Iuga Sortis II

Seventeen

This had to be the worst training session they'd ever had.

And it hadn't even started yet.

As it was, the training sessions had been tense since January, and Jamilah was forced to switch partners so they were partnered with their same sex.

That had been an interesting maneuver; having two enemies training together with real weapons and real moves. She was surprised one of them hadn't died yet.

It didn't help Valentine's Day was four days away that Friday, so tensions were particularly running high this week. It was so thick you couldn't cut it with a chainsaw.

They sat at the desks, looking rather bored.

"Today for training we are going to do something that is just as important as fighting--talking."

"Talking?"

Jamilah nodded. "Yes. Talking. You four are going to talk about whatever issues are goin' on between y'all because it's affectin' y'all's ability to train and train well! Y'all are lazy and slack one minute then hyper and rash the next. Neither of these extremes is acceptable for this training, nor for the situations y'all'll find yourself in when you go out into the real world. You four betta take this seriously. You don't realize what's at stake--"

"That's a large part of the problem, isn't it? We don't know why the hell we're here in the first place!"

Jamilah glared at the black-haired boy. "First off: watch your language, Potter. Second off: that's a moot point. Y'all know why y'all are here, even if no one's explicitly told y'all."

"But Grandma--" Nia began.

"No buts! You four will sit there and will not leave until y'all at least sincerely agree to be civil with each other."

"Yes, Professor Roberts," they droned in unison.

"Good. I'll be back towards the end of our allotted time. Please have made some headway by then . . ."

The door seemed to thunder shut as the professor left the room. All four students looked pointedly elsewhere than at each other; it was enough to drive Nia insane. She sighed and left her desk to sit against the wall by the door. She leaned her head against it and closed her eyes. She heard the others leave their desks as well but didn't open her eyes to see where.

Talk . . . how does one talk when they can't figure out what to say?

As it was, she was having conflicting emotions about the entire situation--more specifically, about Harry. At the end of the year, the Boy Who Lived got on her nerves, even if he had habits that endeared her to him; perhaps this was because she listened to Draco rag on him so much during the year. Even still, she wasn't as firm in her dislike as Draco was. The entire summer she'd been more focused on the shared dreams they had and the weird things her body was doing--besides growing and filling out in certain places. When she first saw Harry at the beginning of the current school term, she'd never been so embarrassed in her life. She was mad at Crabbe for pushing her, yes, but she was angrier she fell on top of Harry. Nia knew she wasn't the most beautiful thing on two legs; she even knew she was heavy (as if her grandmother didn't keep reminding her every time they saw each other). She became short with Harry, lashing out at him for making her feel something other than cool indifference. Like all the other girls at school, she noticed Harry's new height and healthier frame, and even Slytherin girls were cooing over him but their approval was framed in backhanded comments.

It was enough to make her sick.

It didn't help Harry had been particularly nasty to her then; letting her know about Snape in a most insensitive way all but sealed her dislike for the Gryffindor, but even still it could never reach Malfoy levels.

But then they'd started to train, and Jamilah put them as training partners. Any issues they'd had with each other had to be left at the door or the training would not go smoothly. Though he was always the first to finish laps, he'd come and run with her to the end, egging her on and being her own personal cheerleader. At first she was confused and a little disturbed by his help but appreciated it nonetheless. Draco and Ginny were far too absorbed in each other, so Harry and Nia were forced to be at the very least cordial to each other. But the cordiality soon gave way into easy companionship. Nia was hard pressed to call it a full-out friendship because that would imply certain tender feelings, feeling she wasn't prepared to label at the moment.

She snorted. It didn't much matter if she were mentally ready or not because emotionally it was painfully clear.

She liked Harry Potter.

Nia groaned in bemusement.

Perhaps that's why it hurt to see Harry kissing Ginny. She knew the boy pined for the redhead, and she knew it burned Harry Ginny chose his worst enemy over him. Nia was too young, too big, too Slytherin for Harry's taste, and he'd never see her as more than a training partner.

She was jealous of Ginny Weasley.

Jealous was maybe too harsh a word, but it was the only one Nia could think of at the moment. Ginny Weasley was tall, creamy-skinned, smart, witty, and no-holds barred--the perfect girl for guys such as Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter. It would only be fitting the two most popular boys in the school would like Ginny. The mere fact she was a Weasley and a Gryffindor added to the allure of her--Harry because he wanted a family and she provided an instant one, and Draco because she was everything his father was against, a perfect way to rebel.

Nia shook her head. That wasn't fair to Draco. She knew he loved Ginny and very much. In fact it was the only reason he even agreed to the plan Snape suggested that night--the same night they found Harry kissing Ginny in the corridors.

It was the perfect scapegoat, to be sure. Draco Malfoy defecting to the Dark Side because of a broken heart.

She opened her eyes and looked beside her. Draco was trying not to stare at Ginny, but his eyes would go to her anyway. She never thought she'd see him so besotted, even if she only knew him for a year. When he came back with Snape on New Year's, he'd been white as a ghost; not hard considering he was the palest thing she'd ever seen, but it still concerned her. She'd been in the Potions classroom talking to Sirius (she loved his stories about her mother and her friends . . . they had some crazy adventures!) when the two of them Portkeyed into the workroom. Both she and Sirius went inside to see both men looking very grim. Nia's hackles immediately went up, and even Sirius seemed concerned; after all, he was Draco's cousin even if he didn't like Draco's father. Snape wanted her to leave but Draco wanted her to stay; he felt Nia needed to hear much of what was going on, so she could explain to Ginny if need be.

Explain what? was the obvious first question, and both seemed hesitant to answer. Sirius gave Snape and Draco an appraising look then muttered, "Not again," in a dejected groan. Snape merely nodded and said, "Yes, again." Nia became nervous of what the affirmation implied.

Draco became a spy for the Order that night, the same role Snape was currently holding. He didn't have the Dark Mark, at the clever insistence of Snape. The Mark was a sure fire way to ruin whatever upper hand the Dark side thought they had. Speculation was far more powerful than affirmation, and even Voldemort realized the benefits of having a real undercover spy.

Or so he thought.

Nia knew the plan was good in theory; she just hoped it didn't backfire. She was afraid Draco would be put in a situation similar to that of her mother and Snape, or worse. Draco would never want to do anything that would hurt Ginny, but if it came to that, she knew Draco would want to be the one to do it and not some other guy; at least he could be as gentle as possible.

Nia desperately prayed it never came to that.

"I miss you."

They were the first words spoken between the four in a month and a half, and it was Ginny who said them. All eyes went on the redhead as she rested her chin on her raised legs. Her eyes were closed, clearly trying to keep tears at bay. Nia looked at Draco who stared straight ahead, not sparing the brokenhearted girl a glance.

He was being difficult.

"I'm sorry, Draco, I really am. I never meant to hurt you," Ginny said, her voice thick. Draco closed his eyes and swallowed, Adam's apple bobbing from the action. Nia felt eyes on her, and she glanced to Harry.

What? she mouthed.

Forgive me? came his silent reply.

Nia looked at him confusedly and shrugged.

He opened his mouth to respond, but Ginny interrupted him.

"I love you, Draco, so much."

Nia saw Harry wince out the corner of her eye. She was torn between gloating and feeling pity for the boy. Draco, on the other hand, hadn't moved a muscle and continued to stare ahead.

"Draco . . ." Ginny implored softly.

"I knew you were down there that night, Ginny. I felt you."

Ginny opened her eyes but did not look at the blonde boy beside her. Both stared at the wall before them, not ready to look at each other but both ready to listen.

Finally.

"I felt you, and I became so happy, the happiest I'd ever been in my life, especially after a particularly dismal Christmas holiday. I couldn't wait to see you. I felt your emotions; I knew you were anxious about something, but I didn't know what. I immediately became concerned, and I walked out of the classroom even as Snape was speaking to me. My worry for you became more important than anything the professor had to say. Imagine my surprise to see you sucking face with Potty."

The other three jerked at the crude term, and Harry let out a hiss.

"Malfoy--"

"Shut it, Potter. I'm doing the talking now."

Harry glared at Draco but did as he was told.

"I was so hurt. I couldn't stand to hear your voice at the moment, and there was nothing more I desired than to slap the stupid smug look on Harry's face. But a Malfoy feeling anything or showing irrationality was a sign of weakness. I left you there, vowing I would stay away from you, clearly forgetting I had training sessions with you every other day. But as I lay my head on the pillow, I finally allowed myself feel. And what I felt put my mind at ease. Anger, regret, pain, despair--everything I was feeling, you were feeling. It was then I knew you didn't want him to kiss you any more than I wanted him to kiss you."

"Draco . . ."

"Shhh," he said, putting a finger to his mouth. "Shh, Little Weasel. I need to finish. When Professor Roberts put Potty and I to train together, never had I been happier. I could beat the fucking bastard to a bloody pulp all under the guise of training. You have Nia to thank for that."

Harry's glare shifted to Nia, and she smiled sweetly at him.

"I could beat him for thinking he had a right to you, for taking advantage of you, for trying to separate me from you. I could beat him here where I couldn't on the Quidditch pitch, in public opinion, in my father's grudging respect for him--if respect is the right word. I could beat him for hurting Nia so callously, for dipping his lion-headed arse where it doesn't belong. But no, the bloody wanker and I are too evenly matched here."

"I told you before, Draco. You're good enough for me."

"I don't want to be 'good enough,' Ginger; that implies there's always someone who could come along and be better. When I saw him kissing you, I had the sinking dread that Potter would be it . . . again . . ."

"But he's not! I don't love Harry, Draco! Not the way I love you, I don't. Sooner or later, Harry will have to square with that and realize there's someone else he's supposed to be with, and then he'll forget all about little ole me," Ginny said emphatically.

"Ouch," Harry muttered.

Ginny snapped her head in his direction. "Did it hurt good, Harry? I hope it did. Maybe you can catch a glimpse into my life for the past month and a half!"

Harry's shoulders slumped, and Nia felt compelled to defend him.

"That's not fair, Ginny. He said he was sorry."

Draco turned to face her, and he grinned. "I told you last year, Nia, didn't I?"

"Told me what?" She knew it was a mistake to play dumb with Malfoy, but she did it anyway.

He smirked at her, and she felt immediate dislike. "That you were smitten with Golden Boy over there."

Nia glowered at him then looked at the floor. "Am not," she muttered.

She felt three sets of eyes on her, and she wished the floor would eat her.

"And what's worse is Harry knows it, too, don't you, Harry?" Ginny accused, her voice hardening as she said his name.

His gaze turned sad as he stared at Nia. "Yeah, I knew . . ."

Nia laughed sadly. "Looks like the joke's on everyone, ain't it? What a group we've turned out to be."

"But I had to kiss Ginny. I had to, I needed to see--"

"If I actually loved Draco? That's not your place to decide! I told you! I told you before you kissed me!"

"We know. You said it pretty loudly, love."

"Exactly! Even Draco--what?"

The Gryffindors were staring at the Slytherins anxiously and indignantly. Draco bit his lip, desperately trying not to laugh at Ginny's snarled question. Nia looked at her twiddling thumbs.

"You heard me declare I loved you?" Ginny's tone was quiet, and Nia felt sympathy for Draco.

He had no idea what was coming to him.

Draco nodded and grinned at Ginny. "Every blessed word."

Ginny turned red. "How--how could you do this to me?! How could you make me feel so guilty all this time?!"

"I didn't make you feel anything, love."

Ginny growled and slapped his arms roughly and repeatedly. "Do you know how much time has been wasted because of this? How much I've missed you? Damn you, Malfoy! Damn you to hell!"

"If you're going to blame anyone, blame Nia. It was her idea in the first place!"

Ginny stopped hitting him and narrowed her eyes at the younger girl. "Well?"

Nia looked at Ginny head on. "Well, what?"

"Why did you do it?"

Nia cut her eyes at Harry before she responded. "All to get Harry back for kissing you against your will, but we had to pretend to be mad at you to make it believable."

"I could get my revenge without having to dirty a finger; it was a brilliant plan."

"So all that stuff about being hurt, that was just a bunch of crock?" Ginny asked.

Draco shook his head. "I was really hurt, but I saw your face, and I saw what I was feeling reflected in you. I knew you wouldn't betray me like that."

"And you got your revenge through me because you knew I'd make his life a living hell. And the only way you could do that is not talk to me because if we made up Harry wouldn't suffer as much."

"Especially during the training sessions; I really wanted to get a few good whacks in . . ."

Ginny looked at Draco and Nia with disbelief before smirking. "Nia, that was bloody brilliant. If I doubted your Slytherin qualities before, I sure don't now . . ."

Nia shrugged. "Ain't no thang . . ."

All throughout the exchange, Harry had been silently fuming and glaring at the floor.

"Roberts."

Her blood ran cold. Never had she heard such hardness coming from Harry.

"Potter."

The three of them watched in fascination as Harry went to the weapons display and took down a sword and a bo stick. He stood in front of Nia and held out the weapons.

"Choose."

Nia's eyes narrowed. "Bo stick," she answered as she stood. He tossed it to her, and she caught it effortlessly.

"First to three wins," he said mechanically.

Nia frowned. "Harry, what is--"

She barely missed the swipe of Harry's blade as she twisted her body to dodge it.

Oh, it's like that, huh?

She was ready for the next attack, and she parried her stick to meet his blade. They stared at each other before she spun around and threw out the stick. Harry evaded the first blow but wasn't able to duck the next as it caught his feet, tripping him to the mat. Nia ran to deliver a blow to his stomach when his sword caught the flesh of her left forearm.

"One."

His smirk and his tone riled her up and she backed away from him, trying to regain her wits.

"Don't let that shake you, Nia," Draco called. His voice sounded far away to her ears; all she was concerned about was the arrogant punk in front of her. Her arm stung, and blood created a trail as she moved. She didn't care; Harry would pay for that.

They circled each other, trying to find a relatively safe opening to attack. She frowned and focused on the side of his face then moved back to him. Harry's face contorted in confusion, and he moved his eyes briefly to where hers were trained. It was all the opening she needed. She swiped the stick three times before ramming the blunt end into his stomach.

"One."

Harry didn't give her time to gloat for he swung the sword down heavily, breaking the stick in two parts. Nia's body sagged with the force of the blow, and Harry took advantage of her disquieted state. The sword's edge caught the side of her torso, tearing the black form-fitting wife-beater she wore.

Another cut, another point.

"Two."

Nia growled in frustration and rolled out the way of another attack. Harry loomed over her, prepared to win the third and final point when she placed a nice kick in his groin area.

"Score!" Draco exclaimed happily.

Harry groaned and dropped to one knee on the mat. Nia twirled her two sticks in her hands for a better grip and caught the back of Harry's knee with one of them. Harry grunted again and fell on his back with a hard thud. He almost lost his grip on the sword but regained it just in time.

Dangit! But at least I got a point anyway.

"Two," she said, even as she prepared her final blow. She aimed for the wrist of his sword hand, but he was too quick for her. Harry's foot kicked her legs, and she collapsed from the force. He got on his knees ready to strike again, but his blade caught one of the bo sticks instead. Nia hissed in pain as she aggravated the cut on her torso by stretching to block Harry's strike against her back. Harry changed targets and aimed for her arm, but the other half of her stick blocked the parry as well. She elbowed him, smirking with satisfaction as she realized she hit his groin again. He doubled over, and she spun to a standing position, disheartened a bit he reached a standing position as well.

"You're determined to ruin my chances to have children, aren't you Roberts?" he said in panted breaths.

"Just doin' the world a favor, Potter."

A corner of his mouth lifted. "Can you feel my pain now?"

Her mouth dropped as she saw his eyes flit to her crotch before she remembered herself.

She scoffed. "What's to feel? You ain't got nothin' there anyway!"

"Can that be an honorary point?" Draco asked. "I vote honorary point."

"Fuck off, Malfoy!" Harry's cheeks turned red, and she grinned.

"Quit stallin' and let me beat you already," she said.

"I'd sooner kiss Malfoy."

"I changed my mind. Let Harry beat you, Nia. For the love of Merlin, let him beat you!" Draco pleaded.

"Fine. I win, Potter, and you smooch."

He grinned. "Agreed."

She raised an eyebrow and prepared her weapons. Harry did the same.

Nia lunged first, and Harry sidestepped her easily. He thought to take advantage of her forward momentum and brought his sword down to connect with her shoulder blade, but she moved it out of the way in the nick of time. Nia whirled and flung her bo stick out. The weapon hit his back, and Harry let out an oof at the contact. He landed on the ground with a thud, and she pumped her fist in the air triumphantly.

"Nooo! Nia! Didn't you hear me?!" Draco said in a mock wail. She giggled at Draco's antics and looked down at the fallen boy before her. Harry rolled onto his back on the mat, favoring his right arm.

"Oh quit playin', Harry, and get up!"

"I think you broke my arm," he moaned.

She lifted her eyes to the heavens for help as she gingerly kneeled by his side. No sooner had her knees hit the mat than he rolled over and pinned her against it. Her sides protested against the rough movement, and she winced.

They were a breath's space apart.

Neither said a word.

His green eyes have specks of gold. She closed her eyes at that observation, cursing herself for being affected as she was. She chalked it up to being close to Valentine's Day. Opening her eyes again, she found Harry staring intently at her.

She cleared her throat. "Three."

He nodded a little. "Three."

Her eyes darted to the scar on his head then back to his eyes. "I won."

He closed his eyes briefly and shrugged. "Seems that way."

She licked her lips and noticed his eyes drifting to them. "Time for you to pucker up, then."

"He really doesn't have to . . ." Draco interjected.

Nia shook her head. "A deal's a deal."

"Yeah, Malfoy . . . a deal's a deal . . ."

He didn't move from her.

"Do I look like Malfoy to you?"

"Nah . . . you're easier on the eyes."

"Oi! I resent that!" came Draco's muffled reply.

Nia moved her head to look past Harry. Ginny was sitting in between Draco's legs with her back leaning against his chest. Draco nibbled her neck, and Ginny giggled.

"Does she taste good, Dragon?"

Draco lifted his head and smirked at her. "Like Bailey's Cream."

"Aren't you a little young to be drinking that?" Ginny asked with an arched eyebrow.

Draco nipped Ginny's jaw. "I'm too young to do a lot of thing, love; doesn't mean I don't do it."

Ginny grinned and brought his lips to hers. Nia rolled her eyes and rested her head back on the mat, looking at Harry expectantly.

"Well?"

"You win, I 'smooch,' remember?"

She rolled her eyes. "Of course I remember! So why are you still here?"

"When we made the deal, we never specified who."

Nia looked indignant. "We agreed on Malfoy!"

Harry shook his head and moved a lock of hair from her forehead. She cursed her body's shiver even as Harry smirked at it. "You never specified a name when we made it official. You assumed Malfoy."

She looked at his scar, for his eyes were making her stomach do funny things. "And who did you assume?"

His thumb and forefinger grasped her chin lightly. "Oh, I figured you were as good as any."

She glared at him. "Oh, there's a nice thing to say! 'I can't kiss the girl I really want, but you're not so bad, you'll do!' Like I said, Malfoy's over there, waiting to have one of your passionate smooches."

"And I said I'd rather kiss you."

Nia began to squirm. "You're heavy, Harry."

"You're scared, Nia."

Flippin' punk!

She bit her lip, and Harry's eyes went to them again. "You have peculiar interest in my lips, Potter."

He grinned, still staring at her lips. "Perhaps this is because I should be kissing them now."

Nia smirked. "Who said you were going to kiss me on my lips?"

He frowned. "But you said--"

"If you can take liberties with the terms of the deal so can I. Cheek only."

You know you want him to kiss you on your lips . . .

Shut up.

Harry sighed, but his eyes had a mischievous glint to them. "Which--"

"On my face, you dipwad. You can kiss my butt another time."

"Dipwad? What happened to punk?"

"Didn't feel like saying that. Look, are you gonna kiss me or not?"

He didn't answer her. With his eyes locked on hers, he lowered his head to hers, letting his nose rub gently against hers. Nia's amber eyes widened, and she felt his smile. Harry turned his head to the side, and his lips were centimeters away from her cheek.

Suddenly she tensed. "Harry, get off me!" She kicked him off her with a burst of strength and rolled to her side. No sooner had Harry got off her than the door opened.

"What in heaven's name is goin' on here?!"

Nia moaned. She forgot about the cuts Harry gave her, and they made their presence known.

"Nia, you're bleeding! Why are you bleeding?! I thought I said only to talk!"

"Harry and I decided to talk with our weapons. I won the argument . . ." she muttered.

Nia couldn't see her eyes, but she heard the incredulity in Jamilah's voice. "Won? It looks like he cut you up!"

"He did," Nia ground out.

"The only reason you won is because you used 'vocabulary' I didn't understand."

"You should learn to pick up a dictionary, Harry. Ron did, and look what he got because of it," Ginny said sweetly.

Jamilah grunted. "Huh. Well, since you deemed it to cut each other, you can also heal each other. I was thinking of letting you have Valentine's Day off, but not you two. Draco and Ginny, y'all are free to go, and you don't have to come on Friday. Harry and Nia, go to the hospital wing."

"Why can't Ginny do it?" Harry asked.

Nia finally got into a sitting position and saw Jamilah stare at the other girl with a look of apprehension. "It would just be best if she didn't. Dumbledore and I haven't talked enough about it to deem it safe."

"Safe? She healed my arm; no thanks to Roberts over here."

"Piss off, Potter!"

"Nia Aset Roberts!"

Nia cut her eyes to the ceiling before looking at her grandmother.

"Extra laps for you Wednesday, then," Jamilah said with nonchalance.

Nia gnashed her teeth to prevent another outburst. She felt Harry's smug look on her and wished nothing more to start round two.

"As it is, our time is up. You two, hospital wing," Jamilah said, pointing to Nia and Harry before moving to Draco and Ginny. "You two, your respective Houses. Next time, leave your personal problems outside the door. Just because we're not in class doesn't mean my rules don't still apply."

"Yes, ma'am," all the students replied.

"Now shoo. I'll talk to Poppy in the morning to make sure you two made it there."

"But Grandma! Can't we just go to Professor Snape's office instead? He's closer, and I know he has healing potions . . ."

Jamilah gave them an appraising look. "Oh fine, might as well. Ginny, you can go with, so you and Harry walk back upstairs together. We may be in Hogwarts, but Peeves is feeling particularly mischievous as of late."

The four students smirked at each other.

"All right, off you go then. Try not to kill each other on the way down, hmm?"

They nodded. Nia tried to move but realized her cuts made it uncomfortable. She let out a betraying hiss, and her face contorted with discomfort.

"Up we go . . ." a voice said from behind her. Nia felt strong hands hook under her arms as they eased her on her feet. Her body began to shake again.

"Thanks."

"Can you walk?"

She sucked her teeth. "You cut my body not my legs."

Harry shook his head and moved his hands to grasp her arm.

"You two, go ahead . . . we'll meet you there."

Nia chuckled. "Sure you won't. C'mon, you two. Let's go."

The couple scowled at her, and she laughed. "Save it for Valentine's Day."

Draco smiled at Ginny. "Can't wait until then . . ."

"Upchuck," Nia muttered and began to walk faster than her torso will allow.

"You sure seem in a hurry to be rid of me," Harry whispered in her ear.

Nia jumped then cursed herself again. "All you seem to do is hurt me when we're together. Forgive me if I'm not a masochist."

"Masochist? How would you know--oh yeah . . . you're a Slytherin."

Nia huffed and jerked her arm from his grasp, a move she regretted as she felt blood drip from her wounds. "Why does Grandma insist we train with real weapons?"

Harry shrugged. "I guess so we're not surprised when the real thing happens."

"Last time I checked, people in this world use wands. Perhaps we should do magic."

"She's your grandmother; maybe you should tell her."

She glared at him as she walked down the stairs to the dungeons. Nia was grateful Harry didn't say anything as they made their way to the Potions classroom. She reached her hand to grasp the doorknob of the room but instead closed around Harry's hand.

"Potter?"

"I'm sorry."

She shrugged her shoulders. "People get hurt when they fight; it's to be expected." She felt his hands slide under her top and run along her injuries. She sucked in a breath at the contact. His fingers were rough, but they felt soothing all the same.

"Not only for this. I meant for everything . . . for hurting you."

She glanced at his eyes and returned to staring at the door. "What's it to you, anyway?"

He didn't answer for a moment as he continued to run his fingers over her wounds. "These hurt something bloody awful."

"Right."

"I feel them, Nia. They hurt."

Oh yeah. The flippin' link. Is there a way to turn it off?

"The only reason you're sorry is because you can feel it? What a Slytherin attitude," she spat.

"Nia . . ."

"Let me go, Potter. The sooner Snape cleans my wound the sooner you'll stop hurting." She let go of his hand and opened the door, leaving Harry to stand in the hallway. She felt tears sting her eyes, and she became upset.

"I'm not talking about the wounds, Nia, not the flesh wounds, anyway."

She turned and stared at him. Harry met her gaze head on.

"I don't think there's a potion for that, Harry."

He smiled at the use of his name. "Then I reckon I'll have to find another way."

She turned and began walking to Snape's office. "I reckon you do."