Revelations and Romance

Revelations and Romance chapter 13/25

13: Suspicion

February 6th

'Harry. Harry, wake up, you're going to miss breakfast.'

Harry groaned and opened his eyes, to see Ron looking concerned. He gradually realised he was lying on his bed, still dressed.

'What am I doing ... oh. I just walked out on you all, didn't I?'

'Yes,' said Ron. 'It doesn't matter. Come on, let's go and get some breakfast. It's Sunday morning, and you missed dinner last night.'

'I'll change first -- I'll be down in a few minutes.'

Ron nodded and left the dormitory.

When Harry got down to the common room, he found Ron, Hermione and Ginny still there, waiting for him. The four of them started downstairs towards the Great Hall.

'I'm sorry about yesterday,' he told them as they walked. 'I did mean to come back later.'

'Was it because we had both sets of parents here?' asked Hermione. Harry nodded. 'I'm sorry,' she said. 'You said it didn't bother you much, you were happy for me.'

'I meant it. Just thinking about it wasn't too bad. It just got a bit too much yesterday.'

'Why was it so bad?' asked Ginny. 'You've seen our parents around a lot when you've stayed with us.'

Harry explained how seeing Hermione, an only child, with her parents, came closer to his situation than the Weasleys did.

'So that's why you were never as bothered at the Burrow?' Ginny asked.

'Don't take this the wrong way, but Hermione does seem to be a lot closer to her parents than your family are.'

'Just as well,' said Ron. 'Imagine how bad the rumours would get if you had!'

'I've stayed at your home, and there's no rumours about us,' said Harry, grinning.

'Oh, I've heard some,' said Hermione.

'You have?'

'Hermione and I were swapping rumours before we ...' Ron suddenly remembered Ginny was with them, and changed to, '... opened our Christmas presents. It seems that I'm gay and in love with you, and Hermione's pregnant by you. You don't have to believe these, of course.'

'Thanks for the option,' said Harry drily.

'Those are just silly!' said Ginny.

Returning to the subject, Harry added, 'Of course, if my parents were alive, I might not be an only child. I don't know if they meant to have more.'

'I bet they wouldn't have had as many as our parents,' said Ginny.

'Were any of your parents upset about me walking out and not saying good-bye?' Harry asked.

'Mine were surprised,' said Hermione, 'but Ginny guessed you were upset, and said why. Ron wanted to go and see that you were all right, but we decided you probably wanted to be alone.'

'Yes, I did. Thanks for leaving me to think.'

'I said a few other things, too,' Ginny started, but they'd reached the Great Hall, and she stopped talking.

'Ginny decided to show Mum and Dad how well she could do a Summoning Charm,' said Ron, grinning as he put food on his plate.

'George suggested she could Summon his Charms book, from their usual table,' said Hermione.

'So she did, and it flew elegantly across the room and into her hand. An almost perfect charm,' said Ron, still grinning.

'Almost?' asked Harry.

'It's not my fault if Olwen doesn't look where she's going,' muttered Ginny.

'Not her again?'

'Hit her right on the arm, when she walked in front of it,' said Ron.

'You don't like Olwen, do you?' Harry asked Ginny.

'I do! She's just unlucky,' insisted Ginny.

After breakfast, they all went for a walk around the lake.

'A nice romantic walk,' said Ginny, grinning. 'I wish it could be.'

'I still don't dare to let anyone else know how I feel,' said Harry. 'I just hope that anyone who sees you sitting next to me thinks you're there because of Ron, not me.'

'I could be offended by that!' she said. Seeing Harry was about to answer, she added, 'But I know what you mean. I wish you didn't have to worry, but it's nice of you to worry about me.'

They walked on in silence for a while, then Harry asked, 'Did I miss anything by leaving you? Apart from dinner, and I wasn't hungry anyway.'

'You did,' said Ron. 'You missed Ginny's confession.'

'What have you been doing, apart from hitting Olwen with books?' Harry asked Ginny.

'You know.'

'Mum was saying how nice everything was here, and that it was much better than some of the things she'd been imagining,' said Hermione. 'You know, like the troll, and the Basilisk, and having a werewolf for a teacher.'

'Then Ginny told them she was sorry about the Basilisk attacking Hermione,' said Ron.

'What did they say to that?'

'They thanked her for saying it -- they just thought she was being sympathetic,' said Hermione. 'Ron, his parents and I all started talking about other things, which didn't work very well, as we were all talking at once.'

'So they stopped, and I explained what I'd done, and why,' Ginny said.

'In front of everyone?' asked Harry, shocked by this.

'Fred and George had gone off to do something silly. Mum and Dad already knew anyway, so it was only Hermione's parents who didn't,' she explained.

'Were you practising for when you tell Penny? I think I wish I'd been there. "Hello, I'm Ginny and I attacked your daughter with a Basilisk." I can't believe you told them,' said Harry.

'It's all right for you,' she said quietly. 'I know you could have died then as well, but you don't have anything to be guilty about now. You killed it, you killed Riddle, and you rescued me, so you're the hero. I'm the villain, and I can't cope with feeling guilty that nobody knows that.' She sighed. 'I thought back then that I'd feel better after the holidays, but I didn't realise that people would think I was just captured at random, and feel sorry for me. I don't deserve it.'

'But you aren't going to tell anyone else, are you?' asked Ron in alarm.

'I won't tell everybody. But if I tell Penny, I've got to tell Percy too, or let her tell him. If I tell Percy, how can I not tell Bill and Charlie?'

'You're not going to tell the twins, then?' Harry asked.

'I don't know. I mean, if I tell everyone else ... I won't tell them before they leave Hogwarts, anyway. They won't be able to tease me as much then. I ought to tell Colin, too.'

'You may not have been captured at random by Riddle, but it isn't your fault Malfoy's dad deliberately targeted you,' said Harry. 'You do deserve to have people feeling sorry for you, even if they don't know the right reason.'

'Can we tell everyone it was Mr Malfoy's fault?'

'I don't think we can. We can't actually prove it, and if we say something we can't prove, there might be trouble.'

'That's a shame,' she said.

They'd gone about three-quarters of the way around the lake by now. Ron pointed to an approaching figure. 'Better not talk about it any more now.'

As they got closer, they realised the other person was Raine. She greeted everyone, and walked along with them. 'I had an owl from Sara. Her father's getting better now.'

'Oh, good,' said Ginny. 'Is she coming back soon, or staying to look after him?'

'I don't know how we'd ever even start to hide everything like that at the Burrow!'

'Maybe that's just as well, if she went crazy when she found out.'

'That's the other thing. Somehow, Sara found out that it wasn't her father being a wizard that was a problem -- it was the first time Sara used accidental magic. Her mother was shocked, but her father was happy, of course. It was because Sara was doing something impossible and her father wasn't worried, that her mother went crazy. Her father didn't want Sara to know the truth, and now that she does, she feels awful. She put her mother into a hospital, and because of that, now her father's in one, too.'

'Oh, no. Poor Sara,' said Ginny.

'I don't know how I'd cope if anything else happened to either of my parents,' said Raine quietly. 'My mother's already been crippled.'

Harry, Ron and Hermione went back up to the common room, while Ginny and Raine stayed outside, still talking about Sara and others in their year.

'Everything's about parents, this weekend,' said Harry, as they sat in their usual chairs and got out the homework they hadn't finished yet. 'I can't help wondering if there is some connection between You-Know-Who and Sara's mother attacking her father.'

'Still on your "something must be happening" quest?' asked Ron.

'Yes, and I'm serious. In our first year, Quirrell was spying for him before being taken over, in the second year -- well, another possession by Riddle.'

'But nothing in our third year,' said Ron.

'No, nothing then -- though you could count Scabbers. He even stopped you two talking to each other,' Harry pointed out. 'Then Moody was a spy. I trusted him; I thought he was trying to help me.'

'We all did,' said Hermione. 'He even fooled Dumbledore.'

'That's why I'm wondering now if somebody I trust is really a spy for him, again. Someone who could put a spell on me to make me so suspicious.'

'It can't be Lavender, then,' said Ron, grinning. 'Do you really think that's what You-Know-Who is doing? He's tried it with Quirrell and Moody, and you're still OK, aren't you? He's going to try something different, using Malfoy's dad, or tricking Fudge, I bet.'

'Are you thinking of anyone in particular?' Hermione asked Harry.

'No. It could be just about anyone.'

'But who could get close enough to you to be an effective spy?' asked Ron.

Harry shrugged. 'It would have to be somebody I didn't suspect, who I spend enough time with. Maybe Hermione could cast a spell on me in a DADA lesson?'

'Me?' asked Hermione incredulously.

Harry was deep in thought, examining the idea, and didn't notice the tone of her voice. 'I wouldn't ever suspect you. But you're the only pupil I know of who can keep up with me in duelling, I spend most of each day near you, except when you and Ron go off together, and you're certainly clever enough that Voldemort would want to recruit you, if he could get over your being Muggle-born.' He suddenly realised that Hermione looked as though he'd hit her. 'Oh, I ... I'm just thinking about ... well, possibilities. I don't mean you'd ever do something like that!'

Hermione was clearly unconvinced, and looked upset. Ron put his arm around her.

Harry got out of his chair and went over to her. She was looking downward to hide her expression, but he knelt beside her chair so that she was looking at him. 'I'm sorry, Hermione. I really am; I know you wouldn't do that, you just couldn't. Can't you just remember the bit about being clever enough, and forget the rest?' He thought she looked a bit less unhappy. 'Look, I ...' He faltered. Ron was looking from one to the other, unwilling to interrupt Harry.

'You think I'm under the Imperius Curse, don't you?' she asked in a toneless voice.

Harry put his hand on hers and continued, 'No. I think you'd act differently if you were. You've always helped me. Even with something like the Firebolt, you were just worried that it might be dangerous. I never did actually apologise for that, either. I'm sorry I was so upset about it at the time. I knew you meant well even then, I just wouldn't admit it.' Hermione gave him a half-smile. He asked, 'Am I nearly forgiven?'

'Nearly,' she said with a nod. Now she was smiling.

'Thank you.' Harry sat on the floor. 'I just wish I knew what he was planning. It's driving me crazy. When I said at Christmas I thought you were in danger just by being my friends, I didn't mean in danger of me accusing you of things. I'm just getting suspicious of everyone and everything now.'

'You mean, you're suspicious of your sudden suspiciousness?' asked Ron, trying to lighten the mood. 'Do you think that might be part of You-Know-Who's plot?'

Harry laughed. 'I just wish that he'd drop dead so I could get on with my life.'

'Not until she's sixteen,' Ron said reprovingly. Harry stuck his tongue out at him.

'I could concentrate on my O.W.Ls before Ginny's sixteen -- is that all right with you?' He added, 'It would be something if Fudge would just believe You-Know-Who's back, because then the Ministry would be putting all their efforts into stopping him.'

'They did that before,' said Ron softly. 'And they didn't manage to stop him; it took a fifteen-month-old baby to do that.'

*

After meeting up with Ginny again for lunch, the group returned to the common room, and saw that there was a new notice pinned up.

Quidditch Reserve Seeker

Trials for a reserve Seeker will be held as part of the normal Thursday afternoon practice at a quarter past three.

Angelina

PS To anyone who is already a reserve Chaser , a reserve Beater and a reserve Keeper -- please don't take part in these trials!

Ginny looked at Ron and grinned. 'This means you!'

'Yes, I got it. Everyone's a joker. She's spending too much time around Fred and George.'

'Especially Fred.'

*

As they were walking back to the castle after Monday's Herbology lesson, Harry asked, 'I suppose you want to borrow my Cloak again?'

'No, not today,' answered Hermione.

Ron said, 'We're giving it a rest for a few days again.'

'Yeah, so that you'll be even more enthusiastic afterwards, like last time. I realised that's why you did it.'

Ron and Hermione grinned at each other, but didn't comment.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny sat in the common room doing their homework until dinner, and then returned to it afterwards.

'I wish there weren't so many Goblins rebelling,' said Ginny, putting her quill down. 'Why don't we have lessons about Harry defeating You-Know-Who instead -- or is that what we'll learn in the seventh year?'

'Ask the twins,' suggested Ron. 'Maybe they managed to stay awake during a lesson.'

'If we did learn about that, I suppose I'd have to listen to what he did in my first year, without reacting.'

'Fall asleep, then you won't need to worry. That's what I do.'

'That's not going to get you an O.W.L. though,' said Hermione.

'Anyway, I'm glad I did tell your parents,' said Ginny.

'Don't mention it too much near Harry, you might set him off on accusing people again,' Hermione told her.

'What?' Ginny asked.

'Oh, Hermione!' said Ron.

Harry sighed, but couldn't blame her. Ginny looked at him in concern, and then Ron explained what Hermione had meant.

'Well ... he's just worried. He's worried for you too. At least if Hermione was a spy for You-Know-Who, she'd be safer from him,' Ginny pointed out. Ron frowned at her, but Hermione just shrugged and went back to doing her homework.

'You don't need to defend me, Ginny. I don't even know what made me say it,' Harry told her. 'It was stupid.'

*

In Tuesday's Potions class, Harry, Ron and Hermione sat at a table and got their books out ready for the lesson. Snape looked at them. 'No, I don't think so, Potter, regardless of your relationship with Granger. You two stay there. Potter -- you sit at that table.'

Harry did as he was told, but he was baffled by what Snape had meant. At lunch, the other two were just as baffled.

'If anything, you and Hermione are less close than you were in Friday's lesson,' said Ron, frowning. 'Do you think he's been sniffing too many of his own potions?'

Ginny giggled.

'I don't understand what he meant either,' said Hermione. 'I don't think we're less close though, I'm just still a bit upset.'

'I don't blame you,' said Harry. 'Why does Snape think anything's changed, though? Do you think there might be a potion to make people more suspicious, and he knows I've had some?'

'Good idea,' said Ron. 'Be suspicious of Snape instead, he deserves it more than anyone.'

Harry grinned at him.

*

During breakfast on Wednesday, an owl brought Hermione a letter from her parents. She read it, and gasped, staring at the words as she reread it more slowly.

'It isn't bad news, is it?' asked Harry, concerned.

'No, it's good. Wow.'

'What sort of good news makes you look so surprised?' asked Ron, as Hermione folded the letter back up and put it into a pocket.

'After watching the Quidditch, they decided I do need a broom of my own, and they've put enough money in Gringotts, in my name, that I can get one by owl order.'

'After watching you show them how well you could fly, you mean,' said Harry. 'Good. What sort of broom can you get?'

'I'll have to check the order form again,' she replied. 'I can't remember all the prices.'

'Don't get a Shooting Star!' said Ron.

'I still remember a flying lesson on one of those. I am not getting one!'

'They're only available second-hand, aren't they? I thought the company went out of business,' said Harry.

'It deserved to,' said Ron with feeling. 'Have they given you enough money to buy a new broom, then?'

'It looks like it,' said Hermione.

*

The last lesson of the day was DADA. Harry and Ron met up with Hermione again, after she'd spent her free period in the library. The two boys sat watching the others trying to resist. They weren't doing very well at it.

McCardle shook her head. 'Perhaps you need another example of someone resisting it. Potter, would you come over here please? Now, watch carefully, all of you -- especially his eyes -- and try to relate this to the instructions I gave you. Imperio.'

Harry heard a voice in his head again: Lie down on the floor ... lie down now ... He thought 'Why should I do that?' but then it seemed like a good idea, and he lay down. He heard Hermione gasp, and saw McCardle looking at him, puzzled. He got back to his feet again. 'Sorry, Professor, I don't know what happened there.'

'I don't understand why you failed to resist it; once you've learnt how, you shouldn't forget. You were trying to resist it?'

Harry nodded, feeling as puzzled as she looked.

McCardle tried again with Ron, who resisted it with no problem. Now Harry had to practise resisting, just as the rest of the class did. Hermione was the next to successfully resist it and, by the end of the lesson, Seamus was also able to. McCardle asked Harry to stay behind at the end of the lesson.

'Potter, I do not understand this. It is extremely unusual for someone to resist the Imperius Curse and then subsequently to fail to resist, unless the person casting the second Curse is much stronger than the first.'

'I don't know why I can't do it any more,' said Harry glumly.

'Nor do I. The most likely reasons I can think of are that you are already under the Imperius Curse, without my knowing it, or that some potion or charm is weakening your will. Are you routinely taking some potion, or any Muggle drugs?'

Harry shook his head. 'I did worry that Voldemort might be planning something against me again.'

'Professor Dumbledore also fears that. I will talk to him about this. You may go.'

Harry told Hermione and Ron about this conversation on the way up to the common room.

'At least I'm not the only one who is feeling suspicious,' he said.

Hermione frowned. 'Harry, are you worried about something? Something new since the lesson where you could resist it, I mean.'

'Only You-Know-Who, and that hasn't changed -- except that I've started wondering why I haven't seen what he's plotting yet. And I'm worried now that I didn't manage to resist Imperius even once today. You don't suppose she was trying to make me think I could do it, before?'

'That would mean that Crouch and You-Know-Who weren't really trying, either,' Hermione reminded him. 'I suppose Crouch might not have been, so that you'd get a false sense of security, but You-Know-Who wouldn't do that, would he?'

'Oh, of course. So I could do it, but now I can't. Why? What's wrong with me?'

'Maybe you should get Madam Pomfrey to check you out,' said Ron.

'What would I do, go to her and tell her I can't resist the Imperius Curse, so I think I'm sick?' asked Harry. 'I don't think anyone would take that seriously.'

*

At the end of Thursday's Transfiguration lesson, McGonagall asked Harry and Hermione to wait behind.

'Prefect stuff,' said Ron with a grin, and waited for them outside in the corridor.

'It has nothing to do with Prefect matters. May I ask, have things changed between you?'

'I said something really stupid and upset Hermione,' said Harry.

'I know why he said it, though,' Hermione added quickly. 'I've forgiven him.'

'That wasn't quite what I meant. I know that when I asked you before, you made it clear that you were just friends.'

'We're still just friends -- if I stop upsetting her, at least,' said Harry.

'Then you certainly aren't engaged?'

'Engaged?' they both echoed. Harry added, 'Why would you think we're engaged? We're not.'

'There is gossip that you knelt on one knee, took Miss Granger's hand and proposed to her, then she said yes. This seemed unlikely to me, and I thought that I had better check to see if you knew of it.'

The two pupils looked blankly at each other, then Harry realised. 'No! That was when I upset her. I knelt beside her to apologise. I think she said yes when I asked her if she forgave me.'

'He knelt on both knees, so whoever might be spreading these rumours isn't even very observant,' said Hermione. She sounded quite calm, but Harry knew her better than that, and could hear the suppressed anger in her voice. He hoped McGonagall couldn't.

'The two of you do seem to be the subject of a remarkable number of rumours,' said McGonagall, shaking her head. 'I am sorry for delaying your lunch.'

They told Ron what she'd said as they were walking down to the Great Hall. Hermione was no longer trying to suppress her anger.

'What do you think, Harry? Gravicrus? Nullsenti? What would be the best one?' Hermione had caught up with her DADA homework in the previous day's free period.

'If you tell me what they are, I'll help you pick one,' said Ron.

'Gravicrus makes your limbs feel really heavy. You can hardly stand up, or lift your arms to point a wand,' said Harry.

'I've changed my mind. Nullsenti wouldn't be any good,' said Hermione. 'It takes away all your senses, and Lavender doesn't have any sense.'

'You must be feeling better,' said Ron, smiling at her.

'It's all these happy thoughts,' she replied, smiling back.

'There's Lapiform,' suggested Harry. 'I mean, if it doesn't upset Ginny.'

'I'd like a clue, please,' said Ron.

'Ginny's guess was right. It does turn a person to stone.'

'You're really getting into some nasty curses!' exclaimed Ron. 'I didn't think she could have been right about that.'

'Lapiform could be a good one,' said Hermione thoughtfully. 'Finite doesn't work on it -- the spell lasts for as long as you decided when you cast the spell.'

'If you're strong enough to cast that powerful a spell,' said Harry. 'Which I suppose you are.'

'It would be even stronger if we did it together,' said Hermione. 'The gossip was about both of us.'

'OK.'

'This is just talk, right?' asked Ron. 'I mean, you aren't really going to risk being expelled just for that gossip?'

'We could just tell her about the nice new spell we learnt,' said Harry. 'Then she can worry about it. But if we never actually do anything about it, she'll stop worrying.'

'I suppose so,' said Ron. 'Oh, and this must be what Snape meant when he made you move to a different table.'

'Oh, right. Yes, and he left you two lovers unchaperoned,' said Harry with a grin.

'I'm sure Snape would hate that if he knew,' said Hermione. 'A pure-blood and a Muggle-born in love -- Slytherins hate that sort of thing.'

They sat next to Ginny for lunch, and told her about the gossip.

'What are you going to do about it?' she asked, annoyed.

Harry hesitated. 'Your guess about Lapiform was right. It really Petrifies you, not like Petrificus; you don't stay conscious with Lapiform. Er ... would it bother you if we just threatened Lavender and Parvati with that?'

'No, it wouldn't. Just don't Transfigure yourselves into Basilisks, please.'

'Not until our seventh year, anyway,' said Hermione. She'd almost finished her lunch; she hadn't put much food on her plate anyway.

'Why seventh?' asked Ron.

'We should start Human Transfiguration next year, and by seventh year we might be able to manage something that advanced. I did tell you we start it next year.'

'What was it like, being Petrified?' Ginny asked her.

'Nothing, really. It's painful when it happens, but then there's just nothing until the potion to cure you, and that's also painful.' Hermione chuckled. 'You're not going to ask me to Petrify you to make you feel better, are you?'

'Sssh!' hissed Ron.

'Not until after the Quidditch training, anyway,' replied Ginny.

'You are just joking, aren't you?' asked Harry. Then he noticed Lavender and Parvati getting up to leave. 'Oh, Lavender!'

Both girls stopped and looked at him.

'We learnt a nice new spell in DADA,' he told them.

'How would you like to be immortalised as statues?' asked Hermione. Lavender and Parvati frowned at her.

'You know, turned to stone like Hermione was in our second year?' Harry explained. 'We've learnt how to do it ourselves.'

Without saying anything, both girls hurried out of the Great Hall, almost running.

'I think that may have worked,' said Ron. 'And you didn't even have to get expelled.'

'I hope it did,' said Hermione, finishing her lunch. 'Now I want to go and look up a birthday present idea in the library.' She grabbed her bag and left the Hall too.

'What sort of birthday present can you find in a library?' asked Ginny. 'I suppose she means for Ron.'

'I don't know, and I suppose so, in that order,' said Harry. 'Has she said anything to you about it, Ron?'

'She did say she's had a nicely nasty idea for my birthday, but she wouldn't explain.'

Hermione wouldn't explain after meeting them again for the Charms lesson. When Harry and Ron asked her, she smiled and said, 'Wait and see.'

'One point up for Gryffindor, anyway,' said Ron happily as the three of them headed for the Quidditch stadium for practice and the Seeker trials. Ginny was already there, as were several other Gryffindors who were either going to have a trial or cheer on their friends. Lee was in the commentator's box, but only Professor McGonagall was with him.

Lee raised the megaphone and said, 'Angelina says that since the team did so well on Saturday, she's going to do the Seeker trials first and then see if there's any time for the new reserve Seeker to practise with the team. To speed up her decision, all the Seekers will have to use the same school broom -- sorry to those of you who'd arranged to borrow Harry's broom.'

'Have they?' asked Ginny in surprise.

Harry shook his head. 'No, I'm going to be flying it.' He noticed that Angelina had two brooms with her, ready for the final trial. He waited for Lee to announce what the trials involved, although Angelina had already discussed it with him.

'This is how the trials will work. First, Angelina will just throw small balls into the air for the candidate to catch. If they manage them all, they go on with the first heat. Any candidate who can't catch them isn't likely to be a good Seeker. Angelina will release the Snitch, then blow her whistle twice. The first means that the candidate should take off and try to catch the Snitch. The second lets Harry do the same.'

'That's a good idea,' said Hermione. 'Otherwise you'd always catch it first.'

'The aim is that any candidate who manages to catch the Snitch with that head start will be considered for the final trial. Candidates who don't manage it will go into the second heat for another chance. If Harry beats all the candidates anyway, they'll all get a second chance with more of a start.'

'Our first candidate -- DEENA ASTIN.'

Harry didn't recognise this candidate. He guessed that she was probably a second-year.

Deena caught the balls easily enough, and then Angelina released the Snitch, waited for a minute for it to get out of sight, and blew the whistle. Deena rose up into the air, looking around wildly, darting back and forth to try to see the golden gleam. Harry spotted it lurking behind one of the middle goalposts. When the second whistle blew, he headed straight for it, grabbed it and returned it to Angelina. Deena landed sadly. 'Oh well, I can try again,' she said, handing the broom back to Angelina.

'Candidate number two -- SIMON CADMAN,' announced Lee.

Harry recognised him as one of the boys in Ginny's year. Simon also managed to catch all the balls. Simon rose into the air on the first whistle, and flew in a slow circle, looking around for the Snitch. Neither he nor Harry had spotted it before the second whistle blew, and Harry flew up and darted about as if avoiding Bludgers, gradually increasing his height. He finally saw the Snitch hovering low in the Ravenclaw stand, and swooped towards it, reaching it before Simon got halfway there.

'Candidate number three -- DENNIS CREEVEY.'

Harry thought that Dennis had a much better chance this time than he'd had in the Beater trials, and Dennis proved him right by not only passing the first test, but also swooping to catch the Snitch behind Angelina before she'd blown the whistle for the second time.

'Our fourth candidate -- OLWEN EMRYS. No Bludgers this time, so you should be all right!'

Olwen glared at Lee as she took the broom and mounted it. She caught the balls without a problem, but hadn't spotted the Snitch before the second whistle, and Harry flew in a wide circle before Olwen saw it flying high above. She headed for it, and Harry followed suit, getting there just before her. They both landed.

'Should that count as Olwen's?' Harry asked Angelina. 'She saw it first, but she didn't have a Firebolt.'

'I'll give her partial marks,' she replied.

'With that mysterious conference concluded, it's time for candidate number five -- SEAMUS FINNIGAN.'

Seamus managed the easy part, but then hunted in vain. When Harry flew up to join him, he spotted the Snitch, hiding behind Professor McGonagall. She didn't seem to have noticed, and nor had Seamus. Harry swooped down, called, 'Excuse me, Professor!', grabbed it and pulled his Firebolt up sharply so that he didn't hit the seats behind her.

'You're excused,' she said drily as he flew back to Angelina.

'Now, as our sixth and final candidate, HERMIONE -- sorry, wrong list.'

Harry looked over to see Hermione shaking her head and smiling.

'Our real sixth and final candidate -- SHONA REITH.'

Shona caught all the small balls, then, just as the second whistle blew, Harry spotted the Snitch hovering in front of the Gryffindor lion banner, as if hoping to hide against the gold of the banner. He got to it when Shona had only just seen it.

Angelina was looking at her notes, then levitated a small piece of parchment across to Lee.

'Now for the second heat,' Lee announced. 'DEENA ASTIN.'

Harry beat Deena as easily as he had the first time.

'SIMON CADMAN.'

Harry had no more trouble seeing and catching the Snitch before Simon than on his previous try.

'OLWEN EMRYS.'

Olwen flew around in search of the Snitch, but hadn't caught it by the second whistle. As Harry flew up, she suddenly swooped towards the Hufflepuff stand. Harry copied her; he hadn't got as high, and hadn't seen the Snitch. Just before she got there, however, she pulled her broom up and soared away, having successfully decoyed him. Harry shook his head ruefully, and soared towards the goals at one end, then looked and saw her swooping again. Too late, he realised that this time, she'd caught it.

'SEAMUS FINNIGAN.'

Seamus flew wildly around the pitch, looking down into the stands, but the second whistle blew before he'd seen it. Harry flew in a small circle, and saw the Snitch lurking behind a goalpost again. Seamus didn't react in time, and wasn't even halfway there.

'Finally, SHONA REITH.'

Shona failed to find the Snitch before the second whistle. Harry rose into the air, then saw the Snitch hovering behind Angelina, who was looking at Shona and hadn't seen it either. He flew down to her, said 'Excuse me,' grabbed the Snitch and handed it to her. She checked her watch, made some more notes and levitated another note over to Lee, while Harry went back to sit with the others.

'The second heat hasn't changed anything. The third heat is for Dennis and Olwen only, and involves three chances. You will both start when Angelina blows the whistle, competing against each other to get the Snitch. Harry can have a rest.'

The first time, the two candidates flew around for almost quarter of an hour before Dennis finally spotted the Snitch and caught it. On their second chance, Olwen saw it first, and caught it, without taking as long. The third chance was also short, but this time, Dennis caught it.

'I don't think I need to wait for Angelina to tell me,' said Lee. 'Dennis is the new reserve Seeker, right?' Angelina nodded. 'And that's the end of the trials. Dennis will now be thrown in at the deep end as the reserve team's Seeker in today's practice game. Thank you all for watching.' Lee put down the megaphone.

The team and reserves congratulated Dennis, and then the team played the reserves until Harry caught the Snitch as usual. All six of the Chasers used the slow spinning technique. Paloma had more trouble than Dean with this, and the team beat the reserves by 230 to 30.

After dinner, while they were sitting doing some homework, Seamus came over to the four friends, looking nervous. 'Look, Lavender told me what you were saying to her at lunch. But, you know, she and Parvati didn't spread the rumour about you being engaged. Lavender thinks it was someone in the third year, but doesn't know who it was.'

'Are you saying they're actually innocent?' asked Harry.

'This once, yes. You've got them too scared to spread rumours about you,' Seamus admitted. 'How serious were you about turning her to stone, anyway? I know you have been learning nasty spells for DADA, like Pyroderm, but could you really do that?'

'We were trying to worry her,' said Hermione. 'But if she keeps ignoring us, we'll have to prove that we do mean it.'

'She didn't ignore you! It really wasn't her this time.'

'The other answer is yes, we really have learnt a spell to do that. But we haven't had a chance to practise it yet -- on anyone,' said Harry.

'I don't remember either of you being this cruel to people before. Maybe it's true that being Prefects is going to your heads,' said Seamus, as he walked away from them.

Harry and Hermione looked at each other, both shocked by that parting shot. 'Are we being cruel?' Harry asked.

'I don't think you are,' said Ginny. 'OK, you got the wrong person this time, but it's just because you're worried that Hermione might be attacked, isn't it?'

'You're just defending Harry,' Ron teased her.

Ginny shrugged. 'So, get on with it and defend Hermione!'

Ron laughed. 'You're not cruel to me, Hermione.'

'We need a less-biased person to answer this question,' said Harry thoughtfully.

*

The question of cruelty was still preying on Harry and Hermione's minds when they arrived at their DADA class on Friday morning. They successfully cast most of their new spells on the target dummies. Being artificial, the dummies weren't turned to stone.

Dracocorpus wasn't an attacking spell, it temporarily gave the caster the appearance of a small dragon. Its main use was to disorient an opponent, as it didn't allow the caster to fly or breathe fire. Dumbledore told them that the spell had fallen into disuse, as wizards had come to expect it in a duel, but that it might be useful again when cast by someone born long after its fall from favour. Both were able to use it satisfactorily.

After that, they returned to blocking practice, and they both succeeded in blocking the new spells. The only spell they hadn't used was Morsmordre. At the end of their lesson, Dumbledore told them he wasn't going to give them any more spells yet, as he felt they needed to pause and increase their skills with the spells they'd already learnt.

'Professor, why was Morsmordre on our list?' asked Hermione. 'It's not a duelling spell, but it causes trouble, like at the World Cup.'

'As you saw, the Dark Mark may have an alarming effect on Death Eaters, in the right circumstances. I would prefer that you never need to use any of the spells you're learning, but the Dark Mark may be of use if the worst happens.'

Hermione nodded.

Harry said, 'I've got two other questions, Professor.' He told Dumbledore about the new gossip, their threat to Lavender and Parvati, and Seamus' comment.

Dumbledore frowned. 'You said at Christmas that you intended to curse anyone who spread life-endangering gossip and was not otherwise punished. I made no objection then. However, Professor McCardle provided me with a list of pupils' duelling skills recently, and things have changed. Miss Brown and Miss Patil's skills are poor, while you are both progressing with remarkable speed. There could be no fair duel between you and them, even if they had an opportunity to try to block your curses, and Mr Finnigan is correct that it would be cruel to try. You will have to punish them by use of detentions instead.'

'Yes, sir,' said Harry, while Hermione nodded.

'I do not believe it is necessary to tell them yet that I have forbidden this,' Dumbledore added, with a twinkle in his eye.

'Yes, sir,' repeated Harry, grinning. 'The other question was about the Imperius Curse. I can't resist it any more.'

Dumbledore nodded, frowning. 'Professor McCardle told me. You should not be able to "forget" how to resist, once you've learnt. We are researching the possible causes for this failure, as this may be very serious.'

They went to lunch, and told Ron and Ginny what Dumbledore had said about duelling.

'That's a shame,' said Ron. 'It'll be harder to scare them now.'

'Will it?' asked Hermione innocently. 'I think yesterday's threat, when it wasn't them that had spread the gossip, did scare them badly. This time, they were some of the victims of the gossip.'

Following lunch, they went to their Potions class. Snape glared at the trio when they sat at the same table, but didn't tell Harry or Hermione to move this time. Harry thought McGonagall must have told him the truth about their 'engagement'.

*

Saturday was Fen's birthday. Since Delamare's birthday was the following Tuesday, they were having a combined birthday. This meant that Ginny spent most of the day with the others in her year, and less time with Harry, Ron and Hermione. Crookshanks was trying to find a mouse he could hear squeaking, much to Hermione's amusement. The squeaks came from under her chair, under an empty chair, from Hermione's bag, from the windowsill ...

'What are you doing?' asked Harry.

Hermione looked at him, an innocent expression on her face.

'Every time the squeak moves, you've just used your wand. Is it some sort of ventriloquism spell?'

'Yes,' she admitted, and the squeaks stopped. She reached down to stroke Crookshanks, who looked for the mouse a little bit longer, then jumped into her lap. 'I just wanted to practise the spell.'

'Why are you learning that? We didn't learn it in Charms, and Harry doesn't know about it, so it's not for DADA,' asked Ron.

'How would you use that in a duel, anyway?' asked Harry. 'No, it isn't for DADA.'

'Wait and see,' said Hermione.

'Is this your birthday idea?' asked Ron. 'Is it an entertainment thing?'

'If it is, it'll be very entertaining for you -- I hope. Only you, though.'

'Entertaining? It doesn't involve you duelling with Lavender or Parvati while he watches, does it?' asked Harry.

'I'm not going to disobey Dumbledore and duel them,' she said.

'How evasive. Are you going to get Ron to duel them?'

'I don't mind that,' said Ron. 'Dumbledore didn't tell me I couldn't duel them.'

'You're not really going to do that, are you?' Harry asked Hermione.

'Wait and see,' she repeated. She opened her bag and took out The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5 and started to look through it. She put it on the arm of her chair and made some notes. After closing the book, she wrote out a second copy of the notes.

'This is good,' said Harry. 'I needed a good mystery this year, and now it turns out to be you. This is more fun than worrying about Voldemort.'

Hermione smiled at him. 'You'll find out what it's about next month -- or at the end of this one.'

'All right. Ron, have you thought about any more about telling your parents?'

'No. How am I supposed to just tell them?'

'Ginny told Hermione's parents something much worse. She had enough courage to do it.'

'You mean, I'm too scared to?' demanded Ron. 'I suppose you're right.'

'I don't know how I'd do it. I suppose that in my case, it would be Sirius. I wouldn't tell the Dursleys.'

'Aha!' said Ron triumphantly. 'You can't do it either! What am I saying? You'd better not have anything to tell them! Not until she's sixteen!'

'Of course I haven't. Can you stop saying that? I've told you I'm not going to do anything before then.'

*

Following lunch on Sunday, Ron and Hermione went off together, while Harry and Ginny got on with more of their homework.

'I wish those two wouldn't keep sneaking off together,' said Ginny, after about an hour.

'Why not? Are you worried that they are doing something you wouldn't approve of?'

'No! It's just that it's not helping Ron study for his O.W.Ls. You know how Mum reacted to Fred and George's results. Ron's going to be as bad, if he doesn't concentrate on studying.'

'Aw, you're worried about your big brother.'

'All my brothers are big brothers. Look, I know that the point is to make things safer for Hermione by letting people know she's not your girlfriend, but it just isn't working. Maybe he should have proposed to her after the end of the holidays, so everyone could see. Nobody believes Hermione could possibly like Ron more than you.'

'I don't have any problem believing it,' said Harry. 'Nor do you.'

'But we aren't spreading the gossip!'

'I suppose they do need to do something more obvious.'

When Ron and Hermione returned a bit later, Harry and Ginny told them about their conversation.

'Something less subtle?' asked Ron. 'I can't think of anything.'

'It's Valentine's Day tomorrow,' said Hermione. 'We'll just have to be too cute for words.'

'What have I started?' asked Ginny. 'And is it too late to stop it?'

'Probably,' said Hermione, putting an arm around Ron to pull him towards her. They kissed for what Ginny considered to be an embarrassingly long time.

*

At breakfast on Monday, Ron and Hermione sat feeding each other. Ginny looked at Harry. 'I should never have said anything!'

Harry found the rest of the day quite entertaining. The two lovers walked between their classes hand-in-hand, and were standing outside the Charms classroom kissing when Professor Flitwick arrived. Flitwick just smiled at them, and ushered the class into the room. Following Charms, the trio went down to the Entrance Hall, Ron and Hermione holding hands all the way. Ginny's class was just returning from a Herbology lesson, and they happened to meet her in the Entrance Hall. She shook her head at her brother and Hermione.

'They're off for a romantic walk by the lake,' Harry told her.

'And you were going to follow them and be the chaperone?' she asked, as the couple left through the giant oak doors.

Harry looked around. The other fourth-years were going upstairs, or down to the Hufflepuff common room. 'I was hoping I might meet you,' he said quietly. 'Can we go down those stairs?'

'I suppose so,' Ginny said, looking puzzled. Harry led her down the stairs to the painting that was the entrance to the kitchen, but he ignored that and opened a door opposite. Inside was a large storage room, half-full of boxes of fruit. He beckoned Ginny in, and closed the door.

'You wanted to show me boxes of apples?' she asked, looking around the room.

'No. I wanted to apologise -- I can't do much about Valentine's Day, like Ron and Hermione can.'

'I know, it's too dangerous. That's OK, I understand.'

'So, the best I can manage is to find a deserted room and kiss you. If you don't mind, that is.'

'No, I don't mind!' She came closer to him, and the two of them kissed. Harry had often thought about this moment, wondering amongst other things if their noses would bump together. The kiss turned out to be simpler to do than to think about, and better than he'd imagined.

When they separated, Ginny said softly, 'Our first kiss.'

Harry smiled. 'I hope there'll be lots more when it's safer. I'm sorry about the surroundings -- they're not very romantic, are they? Roses twining up an arch over us would have been more romantic than this storeroom.'

'The kiss was the main thing. Maybe the setting could be more romantic, but it's just extra to the kiss, isn't it?'

'Yes.' He sighed. 'I suppose that we'd better get to our classes, now, though. How unromantic.'

'Yes. I suppose we should. Do you think we ought to leave separately?'

'Probably. You've got Transfiguration now, haven't you? That takes longer to get to than Magical Creatures, so you'd better leave first.'

They kissed again quickly, then Ginny left, and Harry waited for a few minutes and left also. He'd be cutting it close, but it had been worth it.

He arrived at Hagrid's hut just after Ron and Hermione, who were still holding hands, much to Malfoy's disgust. Since Professor Grubbly-Plank was already there, Malfoy contented himself with just glaring at the two of them. The Professor also frowned at them, so they stopped holding hands during the lesson. They held hands again on the way to their next class.

'Have you worked out how you can hold hands in Divination and Arithmancy?' asked Harry.

'No, not yet,' said Hermione. 'Maybe next year.'

When they met up again for lunch, Ron and Hermione sat feeding each other again.

'I really shouldn't have said anything,' said Ginny.

'Aren't they sweet?' asked Fred, who was sitting opposite and a bit further along.

'Very sweet,' said George.

'Some other people could learn from them,' said Angelina, who was on the other side of George.

'I really, really shouldn't have said anything. At least, not on the day before Valentine's Day,' Ginny said, shaking her head.

'You're just upset because Harry didn't like your "fresh-pickled toad" poem,' said George. 'You haven't done any more poems since, either.'

'I told you, it wasn't my poem! That was years ago, anyway -- why are you talking about it now?'

'Whose was it then?' asked Harry. 'I just assumed it was yours.'

'I wouldn't have compared your eyes to a toad! Maybe an emerald, or a shamrock, but not a toad.'

'How about "as green as pond-scum"?' asked Fred.

Ron and Hermione had stopped feeding each other to listen.

'I always wondered how Fred and George managed to memorise it when they weren't even there,' said Hermione with a grin. 'What do you think, Ginny?'

Ginny's jaw dropped. 'I was too upset about something else then to realise!'

'It was you two?' asked Harry, surprised. 'I didn't know you cared!' he added with a grin.

'We don't! It was just a joke,' said Fred.

'It's quite a shock,' said Angelina, smiling at Harry. 'I never knew the twins felt that way about you.'

'Don't you start!' begged Fred.

'The things you learn about your brothers,' said Ron, spearing a potato croquette on his fork and offering it to Hermione.

'What about me?' asked Lee. 'I share a dorm with these two, and I'd never realised. Imagine if they walked in their sleep!'

'Maybe we shouldn't have said anything,' muttered George.

'I told you, it was just a joke!' Fred said desperately. 'It doesn't mean anything!'

'It's too late to deny it now,' said Ginny, who was enjoying this. 'This is going to be such a shock for Mum and Dad.'

'That reminds me, I was going to write to them today anyway,' said Ron. 'Is there anything else you want to tell them, Ginny, or just about the twins?'

'Don't you dare!' snapped George.

'For two people who play so many jokes on others, they don't have much of a sense of humour, do they?' asked Ginny. 'I'll think about it, Ron. Are you going to send it before dinner?'

'Maybe after,' he said.

Ron and Hermione held hands as they walked together to Transfiguration, but let go before they saw Professor McGonagall, as they didn't think she'd react as mildly as Professor Flitwick had. They didn't hold hands in Herbology either, although they did on the way there and when returning to the castle.

'Are you going to be sneaking off again today?' Harry asked them.

'It's almost as much fun doing this, and seeing people's reactions,' said Hermione. 'Would you mind if we just went back to the common room and carried on, Ron?' Ron shook his head, smiling.

'Well, anyone who doesn't believe you two are a couple after all this just isn't paying attention,' said Harry.

Ron went up to the dormitory and returned to the others. He had his unsigned permission slip with him. He passed it to Hermione, and started writing a letter.

Dear Dad,

I got this last year but didn't think I would need it, so I didn't tell you. Since I'm going to be sixteen in two weeks, I thought maybe I should get it signed ----just in case.

Love, Ron

'It's a bit short, but I suppose that's OK,' he said. Hermione read it over his shoulder and nodded. She gave him back the permission slip, and said, 'I thought when I got mine that the boys' potion just had the disease control part, not the contraception part.'

'Sssh,' said Ron as Ginny came in. She sat down and noticed the letter. 'Have you told them about Fred and George yet?'

'No. There's not really anything to say about them, is there?' he said, writing his father's name on the envelope. 'We can keep them worried, though.'

'What's that small piece of parchment?' she asked, picking it up before Ron could stop her. 'Oh.' She blushed as she read it, and quickly handed it back to him. 'I thought it might be part of the letter.'

'That's all I've written about so far. Did you want to add a PS or not?' Ron was also blushing.

'We could tell them about Dennis being the new Seeker.'

Ron added that.

PS We've got a new reserve Seeker, Dennis Creevey.

'Anything else?'

Ginny thought. 'I didn't think of anything else this afternoon, and I still can't.'

'OK, I'll take it to the Owlery. It'll give Pig something to do.' He folded the letter with the permission slip inside, and put it into the envelope, then tapped the wax button with his wand to seal it. He stood up to leave.

'Wait a minute,' said Hermione, standing too. She threw her arms around him, and kissed him. When they separated, she said, 'Hurry back, dearest.'

'Now I've got to go and see Madam Pomfrey,' said Ginny.

'Why?' asked Ron in alarm.

'Watching you two is making me feel sick.'

Ron laughed, shook his head, and headed out to the Owlery.

'Oh -- talking about Madam Pomfrey reminded me: Sara's back. She says her dad's a lot better now. Her mum managed to hit him somewhere that did something to his kidneys, that's why it was so serious.'

'Oh, I wondered why broken bones were taking so long. Madam Pomfrey doesn't have much trouble fixing them,' said Harry.

'Her job must be a bit depressing,' said Hermione softly.

'Why?' asked Harry. 'Getting sick people healthy sounds like a good job. It's much better than being a Death Eater.'

'Yes, but people keep coming back, don't they? I think this is the only year you haven't spent any time in the hospital wing.'

'No, I ... you're right. Every single year except this one.'

'Oh, don't say that,' said Ginny. 'You'll jinx yourself.'

A few minutes later, George came over. 'Where did Ron go? What were you two blushing about?'

'He was writing to Mum and Dad,' said Ginny.

'He what? Where is he?'

'He went to the Owlery,' she said, trying to keep a straight face.

George beckoned to Fred and the two of them ran out of the portrait hole. Ginny gave in and laughed.

'Good-bye Ron, then,' said Harry.

'I'm sure they won't do anything really nasty to him. No worse than they've done before, anyway. Not until they've got the letter back.'

'They'd better not,' said Hermione, watching the exit. 'They'll all have got too far to catch by now.'

Harry was sure that the twins wouldn't really do anything to Ron, but Hermione kept watching until the three boys entered and went back to their seats.

'I asked them if they'd ever heard of a prank,' Ron told the others. 'You should have seen their expressions when I told them I hadn't even mentioned them, just the new reserve Seeker.'

'Did they believe you?' asked Hermione.

'They believed me when I burst out laughing at their expressions.'

*

Ron and Hermione weren't being as obvious on Tuesday, although they did kiss before going to breakfast. While waiting outside the Potions classroom, they were the target of another jibe from Malfoy.

'Oh, so you can find your way here without holding hands so you don't lose each other?'

The Gryffindors were surprised when Blaise retorted, 'Just because you can't find anyone willing to touch your hand, don't take it out on others!'

After the Potions class, sitting eating their lunch, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny talked about Blaise's comment.

'It looks as if Malfoy really is annoying even the other Slytherins now,' said Ron gleefully.

'Unless that's what they want us to think, and Blaise is part of You-Know-Who's plan,' said Harry suspiciously.

'What sort of plan would that comment fit?' asked Ginny.

'Ever heard of the "bad cop, good cop" approach?' asked Harry. Ron and Ginny looked blank, but Hermione nodded. 'Well, the idea is something like this: Blaise argues with Malfoy, and we already don't trust Malfoy, so anyone who argues with him might be someone we can trust. I don't, though.'

'Blaise is nice to people, and funny, in Ancient Runes, though,' said Hermione. 'Raine's not the only nice Slytherin, it seems.'

'Harry's off again, suspecting everyone,' sighed Ginny.

'Don't you believe that You-Know-Who is plotting something?' Harry asked her.

'He probably is. But he doesn't do very well against you, does he? I expect he's going to attack the Ministry or something instead. That's not a nice thought; Dad and Percy are both there.'

'I'm sorry. I've only been thinking selfishly about his plans. Me, me, me.'

'Here's a new suspicion for you: You-Know-Who is plotting against you. He's going to leave you alone for the whole of the rest of your time at Hogwarts, while his spies just sit and watch you go mad worrying.'

Ron laughed and, after a moment, Harry and Hermione both did too.

'That's probably as likely as anything I've been thinking of,' admitted Harry. 'I'm not the only wizard in the world who he hates.'

*

After lunch and their History of Magic class, Harry, Ron and Hermione returned to their common room for their free period. Crookshanks refused to move from Hermione's chair, so she picked him up, sat, and put him on her lap, where he sprawled half on his back, purring at her.

Hermione smiled at him.

'Though it's got to be more likely than finding any use for all that stuff about seventeenth century wizards. '

*

The owls brought the post as usual in the Great Hall on Wednesday morning.

'Dad's probably only just got my letter,' said Ron.

'Do you think he will sign the form?' asked Hermione quietly. Ron shrugged.

Further along the table, Shona had received a copy of the Daily Prophet, and was reading it while eating. Ginny looked at Shona's expression and wondered if she was reading an unpleasant article, or had just put too much salt in her porridge. Shona looked up and saw Ginny looking at her. She handed Ginny the paper and pointed to a story in the gossip section, 'Theodora Benson's People News', which had a photo of Harry beside it. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny read the story.

Boy Who Lived Jilted

Fifteen-year-old Harry Potter, who was formerly inseparable from his girlfriend Hermione Granger, a pretty Muggle-born girl, has been dealt the most recent blow of many in his short life.

Miss Granger has dumped the poor unfortunate lad, and is now to be seen only in the company of one Ronald Weasley, a former friend of Harry's. This double blow, losing both his girlfriend and his best friend, may be too much for the poor boy to bear.

The Daily Prophet urges Harry Potter not to act on any suicidal feelings he may have, but to remember, despite these tragic blows, that he is, and always has been, a beacon of hope to wizarding society.

'Oh, no, not more Howlers,' said Ron. He hugged Hermione.

Ginny turned the paper upside down.

'What are you doing?' asked Hermione.

'I wondered if it makes any sense this way up,' Ginny said with a grin. 'Anyway, maybe this will really end the rumours about you and Harry. It looks as if all your acting romantic on Monday really worked.'

'I hope so,' said Harry.

'I almost choked when Hermione called Ron "dearest"! It's so unlike her.'

Ron took the paper and looked at it again. 'Can I have your Firebolt, then?'

'That's not funny!' reproved Ginny.

'Oh, come on. This is all nonsense, and you know it.' Ron said.

'I know,' said Hermione, 'this is part of You-Know-Who's plan -- he's trying to get the idea of suicide into Harry's head.'

'I wish he'd get it into his own head, and actually do it,' said Ginny. She looked at Harry, who nodded.

'Why do they say I'm a beacon of hope? Does this mean that the Prophet believes that You-Know-Who really is back?' Harry wondered.

In Herbology, Harry told the two Hufflepuff Prefects that most of the article was nonsense, apart from Ron and Hermione's romance, and asked them to tell others. At lunchtime, Ginny said she'd asked Raine the same thing.

In that afternoon's DADA lesson, Harry again failed to resist the Imperius Curse. Ron, Hermione and Seamus could still resist it, so they sat and watched as the others tried to resist. Parvati was the next to manage it, and Dean had almost managed to by the end of the lesson. Once again, McCardle asked Harry to wait when she dismissed the class.

'You are certain that you are taking nothing that might affect your resistance?'

'Not unless it's in the food,' replied Harry. 'I really don't know what's wrong. Last year I could resist Voldemort casting it, now ... nothing.'

'Don't exaggerate.'

'I'm not. After the third task, Voldemort cast Imperius on me, and he got a shock when I didn't do what he wanted. I want that back.'

'I see that Albus left out some details. Well, I really don't know what to suggest as a way to overcome the problem. You may return to your common room.'

Ron and Hermione had waited as usual, and went up to the common room with him. He was deep in thought, and didn't notice their questions. Ginny was already sitting in her usual chair.

'What's wrong with Harry?' she asked.

'What?' asked Harry.

'Oh, good, you've remembered how to talk,' said Ron.

Harry told them what McCardle had said. 'Now I'm suspecting the food. I'm getting like Moody -- the real one.'

'Maybe I will,' said Harry. 'Are you going to have another go at them about wanting their freedom?'

'I think I was rushing them,' she admitted. 'It's better if they see Dobby as an example. I'd like to know if Winky's better now, too.'

Ron looked as if he was going to say something about S.P.E.W., but seemed to think better of it.

'The first time you failed to resist that curse was just after we looked at the painting of Professor Malfoy, wasn't it?' asked Ginny.

Harry thought for a moment. 'No, it was a whole week after. I don't see how there could be a connection though -- unless it's a deliberately-delayed spell.'

'I've never heard of a portrait being able to cast spells,' said Hermione.

'Maybe they can, and don't let people know,' said Ron.

'It's possible,' said Harry. 'McCardle did suggest it might be a potion I'd taken, or a charm someone cast.'

'Oh, good,' said Ron. 'Now you can even suspect the paintings. They were probably feeling left out.'

'Ron, Harry's worried. Laughing at him isn't going to help,' Hermione rebuked Ron.

'So now you two can both resist it, so You-Know-Who can't control you, but I can't any more. And Ginny can't,' said Harry. Ginny bit her lip. Harry noticed. 'Can you?'

She nodded. 'We just had a short lesson about the Unforgivable Curses, and then some practice at resisting Imperius. She didn't keep going if we couldn't do it, though.'

'That's what we did last year,' said Ron.

'Well, that means he can't control any of you, which is good,' said Harry.

Ginny put a copy of the Daily Prophet on the table. 'Anyway, here's something else to think about. Shona had finished with it. I didn't know if you wanted to write them a nasty letter.'

'I don't know if it's worth doing. They'll probably just ignore it,' said Harry.

'If you don't write to them, they'll ignore what you think altogether,' said Hermione.

'A letter might make them print another story and save Hermione and me getting Howlers for being nasty to you,' said Ron.

'That's true,' said Harry. 'I don't want you going through that again. OK, I'll write to them.' He took the paper and looked at the article again, trying to think of the best approach.