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 69

"Carpe retractum." The rope shot out of my wand and wrapped around Harry's waist, I flicked my wand up and he was pulled across the floor, stopping only when his chest made contact with my own, he laughed down at me,

"You've got to stop doing that."

"Doing what?" I asked innocently. The rope disappeared as I lowered my wand but Harry didn't move away, sneaking his arm around my waist. He leaned down and captured my lips with a kiss, I pushed into it, but suddenly pulled back, doubling over in a coughing fit.

"Ky-"

"Tonic. My bag." He was a blur of movement; he lowered me onto the floor as he got back and held out the tonic for me. My cough was so aggressive I couldn't hold the bottle steady, he took it from me and poured a few drops carefully down my throat. The tonic acted quickly, my breathing slowed down and my chest loosened.

"Are you OK?"

I nodded, my chest not at the point where it could support conversation right now, too busy concentrating on breathing.

"Has that happened before?" He must have realised that it had, considering I carried the tonic around with me.

I didn't answer, gripping my body, feeling cold. Harry's arms were around me in moments, he kissed my forehead, which was his discreet way of checking if I had a temperature, he knew I didn't like to be fussed over.

"You're a bit warm, maybe we should go back to bed."

It was one in the morning; we had snuck out to the Revolving Tower for more practice.

"I don't really feel like bed right now." I was really tired, but I didn't want to move from this comfortable position. I could tell he wanted to argue the fact, but decided on making himself more comfortable instead. We were quiet for moments; I could make out most of the night sky considering the revolving tower was lined with large windows that spanned across its circular walls that cast the room in shimmering moonlight that danced across the many boxes and shelves that littered the room. It was a dark night. Not a star in sight but there was beauty in the blackness.

"Ky."

"Yeah."

"How come you never talk about your parents?"

I was tired, but not tired enough to not find the question strange. "Well…the only people who knew them are Linus and Lenzo and they never bring them up." It was different in Harry's case, almost every adult wizard he knew now, had heard of or met his parents. First introductions for him rarely went by without someone remarking about his parents. Even though I never met my mother, I was told I looked a lot like her, from her eyes to her hair colour but nobody would remark upon it has nobody knew her here.

"You could talk about them, to me. If you'd like."

"I know…I…don't really have anything to say about them though. I never met my mother," Because I killed her just by being born, "And I don't think my dad liked me very much."

"What? No."

"I think he kind of blamed me, for what happened to my mother. I have a really good memory, I can remember him. He looked like Lenzo, except his hair was much lighter. He was a little taller too, he was really tall."

"Why…would you event think he didn't like you."

"I don't remember him doing anything for me. I always remember him from a distance, like sitting on the sofa and watching TV…and just staring at me…I can remember his eyes. That's not what I think a father's eyes should look like."

His hold on me was getting tighter and tighter but I didn't mind, "I'm sure you're remembering wrong. You said he was ill."

"He wasn't ill, he was heartbroken. Linus and Lenzo were in charge of the household long before he died. I guess I don't really blame him for disliking me."

"Ky-"

"It's OK Harry. It doesn't really affect me. I had Linus and Len, and now I have Nonno and all of you guys."

"Still, I don't think you should feel like this about your parents. Do you have any sort of remembrance of them?"

"No. We never had any photos of them. Linus said that my father had taken down all the pictures of my mother after she died and the only pictures of him were the ones with her in them. Linus said that he looked for them but couldn't find where he had hid it."

"I'm sorry."

"It's really OK. I actually have Linus and Len to thank for this. They did a really good job not making me feel like I missed out on anything. I mean, obviously when I was a kid I would want my parents, but it's not like I had much opportunity to envy others considering I was always stuck at home. But I don't blame the boys for that, they made the best of a bad situation and in the end it turned out fine."

Harry kissed my temple, "What were their names?"

"My mother's name was Patty, short for Patrizia and my father's name was Octavian."

"You know, if you ever want to talk about them-"

"I know." I cuddled closer into him, I understood where Harry was coming from. He lived in a world where he fantasized about his parents because the Dursley's mistreated him. His parent's were going to save him one day. I was lucky, very lucky. Times were tough but I was never short on love from the boys. I didn't really miss my parents that much, as horrible as it sounds. Except maybe my mother, I would have liked to meet her. Or seen her. Just to see what I might look like grown up. And maybe even my dad, even if he didn't like me. Maybe he would have eventually, maybe he could forgive me and maybe he would have liked to look at me because I looked like her. Or maybe that's why he didn't like looking at me…I wonder what I took from him. There must be something; maybe he got loads of detentions when he was young. Or maybe he had my ears. I could ask the boys but they never liked talking about them, I shook my head internally. This is why. It makes you feel like crap.

"Is this what it's about? Your sudden urgent need to speak to Sirius tomorrow? Did you find out something that only he could answer?"

He sighed and played with my fingers, he slowly began talking, explaining what had happened at his last occlumency lesson. I let him talk, trying to keep an open mind, trying to not feel the pain Sev must have felt when he was ridiculed and trying to be objective. He stopped talking, and we sat in silence for a while.

"What are you hoping to achieve by speaking to Sirius tomorrow?"

"Conformation that my dad isn't…this complete…bully."

I turned around, kneeling in front of him has he sat with the wall to his back, I looked up at him. He was sad. So sad.

"You happened to see one memory, just one out of thousands of moments that your father existed in. Don't let just that one moment destroy a lifetime of good that he did, a lifetime he gave up…for you."

"I know! I know how ungrateful it sounds, it's just that I always thought my dad was the good guy. I knew he got up to mischief but I never thought he would intentionally degrade somebody like that."

"Maybe your dad was a bully. Maybe he picked on Sev and made him…feel horrible. But at the same time, who's to say that Sev didn't do the same to him? You just saw one side of the story."

"You know, I'm really shocked, I thought you'd definitely blame my dad, take Snape's side."

"Don't get me wrong, I don't think what your father did was right, far from it. And I detest that Sev had to ever go through something like that, but I would hate to think that twenty years from now, if my kid had to see me fling Alya through the great hall door's it would negate all the other things that I did. Your dad was not perfect Harry, but that doesn't make him any less of the great man you think he is. He was great for what he did for your mother, and for you at just twenty years old, and the mistakes that he made when he was fifteen probably got him to that greatness."

He cleared his throat, my words seeping through, but not enough to convince him. I could tell he still needed to see Sirius.

"Look, talk to Sirius if you feel that would help. I think it's good for you and for him, I think if he had the chance he'd be talking about your dad all the time." I smiled and he returned it, I leaned up and kissed him, pulling back with a chuckle. "And don't look too much into that fight your mum and dad had, just imagine if we get hitched and had kids and they saw us fighting after the Yule Ball. Or even that time just before the third task. It'd be pretty hard to believe that we…feel the way we do about each other."

He smirked at me, "When did you get so wise Miss Thornton."

"I have a good teacher." I smirked back, capturing his lips with ease, hoping to dull the sadness in his eyes.

I could hear the shouting from down the corridor, I knocked on the door and heard a multitude of sounds, the shouting stopped. What in Godric's name happened in Harry's meeting? I know he was scheduled to meet Minnie just before me. The door opened to reveal a very red faced Minnie,

"Miss Thornton. Do come in."

Minnie walked to her seat and I followed, ignoring the curly haired monstrosity in the corner of the room.

"How are you doing?"

"Good and yourself, Professor McGonagall." I could hear the toad scratching away in the corner, the devil only knows what she's writing…probably dirty letters to old Cornelius.

"I have had better days. Anyway, we're here to discuss your future, have you read the brochures."

"I know what the brochures say." I smiled and she shook her head slightly at me. She knew that meant I never touch them but Mi was reciting them at me like some religious preacher since two weeks ago.

"And what career do you intend on pursuing."

"Well, after much deliberation, I've decided there really is just one career path for me."

Minnie raised an eyebrow; I bet Sev already spoke to her, telling her I didn't know what to do in the future. "I am happy to hear that, what is it that you wish to become?"

I put on my biggest smile, "Senior undersecretary for the minister for magic." The scratching stopped. Minnie pressed her lips into a thin line, her face flushed but she didn't let out a stitch of laughter.

"Well I must say Miss Thornton, looking at your grades, you're much too qualified for such a job. You needn't try so very hard if that is all you wish to become. You're averaging at outstanding for most of your subjects, all you need be getting is acceptable." Minnie said, ruffling papers around, her voice dripping with derision and disappointment, "Are you sure you don't want to do something meaningful in your life?"

"Oh Professor McGonagall, I am positive! I know what you're thinking, it's probably the saddest job ever in existence, practically screams the old adage, always the bridesmaid but never the bride. But that's just it Professor! I will be the bride too! When Harry becomes the youngest ever Minister for Magic I will be both first lady and undersecretary!"

"That is quite enough!" She squeaked from her corner and thundered towards the table,

"Oh Professor Umbridge, I didn't see you there. Don't worry, I do understand your concerns, you think Harry is just stringing me on. Says he'll make me his first lady but leave me just as undersecretary and marry someone else and I am touched beyond words that you would use your own personal experiences to try and lead me into the right direction." My voice was alien in its sweetness.

"You speak one more word Miss Thornton and I will hold you to treason."

I mock gasped, and turned with a sad expression to Minnie, "But Professor McGonagall I was merely stating what I wanted to become when I grow up. I know it's a terribly, terribly narrow minded and small job to wish to have but I want to keep my ambitions reachable…actually below ground level…so I avoid disappointment."

"Oh there, there Miss Thornton. Dolores career advice is a highly emotional time for a student, shouting at them and threatening them is just making matters worse."

Umbridge glowered at us, "She will never be undersecretary!"

"Her marks are more than what is required for the job. There isn't any sort of further education required." Minnie scowled down at Umbridge,

"Oh…I know what it is. Oh no…curse these good looks! I'm too good looking for the job. No!" I said dramatically, turning to Minnie, "Professor McGonagall, please, I want this SO bad. Please…just do it. Transfigure me into a toad!"

"That is enough! You are expelled!"

"On what grounds!" Thundered Minnie,

"On…on…she's skiving all her classes, her attendance is too poor!"

"She's been in the hospital wing! You have signed forms from both a Mungo's Healer and Madam Pomfrey as testament to that."

"She is mocking the headmistress of this school!"

"I wasn't mocking you!" I looked innocently at Umbridge, "If anything I thought it would be a compliment…that I want to be just like YOU." I internally vomited even though I knew the words were lies, making sure my face remained childlike.

"She's doing it again! She's mocking me again!"

"Dolores! What has gotten into you, Miss Thornton is paying you a compliment. I for one, would be touched beyond words if a student said they would want to be just like me."

"Oh drop the act Minerva! I'm not stupid."

"Oh Professor Umbridge, we know you're not, you did get all acceptable for your OWL's."

She glared at me, her eyes almost popping out of her head by the pressure of her anger. "This is proof! This is all proof that Dumbledore is after the position of Minister of Magic."

I laughed, "Who said anything about Nonno! Nobody even mentioned his name! Did you say his name Professor McGonagall?"

"No, Miss Thornton. Dolores, I do believe a visit to Poppy would do you some good, must be all the pressure. Some rest might do you well."

"Oh you would like that, wont you Minerva. So you can play headmistress."

"Oh come now Dolores, I would never play headmistress. The only person who can play headmistress is you!"

I walked to the door, knowing Minnie was more than capable to take off where I left off, I smiled and shut the door behind me, the screams and shouts heard right down the corridor. Things were definitely looking up.

I ran down the corridor, Fred and George did say they would only give Harry about twenty minutes, it was already fifteen minutes gone by. I pushed the door open, taking in the familiar desk and the deranged kitten walled décor. But no Harry. I sighed in defeat, guess I was too late.

"Ky!" Harry suddenly appeared near the fireplace, invisibility cloak in hand, "What are you doing here! I thought Umbridge was back!"

I crossed the room quickly, grabbing him and pulling him to her desk, pushing her chair aside and hopping onto the desk.

His green eyes widened in shock, "What…what are you-"

"Shhhh! We don't have time!" I pulled him forward and shut him up with a kiss. He resisted for a moment but then he surrendered, not putting up much of a fight to begin with. I quickly undid his pants,

"Ky!"

"HARRY do NOT ruin this for me!" I must have had a really crazy look in my eye because he swallowed whatever argument he had on his tongue…or it could be due to what I was doing with my hand. I kissed his neck and he moaned, his hands quickly going under my shirt. I bit back a laugh as the kitten's in the plates looked at us in curiosity, but they couldn't see what was going on from their angle…I was intent on getting back at Umbitch for the thousand and one things she did, but I wasn't some pervert who'd do this in front of kittens.

Harry's hand descended and I let out a loud moan, we both checked the door but didn't stop. This was mental, but there was something highly exciting about doing this on Umbitch's desk and the chance of getting caught. We were mental, not completely insane and stopped our exploration before we could finish, not having time for that just yet. I laughed as he looked down at me, his face shockingly red considering all his blood must have flowed south.

"A thousand million gazillion points to Gryffindor, Miss Thornton." He zipped up his pants, his hands shaking slightly. I laughed and hopped down, smoothing out my skirts and pulling up my socks, how it went down in the first place is beyond me.

"Is it disturbing that I have the urge to do it on her desk at the risk of losing my virginity, just so I can say we did it on her desk?"

He shook his head at me and grabbed my hand, I stopped him, pointing at what my eyes just caught. It just so happen that the parchment that I was sitting on as Harry…sought out my snitch…was one of the new Educational Decree's, he laughed, knowing we both were going to explode when we saw it hung up knowing what we knew. We heard footsteps, our laughter disappearing.

Harry pulled me to him with one hand and threw the invisibility cloak over with the other, just as Filch came in pissing with glee, muttering to himself about whippings. He took the forms he was looking for from the drawer and danced out. We followed suit closely, huge grins on both our faces.

A/N: please review

Kalina