Harry Potter and the Dark Mark

Chapter Seven

Breakfast the next day was a sombre affair. Professor Sprout was in high dudgeon because all of her Pereoperdo herb, which had been the plant the Horklumps had been growing over, had died. Harry assumed they hadn't been quick enough with the venom. The entire school was still edgy about yesterday's news, and Hermione, Ron, and Harry were nervous because of what Harry had seen in the dormitory.

"You're certain it was him, Harry?" Hermione demanded for about the fiftieth time. Her face was pinched and her eyes anxious, and she tugged nervously at Crookshanks' fur. He was curled up on her lap, purring loud as a lion, and for once she didn't even care that she could get told off for having him at the breakfast table. Ron was pausing to feed him scraps of bacon every few minutes. Since their third year, Ron and Crookshanks had resolved their differences and were now firm friends.

"As certain it was him as I was certain you were going to be prefect," he assured her. "Besides, Ron put this in his trunk," he added, indicating the phial of Streeler venom.

"We ought to go to Dumbledore with this," said Hermione.

"And say what, exactly? Harry had a funny dream and then he saw You Know Who's right hand man stealing my Streeler Venom, oh no, what will we do?" Ron snapped derisively.

"We still ought to go and see Dumbledore," she repeated doggedly. "Harry, have you told Snuffles about this?"

"No. I haven't heard from him for a while. All I know is that he's back in the country," Harry supplied.

"I say we keep quiet. No need to go worrying everyone unnecessarily. He was probably in the area and wanted to piss us off a little bit," Ron decided.

"Yeah," Harry agreed. He hadn't mentioned his scar itching. That was the Gobstones liquid, he was sure. If his scar was itching, things were serious.

"Well... alright. But any other little signs, and I'm going anyway. It is my duty as Gryffindor Prefect, you know," Hermione said grudgingly. Harry was very pleased he hadn't mentioned his scar.

"Miaouw!" yowled Crookshanks. Hermione gasped as he dug his claws into her knees and then leapt off her onto Harry's lap. "Miaouw!" he ordered again.

"No!" Harry muttered, scratching behind Crookshank's ears.

"Harry, I want you to tell Snuffles," Hermione instructed. Harry sighed, but nodded.

"I'll go after lunch," he offered. She smiled at him.

"Don't worry, Harry. You Know Who wouldn't dare come here. Not while Dumbledore is Head, and I reckon he's got a few years left in him yet!" Ron said with forced cheeriness.

"Yeah," Harry said, a million miles away.

Lunchtime found him in the Owlery, Hedwig on his shoulder, other owls looking down from the rafters. His letter was short, as always, and to the point.

'Snuffles,
Hope you're ok, and eating well. School is ok, Malfoy a smart-arse. Hermione is making me tell you that I saw Wormtail in our dormitory last night, and he was trying to nick a bottle of Streeler Venom. Ron reckons he was just up to mischief, I agree. Nothing else has happened.
Harry.
PS - Sweet is a present for you... try it, they're shockingly good...'

Harry chuckled to himself as he envisioned Sirius eating the Toffee Shock. He wrapped it and the note inside a small brown paper bag, which he gave to Hedwig. She hooted softly in his ear.

"That's right. To Sirius, and be careful!" Harry murmured as he stroked her beak. She took off and soared gracefully out of the Owlery. Harry felt that he needed to be alone for a bit, and Pigwidgeon was flapping around wildly, screeching for attention. He clambered onto a bale of hay that was there to be spread out in some of the nesting boxes, and fed Pig some of the owl treats Hedwig had left. It was very, very comfortable just there, and warm, and soon enough, Harry felt his eyes close, and he drifted off into sleep. He was awoken by the sound of voices. An expert at pretending to be asleep, (Harry had spent many occasions watching Dudley to see what nasty trick he was trying next) Harry opened one eye a tiny bit. He could make out three black robes, and blue striped scarves. They were Ravenclaws then, and girls, judging from the long hair.

"Do you think she likes him?" one girl asked.

"Maybe he can cheer her up a bit more. I mean, we've got her so far, but there's something in the way," the second gabbled excitedly.

"I don't know! All I know is that I overheard that red head Gryffindor fourth year sobbing all over her friend about how Harry Potter would never think of her as anything other than a silly little girl, and how Cho didn't know what she was missing, turning him down like that," the third one said, in a manner that suggested this was the seventh time she had repeated herself. Harry's face began to burn at hearing himself mentioned. He could easily guess the name of 'that red head', but he wasn't sure what Ginny thought Cho had turned him down for.

"I wonder if he did ask her out?" mused the second girl.

"I bet he did! Remember, the other day, when she disappeared after him during the snow fight?" squealed the first girl.

"Or it could just be that she was meaning the ball, last year, when she said she'd turned him down," reminded the third girl.

"But it would be so sweet if he did ask her," whined the first girl.

"Yes, and she'd be so mad to turn him down!" wailed the second.

"To Mum, Russet," the third girl instructed her owl. Harry closed his eye properly as it flew above him and out into the day, and listened to the girls depart. "C'mon, you two, we don't want to be late for first lesson..." she continued, and Harry heard them close the heavy door behind them. He sat up groggily. He panicked, realising he had been asleep nearly all lunchtime, and that the first lesson of the afternoon was soon.

Brushing the straw off his robes and calling a hasty goodbye to Pig, Harry ran as hard as he could to the Common Room. Hermione and Ron stood waiting, with his things ready. If they ran, they might just be on time for Transfiguration.

"I dunno Harry, the one lesson you choose to be late for, and it's McGonnagal's," Ron said disapprovingly.

"Sorry!" he returned as they fled down the corridors. They arrived one minute late. McGonnagal frowned, but said nothing on the matter.

"Today, we will be learning how to transfigure..." she trailed off and watched Harry sit down. He was aware everyone was looking at him. "Mr Potter, why is there straw in your hair?"

"Oh... erm, I sent an Owl this lunchtime," he explained. She gave him a sceptical look in return.

"Where was I?" She continued to explain the best way to transfigure worms into ribbons.

In the afternoon, as they made their way back to the Common Room, Hermione was busy comparing silky pink ribbons with Parvati and Lavender, but Harry was telling Ron about the conversation he had overheard, omitting the parts that referred to Ginny.

"But Harry, aren't you pleased? You asked Cho to the Ball last year!" Ron cried enthusiastically.

"That's just it! I like Cho, but not like... in that... not like that!" he supplied, with vague gestures and pink cheeks.

"Oh!" the light dawned on Ron. He shifted uneasily. "You mean like I li- don't like Hermione," he whispered. Harry gave him a look, and Ron had the decency to look chastised.

"Did I hear my name mentioned?" Hermione enquired archly. The three girls waited for Harry and Ron to catch them up.

"N- yes," Ron faltered.

"Ron was feeling sorry for himself because you can transfigure worms into ribbons and tie them in your hair, but all he can do is transfigure worms into silky pink worms," Harry lied. Hermione looked smug and sympathetic at the same time.

"Well, if you want, I could teach you how to do it," she offered in an almost shy manner. Warning lights were flashing in Harry's mind. Parvati and Lavender giggled.

"He'd love to," he cut in, before Ron could refuse.

"Excuse me? Feel free to sell me as if I am livestock, see if I care, by Merlin's beard!" Ron cried indignantly.

"Face it Ron, you're just miffed you need help from a pretty girl," Harry joked. Hermione smiled at the compliment.

Lavender leaned in. "Yes, Hermione is pretty, isn't she, Parvati?"

"Yep! Krum thought so too!" tittered Parvati. Harry could almost see the wheels turning in Ron's head. That had done it. Harry knew that if you wanted to manipulate Ron to do something, using Krum was a quick and easy route to success. He was sure things were going to be a lot more interesting when Ron and Hermione were around him from now on.