We're all misfits living in a world on fire -- Fall 1993

I was tired of people saying crap to me about my dead beat dad.  I hated him and how he left us for murdering his best mate an dhis family... Mum's brother.  I knew Mum and Lenni believed him innocent, but I had no clue what to think or believe.  I was sitting by the lake and was brooding like usual. I heard someone sit by me and I looked over at them.  "Hey Linc," I said.  he wa one of the few people who treated me like a perso and not Sirius Black's so.  So, naturally, he was one of my few friends... and I had a feeling that I was the same for him.  He was almost more brooding than myself.

I knew that look Dean ha on his face.  I had to sit down next to him.  "Don't listen to everything they're saying," I told him.  I was sure that he was hearing everyone and what they were saying was not good.  But from what I understood, Dean did not know what to htink anyways.

I sighed.  I knew it sucked.  "How are you holding up?" I asked.  His mum had been in Azkaban for nearly a year.  I knew his grandparents were horrible to him.  I did not know the entire story, but I did not have to.  LInc and I had an odd undertanding with each other.  Though we did not have to tell each other the entire truth, we were honest eough with each other about things.

I shrugged.  "I'm just glad to be back at school," I replied.  I hated being there with my grandparents.  They were not quite as horrible as my parents, but they were still bad.  I looked at him and I hoped that we could get back to focusing on him rather than myself.

I sighed.  I knew that Lincoln hated discussing himself as much as I hated talkign about myself.  "Yeah, despite hearing the whispers constantly, I'm glad to be back.  It's actually easier than being at home.  I was doing nothing but arguing all the time because I have my own opinion about my dad," I said, shaking my head slightly.  Running a hand through my hair, I continued.  "I did spend a lot of time at the Lupins.  I'm glad that I have somewhere to escape to... you don't,though, do you?" I felt bad for Linc.  Our misery seemed to join us as friends.

I smiled a half smile like I oramlly did.  I hardly ever gave a full smile to anyone.  There was no piont.  No one ever made me happy enough to smile completely.  I shook my head.  "I'm glad that you do have someplace to go.  It probably helps you stay sane," I commented.  "But no... I only have here.  At least it's more welcoming for me than you."  It was amazing how Hgowarts was so different for all its student it housed.  Some felt it was a sanctuary while others felt it a prison and so much more in between the two polar opposites.

I always felt bad for Linc.  "I'd say you could stay with me and my family, but I dunno how that'd go over.  Maybe it'd keep my mum and sister from screaming at me," I said, chuckling without any humor in my laughter.

I shook my head and chuckled with him, though I had mor ehumor in my tones.  "As appealing as that sounds, I think I'll pass," I told Dean.  Though I would take that over my grandparent's house any day.  "I do have a quetion for you... ever thought about visiting him?  Your dad in Azkaban?" I asked.  It may end up helping him decide what to believe.  Hear the story from the man himself.

I was a little surprised by Lincoln's response.  he did add some humor before shocking me.  "Do you visit your mum in Azkaban?" I ansswered him with my own quetion.  I already knew what his answer was.

"Definitely not," I answered.  "I wonder... do you think they have all of the murderers -- alleged or guilty -- together?  They could be neighbors."  I could not believe what I was saying, but it was lightening the mood between the two of us.

I nearly let out a true laugh.  "I dunno if I even want to think about that," I said, shaking my head.  We were silent for a little hwile.  I had to ask him, though.  "Linc... do you know you have an admirer?" I asked.  I heard what some of the girls in the common room were saying about him -- like Katie Bell.

I raised my eyebrows at Dean.  "What makes you say that?" I asked.  I had been speaking with Katie during classes -- something I never really pictured myself doing, but somehow Katie got me to talk.  I was always polite to people, though.  It just made a bit of an odd friendship.

I rolled my eyes at him.  "C'mon, mate, because I hear things.  Are you saying you already know?" I looked at him with curiosity.  He had started to act a little strange.

I shook my head.  "I didn't say anything, dean.  You have your fair share of girls wanting you, too,"I pointed out.  I knew Dean was a flirt whether or not he wanted ot realize it.

I grinned at Lincoln.  "Oh, I know," I replied.  I could nto even try to deny that.  "I do have a girlfriend now, though.  So I have to be careful."  Lucy and I were together.  Will and Uncle Remus had no clue, though.  I did not want them to get angry with me.