FicWad

Chapter 11 – Unexpected Late Night Rendezvous
. . .

The hour was late, well after the witching hour and when most sensible people were asleep. A lone figure made its way along the hall before descending the stairway to the main floor of the manor house. If one had been watching they would have noticed that the figured tried to make as little noise as possible. Silent footfalls upon the hardwood flooring made next to no sound at all. As the person reached the bottom of the stairs it froze upon hearing an unexpected noise.

One of the large doors to the library cracked open bathing Tracey Davis in the bright light that spilled forth. The surprised witch was suddenly night blinded by the unexpected light and froze in place. The young witch's pose much resembled that of a sheep who looked up only to see a dragon about to snatch it up from the meadow. Deer in headlight syndrome. After several seconds the door closed, once again cloaking Tracey in darkness atop that of the nightgown she currently wore. The witch heaved a sigh of relief believing that she hadn't been seen.

"Hello Tracey Davis," a voice suddenly spoke from the darkness in the direction of the library doors. "Come to say good night to Harry as well?" it asked quizzically. "If you hurry you can catch him before he returns to his reading once more," Luna offered helpfully.

"What?" Tracey asked in confusion as she rapidly blinked her eyes till they became a bit more adjusted to the darkness again. The witch could just make out the pale blonde head of hair that belonged to Luna. "No," she added as the girl's words caught up with her slowly recovering brain. "On my way to the kitchen for something to drink," Tracey stated as she pointed in the direction away from the library.

"Me too," said Luna with a smile. "Let's go together." Having said so, Luna crossed the distance to the other witch, slipping her wand from behind her ear. "Lumos," she intoned only to see Tracey shield her eyes somewhat from the bright light."Sorry. Hope you don't mind but I haven't been here long enough yet to walk about without a light. Most of the time I have been here has spent in Harry's bed," Luna added offhandedly as if she were discussing something of little importance. "While enjoyable, it does make it a bit hard to learn one's way about the manor."

Tracey gawked after the girl for a moment as Luna set off towards the kitchen to satisfy her thirst. The former Slytherin hurried to catch up, not certain how to take Luna's last words. The two walked in silence till they reached their destination where Tracey set a kettle to heat while Luna retrieved a glass of milk. Leaning against the counter Tracey watched as Luna magically warmed her milk. Once warmed, the petite witch jumped up and sat on the counter, her legs swinging back and forth absently as she sipped her beverage much in the same manner Teddy had drunk his chocolate milk.

The silence stretched between the two witches. Why is she still here? She has her drink, shouldn't she leave with it? Tracey mused angrily. In part her anger was really at herself. Tracey well and good knew that she owed the witch currently with her an apology. Not that there had been many opportunities over the last couple of weeks to say anything. It was only two days ago that the blonde witch had finally left Harry's suite of rooms on the fourth floor and moved into her own bedroom. As she herself had been avoiding Harry, this was the first time she'd actually seen Luna.

The fretting witch finally swallowed heavily and opened her mouth to apologize only to have the kettle beside her whistle that it was ready. Saved by the kettle, Tracey thought to herself a bit sarcastically. A quick glance towards Luna showed that the girl was apparently lost in her own little world and so hadn't noticed that Tracey had been about to say anything. Tracey hastily setup her cup and saucer, added the tea leaves and poured the boiling water over them.

Standing there with her back towards Luna she slowly stirred the water. "Look, I'm sorry for what I said the first night you came here," Tracey apologized rather abruptly. "I shouldn't have called you Loony or implied that you were astray."

"I've been called Loony my entire time at Hogwarts, by people who don't even know me," Luna finally responded with after a long moment."I guess I shouldn't blame them for their ignorance. You don't know me either, Tracey Davis." Tracey bristled at the implied accusation that she herself was ignorant, but held her tongue mostly because the small witch's words rang of truth. "Fortunately there is a cure for you, Tracey Davis. All you have do is take the time to get to know me," Luna told Tracey even as the older witch turned about from her cup of tea. "Assuming you want to that is?"

Tracey regarded Luna for a long moment as she thought over the girl's offer. It would certainly make living here easier, she decided. It also looks as though she may come to live here after she's finished at Hogwarts. Privately, Tracey hoped that she and Daphne would be long gone from there well before that time arrived. I bet Harry will have her over for the holidays as well. At least she won't be sleeping in his bed anymore! She wasn't certain why that fact bothered her so much. It was quite vexing actually. "What do you have in mind, Luna Lovegood?" Tracey asked, using the girl's full name as Luna seemed so set on using hers in that manner.

"See, we're getting along better already. You even got my name right this time, Tracey. May I call you Tracey?" Luna enquired only to receive a small nod from the witch in question. "Then you simply must call me Luna! What I mean is that rather than me thinking you only go along with what others tell you, or you calling me Loony, we take the time to get to know each other and then make our own educated and informed decisions on one another instead."

"You may come to realize that I'm not nearly as loony as you've been led to believe," Luna stated as she slid down off the counter. "I'm certainly hoping that you're not as stuck in a bovine mentality as you first appear and can actually use that pretty brain of yours," she said in a serious tone that exhibited none of her former spacy characteristics that were'Loony Lovegood's trademarks.

Tracey reached behind her and snagged her tea. "How do you expect us to do that," Tracey asked, pausing to take a sip, "You'll be returning to Hogwarts any day now." The witch didn't like Luna's words but found that she could hardly refute them. She had, after all, just gone with what she had heard from others rather than deciding for herself.

"Yes, well, that won't be happening," Luna informed Tracey. "I find that I need to remain here to keep our Harry from doing something he'll later regret," Luna explained. I have to make certain that Harry doesn't share his family's wealth with me not matter what! Luna realized that she just had to get Harry to agree to her staying rather than going back to Hogwarts now. The wizard was her legal guardian as she herself was under age as yet. Luna had argued with her father not to send her to Hogwarts a year early but he had been adamant that she was more than ready, which she was. That fact did her little good right now however.

She is Granger's friend after all, Tracey mused. She must have noticed just how close Daphne has gotten to Harry. She wants to stay here to keep them apart till Granger gets here I'll wager! The witch smirked inwardly as she recalled her conversation with Daphne concerning Harry and Granger's relationship. Anything that keeps Daphne and Harry apart is a plus in my book! The enemy of my enemy and all that rubbish, she thought. "I see. Well that should give us ample time to form our own conclusions then," Tracey agreed.

Luna offered a small dreamy smile. "I look forward then to becoming friends," she said as the two of them left the kitchen. "As for being a stray, I guess I was there for a bit but now that I'm with Harry, not anymore. Our Harry seems to have a penchant for collecting those who are a bit lost." Once again Tracey was a bit lost herself as to how to respond to the peculiar girl's words. Shortly thereafter the two witches arrived at their rooms, each offering a hastily mumbled 'Night' before parting ways.

-oOo-

Harry made his way down the stairs with thoughts of the letter he had received from Headmistress McGonagall last night weighing heavily on his mind. It was already several days past the two week mark he had initially told the Scottish woman which was why she had written. Luna would need to return to Hogwarts within the next two days of she would be dropped for the year.

The young wizard stepped into the dining room and smiled upon seeing that Andi was there. Of late the older witch had been off through the floo at early hours due to school or work. There were times when she was just too tired to make it down for the morning meal after a long night at St. Mungo's. Harry crossed to the seated witch who was feeding Teddy, "Good morning, Andi," he offered warmly as the two of them exchanged pecks on the cheeks.

"Good morning, Harry dear," Andi replied affectionately. "Plans for the day?" she enquired conversationally. The witch, ever since Harry's rather open display of concern for her wellbeing at St. Mungo's, had found herself missing the man nearly as much as she missed spending time with her grandson. It was all rather confusing to her a she hadn't expected to ever have feelings for another after Ted. There was a part of her that actually felt a bit guilty, as if she was betraying the memory of her late husband. Not knowing what to do Andi tried to hide her feelings both from Harry as well as herself.

"Off to hire a solicitor today," Harry replied just before he leaned down and kissed the crown of Teddy's head, deftly avoiding the child's messy hands as the toddler tried to share his breakfast with Harry's clothes. "Good morning, Little Man," Harry said with a grin as Teddy squealed in delight, his features already well on their way to matching Harry's. The three witches present, Tracey being absent yet again, looked on with warm smiles at the two males interaction.

Harry continued his rounds, stepping over towards Luna who sat to the right of Andi with Teddy between the two of them in a highchair. "How are you today, Luna?" Harry asked, a concerned expression settling over his features.

"I'll be doing much better just as soon as I get my morning kiss," Luna assured him with a dreamy smile as she turned and dramatically thrust out her cheek.

With a small chuckle Harry leaned down and placed an affectionate kiss upon the witch's cheek as requested. He was glad to see at least a spark of the old Luna returning. This, more than anything else, told him that his friend was on the mend. She may not be back to normal yet but she is at least on her way. Harry, to play along, turned his cheek and received a kiss from Luna as well.

"There, much better now," Luna told him as Harry walked around the witch and retrieved his plate before walking over to the sideboard. "However I think I will be needing one of those every morning, just to make certain that I stay this way," Luna continued with as she watched the wizard's back with much affection. It had been rather difficult to fall asleep without Harry's arms around her. Being awake is what had sparked the trip to the kitchen the previous night.

The smile on Harry's face grew a bit at hearing Luna's words. "I think I can managed that," he offered over his shoulder before turning about with his meager breakfast. "Oh the sacrifices I make for those I care about," he added overdramatically, his emerald orbs sparkling with humour.

"And you love every moment of it," Andi teased.

"Right in one," Harry confessed. "If I ever do complain about kissing pretty witches please have me committed to St. Mungo's as there is something seriously wrong with my brain," he joked, only to notice that someone at the table had been unusually quiet. "Good morning Daphne. How are you today," Harry asked as he set his plate down before taking his own seat.

What am Ia hag? the young witch asked herself. He can give everyone a kiss in the morning but me? "I'm well, Harry," Daphne replied a bit tersely before taking a sip of her tea. He kissed me the other day, and not just on the cheek, and now he wants nothing to do with me? she fumed behind her schooled features. "Thank you for asking."

"Harry," Luna said, drawing the man's attention from the blonde witch beside him,"You're being unusually mean," she scolded him with a pointed look.

"I am?" Harry stammered out, more confused than troubled by her words.

"You are," Luna confirmed with a nod of her head. "You can't just give everyone a kiss good morning and then leave Daphne out," the young witch explained to the slow witted wizard.

"That would be rather insensitive," Andi quipped in with in support of Luna's words.

"Really?" Harry squeaked, his cheeks growing warm at the thought of kissing the beautiful witch beside him. Harry really didn't recall having already kissed her previously as he had been rather caught up in the moment by the prospect of being able to help Luna. It really wasn't his fault, men just think differently than women do after all, as in a great deal less at times.

"N…no, that's alright," Daphne stated, stuttering slightly in surprise at where exactly the conversation had gone. If she didn't know better she would have suspected Luna of using Legilimency on her and reading her thoughts. "It's only natural that Harry would greet those he cares about in such a manner. Quite alright actually," she added a bit hastily.

"See!" Harry exclaimed, "She's perfectly fine with it," Harry said defensively though in truth it came out a bit more panicky than defensively.

Luna turned and looked towards Andi. "Oh dear, I think we may need to get that room ready at St. Mungo's already," the cute Ravenclaw said with a straight face, concern for the young wizard dripping from every word.

"We may be able to get him a private room even," Andi said in agreement."He's clearly lost him mind after all. No telling what he might do to the other patients there." Both witches at the other end of the table turned and looked pointedly at Harry.

Caught by his own words there was little that he could do he realized. It's not as if I don't care for her, he told himself. In fact the issue was just the opposite in that he did care and that was why it was rather embarrassing. Screwing up his Gryffindor courage once again, Harry stood."Well, there is no denying that you're a beautiful witch," Harry told Daphne, causing the girl to blush heavily and drop her gaze.

"It's alright, Harry," Daphne said in a soft tone as she stared at her plate. The young witch's heart was suddenly racing a mile a minute and her mouth had become rather parched for some odd reason. "I know you don't care about me that way."

Harry leaned down and gave the blushing girl a soft affectionate kiss upon her cheek. The kiss may have last a bit longer than was called for, or so Daphne thought as well as hoped, but it was his parting words that nearly sent Daphne into cardiac arrest. "Are you so certain of that?" Harry whispered so that only she could hear.

"As much as I like St. Mungo's, I doubt very much that I would want to live there," Harry said as if nothing untold had been exchanged between Daphne and him. The slight blush on the wizard's cheeks was nothing compared to the bright redness of Daphne's face. Harry's own heart was beating considerably faster than normal as well. I can't believe I said that to her!Bloody hell what am I doing? He asked himself as he resumed his seat. I must be mental!

"There now, that wasn't so hard now was it, Harry?" Andi asked as she resumed feeding Teddy, having paused to watch the byplay.

"No," Harry admitted as he focused on his food rather than looking at the witch next to him. "I rather enjoyed it actually."

"We should do this every morning!" Luna exclaimed happily. "You wouldn't mind, would you Daphne?"

"N…not at all," Daphne stammered, finding her food to be of extreme interest as well. What did he mean by that? she wondered. Does he really care for me? Do I care for him as well? Daphne knew that she did, the real question she couldn't answer as yet was just how deep her feeling went for the man. If I do then what about…., her thought trailed off as her eyes shifted to the empty seat beside her. What would Tracey think of all this? she wondered, uncertain just what she was going to tell the missing witch. Maybe it would be best not to mention it? she thought as Tracey had recently started to become a bit disgruntled anytime she started talking about Harry.

"Luna, I received a letter from Headmistress McGonagall last night," said Harry after a few minutes had passed with little more than the sound of everyone eating. "She wanted to know if you were ready to return to Hogwarts or not."

"What did you tell her?" Luna asked as nonchalantly as she could while she pushed the food about on her plate. The bright witch hadn't formulated a plan yet to get Harry to allow her to stay.

Harry could well recall what it had been like for him when Sirius had passed away. He had mourned the wizard's passing all summer long. It wasn't till he had returned to Hogwarts that he was able to move on once again. The main reason for that was that Hermione and Luna had been there for him. Ginny had tried to comfort him but didn't truly understand what he was going through, never having lost someone close to her.

Hermione, being older and vastly more mature as well as knowing Harry better than anyone, never left his side as she could tell the pain he was going through. Surprisingly, Luna, having lost her own mother, understood Harry's pain as well and had come to occupy his other side. Between the two of them they had seen to it that he was never alone. Little by little he had healed but he doubted he would have been able to without them both.

Still, this is Luna's education we're speaking of here, Harry reminded himself. Granted she could always return next year to complete her seventh year, however by then all of her friends from her same year will have already graduated. Harry took a slow sip of his tea as he pondered his answer further. He could hear a voice in his head telling him just how important schooling was. The fact that the voice sounded like Hermione brought a small crooked smile to his face.

"Well," said Harry rather slowly, "I was thinking it might be best for you to remain here," he told Luna, causing the young witch's head to pop up and look at him hopefully. "I know things for you aren't that great right now. I thought that maybe we could hire a tutor or something to continue your education so you could take your N.E.W.T.'s when the rest of your year does." Harry couldn't miss how Daphne's head shot up at this offer.

"Really?" Luna asked in disbelief. "You would do that for me?" It still amazed the witch just how giving Harry could be at times. It wasn't just the matter of the promise Harry had made her father that saw the witch wanting to remain at Westfield Manor, there was also Hogwarts. Even as a Prefect Luna didn't have many friends, Hermione being the only close one besides perhaps Neville Longbottom. The thought of going back to that lonely castle while still morning her father's passing actually frightened her a bit.

"Certainly," Harry confirmed quickly. "You're more than welcome to sit in as well, Daphne," he added, turning towards the witch beside him. "That way you can complete your schooling also, if you want to that is?"

Daphne didn't know what to say to the more than generous offer. "That's very kind of you, Harry," she finally managed to get out only to realize something."That might mean that I would have to remain here longer than you had originally planned," she reluctantly pointed out, uncertain if that would be alright with the man or not. Though they had never actually spoken about the length of her stay she had assumed it would be only till she was of age.

Harry gave Daphne a warm smile. "I'm fine with that if you are. I've gotten rather use to having you around, Daphne. I would hate to break up our little family," he added with a chuckle till his eyes fell upon Tracey's empty seat. Harry sighed inside, realizing that he would have to do something about the current situation. "Tracey is more than welcome to attend as well of course," he added, having noticed Daphne's nervous glance towards the empty seat beside her.

Daphne shot Harry a grateful smile upon hearing his words. "Thank you. I'll be sure to pass that along to her," she told him.

"Well, I had best be off," Harry announced as he pushed back his chair and stood."Places to be, people to see and gold to spend," he explained with a grin. Luna stood and quickly came along the table and gave Harry a hug."I'll write the Headmistress when I return," he told her.

"Thank you, Harry, for everything," Luna told him sincerely before the two of them exchanged peeks on the cheeks.

"Anytime, Luna," Harry replied. As Luna stepped away Harry turned only to find Daphne waiting expectantly. Not wishing to hurt her feelings and having no clue what else to do, Harry accepted her into his arms and gave a hug and a peek on the cheek. "You need anything while I'm out, Daphne?" he asked.

"No, I think I have everything I need," Daphne replied. Harry wasn't certain why the woman's arms had tightened just a bit more when she said that but then again he wasn't going to question being hugged tightly by a beautiful witch. He'd never questioned it when Hermione did it and wasn't about to start now.

Releasing the attractive woman, Harry walked around and gave Teddy a parting kiss, once again avoiding the messy grabbing hands of the boy. Harry wasn't all too surprised when Andi stood and hugged him also. The other two had done it so why not her as well? "Do be careful, Andi. Let me know if there is anything you need."

"You too," Andi said before her lips lingered on his cheek for a moment."I won't be home for dinner," she informed him so that he wouldn't worry about her. Stepping rather reluctantly from his arms, she returned to her seat and proceeded to finish feeding Teddy his breakfast. With a final crooked little smile Harry excused himself. "Was that all planned in advance?" Andi asked Luna after the wizard had left.

"Why whatever do you mean?" Luna asked with faux innocence as she resumed her seat and started to finish her meal. Andi just smirked knowingly, giving the Ravenclaw witch points for handling the situation rather brilliantly. Daphne stared back and forth between the two of them, certain that she had missed something but not really understanding what.

-oOo-

Tracey Davis slipped down the stairs, through the dining room and into the manor's kitchen. It was yet another night she couldn't sleep. Insomnia had been something she had battled ever since the incident with Gregory Goyle. Even on the nights she didn't dream about what happened, she found it difficult to stay abed for more than an hour or two without waking. It had been over two years already but the memory still haunted her.

The young witch, with practiced ease, filled a kettle with water from the tap before placing it upon the stove. A flick of her wand saw a fire ignite beneath it without a word being spoken. Tracey retrieved a large mug, admiring the pattern on it once again with a small smile. She couldn't help but wonder who had picked it out, Daphne or Harry. That thought quickly saw the smile dropping from her features.

Things had been moving all too quickly as far as Tracey was concerned. When she had first received Daphne's letter she had rushed right over to console her dearest friend, only to discover that she apparently didn't require consoling. That fact alone had made her suspicious, considering the small matter of Daphne about to be entered into a marriage contract against her will by her father. It had taken a bit of time but she had finally cornered her friend and gotten the truth from her. Daphne being with Harry had all been a setup to protect herself.

Since then Tracey had sat back and watched in frustration as the closeness between Daphne and Harry only deepened. The young woman knew that she was jealous. Harry was taking Daphne away from her and there apparently wasn't much that she could do about it either. She had tried to play the supportive friend but the more Daphne went on and on about how wonderful Harry was the more jealous Tracey became. Perhaps the most startling of facts was the realization that she was just as jealous of Daphne for the time her friend spent flirting with Harry.

How could this have happened? she wondered as she waited for the water to boil. How is it possible that I'm jealous of both of them because of the time they spend with each other? At first she had simply played it off that she was angry with Daphne for not clueing her in on her plan to dupe Harry into offering her a place to stay, however as time went by she realized that was no longer the case. It grated on her nerves every time Daphne opened her mouth and some playful banter was directed in Harry's direction.

"Bloody hell, I'm a mess," she said aloud. It's not as if I have a thing for him, she told herself in an attempt to deny the fact. "That was a long time ago before that bastard Greg," she spat out. "I'm just concerned for Daphne's sake," she explained, not believing the false platitude in the least. "He could just be waiting to take advantage of her," she tried to add in an attempt to make it seem more palatable. "Bugger it! I'm bloody speaking to myself again!" she growled in frustration.

"I don't know who the bloke is but he sounds like a bit of a tosser if he's just using some girl," a voice said from the darkness, frightening the witch out of nearly ten years of her life in the process.

Tracey shrieked loudly and spun about with her wand out before her but she couldn't see anything in the darkness. "Who's there?" she demanded as her heart threatened to burst from her chest and flee without her if she wanted to stay and have a chin wag at a time like this.

"There aren't many people who can get inside this house, Tracey, unless I want them to," the voice replied. "Probably no one actually," the voice added with a humorous snort.

"Harry?" the witch asked in disbelief even as the tip of her wand lit up and showed the young wizard seated upon the floor, back against the wall in the corner. The young wizard held a glass of what appeared to be Firewhisky in his hand and a Butterbeer chaser was beside him on the floor. "Well, it is your home," Tracey snapped, more than a little miffed at herself that she had reacted as such and that Harry had been there to see her out of sorts. The witch pulled her robe about her tightly though it did very little to make her feel more protected at the moment. She hadn't been alone with a man in over two years.

"Be it ever so humble," Harry replied with a humorless grin before he took asip of the whisky, quickly followed by a swig from the Butterbeer bottle."I've found that tea will keep you awake rather than allow you to sleep," he told her.

"And what you're drinking?" Tracey asked rather scornfully now that her heartbeat was well on its way to returning to a more normal pace. "Will it allow you to sleep?"

"If you drink enough of it," Harry assured her. "I wouldn't suggest it though as you'll wish you hadn't when you wake up. Personal experience there," he added with a self-depreciating smirk at his own foolishness. He'd only had to do that a few times to learn the folly of his ways.

"How long have you been there," Tracey asked, suddenly realizing that he must have heard her arguing with herself. I'm the world's biggest idiot! she thought as she lowered her wand so that it wasn't blinding the both of them.

"Long enough to see you do wordless magic twice," Harry replied with a small grin. "Nicely done, Davis," he congratulated her with a tilt of his Butterbeer bottle before taking another sip from it.

"It's nothing," Tracey said, glad that it was relatively dark in the room as it hid the blush that arose in her cheeks at his praise. Before either of them could say anything more the kettle gave a low steady whistle. "I better get that," she said lamely with a thumb gesture over her shoulder. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on seemed to be a bit off with the wizard but she dismissed it as she was tired, it was late, and she knew she was a bit out of sorts.

"Probably so," Harry agreed with a small grin towards the witch who had only moments before had her wand trained on his chest. "I'll wait here," he clarified, making no effort to move from his current position upon the floor.

Tracey stepped to the stove and doused the flame, causing the kettle's rather loud whistling noise to quickly taper off. Once again she found herself embarrassed in Harry's presence. No matter what I do I just end up making a fool of myself, she lamented silently as she prepared her tea. She didn't mean to snap at Harry or say things in the manner in which she did. They just sort of come out that way.

Whereas Daphne could exchange playful banter at the drop of a hat, Tracey had never possessed that ability. As a young witch she had been rather shy and awkward around boys, often seeing her overlooked by them. Quite the opposite, Daphne had attracted the boys like bees to honey, seeing it all as nothing more than a game. That didn't stop the younger girl from looking out for Tracey. It only took a few mean boys teasing Tracey and then finding themselves no longer welcomed in Daphne's circle for the message to get out.

Tracey turned back with her mug of tea in hand. "I guess I shall leave you to your drinking," she stated rather reproachfully towards Harry. The woman wanted to kick herself just as soon as the words had left her mouth. Receiving no reply from the man, she turned to leave only to be stopped by his voice.

"I'm sorry," Harry's remorseful voice reached her ears, halting her in her tracks.

"Whatever for?" Tracey asked hesitantly, wondering if he had figured it all out after hearing her conversation with herself.

"I don't know. Whatever I've done to cause you to hate me," Harry replied."I must have done something to earn your anger, Davis. Merlin knows I've tried to recall what it might be! Something I may have done to slight you either now or when we were at Hogwarts. For the life of me I can think of anything," Harry admitted in a slightly frustrated sounding tone.

Tracey cringed slightly as she heard Harry revert to using her last name. No, you're wrong. It's all wrong, she wanted to tell him but nothing ever came out of her mouth correctly where men were concerned. It is all my fault, not yours! "It's nothing. Nothing at all," she heard herself snap.

"It must be something," Harry claimed, unsatisfied with the witch's answer."Is it Daphne? I know you are her best friend and that she's yours. I don't want to take that from either of you," he assured her. "We're just friends, nothing more."

Tracey spun back around, tea sloshing over the rim of the mug and falling unnoticed upon the floor. "Are you really that daft?" she barked at Harry, fit to be tied as her anger at her own inability to articulate her thoughts found a suitable outlet. "You can't even see what is right in front of you!"

Harry was a bit taken aback by the venom in the woman's voice as she yelled at him."You're right in front of me," he answered, perhaps having had a bit more of the whisky than he should have had by then. She's not making any sense! Why are witches so bloody confusing?

"Daphne!You bloody wanker!" Tracey screamed. "She's fallen in love with you, she has!" Whatever reaction she had expected from her words it wasn't the one she received.

Harry snickered and then chuckled before he leaned back against the wall behind him and had himself a good laugh as the witch before him tried not to explode."I'm sorry, truly I am," Harry finally managed to get out as he took note of Tracey's angry countenance. "That's rubbish," he explained."Daphne told me herself, when she first moved in here, there was someone else she already loved. So you see, she can't possibly be in love with me."

"What?" Tracey asked in disbelief.

Harry climbed to his feet, causing the witch to take a step backwards. "Relax, Davis. I'm just getting another Butterbeer," he told her as he set the empty bottle in his hand down and made his way over to the chiller. Harry retrieved the item and vanished its top before he turned and regarded the witch. "Daphne and I had a long talk about our lives the first night she was here. I know all about her loving another and not being able to be with them," he informed Tracey.

"She told you?" Tracey asked in disbelief, her cheeks heating up rapidly.

Harry gave a quick nod. "Wouldn't tell me who the bloke was though. When she asked if you could come stay I had to make certain it wasn't this mysterious guy. She is underage after all, so I have to look after her while she lives under my roof. It wouldn't do to have some bloke with her while she was here."

"So she told you about her real age as well?" Tracey asked, breathing a sigh of relief. "I thought you were trying to take advantage of her," she lied, believing it to sound truthful enough that Harry hopefully wouldn't ask about what she had been talking to herself about.

"Who do you think I am, Zabini?" Harry asked with a humorless snort.

"Wow!That too?" Tracey stated in disbelief, once more surprised at just how much Daphne had apparently shared with the wizard. "Bloody hell what else has she told you?"

"Language, Davis," Harry quipped, playing the part of Daphne. "We're pretty open with each other," he added. "Things just seem to work better that way," he told her, letting out a long breath.

Not as honest as you think, Harry, Tracey thought as she recalled just how Daphne had ended up sitting at the curb right where Harry would see her."No, it's not Daphne," Tracey told him with a dismissive sigh.

"Then what?" Harry asked. "You've been pissed at me since the moment you stepped into this house. Daphne once eluded to the fact that it has something to do with my gender. Do you just hate all wizards then? Maybe just dark-haired ones with green eyes?"

"It's not that simple, Harry," Tracey answered. "It's personal."

"I get that," Harry replied after a moment's thought. "I would imagine that anything that would cause you to hate all wizards wouldn't be something you'd like spread around." Seeing the witch shake her head that she wouldn't in fact like to have her secret spread about, Harry thought for another second. "I, Harry James Potter, swear on my magic-" was as far as he got before Tracey had crossed the distance to him and covered his mouth with her hand.

"No!Don't!" Tracey cautioned. "Oaths in our world carry a great deal more meaning to them than they do in the Muggle world, Harry," she told him as she slowly lowered her hand from his mouth. Tracey was more than a little surprised, as well as touched, that he would go to such lengths apparently for her.

"I know they do," Harry assured her. "I just wanted to make certain you know that I would never tell another soul if you told me."

Tracey sighed heavily before stepping to the side and leaning backwards against the counter beside the wizard. The silence stretched on for a few minutes before she began to speak. "It was our fifth year. Many of the Slytherin students were a part of Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad. Daphne wasn't. I wasn't either as I was deemed unfit, being merely a half-blood."

"One of the boys took to being sweet to me. He would walk me to classes and he saw that no one else messed with me. I was more than a little surprised as guys never gave me a second glance with Daphne around. I don't mind. Truly I don't. She can't help but be as pretty as she is," Tracey clarified rather quickly. Harry was certain from her tone that she truly wasn't jealous of Daphne's looks or popularity.

"As this boy was a member of the Inquisitorial Squad no one dared mess with him or me therefor by association. One night as I was coming back from the library he was waiting for me and instead of walking me back to the Slytherin common room he led me to an abandoned class room," she told Harry.

"He kissed me." she said. To this day she could still recall her surprise that a boy would actually want to kiss her. Caught up in the moment as she was, lost in her first kiss and the feeling of his arms about her, she hadn't realized that he was slowly maneuvering her backwards till her legs bumped into something unyielding.

Tracey wrapped her arms tightly around herself as she continued. "There was a bed there. He started telling me how privileged I should feel that he, a true Pureblood, had selected me from all the other girls at school," Tracey said in a shaky voice. "When I refused to drop to my knees and service him, as he called it, he struck me, knocking me to the floor."

Harry watched Tracey as tears trickled down her freckled cheeks. He wanted to wrap her in a hug but was fairly certain that the last thing she wanted at that moment was a bloke putting his hands on her. All he could do was stand there beside her and listen while hating the fact that someone had done this to this girl, or any girl for that matter. Silently Harry vowed that whomever this piece of garbage was, they would pay for what they had done to Tracey.

"The next thing I knew he was on top of me, ripping at my clothes. His hand grasped my chest painfully, holding me in place under him as he used his other hand to try and raise my skirt and robes." Unconsciously Tracey's hand rose and covered her left breast protectively. "I had bruises for weeks. In the end the only thing that saved me was that Mrs. Norris and Mr. Filch heard my screams and came to investigate. He got away before he was seen."

"Did you tell the Headmaster or Professor Snape?" Harry enquired barely managing to keep his anger out of his voice.

"I didn't want anyone to know," Tracey said, a small sob slipping past her lips. She well recalled that time and how she had begged Madam Pomfrey to not tell anyone of what had happened. She felt dirty and covered with a foulness that no amount of showers and soap could ever hope to wash away. It had taken months for her to finally even tell Daphne about what had happened. This was the first time she had spoken of it since then. "Besides, who would have believed me? I'm just a half-blood and he's a Pureblood!"

"So that's why you hate guys?" he asked only to see her nod slightly. "I would have believed you!" Harry replied. "I'm certain others would have as well."

"I didn't know you then so what reason would I have to tell the Gryffindor Golden Boy? Besides, from all accounts we heard from Draco and Nott, you would soon be dead. There was no one that could have helped. Even the staff seemed occupied with things other than school work or students," Tracey said through her tears. "It was only a few weeks later that the Ministry acknowledged the return of the Dark Lord after his battle with Dumbledore."

Harry could well recall how hectic things had been at that time. Mention of his mentor caused Harry's heart to hurt with a dull ache. He still missed the man very much. "Look, I am sorry that happened to you Tracey. Truly I am. Tell me who it is and I'll see that he pays for what he did!"

"It's alright, Harry. There's nothing you can do," Tracey replied as she wiped at her eyes and cheeks with the cuff of her robe. Once again she was glad that it was dark in the room as she feared she looked a frightful mess at the moment.

"In case you've forgotten, I'm Harry Potter," Harry told her with forced levity. "There probably isn't much that I couldn't do and get done at this moment if I chose to," he told her, fighting to keep his seething anger in check till he had a name to unleash it on. "Just tell me who it is and I'll take care of the rest." If the Aurors can't do anything perhaps the Goblins would like a little more of my gold?

"No," she said with a shake of her head, frustrated and wishing that once again she had been a bit clearer. "You've already taken care of it. He's dead Harry, thanks to you he died at Hogwarts."

Now Harry was no slouch when he put his mind to it. There weren't that many people from their year that were in Slytherin and had died at Hogwarts. Most of the Slytherin's had been led away and kept from the fighting. The real clue was that the piece of shite had been a member of the Inquisitorial Squad."Goyle," Harry spat out distastefully only to see Tracey nod once again. The wizard had died in the Room of Requirements by his own Fiendfyre.

They stood in silence for several long minutes till Harry suddenly felt Tracey lean into his shoulder. He could tell from the manner in which she was trembling that it had been difficult for her to talk of what had happened. He could only imagine what it must have been like for her at the time that the attack occurred. A small part of him thought it would be a splendid idea to bring the creep back to life just so he could kill him again.

"I'm truly sorry, Tracey, but thank you for telling me all the sa-" he started to say only to halt as Tracey's body roll towards him, burying her face into the crook of his neck. It was only then that he felt the tears on her face and realized she was crying once again. For a moment he froze and then he simply slid his arms about her and held her as she cried. I seem to be making a habit of this, he mused, thinking of all the crying witches he'd held during his short life.