(A.N.: Passes out little dolls to all that ordered. And hey guys, remember, it's PG13, kay? I'm tired of writing like it's G. So grow up or don't read! Hehe.)
Chapter 9 - The Plan
Harry was laying in his new bunk. He was thrilled to learn that the team's "dorm" had bunk beds, and even happier to learn that the top bunk above Tony was open. Tiffany slept above Chuck, though he usually opted to go back home rather then stay. Harry supposed that Tiffany could probably get her own room if she wanted it, but most likely she didn't want to be cut off from the others. Brad, Chad, and Lad had a special bunk made for them. It looked like the same height as he and Tony's bed, but it had three levels. Three levels with just as much room as Tony had. He actually wasn't sure if it was charmed that way or if it was just built very well.
It was amusing how much the bunks told you about the personality of the owner. The triplets, for example, had linen the same color as they insisted to keep their hair. Blue for Chad, Green for Lad, and Red for Brad. He had a sneaky suspicion that a contractor somewhere along the way had suggested the colors. It was very hard to commentary the game when you couldn't tell which player was which. Maybe he ought to suggest that solution to Fred and George.
However there was a lot different about their bunks besides just color. Harry was beginning to realize that even though when they were together they appeared to mesh, they had three very different personalities.
For example Brad seemed to be the most outgoing of the three when they were alone. Harry had failed to notice before that he had several piercing on both ears. He also was pretty sure Brad had his tongue pierced, as he saw a flash of metal once in a while from inside his mouth. The wall behind Brad's bunk was covered in posters from bands Harry had never heard of, with names like Snot, Slime, Wand Breakers, and Over Boil.
Chad, was the quietest of the three, which really wasn't all that quiet. Though outgoing with his brothers in the public eye, and even when they were on the Quidditch field, he seemed to calm the moment they walked inside. On his wall there was a picture, that showed Chad a year or two ago standing with another man, with bright blonde hair and dark green eyes. Harry wondered who it was, as none of Chad's siblings were in the picture. There was one other picture of the triplet's older sister. The rest of his wall was covered in newspaper clippings with stories about their team, and postcards from exotic places. It was impossible to see who the post cards were from because the side with writing was pasted against the wall. But even in the short time they'd been there Harry saw Chad take one down and read it.
Lad's bunk confused Harry the most. There was a large poster on the wall that had the periodic table of elements. Harry hadn't seen that since his science teacher when he was nine years old tried to get them all to remember what each of the letters stood for. He'd actually been glad that it had gone away, and couldn't understand what Lad would want with it. The area around Lad's feet was covered with books, heavy ones that looked like Muggle text books.
Tony's bunk was covered in pictures of pretty girls in bathing suits. They were plastered to the wall beside him and above him on the bottom of Harry's bunk. Most of them were signed, Harry assumed by the models. Some of them weren't even wearing real bathing suits, or anything at all for that matter, and looking at them made Harry blush. The bunk its self was messy.
Tiffany's bunk was almost the exact opposite. Her bunk was neat. Not sickeningly so, but at least it was made. Her walls held Quidditch posters. Some of them were old, the teams from her childhood that she loved. One was of the old Catapults that was signed, and he could tell she loved that one. Others were of enemies. His favorite was the poster of the Falmouth Falcons with Sam Elle literally scratched out of it by what was either fingernails or something very similar, and violent sayings scribbled all over the other players.
Chuck's bunk was completely clean, it was obvious he didn't sleep there often. There were a few pictures of his family, but nothing else to show his personality.
Harry's bunk was empty, obviously, but he was already trying to come up with ideas for what he could put on the wall.
"So did you have fun today, Harry?" Brad asked. He was on the top bunk, and leaning over the edge. Harry thought it was convenient the way they arranged themselves. Brad was the first born, by a whole eight minutes as he would loudly brag if you asked him. He also came first alphabetically. It only made sense that he would have top bunk. Chad the second born was in the middle bunk, and his name was second alphabetically. Lad came in on the bottom, and last in the alphabet. He wondered if their mother had arranged their names that way to keep them straight, and they'd just adopted that order out of habit.
"Yeah I did. Brad is your tongue pierced?"
Brad grinned, sticking his tongue out and proudly showing off his silver stud.
"Put it away, Brad, before it catches a germ and gets infected," Lad called, not looking up from the book he had his nose buried in.
"Lad, what's up with the table? That's Muggle stuff isn't it?"
Lad looked up and nodded with a smile. "I'm extraordinarily interested in the application of Muggle science to magic. It's fascinating really."
"Extremely," Chad added, with just a hint of sarcasm. They all chuckled while Lad just scoffed.
"Chad, who's the guy in the picture?" Harry asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Liam," Chad answered. He glanced at Harry, but didn't elaborate.
"Are the post cards from him?"
Chad only nodded, but once again didn't elaborate. There was a blush staining his cheeks, and Harry was slightly confused. Chad was quieter then his brothers, but he wasn't shy.
Tiffany hissed at Harry to catch his attention. She mouthed the word 'boyfriend' and then Harry understood Chad's shyness.
Tony was throwing something that hit the bottom of Harry's bunk and then fell back down where Tony could catch it. "Yeah, Chad gets all shy when it comes to Liam. Not Brad though. Just ask him about Abby and he'll never shut up."
Brad grinned, grabbing a framed picture from beside his pillow and tossing it across the room to Harry. "She's my fiancé. Beyond wonderful. She comes to every game, so you'll meet her."
Harry looked at the pretty blonde in the picture. "Don't you three still live together though?"
Lad laughed, closing his book. "Oh, yeah, we do. Most of the time. Abby lives with us. She keeps our sister from losing her marbles. Liam doesn't live with us, mostly because he travels a lot. He visits all the time though, and makes every game he can. So you'll meet him eventually too."
Harry laid down on his stomach, feeling wonderful that he was bonding with them. "What about you Lad? Anybody special?"
Lad grinned but shook his head. "No, not right now. I've been pretty busy. I better hurry up though. They're both engaged. We'd always wanted to get married all together."
Chad threw a pillow down that hit Lad in the arm. "We are not engaged."
Brad snickered. "Just a matter of time."
"What about you two?" Harry asked Tony and Tiffany.
Tiffany shook her head, but Tony spoke up. "It's not worth asking Tiff. She's a prude. Won't touch a guy."
"Don't call me that."
"Which one? Tiff or a prude?"
"Neither, you arse."
"Anyway, I've got this new girl. Her name is Ashley. You should see her Harry, she's got the biggest b-" pillows cut off Tony's sentence, thrown simultaneously by Brad and Tiffany.
"Have a little more respect for the females, man," Brad scolded.
"Shut your hole, Tony, Harry doesn't care. You'll be done with her in a few days anyway." Tony gave Tiffany a rude gesture.
"What about you, Diver?" Diver was a nickname Tony had started to use for him ever since Harry had scared him with that first dive.
Harry hesitated. The only person he could talk to about Ginny was Sally, and Sal wouldn't give him much advice. Perhaps he could confide in them since they saw very little of Ginny.
"Well, there is this one girl," he said slowly. Tiffany sat up and turned to face him. "I've liked her for a while, and well, you've all already met her."
Tiffany nearly squealed. "Ginny?" Blushing deeply, Harry nodded. That hadn't been so bad. "Oh Harry that's so sweet! I could tell that you two where really close."
Harry nodded again. "She's helped me with a lot of the stuff that comes with being who I am."
"Have you told her yet?" Chad asked.
Harry shook his head. "I haven't told anybody yet. Only Sally and now you guys."
"Wow it's probably been killing you."
The dam burst. He couldn't confide in anybody at school, there was too much of a chance it would get back to Ginny. But here, here was a group of people that he loved, that would listen, and that would understand. He told them everything about her. All about the summer and having to live with her.
All things that had to do with being the heir of Gryffindor he could tell the Dream Team. Now all things Ginny he could tell his Quidditch team.
"So what do you guys think I should do?" They were all sitting on the edges of their beds now, facing him. Even Tony had moved to sit on Chuck's bed because he couldn't see Harry from his own.
"You should tell her. From the way it sounds I bet she still has feelings for you. She's probably just covering it up so it doesn't affect your friendship," Tiffany said.
"You should do something soon, Harry," Brad advised.
"He's right," Chad agreed. "Even if she still does have feelings for you she's not going to wait around forever. And she's too cute to be lacking in admirers."
Harry had never even stopped to consider the fact that he might have competition. Lots of guys had wanted to dance with her last year. And that Bill guy was still after her.
"Well, there are the dances coming up. I always go with her."
"That would be a great, perfect, romantic opportunity. A Christmas dance."
Harry had to agree that Christmas would be much more romantic than Halloween. "I always find a really romantic way to ask her. It's a tradition."
"Any ideas this year?" Tony asked.
Harry nodded. "I do have a good one. I won't waste it on Halloween. I'll save it for Christmas. But then what?"
Tiffany smiled and opened her mouth but Tony beat her to it. "You spend the night dancing with her. Then you take her away to some place private, most likely outside when it's snowing. You pour your heart out to her. Then there's one of two endings. A, she breaks your heart. B, she starts crying. If she starts crying that means she's been waiting all her life to hear those words and you pull her close and kiss her."
The five of them all stared at Tony, Tiffany hanging over the edge in order to see him. "What?"
"That was surprisingly sweet, Tony," Tiffany observed. "I didn't know you had it in you."
Tony went to yank on her hair, but she sat up before he could. "Think you can handle all that Diver?"
Harry felt his heart race just thinking about it. "Well, I'm a Gryffindor. I guess I'll be brave. Do you really think I should though? I mean, what if it changes everything?"
Tiffany shook her head. "Haven't you read any romance novels, Harry? The man always fear that, but does it anyway. Just go with it. You can't just sit there forever and watch her be with other guys and never tell her. It'll kill you."
Harry nodded. He didn't know what he'd do if she started to date somebody else. "Alright. Christmas."

Sunday came unusually hot for summer, let alone for fall. The Catapults had decided to skip practice, and took Harry back to school. He'd asked them to stay and hang for a while, to which they agreed. It was just too hot to be inside, so all the students were out on the grounds. The Catapults had to fight off some fans, but once the Gryffindor team had told them all to bug off, they were left alone. The team and quite a few Gryffindors laid together in the shade on the edge of the forest, near the lake.
Fred and George were in deep conversation with Tony and Tiffany. Ginny was giggling with Chad about something. Harry couldn't hear what, but Sally was with them so he could ask her later. Hermione and Lad were in deep intellectual conversation, and Harry was surprised they could think so much when it was so hot. Ron and Brad were talking about music, and Harry was surprised to discover they had a lot of similar favorite bands. He wondered if Ron would be getting a tongue ring too. Seamus and Dean were joking with each other as usual. Even Neville was there, though practically asleep. Bill, Samantha, and Marine, from Ginny's year, were there too, though Harry wasn't quite sure why and was extremely thankful that Chad was keeping Bill away from Ginny. Everybody was in shorts, and most of the boys had already stripped off their shirts.
It was too hot. Harry's back itched so bad it was about to drive him mad. He reached behind him and tried to scratch again, growling. Ginny looked up at him. "Harry, just take it off. Nobody's gonna care."
Tiffany turned away from the twins and Tony. "What's wrong, Harry? Are you shy?" she teased.
"No," Harry defended. "It's just," he paused. With a sigh he admitted his defeat to the heat, and pulled off his shirt before laying back down. Then everybody instantly knew why he didn't want his back bare.
Though he was finally completely healed from the end of last year (despite itching when he sweated) the scars were still there. They were still pink in some areas, but most had faded to a color paler then his skin. Ginny's year mates all gasped when they saw him.
Ron glanced over. "Hey, that looks much better Harry."
"Better?" Brad asked. "Then how did it look before?"
"Phew, Captain, you flew with those open?" Katie asked from her spot beside George.
"That's because Diver's a pigheaded dimwit," Tony scolded.
"Kinda like you, huh, Tony?" Tiffany added.
Ginny shifted away from Chad over to Harry. She seemed sad. She always got sad when she looked at his scars. It took her back to the clearing. "Frightening to think I've been there for all of them but the first one," she said, smiling softly at him. She reached out and traced the scar on his shoulder, the one from the basilisk fang. Her touch was like fire.
He wanted to cheer her up. "I've got one on my knee from one year that Dudley pushed me and I landed on the cement. You missed that one."
Ginny grinned. She reached out and traced one of the lines down his back. "You're a strong sexy hero with battle scars. There's no need to hide that under a shirt."
Harry rolled over on to his back. If she kept touching him like that, he was afraid his body might respond. He looked up at her. "Hero? The only person I ever seem to be saving anymore is you, Rose Petal." He knew that a lot of the others were still watching their exchange, especially those from Ginny's year, but he couldn't find it in him to care.
"Well then, you'll just have to be my strong sexy hero."
Harry snickered. "You really think scars are sexy?"
"Oh, hell yeah, Harry. Some day you're gonna be sleeping with some girl, and all she's gonna do is sit there and play with your sexy scars."
"Well, you're welcome to play with them all you want," Harry said laughing, unable to continue the conversation, because it was just too ridiculous. Almost everybody else had returned to their own conversations.
Ginny leaned over him and traced the one on his shoulder again, and Harry stopped, suddenly very serious because she was very close to him. Ginny was serious too, but it had nothing to do with proximity. "I wonder how many you'll have before it's all over."
It was all Harry could do not to pour his heart out right then and there.

All Harry could think about was Christmas. The days started to pass. Somehow he seemed to spend more time with Ginny then ever. She had nightmares at least once a week. And they'd started to train a new Gryffindor team. The team had two second years, one first year, and one third year. After Harry had held a house meeting and explained the situation everybody had been willing to start the team, even though it meant a lot of work without a guarantee of a position.
And Harry was very busy, as usual. He was preparing for his N.E.W.Ts, training the new Quidditch team and with the Catapults, plus his classes with Remus.
Harry thought he had everything worked out for his plan to tell Ginny how he felt, until October came with a rather nasty surprise.
There had been no Halloween dance.
Without Heather here, and Professor Cameron unwilling to partake in anything that wasn't strictly Defense Against the Dark Arts, nobody had organized it. Harry was desperate. Without a Christmas dance his plan was shot.
He waited in Cameron's office. She was there, but Remus wasn't. She didn't say a word to him, and so he didn't talk to her either. He wasn't exactly fond of her. She would give him weird looks in class when it didn't take him any time to learn the new spells.
Remus walked in and shut the door behind him. "So sorry I'm late, Harry," he said, walking over and giving Harry a hug, which he always seemed to do anymore. Not that Harry minded in the slightest. "I got a letter from Sirius. They said they're pretty positive that Peter was behind Ginny's attack."
"Really? Are they any closer to finding him?"
"Not much, but they're gonna use that information to search now. So, are you ready for our class?"
"Uh, yeah, but, I wanted to ask you a favor."
Remus blinked, but smiled. "Of course."
"Well, I know you're gonna be teaching the Parenting class after Christmas, but, well the other extra thing Heather did was the dances. And because she's not here nobody's doing it. I was wondering if maybe you would."
"Dances? I don't really know anything about dances." Harry's heart sank and it must have shown in his face. "But of course I will Harry. All you have to do is ask." Harry was so relieved, he threw his arms around Remus in a tight hug. The older man was surprised but not in the least displeased.
"Thank you so much Remus you don't know what this means to me."
Remus didn't understand why the dance was that important, but he did have a few guesses. "Well you're welcome, Harry. I'm glad it will make you happy."
The door to the office closed as Cameron left, leaving Remus and Harry free to start Harry's lesson.

Draco growled. Out of frustration he threw his broom on the ground. "You morons. Can't you do anything right? How do you expect to beat the Gryffindors next week flying like that?"
"You won't," Ginny said, walking onto the field. She smiled brightly at Draco. He noticed right away she was dressed in her Quidditch robes. "Hi Draco."
"We've got the pitch booked for today."
"I know. It's not the team, it's just me. We were practicing behind the school. I noticed you out here and thought I'd come say hello."
Draco smirked at her. She was very different then she had been last year. She used to be afraid of too much attention. Now she was completely self assured. "And check out the competition?"
Ginny shrugged, seemingly innocent. "Well, that too. But I'm not really concerned about the competition. Between the three teams, all Harry's been doing is practicing. We're gonna kick your arse. I was more concerned with the fact that I haven't talked to yet this year. Am I not good enough for you now?"
"You never were."
"Is anybody?"
"No."
"Well then you might have to settle for my company." She loved to spar like this with Draco. It was thrilling.
"Well must I settle now? I'm a bit busy at the moment if that slipped your attention."
"Oh, I can wait."
"Can't you take a hint?"
"Nope." She sat on her broom and hovered there.
Draco rolled his eyes. "You could make yourself useful and go let my chasers throw the quaffle at you."
She shook her head. "If we didn't have a game coming up I would. But Harry wouldn't be happy if I helped out the other team."
"Do you always do what makes Harry happy?"
"If I did I wouldn't be talking to you right now, would I?"
"Point taken."

Ginny groaned when she woke to find it was raining. She'd yet to play a game in the rain, and she was hoping to avoid it if at all possible. She pulled herself out of bed and kicked at her trunk. "Dammit," she muttered, staring out the window at the bleak weather.
"It's raining," Marine said, pushing back her curtains. "Sam, wake up. Quidditch game, remember? Harry Potter, flying on a broomstick?"
Samantha rolled out of bed, nearly taking her curtains down with her. "God I'd love to ride his broomstick," Samantha said with a giggle. She spotted the window and let out a cry. "Oh no! It's so much harder to see him when it rains."
Ginny rolled her eyes, trying to figure out if she knew any warming charms she could put on her robes. Meredith crawled of her bed, wiping sleep from her eyes. "Hey does anybody know any water repellent or warming charms?" Ginny asked, though she really only expected Meredith to answer her.
"No," Samantha answered, too quickly to have actually thought about it.
Ginny looked to Meredith, who was thinking. The blonde girl shook her head. "Sorry."
"No problem. Hermione will know something."
"Is it hard to fly in the rain?" Meredith asked, turning and making her bed.
"It's not that hard to fly if there isn't wind. Just hard to see. And when it's hard to see, it's hard to guard."
"Don't worry, Tulip, your strong sexy hero will be there," Samantha remarked scathingly.
Ginny smiled. "Yes, he will be."
"Funny. I didn't know all I had to do was put myself in mortal peril to get Harry Potter to love me."
"Well now that you know, Sam, why don't you go try to drown yourself?" Meredith spat, glaring.
"God, Meredith, cool down."
Ginny mouthed a silent 'thank you' to Meredith who nodded.
Ginny made it a point to walk downstairs at the same time as the others. She also made a point to smile brightly when Harry called her over, using the name Rose Petal. She also made a point to hug him tightly, telling him how excited she was about the game.
He looked down at her. "Not that I minded, but what was that for?"
Ginny watched as Samantha stalked out, dragging her side kick Marine behind her. "Making a point. Samantha was being a bitch again."
"I don't know her very well, but what I do know of that girl I can't stand."
Ginny finally let Harry out of her hug, though he wouldn't have minded to stay there just a little longer. "She's jealous of how close we are. Sometimes I like to rub it in a little."
Harry's eyes twinkled, and Ginny's heart melted. She loved it when he did that. "Using me now, are you?"
She nodded, but changed to a more serious topic. "I've never played in the rain before. Can you do something that will keep me warm, and possibly dry?"
"Dry I'm not allowed to help. Warm I can do." He laid a hand on her chest, making her heart skip a beat. His hand suddenly grew very warm, and it spread throughout her body. It was pleasant.
They got breakfast and went down to the locker rooms, after getting good luck wishes from Ron and Hermione. The rest of the team was waiting for them, looking rather bleak when faced with the rain.
"I'm not giving a pep talk. But Rose gave me an idea. I've got a spell that will keep you warm, and I think that's the only thing that any of us is worried about."
"What is it?" Fred asked.
"I can't teach you. I learned it in Advanced Curses last year." He reached George first, and pressed a hand against his chest.
George blinked as the chill he'd gotten just walking down from the school dissipated. "Wow, Harry, why aren't you using your wand?"
"You can't with this spell. That's why it's so hard to learn."
Alicia blinked. "It's a spell you can't use a wand for and you expect to put it on all seven of us?"
"I don't expect to, I intend to. Ginny's done, I'm done, George is done, now hurry up before we have to be out there." He moved to Angelina.

"Are you going to have any energy left to fly after you do this?" she asked, skeptical.
Ginny laughed. "You guys are totally underestimating the boy who lived. He can survive the Axynovit curse, and you're all worried he can't handle a few heating spells."
"Guess that does seem pretty stupid," Fred said as Harry put the spell on him.
When they were all warm, they lined up behind the door, waiting for their team to be called.
"Are the Catapults here?" Ginny asked.
Harry nodded. "They wouldn't miss me flying. Tony says he expects to see me dive. That even if it's above me I should fly above it and dive down to catch it."
"What is it he calls you?" Angelina asked.
Harry grinned. "Well for a while it was Diver. But ever since practice last weekend he's been calling me Plummet."
Lee's voice started to boom over the magical intercom, cutting their conversation off. "Welcome to the first house match of the year! Today, it's Slytherin verses Gryffindor, who has held the cup for the past two years!
"Here comes the Slytherin team. Warington, Bletchly, Montague, Pucey, Derrick, Bole, and Captain Malfoy.
"Fred, how many of those Slytherins are in your year?" Harry asked quickly.
"All of them but Malfoy, Derrick and Bole." Harry smiled triumphantly. The Slytherin team would need four new members next year. And they weren't training early.
"And here's the Gryffindor team! All three Weasleys, Bell, Spinnet, Johnson, and Captain Potter."
They walked onto the field, lining up across from the Slytherins. Madam Hooch was waiting for them. "Alright, now I want a fair game. Is that understood? I will drag you off this field if necessary. Captains, shake."
Harry walked forward, and held his hand out for Malfoy to shake. It was grabbed firmly, but Malfoy was looking at Ginny, not at Harry.
Ten minutes into the air the score was already 60 to 40, in Gryffindor's favor.
Ginny was not happy with those four goals that she'd let past her. It wasn't that she was out of practice, she just couldn't see.
She saw Pucey approaching and made herself ready, but Alicia stole the quaffle and it disappeared down to the other end of the pitch. "Working hard, Rose?" came a voice behind her.
She didn't jump, which she was proud of herself for. "Shouldn't you be looking for the snitch?" she asked.
"Oh, Potter's got that covered. I thought I'd come have a chat with you."
"Hold that thought," she said, rushing to the left post and blocking a shot from Montague. She wasn't surprised that Draco followed her. He moved to hover right behind her. "Was there something in particular you wanted to chat about because if not I'm a little busy at the moment."
"Yes, I seem to know how it that feels." She smiled, trying to watch the quaffle on the other side of the pitch but lost sight of it through the rain. "But there is a reason I've decided to ignore my purpose and talk to you."
"What would that be?"
"I would like to know if you would be willing to attend the Christmas dance as my date."
She was concentrating too hard to be surprised. "You would, would you? And why would you want to know that?"
"Because should the answer be affirmative, then I would ask you."
"I thought your father didn't want you being seen with me."
"Yes, well, my father is not high on my list of favorite people, and I cease to care what he wants."
"Using me to rebel against Daddy, Draco?"
"Perhaps."
"And why, pray tell, would I agree?"
"Because Potter may finally comprehend that the best thing that ever happened to him is right below his raised nose if she attends the Christmas dance with his adversary."
"If there is a nose raised here, Draco, I do believe it would be attached to your face."
"Will you answer my question, Rose?"
"Yes, Draco, I will go with you. But please bear in mind that my heart belongs to another."
"It was not your heart I sought, Rose, merely your highly prized companionship."
"Well you've got it, and Harry's spotted the snitch, you're going to lose."
"Yet one more thing that will make my father less then pleased." Before she had a chance to respond he shot off in the direction of Harry, making it appear that he had at least attempted to catch the snitch.
Ginny flew to the ground to be with the rest of the cheering team. Draco landed not far from her, and gave her smirk before returning to his team. She shook her head sadly. Someday that cocky attitude would get him in trouble.

Ginny was frustrated but not surprised when later that night she came awake with a gasp. Tears already streaked her face, and she knew she had been tossing by the way her sheets were tangled around her legs.
The sound of the door opening calmed her instantly. The curtains were closed but Harry's head popped through them. He grabbed her hand, and she used it to pull him into the bed. He would never crawl in unless she invited him.
Once he was laying beside her she buried her face in his chest. She loved the way it felt when he held her. It made her feel safe, and had she not been crying this moment would be perfect.
"Who died?" he asked. He always did. He never made her talk about it, but he always acted a little different if he found out that he had died in her dream. He would then assure her that he wasn't going anywhere.
"Draco," she sobbed.
She could tell he was surprised by the way his body stiffened. She had dreamed once before about Draco, but not since Harry had started to help her back to sleep.
"How?" he asked.
She tried to stop her sniffles. "His father. His father killed him." She fisted a bit of his tee shirt, trying to forget the horrifying image.
"Hush, Rose Petal, Malfoy is fine, his father is miles away. He's safe at school and nothing is wrong."
He sobs slowly ceased. He stroked her back in a soothing rhythm. Though the nightmares were often horrible, she lived for these moments. "Try to sleep, Petal."
"Thank you, Teddy." She'd protested a lot at first, that she was being childish, that he needed his sleep. None of it ever changed the fact that he always came. Now she just thanked him, and let herself fall asleep in his arms, pretending that he would be there when she woke up.

(A.N.:Would you believe that the next six pages are already written? That the dance is already written? That it should be done in just a few days? I'm back, kittens. Review!)