Chapter 187

Harry scratched her neck for a second, before asking, "Could you give me a lift home, girl?"

Getting a trill of acquiescence, Harry grabbed onto Hedwig's tail feathers and they disappeared from the room with a burst of flame. When the fire receded from his vision, Harry was in the Flamel apartment's living room, staring at two frowning Flamels, who somehow managed to look intimidating even when sitting on a sofa.

Hedwig decided that they looked intimidating too, since she immediately took off in the direction of the kitchen in search of a treat, leaving Harry stared indignantly after her, feeling a bit betrayed.

"Sit," Nicholas said, and Harry sat, obliging.

"I realize that you are going through a change right now Harry," it was Perenelle who began, "No longer living with your relatives and living with us is no doubt going to take some adjusting, which is why we have been trying to give you as much space and freedom as possible. But is it honestly too much to expect from you to let us know if you have plans to stay over at your school for the holidays?"

Harry hung his head, "No, it's not, Perenelle. I'm sorry for not writing."

"Apology noted and accepted," Nicholas said, "Now would you please share why in the world do you want to stay at Hogwarts? Aren't all your friends going home for the holidays? What about all that dangerous Heir of Slytherin business that has been going on? And what about you wanting to learn alchemy over the winter break? What happened to that?"

Harry looked up at the only two people he could call family in the whole world, and for a fleeting moment, considered lying through his teeth, before he pushed that thought back, and said, "Dumbledore told me before he left that the school will be closing down for who knows how long before even January comes along. And now, some students are talking about moving to other schools. I know that the two of you have been trying to make me feel at home here. It's worked. This place is more of a home to me than Privet Drive ever was. But you have to understand. Hogwarts is my first home. And I want to stay there for as long as I can before it closes down. I know its illogical and doesn't make sense, but it's the only reason that I have."

'Half-truths' he told himself, 'Not lies. Half truths.'

Ping!

Half-truths fall under the category of bullshit buddy, which is why a skill leveled up!

Bullshitting Lv-8 (15%)

A combination of lying and the truth said in a very confident manner!

Harry waved away the screen, trying to not let his annoyance show on his face. Perenelle and Nicholas exchanged a glance, trying to keep looking strict, but it was obvious that they weren't angry anymore. Perenelle was the one who spoke first, "Fine Harry. I will allow it. You can stay at your school."

A grin spread across Harry's face.

Perenelle smiled, getting up to her feet, "Now let me just pack up some of that fudge Molly sent over for you," she said before heading into the kitchen, leaving Harry with Nicholas, who leaned back into his chair and looked at Harry with an unnerving smirk.

"I've got a couple of question for you little guy," he said, "Exactly how much of that emotional ramble was utter bull, and why should I not tell Perenelle?"

Harry settled a flat look on the man, wondering why he kept insisting on being difficult. He replied flatly, "Blackmailing really isn't your forte old man. You really shouldn't devote as much of your tiny little brain to it as you do. Instead, you should focus those brain cells on keeping track of where your porno collection goes. Who knows where you might…lose it?"

Nicholas's smirk slipped right off his face, and he quickly snapped his fingers. Nothing happened. Looking more and more panicked, he snapped his fingers again and again.

Harry looked on smugly as Nicholas tried in vain to summon the magazines that rested in his Inventory, "Don't waste your magic, Nicholas. You probably forgot where you put them."

At the very moment, Perenelle emerged from the kitchen with a tin of fudge, "Forgot what?"

"Nothing dear," Nicholas quickly assured, sending a baleful glare at Harry. Perenelle handed Harry the tin, and a couple of minutes of goodbyes and subtle glaring later, Harry was back in Professor Flitwick's office. Letting Hedwig flame back to the Ravenclaw tower, Harry opened the door of the office and let Professor Flitwick in, before assuring him that he had smoothed everything over with 'Mr. and Mrs. Potter' and heading back towards the Project Room.

The sun had dipped behind the faraway mountains by the time Harry reached the room, illuminating the sky in a vibrant red. Harry let himself in, only to find Ron snoring away on the sofa, and Hermione, Terry and Dean still working on their homework.

"What took you so long Harry?" Dean asked, to which Harry replied by explaining about the misunderstanding that had happened with his name on his holiday list.

"It's getting late," he added, shaking Ron awake, "We should really get back to our common rooms."I'm

So they all packed up their quills and essays, and headed back to the towers, intending to head in for a long night's sleep. However, as soon as they reached the tower, Hermione realized with a something with a start and turned to Harry for help.

"Harry! I left my Hogwarts a History back there in the room. Could you please just go get it for me? Hedwig could take you and bring you back in a jiffy and I really don't want to go all the way back to the second floor at night time."

And so with a suffering sigh, Harry called for Hedwig and flamed out of the dorm and rematerialized in the Project Room.

Hedwig fluttered over to sit on the back of a chair as Harry quickly picked up the fat copy of Hogwarts a History that belonged to Hermione off the table.

He was about to leave when suddenly something caught his attention through the corner of his eye. A single folded piece of paper lay underneath the pair of desks on which Dean, Terry, and Hermione were doing their homework.

Harry picked it up and smoothed it over, realizing that it was actually a letter addressed to Terry.

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