The following day, the Fateful Eight went to Diagon Alley to spend their findings, but they didn't spend too much, of course. Eddie reminded himself that he still had five years to go at Hogwarts, and resisted getting a Firebolt, sticking with his trusty Nimbus Two Thousand. He hoped he wouldn't have a repeat of Harry's dementor incident. While there, standing outside Quality Quidditch Supplies, Eddie ran into a particular pale-faced, blond-haired old foe.

Snarling, Malfoy greeted him with, "Pattinson."

Eddie glared at him. "Malfoy."

The others had told him what Malfoy had tried to pull when he was petrified, which increased his dislike for the Slytherin. Through gritted teeth, Eddie informed him, "And for the record, I'm no leader. None of us are. Now, kindly, leave us-"

He would have finished, but another blast of blond hair caught his eye behind Malfoy- more pleasing to him. Hannah. His stomach fluttered a bit, and he forgot momentarily that he was arguing with Malfoy, until Draco aggressively snapped,

"Alone? Is that what you want? You're a bit red," he smirked. "See someone you like?" he asked, turning around and craning his neck to try to find who Eddie had noticed.

Eddie didn't say anything. He knew Malfoy would use this against him, to harass him endlessly.

Malfoy smirked.

"Not going to tell, eh? Well, I'll find out...sooner or later. I might even steal her-"

Still steaming and fuming at Malfoy, Eddie uttered two words with an iciness that he himself didn't recognize. "Go….away…"

Evidently satisfied, Malfoy turned on a heel and marched off in the other direction.

Eddie huffed, and stormed off in such a rage that he ran smack into none other than Hannah, knocking her over.

"Hannah! I- I'm so sorry!" he exclaimed, helping her up and pulling her to her feet. "I wasn't- watching where I was going.."

Very red now, he looked at her before tearing his eyes away. He ran before the situation could get even more awkward, leaving a very confused Hannah in his wake.

He reunited with the others, choosing not to tell about his encounter with Malfoy and Hannah, and they left the Alley, returning back to their house in the woods, Eddie's mind racing a million miles a minute once more.

Is that what she thought of him? Some clumsy dork? If he was only paying attention to where he was going- Eddie hoped he didn't just obliterate his chances with her. He should have stayed and at least attempted conversation with her.

He was so deep in thought that he had been doused in ice water by Tom and Nathan, who had snuck up behind him. This made him grin and he pushed them around playfully. It distracted him, for now.

And soon, once again, it was September. It was time to return to Hogwarts. They decided to cram into Lupin's cupboard on the train before Ron and Hermione got there, which made for a tightly crowded space, but at least they would be safe from the dementor to come.

After the trolley witch had arrived (somehow they were able to get sweets without waking Lupin up, sure, three people was one thing, but eight was another achievement entirely) they were greeted by none other than Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.

"So, Pattinson," he sniggered, ignoring the rest, "Going to tell me yet?"

"Tell him what?" Lily asked, looking at him.

Eddie didn't answer for a second. He bit his lip. Of course, Malfoy answered for him.

"That he's in loooooove," Malfoy smirked. Eddie felt himself get very hot.

Nathan took his side. "So what if he is? It's none of your business."

Malfoy laughed. "Oh, when you're as rich as me, everything's my business, mudblood."

Crabbe and Goyle flexed their muscles menacingly.

Malfoy's voice got cold. "Now tell us."

"Oh very wise," Victoria piped up. "Threatening violence around a teacher."

His tone changed. "A- teacher?" He laughed. "What tea-"

Sean, very calmly, pointed to Lupin. Malfoy paled.

"C'mon,' he muttered to Crabbe and Goyle, and the Bronze Trio slinked away, disappointed.

Eddie didn't say anything for a long time, and he leaned his head on the window, watching the rain pour outside while the other seven anticipated the dementor's arrival.

He had dealt with this in his past life before, of course.

The summer before he was due to start eighth grade, (which he never did), he had had a crush on this girl named Kate. Kate was smart, pretty, funny- everything Eddie looked for in a girl.

However, Kate had a boyfriend- Eric. Eric, among other things, would constantly pick on Eddie for liking Harry Potter.

And - there had been an incident between the two.

Though Eddie loved playing baseball, he wasn't very good, and Eric would remind him of this. Constantly.

Eric's team played Eddie's team for the Little League town championship - with Kate in the stands, watching, of course.

With Eddie up to bat and there being two outs in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, Eddie's team trailing one to nothing, Eddie stepped up to the plate with runners on second and third base facing Eric, who was pitching. To increase the drama, Eric had a no-hitter, despite walking two hitters in the inning and throwing a wild pitch.

This is it, he thought. Winning run on second. Drawn-in infield. All he needed to do was poke the ball over their heads, a la Luis Gonzalez in the 2001 World Series. He had watched the game a few times, being a Yankees fan, despite them losing the series. As a baseball fan, he appreciated it, probably because he didn't have to live through it.

To hype himself further, he ran through the commentary from that game in his head, changing it up slightly to make it a bit more personal.

The chance of a lifetime for Eddie Pattinson. 1-0. bottom of the seventh, game three of the New Rochelle Little League Championship. Second and third. Infield in. 2 out.

Eddie fouled back Eric's first pitch. He stepped back, took a deep breath. Two strikes to go.

The next pitch looked low, but the umpire called it a strike, which incensed him.

"Okay, Angel," Eddie muttered to himself. Angel Hernandez was a Major League Baseball umpire who was known for making bad calls, especially pertaining to balls and strikes.

Dan and Joey, Eddie's teammates, danced off their respective bases.

Eddie bit his lip and chanced a glance at Kate in the stands. She had her eyes glued toward the pitcher's mound, and Eric.

Suddenly, his mind became focused, and his head cleared. He took the next three pitches for balls to work the count full. He was going to do it, he was going to win this game, he was going to win Kate's heart-

Until he didn't. With glory so close, he got greedy. He swung and missed.

Ballgame over. No Luis Gonzalez moment. Eric celebrated with his teammates on the pitcher's mound, he had his no hitter, and he received an award for tournament most valuable player.

Needless to say, Eddie was fuming. He barely paid any attention during the postgame handshake line, though his eyes told the whole picture.

He trudged back to the bench, head down, confidence destroyed, when he heard a quippy remark from behind him.

"Did you see the look on that loser's face?" Eddie glared. Eric's voice. "Honestly, I'd have no friends either if I liked Harry Potter. It's why he can't play baseball, after all. He's got his head in a book rather than on a field. Loser."

Eddie knew that he shouldn't have bit, but he'd had enough. He threw his bat to the ground, completely oblivious to the fact that all the parents and coaches were watching - that his own mother and father were watching. He barrelled through Eric's teammates, reached him, and pushed him to the ground, punching him as hard as he possibly could.

By the time the adults had gotten there, Eric's nose was bleeding, Kate was in tears - he took one look at her and ran off, before he was corralled by his parents.

He received the biggest scolding of his life that night. His mother reminded him again, not to pick fights with people. His father offered no words of encouragement.

For whatever reason, Kate's head swam into view.

"Why...Eddie..why…"

Then Kate changed to Hannah...who changed to Lily…

"Eddie...Eddie...Eddie!"

Suddenly, the warmth of the day changed abruptly into an intense cold. Eddie's breath caught in his chest. The cold went deeper than his skin, down into his heart-

Eddie awoke with a jolt. Lily was looking at him with concern. He'd fallen asleep.

Eddie looked around and felt an unpleasant sensation, the memory flowing through him once more. He looked up, and the dementor was slowly creaking open the compartment door. Suddenly, the unpleasant sensation erupted into a total state of shock and fear. He couldn't move. He couldn't do anything. Lupin was on his feet, pointing his wand at it. A stream of silvery light which Eddie knew to be the Patrouns flowed out, and repelled the dementor. Lupin sat down and sighed.

"Professor!" Eddie addressed him, flustered. "Er- thanks. The name's-"

"Eddie Pattinson, yes, I know." Lupin smiled. "Dumbledore's told me all about you eight, and your gift. Now, you're going to need some chocolate, of course." He took an abandoned piece of Honeydukes chocolate, unwrapped it, split it into eight pieces, and handed some to everyone.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I need to speak with the driver." Lupin stood up, brushed past them, and walked out, leaving Eddie free to tell them his memory. He looked down when he had finished, ashamed.

"It's one of the things I took pride in," he said softly. "My cool head. I guess that day I just...lost it. Stupid thing to fight about, really, but-"

"No it's not," Lily said, perplexed. "It's called being human, Eddie," She smiled at him.

This cheered him up, and they resumed their friendly banter all the way until they reached the castle.