MetaFic

Prologue

"I'll do it. The students all hate me anyway; it won't matter if they hate me a little more."

Severus Snape, Professor, Potions Master and recently-installed Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, looked around the staff room. Nobody disagreed with him.

"Well, I suppose it is the only plan we have left." Headmistress McGonagall looked as if she had just swallowed something unpleasant.

Minerva McGonagall was not in the tiniest way happy about the current plan to break Harry Potter out of his self-imposed emotional exile. However, they had tried every other way she, the staff and Harry's friends could imagine. It seemed that Snape's rather drastic suggestion was their last chance.

Madam Pomfrey finally found her voice again. "I insist that it be noted that I do not approve of this."

"It doesn't matter what you approve of, Pomfrey," hissed Snape. "We need Potter to fight Voldemort. That has been made all too clear, even to me. For Potter to have even the slightest chance he needs to be at the top of his game. Potter, as it stands now, is a miserable wreck. He'll fall to the Dark Lord in an instant if allowed to stay in his current condition. He needs his truest friends supporting him if he is to break out of his current spiral of despair.”

Tiny Professor Flitwick piped up from his seat on the over-sized couch. "So how do you plan to jar Mr. Potter out of his cocoon?"

"Mr. Potter believes that distancing himself from his companions is the only way to protect them. I intend to show him the error in that assumption."

Flitwick looked alarmed. "You're not actually going to attack a student, are you?"

"Oh, no. I am planning to do much, much worse than simply attack a student."

McGonagall's lips thinned. "And which student, exactly, do you intend to traumatize? Will it be Mr. Weasley, or perhaps Miss Granger?"

"Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger would simply run to each other for support. I do not believe either of them would bring about the effect we desire. I've chosen another target, someone who has little in the way of protection. One I believe is sufficiently close to Potter and, because of her past, much more vulnerable."

"Who?" McGonagall asked, though she was sure she already knew the answer.

Snape's face remained an emotionless mask as he looked at the Headmistress. "Miss Weasley."

Chapter One

Ginny Weasley was having a terrible day.

Again.

Just like every other day since...

She gritted her teeth and faced the thought squarely.

Since Dumbledore had been killed.

The day that had broken Harry.

She couldn't stop her thoughts from returning to that day.

Voldemort and his Death Eaters had attacked the Hogwarts Express while it was on its way back to King's Cross at the end of the previous year. The train had been blown off its tracks an hour into the trip. Several of the teachers and Aurors guarding the train, as well as many students, were injured in the initial derailment. During the confusing battle that followed, Ginny had found herself standing back to back with Harry, taking on any unfamiliar wizards who approached them. They had provided the rally point for the students who were able to fight.

Suddenly the battle had ceased around them.

Through the thick smoke, everyone could just make out the ferocious magical duel between Professor Dumbledore and the Dark Lord. She remembered shielding her eyes against a bright flash of light, which was followed quickly by an explosion that knocked everyone off their feet. When she opened her eyes again, she saw Professor Dumbledore lying face down in the mud while Lucius Malfoy gathered up a severely injured Lord Voldemort and apparated away.

She had been the one to finally convince Harry to leave his dead mentor’s side so that the medics who had been called to the scene could treat Harry’s own injuries.

They had taken Harry back to the Burrow. Her mother forced all of Ginny’s brothers to return home that summer. There was always someone on watch, twenty-four hours a day. Constant vigilance was the order of the day at the Burrow.

Ginny had watched helplessly as Harry disappeared into himself. He wouldn't eat, wouldn't sleep, and wouldn't talk to anyone. Her brothers tried to get him interested in Quidditch, chess, or any number of other activities, but Harry simply refused to participate. Her mother and father looked at each other in distress over the dinner table as Harry nibbled just enough food to stay alive. Everyone in the household tried to reach out to Harry, but he rebuffed them all. Most days he wouldn't even leave the room he shared with Ron. And he didn't speak to Ginny all during the summer. Not one word until the night before they left to catch the train back to Hogwarts.

She had gone downstairs. She couldn't sleep well anymore either, so she spent many nights sitting in the kitchen, crying quietly and wishing she could find a spell to break Harry out of his invisible cage. On that night as she entered the kitchen she found Harry standing near the back door, looking out into the yard. She knew Charlie was on watch but wasn't sure where he was. She had walked up to Harry and placed her hand on his arm.

"Harry, please, please just say something."

Harry continued to look out the back door.

"Harry, don't do this. I love you, Harry.'

Harry looked down at her, a pained expression on his face, and uttered the first word he had said to her since Dumbledore's death.

"Don't."

Then he had fled back to Ron's room, leaving her to cry her heart out on the kitchen floor.

Ginny sighed and tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over.

Nothing had changed once they returned to Hogwarts. Harry completely cut himself off from everyone. It didn't matter how hard they tried to call him back. For all purposes the Harry she loved was gone.

And to make matters worse she was late for Potions.

She tried to slip into the room unnoticed, but the Potions Master had apparently been keeping an eye out for her.

"Ah, Miss Weasley, so you've decided to grace us with your presence. That will be twenty points from Gryffindor for being late."

"I'm sorry, Professor."

"I don't remember giving you permission to speak, Miss Weasley. Another twenty points from Gryffindor. Now sit down before I make it fifty points."

Ginny slid meekly into her seat, eyes downcast.

Professor Snape glared around the room. "Now that our little disruption is over, today you will be learning to mix the Veritaserium Potion. Since most of you are too clumsy and thick-headed to actually prepare this potion properly, I have some here. At the end of class, Miss Weasley will assist me in showing you what would have happened had you mixed it properly."

All through the class Ginny struggled as Snape, who seemed to have a keen interest in her today, breathed down her neck. She managed to not only mix the potion improperly but also caused a small, smelly cloud of green vapor to rise from her cauldron. Snape took another thirty points from Gryffindor.

Finally Snape called a halt. Ginny felt her stomach drop as Snape smiled at her.

"Well, Miss Weasley, what are you waiting for? Come up here and demonstrate to the class the effects of the potion when mixed properly. Or would you prefer I took another fifty points from Gryffindor?"

Ginny stepped up to the front of the classroom. Snape handed her a small vial and looked down his long nose at her.

"I'm waiting, and another ten points for making me wait." He smiled maliciously at her.

Ginny screwed up her courage and drank the potion. She shivered once as it went down. It tasted horrible.

"Now, Miss Weasley, where shall we begin? Oh, I know. Are you still laboring under that silly crush on Potter?"

"No." It was the truth; she was well past the crush stage.

"Really? How do you feel about Mr. Potter?"

Everyone in the class leaned forward to hear her answer.

"I love him."

"And does he love you?"

Ginny gritted her teeth and tried not to burst into tears. "No."

Her fellow Gryffindors looked at her in horrified sympathy. Many of the Slytherins had begun to snicker.

"Why does that not surprise me?" Snape said in a silken voice. "Tell us, Miss Weasley: who opened the Chamber of Secrets in your first year?"

Ginny couldn't help it. She let the tears fall freely. She had managed to keep her part in the whole incident a secret for all this time, but she couldn't stop what was coming next.

"I did."

There were several gasps in the room. Everyone looked horrified. Colin Creevey, who was her partner in the class, paled and fainted.

"You killed all the school roosters?"

"Yes."

"And set the beast of Salazar Slytherin on those students?"

Ginny couldn't stop crying. "Yes," she whispered.

"Honestly, Miss Weasley, how could you ever have expected anyone, much less the famous Harry Potter, to want to be anywhere near a person who would do such horrible things?"

"It wasn't my fault," she whispered.

"You admit to everything but claim it wasn't your fault?"

"He made me do it." She was shaking so hard she almost couldn't stay on her stool.

Snape glared at her. "Who made you do it, Miss Weasley?"

"Tom Riddle." Ginny was ready to vomit.

"Ah, yes, Tom Riddle. Why don't you tell the class what Tom Riddle calls himself now."

"Voldemort."

Another gasp rose from the classroom.

"So you did all those things because the Dark Lord told you to?"

"Yes."

"What a weak and pathetic little girl you are. No wonder your brave, noble Harry Potter doesn't love you. Who would love someone as tainted as you?"

Ginny looked at the floor and let the tears fall. Snape handed her another vial before she was forced to answer.

"This is the antidote. Drink it and remove yourself from my sight. Class dismissed."

Snape had timed it perfectly. As the sixth years were leaving the classroom, the seventh years were arriving. Ginny Weasley ran from the room straight into none other than Harry Potter himself. Snape watched as they looked at each other, Weasley with terror in her eyes and Potter with what looked like a spark of curiosity and perhaps concern. Snape smiled to himself as Weasley squeaked, burst into fresh tears, and ran away. He smiled at Potter as the young Gryffindor gave him a murderous look. At that moment Severus Snape was sure his plan would work.

He just hoped Potter didn't kill him when he discovered what had transpired that day.

Chapter Two

The entire school buzzed with the news of Ginny Weasley's humiliation at the hands of Professor Snape. At dinner the Great Hall was alive with the story, each retelling more embellished than the last.

"I'm telling you, I'm going to curse that slimy git right into the next year if I get him alone," Ron Weasley said around a mouthful of food.

"Ron, you can't go around cursing teachers," Hermione Granger said. The tone in her voice betrayed her own feelings. The truth was that she would be happy to help her boyfriend get even with the Potions Master.

"Where is Ginny?"

Everyone at the far end of the Gryffindor Table stopped talking. Harry Potter rarely joined them at dinner anymore and hadn't strung together three words outside of class all year.

"She's hiding in Myrtle's bathroom," Hermione told him. "She won't come out for anyone." She looked at Harry meaningfully.

Harry swallowed and looked back down at his plate. He wanted to go to her. More than anything in the world he wanted to go to her. But he wanted to protect her from Voldemort.

His mind churned.

He knew if he went to her it would be impossible to keep acting like he didn't care anymore. But if he didn't go to her in her current state she might do something rash. Harry looked to the heavens for guidance. It was storming outside, and the rain was pouring down on the enchanted ceiling.

He thought about every lesson Dumbledore had ever taught him. He thought about his parents and their love for each other. How they'd been happy even in the darkest of times. He realized that he'd let Voldemort dictate his life since the moment Dumbledore had died. He suddenly understood that Voldemort was winning the battle before the fight had started.

Across the Hall, Draco Malfoy proclaimed loudly that Ginny Weasley should be expelled for her part in the attacks during their second year. Several Hufflepuffs were talking about how all this time she must have been in league with the Dark Wizards: why else would she set the monster loose on the school? Harry even heard a Ravenclaw theorize that Ginny had used a love potion the previous year so she could keep him close and report his actions to Voldemort.

It was all too much for Harry. He stood up suddenly. He had unconsciously drawn his wand and was holding it in his hand when he slammed it down on the Gryffindor table. The entire table shuddered and several plates and goblets shattered. Harry's body shook with fury, and his wand sprayed red sparks.

The entire Great Hall grew silent. All eyes turned toward Harry. He looked around the Hall menacingly. Several of the students had gone very white. Even Draco Malfoy looked as if he might dive under the Slytherin table.

"Ginny Weasley is not in league with the Dark Lord, nor did she ever use a Love Potion," Harry spat through gritted teeth. "Ginny Weasley is a very brave woman who resisted the Dark Lord all by herself for an entire year and has saved more than one of your lousy lives more than once. Anyone who has a problem with Ginny Weasley is welcome to meet me at the time and place of their choosing to discuss the issue. Make sure you bring your wand." Harry looked pointedly at Snape, who was sitting at the Head Table.

"Harry?"

Harry looked to his left to find Ron staring at him intensely.

"Tell me you don't love Ginny, if you can. Come on Harry, say it to my face."

Harry opened and closed his mouth twice. Everyone at the Gryffindor table was watching him closely. "I have to go find her," he muttered.

Ron grabbed his arm. Harry tried to jerk away, but he was no match for the larger boy. "You didn't answer my question, Harry."

Harry looked at his oldest friend. "Okay, Ron, I love your sister," Harry said, his eyes bright with emotion for the first time in months.

Ron looked seriously at Harry and then, with a satisfied grunt, let him go. "If you ever hurt her again, I'll beat you bloody. Now go find her and tell her the truth."

"Ron, Hermione—I—I'm—," he started.

Hermione smiled at him, her eyes bright with tears. "We'll talk later, Harry. Go, find Ginny."

Harry fled the Great Hall as fast as his feet could carry him and pelted toward Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Breathlessly he burst through the door, only to find it empty except for the normal ghostly occupant.

"What do you want?" the dead girl said to Harry with a sour look on her face.

"Myrtle, have you seen Ginny Weasley?"

"Oh, the red-headed girl? She was really upset," Myrtle said with a sort of deranged glee in her voice.

"Myrtle, this is important. Where did she go?"

"How would I know? Nobody ever tells me anything. Why should they tell me anything, I'm just—"

"Please, Myrtle, anything at all." Harry was beginning to feel desperate.

Myrtle's face took on a frightening smile. "Maybe she went to drown herself! Maybe she's hanging from the rafters in her dorm!" Myrtle laughed.

Harry spun and burst out of the bathroom. Running all out he screamed the password at the portrait of the Fat Lady and dashed through it at full speed.

He looked around and noticed Colin Creevey with some other sixth years.

"Colin, have you seen Ginny!?"

"No, Harry, I haven't seen her since Potions. Oh, Harry it was just horrible. Snape--"

Harry never heard what Colin was going say about Snape. He dashed up to his own dorm and flung open his trunk. Digging around he found just the item he needed.

Thanking the memory of Albus Dumbledore for returning it to him in his fifth year, Harry unrolled the Marauder's Map. After quickly tapping it with his wand and saying the invocation to activate it, he scanned it frantically for Ginny. Finally he located her dot. She was near the lake.

Harry did a rapid mental calculation and then grabbed his Firebolt. He mounted the broom in his room and streaked down the stairs and toward the door. Lavender Brown had to throw herself flat as she opened the door through the portrait hole, else Harry would have run her down.

Harry quickly steered his broom through the corridors toward the Astronomy Tower. Students, professors, and ghosts all scrambled to get out of his path.

Finally Harry burst through the Astronomy Tower door and out into open air. The cold rain hit him like a giant fist ,and he almost lost control of his broom. His hair and clothing were immediately plastered to his body. Gathering himself he dashed toward the lake, looking for the telltale head of red hair.

He finally spotted her sitting on the edge of a rock that jutted out over the lake. Swinging his Firebolt around, he landed near her.

"Ginny!" he shouted through the storm.

Ginny Weasley looked up to see the source of the voice calling her name and walking toward her. She scrambled to her feet. "What do you want?" she shouted at him.

Harry stopped in front of her. "I heard about what happened with Snape. I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Nice of you to finally notice me again, Potter! Don't worry yourself, Harry. I'm perfectly happy, never been better, in fact life's a great jolly parade every day! So just go back to your little dark corner and leave me to be miserable in peace!"

"Damn it, Ginny! After what Snape did to you I thought—."

"Thought what, Potter? Thought silly little Ginny Weasley was going to throw herself into the lake? Sorry to disappoint you!"

"Ginny, I—"

"Don't say it, Potter! Don't you dare say it unless you really mean it! Because I swear, if you say it and it's not true, I swear by Merlin's beard I'll chuck your sorry ass into this lake!"

"I love you, Ginny Weasley!" Harry shouted over the ever increasing wind.

"What!?"

"I said I love you, Ginny Weasley. I've been a great stupid prat. I thought I could protect you from Voldemort by pushing you away. I'm sorry, Gin. I'm so sorry. I just can't keep pretending anymore. I'll understand if you hate me after everything I've done to you."

Ginny Weasley turned red. Not the blushing, stuttering red of her first year, but the furious, angry red of a Weasley about to blow up.

She slapped Harry as hard as she could. Before he could react she grabbed him by the collar and drew his lips to hers in a fierce kiss.

"You don't need to protect me, Harry. I'm not afraid of him, you know, not after spending an entire year on a first name basis with him."

"I just couldn't bear the thought of losing anyone else. Especially you."

"I'm afraid of losing you too, Harry, but that won't stop me from loving you. Let me love you, Harry."

Whatever Harry had been about to say was lost. As he opened his mouth to reply a particularly brutal gust of wind hit them both. Harry just managed to keep his feet, but Ginny was caught unprepared and slipped on the wet rock. Waving her arms wildly, she started to fall over the edge toward the lake. Harry reached out and grabbed her, but it wasn't enough. Both of them plunged into the water below.

Harry came up sputtering. He looked around franticly for any sign of Ginny. After what seemed like hours but was really seconds he found her floating unconscious in the dark waters. She had a cut on her head where she had hit the rocks as she fell. Harry managed to drag them both to shore, but he was too exhausted to carry Ginny back to the castle.

"Accio Firebolt!"

Harry's broom struggled through the storm toward him. Once it reached him he managed somehow to mount the broom while holding Ginny's limp, soaking wet body tightly. He kicked off, and the broom rose slowly above the ground. Harry aimed it at the castle doors. Focusing all his might on holding Ginny and reaching the castle, he guided the broom through the storm.

Finally, after an agonizingly slow trip, they reached the castle. Harry opened the doors and lifted Ginny in his arms. On wobbly legs he walked into the school. He was just about to cry for help when saw Ron and Hermione racing toward him. Hermione quickly conjured a stretcher, which Harry gently laid Ginny on. Harry looked at Ron with a huge, silly smile.

"She loves me!" Harry said.

Then he blacked out.

Chapter Three

The following Monday morning, Harry Potter strode purposefully down the corridors of Hogwarts.

He had spent the last weekend explaining everything to his friends. He had apologized so much that Ron had finally threatened to chuck him back into the lake if he didn't quit.

Harry was still amazed at how quickly his friends had forgiven him. It would take him longer to forgive himself for being such a child. But he wouldn't brood over it. He couldn't brood over it, if for no other reason than that Ginny had threatened to hex him all the way to Christmas if he did start brooding.

Harry's face took on a small smile as he continued his trek toward the dungeons. It was wonderful to be with Ginny again. To be near her, to hold her, to kiss her. Harry's smile widened even more.

Then his face darkened.

Ginny had only been allowed to leave the hospital wing the previous night. She had come down with pneumonia in addition to the concussion from hitting her head on the rocks as she fell into the lake. She was still sick and pale, but Madam Pomfrey had allowed her to go back to Gryffindor Tower under the condition that she rest for the next three days. Harry, who had long ago learned how to bypass the enchantment on the girls' staircase, had brought up her breakfast from the Great Hall that morning and then tucked her back into bed and sat by her side until she drifted to sleep again.

Harry increased his pace. He knew Flitwick wouldn't be happy about him skipping Charms this morning, but Harry had something more pressing to do.

He wanted to have a word with a certain Potions Master.

He found himself standing outside the door to the Potions classroom. He knew Snape had the first year Gryffindors and Slytherins first thing in the morning. Harry flung the door open.

Every head in the room swiveled to face Harry as he stepped into the classroom. All the students' eyes widened when they saw who was standing in the door, and they went wider when they realized he was holding his wand.

"Mr. Potter, what is the meaning of this interruption?" Severus Snape stood calmly at the head of his classroom, his hands hidden from view inside his robes. He was gripping his own wand tightly. Inwardly, he sighed. This was going to end badly.

"We need to talk." Harry looked at the first-year students. "Leave us."

Several of the students started quickly putting their books away.

"I did not dismiss this class!" Snape snapped at the students.

The poor first-years had no idea who to be more afraid of, their terrifying Potions Master or the wizard who had vanquished the Dark Lord as a child. Several of them started to cry.

Harry was able, when under great stress, to perform wandless magic. The greater the stress, the more powerful the magic. Harry still hadn't lifted his wand when he bellowed at the students. "Get out!"

All the glass in the classroom shattered.

The students fled the room crying and screaming.

Harry looked pointedly at Snape. "Now, let's talk."

***
Ginny Weasley woke up from her nap feeling slightly better than she had the previous night.

She stretched and yawned, then decided to shower and dress. She thought she might at least go down to the common room and try to catch up on homework. It would also be a good time to try to get the truth about what happened in her first year into everyone's heads.

She cleaned up, brushed out her hair and dressed. She had just stepped into the common room when the portrait hole burst open and a gaggle of frightened and crying first-years tumbled into the room. She tried to calm them down and get a coherent story. Finally one of the boys managed to gather himself long enough to explain to Ginny what had happen.

Heart beating wildly, Ginny Weasley fairly flew out of the portrait hole and dashed for the dungeons as fast as her feet would carry her.

***
Severus Snape was in trouble.

Harry's idea of talking turned out to be calling Snape unpleasant names while flinging curses and hexes his direction at an alarming rate. Snape had tried three times to disarm Harry, but each time his spell had been swatted aside. For his part, Snape had been mostly concerned with defending himself until Potter calmed down or until help arrived. He was holding his own, but just barely.

The Potions classroom, however, was not doing so well. Several liquids had mixed together to form a volatile, caustic soup on the floor and walls. Snape noted with interest that the stone wall behind Harry was actually beginning to dissolve.

Snape had just enough time to dive behind his heavy desk as Harry conjured up a whirlwind. Chairs and papers began flying around the room. Snape lifted his head and fired off a quick counter-curse, bringing the whirlwind to an end.

"Potter, quit attacking me and let me explain!"

"After you attacked Ginny? I think not." Harry sent another hex in Snape's direction.

Snape deflected it and counter-attacked quickly. "Yes, Potter, I attacked Miss Weasley in class. Just to anger you."

Harry parried Snape's attack. "Congratulations, Professor, you succeeded."

"So I see." Snape dodged two quick stunners and tried to entangle Harry with conjured ropes. "But do you understand why, Potter?"

"Because you still hate my father, so you hate me, too." Harry broke through the tangle charm and fired a blast of ice at Snape. "Since you couldn't get to me, you attacked someone I cared about."

"I haven't hated you since the end of your fourth year, Potter." Snape dissolved the ice with a small wall of fire. "Truth be told, I actually respect you."

"I'm so sure." Harry flicked his wand and a chair flew at Snape's head.

Snape blasted the chair into pieces. "I'm sorry that I put Miss Weasley through such anguish Potter, but it was the only way to make you to wake up."

Harry hesitated. "What did you say?"

"I said I'm sorry, Potter." Then Snape knocked out the flabbergasted Harry with a modified stunner. "I'm truly sorry, Potter."

Severus Snape had just drawn a relieved breath when he heard an angry female voice cry out, "Harry!" He looked up in time to see a head of wild red hair and a wand aimed his way before he was struck full in the chest by whatever spell Ginny Weasley had chosen. His final thought before darkness took him was, I knew this would end badly.

***
Harry Potter woke up in the hospital ward.

Yet again.

He looked around the room and spotted Professor Snape lying on a bed, talking to Professor McGonagall. Harry cleared his throat.

Both Professors turned to look at him. Harry felt his face light up and burn with embarrassment. He had attacked a Professor; he was sure to be expelled now. He had been so close to finishing school.

"Well Mr. Potter, back among the living I see," the Headmistress said, looking down at him.

"Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape. I'm terribly sorry about the mess I've caused. I'll pack my things tonight and be prepared to leave in the morning."

McGonagall pursed her lips. "And why would you believe you need to do that?"

"I attacked a teacher. I'm sure I'm being expelled."

"Oh no, Potter," Snape spoke in his most oily voice. "You are going to suffer a far worse fate than expulsion."

Harry swallowed hard. They were going to send him Azkaban! Harry saw his wand on the table. For a moment he considered grabbing it and trying to flee.

"You will be serving detention with me every Monday night until Christmas break, as will your friend Miss Weasley for her part in my injuries," Snape informed him.

"Yes, sir," Harry said.

"Your first task will be to repair my classroom. Then you will tutor the first year students, and then you will both be taught everything I can teach you about Voldemort. Do you understand, Mr. Potter?"

Harry swallowed. Snape tutoring him and Ginny about Voldemort's inner workings. Harry couldn't wait. He nodded.

"Good. Now I believe Madam Pomfrey said you could leave as soon as you awoke. Please remove yourself from my sight, Potter."

"Yes, sir." Harry sprang up to dress and dash back to the common room.

Epilogue

Harry and Ginny walked into Snape's classroom for what was to be the last of their detentions.

Good to his word, Snape had made them clean up the mess in the Potions Room and then had them tutor a group of first-year students who struggled with the class. In between he taught them everything he could about Voldemort.

Snape looked up from his desk. "So, our last little get together," he intoned with his usual icy edge.

"Yes, sir," Harry said nervously.

"Miss Weasley, would you please excuse us while Mr. Potter and I have a chat?"

Ginny looked worriedly from Harry to Snape. While they had developed a grudging mutual respect, she still wasn't sure about leaving them alone together.

"I promise not to bite him, Miss Weasley. That was a dismissal. Now leave or I'll take away points from Gryffindor."

With a last squeeze of Harry's hand, Ginny left the room.

Snape turned to Harry. "You are entirely too much like your father, Mr. Potter."

"Excuse me, sir?"

"You Potters and red-headed women. I'll never understand it. Be that as it may, your parents loved each other very much."

"I'm sorry, sir, but why are we talking about my parents?"

"You are aware that there will be a New Year’s Eve ball this year, Mr. Potter?"

"Yes, sir."

"And have you asked anyone to the ball yet, Mr. Potter?"

Harry was beginning to feel a little weird having this conversation. "I was planning to go with Ginny."

"But have you asked her, Mr. Potter?"

"Well, not yet."

"As I said, entirely too much like your father." Snape drew a deep breath. "Mr. Potter, you cannot assume Miss Weasley will be going with you. Young women expect to be asked, in a formal, sincere way, to be escorted to these kinds of events."

"Um, yes, sir."

Snape looked at Harry for a moment. "Well, Mr. Potter, what are you waiting for? Go ask her."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." Harry practically fled the room in his haste to chase down Ginny.

Severus Snape watched as Harry Potter vanished down the corridor, and then he looked up at the ceiling. "James Potter, my debt to you is discharged. We are now even."

Snape picked up his quill and started marking papers.