Merry Christmas! And a Happy New year to all!

Well, this is it for me for the year, you know that family thing sure limits the time a person has to write. Anyway hope you all have a great New Year and see you here the second Saturday of the New Year!

Edited by the mighty pazed!

Once again I own nothing! Just playing with someone else's toys!

READ! ENJOY! REVIEW! As it is the only form of payment any writer here expects!

Chapter 63

Hermione groaned as the lights came on in the room she shared with Luna. "You're done already? You just went in!" she said blearily as she sat up.

Her sister laughed. "I was in there almost twenty minutes. You'd better hurry, Harry will be waiting on us."

Hermione nodded as she swung her legs out from under the covers and stood up. "I won't be long… I don't know how you can be so chipper this morning Luna," she said making her way to the restroom they shared. "I feel like we barely had time to breathe this weekend, between studying, the receptions, our workouts, the race, then packing up and coming home… I'm exhausted!"

Luna shrugged as she straightened her sister's bed. "I am a little tired… but in comparison to what it was like at Hogwarts when I started, even what it was like after I met you, this is nothing…" she said.

Hermione made an angry sound from behind the door. "God I'm glad that is over!" said her disembodied voice. "I guess you still have trouble sleeping?"

Luna sat on the now made bed. "Some… the meditation Chinthliss and his brother, Thomas, are teaching me helps me get settled at night easier, but I still find myself waking at the smallest of things during the night, even though I know I'm safe here," she replied, her voice small.

Hermione appeared in the doorway before the girl's voice could die, and gathered her sister in a hug. "What happened was their fault!" she whispered in Luna's ear. "The professors were supposed to be there for you, but weren't… You shouldn't have been afraid of what those girls were going to do, let alone Malfoy and his goons… God what a bunch of…"

The rest of her thoughts were drowned out by Luna's laughter. "I know," she said regaining her composure. "But, for the record, I was never concerned about what they would do to me… that I could deal with, I was more concerned about what they may have done to you, or what you may have done to them because of me… I couldn't bear it…" she said as she hugged her sister tighter.

After a moment they separated and Hermione had returned to the bathroom to finish up, when Luna asked a question. "Hermione? I just noticed something. You're not using Merlin as an expletive any more."

A snort came from behind the door. "I've been purposely trying to keep from using it… Especially after our discussion with Thomas about how he would have felt about being turned into some form of Deity by English wizards."

Luna smiled softly. "It wasn't that… I was just thinking it sounded… more natural, I guess, not as forced. I suppose that is because you aren't trying to change yourself to fit in, but because you want to."

"Mmmmm…" came from inside the bathroom. "Could be… Luna? What did you think of the races?" she asked.

Luna pondered the question for a couple of minutes. "They were exciting… and very loud… The people were very nice… It was good to see Harry so relaxed. While I don't completely understand them, they were quite fun… Though when the accidents happened it worried me, they looked horrific… not as scary, or dangerous, as facing the dragon at the tournament, mind you, but dangerous none the less," she replied.

Hermione opened the door, now dressed in her workout clothes with her hair pulled back in a bushy pony tail. "That's what worries me," she said softly. "I don't know if I could handle watching Harry race. The thought of him being in one of those cars… it scares me to death."

Luna smiled as she approached her sister and tucked a stray tuft into Hermione's tightly pulled hair, to keep it out of her eyes. "It scares me too, but you heard them. While there have been deaths during races, they are few, and he would more likely be killed off the track while driving rather than during a race. Not only that, but they are constantly looking for ways to improve the safety, not only for the drivers but for everyone involved."

Hermione sighed. "I know… but I'm not sure if I'll be able to handle it… if…"

Luna placed her finger across her sister's lips. "Then you had best learn that now. He said they were going to go test one of his cars tomorrow, I think you need to go see how it feels." She took her finger away from her lips and spoke again. "You need to figure out whether or not you can handle Harry's life before you become involved with him any further and cause you both pain."

Hermione looked at her with a worried expression, as Luna continued, a touch exasperated at her sister's lack of understanding. "Racing is as much a part of Harry as breathing, Hermione. If you were to get involved with him as a girlfriend, and then couldn't handle it…" She sighed. "No matter how much it tore him up inside, he would choose racing…

Hermione nodded slowly. "I-I know…" Luna watched, as Hermione chewed on her lower lip, lost in thought. "I-I've got to find out, one way or another…" she said softly. "Luna? Come with me this afternoon to the test?"

Luna smiled at her sister. "Of course, what else would a good sister do? I can't leave you to face it all alone, at least the first time."

Harry pushed the door of his locker closed and started pulling on his boots. "Just toss your towel in the hamper by the door, and your workout clothes in ones next to it. They're labeled so they will be ready for you tomorrow."

Victor grunted an affirmative sound as he continued to dry his hair. "So? What do you think about our workouts?" Harry asked.

"I believe I will be quite stiff later, after I have sat to work on my studies," he replied from under the towel. "How you and your people can talk and joke while you do such things is quite impressive."

Harry shrugged. "We do this six days a week, each day is a little different granted, but still just as intense. You'll get used to it, it just takes time…"

Victor tossed the wet towel on the bench next to him and started pulling on his shirt. "I have been practicing for Quidditch since I was five… my father he played when he was younger, not professionally but when he went to school. We trained physically, but nothing like this. I wish to thank you for allowing me to join you."

"Not a problem, Vic." The older boy's eye quirked up at the use of the shortened name. "The more the merrier."

Victor picked up his gear and followed Harry toward the exit. "Now, what else can you tell me about these sponsorships you and your team use?" he asked.

Hermione rubbed her arms as she watched the scene below them through the window, as the team prepared the car for Harry.

Shar chuckled softly as she approached and offered the younger girl a drink. "Soda?" she asked.

"Hmm…" the girl replied without taking her eyes of the group of men standing around the car, silently wondering what they were talking about.

Shar shook her head, and tried again. "Hermione?" she asked trying to get the girl's attention. "Do you want something to drink?"

Hermione looked over her shoulder, a surprised look on her face. "Huh? Wh- Oh, yes thank you," she said taking the can of Pepsi. "Shar… Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course my dear," she said, as she took a sip of her own drink and let her eyes settle on the crew working outside.

Hermione paused for a moment to think before deciding to just ask. "Do you ever get used to it?"

Shar's eyebrow quirked up as she turned to face the girl. "Get used to what?" she asked.

The girl huffed a bit, as she waved her arm toward the window. "This! The racing! When he ran off the track down into the gravel next to that wall, my heart stopped… He… he could have been hurt…"

Shar smiled softly. "And you wonder how I can stand the thought of my son being hurt or worse?"

Hermione nodded, as Fleur joined them. "I have also wondered how you keep yourself so calm."

Shar sighed and went back to looking out the window. After a few moments she spoke. "Did you know that Tannim used to race as well?" she asked.

She watched the girls' reflection in the window, as each glanced at the other then shook their heads. "SERRA class one, more stock versions of the car Harry drives with a smaller engine… they call it racing on a budget…" She paused as her thoughts drifted to the past for a moment, then she took a deep breath bringing her back to the present. "That was before I met him…"

She turned to face them. "He loved to build, drive, and race those cars… but that all came to an end because of me."

Now all of the people gathered were listening to her tale, even though some of them already knew the story. "My father was named Charcoal, and had allied himself with a Unseliegh Lord, Madoc Skean..." She turned away from the eyes in the room back to the window. "I-I had made some bad choices in the past, and dealt with many less than savory people… including my father and his friends."

She took a deep breath trying to center herself, and keep tears from forming in her eyes. "Skean enlisted me to help with a scheme that would discredit Fairgrove in the eyes of the royal family, possibly seeing it destroyed, and Tannim killed… I held no ill will to either of them, but I was somewhat beholden to Skean through my father, so I was forced to go along with the plan… though I was able to delay his original plan and eventually help Tannim escape his stronghold."

She sighed and turned back to them, a tear falling down her cheek. "In the end it didn't matter though, Charcoal showed up before we were able to make it out of Underhill… H-He ended up almost killing Tannim…" she told them, as she wiped her eyes. "He lost a big part of a lung, and spent months recovering… And that wasn't the first time he had been injured doing something because of his involvement with the elves…"

Shar dug in her pocket, pulling out a Kleenex. "One of his loves died that day, but luckily he had friends and family to help him deal with that loss… and forgive me for the part I played in it.

She sniffed and blew her nose. "What I'm trying to say is that no matter what he was doing, even if he wasn't magical or racing, it could potentially be dangerous… If I tried to keep him safe from everything he would end up hating me for it. So, the best thing I can do is make sure he is prepared, and understands the risks he is taking as well as what can be done to mitigate that danger."

Shar could see that Hermione, while understanding somewhat was still having some difficulties. "Hermione…" she began again. "When you returned from Hogwarts after your accident first year, did you have a discussion with your parents about the risks of your returning?" she asked, already knowing the answer having discussed the issue before with her parents.

"Of course…" she said. "We spent most of the summer talking about it, both about the risks of my going back as well as the risks of what would happen if I didn't."

Shar nodded. "And you accepted the risks in returning?"

Hermione nodded again. "I-I think the risks were more in my not returning…" She shivered. "Having my memory altered… that scares me, horribly…"

Shar smiled. "And it should, that is something that would scare most sane people… The point is either choice was a risk and could lead to long lasting consequences, or perhaps even death." She shrugged. "No matter what, it is a part of life… Would it be better if he washed widows on a high-rise? Statistics say it is more dangerous."

Hermione looked out the window towards the car, watching it pull away from the pit stall and towards the first turn. "I-I guess not… as long as he loves what he does."

Fleur stepped forward to stand next to her younger friend, and wrapped an arm around her. "Faith, you need to have faith in him Hermione. You have watched him train, and have seen him drive, he takes his racing seriously… If something were to happen, while tragic, it would be doing something he loved. We can not deny him that, just like he would not deny us the pursuit of our dreams."

Hermione huffed. "Of course not… but that still doesn't make it any easier…"

Shar shook her head. "No, it doesn't," she agreed. "Instead of dwelling on ifs, I try and content myself with knowing he is happy, and will always fight to come home and stay with his family… Just like Tannim did."

Pansy had never been so glad to get out of a vehicle in her life! 'Merlin, those two!' she thought as she made her way toward the main building. 'I've never seen anything so sickening in my life! I don't think they came up for air the entire ride back! What that pretty boy, Diggory, sees in that know it all 'Claw besides how she rides a broomstick is beyond me!'

"Miss Parkinson, welcome back!" said the woman behind the reception desk as she entered. "I hope you had a pleasant visit?"

"Hmm..." she said as her brain dug itself from the hole it had fallen into. "Uh… yes it was… interesting… Thank you for asking… My parents decided to stay a day or two more, and I came home for classes tomorrow, with Cedric Diggory and the fish he had attached to his face all the way home."

The woman behind the desk chuckled. "It's good they found something interesting then… Planning on having dinner in the cafeteria? It's Italian night! You need to try the Lasagna, the chef who makes it has been perfecting it for almost forty years, it's amazing!"

Pansy paused as she passed by. "Ok… Are the others back?" she asked hopefully.

The woman smiled. "They made it back last night, rather late. Harry had a test at the local track scheduled for this afternoon…" She looked at the clock. "They'll be back in about an hour."

Pansy smiled. "Thank you. Have a good evening."

"You too!" the woman replied.

When she entered the cafeteria, Pansy found Victor Krum working on something behind a pile of heavy, leather bound books in a nearly empty, quiet room.

"Victor?" she asked, as she passed close by and began making herself a cup of tea. When he looked up she continued. "After I heard that Harry went to do some type of test, I thought you would have gone as well, just in case it was something you could learn about him for the tournament."

Victor eyed her for a moment, then shook his head, figuring he was not as surreptitious as he had believed. "No… While seeing the race was interesting, I believe my time is better spent here, in study."

She nodded, picked up her cup and sat across from him. "So, did you learn anything?" she asked, as she waited for her tea to steep.

He nodded. "Did you know Harry is in an apprenticeship, to Headmaster Chinthliss?" Her eyes grew wide. "His father was his apprentice as well!" he told her.

Her mind had begun to race, as Victor had spoken. She had thought Harry's father, Tannim, had been a muggle! And as far as any one knew Harry didn't know any magic!

'Though' she thought, as Victor continued to talk 'he did, somehow, complete the first task, and got the egg from a nesting mother dragon… No one had been paying him any attention during the event, rumor had it that he had just been lucky and took advantage of the situation when the dragon had become distracted by the crowd's noisy outrage.

Her thoughts then ran to the second task, again no visible magic had been used, the rumor on that had been he only succeeded because of the connections of the elves and them knowing the squib Dolittle, and his strange ability to speak with animals.

But this revelation, handed to her by Krum, had thrown both of those rumors into the rubbish. An apprentice! That would come as a surprise to many people, but it also meant he was more than just the boy-who-lived, as those that offered apprenticeships were known to wield unusual, as well as powerful magics!

This was interesting… Yes interesting indeed!