Echoes of Time (Harry Potter)

November 22, 1943

Sunday Afternoon

"Hey mate, mind if we join you?"

Harry looked up from his seat in the backmost corner of the library, seeing Marcus and Veronica. Both were holding books in their arms with their titles covered by the arms of their holders, and both looked like they weren't nearly as interested in getting work done as he was; he could read as much on their facial expressions and the impatient tapping Veronica was doing on the top of the chair.

Maybe the wizarding chess board sticking haphazardly from her satchel was a telling sign too.

"Nah, feel free," Harry responded after taking them in - he didn't care if they interrupted his studying, he'd already spent a majority of the morning and a portion of the afternoon working on his runes.

"Brilliant!" Marcus replied, smiling wide and sliding into the seat directly across from Harry as Veronica scowled at the back of the boy's head.

"Git! You could've pulled out the chair for me!" Veronica was only partially angry about it, at least that's what Harry thought based on the blasè response from Marcus and the girl's small smirk.

"Yeah, yeah, sorry. Anyhow, what've you been up to Pev? Don't think I've seen you since Slughorn's party - been keeping yourself proper busy eh?" Marcus reclined in his seat, putting one arm on the table and the other on the back of Veronica's chair, much to the girl's chagrin.

Harry shrugged in response and indicated with a nod towards the work laid out in front of him on the table, "Ancient Runes and Arithmancy have been keeping me tied down… I could get more help from Elaine or some of the others too, but sometimes you just have to work it out yourself," Harry paused and rubbed the back of his neck, "Maybe spending some time to myself is helpful too, can't get any of that in the common room or anywhere else; thank Merlin the library scares away a majority of our classmates."

Marcus laughed and nodded while Veronica only replied with 'huh?'

She'd been setting up the chessboard when Harry replied to Marcus, the girl apparently had been so focused on her task that she'd ignored the entirety of his speaking… she did squeak a second after her eloquent response though - Marcus looked pleased when she had.

"Too right, most only come in to gather a book from the librarian, hag that s-" Marcus paused abruptly, looking over his shoulder to ensure the aforementioned 'hag' wasn't around as she seemed to prowl from time to time; when he saw nothing, he went back to speaking, "Hag that she is. I don't understand why Headmaster Dippet puts up with her, you'd think with how horrible she is that they'd send a replacement by now."

Veronica elbowed Marcus in the upper arm, "Nobody cares about a woman who sees a tenth of the Hogwarts population! Not like these bookworm types will speak out against her either, you ever seen half the kids in here say more than a few words at a time?" scoffing, Veronica made the first move on the chess set and looked to Marcus to make his countermove.

Marcus waved her off and said "patience", turning to Harry to give an apologetic look in case the Slytherin boy had misinterpreted Veronica's words.

"So Pev old boy, you sure you don't mind if we spend a bit of time here with you now, right?"

Harry shook his head and replied with a "no". Getting to know Marcus and Veronica would prove to be more helpful than harmful and as he'd thought earlier, taking a break from reading the maddening text was helpful.

"Wicked," Marcus made his move to stop the incoming outburst from Veronica and then looked right back to Harry, "I've heard from our Professor that you're the top of our year in Defence Against the Dark Arts - obviously I have to ask considering your circumstances, how'd you get so good with it?"

"I spent more time studying that subject than most others," Harry replied with the truth, DADA was his favourite course and his studying greatly reflected that when he'd been in his original time, "Probably why I'm pants at Arithmancy and Runes," he offered with a chuckle, the other boy laughing slightly too.

"Don't understand why you took it, Pev. Coulda spent your time with us in Divination and Magical Creatures; those classes are far more fun and fu-"

"Far more useless too, not that it matters to either of us," Marcus interrupted, moving on the chessboard again and dodging to the right to avoid Veronica's flicking of his nose.

Harry watched the antics with a small smile on his face; moments like these reminded him of his friends and he loved every second of it.

"Suppose I just wanted to get as good an education as I could in the few years I could attend Hogwarts."

Maybe his explanation wasn't sound to people like Veronica, but he knew by the nodding, thoughtful look on Marcus' face that his ancestor understood what he'd meant.

"Fair enough, I probably should've thought that way too - Merlin knows my parents would've been happier with me if I did!" Marcus laughed in response, the look on his face bearing more meaning than just the carelessness he openly conveyed; Harry could tell as much considering all the time he'd spent with his Slytherin friends.

Always had to read into everything more than usual when your mates hid a lot of their meanings! That was doubly important with people that weren't your mates in Slytherin, the slightest twitch of their facial features or location of their eyes was more important than he could stress.

Veronica scoffed a second time in the short time they'd been together, "Fleamont did that and look where the git is now," she then took her chess move and looked at Harry, - though not before Harry noticed the flash of annoyance on Marcus' face - her gaze stayed on him for a few seconds before she finally spoke, "You have any plans for Yule coming up? Other than Goldhorn's I mean."

Harry nodded, "Yeah, I'll visit Corene's family for a day or around that. Aside from that and the Goldhorn's, I'll probably spend the rest of my time at home going over schoolwork and trying to catch up as much as I can with these two electives," Harry held up the closest piece of parchment in front of him to offer a visual aid to the mentioned electives.

"Sounds boring mate, you oughta come over to the Burrow with my family. I bet you'd find it far more fun than those other two families' get-togethers, probably more fun than Slughorn's party too!" Veronica smiled in a way that showed off her teeth, the look being more relatable to a snarl than anything else.

"Better food than Hogwarts too, I'd say. Though some of the guests can be a bit…" Marcus paused and fished for the right word under heavy scrutiny from the girl sitting directly beside him. It was that reason that he finished lamely and with a word that Harry knew didn't do full justice to the rambunctiousness of the Weasleys, "Rowdy."

"Rowdy's not a problem," Harry replied quickly, alleviating some of the looks Veronica was sending Marcus, "I might be able to drop by for an evening too, though I'd be remiss to promise anything in the event that I can't make time."

"That's not a problem, visit as you'd like! Mum loves having guests and my siblings, cousins along with the rest of my family are sure to keep you entertained once you arrive!" Veronica finished with a gasp and a loud burst of laughter as she moved a piece on the board before looking at Marcus, "Four moves is all it took! Here I was thinking you'd have improved this year! Morgana, Potter, it's like you're ten again!"

Marcus scowled and reset the board, not liking his dressing down any more than Harry liked Ron's strutting around after besting Harry too often.

"We'll see if you can do that again, Scion Weasley," Marcus replied with an accentuation on the word Scion; Harry looked over as soon as it'd been said and saw the narrowing of Veronica's eyes with the slight tightening of her fists.

"Oh you've asked for it now mate, don't think Quidditch or our late-night snack ru-" she stopped herself mid-sentence by slapping a hand over her mouth, but the damage had already been done, as Harry pieced together quite easily the ending of her sentence.

"Late night snack runs? I imagine that's some of the trouble Elaine was speaking in regards to at the start of the year?"

Marcus nodded reluctantly and looked at Veronica not too happily, "Yeah, that's one of the activities in the middle of which we've gotten caught by Riddle… don't take that the wrong way either."

"Prat!" Veronica bit back, this time successful in her flicking of the Potter boy's nose before she turned her attention back to Harry, "We'll sneak out from time to time to visit the kitchen, usually on a night when we've drunk some firewhiskey or whatever else we could smuggle up."

"Veronica!" Marcus looked at her as if she were the dumbest person he'd ever been in contact with, and Harry could understand why without a second thought; she'd just dobbed them both into somebody that they didn't know all that well. For all Marcus knew, Harry could blackmail or use that information to get them in more trouble than they usually got themselves in!

"Oh relax Marcus, you know Sarah's already vowed that Pev here is trustworthy," Veronica rolled her eyes and stretched out over the table, patting Harry a few times on the closer shoulder, "Don't know what you've done to earn Sarah's trust as much as you have, but if she considers you a friend I'll do the same," Veronica narrowed her eyes and her patting took on a rougher feeling, "I'll be right pissed if you make me look like a fool in front of Marcus though, do a well enough job of that myself."

Harry laughed openly for the first time he'd been with them this afternoon, "No need to worry, I'll not tell anyone about your kitchen raids or drinking… well, not if you invite me from time to time - we'd share the blame if we got caught wouldn't we?"

Veronica nodded with that snarl-like smile on her face as she leaned back in her seat and gave an I-told-you-so look towards Marcus, "Sarah's most definitely right, Pev here is like that Aster bloke just without the childlike behaviour and fondness for pranks."

"Better hope he, his friends or somebody that just doesn't like you doesn't hear you say that, I can still remember the last time Reinhard overheard you talking bad about his friend," Marcus brought a hand up to his chin in thought, though the gesture was likely more symbolic or mocking than needed, "What happened again? Oh, right, you'd turned into one of those fantasy creatures with green skin and tusks - right impressive it was considering they'd had to make a large portion of that transformation from scratch."

That sounded awfully like those things from muggle fantasy, the ones that were usually loud and violent; maybe with Veronica's affinity for flicking and the loudness Harry's already observed, the transformation hadn't been too far fetched.

Veronica, however, didn't look too pleased with Marcus' praising of it.

She flicked his nose at the same time she elbowed his upper arm, the girl switching her glaring between the two amused looking boys.

"If you think it's so funny, I'll have it happen to you both."

Harry raised his hands with a wide smile on his face. While he'd be very amused to see a green-skinned, tusk-wearing Marcus, he'd not be too happy if it happened to himself, and Aster still owed a prank to Harry too after the gift he'd given his sister.

"They wouldn't repeat it, you'd have to help them come up with something else," Marcus tried to sound confident, but he failed and both Veronica, as well as Harry, picked up on the nervousness underlying his tone.

"As if they'd let me help them with anything, you dolt. Everybody knows those two keep everything close to their chests - don't want to risk anything getting out, like how they made it or when they'd put it in my food or drink. I swear, they're smarter than they let on, no wonder Riddle spent so much time with them both until they finally joined her group," Veronica sighed dramatically, putting her arms out in the typical damsel-in-distress pose; a look that definitely didn't work for such an aggressive, outgoing girl like her, "If only they'd been sorted into Gryffindor, or any other house really, maybe then they'd let me in on all their secrets."

Marcus yawned loudly, earning himself a slap to the chest which only made him snicker at Veronica's annoyance.

"Thoughts Pev?"

Harry furrowed his brows at the random question sent his way from Marcus.

"Thoughts on what?"

"Veronica's wish; could either of them pass for another house?" Marcus finished his question and none-too-covertly rubbed his chest.

Looks like Veronica hits hard, Harry thought to himself with a huffing laugh, earning himself glances from both of his classmates across the table.

He didn't mind though, they'd probably think he was laughing at something in relation to the question instead of a thought as mundane as Veronica's hitting strength or Marcus' frailty.

Supposing he owed an answer that was more than a 'yes' or 'no', Harry thought about the question and came to one answer; Hufflepuff. He knew a lot of people gave the Badgers a bad rep, but their outgoing, extroverted ways and the loyalty they showed one another was just as commendable as a Gryffindor's courage. Maybe a case could be made for Ravenclaw for the two boys, though Aster's willingness to cheat and Reinhard's willingness to follow his friend in doing so counted more against that sorting than their affinity for pranking material counted towards it.

Gryffindor wasn't an option, not that Harry'd seen yet.

Harry was just about to speak his thoughts when he thought better of it; would his friends want others knowing what they were like in private? No, probably not; they were more reserved in public for a reason.

"I couldn't think of anywhere they'd belong more than Slytherin."

"Lame," Veronica said with a roll of her neck, a few cracks sounding that were loud enough to make Harry and Marcus both wince, "You're done studying right?"

Harry looked at his books and then to the redheaded girl who'd asked him the question. Even if he wasn't done yet, he had a feeling with them being here, he was now.

"Yeah, you have something in mind?"

His returned question was met with a shake of the girl's head, "Nah, not really. Don't want to be in the library any longer than we've already been, could be in one of the courtyards or out by the lake while there's no rain - wait, we could get a pickup game of Quidditch goi-"

Marcus put a hand over Veronica's mouth, "No, you know as well as I do that we need to get at least a modicum of work done today. Indigo and the others will curse us stupid if we risk failing a subject," he looked over to Harry, "I'm not opposed to a walk or moving to a courtyard for an hour or so, but we don't have time for a Quidditch match or going to the lake for all that long."

"Fine with me," Harry responded, inwardly cheering at Marcus' time management, considering any free time he had once they were done could go towards friendship building with Slytherins or working on his lacklustre Arithmancy skills.

"Perfect, let's get going then before Veronica bites m-" Marcus let out a groan and snarled, yanking his hand back from its spot over the Weasley girl's mouth.

Harry blinked in shock at what'd just happened and looked from his relative's hand that was being waved wildly through the air in hopes of comfort to Veronica, the girl looking extremely pleased with what she'd just done.

"Did you…?" Harry began to ask, his question dying midway as the girl nodded with a smirk on her face.

"Shouldn't have covered my mouth, now should he?" Veronica raised a fair point, and Harry made note of it without a second thought; he doubted he'd ever try to cover her mouth, but Riddle would likely react in the same manner just for the justifiable physical contact.

Harry cautiously kept looking at the girl until Marcus was done with his exaggerated pain - that took about ten minutes of the hour the boy had given them to spend with one another, as only once he was done with his acting did they make their exit from the library and in the direction of the clocktower courtyard; Harry's favourite if he picked one, considering he'd found himself in that spot more than a few times for no specific reason.

Upon their arrival, they noticed a few other students lingering about with books out or simply sitting on benches while talking to their friends, there was even a couple making out behind a bush in hopes of being secretive. They failed, evidently, as they'd been one of the easiest sights to spot… to each their own, Harry supposed.

"So Pev, don't think I've ever asked you," Veronica prefaced, sitting cross-legged on a bench that clearly wasn't meant for that, "Do you like Sarah?"

Marcus sighed and lowered his head into his hands, shaking it once it reached its desired spot.

Harry's reaction was similar, only with more animation in his head-shaking.

"She's a brilliant friend, and very helpful regardless of what the subject is."

"Uhuh… that's a long 'maybe' isn't it?" Veronica looked smug with herself, and Harry simply shook his head again.

Silence reigned for a few minutes, the group looking between one another for another question or topic to come up. Eventually, one did, and it was Marcus who picked it.

"Hope this isn't too personal mate, I'm just curious is all; you don't talk about your family all that much, only that it's small and they don't plan on making themselves known anytime soon… is there any reason why?"

Harry asked for clarification on 'why', hoping the boy meant why it was he didn't speak about them instead of why they wouldn't be making themselves known. Naturally, Marcus clarified by saying the 'why' was directed to both, likely hoping to gather as much information as possible if Harry felt inclined to answer.

Harry didn't.

He knew that whatever he'd say would be heavily scrutinised, likely to the point that they'd write it down as soon as he left their company so it remained as clear as possible. If that happened, and Harry's stories, later on, didn't match or they otherwise heard conflicting information, he'd be done in by himself!

Thus, with his self-explanation done and his choice being made, Harry responded.

"They're very secretive, that's all I can really say."

Marcus looked a bit put out but nodded, Veronica, on the other hand, didn't seem bothered in the slightest. She even went so far as to back Harry up.

"Like half the Pureblood families in Slytherin. They share the bare minimum even with close relations; suppose they don't want anything getting out that could be used against them," Veronica laughed and bumped Marcus, "Don't get to worry about that with my family, do you?" she looked back to Harry, "Everybody knows a whole bunch about the Weasleys, I reckon you could find out almost whatever you'd want no matter who you ask!"

"Really?" Harry cocked his head, he didn't think the Weasleys back in his time could've said the same - not with the level of disdain or contempt they were looked at with, something he noticed that seemed a bit lacking when compared to Veronica and the Weasleys of this time.

"Oh yeah, we're an open book us lot. Not like we get up to many shady business dealings or politicking mind you, that's more the Dark or Non-aligned families - 'greys' as a lot of people call them. I'm surprised my family doesn't have more Hufflepuffs, though my Aunt says it's because we're all so stubborn and danger-seeking!" Veronica laughed loudly at that, disturbing the closest group enough that they moved across the courtyard until they were occupying the furthest spot from the trio.

Harry smiled and chuckled in response to Veronica's words; the girl certainly wasn't shy and he most definitely believed her to be an open book - how couldn't she be when it seemed impossible to cease her speaking once she started?

Marcus seemed equally as amused, his slightly sour mood at Harry's earlier avoidance forgotten as he nodded along with her words.

"Open books most definitely, that's the reason none of you'll ever get into Slytherin I wager," Marcus tilted his head and gave an appraising look at the triumphantly smirking Veronica, "Could think of a host of others on why you'll not be getting into Ravenclaw too, first the-" he attempted a dodge to the left mid-speaking, but Veronica had correctly guessed which side he'd choose and ended up landing some strange coloured hex directly to Marcus' gut.

Seconds away from asking what it was, Harry stopped when the boy began scratching frantically all over - it was important to note the scratching wasn't violent or obsessive, just incredibly speedy and repetitive.

"Veronica?" Harry questioned after observing the spells work for nearly half a minute.

"Oh, that? Don't mind it, he'll be fine," she leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms, wand still visible in her left hand, "I use that when I need to get him in line more than usual, he'll break eventually and ask me to stop tickling him."

Harry exhaled… it was just some childish tickling spell… maybe she'd teach it to him sometime? Aster would be a great target, Elaine even more so - Harry would love to see a furiously giggling Elaine, the aftermath of casting would likely be worth it.

"What's the spell?"

Veronica tutted at him, her wand shifting a few centimetres in his direction.

"Couldn't tell you that now could I? Wouldn't want it being used on me."

He nodded back, understanding the reasoning for not giving it but not dropping the subject for good; there was a good chance down the road that he'd be better friends with the Weasley girl, and when he was, he'd get the spell. There wasn't a very high chance he'd use it on her anyhow, not unless he wanted some other spell he wasn't aware of being used on him.

"Think he's had enough?" Harry asked that after another thirty seconds had gone by since the boy was initially hit with the odd, amusing spell.

Veronica sighed and kicked her legs a few times, "I suppose so," she waved her wand and cancelled it, Marcus immediately grabbing his sides as the vestiges of his laughter died out in their echoing through the nearby open halls.

"That was uncalled for," the Potter boy finally got out, scowling at Veronica with narrowed eyes only for the girl to stick her tongue out in response.

"Shouldn't have made a stupid joke, idiot. Not when I'm nearby, at least." Veronica twirled her wand threateningly, causing Marcus' retort to die down in his throat while the girl smiled widely in response to his obvious backing down, "Good Potter! Now, why don't you talk a bit about your family? I'm sure Pev will eventually tell us about his, but considering you asked, it's only fair you offer a bit up about yourself!

Marcus scowled and let out a loud sigh, but he did as requested when Veronica gave him her threatening glance.

"I live at home with my parents, my brother that Veronica mentioned, Fleamont, left home as soon as he'd graduated - slightly before if I'm fully honest; he had big dreams that couldn't be accomplished while staying with the rest of the family. Other than that, I suppose I could tell you I have a cousin named Charlus who's already married to one of Walburga's family," Marcus paused and made an expression like he was thinking, snapping his fingers a few seconds later, "Dorea is her name, we don't often visit the other branch of House Potter on account of differing views. Doesn't help that Charlus leads that portion of the family either, considering his parents passed away a year after he graduated - still doesn't mean he should be a ri-"

Veronica spoke loudly over him, addressing Harry and cutting off whatever familial issues Marcus had been about to air.

"Marcus' family's pretty small, sorta like yours from what little you've shared. My family doesn't have that issue, though I'd say a majority of the Purebloods of old do; comes from inbreeding as a result of requiring bloodlines that are of 'equal or greater' status. A load of shite, that is," Veronica's speaking had the desired effect of hushing Marcus, so much so in fact, that he'd gone from speaking publicly about House Potter issues to trying to cease Veronica's trashing of a majority of their classmates lest anyone overhear them.

Marcus failed in his attempts to stop her, obviously… Harry didn't mind, it let him get a better read of the girl as a person and at the same time told him the Weasleys were one of the few things that hadn't changed all that much. Such a thought turned fact was comforting for Harry, as it likely meant the kind, caring family he'd known still existed in some way or another if the personalities were so similar.

"Pev?"

Harry looked at Veronica, the girl having said his nickname questionably from her seat once finished waving off Marcus' concerns.

"Yeah?" He returned with a cocked head.

"Think I could ask a favour of you?" Veronica's pale cheeks coloured red as a weird bout of shyness took control of the usually abrasive girl, "It's nothing big, at least I wouldn't think so considering your skill," she was even appealing to his ego if it'd help her case; Harry was interested (no not in that way).

"Depends on what it is, but feel free to ask," He felt the need to preface it more for himself than for her, the reason being he'd learned better than to blindly agree to something after having spent so much time in Slytherin.

"Could you give me a few pointers now and again in Defence Against the Dark Arts? I'm pants at it, barely managed an Acceptable last year, I just reckon with you being as ahead as you are that you'd know a few useful tips to get me out of the bin," Veronica pouted out her lower lip and tried to look all cutesy, but Harry had seen far too much of the girl to buy into that persona for even a second.

It was most assuredly a commendable try, amusing too.

Harry shrugged and played it off as if her question wasn't all that much, responding "Sure, I could meet with you a few times over the course of the year, brush up on your knowledge and that," he scratched his head and picked out a leaf that must've mingled in with his hair at some point during his sitting, "Anywhere in particular that gives you trouble, or is more generalised as the subject itself being difficult for you?"

"Mostly the subject itself," Veronica admitted slightly abashed, glancing to Marcus who thus far looked to be serious rather than goofy at his friends showing off her weakness - Harry knew Aster or Reinhard would definitely be giving him grief if he'd asked the same way Veronica had, he also knew that his agreeing to this wouldn't be making Elaine very happy either, considering she was wholly too obsessive. Ah well, she'd have to deal with it, for he very much doubted either of the two girls would be agreeable if he suggested they work together.

"I can do that," Harry agreed, smiling when he noticed Veronica do so first.

"Wicked mate, you're a lifesaver!" Veronica clapped him on the back in thanks, the hit being stronger than he'd thought considering she wasn't all that much bigger than him.

"Now that we've gotten past that, let's get to talking about something far more fun that everybody's been talking about since Slughorn's party, yeah?" Marcus' way of speaking and the sly look on Veronica's face left very little doubt for Harry on the subject that'd somehow come up; a second later when the Potter boy picked up, Harry hadn't been wrong, with Marcus saying, "Elaine and you finally started dating publicly - I bet it was something that happened quite a bit in advance in private, not that you'd tell us; still, you could say how that came about considering she'd stunned the last boy brave enough to ask her to Hogsmeade."

Harry blinked and glanced between the two Gryffindors, "She stunned some guy for asking her out?"

They both nodded in response with equally comedic expressions on their faces.

"Huh," was Harry's reply to their affirmation, his blinking not having stopped as he tried to think of the bloke that'd been brave enough to ask her out only to get stunned, probably quite viciously too.

Veronica laughed, poking Harry's cheek with one of her neatly trimmed fingernails, "You'd really not heard about that before now? Can't believe that considering how much information is often public knowledge within these shite walls; don't think you're getting out of answering that other question either."

Marcus nodded along with her words until she'd gotten to 'shite walls', only at that point did he narrow his eyes at Veronica for her disrespect towards Hogwarts. When she finished speaking, however, he was back to nodding, even going so far as to remind Harry what he'd only just asked, that being "Tell us how you ended up dating her."

A bit personal of a question to ask, though Harry didn't mind it all that much considering the rather unusual and lacklustre happening of it.

Maybe he could blow up the story and make their getting together into an epic… Nah, best not.

"I called her my girlfriend after our Hogsmeade date and it just sort of came together," Harry told the duo exactly as it'd happened, pursing his lips when he'd finished and slinking slightly lower in the seat.

"And?" Veronica asked, leaning towards him.

"And nothing - we talked not long after and decided to date, not all that grand of a tale now is it?" Harry laughed at the crushed look both wore on their faces, thinking that maybe fabricating a tale would've been the better bet considering these two were hidden romantics.

"Well now, that's right and proper rubbish innit?" Veronica directed that question towards Marcus, the boy narrowing his eyes into a squint while appraising Harry for almost a whole minute - a rather awkward ordeal if you asked the latter boy - and finally, after seeing Harry not change facial expressions or shift in his seat all that much, Marcus changed his visage until it was normal again.

"I believe him," Marcus answered Veronica, visibly deflating as he did so, "Can't be all that much of a story if he didn't wither under my imitation of mother's stare."

Veronica groaned, "You don't do it nearly as well as Lady Potter you dolt, nobody can, not even Dorea with her Black upbringing or Elaine and her…" the girl trailed off, not knowing what to say or unwilling to say it in front of Harry; she continued a split-second later, "It's bloody disappointing if that's really the truth, I'd have figured with it being Elaine there'd be some sort of grand date offering or something along that line."

"Sorry about that, probably should've made something up yeah?" Harry apologised with a question.

"No!"

"Yes!"

Marcus had answered slightly before Veronica, his answering having been negative while hers was positive. Being who they were, the differing answer they'd given and that they'd essentially spoken over one another, Harry knew an argument would likely ensue unless he immediately redirected their attention.

So he did just that.

"Veronica, why yes?" He had enough manners to know letting Veronica go first was proper, he also knew that Marcus was less likely to mind out of the two and when glancing over at the Potter boy - that was weird to think about - his thought had been correct, Marcus didn't at all appear offended with Harry's having told Veronica to go first. If anything, Marcus looked pleased to some degree, though the narrowing of his eyes should've gone against that instead of for it.

"I'd rather be ignorant and happy than know the truth and be sad," Veronica declared as her answer, her saying that making Marcus snort and Harry hold in his laughter at the possibility of being able to share those words with so many people he'd spoken with.

Marcus waited for her to say anything more if she had anything, and when it was clear she didn't, he dipped his head to Harry and spoke.

"Knowing the truth from the get-go is better, I'd rather not have anything ruined for me down the road with facts that I'd missed or outright lies having been told," Marcus glanced at Veronica, "My answer makes more sense, I think."

Veronica couldn't resist a retort, "You can tell me exactly why you're right and support it with all the facts you'd like, but to me, you'll always be wrong," she finished with a raised nose and crossed arms.

Harry almost clapped with her line having been so well delivered, he knew that was one he'd have to remember.

"How very Malfoy of you," Marcus shot back, causing the tall, athletic and very imposing Veronica to stand up from her seated position.

"Say that again, Potter, and we'll find out why I'm much scarier," Veronica's tone was as low as Riddle's when she wanted to be a threat, though it didn't have nearly the same effect on Harry as his girlfriend's voice did.

"Malfoy cl-" Marcus dodged right, only barely getting out of the way of Veronica's hex, "Alright Harry mate, I'll see you later! Got a thing I need to handle!" that was all Marcus responded with as he took off out of the archway leading back into the castle with Veronica hot on his tail.

Harry watched the two leave from his seat on the bench and shook his head slowly, they were both very… energetic.

He briefly wondered if that's how other people thought of him and Ron until he came to the conclusion they'd not been quite that rambunxious; no way.

"Childish, aren't they?"

Sighing, Harry lazily rolled his head to the right and saw the owner of the voice, Elaine. She was leaning with her back against one of the stone pillars near his position, and even in her doing so, he suspected she still stood taller than him - it made him nervous at times, though not nearly as much as unpleasant expressions when she wore them… like she was now.

"Yes?" He offered in response, his answer coming out sounding like a question even to himself.

Elaine smiled wide and slowly made her way over to him, her walking more a prowl than anything else.

"Mmm, I've missed you today, Harry," she ran a soft hand across his cheek and down to his chin, "Walk with me?"

He stood up and gripped her hand as it fell searchingly to his side.

"Of course."