Chapter Nine: The Row and The Auror

Word traveled once again like wild fire to the news that a dragon, a Norwegian Ridgeback named Norbert was claiming Hogwart's as its new home. Harry, along with every other hard core Quidditch player went into an uproar as Professor McGonagall informed the students at breakfast in the early days of October that the dragon would be kept in the Quidditch Pitch while not patrolling the grounds.

'I assure you,' she had sternly. 'That before the games this year, the Pitch will be back to its original form and the dragon will be elsewhere.'

'Well, terrific,' Ron said sarcastically. 'I'm so glad to hear that a bloody dragon is cozying up to its new surroundings.'

Harry had to admit it, but Ron was right.

It made Harry nervous.

A dragon! A bloody dragon!

But as the weeks progressed, Harry was surprised as how tame Norbert had become, much to Hagrid's doing. It was absurd to think that a fully grown dragon could ever be tamed, but Harry, along with many other students, that if there were ever a being who could tame a dragon, it was Rubeus Hagrid.

'Well, Hagrid was the first thing Norbert saw,' Hermione said one day after Potions class, in which Harry, for the first time, melted his cauldron.

Harry had discovered what Professor McGonagall meant when she had written in Hermione's letter to expect more Weasley's this year. Charlie, Ron's older brother, who had worked for years with dragons in Romania had decided to stay at Hogwarts for the remainder of the year to assist Hagrid with Norbert.

It was getting colder as the days progressed into October, and it began to rain day in and day out. Harry felt a little sorry for the students taking Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid. It was bad enough dealing with Merlin knew what type of deadly animal Hagrid put on display as if it were a teddy bear without the weather not cooperating.

And as for his classes, Harry never felt more burdened educationally. Transfiguration, Herbology and Charms were a menace to say the least. Although Professor McGonagall was shouldering the obligation as Headmistress to Hogwarts, her determination and steadfast loyalty to copious amounts of homework never faltered. Flitwick, although more genuine and good-natured, was nonetheless horrific towards his N.E.W.T. level students.

Professor Sprout, who was the now the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts was lethal, in more than one way. Not only was she very demanding towards the relevance of her class, she was stringent in the projection of the students, not only in her House of Hufflepuff, but in the majority.

Potions, by itself, was murder. Slughorn, who expected Harry to be an inch away from perfection, was disappointed by Harry's lack of skill this year. Hermione, who had always helped Harry during their Potions courses, continued to eye Harry with the I-told-you-so look she now had plastered upon her face as the grueling schoolwork and nasty weather continued to pound away at him.

As for Defense, Professor Castor was the ray of sunshine in Harry's day. Although cynical, dry and downright cruel to anyone who questioned him, he was what Harry was expecting, pushing his students to the limits of their abilities. It was also a great perk to have Castor continuingly mock and torture the Slytherins.

It was a nice change from Snape, to say the least.

Still, Harry's workload kept him away from his mentor. Although it was nearing Halloween, Harry had yet to talk to Professor Castor outside of the classroom.

Harry noticed that Castor was never seen during the day. He was never at lunch, he was never seen walking along the grounds. In fact, Harry confided in Ron and Hermione that he had never seen Castor outside the classroom or the Great Hall during dinner.

'Yea,' Ron admitted. 'Its kind of weird isn't it? I mean, he's always locked up in his office. Have you ever seen him out in the sun? Maybe he's a vampire.'

'He certainly had the personality of one,' Hermione said shrewdly. She had not once said a kind word about Castor, much to Harry's dismay, since he was turning out to be the best Defense Teacher they had had.

'You're just upset because he proved you wrong,' Ron said with a sly smirk.

Harry tried to ignore them as they bickered back and forth once again, but he couldn't help but smile. They had been working on Patronuses and Hermione had blatantly stated there was no way Castor had killed a dementor. Castor, who rarely lost his temper or cynical disposition went livid.

'There are things in this world that cannot be found or learned in a book, Ms. Granger,' he had said. 'And in majority, they are the most important. I wouldn't expect a bookworm like you to appreciate that.'

Hermione didn't say a word for the rest of the class and participated very little for the rest of the week. Castor, to Harry's relief, ignored her.

'Have you given any thought to Quidditch try-outs?' Ron asked.

Harry blinked. He hadn't given a thought to Quidditch, and Ron immediately noticed.

'You haven't?' he asked incredulously.

'I'm on it tomorrow,' Harry said.

'You're the bloody captain,' Ron said completely forgetting about his plate. 'How could you just act like its nothing to worry about?'

'Oh, Ron!' Hermione said sternly. 'Is Quidditch all you ever think about?'

Ron looked taken aback for a minute but smiled at her.

'Not at all,' he said still grinning. 'I think about girls, food and a few other noteworthy things.'

Hermione's mouth opened slightly but didn't say anything.

'Don't look so surprised,' said Ginny who had just sat down next to Harry and began to pile her plate up with earnest. 'Blokes now and days have only one thing on their mind.'

She looked between Ron and Harry then her eyes darted suddenly to Dean Thomas, her ex-boyfriend.

'Well,' she said looking back shyly at Harry. 'Most of them.'

'Quidditch isn't everything,' Ron stuttered.

'How bout this weekend, we'll do the tryouts?' Harry asked trying desperately to get away from the subject.

'I've always wanted to try out!' said a shrilly voice from behind him.

Harry wheeled around in his seat but not fast enough. Pavarti Patil had taken up the seat on Harry's right. She smiled at him.

'You?' Ron asked not believing what he had just heard.

'And why not?' she replied leaning across the table, eyeing Ron.

'Well,' Ron stammered looking between Harry and her. 'I never thought you to be that much into the game.'

'That's true,' Pavarti said waving her hand as if it were unimportant. 'But I wouldn't mind trying out. My older brother played and he never would shut up about it, so I guess it might be fun.'

Ron looked at Harry who could tell that his best friend was trying to suppress a groan, and quite admirably.

'Well,' he said thoughtfully. 'We do need a new Chaser now that Katie is gone.'

Parvati squealed in delight.

'When will you being having try-outs?' she asked.

'Uh,' Harry said thickly. 'I don't know yet, maybe next week.'

'You haven't set them up yet?' she asked incredulously. 'Harry, the first game is in like three weeks!'

Harry and Ron looked at each other in amazement, until Harry turned back to Parvati.

'I'll have them up by tomorrow night.'

'Great,' she said happily, and with that she dashed from the Great Hall to her Divination class.

Ron and Harry both eyed her with amazement.

'I got to admit,' Ron said ignoring Hermione's look, 'she does sound pretty excited, doesn't she?'

Harry didn't reply.

After breakfast they set off towards the greenhouses. Harry enjoyed Herbology for a good many reasons. Not only was it a time to spend with Professor Sprout who had always been an optimistic and amiable teacher but also because they spent this class with the Hufflepuff sixth years.

Ernie Macmillan, however, was a bit of an annoyance. Each class period up to today he had been working side by side with Hermione, to Ron's great annoyance, although he acted as if it were nothing. Being Head Boy and Girl meant that they did patrols together, planned the schedules for the rest of the prefects, and due to the additional security of the school had a rather diligent time of monitoring the student's progress.

More to that was that their rooms were no more than twenty feet apart from each other, and even though a trickle of jealousy went through Harry's spine when he first visited Hermione's room, which was flourishly decorated and was quite immaculate, with a spacious bathroom and king sized bed, but also with a walk-in closet.

Ernie was a nice enough bloke, Harry thought, but it was a bit irritating to see him be blatantly obvious with his intentions with Hermione.

'Good morning, class,' Professor Sprout said enthusiastically. 'Today we will be working on Aphrodiatus. Now who can tell me what they are exactly.'

As if one cue, Hermione's hand shot straight up.

'Yes, Ms. Granger.'

'The Aphrodiatus is known as the largest venus fly trap. It ranges between seven and nine feet tall at full maturity and its normal diet consists of rodents, birds and once in awhile, it might snag a deer.'

'Or a human,' Seamus muttered.

Professor Sprout led them out of the greenhouses to an outdoor garden that Harry had rarely seen. In the middle was a large fountain, but instead of water, a gigantic Aphrodiatus, well over seven feet tall stood. Its main vine was probably the size of Harry. There were very few leaves, Harry noticed but his attention was mainly on the football shaped head, basking in the sunlight.

'Aphrodiatus can live quite a long time,' Professor Sprout said walking straight up next to the plant. Everyone else seemed a little apprehensive and stayed a good length away from it.

'I've been growing this particular one for over twenty years,' she said happily beaming up at the plant with a look of affection.

'They are quite rare,' she went on. 'Most of them grow in the northern area of the United States, but if you're lucky you'll find one or two in Scotland.'

At that moment, Professor Sprout pointed her wand at a nearby cage which swung open. A small white rabbit came out, immediately going for the plate of carrots that was placed at the base of the fountain.

'Isn't it cute!' Lavender Brown said.

Harry didn't want to think the bunny was at all cute, because he knew what was about to happen.

The Aphrodiatus stretched its vine and in a flash, had opened its enormous mouth, revealing two inch long razor sharp fangs and with a horrifying sound, bit into the rabbit. Harry could hear the sound of bone breaking.

Most of the girls in the garden screamed and turned away at the sight of the plant lifting itself back to full height while chomping down on the little cute bunny. Harry, who didn't want to look weak by turning his head, merely closed his eyes until the Aphrodiatus made a large satisfying gulp.

After walking out of the greenhouses, and receiving their homework, (two feet of parchment on the Aphrodiatus and its uses), Harry noticed many of the students looked pale and nauseatiated.

'Hell of a week,' Ron said putting a hand through his hair. 'First a dragon and now a rabbit eating monster of a plant. Is it just me or the teachers starting to get fetishes on deadly creatures?'

After lunch, the Gryffindor seventh years made their way to Defense. They had recently switched from working on Patronuses to Shield Charms. Harry, and the other members of the D.A. found this as wonderful news, and mastered Castor's expectations in a matter of days. Harry enjoyed Nott and Zabini having difficulty with their Shield Charms and enjoyed witnessing Castor give them more homework and extra lessons on the weekend.

As they filed into the room and sat down, Harry noticed that Professor Castor was not sitting behind the desk in the front of the room, as he always did before class. The chair was vacant.

'Wonder where he is?' Ron said. 'He's never been late.'

They sat in silence for a few minutes until finally the door opened. All heads turned around, but the intruder was not Castor. It was an Auror.

The Auror was tall and lanky. He had short brown hair and very dark eyes, just a shade above black. He was unshaven and his face was ashen. He walked straight up to the front desk and pulled off his Auror robes. Scanning the class quickly, his eyes fell on Harry for a moment then looked down at the stack of parchments sitting on Castor's desk. Harry eyed the wizard for a minute then felt his blood run cold.

The Auror standing behind the desk was the same wizard in the picture Harry had seen at Castor's house.

Celebrating the end of Auror Training in Style, it had read underneath the picture. Marcus, Demetrius and Riley, mates for life.

'Afternoon,' the Auror said coldly. 'My name is Riley Sevagio. I am substituting for Professor Castor for the next week or so.'

'Where is he?' Harry asked not containing himself.

The Auror eyes shot up and glared at Harry.

'If you would like to speak,' Sevagio said in a tone that made Harry shiver. 'You will raise your hand and address me as sir.'

Nott and Zabini sniggered behind Harry's back. Ron and Hermione shot them dirty looks.

The Auror walked around the desk, rolling up his sleeves as he did so.

'I cannot inform you on the whereabouts of your Professor for two reasons,' he said, his voice cold and hollow.

'For one,' he said. 'I am not permitted to do so, and for another, I haven't the faintest idea. He asked me to take over for him for a few weeks and said he would be back as soon as he could.'

'He has informed me on what you have been working on for the past class periods,' he went on. 'So books away, wands out, let's get to work.'

No one said a word as they stood up and Sevagio disappeared the desks with a wave of his wand, and began to individually work with students on their Shield Charms. The Auror spoke very little. Unless he was firing a spell or hassling a student for not conjuring a strong enough Shield Charm, he didn't say a word.

After about thirty minutes, it was Harry's turn.

Harry had time to blink as Sevagio raised his wand.

'Reducto!'

Harry raised his wand and barely managed to block the spell. Sevagio eyed Harry for a moment before moving on to the next student.

At the end of class Sevagio pulled back on his Auror robes and looked sternly around the room.

'Although Professor Castor is not present for the next several classes,' he said. 'Do not come under the impression that my guidelines are any different. I want two rolls of parchment on Shield Charms, covering mostly the basics, to be handed in first thing Monday morning.'

There were many grumbles as students stood up and began filing out of the classroom.

'Mr. Potter,' Sevagio said coldly still looking down at the stack of parchment on the desk. 'May I have word?'

Harry felt a little apprehensive but told Hermione and Ron to go on ahead and he would meet up with them in the common room.

Harry walked forward and stood on the other side of the desk. Sevagio put his hand inside his robe and pulled out a folded piece of parchment, sealed in green wax.

'Professor Castor asked me to give you this,' he said not looking up.

Harry walked forward and took it from the Auror.

'What is it, sir?' Harry asked.

At that, the wizard raised his head and gave Harry an incredulous look.

'How the fuck do I know?' he said acidly.

Harry, who was caught off guard by the Auror's choice of words merely shrugged and mumbled a thank you.

Almost out the door, Sevagio called to him again. Harry turned around.

'Yes sir?'

Sevagio eyed him for a second then turned his attention back to the contents upon Castor's desk.

'Dem told me a lot about you,' he said coolly. 'Thinks you got talent.'

Harry registered 'Dem' to be Professor Castor.

'I saw a picture of you,' Harry blurted. 'At Castor's house. You had just finished Auror training.'

Sevagio looked up and smirked.

'Yea,' he said. 'I got the same picture at my place. Feels like ages ago.'

'The other man in the picture,' Harry said quickly. 'Marcus right? Is he still an Auror?'

Sevagio looked at Harry, his expression changing to a saddened look.

'No,' he said solemnly. 'Marcus was killed a few years back. We believe it was the work of Lucius Malfoy.'

'Oh,' Harry said dumbly

He didn't know why he just didn't walk out the door, but Harry wanted to ask the wizard a million questions. By now, the fact that he knew very little about Professor Castor was starting to irritate him to no end, and he figured this Auror knew Castor quite well.

'How long have you known Professor Castor?' he asked, trying to sound casual.

'A while,' Sevagio said shortly. 'Get on back to your common room, Potter. Your friends are waiting.'

Harry, feeling deflated, thanked the wizard one last time before walking back towards Gryffindor Tower. As he reached the portrait hole, he tore off the sealant of the letter and read.

Potter,

Be at the Hog's Head, one o'clock, next Hogsmeade, this Saturday. Tell the bartender who you are. Come alone, and make sure you're not followed.

Sincerely,

Professor Castor.

Harry folded the letter and put it back within his robes and marched through the portrait hole. Ron and Hermione sat in the best arm chairs next to the fireplace.

'What did Sevagio want?' Ron asked looking up from his Potions essay.

'Oh,' Harry said. 'He gave me a letter from Castor. He wants me to go to the Hog's Head this Saturday.'

'But this Saturday is Hogsmeade,' Hermione said.

'I know,' Harry said sharply. 'He wants me there, and he wants me to come alone.'

'Did he say why?' Hermione asked.

'No.'

'Any idea what it's about?' Ron asked.

'No.'

'Are you really going to go?'

'Yes,' Harry said this time a little more sharp. He didn't feel like being interrogated at the moment. He just wanted dinner.

'Harry,' Hermione said in a gentle voice. 'I know how much you admire Castor but don't you think that would be a little reckless going to the Hog's Head by yourself. I mean, it's not the most, er, popular, of places.'

'Hark who's talking,' Harry shouted, making a few first years walking by jump. 'And where did we have the D.A. meeting. And whose idea was it?'

'Those were different times, mate,' Ron said easily.

'Look,' Harry said stopping in his tracks and staring Ron square in the face. 'I think I can trust a guy I've lived with over the span of the entire summer.'

'And who says he'll be there, again?' Ron asked, his voice rising as well.

'What?' Harry asked, caught off guard by the tone of Ron's voice.

'He wasn't here today, was he?' Ron said standing up. 'And I for one haven't seen him for over three days. Who's to say he hasn't been here for that time?'

'And,' Hermione said standing next to Ron. 'We're not even sure it was Castor who sent the letter in the first place. Sevagio gave you the letter, not Castor.'

'Yea,' Ron said taking up the theme. 'How much do you know about Sevagio?'

'He has known Castor forever,' Harry said angrily. 'I saw a picture of them together at Castor's house.'

'But Harry,' Hermione said exasperatedly. 'That doesn't necessarily mean it's a good idea to go.'

'Damnit, Hermione!' Harry shouted, furious with himself for bringing this up in the first place. 'What the hell do you think I should do?'

Hermione took a step back from him. It had been awhile that he had ever shouted at her like that.

'Don't go,' Hermione said, her voice cracking a bit.

'And don't yell at her for another,' Ron said coldly.

'As if you haven't yelled at her a thousand times!' Harry shouted.

Ron looked taken aback for a minute then regained his composure. He turned his head and looked at Hermione.

'I'm sorry I've yelled at you,' he said plainly.

Hermione looked at Ron for a minute then smiled. She gave him a quick hug then looked over at Harry who still hadn't moved.

'You should think more about this Harry,' she said evenly. 'That's all we're saying.'

Harry stared at his two best friends for a minute then turned around heading out the portrait hole.

'Where are you going?' they asked.

'Out,' Harry said shortly. 'Don't expect me at dinner.'

Ignoring Hermione and Ron both calling out to him, he passed through the portrait hole and headed towards the front gates.

His feet carried him through the corridors, past the Great Hall and out onto the grounds. He ignored the Aurors completely forbidding him from going outside but simply marched past them. He didn't care if he got detention or if McGonagall would find out and have a field day with him. He didn't care about anything.

Before he knew it he was standing under the beach tree where his father and Sirius had sat under those many years ago.

He flopped down angrily and stared out towards the lake as the sun began to set.

His mind was reeling from the row he had just had with Ron and Hermione. It had been since Grimmauld Place that he had yelled at them like that. He was furious with them, as well he should be. He trusted them completely of course but he didn't want to have them treating him as if he were weak or insecure. He wasn't fragile, he wasn't weak, and he was tired of people treating him as though he were.

Things had changed since Dumbledore died he thought. He never expected himself to be back at Hogwarts and he didn't expect someone like Professor Castor to come into his life. Harry didn't like Castor but he didn't hate him either. He admired him greatly. He was a lot like Snape in character with the exception of his true nature and prejudice towards his father.

Castor was cynical, bad tempered and dark. He never smiled, genuinely smiled, and he had the aura of not caring about anything expect for his own personal benefit, and Harry marveled at that. Castor was the first person that had ever helped Harry for no reason other than money.

He didn't care about Harry. Harry mused that Castor would as soon kill him personally rather than have him spend the entire summer with him. It was a nice feeling actually, which freaked Harry out a bit. Here was a wizard, who was Harry's guardian, Head of Gryffindor House, Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, former Auror and had links to his late Godfather Sirius, and yet after all of that, all his history battling Dark Wizards and Voldemort's regime, he didn't care about any of it. His profession, his money and his well being were all that matter. Training Harry, taking the place of were Dumbledore once stood, where Sirius once stood, was nothing more than an obligation.

Harry knew that Castor was never going to make it easy for him, but he also knew that the American would never make it harder than it had to be.

It was hard enough.

'Shit,' he said aloud putting a hand through his hair.

'Hi,' said a voice behind him.

In an instant Harry jumped and turned, his wand out.

'Ginny!' he choked. 'Merlin, you scared me.'

'Didn't mean to,' she said suppressing a giggle.

They looked at each other for a minute until Ginny stretched and sat next to Harry's vacant seat next to the beach tree.

'What are you doing out here?' Harry asked sitting back down.

'Ron told me that you kind of exploded at him and Hermione,' she said softly. 'Ron looked really ticked, and I got galleons says Hermione is crying her eyes out.'

'That girl cries too much,' Harry blurted angrily. He didn't want to talk about it.

Ginny didn't say anything for a moment. She merely sat next to him, staring out towards at the lake.

'You shouldn't have yelled at them,' she said.

Harry felt his blood rise, but he didn't say anything.

'They're just trying to look out for you that's all,' she said evenly.

'You know something Gin?' he said turning to face her.

He looked into her soft beautiful brown eyes. He wanted to say that he was sick of people treating him like a fragile hood ornament. He was tired to people walking on stilts whenever he came into the room and immediately going silent when he walked up to them, knowing they were talking about the bloody 'Chosen One' before he sat down. He wasn't a kid anymore. He had seen enough carnage, enough fighting, and enough dying for them to understand that he was strong and brave. And yet, looking into her eyes, he felt all the anger and frustration within him leave just as quickly as it had come. It melted away as she looked at him with sad and yet understanding expression.

He took a deep sigh and let his shoulders sag, and his face softened.

'You're right,' he heard himself say, and not knowing what he was really doing, he laced his fingers with hers. 'As usual.'

She laughed at that.

'I think you should tell them that.'

Harry looked out once more at the lake then back at her. She looked so beautiful just then, the last ray of sunlight dancing on her skin, her tie loose and robes hanging onto her petite yet curvy form. He had the sudden urge to kiss her, but he let it pass. She must have read something his eyes expression for she stood up and let out a hand for him to take.

He grasped it and she helped him up.

'We should get back,' she said. 'Dinner's about to start.'

'I am a little hungry,' he said and his stomach growled.

Ginny giggled.

'Well,' Harry said, looking embarrassed. 'A lot.'

'Come on,' she said, and the two of them walked back into the castle, still holding hands.

'Ginny,' Harry said right before they went through the front doors. He had stopped walking and had turned to face her.

'Yea?' she asked in her soft voice.

'Thanks,' he said.

She smiled at him and squeezed his hand before letting go.

'Anytime Harry.'

They walked back inside and into the Great Hall. They were no longer holding hands, and for some reason, Harry felt more deflated without her touch.

A/N: Yea, short chapter, but I wanted to get this one up. Sorry this took so long, but I'll have the next one up much more promptly and it will entail quite a number of things, and will be long as hell, so be prepared. Thanks for sticking with me.