A/N: And now, things get worse. Here you go.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Day Tripper

"Alright, Julie, time's up. I'll- oh, you've got them off." Madam Pomfrey shook her head in wry amusement as Julie shielded her good eye from what must have felt like a blinding light and gritted her teeth in abject agony. "Calm down, you aren't going to die from a bit of light. I'll put a patch on your right eye now."

"Yes, ma'am," Julie agreed, still clenching her teeth and with her good eye shut. The right one was swollen awfully and from the lid to her eyebrow was an angry dark violet. As soon as she could see her own reflection in the mirror Julie sighed at it.

"It'll be alright in a week or so. There's no infection so far and it shouldn't stay purple more than a couple days. Here, you should look much better with the eyepatch on."

Julie looked first at her own reflection and then Madam Pomfrey. Her eyebrow raised above a decidedly sad if still somewhat sarcastic smile.

"Maybe Dad'll get me an owl to ride on my shoulder. That'll go perfectly."

"It could be worse; you might have gotten both eyes hurt."

"Then at least I wouldn't have to look at this! Tom and Tim are going to have a field day with this, you know."

"Would you rather miss another day of your father's class?"

"Oh cripes, Dad! He's going to give me hell and a half when I show up like this."

"Look, Julie, I'm trying to be as nice about this as possible. You're going to be in that eyepatch for a week at least, so you might as well be happy that you aren't completely blind. I don't think your friends will pick on you, and if your father does, just tell your mother or I. And then we'll skin him."

Madam Pomfrey clearly had not been around female Snapes long. Julie would rather be skinned herself than admit that she couldn't handle her father's verbal games in class.

"Naw, that's okay, Madam Pomfrey. Thanks for fixing my face up, by the way. I'd have a whole mess of scars now the Muggle way."

"You're welcome, Julie. I suggest you hurry, or you'll be late for breakfast."

Breakfast. That reminded her. Madam Pomfrey had stated up, down, and sideways that she had not been the one to leave a loaf of Julie's favorite bread, some cream cheese, and butterbeer on the little table beside her bed. After her she'd suspected Donaghan or Malfoy might, except the only person who knew she even liked pumpernickel bread around here was Chloe, and surely a little first-year didn't know how to sneak down to the kitchens, up to the hospital wing and back to the Girls' Dormitory without being missed. She next suspected that Tom and Tim had carried the favor out with Chloe's advice on her favorite food. Except that Tom and Tim would have left a note of some sort, almost certainly. And Donaghan denied leaving the wing while she had been asleep. So it had to be either Malfoy or one of her parents. And then both Dad and Mum had showed up, also bearing food, so it had to be Malfoy-

Damn it all to hell!

Julie gave the Fat Lady the password (bunny ears,) and answered that yes, her eye was fine and the patch would come off in a week or so. She liked the Fat Lady rather better than the portrait leading to Draco's room. It was unnerving enough sneaking around into teachers' quarters at all ungodly hours of the night without that aptly-named Unmusical goblin blistering his fingers and saying hello to her. The moment she entered the common room, Gryffindor House in it's entirety went silent.

"Julie…" Mack whispered, shocked at the Seeker showing up with an eyepatch on. "Your eye…"

"It's not permanent, I should be right and two-eyed for the game next week."

"'Ello, Julie-girl." Trust Donaghan to be perfectly sweet at this unsacred hour on Monday morning. Julie stopped herself from smacking him and submitted to being kissed fairly well in front of her first-year friend. "I'll see y' at breakfast?"

"Sure, Donaghan."

Chloe was already leveling a stare at her. The instant the boys and most of the other girls were gone, Julie ran her hand back through her hair, knowing she was nailed.

"You, dear, have some very 'eavy-duty explaining to get through with."

How was it that a little blond first-year could make her feel more guilty than her dad?

"Chloe, he got all singy and stuff again. I can't help liking him, you've seen his hair!"

"Excuse me for asking, but doesn't that leave a few problems with the ferret unsolved as yet?"

To the four or so girls still left in the room, Chloe's remark sounded for all the world like a reference to Julie's pet. But Starcatcher knew what she was on about.

"I had a fight with him," she whispered quietly. "And I think that I like Donaghan much better. It's just too dangerous-"

Julie stepped into her room and shut up instantly.

"I thought you'd feel 'zat way when you saw 'zis, Jules."

Malfoy had built a little glass paradise of tubes and wheels and boxes with fluff in them for Anthony. The ferret was grooming himself happily near the top of this surprising gift.

"How did he get in here?" Julie asked.

"Dratted if I know. I think 'e must be using your window somehow."

"Or it might be an Animagus trick. Damn, but I wish I could do that too!"

"Ask Aldous. He's done it for me twice."

"Really? What's he turn into?"

"I can't tell you 'zat. But he does it very well, he might teach you how."

"Don't you have to register when you become an Animagus, though?"

"'Zat is why I'm not telling you what 'e turns into. 'E isn't registaired."

"But Chloe, I think Mum knows he can transform."

"Your muzzer probably assumes that 'e's registaired. Aldous 'as been transforming since ees 'zhird year."

"You suddenly sound- like, entirely French. Normally your accent is very light."

"I was… speaking French quite a bit last night. It goes up and down, just like your London one."

"With whom?" Julie asked, watching Chloe blush.

"Er… Aldous. We were…uh, talking…"

"In French?"

"In his room last night."

"Chloe Madeleine Delacour-Davies! I am profoundly shocked but even more curious!"

"No-zhing 'appened, I promise you!"

"Something obviously 'appened' or you wouldn't be redder than my Quidditch robes!"

"Alright, I… sort of kissed him. Zhen he kissed me back."

"And 'zhen'?"

"For some reason 'e started to speak fluent French. It was really quite strange, you know, but 'is accent was wonderful. We talked all night."

"Was he able to speak French before you kissed him?"

"I don't know."

"Maybe the Weasleys tried Polytongue Potion on him yesterday. We learned it in Defense Against The Dark Arts last-"

"Oh, yeah, 'zat reminds me. I've got your homework from yesterday."

"But it was Sunday! We don't have classes then!"

"Well, tell 'zat to your father. He gave me 'zis."

Julie opened the folded parchment and read in her father's angular handwriting:

'The potion you made in class should have worked beautifully. I had your Chaser, Howard, I think, test it in detention Saturday. Ask the little first-year to kiss him before it wears off. If he suddenly speaks French, you get ten points to Gryffindor.
-Dad.
P.S. You've got a pop quiz today. Consider this your mother's doing for the match she beat me in.'

Julie had a hard time explaining that sudden burst of laughter to her younger friend, but Chloe was perfectly happy to lend her Genevieve the owl for a reply note:

'Dad,
I didn't even have to ask her. It worked very well. I must remember, however, never to leave French people alone for any length of time unless I want them to start reproducing like mad bunnies. Not that Chloe did, you know, but she's far more forward than I ever was. And Aldous seems to have developed a spine somehow.
So the bet we had about me getting them together, you did win. Sigh.
-Julie.
P.S. I've studied the entire book. Bring it on!'

"So, how do you suppose Malfoy built this thing?" Julie tapped on the glass and Anthony perked his little ears up at her.

"'E probably brought it in piece by piece with Summoning Charms. I think this is getting a bit scary. 'E's a teacher, Julie!"

"I know that. And I also like Donaghan, plus I was mad at Malfoy when I un-broke-up-with him, so how do I find out who I really like?"

"Muzzer would say to… let your 'eart decide."

"My heart's the one that's confused here! That won't help at all!"

"Well, daddy would just say to flip a coin."

"Arrggh!" With a gesture of complete exasperation, Julie turned on her old stereo, which didn't work. "What's wrong with this piece of-" She swore terribly.

"Julie, you have to change the speed if you want to play a forty-five."

"How do you know that? I don't own any forty-fives."

"Zhen what's 'zis?" Chloe asked, pointing to the turntable. "Grandpa Davies plays zhese a lot, actually."

"Hmm. Think Malfoy left it?"

"Unlikely. He's wizard-born."

"And rich. What'd he be doing in a Muggle shop? Plus these go for barely tenpence- a Sickle- now…" Julie turned the speed from thirty-three to forty-five R.P.M.s, and gently placed the needle on the small record. "Besides, how would Malfoy know how to use an adapter- ooh!" Julie grinned and turned the stereo up much louder.

"You know 'zis band?"

"It's the Beatles. Every Muggle does."

Suddenly Julie's one visible eye flickered a little bit, as if there were some red dye moving across her iris. Chloe barely noticed the little change.

"This song gives me an idea, Chloe."

"Look here, 'zhere's a note," Chloe held it up.

On the small sleeve of the forty-five were some scribbled words:

'My Lady, I hope this is to your liking.'

"Not Draco's writing," Julie observed rather carelessly. "We'd both better get down to breakfast, now."

***********************************

Professor Flitwick knocked on Professor Malfoy's door.

"Yes?" he answered, shirt not buttoned and his robes half-on, half-off.

"Draco, I was wondering…my brother's just landed in hospital, could you teach my Charms class for me today?"

"Oh, sure, no problem. What day is it?"

"Er- Monday."

"Okay. I thought that's what it was."

As Draco buttoned his shirt, the little wizard couldn't help noticing bruises all over the blond man's chest- souvenirs of the fight at the Quidditch game.

"My lesson plans and seating charts are on my desk. I'm sure you know how the classroom works."

"Of course, Professor. Just one thing-"

"Yes?"

"What's a good charm to knock off a hangover?"

***********************************

Breakfast was the usual calm charade, tired students red-eyed from studying squiffing pumpkin juice and wishing it had caffiene, teachers cheerily passing a plate of sausages. Tom and Tim were their usual chipper selves, grievously offending those who'd stayed up too late preparing for a test today. Mack was going over his Defense Against the Dark Arts text as he swallowed anything he found beneath his fork, and Tom mischievously gave him a Cockroach Cluster. He didn't notice and the whole table howled.

Chloe and Aldous were being kind of cute, today, sitting next to each other and absent-mindedly switching foods they hated but each knew the other liked. Aldous, for example, could not bear hash browns, but Chloe loved them and hated onions, which he liked a lot. Even Kev Wood the Keeper thought that this was somewhat humorous. He'd been up almost as late as Donaghan studying for their Potions quiz, except that Donaghan had only been studying part of the time. Julie was pleased somewhat to not see Professor Malfoy there, as Donaghan was playing with her constantly. If he wasn't running the ends of his fingers up the back of her arm, he was tickling her right ear, both of which made her sit up straight and shiver convulsively. Finally Tim had something to say on that:

"I take it more than Quidditch was discussed in the Hospital Wing?"

"Oh, but of course, Timothy, we fucked like drunken bunnies all through the Quidditch match. Didn't even know who won 'til Uncle Ron showed up. And considering I had my eyes bandaged for most of the time, you might say it was one of those bondage things."

Tom and Tim's jaws were permanently dropped, Mack looked like he might have a heart attack, and Chloe gave Julie a raised eyebrow. Julie smiled.

"I was kidding."

"I hope so!" her father said.

Everyone but Julie and Donaghan cracked up totally.

"Sarcasm, my dear Starcatcher, is evidently an art you require some practice in. Detention this evening and five points from Gryffindor for such an outrageously unconvincing lie. Good day."

He left just as quickly as he'd appeared. The others all gave Julie looks of amusement and mild shock.

"Well, it really was unconvincing, Julie-girl." Donaghan kissed her hand as he got up to leave the Hall.

Did he have to be so damn perfect all the time?

Mack was suddenly bowing his head in prayer. The other Gryffindors looked at him curiously, until he had finished, crossed himself, and then replied:

"Just thankin' Saint Bridget my father doesn' teach."

"Really, Julie, you shouldn't say such things," Tim chided.

"Yeah, you had me going for a few seconds. I had this fabulous picture in my mind-" Tom stopped, aware that every eye was now fixed on him reproachingly. "Well, not that fabulous, you know, with old Donnie there."

"Thomas Weasley, if you don't mind keeping your semi-incestuous thoughts in check, we are trying to enjoy the Monday morning meal, coz."

"Yikes, she can dish it but she can't take it served, can she?"

"Oh, really?" Julie abruptly turned her attention to her younger friend. "I might still be using the whip tonight, but if you need the chains, they're up in my center drawer."

Sure enough, Tom got up and had to leave the room. Mack and Aldous were Julie's captive audience.

"Keep in mind, though, dear, Irish people tend to bruise easily, although Scots are somewhat softer, like a fresh …fruit." Julie bit into some cantaloupe as she said this.

"You are not nice!" Tim protested, following his cousin out of the Great Hall.

"Just payback for some potion," Julie called after him. "As you were," she told the two other boys.

"Julie, that was really not fair," Aldous pointed out. "That kind of trick's straight out of Slytherin."

"Or France," Julie answered somewhat jokingly. Aldous returned to his quiet mode. "Well, two Weasleys gone, I guess I'll take my leave. See you all in class or practice, you at lunch, Chloe."

And with that, Julie flicked her hair and set off for her Charms class.

*************************************** 

"Oh, Saint Bridget preserve us all," Julie whispered under her breath when she got to Charms class. There, sitting hugely in Professor Flitwick's small chair like the dishiest dishy blond since Brad Pitt himself was Professor Malfoy, exactly who she did not want to see. "Merde!"

"Excuse me, miss-" ludicrously he checked the seating chart, "-Starcatcher? A comment you'd prefer to share with the rest of us?"

About eight kids were there so far, Tom and Tim and Aldous included. Damn.

"Oh, yes, Professor," she began artlessly. "The term was 'merde,' a French word descended from the Norman 'merdde' and commonly used today as a minor profanity. I was merely reacting with surprise to a different Professor here when the one we usually have has yet to return a grade I'm somewhat curious to hear about." The perfect lie. Tom and Tim silently applauded her. "However, given that you are going to be our permanent teacher starting Christmastime, I am certain you could tell me what grade I got on our last quiz, eh?"

It was flirty. It was evil. It was stolen out of two Nicole Kidman movies. But it was making Draco squirm and Julie's Gryffindors were loving it.

"Well, I'm er- certain I could look up that score for you." Malfoy dove into a fat record book to find her name ad test record. "Ah, yes. That would be full marks. Very well."

"My thanks –Professor."

Oh, she was being so awful to him! Julie couldn't believe she was doing this.

Her eyes flickered red.

"Oh, by the way, Professor, how did you come out in the Quidditch match? I wasn't present, but I hear your side strove admirably." Her voice lowered to a timbre very like her dad's. "And lost."

Draco swallowed hard. That little Slytherin!

"I escaped with only minor injuries, thank you for your considerate inquiry. You, yourself, seem a little worse for wear today."

The eyepatch. Julie swallowed.

"Oh, a trivial thing. A plate-glass window and I had an argument."

"And yet you don't seem of a quarrelsome nature. Tell me, how could you have possibly offended it?"

Tom and Tim were biting their nails wondering who would crack first. Julie made an airy gesture as if to say 'la-de-da' to Malfoy.

"Silly, really, I insulted it's location."

"And?"

"It felt it should remain in it's place, while I felt my broomstick should be there instead, but at least I came off somewhat better in the fight."

"Your eye, though, surely that is not a trivial wound, my dear?"

Damn him, not endearment. Julie scratched her ear.

"Ah, what are eyes to one who has seen the world in all ways? What is sight when one knows how to live on their wits alone?"

"Philosophy, ah, yes. A tricky art." Malfoy smiled his best 'melt-girl's-knees-into-water' smile. "What is life when one can only live half a life? What are wits when riches are available?"

"What are riches but the products of wit and time? What is time but erosion to riches and sharpener to wits?"

The Weasleys didn't understand a bit of this. For some reason Julie and Professor Pureblood were verbally tap-dancing to music they didn't know.

"True, Miss Starcatcher, but are not all things but means to an end? Riches are not an end to themselves, but a means to the end of securing wits."

"Wit cannot be bought."

"But can it not be earned by another wit?"

"'It would take a sharp knife, indeed, to convince a sword that it had the right-of-way.'" Julie quoted sharply, but Malfoy still beat her out.

"Lochevsky."

"A Muggle. You have read, I see."

"Reading sharpens wit."

"When wit is all one has, it sharpens rather fast."

"What then, when one is possessed of more than wit?"

"Wit alone will never trust one with more than wit."

"Is it because wit only trusts itself? That is not wit, but fear, and with fear, wit has something to hold as well. Wit with riches to wit with fear. A Lochevskian pattern, if I do say." Julie was losing.

"You say, then, sir."

"But is this a pattern wit accepts?"

"All reluctantly."

"If you would step into my office then, after class?"

Charms was a total blur for both of them. Mechanically Julie took notes with her right hand, while Malfoy recited the day's lesson as if he were magnetized. As every student tried to make their partner's hair change colors, Julie quietly took in the way Malfoy stood up extra-straight and realized he must be bruised awfully. After making the now blue-haired Tom and Tim switch partners with Julie and Aldous, Draco reflected that Julie's black hair steadfastly refused to change hue at all. Finally Tim muttered an expletive while he hit his wand against his knee again, leaving Julie with a white lock above her brow.

"Aw, damn it! Julie, let me fix it!"

"Naw, that's okay!" With the eyepatch, snow-white streak amid coal-black hair, and peculiar smile as her eyes flickered red, Julie looked rakish and somewhat scary to Tim Weasley. "I've actually been after a streak like this. Thanks, Tim."

"Er- don't mention it."

Malfoy frowned. Today's lesson was not at all going well.

"Alright, return your partner's hair to it's original color, and get your things together." Most of them obeyed. Two students, however, a blond-blue Ravenclaw and Julie, refused to change.

"Sir, if you don't mind, this is my team color. Can't I keep it in 'til the next Quiddithc match?"

"If it will last that long, Boot, you may keep the blue. Miss Starcatcher, I trust that you would like this out?" Draco pointed to the lock and surreptitiously caressed her face.

"I think I'll keep it," she replied calmly. "Always fancied one."

"Alright, then, it's your hair. If everyone has got their things together, then class dismissed!"

It was such a relief to say those words for the very first time. Draco watched all of the students disappear in a swirl of black cloaks with the thump of books. It was a second later he realized Julie was still with him.

"You asked me to step into your office, sir?"

"That I did. Right this way." And she followed him. He opened the door, she entered, and he closed it behind him.

Julie's eyes flashed red again as she kissed Malfoy fervently.

"Can I see you at lunch?" he asked.

"Naw, I meet Chloe then. How did you do-"

"The ferret cage? I just put it in, you know? Keep an eye on it when you go to bed tonight, there's a bit of a surprise I've put into it."

"Okay." She had only a split second of time to read her watch before he kissed her again. "I've got a class in two minutes, I've got to run."

"Alright." Before she could go, Draco stroked the lock. "It really does become you…let's not fight again?"

"Alright."

******************************************

At lunch, Julie sat next to Donaghan. Chloe and Aldous went off to the library, but by some accident, Donaghan and Julie didn't quite join them by the usual route.

"What is this place?"

"A broom closet. No spiders." Before Julie knew it, the Chaser was kissing her. "I like what Tim did to your hair. How long will it last?"

"D'know." Julie kissed him back, just as long. Her eyes flickered red again, but he didn't see.

******************************************

Wormtail the rat got into Julie's room through an old mousehole. Sure enough, the ferret couldn't get him from inside Malfoy's glass cage now. What an excellent stroke of luck that Malfoy was, and the Scot as well. Driving the Lady to evil with her liking of two guys at once had been what the Dark Lord had said to do after he'd read what was in her mind, but the forty-five had been his own special touch. All it took was a spark of inspiration to bring her Dark side out.

'She was a day tripper,
One-way driver, yeah,
It took me so long to find out,
But I found out…'

Wormtail grinned. Things were going beautifully.