Author's Note: There is a definite general plot to this story, but instead of coming right out with everything, I'm leaving tons of little hints. It should be more fun with you trying to figure out just what is going to happen. Luna for example and just whether she is crazy, partially right, or totally right.
Chapter 3
Bad News? Date with Susan
The next day before breakfast, Harry was headed down to the great hall when he was pulled into a classroom as he walked by.
Instead of it being Hermione, as he had expected, he was surprised to find that it was Rita Skeeter.
"Harry, I was wondering if I might have a word with you?" She asked.
"I thought that Dumbledore banned you from being inside the castle unless the Daily Prophet finally fired you and you got a job as an assistant caretaker?" Harry suggested.
She frowned but then said, "I've gotten full access from the Ministry as long as I promise to only give out good publicity."
Personally Harry thought the Ministry were idiots for thinking that Rita Skeeter of all people would only give "good publicity" but it would have to be something he found out about later.
"So what do you want then?" Harry asked, not bothering to hide just how annoyed he was.
"I couldn't help but hear about your little dating dilemma. Five girls all vying for your heart?" She asked.
"Six now actually but I hardly see how it is any of your business," Harry pointed out.
"I'm afraid it's now the entire wizarding world's business as you'll see reflected in today's paper," She told him.
"You had it published in the newspaper!" Harry exclaimed angrily.
"People have the right to know Harry, and I must say, it is some of the juiciest piece of news I've gotten in a long time. I'm betting its one of the highest selling newspapers the Daily Prophet has ever had," Rita claimed.
"Why would people care that much about my love life?" Harry asked.
"People love learning about what celebrity is dating who, and you're pretty much one of the biggest celebrities not just in Britain but in the wizarding world at large," Rita replied, "everyone is going to want to know about just who you choose."
"I'd say that should be more personal," Harry answered.
"Think of all that publicity though Harry. If you would let me do interviews on each of your dates to see how they went, we could do a week long series at the very least!" Rita told him.
"I'm sorry but first of all, I don't trust you, and I certainly don't like you," Harry responded, "so I must respectfully decline."
Not wanting to stay any longer he attempted to leave but she called out before he left, "I'll find a way somehow. People aren't going to be satisfied until they learn the truth."
Still ignoring her, he managed to make it to breakfast, only to find everyone in the great hall currently huddled around copies of the Daily Prophet.
Hermione however seemed to have already read it, and scooted a bit in order to give him room.
"Did you already read today's paper?" Harry asked, fearing the worst.
"Yes," She admitted worriedly and in a way that did nothing to calm down his fears.
"So what did it say?" He asked.
She seemed quite flustered as she seemed to be worried about his reaction so he decided to explain himself a bit.
"Don't worry, I already got the gist of it. Rita tried stopping me on my way over here," Harry told her.
Somewhat relieved at hearing that, she said, "I suppose it wasn't too bad, considering Rita. She actually cast you in a rather favorable light considering. If anything it made you seem like quite the catch."
He sighed and said, "Well I suppose it was going to be found out eventually. Most of the school knew already."
"I'm sorry Harry," Hermione said, looking worriedly at him, "well if it hadn't been Rita I'm sure it would have been someone else so I can't really be too mad at her for it in this case. Who I'm really mad at is Padma."
"Padma? What did Padma do wrong?" Harry answered.
"Didn't you know?" Hermione asked, "Padma clearly must have divulged how the date went to Rita afterwards. I know it wasn't you, so it has to have been her."
"Why would you assume Padma would do that?" Harry asked.
"The article mentions things in the date only someone who was there would have known," Hermione answered.
"Let me see the article," Harry demanded as he interrupted a couple of 3rd year girls who had a copy.
They handed it over to him, giggling at the same time, and he started reading:
"Too Many Dates For Harry Potter!" rang the headlines, complete with an attractive picture of him smiling seductively, adopting a pose he was sure he had never had in his life.
Continuing to read, it read:
Harry Potter, our resident young teenage heartthrob is proving to be quite the lady's man indeed, having not one but five dates to the Yule Ball. In an effort to find a date worthy of him, Mr. Potter enlisted the help of his friends in order to find the best girl in all the school. Mr. Potter or Prince Charming as some of you readers may come to recognize him as, was presented with five choices: Padma Patil, the exotic Indian who traveled far to find love, Susan Bones, the sweet yet very curvy redhead, Hannah Abbott, the fat girl who remains the desperate underdog, Angelina Johnson, the tall, dark, and athletic Amazon, or Fleur Delacour, the French veela beauty who attracts the eyes of every man she comes into contact with?
Now our young hero is tasked with the monumental task of choosing just which one should win the honor of going with him to the Yule Ball and made into a princess, at least for one night. Each will be given just one date before the ball for him to then decide who he will choose.
Will it be Padma, Susan, Hannah, Angelina, or Fleur?
Mr. Potter's first date was with Ms. Padma Patil. Most readers would automatically assume that perhaps Ms. Patil might not have a chance, but that turned out not to be the case.
Mr. Potter was warm and funny, and Ms. Patil, far more beautiful than might have been expected...
He stopped reading there now that he knew that Padma had definitely told Rita what had happened.
Scanning down to the bottom of the rather sappy article, filled with some truths, but also with plenty of extra things he couldn't remember ever saying but would have sounded really gallant, things that he probably should have said, but didn't.
At least she hadn't said anything about the kiss, as even she had evidently kept that to herself.
Now quite angry that Padma would divulge what had occurred on their date to a reporter, he headed over to the Ravenclaw table to try and find her, only to discover that she wasn't there.
"Are you looking for Padma?" asked Padma's friend, Su Li.
"Yes," Harry replied.
"She thought you might want to talk to her and didn't want to make a scene. She promised to explain it to you in the History classroom privately if you wanted to go talk to her," Su told him.
Heading over to the History classroom then, he found her there inside waiting for him.
When she saw him, with no small degree of fear on her face she said, "First of all Harry, I just want to say I never said those things to Rita or anyone, I promise."
"Then how come she knew about them?" Harry demanded, "I sure didn't say anything to her."
"I knew you didn't," Padma answered, "you're not that kind of guy."
"Well if it wasn't me and it wasn't you, then who was it?" Harry asked.
"I don't know, maybe she had a listening charm on the room or something," Padma suggested.
He felt like a freight train had just hit him in the face. Of course! He totally wouldn't put it past Rita to do just that.
"I suppose that's possible," Harry reluctantly admitted.
"I'm so sorry," Padma said worriedly.
"I'm sorry too for blaming you like that," Harry responded.
"It's okay, anyone would have assumed so," Padma told him reassuringly.
"You didn't," Harry reminded her, "you didn't just think I was the one who told Rita Skeeter all about our date.
"I think it speaks more about your integrity and my ability to trust you than my assumption you didn't say anything," Padma answered.
She reached over and gave him a hug, which he returned.
"I suppose I'm just going to have to be more vigilant with my other dates," Harry replied, "perhaps sweep the room for spells or something, or have Dobby do it, I'll bet he'd be pretty good at that sort of thing."
"What makes you say that?" Padma asked.
"Since he used to be the Malfoy's house elf. They most likely even trained him to detect listening spells, something I have no doubt Lucius would have valued," Harry told her.
"He used to be the Malfoys?" Padma queried.
"It's a long story," Harry responded.
She chose to disregard her question then and then asked, "So what were you planning on doing for your date with Susan tonight?"
It wasn't a bad question but one he would rather he kept private between himself and Susan, he'd already experienced first hand what could happen when the events of your date were broadcast to everyone.
To make matters worse, it would not have benefited her to know. He could see the look of anguish and distress upon her face as she couldn't hide the fact that she was worried that he would pick a different girl.
Padma at least would be very upset if he chose anyone else, something that weighed heavily in his consideration of just who to take.
"I think it would be best if I just kept that to myself," Harry finally said, "I hope you understand."
"I do," She said, sighing, "I suppose I'm just a little bit jealous that's all."
"I know," Harry answered.
A pained look came across her face as she said, "Is it that obvious?"
"Yes," Harry replied truthfully.
To his surprise and without warning she leaned in and kissed him again.
"Sorry," She apologized after drawing away.
"What is there to apologize for?" Harry asked, "I'm definitely not going to complain if you decide to kiss me."
She laughed slightly and said, "I would hope so, but I'm really apologizing to myself. I promised I wouldn't do this."
"Do what?" Harry asked, "not kiss me? That sounds like a pretty awful promise if you ask me."
After laughing again, she said, "Not that, I meant get jealous of the other girls. I kissed you because I keep thinking it will be the last kiss I will ever have with you."
"Like I said, I really haven't decided," Harry answered.
"Do you think kissing you more might help you make a decision?" Padma asked unabashedly.
"It might," He admitted.
He was understandably rather excited to experience this new found sensation of kissing and if Padma wanted to do it, all the better.
"The thing is," She said finally, "I'd love to do that, but it just wouldn't be fair to the other girls."
"All is fair in love and war," Harry replied.
"You just want me to kiss you again," Padma reminded him.
He shrugged unabashedly himself and said, "Hey, can't blame a guy for trying."
"One date is all we are supposed to get," Padma claimed, "and I'd like to be chosen because you really do like me the best, not because I was willing to do you any sexual favors.
He choked as he said, "Uh, nobody said anything about...um...that."
"Maybe that was just me thinking what I'd be tempted to do so I could win you," Padma replied.
"I'm not looking for anything like that," He told her honestly.
"Neither am I, but there isn't a lot I wouldn't at least be tempted to do to finally get you. Right now for example, I'm tempted to rip those huge boobs of Susan's right out of her chest," Padma confessed.
"I had no idea you could be so violent," He pointed out, an unbidden image of both Padma and Susan fighting coming to his mind.
"Most girls can get rather nasty when it comes to fighting over a guy," Padma told him, "I'm no exception. All I can say is Susan is lucky she's so nice."
"Susan is rather nice," He agreed.
"Nice as in nice or nice as in "ooh, she's really nice as in hot?" Padma asked.
"Maybe a little of both," He admitted.
She laughed again and said, "I want to be mad at you, but I really can't as long as you make me laugh. At any rate, if you don't choose me, I hope it will be Susan."
"Why so?" He asked.
"Since Susan is so nice, in more ways than one as you so eloquently stated," Padma replied.
He wasn't entirely sure how to reply to that, but then suddenly a voice interrupted them.
"I'm sorry, Harry, were you in the middle of proposing to her?" Luna asked from the doorway.
Harry immediately coughed and Padma started majorly blushing.
"You've really got to stop doing and saying stuff like that," Harry cautioned.
"Well it's going to happen eventually, I'm just not sure when," Luna replied as if it was inevitable.
"I rather like Padma and all, but I just went on one date with her, I'd hardly say that I'm planning to marry her already," Harry reminded her.
"Speak for yourself," Padma answered.
He looked completely aghast until he noticed her grin that quickly turned into a laugh and realized she was messing with him.
"That's not funny," Harry told her.
"I agree," Luna stated emphatically, "I'd hardly consider our wedding to be any laughing matter."
"Our wedding?" Padma queried.
"Of course, meaning me, you, and everyone else who will be marrying Harry," Luna replied.
Evidently Padma was also used to the young insane ravenclaw, or at least as used to Luna as one could be because she asked her, "I see, so suddenly Harry is going to have a harem of girls then."
"Exactly!" Luna responded, sounding quite pleased that Padma had figured it out, "we'll all wear beautiful dresses, live in a castle, and Harry will brush our hair everyday."
"Well he is "Harry" Potter," Padma said, extending the joke he had made last night about liking her hair.
"That may be some guy's fantasy, but I'm finding that being sought after by many different girls to be quite a challenge. I can't imagine being married to more than one," Harry told them, "personally I'm just hoping to survive all these dates I've got lined up."
"Yes, lots and lots of dates for you Harry, and fortunately they aren't the nasty food kind either," Luna said.
"How terrible, too many dates with beautiful women, what a crime, we must alert the church elders," Padma said sarcastically.
"Why don't you go on dates with other beautiful women besides yourself then if you consider it such a great thing?" Harry goaded her.
Since he had also complemented her, she couldn't be mad at him, but she still blushed before addressing Luna: "All right, Luna, do you want to go on a date with me this Saturday?"
"I'm already going on a date with Harry then, but we can go tonight if you want," Luna suggested.
"You're going on a date with Harry?" Padma asked in surprise.
"She finally wore me down and I agreed to it," Harry confessed.
"Oooh, you want to come with me on our date?" Luna asked Padma, "it'll be so much fun if both of us go."
Padma seemed surprised but said, "Well I suppose if you are offering that's fine, unless this means I have to kiss you as well as Harry."
"No, we don't kiss for quite a few mpre chapters," Luna informed her.
"I wasn't aware we were in a story," Padma admitted.
"There will be a book written about us eventually after Harry finally lets me write it and I become rich and famous," Luna answered.
"I see, so you become a famous author in this little future you seem to think is going to happen," Padma surmised, "so what about me, what do I become?"
"I see you as either a housekeeper or a princess, I'm not sure which," Luna replied.
Harry laughed at that.
"What's the matter Harry? You don't see me as a princess?" Padma asked, poking him in the shoulder.
"No I can definitely see that, it's seeing you as a housekeeper that I have a problem with," Harry told her.
"Nice save," Padma answered.
Turning to Luna, Harry asked, "So maybe you could tell me Luna if you really can see the future, just what I should do about Rita Skeeter."
"Oh no, Rita is the best thing that will ever happen to you, you shouldn't do anything to her," Luna stated.
"Okay, now I know you are crazy Luna," Padma told her, "because if Rita is the best woman that ever happened to Harry, then that means Harry has absolutely no taste whatsoever."
"Agreed," Harry said, "I'd take Millicent Bulstrode over her any day."
Millicent Bulstrode was widely regarded as the ugliest girl in the entire school, a gigantic monster of a thing.
"I'd take Millicent too," Luna concurred, "she's just so sexy!"
"Are we talking about the same Millicent?" Padma asked in consternation.
"The nargles told me that you would say that," Luna countered.
"Nargles aside," Harry said, "I think it's time that we get to class."
Padma checked her watch and saw that he was right.
"Well I suppose I'll see you on Saturday," Padma told him.
"Sooner actually," Luna said mysteriously.
TOOMANYTOOMANYTOOMANY
His next date was with Susan and while he felt better knowing that he had already gone on a date and thus had at least just that little bit of experience he was still a bundle of nerves.
As she came out of the Hufflepuff common room to meet him, he was struck by the gorgeous black dress that she wore, displaying her curves and rather abundant cleavage. Her long dark red hair that went all the way to her hips had been left loose and surrounded her.
"You look beautiful," Harry told her, all the while trying not to think about the one thing he had noticed the most.
Don't look at her cleavage, don't look at her cleavage, Harry thought. Oh no, she saw me staring! What am I going to do?
She smiled at him, perfectly aware of just where he was looking.
"See something you like?" Susan asked.
"Sorry," He tried to apologize.
"If I didn't want you to look, I would have covered up more," Susan pointed out.
"Okay," He said, not really knowing what else to say.
"Just try to remember I have a face as well," Susan cautioned.
He forced himself to look directly into her face and was struck by just how beautiful her blue eyes were. Perhaps looking at her face wasn't too bad either. Still he couldn't help but have his gaze drift down again, but she just smiled and let him look.
Boy, they sure were big...and perfect.
"Sorry," He apologized.
"You're fine," Susan reassured him with a smile on her face.
After taking her hand, they headed to the Room of Requirement, which ended up being nearly the same as it had been for him and Padma, him seeing no reason to change it.
He took the liberty of scanning the room for listening spells, although Dobby, Winky, and half a dozen other house elves had already checked and come up with nothing.
Having found nothing himself, he was finally satisfied.
"What were you doing?" She asked.
"Checking for listening spells," Harry replied.
"Do you think someone is trying to spy on us?" Susan asked in concern.
"You remember the Daily Prophet article this morning about my date with Padma? Well neither me nor her said anything about it but Rita Skeeter still seemed to somehow know quite a bit about how the date went," Harry said, "that means that someone must have set a listening spell on the room."
She frowned and said, "I'd hate to think someone would do that, but in reality I can see it happening, particularly Rita Skeeter. She'd do anything for a story."
"Exactly my point," Harry agreed, "I think she got the room because she didn't mention Padma and I kissing after we had left it in her article."
"You and Padma kissed?" Susan asked.
He blushed but said, "Well yes, we did, twice in all honesty."
"Were you wanting to kiss me as well tonight?" Susan questioned bodly.
Now feeling very flustered as to what to say, he tried to come up with a response.
"I'd be less than honest if I said I didn't want to kiss you Susan, but I'd never do anything unless you wanted it," Harry told her.
She smiled and replied with, "Good answer Harry."
To his complete surprise, she leaned in and kissed him.
"I wanted to," She whispered into his ear.
Now grinning he said, "Wow, a kiss from a beautiful girl even before dinner, I must be getting better at this dating thing."
She laughed and countered, "Try just lucky. We'll see if you are a decent date or not."
Moving onto dinner, he once again used Dobby to take their orders.
"Did you make the ratatouille?" Harry asked Dobby.
"How did you know what my favorite food was?" Susan asked, sounding pleased.
"I asked Eloise Midgen what it was," Harry admitted.
"Dobby could not bring himself to make that peasant dish," Dobby confessed.
"Why not?" Harry asked him.
"It is beneath the great Harry Potter and his date to eat it," Dobby answered.
"Dobby there is little that is beneath me," Harry told him.
Then he reddened as he realized just what he said.
"Uh, that's not what I meant," Harry told a now laughing Susan, "stop laughing at me."
"Nobody laughs at the great Harry Potter," Dobby said, now sounding angry at Susan.
"It's okay Dobby," Harry said trying to defuse the situation before Dobby blasted her into outer space, "don't worry about it."
"I'm sorry Dobby," Susan apologized, "Harry can just be very funny even when he isn't intending to be."
"The great Harry Potter is the funniest wizard on earth!" Dobby claimed.
"Hardly," Harry confessed, "you're just biased towards me Dobby."
"Am not!" Dobby insisted.
"Okay Dobby, let me prove it to you," Harry said, "I'm going to tell you a joke. Why did the chicken cross the road?"
Dobby seemed puzzled by this question but finally said, "Dobby is not sure."
"To get to the other side," Harry told him.
Immediately Dobby began laughing as if he was about to explode from laughter.
Any normal person would simply rolled their eyes or think this was the lamest joke ever but Dobby kept right on laughing.
"See what I mean, totally biased," Harry claimed.
"Or he is just insane," Susan pointed out.
"That too, in which case, he and Luna should get along just fine for my date with her," Harry replied.
Susan sent him a curious look and he explained, "I kind of made a date with her on Saturday. She just wore me down until I agreed."
"Wow Harry, not enough dates for you already?" Susan asked.
He rolled his eyes and said, "You have no idea."
By now Dobby had finally recovered from his laughter and asked, "Dobby is sorry for laughing so hard at the great Harry Potter's fantastic joke, Dobby will get the meal that he has prepared."
Dobby disappeared before reappearing a few seconds later, carrying a tray of food, but he couldn't tell just what it was.
"What is it Dobby?" Harry asked him.
"Escargot," Dobby claimed.
A sinking feeling suddenly hit him as he asked, now upset, "You mean snails? You made Susan snails for dinner?"
This could easily go down in the history books for the worst meal ever served for a date. He'd likely never live it down.
"They are actually very good," Susan answered, quickly grabbing one from the plate Dobby had set down in front of her and biting into it.
Glad that she was actually okay with it, although admittedly a bit freaked out that she would like snails, he decided to sample one of his own.
Having grown up with the Dursleys, who had spent quite a bit time trying to feed him things they considered disgusting such as fruits and vegetables just to make him suffer, he was used to simply eating whatever he was given.
In the case of most of the fruits and vegetables, he actually rather liked them, even if he had had to hide that fact from them so they would continue giving them to him.
The sad thing was Aunt Petuna had a garden that none of the Dursley's actually ate from as it was really just to compete with the other neighbor's gardens, even if it was "devil food" as Dudley had dubbed it.
To his surprise, the esgargot actually tasted really good and he ended up thoroughly enjoying it.
"Can I just say that I am totally relieved that that actually tastes good?" Harry confided.
"I've had it before at those boring parties my aunt would take me to," Susan admitted.
"So tell me about your family life," Harry asked.
She winced but decided to start talking anyway.
"Well both my parents and most of my family were actually killed in the war with Voldemort," Susan said.
"I'm sorry," Harry told her, noting that she was one of the few brave enough to actually use the name Voldemort.
"There's nothing to be sorry about," Susan said, "you didn't kill them, quite the opposite in fact."
"I suppose so," He agreed, unsure what to say.
"I imagine you just want you parents back though," Susan surmised.
"I do," He answered pleased that she had realized this.
"We can talk about it if you'd like," Susan offered as she took his hand from across the table, "I've kind of always wanted to talk to you about that even if it is a touchy subject...both of us having lost our parents in the war, I guess you would maybe understand the way I feel?"
Feeling like she was opening up to him, displaying a side perhaps she hadn't for anyone else yet, he felt he should reciprocate and started opening up to her. They started talking and he felt like he had a kindred spirit, someone who really understood what it was like to grow up an orphan.
"Thanks Susan," Harry said gratefully, wiping a tear away, "it was nice to be able to talk about that with you."
"Anytime," She told him, "it was nice to talk to you about that too."
He nodded but then suggested, "I think we should focus on happier things, we are on a date after all. So what were you thinking about doing after Hogwarts?"
"I was actually thinking about going into politics or perhaps law enforcement like my aunt," Susan responded.
"I've been thinking about going into law enforcement myself and become an auror," Harry replied.
"Maybe we could do that together," Susan suggested.
"Maybe," Harry agreed, "although you probably wouldn't see a lot of action. If I were a criminal, I would just surrender to you as soon as I saw you."
"If only that would happen," Susan agreed, a smile on her face, "if you want I could put some handcuffs on you."
He was rather puzzled but she actually blushed and said, "I so totally realized what that could be construed as."
"You're in luck, since I have no idea," He confessed.
"Then I'm not about to tell you," Susan answered, pretending to zip her lips shut.
There was a pause, but Susan finally said, "I've obviously read what happened on your date with Padma."
"You really shouldn't believe everything you read," Harry cautioned.
"I agree, but the point I want to make is that it seems that you had a good time with her," Susan pointed out.
"I did, Padma is a really great girl," Harry admitted.
"The thing is, I really like you Harry, maybe not as much as Padma, but I really do like you. I'd be totally honored to go with you to the Ball. However I also recognize that if there is something between you and Padma, I don't want to get in the way of that."
"Funnily enough, she said the same thing about you," Harry confessed.
"She did?" Susan asked in surprise.
"She did," He confirmed.
"What were her exact words?" Susan asked.
"She said you were really nice," Harry replied.
"As in nice or in ooh she's hot nice?" Susan questioned.
"She asked the exact same thing," Harry responded.
"What did you tell her?" Susan insisted.
"I told her a little of both, but what I meant was a lot of both," Harry confessed.
She laughed and said, "So you want to dance with my nice, hot self?"
"I'd be a fool to turn down an offer like that," Harry answered.
They started dancing and while Harry knew he had danced last night with Padma, if Susan wanted to dance as well, he wasn't about to say no.
At least he was starting to get good at dancing, he thought.
As if the dancing gods were trying to humble him, he immediately tripped and fell causing him to fall on top of Susan, who also fell.
The next thing he knew he was on top of Susan and found he had at least landed on something soft.
Or make that two somethings, he quickly found out as he realized just what his head was resting on.
Immediately getting up and blushing heavily, he offered his hand to help Susan up, which she took.
"Well that certainly wasn't a side of me I was planning to let you find out about just yet," Susan admitted as she got up.
"I'm so sorry," He mumbled.
"It's okay, I'm sure you didn't do it on purpose. If I thought you had, you'd already be dead by now," Susan told him.
"So either I'm ridiculously clumsy or a pervert, I'm not sure which I'd like you to think of me as," Harry answered.
"Let's go with just lucky," Susan said, "it'll be story you can tell your roommates or something as I'm sure you intend to do."
"I'd never do that Susan," Harry replied, "some guys might only notice your chest, but I swear I value you more for your heart."
"Thanks," Susan answered gratefully, "you know, you've actually even exceeded expectations as far as this date is concerned."
"Just let me know what I can do to make it better," Harry asked.
"How about another kiss?" Susan suggested.
Grinning, he leaned in as she kissed him once more.
All in all not a bad date with Susan either, he thought.
Author's Note: Though it may not seem like much, a lot actually happened this chapter. First of all, if you really think about it, Harry is a major celebrity, and society has proven to always have plenty of people interested in what celebrity is dating who. Harry would be no exception. Thus it would be perfectly natural to assume that the media and particularly Rita Skeeter would want to publicize Harry's dates and who he ultimately chose.
While quite upsetting that Rita would try to listen in on his dates, it will prove to have a huge impact on the actual plot. Don't worry though, Rita will not be getting away with it for long.