Seven

Seven

by: Solstice

Chapter 1 * Toneless

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"Come on, you can do better than that!" Sirius yelled, his voice echoing. Bellatrix then shot a jet of red light at him, hitting him squarely in the chest. His laughter hadn't died but his eyes widened in shock. Harry ran forward as fast as he could, but Sirius fell through the ragged veil hanging from the arch.

"SIRIUS!!" Harry Potter screamed, woken up from his nightmare that plagued him each night.

He looked around his small bedroom in number 4 Privet Drive. He got up from his bed and paced the room, deep in thought. I could ask Dumbledore for a sleep potion... I'm sure he would give me some. He paused, looking out the window at the moon above. Why did Sirius have to die? He didn't deserve it, if I'm the one Voldemort wants. Why does he have to kill everyone that's innocent? Cedric and Sirius didn't deserve to die! This is all my fault! Why did I have to believe that dream?! I'm so stupid!

He looked at the road below him; he always checked to see if something was out of place, but nothing was. He would be returning to Hogwarts next week, and he missed it horribly. He barely had any letters from his friends. Hermione seemed to be at home with her parents and Ron was with his family at The Burrow.

In his last letter, he said, 'Percy came home, only to take his stuff out of his room.' He didn't take all of his stuff last year, but now he was making his move very permanent.

Hermione was doing all her homework and being bored waiting for the new book list for this year. She was happy when she got all twelve O.W.L.S. He himself somehow got twelve. He thought that he failed Potions, for sure. Ron got nine O.W.L.S and Mrs. Weasley seemed happy about it, when he wrote the letter.

The Daily Prophet was finally getting interesting; it was mentioning possibilities of Voldemort being involved when anything weird happened, but nothing different was happening lately.

Lucius Malfoy was on the cover at the beginning of the summer, it went on about his trial, and how his estate was going to be handled. It said that Narcissa Malfoy was going to manage it. She said that she was working on a different matter at the time, but that she would manage one thing at a time. For the whole week, it was different people on the cover that were caught on the night Sirius died. Other than that there was nothing on the front pages that was different from news.

Harry looked up and saw a shadow in the sky coming towards him. Good, the Hogwarts owl, now I get to see my book list; I wonder what we have to get this year... The owl landed with a thud on the windowsill. He took the letter from its leg and sent it out after giving it an owl treat.

Dear Mr. Potter,

You will be attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on September 1. The train will arrive at Kings Cross at 11 o'clock sharp to transport you. The books required for this year are as follows:

Harry read over the letter. Okay, a lot of Defense Against the Dark Arts this year. The new Defense teacher must be fairly good. He glanced out the window again at the clock on his night stand- it was nearly five o'clock. The Daily Prophet should be coming any minute now; I better get the money. He walked over to his trunk and pulled out the amount needed.

He closed his trunk quietly, making sure he didn't wake up his aunt, uncle, or cousin. Then he walked over and sat on his bed, awaiting the owl that would be delivering the paper.

A few minutes passed and the owl came. He placed the bronze Knuts in the pouch attached to its leg. After the bird flew away, he turned on his lamp and started to read.

The Daily Prophet

Law Against Magic Carpets Executed

For many years, Magic Carpets were outlawed in the UK, but a new law passed makes them legal again... for more details, see page 3.

Macnair Estate Goes on the Market

The Macnair Estate, located in Cylon, England, is selling. Walden Macnair, former owner, was imprisoned in Azkaban, and Victoria Macnair, daughter and former graduate at Durmstrang, received the estate. She said that she had no use for a rather large house, so she is going to sell it. Jerry Webster, Daily Prophet reporter, interviewed her, and she says the estate will be selling for $100,000 Galleons. When asked, 'Why are you selling the estate for such a low price?' Victoria answered, 'I want it to sell fast, so I don't have to deal with it. I have many things on my platter right now, so the faster it sells, the better.'

Harry flipped though the pages and didn't see a thing that was unusual, so he tossed it aside. I didn't know Macnair had a daughter . . . that's different . . . probably a future Death Eater; she did go to Durmstrang- too bad. That would be cool if I could get a Magic Carpet, I'm surprised Fudge passed that law. I mean, what's so bad about Magic Carpets?

A tiny owl flew into the side of his head and fluttered around his room madly. Harry shut it up by taking the letter and shoving Pig into Hedwig's cage, much to her disapproval. He had been waiting to hear from Ron for a long time, about a week, so he opened the letter.

Dear Harry,

Dumbledore will let you come over, but he had to put a lot of charms on this place, so that's why it took so long, or else you could have come last week. Moody and Tonks will be picking you up Friday, at 9. We couldn't come because of certain reasons. I can't say much in case this letter is intercepted, but we have lots to do when you get here. Oh, and Hermione's over, she's happy about the new book list; her books are all advanced ones, sheesh!

Ron

Harry smiled. Yeah, I get to leave today! Dursley free! I better pack! I can't wait to see them! He looked at his clock; quarter to six. Then he got up and started to quietly pack his stuff, making sure everything was packed. Wait, I forgot, I left my socks in the laundry room, darn. I'll have to go down and get them... He tiptoed out of his room and down the stairs, watching out for the last step that squeaked. He avoided it and walked through the living room. The sun peered through the windows as he tiptoed into the laundry room.

"What are you doing up so early?" he heard someone whisper. Harry turned around and saw Dudley sitting on the couch in the living room. How did I miss him on the couch, damn it, Harry, you should be more alert.

"I'm just getting my socks..." Then he cast Dudley a suspicious look. "What are you doing up at this time?"

Dudley opened his mouth a few times then closed it. "I- I... just got home, and you better not tell mum and dad, if you want to keep your face," he threatened. "I won Champ second year in a row for boxing, so don't."

Harry laughed quietly. "Were you at Marcie's?" he asked, mocking him. Marcie was his girlfriend that lived down the street, and she was one of the most insufferable people ever. Draco Malfoy would have trouble keeping up with her sharp tongue.

"I don't see you with a girlfriend, so shut your trap," he growled in a whisper.

"I had one, but she couldn't handle my friends," he said, remembering how Cho had acted on their date last year when he'd gone to meet with Hermione. "Now if you don't mind, I would like to get back to packing," he said in a Hermione-like tone. "I'm going to be leaving in the morning."

Dudley glared. "Good," he said as Harry passed him, carrying a basket of socks.

Harry walked up the stairs, avoiding the squeaky step, then back to his room, shutting the door behind him. He folded his socks and packed them neatly in his trunk, then checked the time; half past six. This is going to be the longest morning of my life. He got up and let Pig out of Hedwig's cage; he'd completely forgotten him in the excitement of seeing his friends.

When seven o' clock came, he got dressed and headed down to breakfast, upon hearing the frying pan. They were having eggs today; Dudley decided that an American diet called Atkins would build more muscle, along with helping him lose weight, for his boxing career. Harry gained some muscle from push mowing the lawn every day, along with weeding gardens to pass the time, but Dudley still called him a runt. He didn't care, at least he didn't smoke, and beat up little ten year olds.

He reached the kitchen and sat at his normal seat at the table. Uncle Vernon looked up at him from the top of his paper.

"Uncle Vernon," Harry said, and continued after hearing his uncle grunt, in show that he was listening, "is it okay if my friends pick me up today at nine o' clock?"

Vernon glared at him and sighed angrily. "How are these people going to be picking you up?" he asked as he sprinkled Sweet and Low on his low carbohydrate bread.

Harry grabbed a piece and put butter on it, before taking a bite. "I don't know how they're coming, but I don't think they'll come by the fireplace. They might come by car..." Knowing Moody, we'll have to drive to Germany to avoid possible followers.

Vernon gave him a small look of approval of the transportation method. Dudley came into the kitchen, dressed in different clothes. "Morning, Mum, Dad... the food smells excellent," he said in a pleasant voice, before giving Harry a warning glare. The breakfast continued in silence until Marcie came over in the middle of breakfast and sat next to Dudley.

She smiled a fake smile. "Morning, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, Harry," she said, flipping her dusty brown hair. She was an okay looking girl, but she had an attitude problem. Vernon smiled at her.

"Hello, Marcie, how is your mother doing..." The conversation continued. Harry sat eating his food contentedly as Dudley and Marcie left for 'tea at the Polkisses.'

It was half past eight, so Harry went upstairs and double-checked to see if he packed everything, and before he knew it, Moody and Tonks pulled up into the driveway, in a silver Buick Imperial. He laughed to himself. Wow, I must be psychic or something I hope I'm not right about the Germany thing.

He carried all his stuff downstairs and answered the door. Moody and Tonks grabbed the stuff and they were out of there before you could say 'Bob's your uncle'. Once in the back of the car, Tonks turned to him.

"Wotcher, Harry," she said in her cheerful voice. "Sorry about the rush, we just want to get to The Burrow quickly. We have a lot to do today, and lots to buy."

Moody started up the car and sped down Privet Drive, then down another road before turning into a deserted ally way. "Hold on now," he grunted, before pushing the button on his steering wheel. Harry grasped onto the door as the car bounced, then suddenly appeared in the Weasley's Paddock, where they played Quidditch.

"Okay, we're here, Harry. We better get your stuff inside." Harry unbuckled his seat belt and hopped out of the car along with Tonks and Moody. They all grabbed something and walked all the way to the Burrow.

Tonks got the door and they brought his stuff inside the house that belonged to the Weasley family. He was greeted by Mrs. Weasley as she gave him a hug. "How are you doing, Harry?"

"I'm fine, Mrs. Weasley," he said after the hug. Then Ron ran into the room.

"Harry!" he said, giving him a very brotherly hug.

"Hey, Ron."

Then he was hit by a brown blur, screaming 'Harry!' He looked down and saw that it was Hermione.

"Hi, Hermione," he choked.

She let go of him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to choke you."

He looked at her. Holy, Hermione, what did you do? Her hair was cut shoulder length and straight, framing out her face nicely. She was even wearing make-up, and she had curves? When did that happen?

Ron laughed. "Yeah, I didn't even recognize her either, Harry. Moody thought she was a spy."

Harry laughed. "What did you do? You look great."

Hermione smiled. "Well, my mum was getting fussy over my hair being so bushy, so she took me to a salon and I had it straightened. After that, she bought me a bunch of make-up. She said that I was looking a little too natural - whatever."

Harry smiled as Ginny came into the room with Bill. "Hey, Ginny, Bill."

"Hello, Harry," they said in unison.

"Fred and George are in the kitchen with Remus. We have to go to Diagon Alley to get our supplies today," Bill said.

Ron smiled. "Ginny made prefect, you know, she's getting a cat," he said, and Ginny blushed.

Harry smiled. "Good job," he said happily.

Ron grabbed his trunk. "Let's get your stuff upstairs, before we go. We do want to get there before the rush."

Harry picked up Hedwig's cage and they went upstairs, Hermione leading them so that she could open the door. Ron's focus was on her the whole time and Harry could see why. They had a full view of her legs underneath her skirt. Harry held back laughter, when he watched Ron, who had a goofy grin on his face.

Hermione opened the door for them and they set down his stuff on the bed set up for him. He opened his trunk and dug for his bag of money so that he could fill it when they got to Gringotts. Then he pulled out his book list. Hermione read it from over his shoulder.

"Harry, you have Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts too?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Yeah, why?"

She sighed. "Well, the book Advanced Defense we have to get in Knockturn Alley, Ron has the class also."

Harry stared at her. "Knockturn Alley? Where in Knockturn Alley?"

"At this store called Verea's Book Store, Ron's excited about going down there," Hermione said giving Ron a look.

"Hermione, I've never been down there before, of course I'm excited," he said, grinning.

Harry shook his head. "It's not as good as you think down there. There's a ton of creepy people, last time a witch with a tray of fingers asked if I was lost. Thank god for Hagrid."

Ron's grin disappeared. "A witch with a tray of fingers - gross!"

Hermione nodded. "I accidentally took a turn down there with my parents my first year, and that was scary," she said.

They heard Mrs. Weasley's voice call them downstairs. Ron grabbed his bag of money from underneath his bed, as well as his cloak. Harry, meanwhile, grabbed his own. Then they walked out, making a stop at Ginny's room because Hermione had to get her bag to carry her money in, along with her cloak.

The three walked into the kitchen to see that everybody was ready, and after Harry said hello to Remus, they went by Floo powder to Diagon Alley. Moody and Tonks went first, then Remus to check the area. Then the rest followed them, Fred, George, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Bill, and Mrs. Weasley; Mr. Weasley was at work.

The first stop was Gringotts, which they all got their money to spend, but the next stop was the dreaded and not-so-dreaded Knockturn Alley.

The whole group set off down the dank ally, avoiding people selling stuff on the streets. Once getting through the scariest part, the path got lighter up ahead and opened up into a square-like courtyard with surrounding stores.

Harry looked up ahead and saw... Lucius Malfoy?! Wait, that can't be him... that's Draco, it has to be, Lucius has longer hair. Draco came out of a store called Itex Potions, followed by a pale, black-haired girl, who was carrying a bag. Who in the world is that, she kind of looks like a vampire! The girl looked at him with a blank look and evil eyes. He felt like she was reading his mind, so he turned away quickly. Weird.

Harry nudged Ron, then nodded toward the two. "Who's that next to Malfoy?" he whispered.

Ron looked up ahead and sighed. "It's not Pansy, 'cause Pansy has blonde hair... I have no idea, ask Hermione, she knows everyone," he said, shrugging.

Harry caught up with Hermione and asked her.

"I have no clue. I don't think she goes to Hogwarts, or else I would know," she said. "What happened to Malfoy? He looks like his father, only with a haircut."

Harry shrugged. "I know, makes you suspicious, kind of, but that's Malfoy. Lucius has a few wrinkles and is a bit taller."

Draco and the girl went into Verea's Book Store, right where they were headed. The group walked in and up to the rack where the books called Advanced Defense were held, and right next to Malfoy and the black-haired girl.

"Fancy seeing you in Knockturn Alley, Potter. Didn't think that you of all people would come down here." Malfoy lowered his voice to an audible whisper. "Most of the people here would get a thrill to see you dead. You have guts coming down here on our turf," he said coldly. The girl next to him pushed a piece of black hair behind her ear and smirked.

"I have to get a book for school here, Malfoy," he said, getting sick of him already.

The girl looked familiar. She looked up at Malfoy, sighing, then looked back at him with her dark sapphire eyes. "Don't let us stop you then, Potter, 'tis a free country," she said, keeping her smirk.

"Who are you?" he asked rudely.

Draco smirked at him, and looked at the girl. "You don't recognize her, Potter?" he asked arrogantly. "Gryffindors are thick."

Ron and Hermione came up next to him, glaring.

Hermione and the girl looked at each other, and Hermione's eyes got huge. "Zabini?"

"'Tis I, Granger," the girl said in a tone that would have more fit the word 'duh'.

Malfoy looked at Hermione through his glaring, slitted eyes. "Wow, the Mudblood looks half decent, how many days did that take?" he asked mockingly.

She smiled at him mockingly. "Half a day, Malfoy."

Ron and Harry were focused on Blaise. What in the world happened to her, she looks way better compared to before, though, she is a little pale, and that's kind of Vampirish. Her hair used to be extremely short, but it was now long, and she'd grown about 5 inches taller. She was probably 5'10", and, like Hermione, she seemed to have filled out nicely. She let out a ragged breath, as Malfoy directed his attention to them.

"Did anyone tell you it's rude to stare?" he asked. Blaise looked directly into Harry's eyes, and as he looked back, he almost jumped in fright. Her eyes looked as if they were reading his mind again; he broke the gaze.

Harry and Ron glared at them. "We weren't staring, we were just observing. So, how long did that take?" Harry asked scathingly.

"I don't take time in it. I honestly don't care," she said politely, though he sensed a bit of anger behind it.

Malfoy smirked as he grabbed two copies of Advanced Defense. "I'll be seeing you at school, and that is a promise." He sneered, then turned to Zabini, his face softening. "Let's go."

Blaise nodded and grabbed her book out of his hands, walking up to the check-out counter with Malfoy. Harry turned to Ron. "Blaise certainly changed..." Why is she with Malfoy, didn't she use to hang out with Terence Higgs?

Ron nodded. "She's kind of scary, she looks like a vampire."

Hermione handed them their books and walked passed them to the check-out counter, standing in line behind Blaise and Draco. Harry and Ron followed her.

"I don't understand why this book is in Knockturn Alley. Father didn't either- I mean, it's not as bad as the other stuff that is in here," Harry heard Blaise whisper to Draco.

He snorted. "I know, but Vic said that it qualified for the class and had to be in Knockturn Alley, because of its content... whatever, she went to Durmstrang, and they buy all their books in Dunkel Alley, or here; she should know," he heard Draco whisper back.

He shrugged and the line moved; they were next. Blaise and Draco paid and left.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione bought theirs and met up with the group that was standing at the door, Moody's magical eye was spinning in every direction, and to everyone that exited the store.

"Okay, good, now let's get out of this place. Even though it's made improvements, it still gives me the creeps," Bill said in a panicky voice, looking all around.

"Merlin, Bill, you handle with breaking curses on mummy tombs and you can't handle live people in Knockturn Alley?" Ginny asked quietly as they exited the store.

Ron held in laughter, and they made their way back to Diagon Alley, again passing Malfoy and Zabini, who were at the door of Borgin and Burkes, with a man that had dark brown hair.

Moody's eye swirled in the man's direction and then to Harry. "Watch yourself, Harry, don't go too close to them, I'm getting bad vibes around them," he whispered in a low growl.

Harry nodded and walked to the other side of the alley, avoiding the man that was standing next to Blaise and Draco. The man glared at him, and Moody walked up next to him. "Who is he?" Harry asked in a low whisper.

"Jericho Zabini, he was accused for massacre of Muggles and for being a Death Eater at the last downfall of Voldemort, but he somehow got out of it. They say he was Voldemort's right hand man in his time, been absent to the Dark Arts since," Moody whispered back.

"I go to school with Blaise Zabini, she must be related," he whispered.

Moody's eye rolled back, glancing at Blaise, Draco, and Jericho. "I would watch her if I were you, she seems like a rotten one also, and that Malfoy kid, there up to no good, them."

The group made it to Diagon Alley and split up so that they didn't have to walk in a huge group. Moody, Remus, Harry, Ron, and Hermione went in one group, while Tonks, Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, Fred, George, and Bill went in the other group.

Moody led the group to Flourish and Blotts first, then they went to the Apothecary. Next stop was Madam Malkin's for school robes. Ron went in first to be measured, then Hermione, and finally Harry. Madame Malkin must have been having a bad day because she was a bit mean with the needle.

Moody was looking all around, being his alert self as always, as they walked out of the store, and Remus went to buy a dress robe, so they waited for him outside the store. They voted to go to Quality Quidditch Supplies next, much to Hermione's protest. When Remus came out and they went to the store, Harry and Ron bought new broom polish and twig clippers, along with the newest book in broom care called New and Improved Broom Care.

After they were done shopping at all of the stores that were necessary, and bought all of the stuff needed, they met the other group at the Ice Cram Parlor. Ginny was holding her new red-haired cat.

"Isn't she cute?" she asked when they sat by her in a booth. Hermione reached over to pet her.

"She is, what's her name?"

Ginny smiled. "Monty." Then she turned to Ron. "What do you think of her?"

Ron shrugged. "She's okay- she's not as mean as Crookshanks, that's good," he said, receiving a glare from Hermione.

Harry reached over and petted her. "I like her, she's mellow."

Tonks came over carrying a tray full of hot fudge sundaes, and set them on the table, before going back to the booth where the rest were sitting. Fred and George went back to the lab because when they went into the pet shop, they got tons of ideas and said that they had to run, according to Ginny.

They saw Pansy Parkinson walk in, all in a huff, to sit down at the ice cream bar. Ron turned to Harry, smiling. "She seems pissed... think Malfoy finally got rid of that cow?"

Harry shrugged. "She probably had a bad day," he said, as he watched a red-head come in and sit next to Pansy.

Hermione snorted. "I don't care about that cow, she deserves what ever they throw at her." Then Hermione looked up and watched her and the red-head. "What in the world is Nevaeh doing with her?"

Harry's eyebrows furrowed. "Who's Nevaeh?"

Hermione looked at him. "The red-head sitting next to the cow." Then she looked back at the two. "She's too nice to be hanging out with Pansy."

Ron nodded. "Nevaeh helps the Prefects a lot, you really wouldn't know her much, I didn't even know her until last year, but Miss I-Know-Everybody-In-School knew her. She's different, and really quiet. Sometimes she can be creepy, because she can move around without anybody noticing her- it's like she has an Invisibility Cloak."

Hermione smiled. "Ron, she's just quiet, you know that."

Harry watched as Nevaeh and Pansy bought two ice cream cones. Nevaeh nodded as Pansy said something, then they got up and started for the door, and Nevaeh spotted them. "Hey, Hermione, Ron," she said in a kind voice.

Ron grinned and waved, as did Hermione. "Hi, Nevaeh," they said, as she walked by and out the door with Pansy.

Harry started on his sundae and finished it in no time, thanking god that it contained sugar, because Dudley's diet didn't let him have any sugar except for the fake stuff, so he was craving it something fierce. He ended up with an ice cream headache in the end, but that was well worth it.

Hermione watched him wolf down the sundae with wide eyes. "Hungry much?" she asked. Ron laughed.

He looked up at her after wiping his mouth on a napkin. "I was craving sugar," he explained.

Ginny laughed. "Seemed like it, you practically inhaled it."

Ron started to eat his more slowly than Harry but still ended up with an ice cream headache. After the ice cream shop, they finished all the necessary shopping, if there was any left, then they all went to the Leaky Cauldron to travel home by Floo. Harry watched as Mrs. Weasley, along with all their belongings, went through the grate and disappeared up the chimney. Then he looked and saw Blaise sitting at a booth with Malfoy in a dark corner. They were talking in low voices and Blaise was looking about, when her gaze landed on him. He avoided eye contact.

He and Ron both went into the fireplace and traveled back to the Burrow, and they sat by Hermione in the kitchen as Mrs. Weasley magicked all of their stuff up to their rooms. Hermione was flipping through the Defense Against the Dark Arts Book that they got in Knockturn Ally. Then a question popped into his head.

"Hermione, do you know where Dunkel Alley is?" Harry asked, remembering the conversation between Blaise and Draco.

Hermione looked up at him. "Bulgaria. That's where Viktor shopped for his books for school when he went- why?" She asked back.

Harry shrugged and changed the subject. "So--find anything interesting in that book?"

Hermione sighed. "Interesting enough, though I don't think the teacher is being responsible if she teaches us this stuff," she said, gesturing towards the book. "I mean, there are a ton of dark curses and even the Peril curses, and that's only the first half of the book. Sure, they have the counter curses, but these curses are dangerous... I wonder who the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is..." Hermione said, looking deep in thought.

"What are the Peril curses?" Ron asked.

Hermione sighed. "Well, they were once used by Grindelwald and they're really violent. I mean, one of the curses will slowly torture you to death with just one word. One of the other ones is, if it's cast upon you, you will be frightened to death within 24 hours- it's like seeing the Grim or something. Others I don't remember, but they're horrible also."

Harry furrowed his eyebrows. Are they going to teach us how to do these curses? I wonder who it could be... I hope he isn't as bad as Umbridge... or the teacher could be a girl... hmmm.

Ron was staring, wide-eyed. "I hope they don't teach the Slytherin's that, 'cause I would be afraid to walk the halls alone."

Hermione shook her head. "Don't worry, Ron, if you use one of these curses on a human you get a year in Azkaban, or something like that," she explained quickly.

Ron looked relieved. "Thank Merlin!" he sighed.

Harry was still deep in thought. Zabini said that the book wasn't as bad as the other stuff in there- the Peril curses are bad enough, what could be worse, other than the Unforgiveables? God, that girl is weird, but I guess I never really noticed her before. I wonder what happened to her? Her eyes are different, that's probably what Moody was sensing ... I wonder if she's using Legilimency, but she can't be that advanced, can she read minds? No, Snape said that was too complicated to do. He was snapped out of his thoughts when Hermione and Ron said his name.

"Harry, are you okay?" Hermione asked, concerned.

He nodded. "I was just thinking about stuff..." he said, trailing off.

Ron gave him a weird look. "You looked like you were trying to figure out a complicated problem, what were you thinking about?"

Harry sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. I don't know, should I tell them? He made his decision, then sighed. "Did you guys feel rather weird when you were around Zabini? Like she was reading your mind?" he asked.

Hermione shrugged. "I've always felt as if she was reading my mind before, but it's impossible to have someone read your mind, so I felt better. But I do get some rather weird feeling around her." She paused. "Is that what you're thinking about?"

He nodded. Ron had his eyebrows furrowed. "I know how you feel, Harry, she gives me the creeps- she reminds me of those Prophesiers that work at the Ministry, I swear they can read minds." He said.

"Prophesiers?" He asked.

Ron and Hermione nodded. "They work in the Department of Mysteries," Hermione said.

Ron sighed. "Those people are true blue, that's why I knew Trelawney was a phony--she didn't have that kind of... aura around her. I think Zabini is a Seer or a Prophesier. We could ask Moody, 'cause dad said that his eye spots them from a mile away."

Hermione snorted. "I still don't believe in all that junk, it's still a bunch of guesswork." She shrugged.

"That's because you've never met a real Seer, they truly are rare, but occasionally you get a few nut cases." They all turned to see Bill standing in the entrance to the kitchen. He walked over and sat down.

"This one Seer had to be carted off to St. Mungo's once, because she went insane, saying stuff about the Grim Reaper, and she kept rambling a song or something, singing 'have mercy on me' or something like that. She had to be locked up in a padded rubber room," he explained.

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. "But all the books that I've read say this Grim Reaper is just a myth. It isn't real."

Bill sighed. "Well, that is true, but I had a reading done once by Samantha Thailyah, and is she true blue. She told me that I would find fortune, and I just got a pay raise at work about a month ago. But then she made a Prophesy, and the people that work there to write down the prophecies, went wild. She ended up making two in the time of my reading."

"What were the Prophecies about?"

Bill buried his face in his hands. "I don't know, something about an Ice King and a Dragon, then the other one about an old book, and she kept saying the numbers 3 and 7, it was weird."

Hermione shrugged. "I don't really believe in it, though, I mean, maybe there could be some real ones, but who knows who's real or not." Moody came strolling through the door and sat down next to Bill.

"Moody knows," Bill said.

Moody looked at him. "What do I know?" He asked in his growling voice.

Bill smiled. "Who is a true Prophesier and Seer."

Moody smiled triumphantly. "The eye comes in handy."

Harry smiled too. "Moody, you saw Blaise Zabini today, the black haired girl that was standing next to Malfoy, right?" he asked.

Moody nodded. "Why do you ask? I told you, she's up to no good."

"Is she a Seer?" Hermione asked, in an I-Want-To-Get-This-Over-With-Tone.

Moody sighed. "No, she can't be a Seer," he said.

Harry sighed. "Can she read minds?" he asked.

"It's impossible to read minds, Harry," Moody said.

Harry nodded. "I know that," he said, as Molly Weasley came bustling into the kitchen, somewhat of what reminded him of what she did at Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Then he remembered, why weren't they at Number 12?

"Ummm... so what happened to Number 12 Grimmauld Place? How's the order going? What is Voldemort up to?" he blurted out questions that he wanted to ask for a long time.

Moody sighed. "We couldn't keep Number 12, Narcissa Malfoy inherited it after Sirius... anyway, she took the place, so now the Burrow is the headquarters," he said, smiling at Molly.

Bill stepped in. "The Order is going great, we started to get a few members, and I think you'll like your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher--a real spit fire, that one," he said, smiling.

Molly gave him a look from where she was standing. Ron got excited. "Who is it? Is it a guy or a girl?" he asked.

Harry got interested in the subject too--anyone who would assign a dark book was a rather risky teacher, because it showed how to do dark spells.

Bill grinned. "You'll like her, she's very interesting," he said.

She!? I hope it's not another Umbridge, but I guess if Bill likes her maybe we will also. Still, I wonder...

Ron's eyes got huge. "A girl? Wow, that's two years in a row!"

Hermione snorted. "Just as long as she's not like Umbridge, I'm fine with her, but still, I think she's crazy, assigning that book to us," she said.

Bill's grin faltered. "Trust me, Hermione, you'll want to learn the stuff in that book. It's very useful, especially for you three, since you seem to get into trouble a lot. You'll definitely need it." He looked at Moody and sighed as he turned back to them.

"You-Know-Who is gaining power, he's got half of the German and Bulgarian Ministries against us. Over in Bulgaria they're having a civil war, and from a reliable source, we heard that 75% of the students that go to Durmstrang won't be attending, because they're fighting in the war."

Harry's eyes widened. "Durmstrang?" He turned to Hermione. "Have you written Viktor lately?" he asked.

Hermione's eyebrows were furrowed. "Yes, and he did mention there were some complications in his family, but he's mostly on the road with the Quidditch team, so I don't think that I could reach him, it's hard to do," she said with slight surprise in her voice.

Ron looked at Hermione with a jealous glint in his eye. "Why contact him? He's probably on the other side anyway, he's probably helping You-Know-Who," he said in a very scornful tone.

Hermione stared at him with anger and surprise. "Honestly, Ron, I trust Viktor! He can't be on the side with V-Voldemort!" she screamed.

"I still don't trust him, he's not what he seems, Hermione! He seems like a shifty character to me!" Ron yelled back.

"To you, Ron, but I trust him! He isn't a shifty character! I know he will never join the other side! He's not like that!" she yelled.

Bill silenced Ron and Hermione with his wand and looked at Harry for an explanation.

"Don't worry, Bill, it's just another Viktor Krum fight, it will blow over. It usually does," he said, sighing.

Bill looked at Hermione. "Viktor Krum? You mean Quidditch player Viktor Krum? Bulgarian Seeker?" he asked.

Harry nodded. "He asked Hermione to the Yule Ball in fourth year and they fight about it ever so often," Harry said, gesturing towards Ron and Hermione.

Bill looked at Hermione. "He asked her to the Yule Ball?" Harry nodded. "I didn't know that. Go figure."

Hermione had her arms crossed and she was giving Bill an evil look; Ron was glaring at Hermione. Bill sighed. "Do you think I should un-silence them?" he asked Harry.

He stifled a laugh at the looks Hermione and Ron were giving them; Hermione looked ready to kill. Bill waved his wand and Hermione turned around, speeding up the steps and snarling out the words. "The nerve of you, Bill!"

Ron just glared and sat as Mrs. Weasley put a fresh plate of baked rolls on the table. Harry sat down and sighed, taking one. Ron piled his plate full of them like a starved monkey.

Harry smiled, thinking that he would be returning to Hogwarts in three days time, and he couldn't wait.

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