Harry Potter and Destiny's Arrow

"I don't know about you, but ice cream always makes me feel better," Katie said as they made their way back to Gryffindor Tower.

Jake smiled at her. "I reckon you're right."

"Now you're just teasing," she responded.

He shrugged and attempted to look innocent. He muttered the password to the Fat Lady.

"Little late to be out, isn't it?" she commented to the two students as she swung open. Jake entered the common room while Katie took a moment to ensure the Fat Lady's silence.

"How do you get this bloody thing to open?" Ron's voice called from the vicinity of the couch.

"Honestly, Ron, it's not that difficult," Hermione said as she rose up from the couch and reached around her back, hands working her bra straps. Jake's eyes went wide. He was torn between wanting to watch and turning away.

"Well, then, that's taken care of." This was Katie's voice coming from behind him.

Jake turned quickly, grabbing Katie by the arm and spun her so that her back was to the couch. He pulled her to him, kissing her passionately. As they kissed, he opened his eyes, noticing Hermione and Ron scramble off the couch, buttoning and straightening clothes as they made their way to their respective dormitories. I can't believe that they're taking the time to kiss each other good night. Do they not realize the sacrifices I'm making for them here? Right then, Katie's hands snaked down to his hips and pulled him closer to her. All thoughts of sacrifice and of Hermione and Ron flew out of his head as his eyes shut tightly.

Still kissing, Jake maneuvered them to the same couch that Hermione and Ron had just vacated. He felt rather than saw the couch behind his knees and he sat heavily, taking Katie with him. She broke the kiss only to pull his sweater up and over his head. As they resumed kissing, Jake's own hands meandered underneath her sweater. She gasped as his hand touched her bare skin. Before he could inquire as to whether she was OK with this, she arched into him, pressing her chest into his. Guess she's OK with it... She pushed him back against the arm of the couch and draped herself over him. They kissed some more before she dragged her mouth away.

"Something's poking me," she said crossly.

"Well..." he replied, not really sure how to respond to that.

"Is that your wand in your pocket?"

Jake's mouth dropped open. He'd never heard anyone actually use that phrase outside of a novel. What am I supposed to say? Oh yeah... "No, I'm just..."

She reached down and pulled his wand out of his front pocket, holding it up for him to see. "You know that's a really good way to break it."

He turned red. Thank God I never finished my sentence...Trying to hide his embarrassment, he pulled her to him again, kissing her thoroughly. She settled back down on top of him. As his hands roamed around her back, hers slid under his T shirt.

"Ruddy tie."

Both Katie and Jake sat up at this, their hands still in their respective places. Ron was approaching the couch. When he saw them, he froze.

"I...I...I forgot my tie," he said. "I...I'll get it tomorrow." He turned and fled back up the stairs of the boys' dormitory.

She disentangled herself from his embrace. "I'd better get to bed then." Kissing him gently, she wished him good-night and left.

**********************************************

Jake dragged himself to breakfast in the Great Hall. Scanning the crowd, he saw that Ron and Harry were sitting and that Hermione was nowhere in sight. He took a seat next to Harry.

"How's your mum then?" Harry asked.

"OK, I guess," Jake said as he helped himself to some eggs and bacon.

"And how's the Head Girl?" Ron asked with a smirk.

"You have the worst possible timing, Weasley," Jake snapped.

"Like yours is much better," Ron replied sharply.

"I saved your ass. You, you just barged in."

Harry looked from Ron to Jake and back again. "Could someone please tell me what's going on here?"

"I caught Ron and Hermione on the couch. And in order to keep Katie from seeing them...and giving them detention..." he added with a glare at Ron. "I sacrificed myself."

Ron snorted so loudly other students turned and looked. "Didn't look like you were making any sacrifice to me." He turned to Harry. "Because when I came back to get my tie, I found Jake and Katie tangled up on the couch."

"Well, if you could figure out how to work a bra, then neither of us would be in this situation."

Ron's face turned scarlet. Harry just covered his eyes with his hands. "That's a mental image I really didn't need," he muttered.

Jake bit off a piece of bacon, chewing thoughtfully. "Where is Hermione by the way?"

"Library," Harry explained.

Jake checked his watch. "It's 8 in the morning." Ron's flush had disappeared but he still hadn't said anything. "Ron, it's not a big deal. You got caught snogging. I got caught snogging. I'm sure everyone's been caught snogging. We're 16 after all." He turned to Harry. "Back me up, here, man." Harry flushed and dropped his gaze to his plate. "You have been caught snogging, right?"

"This isn't about Harry," Ron said, coming to his friend's rescue. "It's about..." He sighed. "Hermione was terribly embarrassed. Wouldn't even let me hold her hand this morning."

"She'll come around. Trust me. Katie was embarrassed too. She'll come around as well."

"Hermione's different. She's...shy. Katie's...more experienced."

Jake's eyes narrowed. "More experienced?" he repeated. "How experienced?"

Ron shrugged. "Well, she did go out with Oliver for over a year. And he had a bit of a...reputation."

Jake gulped. "She and Oliver...did..." He glanced at Harry for confirmation. Harry shrugged and nodded simultaneously.

"But I'm sure that it doesn't matter," Ron said quickly. "She and Oliver are over. She's with you, mate."

"I know. I am so screwed," Jake replied, burying his face in his hands.

*****************************************************

As if finding out that his girlfriend was entirely more experienced wasn't enough, the Gryffindors started the morning with Double Potions with Professor Snape and the 6^th year Slytherins.

"Who can tell me the essential properties of the Aldungus potion?" Snape ignored Hermione's raised hand. "Mr. Willig?"

"Wh-what was the question, Professor?" Jake answered dumbly. Images...terrible images...of Katie and Oliver Wood kept replaying in his head.

"You seem a bit distracted this morning, Mr. Willig. Ten points from Gryffindor," he said nastily.

Jake attempted to focus on Snape's lecture. However, by the time Snape turned them loose to work on their potion, Jake had racked up two detentions and had lost Gryffindor 20 points.

"I'll be pairing you up today." Snape rattled off the pairs for the class and Jake found himself with Pansy Parkinson as a partner. As they collected their materials, she was glaring at him.

"Look, I'm not any happier about it than you are," Jake said. "So let's just get to work, OK?"

They worked in silence, measuring and adding to the cauldron. A small fire broke out at Neville's workspace; Harry quickly put it out with his wand. Distracted, Jake added too much lacewing. The potion started to smoke.

"I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to do that," Jake said while they both looked at their cauldron.

Snape picked that opportunity to ambush them. "Is there a problem here?"

Pansy glanced at Jake and then at Snape. As she opened her mouth to answer, Jake beat her to the punch. "I added too much lacewing. Wasn't paying attention, I guess," he said.

Pansy's eyes widened. When Snape asked her if that was correct, she merely nodded.

"Perhaps a third detention will help you to concentrate on your potion-making skills, Mr. Willig." Snape turned and announced that everyone needed to turn in their potions and clean up.

Jake waved his wand, emptying and scouring the cauldron. He turned to find Pansy staring at him with her mouth open. "Um, that's not really an attractive look for you, Parkinson."

"You told him the truth," she said simply.

He shrugged. "What did you expect me to do? Blame it on you?"

She finished putting their materials away. "Why not? That's what your housemates would do."

"I seriously doubt that." He looked around. Finding the dungeon deserted, he said, "Come on. Let's go to lunch."

Jake and Pansy walked to the Great Hall, talking about nothing really: Quidditch, America (Pansy'd been there once), Hogwarts. As they entered the Hall, Draco strode up to them. "What are you doing, Parkinson?" he demanded. "Walking with Potty's little friend?"

"I'm s-sorry, D-draco," she simpered at him.

"Well, come on then. I don't have all day," Draco said, walking off.

"Why do you let him do that?" Jake asked as she turned to follow the blond Slytherin.

"Do what?"

"Treat you like something he's scraped off the bottom of his shoe?"

She cursed at him and stomped off.

*****************************************************************

Jake avoided Katie at lunch (being late helped) and dinner (eating early while she was at Quidditch practice) and breakfast the next morning (not going at all). He managed to avoid seeing her in the common room (he'd never thought he'd thank Professor Snape, but the detentions really were a blessing in disguise). When he saw her approaching him on his way to lunch, he turned and hightailed it to the library. He missed the look of disappointment flash across her face. Hermione and Ginny, however, saw it.

He sat at a table in the back of library, hiding behind a large stack of books.

"What's going on?" He peeked over to find Hermione and Ginny standing there.

"Just trying to get a little studying done. NEWTs are next year."

"You don't take NEWTs," Hermione answered.

Ginny shoved the stack to one side and seated herself across from Jake. Hermione sat next to her. "You've been avoiding Katie since yesterday."

"N-no, I haven't."

The redhead sighed. "When was the last time you spent any time with her?"

"Two nights ago," he said.

"And why is that?" Hermione demanded.

"I was talking to Ron and Harry..."

Ginny burst out laughing. "Please don't tell me you were taking love advice from my git brother and his equally clueless best friend." She glanced at the other girl. "No offense, Hermione."

Hermione chuckled. "None taken. Ron couldn't even figure out how to unfasten my..."

Both Jake and Ginny made a face. "I beg you not to finish that sentence," Ginny said. Facing Jake, she asked, "And what did those two tell you?"

"That Katie'd done...that she and...that she's more experienced than I...thought."

The two girls looked at each other and then back at Jake. "They told you that Katie and Oliver had..." Ginny let her voice trail off.

"Not in so many words, but yeah."

"And you asked her and she said?"

"Are you crazy? I didn't ask her anything about it," Jake shouted. Madam Pince glowered at the three of them.

"So maybe she didn't," Hermione replied, trying to be helpful.

"Hermione, it's Oliver," Ginny said, looking at her meaningfully. The two girls erupted into giggles. Jake felt uncomfortable by this whole conversation.

"You're right. She probably did," Hermione said.

Jake buried his face in his hands and groaned. "I've never...I mean...how am I supposed to compete with that?"

"Jake," Ginny said gently. He lifted his head up to look at her. "Katie and Oliver aren't together any more. I don't know what happened, but I do know that she hasn't dated anyone since the breakup. Until you. That must mean something."

He looked skeptical. "You need to talk to her," Hermione suggested.

*********************************************************

Jake skipped dinner, figuring he could get some of his homework done before his second detention with Snape. He went down the History aisle, looking for a book on the Goblin Revolution of 1439. Didn't those freakin' Goblins ever stop fighting? Scanning the shelves for what he needed, a conversation taking place on the other side of the shelf caught his attention.

"Have you talked to him?" said the first voice.

"Well, why not?" said the second.

"Because every time I try to, he runs off in the other direction." This voice Jake knew. "I think he's avoiding me."

"Why?" Now Jake could place it as Sarah's.

"I think I may have come on too strong the other night," Katie replied.

"How strong?" The other voice belonged to Jennifer.

"Not that strong." A pause. "We were just snogging. Intense snogging."

"And..."

"And we were interrupted."

"And since then?" Sarah again.

"Since then, we haven't spoken."

"I saw him here earlier." Jake glanced around, looking for an escape route. Jennifer continued, "With Hermione and Ginny."

"Oh," Katie responded. She still doesn't think that me and Hermione have anything going on, does she? "Maybe he's changed his mind. About me." Crap. She does. Say something, you ass..."Maybe he's decided that he wants someone else." Hello, idiot, say something...

"I did see him walk into the Great Hall with Parkinson." Gee, thanks, Sarah.

"It's just that I fancy him. A lot. He makes me feel...safe...and wanted...and...he's a really good kisser..." She said I'm a good kisser! Not just a good kisser. A really good kisser!

Jake slowly backed away. He definitely needed to speak to Katie. As he backed up, he collided with something. Or rather someone. "Eavesdropping, Willig?" Snape boomed in a loud voice. Katie, Sarah, and Jennifer's heads peeked around the stacks. "See you after dinner," Snape said, smiling spitefully as he walked off.

"H-hi, Katie," Jake said casually.

"We'll see you later, Katie," Angelina said as she and Alicia left the library.

Simultaneously, Jake and Katie said, "We need to talk."

Jake blinked. "Um, you first," he said courteously.

Katie walked out of the library with Jake by her side. Perhaps she thought it would easier to talk if they were moving. "You've been avoiding me."

He nodded. "Yeah, I have."

She stopped abruptly. Facing him, she said, "If I came on too strongly the..."

"No!" She flinched at the harshness of his tone. More gently, he continued, "You didn't...come on too strongly."

"Then what is it?"

He ran his hands through his hair until it was sticking up wildly. "It's just that..." He took a deep breath. "Ron and Harry told me that..." He stopped and started again. "We were talking about you and Oliver..."

"Jake, what are you on about?"

"They said that you and Oliver have...done...more things...than you and I have."

"Are you asking me if I've had sex with Oliver?"

He glanced around furtively to make sure that no one was listening. "Yeah, I guess I am."

"And if I have, does it change your feelings for me?" she asked quietly.

Of course not. But I think that it may change yours. She was staring at him, waiting for an answer. "If I haven't, does it change your feelings? For me, I mean."

"You mean, you've never?"

He shook his head.

"And it upsets you that I have."

She could see the shock in his eyes. A minute or so passed without any response and her face fell. She was getting ready to go when he blurted out, "What if I suck at it?"

"Wh-what?"

"You've...done it. I haven't. What if...I'm bad...at it?" he asked, blushing red enough to make any Weasley proud.

Katie sighed. "First off, I don't think we're at that point in our relationship yet, d'you?" As he shook his head sheepishly, she continued. "Secondly, if..." Her mind quickly added, When. "If we do get to that point, I seriously doubt that you'll...suck, is that the word you used...at it."

"Really?"

She hugged him, whispering in his ear. "You're certainly a better kisser than Oliver."

********************************************

Whistling, he arrived at the dungeon for his second detention. Nothing could put him in a bad mood. Not even...

"Well, Mr. Willig, how nice of you to join me," Snape said as Jake pushed open the door to his classroom.

"And a good evening to you, Professor."

Jake spent the evening scrubbing cauldrons by hand ('The muggles know how to do some things right, wouldn't you agree, Mr. Willig?') and rearranging the potions storeroom. As Jake finished putting the last few ingredients on their appropriate shelves, he spoke up, "Professor. I know you were trying to embarrass me earlier in the library."

"Well, it's not polite to eavesdrop," Snape replied, somewhat distracted.

"I know. I just wanted to thank you."

"T-thank me?" Snape set down his Daily Prophet and stared fiercely at the younger man.

Jake shrugged. "Yeah. Because of you, Katie and I talked and worked some things out."

Snape stood up to his full height and walked over to Jake. "Are you mocking me, Mr. Willig?" he asked, looking down his long nose.

Jake shook his head. "No, I'm trying to thank you."

"Just like your mother," Snape muttered, turning away.

"What? Did you just say something about my mother?"

"I said that you were just like your mother. Always using the sarcasm."

"But I wasn't being sarcastic, sir. I really..." Jake stopped and narrowed his eyes. "How do you know my mom?"

"Patricia," he said loftily, "and I were acquaintances." Jake could have sworn Snape cringed at this. "Many years ago."

"You and my mom knew each other?" Jake pressed for details. Frankly, he was unable to see his mom interacting with Snape on any level.

"I think you're done here," the older man said.

"But..."

"Leave now, Mr. Willig. Unless you'd like yet another detention," Snape spat out. Turning on his heel, he swept into his office, leaving Jake gaping after him.

***********************************

In the common room, Jake waved at Katie, but made a beeline for Harry. Interrupting his game of Wizard's Chess, he began speaking. "Sorry, Gin, but I need to talk to Harry for a minute."

"It's all right. I need to...um...talk to Hermione," Ginny said as she vacated the seat. "No cheating, Harry," she admonished.

They watched her head off to where Hermione was seated, busily scribbling an essay. "That was rude," Harry said.

Jake plopped down where Ginny was sitting. "I know. It's just...the weirdest thing happened at detention." He paused and, seemingly changing the subject, continued, "You still taking those Occulemency lessons with Snape?"

"Yeah," Harry replied slowly.

"Do you, you know, get inside his thoughts ever?"

Harry shrugged. "Sometimes."

"Well, next time, you're in there, could you, maybe, take a look around for my mom?"

"Your mom?"

Jake nodded his head vigorously. "Yeah, Snape said that he and my mom were 'acquaintances,'" he said, using air quotes to emphasize his point. "When I asked for more details, he basically threw me out of the dungeon."

"So you want me to find out how your mom knows Snape?" Harry said, finally feeling like he'd caught up in the conversation.

"Yeah. Would you?"

"I'll try."

"Thanks," Jake said, standing suddenly and leaving. Passing Ginny, he squeezed her on the shoulder and apologized for being so rude. Two seconds later, he was seated next to Katie in front of the fire, telling her about his detention with Snape.

**************************************

The students of Gryffindor were huddled in front of the notice board.

"I can't believe they're having another one," exclaimed one of the Creevey boys.

"I can't believe that Seamus is a million miles away," moaned Lavender.

"I can't believe that everyone has lost their head over this," Hermione muttered.

Jake bounced down the stairs. He spotted Hermione making her way out of the crowd. "What's going on?" he said, motioning to the mass of students.

"Another ball," she said.

"Another ball?" he repeated.

"Another Yule Ball."

"Oh, the infamous Yule Ball of 4^th Year, huh?" Harry had filled him in on that debacle one night while Ron and Hermione were off 'studying' in the library and Katie was patrolling with Theodore. "You know that Ron is going to ask you, right?"

She didn't respond, but gathered up her books and left the common room.

*********************************

Jake sat next to Ron at lunch. Hermione was still nowhere to be found. "Um, you'd better ask Hermione to the ball."

Ron stopped stuffing his roll into his mouth. "Wha?"

"The ball. Which they announced today. Which is in a month. You'd better ask Hermione. Soon."

"Wha?"

"Do you really want a repeat of the last ball?"

He swallowed. "Hermione's my girl. No one else is gonna ask her."

Jake sighed. And I thought I was clueless about girls... "You still need to ask her."

Ron turned to Harry who was just sitting down. "Help me out here, Harry."

Harry looked at his plate and muttered something about not going to the ball.

"What do you mean you're not going?" Jake asked.

"Could we finish with my bloody problem before we start on Harry's?"

"And what problem is that?" Hermione said, placing her bag on the bench and taking a seat. Ron leaned over to take Hermione's hand. She moved it out of the way. "You were saying you had a problem, Ronald?" she said coldly.

"We were just talking about the ball," Jake interjected. "About our dates."

"So you've asked Katie then?" she asked with an arched eyebrow.

"N-no, but I'm going to," he replied. "Tonight."

"And you, Harry?" she asked, facing the dark-haired boy.

"Not going," he mumbled as he shoved a forkful of roast beef into his mouth.

"Harry, you've got to go. I'll be there. Ron and Hermione will be there," Jake cajoled.

"Well, I haven't been asked yet," she said stiffly.

Ron rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. "Well, I...Hermione...I was, ah, wondering...if you'd...like to go...with me."

"I'll think about it."

"You'll think about it?" he said in a loud tone. "You're my bloody girlfriend, Hermione. Who else would you be going with?"

"It was a joke, Ron." She smiled at him. Despite himself, he smiled back. Jake gagged. Why do they always have to make the googly-eyes? The sound of his gagging must have brought them out of their googly-eyed stupor because Hermione was now focusing on Harry. "What do you mean you aren't going?"

Harry shrugged. "Just not interested."

"Harry, mate..." Ron began.

"I'm not going. Can't you just leave it be?" he said, leaving the Great Hall.

************************************

By dinner, no one had seen Harry. Jake told Hermione and Ron that he'd meet them down there. He had a hunch where Harry was. He walked past the tapestry and opened the door to the Room of Requirement. Harry was there, beating the hell out of the punching bag.

"Mind if I come in?" Jake asked.

Harry ignored him and kept hitting the bag. Jake walked up and positioned himself on the other side, holding the bag. "You know it works better if you've got some resistance."

Continuing to jab the heavy bag, Harry said, "If you've come to talk about the ball..."

"Actually, I was wondering if you got anywhere with Snape."

Harry shook his head. "No, he puts his thoughts in a Pensieve before we have lessons."

"Pensieve, huh?"

"Yeah."

"I wonder..."

"Wonder what?"

Jake shook his head. "Never mind. It's nothing." They were silent while Harry finished taking out his aggressions.

"You want a turn?" he asked, breathing heavily.

"Nah. I'm supposed to meet Katie for dinner."

"Are you going to ask her? About the ball," Harry said.

Jake nodded. "Yeah." He cleared his throat. "Harry, are you not going because there's no one you want to go with?"

Harry shucked off his boxing gloves, throwing them on the floor. "It's complicated."

"Fair enough." Jake looked at his watch. "Jeez, I'm late. I gotta run. You OK?" He headed for the door. Before he opened it, he turned back. "I'm pretty sure she'd say yes."

*************************************

Jake met Katie outside the Great Hall. He kissed her and apologized for being late.

"Did you find Harry?" she asked as she took his hand.

"Yeah." At her raised eyebrow, he confided, "Something's going on with him. Wouldn't tell me."

She tugged his hand, trying to lead them into dinner. "I reckon when he's ready..."

Jake was rooted to the spot. "I guess. Um, there's something I want to talk to you about."

"Can you talk to me about it over dinner? I'm famished." Again she tugged on him and again he didn't move. "Jake?"

"Would you go to the ball with me?"

She smiled. "Of course. Now can we eat?"

*******************************************

Jake made an excuse about forgetting something in his dormitory to Katie. He assured her that he'd get it and meet her in the library. Once he got up to his dorm, however, he opened Harry's trunk. Consulting the map, he found Snape and Harry in the dungeon. He threw on the Invisibility Cloak, sending up a silent apology to Harry, and headed for the dungeon. Luckily, the door was open just enough to allow Jake to slip in.

"For the last time, Potter, you must close your mind. It's far too easy for me to see your little fantasies about Weasley," Snape said.

"I knew it," Jake whispered. Snape and Harry both turned. Seeing nothing, Snape turned back to Harry. Harry, however, stared at Jake for a few more moments.

"Something the matter?" Snape asked.

"No. Let's try again."

As Harry tried to fend off Snape's invasion of his mind, Jake crept silently toward Snape's office. The Pensieve was sitting on his desk. Apparently, the Potions professor hadn't learned his lesson about leaving it lying about. Jake closed the door ever so slowly and silently. Both Harry and Snape were occupied and missed it. Jake whipped off the cloak and examined the Pensieve. His mother had one in her office to help her remember important details of her meetings with various heads of state.

He put his head closer to the mist. As it swirled around him, he suddenly was watching Snape's memory.

"Severus, you don't know what you're doing," a young sandy-haired woman with hazel eyes shouted.

"And you don't know how powerful he can make me. Make us," a younger looking Snape replied.

"I will never join him. I'd rather die than join Voldemort," the woman said.

"I hope it doesn't come to that, Patricia."

"Severus..."

"Are you sure we're done for the night, Professor Snape?" Harry was speaking rather loudly.

Jake jerked his head out of the mist and ducked under the Cloak. The door opened and Snape was framed in the doorway. "I'm quite sure, Mr. Potter. Now if you'll excuse me..."

He walked toward his desk. As he touched his wand to the Pensieve, Jake edged out the door. Harry muttered, "I'll meet you outside," as Jake slinked by. When both boys were in the hallway and on their way up to Gryffindor Tower, Harry reached over and pulled the cloak off of Jake.

"What in the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" he demanded.

"I...I looked in the Pensieve," Jake said. "Sorry I borrowed your cloak. And your map," he added apologetically.

"The map, too?"

Jake looked abashed. "I needed to make sure you and Snape were in the dungeon."

Harry held his hand out for the map. Jake handed it over. "Well, then? What did you find out?"

"Snape tried to get my mom to join Voldemort. And then he threatened her. You don't think he had anything to do with the attack?"

Harry shook his head. "Dumbledore says he's on our side now."

Jake narrowed his eyes. "I don't trust him." Glancing at his watch, he swore. "Katie is so going to kill me." He ran off, but turned back to shout at Harry. "Ask her already."

******************************

Jake sprinted into the library. "No running, Mr. Willig," Madam Pince admonished. Jake slowed down to a fast walk. He found Sarah and Jennifer sitting at a table.

"Get lost, did you?" Sarah said.

"Where's Katie?" he asked, slightly out of breath.

"Went back to the dormitory," Jennifer answered.

"Is she pissed?"

They both looked at him oddly. "No, I don't believe she's been drinking," Sarah finally replied. "Although she has been known to get pissed when she's hacked off. Remember that time that Oliver was flirting with that girl..." she asked Jennifer.

"She was pretty knockered that night," Jennifer responded.

"Ladies," Jake said, trying to get their attention. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Well, you asked if Katie was pissed," Sarah argued.

"Yeah, I know. Is she angry?"

"Angry? Oh, is that what 'pissed' means in America?"

"Uh huh. What does it mean here?"

"Means to get drunk," Jennifer replied helpfully.

Jake sighed. "Let's try this again. Is Katie angry with me?"

They just stared at him. "What do you think?" they finally said in unison.

**********************************************

He burst into the common room. Katie was sitting in an armchair, a thick book open on her lap. Right now, she wasn't reading, only staring into the fire.

"I've been looking for you," he said, sitting on the arm of the chair.

"I could say that same thing about you," she replied quietly.

"Before you say anything, I was talking to Harry. About the ball. Trying to get him to ask..." His voice trailed off as Katie pointed. Ginny and Harry were playing a game of Wizard's Chess and smiling shyly at each other. "He asked her already, didn't he?" Jake said, somewhat astonished. Katie nodded. "Gee, he works fast."

"So where'd you get to after giving advice to the lovelorn?" she asked.

"Went to the library. Where I think I got into a conversation about your drinking habits with Sarah and Jennifer."

"My drinking habits?"

"Let's just say that the word 'pissed' has an entirely different meaning than I'm used to."

She blushed. "I've only been pissed once."

"When Oliver was flirting with that girl...yeah, I heard," he said tersely.

"Jake."

"Katie, I'm trying to be the bigger person here. I just don't like hearing about you and...him."

"I think we need to have a talk." He rolled his eyes at this, but she continued. "I think you need to hear exactly what happened between Oliver and me."

"I think I don't," he said, getting up and sitting beside Lavender. He noticed she was drawing little hearts around Seamus' name. "So, Lav, who you going to the ball with?" She swore at him and stomped off. "What'd I say?" he said to no one in particular.

Two seconds later, Katie was sitting beside him. "Are you going to be an adult about this?"

He thought about giving a smart answer about him only being 16. I'm sure that Wood would never be that immature... So he sighed and said, "Fine."

"Oliver and I went out for a little over a year. When he asked me out, I was a 5^th year and he was playing for Puddlemere. Suffice it to say, he had a lot of female attention. He's like most blokes, I reckon, and had a hard time saying no. He made a lot of promises that he wouldn't..." She shook her head. "A lot of promises he was unable to keep. Last year, he came to Hogwarts and he told me that he wasn't being fair to me. So we broke up."

"He dumped you?" Jake asked flabbergasted.

She nodded.

"He was a fool, Katie," he said simply.

She flushed slightly.

"I mean it. You're...you're smart, and funny, and great at Quidditch, and beautiful as all get out. He was crazy to let you go."

She blushed even more.

"And I hate to say this. But a guy who loves you...who really loves you...would be able to say no." He paused and grinned. "Even if Britney Spears herself came on to him."

"Britney Spears, eh?"

"What can I say? I'm a red-blooded American male," he responded, trying to lighten the mood.

"That you are," she said in a voice huskier than usual. Suddenly, the mood got tense again. But in a totally different way. Katie cleared her throat. "We'd, ah, better be getting to bed."

"What?" he asked in a strangled voice.

She reddened. "I mean you should get to your bed and I should get to mine. Not that we should..."

"I knew that," he said quickly. She bent and kissed him on the cheek. He settled back on the cushions and watched her head up the stairs. He knew that even if he went up to bed now, sleep would be a long time coming.

**************************************

"Hey, Mom," Jake said, entering her hospital room. "You're looking more yourself." It was true; she wasn't quite as pale as she'd been the first time he'd come to visit her. A month had passed and he was making his regular weekly visit. Tonks and Shacklebolt were waiting for him in the hallway.

"There's a ball this weekend," he said, sitting beside her bed and taking her hand. He rubbed it, trying to warm it up. "And then it's Christmas break, of course." He paused. "I guess I'll be staying at Hogwarts." He never imagined when he left New York for school four months ago that he'd be spending Christmas at school. It was rather depressing; Harry, Ron and Ginny would be at Grimmauld Place. Hermione was going home to her parents as was Katie. "Katie asked me to spend Christmas with her and her family. But Robert..." He spat the name out. "Said it was too dangerous." He shook his head. "I really wish you were here, Mom. I have a lot of stuff I want to talk to you about. Like how you know Professor Snape, and what happened to Dad, and...and...love and stuff. I can't stop thinking about Katie, but I don't know...I think I might lo..."

"Jacob, I didn't realize you were here," Robert said, strolling in.

Jake glared. "I always come on Thursdays, Robert."

"Is it Thursday already? I just returned from New York, consulting with Vice President Jamesburg."

"Like I care," the younger man responded, turning his attention back to his mother.

"Well, have a good weekend then," Robert said, turning to leave.

"Hey, Robert," Jake called out, stopping the older man. "Did you, um, know my dad?"

Robert shook his head. "No, I met your mother after you were born. I heard he was a good man, though. Killed by Death Eaters in the war."

Jake stared at him for a long moment. "Well, thanks anyway. You...you have a nice weekend too."

*********************************************

Jake returned to the Gryffindor common room to find Hermione curled up on the couch in front of the fire.

"Not outside watching Ron practice?" he asked, shoving her feet off the couch and sitting next to her.

She glanced up, rolling her eyes. "It's freezing outside."

"And snowing," Jake added, looking out the window.

"I can't believe that Sloper has them out in this weather," she commented, looking out the window as well. "At least he's giving them the weekend off."

"It's not like he's got much choice. The ball's tomorrow night and then everyone will be going home for break," he replied morosely.

"No luck persuading Robert to let you go to Katie's then?"

He shook his head. "Nope, it'll be Christmas at Hogwarts."

"We'll be back before you know it."

"Yeah, and, in the meantime, maybe Snape and I can share some Yorkshire pudding on Christmas Day." He laughed at this and she joined him. Suddenly, he stopped laughing. "Um, Hermione, could I ask you something? Something kind of personal?" he asked soberly.

"S-sure."

He was very interested in his hands. "How...how did you know that you...were...in love?" Hermione burst out laughing and Jake's head snapped up. He felt his face flush. Well, she doesn't have to laugh at me... "Just forget it," he barked and started to rise.

She grabbed his arm and pulled him back down. "I'm not laughing at you. I just...wasn't expecting...that. I thought you might be asking about Ron and I..." She shook her head. "Never mind. I just wasn't expecting that question."

Jake grimaced and tried to push the mental images currently forming in his brain out of it. He thought of Snape getting dunked in a vat of Yorkshire pudding and smiled to himself. Looking up, he found Hermione staring into the fire. "Well?" he prompted.

Never pulling her gaze from the flames dancing in the fireplace, she said, "I...I don't know. I think that maybe I always loved Ron. And just didn't realize it until...last year, I guess."

"Hmm..."

She twisted around to look at him. "Is this about you and Katie?" she asked gently.

Jake merely nodded.

"Do you think you love her?"

"I think that I might..." Jake's admission was interrupted by the portrait hole opening and the Gryffindor House Team tromping into the common room. Every one of them was soaking wet.

"Sodding Sloper," Ron grumbled.

"Don't swear," Hermione admonished, rising from the couch.

"He had us out in a bloody snowstorm," he complained.

"I know. There's just no need..." As the two of them bickered good-naturedly, Katie came over to warm herself at the fire. Her hair was plastered to her head and her robes were sticking to her body in a rather attractive way, if Jake were being completely honest. She sneezed, distracting him of thoughts of peeling her wet clothes off in front of the fire.

"Gesundheit," he said.

"Thanks," she said, turning to finally face him. Water was running down her face, temporarily hiding the fact that she...

"What the hell happened to your face?" he called out, rather loudly.

"Sloper was a little too enthusiastic about hitting the bludger," she said, shooting a glance at their beater.

Jake reached out and touched her face gently. She winced anyway. "What did Madam Pomfrey say?"

"That the black eye will go away in a few days." She added in an undertone. "After the ball, of course."

Running his fingers under her eye, he asked, "And there's nothing she can do?"

Katie shrugged. "Says it's just cosmetic."

"There's not a spell or something?" he pressed the issue.

"No, there's not. And if you'll excuse me, I reckon I'll go change," she said, shrugging off his hand and leaving the common room.

"You're a prat," Ginny called out from the other side of the room where she was talking to Harry.

********************************************

Friday morning found the 6^th year Gryffindors in History of Magic with the 6^th year Hufflepuffs. Hermione was busily scribbling notes. Ron and Harry were playing Hangman. Jake was attempting to follow Professor Binns' lecture.

"Bran the Blessed fought in the Battle of the Trees, but was wounded by a poisoned arrow. The Greeks, of course, appropriated Celtic history and Bran became Achilles who was also felled by a poisoned arrow," Binns droned on as the room became closed and stuffy. Jake tugged at his collar. He put his quill down, figuring he could get the notes from Hermione, and let his mind wander back to last night. He hadn't cared about Katie's black eye; he'd just thought that she might be upset about it. According to Ginny, he'd been 'a total prat' about the whole thing. Of course, he'd missed breakfast and hadn't had a chance to explain himself to Katie. Why do I always mess up with her? It's a wonder she still wants to go out with me... He needed to do something to show her he didn't care, that she was beautiful no matter what. He put his head down on the desk, thinking hard.

"That's it," he shouted, sitting up straight. Binns and the rest of the class looked at him. "It's just that Celtic history is so fascinating." Binns nodded and continued with his boring lecture. Jake scribbled something on his parchment, tore it off, and slid it over to Hermione. Without missing a beat, she continued to copy down Binns' lecture and read Jake's note. She nodded imperceptibly and kept writing.

************************************************

"I can't believe I agreed to this," Hermione whispered. She and Jake were huddled at the foot of the staircase to the girls' dormitory.

"It's because I'm so charming," Jake whispered back.

"It's because you're so pathetic when it comes to Katie," she whispered, snappishly.

"No need to insult me." He handed her a branch of something.

"Please don't tell you me you stole this from the greenhouse."

Jake rolled his eyes. "I spoke to Professor Sprout about my...problem...and she gave it to me."

"So you want me to break into the Head Girls' room and leave this?" she asked.

He nodded. "And leave this note." He gave her a piece of parchment.

"You owe me," she said, taking the note.

"I think we're even now." He switched to a higher register. "Honestly, Ron, you just unfasten it..." He trailed off as she turned red. In his regular voice, he said, "Thank you, Hermione. For everything."

She shook her head. "I can't believe I agreed to this," she muttered as she crept up the staircase.