Harry Potter and the Rise of the Phoenix

Ginny threw herself onto her bed and cried her heart out. She had been crying since she ran out of the Great Hall. There shouldn't be any more tears left by now. Pulling Prongs close, hugging the stuffed animal as tightly as possible, Ginny buried her face in the animal's fur. He looked ancient, as if she had had him all her life. For some reason that thought brought another flood of tears. In the few short months, three if she bothered to count, Prongs had dried more tears than she cared to admit.

There was a soft knock at the door, Hermione entered the room, and sat on the edge of the bed. Ginny moved into her friend's embrace, not letting go of Prongs. Hermione held her friend and crooned softly. It was a long time before the tears slowed, but when they did, Ginny pulled away and sat against the headboard, leaning her head back.

"He's a miserable, insensitive, unfeeling git," Ginny spat out. Isis hooted in agreement. The owl hardly ever left the dorm room, preferring her stand in the room to the busy Owlery.

"He's male," Hermione said, as if that made all the sense in the world. Ginny smiled faintly, but continued to stare out in front of her, not taking in anything she was actually looking at.

"I didn't mean to say that out loud," she finally confessed. "I was just so angry, 'cause if he really meant what he had said it would of meant…" Ginny brushed at the tears leaking out of her eyes angry at herself for letting even more fall. "If he really meant he didn't like me, then every time we've kissed just proves Charlie's worst fears. I've had so many fights with my brother over this, that for those first few minutes I thought I'd been a fool."

"Then you realized he had just said the first thing that popped into his head," Hermione commented and Ginny nodded. They were silent for a while. "You know, in some ways, I think Harry's relieved that everyone knows." Ginny looked at her, startled. "He won't have to lie about it, but he's also lost quite a bit of privacy, and I know he isn't happy about that."

"I shouldn't have put it off," Ginny commented after another pause. "I've known this was coming since the fourteenth and… It wasn't fair for Harry at all."

Hermione answered slowly. "Ron led him up to their room, I heard Harry asking him if you had just broken up with him. I'm not sure it has sunk in yet. Are you really sure this is for the best?"

Ginny nodded her head, this she was sure of more than anything else. "I love him, I really do, Hermione. But every time we try to have a conversation, a real and meaningful one, it turns into a snog session. And I'm not really complaining about the snogging, it's just…"

"You had so much more before," Hermione finished for her. "And you're right, it wasn't healthy. I hope he understands."

"Me too," Ginny answered. "Me too." They were silent for several long minutes and Ginny realized that none of her dorm mates had come in. "Where is everyone?"

"I think they're giving you some space," Hermione answered.

"Oh," she replied. She could get so angry with her roommates, but when it really mattered, they were always there for her. She needed space right now and they respected that. "I did the right thing." Ginny didn't know if she was convincing herself or Hermione.

"I hope so," Hermione agreed.

"I wonder how life would have been different if we hadn't gone to Hogsmeade that day," Ginny wondered out loud. "If Voldemort hadn't gotten a hold of me... If Harry hadn't gone to Malfoy Manor in my place. We had so many plans, Harry and I. I love him, Hermione. What have I done?"

"Life would be simpler, yes, but eventually something like this would have happened," Hermione argued logically. Ginny didn't look at her friend but out the window at the moon. "I do believe that in the long run you made the right choice for you."

"Hermione, will you do me a favor?" Ginny asked, turning to face the woman. Her friend hesitated, but then nodded. "Keep this ring for me, and keep it safe." She slid off the ring Harry had given her for Christmas, his mother's ring, her ring. Instantly the feeling that was Harry in the back of her mind faded away. An odd sense of emptiness filled the void, but she ignored it. She grabbed one of Hermione's hands, placed the ring in it, and closed the fingers around it.

"No, you keep it," Hermione said quickly. She went over to Ginny's small jewelry box and noticed that Harry's necklace rested in it. Ginny never took that off. Things had definitely changed. She took out an old necklace chain and threaded the ring onto it. "Wear it close to your heart, Ginny. That's where it belongs, where he belongs." She placed the ring and chain in Ginny's hand, closing her fingers around it. It was up to Ginny to decide.

Harry's thoughts sped up soon after he had climbed into bed. Ginny had just broken up with him. There was only one question on his mind: Why? Why, oh, why?

He heard the door open, and the rest of his roommates entered. Harry looked at them, feeling miserable. Dean seemed perplexed, Seamus guilty, and Neville was definitely confused. Ron came out of the bathroom and smiled at them ruefully. Everyone got ready for bed in silence. Harry, having finished already, was left to ponder his thoughts without interruption.

"Did you really?" Dean finally asked, unable to keep it in any longer.

"Did I what? I've done a lot of things," Harry said, trying to delay the inevitable question for even a few more seconds.

"Come on, Harry, what's the point?" Ron asked tiredly. "You can put it off, but Ginny's already told the whole school. Might as well tell them personally before the Prophet comes up with some dramatic suicide attempt."

"You mean, trying to kill myself with the Killing Curse isn't dramatic enough?" Harry asked, a tiny grin forming on his face.

"The Killing Curse?" Neville squeaked. "How did you survive that?"

Harry shrugged and ran his hand through his hair. "I guess, if I understand it correctly, I didn't have the right motivation for it. I still did a hell of a lot of damage though. I was in a coma for a little over a week."

"He's as weak as a wet noodle too," Ron added with a grin.

"Shut up, I don't want the Slytherins to find that out," Harry snapped playfully. "They'll start getting ideas about winning the Quidditch game."

"That's two months away," Neville pointed out. Harry was about to reply, when Seamus interrupted him.

"I'm sorry," Seamus blurted out. "I should have just kept my mouth shut."

Harry was silent for a while. Seamus was right, if he hadn't said anything then Ginny wouldn't have shouted and if Ginny hadn't shouted, then they wouldn't have fought and if they hadn't fought… "I don't think it would have helped. We've been on the outs all summer. I should have seen this coming."

"You're not gonna, you know, because of this, are you?" Dean said stumbling over his words.

"Commit suicide?" Harry asked to clarify. "No, I can't get her back if I'm dead, and I'm not sure she would have broken up with me if she didn't know for sure that I wouldn't try." He stopped, not sure what to say, or if he should say anything at all. "I was really weak when I used the Killing Curse, and not really thinking logically."

"Harry, are you sure you're alright?" Ron asked from his bed. Harry looked at his classmates, roommates for the past six years, and shook his head no.

"Ginny broke up with me because I was being a complete git," he replied. "I took her for granted, you know. Then the whole school knows I tried to do myself in and all sorts of stories are going to go around about that. And apparently everyone knows that I'll end up in a fight to the death with Him and now every Gryffindor that was in the common room knows it was prophesized. And I've got to figure out how to balance all my class work with all my extra work with my Quidditch duties with my D.A. duties with my Head Boy duties with trying to patch things up…"

"Head Boy?" Ron asked, both excited and confused.

"That's what Dumbledore wanted to talk with Hermione, Susan, Blaise, and me about," Harry explained, surprised that Ron didn't know, but then again, why should he. "I can't believe he selected me."

"No kidding, with the way you've been at his throat all summer," Ron commented dryly, Harry felt a blush creep onto his face.

"I think I'm over that," Harry finally said. "I did forgive him yesterday, and that really lifted a weight off my shoulders. I hadn't realized how much that anger and hate weighed me down." This was met with silence and before anyone could ask any more questions, Harry said goodnight, closed his curtains, shutting out the room, and in a way the world.

Ginny was no longer his girlfriend. It was a hard thought to understand. He really didn't want to accept the fact, and yet, if he didn't, Ginny would just be that much angrier. 'I'll still be here, you know, as a friend.' But he wanted her as so much more than a friend! More than a girlfriend! Why had he been such a chicken and not told her how he really felt about her?

His face went pale, paler than it was at least. He felt the presence that was Ginny in his mind fade away to nothing. Her sadness was gone and in its place a void was created. This, more than anything made the truth evident. Ginny had taken off his mother's ring, his Christmas gift to her. It would now be destined to be the first and only Christmas they were together as a couple. How would he be able to face her in the morning? She had just torn out a bit of his heart. He went over an Occlumency exercise, trying to clear his mind before he went to sleep. Who was he kidding, sleep was hours away and he'd never clear his mind.

Sleep never did claim Harry. It was a small blessing he supposed. Without sleep, he wouldn't dream and since none of his dreams had been peaceful the past few years, that was a good thing. It was soon five thirty and Harry rolled out of bed to get ready for Bryant's lesson. He had to drag Ron out of bed, but his best friend was now ready as well. The two men headed down the stairs and met up with Hermione and Ginny in the common room. Ron hugged his girlfriend tightly, kissing her lightly on the lips. Harry said "'Morning," to Ginny, but it was awkward and she didn't even reply, just nodded her head instead. The four left the common room, starting to jog so they wouldn't be late.

It was a tough morning, Bryant decided that now that school had started, he could work Harry even harder than before. Harry didn't mind too much, he wanted to work off some of his frustrations. By the time the lesson was over, Harry had three new bruises across his chest and a very sore left arm from one of the man's blows. Not to mention, the normal soreness that went with physical training. The four ate in silence, Ron and Hermione sitting between Harry and Ginny, instead of across from them as normal. Ginny had yet to say a word to Harry, and besides the greeting, Harry hadn't said anything to Ginny either.

So much for being just friends, Harry thought bitterly. If he couldn't go out with her, he wanted her friendship. Needed it even. Two Slytherins and a fifth year Gryffindor asked to join the D.A. and Harry nodded, handing them all a fake Galleons and telling them to meet him in the Great Hall on Saturday morning. About halfway through the meal, a troupe of very exhausted looking Aurors trudged their way into the Hall and took seats at their table. Tonks was one of them and her long black hair proved how weary she was. Harry turned in his seat and faced that sixth table.

"How's it going, Tonks?" he called over to her. She looked up at him, smiling faintly.

"Can I kill my sister-in-law?" she asked in reply.

"Isn't that insubordination?" Harry asked, smiling at her. She shrugged her shoulders in defeat. "What's she done now?"

"She had me on the night patrol," Tonks muttered darkly. "I hate the night/night shift and she knows it. Not to mention I have better uses for my nights."

"That's more than I need to know, thank you very much," Ron said, turning around as well. "I'm all happy and glad for Remus, but I don't need to know anything about your uses for the night." Harry laughed as Tonks' hair turned long, frizzy, and bubble gum pink, and her laugh rang out across the Hall. Shacklebolt's deep chuckle joined in and Ginny did as well, the sound of her laugh sending a twinge through Harry's heart.

"Well, I'm sure there are ways around that," Harry offered. "I'm sure Remus has some nice blackmail that you could use to get a better shift."

"Ooo, that's a great idea, Harry," Tonks said, her hair turning spiky black with neon orange tips. "I love blackmail."

"Don't we all," Ginny agreed. Harry felt his stomach drop as he realized yet again that she was no longer his. Being so close to something he loved, and yet could not have, was going to drive him insane. He looked around the room, looking for an escape. Spotting Dumbledore up at the teacher's table, Harry decided to go talk with the man.

"Where you going, Harry?" Hermione asked as he stood up.

"I've got to talk to Dumbledore," he replied, heading up towards the teacher's table. He could feel everyone's eyes turn to him, the whispers growing louder as he neared the headmaster. A few people noticed the Head Boy's badge and even more whispers joined the noise. "Professor?" Harry asked, waiting for the Headmaster's attention.

"Yes, Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore finally said, turning from the conversation he had been having with Professor Flitwick.

"I was wondering if we could have my next lesson this evening," Harry said softly, quite aware that many people were trying to listen in.

"Of course," Dumbledore replied. "Between your last class and supper perhaps?"

"That sounds fine with me," Harry agreed. He paused for a second, listening to the chatter about him. "I think whispering should be made illegal."

Dumbledore smiled slightly, but it was Snape that remarked. "You and every teacher that has ever lived." The comment surprised a genuine laugh out of Harry, and it was the loudest sound in the Great Hall.

"Yes, I suppose so," Harry commented in response. "Guess I shouldn't talk through your class then, Professor."

"I would appreciate that," Snape said with a smile. "Have you finished your assignment?"

"I worked on it some more on Monday," Harry replied, knowing that Snape was talking about his Occlumency work. "I'm not completely done, almost there though. I'll need to find time before tomorrow."

"Yes," Snape agreed. "Has it been helpful?"

"It has been, yes," Harry replied, trying to keep the yawn he felt coming at bay.

"Mr. Potter, would you hand these schedules out to the other Gryffindors?" McGonagall handed him half of her stack as she walked by.

"Your wish is my command," Harry replied with a slight bow. "Headmaster, Professors," he said with a nod, and then headed back to his table handing out time tables. It seemed he had the fifth, sixth, and seventh years'. "And last but not least, Ginevra Weasley, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter," he said, handing them their cards and sitting down with his own. "I should have shoved these at my Gryffindor prefects."

"You'd have to find Miranda, 'cause I'm not the female seventh year prefect. I'm the Head Girl," Hermione replied, pretending to be both offended and snotty. Her effect was ruined when she started laughing at Ron as he made a choking sound. "Did you give Ron his pin?"

"Oh, no, I kind of got distracted," Harry replied awkwardly, trying very hard not to look at Ginny. "Ron, you're co-captain of the Quidditch team." Ron, who had just taken a big gulp of his pumpkin juice to wash down the large quantity of food in his mouth, spit it out in surprise, spraying some poor first years with pumpkin juice and half eaten pancakes. The girls started to freak out, and Harry tried his hardest not to laugh at the sight.

"Calm down," Hermione told them, ducking around the table to help clean them off. Harry helped along with Ginny, and when Harry turned to give Ron a dirty look for not helping he saw Professor Snape berating him.

"Professor," Harry said, interrupting him. "It was an accident, and the last time I checked, he was breaking no school rules. Five points for plain rudeness if you must punish him." Snape almost smiled and laughed, but caught himself just in time and Harry had to hide his own smile.

"Very well, five points from Gryffindor for each student that got sprayed," Snape commented before turning and walking away.

"Well, did any of you get sprayed?" Harry asked the clean students, winking at them. Hermione whispered something to them and they shook their heads no. "Then, Ron, you have lost no points for Gryffindor."

The bell rang and Harry glanced down at his schedule. "I've got healing, what do you three have?"

"Defense," Ginny said, looking up at the new teacher doubtfully.

"Transfiguration," Hermione answered, a huge smile on her face.

"Herbology," Ron replied. He grabbed Hermione's and Harry's schedules and compared them. "Hermione, we have completely different classes today, but I'll see you in the afternoon, Harry. That's not so bad." He handed them back and left for the green houses with Neville. The two girls walked together discussing this year's classes. Ginny had scored really high on her O.W.L.'s and Harry couldn't help but feel proud of her.

Harry had an hour with Althea, followed directly by two hours with Druce. True to her word, Harry spent the whole of the healing class up in the infirmary. Druce worked on apparation with him for the first hour and then worked on the practical half of some of the spells he had learnt this summer by theory only. It was a tiring morning, but after lunch he had Care of Magical Creatures outside with Hagrid so that more than made up for the morning.

Harry had a free period, and he wasn't sure if this was when Dumbledore wished to speak with him. He decided that sitting in the common room while Ron and Ginny played a game of wizard's chess would not only put him to sleep but would be an awkward time as well. Saying bye to the two, Harry slowly made his way to the headmaster's office.

"Well look what we have here," the drawling voice of Draco Malfoy said from behind him. Harry turned to look at the Slytherin, trying hard not to roll his eyes; Malfoy was not a welcomed sight. "One scar on your face not enough for you so you just had to add another one?"

"And how is your father? Oh, that's right, the bastard's dead," Harry replied. "The tables have turned, Malfoy, I'm not a guest at your manor. I'm Head Boy, and you are nothing but a lowly little Death Eater. Let me be, or I'll find the nearest Auror and tell them what I know." Harry was pleased to see Malfoy pale at that thought.

"Go ahead then, do it," Malfoy dared. Harry looked at him disdainfully.

"If I thought Dumbledore would let you rot in Azkaban, I would," Harry replied. "Just remember, I know things about you, Malfoy. I'm not afraid to use my fame to see you placed in a cell for life. Too bad the Dementors aren't there."

He turned his back on Malfoy, his own hand visibly on his wand so Malfoy knew not to mess with him. Malfoy didn't say anything and Harry made it the rest of the way to Dumbledore's office in one piece.

"Come in," Dumbledore called when Harry knocked and he entered the office. "Oh, good, I had hoped you would head up here during your free period. Was there anything you wanted to talk about before we move on to my agenda?"

"Well," Harry said to stall, thinking about what he wanted help with most, but not from this wizard. "I'm not sure what being Head Boy means, for one thing."

"Hermione and Blaise will help you the most," Dumbledore replied. "Basically you must be a role model, help any teacher, student, or ghost in need, run the prefects, and destroy house divisions. Everything you have been doing except for the prefect part, and I'm sure Hermione will have that under control."

"Why me?" Harry asked. "I mean, I get that the school followed me last year, but after they know about this," he said, waving toward the black scar at his temple. "Don't you think I'm a lousy role model?"

"I don't think so, but two of the Heads said something against it," Dumbledore admitted. "I have full confidence in your abilities. One should never judge another by his or her weakest moment, nor should one judge another by his or her strongest moment. I'm not saying it will be easy, but I'm sure they will forgive you for succumbing to the depression."

"I meant what I wrote in that letter," Harry blurted out. "Yet… there was probably a better way to say all that. I'm sorry for being so harsh, I do understand that you do things you'd rather not. It's just… I'm sick of all this."

"As am I," Dumbledore agreed. "Anything else?"

He was so confused about Ginny and needed help with that, but that was a topic best left for Remus, Tonks, and Thia. "I don't think so."

"Well, then on to the Theory of Greats," Dumbledore replied, staring Harry in the eyes, contemplating him. Harry checked his Occlumency shields, making sure they were strong. "You've gotten better at that," the old man commented. "Now, this way of magic is difficult to learn, but once mastered it is easily exploited. Voldemort has taught himself this magic and has been abusing it in his search for eternal life, which is the reason why I made you swear not to use it for evil."

"Right," Harry said, nodding from the chair he sat in.

"The first thing you must simply understand and not question is this fact: All life has magic and Magic is Life." He looked at Harry, gauging his response.

"Makes sense," Harry said after a moment. "I'll buy that. Life equals magic. What does that have to do with this?"

Dumbledore nodded, having expected this response. "Everything. Two weeks ago, I told you that there were three Muggle 'laws' that I liked to use to explain this way of magic. They are as follows: Everything has a cause and effect. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Lastly, the Law of Inertia, which I'll explain more fully when we get there. Well, I'll explain all of them in due time. We will first learn how to view the world around us in such a way that we will be able to see the magic that surrounds us."

Harry listened to Dumbledore's instructions, carefully noting each step. It really was a trick of looking out of the corner of his eyes and yet it was so much harder than that. When the bell rang for supper two hours later, all Harry had accomplished was giving himself a pounding headache.

"Here, drink this," Dumbledore said, handing him a goblet with a potion in it. "I remember the headache you have right now quite vividly. Professor Snape sends his regards and hopes you enjoy the taste."

"I bet he poisoned it," Harry muttered, shuddering at the foul taste. He set the goblet on the desk once it was gone. The two men walked down to the Great Hall, talking amiably of nothing at all. Little things like the weather, first day of classes, and the joys of flying were the main topics of their conversation. Yet, they spoke with as much emotion as if they were planning a battle or better yet, a wedding. Harry was glad they were not talking of war; war had its time and its place, and this was neither.

"Good evening, sir," Harry said as they reached the seat Ron had saved for him. "Thank you."

"No, thank you, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore replied. "You did a fine job this afternoon. I do believe you'll be a quick study of this."

"I hope so, that headache was horrid," Harry answered sitting down and Dumbledore moved on up to his seat in the middle of the teacher's table. To think, three days ago Harry would have been more than willing to scream at the man until his voice was gone. Some things just didn't matter in the long run, and this one grudge would have ended up hurting him and their side more than anything.

"What do we have first today?" Ron asked the next morning, mid-attack on a group of eggs that had offended him.

"All three of us have Defense together," Hermione replied. "Then I go off for double Care of Magical Creatures, you have double Herbology, and Harry has lessons with Althea."

"You have our schedules memorized?" Harry asked, trying to ignore the bruise on his elbow. It would have been a lot easier if he hadn't kept hitting it on the table.

"Yes," Hermione replied simply. "They aren't that different." They finished eating, Ginny never showing up from the shower she had gone to take. Harry knew she felt as uncomfortable around him as he felt around her. "Let's hurry, Ginny would only tell me that he was interesting."

They were some of the first students to reach the classroom, and Harry walked in confidently. He walked over to his normal seat, the room looking nothing like it had at the end of last year. All the color and oddities of last year were gone, replaced with a gloomy décor. The desks still ran along three of the four walls, the teacher's desk on the fourth. Blue pads cushioned the floor in the middle of the square the desks made; a safety measure that Harry thought was unnecessary. Learning to fight after hitting the hard ground was all part of the package. Dark curtains hung on the walls; interesting, yet grotesque items decorated the shelves. Some of the items looked normal enough, and yet Harry had a feeling of evil from them. There was one thing that was the same from last year: The Wall of Lost. Harry wouldn't have minded losing that reminder of his failure to finish his task.

The classroom was slowly filling, though Harry was surprised when only about a third of his classmates entered. It took him a second to realize the majority of the group were members of the D.A. The students took seats, not by house, which made Harry proud. Blaise and Sephra walked in holding hands, they looked around and walked over to take the empty seats next to Hermione.

"So, how's it going, Head Boy?" Blaise asked conversationally.

"Rather okay," Harry replied with a shrug. "I haven't had to do anything official yet."

"Really, I figured Dumbledore had asked you to do something the way you two came in talking so seriously yesterday evening," Sephra commented, surprised.

"No, we were talking about the World Cup at that point," Harry informed the Slytherins. "How were your summers?"

"I went to my family's summer home in Italy," Blaise replied. "Sephra joined me towards the end of June."

"Did you get hurt at your cousin's?" Ron asked Sephra. "I remember Ginny saying she rescued you."

"Not as bad as Harry did," she replied. The bell rang, so Harry had to bend nearer to hear the rest of her statement. "I can't believe I had to live with them, or what they did to you. I'm sorry that you had to stay so long and I couldn't help you."

"Nothing you could have done, and I do remember you trying," Harry told her with a shrug. "I couldn't expect you to take on all the Death Eaters there."

"Or Voldemort," Blaise added, looking at Harry with an odd expression. Before Harry had a chance to answer, Professor Burke entered the classroom, calling them to silence.

"Good morning. Theoretically, you are the best Defense students at this school," he told them in a voice that was low and gravelly. "I will be pushing you further than Commander Black did last year, and if at any time you want out, say so and you'll be out. Most of you have spoken to your Heads of House about becoming Aurors. I plan to teach you as much of the first year of Auror training as possible. Whether you'll be able to skip it next year or not is completely up to the Ministry and Commander Black." He strode from the door to sit behind his desk.

"I want you all to move to the desks along the sides of the room," he said, motioning to the row where Harry and his friends sat and the row across from them where Malfoy was sitting as usual. "I want no spaces in between you and the people next to you. No one is to sit in the back row." There was a long pause as students moved to be closer to the teacher's desk. "Very good, say hello to the people you'll be sitting next to for the rest of the year. We will be doing an extensive study of the past activities of the Death Eaters, I will continue your dueling training, and you will learn several basic battle techniques. Now, who's the best dueler here?" There was silence as everyone looked at Harry.

"Harry Potter," Blaise said, after it had become apparent that Harry wasn't going to volunteer himself.

"Then everyone's goal here is to beat Mr. Potter at least once this year," Burke continued. "And Mr. Potter, your goal is to remain undefeated."

"He is undefeated," Neville blurted out. "He's stepped aside a few times, but no one has beaten him in a duel."

"Is that so?" Burke asked, turning towards Harry.

"I guess, but I don't keep track," Harry answered. "There are the D.A. duels, class duels, and then my private lessons, and I just don't keep score. What's the point, none of these duels will matter in the end."

"Meaning?" Burke asked, standing up from his desk and walking to stand near Harry.

"I'm the best dueler in the class, and yet I spent a month as a personal guest of Voldemort's," Harry answered, forcing the demon's name out passed his lips. He had to keep up his strong façade and using Voldemort's name was part of that. "It didn't help that I could win any duel against my classmates because without a wand I was powerless."

"Yeah, but once you got your wand back," Ron argued, "you kicked some Death Eater butt." Harry grimaced, remembering how close he had come to killing in cold blood.

"But even those weren't formal duels," Harry replied. "Death Eaters are not going to go through the official bow and steps away. They won't follow rules or laws. The only time I have ever had to bow in a 'real' duel was when Voldemort decided to play with me."

"So, do you think this class is a waste of your time?" Burke asked, a calculating look on his face.

"No," Harry replied with a shrug. "I never said that. I said keeping track of the records in duels like this is pointless. I've got a rather pathetic record outside of controlled duels."

"What do you mean?" Dean asked. "You're still alive."

"After getting beaten to a pulp or luck stepped in," Harry replied. "Those aren't wins."

"You are also a teenager fighting against adults that have been training in the Dark Arts longer then you've been alive," Burke commented. Harry shrugged.

"That doesn't keep them from attacking me, so I've got to learn to fight at their level," he answered. "I won't last long if I expect the Death Eaters to dumb down their fighting to a 'teenage' level."

"You won't last long if you keep trying to kill yourself either," Malfoy sneered from across the room. Ron jumped up ready to punch the blond, but Harry pulled him back down into his seat. He told Ron with a look to calm down.

"We've already had this discussion, Malfoy," Harry told the other boy calmly. "I wasn't joking then. I'm not joking now. But you're right, I won't last long. Maybe that's why I've decided not to try again." The room remained silent, and Harry rolled his eyes. He looked around at his classmates, some were stunned, some were horrified, some seemed angry, and others seemed about ready to start laughing. If Harry hadn't just threatened Malfoy, Harry was sure the boy would already be laughing out loud. Harry looked at Professor Burke and was surprised to see a look of interest on his face.

"Sorry for disrupting your class," Harry told the professor, hoping that the attention would be removed from him.

"There was no disruption," the man replied. "After all, these students deserve to know where you stand in this fight."

"Not all of them," Harry said, trying not to look at Malfoy and others that he knew sympathized with Voldemort. "Those that do deserve to learn will find out on Saturday. Now, I'm sure you had other things to tell us about the coming year." The professor gave him one long measuring look and then nodded.

"Your goal, whether Mr. Potter likes it or not, will remain trying to beat him this year," the professor continued. "Now, Mr. Potter, who is the second best dueler here?" Harry thought about it for a second.

"I guess Blaise, there are a few at about the same level," Harry replied. "But Blaise is probably the best."

"Up you two and face off," Burke commanded in a short tone. Harry rolled his eyes and went to the center of the room, testing his balance on the soft pads. Harry knew that this fight would be difficult; the chances of him winning it were very slim. He bowed to Blaise, his form perfect. They turned their backs and Harry took three steps before stopping.

"What rules are we playing by?" he asked, turning so that he could watch Blaise out the corner of one eye and Burke out the other.

"Your normal rules, we'll define mine next class," Burke answered.

"The D.A. uses different ones from class," Harry replied, his wand at the ready. The duel wasn't officially paused so Blaise could attack if he wanted.

"Pick one," Burke barked at him, and Harry smiled slightly.

"D.A. then, if that's all right with you, Blaise," Harry replied, turning his back and finishing the last two steps.

"Very much so. Ardent!"

Harry sidestepped the spell, watching Blaise warily. Blaise always had tricks up his sleeves, which was why Harry enjoyed dueling against him. Yet, right now, those tricks would drag this duel on, and Harry couldn't afford a long duel.

"Stupefy!" Harry shouted, aiming to the right of the other man. Blaise moved out of the way and walked right into Harry's Impedimenta jinx. Harry cast another Stupefy, but Blaise was still able to cast a shield in time to deflect it. "You'll need to tell me how you managed that," Harry commented, as Blaise ended the jinx.

"Rather simple," Blaise replied, ducking under the arrows Harry had just sent at him. "Avelgule!"

Harry cursed as the spell hit him in the back while he was spinning out of the way. Everything went black, the spell blinding him. Harry stopped, listened for a second, and then dove to the right. He heard the stunning spell hit the pad off to his left. Getting back to his feet, Harry heard Blaise swear and then cast a Reductor Curse. Harry dodged, though he could feel it as it passed his arm. Thinking quickly, Harry tried to remember what the counter for this spell was. He shouldn't forget this one, not after that last Quidditch game.

"Spectio!" he cast, blinking once to clear his vision. Blaise was nowhere he could see, so Harry spun around, casting a shield charm as he went. A stunner hit the shield, bouncing off at an angle towards the ceiling. "Ingravesco! Confundus!" Harry cast the spells to either side of Blaise and, while Blaise was busy getting out of the way, he levitated a book and flicked it towards his opponent. Blaise scowled at Harry when it hit him in the head and stood up angrily. "Tarantallegra!"

"Finite Incantatem!" Blaise said, ending the dancing spell. Harry felt the strain from the duel start to pull at his mind. Pushing it aside, he cast a shield to protect himself from an unknown spell Blaise sent at him.

"That was a bit Dark, wasn't it?" Harry asked conversationally. "You're lucky we're playing by the D.A.'s rules, or I would have just won."

"I wouldn't have used it otherwise," Blaise commented, jumping out of the way of Harry's arrows. "Ardent!" Harry let the spell hit him, ignoring the fake flames and heat his mind told him were real. He knew the spell that ended this effect, but what was it?

"Twicodio!" Harry cast, causing Blaise's ears to twitch annoyingly. "Relashio!" The fiery sparks hit Blaise's robes and they caught on fire.

"Aguamenti!" Blaise said, a stream of water putting the flames out. "Petrificus Totalus!" Harry moved out of the way of the full body bind, but lost concentration for a split second as his foot caught in between the pads. The Ardent curse took over his mind, causing him to fall and writhe in imagined pain. He saw the flames, and felt them burning his flesh. Somewhere, deep in his mind, Harry knew that the flames were fake, but that small knowledge wasn't strong enough to counteract the spell.

"Stupefy!" Blaise yelled, and Harry felt the calm blackness overwhelm his senses. He woke up groggily, swearing at himself in a steady stream.

There was clapping and Harry turned to look at the Professor. The old man seemed pleased by something. "So much for you staying undefeated, Harry," Blaise said, offering to help Harry up. Harry took the hand and pulled himself up, cursing again as he placed weight on the twisted ankle. He cast a healing charm on it and tested the ankle. It felt perfectly fine now.

"You're just lucky I'm still recovering," Harry replied, a smile on his face. Secretly he was glad he wouldn't have to try to keep that undefeated streak going. "Try this again in a week and I'll wipe the floor with you."

"Recovering from what?" Blaise asked, sitting at his desk. Harry sat at his own desk and was spared from answering by Hermione.

"His suicide attempt," she said softly, and Harry just rolled his eyes.

"Everyone knows, Hermione, no need to keep quiet about it."

"What the hell did you do to yourself?" Blaise asked. "You were just fine at your birthday party."

"No, I wasn't, and this is neither the place nor the company I want to speak of that in front of," Harry said, inclining his head slightly towards Malfoy and his friends. Blaise nodded in understanding. Harry turned to look at the Professor. "If I may ask, what were you clapping for? That duel was rather sloppy."

"It takes a strong mind to hold off the effects of the Ardent curse," Burke replied. "I was impressed that you kept it under control for so long."

Harry shrugged uncomfortably. "I've been training my mind for a few years now. If I concentrate I actually can manage it for a while."

"You spent a month as a prisoner of the Dark Lord?" Burke asked, sitting back down at his desk.

"Yes," Harry replied shortly.

"You appear surprisingly sane," Burke observed.

"I did try to commit suicide," Harry reminded him. "And sane is all a matter of perspective."

"Very true on both accounts," Burke agreed. The bell rang and Harry left before more could be said. There was something about Professor Burke that put him on edge. The man's name seemed familiar as well. Clearing his mind, Harry entered the Infirmary.

"Good morning, Harry," Althea said to him, motioning for the man to come over to where she stood. Harry walked over slowly, his body still stiff from the fight. "What's the matter?"

"Burke decided that a duel between the top two duelers was in order," Harry replied. "Blaise beat me and I'm still sore, not that it's been all that long since it finished."

"That sucks," Ginny said behind him. Harry turned, surprised to see her. He stared at her, caught off guard. "What?"

"Are you taking healing as well?" he asked stupidly.

"No, I just managed to get hurt on the second day of classes," Ginny replied dryly. This had been the closest to alone the two of them had been since the fight and break up.

"She's a natural at this healing thing," Althea said, oblivious to the undercurrent between the two teens. Harry set his bag down awkwardly, and looked around the room so that he wouldn't have to look at Ginny. "She's already at your level, Harry. She'll probably be teaching you in a month or so and I'll be able to go on a vacation."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence there, Althea," Harry joked back. "Though I could think of worse witches to get beat by." Althea taught them and let them practice on students who came in with injuries. He found out that Ginny had double healing starting right after breakfast on Thursdays while he had double healing before lunch. One hour of overlapping class time and uncomfortable moments and tongue-tied conversations. Althea was right though, Ginny was a natural healer. She took very good care of her patients and calmed even the most frightened first year with ease.

It was finally time for Ginny to leave for Transfiguration. The class had been too filled with uneasy moments for Harry to enjoy the time spent with her. Althea watched Harry as Ginny left the room, a small smile playing at her lips. "What?"

"Why did you let her break up with you?"

"Huh?" Harry asked before he could stop himself. "I mean, as if I had a choice. Ginny's a stubborn woman."

"Doesn't mean you have to humor her," was Althea's cryptic reply.