They relocated to Harry's room an hour later, when the grass turned back into floorboards, and by morning he was completely smitten, as predicted.

'When can I see you again?' he asked. 'Are you free tonight? What about this weekend?'

Alex laughed. 'I'm free tonight, but this weekend I'm accompanying Nancy to Ireland.'

'You won't be able to attend my match?'

'I'm afraid not. Which means you'll be free to pick up witches from the stands.'

'Are you talking literally or figuratively? It might be a bit much if I literally invite her onto my broom and fly off.'

'I was talking figuratively, but I must say, I like the sound of that. Perhaps next weekend?'

'Yes, and it's probably for the best. We're playing the Holyhead Harpies this weekend, and the fans are likely to tear me to shreds.'

'I'm sorry I won't be there to support you.'

Harry shrugged. 'You'll have to make it up to me tonight. Where do you want to go? Or do you want to stay in and have another picnic?' he asked suggestively.

'You'll laugh, but there's something very specific I want to do.'

'Oh?'

'Would you take me to Hogwarts? I've heard about it all my life, because my parents and grandparents went there, and I've always wanted to see it.'

'I'd love to show you Hogwarts. But I should ask Minerva for permission—she's the headmistress.'

'Yes, the students are likely to go nuts when you turn up. Although I could disguise you if you like.'

'Really? Could you make me taller?'

'Are you upset that I'm taller than you are?'

'No. I just think it would be fun to see what it's like. But then my robes wouldn't fit, unless you transfigure them too.'

'I could do that, but I'd hate to mess with such beautifully tailored clothes. You're really quite dashing.'

'Can you make my hair behave?' he asked eagerly. 'Or make me look like Sirius before he went to Azkaban? He was terribly good-looking.'

'Yes, I can spruce you up for a few hours if you can find me a photograph, but I'll miss your green eyes.'

Harry wrote a brief note to Minerva and had Kreacher deliver it. After washing up, Harry made them breakfast and Alex confessed how much she enjoyed an English fry-up. 'My friends all ate sugared cereal—you wouldn't believe what they have in America—but I grew up on an English breakfast.'

'My cousin Dudley ate a lot of sugared cereal, usually as a mid-morning snack, but I almost never had any.'

'I'm not talking about No-Maj cereal, I'm talking about wizarding cereal. The colours and shapes change while you eat it, or the alphabet cereal tells a story—that sort of thing.'

'That's brilliant! I'm sure Dudley would love to see that, although I think he eats more sensibly now.'

'Are you still in touch with your cousin? I can't imagine you would be, after the way they all treated you.'

'My cousin turned out all right, surprisingly enough. I should probably visit him sometime, although I have no idea when.'

Kreacher returned with a note from Minerva: 'By all means, come to Hogwarts and bring your friend. But don't enter my office looking like Sirius, lest Severus fall off the wall in horror. Although he might be equally horrified to see you.'

Minerva instructed Harry to arrive at the main gate at six, and she said they were welcome to dine in the Great Hall or simply explore the castle on their own. 'I'd rather not eat in the Great Hall,' he said, 'But I could show you around without having so many students underfoot, and then we could get dinner in Hogsmeade.'

'At the Three Broomsticks? Yes, please!'

Harry had another idea. 'Are you fond of sweets? Last time I was there, I promised to return to a ghastly tea shop called Madam Puddifoot's.'

'Madam Puddifoot's!' she exclaimed. 'My parents went there on dates! Mum said it was terribly romantic, but she's also fond of trashy romance novels, so I don't entirely trust her judgment.'

They agreed to meet at Grimmauld Place at half past five and travel together to Hogwarts. I know I should go to Pratt's and court votes, but Wynter said I'd be fine and I'd much rather spend the time with Alex, he thought.

After a long kiss goodbye in front of the fireplace, she went home and Harry left for practice. Janet caught up with him during laps. 'Did you shock the portraits?' she asked.

'Yes, Padfoot in particular,' he replied, and he told her what had happened.

'Harry, that's lovely!' she exclaimed. 'Do you reckon Prongs will stick around?'

'He wasn't there this morning, but Padfoot was still sleeping, which is unusual. Normally he's awake by seven unless he had a late night.'

'And did you have a late night?' she asked, waggling her eyebrows.

'No, we were asleep before midnight. I'll see her again tonight, but unfortunately she'll be in Ireland this weekend.'

'You make that sound like a bad thing,' said Janet. 'Aren't you free to see other people?'

'Yes, in fact I'm encouraged to.'

'Then that decides it. What better way to announce your Light magic to the world than with a shameless display of debauchery?'

He considered her suggestion. 'That's not a bad idea, actually. Rita Skeeter plans to play up the libido angle, to help draw more people to the Light Arts. So this is probably my best chance to enjoy it. And besides, I'll probably need consoling after the Harpies match.' He told her what he'd learnt about Ginny and Blaise.

'That black wizard with the slanting eyes? He was tasty all right—I don't blame her.'

'Whose side are you on?'

'Whichever side makes prettier babies. I'm not a blood purist, but I'm all for producing better-looking offspring. That's why I like Ron ... I'm reasonably attractive, but my colouring is ordinary. So if we were to produce tall, red-headed babies, but with a splash of Lindhurst to offset the Weasley, we'd really have something. And I'll admit that you and Ginny would have had nice-looking babies, particularly if they got her red hair and your green eyes. But the risk of getting bright red hair that behaved like yours was too dangerous. She made the right call.'

Harry was floored. 'I'm not sure where to begin. Are you suggesting she dumped me because she was afraid to have a child with my hair?'

'Perhaps unconsciously. But it was probably also because of how fucked up you are.'

'Oi!'

'There, there, Snitchbottom—we all are. What's your next question?'

Harry was still reeling from her accusation, but he set his emotions aside. 'Are you seriously considering having children with Ron? Obviously you were taking the piss at Sunday dinner.'

'I was, but Molly insisted on showing me baby pictures after you left, and little gingers are simply adorable. Furthermore, Ron is more entertaining than anyone I've ever dated, so it's not out of the question I'll keep him around. But that's a long way off—we haven't even dated two months, and I'm in no hurry to give up my career.'

'Does he know you feel this way?'

'Merlin, no! He'd run for his life! And besides, there's nothing worse than a complacent Ron Weasley—I'd much rather keep him guessing.'

'How's that going to work when you're carrying his children?'

'That's a good question. I may have to drop hints that they mightn't be his. Until they're born with red hair, of course.'

Tuttle instructed Harry's teammates to prepare him for Allie Hobbs by increasing their taunts, which caused his hands to glow. He'd previously observed that emotionally challenging situations triggered his Light magic, which matched what Jacobus Filch had written about Light wizards glowing uncontrollably from grief. I doubt I'll feel grief if we lose the match on Saturday, he thought, but I could easily feel overwhelmed.

After morning practice, he showered and changed into robes rather than his usual Muggle clothes, and then travelled by Floo to the Leaky Cauldron. 'What brings you to London this time of day?' asked one of the patrons. 'Is everything all right with the Cannons?'

'Yes, I just have business over lunch.'

'How do you feel about Saturday's match against the Harpies?'

'I'll do my best, but this winning streak can't last forever. Not with Allie Hobbs and the Harpyheads after me.'

'Don't say that,' admonished a wizard. 'You'll bring back the curse.'

'There was never a curse,' said another wizard. 'They just had shit Seekers for a century.'

'Not Barrowmaker,' said Harry.

'No, they had shit Beaters then,' said the wizard. 'But don't worry about Hobbs or the Harpyheads. It's your ex you need to worry about.'

'I'm sorry?'

'You haven't heard? They're starting Weasley on Saturday, specifically to rattle you.'

Harry tried to hide his alarm, but he didn't succeed. 'Take it easy, Potter. You've handled worse.'

'I suppose I have. Thanks for the warning.' He left through the back of the tavern, and minutes later he was inside Gringotts.

'Welcome, Mr Potter,' said the liveried goblin. 'I assume you're here for your private meeting?'

'Yes, thank you.' Another goblin led Harry to a small office, where Narcissa Malfoy and Dirk were seated with a goblin and wizard Harry didn't recognise. There were two small bottles on the table.

'Good afternoon, Mr Potter,' said the goblin. 'My name is Lightsabre, and I'll be overseeing your contract proceedings.'

Lightsabre? thought Harry incredulously. It was hard to tell how old goblins were, but Harry suspected he was born before Star Wars came out. 'It's nice to meet you, Lightsabre,' he said. 'Narcissa, good to see you. And you as well, Dirk.'

Dirk nodded, and Narcissa said, 'Harry, this is my solicitor, Algernon Tort. Tort, this is Harry Potter.'

'Yes, of course,' replied Tort, shaking Harry's hand. 'I reviewed the contract provided by Victor Squabble, and everything seems to be in order. All we need is for you to confirm under Veritaserum that you have no designs on the Malfoy fortune.'

'Yes, gladly. But may I see the questions in advance?'

'You may,' replied Lightsabre, and he showed Harry the list.

Harry gave his approval, and Lightsabre motioned to Dirk, who opened the red bottle and released three drops of liquid into a teaspoon. Harry swallowed the potion and felt himself relax.

'Please state your name,' said Lightsabre.

'Which one?' asked Harry.

'Not this again,' said Narcissa. 'Your birth name.'

'The client will not speak!' ordered Lightsabre. 'Mr Potter, what is your birth name.'

'Harry James Potter.'

'Do you have any intention to frame Draco Malfoy?'

'No.'

'Do you have any intention to entrap Draco Malfoy into committing a crime?'

'No.'

'Do you have any designs on the Malfoy fortune.'

'No.'

'Do you have any ulterior motive in securing early release for Draco Malfoy.'

'I want to be on good terms with the Malfoys. I also believe he's not benefitting from house arrest, and that we'll all be better off if he's released.'

Lightsabre turned to Narcissa. 'Mrs Malfoy, has Mr Potter addressed your concerns?'

'How did you heal his Dark Mark?' she blurted.

'Light magic,' replied Harry.

Tort immediately raised his wand and cast a Silencing Charm on Narcissa. Then he turned to Lightsabre and said, 'Yes, Mr Potter has satisfied our concerns. Please administer the antidote.'

Dirk measured three drops of the antidote and gave it to Harry. 'Narcissa, you could have just asked me about Draco's Dark Mark.'

Tort cancelled the Silencing Charm, and Narcissa muttered, 'I should have asked why.'

'Don't you trust me to answer truthfully?'

'Honestly, I don't know what to think. But I'll ask you anyway: Are you trying to recruit Draco?'

'Recruit him? For what?'

'To your inner circle. To whatever the Light equivalent of Death Eaters is.'

'I haven't any inner circle,' he said truthfully.

'What about the Order of the Phoenix?'

'That was Dumbledore's group, not mine. It's disbanded now.'

'But when you go public with Light magic ... surely you'll have a following.'

'Perhaps I will, but I have no plans to gather adherents like Voldemort did.'

'Draco disagrees,' she said. 'He's convinced you're courting him.'

'I want him as an ally, not a follower.'

'An ally for your Light agenda!'

'An ally to stop wizards from killing each other! I don't expect him to support my agenda.'

Narcissa relaxed slightly. 'Tort, give me a quill,' she said to the solicitor, and she signed the contract. She passed the quill to Harry, and with a nod from Lightsabre he signed it as well.

'My next stop is Pratt's,' he said. 'I've been trying to gather votes.'

'How are things looking?' she asked.

'So far so good. The only pushback I've had is from a neutral family that doesn't like Lucius, but I think I've won them over. Next I'll talk to the Light wizards, to make sure they're on board and don't think I've been Imperiused.'

Before leaving, he thanked the goblins and the solicitor. 'Do you require a discreet Floo port?' asked Lightsabre.

'Yes, please,' replied Harry, and Lightsabre instructed Dirk to show him the way. When Harry arrived at Pratt's, he felt himself relax. It's already starting to feel like home, he realised with mild alarm.

He signed the register and saw Ernest Prewett had recently arrived. Hopefully he's here for lunch and not a nooner at the Boudoir, he thought as he walked to the dining room. 'Prewett,' he said, approaching the red-haired wizard he'd met the week before. 'May I join you?'

'Please do!' He snapped his fingers and said, 'Elf!' A house-elf appeared, and Prewett instructed him to add a place setting for Harry and bring another chair. 'Potter, let me introduce Oscar Abbott.'

Harry exchanged greetings with the grey-haired wizard and sat down. 'Welcome to Pratt's,' said Abbott. 'I was delighted to hear that you joined, in spite of what you may have heard from Dumbledore.'

'Dumbledore never said a word about Pratt's,' said Harry. 'I'd never even heard of it until I received my invitation last week.'

'You're joking! I'd have thought he'd indoctrinated you like he did your father and grandfather.'

'Did you know them?'

'I never met your father, except perhaps when he was a baby, but I knew old Monty Potter. He gave me my first job, in fact.'

'Really? What was he like? I know very little about him, except that he was successful in Potions and didn't like his given name.'

Abbott laughed. 'He certainly didn't. As I recall, your grandmother wanted to name your father Balthazar, after her grandfather, but Monty insisted he have an ordinary name instead. So he got his hands on a Muggle telephone directory and devised a charm to find the most common names. Then he gave your grandmother a list and said, "Pick one."'

'James Balthazar Potter,' recited Harry. 'Thank you, I'd never heard that story.'

'My pleasure,' said Abbott. 'As for Potions, Monty wasn't actually much of a brewer, but he was brilliant at marketing. His first success was Sleekeazy's Hair Potion, which was actually a failed attempt to tame his own hair. It didn't work at all, so he thought it was worthless, but then some of his mates tried it and it worked brilliantly.'

'Was his hair like mine then? Mine won't lie flat no matter what I do.'

'Yes, just like yours, and dark like his mother's. She was a Black, you know.'

'So my hair colour is a Black trait?' asked Harry, surprised.

'I should think so. Most of the Potter portraits I saw had sandy-coloured hair. But those were lost in the fire.'

They paused to place their lunch order, and Harry said, 'I could listen to you all day, but the reason I came here was to talk about the upcoming Wizengamot session.'

'Yes, I was wondering about that,' said Prewett. 'I don't get the impression you've been Imperiused, but why on earth are you advocating for young Malfoy?'

'Firstly, his mother is a Black, and I've been trying to reestablish ties with the remaining family members. Her sister Andromeda has been very helpful in that regard. I also have a very bad history with Draco, and this seems like an opportunity to make amends.'

'But to risk your own freedom!' said Abbott.

'I've taken precautions, and I'm confident Draco won't break the law during the early release period. There are both magical and civil safeguards in place.'

'I'm relieved to hear it,' said Prewett. 'Dumbledore was always blindly trusting.'

Harry didn't argue the point. 'But the main reason I'm doing it is because house arrest is making Draco bitter, and the longer he's in there, the more likely he is to turn out like his father. I can't let that happen.'

'That may be out of your control,' said Prewett. 'I realise you've already accomplished more than most wizards, between You-Know-Who and the Chudley Cannons, but you can't stop a Malfoy from turning out Dark.'

'Perhaps not, but were all of them as bad as Lucius?'

'No,' said Abbott. 'Abraxas promoted blood purity and all the rest, but he wasn't a criminal extremist like Lucius.'

'I'll settle for having Draco as a political adversary if it means we aren't on opposite sides of a war again. And confidentially, I don't think it's out of the question Draco and I could become friends. We already have plans to go flying together if he's released next Wednesday.'

'That would be extraordinary,' said Abbott. 'But don't let the Malfoys seduce you. Light wizards won't always be on top, so you're clever to cultivate them, but that's no reason to capitulate prematurely.'

'There's no risk of that,' said Harry confidently.

Prewett and Abbott exchanged glances. 'You say that now, but over time they may gain leverage over you. Keep your guard up around them,' said Prewett.

'What are you implying exactly?'

'Business dealings,' said Prewett. 'It's no secret how to make money as a wizard, but choose your partners carefully.'

In other words, don't let Draco in on the condom scheme. 'Understood.'

Their food arrived, and Harry asked, 'Are both of you voting members of the Wizengamot?'

'I am,' replied Abbott. 'Prewett is proxy for his father.'

'May I count on your support this coming Wednesday?'

The two wizards exchanged glances again. 'In principle, yes,' said Abbott. 'But I'd like assurances you're not going to be a wild card.'

'What do you mean?'

There was silence for a moment as Abbott ate. 'The Wizengamot has always had a Light faction,' he said. 'I'm one of the leaders, along with a handful of other wizards you may have met, mostly my age. We earned the role through experience. However, you're in a unique position, which we hadn't anticipated since there's no Potter seat.'

Harry understood where Abbott was going. They think I'm going to take over the Light faction. 'Before you continue,' said Harry, 'I don't even plan to attend the Wizengamot regularly, since it interferes with Quidditch practice.'

'Will you appoint a proxy?' asked Prewett.

'Do you mean someone to vote in my place?' Prewett nodded, and Harry said, 'Yes, but I'd like to discuss the questions in advance, and not have decisions made for me.'

'Of course. But I hope you'll accept advice.'

'Yes, naturally. As for my unique role, I don't deny I plan to use it. I want to promote werewolf rights, for example.' Both wizards nodded in agreement. 'And revisit the goblin treaties,' he added.

'You can't be serious,' exclaimed Abbott.

'I am serious. Britain lags behind other countries as far as goblin rights are concerned, and I suspect it's hurting wizards just as much as it hurts the goblins.'

'I don't disagree, but you'll need to prove it,' said Prewett.

'Naturally.'

'You also need to stay out of the goblins' pocket,' said Abbott.

'Are you implying they'd be bribing me to advocate on their behalf?'

'Not bribing per se, but giving you favourable terms in business.'

'And why shouldn't they?' asked Harry. 'I'm only asking theoretically, because I'm not currently doing business with them. But wouldn't it be more convincing if I demonstrated what we had to gain from improved relations with Gringotts?'

'It's a fair point,' said Prewett. 'But you'd be taking the same risk you said you wouldn't take with Malfoy.'

'Are you really afraid the goblins would blackmail me?'

'He's right, they wouldn't,' said Abbott. 'Potter, you're more shrewd than I expected, and you're using it to push the Light agenda. Old Monty would be proud.'

They ate for a while longer in silence, and then Harry said, 'There's something else I should warn you about.'

'Oh?'

Harry discreetly raised a privacy ward. 'This coming Sunday, or possibly sooner, I'm announcing I'm a Light wizard.'

'Of course you are,' said Prewett, but Abbott just stared.

'Are you certain?' asked the older wizard.

'Yes, completely. I've found a teacher, and we agree the time is ripe to go public. She anticipates a huge spike in interest in the Light Arts.'

'That could change everything,' said Abbott.

'What are you talking about?' asked Prewett.

'Real Light magic—not just the Patronus Charm,' said Abbott. 'Dark magic can't touch it.' Abbott's eyes suddenly shot open. 'Merlin's beard! Does this explain your behaviour?'

'In part, yes. But not entirely.'

'Anyone who criticises you is just jealous,' said Abbott. 'Prewett, I'll explain later.'

Harry finished eating and set down his cutlery. 'Getting back to my earlier question, do I have your votes on Wednesday?'

Both wizards nodded. 'I'm relieved you've joined Pratt's,' said Prewett. 'Working together, we can push the Light agenda farther than I'd dared hope, even now.'

'Percy Weasley also suggested I'll be able to redefine the centre.'

'He's a bright young man,' said Prewett. 'But he's made mistakes, no doubt about it.' Harry assumed Prewett was referring to how Percy had missed all the signs that his boss, Bartemius Crouch, was under the Imperius Curse, and how he'd collaborated during the war.

'He has done,' said Harry. 'But he fought in the Battle of Hogwarts. And I've come to trust him completely.'

'Well, then, there may be hope for him after all,' said Prewett.

Harry turned to Abbott. 'What about the rest of the Light faction? Should I talk to them?'

'I'll get the word out for Wednesday. But do get to know them, when you have the time.' He fixed his gaze on Harry and said, 'War heroes don't always make good politicians—Dumbledore, for example. But if you play your cards right, you'll make a real difference.'

'Have you cultivated the lords?' asked Prewett.

'Yes. Wynter and Travers.'

'Travers!' exclaimed Abbott. 'You really are a Gryffindor!'

'The hat wanted to put me into Slytherin,' Harry confessed.

'A Slytherin Light wizard. These are interesting times. Were you successful with them?'

'More or less—for this vote, anyway.' Harry looked at his pocket watch and said, 'I need to get back to practice. Wish me luck against the Harpies.'

'I'll do no such thing!' said Prewett. 'Have you heard they're starting Ginny?'

'I did hear that, which is why you should wish me luck,' said Harry, standing.

He bade them goodbye and travelled by Floo back to the training grounds. Why can't I just be a Seeker? he wondered again.

'Snitchbottom!' cried Suresh. 'I have bad news for you.'

'You mean about Ginny? Yes, I heard.'

'It's just a stunt. They're crazy to mess with their starting lineup.'

'No, they aren't,' said Darren. 'Seekers win matches, not Chasers. Harry, do you reckon you can handle it?'

Harry shrugged. 'I suppose I'll have to.' He went into the locker room, where he saw a sign that said, 'There are wizarding schools in Britain other than Hogwarts.' He rolled his eyes, changed into practice robes, and joined his teammates on the pitch.

'Have you heard about Ginny?' said Owen.

'Yes, at the Leaky Cauldron, before lunch. And yes, I'll expand into awareness.'

'Will this make you more likely to glow?'

'It might.'

'What do you think will happen if he goes full bug-light during the match?' asked Gemma. 'Will they eject him?'

'Bruce says it's not officially a violation,' said Owen. 'But there's no predicting what the referees will decide.'

'In other words, keep it in your gloves, Toffer.'

Before the practice match that afternoon, Tuttle gave one of the reserve Chasers, a witch named Elspeth, a long red wig to wear. 'Be sure to fly near Potter and stick out your chest from time to time,' she said.

'That's not how Ginny flies,' said Harry. 'She's compact and determined, like Gemma. Only taller.' Sighing, he added, 'But yeah, her ponytail always trails behind her. It's beautiful.'

'You poor bugger,' said Gemma. 'You still have it bad, after all this time.'

'Yeah, I know.'

She whispered, 'Do you reckon a prostitute might help? I'm sure you could find a redhead.'

'I already did,' he admitted.

Gemma laughed out loud. 'You're a real headcase, aren't you?'

'Are you trying to prepare me for Hobbs?' he asked acidly.

'Guilty as charged. But just do the glowy hand thing again, and you'll be fine.'

Unfortunately, Harry was distracted that afternoon. Elspeth's red ponytail rattled his nerves, and for the first time Gemma spotted the Snitch before he did. After the match, Owen asked, 'Did you experience Light magic at all?'

'No. I was afraid of losing control, so I clamped down hard.'

Owen nodded. 'I have some ideas for tomorrow, but in the meantime just try to relax and enjoy yourself. Do you have plans tonight?'

'Yeah, a date. It'll be good.'

'I'm tempted to suggest you see her again tomorrow night, before the match,' said Owen.

'Not possible—she's leaving town for the weekend.'

'What about a trip to France?' he asked quietly.

'No, never again.'

Owen raised a single eyebrow but didn't comment, and they walked to the benches for Tuttle's notes. 'Potter, do you reckon you can keep your head in the game tomorrow?'

'I'll try.'

'No, you won't,' she barked. 'You'll fucking succeed. Don't forget who you are.'

Harry Potter-Black, he thought defiantly.

After showering, he returned to Grimmauld Place and asked Kreacher for a shave, even though he suspected Alex's transfiguration would render it unnecessary. Then he chose a Muggle outfit, knowing that Sirius never wore robes if he could help it. And a bloody foulard, he decided, even though he'd undoubtedly draw stares at Hogwarts. But it'll be Sirius, not me, he thought with satisfaction as he tied the scarf around his neck.

When he greeted Alex downstairs, she was shocked by his outfit. 'No robes? I thought they were your trademark.'

'They're my trademark, not Sirius's. He'd probably wear motorcycle leathers, given the choice.'

After leaning in for a long kiss, she said, 'The scarf is fantastic. You have to make them fashionable.' Taking out her wand, she added, 'Now show me a picture of your godfather.'

He handed her a pair of photographs, both taken before Harry was born. One was from his parents' wedding, where Sirius had been the best man, and the other showed Sirius with James in front of their first apartment.

Alex let out a low whistle. 'You weren't kidding when you said he was good looking! This'll be fun.' She had Harry sit down and she sat opposite him, carefully tweaking his features and proportions. 'Normally I'd never take this much time at it,' she said after ten minutes, 'but you'll be a work of art when I'm done.'

His hair was the hardest. 'I'm tempted just to cut it short and extend it outwards,' she said. 'Would that be all right?'

'Of course, go ahead.'

Using a simple cutting charm she trimmed away most of his hair, which Harry Vanished, and then with gentle wand motions she lengthened what remained. She drew it all the way past his ears, and it flopped in front of one of his eyes. 'Oh, yes,' she murmured. 'Have a look.'

They walked back to the fireplace, which had a gilt-framed mirror above it, and Harry's jaw dropped when he saw his reflection. He had two competing thoughts: One was, 'That's not me, that's Sirius,' and the other was, 'Sweet Merlin, I'm gorgeous!'

Marvelling at his appearance, Harry asked, 'How did he even leave the bathroom in the morning, and not just stare at himself all day?'

'I couldn't tell you,' replied Alex, gaping at him. 'Is it wrong that I desperately want to kiss you right now?'

'I desperately want to kiss me right now,' said Harry, still looking at the mirror. But he turned to face her, and together they tried out his Transfigured lips. Within moments his back was against the wall and they were vertically entwined, but they were interrupted by a loud crack.

'Master has a letter,' announced Kreacher before shrieking loudly. 'Cruel Master Sirius!' he cried, and he flung himself to the floor in terror.

'No, Kreacher, it's just me! I'm so sorry to frighten you.'

Kreacher lay face-down, with his arms in front of his head, and he craned his neck and carefully opened one eye. But it bulged and snapped shut, and he curled into a tight ball.

Kreacher, called Harry silently. Can you hear me?

Master, where are you? replied the terrified elf. Cruel Master Sirius is here with Master's witch.

I'm so sorry! I should have thought to warn you—that's me in disguise. Look, I'll wave my right hand.

Harry waved his hand, and Kreacher looked carefully at him again. 'But why?' wailed the traumatised house-elf. 'Why would Master choose to look like cruel Master Sirius?'

'To go incognito,' said Harry, feeling awful. 'I thought it would be fun to go as Sirius, and Alex Transfigured me. I'm so sorry to scare you like that.'

'Kreacher prefers Master's appearance,' said the elf quietly.

'I'm sorry Sirius was cruel to you,' said Harry sadly. 'I don't know why he treated you that way. But I'll look normal by morning.'

'Before midnight, actually,' said Alex.

Kreacher was standing again, but he kept his distance. 'Yes, Master. Thank you, Master,' he said, handing Harry the envelope and vanishing.

Harry looked at the letter, which was written in acid-green ink. It said:

Darling, what's this I hear about the Wizengamot next Wednesday? Shouldn't you have mentioned it the other night?

Yours always,
Rita

'Oh, bugger,' blurted Harry. 'Hang on, I need to send a reply, and then we can leave for Hogwarts.'

He grabbed a piece of note paper and wrote:

Dear Rita,

My sincere apologies—it genuinely slipped my mind on Tuesday. I'd rather not publicise it until after the vote, or at least after the Light magic announcement. Furthermore, it's not my story to tell, since it mainly involves Draco. But I'll discuss it with him and Narcissa and get back to you.

Yours sincerely,
Harry

He and Alex went upstairs to the owlery, and he dispatched the letter with Orsino. 'Sorry about the delay, but we can Apparate from here. Can you get to Hogsmeade Station yourself, or would you prefer Side-Along?'

'I can get there myself,' she said, and since the owlery was outside the wards they were able to leave directly. A minute later they found each other on the platform, and Harry pulled a broomstick from his pouch.

'If you were a first year, you'd arrive on the Hogwarts Express and Hagrid would herd you into a small boat. But we'll travel by broom instead.'

He let her sit in front, and he slowly skimmed the surface of the lake, only inches from the water. 'We were all nervous,' he said, 'because we didn't know how the Sorting worked. Hermione was afraid it was some kind of test, and Ron's brothers told him he'd have to wrestle a troll. But it was actually a talking hat.'

'I know, my parents told me. They said it's traditional not to give away the surprise, but obviously I was never going to Hogwarts.'

'Which houses were they in?'

'Ravenclaw, both of them. Although my dad's parents were in Hufflepuff, so there's no predicting where I'd have gone.'

'You strike me as a Ravenclaw, but the Hat can surprise you. In fact, I wonder if Minerva would let you try it out.'

'That would be awesome! But aren't you supposed to avoid her office, in order not to upset your old professor?'

'Yeah, but he can't have a worse reaction than Kreacher did. I'll see what Minerva thinks.'

Alex gasped when the castle came into view. 'It's so big! I had no idea!'

Harry only nodded, which Alex couldn't see but surely felt, since he was right behind her. He flew all the way to the castle gate, and he grinned when he saw who was standing there.

'Harry!' shouted Hagrid. 'Good ter see yeh!'

They landed, but when Alex stepped away from the broom, Hagrid cried, 'Gallopin' Gorgons, it's Sirius Black!'

'No, it's me, Harry. I'm in disguise—didn't Minerva warn you?'

'Bless me, she did. Sorry 'bout tha'.' He stooped for a closer look and said, 'I'll be jiggered, you look jus' like him.'

'I'm sorry, you're the second person I've alarmed tonight. Hagrid, this is Alex Barrington. And Alex, this is Rubeus Hagrid. He's the one who gave me my Hogwarts letter and told me I was a wizard.'

'It's grand ter meet yeh, Alex. Any friend o' Harry's is a friend o' mine. But don' let me keep yeh,' he said, ushering them through the gate. 'How are yeh, Harry? Are yeh ready for the Harpies on Sa'urday?'

'Not at all,' he said, returning the broomstick to his pouch. 'Did you hear they're playing Ginny?'

'I did. But yeh'll be all righ'.'

Alex was looking in every direction, taking in the Hogwarts grounds. 'Alex's parents and grandparents attended Hogwarts, but she grew up in America and always wanted to see it.'

'Did they now? Wha' were their names?'

'My parents are Peter Barrington and Diana Harris. And my grandparents are George Barrington and Miranda Woodley.'

'George Barrington!' exclaimed Hagrid. 'I remember him! Skinny feller with a mop o' hair.'

'That no longer describes him at all,' she laughed, 'but it matches photographs I've seen.'

'He were a good lad. Fond o' frogs—always collectin' 'em aroun' the lake.'

'That's right, he still is. When he moved to America he discovered there were heaps more species to seek out.'

They were climbing the front steps, and Hagrid asked, 'Will yeh have dinner wi' us? It's jus' startin'.'

'No, but is Minerva there? I'd like to say hello before showing Alex around the castle.'

'She is, but let me warn th' other professors firs'. None of 'em are expectin' ter see Sirius Black livin' an' breathin' again.'

Harry and Alex waited in the entrance hall, and he pointed out the moving staircases, which deposited students on the ground floor. Quite a few witches and several wizards stared at Harry as they passed, and Alex laughed.

'I'm sure you're used to drawing attention, but does this feel different?' she asked.

'It does, but mostly because I feel different. I thought I knew what arrogance felt like, from my obnoxious Seeker persona, but now I understand why Sirius looked so haughty in the Pensieve memories I saw.'

Alex pulled out her wand. 'Maybe I did too good a job. Do you want me to tone things down a bit?'

'After all that effort? No, I want to shock the portraits.'

They turned towards the Great Hall and saw that Hagrid was waving them to the high table. Harry took Alex's hand and they walked in together, drawing stares from all directions.

'Your outfit probably doesn't help,' she observed. 'Those are impressively tight trousers.'

Minerva dropped her fork when she saw them. 'Great Godric! Did you do this?' she asked Alex.

'Yes, ma'am,' said Alex, and Harry nodded enthusiastically.

'Minerva, this is Alex Barrington. She's currently working on a Mastery in Transfiguration.'

'She most certainly is! Remarkable. Will you join us for dinner?'

'No, we thought we'd tour the castle and then have dinner in Hogsmeade.'

'Yeh'll shock Rosmerta as well,' said Hagrid. 'But she can always pour herself a pick-me-up.'

Harry leaned towards Minerva and asked, 'Is there any chance Alex can try on the Sorting Hat? Her parents and grandparents attended Hogwarts and she's curious which house she would have been assigned.'

'You're welcome to try it on,' Minerva told her, 'but whether you get an answer is up to the Hat. Just find me in my office after dinner. But Harry, hide yourself!'

'I have my Cloak. What's the password?'

'Thistledown. And see you later.'

Harry led Alex from the Great Hall and pulled the Marauder's Map from his pouch. 'My dad and his mates created this map as students,' he said, unrolling it. 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good,' he declared, with a tap of his wand.

'Oh!' she exclaimed, as the map introduced itself. 'Padfoot and Prongs! But who are Moony and Wormtail?'

'Moony was Remus Lupin. They called him Moony because he was a werewolf.'

'Was?'

'Yeah, he died in the Battle of Hogwarts, and his wife too. Their son is my godson.'

'And Wormtail?'

'He betrayed my parents and revealed their location to Voldemort. And then he killed twelve Muggles and faked his death when Sirius confronted him. That's why Sirius went to Azkaban—he was wrongly convicted. But Wormtail is dead now too. They all are.'

'Oh, Harry,' she said, putting her hand over his. 'It was thoughtless of me, asking you to come back to Hogwarts. I'd forgotten about the final battle, and that so many people died here.'

He avoided her eyes by looking at the map. 'That's all right. I was here all the time last year, and in July I even managed to eat in the Great Hall. And it's always good to see Hogwarts full of students again.' Harry found their names on the map. 'Bloody hell!' he cried.

She looked at his name. 'Harry Black?'

'It's Harry Potter-Black!' he insisted, and Alex looked at him in surprise. 'Not officially. But eventually.' He sighed and asked, 'Why does the map say Black?'

'Maybe because I've Transfigured you to look like Sirius?'

'No, that shouldn't make a difference. It's not fooled by Polyjuice Potion or Animagi.' He shook his head and shrugged. 'Anyway, that's the Marauder's Map, which was incredibly useful when we were students.'

'I can see that. Where should we go?'

Harry led her on a rambling tour. They checked the map to confirm that the girls' second-floor bathroom was unoccupied, and he showed her the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. 'I don't speak Parseltongue anymore, so I can't open it, but believe me, you don't want to see it. Admittedly the statues are cool, but otherwise it's completely foul.'

Next they climbed the stairs to the seventh floor, and he showed her the Room of Requirement. 'This is extraordinary!' she said. 'My parents never mentioned it.'

'No, it used to be secret, but now everyone knows about it. We used it for illegal Defence classes when Dolores Umbridge was running the school, and this is where Ron, Hermione, and I arrived before the final battle. A lot of my classmates were living here, including Neville Longbottom, who you'll probably meet.'

He showed her the entrance to Ravenclaw Tower, and the portrait asked them a riddle, which Alex easily solved. 'It's not a very good security system,' she said. 'Anyone can get through.'

'Perhaps, but you figured out the riddle right away and I mightn't have done.'

'Really? I thought you were more clever than that.'

'Apparently not,' said Harry, laughing. Lowering his eyes, he drawled, 'Fortunately, I'm terribly good-looking,' and they had a brief snog in the empty common room. Afterwards, they explored the tower until a Prefect returned and started scolding them.

'What are you doing here!' she cried. 'You're not even students! How did you get in?'

'Minerva invited me,' began Harry. 'Er, Professor McGonagall.'

'A likely story! What's your name?'

'You probably won't believe me, but I'm Harry Potter.'

'No, you aren't. Your eyes aren't green, and he's nowhere near as han–' She stopped herself short. 'Just leave, and don't come back!'

Harry and Alex left the tower together and laughed as soon as they were in the corridor. 'Should we try our luck in Gryffindor Tower?' he asked.

'Sure, why not?' she said, and he led her there. More students were about, and Harry noticed that a lot of the boys were wearing fitted robes, and some even wore flowers. 'Did boys wear flowers when you were a student here?'

'No, that's new. Do you reckon I can make foulards popular?'

'I'd love to see that happen. Next week let's go somewhere wizarding and you can wear one.'

'Done. And here's the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.' Harry looked at the portrait and saw that the Fat Lady was busy gossiping with a friend. Without looking at him, she said, 'Password?'

'Er, I don't know it, but I was hoping you'd let us in anyway.'

The Fat Lady turned towards Harry and screamed, causing her companion to dash from the frame. 'Don't hurt me!' she cried.

Harry suddenly recalled that Sirius had attacked the Fat Lady in Harry's third year, when he was trying to find Wormtail. 'I'm so sorry to frighten you,' he said. 'I'm not Sirius Black—this is Harry Potter in disguise. Do you recognise my voice?'

The Fat Lady had stopped cowering but she was looking at him carefully. 'You look just like him. Only you're young and still handsome. You looked frightful when you attacked me.'

'That wasn't me, it was Sirius, and he was trying to catch a murderer. I'm so sorry he attacked you like that. But do you recognise my voice yet?'

She narrowed her eyes. 'I don't know. Say something Harry Potter might have said.'

'Er ...' he began, trying to think of what he'd have said to her besides the password. 'Please, let me in! It's past curfew and Filch is coming! The reason I'm so late is because I was in detention with Umbridge, but Filch doesn't care.'

The Fat Lady's eyes lit in recognition. 'It is you! Why are you here?'

'My friend Alex is visiting from America, and she wanted to see Hogwarts. Her parents and grandparents were students here.'

'That's wonderful, and yes, of course you can come in,' said the Fat Lady. 'But I have a bone to pick with you, young man. Why weren't you on the radio this week?'

Harry was astonished. 'I thought people needed a break. I don't want to become overexposed.'

'Nonsense! Everyone was so disappointed! I hope you'll be back soon.'

'Yes, next week.'

'That's good. And for future reference, the password is "Veritaserum,"' she said, swinging out of the way and allowing them to enter.

They climbed through the portrait hole into the common room, which was noisy with students. 'Excuse me, can I help you?' said a young wizard.

Harry's heart leapt. Colin! he thought, until he realised who he was looking at. 'Dennis,' he said. 'I'm disguised, but this is Harry Potter. Do you recognise my voice?'

'Yes, of course! Harry, it's great to see you, although you look nothing like yourself. And what on earth are you wearing?'

'I'm disguised as Sirius Black, and he'd never have worn robes if he could help it, so I'm wearing Muggle clothes instead. I got this scarf in France.'

'Scarves are the next big thing,' said Alex. 'I've made him promise to wear one in public next week.'

Dennis's eyes widened. 'Thanks for the tip!' he said, and Harry noticed that he was wearing fitted robes and flowers. 'What brings you back to Hogwarts?'

'My friend Alex wanted to see it. Her parents and grandparents were students here, but she grew up in America. She's a Transfiguration expert, hence my altered appearance.'

'Brilliant! Welcome, and have a look around!'

While Alex explored the common room, Harry chatted with Dennis, who was a Prefect. 'You wouldn't believe how different Hogwarts is now,' said Dennis. 'History of Magic is actually interesting, and we've had the same Defence professor two years running. The Slytherins are still pillocks, but not as bad as they once were. Why weren't you on the radio this week?'

Harry repeated what he'd told the Fat Lady. 'No,' said Dennis, 'people can't get enough. Everyone on the Hogwarts Express was talking about your Veritaserum stunt, and we all gathered in the common room this Tuesday to listen, but it was just Lee and George. Which was fine, I guess, but definitely not the same.'

'I'll be back next Tuesday, and it should be interesting,' said Harry, thinking of his Light magic.

'I'm sure it will be,' said Dennis enthusiastically, when they were interrupted by a new arrival through the portrait hole.

'Oh. My. God. Who are you?' gasped Romilda. 'I'm Romilda Vane, and clearly you're not a student here. But I wish you were!' She put one hand on Harry's bicep, and with her other hand she reached for his foulard. 'And what are you wearing? I love it!'

'Romilda,' interjected Dennis, a little embarrassed. 'It's Harry. He's in disguise as Sirius Black.'

'This is what Sirius Black looked like?' she exclaimed. 'How did I never notice that when his poster was plastered everywhere? I suppose I was only eleven, but still!'

'He looked a lot worse after Azkaban,' explained Harry, deeply regretting his choice of disguise. 'My girlfriend Alex is a Transfiguration expert, and I showed her some old photographs of Sirius, when he was my age.'

'You have a new girlfriend already?' she asked, not removing her hands from him.

'Yes, she's right over there. I should go join her.' He shook Romilda loose and walked towards Alex, but Romilda followed him.

'How's Darren? Does he talk about me?'

'Er, yes,' he replied, not specifying that Darren had asked him not to invite her to his next party. 'He misses you, but he thinks a clean break is for the best. To keep from dragging things out and making it harder.'

She nodded sagely. 'I understand.' Turning to Alex, she asked, 'And how did you meet Harry?'

'Alex, this is Romilda,' he said.

'We met through my job,' said Alex. 'I'm working on a Mastery in Transfiguration, and I have a part-time job assisting an interior designer.'

'Are you redecorating your house?' asked Romilda. 'I'm so glad! It was far too shabby for someone of your station.'

'Actually, we're keeping the shabbiness. The only change is that it's a little less creepy.'

Romilda ignored him and said, 'Alex, if the Mastery doesn't pan out, I'm certain you could make good money repeating whatever you did to Harry. Speaking of which, could you make my nose a little smaller? I can't get the hang of it myself, but maybe if I watch you do it I'll catch on. And you have to show me how you did your eyelashes.'

'I haven't done anything to my eyelashes. They're naturally like this.'

'I can't believe it! Although I suppose if you had charmed them, you'd have tidied up your features as well.'

'Romilda, stop insulting my girlfriend!' scolded Harry. 'I think she's beautiful!'

'Really? After Lydia and Helena? And what about the French model?'

'We need to go now,' said Harry, taking Alex's hand. 'We have a meeting with Professor McGonagall.'

'I hope you'll come back,' Romilda told Harry. 'Even if you don't look like this. But wear the scarf.'

Harry dragged Alex from the common room, and when they were in the corridor he said, 'I'm sorry about Romilda. She has no filter and not much sense.'

'Don't worry, I wasn't hurt. I know I'm not everyone's type.'

'I don't see why not,' he said in a low voice. 'You still take my breath away.'

For a moment Alex looked as if she might melt, but then she straightened and said, 'Don't look at me like that in public. It's bad enough when you look like yourself, but as your godfather you're positively deadly.'

'Then we'll have to go somewhere private,' he murmured.

'No, I want to try on the Sorting Hat and eat dinner in Hogsmeade, and go to Madam Puddifoot's.'

'Fine,' he said with mock exasperation. 'Minerva's office is right this way.'

They arrived at the gargoyle, and Harry donned his Invisibility Cloak. 'Thistledown,' he said, and the gargoyle hopped aside and the wall opened to reveal the spiral staircase. They stepped on it and rose together until they were facing the door to Minerva's office. Harry was about to knock, but the door opened to welcome them.

'Do come in,' said Minerva, who was behind her desk. 'And Harry, feel free to take off your cloak—Severus is currently missing from his frame.' Harry removed the cloak and looked around the office, noticing that Dumbledore's portrait was asleep.

'By Salazar! It's my great-great-grandson! What are you doing here? I thought you were dead.'

'You bloody bastard!' cried Harry, seeing the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black. 'I'm not Sirius, I'm Harry in disguise. And I should throw turpentine at you for those bloody wards!' He turned to Minerva and said, 'That bastard warded Pratt's!'

'You've been to Pratt's?' said Phineas and Minerva simultaneously.

'Yes, and I've joined, in the hopes of undoing some of the damage you've done to wizarding society!'

'Wizarding society needed a strong hand,' insisted Phineas.

'A strong hand that got my parents killed!' snapped Harry. 'Which, if you think about it, is the only reason I'm head of House Black. Regulus would probably still be alive if it weren't for you.'

Phineas was already pale, but he turned grey when Harry said it. 'I shan't listen to your insults,' replied the portrait stiffly. 'You can't control me at Hogwarts.'

'Fine, then leave! I'm here to visit Minerva, and to introduce my friend.' He turned again to Minerva and said, 'I'm so sorry. I've had a lot of time to brood about the harm Phineas caused, and this is the first time I've seen him in ages.'

Minerva looked uneasy. 'Harry, I can see you're no longer even slightly downtrodden. But is everything all right?'

'Yes, really. Other than having to play against Ginny on Saturday, things are going brilliantly.'

'You're certainly keeping busy,' she said, frowning. After a silence, she turned to Alex and said, 'Could you at least change his eyes back to normal? It's unnerving talking to a teenaged Sirius Black.'

'Of course, just a moment,' said Alex, pulling out her wand. She performed a brief incantation to restore Harry's own eyes, and both witches gasped.

'Good lord, I'm looking at the child of Sirius Black and Lily Potter!' said Minerva. 'Evans, rather.'

'Harry, I'm definitely keeping you like this for the rest of the evening,' said Alex admiringly. 'It turns out your godfather had room for improvement.'

Harry was blushing, which, judging from the women's expressions, made him even more attractive. 'We're never doing this again,' he muttered. 'But Minerva, how are you?'

'I'm well, and the school year is off to a good start. Did you talk to any students?'

'Yes, I got in trouble with a Ravenclaw prefect, and I saw Dennis Creevey and Romilda Vane.'

'Romilda Vane! I'm surprised you escaped in one piece! But Alex, I'd love to hear about your studies. Clearly you're extremely gifted in Transfiguration.'

Alex and Minerva began talking about their craft, and Harry took the opportunity to wander around the office. Most of Dumbledore's strange magical devices were gone, and there were far more framed photographs, including several of Harry. He also noticed the black cabinet that had contained the Pensieve, and the silvery light inside told him it was still there.

'Minerva, may I use the Pensieve for a moment? Alex is from Chicago, and I want to show her the time I tried convincing a Muggle I lived there.'

Minerva chuckled and said, 'Yes, but only if I can watch as well.'

Using his wand, Harry pulled the brief memory from his mind, starting with the part where he claimed his parents had moved to America several years prior, and ending with his confused response to Penelope's question about living in Hyde Park. He lowered the silvery strands into the Pensieve and invited the women to watch.

All three of them plunged inside, and they stood together in the Muggle pub and watched Harry chatting up Penelope. Alex laughed hysterically as he pretended to know who Michael Jordan was, and Minerva was amused as well. 'Even I know who that is,' she chided.

Harry was embarrassed by his fumbling attempts to lie but impressed by his own cheek. No wonder Penelope didn't throw her drink at me, he thought. And look at how the Muggle blokes are all dressed—what were they thinking?

When the memory was over, Alex laughed at him again, and Minerva led her to the Sorting Hat. 'There's not much to it,' she said. 'Just put it on, and see if it says anything.'

Alex pulled on the hat, and after about thirty seconds it shouted, 'RAVENCLAW!'

'I told you so,' said Harry, after she'd removed it.

'We had a bit of a debate, actually. Once it agreed to do a theoretical Sorting, I suggested Hufflepuff, since I believe hard work is every bit as important as brains are. But the hat proposed Slytherin, because I'm so keen to make original discoveries in Transfiguration, so we compromised on Ravenclaw. And by the way, it wants to talk to you.'

'The Hat wants to talk to me?' said Harry, surprised.

'Yes, as long as you're here. It said it didn't get a proper look at you last time.'

Harry thought that was odd, considering he'd interacted with the Hat twice—once during his original Sorting, and then the following year when he was afraid he might be the Heir of Slytherin. 'All right,' he said nervously, putting it on.

It slid below his eyes, and Harry heard the familiar voice in his ear. 'Oho, very different. Your chunk of Tom Riddle is gone now. I can't believe I didn't recognise it for what it was, but I suppose you were my first living Horcrux. Presumably I'll recognise them from now on.'

'Am I still a Gryffindor?' asked Harry silently.

'That's the wrong way to look at it,' said the Hat. 'The question isn't which house you are, it's which house you belong in. And there's no doubt at all—better be SLYTHERIN!'

'Bloody hell!' cried Harry, removing the Hat in disgust. 'I'm a sodding Light wizard!'

All the portraits snapped to attention, including Dumbledore's. 'Are you certain?' said the former headmaster. Squinting, he briefly took off his glasses and polished them. 'And who are you?'

'Harry Potter,' he replied. 'I'm partly in disguise as Sirius Black, but it's more conspicuous than I intended it to be.'

'Harry!' said Dumbledore affectionately. 'It's a pleasure to see you, even if you're not quite yourself. Congratulations on turning the Chudley Cannons around! I'd never have thought it possible, but of course you've surprised us before.'

'Er, thanks,' mumbled Harry, who hadn't anticipated talking with Dumbledore. 'Things have changed a lot since you died.'

'Indeed they have,' said Dumbledore, tenting his fingers in front of him. 'And none of us anticipated your second act. But tell me more about the Light magic.'

'I've found a teacher, and I'm going public this weekend. I granted Rita Skeeter a long interview about it on Tuesday.'

'Rita Skeeter!' cried Minerva. 'Have you gone mad?'

'No, we have an agreement that as long as I give her stories, she won't write anything negative about me.'

Minerva shook her head in astonishment. 'No wonder you're in Slytherin!'

'Are you certain it's Light magic?' persisted Dumbledore. 'It's incredibly rare, and I never got anywhere with it.'

'Yes, I'm certain. The reason I'm making an announcement is because I've been glowing, and it's very likely to happen in public.'

'That wasn't Glowpox?' said Minerva.

Harry shook his head, and Alex said, 'I saw him glow last night—he looked like a human Patronus.'

Several of the former headmasters started sniggering. 'I daresay this explains a thing or two,' said Dilys Derwent.

'Or six,' said Armando Dippet.

'Indeed,' said Dumbledore. 'But are you safe? You weren't any good at Occlumency.'

'No, Snape wasn't any good at teaching Occlumency,' said Harry. 'But I've mastered it now.'

'Fascinating. But I suppose I'll have to wait for Rita Skeeter's article to learn more.'

'Yes, Alex and I need to leave—we haven't had dinner yet,' replied Harry, who was feeling increasingly impatient. Addressing all the portraits, he said, 'Could you keep this amongst yourselves for the next few days?'

'If I tell them to,' said Minerva. 'Past headmasters,' she announced, 'you are to keep Harry Potter's Light magic secret until after it's made public.'

They all nodded obediently, including Dumbledore, but then they launched into a flurry of gossip and speculation. 'Minerva, please excuse me for not telling you sooner. I've just had so much going on,' began Harry, but she stopped him.

'I understand. And you say you've found a teacher?'

'Yes, and she's terrific.' In a whisper he added, 'And Hermione is studying with me as well.'

Minerva relaxed. 'Then I'm certain you're in good hands.'

There was a burst of noise from the chattering portraits, 'What in the name of Salazar Slytherin am I seeing?' cried Snape, aghast. Harry, Alex, and Minerva all turned to face him, and Snape blanched. 'Oh god no ...' rasped the former Potions Master.

'It's Harry,' explained Minerva. 'He's incognito, but hardly inconspicuous.'

Snape looked like he was was going to be sick. 'Get out of my sight, Potter! Or Black, or whatever your damnable name is!'

'You should go,' insisted Minerva, rushing them to the door. 'I'll take care of Severus. Alex, it was a pleasure to meet you, and please keep me apprised of your progress.'

Alex thanked her and Harry apologised again, and soon they were back in the corridor walking towards the main staircase. 'Welcome to my life,' said Harry. 'I'm sorry it's completely mental.'

'I hope that wasn't too trying for you. And you must be famished.'

'I am, actually. It's tempting just to fly out of the castle from here, like Fred and George Weasley did, but Minerva would never forgive me.'

They hurried down the stairs, and soon they were outside and Harry pulled out his broomstick. This time he sat in front of Alex, since he could fly much faster that way, and within a minute they were outside the Three Broomsticks.

'I need to kiss you again,' said Alex when they dismounted. 'You're completely irresistible right now.'

After they kissed, Harry asked, 'Do you reckon you should just change me back to normal? I seem to be attracting more attention this way.'

'Are you kidding? I'm not turning down a visit to Madam Puddifoot's with a green-eyed Adonis. But let's have dinner first.'

They entered the Three Broomsticks, which fortunately wasn't too crowded, and they slid into a booth near the back. For several minutes Alex and Harry just sat and admired each other, but then Madam Rosmerta turned up and did a double-take. 'Do I know you?' she asked Harry. 'I'm certain I do,' she began, then she blushed and said, 'But you must hear that a lot. What's your name, love?'

'It's Harry Potter,' said Alex quietly, 'and I've done an extremely poor job disguising him.'

Madam Rosmerta looked astonished. 'So you are! Only you look as if your mother had married Sirius Black instead of your father. Which I'm almost disappointed didn't happen,' she said with a flutter. 'But what can I get you?'

They chose from the menu board, and each of them ordered a glass of ale. 'Our next stop is Madam Puddifoot's,' explained Harry, 'and we'll need fortification to survive it.'

'You certainly will,' said Rosmerta. 'Her shop has become extremely popular since you took that ghost there last month. People are coming from all over Britain.'

Harry grimaced. 'Are you serious? I didn't even eat the food there, and I ended up sharing most of what my house-elf brought, because nobody wanted all those sweets.'

'Believe me, I know. But you have the golden touch these days. Would you like me to send someone over to put your name down? That way you won't have to wait later on.'

He looked dubiously at Alex, but she was insistent. 'I've come all the way from America for this. We're definitely going.'

'There's our answer,' Harry told Rosmerta. 'And cheers.'

'What name should I give them?'

'Oh, bugger—I have no idea anymore. Probably Harry Black, since that's who I look like right now.'

While they waited for their order, Alex told Harry stories she'd heard about Hogwarts growing up, and he shared some of his own experiences. She also told him about her education in America. 'There are, in fact, wizarding schools in North America other than Ilvermorny,' she explained. 'I attended one in Upper Michigan called Westwind.'

'So it's a boarding school, not a day school?'

'That's right. Secrecy is much more strictly enforced in America, so they require students to be educated away from No-Maj populations.'

As Harry sipped his ale and listened to Alex, he was overwhelmed with affection, and at one point he had to conceal his hands, which had begun to glow. I'll be in heaven when my Light magic is public, and I can glow wherever I bloody well please, he thought impatiently.

Madam Rosmerta brought their meals, and she took the opportunity to ask Harry about his outfit. 'Why aren't you wearing robes? I'd have loved to see them.'

'Because I was disguised as Sirius when I left the house. It was Minerva who insisted Alex return my eyes to normal, since it was giving her the creeps to talk to someone who was dead. In a non-ghost, non-portrait sense, that is.'

'But Harry's going to make scarves fashionable,' said Alex. 'He'll wear one in public next week, and I'm sure all the students will want them.'

'You don't say!' replied Rosmerta. 'There's a Hogsmeade weekend coming up—not this Saturday, but the next. Do you reckon I should give the other shopkeepers a heads up?'

'That seems excessive,' said Harry. 'One of these days I'm bound to wear something nobody likes.'

'But it's not just you,' said Alex. 'Pre-Azkaban Sirius Black just paraded through the Great Hall wearing a scarf and tight trousers, and every head in the room turned to watch. I suspect you sped up puberty for a number of students tonight.'

'That's it, I'm ordering scarves,' said Rosmerta. 'I remember one year Sirius came back from the holidays wearing a dog collar, and within a week at least a dozen students had copied him—male and female.'

'Not my dad, I hope!' said Harry.

'No—he was the one selling them.'

Alex and Harry enjoyed their meal, and then it was time to head to Madam Puddifoot's. Harry still couldn't believe it was popular among more than just students on awkward or overly-demonstrative dates, but Rosmerta was right—there was a small crowd of couples in front waiting for tables. Harry walked past them, drawing stares from most of the women, and stood at the podium.

After a minute, Madam Puddifoot appeared. 'My goodness, who is this?' she exclaimed when she saw him. She leaned forwards to examine his face and asked, 'Are you Harry Black?'

'Harry Potter, actually,' he whispered. 'My friend here is a Transfiguration expert, and she initially made me look like my godfather, but things went awry.'

'Well done,' she leered, and Harry felt uncomfortable under the matron's predatory gaze. Is this what Fleur feels like? he wondered. 'Mr Potter—or Mr Black, rather—will you be eating our food tonight, or bringing your own?'

'That was only because I had a Quidditch match the next day. So yes, we'll order from the menu.'

Madam Puddifoot led them to their table, which was unfortunately very close to its neighbours. 'The shop is ever so popular now,' she said proudly. 'And not just with students anymore—with everyone. It's like this every day, starting around four o'clock.'

'Congratulations,' said Harry, as he held Alex's chair for her. When Harry sat down, Madam Puddifoot handed them menus and promised to return promptly.

'This is the tackiest place I've ever seen!' whispered Alex excitedly. 'It's like someone ate a ribbon shop and threw up! I wish I'd brought a camera.'

'I don't think you need one. It looks like there's a photographer coming round, offering to take pictures.'

'You're right! I have to have one, if only to show off my handiwork.'

'Oh my god, I'm going to be photographed like this,' said Harry, horrified. 'Do you think anyone will recognise me?'

'Maybe from your eyes, but certainly not your hair. And at least you're not wearing robes.'

He took a deep breath. 'That's true, you're right. Shall we look at the menu?'

They opened their menus, and Harry realised it had changed since his last visit. Now there were several ghost-themed cakes, which made no sense, since actual ghosts preferred food that had gone off. Even worse, several of the sweets were clear references to himself, including a pistachio sundae called the 'Green-Eyed Seeker,' a compote called 'Veritasyrup,' and an extremely large pudding called 'Sweet Exhaustion.'

Alex leaned towards him and said, 'I know it's very American of me to point this out, but you definitely have grounds for a lawsuit, or at least a cease-and-desist order.'

Harry sighed. 'You're probably right. But that would be far more embarrassing than this is, and I'd rather not think about it.'

'Fair enough. What should we get?'

'Let's see, there's the Golden Treacle, although that might be a reference to the Golden Trio. Alternatively, I could go for the Sorting Hattenburg Cake, but I'm not sure I could order it with a straight face. What do you want?'

'I must say, the Green-Eyed Seeker looks good, but that might be because I can't stop thinking about last night.'

'Neither can I. Do you reckon we could take our food to go?'

'That depends on how long it takes for them to process our photograph,' she said. 'Because I'm not leaving here without one.'

'As long as you don't make me sign it,' he grumbled.

Madam Puddifoot returned to take their order, and moments later the photographer arrived. 'Would you like a souvenir?' he asked Harry. 'Something for the lovely lady?'

'That's very sweet of you,' said Alex, 'but we both know which of us is lovelier tonight. And yes, I want a souvenir.'

The photographer had them move their chairs together, and Harry put his arm around her. After their picture was taken they left their chairs together, and before long they succumbed to the ambiance and began kissing. Harry was reluctant to go overboard in public, for fear of glowing, so they punctuated their kisses with conversation.

Alex said, 'The best thing about kissing here is that when I close my eyes I get a break from the decor.'

'And I can only smell your hair and not the vast quantities of sugar,' said Harry.

'Look at this place,' she said, indicating all the snogging couples. 'This is what I imagine your parties are like.'

'I've been to brothels with less public display of affection,' he countered.

'I'm surprised they don't have private stalls you can rent by the hour.'

'Something tells me this whole place is an excuse for uptight Anglo-Saxons to act like they're French. Only the pastries aren't as good.'

'Do you think they have an adults-only menu for hen parties?' mused Alex.

'With obscenely-shaped novelty sweets?'

'Exactly. And maybe even insertables.'

'Miss Barrington!' exclaimed Harry. 'Your low American humour is not welcome here!'

Their next kisses were interrupted by the arrival of their food, which they were forced to eat on the premises, since their photograph wasn't yet ready. 'Did they really need to make the pistachio ice cream as green as your eyes?' she asked. 'And I think these Golden Snitches are pure corn syrup, only with little flapping wings.'

'I like treacle tart as much as anyone,' said Harry, 'but this is bigger than my head. Nobody needs this much treacle.'

'Do you want some of my ice cream to cut the sweetness?'

'Can you Transfigure this into a normal-size piece of treacle tart and a gallon jug of golden syrup?' he asked.

'I can't Transfigure anything right now because I'm in a diabetic coma.'

People were staring at them, partly because Harry was so striking, but mostly because they were laughing so hard. Fortunately the photographer arrived with their picture, and they immediately asked for takeaway boxes and the bill.

Harry, who hadn't yet seen the latest iteration of his face, was momentarily stunned. 'I need to find a long-range Time Turner to tell my mum to marry Sirius instead. Or at least let him father me on the sly.'

'No, you'd never have defeated Voldemort if you looked like this.'

'What makes you say that? Perhaps Voldemort would have been rendered speechless by my uncanny beauty. Or all the original closet-case Death Eaters would have rallied around me instead.'

'Weren't you underage?'

'Oh right. I'm certain psychopathic mass-murderers would draw the line at perving over a fifteen-year-old.'

'Actually, you'd have just chucked the prophecy and gone to Milan to be a model.'

'At my height? Not bloody likely.'

'Maybe you'd have been taller if Sirius had been your dad.'

'No, James Potter was tall. Mum's the one to blame.'

'Why haven't they brought the bill yet?' whinged Alex. 'My teeth hurt.'

'At least you can move your jaw. Someone's going to need to Vanish the treacle from mine.'

'I don't care about your jaw, as long as your tongue works.'

'Believe me, I'll be ready for something salty as soon as I digest this brick.'

Finally the bill arrived, along with the takeaway boxes, and Alex attempted to pay. 'You paid for dinner!' she argued.

'Don't get all American on me. And besides, I'm richer than the Queen. Not really.'

'You should really upgrade your townhouse to match your station,' she scolded.

'I tried, but I got distracted by the interior designer's breathtakingly beautiful assistant.'

'Light magic isn't like beer goggles, is it?' she asked suspiciously. 'I'd be mortified if you saw me in six months, once you're past this phase, and thought, "What on earth did I see in her?"'

'Not going to happen. From what I can tell, Light magic makes me more impulsive around women I'm attracted to, and insatiably randy. But I don't think my standards have changed.'

'That's a relief. It'll be bad enough when we're photographed together in earnest and the Prophet expresses concern that I've Love Potioned you.'

'No, they won't. And besides, I'm a Slytherin now, so I can just tell Rita Skeeter to have them describe you as "stunningly graceful." Which you are, in case I haven't mentioned it.'

'I prefer "gazelle-like," thank you very much. And don't let them accuse me of magically enhancing my eyelashes, because that's a pet peeve of mine.'

'You have to admit it's the most logical explanation,' he said admiringly, 'And they're even more enchanting up close,' he added, leaning in for a kiss.

Afterwards, he stubbornly slid the coins she'd placed on the table back towards her and paid the bill himself. 'Save your Galleons to ring Rocky and tell him about the twee sugar den I brought you to.'

'No, he doesn't want the details.'

'Fair enough. I don't really want the details about him either. But will you invite me to your wedding?'

'Would you come?'

'I don't know, maybe. It would be a good opportunity to gather data about Chicago. But would you be willing to have me there?'

'Sure, why not? Mind you, I might demand you take Polyjuice Potion so you don't overshadow me.'

'But then how would I seduce one or more of your bridesmaids?'

'You'll have a British accent in America. You could lose all your teeth to treacle tart and still get laid over there.'

'Brilliant! Maybe I'll eat these leftovers after all.'

Madam Puddifoot thanked them profusely for coming, and as soon as they were outside and past the couples still waiting for tables, they Vanished their leftovers and Apparated to Harry's back garden. He threw on his Invisibility Cloak before going inside, for fear of alarming Kreacher, and they went up to Harry's bedroom to recover from their enormous dessert.

'Who decided it was a good idea to eat heavy puddings on a date?' she asked as they propped themselves on pillows.

'Your mum's the one who said Madam Puddifoot's was romantic.'

'Probably because she was fifteen and wasn't putting out yet.'

'Is that American slang I'm unfamiliar with?' he asked.

'Apparently. Did you work it out from the context, even though you're too beautiful to be clever?'

'I did, thanks.'

Harry examined the photograph again. 'Poor Sirius. He looked ghastly when he escaped from Azkaban. And even though he put on weight afterwards, his appearance never recovered. I may be more ordinary to start with, but at least I haven't so far to fall.'

'You're lovely,' she said. 'Not just now, but normally as well.'

'I wasn't fishing for compliments.'

'I know you weren't. You've always been cute, from what I've seen, but when you look at me I simply melt.'

'I simply melt when I look at you too,' he replied, and they nuzzled close to each other.

Eventually they were ready for more than conversation, and later he held her as she fell asleep. Harry felt his face become thinner and more angular, and his hair was no longer long and floppy. But Alex's shoulder still felt smooth beneath his lips, and drowsy contentment overtook him.