Harry offered Ron breakfast when he arrived at Grimmauld Place on Saturday morning, but Ron shook his head. 'I had breakfast hours ago, thanks to that bastard Murdoch. Bloody pre-dawn surveillance.'

'Are you serious?' exclaimed Harry. 'On a Saturday?'

'Yes, because oddly enough, Dark wizards have no respect for the five-day work week,' grumbled Ron. 'But believe me, I got off lucky—they gave Harper a twelve-hour overnight shift at Azkaban.'

'Ugh, has that part of training begun?'

'It has, but at least I'm exempt from Azkaban duty, on account of my association with you. So cheers, mate.'

'Would you like something other than breakfast?' asked Harry.

'Do you know how to cook anything other than breakfast?'

'Er, not really. But Kreacher can make you something when he gets back, which should be any minute.'

'Where is he?'

'He's grocery shopping for Hermione's birthday party tonight, which is becoming rather more elaborate than I'd intended.'

Ron smirked. 'Did you lose control of your house-elf again?'

'Not exactly. But I had to compromise after the French pastry fiasco yesterday.'

'You had a French pastry fiasco?' exclaimed Ron with mock alarm. 'Why didn't you notify the Department? They could have sent a team of Aurors!'

'Very funny. No, the problem was that yesterday morning I owled the French bakery Fleur discovered and asked them to deliver a selection of pastries for the end of practice, but then I remembered we can't have outside foods so soon before a match, so I had Lara Floo-call them to change the order to Monday. Which they somehow misinterpreted, due to the language barrier, and a huge basket of pastries showed up here instead, and Kreacher was beside himself because I never warned him.'

'French pastries? Were they any good?'

'I don't know, in theory because it was too soon before the match for me to try any, but mainly because Kreacher performed weird house-elf magic on all the pastries in an attempt to reverse-engineer them, and it went horribly wrong.'

'House-elf magic gone horribly wrong?'

'Yes, apparently the bakery employs a French house-elf who uses her own magic to prevent reverse-engineering, and it clashed with whatever Kreacher did, resulting a massive, Vanish-proof explosion. Kreacher was still trying to hide the evidence when I got home, and at first he wouldn't even say what happened, so I had to threaten to punish him, which I obviously didn't want to do. But the kitchen was absolutely coated in butter, flour, and fruit, and I was dead curious why, so I bluffed about punishing him, which led to a tearful confession. But he was stingy with the details, so I had to Floo-call the bakery to get an explanation. And that wasn't easy, since the shop assistant's English is nearly as bad as my French, and that's pathetic because all I really know how to say is "nice arse, my dear."'

'You didn't say that, did you?'

'No, although it definitely applied. Anyway, Kreacher insisted on being punished anyway, so I had him clean up the kitchen and called it a punishment. The important part, however, was the negotiation, whereby I'll get authentic French bread and pastries from now on, in exchange for Kreacher preparing a completely over-the-top dinner for Hermione's birthday tonight. Hence the grocery shopping.'

'Er, maybe I'll just have you make me a second breakfast,' said Ron. 'I'd hate to bother Kreacher when he has his hands full.'

'That's for the best,' admitted Harry, and he returned to the work area of the kitchen. 'But how are you doing, besides being knackered from pre-dawn surveillance?'

'Pretty good. Other than Murdoch, everyone at work is treating me great because they're convinced I'm the most likely to develop Light magic. Although I can't say I'm confident.'

'Why not?'

'Because you and your teacher are probably the only people in all Britain who have it, and I don't know what she's like, but you're not exactly typical.'

'That's not true,' said Harry. 'First off, I've received several dozen letters from people who are experiencing Light magic but never knew what it was until I went public.'

'Really? Did they say how it started?'

'Some of them did. But there are other people as well ... You have to keep this secret, but last week Hermione started experiencing it.'

'Blimey! Does she glow?'

'No, her hair starts sparking blue. I haven't seen it myself.'

Ron frowned. 'She doesn't have the libido side effect, does she?'

'I don't know—she didn't say.'

'I still can't get over how she is with Ryan Bellamy,' he grumbled. 'People used to complain about me and Lavender, but they're far worse.'

'No, they aren't,' said Harry. 'You're just remembering wrong because you didn't have to watch like the rest of us.'

'Well, they're bad enough. I still don't know what to make of it.'

'Is it really a problem? Honestly, you and Janet seem like a far better match than you and Hermione were.'

'We are,' admitted Ron. 'And there's no bedroom problem like there was with Hermione. But I still don't like seeing them together.'

'I get it. I went out of my mind picturing Ginny and Blaise together, even though she and I never had problems in that department.'

'Oi!'

'Get over it,' said Harry. 'Ancient history.'

'Yeah, I suppose so. But you and Alex seem happy.'

Harry smiled. 'I'm crazy about her. She's the full package, no question. The only problem is she has a fiancé.'

'Why's that a problem? It's not like you can get serious with anyone—not for two years almost.'

'That's not strictly true. All I promised Helena was that I wouldn't propose marriage before my twenty-first birthday, but she specifically said I can fall in love and even move in with someone.'

'Harry, I think you're missing the point. You fall in love really easily. How long have you and Alex been dating?'

'Almost two weeks.'

'Yeah, it's not normal to start thinking about marriage that soon. Not for blokes, anyway.'

'I know,' sighed Harry. 'This has dead-mum trauma written all over it. But is that such a bad thing? Maybe I'm more able than most men to commit to a relationship. I was certainly committed to Ginny—I didn't even notice anyone else while we were together.'

'Again, that's weird,' said Ron. 'I'm only interested in Janet right now, but I definitely notice other witches.'

Harry shrugged. 'We already knew I was weird.'

'You're not joking! I still can't believe you wore that scarf out in public.'

'The Prophet loved it,' said Harry, serving Ron his breakfast. 'Their fashion editor called it "the boldest new look since the pointed hat."'

'And you just quoted the Prophet fashion editor. God, I wish Fred were around to witness this. Although we probably wouldn't have Weasley's Wizard Wireless if Lee hadn't taken his place at the shop.'

'I hadn't thought of that, but you're right. Still, it seems like it would have happened anyway somehow.'

'George says it's done wonders for business—everyone's heard of the shop now, even wizards visiting from abroad, to the point where they'll probably need another employee soon. And Walburga is huge! People have even started making regular appointments with her, on the advice of a Mind Healer.'

Harry's jaw dropped. 'Don't tell me Walburga gives good advice!'

'No, the opposite. She gives people a safe way to express their bottled-up emotions towards an abusive parent. George says there are people who spend up to an hour in her booth and come out looking like they just survived the Battle of Hogwarts, only they give him a big hug and buy about fifty Galleons worth of merchandise.'

Kreacher suddenly appeared with a loud crack, and crates of groceries covered nearly every horizontal surface, including the table where Ron was eating. 'Master!' cried the elf joyfully. 'Kreacher is planning the best of all possible feasts! It is far better than anything the Kammy or the Hogwarts elves could prepare!'

Harry blanched when he saw all the crates. 'Please don't tell me you're going to cook anything from the family recipes.'

'No, Master was most insistent. Kreacher will instead serve all of Master's and Miss Hermione's favourite foods!'

'Er, I'm not sure they all go together,' replied Harry, trying to imagine such a meal.

'They will when Kreacher prepares them!' cried the elf triumphantly. 'Treacle vindaloo! Balti pizza! Steak and kidney tikka masala!'

'I don't recommend treacle vindaloo, although the others might work. But perhaps you could just make a wide range of foods and serve it buffet style. That way people can mix and match.'

Kreacher's ears drooped. 'Yes, Master. But Kreacher will require more flowers to decorate a buffet.'

'That's fine,' said Harry. 'I'll call the florist and increase your allotment.'

After Harry finished talking to the florist via Floo, he and Ron went to the sitting room to get out of the way. 'It's a good thing you're rich,' said Ron, 'because Kreacher must be costing you a fortune.'

'He does go overboard,' said Harry, who had started replying to fan mail. 'But look how happy he is, especially compared to when we first met him. And besides, I get free labour out of it, which is pretty sweet. Don't tell Hermione I said that, by the way.'

'Trust me, I won't. But I understand you have an exciting new potential source of income.'

'Janet told you about the endorsement offer, I gather,' said Harry sheepishly.

'That goes way beyond an endorsement—that's a full-body commitment. Boxers aren't so bad, but Y-fronts? They don't leave a lot to the imagination.'

'I know,' grimaced Harry. 'I bought a Muggle magazine yesterday to see what the adverts are like, and they definitely gave me pause. And I don't know how it'll work with Light magic.'

'Did they get back to you yet about your Japan proposal?'

'Yeah, but they need to rework the numbers. He'll show them to me tomorrow over lunch.'

'Bangers and mash?'

'Very funny. No, we're meeting in a private room at Pratt's—it turns out he's a member.'

'I'm certain this won't be the first in-depth discussion of male genitalia in a private room at Pratt's,' said Ron. 'Surely not everyone there is a fan of the Boudoir.'

'No, probably not. And then I'll come back here for tea with all the newly-discovered Blacks, and Narcissa and Andromeda of course.'

'No Draco?'

'Unclear,' replied Harry. 'We arranged the meeting before he was released, so we never discussed whether he'd be there.'

'It'll be interesting if he does come, particularly if he's as wasted as he was on Thursday.'

'Did you talk to him?'

'Yeah, but he was mainly interested in Janet.'

Harry's eyebrows shot up. 'He didn't come onto her?'

'No, she's far too common, and not nearly virginal enough. But Malfoy really knows his Quidditch, and I think he wanted to show off. Once he found out about all the other schools, he started researching all the players' histories, which teams were the strongest, and so forth. I was pretty impressed, to be honest.'

'Did he say much to you, or was it all Janet.'

'He asked whether I'd be Sorted into Slytherin next, in which case you and I could officially replace Crabbe and Goyle. I said, "Not bloody likely," and he said, "Of course not, because Harry's too short and you're both too skinny, although your IQ might be in the right range."'

'And you didn't hex him?'

'No, because he was obviously drunk and even I could tell he was just trying to get a rise out of me.'

'In spite of your low IQ?'

'Amazing, I know. And Janet said something like "Ron has his faults, but he's actually more clever than you'd think, which was frankly a disappointment when we started dating. But I've got resigned to it."'

'That was diplomatic of her.' After a silence, Harry asked, 'Will it bother you if I become friends with him? Obviously he'll never replace you—not even close.'

Ron shrugged. 'You're a Slytherin now—who am I to get in the way?'

Harry looked up from the photograph he was signing. 'Hang on, are you actually upset?'

'Not really. I just worry a little you're going to change too much. Between Pratt's and the Slytherins, you're definitely more comfortable with posh wizards than you used to be.'

'I am,' admitted Harry. 'But I also spend all day getting slagged by my teammates, including Gemma.'

'I know. And I'm not actually scared you'll become one of them—particularly with your Light magic—but obviously I'll never fit in.'

'Have you talked to Theo Nott lately? He's recently had to learn how many Sickles make up a Galleon.'

'I talked to him on Thursday, and you're right, he wasn't bad.' Ron sighed. 'Just don't let Malfoy lure you in too deep.'

'Not to worry. I've sworn off prostitutes, and Pansy Parkinson isn't my type.'

'Doesn't she have a pulse?' asked Ron, and Harry raised two fingers at him.

They passed the rest of the morning talking Quidditch, then Harry left for the Cannons training grounds. He wasn't particularly nervous about the match—Sarah Trent, the Pride of Portree Seeker, tended not to track her opponents, and he didn't anticipate many hostile banners at home. Bludgers were his biggest concern, but Suresh and Gary were considered superior to the Portree Beaters.

'See how much you can fuck with their Chasers,' Tuttle advised. 'But not literally.'

'My girlfriend will be in the stands!' he protested. 'And I'm not a complete maniac!'

'Talk to me after you've gone a fortnight without getting your wand polished,' retorted Tuttle.

'Perish the thought!' exclaimed Janet. 'That's bound to unleash some kind of apocalypse. Admit it—that's what the prophecy was really about.'

After lunch they travelled to Chudley Stadium, where Harry was examined thoroughly for illegally-charmed objects. 'Are you sure you don't need for him to strip down to his pants?' Gemma asked the referee. 'He's pretty good at it already, but he could probably use more practice.'

Harry gestured for her to be quiet, not wanting word of his possible endorsement to get out. 'How's the weather?' he asked Owen.

'Sunny, which is unfortunate for everyone who made a glowing banner,' replied Owen. 'But it's perfect spotting conditions, so if you're lucky we'll have a quick match.'

'No, my mates will kill me,' said Suresh. 'Short matches are the worst.'

'You're just saying that because we always used to lose,' said Darren. 'And besides, you're wrong—short matches are fantastic. The fans have a lot of pent-up energy, and so do I.'

'Was it after a short match that you shagged a fan in the alley behind the Spyglass?' asked Harry.

'Again, that was more than once. But yes.'

'Are the two witches from last weekend in the stands this afternoon?' asked Gemma.

'They are indeed,' replied Darren. 'But not near my family, who doesn't entirely approve of me right now.'

'Right now?' said Gemma incredulously.

'Yeah, it recently got worse because one of my cousins got married last spring, and now she's preggers. So I'm under more pressure than usual to settle down.'

'There's always Romilda,' said Harry.

'Thank you, no. My mum actually asked whether I was serious about Jocelyn or Maryann, and she expressed concern that if they were already pregnant the baby mightn't be mine.'

'They don't seem inclined to ruin their figures just yet,' observed Suresh. 'At least that was my impression, based on what they wore to the nightclub.'

'Are you, a gay man, criticising witches for being too slutty?' asked Janet accusingly.

'Not at all. I think people should dress however they like, and those outfits certainly suited them. And Harry deserves another Order of Merlin for his influence on men's fashion—I still can't get over that article in yesterday's Prophet.'

'"Evolution of a Fashion Icon,"' quoted Gemma. 'But Harry, why aren't you more upset they re-ran your old primary school photos?'

'He was upset,' said Janet, 'but Alex had never seen them before, and she smothered him with affection. At least that's my theory.'

Harry said nothing, but Janet was right. Alex had been horrified when she saw his early photos, and she enfolded him in her arms to comfort the both of them. Her ardent attention completely overwhelmed his feelings of shame, and it was a surprisingly sweet start to his day.

A staff member told the starters it was time to fly out, so they proceeded down the corridor and emerged one by one. Harry flew out last into the bright sunshine, and enormous cheers greeted him. Scanning the stadium, he saw a smattering of purple banners for Pride of Portree, but otherwise it was a sea of orange. Numerous signs extolled 'The Light Lord,' prompting Harry to roll his eyes. This is all George's fault, he thought irritably.

But he was cheered by the number of 'Mothers For Harry Potter' banners, which vastly outnumbered their counterparts. Lucinda held one of them, but he saw strangers holding the banners as well, and he waved his thanks. Finally, he approached Alex, who wasn't holding a sign but was wearing a bright orange foulard, and he blew her a kiss. And he laughed when he saw her companions: Pansy, Daphne, Blaise, and Theo held a banner that said 'Slytherins for Harry Potter,' and Draco held a sign that said, 'Get a room.'

Which of my dead mates is in the stands today? wondered Harry, and he decided on his parents. Mum is clearly holding that 'Mothers For Harry Potter' sign with the animated blooming flowers—she was good at Charms. And Dad is right next to her with the banner that says, 'Take no prisoners! Blatch like you mean it!'

The balls were released, and Harry commenced circling. His gut told him it was going to be a short match, so he resisted the urge to feint, lest he miss the Snitch. And he was right: less than fifteen minutes in, the Snitch appeared only twenty yards from him and the match was over. 'Cannons win, 160-0,' cried the announcer, and although the Cannons fans cheered, Harry sensed everyone's disappointment.

'You did your job,' said Tuttle when he landed. 'You're here to win matches, not promote beer sales.'

'Quidditch needs a bloody clock,' he grumbled.

He shook hands with Sarah Trent on the pitch. 'Sorry it was such a boring match,' he said. 'I didn't even feint.'

'Neither did I,' she replied. 'I also had the feeling it was going to be a short one. Speaking of which, did you ever hear back from Viktor Krum?'

'Yes, finally. He sent me a parchment that's linked to a petition he's circulated among Seekers. Every time someone signs, it appears on everyone's copy.'

'Really? How long is it?'

'It's long, and he says the team owners have a petition of their own. I'll bring it to Seekers' night out a week from Monday, and we can discuss our next move.'

'Shouldn't you and Krum figure that out?' she asked.

'No, he doesn't want to be the face of the movement because he's sure it'll fail. He suggests I coordinate with the owners and make a presentation at the World Quidditch Conference later this year.'

'Good luck! I mostly agree with Krum, but we have to at least try. This afternoon was pathetic.'

When the reporters entered the pitch, someone asked, 'Potter, is it true you're behind the effort to change the Quidditch scoring rules?'

'It wasn't my idea—lots of people think the rules should be changed—but I agreed to use whatever influence I have to move it forward. And as you may have heard, more than a hundred Seekers worldwide agree with me, and team owners as well.'

'But what about the fans?' asked another reporter.

'Go ask them,' said Harry, motioning to the stands. 'My guess is they were disappointed to pay good money for a match that ended so quickly. I'll certainly apologise to the friends I invited and offer more tickets to make it up to them.'

'Is it true you tried the Firebolt Ultra again?'

Harry and Bruce had discussed the matter, and they decided he should reply honestly. 'Yes, and I've revised my opinion. It has a learning curve, but otherwise it's first rate. The only reason I didn't fly on it today is because it interacts with my Light magic and gives me an unfair advantage.'

'Is that why you had league referees at the training grounds on Thursday?'

'Yes, but they agreed to revisit the question after I'm through the accidental phase.'

The reporter from the Prophet had spotted Draco Malfoy in the stands near Alex and correctly surmised he was Harry's guest. 'Does this mean you and Malfoy are friends now?'

'From my side, yes, but you'll have to ask Draco what he thinks. At the very least, I hope we'll remain civil and never be on opposite sides of a war.'

Next, invited guests were allowed on the pitch, but Draco kept his distance until after the photographers were gone. 'That was a seriously crap match, Potter,' he snarled. 'Thanks for nothing.'

'You can come to the next one. Who's it against anyway?'

'Your next home match is against the Banchory Bangers. Selden Puttick's the Seeker—you can probably take him easily, unless he has a vicious streak I'm unaware of.'

'No, he's fine. Did you have a good time with Gilstrap after I left?'

'Yes, I've invited him to the Manor this week.' Harry's eyebrows shot up, and Draco said, 'Just kidding. He may be a league Seeker, but he's still a nobody.'

As much as Harry disliked Gilstrap, he loathed Draco's snobbery. 'Are you serious? By rights you and Gilstrap should be best mates, between your shared interest in Quidditch and your hatred of me. But you're going to let his ancestry get in the way?'

'I told you, Potter. Mustn't let commoners get too close. They always want something.'

'And so? Why not use your influence to help someone along?'

'Nobody in my circles is going to be interested in the son of two Mudbloods, no offence.'

Harry rolled his eyes. 'Do you want to join us at the Cracked Spyglass? It'll be a bunch of Cannons fanatics getting plastered to make up for not drinking enough at the match.'

'No thanks, I can get plastered at home. But I'll see you tomorrow at the Black family reunion.'

'So you're coming?'

'Of course I am. There might be pure-bloods among the branch that's not descended from a Squib.'

'Are you going out of your way to be extra revolting today?' asked Harry.

'No, it comes naturally. But remember I blame you at the weekend, so I'm not editing myself as much as I might do otherwise.'

'And you're sure you don't want to come to the pub with us?'

'No, I'm not going to insult the great Harry Potter while he's surrounded by his worshipers. But I'll owl you if inspiration strikes.'

'Patronuses are faster,' suggested Harry. 'I could teach you.'

'I'll keep it in mind. See you tomorrow.'

Tuttle's notes were brief, and the players soon arrived at the Cracked Spyglass. Alex accompanied Harry, and they were greeted enthusiastically. 'That was a seriously boring match, Potter, but at least you won it for us,' said a fan. 'And now we're playing drinking games to make up for it. Speaking of which, could you give us a glow?'

'Will everyone be required to drink?' asked Harry.

'Yes, they have to drain their current pint and pour another one. Come on, Potter, it's the least you can do after not feinting even once.'

'I had a feeling the Snitch was coming early, and I was right,' argued Harry.

'Of course you were right,' said another fan, who was holding a full glass. 'So celebrate by glowing.'

Harry shrugged his shoulders and turned to Alex. 'What do you think?'

'They'll get hammered regardless,' she said. 'And you owe them.'

Smiling, he gave Alex the Look and then kissed her, and even with his eyes closed he knew he was glowing brightly. He turned back to the fan and said, 'Satisfied?'

The fan was draining his beer, as were all his neighbours. But then glasses hit the table, and there was a loud chorus of belches. 'Cheers,' said the fan, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. 'Hit us again in a quarter hour.'

'I make no promises,' replied Harry, and he and Alex found a table. 'I'm doing my best to ensure you won't miss British pubs when you return to America,' he told her.

'It's working,' she said. 'And I'm glad you're not a big drinker.'

'No, I'd rather go six times in one night. Shall we go home and get started?'

'You said it was exhausting and that you'd never do it again!'

'You're right, I won't. But we have nearly twenty-two hours until I have lunch with the underwear bloke, and then I won't get to see you for two whole nights, which is not what we agreed to.'

'It's not my fault you have your Light magic lesson on Monday and can't have me over before a match. You'll just have to cope.'

'Are you trying to make me fall out of love with you?' he asked.

'You're not in love with me. You're just incredibly romantic and eyeball-deep in Light magic, and I happened to turn up at the right time. And quit giving me the Look.'

'I can't help it—you bring it out in me.'

'Is this man bothering you?' asked Ryan, sitting next to Alex with Hermione.

'Yes! He's hopelessly romantic and I'm afraid he's going to portkey to America this afternoon to duel my fiancé.'

'I'm not that good at duelling,' said Harry. 'Voldemort was a fluke. But you're making me wish I still had the Elder Wand.'

'I don't think I'd fancy you much if you murdered Rocky with the Elder Wand, or any other wand for that matter.'

'Then maybe I can Confund him so he changes his mind.'

'Harry,' whispered Alex. 'I'm not breaking up with Rocky. I'm flattered, but I'm also starting to wonder if seeing you every other night is too often.'

Harry frowned. 'Sorry, I'll behave. I think I'm just edgy because I didn't get to feint this afternoon.'

'Isn't there something we can do to distract you? Besides the obvious?'

'How long has it been since you bought new robes?' asked Hermione.

'Very funny,' said Harry. 'Although I would like a three-piece suit.'

'A Muggle suit?' asked Ryan. 'Is this the pressure to keep evolving as a fashion icon?'

'No, I talked to Thimble about it weeks ago.'

'Not Savile Row?' said Hermione.

Harry shook his head. 'Too expensive.'

'Yes, and you're liable to start glowing around all that bespoke menswear.'

'You're making me sound like I have some kind of fetish!'

'Don't you?' said Hermione pointedly.

'Maybe a little,' he mumbled. 'It's probably the Light magic—when I'm done with the accidental phase I'll probably want to wear Dudley's old trainers again.'

'Does this mean we can go clothes shopping together?' asked Alex. 'I get bored doing it myself, but it'll be fun dressing you up like a little doll.'

'Oi!'

She leaned forward and kissed him in a way that suggested she did not, in fact, see him as a little doll. 'Is that better?'

'Yes. And let's go before the fans get drunk enough to start demanding autographs.'

'You should really sign a few, after everyone shelled out for the new glowing photographs,' said Ryan. 'They're paying for your wardrobe, after all.'

'Fine,' replied Harry, and he dropped his 'Leave me alone, I'm with my girlfriend' wards.

To his surprise he was asked not only to sign photographs but also bright orange foulards. 'Were these for sale?' he asked a fan.

'Yes, and it's much brighter than the one I tried making myself,' she said.

Harry knew Alex had Conjured the bright scarf she was wearing, and he was proud of how talented she was. Rocky is a seriously lucky wizard, he thought for the thousandth time.

After half an hour, he and Alex went to Thimble's shop, where Harry selected a three-piece suit. 'Everyone wants scarves now,' the tailor told him. 'Do you suppose you'll keep wearing them, or was that a one-time occurrence?'

'I only have the one,' replied Harry, 'and I only know one way to tie it.'

'I can help you with that,' Thimble assured him. 'There are dozens of ways to wear a scarf, so it needn't become repetitive.'

Alex perused the shop while she was waiting, and Harry wondered if she was looking for a gift for Rocky. 'Do you need help picking something out?' he asked after his fitting.

'Is it that obvious?'

'Only because I know how thoughtful you are. Are you looking for something in particular?'

'Not necessarily. He'll appreciate anything from a London tailor—as a dandy you couldn't have chosen a better city to live in.' She looked at a mannequin and said, 'But that outfit would be fantastic for the wedding.'

They were the robes Thimble had modelled after the portrait of Robert de Montesquiou, only the fabric was different to what Harry had bought. 'I have the same ones,' he confessed.

Her eyes lit up. 'I'd almost ask you to wear them tonight, but surely they're too formal.'

He explained he had two sets, one of which was more casual, and she insisted he wear them. 'As you know, I'm a sucker for a well-dressed man, and I can only benefit from you and Rocky trying to outdo each other.'

'It's pleasanter than duelling,' said Harry.

Alex needed to stop at Gringotts. 'I don't have a vault here,' she said, 'but they can withdraw from my account in Chicago.'

'Is there a branch in the Zero Block?' he asked, remembering what she'd told him about the magical district there.

'Yes, but it's nowhere near as old as this one. Honestly, it's hardly more interesting than a Muggle bank.'

'Do you want to see a really old vault?' he asked. 'When I was here for my meeting with Blaise yesterday, I meant to enquire about removing the curse from an old tiara, but I didn't have time.'

'Is that in the Black family vault? Yes, please!'

Embarrassed, Harry said, 'I realise it's a bit crass to show you my vault, but it belongs to the Blacks and I don't really consider it mine. So please don't tell people I tried impressing you this way.'

'I'm sure Jocelyn and Maryann would have loved to see it,' she said impishly.

'Ugh, you're probably right.'

Harry went to the counter and asked for assistance. 'Yes,' said the goblin, 'we can inspect the artefact and remove the curse if at all possible. Right this way.'

Another goblin was summoned, and the banker gave him a special box for handling cursed items. They climbed into a cart and began the dizzying journey into the depths of the bank. 'This is horrible!' cried Alex, who looked a bit green. 'Can't they improve it somehow?'

'Just wait for the Thief's Downfall,' he warned her, and a minute later they were drenched.

'Was this really the only way to reveal hidden enchantments?' she exclaimed, pulling wet hair from her eyes.

'Trust me, it works,' said Harry, showing her his ring. She cast Drying Charms on both of them, and soon they were standing in front of the Black vault.

'I swear this isn't an attempt to appeal to your inner gold-digger,' he said before opening the vault.

'Come on, let's see it, fancy-pants.'

'Is that some kind of American insult?'

'Yes, and quit stalling.'

Harry opened the vault using the ring. 'Don't touch anything,' he said. 'It's almost certainly charmed against Americans.'

Her eyes widened, but like Hermione she bypassed the gold and went straight for the books. 'Look at these!' she exclaimed. 'Are there any about Transfiguration?'

'I don't know, but we can look.' He gingerly pulled out one volume at a time, and her jaw dropped when she recognised one.

'Alchemical Transmutation, by Wilfrid Murdough! Do you have any idea how rare this is?'

'No, but I'm guessing the answer is "very."'

'It's practically one-of-a-kind,' she said, awestruck. 'May I look at it? In your house perhaps?'

'Of course, as long as there aren't any curses on it.' Harry turned to the goblin and asked, 'Can you check it?'

He nodded, and Harry placed it inside the box. He also used his wand to levitate the tiara into the box, pointing out the chalices Andromeda suspected were also cursed. 'But I think two cursed items in one afternoon is plenty, and Gemma isn't interested in wearing the chalices to my next party.'

'You're planning another party?'

'Not exactly—my teammates want me to host a top-secret drag party, which I've been resisting because people are bound to find out. But I said Gemma can wear the tiara regardless, even though it's not technically drag.'

'Strictly speaking, if it's a drag party, you should wear the tiara.'

'Right, because no one will call me "Harry Toffer" if that happens.'

They climbed back into the cart, which the goblin zoomed back to the lobby with complete disregard for their comfort. He led them to an office, where he set down the box and then left. 'I can't tell you how helpful that book would be for my research,' said Alex. 'That alone would make my trip to England worthwhile.'

'Is that all I am to you? A source of old books?'

'I'm afraid so. I should have warned you how heartless I am.'

A new goblin entered. 'Good afternoon, Mr Potter. My name is Bartok, and I specialise in cursed items.' Harry nodded politely, and Bartok, who wore a monocle, looked inside the box. 'The tiara is cursed,' he said.

'You can tell just by looking?'

'Yes,' replied Bartok, indicating his monocle. 'I'll have to run tests, but at first glance I believe it's a Skin-Boiling Curse.'

Harry shuddered. 'Can you remove it?'

'Yes, but not immediately. It may have layered curses, which means I could remove this one and it would be safe to touch, but two days later a new curse would form. And so forth.'

'How long will it take, do you reckon?'

'Depending on the number of curses, up to a fortnight. But it's a fine piece and well worth the effort.'

Harry frowned. 'Is it goblin-made?'

'No, but it's not wizard-made either. I suspect it's mermish.'

'Mermish!' exclaimed Harry. 'The only jewellery I saw them wearing were ropes of pebbles!'

'You're referring to British merpeople,' said Bartok with a sneer. 'I was speaking of Sirens, native to Greece, and far more refined than their cold-water cousins.'

'Oh! That's another thing entirely,' said Harry, recalling the beautiful Siren whose portrait was in the Prefects' bathroom. 'Yes, I'd like you to remove the curses, if at all possible. And what about the book? I was able to open it, but Alex is the one who wants to read it.'

'At first glance it's fine, but please be so kind as to place it on this mat.' Harry removed the book from the box, taking extreme care not to touch the tiara. 'Just so,' said Bartok. 'Now open it.'

Bartok continued ordering Harry to turn pages until he finally pronounced the book safe. With his permission, Alex tentatively handled it, with no ill effect.

'Thank you,' said Harry, and Bartok had him sign a parchment authorising payment. 'The Blacks can bloody well pay for it,' said Harry, designating their vault on the form.

Alex hugged the book to her chest as they walked out. 'If you were clever, you'd demand favours from me in exchange for access to the book.'

'I may be needy and demanding, but hopefully I'm not that manipulative.'

'Some Slytherin you are,' she scoffed. 'Draco Malfoy would probably insist I stay over every night this week.'

'Draco? Did he seem interested in you?'

'Not like that. But he declared me "the right kind of half-blood" and said he couldn't fault your taste.'

Harry grimaced. 'And how did you feel, being talked to like that?'

'I decided to take it as a compliment,' she said. 'And at least he didn't press me for bedroom details like Pansy did.'

'Merlin, I hope not!'

'Honestly, I wouldn't put it past him, but I think his obsession with you is just platonic.'

They returned to Grimmauld Place together, and she reverently set the book on the library table. 'Will you be terribly offended if I take half an hour with it right now?'

'Instead of shagging, you mean?'

'I'd only be distracted,' she admitted.

'That's fine—I can reply to fan mail. But set a timer.'

After half an hour of silent activity, the bell rang and Alex looked up from her reading. 'Harry, I can't thank you enough for allowing me access to this book. It's not particularly old—it's from the eighteen-hundreds—but only a handful were printed and they're very closely guarded, as you saw.'

'What's so special about it?' he asked.

'People believed—falsely, I think—that the author successfully produced a Philosopher's Stone, and that he hid the instructions in the text.'

'A Philosopher's Stone! What makes you think he didn't succeed?'

'From what I've read about Murdough, he wasn't particularly modest, and if he'd produced a Philosopher's Stone he'd have erected a solid gold statue of himself for everyone to admire. Furthermore, in spite of the book's title, it doesn't cover the same branch of alchemy Flamel was known to have used, and Flamel said as much. And based on my first pass through the book, I have to agree.'

'But it's still useful?'

'Tremendously. Might I borrow it until I see you again on Tuesday?'

'I don't know,' said Harry. 'Maybe I should insist you read it here ... in my bedroom.'

'Is this what happens when a Slytherin fancies a Ravenclaw?'

'Yes, we lure you into vice with rare books.' He grabbed it from the table and deliberately held it out of reach. 'Come on,' he said, backing towards the door. 'You know you want it.' Laughing, she followed him upstairs, and they set the book aside for the next hour.

Afterwards, lying in his arms, she said, 'I don't know why, but things move faster with you.'

'Are you criticising my performance just now?' he asked, feigning offence.

'Of course not, silly. But it's like there's some kind of acceleration field around you, making things advance more quickly than they might otherwise.'

'How do you mean?'

'Like on Thursday, at the nightclub. When we walked in together, it was like a compressed version of my entire adolescence, as far as insecurity was concerned. When Jocelyn and Maryann looked down their noses at me, they embodied all the scorn I experienced from the popular girls growing up.'

'I'm so sorry,' began Harry, but she interrupted him.

'You didn't do anything wrong. On the contrary, you chose me over them, which was the best possible way to soothe my ego and grant me petty victory. And it was petty—a not-so-small part of me wanted to gloat.' Blushing, she added, 'I'm half-hoping the Chicago Beacon reports that we're dating, just so Jodi Schiller and Heidi Binkowski find out.'

Harry smirked. 'Were they the popular girls?'

'Yes, they were basically the Jocelyn and Maryann of Westwind Academy. Whereas I was that gawky English girl who was always carrying too many books.'

Harry smiled, thinking of Hermione. 'I'm sure you weren't gawky.'

'Trust me, I was. But I'm not fishing for compliments—my point is that in the short time we've been dating, I feel like I've had several layers of protection peeled away. I can't pretend I'm invisible when we're in public together, which means I need to deal with my old insecurities instead of burying them. And it hasn't been easy—it was a bit of a relief when Rocky asked me not to see you so often.'

'I'm sorry,' said Harry. 'I shouldn't have suggested we go out in public.'

'No, it's been useful. And I know this sounds crazy, but I can't help thinking there's a connection between shedding my protective layers and having that book turn up. I didn't even ask whether you had it—it just fell into my lap.'

'I know what you mean,' he said. 'Ever since I quit the Ministry and joined the Cannons, things have accelerated in my life as well. During August, in the space of about a fortnight, everything I've ever kept private became common knowledge, to the point where I have hardly any secrets left. It was agonising, but I don't think I'd have developed Light magic otherwise. At least not this quickly.'

'That's your acceleration field,' she said. 'I'm sure it's not easy for you, even now that you're out of secrets. But if I've already experienced several impossible things since we've been together, I can only imagine where you're headed.'

Harry was tempted to suggest she come along for the ride, but he knew his clinginess had annoyed her. So he just held her until it was time to prepare for the party.

'Have I mentioned how happy I am not to have to greet people for hours?' he said later, while tying his cravat.

'Yes, several times. But I'm disappointed there won't be an article tomorrow about your decadent house party.'

'I'm not. Now that wizarding nightclubs play decent music, I don't know if I'll bother throwing another big party at the house.'

'But everyone talks about your bizarro guest rooms! Personally, I'm hoping you'll host a big blowout after you and I split up, so Rocky and I can see what they're like.'

Harry frowned. 'Do you talk about me to Rocky as much as you talk about him with me?'

'No, he doesn't want to hear it.'

'Then how will he feel if the Chicago Beehive prints our photograph?'

'It's the Chicago Beacon,' she laughed. 'And he knows it's a risk. But we aren't planning to announce our engagement until I return in February, which means no one will be angry on his behalf.'

'So I needn't worry about seeing banners for "Americans Against Harry Potter?"'

'Probably not, but with Americans you never know.'

They went downstairs and entered the dining room. 'Oh my god,' exclaimed Alex. 'That is truly an appalling amount of food. Aren't you worried it'll go to waste?'

'No, because my teammates will eat all the leftovers. The reserves in particular are voracious, and their favourite cuisine is "free."'

'Harry?' came Hermione's voice. 'Are you in the dining room? Oh my god!'

Hermione and Ryan were standing in the doorway, their eyes wide. 'Did you lose control of Kreacher again?' asked Ryan.

'It's a long story,' said Harry sheepishly. 'I hope this is all right.'

'It's lovely,' said Hermione. 'I'll go down and thank Kreacher.'

Crack! 'Yes, Miss Hermione!' said the elf, who had apparently been lying in wait. 'Is Miss Hermione pleased?'

She thanked him profusely and said, 'I don't think anyone has made this big a splash over my birthday before, not even my parents. Although they're not to blame, since I never wanted a party, and I usually just asked for books.'

'I was the same way,' said Alex. 'Furthermore, my birthday's in June, so I always had exams. Although there's something satisfying about taking an exam I've prepared for properly. I'm reluctant to call it fun, but that's the word I'm tempted to use.'

Hermione's eyes lit up. 'I know exactly the feeling!'

'She's lying,' said Harry. 'I saw her during exams, and not only was she a nervous wreck, but she dragged the rest of us down with her.'

'That's because I was afraid you hadn't studied enough,' said Hermione. 'If it had just been me I wouldn't have worried.'

'Exactly!' said Alex. 'That's why taking the actual exam is so much fun, because I can finally stop worrying about my friends and enjoy it.'

Hermione looked like she wanted to hug Alex, but instead she just beamed at her. 'Hang on,' said Harry. 'Is that your Light magic?'

'It is,' said Ryan proudly, pulling gently on a sparkling ringlet. 'It's happening more often now.'

Harry was delighted for her. 'Can you feel anything?' he asked excitedly. 'Or is it just the sparks?'

'It feels lovely. It's like sinking into a pool of compassion.'

'Now you've done it—Harry's glowing too,' said Ryan. 'Amazing ... there seems to be a resonance effect when you're together.'

Harry was unable to speak, overcome by a strong wave of Light magic. He turned to Alex and began kissing her, and Ryan and Hermione laughed. 'Do you need some privacy?' asked Ryan.

'No,' said Alex, pulling away from Harry. 'He needs to learn how to behave, particularly if anyone brings a camera tonight. I'm not interested in starring in his next porn film.'

Hermione's hair continued to sparkle, and Ryan said, 'Show them what it's like when you uncharm your hair. It's much brighter that way.'

She cast a silent Finite incantatem, and a glittering blue cloud suddenly framed her face.

'It's like a halo!' gasped Alex. 'You're impossibly lovely like that.'

'Isn't she?' agreed Ryan, looking affectionately at her.

Harry was awestruck. He knew Hermione was pretty, but with her cloud of sparkling hair she was like an exquisite stained glass window, with the sun shining through it.

'I love you!' he cried spontaneously.

Hermione smirked. 'I love you too, Harry. But my heart belongs to a certain Ryan Bellamy,' she said, turning to embrace her boyfriend.

Harry looked at Alex and said, 'Are you certain we can't slip upstairs? No one will notice if we arrive late.'

'Young man, behave yourself!' she chided. 'Or else I won't sit next to you.'

'It's a good thing he wasn't like this during the war,' said Hermione. 'Then again, he might have defeated Voldemort without trying and spent a year shagging Ginny in the tent.'

'That bed was horrible—the Room of Requirement was much nicer,' said Harry, his glow fading. 'But Ginny would have just dumped me sooner.'

'Are you sure it's all right I invited her and Wendy?'

'Yes, of course. I'm still relieved she's not seeing Blaise Zabini, and I'd like to get to know Wendy. Besides, I miss our friendship, and I'm hoping to reestablish it.'

'I know she feels the same way,' said Hermione. 'And she's keen to meet Alex.'

'I'm keen to meet her too,' said Alex. 'I'm sure she has far more stories than Cho Chang did.'

'Don't ask her about me,' said Harry. 'I hate how people constantly ask my friends about me and not about them.'

'It's because you're preternaturally entertaining,' said Alex, and Harry scowled. 'Poor dear, but it's a cross you'll have to bear.'

'It comes in handy,' said Hermione. 'In a pinch, I can always steer the conversation away from myself by mentioning you.'

'Oi!'

Ryan pointed out that it was nearly six o'clock, so they went to the reception hall to await the other guests. Hermione re-charmed her hair, which had stopped sparkling, but Harry noticed she kept her distance. I hope I didn't make her uncomfortable, he thought, recalling his outburst of affection. Surely she realises it's the Light magic and that I'm not actually in love with her.

He stood back with Alex as the guests arrived, allowing Hermione and Ryan to greet everyone. They all thanked Harry, but he told them to thank Kreacher instead. 'All I did was stop him from making treacle vindaloo.'

'And pay for everything,' said Ginny. Harry grimaced, and she added, 'Sorry, Harry, but you're hopelessly generous on top of everything else.'

'What's the point of having an enormous dining room if I don't actually feed people?' he said, as everyone gathered in front of Padfoot. People took turns throwing him treats, and Kreacher used house-elf magic to float trays of champagne among the guests.

'Is this elf-made?' asked Bill.

'Yes,' said Harry sheepishly. 'I had it for the first time last week, and even I could taste the difference.'

'You have become very sophisticated,' said Fleur. 'This is good, but do not mention it on the radio, or else Gabrielle will find out.'

'Gabrielle listens to Weasley's Wizard Wireless?'

'Yes, it is very popular in France, and her English professor assigns it to teach vocabulary and oral comprehension.'

'I'm sure they've learnt all sorts of useful idioms,' said Ginny. 'Like "one-night stand" and "mega-shagathon."'

'Excuse me,' said Harry indignantly. 'If you hadn't broken up with me, I'd still be a well-behaved young wizard, and I probably wouldn't need to go on the radio every week.'

'Then clearly I made the right decision, because the world needed slutty Harry Potter,' retorted Ginny. Harry's face fell, and she said, 'It's a compliment! You're finally famous for the right reason!'

'It was a disaster when Gabrielle read that article in Sorceress,' continued Fleur. 'She is convinced that you alone are worthy of her.'

'Harry's not the only one who does that,' said Hannah, and Neville turned bright red.

'Don't you see?' said Ginny. 'This is why we had to split up! Otherwise you'd still be a mopey Auror, and we'd miss out on fantastic conversations like this one.'

'And I'd have an unrequited crush on Harry Potter's fiancée,' said Wendy. 'Because you'd definitely be engaged by now.'

'I'd never have been Sorted into Ravenclaw,' said Alex. 'I'd have gone my entire life without talking to a thousand-year-old hat. So thank you, Ginny.'

Harry wasn't sure what to make of the conversation. He was still hurt by Ginny's rejection, and he worried that other witches might reach the same conclusion. Then again, he was far happier as a Seeker than he was at the Ministry. And I mightn't have developed Light magic otherwise.

Everyone drifted into the dining room. 'I knew I should have skipped lunch!' cried Hannah. 'How can I possibly try everything?'

'Did you lose control of Kreacher again?' asked Ginny.

Harry explained what had happened, including the French pastry fiasco. 'Again, I take all the credit,' said Ginny after she stopped laughing. 'I'm sorry, my dear Harry, but clearly I was guided by fate. There was probably a prophecy and everything.'

'The centaurs mentioned it,' said Luna calmly.

'The centaurs predicted our breakup?' asked Harry, astonished.

'Not in so many words,' replied Luna. 'But last spring they kept telling me Uranus was surprisingly bright.' Ginny, Wendy, and Harry all started sniggering, but Luna continued. 'I finally asked Lythian what it meant, and he said it represented great change, specifically regarding personal growth and freedom. And he was right.'

Wendy turned to Ginny. 'So you broke up with Harry because of Uranus? Should I be concerned?'

'Can we please change the topic?' said Harry.

By that point, people were loading their plates and finding seats. Harry and Alex sat with Bill and Fleur, and he was delighted by how well they got along; Alex spoke French, which made him admire her even more. In addition to the champagne, Harry had instructed Kreacher to purchase elf-made wine, which everyone praised. I should find more excuses to hang out at Malfoy Manor, he thought, only half-jokingly.

During the sweets course people switched seats, and Harry and Alex sat with Ginny and Wendy. Everyone was relaxed from the abundant food and wine, and conversation flowed smoothly. 'Alex is perfect,' said Ginny. 'She's much better for you than I was.'

'You may be right,' he replied, 'but there's just one problem.'

Alex explained her situation, but Ginny shook her head emphatically. 'No, you need to throw over your fiancé and stay with Harry. Otherwise he's liable to wind up with some bimbo, and we can't let that happen.'

'I beg your pardon!' said Harry. 'Why would I end up with some bimbo?'

'Because you fall in love so easily! Really, I'm almost offended it took you so long to fancy me,' said Ginny. 'One skilful C-squared could wrap you around her finger ... I'm surprised it hasn't happened already.'

'I've sworn off C-squareds,' he said. 'I need an emotional connection.'

'Believe me, I know,' said Ginny, rolling her eyes.

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'Oops, did I say that out loud?' she said with mock regret.

'This is because I'm needy, isn't it,' he said knowingly.

'When did I ever say that?'

'You didn't, but I finally worked it out. I'm an emotional black hole thanks to dead-mum trauma, and I probably sucked the life out of you.'

Ginny and Wendy exchanged glances. 'It wasn't like that,' she began.

'Yes, it was,' replied Harry. 'I'm already doing it to Alex, aren't I?'

Alex made a show of looking elsewhere before smirking at him. 'You're incredibly devoted, and incredibly demanding.'

'See!' he insisted. 'It's dead-mum trauma. I had all her attention for fifteen months—they were basically under house arrest—and then she was dead and I was thrown to Aunt Petunia. It's no wonder I'm a bottomless pit of need.' Harry's tone was light, but his words were completely serious.

Ginny frowned. 'It wasn't like that. Yes, you were needy, and yes, it's probably dead-mum trauma. But you're also extremely caring, and you gave at least as much as you got, if not more.'

'But that's why you left, isn't it? I want to know the truth, so I don't keep chasing women away. I'm too needy.'

She took a deep breath and looked down. 'I'm sure with the right witch it won't be a problem.'

Harry closed his eyes. So it's true, he thought sadly. I drove her away with my sucking pit of need. 'Do you really think so?' he asked sceptically.

'Yes, absolutely,' said Ginny. 'There are women who want nothing more than to feel needed, but also to feel cared for, and you'd be perfect for them.'

'What about you?' he asked Alex. 'Obviously you're with Rocky, and I'm not asking you to change that. But if you weren't, would my neediness drive you away?'

'That's not a fair question,' she said. 'Our relationship isn't serious, and Rocky is already meeting my underlying needs. So I really can't say.'

'Can't you, or won't you?'

'Ahem,' interrupted Wendy. 'I think you're being a little demanding. Some dead-mum trauma perhaps?'

Harry smiled. 'Yeah, most likely. What do you recommend?'

'How about a Mind Healer?'

He rolled his eyes. 'Why does everyone suggest that?'

Alex laughed and said, 'Maybe because of the word "trauma." I don't know—I'm just guessing.'

Harry ran his hands through his hair. 'But I don't want to,' he whinged. 'They'll just tell me it's Voldemort's fault and then make me describe every minute I spent with the Dursleys.' Looking at his empty glass, he added, 'Can't I have more wine instead? This elf-made stuff is fantastic—I should spend more time at Pratt's.'

'That sounds like a fine plan,' said Ginny approvingly. 'Just don't turn up late for practice.'

'Not to worry, I have Tuttle watching me. She handled Ludo Bagman, you know.'

After dinner, Harry called Kreacher upstairs, and everyone stood up and applauded. The house-elf feigned humility, but Harry could see the gleam of triumph in his eyes. That was much better than anything Kammy could have prepared, Harry thought indulgently, and Kreacher's ears curled with pleasure.

Photographs were taken, and Harry was careful not to glow, partly to keep from embarrassing Alex, but also because Hermione hadn't mentioned her Light magic, and he suspected she wanted to keep it private. The guests lingered for a while, still enjoying the wine, and then everyone but Hermione and Ryan departed.

'Harry, I can't thank you enough,' she said. 'This was absolutely perfect.'

'I'm so glad you enjoyed it,' he said, finally allowing himself to glow.

Hermione's hair began sparking as well, and Ryan said, 'I was right—you definitely have some kind of resonance effect.' Smirking, he asked Hermione, 'Should I be jealous?'

She looked up at him adoringly. 'Not at all. In fact, let's go back to your flat so I can prove it.' She hugged Harry and Alex goodbye, and then she and Ryan disappeared through the fireplace.

'Privacy at last,' said Harry. 'Can I lure you to the master bedroom? There's an extremely rare book up there.'

Smiling, she followed him. 'Ginny was lovely,' she said. 'But I have to admit, I can't picture you together.'

'You've said I could fall for nearly any witch in my age range!' he protested. 'What's wrong with Ginny?'

'I didn't say you wouldn't fancy her. On the contrary, I can see you're still stuck on her, at least a bit. But Ginny's more earthy than you are, which was probably a great match physically, but I suspect she felt trapped after too many hours of the Look.'

Harry frowned. 'Why would she feel trapped?'

'The Look is intoxicating. I have a feeling it's what makes women want to become mothers, to have a baby gaze up at them with that kind of love and surrender. But it's a huge responsibility as well, to feel like someone's entire well-being depends on you. And if Ginny didn't fully need what you were offering, it was probably too much for her.'

'But what does that have to do with being earthy?'

'You need someone who's also a dreamer. Obviously she has dreams, and she isn't just a mindless drone, but she doesn't seem as romantic as you are.'

Harry sighed, remembering Ginny's years-long crush on the Boy Who Lived. 'No, she isn't. She was as a girl, but she grew out of it. My romantic gestures mostly just embarrassed her, unless they were overtly physical.'

'It's ironic that people think women are more romantic than men are,' she said. 'You're terribly romantic, and so is Rocky.'

'But he's less needy,' said Harry.

'I didn't say that. But we've known each other a long time, and I think we fit together.' They arrived in his bedroom, and she stood facing him. 'You won't have a problem finding women who want to go out with you, or who fall in love with you even. Your challenge will be finding someone who meets you on every level: physically, emotionally, romantically.'

'I know you're taken, but why aren't you a good match?'

She averted her eyes. 'I'm not as physical as you are. Obviously I enjoy when we're together, but I could never keep up in the long run, and I'd eventually disappoint you.'

'I find that hard to believe,' said Harry sincerely.

'I'm on my best behaviour,' she admitted. 'But I don't require sex as often as you do, and I'm generally satisfied with a quickie before reading in bed together.'

'Have I been too demanding?' he asked sheepishly.

'Not at all, and you certainly haven't heard me complaining. Furthermore, I'm glad to be learning this about myself before entering a marriage bond with Rocky. This really has been the perfect pocket romance.'

'"Has been?"' he asked with alarm. 'Are you ending things?'

'No, of course not. But I'd still encourage you to make the most of our two days apart.'

With a gleam in his eye, he asked, 'What about right now? I can try to be quick about it.'

'Not too quick,' she laughed, and they said no more.