Ramblings and Dribbles

by WolfgangNH

This is a posting of ramblings, dribbles, one-shots, unfinished ideas or other stuff I just don't think deserves it's own storyline. Some I plan to finish someday, others are what they are. This is mature reading for some posts. Some items may be well developed, others are not yet, and may never be. There will many different pairings, and sometimes none.

34. The Other Side of the Fight

The Other Side of the Fight

For any Disclaimers see chapter 1...

-oOo-

Chapter 1

-oOo-

December 12, 1994

Hogwarts, Scotland

Per usual, Harry sat in a far corner of the library on a Monday afternoon. Before him was his Runes homework. After three and half years he was used to being alone most of the time, but it wasn't that unusual for someone to join him and ask him for help.

That was why he didn't bother to look up when a girl took a seat next to him at the table. He focused on the book before him, then writing out a few lines in his notebook before asking, "Do you need help with the assignment?"

The golden hair girl next to him was rather cute. Her face and body were still a little rounded with baby fat, though that had been disappearing this year as her body started its transformation from duckling to swan. He would never call Hannah Abbot ugly. She was far from it.

He found he liked how she was wearing her hair either loose or in a single, large braid now. It made her look older than when she wore her pigtails or double braids when he had first met her.

"No. Well, yes, but that's not what I sat here for today," Hannah told him.

Harry looked up to meet her blue eyes. Her blue eyes were still as fun loving and friendly as the first day she had introduced herself, but there was something about her that seemed nervous today. "Yes and no? What do you need, Hannah?"

Hannah put her bookbag on the table. "Uhm, well, I was wondering, you know, if you'd asked anyone to the Yule Ball?"

Harry rolled his eyes.

Everyone was talking about the Yule Ball since it had been announced last week. He wasn't really that enthused about the ball, usually enjoying how quiet it was over the Christmas Break and the fact that last year Flitwick had taken him to his first international duelling tournament, and they were going to go again this year. "Not really interested."

Hannah's eyes widened. "What do you mean you aren't interested?"

"Not interested. I'm getting ready for my next tournament and really don't want the distraction. Once I get done with this, I'm supposed to meet with Sue Li at three," he told her.

"Oh," Hannah said, looking a little crestfallen. "Alright. Well, if you aren't that interested, would you mind going with someone just as a friend that night?"

Harry raised an eyebrow. He really didn't care about the Yule Ball, but the sudden thought of going with Hannah, one of the few people to treat him as a friend, suddenly had some merit. "With you?"

Hannah's face turned a little red. She squeaked when she spoke. "Yes... I mean no. Justin asked me the other day," she said. Harry's sudden interest dropped significantly.

"Oh," Harry replied.

Hannah gave him a curious look. "Would you go with me?"

Harry shrugged, already pushing down the unexpected attraction he had felt for the girl. "As a friend," he told her.

Her eyes dimmed a little. "Oh. Well, then, Megan wants to go, but no one has asked her yet and I was wondering if you would go with her?"

Harry gave her a questioning look. "Megan Jones? Isn't she obsessed with quidditch and that's about all she talks about."

"Well, yeah, but she is nice... and pretty," Hannah told him.

"I guess," he said. Megan wasn't bad looking. She was a nice brunette, but for some reason Harry found himself more attracted to blondes.

"You guess? What's wrong with Megan?" she asked, a slight challenge to her voice. Hannah was the quintessential Hufflepuff. She always defended her friends and was extremely loyal to anyone she considered close. Some days Harry wondered how he had seemed to earn that status, since he had caught Hannah sticking up for him to Longbottom and Weasley the other week.

"Nothing is wrong with Megan. I just don't like quidditch," he told her.

"And you don't think she's pretty?" Hannah put to him.

"She is," Harry admitted half-heartedly.

"But?"

Harry didn't look away from Hannah. "I don't know. Just not that into brunettes. I'm sure if I liked her, it wouldn't matter, but, you know," he told her, not wanting to say he was into girls that looked like Hannah.

Hannah's brow rose. "I never knew you had a type?"

Harry shrugged. Truth be told, he hadn't really looked at girls that way until recently. Being fourteen now, he found himself dreaming of certain girls as his own body changed... Hannah's changes making prominent appearances in some of his new fantasies the last few months. "I don't know if I do or not, but if you look at just physical characteristics, then I'm not really attracted to dark or brown hair."

Hannah eyed him for a moment before snorting. "You are such a Ravenclaw. Do you analyze everything? Don't you just let yourself feel what you want?"

"I feel that I am not physically attracted to any brunettes or darker hair girls right now," he told her, a slight smile playing on his face. The blue and silver necktie he had on didn't hide the fact he was a Ravenclaw.

"And what type of girls do you find attractive?" Hannah put to him. Her voice sounded hopeful?

"That is a little personal, isn't it?" he asked, trying to deflect the question.

"Come off it. You said you don't like brunette and those with black hair. What do you like? Is it just their hair? Do you like girls that are lean or plump? Don't tell me you are one that wants a girl with a rack the size of melons?" Hannah said, a little disgust in her voice.

"I don't know, I just know that I seem to be more attracted to redheads and blondes. Why would it matter if a girl has breasts the size of melons? Wouldn't her personality be more important? I couldn't imagine being with someone that isn't smart or a good person to talk to," he told her. Hannah wasn't the largest girl in their year, but she was developing a decent sized rack.

"Some boys seem to only stare at my chest. Susan hates it. She's already huge and gets leered at by many of the upper years. She doesn't like and I don't either," Hannah told him.

Luckily Harry only took peaks at them all when he thought they weren't looking. "It's not just your chest that is nice," Harry said before he could catch himself. Hannah quirked an eye at him and he felt his neck heat some.

As annoyed as she had been a moment ago, she seemed to find his reaction a little funny. "Are you saying you've looked me up and down?"

Harry rubbed the back of his neck. "I am a boy. You are cute. Aren't I supposed to look at girls?"

"I'm cute?" Hannah asked. Harry felt like she had just lobbed a hand grenade at him. No matter how he answered this question, he felt he would be hit.

"Uhm, yeah. Well, really pretty. Susan is too. As is Mandy Brocklehurst and Daphne Greengrass," Harry told her, hoping he wouldn't get slapped.

Hannah snorted. "You really do have a thing for redheads and blondes. What about Megan? I heard Michael Corner say 'she has all the right curves'."

Harry shrugged. He had never really paid attention to Megan Jones before. "Not sure."

Hannah shook her head. "Well, if you will go with Megan, I'll tell Justin I'll go with him." She didn't seem that happy with it.

"Ah, sure. Just as friends," Harry said. He found himself surprised that he was disappointed that he wouldn't be going with Hannah, but if she wanted someone that wasn't 'just a friend', then Harry couldn't blame her. Though, he wasn't sure he wanted to be 'just friends' with Hannah going forward. "I guess this gives me a reason to use the dress robes they required us to buy this year."

"Oh, and one more thing," Hannah said.

"You ready to get to work?" Harry asked her. As good as he was being alone, he found he liked Hannah's company, and most of her friends, when they sat with them.

"I need the help, but I can't right now. I need you to ask Megan," Hannah told him.

Harry scoffed. "You rope me into going with her and then you want me to ask her too?"

Hannah gave him a bright smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. It was unusual. Hannah wasn't one to hide her emotions well, and she was always such a happy person. "You are the boy. I'll tell her you are going to ask."

"Well, that takes the edge off that," he said wryly.

Hannah giggled. "Thought you'd see it my way."

She got up, taking her bag. She was only wearing her blouse and skirt, allowing Harry to follow her slightly swaying behind as she walked away. It didn't help that the strap of the bag pulled her shirt tight over her bust. She turned her head with a cheeky smile just before turning down a stack of books. Harry felt a little embarrassed to be caught ogling her after she said how she didn't like it, but she didn't seem bothered. More amused than anything.

With a shake of his head, Harry turned back to his books. It was only a few minutes before he was disturbed again. It was getting close to one-thirty now.

"Granger," Harry greeted as he scribbled in his notebook. He always worked things out in the notebooks he had before transcribing to the parchment.

"Potter," she said. She had sat across from him and took out her books and parchment. "I thought I saw Hannah. Did you chase her away?"

He snorted. "Contrary to popular belief, I actually do have some that are friendly to me and I actually enjoy their company. She said she had something else to do this afternoon."

Hermione shook her head. "You know I don't feel the same way as Neville and Ron?"

Harry shrugged. "I really don't care. Longbottom has made it very clear how he feels for me and my family, not that I have any, and Weasley just goes along with him. If you weren't such a good study partner, I wouldn't be around you either."

He didn't look up, instead tracing his finger over a passage in the book he had found.

Hermione frowned. "Neville doesn't hate you," she said.

Harry huffed. "Has a really good way of showing he cares. By the way, has he recovered from DADA last week?"

Harry couldn't keep a small smirk coming to his face at the way he had levelled the 'Boy-Who-Lived' in a duel in Defence Against the Dark Arts. The poor sod hadn't stood a chance, and he was one of the Champions this year? Even with that, Harry felt a little bit of admiration for the boy. He may not be a dueller, but could hold his own against almost anyone else in class. Then there was his knowledge of plants and transfiguration that was just about second to none in the school. Both had saved the boy from that Horntail.

Hermione huffed this time. "Did you really need to embarrass him like that? He was growing grass out of hair all weekend."

"I told him I would give him the counter-curse if he apologised for calling my mother a whore," Harry said bitterly.

She sighed this time. "You know he is too stubborn to admit he was wrong."

"That makes two of us," Harry said in an easy tone. Harry had lost his parents when he was fifteen months old. Just a week after Neville had lost his. Neville blamed Harry for all that for some reason and he wasn't about to take the abuse from Longbottom over it.

"Do you even know why Neville acts the way he does towards you?" Hermione asked, unstoppering her ink bottle.

"Don't know. Don't care. He's an arse to me and I just try to ignore him. As long as he leaves my parents, Hannah, Susan, Sue, Mandy, Michael and Justin alone, I'll leave him alone. If you want to keep talking about your boyfriend, I'll go find somewhere else to sit," he told her in a snarky tone.

Hermione's face flushed. "He's not my boyfriend," she said, her voice a little higher pitched than normal.

"Whatever. Did you translate number three yet? It doesn't seem to make sense. I feel it is supposed to be a blessing for crops, but it translates more like a curse," he said, taking his notebook and holding it out for her.

"I only got the first two done this morning. Can I look at it?" she asked, reaching out for his hardbound notebook. Harry let her take it as he turned back to the book he was reading. His Latin was good, but not perfect, so he wasn't sure if he was translating the runes in it appropriately.

By the time he had to leave about quarter to three, they only had one more translation to complete and agreed to meet Wednesday afternoon to finish. As much as most thought Hermione to be annoying, Harry liked her enthusiasm for learning and she was very bright. She was actually the best competition he had when it came to Runes, Charms and Transfiguration. Though Longbottom was close to them in Transfiguration, with Sue Li close to them in Charms and about his only challenge in Defence for the practical side of things.

Even though he was a Ravenclaw, and most thought all Ravenclaws were mental about all their grades, it was actually the drive to learn and seek knowledge that defined them and not all of the house was that enthralled with getting top grades.

Harry found he really enjoyed duelling, and he really enjoyed Runes. To become a better dueller, being a crack at charms and transfiguration was a must. Defensive magics were needed to ensure you could counter your opponent when you couldn't attack. Thus, he constantly traded top grades in those three classes.

Runes was something he found very interesting after finding some books in his vaults. Some were old Potter family books, others were from his mother. He wanted to understand them, since it seemed the Potters had a history of being good at Runes. It was something that helped him feel connected to a family he never knew and to feel like he had something to cling too that the orphanage just didn't supply.

To compliment his Runes, he found Arithmancy interesting. He found it very easy to link the calculations with the runes to understand their power and how the magical theory fit between the two.

After that, he really didn't care much about his other classes. He was good at potions. Something that he had inherited from his mother. He just didn't care for the professor and found it easy, thus boring, so he did what he had to maintain the exceeds expectation that Professor Flitwick expected of him.

Herbology was only slightly interesting to understand the properties of the plants for potions, but he really didn't like taking care of them. He had already decided he would not be taking a NEWT in Herbology.

History of Magic and Astronomy were extremely boring. He didn't fall asleep in History, instead working on other homework. He traded notes with Padma for his potions notes so that he didn't need to pay attention in the class. In Astronomy, Mandy was all to happy to trade her notes, and revision at times, for Harry's Charms and Arithmancy work. He thought it a fare trade. He just barely stayed awake the nights they had to go to the Astronomy Tower at midnight, never mind having to make star charts.

Walking into the training room in the upper dungeons, Harry put his bag by the door. Sue Li was already in the room and casting spell chains at the dummies.

Sue Li was a willowy girl who was stronger than she looked. Her Asian heritage had a certain exotic quality that had many boys looking at her. Harry could admit she was good looking, but he found her a little annoying. Plus, she really didn't have many curves yet and her hair was as raven black as his, and he really didn't seem that attracted to girls like that.

She cast him a glance, as though saying, 'You're lazy,' for showing up on time.

Harry didn't bother to say anything as he lined up on his own set of dummies and started on the standard spell chains that Flitwick had them working on. He was working on set five today. It was a series of four chains, all meant to break shields. They were a mixture of blasting hexes, drill charms and shield hammering hexes. It took some power to pull them off, but would break through most shields in an easier way than dragging out a duel for minutes to break them in the traditional way.

For the next hour, the two of them silently, or mostly, worked on the forms. Once he had practiced the fifth set, he moved to the first, which was a series of six chains that focused on disarming. That meant it was a series of disarming curses, stinging and numbing hexes, distraction spells like conjuring birds, rocks, fog and water.

By the time the clock bell struck four, they were both a little winded. As Flitwick required, they took a break to get something to drink.

"You were a little slow in your shield breakers," Sue told him.

"Just trying to cast them silently," he replied. She knew the concentration it took to go from verbal to non-verbal casting. They were two years ahead of almost any of their classmates in this. It was required, though, with the advantage it gave you in a duelling ring at their age.

"You were still slow. I could have easily gotten a spell past you," she said, a certain air of superiority about her.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Care to try?"

Her intense gaze should have unnerved him, but Harry just gave her a challenging look. "Once Professor Flitwick gets here, you are going down," she informed him with a self-assured air to her.

"Maybe," he said, drinking some of the lemonade the elves had set out on a small table for them. He was a little sweaty from his practicing, but ready to take Sue on again. Professor Flitwick wouldn't let them spar unless he or someone else he trusted was here. Well, not since they had both been admitted to the hospital wind second year when they had been a little too rough with each other. Harry didn't think three days to reverse the spells they had used had merited the tongue-lashing their master had given them.

Sue twirled her wand as she drank her own lemonade. "Feeling a little confident? What happened?"

As much as Sue and him were rivals on the duelling pitch, she would probably be the person he considered himself closest too, after Hannah. He would even call the girl his friend, but only in current company.

Harry shrugged. "Nothing."

She eyed him. "You ask anyone to the ball yet?"

"You interested?" he asked, finding it odd that every girl he had talked with today had asked him, even Granger before he had left.

Sue laughed. "In your dreams. I don't like snarky gits."

Harry laughed with her. "Good, I don't really like runts."

"Git," she shot back.

"Hag," he retorted.

"I see you two are warming up," the mirthful voice of Professor Flitwick said as he came into the room.

"Afternoon, Professor," Harry said as Sue straightened.

"Master Flitwick," she replied.

"Afternoon you two. Did you already go through the sets?"

"Yes, sir," they both said together.

The diminutive man nodded. "Right. Line up. You are to use Goobnarg today," he told them. Most wizards knew Goobnarg as Gobbledegook, which was very offensive to goblins, but most wizards either didn't know or care. Since first year, their master had been teaching them how to speak Goobnarg, and cast, to make it harder for their opponents to know what was being cast.

"Silently?" Harry asked.

Professor Flitwick shook his head. "Not today. You both need more practice in proper pronunciation. Now, bow, and begin."

"Groffna!" Sue called out. Harry dodged the blue spell that would cause his whole body to go numb. "Ergroot!" Harry replied, the stunner leaving his wand as she wiggled her wand and exclaimed, "Rrrrunger!"

Harry made a small circle. "Vergae!" A bluish shield came up, deflecting the ropes to the side.

It was a furious back and forth, mostly exchanging charms, hexes and curses with their counters. Neither of them were very skilled yet in transfiguration when it came to using Goobnarg, so they avoided it. That was until Flitwick stepped in. "You both know more," the man said in Goobnarg, a hard tinge to his voice. It was a side that most never saw, but it was the side that had had earned the man seven international championships and kept him on the top of the duelling standings for more than twenty years.

Sue took a stumbling step back as the man started a stream of Goobnarg. Summoned animals, rocks, dull blades and a half dozen other objects started to fly at both of them. It was only the quick reflexes that he and Sue had that kept them from being hit. Sue dodge as Harry cried out, "REXNAR!"

Part of the floor shot up as a wall sprung into existence. He didn't wait though, casting a strong shield and jumping out from behind the wall as a blasting hex turned it into dust.

"Bombarda! Glacius! Erogona!" Harry shouted, forgetting he was supposed to still be speaking the goblin language as their Master started to duel both of them. Sue and him were really good for their age, but this man made them look like simpering babes as within a half dozen spells Harry found himself disarms, bound and gagged. Sue was upside down, her head next his as her hands were bound to her side.

Flitwick came over to them, a serious look on his face. "What did you do wrong?"

Sue flicked her head, spitting her shoulder length hair out of her mouth. "We stopped using Goobnarg," she stated.

"Before then?"

Harry wanted to speak, but couldn't. Seeimng this, Flitwick flicked his wand. "Yes, Mr Potter?"

"We weren't using everything we could have," he said.

"And why is that?"

Sue looked a little down. "I struggle with transfiguration when using Goobnarg."

"You were also avoiding your shields. Moving is a good thing, but if you keep dodging and flipping as much as you are, you will tire yourself quickly. And you, Potter, a simple stone is less energy than a shield or moving more than a step," Flitwick told them. "Line up again and show me what you know."

Sue flopped to the floor with a grunt and Harry had to use the small amount of wandless casting he could to loosen the ropes. Like in a duel, their master required them to find their own way out of a mess. Harry wasn't complaining. It had Sue and him years ahead of many of their classmates when it came to practical casting and duelling.

By the time the bell chimed half past five, Harry was ready to drop. Flitwick had pushed them both hard today. He sat in the middle of the duelling platform as Sue picked herself up. They had gone three to two today, with Harry winning this last one to get the lead. Last time Sue had gotten one up on him.

"Better. Next time, be prepared to duel me. Harry, I want you to focus on your parselmouth while you focus on using Mandarin, Sue," Flitwick told them. "I want you to be fluid in how you change your styles. Don't use more than a few spells in a single language, and if you are to use non-verbal casting, it has to be in something else than Latin. You both broadcast your spells to frequently."

Harry groaned. Keeping up his occlumancy while in the midst of a heated duel was not easy. "Yes, Master Flitwick," Harry replied.

"I will, Master Flitwich," Sue said.

The man nodded. "We go to France on Boxing day. It's a three day tournament, so you will be limited to three minute rounds. I want you to end them before the bell rings every time."

Harry nodded. Three minutes were fast duels, but as their master always said, in real life, most duels end within ninety seconds. Only those showing off or who are truly skilled should hold off longer than that.

He got up and walked over to Sue, handing her wand back as he held a hand out. "You good?"

"Yeah. What was that wind thing you used at the end?"

Harry grinned. "You want me to give away my secrets?"

"I want to win and that felt like a bus hitting me. It went right through my protego shield," she told him.

"It was an air movement spell. Instead of using magic to conjour a wind or use the magic around it to propel the air, like most spells do, it directly impacts the air molecules, so you are moving a physical object that was not magically created," he told her.

She sighed. "Thus, a magical shield won't stop it. Can you teach me?"

"Later. I want to get a shower before dinner. I have to ask someone to the Yule Ball," he said, not sounding thrilled.

"Really? Should I get dolled up?"

Harry laughed. "No. Hannah wants me to ask Megan Jones. No one's asked her yet."

Sue looked at him questioningly as they got their stuff and said goodnight to Professor Flitwick. "Is that who you want to ask? If you really need someone, I'll say yes, you know."

Harry gave Sue a smile. "I wasn't really planning on going, and do you really want to go with me? I thought you couldn't stand to be around me?"

Sue shrugged. "There are worse options."

Harry laughed at her. "I'll take my chances with Jones."

"Suit yourself. Maybe Zabini will be looking for a date still," she commented.

"You like him?"

"He's handsome. Davis says he's a good kisser," she told him.

"I also hear he likes to look at Nott," Harry told her.

"So he's bi. Big deal," she told him. "As long as it's not Malfoy and his trolls, I'm good."

Harry shrugged this time. "Whatever catches your fancy," he said as they went up the stairs to the raven head.

"I still don't get Jones. Don't you like Abbott or Greengrass? I thought you like that whole dumb blonde thing?" she asked cheekily.

"They aren't dumb, and Greengrass would never give me the time of the day that way. I'm not rich enough," Harry told her.

Sue snorted. "If that is her standard then there aren't many she can choose from. I hope she likes people like Malfoy."

Harry chuckled. "I think she likes gits like Longbottom. She was eyeing him in class the other day."

Sue made a face. "Longbottom is a bloody arse. And I thought Granger and him?"

Harry snorted. "You are telling me. I'd still like to know how he cheated the cup to enter the tournament. Hermione swears they are not dating."

"Bloody hell they aren't. Why are you still on about Longbottom being in the tournament? I thought you said you didn't want to be in the tournament?" she asked.

"Hardly, but it would have been entertaining to let the Weasley twins know. They tried three times," Harry told her.

They stopped before the raven head. "My voice is tender, my waist is slender and I'm often invited to play. Yet, wherever I go I must take my bow or else I have nothing to say. What am I?" it asked.

They both looked at each other as though challenging each other. Harry indicated for her to go first. "Ladies first."

Sue shook her head. "The day you consider me a lady is the day you can take me to a broom closet. It's a violin," Sue said to the raven head.

"That seemed too easy for you two," the head said before the wall opened to reveal a door.

"We'll try to be more stumped next time," he told their house guardian. The raven cawed at him. Harry eyed Sue up. She was a little thin and didn't really have any curves that he found attractive. "You are not my type."

Sue laughed as she entered the tower. "Good. I like them more broad of shoulder," she shot back as they split to head towards their rooms.

By the time Harry made it down to the great hall, dinner was in full swing. Looking around, he found Hannah about a third of the way down the table. She was talking with Susan, Megan and Justin. Looking at Hannah talking with Justin had a strange twang in him wanting him to reach towards his wand. He had to fight the urge down as he moved towards the Hufflepuff table. They were all allowed to sit where they wanted, except on Saturday dinners and a few feast days every year. He hadn't understand Saturday until Hermione had found that Saturday nights used to be formal nights for the students to get used to more formal meals. That had ended decades ago, but wizards were nothing but traditional at times, thus Saturdays were still smart dress and eat at your own tables.

As he approached, Susan caught his eye, giving him a huge smile as he came up to them. "Mind if I join you tonight?"

"Please do," Susan said.

"It's a free spot," Megan said, giving him an interested look.

Hannah just smiled at him. Justin nodded his head. "Potter."

"Finch-Fletchly," he said.

Susan rolled her eyes. "Why do you two insist on doing that? We've been friends with Harry for a while now."

"It's only proper," the usually stuffy boy said.

"What he said," Harry agreed. Personally, he didn't care for the boy, and even less so now.

Susan looked at him expectantly as he filled his plate. "So, what brings you here tonight? Usually you only eat with us when you want something," the redhead asked.

Harry looked up to her. Susan Bones was a very attractive person. He liked her dark red hair, the freckles on her face and even though he wasn't into girls with huge chests, he had to admit there was something in her curves that had his imagination kick in. On top of that, she was naturally bubbly and open. A rather perfect match for Hannah, but below that the girl had a fighting instinct that he had a hard time countering when in DADA. He wasn't that surprised to know her aunt was head of the DMLE. She was also really good at puzzling things out, like a detective. If she wasn't so friendly and loyal to her friends, Harry could have seen her in Ravenclaw.

"I can't just sit with people that are nice to me?" Harry asked her, pouring some gravy over his beef.

Hannah was being very quiet.

"You can, but you don't usually," Susan pressed.

"Will you leave the boy alone, Susie," Justin said. "Guys are allowed to keep their secrets too."

Susan laughed. "Oh, it's the whole mysterious bit tonight."

Harry shook his head. "I can't eat before I do business? I'm rather hungry," he told her, putting a large forkful of food into his mouth.

"You eat like you are on the quidditch team," Megan said. "Did you see the scores last weekend? Your Arrows lost."

Harry shrugged and swallowed before he answered. "I only root for the Arrows because I was able to go to a game of theirs last summer."

Professor Flitwick had been kind enough to treat him out to a game after the tournament they had gone to in Germany. It was one of two times he had been taken from the orphanage over the summer. Flitwick hadn't known he had lived in the Wool's Orphanage in London until then, and had referred Harry to the Underage Wizards department in the DMLE. They had supposedly been looking into his parents will. A month ago he had been contacted by them to be told that everyone in the will that should have taken him were not available. Basically, meaning that everyone his parents had wanted to leave him with were dead, permanently disabled in St Mungo's, or hated him, like the Longbottoms. They had said they would look into finding a family to place him with.

For a few months, Harry had let an old hope build in him. He thought he might actually get out of the orphanage before he turned seventeen, but those hopes had been dashed. With less than three years before he could leave, he didn't think he wanted to be placed anywhere anymore.

"They have a few good chasers, but nothing like the Harpies. Are you going to sit with us next week? We are playing Slytherin," Megan asked.

Harry shrugged. "I usually study in the library."

"You should come," Hannah said. "Megan is on the team."

Harry looked to Hannah. Susan scrunched her brow at her best friend, as though confused about something. "So, have you asked anyone to the Yule Ball yet?" Susan asked.

"Not yet," Harry said, putting his bread down. With an internal sigh, he turned to look at Megan. Hannah was just behind her and was looking everywhere but at Harry. Susan looked suddenly excited. "Megan, are you going with anyone?"

The bouncy redhead suddenly stopped. The happy smile on her face turned into shock. Megan rose an eyebrow at him, shared a look at Susan, then looked behind her. Hannah didn't look up, but nodded her head. After a moment, Megan turned back to him. "You know I like to talk about quidditch, right?"

"I know. Maybe you can try to convince me how good a game it is?" Harry put her.

Megan gave a look to Susan again. Harry glanced to the redhead. She looked flabbergasted. Harry felt confused by the reactions of the friends. Justin leaned over, "I think you broke them all," he said in a loud whisper.

"You should go," Hannah said before getting up.

Megan looked to the blonde. She looked very unsure as Hannah walked away. Susan suddenly cast a mean glare to him before taking off after Hannah. Megan turned back to him. "I'm sorry, Harry. I need to get back to you," she said, taking off after the other too.

Harry felt totally flummoxed. "What did I do?" he asked, looking to Justin.

The boy shrugged his shoulders. "No bloody clue, but I think you are in trouble."

"Bloody hell," Harry muttered, unsure what he had done. He didn't like the way his stomach had clenched to see how Hannah looked. She had told him to do this.

A dark hair boy sat next to Harry and pulled up a plate. "What did you do to make them upset?" Wayne Hopkins asked.

"Don't look at me. It was Potter," Justin said.

"What did you say?"

"I asked Megan to the Yule Ball," Harry said, starting to get a feeling that Hannah hadn't wanted him to.

"Oh," was all Wayne said.

"Yeah, what I thought," Justin said.

Harry looked at them. "What did I do?"

Justin shook his head. "I think Hannah wanted you to ask her."

Harry scrunched his brow. "Isn't she going with you?"

Justin shook his head. "She said no when I asked a few days ago. I'm going with Mandy Brocklehurst now."

Harry's brow scrunched as he looked towards the doors. Why would Hannah say she would be going with Justin and tell him to ask Megan?

"Tough luck, mate. Hannah's had a crush on you for a while," Wayne told him.

Harry frowned. "Bloody hell."

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 2

-oOo-

December 7, 1994

Hogwarts, Scotland

"Hannah," Harry called out as the blonde was the first out of the door, with Susan just behind her and Megan giving him a glance he didn't know how to interpret.

Some around the greenhouses looked at him as he tried to make the door at the front of the greenhouse. By the time he was outside, the three Hufflepuff girls were gone. Sue walked up besides him, with Mandy stopping too. His other yearmates just gave him an odd look.

"Bloody hell! None of them have talked to me since Monday," he said, trying to figure out where they could have gone. He couldn't see them by the other greenhouses and there was no way they could have made it to the school in the twenty seconds or so they had been out of sight.

"Maybe you should give it up for a lost cause. We have our tournament in a few weeks and I trounced you yesterday with how distracted you are," Sue said, looking around.

"Why did you ask Jones instead of Abbott?" Mandy asked. Harry cast her a sidelong glance. Mandy was a dirty-blonde with large lips and deep brown eyes. Harry would say she was pretty, and might go on a date if given the opportunity, but she wasn't who he was looking for right now.

Harry huffed and ran a hand over his neck. "It's nothing," he told her, starting to walk towards the school. Maybe they had gone to the library like they usually did after Herbology on a Wednesday morning?

"Abbott told him too. Said she had been asked by another," Sue said conspiratorially.

Mandy sighed. "Oh, I see."

Sue smirked at the way Harry groaned. "You too? Don't you usually hang out with Padma and Terry?"

"They wanted to know what was going on with you and Padma wants to know if you have a date for the ball yet. Do you really like Jones?" Mandy asked him as they made it to a door into the school. Harry opened it and held it for the girls.

"She's not Harry's type," Sue said.

Mandy looked to Sue with a curious gaze. Harry shrugged his shoulders. "She's alright," Harry replied.

Mandy giggled. "And who is your type?"

"Abbott," Sue said with a cheeky grin.

"We are just friends," Harry said, having thought a lot about what Kevin and Justin had said. Did he really like Hannah like that? He couldn't deny the way his insides turned to think she was going to the ball with someone else.

"Ah, huh," Mandy said, sharing a smirk with Sue. "You said that rather quickly."

Harry shrugged again. "I'm heading to the library. How about you too?"

"I need to get this herbology essay done," Mandy said, taking the right with him.

"I don't have anything else to do until this afternoon," Sue replied. "Who knows, maybe I can fluster you enough that you just fall over for me."

Harry gave the Asian girl a nasty look, causing Sue to laugh and Mandy giggle. "So, do you have a date for the Yule Ball?" Mandy asked again. "Padma would like you to ask her."

"The last time a girl asked me to ask her friend, it didn't work out," Harry told her.

"Well, you did miss that she was testing you," Mandy said. "It's no great secret that Abbott has been eyeing you all year. There have been a few other too."

"Like you?" he asked, hoping to frazzle her.

Mandy gave him a bright smile. "Maybe if you had asked me before Justin. You could ask Sue if you don't want to ask Padma."

Sue shook her head. "I'd more likely kill him if he tried to put his hands on me."

Harry snorted. "So, just like every other day."

"Pretty much," Sue agreed, her cheeky smile returning.

Mandy shook her head. "You two take this duelling thing way to seriously."

"I like it," Harry replied.

"It helps me work out my frustrations on Potter," Sue deadpanned.

Harry shot her a look. "One day does not mean you are better," he replied, vowing to himself he would not be distracted today.

"One day is the difference between a championship and last place," she countered.

"I will be ready for France," he replied.

"Sure you will," Sue retorted.

Mandy rolled her eyes. "You two are worse than my sister and I. Seriously, though, Harry, if you don't find a date all the good ones will be taken," Mandy informed him.

"I don't really plan to go. I asked Megan because Hannah asked me to. Look where that go me," he reiterated. "I'll just turn in early that night since we are leaving for France the next day."

Mandy looked at him like he had a hole in his head. Sue looked to be thinking. "I think I will skip it too if no one asks me."

"I thought you wanted to go with Zabini?" Harry shot at her.

"He's going with Greengrass," Sue said.

"How do you know?" Mandy questioned as they made it to the library.

"I asked," Sue said, dropping her voice.

"You two really should go to the ball," Mandy tried to convince them.

"I really would kill Harry if he tried to feel me up," Sue said.

"Not that there is much to feel up," Harry said under his breath.

"What was that?" Sue said, her hand going for her wand and her eyes narrowing.

"Not that you have much of a chance with me," he said loudly. Sue didn't look convinced that was what he said. Mandy eyed them, looking like she was going to laugh at their antics.

They found most of the other Ravenclaws already at a large table in the library and the two girls moved to join them. Harry was going to go to his normal table, hidden in the back corner, when Padma caught his attention. "Join us today, Harry?"

Mandy had a mischievous grin while Sue shook her head.

"Last I saw, you could use the help, Potter," Terry Boot commented. He was a tall boy with sandy hair and brown eyes.

Harry made a face. "Not a fan of Herbology," he replied, but decided to sit anyways. He couldn't always be a loner. That, and some of his year mates seemed frustrated that he let some of his class grades slip. He was bright, but didn't care he was at the top of class or not. As long as he did well on the duelling platform, it didn't matter to him. Most around the table did though.

Around the table was Terry, Padma Patil, Morag MacDougal, Anthony Goldstien, Kevin Entwhistle and Lisa Turpin.

Padma was a pretty girl of Indian descent with black hair, dark eyes and a broad smile when she wasn't being serious. Morag was a girl with reddish hair, freckles and an infectious laugh. Lisa was a bit of a beauty in the making, with long brown hair, grey eyes and a penchant for gossip that turned Harry off of her.

Anthony was a boy that looked to be developing broad shoulders, short dark-brown hair and light brown eyes that always had an heir of superiority about him and always wanted to compare his grades to the others.

Kevin was much the opposite of Anthony. He was easy going, but worked hard to maintain his spot in class. His short cropped dirty blonde hair was a bit spiky, like Harry's, and his blue tinged eyes always seemed to be looking at everyone around him when he wasn't absorbed in a book.

"You have the potion notes?" Padma asked, holding out the latest History of Magic notes.

"Yeah," Harry said, opening his bag.

"I still think that is cheating," Anthony told them.

"I have offered you a copy of my notes but you didn't want to pay," Harry told his fellow Ravenclaw. Anthony was a typical Ravenclaw that wanted to horde all his knowledge, and eager to steal it from anyone else. Whatever gave him an advantage to get a better grade.

"You can work out your own star charts," Anthony told him.

"Here you go, Padma. Standard enchantment to only let you see them," he said, giving Anthony a look. The boy didn't look happy.

"Thanks, Harry," she said with a bright smile.

Sue shook he head. "If Flitwick knew what you did..."

"He would praise me for being smart and not working harder," Harry replied cheekily. "Besides, there is nothing in the student handbook about sharing notes or homework assignments. Just don't cheat on tests or classwork."

Sue snorted trying to keep her laughter in. "Explains why I beat you so often. You're lazy."

Harry shrugged. "Can't be that lazy to be two up on you this week so far."

"Can you two can it? There are some of us trying to work," Anthony snapped at them.

Harry gave the boy a level look before turning to Lisa. "Did you finish the essay on vampires?"

"I did," she said, reaching for her own bag. Harry handed his parchment to her and they traded. It was common for most of them to do this to check over each other's homework.

After settling in, Harry was completing his rune translation when someone cleared their throat behind him. Harry turned. Everyone one else at the table looked to the brunette that was looking at him. Megan looked a little nervous.

"Good morning, Megan," Harry said to her.

"Hello, Harry. Can we talk? In private?" she said, casting a glance around the table.

"Sure," he told her.

They got up, every eye on the two of them, and went into a row of books that was free of other students. Megan looked very nervous. Her eyes wouldn't meet hers. "Harry, I'm flattered you asked me to the ball, but I can't go with you."

Harry shrugged. "Alright."

Her eyes shot up to his. "Just alright?"

"Just alright," he replied, unsure what else he was supposed to say.

"You aren't disappointed?" her nervousness was starting to turn into anger.

"What am I supposed to say? Hannah asked me to ask you. I really wasn't interested in going anyways," he replied. There was that growing part in him that if Hannah wanted to go with him he would look forward to the ball.

Megan looked a little shocked for a moment. "Wait! Hannah told you to ask me?"

"Yeah," he replied.

Megan closed her eyes. "Oh, that stupid girl. Right. Thanks for asking, Harry, but I don't think it would have worked out. I need to go talk with someone."

"Sure. Megan?" he asked as she went to turn away. When she looked at him, it was his turn to be a little nervous. "Is Hannah ever going to talk with me again?"

Megan sighed. "I will do what I can. Thanks for asking me."

When Harry sat back at the table, all the girls were looking at him expectantly. It was Padma that voiced their question. "So, you and Jones?"

Harry shook his head, pulling his runes notebook to him. There were a few finger marks on the page. He looked up to see Anthony holding his hand tight. Served the idiot right for trying to take his stuff when Harry hadn't given him permission. Sue was giving him a smirk as she saw him look to the boy.

"No," Harry said back. "She just turned me down. You know that will sting for a few hours unless you ask for the counter-curse."

Anthony looked up at him. While some were looking between the two boys to see what might happen, others were looking at Harry as though he was a piece of meat.

"I don't know what you are talking about, Potter," Anthony said, the signs he was in pain on his face.

Harry shrugged. Sue looked ready to laugh. She liked the boy as much as Harry did. Padma and Lisa both spoke at once. "Who are you going to ask now?"

The girls gave each other a glare.

"No one," Harry said easily, settling into his work.

"You don't want to go?" Kevin asked.

"Not really," Harry said. Not if it wasn't Hannah.

"You have to go. No one's asked me yet," Padma spoke up.

Harry looked up to the girl. "Thanks for the offer, but I really don't want to go."

"Harry's pining over Abbott," Sue said.

"I am not," he shot back before he could catch himself.

"Oh, I see," Padma said, looking disappointed.

"You could just go with me," Lisa put in, batting her eyes. "You know, just to have some fun."

Harry shook his head and turned back to his revision. "I need to get this done. I have a session with Granger this afternoon."

He didn't see the disappointment from Lisa and the downtrodden expression from Padma. Sue gave them both a sympathetic look before turning to her own work. Anthony glared at him in between giving covetous looks to Lisa. Kevin gave Harry an uneasy look, as though he was guilty.

-oOo-

December 18, 1994

Hogwarts, Scotland

Hannah sighed as she looked over to Harry. She really botched things up with Harry and had been treating him like crap ever since. She still felt stung that he didn't catch on, but at the same time, she had chickened out to ask him and had told him to ask Megan out.

"You can just go up to him and apologize," Susie said from next to her.

"And tell him what? I really wanted to go to the ball with him? Oh, but sorry, I'm going with Kevin Entwhistle now? And the whole asking Megan thing was a joke?" she said rather forlornly.

"You didn't have to say yes to Kevin. I know you like him, Hannah," Megan said across from them.

"If he was a good guy, he should have asked you," Ernie commented towards Megan.

Hannah sighed again to see Harry turn a page in his book. He was sitting with most of his year mates at the Ravenclaw table. She didn't miss the way Padma or Lisa looked at him. "He is a good guy," she said. Not to mention handsome, muscular and magically powerful, she chastised herself. Hannah could feel that attraction between them, as could many other girls by the way Lavender told it. The buxom Gryffindor, arguably one of the top three girls for looks in their year if you included Susan and Greengrass, seemed to have her own crush on the boy.

"Just go up to him," Susie prodded.

"I can't. Maybe after Christmas," Hannah said.

"At least drag him off for a dance or two at the ball," Megan encouraged.

She sighed again. "I don't think he's going."

"He was just saying that," Ernie commented. "Who wouldn't want to go and see all the girls looking gorgeous?"

Susie giggled. "You just want to see Johnson."

Ernie looked towards the Gryffindor table. "Tell me she isn't good looking?"

"Not to mention two years older and involved with the twins," Hannah pointed out, looking over her shoulder. Fred, George, Lee, Angelina, Katie and Alicia were in their normal knot. No one knew which boy was taking which girl, but there were rumours that they all shared amongst themselves. And she did mean all of them.

"She's still good looking," Ernie said.

"And one of the best chasers in school," Megan said, looking a little envious at the girl.

"You'll beat her in the next game," Susie said. "Hannah, he's getting up. Go."

Hannah rebuffed the shove from her friend, her eyes finding Harry as he got up from the dinner meal. She wanted to go chase after him, but if she did, she knew she would ask him to go, if he didn't, and what would that make her? She had said yes to Kevin. "Leave off, Susie," Hannah grumbled.

"Chicken," Susan remarked.

"Don't start that, Susie, or do I need to remind you about that muggle boy at the beach last summer?" Hannah threatened her friend.

Susan blushed a little. "Don't you dare."

"What Muggle boy?" Ernie asked, taking his eyes off Johnson.

"None you mind," Susan said a little heatedly.

Hannah was happy that the attention was off her as she watched Harry leave the great hall.

She really did need to pluck the courage to talk to him. She had been avoiding him for almost two weeks now.

-oOo-

December 24, 1994

Hogwarts, Scotland

Harry huffed. The band playing in the great hall was loud enough to be heard in Ravenclaw tower. He could go to his room, but Harry rarely got the chance to have the entire Ravenclaw library at his disposal, except over Christmas Break, and with every fourth year and above here this year, he hadn't been able to get at the library like he normally could.

By nine-thirty, he had had enough, unable to concentrate with the volume of music. Wanting to get some air, he went up to grab his winter cloak. It was ten minutes to leave the raven head behind and wander towards the courtyard by the transfiguration rooms.

He was hoping that with everything around the great hall and the back gardens open for the night, he would find a quiet spot. On the whole, he had.

A light snow was falling, leaving the courtyard covered in a fine layer of new snow. The trampled vestiges of boot marks were mostly gone. Curiously, there was a single track of what looked like feet and the markings of a cloak or dress that had partially wiped them away. There were some red marks in the snow that looked suspiciously like blood.

Curious, Harry made to follow them, thinking that this area had been declared off limits tonight to anyone attending the ball. The thumping music masked the sounds of crying until he came close to an alcove just inside the roofed back part of the courtyard.

Unsure if he wanted to disturb whatever this was, Harry was about to walk away when he caught sight of blonde hair. His heart shot into his mouth, thinking Hannah was there. Rounding a pillar to look into the alcove, Harry stopped to see a smaller girl huddled against the wall.

She was rubbing her feet, blood smears on her hands and shivering in a dress that looked a little thin for the weather, but nice for the ball. Harry knew this girl, having seen her in Ravenclaw.

He moved towards her and she started, the sky blue eyes looking like a deer caught in headlights to see him. She made to get up and fell as her bloody feet wouldn't let her stand.

"Easy there," Harry told her.

"You aren't a nargle come to steal anything else from me tonight?" she asked, fear in her voice.

Harry held up his hands, palm open. "I don't steal anything from anyone. I'm sorry, I don't know your name," he said, edging closer.

The girl took a stuttering breath. "Luna Lovegood. You are Harry Potter."

He nodded. "Luna, why are you running in the snow barefoot, and don't you have a cloak?"

The shivering girl regarded him for a few. "The nargles like to steal my stuff. I had nice shoes tonight but with so many people with stray thoughts, they were able to sneak in and steal them from under my seat."

Harry frowned. That didn't sound right. He had heard rumours this girl was barmy, but something about her explanation was funny. Not crazy funny. More like she was trying to make excuses. "I see. What do the nargles look like?"-

"Oh, there are many. Some have breasts. Some are male, I think. I think the ones tonight had shimmery dresses and hair with sparkles in them," Luna told him. "The nargles were being mean tonight and I had to leave."

"What about your date?" he asked her, knowing she wasn't a fourth year.

"The wrackspurts got to him," she said matter of fact.

"Right," Harry said. She gave him a look as though ready for him to do something to her. "Why are you out here, and not back up in the tower if you left the ball?"

"The raven won't let me in again," she said a little sadly.

"I have a hard time sometimes when I'm tired," he told her understandingly. Though, that hadn't happened to him since first year.

Luna shook her head. "No. The raven won't let me in," she reiterated.

Harry pursed his lips harder. "As in if you answer the riddle..."

"It won't open. It says 'Loons' are not allowed. What does a North American bird have to do with it," she questioned.

Harry looked at the poor girl, a sense of anger starting to build in him. She was obviously being bullied. Harry did not like bullies. He had dealt with his fair share at the orphanage and here. Though, since becoming one of Professor Flitwick's pupils, no-one besides Longbottom and Malfoy really seemed stupid enough to challenge him.

Harry unclasped his cloak and moved to put it around Luna. She flinched for a second before allowing him. "Come on. I'll get you to Madam Pomfrey and then deal with the nargles. Do they have names?"

"Oh, they don't like to be named," she said a little mysteriously.

"Of, course not. But if you think of them, you will tell me? I'm just going to pick you up," he told her, moving to slide an arm under her knees and behind her back. Luna let him approach after a moment. He picked her up, her small frame seeming lighter than it should be for her height. Luna wrapped her arms around his neck, her body quacking from the cold. He had to push down the urge to march to the great hall and find those that were bothering her.

"You are warm," Luna said into his neck.

"I'll get you someplace that is even warmer," Harry told her, making his way towards the infirmary.

The castle had gone silent. The band probably taking a break. It was close to ten-thirty now. The dance was supposed to go to midnight. As he entered the halls by the great hall he could hear laughter and talk. A large group was outside the doors, just milling about. In the group, Harry thought he caught sight of Hannah. She was talking with Susan and Megan. There dates were nowhere to be seen.

He went by, still holding the shivering Luna.

A few minutes later, he walked into the infirmary. "Madam Pomfrey?" Harry called out.

"Oh, I like her," Luna whispered, sounding tired. At least she had stopped shivering.

"Madam Pomfrey?" Harry called out again, going towards the office. It was locked. Looking around, Harry moved to the closest bed, laying Luna down. He made sure she was wrapped in a blanket and his cloak before looking around again.

"Will you protect me from the nargles? Just for tonight?" Luna asked, sounding so small.

Harry looked her over. "The nargles won't bother you again."

Luna gave him a dreamy smile as her eyes drifted shut. It was a few minutes later that the matron came in.

"Who is in here tonight? Potter? Shouldn't you be at the ball?" she asked, looking upset that her nice evening was ruined.

"Madam Pomfrey, I found Luna Lovegood out in the courtyard by the transfiguration classrooms. She had been walking in the snow and I think she may have some frostbite and cut her feet," he told her.

The ire she had disappeared as she realized there was a patient in the bed behind him. "Oh, dear," she said, moving quickly to the bed. The woman muttered something, taking a few minutes to pull the blanket back and scan over the sleeping girl. "Her body temperature is low. What did she do to her feet? Is this her cloak? Where are her shoes?"

Harry couldn't keep the anger out of his voice. "She said that nargles stole her shoes. I gave her my cloak."

"It is a good thing you have warming charms on it. What are nargles?"

"I don't know, but I suspect she's being bullied. She flinched when I got close," he informed the matron.

Madam Pomfrey looked upset herself. "Would you go find Professor Flitwick? He should be made aware of this. You did good, Potter. I'll heal her feet and she will need to stay here for the night."

Harry nodded and left to go find his mentor and Head-of-House. Who ever had done that to the waif of a girl had better hope Harry didn't come across them tonight. Harry wasn't sure he would be able to not beat them bloody.

He stormed down to the great hall. The band had started again and most were on the dance floor, jumping up and down to the fast beat song. Harry caught sight of the banner declaring 'The Weird Sisters' before seeing professor Flitwick talking with Professor Sprout and some other man red hair. Harry would guess him to be a Weasley, since there were few with that distinctive red hair that looked more like a carrot than the auburn of his mother.

Flitwick caught sight of him as Harry marched over. They other two stopped. "Professor Flitwick, Madam Pomfrey has requested that you come to the hospital wing right away," Harry told him.

Such faith did the man have in one of his proteges that he didn't even question Harry before saying, "Right away. If you excuse me."

Harry cast a nasty glance towards the his fellow classmates. Once he found out who, they would not be pleased with his reaction. Flitwick caught the look and his brow scrunched.

They were out of the great hall before his master asked, "What is this about, Harry?"

"Do you know Luna Lovegood, sir?"

The man nodded. "Third year. Daughter of Xenophilius Lovegood, who is the proprietor of the Quibbler. A rather bright girl, but I'm not sure she isn't always there. I do enjoy her intrepetations of many of the charms theories. Why?"

"Lovegood is in the infirmary. I found her in the courtyard by the transfiguration classrooms. Her feet were cut up and almost frost bitten. She didn't have a cloak and said her shoes were stolen by something called a nargle from the great hall. It sounds like her date was mean to her and I think nargles are other Ravenclaws," Harry told him.

The man frowned. "You are certain?"

"No, but I don't think she is seeing fantastical creatures," Harry told him.

Flitwick nodded. They were silent the rest of the walk. Madam Pomfrey met them at the door. Harry listened as she told his master about Luna's condition. Her body temperature was back up to a reasonable temperature. Her feet both had scraps and a few cuts, probably from running on the hard paving stones of the of the corridors and caught them on edges no worn down by the centuries of students that had walked the hall.

"What I don't get it why she didn't go back to Ravenclaw tower," Madam Pomfrey said.

Harry spoke up, "Lovegood said the raven wouldn't open for her."

Flitwick looked pensive. "I wouldn't think that Ms Lovegood would find it hard to answer most questions."

"No, Professor. She said the raven would not let her in," Harry said. Flitwick got his meaning this time and a stormy look crossed his face.

"I see. Thank you, Potter and you too, Poppy. See that she is taken care of. I will investigate what is going on. Potter, you should head back to your room for the night," Flitwick told him.

"Lovegood asked me to stay and keep an eye on her," Harry said.

Pomfrey looked a little uneasy at the prospect. Flitwick looked into his eyes for a moment. "Very well, Potter. Poppy, he had my permission."

After a moment, she huffed, "Fine. You will stay quiet and not cause any issues."

"Yes, ma'am," Harry replied, moving to a chair. "Sellafor."

His casual use of the spell had a brow raise on Madam Pomfrey as Harry transmogrofied the stiff hospital chair into a large plush arm chair. "I was thinking you would sleep in the bed next to her."

"I'll be alright here for the night," Harry told her, taking a blanket off the bed next to him.

When Professor Flitwick and Madam Pomfrey walked away, he heard her make a comment, "That is NEWT level work."

His master replied. "That was childs play. I have said many times I think we teach some of our students too slowly, while others need years more."

-oOo-

December 25, 1994

Hogwarts, Scotland

Luna was still sleeping as the sun made it's lazy appearance over the horizon about nine in the morning. This far north, the days were short, and the tempers even more so when many felt trapped in the school with a heavy snow, intermigled with sleet and ice from time to time, fell on the grounds.

Being Christmas morning, and the night after the Yule Ball, there was a mixture of reactions throughout the castle. Some were already up, having torn through their presents and enjoying what had been gifted to them.

Others were still sleeping in, enjoying their warm beds in the cold castle after a night of dancing and fun.

It was to this general malaise that the Ravenclaw house was suddenly brought out of as Harry Potter stepped into the common room, a thunderous look on his face. The few that had wondered out of their rooms fell silent as he gazed around the room.

The seventh year prefect, Penelope Clearwater, catching his look, stood up. "Are alright, Potter?"

"Luna Lovegood. Who has been stealing her stuff?" He met the eyes of anyone that would meet him. There were a dozen people down here, and three girls in a corner seemed to suddenly shrink in on themselves. Harry narrowed his burning green eyes on them.

Clearwater looked a little confused. "I'm sorry, who?"

"Luna Lovegood. Are those her roommates?" Harry asked, his wand coming up and pointed at the three third year girls. "Where are Luna's shoes from last night?" His voice was low and deadly.

Clearwater pulled her own wand. "Professor Flitwick said we are having a meeting at one to discuss something going on in the house. What do you know about it and is this about whowever Lovegood is?"

Harry didn't pay attention as the three girls pulled their own wands. He could see the fear in their eyes. "We didn't do anything."

"Where are her shoes? And her cloak?" Harry asked.

"Stand down, Potter," Clearwater said, moving to stand between him and the girls.

"Stay out of my way, Clearwater," Harry warned. "Where are her things?"

"We don't have them," a brunette said. Her wand raised. It was shaking so badly Harry doubted she would hit the broad side of barn.

"Where?" he asked again, his patience on tentehooks.

"Do you know what he is talking about?" Clearwater asked. Harry had never had an issue with this prefect and always found her to fair.

"We don't know," a ravenheaded girl said. "It wasn't us."

"And who put the charm on the raven to keep her out?" Harry demanded. His wand raised and he settled into a fairly aggressive duelling stance.

Clearwater looked surprised. "You can't enchant the raven head to do that."

"Luna has been locked out. I could detect the residual magic. Professor Flitwick must have dispelled it last night after I took Lovegood to the hospital. Last chance to tell me who and where her stuff is," he warned the girls. "Clearwater, stay out of this."

The seventh-year girl had stepped between him and the younger girls. No one else in the common room was speaking up, many feeling uneasy at the power that was starting to radiate off of him.

"Potter, we will go get Professor Flitwick and resolve this," she told him.

Harry wouldn't hurt the girls, at least no more than a day in the infirmary would heal. Knowing he couldn't afford to get into trouble, instead he took a step back. "Accio Luna's lost stuff," he said in a dead calm.

One of the girls screamed in pain as she was jerked off the couch. A necklace jumped out of her shirt and the chain broke after a second, leaving a red mark on her throat. A few other things came out of the girls pockets. A shoe, a quill, three books, a burned set of notes, some marbles and a few other smaller things flew out from various places in the common room. Half of them were hidden on shelves, of on top of rafter, or other places that someone would not just casually loose something.

Clearwater looked ready to yell at him and the girls when there was a crash, followed by a few more crashed from the stairs that led to the girls' dorms. A scream or two followed the crashes. Harry's anger grew to see the pile of stuff growing at his feet. They all ducked as a window shattered. A cloak, two pairs of shoes, a picture frame and a few other things flew in.

There were other crashes from the boys dorms, but not as many.

A scream and the sound of someone being dragged down the stairs, followed by other footsteps, came to them. A few seconds later, a girl with a Ravenclaw coloured scarf was dragged into the room. He had been dragged by her feet. Her face was red and she was only able to get it off when she came to a skidding halt at his feet.

As red the girl was, Harry's face was completely placid.

The girl with shoulder length brown hair was coughing and spluttering as she tried to catch her breath. Clearwater snapped. "What the bloody hell was that? Edgecombe, is that your scarf?"

Cho Chang, a pretty Asian girl, was followed by Renee Terrier and Emmaline Vance. All three looked panicked. Harry felt disgusted to see the prefects badge on Chang's shirt.

"This is all of Lovegood's stolen items," he said, indicating the pile that must have been most of a trunk's worth of items. "All the people that had this stuff stole it from her."

"We didn't steal anything. We always told her where to find it," One of the third year girls said.

Edgecombe raised her wand. "Stupefy!"

Harry didn't think. He had been trained to avoid and then counter. He had natural instincts that had been honed to be near the top of his age group on the International Duelling ring. As such, Harry barely leaned back to dodge the spell. His wand was a blur of movement. The past few months of non-verbal training had him casting a low level bludgeoning charm to knock the girl over. Just as that spell hitting her, his second spell ripped her wand out of her hands, and the third had ropess wrapping around her.

All three were done before anyone could react. Clearwater was just casting a disarming hex as Chang had her wand up. Several boys had just reached the bottom of the stairs as he sidestepped Clearwater's spell and swiped his wand at the three sixth years.

The air around him went from still to hurricane force in the blink of the eye. None of them were expecting in, ending on their backs. Harry knew he couldn't hurt them the way he wanted, but he wouldn't go easy.

He brought his wand around to throw ropes around them, but caught a white energy blur out of the corner of his eye. Harry jumped, rolled and come back up. His wand let out a series of bludgeoning, disarming and even a shield hammer charm as a Protego shield went up before Anthony Goldstien.

A few of his spells impacted the boys. One went down, rolling as a bludgeoning curse hit his left shoulder. Another impacted an older boy in the stomach. He doubled over, shortly emptying his stomach as he doubled over on the floor.

Kevin was behind them. He ducked, holding his hands up with no wand.

Clearwater cast a few stunners and another disarming spell at him. Harry cast a shield and advanced on Goldstien and a sixth year boy. He didn't get time to do any thing as he suddenly felt a pain in his arm. Reacting, he ducked and dove behind a couch as two more cutting hexes passed over him and hit the backside of his shield.

"DEPULSO!" Harry cried out, the first verbal spell that he had used. The couch and side table he had dove behind flew across the room. He heard two screams at it smashed into the older girls.

He was about to do the same to the couch that Goldstien and the other boy was behind when a cannon sound went off. "What is going on here!" Flitwick called out in an amplified voice.

Harry had his wand pointing towards the couch. Clearwater had a shield up, protecting the three third-year girls, who all looked like they were ready to soil themselves.

"Potter attacked Chang and the others," Goldstien accused, rubbing his wrist as he pointed towards him.

"I didn't throw the first spell and I didn't cast anything that would serious hurt anyone," Harry exclaimed, knowing he was in a world of trouble.

"Professor, Potter accused Rivers, Jenkins and Rosier of stealing Lovegood's stuff. When they didn't own up to it, he cast a summoning charm on Lovegood's stuff." She pointed to the pile on the floor.

There was crying coming from where the couch had hit the other girls. "My arm. I think it's broken."

Flitwick looked at the couch. There were legs sticking out from it and it was obvious he had hurt Chang.

Flitwick gave him a reproachful look. "We will talk later. Go to my office. Ms Clearwell, help me get everyone that is hurt to the hospital, and then we can figure out the rest of this. Ms Turner, please return all these items to Ms Lovegood's bed."

Harry didn't feel that bad for what he had done as he walked out of the common room. His head was held high as more in the house knew not to cross Harry Potter, and to leave Luna Lovegood alone.

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 3

-oOo-

Hogwarts, Scotland

December 25, 1994

Harry had to wait more than an hour for Flitwick to show back in his office. Harry was walking up and down the office. He was still upset. When he turned to see a stern looking Flitwick, he could tell this was his master standing before him, not the jovial professor.

"Take a seat," Master Flitwick told him.

Harry did all he could to squash the raging torrent in him. He didn't say a word as Flitwick walked to the centre of the room. The man looked towards his desk, his hands behind his back. "What was the first rule you agreed to when I took you as an apprentice?"

Harry could remember that day towards the end of his first year. "Never draw your wand unless you mean to use it."

The man didn't move as he asked, "What is the second?"

"Never cast a spell without knowing its consequences."

Master Flitwick's four rules had been drilled into him over the last three years.

"And the third?"

"End the fight as soon as possible with the required force. If they cast a leg-locker, you cast a stunner. If they cast a cutter, you cast a wand breaker. If they aim to kill, you respond," Harry replied.

"And the last?" Flitwick demanded in his slightly higher voice.

"Accept the responsibility of what you have done," Harry said, still not feeling guilty.

Master Flitwick tapped his fingers on his forearms.

"Was it necessary to launch a couch at opponents that were obviously below your level?" he asked, a tinge of anger entering the man's voice.

Harry touched the bandage on his arm. He would need to go to Madam Pomfrey when they were done. His arm was throbbing some, but he wouldn't die. Harry had been hurt worse in his duelling practices. "I was hit by a cutting curse."

For the first time, Flitwick turned to look at Harry. The man's black eyes roamed over him, finally landing on the bandage on his arm. "It never should have gotten to that point. Do you understand what you have done?"

"I defended someone that couldn't defend herself," Harry answered in a flat tone.

The man's anger burst. "You made a mess of what was an official school investigation into bullying and stealing! I had talked with the Headmaster. I had permission to question the house. If no one confessed, I had permission to search the entirety of Ravenclaw. Do you not respect me?!"

"Of course, I do," Harry said, for the first time feeling a tinge of regret.

"No, you don't, Harry. Everything I have taught you. All the times I have spoken up for you. I have taught you far above where you should be, and you spit on my honour and my respect for you," the diminutive man yelled. His goblin ancestry was on display at the feral look on his face.

Harry sat back in the chair. Rarely had he seen his master so upset with him. Not since that time Sue and him had duelled without him. Frowning, Harry thought about what he had done.

"Did I not give you specific instruction to let me handle this last night?"

Harry met the man's eyes. "Yes, Master Flitwick."

"Did I not give you specific leave to stay with Ms Lovegood because she requested you to?"

Harry felt a little guilty. Harry had stayed with her until the sun was almost up. Perhaps he should have stayed until she woke. He had promised to protect her. "Yes, Master Flitwick."

"Have I not told you to not to show your real strength while within these walls unless it is necessary? The Headmaster is a good man, Harry, but he has a history of trying to draw in the truly extraordinary and powerful to his causes and use them while he fights the good fight. I don't want you to fall into his 'greater good'. If the time comes you ever need to fight, I want you to fight for what you believe and make your own decision on who to follow. After you showed off summoning items from all over the castle and grounds, not to mention that you were able to haul Ms Edgecombe down three flights of stairs, is not something the man will overlook. I am trying to protect you. It was in service to Albus Dumbledore that your parents died," Flitwick said with more passion than anger now.

Harry's eyes finally fell. This man had done more for him than anyone else ever had. He had been the one that introduced him to the magical world. Professor Flitwick had talked with the goblins after recognizing that Harry wasn't just some Muggleborn orphan. He had convinced them to give him a blood test, which allowed Harry to access a trust vault and know that he would have another inheritance allowed to him at seventeen and to have everything by twenty-five. When Harry had gotten to Hogwarts, it was Professor Flitwick that called him to tea every few weeks to see how he was doing, and gave him the option to become one of his apprentices to learn duelling at the end of his first year.

Harry had learned so much more than just how to duel in the time he had worked with the man.

Harry owed Professor Flitwick everything he had now.

With a sigh, Harry said, "I'm sorry, Master Flitwick. I just saw someone hurting and being bullied. I heard how Madam Pomfrey said if she had been out there for another half-hour that Luna may have gotten frost burn and possibly lost some of her toes. They meant to hurt her," Harry said.

After a moment, the man sighed. "You didn't do anything I wouldn't want to, but you have to let me handle situations like this. It was not your responsibility to handle her bullies. It was your responsibility to keep Ms Lovegood safe last night."

Harry looked up. "I didn't mean to disrespect you."

The man came over, finally looking at Harry like an understanding uncle. Master Flitwick put a hand on his shoulder. "I know, Harry. It does not change the fact that you did. It also doesn't change the fact that you broke the clavicle of Mr Wickes, the arm of Ms Chang and the leg of Ms Edgecombe, not to mention did some serious damage to her throat. Ms Chang and Mr Wickes will be out of the hospital wing later today, tomorrow at the latest, but Ms Edgecombe will be in there a few days. Ms Rivers has a nasty mark on her neck, but will heal in an hour or two. I can see you held back, but you are better trained than almost any other student. That comes with responsibility of its own. You know my rules."

Harry heard the significance in his tone. Harry took in a deep breath, centring his occlumency, then let it out. It didn't matter that Harry was facing at least six others. He could have used other means to knock them all out. "Am I expelled?"

"No, though I would not have protested a week or two suspension for you and those that fought you," the man said a little harshly.

"I understand. I will go get my trunk. Will Mrs Garret be expecting me?" he asked, unable to keep the sadness out of his voice. Harry had really hoped he would never go back to the orphanage.

Flitwick squeezed his shoulder. "You are fortunate that the Headmaster is a very forgiving man. None of you are expelled. You will be serving detention two days a week with Professor Hagrid and two days a week with me for the entire month of January and February. You will also not be going to the tournament tomorrow..."

Harry shot up. "NO! You can't! Sue and I have practiced all semester."

"Sit. Down," Flitwick commanded.

Harry did so, not questioning the tone of the man's voice. Harry met his eyes. Master Flitwick was angry again. "Tell me how you deserve to go after what you did today?"

Harry looked at the man incredulously. He had kept his grades up. He had stayed out of trouble. He had shown to the practice room five or six days a week. He knew he was better than Sue. Harry's mouth opened. He held his tongue at the look from Master Flitwick.

Harry had been good, until he let his temper get the better of him today. If he hadn't gone for a walk last night none of this would have happened. He wouldn't have disobeyed his master. He wouldn't have put three of his house mates into the hospital. He wouldn't have saved Luna from freezing to death…

After a moment, he let out a huff. "I don't," Harry said simply.

"No, you don't. Thanks to the Headmaster you have another chance. You will report to Professor Hagrid on Saturday and Sunday. Work out with him what times and you will start next weekend," Professor Flitwick told him.

"Yes, sir," Harry said.

"You will report to me Tuesday and Wednesday evenings after dinner for at least an hour. Do you understand me?" Professor Flitwick said.

"Yes, Master Flitwick," Harry replied.

The man gave him a hard look for a moment to ensure his points had been driven home. Once satisfied, the man nodded. "Come along. We need to get that arm looked at and the Headmaster wants a word with you."

Harry sighed. "Will you be with me? I know you don't want me talking to him alone," Harry asked.

"I am your Head of House. It is my responsibility to look after you and be at any meeting you request of me," Professor Flitwick said, falling in step besides Harry as they left his office. "If you can behave and get through your punishment without issue, I will consider you for the Easter Tournament in Japan. If you do anything like this again, I will advocate for a suspension. You will work on your occlumency to curb your anger."

"Yes, Master Flitwick."

-oOo-

A little while later…

Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts, Scotland

Harry had never been to the Headmaster's office. He had gotten into trouble before but that had always been handles by the professor or his Head of House. This time he had done something that brought him to the attention of Headmaster Dumbledore.

Professor Flitwick accompanies him to a stone gargoyle. "Remember to only give short answers and that the Headmaster regularly uses passive legilimancy to get the feeling of those he is talking too. It is important you keep your calm. Sugar Roses," Professor Flitwick said to the gargoyle.

Harry focused on his breathing as they let the spiraling stairs take them up. He had the thought of whether the Wizards or Muggles had made escalators first, or if wizards stole the idea, like they seem to have for other Muggle inventions. It rarely seemed to go the otherway, otherwise owls would not be so pervasive in wizarding society still.

When they got to the top, Professor Flitwick knocked on the door.

"Come in," the wizened voice of Headmaster Dumbledore came to them as the door silently opened of it own accord. "Ah, Filius, good to see you, and I see you have brought young Mr Potter."

"Good morning, Headmaster," Harry said.

"Take a seat," the old man motioned towards tow chairs before his desk. Harry and Professor Flitwick sat, saying nothing as Dumbledore made a steeple with his hands and leaning his bearded chin against his fingers. "It seems there was quite the disturbance this morning in the Ravenclaw Common Room?"

"Yes, sir," Harry replied. He would take full responsibility for what he did, but he wouldn't give anything up he didn't need too.

Dumbledore's crystal blue eyes regarded him. Harry felt the slight pressure of a passive scan to see his surface feelings. He clamped his occlumency walls as tight as he could.

"I have reports that items flew through the halls to Ravenclaw tower. Some from many hundreds of yards away. Was that you?"

"Yes, sir," Harry replied.

The man didn't move. "Professor Flitwick has stated that all those objects were not your own. May I enquire why you would use so much power to do that? I didn't get the impression that you and Ms Lovegood were that close?" Dumbledore asked.

"People had stolen her stuff and she asked me to keep an eye on her," Harry replied.

The man's eyes gazed into his own, the passive scans becoming more frequent.

"I see," Dumbledore said after a bit. "How did the fight start?"

"I had just summoned Lovegood's stuff. Prefect Clearwater was asking me about it when Chang cast a spell at me. I did what I had too against multiple opponents. I did not mean to break people's bones," Harry said. He was contrite becuase of the meeting with his master, not for what he did.

Dumbledore cast his eyes to Flitwick. Harry had the sense the man could tell Harry's thought, even though he knew the Headmaster had not gone deeper.

After a moment, Dumbledore leaned back into his seat, his steepled fingers still on his chin. "You do understand what you did was wrong?"

"Yes, sir. Professor Flitwick has punished me," Harry replied.

Dumbledore nodded. "I will be on the continent over the holiday for a day or two. I would like to come to a few of your duels."

"I'm afraid that Mr Potter will not be coming this time, Headmaster," Professor Flitwick said.

"Surely, Fillius, that is a bit harsh with how much I hear Mr Potter practices. It would also be nice to see Hogwarts have a good showing," Dumbledore said.

"Ms Li will do Hogwarts proud. Mr Potter has commited a great infraction against the rule of the school and must be punished. Dueling like that is also against the Code of Conduct for Mr Potter and Ms Li as part of my apprenticeship with them," his master said, not taking his eyes of the Headmaster's. Harry had the stray thought that as much as not going was punishment, the true reason might be this.

"Of course, Filius. You are his mentor. I would still like to see Mr Potter in a duel. Perhaps I could attend a training or two after the holidays," Dumbledore told them.

"Perhaps," Professor Flitwick said in a non-commital way.

Dumbledore's eyes returned to Harry. Harry had the sense that he had caught the Headmaster's eyes and that wasn't a good thing. "I knew your parents. Your father was a formidable duellist and Auror. Your mother was an Unspeakable that I only ever had the pleasure of seeing her duel once. Together, they nearly beat Voldemort. I would be interested to see if you possess their same ability. From your perfomance today, I think you may."

Harry felt a chill go through him. "Yes, sir," he said.

It was a moment before Dumbledore nodded. "Very well. I trust you to not get into trouble like this again, Mr Potter."

"No, sir," Harry agreed.

When they left, is master waited until they were out of the stairwell in one of the few hallways without a painting. Flitwick stopped and looked up at him. "If you wish to fight, I will not stop you. If you wish to fight for Dumbledore, I will withdraw my support. Is that understood?"

Harry nodded. "I don't really want to fight," Harry replied after a moment.

"I fear that will be unavoidable now. Come. We will work out since you will not be coming," his master said.

Harry had to stifle his groan. He knew he would be sore for a few days.

-oOo-

Lunchtime…

Hogwarts, Scotland

Harry sat a the end of the table with a book in his hand as he picked at a bowl of stew. Down the other end of the table a half-dozen of housemates stared at him. None of them looked pleased. Between them and Harry the house was split.

Some didn't care about what happened earlier. Others were looking at Harry as though he was mental, while more than most were giving nasty eyes to the end with he ones that got in trouble. It was one thing to look for ways to get one over another Ravenclaw. Some bullying or showmanship was expected.

What was not tolerated by most was the way Luna had been treated, or the fact that family heirlooms had been taken, or that the raven head had been tampered with. That was a crime to tamper with anything the Founders had made.

To all of this Harry was oblivious.

He had to keep his nose clean and out of everything.

That was until a waif of a girl bounced over and sat on the bench next to him. She was quite pleased with herself as she put her satchel between them and started to dig into it. Harry took his eyes of his book to cast a sidelong glance at the silvery haired girl with large blue eyes, her wand tucked into her hair and behind her ear and wearing a necklace of butterbeer bottle caps.

When she came out of her bag, she gave Harry a winning smile, before turning to the table. She put a book, a parchment and a self-inking quill on the table before retrieving a two bacon sandwiches, a handful of homemade crisps and filled two goblets with whatever juice was on the table.

Without a word, she started to pick at the crisps, opened the book and picked up her quill.

Harry went back to his stew and reading about advanced shielding techniques.

-oOo-

Across the hall…

Hannah was looking across the hall. Harry was sitting by himself again. So often he would sit by himself, which meant today wasn't any different. But there was something different. She couldn't put her finger on it.

Megan, who had been chatting down the table, suddenly sat next to her. "You won't believe what your boyfriend did this morning," she said excitedly.

Hannah took her eyes off of Harry. "He's not my boyfriend," she said a little forlornly.

"You should have asked him, then you wouldn't have had to punch Entwhistle last night," Susan said. "What's with Harry?"

"Not my fault he got handsy with me, I did warn him," Hannah huffed before turning to the excitable Megan. "He's not my boyfriend."

"Whatever," Megan brushed her off. "I heard Potter got into a fight with a few fifth and sixth years, including Diggory's girlfriend."

"He did not!" Susan exclaimed.

"Yeah. At least Chang and Edgecombe were all in the hospital this morning. Most of Ravenclaw is talking about the fight. Your boyfriend took on more than a dozen people, from what they are saying, and walked away without a scratch while putting six into the hospital," Megan commented. "If I knew he was such a bad arse I might have gone to the ball with him. He may not like quidditch, but bloody hell."

"Why would he do that? Harry never seems that violent," Susan pondered.

Megan shrugged. "Probably looked at him the wrong way. Hannah, if you decide you don't want him anymore, I may try for him."

Hannah flushed some. "Harry would never just attack someone like that," Hannah said hotly. "There has to be a reason."

As they talked, Hannah watched a small blonde girl skip up to Harry, sit, give him a big smile and unpack stuff from her bag. Megan and Susan stopped talking to watch the girl. Harry didn't say anything, just watching the girl as well. After a moment, he went back to eating from his bowl as the girl picked at her plate and started to write.

"Who is that?" Hannah asked, a stab of something running through her. The waif of a girl was sitting closer to Harry than anyone usually would. Harry didn't seem to mind her. They actually looked friendly with each other. A pit formed in her stomach.

"I don't know," Susan said.

"She is a small thing, isn't she?" Megan asked.

"Do you think she is his type?" Susan queried. "I've never seen him look at anyone that stick thin."

"He likes blondes," Hannah said. Was that jealousy she was feeling? Hannah thought to herself.

Megan clicked her tongue. "He may not be your boyfriend anymore. Want me to go find out?"

Hannah frowned. She knew she had to talk to Harry soon. "He's not my boyfriend," she said, a slight bit of anger tinging her voice.

Susan looked to her. "Hannah, you alright?"

"Peachy," Hannah replied.

Megan looked at her too. "You know I wouldn't, right?"

Hannah didn't bother to reply. She had been a scared little girl when confronted with the boy she liked and had gone with someone she hadn't wanted to. Now it looked like some younger year was starting to move in on the boy she wanted. Getting up, her two friends just watch the now determined blonde.

Hannah walked over, seeing a few eyes on her as she sat across from Harry and the pale blonde girl.

Harry looked up. Hannah met his eyes, which looked a little upset at her. After a moment, he went back to reading his book. The girl next to him was looking at Hannah with her protuberant sky-blue eyes. They were darker than Hannah's blue eyes. The girl cocked her head, as though curious. Hannah tried not to glare at her.

"You have a lot of wrackspurts around you. Are you confused about something?" the girl asked in a faraway voice.

It was so unexpected, Hannah just blinked. "What?"

"Wrackspurts. They gather around people when they are unsure, or have a lot on their mind, or just feel confused. They go in and out of your ears, often making your thoughts fuzzy," the girl explained.

"Uhm, no. I don't think I have wrackspurts," Hannah said, a little annoyance in her voice.

"Oh. They look like wrackspurts. Maybe they are braintingles," the girl said thoughtfully.

Hannah didn't know what to say, but her face must have shown her feelings.

"I would appreciate you keep anything bad you are going to say to yourself," Harry said, turning a page in his book.

"I wasn't going to say anything bad," Hannah replied.

The girl flopped her head to the other side. "Hannah Abbot has never been mean to me. I don't see that changing."

"How do you know my name?" Hannah asked. Harry diverted his eyes to the slight blonde.

"The same way I know he is Harry Potter. You are Hannah Abbot. The two girls looking at us are Susan Bones and Megan Jones. They both are concerned for you and Harry. Then you have…" the girl started to point out others that were looking at them. Hannah prided herself in knowing most people, but she didn't know half the people the girl was spouting off.

After a moment, Harry chuckled. "Luna, how do you do that?"

Luna looked up to Harry. Hannah could see the adoration in the girl's eyes. Jealousy boiled up inside her.

The girl, Luna, said, "I just know."

With that, Luna turned back to her paper and started to write, before pausing to read something in the book. Hannah glared at Luna.

"What do you want, Abbott?" Harry asked.

She looked up to Harry and felt herself pause for a moment. She had seen that look before. It was when Harry was being protective of someone. He also looked angry. She couldn't ever remember that look being towards her before. He had done that a time or two when someone had been bothering her or Susan or Sue, but never at her.

"Uhm, I just wanted to meet your new friend," she said lamely.

"Luna Lovegood," he said.

"Hello," Luna said absently, doing a small hand motion to say 'hi' as she continued to work.

"Anything else? Or have you finally decided I'm good enough to talk to again?"

A wave of guilt washed over her, starting to war with the jealousy in her. "I've talked to you. We are friends," she said.

Harry snorted, turning back to his book. "I thought we were friends. It's been almost three weeks since you even said hi. Go back to Kevin. I'm sure he is better to talk too."

"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked hotly, knowing Harry had a right to be upset with her. It didn't mean that that comment didn't sting. Megan and Susan had told her she had been stupid about the whole Yule Ball thing, but she had chickened out and then made it worse.

"You went to the Yule Ball with someone you wanted. Go have fun with your boyfriend," he said back in a monotone. She knew he was only that way when very upset.

"Kevin Entwhistle is not my boyfriend, and he never will be," she shot back. "Why are you so upset?"

"I'm not," he lied. She could always tell when he lied. There was no emotion to his words.

"You are. Listen, I'm sorry about the last few weeks. It's just been busy and I've had some things to work through," she told him.

"Those are definitely wrackspurts," Luna said more to herself. She looked back down at her paper when Hannah shot her eyes to the girl.

"Will you stop it with this wrackspurt thing! I really don't know what they are," she snapped at Luna.

Luna looked to draw into herself.

"Listen, Abbot. I'm already in enough trouble and can't get into anymore. Go back to your friends before I really get upset," Harry told her. She looked into a set of green eyes that burned with anger. She leaned back.

"But, Harry…" she started.

"Luna has done nothing to you. Whatever your issue is, it's with me," Harry stated.

Something inside her wanted to fight back. The green-eyed monster couldn't stand that he was sticking up for this new comer. "You want to know what my issue is?"

"Not really," he said, looking back down at his book. Harry had never acted this way towards her.

"Look at me, Harry Potter. We've been friends for three years. What is with this attitude?" she demanded.

Harry slowly looked up. The anger in his eyes had fallen back. Now they just looked empty of emotion. "You don't get to tell me what to do. The last time you did, things didn't work out and then you ignored me for three weeks," he said coldly.

Her courage was starting to faulter. He was right. She had asked him to ask Megan when she wanted him to ask her. She had chickened out when he said he only wanted to go as friends. She wanted more than just to be friends. Now, though, it looked like she had really messed up.

Tears started to bite at her eyes. "I didn't mean too… Megan really wanted to go. I wanted to go…"

Harry just looked at her. When he didn't reply, her courage finally failed. Getting up, she wiped at the tears that were dripping down her face. Feeling embarrassed, jealous, envious, upset with herself, upset at Harry… it was just too much and she ran out the hall.

-oOo-

December 26, 1994

Hogwarts, Scotland

Harry made his way towards the doors. Luna was skipping ahead of him, already through the portal to the outside world and kicking up snow as she laughed. Harry had told her he would go out into the woods for a little bit. Sue and Professor Flitwick had left an hour ago and he was feeling upset and berating himself in his head.

He was just about out the door when someone yelled, "POTTER!"

Harry closed his eyes, knowing this might be coming. He turned to see an angry Cedric Diggory. The tall Headboy and Hogwarts Champion was storming towards him. Harry instinctively reached for his wand, standing his ground as the sandy hair boy came right up to him. "What is this with you getting into a duel with Chang!"

Harry sighed. "I didn't duel her. I was only trying to get back items that were stolen from someone else," Harry said, not really wanting to explain himself.

"That's not what Cho says," Diggory accused.

Harry shrugged. "Believe me or not. Ask Professor Flitwick when he gets back. I need to go catch up with Luna."

Diggory looked out the door. Luna was halfway across the covered bridge. She had stopped and was looking at them. When she saw them looking her way, she waved.

Diggory waved back. "How do you know Luna?"

"Found her without shoes or cloak the night of the ball. She's kind of attached herself to me since then," Harry said.

A concerned look crossed his face. "Are you telling me it was Luna that had stuff stolen from her?"

"She says the nargles borrow them, but some of her items had been 'missing' for the last three years," Harry told him.

The frown on his face deepened. "I just thought she left them around. She can be very absentminded at times." Diggory ran a hand through his hair. "You are sure the stuff was stolen? This is really important. Luna is a second cousin and I really like Cho."

"I actually don't know if Chang was involved, but her friend Edgecombe was, and it was Cho that shot the first spell at me," Harry replied. "I didn't mean to break her arm, but I don't like bullies."

Diggory watched as Luna leaned over the railing to look down into the chasm between the school and the grounds on this side of the school. "Bloody hell," Diggory said softly. After a moment, he said, "I need to go talk with Cho. Can I trust you to keep an eye on Luna?"

"I won't let anything happen to her," he said, catching out of the corner of his eye that Luna was starting to lean over too far. His wand was up and she was floating with a silent hovering charm before Diggory could react. They could hear her giggles as she grabbed the post and moved so her body was past the railing now.

Diggory sighed. "I really worry about her at times."

"I won't let anything happen to her while I watch her," Harry assured Diggory.

Diggory sighed again. "I'm trusting you. If Cho has a different story or I find out it was you that started all this, me being a Hufflepuff won't protect you."

Harry shot Diggory a cheeky grin. "I never start a fight unless necessary."

Diggory snorted. "Well, you sure did end this one."

Harry shrugged and watched Diggory walk away. Harry was pleased with himself that he didn't allow his anger at the others to get to him. He had no doubt in his head that Chang had been part of this, but without proof, since he didn't see what came out the fifth-year girls' room, he couldn't conclusively say it was her. Edgecombe and a few others had been sent home for the rest of the holidays. Harry hoped they wouldn't come back.

He walked over the bridge to Luna, who was still looking down. "You trust me enough to not let you fall?"

Luna giggled, pulling herself back in. "You would not let me fall. Can I still float for a while?"

Harry chuckled. "Grab onto my shirt," he told her. Once she had, he stated off towards the Forbidden Forest, a Luna sized balloon trailing behind him.

-oOo-

January 6, 1995

Hogwarts, Scotland

It was amazing what two weeks could do for one's temper. Sue had done very well, taking third for their age bracket. Harry had been incredibly jealous that she had gone. Jealous enough that she had been back a week now, and he hadn't said a thing. Since Boxing day, the only person he had talked with was Luna. Even when they met to practice, Harry had been quiet.

Now that he had had nearly two weeks since he had seen Hannah as the ball and her last argument with him, he was in need of companionship. Well, companionship of those that he was friendly with. Luna was a blast, but she just didn't know him that well yet, and sometimes he needed someone that was grounded and logical. Sitting at the table in the common room, Sue finished her sentence before looking up. The look she gave him should have made most cower. Harry gave her an uncertain smile.

"What?"

She sounded irritated, and Harry didn't blame her. "Congratulations last week. You did really. Flitwick showed me the memories last night," Harry said.

Her look could freeze ice. "You can be a real arse at times, you know that, right?"

"Tell me something I don't know," he snarked back.

She snorted. "As long as you know that."

She still looked upset as he took out his transfiguration books. "You did well. You should have had Lavroth," he commented.

"The bloody dick cheated. Flitwick is convinced the judge was paid off."

Harry nodded. "I called that out too. That cutting spell was against the rules. Did it leave a scar?"

"Madam Pomfrey gave me something to rub into it. It's almost gone now," she said. "You are still a bloody dick."

"For ignoring you or getting left behind?" Harry enquired.

"Both. But I heard what you did. You did right in defending Lovegood. Speaking of which, where is your shadow?" she asked, looking around the common room.

"She was going to the library and then to visit Professor Hagrid this afternoon. It's the first time she's left my side since boxing day," Harry told her.

"It's cute. It's like you have your own little puppy dog," she said, a smirk cracking her face.

"Sue, you know I love your teasing, but I won't take anything bad said about her," Harry warned.

"I wasn't saying anything bad. If I had known she was being bullied, I would have stopped it," Sue replied. Professor Flitwick had taught them both to protect those that needed it.

"From what I understand, it wasn't as bad until recently. Little things, here and there, would go missing. They called her Loony, but I thought she liked it. Kevin told me it got worse after her father published an article in their family's magazine, The Quibbler. Apparently, he thought there was some conspiracy between the Edgecombes, Goldsteins and Changs," Harry explained.

"People take that rag seriously?" Sue asked incredulously.

"I do now. Apparently there was some truth and they are in trouble with the DMLE now," Harry replied. "Listen, are we good? I really wasn't upset with you."

"No. We aren't good until I can beat you around the practice room on Monday," she told him.

"Fair enough," Harry said back, knowing he deserved it, but he wouldn't go down easily.

-oOo-

January 15, 1995

Hogwarts, Scotland

Harry hated creatures and now understood why. Professor Hagrid had him working in the hippogryph paddocks. He was mucking things out as the beasts pawed and strutted around him, seemingly upset that Harry wouldn't bow to them. Oh, Harry respected the strength they had, even thought them majestic, but he wouldn't bow to a beast too stuck up to recognize they needed wizards to protect them now.

He was just done, taking the cart towards the coral door, when he noticed a redhead standing by the gate. Harry knew Susan Bones at a glance.

She looked to be shivering in the cold day. The light, icy mist probably didn't help.

She caught his eye as he came closer. "Morning, Harry. Do you have much more detention?"

"Good morning, Susan," he said. "I'll have to ask Professor Hagrid. I've only been here a little over two hours and he usually keeps me all morning."

Her cheeks were quivering from the cold.

"How long have you been out here?" he asked her, feeling a little concerned.

"Over an hour. I was told not to disturb you," she answered.

Harry shook his head, took his wand out and twirled it towards Susan. She didn't even blink at him, unlike most that kept a wide birth of him since Christmas. Chang and her group kept casting him nasty glares. Diggory had dropped her like a sack of potatoes after he found out what she had been doing to Luna. Chang hadn't known Luna was Diggory's second cousin, or that he would be so loyal to her. The stupid Ravenclaw girl didn't understand what it was to be a Hufflepuff at heart.

The warming charm took effect as he opened the gate. By the time he had rolled the cart with the dung out and closed the gate, Susan was letting out a soft sigh. "Merlin, my warming charms are not this nice."

Harry chuckled. "It's not as much about power as the effect you imagine," Harry told her. "Most think it's about power. That only makes them last longer."

"Either way, I am starting to feel my toes again," she commented.

He started to roll he cart towards the pile behind Professor Hagrid's cabin. "I assume you didn't come down here to help me?"

"If you want. What you did for Lovegood was really sweet," Susan said.

He chuckled. "Not everyone thinks so, and thank you, but this is my punishment for what I did."

"I still think that Edgecombe and Rivers should be expelled. Stealing family heirlooms is just not right," Susan said a little angrily.

"Well Dumbledore is a big softy. We all got off with just some punishments," Harry said back. "I take this is not just a social call?"

"I can't just come down and say his to a friend?" she asked. With colour having returned to her already pale face, the smile almost looked convincing.

Harry chuckled. "There is only three people that have ever done something like that, and you aren't one of them, Susie."

The pretty redhead gave him a look that she had been caught as she said, "Touche. My the way, who are the three?"

"Sue Li. Luna Lovegood and Hannah Abbott. I assume you are hear to talk to me about her?"

"Ravenclaws are bright, aren't they?" she said cheekily.

"That is usually one of our primary traits. Like Hufflepuff would do anything for their friends. Listen, I have nothing against Hannah. I miss talking with her, but it wasn't me that came up with that hair brained scheme or the one who insulted Luna. What is her issue, anyways? Hannah has never acted that way before," Harry put to Susan as he emptied the cart.

Susan ruffled her nose. "That is disgusting. To answer you, Hannah is jealous."

Harry looked up. "Of what?"

"Luna."

Harry snorted. "Why? Luna is just someone I've been asked to protect. Though, she is nice to be around, and entertaining, though most don't seem to get her humour or love of the world."

Susan raised a brow at him. "So you like her?"

"A a friend. If I had had a sister, I would have liked one like Luna. Hannah doesn't think I like her, does she?" Harry enquired, turning to finish his task.

Susan's look said he was thick. "Do you really not know that she has a crush on you?"

Harry didn't look up. "I may have found that out recently."

They were silent as he put the wooden rake into the cart and trundled it around to the front of the hut. "Do you like her?"

Harry shrugged. "She is my type."

Susan smirked again. "And what type is that?"

"She is usually interesting, especially when it comes to arithmancy and charms. She is pretty, and blonde," he said.

Susan snorted to hide her laughter. "Hannah is right, you analyze everything, don't you?"

"I am a Ravenclaw. I should be logical," Harry shot back.

"So, you find her interesting and pretty. Do you find Megan pretty?" Susan pressed on with whatever scheme she seemed to be on.

"Megan's fine, but not usually what I like," he said.

"And what do you like?"

"I like girls like Hannah," he replied before thinking about what he was saying.

"Then why didn't you ask her to the Yule Ball? She held off and said no three times before you asked Megan," Susan said.

"It was Hannah that suggested it. I never wanted to go the Yule Ball," he replied. Well, that had been true until Hannah had brought up the possibility with her.

Susan looked at him slack jawed. They were now on the steps of Professor Hagrid's hut. "I just thought you were saying that."

Harry shrugged.

Susan sighed. "You two are so dense about each other. You realize that was a test?"

Harry's brow rose as he met her brown eyes. "A test? Why the bloody hell would she test me like that? I would have gone with Hannah if I had known."

"I thought you just said you didn't want to go?" Susan asked, a knowing smile coming to her face.

Harry felt his warm for the first time. "Well, you know, if Hannah had wanted."

Susan hit his arm. "She wanted, you moron. Merlin, Harry, Hannah's had a crush on you since second year."

"Then why did she tell me to ask Megan?" he shot back.

"Becuase she chickened out in asking you and thought if she told you to ask someone else you would wise up and ask her," Susan exclaimed.

Harry looked at her dumbefounded. It wasn't the first time he heard this, but it was the first time he heard it from Hannah's best mate. "That is so bloody convoluted. I thought she just wanted to go as friends?"

"She told me you said that," Susan shot back.

Harry closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Bloody girls," he gripped.

"And what about us girls?" she asked challengingly.

"You are so damned confusing. So, to get this right, Hannah wanted to ask me, or have me ask her, but instead she told me to ask Megan? Was that supposed to make me jealous or something?" he asked.

"Telling you she hadn't said yes to Ernie yet was supposed to make you jealous," Susan answered.

Harry chuckled. "And now she's jealous of Luna?"

"Right in one," Susan said.

"What am I supposed to make of all of this?"

"Ask Hannah to the next Hogsmead weekend. Tell her you were a prat and get back to where you should be," Susan told him.

"I'm the prat? I'm not the one that did anything wrong or yelled at me or has been mean to Luna," Harry said back a little coldly.

Susan let out an annoyed sound. "You have never done anything stupid with a friend or someone you liked?"

What he had done to Sue came to his mind. She had beat him, and he let her, that one day. He did deserve it. With a big sigh, he said, "I'm not going to any Hogsmead weekends until March. I have detention every Saturday and Sunday until the end of February."

Susan frowned. "That is too long."

"Nothing I can do about that. I need to see if Professor Hagrid needs me to do anything else. Tell Hannah to join me at our normal time in the library on Tuesday. Maybe we can talk," Harry told her.

"If you are mean to her or break her heart again, we will be having another talk," Susan warned, then she smiled. "I'll make sure Hannah is there. Have a good day, Harry."

She turned and started to move up towards the school. Harry watched her go, rubbing her hands together as she moved up the hill.

Harry shook his head. When he turned, he found Professor Hagrid in the doorway. "Uhm, I wasn't trying to take a break. I just finished the paddocks," Harry told him.

"Was that Susan Bones?" the man asked.

"Yes, Professor," Harry replied.

"Did she just ask you to Hogsmeade?" the giant of a man asked.

"Uhm, not her, sir. One of her friends... well, one of my friends," he said.

The man nodded. "Tell ye what. If you do well the net few weeks, I'll give you the weekend of Valentines off."

"But Professor Flitwick said until the end of February," Harry said. He knew he had to pay penance for what he did.

"Ye let me worry about that. Now why don't ye head back up to the school. You've done enough and the weather is going to get worse," Professor Hagrid told him.

Harry gave the man a small smile. "Yes, sir. Thank you, professor."

Harry wouldn't let this small gift go. Especially as snow began to fall as he made it back to the entry hall.

-oOo-

-oOo-

-oOo-

-oOo-

NOTES:

These notes are subject to change at any time. They were what gave me the idea, along with help from one of my readers.

Don't feel obliged to read anything below this point.

-oOo-

Harry is not the BWL. The night of Halloween, 1981, the Potters had put thier trust in a different Secret Keeper, but Pettigrew, the rat he was, was able to steal a parchment revealing where the Longbottoms were. Voldemort goes after Neville, who becomes the BWL.

When the Potters are caught a week later, Sirius is with them. After a duel that sees the Potters killed and Sirius tortured into insanity, Harry is found by Muggle police, he is brought to an orphanage. (Wools Orphage)

He finds out about his heritage when he enters Hogwarts, but he has become a relatively quiet boy that likes to read, but will stick up for himself when needed. His love of knowledge gets him sorted into Ravenclaw.

In his first few years he shows to be a crack at charms, transfiguration and defence, catching the eye of Flitwick, who takes him on as a protege. Harry learns to dual, eventually starting a rivalry between him and Sue Li.

Author Notes:

Starts fourth year, a little before Yule Ball.

Hannah has a crush on Harry, but chickens out on asking him. They have a fight some point after the Ball because Meagan didn't have a good time and she blames Harry. Harry accuses her of liking him and Hannah huffs away.

After Hannah apologizes at some point later, they become friends, but it becomes more obvious she likes Harry and Harry starts to get a clue.

In the meantime, Harry finds out about Luna being bullied and helps her.

Skip to fifth year, Hannah and Harry start getting closer. When Umbdridge refuses to teach, she asks Harry to teach Susan and her, which he agrees. (others in the group or small to avoid Umbridge. Don't want it to compete with the DA)

Harry and Hannah get closer and start to date.

Luna and Harry become friends, and when he catches Luna and Ginny rushing off to Umbridges office, Harry follows and becomes embroiled with the DOM, not wanting Luna to get hurt.

Now at the department of mysteries. Harry duals Voldemort. Neville tortures Bella for killing Dean Thomas. Dumbledore stops Neville before he goes too fair. Then he watch's Harry dual Voldemort flabbergasted at Harry's power and skill when Harry uses a dark curse to injury Voldemort he makes his location known. Voldemort leaves instead of trying to possess Neville. Fudge sees Harry's dual too ( we could cause drama there) harry walks up to Neville's and shatteres his noses for getting Luna hurt then throws a curse at Dumbledore, then leaving

Harry spends part of his summer with Hannah. He is there the night the Death Eaters come for her and her mother. Harry fights off (maybe kills a few), to give them time to escape to Bones Manor. A few nights later Bones Manor is attacked, where Harry saves them and kills Bella.

Harry doesn't know where to turn, except Flitwick. Dumbledore tries to offer safety with the Order.