A/N: Not the longest chapter I've ever written but one I couldn't resist adding in. I'm really starting to hate the idea of public exams. It isn't actually taking them, it's the revision previously. If I see another practice paper, I might go mad - and we still have about five weeks left to go.

I attempted another Quidditch game here so you could see how our new little seeker was doing (how do you think - James has been coaching him!) and decided to humiliate James again. I'm being quite cruel to him at the moment . . . and the next chapter isn't any nicer. Still, he'll live.

As always, all reviews were much appreciated - thank you everyone!

As predicted, Arnold was officially summoned home the next day. His trunk was packed and all of the house shook his hand solemnly as he left for what might be the last time. They weren't stupid, all of the older ones knew exactly what his father had planned for him, the younger ones knew at least that it was bad. He wouldn't be forgotten.

A couple of days after his departure, the school received an owl informing them that Arnold had fallen ill with Dragon Pox and they should be alert for an epidemic in the school. It was simple politeness perhaps, trying to stay in favour with the leaders of the Light whilst toadying to the Dark. James sincerely hoped the teenager would be all right and that he would never need to use the ring portkey he'd been given.

The next weekend, James had invited Alistair down to his quarters for the afternoon. After making the decision to consider adopting, it seemed sensible to make an attempt to get to know each other outside the restrictions of the school day, where they tried to keep strictly to a teacher-pupil relationship.

They didn't talk about much, certainly not anything important. They discussed the different League Quidditch teams and how stupid Geoffrey in sixth year was acting over his new girlfriend. Not having grown into those particular hormones, Alistair found it immensely funny whereas James sympathised but was just old enough not to feel a little insulted. James also helped Alistair with his homework in some of the subjects he found difficult, not of course in Defense Against the Dark Arts but in History of Magic in particular. It seemed that Binns was as boring as ever, so he passed on the tips that he'd been given in his first year on how to make up convincing goblin names that would fool almost any examiner.

They were having tea and biscuits, curled up together on the sofa, when Alistair suddenly went slightly red-faced, squirming slightly in his seat. James looked on with interest - it was highly unlikely the boy could say anything that would embarrass or upset him and it would be easy enough to deflect if he did. He waited a few minutes, seeing if he'd say it without prompting. It quickly became apparent that he believed it far too embarrassing.

"Spit it out then."

"Well . . . sir . . . James . . . if you don't mind me asking . . . "

"I don't bite," James said, trying to help him out. "If I don't want to answer something, I'll just tell you and we can forget about it."

"Are you and Professor Snape together?" he blurted at last, face Gryffindor red with embarrassment. "I mean like he's your boyfriend?"

While that hadn't been quite the question he'd been expecting, James was highly amused, more than a little amused as to which of the older Slytherins had put him up to it. Alistair was a nice boy but a bit young to be reading the subtle signs of a relationship. He was also Muggle-raised, less used to the idea that two men could be involved just as seriously as a man and a woman. He wondered what Severus would think about being called his 'boyfriend' - it sounded a little too adolescent to him.

"Yes," he answered candidly, trying to keep a straight face despite the humor he saw in the situation. "Does it bother you?"

"I . . . uh . . . well I didn't know that two guys could be together and . . . "

"And someone told you to ask so you could satisfy the gossips in Slytherin?" James guessed, knowing quite well what older students, Slytherins in particular, were apt to persuade the younger ones do to. "Don't worry, I was expecting them to try something like this since we aren't giving anything away to them."

"I don't mind sir, really," Alistair said earnestly. "Professor Snape is nice."

"How many Gryffindors do you think would faint if you said that?"

Alistair snickered, infected like all of his housemates with a feeling of great superiority over their more immature counterparts.

"Well Gryffindors are stupid sometimes."

"True. Now, I was going to wait until you were a bit older before explaining things to you but I'll give you a basic explanation. When you get a man who loves men rather than women, he's called a homosexual butI don't think anyone your age would use that word, they might be more likely to say the man was gay or queer or something along those lines. Either way, it happens in both the wizarding and Muggle worlds but people are more open about it in the wizarding world. Here the idea is that you love a person for their personality, not for their gender. You know about Charlie and Oliver, don't you?"

"I thought they were just friends," Alistair admitted innocently. "Like me and Simon. But you can't have children without a woman, can you?"

"Um . . . well not in that sense," James said carefully, trying very hard not to be the one to explain about the mechanics of sex. That task would fall to Madam Pomfrey for the girls and probably Severus for the boys. Whatever happened, it wouldn't be him. "We can adopt though and there are spells we can use so that it's like we're really a child's parent by blood as well. It means that there aren't many children who have to live in orphanages."

"Are you going to get married?" Alistair asked, not seeming to realise that it might not have been discussed.

"Wizards and witches don't usually get married. What actually happens is a ceremony called bonding. As to Severus and myself, it's a little too early to tell."

"Will you still want me if you're living with him?"

James felt a surge of sympathy for the little boy who thought he was about to lose him so soon after his parents. Feeling awkward, he put an arm around his shoulders.

"Alistair, I said I would look after you. Severus has also told you he'd look after you. Do you think that the fact that we live together would make any difference? I've always wanted to have children and I wouldn't give you up for anything."

"What brought this on? Severus asked from behind them. "I thought you were having tea, not a heart to heart confession."

James jumped, he hadn't heard him come in. Alistair had gone bright red again.

"Someone told Alistair about us being together so I was explaining to him," James managed to say casually.

"Who?"

"Older Slytherin I imagine, with suspicions but no concrete proof. We were just clearing up a few misconceptions, that's all. Do you want some tea?"

"Now you sound like Albus. Milky if you would, please. Do you understand now, Alistair?"

"Y-yes sir."

"You're welcome to come to talk to either of us at any time," Severus reminded him gently. He then changed the subject to a less personal one. "What do you think of our chances for the Hufflepuff game? James seems to think we should be worried about their beaters."

"They aren't bad but ours are better and all of our team is better. Their seeker is a seventh year who's so slow I could beat him on a school broom!"

Alistair left again just before dinner and Severus burst out laughing as soon as the portrait swung shut. James stared at him. Severus chuckled on occasion and he'd caught him grinning a couple of times but this was just worrying.

"Are you feeling okay?" he asked, getting a little scared.

"You really gave him the talk!" Severus gasped, attempting to calm himself down. "The look on your face . . . "

James scowled. It had been very difficult for him without the chance to think about what to say and now Severus was laughing at him. Then he smirked slightly.

"About all I told him was that it was possible for two guys to be together and that we still wanted him. I left all the mechanics of it for you. I'll warn you that he's a complete innocent - I think his mother kept him very sheltered. He didn't even know that two men together was even possible."

Severus sobered up immediately, thinking of all the awkward questions he'd be faced with when speaking to Alistair and his male year mates in their third year. He'd become used to the wizarding children and outgoing, independent muggleborns that were more common in Slytherin. The fact that someone could be eleven without even knowing about sex was, quite frankly, astonishing.

"Sorry for laughing," he said, thinking about the teasing he'd get when The Talk came round. "You just looked so uncomfortable and serious trying to explain it to him and he was even worse than you."

"I was trying very hard not to get into anything specific. I wonder how long it will take for the rumours to spread."

"Do you mind?"

"Not particularly. At least if they know I'm exclusively gay and it's not just rumours I won't get the girls . . . oh dear."

"What?"

"Valentine's Day is in less than a month."

The day of the Slytherin v. Hufflepuff Quidditch match dawned sunny and warm, much to the relief of the Hufflepuff team. They knew that the Slytherins had been unlucky in the timing of their training sessions and had had to cope with snow, hail and high winds. Besides, it was very uncomfortable flying in the cold - your hands tended to go numb whatever warming charms you used on them.

James and Severus sat in the front row of the teachers' box, James clad proudly in his new Slytherin robes as befitted the team coach. He'd also obtained a Slytherin banner off Alistair which he had hung proudly above him, right in front of Pomona, who sat directly behind him. She appeared most put out by it but the others all seemed entertained. Albus had suggested that Alistair could sit with them for the match but James had thought back to his own matches. It would be no fun for the kid if he couldn't boo the Hufflepuffs without Minerva taking points.

The Slytherin team zoomed onto the pitch first, just as Madam Hooch brought the balls out onto the grass. The wash of green in the stands cheered, making a few of the older teachers jump. James was pleased to see a few of the Ravenclaws joining them as he tapped his wand on the banner and it began to boom out 'SLYTHERIN'. Pomona Sprout looked like she was about to be sick - while normally an amiable sort of person, she got very competitive when her house was playing.

When the Hufflepuff had joined them in their canary yellow robes, James saw the two captains shake hands, the Hufflepuff looking a little nervous as Archie squeezed his hand a little harder than strictly necessary. Madam Hooch gave the word, they remounted and took their places and the game began.

Hufflepuff caught the Quaffle as she tossed it up and James watched in amazement as their youngest Chaser shot down the pitch, the Slytherin Beaters moving to head her off while the Chasers remained towards the Hufflepuff end. James almost jumped out of his seat in horror: this hadn't been a tactic they'd discussed!

The Keeper caught the shot and used his broom to send the Quaffle shooting back down the pitch, well past the Hufflepuff team who'd moved forwards to support their teammate. The Slytherins were then able to move forwards and score in the confusion. James allowed a smile of approval to sneak onto his face as he watched the commentator flick the score panel and give ten points to Slytherin.

In an arrow formation, the Chasers shot around the stadium in a victory lap, quickly returning to their positions to meet the next offensive.

Five minutes later, a Hufflepuff beater was taken to the infirmary with a bludger to the head. The Slytherin beater responsible claimed it was an accident, his counterpart's ineptitude at aiming and was given the benefit of the doubt. It was certainly a shot that could have been countered even if it was frowned upon. The game continued, Hufflepuff a player down.

After five more Slytherin goals, Hufflepuff managed to score and the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor stands went wild. At last, something was going in their favour. The Slytherin teachers kept their faces blank as Pomona started babbling with relief to Poppy.

Suddenly Severus shifted in his seat, head swinging round. James followed his gaze to see a blur of yellow twirling around one of the boxes to their right, the Slytherin seeker close behind and gaining. For his first year on the team the kid was really doing remarkably well - this would be his second catch if he made it.

As they rounded the tower and came back into view, they were no longer racing as strongly, the snitch appeared to have vanished. There was a collective sigh from the stands. Chaser action was good but nothing could quite match the speed or the danger that came from the Seekers.

It was an hour later before the seekers moved again from their position high above the rest of the players. This time it was Davis in the lead, the smaller figure diving almost straight down, arm outstretched, the Hufflepuff in his wake. Even the Chasers seemed to pause for a moment, watching.

The Seekers neared the ground fifty metres . . . thirty . . . twenty . . .

A cheer went up from the stands, deafening everyone. Davis, the brave little thirteen year old, had caught the snitch and was standing proudly in the middle of the pitch, snitch held high in his fist as he turned to acknowledge the applause. A moment later, he was swamped by his teammates and swung up on their shoulders as they bore him, still holding onto his prize, back towards the castle.

A/N: Well there you go. Please review, I've always been a little insecure about the Quidditch and I really need some feedback here if I'm going to improve.