Harry Potter and the Sword of Gryffindor

A/N: Okay thank you for all of your suggestions and Reviews. I really appreciate them and will be glad to hear more of them. I hate to leave everyone in suspense so here it is. Please continue to read.

Home Again

Harry dreamed many things. Nightmares and dreams mingled into confusion and fear. Finally he dreamt he was standing in Voldemort's Hall right where he had been, upon the same pedestal and in front of the same sinister snake. His amazement and shock were cut short by a familiar pain from his scar. It was unclear at first, but then became clearer as if a mist was being replaced by sunlight. Harry had been expecting to see the usually rows filled with death eaters, but instead only the first two rows were present. Harry was frightened to notice that they were all looking at him. Their cynical eyes never seemed to blink or waver from him. Voldemort was the same. His blood red eyes pierced through Harry. Harry quickly looked around to see if any of them were attacking and nearly screamed in shock when he saw a man behind him. Harry instantly recognized who it was, Snape. He looked grim and afraid, more so than Harry had ever seen him or ever wished to. The potions master looked battered and beaten. When the next curse hit the broken man, he screamed out in pain his chain being the only thing holding him up. Harry's scar flared up in familiar pain, but he could barely feel it over the intensity of] Snape's yelling.

"My dear Severus," the Dark Lord hissed from his throne. "I have decided to let you live, but first I will ask one last service of you." Voldemort took out a vial and levitated it in front of his victim. It was truth potion, Harry was certain, and he knew that his professor was in a terrible situation. "Take this." The lowly servant did as his master asked and drank it down with one gulp. "Good. Your expertise has surely made you familiar with this potion, has it not? "Voldemort questioned.

"Yes I know what it is Master," Snape stated immediately

"Wonderful. Since no need for an explanation is in order, we can go right to the heart of the matter," he stated with an evil grin.

"The first question I must ask of you is what you think of me?" Voldemort looked amused at his choice question and attentively awaited Snape's response.

"I think you are despicable, that you are an arrogant and a pathetic excuse for a human being and I wo..." Harry would have laughed, but instead cringed in pain as the Crutacius caused Snape to cry out. A quick glance at the Dark Lord showed he was not amused and the Death Eaters looked pleased at the prospect of another competitor being tortured.

"Thank you for your honesty. Shall we continue on and pray that your responses become more to my liking," Voldemort growled. "Now I will ask the real questions. You stand or rather kneel before me. You claim to be my servant, but are you really?" The careless way he asked the question did nothing for the anticipation of the response that came immediately and drawlingly from Snape's tongue.

"I am your servant."

"That pleases me greatly, Severus. If your response was anything else you would not have lived past the last syllable. Now there is one last, small favor I have to ask of you. Go back to Hogwarts. That is your mission until I give you something better to do. But know this and know this well, I will be watching. If you even breathe in a way that is not to my liking. I will hunt you down and kill you. Hogwarts does not serve you any protection against my sight." The Dark Lord didn't even bother to leave his throne to dissapparate Two hooded men unlocked the broken man's restraints leaving him face to face with the floor.

Harry felt odd. The air felt dry and almost weak against his face. He couldn't hear anything; it was so silent that Harry almost feared to open his eyes because he didn't want the dream to end. When did manage to open his eyes, it took a few seconds for his eyes to get used to the light that was coming in from the window in front of him. Harry barely had to glance at the familiar surroundings to know that he was in the hospital wing. Harry simply smiled at this. "Hogwarts at last" he muttered to the beautiful day that he was picturing his mind. Never before had he been so relieved and carefree as he felt at that moment. It was a second chance and Harry couldn't believe he had been blessed with it. He jumped out of the awkward feeling bed and hugged the ground. He had somehow accomplished the impossible. He had found hope when he was hopeless. He had come home. Harry ran to the open window across from his bed and said "I'm home."

"Harry," it was a quiet, unsure voice and if Harry wasn't in between his yells of joy, he may not have heard it. But he did and it quickly disrupted his less than mature antics. "Harry is that really you?" Harry turned away from the window to face the speaker. She looked beautiful to Harry, yet sad. She had a single tear on her cheek and her eyes wondered over Harry as if looking for something.

"Hermione, it's really me," she took off into a sprint and pulled Harry into a bone crushing hug. It was sweet and kind and all those things that Harry missed so much and that he didn't believe he would feel again.

"It is you! It is you! I can't believe it," Hermione said and with that odd statement, she began to cry with joy into Harry chest.

"Hermione please stop crying. I don't like to see you this way," Harry said earnestly.

"Oh I'm sorry. I must look dreadful. It's just that I can't believe that you are here. I mean it's like seeing you back from the dead and you look so different. I just couldn't bear to lose you again," she said while regaining as much of her composure as she could.

"First of all,I think you look beautiful. Secondly what do you mean back from the dead? Thirdly what do you mean I look so different?" Confusion was apparent in both his tone and his face. Hermione took only a few minutes to explain what had happened over the summer in Harry's absence. It might have been even shorter if Harry hadn't had to comfort her on a few instances.

"Hermione, You and Ron are a couple now? Congratulations." His voice that lacked something to the casual listener, but to both Hermione and Harry it sounded sincere enough.

"Yeah well, thanks, but I don't want this to affect our friendship or anything. I mean if you have any..."

"Hermione, stop babbling! I am happy for both you and Ron. I know you really like each other and I am okay with it," Harry said. He knew that it wouldn't be the same between them. It couldn't be, but he was generally sincere if not a just a little fearful of change. "You've explained everything, except for one thing. Why do you think I look different?" Instead of an answer she walked] to the nearest counter and grabbed her wand. She waved her wand over a piece of paper that she had, transfiguring it into a mirror of a pretty large size and handed it to Harry.

Harry's first reaction to his reflection was a quick shock. He looked older, much older than the last time he had looked into a mirror. His hair was darker, a thick black, but it still had its same unruliness. Upon inspection of his body, which he could tell was a lot bigger than it had been; Harry could make out a few scars that streaked across his body like claws, the largest being down his arm and few on his neck. Each had its nightmare that Harry wouldn't reveal or relive to Hermione at that point even if she asked. All this was not what shocked him the most, it was his eyes. They glowed the same green that his mother had blessed him with, but they were different, sharper, deeper, and shown like fire right back at him. Harry realized that his glasses where missing when his hand moved up to his face out of habit and touched nothing. He could see fine though it confused him greatly. He accepted it pretty quickly after making a few informal eye exams on himself by looking at various object he knew he couldn't see under normal conditions.

"Hey Hermione, how do I look without my glasses on?" Harry said as he posed in front of her.

"I think you look great, but it will take time to get used to," Hermione responded with a big smile on her face.

"Where is everybody?" Harry asked after a long pause, which gave him the chance to look around, "And where is Cho? She is okay, right?" Harry could feel a slight bit of panic begin to erupt in his stomach before his dear friend was able to calm him.

"Of course she's alright, a little shook up, but nothing serious. She left yesterday. As for Ron and everyone they are down getting lunch. Oh my, I should probably get them shouldn't I?" She turned quickly in order to correct her mistake, but Harry stopped her.

"Wait a minute did you say yesterday. How is that possible?" Harry asked genuinely confused by his lack of knowledge.

"Well you've been asleep for two days. The feast was on Wednesday and today is Friday," Hermione said acting as if it was no big deal. "Harry you almost died." Harry was sure that that it was just an exaggeration; it did bring him down enough to realize the enormous amount of pain that he was in, but like most other pain Harry simply ignored it. He could tell that Hermione did not believe that it was any exaggeration. .She looked sad as if from a painful memory just brought up. She left soon after to get the rest of their friends.

She returned with everyone, in full spirits. The first to arrive was a familiar dog that jumped on top of him right before transforming into his Godfather. He quickly apologized and asked if Harry was alright. The next batch of people to arrive were the youngest Weasleys: Ron, the twins, and Ginny, being the most timid, but that was not saying a lot for the twins were not exactly subtle. They lit fireworks in honor of the occasion as well as a few of their newest creations which shook the beds. For Harry, meeting Ron again was like seeing a long lost brother. They hugged shortly before coming to their senses. Hermione only shook her head at this and smiled. They didn't have much of a chance to talk before Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall came in to join their growing party. His professor didn't do much except ask if he was alright. It was one of the greatest moments of Harry's life when Albus Dumbledore, one of the greatest wizards of all time, said that he was proud of him and that he would gladly fight beside him one day. The rest of that morning was spent explaining what had been going on, but it was only allowed after Dumbledore coerced Madam Pomfrey into giving him a little extra time Ron went quite red when Harry asked him about Hermione. The twins had a good laugh about that. That also laughed a great deal when Ginny approached him. She looked so much older and prettier in Harry's eyes.

"Harry... is that really you? You look so... so... so handsome. I mean... I mean its good to see you again," Ginny stammered. The sun would have looked cool compared to her face framed by firry red hair. Harry didn't know when she had changed into such a beautiful creature, but he promised himself that he would get to know her better.

After a little more partying and the arrival of the rest of the Weasleys, Mrs. Weasley cried and fussed over him and giving him the hugs that he so desired. Harry did notice the absence of Hagrid, but he just figured that he was still in Europe try to find the Giants. Madam Pomfrey broke it all up and made everyone leave her patient to rest. They reluctantly complied and after a few kisses on the cheek, a surprising hug from a blushing Ginny, a great many hand shakes, and a promise from his Godfather that he would talk to him later the room was abandoned except for Madam Pomfrey and Professor Dumbledore

"I realize that Headmaster, but the boy needs his rest. He just woke up and he is in a great deal of pain. Please..." she insisted.

"I understand and this will only take a moment of his time," the great wizard said in an attempt to calm the witch, "Harry I must have a quick word with you. First of all I meant what I said before. I am very proud of you and I know that your parents would have been overjoyed to see you grow up to be the person that you are becoming. I will not ask you to relive your experiences for me right now, but if there is any information that you think is useful I would be glad to receive it now or in the future."

Harry, not wanting to let the headmaster down or completely accept that his kidnapping was in vain, searched through his horrifying memories in order to give him the information that Harry knew might one day make a big difference. "Well there are probably a little over two hundred death eaters now in his service. They control the dementors, oh, but I already told you that. I remember a few of the people whose faces weren't covered," Harry continued racking his brain when he thought of what Dumbledore was after. "Snape," he blurted out, "I mean Professor Snape is there, at the Hall of Fire. That's what Voldemort called his layer. He was being tailed by Nott, but he looked like he would be accepted as a death eater again." Then it hit Harry like a bat to his scar, his dream! "I had a dream last night or whenever. Snape was put before Voldemort and he let him go. He's coming back to Hogwarts," said in a furious rush so that he wouldn't forget them again.

"Professor Snape has already arrived, but he has already warned me that he couldn't talk about it just yet," the patient wizard replied, "If that is it. I would like you to get some sleep. I am sure that Madam Pomfrey will give you a dreamless sleeping potion. I would like you come to my office tomorrow at midnight. I wouldn't usually require you to lose sleep and break curfew," Dumbledore said with a brilliant smile, "but I am afraid that it is necessary. It shouldn't be to much a problem with your father's cloak and this." Dumbledore reached into his deep pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment.

"The Marauder's Map," Harry said in amazement at this lost relic of a generation past, "How did you find it?" Harry completely forgot who he was talking to and how this might incriminate him to a million and one crimes.

"I pulled it out of Moody's trunk last year. It is quite the interesting object, but that is a talk for a different day and if I don't leave soon I fear I will not be in need of a bed in this wing myself," nodding at a furious Poppy. "Have a good rest Harry."

"Wait Professor, did you talk to Cho? Is she okay? Does she hate me?" Harry said in a regretful voice.

"Yes I have talk to Miss Chang and she is quite fine. She wanted to remain and keep watch over you last night, but we decided that it was for the best that she gets some rest in her dorm with her friends. You saved her life. We will talk more about this later." He knew that, but it felt better when the ancient wizard said it. "Now get to sleep and have only pleasant dreams."

Dumbledore's advice wasn't difficult to follow and not wanting to take the potion he drifted immediately into an uneasy sleep full of demons and angels alike. When he woke up the next day, or what at least he assumed to be the next day, he could hear the patter of rain on the window and when he opened his eyes he could see the deep gray of a storm. Harry moved to the window for a closer look at the day he would be facing. He couldn't get over how strange not having his glasses pressed against his noise felt, but he was adjusting quickly. Harry didn't see Madam Pomfrey so he decided to make an early run for breakfast. Since his clothes were already laid out for him. Harry reminded himself to ask Hermione about the rest of his possessions.

On the wayto the Great Hall, he was so happy that he nearly skipped along the familiar path and took the time to memorize every nook and cranny so that he would remember this feeling and hopefully carry it for the rest of his life. It was so early when he arrived at the Great Hall that no one was there. 'Good,' Harry thought to himself, 'the last thing I need now is a dramatic entrance.' He ate everything he could he was so hungry. During his imprisonment, the death eaters would keep him alive by giving him potions. So upon site of the massive portions of food before him, he could hardly stop himself from drooling. He first tastes of eggs and bacon was heaven. Harry only stopped eating when his stomach started to ache tremendously. When this happened still no one was in the hall so he decided to wait for his friends and say hello to all those he hadn't see since the end of last year. Harry waited only a little while longer before he saw his mistake, it was Saturday. Knowing that Ron liked to sleep in and that Hermione would probably not go without him he decided that it really was pointless to wait. So he left breakfast without anyone seeing him. Harry planned to go to his dorm room, but he stopped at the entrance hall and saw that it wasn't raining anymore. Harry decided to take a walk around the castle, stopping every once in a while to look at some wild flower that was along the path. He followed the path down and sat silently on a large boulder that overlooked the magnificent lake. The sun was just rising and it occurred to Harry that he could not remember ever seeing the sun rise. He looked upon it with awe as a child would.

He sat there for a little while longer before he heard a noise from the path that he had just left. He could tell it was a person probably running and very fast. Harry didn't even turn around or else he might have tried to hide after seeing who it was.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Harry could feel the gentleness in her voice and though he had only heard it a few times he could tell who it was. "You know I come here a lot just to think about what has happened." There was a clear sadness in her voice that didn't sound right in its otherwise sweet tone.

"Cho, I'm sorry. I can't tell you how sorry I am. I never meant for any of this to happen. I completely understand if you never want to see me again. I know what I put you through..." Cho interrupted through Harry's babbling apology.

"Harry, you saved my life. I don't want you to apologize because it isn't your fault. All this isn't your fault. You never asked for any of this, just like Cedric never..." she began to cry. Harry didn't know what to do so he did what he felt was right. He put an arm around her shoulder, which she readily accepted. "You can't help who you love." Harry knew she was talking about Cedric and her, but he wished that she wasn't right. He cared for her and maybe in another world they could have been together, but as true as her statement was, this was the world that they were living in and unrequited love only brings pain. Harry first crush was over before he could do anything about it. Harry realized also why she was chosen by Voldemort. She had to be first. If you put the worst pain on first anything less won't feel as bad. Voldemort was doing the same with Cho, she was only the beginning.

"Cho, if you ever need anyone to talk to, I'm here. I just want you to know that," Harry said quietly as the sun broke through the clouds.

"Thank you, Harry,for everything." With that she left and Harry soon followed after her to see if Ron or Hermione had come down to eat yet. The Great Hall was almost to full capacity when he arrived, which caused the dramatic entrance that he had wanted so much to avoid. The thundering silence was almost funny, but Harry thanked God that it was interrupted by the owl post. Ron and Hermione were there as were the rest of the Gryffindor 5^th years. They welcomed him warmly (except for a few girls like Pavarti and Lavender who giggled stupidly). He took a seat opposite of Ron, who had Hermione on his left. Although it was a change from his normal seat between them, he told himself that he was okay with it and sat next to Ginny who looked much less embarrassed then she had ever been when he sat next to her. Harry thought that was a nice change and engaged her in a little conversation. Things went sour when everyone calmed and turned to the post that they had just received. A low rumble of whispering filled the hall. Harry's confusion was only augmented when he saw the shock and protective faces of his best friends.

"Hermione what is it?" He asked

"Oh what[,] nothing, umm Harry you should try the eggs they are really good today." Hermione said as she tried to hide the letter behind her and then elbow Ron, who looked dumbstruck at the Daily Prophet.

"OH yes," Ron said enthusiastically, "Yum really good. Oh look at the time. Well we better be off to potions."

"It's Saturday. Now give me the note and the newspaper. I rather not hear it from Malfoy," Harry was not disappointed by what he read:

Dear Hermione Granger,

Know this, no matter how many times your parents tell you that you are the smartest little girl in the world doesn't mean that it is actually true. You decided to play games against me and have lost. I thank you for all that time we spent together over that summer and that you held your promise. Well I didn't and now I will do anything in my power to see that your friends know of your failure. How do you think it feels to be locked in a little container with a few leaves for food? Did you know that time goes slower when you're a beetle? I bet your wondering how I beat you, well it was simple, perhaps too simple for a know-it-all like you. I figured that the only real black mail you had on me was that I was an illegal animagus so I became a legal one. After a few forms and an identity check I was cleared by the ministry. So I am afraid that our little bargain has gone to hell. I can only hope that you will enjoy my many years as a writer.

Sincerely,

Rita Skeeter

Well that was not something Harry had been expecting. He saw the look of disappointment on Hermione's face and he said a few words that he hoped would alleviate any guilt. He turned to the Daily Prophet article that was sure to make Hermione even guiltier because he knew that most people would believe it.

Harry Potter Is alive!!!

But is That a Good Thing

Harry Potter, the infamous Boy-who-lived, is alive. After his disappearance in late July, we at the Daily Prophet pronounced that the young Mr. Potter was just trying to find a way of getting publicity. Now it seems that our suspicions were correct as Mr. Potter showed up on September 1 at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We are sorry that we were not able to bring this story directly to the public, but Hogwarts refused to release any information on the arrival of Mr. Potter. Our sources now tell us that Mr. Potter , in a lame attempt to increase the size of this publicity stunt, fainted in front of the entire school. One student, who wished remain anonymous, stated, "He didn't even look that bad. Potter is always faking it to get more attention. He loves the spotlight and he will do anything to get it."

Experts agree that this could be nothing more than a terrible stunt from a person that craves attention. For evidence they refer to the letter that the ministry found the night he ran away. It states that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named captured him and the very idea that he could escape from him is ridiculous. To add to all of this, reasonable people must wonder why he is still alive. This proves what Ministry officials and the Minister himself has stated numerous times that the Dark Lord has not returned.

So what has Mr. Potter been doing all this time? Well he has been caring out his plan. For you see, the weirdest occurrence that night wasn't that Harry had turned up after all this time,it was who he was with, Miss Cho Chang, a beautiful Ravenclaw sixth year. She had been kidnapped from her home a few days before the incident and was in the arms of Mr. Potter unconscious. It was a well know fact at Hogwarts that Mr. Potter had a crush on Miss Chang, but during last year she rejected him and instead started to be involved with the late Cedric Diggory. It is easy to see how a person of Mr. Potter's inflated ego would take this hard. We at the Daily Prophet would like to be the first to bring into account the story about the Third Task of the Triwizard competition that occurred last year at Hogwarts. The full story will be in the evening edition, but this writer has reason to believe that Mr. Potter has some connection with the death of Mr. Diggory.

The ministry has given no response on what actions they will take against Mr. Potter other than they were looking into it. Professor Dumbledore, who attended Mr. Potter fake funeral, has refused to expel this obviously disturbed individual and I deplore all readers to write the school governors to take action against them both so that our schools may once again be a safe place for our children to learn.

Harry sat there in quiet shock and only lifted his head when Hermione apologized. He barely even heard her as he focused his attention on the people around him. He looked into the giant crowd and pick out a few faces that looked angry (mostly from Hufflepuff) and a few that look ready to laugh at him (Slytherin). Harry looked over at the Ravenclaws to see a sad and sympathetic Cho, but her friends scowled at him. His own table stayed loyal though and looked down at their papers with great disgust. That was enough for Harry. He told Hermione that it was no big deal again and he left for his dorm to see if his things were there.

All of his belongings were in place and he took his wand and his broom with him to clear his mind on the quidditich pitch. It worked. It was magnificent the way the air blew on his face left Harry in total awe of the freedom that he now enjoyed. He wished he could fly forever, but he landed a few minutes later and sought out his friends once more. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks and thought, Sometimes my own stupidity amazes me. I forgot the map.' He took out the map that Dumbledore had returned to him earlier and looked at it. To his surprise, Ron and Hermione were in the library looking quite cozy together. Not wanting to disturb them.

Harry had remarked throughout the day on how lucky he had been even with most of the school convinced that he was a murderer, but luck seemed to be a fickle thing when he was concerned.

"Potter," the lewd and condescending tone was distinctly Malfoy, "Now watch should come after that the murderer or perhaps the kidnapper, but forget about all that how was your vacation. Father has told me some wonderful stories. I heard you screamed like a girl just like your parents" His thought brought him to when his mind begged for the pain to stop and just worsened and then he remembered the dementors and the screams. Harry stopped walking. He turned around to see his enemy standing in front of four more Slytherins. Harry walked right up to Malfoy and stood eye level with him. Malfoy just stared back in his eyes. Harry could see that two of his goons had moved behind him. Ron had told Harry about what had happened on the train and it did not help to come the situation

"Say that again!" he screamed out.

"Your parents were nothing more than a mudblood and a muggle lover. They deserved what they got." Malfoy's whispered so softly that Harry doubt if his brutes had heard him. That didn't matter to Harry as reached for his wand.

"Expelliarmus!" Malfoy flew back into the wall with a tremendous thud. Harry didn't even get to even appreciate his handy work before he felt the first blow to the back of his head. He fell to the ground losing his wand with a kick to the ribs. They continued their assault until he saw Malfoy raise to his feat.

"Not so tough now are you Potter, Stupefy!" Harry figured he had gotten off easy when he heard the incantation. The beating was only a relatively small one and as he awoke he could tell that Malfoy had not decided to do anything further. Fred and George stood around him and gave him a hand to get back on his feet.

"You are alright there Harry? What happened?" one of the twin said(Harry was still a little dazed).

"Nothing just Malfoy," Harry said with a forced casual tone.

"That little git. Harry you shouldn't walk around by yourself and not just because of Malfoy. Come we need to show you somethings." Harry passed the day hanging out with Fred and George who were excited to show him some of what his investment had created.. When Angelina, Alicia, and Kate showed up they talked about who would be captain of the Quidditch team this year and who would be the keeper. Harry simply refused the position of captain when Katie asked him if he would do it. At the end they all were unanimous in electing Angelina to the position. Through all this Harry couldn't help but notice that they were acting and looking at him kind of funny, especially Katie who seemed almost shy around him. This was a weird change from the outgoing girl that she was around around Fred or George.

They walked down together to dinner that night and when they sat down he saw Katie look that him and then quickly turned away. This was too much, 'What's going on here. Maybe it's the article or maybe it's the scar on my neck,' he thought in a panic and he turned to Fred who was sitting to his right and signaled him to lean over. "What's going on with Katie. She keeps on looking at me kind of funny. Is there something wrong?" Harry whispered.

In true Fred Weasley form he announced in a yell, "I don't know Harry! Hey Katie, why are you looking at Harry funny?" Harry was beyond embarrassed and Kate looked furious at Fred.

"Umm I suddenly don't think I'm that hungry. I've got to go," her face was a brilliant red and she left in a light jog. Alicia went with her while Angelina was left to slap her boyfriend around.

"Shut up. That was a despicable this to do to your friend and you know perfectly well that..." she stopped in mid-sentence and instead finished with, "...she has that new disease that I cursed her with before." Though as weird as her explanation was Harry accepted it with few question asked because any other alternative seemed either ridiculously presumptuous or unwelcome. 'This is Katie were talking about, a seventh year, and completely beautiful, but she knows I am not a killer" Harry reasoned

Hermione and Ron showed up a little after the Fred and Katie spectacle and they enjoyed their dinner together. Harry noticed that Snape wasn't sitting at the teachers table and that he hadn't been at any of the meals, but Dumbledore had already told him that he was at Hogwarts so Harry forgot to care and focused his attention back on his friends and on his dinner. Harry couldn't believe how much he enjoyed food after a month of going without it, but his spirits were damped when the evening Daily Prophet arrived. It was a little better than the morning's issue, but he still noticed many looks of hatred. He even heard someone from behind say, "I can't believe that fool Dumbledore didn't tell us what really happened. If he's letting this parseltongued murder stay in the same school with us, I have to question his loyalty." Harry could feel his hand tingling with the desire to blast that kid through the wall, but his cool got the better of him when Dumbledore stood up.

"I would like to make an announcement tonight. So what would you like first the good news or the very good news?" he said in a jovial voice. A few first years called out that they wanted to hear the good news, as well as some older student who quickly grew embarrassed. "Okay, the good news then. The Board of Governors as given us permission to establish a Dueling Tournament." Most of the crowd was stunned except the few who knew prior to the announcement, including Harry, who Ron had told before. He had already decided not to compete, but all the same he would enjoy watching for a change and maybe help train Hermione and Ron. The crowd quieted their loud cheering when Dumbledore signaled that he wanted to continue. "Yes, we are all very excited about it, but we must not forget that participation in wizarding dueling is very dangerous and all those wishing to enter should only do so after careful consideration. It will take place on October 31 as part of our Halloween celebration and to help us train I have taken the liberty of creating an oppositional dueling class that will commence this Friday for all those who want to participate. It is not mandatory that you attend if you wish to participate in the tournament, but it is advised. As for a teacher, I have recruited Professor Lupin and Professor Flitwick to take over the class. They are well skilled and you will learn a lot from them. The rules will be posted up at a later date, but I am said to say that only fourth year[s] and higher can participate. I am sorry, but it must be done. Some of you might be wondering why we are having the tournament so early. Well that is the other part of this announcement. Hogwarts in cooperation with the Ministry and the wizarding council have decided to hold the Phoenix's Tournament here at Hogwarts." The crowd roared, even those who hadn't the slight clue what it was. "For all of you who do not know what it is, the Phoenix's tournament is a dueling tournament. It is comprised of the greatest wizards and witches of the world each with their own specialty. The goal of this tournament is to test the skill of our finest and bring them together. The rules are different from those that you will be participating in, but I will get into that when the time comes closer. The Championship will be held at the end of the year and the winner will be given the Order of the Phoenix, the highest and most prized title that one can receive. This tournament occurs once every seventy seven years and lasts a total of ten days. It will most assuredly be a time to remember." Harry was going crazy with excitement thinking of all that he would get to see and, all of his fellow students were just as excited. 'And to make things better people will have something better to talk about than me,' he thought to himself. Then he looked over at the Slytherin, at Malfoy, who stared back at him with a stupid smirk. Harry never wanted to duel someone so much in his life and win

It took Harry a while to remember what he was supposed to do. Through the excitement and talking with Katie, who seemed back to normal, it took a loud explosion from Fred and George's dorm room to clear his mind enough to remember where he had to be that night. So Harry waited until around 11:30 and left the common room in search of Dumbledore's office.

A/N: Okay I'm really sorry that this took me so long to write, but I hope that the next one will be out a lot sooner. I had a lot of stuff to do. So Cho is out of the running, but we have a few more contenders still left. Don't get too bummed about the Halloween tournament until I write it ok. I think you will be surprised by what is going to happen and I can't wait to write the Phoenix's Tournament I will explain just what it is when we get further into the story. Mostly everything else will be explained next chapter like Snape and Sirius and Lupin.. SO if you were disappointed by this chapter the next will be better or at least more interesting, PLEASE REVIEW!!!