Growing up too fast

Mr. Weasley along with Harry walked back out to the reception area and Harry tossed some floo powder into the fire, stepped in and said "The Burrow" and the now familiar feeling of being sucked through the floo came over him. The next thing he knew, he was stepping out of the fire into the living room at the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley was there waiting.

"Oh Harry, how have you been?" Mrs. Weasley said while giving him a big hug. "We're so glad you could finally come stay with us. I don't know why Professor Dumbledore insists on you going to the Dursley's anymore. You've grown a bit this summer haven't you? Are you hungry?"

"Hi Mrs. Weasley. Thank you for letting me stay here. I'm not hungry right now. Where's Ron?" About this time Mr. Weasley came out of the fire.

He kissed Mrs. Weasley on the cheek, shook his head and said, "I've had a very interesting day. I'll never stop being surprised by wizards." He headed straight into the kitchen.

"I'm going to take my trunk up to Ron's room if that's ok," Harry said.

"That's fine dear. He's out back with the others right now. We weren't expecting you until later, I'm glad you were able to drag Arthur out of the office a bit early for once. I guess you know Hermione is already here and that she's a prefect."

"Yes, I heard. I'm not sure her being a prefect is a good thing for Ron and me though. How can we ask her to help us figure things out anymore?" Harry said while dragging his trunk up the stairs. Ron's room was the same as last year, bright orange, books and things everywhere. Hedwig was already perched on Ron's headboard. Harry thought it was the great being here. He dropped his trunk, got some water for Hedwig and went to find the others.

Standing at the back door, Harry stood for a moment watching his friends. Ron, Fred and George were having a contest to see who could throw a garden gnome the furthest. Hermione was setting at the table with Ginny, both looking at something in a book. I hope Hermione isn't rubbing off on Ginny he thought. He couldn't handle two friends who only wanted to study. Harry thought he would do anything for them. He couldn't let anything bad happen to them. This must be how Sirius felt about him, Harry wondered and decided he should stop giving Sirius such a hard time about worrying about him.

He walked quietly out the door and just plopped down next to Ginny before anyone knew he was there. "Thanks for meeting me when I got here," he joked.

"Harry! What are you doing here already? We thought you were coming this evening with dad," Ginny said while giving Harry a hug. Normally she would just blush and say hi. Harry hugged her back tightly then quickly let go and said, "Your dad was able to leave a bit early today. I think he knew how much I wanted to get here."

Hermione gave Harry a hug but he let go quicker than he had when hugging Ginny. "You've gotten taller this summer. "

"Congratulations on being a prefect Hermione. How are you going to help Ron and I figure out how to get away with stuff this year? Maybe we can convince Ginny to help us. You know Ron and I can't do it alone."

"Well I would hope you two would follow the rules this year so I won't have to take points from Gryffindor," Hermione said. Just then Ron came over and added "We're going to have a much tougher time this year Harry. I hope we can just use all the old ways to get around the rules."

Fred and George came over and said hello. "Hey Harry. We're working on quite a few new things for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes."

Ron added, "Yeah Harry, they got someone to invest in their company. Complete git no doubt. Who else would trust them with any money?"

Fred and George looked at Harry and said, "Complete git, that's for sure." The rest of the afternoon they just messed around outside tossing gnomes and talking about what they did over the summer. Harry kept quiet for the most part and deflected questions about his activities as much as he could.

Supper that night was the best. Setting around the table with the Weasley's and Hermione was about as good as it could get from Harry's point of view. He would be happy staying like this forever. Percy kept trying to get information from Harry about what he was doing this summer.

"So Harry, how was your tour of the Ministry? How did you get into the unspeakable area?" Percy asked hoping to get some information.

Everyone looked at Harry who said, "The tour was very interesting, there were all these weird noises coming from rooms down in that area. It kind of sounded like Fred and George's room." They all laughed at this and it seemed to get them onto other subjects. However Percy wasn't going to let it go.

"I imagine, but how did you get into that area, they are very secretive?"

"I think they just wanted a chance to make me feel bad in person. A few of them lost money by betting on the Triwizard Tournament. They bet on Krum," Harry replied trying to smile.

"Krum, how could anyone bet on that git?" Ron added.

"You about fell over yourself to get his autograph, so who's the git here?" Fred added.

"But how did you get into the area Harry? There were no records of you coming into the floo in the Ministry reception area. There were rumors you were there almost every day," Percy persisted in his questioning.

Harry didn't know how to respond and was trying to make something up when Mr. Weasley answered. "Harry was granted special access into that department's floo. Very secure with unbreakable identity checks. They thought it would be best to keep reporters from the Daily Prophet from talking to him. Isn't that correct Harry?"

"Yes Mr. Weasley that is what they said," Harry said glancing at Ginny. She seemed to know there was more to this story.

Ron looked confused. "You were there every day Harry? You really got to--" and then was cut off by Mr. Weasley.

"I need to insist that you don't ask Harry any more questions about that department. You all know how seriously they take their secrecy and we wouldn't want to get Harry into any hot water if he accidentally said something he wasn't supposed do."

Everyone looked at Harry who kept looking down, playing with his food until Mrs. Weasley changed the subject back to getting ready for school again.

After eating way too much Ron said, "Hermione, let's go help Harry get his trunk upstairs."

But Harry started to add, "It's ok, I've....um Yeah, let's go do that." He glanced at Ginny who was looking upset and then added "Ginny, you want to help us?"

She looked up surprised, smiled broadly and said, "Yeah," as she jumped up to follow the trio. The four all went up to Ron's room. Ron and Hermione sat on the bed, Harry sat at the desk and Ginny sat on Harry's trunk.

"So" Ron said looking expectantly at Harry.

"So what?" Harry said seriously.

"So what's the real story with the Unspeakables?" Ron quickly said, and then added "Ginny, maybe you should leave us alone for a while."

"Ron, I think it's ok if she hears this. We were having trouble keeping anything from her last year and I'm sure she's gotten much better at figuring things out since then," Harry pleaded. Ron looked at Harry strangely.

Hermione had a slight twinkle in her eye when she said, "Ron, I agree with Harry. I think we should include Ginny more often. Maybe she can help me keep an eye on you two."

"Ok, fine. Just don't go running to mom if you find out things you don't like, deal?"

"Deal," Ginny happily said. Then she quickly added, "So, Harry what is the real story. Were you really there every day?"

"Yeah. The first day was when I saw Percy and your dad at lunch. Then I went back every day except for yesterday. Mrs. Figg had a birthday party for me yesterday and Sirius, Remus, and the real Professor Moody came."

"How's Sirius?" Hermione asked.

"They're all fine," Harry responded. "Sirius wasn't very happy when he found out about me going to the ministry every day. He kept asking why I didn't tell him. He's ok with it now. Mrs. Figg and I explained everything".

"Well explain it to us!" Ron exclaimed. "What were you doing there for so long?"

"Ok, I've been going through Auror training and received some advanced dueling lessons," Harry said flatly.

Ginny and Hermione gasped but Ron said, "Wicked, that's just too excellent. So are you an official Auror now?"

"No, I didn't go through all the training, it takes a long time. I only took the training that was related to stopping Death Eaters. I think they were trying to get me prepared for when I'm attacked again." His friends all got a sorrowful look when he said this so calmly. "Pretty much everything ended with them having some wizards or creatures attack me and me trying to stop them before they killed me. They had a protection charm on all of us so that none of us could actually die. Someone did go to the medical wing most days though. They seem to expect those things more than Madame Pomfrey does."

Hermione gasped again and said, "They were using real full power spells on you! Oh Harry, that was very dangerous. What do they expect to happen? How did they get approval to do this?"

"Well, the first week, the spells started at ¼ power and moved up to full power by the second week. They thought it was safe as soon as I learned some shield charms and blocking spells. I was pretty sore every day though. I don't think they got or needed approval though. They don't tell the other areas of the ministry what they are doing until they feel it is far enough along to be a sure thing. They kind of do whatever they want in that area. Fletch who is one of the department heads said I could come work with them after school if I don't play Quidditch. That seems like a long time off though."

"So, what kind of dueling did you do? What kind of creatures did they have you fight?" Ginny asked matter-of-fact.

"Well, we did normal dueling where the only illegal spell was the killing curse. They were allowed to do the Imperius and Cruciatus curses on me."

Hermione gasped loudly at this, Ron said "No Way!"

Harry went on, "Yeah, you know I can beat the Imperius curse, but the Cruciatus curse was very painful." He visibly flinched as he said this but went on. "So after learning some new attack spells and defenses I had to duel a few people one on one and then they did two people against me. I lost quite a few times and had to get hauled to the medic ward, but after a few days I was winning more than I was losing. One day they sent some dementors in for me to fight but I've know the Patronus spell for a while now so that wasn't any problem." All three of his friends were just staring and shaking their heads. Harry continued. "Today I had a final test which was really hard. They sent a werewolf at me."

"No way! A werewolf?" Hermione jumped up "That's too dangerous, what were they thinking. I hope you ran out of there before it got to you. Don't tell me you fought it?"

"Of course I fought it Hermione, that's what I was there to do. I didn't know what to do at first so I hit it with a table that knocked it down, but it got back up and charged again. I was able to collapse a beam in the ceiling that collapsed onto the werewolf. I thought this had done it but the werewolf got back up and came at me. Then I noticed a plate with utensils on the table so I sent the knife at the werewolf that stopped it. The knife was made out of silver. "

"I can't believe they made you do all that," Ron said slowly.

"I guess I got lucky. Oh yeah, then they gave me my father's ring. He was an unspeakable as well."

"It's so black! Like you can see forever into it," said Ginny examining the stone.

"When it gets close to another Unspeakable's ring, it glows. Kind of weird actually," Harry added.

His friends sat there in silence for a while and Harry was worried they were thinking bad of him when Hermione spoke up. "Well, I don't approve of them making you go through so much pain, that's for sure. But if you learned a lot it all turned out ok, I guess."

"I'm not happy that you put yourself through all that," Ginny added.

"Come on, I told you all the truth. You shouldn't be upset with me. Acting like this will just make me not tell you about things like this in the future. Is that what you want?"

"Well, can you teach me to duel better but just leave out all the pain parts?" Ron added with a laugh. This lightened the mood a bit. They all asked more questions and Harry answered them all but didn't tell them about beating the Cruciatus curse or being able to do wandless magic.

Hermione announced, "Well I'm going off to bed now. I need to do some reading before falling asleep. See you tomorrow." She headed out and Ron followed.

"So, have they admitted they like each other?" Harry asked watching his two friends walk out?

"Of course not," Ginny said. "I think Ron's too stupid to realize how she feels and she's too stubborn to admit it."

"I agree. Maybe we can help them out a bit this year, what do you say?"

"Deal. Harry, I'm glad you're here now," Ginny said softly as she walked out.

The next day they were all going to practice Quidditch when Harry noticed Ginny coming carrying a broom. "Ron, is Ginny going to play with us? I've never seen her fly before."

"She's amazing Harry, a natural just like you. It makes me mad because she can fly better than I can. I hope she doesn't try out for the house team this year because she'll probably get picked over me. I was really hoping to make the team this year."

They started playing and Harry quickly realized Ron was right. Ginny was an amazing flyer. Ron had gotten a lot better, but Ginny could fly rings around him.

"Ginny, how did you learn to fly so well. You're amazing," Harry asked when he approached her.

She blushed brightly but didn't look away. "I don't know. It just comes easily. Is that how it was for you?"

"Yeah, it was the same thing with me. I guess we're just lucky. Are you going to try out for the team this year? We need a couple new players. It'd be great if both you and Ron made the team."

"I don't know if I'm ready to play on the team. Maybe I should wait another year before trying out."

"I think you should this year. You're a better flier than most of the team now, so I bet you'd make it."

"Thanks. Maybe I will try out."

They played for a quite a while and then went back up to the house. Hermione and Ron were talking together and Harry thought they made a good couple. He went up to his trunk and got the journal Hermione had given him. He had already written down most of what happened in their first year and was going to try and get the last three years in before they went back to school. It actually made Harry feel good to remember all they had done while he was writing it down. He was writing at one of the picnic tables and didn't notice Ginny, Ron and Hermione come over.

"I can't believe you're actually using the journal Harry. I expected you to think it was a stupid gift," Hermione said looking pleased with herself.

"Well, at first I didn't think I'd ever use it, but after thinking about it, I agreed it would probably be a good idea. I assume you've been keeping your own?"

"Of course, girls keep a diary which includes more than just the experiences that you're probably putting in yours." She looked over his shoulder and saw the pages were blank, and instantly got a very stern look in her face. "I thought you said you were using it? There's nothing written down."

"Way to go Harry, make her think you were actually using it and get caught faking it," Ron snorted.

"I have been using it," Harry assured them. "Mrs. Figg helped me enchant it so that only I could read it. Unless I give someone else permission to read it or until I die, then anyone can read it."

"What do you mean until you die? How can you talk like that? What's gotten into you?" Ginny exclaimed.

"Well. Hermione said it would be useful to give the journal to my kids sometime in the future, which seems strange to think about. But with the way things have gone for me, it's really more likely that I won't live long enough to have kids, but I thought it would be good to record our adventures so that you guys could maybe read it in the future and remember how much fun we had," Harry said flatly.

"Don't think about stuff like that," Ron said and turned to Hermione. "See Hermione I told you it was a stupid gift. Look what you've got him thinking about."

"Ron, I was thinking that it would be good for his children in the future. Harry, you know that's the truth." Hermione looked concerned now.

"I know Hermione, and I do think it is a very nice gift, I'm glad you gave it to me. Who knows maybe Voldemort can be stopped before he... you know. If so maybe I'll actually be able to get married and have a family. That's a long time off though."

"Ok, but why did you enchant it so that no one else could read it?" Hermione added.

"Well, maybe I am going to put some feelings that I don't make public? Also, I'm going to put in some details about things we do that could get us in trouble if a teacher ever read it. And think what would happen if Malfoy every got hold of it."

"So are you going to give us permission to read it?" Ginny asked.

Harry appraised his friend. "As long as you each let me read all of yours, that would be fair," Harry replied with a grin, knowing that would never happen.

"Harry, you can't read a girl's diary," Hermione announced.

"That's what I thought, so it looks like my journal stays private."

That night Harry had another nightmare. "I want that boy to suffer Wormtail. He has made me look weak by escaping with that other body." Voldemort was pacing around in a large room. "I can feel the doubt is some of my so-called faithful servants. They wonder if I can really kill the boy."

"I have no doubt you could kill him if that is what you choose to do my Lord," Wormtail added. "You were just showing him too much mercy before he slipped away. He fled from your power. He knows you would have killed him."

"Yes, showing mercy was a flaw. I shall not repeat that mistake. I don't want anyone else to attempt to kill the boy. I want to do it personally. He is going to suffer for delaying my pleasure."

Harry woke up with his scar burning but without fear. He knew Voldemort would try again so this dream wasn't anything new. His only concern was when it would happen. He didn't want his friends to be around the next time. Harry got up and went downstairs. Everyone else was asleep so it was very quiet. He stood in the kitchen just staring out the window thinking. 'Would he be able to stop Voldemort or the Death Eaters from hurting his friends? He knew Voldemort would hurt them just to get to him.' He was thinking so much that he didn't hear Mrs. Weasley come into the kitchen for a drink.

"Harry! You startled me. I didn't know anyone was up. Are you alright dear?" Mrs. Weasley looked concerned.

"Sorry Mrs. Weasley. I couldn't sleep so just came down for a bit. I was just getting sleepy again so I'll head back up now. Goodnight," he went back to Ron's room and was able to fall back to sleep.

The next days went by quickly. Harry fell into a regular routine of waking up after being asleep for only a couple hours. Each time, he went downstairs and stared out the window thinking. Mrs. Weasley had come upon him a couple times and always seemed worried about him. He just reassured her and went back to bed each time.

Today they were all going into Diagon Alley to get their new schoolbooks. Fred and George had used one of Ron's ideas for a new joke so they told him that they would buy him some new dress robes for payment. Harry wondered if the idea was any good or this was just their way of buying the robes they promised Harry they would after he gave them his Triwizard Tournament winnings.

After traveling by floo powder to Diagon Alley and getting some money from Gringotts, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny split off from Fred and George and went do to their own shopping. Mrs. Weasley didn't like the idea of them being unaccompanied but since there hadn't been any news about Voldemort she agreed as long as they promised to stay in Diagon Alley where there were many wizards around.

They all needed some new robes since they had grown quite a bit since last year. Ron only got new dress robes and had to settle for Fred's hand-me-down normal robes. They were still in pretty good shape so it wasn't too bad. Seeing Hermione and Ginny while they were trying on their new dress robes made Harry realize how much they had both changed. Ginny's change was significant. Harry remembered back to how she was when he rescued her from the Chamber of Secrets, she seemed like such a little girl then. Now, even though it was only two years later she seemed much older. And Hermione, she seemed older than any of them. He also noticed Ron just staring at Hermione.

The friends were getting their new schoolbooks when he heard. "Well, if it isn't Potty and his fan club. I see you've added a new tag-along this year. Can't you get any friends other than that family? I told you to choose better." It was Malfoy.

Hermione and Ginny grabbed Ron before he could do anything and Harry just totally ignored what Malfoy was saying and continued talking to Ron.

"What's the matter Potter? Know I'm right don't you?" Draco added.

Harry turned to face Draco and said calmly, "Sorry, did you say something? All I heard was squeaking that sounded like a ferret." Harry then turned back towards Ron who was laughing out loud.

"Talk tough now Potter, you know what's coming..." and then he was cut off by an even more annoying voice

"Now, now Draco. I'm sure Mr. Potter is having enough trouble sleeping without you adding to his worries." It was Lucius Malfoy

Harry turned slowly and stepped in front of Mr. Malfoy. "Hello again Lucius," Harry said defiantly. "I imagine Voldemort wasn't too happy with his servants letting me get away. How did your punishment feel?"

Lucius was stunned by being talked to like this and it took a second before he was composed again. "What... I don't know what you're talking about. How dare you talk to me like that?"

"Of course you know what I'm talking about," Harry calmly said. "Voldemort wasn't too happy with you. How many of you were with him and you couldn't stop a fourteen-year-old boy from gathering up a dead body and leaving. What kind of faithful servants are you?"

Ron, Hermione and Ginny were watching with their mouths open. They had never seen Harry like this before. Even Draco had backed off a few steps.

"Listen to me boy. You need to learn your place. One day someone will teach you a lesson," Lucius spat out.

"One day someone may. However it won't be you." Harry was glaring into Lucius' eyes, not blinking. "I won't run again."

Lucius actually stepped back. "Are you threatening me boy? Do you know what I could do to you?"

"I know what you can't do to me," Harry responded. "The real question is do you know what I could do to you?" Harry turned to his friends and said, "Come on guys let's get some fresh air."

The group walked out of the store and was a block away before Ron said, "Did you see the look on Draco's face? I'm sure he had never seen anything like that before. That was priceless," Ron chuckled.

Hermione grabbed Harry's shoulder and turned him around to face her. "Harry, what was that all about? I don't think you should be speaking like that to Mr. Malfoy. He's quite powerful," Hermione added.

"He was there when Voldemort put the Cruciatus curse on me. He was one of the ones trying to stop me from getting back. He's nothing to me!" Harry spat. "Let's forget about him and go back to shopping, ok?"

His friends were all looking strangely at Harry but they went back to shopping without any more incidents. That evening after eating, everyone went up to pack since they were going back to school the next day. Ginny came down and was sitting at the table with Mr. And Mrs. Weasley. "How was shopping today Ginny? I see you managed just fine without me there with you," Mrs. Weasley said.

"Oh Mom. Everything was fine, but something weird did happen. I don't know if I should say anything but I'm kind of worried," Ginny said.

"What is it Ginny? Is everything ok?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"Well it was with Harry and Mr. Malfoy." Ginny went on to tell her parents the whole story about how Harry had spoken to Mr. Malfoy and what he said about it later. "Please don't say anything. Harry wouldn't want me to mention it. I'm just worried about him."

Mrs. Weasley patted her daughter's arm and said, "We won't say anything dear. You know he has been acting a bit strangely." She told them about finding him in the kitchen a few nights staring out the window and how he just made some excuse each time and went back upstairs.

The three of them didn't say anything for a few minutes and then Mr. Weasley spoke softly, "You know I saw Harry in the Unspeakable department before he came here. I haven't told you yet Molly but they were testing him on how he could defend himself and they let me watch."

His wife suddenly sat up and looked shocked. "What? Harry had to fight in that department and you didn't tell me."

"Sorry Molly but I thought it best," Mr. Weasley said then Ginny spoke up.

"Harry told us he had been through part of the Auror training and had been getting some dueling lessons this summer."

Mrs. Weasley looked even more shocked and then Mr. Weasley spoke up. "I guess that is all he was allowed to tell. I don't think that's half the story though." The man took a deep breath. "During this final test, he had to take on multiple wizards at the same time, then a group of dementors. And then they had a werewolf attack him and he barely stopped it." Mrs. Weasley could barely catch her breath. Arthur continued, "Finally they had five trained Aurors attack him at the same time. They were allowed to use unforgivable curses on Harry." Mr. Weasley looked directly at his wife. "He actually beat them all Molly. It was unbelievable. Even the head of that group, Fletch didn't expect Harry to get through the entire test. Fletch told me later that Harry hadn't even shown everything he could do." Mr. Weasley was just shaking his head. Ginny had clenched her fists so tight that her nails had dug into her palms slightly.

Mrs. Weasley gasped and said, "What do you think this all means Arthur? Why is Harry going through all of this?"

Before he could respond Ginny said, "He's sure that he will be attacked again, that's what I think. The Unspeakables must think that also so they've been trying to get him as prepared as possible. Harry has said a couple things about not running away next time and that he doesn't expect to live long enough to get married."

This shocked both Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Mr. Weasley spoke up, "I think you're right Ginny. Harry expects to be attacked again. I think it bothered him that Cedric died last year and he couldn't do anything. He's been through so much and probably thinks there is a good chance he won't survive one of the attacks. I'm concerned that he may do something rash and actually go after You-Know-Who."

"Harry wouldn't do that would he?" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. "He wants to live doesn't he?"

"I don't think he'll go looking for You-Know-Who, but I don't think he will do anything to avoid confronting him. And yes, I think he wants to live but it's got to be hard on him. Think if you got up every day knowing the most powerful dark wizards in the world would do anything to kill you. I'm not sure I could handle it as well as he has. I just think we need to make sure Harry knows how we feel about him and that we want him to be around for a long time. If he ever felt isolated and alone, I'm not sure he would care if he died or not. Now, let's not mention this to anyone else. Treat Harry just as we always have."

Harry actually slept well that night and they all reached the platform in the morning without any problems. Mrs. Weasley was hugging her children and then came up to Harry. Giving him a big hug she said, "Have a good year Harry and be careful. Arthur and I think of you as part of our family now so if you ever need anything just ask us?"

"Thank you Mrs. Weasley, I'll be fine," Harry answered and then got on board of the train.

He was walking down the corridor when he heard Ron yell, "Oi, Harry, we're down here."

The four of them settled in for the ride to Hogwarts, Ron and Hermione on one side and Harry and Ginny on the other. Hermione had already attached her prefect pin to her robes. "Ok Ron," Harry said, "She's officially a prefect now, so we really need to watch what we say around her. We should find some kind of code that we can use when we need to talk about things that prefects shouldn't hear."

"Harry, don't be like that!" Hermione said sounding hurt. "I don't want to be left out. Just try not to break any rules this year."

"Oh right, what are the chances of that? How could we have any fun?" Ron added.

They were talking among themselves when the compartment door opened and they heard. "I'm surprised you really came back mudblood. You won't be able to pretend it hasn't happened for long." Malfoy smirked. Crabbe and Goyle were chuckling behind him.

"Hello Draco, I've been hoping you'd stop by," Harry said standing up. "I've got something for you to do for me."

"Why would I do anything for you Potter?" Draco spat. "You'll be getting yours soon enough."

"Well that's good; I wouldn't want to be kept waiting. Now, I want you to give this message to your father for me. Make sure you look at me while I'm saying this because I'm sure Lucius will want you to tell him how I looked." Harry waited a moment so this could all sink into Draco. "You tell him that I meant what I said. I won't run again." Harry took a step toward Draco. Crabbe and Goyle stepped toward Harry to protect Draco but when Harry took out his wand, they backed out of the compartment and he magically shut the door before anyone knew what happened. Pointing his wand directly at Draco who looked very scared Harry said calmly, "Make sure you get the message to him Draco. You can go now." The door opened and Harry sat back down saying to his friends, "Now, where were we."

Nothing was said until Malfoy left and the door was shut. "Good thing term hasn't started because that would be points off Harry," Hermione said angrily. "You can't go around hexing people. You shouldn't try to make Mr. Malfoy angry? I don't think that's a very safe thing to do"

"They're not people!" Ron exclaimed, "It was Crabbe and Goyle. I think this is going to be a good year. But Harry, I agree that annoying Mr. Malfoy isn't a good idea."

Ginny looked at Harry and said, "You will be careful, won't you Harry?"

"Don't worry about me, I'm not totally mental," Harry said with a smile. "If Malfoy thinks I'm unstable maybe he'll stay away from us more."

They went back to talking but both Harry and Hermione were much less talkative for the rest of the trip.