Author's Note:
Growing up with Sirius, Harry is not the same clueless boy when it comes to girls. Is he going to be with a million girls before Ginny? Absolutely not, but he will get some experience, build up his confidence a bit, and I think growing up with Sirius, he is a lot more confident in himself and in his choices — and that includes girls.
Also some people have mentioned that they pictured Colt and Flo as a few different people. You can obviously picture them any way you want, but in my head Colt looks and sounds like Jeff Bridges and Flo is an older Regina King, but the easiest way for me to describe them. If it helps I also see Misha as an older Gerard Butler and Sorcha I see as Mary Steenburgen, but with a thick Scottish accent, no idea why. I see Fiona as Susan Sarandon and yes, I know, I love Outlander, but I picture Callum as Graham McTavish.
And to the two reviewers who have asked — yes, I did read the Percy Jackson books about four, maybe five years ago? They were quite good. And I've said it before — I love Outlander. Been an avid fan of the series for twelve years now and am in love with the show so, sometimes when I think Scottish, my mind goes there LOL. Other than Harry Potter, Outlander is my favourite book series ever, and one of the few series I go out of my way to attempt to re-read every year. Anyone who hasn't read Outlander — should — or at least give the tv show a chance.
Reviews and Comments: To LunaFireFly11: Thank you! It is nice to see both Harry and Sirius getting the family they deserve. I am excited to share their animal forms, but it's still a ways off. To anwallen88: Thank you! Outlander is awesome! To alix33: Thank you! Yes, Zee definitely loves her present from Harry. Sprout definitely wrote snogging on the detention slip LOL. To PolarWriter95: Ha, yes Zee's family is a bit large. Ha, expecting Sirius to present Zee with a ribbon tied around his dick — well, I'm sure he considered it LOL. Yes, that was fun to show some marauder shenanigans. To Ana: Thank you for saying the chapter was adorable! Zee is a lucky woman and Harry and Sirius are so lucky to have met her. Thank you so much for saying my hard work is felt in every chapter. I appreciate that! To Steelcode: Thank you! Yes, Harry and Sirius' gift was similar which was fun. Zee and Sirius aren't quite ready to move in with each other yet. To zorica: I do like Outlander! Thank you!
To supersandman86: It is all Harry ever wanted was a family. Thank you! It's true if the Marauders had survived, Lily and Snape may have made up and Snape wouldn't be so bitter, but alas they did not. Thank you! To scrappy8: Thank you! To ella144: Thank you! There are not, that's why I tried to write my own! To Lauraf68: Thank you! Sirius is realizing it's good to have this new family around and his talk with Harry reflected that. To Guest: Thank you! To coloredwords: Thank you. I like to try to keep a little reminder to help out. Will Snape redeem himself? Well, we'll have to see. Remus was nowhere to be found on those cards. He was very sneaky at not getting caught. I love Zee's family just adopting Harry into their world. To x-shadow-x-kisses-x: Ha, you're half as overwhelmed as Sirius and understand, I love that! Thank you! To Wolf's scream: It is hard to find a suitable gift, but he had help from his friends. I love Harry being encouraged academically. Snape behaving human was definitely a fluke LOL. Thank you!
To Guest: Yes, I have read the Percy Jackson books. To Moony The Sheep: Thank you! Happy to provide laughter with my detention slips. It is a big family and I love welcoming Harry into them! To Saz J: Aww, I love that you almost cried when Harry gave Zee his gift! Thank you! To speedsONEandONLY: Ginny knows it's true so she can't say much. Thanks for loving Gran's reaction of evil, good girl. I did, too! Thank you! To kateplay: Thank you! I will always try to break down the family to make life easier. To Bookwormains17: Hinny will be a while off yet. Harry and Ginny are too young and yes, I have read the Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus books. To Claire Fraser cf: Thanks for being in love with Zee's family! I agree, Colt is pretty awesome. I'm glad you enjoyed it! To Greaterthan84: Thank you! I can't wait to write Hinny together. To Bigmike33321: Harry will have his own sexy times eventually and yes, Snape choked on his own words a bit there. Thank you!
Thank you to my Beta — SilverStarwolfe! She has been amazing and I know I am probably driving her insane with my incessant e-mails asking her advice. You will be proud to know that I am exactly twenty chapters ahead of what I am posting (still to be Beta approved obviously) but go me! But THANK YOU Bex for being so patient and understanding and for doing a fantastic job — I'll try not to bug you so much :D
My posting schedule: Every Tuesday or Wednesday (usually the latter) and sometimes on the weekends.
As always, thank you very much for reading and please, please review!
Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SEVEN:
The One With the Insomniacs Club
Tonks was staring at the paperwork on her desk as if in a daze. It had been the longest day of her life as most tended to be when she found herself stuck in the Ministry. This also meant that she found herself daydreaming, wondering what Remus was doing, what he was teaching, and how his day was generally going. But then her mind had a tendency to wander further and she would start wondering about what they could both be doing if they were home and then she was forced to clamp her thighs together in an attempt to get rid of her arousal.
She wasn't sure what it was about Remus, but he made her want him all of the time. Maybe it was the mate thing too, she wasn't sure, but she knew that it wasn't usually like this between two people, at least she was pretty sure it wasn't. She reached for the heartbeat between her breasts, holding the stone and the feel of his steady beat bringing a smile to her face as she imagined him sitting on his desk in the snug black jeans that he had worn that morning and the light blue dress shirt with his adorable navy tweed jacket overtop and his hair probably all tousled from his hands and — stop it, Tonks! She told herself, focusing on the work in front of her.
Case work.
Paperwork.
Her job.
"Well, if it isn't the badarse Auror Nymphadora!"
She snarled automatically at the use of her first name, but then her eyes softened when she recognized the flash of red hair and she jumped to her feet. "Charlie!"
He grinned and engulfed her in a huge hug. "Damn it, Tonks. I didn't realize how much I missed seeing you until I saw you sitting there."
She smiled. "I'm pretty fantastic so, I can't see why you haven't been missing me every single day!"
Charlie smirked at her. "Always were full of yourself."
She morphed her face into his, rolling her eyes dramatically.
"Not to mention annoying."
She laughed as she changed back to herself. "What are you doing here?"
"Have some business in London for the reserve; top secret I'm afraid."
Tonks smiled at him. "Are you sure that you weren't just flirting with some bird?"
"Only bird I see around here is you, Nymphadora."
"Don't call me Nymphadora, Charles!" she insisted, her hair changing from bubblegum pink to a dark purple as she scowled.
He winced. "Right, Tonks, sorry."
"Seriously, how have you been? You are the absolute worst for keeping in touch! Birthday and Christmas cards do not count!" she exclaimed, her hair changing back to normal and poking him roughly in the ribs.
Charlie grinned, laughing as he scrambled away from her incessant poking. "I know, I know, I suck. I've been around off and on; helping my sister. You heard what happened there? Of course you did, you went back down into the Chamber with us."
She nodded, her eyes sobering from their teasing persona. "I did. Harry's been having a tough time dealing with it as well. She's doing better, though? Harry says she's not even seeing the Mind Healer anymore. It meant a lot to her that you came to the school in November like that."
"I couldn't very well say no even if I wanted to. Dumbledore sent a personal request to my boss asking me for the night off and securing me a portkey, to and from the school. She's strong and she's resilient and I was glad to be there for her. She's honestly doing really well, if her letters are any indication," he said with a smile. "And what about you? How's life as an A2? Are you ready to move up to the coveted A3 spot yet?"
"Not yet; still need quite a few more cases under my belt before I can even write the test and go from there. I was hoping by maybe August, but realistically probably not until next year."
"That's great! I know it's been your dream for as long as I've known you."
She hugged him tight. "How long are you here for? You're not returning to Romania right now, are you?"
Charlie shook his head. "Nah, not yet. I'm leaving tomorrow night. Figured tomorrow I better show up at the Burrow and let my mum fuss a bit. You know, how come I don't have a nice girlfriend yet or move closer to home and why aren't I re-populating the earth — the usual lecture."
Tonks laughed. "Sounds like your mum."
He grinned. "And you? What have you been up to? Anyone special in your life?"
She blushed and it surprised him. The one thing that he had always admired about Tonks was that she was good at keeping her blushing a secret due to her metamorphing ability. "Yes."
He leaned on the edge of her desk and smirked. "Do tell."
"I'm surprised that you don't know actually as it's been well over a year. Bill knows as does everyone else in your family. You didn't notice anything in November when you saw me?"
He frowned now. "Why do they all know and I don't?"
She smirked at him. "Probably because you completely suck at keeping in touch," she added, making him laugh. She grinned widely. "Remus Lupin."
Charlie's eyes widened in surprise. "The Remus Lupin who's name you used to write all over your notebooks?"
She grinned widely, biting her bottom and nodding. "He finally realized that I'm irresistible!"
Charlie smirked at that. "Wait — isn't he a lot older than you?"
"Yes."
Charlie let out a slow breath. "And that doesn't bother you?"
Her eyes hardened. "No. It doesn't bother me! He's the most amazing man that I have ever known, Charlie. He makes me so happy and he tried to insist that he wasn't good enough for me; that I deserved someone better and I fought for him. We're moving in together."
Charlie smiled at her. "You've been in love with him a long time. I just want you to be happy, Tonks."
"I am. Deliriously happy. Come over tonight for drinks. We're still re-doing Remus' cottage before I move in officially with him. We decided at this point we're just going to wait until the end of the school year since now we're fixing up the kitchen so, come to my flat."
Charlie grinned at her. "That sounds great as long as you promise not to try to set me up with anyone."
Tonks laughed. "Well, I was just planning on it being the three of us, but I can invite a friend, if you want."
"No," he said grinning. "I'm only in Britain for two more days and I definitely don't have time to find a witch or wizard unless they're interested in a quick shag, then I might not protest." He laughed when Tonks elbowed him in the ribs. "Kidding! No, drinks sounds great."
"Perfect! Be there at eight."
"I'll be there," he said grinning widely at her.
~ ASC ~
Later on that evening, Remus grinned at Tonks when she tripped over her slippers next to the sofa. "I told you."
She turned to glare at him. "Okay, okay, when I took my slippers off and put them there you told me that I would trip over them, and I did, happy now?"
He grinned and tugged her back down into his lap. "With you here, how could I not be?" He kissed her softly and she smiled against his mouth.
"Do you think that we have enough snacks?"
"It's only Charlie, Dora. We already have crisps and a cheese and meat tray. Do you want me to find something else?"
She shook her head, nuzzling his neck. "No. It's just... he was my best friend and I think he still is most of the time, but he's the worst at keeping in touch. I feel like I don't even know him anymore. He didn't even know that I was dating you, let alone about to move in with you."
Remus smiled and kissed her softly. "You two will be fine."
There was a knock on the door and she squealed, jumping off of his lap and hurrying to the front door to pull it open. "Charlie!"
"Hey, Beautiful," he said with a smile. "I come bringing wine."
"Ooh, fancy," she said accepting the bottle from him. "Rem, would you mind opening it?"
"Of course not," Remus said with a grin. "Hi, Charlie."
"Hi, Remus," he said with a nod. "It's red."
Remus nodded. "Red is fine." He moved into the kitchen to pour the three of them each a glass before he moved back out into the living room.
Tonks was sitting on the sofa, her legs curled under her as Charlie sat across from her in the chair. Remus handed them each a glass of wine before he sat next to Tonks. Her hand immediately rested on his knee and he smiled at her.
"So, are the dragons everything you wanted and more?"
Charlie smiled widely. "Oh, definitely. Plus, I got this," he said, standing up and tugging off his shirt. On the left side of his ribs, up his side and over his shoulder and back was a gorgeous tattoo of a Chinese Fireball. It seemed to breathe and smoke and little sparks of flames seemed to lick out across his chest.
"It looks alive," Tonks said in awe, her eyes on the tattoo. She reached out to touch it and jolted in surprise when it felt hot.
Charlie grinned. "It kind of is. It's like a tattoo familiar almost. She was the first dragon that I ever took care of. Her name was Chi and she was killed by another dragon a year ago. There's this bloke in Romania who can mix part of a dragon's ashes into the paint and voila! It's like part of her spirit is still with me. She can move all around my body, too. She mostly stays here on my shoulder, but sometimes she shifts down and I can feel her when she moves."
"That's amazing," Remus said as Charlie softly touched the dragon and it seemed to glimmer on his skin as if it felt his touch. "Absolutely stunning work!"
He nodded. "I just got it finished last month so, it's still new. No one else knows about it yet. Ginny is going to go crazy over it when she sees it. I'm going to hide it from my mum as long as possible."
Remus chuckled. "Seems like a smart decision."
"You got any tattoos yet, Tonks? You used to always say you wanted some?"
She shrugged. "I changed my mind at least for now. There nothing that I deem worthy enough to tattoo on myself at this moment in my life."
"That's all right, too," he said putting his shirt back on and sitting down.
He told them about the different dragons that he got to work with, what life was like on the reserve, and what some of the dangers and limitations were. Tonks was fascinated and listened attentively. She filled Charlie in on her life as an A2 and what she got to do as an Auror, and what her job entailed.
"It can be quite dangerous," she said standing up and lifting her shirt up to show Charlie the jagged scars across her abdomen.
"Damn! That looks beyond painful! What the hell happened?"
"Dark curse warding," Tonks told him. "I was lucky."
They finished the bottle of red wine and Tonks decided that she absolutely needed Chinese food right this very minute and she left the two of then alone to go make an order at the restaurant across the street.
Charlie grinned at her as she hurried out if the flat. "She hasn't changed a bit. She's still a bubbling ball of bouncing energy that always brings a smile to your face."
Remus smiled at him. "She's incredible." He stood up and headed into the kitchen. "Beer?"
"Beer would be great, thanks."
Remus nodded and grabbed two beers, passing one to Charlie.
"You know, she had the biggest crush on you when we were kids. Used to always tell me that one day she'd make you fall in love with her."
"She did make me fall in love with her. I pushed her away for a long time. I'm thirty-four-years-old and she deserves someone better than me, but now... the thought of losing her... she's everything to me and… I'd fight for her."
Charlie grinned at him. "I miss her. She's been my best friend since first year and when I moved to Romania I just kind of let myself drop off of the face of earth."
"She misses you, too. You should try to write to her more. More than just once every few months."
Charlie smirked. "I will." He took a drink of his beer, his eyes on Remus. "And just so you know, if you hurt her, I'll be forced to kill you — and I have dragons."
Remus laughed. "I guess that's fair."
Charlie grinned. "I like you. I always did. I'm glad that you finally gave into her or you know she would still be chasing you around thirty years from now. You were always it for her."
Remus smiled at him. "She's it for me, too. I know exactly how lucky I am, Charlie."
"Good," Charlie said with a smile as he drank his beer. "As long as you know."
They both turned to grin at Tonks when she came in carrying bags upon bags of food.
"Hope you're both hungry!"
Remus jumped up to help her laughing. "There's only three of us, Nymphadora!"
She kissed him, softly. "What's your point?"
"Wait, wait, wait," Charlie said holding up his hands and standing up. "Why does Lupin get to call you Nymphadora?"
Tonks smirked at him. "Because I said so and no, you cannot call me by my first name. Spring roll?"
"I want to talk about calling you Nymphadora," Charlie said, accepting the spring roll and yelping when a second spring roll went flying and hit him in the head.
"Charles!"
He winced and smirked at her. "Nymphadora Andromeda Mary-Ellen Tonks, you really do have such a lovely name."
Remus busted into laughter when Tonks started throwing pillows at Charlie, followed by her slippers, Remus' shoe, and anything else nearby that she could find. "Dora!"
Charlie was laughing. "All right, all right, you mad woman! Tonks it is!"
Tonks smiled happily at him. "Thank you. Now, let's talk about your top secret project!"
"It's top secret," Charlie said with a smirk.
"A top secret project about dragons, what do you think, Remus?"
Remus only smiled at her and scooped up some his beef chow mein. "I think I'd like to know more about Romania."
Charlie grinned at him. "Sure, Remus; what would you like to know?"
~ ASC ~
As May came to a close, the teachers started working on exam reviews and Harry found himself in the final lesson of Defence Club for the year. Remus beamed at his Advanced Class as they settled in the duelling room.
"Welcome to the last night of Defence Club! Tonight, we're going to be doing something a little different," he said with a smile.
McGonagall nodded from next to him. "As you know, there is a hidden place in the school called the Chamber of Secrets that was built and created by Salazar Slytherin himself. Professor Dumbledore and I have been working tirelessly these last few months to turn the Chamber into something that we could use for educational purposes. Professor Lupin and I would like to share that with you tonight."
Harry looked at Hermione with a grin and she linked her arm with his as they followed Lupin and McGonagall down to the girl's bathroom. But to Harry's surprise, they didn't go inside, but to the door next to it. This new door led to a staircase which led to another staircase, this one Harry recognized as the stairs that McGonagall had made appear in the tunnel that he and Ron had originally slid down.
"I'll have to add the new door and staircase to the map," he whispered to Hermione as they travelled down the many stairs and through the now sparkling clean tunnels, through the stone archway, and into the Chamber of Secrets.
The Chamber looked much the same as it had since the last time Harry had been down there with Ginny and Luna, but now it was transformed into what looked like the ultimate obstacle course. Training dummies were stationed around the room along with a maze full of different stations to pass.
McGonagall smiled brightly. "The other professors and I have been working on this obstacle course for the last few months. For tonight's last meeting, I would like each of you to go through the obstacle course. It will test how much you've learned over the semester and most of all, it should be fun."
Harry had to agree.
The dummies were enchanted to duel with him and he dodged and stunned one; climbed over the wall and disarmed another dummy; erected his shield as flying debris rained down on him and fought his way to the end where he duelled Blaise, the next opponent to make it safely to the end of the maze. He disarmed him successfully and Remus beamed at him.
It had been one of the best Defence Club classes that they had ever had.
When they returned to Gryffindor Tower afterwards, Harry and Hermione filled Ron, Neville, and Ginny in on the course and Harry carefully added the sketch of the new entranceway to the Chamber onto the map. He carefully coloured in the lines and performed the Homunculus Charm and watched the map glimmer. He was pretty sure that it was done. He just needed Remus to check everything over to make sure that he had done it all correctly. He let his eyes wander along the map, spotting Seamus in an empty classroom on the fourth floor with someone named William Matthews again.
He closed the map down, folding it up as everyone decided to head up to bed. Tomorrow was the final Quidditch match of the year, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, and Harry was looking forward to it. He was confident that they would crush Slytherin and finally win that coveted Quidditch Cup.
He stretched and turned, recognizing the flaming red hair in the armchair by the fire. He moved to sit on the arm. "Not tired?"
"Hmm?" she asked, her eyes out of focus.
Harry grinned at her. "It's late, Ginny."
She smiled up at him. "I know. I was just thinking about how the Chamber of Secrets is going to be used for Defence Club now."
"Yeah, it looks really good down there. It's all set up nice and it doesn't feel like a bad place. I think using it for something good is a way to help drive out the bad."
Ginny nodded, a small smile on her face. "I know and when we went down there to help you with the map, it felt right. I'm not scared of it anymore."
Harry nodded, his green eyes on hers. "Uh-huh, so what's wrong then?"
She sighed, her chocolate brown eyes turning to look at him. "Sometimes I wonder if anyone notices that my blood is on the stones."
Harry moved into the chair with her, his arm slipping over her shoulders. "It's not, Ginny. It was cleaned up."
"I didn't mean literally, Harry."
"I know," he said softly, wrapping his other arm around her to engulf her in a warm hug. "I think it's great that the school is making a use out of the space. It won't be that mysterious Chamber of Secrets where bad things happened, and people will forget all about it. That's a good thing, Ginny. Next year, you'll be in the club, too, and you can see what I mean. It's a different space now, with a different energy."
She nodded, her eyes on the fire. "Good." She hugged him tight and then lifted herself from the chair. "Thanks for understanding, Harry."
He smiled at her. "Of course. You know, if you didn't want them to use it, I'm sure that McGonagall would understand."
Ginny shook her head. "No, I want it to be used for something good. Like you said, different energy, and maybe it will help wash away all of the bad."
He stared at her for a moment as he stood up. "Do you want me to ask Dumbledore if we can get Na'eemah here for a bit?"
Ginny smiled at him, standing on her toes to kiss his cheek. "You're a great friend, Harry, but no. I'm fine, honest. I'm glad it's being used for something good; something educational even. Good luck in the match tomorrow, Harry. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," he said, smiling at her as she made her way over to the staircase that led to the girls dormitories'.
She was brave, he thought, and the one thing that he admired most about Ginny Weasley was that she was strong and she could overcome anything. He scooped the map up off the table, reminding himself to give it to Remus on Monday to look over and he turned to head up the stairs when he heard the portrait hole open behind him.
His eyebrow rose in amusement as he watched Seamus stumble inside, his shirt buttoned wrong and his hair all tousled. "Someone looks like they were having a good night?"
Seamus grinned widely, his face flushing. "The best," he said with a smirk.
Harry grinned at him. "I figured." He hesitated on the step, glancing up the stairs to make sure that they were alone. "Can I ask who Will Matthews is?"
Seamus paled. "What?"
Harry held up the map in his hands. "I have this map that my dads invented, remember? I saw your name next to a William Matthews, and it wasn't exactly the first time."
"Er, he's just a friend."
Harry nodded, his eyes on his friend's dishevelled appearance. "Seam, there's no reason to be embarrassed."
"I'm not," he said, defensively. "He's just a friend that I snog sometimes. That's all. I told you before, Harry — I'm not gay."
Harry smiled at his friend. "There's nothing wrong with being gay, Seamus. It only matters that you're happy."
Seamus stared at him for a long moment. "Please don't tell anyone that you saw me with him, Harry."
"I won't, I promise."
He nodded and headed up the stairs with Harry following behind him. He stopped when they reached the door to their dormitory, turning to look at Harry. "Snogging him is way better than snogging Lavender ever was. Will is… kind and he makes me smile."
Harry smiled at his friend. "He sounds great, Seamus."
Seamus smiled at him. "If my dad finds out that I snogged a bloke, he'll kick me out of the house. He's a Muggle and they… Muggles have very different views on who should and shouldn't be together."
Harry nodded. "Seamus, don't you think that being yourself is more important than making your father happy."
Seamus stared at him for a moment. "I am happy, Harry, and I'm not gay," he insisted before he opened the door to the dorm, making his way over to his own bed without a word.
Harry watched him go into the bathroom and close the door and he sighed. He hoped his friend figured things out. He didn't like seeing him so unhappy. And he hoped he realized that the entire time he had spoken about this Will Matthews, he had been grinning from ear to ear.
He changed into his own pyjamas and crawled into bed yawning, thoughts drifting to the game against Slytherin tomorrow and he fell asleep with a smile on his face.
~ ASC ~
Ginny woke up, her heart pounding in her chest. She reached up to place a hand on her sweaty face and she caught her breath. It had been almost two months since a nightmare had gripped her like that, but Merlin it had felt so real! She had been lying on the floor of the Chamber and Tom had been violating her with that bone and the pain... tears welled up in her eyes and she determinedly pushed them back.
No, she told herself, it's over with, and tears are not going to help!
She glanced at the clock and saw that it was nearly three which seemed typical. Her roommates were all still sleeping, but she rose and showered. She braided her hair into one long thick braid down her back before changing into jeans and one of her brother's old Gryffindor tee shirts before she made her way down into the common room.
She was restless, she thought, and she knew that listening to Harry talk about the obstacle course down in the Chamber must have triggered something. She contemplated pulling out her notes and studying for her end of year exams, but they were still two weeks away and she wasn't in the right mindset for it.
Hot chocolate was what she needed, she thought. She snuck a glance at the portrait hole before she decided sneaking out would be worth it and she began to meander her way down to the kitchens.
The school year was basically over anyway, she thought, in terms of if she would get caught or not. She really wanted some hot chocolate and at this point as long as she got some, the detention would be worth it. But she made it to the kitchens unseen and tickled the pear to gain entry.
She snuck through the kitchen doors and the house elves all turned to her, eyes wide.
"Er, good morning. I was wondering if I could trouble you for some hot chocolate."
"Of course, Miss! Sit! Sit!"
Ginny sat at the small table in the kitchen and was surprised to see someone else there. He was tall with dark wavy hair and brown eyes. He smiled at her.
"Weasley."
"Hello. I'm afraid that I don't know you."
"Theo," he said with a smile, extending his hand. "Theodore Nott."
"Oh, yes, Slytherin," she said accepting the hand.
He shrugged good naturally. "Jenny, right?"
"Ginny," she corrected.
He nodded. "Right, you're Potter's friend. What are you doing up so late?"
She thanked the elf when a steaming mug of hot chocolate was placed in front of her. "I could ask you the same."
"Maybe I'm contemplating life."
She snorted and blew on her hot chocolate before taking her first sip. "Sure you are."
"All right, I'm trying to plan out my summer between my friends houses actually."
"You don't want to go home?" Ginny asked in surprise.
Theo shrugged. "Not if I don't have to, no. My father and I don't exactly get along."
Ginny nodded. "I'm sorry."
He shrugged again and dug into the bog bowl of chocolate pudding he was eating. "No big."
Ginny rolled her shoulders and gave him a kind smile. "Well, I had a nightmare and it was rather horrible and left me feeling unbalanced and... let's just say that the thought of going back to sleep after a dream like that isn't going to happen. I thought some hot chocolate sounded like the perfect solution."
He nodded sympathetically. "I'm sorry. Um..." he blushed as he spoke. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Ginny glanced at him in surprise. "That's kind of you, but no, thank you. I've done the whole talking thing and it does help, but I'm all right. Thanks."
He stood up to get a spoon from the cutlery drawer. He took a seat next to her, bringing the bowl of pudding with him and passed her the second spoon. "Chocolate pudding?"
Ginny stared into the bowl of creamy rich chocolate and accepted the spoon from him, digging into the rich dessert.
They both ate in silence for a few moments before Ginny spoke up. "So, if you know Harry, are you a third year?"
Theo nodded. "Guilty. And you? You're a second year, right? I mean I had heard you were a first year last year when you..." he trailed off, his eyes wide. "Shit, I'm sorry."
"It's okay. When I attacked all those students last year, you can say it. Not that anyone believes me, but I was being controlled by Lord Voldemort, and I understand that now, and that none of it was my fault, no matter how guilty I may feel."
"I believe you. Dumbledore would have expelled you if it was truly your fault."
She smiled and licked the end of her spoon. "Thank you. That means more than you know."
"So, Ginny, aren't you also the girl who sent that singing Valentine to Potter last year? I seem to remember a dwarf dressed as cupid tackling him to the ground in the dungeons. It was bloody hilarious!"
She half-smiled as her face heated in embarrassment. "It was stupid and I know he doesn't like me that way. We're really good friends and I don't want to lose that. I don't even like him that way anymore."
Theo smirked at her. "Hey, none of my business, but personally I thought Potter and Chang were a train wreck. She was only really interested because he's Harry Bloody Potter. I mean she liked him, you could see that, but not as much as she liked the idea of dating Harry Potter. Apparently, she bragged about it quite a lot which is why I enjoyed the gossip so much when I heard he dumped her."
Ginny scowled at that. "I don't like the way she treated him. He deserves someone better than that; someone who is going to take the time to appreciate getting to know him for himself, and not for some bogus celebrity status. I mean, how would you feel if you were famous because your parents were murdered?"
"Wow, wow, chick, calm yourself. I happen to like Potter. He's snarky and sassy plus, he has a great arse."
Ginny gawked at him and he chuckled.
"Are you telling me that he doesn't?"
Ginny blushed and pointedly decided not to respond. "So, whose friend's houses are you staying at this summer?"
"I'm hoping for a combination thing between Blaise and Draco. Draco's house would be ideal as his mum is the best while Blaise's mum is a little mental. But I'll take either one. It's just a matter of going home first and not knowing how long I might have to stay there."
She nodded. "Well, if you're stuck, you're more than welcome to come to the Burrow. Mum loves company — that is if a Slytherin can stomach a house full of Gryffindors."
His eyes widened at her offer. "You don't even know me, chick."
Ginny smiled, shrugging her shoulders. "You offered me an ear, shared your pudding with me, and told me that you believe me about last year. It sounds like you're a nice guy to me, Theodore Nott, and also a bit like you could use a friend."
Theo licked the pudding off the back of his spoon, his face carefully blank. "You are a remarkable person, Ginny Weasley, for a known blood traitor that is."
She laughed. "Thank you. So, tell me, Theo, how does one exactly become friends with someone like Draco Malfoy? I've always gotten the impression that he's nothing more than a spoiled, selfish, prick?"
Theo laughed. "He completely is! And he knows it, too, which is funny. But he's the kind of spoiled, selfish, prick who would give you the shirt off his back, but then demand you never tell anyone that he was kind to you and ruin his reputation — or he'll kill you."
Ginny laughed. "That seems extreme."
"It's who he is. He's one of my best friends and has been since we were about seven or eight, but he's a git. Blaise I never really met until Hogwarts. I mean, I knew of him, and I think we met once or twice as kids, but his mother prefers to live in Italy most of the year."
Ginny nodded. "Harry and Luna are my two oldest friends and then Neville too because he used to always be at Harry's. But I made a friend in Colin this year. He's a Muggleborn and so talented with photography! He's funny and cheerful and he always makes me smile. He's honestly my best friend."
"Muggleborn, eh?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me that you're going to be all Slytherin and pureblood elitist?"
Theo grinned. "Well, I am a Nott and was therefore raised to be so, but no, I'm really trying not to be."
"Uh-huh," she said carefully.
Theo shrugged. "I am trying."
"You're a funny guy, Theo."
He smiled at her. "I'm also hoping to spend some time at Draco's because that would guarantee me tickets to the World Cup."
"Oh! I want to go so bad! Do you think tickets are going to be really expensive?"
"Probably."
She sighed, blowing some loose hair from her eyes. "I really want to go, but there's no way that Mum and Dad will be able to afford it for all of us! Ireland is a phenomenal team this year."
"You're not jumping on the Krum bandwagon like everyone else?"
She rolled her eyes. "Please. He's an incredible Seeker obviously, especially for his age, but he's only one player. Ireland has seven amazing players! But you have to admit, if Krum and Lynch traded teams — Ireland would be absolutely unstoppable!"
Theo grinned. "Definitely. I don't follow Quidditch much, but Draco talks about it enough that I kind of know what's going on."
She smiled and sipped on her hot chocolate. "Breakfast should be ready in the Great Hall. Would you like to walk down with me?"
"Yeah, yeah I would," Theo said, standing up. "Speaking of Quidditch, Slytherin is going to kick your arse today. That Cup looks too damn good in the Slytherin Common Room to get moved."
Ginny smirked at him. "Please, Gryffindor has its own amazing Seeker."
Theo grinned at that. "Potter is pretty talented, I'll admit to that, but Malfoy's good, too."
"He is, Harry's just better," Ginny told him, smartly.
Theo chuckled. "Well, at our next meeting of the Insomniacs Club we can discuss it in more detail."
"Insomniacs Club?"
He shrugged. "You can find me in the kitchens most nights. I don't usually sleep well."
She looked over at him. "I'll make sure that I get a hot chocolate fix the next time I can't sleep then."
He smiled. "I'd like that."
"Good," she said. She turned to look up at him, a small smile on her lips. "So, Theo, can I be Prime Minister of this Club?"
"Ooh, sorry, that position has been filled, but there's still my personal secretary as well as the caretaker position left, if you're interested?"
She chuckled and elbowed him lightly in the ribs. "Prat."
Theo smirked. "Absolutely."
They continued their banter all the way to the Great Hall and Theo was surprised when Ginny urged him to join her at the Gryffindor table for breakfast. It was a little after five in the morning and there were barely any students in the hall nor teachers outside of Professor Vector and Professor Snape, who had obviously scored the morning shift, so he moved to sit on the bench next to her.
By the time breakfast was over, Ginny knew that she had made a new friend and she couldn't stop smiling.
~ ASC ~
Harry couldn't believe that they had actually won the Quidditch Cup that afternoon. It was better than anything that he had ever imagined feeling, especially when Sirius asked the house elves to send up an endless supply of butterbeer and snacks to Gryffindor Tower to help them celebrate.
Wood had actually cried.
Tears rolling down his cheeks as he hugged the cup to his chest and his team beaming at him in happiness.
The final score had been 230 to 20. Gryffindor had destroyed Slytherin in the match.
When Madam Hooch handed the Quidditch Cup to McGonagall to present to her team, there had been tears in her eyes and pride beaming from her. It was the best feeling in the world to have won more than just a match.
Dean helped Harry set up the record player in the corner and asked Kreacher to bring him Sirius' Queen album, News of the World, and he played 'We Are the Champions' on repeat. Fred and George seemed to like the song the most and soon most of the common room had their arms around each other singing loudly.
"No time for losers, 'cause we are the champions, of the world!"
Hermione merely rolled her eyes and claimed that they were childish and became even more put out when Fred and George snuck in some Firewhiskey. She huffed in annoyance, claiming that she had to study and moved to the corner of the common room and buried herself in her textbooks.
"Hermione, why are you reading Unfogging the Future?" Harry asked. "If you need to study, then study a class you actually have an exam for."
"Harry, I'm glad that we won, honest, but I have a lot of work to do so, please, leave me alone."
Harry frowned at that and exchanged looks with Ron. They still hadn't figured out why Hermione seemed to have an endless supply of homework or why she seemed to be taking on so much. It just didn't make sense, but he left her alone to study and moved further into the common room to join in the festivities of Gryffindor's win.
Harry drank a little bit of the Firewhiskey to celebrate, but wrinkled his nose at the taste of it. It reminded him of the scotch that Sirius had given him during the FUVP meeting but worse somehow. However, he did blame the Firewhiskey, mostly, for where he was after.
He wasn't really sure how it had gotten started. But now he was sitting in an armchair in an alcove off of the Gryffindor common room with Sophie Roper straddling him. His hands were in her shoulder-length brown hair and his lips were glued to hers as they snogged, quite passionately. Sophie's hands kneaded through his hair, making it stick up even more and her tongue met his over and over again. He gasped for breath, kissing her neck and sucking on the skin there and she sighed in pleasure.
"Harry, you'll leave marks!"
He grinned. "Want me to stop?"
"No," she said, laughing and kissing his lips.
Her mouth moved to his neck, sucking the skin gently at first and then harder, and he boldly slid his hands under her shirt, up her naked back, brushing against the bra straps on her shoulders.
Sophie moved to suck on his ear, panting slightly, her own hands sliding under his Quidditch jersey. "You were a champion tonight."
He grinned against her cheek. "We won and it was amazing. Go Gryffindor!"
"Go Potter," she said with a cheeky grin. She pulled away, biting her bottom lip and he realized that he was quite hard. She noticed too because she let her hands trail down his jersey to his lap and she stroked him through his trousers.
His eyes widened in surprise. "Sophie," he whispered. "Anyone can see!"
She smiled and kissed him deeply. "Let's go find somewhere more private."
Harry wasn't sure what came over him, but he took her hand in his and he led her down the stairs into one of the empty study rooms of Gryffindor Tower. He kicked the door closed and laughed when her lips found his. They stood in the middle of the room, kissing passionately for the longest time, and he tried not to let her see how hard he was.
Sophie had other ideas. She was sucking on his bottom lip when her hand slid down the front of his trousers and she touched him through his boxer briefs. The feeling shocked him and he swore.
She giggled. "You feel nice, Harry," she whispered.
He deepened the kiss, her hand stroking him lightly inside of his Quidditch slacks but over his boxer briefs. "Bloody hell, Soph."
She smirked against his mouth and continued her ministrations. He wanted it to go on forever, but he was almost on edge already and he kissed her neck.
"I'm going to —"
Sophie simply smiled and stroked him faster and it was only seconds before he came, making a mess in his boxers. She wiped her hand on his Quidditch jersey and smiled at him and then she locked her lips on his again.
By the time that he made it back up to his bed that night, he still couldn't quite believe what had happened. He had gotten a hand-job, a knob job, whatever one wanted to call it, and it had been fantastic. He made himself comfortable on his bed as he thought about how nice Sophie's hand had felt stroking his cock; the way her lips had felt on his. They had snogged for a solid hour after she had gotten him off. He had taken her shirt off at some point and kissed her through her bra, leaving hickeys on her skin and she had giggled.
They would have snogged longer if Fred hadn't burst in on them with his arms full of a giggling brunette that Harry didn't recognize. Harry and Sophie had left to give Fred and the brunette the room. He had kissed her on the stairs and again in the hall, kissing her sweetly.
She had pressed herself up against him with a smile. "You were amazing out there today, Harry."
He had grinned at her and kissed her goodnight before finding the party mostly over and had gone up to bed, a smile on his face.
Yeah, he was pretty sure winning the Quidditch Cup had turned into one of the best nights of his life.