Chapter Eighteen

Harry woke up and yawned widely.

"Morning," grumbled Ronnie, "Happy Halloween."

"That was fast," said Harry, "where did all those days go?"

Ronnie shrugged.

"Probably something to do with Writer's Block," she replied.

"That does seem to be happening a lot lately," agreed Harry.

Ronnie finished dressing and quickly pulled her hair up into a ponytail.

"Right," she said, "I'm off. Jarred and I need to discuss our costumes for tonight."

Harry pulled himself out of bed and began heading towards the showers.

"See you," he replied carelessly.

Harry stumbled into the Gryffindor common room, still pulling his jumper on over his head.

"They need to start mornings a little later in the day," he mumbled.

"Hi Harry!" shrilled a bouncing first year.

"Hey … you …" said Harry.

"I read your article in the Hogwarts Herald and it was really cool and I like prawn crackers too and could you please sign this for me?" said the first year, very quickly.

Harry looked around suspiciously.

There didn't seem to be any other crazed fans around the room, ready to pounce …

"Alright," he said, "what's your name?"

"Greg Sanders," squeaked the boy, looking like he might wet himself at any moment.

'To Greg, good luck with everything. From Harry Potter,' scrawled The-Boy-Who-Lived-To-Be-Stalked-By-First-Years, and then handed the newspaper and quill back to Sanders.

"Thankyou!" chirped Greg and hurriedly scuttled off to squee with his dorm-mates.

Harry scratched his head and decided to go to breakfast.

An owl was waiting for him as he took his usual seat at the Gryffindor table. Harry gave it a scone and sat down to open the small parcel.

"Car keys?" said Harry in confusion. "Who would be sending me car keys?"

'Read the letter, you moron,' said his brain.

"Oh, right," said Harry, and did so.

'Harry,' said the letter, 'I've been a bad person but I hope you'll forgive me and be my friend.'

"Weird," muttered Harry.

Suddenly, in a flash of gold and silver, a flashy red convertible appeared at the front of the Great Hall.

"Wow!" exclaimed a small boy in a slightly girlish hat. "A Ferrari GTXY023! I wish I had one of those …"

"Sorry, Champ," said the pink newt sitting on his left shoulder, "you have to buy cars."

"Toooooo baaaaaad!" added a green newt from the other shoulder.

Harry picked up his car keys.

"I think it's mine," he said, slightly in shock.

Professor Hermione Granger stood up from her seat at the staff table and frowned.

"That's not right! Rule 673 clearly states that no modes of transportation, Muggle or otherwise, are permitted to appear suddenly anywhere on Hogwarts Grounds!"

Harry shrugged.

Hermione took a sip of her drink and frowned harder.

"And this here juice tastes funny!" she concluded.

Harry walked over to the Slytherin table and kissed Draco on the cheek.

"Wanna go see Sirius and Remus?" he asked.

Draco nodded.

"Sure," he replied, "would you like to come with us, Rachel?"

Rachel nodded miserably and ate her toast.

"She's been really quiet lately," Draco quietly informed Harry as they walked down to the Kennel, "I think she misses Louise."

"It can't be that bad, surely," whispered Harry.

"She's stopped charming the bacon to scream whenever anybody attempts to eat it," said Draco with a significant look at his boyfriend.

Harry looked shocked.

"Great Merlin!" he hissed. "This is bad!"

Behind them, Rachel Grey adjusted her abnormally large hat and half-heartedly muttered something about blackmail.

"Good morning," said Remus as he ushered in the teenagers, "how are you three today?"

"Pretty good," replied Harry, "I got a car at breakfast."

Sirius skidded into the room from the direction of the kitchen, abruptly stopping just in time to avoid knocking his godson over.

"AWESOME!" he exclaimed, bouncing on the spot. "Can I make it fly? Pleeeeeeease? Arthur would help me! Pretty, pretty please with a fizzing whizbee on top?"

Draco eyed Sirius' frilly pink apron.

"Do not let that man get near any of your possessions," he hissed.

"Aren't you meant to be cooking, darling?" said Remus.

Sirius nodded sheepishly.

"Yes, dear," he said, and hurried back out of the room.

"Whipped," commented the man sitting on the couch.

"Who are you?" said Harry.

"Oh, yes, sorry," said Remus, "Harry, Draco, and Rachel – this is my cousin Oz; Oz, this is Harry, Draco and Rachel."

"Pleasure," said Oz, "but my friends call my Seth."

Rachel suddenly burst into tears and ran from the room, sobbing about he-wenches.

The others looked after her in astonishment.

"Now, how did she know about that?" muttered Oz.

Later that day, Draco was helping Harry add the finishing touches to his costume when Ronnie stumbled into the dormitory.

"Oh," she said, "I didn't think anybody would be up here."

"Why are you indigo?" said Harry curiously.

Draco sniffed.

"Is that ink?"

"No! No reason!" said Ronnie as she ran into the bathroom.

"Riiight," said Draco, "and I'm the Queen of England."

"You are?" said Harry in surprise.

"Oh yes," said Draco sarcastically, "Didn't you know? I'm also the only gay in the village."

Harry looked confused.