Harry Potter and the Forgotten Forbidden Curse

Ch. 1 The Usual Invite

Harry could see a graveyard, not even a quarter mile away. Many cloaked people were heading towards a huge gravestone in the center. A bright light seemed to be coming from it. On the outer edge of the graveyard, he could see a body. He realized it was Cedric. All of a sudden he was tied to the huge gravestone, and he could see a man coming from a cauldron in front of him. It was Voldemort. Voldemort was robed and given a wand. Then he came over to Harry and put his finger next to his cheek. He touched him, and Harry screamed when his scar began to burn. Voldemort removed his finger, and Harry panted heavily. Then Voldemort pointed his wand at Harry, and cried, "Crucio!" Harry screamed again as white-hot knives sliced through his entire body, and his scar felt like it was going to split his head open.

All of a sudden, Harry woke up. His scar was burning, and he had his mouth open in a silent scream. His pillow was covered in cold sweat, and his sheets were drenched with it as well. He sat up and groped for his glasses. He needed to see something besides blurred shapes. He turned his beside light on, and stared at Hedwig's empty cage.

She was off hunting at the moment, and her cage was littered with bones of mice and voles and rats. Harry always smiled when he saw her bring back a rat, because he always thought of it as Pettigrew.

He also looked at his clock. His stomach gave a familiar jolt when he realized that he had been 15 for an hour.

He went to his desk, which was cluttered with papers for homework and stray notes and letters. He shifted papers and found a spare sheet of parchment. He had to write something down. He wrote about Voldemort, his friends, just fluff. When his hand cramped, he got out of his chair and stretched. He had all his homework finished, thank God, so he didn't have to do that anymore.

He heard a tapping on his window. He knew it was Hedwig without even looking.

He went over to it and saw four owls, one a tawny that he knew was from school, and a snowy white was his own Hedwig. A large barn owl he didn't recognize, but he did recognize the tiny gray owl that the barn was helping to carry the package. It was Pigwidgeon, Ron's owl he got from Sirius, nicknamed Pig.

Harry opened the window. The four flew in. Each was carrying a package. Hedwig landed on top of her cage, and the rest landed on his bed. He took Pig's burden first. This is what the letter said:

Hey Harry,

Happy Birthday! Hope the Muggles are treating you right. Mom said that Dumbledore is letting you come over now. She Summoned a Portkey from him, like you did at the tournament last year, and it's in the package, on the bottom, separated from the rest. Don't touch it until 4 past 10 in the morning on your birthday! Mum also packed a cake and some snacks. She thinks they're starving you over there, which is right, so she packs a whole bunch of stuff now. I also invited Hermione, like always. She's been on vacation in Bulgaria, visiting Viktor. I don't see why she likes him! He's just famous.

Well, see you on the 31st! It doesn't matter if the Muggles don't let you. Mum said Dumbledore would send a letter with your normal school letter.

Ron

Harry smiled. He was the only one who knew that Ron and Hermione liked each other. They had each told him on the train ride home last year. She was just going with Viktor because she wanted to know what it was like, having a boyfriend. Not that Viktor was her boyfriend.

He ripped the paper off the package, and it revealed a box of treats and a cake. He took a small bite out of the cake. It tasted wonderful to him, who had been living off grapefruit and carrot sticks. Then he turned to Hedwig. She had Sirius's gift. His letter said:

Happy birthday, Harry. I've been living with Remus. He seems to be more under control when he transforms now, which is good because Arabella isn't an Animagus.

Hope you like the present. It's from us three, since Arabella and Remus found it and I thought of giving it to you, since none of us can take care of it right now. Make sure you open it right away.

Sirius

Then he turned to the present. It was shaking and hissing. It better not be a snake, Harry thought. He cautiously reached for it and realized there were air holes. He picked up the box and held it away from him like it was a bomb that could go off any second. He tore some paper off, and it hissed even more. Then he tore the rest off and opened the box.

A kitten jumped out of the box and onto his bed, making the two owls still left take off in fright and land on his dresser. He then went over to the kitten. It had started to bat and play and chew one of the feathers that had fallen out of one of the owls. It was exactly like Sirius's dog form, except a feline and a lot smaller.

He picked it up and it crawled out of his hands, climbing up his shoulder and onto his back. He bent over, trying to keep the cat on him. He walked over to the barn owl, bent like an old man, the kitten walking shakily on his back. He took the package and the barn took off, making Harry notice that Pig wasn't there anymore. The package was from Hermione, who had used Viktor Krum's owl.

Dear Harry,

It's been beautiful here in Bulgaria. Mum and Dad weren't too pleased when they met Krum. They thought he was too old for me. And anyway, I don't really like him anymore. Because his parents think he shouldn't be with me because I'm not pureblood, he thinks he shouldn't be with me either. But we weren't just coming here because I wanted to see Viktor. Mum and Dad were planning on visiting Bulgaria anyway.

Ron told me that you could stay all summer next year and so can I. But I think I'll go home for half of the summer, so I can be with my parents sometimes. Anyway, I'm coming this year on the 30^th. Ron told me you're coming on the 31^st. Did he give you a Portkey too?

I guess I'll find out on the 31^st. Oh, don't tell Ron I like him. I'll kill you if you do! But if you hint to him to ask me out, then I'll love you forever (as a brother of course).

Hope you like the gift and hope this finds you in good health. DON'T YOU DARE TELL RON!

Love,

Hermione

Harry gave a small chuckle. She was always worrying about Ron finding out she liked him before he asked her out.

He looked to her present. It was thick and heavy like a book. It was a book. When he tore off the paper he read Hogwarts, A History on the cover in bold letters. On a note attached, Hermione had written; Now I might not be the only who has read this. Hope you like it as much as I do.

"Hermione," was all Harry said, shaking his head. Then he turned to the tawny. His letter from school was the same as last year, except he got a different book list; he needed Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5, and Defending Yourself Against the Dark Arts. Hagrid's letter was also the same as last year's.

Happy birthday!

See you at Hogwarts.

Hope the Muggles are treating you right.

Hagrid

Harry opened the gift. It was a snow globe that changed the seasons over Hogwarts every time you shook it. Winter had snow falling, spring had flowers falling, summer had test papers falling (he laughed at that one), and fall had orange, yellow and red leaves falling. "Awesome Hagrid!"

He set it on his nightstand, along with Hermione and Ron's gifts. While he had been opening Hermione's gift, the cat had jumped off of Harry's back and onto his bed. It had crawled onto his pillow and fallen asleep. He thought of how the cat looked like Sirius's cause for his nickname, and decided to call it Padfoot. He looked in the box Padfoot had come in, and he noticed a scrawled note.

By the way, this cat is a male. Sirius

Harry left him sleeping on his pillow, for he was too excited to sleep. He was going to Ron's today!

Harry started packing for basically living with Ron. He packed clothes and books, potion ingredients and quills. He packed his calendar he used to count down the days until he got back on the Hogwarts Express and all his presents. He packed everything he could. Then, while he was squatting in front of his trunk, seeing what exactly he had packed, something hard hit his back. It felt like a tennis ball.

"Ouch!" His back began to sting, and he rubbed it, turning around. Then he saw what had hit him, zooming around the ceiling, and saw that a letter lying at his feet. Pig had hit him, and Ron's untidy scrawl was on the letter.

Hey Harry, you don't have to pack everything you can. Just pack what you'd normally bring, and Mum and Dad will get the rest of your stuff while you're at Hogwarts. This summer you can probably have Perce's room. He's probably going to be moving in with his girlfriend Penelope Clearwater while we're at school.

Ron

This time, Harry got to reply.

Okay. And I'll come even if the Dursley's don't let me. It's not like they'll really miss me or anything.

Harry

Harry tied the note to Pig's leg, and watched him fly off into the sunrise. He could hear movements coming from his aunt and uncle's room. He got out his letter from Dumbledore, then went to his closet for clothes. He looked in his mirror and saw a skinny 15-year-old stare back at him, hair tousled over his scar and his glasses dirty with fingerprints. Then he turned to his clothes and picked out something that he wouldn't get hot in taking almost all of his stuff out of his trunk.

After he had almost unpacked everything, Harry bounded down the stairs, Dumbledore's letter clutched in his hand. When he got to the kitchen, Aunt Petunia was giving out grapefruit (again), and Uncle Vernon was reading the paper. Dudley was sulking on his side of the table. He had reduced in size since last summer, but his bad attitude had grown bigger, since they had now put him on the same diet at Smeltings as at home. Now he couldn't have any sugar anywhere.

Harry got the mail without being asked, and put Dumbledore's letter in with the rest. When Uncle Vernon put down the paper, Aunt Petunia passed out the grapefruit. The three males looked down at it in disgust, but Harry didn't have to finish his. He had food up in his bedroom (he had at least packed some of that).

When Uncle Vernon had gotten halfway through his grapefruit, he pushed it away. Harry's was about half the size of Uncle Vernon's, so he was already finished. He just waited for Uncle Vernon to read the mail. He sat there, jiggling his leg. He saw him go through a couple of bills, then a postcard, another bill, then, finally-

"What? Somebody's taking you in? Who would want you? You're just a little ingrate."

"Yes, somebody's taking me in, and I know a lot of people who would want me. They are all like me. They have the same abnormality that I do, and they all appreciate me, so I appreciate them," Harry said, sticking up for many people, especially his friends.

"Oh really? Name one family that would take you in," Uncle Vernon growled.

"The Weasley family. You've seen them. Quote, 'Dumpy sort of woman? Load of children with red hair?' End quote."

Uncle Vernon literally growled. Harry didn't know where his confidence had come from. "Fine. Go if you want to. It will get your ungrateful back off ours and out of our home," Aunt Petunia said. Harry was surprised. Aunt Petunia was answering.

"Good. Because I was going to go anyway." Then he left the table to his room. He looked at his watch. It was only eight. This was going to be a long morning.

Ch. 2 Return to Ron's

Harry waited and waited, and ten o' clock finally rolled around. Around that time, he put the rest of his food into his trunk, put Padfoot into his box, and dug out the Portkey. It was an old boot, worn and dirty. He dragged his trunk onto his bed, then grabbed the handle tightly. He hooked a finger in the boot, held onto Padfoot's box, and stared at his watch. He watched the number turn to ten o' four, and he felt a jerk behind his navel. His trunk became feather light, and he was transported to the Ron's house.

"Good, you're exactly on time." Harry was sitting on Ron's bed, his trunk now heavier than ever, Ron and Hermione standing next to him.

"Yeah, you think I would be late? I couldn't wait to get out of there!" Harry said. "Which bed is mine?" There were four beds in the room. He guessed that Fred and George were in the room again, and that Bill and Charlie were visiting again.

"The one near the window. Fred and George are in here again because Bill and Charlie have their room and Percy has to work," Ron said. "Can't wait till Perce moves in with Penelope."

"I'll bet you can't," Hermione said.

"You hungry, Harry?"

"Yeah. I haven't had anything good since about 2 o' clock in the morning, when I had some of your mum's cake."

"Then come on down. Fred and George just woke up, so Mum's making them breakfast."

Harry dragged his trunk to his cot and put Padfoot's box next to it; then they all trudged downstairs. On their way, Percy stuck his head out of his door. "Oh, it's you again. Will you stop thundering? I'm trying to work on something with Penelope."

"Oh, the almighty god Percy and goddess Penelope are working on something together. We will bend to your wishes, your highness," Ron said to Percy, giving a lavish, but obviously fake, bow.

Percy rolled his eyes and shut his door with a snap. Ron rolled his eyes as well.

"Percy and Penelope have been working at each others houses over the summer," Hermione said. "Ron's a bit sick of it."

"You bet I am! Penelope's always over here, so we always have to be quiet. It's pretty annoying. I can't wait until Perce has moved out."

Then they got downstairs, so Ron couldn't complain anymore.

"How did you get a thousand Galleons?" they heard Mrs. Weasley say.

"We just got it, anonymously. We didn't get it by selling our joke stuff," Fred said.

"But we want to start a joke shop with it. We don't want to go into the Ministry, Mum," George added.

"I am not going to let you start a joke shop! It would be a disgrace to the family," Mrs. Weasley said.

"No it wouldn't. One of us killing someone would be a disgrace," Ron said. Mrs. Weasley turned to look at Ron, Harry, and Hermione. "Harry didn't really have breakfast, so can he have some?"

"Why of course. Since Fred and George just woke up, I can make your breakfast while I make theirs," Mrs. Weasley said.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down at the table. They talked as Mrs. Weasley bustled around the kitchen.

"So Harry, did you like my gift?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah. It's just what I needed. Hogwarts, A History. I've always wanted to read it," Harry said sarcastically.

Hermione looked crestfallen. "So you don't like it?"

"I'll read it though. I want to know what it's like. And I do want to know more stuff about the castle," Harry said quickly. Then Mrs. Weasley set a plate of bacon and eggs in front of Harry. It smelled so good. He took a piece of bacon. It was crisp and fresh, still sizzling. His fingers started to burn, but he still held it. He bit a piece off. It tasted so good.

"So Harry. What was in that box you brought?" Hermione asked.

Harry swallowed. "My kitten, Padfoot."

Ron and Hermione's jaws both dropped. "You have a cat?"

"Yeah. Sirius got it for me," Harry said, his mouth halfway full of eggs.

"Sirius got you a kitten?" Ron said.

"Well, actually, Lupin and Figg found him, and Sirius thought that they should give him to me, since they can't really take care of him."

"Who's Figg?" Fred asked.

"Arabella Figg, isn't she?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Yeah. Why aren't they freaking out that we're mentioning Sirius?" Harry asked in an undertone.

"Well, you know Mum was there when Sirius showed himself, so she told the rest of the family, naturally. They took it quite well, actually," Ron answered. "But it might be because they don't believe her, even though me, Hermione and you can back her up."

Harry ate another piece of bacon. "Then that's stupid."

He finished his breakfast, along with Fred and George. When they were done, Fred asked, "Hey, you guys want to play a game of Quidditch? Bill and Charlie will probably play too. George and I are going to quit the team so we can devote more time to our joke shop, so we want to play as much Quidditch as possible before school starts."

"You are not starting a joke shop!" Mrs. Weasley chipped in.

"Sure, we'll play," said Hermione, "but I'm going to need a broom."

"You're playing?" George asked.

"Yeah. Why not?"

"You can use my old one," Ron offered.

"Old one?" Harry raised a brow.

"Fred and George got me a Nimbus 2000 with some of their money. Those brooms are really cheap now, for brooms."

"I have to use your old one? The one that butterflies can beat?" Hermione complained.

"Fine. I'll use that one. You can use my new one."

While they were having the conversation about the broom, they had walked up to Fred and George's room, in which Bill and Charlie were residing.

Fred knocked on the door. "Either of you guys want to play a little game of Quidditch?" he called through the door.

Bill opened the door. "Charlie's still sleeping, but I'll play. Let me just grab my broom."

"I need to get mine too," Harry said. "Let me go get it." He ran up the stairs, tiptoeing past Percy's room, and grabbing his Firebolt. He also opened the box Padfoot was in. He was still sleeping, all curled up. He left the top off. On his way out the door, Harry didn't shut it all the way. That was a bad idea.

When the sun started to set, the boys (and girl) went back inside. Hermione had proven that she was a good Chaser, and when Fred fell off his broom because he got hit in the head by a few apples, Ron proved that he was a good Beater. Both were worthy enough for the team.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione went up to Ron's room, joking and laughing, being extra loud near Percy's door. They got to Ron's room, the door was ajar just enough for Padfoot to go through. Harry went over to the box Padfoot was in smiling, and the smile disappeared. Padfoot wasn't in the box.

"Where is he?" Harry asked.

"Who?" Hermione asked.

"Padfoot. He's not here. He wouldn't be too hard to spot, and I don't see him."

"We'll look for him later. Dinner's ready, and Mum will kill us if we don't join them," Ron said.

"We have to check the house. Every nook and cranny," Mrs. Weasley said when Harry, Ron, and Hermione told her, after dinner.

So they did. They searched the house. Every room he could have gotten into, every cranny he could have been hiding in. But he wasn't anywhere.

"I just realized...we didn't close the front door," Ron said. "He could be outside!"

"But it's too dark to look for him outside," Hermione pointed out. The stars were out, and the moon was beginning to rise. They had had to postpone the search for dinner, and in that time the sun had set.

"Damn it! I wish we could find him. But I guess he ran away," Harry said. So much for my return to Ron's, he thought.

Ch. 3 Diagon Alley

Over the next week, Harry kept waiting for the right time to tell Ron to ask Hermione out. He kept on feeling like he had an unfinished duty. He didn't get the chance until they went to Diagon Alley.

They traveled by Floo powder again. This time Harry actually didn't fall. It was an improvement for him. He was the second one to go, after Mr. Weasley.

When Ron came through, Harry asked him when Hermione was going to come through.

"She's probably not going to come through until almost last. She's always like that," Ron answered.

"Well, I have something to tell you about her." Harry pulled him away from Mr. Weasley, and said, "Hermione likes you. She told me to not tell you, but it's the only way I can get you to ask her out."

"You mean she wants me to ask her out?"

"Yeah. She told me so on the train ride home, just like you did, last year."

"She did?"

"Yeah. I'm saying that too much. Anyway, she wants me to get you to ask her out, so I think she wants you to ask her out."

"She's not with Viktor?"

"She almost hates Viktor now. He doesn't think he should be going with a Muggleborn."

"He's crazy! Hermione is great!"

"I know, I know. But you have to ask her sometime today, probably when we go home."

Just then Hermione popped out of the fire, so they couldn't talk anymore. Then everyone else arrived, and they went to Gringotts. Hermione exchanged her money after everyone was done getting theirs.

After that, Harry, Ron and Hermione decided to go first to the bookshop. They got their two books then went to the parchment, quill and ink shop. There Harry got green, red, color changing and black ink, plus a new eagle feather quill and some parchment. They went to Madam Malkin's Robes for Every Occasion. All three were getting a bit too tall for their robes. They left with black robes and decided to get some ice cream. Then they started walking along, seeing stuff for sale. When they got to the Quidditch Supplies shop, there was a great crowd there.

"It's the newest broom! A Firebloom!" they heard some boys saying. Then some of them turned away, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione stepped up. Harry read the card in front of the broom out loud.

"The next broom in the Fire series, the Firebloom has the sleek style of a designer broom and the speed and grace of a Firebolt. Also has an improved Comfort Charm. Price on request."

"I can't imagine how much that would cost," Hermione said.

"I can!" Ron said. "A lot."

"Well, we probably can't afford it, so let's go."

Harry and Ron both gave longing looks to the broom. It was beautiful. Then they turned away and followed Hermione to the Apothecary. She said she needed some stuff for Crookshanks.

At 3 they all met back at the Leaky Cauldron. They went back through the fire, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione went to Ron's room when they all got back. They packed their stuff (Hermione had brought her trunk from Ginny's room), and then sat talking for hours until supper. Harry kept throwing Ron looks, but he wouldn't ask her.

After supper, they sat downstairs talking, with the rest of the family talking around them. At 10, Mrs. Weasley made them go to bed.

"You need to get to bed. You need sleep!"

Ron still hadn't asked Hermione. She walked a little bit ahead of them, so Harry hissed into Ron's ear. "Why haven't you asked her yet?"

"You try asking someone out!"

"Ask her now! I'll even get her attention. Oy, Hermione!"

She turned her head and stopped walking, making her hair flip. "Yes?"

"Ron wants to ask you something." Ron's face turned red.

"Er, um, I was wondering, um, uh-" he stuttered.

"Ron, just spit it out," Harry said.

"Will you go out with me?"

Hermione answered without even giving it thought. "What took you so long? Of course I will!"

Ron grinned. Ron saw Hermione to her room, and he actually gave her a peck on the cheek before letting her go. She smiled shyly at him, and then shut the door.

Harry and Ron walked up to their room, both with looks of disbelief on their faces, Ron at the kiss, Harry at bringing his best friends to becoming more than just friends.

Ch. 4 The Train Ride

Over the next three weeks, Hermione and Ron got along better than ever. Mrs. Weasley started to approve of Fred and George's joke shop idea. Harry never found Padfoot though. Overall, it went by too quickly for everybody's liking. On September 1^st, Harry woke up to Mrs. Weasley talking softly in his ear and shaking him.

"C'mon, Harry dear. Time to wake up."

He groggily got out of bed and somehow got dressed. He went downstairs, half sleepwalking, and rejuvenated somewhat after a cup of orange juice and some toast. He took a piece up with him, and ate it as he walked down with his trunk.

He passed everyone on his way up, them going down, and on his way down, them going up. He set his trunk by the door and sat down in a chair in the living room and dozed.

About 15 minutes later, Ron woke him up. "C'mon, Harry. Mum's trying taxis again."

Harry walked outside with his trunk dragging and his eyes half open, Hedwig's cage also in his hand. He ended up running into Ron and Hermione.

"Harry! You dork!" Hermione said.

"Sorry, didn't see you."

"Then open your bloody eyes!" Ron said, sounding aggravated, but really amused.

"Can't. Sun's too bright."

Ron shook his head. "Then I'll make you."

He went over to Harry, took off his glasses, and placed a finger on each eyelid.

"Ron, what are you doing?" Hermione and Harry both asked.

"You'll see," was the reply. Then he pulled Harry's eyelids apart, making Harry open his eyes. Harry tried to squint in the bright sun, but Ron held them open. They started wrestling, and Ron still held them open.

"C'mon Ron! I do need to blink you know!"

"So?"

They wrestled more, and then Ron finally let go of Harry, and Harry blinked several times. "See Harry? It ain't too bright."

"Yeah yeah yeah, just leave me alone. Don't ever try to wake me up like that again. And what is so funny, Hermione?"

Hermione was sitting on the ground, laughing, and caught her breath enough to say, "You guys!" Then she went into another fit of giggles.

"Shut up, Hermione."

"I-"-giggle giggle-"can't!" Then she began laughing hysterically again.

"Come on you guys, let's go," Ron said.

They stuffed their trunks in one taxi and all got in. He drove them speedily, remembering what had happened last time a cab had come to this house, and not wanting it to happen to him.

They got to the train 5 minutes early, so they found their own empty compartment. They sat and talked, like always, and were interrupted at noon by the lady with the trolley.

Ron said he had sandwiches, and he really didn't need anything bought for him, but after Harry offered him a Chocolate Frog, he tossed the sandwiches aside. They ate and talked and laughed, but were interrupted again by Malfoy and his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle.

"I see you're having a good time," he drawled, adding, "Pothead, Weasel and," he shot a nasty look at Hermione, "Mudblood."

"Watch your mouth, Malfoy!" Ron said hotly. Mudblood was a nasty name for someone who was of Muggle parents.

"Why? She your girlfriend or something?" Malfoy sneered. Ron's ears went as red as his hair, and Malfoy chuckled. "Amazing. You have a girlfriend. With your feet, I thought you would have tripped any girl and scared her off, if any even liked that nose."

"Stuff it Malfoy," Harry said.

"Why should I?"

"Or I'll hex you again," he said, pulling out his wand. Hermione and Ron followed suit.

A look of fear crossed Malfoy and his cronies' faces as they remembered what had happened the last time they had faced Hermione, Ron, and Harry's wand tips. Malfoy had ended up with tentacles all over his face. They left to go bother somebody else. Ron got up and slammed the door. Thankfully the glass didn't fall out this time.

"Ron, don't let him get to you," Hermione said.

"Him? Get to me? Yeah right!" Ron said, squishing the sandwiches he had brought (and had almost sat on) between his hands.

Ron fumed the rest of the way there, even as they changed into their school robes.

The train slowed and eventually stopped. Harry, Ron, and Hermione got off and heard Hagrid yelling, "Firs' years this way! C'mon, don' be shy, firs' years this way!"

"Hi Hagrid!" the three called.

"Hey you three! See yeh at dinner!"

Then they were swept off by the crowd and couldn't talk anymore. They ended up in a coach with a third year Hufflepuff they didn't know.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione sprang up the steps and into the entrance hall. Peeves was wreaking havoc, as usual.

The Bloody Baron came out of the Great Hall, furious. "Peeves! Get away from here! Go haunt the spare dungeons!" he yelled. He was the only one who could control Peeves.

"Yes, master," Peeves said in his oily voice that was no better than his cackle. Then he did so and shot off towards the dungeons.

Ch. 5 The Exchange Student

Harry walked into the Great Hall with Ron and Hermione at his sides. They walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down.

The Great Hall was in its usual splendor, with candles floating above the tables, and the golden plates and goblets shone in the firelight. Up at the teachers' table everyone except Professor McGonagall was there. Harry spotted Hagrid and waved. Hagrid waved right back.

Harry spotted Cho Chang sitting with her friends at the Ravenclaw table. She seemed pretty happy even though Cedric was gone.

Then Professor McGonagall walked in with the first years and everyone became quiet. The Sorting Hat sat on the stool like always, and everyone stared at it expectantly. Then the rip near the brim opened and it began to sing.

"You may not think I'm a pretty hat,

"But I can prove I'm much more than that!"

Harry didn't hear any after that because just then he saw the most beautiful girl in the world, standing at the back of the first years, and she looked like a fifth year. Suddenly all thoughts of Cho Chang disappeared from Harry's brain.

The girl in line was beautiful. She had sparkling eyes, like his, but his were green and hers were blue. Her short, dark, hair was pulled back into a curly ponytail near the top of her head. Then everyone started clapping and Harry was brought out of his reverie. Then McGonagall started calling off names.

"Akined, Jens!" A boy with about as much fear on his face as Harry did when he was Sorted stepped forward. He sat on the stool, and McGonagall set the Sorting Hat on his head.

"Ravenclaw!"

Then, after many names and when Harry's stomach was about to rumble with hunger, McGonagall called the new girl's name.

"Deprive, Ella!" Harry's stomach knew that Harry wanted to hear the house she was put in, so it stayed quiet. Harry himself perked up at her name.

The girl put the Sorting Hat on top of her head and sat down. It sat there for a moment, then the brim opened wide and the hat shouted, "Gryffindor!"

Everyone cheered, and then Dumbledore stood up.

"I have two words to say to you before we feast: tuck in!"

The plates in front of them filled with food, ranging from roast beef to mashed potatoes, including again, for some strange reason, peppermint hambugs. Harry got a bit of everything (except the hambugs) and started to eat, but paid no attention to what he was doing. All he was paying attention to was the girl down the table. She was smiling, probably at one of Fred and George's jokes. She had a great smile. Suddenly a hand started waving in front of Harry's face.

"Hello, Harry, are you with us?" Ron said.

"Huh? What?"

"Apparently not. What were you staring at?"

"The girl over there."

"You know it's rude to stare, don't you?" Hermione asked.

"I know, Hermione. Don't act like you're my mother. But Ron, don't you think she's pretty?" Harry said.

"Not really," Ron said, looking at her then comparing her to Hermione.

"You're crazy," Harry said, going back to staring and mindlessly eating.

At the end of the feast, when the last of the food had faded away from the plates, Dumbledore stood up.

"First, I would like to welcome you all to Hogwarts. As a reminder, the Forbidden Forest is forbidden to all students.

"I would also like to announce that this year Hogwarts has decided to take part in an exchange program. As you may have noticed, a new fifth year has come to us, in replacement for a 5^th year Gryffindor. Please treat her with respect. She is here for the year and the year only.

"Another note is that we are planning on having another ball on Christmas and trying to plan on having one on Halloween. Now, off to bed. Chop chop!"

Ron groaned as he stood up. "More Balls! It was hard enough last year!"

"You could just ask Hermione," Harry pointed out.

"That what I was going to do. I'm just groaning because you have to."

"I think I know who I'm going to ask," Harry said, looking over at Ella.

Harry walked up to her as they were filing out of the Great Hall. He tapped her on the shoulder, and she spun around so fast Harry though she would get whiplash.

"If I've told you once, I've told a thousand times, leave me-oh. Uh, hi. I'm sorry, I thought you were someone else." Her accent was strange to Harry, fast and unusual.

"Who?" asked Harry.

"Some blonde kid that was annoying me on the train. I-"

Then her eyes fell on Harry's forehead. He saw them widen. She opened her mouth to say something, but Harry stopped her.

"Don't say anything about my scar, okay? I know I'm Harry Potter."

"Okay."

"Um, I was wondering- would you like to go to the Halloween Ball with me?"

"You want to go to a dance with me and you don't even know me?"

"I know you're beautiful." Ella smiled shyly. "What do you say?"

"Sure. And if I like you enough when the Christmas Ball comes around you can take me then, too."

Harry smiled broadly.

Ch. 6 The Dream

As they walked to the dormitories with the rest of the Gryffindors, Harry and Ella talked.

"So where are you from?" Harry asked.

"Salem, Massachusetts."

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Salem? Where all those witch burnings were?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"I'm the first witch in my family, and my mom didn't want to move. But I hated that place. All the people were so snobby and proud of themselves because their families were there since the burnings. As soon as the exchange student notice went out I signed up."

Just then they came to the Fat Lady. They both shut up so they could hear the password.

"Exchange!"

The painting swung forward, and there was the common room, with its squishy armchairs and merry fire.

The boys and girls split up to go to their separate dorms. As Harry went up the spiral staircase he thought, I don't have to worry about a date for Halloween! Yes!

He entered the room where he always went, which now a plaque on it saying "Fifth Years," and went to his bed. He got his pajamas out of his trunk and started changing. Then he noticed there was a trunk at the end of Seamus's bed, and there wasn't supposed to be one if he was gone this year. Harry finished changing and went over to the trunk. It had the initials E.D. on it.

It suddenly dawned on Harry. Ella was staying with them all year-in this dorm! "The boys are not going to like this," he said.

"We're not going to like what?" Ron asked.

"Nothing, nothing."

Then someone knocked on their door. Then they heard Ella's voice. "Boys? Can I come in? I'd like to go to bed."

All the boys looked at Harry.

"So this is what we weren't going to like," Dean said.

"Was I right?"

"Yep."

"Boys!" Ella called.

"Just a sec! We have to finish changing!" Harry yelled back.

Dean, Neville, and Ron all quickly finished changing, and then Harry opened the door.

"Hey. My trunk isn't in the girls dormitories, so they told me to come here," Ella explained.

"Well, your trunk's here, as well as a bed," Harry replied.

"Cool. Um, where's a bathroom?"

"Why?"

"So I can change."

"Oh. Um, the closest one is downstairs and to the left."

"Thanks." Ella came in the room, got her pajamas, then went to the bathroom. When she was out of earshot, they all burst out laughing for no reason. When the laughter had subsided, Harry got into bed. Everyone else was already in bed. A few minutes later, Ella came back with her clothes changed.

When she got into bed Harry said, "You know Ella, you could've changed in here."

"Harry!"

Then everyone laughed. Harry rolled over smiling, and dropped into dreams of him and Ella. The smile didn't last for long, or the dreams.

"Lily, take Harry and run! Voldemort's coming! Take him, go!" a man cried.

"But-but what about you, James?" a woman said, stuttering and almost crying.

"I'll hold him off as long as I can! GO!"

There were sounds of someone scrambling to open a door. Then the sounds of someone bursting through a door, something being blasted apart, and evil laughing. The sounds of a fight, then a bright green light. More evil cackling.

Then the sounds of someone opening another door.

"Not Harry, please not Harry!"

"Step aside woman!"

"Take me instead!"

"I said, step aside!"

"Please! Have mercy! He's just a child!"

"I have no mercy!" Another flash of green light, a scream, and the sounds of a baby crying.

"Goodbye Harry Potter. You shall never defeat me now!"

Another flash of green light, and Harry woke up in a cold sweat, his sheets wrapped like snakes around legs.

"Harry? Are you okay?" Ella asked.

"What?"

"You were twisting and thrashing like you were having a nightmare. Were you?"

Harry looked at his clock. It was 1:00 in the morning. The other boys were definitely asleep, and judging by Neville's snores, they wouldn't wake even if a hurricane passed by.

Harry laid his head back on his pillow. "Yeah. It was about my parents."

"And Voldemort?"

"Yeah. I dreamed that he was coming to kill me, but he killed both my parents and then tried to kill me. And it was just sounds, too."

"Do you think that I could be like you? I mean, an orphan?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, I've never felt really close to my mom, like other daughters. It's weird. I mean, it's like I'm adopted, but I don't actually know that, even though it feels like I'm adopted in my heart, but I don't think I am in my mind."

"Don't worry about it. You'll probably be homesick for her in a week."

"I hope you're right. Hey, can I sleep in your bed?"

"Huh?"

"Can I sleep in your bed?"

"Sure. Why not?"

"Thanks."

Ella got out of bed and went over to Harry's bed. He untangled his sheets, and then she crawled into bed with him. She cuddled up next to him, and then quickly fell asleep. Harry did the same.

Ch. 7 Snape's Big Change

The next morning Harry woke to whoops and cheers from the guys.

"Go Harry, go Harry, it your birthday, it's your birthday!"

Harry groaned. "Shut up! It's not my birthday." Then he remembered what had happened last night and looked at his side. Ella was still there, asleep. But not for long. A few seconds later, she opened her eyes and stretched. She heard the boys cheering for Harry. She rolled her eyes.

"Shut up you guys. Harry and I didn't do anything last night. I just couldn't sleep, so he let me sleep in his bed with him. So shut up, okay?"

The boys stopped cheering.

"Yes ma'am!" the three boys said, saluting her.

"On a more serious tone, you guys better get out of bed soon or you'll miss breakfast," Ron said, as the other three scooted out the door.

Harry and Ella both got out of bed at the same time, and then Ella got her clothes and went to change. Harry just changed in the room. He laid his stuff for class on his bed, then went downstairs.

"Finally," Hermione said when Harry plopped himself into a seat across from her and started taking food. "I thought you would never come down."

"He was up late with Ella last night," Ron said.

"Ella? That new Yank?"

"Yes," Harry said, throwing daggers with his eyes, "and for your information she only slept in my bed because she couldn't sleep."

"Who couldn't sleep?" Ella asked. Harry whipped around.

"Well, um, you," Harry said.

Ella put her hands on her hips. "Are you spreading around that I slept in your bed last night?"

"No. I was just telling my best friends Ron and Hermione why you did that," Harry said, gesturing to each as he said their names.

"Oh. I see."

"Yeah. Um, why don't you sit down?" Harry asked, gesturing to the seat beside him.

"Whatever," she said, following Harry's suit of sitting down and grabbing food. Harry and Ella were both almost finished when McGonagall came around, passing out schedules.

"Yes! No Potions!" Harry said, punching the air after seeing his schedule. Then his face fell. "Oh, bloody hell. Snape's teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts! And we were so close to not having him!"

"What's wrong with Snape?" Ella asked.

"He's evil, that's what's wrong with him," Ron answered.

"And he especially hates me," Harry said.

"Nonsense, a teacher wouldn't hate a student," Ella said.

"She obviously doesn't know Snape," Harry said to Ron.

"Obviously."

Ella looked at Hermione. "Are they always this weird?"

Hermione nodded. "Afraid so."

"Well, time for our first class. Let's go," Harry said, standing up.

Unfortunately, their first class was Herbology. They had to walk across the still wet grass to get to the class after they had gotten all their stuff. Again, they were doubled with the Hufflepuffs. In Herbology Harry was surprised by Ernie McMillan. He actually apologized for being mad at him when Cedric died.

"Harry, I'm sorry. For some reason I thought you were the reason of Cedric's death, and I don't know why, so I got mad at you. I hope you can forgive me. I think I actually say this on behalf of all the Hufflepuffs," Ernie said as he held out his hand. Harry took it.

"Apology accepted."

Their first day was a hands-on day, so they trudged up to the castle dirty and sweaty to quickly clean up and hurry off to their next class, which for the Gryffindors was Defense Against the Dark Arts. On their way, Ella asked them something.

"Why don't you abbreviate Defense Against the Dark Arts and call it D.A.D.A.?"

"I don't know," Hermione replied. "Why don't we?"

Ron shrugged. "Let's just start calling it D.A.D.A. It's simple enough."

"I don't care what you guys call it. I just can't wait for it to be over," Harry said as they entered the classroom.

"Thank you Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley and Miss Deprive for being on time. Five points from Gryffindor," Snape said.

Harry looked at the clock. "What? We aren't late!" Then the bell rang.

"Now you are. Please, take your seats."

Harry grumbled as he walked to his seat. All this time he hadn't looked at Snape. Now he did. He felt his jaw fall open.

Snape had cut his hair. It actually looked like he had washed it. He even had it spiked a little like some of the other boys. He actually looked good! He looked younger somehow, nicer, and less evil.

"Oh my God," Hermione said, who was sitting next to Harry.

"He's cute!" Ella whispered from behind. Harry made a face, put a finger down his throat, and gagged.

"I would like you all to turn to page 35 in your books please."

Harry mindlessly got out his book and opened it, but not to the right page.

"35, Mr. Potter, not 55." Everyone giggled a bit as Harry turned red and flipped to the right page.

"Today we are studying-" Snape broke off when he realized no one was paying attention, but staring at him. "In case you are all wondering, I decided on a new look for myself. Now, I would like for you to ask no questions and pay attention to what we are learning today, which by the way, is defending against a hex. Now, if you will all start reading, you must have twenty notes about the different types of hexes you can defend yourself against and the different types of defense you must use because of that and the importance of defense against the hexes. If it is not finished by the time the class period is over, than it is homework. When you finish, if there is time left, you can do something quietly at your desk."

Just then someone knocked on the door. "Severus, if you could step outside your class for a moment," Harry heard Dumbledore say.

"Now all of you start working while I excuse myself for the headmaster," Snape said.

As soon as Snape was out of the room, Harry's jaw dropped for a second time as everyone began to talk. Snape was actually nice!

"Okay, this is just way to freaky. Snape is actually being nice? And he looks good?" Ron shuddered. "This is just way to freaky," he repeated.

"I don't see what's so wrong about Snape. He seems like a pretty nice guy, to me," Ella said.

"You should have been here last year," Harry said. "Then you would have seen him when he was evil."

"Evil? No one besides Voldemort is evil." Everybody except Harry winced when Ella said Voldemort's name. Ella noticed this. "Did I say something wrong?"

"We don't say his name around here. For some reason, everybody is scared of it."

"Oh." Then all the conversations died down as everyone began to work. A few minutes later, Snape came in, looking severely shaken. He sat down at his desk, took out a sheet of parchment, a quill, and an inkwell, and began to write. For the rest of the period, you could hear nothing but the scratching of quills. When the bell rang everyone jumped. Then there was the commotion of everyone packing things in their bags, and everyone leaving the classroom.

"Miss Deprive, if you could stay after for a few minutes, I would like to talk to you in private," Snape called over the noise.

"We'll wait for you," Harry said.

They waited outside the door for a few minutes. When Ella came out, she was on the verge of tears.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

Ella sniffed. "My mom died yesterday."

"What?"

"She died in a plane crash. I guess she was going on a vacation to California or something, because they were flying over Nevada when the plane crashed."

"I'm so sorry. This must be really hard for you," Hermione said, giving her a hug.

"Yeah."

They walked down to lunch, Ella with her head down, and Hermione, Ron, and Harry trying to cheer her up.

Ch. 8 Voldemort's Coming

About halfway through the meal, Cho Chang came up to Harry.

"Harry?"

Harry turned around. "Yeah?"

"Can I talk to you?"

"Sure."

She led him out of the Great Hall. When they got to where she wanted to be, they stopped.

"Harry, I'd like to ask you something."

"Fire away."

"Do you like me?" Harry was caught by surprise.

"Well, I did."

"What do you mean?"

"I had the biggest crush on you last year, and then Ella came and I just stopped liking you."

Now it was Cho's turn to be surprised.

"Is that why you asked me to the ball?"

"Yeah."

"Who's Ella?"

"The new girl, from America."

"The new Yank? You like her?"

"Yeah. She and I are sort of dating."

"Oh. Well, I was gonna say that I liked you, and would you go to the ball with me, but I guess you are already taken."

"Yeah." They stood there awkwardly for a few moments before going back into the Great Hall.

When Harry sat back down, Ron asked, "What was that about?"

"Nothing. She just asked me to the ball," Harry answered.

"You didn't say yes, did you?" Ella said.

"No, of course not. Why would I?"

Ella just shrugged and continued eating. When the bell rang, they hurried off to their next class, which for Hermione was Arithmancy and for Harry, Ron, and Ella Divination. The three left Hermione on the first floor and they kept climbing the stairs, up to the seventh floor. When they got there, everybody was there, waiting for the ladder to come down. The second Harry entered the room the ladder came down. The students began climbing, and when Harry got into the room, it was warmer than usual, and everyone was already seated. The air was thick with the perfume of the fire. When Harry had sat down, Professor Trelawney came out of the shadows, right behind Harry.

"Good afternoon, my dears," she said, making Harry jump. "There is no need to be frightened of me, Mr. Potter. But there are many things in your future that I predict will hurt you, maybe even kill you!"

Harry groaned. "Will you knock it off already! Every year you have told me I will die, and look, I'm still alive! Pick on somebody else, will you?" he burst out.

"What did you say to me?" she snapped, sounding more like McGonagall than her usual airy self.

"I said pick on somebody else! I've had enough. So far I've gone through two years, and I'm not about to through a third. So tell somebody else they're going die instead of me."

Professor Trelawney looked very surprised. "Well-I-"

"Well nothing. I've had enough of this airy-fairy future crap. I'm leaving."

Harry gathered up his things had went over to the trapdoor. He kicked it open, and descended down the ladder. He made his way to his dorm, then dumped his stuff on his bed. He looked at his clock. It was 1:00 again. He could feel anger in his veins, but he didn't know why. He suddenly realized- it had reminded him of his parents, and Voldemort. A fresh surge of anger coursed through him. He felt like a gladiator, or some kind of warrior. Just then Ron and Ella burst through the door, and the anger and strength flooded out of him.

"Harry! Why did you do that?" Ella asked.

"I-I don't know," Harry stammered.

"Well, it made Professor Trelawney really mad. She gave us a ton of homework, like when Hermione left, and said that it's due two days from today! With what she gave us, I won't be done in a week!" Ron complained.

"Don't worry, it's really easy. I'll help you. We had to do stuff a lot harder than this and it was usually due the next day back at Salem," Ella said.

"Er-"

"Harry, are you truly quitting like Hermione did? I mean, are you going to take a different class?" Ella wondered.

"Yeah. I hate that class. It's the same old boring thing each year. I'm going to Dumbledore before our next period," Harry replied. "See if I can switch."

"You mean you're going to leave me there, all alone, with him?" Ella said, pointing to Ron.

"Yeah. But you're only staying for a year, remember?" Harry reminded her.

"Yeah, but-"

"I better go. I need to see Dumbledore, you know," Harry said.

"Yeah," Ella said faintly.

"Who's stopping you?" Ron added.

Harry walked out of the room. He walked to Dumbledore's office and stopped, thinking of what the password could be this year.

"Sherbet Lemon?" he said attentively. Maybe that was the password again this year. The gargoyles stared at him blankly. "Damn. Um, Lemon drop?" The gargoyles moved aside, revealing a secret door and the revolving staircase to Dumbledore's office. "Cool." Harry stepped onto the revolving staircase and was brought up to Dumbledore's office. When he got there, he could hear voices.

"Albus, I will not allow you to tell your students that You-Know-Who may be coming! It will frighten them out of their wits!" Harry recognized Fudge's voice.

"Cornelius, you really think I don't know that! The children have a right to know! You also know that Harry needs to know this, so he can be prepared!" Harry heard Dumbledore say. Harry had never really heard Dumbledore in a fight, so he leaned closer to the door.

"He's better off not knowing, along with everyone else. You know the kind of trouble he gets into! Like getting into the tournament last year, coming in contact with Sirius Black, finding the Chamber of Secrets, and finding the Sorcerer's Stone! Every time he broke at least a dozen school rules!" Fudge said.

"But he is a warrior in blood, and braver than anyone I know. He has a right to try and defeat Voldemort like he almost did so many years ago! And, now he has the new exchange student Ella to help him. They were close when they were children, did you know that? They were so close that they formed a bond so strong that not even Dark magic could break it, but they were separated when Voldemort came. Since Harry and Ella are reunited, they can try and defeat Voldemort, and Harry's two friends, they can help him too."

"Albus, they are happy not knowing! Why dampen their spirits!"

"Because they need to be prepared! How many times do I have to tell you!"

"But they are too young!"

"Cornelius, Harry and Ella have been through things that no witch or wizard should be through throughout a lifetime. His friends Ron and Hermione have been through almost the same thing."

"Fine. Tell them. See what reactions you get!" Harry heard someone walking towards the door and stepped back and straightened at exactly the right time. Fudge opened the door and stormed out, not even noticing Harry. But Dumbledore did.

"Ah, Harry, just the person I wanted to see. Come in, come in. What brings you here?"

Harry stepped through the door. "Professor, I was wondering... do you think I could take a different class than Divination? Today I sort of like... walked out on Professor Trelawney, like Hermione did in third year."

"Why of course Harry. What class did you have in mind?"

"I'm not sure." Then a thought came to him. "Can you take Quidditch as a class?"

"I believe so. Would you like to sign up for that? If Madam Hooch doesn't mind, of course."

"Great! Also, Professor, why did you want to see me?"

"As I'm sure you heard me and Cornelius fighting, I don't believe I have to tell you that."

"So Voldemort is coming to Hogwarts again?"

"I'm afraid so. The only thing we have to do is wait for him to come and be prepared when he does."

"And another thing Professor--Were Ella and I really that close when we were kids?"

"Yes. As I said, you were so close that Dark Magic couldn't even break the bond."

"So if Ella and I tried to defeat Voldemort, we might be able to?"

"Yes."

"Oh. Okay. Thanks Professor."

"You're welcome, Harry."

Harry went down the spiral staircase and to the dorms as fast as he could. He had about five minutes to make it to his next class, which was Transfiguration. He wanted to tell Ron, Hermione, and Ella what he just heard, but there was no time. When he got to the dorm room, it was deserted. He grabbed his stuff and ran down the stairs, past surprised portraits and classrooms that were almost started. When he got to Transfiguration, it had just begun.

"Mr. Potter. I should like to know why you're late. I hope you have a good enough excuse," she said crossly.

"I do Professor. I had to see the Headmaster about my classes."

"Can anyone vouch for Mr. Potter?"

Ron and Ella both raised their hands. "It's true, Professor. He sort of like, quit Divination, so he had to see Dumbledore about more classes," Ella said.

"Good enough for me. Now, on with our lesson...."

Harry got through the rest of the week with no trouble or surprises. But he didn't get a chance to tell Ron, Hermione and Ella about Voldemort until Friday. It was a stormy day, and when they were let out at three they went to the library instead of visiting Hagrid.

"Hey, I've got something to tell you guys," Harry said. "But it's about Vol- I mean, You-Know-Who."

"You can call him Voldemort, Harry," Ella said. "We're all okay with it."

"Speak for yourself," Ron muttered. Hermione elbowed him in the ribs and glared. "Ow! What was that for?"

"Anyway. Well, I heard from Dumbledore that Voldemort is coming to Hogwarts."

"What?" Ron said.

"Voldemort's coming. Dumbledore said that we might defeat him if we tried, because Ella and I knew each other when we were kids. Dumbledore said that Ella and I formed a bond so strong that Dark Magic couldn't break it, and if we tried we might defeat him, and you guys could help us. I think, that since we've all been against him at one point or another, we could actually defeat him."

"But-but I don't think Dumbledore wants you to go looking for You-Know-Who. I mean, he told you just to warn you, right?" Hermione asked, looking worried.

"Yeah. Why would he want me to go looking for Voldemort?"

"I don't know. I'm thinking weird."

"Whatever."

They were silent for a minute, in which they all thought. Harry thought of his dream. What had made him dream that? Was Voldemort sending him dreams, taunting him? If he was, then he must be close, to send him dreams that clear.

Ella thought of the dream that she had the day before she came to Hogwarts. In it she saw a lightning bolt like the one on Harry's forehead, a flash of green, a snake-like face, a wand held by long fingers, a man with only one hand, a girl lying on the ground, shivering, herself, Ron, Hermione and Harry all together, and a light radiating from them together. What did it mean? Were they going to do something to defeat Voldemort once and for all? She sure hoped so.

Hermione thought of what Harry had said Dumbledore had told him. Ella and Harry were so strong together that they could defeat Voldemort. But what about Ron and her? Were they just going to be left aside? But Harry wouldn't do that. He was too good a friend. They would be included somehow.

Ron thought about what would happen when Voldemort came. Harry would probably somehow get them all to fight him. It was usual of him to do that. But that was why Ron loved him as a brother.

Ch. 9 Avril Lavigne

"So, what are we going to do about this?" Ella asked, surprising them all.

"I don't know. Dumbledore said all we can do is wait for him to make his move," Harry said.

"I don't like sitting here waiting. I want to actually do something about it," Ron said.

"We can't exactly do anything, because we don't know if he's here yet, or when he will be here," Hermione said.

"Then it's best that we just act like he's not coming, but not be surprised when he shows himself," Harry said.

"Then I guess we better finish our homework."

"Yeah."

Harry went on through the school year with thoughts of Voldemort on his mind until the end of October, when Quidditch started and he could keep his mind on that. Harry was captain, since he was the only player left from the old team of seven, since the rest of the team either graduated or decided not to participate. Harry put up a notice on the bulletin board in the common room two weeks before the season started, so he had time to decide whom to put on the team after try-outs, which were on October 15.

When the day came, Harry greeted all the Gryffindors who wanted to play at the Quidditch field.

"Welcome. I will take one; sometimes two of you at a time and see how well you are at the position you want to play. The positions available are Keeper, Beater, and Chaser. We need one Keeper, three Chasers and two Beaters. The first person on my list is Ron Weasley."

Ron stepped forth, his broomstick in one hand, Fred's old Beater stick in the other.

Harry mounted his own Firebolt and kicked off. The wind whipped through his hair, and he had a soaring sensation in his stomach. He turned to a halt, then called to Ron, holding his own borrowed Beater stick high.

"Let the Bludger out Ron, let's see what you can do!"

Ron kicked the case the Bludger was in. It opened, and out sprang the Bludger. It immediately went for Ron. He swung at it, and it flew up to Harry. Ron mounted his broom and kicked off. Harry swerved out of the way of the Bludger, and Ron caught up to it, slamming it to the ground. The Bludger hit the ground with an audible thump, then flew up towards the crowd. Ron dived, and hit the Bludger away before it hurt Neville, who was for some reason trying out. Ron smacked it straight towards Harry, who smacked it right into the case, which Hermione hurried and closed before the Bludger got out again. Everyone cheered for Ron.

"Next, Hermione Granger and Ella Deprive!" Harry said as he touched down, grabbing the Quaffle. Hermione mounted her broom and kicked off. Harry threw the ball to her with no warning, and she caught it perfectly. Ella was at the goalposts, waiting for Hermione to try and score. Harry went up in the air so Hermione could pass if she wanted to.

Hermione passed to Harry and sped to the goal. Harry threw the Quaffle to Hermione, and she sped in for the goal.

Ella was ready for her. When Hermione threw the Quaffle at one of the goalposts, she sped off and hit it with her broom tail.

Harry caught the ball and threw it back to Hermione. She sped towards a goalpost, and Ella went after her. Just when Ella swerved to block a goal, Hermione threw it to another goalpost. Ella zoomed after it, but it went through. Hermione smiled. Ella glared. Ella caught the Quaffle and aimed toward Hermione. She spun around and caught it, but went tumbling a little from the force of the throw.

"Again!" Ella called.

Hermione sped towards the goalposts, darting back and forth. Ella watched every move, waiting for her to strike. Then Hermione hurled the ball at a goalpost. Ella went after it and caught it, throwing it to Harry.

"I'm done!" she called.

"So am I!" Hermione yelled. They both dived to the ground.

"Next: Lavender Brown and Tom Grint!"

Ella and Hermione walked together off the field. "That was a nice move you pulled Hermione," Ella said. "Usually nobody gets any goals past me."

"Well, I'm not nobody."

"I see."

They walked in through the doors and Ron greeted them. "How'd you do?"

"Pretty well. We went through three times," Ella said.

"Cool! Did you get any in?"

"I got one on her, but she stopped my other ones," Hermione said.

"Let's go back to the tower," Ella said. "I need to do some homework."

"I think we all do."

When they got back to the tower, the only years left were first, sixth, and seventh. The older grades obviously thought they were too old, and the first years couldn't join the team until their next year. The three walked up to the dorms and dropped off their stuff. Then they went to the boys' dorm to do homework, even though Hermione wasn't allowed. They all did homework on Ella's bed. After a few minutes of almost silent homework, Ella couldn't take it anymore.

"I'm sorry, I have to have music," she said, reaching into her trunk. She pulled out a CD player and some CDs.

"What are those?" Ron asked.

"This is a CD player, and these are CDs." Ron still had a puzzled look. "Watch," Ella said, putting in a CD. She closed the cover and pushed play. Avril Lavigne came pounding out of the speakers.

"He was a boi, she was girl, can I make it anymore obvious?

"He was a punk; she did ballet; what more can I say?

"He wanted her, she'd never tell, but secretly she wanted him as well,

"All of her friends, stuck up their nose, they had a problem with his baggy clothes,

"He was a sk8er boi,

"She said see ya later boi,

"He wasn't good enough for her,

"She had a pretty face, but her head was up in space,

"She needed to come back down to "Earth"

"5 years from now, she sits at home, feeding the baby

"She's all alone, she turns on TV, guess who she sees,

"Sk8er boi rockin' up MTV, she calls up her friends, they already know,

"And they've all got tickets to see his show

"She tags along, stands in the crowd looks up at the man she turned down,

"He was a sk8er boi,

"She said see ya later boi,

"He wasn't good enough for her,

"Now he a superstar slammin' on his guitar,

"Does your pretty face see what he's worth?

"Sorry girl but you missed out

"Well tough luck that's boi's mine now

"We are more than just good friends

"This is how the story ends

"Too bad you couldn't see the man that boi could be

"There is more than meets the eye

"I see the soul that is inside

"He's just a boi

"I'm just a girl
"Can I make it anymore obvious?

"We are in love haven't you heard

"How we rock each other's world

"I'm with the sk8ter boi

"I said see you later boi

"I'll be backstage after the show

"I'll be at his studio singing the song we wrote

"About a girl you used to know."

The song ended, and both Ron and Hermione stared at the player.

"How did you get it to play here? Electronical stuff isn't supposed to work at Hogwarts," Hermione said.

"Last year, during the year, one of my teachers helped me to make it run off magic. She knew I loved music- I got in trouble for wearing headphones during class sometimes. When I think of it, she was the only teacher who liked me."

"Can we listen to that again? I've never heard that girl before," Ron said.

"Sure. Do you want to listen to that same song again, or a different one?" Ella said.

"The same one."

"Okay."

So Ella played the same song again. This time Ron and Hermione both started bopping their heads. Ella laughed. "You guys are weird."

Ch. 10 Quidditch Teams

The next day, everyone crowded around the bulletin board to see who made the team.

"I made it! I made the team!" Neville cried. "I actually made it!"

"Him, Beater?" Ron muttered. "I don't know what Harry was thinking." When the crowd had dispersed, Ron, Ella and Hermione walked up. They each read silently:

Before you see if your name is on this list, please recognize that if you didn't make it you are braver even than me, for it takes a lot of courage to try out for a team and not make it. If you did make it, congrats to you.

Harry Potter

The following people made the team:

Ella Deprive-Keeper

Hermione Granger-Chaser

Parvati Patil-Chaser

Emma Radcliffe-Chaser

Neville Longbottom-Beater

And Ron Weasley-Beater.

The reserves are:

Lavender Brown- Reserve Keeper

Tom Grint- Reserve Chaser

Dean Thomas- Reserve Chaser

Rupert Felton- Reserve Chaser

Colin Creevy- Reserve Beater

Dennis Creevy- Reserve Beater

And Grint Radcliffe- Reserve Seeker.

You were all superb players, and I am sorry you all couldn't make the team. I wish there weren't just six openings. I would let you all play if that were possible.

"I can't believe that Harry has Dennis and Colin as reserve Beaters. They wouldn't last five minutes," Ron added.

"But at least we made the team! Where's Harry?" Ella said.

"He's upstairs, in bed. He said he needed to rest for a bit," Ron said.

"Oh."

In truth, Harry was looking at the album Hagrid had given him in his first year. He stopped at the picture of his parents' wedding, and looked at the picture of Sirius. He looked so much different. Then he looked at his mother and father. They were waving madly, his mother smiling but crying, her hand entwined with his father's, his hair more messy than Harry's. Harry smiled. He missed Sirius. Of course, he had been in contact over the summer, but it wasn't the same as being able to talk to him one-on-one.

Harry turned a page, and there he was, with his parents, his mother and father both holding him, his mother waving his hand. A tear dripped onto the picture. He wiped it away quickly. Then a question popped into his mind.

Why did Voldemort choose me? He remembered that he had asked Dumbledore that after his first encounter with Voldemort, but Dumbledore wouldn't tell him.

"I have to ask him again," he said as he sprang out of bed.

He put his shoes on, and burst out the door. He slowed his pace, and walked out of the common room.

"Harry-" he heard Ella say, but paid no attention to her, just let the portrait shut behind him. He walked to Dumbledore's office and said the password. He climbed the revolving staircase instead of just waiting for it. He knocked on Dumbledore's door.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir? I would like to talk to you about Voldemort!"

The door opened. "Harry. Come in," Dumbledore said.

Harry walked in. "Professor, I was wondering- why did Voldemort want to kill me?"

"Because you are the Warrior in your mother's blood, except with magic. He does not want to face you when you are at full strength, so he is trying to kill you while you are still weak. Plus, he hates all people who are Muggle-born or wizards that are half and half, or that have parents who are wizards but the wizards have Muggle parents. You are sort of half and half, since your mother was Muggle born," he said plainly.

"But not really, because my mother was a witch and my father was a wizard."

"To some people you could be pureblood. But to others, like Voldemort, you are half and half."

"Why does he hate them so much?"

"Because in his third year he thought he found his love forever. But then, once, when they were visiting Hogsmeade, a Muggle born wizard accidentally ran over her. Tom, as he was known as back then, became angry at all Muggle borns. He figured out how to open the Chamber of Secrets three years later, and set the basilisk on the Muggle borns at the school. When he finally killed one, he felt like he hadn't avenged his love. So when he got out of school, he started killing more and more Muggle borns. But then, he was so used to killing that he started killing half and half's, then purebloods, and each time he killed someone he felt that he needed to kill another, and another. Pretty soon he was killing everyone, but especially Muggle borns."

"What is the Warrior, and how am I it?"

"The Warrior is the person who will fight any Dark Art or Dark Lord, and won't give up. You are it because it is in your father's blood."

"I see. But I was also wondering- why Ella?"

"She is the fortune teller. She sees the future in her dreams, or at least bits and pieces of it."

"And Ron and Hermione?"

"Ron is your loyal friend who can help you do anything. Hermione is the book-smart one that can help you with knowledge."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"I thought there would be more."

"That's it. Now, if there is anything else you would like to talk about-"

"No, there isn't Professor."

"Okay. Then I guess you had best be off."

"Yes, Professor."

Harry left slowly. He walked down to the common room, deep in thought. He was the Warrior. How could he prove that? He got to the common room and went over to Ron, Ella and Hermione.

"Harry! Where did you go?" Ella asked.

"I had to see Dumbledore for a few minutes. Sorry if I surprised you guys."

"Oh, that's quite alright," Ella replied sarcastically, Harry missing the sarcasm.

"So, what are you guys doing?"

"Homework. I don't suppose you've finished yours, have you?" Hermione said.

"You always take the fun out of a weekend, Hermione," Harry said.

"It's my job."

Harry smiled as he went to get his homework. When he went downstairs, he thought of his conversation again. He just shrugged. His time would come soon enough.

He didn't know how soon.

Ch. 11 Voldemort

All the next day, Harry thought only of Quidditch practice. He would have to have one soon, probably that night.

He lazily went through classes, except his Quidditch class. In that class he pulled the famous Wronski Feint against Madam Hooch. When the class was over, they were both laughing.

Before dinner, Harry gathered the team for a talk about diversionary tactics. After dinner they went for a quick practice, and everyone showed some moves they knew. Hermione pulled her scoring move again, and Harry caught the Snitch two seconds afterwards. He let the Snitch go, gave it a head start and tore after it again. Meanwhile, Hermione, Parvati, and Emma were going towards the goalposts, passing the Quaffle to each other. Parvati threw, but Ella saved. A second later, Harry caught the Snitch again. As he was going for it, a Bludger came out of nowhere, right next to him. Ron came zooming up.

"Sorry about that Harry," he said as he pelted it away. Harry then caught the Snitch. When night fell, they all went inside. The next day, Harry had a real practice. They had practices about twice a week, and on weekends. Harry went through the next 15 days of October like a breeze. All of a sudden, it was Halloween, and he had to get ready for the ball. Of course, he didn't get ready as much as the girls did, because all he had to do was put on his dress robes.

"Hey Harry, guess what?"

"What?"

"Fred and George bought me new dress robes over the summer. See?" He held up a set of blue dress robes.

"Nice."

Harry dressed in his own bottle green robes, grinning to himself. Fred and George carried out his wishes then.

"Hey Harry."

"Yeah?"

"Do you know where Fred and George got their thousand Galleons?"

"No. Maybe they got it selling all their joke stuff."

"Then what happened to your thousand Galleons?"

"I put it in Gringotts."

"Okay. Just wondering."

"Whatever. You finished changing yet?"

"Yeah. Let's go meet the girls."

Harry and Ron went downstairs. On their way, Ron said, "Harry, I think I might kiss her tonight."

"Hermione?"

"Yeah. I mean, if she wants to of course."

"I'm pretty sure she will."

Just then they got to the common room, and they couldn't hear each other even if they had yelled, because everyone else was yelling, trying to find their partners. Ron, being as tall as he is, searched over the heads of the crowd.

"They're still not down here yet. Why do girls take so long?"

Harry just shrugged. Then they came down. Hermione had used the Hair Potion again, so her hair was smooth and shiny. It seemed that Ella had used some too, because her hair was just as shiny and smooth. They both had their hair down, and both seemed to float. Hermione had the same periwinkle blue robes as last year, and Ella had lilac ones. Everyone turned to look at them, but they only looked at Harry and Ron.

"Let's go, shall we?" Ella said when she reached Harry. She held out her hand, and Harry took it. He felt like a total club-footed moron standing next to such elegance and grace in front of so many people. But they went out the portrait hole, and Harry didn't feel such an idiot. They went downstairs to the crowd of people milling around the Great Hall entrance. Some were trying to find their dates that were in other houses, and others were just waiting for the doors to open.

Harry was starting to feel like an idiot again when Ella said, "Relax, Harry. No one cares about what you look like next to me. They're probably caring more about how I look next to you."

"You look beautiful," Harry whispered to her. She smiled, and after that Harry relaxed. About half an hour later, everyone was in front of the Great Hall doors. Professor McGonagall appeared in front of them all.

"In a few moments, these doors will be opened, and you will all take your seats and order what you will from the menu, just like the Yule ball last year. Then the tables will be moved aside, and the singer will come on stage. The singer is from America, so you will not know her. Her name is Avril Lavigne, so I would like you to welcome her just as you welcomed Ella."

"I didn't know Avril was a witch!" Ella whispered to Harry.

"Welcome, to the Halloween Ball." McGonagall opened the doors, and everyone swarmed inside. Harry, Ella, Ron, and Hermione all sat at the same table. Dumbledore ordered first, just like the Yule ball, and then everyone else ordered. When everyone was finished, Dumbledore swept some tables off to the side and ladened them with butterbeer and chips and cried, "Avril, if you could come out please!"

Avril and her band came out on the stage that had magically appeared and set up. Avril was wearing her trademark necktie, undershirt, and baggy pants.

"Thank you," she said into the microphone. "I'm sure none of you have heard of me except for some people from America, but I think my music is pretty good. So, if you like it, just scream when my first song is done, okay?" She struck her guitar. "This first song is called 'Sk8er Boi.'"

"Awesome! That's my favorite song!" Ella said to Harry. After the first verse, she pulled him out to the dance floor, and they started dancing. Soon Hermione and Ron joined them, then everyone else. When the song ended everyone screamed.

"Okay. I see you like my music. This next song will be a slow one, called 'I'm With You.'"

Harry wrapped his arms around Ella's waist, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. They began swaying and revolving on the spot when the song started. A few minutes after the song started, Hermione and Ron stepped out for a bit of air.

"Good luck," Harry mouthed.

Ron grinned.

Meanwhile, Ella was singing softly in Harry's ear.

"Won't you take me by the hand

"Take me somewhere new

"I don't know who you are but I

"I'm with you.

"I'm with you."

"I wish you could stay here forever," Harry said.

"So do I."

Harry leaned in to kiss Ella, but right before their lips made contact, Harry heard Ron yell.

"Harry, come here!"

Harry quickly looked up towards Ron. He was running through people, dodging, sliding, and squeezing through.

"What?" Harry asked when Ron came up next to him.

"Hermione's been attacked. We were out there, you know...."

"Yeah."

"Well, then, all of a sudden, from behind us, in the bushes, a voice yelled, and then she was lying in my arms, shivering. I left someone that was outside to watch over her."

"We have to get her to the hospital wing," Ella said.

They all ran outside. Ron showed them Hermione.

"See?"

She was lying on the ground, shivering, hugging herself, saying, "So cold...oh, so cold...." Lavender and Neville were both next to her.

"She's burning up," Lavender said when she saw Ron, Ella and Harry.

"Then we definitely need to get her to the hospital wing," Ella said.

"I'll get her," Ron said as Harry made a move towards Hermione. Ron picked her up under her knees and supported her back, and then Ella and Harry led the way to the hospital wing. When they got there, Madam Promfrey bustled about, getting a bed ready, with plenty of blankets.

"Okay, lay her down there, then stay out of my way," she said.

Ron laid her down on a bed, then backed away with Harry and Ella.

"Who do you think could have done this?" he whispered. They looked at each other.

"Voldemort," they chorused quietly.

Ch. 12 The Chilling Curse

It just so happened that their first Quidditch game was the day after Hermione was attacked.

Ron put his scarlet robes on somberly, along with Ella and Harry, and the rest of the team didn't know why. Tom was super happy though, because he could play.

Lee Jordan, who was in his last year, was commentating on the magical megaphone.

"And here we are, the first Quidditch match of the season, Ravenclaw against Gryffindor! On the Gryffindor team, Harry Potter, the team Captain and Seeker, has put together a very strong team this year. The new Chasers are Tom Grint, Parvati Patil, and Emma Radcliffe."

Harry, Emma, Parvati, and Tom flew out onto the field.

"The new Beaters are Neville Longbottom and Ron Weasley."

Ron and Neville flew out. It was only Ella left.

"And the new Keeper is Ella Deprive!"

Ella flew onto the field and took her position, and then Lee called out the Ravenclaw players. When that was finished, Madam Hooch came out on the field, the box with the Bludgers in it at her side, and the Quaffle and Snitch in her hand. She let go of the Snitch first.

"And the Snitch is released! Remember, the Seeker who catches the Snitch earns his or her team 150 points, and ends the game."

"Now I would like a nice, clean game!" Madam Hooch said. "On my whistle!"

She blew on the whistle, kicked the box open and threw the Quaffle up all at the same time. Then she got on her broom and flew up in the air.

"And it's Gryffindor with the Quaffle, the three Chasers are really looking good out there! Parvati passes behind the goalpost, and Tom throws it in! 10 points to Gryffindor!"

Harry cheered a little, but then went off in search of the Snitch. Cho followed him closely. All of a sudden, a Bludger grazed his ear and went off to Cho. She spun out and went off in a different direction.

"Sorry about that Harry! But I had to get her off your tail!" Neville said as he passed by on his way to a Bludger headed towards Parvati.

Then, from above, Ron cried, "Harry! Look at Cho!" Harry looked over to her. She was diving, down to the ground. Harry then saw the Snitch, glinting gold, over by the Ravenclaw goalposts.

"That is not going to work Cho," Harry said. "You aren't going to pull a Wronski Feint on me." Then he sped off to the goalposts. Down below, Cho realized that Harry was actually off after the real Snitch. She sped after him, about twenty yards below. She would never make it on her Cleansweep. Harry smiled and sped up. Harry couldn't hear the commentating, he was going so fast. Not that he was really listening anyway. Then, a Bludger missed the tail of his broom by a hair. He was so close to the Snitch, but more than an arms-length. He reached out, and then, two seconds later, he felt the cold, walnut sized Snitch in his hands. All of a sudden, he could hear again.

"Harry Potter has caught the Snitch! Gryffindor wins!" Harry heard Lee yell.

Harry came down to Earth, along with Ella and Ron, eager to get to Hermione. The Gryffindor supporters rushed down to meet them, and soon they were caught up in the crowd and couldn't get away. Ron almost enjoyed it, but he was too worried about Hermione. They somehow got away and hurried to meet her. When they got to her, they told her they won, but it wasn't much use. She wouldn't respond anyway.

Over the weeks afterward, Harry, Ella and Ron could be seen at Hermione's side whenever possible, Ron holding her hand, his eyes misty, and Ella and Harry holding each other's hand and looking somberly at her.

While visiting, they sometimes talked, or they did a little homework, but mostly they just looked at Hermione's shaking form.

Once, when they were talking about Voldemort, Harry burst out with, "This guy is becoming a pain in the butt! First, he kills my parents and tries to kill me. Then he tries to come back to power and kill me. Then he tries to kill me, then I meet his servant who turns out to be Ron's rat, and then he tries to kill me again, and he tries and does come to power, and now he is trying to kill me. Again. It's getting annoying with the killing thing!"

"Shhhh, she mustn't hear us," Ella said, looking at Madam Promfrey.

Their only relief was Quidditch, but even then, when they saw Tom playing instead of Hermione it reminded them of her. They would hardly eat, and when they slept, they each tossed and turned as much as Hermione did when she slept.

Once, Madam Promfrey wouldn't let them in.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you in anymore. Not until I find out why this fever is lasting so long."

"But-"

"No buts Mr. Weasley. I'm doing this not only because I would like it, but because the Headmaster ordered it."

"Doesn't he know what it is?" Ella asked.

"No."

Then she shut the door with a snap.

"I guess we better go to the library and do our homework," Ron said, monotone.

"Library..." Harry whispered, almost inaudible. "Of course! We'll look it up in the library!" he cried.

"Look up what?" Ella asked.

"Hermione's sickness! It's bound to be in there somewhere! And if we find it, we might be able to cure her!"

Ron looked at Harry with eyes that he hadn't seen since before Hermione was attacked, unclouded and shining. "Really? She might be cured?" he said. Harry nodded. "Then let's go!"

They ran down to the library, hope building inside them. But about two hours later, their hope had almost diminished. They had gone through book after book, and their eyes were weary. Harry was poring over the tiny text of a book called Old Unusual Curses, and Ella was reading a book called Curses That No One Knows About But Me. Ron was reading Normally Forgotten Curses.

They had been silent almost the entire time, except when they came over a curse that sounded like Hermione's.

"The Freezing Curse- wait no, the symptoms aren't right-"

"The Curse of Isis-no-"

"I found it! The Chilling Curse!" Ron cried. "The book says the Chilling Curse is one of the Forbidden Curses, believe it or not, but almost everyone forgets it since it hasn't been used since 1412. It was frequently used then to make witnesses of crimes go crazy so they wouldn't tell who was guilty. The symptoms are usually shaking and shivering and/or mindless babbling. If the curse isn't broken within 30 days, the person the curse is set on will go crazy for the rest of his or her life. It even tells the counter-curse."

Ella looked at her watch. "If we hurry we can tell Dumbledore."

"Then let's go," Harry said. Ron folded the page over, and then they left the library. Harry led them to Dumbledore's office. He said the password, and then they went up the spiral staircase and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Harry opened the door cautiously. "Sir? We think that we have found out what Hermione's curse is."

Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, feeding thoughts into his Pensive. The silvery glow reflected off his face in the darkness, making the lines in his face deeper than ever before. "You think?"

"Yes. We think her curse is the Chilling Curse," Ron said, opening the book and showing it to Dumbledore, who stood up and walked over to them. He took the book out of Ron's hands, and quickly read it.

"Of course. It's so simple. He'll threaten to make everyone go crazy and come back to power," Dumbledore said to himself.

"Voldemort?" Ella asked.

"Yes, Voldemort," Dumbledore answered vaguely. Then he looked at Harry, Ron, and Ella. "We must get to Hermione. It is almost midnight, and tomorrow is the 1^st of December!"

Dumbledore strode ahead of them on the way to the hospital wing, and when they got there, Madam Promfrey was letting him in.

"Oh, and let Harry, Ron, and Ella in too, Poppy," Dumbledore said as he went to Hermione's bed. She did, and they went to Dumbledore.

"Incendium Feveroso!" Dumbledore cried, pointing his wand at Hermione.

Hermione then stopped shaking and chattering. She opened her eyes. "Where am I?" she asked.

The five people standing around her smiled.

"Okay. Voldemort put a Forbidden Curse on me that hasn't been used since 1412, and you guys found out what it was and told Dumbledore, and then he cured me?" Hermione asked after a liberal amount of Pepper-Up Potion.

"That seems to cover all the high points," Ron said to Hermione.

"We're so glad you're back. We were actually starting to miss you bossing us around," Harry said.

"Did we win our Quidditch game?" Hermione asked the three.

"Yeah. Harry caught the Snitch in about 5 or 10 minutes," Ella answered. "When he did, he was going so fast, he was a blur!"

"I just can't wait until we face Slytherin. We're going to beat their fat asses!" Ron said.

They all laughed at that.

"What? What'd I say?"

Ch. 13 Sirius

The little posse of four went through most of December without many problems. They went to Hogsmeade, visited Hagrid, and finally started to get their homework done. Ella and Ron fought over Divination homework while Harry and Hermione sat off to the side, watching with amused expressions.

"It's Saturn! The answer is Saturn!" Ron said.

"No it's not! It's Jupiter!" Ella argued.

"Saturn!"

"Jupiter!"

"Saturn!"

"Jupiter!"

"Saturn!"

"Jupiter!"

"Will you guys shut up? The answer is Venus," Hermione said. Ron and Ella just stared at her.

"It's amazing how much some people don't know."

Harry just shook his head and went back to his DADA homework. Even though Snape was nicer, it didn't stop him from giving out a lot of homework. The day after that, everyone woke to a dusting of snow on the ground and snow falling thickly to the ground. And, they had Care of Magical Creatures.

"Righ' now, gather 'round, gather 'round. Today we're goin' to try hippogriffs agin!" Hagrid said when everyone got there. Fortunately, they were doubling with the Ravenclaws instead of the Slytherins, so they didn't have to put up with Malfoy again. The students were shivering in their cloaks, blowing on their hands, and huddling together.

"An' don' worry abou' the cold. I'll build a fire to warm yerselves 'round while yer waitin'."

And Hagrid was true to his word. As soon as he had assigned a few hippogriffs to some people, he started a fire that wouldn't go out unless you magicked it out. Harry went first again, on a hippogriff as white as the snow with bright, intelligent, green eyes with Ella next to him and Ron and Hermione on a chestnut with dark, somber, brown eyes.

"What does Hagrid mean, 'again?'" Ella asked Harry.

"Well, in the third year, Hagrid tried hippogriffs, but then Malfoy got slashed and he milked it for all it was worth, even got the hippogriff almost beheaded, if not for me," he answered.

"What do you mean, 'if not for you?'"

"I'll tell you later, when no one can overhear. And when Hermione can tell some of it too."

"Okay."

Soon it was time for somebody else to go on their hippogriff, so they went over to the fire. Ron and Hermione joined them soon afterwards. Everybody stayed a little ways away from them, for they were the only ones who had touched the hippogriffs.

"So Harry, what did you mean that a hippogriff would have gotten killed if not for you?" Ella asked.

"As I told you, Malfoy wanted a hippogriff killed, so he pretended that an injury from one lasted a long time. On the day of the beheading, the three of us went into the Whomping Willow and learned the truth about Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew after what we thought was the beheading, but it wasn't. When we were done with the thing with Sirius Black, we woke up in the hospital wing. Here Hermione comes in." Harry explained half of the story.

"Well, all year I had been using a Time-Turner to get to my classes. It let me go back in time to redo that hour and do two classes at once.

"Anyway, Harry and I used that Time-Turner to go back and save Buckbeak from his beheading and save Sirius Black, an innocent man, from the Dementor's Kiss. Ron couldn't because he was unconscious after an attack from Pettigrew," Hermione finished.

"Oh. I see," Ella said, nodding her head deeply, like she didn't believe them. Which she didn't. Everyone knew about Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew, even in America.

"You don't believe us, do you?" Harry said.

"Nope."

"You ought to. Sirius is Harry's godfather, and as soon as Pettigrew is turned in, Black won't have to hide anymore. Black can live in his own house, and Harry can live with him," Hermione said.

"I'll even show you a letter from Sirius when we get back to the dorms," Harry said, as if that would make her believe him.

So after dinner, Harry showed Ella the letters he had kept from Sirius.

Ella stared in disbelief at them. "So it's true! Sirius is your godfather."

"Yes. I realized that I haven't written to him in ages. I better do that quick, or he might think I died or something."

"Whatever. Hey, do you mind if I listen to music?"

"How are you going to do that?"

"I have my ways," she said slyly.

"Fine. Go ahead."

So Ella played Pink while she read, and Harry wrote to Sirius.

This is what his letter looked like when he was done:

Dear Sirius,

Thank you for you last gift. Sorry I haven't written in so long. First I went to Ron's for the rest of the summer, and now I've been really busy at school. I've actually made a girlfriend. Her name's Ella Deprive, and she's an exchange student from America. She is very beautiful. And, Ron and Hermione are boyfriend/girlfriend.

I myself am doing great. Snape is teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts now, but he's nicer. Isn't that weird?

I didn't have any trouble from the Dursley's.

Also, on Halloween, Voldemort attacked Hermione. But we found the curse she was under and Dumbledore cured her.

We won our first Quidditch game, and our second one is coming up soon. I'll tell you how that one goes.

We're also having a ball on Christmas. It'll be like the Halloween Ball, except Christmas themed.

Also Sirius, the day I came to Hogwarts, I had a dream about my parents. It was like what I hear every time I get near a Dementor, except I hear the entire fight. I don't know what it means. Maybe you could tell me.

Well, I have to go study for the O.W.L.s. Hermione is making us study for them and it's not even close to exam time.

I hope this finds you in good health.

Harry

Harry folded the note, then told Ella that he was going to the Owlery. She didn't respond, but he assumed she heard. So he walked up to the Owlery, alone. He found Hedwig and tied the note to her leg. He watched her fly off and then went back to the Common Room. He had no clue that would be the last time he saw his faithful owl.

Hedwig flew through storm and sun to deliver the letter to Sirius. She knew where he was, always. At the moment, he was in an abandoned house, overgrown with ivy and dust covering the floor. She flew in through an open window, and right into the arms of a man with long, slender fingers.

"He, he. Gotcha, little bird." Then Voldemort snapped Hedwig's neck, took the letter from her leg, and left her on the floor. A snake at his side looked hungrily at it.

"Go and finish her off, Nagini," Voldemort hissed in Parseltongue. The snake slithered over to Hedwig and started to devour her.

"M-master?" a stuttering, squeaky voice said.

"What, Wormtail?" Voldemort snapped around to him. Pettigrew walked from the shadows. Even in pitch black, his hand glowed pale white.

"B-black has been chained to the wall in the next room. H-he has even been chained so that if he transforms, h-he still won't be able to escape."

"Is anyone guarding him?"

"The young Malfoy boy."

"Good. We'll show Black this letter his godson just sent him."

Voldemort and Pettigrew could hear Draco talking to Black.

"You know, your godson thinks he's perfect. Along with the rest of the teachers and his little groupies, Granger and Weasley. His head is so swollen from Quidditch victories and getting away with the rules, he's become high on himself."

"You're the one with a swollen head, Malfoy."

When Voldemort and Pettigrew walked in the room, Malfoy punched Black. He crumpled, but the chains held him up so he couldn't fall to the floor.

"Now, now, Draco. We need him still so we can torture him," Voldemort said, putting a hand on Malfoy's shoulder.

Malfoy smiled evilly.

Black looked up at Voldemort, hatred burning in his eyes. He was thinner than ever, and his hair had grown longer-it was now to his shoulders.

"If you lay a hand on my godson, I'll-"

"You'll what? Stare at me? You haven't owned a wand in fourteen years. You're chained to a wall with no escape. How do you expect to do anything to me?"

Black just glared.

"Now, be quiet while I read this letter to you, from your precious godson.

"Dear Sirius,

"Thank you for you last gift. I couldn't have survived without it. Sorry I haven't written in so long. First I went to Ron's for the rest of the summer, and now I've been really busy at school. I've actually made a girlfriend. Her name's Ella Deprive, and she's an exchange student from America. She is very beautiful. And, Ron and Hermione are boyfriend/girlfriend.

"I myself am doing great. Snape is teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts now, but he's nicer. Isn't that weird?

"I didn't have any trouble from the Dursley's.

"Also, on Halloween, Hermione got attacked by Voldemort-That was actually Wormtail-"Voldemort said, nodding to him, "But we found the curse she was under and Dumbledore cured her.

"We won our first Quidditch game, and our second one is coming up soon. I'll tell you how that one goes.

"We're also having a ball on Christmas. It'll be like the Halloween Ball, except Christmas themed.

"Also Sirius, the day I came to Hogwarts, I had a dream about my parents. It was like what I hear every time I get near a Dementor, except I hear the entire fight. I don't know what it means. Maybe you could tell me.

"Well, I have to go study for the O.W.L.s. Hermione is making us study for them and it's not even close to exam time.

"I hope this finds you in good health. Aw, isn't that sweet? He's got a girlfriend. I hope he doesn't mind if I kill her."

"No!" Black struggled against his chains. "You can't kill her!"

"Why? Is there something you would like to tell me, Mr. Black?"

"I'll tell you nothing!" Then Black spat at Voldemort's feet. But really, Ella was Black's daughter, so he cared for her more than anything.

"Fine. No food or drink for three days. Draco, you watch over him. Oh, and Black? Tomorrow starts your daily torture."

Then Voldemort strode out of the room, Wormtail behind him, and he slammed the door, cackling evilly.

Ch. 14 Sickeningly Sweet Caramels

"Harry, eat something. You're going to need your strength for the match," Ella persisted.

"I'm not hungry."

"C'mon Harry. At least have some juice," Ron said.

"I'm not hungry," Harry repeated. "Do I have to spell it for you?"

Harry's three friends were trying to get him to eat before their match against Hufflepuff. But nothing could make him eat after his dream last night. He could remember everything. He couldn't stand seeing Black chained against the wall. And what was Draco doing there? Wasn't he supposed to be here? But he hadn't heard anything from him since the train ride. Normally Malfoy would have teased him at least twenty times by now...unless the dream was true, and Malfoy was with Voldemort. Anger suddenly burned. Sirius was alone, a captive. Harry shuddered to think what torture he might be put through.

"I'm going outside for a moment. Get a view of what the ground is like and everything," Harry said to Hermione, Ron, and Ella. "Have the rest of the team come and meet me in about ten minutes."

Harry got up from his seat. He walked down the stone steps outdoors, and he felt a sudden calmness spread over him. It was a bright sunny day, so much different than his dream. He walked to the Quidditch field. Nothing was there except some stray banners showing brightly against the white snow from the last Quidditch match of Hufflepuff against Slytherin. Slytherin had won of course. And if Slytherin could beat them, Gryffindor could.

Just then, the rest of the team walked out of the doors and to the Quidditch field.

"So, how're the conditions, Harry?" Ron asked when they got to him.

"Perfect. Couldn't be a better day to play a Quidditch match," Harry answered.

Then everybody started streaming out of the castle, and the team went into the locker room.

After they had gotten dressed in their scarlet robes, they walked out, brooms in hand. Hermione was trembling.

"Welcome everyone to the match of Gryffindor against Hufflepuff! Today we have a different player on the Gryffindor team, the original Hermione Granger instead of the replacement Tom Grint."

Then the teams flew out onto the field and took their positions.

"The teams take their positions as Madam Hooch walks out onto the field. She lets go of the Snitch!" Which Harry saw flit around Hermione and Ron before becoming impossible to see.

"Again, a nice, fair game!" Madam Hooch yelled.

Then she mounted her broom and kicked off, opening the Bludger box at the same time.

"Madam Hooch mounts her broom, kicks off, and opens the Bludger box. They erupt and head to zoom around the stadium. Then she throws the Quaffle, and Gryffindor Chaser Hermione Granger catches it and heads toward the Hufflepuff goalposts."

Harry searched for the Hufflepuff Seeker. Then Harry saw him. It was Justin Finch-Fletchley. He couldn't believe it. No wonder they lost their last Quidditch game.

Harry searched everywhere for the Snitch. Then he saw it, by his own goalposts. He checked to make sure Justin hadn't seen it. He hadn't. But he had seen Harry look at him. They locked eyes, and Harry remembered what Cho had done at their last match. A smile spread across his face. He dove towards the ground, his face contorted in concentration. Justin saw him and went after him. Then they sped, neck and neck towards the ground. At almost the last second, Harry pulled out of the dive and flew upwards. Justin, looked at him fly up, then looked at the ground. Nothing was there!

Justin pulled out just in time, but now he was way behind Harry. Harry was by his goalposts, chasing the Snitch. Justin sped off anyway.

Harry weaved in and out of the goalposts, his hand stretched out, reaching for the cold Snitch. The icy wind bit his nose and turned his fingers to ice, but he kept on going. The crowd was roaring, so loud that no one could hear the commentary. Harry stretched a little bit more and his fingers almost grazed the Snitch.

"C'mon, faster," he whispered to his broom. He sped up the littlest bit, and he felt the cold, winged Snitch in his hand.

"Harry Potter has caught the Snitch! Gryffindor wins!" Harry could hardly hear Lee Jordan over the crowd. As Harry went down to Earth, Ella came over to him.

"Nice feint, Harry," she said.

"Thanks. What was the score before I caught the Snitch?"

"30-0. Why?"

"Just wondering."

Harry and the rest of the team made it to the locker rooms and changed, and then went to the Common Room, loads of people on their heels. On their way, Harry pulled Ella, Ron, and Hermione away.

"Listen you guys. I've got something to tell you," he whispered. "It's about Sirius and Voldemort."

"What?" Ron said, a little too loud.

"Shh. I'll tell you in the dormitories."

They got to the Common Room and went up to the boys' dorm. Then Harry told them about his dream.

"What? Draco's with Voldemort?" Ella said.

"His father was Voldemort's right hand man basically," Ron said.

"Sirius is chained up? What do you think is going to happen to him?" Hermione asked.

"Voldemort said that his daily torture started today. I think he's using the Cruciatus Curse," Harry said.

Ella was quiet now. Should I tell them about the dream? She thought to herself, starting a debate. If I do, they might get mad at me for not telling them sooner. If I don't, I won't be able to warn them about things that may kill them. Oh, who cares if they get mad at me? Their lives are more important.

"Hey, you guys?" Ella said.

"Yeah?" Harry said, turning to look at her.

"I have something to tell you too."

"What is it?"

"I had a dream too, the day before I came to Hogwarts."

"What was in it?" Hermione asked.

"It was basically all flashes, but I saw a lightning bolt like the one on Harry's forehead, a flash of green, a snake-like face, a wand held by long fingers, a man with a glowing hand, a girl lying on the ground, shivering, me and you guys all together, and a light radiating from us together."

"Wait. You saw Hermione?" Ron asked.

"I didn't know it was Hermione. I just saw a girl shivering."

"I just want to know what it means," Harry said.

"Maybe we could ask Dumbledore," Hermione suggested.

"Nah. There's a party going on downstairs."

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ella all whipped their heads towards the door. Neville was standing there, his head halfway through, making it seem like his head was cut off.

"What?" the other four chorused.

"There's a party thing downstairs," Neville said. "Fred and George disappeared and got some food, so now we're celebrating for some reason. But watch what you eat if you join. Fred and George have bewitched some stuff. I'm not even going to touch a cream!" Neville added, turning his back and walking downstairs.

The other four laughed and followed.

Downstairs, everyone was talking and being loud. Everybody was staying clear of the snack table, fearing Fred and George might have done something to the food.

"Come on you guys! We haven't done anything to it!" they protested. When they saw Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ella, they rushed over.

"Come on! Won't you try something?" Fred asked, holding out some sweets.

"We swear, nothing has been done to them!" George added, holding out more.

Ella reached out and took something. It was a toffee, wrapped with bright colors.

"No Ella, don't eat that!" Harry said.

"Why?" she asked, looking puzzled.

"It's a Ton-Tongue Toffee. If you eat it, it will make your tongue swell until someone reverses the charm on it," Harry replied.

"Oh." Ella put the candy back and took a different one that Harry hadn't seen before. "I know you put a charm on this one too, but I'm going to eat it and see what happens anyway," she said. She unwrapped it, and Fred and George watched her eagerly.

She put it in her mouth. She chewed and swallowed, then put her hand to her mouth.

"Excuse me. I think I'm going to be sick." Then she turned and ran to the bathroom.

Harry watched her go. "What'd she eat?" he asked Fred and George.

"They're called Sickeningly Sweet Caramels. You eat one, and you get violently sick for about two minutes," Fred said.

"I don't think she'll have anything else from us for the rest of the year," George said.

Ella came back a few minutes later, looking extremely pale. "I'm never taking any food from them the rest of my life," she said to Harry.

He just laughed.

11 days later, it was Christmas Eve. No one went to bed until late, talking about the ball the next day. Harry, Ron, Ella, and Hermione got a corner all to themselves. They talked about their chances for the Cup, and what they expected for Christmas. Ella didn't expect anything.

"Don't worry. My mum will send you something," Ron said. "I guarantee it."

"Yeah. I got stuff when I didn't expect anything," Harry said.

"I guess," Ella said, shrugging.

"You will at least be getting something from me," Harry said.

Ella did a quick half smile before she returned to her sullen mood.

Finally, at about 2, McGonagall came in and made everyone go to bed. When Harry walked up the staircase to the dorms, he realized he was as tired as heck. He fell into his bed without changing out of his robes, took off his glasses and fell asleep.

The next morning, Harry woke to a pillow being thrown on his face.

"C'mon Harry! Wake up!" he heard Ron say.

Harry threw the pillow back at Ron, then sat up and put his glasses back on. He saw at the end of his bed a mound of presents. He recognized a couple from Hagrid and Mrs. Weasley, and Hermione, Ron and Ella. None of the other ones he recognized though. He quickly got his present for Ella out from under his bed and quickly put it with her small pile of presents, then took her pillow out from under her head. Her head fell with a dull thump. She woke up.

"Harry, give me back my pillow," Ella said drowsily.

"Not until you open your gifts," Harry said, pulling it away.

"I don't have any," she said face down to the bed.

"Get up and see."

She put her hands underneath her and brought herself up. "I'm telling you," she said, flipping over, "I don't have any...." She trailed off when she saw her pile at the foot of her bed. "I've got presents!"

Harry laughed a little. "Yep. You've got presents."

Then everyone crowded around the foot of his or her bed, opening presents and throwing wrapping.

"Whoa! Harry! This is awesome!" Ron cried, opening an oblong gift; it was a Beater stick. Polished and smooth, the stick was perfect and ready for use. Harry had seen Ron ogling it while in Hogsmeade, so he bought it for him.

Harry opened his gift from Mrs. Weasley first. As usual, she had made him a sweater, and had also packed some treacle fudge, some cookies, and several pies. This time the sweater was blue with an H on it.

Then he opened Ella's gift. It was a bracelet, made of wooden beads, and in the center was a bead the color of a ruby, his birthstone.

"Do you like it?" she asked. Harry looked up. Ella was looking at him.

"Yeah. It's cool. Do you like my gift?"

"I haven't opened it yet. But if it's from you, I'm sure I'll like it."

Harry turned to his other gifts. From Hermione, he got Bernie Botts Every Flavor Beans: from Ron, Chocolate Frogs. From Hagrid he got an egg, but he was afraid what kind of egg it was: he put it on his nightstand, letting it hatch when it hatched, if it hatched at all.

He actually got a present from the Dursley's, a 10-pound note and 5 pence. But then there were more presents.

One was from Dumbledore. It was a cat. This was the note with it:

Harry, I believe Sirius gave this cat to you, but then he ran away. Apparently, he ran to me. I have been calling him Padfoot, for he looks much like Sirius in dog form. I believe he will be a good companion for Hermione's cat. Take good care of him. --Prof. Dumbledore

Harry looked at the cat. It was Sirius in feline and smaller form. He remembered that night, so long ago, when he first got the cat, but it was a kitten. It had certainly grown since then.

"Oh Harry, this is beautiful!" Ella cried. Harry looked at her. She had opened his gift, a necklace of silver and a small delicate snowflake pendant attached to it. She held the pendant in one hand, the chain in the other.

"Want me to put it on for you?" Harry asked.

"Sure." So Harry went over behind Ella, and she gave him the necklace. She lifted up her hair, and he closed the clasp. That bare neck was so tempting. But he restrained.

Harry went back over to his seat next to his presents, and Ella went to her mirror. The snowflake lay just below the little hollow between her collarbones. She fingered it a little before returning to her presents.

Harry actually got a gift from Fleur Delacour and Viktor Krum. He was surprised at this. Fleur gave him a necklace, and Krum gave him a book on getting better at flying. In a little note attached to the front cover under the title, Krum said 'Not that you need this, eh, Potter?'

"Maroon again! What is it with her and maroon and me?" Ron said when he opened his gift from his mother.

Harry opened a gift unmarked at all, and realized it was from Dobby. It had to be, since it was a pair of mismatched socks. One was blue with lightning bolts around the toes, and the other was red with HPs around the toes.

"Dobby, you always have the weirdest gifts."

"Does Harry Potter not like Dobby's gifts?" a high, squeaky voice said. Harry froze for about two seconds.

"No Dobby. I love them. They're just a little strange," Harry replied, looking up at Dobby. The familiar green tennis-ball eyes goggled as usual, and the pencil-thin, long, nose was all too familiar.

"Harry Potter loves Dobby's gifts! Such kind words!" Dobby said, eyes filling with tears.

"Hello to you too, Dobby. How are you doing? Do you like being in the kitchens?"

"I is loving the kitchens! Master Dumbledore is paying Dobby very well sir!"

"And how is Winky? Is she doing okay?"

"Ah, Winky not doing good, sir. She is still pining for her old master. Winky works, sir, but she still thinks that Crouch is her master! I tells her, I says, 'Crouch is no master of yous anymore! Dumbledore is!' But Winky not listen, she say she is working for Crouch!"

"Poor Winky. When will she learn?"

"I is not knowing that, sir, but I is knowing that she will!"

"Well, thank you for the gift, Dobby. Er, I have one for you too." Harry went to his trunk and got out three pairs of socks that he had bought last year for Dobby but hadn't given him. He mixed them up and gave them to him. "Here you go."

"Harry Potter is most gracious! Three pairs of socks! Socks is Dobby's favorite clothing, sir!"

"I know, I know."

Ch. 15 The Christmas Ball

After breakfast, Fred, George, Neville, Lee, Ron, Harry, and Dean went outside for a snowball fight. Ella, Hermione, Parvati, and Lavender all talked and giggled while they watched. They went in a long time before the ball was even close to starting, while the boys made their snow-fight even more intense.

Finally, when they got too cold to even pick up snow, they went inside. Each one was covered in snow, and their bare skin burned from the icy bite of the snow. When Harry, Ron, Dean, and Neville got to their dorms and took off their cloaks, they realized snow was even in the creases of their cloaks.

As they changed from their black robes to their dress robes they were silent. When they went downstairs, their cheeks were still red from being outside. Then Parvati, Ella, Hermione, and Lavender came downstairs, each as graceful as the other. Ella and Hermione had done their hair the same way as last time, and this time Parvati and Lavender had copied them. The four boys met the four girls, and then they went down to the Great Hall.

When everyone was down by the doors to the Dining Hall, McGonagall came forth again. She had the same rather ugly wreath of thistles on her hat as last year, and the same red tartan robes.

"Welcome students, to the Christmas Ball. It will be the same as last years, except the performer shall be Orlando Atari." Then she opened the doors, and the students crowded inside.

Snow was falling from the enchanted ceiling, warm and dry. Twelve trees lined the Hall, each one decorated differently. Holly hung from the walls and mistletoe was hung from the ceiling at different points.

Dumbledore ordered his meal first, then everyone else did. When everyone was finished, he cleared the tables again, and then Orlando Atari came out on the stage that had appeared out of thin air.

He came out and his band set up. Then he started with a slow song. Ella dragged Harry out to the floor again, and then Hermione dragged Ron. After that, Parvati and Lavender both dragged Neville and Dean. Soon everybody was dancing. When the song was over, Orlando struck up a faster one.

"I'm just a kid

"Like everyone else

"Why don't they see?

"I'm just a kid.

Harry and Ella danced and danced, not wanting the night to end. When they got a bit tired and hot, they went outside.

Outside fairy lights shone from path sides, and benches were placed along them. A path wound throughout a garden, showing beauty in different forms in different spots. In the very center there was a fountain. This is where Harry and Ella sat. Harry held her hand, and Ella leaned against him. She suddenly sat up and said, "Harry, why don't we finish what we started back at the Halloween Ball? Before Ron came with the news of Hermione?"

"You mean, kiss?"

"Well, yeah."

"Okay."

Harry leaned towards Ella, and Ella leaned towards him. Their lips made contact, and Harry felt the most wonderful sensation. It was like a warm bubbling in his heart. He kissed harder, and the feeling grew.

Suddenly, someone with a glowing hand jumped from behind the fountain and cried "Incantem Feveroso!" He pointed his wand at Harry, and Harry suddenly started shivering.

He fell to the ground, and then he saw Wormtail change into a rat and slip away. Then his vision went black, and he heard Ella yell, and then scream, "Harry? Harry!"

He heard her run away, then nothing.

Harry fell into swirling blackness, the bubbling sensation gone, replaced by a drowning icy coldness.

Wormtail...Voldemort...Ella...Ron...Hermione...Sirius...light, everywhere.... All of a sudden, Harry was brought back to consciousness. He opened his eyes, and he realized he was still outside. Dumbledore's face was looming over him, and he saw Hermione's, Ella's, and Ron's worried faces in the background. In the even further background, he saw stars twinkling. Or maybe that was him, because they seemed to be swirling.

"Harry? Harry, can you hear me?" Dumbledore said.

"Yeah. Where's Wormtail? Did he escape?" Harry asked, sitting up and leaning against the bench he was sitting on what seemed like ages ago.

"How do you know it was him?"

"Who else has a glowing hand and can turn into a rat?"

"I don't know."

"Hey, Professor?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"Would you mind not telling anyone about this? I mean, it's kind of embarrassing, the-boy-who-lived, getting hit by the Chilling Curse by Wormtail? You know what I mean?"

"Exactly. Not a word of this will leave my lips."

"Thanks."

Then Dumbledore went back into the castle, leaving Harry, Ron, Ella, and Hermione by themselves. When he had disappeared through the doors, Ron asked, "So what were you doing when you got attacked?"

"Er, um, this is sort of embarrassing, but we were kissing," Ella answered for them.

"So were we, so you don't have to be embarrassed," Hermione said.

They were silent for a while. The stars were still swirling, and Harry felt weak. He had hardly been able to pull himself up to lean against the bench. It seemed the only thing that wanted to work was his mouth. His mind was moving slowly, along with his body. He needed some Pepper-Up Potion. Soon. Otherwise he was going to faint again.

"I need Pepper-Up Potion," he mumbled, now hardly able to move his lips.

"What's that Harry?" Ella asked.

"Pepper-Up Potion," he whispered almost inaudibly.

"He needs Pepper-Up Potion, like I did. Hurry, Ron, go and get some," Hermione said. Ron got up and ran. He came back five slow minutes later, a small bottle of Pepper-Up Potion in his hand.

"Here."

Hermione took the bottle and poured some into the cap. "Drink this Harry," she said, offering the cap. Harry took it, and slowly poured the drink into his mouth. It sputtered and burned, but he kept it in. He was surprised he could keep his mouth shut. If he was this weak for being under the curse for only about 15 minutes, he wondered what it must have been like for Hermione, under the curse for weeks. She must have not even been able to move.

After another capful, Harry took the whole bottle and drank out of it. He then emptied the bottle and revived.

Harry now had enough strength to actually stand up. So he did. His knees were still a little shaky, though. "C'mon. Let's go back to the Common Room. I don't really feel like going back to the Ball," he said.

On their way back, Ella kept on looking at him as if he was about to collapse. "Ella, stop!" he said.

"What?" she said.

"Looking at me so weird. It's like I'm going to collapse any moment."

"Sorry. I can't help it. It's weird though. I mean, why did Wormtail attack you when he should have left you to be the last?"

"I don't know. I mean, he could have attacked anyone, but why us right now? Why?"

Ch. 16 The Note

"Crucio!" Wormtail yelled, pointing his wand at Sirius. Sirius screamed and writhed in his chains, white-hot knives piercing every inch of his skin--he wanted to die, he wanted it to be over--

Wormtail ended the curse, and Sirius hung on the wall, no mark of the curse visible. Sirius was dreadfully thin, and barely alive. They were in the Riddle house still, which had turned out to be a great hiding place, after all the people in Little Hangleton had moved because of too many killings, caused by Voldemort.

"Nice," Draco said, coming out of the shadows. "But I can do better."

"I'd like to see you try," Wormtail said, not a single stutter in his voice.

"Okay. Crucio!" Sirius screamed even louder.

"That's enough now, both of you. We don't want to kill him...yet," came the voice of Voldemort. He seemed to glide out of the shadows, and right in front of Sirius. He put his face right next to Sirius's. "Are you ready to tell us what we want to know?" he asked.

"Never," was all that was gasped out. Sirius could feel blood in his mouth, from all the hits in the stomach that day. They had been torturing him not just with curses. They had been punching him as well.

He gathered the blood like it was spit, then spat right into Voldemort's face. Voldemort stepped back, wiping blood out of his eyes and spitting it out of his mouth. "You asked for it," Sirius said, his voice a little stronger.

Voldemort whipped out his wand. "No. You did. Crucio!"

Harry woke up, cold sweat drenching his pillow, snakes wrapped around his legs again. Why was he having all these dreams? Voldemort must be trying to tease him, or capture him.

Good morning, Harry heard a high-pitched, hissing voice say in his ear.

"Who's there?" Harry said, staring blindly into the darkness.

You know who this is, came the voice again. I'm your worst enemy.

"Voldemort!"

Why of course.

"What do you want?"

I want to tell you something.

"What?"

Do you know why I'm showing you all these dreams, Harry?

Harry shook his head, "No."

To show you my progress on your godfather. He is a very good man to use the Cruciatus Curse on. Isn't he the most important thing in your life? You're the most important thing in his.

"He's one of them. Ella, Ron and Hermione are all important to me too."

Oh are they now?

"Yes. And you can't take them, cause I won't let you."

Oh, but I don't want them. I want you. The voice then faded away as it cackled insanely.

Harry sat there until the morning light crept into the room, thinking about the last thing Voldemort had said to him.

I want you.

Harry went down to the Common Room, creeping silently out of the dorm. The fire was crackling, probably because of the house-elves, warming the room.

He went to a chair right in front of the fire, but somebody was already in it. It was Ella. She had probably come down for almost the same reason he did; a dream.

He sat in a chair next to her and stared at the fire. He felt cold, so he reached for it to warm his hands.

It leaped out at him. It licked his hands, and crawled up his bare arms, entwining into a rope. It tightened next to his skin, touching it, but it didn't burn.

Harry pulled back, and the fire retreated back. He looked at his hands and arms. There wasn't a single mark. But he was warm now.

"Harry?"

He whipped his head around. Ella had woken up. "What did you just do?"

"I don't know."

"Do it again."

"O-okay." He reached for the fire, wanting to be warm. It leaped out again, licking through his fingers, curling, making a living glove. His fingers warmed up perfectly, and the fire didn't grow any hotter. It was a nice pair of gloves. He pulled back, but this time the fire stayed.

"Whoa," he heard Ella whisper. "How did you do that?"

"Like I said, I don't know."

"What are you two doing down here?" They both looked to the stairs. Neville was there, surprisingly. Harry felt his fire gloves go out.

"What're you doing down here?" they asked, chorusing.

"I had a dream with-with my parents," he said, stuttering a little. "What are you doing?"

"Dream," Harry said.

"Dream," said Ella.

Neville sat down in front of the fire too, and they talked until other people came downstairs. They all gave pretty much the same remarks, along the lines of why are you three down here.

Eventually they grew tired of it, and hooked up with their other friends and went to breakfast.

"So, people were saying that you guys were downstairs last night, alone," Hermione started.

"Oh, don't you believe any rumors! Harry didn't come down until dawn, or so he told me, and I was asleep for about 5 minutes after he came down!" Ella said hotly.

"Don't worry, Ella, we know you guys wouldn't do anything like what some rumors say. We're just telling you that there are some."

Just then, mail came in. Owls swooped down and delivered packages to only a few people. Harry looked up expectantly, but then he remembered. Hedwig would never come anymore. But to his surprise, a very large male snowy owl landed in front of him, almost knocking over a goblet hadn't Hermione saved it.

He untied the note, and the owl took off immediately. He looked at the seal. It was the Death Mark. He dropped the note like it was a poisonous snake. Who knew what could be inside it.

"What is it Harry?" Hermione asked.

"The Dark Mark. On the seal."

Ella reached and picked it up. "Yep. That's the Dark Mark all right. Wonder what's in it?" She started ripping the top.

"No Ella, don't. You don't know what could be in there," Harry said.

"Oh Harry, it can't be that bad. See, I'll show you." She ripped the rest of the top and pulled out the letter. It was a very short one. Ella read it out loud.

"Meet me at midnight, on the edge of the lake, on May the 23^rd, or your girlfriend and godfather will die. I pray that you do, or it will be a very sad ending indeed.

"What does he mean by tha-a-a-t!"

Ella was pulled through the paper, and then it burst into flames.

"Ella!" the three cried. They tried to put the fire out, but it was no use. The letter was gone, and a new one popped into thin air. It waved in front of Harry's face, daring him to touch it and read it. It hung there, tantalizingly close, but dangerous to touch. He grabbed it, and realized everyone was staring at him.

"What? Go away!" he said, acting stupid. They turned back to their food, but they still threw looks at him. He went out into the entrance hall to read the note. Ron and Hermione followed.

Nice little trick, wasn't it Potter? Now, do exactly as I said before. Midnight, edge of the lake, May 23^rd. And go ahead; bring your little friends with you. I could use some entertainment.

"What have I done? I let Voldemort take her! I let him take her!" he said.

He was going crazy. Voldemort was trying to lure him into a trap, he knew, but he also knew that Voldemort would kill them. He had killed innocents before.

All this, and he had his O.W.L.s next week, the week before he had to meet Voldemort.

This was turning out to be a great year.

Ch. 17 The Secret

Harry's brain felt like a squashed tomato. He had squeezed all the information he could remember out onto paper, hoping it would earn him a handful of O.W.L.s at least. It didn't help with all the stuff on his mind. Ron, Harry and Hermione told all the Professors about Ella, and they excused and accepted with strange looks.

They were all inside, doing their Care of Magical Creatures test. There was a little chill in the air, but was warm enough for no cloak. No matter anyway. They were in Hagrid's hut, writing down all they had learned about Skrewts.

Harry's page was blank, but had had enough experience with them that it should have been full on both front and back. And they only had ten minutes. He hastily scribbled down notes that he had jotted down before, then his encounter when he had met one in the maze. They heard the bell ring, and he packed up his quill, inkbottle and extra parchment.

He handed his paper to Hagrid, and met up with Ron and Hermione on their way inside.

"How long until the date again?" Hermione asked.

"It's only 4 days. But I can't stand it! I don't know what he's doing to those two. Well, I think I know what's happening to Sirius, but what about Ella?"

"Don't worry Harry. We'll get 'em both back, and Voldemort and Pettigrew too," Ron said.

Harry was silent as they walked up to the Common Room. When they sat with their friends they were quiet, and didn't join in with the rest of the fifth years as they talked about the O.W.L.s. being over.

Harry went up to bed early, lying that he had a stomachache. In truth, he just wanted to think.

He thought about Ella, and Sirius, and Ron and Hermione. He thought about what kind of trap Voldemort might try to use.

He thought of what it would be like if Voldemort had never existed. For one thing, he wouldn't be famous. Nobody would flick their eyes towards his forehead when they saw him for the first time. He would probably never even have known his aunt, uncle and cousin. He would have known everything about the wizarding world, like Ron. He wouldn't be a target for killing or capturing very year.

He would have his parents. He couldn't remember what they were like. He assumed he must have been happy with them. But his earliest memory was when he was about four, and Dudley had been chasing him around so much that he had to lock himself in his cupboard to keep him away. He didn't dare come out until he was starved with hunger.

He would never have had to suffer that if Voldemort hadn't been alive. He would have been able to get advice from his dad, about guy stuff (you know what I mean: girls!). He could have had advice about what classes to take. He could have had advice on about anything.

He could have been loved. Oh, what it would be like to be loved by an adult, as a son. How he wished he could be loved by his mother and father. None of that would happen.

He was suddenly in a depressed mood. Quidditch always cheered him up, so he dug in his trunk for the book about the Chudley Cannons that Ron had given him for Christmas a few years ago. As he watched the players zoom across the pages, passing the Quaffle smoothly from Chaser to Chaser, he fantasized about his own dream of becoming a Quidditch star.

He imagined like he did when he was lying in bed at the Quidditch World Cup. "And I give you...Potter!" he heard Bagman say, ten thousand witches' and wizards' screams throbbing in his ears.

He flew expertly, his Firebolt responding to every thought, every move. He was soaring, swooping, graceful as a bird, when his visions were suddenly brought to a halt. The dream seemed to pause as Harry remembered that he had a Quidditch game, the final one for Gryffindor, against Slytherin.

The robes on Harry's back changed to his regular Gryffindor Quidditch robes, and the opposing teams' turned to the Slytherins' colors of green and silver. The Quidditch game was put back into motion. Harry could see Malfoy's sneering face, along with the rest of the Slytherin team, and his team was the same one that it was this year. His team was behind, 20 to 40, and the game was becoming harder to play.

The sky was getting darker, clouds were rolling over, and rain began to splash down, splattering his glasses. He automatically got his wand out and pointed it at his glasses, then whispered, "Impervious!" which was the spell he always used now, if it rained. Hermione had taught him, and the one to fix his glasses. They broke a lot, now that he was a Quidditch player.

He saw the Snitch, glinting gold by the Top Box. Some of the people there were pointing at it. He sped over, racing Malfoy, who had also seen it. They sped, neck and neck, then, again, a Bludger came out of nowhere, and hit Malfoy in the back, making him fall off his broom. As he fell, Harry stretched out his hand, waiting for the cold Snitch. The rain began to pour heavier, soaking him to the bone.

He was going fast, almost too fast. He was going to run into the crowd if he didn't catch the Snitch. He reached farther, and the Snitch moved an inch upwards and back. Harry sharply turned up. The Snitch was an inch away. A nanosecond later, he felt it in his hand, its wings beating helplessly. The crowd screamed.

"Harry! Harry, wake up."

Harry did wake up, to see a pillow aimed at his face. He put his hands up quick, and they absorbed the hit. "Good, you're awake," Ron said, whose hands were holding the pillow.

Harry mumbled something, but Ron couldn't hear him, because of the pillow. He removed it. "Thanks," Harry said. "I didn't think you would hear me."

"I didn't. Well, the reason I had to wake you up was... it's time for dinner."

"Oh. I don't really feel hungry."

"Harry, you can't stop eating just because Ella's gone. You have to keep your strength for when you have to face Voldemort," they both heard Hermione say, who was at the door.

"Fine, I'll eat."

They went down to dinner, a very loud affair, due to the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s being finished. But they didn't talk much. Harry sat and poked at his beef and noodles, eating a bite or two.

"Did you guys know that we have a Quidditch game tomorrow?" he asked after taking a bite of his dinner.

Hermione let her fork drop with a clatter. "We do? I've been going to practices and stuff, but because of the exams I forgot we had a match!" she cried.

She began to overreact, purposely, to try and make Harry smile, or laugh, or do something other than sit with a glum expression on his face.

"Hermione! Chill. Since Malfoy's not here this year, they probably couldn't find another Seeker. And if they did, he's bound to be as bad as Malfoy is," Harry said. The corners of his mouth were starting to creep up at just the absurdity of Hermione trying to cheer him up by overreacting. Yet it still made him laugh.

"That's the first smile I've seen on your face in weeks, Harry." The three spun around to see Professor Dumbledore behind them.

"Hello, Professor Dumbledore. What business brings you over to us?" Hermione asked.

"I would like to see the three of you in my office. I would like to talk about Snuffles," Dumbledore replied, "and since dinner is nearly over, I would like you to come with me now. I have left Professor McGonagall to clear everyone out."

"Okay sir."

They followed him up to his office, where he sat behind his desk and steepled his hands. "I would also like to talk to you about Ella. All the teachers have told me that she has failed to show up for her exams. Can you tell me why?"

"Well sir, Ella.... How shall I say this? Ella got taken by Voldemort," Ron said.

"She did? When?"

"She got taken by Voldemort a week before the O.W.L.s began. Harry got a letter, and she read it, like Voldemort thought she would. Then she got...pulled through the paper, I guess to wherever Voldemort is," Hermione took up the story.

"The Riddle House," said Harry, "he took her to the Riddle House. Sirius is there too. In the town of Little Hangleton." He was remembering some of the dream he had had the summer before last, the last summer Voldemort had been basically a spirit. The house in his dream with Hedwig, and when he found out Voldemort had Sirius and Draco was with him, was the house that Voldemort had been in over a year ago.

They had to go there. "Also, in the letter, Voldemort told me to meet him on the 23^rd of this month. He said if I didn't, he would-he would kill Ella and Sirius."

"Then I suggest you meet them," Dumbledore said, still looking at them closely. "But I have something else to tell you about them."

"What?" Harry asked.

"Ella is Sirius's daughter."

"She's what?" The three chorused loudly.

"She is Sirius's daughter. That's how you two were friends when you were little Harry. Sirius made his wife and child flee to America, since he thought Voldemort would come after him. But things turned out differently than planned, and they could never come back to England."

"Does Ella know?" Hermione asked.

"No. Imagine if you found out that who you thought was a murderer was your father instead?" Dumbledore said.

"True. That would be pretty shocking."

"Wait. If Sirius is my godfather, does it mean that Ella is like, my god sister?" Harry asked.

"You could put it that way. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to bed, and you all should too," Dumbledore said. "Goodnight to you all. I hope that you will be brave when it comes to saving Ella and Sirius. I would help you, but I believe that Voldemort would kill all if I came long with you. And I also believe you can do this on your own.

"Oh, and good luck in the Quidditch game tomorrow."

He then left them, and they went back to the Common Room. Harry changed into his pajamas thinking over what Dumbledore had told him, then got into bed. He should just worry about his Quidditch game, and nothing else. His mood was already way too depressed.

Ch. 18 The Meeting

Harry woke up the next morning early. He lay in bed for a few minutes, not wanting to get up. He did anyway, and ate breakfast before everyone got to the Hall. He went for a walk around the lake, and then it was time for the Quidditch team to meet on the field. He met the team and talked to them a little about a few tactics. When the rest of the school came pouring out of the doors, they went to the locker rooms. He noticed that Lavender, who was filling in for Ella, was shaking. He could understand that. This was her first real game that she had played in, and the most important to Gryffindor.

They walked out onto the field, and Harry took in that a fourth of the mass of students was wearing green, and the other three quarters were wearing red. The green clad supporters were obviously cheering for Slytherin, and the red were for Gryffindor. Harry got on his broom and soared upward. He stopped and waited for the Snitch to be let out, looking at the Slytherin team.

It looked like Malfoy wasn't the only one who had left school. Almost everyone on the team was new, except for Terence Higgs; the Seeker Harry had played against in his first year. He looked as if he were out for blood: Harry's blood. He supposed it was for beating him in his first year. But Terence had only been a second year then if he was on the team this year. Unless he got held back (which was highly likely). Terence sneered at Harry, and then the whistle blew so they rose into the air. Terence marked Harry as soon as he could, following his every move. Harry slammed into him at once, throwing him a little off course, but Terence still followed him.

"This can't be good," Harry muttered.

"Why are you running, Potter? Know that I'll get the Snitch first?" Terence said in a thick guttural voice.

"If I'm running, then why are you watching me to see the Snitch? Not good enough to find it yourself?" he called back.

Terence narrowed his eyes, leaned until he was lying flat against the broom, and shot at Harry like a javelin. But Harry had just seen the Snitch out of the corner of his eye, so he turned and Terence hit the front of his broom.

He spun wildly, hanging on for his life. He could hear the wind passing by his ears, and the gasps from the crowd, plus the blurred shapes of the stadium, players, and people. He tried to straighten out his broom, but the front had become splintered, affecting his grip and control.

He looked up, and realized that he had slowed down. He could see that he was heading for a part of the seats. He pulled hard the other way, hoping to stop spinning. The people in the seats he was heading for were screaming and starting to run away. He pulled harder. With all those people getting out of their seats he would run into hard wood if he didn't get control of his broom.

Just before he hit the side, his broom pulled out of the spin and shot off in the direction he was pulling. It just so happened that that was where the Snitch was. It was flitting around in the center of the field.

Splinters of wood flew from the front of his broom, flying into his eyes and embedding into his skin. He bled, but kept flying towards the Snitch. He stretched out his hand; he was so close to it.

He tried to put on a burst of speed, but the broom was too damaged to be able to go faster. He stretched his arm to its fullest extent, but he still couldn't get it. It was so close, yet so far away.

Out of the corner of his eye he could see Terence coming up fast. "C'mon," he hissed to his broom. "Just try to go faster!"

To his surprise, it worked. His broom went faster, and just as Terence was drawing level to him, and was about to push him aside, his hand closed around the Snitch.

The stands exploded. Even the players yelled. All had been watching Harry or Terence. All the players on his team swarmed around Harry, hugging him and getting his blood on them from his various cuts from the splinters. They screamed themselves hoarse and descended to Earth, Harry holding the Snitch for all to see, all the while. A rush of red-clad supporters met them, and they were borne upon their shoulders out of the stadium.

Harry looked at his team. Ron's grin spread from ear to ear, and Hermione was smiling embarrassedly. Parvati was enjoying the attention, smiling and waving, like one of those ladies on the back of a car in a parade. Emma was grinning and staring off into space. Neville was like Hermione, smiling embarrassedly. Someone passed Harry the Quidditch Cup from below. He raised it in the air, and the lion supporters gave a fresh roar. He passed the Cup to Ron, who did the same, and then passed it to Hermione. She passed to Neville, and he passed to Emma. Emma passed to Parvati, and finally, Parvati passed the Cup to Lavender. She held it up high, and all who had wanted Gryffindor to win yelled so loud that the people in Hogsmeade could hear them.

* * * * * * * * *

Two days later, Harry woke from a dreamless sleep, which had been good. Today was the day he was going to meet Voldemort on the lake. Sunlight was shining bright, and he supposed that most of the rest of the house had either gone down to breakfast or was still sleeping.

The celebrations had gone on for a long time, no one getting a full night's sleep until last night. One reason was because the win had locked Gryffindor into the lead for the House Cup, overtaking Slytherin once more, for the fourth year running. Another was because the Quidditch Cup didn't take place last year.

Harry got out of bed, dressed, and went downstairs. Neville and Dean were still asleep, but he had no clue where Ron was.

As he walked down the stairs to the common room, he heard low murmuring, one voice a girl, the other a boy. He snuck down the rest of the way and hid behind an armchair. It was Ron and Hermione.

"Do you know that I love you?" he heard Ron say.

Harry's eyes got wide. He did not want to hear this conversation. He got up and went quietly over to the portrait hole. He tried to open it just as quietly, but it creaked. Ron and Hermione looked up, and there was Harry, one leg out the portrait hole.

"Harry! What are you doing down here?" Hermione asked.

"If you must know, I was on my way down to breakfast. Whoa!" Harry lost his balance when he tried to stand with his arms crossed and one leg in the portrait hole and fell. His leg was jerked out, and the painting of the Fat Lady swung shut. He fell hard on his bottom. Ron and Hermione ran over, trying to hide grins.

"Are you all right?"

"Ow," was all he said. He stood up and opened the portrait hole again. "I shall be leaving now. I'll meet you in class, assuming that you have already had breakfast."

"And assuming right. We're going to be in here for a while. We'll see you later," Ron said. He seemed to want Harry out of there.

"Whatever." Harry was not going to butt into this talk between Ron and Hermione purposely, so he scrambled out of the portrait hole and into the hallway. He shuddered a bit at what he just heard. Ron hadn't even told that word to his mother, not that Harry had heard anyways. It was weird hearing him say that.

Harry walked into the Great Hall. It was full of chattering students, all eating and laughing, except for the Slytherin table. They just sat and poked at their food. Harry sat down next to Fred and George, and grabbed some food. He ate most of it, and realized that he hadn't had food like that since the day before the Quidditch match, when he had hardly eaten anything because he was worried about Ella.

Harry's throat suddenly closed up. All of a sudden, a sense of reality hit him like a sledgehammer. This was the day. He was actually going to face Voldemort tonight. He had known it, but during the past two days, it had felt unreal, like it was happening to somebody else, or like it was a video game and he could come back to life.

He was facing Voldemort tonight. This was not something where he could start over if he died. This was real.

Harry set down his fork. He wasn't very hungry anymore. He got up from the table and walked out from the room, just walking, not going in any particular direction. It was as if someone was controlling his feet and his body was along for the ride.

He had no thoughts, he felt no feelings, he was just walking. Walking, walking, walking. His body went through hallways, and secret passages, and up steps, until they stopped and he was standing in front of the Fat Lady. He didn't want to go in there. Hermione and Ron would be talking still, most likely. He told his body to turn, but instead his mouth said the password and he walked in.

Hermione and Ron weren't in the Common Room anymore. Harry sat down in an armchair, and remembered when he and Ella had sat there and he had found out he could handle fire. He wondered if he still could, or if that was just a dream and he didn't remember waking up. He sat in front of the fire and reached towards it. Flames reached towards him. He called them up his arms and around his torso. They did exactly as he bid them. Harry wondered if this could be a help to him when he faced Voldemort.

He played with the fire for a few minutes. Then he remembered that he actually had class. He sent the fire back to its meal of wood, then went up and got his stuff. No one was in the dormitory when he was in there, so he assumed the Neville and Dean had gone down to breakfast already, along with their books.

He got his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and walked out the door when a crack sounded behind him, making him turned around.

On his nightstand he had many things; his photo album Hagrid had given him; several snowglobes; the two pieces of jewelry he had gotten from Ella and Fleur; Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans and Chocolate Frogs from Ron and Hermione; and the egg Hagrid had given him.

The egg was cracked. It was perfectly straight right down the middle. Harry went over to it, and the egg split apart.

Out of it tumbled a dark mass of fur and blood. Harry bent over it, and as he watched, the fur-ball stretched, opened its eyes, and began licking itself.

It was a sphinx.

Its mane was black, and the rest of the sphinx was dark brown, except the face. The face was light tan, and the sphinx's eyes were hazel. Most of it was covered in blood, which it was licking off. Harry got a cloth out of his trunk and wiped off the rest of it.

It purred contentedly and curled up right where it lay. Having no clue what to do, Harry left some jellybeans, hoping they were the flavors of grass and beef, and hoping that the sphinx would like it. He left the cloth next to the sphinx, and went off to class, making sure the door was shut.

"You've got a what?"

"A sphinx. Hagrid gave it to me on Christmas, that egg, remember?"

Harry Ron and Hermione were huddled together, working on the same plant in Herbology.

"So that's what that egg was!" Ron said.

"Do you know how to take care of it, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Not a clue. But I think I can research about it, or I can ask Hagrid. Hey, could you take my stuff with you guys to D.A.D.A.? I should probably ask Hagrid as soon as possible."

"No problem," Ron said. The bell then rang, and everyone dropped their trowels and hurried out the door.

Harry was the only 5^th year who went down to Hagrid's hut, but the Gryffindor third years went down also.

When Harry got to Hagrid's hut, he knocked on the door. Great booming barks replied, and then there was, "Quiet Fang!" before the door opened. When Hagrid saw that it was Harry, he said, "It hatched, didn't it?"

Harry only nodded, and Hagrid quickly went inside his hut for a few moments before returning to the door with a book in hand, on raising sphinxes.

"Here yeh go, Harry. Make sure to give it a lot of attention, too," Hagrid said, "or it won't like yeh when it's older. Now, as soon as yer next period's over, go straight back to yer dormitory. It shou' be awake by then, and hopefully yeh'll know what to feed it and be able ter get the food."

"Thank you Hagrid!" Harry said in reply. "But how did you find it? And-is it legal?"

"I also won 'im, but off an Irish chap I met in the pub. And o' course it's legal! As long as yeh keep 'im inside, he'll be fine."

"Thank you, Hagrid."

"Yer welcome."

They both smiled, and Harry ran off to class. He made it just in time. He sat down next to Hermione and Ron, and then Snape began telling the assignment for that day, which basically just reading out of the book. So Harry hid the book about sphinxes in his D.A.D.A. book, and read. He quickly found out that the first thing sphinxes did when they hatched was clean themselves, and then they slept for three to four hours. When they woke up they needed to be fed tiny portions of meat and milk, every hour until they fell asleep again, which was usually about 12 hours later.

That was going to cause a problem for Harry. Then he realized - Dobby. Dobby would take care of the sphinx. And since Dobby was usually in the kitchens, he could find meat to feed him.

Harry read on, and found that sphinxes needed to be called by their names at almost all times in their early years, so as to get used to it and so they know it. He wondered what he would call it, and decided on Shadow, because of its black mane and dark fur.

He found that sphinxes were loyal, clever, smart, and friendly. They also taught themselves how to speak, from listening to others.

Then the bell rang, and he quickly put away his books and quill and walked out the door. He ran up the steps to the dormitory, Ron and Hermione on his heels, and just as he opened the door, Shadow yawned widely, showing razor-sharp teeth, and woke up. It blinked once, twice, three times, and then Harry went over to it.

Harry started to pet the sphinx, and realized that its fur was very silky.

"What're you going to name him?" Hermione asked.

"I thought it was going to be just Shadow, but now on feeling his fur, I think his name should be Silk-Shadow."

"That sounds like a good name," Ron said.

"We need some meat and some milk," Hermione said suddenly. Harry and Ron both looked at her. She had her nose stuck in the book Hagrid had given Harry about sphinxes.

"Then why don't you go get some?" Harry said.

Hermione stood for a second, then said, "Why don't I?"

"I don't know. Why don't you?"

"I'm going to go get some. Would either of you like to come along?"

Harry knew she just wanted Ron to come along, so he said no, but Ron agreed to go. Harry's excuse was that he needed to watch Silk-Shadow. Which was true.

About 15 minutes later Ron and Hermione were back, along with Dobby. All had food in their arms. Harry helped relieve some of it from them, and dumped it on his bed.

"I hears that Harry Potter needs someones to watch his sphinx!" Dobby squeaked the moment he could. Harry looked at Hermione, who just looked a little sheepish, then looked back at Dobby.

"Yes I do, Dobby. And you're just the person to do it," he said. Dobby's eyes brimmed with tears.

"Harry Potter thinks Dobby is worthy enough of this task! Oh, Harry Potter is very kind, very kind."

"It's no big deal Dobby, really." He was fighting a laugh. Dobby was pretty funny to watch sometimes. He saw out of the corner of his eye that Ron and Hermione were suppressing laughs as well. He didn't know why he was laughing -- he might die tonight -- but all of a sudden, everything seemed funny. He needed laughs.

"Is Harry Potter alright, sir?" Dobby said.

"Yes, I'm very well Dobby." Then his stomach growled. He needed food as well.

"Is Harry Potter hungry? Wes have brought you food, if you are, sir!" Dobby squeaked.

"Great! You guys hungry?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione.

"Are you kidding? I'm starved!" Ron said.

"Oh Ron, you're always starved," Hermione said.

"I'm a guy. What do you expect?" Ron asked, heading over towards the food. Hermione just shook her head, smiling, and followed.

They dug into the food that wasn't for Silk-Shadow, having a better lunch than if they had gone to the dining hall.

"This is so much better than the food down in the dining hall. Why don't you make food like this all the time, Dobby?" asked Harry.

"Because, Harry Potter sir, we's taking lots of time to make just this. It would take a much much longer time to feed the entire school."

"Oh. So Hermione, I see you're off spew," Ron asked.

"It wasn't spew, it was S.P.E.W. And yes I am, because it was quite hopeless. For one thing, I didn't gather enough members, and for another, house-elves don't want all the stuff I was campaigning for. Except for Dobby and the few others like him."

"Finally! You get it!"

"I've gotten it since about October, Ron."

Ron, Hermione and Harry all giggled a little bit, forgetting what lay ahead of them later that night.

After dinner, the three sat in the Common Room, Harry sitting on his Invisibility Cloak, Ron and Hermione playing chess, and all three talking to each other about nothing in particular. If Harry was invited to play a game of Exploding Snap, he quickly lost and went back to sitting on the cloak.

At last, when Lee Jordan went up to bed, following Fred and George, all three stretching and yawning, they quickly got under the Invisibility Cloak. It was almost midnight.

They slipped out the portrait hole, and walked silently out to the lake. When they got to the north edge, Harry slipped the cloak off him and pulled out his wand. He didn't want to be caught unguarded without it. Ron and Hermione did the same.

A chilly breeze blew off the lake, making all three shiver. The weather was colder than it had been earlier, but they had forgotten to wear their regular cloaks. A mist shrouded the lake from their view, and the mist started to come closer to shore. An owl hooted off in the forest, and something else howled. The branches clacked and rustled.

The sky was pitch black, pitted with stars that were darker than they should have been. A dark shroud seemed to be over everything.

"Does this seem a bit...creepy to you?" Ron asked, making the other two jump. Ron's voice even seemed to be shrouded, like someone had put a scarf or something over his mouth.

"Yeah. It sure does," Harry replied, his own voice just as muffled.

Hermione stayed silent. Her nerves were so bent up she thought she would vomit if she opened her mouth.

All of a sudden, out of the mist came Malfoy, dragging something on the ground. When he came into clear view, they realized it was Ella, bound and knocked out. Then came Wormtail and his bright hand, dragging something else. It was Sirius, bound and knocked out as well. Harry's scar began to then hurt. That could only mean one thing.

Voldemort.

The mists parted around him. It shrank back, as if it could sense his evilness as well.

All of them could.

While Voldemort came up, Wormtail and Malfoy tied Sirius and Ella together. None of them spoke. When Pettigrew and Malfoy finished, they walked over and stood behind Voldemort.

"Two little boys and a little girl, against the most powerful Dark wizards in the world," Voldemort said. He tutted. "You don't know what you've got yourselves into."

"You're the one that got us into this," Harry said.

Voldemort raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yes. You've gotten us into it. You're the one that wants to kill Harry. You're the one that wants to kill everyone," Hermione said.

Voldemort turned to Malfoy and Wormtail. "Should I do her first?" Voldemort asked.

Malfoy's lip curled into a sneer. "Go ahead. She's nothing but a filthy little Mudblood anyways," he said.

Wormtail nodded his approval.

Voldemort turned back to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. He raised his wand.

As Voldemort opened his mouth, Harry cried, "Expelliarmus!"

Voldemort's wand flew out of his hand, along with Malfoy's and Wormtail's, and Ron and Hermione's. He caught them all. He put all the wands, including his own, in one hand, then threw them aside into the darkness. Voldemort mentally cursed himself at his own stupidity.

"No curses, no spells, no charms, no nothing Voldy. Let's see how powerful you are when it comes to physical strength," Harry said.

"We'd still win, Pothead," Malfoy said.

"Still. Let's see."

"Fine then. Pettigrew, take the girl. Draco, take the other boy. Harry is mine."

"My name is Ron," Ron said, "not the other boy. And her name is Hermione, not the girl. Remember that."

"Fine. Wormtail, take Hermione. Draco, take Ron. We'll see who wins this."

Ch. 19 Fire

At this Malfoy lunged at Ron. But he was ready. Ron swung hard, and his fist connected with Malfoy's jaw. Malfoy fell back, but then came at him again, one fist swinging for his face, another aiming towards his gut. Ron blocked the one to his gut, but couldn't get to his face in time. He fell back, clutching his jaw, then kicked Malfoy, and they tumbled to the ground, a whirl of fists.

Wormtail ran at Hermione, crouched low. He ran into her at full force, tackling her, and then landing on top of her.

Hermione's breath was forced out of her lungs in one burst, leaving them deflated and empty. She gasped for air, but Wormtail's weight kept her from breathing. She brought up her knee the best she could and kneed him someplace very uncomfortable, for a man. He rolled off of her, and she breathed deep and stood up.

Harry went at Voldemort, tackling his thin body over. His scar was now splitting his head in two it seemed. He grasped his hands around Voldemort's throat, and felt Voldemort's long, thin, fingers grasp his own.

Glasses askew, gasping for breath, Harry tightened his fingers. As did Voldemort.

Almost ready to pass out from lack of oxygen and pain, Harry rolled off of Voldemort, both letting go of the other's neck.

Harry straightened his glasses and looked at his hands. They should have been red, like when Quirrel had touched him. But they weren't. They were the same color as they had been before. He stared.

Unfortunately, Voldemort then tackled him catching him off guard.

Ella suddenly woke up, from dark dreams to a nightmarish reality and a throbbing head. But wait. This wasn't the Riddle House. This was...the lake at school! How did she get here?

Off in the distance, she could hear the sounds of fighting. Who would be out at this hour? She didn't have a watch, but she knew it was late.

She realized she was tied to the man she had been tortured with. She had bonded instantly with him, and felt something weird about him.

It could have been his looks. After all, he looked like a skeleton with skin, he was so thin and pale. The only color he had at all was his matted, black, shoulder-length hair, and his black, sunken eyes. The only thing he had told her about himself was that his name was Sirius Black.

She tried to wake him up, pushing against him, but he was out cold. She guessed she would have to try and get out of her bonds on her own.

Wormtail got up after gasping on the ground for a few minutes, and ran at Hermione again. But this time she was ready. Hermione braced herself, and when Wormtail was only inches away, she lashed out, her fingers like claws. She scratched Wormtail across the face, and he backed off again. Wormtail put a hand to his face, and when he saw his hand come away with blood, he glared at Hermione.

Hermione was examining her nails, like she was bored. "These could use a trim, don't you think?" she said, looking up at Wormtail.

Ron and Malfoy broke apart; Malfoy sported a bloody nose and two black eyes beginning to form; Ron had a bloody lip and a bruise beginning to form on his left cheek. Both panted heavily. They then circled around and around, both waiting for the other to strike first.

Getting impatient, Malfoy struck. Ron fell back before the blow struck, and Malfoy struck again, thinking that he was gaining on him. But Ron had a plan.

Wormtail went up to Hermione, and she stared defiantly up into his eyes. Wormtail then smacked her across the face with his silver hand. It was like a sledgehammer. She shook her head to try to clear it, but that just made it hurt more. She held her head still.

Hermione looked back into his eyes. They were glittering. She then smacked him. As Hermione put her hand up for another blow, Wormtail grabbed her arm, then her other arm in the same hand, and twisted them behind her back. She cried out, and he pulled them harder. His grip was like a vice.

"If I wanted to, I could break both of your arms right now. I wouldn't move if I were you," Wormtail hissed into her ear.

"Eat dung," was her reply. He pulled back more, and put his hand in the small of her back. She cried out louder.

After trying several different ways of untying the rope (and failing each time), Ella looked around hopelessly for something she could use. She heard someone cry out twice, and looked up towards where she could hear the fight, but she couldn't see anything because of the mist.

She noticed that several wands were lying about. Who would throw away their wands? One was very close to her hip, so she bent her leg and kicked it towards her hands. Amazingly, it went right into her hand. She said the first spell that came into her hand that would work.

"Incendio!" she whispered.

Harry heard Hermione cry out twice, but he couldn't help her. Voldemort had him in a headlock, cutting off his air supply again. It seemed to be his favorite way of killing people when he couldn't use his wand. He choked and tried to get his fingers under Voldemort's arm, but Voldemort just gripped harder. Harry raised his hand, and punched in the direction he thought was Voldemort's face, and it connected with something soft and Voldemort let go.

Harry scrambled away, and breathed deeply, massaging his throat. Out of the corner of his eye he saw something flare, but he didn't pay attention.

When he could breathe semi-properly, Harry launched himself at Voldemort. Harry grabbed Voldemort's wrist, and his fist collided with Voldemort's temple. He sat on Voldemort's stomach and began punching him, Voldemort blocking the best he could.

Ron heard Hermione cry out once, and was worried for but a second, but then gave his attention back to Malfoy.

Malfoy kept throwing punches at Ron, and Ron kept backing up, hoping the lake was behind him. His feet finally splashed in the shallows of the lake, soaking his feet, and he ran deeper. Malfoy followed. He turned when the water was to their thighs, and both began punching. Ron then swung his arm and cuffed Malfoy on the head, and then brought Malfoy around and down into the water with a huge splash.

Ron held Malfoy down, spluttering and splashing, then let him come up for a breath of air. He then pushed Malfoy's head under again. Over and over Ron did this, until Malfoy was starting to look very bedraggled, and Ron stopped. He let Malfoy catch his breath, and then Malfoy stood up and, catching Ron off guard, tackled Ron and did the same thing to him. But Ron bit Malfoy's hand, and Malfoy stopped. Now both were soaked to the bone. They heard Hermione cry out again, and they both looked to the edge of the lake. Something bloomed to life. It was fire.

"You better stop that," Hermione said to Wormtail, her voice racked with pain.

"Or what?" asked Wormtail, pulling harder and digging in more. Something popped. Hermione bit her lip to keep from yelling out. Her eyes were watering from the pain now. Something was shining in the corner of her eye, but she just thought it was just a trick of her tears.

"Or I might have to hurt you."

"Oh really? And you would do that how?"

"Like this." Hermione butted her head back, and she felt it collide with his nose, breaking it. Wormtail let go of one hand, but still held on to one. Hermione spun around, and somersaulted, making him let go of the other hand.

"I'm really p.o.ed right now, okay, Wormy? Now you can either run away, or I'm going to hurt you really bad," said Hermione, raising her fists to guard her face.

Wormtail faced her. Blood was pouring freely from his nose, which was smashed against his face. "You think you can scare me?" Hermione nodded. "You thought wrong."

Hermione then kicked him in the stomach, making him crumple to the ground. She then kicked him in the side, and then the head, knocking him out cold. She turned to where Ella and Sirius were, and saw that flames were licking at them.

The flames that shot out of the wand only went to the grass, and charred that, then spread. It didn't even touch the ropes that bound her and Sirius together.

"Damn. That wasn't good." It started to get warm, and she inched as far away as possible, but the flames were around and between her and Sirius, and she couldn't drag herself and Sirius away, or drag Sirius into the flames. The flames licked at her clothes, tasting them, but stayed away from the ropes.

"What the hell!? Are these ropes spelled or something?" she cried out loud. The flames caught her clothes, and she began to scream.

Ron pushed Malfoy into the water one last time and ran towards shore. What were the flames from?

Her got to the edge of the lake and shivered; it was colder when he wasn't in the lake. He saw Wormtail unconscious on the ground: Harry looked like he was handling Voldemort fairly well on his own. Hermione was running to the flames. Someone screamed.

Harry heard someone scream, and he looked up. Someone was splashing his or her way to shore; another person was already standing at the edge. Flames were the brightest thing in his vision. They were coming from where Sirius and Ella were tied up. These flames also silhouetted someone, and the person was running towards it.

Harry paid for his lapse in concentration by a punch in the stomach. Harry punched Voldemort one last time, got off of him, and then ran to the flames. Who cared if he got away? He needed to save lives first. Especially if those lives meant something to him.

Ron saw Harry get punched in the stomach, and then punch Voldemort, get off of Voldemort, and run to the flames. He followed. Which was good, because Draco was coming. Harry and Ron caught up with Hermione, who was trying to think of something to do to put out the flames.

"Stand back you guys," Harry said, "I'll handle these." Ron and Hermione retreated, and Harry called the fire to him, before it got any bigger. The fire came to him, but resentful. It liked the taste of what it was feeding on. But it wrapped around his arms and body, following orders. It ate up his shirt though.

"Yeah? Well, you can't feed on it, cause those are my friends. But you can go and feed on those two people over there," Harry said to the flames, pointing to Voldemort and Draco. "They're the same kind of food."

The fire leaped out at them at once, charring the grass and dirt on its path. But before it could reach them, they ran into the Forbidden Forest, and then Disapparated.

Harry turned, and his shirt that was ash fell away.

Ella and Sirius were both lifeless, and both burned badly. Harry then realized that he had thrown the wands over here, because several of them littered the ground. He recognized his own in Ella's hand.

Hermione and Ron retrieved their wands, and Harry took his from Ella. He then used a Severing Charm to cut the bonds that held Sirius and Ella together.

"Okay, Ron, Hermione, you take Sirius. I'll take Ella. We have to get up to the castle."

All three of them were covered in bruises. Ron had now added to his bloody lip: he now had a black eye and a cut above his eyebrow.

One of Hermione's shoulders was out of socket, and both arms were bruised. She could also feel several bruised ribs.

Harry looked the worse. His throat was a raw red, and his breathing was ragged. A bruise was forming on his cheek, and his entire body was red from the fire. He had lost his glasses and shirt, too.

As Harry picked up Ella, her charred clothes dusted away, leaving bare skin that was shiny and red. She groaned, and then lay her head against Harry's chest and he began walking.

Ron and Hermione picked up Sirius, his charred clothes dusting away to reveal redness that contrasted brightly with his normally pale skin.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked over to Pettigrew, who was still unconscious.

"Hermione, did you do this?" Harry asked, after setting Ella down and stuffing a corner of the Invisibility cloak in his pocket, then picking Ella back up.

She nodded. "Then why don't you drag him up to the castle, and let Ron take Sirius?" She nodded again. After what she had just seen Harry do, she couldn't speak.

Ron took Sirius (after all, he weighed hardly anything), and Hermione took Wormtail's hands in one of her own and began dragging him one-handed behind Ron and Harry.

They made it up to the steps of the castle and rested a little bit. Hermione cracked her back, and Ron and Harry rested their arms a bit. Then Ron opened the door, and Harry walked through with Ella, and Hermione held it open for Ron, then she dragged Wormtail through, not caring if he got hit with the door.

They had walked up only two flights of steps until they heard something at the top of the next flight. They sunk back into the shadows.

It was Mrs. Norris. She aimed her lamp-like eyes in the direction of where they were hiding, but then went on stalking the halls.

They heard something again when they emerged from the stairs, and they sunk back again. After waiting for a little while, nothing showed, and they kept walking. Suddenly, Hermione sunk down.

"I can't go any farther you guys. My arm is killing me," she said, gripping her shoulder.

"Roll your sleeve up Hermione," Ron said, setting down Sirius. Harry set down Ella.

She did so. Her shoulder was swelled to the size of a baseball, and her entire arm was red. It was bruising around her shoulder.

"Damn, girl. What did he do to you?" Ron said.

"I don't know, but I think he popped my shoulder out of socket," Hermione replied.

"Then I suggest you go to Madam Promfrey. She can mend those in no time at all."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione all looked up. Dumbledore was there.

"Professor Dumbledore! We're so glad you're here! We need your help," Harry said.

"What can I do?"

"We need you to turn Pettigrew in for us."

"What? You have Pettigrew?"

"Yeah. He's right here," Hermione said. She gestured behind her, where Pettigrew was still passed out.

"Of course I will take him. While I bring him to my office, you three bring Ella and Sirius to the hospital wing. Madam Promfrey shall already be awake. When you are ready, please come to my office and tell me about what happened down at the lake."

"Yes sir," the three chorused.

Harry picked up Ella again and Ron picked up Sirius, and they left Wormtail with Dumbledore and walked up to the hospital wing. Before they got to the door, Madam Promfrey hurried out, still in her nightclothes. "Hurry up, hurry up. Do you all want to be in pain forever?"

"We're going the fast we can, Madam Promfrey. Just hold the door open," Harry said. She did as he told.

After Harry and Ron had put Ella and Sirius on beds, she told all three of them to sit on a bed. She gave Hermione a bag full of ice to put on her shoulder until she got to her.

On Ella Madam Promfrey put a thick orange paste on the burn, and a bright lime green paste on the bruises around her wrists.

To Sirius she did the same thing, and also gave him some cream for his eyes.

On Harry Madam Promfrey put only the green paste on his bruises, because she didn't know what the redness was from since it wasn't a burn, and tapped his chest with her wand, and he stopped rasping. To his throat she also did this, and the redness from the choking went away.

Madam Promfrey moved next to Hermione. She tapped her shoulder with her wand, making Hermione wince, but instantly Hermione's shoulder popped back into place with no pain, and Hermione's pain from it went away. She then treated both arms and Hermione's ribs with the green paste as all were covered in bruises.

Ron she did last, since he was the least hurt. Malfoy hadn't hurt him too bad. But he had gotten lake water into his cuts, so she had to clean those up, but she mended them in a second.

"Now, all of you eat some chocolate, and then if you wish you may take a shower or bath and change into your nightclothes. But you are to sleep in here tonight, not your dormitories," Madam Promfrey said when she was finished closing Ron's cuts.

Hermione, Ron, and Harry all took baths, and then they changed into pajamas that had been laid out for them. Harry flopped himself onto bed, and fell asleep instantly.

Ch. 20

Harry woke up the next morning to find that Ella and Sirius were awake, and that both were being fed some chocolate along with a hearty breakfast. Madam Promfrey was looking very peeved at feeding Sirius though.

"Harry! You're awake!" Ella said, putting down her fork that was laden with eggs. "What exactly happened? All I remember is waking up and then starting the fire."

"You started the fire?"

"Yes--I'm sorry, the spell just popped into my head--I wanted to get out of the bonds--I didn't think about any other spell right then that would get me out--and then--"

"Ella, it's fine. I took care of the fire," Harry said.

"How--?" Then a look came over her face. "Oh yeah. I had forgotten. But anyways, what happened down there?"

"Yes, Harry, please tell us what happened," Sirius said. Harry started telling the story.

"Well, I can only tell you what happened to me, since I don't know what Ron and Hermione did.

"But after you were taken, Voldy--"

"Who?" Ella asked.

"Voldemort. I call him Voldy cause it's shorter. Anyways, Voldy told me to meet him on the edge of the lake. And so I did. He brought Malfoy and Wormtail--"

"Who're they?"

"Wormtail is the man with the silver hand, Malfoy is the boy with the silver hair."

"Those two! Urgh! I hate them! They were the ones who tortured me."

Harry went on with the story, leaving nothing out. When he was finishing it, Hermione and Ron woke up. They told their parts of the story. Then Ella told hers. Sirius had no part, since he was unconscious the whole time.

"You can all leave now, if you wish," Madam Promfrey said at noon.

"Do you guys want to go see Dumbledore, or to the dormitories?" Harry asked when they had walked out the door. "I know I need to go to the dormitories, to check on Silk-Shadow."

"Who's Silk-Shadow?" Sirius asked.

"My sphinx. Hagrid gave him to me, and he hatched yesterday. Right now Dobby the house-elf is watching him."

"Then we should probably go there first."

They walked up to the portrait of the Fat Lady, and when she saw Sirius, she fled her painting.

"Fat Lady! Come back! We need to get in! And we swear, Sirius Black will not hurt you!" Hermione cried.

The Fat Lady peeked her head around the edge of the frame. "He won't?"

"No! Now please, will you let us in?" With a scowl, the Fat Lady came back into her frame and repositioned herself.

When she got comfortable, she asked, "Password, please."

"Tropicali."

She swung forward with great reluctance, and all five of them clambered through the portrait hole. Harry led the way up to the boys' dormitory, and when he opened the door, something small hurtled at him, knocking him flat.

"Harry Potter is alive, sir!" squeaked something around his chest. "Harry Potter is alive! Dobby was worrieds, sir! Worried yous might not comes back!"

"Yeah, well I'm back Dobby. How is Silk-Shadow doing?" Dobby got off of Harry, teary-eyed, and Harry stood up.

"Silk-Shadow is very well sir, very well," Dobby replied, walking over to him. "Very well indeed."

"Good. C'mon you guys. The room doesn't have poisonous fumes in it, you know," Harry said to the other four, who were just standing by the doorway, looking sort of uncomfortable.

When Hermione and Ron walked in, Dobby ran at them too.

"Wheezy and Gran-ger is alive! They is alive! Dobby was so worried about thems, too!" Dobby cried.

"Okay, Dobby, okay," Ron said.

"Tell me what has gone on with Silk-Shadow," Harry said, picking him up and cradling him.

"Well, sir, Silk-Shadow has justs been eating and sleepings, mostly."

"Okay. Tell me Dobby, could you watch him for the rest of today?"

"Yes, sirs, yes!"

"Great! But first, before we go again, I want you to meet a couple people, okay Dobby?" Dobby nodded.

"This is Ella," Harry pointed to her, "and this is Sirius." He pointed at him.

"Nice to meet yous, very nice to meets yous."

Dobby shook hands with both, and then went back to Silk-Shadow. "I will take good care of hims, Harry Potter. I will!"

"Let's see Dumbledore now," said Hermione. "He did tell us to tell what happened at the lake when it was okay for us."

"And I want to see if my name is cleared," Sirius said. They exited, and began walking to Dumbledore's office.

Sirius led the way, and Ella said to the others, "you guys, I just realized--all the things that happened in my dream came true."

"What?"

"I saw the scar, I saw the girl shivering, I saw the snake-like face, I saw a wand held by long fingers, I saw a man with a glowing hand, we were all together, and there was a light radiating from us all together."

"Does that mean that you can see the future?"

"I think they're more premonitions. But I think I can."

"Guys? Any of you know the password?" asked Sirius. They were at Dumbledore's door.

"Yeah, it's Sherbet Lemon," Harry said. The gargoyles sprang aside, revealing a winding staircase. They all clambered onto it and spun up to Dumbledore's office. When they stepped off the staircase, the door opened, and Dumbledore bade them in.

"Come, come. I want to hear everything you wish to tell me."

They walked inside, and the first thing they noticed was that Wormtail wasn't there. "Albus? Where's Peter?" Sirius asked.

"Last night, I sent an owl to the Ministry of Magic. They sent Arthur Weasley, and we questioned Peter while he was under the influence of Veritaserum. We extracted much information from him, and Mr. Weasley went back to the Ministry with Pettigrew himself. Arthur then owled me this morning and told me that the charges placed on you Sirius were now placed on Peter. Peter has been thrown in Azkaban. You are a free man, Sirius."

There was a silence as this sunk in. Then Harry remembered the talk he and Sirius had had in the tunnel of the Whomping Willow, 2 years ago.

(Flashback)

"You know what this means?" Black said abruptly to Harry as they made their slow progress along the tunnel. "Turning Pettigrew in?"

"You're free," said Harry.

"Yes...," said Black. "But I'm also -- I don't know if anyone ever told you --

I'm your godfather."

"Yeah, I knew that," said Harry.

"Well...your parents appointed me your guardian," said Black stiffly. "If anything happened to them..."

Harry waited. Did Black mean what he thought he meant?

"I'll understand, of course, if you want to stay with your aunt and uncle," said Black. "But...well...think about it. Once my name's cleared...if you wanted a...a different home..."

Some sort of explosion took place in the pit of Harry's stomach.

"What -- live with you?" he said, accidentally cracking his head on a bit of rock protruding from the ceiling. "Leave the Dursleys?"

"Of course, I thought you wouldn't want to," said Black quietly. "I understand, I just thought I'd -- "

"Are you insane?" said Harry, his voice easily as croaky as Black's. "Of course I want to leave the Dursleys! Have you got a house? When can I move in?"

(Back to present time)

"So does this mean that I get to move in with Sirius?" Harry asked.

"Why yes, it does," Dumbledore said.

"Cool." Harry and Sirius smiled at each other.

"But sir, where will I go? I can't go back to America," Ella said.

"Albus, may I answer this?" Sirius asked.

"Of course, Sirius."

Sirius turned to face Ella. "This may come as a shock to you. I know you've heard stuff about me, but it isn't true. About me killing people. I would never kill anyone unless he was my best friend and betrayed me and my other friends.

"The thing is Ella, I'm your father."

The only one surprised was Ella. "What? No! You can't be my father! I mean...my father died, years ago! My mom told me!"

"She told you that because I wanted you two to be safe. I loved your mother. I would never let her go without good reason."

"But -- but --"

"Ella. I am your father. You must understand. If you don't, and you don't come home with me, you will be sent to an orphanage."

Just the idea of an orphanage frightened Ella. But she still didn't trust him, this man that had only said his name was Sirius, and was now claiming to be her father. "How can you prove it?" she asked cautiously.

"Your mother's name was Jennifer Deprive. She was 5'7", and weighed 120 pounds. Your name is Ella Deprive, and when you were born, you weighed 9 pounds, 6 ounces, and you were 37 inches long. You were born on June 12, 1983. Do you need more?"

"No, no, that's fine. So, you're my dad?"

"Yes."

"Okay. I'll live with you."

An hour later, all questions had been answered, all stories had been told, and everyone was going out the door to go to dinner.

When Sirius walked into the Great Hall, many screams were heard, a few people fainted, and everyone began muttering and whispering to each other. As Harry, Sirius, Ella, Hermione, and Ron walked boldly to their seats, people moved away. No one wanted to be near Sirius.

Ella and Harry sat on either side of Sirius, and Ron and Hermione sat across from them.

Dumbledore stood up at the Head Table and called for silence.

"Now, I know that you all are shocked to see this man here with us tonight. But, there is something you need to know.

"The thing is that this man is innocent. He did not commit murder. He never has and he never will. This is my word," he raised his voice, because several exclamations came at this, "and as such, is beyond contestation. You shall treat him with as much respect as any adult here at this school, except for perhaps Voldemort." Most of the people in the Hall flinched or winced. "That is all."

"Wait a second, Professor," Harry said, standing up.

"What're you doing?" Sirius hissed.

Harry didn't answer, but instead spoke to Dumbledore. "I would like to tell these people some things about Sirius."

"So would I," Ella added, standing up as well.

"Go right ahead," Dumbledore replied, nodding to them.

"The first thing is that Sirius was my dad's best friend. Now, I don't really remember my dad, but by what I've heard, I'm sure he wouldn't be a best friend with a murderer.

"The second thing; Sirius is my godfather. Don't be so surprised," he said, seeing many peoples' faces. "If he was my dad's best friend, why wouldn't he be my godfather? Again, I don't think my dad would appoint a murderer as my godfather.

"A third thing; Sirius is one of the best men I have ever met. He is brave, he will not break, and he will do anything to protect those he loves. I know some of you might believe other than that, but it's true.

"Ella? I believe you wanted to say something?" Harry said, turning to her. Everyone was still silent, and Sirius's face was tinted red from its usual pale color.

"Yes, I do." Harry sat down.

"You know, what he said about Sirius not breaking, and doing anything to protect those he loves, is true.

"I was with him when he was tortured by Voldemort. Everyday, without fail, Voldemort's minions would come to our cell and torture us, hoping to get information." Ella's voice started to break, but she coughed and kept going. "I was almost ready to tell them, but seeing Sirius keep his mouth shut, made me keep mine shut. He only opened his mouth to shoot insults at Wormtail and the other boy -- and talk to me.

"He told never give up, never break, always stand for what you believe in. And I did so, because of him.

"Another thing I wanted to say is that Sirius Black is my father. I only found out this morning, but I believe him. He says he never told me, because he wanted to protect me. Again, I believe him.

"Sirius Black is a wonderful man. Many people are strong-willed, but I doubt any are as strong-willed as Sirius. He walks proud, he cannot break, he supports what he believes, he cares about many people, he is brave, he is loyal--just try to be like him. No one can truly be like him; that is impossible.

"But just try. Try to be like Sirius."

At this, Ella sat down.

Ch. 21

A month later, Harry, Ella, Ron and Hermione all got their O.W.L.s back. Each had scraped a few handfuls, and Hermione had gotten the most.

Their trunks were crammed, ready to be deposited onto the train, and they were all going down to the Great Hall to the Farewell Feast.

The weather had become sweltering, and all anyone wanted to do was sit outside on the lawns with a large pitcher of pumpkin juice. But instead they were forced to stay inside and work. But tonight, after the Feast, everyone got to go outside and play or walk or do whatever.

Harry walked in and sat down, followed by Ella, Sirius, Ron, and Hermione. Everyone was talking, excited about leaving tomorrow. The Slytherins sulked at their table. Harry was glad that he got to go to Sirius's, but was sort of disappointed that he couldn't go to Ron's.

The Hall was decorated in the red and gold of Gryffindor, since they had won the House Cup. Behind the Head Table the towering gold Gryffindor lion stood.

After a few minutes, Dumbledore stood up. Everyone went quiet.

"Another year, gone," he said. "Congratulations to Gryffindor on winning the House Cup for yet another year."

There were cheers from the Gryffindor table. "Yes, yes, well done, well done. And I would like to congratulate all the fifth year students on their outstanding O.W.L. scores.

"As you know, we elect prefects each year. Last year we did not, because of special circumstances. Therefore we did not have as many prefects this year.

"But I shall tell you all now who are the prefects for each house. There will be double the amount, because of the fourth and fifth years being elected.

"I shall begin with Ravenclaw. The fifth year prefects are Padma Patil, Mandy Brocklehurst, Terry Boot, and Adam Briggs."

There was cheering. "The prefects for Hufflepuff will be Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Ernie Macmillian."

More cheers."The prefects for Slytherin are Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, Vincent Crabbe, and Millicent Bulstrode.''

"What? Those guys are prefects?'' said Ron as the Slytherins clapped. "I guess they had slim pickings, but they could have at least picked some smart people.'' There was now a sudden silence and tension in the air. It was only Gryffindor left.

"And the prefects for Gryffindor are Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, Ella Deprive, and Harry Potter."

There was an explosion at the Gryffindor table as the four mentioned sunk down to hide their faces.

"Now now, quiet please!" Dumbledore said. "I still have to announce the fourth year prefects." Everyone did quiet down.

"This time we shall begin with Gryffindor. The fourth year prefects are Colin Creevey, Ginny Weasley, Erin Callahan, and Gregory Emerson." There were more cheers.

He listed off the Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin prefects. After one last cheer, he called for silence.

"Now, I only have four more words to say to you. Tuck in, and good-bye!"

The plates filled before them, and they did tuck in. Especially Sirius.

When the last of the dessert had faded away from the plates, Professor Dumbledore stood.

"Now, all of you! Go outside! Play! Run! Yell! Play pranks! Do anything you want! Just please, keep it safe and outside."

Many of the younger students instantly jumped up and ran out the doors. Others followed by walking.

Dean got a few other Muggle-borns into a game of soccer with an overfilled Quaffle. A few other younger Muggle-borns started a game of tag. Their shrieks and laughter sounded throughout the grounds. Many sat or walked together and talked.

Fred and George bewitched a Beater stick to act like a Bludger, hitting people, teacher or a student alike. After that little bout of mischief they tried to sneak off to Hogsmeade to sell their special effects treats to Honeydukes. Unfortunately, Professor McGonagall caught them, and grabbing each by the ear, dragged them up to the castle and gave them a detention, for bewitching the Beater stick and trying to sneak off.

Harry, Ella, Ron, Hermione, and Sirius walked in a group and when they got outside they found a tree to sit under and talk. During a lull in their conversations, Ella asked, "Does anyone want to play soccer?"

"Don't know how," Ron and Harry said together.

"I'll play," Hermione said, standing up and brushing grass of her bottom.

"Great."

They both then ran over to where they were playing soccer. Ron and Harry watched them play, trying to figure out how to play.

After a few minutes, Ron said, "I think you basically just kick the ball and try and get it into the other team's net."

"That's what I was thinking too."

Harry and Ron looked at each other. "You wanna try it?" asked Ron.

"Sure."

They stood up and ran over to the field, leaving Sirius by himself. But soon afterwards Dumbledore joined Sirius.

"So, Sirius, Ella and Harry shall be moving in with you?" Dumbledore said.

"I hope so. I'm not sure how to tell his aunt and uncle--" Sirius said.

"You don't need to. They know that he is not going home to them after the school year is over with. Other than that, they do not really have to know anything."

"Do they really hate Harry that much? I've heard about them from Harry, but honestly...they don't even care where he goes?"

"Not really."

"Okay. But how are we getting Harry's stuff from Ron's to my home? And Ella's from America?"

"I believe Arthur Weasley shall be bringing Harry's belongings...and I have arranged with a Muggle friend of mine to bring Ella's belongings with her when she comes to visit me, by means of flight."

"Muggles can fly?" Sirius asked, a very puzzled look on his face.

"No, they use gasoline and engines to power vehicles that will go into the air, much like a Muggle car."

"Like the flying car Arthur was fined for?"

"Yes, but much bigger, and with wings. And I mean much, much bigger."

"Ah." Dumbledore and Sirius then sat in silence for a while.

"Harry really is growing up, isn't he Albus?" Sirius said, watching Harry as he made the Quaffle soar across the field with a powerful kick.

"Yes. He's not a little boy anymore. He has been through so much that no boy his age should go through. Like James and Lily...Voldemort...--"

"No person should go through what he has been through, or what Ella has been through, or any of the other people whose families and lives have been torn apart--why did Voldemort do this? Does he like to destroy people's lives? Does he like wreaking havoc?"

"No one but Voldemort knows that, Sirius. But I have a horrible feeling that he does. A very horrible feeling that he does."

The next morning Harry woke up to Padfoot on his chest, kneading it with his nose down, his thin, needle-like, sharp, claws digging in, purring loudly.

"Ow! Get off, Padfoot!" Harry picked Padfoot up and set him down on the ground, then sat up. Silk-Shadow sleeping down at the end of his bed. Was that all Silk-Shadow did? He shook his head and threw back the hangings on his bed.

Bright light shone straight into his eyes, making him squint. He put his glasses on, and saw Padfoot begin to knead Ella's pillow through the hangings. He grinned, and got out of bed.

He went down to the Common Room, where Sirius had been sleeping the time that he was at Hogwarts. He found Sirius already up.

"Hey Harry. You ready to go home?" Sirius said, when he noticed Harry.

"Yeah."

"Great."

"Ah! You dumb cat! Get off my pillow! I was trying to sleep!" Ella's voice wafted down the stairs. Sirius and Harry looked at each other, and burst out laughing. Five minutes later, Ella came down, Padfoot in her arms. "Harry, you need to control your cat, I swear--" She broke off and let go of Silk-Shadow, who crawled onto her shoulder and stood there.

Harry had fallen to the ground, laughing, upon seeing her, and Sirius had leaned on the edge of a chair to keep himself from falling. Both were holding their guts, and trying to stop laughing so they could breathe.

"What? What's so funny?" Ella asked, unaware that her hair was sticking out at all angles, and her face and arms had red lines from her sheets. Harry just pointed and kept laughing. Sirius couldn't do anything.

"Either tell me now, and stop laughing, or I'll hurt both of you. Very badly. You do not want to see me when I'm angry," Ella said, putting her hands on her hips.

Sirius gained his breath and stopped laughing the best he could. But a few giggles and chuckles escaped him. He just couldn't stop altogether!

"C'mon Harry," chuckle, "stop laughing." A few giggles. "You do not want to see Ella when she's mad. She once," giggle, "got really mad at Malfoy," chuckle, "so when he got close enough," giggle chuckle, "she head-butted him in the nose and broke it. Oh, and Ella, I would take my hair," chuckle, "out of the ponytail if I were you."

Ella took her hair down. It was now not so funny to see her. Tears were leaking out of the corners of Harry's eyes.

But Harry couldn't stop! He was suffocating! He needed to stop and breathe! "Help!" he choked out between a couple giggles. It was like he was under the curse he had put on Draco in the Dueling Club. His laughing was now silent.

"What?"

"Help!" This is not good! This is not good! he wanted to scream. But he couldn't.

"I'm sorry Harry, but I can't hear you. And since you haven't stopped laughing, I'm going to have to beat you up," Ella said, kneeling down.

"No, Ella, kick him! That'll get him to stop laughing!" someone cried from the stairs. Ella moved, and Harry could see who it was. It was Ron, Hermione and practically the rest of Gryffindor House. They had all woken up, probably at Ella's yell, or just on their own. Some were looking over another's shoulders, trying to see what the hold up was on the stairs.

"Yeah kick him!" a few other people cried out. All were joking. But Ella wasn't.

Tears were now flowing freely out of the corners of Harry's eyes, and his face was turning red. "No! Don't hurt him!" Ginny cried out. "You'll just make it even harder for him to breathe!"

She pushed her way through the mass of students and kneeled down next to Harry. He was shaking, laughing silently. "Help!" he gasped. He couldn't say anything more than one syllable long. Hermione and Ron came over, and some of the students left, but most stayed.

"We have to get him to stop laughing. Think of something sad, Harry! Think of You-Know-Who! Think of your parents! Think of Wormtail! Think of -- think of -- torture!" Ron cried.

Harry laughing ceased a little as he thought of everything sad. Why didn't he think of this before?

"C'mon Harry. You can do it! Go on!" Dean said.

The laughing increased then decreased again. He kept thinking of Voldemort. Sadness. Sadness. He needed sadness!

What he really needed was a Dementor--no! What was he thinking? He didn't need a Dementor!

He laughing ceased fully. He hiccoughed a couple times and breathed deeply. Great. This was the last day of school, and it was already going bad. He had just humiliated himself in front of the entire Gryffindor House. No doubt this was going to be spread around the school by the time they got to King's Cross. The Slytherins would be mocking him by the time the lunch trolley came.

He lay spread-eagled on the floor and giggled once, twice, and then hiccoughed several times. He gathered his breath. "Why," deep breath, "did," another deep breath, "that," breath, "happen?" Harry asked. Assured that he was fine, everyone began to clear out to go down to breakfast, their last meal at Hogwarts.

"I have no clue. Did someone put the Tickling Charm on you?" Hermione said.

"I don't know. I didn't hear anyone," Harry said, now able to talk normal.

"Neither did I," Ella and Sirius chorused.

"Maybe... it was just uncontrollable laughter!" Ron said. Harry chuckled a bit, but stopped quickly. It now hurt to laugh.

"No! Don't make me laugh again! I might die!"

"What are you all doing here?" they heard a crisp voice say. They looked. It was Professor McGonagall, coming through the portrait hole. "You should be down at breakfast!"

"We weren't hungry," Harry said. "And I don't think I can eat. My stomach is tired." He stood up, and realized that a few other teachers had come in through the portrait hole.

"And why is that, might I ask?"

"I came down, and I started laughing after seeing Ella, and then, I couldn't stop! So then I was like, laughing, and laughing, and then everyone else came down. And then Ella told me to stop and I started thinking of sad things and I stopped!

"I just explained that like a girl, didn't I?" Harry asked Hermione and Ella.

They both nodded. "Oh great."

"Well, if none of you are hungry, than maybe you wish to join me and the rest of the staff in carrying the trunks to the train?" McGonagall said.

"Sure!" the kids chorused.

"Minerva, I'm going to breakfast. They might not be hungry, but I am," Sirius said. He left and went through the portrait hole.

"Well, since we have enough teachers for Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter, please go down to the Slytherin Common room. Miss Granger and Miss Deprive, or should I say Miss Black, please stay here. All of you go get your wands. You will need the Levitation Spell."

"Yes ma'am," the four chorused.

They went upstairs and got their wands, Ron grumbling about having to go to the Slytherin Common Room.

They split apart at the bottom of the stairs. Ella and Hermione went over to McGonagall, and Harry and Ron left through the portrait hole.

They walked past the full Great Hall down to the dungeons. It was freezing down there, even though it was June.

"Damn, you need a frigging cloak down here," Ron said, raising his hands to cover his arms. "Now, which way is the Slytherin Common room? Do you remember?"

"Nope," Harry said, shaking his head. Wasn't it this way...?" He looked down one corridor.

"Potter! Weasley! What are you doing down here?" Snape called.

"Professor McGonagall -- she said to help with trunks -- " Harry said.

"Ah, then come."

Snape led them to the gargoyle that guarded the Slytherin Common room (down the opposite hallway Harry was looking down). Outside the door a few trunks were piled, ready to be taken to the Great Hall.

"You two shall be bringing the trunks to the Entrance Hall for Filch and the train attendants to take on the train. When you are finished with that, return to the Great Hall."

"Okay," Ron and Harry chorused. They took out their wands as Snape disappeared into the Slytherin Common room.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" they said together. All the trunks lifted off the ground to hover three feet about the ground. They raised their wands higher, and the trunks went higher.

"Let's go," Harry said, walking down the corridor. "Might as well get this over with."

"You got us into it," Ron said, following.

They got back into the Entrance hall and dumped the trunks in front of the door. They then went back, and kept doing this until the teachers came out of the Common room and escorted them to the Entrance Hall. It was now 11:00. People were flooding out the door to the Hogsmeade station. Ron and Harry met up with Ella and Hermione, and they went as well.

On the ride home, Ella was rather subdued, as well as Sirius. Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were rambunctious, and acting like dorks. When the train finally pulled into King's Cross station, they clambered off. After saying their goodbyes, they went back into the Muggle world.

Harry and Ella looked around, and Sirius spotted a Ministry car. They packed their stuff in the trunk, and they went down the street to Sirius's house.

Harry was finally going to have a home.

THE END!!!!!!!!