I'm just looking out for my baby girl -- Summer 1996

I looked up from my book and smiled at my dad.  "Yeah," I said simply, wondering why he was acting so hesitant.  Dad and I always had a pretty open relationship - well, on most things except for those feminine issues.

I sighed, wondering how I was going to go about this rather touchy subject.  "Alright," I said to her.  "It's about your... well, your relationship goals."  This was going to get extremely awkward for me.

I looked at my dad and sighed.  "What do you mean?" I inquired, figuring he was going to talk about Sirius now that he was living with us.  Probably some new rules to make sure that we would behave ourselves... if anything were to happen, that is.

I stared at my dad, wondering why he was talking about my love life.  "You can't tell me what I can and cannot feel, Dad," I said to him, trying not to sound really mean or anything.  I knew that DAd was just looking out for me... but I did not need him to about this.

I raised my eyebrows at my dad incredulously.  "Dad, I'm not stupid," I said to him simply.  "I know what Sirius does... but it's no different than James."  He had to realize what my brother did.

I could not believe what my dad was saying to me.  "He hasn't stolen anything," I said, glaring at the man who I never thought would speak to me like this.  "Dad... in case you haven't realized, I have had other guys hanging around and that I was interested in.  But your son all made them go away!  It's not my fault that the only one who stays around is Sirius.  It could just be lack of options."  Of course, I knew it was not.  I really did fancy Sirius more than I should.  But my dad did not need to know that.

Of course Dad would side with James!  I groaned in frustration and then got up, pacing the floor so I would not throw something.  "Dad, don't do that!" I said at him, trying hard not to yell.  "Don't put James up on the big brother pedestal.  I hate when you do that."

I hated when Dad wanted to be all sweet like that.  It always lessened my resolve to be angry with him.  I sighed, but kept my arms crossed.  "I know, Dad," I said to him, my voice softer than it was earlier.  "It doesn't make it fair," I added, pointing that out ot him.