Chapter Twenty-One - Not the Fate of the World
Harry was practicing his Occlumency every moment he got now. A few minutes here and there had really done wonders for his ability to concentrate. His marks were up slightly, and he didn't feel nearly as out of control as he had been lately. It was easier for him to sit through prefect meetings with Diggory and Spinnet droning on and on. His focus in the duelling club was increasing, and he was getting very good. Nobody so far had been able to defeat him. In group exercises, his team always triumphed. Because of his requirement that people change partners often, everyone was always eager to be on Harry's team. He was better able to tolerate the times when his mates took the piss out of "Captain Potter" in the privacy of the Slytherin common room and the plethora of grief he got from the team for being Lieutenant Captain.
He really hoped that Voldemort didn't decide to interfere in today's match. Slytherin badly needed to defeat Ravenclaw. It was shaping up to be a very even contest. Ravenclaw's team was rather experienced, and Roger Davies, the captain, was quite the strategist. It would ultimately come down to the Seekers, and though Harry was confident he could beat Cho Chang to the snitch, anything could happen when it came to Quidditch. Harry only hoped that Voldemort wouldn't try to take advantage of their mental link during the match.
The match was scheduled for the first Saturday in March. When the team arrived in the Great Hall for breakfast, the sky overhead was cloudy and ominous.
"Think the rain will hold off?" Goyle said.
"It doesn't matter," Harry said firmly. "We'll play anyway."
"I know. I was just wondering."
"You two had better keep those bludgers directed at Ravenclaw," Harry warned.
"This isn't our first match, Harry."
"No, it's your second," Bletchley said sharply. "You're not good enough to start thinking you're the cock of the walk. Listen to Harry. You need to stay sharp out there if you're going to stay ahead of Ravenclaw's Beaters."
"We've been training hard, Captain. We're ready for them."
"See that you are. If we lose because you can't keep things under control, you'll wish Flint was still here to save you."
Up at the high table, a single owl swooped down and delivered a pink envelope to Hagrid. He looked a bit startled and took the letter. He tore it open and read the parchment inside slowly, disbelief growing plainer on his face. He turned to look down the table at Dumbledore.
"Professor, sir?" he said, his tone full of hurt feelings.
"What is it, Hagrid?"
"I bin sacked."
"Sacked? Not by me."
"Her."
Hagrid had been on probation, threatened with the sack if he didn't show improvement by the end of February. The big man knew about Magical Creatures, but he was a joke of a teacher.
Hagrid rose to his feet.
"Yer jest tossin' me outta here then?"
Professor Umbridge had been daintilly eating her toast.
"Yes, Hagrid. Your performance in the classroom speaks for itself. Your often-stated belief that the prescribed course material isn't interesting enough leads to your presentation of some very dangerous beasts indeed. The threat to the students is unacceptable.
"Furthermore you simply cannot control a classroom of even first-years. Discipline is non-existant. The students pay attention only if they want to.
"You do not even properly mark the homework assignments. I know because I had several of the students insert diatribes against the school and headmaster. Had you read the papers, given your well-known regard for Professor Dumbledore, it would have provoked a reaction. As it is, there was nothing.
"The students deserve better than you, Hagrid. You are a poor educator. You are dismissed. Pack your things and be gone from the grounds by nightfall."
"Surely there is no need to expel our Keeper of Keys and Grounds," Dumbledore said, still in his seat.
"Yes, that reminds me. You will need to surrender all of your keys before you leave."
"Professor Umbridge, you may have the power to remove my teachers, but you do not have the right to replace my staff. Hagrid is a most effective man, and I continue to require his services."
Umbridge smiled sweetly at Dumbledore. "As you wish, Headmaster."
Hagrid sat down again and stared at his plate. He didn't eat anything else and kept his hands in his lap.
Laine arrived in the Great Hall and sat down next to Harry. Her perfume was delightful, as always, but he refused to be distracted by it today.
"Hey, guess what? Hagrid just got sacked!"
"That's nice. You didn't wait for me."
"The team came up," he said with a shrug. "I had to go with them."
"I guess I'll just have to learn to hurry up my makeup so you don't leave me behind," she said tartly.
"I don't want you to stab yourself in the eye with a swab," he tried to joke. "Next year when I'm captain, I'll always wait for the reserve team to be ready as well."
"You'd better."
At that moment, a ball of parchment beaned Harry in the head. He flinched reflexively. Only a Banishing Charm could have gotten it moving fast enough.
So much for constant vigilance.
Uncrumpling the ball, Harry discovered a drawing of himself (the prominent scar made it obvious) being struck by a dozen bludgers while a horribly racist caricature of Cho Chang held up a fluttering snitch.
Across the hall, Weasley was trying to look innocent and failing. Harry scowled. Maybe he'd find an excuse to fly into the stands and knock Weasley down.
The table was still buzzing about Hagrid, but before much longer, Bletchley stood up and motioned to the team.
"But I'm not done yet," Laine protested.
"Should have gotten up on time, Slater," the Captain said unsympathetically.
Harry tried to apologize without words as he followed the team. Laine hurriedly grabbed several handfuls of toast and stuffed a whole piece in her mouth before hurrying after them.
In the locker room, Harry quickly changed into his uniform robes and sat down to have a few moments to himself. He closed his eyes and banished all thought and emotion.
The teachers were constantly reminding the fifth years that O.W.L. results would impact their future schooling and thus their entire careers as wizards. The Occlumency lessons themselves were necessary because of the prophecy, forever reminding Harry about his awful destiny. Sometimes he felt completely overwhelmed by all the doom.
Harry opened his eyes. Yes, his team needed to win, but it was ultimately only a game. He would strive to win, of course, but it was nice to be able to do something that didn't have the fate of the world wrapped up in it.
Feeling much better, Harry paid attention as Bletchley stood up to give the Captain's traditional speech.
"Men, we've got our work cut out for us today. Ravenclaw is very experienced, and we'll need to be in top form. We've trained for this. We're ready for this. As long as we keep our heads about us, we ought to do well. I don't think we'll be able to run the score up on them, so, Harry, we're depending on you to catch the snitch and win it for us."
Harry rose to his feet. "Bletchley is right, men. Ravenclaw is a very tough team, and we need every single point we can sneak. Don't worry too much about committing fouls. Bletchley is a fantastic Keeper. It's more important to take the Quaffle away from them as much as we can. Madam Hooch doesn't see every foul, and she doesn't call them as often as she should, so let's use that to our advantage."
"Up Slytherin!" Bletchley called.
"Up Slytherin!" the team roared back.
"Welcome, Hogwarts, to another fine Quidditch match. Today Slytherin will challenge Ravenclaw, trying to redeem their loss to Gryffindor earlier in the season. Ravenclaw, of course, lost to Hufflepuff and is looking to get back on top. Introducing the Ravenclaw team: Chang, Davies, Ingram, Kovalsick, O'Rourke, Sunderlund, and Webster!"
Ravenclaw's section of the stand burst into cheering and applause as the team shot out of the starting tunnel and took a few laps around the pitch.
"Here is the Slytherin team: Bletchley, Crabbe, Goyle, Montague, Potter, Pucey, and Warrington!"
Harry kicked off and followed Bletchley into the sky. Slytherin cheered and whooped in support. Several firecrackers exploded above the crowd, raining down green and silver confetti.
Both teams landed in the centre of the pitch. Bletchley stepped forward and motioned to Harry to do the same. Davies was by himself.
"I want a nice clean match," Madam Hooch said firmly. "Be sportsmanlike and have fun up there."
"Ravenclaw always plays fair," Davies said pompously.
Bletchley snorted rudely. "Good luck, Davies. You're going to need it."
Davies offered his hand. Bletchley accepted and shook it firmly.
"Mount your brooms!"
Harry kicked off. The Chasers began to circle.
"I'm releasing the snitch!"
The golden ball winged towards the Ravenclaw Seeker, Cho Chang, and vanished.
Madam Hooch threw the Quaffle into the air, and the game was on!
Davies snatched the ball first and immediately threw it to Ingram. She ducked under Montague, who took a vicious swipe at her, and moved towards the hoops. Warrington missed the interception, and Kovalsick took the shot. Bletchley barely got there in time and knocked the Quaffle out to Warrington.
"Ravenclaw misses their first scoring opportunity, and now Slytherin has possession!"
Warrington tucked the Quaffle close to his chest and took off down the pitch. He collided roughly with Ingram and was immediately called for a foul.
"It's a penalty for blatching, deliberately flying to collide! Ingram takes the penalty shot, but Bletchley stops it easily. Come on, Ravenclaw! You've got to do better than that!"
Bletchley threw the ball out to Pucey, who passed up-pitch to Montague. Montague made a run on the goal, but Harry tore his attention away to look for the snitch.
A quick scan of the pitch revealed nothing. Chang's usual tactic was to tail Harry because her eyesight wasn't so great, but this was a futile move, because once Harry saw the snitch, nobody at Hogwarts could catch him. She appeared to have learned this lesson finally, because she was currently at the opposite end of the pitch, darting here, there, and everywhere in her search.
Crabbe got a good hit on a bludger and sent Ingram spiraling to the ground. Pucey caught the pass intended for her. He passed to Warrington, and the Slytherins launched into Flint's variant of the Hawkshead Attack Formation.
After slicing through the Ravenclaw defence like they weren't even there, the score was twenty-love.
After over two hours of fruitless seeking, the snitch just didn't want to come out. Harry was mildly irritated, but he enjoyed watching the match. The score was tied at two hundred points each, and then Ravenclaw fooled Bletchley to score again.
The crowd loved a great match, and that's what they were getting. Matches at Hogwarts seldom went longer than thirty minutes, and this display was a real treat.
Chang made a sudden dive. Harry swore and zoomed after her. She wasn't daring enough to try to fake him out, so he knew she'd seen the snitch. He crept up on her, but she had a good lead. Harry urged his Firebolt closer. Chang reached her hand out, just touching the fluttering wings with her fingertips.
Harry pulled even with her and bumped into her broom.
"Potter!"
Harry ignored her protest and stretched out, trying to grab the snitch. It flew frantically, doing its best to escape. Chang poked him in the side, breaking his concentration. The snitch inched away from them.
Harry leaned forward even more, practically touching his chin to his broom handle. Chang did the same, and they were neck and neck.
The snitch took a sudden sharp turn up. Locked together, both Seekers overshot. Harry shoved Chang away from him and tried to follow the snitch. His Firebolt was better than her Cleansweep, and he was able to make a tighter turn.
Harry found himself chasing the snitch with Chang tucked in behind him. She was drafting him, using him as a shield against the wind. She crept closer.
The snitch began to twist in a spiral, making itself harder to grab. Harry had practiced his own spinning, so he was able to follow it. Chang fell back as Harry's fingers closed around the golden ball.
The Slytherins went berserk.
Harry landed on the pitch, sheer elation making his sore muscles stop aching. Chang came down next to him, disappointment plain to see. She said something, but it was hard to hear her over the roar of the crowd. Harry shook his head and cupped a hand to his ear. She leaned in so that her breath tickled his ear.
"How do you keep doing this?" she asked. "You're amazing. I've never seen a better catch."
"It's a gift," he said cheekily.
"Well done, Potter. Really."
"Thanks."
Goyle and Crabbe lifted him up on their shoulders and carried him around as shrieking Slytherins rushed the pitch.
When they at last put him down, Harry looked around for Laine. He reached out to hug her, but she felt stiff and unresponsive in his arms. He pulled back and saw a frown marring her pretty face.
"What's wrong? We won!"
"What were you doing talking to her?"
"Who?"
"Chang!"
"Oh, that. Nothing. She was just congratulating me on a good catch."
Laine still didn't look happy.
"It's just good sportsmanship."
"If you say so."
Harry didn't like the tone in her voice, but he didn't have a chance to stay on the subject. Bletchley came up and clapped him on the back.
"Fantastic catch, Harry! See that, Slater? That's how it's done! Let's hit the showers and get up to the common room. We've got some celebrating to do!"
Harry was swept away, and he hurried through his shower, unable to enjoy the warmth. Laine seemed really bothered by Chang. Could she be jealous? She'd never shown any inkling of it before, and Harry had a lot of female friends.
By the time the team emerged from the locker room, the rain had finally started to fall. Cold wet drops splattered on Harry's glasses, obscuring his vision. He covered his face as best he could and hurried back up to the castle.
The prefects had already gotten the party well-organized by the time they arrived. There was a fine selection of food and beverage. Harry sat down in one of the two large chairs, next to Bletchley.
"Once again, Slytherin wins, thanks to the amazing talent of our Seeker and captains," declared Heather Chandler.
"Up Slytherin!"
It was a tradition that the guests of honour at any party were not allowed to serve themselves. Bletchley was being catered to by Amanda Bole and Courtney Hammaran, both seventh years. The four sixth years (Samantha Warrington, Erika Chabré, Veronica Sawyer, and Joy duMonde) were attending to the Chasers.
"Hey Daphne, get me some butterbeer," Goyle requested. This was the first time he'd ever been in such a position.
"That'd be great," Crabbe said. "Millie, would you mind?"
The two girls giggled and went to fetch drinks for the Beaters.
"Can I get you anything, Harry?" Tracy asked with a broad grin.
"Your services are not required, Davis," Laine said frostily. "I'm more than capable of getting my boyfriend anything he needs."
"Relax, Slater. This is supposed to be a good time."
"I am thirsty," Harry said hastily.
"I'll be right back."
Tracy queried Harry with a single look as Laine moved away. Harry shrugged slightly.
"Whatever," Tracy said in an undertone.
When Laine came back, she not only had several bottles of butterbeer but also a plate of cauldron cakes and a large helping of treacle tart.
"Mmm, my favourite," Harry said.
"I know."
Laine sat down on his lap and snuggled into him. Her skin was icy cold, as though she hadn't worn a cloak to see the match.
"Are you okay? You're acting kind of off."
"I'm fine."
"Okay."
Laine insisted on being the only one to serve Harry, and while he didn't understand why she was behaving so strangely, he didn't bring the subject up again. If she wanted to tell him, she would do it in her own time.
As the party began to wind down a bit, Laine pulled slightly on his arm. "Do you want to go somewhere a bit more private?"
"Sure." He seldom got a chance to spend lengths of time with his girlfriend, so he allowed himself to be led out of the common room. "Where are we going?"
"How about that special room you found?"
"That would do nicely."
They took a series of secret passages. Up on the seventh floor, Harry paced back and forth, thinking about the room with all the pillows.
In addition, with the chill of the day on his mind, the room produced a large fireplace which radiated blissful heat.
"This is much nicer," Laine said.
She removed her cloak and tossed it carelessly at the cloakrack. She kicked off her shoes and lay back on the pillows, and the smoldering look she directed his way nearly made Harry's heart stop beating. The firelight flashed in her eyes, turning them red.
"Come here and kiss me, Harry."
Harry found her command irresistable, and he likewise shucked his cloak. He tossed his shoes in the same general direction and joined her on the pillows.
She kissed him, hard. Her tongue poked at his lips, demanding entry. She ran her hands over his chest, feeling his hard muscles. She made small happy noises and undid the top two buttons of his shirt. She slid one hand inside, and the sensation shot right to his groin.
Harry planted numerous kisses along her jaw until he reached behind her ear, where he licked the soft skin. She made a sound of satisfaction and squirmed closer to him.
She undid another button. In short order, Laine had his shirt off and was covering his chest with licks and kisses.
"You're so muscular," she whispered in his ear, her hot breath making him even more excited.
For his own part, Harry hadn't done much. Taking her sighs as a positive sign, he ran his hands up her sides and dared to cup her breasts. She pressed forward, urging him to continue.
They had never gone this far before, and Harry was having trouble thinking straight. He didn't want to stop, but all of Mr. Malfoy's and Sirius' admonitions about respecting girls was thundering in his mind.
He pulled back slightly.
"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice husky.
"Nothing."
"Then why are you stopping?"
"I don't want to go faster than you're comfortable with."
"Harry, when I want you to stop, believe me, I will tell you."
He dared to unbutton her shirt a bit and smiled.
"You're wearing the locket."
"Yes. I love it. I never take it off except to sleep."
"I'm glad."
"Stop talking, Harry."
Helpless to refuse, Harry lost himself in the pleasures of the flesh. His brain was near overload with these new sensations. His trousers felt extremely tight, and he'd never been more grateful for Sirius' Concealment Charm.
He was brought back to reality when his stomach rumbled. Harry glanced at the clock on the wall and realized it was nearly dinner time.
"We've got to go eat," he said regretfully.
"I'd rather stay here."
"We can't. It's duelling club tonight, and we'll need our strength."
"Can't you take a night off?"
"I'm the captain. I have to go."
Laine pouted, and she looked pretty even doing that. "Don't you want to stay here with me?"
"More than anything, but I've got responsibilities. You know that."
"I don't have to like it."
Harry moved to give her a kiss in apology, but Laine turned her head away and fastened her top two buttons.
"Let's go, then."
Feeling very confused, Harry helped Laine into her cloak. She headed for the door even before he had his on. He hurried to catch up with her and would have held her hand, but she had them tucked under her cloak. At the dinner table, though Laine sat next to him, she didn't speak to him except in distant, non-committal ways.
Draco and Millie were talking about the History essay, which Harry had finished. They didn't seem to need his help. Harry tried to follow Pansy's conversation with Daphne, but when the subject turned to hair potions, he nearly stuffed bread in his ears.
The last of the desserts vanished off the table, and those students who were not in the Ministry Youth began to depart the Great Hall. Harry got to his feet and went up to the front of the hall.
"Are you ready, Captain Potter?" Umbridge asked in her cheery voice.
"Yes, Professor."
Harry pointed his wand and banished each house table and the benches in turn, clearing the room.
"Okay, everyone! We're going to start off with some physical training. I hope you didn't eat too much. Stretches first!"
Loosening up the muscles was very important before any strenuous physical activity.
"Jumping jacks!"
When they reached fifty, Harry called a stop. "Pushups!"
After a Ravenclaw fourth year girl collapsed, Harry called out, "Situps!"
With a wave of his wand, Harry transfigured the floor of the hall into the material that exercise mats were made of. Every student began the situps.
"Now then," Harry said after several minutes, "everyone find two partners. We're going to practice dodging. The best counterspell is to not get hit with the spell in the first place. In combat, you won't necessarily be up against one opponent, so practice dodging from two angles."
This new exercise was not popular, to judge on the amount of swearing uttered. Harry routinely ignored foul language. Umbridge frowned, but she did not take any points.
When they had worked on dodging for nearly forty-five minutes, Harry changed things up yet again. He waved his wand and changed the exercise mats into targets.
"Time for endurance casting! Everyone pick your worst spells and do your best to get better."
Harry walked up and down the line, offering a word of encouragement here, a suggestion for improvement there. He watched Laine for a moment, but she was doing fine with the Blasting Curse, so he moved on.
Hannah Abbott was attempting the Slashing Hex but not having much success. Harry observed her for a moment and instantly spotted her problem.
"Hi, Hannah. Your grip isn't quite right. I'm surprised your wand hasn't flown clear out of your hand."
"It's never failed me yet."
"It's not failing you now. You're failing it. Don't hold on so tightly. Here."
Hannah's hand was very soft, Harry noticed as he shifted her fingers slightly.
"There. Now try again."
The spell emerged with a bolt of blue light but was several feet off the mark, and the wall obtained a new scar.
"Good!"
"Good?"
"Yes," Harry said with a firm nod. "You cast the spell, didn't you?"
"I suppose I did."
"Now just work on that aim. Slowly this time."
Hannah waved her wand in the proscribed pattern, but Harry stopped her.
"Here. You're making the left swish too big, so you're bringing your wand up at the end. That's why you're going off-target."
Harry stepped right next to Hannah and placed his hand over hers. He went through the motions with her.
"See?"
"I think so. Let's try it."
This time the blue light actually hit the target, and a smile blossomed on Hannah's face.
"Thanks, Harry. You're the best."
"Keep up the good work."
Harry let the endurance casting go on for half an hour and then called a halt.
"I had hoped to get some duelling in tonight, but we'll save that for next time. Dismissed!"
There was a sudden scurry for bags and cloaks as the meeting broke up.
Harry went to find Laine so they could walk down to the common room together.
Laine didn't smile at him.
"So now you have time for me."
"Not much, I'm afraid. I've got so much homework to do. I want to get a start on Professor Babbling's translation so it's not hanging over my head."
"But you have time to talk with Hufflepuffs."
"Huh?" Harry was perplexed.
"That Abbott girl. You spent nearly ten minutes working with her tonight, but you didn't even say a word to me."
"You were doing well. Hannah needed the help."
"So you thought you could just ignore me?"
"I wasn't ignoring you." Harry was starting to feel very frustrated. No matter what he said, Laine took it the wrong way.
"So I didn't need special help. Does that mean you couldn't pretend a little?"
"There's only so much of me to go around. I didn't get to help some people tonight who really could have used it. Like I said, you were doing great."
"And Hannah wasn't. I heard you. Is that why you felt it necessary to hold hands with her?"
"Hold hands? I was correcting her grip and showing her the proper wand motion."
"Is that how you help the boys?"
Without waiting for an answer, Laine walked away. She, Ginny, and the other fourth years exited the hall.
Harry stared after them in abject confusion. He truly didn't understand what Laine was so upset about.
"Hey, mate, shall we head down?" Draco said.
"Yeah, I guess so."
His mind troubled, Harry could not do any homework, and he played cards in the common room, hoping that Laine would pass through so they could talk. The Marauder's Map said she was in the dormitory, and that's where she stayed all night.
Harry turned to his best mate as they got ready for bed. "Draco, do you have any idea what might be up with Laine?" He briefly sketched in their recent conflicts.
"She's mental."
"That's not helpful."
"I mean it. All girls are mental. What she's doing makes perfect sense to her and her alone. Go with it."
"I just want things to go back to normal."
"You're better off breaking up with her."
"What?"
"You were too distracted to work on your Transfiguration essay, and it's due Monday. If she's a distraction, she's got to go."
After a sleep troubled by strange dreams (nothing Voldemort-related so far as he could tell), Harry was groggy the next day. He poked at his breakfast and poured himself a cup of strong coffee.
"Want to get going on that Transfiguration?" Daphne suggested, pouring a second cup.
"Absolutely," he replied. "Pansy, what about it?"
"I haven't started yet. Sure."
"I'm in too," Tracy said.
"Bother," said Draco. "I finished it last night."
"Then we can check our answers with you," Harry teased.
"More like I need to check mine against yours."
The fourth years arrived at that moment, and Laine came up to Harry.
"Can we talk?"
"Sure." Harry looked at the others. "I'll be right there."
"Sounds good," Tracy replied. "We'll see you there."
The tentative smile on Laine's face melted away into a dark frown.
"What does she want?"
"We're going to do homework in the library."
"What sort of homework?"
"Transfiguration. Old McGonagall's essay is taking forever."
"I thought none of you were talking to her. Since when are you study buddies?"
"Tracy's still my friend. She's over her crush on me, and things are getting back to normal."
"Normal." The way Laine said the word, it seemed almost poisonous.
"Yeah. In my first year, she was one of my best friends. I'm glad she's come back around."
"Well fine!" Laine exploded. "Go study the blonde! I don't care!"
Laine stormed away, her robes flowing behind her. Harry watched her go, dumbly wondering what he could possibly have said to set her off.
Once again Harry was bothered and unable to concentrate. He kept mixing up Gamp's Laws and crumpled a dozen parchments before giving the whole thing up as a wash and returning to the dormitory.
"Sirius Black!" he called into the mirror.
"Harry Potter! How's it going, kiddo? Is everything okay?"
"Why do you ask?"
"It's a bit early for you to call. I usually don't expect you until after dinner at the earliest."
"I've just got a lot on my mind right now and can't focus."
"What is it? How can I help?"
"It's Laine. I'm not sure why, but she seems mad at me. I told you how she's been getting tetchy about my free time, and it's only gotten worse. Now she thinks I'm flirting with other girls. I was helping Hannah Abbott out at the duelling club last night, and Laine accused me of holding hands with her. Then this morning she flipped because Tracy was part of a study session."
"Jealous?"
"Maybe, but it's so stupid. She knows I don't have any feelings for Tracy. I've told her so a hundred times."
"Maybe she knows it in her head but not her heart. Maybe the strain of not getting to spend much time with you is finally getting to her."
"So what do I do?"
"Talk to her. Privately and without yelling. Don't let her yell either. Get down to the root of what's bothering her."
"And then?"
"Then you do your best to work it out. Just remember that it might end badly."
Sirius was now the second person to suggest that Harry might have to break up with Laine. The very idea made the pit of his stomach drop out. The thought of losing the comfort of their admitedly low-key relationship was emotionally wrenching. He definitely didn't want that to happen.
Harry changed the subject.
"So I was wondering what the arrangements are for tomorrow night. I really want to sneak out of school and be with you and Moony."
"We want that as well; however, I don't think you should this time."
"Why not?"
"You said yourself that you've been stretched thin lately. You do have classes the next day."
"Nothing important."
"I would hardly call three double lessons unimportant. One of those is Defence, is it not?"
"Yes."
"It would never do for the Duelling Captain to fall asleep in Defence."
"I could take some Wideye Potion. Some of the seventh years have a fool-proof recipe."
"I'd rather not see you resort to that. We'll be fine, Chitter. Moony's a tough old wolf."
"I know," Harry said wistfully. "I just-"
"I know," Sirius said soothingly. "We want you there too, but not at the expense of your marks. There'll be other moons. April's is right before Easter break, but May and June fall on weekends."
"I don't want to wait two whole months."
"Look at the upside. At least you get a week off next month."
"I can't wait."
"I can't wait to get you home, kiddo. I promise, we'll go all over London on the motorbike."
Riding with Sirius was even better than flying on a broom, and Harry absolutely loved to fly.
"No bedtime?"
Sirius laughed. "No bedtime. We'll stay out until dawn if you want."
Feeling immensely better, Harry bid his godfather goodnight and considered trying his homework again. If there was anything to ruin his good mood, it was essays for McGonagall. He reached not for quill and ink but for wand and weights. He'd been neglecting his lifting lately, and the physical task reminded him of the summer with Sirius.
"Merlin, this studying is about to drive me wonky," he complained. "I don't even remember the last time I relaxed when it wasn't on a schedule."
"We've got to keep studying," Draco said. "The OWLs are in only two months. We're not ready. We've all fallen behind."
"Tell me about it. I've got the essays for Snape and McGonagall to do more than start, Flitwick's reading, and I'm not going to get to any of it unless I skip the prefect meeting and Quidditch practice."
"Bletchley will kill you if you skip practice."
"No he won't. He needs me to save his arse and the Quidditch Cup."
"But he can make life uncomfortable for you. He certainly does for us."
"I'm the Seeker. All he can do is tell me to go catch it, which I always do."
The chance to talk with Laine didn't present itself until Monday morning. If he were being honest with himself, Harry knew he was avoiding her in the common room because he had no clue how to broach such a sensitive subject.
Harry emerged from the dormitory to find Laine waiting for him by the fireplace. Given how explosive things had been with her, he was wary as he approached.
"Hi," he said, trying to sound casual.
"Hi."
"Sleep well?"
"Fine, thanks. Harry, I'm so sorry about my behaviour over the weekend. I don't know what came over me. I haven't spent enough time with you lately, and I guess I got a little jealous. I've been under a lot of stress lately between trying to keep my marks up in Charms and Herbology, and apparently I decided to take it out on you. That's not fair, and I'm sorry."
Harry smiled gratefully. "Apology accepted. Why didn't you tell me you were having trouble? I'm not a whiz at Charms or Herbology, but I have studied the material before."
"I don't know, and I don't know why I'm so stressed. You're the one with nasty exams in a few months."
"Ordinary exams," he corrected her. "The nasty ones aren't for another two years."
Laine giggled at his lame joke and kissed him briefly. "Shall we head to breakfast?"
Everything was all right again. Harry studied in the common room near Laine until it was time for his Occlumency lesson.
"Where are you off to?"
"Professor Snape wants to see me."
"You see him quite often."
"Prefect business." He hated lying to Laine, but it was necessary.
"See if you can get him to give you a few hints about tomorrow's lesson."
"I'll try."
"Bye."
"Bye."
Harry had gotten quite good at keeping Professor Snape from breaking into his mind with a frontal assault. Every little bit of success was met with a more difficult challenge.
"Legilimens!"
The first probe seemed to come from behind. Harry had already begun to rush his defences forward and got caught out when his shield was torn to tatters in an instant.
Harry reordered his thoughts, pushing Snape out of his psyche.
The attacks came from all angles. Harry never knew what to expect next. He had to react quicker, strike harder and faster.
Harry blocked three attacks in a row, and Snape called a halt.
"Good. Better." Praise from Professor Snape was rare indeed, so Harry practically beamed with pleasure - or would have had his head not ached so abominably.
"At last you have figured out how to keep me from breaking in at all. The mental pattern of resistance is nearly instantaneous."
"Thank you, sir. I can't believe I can actually keep you out."
"Believe it, Mister Potter. You've done quite well, all things considered."
"I guess it was like every other skill: lots of practice required."
"Most correct. You are almost there. I have a few things left to teach you, but after that there will be only endurance to build."
"When do I get to face the Headmaster, sir?"
"Very soon. Perhaps as soon as next month."
"I hope so, sir."
"You are eager to master the skill. It is a pleasure to teach one so willing to learn."
Snape didn't offer him any tea after the lesson, so Harry went back to the common room to find everyone already in the dormitories. Harry thought this quite the capital idea and likewise began getting ready for bed.
Draco glanced up as he entered.
"Evening. How is old Snape?"
"Very Snape-ish. Anything exciting happen while I was gone?"
"Nothing overly so. Lucas and Arcen got into a spat about which one had dibs on Ginny, but she shut them both down."
"Speaking of Ginny, how goes your campaign to date her?"
"Progressing slowly. She still doesn't think I'm at all serious about it."
"And what of Hannah? Weren't you going to chat her up to show Ginny how sensitive you are?"
"She started walking out with Corner from Ravenclaw."
"I don't know him."
"He's in our year, has dark hair. He's quiet, you know?"
Try as he might, Harry couldn't call Corner's face to mind - which was pretty embarassing considering he'd had Herbology with the boy twice a week for four and a half years now.
"Good for her. I hope he treats her well."
Zabini was not preparing for bed. He was at his desk, quill scratching quickly. He glanced over.
"Hair, are you and Dray going to keep talking about girls? I'll take my work back out to the common room if that's the case."
"Nah," Harry said with a yawn. "I'm done in, Laze. Goodnight, all."