A/T: sniffle I'm so happy. Look at all my reviews. My ego is starting to show. I decided it's time for a little movement in this piece- some ground breaking writing. So, my kind, magnificent, fantastic, lovely, great, wonderful, spectacular readers, here is the eighth chapter!!!

But wait!- there's more! cheesy infomercial music starts

To really get going (I was starting to fade away myself) I looked at some reviews and although I can't say thanks to everyone, I'd like to highlight some reviews that really got me going again:

Raven-eyes, who finally persuaded me to get un-lazified and start writing... and she did it with the threat of bodily harm and nice big ol' dose of guilt. Smart girl. -

V. Highwind: Suspense is good! But too much of a good thing isn't good (I've never believed that- have you?) and such a nice review is greatly appreciated!

Saavik: This gal reminded me of stuff that I needed to cover... but never did. coughs and looks at something interesting on the floor Thanks a bunchies!

Frankie the Wonder Wiener Dog: (Nice name. -) It's nice to know everyone loves me. ignores the fact that everyone probably does not I continue for you!

Freda Potter: I'm sorry I disappointed you! cries I thought Harry was in character- but we all do stupid stuff when we're mad. Sorry. Hope this repays you!

Yuuyaku: I will bring you to the side of light one day. laughs evilly

Felis Snape: 7 months? How embarrassing. --() Thank you! I love a nice, juicy review. It was a good idea you gave me, and I did something almost like it. You read my mind!

AJ: A walking dictionary. Straight and strait- not the same thing, people! Don't mix it up like I did! --()

Shinigami: One of my favorite reviews is the one she wrote! "glares Hey! It takes 2 to tango and make a baby!" She even gave me a chapter title idea. You rock! -

Ele.ana: Um... sorry about the mailbox deal. I've never been to England, so blushes I got a few things wrong. Sorry and thanks for the review!

Faith Wind's Guardian: The nicest gal ever!! And she writes great fics as well! Go read some of her fics (after you've read mine!)

Lina Inverse the Dramata: Sometimes the reviews were good. Sometimes they were bad. Sometimes they were scary. But either way, they were nice and long. grins She always ranted and told me what she really thought.

J.Lynn: I couldn't even believe she reviewed. I feel famous or something. 0.o bows in front of HP writing goddess Your Draco/Harry stories were great! I even printed some out. looks sheepish

Your fan: 'Cause she was my first reviewer. -

Now on with it already! I know that's what your thinking! I really, really, really hope I don't disappoint you! You waited so long. So if you have any ideas whatsoever, then just send 'em to me and if I get enough, I'll try to incorporate more plot into it. You guys are the greatest!

Alley of Dreams

Act 8: What I Mean

Cedric opened his eyes slowly, his room tranquil with the exception of the breeze his ceiling fan was making, morning sunshine streaming through his window curtains.

It was quiet.

Strangely quiet.

There was no sizzling of bacon being made for breakfast, no merry whistling from his father in the kitchen, no cursing when Harry burnt himself on the hot pans.

But this quietness was actually welcomed. Now he didn't feel obliged to go down for breakfast. He wasn't all that hungry anyway. Not after yesterday. In fact, he felt as though he wouldn't be hungry for a very long time.

He sighed and curled up on his side, closing his eyes again. Everything was a mess.

But he still didn't understand why he couldn't hear his usually noisy father making a bunch of racket downstairs. This unsettled him. Which meant, of course, that he couldn't go back to bed. If his father wasn't making a conversation with himself or whistling or burning some eggs and running them out of the house with the awful smell, it meant something was amiss.

With another sigh, Cedric removed himself from himself from his nice, inviting bed and cautiously crept downstairs. Ron Weasley looked up from his Daily Prophet and let a big grin light up his face.

"Well, well, well! Another country heard from! What woke you, sleepy head? I was as quiet as a mouse down here."

Cedric stood dumbfounded for a moment, before replying: "Lack of noise. Where's dad?"

"Oh, he and your Aunt Hermione decided on going on a long, boring trip. So they left me in charge. You know what that means, don't you?"

"Cracking the whip and cleaning the house?"

Ron made a mock-horrified face. "Clean this house? This is far from repair, my friend. So we'll just be lazy and take a trip to Hogsmeade instead. How about that instead?"

Cedric began smiling along with his crazed Uncle.

"We'll get to see Fred and George?"

"It'll be our first stop."

A trip would be good.

...

It had been so much easier to say that he was going to Hogwarts. It has been simpler to say it with the determination that he had would fix this. That he would tell Severus how he felt. That every thing would be just fine by the next evening.

Things never work out that way.

One reason that it might not have worked was because Harry never went to Hogwarts.

He went to Hermione.

Harry and Hermione Weasley walked leisurely down the block of Diagon Alley, Hermione listening intently and Harry spilling every detail he could remember of the incident. Not just the Cho incident- the fateful day Severus had found his son falling apart in a corner of the very alley they were walking through.

"So," Hermione began, after they had found a bench to rest on and Harry had exhausted himself from talking. "In review, you've made a general fool of yourself. Severus won't speak to you. You hate yourself. You hate Cho. She hates you. You're afraid of rejection. You think you're ruining Cedric's life. And you want me to give you all the answers like I did at Hogwarts."

"I love how you read my mind, 'Mione."

"Harry, I don't have answers."

"I was honestly afraid you'd say that."

"Listen to me." They turned to face each other and she took his hands in hers. She began to speak.

"I saw how you and Severus acted around each other during the war; when you made battle plans and potions together, when you had to fight and spend time with one another. I don't believe anyone missed the attraction that you two had of each other. But we were battling the Dark Lord and attraction didn't seem as important then. But now look at us! We're safe. And now I think it's time to fight for Severus."

Harry began to open his mouth but she shook her head as an order of silence. She squeezed his hands as he complied.

"I know you love him. I know it. Cedric knows it. Ron comes home from work every night in a fear that he may one day have to open his house to that man, and even he knows it. But what we know doesn't make the decision, Harry, what you do makes the final outcome."

There was silence between them. She smiled at him. "Do I make sense?"

"Don't you always?" he joked, but it was easy to tell that his mind was on another person. She smiled again and pulled out a white card.

"Here. Ginny and Neville wanted me to give this to you."

"Uh oh. Some sort of Will and Testament should they kill one another?"

"No." Her brown eyes were shining. "It's a wedding invitation. Neville wants you as his best man. Their first rehearsal is tomorrow."

Harry was as soundless as the wind as she handed the card over to him. "Wow," he murmured, reading the lovely cursive script inside the request. "You can knock me over with a feather." He looked up at her, his eyes bright as well. "Could you believe it back at school? That we'd ever reach a point where our best friends were getting married?"

"I always believed it."

"I'll have to hurt them both though, sad as I am to say it. They didn't even tell me they were dating."

"For the past two years they've been globe trotting all over the world. Now that Neville's head of St. Mungo's and Ginny's an author of several novels-''

Harry looked alarmed. "She's written more that one?" he asked, a little panicked. "I've only read The Whispered Epitaph so far."

Hermoine didn't look surprised and continued on. "As I was saying, they're relationship is highly publicized. Don't you read the Daily Prophet?"

Harry cleared his throat. "I have a few issues. In the house. Somewhere."

She giggled at the memory of his clutter. "Everyone will be there, Harry. Our old classmates, friends, a few enemies, even some ghosts like Nearly Headless Nick."

"All of Hogwarts, eh?"

"Headmaster Dumbledore, the Professors... it's a big deal for everyone."

Harry didn't digest this information until a few moments later as he quickly turned from reading the invitation to staring at her incredulously. "Severus? He'll be there at the wedding?"

She rose up from the bench, looking very happy with her frizzy brown hair and charming freckles. She touched his shoulder and he looked up at her, suddenly terrified.

"Forever is a long time, Harry. Ask yourself how long a time you want to spend without him."

...

"I have a bone to pick with you, Malfoy."

Draco turned around, a look of mock surprise on his face. "Why, my stars and garters. Are you... early? Someone pinch me." The soft laughter heard from behind the Slytherin came from none other than Remus Lupin, who looked innocently at Harry one moment later.

"I am not amused," said Harry in reply, trying not to act too eager to see his friends again.

Harry quickly gave Remus a big smile; facades were never his style. "Well, okay. I'm a little amused."

Remus returned the smile, happy to see his Godson. "How are you, Harry?"

"Me? I'm peachy. I didn't think I'd see you until forever, though. All you do is move back and forth from Hogwarts to Godric's Hollow. Very unfair for those trying to catch you guys," said the younger wizard, quickly latching himself onto his Godfather.

Remus looked surprised. "Correct me if I'm mistaken, but was it your evil twin who was at Hogwarts last weekend? You know, Hogwarts is where we're currently living. You could've dropped by anytime."

"Blame it all on me why don't you? If I wasn't teaching then I was grading or shopping or what have you- I hardly had time to sleep, much less visit. I wanted to terribly, though. I bet you go through that, am I right?"

"Hit the nail right on the head. But now that Sirius and I are teaching, you and I'll see each other more often. We came for the wedding and we were thinking of moving back here. We can never see enough of you or Cedric," replied Remus, grinning.

"Why am I always last to know these things?" Harry asked, obviously pleased at the news. "I didn't even know Neville and Ginny were dating, much less getting married until Hermione gave me then invitation, and now you're moving here permanently at Hogwarts to teach."

The blonde man nodded cheerfully. "Guess we got our happy ending after all." The moment he spoke those words, Remus suddenly looked concerned, as if apprehension had dawned upon him. He turned to Harry. "You did get your happy ending, right? With Severus?"

Harry looked away, trying to remain calm. He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "Technically, a person's end is when they've died. Considering I haven't died, I'm not going to worry about it."

Remus frowned. "Harry..."

Harry felt embarrassed to have this conversation in front of Draco. The Gryffindor turned, expecting some scathing remark or sarcastic jab. Instead, he was faced with a mature man and a pair of silver eyes that clearly read, I know exactly how you feel.

"Let's not talk about it, okay? It's a wedding! Well, a wedding rehearsal, but a wedding nonetheless. Now where's Sirius? Is he here?" the younger wizard inquired, looking around and trying to give the conversation its happy tone that it once possessed.

Remus and Draco could do nothing but allow Harry his space. "He's right over there, presently occupied with helping the elder Mrs. Weasley with her bags. Always the gentlemen."

"Do I detect a hint of sarcasm?"

"Me? Never."

"Look, he's coming this way," said Harry, apparently bursting to see his first Godfather. He waved as Sirius weaved his way through the labyrinth of designers, chefs, and men with wands and decorations. Sirius approached them, a wide grin on his face.

"Remus, you're stealing my godson."

The werewolf tried to look offended. "He's mine too, thank you very much."

"He was mine first."

Remus stuck his tongue out but moved out of Sirius's way as Harry launched a huge hug the older wizards way.

"Hey you. How've you been? How's Godric's Hollow? How's teaching for you? Spill the dirt!"

Sirius laughed. "You'll get it all, trust me."

"Okay, you know what? Who's the unfortunate bystander of this reunion? Me. Enough of this soppiness. I'm getting ill," Draco said, crossing his arms. "Can't you save this for later?"

"Well, if that's how you feel about it-''

"It is how I feel about it, so there. Weren't you supposed to accomplish something with this little visit of yours?"

Harry gave him an evil look. "That's none of your business. If you tell me where the happy couple is, maybe I can get something done."

Draco let out an offended "uh!" "You just blew me off! That's completely against the rules. Besides, you can't ignore me on their account. Ginny and Longbottom won't be here for another ten minutes."

"Ignore you on their account?" asked Sirius, furrowing his brows and looking over the passing heads of those planning the wedding in the church, as if searching for a specific person. "So on whose account would you leave us? Oliver's? Because is that him over there?"

Draco immediately let go of the subject in favor of turning red and spinning around. "Oliver? Where? Here? Really?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Are you going to fall for that one every time?"

The blonde Slytherin looked as if he wanted to strangle the Animagus with his bare hands. "Would you please stop doing that? And yes, I'll probably fall for that one every single time, so back off. One can't be too prepared."

"Prepared for what?" asked a voice thick with Scottish accent. Draco nearly froze at the voice in question.

Oliver Wood was looking at the group suspiciously. "I have a feeling that some weird stuff was floating around just now."

Draco looked as if he were biting his tongue so hard it was bleeding while simultaneously glaring at Sirius, who was currently looking pleased with his trick. It seemed Draco's flirting abilities were at their prime when he was ready for the victim, but when he was approached unbeknownst- well, in that case, he was a deer caught in the headlights. Draco turned to the Keeper, trying to smile without being too obvious.

"Hello Oliver. When did you pop up? I didn't know you'd be here today, at a rehearsal. A wedding rehearsal. For Neville and Ginny. Who aren't here yet. Isn't the weather grand? I think I'll go fine the happy couple," rambled Draco, obviously conflicted about what he should say in the face of his heart's desire. He finally stopped his mindless blather, unable to think of anything intelligent to voice.

He quickly turned and stalked away, his pink tinted face a lovely mix with his blonde hair. Sirius was left sniggering in his wake.

"I so wish I had a camcorder for that. Draco without words..."

Remus looked at his husband as if he had lost his mind. "Without words? Did you completely miss that senseless speech of his? And a comment on the weather? Honestly, that's like saying, "Hello there chap, I quite fancy you, only I can't tell you because I'm terrified of your reaction."

Sirius grinned once more, this time at Remus. "I remember at Hogwarts you would talk about the weather all the time around me."

Remus quickly began turning red, a silent admission of his guilt. "Anyway," he said quickly, trying to ignore Harry's laughter, "Why are we here again?"

Oliver was grinning; looking a little lost in the conversation (the weather one really got to him) but was quick to answer with something helpful. "Ginny and Neville. You're here for the memories, Harry's here to accomplish something."

Sirius looked interested. "What's that?"

Harry smiled a bit. "I'm best man, and I have no idea why."

"Of course you do!" replied Oliver, quickly slinging his arm over Harry's shoulder. "Anything can go wrong and it's somehow guaranteed that we'll make it out alive as long as you're here with us."

Sirius joined in. "Fire? No problem."

"Asteroid? Harry's got it covered."

"Earth quake?"

"Tornado?"

"Flash flood?"

"Natural disaster? We're not worried."

"Ginny's broken china dishes? You laugh in the face of danger."

"A five tier wedding cake that just fell five floors? You giggle in the face of disaster."

"A wine covered wedding dress? You yawn in the face of peril."

"A-''

"Okay, know what? You two are just silly," said Harry, grinning. "Let's go find said bride, shall we?"

"Let's," agreed Remus, rolling his eyes at their crazy antics and loving them all the same.

A/T: Another chapter heard from! I know it was pointless and rather repetitive, but I've finally got an idea. Forgive the mindless ramble, but I fear I detest this chapter. I've read it a million times and I still haven't the slightest clue as to what's wrong with it. It was one of those "have-to-have-it-or-no-one-will-know-what's-going-on" sort of things. Gah. Anyway, onward to actual plot and character development!