DISCLAIMER:  You know what's funny?  I'm still not JK Rowling.  My Polyjuice Potion failed me.  I do not own this world or most of these characters, though Drusilla, Kali, Servius, and Serena are mine.  *le sigh*  The plot's mine, too, though no one has ever tried to steal my plot so who cares?

Part Seventeen:  Penchant for the Dramatic

As Kali and Ron left to greet the Weasley's, Sirius left out a big laugh and turned back to Harry.

"You should have seen Drusilla.  She was one of the best there ever was.  Not another girl around that was quite like Dru."

"She was one of a kind," said Serena, grinning.  "We all used to have so much fun together.  Well, except for when my brother or Lucius was there the same time as your gang was.  You never really got along, not even when Dru started dating my brother."

"That was quite the scandal," said Narcissa.  "I mean, Lucius had no problem with me.  I was a Slytherin, but Drusilla was a Gryffindor.  That made things a tad bit trickier."

"And you never could control your anger, Sirius," added Serena, taking a drink.

"I could control my anger."

"You broke my brother's nose!"

"He deserved it, the nosy git.  Didn't he deserve it, Remus?"

Lupin looked between Sirius and Serena before giving a shrug.  "How am I supposed to know?  All I ever knew about the situation was that you were pissed off about Drusilla dating a Slytherin-"

"Not just a Slytherin," said Sirius rather harshly.

"But you didn't have to break his nose!"

"How was I supposed to know that Dru was acting of her own free will?"

Harry rolled his eyes.  "So you broke his nose?"

"Yes, Harry, I did.  It's a bad and wrong thing to do and I don't want you to ever try it . . . Was that parental enough?  Would James have been proud?"

"James would have been worse about it than you are," said Serena.  "He'd have smacked Harry on the wrist and told him that it was very wrong but only after Lily would give him a death glare.  Before that he'd be telling Harry just how wonderful his shot had been and the extremely gruesome effects."

"I still can't believe it," said Sirius as he stared across the room.  "Ron Weasley and Mikailah Strauser.  Well there they go.  I suppose it's only a matter of time before Ron finds himself in the hospital wing."

"Hospital wing?" asked Harry.

"Well he's either going to pass out, have a heart attack -"

"Or my brother is going to scare him to death," finished Serena.

"He isn't really that bad," said Servius, lazily as he thumbed through pictures.

"Yes, he is," countered Sirius.  "There's a reason I didn't trust him back then.  Maybe breaking his nose was going a little far but Drusilla and I were friends.  Really good friends.  I mean, James was my best friend, and you, too, of course, Remus-"

"Sure," he said rather sarcastically.  "I believe you."

"You were.  Now don't be like that.  But Drusilla and I were like James and Lily were, at least what James and Lily were like before they realized there was more to the friendship and fell in love.  She was my ex-girlfriend.  I didn't want to see her hurt."

"It had nothing to do with Drusilla and you know it," snapped Serena, though grinning despite her tone.  "You were just longing for an excuse to punch my brother in the face.  It wasn't the first time you attacked him.  If you'll think back, you'll remember a certain incident in your fifth year when you tried to kill him."

"And I'm still bitter with you for that," snapped Lupin.  "I could have killed him.  You're damn lucky that James was there to save him."

Harry's eyes narrowed.  The story was all too familiar, too accurate, but that would have to mean that Professor Snape was Kali's father and that just couldn't be right.  Kali was too sweet for that.

"I did not try to kill him," said Sirius rather severely.  "The nosy, slimy git kept following us around and trying to find out what we were up to.  All I did was tell him that by prodding the knot on the Whomping Willow, he could get into a passage that led into Hogsmeade.  That's all I did.  He was the one who actually went and did it.  It was his own fault and you know it.  If he was smarter, he would have known not to trust me."

"It was his fault," agreed Serena.  "That's the only reason you didn't get expelled for it, though, and you know that, too."

"Yes, but that's what the git gets for snooping around.  Damn Snape and his stupid Slytherin friends.  I'll never know what Drusilla saw in him."

"Snape?" said Harry.  "As in 'Professor Snape'?"

Serena rolled her eyes.  "Now look what you've done, Sirius.  I bet Kailah wanted to tell Harry herself but you just have too large a mouth to tame."

"So it is Professor Snape?"  Sirius nodded.

"Yes, Severus was Drusilla's boyfriend," explained Lupin.  "They were quite the item.  A Slytherin and a Gryffindor are not a likely pairing but they were good together once Sirius stopped breathing down their necks.  They got along famously."

"But you boys never did get along," added Serena.  "I mean, all of us girls became friends."

"You were our friend far before Snape and Drusilla got together," pointed out Sirius.  "You may have been a Snape but you were nothing like your brother."

"That's because I'm a woman and we're so much more accepting.  It's because we aren't babies about our pride."

"That and you thought Sirius was hot," added Narcissa.

"Well . . . so what?  He was."

"I was?"  Sirius smirked as he turned his full attention on Serena.

"Shut up, Sirius.  You know you were," said Lupin.

"Yeah," said Serena, dreamy.  "You really were.  What happened?"

Grunting, Sirius said, "Azkaban."  That quieted the table.

"So. . ." said Harry to break the awkward silence, "that would mean that right about now Ron is outside meeting up with Snape?  And you're his sister?"

"Yes, I am.  Sev is my big brother and it is my job to make his life hell.  Speaking of which, Servius just may end up going to school here.  There's a student exchange for Hogwarts from Chivington that he's thinking about applying for.  I'm trying to encourage him.  Sev would hate it."

"I'd also encourage you," said Sirius.  Harry was sitting back, listening to them talk in shock.

~*~

Ron's sweaty palm balled into a fist, his mind vaguely aware of Kali clutching his other hand and wondering if his right was just as sweaty as his left.  If so, Kali was bound to notice and not only would he be nervous about making a good impression but he would be embarrassed by his body's reaction as well.  Sighing, he shook his head as they came to the doors of the entrance hall and eased them open, holding them for Kali as she walked through.

"This is going to be terrible," Ron muttered under his breath, mostly to himself, but Kali had heard and she was rubbing his forearm for reassurance.  He wasn't sure quite what the actual effect was but something in him felt that Kali was doing this act out of her own fear and Ron's anxiety increased ten-fold.  "I'll do okay, right?  Your father doesn't have any hateful pretenses of me that you forgot to mention?"

"Like what?" she asked, chewing on her lower lip.  Her father did have hateful pretenses but hadn't Aunt Serena said that if Kali was going to pick someone, her father was glad she had picked Ron.  It had to be better than Bryce to him, the best she was convinced she could ever find, according to her.  Ron was a gem, rare and beautiful, and it amazed her that no one had ever realized this before.  "How could my father have any pretenses?"

"You said he knows who I am.  He was a Slytherin.  Are you pureblood?"

"Er - yeah.  So?"

"So?  A Slytherin pureblood?  Gods, I'm screwed.  If it weren't for my father's buggered Muggle Protection Act. . ."

"Calm down, Ron.  Don't worry.  Just be yourself and I'm sure it'll turn out fine.  I've already told him how wonderful you are, now you just need to live up to my words."

"You're my girlfriend.  You're delusional and think there's something special about me.  If all I have to do are live up to your words, I'm screwed."

"I didn't distort reality, Ron.  Really."

"Does he hate my father?  My brothers?  My mother?  My owl?"

"What?!"

Sighing, Ron said, "Nothing."

His hand clasped tighter to hers for support as they rounded a set of hedges by the school to approach the designated meeting area.  Ron felt his throat tighten, his heart hammering in his chest and it only increased when he saw Snape standing there, looming just like Harry always described him.  It was bad enough that he had to meet Kali's father, but did he really have to meet him when Snape was around, and why did that greasy git have to ruin everything?

Beside him, Kali stilled as her eyes fell on their Potions master.  He looked their way, gave one of his creepy smirks, and locked eyes.  For a moment, Ron thought for sure that Kali was going to flee and leave him there with Snape.  That moment was immediately followed by the thought that Snape was going to come over here and ask what they were doing outside of the ball.  Ron did not want to pursue that conversation just before meeting Kali's father.

"Miss Strauser," drawled Snape, "and Mister Weasley."

Kali looked hesitantly to a paled but determined Ron beside her.  Gods, boys were blind for him to not even have a clue.  She was lucky she had gotten away without Sirius 'Big-Mouthed' Black spilling the marbles in front of Ron, but now she wished he would have.  Maybe then she wouldn't be torn on what to say.

Taking a deep breath and figuring it was now or never, Kali said, very softly, "You can drop all the formalities, Daddy.  No one's going to hear you."

She could feel Ron's fist clench around hers as it sunk in but she refused to look his way.  Her father, however, didn't seem to be having a problem with it as he was fluctuating between smirking pointedly at Ron and letting his gaze fall to their clasped hands.  Under the pressure, or so it seemed, Ron had tried to pull away but Kali clamped on tight, her lips twitching.

"Penchant for the dramatic, Kailah?"

"Daddy, knock it off.  We talked about this.  Ron finds out because he should know and you be nice about it because I said so."

"I'm a Slytherin.  I lied."

"Bugger."

"Now, Kailah, don't be like that."

"Well how should I be?  You promised me that you would be nice to Ron and look at what you're doing.  Slytherin or not, I am very disappointed in you."

"Are you going to send me to my room without supper as well?"

"That wouldn't really work as you've already had supper.  You've already had supper, haven't you?  You should be eating more."

"Yes, mother.  Shouldn't I be the one telling you to eat more?"

"Well be a responsible daddy who keeps his promises and I'll see what I can do."

"Excuse me," said Ron rather softly and more in a squeak than anything else.  "I'm sorry to interrupt but - er - I'm a bit confused."

Snape snorted.  "Big surprise there."

"Daddy!"  Kali gave her father a very stern look.  "Now what is it you're confused about?"

"Well," said Ron, carefully, and she saw him avoiding both her and Snape when she finally turned to look at him.  "Er - from what I've gathered. . ."

"Yes, Weasley," said Snape, rather impatient.  "Whatever is spinning around in that abysmally empty head of yours is correct.  Kailah is my daughter and therefore, you are dating a Snape offspring."

"Don't scare him like that, Daddy!" she screeched.  "I guess I should tell you the whole story from the beginning.  If you still want to hear it, that is."

"Why wouldn't I want to hear it?"  His voice was weak and his legs looked like he was going to give out as he dropped her hand from his.  Kali didn't try to rekindle the touch.  Ron's face was abnormally pale but that could have been from the shock or the moonlight.  Kali sighed.

"I don't know.  You aren't exactly my dad's biggest fan."  Through the faint light in mostly darkness, Kali could see her father roll his eyes and turn his back to them.  It may have looked rude but she smiled.  He was giving them as much privacy as he could at a time like this.  It was safe to say that he definitely trusted Ron and liked him far more than he had liked Bryce Light, not that it was saying much.  "I just . . . I didn't know if you'd still want to be with me."  She shrugged and wrapped her arms around her body.

"Of course I still want to be with you," he said quickly.  "You actually thought . . . oh, Kali, you actually thought I would want to break up with you?"  She nodded.  "I don't want to break up with you.  I told you inside that I was serious about this and I still am even if . . . It's just a bit of a surprise.  One I really wasn't even fathoming in all the crazy possibilities that crossed my mind.  It'll take some adjustment but. . ."  He sighed and took her hand again.  "I'll deal.  Just . . . I'd like that explanation."

"The thing is, you know my mum, Drusilla?"  Ron nodded.  "Well, I told you Mum and Dad were together at Hogwarts.  They got engaged and I was born but Mum died before. . ."

"Yeah," said Ron, hurriedly, his eyes flickering to Snape's back.

"Right.  I told you I was sent to live with my Aunt Serena and Servius the demon child from hell-"

"Your cousin is not all that bad," said Snape without turning around.  She grinned at him.

"My story.  So anyway, I was sent to live with Aunt Serena and evil Servius because I was safer over there.  Word travels as did Voldemort -"  Ron paled at the mention of his name but he didn't interrupt.  "-but I was safe for the most part.  He spent most time in Asia and Europe and not a whole lot of time in America.  That's why Aunt Serena went there in the first place.  I used my mum's surname because it was harder to track me that way and now that he's gone, I came back and I found you."

"That was really very sweet, Kailah."  Snape had turned around some time during her story and was now rolling his eyes again.

"Oh you, shush."

"Such a Hufflepuff."

"I am not!"

"Hufflepuff."

"Jerk."

"Hufflepuff."

"Bugger."

"Hufflepuff."

"Focker."

"Focker?"

"Er - from a muggle movie."

"Oh.  That's very Hufflepuff of you."

"I'm a Gryffindor!"

"But you're still a Hufflepuff at heart.  I saw you get sorted.  The whole time that Sorting Hat was on your head I bet you begged and pleaded for it not to make you a Hufflepuff.  It said that you would make a wonderful Hufflepuff and you thought, 'Don't put mein Hufflepuff!  My daddy would never let me forget it!'  So the Sorting Hat's insisting that you become a Hufflepuff and you're ready to go back to Chivington just because you can't become a Hufflepuff, otherwise I would chant 'I told you so' in your face without relent."

"Daddy, the Sorting Hat didn't take that long.  All it did was say that I had some of you and some of mum so I demanded that it put me where I belong and it said if I was going to be impatient it would put me in Gryffindor."

"You demanded?"

"Yes.  I demanded."

"You are such a Hufflepuff."

"And you're such a whack job!"

"Mikailah!"

Kali grinned.  "Wow!  That must have been really awful.  I haven't gotten Mikailah-ed in years."

"Honestly, Kailah, have a little decency."

"Look who's talking!  This from Mr. I'll be nice to you boyfriend but I'm secretly lying because I really am this big greasy looming bat!"

Ron's eyes widened at her words, trying not to look at Snape.

"Honestly, Kailah, do you have nothing better to do than to tell me what Mister Potter thinks of me?"

"Actually, no."

"Here's an idea.  You could actually do your Potions homework."

"I do my Potions homework."

"Did you do your Potions homework for tomorrow?"

"Well . . . er - yes.  Of course."

"You're a worse liar than your mother."

"Is that supposed to be an insult?"

"Even Mister Weasley has a better Potions grade than you.  My own daughter."

"His name is Ron and I can't help it.  I just don't like Potions."

"How can my own offspring have such a distaste for Potions?"

"If you had Mister Wagner, you'd understand."

Snape paled.  "Not John Wagner!"

"Er - yeah.  You know him?"

"That fool is still teaching?"

"I'm still here," Ron said softly.

"Sorry, Ron," she said.  "We just get carried away sometimes.  It's nothing personal, it's just a family thing.  We all fight without relent.  The more we fight, the more we care."

"Perhaps we should move to somewhere a bit more habitable?" said Snape.  Kali nodded.

~*~

"What happened between the two of you?" asked Blaise as he rooted through the trick sweets Fred and George Weasley had placed strategically among the desserts.  After closely watching the many Hogwarts students fall victim to Canary Creams, Chipmunk Drops, and Dung Gum, Blaise had memorized each and every sweet that varied in the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes collection.  Fred and George were going to make a fortune when they opened up shop.

"What happened between who?" asked Draco, cluelessly picking up a ton-tongue toffee that Blaise had the decency to immediately take away from him and explain just what he had been holding.  Draco grimaced and quickly thanked him for the rescue.

"What happened between you and Harry?  Padma says you've both been acting weird for a few days now so I've been observing you and she's right.  You're both acting really odd."

Draco sighed and dropped the piece of chocolate cake he had been holding right back onto the platter.  "It's . . . healmstksdme."

"What?" asked Blaise.  "All I heard were a bunch of jumbled consonants."

Looking around and seeing no prying eyes, Draco grabbed Blaise by the arm and wrenched him away from the food table and into one of the darker portions of the Ball, right behind a very large floating jack o' lantern.

"He almost kissed me."

"No shit!  Really?"

"Yes, really.  We were talking and he almost kissed me but . . . er - I stopped him."

"You stopped him?  Don't you want to be kissed by Harry Potter?"

"Not especially.  I'd rather be kissed by Harry."

"That's sweet."

"Well am I really the type to want the Boy-Who-Lived?"

"No, not especially.  But Harry?  Just the kid who's trying to pass Potions and has been at your beside ever since you were admitted?  Yeah.  I can see you going for that.  You're such a sap."

"I am not."

"You are too.  You're into that whole chivalrous, knight in shining armor thing.  Harry's just one of those people that no matter what, if someone needs help, he's there.  You needed help and there he was, no pretenses about your history and fully focused on being there to listen.  I can see why you swooned."

"I did not swoon.  I am not a Hufflepuff Mudblood."

"You swooned.  As much as you hate it, you're a romantic."

"I am not."

"Yes, you are.  Only a true romantic would say they don't want Harry Potter, they just want Harry."  Draco sighed, crossing his arms, and giving up because he clearly was not winning this fight nor did he seem ready to make a miraculous recovery anytime soon.  "So why did you stop him?"

"I was scared.  You know what Potter's rep is like."

"You are going by reputation?  I'm willing to bet Harry hasn't done half the things he says he's done.  And have you heard your rep?  You're no chaste Virgin Mary either."

Draco snorted.  "No.  You saw to that."

"So did the plenty of girls that came before me."

Quiet permeated for some time and then Draco said, "What if I let him get too close and he leaves me?  Just like everyone else?"

"Draco," said Blaise, softer than before, "no one is going to leave you.  No one would ever personally hurt you.  Yes, your father is gone, but it wasn't your fault and it wasn't his, either.  You still have your mother.  You still have me.  You know that I won't go away.  You tried that already.  Harry isn't going to go away, either.  You've been rebuilding on your own for months now, Draco.  Maybe it isn't entirely too soon to let someone step in and give you a hand."

"Harry."

"Exactly.  I know you're scared and hesitant but Harry . . . man, the way Harry just looks at you.  I knew there was something developing from his side; I just didn't know you were feeling the same."

"Fallen from grace, fallen into blackness, and now falling for Potter."

"Indeed," said Blaise.  "That's all I have to tell you, Draco.  Go for it or don't.  Just do something before you lose your chance.  I know what it's like to lose someone you truly love because you're too scared to do something.  Don't let it happen to you, too.  I don't want that for you."

A small, sad smile came over Draco's face.  "Thanks."

"Don't thank me and don't look at me that way.  You didn't need my pity and I don't need yours.  Go.  Get him before someone else does."

Draco nodded, pressed his lips into a tight line, and headed back into the swarms of people.  Harry was leaning against Hermione, his head resting on her shoulder as he watched Lupin and Black talk about something that had to do with Snape and Drusilla.  This story also involved some sort of prank Black decided to pull on Snape that Lupin did not find at all funny, but his aunt and mother sure did.  From the looks of it, Potter liked the thought of Snape-torture as well, even if he did have his daughter as one of his best friends.

"Er -" said Draco, carefully, "I didn't mean to disrupt conversation but, Harry?  Can I borrow you?"

Harry looked at everyone else before returning his eyes to Draco.  "Yeah.  Sure."

Yeah.  I'm leaving it here.  I'll probably put up 17 and 18 next Monday unless I decide to put up 17 sometime before then.

Also, I thinking about writing a story about Harry before he comes to Hogwarts.  Like, when he's at the Dursleys and making his hair grow back, going to primary school with Dudley, and shrinking sweaters.  That kind of thing.  Any suggestions or comments on that?