Learning to Vanquish

Chapter Six

Opening Moves

The Friday before Hogsmeade, the members of the old DA assembled in the Room of Requirement. With the exception of Marietta Edgecombe, all of them still in school were there. After everyone had arrived, Harry stood up, which was the signal for the others to stop talking. Standing there, Harry felt as if he were doing something real for the first time in months. "The first thing we have to decide is who the leader is going to be."

Zacharias Smith, a fifth year Hufflepuff, snorted. "We're all here because of you." He stood up and looked around. "Does anybody not want Harry in charge?" When no one raised their hand, he sat down and looked at Harry. "First thing done. Next?"

"Right. The next thing," Harry continued, "is what we do with this group. Professor Gillespie has implied that he'll be recommending students to me and there may be others who want to join." Several people nodded. "I rather like the idea of this group staying small and exclusive, but I also like the idea of a school-wide club with no house loyalties. I thought what we'd do is this. We leave Dumbledore's Army as a small group. The only people who can join are those recommended by at least two people from different houses. That'll mean no one house will dominate and that we can hopefully trust everyone in the group. I think we keep that group, if not secret, then quiet. We form the Defence Association, which will be for anyone who wants to learn Defence Against the Dark Arts. That we can open to everybody. What do you think?"

He had worked hard deciding on what he wanted to do with the club. On the one hand, he thought it a good idea for everyone to thoroughly understand the defensive spells they'd concentrated on last year, but he also couldn't help thinking that he might actually have the beginnings of a group much like the Order of the Phoenix.

Everyone erupted into a lively debate. After several minutes, Terry Boot, a sixth year Ravenclaw, asked, "What about the Slytherins? You didn't say anything about them."

"We certainly can't trust them," said Ernie MacMillan. There was a general agreement in the room.

"Wait a minute," Terry said. "I'm friendly with a couple of them. Not Malfoy or his gang, but some of the others are all right."

"I think if we look at all the Slytherins as bad," Harry said slowly, "we're making the same mistake we accuse them of. We might find some we like." Terry nodded emphatically. "If nothing else, we may be able to get information about what's happening in Slytherin."

"I'll give it a try," Ernie said, "but it doesn't mean I have to like it."

They agreed on a time for the next meeting of both groups. On their way out, Cho put her hand on Harry's arm. "Can you wait for a minute please?"

Harry waited with Cho until the others left the room. Ron gave Cho a hard look on his way out and, looking at Harry, mouthed, "Are you all right?" Harry nodded and Ron followed Hermione out.

Once the others had gone, Cho turned to Harry. "Thanks for staying. I just wanted to apologize for . . . everything last year. I guess we just weren't destined to be."

Harry shrugged. "I guess not. How are things between you and Michael?"

"They're OK. He's nice, I'm happy with him and he's happy with me. We, you and I, never seemed to be happy. Have you found anyone?" She gave him a funny look; Harry couldn't figure out what it meant.

"No. There's too much going on." Harry wished she'd leave. Cho was still awfully pretty and she made his stomach feel funny but he didn't really want to be around her any more.

"Oh." Cho looked as if she was going to say something else, but seemed to think better of it. "I need to get back to studying. NEWTs this year."

"Yeah," Harry said, edging towards the door. "Good luck with that."

Cho left, glancing over her shoulder at him. Harry was very relieved once they separated and he hoped he wouldn't have to talk with her like that again.

The next day was a Hogsmeade Saturday. When Ron was getting ready to leave, he asked Hermione if she was coming as well. "No. My parents told Professor Dumbledore that they withdrew their permission for me to go to Hogsmeade this year."

"What? Why?" Ron demanded.

"They were considering it when they found out about all of the dangerous stuff, but the final straw was those letters," Hermione said. They were sitting in the common room. Crookshanks was on her lap and she was petting him absentmindedly.

"What about them?" Harry asked. "You said they just made some nasty comments about Mudbloods."

Hermione bit her lip and looked miserable. "I didn't want to worry you, Harry, but they were pretty bad."

"You need to stop protecting people by not telling them things," Harry said.

"You're right," Hermione sighed. "It's just really hard. Mine were pretty bad, but nothing I hadn't expected. They said terrible things would be done to me if I kept coming to Hogwarts and if I kept being your friend," she said, looking right at Harry. "Nothing really new there. The ones my parents got were pretty much the same, but they weren't expecting it. It took Professor Dumbledore a long time to calm them down and for them to let me come back to Hogwarts at all. I'm not allowed to leave school grounds for any reason unless they give their express permission. If I do, they'll pull me out of Hogwarts immediately."

Both boys stared at her in shock, unable to figure out how to cheer her up. After a few minutes, she looked up and saw their faces. "Honestly, you two, it's not the end of the world. I just have to stay here in the school but that's no different than it was our first two years. It will give me more time to study with fewer distractions." Crookshanks jumped off her lap and she stood. "Harry, why don't we work on your Potions essay?" Harry sighed and agreed.

Ron decided he'd still go to Hogsmeade. He'd promised Fred and George that he'd check some things out at Zonko's and report back to them. "But it won't be nearly as much fun without you two." He walked off, looking dejected.

After bringing his homework down to the common room, Harry found himself gazing out the window at the bright, fall day. "Hermione, is there any reason we can't do the studying outside?" he asked.

"I was thinking that by staying in it wouldn't hurt so badly that I can't go, but I think you're right." She packed up her things and followed Harry outside.

The two of them spent the afternoon by the lake. Harry found himself getting quite a bit of his homework done, but he spent at least as much time staring out at the lake. Later in the afternoon, a breeze picked up and the day got chilly. They decided to go back in where it was warm.

As they walked up the stairs to the portrait hole, Hermione started sniffling. "What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"I hate this," she answered, "and I don't know how you do it. People are threatening me, I can't do what I want, my parents are upset with me, and everybody thinks I'm ugly." By the time she finished, she was wailing.

Harry was at a total loss as to what to do. When Hermione sat down on the stairs, he sat down next to her. A minute later, she threw her arms around him and sobbed her heart out on his shoulder. He patted her gently, wishing he knew the proper way to calm down a crying girl. After a bit, she stopped crying and sat there with her head nestled into his shoulder. They were still sitting that way when Ron came back.

"What's going on?" he asked, very alarmed.

Hermione sniffed and pulled a handkerchief from a pocket, blowing her nose. "I was just upset by everything that's going on. Harry was kind enough to let me cry on him."

Ron looked oddly relieved. "Better you than me," he said to Harry. He continued, "Things'll improve; you'll see. While you're waiting, I got chocolate frogs at Honeydukes." If Hermione's laugh was a little watery, neither of the boys mentioned it.

Harry was greeted by a post owl as he was eating breakfast Monday morning. It wasn't his Daily Prophet , but a letter addressed with unfamiliar handwriting. He opened it wondering why people were writing to him now.

Dear Mr. Potter, it said,

As you aware, this Halloween will be the fifteenth anniversary of your defeat of You-Know-Who. Since he has returned, we are publishing a special edition of the Daily Prophet commemorating his original defeat. We would like to interview you; please let us know what time is convenient.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Elphick

Special Features Editor,

Daily Prophet

Harry read the letter over twice, hoping he'd misread it the first time. Then, he handed it to Hermione, asking, "What am I going to do about this?"

Hermione read it over and handed it to Ron while she thought. "Nice, they don't even ask if you want to be interviewed," she said, sniffing. "I don't think ignoring it is the best approach, though. Maybe you could write to Professor Lupin. He might know the best way to handle this."

"That's not a bad idea, mate," Ron agreed. "Or you could ask Dumbledore. I'm sure he'll tell you what to do."

Harry sighed. "Maybe, but I think I'm more comfortable with Lupin." He scrawled a short note explaining about the letter but had to wait until after Care of Magical Creatures before he could run up to the Owlery to post it.

Hedwig returned over breakfast on Wednesday morning with a reply from Lupin. He would be at the castle that evening to discuss it; Harry was to meet him at the Headmaster's office. Harry showed the letter to Ron, grumbling, "If I'd wanted to talk about it with Dumbledore, I'd have gone to him in the first place."

Because of his distraction, Potions was a disaster. In making a Restorative Draught, Harry mixed up the amounts of two of the ingredients. Only Snape's fast Evanesco prevented an explosion. "That's twenty points from Gryffindor for your recklessness and a detention tonight," Snape said.

"Sir, I'm supposed to be in the Headmaster's office tonight after supper," Harry said. His stomach felt like a block of ice; he really didn't want to hear Snape sneering at him.

He was surprised when Snape instead just nodded, "That's right; I'd heard about that. Very well, Potter; be here tomorrow after supper for your detention." Harry nodded, relieved that Snape hadn't been any nastier. He still got a zero for the class, but he supposed he couldn't really complain about that.

That night, he went up to Dumbledore's office immediately after supper. Lupin was already there; the two of them stopped their conversation when Harry walked in. "Good evening, Harry," Dumbledore greeted him. "May I ask why you didn't bring this to me in the first place?"

Harry sighed. "You have to make decisions and give advice based on what's best for the school and the Wizarding world. I wanted to discuss what's best for me; I hoped Professor Lupin would do that."

Dumbledore gave Harry a penetrating look. There was no twinkle in his eyes tonight. Finally, he nodded. "I do try to do what's best for you, Harry, but I can understand why you have difficulty believing that. Perhaps the two of you could take a walk around the grounds; it's a pleasant evening."

Lupin looked at Harry. "Is that all right with you?"

Harry nodded and the two of them walked out of the castle and towards the lake. "Why don't you trust Professor Dumbledore?" Lupin asked as they walked.

"It's not that I don't trust him," Harry explained, as much to himself as to Lupin. "It's just that what I need, and what I want, aren't as important to him as other things. I can guess what the best thing to do for the Wizarding world is; I want to know what's best for me. If I give this interview, it'll be on the front page; I'll look like I really am seeking attention. But if I don't give it, they'll blast me for hiding things from the press. I can't win and I want a way out of it."

They walked quietly for a bit. Lupin was staring over the grounds contemplatively. Finally, he said, "I don't think things are as dire as you're painting them. Why don't you give the interview to Skeeter? The interview you gave her last year went very well." When Harry didn't respond, Lupin gave him a sympathetic look. "What's really wrong?"

"He talks about my defeating Voldemort. But I didn't! They're talking about the night he was defeated but, to me, it's the night my parents died. I don't want people looking at me as a hero; I'm not."

"Mm," Lupin was quiet for a minute. "Maybe not. Why don't you tell him that that's the interview you'll give? Let him know you won't pretend to be a hero; tell him it's your parents you want to discuss. I'd advise, if you do this," Lupin continued, "that you give the interview with the Headmaster present. Me, as well, if you wish and they agree. If you're asking for advice from adults, they're less likely to view you as a hero."

Harry snorted. "I wish I believed that. Would you help me write the response?"

Lupin nodded. "I'd be delighted."

Instead of going back to the castle, they stopped at Hagrid's hut. He was delighted to see them, pressing tea and cakes on them. After the letter was written, they had an enjoyable visit, Lupin and Hagrid telling stories about Harry's parents while they were in school. Harry couldn't help think about the scene he'd seen in Snape's pensieve, but he resolutely pushed it out of his mind. He was determined to enjoy this evening.

On his way back to the common room, he stopped at the Owlery to give the letter to Hedwig. He stayed up there a while, watching her fly away and then just looking at the night sky.

He got a response the next morning. Mr. Elphick agreed to his conditions and suggested Rita Skeeter meet with him in Professor Dumbledore's office that Saturday. After classes that day, he went to the headmaster's office. He gave the password and he found the office door already open.

"Come in, Harry," the headmaster greeted him. "Please, have a seat. Would you like some tea? Biscuits? Sherbet lemon?"

Harry accepted a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit and sat down, handing the note to Dumbledore. He read it and nodded. "That would be fine with me, if that's what you're asking," he said. "Would you like me to tell Remus?"

"If you like," Harry said. "I'm sending him a letter in any case."

Dumbledore nodded and started chatting about unimportant matters. Harry let him talk, inserting "Mm" and "Oh" as necessary. Eventually, Dumbledore let him go.

After supper, Harry walked down to the dungeons for his detention. Ron and Hermione decided to walk down with him. When he asked why, Hermione said, "I have a feeling about tonight. If I'm wrong, we'll leave." Harry shrugged.

When he walked into Snape's classroom, he decided that he really should have figured out what was happening. In addition to Snape, Blaise Zabini and Daphne Greengrass were there. "Mr. Potter," Snape said. "Are you incapable of even doing a detention without your cohorts?"

Ron's ears turned pink, but Hermione said calmly, "We thought you might be setting things up for the DA. Ron and I have an idea about it."

Snape actually looked interested at that. "Go on."

"We know that you've asked Harry if Blaise and Daphne can join the DA. If they can get one of the other DA members to agree, they can join. We thought since Harry's the leader, we'd keep him out of it. That way, he can overrule any complaints without it looking like he has a vested interest. He does, but not for you."

Blaise and Daphne exchanged startled looks. "That sounds rather like a Slytherin's logic if you ask me," Daphne said. When Ron looked like he was going to explode, she added, "That was a compliment. And a good point. I gather the two of you will sponsor us."

Ron nodded. "That was the idea."

Snape looked at the five of them for a few minutes. No one said anything while he thought it through. Harry thought he should be nervous but he wasn't; Snape seemed to be deciding if Hermione's change was a good idea but he didn't seem upset by it. He finally nodded, "Yes, I believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I believe you two should agree," he said, looking at Blaise and Daphne.

"It sounds good to me," said Blaine. "Which of you sponsors which of us?"

"Daphne and I have studied together before," Hermione said, "which leaves Ron to speak for you. Do you have the second person to speak for you?"

Daphne nodded. "Terry Boot has agreed to speak for me and I think Susan Bones has agreed to speak for Blaise. Will that do it?"

Hermione told them the time and place of the next meeting and the four of them left chatting about what they would be working on. Before the door closed, Harry heard Daphne ask, "You can do a Patronus?"

This left Harry with Snape for his detention. He stood straight and asked, "What will I be doing tonight, Professor?"

Snape smirked at him. "Three things. First, you will write a minimum of a foot on the Restorative Draught. It will include the ingredients and the correct procedure for brewing it. Second, you will show me your plans for the next Defence class. I have something of a vested interest in it, you understand. Third, you will write everything you know and understand about Legilimency. Professor Dumbledore wishes me to teach you but, before I do, I wish to know what misconceptions I must clear up." He checked something on his desk. "It is after six-thirty. If you are not finished by nine-thirty, you will complete this work in your own time, but no later than curfew tomorrow night." When Harry stood there, unmoving, Snape glared at him. "Well? Get to work."

Since Harry had already gone over his notes to see what he had done wrong with the Restorative Draught, he was able to finish that quickly. His DA plans were already written up; he just had to copy them out. That left him with over an hour to write down everything he could remember about Legilimency. He hadn't studied that as carefully as Occlumency, but he was surprised to see what he could remember. It was just past nine when Harry walked up to Snape's desk with his three papers. Snape looked up, took them from Harry, and then nodded for Harry to sit in the chair next to his desk.

He quickly read over the potions essay, nodded and marked an A at the top. "A little more research, Mr. Potter, and I might have been willing to consider erasing yesterday's zero." Harry stared at Snape in shock, as the Potions Master read over his DA plans. After reading over them twice, he looked up at Harry but didn't really seem to see him. "Mr. Potter, have you ever seen a teacher's class notes?"

"No, sir," Harry said. He couldn't help wondering if he had managed, somehow, to switch universes again to one where Snape didn't hate him.

"Pity. Ask Lupin, you need to learn how to structure a class better." As Harry absorbed this second shock, Snape reviewed what he had written on Legilimency. "You still have a very simplistic understanding of both Legilimency and Occlumency; however, I can begin with this." He picked a thin book up from his desk. Its title said The Mind's Secrets by Jacob E. Snape. "You may borrow this. Read it in its entirety and be prepared to discuss it next Wednesday night. You may go."

Harry picked the book up and stared at Snape. When he hadn't moved after a few minutes, Snape looked up from the grading he was doing and snapped, "I said, you may go." With that, Harry collected his things and left quickly, his head spinning.

Ron and Hermione were waiting for him in the common room. "Are you all right, mate?" Ron asked. "You look off. Was detention that bad?"

"It was probably the easiest detention I've had with him," Harry said, setting down his bag. He proceeded to tell Ron and Hermione everything Snape had told him to do and how he'd reacted. "He was almost . . . nice," Harry finished.

Hermione gave him a sharp look. "Perhaps it's because you're helping students from his house," she said. "In making it clear that your problem is with Malfoy, and not Slytherins in general, maybe he's willing to extend the courtesy." After discussing the mystery a little bit longer, Harry headed up to bed.

At the appointed time on Saturday, Harry walked up to Dumbledore's office. Although he was early for the time they had set, Rita Skeeter and Lupin were already there. After everyone settled in, Lupin asked, "Now, you understand that Harry doesn't want some story that makes him look as though he single-handedly brought down Voldemort when he was a child?"

Rita looked at him in disbelief. "But he did!"

Dumbledore said, "What happened that night is still a mystery. All we know for certain is that Voldemort first killed James and Lily Potter with the Killing Curse. He then cast that same curse on Harry, but it rebounded and, erm, separated Voldemort from his body until he was able to create a new one over a year ago. We don't know why it happened."

"Everyone believes Harry stopped him."

"And that's what I want to change," Harry said. "Maybe it was something about me that stopped him but it's just as likely that something else happened and I was just there." Harry decided to let Dumbledore bring up the protection of Lily Potter's love. "We don't know. I know the Daily Prophet is making up this big edition, but I feel like they're celebrating my parents' deaths. I certainly can't celebrate them." Harry was able to stay calm but he was trembling inside. He was glad he hadn't eaten a big breakfast; he didn't think it would have stayed down.

Rita was quiet and thoughtful for several minutes. When she began asking questions again, it was more about what Harry knew about his parents, their friends, and what they had been doing to fight Voldemort. She also asked about the Dursleys, questions that showed she had some idea how little they liked him. Harry answered the questions about his parents as honestly as he could, trusting Lupin not to let him say anything stupid, but he avoided the questions about the Dursleys as much as he could. They finished the interview before lunch; he asked Lupin if they could talk before he left.

"Of course, Harry," Lupin said. "Shall we walk down to the Great Hall? I am on my way out."

"I have a better idea," Harry said. He walked to the Room of Requirement and walked past the entrance three times, thinking of a quiet place to talk. When he opened the door, Lupin started.

"I don't believe I've ever seen this room," he said, looking around. The room had decided they needed two armchairs, a roaring fire and not much else. "Although I do remember a great abandoned classroom right about here. It was the perfect place to work on things without being interrupted."

"I've never noticed what the Map calls this room."

Lupin thought a minute and shook his head. "I can't remember. Been too long. Now, why did you need to talk to me?"

Harry felt embarrassed, but Snape's comment had made him wonder. "When I was serving my last detention with Snape . . ."

"Professor Snape," Lupin said.

"Yeah, Professor Snape, one of the things he had me do was give him my plans for the next DA meeting. It's going to be the first one where we really work on Defence. He didn't say anything about what I was teaching but he did say I needed to structure my class better. And he said to talk with you." Harry pulled his copy of the notes out of his robes and handed them to Lupin.

Lupin took them and read them over. "Hm. I see what he means, but you're dealing with something a little different than the standard class." Lupin thought for a minute. "You need to start the beginners first, then you work with the more advanced students. Otherwise, the beginners try to do the advanced work and you have trouble. Also, with the number of people you have here--a lot more than I thought, by the way--I'd say you could use some assistants. Pick one of the more advanced beginners and, hm, probably Hermione to help you overall. And I wouldn't use class time to work on your own training. Set aside a different time for that." Lupin handed him the paper back. "Other than that, it looks wonderful."

"Thanks, Professor Lupin." Harry could see how those changes would make it easier for him.

Lupin laughed. "Harry, I'm discussing teaching techniques with you, I'm not likely to ever be your professor again and, if things had gone the way they should have, you'd be calling me Uncle. Please, call me Remus."

Harry looked at him, startled. "OK. Well, I'll try. It'll probably feel pretty weird, though."

"It always does at first." Lupin's, no Remus's, smile was gentle. "I remember the first time I called Minerva by her first name. I cringed, expecting her to assign me a detention." When Harry grinned, Remus said, "It was during the year I taught here. Old habits can be very hard to break."

They talked for a few more minutes but Remus had things to do that afternoon. "Harry, please keep in touch," he said, as Harry walked him to the Entrance Hall.

His days became a blur of classes, homework, Quidditch and DA meetings. Professor Snape would stop him after class every week or two with rolls of parchment to send through Harry's mirror; he would usually get a response in a handwriting Harry didn't recognize about a week later. His gratitude for being able to communicate with his collaborator didn't change anything in Potions; Snape was still terribly unfair. He took points from Gryffindor for the flimsiest of reasons, gave them to Slytherins for anything and sneered at Harry during classes. Harry did his best to keep his head down, do his work and let the rest slide by him.

Professor Gillespie continued to favour the pure-bloods and half-bloods over the Muggle-born in his classes. His grades were scrupulously fair, as were his points, but he never acknowledged the Muggle-born in class, no matter how well they did.

The two DA groups each met about weekly. The public group quickly grew until it had well over a hundred students in it. The members came from all four houses, although most of the Slytherins were from the younger grades. Just as Professor McGonagall had now started sending younger students for Harry to tutor, Harry had the more advanced members working with the DA members who were struggling. The more private group was reviewing the material they had learned last year; but then Harry was going to start them on duelling. Harry wrote to Remus for help with planning the sessions. He wasn't sure which he enjoyed more: the new spells he was learning more or watching his students grasp a concept they hadn't been able to understand.

Occlumency lessons with Dumbledore were going along quite well; he could now consistently keep Dumbledore out of his head for quite some time and many nights Dumbledore couldn't break in at all. He was continuing to clear his mind before sleep and practicing different techniques. His scar prickled off and on, but he had no more visions. He had the feeling, however, that the connection between he and Voldemort wasn't closed, just quiet. The Legilimency lessons with Snape, on the other hand, weren't going well at all. Snape was explaining things better to Harry this time, but he couldn't manage to get even a glimpse into Snape's mind.

The night before Halloween, Harry went to bed thinking about the Quidditch match that weekend between Gryffindor and Slytherin. He wasn't feeling himself as he went to bed, his head aching and his scar prickling.

He dreamed he was chasing the Snitch but every time he got close to it, Malfoy would pull a gun out and shoot at him. Harry finally lost his temper and turned his wand into an automatic gun, which he fired at Malfoy. He succeeded, but discovered he couldn't turn the gun back into his wand. Then everything around him went dark. When he could see again, he was holding someone else's wand, walking through the doors of a giant stone fortress. He walked down corridors of cells; in front of each, he would tell someone behind him that the inhabitant of the cell was to be released, was to die or was to be taken for further questioning. He reached a cell in which a man was standing straight, waiting for him. "Ah, yes," he said in a high, cold voice, "Mr. Malfoy. Join me; we have much to discuss." Harry realized he was in Azkaban and that the Death Eaters had taken over the prison. He struggled to wake, but found himself unable to do so. After several more minutes, as he watched a dozen more inmates being sentenced to death, they finally came across a cell in which a man sat. Harry felt himself smile. "They sentenced you to life imprisonment here on the testimony of one of my Death Eaters. Very good, very good. Bellatrix, you may take him and . . . play."

The anger Harry felt towards Bellatrix was so overpowering, he finally managed to wake himself up. He woke screaming, his throat as sore as if he had been doing so for some time. His head felt as if it would split along his scar. He was terribly nauseated from the pain and anger, but managed to keep from vomiting. When he had his stomach and voice under control, he told the others, "I have to see Dumbledore."

"Neville's already gone for him," Seamus told him. "I don't know if he'll bring Dumbledore here or if you'll have to go to him, but he should be back any moment now." Harry decided to wait for a few moments, sipping the water Dean handed him.

Ron pulled out some parchment and a quill. "While you're waiting for Dumbledore," Ron said, "I thought you might try writing the vision down." As this seemed like a good idea, Harry took him up on it.

He'd written all the details he could remember when Neville came back into the dorm room. "Dumbledore asked that you come to his office," he said. "Can you walk on your own or will you need help?"

Harry shook his head. "I can walk on my own," and got up to do so. The others exchanged looks and followed Harry to the headmaster's office.

When they arrived, Dumbledore looked amused, but admitted all five boys. He asked Harry to repeat his dream and any other observations he might have had. Harry did so and handed over the parchment he had taken the notes on. "Sir," he asked, "might I have a copy of that?"

Dumbledore nodded and duplicated the parchment, handing the copy to Harry. He also confirmed with Harry that he had cleared his mind before going to sleep the night before. The five Gryffindors returned to their dorm room. The others were discussing what Harry's dream might mean; Harry had no doubt. Voldemort had taken over Azkaban Prison, and was releasing the Death Eaters who had been imprisoned there.

Ron and Hermione were waiting for Harry in the common room the next morning. "We thought you might want some company," Hermione said. "How bad can it be, anyway?"

Harry and Ron exchanged looks, and then stared at Hermione. "I don't even want to think about how bad it could be," Harry said. "I just hope Rita behaved herself and only printed what I actually said."

The post hadn't come when they walked into the Great Hall. They were able to get about halfway through their breakfast when the Daily Prophet owls flew in with their papers. Hermione gave the owl that brought Harry's newspaper its Knuts while Harry opened the paper.

The article wasn't as bad as Harry had feared. The headline read "Anniversary of You-Know-Who's First Defeat" and underneath were three photographs. The larger one was of a half-demolished house with the Dark Mark over it, the other two were of James and Lily Potter. There were several articles about the entire history of the first war and what was happening now. The interview he had given Rita, although listed on the front page, was printed on the third. It was accurate, she hadn't put words in his mouth this time, and Rita had put more emphasis on what his parents had done than on what he had done.

Reading over his shoulder, Ron started to say something when Harry's scar started to blaze in pain. There were no visions associated with this pain, just the undeniable feeling that Voldemort was furious. It lasted for several minutes; when it finally started to fade, Harry opened his eyes to see Ron and Hermione looking very pale and worried. "It's all right," Harry told them. "I don't think Voldemort likes what was in the paper today."

"Good," Ron said. "Finish up your breakfast; we have to be in Transfiguration in ten minutes.

A lot of people found excuses to talk to Harry that day. Most didn't start by talking about the special edition, but soon found a way to bring it into the conversation around to it. Harry found it interesting that most of them didn't bring up his interview, but asked him what he thought Voldemort's next moves were going to be.

The Slytherins had Transfiguration right after the Gryffindors. As Harry left the classroom, Malfoy called over to him, "You really love the attention, don't you, Scarhead? I bet today's paper was all your idea, wasn't it?" When Harry walked by him without reacting, Malfoy yelled, "We're not worthy of your attention, is that it?"

Before Harry could react, Blaise called out, "Did McGonagall assign any essays today?"

Grateful for the distraction, Harry nodded. "Yeah, twelve inches on changing humans to rodents. Like ferrets."

Blaise kept his face straight, but it looked like he wanted to break out into laughter. "Thanks. I was hoping we could focus on the Quidditch match this weekend; I want to savour beating you."

"In your dreams, Zabini. In your dreams." As Harry passed Blaise, he mouthed, "Thanks." Blaise nodded, looking very pleased.

Although there weren't a lot of nasty comments, by the time classes were done Harry was exhausted. He would have skipped the Halloween Feast, but Ron talked him into coming. "Come on, you've hardly eaten any breakfast or lunch. You've got to eat, Harry."

As he looked around the Great Hall filled with candle-lit pumpkins, Harry was glad Ron had talked him into it.