He'd been alone for a long time now. He had no way to tell how long, but he was sure at least a day had passed. He'd been released from the cursed chair, but he was too weak to do much more than to curl up on the floor and stare at the sliver of light from under the door.

It was so very cold in this room and Harry wrapped his arms around himself with the vain hope that he could warm himself. His cuts were scabbed over and the blood on his chest face and back felt sticky and grimy.

They had given him food and water, though it was quite meager. Enough to keep him alive so they could continue torturing him. Harry was thankful that so far none of his friends had been captured. He had not doubts that Voldemort would make good on his promise to make him watch those he cared for be tortured and killed.

Harry wondered if perhaps his godfather or Dumbledore was looking for him. Did they even know what had happened to him yet? Was she being questioned? Did she even feel the least bit guilty for what she had done?

Despite Harry's anger, there was still a small part of him that believed that there was more to what had happened than he knew. There just had to be.


The Gryffindors were sharing History of Magic with the Hufflepuffs this year, and Harry followed a few of the badgers into the class followed by Ron, Hermione and Neville. As Harry took a seat next to Neville, he noticed Hannah Abbot glance at him with the same look he'd seen on so many faces at this point right before she turned to Susan Bones. The two girls looked like they were having a very heated discussion.

"Forget it Harry." Neville whispered. "They'll see you're telling the truth."

Harry thanked Neville as Professor Binns, the ghost who taught History appeared through the wall and asked the students to settle down. As always, the long deceased professor began droning on about the beginnings of the goblin wars with wizards, and try though he might, Harry felt his eyelids becoming heavy.

He tried several different methods to keep awake. He pinched himself, stomped on his own foot, even digging his miniscule fingernails into his palm to stay awake, yet nothing was working, and before he knew it, a disgruntled Hermione was shaking him awake while Neville was wiping at his the drool on his own chin.

"Sorry Hermione." Harry said as he began gathering his things. "I swear I tried to stay awake."

"Don't know why you bothered." Ron yawned. "It's just the same old boring stuff."

"What if I chose not to share my notes with you this year?" Hermione threatened.

"Than we'd fail and it'd be your fault." Ron said smugly. Hermione huffed and stormed off towards potions with Ron quickly hurrying after her, likely to get a few more pokes in before class.

"We really should try to stay awake." Neville said as he and Harry followed the arguing pair.

"I know, and I really tried." Harry shrugged.

"Bet you don't get sleepy in Potions, what with Daphne Greengrass in the same room and all." Neville chuckled.

"Oh ha-ha." Harry rolled his eyes. "Geez, I make one comment about her being attractive and now everyone's poking fun at me about being in love or something. I don't even know her."

"No one does." Neville smiled. "I told you she keeps to herself. She hangs out with Tracey Davis the most, but I think they grew up together."

"Do you know Tracey?" Harry asked and Neville shook his head.

"I've seen her occasionally at some of the events Gran takes me to, but I've never talked to her, and she never made any attempt to engage me in conversation. I know the Davis family lost a lot during the last war though. But I have no idea who's side they were on if they even chose a side. She lives with her mother, but I think her father is dead. At least, I've never seen him, and I'm pretty sure I heard my Gran mention he died once, so…"

"She doesn't seem as stand offish as Daphne." Harry remarked. Neville could only shrug at this observation. They fell silent as they descended into the dungeons and lined up with their fellow Gryffindors opposite the Slytherins.

Harry spotted Daphne holding her book to her chest like a shield as she stood next to Tracey Davis who was speaking softly to Millicent Bulstrode and Pansy Parkinson. She was looking at Pansy, who was leading the conversation, though it looked as if she was just staring through her Housemate.

As Harry watched the blond girl look at her fingernails with mild interest before turning back to listen to whatever Parkinson had to say, he failed to noticed a pair of sharp brown eyes watching him with curious interest. Nor did he see that Tracey Davis had figured out exactly who he was watching so intently.

Harry did finally turn his head when he saw Davis lean into Daphne, cupping her hand to the blonde's ear and whisper something that caused Daphne to look in his direction. Harry could feel himself getting red in the face and felt Neville pat his back.

"Busted." Neville chuckled.

The door to the Potions class opened before Harry could reply and he and Neville took a table behind Hermione and Ron. Hermione looked at Harry and gave the faintest smirk as her eyes flashed to where Daphne was now taking her own seat. Harry turned to look, but turned away as soon as he saw Tracey Davis watching him. Harry couldn't say why, but Tracey made him kind of nervous.

Professor Snape was just as vindictive and malevolent as he had been in the past as he set his fifth years to task after a very long speech about this being their OWL year and how he would be most displeased with them if they failed to do well on their exams, his eyes lingering on Harry and Neville in particular. Harry simply smiled back at the vile teacher, thinking it would anger him more than if he simply glared.

They got to work on their potion and Harry, determined to do his best made sure to read each and every line of the instructions and follow them to the very best of his ability. As he worked through mixing his potion, he thought back to a long conversation he had had with Sirius just after his trial.

"I want you to go back to Hogwarts this year, and study as hard as you can. Not to get good grades, but to prepare yourself for what's coming." Sirius had said with a meaningful look. "But I also want you to remember to act like a teenager."

"I'm confused. What do you mean act like a teenager?" Harry asked.

"Harry, you're fifteen, and I happen to know that more than a couple of girls happen to find you very fanciable."

Harry blushed at this and Sirius chuckled.

"Find a pretty witch or two and get intimately familiar with a few broom cupboards. Instead of allowing trouble to find you, avoid it with the help of a pretty girl." Sirius said pointedly.

"I didn't do so hot on my first date last year." Harry hated to admit and Sirius gave him a sympathetic smile.

"No less than I would have expected. You haven't had someone around to give you advice and help you with this sort of stuff. But I'm here now, and I'd be happy to listen to anything you want to talk about. That's what a godfather is for."

Harry thanked his godfather and Sirius waved it off.

"Look, I know that you feel like you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders and all, and as much as I wish it wasn't true, you're at the center of this war. We all like to pretend that we can keep you safe, but the fact is you always seem to find yourself in the middle of some kind of crazy life threatening battle. So it's important that you work hard and learn all you can. The next time you and Voldemort meet, your luck might not hold out."

Harry nodded in agreement and pointed out that though he had learned quite a few new spells because of the tournament, Voldemort had quite a few years on him, and so far he'd been incredibly lucky.

"Just don't spend all your time locked in the library or hidden in an empty class room practicing. Your mum and dad would be really upset if you didn't at least try to have a bit of fun, especially with a nice pretty young witch."

As Harry's potion began to simmer and glanced at Neville's potion and saw his fellow Gryffindor was once again having difficulty. Harry was sure that Neville could perform much better if it wasn't for his nearly paralyzing fear of Snape.

As if summoned, Snape appeared at their table, sneering at the pair of them.

"Potter, what is this?" Snape asked, looking into Harry's cauldron.

"Uh…" Harry looked confused. "Draught of peace, sir?" He could feel other students looking at him now, and began to fear what might be coming.

"How is it you've managed to nearly complete what appears to be a flawless potion? Has Granger been whispering instructions to you? I can't imagine Longbottom giving you any sort of helpful assistance as his potion looks like swamp muck." Snape glowered.

"No sir. I've been following your instructions from the board." Harry said motioning to the blackboard.

"Watch your tone, Potter. And just what step are you on?" Snape asked callously.

"I'm simmering my potion for ten minutes, stirring every two minutes clockwise until it turns red. Then I'm going to add three minced newt tails." Harry said, having memorized the next step.

"Given your past performances in this class I find it hard to believe that you have somehow managed to follow instructions to the letter and managed such a performance." Snape glowered.

"Care to question me under veritaserum then?" Harry countered and Snape faltered. "I'm sure you have a vial or two around here. Why not let me have some and then ask me how I managed to get these results?"

Snape looked indignant for a moment before his eyes narrowed.

"Would you really like me to do that in front of all your peers? Perhaps I ask questions in such a way that gets you to admit all of your deepest secrets."

Harry started to blush with embarrassment and then as he thought about it further he realized that for the most part, none of his secrets were really that embarrassing. In fact, most of his secrets would likely give most people horrible nightmares, not to mention it would paint a few people in authority in a very unfavorable light.

"I've nothing to hide, sir." Harry stared coldly back into those black eyes, pushing forth all of his hatred for the man, daring him to call him out. Snape looked as if he were seriously considering it and Harry hoped that he would.

Sure, Harry knew that he might be a little embarrassed if he told the class at large that he found Daphne quite attractive, but other than that, what did he have to hide? Thanks to Rita Skeeter, most people thought they knew how pathetic he was. But they didn't know anything about him at all. Snape most likely would have tried to get Harry to admit some deep and embarrassing secret. Something that would mortify him into hiding under his bed until the end of the year, but Harry wasn't so sure he had anything like that to share.

Snape would likely try and get him to admit to being a cheat, or and egomaniacal peacock similar to Lockhart, but he would be sadly disappointed.

Snape folded his arms across his chest and sneered at Harry.

"You are lucky that veritaserum is so closely regulated by the Ministry Potter, or I'd be sorely tempted." Snape's lip curled.

The professor walked off and Harry bent back over his potion. He was able to see out of the corner of his eye that several people were looking at him with something akin to awe, including a few Slytherins. Crabbe and Goyle were to focused on trying to get their potions right to be bothered with anything else. But Theodore Nott looked as if he'd been slapped, while Pansy Parkinson looked as if she'd just had Christmas cancelled. Harry thought she would have really like to hear Harry's deepest secrets. Malfoy also looked as if he'd just watched his puppy get kicked.

Tracey Davis on the other hand looked mildly impressed. As did Blaise Zabini. Daphne Greengrass looked as stoic and unmoved as ever.

"Wow." Hermione said as they left class for lunch. "Just… wow."

"Were you afraid he might actually do it?" Ron asked.

"He couldn't have Ron." Hermione interjected. "He'd be in so much trouble with the Ministry."

"I was hoping he would." Harry smiled.

"What if he asked you something really personal?" Neville asked, looking a bit pale.

"What could he have asked?" Harry challenged.

"How often you wank?" Ron suggested.

"RON! That's disgusting." Hermione looked very affronted. Ron simply shrugged and the witch shook her head. "As gross as Ron is, he has a point. Would you want people knowing that sort of thing?"

"Considering I don't, I don't see the problem." Harry said with a shrug.

"What?" Ron looked aghast. "Really not once?"

"No, why? How often do you do it?" Harry countered and Ron suddenly went crimson, his mouth open with mortification before he quickly took the lead into the Great Hall leaving Neville Hermione and Harry to laugh at their friend's discomfort.

"What about if he asked who you fancied?" Neville wondered as they caught their breath.

Again Harry shrugged. "So I think Daphne's fanciable. I think there's a few girls who are very pretty. That's not really that embarrassing." He smiled. "The more that I think about things, I don't know that I have really any embarrassing stuff in my past. There are things I'm not proud of and I don't really feel comfortable talking about…"

"Amen to that." Hermione said softly.

"What?" Harry asked as they took seats at the Gryffindor table.

"Well, it's just that… I know you're a private person and all, but sometimes I just wish you could open up to us a bit more. Sometimes I feel like I don't know all that much about you." Hermione said, ladling some soup into her bowl.

"Hermione, I assure you, no one knows me better than you or Ron. You probably know me better than I know myself. Just because I don't tell you every little thing in my life doesn't mean you don't know me." Harry smiled.

Hermione smiled softly and began to eat silently. Ron, who was still quite red was shoving a sandwich into his mouth and avoiding looking at his friends altogether while Harry and Neville began talking about ways they might manage to stay awake in History of Magic.

"Hey Harry!"

The four Gryffindors turned as Angelina Johnson took a seat next to Hermione. "How was your summer?" She asked with a smile.

"It was…"

"Great." Angelina said cutting him off. "I got made the team captain, and so we'll be holding tryouts for a new keeper this weekend. I want the whole team out there to see how we all work together, alright?"

"Yeah, I guess that'd be." Harry started again.

"Brilliant. Se you out there." Angelina smiled, slapping the table and walking away to eat lunch with Alicia Spinnett further along the table.

"What just happened?" Hermione asked with a puzzled smile.

"Hurricane Johnson, I think." Harry sniggered.

"Do you think she'll be as good as Wood?" Hermione asked.

Harry could only shrug. "Wood usually let us finish our sentences." Harry snickered again and Hermione chuckled as well, neither of them noticing the strange look on Ron's face as he stared down the table at Angelina.


"Is this true, Potter?" Professor McGonagall looked up from the note she'd been handed by the clearly irate young man sitting before him. "Did you actually scream at Professor Umbridge?"

Harry couldn't help notice the acidic way McGonagall had said "Professor" in regards to Umbridge. Harry's heart was still banging in his chest with rage over all that had happened in his first Defense class of the year. Professor Umbridge had begun the lesson by speaking to the students as if they were all five years old. She had talked about the upcoming OWL exams and then about how because of the lack of consistency due to so many different teachers in the subject that they were woefully behind.

Umbridge had then gone on to explain how they would be learning Defense according to a Ministry approved curriculum, which apparently did not involve using magic. This had stirred the hornets nest so to speak, and the class very nearly revolted. Both the Gryffindors and the Hufflepuffs who shared the class got very confused as to how they would pass exams without ever having performed the spells before then. Umbridge was a surprisingly good politician as she deflected nearly every question from her students without giving a straight answer.

That was until Harry got involved.

He was still kicking himself, but the pink toad had just infuriated him so much by telling everyone that they had been lied to about any threats upon their lives and that no one could come back from the dead. She had even laughed a high girlish laugh that made Harry's blood boil.

When Harry questioned Umbridge as to her proof that Voldemort had not returned, She got defensive. When she asked Harry where his proof, he offered to show the scar where he'd been cut by Wormtail, and also to be questioned under Veritaserum.

Actually it had been Neville who suggested it.

Umbridge went white with irritation and had given Harry Detention for speaking out of turn. She then tried to reign in class again, but Harry just couldn't seem to keep his mouth closed now. He completely lost his temper when she had told the class once again that there was nothing to be afraid of and that the rumors were nothing more than lies to create panic.

When Harry said that the only liars were the Ministry, Umbridge lost it, and sent Harry to see McGonagall.

"Yeah." Harry grimaced. He was still seething from the way Umbridge had basically bated him into a conflict. Snape would have been proud if not begging for lessons.

"She called me a liar." Harry said.

"I would think you'd be used to that by now, after what has been printed in the Daily Prophet alone." McGonagall said taking her seat behind the desk and offering a tin of biscuits to Harry who smiled appreciatively at his Head of House as he took one.

"Potter… Harry, I urge you to not push Dolores Umbridge. She is here with an agenda that does not bode well for this school, and especially for you."

"What do you mean Professor?" Harry asked now very curious.

"Minister Fudge is worried that Dumbledore is setting the stage for some sort of takeover of the Ministry." McGonagall said urgently.

"I know, I was told over the summer." Harry said.

"Then you must know then that the Minister is worried that you will help sway opinion to Dumbledore's cause." McGonagall said pointedly. "Your name, and your opinion matter quite a lot to more than a handful of very important people. The Minister thinks that if enough of those people are swayed, he will be ousted from office, and Dumbledore will step in to replace him."

"That's mad!" Harry exclaimed.

"Indeed it is, but nonetheless, it is true. We can not give the Ministry any fuel for their fire lest we condemn ourselves to cells in Azkaban. Until _He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named finally steps into the open, we are forced to fight on two fronts. I am begging you Harry, do not give any more ammunition to Dolores Umbridge, no matter what you have to do, do not let your temper get the better of you."

Harry looked at his Head of House's expression and with a heavy sigh nodded his consent. "I'll do my best, Professor."

"Good. Now, attend her detentions as ordered and…"

"Can't you do anything about that? Make me serve them with you or even Snape?" Harry pleaded.

"While I sympathize, I can do nothing. You will serve your detentions with Umbridge, and Harry… Do remember what we discussed."

Harry nodded and gathered his bag. He headed out of McGonagall's office and began to head to upstairs. There was still a few hours until dinner, and Harry felt he could get started on his History of Magic assignment. As he trotted up the satires He couldn't help marvel out how strange the year was beginning.

Harry set his book bag on top of his trunk and went and laid down on his bed, rubbing his eyes hard. Harry had no idea why but he was feeling a lot more confident than he'd ever had before. He never would have verbally sparred with Snape like he had that morning before this year. Was he perhaps taking Sirius' advice and trying to live his life the way he wanted, or was it something else. Was he acting out because of how angry he had been over the summer after being kept in the dark and ignored?

Harry didn't want to think about it anymore because his head was starting to hurt.

Harry felt he'd rather think about Daphne Greengrass and why he found her so alluring. She was quite beautiful. He barely remembered what she looked like last year, but he was sure that she hadn't look quite as fetching. She had clearly made quite a few changes to herself over the summer, and Harry was sure he wasn't the only boy who approved.

However, Harry felt that just because she was pretty didn't mean she'd be a great person. She could be just as prejudiced and irritating as Draco Malfoy. Harry shivered to think of a second Malfoy within Hogwarts

Harry remembered what Ron had said at Breakfast and wondered if Daphne was connected to Death Eaters and if his interest in her could end up leading him right into Voldemort's clutches. He knew better than to assume that simply because she was in Slytherin that she was connected to Death Eaters. Neville had said that the Greengrass' weren't dark. But was that true?

Harry sighed heavily. The fact was that he was never going to get any answers unless he spoke to her, and that thought alone was enough to chill him to the very core of his being. Sure, he could face Dragons, Basilisks and every manner of dark creature including the most fear wizard of all time, but trying to start a conversation with a fifteen year old girl was enough to make him want to run as far and as fast as he could.

Ron and Neville found Harry sitting on his bed halfway through his essay for Binns, and brought him down to dinner that night where they told him what had happened in class after he was ejected, which turned out to be nothing. Harry filled them in on his conversation with Professor McGonagall which only served to anger Harry's friends.

"So, we're just supposed to sit back and let the Ministry ruin our education?" Hermione said very offended by the notion.

"McGonagall didn't say anything about you. Just me." Harry smirked. Hermione huffed all the same.

"It's unfair." Neville said. "Why should you get in trouble for telling the truth?"

Ron added his two knuts, but no one could understand as he had half a pork chop in his mouth.

"It's only a week, and I'm sure I can get through it just fine." Harry said resignedly.

Hermione looked sympathetic and Neville gave an encouraging smile. Ron on the other hand was looking down the table to where Lavender Brown was talking with Parvati Patil.

"What's with you?" Neville asked of the redhead, who's ears went crimson.

"What? Nothing? I was…I was just… I wanted more potatoes." Ron said lamely.

"Well, they're over here." Hermione said.

"Unless you'd like the ones near Lavender." Neville said with a smirk. Ron glared and the went back to eating trying to hide his ever reddening face.

"Well, it looks like Harry's not the only one with a crush." Hermione said with a superior sort of smile.


Harry said goodbye to his friends at half past seven as he started off towards Umbridge's office for detention. He was idly wondering what the pink toad had in mind for his punishment, which Harry was still seething about having to do in the first place. He hoped it wasn't something disgusting like the punishments Snape was so fond of.

He was nearly halfway to Umbridge's office when he heard it.

"Potter! Hey Potter!"

Harry stopped and looked around and was stunned to find Tracey Davis of all people, walking quickly towards him. She had a rather determined look on her face as she approached and she was looking all around to make sure they were alone before she started to speak.

"I going to give you a bit of friendly advice." The auburn haired girl said evenly, her eyes never leaving his own. "Leave Daphne alone. You and her… it just isn't going to happen, alright? So, save yourself the time and embarrassment and leave her alone. She doesn't need any more attention, especially from you."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked quickly before Tracey could disappear.

"Never mind. Just…just leave her alone, alright?" Tracey said. What surprised Harry was that she didn't sound mean or angry or anything like that. In fact, she almost sounded concerned, though Harry was sure it wasn't for him.

"But why? Why do you think that I don't have a shot?" Harry asked.

"Egotistical much?" Tracey cocked an eyebrow.

"That's not how I meant it. I just… Look, I don't even know her, so I don't even know if I like her. Why shouldn't I try and make friends with her, or you for that matter?" Harry asked.

"You want to be my friend?" Tracey asked incredulously.

"I don't see why I can't make friends with whomever I like. Unless you blindly hate me like the rest of your house." Harry challenge. Tracey's eyebrow raised even higher and a small smirk appeared on her face.

"You think you got us all figured out don't you."

"Actually I know that I don't." Harry replied. "And unlike some, I can admit that I don't know everything."

"Pretty un-Gryffindor like attitude." Tracey said, folding her arms across her chest.

"Now who thinks they've got people figured out." Harry said with a bit of a triumphant tone. Tracey shook her head.

"Look, I came to warn you away from Daphne and I've done that. Do everyone a favor and take it to heart. She doesn't need you drooling after her too."

With that, Tracey turned on her heel and walked away. Harry wondered exactly what had just happened, and more importantly, what she had meant about Daphne. Did she have a lot of boys chasing after her? And if she did what chance did Harry have with her?

"Why couldn't I just be head over heels over someone more attainable?' Harry thought darkly as he made his way to Umbridge's office.