Christopher was going mad, utterly and totally mad.
He must belong to the most brilliant yet dysfunctional family ever. His younger brother was the only one who could defeat Voldemort, and was the most stubborn person you could meet. His little sister was one to rebel; to the point of dating Harry's school enemy and Deatheater, plus the baddie that Harry is meant to kill wants to get her pregnant.
And then there is the family he just seemed to fit into. Sirius was, well, between a father figure and a bad influence. Remus was very reliable and wise. Severus was the creepy uncle you avoided, but still somehow found yourself enjoying his dry humour. Emma was slightly quirky in her ways, but very sweet. Then there were the Weasleys, lovely family, all very kind.
So far Christopher had been staying with Sirius in Grimmauld place, it was ok, often the pair would talk about Auror training, as Sirius had gotten in, but after the death of Lily and James, never saw fit to return.
"So how is it Sirius, to be free again?" Christopher asked one night as he stumbled in from a tiring day following Melanie around as she attended classes, once more.
"It's nice, in many ways I'm glad I can be here to watch Melanie and Harry grow up, I didn't see them much as kids, where as with you I missed the growing up but saw you plenty as a baby," Sirius answered with a small smile.
"Yes well I was born four years before Harry," Christopher pointed out; Sirius nodded and took a large gulp of firewhiskey.
"So did you have a girl in America, I know you were staying there with Emma?" Sirius asked.
"Not really, not one to settle down, being an Auror didn't allow it," Christopher said with a sheepish grin, and Sirius chuckled.
"I was never one to settle down, I did finally in my seventh year, but after school it was a very loose relationship, then you were born and suddenly me and Honey got more settled," Sirius informed a curious Christopher.
"What happened to Honey, were you married?" Christopher asked tentatively.
"No never quite made it, we were engaged, then 'bout a week before the wedding she was slaughtered. Twenty Deatheaters stormed our flat; she was alone, never stood a chance," Sirius said in almost a whisper, the two fell into silence, thinking deeply.
"Hermione. She's a muggleborn right?" Christopher asked suddenly.
"Yeah, brightest witch you'll ever meet though, so incredibly smart, it's amazing really. You'd not have thought it when I was a kid, a muggle born being the smartest of the year, yet there was your mother Lily, brilliant, though Hermione has surpassed that," Sirius told Christopher who nodded along. "Why do you ask?" Sirius sighed when the boy didn't answer. "Christopher what are you thinking? Look she's an adult now at seventeen, but stay clear, she's your brother's best friend." Sirius warned then gulped down his fire whiskey.
"I didn't say a thing."
Harry wandered around the school with Ron and Hermione, they were chatting, just talking randomly. They were on the third floor when they came across Melanie and Ginny.
"No Draco then." Harry shot at his sister who had been laughing with his girlfriend.
"Harry don't," Ginny warned, she hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. "We haven't spent any time together lately, do you wanna hang out?" Ginny asked with a devilish grin on her face. Hermione smirked at Harry's face.
"Why don't you and Ginny spend the evening together, me and Ron will hang out with Melanie for a while. I'm sure we won't bore her too much," Hermione drawled. Both Hermione and Melanie burst into a fit of laughter as they rounded the corner with a confused Ron.
Harry led Ginny away to the grounds.
"It'll be curfew in an hour or so," Ginny reminded him as they walked through the cool night, Harry reached out and linked his fingers through hers and smiled.
"I've missed not being around you," Harry said softly. Ginny smiled up at him and stepped towards them, so there was the smallest of spaces between them.
"I've missed you too Harry, but it's these moments that make the wait worth it," Ginny said closing the gap between them, she brushed her lips against his then pulled away slightly, only to find Harry grab her around the waist and kiss her deeply. Ginny moaned as she let Harry roam her mouth with his tongue.
"Harry," Ginny gasped as they parted. "Have I ever told you that you're a good kisser?" Ginny asked with a smile as she kissed the corner of Harry's mouth.
"No but feel free to do so as much as you like," Harry replied with a grin, Ginny laughed at his antics and detangled her self from him.
"Come on, its cold out," Ginny said with a smile, she held out her hand, which Harry took and led him back up to the school. "Do you know how long we've been together?" Ginny asked with a grin.
"Actually I do," Harry replied, with his own grin. "Since it is now March we have been together nearly five months, wow time really does fly by."
"Yeah, it does, but then again we've a whole life ahead of us," Ginny said then grinned. "Well unless you're Draco Malfoy dating Melanie Potter."
"Don't remind me, I don't even know what she sees in him?" Harry growled.
"She sees in him what I see in you. Only difference is the looks," Ginny explained. But Harry didn't understand. "Well in his own way he's brave, I mean he protected her from the Deatheaters, he's loyal to her by doing this, she can trust him, and he cares for her as much as she does him. Plus he is one of the more dangerous guys at this school." Ginny informed Harry.
"You think I'm dangerous?" Harry asked.
"Yes, I mean your main mission in life is to kill the most deadly wizard ever," Ginny pointed out as if to say 'duh'.
"I guess you're right," Harry chuckled slightly.
"I'm always right," Ginny said with a smirk as they reached the portrait of the fat lady.
"That you are," Harry agreed with his own smirk. "Godric." He said to the Fat Lady then helped Ginny into the common room. When he got into the common room it was to receive a little shock. Christopher was sitting with Neville and Ron, giving them advice on girls!
"What are you doing?" Harry shot at his brother.
"They asked for advice Harry, what was I to do?" Christopher shot at Harry, and then winked at Ginny who laughed.
"Ron's useless with girls; he'll need all the help you can offer," Ginny laughed, Ron made an angry/embarrassed noise as his ears went red.
"That's not very fair," Christopher said to Ginny.
"It's true. Night guys. Good night Harry." She kissed him on the cheek before leaving to go to her dorm.
"I didn't even realise you like anyone Ron?" Harry asked his best friend; Ron shrugged slightly, but didn't answer. "Well what are you telling them?" Harry asked as he sat down by Christopher.
"Don't get pushy with them, and don't be egotistical," Christopher replied. "But be confident," Neville shrunk away at this, confidence wouldn't be his strong point. "Don't do that." Christopher told him.
"Neville you went out with Ginny before I did," Harry reminded him.
"Yeah, as friends only," Neville muttered.
"But she still said yes, which means you have a certain appeal," Christopher explained.
"I guess so."
"No guessing about it, if it happened you know it's true," Christopher said somewhat sternly.
Weeks were passing both amazingly and annoyingly quickly, Ginny and Melanie settled down and spent the most of their time revising for their upcoming OWL's, Ron spent a lot of time playing chess with Harry while picking up tips from Christopher for his mysterious girl, while Hermione sat next to Christopher debating some of the tips.
"Flowers don't automatically mean she'll fall for you." Hermione stated.
"Well it helps." Christopher argued.
"Not always, depending on the girls likes and dislikes, a bunch of flowers would mean nothing to me, but a book, a well thought out book, that's different, flowers are always such a obvious choice to make. But something that you know is thought out; well that means so much more."
"I guess you're right, but I still think flowers are a good present," Christopher said. "If you have chosen the right flower, something truly beautiful, then it's saying something to that girl. 'See this flower; this is for you, as a symbol of your beauty'."
"I still don't buy it," Hermione said. "But in any case, it would help us if we knew who you were talking about." Hermione said to Ron with a slight glint in her eye.
"No one you know," Ron muttered, but Hermione laughed.
"Ron I realise you have a difficult time coming to terms with the fact I am a girl, but I am. This means I pick up on things only girls do. The glances, the fidgeting, and everything else." Hermione said with a small smirk.
"You know!" Ron gasped, flushing the same colour as his hair.
"And if I were you I'd get her a card, she never gets presents, so that would be too much," Hermione suggested.
"How do you know?" Harry asked.
"Ok well remember that time when we were walking to Transfiguration, and we met Luna along the way?" Harry nodded. "Well Ron went bright red, and started to fidget, then as we parted ways he squeaked. It was obvious."