Harry Potter and the Ring of Loyalty

CHAPTER FOUR

Sirius left again. Leaving was what he was best at.

Harry was angry, but he left his anger to grow quietly inside of him so that no one would hear it. Sirius hoped to catch Voldemort and defeat him with Dumbledore's help. However, Harry knew differently. He knew that the final battle would all come down to him and Voldemort. There was no escaping fate.

As he lay on the bottom bunk below Ron, all he could think of was the cruel twist of fate that left Kana with no memory of him or their kiss. He would be burdened and infatuated with that kiss forever, and yet she would escape with no recollection of his lips against hers.

At least she wouldn't remember that they were supposed to meet again the next morning. He didn't think he could bear to break a promise to her.

The next morning came slowly to the Burrow. Harry felt as though he'd just fallen asleep when the rooster crowed outside in the yard and the sunlight crept its way into Ron's room.

Mr. Weasley knocked on the bedroom door. "Time to get up. We're headed to Diagon Alley today."

Harry let out a long sigh and rolled over, fumbling for his glasses on the nightstand. He slipped them on and Ron's posters of the Chudley Cannons Quidditch team came into view. Wizards on broomsticks swooped high in the air. Viktor Krum's autograph was framed and hung on the wall near Ron's desk. Even though Krum was after Hermione, Ron had set his feelings aside and the two of them had become friends over the past year. They were pen pals, and Harry knew that when the real wizarding battle began, Krum would be a huge asset against Voldemort.

Ron climbed down the side of the bunk and mumbled a "good morning" to Harry. The two of them stumbled down the stairs to the kitchen where Harry was greeted with a table full of food and smiling faces. A pile of wrapped gifts were sitting on an empty chair at the head of the table.

"Happy birthday, Harry!" everybody cried.

Harry's face broke out into a huge grin. He had completely forgotten that today was his sixteenth birthday. The table was full of sausages, mince pies, pancakes, and waffles galore. Harry's eyes nearly burst at the sight. Mrs. Weasley gave Mr. Weasley a squeeze as Harry scanned the kitchen. Fred, George, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron all sat at the table, ready to dig in.

"I... I can't believe it," Harry said. "I can't believe you did this for me. All of you. Thank you so much!"

"C'mon Harry, open your presents!" Hermione said, gesturing to the pile on the chair.

"And this just arrived by the post a few minutes ago." Mrs. Weasley hoisted a tin container onto the table. The scrawled handwriting on the card told Harry that it could have come from only one person: Hagrid.

Harry pulled up a seat to the table and opened Hagrid's present first. The tin was filled with homemade treacle fudge that he knew would need to be warmed by a fire before he would sink his teeth into it. Then he opened the card and began to read.

"Oh no," Harry muttered.

"What is it?" Ron asked.

"This is only a part of Hagrid's gift. He said that he's got the other half back at Hogwarts. He picked her up in Ukraine over the summer with Madam Maxime."

"Her?" Hermione questioned.

Harry nodded. He pulled a pair of keys out of the envelope, his eyes wide. "Looks like whatever she is, she's got her own cage."

"Well, now, it could be one of those Ukrainian salamanders," Mrs. Weasley said. "I hear they're very... er, beautiful. Very colorful."

"Unless they breathe fire Hagrid's probably not interested," Ron interjected. "I bet she's so big and dangerous she has two locks on her cage." He took Harry's keys and jingled them.

Harry continued to open the rest of his gifts. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley gave him some candy and a homemade paperweight that resembled a golden snitch. "I heard that paperweights are vital to business in the Muggle World," Mr. Weasley added.

Ron bought Harry another Quidditch poster, this time of the Puddlemere United team that his old Gryffindor captain, Oliver Wood, played on. He could see Oliver flying through the air as he protected the hoops on the field. Fred and George gave Harry their latest product in wizarding pranks - the Mirror of Conceit. When someone looked into it, their reflection turned into a pimplier, plumper version of themselves, depending on what their level of conceitedness was.

"We used it on Mum," George said. "She only had a few zits and she freaked out."

"We're trying to perfect one that will measure levels of dishonesty," Fred added. "In our muggle studies class we learned the tale about a toy named Pinocchio. Every time he told a lie, his nose grew longer and longer."

"Then the mirror will probably shatter from the length of your noses," Ginny said.

Another package arrived with the post. It was from Dobby. Apparently, he had moved on from knitting socks to knitting mittens. Five were wrapped neatly in a bundle, each containing every color of the rainbow. Ginny gave him a long bag that she had crocheted herself for Harry to carry his broomstick in. She had even sewn a patch with a Gryffindor Lion on it at the base of the bag.

Hermione got him a t-shirt with Viktor Krum's team logo on it. Ron threw a worried glance in Hermione's direction. Perhaps Krum was more of a threat to him than he thought. She also gave Harry a wooden ring with his initials carved into it.

"It's genuine Koa wood. I bought it yesterday on the way back to the hotel." Hermione explained. "This wood existed on the Hawaiian islands before man did. Koa wood is the strongest wood from surviving the Hawaiian surf. They say it's supposed to give you strength and good luck."

"Well, it hasn't so far, has it?" Harry muttered under his breath. He quickly thanked Hermione and slipped the ring onto his finger. Even with the presents and being surrounded with all the people who he loved, Harry couldn't help but think back to Kana. He would have loved to spend his birthday with her.

"Honestly, Harry, I've never seen you so distracted over a girl," Hermione said.

"And isn't it better that Dumbledore gave her a memory charm?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "After all, she won't be in danger anymore."

"But..." Harry still wasn't convinced that the memory charm was a blessing in disguise. "She could have defended herself. She has a green belt."

"So does George," Fred replied. "I wear it all the time."

Harry chuckled. "Not that kind of belt." He sighed. "I'm sorry. I really appreciate everything. This has been the best birthday I've had yet." He managed a smile. "Now, let's eat!"

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny's school supplies lists had arrived in the post while they were gone on vacation. Instead of using up all the Floo Powder, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley decided they would Apparate into Diagon Alley. Ron begged them to give him and Harry and Hermione some time on their own, but Mr. and Mrs. Weasley wouldn't hear of it. They didn't want to leave Harry alone because of what happened in Hawaii.

"Now make sure you speak clearly this time," Mr. Weasley warned. "We don't want you turning up in Knockturn Alley again."

Harry nodded and stepped into the giant fireplace in the center of the Weasleys' home. He threw a fistful of the gray ash and announced, "Diagon Alley" as green flames engulfed him. The usual uneasiness clenched inside of him as he fell forward onto the floor of Flourish and Blotts.

Harry groaned and picked himself off the floor, dusting his cloak off and quickly getting out of the way for when the others arrived. Flourish and Blotts held a familiar smell to him - a mixture of candle wax and dust, and just a little bit of newness. This smell always reminded Harry that the school year was about to begin. Normally, he would be anxious for school to start, but that was because he'd spent the whole summer at the Dursleys. After spending the summer with Sirius and going on vacation, Harry wasn't sure he was ready to get back to his studies in the Dark Arts.

The fifth year of study at Hogwarts was very vital to a young wizard's future. It was the year that they would narrow down their classes and decide what field of study they wanted to concentrate on for their future careers. Hermione chose transfiguration, her best subject. Ron decided to follow his father's footsteps into Muggle Studies. Harry was undecided for a long time, but finally chose to study the Dark Arts. He knew he had to find out as much about his enemies as possible, and concentrating on the Dark Arts would be one way to get a step closer to defeating Voldemort.

After the others arrived, Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys made their way upstairs to the main floor of the store. Mrs. Weasley handed out their school supplies list.

"Looks like we've all got the same book for Divination," Ron said. "Modern Techniques for Modern Tellers." Even though they were in different areas of concentration, Harry, Ron, and Hermione would still have their required classes together.

Ginny scowled. "And I get to pick up the brand new edition of Unfogging the Future."

Mr. Weasley let out a low whistle. "Don't suppose we'll be finding that in the used book section."

"Oh Arthur, don't worry the poor girl," Mrs. Weasley said. "Now that we've only got two at Hogwarts we don't have to pinch our pennies anymore - especially since Sirius has been paying rent all summer."

At the mention of Sirius's name, Harry decided to go and find his Dark Arts books. He thought that all of his supplies could probably be found in Diagon Alley. Dumbledore wouldn't allow his professors to choose supplies that were in Knockturn. And, after all, Fleur Delacour was the Dark Arts teacher. She wouldn't send her students there.

Harry disappeared behind some book racks. This part of the store seemed to be darker and dustier. He began searching the shelves for his schoolbooks. The first was Curses and Cures: Confusion Cleared. The second was a book by Dumbledore - Tasty Treats for Terrorizing Wizards. Harry didn't know that Professor Dumbledore had published any books, but it didn't surprise him that it was about food. The third book on his list was called Offensive Curses, which he found on the next shelf.

As Harry scanned the titles on each book, he noticed that there was somebody on the other side of the shelf. Harry gasped. Long black hair. Dark eyes to match. There was only one girl he knew who looked like that.

Cho Chang.

She'd grown even more beautiful over the holidays. She was taller and thinner. Her skin was tanned from the summer sun.

Guilt rippled through Harry's chest as he thought of Kana. She had a great tan too. In fact, she had great everything. For some reason that Harry couldn't explain, he felt as though he was being disloyal to her by even thinking that Cho was more beautiful than before.

He sighed. He needed to get a grip. There was no Kana anymore. That closeness he'd shared with her was gone, along with all of her memories of him. Now he could concentrate on Cho and get back on track with the progress he'd made over the previous year.

Harry took a deep breath and turned the corner, doing his best to act surprised. "Cho?"

Cho turned to him, her eyes falling as she met his. Harry hated the sadness in her eyes. She was still hurting from Cedric's death. "Oh, hello Harry." She flashed him a smile. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," he replied. "How are you?"

She sighed and seemed to consider her answer. "Oh, I'm all right. How was your summer holiday?"

"Excellent," Harry replied. He couldn't deny that. "How was yours?"

"Oh, all right." She lifted a hand to her hair and began to twist a dark strand around her index finger. "Buying your books?"

He nodded. "And you? The same I assume."

"Yes." She paused. "I'm a prefect this year, did you know?"

"No. Congratulations." He grinned at her.

"Thanks."

The silence that followed was so awkward Harry couldn't stand it much longer. "What are you studying this year?" he blurted.

"Hmm?" Cho replied. "I'm studying Divination. I hope to write for the Astrology column in Witch Weekly someday. Professor Trelawney said this is how the last columnist started out."

Harry's smile faded. Cho's great ambition was to write for an old Witches' magazine? He thought she would have wanted something to do with Quidditch or maybe even Herbology, but not Divination.

"What are you studying?" Cho questioned, glancing down at her nails and not seeming particularly interested.

"Oh... I haven't decided yet." He didn't want to ruin their conversation by bringing up the Dark Arts. All that would do was remind her of Cedric's death.

Cho raised an eyebrow. "But you have to decide. It's a rule." She glanced down to the book Harry was carrying. Her face paled and she took a step back. "Oh. I see." Harry put Offensive Curses behind his back, trying to hide it, but it was too late.

"I'm... I'm studying the Dark Arts," Harry admitted.

"Well, I guess I'd better get going," Cho said. "It was nice to see you Harry. I'll see you at school." She back away from him and hurried around the corner. Harry heard the bells chime as the front door opened and slammed shut.

He really had a way with women.

* * *

The last days of summer holiday passed all too quickly for the students. Ginny found herself sitting between Hermione and Ron on the Hogwarts Express, after saying goodbye to her mother and father. Fred and George had come to see them off as well, promising that they would see the twins later in the year.

Ginny wasn't surprised. She knew that once Fred and George had their minds sent on something - like buying store in Hogsmeade - there was no stopping them.

Butterflies danced around in her stomach. She was very excited for the upcoming school year. She and Harry had grown much closer over the summer, despite certain events while they were in Hawaii, which had turned into a clean slate nonetheless. Ginny was desperate for Harry to see her as a woman, not as his best friend's little sister. If she had one goal this year, it was not to score high on her O.W.L.s, but to win over Harry. She knew that if she could just make him see the real her, he wouldn't need any other coaxing to sweep her into his arms and proclaim his love for her.

Well, maybe that was a bit too much of a romantic dream. But Ginny wouldn't give up.

"Cheer up, Harry," Ron said. "You should be happy. We're almost to Hogwarts. Your real home."

Harry managed a smile. "You're right." He reached in his bag and took out a handful of Bertie Blotts Every Flavor Beans and picked through them, searching for safe colors.

Ginny knew he still had girls on the brain. Within a matter of moments, Harry was back in his own little world. It was no use. She stood up and excused herself to the bathroom.

The restrooms aboard the Express were quite dainty - though not nearly as small as those on the airplane. Ginny pushed herself into one of the stalls in the girls' lavatory. Suddenly, she heard giggling as the door squeaked open and shut loudly.

"I must say, Harry does look like he got a little sun this holiday," one of the girls said.

"Weasley looks quite red as well," the other replied.

"It doesn't matter. Harry will still always be a gangly fellow, tan or not."

Ginny recognized the third voice as Cho Chang's. She frowned. She didn't recognize the other two girls but could see that they were in Ravenclaw. She peeked through the crack in her stall and saw blue robes.

"Besides, his hair is too long and he still has those terrible glasses. Honestly, I don't understand why he doesn't just have his eyes corrected magically. And don't even get me started on that ugly scar in the middle of his forehead."

Ginny rolled her eyes. It was hard to believe that anybody could be that shallow.

"Besides, he's such a goodie-goodie. I mean, every year he saves the damn school and stupid Miss Perfect Hermione Granger. Or Weasley's mousey little sister."

It took an enormous amount of effort against every bone in Ginny's body not to storm out of the stall and bitch-slap Cho.

"I want a rebel. I don't want someone who's going to save me from trouble. I want someone who will start it himself." She paused. "After all, the last thing I want is another Cedric."

"Well, if Harry's not good enough for you..." one girl interrupted.

Or too good for you, Ginny thought.

"Who are you after now? It's our last year. You have to go out with a bang."

"Oh and I intend to." Ginny could hear the gloating tone in Cho's voice. It made her skin crawl.

"Well, who's the lucky guy?"

"Draco Malfoy." Cho turned to her friends with a devilish smile on her face. "Everyone will freak out. Especially my parents."

"You'll never pull it off," the other girl said. "He and Pansy Parkinson are practically engaged. I heard that she spent half the summer at the Malfoy Mansion."

"I'm sure that won't last long," Cho replied. "Something tells me that Draco Malfoy isn't a one-woman kind of man."

"Ah, long time no see, Potter," Draco Malfoy spat as he sauntered into the car the trio was sitting in. Ginny was still in the restroom. Draco plopped down next to Hermione on the arm of the chair.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Ron questioned.

"Is that any way to treat an old friend?"

"Friend?" Hermione cried. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Speaking of friends," Harry announced. "Why are you going to school over in Durmstrang with all your Dark Arts buddies? I thought your father was going to send you off with his pal Karkaroff."

"Me too, actually." Malfoy stood, apparently deep in thought. "But there is no matter. Only two more years at this crummy school and then my real education will begin."

Ron grunted. "I bet. I can't believe Dumbledore is still letting you back into the school after the riot you caused last year."

"Someone had to rally the troops during the mudblood off-season." He turned to Hermione, his eyes twinkling with wickedness. "Besides, it came in handy for knowing who my friends and enemies will be this year." He turned around and approached Harry. "This year's going to be different, you know. This is the year of the serpent. You'll see. Great and terrible things are on their way."

"Is that a threat, Malfoy?" Harry snapped.

"Oh yes," he replied. "In fact, I can guarantee that you can kiss your trophies goodbye this year, for both the House Points and Quidditch."

"Slytherin beat Gryffindor at Quidditch?" Ron asked.

"Not with you as a Seeker," Harry said.

Malfoy's eyes seemed to glow as white as the hair on his head. "Just wait, Potter. You'll get yours. Just wait." Malfoy quickly turned and walked out of the car and into the narrow hallway, nearly running Ginny over.

"Watch it!" Ginny snapped, not realizing who had almost knocked her over. She was still in a bad mood about the bathroom incident.

"Ah... Little Ginny Weasley," Malfoy whispered, looking Ginny up and down in a way that made shivers crawl down her spine. Also in a way that she wanted Harry to look at her. "Not so little anymore." His stare stopped at her chest level. "Nice..." he paused.

"What?" she barked, resisting the urge to punch him in the face and mess up his perfectly cute smile or kick him right in the Malfoy family jewels.

"Tan," Malfoy finished. Ginny raised an eyebrow in curiosity. Malfoy's skin was flawless. Pure, pale white. No freckles. No zits. His soft, silvery hair was a tad mussed - probably from sleeping on the train. He ran his fingers though his hair and she felt a flutter in her stomach.

Their eyes met for just a moment, then Malfoy grinned walked away.

Ginny stuck out her tongue at Malfoy's retreating back. "Yuck. Now I need a shower." She went back to the car and sat down next to Hermione. "What was that all about?"

"I'm not sure," Hermione replied. "Did he seem a little more... arrogant than usual?"

Harry nodded. "I wonder what sort of tricks he's got up his sleeve."

"I just can't believe that Dumbledore let him come back this year," Hermione scoffed. She was offended to go to the same school as Malfoy, let alone be in the same room with him.

"Don't take it personally, Hermione," Ron said.

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "Dumbledore knows what he's doing. And you know what he says..."

"'Quit breaking the rules'?" Ron questioned, looking perplexed.

Harry chuckled but shook his head. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."