Harry's Sixth Year

CHAPTER 3

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny sat there in silence, their attention completely fixed upon Harry and the words that were coming out of his mouth. It was absolutely terrible...now they understood. They Boy-Who-Lived might not live much longer. Harry finished his explanation of the Prophecy and continued.

"So, now that you guys know, you must realize you're all in considerable danger. And I - er - think it's best if you three just kind of, stayed away from me a while. Things could get pretty er - messy soon and I don't want you guys to be risking your lives for me," he finished, knowing that he didn't want any of them to leave him but knowing it had to happen. Then something unexpected happened. Ron laughed.

"What's so funny?" said Harry with a bit of an angry tone.

"You expect us to...to just forget about you? Your more insane than I thought you were, Harry Potter," said Ron with mild amusement and anger at the same time.

"Look Ron, maybe you don't get it. Voldemort's got me marked and he'll do anything and everything he can to make my life miserable. He will stop at nothing to destroy me. If that means taking down my friends and family one by one, he'll do it you know he will," said Harry in a stern tone.

"Harry, it's ludicrous, we've never left you before, we're not leaving you now," said Hermione in a final tone.

"You guys don't understand! You'll be lucky if you're alive by our seventh year! You guys can't do this, you can't! If you die, It'll be my fault. It's my fault for Cedric's death, it's my fault for Sirius' death, and I'll be damned if I'm gonna let it be my fault for you're guys' death. You may think you're acting loyal, or noble, or whatever! But the bottom line is you're being selfish and not considering what it's like being me! I can't stand all this responsibility and if I were responsible for all of your deaths, I couldn't live with myself," said Harry. He was pacing up and down in front of them during this rant, his face red with anger.

"Harry, we're staying with you and that's the bottom line," said Ginny angrily, "You're the one who's not considering our feelings. If we weren't with you, we'd constantly be worried sick about you. We wouldn't be able to live to the fullest n-not knowing what y-you were feeling, or if you were happy, or anything," by now Ginny had tears in her eyes and was holding Harry's hands staring up into his eyes. "We l-love you Harry. And we'd rather take the risk of being your friend than be safe without you."

By the time Ginny had finished tears were streaming down both her and Hermione's eyes and Ron was staring down at the ground. While she was speaking at barely above a whisper, Harry received the full impact of these words and knew she was right. But he didn't want to put his friends in any danger ever again. He had a big red X on his back, and didn't want them to have the some on theirs as well.

Ginny was still looking up into his amazing deep green eyes when he spoke.

"You three have to promise me one thing then," he said barely above a whisper.

"What?" said Ginny.

"Don't die," he said. There was a note of pleading in his voice that the three of them recognized. He wasn't joking, they couldn't die. Ron looked at the other two girls and they nodded, not trusting their voices.

"Alright mate, we won't die."

Later that night Ginny was in the common room surrounded by books doing the incredible amount of homework always bestowed upon fifth years. Hermione was sitting beside Ginny giving her advice on her summoning charms paper. Harry and Ron walked in and sat with them yawning, having just served their detention. Ron headed straight to the dorm while Harry gave Hermione and Ginny company.

"Jeez Gin, how look have you been at it?" he said looking at his watch. It was one thirty. Ginny rubbed her eyes.

"About 3 hours," she said tiredly. Apparently Hermione felt the same way Ginny sounded. She yawned and stretched.

"I'm gonna go get some coffee from the kitchens," she said in the middle of a yawn.

"Okay," said Harry, "Just don't give the house-elves a lecture on their rights," said Harry teasingly. She smiled a sarcastic smile and tossed a book playfully at him as she headed out of the common room. Harry sat there and looked at Ginny immersed in her Charms homework. Her silky red hair draped gently onto her shoulders and her chocolate brown eyes scanned a book. Harry smiled, she did look very beautiful.

"Havin' fun there, Gin?" asked Harry sarcastically. She looked up and smiled at him looking into his deep emerald green eyes. "Oh yea," she said giggling slightly. He smiled, the first genuine smile in a long while. Ginny apparently noticed this for she held his gaze. She stared into his wonderful green eyes that she got so lost in so often. They were gorgeous. Her smile faded and a look of deep wanting, no, not wanting, needing, emerged upon her face. Harry seemed to take on the same feeling. They were getting much too close...

"Hey guys, brought you two some coffee if you wanted it," said Hermione smiling. Harry acted like he was studying a book Ginny had lying open to cover up. Ginny put on a disappointed look but smiled weakly at Hermione as she handed her the coffee. Harry accepted his and shortly thereafter bade the two good night. He and Ginny? thought Harry as he walked up to his dorm. No, no, she's Ron's kid sister I can't. Besides, what about Cho? said a voice. No, Cho will never understand you, Ginny does. Who cares if she's Ron's kid sister? retorted another voice. He crawled into his bed with a mixture of uncertainty and excitement.

The next morning at breakfast he found a nasty surprise on his schedule.

"Double Divination?" he said in disgusted amazement. Ron looked at his, apparently just as surprised as Harry. Then a look of comprehension dawned upon his face.

"Oooooh yea, remember. She said she didn't care about test scores. They were a nuisance or something she said. Oh yea, and she like's to torture us. Slimy old fraud," said Ron. And so with a heavy heart Ron and Harry headed up to the Astronomy tower expecting the worst. And they got it.

Professor Trelawney started off by saying one of them was in mortal peril and might not last the year. This got Harry extremely peeved. He couldn't stand it when she did this. Why couldn't she pick on someone else? She finished by saying all those born in late summer were in grave danger. Harry's temper got the better of him.

"Oh, that's okay. As long as my death is quick, you know, wouldn't want to suffer any extreme pain for too long," he spat at Trelawney. Ron sniggered quietly and Trelawney shot Harry a menacing look and made them figure out they're horoscopes for the next week.

"Stupid fraud," said Harry as he climbed out of the tower.

"Ah, don't worry about it Harry, only two more years of her crap," said Ron.

Harry made his way down to lunch but was stopped by Cho who wanted a private word. He was puzzled. Ron shot him a questionable look, he shrugged. Cho brought him to the side of the hall.

"How was your summer, Harry?" she asked a little more timidly than usual.

"It wasn't all to bad, yours?" he asked back, trying to be polite.

"It was alright, a little hectic, but alright," she said. She then looked him in the eye. "Harry, I missed you and I - uh - wanted to apologize for everything I did last year," she said sincerely. She was looking into Harry's eyes with a look of sorrow.

"Cho, really, it's okay, everyone wa-" but he was cut off. She grabbed both his hands.

"No Harry it wasn't ok. I'm really sorry, I acted foolish and I was wondering well...if you'd like to start over?" she asked hopefully. Was this actually happening? Harry was amazed and stammered.

"I - uh - yea, definitely," he said in shock.

Cho smiled ear to ear and leaned into him with a passionate kiss. "I'll - er - talk to you after class I suppose," she said, still smiling.

"Uh, yea, sure," replied Harry still in shock. Cho bade him goodbye and he walked over to Ron, whose mouth was hanging open.

"What was that all about?" he asked incredulously.

"She - er - wants to start over," said Harry smiling. He was on cloud nine.

Harry ate his lunch and he, Ron, and Hermione headed over to the Defense Against the Dark Arts class wondering what to expect from Professor Tofty. They sat down at the back of class and watched him expectantly as the rest of the class filed in. They were silent when he began to speak.

"My name is professor Tofty," he said in a high-pitched voice much like Professor Flitwick's, "and I am your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I trust some of you remember me testing you last year on your O.W.Ls," he added eyeing Harry. "While your education in this class has been staggered over the years with different teachers, Dumbledore says you lot are competent and have excelled despite this snag. Therefore, under the circumstances this year, we will concentrate mainly on hexes and defense spells." Professor Tofty had them take notes on various defensive hexes and defense spells, all of which were quite useful. Ron, Hermione, and Harry came out of class quite excited about the upcoming year.

They proceeded to Herbology and then to dinner, where Harry met up with Cho afterwards. Ron and Hermione rolled their eyes as he found her. After a long kiss, they walked around the school talking about their summers, Quidditch, and their lessons this year.

"Yea, I just had Professor Tofty today, he seems pretty qualified," said Harry.

"Yes, I had him yesterday, he seems nice enough. Better than that Umbridge toad," said Cho, finishing with a note of disgust. Harry laughed.

"Yea, she makes Snape look like a nice, thoughtful teacher," said Harry and Cho laughed. It was quite funny until -

"Really Potter?" spat that cold voice that Harry knew as Snape. He went a little white and turned around to face Snape. Harry said nothing, deciding that was best.

"Ten points from Gryffindor and another ten from Ravenclaw. You two had better head up to your dormitories or it will be twenty," said Snape icily. Harry and Cho proceeded down the corridor without a backward glance. Harry kissed Cho goodbye at the Fat Lady and muttered the password (Flogbuster) and walked inside. Ginny was doing homework. Harry went to sit down with her.

"Blimey, do you ever stop," he asked her with a smile.

"No," she replied coldly, keeping her head down, "And if you don't mind I'd like to be left alone right now. I'm really very busy," she added. Harry was a little taken aback.

"Ginny, are you okay?" he asked timidly.

"No," she replied in that same cold voice, still refusing to lift her head up.

"What's wrong?"

"Well if you don't know I'm not telling you," she responded in a quavering voice. Harry soon noticed a tear fall down onto her parchment.

"Ginny-"

"Look, leave me alone," she shouted at him. Tears were forming at the corners of her eyes. And with that, she stormed out of the common room. Harry sat there perplexed. He and Ginny usually got along so well, what was wrong? Just then Hermione walked in looking angry and sat down with her back to Harry. Maybe she knew.

"Hermione, do you know what's wrong with Ginny?" he asked with a note of concern in his voice. She turned to him.

"Don't tell me you don't know," she said as icily as Ginny. Harry was getting angry, why did girls have to be like this?

"Well I don't know what to say then because I don't," replied Harry with a note of aggravation.

"Well Harry," began Hermione angrily, "you lead her on last night in this room and then when Cho comes crawling back to you this morning, you jump at the chance to get with her. Honestly Harry, you're so awful sometimes. Can't you see she's crazy about you!?" Harry pondered this. He didn't look at it that way. Guilt started to boil in his stomach at the way he acted.

"I think I'll go to bed," he said in a daze. Hermione just looked daggers at him, but was apparently satisfied with the effect her statement had on him, for she didn't stop him. He staggered into bed and felt awful. Hermione was right, he was being very insensitive. He'd try and apologize to Ginny tomorrow morning.

But he didn't see Ginny the next morning, or all day for that matter. As a matter of fact, as the weeks flew by, he hardly saw any of Ginny. She seemed very sour at him and he couldn't blame her.

Three weeks after the initial argument Harry had kissed Cho good night and walked into the nearly deserted common room. (Cho and he had gone for a nighttime stroll) He sat down an armchair by the fire to find Ginny sitting in the one next to him. He started to try and apologize but before he could get anything out she had pounced on him and pressed her lips against his, letting her tongue roll throughout his mouth. She broke apart and looked expectantly at him. Harry was shocked. After he said nothing Ginny spoke.

"So?" she said with excitement and impatience at the same time.

"So what?" replied Harry bewildered.

"Urgh!!! Harry you drive me mad! Can I get a response? Something! Anything!" she said in desperation.

"Ginny, I'm with-" but she cut him off again.

"It's always back to Cho, isn't it, never any room for Ron's kid sister, is there? When will you love me Harry?" she shouted at him in fury and then stormed out of the room. Girls were absolutely impossible sometimes. Harry decided to go for another walk to sort things out. He put on his invisibility cloak and headed out the portrait hole. He walked out of the castle and around the lake trying to figure things out. Ginny loved him? No, he thought, this is all wrong. I have Cho, she loves me, I can't be with Ginny, came that voice. Yes, but has she ever told you that, Ginny was bold enough to come out and say it. And you know she does, how can you say no to her? She's loved you for the longest time! came another voice. No but - Just then a noise out of the near bushes startled him. His heart skipped a beat. He leaned over the bushes and sitting there was a tall, muscular boy Harry recognized from Ravenclaw...kissing - Cho.

CHAPTER 4

"Cho?!" he whispered in hoarse amazement. She looked up at him as he took off his Invisibility Cloak and went pale. She stammered, at a loss for words. After a moment's silence, he stormed off absolutely furious. How could she do this? He should have never taken her back. Never. He should have known not to trust her. He should have known she was up to something, she was never humble enough to admit her wrongdoing. Girls, he thought. He stormed back into the castle and up into his dorm bed. He plopped down in frustration. How could she do this to him? How could she? Absolutely terrible...horrible. She was a horrible girl and he'd never talk to her again.

He rolled over and fatigue swept over him. Ginny wouldn't cheat on him. Ginny wouldn't go off with another boy in the middle of the night. Ginny wouldn't...but he never found out what Ginny wouldn't do. He fell asleep from fatigue and sorrow.

He woke up the next morning, a Saturday, a little later than he usually would. Then again, he was up late. He went down into the common room and flopped down in a chair in a very sour mood. Ginny came down a little later looking almost as surly as Harry. Apparently, most of the common room noticed and headed outside to the sunshine, not wanting the bad moods to spread. Bad moods could be contagious. Ginny noticed Harry's bad mood and spoke first, apparently trying to get back on speaking terms.

"What's wrong Harry? Not able to go snog you're girlfriend long enough last night?" she inquired coldly.

"Oh buzz off sourpuss," said Harry, matching her tone.

"Yea, I'm the sourpuss. Prat." Harry responded with a childish "Hmph!" and neither of them spoke for long after that. Then Ginny broke the silence again in a startlingly soft tone.

"Really Harry, what's wrong?" she asked with a note of concern. She was looking at him again with those soft eyes he saw that late night in the common room so long ago. But he was still very angry.

"Leave me alone, what's it to you?" he said coldly. She scowled and set off out of the room. He sighed and became quite frustrated. He sank even lower in his armchair and put on quite an angry face, pondering about why things always happened to him. He was terribly angry and terribly alone. He just wanted terribly to sort things out. Things were just so terrible. Just then Ron and Hermoine entered laughing to each other and noticed Harry. They sat down beside him.

"How are ya, Harry?" asked Ron.

"Fi-" but he couldn't get the word out. Before he knew it he was spilling his guts out to the two of them about what Cho had done, and how distant he felt from everyone, and how Ginny exploded. Ron was the first to speak.

"Well, for the last couple weeks, you haven't talked much. I 'spose it's because you've been off with Cho, and I'm not saying there is a problem with that," he said noticing Harry's show of fury, "but it's your own fault. If you wanted time, you should have made time. But don't worry, we're not offended or anything. As for Ginny..." he turned to Hermione who spoke. She was much better with girls. She spoke in a very desperate tone

"Harry, she's madly in love with you. Absolutely, insanely, deeply, madly in love with you. And you don't know it, because you're too distant and blind to see it. She just wants to be with you Harry, that's all. She just wants you, not the Boy-Who-Lived, not the Quidditch star, you." And with that, she and Ron left Harry, leaving him quite perplexed. He thought about this. So she was in love with him. And up until now he just thought it was some foolish schoolgirl crush, but no, she was in love with him. And then he realized, he loved her too. After all she had done for him. Defended him against Malfoy his second year, sent him that singing get well card his third year and begged him to stay safe from Sirius, believed his story and stood by his side his fourth year, and comforted him and helped him save, well, try and save, Sirius his fifth year. While some of these were small things, she took the time to do them. And he realized he loved her for it. He really did. How could he have been so blind?

But at the same time, he couldn't love her, he shouldn't. It would put her in too much danger. She'd be on Voldemort's list right below Harry. He couldn't put her in danger like that, he loved her too much. He couldn't tell her the truth, in order to keep her safe, he couldn't. But what about her happiness? Would you rather keep her safe or make her happy? She said it herself, she'd rather be with Harry in danger than be without him safely. But what did she know? Harry wouldn't have her death on his conscience, no, it was best if he kept things the way they were now.

And so they stayed that way for a week. One of the unhappiest weeks of Harry's life. He was more surly and distant than ever. The following Saturday, Harry woke, more miserable than ever. The only bright spot in his day would be the upcoming Quidditch match against Slytherin. Flying had always eased his mind.

Harry awoke and hurried down to breakfast. He didn't eat much, a piece of toast and half an apple. He bade a hasty goodbye to Ron and Hermione and headed to the lock rooms early in order to avoid colliding with Ginny earlier than he had to. But to Harry's awful surprise, she was there early as well, her Quidditch robes donned and her broom in hand. Harry gave her a shocked look and then turned to go change in the boys part of the locker room. He began rummaging absentmindedly through his locker when he heard a voice he knew all too well.

"Harry?" Ginny asked. Her eyes were shining with sadness and regret, tears brimming in the bottom of them. Harry turned to face her and felt his face soften. He was about to speak until a barrage of noises hit the locker room. Ginny looked to where the voices of their fellow teammates were coming from and back to Harry, as if unsure what to do. Then, in a flash, she was gone. Harry sighed and began to rummage through his locker, donning his robes and putting his firebolt in his hand. Angelina lead the team out on to the field and shook hands with the new Slytherin captain, Malfoy. He gave Harry a sneer and Harry shot him back a look of daggers. They fourteen of them mounted their brooms and when Madame Hooch blew the whistle, shot up into the air.

The weather wasn't bad. There was slight overcast and a bit of wind, but one couldn't complain. Harry saw Ginny and Angelina weaving in and out of the Slytherin as easily as a knife through butter. Ginny had a determined look on her face. Harry smiled, she was beautiful with that look.

Harry shot back to reality when a Bludger came flying toward his head. He had to do the sloth monkey roll on his broom to avoid it. He shot back upright and began to circle the pitch once more, in search of the snitch. Harry scanned the air and ground frantically, but to no avail. Not that it was a problem; Ginny, Angelina, and Colin were having quite an easy time scoring. Ginny had at least four goals within the first ten minutes, and Colin and Angelina added an extra two in the next five.

Dean and Seamus, replacing Fred and George, were doing an excellent job keeping the Bludgers away from Gryffindor. Harry thought he saw a few Bludgers hit the Slytherin Chasers a few times, but couldn't have been sure. After half an hour, rain started to pour. Harry put the impervious charm on his glasses to help him see better in his search for the Snitch.

He flew against the raging storm, wind flying in his face, the rain stinging against his hands and cheeks. It was an eerie reminder of his third year match against Hufflepuff. After an hour, Gryffindor was up 130-40. Harry thought it would never end...then he saw it.

The Snitch was hovering thirty feet above the Gryffindor goal posts. Harry shot straight upward, the wind flying into his eyes, the rain stinging his face even more now. Harry could feel Draco on his tail, flying right behind him. The Snitch shot even higher and Harry pursued. He was closer, closer...he got it!

"HARRY POTTER HAS THE SNITCH!! GRYFFINDOR WINS!" shouted Dennis Creevey. Harry did a victory lap around the field in triumph, the Snitch held proudly in his hands. He floated down to the plethora of fans shouting and screaming below and smiled happily. Harry then looked around the field for Ginny, and noticed Ginny walking off quickly. His heart fell.

Harry woke up the following morning exhausted and miserable. He had been forced to stay up into the wee hours of the night, partying with his fellow Gryffindors and recalling his capture of the Snitch when all he wanted was a nice cup of hot chocolate and a good sleep. He headed down the stairs to the common room and he noticed Ginny, Hermione, and Ron sitting around the fire. He hurried out of the portrait hole not wanting any company, not now. He hurried out of the castle and down to the tree near the lake. He sat down and stared out onto the lake's soft, calm surface. The sun's yellow rays shined upon its surface. Sometimes he wished it would all stop. He didn't even know why he bothered to fight, why he bothered to care anymore. There was no point, no...

"Harry?" came the voice of Ginny timidly. Harry turned to see her. Man, she was beautiful.

"Can I sit down?" she asked. Harry nodded his approval and she sat down next to him. For a moment she just stared out onto the lake. And then she spoke.

"Harry, I love you," she said rather plainly. But he was shocked, she actually came out and said it. A week ago he was sure she was too timid to do anything of the sort. He knew now, she really did love him.

"I know," he said quietly.

"Then why don't you love me back?" she said with a note of desperation in her voice. He kept staring out at the lake but couldn't help notice tears forming in her eyes. "I loved you since I first ever saw you. And you never returned it, maybe you didn't notice, I don't know, but I did. And I still do. And I won't stop," she said in a quavering voice. Harry couldn't tell her, he shouldn't, but...

"I love you too, Ginny," he said barely above a whisper.

"Because Ginny, you're in too much-" but yet again, she cut him off.

"Harry, I don't care about being in danger!" she said, tears streaming down her face. "I don't care! Didn't you listen when I told you weeks ago? I would rather be with you in danger than not be with you safe! I love you, Harry, I don't care what the cost is!" she said in a voice blinded by tears, tears that were now streaming down her cheeks.

"I know Ginny! I know! But if I lost you, if your death was my fault, I don't know what I'd do! I don't know if I could go on fighting," he said. His own voice was quavering. "I don't even know if I want to go on now," he added. She looked at him. It was an analyzing look. Then she spoke.

"Harry, don't you see what you're doing? You're letting V-Voldemort stop you from living! You feel he's the center of everything that's going on now and you can't do anything normal. Don't you see? If you can't live the way you want to, he's already won. He's already beaten you. You might as well quit now. But if you do live your life the way you want to, without the mere thought of him haunting you, then we still stand a chance. Life isn't about who you're fighting, or how long you've been fighting, or what could happen in the fight. Harry, it's about what you're fighting for. And you're so wrapped up in keeping us safe, you're forgetting to live and it's making you miserable! It's noble and all, it's very noble, but if you're too busy worrying about the terror that could come in the future, you can't experience the joys of the present."

When Ginny finished, she was looking Harry right into his deep, gorgeous, emerald eyes and he was looking back into her dark chocolate eyes. A comprehension dawned upon him. She was right. It's not about who you're fighting, it's about what you're fighting for. He was certainly fighting for love. It's what saved him. It's why he was here in the first place.

"You're right," he said softly. And Ginny smiled back at him and stared back out onto the lake. "I love you too," he added turning to look at her. She looked back at him with a face of joy. She was gorgeous, even with tears... Slowly, Ginny leaned up to Harry and he leaned down to her. They kissed passionately. Harry cupped his hands around her gorgeous face and when they finally broke apart, he felt truly happy and put on the first true smile in a long time.

The ensuing weeks were much happier. Ginny was in an absolute state of euphoria after finally having Harry all to herself. Harry had to admit he felt the same way. Ginny was amazing. The loneliness, pain, and anger that he had felt so often over the past five plus years was never present when he was with Ginny. Which could prove to be a problem.... Nonetheless, things were improving both on the outside of Hogwarts and on the inside. The Wizard hit men came in shifts of two to three months and there were always at least thirty stationed around strategic exits and all over the grounds. On top of all this, Dumbledore and proposed a Halloween dance which was widely reveled as a wonderful idea.

Then one day, Harry was in Potions when something very unexpected happened.

"Your Veritaserum potions should be glowing a deep blue right now," said Snape in his usual curt voice. Harry's was more of a light blue, but no matter. It was one of the first times in his career at Hogwarts that Snape had not been breathing down his neck when Harry made a potion and it appeared to have paid off.

"Now kindly grab a flask, bottle it, and bring it to my desk," said Snape. Harry did as he was told and brought the bottle to Snape's desk, confident he had gotten at least and exceeds expectations. The bell rung and Harry was ready to leave when Snape beckoned him to his desk.

"Yes, Professor?" said Harry with an air of lightness. Snape had been quite kind to him these past weeks and Harry didn't have a reason to be angry with him.

"I wanted to tell you, Potter," began Snape in an unusually light tone, "that I am sorry about your godfather's death. While he could be a bit of a pain at times, he was an excellent member of the Order, and he shall be missed." Harry was shocked. This was the first time Snape had ever said anything remotely nice to Harry. Normally, he would be talking about how Harry's father was a wicked person and anyone associated with him was not to be trusted. Harry was so shocked, he didn't speak for several moments.

"Thank you, Professor," said Harry weakly, still shocked. And with that he left the dungeon.

Harry walked up the stairs that lead to the halls of the ground level castle to find Ginny waiting for him. He was overcome with happiness. Her gorgeous red Weasley-trademark hair draped down gently, barely touching her shoulder as it curled at the end. Her chocolate eyes glowed and only increased when she smiled. She was a vision.

"Hey Harry," she said beaming at him.

"Hullo gorgeous," said Harry leaning down to kiss her passionately. She pulled away after a moment and stared into Harry's deep green eyes in amazement.

"Well, someone's feeling good. But you'll have to wait for the snogging session until after classes," she said smiling. Harry smiled and began walking down the hall with her. He had just entered the Great Hall for lunch when Professor Dumbledore stopped him.

"Go on Ginny, I'll meet you at the table," he said noticing the confused look on her face.

"Yes, Professor?" said Harry once Ginny had left. Dumbledore didn't look grave, only slightly perplexed.

"There is someone here to see you, Harry," said Dumbledore. Someone to see Harry?

"Who?" Harry asked curiously.

"A Muggle."