Chapter 5

Harry is lying down in the living room couch, reading a hardcover on Roman battle tactics, when Blacktip walks through the back door cat flap. She switches back, barefoot, wearing a light blue tank top and tight white shorts, her bare midriff showing the beginnings of a hard-earned six-pack. Her tone is serious. "Someone is coming up the front-gate path. The wind is blowing south, so I didn't catch the scent."

"It's James. He's joining us for dinner."

She looks like she swallowed a fly. "Oh!" They've agreed they would let the immediate family know about their relationship, but that doesn't mean she is ready to actually it. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"His owl came after you went out." Rose slumps down next to Harry, biting her lower lip. Harry caresses her face and whispers. "Adorable..."

She gives him an annoyed look. "Just stop it!"

A soft knock on the door, and Harry gets up to open it. Outside, a broad smiling James, wearing a stylish open-collar black shirt, designer jeans and fancy trainers. Short red hair, darker than the usual Weasley ginger, a pair of kind brown eyes and an open and friendly countenance. He's taller and broader than his father, with the hard body of a professional chaser, but somehow he looks soft next to his Harry.

"Hi dad!" He hands Harry a bottle of red wine.

Harry answers with a smile of his own. "Thank you, son. Good to see you."

"Likewise, old man..." As Harry moves towards the kitchen, James notices Rose sitting on the sofa." "Rosie!" It's been a while since they last crossed paths, and he is clearly happy to see her.

"Hey, Jamie."

"You're joining us for dinner?" Before she answers he turns towards his father. "It smells wonderful, Dad."

"Eggplant lasagna."

"Yum." Harry stays at the kitchen, assembling some appetizers and opening the wine. James sits next to Rose and gives her a warm half-hug. "So, what's going on with you, cuz. I heard you broke up with what's-his-name."

"It's been a while. I'm with someone else now."

Harry stops to watch the dialogue. "Really? That's fast."

She smirks. "It was a little fast."

"Do I know your new bloke?"

"Eh..."

Harry interrupts her. "It's me."

James looks at Harry, snickers and then looks back at Rose. "Seriously, do I know him?"

"It's him." Rose points at Harry. As James' mental gears still don't engage, Rose gets up and grabs Harry, planting a very enthusiastic sloppy kiss on him.

At first James still thinks he is being pranked, but when his father and cousin really get into it, Harry's hands goes for Rose's arse and her lower left leg goes up, he finally puts it together. "Ew!"

They ignore him, and he repeats it louder. "Ew!"

They break it up and look back at James. "Got it?" Rose asks.

James waves his hands and slumps down on the couch. "Give me a moment." Rose and Harry wait, with Harry leaning against the kitchen counter, his arms wrapped around Rose. The silence stretches until it gets a little uncomfortable. Finally, James directs himself at his father. "Rules really don't apply to you, do they?"

"Rules? Which rules?" Rose replies, an edge of annoyance creeping in..

"Never mind." He shifts his attention to Rose. "Good going, Rosie. Congrats." Respect and sarcasm. When she doesn't reply he continues. "You've landed the big fish."

"Don't be an ass." Rosie replies.

"James..." Harry tries to interject.

"So, you're dating." Still the edge of sarcasm.

Rose shakes her head. "I live here, Jamie."

"Wow!" James frowns as he continues. "Who knows about this?"

"Rose's parents, Andromeda and the Lupins, Dominique, Albie and Scorpio. Now you."

James nods. "What about Lily and Hugo?"

"We're planning on meeting them in Hogsmead."

"Mum and the Grans?"

Both Harry and Rose look a little uncomfortable. "We're thinking about it," Harry replies. "I can see you have questions, Son. Let's eat first and you may continue the interrogation after dinner."

They enjoy dinner. The food is good, and the conversation is mostly gossip from the Puddlemere locker room. James, bless his sweet soul, is a sharp observer of the foibles of his fellow players, while Rose and Harry are both rather good listeners. After dinner, they share a dram of Oban over a small fire outside.

It's James that brings back the discomfort. "You two seem to be very happy..."

Rose stretches, arching her back, in a distinctly vulpine way. "I'm not complaining." Harry just smiles.

"I've always been under the 'Harry Potter' shadow. Case in point, most women I've been with, and I've been with more than a few, would have dropped me for Dad in a heartbeat, given the chance."

"I'm sorry, I guess..."

James shrugs. "You can't help it. And I've more-or-less made my peace with it a long time ago."

"Your point?" Rose asks.

"He could be with anyone. But he's with you."

"So?"

"Inappropriate relationships."

Rose laughs. "That's my middle name, cuz." She gets up and plops herself on Harry's lap.

James smiles fondly. "I guess you're exactly where you want to be, as always."

"Right!"

"But I don't get Dad's side."

Rose growls a bit. "You mean I'm more trouble than I'm worth."

"Well..." Harry glares at James and he backs up a little. "Sure, you're smoking hot and loads of fun..."

"Damn right I am."

"She is worth the trouble." Harry holds Rose down and bites her earlobe. She yelps and giggles, grinding her behind on his lap. "Besides, I don't mind a little inappropriate either."

"Still..."

Harry holds up a hand. "You're right, there's more." James, more than anyone else, has a right to know. "Rose is the one, son."

James sits back, startled. "Godric's balls! Really?"

"Yup."

"Potter's 'one'?"

"Yes."

James shakes his head to clear it. "When did you know?"

"She was thirteen."

James closes his eyes, thinking of the Potter family history, going back a dozen generations, at least. "I thought we'd escaped the curse, somehow."

"It's a quirk, not a curse. And it seems to work well for us."

Rose perks up with that. "What do you mean?"

"Lots of happy marriages, at least according to the grimoire," James replies.

"Few miscarriages, magically strong children and no squibs."

Rose looks at Harry and James. "No squibs? How would you know?" James and Harry exchange a glance. "They could just leave them out of the register, right?"

"Actually, there are Potter squibs, properly registered. Just not for the 'right' couples," Harry explains.

James makes a disgusted face. "Advantages or not, it's meddling by some unseen agency. I just hate it."

"I didn't like it either, specially considering the way it hit me." He kisses her neck. "Now, I'm not so sure."

Rose turns around and looks at Harry. "We would not be together if it wasn't for this Potter 'quirk', would we?"

"I don't think so. I still think you could do much better."

Rose growls a bit. "I beg to differ."

James presses his lips together into a thin line. He breathes in and out slowly, and seems to come to a decision. "I agree with Rose. Complications aside, I think you're about right for each other."

"Really?" Rose sounds surprised. And pleased.

"Yeah, sure! You go for dark, dangerous types. Dad is dark, extra dangerous, but safe, right?"

Rose nods. "And Dad... she's always made you smile, didn't she?"

"She did and she does. But..."

"I have no idea what your type is, but I do know you. Quiet, broody, smart, loving and with a nasty temper. You need someone outgoing, to get you out of your bubble, also clever and with a big heart, to put up with your crazy. That she is gorgeous and super fit is just icing on the cake."

"Well, thank you cuz."

Harry snorts, trying to hide his embarrassment. "I'll take your word for it." Harry gets up, holding Rose in an easy bridal carry. "Bed." He's had enough of Rose dancing on his lap.

Rose giggles and James gets up. "I'll spend the night, but with one condition."

"What?"

"Silencing charms." He points a finger at Rose. "I know she's a screamer."

She pouts. "You're no fun."

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=

"No!" Lily stands up, furious, her small hands balled into white fists. "This is not happening!"

Harry and Rose both frown at the little redhead's fury. Hugo just looks confused, both with the revelation and Lily's anger. "I just..."

Lily cuts him off, screaming at her father. "Not that fucking cunt! No way!"

Hugo looks shocked at the language his oh-so-proper cousin is suddenly using. Harry's eyes flash and the air in the little room seems to crackle with magic. "Enough!" Lily's fury abates a little. She's never seen this side of her father before. "We are not asking for your approval. But you will be respectful."

"No! Just keep away from me, you two." She turns around to leave.

Harry calls back, his voice filled with authority. "Lily!"

She turns back. "What?"

"I'm making this a family secret. You may speak of this to noone who is not a Potter, do you hear me?"

"Fine!" She screams.

"And I remind you, as of two weeks ago, your mother is no longer a Potter."

"I hate you!" She slams the door on her way out.

Rose sidles up to Harry, grabbing one of his hands with both of hers. The contact seems to calm him. His anger turns to sadness. "Thanks."

Hugo gets up hesitantly, and stands in front of them. His voice is soft, a sharp contrast with Lily's fury. "Are you guys happy?"

Rose is the one who replies. "Yes."

He shrugs, with a small smile. "That's what really matters, isn't it?"

Rose gets up and hugs her brother, arms tight around his broad chest. "Thanks, little brother."

He looks at Harry. "You'll be good to her."

Harry nods solemnly. "I promise."

"Ok, then."

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=

The atrium is crowded, both with people arriving for work and people with business with the ministry. Rose walks carefully, trying to avoid the thicker clumps of people. She's wearing muggle street clothes, a gray woolen skirt, white silk blouse and low pumps, with a dark blue, open robe over it. In her face, a soft smile, as her lips are still tingling with Harry's parting kiss.

She feels it right before it happens. A large hand grabs her right arm, pulling back and a little up. The hand's owner is a very large wizard, taller than her father and broad. The hand wraps clear around her arm, clamping painfully. She doesn't react overtly, trying to figure out the tactics of the situation. A whisper comes straight from her back: 'imperio".

She feels a pleasant fog fill her mind. By the strength of the effect, she is aware that the caster is powerful and practiced, a definite bad sign. Rose knows this curse. She's been studying dark curses, and particularly the unforgivables for years now. She doesn't fight the curse, but she slips around it. 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.' Her little mantra helps her focus, splitting a bit of her awareness from the part of her lying under the curse. A sharp whisper commands her: "Don't resist." She feels herself obeying.

She's is now aware of the gorilla at her side, pulling her back towards the floos and the dark caster at her back. Are there any others? She may have to act without knowing for sure. A twist of her wrist, a tiny bit of magic and a knife slips into her left hand from a concealed wrist holder. A four-inch black blade, flat body with a shark skin grip. Utterly muggle. Just a little knife...

They're are getting close to the floos. A bit of movement suggests a third opponent, bracketing her towards the right. She makes her move. She slumps, as if fainting, which makes the gorilla pull her and unbalances him a bit. She pivots on her right foot, letting her muscle memory do the dirty work, while she breaks the unforgivable with all the will of the witch and the vulpine predator. She snarls as the curse breaks and the knife enters the gorilla's neck below the chin, angling up, all the way to the hilt. His air cut off, he has three minutes to live in excruciating pain. Unless he pulls off the knife, in which case he probably dies faster of blood loss. He is out of the fight, anyways. A satisfying grunt, while the clamp in her right arm loosens and the gorilla begins to fall to his knees. She continues her motion, trying to keep his body as a barrier between herself and the third assailant she intuits is to her right.

A sudden break on the curse induces a disorienting backslash on the caster, that she needs to use. By the time she has the man in her sight, he's already recovering. He's an old man, with gray, nearly white hair bunched in a ponytail, fancy acromantula black robes with a formal vest underneath and a family crest on the chest. Lord Montague himself. The black wand points at her and the wand point glows green with deadly intention as he begins to cast. "Ava..."

The half-second she's won by forcefully breaking the imperio are just enough. She takes a step forward, clearing the slumping body of the gorilla, grabs the old wizard's extended right arm with her own freed right arm, twists it, placing the the strain on the old man's right elbow and brings her knee up. A sharp crack and his wand falls, while he screams shrilly, his right arm bent the wrong way. She wraps her left arm around him, grabbing him by the neck, pulling him to the right, using her grip on the broken right arm. trying to shield herself from the third assailant. She nearly dodges a cutting curse, a sharp sting in her face telling her how close it was. The third wizard is middle-aged, thin, and quite fast. He moves sideways, trying to get an angle that clears both the kneeling gorilla and the screaming lord in her hand. She lets go of the old lord's useless right arm, still holding him up by the throat with her left hand. He casts another cutter, which goes high and left.

It's been less than five seconds since she made her break. People around are just beginning to react. By the panicked look on her opponent, she figures the aurors begun to react. He begins to run towards the floo, dodging around people and casting cutting curses, while ignoring Rose. He hits half a dozen people, and a couple of them looks serious. Panic follows. Rose follows the man with her wand, hoping for an opportunity to stop him. When he is fifteen feet from the floo, she finally gets it. A well-aimed piercer on the lower back makes him stumble. A stunner follows and he is down.

She looks around, searching for targets and breathing deeply, still on the adrenalin high. The aurors arrive next to her. The young one seems familiar... "You can let him go, miss."

"Oh!" She hadn't realized she was still holding a mewling Lord Montague by the throat. She lets him go and he sits on the floor. Immediately, he reaches for his wand, which is easily within his reach. She tries to stop him, but he is a little too fast and grabs it.

The two aurors point their wands at him. "Drop it."

He looks at them, and with a groan, pushes the wand hard onto a joint of the pavement, snapping it. He gives her a brief evil grin and goes back holding his arm and moaning. The younger auror asks the obvious question. "Why did you do this?"

"Destroying evidence, of course." The older auror replies. He places his wand on his throat. "Everyone. Stand clear! At least thirty feet from my position. Any healers present, come forward immediately!"

Things start moving. A female mediwich examines the gorilla, which by now is passed out.

After casting a complicated spell, she looks up. "This wizard is code red critical. I have managed to stabilize him for now, but he needs to be at St. Mungo immediately. Do not, I repeat, do not remove the knife." Other aurors appear, following the senior auror first on the scene. She moves to the other victims, and the third attacker, sending those in need of further care to St. Mungo. Lord Montague keeps moaning and complaining, until the senior auror silences him with a sharp wand gesture.

The healer examines my face, healing the cut and cleaning the blood. "No dark residue, sweetie, so no scar."

"Pity."

She snickers. "It would look badass, I guess. Although, from what I've seen, you don't really need to look the part, do you?"

"I guess not."

After the healer, the auror in charge approaches Rose. "I'm Senior Auror Seamus Finnegan."

"Rose Weasley."

"You're Ron and Hermione's little girl, aren't you?"

"Yes?"

A broad smile. "I was roommate with your dad." He stares at her, taking in her small frame, looks around and mutters to himself. "Figures."

"What?"

"Never mind. What happened here?"

Rose describes it, briefly. At the end, Seamus gives her an odd look. "Where did you get your training?"

"My godfather, Harry Potter."

"Of course." He mutters, walking away.

The head auror, Susan Bones comes from wherever she was. She looks at Rose and at Lord Montague, taking in their appearance and injuries, and turns to Seamus. "Report."

"It looks like attempted kidnapping, Madam. Lord Montague and two others tried to abscond with the wrong young witch, or so it would appear."

The silenced Lord tries to make his anger known, but Susan ignores him. She turns to Rose. "And who are you?"

"Rose Granger Weasley, M'am. Researcher for the DoM."

"Ron and Hermione's girl. And she says Harry trained her." Seamus interjects.

"Ah! That makes sense." She points at Lord Montague and Rose. "Let's take this party to my office."

Susan and Rose walk ahead towards the elevators, followed by Seamus, dragging the still silenced Lord Montague by his good arm.

Bones' office is behind a door at the back of a large room. The room itself is has a couple dozen desks and four uniformed aurors variously engaged. They appear to be either napping, reading a novel or busy with paperwork and ignore the little procession walking down the room.

Bones sits behind her desk, Rose and Lord Montague take a pair of chairs and Seamus stands at the back of the room, leaning against the wall, twirling his wand. Bones nods at him and he removes the spell from the old man. He instantly jumps to his feet and begins screaming insults. After trying to call his attention a couple of times, Bones herself takes out her wand, banishes the old man towards the empty chair, restrains and silences him.

"Lord Montague, let me be clear." Her tone drips contempt. "I'm sure you know I can hold you for seventy two hours before charging you. I'd like to hear from you now, but you will either behave in a civilized manner, or I'll send you down to the holding cells and we can try again tomorrow." She glares at him and he glares back, but nods sullenly. She removes the silence spell but leaves him restrained.

She continues addressing him. "You heard Miss Weasley's account. Do you agree with it?"

"Of course not!"

"Can you describe what happened?"

"My associate, Trevor Kramer and I approached Miss Weasley at the Atrium. She attacked my associate with a knife. When I pulled my wand to defend myself, she grabbed me and broke my arm. A cousin of mine, Michael Bluehorn, was walking about at the time, saw Miss Weasley attacking me and tried to help. They duelled, and she used me as a shield. I'm not sure why, but Michael tried to get away, and she cursed him on the back. Then the aurors arrived." He points a finger at Rose. "This young witch attacked myself and my associate with malice and without provocation. This was an attack against the Ancient House of Montague, in the person of its Lord. I demand she be arrested and tried." He kept getting more worked up as he spoke, nearly screaming at the end.

Rose looked furious, but kept her silence. "You claim you did not cast the imperious curse at Miss Weasley."

"I did not."

Rose interjects. "There is a charm, called 'tenebris revelio' that will detect the dark spell residue on the victim if cast soon enough after exposure."

"How soon is soon enough?" Bones asks.

"An hour or so. The spell is known by some of the DoM's staff."

"Would the Director know it?"

"Yes."

Bones cast her patronus. A strong one, shaped like a bloodhound. Rose smiles at how fitting is the form, and the pleasant aura of the spell. "Saul Croaker, My office, stat."

Bones clucks. "I've never heard of this charm."

"It's new. I mean, kind of. It's a adapted reconstruction of an old Greek spell..." Rose sounds smug.

The old Lord looks concerned, and Susan smiles. "Did you have something to do with this 'reconstruction'?"

Rose blushes. "I can't say."

"But you could talk about the spell."

"It's been cleared. Someone should be teaching it to your staff sometime next week."

"I see." She addresses the old man again, who is looking a little less smug. "Did you or your associate lay hands on Miss Weasley?"

"No."

"Miss Weasley. Do you have a fresh bruise on your arm?"

"I certainly do." Rose removes her robe and extends her arm with a slight flinch. She turns her back on the wizards, unbuttoning her blouse and exposing her upper arm to Susan. She exposes a fresh dark bruise, clear around her arm, with faint finger marks. Bones picks up a camera from one of her drawers and takes a couple of pictures.

"He might have grabbed her when she knifed him..."

"Why did you approach Miss Weasley?"

"I've been meaning to talk to her about my heir Grant and what happened between them."

Rose explains. "Grant was my boyfriend. It ended about six months ago."

Before Susan can continue the interrogation, someone knocks. "Just come in, Saul."

A thin, ancient looking wizard wearing a plain gray cloak opens the door. "The Minister is here as well."

Susan sighs. "Let them in."

Saul comes in and gets out of the way, as Hermione rushes in, clearly distraught. She grabs Rose in a tight hug. Rose appears a little uncomfortable. "Mum!"

"What happened?"

Susan answers in a disapproving tone. "That's what we are trying to ascertain, Madam Minister."

Rose takes half a step back from her mother. "I'm fine."

Hermione stiffens at Susan's tone and Rose's cold reception. "What..."

"It's best if you let the aurors handle it, mum."

Hemione looks around, meeting Lord Montague's scowl with one of her own. "Very well." She traces the fresh scar on Rose's face with her finger. "Come see me when you're done. I'll be in my office."

"Fine."

Hermione leaves. Saul whispers something in Susan's ear, and she looks surprised. "Really?" He just nods. "I called you here for a spell which is supposed to detect recent dark curse exposure."

Saul's smile is somewhat scary. "Tenebris Revelio, yes." He looks at Rose. "A fine bit of spellcrafting."

"Would you please cast it on Miss Weasley?"

A complex wand motion and a carefully articulated incantation later, and a faint azure glow surrounding Rose is visible to all present. "The glow is a positive result." He casts the spell again, this time at Susan, and nothing happens. The color is consistent with mind-manipulation curses, like the imperio, but interpreting the color more precisely is still under study. Notice that the color is a little more intense in the upper back. This indicates where the spell hit. The firm conclusion: this witch was hit on the back by a dark curse in the past two hours."

"Thank you, Saul."

Lord Montague adds in a tired voice. "She could have been hit by a curse before she ever got to the Atrium."

Susan scowls at him. "She might." She adds notes to a parchment. "I'd like to point out that this is just a preliminary inquiry. There will be no transcripts, and just the hard evidence collected can be used at trial. Obfuscation is not called for." She looks at her parchment. "Continuing. What happened between Miss Weasley and Heir Montague that prompted this desire to talk to her?"

"My heir has acquire a... condition, apparently at the time they broke up. I wished to inquire whether Miss Weasley knew anything about it."

"Which condition?"

"Family business."

Susan nods, accepting the refusal. "Miss Weasley, do you know anything about Heir Montague's 'condition' and how he could have acquired it?"

"No."

Montague's face turns into a mask of hate."You..."

Susan calls him to order. "Lord Montague!"

He raises his hand in response, and seems to calm himself. "Proceed, please."

"Did you begin to cast another unforgivable at Miss Weasley?"

"No."

"What were you casting?"

"It was a special shield, from my family's Grimoire."

"The third wizard, he was not accompanying you this morning?"

"No. His presence was just happenstance."

"Very well, one last question. Why did you break your wand?"

"It was an accident. I was overwrought, and in a great deal of pain."

She scratches a few more notes. "Lord Montague, Miss Weasley. Based on the evidence currently at hand, and the testimony as presented, I believe a very strong case for use of an unforgivable, assault and attempted kidnapping can be presented. Do you wish to enter a guilty plea in exchange for a negotiated sentence?"

"As long as incarceration can be avoided, yes."

Rose opens her mouth to protest, but Susan speaks first. "Not possible. We might consider..." before the counter-offer, someone knocks. Susan looks at Seamus. "Whoever it is, tell them to wait."

Seamus opens the door a little and peeks outside. "It's Harry Potter, m'am." A smile can be easily heard in his voice.

Susan stopped to think for a second, looked at Saul, who remained impassive, and made up her mind. "Let him in."

Harry strode in, focused on Rose and ignoring everyone else. He stands in front of her. She gives a shallow bow, her averted eyes gleaming with mischief. "Master."

"Your mother sent for me. Please, report."

Susan and Saul just wait, unsurprised, while Seamus, back at his place, looks vastly amused, and Lord Montague, increasingly weary. Rose repeats her account, in an even tone, her eyes firmly fixed downwards. When she is done she looks up and sees Harry's eyes gleaming softly at her.

"Well done."

Harry turns to Lord Montague, but before he can utter a word, the old wizard explodes, his voice turning shrill. "What is he doing here?"

"Rose Weasley is my apprentice, and a bonded retainer of House Black." Harry answers in a clipped tone.

The dismay in Lord Montague eyes deepens. "I was not aware..."

Harry raises his voice a little. "Silence!" The old man shuts his mouth. For the old man, it brings back the horror of an angry Voldemort. Harry looks at Susan. "Any conclusions?"

"I was about to offer five years and a million galleon fine for a plea."

"No! We will take it to..."

Harry turns back to Lord Montague. "I said silence!" Again, the old man clamps his lips, shuddering. Harry begin a solemn tone. "Your actions constitute an attack on House Black. It makes House Montague an honorless enemy, who attacks from the shadows."

"She lies!"

"She is my apprentice, worm. She cannot lie to me. As I was saying, in response to Lord Montague's actions, I, Harry son of James, Black of the Black, declare a Blood Feud upon..."

"Wait!" Lord Montague was already cornered, but he had room to maneuver. However, a blood feud with Potter would mean almost certain extinction of House Montague. With his heir 'neutralized', the old man would need to blood adopt someone, and nobody in their right mind would accept it with Potter hanging over the family. "I ask for terms."

Harry stares at him for a bit. "Swear vassalage of house Montague to House Black." The old man looks pained, but nods.

"I, Acton son of Cassius, Montague of House Montague pledge my house as a vassal to House Black. Our wands will be your wands, your enemies will be our enemies, your will, our command. From this day, until the end of Montague or release from service by Black. So mote it be."

"I, Harry, son of James, Black of house Black, take House Montague as a Vassal to the Black. The Black will protect the Montague from its enemies, promote its welfare, and it will require no service that dishonors the Montague. So mote it be."

A small flash signals magic's acceptance. Harry turns to Susan. "Will that be enough?"

Susan looks like the cat that has just eaten the mouse. What just happened will completely change the balance of power in Magical Britain, in her faction's favor. Susan wonders briefly if it was all a trap. "A fine would be appropriate, Lord Black. Ten thousand galleons, perhaps."

Harry turns to Montague, who nods. "Very well. You will consult with Andromeda Tonks for political coordination. She speaks with my voice."

"Yes, my Lord."

Harry seems to relax and pull his magic in. He hugs Seamus and Susan, shakes Saul's hand and leaves, both Susan and Rose staring hungrily at his departing back.

AN: One more chapter to go.