September 14, Evening

It was after the Tinker and I parted, that events began to catch up with me. I was returning to Gryffindor when I ran into Harry Potter.

"You've been playing with Fluffy," he said with a wide grin, "I can smell dog from the other end of the hall."

"It was fun, too," I said, "But I need to get cleaned and change. Me Mam's coming after dinner."

"Follow me," he said and led me through the halls. He said something in front of a door, and it opened. "The prefects bathroom," he said. "Clean up in here, and I'll get you a change of clothes. It's better than parading through the common room and offending everyone."

"Thank ye," I replied. "And while ye're checking out my closet, ye might want to give me a few tips on decorating. I've been told ye are the one to ask."

Harry stopped in his tracks and stared at me.

"If I've said something wrong," I told him, "I apologize. I was just trying to make a joke."

"No," he said, thoughtfully. "It's only, no one's every made a joke about it before. It took me by surprise." Then he smiled, adding, "It's funny, I spent all those years in that closet, and now, I feel better. I can laugh about it." As he turned to leave, he called back, "You don't mind if I steal your joke, do you?" He left, and I was alone in what was, for me, a lavish bathroom.

I filled the tub, and as I undressed, threw my clothes in for a good washing as well. In short order, my washed clothes were draped over anything to dry. I had leaned back in the tub, enjoying the warm water, when I started to cry. I didn't know why, nor could I stop. Madam Pomfrey told me later that it was the result of shock. I had been in great pain, and was suddenly released. For a while, it was like I was walking on a cloud, and I could do anything. But now that I was relaxing, my troubles were coming back with a vengeance.

Harry found me sitting on the edge of the tub, still crying. I don't know what he thought, but he spoke in a light mood, saying, "If I had known you would take it so badly, I wouldn't have stolen your joke." He put his hands under my arms and lifted me up. He then wrapped a large bath towel around me.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.

"I made friends with the Diabhal," I sobbed.

"The Devil?" he asked with surprise. "I didn't even know you've met Snape."

I didn't get the joke. It didn't matter though, as long as he kept talking. It helped me focus on my situation, and what problems I had.

"I ran into Ron, by the way. He asked what I was doing, so I told him I was going to check out your closet and give you some ideas on how to decorate. His jaw dropped when I said that. 'Harry, how can you joke about something like that,' he told me. I answered by saying, 'if I should be serious, then seriously tell me if you think the closet would look better underneath some stairs.'"

"Thank ye, Harry" I said. Mam was right. Sometimes a good cry is the best thing for you. I felt released the last of the stress. That Harry came back and immediately tried to help, was the icing on the cake. "I should get dressed," I said.

"I'll wait for you outside," he said. "You'll need help finding your new room." He went out and closed the door.

I dressed, and put my old clothes in a sack he had brought. Somehow the clothes were dry (I suspect some magic spell from Harry) but they still smelled like Fluffy. I left the prefects bathroom and followed Harry to the Gryffindor common room. He told me my thing s had been removed from the closet and but in the dorm with the other first-years. What he, or anyone else, did not say was that I was now in Gryffindor. To my knowledge, I was never formally made a student in that house. I only know that one day, Fiona asked Dumbledore why I hadn't returned to Ravenclaw. She never told me his response, but on occasion she would refer to me as, "My cousin, the Gryffindor," and she always said it with a sense of pride.

Harry showed me to my dorm, and my new bed, and what to do with my laundry. I also met several new friends all of whom I promptly forgot the names of. Then it was off to dinner, and the meeting. I would have headed out immediately, except for the argument I ran into in the common room. The Weasleys were there in force, as were Harry and Neville. I had told Harry the how and why of breaking the curse, and he had apparently made some reference about Ginny.

"Why do you keep insisting there's nothing going on," Ron yelled at Neville. The twins were eyeing Neville with suspicion.

"Because nothing is going on," Neville insisted, "Ginny doesn't even like me."

"Then why is she always with you all the time?" Ron demanded.

"Good question, Ron," said one of the twins.

"Because the lass is afraid," I shouted, remembering I owed a debt to Ginny.

"Owen, don't," Ginny said, paling.

"Don't what?," Ron asked, looking at Ginny then at me.

"She doesn't want me to tell, " I said.

"Owen," Ginny pleaded, but I would have none of it. I was forced to listen to her problems. now, everyone would.

"Neville," I said, "We all know ye like Ginny. I've heard a dozen times about how ye reacted when she agreed to go to the Yule Ball with ye. Well, guess what? She's afraid ye don't like her." That got a reaction from everyone. Ron glared at Neville, who stared at Ginny, who stared at the floor. Harry and the twins wore matching grins, enjoying what the new player in the game was doing.

"It's just that charm," said Neville, "The one that makes everyone like me."

"Ain't no charm," I said, "It would have come from the same source that cursed me. And it would have been broken when ye met Timmy. They like ye because of what they see in ye. Ye herded us first-years into the boats like ye were a master..."

"I was scared. I was just trying to do what I had to."

"...and Ye did a great job of it. Every first-year in every house talked about ye. Then others started talking to ye to see what ye were made of. They never did that before, but they left impressed by the way ye handled ye self. And by the way ye dealt with me, when no one else would. Ye may ha' been scared but ye' came through. Tha's wha' people remember." I could feel my brogue thickening as I got into my speech, but now I had to get back to the point.

"T'were fine wi' Ginny when ye were nobody, but now she's afraid, ye won't want her, tha' she ain't good enou' for ye." I had to stop there. My next words would be in Gaelic and that would make me impossible to understand, instead of merely difficult.

"What do you mean my sister's not good enough for you," Ron yelled at Neville. I couldn't help thinking that he enjoyed yelling.

"I didn't say that," Neville yelled back.

"You're right, Ron," Ginny said, overcoming her embarrassment, "Neville and I are deeply in love and we've been doing everything you've accused us of, and doing it everywhere we could. And I'll prove it." With that, she surprised every one of us by grabbing Neville and kissing him passionately. Ron blushed, Harry and the twins roared with laughter, and I uttered, "Comhanaich Gael," under my breath. Neville was taken back at first, but realized that Ginny was doing this to annoy Ron. He joined in the mock passion and Ron grew even more red. They stopped kissing and looked at each other. I've seen that look before. Mam and Da have it. Aunt Jessica and Uncle Darren have it. Arthur and Molly have it. Hagrid and 'anything dangerous that will attack you without notice' have it. That was why I wasn't surprised when they kissed again. I left before the fireworks began.

"Did they kiss again," Walter asked, as I came through the portrait, "I walked in to catch the end of your speech, and decided to beat an early retreat." I laughed and told him yes, as we walked to the Great Hall together.

"I know the answer to your problem," Walter said, "you know, the one nobody knows about."

"Then how do ye know what the problem is?" I asked.

"I don't," said Walter, "I only know what the answer is." He looked at my confusion, and added, "Try this as an example. I know the mathematical answer is'4'. What is the question?"

"What is '2 + 2'?" I replied.

"But couldn't the question be What is '3 + 1' or '7 - 3'? We do know the question is not 'how many fingers am I holding up' because we said it was mathematics. In the same way, I can know a solution to your problem, without knowing the entire problem. All I really know is that you hated Gregory Wyatt this morning, you were best friends with him this afternoon, and you told Harry that you had made friends with the devil."

"How did ye know what I had said to Harry," I asked suspiciously.

"By eavesdropping," he said calmly, "I walked with him on my way to the library, and stopped to listen when he said something about stealing your joke. I stuck my head in the door just as you spoke. Courtesy insisted I leave at that point. Courtesy also insists that I never repeat what I heard or saw."

"Thank ye," I said.

"Do you read much," Walter asked, "I read all the time, anything I can get my hands on."

"I've read a bit," I told him.

"Good," he said, "If you've read Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, you have your answer. Now, I'm afraid you have to go."

"Why?" I asked, and he pointed down the hall. Mam was standing there, and as I looked I saw that Da had come as well. I ran down that hall as fast as I could, jumping into their arms as if I was no older than Timmy. As I clung to both my parents all I could think of to say was, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"Ye should be, ye fat ass," I heard someone say. Letting go of my parents, I looked around for the strange voice.

"Aw, Mam, ye ruined it," I cried. "Ye brought Fergus."

"See, Mam," said Fergus, "Tis nothing wrong wi' him. He was making it all up."

"Let me show ye my friends," I said, grabbing Fergus, and making him follow me into the Great Hall. The first person I walked up to was Hermione. I showed her my brother, and warned her, "This is Fergus. This is what Timmy will be like in three years."

"Do you mean his hair is going to turn black?"

"His hair isn't going to turn black, Hermione, he's going to be as bad as ever, only bigger."

"Don' listen to him, miss," said Fergus, "He hasn' been well lately."

Hermione laughed at that. "Hello, Fergus. Tell Owen to bring you down to Hagrid's Hut tomorrow, if you're still here. You can meet Timmy."

"Is he your brother?" Fergus asked.

"No, only a friend. He's helping train Hagrid's dog."

"I should warn ye, Fergus," I said, "He's a big one."

"Comhanaich Gael, Owen, it sounds like fun," he said sarcastically.

We sat down to eat, talking about almost everything, except me. I was happy to see my family, except Dierdre who was with Aunt Jessica. I was surprised as well, especially with Fergus wanting to come. For all our fighting, Fergus was always trying to imitate me, for better or worse. He even showed up with his flute case on a strap.

As we were finishing, Fiona came by with Mary and the Tinker, and awkward became the word of the day. Fiona made introductions, as the Tinker and Mam eyed each other.

"I always use my maiden name when I am working, Gregory," Mam said. "As with your case, it helps me from becoming too personally involved."

"Aunt Claire," Fiona said, "forgive me but I don't understand."

Gregory answered, "Your aunt is the lady from social welfare. She's the one who decided I could stay."

"The name's Sean O'Donnell," said Da, to the Tinker, doing his best to change the subject. "Ye are a friend of Owen then?"

"Yes, sir," the Tinker said with a smile. "I'm his best friend, I think."

He added the last two words when he saw my face. I hadn't told my parents about this afternoon, yet, and I faltered when he spoke. But there was also another reason. I had named someone else to the position of best friend, and Fergus knew it.

"Is that true, Owen" Fergus said, putting me on the spot.

"It is not," I said, then turning to the Tinker added, "I'm sorry, Tinker me lad, but this is me best friend. Meet me brother, Fergus."

When I said that, Fergus beamed his best smile. I had said just the right thing, as far as he was concerned. The Tinker, however, seemed to become sad. I had the feeling that he felt left out. Then I noticed it, he was surrounded by my family, and for all that he was, or might be, he was alone. I did not know it at the time, but I was about to make the winning move in a game I didn't know I was playing. I put my arm around my brother's shoulders, and pointed him at the Tinker. "This is your replacement, if you keep bothering me."

"Your lucky to have a family," the Tinker said, as a tear ran down his cheek.

It was Da who reacted to this first. Being closest to him, Da reached out and wiped the tear away. "None of that, lad. Claire told me about ye, and for the rest of the night ye're part of our family."

That was it. For all that the Tinker might be, he was a part of our family group. I understood later what had happened, but at the time, all I could see was that he was happy and sad at the same time. The sadness disappeared briefly when Da suggested a tune and Mam cast a spell to call Da's harp and Fiona's violin, and we began playing. While we were playing, he was as happy as the rest of us, but as soon as we finished, the sadness returned.

"Ye're no taller than me," Fergus told the Tinker, as we started to leave. "That means I can give ye advice. Mam gave ye this Hagrid as your Da. Well, ye're the fool if ye don't talk wi' him."

The Tinker stared at my brother as though he was the wisest man in the world. I am tempted to say the Tinker was delusional at this point, but all the Tinker said was, "Thanks."

Then he walked over to the teacher's table and sat down next to the giant.

As we walked out of the hall, we passed the Weasley brothers. On of the twins was saying, "Ron, they only did that to tease you."

"Maybe," said Ron, "but why did they have to kiss a second time?"