Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.

Ginny was already in the air, flying lazily around the Quidditch field when she noticed Harry and Daphne walk up. Her brown eyes narrowed as she lowered herself to the ground. "She can't be here!" She blurted out.

Harry glanced at Daphne and back at Ginny with a frown. "Why not?"

"Well, because you're helping me practice and she is a Slytherin. If you show me some new moves or something, she could tell the Slytherin team!" Ginny said, hands on her hips. She struggled not to pout; she had hoped to spend some time with Harry alone.

"I won't tell the Slytherin team anything, but you do realize that Harry is on the Slytherin team don't you?" Daphne said somewhat sarcastically.

"Yes, well…so?" Ginny said, looking flustered. Why did Daphne have to tag-a-long?

"I don't mind helping you practice, although from what I hear you're already pretty good." Harry said slowly, a frown on his face. "But there is no problem with Daphne being here, all right?"

Ginny sighed. "Fine, I don't care." She muttered. "But honestly, does she have you on a leash?"

"Excuse me?" Daphne asked sharply with a mild glare to the red-head.

"Don't be rude Ginny. I asked Daphne to come with me," Harry said in a firm voice. He was trying to be nice, he really was. The Weasley's were like family to him and he didn't want to hurt Ginny's feelings, but she was making it difficult at the moment.

Ginny stared at him. "Oh," She said in a small voice. She cleared her throat. "Sorry, I guess I'm just a little nervous."

Harry smiled at her. "Don't worry; I hear you're a natural."

After the practice, which went much more smoothly, Ginny thanked him and left and Harry went to sit next to Daphne, who had been watching from the bleachers. "I am such a dunderhead," Daphne moaned.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked in surprise.

"I didn't know she had a crush on you," Daphne said with a shake of her head. "I mean, it's obvious now but I can't believe I didn't catch on sooner."

Harry put his arm around her. "She's sort of had a crush since my second year," He admitted. "But she's like the rest of the Weasley's; she's like family to me."

Daphne leaned her head against Harry's shoulder. "That's good to hear," She murmured. "I'm not completely oblivious; I see how other girls look at you."

"They do?" Harry asked in surprise

Daphne laughed into his shoulder. "Thank Merlin you're oblivious, at least." She teased.

"Well, since third year I've only noticed you," Harry said without thinking. He flushed when Daphne sat up and looked at him in the eyes.

A smile slowly spread across Daphne's face. "Really? Since then?"

Harry nodded. "How could I not? This beautiful girl puts me in my place about my Slytherin misconceptions," He grinned when she blushed. "Then she is the first one to know something was wrong with me. You saw through the glamour I was wearing. You listened to me, encouraged me…" He trailed off.

"You listened to me too," Daphne said softly. "About my family, you helped me see I had misconceptions about other houses as well. I guess we are good for each other." She tilted her head and grinned.

"I guess so. It's a good thing we are dating then," Harry quipped.

Daphne nodded. "A very good thing," She agreed.

HP

Harry sent Hedwig off with two letters, one for Remus and one for Sirius. He watched her fly into the sky and then turned and left the owlery. He had promised to keep them updated on his year and while he had written about the sprained wrist and his dislike of Umbridge, he hadn't disclosed the cruel detention he had had. No need to burden them about it, he rationalized to himself. They would only tell his dad or Dumbledore anyway.

Harry walked to the library to meet his friends and study, feeling more positive about things. He and Daphne were doing well, and he was looking forward to watching Quidditch try-outs tomorrow.

"Hey Potty!"

Harry stopped and glared at McLaggen and Alexander. "Can I help you with something?" He asked sarcastically.

"Yes," McLaggen said seriously. "In fact, we could use your help. There's someone we believe is here to harm the students."

"You know this person Potter. You may be the only one who could stop them," Alexander added.

Umbridge, Harry thought grimly. She obviously has an agenda, he thought. He nodded. "I think you are right."

McLaggen raised an eyebrow. "You do huh? So you admit it," He said triumphantly.

Now Harry was confused. "Admit what?"

"That you are a danger to us," McLaggen said with a smirk. "You're on the path to darkness and the only way to protect everyone here is for you to leave."

"You can take your dad with you too," Alexander smirked. "Or you could just return to your relatives."

Harry stiffened. That was certainly not going to happen. "You two are pathetic. Just leave me alone, okay?" He moved to go around them.

McLaggen got right in Harry's face. "We didn't say you could leave Potty!" He hissed. "We know now that you are nothing special."

"I said to leave me alone," Harry said softly, his eyes narrowing. Quick as lightening he had his wand out and pointed right at McLaggen. "Move."

McLaggen eyed the wand narrowly and slowly moved to the side. "Always good talking to you Potty," He said sarcastically.

Feeling his anger grow, Harry struggled to control his temper. He moved away quickly, walking fast as he turned the corner and smacked into someone. A solid wall of pink.

"Honestly!" Dolores Umbridge huffed, glaring at Harry. "Running in the halls is not allowed young man!"

"I wasn't," Harry began.

"Detention Mr. Potter," Umbridge said somewhat gleefully. "You seem to think the rules are beneath you. Well, soon you will learn that they are not!" She gave a sigh and shook her head. "It appears you even lie to yourself don't you? I will see tomorrow at one."

"But…I was going to watch the Quidditch tryouts," Harry protested.

Umbridge gave her usual sickening girly giggle. "It appears you will be missing it, doesn't it Mr. Potter?"

Harry watched her walk away with his mouth hanging open at the injustice of it all. He noticed McLaggen and Alexander smirking at him and he turned without a word and headed for the library, seething with anger.

HP

Harry stormed into the library and slammed his books down on the table. He ignored the disapproving look from the librarian and slouched in his chair.

"I think Harry's upset," Ron said wryly.

Harry ignored his friend and flipped his potions text open.

"What's wrong Harry?" Hermione asked with concern.

"Nothing. Aren't we here to study?" Harry asked in a biting tone.

Daphne exchanged a concerned look with Hermione. "Yes," She said slowly. "Um, have you started Professor Snape's essay yet?"

"No," Harry said curtly, not looking any of his friends in the eye. He bent over his parchment and textbook. He didn't know why he bothered; he couldn't focus on what he was reading. All he could think about was having another detention where he would carve words into his skin.

Daphne looked a little hurt at the cold shoulder Harry was giving and focused on her own essay. He had been fine earlier after he had practiced with Ginny. What could have possibly happened in those few hours?

The teenagers worked in silence for a while until Ron dropped his head onto the table with a groan. "Why can't we do this tomorrow?"

"Because you have tryouts tomorrow," Draco answered absently as he wrote.

"Yeah. I'm kind of nervous about that," Ron lifted his head. "Watch me embarrass myself in front of the whole school. What if my little sister makes it but I don't?"

"You'll be fine," Hermione spoke up, giving a small glare towards Harry. She obviously expected him to say some reassuring words to Ron as well.

"And if you aren't, we'll try not to laugh at you," Theo quipped.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Thanks." He said sarcastically.

Harry continued to ignore the conversation on going around him.

"Don't worry Ron; we'll be there to cheer you on. Right Harry?" Daphne said, trying to draw Harry into the conversation.

Harry finally looked up. "I won't be there."

"Why not?" Ron asked in surprise.

"Detention with Umbridge," Harry said in a low voice.

"Again? What did you do Harry?" Hermione asked in a disapproving voice.

"Nothing!" Harry hissed angrily. "I was walking fast to get away from McLaggen and bumped into her. She accused me of running in the hallway and assigned me detention!"

"Oh," Hermione said quietly. "I'm sorry. Why don't you tell Professor McGonagall or your dad what really happened? Maybe they can get her to cancel it." She suggested.

"Hermione's right, just tell your dad or another professor," Daphne urged.

I can't! Harry thought in frustration. He couldn't risk Umbridge getting mad and having his dad and Dumbledore fired. "I'm not some prat who has to run to his dad every time someone is unfair to me," He snapped. "Can we just drop it please?"

"As you wish," Daphne said, her lips pursed in irritation. She didn't know what was going on with Harry but she wished he would stop snapping at her. Obviously he was upset about Umbridge but it had to more than that didn't it? Something was bothering him but she knew he wouldn't talk about it until he was ready. She gazed at him sadly. Why won't you open up to us Harry? Why won't you open up to me?

HP

"I certainly hope this lesson has sunk in Mr. Potter," Umbridge said sweetly after dismissing Harry from his detention.

Harry stumbled out of Umbridge's office, his hand burning with pain. He leaned against the wall and gazed at his injured hand. It wasn't healing as fast as it had after his last detention, and was still bleeding. He remembered learning that Murtlap Essence would soothe cuts and wished he could get some, but he couldn't risk raising suspicion. Maybe I could sneak the ingredients during potions class without anyone noticing? Harry shook his head at the thought. He couldn't steal from his dad; he was already causing enough problems.

I hate her, Harry seethed as he thought about Umbridge. He wasn't going to cave however. There was no way that toad would break him. She's just like the Dursley's, he thought as he stopped at the boy's lavatory to rinse his hand with cool water. She gets off on the feeling of power she feels when she causes pain. A small voice nagged at him, telling him that he could take that power away from her. All he had to do was tell his dad. Harry sighed as he wrapped a paper towel around his hand before continuing to Gryffindor Tower. He would have to cast glamour on his hand until the wound healed. He stifled a groan as he reached the staircase to the Tower.

Standing at the staircase was Snape and he did not look happy. "Detention yet again, Mr. Potter?" He asked in an irritated voice. He was feeling frustrated that Harry was getting into so much trouble. "Exactly how hard is it to keep quiet around Umbridge?"

"I'm trying!" Harry protested, feeling stung. He crossed his arms so he could cover his bandaged hand. "She gave me detention for running in the hallway and I wasn't!"

Snape frowned. "I talked to her earlier when I heard you got detention and she told me it was for giving her backtalk when she told you to slow down." Not that Snape believed Umbridge about anything, but he had to be careful around her. Albus was sure that they just had to endure her for a little longer before he would be able to have her removed from Hogwarts.

"You believed her?" Harry sneered, his temper rising.

"I did not say that Harry," Snape said, trying to keep patient.

"Yeah, you did," Harry said angrily. "I didn't do anything to earn detention but of course you don't believe that. After all, I'm a magnet for trouble right?" Thoughts of telling the truth about the detentions flew from his mind in his rage.

"Stop putting words in my mouth," Snape snapped. "I am trying to figure out what is going on with you. You have been short tempered with everyone; don't think I haven't noticed the tension amongst you and your friends last night at dinner and this morning at breakfast." He sighed. "I will talk to Umbridge."

"No!" Harry said quickly. Even if he was angry, he wouldn't risk his dad losing his job.

Snape looked at his son suspiciously. "Why? Are you hiding something?"

"I don't need you to fight all my battles for me!" Harry snapped. "Other students don't have their parents talk to their professor's over every detention assigned. I don't need any special treatment!" He was practically yelling at this point. His hand was still hurting and he was still upset about missing the Quidditch try-outs. And to add to the list, his own dad was obviously back to thinking the worst of him.

Snape had been trying to be patient but the blatant disrespect had gone on far enough. "You will lower your voice this instant!" Snape hissed. "You do not talk to me like that, am I understood?"

Harry looked away. "I want to go upstairs and get some homework done before dinner, sir."

Snape gritted his teeth. "Go. Perhaps you should take a nap as well in hopes that you will start acting your age!" He turned and stalked away without another word.

Guilt settled in as Harry climbed the stairs. What is wrong with me? He thought remorsefully. He had been lashing out or ignoring everyone since yesterday. Before entering the Tower, he cast the same glamour he used in his third year on his throbbing, sore looking hand.

HP

Snape sat in his sofa chair staring at the fire while he nursed a glass of brandy. He wasn't one to imbibe often but he figured he had earned it today. He had not intended to get into an argument with Harry and he certainly had not meant to make his son think he was taking that toad's side. He had hoped Harry would open up to him as it was obvious something was weighing heavily on the child. He had seen that since the night of the Feast. Unfortunately, they both had tempers although Harry usually wasn't so quick to get angry. He knew the boy was dating Greengrass; perhaps they had had a fight? Or perhaps Finnigan was causing problems for him again. Snape sighed in frustration. He would have to try again to get Harry to talk. Of course, Snape would have to keep a better lid on his own temper. He drummed his fingers on the side of the sofa as he thought. Perhaps talking to Umbridge was a good idea. He didn't care if the staff was supposed to pretend to support her, if she was signaling Harry out to make his life miserable; Snape would put a stop to it. He would wait until she had another detention assigned with a student, be it Harry or someone else. That way he could see if she was making the detentions unbearable and if that would explain his son's attitude.

HP

It was early on Monday morning when Sirius Black entered Fudge's office, curious as to why the Minister of Magic had summoned him. He sat down in the seat Fudge gestured at and looked at the man expectantly.

"How are you Mr. Black?" Fudge asked in a friendly voice.

"I'm fine," Sirius said slowly. "Why did you want to see me?"

"There is a matter I wish to discuss with you," Fudge said as he settled in behind his desk. "I do not believe I properly apologized for your time in Azkaban. It was a most unfortunate thing to have happened and –"

"Why now?" Sirius interrupted. He didn't trust or like Cornelius Fudge and he didn't want to hear fake apologizes. "It's been over a year since you found out I was innocent. Why are you apologizing now?"

"Actually, the Ministry apologized profusely," Fudge said shortly. He remembered the embarrassment it had brought him too. "I felt you deserved a more personal apology. And as I said, there is a matter I wish to discuss with you." He took a deep breath. "I would like to offer you support in becoming the legal guardian over your godson."

Sirius widened his eyes. "What? Harry has already been adopted by Snape."

"Yes, I am aware," Fudge said briskly. "But the boy was supposed to be with you." He reminded Sirius.

That's true, Sirius thought sadly. If only he hadn't acted so rashly in chasing Pettigrew that night, he would have been able to raise Harry and the child would never have known the abuse the muggles caused him. "Again I have to ask why you are bringing this up over a year after the adoption?"

"You were in no position to take care of Mr. Potter then," Fudge said bluntly. "You needed time to recover from being in Azkaban."

I'll never recover fully from that, Sirius thought bitterly. He still had nightmares occasionally.

"The issue is you were in no real position to object to Snape adopting Mr. Potter," Fudge continued. "You are now, however."

Sirius stared at Fudge in shock. "I couldn't do that to Harry!" He exclaimed.

Fudge leaned forward. "Mr. Black, James and Lily Potter wanted you to take care of their son, to be his guardian if something happened to them. You can honor their wish now."

"No, I can't." Sirius shook his head. "Harry is happy with Snape." It hurt to say it as Sirius still didn't like Snape but Harry was happy with him. "If I tried to interfere, Harry would never forgive me."

"Ah, but isn't it about what is best for the child? Do you really think Severus Snape is the best person to be a father to the boy?" Fudge raised an eyebrow. "We know his past and I'm sorry, I don't see how he is the best option to raise the boy-who-lived. Not when there is a better option available." He looked pointedly at Sirius.

"Snape has been good to Harry," Sirius said weakly. He couldn't deny that he felt tempted to take Fudge up on his offer and try to get the adoption overturned. After all, Fudge was right. James and Lily had wanted him to take care of Harry and Sirius had failed them, had failed Harry. And now he was being given a chance to make it up to his best friends and to his godson.

"I'm sure he has," Fudge said gently. "But Harry should be with you Mr. Black. I can help you make that happen, if you would like to pursue it." He leaned back in his chair, inwardly smirking. Personally, he could care less if Sirius was the guardian of Potter. All he wanted to do was distract the boy, Snape and Dumbledore so that they would drop the whole, you-know-who- is coming back nonsense. And it is nonsense, he told himself stubbornly. He had already sent Umbridge to the school to try and distract them as well as discredit Potter but Dumbledore was nothing but persistent, owling him almost daily with the plea to take the threat seriously. Fudge was sure that Dumbledore just wanted to make him look incompetent so that he could take over his job. "Let me know once you make up your mind," He said to Sirius.

"I," Sirius shook his head. "I can't do that to Harry." Sirius loved his godson and though part of him was seriously tempted to try and get guardianship, he knew he would lose Harry forever if he tried. Harry truly thought of Snape as his father, a fact that still made Sirius feel slightly nauseous.

"You would welcome Mr. Potter into your home wouldn't you?"

"Of course I would!" Sirius said, offended. "I had hoped that I would be able to give him a home myself, it just didn't work out that way."

Fudge smiled. "So you are interested?"

Sirius was about to say no, that Harry was happy with the way things were but then he hesitated. The truth was, a part of him wanted to jump at the chance to care for Harry. Oh, he got to see him whenever he wanted but the one thing that had kept him going in Azkaban was the fact that he needed to survive for Harry. Well, the knowledge that he was innocent had helped him keep most of his sanity as well. He was lost in his thoughts that he didn't see the satisfied smirk cross Fudge's face.

"Just think it over Mr. Black," Fudge urged. "Just think it over."

TBC: