Disclaimer: As if you didn't know already

A/N: Is anyone really reading this? I'm not posting this for my health. I was sort of hoping for more than eleven reviews for six chapters. Anyway I updated Chapter Six so if you haven't read the new chapter six then do it now or you will be sorely confused. You may or may not have noticed that my sense of humor is just a bit morbid. If you didn't just forget I said anything. Please enjoy my story. If you do enjoy it I sincerely hope that you find it convenient to review. Please note that I have a low self-confidence level and if I don't get some more reviews soon I will discontinue the story until further notice. I will accept praise, literary advice, and questions. Honestly is there anyone really reading this?

Chapter Seven: Mending

            It was late and the training had been exhausting. Alan had been using stronger and stronger monsters to train him as of late. Harry felt like he could sleep for a week. Alan had literally been conjuring hideous beasts from other dimensions. One would be immune to Stunning spells, the next monster would be used for wandless magic practice, and yet another would be used for Mental Blocking practice. He had been training like this for more than three months. Alan himself was starting to sound like Mad-Eye Moody. He would tell Harry things like "Stay alert, you need to pay more attention to your flanks" or "No, no, if you don't keep your mind open they'll overpower you".

            Then they had started advanced techniques. Just tonight Harry had finally mastered Occlumency, Thought Projection, and Bluffing. It had taken him three weeks to master the last one. Alan had told him that he had to control his eyes. He had said that his eyes reflected every emotion he was feeling, like he was wearing them for everyone to see. At least tomorrow they wouldn't be training. Alan had said that some of the Sages wanted to meet the group.

            Harry couldn't help but notice his friends as they all strode back to the Gryffindor common room. Hermione looked just as tired as he felt. Just because she was a woman didn't mean she didn't need her share of training. She had been tested on just about everything she had ever learned at Hogwarts. She was learning things that Alan didn't mention to Harry and Ron. She was showing a slight build.  Harry sincerely hoped that Alan wasn't putting her through too much. He did love her, as he had said on many occasions.

            Ron on the other hand was progressing quite well. He was learning Pyromancy. Fire was his great strength. He always did well during training. But he was still just as tired as the other two. He would probably eat about half the food in the Great Hall tomorrow.

            Just behind them strode Alan. He was deep in thought chewing on his bottom lip. Harry thought he could detect concern on his friends face. That was unusual because you couldn't usually see any emotion on the boy's features. They soon reached the portrait hole, gave the Fat Lady the password (Weasley's Wizard Wheezes), and went to bed.

((()))

The next day was Saturday and Harry, Ron, and Hermione rose late. When they returned from breakfast Alan was sitting in front of the fire reading a bright blue book. On closer inspection of the cover the three found that it was entitled "Quadpot: Wizarding Sport of America". Ron was immediately intrigued. The day was fairly calm for a while with Ron and Alan discussing the differences between Quidditch and Quadpot, and Harry and Hermione quietly "expressing their emotions" on one of the couches. The peace was disrupted when none other than Ginny Weasley came storming through the portrait hole midday. She was extremely red-faced and her fists were clenching and unclenching. She was extremely huffy and raced up the girl's staircase immediately.

Ron of course was worried. However he couldn't on his life figure out what could have caused his sister to do that. Alan gave his book to Ron to read and spoke to Hermione.

"I don't suppose you know what that was about do you Alan," she asked.

"Of course I do. Your forgetting that I could see the memories that irritated her most," he replied.

"Can any of us help," Harry asked immediately.

"Can you help my sister," Ron begged.

"Hold on," Alan had a pained expression on his face, "Calm down or you'll give me a headache." Once everyone had settled he continued. "You can all help. I need Hermione to go and tell Ginny that I need to talk to her. Just tell her to meet me in the usual place." Hermione looked puzzled but nodded her understanding. "Ron I need you to stay calm and not worry. Harry…" He faltered for a minute. His features looked worried. He seemed to make a decision and went on. "Harry you just keep Ron out of my way and out of trouble." Harry nodded and Ron was even more puzzled than Hermione was but that wasn't unusual.

            They all scattered to attend to their tasks. Alan left to do what he had to do. Harry kept Ron from worrying and learned a lot about Quadpot at the same time. Hermione's task was the most difficult aside from Alan's. She had to persuade a very angry Ginny Weasley to meet Alan in their "usual place" which turned out to be near impossible.

"No," Ginny nearly screamed.

"Why not," Hermione was getting more and more confused.

"I don't want to talk to either of them right now."

"Who else are you supposed to meet," Hermione pressed, just a hint of curiosity in her voice.

"Nobody," Ginny exclaimed just a bit too quickly.

"Oh really," Hermione was very curious now, "Well you say no one but your face says that there is someone."

"Really there's no one," Ginny said urbanely trying to cover her mistake.

"Spill the beans Ginny," Hermione was determined to get some information here, "You're not fooling anyone."

"You know maybe I will go meet Alan now." She left before Hermione could say another word. She was panicked now. It was either go to the "usual place" or give Hermione blackmail information.

((()))

            Later that day at dinner Ginny seemed to be in better spirits and Alan looked a bit haggard. Things were better now. But there was another problem in the wind. Hermione was becoming preoccupied with hunting for information on Ginny's meeting with Alan and just who and what it was about. But that was mild at this point. Dinner was just getting under way when a large falcon flew into the Great Hall with a cry of relief. It startled the entire student body as well as a few teachers into shock. It glided down to rest on Alan's shoulder. It had a note and a large rolled up piece of paper. Alan looked much better when he saw this. He patted the fierce looking bird and took the items from its talons and read the note.

            Alan's parcels were of no concern for the others however. None of them had ever heard of a falcon being used to deliver mail. The bird flapped his long wings and shot straight toward Neville Longbottom. Just when everyone thought it was going to crash it veered upward holding Neville's half eaten piece of chicken. Then it soared out of the Great Hall like a bullet.

            Now everyone's attention was on Alan. He had a huge grin plastered all over his face. He stood and quickly left the hall leaving all eyes following him.

            The Trio found Alan later. He was once again reading by the fire. This time it was a rather worn muggle fiction novel.

            "What was that all about," Ron was bursting at the seams with curiosity.

            "What was what about," Alan asked.

            "The falcon man," Ron said exasperated, "That thing nearly had me wetting myself."

            "You don't know?"

            "Know what?"

            "TAP Post," Alan stated as if that explained everything. When Ron looked even more puzzled he continued. "Trans Atlantic Priority Post. Owls can't handle crossing open ocean so we needed something faster with more endurance."

            "Interesting," was Hermione's only compliment. She seemed distant.

            Alan's face became stern. "Your not ready for that information yet Hermione. Let. It. Go." Hermione came snapping back to the present.

            "I'm going to find out even if you wont tell me," She said and huffed up the girl's staircase.

((()))

            For the next three days Hermione was everywhere. She talked to everyone in her study group, questioned teachers, and even spent more time at the Ravenclaw and Huffelpuff house tables than she did her own. Ginny Weasley avoided her like the plague, and you couldn't have found Draco Malfoy outside of classes if you looked under every rock on the school grounds.

            On the fourth day Alan was admiring his newest possession. It was a wizard's poster with his favorite non-muggle band, Tempus Requiem. It was nearly midnight when he heard a knock on his bedroom door. He stood, wearing his blue plaid pajama pants again and went to the door. Behind it stood Ron Weasley. He looked as though he was walking on eggshells. As soon as the door was shut he went into hysterics.

            It took almost five minutes to calm him down enough to learn that Harry and Hermione were having an argument. Alan hadn't expected that. He had to hurry. He took the steps three at a time. They were standing on opposite sides of the room, backs turned to each other. Hermione looked like a storm cloud. Alan looked at Harry expecting to see the same thing only to find that he was crying. Alan quickly used his skills to identify the problem.

            He gathered all of his strength and said loudly in a demanding voice "sit down". They both stared at him with but sat in chairs across the room. Alan went first to one and then the other and finally had them sitting at the opposite ends of the same couch. He then got straight to the point.

            "Hermione I'm very disappointed in you. I thought you knew better." Her head snapped up with a look of incredulity on her face. "I told you to drop it. You aren't ready for that information yet." She raised every argument she could think of and he skillfully countered every one of them. "I want you to take a good look at Harry and see what your obsession with finding out Ginny's secret has done."

            She took a sidelong glance a Harry who had his face in his hands only half listening. He was distraught. Alan could feel the guilt well up in her. "He thinks he did something to upset you and doesn't know how to make you forgive him. But he didn't do anything." Hermione looked up at Alan the guilt now evident on her face. "Harry is still very insecure about your relationship. He doesn't want to hurt you and he doesn't want to be hurt." Ron had made his way downstairs and was now sitting as close as he dared to the scene. "Please keep to studying for your N.E.W.Ts and being with Harry. Stop trying to figure out Ginny's secret. Now I want you to kiss and makeup and go to sleep. This is the second relationship I've had to fix in five days."

            To Alan's defense he was quite tired that night and had he been more alert he wouldn't have let slip what he did that night when Ron asked him "Who's was the other one?" If Alan had just been a little more rested and a little lest stressed he wouldn't have answered.

            But as luck would have it he replied, "Draco and Ginny's," before he could stop himself. It took him only two second to realize he had said the wrong thing. It took Ron only three seconds to comprehend the statement. And then all hell broke loose.

A/N: Now you will have to review because I'm NOT putting up the next chapter until I get some more. You want to see what happens next? Post a review or three and you'll find out. You must all hate me now huh?