Chapter 5:  Come and Gone

            Ron's face was suddenly void of emotion.  "Don't joke like that, Harry," he said quietly.

            "Ron, I swear I'm not joking.  Percy was here, in your room."

            "How could he be here?" Ron said, though not to Harry, "Are you sure?"

            "Oh yeah," Harry said, nodding as if he would never stop, "I'd know Percy anywhere.  And I'm pretty sure I know a ghost when I see one."

            "Were you-"

            "I wasn't dreaming.  Or hallucinating.  This was real."

            The two boys stared into the room, the light from Ron's lamp creating shadows and making it all the more menacing, however unbelievable it is that a room of bright orange could look menacing.  Slowly, they walked in, each step creaking.

            "Percy?" Ron said, "Percy, are you there?"

            There was no answer.  They stood in the middle of the room, back-to-back, so they could see every crevice at once.  Even the crickets outside were silent.

            "This is so strange," Ron said quietly, "I don't know how to feel.  I mean, to see Percy again, it would…it would be great.  But as a ghost?  And, well, he's Percy, after all."

            "Have a little more respect for the dead, Ronald."

            Harry didn't even get a chance to turn around to see the origin of the voice.  Ron gave a cry, half from fear, half from surprise, and stepped backward, tripping over his feet and falling, pulling Harry down in the process.  They crashed to the ground, Harry now face-to-face with the floor.

            "Percy, you idiot!  Don't sneak up on me like that!"

            "It's nice to see you, too, Ron."

            Harry spun around, looking up to see the bluish-white glowing figure of Percy Weasley.  Ron didn't move from the floor, and was now gaping.  Apparently his first reaction had been more out of habit, and now the shock was settling in.

            "It's you," he whispered, "You're… you're… a ghost."

            "Yes, these things do tend to happen once you die," Percy said, smiling condescendingly.

            "But…  You can't be a ghost!  You're supposed to be…gone."  Ron seemed near the verge of tears.  "Why did you come back?"

            Percy opened his mouth as if to answer, but stopped short.  His forehead furrowed, as if he was thinking of a question that had no answer.  He quickly shook it off, however, looking Ron straight in the eye.

            "Never you mind," he said, putting his hands on his hips, "I'm here on important business."

            Ron finally stood up, his eyes never leaving Percy.  Harry stayed on the floor; he wasn't sure yet if he trusted his legs to hold him up.  Percy and Ron looked at each other in silence a moment, then suddenly Ron's hand flew out, cutting right across Percy's waist.  Both cried out in surprise, jumping back slightly.

            "What'd you do that for?!" Percy yelled, somewhere between anger and shock.

            "I…I wanted to make sure you were real," Ron answered, holding his hand, "You're so cold."

            "Well, that too tends to happen when you die," Percy smiled weakly.

            "How come you waited this long?" Ron said, a little venom in his voice, "And why'd you have to come to me, of all people?"

            "I figured you'd be the best to come to.  Mom and Dad might have a heart attack, and Fred and George…well.  And could you imagine what Ginny would have done if I went up to her?"

            Ron's eyes went wide.  "Ginny?  Ginny's dead, Percy."

            "Dead?" Percy said, his voice barely audible, "How…how can she be dead?  She-she was fine last week."

            "Last week?  Perc, she died two years ago.  Right after…you did."

            "But I only died a week ago!" Percy exclaimed in a bit of a panic.

            Ron and Harry looked at each other.

            "Percy, you died almost two years ago.  During my fifth year.  I'm going into my seventh now…"

            Percy sat down on the bed, running his hands through his hair.  "Two years…  It hasn't felt like two weeks…"

            Harry stood up, he and Ron looking at each other uncertainly.  How do you comfort a ghost?

            "Where have you been, Percy?" Harry said, trying to change the subject.

            "My…my room," he answered, shaking his head.

            "Your room?!  You've been in your room for two years?" Ron exclaimed.

            "Yes.  Well, no… I don't know," Percy said, a look of extreme confusion passing over his face, "I…can't remember."

            Ron looked as if the wind had just been knocked out of him.  "You can't remember?  Anything?"

            "Oh, no, I remember plenty.  But the time between when I died and…well, I guess a week ago…that's gone."

            There was silence a moment, then Harry said, "Didn't…you say you were here on important business?"

            "Well, yes, I am."

            "What business?"

            "And who sent you?" Ron chimed in, raising an eyebrow.

            Percy's eyes went wide with horror and he sprang up from the bed.  "I don't remember!  How can I not remember?!"

            Instead of sinking despairingly back onto the bed, Percy began to frantically pace the room, wearing a look of strained thought.  He muttered the whole time, hoping something might come back.

            "I must remember!  Agh, Ginny said this might happen!"

            "Whoa, whoa, Ginny said?" Harry cried, holding up his hand.

            "Yes…wait, no.  But…"  Percy shook his head again, continuing his pacing.

            "Percy, sit down," Harry said, gesturing to the bed.

            Too distraught to argue, Percy sunk back onto the bed, his hands on his forehead.  Harry sat next to him, first reaching out to put a hand on his back but, quickly realizing this was impossible, clasped his hands in front of him instead, looking at Percy.

            "You do remember some things, so I'm pretty sure we can get it all back," he said hopefully, "Try to think of Ginny.  What did she say?  She warned you that something might happen…"

            "My memory," Percy said slowly, "She said she'd been talking to someone and they said I might lose my memory by coming back."

            "Okay, see?  We're getting somewhere.  Um…"  Harry tried to think of something else to jog Percy's memory, but his own mind was drawing a blank.  "You got any ideas, Ron?"

            He didn't answer.  Harry quickly looked up at him.  Ron was gawking at them, wearing a look of three parts disbelief and one part disgust.

            "Ron?  Ron."

            Ron just stared at Harry, his eyes a little wider and mouth a little opener than normal.  "What in the hell is going on?!" he suddenly yelled, "Less than an hour ago, I was sleeping, just minding my own business.  Now my best friend is talking with my brother, who just happened to die two years ago but can't remember anything, about my sister giving him a warning, while she too happens to be dead and who-knows-where.  Am I the only one who thinks there's something strange about this?!"

            Ron stopped, breathing hard.

            "Yes," Percy said simply.

            "What?"  Ron looked as if Percy had just pulled a dragon out of thin air.

            "Yes, you are the only one who thinks there's something strange about this.  Now, can you try to be useful?"

            Ron was motionless a moment, then slowly nodded his head, sinking to the floor and sitting cross-legged.

            "So… she warned you your memory might go away," Harry said slowly, "Did she say anything about getting it back?"

            Percy was quiet.  "I… Just jogging my memory, I guess."

            "Oh that's helpful," Ron muttered, "C'mon, Percy.  You were sent here to…?"

            "To do something.  If I knew, then I wouldn't have this problem, Ronald."

            Ron's mind seemed to be going at light speed right then.  His eyes were sparkling, and a smile slowly spread onto his face.  "If you came back…" he said slowly, "then maybe…  Ginny…"

            "No.  Ginny wasn't sent back.  And she won't be either," Percy said, shaking his head.

            Ron knit his brows.  "How do you know?"

            "I…" Percy paused, thinking, "I don't know… how I know, that is.  I just… know.  I remember, I guess."

            "A word, a name, something…" Harry muttered to himself, "How about the alphabet?  Can you remember a letter?"

            "Listen, Har-"  Percy stopped short, his eyes going wide. " 'H'!  Something with an 'h'."  Percy began massaging his forehead, muttering again.  "Uh… hu-huh… ha-… Hogwarts!  Something to do with Hogwarts!"

            Percy clapped his hands once, smiling triumphantly.  Ron and Harry, however, didn't find it such an accomplishment.

            "A whole lot of good that does," Ron frowned, "What at Hogwarts?"

            "I don't know, but it's a start," Percy said, his joy unwavering, "So now I go to Hogwarts."

            "What?" Ron's face quickly fell, his eyes going wide.  "You finally talk to me after being here a week, and now you're leaving?  You can't do that to me, Percy!  Not again!  What if things get worse, huh?  What if you forget me, too?"

            Ron's jaw was set tight, trying to hold back the tears that were coming to his eyes.

            "I'm not leaving yet, Ron.  At least not in that sense.  And we'll both be at Hogwarts.  I just need to find out why I'm back, and if going to Hogwarts will help me, then I need to go to Hogwarts."

            Ron shook his head slightly.  Then, looking straight at Percy, he held a finger up warningly.

            "You better be there," he said quietly, "Don't just go off and leave me again.  You better be there."

            "I promise, I'll see you at Hogwarts before I go back."

            The house was silent but for the sudden wailing of the ghoul in the attic.

            "I'm gonna go downstairs," Harry said, "There's no way I'm getting back to sleep."

            So, leaving the two brothers alone, he headed downstairs and, despite what he'd said, fell asleep on the couch.

****

            When Harry woke up the next morning, he first thought it had all been a dream.  Then he realized where he was.  The light coming through the windows was a little bright, but it definitely wasn't the same as waking up in Ron's orange room when the sun peeped in.  Gradually, all the Weasley family came down, Ron last of all.  Harry kept expecting Ron to mention Percy, but he didn't.  It wasn't, after all, the easiest of subjects to bring up.

            "So, are you boys doing anything special today?" Mrs. Weasley asked over breakfast, an unusual lilt in her voice.

            Ron stared at her mystified a while, then seemed to remember something.  "Oh yeah…  I mean, no.  Er…I was just thinking, um, maybe some quidditch practice or going to Diagon Alley."

            "Diagon Alley sounds like a good idea," Mrs. Weasley said, that same strange tone in her voice, "What do you say, Harry?"

            Every single eye in the room turned to Harry expectantly.  "Uh…yeah, sure," he said, trying to suppress a laugh.  What was going on?

            "Well, you better get going," Mr. Weasley said, "You want to get there before the rush."

            Before he knew what was what, Harry was dressed, through the floo system, and standing in the middle of Diagon Alley.  He and Ron checked in a few of the stores, seeing the latest quidditch equipment and a few interesting items they'd never seen before.  In silence, they headed for Florean Fortesque's.

            "It was real, wasn't it?" Harry said quietly after a while.

            "Yeah," Ron said, "It was."

            "So…where is he now?"

            "Hogwarts, I suppose.  That's where he was going at least."

            Harry could tell Ron didn't really want to press the matter further, so he grew quiet, catching snippets of other conversations instead.

            "Oh please, Mum!  All my friends have them, even Kylie, and you know how she…"

            "Never in a million years did I dream he could actually use the wand.  Quite a clever boy, but…"

            "Thank goodness it's the last day of July.  Maybe some of this heat will start going away.  Just the other day…"

            "He had the nerve to say that Krum was better than Iverling!  Well, after that I really…"

            "Crikey!" Ron suddenly yelled, stopping in the middle of the alley, "Harry, what time is it??"

            "Uh, 1:16.  Why?"

            "Oh, um… I told my mum we'd be back at one.  We'd better hurry."

            A little confused at the rush, Harry ran after Ron as he headed for the Leaky Cauldron.  When they got there, however, Ron seemed to be having trouble with the floo powder.  He stood in front of the fire biting his lip, looking from the powder to the fire and occasionally at Harry.

            "Um…I just remembered.  We're supposed to meet them someplace else."      

            "Where?"

            "Uh, just someplace called the Den."

            Harry's eyes went wide, Ron quickly looking away.  "Well, I'll go first," he said, going as red as his hair.

            Ron threw in the powder and stepped in before Harry could ask anything.  For a while, Harry stared at the fire, wondering why they were going to the Den.  But with a shrug, he threw in the powder, stepped in, and yelled out "The Den!"  After a rushed and uncomfortable trip, he found himself in the family sitting room of Remus Lupin's house.  However, he also found something that he hadn't expected at all.

            "SURPRISE!!!"

            The whole room was decorated in red and gold streamers, a large banner on the opposite wall reading "Happy Birthday, Harry!"  From behind every couch, every chair, every table sprung a friendly face:  Ron, Fred, George, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Remus, Sirius, Hermione, and even…

            "Azar!" he cried in surprise as she ran up and hugged him.

            "Happy seventeenth, Harry Legs!" she smiled.

            "A…a party?  For me?"

            "No, it's a party for Ron here," George said, "However, since you came, and it happens to be your birthday, and we seem to have a few decorations saying "Happy Birthday, Harry", you can call it your party."

            Harry felt very confused at that moment.

            "You're too gullible, Harry!" Fred laughed, "Of course it's for you!"

            Harry shook his head, smiling.  Then he looked up, running to Sirius and Remus and hugging each in turn.

            "I thought you two had important business to take care of."

            "What's more important than my godson's seventeenth birthday?" Sirius smiled.

            "Besides, Sirius is happy to have any excuse to throw a party," Remus said with a grin.

            "Quiet, Moony, you'll blow my cover."

            Harry just smiled.  Whatever had happened over the last few weeks, it had done those two Marauders good.  The group was soon talking happily, everyone wishing Harry a happy birthday.  It was definitely the happiest one he'd ever had.

            "Hey Harry, gonna get your birthday whacking?" Fred said with a classic Weasley twin grin.

            "I certainly hope not from you!" Harry laughed.

            "No, from your lovely lady, of course," he answered, nodding his head toward Azar.

            "Who you calling a lady?" Azar said, poking her finger against Fred's chest, "I'm anything but a lady.  But I would be more than happy to oblige."

            Harry went a little red, though whether from pleasure or embarrassment one couldn't tell.  "Oh, would you, my little Seer?"

            It was amazing how quickly the room went quiet at that one little word.  Everyone was either staring at Harry or Azar, and Fred was absolutely gawking.

            "A…a seer?"

            Harry glanced over at Azar, realizing he'd said something that he shouldn't have.  Azar, however, didn't look flustered in any way.

            "Why, of course," she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "Didn't you know?  I know all and see all, just like the great Sibyll Trelawney."

            The room erupted with laughter, everyone enjoying the "joke" immensely.  Harry gladly joined in, relieved Azar was such a quick thinker.

            "Hey, Azar, any predictions for the birthday boy?" Ron said, grinning.

            "Yeah, let's see a seer at work!" Fred cried enthusiastically.

            Harry joined in, sitting in front of Azar.  "What does the future hold for me, Zarina?"

            "Zat iz Madam Zarina to you, little boy," she answered, thrusting her nose in the air and putting on what she clearly thought was a mystical gypsy accent, "First, I sheel be needing a creestal ball."

            "One crystal ball coming right up," Remus said, hurrying out of the room.

            For a few minutes of pandemonium, everyone rushed about, setting up a small end table with two chairs on either side and a circle of chairs around it so everyone could watch the fun.  Azar stood, a finger on her chin, studying everything carefully.

            "Zere iz somezing missing…  Ah, I've got it!"  With that, she ran out of the room, leaving everyone else a little perplexed.  Shrugging it off, Sirius set about to grabbing a few candles, igniting them and drawing the curtains so the only light was the flickering flames.  Then all was silent for a while, everyone waiting anxiously for the seer and her crystal ball.

            "I couldn't find the real thing," Remus said, walking into the room carrying a round glass vase, "but this should do.  Hey, where'd she go?"

            "To find the last finishing touches," Sirius smiled, shrugging.

            Just then, the door opened very slowly.  In the doorway stood a figure, barely touched by the weak candlelight in the room.

            "Madam Zarina," she said, her voice sounding like rain hitting glass, "has returned."

            And so she had, in all her splendor.  Azar had on a thick crimson shawl of sorts, covering her head and shoulders.  On the edge was a series of gold loops, a little larger than seemed right, but very appropriate nonetheless.  The shawl must have been very long because it fell down her back, looping around in an thick, twisted belt.  From the belt fell the end of the fabric, hitting the floor with many long golden tassels.

            "Hey, is that one of my curtains?" Remus asked suspiciously.

            "Don't worry, it's very fixable," Azar said, her accent fading for that while, "Now, half man, half boy, si-eet."

            She indicated one of the chairs by the "crystal ball", taking the other for herself.  Harry sat, wondering what he'd gotten himself into.  He just never knew with Azar.

            "First, your palm," she said, reaching for his hand portentously, "Madam Zarina finds eet simpler eef she starts small."

            Harry held at his hand and Azar began studying it like it was a treasure map.

            "Ah, you are brave, I zee.  Kind and loyal, too."

            Harry smiled.

            "But vhat iz zis?" she said, her head tilting to one side, "Your lifeline…  It's zo…"

            "What?"

            She shook her head.  "It…it is difficult…"

            All the candles flickered in a nonexistent wind, causing everyone to murmur in surprise.  Harry's eyes, however, were on the candle on the table.  It wasn't flickering as if in a wind, but doing something he'd never seen before.  The flame was flaring and dimming in some sort of pattern… like a heartbeat.  The pattern was getting faster and faster.  Harry felt his own heartbeat increase.  He was having trouble breathing.  The flame was flashing over and over, dark and light, dark and light.

            "Vell!" Azar said, slapping the table.

            Harry jumped, feeling as if he had just woken up.

            "Let's git to zee crystal ball, shawl we?"

            Harry glanced back at the flame, but it was burning normally now.  Azar began gazing into the clear glass.  Harry too stared into the vase, but his eyes grew wide.  From the center of the vase, a small cloud of gray smoke appeared.  It grew larger and larger until it filled the whole glass.  Then, a purple light erupted from the cloud.  Ron fell off his chair.

            "Hey, how are you doing that, Azar?" Harry said with a nervous laugh.

            "Ah, but I am not the one doing it, half man, half boy," she whispered, looking as if she knew a thousand secrets the rest of the world never would, "Divination iz a majeek more mysteerious than you vould eemagine.  It iz full of…power."

            No sooner had she whispered that last word than a fire erupted in the fireplace.  Everyone jumped about a foot, Mrs. Weasley letting out a scream and Ron falling off his chair again.  Harry turned slowly back to Azar, his eyes wide.  She was hunched down, running her hands over and over the glass vase.  She looked up at Harry and he drew in a swift breath.  The purple light coming from the "crystal ball" shined in her eyes, making her look both wild and subdued at the same time.

            "You vant to hear your fate," she said, her voice so deep it gave him a shiver, "Harry Potter?"

            He gulped slightly, giving a nod.

            The light from the crystal ball sudden shone a bright blue and the clouds within it spun faster and faster.  Azar looked very closely into it, her nose nearly touching the glass.

            "My, my, zere is much in your life.  Much zat has happened, and much zat has yet to ah-cur."

            The room was strangely silent, everyone leaning in closely.  It seemed they all hardly dared to breathe.

            Suddenly, Azar spoke up, her voice coming out like a chilled wind.  "Beware the holidays, half man, half boy," she whispered, "for they bring anguish…"

            You could have cut the silence with a knife.  Ron and Hermione glanced at each other worriedly.  Sirius was on the edge of his seat, unsure of what he should do, if anything.

            "Zere iz one…last…thing…" Azar said, staring intently at her crystal ball, "But eet iz not clear… so vague…"

            "What?"  Harry felt his heart pounding in his chest.  He leaned forward on the table, his eyes never leaving Azar's, watching the shifting fog reflect in them.  Her eyes… they were so…blank.

            "How…  It seems impossible.  How…how…" Suddenly she leapt up, pointing at a spot on the crystal ball.  "How in the world did a spaghetti sauce stain get on a vase??"

            The tension in the room vanished, replaced with roaring laughter.  Harry just let his head drop onto the table, so relieved, laughing silently.  Then he looked up again, pointing an accusing finger at Azar but a smile still on his face.

            "You nearly scared me to death, Azar!"

            Azar grinned, very pleased with herself.  "Well, I can't very well take all the credit.  My lovely assistant Remus did all the magic tricks."

            "Remus, you knew??" Sirius cried in disbelief.

            "Yes, I admit I played a hand in this trick.  I had a hard time keeping from laughing, too!"

            "I ought to kill you for that, Moony!" Sirius yelled, shoving Remus good-naturedly, "I almost had a heart attack when that fire burst up!"

            "Well, I think all the credit should go to the wonderful actress we have here," Remus said, gesturing toward Azar, "There were a few times even I thought it was real."

            "Move over, Harry, it's my turn!" Fred laughed, shoving his way into the chair, "C'mon, Azar, tell my future!"

            After a few more predictions, though none as tense as the first, they had a meal that would rival those of Hogwarts' feasts, followed by Harry opening his presents.  The party lasted long into the night until even Sirius was getting droopy-eyed.  Everyone headed home except Azar, Ron, and Hermione.  Ron joined Harry in his room while the girls shared another of the guest rooms.  Even though they were tired, Harry and Ron stayed up a while more, talking.

            "So how does it feel to be one year older?" Ron asked lazily from his sleeping bag on the floor.

            "A lot like it felt yesterday," Harry laughed, "Another year, come and gone."

            Ron was silent a moment, then asked, "Are you afraid?"

            "Of what?"  Harry propped himself onto his elbow, looking down at his friend.

            "I dunno," Ron shrugged, "Things.  School, people, life.  The future."

            Harry shrugged, too.  "I haven't had much time to think about the future.  I've had enough trouble with the now."

            "Everything's just changing so fast.  Just think, next year we won't be going to Hogwarts.  Who knows what we'll be doing.  I think it's very frightening.  It may sound weird, but I don't want to grow-up.  I'm not ready for it."

            "Well, we don't need to worry about that yet," Harry smiled, "We've got a year to waste before we enter "adulthood."  No need to worry about what may or may not happen.  What to go eavesdrop on the girls?"

            Ron moaned.  "I'm too tired to move."

            "Too tired to eavesdrop on your girlfriend who could be talking about you at this very moment?"

            "Well, since you put it that way…"

            Quickly worming out of his sleeping bag, Ron headed on tiptoe toward the door, Harry right behind him.

~*~*~

A/N:  I'm not even going to try and think of an author's note right now, so let's just get to the thanks yous.

Kelly:  Thanks!  I'm keeping a tight lip on the R/C/S love triangle, but I can promise you this:  we will know who Catherine chooses in the end.  Yes, I really do think Harry's better than his dad.  As Remus said, it's kind of hard to compare a seeker with a chaser, but I think Harry is just a flying protégé (or whatever the word is).  I mean, look at how Harry did the FIRST time he was on a broom!  Plus, he was the youngest player in a century.  James was probably just good because he grew up knowing quidditch; Harry has a natural inclination.  As to Sirius' job, yes, he will get one, and he'll hate me for giving it to him.  It's an evil job to give such a man… ^_^  But as to what it is, that's still hush-hush.

Lady Aquila:  Thanks!

SuNnY GuRL:  Thanks!

Naralina:  Yes, I can guarantee you that he's dead.  But I still can't tell you why he's there. (When that idea popped into my head… *sighs happily*  A happy moment indeed. ^_^)  And since you know what I'm going to say, I won't say it, but know that I would have said it, know what I'm saying? *grins*  Yeah, okay, I'll say it anyway.  WRITE!  And thanks for the review. ^_^

Moon Warrior:  Nope, no Ginny.  If she appeared, I think that would do poor Ron in.  Thanks!

Sandrine Black:  Thanks!

Mrs. Grim:  Ah good, I wanted them to sound that way. ^_^  Thanks!

Jeanne:  *laughs*  Okee-day.  Thanks, Jess!

suger:  Thank you!

abbey:  Oh good!  I so wanted that image of Remus to turn out right, and I'm happy to see it did!  We think alike, eh?  Well, I think I can take that as a compliment. ^_^  Thanks!

jona:  *grins*  Not that I would know, but I think men's tempers have a tendency to flare when women are involved.  And since Sirius doesn't have the best of tempers…  Ah, but they're best friends.  They wouldn't let a girl get between them.  Or would they? (Just have to add that, ya know.)  Thanks!

Ray:  Thanks!  And depends on what you mean by action…  I think you mean romantically, but if you mean "going all the way", most definitely never.  That would knock my rating up to PG-13, and I don't think I'd be much good at writing that kind of scene even if I tried.  But other than that (including adventure-action), most definitely soon.

Starry Night:  Thanks!

Julia:  Thanks!  Yeah, Sirius should be nicer.  But he's been looking out just for himself so long, I think he's forgotten how to look out for others.

sweets:  Twice in a row!  That's gotta be a new record. ^-^  Heehee, thanks!

Lupin's Niece AJ:  Thanks!  And hope he called you. ~_^

Impmon:  Thanks!

Sophie Black:  Thanks!  I hope you didn't have too much trouble with Azar's accent.  I'm reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Spanish right now, and I definitely know how hard it is to read accents when they aren't in your native language.

Super saya-jin Gotan:  *puts hands on hips*  Did you read my Year 5, or not?  *grins*  Of course, many do tend to forget.  With all the fanfics, I know how hard it is to keep facts straight.  Yes, he is dead, and he didn't die the most pleasant of deaths either.  If you want the full details, I think it happens in "Year 5:  Harry Potter and the Day of Dreams"  Chapter 7:  The Family of Red.

            *groans*  I had so much I wanted to say in my A/N, but am now in too much pain to even think about it. (Girls, I think you can sympathize.)  That explains why I may have been a little snappy in a few thank yous.  I really appreciate you guys for reading and reviewing my chapter!  But I'm definitely not in a good mood right now.  So I'll just call it a night.

            Be excellent to each other!

            -Ady