Iuga Sortis II

Twenty-Two

Number 12 Grimmauld Place had never been so tense.

Everyone at the table sat in silence as they waited for some word on the missing students. Dumbledore had Flooed in to inform them of what transpired earlier that afternoon. Ginny and Harry never boarded the Hogwarts Express, and Snape warned of a Dark Revel that would occur sometime that day as well. Chances were the two teenagers were there. As it was, most of the members of the Order were now in Hogsmeade trying to diffuse the situation and return the children in one piece.

Angelina couldn't help but feel out of place, seeing as neither of the hostages had any familial relation with her. Beside her, Fred's leg bounced up and down in nervousness, a habit he did unawares. Angelina was glad of the movement for once; it kept her mind off worrying.

She placed a comforting hand on his knee. He continued to stare at a spot on the table, but his hand was warm, yet sweaty, as it grasped hers tightly.

Fred tried to be strong then, back in fourth year when they were in a similar situation: Ginny in the grips of Voldemort and evil, Harry going to save the day, and anxious Weasleys waiting.

Again.

Can't this family ever catch a break?

After the Chamber incident in fourth year, Death Eaters attacked Fred's father last year. Six months after that, Ginny and Ron laid in the hospital to recover from the fight in the Department of Mysteries.

A little over a year later, Death Eaters wreaked havoc on the family again.

"It's not fair."

Fred threaded their fingers together and squeezed. "I agree. This ruddy blows."

"Fucking Death Eaters!" George muttered.

"Mind your language, George!" Mrs. Weasley chastised half-heartedly.

George rolled his eyes and shoved away from the table. Mrs. Weasley looked at him for a moment before realizing he was going to the door.

"And where do you think you're going?"

"I'm going to Hogsmeade myself. No Dark Bloke can mess with my sister twice without letting me whack him good at least once!"

"And once is the only time your likely to get because he would kill you the second go 'round! Sit down, George! The fewer children I have in the street the better I'll feel. You know your brother will be here soon."

George glared at his mother but complied with her request. Mr. Weasley had left earlier to pick up Ron from the train station. No doubt the youngest male Weasley was primed and ready to fight You-Know-Who.

"Speaking of which, I need to get my sister from the train station, as well," Angelina said as she stood.

Molly frowned. "Sister?"

Fred put a hand on Angelina's arm. "She really needs to get her, Mum . . ."

But Angelina was curious. "Yes, sister. My father had relations with my mum's cousin and--"

Molly's mouth opened, and a gasp escaped. "Malika?"

"Yes."

"She had a child? I always assumed it didn't work--"

"What didn't work?!"

"The plan, the raid . . . oh my . . . she had a child? A little girl? She always wanted a girl . . "

"You knew her?" Angelina asked, flabbergasted.

Molly's eyes grew wild. "Know her? Dear heavens, child! Who do you think taught me how to bake sweet potato pie?"

"Your pie is wonderful, Mum. Think you can make one after Dad gets here with Ron and Harry with Ginny?" George asked.

Molly tutted him before focusing on the young woman. "Well, I assumed after the raid she died, or at the very least disappeared. No one heard from her again . . but now I see it was a part of the plan . . ."

"Raid?"

"Plan?"

Molly nodded. "There were months of planning that went on about the raid. Malika, along with Lily and James, went into hiding . . . they had Secret-Keepers. All three were betrayed. The Potters, of course, by Pettigrew, and Malika by Severus."

Angelina's mouth dropped open. "Are you serious?"

Molly scowled. "I didn't have a kind word to say to him for months after that."

Fred snickered. "Who would ever have a kind word to say to him? He probably wouldn't understand the meaning of it anyway."

"That's not nice, Fred," Molly said with a bit of a grin.

Angelina was still confused. "But Snape loved Malika . . . they seemed so happy . . ."

"We thought so, too, until he gave up her location to the Death Eaters. Remus, Caleb, and Elle took it the hardest of anyone. We couldn't understand why Albus kept him in the Order after that."

"That's a good question, come to think of it. Methinks he handed Harry and Ginny over to them, just as he did with Malika!" George said darkly.

Molly glared at him. "Don't say a thing like that, George! We didn't realize, until long afterwards, the betrayal was a part of Albus' plan to raid the Dark Revel."

"A Dark Revel? But You-Know-Who wasn't around by then!" Angelina said.

Molly shook her head. "Dark activity was just as dangerous as it was before he fell, love. Your father, Arthur, Remus, Mad-Eye--they all made busts many times during the year after You-Know-Who's fall. He might have been gone, but he certainly wasn't forgotten."

"But Harry--"

"Didn't kill him, obviously, but he did make people realize You-Know-Who was defeatable."

"Always good to know," Fred said dryly. Angelina snickered and rolled her eyes.

"Yes, but at the time Albus was afraid Severus would be a target, so Malika was used as a bargaining piece to keep Severus on the Death Eaters' good side and to keep Severus alive for the Order."

Angelina felt awful at the news. "That must've been terrible! To give up the person you love like that . . I don't think I could bear it!"

"Whew! I was getting worried there, love," Fred said with a wink.

"Gag me," George muttered.

"Gladly."

Molly became contemplative. "Severus was horribly short with Albus for months before it happened. Of course, I know the story now, but at the time many of the Order members thought he'd defected back to the Death Eaters when he betrayed Malika as he did. But it was clear he wasn't thrilled with the plan at all. Severus even walked out of meetings before they were done. I thought it was his usual surliness, but now it all makes sense. Severus did love Malika . . I have a new sympathy for the man now . . ."

"And yet Angelina's dad is the father? That makes no sense!" George exclaimed.

Molly took a deep breath. "It does make sense if you knew why they wanted Malika in the first place . . ."

Angelina was afraid to ask, but curiosity got the better of her. "Why did they want Cousin Malika, Mrs. Weasley?"

Molly smiled sadly. "Dear, I thought I said to call me Molly."

"Or if you wait a bit longer, Mummy!"

Angelina's mouth dropped open slightly and glanced at Fred. He was giving his twin the look of death.

"I would like that as well, love. You've been wonderful for my Frederick."

"MUM!"

Angelina felt she should lighten the mood before Fred's head exploded. "Wish I could say the same, Mrs. Weasley."

Now Fred looked indignant. "ANGEL!"

"Molly, dear." A twinkle appeared in Molly's eye. "Or Mummy."

Fred was now as red as a tomato. "Cousin Malika, anyone?"

The lightened mood immediately grew heavy again, and Molly frowned. "Malika was a very powerful witch. I'd seen her do amazing things--things that even impressed Dumbledore!"

The young adults looked at each other in wonder. Very few people could impress Dumbledore.

"Apparently, she impressed You-Know-Who, as well; in fact, she was the next target after Lily and James Potter . . ."

Thirty minutes later, Angelina, Fred, and George knew the story behind Malika's abduction and disappearance.

Angelina stood from the table and walked around with her hands around herself. She was floored. "So . . . my father didn't betray my mother after all . . ."

Molly shook her head and smiled softly. "No, dear. He loves your mother so much. He wouldn't do a thing like that if it was in his control to do so."

"That's awful!" Angelina sighed. "Poor Snape . . . poor Nia . ."

Molly's face crumpled. "Poor Harry and Ginny! It seems history wants to repeat itself with my children!"

"But Mum! Harry's not your child!"

Molly blushed a bit. "Oh . . . well . . . of course he isn't, but--"

"Ginny could marry the bloke and make it official, right?"

Molly huffed. "Oh be quiet, George!"

"I'm Fred, Mum."

"No, I'm Fred!"

"Why don't both of your be quiet?" Angelina suggested.

Molly smiled. "Yes, dear, you'll fit in quite nicely."

The real Fred approached Angelina and kissed her temple. "I think Angel will, as well."

Her eyes widened, but he merely winked at her. Now Angelina's heart raced in anticipation rather than anxiety. Suddenly Mrs. Black's portrait began to screech, and Angelina jumped in shock.

"Dear Merlin! Who's riled her up now?" George groaned. No sooner had the words left his mouth than Arthur walked in the room with a trunk in each hand. Pig fluttered wildly in his cage atop one trunk and Hedwig hooted loudly in her cage atop the other. Ron hurried in behind his father with two more trunks, and Hermione followed with a satchel on both her arms.

"Arthur!" Molly exclaimed as she rushed to relieve his load.

"I've got it, love; I'm fine," he said as he tried to shoo Molly away from him. She complied but moved to help Ron instead.

"Mum!" Ron sighed, exasperated, but knew better than to deprive her of her self-appointed task. Molly relieved him of a trunk and helped them drag it into the drawing room.

"Whose belongings are these?"

"Ginny's, Harry's, Ron's and--"

Angelina's eyes widened, and she interrupted Hermione. "Nia! I need to get--"

Caleb Johnson rushed inside before she could finish the sentence, carrying a seemingly unconscious Nia in his arms.

Molly dropped her trunk with a thud. "Dear heavens! Get her upstairs to one of the beds! The poor dear . . ."

Angelina's blood ran cold as her father rushed the unresponsive girl upstairs with Molly in tow.

"What's wrong with her?" Angelina asked, her voice laced with panic. "Why isn't she moving?"

Hermione turned sympathetic eyes to the older girl. "She's been like this ever since we realized Harry and Ginny were missing. She fainted on the train and hasn't woken since. She keeps muttering things--stuff about Harry and Ginny and Malfoy and Snape . . . I think she's dreaming of what's happening . . ."

"MALFOY?!"

Hermione looked weary. "I don't know the entire story . . . that's just my hypothesis."

"Well, if I know anything, I know Harry will get our sister," Ron said with determination. The other Weasleys nodded in agreement.

"NO!"

Ron and Hermione looked at each other with fear. "Harry!" They both rushed up the stairs to see what was happening. Angelina's own fear rose at the strangled cry of her sister. She was about to follow the two teens when she heard a large thud from inside the living room. She and the twins rushed to see what happened. The room appeared normal, until a spot by the couch began to shimmer then disappear altogether as a heap of bodies appeared. One body had a head of black hair, one with a head of red hair, and one with a head of platinum blonde.

"MALFOY!"

Fred and George lifted Harry first to get to the other boy, and they yanked him up roughly.

"What did you do to my sister, you prat?!" they bellowed in identical angry tones.

Draco's head lulled to the side.

"He was hit with a stunning spell before we got here. He should come to, soon."

The twins dropped Malfoy like a sack of potatoes. "I can't wait that long!" they said in unison as they drew out their wands.

"HEY!"

Fred and George jumped at Angelina's yell and looked at her in shock.

"It doesn't take two of you to do it," she said as she rolled her eyes. "Ennervate!"

Malfoy groaned as he regained consciousness, and his eyes widened at the sight of two very angry Weasley twins.

"Hello."

Fred and George were ready to murder, but Harry stepped in front of Malfoy. "I'll tell you this--if it weren't for Malfoy, your sister would be an incubator for the Dark Lord's spawn by now!"

That comment stopped them in their tracks, and Angelina rushed to where Ginny was. The younger girl was only in her underwear, and Angelina took off her robe to wrap around her.

"Ginny? Can you hear me?"

She shivered and curled into a ball. Brown eyes fringed with red lashes peered at Angelina.

"Draco?"

At the sound of his name, he crawled to where Ginny laid, picking up her head to cradle it in his lap.

"I'm here, love . . . everything's fine . . "

"You knew . . . you knew the entire time--"

"Shhh, Ginger, let's not talk about it."

"You saved me," she breathed.

"Yeah, and sentenced myself to death in the process," he said wryly.

Ginny frowned. "Your father--"

"Will kill me upon sight. But better me than you, love. Besides, Osiris died twice . . ."

"You're not going to die, Malfoy, not if we can help it," Harry said determinedly.

The three older teens looked at each other in confusion. Since when did Harry Potter defend Draco Malfoy?

Harry saw their expressions, and he grinned. "Best we wait until Dumbledore gets here to explain what's happ--"

"DADDY!"

Harry tensed and turned worried eyes to Angelina. "Where is she?"

Angelina's mouth moved without her realizing it. "Upstairs."

Harry dashed to the second floor, leaving a flustered room in his wake. Angelina looked to Ginny, who was sitting up yet reclining against Draco.

Ginny had a very Malfoy-like smirk on her face. "He loves her," she said simply.

Draco lifted an eyebrow and looked at Angelina. "Sickening, isn't it?"

Harry padded down the stairs softly as not to awaken the rest of the house. He and Hermione would be going to their respective homes in the morning, for it was too late to leave after Dumbledore debriefed the Order members. He'd been too tired to eat at the time, which was why he was now in the kitchen preparing a midnight snack. He pulled the jam out the refrigerator and the peanut butter from the pantry, taking the items and placing them on a paper towel on the counter in front of the bread rack. Mrs. Weasley demanded, if anything, an orderly kitchen, and since her massive spring-cleaning last summer, Harry was pleased to see the Order retained it at such. He unscrewed the tops of the peanut butter and the jam and began to prepare his sandwich. His movements were mechanical as his mind drifted to the chaos they left mere hours before.

The Aurors and Order members raided the Shrieking Shack with wands blazing. Pandemonium ensued, but he'd never been more grateful that he listened to Snape's advice earlier that morning: "Don't take off the invisibility cloak." It was the most bizarre comment he'd ever heard Snape utter, if not the most prescient. His scar had seared him awake that morning, but he refused to go looking for Voldemort. Upon Snape's comment, Harry realized he'd have to stop whatever trouble Voldemort was trying to start. He'd muttered something to Ron and Hermione about getting something from his trunk, and they'd boarded the train ahead of him. Harry unlocked his trunk and pulled it out before the porter put the trunk with the rest of the students' luggage. He'd stared at it, with Snape's words ringing inside his head, and Harry realized it was a warning and a clue some Dark activity would be happening that day. He took a mental tally of people at the station, and he noticed two distinct absences--Ginny Weasley and Draco Malfoy. His heart froze, but his feet began to move away from the train station. He wrapped the cloak around him and couldn't help the feeling of déjà vu as his feet led him to the Shrieking Shack: the scene of Ginny's nightmare and of Nia's conception.

Harry's grip tightened around the knife, and he spread the peanut butter harder than necessary as he remembered the scene as he walked inside. Everything was just as Ginny described it--right down to the mirror hanging above the gurney. Ginny was still dressed, but she thrashed and kicked as the Death Eaters began to disrobe her. She was finally in her underwear, yet subdued as Draco approached her. He was the only one, save Peter Pettigrew and Voldemort, who was not wearing a Death Eater's mask. Harry didn't think he could find Snape even if he wanted to, but his eyes kept drifting to a Death Eater a little to the left of Ginny. Harry tuned out Voldemort's crock of purifying the wizarding world--the spiel was getting a bit old--and he prepared to make his move. However, that particular Death Eater made a subtle movement with his hand, and Harry remained where he was. It was then he knew it was Snape, but Harry was worried. If Snape knew where he was despite the Invisibility Cloak, what was stopping someone else from knowing? But Harry didn't have time to mull over that point, for after Snape had made the hand movement, the Shack was overrun with Aurors and Order members. Harry had managed to stay out of the melee, but all fighting ceased when Dumbledore appeared, cool, calm, collected, and confident.

It was enough to drive Voldemort mad.

As he spread the jam on the other slice of bread, Harry couldn't stop the smirk from forming on his face at the memory of the headmaster. Dumbledore was fantastic, speaking in that cheery voice he knew made Voldemort crazy as he exposed secret after secret . .

Dumbledore revealed Draco's new role as the reincarnated Osiris.

Pettigrew screeched, Voldemort hissed, and Malfoy Senior threw off his mask in indignation.

Not that it mattered; what Fate wanted Fate got.

Snape inclined his head quickly, and Harry knew it was time to go into action. He walked quickly, but suddenly Snape pointed his wand and muttered, "Acclaro."

Harry knew his cloak shimmered, alerting the room to his presence. To make matters worse, he tripped.

All hell broke loose then.

Curses flew again, and an angry exclamation of "DRACO!" could be heard above all the yelling. Harry covered himself more firmly before he flung himself onto the gurney, allowing the cloak to cover all three of them. Harry saw a flash of orange light from the corner of his eye just as he felt a tugging sensation at his navel.

The next thing he knew, he was in the Order's Headquarters.

He spent some time with Nia, especially after hearing her scream, but according to Hermione and Mr. Johnson she wasn't really conscious of what was going on around her. Dumbledore came in the room a few moments later and assured him she would be fine. Then it was hour after hour of debriefing and explanations. Finally, Mrs. Weasley shooed them all upstairs to bed, Harry turning away food because his stomach was so unsettled.

That had been a mistake.

Harry sighed and looked down at his sandwich. His stomach growled in frustration. He'd been so consumed by his thoughts he'd torn the bread from his rough handling with the knife.

"Dammit!" he exclaimed.

"Ooh . . . potty mouth . . ."

Harry smirked and turned towards the owner of the voice. Nia grinned at him and tightened her housecoat at her waist. Her hair was in two pigtails, and she looked extremely cute. He smiled at her.

"Isn't it past your bedtime?" he teased.

Nia rolled her eyes and walked up to him. She glared at the "sandwich" then chuckled. "Never let it be said the Boy-Who-Lived was also the Boy-Who-Cooked."

"This isn't cooking, Nia."

She snorted. "I know. Imagine what crap you could concoct if you did!"

"This isn't crap, Nia."

"Huh."

He raised an eyebrow at the challenge. "Let's see you do better, then."

She snorted again. "Be prepared to have the best danged PB&J you've ever had in your life."

She bumped him to the side with her hips and prepared four slices of bread. He watched her make the sandwiches and felt oddly content, domestic even. She took her forefinger and thumb and slid it up the knife's blade, catching the excess peanut butter on her fingers and licking it off.

"I want some," he said.

"Hold your horses, now, I'm not done yet!" Nia spread the peanut butter on the last slice of bread and repeated the knife cleaning ritual again. Before she could stick her fingers in her mouth, Harry grabbed them.

"Boy! What are you--"

Harry grinned around her fingers as he licked the peanut butter off them. Nia's eyes widened in shock.

"You have got some nerve doing that," she said dazedly.

"I told you I wanted some peanut butter."

"All you had to do was get a spoon or wait until I'd finished," she said, her voice still monotonous.

"But then I would not have got that lovely shocked expression on your face."

She narrowed her eyes but didn't yank her hand away. "Could you give me my hand back, please? I would yank it out, but I don't want to get bitten."

"I'm not a vampire."

"Teeth still hurt, regardless."

He reluctantly let go of her hand, and she washed it in the sink.

"Since you were so eager, you can put your slices together and have your flippin' sandwich. I'm taking mine upstairs."

"I wouldn't advise that. Mrs. Weasley would not be happy if you ate upstairs."

Nia hesitated for a moment before conceding his point. Mrs. Weasley was a kind woman, but she was also a force to reckon with.

"Now I know where Ginny got her gumption."

He smiled at her. "And I know where you got yours . . ."

She humphed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Professor Roberts ring any bells?"

Nia rolled her eyes and sat at the kitchen table. Harry sat beside her and they ate their sandwiches in silence. Suddenly Nia groaned and rolled her eyes. Harry sent her an inquiring look, and she sighed, standing and walking to the cabinets. She was too short to reach, and she had to prop herself to reach the handles. Harry watched with amusement as she jumped twice with no success. Nia threw her hands up in defeat and went to the door she could reach--the refrigerator. She pulled out the milk and placed it on the countertop, then once again tried to reach the cabinets. Harry finally decided to put an end to her suffering and went behind her, reaching above her to open the cupboard and pull out two glasses. He felt her tremble against him, and he put down the glasses before placing his hands on her shoulders. He rubbed them as she held the carton of milk with an unsteady hand and poured it into the glasses. She drank from one as she turned and offered him the other. He took a long swig as well, and they stood there, her back against the countertop and his front very close to hers.

She appeared so small and innocent, and all he wanted to do was hold her and protect her. He grinned and tugged a pigtail.

"Problem?" she asked.

"Cute."

She scowled. "Cute is for puppies."

"Adorable, then."

"Babies."

"You are the youngest person in the house right now."

"Shut it."

"Okay." He leaned his body into hers as he closed the cupboard door. His eyes never left hers during the task, and she appeared dazed again.

"I shut the door, Nia."

"Why are you doing this?" she blurted.

"Doing what?"

Nia closed her eyes and shook her head. "It's clearly passed my bedtime, and the lack of food before I just ate has caused me to hallucinate--"

"That rhymed!" he said obnoxiously.

Nia gave him an incredulous look. "And which one of us is about to be a seventh year?"

Harry grew serious. "You know you could, especially after the special training."

"We're not done with it."

Harry just shook his head. "While you were sleeping, Malfoy told us everything--from the dress to the earrings and the extra training you gave Malfoy. Even Hermione was impressed, and she's the smartest witch Hogwarts has seen in a century. So don't tell me you're not talented enough, or smart enough, because you are. I believe you saved all our lives tonight."

Nia shook her head and looked at her hands. "No, I didn't. That was all Malfoy. I only helped."

Harry set their glasses on the countertop and grasped her hands. He linked their fingers together, tugging them to get her to look in his eyes. "I mean it, love."

She began to shake. "I was so scared for y'all . . ."

Harry pulled her into a firm embrace and felt her tears burn his thin night shirt. "But we're okay now . . ."

"No thanks to me! I should've been there to help! What was the point of me trainin' with y'all if I can't even fight with y'all!"

"It was too dangerous--"

"So the FREAK what!" she said in a heated whisper as she shoved him away from her. Nia turned her back to him, but he knew she still cried. "Y'all could've died. Daddy almost did when Kinglsey cursed him! And Draco . . . he can never go home again. And what of his mother? Someone needs to get her out of there, for Malfoy will take it out on her. That would positively kill Draco if that happened!"

"Shhh," Harry said and got behind her. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and she tensed before settling into his embrace. "I'm sure Dumbledore has a plan for that . . "

Nia snorted. "I love the man, but it seems his plans get people more in trouble than out of it."

Harry chuckled and rested his cheek atop her head. "Don't I know it . . . but I'd rather he plan for me than against me. Dumbledore is scary."

"Harry Potter scared of an old man," she teased.

Harry moved one of his hands to tickle her sides. She jumped and squealed, grasping his offending hand. "Don't do that!"

"I'm not doing anything!"

She huffed and pushed her backside into him. "Get off. I'm tired." Harry complied with her request and gave her space, but as soon as she turned around, he trapped her to the counter, an arm on either side of her body.

"You saw it, didn't you?"

Nia refused to meet his eyes. "Saw what?"

"The raid. There's no possible way you could've known Kingsley cursed Snape because we didn't know until after Dumbledore told us, and then you were still unconscious."

"So . . ."

Harry lifted an eyebrow. "You saw the battle at the Department of Mysteries, too, didn't you?"

She looked at a button on his nightshirt. "Maybe . . ."

"I'm even willing to bet you brought Sirius back from behind the veil."

Nia shrugged. "I actually don't know about that. I didn't even know he'd died until Ginny told me."

"You're a target," Harry determined.

Nia rolled her eyes. "Ya think? Every one of us is a target now."

Harry shook her head. "No . . . I think they really want you. They want you the most--more than even me."

Nia gave him a sad look. "Disappointed?"

He grinned. "I was getting kind of used to being Voldemort's favorite person to screw over."

"He has three new options, now. And he knows who you are."

"Yes, but he doesn't know who you are. And I think the Order wants to keep it that way."

Her golden eyes flashed angrily. "So I'm just to sit on my hands and kick my feet until one of y'all is brought home in a body bag? I don't think so!"

"It won't come to that--"

"And how do you know that? It almost came to that tonight! What if it wasn't Snape who cast the curse on Draco? What if it was his father? Or worse, Pettigrew! That would crush me and probably kill Ginny!"

"But it didn't happen--"

"And you! You almost got caught! Don't you know I couldn't bear it if--"

She immediately stopped talking and gasped, her eyes growing wide. Harry smiled softly at her and cradled her face in his hands. He kissed her forehead softly and let his lips linger there.

"The feeling is mutual, love," he whispered against her skin.

Nia closed her eyes, and tears streamed down her cheeks. "Why?"

He shook his head, though he knew she couldn't see him, and used his thumbs to wipe her tears away. "I don't know. But I told you Fate was trying to tell us something."

Her hands gripped his wrists, and he felt the tremors from her. "Ever figure it out?"

Harry gave a half smile. "I think I got the message."

She smirked. "Care to share?"

His expression grew sad, and she frowned. "Something tells me you're not ready to hear it."

She glared at him and dropped her hands. "What is it with people not telling me anything!?" she said in an intense voice just above a whisper. "What in God's name is so important that I can't know about it?"

He dropped his own hands and took a swig from his milk. "I've told you all I can."

"Bullcrap!"

"That may be, but I still won't tell you. You're too young."

"Apparently not young enough to keep Pettigrew and his dunderheaded crew from trying to find me!"

Harry's face hardened. "I know . . . sick bastards."

Nia's face took a pleading expression as she grabbed his free hand and shook it. "Why won't you just tell me what you know? Maybe if I knew, I could better protect myself, but this feeling of helplessness ain't doin' me no good!"

He looked at her but didn't respond. He was afraid to tell her everything. Every time he'd put his heart on the line for a girl, she'd always rejected him. He didn't think he could take it from Nia. No . . for him, third time was definitely the charm, and Nia was it. He instinctively knew there would be no other girl for him . . . and oddly enough, Nia was still just a girl. Granted, Hermione had captured the interest of an eighteen-year-old Quidditch player when she was fourteen--even went out with him a few times--but that didn't go anywhere.

He mentally scoffed at himself. He was just five weeks shy of his seventeenth birthday, and while that made him a legal wizard, he was already thinking of The One. To be fair, Draco, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione were all worse off than he was, but at least they were of comparable ages.

The girl he loved was a good three years younger than he.

Whoa . . . back that broomstick up!

"What's wrong with you?"

Harry jerked and focused his eyes on her. A hand was in front of his face, and he realized she'd been trying to get his attention.

"You all right?"

"Peachy."

"More like peaking. You, like I, need to go to bed as well."

"It's not good to go to bed on a full stomach, according to Professor Roberts."

"My grandmother may know a lot, but she doesn't know everything. I'm going to bed."

"Wait."

His hand grabbed her upper arm to stay her. Nia looked at him curiously. "What now?"

"When will you be back?"

Her confusion deepened. "Back from what?"

"The States."

Her eyes widened in comprehension. "Oh! I'm not going. I'm staying with Angelina."

"Why?"

Nia shrugged. "Dunno . . . what's stranger is Grandma's staying at Hogwarts as well. I think they're trying to keep me from something . . . as usual."

"We're just trying to keep you safe, Nia."

"I am not a china doll!"

His thumb stroked her cheek. "But you're just as precious . . even more so . . ."

She blinked a bit before finding her voice. "Harry--"

"Have I fixed it yet?"

Harry could tell she was taken aback by the change in topic. "Fixed what?"

"Your wounds . . . have I healed them yet?"

She looked at him for a long time and sighed. "I guess . . "

He frowned. "That doesn't sound very convincing."

"I suppose because it really doesn't make a difference if you did or not."

"Why?"

She sighed. "I have a distinct feeling I'm very wrong, and to be told that to my face would make me hurt more than I ever had in my life. So you want to know if you fixed it? Let's just say you put a band-aid on it."

"Nia--"

She laughed bitterly and backed away from him. "No, Harry Potter," she said as she made her way to the stairs. "I'd rather not feel the meaning of the word 'crush' right now."

"I know you have a crush on me," he said quietly.

Nia blinked rapidly and looked at the ceiling. He saw a sheen of moisture at her eyes. "I know you know. But what good does that do me?"

He looked at her with sad eyes. "You're too young . . ."

"For what, Harry? Just exactly what am I too young for?"

His mouth moved before he had a chance to stop it. "My love."

They stared at each other in silence, both wearing expressions of shock on their faces.

"Are you two planning to stand there all night?"

They jumped at the sound of the new voice. Nia cast a stunned glance to the other person before bolting upstairs.

"What did you do to her?"

Harry groaned in frustration. "I all but told her I loved her . . ."

Ginny smiled and patted him on the back. "Congratulations, Harry Potter, you've practically ensured your victory over Voldemort."

Oh! Sadness! The second part is now over! But not the story! The third part should be up as soon as I finish writing it! Lol, but really, thanks to all the readers--your words and thoughts are most helpful, and even brighten my day. Thanks to Lib, who is the best dayum beta a gal could ever want--we grow together babe! I hope y'all stick with me as the trio and Draco go through their final year at Hogwarts, and who knows what kind of ball Fate will throw at them? Until lata, y'all!~~bana05