𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓

Chapter 29

Previously:

Draco tagged along when Harry planned a pseudo-interrogation with Peter, who confessed his involvement in Sirius' arrest and Cedric's death. On Peter's way to Surrey to confess to the police, Riddle tortured Peter into telling him what Harry knows.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Mother Knows Best

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Enemies and Friends

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Ampersand was the kind of bar that would've run out of business a month after its opening. It was stationed in the pseudo-historic downtown area of Merlin and had at first seemed intent on breathing 'new life' into the area with their pompous décor and pretentious wine lists. Completely ignoring the first law of real-estate, all of the fabulously wealthy customer-base the owner had been aiming for was quickly chased off by the night-life bohemians, the college students, and the club-hoppers. Finally facing bankruptcy, the owner was bought out by a tattoo artist from the parlor next door, who satisfied the locals by putting in a karaoke machine and offering a wide variety of cheap booze.

None of this back-story was common knowledge to any of the patrons visiting Ampersand that night, but especially so in the case of Harry Potter, who would rather be anywhere else at the moment.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Harry asked as he, Ron, and Hermione walked in together. It had taken less than a minute to find the table their roommates occupied, but there was an addition to the group that Harry wasn't expecting.

Two tables had been pushed together right below the stage, where Seamus, Dean, Draco, and Oliver Wood were seated, flagging down a waiter and talking animatedly. As soon as Seamus caught sight of them, he stood up, bent down to say something into Dean's ear, and headed straight for them. As soon as he did, though, everyone still at the table stood up and switched their seats like an orchestrated game of Musical Chairs.

"He came with Malfoy," Ron told him, watching him closely. He looked vaguely apprehensive, like Harry's chances of spontaneous combustion had just doubled from those four words.

Harry hadn't planned on coming until Ron and Hermione had shown up at Remus' apartment and threw a pair of jeans at his head. He would've argued, but Sirius had threatened to go all Jimi Hendrix on his guitar unless he got out of the apartment. Harry had eventually admitted defeat, and left with his guitar hung safely over his shoulder.

Harry narrowed his eyes at Ron. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because then you wouldn't have come," Hermione reasoned. Smart girl.

"Play nice, Harry," Seamus warned him, meeting them halfway to the table and immediately knowing what the three were talking about. "I was the one who invited him."

Harry pushed a hand through his hair, debating whether or not to catch a cab to Hogwarts, where he could brood in peace without people demanding he socialize. "Why would you do that?"

"Why not?" Seamus shrugged. Harry turned wide, incredulous eyes on him. "C'mon, Harry. Oliver's nice. It's not his fault he's a teacher."

That was so not the point.

"Yes, it is," Harry insisted as Seamus walked away with his eyes rolling. "Am I the only one who thinks it's weird for a teacher to be hanging out with his underage students in a bar?"