Sevvy entered his father's rooms at Harry's hand, pale but smiling.

"Hello, my boy," Dumbledore greeted him, holding out his arms to hug his child, "did you have a nice chat?"

"Yes, daddy, Brother Salvatore is really nice! I accidentally called him 'fat friar' but he didn't get angry. Can I go draw a picture for him?"

"Of course you can. I'll call you later for a drink, is that alright?"

The boy climbed on a chair at the far end of the room, but well away from the window.

"He's afraid of hights," Harry said, worried, "he doesn't even want to fly anymore."

The headmaster nodded. "It will take time, Harry."

"Any word about Malfoy?"

"We scraped the elder one off the rocks. No word on Draco. Narcissa appears to be genuine when she says she doesn't know where he is."

Harry bit his lip. "I'm not comfortable as long as he is out there. He'll do anything to get revenge on Sevvy."

"He is well protected, Harry," Dumbledore comforted, casting an affectionate glance at the boy, who was completely concentrated on his drawing.

"I know, I know. Salvatore is happy with his progress. I just can't shake the feeling that I failed him somehow."

The headmaster patted his knee. "Without you, he'd be dead, Harry. You saved his life. I'm sure brother Salvatore would say the same. How did you end up talking to him in the first place?"

"Well…"

Harry was wandering aimlessly through the castle. Sevvy was spending time with Dumbledore and Harry felt a bit out of sorts. After all the stress of the past weeks, his own problems only now seemed to catch up with him. Not paying any attention, he gasped and shuddered when he walked straight through a ghost.

"Hey there, young man, you should watch where you're going," the cheerful voice of the Hufflepuff ghost chided him playfully, "I remember from my own time among the living that walking through one of us is extremely uncomfortable."

"You can say that again," Harry gasped, "Sorry, sir. I wasn't paying attention."

"That much is obvious. Anything I can help you with, young Chosen One?"

Harry made a face.

"Not liking that title much, are you?" the ghost chuckled.

"I might be the Chosen One but I never got to choose anything," Harry scowled, "and I am only sixteen. All I wanted was a normal life."

"You are a wizard," the ghost pointed out, "to many people, you already ARE abnormal."

Harry paled. "I know," he whispered.

The ghost motioned to an abandoned room that was, surprisingly, furnished and clean.

"This used to be my room when I taught here," the ghost said, "when I still went by the name of Brother Salvatore. Anyway, have a seat."

"Brother Salvatore, eh?" Harry smiled tensely, "mind if I keep calling you that?"

"Oh, certainly. It would be nice to hear my own name again after all that time."

"You're not going to invite me to your deathday party, are you?" Harry asked, suddenly suspicious.

The ghost roared with laughter. "Honestly, a deathday party! No, no, I don't celebrate the day I died, and I certainly won't invite the living to such a party. Not unless I know for a fact they have extremely strong stomachs. I just continued to celebrate my birthday, and the house elves provide food for any human guests I entertain."

"May I ask who those are?"

"Pomona Sprout, usually, and the occasional student. And of course, Severus Snape, though I doubt he remembers me now."

"I don't know," Harry sighed, "his adult memories are still there, he just can't access them. They do surface occasionally."

"How did you and he meet up this summer?" the ghost asked.

"It was some weeks ago…"

"So I told him that story, and then he got me to talk about my childhood, and Cedric, and Sirius, and before I knew it, we were having a chat almost daily."

"And that helped."

Harry grinned. "At first it only got worse, but eventually yes. I do feel better now. And I have loads more respect for Hufflepuffs."

A week later, on Saturday, the Little League was excited. The best of their teams would be playing against Gryffindor on the big pitch.

Danielle would be Seeker, as Severus still refused to fly a broom. The Weasley twins had, through lots of practice, finally learned to work together, and made a good team of beaters. Though they still preferred to be on opposite teams.

Sevvy had refused to accompany the headmaster to the teacher's top box, so he stayed with Harry, who was in function as Coach.

Madam Hooch had agreed to referee the friendly match.

Precautions had still been taken, though. The bludgers were still cushioned, the Quaffle was still a bit smaller for the children, but they did use the official Snitch. The Gryffindor team was smiling broadly. To them, this was a party. Harry grinned. Ginny was taking his place as Seeker so he could coach the Little League though the game, and he knew his team was confident that they would easily beat the children without so much as a fight. They were planning to make it last long as to not put the youngsters off. Besides, it was good practice.

Hooch's wistle sounded and the Chasers were off. The Gryffindors soon found out that their small opponants were not at all at a disadvantage; they slipped easily through openings that they were too big for. Soon, they had scored three goals: 30-0 to the Little League!

The Beaters were having more trouble, however. Their opponants were much larger and stronger. It was difficult beating back the bludgers.

Soon one came near a Chaser, who was forced to outmanouvre it, and lost control of the Quaffle.

The Gryffindors then proceeded to even the score: 30-30.

Danielle made a race for the Snitch, but it was too fast and disappeared from view when the Gryffindor Seeker cut her off. Nevertheless, she pulled up and started looking again.

Susan was happily cheering from the stands, earning glares from the Gryffindors.

The Weasley twins, annoyed, eyed each other briefly –making Ron gulp in the goal, knowing full well what that glance meant- and sped over the field, sending bludgers at the Chasers with uncanny precision.

The Little League Chasers were heartened by this, and scored. 40-30.

The game went on for long minutes without any goals on either side. Just as Danielle was pulling up to see if she could find the Snitch, one of the Gryffindor Beaters sent a bludger at her. The thing itself didn't do much damage, but she was quite some distance from the ground.

Harry felt his insides freeze as she lost control of her broom and came speeding to the ground. He threw out his wand, as did Dumbledore and Hooch. The three charms hit the broom and it slowed down. Danielle fell forward off it, onto the ground. Harry ran unto the pitch.

"She broke her arm," Madam Hooch, who had been there first, said. Madam Pomfrey rushed unto the field as well.

"Oh dear. It's easy enough to mend, don't worry, child," she said to the pale girl, "but I'm afraid you won't be finishing this game. Come with me, and we'll fix you up. You're a very brave girl, I must say," she soothed the child.

Harry told her she had done very well. He sighed. They were left with no Seeker. Then he felt a tug at his sleeve, and Severus stood next to him, his broom in his hand.

"I'll go," he said simply.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked, worried.

"I'll be fine," Sevvy assured him, "you will be here, watching, won't you?"

"Of course, Sevvy," Harry said, crouching in front of the child.

"You don't have to do this if you don't want to, Sevvy. I won't make you."

The boy looked at him solemnly. "But I want to. I want to win this game."

Harry looked up, catching Dumbledore's frightened and worried expression. Then he looked at Sevvy's determined little face.

"Alright then, but any sign of trouble, and you come straight down to me, understood? Whether we lose the match or not. You are more important."

"I promise, Harry," Sevvy said, already mounting, "but I want to win!"

"Annoyingly, infuriating, brave little Slytherin," Harry mumbled through clenched teeth as the boy took off, a strange mixture of worry and pride on his face.

Ten minutes later Danielle returned, her arm in a sling and still looking a bit pale, and sat down next to Harry.

"Sevvy is flying!" she said, delighted.

"Yes, he is," Harry responded absentmindedly, focussed on his brother, looking for any sign of trouble.

Ginny had spotted the Snitch, only half a second after Severus did. They both sped towards it at full speed. Severus curled up on his broom, making himself as small as possible so he would go faster.

Then, just before he reached the Snitch, he pulled up, confusing both Ginny and the Snitch, took a dive and landed behind the small ball, snatching it quickly from the air as he dove again to avoid a collision with Ginny.

"I have it!" he yelled happily and flew down to his brother, "Harry, I have it!"

The children all landed and ran towards them, cheering as Madam Hooch blew her whistle.

"Match to the Little League, 190-30!"

Harry allowed himself to be dragged off to the Hall to celebrate with the children. He thought it best to avoid his humiliated teammates for the moment.