Chapter 4

Harry had excused himself from the table the next morning, only to have Jedediah follow him into the guestroom.

"So, Potter. Care to share why you're here?" Jedediah asked conversationally. "After all, don't you live with Black?"

Harry frowned at Jedediah. "Why do you want to know?"

Jedediah shrugged. "I'm going to be keeping you company for the rest of the summer. I have a right to know."

Harry raised his eyebrows. "No, you don't."

Jedediah shook his head. "OK, well, are you going to come with me tonight or not, Potter? I'm being gracious by even asking you."

"Tonight?" Harry sat down in a chair, looking at the other boy with a frown. "What's going on tonight?"

Jedediah sighed exasperatedly, and he lay down on the bed, looking at Harry in pure annoyance. "Weren't you listening to anything that I was talking about last night? You were completely ignoring me then or were you just deaf?"

"Actually, I fell asleep half-way through your speech about how you hate your parents for splitting up," Harry replied coldly.

Jedediah narrowed his eyes. "Well, since I can tell you're being sarcastic, did you not hear me ask you if you wanted to come to this place with me?"

Harry raised his eyebrows. " 'This place'? What do you mean?"

Jedediah shrugged. "We both have problems, and usually I solve my problems by going to a… pub. It usually helps a lot for these problems. And, seeing as how you obviously have some problems, I thought that you'd want to come, too. If not, I'm going out on my own."

Harry scowled at Jedediah. "How do you know that I have some 'problems'? And even if I do, it's none of your business."

"Fine," Jedediah said. "But I asked. Oh, and Potter? Whether you come or not, you better not tell my Uncle and his wife where I'm going. I doubt that they'd like me getting drunk, so I better have your word that you won't tell."

"I'll think about it," Harry said, keeping eye contact with the boy. But, before Jedediah could reply, Isabella appeared in the doorway.

"Sorry boys, but do you mind if I talk to Harry?" she asked.

Jedediah threw Harry a warning look, but agreed to let Isabella take him anyway.

"Something wrong, Mrs. Jessup?" Harry asked once he was in the hall.

"Harry," Isabella started, "as much as I love you being here with us, I really want you to reconcile with Sirius. You both mean so much to each other, and I imagine it's hurting Sirius not to have you there with him."

"I know," Harry started quietly. "That's why… I'm going to try to work things out in a day or two. Possibly tomorrow, it depends."

A wide grin settled onto Isabella's face, and she wrapped a friendly arm around his shoulder, bringing him into a one-armed hug. "That's what I wanted to hear. You shouldn't end your relationship with Sirius just because he has bad choices in choosing girls, OK Harry? Sooner or later Sirius will come to his senses."

Harry grinned. "I hope." Then he bit his lip, looking hesitant before he asked, "Allyson was over at your barbeque that time. Can you tell me what you know about her?"

Isabella leaned up against the wall, looking thoughtful. "I don't know much about her. The only reason I invited her then was because she had just moved here and barely knew anybody. I was just being nice, so I can't really say anything about her."

Harry nodded and smiled. "All right, thanks Mrs. Jessup."

Harry walked back into the guestroom to find Jedediah looking at Harry's owl, which Isabella had kindly let stay in the guestroom on the desk.

When Jedediah noticed Harry come back into the room, he nodded his head towards his owl. "That your bird?"

Harry frowned. "Yes, it is my owl."

"What's its name?"

"Hedwig," Harry replied, sitting back down in the chair. "So you actually go out and get drunk because you have some problems?"

Jedediah shrugged. "Sometimes. So are you coming or not?"

Harry shook his head. "Not."

Jedediah bristled for a moment, then seemed to relax as he shrugged his shoulders. "Fine, Potter. Like I said before, I offered."

——

"Potter!" Jedediah hissed. "Shut it! Can't you see I'm busy here?"

Harry watched as Jedediah opened the window and stuck his legs out. "I don't think you should do it," he said calmly. "What if Mr. or Mrs. Jessup find you gone? What if you get too drunk and can't find your way back here?"

Jedediah threw Harry a look. "Then come with me! You can stay sober and lead me back here if I become too drunk. If not, then just shut it and go back to sleep."

Harry bit his lip. Why should he help a Slytherin? But still, somehow he didn't want Isabella or Julian to become worried if Jedediah didn't come back in the morning. And if Jedediah did become too intoxicated and couldn't find his way back, who knows where he'd go?

"Fine," Harry agreed as Jedediah finally got himself out of the window. "I'll come with you, but I'll stay sober."

"Fine with me. Least I'll have some company. Now hurry up and get out the window."

When Harry was standing on the front lawn, he followed Jedediah down the driveway. "Where are we going?" Harry asked.

"I told you, a pub."

"Aren't we underage?"

"Just by two years or so," Jedediah argued. "Listen, if you're going to keep complaining I shouldn't of even invited you at all."

As they made their way down the road to one of the pubs, Harry had kept quiet the whole time. Mainly thinking about how awful the argument with Sirius had been, and how eager he was to apologize.

"We'll go in through the back way," Jedediah whispered to Harry once they passed the pub and walked to the back where a single door was.

"Somebody'll catch us," Harry said firmly. "Why don't we just go back to Mrs. Jessup's house? I'm sure she has a drink there for you. Maybe water?"

"Don't be an arse," Jedediah said, opening the door and stepping inside. They were inside of a storage room. "Come on, Potter. There's a door up here, probably leading into the pub."

Jedediah led Harry towards the door and opened it. In front of them was a dimly lit pub with chairs and tables, and a counter up near the wall where they ordered the drinks.

"Do you have money?" Harry asked as Jedediah walked up the counter, waiting for somebody to take his order.

Jedediah held up money. "I took it from Isabella."

"What can I getcha, sonny?" An obese man asked, his elbows leaning on the counter. He had his hand held out in front of Jedediah, who shoved the money into it.

"Rum," Jedediah replied.

"And you?" The man turned to Harry.

Jedediah glanced at Harry. "Oh, him? He'll have V—"

"Nothing," Harry interrupted, turning to glare at Jedediah. "I'll have nothing, thanks."

Moments later, the man returned with a cupful of rum and placed it in front of Jedediah. Jedediah picked the cup up and put it his mouth, drinking it in one swig.

He shook his head as if trying to clear it, then clapped his hand down on the table and ordered for another. Harry watched in amazement as Jedediah drank, then ordered more. Soon, he became too drunk to think clearly.

"My life stinks," Jedediah mumbled, clumsily banging on the counter for another drink. "Parents gettin' divorced. What else coul' happen tah me? Garghh - Hey, you! Person dat served the drinks! Over here… gimme more."

"I'm gonna have to cut you off," the man replied as soon as he came over. "You're as drunk as it is. You're not driving, are you?"

"No, we're walking," Harry interrupted. "And I think we'll leave now."

Harry tugged on Jedediah's arm, trying to stand him up. Jedediah could barely even walk.

"Yer the bloody boy-who-lived," Jedediah said as soon as they got outside. "You don' have no problems atall, do yeh? No… I din' think so… I wish my bloody life coul' be like yurs. 'Cept for almost gettin' killed every bloody day. But the fame catches my atten—atten—wha'ever."

Harry didn't make any reply as he tried to help Jedediah back to Isabella's house.

"Yer not gonna men-chen this tah Izzabella, are yah?" Jedediah asked. "'Cause if yeh do, I'll hate you thish much." Then he spread his arms out wide. "So you keep thish our lil' secret, righ'?"

"Sure," Harry muttered as they stepped onto the grass and stood underneath the window. "Now I'll go in first so I can help you up, OK?"

Jedediah nodded as Harry started to climb through the window. When he was standing in the guestroom, who leaned out the window to help Jedediah out.

"Why don't I go get you a glass of water?" Harry suggested. "Maybe it'll help you a bit."

"Shure, wha'ever," Jedediah muttered, climbing into his cot. "I'mma goin' to sleep now."

Harry never bothered to get the glass of water, since he went into his own bed and fell asleep.

——

A/N: If you read this, then please review! Thanks!