"I could set you up on a lovely date if you'd like." 

Pierce allowed his forehead to slam onto the table in the Three Broomsticks, as John had requested a family meeting one weekend after the First Task and before the Yule Ball. Pierce really only expected John to show up but to have both of his parents under the same roof immediately soured his mood greatly.

His mother had first brought up the fact that Pierce didn't have a date and no matter how many times he failed to mention that it was by choice, his mother continued to push the fact that he would need a date for the ball as it was tradition.

"It was also tradition to only have three competitors in the Tournament as well, but seeing as there is five in the tournament, I think it's safe to say that traditions can be and will be broken." Pierce grumbled into the table.

"Someone is certainly grumpy that the Granger girl found herself a date early on." Rita smirked.

Pierce tensed but said nothing as he looked up to John giving the man a pleading look to end his life right then and there.

Sherlock had yet to say anything pertaining to any matters brought up, he even refused to look at Pierce the majority of the time.

To steer the conversation away from Pierce's dateless status, John brought up the Second Task.

"Did you figure it out?" John asked him.

"Yes." Pierce answered.

Sherlock turned his head to finally face his son.

"Oh really? And what did you figure it out to be?" Sherlock questioned.

"I'm not telling you." Pierce said. "The only person I would tell is John and Julius. The rest of you will have to wait to see it for yourselves."

"You're only saying that because I doubt you know what it is." Sherlock said.

"Or because I really don't want to tell you anything because I don't like you enough to share anything with you."

"Is that so? I find it odd that you say that but you're the one who called me here." Sherlock countered.

"Perhaps I just wanted to waste your time, just how you wasted mine over the years!" Pierce said standing up.

"Pierce now let's just remain calm-" John tried to reason with him.

"How have I wasted your time over the years?" Sherlock said. "We hardly spend anytime together as it is?"

"And you say that like it isn't a problem!" Pierce shook his head. "You know how you wasted my time? Here, I'll tell you how. All those times that we made plans for me to spend time with you...what did I do? I spent hours wondering what I was going to pack and bring with me, so I could show you..so I could share things with you. Hours! But only to have you cancel on me last minute...all that time wasted."

The table fell silent as others in the Three Broomsticks nosily looked their way.

"But at least you're pretty up front with how you feel with me." Pierce shrugged. "That counts for something."

He turned to his mother.

"You on the other hand...you don't care...unless I somehow can further your career..you don't care for me at all. You've made that quite clear over the years...we haven't exchanged kind words to each other...ever if I think about it. Growing up all I did was crave your attention but you ignored me. I could only rely on my grandparents for the most part and when they died...where were you? Covering some story..because that was more important to you. That was more important to you then being there for me during that time."

Rita pressed her lips together but remained silent.

"The only person who isn't technically related to me at the this table is the only person who has shown me support that I've needed throughout the years. That says a lot about you two, doesn't it? I'm not his child, yet John is the one who brings me to the platform almost every year to drop me off for the Hogwarts Express, he's taken me school shopping, he acknowledges my existence and actually treats me like I'm important. That's more than I can say that either one of you have done over the years."

He removed himself from the table, standing at the end glancing back and forth between the two.

"Don't pretend like you care when you don't. Don't try to help me with the second task if it's just coming across as a chore to you. You should want to help me, I shouldn't have to force you." he said to his father and then turned to his mother. "Don't try to set me up on any date, because I'm sure she would be just as miserable as you are and I think I have enough misery in my life brought on by you two. Why don't you two just go home? Leave me alone. If I survive this tournament, great. If I don't..so be it. Just...go away. Let's go back to what we're used to, trying to ignore each other as much as possible."

Julius had a bright grin on his face as he had just confirmed his date with Vanessa Braxton from Slytherin. He was leaning back in one of the chairs in the common room looking out the window when Pierce walked in and plopped down on the sofa without a word.

The smile on Julius' face faded as he saw the distressed look on the other boy's face. It was obvious that the family meeting had not gone over well. He stood up and walked over.

"Hey...are you okay?" he asked.

Pierce nodded. "I'm fine."

"Family meeting didn't go over so well, did it?"

"Not at all."

"I figured so. What happened?"

"Between my father ignoring me until he wanted to know what the second task was and my mother trying to set me up on a date..I didn't want to be around them anymore. So I can back here. Did you talk with Vanessa or the other girls about taking them to the Yule Ball?"

Julius nodded.

"And?"

"And...and I'm not going with any of them." Julius said.

"What?! Why not?" Pierce looked at him with a bewildered face.

"Because.." Julius smiled at him. "You and I made plans, matching robes and all, remember?"

Pierce laughed. "Well, I did tell Rita that I was going to break tradition...this is going to be fun!"

"Yes it is going to be fun. Now..discussing matching robes while we're still on the topic...I say we steer clear of green because it is not flattering for my figure and I swear it makes me look shorter and my hips look huge for some reason."

"You're putting a lot of thought into this."

"I want to look good, Pierce!"