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Disclaimer: I must thank JKR for giving us such a rich world to play in. Other than that I obviously disagree with some of books 6 and 7. I do not however own any of the characters, places, or objects you recognize from the HP universe.




Chapter 64: Messed Up Weekend

Harry and Pansy made their way casually down the streets of Hogsmeade ducking in and out of shops to do Christmas shopping and generally being normal. Of course the looks that every student and a few recent graduates threw their way were anything but normal.

"Do you ever get the feeling you're being watched, and judged?" Pansy asked him quietly.

"You get used to it." He said with a shrug.

The first hour had been extremely uncomfortable for Harry as he escorted the girl into the village and was torn about confronting her about her attraction to him; completely disregarding his own attraction to her of course. After that he had finally begun to relax and act like they were just friends on an outing. It was now approaching one and the streets and shops were packed with students. Harry was beginning to get hungry so suggested they head to the Three Broomsticks for a bite, the girl agreed and they headed toward the pub.

Upon entering Harry escorted her to a small table in the corner facing the door before heading to the bar and ordering to orders of stew and crisps and taking a pair of butterbeers with him back to the table.

"Butterbeer? You really know how to charm a girl don't you?"

He looked at her confused for a moment, "I thought everyone liked Butterbeer? It's better than hot spiced pumpkin juice at any rate."

She shook her head and sipped on her drink while they waited for their lunch. "I like it; I just thought you might go for something a little more classy, like a red wine to go with our stew?"

"Wine? I wouldn't know the first thing about it." He answered truthfully. "Unless you wanted the best cooking Sherry, I tell you what goes best in multiple dishes."

She shook her head, "Totally without class aren't you milord? How ever did you survive the Wizengamot?"

"They didn't serve wine." He said taking another pull of his drink.

When Rosmerta came up to their table levitating their food in front of her Pansy whispered to the woman whose eyes lit up and nodded before disappearing into a back room.

"What was that?"

He was answered when the woman came back to the table with a dusty wine bottle and removed the cork before handing it to Harry who just looked at it funny. "You're supposed to sniff it milord, to make sure that the wine hasn't gone bad."

"Oh." He said and sniffed lightly, he detected only a bit of alcohol and fruit. "Smells alright to me."

Rosmerta nodded and sat the bottle on the table before summoning two long stemmed wine glasses and placing them in front of the couple, she then headed back to the bar to tend to the other patrons.

"Isn't she supposed to pour for us?" He asked.

"You have to let it breath for a bit. It should be alright now." She then picked up the bottle and poured a tiny bit of the rich burgundy liquid in each of their glasses. "Now you pick up your glass and hold it at an angle against the white tablecloth."

He did so though he didn't know what he was looking for, she answered his unspoken question. "This is a Merlot; you're new so we're starting out simple. When you look through the wine at the tablecloth you can see the color more clearly and that can tell you different things about it just as much as the taste, though the clarity or color don't necessarily indicate quality. Next you swirl the glass slightly." She did so and he repeated her actions. "To spread the wine thinner on the glass as well as release a bit of the bouquet, that's the overall aroma."

He leaned in to smell his glass but she stopped him and demonstrated sniffing from a few inches away while swirling. He did as as well and instantly could identify a bit of cherry and plum as well as grape and alcohol. He relayed his findings and she nodded. "Very good milord, you might have potential after all. Now you can place your nose directly into the glass to get the full effect of the bouquet. The different aroma's are called notes, tell me what notes you can detect?"

He did as instructed and took a deep breath. "Plum, Cherry, almost over-ripe grapes..." He took another breath and pulled back analyzing it, his face scrunched up a bit as he tried to match his memory to the notes. "Wood...smoke? Vanilla and Caramel?"

She looked like she wanted to applaud but was able to contain herself. "Very good milord, this wine was aged in oak and picked up a few extra notes in the process. Did you also notice while you were swirling how the wine stuck to the sides of the glass?"

He nodded, "It kind of clung to the sides but not so much that it looked...goopy?"

She actually giggled at his description before catching herself. "That indicates the body of the wine; this one has a medium body which also indicates how much alcohol is in it. The heavier the body, likely the higher the alcohol content."

He nodded and swirled the wine a bit more wondering when he would actually get to taste it. "Now we taste it..." He went to down the glass but she placed her hand on his arm to stop him. "I said taste not guzzle, take just a sip and swirl it over your tongue slowly. See if you can taste the things you just mentioned you could smell, also how it feels in your mouth."

He sighed and took a small sip, he could definitely taste the fruit and a bit of a richer flavor that must have come from the Oak. On his tongue it actually felt almost like hot chocolate that had cooled to room temperature.

"Chocolaty? I know that sounds weird..."

"Actually that is a perfectly acceptable definition. It feels a bit thick and leaves an aftertaste much the way chocolate does. What else?" She asked with excitement.

"Well I could definitely taste the fruit and just a hint of the other things that came from the oak...and the alcohol of course, I feel half drunk just from that sip."

She nodded, "That is called the legs this one has decent legs but not good. Anyone who isn't used to drinking wine might find themselves drunk in a very short time span compared to even firewhisky."

He nodded and looked at the bottle on the table. "Can we get a real drink now? And I'm still starving."

She sighed as the potential was lost to the stomach of a teenage boy. "Yes milord we can drink it properly now that you know how to appreciate what you are drinking." That said she poured them both a full glass before setting the bottle down and taking a bite of her stew.

He did the same and then took a sip of the wine. Rather than overpower the flavor like Butterbeer did it seemed more to compliment it. She noticed his look, "A good wine will make a meal better rather than try to wipe clean the pallet between bites."

They fell into a comfortable silence as they ate and drank their wine. Pansy had been right about the alcohol going straight to his head as well and he was soon feeling a bit giddy, and a bit more bold than usual.

"So Pansy, did you really want to marry me?" He blurted out.

"What?" She hissed at his manners. "How could you ask such a thing?"

He shrugged, "You seemed a bit bummed when you found out I didn't mean it like that...and then you seem jealous of Padma. You know you would have to share, I have a lot of women in my life and I'm not giving any of them up."

She growled at him but answered his question. "An alliance with House Potter would be better sealed with a marriage than a handshake. But I assure you I was not bummed and I am not jealous!"

He smiled lopsidedly, "Are too."

Rather than distinguish that with a reply she continued on to his other question. "As for multiple women in your life; that would not be a problem so long as I was able to produce an heir for both Potter and Parkinson. I am an only child and it would behoove you to name a son as my father's heir in name as well as fortune. That is if we were to get married which I assure you is looking less and less likely."

He shrugged and looked around the bar, his vision was beginning to swim a bit less and he was thankful that as quickly as the wine had hit him it seemed to be leaving him as well. However along with that realization came awareness of just how rude and forward he had just been. He turned back to her. "Sorry...the wine hit me harder than I thought...Guess I've never been properly drunk before."

She eyed him for a moment before shrugging, "It isn't as if it matters anyway, you don't want to marry me, your mini-harem made that much clear."

"I never said that...look it was all a bit sudden, and even if the only reason I married you was to keep you safe from Draco I would be willing to do it."

"Oh my savior, just what every girl wants to hear even from an arranged marriage is, yeah I wouldn't mind marrying you." She said with a sniff.

He had thoroughly put his foot in it and didn't know how to extricate himself from this situation. He took a deep breath and went to begin again. "Look, over the last month I've seen more of the real you and I honestly like the real you. I'm sort of stumbling my way through the Head of House thing no matter how it appears. I didn't know what I had done until the girls explained it to me that night and I'm sorry."

She eyed him for a moment before sighing and rolling her eyes, "Whatever..." They both went silent for a moment trying to find something else to say that might mend the fragile bridge they had built over the last few weeks.

"Harry I..."

"Pansy look.." They started at the same moment and both looked away embarrassed and waiting for the other one to speak.

Before either of them could say anything Harry heard a scream from outside and quickly ran to the front of the pub. In the street were twelve Death Eaters and the sky had gone an all too familiar shade of stormy grey.

Harry pulled his DA coin out and rubbed his thumb over top of it changing the time and date to now before calling out to the pub. "Death Eaters and Dementors!" He scanned the pub and found a few faces. "Neville, Hannah I want you two to stay here to protect the younger years. Anyone in here who can cast a Patronus you will be needed by the windows before long!" Pansy joined him at the window and had a fire in her eyes that told him not to even think of asking her to stay.

He stepped out into the street and saw other members of the Old Guard dashing between buildings and hiding behind water barrels and delivery crates. He hoped that some of their training paid off today, He counted only ten members of the Old Guard present but decided it would have to do. Pansy had disappeared around the back of the Pub. The Death Eaters appeared to still be getting their orders so Harry took a chance and shot three pairs of Bludgeoning hexes into their midst instantly incapacitating four of them. Now they were a bit more evenly matched.

"Potty!" Bellatrix screamed from the center of the group.

"Hello Bella, fancy meeting you here, small world isn't it? Where is your filthy half-blood master?" Harry said trying to stall for time and keep the attention focused on himself as everyone else got into position.

"HOW DARE YOU!" She screeched and began storming forward only to be held back by a rather ugly man who could only be her husband.

"Bell you know what the Dark Lord said, Potter is his to play with."

She looked up at the man with puppy dog eyes, "Can't I just chew on him for a wittle while." She asked in her disturbing baby voice. The man shook his head.

"Don't worry; we'll get you some Muggles to play with on the way home." The insane witch clapped her hands and bounced a bit like Dudley learning he could have another two Sunday's at the ice cream shop.

Harry had heard enough, "Alright, why don't you two keep whatever passes for foreplay behind closed doors, I just ate lunch and I would rather not lose it in the street thank you."

"You're gonna lose a lot more than that Wittle Potty!" She called out with a grin.

The temperature dropped the final few degrees warning him that the Dementors were about to swoop down on them; luckily as he had kept the group occupied the rest of the residents of Hogsmeade had been ushered into buildings by members of the DA and Old Guard.

"NOW!" He shouted and stunners, disarming charms, blasting and bludgeoning hexes as well as a few cutting curses flew toward the group on the street. He raised his wands and shouted out the Patronus Charm causing dozens of shapes to launch from him toward the sky and disappear over the rooftops. Though he couldn't see the battle he could hear enraged screams coming from the dementors that had been trying to sneak up on them.

Immediately the Lestrange brothers went down in a spray of blood, three more death eaters went down as well though in a less grizzly fashion leaving only Bellatrix and two other Death Eaters standing in the square surrounded by Hogwarts Students. However Bella had a few tricks left up her sleeve.

She pointed her wand and a redheaded girl was summoned to her flying through the air and into the crazy witch's arms. Susan!

"Drop your wands or the girl gets it!" She screeched.

Not knowing what else to do at the moment Harry dropped both wands on the ground in front of him, motioning for everyone else to do the same. As the last wand hit the ground Lestrange grinned and pushed the girl away from her, Harry thought for the briefest moment she was safe as she ran toward him.

"Harry!"

The purple flame cutter curse that haunted Harry's dreams shot out of Bellatrix' wand as she cackled maniacally. Once again time seemed to slow as Harry had no way of getting to the girl in time. Slowly, agonizingly he watched the flames hit his ex-girlfriend before she slumped to the ground. Harry's world went dark.

Bellatrix' last mistake would be to stand and watch what her curse had wrought. Harry seized hold of the hatred and anger at this thing for killing another girl he loved. He reached his hand out toward her and his vision tunneled down until all he could see was the crazy bitches face. Then he unleased the Lightning.

Caught off guard she spun around completely before falling to the ground screaming and twitching. The other two death eaters Apparated or Portkeyed away recognizing a losing battle. Harry did not let up as he took measured steps toward the screaming thing on the ground. Finally as he got close he released the power and looked down on her.

"P...Potter! You're going... to rot in Azkaban for using the Cru...cruci..." She stumbled out, she had bit off the tip of her tongue so the blood and mangled member gave her a lisp.

"That wasn't Cruciatus Bella; that was something all new." He opened his hands and instantly she was arched up off the ground as her body spasmed uncontrollably. He grinned at her silent form, unable to scream any longer because her vocal cords were locked and she couldn't draw a breath even if they weren't.

"You have taken another woman I love away from me, never again!" He filled her with the power once more but he felt the dark emotions draining out of him. Finally, cleansing tears began to pour down his face and his eyes which had become pure black pools reverted to normal as he slumped to the ground next to the smoking but still alive witch.

"You...pay.." She wrasped out.

Feeling pitty for the woman and remorse for what he had done he casually reached his arm out behind him and summoned both of his wands, not even noticing that he had performed the charm perfectly without either wand in his possession. He then pointed both at her and sent her off to sleep with a double stunner followed by a Petrificus to keep her from dying.

He was still crying as he stood and turned slowly around to find the crumpled shape of Susan Bones. He stumbled toward her, still drunk on power, and weak from emotion. He saw the black line across her back that indicated where she had been hit, directly over her heart and diagonally from her right shoulder down to her left hip. He cried as he fell to his knees and pulled her over into his lap.

It was Gabrielle all over again, except that Susan didn't know that he still loved her. He held her to his chest as he wept for what was lost, and for the stupid charm that Dumbledore had cast on him to keep him safe at his relative's home. He looked down into her queerly peaceful face and wished more than anything he could tell her now; he supposed he could always call to her with the stone later.

That was when he noticed she was still breathing; before he could even think to pick her up and run to the hospital wing her eyes fluttered open and she stared up into his eyes. "Harry?"

"Susan! Oh Merlin!" He cried and buried his face in her shoulder, all the remaining blocks on his emotions relating to Gabrielle's death combined with the recent trauma of seeing her die as he cried his soul out...but she didn't die... "How?" Was all he could manage through his sobs.

She pulled her blouse open to reveal the jade necklace hanging around her neck though he could tell instantly it would need to be recharged as there was a lightning bolt shaped scar above her left breast where it had overloaded while blocking the flame cutter curse. "I never took it off...even when I said I needed time...I still loved you...I still love you Harry." She whispered and smiled up at him when his eyes lit up.

He leaned down and captured her lips and closed a wound in his heart he thought had mended months ago. Other members of the DA and the residents of Hogsmeade began filing out of shops and alleyways toward them. Neville was the one who broke the couple apart with his words. "Blimey Harry! Did you do that to Lestrange?"

Harry could only nod, "I'm sorry I didn't leave much for you to play with Nev, you deserved to avenge your parents." The young man shook his head and grinned as Hannah joined him and laced her fingers through his, grinning even through her tears at the smile on her best friends face.

"Don't be sorry Harry; that filth needed to be dealt with either way. Gran is going to be ecstatic; you can expect an invite to Christmas." Harry shook his head, he wanted to say he didn't deserve thanks after using such dark magic against another human being, but he let the two wander off without saying a word.

Harry stood shakily picking Susan up with him and looked at the street where he found a few injured but apparently none dead on their side; this time. Hermione and Ginny were working with Tonks and Luna attending to the wounded and ordering people around. Pulling Susan closer to his chest he didn't even ask her if she could walk as he simply began walking back up to the school to get her to the Hospital Wing, just in case. He didn't see Pansy fighting tears from a nearby alleyway.


A/N:

I know that Wine Tasting is way overdone but it fit in my story as a way to show that Pansy could help him refine himself to be a proper pureblood Lord when needed...

Unlike some Cliche's at least wine tasting serves a decent purpose in my story, usually its just to show that Dan or Emma are wine snobs.

I'm tired so my Authors Note isn't all that informative, Read and Review please. I slacked off for a while in responding but I will be doing so again from now on. However if you want better discussion or if you just want updates on new chapters please join us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gml_fanfic