Growing up too fast

Harry walked past Hagrid's hut towards the entrance to the forest. It was already dark out and he found R.J. just a little bit down the trail.

"Hi R.J.," Harry said.

"Hello Harry. I wondered if you would really come by yourself or not."

"Why wouldn't I? I'm ready for some training."

"It still surprises me that you would be friendly to a vampire, that's all. Oh, I brought you this so we could train." She handed him a carved wooden sword. The handle detail was amazing and it looked very old. "It's so you can get the feel of a sword without hurting yourself, or me."

"This is beautiful. You'll be using one too won't you? Can I ask you a favor?"

"Yes, I'll be using a wooden sword also, unless you think you're good enough already for me to use my real one. And yes, you can ask a favor."

"I told my friends Ron and Hermione about meeting you. Hermione, um... didn't think it was a good idea and seemed worried about me. Ron just thought I was mental. Would you mind meeting them tomorrow night?"

"I'm surprised they didn't tie you up to keep you from coming down. In general I'd say they had the right attitudes. I wouldn't suggest you go meeting vampires either. I'll meet them if you want, but you know I can only be out after dark and you're the only one with the detention. How will they get down here after curfew?"

"Oh, that's no problem, we sneak out to see Hagrid all the time. They can come down to meet you tomorrow and then sneak back into the castle after a few minutes."

"Let's get started on some basic training." She showed him how to hold the sword and some basic blocking movements, all going very slow. It was very precise movements; much different than the way Harry practiced anything.

They talked and practiced for quite some time and then Harry asked, "What would you really do if I tried attacking you with the sword? I mean in full speed."

"Good question. Try to attack me. Don't hold back, even if you hit me it wouldn't be too bad. Whenever you're ready."

Harry didn't want to hurt her but knew she was more than capable so he quickly tried to swing the sword at her body. Before he knew it, she brought her sword down on his, twisted it and knocked it out of his hands. Then in an instant her sword was resting against his neck. All of this in the blink of an eye. His eyes were wide open and all he could say was, "WOW! That was amazing. I can't believe how fast you moved."

"Some of that is skill, but remember vampires can move quicker than normal people. But I have been doing this for over a hundred years remember. I better let you get back to the castle."

Harry picked up the sword and handed it back to her. "Ok, I'll see you tomorrow and thanks this has been great." He ran back up to the school and went to bed.

When they were all heading down to breakfast, Hermione said, "I see you're in a good mood again this morning."

"Yeah, we trained with swords! She's amazing, knocked my sword out of my hands and had hers against my neck in a flash."

"She had a sword against your neck and you're happy about that!?" Ron gasped.

"They were wood swords so I wouldn't get hurt. Oh yeah, how would you two like to meet her tonight?"

"All right! I've never met a vampire before so since you know one that won't kill me this is my best chance," Ron said excitedly.

"Ron, that's after curfew. We can't leave the castle. Since you're spending time with her, I would really like to meet her though," Hermione said sadly

"C'mon Hermione. You'd just be doing it to make sure that I'm being safe, so really you would be doing it for me. You two can use my cloak. You won't get caught. Think how many times we've sneaked down to Hagrid's?" Harry pleaded with is friend.

"That was before I was a prefect. I guess since it is for a really good reason I wouldn't get in too much trouble. Ok, we'll walk down with you but we won't stay long."

"Great, thanks Hermione. I know you'll like her," Harry said.

During one of the lunch breaks they saw a group of people around one of the notice boards. "What's going on?" Ron asked.

"They're having a costume ball on Halloween. Everyone has to dress up?" Dean answered.

"Oh great, another ball," Ron signed.

"Oooh, this would be fun. Everyone will be dressed up in costumes," Hermione said expectantly.

Harry hated these things. He felt scared to ask anyone out and always put it off until it was too late. This ruined his whole day. They went on to class and most students were excited about the ball and talking about what they were going to dress up as and whom they were going to take. Harry and Ron were at a table together when Harry whispered, "Ron, you better ask Hermione early this time. Remember last year."

"But what if she laughs at me Harry? I don't even know what I would dress up as."

"You know that she's going to go to this thing with or without. Wouldn't you rather it was you she was with?"

"Ok, I'll try to do it tonight. I'd rather have double-potions than to do this though. What about you, who are you going to ask? Think Cho would want to go with you?"

Harry hadn't given it much thought really. He thought about Ginny, but she had seemed to be avoiding him lately. He didn't want to make things weird between them if she didn't feel that way about him. He could always break another rule and get detention so he didn't have to go.

They spent the rest of their free time talking about vampires mainly. Ron kept talking about them drinking blood. Harry couldn't see R.J. like this at all even though he knew that Ron and Hermione were right about most vampires.

Hermione had taken Harry's cloak down to supper and when they were in a quite corner of the hall with no one around, Ron and Hermione got under the cloak and followed Harry out. "Now don't take the cloak off until we get to her. I don't want anyone seeing you and coming down to investigate," Harry said.

They walked past Hagrid's hut when Ron said, "You don't think Aragog wants to meet us also do you?"

R.J. was standing right inside the path and said, "Did you friends decide it was too much of a risk to meet a vampire?" She sounded disappointed.

"Of course not, they're right here," Harry said while Hermione removed the cloak.

"Oh, you didn't tell me you had an invisibility cloak. You are full of surprises. I'm R.J. it's nice to meet you both, Harry has told me so much about you."

"H.h.hi. Harry's told us about you to," Ron put out his hand to shake hers and then kind of pulled it back when she grabbed it. "Your hand is cold!"

"Well, I am a vampire Ron, what did you expect. I originally asked Harry what they taught you in school about vampires. I guess my original thoughts were right," R.J. joked "Any you must be Hermione. Harry says you are the smartest witch he's ever known. It's a pleasure to meet you," she said extending her hand.

Hermione stepped forward confidently and shook her hand. "He told us quite a bit about you as well. He left out the fact that you're so young and pretty though," she said giving Harry a dirty look.

"Thanks for the compliment, but I am over 150 years old. Harry has told me about some of your adventures the past few years. It's a good thing you three are such good friends, it sounds like you work well together."

"So, you're were teaching him some sword fighting. Can I see the swords you were using?" Hermione asked coldly.

"Sure thing," R.J. said. Instead of grabbing the wooden sword, she pulled her real one from the sheath on her back. "Here's one of them."

Ron jumped back but Hermione held her ground.

"She's kidding Hermione. C'mon R.J. show her the wood ones," Harry added quickly.

"I'm sure Hermione knew I wasn't serious. She's smart enough to know realize that if I wanted to hurt you it would have happened already. She probably knows that I'm in your debt anyway since you spared my life when we met." R.J. picked up one of the wood ones and showed it to Hermione.

"I don't know what you're talking about. How did Harry spare your life?" Hermione asked honestly.

"Didn't Harry tell you about how we met?" R.J. asked.

"Obviously not the whole story. He's been keeping quite a few things from us this year," Hermione said with annoyance in her voice.

"He and Hagrid came across me the other night and Harry here yells that I'm a vampire and for Hagrid to keep back. He said that he could handle me. I was impressed that a schoolboy was telling a half-giant to get back but I also thought he was being arrogant since I didn't think a school-aged wizard could do anything to harm me but Harry had the situation under control. He had summoned a sharp stick and it was hovering right behind me. If I had done anything threatening, he could have run the stick right through my heart. I was really amazed that he didn't just go ahead and do it and that he was willing to be friendly to me. That's very rare as I'm sure you know Hermione."

Hermione and Ron were both starting at Harry shaking their heads. "You didn't think that story would interest us?" Hermione said looking annoyed at Harry. "We should get back to the castle Ron. Since I'm a prefect if I get caught I'll get into big trouble. It was nice to meet you R.J.; you know that we just worry about Harry," Hermione added.

"Of course, I wouldn't expect anything less of his friends. Bye."

"Bye R.J.," Ron added while disappearing under the cloak.

"You have very good friends Harry. You shouldn't keep things from them. They've chosen to be your friend and deserve to know things," R.J. said to him.

"I know. It just gets old having these weird things always happening to me. I'd rather be talking to them about getting perfect scores in school or something normal. Are you ready for some training?"

"Yes, I'm ready." They spent the remaining time talking and working with the wooden sword. This wasn't something Harry was a natural at and it didn't come easy. He really wanted to impress R.J. but felt he was barely doing anything right.

"R.J. if you don't have anything to do on Halloween, would you be interested in going to a costume ball at the school with me? If you don't want to, I understand and still want to come down at night, it's just nice talking to you."

R.J. looked at him for a minute and said, "How do you think the other students would take a vampire coming to their ball? I'm not sure their parents would like that idea."

"I've got that figured out. We could both be vampires! I asked Madame Pomfrey if there was any way to give me the same complexion that you have and she said there is a potion I could take that would last about twelve hours. Then only the teachers who know you, Ron and Hermione would know. They wouldn't say anything."

"You seem to have put some thought into this. I'd like to come with you, but I should ask Professor Dumbledore if he approves; but I expect that he will. I haven't been around a large group of people in some time. It should be fun."

Harry was as happy as he could remember while going back to the castle. It felt so nice talking to R.J. She didn't play games or hide her thoughts so Harry wasn't confused about what she was really thinking.

Things fell into a routine of classes, spell practice and then self-defense training for the rest of the week. Saturday they had Quidditch practice. Ron got everyone up for practice on time. He had a couple of ideas for new offensive plays that he mentioned. Everyone seemed impressed with the thought he had put into the plays. It was one of their best practices ever. Ginny was an amazing chaser and Ron was nearly as good as Oliver wood had been. Everyone was very excited about their first match against Hufflepuff who hadn't changed their lineup much.

After practice Hermione came over and joined Ron, Ginny and Harry. "You guys played really well. Maybe we'll get the cup again this year," she said.

"Yeah, Ron didn't let anything get by and Ginny is the best chaser I've ever seen," Harry said excitedly.

Ginny blushed obviously and said, "I thought the whole team played great and you caught the snitch as quick as ever. I'm really excited about playing."

"We should have the cup locked up if we don't have any injuries," Ron added

While they were heading back to the castle they saw Cho Chang walking towards them. "Harry, can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked.

"I haven't seen you around much so far this year," she said

"Oh, we'll I've kind of had detention most of the time. I stayed out a bit too late."

"Out in the forest from what I've heard. Are you going to the Halloween ball?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm going to go, what about you?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to go with me, it would be nice to spend more time with you," she said quite confidently.

"I'm sorry Cho but I'm already going with someone else." He noticed her looking sad and added. "Our timing has just been off for these things. Thanks for asking though."

"I thought I would be early enough but I guess not. Maybe next time things will work out for us. Who are you taking?"

"Oh, I don't think you know her," Harry said while they walked back to the group.

When they caught up to Ron, Hermione and Ginny, Cho headed back to her group not looking upset with Harry.

"So, what was that about?" Ron asked.

"She asked me to the ball," Harry said.

"So, you're going to go with Cho then?" Ginny said flatly.

"I told her no. She's not the person I want to go with. She seemed to understand," Harry said. Ginny seemed surprised by this answer.

"You turned down Cho Chang! You are totally mental, you know that? You'll end up with Parvati again," Ron joked

"And, have you taken care of asking someone Ron?" Harry said loudly.

"Why yes he has. He asked me the other night when we were under the cloak walking back to the castle," Hermione said proudly.

"What were you two using Harry's cloak for?" Ginny asked sounding surprised.

"We... uh... we... were..." Ron stammered.

"We visited Harry during his detention," Hermione said honestly. Ginny looked like she didn't quite believe her though.

"I'm glad you asked her Ron. I wasn't going to ask Padma for you this year," Harry joked.

"I know, I know. I can't believe I got up the nerve to ask. She was nice though and didn't make me suffer too long."

"After the Quidditch match next weekend do you all want to go to Hogsmeade?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, we haven't been there as a group this year," Harry added. "I hope we win or it won't be a good trip. Want to come with Ginny?"

She looked excited and said, "Yeah, that would be great."

During a break in his workout with R.J. Harry said, "I wish you could come and watch the Quidditch match, Gryffindor has a really good team this year. I wonder if they could play a match at night?"

"I tell you what Harry. If your team is playing for the final cup, I'll come and watch you play. There are a couple precautions I can take that will make it tolerable for me to be out in the daylight for a short time."

"Really? That would be great. Ok, that's even more reason to win the cup. I've been getting some help on my costume for the ball. I probably won't pass for a real vampire, but it should be ok."

"I've sent for some special clothes I have had for a long time. Vampires don't wear things like that now, but it does fit most Muggle's view of what we look like."

"Where is your real home R.J? I mean when you're not doing security for the school."

"In southwest England Harry. Vampires can't travel by floo powder so it takes a full day to get there. I don't go back very often."

"I think of Hogwarts as more my real home than where I go during the summer. I live with Muggles who had me locked in a cupboard under the stairs until I was twelve. I wish that I never had to go back there. If they ever catch Wormtail, Sirius can be found innocent and then I could live with him. You know I asked Remus and Sirius not to kill Wormtail a couple of years ago and then he escaped. If only I had let them kill him, he wouldn't have helped Voldemort catch me and use my blood to regain his form and Sirius wouldn't be on the run. Professor Dumbledore thinks I made the right choice but I'm not sure."

"I can't say that I would have made the same choice in your place Harry. But if there's one thing I believe in it's that Dumbledore knows a great deal more than he lets on. If he thinks you made the right choice, I would believe him. You should head back up to school and get your rest for tomorrow's match."

Ron was very nervous all morning. He didn't eat anything and for Ron, this was very unusual. "Ok, now do you all remember the plays? We should be able to take them."

"Ron, enough already, we know what to do," Ginny yelled.

"Yeah you git, it's not like this is the first match for most of us. It's you two rookies that we're worried about," George said laughing.

"You two better not choke out there," Fred added.

They entered the pitch and Harry felt very comfortable. Whenever he was on his broom, he felt relaxed and free. Ron looked nervous but Ginny didn't show it if she was. Everyone was in position and Madame Hooch let out the snitch and threw the quaffle into the air to start the match.

Harry flew high at one end of the field looking for the snitch. He had a good vantage point to see how the rest of the team was playing. They were really very good. Fred and George were doing an outstanding job of keeping the bludgers away from the team and Ginny scored twice very quickly. Ron hadn't had to stop any shots yet. Harry thought of something that had happened during dueling practice when he was blinded. He had been able to smell and hear things so much better than he ever had before. He wondered if he really concentrated on seeing like he could in his griffin form if it would help. He concentrated really hard on how his sight was when he was a griffin and it started happening. Everything came into much clearer focus and he could see the movements so much better. It was almost like things had slowed down. He made out expressions on the player's faces and could see where their eyes were looking. He easily saw a bludger head toward him and had plenty of time to get out of the way.

Finally he saw the snitch at the far end of the field, behind the goal near the ground. He could have never seen it normally. He took off in that direction but stayed high in the air knowing the Hufflepuff seeker would try to match him. He was sure no one else had seen the snitch so he stayed high up until he got to the other side of the goal post and then dove straight toward the ground, picking up speed. The other seeker pulled out without getting close to the ground but Harry continued on. He could hear the gasps from the crowd but he knew what to do. He pulled out of the dive with his toes scraping the ground and was able to grab the snitch before it moved much at all. Gryffindor won!

The roar of the crowd was great. Harry never wanted feelings like this to end. Ron was the first over to him. "How did you see that down there? I was right above it and never noticed it. I can't believe we won my first match. I didn't have to block a single shot!"

When the rest of the team was around, Harry said, "Ginny, that was great flying. You could have gotten us enough points that catching the snitch wasn't important." Everyone else agreed and she blushed.

After cleaning up, the four of them went into Hogsmeade. While stocking up on candy at Honeydukes, Harry added a couple of the blood-flavored lollipops to his order. "What are you doing with those?" Ginny asked looking horrified.

"Ahh..." Harry fumbled but then Ron stepped in "They're a gift for a friend."

Harry looked at Ron horrified. He hadn't wanted Ginny to know about R.J. yet.

"You boys. Is playing jokes all you think about?" Ginny scolded and walked out.

"It was the truth," Ron added with a smile. "They never expect us to tell the truth."

The group went to the Three Broomsticks and found a table. Ginny wasn't saying much so Harry asked, "Ginny, are your other friends ok with you spending so much time with us?"

Before she could answer Fred and George came over. "Harry. Heard Cho asked you to the ball and you turned her down, said you were taking someone else. So, who is worth turning Cho down for?"

Ron, Hermione and Ginny just stared at Harry. He hadn't told them about inviting R.J. "I'll be taking a friend, that's all. Cho understood."

"Ok, so who's this friend? Hagrid? We won't make fun of you too much you know," Fred said.

"You'll see. I don't want you two to scare her off," Harry responded, hoping they would let it drop. "And who have you decided to take?"

"I'm taking Angelina," Fred said quickly.

"And I'm taking Parvati. I promised I'd show her a better time than you did at last year's ball," George added with a laugh. They both walked away still laughing.

"So Harry, who is this friend you're taking?" Hermione asked with a smirk.

"I think it should be a surprise," Harry said finally. Ginny was giving him a very strange look. "We should be getting back to the castle," he added and they got up and left.

Before getting out the door, Hermione pulled him back a little and asked, "Did you ask Ginny to go?"

"What? No, I'm not asking Ginny. She had been acting like she doesn't want to be around me so I didn't ask her," Harry said sounding annoyed.

"Harry, that's just how girls are. She didn't want to hang around all the time so you wouldn't just see her as a friend."

"That didn't stop Ron from asking you. You're around all the time and he asked you. That's the way it should be," Harry responded.

"It took him long enough though. He probably wouldn't have if I hadn't gone to the dance last year with Viktor. And, I imagine you helped push him this year. I think Ginny is going to be upset that you didn't ask her though."

"You know with everything else going on, I really don't feel like dealing with games with my friends. I wish she would just be straight forward and honest," Harry said.

"So, you asked R.J. didn't you?" Hermione asked.

This surprised Harry. "Yeah, how did you know? Don't tell anyone please."

"You just seem to really like her and you bought her the candy. You just like her as a friend, right?"

"Of course just a friend. She's easy to talk to and very smart. She doesn't play games and says whatever she wants. It's nice being around her. Besides, she's over 150 years old; I'm a bit young for her," he joked as they caught up with Ron and Ginny.

Later that day when Harry came down to meet R.J. he gave her the suckers, which she seemed to appreciate. He said, "We spent the afternoon in Hogsmeade and I wanted to get you something."

"I envy you having close friends and being able to do things like that with. I think we'll start on a little hand-to-hand self-defense today."

She showed him some moves aimed at getting someone off balance or making them miss if they attacked. This wasn't as hard as the sword fighting they had been doing so Harry liked it better. He also liked being closer to R.J.

The next few days passed quickly. Since Snape hadn't been singling him out and since Draco had been keeping his distance, most classes were enjoyable. He looked forward to training with R.J. in the evenings. The only bad thing was the way Ginny was acting towards him. She wouldn't even come close. If she saw him coming down the corridor, she would turn and walk the other way. Hermione must have mentioned that he had already asked someone else.

When Harry got down for his training, he saw that R.J. didn't look like she was ready to get started so he asked, "Is something wrong R.J.? You don't look ready to start."

She looked at him for a minute and said, "I have an idea. Since this is the last official night of your detention, let's go to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer. We could still be back at a reasonable time."

Harry had completely forgotten about this being the last night he could come down and work with R.J. This made him quite unhappy. While they were walking through the forest Harry said, "I forgot this was the last night. Maybe I'll be able to sneak down once a week or so. I really like talking with you."

R.J. smiled and said, "I'm not sure sneaking out of the castle is a good idea. Maybe we can figure something else out. I'd miss our talks and training also. It has been really nice being around people."

It took a while to get to the Three Broomsticks and when they walked in most of the other people stopped talking and started at R.J. as she came by. She just confidently walked to a table towards the back and sat down. "See how they act when they see a vampire? And, most of them know I'm here helping to protect the school so they are being extra nice. The crowd that is in here late at night are not the most respectable group to begin with."

Just then Madame Rosmerta came over. "Can I get you anything R.J.? Ah, hello Harry. You do have quite the assortment of friends don't you?"

"Harry will have a butterbeer and I'll have the usual please," R.J. answered. Once Rosmerta left she whispered to Harry, "I think she would rather I didn't come in but she is always polite when I do."

After the drinks were delivered Harry asked, "So you're still coming to the ball tomorrow aren't you?"

"Of course I am. I can't wait to see what kind of vampire you make," she said smiling.

They sat and talked for a while when R.J. realized it was getting very late. "Harry, we need to be getting back. I'm afraid you will be late by the time we walk through the forest." The couple got up and walked out quickly.

Before they entered the path into the forest Harry stopped and said. "I have a quicker way." R.J. turned and looked at him confused. "Only two professors and one other person know about this but I'd like to show you. I hope you're not afraid of heights."

R.J. shook her head, still looking bewildered. Within a second Harry transformed into the griffin. R.J. had taken a couple steps back quite shocked at this but then stepped back toward him and stroked his fur, which felt great to Harry. He spread the wings on his back and tried to indicate she should get on. After a moment of hesitation, R.J. got on his back and held on tightly with her legs. Harry took a couple of steps and leaped into the air, the powerful wings carrying them easily. He could feel R.J. gripping him tightly, which also felt great. She was saying, "This is amazing." over and over. She was stroking his fur all the way back. He could have flown on like this all night.

Harry decided to land right past Hagrid's hut very close to the forest. He didn't think anyone would be able to see them easily. After landing, R.J. got off of him and he transformed back. R.J. was already asking, "I didn't know you could do that. You're not the same griffin that was in the forest early this year are you?"

"No, that's where I got the idea to be a one though, and I think it helped me become one much quicker than I could normally have. Professor McGonagall was helping me."

"Why haven't you told your friends about this? This is quite an accomplishment from what I hear."

"I don't want them to think there's something else that is weird about me. Also, like you said once the students find out about something, there is no taking it back. I don't want to show them until it is necessary."

"I still think you could show Ron and Hermione, but it's your choice. I'll meet you at Hagrid's hut before the ball tomorrow. He has agreed to let us meet up there. Goodnight, and thanks for the ride, it was truly amazing."

"Anytime. It's better than flying alone!" Harry said while heading back to the castle.