Author's Note: So I got my first official flame. At least I think I did, I am having a somewhat hard time deciding. I was about to go into an explanation of why, but I've covered it in my response. And the reason I am posting this here is to apologise to anyone who is uncomfortable with my using review space to make said response. But I just couldn't leave it alone without saying anything.

That said, I actually feel it is much more important to thank all the people who have taken the time to leave kind reviews. I will respond to you directly, I just haven't exactly figured out how to do that yet. Every time I try my computer gets all slow and weird, but I will figure it out, I promise. In the meantime, thank you very much. All the encouragement has been greatly savoured.

At the same time I don't mean to imply I am only open to glowing reviews. Honest constructive criticism is totally welcome and appreciated. I just don't get why this person had to be so unduly harsh. It was a bit of a blow, but maybe I am just a wimp. I don't get why he felt the need to take time out his life to tell me he wasn't even going to bother opening my story, when he just could have moved on to the next in line.

Okay, off my chest. On to the story!

Additional Note: New text added on March 21, 2005

Bewitched and Bewildered - Chapter Three

Harry was once again disappointed in his trip on the Hogwarts Express.

He had been happy enough on the way to the train station, but then Ron and Hermione had beaten a hasty departure. If he had thought about it, he would have known it was coming. But he hadn't thought. He had totally forgotten. And when the pair made their apologies and headed to the prefect carriage Harry was left with a sinking feeling of deja vu.

To say that he had hated the previous year would be an egregious understatement. From start to finish the whole thing had been bad. Okay, there had been a few alright moments. Kissing, obviously, had been quite nice, but even that was dimmed by the severe emotional awkwardness he had almost always felt with Cho. It was of upmost importance that this year be much, much better. Even if Voldemort was still plotting to kill him. And the repeat disappearance of his two best friends right in the opening moments sat uneasily in his stomach.

Ginny was with him, that was good. It was true that they had sat together the year before, but this was the one thing he was happy remained the same.

Ginny had somehow also eluded the honour of being named a prefect. Though the snub seemed to roll off her much more easily than it had Harry the previous summer. When he asked her about it she had shrugged and said that chasing people around making sure they followed the rules didn't really appeal to her anyway. Harry suspected part of her acceptance may have had something to do with the party Fred and George had thrown the day she had not received a badge.

Harry was amazed at the bravery of the twins. They had brought a cake and even erected a "Congratulations Ginny!" banner. Mrs. Weasley had been obviously furious at their antics, but it seemed she held her temper and allowed the festivities to continue in an effort not to hurt the feelings of her only daughter. Harry figured it was probably a good thing Fred and George no longer lived at home and were thus safe from a telling off that would have happened later that night otherwise.

After Ron and Hermione had left them on the train, Harry was quite pleased when he and Ginny had found a place to sit by themselves. For about two minutes. He didn't seem to be holding her attention. In fact she appeared quite distracted and kept staring out the door of their compartment. It didn't take him long to remember that she was looking forward to seeing a sixteen-year-old boy that wasn't him. The disappointment that set in was profound.

Harry knew though, despite all the little details, the absence of Ron and Hermione, Ginny's apparent interest in the hallway, the true source of his mood was actually due to an incident the night before.

Remus Lupin had come to Grimmauld Place to speak to him.

Harry had managed to avoid his old professor the entire summer. He wasn't sure why exactly, but Harry felt very strongly about not talking to Lupin. It wasn't that he was angry with him. It was just that somehow, any further relationship between the two of them seemed like a very bad idea. Any time Harry had seen Lupin around the house he had been overcome with such anxiety that it made him feel sick.

Then last night Lupin had appeared and insisted on a meeting with him, alone in the kitchen. Having his prerogative overruled had at once put Harry in a disagreeable mood. Then when he discovered the topic of discussion his ire rose even further.

Lupin sat before him somewhat nervously fidgeting with some papers. "It is an old will, from before... From before Sirius' incarceration." He glanced at Harry and then returned his focus to the documents before him. "There are three bequests dividing the estate between your parents, Peter and I. Peter's portion is a bit of a quandary. Since he is legally dead with no heirs it should revert back to the estate to be divided among the remaining beneficiaries. In the event of your parent's death their portion is to be given to their son." He looked up and gave a small smile. "You."

Harry didn't have anything to say. "Oh."

"The inheritance will be transferred to your bank vault at Gringotts."

"Good."

There was a pause before Lupin carried on earnestly, trying to make Harry understand the magnitude of what was happening. "The house is no longer part of the estate as Sirius made a gift of it to the order last year, but Harry, this is a very large legacy, which has been left to you."

His voice still cool, Harry answered, "Thanks."

Lupin folded his hands and tried to cautiously soldier on. "I realize this is too early to be thinking of now, but perhaps in a bit of time we maybe should talk, about appropriate investments and other issues."

Harry didn't respond.

Lupin rose from the table and moved over to the fire. He stared into it for a moment before he spoke again. "Last year Sirius asked me to look out for you if anything should happen to him."

Harry wasn't moved. "He thought about who would take care of me in case he died, but he didn't bother to make a new will?"

Lupin turned and smiled wryly. "I think it was the spirit of the matter that was always more important to him than the legal monetary details."

When it was clear Harry wasn't going to reply Lupin moved towards him again, his posture bent slightly forward as he made his appeal. "I realize you have come to me in the past for advice, but somehow things seem a bit awkward now. It is important to me to keep my promise to Sirius. I was thinking my helping you with this might be a good way to start."

Harry was incredulous. "You want to get passed the awkwardness between us by helping me decide how to spend the money I inherited from my godfather's death?"

Lupin tried for a small lopsided smile. "Perhaps not the best choice."

Harry decided to end the conversation. "I think I would rather talk to Mr. Weasley." This was a lie. The last person Harry would want to discuss his new inheritance with would be any member of the Weasley family.

Accepting defeat Lupin answered, "As you wish Harry."

Now, a day later, as he was left with his own thoughts watching scenery pass by, Harry was feeling very nettled by the memory. Guilty. On some level he understood that Remus had been trying to reach out to him. And he also realized that his own actions had served as a rejection. But it really just seemed like it was all for the best.

Eventually Ron and Hermione returned, bickering quietly as they walked in the door. Something about Ron antagonizing Malfoy. "Honestly Ron," Hermione said with exasperation, "I am just as unhappy as you are about him still being a prefect, but do you really need to bait him in the first two minutes?"

"What?" Ron asked innocently. "I just asked him if his dad would be able to order the team new brooms again this year. I reckon it might be hard to arrange such a thing from Azkaban. What could possibly be wrong with that?"

Hermione glared at him. "I had to listen to about thirty more minutes of pompous garbage from that berk than usual to start."

"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed.

"What?"

"You said berk." Ron appeared stunned.

"Well, he is," she said as plunked herself down in her seat.

Ron sat down beside her, looking at her as though he had never been more proud.

The next couple of hours seemed almost like old times. They ordered a wide selection of food from the trolley. Hermione and Ginny read newspapers and magazines. And Ron beat Harry at chess. Harry was almost beginning to feel himself slip sideways into being content. Until a group of Gryffindore boys happened to pass by their compartment window.

Harry could tell that Ginny waiting an appropriate amount of time before she nonchalantly rose from her seat. "Well," she said a bit too casually, "I'm off for a few minutes then." Before she opened the door she ran her fingers through her hair a few times and surreptitiously attempted to check her breath.

After watching his sister's odd departure Ron asked, "What's up with her?"

"She's going to flirt with Dean," Harry grumbled. Then a wicked idea popped in his head. "Maybe you should go stop her."

"Not likely," Ron moaned, "I don't need to see that."

Harry slouched in his seat and felt himself sliding into a serious grump. The fact that he was clearly jealous of a boy Ginny hadn't even decided if she had a crush on yet was deeply troubling. Though not nearly as troubling as the frighteningly perceptive stare he was receiving from Hermione right at that moment. "What?" he demanded.

Hermione eyebrows raised and she shook her head innocently. "Nothing Harry. Nothing at all." Then she smirked and popped an every flavoured bean in her mouth.

If the first of September wasn't everything that Harry had hoped for, the second did a decidedly better job of putting the year back on track. McGonagall asked for Harry and Ron to stay after their first Transfiguration class. Knowing that there was no way both of them could have gotten into trouble already, Harry hoped he knew what the meeting was about.

"Quidditch," McGonagall announced as the two boys stood before her desk. Then she allowed a slight smile. "Potter, I am happy to announce that with that horrible woman gone from our school, Professor Dumbledore and I both agree that you should be reinstated to the team immediately."

Harry had dared to hope a little, but actually hearing the words from the woman in charge made him feel like... Well it made him feel like hugging her honestly. Somehow he managed to restrain himself, offering a heartfelt, "Thank you Professor," instead.

"I do think I should caution you," she said, her voice taking on a very serious tone. "Though the punishment last year was unduly harsh, even ridiculous, it would be best for all concerned if you avoided any further incidents of violence while on the pitch. I don't want anyone, anywhere, to have any reason to question our faith in your ability to control your temper and behave with some propriety. Do I make myself clear?"

Abundantly. There was no mistaking the frighteningly stern gaze she fixed him with from over her glasses. "Yes Professor," Harry assured. "I won't let you down."

"Good," she nodded. "That settled, now we have the small matter of assigning the role of Captain."

Ron spoke first, "I thought that Katie..."

"I offered the position to Miss Bell, but she declined." A flicker of amusement passed behind McGonagall's eyes. "Something about preferring to enjoy her last year on the field rather than turning into a crazed lunatic. Which leaves me with the two of you."

Her penetrating gaze appraised them both. "Potter has seniority and I cannot overlook the fact that you were the youngest player on a Hogwarts team in a century. You are one of the best flyers I have ever seen. However, unfortunately, you were off the field, off your broom entirely, for almost a full year. Mr. Weasley, on the other hand, though giving a somewhat dismal performance in the beginning has shown marked improvement. And I cannot forget that you managed to beat my chess set when you had only just turned twelve. An accomplishment which seems to imply you may be something of a rather cunning strategist."

Harry was stunned. He wanted it, but he didn't want to be in competition with his friend. A flicker of an old memory slipped through his brain. Here was Ron, standing on the precipice of finally having almost everything he had ever wanted. "Professor, if you don't mind," he said before he lost his nerve, "Ron should have it."

"Are you insane?" Ron exclaimed beside him. "No way Harry. You deserve this. Even I can admit that."

"Ron, don't be daft," Harry said tersely. "I can barely keep track of the rest of the game while I'm off looking for the snitch. As keeper you have a much better idea of how everyone else is playing."

Ron seemed to consider. "Well, you do have a point there." He turned to McGonagall. "Is there any way... I mean could we both do it? As Co-Captains?"

"It is unusual, but the two of you have certainly proven in the past a rather remarkable ability to work together." She graced them with one of her rare warm smiles. "I think that would be fine."

The return to the common room felt like a momentous occasion. Ron kept up a constant monologue of possible strategies and formations. He had clearly been thinking about this day for a long time. Harry kept mostly silent. He couldn't stop smiling and he really just wanted to enjoy the hour. It had been so long since he had felt this good. He was a little afraid that if he spoke, interrupted Ron's stream of consciousness, other realities might find a way to slink into his momentary bliss.

When they made their announcement to Hermione and Ginny the two girls leapt from their chairs and gave them both congratulatory hugs. Harry felt a little alarmed and awkward at how good it felt to have Ginny in his arms for that fleeting second. He ran his hands through his hair nervously and attempted to cover, "Well, it's good news for all three of us really. You'll be our new Chaser obviously."

Ginny looked stunned. "What?"

Harry grinned at her. "You said you wanted to be Chaser last year didn't you?"

"I did," she stuttered, "but Harry..."

Ron interrupted, "Harry we really ought to have tryouts. No offense Gin," he continued gingerly. "I'm sure you'll make it. But we need to tryout the other Chaser position anyway. And well, it would be proper."

"No, it's okay Ron," Ginny assured her brother. "I expected to have to tryout. Thanks Harry, but I think Ron is right. Besides," she added a bit cheekily, "I wouldn't want anyone thinking I got the spot just because my brother is Captain."

Ron turned a bit pink. Then he suddenly exclaimed, "I need Pig! We have to owl Mum and Dad!"

"I think he's in the Owlery," Ginny offered. "And I want to come with you."

After the two siblings happily stumbled through the portrait hole, Hermione reclaimed her seat by the fire and fixed Harry with a curious stare. "Are you ever going to tell her?"

"What?" Harry sat down in the seat beside her.

"Are you ever going to tell Ginny you like her?" she asked like it was a perfectly normal thing to say.

Harry grimaced. He hadn't totally accepted the idea himself yet. He hadn't even considered actually telling her. "Is it that obvious?"

Hermione shrugged. "Probably just to me."

"I don't know," Harry frowned, suddenly feeling horribly self-conscious. "Ginny told me you can always tell when someone likes you."

"Usually I'd say she's right," Hermione agreed. "But when you've been rejected enough times by a person it would be hard to believe that he has actually decided to notice you."

Harry hadn't missed the irony of the situation. But what he really felt was more important was, "Did you know she's engaged in a highly organized campaign to seduce Dean?"

"Yes," Hermione grinned. "She's in the middle of phase one: charm and obfuscate."

"It must be nice, to get that sort of attention," Harry grumbled.

"Only from Ginny you mean," Hermione said. "Since you hate attention from anyone else." Harry glared at her. "And Harry, she gave you that kind of attention for years and you didn't want it."

"Hermione," Harry objected, "I was twelve and it was embarrassing."

"Twelve through Fourteen," Hermione corrected. "And if you want it back you should talk to her. And make it good by the way."

Harry found that comment rather alarming despite the offhand way she had added it. "Wait, why do I have to make it good?"

Hermione suddenly looked sympathetic. "She carried a torch for you for a long time. And I think she has felt extremely liberated being free of it. I'm not entirely sure she'll want to pick it up again."

This was definitely not good news. "I was that horrible?"

"No Harry," Hermione said supportively. "You were always very polite and kind to her and did your best to a make sure she didn't feel any more embarrassed than she already did. But Harry, she didn't exactly make her feelings a secret and yet you never even considered her. You were desperate to find someone to go to the ball with and it didn't even cross your mind that she was an option. It hurt her. I should know. It might help if you grovel a bit. Tell her how stupid you are, that sort of thing."

Suddenly Harry was finding himself becoming quite defensive. "You know it isn't my fault that I didn't like her before. She wouldn't even talk to me! She ran away and slammed doors in my face. How was I supposed to like her when I didn't even have a chance to know her?" Hermione tried to interrupt by calling his name, but he was in full rant mode. "I like her now! A lot. It isn't bloody fair that I should be punished for something that happened when I was twelve. I was barely even noticing girls at all back then for crying out loud."

Hermione was looking at him with a calm glare. "Are you finished?"

Harry thought about it. "I guess." For the moment.

"Stop being so melodramatic," Hermione sighed. "You are not being punished. I am just saying that what Ginny remembers is that you didn't want her. She doesn't necessarily understand all the sensible reasons why you never had a chance to like her. We are talking about emotions, not logic. And she felt that you rejected her, that you were never going to change your mind." She smiled at him sympathetically. "Believe me Harry, I was there, I understand why you didn't like her then, but I'm not the one who worked so hard to get over you. There is a fair amount of emotional baggage between the two of you and if you want to win her now, you might have to work for it."

Harry was starting to think the whole thing was a lost cause. "This is very encouraging. Maybe I shouldn't even bother."

"No," Hermione admonished. "You definitely should bother. And as soon as possible."

"Why? Since you seem to think it's so hopeless," he grumbled.

"Well," Hermione said thoughtfully, "for one thing I think the role reversal will be very good for you. More importantly, I think she's perfect for you. Exactly what you need."

There was another doubt, which had been lingering in the back of his mind. Now that Hermione knew of his feelings, maybe he could talk about it. "Do you suppose maybe I shouldn't tell her."

As though it was ridiculous Hermione laughed, "No."

"Because it might endanger her I mean," Harry said quietly. "If we became involved."

Hermione immediately sobered. She seemed to think about it for a moment. When she started to speak it was obvious she was choosing her words with care. "I know, considering everything that has happened, it must be hard for you sometimes to understand, but not everything is about you Harry."

Harry was incredulous. "Are you kidding? Sirius died because of me. My parents died because of me."

"They all died to save you," she agreed. "That's true. But there is never going to be anything you can do to stop that. Including hiding your feelings for Ginny." Hermione took a deep breath. "Look the point that I am trying to make is that although your parents and Sirius died to save you, they were already in danger because of other choices they had made. Because they were in the Order. It is the same with all the Weasley's, they are in danger not because of their relationship to you, but because they have joined Dumbledore. Ginny was targeted in her first year because of who her father was, not because of her crush."

This was rich, considering the argument they had before going to the Ministry last spring. "You said yourself that Riddle took her down to the Chamber to lure me in."

"And that's true," Hermione said unabashed. "He used her knowing you would follow, so he could have a chance to fight you alone. But he was already possessing her. He was probably always intending to use her life force to regain his form, ultimately killing her. Luring you into the Chamber was just a slightly different strategy. And Harry, you are arguing against yourself. That happened before you decided you liked her romantically, which just proves my point. She is already vulnerable. I really don't see how dating you could possibly make it any worse."

Harry thought about everything she had said. "So I guess you're saying it doesn't matter."

"Isn't that the answer you wanted?"

"Yeah." Harry fidgeted in his chair. "I just want to be sure. If I am going to die I want to actually live my life a bit first you know? But I would never forgive myself if something happened to her because of me. Because I was selfish."

Hermione shrugged. "But something could happen anyway. And then you would never forgive yourself for not being with her when you had the chance."

It sounded fatalistic, but Harry knew it was true. He was starting to understand that no life at all was definitely not an option.

Author's note: Just a preemptive bit here. Don't worry, Lupin will appear again and this will be all worked out.

And next chapter - that thing with Dean.