It wasn't far removed from the feeling he had had that time he'd been a fifteen year old student who had ended up in the Hospital Wing after taking a rather nasty kick in the kidneys from one of his 'fellow' Slytherins. It felt like all the breath had been taken out of his body and he was virtually certain that each breath he took would be his last.

Anders walked along the corridor that led from the Great Hall, holding onto the wall for support. He had been on such a high, and then...the pedestal had been well and truly kicked from beneath him. Prison Rat. Murderer. Those two phrases stuck in his throat and threatened to choke him with their accusatory presence.

He felt hurt. He felt confused, and most of all, he felt...yes, he felt angry. He had been acquitted of the charge of murder. Why couldn't people accept that what had happened with Olaf Petersson had been an accident, nothing more, nothing less? Why?

He could feel the tension in his neck and shoulders threatening to send his head straight back into the realms of migraine-dom, and paused in his walk to try to calm down. What had been recommended for his headache yesterday?

"A bath and a massage." It had been a harmless, innocuous remark that had been hard to turn into something entirely less innocent. Well, maybe he could take some of her advice, if not all of it.

Finally reaching his room, he opened the door and slammed it shut behind him. He pointed his wand at the bathroom and heard the water start to fill the tub. He pulled of Marcus' dress robes and lay them carefully on the foot of the bed. It had been nice while it had lasted. He would return the robes tomorrow, and made a silent vow never to show up to another organized event at Hogwarts all the time he was there.

Twenty minutes later, he was up to his neck in soapsuds, his eyes closed, trying to let the water soothe away the aching in his head and shoulders, and the sting in his heart. It wasn't working.

********

Marvo watches Kat leave the table with Marcus and looks over to Nimue. " Erm...."

"Did you hear what she called me - your 'beloved betrothed'? You'll lose her if you keep up this sort of behavior and I wouldn't blame her in the slightest. You'll end up like old Mad Eye at this rate. What were you thinking of making such a scene!"

Marvo collapses in a seat and puts his hand to his temple. " Sorry Lizzy. It was just such a shock seeing you with him! I don't want us to fight, But I've been asked by Mad Eye to see what he is up to. I guess I did over react a bit, I mean, you were only...."

Marvo stops half way through a sentence. " Hang on.. If it wasn't Dylan then...." He looks Nimue straight in the eyes, " Just who was it you were talking about in your Owl?"

Nimue thought quickly: "Well maybe I was talking about Dylan!" she replied, "I did write that letter on the first day of term and just maybe he just wasn't at all interested in me and I didn't get a chance to tell you! As you can see he is with Niki! Did you think of that!!

Marcus, as one might expect, is a beautiful dancer. Once they had got into the rhythm of each others steps (he was still a little tender from Professor McGonagall's dancing), he struck up a conversation:

"Miss Black, Kathryn ...I had hoped for some time to have the opportunity to thank you for more privately for the healing that you administered when I was injured in the forest. That the wounds did not disfigure me is down to your quick action. It is a debt that I cannot possibly repay. However, know that I am at your service."

Kat was surprised by this. "I, um, well that's ok. I would have reacted the same way with anyone. Although knowing how much Nimue... cared for you I was bound to act quickly." She smiled up at him. "You need not worry about paying a debt. I am flattered enough that you asked me to dance."

Marcus smiled down at Kat, "You obviously have a good and kind heart. It's a pleasure to dance with you. Now I really should be flirting wildly with you in order to teach that Marvo a lesson for being so ungracious to his lady."

A slightly wicked look came into his eye, "Or maybe I should attempt to lure you away from him? After all, I suspect if I was really good at this sort of intrigue, I'd be doing just that while ensuring that Anders Grimalkin was introduced to the prettiest witches I can locate in Hogsmeade. If I did it might save a great deal of heartache later on. But I wonder what do you think I should do?" His tone was light and to a degree teasing but there was a real question underneath the banter.

Kat giggled and glanced over at Marvo. "Well I don't think you should lure me away under false pretenses. But a little flirtation never hurt. Sometimes he seems like he has no interest in Nimue and others..." she let the words hang. Obviously her mood isn't as light as she is trying to pretend.

Marcus didn't flirt though: "Dear Kat, take it from me, I don't think that action of Marvo's was born of jealousy. Didn't he seem perfectly fine when he thought Nimue was dancing with me? He's just being over protective of her because of the things he's heard about Anders."

He smiled, "Really. I know their parents have these plans for them and I should be supporting that *but* I also saw the way in which he greeted you. He cares for you both but in different ways. It is possible you know." He looked at her to see if his words were lightening her mood any.

"Look, he even though he's busy he keeps glancing over in this direction. Now if you smile that lovely smile at me, he'll start worrying all right." Marcus gave her a cheeky wink.

Kat gave a glance in Marvo's direction. He was watching her. She turned away quickly and looked up into Marcus' eyes. "Thank-you. Knowing what Nimue has told me of you I know you would not lie about that." She grinned, and her eyes were sparkling again. "So you think that he loves me? I mean not like a sister, but well, proper love. me?"

She moves a little closer to Marcus as they dance.

Marvo sees Kat glance at him, then start to dance closer to Marcus, 'I've blown it!' he thinks to himself, feeling very sad.

"Sometime I'd be fascinated to hear what Nimue has told you about me" Marcus said with an amused tone to his voice.

"As for love, it often happens young for wizarding folk. There are so few of us I expect we have different pressures than folk in the non-wizarding world. Or it doesn't happen at all - which is also why there are so few of us." he smiled at this thought, "I do know that Marvo's way of being awkward with you is quite a good indication that he isn't thinking of you as a sister. He can be more comfortable with Nimue because he doesn't have those sort of feelings."

He allowed their steps to take them closer to where Marvo was standing just for good measure.

Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall were dancing again quite enthusiastically a short distance away, not paying much attention to the students...

*****

Zephyrina stands at the corner of the ballroom. She had just arrived...the dance is the first thing she sees. She has no clue what to do... "Erm...anyone here?" she asks silently. "Well, duh, stupid question..." With boredom and loneliness on her face she sits down and enjoys a jellybean.

******

" Oh. Yes. that makes sense" Marvo smiles an 'apologetic' smile. " Can you forgive me? It was just 'Brotherly concern'. I mean, I knew really I knew that HE wouldn't be able to do anything to you, but also I was worried that well, someone like you is the sort of person a Dark Wizard would go for"

He looks over to Kat and Marcus. " Do you think she will forgive me? Should I have sent more flowers?"

Nimue wasn't into forgiveness mode: "Anders.. I mean Professor Grimalkin is NOT a dark wizard, where do you get this from? He was a professional Quidditch player who was involved in a very tragic accident. He almost died too! He certainly did not deserve to be placed in Azkaban for those months awaiting trial. It was barbaric treatment!

Plus, what about Marcus - don't you think that he is competent to look after my welfare? He is friends with Anders.. I mean Professor Grimalkin - he'd hardly have left us talking if he thought I was in any danger from him. He even told him to look after me!" She looked out at where Kat and Marcus were dancing: "Whether she forgives you or not isn't something I would be able to say. I certainly cannot forgive you unless you make reparation to Professor Grimalkin."

Marvo actually thinks about he answer to Nimue. " Well... Mr. Moody told me about Anders, and I read some files on him. I admit they were very conflicting, but he still was only let out because nothing could be 'proven' guilty or innocent. So Marcus is a friend of his? I didn't know that. Perhaps..." He decided to be tactful and not continue that thread. "Perhaps when I've seen Grimalkin in action I can reconsider, but for now, well, lets just leave it at that"

Marvo is starting to get the idea that there may be something more that an Teacher/student relationship here, but he wants to talk to Kat before saying, or doing any more. One thing he knows for sure. He is NOT going to apologies to Grimalkin !

********

Andy stood there for a while, dazed. *What had just happened?* was his initial thought. He couldn't remember how or when he got there. Then something crept into his mind: Asriel. Nah, impossible. Asriel was gone. Wait! Hadn't Asriel tried to come into his body minutes before? Everything was a blur.

He felt a weird sensation that had come over him. Almost as if he had be held by someone. He didn't know...

Suddenly he touched his lips and pulled them away slowly. His fingers were red. *The color* he thought to himself *of lipstick.*

Katia, who was dancing with Unnamed nearby, happened to glance in Andy's direction. She felt her blood run cold. Why, why had she been so stupid? It would make her job a good deal harder if Andy caught on. *Please,* she thought, *please let him be stupid, please let him not understand!*

Andy's eyes widened. He looked at Katia. His eyes got wider. He looked from Katia to his fingers back and forth. It finally popped into his head what had just happened. Katia and Asriel were in love. "Oh my God," he whispered. He needed to tell the others. He needed help because he could not do this on his own.

Several large fifth- and sixth-years seem to have detached themselves from the group of Slytherins at one table. They approach Andy, and one says, "'Ere, are you Andy Warden? We want to 'ave a word w' you."

Without waiting for a reply, they begin to close around him, moving out of the Great Hall into the hallway. He began to shiver. He backed away looking around. He looked to Marvo, Dylan, the teachers. No one noticed."What's going on?" he asked. "What's...the meaning of this?

"This is abou' goin' off with someone's date an' comin' back w' lipstick on your face," the largest of Slytherins says. "We want to 'ave a bit of a word with you," says another, advancing menacingly.

"I didn't do anything" he said looking at them. "I swear it. I don't know how I got lipstick on me. I..."

"D'you hear that?" one of the Slytherins says. "He goes out into the hall w' Unnamed's girlfriend, and comes back w' lipstick on his face, and says he doesn't know?" "Ye must think we've not got two brain cells to rub together," another says.

Two of them advance on him, reaching for his arms. "So we've got a little lesson for you."

*********

"Shall we get some punch and go join the others?" Asked Randal. "I think after that little scene between Marvo and Anders that there are a few people who we could go cheer up. I'd like to 'bump into' the famous Marvo anyway." He grinned at Elia.

Elia nodded, wondering whether she could have a quick word with Nimue without anyone noticing. She smiled back at Randal. "Not literally, I hope," she teased.

Randal chuckles at that. "No, not literally." He led the way to the punch bowl and poured two glasses. "Here," he gives one glass to Elia.

Then he leads the way to the table at which Marvo and Nimue are sat. "Greetings, stranger! My, lady." He inclines his head to Nimue. Then turning back to Marvo he says, "Looks like your young friend might be getting into a spot of bother. Excuse me ladies."

Randal wanders over to where the 5th years are giving Andy some bother. "Can I help you gentlemen?"

"Come now gentlemen, I don't think there is any need for this." Randal steps in front of Andy

"Go ahead," says one of the fifth-years, obviously misunderstanding him.

Marvo doesn't move for a moment. He eyes Randal with suspicion, then seeing what is going on with Andy stands. " Excuse me Lizzy. I better help" He starts to walk away then stops and turns to Nimue. " Look. I AM really sorry I interrupted your Dance. Really"

"It's a bit late now!" Nimue snapped as Marvo walked off. She felt her evening had been totally ruined thanks to Marvo. She would have gone to bed but she didn't want to give him the satisfaction!

Nimue smiled at Elia who appeared to have been left with her while Marvo and Randal 'sorted things out'. "Some night eh?" she said to Elia.

"That's certainly, ah... one way of putting it," Elia replied. "Nimue..." Did she dare ask? Would Nimue be insulted, angry? The punch had loosened her inhibitions, though, and the words came out. "Is there something... anything... between you and Professor Grimalkin?"

Nimue was somewhat taken aback by Elia's question: "Elia, he's a teacher! It's totally unthinkable that there could be anything between us. What makes you ask?"

"The look on your face when you were dancing with him," Elia replies simply. She wishes she had never asked, but now that it's done, she has to explain what she means. "It's... different from those girls who twitter over him and have photos of him from when he played Quidditch. I saw that look on his face too."

"Did you?" Nimue hadn't realized that they were so transparent.

"Well, I never been one for acting in that sort of giggly way about anyone and it's hard not to look happy when dancing with a handsome man no matter who he is, I mean look at Kat and Marcus." She looked back at Elia, "However, it doesn't change the fact that there can't be anything between us."

Elia shrugs, turning away. *Yes,* she longs to say, *Kat looks happy dancing with Marcus, but that's not the same.* She also notes that Nimue said 'there can't be' not 'there isn't.'

Then Marvo goes and stands on the opposite side of the older boys, arms crossed. " Hi Andy. everything okay?"

The fifth-years glare, but move apart, returning to the feast. "Watch out for yourself, Warden!" one of them calls, as they slip back into the groups of Slytherins.

"Randal," said Andy rolling his eyes. "Come on. Let's go." He began to walk away from them.

"You ok? Looked like a tricky corner you had got yourself into there." Randal asked Andy.

"Yea," said Andy. "It's just a couple of bullies trying to get at me because I was talking to Katia."

Marvo frowns and looks over to Kat, who looks quite happy dancing with Marcus.

Andy looks at both of them. "Listen," he said quickly. "I need to talk to you about something. Something about Asriel. Remember I told you about him, Marvo?"

Randal looks from Andy to Marvo. No one has told him to go away, so he is going to stand and listen...

Marvo, who seemed distracted turns to Andy, " Oh, yes. I remember."

He looks over to Randal. "But not here", He looks again over to Kat Dancing with 'that older man'

"Excuse us," Andy said to Randal. "Marvo and I need to talk." They stepped away from Randal. He noticed Marvo wasn't really looking at him. "Marvo," he said. "I think." And nothin came out.

Andy opened his mouth to tell Marvo some information about Asriel and Katia, but soon noticed no sound was coming out of his mouth. He tried to talk again. Nothing. It came to the point where he was actually screaming, but not a sound came out of his mouth. Marvo looked at him as if he was an alien. Obviously a wicked deed performed by Asriel. What was he going to do now? Hopefully Marvo could read lips.

" Andy? are you okay? " Marvo has noticed a few people are looking and acting a little odd at the feast, and wonders if Andy has been effected in the same way

Randal wandered back to the table he had left Elia at. Shame for Andy that he didn't know that distance was no problem for Randal...

Marvo looks over to Andy, a slight tear in his right eye. he shakes his head. " Sorry..... Right, Andy, what did you want to talk about? Oh yes, this 'Asriel' thing." he lowers his voice.

" I've spoken to Moody about it. He said he has sent a owl to Dumbledore. I'm here to pick up the Pendant and take it to the Ministry." He pauses and glances again at Kat " And I may not stay for as long as I expected. I'll go and see Dumbledore tomorrow to sort out the details."

He smiles seeing that Andy looks a little worried. " Don't worry old chap, It will all be sorted out. As long as you stay away from that Pendant you'll be fine." He pats Andy on the shoulder with his left hand and Andy feels the poke of a wand, even though the hand looks empty. Marvo D Ward who has forgotten that that distance was no problem for Randal.

Andy knew it was no use trying to talk. He obviously couldn't. And Marvo obviously couldn't read lips. He gave up. He went over to Nimue and tried to talk to her. Hopefully she or someone else would know what to do. At that moment he just wanted to die.

Katia, dancing by in the protective clutches of Unnamed, hears a few words. "Pendant... Dumbledore... tomorrow..." She whispered something, her eyes widening, and resolved to try and talk to Marvo for a few moments later.

*******

Kat looked up at Marcus and smiled at him. "Thanks," she said. "I guess an outsider's view of things helps. I think he has stewed enough for now, though. I better go give him a chance to redeem himself, if he really does feel that way."

She led Marcus off the dance floor holding his hand. As they got to the edge of the dance floor she reached up and kissed him on the cheek, "thanks!" she whispered. Then she wandered over to where Marvo now stood on his own...

Marvo's heart seems to be beating very fast at the moment. He wonders if he would rather be facing another of Mad Eyes curses than be here right now! He is not sure if he should smile or not as Kat approaches, so he sort of scuffles his feet and looks down. " Erm... Hi... Did you enjoy your dance? "

Nimue is pleased to see that Kat has headed in Marvo's direction. Also, she is happy to take the opportunity to claim her escort and escape from Elia's rather observant questioning.

She went up to Marcus and said in a teasing tone, "So I have a rival for your affections then?" He smiled and looked down at her and suggested a dance might be in order to 'restore the proper order of the universe'.

"It was enjoyable, yes." Kat looked at him for a minute. She can't help but feel sorry for him. "I, er... am sorry I was short with you. I still find your relationship with Nimue hard." Now Kat looked down and scuffed her feet.

" Oh Kat, please" He takes her hand, " There is nothing between Lizzy and me, apart from I guess a Brother and sister thing. Noting like... Like what I feel for you"

Marvo feels a little faint. He smiles " I mean... Lizzy might be pretty, but kissing her? ugh! no thank you! And I was so shocked to see her dancing with that 'Grimalkin' I guess I just forgot myself. He hasn't tried anything with you has he? Because if he has...." Marvo leaves the sentence unfinished. He squeezes Kat's hand, " So... Want some punch?"

Kat grins at him. "I know it's different. It's just difficult knowing that one day you will marry her, and when you use, or almost use that 'b' word I.... well, it upsets me. Sorry. And I did really like all your flowers." Kat grinned at him wondering how to put this. "But one bunch of roses would have done."

She put her arms round him and hugged him, hoping that they could call it quits.

" Oh that", Marvo Blushes, " I was just upset is all. You know I don't want to be married.... not to Nimue anyway", he smiled, " I'm glad you liked them. I wasn't sure what to send, so I asked the elf to use his imagination. So...."

Kat grinned. "Well he definitely did that! There was all sorts. I couldn't fit them all in my dorm! Must have cost you a fortune though! You know you probably shouldn't have sent so many. But they really brightened my day!" Kat reaches up to Marvo and kisses him. "Thank-you!"

Marvo hold on to Kat tight when she kisses him. Looks deep into her eyes and kisses her back.

**********

Niki looked up at Dylan, not saying anything, but smiling. She felt angry with herself for interfering with this moment, which seemed almost magical, but it felt as if a huge weight had been removed from her chest. At least now someone knew, someone trusted her. She would have to be very careful indeed about what she wrote to Hadrian, lest he become suspicious, but, as she had told Dylan, she couldn't put the diary away and forget.

Was it just her imagination, or had Dylan looked worried? Worried for her? It was like a warmth in her chest to think that he really cared. Niki could feel her nose tingle, felt tears of gratitude welling up, but she blinked them away, trying to keep her mind on the dance and the warmth of his body next to hers. She could always worry tomorrow.

Dylan saw her gazing up at him, smiling in a way that was at once disconcerting and heady all together. It made him feel warm for a moment, a sensation with which he was not familiar, and it frightened him. Why did he get the sensation that he was hurtling over a cliff with no way of stopping himself, yet he liked the fall? Dylan didn't know, but he smiled back at her, his eyes soft. He'd never really given credence to Valentine's Day, to any of that romantic stuff, but maybe it was worthwhile. Or maybe the punch was spiked. He wasn't sure which. But he was fairly certain that he liked to dance; moreover, he liked to dance with Niki.

Katia was feeling very annoyed. First Asriel surfaced and started kissing her, then he sank back under Andy's consciousness. Andy remembered- how could she have been so stupid! Unnamed had been decidedly irritated when she returned, and she had seen a few of his friends cornering Andy. Now, seeing Niki and Dylan, Katia couldn't resist an opportunity to be nasty.

Unnamed was feeling annoyed too. His date, the beautiful girl who had been flirting with him for weeks, had gone off with another boy, who had returned with lipstick smeared on his face. When he realized that Katia was about to say something to these two third-years, he followed her, recognizing that Welsh kid who had gotten in all those fights.

"Well, well, well..." Unnamed said, sneering at them. "How cute. I never knew Welsh boys liked toddlers."

Madison headed over to where it seemed trouble was brewing. Completely "loose" now, she had no idea what she was doing. "At least his date didn't go off with another guy," she sneered at Unnamed. "What's the matter? Couldn't keep your girl interested?"

Katia flushed. She *had* hoped no one noticed. "I see you couldn't get anyone to come with you, Miss Avalon," she said contemptuously. "Since most people, Miss Hawkwood excepted, don't usually like murderers."

Madison, though completely gone, had still expected the low blow. "Really, it that all you have? I'd have thought you'd have more dirt on me by now, instead of using all this old news that *everyone* knows isn't true." She smirked. "As for coming alone...I can make decisions, and I made that one on my own. Unlike *some* others, I'm not stringing along two guys...though I don't see how they got sucked into it..."

Dylan felt his temper flare, and his voice was like ice as he spoke, never taking his arms from around Niki. "Ne'er knew English boys liked whores," he retorted, his eyes glittering dangerously. "Back off. I'm not o' th' mind t' break your nose t'night."

Katia stiffens too. "What did you say?" Her voice is harsh, and her face seems to be lengthening, no longer attractive. "Would you like to repeat that?"

Unnamed grabs her arms, hissing something in her ear, but she turns on him, muttering something that makes him drop her arms as if he had been stung.

Giving Niki a squeeze, Dylan pulled his arms away, putting his hands on his hips. "Love t', Katia. I said tha' I ne'er knew English prats fancy whores. I'd have used stronger language, y' see, but there are ladies present...excludin' you, o' course." Though the words were deceptively light, his eyes and tone left no confusion as to the intent behind them. Rage was perhaps the most appropriate word for the emotion, but even it lacked a certain quality to describe the incensed yet outwardly calm Welshman.

Madison was, for some reason, taking a certain amount of pleasure from watching this verbal fistfight. Her eyes took on a curious glint as she stood with her arms on her hips. For just a moment, she looked like Katia's usual, nasty self... "Very well said, Dylan. A bit mild for her case, but very well said..."

Yvette wandered over, watching the fight with a quizzical look. "Hey, Maddy, did anyone ever tell yer *hiccup* that when yer mad, y'look sorta like...*hicucp* sorta like..." She'd forgotten who in the hazy fog that was crowding her mind.

Madison gave a start and, seeing Yvette, forgot what she was so angry about. It was quite possible that she couldn't remember that she was angry in the first place. She giggled. "Oh, well...Maybe you'll remember later. Let's go find some dancing partners...Hey, Yvette...I think that Ravenclaw over there's checking you out. Go for it!"

********

"Dylan, don't..." Niki watches their growing rage with apprehension. She's seen angry Veela before, and it isn't something she wants to see repeated. "We all know what she is, but-"

Before Niki could finish her sentence, Katia screeched with rage, and throws what looks like a handful of pale fire at him. It misses, catching one of the tablecloths on fire.

Dylan, ever quick on his feet, tucks and rolls, dodging the fire. As he goes down, he swings out with a leg, neatly taking Katia down to the floor where she can do less damage. As he comes back up to his feet, the now cocky Welshman avoids Katia. "Tha' th' best y' can do, miliast?" he retorts, spitting the last word in Welsh at her. His eyes are blazing, their usual grey colour harder than ever.

"What is going on here?" It was Snape. He was staring at Dylan. "No, don't answer. It's perfectly obvious. Thirty points from Gryffindor, Rhydderch, and detention." He sneered at Dylan's shabby robes, his gaze raking the gathered students.

"Professor Snape, that's not fair!" Niki surprised herself by her outburst, but she felt indignant. "It wasn't Dylan, it was Katia, it's her fault!"

"Be that as it may, Miss Pheidippides, I am a teacher at this school, and you must learn not to challenge my judgement. Detention for you, as well." Snape did not look pleased to have to do this, much unlike his glee at being able to punish Dylan.

Dylan nodded, his body tensing. "She starts havin' her lug o' a date insult Niki an' m'self, then starts shootin' fire at us both, which coulda killed some people, an' you give me detention?! You...you...." He looks ready to explode, his face getting redder by the minute, his hands balled into fists.

Dylan does explode, in a string of Welsh that surprises even himself, and it was easy to tell from his tone that it was quite rude, quite unacceptable and probably enough to warrant a trip to the headmaster, but Dylan didn't care at that particular juncture.

"A week's worth of detentions, Rhydderch. And you will learn not to use such language to a teacher, or you will pay the price. And... shall we say another fifty points from Gryffindor?" Snape looks quite smug.

'Smug git' were among the first words that came to Dylan's mind, though they were the least offensive. Fuming with even more rage than before, he turned on his heel, a storm cloud in his black robes, and marched out of the Great Hall. He was so angry that he even forgot to bow his head as he moved. What was that, 80 points from Gryffindor all because he let Katia and her smegging prat of a date get to him. He ruined Niki's Valentine's Day, he was sure, and he'd never, ever make up the loss of points to the Gryffindor House.

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

Yvette had found a chair, and was hiccuping every few seconds. She was rambling on a mile a minute to some poor Hufflepuff, and she'd attached herself to him like a barnacle to a boat. He looked bewildered, halfway between a grin and a scream.

"An' then I said, "It can't possibly be a chicken *hiccup* cause chicken's don't gots no wings!' An' he looks't me *hiccup* and says, 'Yerarealfunnyonecauseyerlooklikeachickenan'*hiccup* yerdon'tgotsnowingsandshensheshrinkedasharanle..." She began slurring her words, and suddenly giggled. "Hey, yers haves a twin!" She turned to the empty chair beside him, because she was seeing double. "An' yer didn't introduce me!" The boy looked ready to bolt.

Madison plopped down next to Yvette, grinning. "He got a little too attached...had to cut him loose," she said, by way of explanation. Catching sight of Katia, she glared, then shrugged and turned back to Yvette. "Hey, Yvette ...who's your friend?" She gave a little wink and laughed.

Yvette giggled. "Dunno! *hiccup* I call 'I'm Huffy." The boy looks at her like she's crazy.

Professor McGonagall was more than a little concerned as she made her way swiftly through the corridors towards the teacher’s quarters. She paused outside Professor Grimalkin’s door, taking several deep breaths. The young man had already undergone one embarrassment tonight, and she felt almost guilty at being the bearer of such tidings. However, it was a problem that must be nipped in the bud, and she certainly didn’t trust Snape to handle a matter of such…sensitivity.

She knocked gently. There was a long pause, and then it opened, just a crack. Anders stood in the doorway, wearing only a pair of trousers and with his hair dripping wet.

"Yes?" he said, softly. "I was just…in the bath."

"May I come in, Professor Grimalkin? There is a matter of urgency I must…discuss with you."

Puzzled by her hard tone, he opened the door up admitting Minerva McGonagall to his room. She walked in and stood in the centre of the room, turning to face him. "There is no easy way to ask this, Anders, so I must be blunt. Please forgive me."

Still bemused, he shook his head. "If this is about what happened downstairs, I can explain. I…" But she held up a hand to stop him.

"I overheard something a little…disturbing, Professor, and I must see if that claim can be substantiated, I am afraid." His face, somewhat pink from the heat of his bath immediately drained of colour. Minerva desperately hoped against hope that her initial assessment of the young Professor as a sensible man was right. "I overheard one of the students claiming that you have made improper advances to her," she said, watching him carefully.

Anders could have died. Had Nimue said something about their meeting in the café? He’d wondered if they’d gone too far speaking as they had. But no…surely he hadn’t done anything that could be considered…improper. But if not her, then…who?

McGonagall was silent, watching the struggle in his face that for a few moments put his innocence in the balance. Finally, he ordered his words and spoke carefully, without lying.

"I haven’t done any such a thing, Professor," he said in a broken voice. "I have made one or two friendships with some of the students, but truthfully…that is as far as I have taken it. I would never…abuse my position for my own satisfaction."

He looked mortified, and McGonagall’s heart went out to him. He spoke with such emotion, that she could do nothing but believe him. She looked at him carefully. "You would not lie to me about this, Anders?"

"No, Professor. I would not. I know that I was dancing with Miss Hawkwood downstairs, but that was all it was. Dancing. That's all." And there it was. The pride that she remembered, springing, even if momentarily back into his spine. She was almost delighted to see this return, however brief, to his old self and smiled gently.

"I do believe you," she said, "and I will have harsh words with the student concerned. I am sorry to have bothered you, Anders. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

He said nothing as she walked to the door, but his face was working through a variety of emotions. Finally, he seemed to settle on an expression of abject disbelief and unhappiness. "Professor…" he asked, hesitantly. "Who was that who pulled me away from Nim…uh…Miss Hawkwood?"

She sighed. "Malcolm Ward," she replied. "Marvo." When his brow wrinkled a little, she added, with emphasis, "Elizabeth Hawkwood's betrothed." She saw the expression on his face and wished she hadn't said that. But she couldn't take it back now. Sighing heavily, McGonagall left him to his thoughts and undoubted misery.

********

Dylan mulled over all this as he walked, heedless of where he was going. He was surprised to find himself outside when he did realize where he was, and Dylan stopped when he reached the lake. It was bitter cold, and his breath came out in angry puffs of steam as Dylan stood there, regarding the heavens with eyes so grey they were almost black. "I'm never making a bargain with God again. Never. I told You I'd do whatever the hell it is You had planned for me if you gave me one smegging night, and You couldn't even do that, could You!"

Dylan picked up a rock from the shore and threw it as hard as he could across the lake, picturing Snape's large nose where it hit the water. "Smug git. I hope you choke to death on your own smug gittiness."

He stopped ranting after a while, and dropped silently to his knees in the snow, his head bowed. He had never, ever been so humiliated in his life. He'd never hated two people right now as much as he hated Katia and Snape. And he was pretty sure that Niki wasn't among his staunchest supporters either, now that he'd earned her detention as well. "I should have jus' stayed in Wales," Dylan moaned to the night as a soft, light snow began to fall.

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

Niki's suggestion that Katia had been the cause of the problems and Dylan's remarks about 'shooting fire' at first hadn't registered on the Potions Master, so annoyed had he been by Dylan's insolence.

After Dylan had stormed off, he turned and noticed the smoldering tablecloth which someone had the presence of mind to put out. He turned back to Niki. "Miss Pheidippides, exactly what did Miss Drachenstein do?"

Niki, who had been about to turn after Dylan, stopped. "Oh, didn't you know, Professor?" She gestures at the burning tablecloth. "Well, she made several comments I wouldn't like to repeat, then she threw that fire at the tablecloth." Then, she turns and hurries out of the hall, looking for Dylan.

"Fair enough Miss Pheidippides, I will review yours and Mr. Rhydderch situation in the morning after I have time to investigate the matter."

However, she had already turned and gone. He did not like the Welsh boy reminded him too much of Grimalkin. His manner was insolent and his accent almost incomprehensible. At least he wasn't in his House!

Still, Snape also was not fond of Miss Drachenstein either and hadn't been from their first meeting. He had a instinctive revulsion at the idea of hybrids such as half-Veelas. If she was allowing that side to show itself too much the matter might need to be brought to the attention of the Ministry.

He looked around to see if he could see Katia but elected to go and have another drink of the delicious punch before confronting her.

**********

Niki followed the footprints in the snow out onto the edge of the lake. Shivering a little in the snow, she approached Dylan, who was kneeling in the snow. She was fuming at Snape's unfairness. Eighty points from Gryffindor? It had been Katia who started it, Katia who ought to be punished.

Dylan didn't seem to notice her presence, so she timidly put her hand on his back. "Dylan, you'll freeze to death if you stay out here. It's not your fault Snape's unfair." She knelt next to him, looking intently at his bowed head. "It's not your fault Katia's a… a…" Niki seems lost for words, unable to think of a word that sufficiently describes her feelings.

He shook his head, the wind whipping his hair about his face. "Shouldn't have lost m' temper. He likes it when I do...always has. Smug git." Dylan remained where he was, his voice deathly quiet, almost lost in the wind. "Eighty points. Eighty points. We'll loose th' House cup fer sure now... He was cross tha' I was there wi' you, th' prat, an' tha' I dared d'fend m'self against Katia." His voice broke, and Dylan dropped his head further. It seemed as if whatever burdens he carried had somehow multiplied, bowing his back as well as his head.

"He didn't understand, Dylan, he didn't know what was going on. He said that once he'd heard what happened with Katia he would decide what to do..." Niki put her arm around him. "And he's a stupid, unfair..."

**********

When they finally stop kissing Kat realizes there is something else that maybe she should broach. Still looking flushed from the experience she leads Marvo to an empty table so they can sit and talk. Still holding his hand she starts...

"Um... I don't want to spoil this time with you, but I think there is something you need to consider. I'm referring to Nimue. If you do care about her then you should consider that she might have been referring to Anders Grimalkin in her letter to you. And maybe she isn't being naive about it."

She holds her breath hoping that Marvo isn't going to explode at this suggestion.

Marvo looks happy... then Stunned! " You mean... she has feelings for him? real ones? but... but that's not possible!" He looks very confused, torn between knowing that Nimue is mature enough not to just have some silly crush, and his training telling him that Grimalkin is a 'probable' murderer and should be locked away.

" That can't be!" Is all he says and puts his head in his hands.

"Oh Marvo, don't be like that. I know a little about the story behind Anders, and there are far too many coincidences. I mean, I was in the library when Katia and Niki had a huge row - you remember I told you that I got told off for having Scully in the library, it was the same day. Anyway, did you know that when Niki's mum was sent to Azkaban the condemning evidence was from the same Norwegian seeker that Anders was accused of murdering."

She paused briefly, "And, another thing, remember what happened to Madison last term. How could you prove that Madison was innocent if she was still being possessed by Quetzelcoatal? Yes there is a lot of condemning evidence, but he does seem genuinely nice. And my necklace never screams when he is around. Not like it does with Arcadia. Perhaps you could give him a chance?"

Kat had to try and sort things out for Nimue, she couldn't put up with the two of them not talking again!

Marvo puts his arm around Kat. " I'm sorry Kat, But I have seen the files on him, the MoM files. He was only let off because they couldn't prove he did it. not because he was innocent. And Moody told me to keep an eye on him.... Where has he gone?"

"I think you will find he left after you stopped him dancing with Nimue... He said something about working..."

" I... we should go look for him. maybe give him a chance to explain himself. If... If you and Nimue think he is okay, well, I'm willing to give him a chance to speak for himself. Shall we go? I know where his room is"

Kat smiled. She had made some impression if he was going to give Anders the insciest bit of a chance. "Ok. Let's go."