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Chapter 44

Harry sat on the examining table as Margo made notes on the pages inside of a manila file. He sighed, this was one of the things he hated, not that Margo was a bad person, but seeing any doctor was something he had grown to dislike. Tolerate yes… but still dislike.

She stood up, withdrawing a penlight from her pocket. "Just the three blows then?" He nodded. "Ok, I want to check for concussion…" She flipped the light on and pointed it at each eye. "Equal and reactive. Any blurring or double vision?" He shook his head as she probed gently at the slowly forming bruise at the corner of his left eye and temple. "Expect some swelling and tenderness… How's the jaw?" He glared at her. "Right, sore… any way… nothing's busted. You're fine, I'll fill out the paperwork for your injuries and get them submitted to SERRA, and Child Protective Services… you need at least two witness incident reports, but I don't think that will be an issue." She walked over to the small desk. "I think you have visitors." She pointed toward the door.

He stepped out of the examining room into a crowded classroom. He sighed but forced a painful grin to appear on his face. "You didn't need to ruin your evening waiting for me. It was no big deal."

Hermione harrumphed. "We leave you alone for one song and you end up under Margo's care? Do you hate dancing that much, Harry?"

He nodded. "Yep, that's why I hit that guy's hands with my face!" he quipped back.

Luna smiled at him. "Well, let's hope you taught his knuckles a lesson."

Tannim stood, from where he had been leaning on the desk at the front of the room, and walked toward him. "Nothing major then?"

Harry shook his head. "Na, just rang my bell a little… he got lucky."

Tannim took hold of his chin and turned Harry's head slightly to see the bruise next to the eye. "And that is all it takes… one time lucky."

"Yeah…" he said quietly. "Anyway I'll be fine in a few days."

Dumbledore spoke up at that point. "Mr. Potter? Madam Pomfrey could-"

He was cut off by Margo's voice as she walked out of her office folder in hand. "She could, but won't." she said matter of factly. "I have spoken, at length, with her recently about the care of any of our students."

She crossed the room, ignoring his sputtering protests, to a locked file cabinet, opened it and placed the new file inside. Then turned to speak. "AS I said, I have spoken with your Med-witch at length! NONE of our students will have any form of magical treatment without my ok!"

She turned to the rest of the group. "I gave Harry some Aspirins, other than that he's ok." She smiled at the group of teens. "Off with you, go have fun!"

The group knew better than to hang around, so they made their exit and headed back toward the castle. "Harry…" Hermione began, "I'm-"

"Don't," he said stopping to look at her. "Hermione, you have nothing to apologize for. You didn't make the guy hit me. That's on him… and as for… what's her name…"

"Ginny… Ginevra Weasley…" Luna supplied.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, whatever. She… well she chose a bad place to try and start her apologies… This wasn't the time or place."

Hermione sighed. "Yeah, I guess…"

He smiled softly, then clapped his hands. "Right! Now let's get back, I think I'm behind on my dance card for the evening. I'll have my work cut out for me to get caught up." He offered an arm to each of his companions. "Shall we?"

Margo watched at the door with Shar, as the teens made their way back up the pathway to the castle, a smile playing across her lips. As two other girls appeared at the doorway to the castle, waiting for them, she gave a knowing look. "He has no idea, does he?" she asked quietly.

"Not a clue… he's fourteen, and his head is full of cars and music, he's still young… At least he didn't have that 'girls are icky' thing growing up," Shar replied to her longtime friend with a quiet voice.

"And why would he? Most of the ones that he has been around at Fairgrove were as rough and tumble as the boys… some more so," Margo said.

Shar nodded slightly, "It's good he's making some friends, he just hasn't seemed to be able to connect with any of boys here."

Mago chuckled, "Mental maturity, he's more grown up… focused, the ones he may be able to make friends with are probably older…. He has always seemed more at ease with older males than those his own age, I imagine most of them his age are still dreaming of bright futures, but have no plans or idea of how to arrive there. Harry on the other hand, knows what he wants and has a plan."

Shar sighed, "And sometimes that really bothers me, he misses out on so much by not being that 'normal' teen."

Margo smiled, "Harry has never been 'normal', his early life would never allow it. Nether did your own, Charchol saw to that," Shar grumbled at the mention of her father. "Ariel is keeping an eye on his development, and has had a lot of experience dealing with these issues. You can trust her, you know that."

Dumbledore was looking aggravated by the time they turned and walked back into the room. "May I ask why you would not allow our Med-witch to take care of such a simple matter? She could have handled it in moments and he would be completely healed."

Margo shook her head. "That is one of the problems with this place! You do everything with magic! Stupid people!" She stomped toward him. "And you have never taken into account the damage you could be doing!" She spun toward Tannim, "I'll be taking a copy of the reports back with me." She went back into the exam room and slammed the door.

Tannim sighed, and sat back down on the desk. "Albus just because you can do something, doesn't mean it is the best course of action, especially healing." He propped his knee up. "Margo spoke with Madam Pomfrey about the care of our students, and has made in very plain that she is the reason why any injuries will be overseen by her, personally."

"But..." Dumbledore began.

"No!" said Shar moving behind Tannim and placing a hand upon his shoulder. "The care of our son is our choice."

Dumbledore sighed and made his way out of the building. "How do you think he'll take tomorrow?" She asked as she gathered him into a hug.

He stood as she did. "Not well…" He kissed her. "All the cards will be on the table when they open the doors in the morning."

She nodded, and stepped away pulling on his hand. "All the more reason for us to enjoy tonight, lets get back up to the ball. You owe me several dances… While I still can." She smiled brightly at him.

He chuckled. "Like you'd let a little thing like being pregnant stand in your way."

When they had returned to the ball room Harry was pleased to note the style of music had changed. Gone was the orchestra, in its place was a group that called itself the Weird Sisters… he suspected it was a name chosen from Macbeth, but with these people who knew? It was an odd sort of group, heavily influenced by non-magical 'glam' rock… with a gothic twist, and… bagpipes… who in their right minds amplifies bagpipes and puts them in a rock band?

Though a little… odd, some of their tunes were… not bad. He had to admit he had heard worse, but… they weren't anywhere near Gas Can… but then again he may be biased.

It had taken two dances each before he convinced the girls he needed another break and something to drink, when he saw her again. A petite thing sitting at the edge of the room, short black hair curled in slightly just below her jaw line, her dress a soft sea green. She swayed slightly in time with the music, but hadn't moved from that chair the entire time he had been dancing, it had been hard not to notice as she seemed to be the only person not in a couple or group.

'Abandoned by her date no doubt.' He thought while sipping his drink.

Before he knew it he had approached and asked, "Would you like to dance?" and held out a hand to her.

She looked up, startled, then kind of stared at his hand. "You look like you would like to, please? It will be fun, I promise." He gave her a smile when she looked up at him again.

Slowly she took his hand and stood, a skeptical look upon her face. He led them to the dance floor and out into the flow of people.

Two songs later he led her back to her chair, "Thank you for the dance, you are very light on your feet. My name is Harry Potter… Ms.?"

"Parkinson. Pansy Parkinson," she said. "It is I who should thank you Mr. Potter. You have been most gracious with your time, and you dance very well also."

He chuckled slightly, "I'm just glad I managed to keep from stepping on your toes… I must apologize for leaving you however, I believe my date for the evening will be looking for me as they have announced the last song of the evening will begin shortly."

She nodded. "It is just as well, I need to head back to my dorm room." She curtsied and headed toward the doors of the great hall.

He was joined shortly by Luna. "Harry? Did I see you dancing with Pansy Parkinson?" she asked taking his hand and leading him back onto the floor.

As he wrapped his arms around her he nodded. "I saw her when we came back from the classroom. She looked lonely, and like she wanted to dance…"

"She's Draco Malfoy's girlfriend!" she said cutting him off.

He looked at her confused. "So? He wasn't dancing with her, and she wanted to dance. What's the big deal?"

"He's going to be angry, Harry."

"So what? He should have been here with her then."