Chapter 7 – March

Who ever said that March comes in like a lion must have had Hogwarts in mind. It didn't just hit like a lion, it hit like and entire pride of them. It began innocently enough, big fluffy flakes gently floating to the ground to cover it with a blanket of white.

It invited the students to indulge in all of the normal winter activities. Bob and I got dragged into a snowball fight against Ron and Hermione and Draco and Ginny. Actually, Draco ambushed me, I retaliated, Bob accidentally got hit, Ron started laughing and got hit square in the face by a missile that came somewhere from the vicinity of Bob, Hermione tried to defend him and hit Ginny and, well, pretty much that was the beginning of an all out war. It eventually involved half of Gryffindor, most of Slytherin and a generous sprinkling of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Little Professor Flitwick even got dragged into it and was charming snowballs with his wand.

However, as the night came on, the wind picked up and the fluffy snowflakes became a driving force to be reckoned with. By morning, it had turned to sleet that hit the windows of Gryffindor Tower coating them in a thick layer of ice.

By noon, the snow outside was about a meter and a half deep and it showed no signs of stopping anytime soon. By dinner time, Professor Dumbledore had asked the house elves to cast warming spells in the corridors, and every fireplace roared with warm cheery fires. However the students were still forced to wear their warm cloaks if they were in the castle corridors for any length of time.

Hermione took advantage of the time to nag us all about NEWT's, revising and homework. I looked sympathetically at Ron and shrugged my shoulders. Sorry, mate, but I have a date.

Hermione frowned at me. "Harry, you really need to work on…"

"Ahh, Hermione, I have a date with Bob and nothing you say is going to keep me here. Have fun!" I turned and left through the portrait hole with both Ron and Hermione glaring burn marks in my back; Hermione out of frustration and Ron out of envy.

As I made my way down to the Slytherin Common Room, I noticed that the corridors were colder than normal and the moisture that normally clung to the ceiling and walls had frozen forming tiny stalactites and frozen rivulet's working their way down the walls.

I was grateful that I had chosen to wear my heavy woolen cloak by the time I arrived at the Slytherin entrance. My breath revealed itself in white misty clouds and by the time someone answered my knock on the door to the common Room, I was ready to hex the next person I saw.

Blaize opened the door. "Hello, Potter!"

"Geez, Zabini, could it be any colder down here?"

"You Gryffs are just too soft. It makes us strong."

I followed him in and Pansy laughed. "No, Blaise, it just makes us cold. Hi, Harry. Roberta will be here in a minute."

"Thanks, Pansy. Hey, have you perfected transfiguring a teacup into a puppy yet?"

She rolled her eyes. "No, I'm not sure it can be done."

"Nonsense, of course it can. Bring me a cup." One of the first years brought me a teacup and I set it on the floor. I raised my wand and performed the intricate movements that were necessary, and a moment latter a brown and white puppy pranced around the room begging for attention from anyone who would acknowledge it. "It's all in the wrist motion."

I turned the puppy back into a teacup, but not before it left a little puddle of tea, or pee, on the floor of the common room; I'm not sure which.

Draco came up the steps from the dorms. "Gross, Potter, how about cleaning up that mess, huh?"

I waved my wand and it disappeared, then I looked at my friend. "And just where is your cousin?"

"She'll be here, where are you two going? It's not like you can leave or anything. This Bloody snow is making us all stir crazy."

I leaned over and whispered, "I'm planning on paying the one-eyed witch a visit."

"Oh! Let Ginny and I come too. I promise we won't cramp your style."

"Sure, I guess, but you better hurry."

Draco threw some Floo Powder into the fireplace. "Gryffindor Common Room," and stuck his head in the warm green fire, "Hello, Gryffindors?"

Hermione looked up from the table and put her head in the fire. "Malfoy."

"Granger, is Ginny around?"

"I believe so, hang on a minute." A couple of minutes later, Ginny leaned into the warm flames.

"Hey, Dray."

"Gin, can you meet me at the one-eyed witch in a couple of minutes?"

"Sure. I can use a break. I've been studying all day.

"Good, oh and bring your warmest cloak."

So it was that after about fifteen minutes, the four of us made our way through the witch's hump and into the passage way that lead to Honeydukes.

I let Draco and Ginny go on ahead and pulled Bob back slightly. "Hey, you."

"Hey, yourself," she smiled.

I put my arms around her waist and pulled her closer and kissed her like I hadn't seen her in ages. "I love you. I just thought you should know that."

She buried her face in my neck, and nibbled on my earlobe. "I know. You have good taste."

"Imp." I laughed.

She smiled. "You betcha."

We took our own sweet time getting to the candy shop. Finally we went up the stairs and entered through the trap door that Draco had left open for us.

The store was dark and no one appeared to be around except for Draco and Ginny. Draco leaned against the door and watched as our heads appeared behind the counter and looked around.

"It is only three in the afternoon, isn't it?"

Draco leaned insolently against the shop door and smirked. "Didn't think of this, did you Potter! The blizzard has the whole town shut down."

I laughed. "Well, I didn't hear any pearls of wisdom coming from your direction either, Malfoy!"

"This is brilliant!" I watched Bob with humor as she examined all the candy on display.

"Oooh, I want some of those chocolate peanuts, and the licorice wands, and some fizzing Wizbees and Bertie Botts, and…"

"Hold on a minute, Bob, where on Earth would you put all of that? You can't possibly eat that much candy!"

"Ahh, Potter, I wouldn't bet on that. You probably haven't seen her eat sweets before. You get her started she could probably get half way through the store and then some." Draco put in.

"No way! Look at her; she has a body to die for…" I turned to her, "…aren't you going to say something to him?"

"Like what, Harry?"

"Like he doesn't know what he is talking about."

"But he does! In fact, I would give Ron a run for his money."

I started laughing, "Yeah, all right, what ever you say, Bob."

Bob looked at her cousin and smirked. "I don't know, Draco. That sounds like a challenge to me."

Draco started laughing. "Me too. Potter is that a bet?"

I was shocked. "What?"

Ginny took my arm. "It's a bet. I've seen Harry eat a fair amount. In fact, I've got a galleon that says he will eat you under the table."

"What? No! Ginny, I'm not challenging Bob to an eating contest, and that's final!"

"You just don't think that you can beat me! That's all right, Harry. I understand."

"You've been challenged, Potter, are you really going to let your manhood be called into question?"

"You leave my manhood out of this, Malfoy."

Bob came up to me with a twinkle in her eyes. "That's OK, Harry, I understand. You don't want to be shown up by a girl. Let's just drop it."

"Are you calling me chicken?"

Draco laughed. "Buk buk buk bakeet!"

"Oh, you are so dead. All right Miss-thinks-she-can-beat-me, you're on. What are the stakes?"

"It's funny that you should mention that, Harry. If I win, I want the finest steak dinner that money can buy; complete with candlelight, roses, champagne, the works."

"That doesn't sound like a difficult thing to do. All right, I accept and I want the same from you, including a limo, with a driver. And do note, Miss. Malfoy, nothing around here is good enough. London…or better yet, Paris.

"How are we going to get to Paris, Harry?"

"Not up to the challenge? Well, that's OK. We'll just drop this then."

"Oh no you don't, Potter. OK, Paris it is."

Ginny giggled. "This is getting really good."

Then Draco whispered, but loud enough for me to hear him. "He is so easy to manipulate."

"I heard that, Malfoy. Why aren't you in on this? Ginny could wipe the floor with you."

"No way, she's too delicate and dainty."

"You are talking about Ginny Weasley, right?"

Ginny frowned at me. "Harry Potter, you watch your mouth; and Draco, what makes you think that I couldn't hold my own? I ought to hex you into next week."

Then I chimed in. "Or bet him that you could beat him that would show him. He's a lightweight. He could never beat you, Gin."

"So how about it, Malfoy, are you up to the challenge? Are you willing to take me on head to head?"

Draco smirked. "I'd rather take you on lips to lips."

"You are changing the subject. Do you concede that I am able to eat more than you can, thereby loosing the bet and paying the price for Paris, or are you going to stand up like a man and try to beat me?"

"I'll beat you in a minute!"

I saw my opportunity to drive the spur a little deeper. "Oooh, is that a threat? Ginny, I think he just threatened you."

Draco growled at me. "Shut it, Potter."

I just laughed.

Ginny looked at him. "Well, ferret boy?"

Draco grimaced. "Don't call me that. All right, you're on."

"Good, put your money where your mouth is, Malfoy. Five galleons up on the counter." I took five gold coins out and slammed them down on the counter and looked at him expectantly. "Well?"

"Why the money?"

"We have to pay for the stuff we take." I rolled my eyes. "C'mon, Malfoy, ante up."

"Ten galleons? We could almost buy the whole shop for that."

"Quit stalling, Malfoy. Put your money up so we can get out of here. We've probably set off all sorts of wards."

I watched him reach into his pockets and put down the amount I had indicated and we grabbed a bag and emptied the shelves of all the chocolate frogs.

We made our way back to Hogwarts, and headed to the Great Hall and upended the bag of frogs onto the Gryffindor table.

"All right, keep the wrappers so we can count how many we've had."

So the contest began. Of course at first it was just the four of us, but as it got closer to dinnertime, students began to come in. There was a pile of wrappers lying next to each of us.

Draco, was the first to fall. I looked at him and laughed. "Lightweight! Just like I said."

He only groaned. "Shut it, Potter, or I'll hex you ten ways to next Sunday."

I chuckled as I looked at him and deliberately stuck another frog into my mouth. He looked away and I think he turned green.

I rubbed my hands together. "OK one down and two to go."

Ron and Hermione came into the Great Hall and Ron grabbed a frog.

"Put that down, Ron." Ginny growled. "This is a contest." Then she popped another frog into her mouth with a triumphant look at me.

A short time later we were surrounded by most of Gryffindor and Slytherin houses, with a good portion of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw as well. There was a fair amount of money changing hands as the contest continued.

I laughed as Justin took gold coins out of his pocket. "I've got five on Potter."

Someone else chimed in. "I want in on that, Roberta will wipe the boards with him."

Colin laughed. "My money is on Ginny."

That started it. As the contest continued, every time one of us ate a frog, the stakes were upped.

I laughed as I watched all of this going on around us. "Hey, these two should get a portion of that action you know. After all, these two gorgeous young ladies are the victims here. As for me…" I shrugged, popped another frog into my mouth and looked at the two girls. "I get Paris."

Both of them growled and stuck another frog into their mouths. Bob's eyes narrowed. "In your dreams, Potter. You are so going down."

I waggled my finger at Bob. "No talking with your mouth full; very unattractive you know. Especially for a Malfoy. Isn't that right, Draco?"

She just rolled her eyes. Draco only groaned again.

Another fifteen minutes saw us all slowing down. Ginny unwrapped a frog and went to put it in her mouth, but her hand didn't quite reach it. "I can't do it." She put her head down on the table. "I'm out and I think I'm going to be sick." She quickly got up and ran out of the Great Hall.

Bob watched her go and smiled. "Two down and you're next, Potter."

"Not on your life, Malfoy!" Then I bit the head off of yet another candy.

Ten minutes later, Bob looked at the brightly wrapped sweet and put her head down with a decided groan. "I can't, I may never eat chocolate again."

I just laughed. "HA! Paris, here I come! I prefer my limos' in black, thank you very much." I got up and walked from the table and out the door of the Great Hall and barely made it to the boy's loo before my stomach rebelled and I lost everything in it.

When I left the table, Bob and Draco had their heads lying on their arms and looked decidedly worse for the wear.

I returned a few minutes later and picked up the one remaining frog and looked at it, "Well, it would be a shame to waste this…," I opened up the package and stuffed the entire thing into my mouth; much to the disgust of my companions. I just laughed.

I leaned over to the two prostrate Malfoys. "Want some chocolate you two? I have it on good authority that it helps, it really helps."

"Stuff it, Potter."

"I think Easter Hols should be a good time for a steak dinner. Ahh, Paris in the springtime."

Draco looked up at me. "Somebody kill him please. Where do you put it all, Potter?"

I looked as innocent as I could. "Put what?" I was immediately showered with a slough of frog wrappers.

Ginny came back into the hall looking deadly green and sat next to Draco. "I don't feel so good, Dray."

He put an arm around her and pulled her down next to him. "You'll be fine. Me, I'll be dead soon, so I'll be fine too."

I looked at Bob with a decided twinkle. "Oh and Bob, I seem to remember that I won another bet. When are you going to pay up?"

She groaned. "What are you talking about, Potter?"

"Oh, I seem to remember a game of stalk in the library not too long ago. When are you going to come clean my dorm room?"

She groaned again. "I'm not. You cheated so you didn't win."

I sat down next to her and kissed her cheek. "And you didn't cheat when Seamus was busy blowing up water."

"That was different."

"How?"

She thought for a moment then lifted her head and looked at me. "It just was."

I just laughed. "That's very convincing, Bob. You gonna grow up to be a lawyer?"

"Yes. Yes I am. Now, go away."

I pulled her hair away from her face and kissed her neck. "I think that maybe I can help you feel better."

"How? Are you going to kill me?"

"Oh, well, with kindness maybe!"

She turned that smile on me. "Oh yeah? What did you have in mind?"

"How about a nice cozy fire, a warm blanket and a nice long foot rub?"

She put her head on my shoulder. "That sounds wonderful."

I helped her stand up and put an arm around her. "We'll see you guys later." We went to Gryffindor Tower and I went up and got a blanket off of my bed and returned moments later.

We cuddled up on the couch and she promptly fell asleep as I administered the promised foot massage.

We both woke up several hours later when Hermione kissed my forehead. "Hey, Harry, you better wake up. It's time for bed!"

She giggled as I rolled my eyes. "Thanks, Mione. What would I do without you?"

"You know, I keep asking my self that same question."

I chuckled and took Bob's foot in my hand again. "Bob, wake up. I have to get you back to your dorm."

She kept her eyes closed. "No, I'm sleeping and I don't want to move."

I stood up and pulled the blanket off of her. "Come on, girl, get up."

She looked at me with one eye open. "You are very mean, do you know that?"

I smiled at her. "Thank you. I've been perfecting that trait for some time now. That means a lot, coming from you." Then I leaned over and got right in her face. "Get up!"

"No!"

"Alright, you asked for it. 'Windgardium Leviosa'" Bob floated off of the sofa and she snuffed at me.

"Harry Potter, you put me down."

I shrugged and flipped her upright and gently set her down on her feet.

She smiled evilly at me and put her arms around my neck. "I hate it when you are being self-righteous."

I whispered in her ear. "That wasn't being self-righteous. That was self-preservation. I have no desire to do detention with Filch for being out after hours."

She laughed outright at that.

I did my best to look affronted. "What?"

"Since when has that stopped you?"

I straightened up to my somewhat considerable height and looked as indignant as I could manage. "I'll have you know that I am the very essence of obedience. I never, ever, break the rules."

Everyone in the room cracked up including the first years. "Well, OK, maybe I bend a rule here and there…on occasion…but only when the situation warrants it."

She caressed my cheek. "Yes, love. You are the picture of obedience."

I stood up straight again and struck a pose with my chin in the air. "Got that right!"

Ron laughed. "Harry you've been spending too much time with Draco. You are channeling him."

I looked at Ron in mock affront. "Now you're just getting nasty! Come on Bob, let's go."

Ron and Hermione's laughter followed us out through the portrait hole.

Bob and I slowly sauntered through the corridors vaguely in the direction of the Slytherin Common Room. We turned a corner and ran across Crookshanks. Immediately, I watched the woman that I love turn into an utter idiot.

"Oooo c'mere Crookshanks. Who's a love? Aren't you just the cutest thing?"

That stupid cat…kneazel…kaneazel…whatever; jumped directly into her arms and allowed Bob to scratch him behind his ears and began to purr contentedly."

"Oh no!"

She looked at me concerned. "What?"

"You are one of them!"

She narrowed her eyes at me. "One of what, Harry?"

"A cat person!"

"Oh for heaven's sake, Harry, don't tell me you just don't wove dis widdle baby." She started nuzzling Crookshanks nose and I groaned.

"I may never kiss you again. Put that thing down, Bob. You might catch something…I may catch something."

She started laughing at me. "Oh now I've seen everything. Harry Potter is jealous of a cat."

"That's not just any cat. That's the demonic extension of Satan himself. That…that…thing took it into his head that 'Pig' was a late night snack and proceeded to tear up our dorm room trying to catch him. He caught him too. You know, come to think of it. I think he just has a thing against Ron. He's always after Ron's pets."

"Well, what happened to 'Pig'?"

"I grabbed Crookshanks and pried his mouth open and Ron picked up his owl. Hermione was yelling that we were hurting her baby and trying to scold him for chasing the owl. The other people in the room were helpless with laughter watching Ron and I chase that stupid cat. I think that Ron wants to hang that animal by his tail."

"Oh but he's such a cute baby, aren't you Crookshanks."

I just rolled my eyes. Then all conversation was cut short; the cat jumped out of her arms and arched his back and hissed. Both Bob and I stared into the shadows in the corridor and I grabbed my wand and pulled Bob behind me.

"Lumous! Who's there?"

We listened for a sound, but there was nothing. I watched Crookshanks streak away from us and disappear around a corner.

"Stay behind me, Bob." I started toward the shadows and swept a hand in front of us, searching for whatever was there. Not surprisingly, I found nothing.

"I wonder what that animal was on about?" I looked suspiciously back up the corridor, not believing for a moment that it was as empty as it seemed. "Come on, Bob. Let's get you back."

The two of us quickly made our way to her common room without much talking. We were only a few steps away from turning the corner that led to her dorms and we were stopped again.

"Well, well, well…if it isn't Mr. Potter. Out after hours again, are we?"

I looked at my watch. "Actually, no, I'm not. I still have five minutes."

"Ahh, but you can't make it back to your own dorm in time, can you, Potter?"

"I'll tell you what, Mr. Filch, I am going to say good night to my girlfriend. You wait right here and I will let you catch me out after hours and you can give me detention. How does that sound?"

He narrowed his eyes at me, but Bob and I entered the Common Room before he could say anything else. I started laughing. "I sure hope someone in here has Floo Powder!"

She was laughing too. "I think Dray does. Do you think he is still waiting?"

"Count on it. He wants me. Very, very badly."

Her eyes twinkled. "Who wouldn't?"

I just rolled my eyes. "Yuck, now that's a picture I could have gone a lifetime without."

Her eyes were still full of mischief. "Anyway, what did you do to Filch?"

"Well, at our last encounter, he had grabbed me and Draco by the arm, absolutely thrilled that he got us. I shook him off and called him an old duffer and snarled at him, then stormed off. And while he was sputtering at me, Draco did the same thing. We have never heard another word about it. I think he's out for revenge."

She laughed and shook her head. "It's not like you to act like that, Harry."

"Well, it was your fault you know; yours and 'The Prince's'."

"Oh. Ah, let's not talk about that, OK?"

"Good idea. So where is this Floo Powder?"

"I'll get it, hang on a minute."

I watched her run down the stone steps, leaving me in the Common Room. I noticed a third-year, whose name I didn't know, watching me closely. Then he slowly walked up to me.

"So, you're Harry Potter." He spit my name out like it was a foul taste.

I was a tad confused at the animosity but smiled at him anyway. "Yes, I am. You have me at a disadvantage. Your name is…"

He snarled at me. "None of your business, Gryffindor."

I shrugged. "Suit yourself."

"You think you're smart don't you? You think, 'Oh, I killed The Dark Lord', now I can strut into Slytherin anytime I want too and no one will say a word to me."

I kept my voice level to avoid a fight. "No, I think that you should calm down before you get into trouble."

"You can't tell me what to do!" He stepped closer and pushed me with both hands. "Get out! This is my dorm. It's bad enough that I have to share a school with you."

Just then Pansy came up the from the girls dorm and shook her head. "William! You will be quiet."

"No! What's he doing here anyway?"

I noticed that his eyes were shining with unshed tears. He turned back to me. "You ruined my life!"

Now I was totally confused. "How did I do that, William?"

"My parents were taken away by the Ministry when you killed 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named'. Now I am forced to live with an aunt and uncle who don't want me there."

I couldn't help it; my heart went out to this thirteen year old named William.

"I'm sorry, William. I know exactly what you are going through."

"I don't want your sympathy. I want you dead! You are a murderer."

"I'm sorry you feel that way, William. I won't argue with you about what I did. You don't have all of the information."

Pansy tried to lead him away but he would have none of it. He ran at me and I easily side stepped. He whipped his wand out and glared at me.

Bob chose that moment to come up the steps and caught the brunt of the Stupify spell that the boy fired. Luckily she was far enough into the room that she didn't fall down the steps.

Then things happened all at once. I disarmed him with a quick Expelliarmus spell.

Pansy stunned him.

Draco came up the steps and quickly pointed his wand at Bob. "Enervate."

He helped Bob to her feet before smirking at me. "Just another typical day for you, Potter? Eat, Go to classes, attack a Slytherin."

I pocketed my wand and looked at Draco. "I didn't attack him. Who is he anyway?"

"William Geoffrey Sandringham IV. His parents were Ministry of Magic officials; that is until you and Voldemort had your little party. They were investigated and arrested and are probably in Azkaban."

"Probably?"

"That's just it; no one knows what happened to them. His Aunt and Uncle sent him here, just because it was less expensive to send him to Hogwarts rather than Durmstrang, at least that's his story. He is not a happy chap."

Let's get back to this 'no body knows' thing. Surely, somebody must know."

Draco shrugged. "I'm sure someone must, but he doesn't, and no one who does is talking."

I looked at the boy across the room and approached him. "William, I'm going to release you but if attack me again, I'll stun you again. "Enervate."

"I don't need any favors from you, Potter."

"Of course you don't. I didn't hear you asking for any." I turned and looked at Bob. "Did you get…?"

"Floo Powder." She held out a small packet.

"Thanks, love. I'm going to get out of here. I don't want to distress Sandringham more than necessary."

Draco snorted. "Sandringham distresses himself."

"Come on, Draco. He's had it tough."

"So have we all, Potter."

"Yeah, but he's only thirteen. In any case, I'm out of here." I kissed Bob. "I'll see you tomorrow, love." I stepped into the Slytherin fireplace and within moments, I was in Gryffindor Tower.

The next morning, on my way to pick up Bob for breakfast, I saw Sandringham standing in the Slytherin Corridor talking. The problem was that there was no one there. I stayed back in the shadows and pulled out the pocket watch. It was quiet. I wished desperately that I could hear what Sandringham was saying and to whom he was talking. I thought about putting a Disillusionment Charm on myself, but even as I thought it, I saw Sandringham looked around then make his way in the direction of the Great Hall. I stepped back into the shadows so that he didn't see me as he passed.

I continued on my way down the Slytherin corridor and met Bob coming out of the common room. I kissed her on the cheek and put an arm around her waist. "Good morning, love of my life."

She beamed at me. "You always know just what to say to make my day, Harry."

"Get used to it. There's a lot more where that came from." We started off toward the Great Hall and I was quite. Bob, being the intelligent person that she is, picked up on my silence.

"Harry, are you OK?"

I nodded. "Yes love, I'm fine. Can I ask you about Sandringham?"

"I don't know a lot, but what I know I'll tell you."

"OK, how long has he been here?"

"Since January. He came in at the same time as Dmitry. He had been in Durmstrang too, but he transferred here. His Aunt and Uncle didn't want to keep him there. He says it's because it cost more than Hogwarts. But from what has been circulating, I think it's because they wanted to get him away from the Dark Arts. No one really knows for sure though."

"Hmm, well I just saw the strangest thing. Sandringham was talking to someone who was obviously in an invisibility cloak. It just looked suspicious especially in the light of the incident last night. I'd like to know what he is up too. If he came in the same time as 'the git', he may well be an extension of Lucius' plan. Draco said that Nicholas probably wasn't all that his father had up his sleeve.

"Well, if you like, I can get the Slytherins to keep a close eye on him. If he is getting up to things that he shouldn't, it could put us all in danger."

"That's a good idea, but not all of them. Ask just a few. The more people involved, the easier it will be for him to find out that he's being watched. So…I'm for breakfast. Interested?"

"Yes, I'm famished."

"Oh well, I have something that will tide you over 'til we get to the Hall." I reached into my pocket and dangled a chocolate frog in front of her.

It was mean. I know it was mean. And I'd do it again. I just watched her turn green.

"Ugh, get that out of my face Harry Potter."

I just laughed and tucked it back into my robe pocket as we continued on our way.

Sandringham was beginning to be a problem. He had been at the school since January and I had never seen him. Now, he was everywhere I went. If I went to the library, he was there. If I went to the Quidditch pitch, he was there. He even showed up when I was out with Bob on a date in Hogsmead. We had snuck out and were having a quiet dinner when he walked in. He looked around and his eyes landed on us for only a moment then continued their trek around the room. He finally took a seat at the bar and ordered a butterbeer.

"Now that is just weird. Bob, do you realize that that little cretin has had the audacity to follow me all over the place?"

She turned around and looked at the youth. Then she smiled and turned back to me. "He's not following you, Harry. He's following me. Ever since that episode when he stunned me, he has never been more than a few feet away. He feels guilty and is trying to protect me. He's harmless."

"No one is harmless, least of all, Sandringham. He is up to something; I feel it in my bones."

"Oh come on, Harry, he's only thirteen. What could he possibly do?"

I rolled my eyes and just looked at her. "Love of my life, you do remember who you are talking to, don't you? I was only eleven when I started causing trouble on a monumental scale."

She looked back at William, but he was now nowhere to be seen. "Where did he go?"

I looked over where he had been sitting and frowned. "I don't know. Let's see if we can find him, I'd really like to be warned if he is up to no good."

She actually rolled her eyes at me; me, Harry Potter, who has managed to survive all sorts of trouble every year since arriving within these hallowed walls of academia.

"Harry, let's just go back to the castle."

"Well, all right, if you just aren't Slytherin enough to…"

"Stop right there, Harry. You are not going to shame me into anything!"

Guilt is a wonderful tool. Did you know that? All I had to do was play to the Slytherin in her.

"I'm not trying to shame you into anything, Bob. I just never pictured you as a play it safe kind of girl. Maybe we should go back to the castle where it is safe and we won't get into trouble. We'll just forget the whole thing."

She growled at me; literally growled. Then she stood up. "Well, Potter, what are you waiting for? We have a Slytherin to tale."

I threw the money down on the table and followed her out the door. We stood in the frigid air for a while casting glances up and down the street before I saw him. He was on the opposite side of the street and I watched as he ducked quickly around a corner. I grabbed Bob's hand. "This way, come on."

We turned the same corner that I had seen Sandringham duck down and was confused. It was a dead end. Before we could turn around and leave, both Bob and I were hit with anti-Apparition spells and the alleyway was suddenly filled with black cloaked figures. There were at least ten of them surrounding us on all sides. We stood back to back with our wands drawn, firing spells at the approaching dark figures.

Bob let out a surprised sound and I felt her slide down my body. Something in me snapped. I redoubled my efforts; firing spells one after the other; every shot hitting my target with deadly accuracy.

I hastily threw up a shield up around the two of us. Then the fighting suddenly stopped. All wands dropped as if each Death Eater had received a silent message. The group suddenly parted, and there was one figure.

Without thinking twice I took advantage of the one moment I had and took care of Bob. I pointed my wand at her. "Enervate!" Then I turned my wand back on the approaching figure not daring to take my eyes off of him for a moment.

"Good evening, Mr. Potter."

"Lucius."

"Are you prepared to die, boy?"

I smiled and shook my head. "Not today, Lucius. So I'm afraid we're going to have to duel; unless of course you would like to move aside and let us pass."

"Now, why would I want to do that, Mr. Potter?"

"Because you are severely out numbered." That voice came from behind him and he spun around to meet the twinkling eyes of Albus Dumbledore.

Without a second thought, Lucius spun and fired at Bob and me. His mistake was that he turned his back on the Headmaster to do it. "Avada Kada…aaaaaaahhh!"

Then everything happened at once. Dumbledore yelled "Stupefy." Lucius fell to the ground, there were numerous pops from wizards Apparating away, Bob pointed her wand at Malfoy Sr. and sent a slashing curse his way just as he fell from the Professor's curse, Dumbledore had to dodge Bob's curse and jumped away. I yelled "Expeliarmus" which took the few remaining Death Eaters wand's away from them and made Dumbledore have to dodge the wizards as well as they flew backwards.

The whole exchange took only a matter of seconds. The three of us looked around expectantly then slowly lowered our wands as we realized there were no more attacks coming.

Then Dumbledore looked at me. He looked at me in that 'you are in so much trouble' look that I knew well.

"Headmaster…"

"Not now, Harry, both of you, in my office in one half hour. I will deal with Mr. Malfoy, and company. Go back to the castle. Now!"

His voice seemed almost gentle. I shook my head and turned to Bob. "You OK, love?"

"I'm fine, but I am in so much trouble. Daddy's going to kill me."

I smiled gently at her. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I think I am going to get it worse from him than you are. Let's go."

We passed the Headmaster and went back out onto the street, and walked the long trek back to the school hand in hand but rather quicker that I would have liked.

We deposited our heavy cloaks in our dorms and met back at the Professor's stone gargoyle. We waited only a moment when the silent guard jumped aside to reveal Professor Albus Dumbledore.

Without a word to us, he spun on his heel and stepped onto the spiraling staircase. We followed, not daring to break the silence. The Professor stepped around his desk and indicated that we should take the chairs on the opposite side, facing him.

He studied us for a moment without saying a word, then sighed. "Well, what have you two to say for yourselves?"

"Well, you see Professor; we wanted to have just a quiet dinner alone. So we decided to sneak out."

"It's not just Harry's fault, Professor. In fact it was my idea. We were just bored, I guess."

He nodded in understanding. "Ahh, I see. Idle hands…" He stood and paced in thought for a moment then turned to us again. "How did you come to be in that alley?"

"Well, there's this student you see. He has been following either Bob or me for the last couple of weeks. Bob thinks he is trying to protect her, but I disagree. When he showed up at the Three Broomsticks today, it was the last straw.

"Roberta and I were discussing the git, but when we looked up, he was gone. I decided to follow him and Bob went with me. I saw him turn the corner, so we continued to follow. Only when we got there, we saw that it was a dead end and Sandringham was no where to be seen.

"Then we were both hit by anti-Apparation spells and Death Eaters began to show up. We started fighting them and Bob got hit by a Stupefy Spell. Then the fighting suddenly stopped and Lucius showed up; and well, you know the rest."

Dumbledore began to pace again. He still had his back to us when he asked, "Tell me about Mr. Sandringham."

Bob took up the story here. "William Sandringham, came into the school at the same time as Dmitri Nicholas. But of course, you know that. Anyway, he is always angry at everyone in general and at Harry in particular. He says that Harry ruined his life when he killed Voldemort and the Ministry of Magic arrested his parents." She shrugged. "That's really all I know, Professor."

"I see." Then he sighed. "Thank you for the information. Now, to the most unpleasant task of your punishment."

"Sir, couldn't you see it in your heart to let this pass?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter. But this is too serious." He sighed. "I regret that I must suspend from school for one week with no opportunity to make up the work that you miss. You will both be staying with Ludwig Malfoy during your suspension. I would expect you to take your books and make good use of your time away. Now, Ludwig will be here presently. In the meantime…" he held out a small metal box, "…lemon drop?"

We both declined and I looked at the professor. "Sir, what happened to Mr. Malfoy? Did he get arrested?"

"Ahh, unfortunately he overpowered the Auror's and Apparated away."

"So, he is still out there then?"

"It would appear so, Mr. Potter."

Then Bob looked at the old man. "And what happened to William, Professor?"

"As to that, it seems that he is back here in the castle."

She shook her head. "Something isn't right here, Professor." Then there was a flash of fire and Ludwig stepped out of the ornate fireplace. He nodded toward the older man. "Albus."

"Good to see you again, Ludwig. I think I will let you get reacquainted with the children." We watched the retreating back of the Headmaster then all stood in silence as the door snapped closed behind him. Then we looked at each other and all three of us began talking at the same time.

"Be quiet! Both of you!"

I don't think I had ever seen Ludwig this angry. It was a testimony to just how outraged he was when Bob cowered back behind me rather than arguing with him.

"I don't want to hear one word out of either of you! How dare you leave the school? How dare you put yourselves in danger? You know that Lucius is dangerous. You know what he is capable of." He looked directly at me. "You, Mr. Potter, are not immortal. All of your previous experiences have given you a false sense of security."

I was so embarrassed. I could only hang my head in utter shame. "Yes, sir."

"What was that Mr. Potter? I didn't hear you!"

"Yes, sir." My voice was a bit louder this time but not much. I was mortified.

Then he turned on his daughter. "And you! We've been through this before. And now, you've gotten your selves suspended from school. Well, let me tell you children, this is not going to be a picnic for you. Get your things together and meet me back here. And you'd better be quick about it."

We scrambled out of the room and ran into the Headmaster who was talking to one of the portraits on the wall. "Oh…sorry Professor."

"That's quite all right, my boy. Mr. Potter, Miss Malfoy, please let me reiterate how important it is for you to take Lucius Malfoy seriously. You may not be so lucky next time."

We both answered. "Yes sir." We started down the steps but I stopped. "Sir, I'm sorry I betrayed your trust. I hope you can forgive me."

He smiled gently. "And it is that very attitude, Mr. Potter, that sets you apart from other people your age. Now perhaps you should collect the things you will need. Ludwig is waiting."

I nodded and joined Bob at the bottom of the staircase. I kissed her forehead and whispered, "I'll see you in a bit then."

"I don't want to go, Harry. He's going to kill us."

"Na! Maybe he'll make our lives miserable for a while, but he won't kill us. You best hurry. Let's not make him angrier than he already is."

She nodded and we parted company.

Ron was incredulous. "What do you mean you got suspended, Harry?"

"Sus-pen-ded. What's so hard to figure out, Ron? Bob and I snuck out of the castle, got attacked by Lucius Malfoy and the cadaver crunchers and Dumbledore had to come rescue us. He suspended us and we are going to be with Ludwig for a week. Let me tell you, it doesn't look pretty." I was pitching belongings angrily into a knap sack.

Hermione kept shaking her head. "But, Harry, Professor Dumbledore wouldn't do that to you."

"Oh yeah, Hermione? Then you go talk to him. I think though that I can tell the difference between 'Harry, why don't you go take a walk through the park;' and 'Harry, you are suspended!' But maybe your ears work differently than mine do."

"There's no need to take your anger out on us, Harry Potter. You're the one that got into trouble."

She had a point. But if you can't get mad at your friends who can you get mad at? And yes I do know exactly how sick that sounds.

Ten minutes later I met Lud and Bob in front of the gargoyle. Ludwig was in a high temper. "Very well you two, come with me. For the next week, you are mine, and by Merlin you will never step as much as a toe out of line again. Now, shall we Floo home? Your punishment awaits."

Bob and I looked at each other and sighed. Within moments we were stepping into our doom.

I don't know where he got them, but he had us scrubbing out cauldrons, without the use of magic I might add. There must have been fifty of them. I think they must have belonged to Professor Snape. I don't know for sure to this day. As soon as we got that done, he had me cleaning out the fireplace and Bob cleaning out an old storage room. He did give us time each day to do assignments. Not that we would be allowed to turn them in, but I guess he figured that when we got back, we wouldn't be behind. The bad part about that is that we worked our behinds off on assignments that had to pass his expectations and would still get failing grades.

For the week we got up early every day and worked at back breaking chores, did assignments and fell into bed late at night. True to his word, he made us regret ever considering leaving the school without permission.

The night before we returned to school, I finally got the nerve to talk to him. "Lud, can I ask you something?"

"What is it, Mr. Potter?"

He didn't even look up The Daily Prophet that he was reading. I rolled my eyes. "Come on, Lud, please look at me. Can't we have a descent conversation? This is my last night here."

He turned a page of the 'Prophet' and still hadn't looked up. "And why would I want to do that, Mr. Potter?"

My voice was quiet. "And please quit calling me Mr. Potter. Haven't Bob and I done enough penance?"

He finally looked up at me. "No, I don't think that you have. You've taken the trust of the adults around you and destroyed it, yet again. You put my daughter in danger. She could have died in that duel. You were both very lucky that she was only hit with a Stupefy Curse. She is more precious to me than you understand, that is obvious. You keep putting her into situations that aren't safe. To tell you the truth, Mr. Potter, I am seriously considering forbidding her to see you."

We stared at each other for a long while. I was fuming. I looked at the man that up until that moment was the closest thing to a father figure that I had had since Sirius. "I see. Fine, Mr. Malfoy. I'm leaving. Now!"

Bob had been standing in the doorway between the living room and the kitchen. "No, Harry, you can't leave."

"I'm sorry, Bob. I need some fresh air. I can see now that I never had what was promised to me. I'll see you at school, love." I made a point of looking at Ludwig when I said that. I wasn't going to let anyone step between Bob and me again...even her father. I kissed her passionately and made my way to the door.

"Don't you step one foot out that door, Mr. Potter."

"Or what? You'll take away family? You've already done that. You've made it very plain that I'm not good enough for you. So much for your word. You are nothing more than a Death Eater after all!"

I heard Bob gasp and Ludwig bolted up from the sofa. I was furious and in my fury, I could feel my power building up, but I didn't care. I held a hand out at him. "Don't come one step closer to me, Malfoy." I grabbed my cloak and threw it around myself in a flourish and headed toward the door.

"Harry, do you realize what just happened." Ludwig's voice asked.

But I didn't stop. I ran. I don't know how far or how long I ran; I just knew that I had to get away from that house. When I finally slowed down enough to think, I came to the realization that I had no clue where I was. It was dark and I headed to a darker smudge ahead of me. As I got closer, I saw that it was a grove of trees. I walked for a while and decided to sit and sort things out.

I cast a warming spell around myself and bundled up tighter in my heavy winter cloak, and sat down against a large tree. Then the tears fell. I was so tired of having someone love me just so long as I didn't bollox things up. I knew that I couldn't be perfect for anyone, and that was what was expected of me. Even Ludwig had 'fallen in love' with the image of 'Harry Potter'. I was bragging rights to his friends, nothing more.

I suddenly realized that Ludwig had never treated me as a son, but as his daughter's boyfriend. Where was the unconditional love that only a father could give to a son? I rested my arms on my knees, and my head on my arms.

I don't know how long I sat like that, but when I looked up I was surprised to see that it was morning. I walked into the town and took a room above some seedy pub. I didn't want to see or talk to anyone.

I entered the room and looked with disgust at the filth. I nodded my head at the Inn keeper and paid him the money he required. After he shut the door behind him self, I performed a Scourgify Spell on the bed, the sheets and blankets. I turned my cloak into another blanket and curled up on the mattress and cried myself to sleep. But it was far from restful. I relived the attack in the alley way, but this time it was Ludwig, not Lucius that tried to kill me.

I bolted up and at first I didn't remember where I was. As my heart slowed down and I began to think a little more rationally, I remembered taking this…barely functional room.

I fell back against the pillows again and went back to sleep. This time I woke up sometime around three in the afternoon. Bob would probably be back at school by now. Merlin, I wanted her. I wanted to be in her arms and have her tell me it was all right. I wanted to feel her comb her fingers through my hair. I wanted her to kiss my forehead. I just wanted…no, I needed her right then; and she was no where to be seen.

With a sigh I swung my feet over the side of the bed and was startled by a subtle clearing of a throat. Instantly I had my wand in my hand and I spun on the intruder and found myself looking at Ludwig Malfoy.

I straightened from my ready stance and glared at my intruder. "Get out!"

"No, I don't think I will, Mr. Potter. You are going to sit down and you, for once in your life, are going to listen."

I still hadn't lowered my wand. "And just exactly why should I listen? You've made it quite clear that I am nothing to you. So let's say you leave and I'll be on my way back to school."

He sighed. "Mr…" Then he stopped as if he thought better about using the title. "…Harry, do you realize that adults aren't perfect?"

I huffed. "No kidding?"

But he continued on. "We sometimes do and say things out of the frustration of the moment, just like young people. I don't mind telling you that you scared me, and I don't scare easily. What's more, I find that I really don't care for the feeling."

I looked at him and shook my head. "Let's go back to the perfect thing. You say that adults aren't perfect. Then tell me why it is that everyone expects me to be perfect? Tell me why when Harry Potter makes a mistake, its headline news. Tell me why everyone is so disappointed that once again I find myself abandoned." I held up my hand. "No, I don't care what everyone thinks. I only cared about you. So tell me, Mr. Malfoy, why you expected me to be perfect. Why you believed all of the bloody hype. Harry Potter the boy that lived. Harry Potter the boy that killed Voldemort. Harry Potter the boy that saved the wizarding world. I've said it since I was eleven years old. I am just Harry. I'm as fallible as any other seventeen year old. The only difference is that perhaps I have bit more experience than most seventeen year olds.

"Tell me why, that when I disappoint someone, my whole bloody world turns its back on me and disowns me? Is that what a father would do? Would a father disown a child when he didn't live up to expectations every second of every day?" I picked up an old water pitcher that sat on the ratty dresser and threw it across the room resulting in a satisfying shatter.

"I'm tired of it. I'm tired of being disappointed. I'm tired of trying to live up to impossible expectations and letting everybody down. No more! I won't do it anymore. From now on I don't care what Dumbledore thinks, or the professors, or my fellow students. And I most especially don't care about your opinion anymore. The only one that matters to me is Bob, and I imagine you are going to try to take her away from me as well. That seems like a fit punishment for being Harry Potter, the boy who made mistakes." He tried to cut in but I wouldn't let him.

"You know what. I don't want to talk to you any more. If you won't leave, then I will!"

Ludwig raised his wand and pointed it past me to the door. "Coloportus! Are you quite finished, Mr. Potter?"

I spun on him. "Let me out of here or I will blast the bloody door off its hinges!"

"Petrificus Totalus!"

But my power had already begun to build up and I cast a shield up around myself. Then I laughed at him, turned around, blasted the door off its hinges as promised, and left him standing there.

True to my word, I Apparated back to Hogsmead and made my way to the school. I hadn't even thought about the distance or of the possibility of splinching myself. I just did it because I needed to get away.

The first person I encountered was Dumbledore. He seemed to know that I was coming and was waiting for me at the doors.

"Mr. Potter, may I have a word with you please?"

I walked past him then stopped. I turned around and took the few steps back toward the Headmaster. "I'll give you one word; NO!" I made my way to the steps leading to Gryffindor Tower. There were audible gasps from passing students who were lingering to see the venerable Harry Potter return from his latest great embarrassment. I looked at them. "What in the devil are you all staring at? GO TO CLASS!"

I made my way to Gryffindor Tower. Thankfully it was still empty as classes were still going on. I closed the portrait hole behind myself and threw myself into the chair closest to the fire and I cried. I cried for the loss of parents that I never knew. I cried for my younger self forced into a deplorable situation with relatives that hated and feared me. I cried for the loss of Sirius. I even cried for the loss of Ludwig. I can honestly tell you that I had never in my entire life felt so alone.

After about a half hour, the Fat Lady's portrait swung open. I shifted in my chair, hoping that who ever it was would just go about their business and leave me alone. I didn't even want to talk to Ron or Hermione.

"Hello, babe."

I bolted up and looked into the beautiful face of the love of my life. I pulled her into a hug that I didn't think I would ever let her out of. I whispered into her hair. "Merlin, Bob, I need you right now."

"Harry, are you all right?"

"I am now. I feel like I haven't seen you for weeks."

I pulled her over to the chair and pulled her into my lap. I leaned my head against hers and closed my eyes and felt like I was home. "I am sorry, Bob. I am so sorry. I never intended to put you in danger. I never intended to get into a fight with your dad. I never intended to…"

She put her fingers against my lips. "Harry, you were right. My father was dead wrong. I don't want to hear apologies coming from you. You were the one wronged." She kissed my forehead and ran her fingers through my hair. "Daddy was so mad at himself after you left. He was fit to be tied. He and I Apparated back here then he left right away and went looking for you. I guess he didn't find you. He really wanted to apologize."

"He found me."

"Did the two of you talk?"

"He tried. I didn't give him much of a chance. Why should I have, Bob? His reaction the other night told me all I needed to know about how he feels about me. I am no more a son to him than Dumbledore is. I was deluding myself. I just wanted it so badly, that…"

Her voice was soft and she caressed my cheek. "Harry, I know you are very upset, but I think you are wrong. Give yourself time to calm down, then maybe the two of you can talk."

"I really don't know what good it will do. It's been my experience that people say what is really on their minds when they are angry. The truth comes to the surface."

She kissed my forehead again. "Then did you mean it when you told him that he was only a Death Eater?"

That stopped me short. "I…I don't…I just don't know, right now, Bob."

She smiled gently and caressed my cheek. I closed my eyes and leaned into her hand. "Harry, you are so passionate about…everything. It's what I truly love about you. But it can also be your downfall if you let the wrong things get to you. I'm not going to try to tell you what you should and shouldn't do. You're a big boy and I'm certain that you can figure it out. I am however going to tell you that you are more important to me than anyone else in my life. I love my father, Harry, but I love you too. If it comes down to it, I will go with you. I just hope it doesn't come to that." She kissed me again.

Oh, she can play me. She is the expert. She knew that soft words would get to me so much more thoroughly than an argument; and I played right into her. I was like a fly caught in her web…and to tell you the truth, I loved it. I knew I was being manipulated and I didn't care.

I caressed her cheek. "You are as clear as glass you know."

She widened her eyes and looked lost. "What do you mean, Harry?"

"Don't give me that innocent look. I mean, love of my life that you are a conniving Slytherin. Who else could get me to consider changing my mind about things and love doing it, hum?"

"I should be insulted!" Then she flashed a beautiful smile at me.

"Ha, busted!"

"Will you talk to daddy, Harry? For me, please?"

"Normally, I would explain to you exactly what it would cost me to do that, but you know already, don't you?"

"The cost may be great, but the rewards will be greater."

I nodded. "Alright, but in a couple of days. I just don't feel like talking about it all right now. Will you give me that much time?"

"Of course, let him stew for a while, I'm not exactly happy with him either."

"You're doing it again."

She stuck her lower lip out and pouted. I kissed it. "Not this time, love. I need some time. Good try though."

She cuddled into my neck and the portrait hole opened again. "Can we come in yet? It's nearly time for dinner."

Bob smiled at me. "Well, are we finished?"

"Not by a long shot. But they can come in."

We were getting ready to go to The Great Hall, when an owl showed up at the window. I hurried over and opened the window. The stately owl flew in the window and held his foot out so that I could remove the letter.

I looked at the spidery writing and knew it was from the Headmaster. With a sigh I opened it and read,

My Dear Mr. Potter,

Please come to my office immediately upon receiving this missive. I will accept no excuses.

Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster, Hogwarts

"Wonderful!" I turned to Bob. "I can't go to dinner. I have to meet with Dumbledore."

She rubbed my arm. "Are you in trouble again?"

"Probably. I kind of made a scene when I walked in the doors. I told him in no uncertain terms that I would not talk to him; I said it rather loudly; and in front of several groups of students."

She rolled her eyes at me. "Oh, Harry. Didn't Draco ever teach you that you don't disrespect someone in authority over you? Your peers, maybe. Your subordinates, definitely. But never…"

I held up my hand. "…Yes Bob, he tried to teach me. I just have a thick head I guess. I guess I'm just not a Mal…" The words stuck in my throat as I realized what I was about to say. My voice broke and I got tears in my eyes. "I have to go."

I started out the door but she grabbed my hand. "Harry, wait. You do know that daddy loves you, don't you?"

I was very quiet. "No, I don't. He turned on me the first chance he got. Even if I were to make nice with him, I don't think I will ever be able to trust him. I'm sorry, Bob."

She dropped my hand as I pulled away. "I guess I had better go."

I stepped out of the portrait hole with Bob right behind me. We walked together in silence until we got to The Great Hall. I squeezed her hand. "I love you."

Bob only nodded and gave me a sad smile.

I continued on my way and too soon found myself at the stone gargoyle. I leaned against the statue to wait. I suppose it was about five minutes before I felt the vibrations indicating the movement of the stone guard and stood back. Ludwig was on the other side. "Come in, Harry."

I sighed. "You just couldn't leave me alone for a while could you?"

He frowned at me. "This is neither the time nor the place, Harry."

"Well it must be, because you're here! I meant what I said before, Mr. Malfoy. I'm done with you."

He didn't say anything just turned and went to the spiraling steps. I sighed and followed. When I entered the room and Ludwig closed it behind me, I just stayed there and watched him sit in a chair in front of the Headmaster's desk.

"Won't you please have a seat, Harry?"

"Is that an order or a request?"

"If I must make it an order, then it is an order."

I put on the fakest smile that I could manage. "I'd love to have a seat, thank you, Headmaster."

I knew that I was bringing childishness to a whole new level, but I didn't care. I pulled the chair as far away from Bob's father as I could get away with and sat down, folded my arms and crossed my legs and stared at the professor.

Dumbledore frowned slightly at me. "Very well, Mr. Potter, Ludwig here tells me that something happened the other night that you were probably to upset to realize. I have invited you here tonight so that you can be given some information to ponder on. Go ahead, Ludwig."

Bob's father turned to me. "Harry, the other night when you were so upset with me; just before you ran out, something happened. I could feel you pulling power in. I could tell you were gathering power to strike me, but you didn't drain any power from Roberta or me."

He stopped talking and both of the adults watched for the reaction from me. I uncrossed my legs and arms and looked at him. Then I thought. That was exactly right. I remembered gathering in power ready to strike out but it didn't deplete either Bob or her father.

I however was not ready to let go of my anger just yet. I leaned back in the chair and again crossed my arms and legs. "That's very interesting. Can I go now?"

The Headmaster looked sternly at me. "Harry, I will no longer tolerate your rude behavior. You have acted like a child long enough."

I settled in and sighed, bound and determined that I was not going to speak until I was ready. I watched Dumbledore stand and nod to Ludwig. He then turned around and opened a door that I had never noticed before, directly behind his desk. Suddenly I was alone with the one person that I didn't want to talk to.

I heard a sigh from Ludwig direction. Evidently, the sly old man hadn't run this sudden disappearing act past him either.

I stood. "Well, I don't want to be here and I am hungry. Isn't it convenient that it's dinner time? I'll see you another time perhaps."

He rolled his eyes as I went to the door and found it locked. I came back to the chair and plopped down into it.

"You can't really believe that he is going to let either one of us leave until we get this talked out."

"The meddling old fool."

"Harry, I apologize."

I shook my head. "For what? For not caring for me the way you would a son? You can't help that! You just don't. I'm angrier at myself for expecting more from you than you were willing to give. It all happened too fast anyway. One minute you are a complete stranger to me and mad that I would dare date your daughter; the next minute I am hugging you and asking you to be my daddy. That just gives testimony to the fact of how desperate I am; desperate and pathetic."

"Are you quite finished with the self-loathing now; because I really would like to get a word in edgewise!"

His voice started getting louder at the beginning of the sentence and by the end of it he was out and out yelling at me.

I decided right then that I was done cowering. I yelled right back. "Well then let's get this over with so I can get out of here."

"Fine with me!"

We both sat back and fumed. I looked out the window. He looked at the floor. We stayed that way for at least fifteen minutes.

I turned from the window. "I don't even know what I'm doing here." I pointed to the door that Dumbledore had exited through. "What does he want anyway, his own little Harry Potter robot; someone that he can manipulate to do his dirty work for him?"

Ludwig snorted and shook his head. "Have you calmed down enough that we can actually have a rational conversation?"

I looked around the room then back at him and sighed. "I don't want to talk to you or anyone else, but since we aren't going to get out of her until we do, we might as well. There's nothing else to do here."

"We could play chess. Would you like to play a game of chess?"

I looked at him in disbelief then chuckled humorlessly and rolled my eyes. "Sure, why not?"

I watched him set up Dumbledore's chess game and sat down opposite him. "You start."

"White usually…"

I just looked at him.

"Oh! Well, OK then. Harry, the reason I was so upset was because Roberta got caught in the duel and got hurt. It could have just as easily been a Slashing Curse or an Unforgivable. Maybe I over reacted to the incident, but I can't promise you that in a similar situation, that I wouldn't do the same thing.

"Harry, you aren't a father, and until you are, you will never understand. Now, please believe me that I do love you as a father loves a son. That will never change. Even if the situation between you and Roberta were to change, that won't."

I rolled my eyes at that but for once kept my thoughts to myself.

"Some of the things that you said were absolutely true. At first, I was impressed that Harry Potter was in love with my daughter. But once I got to know you a little, I began to see you as you apparently want to be seen. But Harry, you will always be Harry Potter. You will always be connected to the incidents that made you famous. Don't you realize Harry that you have to become comfortable with Harry Potter, not the other way around? It is too much for you to expect the wizarding world to treat you any differently. You can't run away from yourself. Until you come to that conclusion and do something about it, you are always going to be on an emotional broom ride. The high points will be very high but the low points will be devastatingly low. A lot like now.

"Let me ask you something, son. Do you like the way you are feeling right now?"

I shook my head. "No, I hate it."

"Then why would you continue to set yourself up for that? Until you get comfortable with yourself, these feelings that you are having…abandonment…anger…confusion and whatever else you are feeling are never, ever going to go away. You owe it to yourself to take care of yourself. You also owe it to my daughter."

I furrowed my brow. "What do you mean?"

He smiled. "I assume that you still want to marry Roberta, am I right?"

"Absolutely!"

He nodded. "Then think about this; unless you do this, unless you get these uncomfortable feelings under control, you are going to be dragging Roberta along with you. What it all boils down to is, if you can't love yourself, how can you love someone else?"

"I…well…" Then I sighed. "I guess I can't. So how do I do that?"

"You start by putting yourself in the shoes of those who look up to you. Try seeing yourself as they see you."

I laughed outright. "Lud, if I did that, my head would be so big that I wouldn't be able to walk through the door."

"That son is when you practice humility. Don't discount what others see, but don't let it go to your head either. Harry, you did the wizarding world a great service when you killed Voldemort. The fact that you did it before your seventeenth birthday was remarkable. Don't get me wrong, I'm not telling you to go looking for praise. Just accept it when it comes then move on."

I sighed, and just let the silence stand between us as we both moved our chess pieces haphazardly.

Then I sighed. "I'm still really mad at you, you know. What you did was unforgivable."

"Harry…"

"No, it's my turn. I spent and entire week with you at the cottage, and not once did you go and get rolls from Dominic's."

He started laughing. "You are incorrigible."

I put on the straightest face I could summon. "I'm serious."

"Of course you are."

He continued to laugh and I couldn't hold out any longer. I began laughing too. Soon we both had tears running down our faces and had to sit to keep from falling down.

Lud wiped his eyes. "OK, I imagine that you are hungry. Shall we go down to the Great Hall?"

"The kitchens more like. Dinner is over."

"Alright then, the kitchens."

"Now, all we have to do is get Dumbledore to let us out of here."

"I don't imagine that that is going to be a problem now. He's a sly one. The portraits have probably informed him that we have made acceptable progress and he has released the spell binding the door."

Just as he said, all we had to do was ask the door to open.

The end of March was proving to be a lot more accommodating all the way around.