Part VIII

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Harry asked Roger softly. "I mean, you don't have too, I understand and really, Sirius can be scary when he wants."

Everyone had gathered in the Entrance Halls with their luggage and were waiting for the Thestral pulled carriages to pull up outside. It was a stormy morning, the clouds were gray and the rain seemed never ending.

Harry was wearing new clothes that he had purchased in Hogsmeade, basic black slacks and a soft dark green turtleneck. He also had one of Roger's spare cloaks and he sported the Ravenclaw symbol proudly.

After the arrestment of Dolores Umbridge, Defense Against the Dark Arts should have been cancelled but that was until Hermione, Terry Boot, and several other students from various houses had asked Professor Dumbledore if Harry could take over Defense for them and they even went as far as producing fully corporeal Patronus' to show Harry's skill at teaching when Snape had tried to intervene.

Least to say Harry had blushed to the roots of his hair when Dumbledore's eyes sparkled and he agreed. Every Saturday the students would have a Defense class so that Harry's teaching didn't interfere with his studies. It was now the end of the year and Harry felt that a humongous weight had been taken right off his shoulders.

The months had sped by quite swiftly and often enough, Harry felt twinges in his scar, no doubt Voldemort was infuriated with something and he found out what it happened to be during his History of Magic OWL exam.

During the middle of it when Harry was trying to recall the dates of several goblin wars when a throbbing pressure began to build up in his mind. It was heavily concentrated and his scar burned painfully as though someone was trying to cut through his mind with an iron hot poker.

Harry fought back, keeping his shields up but no matter how strong they were, he could still see shadows behind his eyelids. He could see blurry shapes and spheres, what looked like an arm thrust out toward something murky and hazy on the floor.

It was all Harry could to to keep from screaming out loud and the only thing he got out of the murky vision was one word and it was instinctual. 'Sirius.' It made him abandon his exam completely to find hunt down Dumbledore and explained what he was feeling.

Sirius was safe and apparently, Voldemort had been trying to push a vision on him to lure him into action.

Dumbledore had explained to Harry everything, what Voldemort was wanting and why. When Harry didn't take Voldemort's bait the furious Dark Lord swarmed the Ministry of Magic, destroying everything in his path to get to the prophecy but the only problem with this was, Alastor Moody had destroyed the prophecy with a simple Reducto spell, leaving Voldemort suddenly exposed and infuriated.

Those two things weren't a very good combination and it was proven when Voldemort whirled around and killed the first person within his path before disapparating.

That person coincidentally enough happened to be Cornelius Fudge. A strange sort of irony, Harry had thought without any remorse.

The prophecy loomed over Harry's head greatly but instead of allowing it to fester like a bubbling cauldron about to explode he confided in Roger the truth and from there the fear that Harry had felt was quickly extinguished.

Roger seemed to have that affect on Harry and now, here they were standing in the Entrance Hall preparing to leave for the summer.

Roger smiled at the concern Harry was showing for him. It was really cute. He draped his arm across the boy's shoulders and pulled him close. "Don't worry, Harry. I promised that I would meet him and he can't be that bad if you adore him."

Harry unconsciously began fiddling with the black button on Roger's cloak. "I know, it's just, you seemed to take all this so lightly. A few months ago you thought Sirius Black was a murdering ex-convict and I'm a little surprised that you're not bothered by this."

"Why would I be?" Roger asked. "You said he was innocent and I believe you."

Harry rolled his eyes. "If I said to jump off a bridge and it would be safe, would you do it?"

Roger thought about it logically. "Yes," he answered.

Harry arched an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because I know you'd use a Feather Charm on me before hand."

The Gryffindor laughed. "But this is different."

Roger gripped Harry's shoulders and then slid up to his neck and cheeks. Several girls around them were awing them or sighing with dejection, knowing they would have no chance.

Cho was ogling them from a corner and anyone could see the sulk on her flawless face. Roger found it all comical.

"Harry, you've never lied," Roger said assured. "I'm a Ravenclaw, I don't jump in with my eyes closed. You told me the story and if anyone should have feared him it would be you and since you don't, I'm not going to. I take your word as true because you don't do anything to deceive anyone. If it was someone else, even Hermione telling me he was innocent, I would do my research and be very dubious. I would wait for the facts but this is you."

Harry stared at him in surprise. "I- I don't know what to say…"

Roger didn't get a chance to reply because Hermione and Ron chose that moment to bound over to them.

"We ready?" Hermione asked, her eyes were glittering and she was holding a spell book in her left arm.

Ron had two books in his right and Harry couldn't help but blink at it and then point. "Why do you have a book, Ron? That's kind of frightening."

Hermione beamed as Ron blushed. "Ah – well, you know, I don't want to fail your class, Harry."

Roger barked in laughter.

"You're a fair bloke and so I can't slack off. You're my best friend and I wouldn't do anything to dishonor that. Plus, you gave us dead useful stuff last week! I didn't know so many explosions could come from my wand or a book!"

Hermione tutted and crossed her arms. "As long as it gets him into learning."

Harry was dumbfounded. "Ah- well, I guess explosions could do that to a Weasley. You guys are famous for them."

Ron grinned widely. "That's right mate! All the Weasley's go boom. Although, I'm a bit disgruntled that you gave us summer homework!"

Harry blushed. "Yeah well, it seemed like a look idea at the time."

"Did I hear Weasley's and boom in the same sentence?" Fred and George met them from behind with Lee following after them.

"I think Fred, I heard Weasley, explosions, and boom, oh! Roger Davies, good to see you ol' chap!" George beamed and smacked the thin Ravenclaw on the shoulder.

Roger resisted a roll of his eyes. "Weasley," he said casually.

Fred chuckled. "You know, it was absolutely hilarious when we found out about you!"

"Who would have guessed? Harry shagging the Head Boy?!" George crowed causing a ripple of noise as his words reached many ears of eavesdroppers and non-eavesdroppers alike.

Harry growled. "You too shut up!" he ordered turning a pleasant shade of red.

"Aw, come on! It was so cute!" Fred insisted dancing around them.

"What happened?" Lee asked smirking as both Roger and Harry narrowed their eyes on the twins.

"Well, first off Harry's godfather made a rather thick point that he wasn't a Ravenclaw!"

"Yeah and poor Remus, his nose caught whiff of you," George tacked on causing Harry to groan and bury his face into Roger's chest.

"Hide me, now," Harry mumbled.

Roger arched an eyebrow. "Are you quite done with your fascinating tale to everyone?" he drawled not enjoying his private life being exposed to the world.

"Oh no! We're just getting started," Fred said peaking around Roger's shoulder. "See, mum pushed him into a chair…"

"Silencio!" Harry's wand was out and Fred staggered back as the power of the spell hit him.

Hermione snorted. "Serves you right!" she said.

George goggled. "Harry! How could yo-"

He too was shot with the same spell, courtesy of Roger Davies.

The doors to the Entrance Hall burst open and Harry and Roger were very quick to rush out for a carriage considering the gossip of them was being passed around like bread.

Harry was left alone with Luna in a compartment as Roger, Hermione, and Ron headed for the Prefect's Compartment.

"Hello Harry Potter, how are you and Roger Davies?" Luna asked putting her Quibbler down and smiling.

"Great, Luna. What about you?"

"Oh, I would be wonderful but you see, the Pink Bat is now on the loose for the white mice!" she exclaimed and showed the cover of the Quibbler. "We must save the white mice, Harry Potter. If not the Pink Bat will turn them pink."

Harry burst out laughing when he saw a moving picture of a cartoonish Umbridge with pink wings and those ugly cardigan jumpers she wore. She was chasing after a bunch of frightened mice which zoomed around the pages. Harry noticed quite amusedly that one of the mice had green eyes and a scar and another, the biggest of the lot was standing on its legs with a wand in its hand.

Harry could only discern it to be Roger Davies. "Oh, Luna! I love that, can I have a copy?"

Luna beamed and handed over her copy. "You can have mine."

"Sign me up a subscription please?" Harry asked plopping down next to her.

"Of course Harry Potter, but I think a free subscription would be better. After we ran that column on Valentine's Day, we topped the Daily Prophet for a whole month in subscription sales! It's thanks to you that daddy and I can go Snorkack hunting this summer."

Harry chuckled. "I think it's thanks to Roger. I had no idea he was planning this."

Luna smiled. "But had the article been about Hermione Granger, no one would have cared."

She had a point, Harry realised and he smiled sheepishly before settling in to read the funniest magazine he'd ever laid eyes on.

Harry gulped; it was like a Muggle western face-off. Roger Davies on one side and Sirius Black on the other. The two looked at each other, both blinked, but neither moved from where they stood. Remus was hanging back with a silly smile on his face and offered Harry a wink.

"I'm still trying to digest this," Sirius said first off.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Black, I'm Roger Davies," Roger greeted taking the first few steps to close the gap. He held out his hand for the older man who stared at him.

Sirius did nothing for a moment and then he broke out into a wide wolfish smile and snatched Roger's hands with a firm squeeze. "Nice to know my godson is taken care of, loved the Daily Prophet! I was giggling for days."

"Weeks," Remus reminded. "It was scary too, he sounded like James Potter on Firewhisky. It's nice to see you again Mr. Davies."

Roger chuckled lowly. "Yes, I enjoyed it myself and same to you Mr. Lupin."

"Oh no! It's old Remus, please, I may be gray but I'm still under forty," he said rushing his hand through his hair with fond amusement.

Sirius chortled. "I'm Sirius as well, I don't like formalities too much. So, Roger you're a Ravenclaw…"

It was from then that Harry was allowed to breath, he glanced over his shoulder at Hermione who was winking.

Molly Weasley and the rest of her pack showed up a few hours later, Roger had been given Regulus' old bedroom and coincidentally enough, Harry's trunk was sitting innocently side by side.

"I wonder who had a hand in that?" Harry asked leaning against the door as Roger took in the aged décor. "I know it wasn't Mrs. Weasley."

Roger smirked. "I did. I'm not sleeping alone. House is a little dreary," he commented.

"Very, what did you think of the elf-heads?"

"Disgusting," Roger said sitting on the slightly squeaky bed. "Least the rooms clean and so are the sheets."

Harry laughed and came over and perched on his knee. "Thank you for coming here."

Roger rolled his eyes and rested his chin against Harry's shoulder. "I told you Harry, it's my decision to be with you. It's my decision to love you. I'm a big boy and I can take care of myself."

"Even when you know that I have a nasty price on my head?"

Roger's arms looped around him and squeezed tight. "I'll have to lessen that price now won't I? I'm not going to say I'm not worried or even a bit scared, only a fool wouldn't be. But it'll take more than that to separate myself from you. Anyway, I know quite a bit about prophecies and whatever comes I'll help you."

Harry leaned back against Roger's chest taking in his words. "I know, I need to stop thinking for others, I hate it when they think for me."

"You're just worried," Roger said kissing him on the cheek. "But I understand how strong you are and I won't hold you back from what you have to do. I'll be right behind you, I promise."

"What if I break everything in sight?" Harry asked softly. "Things and people."

Roger hummed as he began to card his fingers through Harry's messy hair. "Then I'll just have to be there to pick up those pieces and help you glue them back in again."

Harry laughed. "That should be illegal!"

"What?" Roger asked grinning. "Loving you?"

"No," Harry said nudging him. "Sounding so damn sweet you're giving me a toothache."

"I won't say I'm sorry about that. This is the real me, Harry. I don't have any close friends, I never have. I've always been a loner and you're the first person to ever see me for who I am."

"You're a romantic," Harry realized.

Roger blushed a little. "I guess I am."

"Well, I have to say, I'm not all that sorry for accidentally manipulating you."

The Ravenclaw arched an eyebrow. "Accidentally?"

"Uh huh, I doubt this ever would have occurred if I hadn't asked you to promise me not to fall in love with me. My words at the time I guess sounded silly to your ears, but I was so scared and worried. I was already dragging Ron and Hermione down with me through the mud and Cedric went down before he could even take a step. I had a ton of fear clouding me."

"Yes, I know that now. But I didn't fall in love with you because of your words. I fell in love with you, being able to know and understand you. I'm also very happy that I was able to help you against that moron Umbridge. I couldn't stand to sit back and watch it all happen."

"If it hadn't been for you, I probably would have done something very reckless and gotten people killed. I never would have learned Occlumency. I wouldn't have understood it."

"Not like Snape would try," Roger scoffed. "I'm going to enjoy seeing his face when you get an O on your Potion's OWL."

"Me too," Harry agreed.

There was a tap on the door and the door cracked, Sirius beamed. "Hey you two! Molly's fixing your favourites Harry and it's nearly done."

Harry nodded. "We'll be down in a second."

Sirius beamed before walking out with a whistle.

Harry sighed and turned to Roger. "I know what love is now," he said quietly. "I love you."

"I know you do," Roger replied caressing Harry's cheek. "Everyone loves you Harry, they always have. That godfather of yours loves you, Weasley and Hermione love you, hell even Dumbledore loves you. It's obvious."

"Why didn't tell you me before?" Harry asked feeling a little embarrassed at Roger's words.

"You wouldn't have believed me, you had to find out on your own."

Harry kissed Roger tenderly, his heart fluttering and his body felt light. He pulled back a mere inch from the older teen's stunning face.

"Thank you."

Mischief Managed -

Note: Happy Birthday Kamerreon! Very early birthday. But there it is. Sorry for the wait, I've been trying to catch up on some much needed sleep, I've lost a lot the past month. Sorry if it ended too abruptly, but I have about a thousand other projects I'm working on. Let me count: I have Regulus/Harry, Barty Crouch Jr/Harry, Evan Rosier/Harry, Severus/Harry, Lucius/Harry, and obviously I always have a Voldemort/Harry somewhere stashed in my pile. So.... as you can see a huge ass list. =D Thanks to everyone who reviewed with your helpful comments. I adore them all! Even if I haven't answered them all. I still appreciate it.