All right, so this chapter took forever to post I know. I suck at my life. I was going to add on more but I need to figure out what day it is before I can write anymore and I kept putting it off, so I thought I'd post what I have now while I'm avoiding two papers, a presentation, studying for a test, and a debate on whether Disney is evil. Hope you enjoy it and I'll push my butt off this chair to finish the calendar so I can write during my boring classes again and stay awake. :) Happy reading.

Hermione twirled her hair around her finger while mumbling to herself in the chair next to his bed. "Hermione?"

She jumped and dropped her hand to her lap. "I am so sorry. I thought that I had put all the pieces together, but I didn't and I'm sorry. I didn't want to ask you if I could prove for myself that it wasn't true, and then you were gone and I didn't know what to do and then you asked and I had to say and I didn't want to lie, but I couldn't believe that so many people believed, and the Gryffindors were horrible and I didn't take into account wizarding views on homosexuality and even though I said I believed it that doesn't mean that I'm against it and even though it was a bet, if you ever decided that that lifestyle is for you I would totally support you."

Harry clapped his hand over her mouth. "Hermione, do you ever breathe?" He dropped his hand.

She smiled and bit her lip. "I'm sorry. I wasn't sure you'd listen and I didn't want to get thrown out before I could apologize."

Harry sighed. "I know that I've been inaccessible lately. It was on purpose. I wasn't ready yet."

She threw her arms around him. "I am sorry and I know you're different then you were last year, but I don't want to lose you."

"Get off." Hermione jumped back and Harry pressed his palms against his leg where her elbows dug into him. He took a few deep breaths. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bemy legs are burned."

She covered her mouth. "Sorry!"

He waved his arm at her. "It's okay. You didn't know." He shook his head. "It's not healing very quickly." He took the cream off the side table and rubbed it in.

Hermione winced. "What happened? I went down for breakfast and there was a huge crowd being held back and then they were all sent back to the common rooms and then I heard that you were in the hospital wing."

Harry pulled the cover back up and smiled. "We got Cali back."

She jumped up, pulled herself back, and patted his shoulder lightly. "That's great! Is she okay?"

"She's still unconscious." He took his glasses off the side table. "Whoa. Wait. I'm not wearing my glasses."

"I figured they used a spell or a potion or something. They didn't?"

Her face wavered into basic colors. "And it's blurry again." He slipped his glasses on and her face came back into focus.

"What happened?"

"I don't" Harry turned his head to the left. "Pull the curtain back."

"Harry"

"Please." The curtain shifted slightly toward him.

Hermione pulled it to the side. She glanced out and pulled the next curtain to the side.

Cali cracked her eyes open. "I thought you'd never notice you could see."

Harry leaned closer to the edge of his bed. "You don't look or sound too good. How do you feel?"

She closed her eyes and relaxed against the pillow. "Probably about how I look and sound." She shifted and winced before settling back down. "Don't worry. I'll be fine before you know it. How about you?"

Harry laid back. "I'm fine. So is everyone else by the way. Just a little magical exhaustion."

Her eyes drifted shut. "Hm."

Harry smiled. "You can close the curtain now."

Hermione pushed it closed and moved back to the chair. "Do you forgive me? I mean, will you at least think about it?"

"Yes." He pulled the cover up higher. "I mean I do forgive you. But I don't think I needed to know the scary ways in which your mind works."

Hermione brushed the hair off his forehead. "You work on getting better and I'll work on Ron."

"Hm."

The insects were buzzing around his head. Harry groaned and flipped onto his stomach. "Ow."

"That wasn't the brightest thing you've ever done Jaime." Kyle crouched next to the bed. "How are you doing?" He pushed Harry's hair back.

"Why does everyone keep touching my hair?" He pushed the hand away. "I'm fine. The burns are going away. How are you guys?"

Jason pushed Kyle aside. "What, exactly, did I say about no heroics that was promptly followed by your heroics?"

Harry shrugged. "That was so not my fault. It was failing and I panicked. It was a stress reaction. You're not allowed to blame me for a stress reaction, Mom said so when I pushed you off the diving board after I stayed up all night after that vision."

Diana perched on the edge of the other side of the bed. "Are you feeling better?"

Harry patted her hand. "I wasn't lying the first time. Madam Pomfrey says I'll be out of here in a few days."

Jason flipped through a stack of notes on the table. "Looks like someone's brought your homework."

Harry turned back over slowly. "Hermione. Her notes are equivalent to the lecture."

Jason clapped his hands. "You've made up! Does that mean you won't be coming back to the dorm once you're out?"

Harry slouched. "Hermione hasn't mentioned Ron since she first apologized. I don't think she's having much luck convincing him to apologize."

Chris pulled Jason to his feet. "I think we're losing energy, so I'm taking them back before we're stranded in the halls. We'll come back soon, so don't start complaining." He shooed them out as they called farewells to Harry.

Diana kissed his forehead and followed them.

"Chris?"

He jogged back and knelt. "Do you need something?"

"Aren't you going to talk to Cali?"

Chris dropped his eyes to the floor. "She's still unconscious Harry."

Harry scratched at his scar. "No she's not. She's not awake a lot, but yesterday she said she wanted pudding."

Chris started and ran to her bed, shoving the curtain out of the way. "Morganna? Are you there?"

She cracked her eyes open. "Do you have my pudding?"

Chris dropped, his knees banging into the floor, and clasped her hands between his. "Madam Pomfrey!"

Cali shifted and yawned. "Does she have my pudding?"

Madam Pomfrey ran in drying her hands on her apron. "What is it?"

"She's awake!"

She pulled out her wand and cast diagnostic spells. "The damage around her spinal cord is gone. I don't understand. The potions weren't working."

"Can I have pudding now?"

"Calcium!" Harry shrugged as they glanced over at him. "Pudding has calcium. Maybe what's she's missing to heal is calcium?" Neither adult moved. "Or chocolate?"

They tuned back to her, whispering to each other.

Professor Snape walked in. "Here Potter. This may heal the remaining burns faster."

Harry drank the potion. "Can you give Cali some calcium?"

Professor Snape looked over to where Madam Pomfrey was casting more spells. "Why?"

Harry bit his lip and picked at the blanket. "She wants pudding."

He rolled his eyes. As Madam Pomfrey scanned her for a third time, he tapped his fingers on his crossed arms. "This is one of those times that I must accept that the world works in your favor, isn't it?"

Harry shrugged. "I think so, but if not it won't hurt, right?"

Professor Snape sighed. "Fine." He walked to the cabinet and pulled out a vial. When Madam Pomfrey and Chris moved across the room he tilted her head back and poured the vial in her mouth.

She swallowed and stuck out her tongue. "Pudding would have tasted better." She settled down and fell asleep.

"What are you doing?" Madam Pomfrey cast the diagnostic spell again. "I don'tShe's healing."

Harry settled further into the pillow. "Told you so."

"I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?"

Hermione shoved Ron into the chair next to the bed. "I do not care about wizarding culture. Are you telling me that if Harry were gay that you wouldn't be his friend anymore? Just because of that?"

Ron crossed his arms over his chest. "He should have told me."

Hermione smacked his arm. "It was a bet! It wasn't real! Why would he tell you something that wasn't true?"

Ron sighed and rubbed his forehead. "He could have told me about the bet."

Harry sat up. "I bet Snape that you'd believe it and Draco wouldn't. I couldn't tell you."

Ron jumped up. "Why did you think I'd believe it and ferret-boy wouldn't?"

Harry slipped his glasses on and downed the potion next to them. "You did believe it and he didn't, so I'd hold back on the indignation."

Ron sat on the end of the bed. "II was a bloody prick with Sloper."

Harry waited but Ron just starred at his knees. He shrugged and held out his arm. "I'll take it. Friends?"

Ron took and hand. "Of course."

Severus kept to the shadows as he moved into the hospital wing. Harry was sharing his bed with his two friends and a deck of exploding snap cards.

Chris leaned against the doorframe beside him. "It seems they've finally made up."

Severus crossed his arms over his chest. "Apparently. How are your efforts to change cultural tradition going?"

Chris sighed and scratched the back of his neck. "Not too bad. It may help that I'm a minister of magic and that's he's not actually gay. I've had the kids spreading rumors and acting like their normal selves so that when Harry gets out they'll have something else to talk about. How about your campaign to give detention to anyone that mentions it?"

Severus smirked. "Quite well. They've stopped mentioning it in my classes completely and the rest of the staff said it's not mentioned in their classes and only rarely in the halls."

Chris rubbed his hands together. "Wonderful. Things need to be good for him as soon as he leaves here."

Severus raised his eyebrows.

Chris shrugged. "They finished the repairs and rewarding of the school. Once I add on the personal wards and protections we'll be going back."

"Perhaps this time we will come to an arrangement that keeps him out of my supply closets."

Chris clicked his tongue and shrugged. "I'm sure it will all work out in the end. Things usually do for him."

Severus pushed past him and moved toward the corner. "And that's what's going to kill him one day." No one followed him as he walked back to the dungeons.

Harry kept his head turned toward the smoking pile of cards as Professor Snape stalked out of the door. "I think Madam Pomfrey is going to let me go tomorrow."

Hermione dropped her last card on the pile. "Are you coming back to Gryffindor?"

Harry laughed as the pile exploded in Ron's face. "Yeah, I think that I will."

Ron wiped the ashes off his face. "Good. I'm tired of beating Seamus at chess."

Harry leaned back against the pillows. "Is beating me so much better?"

Ron picked up his cards and slid off the bed. "Yes. Now get some sleep or Pomfrey will never let you out."

"Hm." Harry curled into a ball.

Hermione ruffled his hair and pulled the cover over him. "Sleep well Harry."

"What exactly do you think you're doing, Mr. Potter?" Professor Snape had his arms crossed over his chest.

"I think I was sleeping." He shifted and an arm fell down to his elbow. He froze. That would be three arms.

Cali shifted closer and laid her head on his shoulder.

Harry laughed shortly. "Would you believe me if I said I didn't know how I got here?"

Professor Snape leaned next to his ear. "Not likely Mr. Potter. She is barely conscious; please remove yourself from her bed."

Harry smiled. "Yes sir." He lifted her head to set it on the pillow and was pulled closer.

Cali wrapped her arms around him. "My teddy"

Harry held his arms away from her. "Um, I don't think I got over her by myself."

Professor Snape leaned next to her ear. "I know that you are awake and highly amused. Release him now."

Cali shook slightly and finally burst out laughing before gasping and pressing her hand to her ribs. "Ow. Ok, I know, I deserve it." He took a few slow breaths. "Can't you leave him here? I'm sucking out his energy."

Harry snorted. "I thought I felt tired."

Professor Snape wrapped his fingers around his left arm, his head falling forward, eyes squeezed shut. "Remain here. Do not leave each other alone." His robes twisted around his legs as he hurried to the door.

Cali ran her fingers up and down Harry's arm. "He's going to be in here with us soon, isn't he?"

"Yes." Harry summoned his book. "Will you let me study wile you treat me as a battery?" He slipped out of her arms and sat against the headboard.

Her head rested on his leg. "The burns are gone, right?"

He pushed her hair behind her ear. "Yes. I think they're keeping me in here until things settle down." He pulled the cover up as Cali felt around for it.

"What needs to settle?"

Harry flipped to his next transfiguration chapter. "I convinced the majority of the school that I was gay and sleeping with Jason."

"You aren't?" She caught his arms as he swatted at her. "Okay, okay, we're all brothers. I've got it. It's just hard for me to understand sometimes."

"I know. It's because you have your parents and Lila. We, well they mostly, have that now, but we were on our own for most of our lives. You kind of latch on to those that you can get what you want from. With the Weasley's it almost goes beyond the people; I like the atmosphere. It's nice to know that there are happy families out there."

Cali took his book and scanned the chapter. "I'm apparently sucking out your reservations. You're becoming philosophical."

He tossed the book on the floor. "Screw this. I'm exhausted. Let's sleep for a little while."

"Potter?"

Harry rolled over and caught himself from falling out of the bed. Black boots all the way up to blonde hair. He climbed out of the bed and walked past Draco to his bed and pulled on his dressing gown. "Hi Draco. What's going on?"

Draco sat on his bed. "Fickle, aren't you? Do you jump into bed with anyone?" He stood back up and paced the length of the bed. "I didn't believe it, and then I hear two of them talking about you switching whose bed you slept in every night." He yanked his wand out of sleeve and pointed it at Harry. "Who the hell are you and where is Potter? The one who got nervous when people were talking about him?" He scowled. "But then you knew exactly what was going on, didn't you? Was it fun for you Potter? To make me look like an idiot?"

Harry grasped Draco's shoulder and pushed him to the bed. "I didn't want to make you feel stupid. I didn't expect you to offer to find out what was going on. Excuse me for being a little shell-shocked. I don't know how these things are supposed to work with you. We just stopped hating each other for God's sake." A pillow bounced off his head.

Cali leaned on her elbow. "Stop fighting and give me my pillow back."

"You shouldn't have thrown it then."

Cali reached out her arm to summon it back.

Harry bolted over and slipped the pillow under her head. "No magic! You're burned out enough as it is just trying to stay alive."

She smiled and cuddled around the pillow. "Well then hop back in and bring your friend and I'll take a little something from the experience." She flicked her thumb nail between her teeth.

"Poppy! We need help now!"

Harry took Draco's arm and pulled him into the curtain. "If you make a sound they'll kick you out."

Cali pulled Draco onto the bed next to her. "How does he look?"

Harry peeked through the gap, keeping still so the curtain wouldn't billow out. Professor Snape leaned on Dumbledore's shoulder. His right arm was pressed against his stomach and streaked with blood.

Madam Pomfrey ran out. "Put him on the bed." She dropped an armful of potion on the table and pulled the curtains closed.

Harry sat next to Draco. Cali's hair fell over her cheek as she twisted the blanket around her fingers. "He's not doing so good, but he hasn't done any debilitating magic since the summer so Madam Pomfrey can fix him up easily."

Cali fell back. "This sucks."

Harry threw off his dressing gown and burrowed back in the covers. "Most of life does suck." He poked Draco lightly in the side. "Are we friends again yet?"

Draco pushed himself to the end of the bed. "Will you answer my questions? I don't think I can decide until I know more."

Harry clasped Cali's hand. "I will."

Draco smoothed his robes over his lap. "All right then."

Harry pushed through the curtains and froze. "Hello Headmaster."

Dumbledore looked over his glasses. "I don't think Madam Pomfrey would allow you over here."

Harry smiled and settled next to him. "She just left for lunch. How is he?"

Dumbledore rubbed his forehead. "He will be fine by this evening. How are you doing now? Getting stronger?"

Harry nodded. "Yes sire. Cali too. They still won't let me out. Do you know when I'll be free?"
Professor Snape shifted and coughed. "When I bloody well say you can go. Didn't I tell you not to go anywhere by yourself?"

Harry slid closer. "I can see her from here. She wanted to know how you're doing, and she wouldn't take 'bad' for an answer. "

Dumbledore helped Professor Snape swallow one of the potions on the side table. "Tell her that I am fine. I am healing. I've been worse."

Harry stood. "Yes sir. I've got homework to do. We wouldn't want me to be behind when I'm finally allowed to leave. Goodbye Headmaster."

Dumbledore nodded and patted his back.

Harry hopped back into bed next to Cali and slid toward the edge at a glare from Professor Snape. "He says he'll be fine, which you heard, so will you give me my book now?"

Cali handed him his Charms textbook. "Why don't you sing me to sleep then? You can practice."

Harry scrunched his nose. "Bite me Morganna."

She curled up and rested her head on his thigh. "Maybe later. Nap time now."