To Bring a Smile:

Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock

SedMai

Disclaimer: All Harry Potter and Batman characters rights and properties goes to JK Rowling and Warner Bros Pictures/ DC Comics. No money is being made in the creation of this story. It's sole purpose is for poorly written entertainment. All other characters are fictional.

((((((SedMai))))))

Insecurities are a part of life. Never let an insecurity keep you from doing what you want to do. Be confident in who you are as a person and human being. Confidence is the cure for those insecurities. Confidence allows you to perform those task, with the knowledge that nothing will bring you down. You will finish your goals in whatever you set out to do. Over time though, confidence can turn to arrogance. At what point does this happen? The answer is, it's base on public opinion. What one person may perceive as confidence, another may say they are arrogant. Arrogance turns into an ego, which is never a good thing. In whatever you do, make sure you can do it and do it with confidence. A saying may say it best about knowing the line between the two, "Stop writing checks your body can't cash." Those that let their ego get the best of them eventually has to pay their dues.

((((((SedMai))))))

It's been two months since Harry had return to his lovely academic institution. Once again another DADA teacher was out to kill him. Professor Greasy Bats had finally had his wish fulfilled and became the new Defense Teacher. The only consolation to Harry was that if history repeated itself, then The Great Surely One will not be returning next year. That little thought brought a smile to his face, and if he should move the process along a little, he's sure nobody would mind, except maybe the twinkly eyed bastard himself.

Standing in the a little alcove, hidden in the shadows Harry watched the students pass by. Sheep the whole lot of them. Quickly to follow what is told to them. Never questioning what they are being fed is the truth. Harry just sighed. The wizarding world needed a shock and he's the cattle prod to provide it. Humming a little tune, that popped into his head.

"Dirty Deeds, Done with sheep.

Dirty Deeds, Little Bo Peep."

Chuckling to himself he was waiting for a particular someone. Oh he was going to have so much fun. He had felt like a caged animal once school started, it would be nice to let his hair down a little. Harry smiled as his person of interest passed by. Quickly Harry grabbed him and slammed him against the wall hidden from any who would pass by. "Hello Dracky-Poo, funny running into you here of all places."

It took Draco a few seconds to get his wind back, "Potter?! Unhand me, or I'll make you pay for touching your betters."

"Oh HAHAHAH, That's a good one." Harry shook his head, Instantly a straight razor was pulled to Draco's throat. "No, I don't think so. You see Mr. Smiley here would love to paint the walls red right now, but that would ruin the wonderful surprise I have in store for you."

Draco's eyes widened, scared out of his mind. He had heard that Potter had changed and not to mess with him. Draco dismissed those comments because in his mind Potter was inferior in everything. Realizing now that maybe he should have taken those warnings a little more seriously. "W..What do you want?"

"Oh nothing special, just for you to follow me. Unless you would rather play with Mr. Smiley." Harry moved the straight razor down Draco's face.

"N..No, No that's alright."

Harry frowned, "Pity, he was looking forward to knowing you more intimately. Oh well maybe another time. Now listen carefully, you will follow me. You will not warn anybody, and if you do. I will make sure you regret it for the whole six hours of the rest of your life. Do you understand me?"

Draco couldn't say anything, he just shook his head, Harry just smiled. "Excellent! Now off we go."

Leading them up, Harry used his immense knowledge of the castle and traversed them through the secret tunnels. They were able to avoid any students as they made their way to the 7th floor. Harry started pacing back and forth. "I know you know what room this is, but you don't realize the power the room has." A door appeared as Harry opened it and ushered Draco in. "Welcome to the Room of Requirements."

"Swing High, Swing High,

Away we go.

Up to the ceiling

Where the cobwebs go,

Where the spiders nest

And feed all day.

And all the world

Isn't so fun and gay."

Draco entered the room and stared at a swinging pendulum, with a smiling face painted on it. On it was Luna Lovegood with a huge smile on her face. He realized that who was singing the nursery rhyme. He felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Doesn't it look like she's having so much fun. Luna dear."

Luna looked over at her Puddin', She was currently standing on top of the pendulum holding on as she was swinging back and forth. "Yes Mr. J?"

Harry looked at his watch, and saw that the movement completely stopped. He held it up to his ear and nodded. Even he knew that a broken watch is not completely broken. It was right twice a day at least. "Five minutes?"

Luna was giggling with glee, "That's about right."

Draco turned to Harry confused, "Five minutes for what?"

"Well my dear boy, look at who is strapped to the table. I say five minutes because that is about how much time you have till your one less family member."

Draco, looked over at who was strapped to the table and his eyes went wide with horror. "MUM!" He turned to Harry, with a look he was about to kill him. "Get her out of there this instance!" He could see the horror in her eyes as she couldn't say anything due to the ball gag in her mouth.

"Tsk-tsk Draco, no need to be so rude. I just want to have a friendly conversation and if you agree to my terms your mother doesn't get personal time with Mr. Chuckles."

Draco looked at his mother and then at Harry. Slumping his shoulders, "What do you want?"

"I know that you're a Death Eater. I know you have the mark, what I want to know is, what is your mission here at Hogwarts?"

Draco frantically looked around, "I can't tell you. If I do I could be killed."

Harry just looked at him with bored expression, tapping his watch. "Tick Tock, Mr. Malfoy, Tick Tock."

"Wheee"

Draco looked back at the pendulum as Luna was giggling and laughing. Harry went completely nutters. "Fine! He want's me to kill Dumbledore."

Harry started laughing, "That's a good one, give you a task that you have to no hope of completing. This must be punishment for your fathers ineptitude."

"I told you now stop that thing." He was watching as the razor sharp edge was far closer to his mother than he liked.

"We have another minute. What is the secondary mission?"

"How did you...Never mind, I'm suppose to find a way for the Death Eaters to enter Hogwarts."

Harry immediately stopped the pendulum with a command. Draco just watched incredulously as Luna was jumping up and down on it, trying to get it to move. With a huff, she sat on it with a pouty look. "So I take it you're going to tell the Headmaster now."

"No, No, No, on the contrary I hope you succeed. Please feel free to get rid of Oh Long Bearded Bastard. That would make my life so much easier. Now how do you plan to get the Death Eaters into the school."

Draco didn't think things could get any stranger, "Aren't you suppose to be on the light side."

Just shrugging his shoulders, "Light, Dark who cares. It's all about spreading joy and chaos around, Don't you think? Now answer the question."

"I was told that there is a vanishing cabinet in this room, and it brother is at.."

"Borgin and Burkes, excellent idea. I will need a few weeks notice before you plan to unleash Death Eater hell onto the school. Luna please be a dear."

Luna jumped down and saluted Harry, "Of Course Mr. J." Going over to Mrs. Malfoy, Luna performed an obliviate and stunned her.

Draco was about to lunge at Harry, "Don't do anything that you'll regret Draco dear. Luna needed to obliviate your mother, because we can't have her remembering any of this now do we. No we don't and she needs to be knocked out so that we can return her." Harry turned his face makeup on that really startled Draco. "I can get to your mother anytime Draco dear, remember that. Now run along, don't get into too much trouble now."

If Draco was scared of Harry before he was terrified of him now. "What about my mother?"

"Rest assured, your mother will be returned unharmed."

Draco looked at Harry, who had Luna come to his side. He looked back at his mother and then left the room quietly. When the door closed Harry looked to Luna, "That was fun don't you think?"

"I still say a duck and a rubber hose would have been more entertaining."

Looking at Luna who smiled back at him, "Too true. Oh Minnniooonnss." Harry started shaking his leg, trying to get off the eager little bugger sure was an affectionate little bloke. Dobby hopped off Harry's leg and stood in line. Harry looked over his faithful little henchmen and henchwoman. They were wearing masks that resembled his true self. He was so proud of them. "Okay, I need Mrs. Malfoy returned," Harry looked at Dobby, "Unharmed. Make sure you're not seen." The three house elves left with a pop.

Harry grabbed Luna's hand, "Let's go have some fun. What do you think love?"

Luna looked at Harry with wide eyes, "Love?"

Harry looked at her puzzled, "Well, yeah. I mean you're my Luna, I would do anything for you. Of course, Love?"

Squealing, Luna leapt into Harry's arms and gave him a great big kiss. "I'm all yours Puddin'."

"Let's paint the castle red then. I feel like messing with some bird brains anyways. They do need to see the error of their ways and learn not to be so closed minded."

Thinking, "You know we can't do anything to anybody essential to the plot of the story."

Harry thought about it, "You're right, I know the perfect person who will not be missed. Too much." Getting out the marauders map, Harry found the person currently wandering the halls. "Ahhh perfect timing. I've been meaning to pay her back for last year anyways." Turning to Luna, he held out his hand. "My lady."

Luna took his hand and curtsied, "My Lord." Harry put his other arm around her waist. The two waltzed out of the room as the door closed behind them.

((((((SedMai))))))

"Severus come in."

Coming into the office, Severus nodded to the Headmaster, "You wish to see me Sir."

"Yes, we have a delicate situation. You see, Marrietta Edgecomb was found at the edge of the forbidden forest. Let's just say, it was difficult to identify her."

Raising his eyebrows, "I don't see how this involves me."

Professor Dumbledore knew that he should feel bad about a student's death, but she didn't really matter. She wasn't a big part of the story after last year. "I need for her to be disposed of discreetly, maybe she wandered into the Forbidden Forest to never come back. I ask you, because I know that you can get this job done for me discreetly."

"And you don't think she will be missed."

The Headmaster just shrugged his shoulders, "Sure her parents will be devastated, but what can you do for a student who breaks the rules."

Severus just nodded, "What of the attack tonight?"

"Regrettable yes, but that could expose you as our spy and you're much more important to the war than a couple of muggle."

"Then if there isn't anything else." Severus left the office.

Dumbledore watched as his favorite Professor left the office. Reaching over he popped a lemon sherbert in his mouth. Assassination attempts, monsters lurking through the castle. Just another fun filled year at good ole' Hoggy Hogwarts.

((((((SedMai))))))

Hermione entered the common room not really shocked by what she sees anymore. On the couch was Harry staring into Hedwig eyes. Both were intensely looking at each other. Sitting next to them was Luna polishing a huge mallet. The size of the mallet head was at least three times the size of her head. She wasn't going to even ask, she knew that the explanation would give her a headache.

"Ah ah, I won," Hermione watched Hedwig flap her wings, "I don't care, pay up." She kept watching the two, "No I didn't cheat, I won fair and square." The two continue to stare at one another, "Fine two out of three."

Walking over to the two, "Harry?"

"Oh, hello Mione, how has your day been?" Harry was continuing to stare at the white snowy owl.

"Good, um, what are you doing?"

"Oh, I have been neglecting my most beautiful girl here, so we are spending some quality time." Harry continued to stare into Hedwigs eyes.

Looking over at Luna, "Shouldn't you be his most beautiful girl." She could hear a chirp from Hedwig after she said that comment.

"Oh no Hermione, Hedwig is definitely Harry's most beautiful girl." Luna held up her mallet. "How do you like my wrackspurt? Isn't it lovely."

Hermione just shook her head feeling a headache forming. "It's nice Luna."

"You Lose!" "Squawk" "What?! No I didn't cheat, pay up sweetheart." "Hoot" "Yes, I still love you, but you still owe me."

Hedwig reached out behind her and took out a dead mouse. Hesitantly she dropped it in Harry's hand. With a sad expression she nipped him affectionately on the finger and took off out of the window. Harry looked down at the dead mouse in his hands and then back out the window Hedwig flew out of, "Well damn, I guess I got the short end of the stick on that one." Harry flung the dead mouse out the window as a white blur took it out of the sky. "You're welcome!"

Hermione was amused at her best friends antics. She knew that the death of Sirius affected Harry, and that changed him. He may have lost some sense of reality, but to her it didn't matter. He was her brother in everything, but blood and she would never turn her back on him. She was happy that he found somebody that in her honest opinion was a kindred spirit.

A brown owl came through the window with a letter attached to it's leg. Landing on the edge of the couch. It held out it's leg for Hermione, "Well Hello, who are you from?" Taking the letter, the owl flew out of the window. Hermione opened the letter, reading it, she just dropped the letter. A look of horror came on her face.

Harry was smiling until he looked up at Hermione. Harry immediately jumped over the couch and took hold of Hermione, "What's wrong?" Hermione didn't answer, she crumbled to the ground sobbing. Harry held her as Luna came to her side and took the letters from the ground. Reading it over she scowled and held it up for Harry to read.

Reading the letter, the look on his face was one of pure fury. It would appear somebody wasn't playing nice, and they would pay for what they did. He would bring a smile to her face if it was the last thing he did.

((((((SedMai))))))

"Today's episode is brought to you by the letter M, for murder and mayhem."

"Ahem, My loyal readers, what a joy it has been for you to be a part of my life. I haven't done it yet, but I must thank all you for review….Really? Thirteen reviews."

"Joker?"

"What? I pour my soul into these pages and thirteen reviews. It's blasphemous you hear me."

"You should be thankful you have reviews at all."

"Pish Posh, details. Anyways, Kairan1979, oooh three reviews, geetac, jh831, Dyani91 two reviews there, Tharl, Darkness Rissing, AnonNecross, Slytherin Potter, and Fox of the Blood Moon. I much appreciate the kind gestures you bestow upon me, if you would just leave me your name, address and…"

"Joker, you can't do that"

"I just wish to thank them in person, maybe take them out for ice cream. Perhaps paint the town red, hahahaha. Psst reviewers, Just give me a call when you're in town, know there are always room at my place. I can guarantee you will be staying with a smile. Ah hahahaha. Oh excuse me sometimes I do get carried away. We are starting to get in the home stretch, Oooohhh writer. What did you say maybe three more chapters?"

"Yeah that's about right"

"You know boys and girls let's get real. I wasn't always the sane person you see here today. Let's be honest, I was a real nut case. Mione has a special place in my heart. No, No, No Harmony worshippers this isn't that type of story, bad, you hear, bad. No she is like a sister to me, maybe closer. She will go through a transformation, just a like a caterpillar as it cocoons into a beautiful butterfly. Oh the fun we are going to have. Well till next."