I have some big, yet terrible news. I, James Sirius Potter, have been banned from Quidditch. I can't imagine why! It probably has nothing to do with the fact that the Ministry is investigating my ex-girlfriend's half-baked claim that I have been cheating at the sport for years! Not at all… there's no way…

But in all seriousness, I really am banned from playing, a.k.a. living, until the investigation is over. As far as I can tell, the investigation hasn't gone anywhere since it started and it's been a month: a month since the ban and a month and a half since the break-up. McGonagall was actually pretty upset, or the closest I've seen her to be, when I was called into her office to receive the worst news of my life.

"Mr. Potter, I'm sorry I had to call you in here today." Professor McGonagall is sitting rigidly at her desk as I enter. Two rather unpleasant and official-looking men are standing on either side of the desk. "Please, take a seat."

I make my way across the office and sit the chair opposite the Headmistress. I am dreading what is going to happen in this meeting.

"Mr. Potter, as I mentioned in my note, this is a matter of official Ministry business. I will be present during this meeting and will be informing your family of the full extent of the discussion upon the departure of these two men."

I nod at the Headmistress and the man on her left beings speaking. "Mr. James Sirius Potter, an accusation has emerged concerning you and the use of the Class E restricted potion, Felix Felicis, during sporting events taking place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There was merit found to the accusation and the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol will now be taking measures to investigate the validity of these claims."

So an official investigation is to be done. There was always that possibility, but hearing that just made the whole thing 100% real. I clench my fists in my lap. "Is that all?" I ask and seeing the stern look on McGonagall's face I add, "…Sir?"

The man on the right speaks this time. "To aid the assessment of the claims brought against you, the Department of Magical Games and Sports has issued an order to bar Mr. James Sirius Potter from participating in any sporting event on the school grounds until further information is discovered concerning the accusations being investigated by the M.L.E."

My stomach completely drops out. I sit in the chair, staring blankly at the man who had just finished speaking, unable to believe what I just heard. Barred from all sporting events? Isn't that the punishment for if you are actually found to be cheating? I can't be already punished for something they can't prove. It's not fair! I'm about to open my mouth and voice my thoughts, but McGonnagal's look stops the words in my throat. I close my mouth again.

"If you two gentlemen are finished," the Headmistress says, "then would you be so kind as to be on your way?"

"One last thing," says the man on the left. "An M.L.E. investigative crew will be visiting the school soon to perform interrogations and other information gathering."

"A member of the Restriction of Performance Enhancing Potions Office will also be visiting the school to monitor Mr. Potter for signs of restricted potions use."

McGonagall's impassive face twitches and her lips grow thinner than I have ever seen them. "Well, sirs. We shall see about these last two demands. I will be in contact with both of your Heads of Department and also the Head of the Auror office-"

The fire in the office burns green suddenly and Mum and Dad step out of the fire. Upon seeing my parents, the two Ministry officials seem honestly shaken.

"Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Potter. I'm glad you could make it."

"Minerva, what is going on? We only just got the message, but it didn't say much besides the Ministry was coming here about a matter involving James."

"Yes, I was hoping you would be able to be here in person to hear it all first, so before Mr. Tillens and Mr. Ryu leave, perhaps they could fill you in on the details."

The man on the left turns to the Headmistress and looked legitimately distressed. "Headmistress McGonagall, we did not require the presence of Mr. Potter's parents due to the fact that he is seventeen-"

"Yes, Mr. Ryu, I am aware. But according to procedural rules in the school's bylaws, parents are required to be notified immediately of any matter concerning the Ministry and their child regardless of whether the student is of age or not."

The two officials are silent for a minute, taking in what McGonagall had said. Exchanging a look, they start rehashing what they had told me, only this time it feels much less intimidating. I watch my parents' faces as they hear what is going to happen. When the two Ministry officials start explaining the M.L.E.'s and the D.M.G.S.'s additional actions, of which even McGonagall was upset about earlier, both Mum and Dad's faces change from disbelief to anger.

"Han," Dad says addressing the man on the left, forcing calm into his voice. "Han, why wasn't I informed of this? The M.L.E. Patrol Office is on the same hall as the Auror office." So my dad is familiar with this guy. He must be from the M.L.E. considering that's all he's talked about. Mr. Ryu rubs the back of his neck, but stays silent.

"Mr. Frank Tillens." I direct my attention to Mum staring icily at the man I now assume is from the Department of Magical Games and Sports. "It's been a while." Her voice is calm and even, but frightening. I've never seen her like this, before. If she gets angry, she usually shouts for a bit and then settles down. This is different; this is way more intimidating. Having played professional Quidditch, she knows how to deal with men. Mum doesn't let anyone belittle her or walk over her.

She reminds me of Meredith.

Mr. Tillens clears his throat and says, "Hello, again, Mrs. Potter. It's good to see you're well."

"Wish I could say the same." Ouch, Mum. That was cold. There is a slight pause before she adds, "I see you're still at the D.M.G.S. Still under Angela Harris, I presume?" Mr. Tillens gives a timid nod at Mum. She looks him straight in the eye and simply says, "Figures."

Mum is a head and a half shorted than this man, but, I kid you not, he cowered under the icy glare she gave him. I have never seen this side of Mum, and actually, I hope I never do, again. She's terrifying.

"Han, Frank: tell your superiors that they will be hearing from me," Dad says severely. "Good day." Taking his dismissal as if it were from their own Department Heads, they each throw a pinch of Floo Powder into the fire and leave me, my parents, and the Headmistress in the office.

"Ginny," Dad says placing his hand lightly on Mum's shoulder. "Do you mind taking James outside for a bit? I need to discuss something with Minerva." I watch Mum's eyes spark and her mouth opens to protest before my Dad looks at her, smiling gently. She shuts her mouth and returns the smile as he tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and adds, "I'll get you up to speed later."

Mum and I retreat down the spiral stairs to the headmaster's office into the corridor. This is starting to feel a little awkward. My mum is at school with me, and that doesn't happen very often. Mum walks over to one of the benches along the walls and sits, gesturing for me to do the same.

"Mum…"

"You want to know how I know Frank Tillens, right?" My face betrays my shock and she laughs lightly. "You are more like your father than you think you are, James. I can almost always guess what he's going to ask me."

Just like Mer.

"Well… Hmm… I don't think we've actually ever told you this, but I had a brief investigation of me for suspicion of the use of a Performance Enhancer, not Felix, during my time at the Harpies."

"What? Why?"

"It was near the end of my time on the team, but it wasn't the reason I retired. When I got the slot on the team, I beat out several other fantastic chaser candidates. Angela Harris was one of them.

"Isn't she the-"

"The person from the D.M.G.S. who sent Tillens? Of course. She was especially upset about me filling the empty chaser position. She had already been working at the D.M.G.S., but by the time I started my third year on the team, she had made Assistant Head.

"During my last year, many people had noticed that I had been playing more aggressively and dangerously and had also noticed that my game actually improved. Suspicions arose and while it could have been kept as a rumor, Harris actually took it upon herself to use her position to investigate me. I actually didn't know about it for about a month, but eventually, Frank Tillens was sent to question me."

"Well… what happened? Why did you change your game?"

Mum smiled and looked at me. "Actually, I was pregnant with you. All the hormones were making me pissy and I was taking it out on the pitch. I can't tell you how much of a nervous wreck your father was for those months. He had to be practically restrained during my matches." She smiled at the memory and squeezed my knee affectionately.

"What happened to the investigation?"

"The investigation completely dissolved, even though I don't think Harris ever did believe I was innocent. Thankfully, nothing was published about it, so when I officially left the game not too long after that, I left with my reputation intact."

So Mum really does know what I'm going through. The silence between us is much more comfortable this time. Eventually I say, "Mum, are you implying that you think I'm pregnant?"

Mum looks at me confused and drops her face into her hand. "Is that the only thing you gleaned from this conversation?"

I snort a laugh and wrap my arm around her shoulders, giving her a side hug. "No. Thanks, Mum."

That was a month ago.

After telling the guys and Mer about what happened after classes were finished that day, we had spent some time bashing Julia and Harris and the Ministry. It wasn't so much as a suspicion as it was fact that Julia had Symphony Brooks and Liam Harris talk their parents into doing something about the allegations.

Symphony is painfully spoiled. She's 'daddy's little princess' and she knows it. And she uses it. It probably had been a simple matter to convince her father that the mean boy who cheated on her best friend is a cheater in all matters of his life. Harris's mom already had a grudge against my family (that tends to happen to us, doesn't it?), and she was probably all too keen on striking the Potters for cheating, again.

So, since that day, I've been completely barred from anything related to Quiddtich: practice, locker rooms, games… everything. There was even a magical barrier erected around the area that prevented only me from getting to the pitch. If I tried to breach it, the Ministry would be notified immediately. I'm basically a prisoner of the school! I do go running around the grounds occasionally, but I can't do that all the time.

"Hey James," Mer says, pulling me out of my recollection. "Do you have your Astronomy essay finished, yet?" We're sitting in the Common Room on one of the sofas. I'm flicking though an old copy of Quidditch Weekly while she is working on an essay (which is what I should be doing).

"Nah. It's not due until Friday."

Mer looks at me, bemused. "Tomorrow is Friday."

I quickly check my watch and lo and behold, it is seven o'clock on Thursday night. "Bloody hell," I moan and cover my face with the magazine I'm holding. "This 'no Quidditch' thing is really messing up my schedule."

Meredith makes an apologetic face as I pull spare parchment and my textbook out of my school bag. "Have you heard anything from your dad about that?"

"Not since last Friday. He seems to think that the investigation is going to be dropped soon." Even though he is the Head of the Auror Office, Dad hasn't ever had much sway over the M.L.E. Patrol. I've never understood this considering they do really similar things, just… Dad does it better. Dad thinks that it's this opinion of the M.L.E. that makes them dislike Aurors so much and the two departments have 'jurisdiction' issues all the time. I should probably keep that in mind, especially since Teddy is working for the M.L.E., now.

Mer's face broke into a smile. "That's great news!" Then she flicked her quill feather in my face, causing me to sneeze. "Why didn't you tell me that, you git?"

"I told the guys when I got the letter! You weren't at breakfast when I got the letter and then I forgot. Where were you anyway?"

Mer's smile becomes forced and awkward. "Nowhere in particular…"

"Were you with that guy-" She gives me a look and flops her head back in frustration.

"Ugh! Yes, James. I was with the guy. No, he is not my boyfriend, yet." Roger, Phillip, Fred, and I have been badgering her quite a bit about her 'not boyfriend' boyfriend. Needless to say, it's become a bit of a touchy subject for her.

"It's been a while for it to just be nothing, hasn't it?"

"Just drop it, James. We need to do this essay." She turns her attention to the parchment in front of her and I watch her start to work.

Meredith has really been amazing during this time. I'm getting to a point where I can actually feel normal around her. There are little things that are almost impossible to see, but those are the things that drive me crazy. She'll start singing randomly and get the song stuck in my head. She always looks great, but not the same way Julia did. Mer has a carefree style that shows the world she loves who she is and doesn't give a damn what it thinks. As I watch her concentrating now, she gnaws her lower lip and twists her dark hair around her finger in a way I find incredibly attractive. I wonder what it would feel like if I were biting her lip…

No, James. You've got an essay to write and thinking about that is not going to get it done.

I pull my gaze away from her quickly when her eyes flick over the edge of her paper. If I'm not careful, she's going to catch on. She already has a guy, so I'm going to feel like an idiot if she finds out. I've never been in a situation like this and I wish I had some clue as to what to do. I don't want to tell Roger, Phillip, or Fred about how I feel, yet, because I know they'll take the mickey out of me when they find out. Unfortunately, I get the feeling that Fred, suspects. He's been giving me funny looks ever since her first saw me staring at Mer at the start-of-term feast.

I glance at Meredith again. She has been performing spectacularly during Quidditch practice (from what I can tell from my special spy spot in the library). Also Fred, who has taken over as interim captain, has been doing really well and Long, the Chaser reserve, has really stepped up to the challenge of filling my temporarily (hopefully) open position. He's not as good as me, but he's doing well and getting better.

Merlin I miss playing. Fred, Phillip, Roger, and I have been having secret meetings in our room after practices, but it's just not the same. It kind of hurts to think about, but the team is functioning fairly well without me. I pull out a fresh sheet of parchment. I think I could come up with a new play that utilizes Long's strong passing game…

Before my quill even touches the paper, Meredith says, "Don't even think about it, James." I look over and she has her arms crossed over her chest. "I don't care what stupid maneuver you were about to come up with. You're the only person in Astronomy with me and I need you to help with this essay."

I give her a pout. She sticks her tongue out at me. I begrudgingly pull my essay back out.

I am back in the library, which has been my outpost for the better part of a month. Neville has apparently reported, to the delight of my Aunt Hermione, that I've spent most of my time here since the ban. Little does she know that the library, second only to the hospital wing (and I'm not about to hurt myself) is the best place to observe the Quidditch pitch. When I haven't been in the library, I've been in my room. Playing guitar so much has given me some pretty serious calluses on my fingers, at least, which would be cool if anyone actually looked at my fingers.

When there isn't Quidditch practice, I've been with Meredith… not alone most of the time, but still.

I've never fancied someone like this in my life. I can look at her all day and still not have had enough. I do anything I can to make her smile and laugh and I just wish I knew what she thought about me… or maybe I don't. I don't want to make things weird. I would be even harder for me if Mer wasn't around at all than how it is now, even if it is torture.

So here I sit in the library thinking about all of this and staring out the window when I hear a familiar voice coming from behind me. "That empty parchment isn't fooling anyone into thinking you're actually working, you know." Startled, I turn and see Rose smirking at me. "What would Mum say if I told her you don't really study in here?"

I smile at her threat. "Well, what would Uncle Ron say if I told him you fancy Scorpius Malfoy?" Roses smirk faded into an annoyed look.

"I do not!" she shouts and it's my turn to smirk as she is reprimanded by the librarian. Madam Birch is always nice to Rose… and only Rose, so it was rather hilarious that she was shushed. She, just like her mother, loves books and reading and everything about school, which is very, very unlike Uncle Ron, Dad, and me. Rose lowers her voice and continues, whispering harshly instead. "Why would you say something like that? Do you know what would happen? You and Al would both be killed because you didn't protect me!"

"And that would be my fault? Since you always listen to what I say and all. It must be my fault that I didn't protect you from the affections of Al's best friend!" Rose scowls at me as I laugh silently. Even as Al's best friend, Uncle Ron never took to Scorpius as well as Dad did. Being the savior of the wizarding world (twice) has made Dad appreciate a willing and helpful person.

Dad's disdain for Scorpius's family eased when his father, none other than Draco Malfoy, aided the Ministry of Magic after the war was over. He turned informant and helped Dad and the rest of the Aurors to hunt down and capture many remaining Death Eaters. Uncle Ron, however, is still, after over 20 years, having trouble accepting the Malfoys to be changed at all.

Rose slams a few books on the table next to me and slides into the chair across from me. She is almost exactly like her mother. She did get the ginger hair and the embarrassingly red blush from the Weasleys, but Aunt Hermione is the most stubborn woman I have ever met (well… besides Mum) and Rose has definitely taken after her in that respect. She's going to keep bothering me. Rose is very headstrong and stubborn and never listens to any advice I might give. She is, however, the female cousin I am closest to for several reasons. One is that she is the closest female in age with me.

Okay, the age difference between me and Dominique is the same as between me and Rose, only Dom is older. I can't really relate Dom, though. She's such a… a girl! That's another reason I can tolerate Rose. And, now that I think about it, Mer falls into that same category. I look back out the window and follow the figure I'm pretty sure is Meredith as it flies around the pitch.

"James," Rose hisses at me. "Why don't you ever actually do any work in here?" I roll my eyes force my gaze back to Rose. When it comes to Rose and school, I try to stay out of the way. Even though she's a year younger than me she still acts like she needs to keep me on track with my studying.

"This is the only place I can sit and watch my team, Rose. Are you going to pester me and try to take that away from me, too?" She momentarily looks taken aback, and then guilty as she processes my words.

"I'm sorry, James. I wasn't thinking about that." I look out the window at my team currently running a new play I designed and I inwardly cringe as the complicated play causes Long to run into Roger. I wish that I could be out there on my broom shouting orders and demonstrating exactly what I envisioned. Commanding from the side-lines is frustrating, but commanding from a library window is even worse.

I see the players land and know that practice is about to let out for the team. "I'm going to go back to my room. Are you staying here?" Rose nods her head, but looks concerned. "Honestly Rose, I'll be alright."

"No! That's not it." She pauses. I can tell she's wringing her hands under the table. "You wouldn't really tell Dad that I fancy Malfoy, would you?"

"Why? Do you?" I tease. She doesn't say anything, but the tell-tale Weasley blush is creeping over her face. "You do!"

Rose gives me a pleading look. "You won't tell, right?"

I can tell she's being serious about this and I calmly assure her, "Of course not, Rosie," and I smile warmly. She smiles back, relieved, and I leave the library to return to Gryffindor tower.