When it came to people, Gekko was fairly good at reading them, or so he'd like to tell himself when he was pretending to shave in the bathtub. He slapped his hand down on the water, making several rubbers ducks and dolphin shaped soap-bars squawk indignantly.

The problem was, he reasoned, rubbing blue bath foam onto pink cheeks, is that these people haven't learned to read each other.

Take Harry, for example.

A very nice chap, if a little on the self-sacrificing side. Dawn said something about a Hero's Complex, which sounds absolutely terrible, and a little contagious. Gekko shivered slightly, and sank lower into the huge bathtub, as if to protect himself from the awful Hero's Complex.

Harry wasn't very good at reading people. Granted, he wasn't particularly horrible at it, like his tactless redheaded friend Gekko met earlier, but he really could use some practice. Especially when it came to adults.

Harry Hates Professor Snape. Gekko couldn't see why, the man was hilarious, and he turned his Uncle into a tortoise, and if that wasn't the sign of a good person, what was?

Really, He thought idly, holding up a small hoop so the Soap-Dolphins could jump through it; not all good people are pleasant or cheerful, like Dawn. Gekko thought about his perky guardian and cringed, suddenly very glad for people who weren't always so sunny.

Harry couldn't read Mister Lupin either.

Gekko could only remember his parents a little, after a car crash had killed them five years previous, and he was sure they were the only werewolves he ever knew, aside from himself of course. Mister Lupin was calm and soft, even; Gekko was willing to bet, when he was very angry. Dawn said that was because he had control issues, because he was a werewolf. Gekko was a werewolf, and wondered if control issues were as contagious as a Hero's Complex.

Dawn couldn't say why Professor Snape was snarky, or why Mister Dumbledore smiled when he was angry, or twinkled, for that matter, when he didn't want to say Important Things, but she said it was probably for the better, because knowing too much about somebody can make them nervous, and liable to do foolish things.

Maybe that's why Harry won't talk about acting serious, He considered, blowing bubbles into the air. It sounds very strange, anyway, because Harry didn't smile and carry on a lot anyway, so it didn't make a lot of sense over why he would be upset about seriousness. Gekko grabbed a flannel from the side of the tub, and scrubbed away the blue foam, squinting so that the suds wouldn't go in his eyes. He sighed, and lined the soap and ducks up at one end of the tub, in preparation for a race to the other side. He grinned as one of the ducks snapped its rubber beak at the dolphin, which was splashing it quite rudely with its tail.

When it came to grown-ups, Gekko decided, sometimes it's better to pretend you can't read anyone, and let them fumble about on their own. "At any rate," He told the soap dish solemnly, "It should provide some ample entertainment."

"Bill's teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Harry asked incredulously from his seat on the floor. He had ditched Dawn and Gekko after they reached their quarters, and was in Gryffindor's common room with Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Ginny, catching up on missed news, and important things like Quidditch and Voldemort (in that order). "Wasn't he negotiating with the goblins?"

Ron shrugged, back against the sofa's armrest, and legs in resting across Hermione's lap. "He was, but the Goblins vied for complete neutrality, which I suppose is good, the splitters." He scowled suddenly. "Nothing's worse than being taught by your brother… 'cept maybe by Mum." Ginny, Harry, and Hermione all shuddered at this, while Neville looked thoughtful.

"Well at least he's actually teaching you something, unlike that bint Umbridge." Harry muttered darkly, and Ginny and Neville grinned. "You'll never guess." She said, lounging in an armchair, with Neville on the floor in front of her, ruffling his hair and smoothing it back down, grinning in an almost criminal manner. Harry raised his eyebrows.

"Miss Umbridge made a full recovery, and tried to pass a bill that would make Centaurs considered dangerous beasts and viable for hunting."

Harry stared at her, "You're joking."

She shook her head, smirking, and fluffed Neville's hair into short spikes. Neville looked rather resigned to the treatment, as if he had given up trying to get the redhead to let him alone.

"That's not the best part." Her smirk grew. "A student from this school, who, despite some recent family issues, had her almost completely condemned for disrespect of magical creatures, and rallied to have her thrown out of office…surprisingly it worked." She frowned, "Not that the bill would have been passed anyway, since Fudge's administration is barely a month away from losing any power it has."

Harry blinked. "Which student went up against Umbridge?"

Hermione, who had been mostly silent until now, laughed suddenly. "Oh, Guess, Harry, I dare you."

At Harry's blank look, Ron rolled his eyes. "Come on, mate, who do we know who has some political power, definite family issues, and is a sniveling little git?"

"No-not…seriously, not Malfoy? Why would he care, he hates everything that's not Pureblood and rich."

Ron shrugged. "We know, we all figured he had his head shoved up You-Know-Who's arse along with his father's, but-'

"-He made a public statement to the Ministry of magic stating he was loyal to those against Voldemort, and he would financially support any mode of offence by the light-side." Hermione finished, with the surprised bemusement of someone who had time too think this over.

"And then he had Umbridge scorned, ridiculed and libeled, thus concluding her political career. I told you throwing temper tantrums in politics would get things done." Neville concluded cheerfully, and winced when Ginny snagged a tangle in his hair. "Malfoy pulled all this out of his arse before school started, and now he's sauntering around like a tragic little hero, born into a house of evil where he had no choice but to practice his Daddy's teachings. Bastard, it'd be something if he were telling the truth –Ow! Ginny!" Ginny grinned and patted his head apologetically. Harry chuckled and leaned back on his elbows, watching his friends laugh. It was, he decided, not too horrible being back, if only for a little while.

A low murmur vibrated though the warm stone hearth where she lay.

She lazily opened one yellow eye towards the noisemakers. Flecks of pale hair and silver appendages appeared in the corner of her vision, trembling with badly concealed fear. She tasted the air and felt a shiver of pleasure run through her lax muscles. Of course he would be afraid, two of her Lord's favorite pets where found, locked and bound in an endless sleep. She tasted the air again, and moved closer to the warm fireplace in front of her, eyes glinting in amusement with the foolish slave. Her Lord wouldn't be coming tonight, he had other duties to attest to, and this sniveling wretch had every reason to be afraid. Nagini flicked her tongue over a small gold bowl, lapping delicately at the red tartness inside, given to her by her own Lord's hand. It will be soon, she thought contentedly, coiling her long sinuous body around herself, and My Lord's pets will know what true fear is.

Okie! Chappie 16 is up quick, to make up for the shortness of the last chapter.

Thankies to everyone who reviewed, and it may bea bit before the next one is up, seeing as how I have to write a speech in Japanese, write an Essay in english, and other horribly academic things that are most certainly bad for my health.

Ta!