Dad is livid. I can honestly and most gratefully say that I have never caused my father to be this angry with me. Actually, I can honestly say that I've never seen him this angry ever.

After Dad and Uncle Ron had ran into the classroom where Officer Nott was apparently interrogating me against the procedural rules of the school (meaning that as a student, I am supposed to have a parent or guardian in the room with me) and more importantly illegally (he was working outside of his assignment), he had to be restrained by Uncle Ron before he could be arrested for assault. This surprised me since I've only ever seen Uncle Ron behave in such a way.

Later, after he had calmed down, Dad told me that Teddy had tipped him off about Nott coming to Hogwarts to ask about interrogating me. Dad had already been Flooing McGonagall's office when Teddy ran into the room and said that Nott had taken me into a room to question me.

McGonagall had, of course, refused to allow Nott to interrogate me when he had demanded, citing the information Dad had supplied her with throughout his own investigation. Nott had not taken the refusal well and after quite a bit of arguing with the headmistress, he had gone to find me to question me regardless. Teddy had changed to look like a student and Nott hadn't noticed his subordinate as he tracked me down and Teddy went directly to McGonagall without even thinking twice.

That is why Dad is furious, even two days after the incident; even more so after I explained the short interrogation itself with Officer Nott. I don't think I have ever seen my dad express so much anger. Sure, he's been angry and frustrated with me, but he's never stormed around practically tearing the whole room apart. According to Mum, he's done this once before. Dad had destroyed Dumbledore's office in his fifth year after he had lost Sirius in the Department of Mysteries.

I have been brought home temporarily, at the suggestion of Professor McGonagall, to 'recover' from the recent events. Honestly, I'm not fazed in the least. I had been a little unnerved during the actual incident, but it all worked out alright in the end, so no big deal, yeah?

This break McGonagall suggested is what I need at the moment, though. I think the main reason I'm not overwhelmed at the situation is that there is something else on my mind: Meredith. The image of her and Travis Corner (bloody hell, I hate that guy) pressed together is still fresh in my mind. The look on her face as she cursed at me and stormed away… I can't get it out of my head. I feel like I'm going to be sick when I think about it, which has been non-stop since I've come home.

Corner has been an arse since the beginning. It started when Gryffindor had Potions with Ravenclaw second year. Somehow I had managed to be seated next to Corner and was okay with it, until he started insulting my Mum.

I don't even know why he was talking about the Holyhead Harpies, but he was very careful to insult Ginny Potter particularly. I've heard that his father, Michael Corner, dated Mum for a time her fourth year, but he and my parents seemed to have had a pretty understanding friendship. He had been a part of Dumbledore's Army and fought in the Final Battle. So I really had no idea why he was calling Mum "a trashy hippogriff with no talent."

Well, I had had enough of his crap and decided to 'accidentally' spill my potion on him. Professor Ingrid wasn't very happy with me about that, and I got detention. It was well worth it, though, because Corner ended up with purple stripes on his face which stayed there for almost two weeks. It's been a mutual dislike since then.

Not that the way he acts helps at all. He reminds me of someone Uncle Ron would call a McLaggen (which makes Aunt Hermione blush whenever he says that). Travis Corner is easily the most stuck-up, self-absorbed, narcissist I have ever met.

At the moment, I'm in my room, leaning back on my bed, tossing the tennis ball I got from Grandpa against the wall. I keep thinking about Meredith and feeling sicker all the while. A knock on my door startles me and I miss the ball which hits me in the cheek painfully, causing my to eye water.

"Come in!" I say, holding my cheek and wiping away the tears. The door opens and Dad walks in. He's looking much calmer than before, and that makes me feel a bit safer in his presence.

"Hey James." I look at him distractedly and give him a half smile. "How are you holding up?"

"Okay." I respond emotionlessly, still trying to clear my eye.

Dad, noticing my red eye and tears, asks, "Is everything alright?"

"It's nothing. I just got hit in the face with this is all." I show him the neon green ball and smiles, shaking his head.

"I just got an owl saying they dismissed all charges against you." I don't say anything, and he adds, "And Officer Nott is facing an inquiry because of his actions."

I furrow my brow. This is good news, really, but I'm sort of in a different place at the moment. "That's good. Thanks," is all I say.

Dad appears to wants to ask something more, but decides against it. My mind wanders back to Meredith. I can't feel angry with her. She was pretty much right in everything that she said. It's all bloody Corner's fault. Stupid git! I should've cursed him when I had the chance.

Dad looks at me bewildered by, I can only guess, my expression. I probably look like I could kill someone right now. He uncomfortably leaves the room and I'm left to my thoughts once more. I hear his steps descend down the stairs, and I lie back in my bed and drag my hands over my face.

I must have fallen asleep, because another knock on the door wakes me up. It's a good thing, too. I was having one hell of a dream. I don't remember specifics, but I know I'm going to hex Corner the next time I see him. What happened in my dream may not have actually happened, but he deserves it anyway.

I check my watch and notice that it has been two hours since Dad was in here. I groggily sit up and walk over to the door this time to see who it is and to stretch my legs. When I open the door, I see Mum eyeing me, concerned.

"Are you feeling alright, James?"

I know her question is concerning my health, but I blurt, "No! Would you be alright if you saw Dad kissing someone you hate?" Oh, Merlin… that came out wrong, and thankfully, from the look on Mum's face she's knows that. My face scrunches up and I stammer, "Damn, I mean… bloody hell, I did it again." As always, my brain is just catching up with me.

Mum smiles for a moment and then returns to her concerned look. "James, what happened?" There's no reason to try to keep it from her, since she's probably already guessed it. I didn't make it that difficult. Maybe not the part about fancying Meredith… I hope. I tried not to be too obvious about it over the summer.

I resume my position on my bed with my hands over my face. "I told you I went for a run before Nott found me, right?" Mum nods. "Well, before that I saw something on the Mmm-" I freeze and try to rethink what I had been saying. Mum doesn't know I have the map.

"Saw what on what?" I stay quiet, my brain working furiously. Mum heaves a sigh. "James," I drop my hands and look at her, "it's okay. I know you have that stupid map." My jaw drops and Mum smirks at me. "What? Did you really think that you had pulled one over on your mother? Keep dreaming, son."

I turn away and stare at the ceiling, having a difficult time grasping that my mum knows more than I give her credit for. "Before that, I saw something… someone… actually, two someones on the map and I had to go find out if everything was okay, but it wasn't what I thought and really I just-" I cut off as I try to gather up the guts to say it out loud. "I saw… Meredith snogging…" Liking my lips nervously, I finally say, "I saw her snogging Travis Corner."

"Corner? You mean the prat son of Michael Corner?" I cock an eyebrow at her. "What? It's not my fault Michael spoiled his son into prathood… and there is no denying that's what he is."

"Oh I wasn't arguing," I reassure her. "I was just thinking of a stronger description than 'prat'. Something that starts with a 'B' and rhymes with 'muddy banker'." Mum gives me an obligatory swearing-is-not-allowed-in-this-house-so-don't-even-go-there look before conceding a nod.

"Meredith and Corner, huh?" I scowl in response to her question and throw the tennis ball next to me hard against the wall for good measure. "I can't say that I'm very happy about that either. Meredith deserves much better than that."

"That's what I said!"

Mum looks at me and asks in disbelief, "You said that to her face?"

"Yeah…" I look around, trying to figure out what I went wrong. "Well, sort of. I said it to Corner and not her."

Mum covers her face with her palm. "And how did she take that?"

"Not well," I mumble.

"Don't you know Meredith well enough to know that wouldn't go over well with her?"

I rub my temples in frustration. "Of course I know that!" I release my temples and lean against my headboard again. "I know I said a lot of things that, had I been thinking clearly, I would have known would piss her off."

"Meredith's an adult, James. She is smart and independent and doesn't need someone watching over her constantly. Why does their relationship bother you so much? You don't act like this when Fred, Phillip, or Roger start dating anyone."

So we're at the part where Mum is going to make me say the whole sentence out loud, even though we both know what the answer to her question is. She's notorious about doing this. Something about making us face the reality of our problems.

"Mum…" I look at her pleadingly. "Please don't make me say it."

Mum just smirks and raises her eyebrows in expectation.

"Ugh, fine!" I straighten myself and prepare to recite what my mother drilled into all three of us since we could talk: state your name, state your problem/issue, state your plan of action.

"I, James Sirius have a problem. I fancy Meredith Blount and she is currently furious with me because I caught her snogging the person I hate the most and went off on both of them without thinking. I have no bloody idea how to make this problem better."

Usually, that plan of action is not acceptable, let alone the language, but I'm really hoping Mum will let it slide this time. Is there even anything I can do? It's not like I can personally change someone's emotions.

"You know, your father and Ron caught me in a similar situation." I stare at her, not knowing if I really want to know who it was she was caught with… however, before my brain can stop me (you'd think a guy would learn), I relay my own theory.

"You were snogging Malfoy!?" Damn it, and again I say, damn it! If I had Al's beater's bat, I would be hitting myself over the head right about now, but it's currently at school.

Mum looks startled for a moment and then bursts out laughing. "NO! No, no, no, no, no, no, no!" I am somewhat relieved at this revelation, but I'm still not sure I want to know who my mother has snogged.

"Well, who was it, then?" Mum's laughter subsides and she wipes the tears from her eyes.

"Oh Merlin… hah, believe it or not, it was Dean Thomas."

My mind blanks for a moment. "You mean, as in, Roger Thomas's dad?" Mum nods her head and smiles.

"It was very much the same situation as yours, except for the part that you hate Corner." she explained, "Luckily for Dean, who was my boyfriend at the time, the three of them were friends. I, unfortunately, had to deal with Ron. I was so fed up with him, I told him Hermione had snogged Victor Krum," my eyes go wide at this, "yes the 'greatest seeker in the world', and Ron instigated the Lavender/McLaggen fiasco. Your father had feelings for me at the time, but no one knew. I'm surprised he wasn't the one to lash out, first. He was rather impulsive in school."

Poor Dad. He walked in on Mum snogging another man (ew). And now, after seeing his real temper, and added to that, the fact that he was impulsive … let's just say that Roger is lucky to be around. By all accounts, Dad should have reacted pretty much the same way I did two days ago. Why didn't he? Maybe his 16-year-old self was more mature than my 17-year-old self?

And why am I only now discovering that I'm so much like my parents? I mean, really. Everyone has been telling me that for years! Was it that obvious to everyone but me?

Probably.

"James." I look up at my mother. "You're going to have to be an adult about this, James. If Meredith doesn't know Corner's a git, she's going to have to figure it out on her own. And trust me; it will come out with a Corner." She rolls her eyes as she says this. "She's stubborn as you are and she thinks she's happy right now."

"But what if I know she'd be happier with me?" I sound pathetic right now. I honestly have to have lost man points with that question.

Mum just laughs. "You should probably start getting ready to go. Your father said he wanted to get you back to school in time for dinner."

The door clicks shut behind her as she leaves and I drag myself off my bed and I begin gather up the few things I need to bring back with me. Mum and Dad got together the first time later that year, if I recall correctly, so maybe I have a chance with Meredith… Dad did have the advantage that Mum probably liked him back. Mer sounded like she hated my guts two days ago. What chance do I have now?

I shove the homework Phillip, Fred, and Roger have owled me over the past two days into my school bag. I've actually been working on all of it and I'm now ahead in everything, except Charms. It's not that I can't do my Charms work; I just know that I can finish it in the ten minutes before class, so why bother? Also, it feels good to get a dig in at Chang, even if she doesn't know it.

I head downstairs with my stuff and see Dad standing by the fireplace with Mum. "Ready?" I nod. "I need to speak with Minerva, Ginny. I'll be back for dinner." Dad kisses her cheek and motions for me to go ahead.

I take a pinch of the green powder and Floo to the Headmistress's office, doing my best to not get soot everywhere as I step out of the fireplace.

"Good evening, Mr. Potter." Professor McGonagall is sitting at her desk, obviously waiting for us.

"Good evening, Professor." The fire burns green behind me as Dad arrives.

"You can go down to dinner, James," he says after greeting the headmistress. He gives me a short, firm hug and adds, "Have an uneventful rest of term, will you?"

I smile half-heartedly, nod, and leave the office, descending the spiral staircase. Instead of going to the great hall, I walk back to Gryffindor Tower. It's only the beginning of the meal, but I don't really feel like seeing people right now, especially Meredith and Corner.

Bloody Corner. It's going to take everything in me not to hex him into oblivion the next time I see him. I know a few that would definitely do some damage…

"Ow!" I run into a small figure I hadn't noticed in my building rage, knocking the girl to the floor roughly. I really should pay more attention to my surroundings.

"Sorry," I quickly say. I bend over to help the girl up only to see Lily who looks up at me with a smile. I give her a hand up, but she scrambles up on her own and hugs me tightly.

"James! I was about to owl you to find out when you were coming back!" I smile back at her. Lily has always been one to cheer me up, even at my worst. Her smile is just so infectious.

"I literally just got back. I'm on my way to the Gryffindor common room right now."

Lily was sorted into Ravenclaw, much to her delight. I don't know where she got her brains. They aren't related by blood, but I swear Aunt Hermione had to have something to do with it.

"Do you want me to walk with you?" Lily is in the Gryffindor common room a lot due to the amount of family we have, so it's never been a problem with keeping it a secret from her.

"Sure. I don't really feel like talking to anyone else right now." Looking sideways at me, she starts following me silently. We don't say anything for a little while, but I can feel her eyes… just like Mum's.

"How long have you fancied Meredith?" she asks bluntly. I blanch at her statement, but keep walking.

"What makes you say that?" I ask in an attempt at being nonchalant.

"James, please. You should know that I would figure it out. You've been pining after her for at least a month."

This isn't good. What if Meredith already knows? Is she going out with Travis Corner to tell me that she's not interested? Lily can obviously see the growing panic in my face. "Oh, stop it. She hasn't noticed." I glance sideways at her. "Really," she assures me. "You haven't been great at hiding it, but Meredith is sometimes just as dense as you are."

We walk in silence a little longer. "Hey," she looks over at me as I break the silence. "Has Meredith come out with who she's been seeing yet?"

"Yeah." My heart sinks at the word. "Bloody Corner." I sniff a laugh. "They were making a very public display at breakfast yesterday. It was revolting: very unlike Mer." She pauses. "I would have thought that you would be pissed finding out."

"You better watch your language," I say trying to change the subject. "Mum wouldn't be too happy to hear you say-"

"Oh sod off. Aren't you upset about this?"

I take a deep breath. "We had a row right before I went home. I found out then."

"But you two never row!"

I nod my head. "It surprised me, too." My stomach clenches unpleasantly as I remember the way she looked at me. "She was furious with me."

"That would explain why she didn't know what happened to you." Lily slows her pace and I slow to match. "Fred asked her at breakfast yesterday if she had seen you before you had left. She had no idea that you had been interrogated." My heart sinks lower. She was so angry that she didn't even notice I was gone.

As we reach the Fat Lady's portrait in silence, Lily hugs me reassuringly. I hug her back and she walks away, headed to her own common room. "Mackled Malaclaw," I mutter and the portrait swings open. The common room looks as it always does. I sit down in my favorite chair near the fireplace and watch the fire.

Watching the smoke rise and vanish gives me an idea. I automatically pull out a slightly wrinkled piece of paper and a quill as the play start to formulate in my mind. If I were able to get Mer to be a distraction and fly above the pitch then do one of her spectacular dives… that would possibly cause her to get dangerously close to the players below but-.

My mind is out to get me, though, as the image of Mer and Corner pressed closely together pops back into my head. Bloody prat. What does she find so great about Travis Bloody Corner? Is there something he has that I don't (besides the girl)?

My stomach growls loudly. Maybe I should have gone to eat. At least I wouldn't be left to contemplate the thoughts that have been torturing me for the past few days. Fortunately, I have one less thing to think about, since all charges against me have been dropped and I can play Quidditch again.

The entrance to the common room opens and I look over and see Julia enter, oddly enough, alone. She doesn't notice me at first and starts messing with her hair in the mirror on the opposite side of the room. I hadn't thought of Julia at all since my fight with Meredith, but seeing her again brought to the surface all the anger, hatred, and hurt I had been ignoring. Julia looks over her shoulder and we make eye contact in the reflection. Instantly, her eyes narrow to a glare.

"Staring at me, James?" she hisses as she turns around. "I would have thought that you would start chasing after the first girl who batted her eyes at you."

"Don't you wish," I reply evenly. She's not going to rattle me again. I'm not going to let her. "That would have make you little bit of fiction seem probable, wouldn't it?"

"Sounds like you've thinking with your head, for once."

"What would you know about thinking, Julia?"

Julia smirks. "Enough to know when a guy thinks with his head or with something else." Julia turns to go up to the girl's dormitories, but stops and adds, "Give my thanks to Meredith, will you? Now people are talking about her reputation again instead of mine. It's perfect, isn't it?" And with that, she disappears up the stairs.

…

What?