Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Chapter17

Balls

The following morning, Harry awoke feeling lighter than he had done since his

first ever night at Hogwarts. The sun was streaming through the windows, and

plastered the walls with a beautiful glow. A voice in his head brought the events

of the previous day back into deliciously sharp focus.

"Good morning... brother!" Harry felt a huge smile cross his lips as he replied in

kind. It felt wonderful to be able to finally say those words. He glanced at his

watch. It was five to eight. Dean, Neville, and Seamus would have already gone

down to breakfast.

"Tawny?" No reply. "Tawny? Are you up yet?"

"Oh, sorry about that!" came Hermione's voice in his head. "I was just talking to

Ron. We're all downstairs waiting for you. You and Evan are the last. Are you

coming for breakfast?"

"You bet! I'm starving!"

"I'm not surprised! See you in a couple of minutes then!"

Harry went to the bathroom and had a quick shower, and re-entered the dormitory to find Evan staring out of the window. He sighed heavily.

"Penny for them?"

"Harry? How long have you known about me?"

"Depends what you mean. As a brother, less than nine hours. As Evan, my best friend when I was little, probably for as long as I can remember."

"Then why?"

"Why...?"

"Why did you stop talking to me? Why did you stop hearing me?"

"Evan? How long have you known that you've had a brother? How long have known who you are? How long have you known what happened? What really happened?"

"Well when I was six, Dumbledore came to tell me that I had a brother. I didn't know about my two sisters. I guess he didn't think that there was much danger about anyone knowing about me here. That there wasn't much, if any Death Eater activity. Because Voldemort mainly kept to Britain, that is where the main problems were, although he did make a few sorties into Russia and Spain to whittle down the Wizarding families with Muggle ties. That is why he kept Marie and Natalia out of it I guess. To make sure they weren't at risk. You know we have always kept in contact. Well, until we were about nine anyway! Again, why is that? Well, he let me know that I had a brother called Harry. That we were twins. That we could talk to each other when we weren't near to each other, and that I should talk to you whenever I could. Whenever I felt scared or lonely, or whenever I felt that you were scared or lonely. He told me I had to take care of you. To comfort you. I have been trying to talk to you for the last six years. More so for the past four years, and ESPECIALLY this last year! I wanted to let you know that you were doing well, not to be scared, and that everything would be okay."

"I wish I could have heard you!" Harry laughed bitterly.

"Why did you stop talking to me, Harry? Why did you stop needing me?" His voice was pleading now, and he looked at Harry with sad, tear stained eyes.

"I never stopped needing you, Evan!" Harry said, stricken. "You remember what it was like with the Durselys?"

"How could I forget!"

"I never really understood. Were you just able to talk to me, or could you read my mind too?"

"Only talk. Why?"

"I needed to placate them otherwise I would never get out of there. They actually HEARD me talking to myself, you know. Only in our more animated conversations of course. But basically, they treated me worse when I acted "abnormally"! I fooled myself into thinking that if I ignored the voice in my head I would behave more normally and that they would ease up on me. Of course they didn't, but by the time I had realised that, I'd forgotten how to listen out for you and talk to you. And the last few years of course, I've been practically living from day to day!" Harry hung his head. "Can... can you forgive me?"

Evan frowned, as though contemplating a bizarre request, weighing out the pros and cons. At length, he extended his arms and gave Harry a long-forgotten, and very much needed filial embrace.

"Does that answer your question? Puzzle!" Harry looked aghast. "Yes I know about that too. You forget. I told you, I've seen EVERYTHING you've done! You're quite something, you know that! Could I see it?"

"If you don't mind..."

"You'd rather do it in front of all of us together. As a family. I know. It's okay. Can I at least see the Phoenix first? Considering that that is what Marie and Natalia have seen so far!"

Harry smiled, transformed into his magnificent form, and perched gently on Evan's shoulder.

"So, what do you think?"

"Not bad Harry! Not bad at all! I could get used to this!" Harry fluttered down to the floor and changed back.

"So come on Evan! Who are you?"

"Eh?"

"What's your Animagus form?"

"You'll have to wait and see!"

"EH?" Harry looked startled.

"What, can't I have one up on FAMOUS Harry Potter?" Harry's face fell. He knew Evan was joking, but it really was a sore spot with him, which he could simply find no humour in. "I... I'm sorry Harry. I forgot. I guess I'm not used to it yet either. Come on!" He said jauntily to try and cheer Harry up. "Lets go and have some breakfast."

"What do you reckon it's going to be like?" Ron whispered to Hermione.

"Well, if the Tri-Wizard Tournament was anything to go by, people will be shocked to say the least!"

"Oh well, here we go!" said Harry and he drew open the closed doors. He knew they would be the last ones to enter and he didn't particularly want anything grand, but he had never had any luck as far as that particular wish was concerned. The huge doors creaked loudly as they heaved open, and the usual morning breakfast buzz greeted them. As they made their way to the Gryffindor table, the buzzing fizzled out into nothing and there was the distinct rustling of people nudging each other. Harry sighed heavily and rolled his eyes as he saw practically every jaw in the great hall fall and all eyes turned towards him and his entourage, and practically popping out of their sockets. Even the teachers (with the exception, of course, of those who were there last night) looked astonished. Professor McGonagall held her heart and mouthed "All FOUR of them?" to Dumbledore.

Harry had a good look around. The only person, apart from Dumbledore, who was smiling, was Freulenka Diminova. Hermione winked at her, and she nodded shrugging. Hermione turned to the others to voice the thought that she had just exchanged with the Durmstrang Headmistress.

"Her entrance was good. Ours was better!" she said, smiling broadly. As the sat down in the places that had been left to them, Evan stood up again.

"I've had an idea!" he said in a low voice. "Harry, could you transfigure my robes please?"

"You're not going to...!"

"I am!"

"Oh! BEAUTIFUL!"

With that final word of encouragement, Evan got up and wandered over to the Slytherin table. Everyone watched him in silence, wondering what was going to happen. As he reached the table, he spoke in a slightly raised voice, so nobody could miss his words.

"Is it true what they're saying? That Vincent Crabbe has come to Slytherin House?" He looked at Crabbe with a façade of mild intrigue. "Oh so it's you is it? Well, you ought to know, Crabbe, that some families are better than others. You don't want to go mixing with the wrong sort!" He threw a disdainful glance at Malfoy whose normally milk-white face was tinged with the palest pink of fury. "I can help you there!" He extended a hand towards Crabbe, who looked at it, confused before shaking it warmly and grinning stupidly.

Ron couldn't help it. He remembered the incident on the train on their first day at Hogwarts all too clearly the bile that had been boiling within him. Hearing the conversation thrown back in Malfoy's face like that was too wonderful, and he laughed out loud. Soon the majority of the hall was joining him, and began to applaud enthusiastically. Even a few of the teachers had to stifle chuckles, having been on the business end of a Malfoy prejudice one time or another in their lives. Evan returned to take his place at Harry's side, the applause around him now approaching being riotous. Dumbledore frowned, but his eyes glinted with amusement. He stood up.

"Ah, yes, well then, ladies and gentlemen." Dumbledore said in a raised voice, clearing his throat and banging his goblet on the table. Eventually the hall rumbled into silence. He pointed to his throat and muttered "Traducto" before continuing. "It cannot have escaped your attention that we have had somewhat of an, ahem, inadvertent family reunion here last night. Therefore it should only be right to introduce the clan as a whole. May I proudly introduce to you, after far too long a time, The Family Potter: Evan, Marie, Natalia, and of course, Harry. Now I have been speaking with them and their Headmistresses this morning, and they have agreed that they will transfer to Hogwarts and will take their place in and amongst their family heritage!" A few playful groans could be heard from the older teachers, a stunned silence from the majority of the students, and an ecstatic "YES!" from Hagrid and Sirius, followed by a High-Five, which practically knocked Sirius out of his chair.

Harry simply stared at Dumbledore, who, looking directly at him, smiled and winked at him. He looked at Ginny, Ron and Hermione, who nodded at him, smiling. Evidently, Dumbledore had spoken to them first thing in the morning, before Harry had awoken.

And then he turned to his family. His FAMILY! It felt so wonderful to be able to think those words, he couldn't believe it! His eyes roamed from Natalia, to Marie, and came to rest on Evan. Each one nodding and smiling in their turn. He smiled in return and stood up. Natalia, seeing at once what he intended to do, stood up as well, and beckoned Marie and Evan to do the same. After a brief moment of simply staring at them, they embraced in a four-way hug, and Ron, standing up, began to clap, enthusiastically, almost immediately joined by the Gryffindors, Staff, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. Even a few of the Slytherins seemed to be behaving amicably enough and appreciated a good family reunion.

"As many of you have already made friends with your Durmstrang and Beauxbatons counterparts, I'm sure you will all be delighted to know that a floo-link will be set up between the three schools so, with prior arrangements of course, you may all visit your friends. Now as Mr Evan Potter is from a little further afield, it seems only right that a floo-link be made to The Salem Academy as well, and I am sure you will all be very accommodating and eager to make new friends. As I have said many times already, the purpose of these events is to bolster Wizarding relations, and I don't see why that should exclude our American counterparts. In the future, I hope that bonds can be forged with schools from even further afield, but I think three is an excellent start. Now I think that it's time you all got off to your lessons, don't you?" He said with a smile, and the hall soon began to disperse. Dumbledore wandered over to the Gryffindor table. "An admirable showing, Mr Potter. Your father would be very proud of you. However, as proud as Lily, your mother might have been, she would also have given you a bit of a telling off. Now I am not your mother, however I am your headmaster, so I am afraid I must deduct five points from Gryffindor." Harry swung around at this.

"You've been sorted into GRYFFINDOR?"

"We all have!"

"Poor McGonagall!" Ron said out of the corner of his mouth. Ginny stifled a giggle.

"Now then, I suggest again that you should all get to your lessons. Miss Chang, I believe, wants a word with Harry, but I am sure you can all talk on the way to classes, yes?"

"Yes sir."

"Oh and one more thing."

"Sir?"

"Welcome! Bienvenus! Zhelanye!" Evan, Marie, and Natalia said their thanks and then turned around, as Dumbledore left, to see Cho indeed approaching them.

"Harry?"

"Good morning Cho! Meet Evan, the brother none of us knew about until about half past twelve this morning!"

"Nice to meet you Evan."

"And it's lovely to finally meet you Cho!" Cho raised her eyebrow at this but said nothing.

"What have you got now?" Harry asked.

"Apparition. You?"

"Defence against the Dark arts. I didn't know you were seventeen?"

"Oh yes, two weeks ago!"

"You mean...?"

"Yes Harry." Hermione put in. "You receive your letter in the fortnight before your eleventh birthday."

"So you had to wait an entire year before you came to Hogwarts?"

"Yep!"

"You poor thing!"

"How long did you have to wait?"

"A month, but I didn't actually get my letter until my Birthday!"

"Why not?"

"The Durselys kept intercepting them and burning them. I didn't get it until Hagrid tracked me down! I think Dumbledore was wondering why I didn't reply."

"Cool. Well then, I'll see you later, eh?"

"Yeah. See you later Cho." Evan smiled.

"How did you know about Cho?" Hermione asked, fascinated.

"I have seen everything Harry's done for as long as I can remember!"

"Everything?"

"EVERYTHING!" Evan grinned. "I'll have to say, Hermione, you were onto a good wheeze with S.P.E.W, but you were going about it all wrong."

"Really?"

"Yes. House Elves are loyal to their masters. Fiercely so. They must keep their masters' secrets, however, they cannot have secrets from their masters, unless it be of previous masters. That information, they may choose to divulge, and that information is the only information which may be concealed from their current master. It is the only choice enslaved House Elves get. So basically, as Dumbledore is the Headmaster of Hogwarts, you should have gone to him and asked him to ask them what it was they truly wanted, what they wanted more than anything else in the world. Perhaps put them in front of the Mirror of Erised and ask them what they see. Some House Elves genuinely do like their enslavement, but others, like Dobby would be miserable. But House Elves are proud and the only way of getting to the root of their wishes is for their master to ask them directly. I imagine a few of them would want to start a family but would have been mistreated by Masters during the height of Voldemort's previous reign and so would be reluctant to ask permission of Dumbledore, despite the fact that they don't need it."

"I wonder what Winky wants." Harry pondered absently. "Oh well! Off to Defence against the Dark Arts."

It was their last week of studying Dementors, and, as they were new students in the fray, Professor Figg wanted to know how far along they all were, what they knew, and whether or not any of them could conjure a Patronus.

"Harry? Could you do the honours please?" Harry shuddered.

"Yes Professor." He opened the chest up and stood back, stock still, waiting for the familiar wave of cold to sweep over him, The Screaming in his ears. He had managed to train himself so that, although he still felt awful, he didn't lose consciousness. He thought he was slowly becoming resistant to them, although he doubted that anyone could fully become immune to Dementors.

"Forma Status Quo!" cried Professor Figg, and Harry was relieved that he could finally move away from the Dementor.

As usual, everyone stood to the back of the class, and Harry, having taken an enormous chunk of chocolate from Professor Figg, went to stand between Natalia and Marie.

"You okay?" Ron asked.

"Why? What's wrong? Why wouldn't he be?" Ginny piped up. She was in Potions at that moment, and Ron had forgotten to block her.

"I'm fine. Ginny, don't worry about me. We're in DADA at the moment."

"Ron! Don't worry me like that!"

"Sorry Gin!"

"Nathale Aragne!"

A blond Durmstrang Witch stepped forward nervously, brow furrowed in concentration.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" she cried. A heavy wisp of silver exploded from her wand and hung in the air in front of her. Her face reddening with concentration, she stared at it, hardly blinking until she looked as if she was going to collapse with exhaustion.

"Enough!" Mrs Figg said. "Miss Marie Blaireau, you're next." Harry cocked his head at this. He was very interested to see how his siblings faired. How powerful were they? And even if they were extremely powerful, how would they cope with the Patronus?

Marie stepped forward as Natasha returned to her place amongst the students. She looked at Harry, Natalia and Evan and smiled. Harry felt certain that he knew what her happy thought would be. Harry winked back at her. She took in a deep breath and steeled herself before crying, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Nothing happened. Marie looked worried. "EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO..."

Harry saw Marie go rigid. After a moment Natalia did the same. And then, with a helpless glance at Harry, so did Evan. And then he heard it!

"Not Harry! Please I'll do anything!"

"Stand aside girl!"

Harry's mind was made up in an instant. He had no chance of helping the woman, but he knew he was more than capable of helping his sister. Remembering their warm embrace at the breakfast table, Harry drew his wand and roared "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

The now familiar and much loved silver form of the Stag erupted from his wand tip and galloped urgently towards Marie. The Dementor, looming over her, seemed to smell the air, turned, and fled the oncoming Patronus. Harry ran over to Marie, who looked as if she were just about to faint, and helped her, shaking, back to the group. From the table, he took the largest piece of chocolate and broke it into three, thrusting a chunk into each of their hands, and commanding them to eat it, before asking quietly,

"So. Did you all hear her too?" They nodded, still very white.

"Harry? Vos that...?" Natalia began.

"That was mum."

"I haven't heard that since I vos about five!"

"And the man was..." Evan began

"Voldemort." Most of the class shuddered. Professor Figg was watching the exchange, eyes brimming with concern. Ron, and Hermione, who remembered Harry's reactions to the Dementors all too well, were right behind them, squeezing their shoulders.

After a minute, Professor Figg said shakily, "Stephane Chevalier." As it turned out, from brief discussions in between students, Dementors were also a part of the Fifth Year Defence Against The Dark Arts Syllabus at Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. Many of the students, like the Hogwarts students, managed a thin mist, a few a little stronger, and one managed a full Patronus, and then...

"Natalia Borosheva!"

Harry winked at Natalia, who nodded and took another deep breath. Then, walking out into the centre of the classroom she raised her wand and calmly and quietly said, "Expecto Patronum."

What Harry saw, brought a tear to his eye, and a lump to his throat. From her wand fell four silver figures, each around her own height. Two girls who looked identical, two boys who looked identical, girls and boys looking practically identical, and the slightly smaller boy had a lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead.

The four characters surrounded the Dementor, which promptly broke through the Form-Freezing curse and flew, as a wisp of smoke, back into the trunk, closing the lid firmly behind it.

The class stood there eyes and jaws wide open.

"Um... Harry? Would you mind...?" Professor Figg asked, distracted.

"What? Oh, yeah!" and squeezing Natalia gently on the arm ("Later!" she said), he moved over to the trunk. However as he was reaching for his wand, and thinking about opening the chest, the chest burst open and the Dementor rose once again. Harry started in surprise but no one else seemed to have noticed, and Harry himself, this time uttered "Forma Status Quo." He then returned to the crowd and put a Hand on Natalia's arm, smiling at her. A few more wisps of smoke, and one more heavy cloud and,

"Evan Potter!" Harry raised an eyebrow at this. Evan had never had his name changed. He wondered how much of his history and Harry's history Evan really knew.

Evan looked up at Harry, who returned a thumbs-up, and wandered lazily over to face the Dementor. He stifled a yawn, which broke into a sly grin as he said "Expecto Patronum." The tip of his wand glowed bright silver for a moment, and then faded. Then a silver shadow burst forth from the wand. Another Patronus in human form. A twin Patronus this time, and one Harry knew all too well. How many times had he looked into those sparkling green eyes, gazed at that short crop of messy black hair, whilst ruffling his fingers through his own? Of course the colour didn't show through the different shades of bright silver, but there was absolutely NO mistaking them. Harry felt his eyes well up, and Hermione and Ron were at his side in a trice. They too had seen the photos. Arabella Figg - née - Black burst into tears, surprising everyone.

"Harry?" She sniffed. "Could - Could you finish up here please?"

"Yes Professor." He glanced briefly at Ron, Hermione, Evan, Marie and Natalia. He then raised his wand, said, "Forma Normalis" and then called "EXPECTO PATRONUM"

Once again, Prongs rode forth and Harry quickly called "Ridikkulus!" before the Boggart wafted back towards the trunk in a wisp of smoke. Harry pointed his wand at the trunk and muttered "Firma" and it locked.

*****

Saturday morning found Harry up at first light, pacing his room, waiting for Ron to get into his Quidditch Practice Robes. The match would be starting in four hours, and Harry wanted to get in a last minute practice before breakfast. He was determined to pick up where Gryffindor had left off at the end of the Third Year, and that meant winning. It also meant beating the living daylights out of the Slytherin Team, but most of all, out of Malfoy.

The moment Malfoy had found out that Ron was on the team he had been beside himself with glee. He had claimed that the only way Ron could save a goal was if he imagined the Quaffle was a Knut, and that he needed a halfway decent broom to keep him in the air long enough to save up. Ron, on the other hand, retorted that the only way Malfoy could catch the Snitch was if he imagined that it was a personality.

By the time they had showered and changed into their casuals, it was a quarter to nine, and the Hall was packed with students talking about the upcoming match.

Harry, taking a leaf out of Wood's book, was piling food onto his team's plates, piling twice that amount on Ron's plate (it was, of course, his first game), but only nibbled a slice of toast himself. His concerns weren't purely House Pride. He wanted to do well in front of his family. He of course included Hermione and Ginny in the term, and he wanted to impress Cho as well, but his real deepest desire was to do well in front of Evan, Marie and Natalia.

"So, do you play Quidditch yourselves?" Harry put to his siblings, trying to ease his nerves.

"Yeah, I'm on my house team." Evan said not missing the tension in Harry's voice. "Chaser."

"Moi Aussi!" Marie interjected. "I am also a Shasseur."

"And I vos a Beater for my House." Natalia added. Hermione and Ginny glanced at each other.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Ginny asked her.

"But would they agree to it?" Hermione replied nervously. "I mean, it wouldn't be fair to those who already tried out."

"So have a match. We are already in the reserves so we can go with them..."

"But what about Ron and Harry?"

"Well Katherine is more than capable, as is Dennis."

"You wouldn't have thought so after the start of last year!" Ron interjected. He remembered all to well little Dennis Creevey walking up to his brother on the first day of last year, sopping wet and saying "I fell in, Colin!"

"Yeah but he could beat Malfoy to the Snitch, any day. But I think we would be experimenting with the team for next season anyway. And of course Ron and Harry would be starting."

"Just imagine Lee's face at announcing the starting line-up against Ravenclaw if we DID do that!" Hermione said, smiling. "He would LOVE it!"

"He's going to have enough fun with TODAY'S starting line-up!"

"Yeah! But I've been thinking." Ron said excitedly. "What if we were to have an inter-school Quidditch Tournament. Sort of like a Mini-League. You know; We each play each other twice - Home and Away, and the top two play for a Cup or something like that."

Harry swung around at this, beaming. "THAT would be PERFECT! It would be a little tricky to organise, What with Travelling between four schools, but I'll have a word with Dumbledore. EVERYONE loves Quidditch. Hermione proved that to us when she made it on the reserves!" he added, punching her arm affectionately. He turned to Evan, Natalia, and Marie. "Silly Question, but do you all have Quidditch Pitches at your Schools?" He received three nods in reply. "Excellent! I'll have a word with Dumbledore when we get back from Hogsmeade tonight, assuming that its not a long match, otherwise, I'll talk to him after the match." Harry looked at his watch. It was half past ten. "Right team! Changing Rooms!" Harry stood up, receiving hugs from Hermione, Ginny, Natalia, Marie and, leaving the hall, Cho came up to him and gave him a brief squeeze on the arm.

"Good luck!" she said, blushing slightly. Harry also blushed, a little more violently.

"Thanks. Maybe I'll see you in Hogsmeade after the game?"

"Yeah, maybe. I'll definitely be at the Three Broomsticks and Honeydukes. "

"Ditto. Probably Zonko's too, knowing Ron!"

"Anyway, go on. You've got a team to captain to victory!"

"Yeah. Thanks again." he said, blushing, as he returned a touch to her arm.

In the changing rooms, they were all sitting down in their scarlet and gold Match Robes, a black armband on the upper arm of their Robes as a mark of respect to Cedric Diggory, looking at Harry, who had stood up, and had begun pacing around. Finally he stopped, and looked at them all.

"Go on Harry!" Fred said, smirking.

"You know you want to!" George added.

"Right Team!" Harry answered, grinning with a small amount of relief. He put his hand out to George.

"This is it!" To Angelina.

"The Big One!" To Alicia.

"The one we've all been waiting for!"

"Thanks! It did feel good to get that off my chest. Now, I don't know whether or not you've noticed, but I'm not Oliver. More's the pity because he was, from what I have gathered from looking through various books, one of the best Captains this School has ever seen, never mind Gryffindor! However I'm not. I'm Harry Potter. The idiot who nearly fell off his broom against Slytherin, the team we are playing today, in his first ever match. The idiot who DID fall off his broom against Hufflepuff two years ago, and lost a match that everyone thought would be a walkover." They looked at him, wondering where in the name of Merlin he was going with this. "Of course, Oliver told me that in his first game he took a Bludger to the head and woke up in the Hospital Wing a fortnight later. No I'm not Oliver Wood. I'm Harry Potter. But above all, I'm a Gryffindor. When we get knocked off our brooms, we climb right back on again! Now today we are playing against Slytherin. They are the biggest bunch of cheating GITS you could imagine, and will do anything to try to win the game. But no matter what happens, no matter what they throw at us, we are going to get back up, we are going to Block them - Bludger them - BEAT them!" This last statement was punctuated by sharp raps of fist against palm. "We have got an unbelievable team this year. And as five of you are leaving at the end of the year, I don't know about you lot, but I want to give you all a proper send-off. And that starts here today. RIGHT NOW! Mark my words," Harry had a glint in his eye which shocked everyone as they noticed an almost manic fervour to his words. "This year the cup will have our name on it once again! This year the cup will be in the Gryffindor Trophy Cabinet once again! THIS YEAR, HOGWARTS WILL HEAR THE LIONS ROAR ONCE AGAIN!"

"YEAH!" came a roaring response accompanied by High-Fives.

"Yep!" Ron added silently "You should definitely go into politics!"

"Now let's go!" Harry said, glancing at his watch. It was two minutes to Eleven.

As they stepped through the gates into the towering Arena, the noise that struck them nearly threw them back into the changing rooms. Harry looked up into a sea of Red spreading as far as the eye could see, the usual banners saying "Go Gryffindor!" and "Lions for the Cup" in full sweep. Behind him, he noticed as he looked around the entire stadium, a smaller sea of Green. Harry nodded to everyone as they kicked off and took in a lap of the pitch before turning to the centre circle.

"And here is the Gryffindor Team!" Lee Jordan, his team mates' fellow Seventh Year, and commentating on what appeared to be his last ever Gryffindor-Slytherin match. "Weasely, Weasely, Weasely - THAT'S going to be fun! - Bell, Johnson, Spinnet and Potter. With the loss of their Captain two years ago, it looks like Gryffindor have found an excellent replacement in Potter - and Weasely too, come to think of it - although of course the proof of the pudding will be in the devouring of the Slytherins!"

"Jordan!" came the much-expected reproach from Professor McGonagall.

"Sorry Professor!" Lee returned, grinning. "And speaking of the Snakes - What? They ARE! It's their symbol! - Here comes the Slytherin team now, Malfoy, Pucey, Zabini - My goodness, they actually deign to have a member of the fairer sex on the team, well I never! - Sword, Crabbe, Goyle, and Stott. It appears that, along with taking on the Captain's rôle from Marcus Flint, Pucey has also tired of the Keeper's position and wants to try his hand as a chaser. Well, we'll soon see how well that works out! Now they are all gathering around the centre circle, both teams sporting black armbands. We haven't had to do this in a while, ladies and gentlemen, and I hope as long as I live, that I never have to announce this again." At this statement, the crowd rumbled into a subdued silence. "At the request of all the Captains, and seconded by the Head's of house, we will be holding a minute's silence before the commencement of this match. For the benefit of all the Frst Years, and of our Honoured Guests from Salem, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, the minute's silence is for Cedric Diggory, who should have been returning this year for his final year as Hufflepuff Captain, and who was so tragically taken from us at the end of last year." Harry felt a lump rise in his throat and was slightly surprised to hear Lee sounding a little sniffly. "Now, when Madame Hooch blows her whistle for the first time, we will begin the minute's silence. After a minute, she will blow her whistle again, and then after the Captains shake hands, the match will begin."

Lee stopped talking, and there was an eerie, breathless hush around the stadium. Madame Hooch put her whistle to her lips and blew.

"Both of us!"

"What?"

"We'll both take it at the same time. It's still a Hogwarts victory. We'll tie for it."

"You - You sure?"

"Yeah - Yeah... we've helped each other out, haven't we? We both got here. Let's just take it together."

"You're on! Come here, lean on me."

"On three right? One - two - three! OOF! Where are we?"

"Did anyone tell YOU the cup was a Portkey?"

"Nope! Is this supposed to be part of the task?"

"I dunno. Wands out d'you reckon?"

"Yeah. Someone's coming! ARRRRRRGH!"

"Kill the spare."

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Hold on Harry!"

"He was a real Wizard then? Killed me that one did! You fight him boy!"

"Don't let go, now! Don't let him get you, Harry - don't let go!"

"Your father's coming... He want's to see you... it will be alright, love... hold on!"

"When the connection is broken, we will linger for only moments... but we will give you time... you must get to the Portkey, it will return you to Hogwarts... do you understand, Harry?"

"(sniff) Yes dad!"

Harry? Take my body back will you? Take my body back to my parents?"

"Yes Cedric. (Sniff) Cedric?"

"Harry?"

"I'm sorry."

"Harry!"

"I'm sorry Cedric."

"HARRY!"

"I'm sorry."

"HARRY!" He felt a hard tap on the arm. Madame Hooch was looking down on him, concerned. "Are you alright Potter?"

"Yeah!" He sniffed again. He was startled to find a tear in his eye. He blinked it away hurriedly. "Yeah sorry. I was just thinking. The match hasn't finished yet has it?" he added worriedly.

"No Potter! You haven't been out that long. You've got to shake hands with Pucey." Harry let out a staggered breath he didn't realise he had been holding.

"Right."

"Thinking about Cedric?"

"Yeah."

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Thanks Ron. Don't worry, you'll do GREAT!"

"Thanks!"

"Captains shake hands! And let's make it a FAIR match this time, everyone!"

Harry took a deep breath and moved right to the centre spot, beside the Ball Chest. He took Adrian Pucey's hand and nodded, frowning with nerves. Adrian replied in kind and then they drew back to their teams, brooms in the ready position.

"Everybody ready?" Madame Hooch said, loud enough so they could all hear. Fourteen heads nodded gravely. "Right then, on my whistle..." she blew and the roar of the crowd lifted them up into the air.

Harry immediately began to look for the snitch, which had disappeared off towards the teachers. He spotted Cho in the crowd looking directly at him. He found a look of determination set itself rigidly onto his face and he tapped the black armband twice with the blade of his index finger. She nodded and mouthed "Thanks" He nodded in return, and then sped off towards the Slytherin end, where Pucey, Zabini and Sword were on the defensive.

"And Bell passes to Johnson, Johnson back to Bell, Spinnet now has the Quaffle, and what on Earth is Potter up to? Potter his literally flying rings around the Slytherin Chasers, be careful there, Weaselys, better get marking, and Yes! Potter blind-sides Zabini preventing her from seeing Johnson right in front of her who easily puts the Quaffle past Stott! First blood to Gryffindor, lions lead ten-nil!"

Harry cried out with joy, and flew over to Ron, Looping him and exchanging a High-Five on the way down. It was so much nicer having a close friend on the team with you. He turned back to looking for the snitch and kept an ear out on the commentary.

"Alright there, Potty!" came a familiar snarl. Harry raised an eyebrow at this and turned, smiled, and said,

"Not too bad thanks. Yourself?" He sniggered in amusement as Malfoy stared at him.

Harry had a sudden thought, but that thought was wiped sharply from his mind and a sudden look of surprise crossed Harry's face as he dived, a familiar fleck of gold in front of him. Down, and down he sped, all thoughts of the commentary forgotten, as he screwed his face up in concentration. A loud grunt from behind him announced the fact that Malfoy was also diving, willing his broom forward. Harry felt Malfoy's hand brush the tip of his bristles, trying to Blagg him, and he pressed himself harder in to the neck of the broom and accelerated a little. He was now only feet off the ground and his hand was nowhere nearer the Snitch.

"Come on!" he yelled at his broom in frustration. There was a brief cheer from the crowd as Harry heard Lee announce another Gryffindor goal, making the score ninety-nil.

A few feet below him, barely inches above the ground, the fleck of gold stopped moving but as he reached out for it, it darted out sideways. Harry pulled flat sharply, the toes of his boots skimming the cropped grass and a moment later Harry heard a distinct thud followed by an unmistakable "OOF!"

He was gaining on the glint of gold. It was right in front of him. He stretched an arm out and his hands closed around it.

Nothing.

No feeling of cold metal in his hands. No feeling of tiny wings beating against his palm. Just the feeling of his fingertips against his palm. He found himself heading towards one of the goalposts and he pulled up and slowed down, to find himself staring right into the eyes of Ron.

Ron didn't say anything. His face was screwed up in concentration at an oncoming attack from the Slytherin Chasers. He didn't turn to face him, but Harry saw one of his eyes close in, what was unmistakably, a wink. The sound was suddenly turned back on. Above the roar, Lee cried,

"And after a perfectly executed Wronski Feint by the Gryffindor Seeker and Captain, the Lions are on the defence. Come on Weasely, you can stop this shot with your eyes closed. Yes! I don't believe it! Not only does Weasely take the Quaffle off Zabini, but her own momentum takes Zabini right through the middle hoop! Penalty to Gryffindor for Bulltimbering! Chaser Spinnet takes the Quaffle and puts it away easily to bring up the Century, lions lead Slytherin; a hundred to nil!"

Harry chanced a look at the ground and saw Malfoy lying there, somewhat dazed. None of the Slytherin players had even noticed him. Harry smirked as another thought crossed his mind.

He signalled to Madame Hooch to call a Timeout, at the same time indicating Malfoy.

His teams joined him on the ground, below.

"What's wrong Harry?"

"Yeah, why'd you call a Timeout?"

"Malfoy."

"Malfoy?"

"Yeah, he fell off his broom and is a little groggy now."

"SO WHAT!" came six angry voices in reply.

"So!" Harry said patiently. "You know what a good sport he is, and how much he'd love to know that the Gryffindor team nobly called a Timeout so that he could get seen to..."

"Yeah!" Ron continued, catching on. "Imagine what a wonderful mood he'd be in when he realises that Harry called the time out!"

"I'd say he'd lose a bit of concentration in the least, and probably curse himself into a summer of detentions and a few hundred points from Slytherin!"

"To say the least!" George cut in. "And he's a lousy seeker anyway! After that superb Wronski, Malfoy doesn't have a prayer now! They haven't got anywhere near Ron. We are going to knock them into the middle of their Apparition Tests!"

"YEAH!" they all cried again. Madame Hooch came over.

"Are you ready to start again, Potter?"

"Is Malfoy okay?"

"Aye, he'll live!"

"Can he still play?"

"He's a little shaken, but he wants to continue."

"Oh good! In that case we are most definitely ready to continue."

Madame Hooch handed the Quaffle back to Alicia, who had been in possession when Harry called the time out, and blew the whistle. As all fourteen players rose into the air once again, Alicia streaked forward and scored immediately.

"YES! And another goal! One Hundred and Ten - nil to Gryffindor!"

To vent his feelings, Goyle threw his club, which hit Katy in the nose, as she intercepted the Quaffle inside the scoring zone.

"You cheating GIT!" Lee wailed.

"Jordan!"

"You filthy, cheating son of a -!"

"JORDAN!" McGonagall positively shrieked, making another frantic, futile and failed attempt at retrieving the Magical Megaphone.

"That's even better! You filthy, cheating Son of a Jordan! Thanks, Professor!" There was an appreciative roar of laughter from the crowd as Katy steeled herself to take the penalty.

"And Madam Hooch gives Bell the Quaffle. Bell approaches at a leisurely pace, Stott looks nervous as he prepares to block her. She's in the scoring area! Practically strolls right up to him, looking him straight in the eye, stopping dead in front of him, and in the same movement, AND? YES! With a slight flick of the wrist throws the Quaffle behind her back, it goes STRAIGHT through the far hoop! One - Twenty, Nil!"

The game speed was intensifying, as was the game play. Malfoy was searching desperately for the snitch, but Harry knew it was nowhere in sight. Ron was having an extraordinary game. The Slytherin Front Three had hardly been able to get anywhere near him all game, and when they did, he deflected them with ease. The Gryffindor Chasers were performing faultlessly and had soon notched up another fourteen goals before Harry caught Alicia's eye and nodded. Alicia caught the Quaffle and retreated to their own goal area, and signalled to the others to do the same. They were about to perform one of Harry's new moves.

"And what's this? The Gryffindor Chasers are lining up in a perfect Hawkeshead Formation, but what is Weasely doing with them? This is something I've never seen before! Weasely appears to be tailing the chasers so they now form a diamond shape! Well I must say this IS interesting. Watch it Weasely, Bludger headed towards your younger brother, Sorry there, Ron! Weasely knocks the Bludger to Weasely who calls to Bell to duck, and she does so, performing a beautiful Slothgrip, and the Bludger... YES it knocks Stott right on his bonce! And Angelina Johnson puts the Quaffle through the Hoop for another ten points to Gryffindor. Lions lead TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY - NIL! And for all you Musical Buffs, and especially you, Professor Dumbledore, remember that," and here he started to sing. "A Bludger to the head makes the Slytherins go mental, but diamonds are a girl's best friend!"

"JORDAN!" exclaimed Professor McGonagall, actually appearing to be impressed by his play on words.

"Thank you Professor!" Lee replied impishly. "And Slytherin have the Quaffle as Zabini passes to Pucey, to Zabini to Sword, to Pucey, back to Zabini, and I don't believe it, Goyle actually gets a Bludger past Weasely, and it grazes Weasely's elbow and knocks his arm away from the oncoming Quaffle and Zabini pulls one back for Slytherin! Gryffindor now lead two hundred and seventy - ten."

Then Harry saw it. As he glanced at the Scoreboard to verify Lee's commentary, he saw the Snitch fluttering a foot above Lee's head. He was off in a trice, nose pressed against his Broom Handle.

"And it looks like Potters seen the Snitch... Oh SH-!"

"JORDAN!" McGonagall screamed, trying to wrench the megaphone away from him.

"Look UP Professor!" What little colour there ever was in McGonagall's cheeks ebbed away as she looked up. She too saw the snitch hovering just above them, and then she saw Harry careering straight towards them.

Harry was frowning in absolute concentration, every muscle in his face contorted. He was urging his broom on.

"Come on! COME ON! FASTER!"

Harry was gaining on the snitch he was now only yards away, and closing. He had felt himself slowing down slightly but didn't think anything of it as he stretched his arms out and...

The whistle blew, and the Snitch darted away in surprise. Harry looked at Madame Hooch in shock, who was coming directly at him.

"I was practically on it!" Harry protested. "Why did you..."

"Madame Hooch calls for a Gryffindor penalty for Blagging, just as their seeker was about to win the game!" Lee cut across Harry's protests in a disbelieving tone. "That hasn't happened in a match since the Sixteen Thirty - Four World Cup Final between Transylvania and Rumania! Put that one on your Blooper Reel, Creevey!" Harry looked down at the tail of his broom to see that Malfoy was just in the process of wiping a few stray twig ends, which he recognised as belonging to his own Firebolt, off his robes, and smirking maliciously at Harry.

"Feeling better after your little crash, Malfoy?" Malfoy's eyes narrowed, and Harry quickly tore away from him, looking for the Snitch.

"And Chaser Bell takes the Quaffle and streaks towards the Slytherin goal, she feints and... YES puts it away with ease Gryffindor Two - Eighty to ten!"

The crowd were in a frenzy. They hadn't seen such a high-scoring match in years be so one-sided. And then there came another roar as, once again Harry saw this snitch, this time at Ron's feet.

Harry had a sudden idea, but it was really risky. If Malfoy saw what he was up to he could get the Snitch instead. But Harry checked the scoreboard, and saw that they were well in the lead and even if he lost the Snitch, they would still win. But all the same, he wanted to beat Malfoy into a pulp!

He decided to go for it.

He sped from the centre of the pitch towards Ron. Harry chanced a glance over his shoulder and saw that Malfoy was at the Slytherin end of the pitch, and hadn't seen it. After a few seconds he looked back over his shoulder and saw that Malfoy was streaking after him, but was well behind on his Nimbus2001. Harry was five feet away from Ron, the Snitch hovering eight inches below his ankle, blissfully unaware that it was soon to be someone's prey, Malfoy had just made it to the halfway line, the Slytherin chasers on the attack.

Harry couldn't resist. He rose sharply, taking Ron by surprise and taking his concentration off the game long enough to allow Blaise Zabini to score her and Slytherin's second goal of the match, before he looped Ron, sticking his tongue out at Malfoy, and laughing at the disgruntled look in Malfoy's face as he wrapped his hand around the cold, struggling Snitch.

The noise from the crowd was deafening, as students and teachers alike roared themselves hoarse. Lee Jordan was positively screaming.

"And after a superb piece of aerobatics, Potter takes the Snitch and Gryffindor win FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY - twenty! And Potter is fervently tapping his arm band again. I think I agree with you there, Harry. Cedric would have LOVED this match. Congratulations Harry on your first win as Captain, and congratulations Gryffindor on an excellent start to the season!"

As Harry flew around the pitch, venting his feelings into some extra flying, he was crashed into by Ron, who threw his arms around him and roared right down his ear.

"THAT'S THE STUFF HARRY!" Then Fred and George threw their arms around him, and so did Katie, Angelina and Alicia, kissing him excitedly.

As they touched down, they hoisted him onto his shoulders, still clutching the Snitch, which he handed over to a grinning Madame Hooch, as they made their way to the Changing Rooms, roaring, "HARRY! HARRY! HARRY! HARRY! HARRY!" which very quickly picked up around the scarlet portion of the crowd as they began to disperse.

As they got to the changing rooms, they put Harry down and looked at him. He suddenly felt a little uneasy. He rubbed the back of his head nervously with his knuckles.

"So!" he began, awkwardly. "Was that... okay?"

"No "CAPTAIN"! It was not okay!" George began, angrily.

"It was about as FAR from okay as you could possibly get!" Fred added, equally annoyed. "What in the hell were you thinking!"

"All those fancy moves you made us do could have lost us the game!" Harry bowed his head.

"Leaving only one beater to protect the two most important players on the team! UNBELIEVABLE!"

"That match will go down in HISTORY..."

"As one of the BEST damned games the school has ever seen!" Fred finished, kindly, punching Harry gently of the arm. He looked up startled.

"So it WAS okay, then?" Harry said hopefully.

"Harry, weren't you listening to a word these two idiots were saying?" Alicia put in, a hint of frustration in her voice.

"The match wasn't OKAY..." Katy added.

"It was BLOODY AMAZING!" Angelina finished. "I don't think anyone's given the Slytherins such a tanning since the late eighteenth century!"

"Yeah, Harry!" Ron said, wanting to have his say too. "And guess whose buying out Honeyduke's this afternoon!"

"Are you suggesting that, as prefects, we should actually condone a PARTY in the Gryffindor common room?" Harry asked in mock surprise.

"No I'm suggesting we throw a party in the SLYTHERIN common room!" Ron replied, rolling his eyes.

"Although having said THAT!" Fred grinned maliciously. "What a way to rub their noses in it!"

"Especially Malfoy!" Ron added with glee. "That was one HELL of a Wronski feint you pulled on him. I almost believed you had really seen the snitch."

"But I HAD seen it!"

"What are you talking about. NO ONE saw it."

"I saw it! And from the grunting I could hear behind me, I'd swear Malfoy saw it too! I think he stretched his hand out at one stage!" Harry frowned.

"Well I don't give a damn how you did it. It was bloody FANTASTIC!"

"Come on you two!" Alicia said, cutting through their thoughts. "Hit the showers! We want to get off to Hogsmeade!"

As they walked through the entrance hall, they found a gaggle of students gathered around a notice board, muttering excitedly.

Harry and Ron found Hermione and Ginny.

"What's going on?" Harry asked.

"After the match, Professor Dumbledore said that we might want to check the School Notice Board. It turns out that we're holding a surprise farewell dance for Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. Nothing as big as the Halloween Ball, and it's casual, but its one last excuse to let our hair down, before they go."

"And where are Evan, Marie and Natalia?"

"They're in the common room, waiting for you to bring your things back up." She and Ginny positively beamed at them.

"You were amazing!" Ginny said to Ron. "You both were!" she added, turning to Harry, and as usual, blushing slightly. Harry was surprised to find himself blushing too.

"Thanks. I'm going up to the common room. Are you three coming?"

"Sure!" they all replied. "Lets go."

In the common room, Harry was mauled by his siblings, who then turned their attentions to Ron as well.

"Well!" Evan said, grinning broadly from ear to ear. "I knew my brother could fly, but I didn't know he could fly like THAT! That Wronski feint...!"

"But I really did see the Snitch!" Harry whispered urgently, looking around to make sure they were alone. "And I'd be willing to bet everything in Mum and Dad's vault that Malfoy saw it too! But if I did see it then how? I'd only thought of feinting seconds before!"

"WHAT?" came five startled cries. Hermione, ever the fastest on the uptake wondered,

"Harry? When was the last time you KNOW you performed Wandless Magic, apart from the Animagus Transformations?"

"Well unless you count throwing off the Imperius Curse a form of Wandless Magic (we'll have to ask Dumbledore about that, if you're thinking what I think you're thinking), that time before out third year, when I blew up Aunt Marge."

"Harry, do you remember in DADA on Wednesday?"

"Vaguely. What about it?"

"I'm not sure, but I think you might have opened the chest Wandlessly too!"

"What?" Harry said quietly. "You have got to be kidding me! Are you suggesting that I... I project some sort of golden image in front of me so Malfoy could see it too?" Hermione nodded. "But that's crazy! That's exactly what I was thinking of doing! How could I think of doing it and then have it happen?"

"HELLO!" Ron interrupted Harry's thought process. "What do you think happens when we perform the Animagus transformations?" Harry stared at Ron, dumbstruck. He then looked at Hermione, and she nodded.

"Are you saying that I can do other things too?"

"Try it!"

"What?"

"Try doing something Wandlessly. Here," Ron added, putting down his broom at the far end of the room. "Try to summon my broom, like you summoned your Firebolt for the First Task." Harry grimaced but nodded.

Harry stretched out his wand hand and thought solely of the Broomstick lying on the floor, his eyes screwed up in fierce concentration. "ACCIO!" he cried. The broom shook.

"THAT'S IT, Harry!" Hermione squealed, breaking his concentration. "Think back to your first ever flying lesson! Do you remember what the first thing we did was?"

"We stood to the side of the broom, put our hand over it and said "UP!" BRILLIANT, Hermione!"

"Of course!" Ginny said. "That has to be the most basic bit of Wandless Magic we're taught here! The most basic summoning charm! Hermione, you're a GENIOUS!"

Harry nodded, eyes screwed up furiously in concentration as he thought of nothing but the broom. Willing himself to believe he could do it, after all, he had done it with a wand before, and he was one of the few in his class, whose broom had jumped into his hand the first time.

"ACCIO!" Natalia and Ron had to duck rapidly as the broom soared right over their heads and straight into Harry's hand. He had another thought, and pointed his hand directly at Ron. "PELIUS AZURO!" he cried, and before Ron knew what was happening, everyone was laughing at him.

"WHAT?" he asked, indignantly.

"Your Hair!" Ginny said, shrieking with laughter.

"What about it?"

"Filch!"

"What?"

"Go up to our room and have a look at yourself in the mirror!" Harry said, trying to stifle his own laughter. Ron did so, and moments later, a roar reverberated around the Gryffindor Tower. A roar Harry NEVER thought he'd actually enjoy hearing.

"HARRY POTTER!"

Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Natalia, Marie, and Evan looked at each other, and burst out laughing. Ron burst through the door to the Fifth Form Boys' dormitory and roared again.

"Harry Potter, you fix my hair RIGHT NOW!"

"Yes Uncle Vernon!" Ron and Evan laughed at this. The others looked a little confused. Harry pointed his hand at Ron and said, "Pelius Normalis" and Ron's hair returned to the usual Weasely Red.

Ron punched Harry hard on the arm, but was grinning nonetheless. "Malfoy is going to HATE you!"

"Yeah!" Ginny put in. "Even more than normal!"

"Fred and George are going to hate me too!"

"Yeah, but they're going to love you for it too!"

"Come on then! Let's get down to Hogsmeade! I want to start practising!"

Cho wasn't in Zonko's, but Harry felt no surprise there. She possessed an exceedingly quick wit, but he had never seen her as a prankster. Ron was filling his pockets with Dungbombs, Dr Filibuster's no heat - wet start - fireworks, and some self adhering strands of hair which changed your whole head of hair to their colours (Harry had given Ron the idea to get those).

They found Cho in Honeyduke's, picking up some Fizzing Wizzbees. She smiled at Harry and ran over to him throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him on the cheek. Harry looked around, exceedingly embarrassed, at the others, who were all grinning and chuckling lightly, although Harry didn't miss the slightly saddened expression on Ginny's face as she joined in the chuckling.

"Oh Harry!" Cho breathed excitedly. "You were WONDERFUL! I've never seen you fly like that before!" Harry blushed even deeper. "I mean it! The way you held off the Slytherin Chasers at the beginning was amazing, and then when you got the Snitch! I thought Malfoy was going to be sick!"

"Well, that's what I was going for!" he managed to chuckle.

"It worked!" she said. And Harry was startled to see that she was blushing as well. Harry choked, and wandered over to the Chocolate Frogs.

"Do you collect?" Harry asked.

"The cards you mean?"

"Yeah."

"No, but my cousin does. I send them to her by owl post once a term. She always complains that I send her the same ones, but I haven't got a clue which ones she needs! Besides, it is an excellent excuse for us to keep in contact."

"How old is she?"

"Ten. She's coming to Hogwarts next year."

"So she's manifested then?"

"Yeah. And HOW!"

"What do you mean?"

"When she was about four we were walking in the park and this enormous dog bounded over to her and started sniffing her. She's always hated dogs, and she was scared stiff, so she banished it to the top of the tallest tree, half a mile away, on the other side of the park!"

"What about yourself?"

"Nothing much! I just used to be a real devil when I wanted something!"

"I can imagine!" Harry grinned smugly.

"No! Nothing like that!" Cho laughed. "I just summoned whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted it! What about yourself?"

"I only ever really did things, when I was really angry or scared."

"Like...?" Cho prompted.

"Well, like when I was being bullied at school, and I was being chased by a group of them, and I tried to jump over a bin, or something like that. I ended up on the ROOF! I got such a telling off, you wouldn't BELIEVE!" Cho giggled, her eyes bright.

"Are you ALWAYS breaking school rules, Harry Potter?"

"Only when I'm in mortal danger of getting extremely annoyed!" He smiled back. She punched him on the arm, he slapped her across the back, and they embraced warmly. They wandered over to Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, and each took large scoop-fulls into their bags. After collecting some Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, and Heavy-Tum Mints, they went to the counter and paid.

Ginny caught his eye, and he nodded in reply.

"Care to join us in the Three Broomsticks?"

"I'd love to."

"Come on then, we're off."

"And you're going as well!" Cho replied, sticking her tongue out at him.

"And you!" he chided.

In the Three Broomsticks, Harry went up to the Bar to get their drinks, whilst the others found a large table in a secluded corner.

"Eight Butterbeers please Madam Rosmerta."

"Ah! Good afternoon Harry! Lovely to see you again!" she smiled, as she pulled the first pint. "Bit thirsty are you, dear?"

"No!" Harry replied laughing. "There are eight of us! There's me, and my friends and family in the corner, over there." Madam Rosmerta looked a little confused.

"Family Harry? No offence, dear, but I thought you was an only child."

"So did I! Turns out, I have a few relatives in my year. They've transferred to Hogwarts."

"Really? Well what are you waiting for, Harry?" she finished pulling the second pint. "Get them over hear so I can see what devils James has left to me!"

"Alright." Harry caught Evan's eye, who tapped Natalia and Marie on the shoulder, and they all approached the bar.

Madam Rosmerta looked up at them all as she finished pulling her third pint, and promptly dropped it, shattering the mug into a thousand pieces.

"AAARRRGGGHHH!" she screamed. "HARRY!"

"Yes?" Harry replied sweetly.

"You...? You...? FOUR?"

"Didn't you ever hear that Lily and James had Quads?"

"Truth be told I don't remember that much. History gets a little blurred after You-Know-Who..."

"Yes well, anyway, meet Evan, Marie, and Natalia!" he said, a little hurriedly, pointing to each in turn.

Madam Rosmerta put out a hand as if to touch the girls' faces; a strange, loving, tender expression on her face. "Lily?" Harry nodded. "Please tell me Sirius doesn't have twins that are your age too!" she laughed, a tear in her eye.

"Not that I know of." Harry replied, smiling.

"Well, in that case, since we aren't having THAT sort of a family reunion, this is a cause for a celebration. These are on the house, dear!"

"WHAT? No, please, I couldn't..."

"Nonsense, Harry. Your father was more than a welcome break when he came in. He is very much missed by one and all. Allow me this, for his memory, eh?"

"Um... I don't know what to say!" he gasped. "Thank you."

"No, thank YOU, Harry, dear! This is the best news I've heard in my pub for a very long time."

After she pulled the last pint of Butterbeer, she handed the tray over to Harry, telling Evan, Marie, and Natalia that they must come in regularly. With nodded agreements, they wandered back to the table.

"So THAT was Madam Rosmerta!" Evan looked impressed.

"Yep. She used to be really fond of Dad and Sirius. They used to be a right pair of so-and-sos apparently!"

"With the trouble you get yourself into, I can imagine!"

"What? Only two legs tonight, dear?"

"Yeah, it's just casual tonight, not costume. Sorry!"

"Still, you look very handsome!" the mirror added, approvingly.

"Why thank you. Although I think you're the bell of the ball!"

"What do you mean?" Harry though he saw the oak frame take a slightly reddish tinge.

"Ned."

"What about him?"

"He's been eyeing you up for some time now. I think he's taken a bit of a shine to you!"

"REALLY!" the reddening deepened. "Well, he does keep himself very sparkling! I don't know though."

"Oh come off it. Agnes! He really likes you, and I KNOW you like him too! Gordon Bennett, You're even worse than Ron and Hermione!"

"I'll think about it."

"Alright then. Well, I've got to go down to the dance, so I'll leave you to your reflection."

"HARRY!"

"Sorry! I couldn't resist." he said, grinning at the mirror.

"Have a good time, dear!"

"Thanks! And, ah..." he said, looking over his shoulder at Neville's dressing mirror. "You too!"

As the main courses disappeared into their plates, and the desserts took their places, Harry was deep in conversation with Yllyan, Neville's Durmstrang partner.

"Do you miss him? I mean, what's the team like, now he's gone off to play Professionally?"

"Vell, Viktor voss certainly the best Seeker the school has ever seen! Vee von the school Quvidditch trophy five times ven he voss Seeker."

"Only five!" Harry said with a laugh.

"Jess, vell, ve didn't haff very good Chasers! And venn I got injured, our replacement Keeper voss not very good either!"

"Who has he gone to play for?"

"The Wultures."

"And how are they doing at the moment?"

"But they are top, of course!"

"And Viktor's won most of the games?"

"All of them!" Yllyan said, laughing.

"Of course!" Harry said, smiling broadly.

"And vot about yourself?"

"Me?"

"Ven vill you be playing the Professional Quvidditch?"

"ME?" Harry said, somewhat startled. "I've never really thought about it! I suppose I'm not a bad Seeker..."

"I vould say you ver an AMAZING Seeker!" Harry blushed crimson. "I haff NEVER seen a Seeker manipulate the Chasers like that before! And ven you caught the Snitch! Oy!"

"I must say, ever since I saw him play at the world cup, I've wanted to play against him, but he'd beat me to a pulp!"

"I vouldn't be so sure of that!" Harry blushed again but said nothing. Instead he turned his attention to the desserts that had appeared before them minutes ago. Chocolate Mousse, a wide variety of fruits and ice creams, fruit crumbles, Harry was lost for choice. However, at a Hogwarts feast, you couldn't go wrong with a bit of everything, and Harry warmly embraced the premise.

"And what about yourself?" Harry said, turning to Katya, Ginny's Durmstrang partner. "What subjects are you taking this year? Are you looking forward to getting back to Durmstrang?"

"Oh yes, very much so!" she replied, with a slightly gentler lilt than Natalia. "The first thing that vee haff on Monday is the Transfiguration. It is my favourite sobject! I am studying the Charms, the Transfiguration, the Dark Arts," Harry frowned but said nothing. "The Defence Against the Dark Arts, the Muggle Studies, the Astronomy, the Divination, and the Herbology. Vot about yourself?"

"Pretty much the same, except I study French, Flying, and Care of Magical Creatures, rather than Muggle Studies and Dark Arts." Katya looked shocked.

"Vy on Urt vould you need to study the Flying?" Again, Harry reddened.

"I don't know. I just enjoy it. I love Quidditch! I feel most at home when I'm in the air, I guess. "

"You look as if you do!"

"What about yourself? Do you enjoy flying?"

"No, I don't. I am afraid I am not liking the heights."

"Fair enough!" Harry mused. It was a fair enough comment. However, although he knew that many people did not like heights, or, more specifically, did not like flying, he found it exceedingly hard to understand. The fact that he amongst others held a fairly common misconception that Hermione did not like flying did nothing to make it any easier to comprehend. He absolutely adored flying. The feeling of the wind flowing through your hair. The feeling of your toes just brushing the grass or the clouds as was your whim. The sheer sense of freedom and release was serendipity to Harry. It was sheer paradise.

"Harry?" he looked up to find Ginny, standing at his side, looking down at him.

"Hey Gin!"

"Would you like to dance?"

"Sure."

Harry passed a wonderful evening talking and dancing with his friends. Before taking Hermione off Ron's hands, he saw Ron give her a gentle peck on the cheek, which had him positively beaming, and, after three songs, he found himself approached by Cho.

They had a wonderful talk about everything and nothing. He jokingly probed her about her experiences with the OWLs, and she jokingly asked him to teach her that move where he looped the Snitch before catching it, and he replying,

"And have you thrash me in front of all my loyal fans? Not ruddy likely!" She buried her face into his shoulder, her laughter infectious.

He shared dances with Marie and Natalia, Katya, and some of his friends' partners, exchanging pleasantries and light conversation about their own experiences of their school and the Wizarding World in general.

He then returned to Cho for the last dance and, once again, she kissed him on the cheek. "I could definitely get used to this!" he thought to himself as he wandered lazily back to the Gryffindor Tower, as smile on his face.

"Harry?" A voice interrupted him as he was climbing the stairs to the Seventh Floor. He looked around but he couldn't see anyone. "Harry?"

"Hello?"

"Up here." He looked up and was startled to be looking into the shining eyes and nervous features of...

"Myrtle?" he stared at the melancholy ghost who haunted the Girl's Toilets on the Second Floor. "What are you doing here? Are you alright?" She looked upset. Even more so than usual.

"You haven't been to see me in a while."

"I'm sorry, Myrtle. I... I've had a lot on my mind recently."

"So have I. Harry? Could..." she looked up at him, bashfully. "Could we talk, please?" her head fell again.

"Um... Sure. What would you like to talk about?"

"Not here. I wanted to talk to you in private." Harry's stomach dropped. He dreaded to think what she would want to talk to him about. Harry had the nasty suspicion that Ron wasn't joking when he said that Myrtle had become rather fond of him. "Could we talk in our, um... office?"

"Um... sure. I take it no one has started to use it again?"

"Oh no!" she said, with what could almost be described as a proud smirk. "I keep my space my own!" and she giggled. Harry touched his watch with his finger and muttered, and the map of Hogwarts came up.

"I'll meet you down there in ten minutes." he said, looking back at her. "It'll take me a while to get down there, especially since I shouldn't be wandering the halls at this time of night, unless it is for the purposes of patrolling."

"Okay. See you shortly then."

Harry thought that he'd better let Ron and the others know what was happening. He told them quickly, and that if they were really worried, the Marrauder's Map was in the bottom of his trunk, and, of course, Evan could keep an eye on him too, if he so wished. The only response he got was a round of "okay" and the sense of a smug grin from Ron.

For the most part he had no trouble getting down there unnoticed, although he did have to duck behind a Gargoyle on the Fourth Floor when the Head Boy, Tom Blackwood, turned round the corner, talking animatedly with a Year Seven Hufflepuff girl that Harry didn't recognise.

"Ten minutes, Harry! I AM impressed!"

He had strolled through the door, double-checking to make sure no one was around, and sat himself on the sink next to the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.

He looked at her. She was twisting the hem of her dress in her hands, her normally matted hair seemed to have a little more - for want of a better word - life to it (ironic, Harry thought), and she was blushing silver, not looking him in the eye.

"Oh boy!" Harry thought to himself. "So, Myrtle. How have you been?" He decided to start simply, injecting as much interest and concern into his voice as he could muster.

Myrtle, on the other hand, seemed anxious to speak to him before she lost her nerve, and so, dispensing with the pleasantries, she blurted out

"Harry, do you miss your Mum and Dad?"