Chapter 61: Dear Harry

' Dear Harry,

So, I've been given the go-ahead to move into my own home! Moony(Lupin) is gonna be living with me, at least for the first few months. It'll be good for him also. He doesn't like talking about it, but there's been some legislation passed that makes it a lot harder for werewolves to get jobs. It really sucks for him. He has so much to offer the wizarding world, and because of something he had no choice over, they make him a second-class citizen.

We're moving in next week. It's in London, in the middle of a muggle area. Number 12 Grimmauld place. I'm anxious about it, to be honest. I think I told you, but I really hated living there as a kid. But I think now, I could reclaim it. Decorate it the way I want. Needs a lot of cleaning though. Without anyone living there, the house-elf didn't really do anything. It'll keep me occupied.

I know there's gonna be a whole Triwizard thing over Christmas, so you'll want to stay at Hogwarts, but there won't be anything over Easter will there? I'm gonna get the house attached to the Floo network, so you'll be able to visit your friends if you want. Plenty of time until then, so you don't need to let me know right away.

How's it been back at Hogwarts?

Have classes been treating you all right?

I know the other schools only arrive in a few weeks, but what's the feeling like? Has it been any different?

I'd like to come to visit you on a Hogsmeade weekend. Could go to the three broomsticks, and just walk around. Let me know if that sounds good, and when the next one is.

I hope you're having fun. It's important to study, but not all the time. Take a break, do something crazy. Enjoy yourself.

Sirius'

Harry snorted folding the letter. Sirius clearly hadn't been told about his little altercation with Weasley.

' I wonder if that was crazy enough for him?'

As for the rest of the letter, well. It bothered him. Sirius really seemed to care about him. But would hate him if he knew the truth. If he knew that Harry had sworn to the man who had killed his best friends.

And Harry had to form a relationship with the man.

' How do I that? Without getting myself all emotionally attached?'

At least he didn't have to worry about being at Sirius' house over Christmas. Spending time with him would definitely help create a connection between them, and could even be fun, but would make things a lot more difficult for Harry. What if Sirius wanted to come with when he went to the Malfoys? How would he be able to go see the Dark Lord then?

' I'm going to have to play this really, really carefully'

He started writing a response, making up some nonsense about the last week at Hogwarts and telling Sirius there would be a Hogsmeade weekend in two weeks time.

As usual, the days at Hogwarts started blending into one another. Without Quidditch to break the monotony, it would have been terrible. Would have been, had Harry not started taking the advice everyone gave him seriously.

He started getting up earlier and flying around for half an hour or so before the day began. Not every day, but most days. And he made sure, on the days when he didn't fly, to read a bit before bed. It really did make a difference. He was undoubtedly more relaxed. Writing what annoyed him in a journal helped also, but it was such a chore that it quickly fell away. He spoke to Steven about it, and in the end, just stared summarizing his days a bit every night. Just a line or two, like ' today was pretty shitty. I wanted to curse someone really badly. Counted to ten and walked away'

Overall though, things were going well. He hadn't made much progress with the split mind technique, even though he was managing to clear part of it and focus on something else. It was when he tried to have an interaction between the two parts, like sending a false memory through, that caused everything to collapse. And he couldn't hold the split for too long, not more than a few minutes at a time. But Snape felt he was doing well, and if Snape was happy with his progress, then he certainly could be.

As for dueling.

Harry was starting to think that Snape and Barty took a perverse pleasure from beating the crap out of him and Draco. They were improving, that was for sure, but Snape just upped the ante and started fighting harder and dirtier. It was mental, how no matter what they did, no matter how much they tried, the fights still ended the exact same way. With Snape standing over them as they were revived.

And so, as the days moved on toward October, Harry was feeling pretty good about life.

"Harry, can I talk to you?"

Theo looked a bit nervous.

"Yeah. What's up?"

"Just a min. Blaise, I'll catch up with you, ok?"

Blaise grinned. "No problem. I'll just get all the bacon before you arrive"

Blaise walked off, Theo watching until he was out of earshot. He turned back to Harry.

"Why don't I get any of this training with Snape?"

"What?"

"Come on, Harry. He's training you guys. You and Draco. You don't even try to hide it from me. So why don't you include me? I swore the same things you guys did"

"I don't know," Harry said, speaking evenly. "We didn't really arrange it. It kind of just happened. We didn't set out to exclude you, I promise"

"So can I join?"

"You need to ask Snape. I don't think he'll let though" Harry held up a hand, making Theo close his mouth. "We started with him the beginning of last year"

"You don't think I'm good enough," Theo said flatly.

"Mate, he's been pushing us like crazy for a year! And Draco and I were practicing on our own since first year! I mean, c'mon, you came with us that one time. You said we were more advanced"

"I did" Theo scuffed his shoe against the stone floor, "I just didn't realize how excluded I would be. You and Draco do your own thing, Avery and Flint do their own thing. I'm just left in the middle"

"What about Blaise? Getting him to join?"

"Blaise is-immature. It's part of what's great about him. He's not worried about taking over the world, about playing a role. He just takes the moments as they come. I don't think he'd be right to join. Wouldn't be right to bring him in, just to make me feel less lonely"

Harry looked closely at his friend. Black circles hung deep under his eyes, and his face was heavily lined.

"Theo," Harry said carefully, "are you alright?"

"I guess I'm not" he sighed. "I'm just lonely. Can't tell my best friend what's really been going on with me. Don't feel like I'm really accepted by you guys. It sucks, Harry. And no, I can't join in with you guys and Snape. It's a stupid idea. But at least I'd actually be a part of something. Instead of this weird, halfway situation, I'm in right now"

Theo started walking away, shoulders slumped.

Harry bit his lip, an idea forming.

"Theo, wait!"

He turned around. "Yeah?"

"How about, if you and I practice? Just once a week, for maybe an hour? If I had more time I'd say more, but how about that? And when you catch up, you can join us with Snape?"

Cautious hope dawned. "You think I could? Catch up?"

"No promises. I can't help you with Occlumency, I'm no good at that, but I'm good at fighting. It's really all about practice, anyways. So what do you say?"

"That-that sounds great. Thanks, mate. Seriously"

"Don't mention it. And Draco could probably give you some pointers with Occlumency. Just enough to get you started"

Theo broke into a grin. "That'd be awesome. Thanks"

Harry watched him go, smiling a bit.

"So now that you and Pansy are over, anyone else caught your eye?"

"Not really. To be honest, I haven't really been in the right emotional state for dating. I'd like to, but it wouldn't be good. Not till I've sorted some stuff out. What about you? Anyone courting the Greengrass Heiress?"

Daphne blushed and looked down. "Unfortunately not. There is a guy I like, but I don't think he realizes it"

"Yeah, we can be quite stupid when it comes to girls. I didn't even get it when Pansy was hitting on me. Draco had to explain it"

She laughed. "Draco, honestly? It took him till now to realize she liked him, and to ask Tori to Hogsmeade"

"Wait, how long was she hinting?"

"At least six months"

She laughed raucously at his expression. "You're all really that clueless when it comes to girls, aren't you?"

"I guess so," he said sheepishly.

"Makes me feel better about not being noticed, then"

"If you want, I could have a word with him. Whoever he is. Let him know"

Daphne looked intently at him. He suddenly was aware of just how close together they were sitting.

She stood up, leaving him alone at the table.

"No thanks. He doesn't want a relationship right now"

She walked off, leaving him to gape after her.

' Did she just-was she talking about me?'

Throughout that day, Harry found his mind occupied. While Babbling spoke about using the Dagaz rune in conjunction with the Eihwaz rune, to create a light that would blind enemies, he thought of Daphne and argued with himself.

' She's definitely pretty. I think her tits are bigger than Pansy's. And I like her. She's a friend. She's always cared. And talking to her does feel very natural. I definitely should ask her out'

' But if you screw it up, she won't be your friend anymore. Look at Pansy, she barely talks to you. You don't want to hurt Daphne, do you?'

' But I won't hurt her! I'm doing better!'

' So why did Steven say that you should avoid getting into a relationship for a while? Don't you remember, he said you aren't ready for one!'

' But what if while I leave it, and try to get better, someone else grabs her?'

' Would it be any better if you went out with her, and the same thing that happened with Pansy happened with her? It would be way worse! You'd never have another chance!'

' You know what. Fuck it, I'm gonna talk to her. I'll be honest, and tell her why I don't wanna go out'

' What, you're gonna tell her that the Dark Lord ordered you to listen to the Mind Healer, so you can't ignore his advice? C'mon, she'll run screaming!'

' Bullshit! Her parents support him! I'm not gonna talk to her about him anyway'

He only got the chance to speak to her that night.

After coming back from Snape, he found her in the common room, working on Potions homework.

"Hey," He said, sidling up next to her.

"Hey yourself" she replied.

"Daph. You were-you were talking about me earlier, weren't you?"

"Maybe you aren't so clueless, after all"

"I just" he swallowed. "I like you. A lot. But I'm not in a good space right now, you know?"

"Harry, if this is about that whole thing with Weasley, I really don't care"

"It isn't! Well, it kind of is. Look" he lowered his voice. "I'm seeing a Mind Healer. That's what my detentions are"

"So?"

"So?" His voice rose, cracking a bit. A few heads turned. "Can we have this conversation somewhere else?"

"Fine. But when we get back, you're helping me with this essay"

"The moonstone one?"

"Yeah"

"Ok"

She stood up gracefully, brushing her hair behind her. "Well? Lead the way"

He was conscious of the eyes on them as they left the common room.

' Probably think I'm going to shag her somewhere. God, I wish'

They ended up in one of the old classrooms in the dungeons.

"Ok. So you're seeing a Mind Healer. Why does that mean you can't have a girlfriend?"

She looked so-unconcerned. Totally unaffected by what she was saying.

"Because-because he's helped me realize. How-. I'm not normal, Daph. I'm not healthy, mentally"

"Oh, Harry" her voice was so soft.

' Fuck. I really do want her'

"None of us are. No-one is. Not really. What are you so afraid of?"

"I don't want to hurt you!"

"You think I can't take care of myself?" She said, a note of wry amusement entering her tone.

"No. I don't. Not if I-"

"Not if you what? What happened with you and Pansy, Harry?"

' Don't tell her. She'll run. You'll scare her'

"I don't wanna talk about it, ok?"

"Harry. I'm pretty sure I've had a crush on you since first year. And you like me. I can tell. Am I not attractive enough? Is that it?"

"No! You're-you're-"

"So what's the problem? We like each other, we're attracted to each other. Why not go out?"

"Because I don't want to hurt you!"

"What makes you think you will?"

"I hurt Pansy"

The instant he spoke them, Harry wished he could pull the words back. As silence fell on the pair, he was expecting her to break it with recriminations.

"I thought it was something like that. Stupid bitch. What happened?"

' Huh?'

She laughed at his dumbfounded expression.

"Come on, Harry. You and Pansy were like the worst couple to ever happen. You had nothing in common. Honestly, did you guys ever even talk about anything, or did you just snog all day?"

"Mostly just-stuff" he admitted, trailing off as heat rushed to his face.

"Exactly. Pansy thought you'd be perfect for her, and you just found her hot. That was all that was between you two"

"I hurt her, Daph. I was really rough, and I pushed her more than she wanted, and I scratched, and-"

He trailed off again, too embarrassed to elaborate further. Daphne seemed to understand, though.

"So what? Some people like rough sex, you know"

He goggled at her, making her laugh again.

"We-we didn't. Have-have sex"

"She sucked you off though. I heard her complaining about the taste"

' Merlin. Could this get any worse!'

"You look like a tomato"

' And she's enjoying this!'

"I don't want to hurt you, Daph," he said, staring at the floor. "I would, too. I can't control myself, not yet"

"Harry. Pansy had no idea what she was getting herself into. I do"

"You don't though! There's a lot you don't know about me!"

"You'd be surprised"

"So surprise me!"

"My parents are very old fashioned in some ways," she said, staring into his eyes. "Won't let me make life-changing decisions until I'm fifteen"

"What are you-"

"Decisions like, oh, I don't know. Swearing oaths?"

He took a step back, mind reeling.

She smirked at him. "You look so cute when you're off balance"

"How do you-what-"

"After Theo joined, they thought it best if I knew. With so many of my year mates involved, you know. I guess they also realized that I would want to be a part of it. They didn't tell Tori, that I know. If she and Draco go out for a while, they might. I don't know, she's very childish in some ways"

"You-you know? You want to join?"

"Harry, please. I'm going to join. Father's already had me learn what I would need and practice it. But he won't let me actually do it until after my birthday"

' Holy shit. Is this actually happening?'

She looked at his gobsmacked expression. "I haven't met Him yet, so nothing's definite. Easter break though, father said he would take me to Him"

"You-you practiced the spells?"

"Of course. When I told father I wanted to get involved, he was so proud. He was never really brave enough to fight himself, you know. But he always wished he had been. So he gets to live through me"

"It's different. When you cast them on an actual person"

' I'm not really having this conversation, am I? Not with Daphne'

"What makes you think I haven't? And it was different. Much better"

He just stared at her, mouth hanging open.

"Merlin, Harry. You really didn't expect anyone else to be doing it, did you?"

"Not really. Not you"

She laughed again. As she did, his mind caught up to something she had said.

"You said it was much better on a person?"

"I wouldn't call that worthless sack of shit a person. But it was much better. The feeling-Merlin, it was so much better"

' No. Fucking. Way'

"Like-a full body orgasm?"

"Exactly"

' What are the odds? Holy shit'

"Daph, did your dad say anything to you, about you reacting strongly to it?"

"What?"

"Some people react stronger to Dark Magic than others. I mean the real stuff. It feels much, much better for us. I do. I think you do, too"

"He didn't say anything," she said, looking thoughtful, "but he did look surprised. How easy it was for me"

"You need to talk to Snape. It's dangerous for us. He says it can be really addictive. Like, it can make us make really stupid decisions"

"Like attacking Weasley?"

"Kind of. Yeah, that was probably part of it. But holy shit, Daphne, this-this changes everything. Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wasn't meant to tell anyone"

"And neither were my parents. They only got permission from Him recently to tell me, and they already had"

"Wow. I just can't believe it. Holy shit"

"So, do I know more about you than Pansy did? Are you still so worried?"

"A bit, yeah"

"Why?"

"Because I still can't control myself! I'm stronger than you, I could hurt you, and I don't want to do that!"

"Why don't you let me decide? I'm happy to take that risk"

"Only cause you don't know what it means!"

"Don't you dare! Don't you fucking dare treat me like some porcelain doll! If I tell you I'm happy to take the risk, I'm happy to take the fucking risk!"

"I almost raped her! I practically did! I didn't give her the chance to say no, didn't listen when she tried! Do you want that? I'm telling you, Daphne, I can't control myself! Not yet, and it's getting better, but not yet!"

"You think I can't stand up for myself? Pansy's a spineless bitch who talks a big game! She led you on, made you expect more! With me, you'll know exactly where my boundaries are, and I won't let you cross them!"

Her expression softened, and she gently caressed his cheek. He couldn't gather the strength in his arm to raise it, to push her hand away.

"I don't want to wait" she whispered. "I waited, watching you and Pansy. You're mine, Harry. I just want to make that real "

And then, she kissed him.

For a moment, a single moment where he was still capable of unaffected thought, he debated pushing her away.

But the intoxicating softness of her lips, the feel of her chest pushing against his, the wondrous sensation of her tongue on his, filling his mouth with her taste.

It was all too much for him to fight.

He leaned into her, grinding against her, one hand reaching into her hair and stroking, the other, feeling her curves.

' Mine!' He thought, savagely.

A brief eternity later thought returned as she pulled herself off of him.

"I'll take that as a yes," she said, blushing slightly.

He nodded. "But-what if-what if I want something you're not ready to give?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," she said and stared at him expectantly.

He coughed and shuffled his feet. It took a moment for the penny to drop.

"Wanna come with me to Hogsmeade, this weekend? I'm meeting my godfather at some point, but you can come with…"

"I'd love that," she said huskily, "we won't be with him the whole time, right?"

"Don't know. I hope not. Don't really know him that well yet"

"And you have lots to tell me. I hear your initiation was-spectacular"

He grinned. "You could definitely say that. It was crazy, we had to-"

"Not now. I still have to finish that essay. Remember, the one you promised to help me with?"

"Yeah"

They walked back to the common room, Harry grinning the whole way.

Word quickly seemed to spread about Harry and Daphne. He had a most uncomfortable conversation with Astoria, where she warned him against breaking her sisters heart, while Draco just watched, amused.

Blaise made a comment or two about Harry bagging the fittest witches in their year, and wondering when he was gonna start moving onto other houses. "That Hufflepuff, Reyna whatshername. You know, the one with the enormous tits. She's your next target, isn't she-"

Daphne hexed him for that, and Blaise spent the rest of the day sneezing earwigs at irregular intervals.

Meanwhile, Harry caught Pansy watching him a few times. Every time, she had this strange mixture of wistfulness and happiness on her face.

Apparently, she spoke to Daphne and told her to be careful with Harry. The next time Harry saw her, she had terrible pimples erupting, making her face look worse than Eloise Midgen's.

For Harry though, not much had changed. He was spending more time with Daphne, and they would snog, but it wasn't like their relationship had totally shifted. They had been pretty good friends before, now there was just an extra dimension to their friendship.

He remarked as much to Daphne.

"Of course. And that's the difference between me and Pansy. That twat didn't actually care about you, or you about her. I do"

Steven, interestingly enough, had been supportive.

"I wouldn't have advised this. But if you did explain to her your issues-"

"I did"

"And she knows what's going on with you, and is prepared to deal with it, then it's great. She could help you. If you have a healthy, physical relationship, it could go a long way towards healing some of your wounds from the past"

"I'm just scared. I don't know if I'm capable of that"

"Why not?"

"Because when we're together, I think about it. Taking it further"

"How far have you actually gone with Daphne?"

"We've kissed"

Steven laughed heartily. "Harry. You're a fourteen-year-old boy, kissing a girl you like and find attractive. If you weren't thinking about taking things further, that would be odd. The important thing is not to do anything that both of you aren't comfortable with"

"Yeah, But-"

"Everyone has desires, Harry. The difference between healthy and unhealthy people is that healthy people know when to act upon their desires"

"I just don't get it. You're telling me all this stuff, and it's great and makes sense. But at the same time, I'm expected to kill people. To torture people. How do you just-just-"

"How do I reconcile that contradiction?"

Harry nodded.

"War is war. If we don't take a stand against the muggles, eventually they will be the only humans left. Our population gets smaller while they grow. And their technology improves. Eventually, they'll discover us. And while magic is capable of incredible feats, I don't think it could protect us from a nuclear bomb. They'll kill us all. You know how they treat us"

Harry nodded again.

"So we have to go to war against them. In war, you do a lot of things that you can't do in regular life. In war, such things are the appropriate actions to take. To fight the muggles, to take our place at the top of the food chain, we first have to control the wizarding world. And so, whatever we need to do to achieve that goal is an appropriate action to take"

Noticing that Harry didn't look entirely convinced, he went on.

"I don't believe that actions are inherently good or evil. I think it all depends on context. In the context of our Lord's goals, murder and torture are entirely justified. In the context of say, a Quidditch match, the same actions are not. Everything depends on context"

"Anyway, Harry. I think, starting next week, we're going to be talking about your past. Your childhood. Are you ready for that?"

He shrugged. "If you say that's we're doing, I guess I have to be"

"I do. You're meeting with your godfather over the weekend?"

"Yup"

"How do you feel about that?"

"I don't know. He seems nice. Seems like he cares. But I-I don't want to get to close to him. We're on different sides of the war. I don't want to feel bad about betraying him"

"Are you afraid of becoming confused? Becoming unsure of which side you want to be on?"

Harry shook his head. "No. But I'm afraid of coming to like him. That I feel bad when I hurt him. One day it'll become known, that I'm a Death Eater. I don't care if that makes him sad. But I don't want to care"

"Caring is ok, though. After all, we aren't just fighting this war for ourselves. It's for all of wizardkind"

"You really believe that?"

"Do you not?"

"It's not that I don't. It's just-when one side treats you like crap, and the other side helps you, it makes your choice real easy"

"Indeed. Enjoy the weekend. You're doing well, you know. I already see improvement. You are a very resilient young man"

"Thanks" Harry muttered, standing up.

"And He is pleased with your progress as well. He asked me to give you a message. He said, at first He thought about changing your role with regards to the Durmstrang students. He was unsure whether you would be able to control yourself and carry out your orders without being caught. However, He has decided that you are to retain your original position"

Harry smiled. "Thanks. Please, give Him my thanks. Tell Him-tell Him I won't disappoint Him again"

"I will"

Going to Hogsmeade with Daphne was an interesting experience. They spent a bit of time at each shop, looking at the wares and talking. She tried to make him give her fashion advice at Gladrags but got pissed off when he kept saying the same thing.

"I know I look good, what I want to know is how this works with my hair! Gah! Boys and clothes" grumbling, she made her way to the back room to change.

"You know," he told her when she returned, back in her school robes, "Narcissa basically told me I have no fashion sense"

"No way. That's far too impolite for her"

"Well, she didn't quite put it like that. It was more along the lines of 'listen to the advice of the experts, dear' when I complained about what she wanted to do with my hair"

"What did she want to do with it?" Daphne said, brushing her hand through it.

"Can't remember. It didn't work though. My hair doesn't like to listen"

"Just like you, then"

Draco and Astoria walked past, heading down the lane.

"Oh God, he's taking her to Madam Puddifoot's"

"What's that?"

"You never took Pansy there?"

"Hey, I didn't even know the place existed till right now"

' Besides, I preferred to take Pansy to empty classrooms and broom closets'

"It's the most sickly-sweet tea shop in the world. It's basically just made for couples to snog in, and it's all lovey-dovey. I despise that place with a burning passion"

"So you mean, you don't want to go there?"

She stomped on his foot. "If you ever take me there, I'll castrate you"

"Hmmm. I think I'll change our afternoon plans, then"

"Yeah, you had better. Merlin, Tori probably loves it"

"Is that her style?"

"Completely. You should see her room. All pink, with glitter and hearts everywhere. She's such a stereotype, it makes me want to vomit"

"Really? She seems so… tough"

"She tries too hard. It's all fake. She's a big softy, really"

"So that's why they didn't tell her. Your parents"

"Exactly. She'd probably cry about the poor muggles"

Harry held the door open for her, and they walked into the Three Broomsticks.

"Is it weird?" he asked, once they had found a table. "Knowing that Draco's probably snogging your sister right now?"

"Really? You want to ask about my sister while we're on a date? Merlin, Harry, you're bad at this, aren't you?"

She laughed when he blushed.

"It's not so strange. I'd rather not think about what they could be doing, anyways"

"Yeah," he said, leaning forward a bit. "I'd rather think about what we could be doing"

"Exactly"

A few minutes later, there was the sound of someone clearing their throat loudly.

They separated, ending the kiss abruptly.

"Sorry to interrupt," Sirius said, grinning widely, "but we are in public"

"Sirius," Harry said, standing up.

' I don't think I've ever been so glad to wear robes. This'd be far more awkward if I had jeans on'

"This is my girlfriend, Daphne Greengrass"

Sirius winked at him and stretched out a hand to Daphne. "Nice to meet you. You should know, I'm a far better kisser"

"How would you know that?" She asked.

"More life experience. I tell you, youth is great and all, but with age comes wisdom"

"And what wisdom do you have to share?"

"Never forget the contraceptive charm," he said immediately.

"Sirius!"

"What?" He looked at the blushing teens. "I'm your godfather, it's practically my job to embarrass you in front of your date"

"No, it isn't. Aren't you meant to do my parents job if they can't?"

"Same thing," he said, waving a hand. "Hey, Rosmerta! Over here!"

She bustled over, her low-cut blouse revealing a lot. Harry could feel Daphne watching him, and quickly averted his eyes.

"Sirius Black. You're not going to try to get free drinks again, are you?"

"That was years ago!"

"She'll never let me live it down," he said in a stage whisper. "Three butterbeers, please"

"Of course"

"You're looking good, Sirius"

"Hey now, don't start confusing Daphne. And thanks, being in my own place has been good. But Merlin, it's great to be somewhere that isn't full of dust"

"It's that bad?"

"You have no idea. The elf just mopes around all day, looking at my mum's portrait"

"Why don't you just get rid of it?"

"No-one wants an old elf. Not one as crazy as he is, anyway"

' So kill the damn thing'

Instead of saying that, Harry just went "oh"

"Yeah. Greengrass. You're Ian's kid?"

"Yes"

"Hmmm. He was a sixth year when I was first. I think he was dating your mother then. Lauren Spincer, right?"

"Yeah. How do you remember that?"

"As you get older, you'll find the strangest things stay in your memory. Like, this place was once painted black by a group of mighty handsome Gryffindors. Rosmerta was much younger then, and had made a comment leading one of them to believe that's what she wanted"

"Of course," Rosmerta said, putting their butterbeers on the table, "this was before she learned to stop giving students firewhisky. Her original comment was that she found it too bright in here with the white paint job"

"Details," Sirius said, flicking the cap off of his drink, "the devils in em. Thanks, Rosie"

"I'm never getting you to stop calling me that, am I?"

Sirius just grinned roguishly and tipped his drink at her.

"So. How's Hogwarts?"

"Not much different to usual, really. The other schools come next week, and then it's the announcement of the champions. People are starting to get excited, but nothing's actually happening yet"

"It's mad. I always grew up hearing stories about my great-great-great-great-great grandfather, Hydrus Black. He won the Triwizard Tournament. Can't remember what year it was, but in the 1600's. And now it's back at Hogwarts"

"Yeah. It's gonna be an exciting year"

"Sure will"

The conversation went on, and they left the Three Broomsticks and walked around Hogsmeade. Sirius pointed out landmarks and regaled them with tales of his own school years. Most of them involved him and Harry's father causing trouble, making them sound like predecessors to the Weasley twins.

"Anyway, I need to get heading back. They're doing a home visit tonight"

"How often are they doing those now? Not every day anymore?"

"Na. They trust Moony to let them know if I'm freaking out. Once a week"

"It was good to see you"

"You too Harry. Nice to meet you, Daphne. Remember those contraceptive charms"

Winking, he spun on the spot and with a loud crack, disapparated.

"He seems nice. A bit all over the place, but nice"

"Yeah. He is"

"Let's head back, it's dinner soon"

"Anything for you, milady"

"Don't call me that"

"Admit it, you like it"

"Do not"

"Do too"

With good-natured bickering, they made their way back to the castle.

There was still a week to go before Harry had to be concentrating on the Durmstrang students. And he planned on making the most of that week.