Wow, this turned out to be a really long chapter. I didn't even realize how long it was going to be! Hope its not too long for you. Next one will be back to my usual. Enjoy!

Chapter Eighteen

The downside of my new found relationship... Grant knew and was pissed at Kent. He would barely speak to him and spent every second glaring at the two of us from a distance. The plus side, we didn't have to hide our relationship anymore considering all along we were only trying to keep it from Grant. I didn't rush into advertising it around the school, because I could tell how horrible Kent felt about his friend. At first Kent went on and on about how he was a backstabbing horrible friend who broke the guy code. Then he went onto to being afraid that Grant was going to treat me even worse than he had before. I assured him not to worry about me and that he should try maybe talking to him and explaining things. Unfortunately, that didn't work out too well.

Charlie was beyond excited to get back on his broom for the Quidditch game that day. He was dressed and ready to go an hour earlier than usual. Irdrea was facing Agrethance once more. Being the seeker, he had an important role to fill and the team did horrible when he was on his ban. Idella and I went to watch the game. I was torn between which side to support. Of course I supported Irdrea and Charlie, but then again Kent was playing for Agrethance. These games were usually very intense with points from scoring goals getting extremely close. Yet today was different, Irdrea had eighty points from scoring goals while Agrethance had absolutely none. I felt somewhat guilty for their poor plays today. Grant and Kent were not working well together at all. They were both Chasers. When it came to scoring goals, rather than passing it to Kent, Grant would shoot from across the field and completely miss because he was too stubborn to pass it. It was throwing the entire team off. There was no cooperation. On the plus side, Irdrea gained another win in the end after Charlie caught the snitch. If Agrethance continued playing this way, it would be Irdrea and Eztoprea in the finals.

"Can you believe him?" Kent complained as he met me after the game. "Letting his bitterness ruin the entire game for the team."

"I saw," I replied slowly, still feeling a bit of guilt. "He shouldn't bring his grudges on the field. But it's just one game. I'm sure you'll do better at the next one.

"

"Hopefully," Kent agreed taking my hand as we walked up to the castle. I watched as people around us stared. Everyone knew we were together now and I loved every minute of it. We no longer had to remain in secret.

The next month passed quickly as it was almost winter break. Grant wouldn't talk to Kent and his grudge also lost them their next game. I felt guilty for ruining a longtime friendship. Kent and I spent a lot more time together though. On one if our weekends, Kent and I went into Salem with Idella and Colin for lunch and some shopping. Finally, I no longer felt like a  third wheel.

Charlie was back in his Quidditch mood, practicing on all his free time. Selina was around at times, but wasn't truly around. Her situation was only getting worse and there was nothing I could do about it. Her and Cole were practically inseparable and it actually surprised me. Usually I would watch Cole flirt with a variety of girls, but now he went straight to Selina. He used to walk by and grin smugly at all the dreamy looks girls were giving him, but he didn't even notice those girls anymore as they walked down the hall. His gaze was always on Selina. I guess they really did like one another, it was completely messed up, but it was real.

"Are you sure you'll be safe?" I asked Kent nervously once more. We sat up on one of the school balconies and watched the snow fall over the ocean. We would be returning home for a few weeks due to our winter break. I was worried for his safety. It's been a month since his father broke out of Azkaban.

"I'll be fine. I don't want you to worry," he responded with a reassuring smile. That was going to be impossible.

"I'll just miss you a lot."

"I'll miss you too," I said and then noticed the time. I promised Idella I would study for our N.E.W.T.s before the feast. "But I have to run. I'll see you at dinner," I said standing up and quickly kissing him before taking off. He said goodbye as I rushed down the hall not wanting to be late.

The library wasn't too far and as I passed through the assumed empty halls I heard footsteps. Cole was walking in the opposite direction of me. Normally I wouldn't be surprised to see him wandering the halls, but I've never seen him anywhere near the library. When he spotted me, his piercing blue eyes locked with mine and he began walking over to me. "Bradley Willis, is it?" he asked smoothly. I hesitated to respond.

"Yeah?" I answered unsure as to what he could possible want from me. As Cole got closer I realized how tall he really was, and everyone was usually tall to me. I always tried to avoid him. Part of his tattoo was showing just around the neckline if his shirt. His eyes held the same dreamy look Selina's did.

"Been meaning to catch you," he stated coolly. Really? I looked at him confused. "Selina tells me you sort of...caught her last month." He meant me catching her with Icorancy.

"Well obviously I haven't said anything if that's what you're worried about," I answered quickly with a dull tone. What, was he planning threatening me? "And I'm not going to tell anyone. Her ruining her life really isn't any of my concern." I was trying to make him think I truly didn't care about Selina's well being, so that he wouldn't go asking questions and find out about our bargain. He scoffed at that.

"Well she isn't ruining her life," he responded. "We can stop whenever we want."

"Yeah right," I shot back rolling my eyes. "It's a highly addictive in case you didn't realize. Maybe if you showed up to class now and again you'd know that." He glared back at me. "I doubt you can stop."

"Well it just so happens that I know a way," he responded smirking. "Let's just say I'm smarter than you think. There's an easy cure that often gets overlooked by people like you." A cure? I guess it's not impossible that there's a cure for it. Yet there wasn't one known to man. Was he trying to tell me that he invented one on his own? Yeah right. "I happen to excel in potions if you never realized." I do remember hearing about him getting mainly P's on his O.W.L.s, yet an O in Potions. I thought it was a lie.

"Interesting," was all I could reply. "Even if you're telling the truth, that doesn't defeat the purpose. Do you have a remedy for when one of you does something idiotic enough to get yourselves killed?" I pointed out. Selina standing on the edge of the boat was just the start of it. If the controller didn't tell her to get down, she would have jumped in for a swim without a second thought.

"That won't happen," he answered rolling his eyes. "But at least we're on the same page now." He looked at me with a cold smirk. "Have fun at the library." Cole then continued walking off in the opposite direction. He may think he's so smart discovering a cure to the addiction, but he clearly does not understand the severity of Icorany. He'll find out the hard way.

Break was getting closer and closer. I finally managed to cast a full patronus. My excitement was unbearable and I couldn't wait to tell my father when I got home. The first person to cast a full patronus was Charlie, and it didn't surprise me due to how happy he has been lately. His patronus took the shape of the jaguar. Roddy and Thea were the next two in the class to be able too. Somehow Selina managed to conjure a full patronus, I was convinced she has been practicing because there was major improvement in her ability, and hers took the shape of a maned wolf. Then finally I managed to conjure one and it was a phoenix. Professor Halliwell seemed to be very impressed with mine. When I conjured it, the shape formed after what seemed to be white flames.

The next day Idella pointed out how fascinating it was that my patronus took that form. She researched everyone's patronus and found it amazing how they all related to each of us. A jaguar represented the quality of being active, passionate, and strong, like Charlie was. The lynx shared similar qualities to Idella, such as being independent and extremely observant. The maned wolf represented people who were elegant, avoidant, and secretive just as Selina could be. Then finally, Idella found it brilliant how I managed to conjure a Phoenix. She feels that it most definitely had something to do with me being practically fireproof, considering the Phoenix was known to rise from the flames.

Break had arrived. Idella left early with her family since they were going away for the winter down to the Caribbean. I was immensely jealous. Idella believed it was just their way of escaping Arthur Weasley's letters. Charlie had an early flight so he had to leave at the same time. The only one left to say goodbye to was Kent so we met out by the beach. There was snow on the ground and was even colder by the water so I made sure to bundle up. I wondered how the weather at home would be. He was already there when I arrived and he hugged me tightly before softly kissing me on the lips. "Is it bad that I'm not looking forward to break?" he then said.

"I know. I'm going to miss you," I answered leaning up against the rock. "Are you sure you will be okay?" I asked nervously. The thought of him being outside of the schools protection with his father recently escaped from Azkaban worries me.

"I promise," he said looking at me with bright blue eyes. "You have nothing to worry about. I'll miss you too." I hoped he was right and that there was nothing for me to worry about.

"Kent we have to get going!" someone called in the distance. I turned to see Nephele standing up by the stairs. He looked at me sadly.

"Be safe okay?" I said to him.

"I promise. Same to you of course," he added with a smile. "Have a great break and make sure to write. I love you," he added as casual can be. At first I didn't even register what he said and couldn't help but smile.

"Love you too," I responded easily. He kissed me once more before we walked up the stairs. Nephele was at least friendly to me when she met up with us. I didn't know her too well and had no idea how she was going to react. She did say she was glad to finally meet me after Kent told her about me during the entire Thanksgiving break. That most definitely got me to smile as I watched the two walk away towards the ferries. Then finally it was my turn to arrive home and the journey was quick.

Once I hit the floor of my fireplace, I couldn't wait to see my father. "I'm home!" I called while looking around. My house was very messy. It wasn't that I was complaining, but my father was pretty obsessive when it came to keeping a neat house. There were dirty dishes on the table and chairs moved all around. I peered around the corner to see the sink full of more dishes. Stepping into my tiny kitchen, I opened the fridge to see an old carton of milk and some rotting strawberries. "Dad?" I called again walking around. As I walked up the stairs there was laundry spread all over the place. "Dad?" I repeated confused and heard noise coming from his office. I knocked on the door before opening it to see him sitting at his desk ruffling through a bunch of papers.

"Bradley," he said looking up at me in surprise. "You're home." Something was up. He usually counted down the days till my arrival home. Normally he would have been waiting at the fireplace for me. "I thought-I didn't realize what day it was." Anytime I ever came home he would always be sitting right in the living room. For him to forget...something must be wrong. "I'm sorry. Completely lost track of the days." Looking at him he looked exhausted with his hair untidy and clothes wrinkled.

"Is everything okay?" I asked him.

"Yes of course!" he answered in a shaky tone. "Just...just very busy at work you know? That's all." He was speaking very quickly, making me very nervous. There must be something else going on. He was used to the pressure of work.

"Okay then," I answered unsurely not wanting to push him. "I'll just go make us some lunch then." He looked at me with a forced smile and nodded. Quickly I left his office after shutting the door as a million thoughts rushed through my head. Before I bothered with lunch, I cleaned up all the laundry upstairs making it much neater than it was before. Then I picked up and washed all of the dishes so we would have something to put our food on. As I cleaned I thought about what could possibly be causing my father to act this way, but I couldn't think of anything. He has been dealing with war issues at work for months now, what changed? We barely had any food. All I could find was rice and a can of corn along with a few pieces of bread. He never came down so I brought it up to him. This time he was nervously pacing around his office so I left it on his desk attempting to read the words on the papers, but nothing jumped out to me.

Two days passed and my father continued acting strangely. We ran out of food so as I test I used the Floo Network to go grocery shopping at Old Salem Village...and he had no idea I even left. He didn't even ask where the food came from. I had to confront him. I was going to have to tell him everything I noticed about his behavior, but before I could I heard him walking down the steps for the first time since I arrived. Maybe he was going to explain what was going on without me even asking. "So I've been very busy at work this past week," he started and I nodded. "Is there anyway you can s-stay with one of your friends?" My mouth fell open. He was asking me to stay somewhere else? He usually had a hard time letting me go anywhere! Plus it was Christmas, wouldn't he want me home for that? Even though he has been acting different, I was still hurt.

"But Dad," I responded startled. "It's almost Christmas. It's okay that you're busy, I'm not upset."

"There's just a lot more work than usual," he argued hesitantly.

"What's going on with you?" I almost shouted. "The house is a mess! There was no food in the kitchen, until I had to leave and get some myself. Without you even noticing might I add! I'm not an idiot I know something is up. I wish you would just tell me."

"I just think its best you stay somewhere else," he responded looking away and heading back up the stairs. Tears began to burn in my eyes and soon fell. I couldn't hold them back. What was causing him to act this way? "Please don't argue," he called.

After I pulled myself together I thought of who to write too. Charlie popped into my head quickly, since Idella was on vacation and Kent's family was laying rather low key at the moment. Charlie was always inviting me to stay. I wrote him and he responded back saying he charmed his families fireplace to be used as a Floo network and to come as soon as possible. Perfect, I forgot he could do magic outside of school. I left without saying goodbye to my father. When I arrived he was standing there excited, his parents looking horrified at the green flames but their faces softened. "It worked!" Charlie said excited while hugging me. His parents looked at him proudly. "So glad you finally get to visit."

"Forgot you could do magic outside school," I said smiling. Idella was next, her birthday was on New Years Eve but she would be in the Caribbean. Mine was still a while a way. "Thanks again for taking me so last minute," I said to the three of them.

"Anytime dear," his mother Angie said. "We always tell Charlie to invite his friends."

They let me stay in the guest room. Charlie's house was beautiful. It was right across from the beach, it was late so there wasn't much for me to see at the moment but he promised to show me as much of California as he could. Before I went to bed that night I explained to Charlie what happened and tried not to cry. He agreed that it all sounded strange and tried to cheer me up by making me what a few muggle movies with him and bringing me ice cream. If my father's weird behavior wasn't still plastered in my mind, I'm sure I would be having the time of my life here.