A/N: Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Because you readers are my favorite, I'm going to try and post a few chapters today! Thanks and have a great day!
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The Gryffindor Strikes Back
Brian stood at his table in Herbology, patiently separating out the strands of gillyweed so it could be repotted, in just the right amount of soil to continue growing. There wasn't a long time to be had when it came to working with this plant. Once it was brought up out of the water, it dried out within the hour so in that timeframe you had to trim, separate, find the roots, put it back into the right amount of soil then submerge it in the large plastic containers in front of them.
He was like Marissa in this regard, wanting to work by himself. His talent was apparent in Herbology while Marissa's was Potions and when working alone you were responsible for your mistakes, you could move at your own pace and you alone could take credit for whatever you had done in class that day.
"Potter," Arnold intoned who was standing across from him, working alone like he was.
"Yeah?" Brian carefully pushed the soil down around the first set of roots and laid it gently into the water.
"So are you or aren't you dating Marissa?"
"Why does it concern you?" Brian asked tightly glancing up to see Arnold not looking at him, but out the window. Brian turned his head and looked over his shoulder and caught the unmistakable glint of reddish blond hair walking down to Hagrid's. A shorter, blond girl walked next to her and Brian knew it was Janet.
"Maybe you two like playing this game, teasing people with your actions," Arnold said and Brian glanced at him sharply.
"What? You know, just sod it Bosse, before you say something that'll really piss me off!" Brian said in a low voice so only Arnold could hear. Turning back to his plant he double checked to make sure he completed the assignment and wrote his name on the container. And with a little more force than necessary grabbed it off the table and headed up to the teacher. Water sloshed on his robes and he muttered a curse word, placing the container down then grabbing a towel and blotting at it. Getting frustrated when that didn't work he whipped out his wand and performing a drying spell.
"Look, Potter," Arnold hurried to catch up with him having handed in his gillyweed replanting. He followed him out of the greenhouse and up the hill towards the castle. Brian had every intention of going to talk to Professor Malfoy since Hogsmeade was coming up in three days. For awhile he ignored Arnold, hoping that he'd just give up and go away. He kept going on about his sister liking him, how Marissa would make any guy a great girlfriend…and that's when Brian stopped and swung around at the top of the steps.
"What? What did you just say?" he asked sharply. Arnold stopped suddenly forcing a first year to cut around him.
"I said that she'd make any guy a nice girlfriend as good looking as she is. I bet she's great in bed too," Arnold said giving Brian a wink.
"What?" Brian asked for the second time that day, shaking his head like a dog shaking off water. "Where do you think you get off saying something like that? She has no interest in dating you and has asked you to leave her alone. And that remark was totally uncalled for," Brian retaliated, his fists now balled at his thighs. He briefly heard Mark call him then fall silent as he approached and saw Bosse and Potter staring at each other.
"Potter…what's going on?" Mark asked uncertainly and Brian didn't release his glare from Bosse.
"Bosse here is making remarks and comments he shouldn't be making," Brian explained and he felt a hand on his arm trying to pull him back. Mark could see what was about to happen and didn't want his friend to end up in detention seeing as there were professors roaming inside the castle within view of the front steps.
"Awww, come on Potter," Arnold jeered excited that he finally got his attention and a rise out of him. "Being stuck at that guys place you can't tell me you and her never...," He took a step back as Potter tried to swing but Mark's arm held him fast.
"Let it go Brian," Mark said firmly and Arnold laughed shaking his head.
"I bet she was all over you, being Harry Bloody Potter's son and all…you've broken her in for the guys waiting…," but Arnold never got further than that as Brian wrenched his arm from Mark and in a blind fury of white hot anger swung out and connected with Arnold's jaw.
What happened next was witnessed by more than Mark. Students gathered around seeing Arnold push Brian away who immediately lunged after him and shoved him up against the wall glaring at him. Before Arnold could wriggle out of Brian's grasp Mark grabbed his friend and tried to pull him away. Succeeding in removing his friend from Arnold, gave Arnold the chance to swing out at Brian, hitting him in the eye.
"Bastard," Brian said in a low voice and began struggling against Mark. Arnold made another move but someone from Slytherin stepped in and hauled Arnold back, but not before Professor Malfoy walked out, having been walking by the main entrance on his way to the dungeons.
"Potter…to my office…now." He glared at Brian and immediately Brian sagged against Mark, wiping at his eye
and seeing blood on his hand.
"Bosse…," Professor Malfoy started then turned suddenly as a second year girl came out with Harry whose green eyes took one look at the two teens and knew what had transpired.
"Bosse can come with me," Harry said firmly, flicking his wand at him. Arnold muttered something under his breath, gently touched his jaw then shook off the Slytherin, glaring at Brian.
Brian grabbed his bag and stalked past everyone, head down, holding a hand over his eye. As he made his way down the stairs to the Potions classroom he wondered what he was going to say to Marissa's father. Briefly he wondered how pissed his father was going to be seeing a Prefect, and his son to boot, getting detention for attacking another student.
But, deep down Brian felt at peace with himself. He defended Marissa against someone who had been antagonizing them over the past month.
He entered the classroom and threw his bag down watching it slide into a corner. He barely had a chance to sit down when he heard footsteps behind him, then the door close. He glanced up seeing black robes walk past his injured eye…at least he thought they were black. With his eye watering and becoming swollen it was hard to tell.
Draco settled himself behind his desk, rested his arms upon the top and folded his hands catching Brian's eye.
"I don't think I need to go over the rules and consequences of Hogwarts policy for attacking another student."
"No sir," Brian said softly, feeling his heart jump at the intense look emanating from behind the desk. "I'll just take whatever punishment is due, sir." Now he cast his eyes downward still feeling that mix of shame and pride for what he did.
`Marissa is going to kick my arse,' Brian thought rubbing the back of his knuckles where his hand connected with Arnold's jaw.
"Before I dole out punishment I think I should hear your side of the story," Draco said in an even voice, watching Brian's hand touch his eye again and wince.
"I hit him, he hit me," Brian said stating the obvious not sure how he could even tell the father of his girlfriend what had been said about her.
"I know that. Why did you throw the first punch?"
Brian gave his head a little shake. "I'd rather not say and just take whatever punishment you think is appropriate."
Inwardly Draco sighed…definitely Hermione Granger and Harry Potter's son, Brian was.
"Look Potter…you've never to my knowledge hit anyone before and have never even had a detention. If you were defending yourself, then you're free and clear. I just need to know the circumstances behind what transpired out on the steps."
Brian was silent for a moment, toying with the idea of telling him…he closed his eyes and rested his hands on his knees wishing he could summon up the courage to tell his professor why he hit Bosse.
Taking a deep breath he let it out slowly, opened his eyes and looked Draco right in the eye. "I did what I had to do, Professor. I wouldn't have been a man if I hadn't."
"I see," Draco sighed and shifted a bit in his chair, beginning to see where this was leading. "In the years I have known you, not much gets under your skin enough to lash out. I admit when I heard the commotion outside I was surprised to see you standing in the midst of it, Potter."
Brian shrugged, still staring at the floor feeling like he wanted to crawl under the table, while part of him just wanted to blurt everything out. He mulled over the thought trying to figure out if Marissa was here, what she would tell him. He didn't feel the need to explain himself--after all he knew what he had done was in response to being pushed a bit too far.
"Look," Draco leaned forward a bit startling Brian out of his reverie. "I don't want to take Hogsmeade away from any 5th year; it's the only chance they get to relax and not think about exams for a day, but I will unless you can make me understand why you did what you did."
Brian was so close to saying to Draco that he sounded like Ginny he actually disguised the opening his mouth as a cough.
`I can't believe I almost said that. Merlin, Potter…, get a grip,' Brian scolded himself, lowering his hand as his brain raced for a solution. A solution to get himself out of this predicament with his girlfriend's father.
Hogsmeade. He was going to go with Marissa. Their first date…ice cream, walking around and looking in shops. He was truly looking forward to it, and he knew she was. If he didn't go and Arnold did…well, that thought was too much to bear so Brian made the decision to tell Draco what had happened. Then, even if he was still stuck here on Saturday, the reason he had struck out would be known.
There was a silence that sounded deafening at the same time. Brian looked up at Draco who was still looking at him then past him out the window, seeing clouds move across the sky.
"I was actually coming to see you about something, on my way from Herbology Class, when Bosse just…well, was making comments about me and…Marissa." Brian didn't see any movement from Draco so he plunged into the story. "I can handle ones about me, but he started saying some really inappropriate remarks about Marissa and after telling him to stop, exchanging some words he just became more crude and disgusting. He then made a comment about her reputation and…I hit him. It just happened, Mark tried to stop me but I got by him. After Mark pulled me back, Bosse started again and this time I shoved him up against the wall…and was pulled away again. Then he hit me and that's where you and my father came in."
A beat of silence that seemed to last forever hung in the air.
"I see," Draco said slowly, pushing is chair back a bit. "You were defending Marissa's honor and reputation," Draco said a bit of respect at the edges of his words.
"Yes sir. I shouldn't have thrown a punch…you know I know that was wrong but I couldn't help it. So, if I need to stay here on Saturday I will," Brian hedged looking at Draco who was now leaning back in his chair, arms clasped on his stomach.
"What were you coming to see me for?" Draco asked curiously and immediately Brian looked away and shook his head.
"I---it doesn't really matter now I don't think," Brian said quietly, thinking that he had ruined any chance of having Draco believe it would be fine for him to date Marissa.
"Are you sure about that?" Draco asked him surprising Brian yet again. "Not many students come to see me about anything other than Potions, and since you are doing well in class I'm certain it wasn't class related."
"Well, no, sir, it wasn't class related," Brian said then gave in not caring what was going to happen now. His eye hurt and he just wanted to go get some ice and salve and get on with whatever punishment was deemed appropriate. "I was coming to get your thoughts on me dating your daughter. Pretty much, all of this was about her. I never thought I would get in a fight over a girl, but I did. I never thought I would be sitting here in front of her father talking about this, but I am." Brian now sounded dejected sure that Draco was going to something he wasn't going to like.
Draco stood up and walked around his desk, perched himself against it and looked down at Harry's son, who refused to meet his gaze.
"Look, Brian," Draco said being informal. "From the beginning of the year I knew something was going to happen with you and Marissa…whether you two knew it or not." Brian looked up at Draco and raised an eyebrow best he could then flinched as the movement brought out a sharp pain from his cut. A ghost of a smile touched Draco's mouth.
"It's true, I just was just waiting for the moment when you two saw it and maybe it was at Nott's, maybe before…all that week runs together for me now, but for you to stand up for Marissa is something I've taught my children. Defend your family, defend the honor of the ones you love." He saw Brian flush slightly at the use of the word "love". "I know what Bosse is like and it doesn't surprise me that he was getting under your skin or anyone else's. I've broken the rules here in my youth, sometimes getting caught and sometimes not. But, because you did get caught I still have to give you detention."
Brian nodded head bowed towards his hands again.
"So, tomorrow at eight…there are cauldron's here that could use cleaning and potions that need to be restocked. I expect you here tomorrow night then," Draco said and Brian recognized the note of dismissal in his voice. Accioing his bag from the corner he turned to stand then paused as he got half way down the aisle, turned and saw Draco watching him, still against his desk.
"Am I allowed to go to Hogsmeade, then, sir?" Brian asked tentatively as if afraid that question would automatically bring out a "no".
"Yes. I assume you would be going with my daughter. And if for some reason you weren't going, then I'd have to hear about it for the next three weeks. And this is supposed to be your punishment, not mine." Draco gave a small smile and Brian nodded.
"Thank you, Professor."
"Now, go to the hospital wing and get your eye fixed up." Draco turned and disappeared into his stock room as Brian walked out the door, shutting it behind him. He shrank back against the wall a wave of relief washing over him.
He had done it. Not in the way he intended, but he talked to Marissa's father and it seemed that he did not have
any objections to them dating. He also gave Bosse what was coming to him and only got a night of cleaning and
restocking as punishment. He could handle that, and with a grunt he pulled himself up and headed towards the stairs on
his way to the hospital wing, humming lightly under his breath.
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"What the hell were you thinking Brian?" Harry asked his son as he winced when Madame Pomfrey applied some salve from his cut.
"What did Bosse say?"
"Not much more than you hit him first."
"Yeah I did, but I had good reason too dad, you know I wouldn't hit anyone just for the hell of it."
Brian's eyes were closed but he could feel his father's anger. If his father only knew the whole story…
"Then why did you?"
"I just told Professor Malfoy and really don't feel like going into it again right now…OW!" Brian almost grabbed the elderly healer's arm and pulled it away but stopped himself by sitting on his hands.
"This should heal fully in a day or two, Mister Potter."
"Thanks," Brian mumbled and tentatively opened his eye's seeing his father's green ones staring back at him.
"What punishment did you receive?"
"Cleaning cauldrons and restocking, tomorrow night."
"That's it?" Harry asked visibly surprised. "Bosse has two nights re-filing papers for me."
"That's it."
There was a significant pause as Harry processed the punishment doled out to his son. He knew Draco and he figured Hogsmeade would've been taken away and probably another night's of detention added to that.
"Will you tell me what caused you to hit him first?" Harry asked again, this time a bit softer, and he laid a hand on Brian's shoulder. Brian peeked at him again then shut his eyes shifting a bit on the cot.
"Please don't make me tell you…it's just something I had to do."
"He said something about Marissa didn't he? He pushed whatever it was about her…," Harry started and saw a slight nod from Brian who now had his arm over his forehead. Brian continued the thought, figuring he might as well tell his father all of it, if just for the fact he didn't want his father thinking that he went around and hit anyone who said something unkind about Marissa and/or himself.
"I warned him to stop, told him what he was saying was uncalled for…then he made the comment about us being at Nott's and how we probably had sex, which we didn't, and that she's broken in for other guys…," Brian felt his father's hand tighten on his shoulder for a split second then relax. "I just felt white hot anger and couldn't control it. Mark tried to stop me, but I pulled myself away from him and hit Bosse first. He even continued after that. I'm not sorry for sticking up for Marissa, I wish I didn't have to hit him it just happened…but I accept the punishment Professor Malfoy gave me…," and Brian was interrupted when Harry gave his shoulder a little shake.
Opening his eyes he saw his dad watching him with a mixture of pride and surprise.
"What?" Brian asked feeling his dad pull his hand away. Harry cleared his throat and blinked for a moment.
"IF you say anything to your mother, you can come file with Bosse, but I'm proud of you for sticking up for Marissa. I did the same thing for Ron awhile ago…fifth year…got myself banned from Quidditch for awhile but you need to stand up for what you believe and for people you…care about. I don't advocate violence but I know you and you probably told him many times to stop and he just didn't listen."
"Yeah," Brian said shifting and pushing himself up on to his elbows.
"What is up with those two anyway? Why are they such pains in the arse?"
Harry gave a small shrug.
"All I know is that their mother is from England and father was German. He passed away around Christmas time and their mother moved them back here to be near her family. Maybe they just don't know how to deal with their father's death. Your mother thinks it's because they see you two with father's here every day and they are jealous."
"That sounds like something mum would say," Brian smiled an identical smile to his father's.
"A piece of advice," Harry leaned forward a bit and lowered his voice as two students came in sneezing. "People are going to come to their own conclusions about this fight. Bosse might tell them something that will make him look good. People know YOU though and I think once they see you and Marissa together, they will know what it was about. Don't feel the need to explain. You did what you felt you had to do. Once Marissa finds out, that's when you'll have to explain because you know she won't take the answer you gave me earlier, that `it was something you had to do'."
"I know," Brian gave a small groan when he thought of telling Marissa what was said. He might have to hold her back whenever Bosse walked by from now on.
Harry jumped up when he saw the time and patted Brian's leg. "I have class. So do you, so get up and go to Potions. Good luck with Marissa and enjoy Hogsmeade. Just don't go to Madame Puddifoot's…."
"Why?" Brian asked watching his father button up his robe.
"Just…trust me. Take a look inside, but somehow I don't think you and Marissa could get through it without laughing," Harry winked at him then proceeded on to his class.
Brian gathered himself up and made his way to Potions class, seeing Marissa at her table watching the door. She jumped up when she saw him and skidded to a stop looking at his eye.
"What happened?" she reached up to touch it, but he involuntarily shied away from her hand.
"I'll explain later…please?" he looked at her intently and she nodded, cocking her head to the side and watching him. He didn't let his gaze waver and when she was satisfied that he was telling the truth she backed off a bit.
"Room of Requirement then…after class?" she asked quietly and Brian nodded, moving to his seat as more students trickled in.
During class Marissa glanced over at Brian and wondered what happened. Word was slowly trickling around school what had happened but Marissa had been in her Care of Magical Creatures class then had come straight to Potions. Arnold was sitting behind Marissa for the first time since he had arrived, and Claudia followed his lead. This led Marissa to believe that something had transpired between Brian and Arnold but wasn't sure about the details.
As she copied down her homework a fifth year girl next to her leaned over and began whispering, asking Marissa if she heard what happened. Shaking her head, Marissa leaned in a bit and heard a very accurate description of what had transpired, just not knowing what had led Brian to strike Arnold.
"I see," Marissa said sneaking a look at Brian who wasn't in his seat at the moment.
"You'll have to let us know why Brian hit him. Doesn't seem like something Potter would do."
"No," Marissa murmured, "It certainly does not."
And with that, their class was dismissed. Brian was up talking to her father so she decided to climb the stairs and make her way to the Room of Requirement, intent on getting to the bottom of the fight between her boyfriend and Arnold Bosse.
Twenty minutes passed while Marissa waited on the only piece of furniture in the Room of Requirement for Brian to show, finally she heard footsteps behind her and saw him come in and toss his bag towards the wall to his right.
"Hey," Marissa said watching him around the sofa then settle himself down next to her. "I'm figuring you and Arnold has some words," she reached up and softly touched the general area of his cut.
"You could say that," Brian reached up and took her hand.
"What made you hit him?"
Brian looked sideways at her, then back at his hand which was tapping out a beat on the armrest of the sofa.
"What have you heard?"
"Just that you two were in a fight, you threw the first punch even though Mark tried to hold you back. My father walked in shortly followed by yours. That's all I know. I don't think many people were around for whatever words were exchanged." She frowned as she watched him shift nervously.
"What did he say to make you so angry, Brian?" Marissa turned, reached out and touched his face, gently turning it towards her. "I'm not going to get mad or upset, I just want to know."
"Well, it was about you," he started seeing her nod as if she suspected that already.
"And?" she prompted.
He looked down at their joined hands then back up at her face. He was going to have to tell her the truth because if
she found out any other way, she'd be very angry.
"He was insinuating that we slept together at Nott's because I was Harry Potter's son then continued to say how that would make it easier for other guys to get to…be with you," he said softly seeing sudden anger flash in her eyes. "That's when I hit him. I didn't plan on it, but something in me…," Brian didn't get a chance to finish his sentence as Marissa suddenly launched herself into his arms and covered his lips with hers. Falling backwards the armrest caught him against his upper back and Marissa moved so she was resting on top of him, her mouth demanding that he kiss him back, which didn't take much coaxing.
She placed her hand against the side of his face and pulled back slightly.
"Thank you for standing up for me," she said simply and he nodded still trying to adjust to her reaction.
"Anytime," Brian said seriously hugging her, and breathing in deeply smelling something like lavender. "Your father seemed to understand why I did what I did and, on the positive side, I mentioned that we were dating."
"What'd he say?" she asked her voice muffled in his shoulder.
"That he wasn't going to take Hogsmeade away because then he'd hear your temper for three weeks and he didn't want to punish himself," Brian smiled as he felt Marissa's shoulders shake with constrained laughter.
"So, in Draco Malfoy terms that means he's ok with us," Marissa said pressing a kiss to his neck.
"Yeah," Brian sighed, his eyes fluttering closed as her mouth moved to his ear.
"I love you," she whispered, her hand creeping up his shirt against his bare skin.
"I love you, too," he said against her lips, feeling his heart surge at those words.
And for the rest of the afternoon, they did what any two teenagers in love would do, fooled around, talked and planned their weekend, returning to the rest of the castle right as dinner was being served, and both of them noticing the absence of Arnold and Claudia Bosse.
And for the first time, Brian sat at Marissa's table for dinner, causing many heads to turn and cementing that fact that they were indeed a serious item.
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