Disclaimer: See Chapter I

Also, I'd like to thank those of you who have taken some time to read and review my work (you know who you are). Your kind words have been felt and hope the wait hasn't been too long for this next installment as I'm trying to update my work every three chapters or roughly once every ten days. One final bit of thanks to the Harry Potter Lexicon that is quite the resource for anything Harry Potter related. Please note that this work should now be considered AU since Bk V has hit the streets.

Chapter XVII: Veritaserum Blues

"So, tell me, Harry, you have a girl or two waiting for you?"

"I haven't any, else I wouldn't be here would I?"

Alice laughed, straddled him, and ran her hands through her hair. Harry raised a hand and embraced her as Alice moved slowly against him. Leaning forward he buried his face between her breasts, and started to move in tandem with her. Slowly, Harry could feel her heat, and hear her groaning, her voice crying out for him…

Harry awoke with a start, aware that he wasn't in bed with Alice, that he had been dreaming, and that the Halloween Ball was less then a week away. And the unpleasant memories from the night before were all too real.

Snap out of it, asshole. What's done is done, and nothing you can do will change it. All you have left is duty, duty to friends and what family you have left. So knock this moping shit off, put on your poker face, and carry on.

Harry dragged himself out of bed (after looking around to make sure no one could see he was still excited after his dream), picked up a bathrobe and towel, and staggered off to the bathroom. There, he washed, and spent a deal of time beneath one of the showerheads, trying to empty his mind and generally relax as Harry knew he was as badly wound up now as he was those first couple days back during the summer. True, the training in Wales and back in London with his uncle had done wonders for his confidence and state of mind (odd as it had seemed, his brushes with death had actually made him control his nightmares, as he had learned the old soldier's primary lesson: if it bleeds, it can be killed and wasn't to be feared). Yet, the hostility of much of the school, coupled with how Cho had smashed him up, left him reeling emotionally.

Trying not to think of the previous evening, Harry finished washing, and walked down to the War Room for the morning briefing. Entering, he noticed the morning group was watching him intently as he approached the table and sat down.

Alex spoke first, handing Harry a small envelope, "Morning, Harry. I've welcome news for you. We received a letter from Sirius and Remus. Apparently they have finished their mission and are returning to England. They should be able to see you in a couple more weeks." Harry brightened as he took the envelope and ripped it open. It read: Dear Harry, Allow Moony and I to say well done in getting that position as Student Head of Hogwarts Security. Now, I know you haven't seen us in a while, and since I'm sure you're busy with your post and getting ready for the school ball (with a very pretty young woman, no doubt), why don't you come by the Hog's Head tavern on November 1, around eight o'clock. Moony will be there wearing a blue-black cloak, and a hat with an ostrich feather in his wizard cap. Contact will be established in that he will ask you if you have found an Albus Dumbledore card in any chocalate frogs lately. You will answer you have 'found more then you can count'. Memorize this phrase and burn the letter, and don't forget your tradecraft on your way to the meet. See you then, Harry, and have fun at the ball. Padfoot. Harry felt himself relax somewhat as he knew his godfather and another of his father's friends were going to meet with him soon.

Alex, as Harry was reading, turned to Snape, who looked quite grave. "There was a small scale attack yesterday by several lower-ranking members of the Dark Lord's group. One muggle was dragged off of road, and…" Snape described a sadistic scene of torture and dismemberment before concluding, "After which, Voldemort used the Killing Curse to finish the muggle off." Moody asked, "Where did this event occur?"

"Twenty miles from the Lithuanian border in Latvia. The Dark Lord has a great deal of followers and infrastructure established in the region."

"How did you go there?" Harry asked out of curiosity.

"After we apparated to our meeting with him, we took a special portkey to a facility that has been set up in Latvia."

Harry asked a question that had been bothering him since he found out Katrina had been Snape's daughter. "Tell me, sir, is that why you had your daughter brought over here? Weren't you afraid that your associates would attempt to use her as leverage against you?"

Snape looked at Harry coolly (though with only a little malevolence present in previous years), and nodded, "Despite my…reputation, I genuinely give a damn for certain people. Since the eastern European countries are heavily into the dark arts, I decided over the summer she would be safer here at Hogwarts then at Grigorich. So I had my wife's sister Ms. Ramius bring herself and Katrina over here, where I can be sure the security is more…reliable. Also, I have made it clear to the members of the Inner Circle that Ada has raised my daughter to be quite unlike myself and my beliefs and that for public appearances, I am going along with it."

Snape grimaced, "I don't intend on my daughter to follow the same gory road that I have, or to suffer at the hands of the animals which I am forced to deal with." The tone of his voice indicated that the conversation was over.

Harry felt his respect for Snape rise somewhat. Whatever else you can say about him, the cold bastard has balls of steel, Harry thought to himself. It took a special sort of individual to play a game of double cross (Snape, as his way of 'penance' to get back into the Dark Lord's graces, pretended he was supplying the Dark Lord with information, when in fact the only information he was supplying was cleverly doctored information, or 'chickenfeed' in spy jargon, supplied by Moody and Alex. Harry also had the sneaky suspicion that Snape had had a personal hand in the demise of the late, unlamented Professor Karkaroff.), knowing that your enemy knew your one real weakness.

Looking at each of them, he asked, "Ma'am, I'm curious as to why the Headmaster and the Order hasn't gone public with news of Voldemort's return? Wouldn't it be better if we attempted to start warnings as soon…"

Figgs looked at him, "No it wouldn't. You have seen the way things are handled? The only reason Fudge hasn't made a move on Dumbledore is that he is afraid of the uproar it would cause since while there are enough people who believe in him for him to keep teaching and with little interference from Fudge, it isn't enough for us to start being more vocal then we currently are. Were we to attack Fudge in the Press, or via international means…"

Shaking her head, Figgs continued, "Were we to do that, it would only ensure that Fudge would have an easier time putting the squeeze on us. Thus we have no choice but to operate in secret, and hope that what time we buy now will be enough since it is only a matter of when the Dark Lord strikes in a very major way."

Harry could only nod his head, and hope Dumbledore knew what the hell he was doing.

The rest of the briefing was the usual, as the only thing that occurred had been the Weasley twins detonating a series of dung-bombs outside Filch's office. Alex found the whole incident quite amusing, and asked, "Are you sure it was them?"

"Of course it was, who else do you think could have caused such mania? Their punishment shall be…"

"Detention with me for at least two weeks. No house points deducted."

After that, Harry said good day, and headed off for the Great Hall. Entering, he found that much of the school was awake and eating breakfast. Harry saw Ron, Hermione, Doc, and the twins at the Gryffindor table. Walking over, he saw that all of them were looking at him strangely. Filling a glass with orange juice, Harry sipped it and asked, "Well, a good morning to you all. What seems to be the problem?"

Hermione looked at him incredulously, "Harry, are you all right? Ron and I were worried after you left and didn't return by the time we went to bed." Fred chipped in, "Ron and Hermione filled me, George, and Doc in on what happened. How ye feeling?"

Piling his plate with food, Harry took a bite out of an egg before replying, "Better then before." Looking down at his food, Harry began eating, hoping this would kill the conversation, as he could feel bits and pieces of adrenaline and anger in his blood, like a bottle of beer in which the dregs at the bottom had been stirred and mixed. 

Hermione wouldn't let it up however. "Harry, she had no right to…"

"Hermione, just give it a rest. Please." Harry's tone sounded the way he felt: beaten down, and ground up.

Ron nudged Hermione quiet as Harry absently picked at his food, and asked the twins, "So, whom are you two bringing to the ball?"

Fred grinned. "Angelina for me, and Katie Bell for George."

 Harry smiled, and raised his goblet of juice in a mock toast, "Congratulations. What about you, Ron?" By now Harry's voice was sounding almost jovial, which was pure bullshit on his part.

Ron seemed stumped, "I don't know yet."

Hermione spoke, "I think I'll probably go alone, maybe keep you company Harry?"

"No dice, Hermione. I'll be on duty, and that is the way it will go down. Sorry."

Harry's hope for a quick change of conversation was realized as Neville spilled a jug of milk on to the table. Looking over at him, Harry could see he was shaking like a leaf, worse then after the firefight in Wales. Getting up, Harry walked over and told Neville to follow him into the hallway as he helped him mop up the milk. Neville did so, and out in the hallway, Harry pressed on him his flask (filled this time with straight, Canadian whiskey) and asked him, "Right, what is Snape going to do to you?"

Neville choked and asked gasping, "What the… how did you…"

"Look, I overheard you and your…lady friend talking last night. Don't give me that look!" Neville was staring at him goggle-eyed and seemed to be mouthing something about eavesdropping. "With the way you two were talking, I'm surprised fucking Filch didn't can your ass. Now, what is that prick going to do to you."

Neville sighed, "If you heard that much, then you should have heard I can't tell a living damn soul about what I'm doing. SHIT!" Swearing, he turned and walked away, but Harry called out to him, "Listen, Nev. If you ever need my help, tap that rifle call Uncle Alex taught us. All right?" Neville nodded, and walked off. Harry watched him turn a corner, and left.

Harry hoped Neville knew what the hell he was doing, for today was probably going to be Neville's version of Harry's yesterday.

*          *          *

History of Magic went by fast for Harry as he spent his time wondering what was going to happen in Potions, and as soon as the bell sounded, hurried off ahead of Ron and Hermione to the Potions classroom. Entering it, he saw that Neville had made it ahead of him (Neville had left about five minutes before the class ended, saying his stomach wasn't feeling too good, and Alex had sympathetically allowed him to go to the latrine and then to his next class) and was in a quiet conversation with Snape. Harry could tell Neville had the same look on his face the night around the bonfire, and was steeling himself for something approaching.

As soon as the rest of the class started entering the classroom, Neville returned to his seat next to Katrina, as Malfoy and the Slytherins entered the classroom. Ron and Herimione took their usual seats beside him. Hermione whispered, "What's wrong with Neville? He seems jumpy." Harry muttered under his breath, "Snape is going to test him on something. Apparently, it has something to do with the fact Katrina and Nev are an item."

Any further conversation was stopped as Snape got up and looked at his class, moving a chair in front of his desk. Conversation stopped as all eyes turned to him. Snape smiled coldly, " Some of you are no doubt wondering how badly you will fail when I would test you today on poison antidotes. No doubt, you are wondering if you should have paid more attention and not engaged in the stupidity which you are all monumentally blessed with." Looking around, "Let me just say this: today fortune, if not your brains, are with you. Today, we shall be examining the effects of truth potions. Specifically, the effects of Veritaserum." Snape held up a bottle containing a clear, thick liquid. While there were major sighs of relief in the class, Harry went cold as he realized what Snape was going to do. You goddamn son of a bitch bastard…Harry mentally raged.

Hermione raised a hand. "Yes, Ms. Granger?"

"Sir, I thought it was against Ministry regulations for Veritaserum to be used on students."

"So it is. Which is why I have here," Snape held up a piece of parchment covered in writing. "A form that will be signed by the student who will be given the potion. The form states that this test is purely voluntary, and that student has given permission for Veritaserum to be used. Now, will Mr. Longbottom please step forward?" Neville got up and moved to the front of the classroom where Snape asked him. "Do you have any reservations to be part of this demonstration?"

"No, Sir." Harry could tell Neville was using every bit of steel and willpower in him to not lose control.

"Very well, do sign here, and then sit down." Neville did as he was told, and sat down on the chair. Snape folded the parchment and placed it in a pocket in his pocket, the removed an eyedropper. Using it, he filled it with clear Veritaserum from the bottle on his desk, and ordered Neville. "Open your mouth and sit back." Neville did so, and Snape carefully released three drops from the eyedropper into Neville's mouth. Snape then explained to the class, "Veritaserum is the strongest truth potion currently known to the wizard world. Maximum effective dosage is three droplets. Effects take approximately six seconds to take affect the subject, and last three hours unless an antidote is administered. The antidote is your standard poison antidote involving bezoar stones and dragon liver."

Snape pointed out the physical signs of Veritaserum usage, then removed four quills and passed them out to Malfoy, Bulstrode, Dean, and Hermione. He began, "Now, this shall demonstrate to you the full effectiveness of this potion. Will Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Bulstrode, Ms. Granger, and Mr. Thomas please use the dictation quills I have provided to record the following demonstration." Snape turned to Neville.

"State your full name, year, and house."

"Neville Francis Longbottom, Fifth Year, Gryffindor."

"Now, tell us Mr. Longbottom two nicknames you have had during your 'illustrious' school career."

"Gryffindor Klutz, and the Moron."

The Slytherins laughed, and Harry looked on as Neville, sitting with a detached look on his face stared into the distance. Harry looked at Neville's eyes, and knew that he was suffering with worry over what Snape was going to ask next, and hoping he would show some mercy.

Snape, however, must not have known the meaning of the word as, after ten minutes going over various disasters in school, he started on the line of questioning Harry and Neville had been dreading, and the Slytherins were waiting for.

"Tell me, Mr. Longbottom, do you know what sexual intercourse is. Also known as: shagging, sex, screwing, fucking, etc.?"

"Yes"

"What is your preference, young man: girls, other boys, animals, corpses perhaps?"

"Just women"

The Slytherins of the class were laughing, and even the Gryffindors were looking on in curiosity. Neville's face was still expressionless, but Harry could tell by his eyes this was paining him to have his innermost secrets brought forth and exposed for the world to see. Especially in front of a girl he obviously was trying not to disappoint. Turning his head, Harry watched Katrina, and saw in her face compassion and understanding to Neville, as well as pain for what he was going through. This only stoked his rage against Snape, even as he realized what Snape was doing.

Snape was doing the obvious thing a father should do: protecting his daughter by interrogating any boy that came close to her. Yet…

This shit is overkill, but I can't do anything without the signal from Neville, Harry fumed inwardly.

Snape was continuing his interrogation.

"Have you ever masturbated?"

"Yes"

"Have you ever been intimate, i.e. had intercourse, i.e. shagged or slept with, a woman or girl?"

"Yes"

"How many?"

"Eight"

There was a note of surprise throughout the classroom, with Malfoy actually exclaiming, "He can't possibly be telling the truth!" Snape ignored this and continued. "Indeed…tell us their names and occupations."

Harry could tell Neville was uncomfortable with this as he named eight of the ten girls at Meg's. Snape appeared to ask another question before Malfoy jumped, "Describe to us your first time with one of the women you mentioned. And how much you had to pay." He was leering.

Neville spoke in his Veritaserum induced, emotionless voice. "My first time was after I returned from a trip to Wales with a friend of my Uncles. She was an Irish girl named Deirdre, and cost one hundred galleons…" From there, he described every moment he had spent with his woman that time he had gone with Duds, Harry and Alex to the brick house in Soho. It looked as though he was going to die then and there as he described every single detail of the coupling. Snape, in a change Harry noticed, glowered at Malfoy almost as malevolently as he had once glared at Harry.

Harry then heard it as Neville finished his tale (to the laughter of the Slytherins), the signal he had been waiting for. Tat Tat Rat-Tat-Tat. Neville was sounding retreat, using his knuckles on the side of the chair he was sitting on.

Steeling his face, Harry slowly rose as Neville concluded, "After we finished, we lay in bed as she let me explore her body with my fingertips." Harry looked over at Snape, and spoke, "Sir, as part of the collection of tools given to me as Head of Security, I will ask my classmate precisely ten questions. Will that be a problem?"

Snape looked at him, silently asking What are you playing at, Potter, but questioned the way it was, Snape had no choice but to nod. Harry turned to Neville as soon as Snape nodded and asked, "Tell me Neville, besides having the sexual appetite of an older man, have you ever done anything else which you have kept to yourself?"

"I killed three men in Wales."

The class gasped, and Snape looked wide-eyed at Neville. Harry ignored them, and continued, "Describe the circumstances of your killing those three men."

"We were to set a vehicular ambush against a group of muggle, Irish terrorists. One of us, a friend of mine, volunteered to be a decoy, and pretend to be wounded to stop the convoy. He did so, but only at the expense of himself, for it appeared he was going to be tortured and murdered in the middle of the road. My friend started the ambush when he jabbed his torturer in the eye with a pencil he had kept in his sleeve. After that, everyone opened fire with the muggle weapons we were equipped with. I fired six shots, and hit two targets, killing one with three rounds. The other man went down and was riddled with gunfire from other weapons besides my own. As soon as the second man went down, I leapt over the hedge, and ran to my friend, and tossed him his weapon."

Neville continued speaking, going on as the men of second platoon killed the terrorists until only two had made it into the woods, during which Neville killed one as he ran to the woods. Then he spoke of the hunt within the woods.

"We spread out, hunting the stragglers. The vegetation was thick and we got separated. Duds and I stalked up behind a man, and as he turned we saw he was a friend of ours who almost shot us. He lowered his rifle, yet as he was doing so the two whom we were looking for started to rise. My friend threw himself to the ground as he must have heard or sensed something behind him. Duds and I opened fire. I know I killed one for I aimed at the head of one, and watched the head disintegrate as a round hit it. My friend was saved, and since the other terrorist was still alive, we took him prisoner."

"The name of your friend, Neville?"

"Harry Potter"

The silence within the room was stifling, so Harry continued. "Explain to us what happened on Hogwarts Express on its trip here."

"I was talking with Katrina Snape when Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and two second years made their way into the cabin. Malfoy somehow knew that Katrina was from Grigorich, and proceeded to make advances shy of rape against her. When I informed him to stop, he ordered his goons to restrain me, whereupon I kicked one of them…"

Neville described the fight that followed, and how Harry and Doc had helped him out. As soon as he finished, Harry asked, "So, tell me…You knew full well that you were going to get beaten, that the odds weren't in your favor. Why did you not only fight, but attack them first?"

"Katrina was a woman in need of help, and there was no way I could allow those people to do what they wanted to do to her. Also, even though, I had met her only an hour earlier, I…I…" Even with the Veritaserum, Neville was obviously uncomfortable saying what he was going to say next. Harry couldn't blame him, as the entire class was riveted on every word he was speaking. Snape was watching Neville, one finger rapping against his upper lip.

Neville finally got out his answer, "Ever since that moment at the train station, I have been in love with her."

The class seemed to break out in chaos, but Harry stopped it as he slammed a palm against Snape's table, and waited for the class to shut up. Quietly, Harry asked his friend, "Are you sure of this?"

"Yes, for I know merely wanting a woman after that time at Meg's over the summer. This is different, as I think of her every moment of my life, and I enjoy nothing more then to be in her company."

"Would you lay down your life for this girl?"

"Gladly, and with a smile on my face."

Harry paced in front of Neville, then turned to look him in the face. "You have whored, and now love a very nice girl. What do you suppose your parent's would say about all of this?"

"I don't know, they were lost to me when I was barely a year old."

"How?"

"They were driven insane when they were tortured under the Cruciatus curse by the Lestranges, young Crouch, and other Death Eaters after the initial demise of the Dark Lord."

A moment earlier there had been noise of chaos, now there was only dead silence. Harry decided to finish things now.

"Neville, do you regret, now, having had anything to do with Katrina? Do you still care for her in other words?"

"I will always love and care for her, and would go through every painful moment in my life again for her…And also for my friends."

Harry said, "Thank you, Neville for your time. And for my life."

Turned to Snape, and nodded. Snape, his face expressionless, removed a vial of black liquid and gave it to Neville. "Drink," he commanded.

Neville drank the potion, and the dozing look that had been on his face as he was under the truth serum vanished to be replaced with a look of shock, and nausea. Snape asked, "If you need to, you are excused to go to the bathroom or Madame Pomfrey." Neville nodded, and staggered out of the classroom. Katrina, who had looked on in horror as she heard what had happened to the boy who loved her, packed her bag, picked up Neville's and walked out, staring at her father briefly. Snape looked back, and nodded at her, pointing to the door.

With that, she left and as she did so, Snape drew his wand, pointed it at Malfoy's parchment, and spoke, "Incindio" The parchment burst into flames briefly, and was reduced to a pile of ash. In short order, the other three were destroyed as well, and it was then the bell rang. Snape dismissed them, warning them that they would suffer unspeakable consequences if it became known to him that they were using the information Neville had divulged against Neville.

Harry walked with Hermione and Ron out of the classroom, hoping he had done the right thing as he felt as though he had been pulling the wings off a fly when he had joined in the interrogation. Hermione asked him, "Harry, don't you think we should report this to…"

"No, and I don't think Neville would want us to either."

"Why?"

"Trust me, right now the last thing on his mind is for this to get any worse then it already is."

Hermione seemed subdued, and then said, "I still say we should go and help him out."

Ron answered that one, "You see the way Katrina burst out of the classroom? Nah, Neville's got all the company he needs. Pity I don't have a girl like that to take to the Halloween ball…" He said the last quite mournfully, as though it were beyond him as to why that was so.

Hermione took offense at this and yelled at him, "Well, maybe if you weren't such a blind, jealous fool, maybe someone would take you." With that, she stormed off as Ron was still working up a response. He finally gave up and kept walking. Harry suddenly had an idea, one that had been itching at him since the start of the school year.

"Ron, you ever thought of asking Hermione out? You do like her, don't you?"

Ron looked at him, and then away. Harry could tell he was starting to flush. "Yeah, it's just that…Bloody hell! I don't know what to do."

Harry smiled, and told him as they turned a corner on their way to lunch, "It's quite simple Ron: make a pass at her. Go and chase her down, apologize and let your real feelings become known to her."

Ron squirmed, "But…with the way I've been treating her, and always fighting her and…" Harry, feeling exasperated, grabbed Ron by the shoulder and slammed him against the wall. Holding him there, Harry hissed at him, "Don't be so goddamn stupid, Ron! You have feelings for her right?" Ron nodded and Harry continued.

"Then for Heaven's sake make them known to her! Christ! With the way you two have been bickering since I've known you, both of you might as well be carrying around a big sign saying you are a couple!"

Looking at Ron in the eye, Harry decided to share a little something he had been thinking a great deal of the since the previous evening. "Ron, if you love or even like a girl even a little, then don't bottle it up. Make a go at her. Even if she does, on the really long goddamn chance, turn you down, you will at least know that you made a go at it. You want to know why you shouldn't delay? If you delay and delay, and try to rationalize some things, then the initiative,  moment will be lost, and I know it is lost forever based on some pretty goddamn painful fucking experience."

Breathing hard, Harry pulled his hand away and turned. He spoke one last time, "Ron, as a friend, I'm telling you, don't lose the moment, and go after your girl, for if you keep losing the moment, there will come a time when that moment will be your last, and if you don't take, any chance you may have had will be lost for fucking ever, and you'll be regretting it for a long goddamn time." With that, Harry walked away and headed for the Great Hall.

Ron didn't follow him, and Harry made his way over to the Gryffindor table where he took a seat next to Doc, who was talking with Ginny and Colin with a large package between Doc and the couple. Harry politely nodded greetings to them and sat down to eat. "Hey Harry, come here and look at my costume!" Doc exclaimed, pointing. Harry looked over to see that the package contained a 1940s era American uniform, with Ike jacket, khaki shirt, khaki tie, khaki trousers, side cap, brown socks and oxford laceups. Looking at the belt buckle, Harry smiled and asked, " I take it your grandfather was a Manchu, eh?" Doc smiled, "How did you know it was my grandfather? And to answer your question…Keep Up the Fire!" Doc barked out the unit motto for the Ninth United States Infantry Regiment. Harry explained, "I knew it was your grandfather because that is a Second Infantry Division 'Indianhead' patch on the right shoulder, and the last time that unit saw action was in the 1950s during the Korean War. Since it there is a One-Oh-One Airborne Division patch on the left, the unit he was last assigned to, and that unit last saw service in the Persian Gulf War. Also, two of those ribbons indicate service in the European theater during World War Two, and another is the Korean War ribbon. Judging by your age, I don't think your father served in Korea. Now, as for the what regiment I can recognize the dragon insignia with the nine in the middle anywhere since one of the men in my uncle's unit in Wales was a Yank who served in the Ninth from 79-80 in Korea."

Doc grinned, "Probably knew my dad then. He was in that unit when my dad's friend Uncle Kyung was a Korean attached to the US Army, they're called KATUSAs by the way, and introduced him to my ma."

Colin looked at him, "You're part Korean?" Doc, smiling, spoke, "Guray? Thul-ba?" Seeing their expressions, he explained, "That is Korean for 'Yeah, got a problem with that?' I know I don't look like it, my father's blood is real strong in me, but I was born in Korea and much of my life before I went to the New Orleans Academy was going to schools on US bases in the states and in Korea."

He spent the next few minutes regaling them with tales of life growing up in Korea, and then Harry asked Colin and Ginny, "So what will you two be dressed up as? I know it's going to be keeping with the 1940s theme." It had been decided by Ms. Ramius (who was organizing the first of the three school events) to have a 1940s theme, and suddenly the school was alive with people trying on seersucker suit, and fedoras, and old muggle military uniforms. Harry was rather grateful as this ensured he could just throw on the suit and hat his uncle had got for him, and not have to worry about looking out-of-place as he really hadn't the heart to try and make a grand costume.

Ginny smiled, "I got this green dress my grandmother wore back then, and I had my mom tailor it for me for just this occasion." Colin smiled, "A lot like Doc's actually, mine is British whilst his is Yank." "American, you limey, as we in Louisiana take umbrage at being called Yankee," Doc shot back, smiling. Ginny looked at Harry, and asked smiling, "So, whom are you going with? Cho?" Harry cocked his head, and looked at her quizzically. Thought she already knew…, he thought to himself, and answered, "No, not with Cho… I got the duty of going it alone whilst I have the duty." Harry pointed at the badge. Ginny's smile disappeared, and she asked, "But Harry, I thought she wasn't going with anyone since…" Harry quietly explained to her and those at the table what had happened, and judging by the looks on their faces they were outraged, but they were saved from further response by Doc, who glanced towards the door, and then looked back again as quickly. Doc nudged to Harry and pointed to the door. Harry looked over to the door, and saw Ron, shy and flushing a bit, with his hand entwined with Hermione's, who also looked the same way. Smiling, Harry got up and picked up an empty goblet. Removing his flask, he charged it with about a bit of whiskey, and looked over at Ginny and Colin, "Look who's coming down the hallway."

It seemed that just as Harry said that the rest of the student body must have realized that as Harry could here from the Slytherin table, "Look, it's that Granger girl and some Weasley." Nothing bothered the couple as they came up and sat down next to Harry. Grinning, Harry raised his goblet, and looked at Ron, "I take it she said yes, eh Ron?" Ron seemed to turn as red as his hair, and as he nodded, he said, "Thanks for the advice, Harry." Hermione looked at Harry, and also said, "Thank you, Harry." With that, she turned, and promptly kissed Ron on the forehead. This was greeted with cheers and clapping from Ron's brothers, who were sitting and chatting up their dates Katie and Angelina for the ball.

Harry, feeling glad he had done something right for once and brought some happiness to his friends, raised his goblet in salute, and drank down the fiery alcohol.