Author's Note:

I dedicate this chapter to Saz because she's awesome and I forgot to mention her in 317 and she reamed me out for it (with just cause). Saz, you know you're the best. You were the first friend I ever made writing fanfiction, back when SIYE was the place to be! Which means we've known each other for… let's not think about that LOL. Thanks for always being there!

Reviews and Comments: To Sam: No, they haven't thought about next year in that sense. You want Greg to find out Pansy is pregnant? We shall see. He's in Azkaban after all. Ha, Hannah isn't ready to be snuck in nightly, but Neville lives to tease. Slughorn in a bikini made me laugh. Hinny are definitely getting daring! Yes, Theo has a macaroni penguin as his patronus! Remus is a little jealous, but not seriously jealous. Thank you! To Guest: Thank you! Yes, I am back! To Nightwing2013: Yes, it was a poignant description and Pansy very much understands the differences in their relationships. Harry is definitely struggling. I'm so happy you liked Harry's comment about penguins! You're right, it was lots of joint efforts to break the curse. Thank you! To Wolf's scream: Thank you! It's true, Harry is stubborn. It is too close to real life right now. To Katie2001: Thank you! Thanks for the welcome back! To Zarathos Morgenstern: Thank you! To scrappy8: Thanks for loving Hinny and being happy for Theo! To notthatchhavi: Thank you! I love that you missed my Hinny and yes, Ginny should stay with Harry every night. Blaise and Theo being brand ambassadors for Pansy? Yes, I could see it lol. Ron definitely hates waking up early. It was very brave of Harry, wasn't it? And yes, taking her knickers is a bit of a Sirius-esque move.

To Calamity Ganon: Thank you! Pansy should talk about what she's going through, but right now she's not ready. As to whether her and Greg will reunite, we shall see. Thank you! To alix33: Thank you! I'm glad Neville and Harry's conversation about blue balls made you chortle. To Shivani: Thank you! Hinny are definitely snuggling in bed. Poor Harry, even Neville is teasing him. I'm with Ron, sleeping in the shower is a good move. Hinny are definitely getting naughty, fingering in the Great Hall. Thank you! I think a macaroni penguin fits Theo to a tee! K is a softie! Thank you! To Slaidback: Thank you! I love the dramatic classical music. To wolfjinx15475: Thank you! An entire series just about Theobas? Tempting. Yes, lots of Hinny smut is what we deserve. Thank you for liking the direction I am taking Pansy's character. Harry and Theo definitely have a good friendship and Harry is a great teacher. I am sorry you think I've ruined other fanfiction for you, but thank you so much for loving ASC as much as I do! To Sara: Thank you! It was a much needed break. There will be more Hinny in this chapter. Harry was definitely feeling bold, touching Ginny like that in the Great Hall. I love Theo worrying about his hair. Thank you so much!

To the frozen flame: Thank you! We will see more of Fred and Fiadh, but I can still only offer soon. Yes, exactly, they are forming their own little family in Wiltshire Manor. I'm glad you enjoyed the "ask my wife" line. Jones is going to be a good fit. Thank you! To Sara: Thank you! It's nice to know you missed my weekend updates. It was much needed personal time and I feel a bit better myself. To Nuno Neves: Thank you! Harry and Ginny are definitely both very stubborn. I love Harry sassing Ginny while he's fingering her. Theo and Bas are definitely made for each other and they are only just starting out. Thank you! To ellyann13: I agree, Molly and Sorcha are perfect for mothering young mamas and babies. Sorcha basically has filled in Andy's position within the Order, yes. Na'eemah does know Pansy needs to talk to someone and that's why she just stopped by to meet Grayson. Theo wants his Patronus to communicate, but he also wants to be able to protect himself. Ha, doing the morning workout with Ginny probably won't help matters for Harry, true. That is true, Apricity Lane is a good guess, but Hogsmeade would have more impact for Voldemort. To akshutalankar: Thank you! To darkhk: Don't worry, lots of Theo and Sebastian smut to come.

To the Mandalorian terminator: Thank you! I'm glad you found Ginny torturing Harry was so enjoyable LOL. Harry and Ginny are definitely very horny and don't want to keep their hands off of each other. Thank you! To puttyman24: Thank you! You don't think Harry will make it to day seven without cracking? We shall see. To Millie15128: It would reduce the chances and that is an interesting choice as well. Thank you! To pix25: Thank you! To Saz J: Hope this one makes up for my failure, bestie! It was a bloody naughty chapter for Hinny, wasn't it? You will see more Theo and Bas, I promise! Thanks for taking the time to catch up on the train! To Steelcode: Theo and penguins definitely both have a great fashion sense. You think someone will lock Harry and Ginny in a broom closet so they can get out their pent-up energy? Haha. Thank you! To Brianna: Wow! Thank you for saying you think I am the most talented writer in the world. I love that while I was on break you couldn't stop thinking about ASC. It won't end up abandoned. We will see more Theo and Bas, yes. Thank you! To Sloopyqueen4: Thank you very much! We will find out more about Dumbledore's portrait later on.

To sunlitdxys: Thank you! I do enjoy getting right into the Hinny smut. It's true, if Snape was still his Potions professor, I don't think Harry would be so willing to show up an hour late, but yes, pleasuring Ginny is his priority. Yes, they are insatiable for each other. Thanks for loving my Harry and Theo moments. Near-ish, but definitely not near. To Guest: Thank you! Welcome to the world of ASC! To gemini614: Hermione's fact spitting is always on point. I enjoy writing interactions between Harry and Theo. They definitely have their own friendship that has sprung up between them. To Lucifer'sMinion411: Thank you for reviewing! To Derpdude32: Thank you! To saucyswimmer: I did wonder why I haven't seen your name in a while! I think a lot of people forgot about the week of denial bet, but Ginny sure didn't LOL. Thank you for liking how I made Pansy and Greg into likeable characters. I wanted to give Pansy more personality. Thanks for saying my Neville has blossomed into such a lovely character. Remus is such a good dad! Thank you! To Dianne: Thank you! Sorry, no fanfics of Theo and Bas, but I promise some really hot smut of them is coming! Harry is very lucky to wake up Ginny and Ginny is very lucky to wake up to that! No, Blaise modelling isn't a surprise, is it? I love making Hermione's brain a bottomless pit. I love K growling. It's one of my favourite things about him. Thank you!

To AQuickRead91: Thank you! Happy to provide a break during your Masters Degree and I promise there will be some Theobas smut. Just not yet. I am excited for the Secrets of Dumbledore and I look forward to seeing it. To CorbanD17: Thank you! Hinny smut will be coming. To Joyce Foesenek: Thank you! I'm glad you love Theo's patronus and agree it is sweet and cute. Remus definitely has nothing to worry about. To HarryGinnyLove88: Thank you! I'm glad you're excited to keep reading ASC. Your English was great, thank you, Estonia. To marauders_mowopapr: Thank you! There will be more TheoBas and yes, Ginny will want to reward Harry… if he lasts. To katelyn453: Thank you! I know, poor Harry, can't even wank. I love them spending their nights together. To ravenclaw_rockchick: Thank you! I am wishing you well and hope you will not be in the hospital much longer. Penguins are adorable birds and so Theo. Neville is a bit jealous as he obviously wants that himself, but he loves Hannah too and understands. Thank you!

To briana_t: Thank you! Harry is taking it like a champ, for now… Theo was finally successful! Thank you! To pottermum: Thank you! To AnaGPotter: Thank you! The Wizengamot is safe, but it does leave a lot of questions. Greg is still in Azkaban so that depends. As to Theo's memory, he thought about his friendship with Ginny and what that has brought him. To Lainewitch: Thank you! Theo and Bas are very hot together and yes, we all can't wait for the smut! To wildstyle_101: Thank you! There will be some action soon! To Bellmel: Thank you! I think she will break down and talk to Na'eemah eventually, but she's not ready yet. Hinny deserved some time. I love their forehead kisses and how they love to snuggle and I love how content Harry is just having her in his bed. Thank you for saying chapter 317 showcased all the best bits of Hinny's relationship. To GryffindorHealer: Thank you! Well said. To Fanfis01: Thank you! To Endinium: Thank you! I love Theo's penguin patronus! Thanks for loving my Remadora. To LadyRava: Thank you! To BadWolfKris: Thank you! It is time!

My posting schedule: Weekly.

Thanks to Dusk for her amazing editing skills.

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 THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN:

The One Where Ginny Can't Wait

Harry found Ginny hunched over her desk in the office of the Hogwarts Herald that evening. She had bits of parchment scattered around her as she wrote furiously, and he was pleased to see the writing box he'd given her open in the corner. He walked past Colin to go around the desk, bending down to drop a kiss to her shoulder.

"How's it coming?"

Ginny rolled her shoulders back and when Harry dropped his hands to them to massage gently, she gave him a grateful look. "I think I'm making progress."

"Any leads yet?"

"A few," she said. "Ron still pestering you?"

"Only three or four times a day."

Ginny snorted. "That's because he hits me close to ten times a day."

"He really wants to know," Harry said, letting his hands knead the muscles in the back of her neck and shoulders. "He's taken personal offence to being below Goldstein."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "He's a moron."

Harry chuckled. "I don't know, he does have a point. The ranking bit did seem a little out of whack."

"Just because I agree with him doesn't mean that I'm going to tell him," Ginny said. "I don't want to think about his arse in any capacity outside of him being one."

Harry laughed before he dropped a kiss to the top of her head. He tugged a chair over to sit next to her. "So, fill me in."

Ginny pouted. "But you stopped."

He smiled and returned his hands to her shoulders and neck. "My apologies."

She gave him an adoring smile before she pointed to her notes. "Theo is convinced this article has Mandy written all over it, but I don't think so. At least not entirely. She's too intelligent to write something so…"

"Scandalous?" Harry suggested.

"No, more like tabloid rubbish," Ginny corrected. "I think it suits someone more like Romilda Vane for example."

Harry frowned. "You think that she wrote it?"

"No," Ginny said, shaking her head. "I just mean, it has gossip written all over it. Hermione and Hannah have been helping me by talking to as many students in seventh year as they can. Colin, Luna, and Freya had been talking to the sixth years. Demelza has been talking to the fifth years, but I don't think it was any of them. The names were all sixes and sevens so it has to be someone in our years who wrote it and I don't think it was only one person."

"Why not?"

Ginny wrinkled her nose, leaning into his hands as he continued to knead her shoulders. "Because of the detail on the ranking system and the discussion-like feel to it. It sounds like some witches broke out some wine and started chatting up the ins and outs of the blokes of Hogwarts, unintentionally accumulating this list of great arses. I think someone loved the context and wrote it out."

"But you don't think that it was Romilda or Mandy?"

"Right," Ginny said.

"So, who wrote it?" Harry asked.

Ginny tilted her head back to look up at him. "I think it was either Li, Bones, Perks, or Turpin. Maybe even a combination of them."

"Maybe," Harry admitted. "Are we sure that it wasn't Theo? He does live for this kind of drama."

Ginny chuckled. "That is true, he does. But he would have put Ron in second place behind you and himself in third without question. Plus, there's no way he would keep the knowledge of writing it to himself — it wasn't him. I do have another thought, but I don't want to say it yet in case I'm way off base."

Harry brushed his thumb down her cheek. "All right, keep your secrets."

She smiled. "If all goes to plan, I'll reveal the author in the next week or two. In the meantime, Colin has a list of names that have been submitted for the witch poll."

Harry picked up the parchment, stopping his massage to look over the list. "Ah, I see you made the list, glad to see it."

She nudged him with her elbow. "We're going to see what the votes are before we write our own little version on the Hogwarts Witches' Best Arses."

"Looks like there are fifteen names on here… no, sixteen. Good turnout. You'll be first without a doubt," he said, placing his hand on her thigh. "You have the perfect heart-shaped arse."

"You are biased."

"Not," Harry said, kissing her cheek. "Trust me. I'm not the only one to notice."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Well, once the list is made, we will write the article that corresponds to it."

"And then model in a calendar, right?"

"Maybe," she said. "If anyone might be interested in it."

"I'm interested," Harry said, dropping his voice to a whisper. "I think it's high time we get you dressed up all scantily so you can be embarrassed."

"Who says I'd be embarrassed?"

Harry smiled. He knew that was true. If anything he had a feeling watching her pose for a calendar would only make him feel jealous. "You live to tease me."

"No, that's Theo," she said, kissing him. "I just love and adore you." She pecked his lips again. "I need another hour here."

Harry kissed her, trailing his mouth over her jaw to her ear. "But it's Friday night and just a little over twenty-four hours until our bet is over."

Ginny's lips curved as his mouth began to move down her throat. "Counting down, are you?"

"By the minute," he assured her, sucking at the skin on her neck. "Stay with me tonight?"

Ginny bit her lip, her head tilting back as he kissed his way down her throat. "KJ and Romy already commented on me staying with you twice last weekend."

"Don't care," he said, stopping his kisses to stare into her eyes. "I like sleeping with you in my arms."

"I like it too," she whispered. She pecked his lips. "I'll think about it. Now go on, I need to work."

Harry stole one more kiss before he stood up. "All right. Find me when you're done."

Ginny promised so he said goodbye to Colin and left the Herald office. He knew that Ron and Hermione had patrol tonight. Neville was with Hannah. Seamus and Dean were definitely shagging in the bathroom of their dorm. Theo had left the castle just before dinner to go to out with Sebastian Kane.

Harry wasn't sure what to do with the fact that everyone seemed to be busy except him. He shoved his hands into his pockets and started to make his way back to Gryffindor Tower. The moving staircase detoured him from the fourth floor, but he wasn't in any hurry. He was surprised to run into Luna when he found himself back at the stairs.

"Hi, Luna!"

"Hi, Harry," she said, turning to smile at him.

He noticed her long white blonde hair was pulled back in a thick braid intertwined with flowers today. She had wooden owls hanging from her ears with wings that flapped when she moved. Her wand was tucked behind her ear as usual. She waited for him to reach the landing before she offered her arm.

"Walk with me."

Harry tucked her arm under his. "Gladly. I figured you'd be off somewhere snogging Channing White."

Luna shrugged. "I was, but he had Quidditch practice. He's quite a lovely snogger."

"Er, I'm glad. He's nice to you, right?"

"Oh yes," Luna assured him. "Quite nice. On our first date the first thing he did was apologize for how he treated me in the past. He said that he was a stupid boy then and well, I can't hold that against him, can I? It was back in first year, after all."

Harry figured she had a point, but he didn't want to admit it.

"He's very nice. He likes animals like I do. We have very long talks about magical creatures, but he really doesn't have much imagination and declares that without direct tangible evidence, things like Wrackspurts don't exist. It's quite tiring trying to explain to him why he's wrong."

Harry chuckled. "Never change, Luna."

"You're the only person who has ever said that to me," Luna said. "It's sort of wonderful."

Harry frowned.

"Why would a person change?" she continued. "It's rather silly to change who you are to appease other people."

"You're right, Luna," Harry said. "It's one of the things that I love most about you. So, you and Channing discuss magical creatures?"

"Yes," Luna continued. "And of course snog and explore one another. I've always admired a wizard who takes the time to use his fingers perfectly. He takes instruction very well which is quite important if you want to pleasure a woman properly. He's given me some very lovely orgasms."

Harry wrinkled his nose. "I don't need to know this, Luna."

"You should know that I've heard you use your fingers properly as well. Although I hear your tongue is even better. Channing is better with his fingers. Funny how that works, isn't it?"

Harry shifted. "Er, right."

"I for one thought you would be pleased to know that he takes care of me," Luna continued. "Ginny says that you take very good care of her in that way so I assumed you must wish it upon your friends as well."

Harry blinked in response.

"Channing is very lovely," Luna went on. "He's fun and I appreciate that. Daddy says I need a spot of fun at my age. Oh dear, you are full of Blue Yearnings. I can see them circling you like a hawk. Are you and Ginny having a fight?"

"No," Harry said. "We're not fighting."

Luna frowned. "Are you sure? Because if Ginny is taking care of you then you shouldn't be radiating Blue Yearnings like this."

Harry blushed. He had a feeling he knew what Luna was implying and was afraid to ask what a Blue Yearning was. "I'm fine, Luna. Ginny and I are both fine."

"Ah," Luna said, her eyes dancing in understanding. "Those games are always quite fun, aren't they?"

Harry thought that it might be better not to ask her what she meant.

"Well, I'm off to grab my cloak before I go and watch Channing at Quidditch practice. I promised I would go. I think that you're needed outside."

"Outside?"

Luna nodded. "Sometimes we forget to make time for all of our friends, so when we find time to spare, even if only a moment, we should enjoy a cup of tea. Answers can be found before we even know the question."

She stood on her toes to peck his cheek before she skipped off, leaving Harry frowning after her. Luna had a way of making him feel completely relaxed and utterly confused at the same time. He watched her blonde hair disappear around the corner before he continued his trek up to Gryffindor Tower and decided maybe outside wasn't a bad idea. He grabbed his cloak along with a toque and gloves before he made his way back down through the castle and out into the brisk cold air. He headed out across the grounds, watching the sliver of moonlight disappear behind the trees before Fang hurried up to him, barking.

"Hi, Fang," Harry said, reaching down to pet the hound. "Long time no see."

"Humph!" Hagrid exclaimed. "An' 'ere I was thinkin' ya forgot where I lived!"

Harry's lips curved into a smile. "Hi, Hagrid."

"Where ya off to in th' dark?" Hagrid asked.

"Nowhere," Harry said. "Just out walking, I guess. Unless you have time for a cup of tea?"

Hagrid's wide mouth broke out into a huge grin under his scraggly beard. "I might even hav' somethin' a bit stronger. C'mon in."

Harry followed Hagrid in the dark to his hut and stepped inside the warmth of the cabin. He took a seat in one of the large chairs as Hagrid put the kettle on and when the big man sat across from him, Harry realized that other than a passing greeting on a daily basis, he couldn't remember the last time he'd actually visited with him.

"I'm sorry, Hagrid. I really haven't made time to come and see you like I should have."

Hagrid waved him off. "Ah, dinna worry 'bout it. I know 'ow it goes. Yer parents were th' same, ya know? I used ter hav' tea wit' yer mum twice a week an' then once they moved up ter sixes an' sevens, well th' workload got bigger, there were boyfriends ter spend time wit'. I know it's not ya ignorin' me."

Harry smiled. "Definitely not. How have you been? How's Madame Maxime?"

Hagrid blushed. "She's fine. She writes ter me."

"I'm glad," Harry said. "How are your classes?"

Harry got up to make the tea when the kettle went off, listening to Hagrid explain about the different creatures he was currently using in his classes. His lips curved when he watched Hagrid add a dollop of whisky to both of their teas as he continued to talk about the newest creatures he had introduced.

"Wait," Harry interrupted. "You're showing third years ROUS'? Where did you even get them?"

"From th' fire swamp by th' cliffs of Dover, where else?" Hagrid said. "Found'em this summer. They gave me a hell of a bloody time tryin' ter pull them from th' snow sand, but those rodents of unusual size finally came wit' me! Charlie gave me some advice on 'ow ter build me own fire swamp in th' Forbidden Forest. Th' ROUS' just needed a lil guidance an' now I got'em eatin' out of th' palm of ma' hand!"

Harry shuddered. "You can have them, Hagrid."

Hagrid went on to explain that the fire swamp was in the middle of the Forbidden Forest blocking off the Acromantula nest. He explained how he'd spread snow sand as well as lightning sand along the edges and how it went right through the cave which helped keep the Acromantulas on the far side of the forest.

"Th' flame spurts keep it interestin'," Hagrid said.

Harry shook his head. "Hagrid, does Auntie Minnie know that you built a fire swamp in the Forbidden Forest?"

Hagrid gulped back his tea, adding another dollop of whisky. "Crazy weather we've been havin', eh?"

Harry's lips curved. "I'll take that as a no."

He wondered what McGonagall would do when she found out that Hagrid was bringing in more "dangerous" creatures and a fire swamp.

"Ya know," Hagrid said. "I don't know where I'd be if yer lot hadna 'elped me get my CRAWLs when ya did."

"You'd still be here," Harry assured him. "Hogwarts wouldn't be the same without you, Hagrid."

Hagrid smiled. "Remus 'as been askin' me ter do more. I'm goin' ter be in charge of th' Sorting Ceremony from now on an' I'm going ter bring th' students in th' Great Hall. I want ter do th' boat ride still 'cause there's nothin' like leading th' firs' years across th' lake, but givin' them th' introduction is somethin' fun, I reckon."

"You did great this year," Harry assured him. "Everyone at Gryffindor was talking about it. Especially when that one first year looked terrified. I don't know what you said to him, but he certainly looked like he'd put on a brave face before he marched up to the hat."

"Oh, tha' was nothin'. I just told'm th' hat never lies."

Harry couldn't help but smile as he sipped his tea. It was so nice to see Hagrid so happy and so worry free. He was teaching and being given more duties at the school. He was getting the chance to be the wizard he deserved to be.

"How have you been otherwise?"

Hagrid opened a tin of biscuits, offering one to Harry before placing three in front of himself. "I miss'em. Every day. This school dinna feel righ' withou'm."

"I know what you mean," Harry admitted. "Auntie Minnie was talking about being retired by the time Uncle Remus and Tonks' son and Mina and Leo arrive at Hogwarts and I told her she can't. Hogwarts already feels so different without Dumbledore and without her or you… it wouldn't be the same."

"Dumbledor' was a good man, 'Arry. Th' bes' man I ever met," Hagrid said. "No one loved this school like 'e did. 'E was a gifted teacher an' a great headmaster. Th' bes' there is. Losing'm was mor' than jus' losing a friend. 'E was like a father ter me, a mentor. Ya know, he still hasna shown up in 'is portrai'?"

"His portrait?" Harry asked.

"Ya know, th' ones in th' 'eadmistress' office of all of th' previous 'eadmasters an' 'eadmistresses of th' school. 'E has one up ther', but 'e hasna opened his eyes. McGonagall swears she's seen'm move, but th' stubborn old fox won'na say a word."

"Why?" Harry asked. "What's he waiting for?"

Hagrid shrugged. "Dunno. I wish 'e would. I'd like ter go up an' say hi every now an' again. Good man, Dumbledor', good man."

Harry held up his glass. "To Dumbledore."

Hagrid clinked his teacup with his as they both drank before Hagrid put his teacup down. "'Ow 'ave ya been dealin'?"

"Fine," Harry told him.

Hagrid snorted. "Like a duck on th' pond."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Like a duck on th' pond," Hagrid repeated. "Somthin' me dad always said. On th' surface of th' water, everythin' looks calm, but beneath it, those lil feet are churnin' as fast as they can."

Harry stared at him. "I guess that's an accurate description. Hagrid, with the attack on Diagon Alley over Christmas, it's like we're just waiting for the next bad thing. It's all we ever do is wait. We can't wait forever."

"No, I reckon we canna," Hagrid said. "But ya canna let yourself fall into th' quicksand either. Ya need ter relax an' be vigilant at th' same time."

"That's pretty much against everything Moody thinks. Be vigilant is his mantra."

Hagrid chuckled. "An' 'e's righ', but ya also 'ave ter be ready an' calm or th' quicksand will consume ya."

"What quicksand?" Harry asked, his brow furrowing.

Hagrid ran a dust-bin sized hand down his scraggly beard. "Somethin' yer mum always said ter me when she was letting school work get ter 'er. She said 'ow 'er dad always told her ter breathe an' not ter succumb ter th' quicksand."

At Harry's frown, he continued.

"It's when ya think everythin's fine. Then one thing goes wrong. An' then another. An' another. Ya try ter fight back, but th' harder ya fight, th' deeper ya sink. Until ya canna move… ya canna breathe… because yer in over yer 'ead. Like quicksand."

Harry swallowed. "I won't let it come to that. Uncle Sirius made sure that it wouldn't come to that. It's what the Order's for and… everything."

Hagrid nodded. "Aye, but not everythin's going ter go as planned an' we gotta respect tha' as well. Things are goin' ter get worst before they get better. There's dark times ahead, 'Arry. Verra dark times. Dumbledor' understood tha'. Life's short."

Harry knew those words were truer than he wanted to admit. "Losing Uncle Sirius… it was like a part of me died with him, Hagrid. It was like as much as Voldemort has taken from me, it wasn't until that moment that he truly took my childhood. It could be me next. He wants it to be me next and I know that even though I'm training hard and trying to learn everything I can to fight him, it might not be enough. He's a powerful wizard. With Dumbledore gone, he's probably the most powerful wizard in the whole world and I have to fight him. I have to go up against him and I have to…" Harry trailed off and swallowed, his green eyes fierce as they looked into Hagrid's beady ones. "I'll be ready, Hagrid, and I'll make sure that I take as many Death Eaters with me as I can. Voldemort too if I can manage it. I'll go down fighting, I can promise you that."

"Spoken both like yer mother an' father's son an' Sirius' true godson at tha'!" Hagrid declared, lifting his glass. "But 'Arry, fightin' isna only 'bout sacrifice, it's 'bout survival firs' an' foremos'. Don't forget tha'."

"I won't," Harry assured him, finishing off his whisky laced tea.

"Good," Hagrid said. "'Cause I think I know a feisty lil redhead who will drag ya back from th' grave if ya up an' die on her."

Harry's lips curved. "Yeah, even if it's only to kill me herself."

Hagrid laughed and poured himself some more whisky. "Isn't love grand?"

Harry clinked his glass with Hagrid's again and thought yeah, love was bloody grand. He knew that according to Dumbledore, it was love that would get him through it, but he also knew that love couldn't be the only weapon. He would fight him, without a doubt, and he would take as many of his followers out as he could along the way.

He wasn't going to let Voldemort win even if he had to die trying.

That was a promise he would make.

~ ASC ~

While Harry was enjoying his tea with Hagrid, Theo found himself sitting across from Sebastian in a Muggle pub in Edinburgh. They were eating Shepherd's Pie and drinking pints of Newcastle brown ale. Theo filled Sebastian in on his week and was explaining his thrill in finally mastering the Patronus Charm.

"Harry really is a great teacher," Theo explained. "When I finally did it, it felt like this amazing thing! Of course, I'm sure performing it in front of Dementors is different, but still, it's a stepping stone."

Sebastian nodded. "I agree. Patronuses are not easy to perform. There are a lot of witches and wizards who never progress past the mist at all. Sometimes the mist is strong enough to escape, but often it's not. It's why Dementors and Lethifolds are so dangerous."

Theo made a sound of agreement as he took a sip of his beer.

"So, anything else exciting this week?"

Theo shook his head. "Sadly, no. Schoolwork and such. I'm getting anxious to just write my NEWTs and be done with it all. I bet your week was way more exciting."

Sebastian's lips curved. "You'll miss it. Being in school."

"Doubt it," Theo said. "How was your week?"

"Nothing too exciting either," he said. "Interrogations and more discussions on how to keep the different magical villages safe in case of another attack."

"Do you think another one will be attacked?"

"Yes," Sebastian said. "But there's a few to choose from and even if we guess the right place, we don't know when it will happen. It makes it difficult to predict. All we can do is be as prepared as possible for when it does."

Theo nodded. He couldn't imagine how difficult it must be to try to predict the working plans of a mad man. "Do you like being an Auror?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Sebastian's brow furrowed. "Well, I like the challenge of it, I suppose. I like trying to figure things out and I like knowing that I had a part in helping someone, no matter how big or small. I'm stopping the injustice in the world."

"Sometimes, yeah, but not always. It seems like there are always injustices in the world."

"The world isn't perfect, Theo," Sebastian said, his eyes locked on his. "It will never be perfect. When you stop one, another rises. But you learn from the past and you just have to hope that every person you help will go on to help another."

Theo smiled. "You're a genuinely good guy, you know that? Optimistic about the common good in people. It's rare to see."

Sebastian scoffed. "I'm just doing my job. Want another ale?"

Theo nodded and Sebastian walked over to the bar to get them two more pints. Theo watched him. His tall physique made him stand out, easy to spot in the crowd. Not to mention that Theo thought the dark denim he wore made his behind look great. His eyes went to his hair, lightly gelled to give it that wet, casual look and he smiled. Being here with him made him very happy.

When Sebastian returned with two pints for them, Theo spoke.

"So, over the holiday I heard a few interesting things about you."

"Oh?"

"I met Misha Zacarias. He said that he'd met you when you went to Russia with your boyfriend."

Sebastian frowned. "That was a long time ago, but yes. I'm working with Zacarias again now. He's a good man with unparalleled instincts."

"Why were you in Russia or is that more classified information?"

Sebastian's lips twitched. "I was nineteen and stupid in love with Clark. Clark is a criminal behaviour specialist in the MIA and was asked to go to Russia to help with this smuggling ring that had ties all over the world. They were smuggling in magical creatures along with witches and wizards and trafficking them for this underground sex ring. It was beyond awful. Anyway, I asked if I could go with him; figured I could help and it would give me an excuse to practice my Russian, but mostly I just wanted to be with him."

"How long were you together?" Theo asked.

"Almost a year," Sebastian admitted. "I met him when I was eighteen and I fell for him hard. But he didn't feel the same way. Durant and Yeona both didn't like him, but I ignored them. I'd been with Clark for months before I even met D and J and I figured they didn't know what they were talking about. Anyway, Clark cheated on me and we broke up."

"I'm sorry," Theo said.

Sebastian shrugged. "It's been over two years, I'm over it and him. He's good at his job, but a shitty boyfriend."

Theo's lips curved. "Sounds like it."

"How did you run into Misha?"

"His daughter is a friend of a friend," Theo said. "He also mentioned something about you being presented with a Wand of Valour for something that happened in Kuwait?"

Sebastian blushed. "Oh, that. It was nothing."

Theo raised an eyebrow. "Sure doesn't sound like nothing. Wand of Valour's are only presented to people who show exemplary courage in the face of danger. What exactly did you do?"

Sebastian bit his lip. "It was… I can't really talk about it."

"Can't because it's classified or can't because you're blushing adorably right now?"

Sebastian's eyes narrowed. "Okay, fine. There was this mission that we were working on in Kuwait and something went wrong. One of our spies turned coat and we had to get out before everything went down. D and J were both with me and we all had to split up. There was someone who wanted to take down the ministry, a petty dark lord if you will, and he attacked with the help of this wizard that turned. We were escaping the ministry, evacuating people out just to be safe and I don't know I just had this feeling that something was off; that I'd missed something."

"Like what?"

"I wasn't sure," Sebastian admitted. "I just knew that there was something so I went back in. I was doing a search as I went, making sure everyone was truly out and then I found them. Two little kids, couldn't have been older than five or six. They were hiding under this desk and I got them to come with me just as an explosion rocked the building. I carried them out and apparently that was worthy of some stupid award."

Theo stared at him. "You saved two kids."

Sebastian shrugged. "Anyone else would have done the same. I was just doing my job, but the MIA deemed it was very courageous and well, I ended up with this award."

Theo's lips curved. "You're kind of adorable, do you know that?"

Sebastian glowered. "I just don't think that I needed this award for doing my job. I pulled out two kids, it was no big deal."

Theo had a feeling there was more to this story than Sebastian was letting on, but he decided to let it slide because the Auror was clearly embarrassed. "All right. I won't pry into your heroic acts. Let's go back to you speaking Russian."

He cleared his throat and reached for his pint. "When I got into the MIA, one of the first things they do is put you through language training. I already had a few languages under my belt so, it wasn't as hard to learn more." At Theo's look, he smiled. "French, English, Latin, Italian, and Spanish. Beauxbatons offered lots of language classes as being in the south of France there's a wide variety of cultures. I also took Mermish, but I wouldn't say that I'm fluent in it. More like I know maybe twenty words."

"Wow. Now you can add Russian to the list."

"Mmhm," Sebastian said. "And a few more. Languages are important for the MIA."

"What other ones?"

Sebastian began to count on his fingers as he looked thoughtful. "Um, German. Korean. Hindi. Japanese. Mandarin. Arabic. Oh, and I can sign pretty decently and I know a smattering of Gaelic."

"Now you're just bragging," Theo teased.

Sebastian smiled. "Maybe a little. As I said, languages are a big part of the MIA. When we're on a mission, we have to be able to assimilate into that place. Speaking the language like a native helps. You can only go so far with translation charms. A lot of extra work goes into learning languages on the side. I still study a lot."

"That is true," Theo said. "Well, as a proper pureblood lord, I can claim to speak French, Italian, and Latin, but not anything else."

"Still impressive."

Theo shrugged. "Depends on the reasons you were taught them, right? I learned because I had to. My father used to come home and demand that I only speak to him in the language I was studying that day and if I didn't do it correctly or forgot a word it was the end of the world in his eyes."

Sebastian frowned. "He wanted you to learn."

"Sure, couldn't have me embarrassing him. Kiki was a great help. After my mum died, that elf did everything for me. She helped me study and found me tutors when I struggled. She took me shopping and on trips to see important landmarks when I studied them. She always made sure that I was happy. I don't know what I would do without her. When I took over the title of Norfolk, the first thing she did was rearrange the master suite, removing everything that was my father's and moving my stuff in. She has faith in me."

"She sounds like an extraordinary elf."

"She is," Theo said, his lips curving. "You know, one time I really wanted to go to Berlin, so she just took me. We visited museums and art galleries. Kiki always made me learn something before she'd let me go shopping. Said shopping was my treat. Now she just shakes her head when I bring stuff home."

Sebastian grinned. "I did notice that about you. Bit of a shopping problem."

"I like clothes," Theo reasoned.

"I can see that," Sebastian said. "So, other than shopping, can I spend the day with you tomorrow?"

Theo bit his bottom lip. "See, now that you took shopping off the table, I don't know if it will be worth it."

Sebastian reached across the table to brush his fingers over his. "Spend the day with me. I want to learn everything about you."

"You did that already when you asked me a million questions during our lunches," Theo teased.

"Okay, I had that coming," Sebastian admitted, an amused look on his face. "But I still want to learn everything about you. I want to spend as much time with you as I can. I want to kiss you again."

Theo's heart skipped in his chest. "I want that, too."

"Okay. Breakfast tomorrow and then you're mine for the day," Sebastian said.

Theo nodded. "Will you tell me where we're going?"

"No."

"Bas, you are very infuriating, do you know that? I'm not a big fan of surprises."

"Good to know," Sebastian said as he put money on the table and stood up.

Theo followed him from the pub, smiling when their hands linked. "Does that mean that tonight's done then?"

Sebastian turned to look at him. "Not if you don't want it to be."

"Do you? Want it to be?" Theo whispered.

Sebastian stepped closer, his blue eyes staring into his. "No."

Theo swallowed. "It's late. Nothing is really open except for more pubs."

"Yes," Sebastian said. "We could um… you could come to mine and we could have… tea."

Theo stared at him. "Go to yours?"

Sebastian nodded, a hand reaching around to rub the back of his neck. "Yeah, er, just for tea of course. I mean, I don't mean I want to, you know… I just meant tea and it's a quiet place where we can talk."

"Talk," Theo repeated, his eyes on Sebastian. The fluttering of desire in his gut intensified and he suddenly thought that going to Sebastian's flat was a very bad idea. "There's a tea shop down the way," he said quickly. "They're open until midnight."

Sebastian nodded, biting his bottom lip. "Right, better idea. Let's go there."

They walked in silence down to the tea shop before they stepped inside. Theo ordered himself an earl grey tea with milk, keeping his eyes on Sebastian as he ordered an english breakfast with honey. They sat at a small table by the window before Sebastian spoke.

"Sorry I… I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"You didn't," Theo said quickly. "It's just… I always seem to be jumping in too fast and I want the chance to get to know you and… if I go to your flat, I'll be tempted to move things faster."

Sebastian licked his bottom lip. "I get that. I can't say I blame you for that. I don't want to rush this either. I want… I like you."

"I like you, too," Theo admitted, reaching across the table for his hand. "And I want to enjoy getting to know you."

"Me too," Sebastian said.

Theo hadn't realized how much he'd been holding his breath until Sebastian's words made him release it. He took a sip of his tea, his eyes on where his thumb was stroking against Sebastian's. He didn't know what it meant that he wanted to keep touching him, but he felt calmer when they were touching. He felt more at peace. Not to mention that touching him in any capacity made him feel strangely happy in ways that he couldn't articulate.

Sebastian's eyes bored into his. "So, on our first date you told me that you loved Anguilla the best out of all of the places you've been because of the company. Tell me about it. I've never been there."

Theo smiled. "It was beautiful. I'd love to go back one day. It was so… blue."

"Blue?"

"Yes," Theo said. "The sky, the ocean, everything… it was breathtaking. The weather was warm and the house we stayed in was beautiful. Ginny and I spent our time swimming and dancing with these Muggles we met. It was just very freeing. A holiday that I really needed and it made the place seem that much more magical."

"Sometimes it's more about the feeling the place gives us than the place itself. I think for me, I found that in Tuscany. My sister and I took the whole family there for two weeks about two years ago. We rented this big cottage and we were all on top of each other, but it was great. We just relaxed and played games and read and took some time for ourselves. Not to mention I think that's the last time I went anywhere for myself. I travel a lot, but I would never claim them as holidays."

"Do you get to, you know, take an hour and go sight-seeing or buy souvenirs?"

"Sometimes, but not always. It depends on the case," he replied.

Talk turned to places they both wanted to travel and things they'd always wanted to do. They talked about their friends and Sebastian opened up about Beauxbatons.

"It's in the south of France, by the Pyrenees, and it's a huge château. Gardens surround it on every side including low hedges that a lot of the older students used to sneak out into to snog."

"Oh?"

"Of course, I would never," Sebastian teased. "One time, my friend Philippe and I were caught drinking red wine out there and received detention for a week. We were sevens, but drinking outside was still frowned upon."

"Hogwarts just has old ghosts and endless terrain. Between the Forbidden Forest and the Black Lake, it's just uneven ground and beautiful trees. We definitely don't have a majestic garden."

"I didn't say it was majestic."

"It was implied," Theo said. "Aren't the French really posh like that?"

"Some of them," Sebastian agreed. "And yeah, I guess the gardens were kind of majestic. There were fountains."

"Fountains? As in more than one?"

"Seven large ones and I think another seven smaller ones scattered around. The gardens are part of the protective warding around the château. They come right out of the mountains and the Muggles only see the mountains and not the secret garden that leads to the palace."

"When we had the TriWizard tournament at Hogwarts I remember seeing the Beauxbatons students arrive in these elaborate carriages pulled by giant winged horses."

"Yup," Sebastian said. "Our headmistress was very fond of them. I was at Hogwarts actually for the tournament."

"You were?" Theo exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise.

"I was," he said. "I was a seventh year and I signed up hoping that I could prove my worth, but Fleur was chosen. She deserved it. I mean when her name was picked, none of us were even surprised. She's brilliant. She had top marks in Charms and Transfiguration."

"But you signed up?"

"Yeah," Sebastian said. "It seemed like the right kind of stupid and reckless thing to do at the time. I was looking for a challenge."

"I can't believe you were at Hogwarts the whole year and we never even met."

Sebastian smiled. "It wasn't like we ran in the same circles. Those of us who weren't picked for the tournament went back to our studies. I was taking extra lessons on defence and languages and doing my best to get noticed by the Auror Academy. I applied to the one in England and in Paris."

"I remember a lot of the Beauxbatons students bitching about the cold and the unseemly atmosphere of the ghosts."

Sebastian chuckled. "Our school was in a palace-like château in the south of France. We had warm weather pretty much year round. Of course, I grew up in Ireland so the cold wasn't as much of a shock to me. Beauxbatons doesn't have ghosts either, but we did have a choir of wood nymphs that loved to serenade us during meal times."

"Wood nymphs?" Theo repeated in amusement.

"Yeah," he admitted. "They were really good and loved to sing. It could sometimes be annoying when you wanted to talk to a friend because you had to keep your voice low. They got really offended if you interrupted their performance."

"When you say palace-like château do you mean like a big castle like Hogwarts or like Buckingham Palace?"

"More like Versailles," Sebastian admitted. "It's a huge white château, but when you go inside it's this glittering world of French high class. The walls are all carved and there are paintings everywhere. The floors were almost all marble and we had crystal dishes to eat off of. The classrooms were full of mirrors and all of the desks were from the reign of the Sun King."

"Posh," Theo said.

"Over the top posh," Sebastian admitted. "But it was what the school has always been. My dorm had these carved canopy beds with huge fluffy pillows. I remember coming home in first year and telling my dad about them and he told me that the French didn't know how to sleep on normal beds."

Theo chuckled. "It sounds beautiful."

"It is," Sebastian said. "But I thought that Hogwarts was beautiful, too. I loved the drafty old castle and the ghosts always had the most interesting stories. The library at Hogwarts is twice as big as the one at Beauxbatons and I loved watching the Giant Squid play in the lake. Every school has its quirks, right?"

"I suppose," Theo said. "Each house at Hogwarts has their own unique personality as well. Slytherin for example, we're in the dungeons."

Sebastian raised his eyebrow. "That hardly sounds comfortable."

Theo chuckled. "No, it's great. There's this bare stretch of stone wall and you have to know the password to get in. Then the stones part to reveal this large archway. You go down another ten stairs and they widen more and more until you reach the pit. It's this huge room with green lamps hanging from the ceiling and a massive fireplace. There's a big portrait of Salazar Slytherin over the fireplace with a giant serpent. It's a little too over the top in my opinion, but he was the founder. Anyway, the walls are all rough stone with old tapestries hanging around. The pit is full of big comfortable couches, love seats, armchairs, and cushy lounge chairs. There's a few tables scattered about and a huge area rug in green and silver. It's actually quite homey."

"For the dungeons," Sebastian teased.

Theo bit his lip. "No shackles, I swear. The boys dorms are on the left and you go lower into the dungeons. Winding staircases that lead you to each year's rooms. The sevens are on the third landing. You keep your same room every year, the seventh year dorm becomes the new first year dorm the next year. It's nice to always come back to the same room."

"Do you get a massively comfortably canopy bed decked out in fluffy pillows?"

"No," Theo said, chuckling. "Just a four-poster with dark green velvet curtains. The beds are narrow, but comfortable. Dark green and silver striped sheets with a thick green velvet blanket. Then we have thick quilted duvets with the Slytherin logo on top. We have our own wardrobe, a small study area with a desk and a chair. The one wall is made entirely out of glass."

"Glass?"

"Yeah, really thick glass like we're in an aquarium and you can see right into the Black Lake. It's really beautiful. On a sunny day, it just lights up the whole dorm which used to annoy Crabbe to no end. Though, it doesn't matter much now as I have the entire dorm to myself."

"Why?"

"All of them are gone," he whispered. "Vince is a Death Eater. He left school over Christmas in sixth year. So is Greg. I don't even know if they're both alive. Draco and Blaise are gone so, it's just me."

"Greg Goyle's alive," Sebastian told him. "He was arrested soon after Pansy turned herself in. He's in the Azkaban Crypt."

Theo's eyes widened. "Oh. Well, that's something then."

"Is he your friend?"

"No," Theo admitted. "We shared a dorm for six years, but I wouldn't consider us friends."

"Why not?"

Theo shrugged. "He was always quiet and kept to himself. He was always friendly enough I suppose, but never more than that. He's the one who got word to my father about me being gay."

"And that was bad?"

Theo shrugged again and leaned back in his seat. "I don't blame Goyle for outing me. I know how hard it is to keep your father off of your back. I never felt he did it out of malice. He was just a loner. What surprises me is that Parkinson fell for him. She was always the mean girl and she never would have given him the time of day. But she married him and from my little moments with her, it seems she loves him. I never saw that coming."

"Why not?"

"Pansy is just so… high maintenance. She always wanted to be with the people who had the most money and be seen with the best. I always imagined she'd end up married to someone like Blaise. Not actually Blaise, but someone like him, though probably like forty years older."

Sebastian chuckled. "Forty years older seems a bit excessive."

"You know what I mean, someone who would take care of her and basically let her do her own thing. It's just that I never imagined Goyle. I mean for one thing, he's like this quiet mountain and she's this tiny little witch with a big mouth and a loud personality. It's weird and yet it totally works. She's happy."

"And she's safe now," Sebastian said. "From what I understand she's upset about her shop, but she's safe."

Theo nodded. "Yeah. What about you? Do you still talk to your old dorm mates?"

"Sometimes," Sebastian said. "There were seven of us and we all got on, but only Philippe and René were good friends of mine. Philippe works in the French ministry's administration department and René moved to Italy and took a job as Potioneer. We exchange letters, but we aren't close like we were. I think I heard that Anton is running a hotel in a posh magical village outside of Paris. Alex is working for the Le Miroir Quotidien, the French newspaper. Germain works for Gringotts in London and I think Ethan is working with magical creatures in New Zealand."

"Letters are nice though."

Sebastian shrugged. "As I said, we were friends, but I don't know, time just caused us to drift apart. Durant and Yeona are more like family. We just hit it off and they are the best friends I've ever had."

"I hope I don't lose touch with my friends."

Sebastian smiled. "Life will get in the way, but I think that you'll always be close. With how you talk about them, I can see how much you care about them and they about you. You'll be fine."

Theo hoped so. He didn't want to think about a future where he didn't have Draco and Blaise or Ginny and Harry or even Colin or Luna around. Hell he'd even miss Neville and he considered him more of acquaintance than a close friend.

When the tea shop claimed they were closing, the two of them walked out into the dark street, hand in hand. Theo turned to say something but his mouth was covered with Sebastian's before he could. His hands automatically slid around Sebastian's waist, sliding up his back under his cloak and he pressed himself closer.

Sebastian's hands slid over his back as that hot mouth met his over and over again. The kisses were full of dark need, yet neither of them made any move to rush. Soft lips brushed against his and and Theo swallowed every sigh the Auror made, standing on his toes to get closer. He never wanted to let go. He never wanted to stop kissing him. It was like this was the absolute bliss he'd been waiting for all night.

Someone whistled and they broke apart. Sebastian cupped his cheek in his hand.

"Breakfast at eight?"

Theo nodded. "Breakfast at eight. Apricity Spread?"

Sebastian smiled. "Yeah. I'll meet you there."

"Will you tell me where we're going after that?"

Sebastian brushed his thumb over Theo's bottom lip, his eyes darkening when Theo kissed it. "No. See you tomorrow."

Theo shot him an annoyed look before he Disapparated, letting himself back up the bridge to Hogwarts. He really did hate surprises, but the thought of spending the whole day with Sebastian again more than made up for it. He couldn't stop grinning as Filch let him back into the school, asking the set security questions. When Filch demanded why he was grinning like a fool, he just smirked.

He was happy and he wasn't going to let anyone, not even the miserable old caretaker, take that away from him.

~ ASC ~

After leaving Hagrid's, Harry made his way back up to Gryffindor. He still didn't see Ginny in the common room so he figured that he'd head upstairs and get ready for bed as it was already past ten. He enjoyed a brisk ice cold shower and had just changed into sleep pants when she poked her head in the door.

"Can I come in?"

"Definitely," Harry said, eyes on the closed and surprisingly silenced curtains surrounding Dean's bed. "Did you get everything done you wanted?"

"A little," she admitted. "Sometimes when I start writing, the words get away from me." She walked over to stand in front of him, sliding her hands up his bare chest. "You showered."

"Yes," Harry said. "Cold showers are my best friend lately."

Ginny bit her lip, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "How unfortunate."

"You are a complete minx, Ginny Weasley."

Ginny slid her hands down his chest, playing with the waistband of his pyjamas. "You've been very patient with this bet."

Harry scoffed. "I don't think patient is the right word."

Ginny smiled and sat on his bed. Harry sat next to her, taking his time to close the heavy curtains and put a privacy and silencing charm up.

"I didn't say that I was staying," she teased.

Harry placed his hand on her thigh. "Who said that I was going to let you leave?"

Her lips curved as she kissed him, returning her hands to his chest and pushing him back onto the bed. A small moan escaped him when she lowered herself on top of him to kiss him more thoroughly. Harry let his hands find their way into her hair, gliding over her back and through the locks as they kissed. His legs parted automatically to give her room and she settled between them like it was the most natural move in the world. When Ginny's lips found his neck, he arched his head back.

"Come here," he said, trying to bring her back to his mouth.

Ginny ignored him and kissed his collarbone, taking her time to suck on the skin there. It sent the most delightful shivers over him and his cock twitched between them. Ginny rubbed herself over him as her lips moved down his chest. Harry let out a slow breath, mentally trying to think of anything other than the feel of his girlfriend's mouth; her body pressed over him. Merlin, he'd almost made it the whole week, he wasn't going to lose now. When that sweet mouth kissed a circle around his belly button, his breath hitched.

"Gin… come here," he repeated, cupping her cheek in an attempt to drag her back to his mouth.

"No," she said, planting soft open-mouthed kisses over his tattoo.

Then a small hand was pushing his pyjamas down along with his boxer briefs and touching him. He shot up into a sitting position.

"Ginny! Seriously, a bet's a bet. I can hold off. Just one more day. One. More. Day…"

Maybe, he thought.

Merlin, that sounded like an eternity with Ginny right here…

With her hands touching him…

"Well, I can't!" Ginny huffed as she held her hand over him, her brown eyes on his. "This bet was stupid, Harry."

He bit his lip as her thumb began to glide along his shaft. "Ugh." He grabbed her wrist, his thumb brushing the underside to stop her motions. "Wait, are you just… you want me to lose again?"

"No!" she insisted, her eyes blazing. "I miss you," she said, moving her hand out of his grasp to touch him again. Her fingers applied a little more pressure and he let out a strangled breath. "I don't want to wait another entire day just to touch my boyfriend."

"Maybe I should make you suffer then? You can't touch me and I can't… oh." He bit his lip as her thumb began to glide along his shaft. "Ugh, no, pretend I didn't say anything. Don't listen to me. I'm a bloody moron."

Her fingers wrapped around him now, teasing his tip and he fell back against his pillows.

"Gin… fuck, I almost forgot how brilliant that feels."

Ginny smiled, her other hand joining the first as she began to stroke him. "It was wrong of me to even suggest this horrible bet."

"Mmm," Harry said as her hands began to pump him.

"In fact," she continued, teasing her nails over his balls. "I think the only way to make it up to you would be to touch you. A lot."

He moaned, biting his bottom lip when she began to pump him faster.

"To taste you," she continued. "All of you. Or do you still want me to stop?"

Harry made a strangled sound of disagreement in the back of his throat as her mouth lowered down to him. Stop? Was she bloody mad? He didn't care that he was about to lose their stupid bet. All he could think about right now was how perfect it felt to have her mouth wrapped around him and all he could do was hold on. After almost a full week of holding back, he could barely hold it together. He managed to touch her cheek in warning only half a second before he finished. Ginny held him in her mouth, warm hands on his thighs as he rode out his orgasm. She kissed her way up his chest when he finished, resting her chin on his sternum.

"I owe you a few million of those at least."

Harry smiled. "I mean, I won't say no, but a few million is hardly necessary."

Ginny ran her nails over his tattoo, tracing every line. Her cheek rested over his heart, their legs entwined together and his soft cock pressed against her stomach. Harry took a moment to catch his breath, sighing happily as he ran his fingers through her hair.

"I've missed you," she murmured.

"I've been right here," Harry told her, kissing the top of her head. "Well, I've been between your legs actually." She hit him and he laughed. "Hey! I didn't hear any complaints about it."

"No complaints," Ginny assured him. "I've had a very good week of you taking care of me. I've been very happy, but it's not the same when it's just me. I like when we… take care of each other."

Harry brushed her hair behind her ear. "Me too."

Ginny kissed him. "I have to get back to my room."

Harry held her closer and pinned her beneath him. "No."

"I told you, my roommates have been saying things."

"Don't care," Harry said, kissing her throat. "You just said you've missed me. Stay."

Her brown eyes darkened when his mouth sucked on the pulse in her throat.

"Harry…"

He shifted and he knew she felt his growing erection by the look in her eyes. "Stay."

She pushed him back over, laughing as they both almost fell off the small bed. She straddled him, grinning when he kicked off his pyjamas and boxers entirely before she pulled her jumper over her head. Harry let his hands slide up to hold her breasts in his hands through her bra and she bent down to kiss him again.

Then those hands were on him, stroking and touching in ways designed to drive him mad. He kissed her deeply, their tongues meeting in slow strokes in time with her hands on his cock. Harry molded her breasts to his hands, squeezing and fondling and when her hands began to pick up the rhythm around him, he broke their kiss.

"What?" she asked, slowing her strokes. "You okay?"

Harry nodded, his eyes on those pale freckled hands as they stroked him. "Yes. Merlin, watching you do that is… oh fuck."

Ginny's blazing look met his and he bit his lip in an attempt to stop himself from losing it. He couldn't take his eyes off of those small hands, watching how his hard cock rose in and out of them again and again and he moaned.

"Ginny…"

Ginny met his gaze, her hands working faster. Then with one last wink, she bent her head and used her mouth. Harry's hands fisted into the sheets on either side of him, his head arching back as he bit back a groan. Thank Merlin, she'd decided to end this stupid bet. Thank Merlin that his girlfriend was just as much of a randy, needy bugger as he was. Her tongue moved in just the right away across his tip and he grunted. When he finished a second time, she snuggled up into his arms, tugging the blankets up around them. Ginny snuggled into his chest and he kissed the top of her head.

"I love you, Harry," she whispered, kissing his chest.

"Love you, too," he murmured before he fell asleep to the flowery smell of her hair under his nose, thinking that sometimes losing was definitely worth it.

~ ASC ~

Harry headed down to Slytherin's Chamber during his free period on Wednesday afternoon. The last few days had been a whirl of exercise regiments, school work, and snogging his girlfriend at every possible opportunity. Now that the bet was off, her hands and mouth had been doing things to him that he couldn't even imagine. Just the other day she'd sucked him off right in the middle of the Hogwarts Herald office. Colin had given them a knowing look when they'd unlocked the door.

They'd been meeting every morning at half past five to go for a run and they ended every run with a cool down followed by a hot snogging session and a shared shower. The sound Ginny made when he pinned her against the wall to hike her legs over his shoulders so that he could use his tongue properly was enough to keep him going for weeks. She was spending almost every other night in his bed and there was nothing he enjoyed more than holding her close while they slept and waking her with his tongue.

Harry thought that the year was starting off quite well in that regard. He was feeling extra pep in his step as he made his way down to the chamber. Ginny had tugged him into a broom cupboard after lunch to suck him off before her class. Harry was definitely enjoying the freedom of this bet being over.

Remus had asked him to head down to the Chamber this afternoon at breakfast and Harry had only frowned when his father hadn't provided any more information on why. He made it down to the bottom and went through the circular door carved in serpents, surprised to find Misha standing down there with Kingsley Shacklebolt, Mad-Eye Moody, and Rex Higgins.

"Er, hi," Harry said as he approached them. "What's going on?"

"Ah, good!" Misha exclaimed. "He's here!"

Kingsley gave him a small nod as Higgins bounced on his feet next to him. "Harry, glad you could make it."

Harry's eyes met Misha's. "Papa, what's going on?"

Misha cleared his throat. "I vas thinking about the talk ve had and the fact that I know vhat you're capable of. I think you have so much potential, Harry, and yet vhen you find yourself in dangerous situations, you don't use that potential. You tend to fall back on old reliable spells and hexes."

Harry frowned. "I don't understand."

"I vant to see vhat you can really do, Harry," Misha said. "No more holding back. No more excuses."

"With Voldemort trying to take more power, it's only a matter of time before he tries to attack the school," Moody said gruffly. "We all know that he's going to try to come here. Hogwarts is where he considers the power to lie, even more so than the Ministry of Magic. He wants the bloody power of being able to brainwash the masses from a young age. When he comes here, we need the Chosen One to be able to stand up to him."

"I have stood up to him," Harry declared. "I've fought him."

"Da," Misha said. "But you haven't really stood up to him the vay ve know it's going to come down to."

Harry swallowed. "Like Dumbledore did."

Kingsley's dark gaze met his. "Potter, we don't expect you to take him down single-handedly, but the fact of the matter is, you're his main target. We can hide you and make you go undercover, but we both know that you're not going to stand for that. He's going to come after you and when he does, you have to be able to fight him. Whether to hold him off to let others do the job or take him out yourself, you still have to be able to duel against him successfully. It's not going to be a matter of stunning him and petrifying him. You need to show him why he's right to be afraid of you."

"I can do that," Harry said, a determined look on his face. "I'm willing to do that."

"Da, you can," Misha said, proudly. "Vhich is vhy the four of us are here today. You're going to fight us."

Harry's eyebrows rose. "Fight you? All of you?"

Moody's mangled lip curled. "Worried you can't take us, Potter? I can assure you, I may look like an old man, but I've got a wicked way with my wand."

"Higgins is one of our best new Aurors. He was trained by Moody at the academy and then worked under Tonks. I'm the Head of the Auror Department. Moody is the best Auror the department's seen in fifty years in terms of criminal solve rates. Misha was an Auror in Russia before he ran the department and now is working for the MIA. We're not amateurs. We're not your fellow students," Kingsley declared.

Harry let out a slow breath, suddenly feeling very apprehensive about his skills. "All right. Who's first?"

Moody chuckled. "No, Potter. It's not about who's first. You'll be taking all of us on."

"At the same time?" Harry retorted, his eyes wide.

"We'll try not to hurt you," Higgins said, his friendly smile turning into a smirk.

Misha placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Ve need to see vhat you're truly capable of. You're not a child anymore, but a man. You've been up against things no one your age should ever have been and yet you did them much younger. You say you vant to be an Auror and that's great, now show us vhat you can do."

Harry nodded. "Okay."

Moody's gruff voice made him turn towards the old Auror. "All right. We're not just going to attack you, Potter. Shacklebolt, Zacarias, and I have turned the obstacle course into a battle zone. There are tricks and illusions you will have to see through as well. People to help and people to hinder you."

"People?" Harry asked, startled.

"Illusions," Higgins corrected. "It's like an Auror test. You have to keep the illusions safe as well as yourself."

Harry had a feeling this was going to be much more difficult than he had originally anticipated. "All right."

Misha led him into the centre of the obstacle course as Moody waved his wand into the air making it darken. Storm clouds began to rise overhead and lightning lit up the room. He watched as Kingsley, Higgins, and Moody all disappeared into the course.

"Remember, Harry, it's all an illusion," Misha said. "But ve are very real. Ve will not be holding back. From anything."

Harry let out a slow breath and raised his wand in preparation. Good, this was exactly what he needed because the next time he faced Voldemort he was going to show him exactly why he should be worried about him. It was high time Voldemort figured out why Harry was the Chosen One and he was going to be ready for it.

End Author's Notes:

I do not own the quote from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I do not own my favourite quote from the movie The Replacements. And I couldn't resist adding in a little Goldman to the equation. If anyone would be interested it would be Hagrid, right?

Thanks to Sam for her great advice as usual!

Thank you for reading and please review!