Disclaimer: I am just a mere visitor in the sublime world constructed by the brilliant mind that is J.K Rowling. Anything that rings a bell is hers.

Chapter 31

"Come in."

I stuck my head in and let out a sigh of relief. For once Nonno wasn't feet away from the fireplace, fastening his travelling cloak. He was seated comfortably at his desk, a warm smile on his face.

"Ahhh Kyrianna, just the person I was looking for." He crumpled up the parchment he was writing on and threw it in the bin nearby. It hit the rim and went in and I cheered,

"I see we have a pro ball player on our hands."

I sat in my swivel seat and gave it a start-up twirl. Nonno smiled at me and passed me my hot chocolate has he leaned back in his chair.

"I wouldn't call it professional, but I was a steady dunker in my days."

I laughed, "You really played basket ball? When?"

"Don't I look like I can play basket ball? And as to the time setting, it was in my twenties. A friend of mine was quite a fan. He was muggleborn and working with the ministry and we would play a few rounds in the weekend. It's quite a rejuvenating game."

"How come there is no diversity in the magical world. All we have is quidditch?"

"And that's all we would ever need! Who needs another sport when you are playing the greatest sport in the world!"There was a murmur of agreement from his fellow portraits after the wizard with the ginger tooth brush mustache stated emphatically. Nonno shook his head and smiled,

"That right there is your answer Kyrianna."

I raised my eyebrows at him, he wasn't serious? "You agree with him?"

"Oh heavens no. I do love quidditch, but I was pointing out Headmaster Relestons reaction, not his actual words. We wizards are a stubborn bunch, quite content with the muggle saying, 'if it's not broke, why fix it.' Anyway quidditch isn't the ONLY sport we have; in the states they are quite fond of quodpot."

"Oh yeah, I read about that. Doesn't seem that interesting, actually boring in comparison to quiditch."

Nonno's lips quirked up, "That is our nature and irony as wizards. We do not venture into the unknown enough, far too content in staying in our own realm from fear of…uncertainty."

"Well…isn't it the uncertainty in life that makes it so interesting. I mean, if everything was certain, what's the use in waking up in the morning."I ate the marshmallow at the top and smiled at its tasty softness.

"Indeed Kyrianna. Some might disagree. Some might find comfort in the certainty."

"The weak." I gulped at my hot chocolate.

"No Kyrianna. The world is not made up of the weak and the brave, rather a mixture of the both. I wouldn't call Voldemort weak but I will call Voldemort weak…understand?"

I frowned slightly at him, "Context? Does it depend on context? Like power wise he isn't weak but his nature is one of weakness…because he fears… everything?"

"I do believe it is times when you say things like that, that make me feel most proud at being your grandfather. Exactly. He fears everything, because he fears death and to fear death is to fear life."

I gulped down more of the hot chocolate, touched by his previous words. "Nonno?"

He looked at me, his wise midnight blue eyes sparkling, his thin face void of its previous worried lines. How long has it been since I have seen this Nonno. This Nonno that made me feel...every good emotion in the book. I have missed this man.

"Kyrianna?"

"If there is anything, anything I can do, you need only ask."I held his gaze with my own of determination.

"Oh my dear Cucciolo, you do enough already. There is none better persuasion to fight the dark than to protect those that bring the light in your life. And you Kyrianna, are my sun."

I blushed deeply at that, I needed that. I missed this precious man. Thinking of precious men reminded me,

"Have you gotten word from Linus or Lenzo. I tried the Parch, but no reply…"

"They are both preoccupied with Order work at the moment. They are well, Linus insisted on heading straight back into the thick of things but don't fret, he is a strong man, and his progress is steadfast."

I nodded, still not consoled, considering what had happened the last time with Linus, and he was the careful one.

"Kyrianna, it is not a child's job to worry. It is your job to go to school, do your homework and in your case…serve your detention."

I laughed, justly distracted. "It's not my fault. The woman is…" I knew I couldn't disrespect Umbitch with Nonno, "unique."

"Professor Umbridge may be difficult to understand but I do believe her heart is in the right place…even if she is sorely misinformed when it comes to her mind."

I raised my eyebrows, was Nonno badmouthing a teacher. He looked at me straight faced, he couldn't get the twinkle out which was dulling his look of seriousness, "You shouldn't disrespect her though. She is a teacher, and I expect you to afford her the same treatment that you do Professor Sn…McGonagall."

I laughed at his last second change of word. She couldn't handle the level of annoyance I bestowed on Sev. My smiled faded quickly, thinking of Sev made me think of what had happened Friday night…

"Kyrianna…if you need to talk about anything, I am here."

I looked into his calm blue eyes, what should I tell him? What could I tell him that won't end with Malfoy getting into trouble for something I had inadvertently been the cause of…

"Yes Nonno…what's your take on the Laker's new line up…?"

My hair was a blur of black as each strand was set alight with life as it danced across the sky. I squeezed my knees tighter together and felt the wind sting me that much harder, the pain causing pleasure. The pleasure at the electric effect that was flying, as it opened all my circuits, freeing me to the power that comes at being mistress of the air. When my eyes burned beyond sight I slowly descended to the green mass that was the Hogwarts quidditch pitch. My bare feet touched the slightly damp grass and I suddenly felt more vulnerable…chained by the ground.

"You fly barefoot?"

I turned to the voice as I bent to fetch my sneakers, "I like the feeling of wind between my toes. You should try it some time."

Malfoy's upper lip puckered into a grimace, "I'll pass."

I don't think I can imagine Malfoy without shoes…it would be weird wouldn't it? I wonder whether he sleeps with them on.

"Are you done with your practice or are you just going to stare at my shoes the whole night?"

I snapped up to his steely eyes, "I wasn't practicing. I was just flying."

"Oh, I see. It couldn't have been practice, tryouts for you hotheads happened Friday…about the only thing that made me laugh was finding out Weasley is keeper."

"Ron is a brilliant keeper." He's not the only one that has mastered the art of the steely glint.

"You obviously have not watched him today. I didn't know which was worse, his performance or that chaser girl bleeding all over the place. Figures."

My eyelids pressed closer together, "Oh and I supposed she was hurt because she is a girl?"

He laughed, taking off his sweater, "No. She got hurt because she was a dumb Gryffindor."

I tilted my head at him, "You're not of the opinion that women shouldn't play quidditch?"

He stared at me, the ire in his eyes dying slowly, "No. Some of the best quiditch players were women. Plus there's little in life more beautiful than a girl straddling a broom, its good practice for them for married life."

I rolled my eyes, "I would never peg you as a pervert. Why don't you let Greengrass on the team?"

His smirk fell at the mention of her name, "Blaise wouldn't like that. And neither would most of the team."

Something about the look on his face told me that he had come here to run away into the sky, away from the demons that plagued. I picked up my broom,

"How is Theo? I haven't seen him. Or Liam."

He busied himself with adjusting himself on the broom, "Theo is asleep, Rheines…won't leave his dorm."

I nodded, "Thanks Malfoy. Good night."

He didn't look up, still fidgeting with his broom. I turned and walked away, using the Slytherin exit. Rosier should pay for what he had done to Liam…he relished in beseeching pain on others whilst Malfoy was a shadow of his former self as the guilt ate at him. Liam could have died…I stepped through the portrait of Sir Wormswood, he winked at me playfully as he ushered me through the short cut that led to the common room. I walked down the sixth floor corridor, preferring this short cut more to the one that led straight to the seventh because of its solitude and lack of stairs. I nodded at the portrait of Miss Katarina Kensington, the first muggleborn witch noted in becoming Head Healer at St. Mungo's. I stopped when a blur of black caught my eye in the mirror that concealed the exit of the corridor. I turned, stifling the gasp that was about to leave my lips at the sight that confronted me.

Two heads of black were intertwined in a deep embrace, faces obscured by the engagement of their lips. I didn't need the face however, there would be no green eyes needed to prove that that was Harry Potter, I knew each strand of hair better than the lines on my own palm. And the shiny long dark bed was no stranger to me either. I turned and ran out the door, fear of them having seen me witness what had just happened. Someone played a violent tempo with my heart strings. I took a deep breath and ran up the stairs, eyes burning yet again but not from the sharp winds but the low blow I was dealt…do you blame him Ky? Do you? You pushed him away, you wanted to give her a chance at happiness, you wanted to let her have her chance at Harry's lips…I guess I never thought that Harry would want the same chance at Changs'…

A/N:…Please review

Kalina