bells ringing midnight. I panicked and left in a hurry, and she dumped me that same night. That's the last time I saw her.'
'You left out the bit where you buttoned your robes wrong,' smirked Gemma. 'These robes, actually.'
'I would have told her regardless,' said Harry. 'I couldn't lie to her.'
Lisa looked at him with compassion. 'Don't be so hard on yourself—there's no way you could have resisted that. But getting back to Seth ... even with his new love bite, I suspect it would be his first time. Do you think it would be a positive experience, or traumatic somehow?'
'I can't vouch for the other witches, but Claire definitely knew what she was doing. And I'll probably pay for the whole night, so Seth would have plenty of time to learn from the experience. So yeah, I think it would be positive.'
'What about your first time?' asked Gemma. 'That was with Ginny, right?'
Harry nodded. 'She was more experienced than I was, which helped a lot. Not Boudoir-experienced, obviously, but enough to know what she wanted.' He frowned, remembering that spring and summer. 'It was a hard time overall, though. We started having sex not long after the Battle of Hogwarts, and we were both a wreck. Her brother Fred had died—George's twin—and sex was our only outlet. We could forget about everything for an hour or so, but then afterwards we'd be lying there and it would all come back.'
'Was that here at Grimmauld Place?' asked Lisa.
'No, at her parents' house. Normally her mum wouldn't have allowed it—Molly's the type to charm the floor to detect whether we're keeping one foot on it—but for weeks she was either sobbing or numbed out on potions. Meanwhile, Ron and Hermione were in Australia, George was locked in his bedroom, and their dad was either at work, looking after Molly, or tinkering in the shed. Ginny and I basically spent that month shagging and going to funerals.'
'But not at the same time,' said Gemma.
'Actually, that's not true,' admitted Harry. 'But no one caught us.'
'Harry,' said Lisa, 'this reminds me of what you said after you took the celibacy vow, about how you use sex as a way to bypass difficult emotions. Frankly, it sounds like you came about it honestly.'
He shrugged. 'Yeah, maybe so. But we were talking about your brother ... hopefully there won't be a huge deadly battle right before he turns seventeen.'
'That seems unlikely,' said Lisa. 'And if the witches are acting from free will, I really can't object. But he hereby loses the right to mock me for having a dowry.'
Smirking, Gemma asked, 'Do you have pure-blood suitors now?'
Lisa snorted. 'Not bloody likely! I have a friend who waits tables at Dunnings, and she overheard some people saying the only real Blacks are Draco Malfoy and the Whites.'
'Why am I not surprised?' said Harry, rolling his eyes.
Gemma scowled and said, 'Wizards can be the worst sometimes. No matter how far someone like us advances in wizarding society, they're always moving the bloody goalposts! God forbid we have the slightest bit of genetic diversity!'
Her tirade was interrupted by a knock on the door. 'Master? May Lodie enter?'
'Yes, come right in,' replied Harry, and she immediately appeared with a loud pop.
'The house is ready, Master. We hope Master and his guests are pleased.' She curtseyed and disappeared with another pop.
'Shall we?' said Harry, extending an arm. Gemma took it, and the three of them left the bedroom and entered the corridor.
'Oh, how lovely!' exclaimed Lisa, looking in all directions. The wall sconces were dimmer than usual, and the corridor was illuminated by floating orbs of golden light, creating a particularly romantic ambiance.
'This is perfect for your corridor of sin,' observed Gemma. 'This is where all the guest rooms are,' she told Lisa.
Some of the orbs followed them downstairs, and they entered the library. At Harry's last party, Kreacher and Kammy had merely sealed off the bookcases behind frosted glass doors, but this time they were blocked by opaque sheets of kaleidoscopic light. The symmetric patterns slowly shifted, producing new colours and patterns, and the various flower arrangements in the room changed colour as well.
'This is amazing,' murmured Lisa, reaching to touch one of the sheets of light. 'Oh! My hand goes right through it!'
Harry frowned. 'Can you pull out the books?'
She reached in deeper, until her arm was nearly submerged. 'No, I just hit the back wall.' And when she pulled out her arm, her hand was softly glowing.
'You look like Harry!' exclaimed Gemma. 'Can you feel anything?'
Her glow was already starting to fade, and she said, 'It was a little tingly, but nothing else. Do you think I should poke my head in next?'
'I don't know,' said Harry. 'Maybe we should check with the elves.' He called them in, and they appeared in a flurry of pops, along with Kreacher's loud crack. 'This is fantastic,' said Harry. 'You've absolutely outdone yourselves, and this is only the first room we've seen. But it is safe to enter the bookcase completely?'
'Yes, Master,' said Lodie proudly. 'We used this charm in the Beauxbatons library, to hide the dangerous books from younger students.'
'That's it, I'm going in,' declared Gemma, and she disappeared into the bookcase.
A moment later she emerged, her face and hands glowing softly. 'Oh, this is nice! Harry, is this what Light magic feels like?' she asked.
Harry went in next and found himself in a twilit space, no deeper than the bookshelves. A bit cramped for a snog, he thought, but not a bad place to hide if I need privacy later on.
He stepped back into the room. 'It's pleasant enough,' he told Gemma, 'but it doesn't hold a candle to Light magic.'
'Really? Because this is pretty bloody pleasant.'
Next they went to the drawing room, which was darker than usual. But the moon shone brightly, and the ceiling was covered with stars, similar to how Harry and Alex had decorated it during their indoor picnic. He reflexively looked at Lisa and nearly gasped at how the diffuse light illuminated her features. I'm as bad as Draco, he thought, admiring the curve of her lips.
Gemma was studying the tapestry in the soft light. 'Lisa, there you are,' she said, indicating the embroidered name. 'What was that like, finding out you were part of an old family?'
Lisa glanced at Harry. 'It was strange. But Gemma, I'm sure you can relate, going from relative anonymity to being a league Seeker.'
'Reserve Seeker,' corrected Gemma.
'Not for long,' said Harry. 'I'm sure another team will snap you up in no time.'
Gemma just smiled enigmatically, and they proceeded downstairs to the entrance hall. It too was lit by glowing orbs, and the staircase was festooned with flowers, many of which were illusory. Harry looked at Padfoot and immediately started laughing. 'Good boy! Well done!' he cried, tossing in a treat.
'He's in drag!' said a delighted Lisa. Padfoot's normally scruffy coat was groomed to sleek perfection, and a ribbon atop his head held the hair out of his eyes. With him was the long-haired lapdog who, by contrast, wore a spiked collar.
Their final stop was the dining room, which glittered with ice sculptures and floating flowers. Banthora was clearly entranced, and she didn't see them enter. 'Good evening, Banthora,' said Harry, and her eyes landed on him.
'Oh my!' she exclaimed. 'So this is your outfit!'
He had managed to forget he was wearing a dress and makeup. 'What do you think?' he asked sheepishly.
'You look splendid, my dear,' said Banthora, and she showered praise upon the two witches. 'I anticipate a feast for the eyes tonight.'
They milled about until the dinner guests started to arrive. 'Are you in here?' called Neville from the doorway.
'Yes,' replied Harry, before laughing at Neville's outfit. 'Is that your grandmother's hat?'
Neville peered up at the the stuffed vulture perched at the edge of his towering hat. 'Not precisely. I mean, yes, it's hers, but it's not the only one. She commissioned about a dozen of them when her milliner retired, and I, er, borrowed one for the night.'
'Borrowed?' said Harry sceptically.
'Well, nicked. And yes, I know I shouldn't have done, but Hannah insisted,' he said guiltily.
'How could he wear anything else?' said Hannah. 'And doesn't it look smashing on him?'
Harry didn't argue, and as the other guests arrived, they all exclaimed over each other's outfits. His own dress drew praise, and Ginny pretended to swoon when she saw his eye makeup. She and Wendy both wore robes and flanked Blaise, who was shockingly beautiful in a sequinned gown. George went all out, even wearing a long blond wig, and Lee and Lara wore matching Muggle formalwear.
Hermione looked boyish in one of Ryan's old football uniforms, her face smudged with dirt, and Ryan surprised everyone by wearing an American cheerleader costume, complete with pom-pons. Luna drew the biggest laughs, however, by dressing like Dumbledore: she wore purple robes covered with stars, a velvet hat with a long tassel, high-heeled buckled boots, and half-moon glasses.
'Did you charm your eyes to twinkle?' asked Ginny.
'No, I used a potion,' said Luna, her eyes twinkling. 'Do you like it?'
'Full marks! I only wish I'd thought to dress as Snape. I think Percy uses the same charm to make his robes billow.'
Fleur looked spectacular as always, dressed in robes and with her hair in a tight bun, but Bill stole the show by wearing a huge maternity dress. 'Does this mean you've announced it publicly?' asked Harry.
'No,' scowled Fleur. 'His mother announced it for us.'
Bill said, 'We had to tell Dad, because he was out of control with the Bezoars. It reached the point where we'd come over and he'd immediately Apparate to an apothecary—scaring the other clients—and buy them out completely. I told him about the baby in confidence, but of course Mum kept nagging us during Sunday dinner, and she said Fleur wasn't getting any younger. So Dad blurted out the truth, and naturally Mum was over the moon.'
'We tried to swear her to secrecy,' said Fleur, 'but she kept winking! Can you imagine? And the minute we left she told Aunt Muriel, who called us to say she still waits for a namesake. As if I name my daughter Muriel!'
'Anyway, now it's public,' said Bill, putting an arm around Fleur. 'And I'm glad, since I had no idea what to wear until then.'
'Fleur, why am I not affected by your allure?' asked Harry.
She allowed Bill to explain. 'You can thank Percy, believe it or not. We wondered why he was impervious to her pregnancy allure, and it turns out he researched antidotes to Veela magic years ago, when Fleur and I started dating. He crafted an amulet, which he still wears whenever we're all together, and the same book had instructions for making a pregnancy shield for Fleur.'
They sat down to eat a simple French meal prepared by the house-elves, and Harry was glad to see Gemma interacting with Lee and George. He sat next to Lisa, but she mostly talked with Ginny and Wendy, leaving Harry with Blaise.
'Draco's as good as engaged,' said Blaise. 'After tonight there's no turning back.'
'So he's going through with it?'
'It's not official, but he showed me the earrings he's letting her wear. They're diamond and emerald—it'll be obvious to everyone where they came from.'
Frowning, Harry asked, 'Are you sure she's insincere? Obviously Draco's not my type, but I can at least imagine why someone might fancy him.'
'It's her expression when he's not there,' said Blaise. 'She plays the role perfectly when they're together, and even I'm convinced. But then he steps out for a moment and her eyes narrow, just a bit. I've seen it in Mother a thousand times.'
'I hate to mention this,' said Harry, 'but Pansy claims she's caught Catherine eyeing you up. Have you noticed anything?'
'No, but I seldom do. And Pansy's been right about that sort of thing before.'
Harry was silent for a minute as he ate. 'How long before they actually get married? And what happens if they break off the engagement?'
'Catherine will pay the price,' said Blaise soberly. 'For all that Draco whinges about not getting to touch her, he has all the power. If they split up, people will think he found out she wasn't a virgin. Which means she'll be doubly soiled, since they'll assume he discovered it the old-fashioned way.'
Shaking his head, Harry said, 'But that makes no sense! Couldn't a witch use charms to, you know, bleed, or be tighter?'
'They can, and they do. But remember this is deep-rooted sexism, combined with the superstition about where Squibs come from. And before you bring up Lydia Travers as a counter-example, remember how much gold she has.'
'Whereas Catherine only has a modest dowry,' said Harry dully.
'Indeed. I should warn you that in situations like this, a witch normally turns to her Head of House. If the family backs her up, she might get away with it.'
'And what does that mean?' asked Harry, anticipating the answer.
'In Catherine's case, it means increasing her dowry.'
'But that's absurd! Isn't that just a bribe to have someone take her off the family's hands?'
'No, because the bride keeps her dowry. What it does is prove the family believes in her virtue.'
'But I'm not her Head of House. She belongs to House White, which I'm only sponsoring.' Blaise raised a delicately arched eyebrow at him, and Harry said, 'How much?'
'Doubling it would probably do the trick.'
'Bloody hell!' he blurted, drawing the attention of the other guests. In a quieter voice he said, 'Draco can damn well pay the difference!'
'He certainly can,' said Blaise. 'But really, there's no point worrying. She's awfully motivated, so they'll probably marry by Yule.'
Harry listlessly raised his wine glass. 'To Draco and Catherine. And the stupid pure-blood sexual dynamics that made it all possible.'
'Did someone say "pure-blood sexual dynamics?"' interjected Ginny, and all talk of Draco ended.
After dinner, Lisa took Harry aside. 'I loved meeting Ginny,' she said. 'And it says a lot about you that you're still friends.'
'I couldn't not be friends with Ginny. It was hard for a while—it still is sometimes. But she's like family and I'd hate to lose her.'
'It's funny,' said Lisa, looking around. 'I probably know you the least of anyone here, even though I'm technically the only one you're related to.'
Not closely related, thought Harry. 'I suppose so. And yes, nearly all of them are like family to me, along with the rest of the Cannons.'
Lisa was silent a moment. 'If you don't mind my asking, what's your relationship with Gemma?'
'Gemma? We fly against each other every day, and she usually taunts me to pieces. She's only giving me a break today because of the tiara.'
'Are you sure?' she asked quietly. 'I get the distinct impression she fancies you.'
'What? No! We're teammates—it's against the rules.'
'That doesn't make much difference where feelings are concerned. I should know—I once had a terrible crush on a friend of mine who's gay. Obviously there was no rule against us dating, but clearly it wasn't going to happen.'
'Ouch! I'm so sorry.'
'Yeah, it wasn't fun. But be careful with Gemma—it sounds like you don't see her that way.'
Harry's mind was still reeling. 'No, she's just a friend. I mean, there's nothing wrong with her, but ... no.' He reviewed all the time they'd recently spent together, particularly during and since his celibacy vow. 'God, I hope I haven't given her the wrong impression!'
'I'm sure you didn't mean to, but it can happen inadvertently, especially if you confide in her a lot. That's what happened with me and Jeremy—he'd complain about the men he dated and joke about wanting to be with me instead. Obviously I was an idiot to fall in love with him, but he used to catcall me and say how hot I was, and I somehow thought that meant he might be interested.'
Still frowning, Harry said, 'I do confide in her, but I've never catcalled her or said I wished we could be together. And she knows better than anyone what a manwhore I am.'
'Maybe so, but when you fancy someone it's easy to believe they'll change. That's the problem when it's your best friend, because you already know how special you are to them.'
'She is special to me,' he admitted. 'I don't exactly consider her my best friend—that would be Ron or Hermione—but these days I definitely spend more time with her than anyone.' He looked helplessly at Lisa and asked, 'What should I do?'
'I hate to say it, but I think the only way out is through. Obviously you don't want to give her the cold shoulder.'
He shook his head rapidly. 'No, that would be a disaster. Not only are we teammates, but for a long time she felt like an outsider in the wizarding world. Owen keeps saying how good it is we're friends, since I'm the biggest insider there is. Which isn't really true—I'm still a half-blood—but I see his point.'
'Yeah,' said Lisa, nodding. 'But whatever you do, don't take the easy way out and just say it's against the rules. It's better to be harsh—trust me on this.'
'What happened with you and your crush, if you don't mind my asking?'
'One of his boyfriends figured it out—he'd had a fag hag of his own.'
'A fag hag?'
'American expression, referring to someone like me. Anyway, Jeremy had a long, mortifyingly blunt talk with me that boiled down to "girl parts are nasty." Which obviously you can't use, so you'll just have to emphasise that you don't see her that way, and that it's not any reflection on her.'
Harry uncomfortably recalled when he'd brutally taunted her. 'You're not my type,' he'd told her. And the sad truth was that she wasn't. She was pretty enough, but the alchemy just wasn't there. Lisa, on the other hand ...
'Thanks for the warning,' he said. 'I can't help hoping you're wrong, but it's better to be prepared.'
'Sorry, cousin—it's the price you pay for being Desirable Number One.'
In a low voice, he said, 'Something tells me you've broken a few hearts yourself.'
'I wouldn't know,' she said haughtily. 'And knock it off.'
'Moi?' he said innocently, and she swatted him.
'Your guests will arrive any minute—save it for them.'
Ryan and Hermione had gone to the roof to set up the music, and Harry was tempted to join them, although he wanted to mingle before dancing. He was lost in thought when Gemma approached and said, 'Do you still want me to keep an eye out and rescue you later?'
'Sorry, what?'
'If you're trapped in conversation with some gobshite.'
'Oh, right,' said Harry. 'No, I can fend for myself. You should have fun with all the mates you invited.'
Her face fell, 'Er, yeah, good point. I should probably wait right here, since I told them to check out the food straight away.'
Harry said he needed to go the roof, where he found Hermione exploring a magical rose garden, lit by floating orbs. 'Davina's right,' she said. 'Someone's bound to experience Light magic here tonight.'
'Did you double-charm your hair?' he asked.
'Yes, but Lucinda says my Occlumency is finally good enough for me to go public. That said, there's plenty to look at without my hair sparking blue.'
'Personally, I love your hair like that, but I understand completely. I'm grateful to finally have my glowing under control.'
'But you'll still attract attention,' she said fondly. 'Your eyes really are something. Have you decided who to use them on?'
'I have some ideas,' he admitted, 'but we'll see.'
Hermione smiled and checked her wristwatch. 'It's eight o'clock. Are you ready?'
'As ready as I'll ever be,' he said, gathering the folds of his dress before climbing downstairs.
