"Are you still sure you want to have that talk on your
birthday, love?
" Harry asked. "How about we make
that for Saturday? Or tonight, and not ask our friends
to visit until next Friday, and they can share your
birthday?"
"Thank you, Harry, for being considerate," she smiled
at him. "However, I too need time to think about how
I'm going to share my life experiences with the two of
you."
"Not next Saturday, then?" he asked.
She just shook her head with a smile on her face in
reply.
Walking in, Harry spotted Neville sitting on the inside
side of the Gryffindor table talking to Seamus Finnegan
and Dean Thomas.
Ron was sitting opposite with his
back to the wall, just listening in but clearly eager to
start eating.
When Harry approached, Ron spotted him first and
backed off a bit, obviously remembering the last words
Harry had said to him on the stairs.
Tapping Neville on the shoulder, Harry asked him to
step away from the table for a bit.
Which Neville did.
Out of listening-in range, Harry asked the other boy,
"How would you like to come and check out our new
digs, tonight? We're having a couple of select friends
over for a couple of butterbeers and snacks."
Surprised he was asked, Neville replied, "Yeah, sure,
Harry. That sounds nice. Thank you."
With an answering smile, Harry said, "Great.
Now, we're behind the statue of Professor Whittaker just
down from the Ravenclaw tower entrance in the west
wing.
Know where it is?"
Neville appeared to think about it for a bit; rustling
through his memories before he said, "Ummm... sorry,
Harry; I don't."
"That's alright," Harry soothed him. "You can walk back
with us, then; after the meal.
That way we can be sure
you know where it is in future."
With a smile masking his look of relief, the other boy
said, "That'd be great; thanks."
Just as he was about to head to the Ravenclaw table,
Harry said to him, "Oh, and if any Weasley asks where
you're going, or where you've been afterwards; just tell
them Hermione, Daphne and I don't want them to
know in case Ron or Ginevra uses the information to
try and poison us with their potions again."
"I'll do that, Harry," Neville replied with a small
grimace. "I'm still finding it hard to accept either one of
them would actually try to do something like that. It's
disgusting. The rest of the House is disgusted with
them, too."
With a nod, Harry gave him a pat of manly
encouragement on the shoulder before heading to the
Ravenclaw table. Daphne, who'd been off talking to her
friends at the Slytherin table, joined them a few
minutes later.
After the meal, the girls headed off back to their
apartment, after first volunteering Harry to wait back
and escort Neville and the others up. Luna went up
with the girls.
Only about ten minutes later, Neville came over and sat
down next to Harry. "I'm ready when you are," he said.
With a nod of recognition, Harry replied, "We're just
waiting on a couple of Slytherins to join us. Daphne's
friends."
When Tracey, Blaise and Horace joined them a few
minutes later, Harry stood up, greeted them and said,
"The girls have already headed back. I'm your escort for
the evening."
"In that case, Mister Potter," Tracey said as stepped
forward and linked her right arm through to hang on
his left elbow, "Please lead the way."
After seeing the other three boys grin, Harry said, "Of
course, my Lady." And led them out of the Hall.
When they reached the statue, Harry said, "Professor
Whittaker, here, guards the entrance to our private
chambers."
"And diligently, Mister Potter," the statue said.
"And the password is 'Double-H Dee'," explained Harry.
The Professor gave a short bow in recognition and
stepped aside, allowing Harry, with Tracey still on his
arm, to precede the other three inside. Hermione and
Daphne were sitting together on one of the couches,
and they had obviously been chatting about something
important between them.
As Harry led the others inside, both girls said, "Good
evening!" And Daphne added, "Thank you all for
coming at such short notice."
"Thank you for inviting us," said Blaise.
Tracey then gave a little bit of a squeal and rushed over
to hug her friend. Once she'd backed off, she looked
around and said, "This looks nice! It's even bigger than
your old one. Give us the tour."
Harry said to the guys, "Join them, if you want. Or, take
a load off and have a seat."
Neville went off to tag along with Daphne and Tracey,
but Blaise and Horace remained.
Harry went to sit next to Hermione while the other two
boys sat opposite.
"So," Harry started, "How goes life in the Snake Pit?"
Blaise grinned back and replied, "That arrogant little
tosser, Malfoy, is still fuming over how Daphne is now
bonded to you, and forevermore out of his reach with a
betrothal contract."
Harry snorted and said, "From what I've learned, that
was never going to happen. First, I believe Matthias
hates Malfoy Senior's guts. Second, even if he thought
of considering such a thing, I think Daphne would likely
take her ire out on him before turning her wand to
Malfoy Junior."
"That's exactly what would have happened," Blaise
said with a smirk. "His problem is, Parkinson overheard
him and is giving him Hell for it."
"I thought he already had a contract with Parkinson,
anyway," Harry said, a little confused.
"No, Parkinson wants everyone to think that because
it's what she wants," replied Horace. "However, Malfoy
is not interested in her, that way."
"Ah!" said Harry, understanding. "And what's the
common consensus about the changes with Snape?"
"They think he's being blackmailed by someone;
possibly, you," replied Blaise. "Is it you who's
blackmailing him?"
Harry chuckled and replied, "In a way. I just told
Dumbledore he needed to 'muzzle his dog' after one
too many of his abuses towards me; or, I was going to
talk to the Headmistress of Beauxbatons, when they
get here late next month, and apply for a transfer to
there.