Chapter 8 – Back to School
AN
Huge thanks as always to Arnel. By the way, no, apparently she doesn't require sleep.
"Oh, do come along, Fred! We're going to miss the train at this rate," Molly Weasley moaned, "and don't think I don't know what you're up to, George Weasley! You get rid of that thing immediately! Oh, were has Ronald gone now?"
"I think I heard him say something about spotting Neville," Ginny supplied.
"He's just vanished off to find his friend without even saying goodbye?" Molly said in an outraged voice. "I'm going to have words with that young man."
"Don't be too hard on him, Mum," Fred said sarcastically. "After all, he's a prefect now and far too important to be seen with the likes of us."
Ginny could only smirk at her brother's comment. The twins had taken every opportunity to tell their mother exactly what a bad idea they thought making Ron a prefect had been. Ginny hadn't been shy about adding her own comments, either, but Molly Weasley had been adamant that the additional responsibility would be the making of Ron. Sometimes Ginny wondered just who her mother was trying to convince.
"Just help your sister get her trunk onto the train, please," Mrs Weasley said in a pained voice.
"Of course," George replied. "As little Gin-Gin's knight in shining armour appears to be absent at the moment, we'll happily step into the breach."
"Harry's probably already on the train," Ginny pointed out, "as would we be if we hadn't had to turn around twice because some pair of idiots forgot to pack their Quidditch gear."
"It's not our fault that we are dreamers and visionaries," George said loftily. "Our thoughts are above such mundane matters."
"Yeah, you just keep telling yourselves that," Ginny snorted.
"Will you please just all get onto the train!" Molly shouted. "It's about to leave!"
"Then our timing is perfect!" Fred announced before kissing his mother on the cheek. "Bye, Mum, hope you don't miss us too much."
"I'll be glad to see the back of the pair of you," she replied, accepting a kiss from George. They all knew she didn't mean it in the slightest.
"Bye, Mum," Ginny said, also offering her mother a peck on the cheek. "I'll write every week."
"Thank you, Ginny," Molly said, pulling her daughter into a hug. "Give Harry my love when you see him and remember to invite him and Sirius over for Christmas."
"I will," she promised and hurried after her brothers who had already boarded the train with her trunk in their possession.
"Where to, ickle Gin-Gin?" George asked as she caught up with him.
"Harry normally tries to grab the last compartment, so I guess we'll try there," she replied.
Sure enough, they found the Boy Who Lived in the last compartment of the last carriage, already settled in with Hermione and Luna also there. Ginny pulled her boyfriend into a hug as soon as she saw him.
"I was getting worried," Harry confessed. "The train was nearly ready to leave the station and there was no sign of you."
"Blame it on my goldfish-brained brothers," Ginny snorted. "I'm beginning to think they wanted to play Quidditch in their underwear this year."
"Hey, that's not a bad idea," Fred said happily. "No doubt all the female opposition would be so mesmerised by our god-like physique that they won't be able to concentrate on the game."
"You do remember that all the Slytherin team is male, don't you?" Harry asked. "Or are you hoping that they'll start lusting after you, too?"
"You're right, Mr Potter," George said solemnly. "Despite them being slimy snakes they are still only human, and the sight of us in all our glory might cause them too much temptation. It's hard being a sex-symbol, it really is."
"Have you two been sniffing your potion experiments again?" Ginny teased. "They appear to have made you massively delusional."
"Oh, Ginny, don't be like that. Just because you managed to trap yourself Harry 'God's gift to witches' Potter, there's no need to look down on others," Fred tutted. "Don't sneer at me just because I'm beautiful."
"Fine, so why don't you two take your beautiful bodies and go and find Angelina and Alicia," Ginny suggested. "I'm sure they would appreciate them more than me."
"Excellent suggestion, my exquisite sister," George exclaimed. "Come, my handsome brother! Let us find some ladies more deserving of our marvellous company."
"Indeed, farewell, sweet Ginevra," Fred cried. "Don't do anything we wouldn't do."
"Well, that leaves me plenty of room for manoeuvre," Ginny muttered before taking a seat next to Harry. "Hi, Luna; how was the rest of your holiday?"
"Very nice, thank you, Ginny," Luna replied with a smile. "After Harry's birthday party, Father and I visited Mali in search of the Greater-Horned Jarwobbler."
"Did you find one?" Hermione asked with exaggerated patience.
"No, but it's not really surprising," Luna admitted.
"Why was it not surprising?" Hermione asked with the expression of someone who knows they are walking into a trap but just can't help themselves.
"Because the Greater-Horned Jarwobbler is found in Madagascar," Luna replied calmly.
There was silence for about ten seconds before Hermione's logic-powered brain forced the question through the girl's lips.
"So, if you were looking for a Greater-Horned Jarwobbler, and you know they live in Madagascar, why didn't you go to Madagascar?" she asked in a strangled voice.
"Because the Portkey we had went to Mali," Luna explained.
"See, there's a logical explanation for everything, Hermione," Harry chuckled.
Ginny did her best to stifle her own giggles while wondering when Hermione had developed that nervous tic.
"So, who wants to make a bet?" Harry asked suddenly, possibly in an effort to stop Hermione attacking Luna. "Who'll be first to pay us an unwelcome visit: Malfoy or new prefect Ron?"
"I can't believe they made Ron a prefect!" Hermione huffed.
"Congratulations on your own appointment, by the way," Ginny said. "At least you know that you earned your badge."
"Yes, and getting it feels completely devalued now," Hermione replied in a gloomy voice. "And I'll have to do patrols with him now. Actually, speaking of prefects, I'd better head off to the meeting. Can someone keep an eye on Crookshanks for me?"
"Of course," Ginny confirmed. She'd always got on well with Hermione's squashed-face cat.
"Thanks, see you all later," Hermione said and vanished out of the compartment.
"I hope she'll be okay patrolling with Ron," Harry fretted. "He said some very nasty things about Hermione last year, and he's not exactly known for keeping his temper, is he?"
"He'd better, otherwise he'll find that… oh, hold on. It looks like we've got our first visitor of the trip!" Ginny noted as the compartment door slid open.
Ginny reached into her robes and grasped her wand firmly. Neither Ron nor Draco posed much of a threat in her mind, but that didn't mean she was going to meekly sit there and accept abuse from either one of them. In the end, however, the visitor wasn't either of the expected protagonists. It was Neville Longbottom.
"What do you want, Longbottom?" Harry asked in a cold voice.
"I'm not here to cause trouble, I swear," Neville said, holding his hands out to show he was unarmed.
"Just as well," Harry growled.
"Look, I know I was a bit of a prat last year, and I'm sorry. I know I followed Ron's lead in everything, but I'd never had a best friend before and I didn't want to make him angry at me. I guess it all just went a bit too far," Neville said apologetically.
"Just a bit," Harry spat. "You were going to hex Ginny in the back, you coward!"
"I know, I… I was just angry at her for not wanting to come to the ball with me," he said miserably.
"How can you be angry at me for that?" Ginny demanded. "I wasn't even your first choice. You only asked me because Hermione was hinting at it. Besides, you should expect to find people already have partners if you leave it to the last minute to ask them. And what you said about Luna was rotten."
Neville nervously glanced at the blond girl in question who was regarding him calmly.
"Yeah, I know I was out of line," he admitted. "I don't actually even think I've ever spoken a word to her in my life. I was just reacting based on what everyone else said about her. Sorry, Luna."
"You'll have more friends if you stopped worrying about what other people think about you and you try to be yourself," Luna advised. "Stop following Ron around like a lost sheep would be a good idea, too. Oh, and you should also change your socks more often."
"Eh?" Neville said in a bemused tone.
"Okay, your apology is accepted," Harry interrupted, "but you're still not totally forgiven for nearly attacking Ginny. If I even think you're going to try something…"
"But that's why I'm here!" Neville said insistently. "Ron's up to something and I want no part in it."
"What?" Ginny exclaimed. "What is my idiot brother planning now?"
"I don't know exactly, but something weird is going on," Neville explained. "Ron's been acting strange all summer. When he first came over to my house I thought he was just impressed by Longbottom Manor, but then he started saying strange things, like this was the sort of place that all pure-bloods should live in and how his house was 'beneath' him. At times he sounded more like Draco Malfoy than a Weasley! And he kept going on about you, Harry; how you'd cheated him out of a place in the Triwizard Tournament and how you shouldn't be around Ginny. He really hates you now!"
"Yeah, well, I'm not too keen on him at the moment," Harry noted.
"You should really watch him this term, Harry. He kept dropping hints that he had this great plan to get you. He wouldn't tell me what it was, only that it would destroy your reputation," Neville warned.
"Plenty of others have already tried to do that and I can't see Ron having the cunning to do anything too clever," Harry shrugged.
"I think he's getting help from someone, though," Neville advised. "A few times while he's been visiting, Ron has said he needed to go home early, but I swear that the Floo address he used wasn't the Burrow."
"Could you hear where he went?" Harry asked.
"Nah, he was always careful to speak very quietly, but I'm convinced that the last part of the address was 'manor'," Neville replied.
Ginny frowned. "Okay, that is weird," she said. "Ron most definitely doesn't know anyone who lives at a manor, other than you, Neville. I think we will need to keep a careful eye on my brother."
"Yeah, thanks for the warning, Neville," Harry nodded at the boy. "It's really appreciated."
"I'll try and let you know if I hear anything else," Neville informed him. "I'd better get back now, the prefect meeting won't be lasting too much longer and I want to be back in my compartment before Ron returns."
And with that Neville vanished back up the corridor. Harry stood and pulled the door shut again and looked at the two girls questioningly.
"What do you think Ron's up to?" he asked. "Ruining my reputation? That doesn't sound like Ron, at all."
"Nah, swinging his fists about is more his style," Ginny agreed. "We need to be really careful, especially as Ron will be back sleeping in the same dorm room as you this term. Make sure that the Marauders Map and your Invisibility Cloak are hidden away and Ron can't get his hands on them. I wouldn't put it past him to stage something using one of those items and blame it on you."
"That's simple enough to avoid. I'll just give them to you to look after," Harry shrugged.
"Good idea," she agreed, "and make sure you cast Alarm Charms on everything you own and around your bed at night. We learnt enough nasty ones during the summer, after all."
"I'll try and keep an eye on Ron, too," Luna offered. "People seem to try to ignore me most of the time so I can largely go unnoticed around the castle. I'll see if I can do a bit of quiet snooping when he's around."
"Thanks, Luna," Harry said affectionately. "You know we'll never ignore you, don't you?"
"I certainly hope not," Luna smiled. "Besides, I'm still hoping that Ginny will give me use of you on Wednesdays."
"We'll see, Luna," Ginny giggled, amused at Harry's suddenly red face.
Hermione returned to the compartment shortly afterwards, unsurprisingly complaining that both Ron and Draco Malfoy had been disruptive and arrogant during the prefects meeting, to the point that the Head Boy had nearly thrown the pair of them out. Ginny was seriously considering suggesting a side bet as to how long Ron would retain his prefect status when the compartment door slid open again revealing a smug looking Draco Malfoy. Oddly, the boy just stood there, leaning against the doorframe and smiling.
"Can we help you with something, Malfoy?" Harry demanded in an exasperated voice.
"Nah, I'm good," Malfoy replied in a self-satisfied manner.
"What are you doing here?" Ginny growled, her temper rising by the moment.
"No need to be so hostile, little Weasel," Malfoy mocked. "If you must know, I'm just committing this scene to memory. You see, this will be the last time I'll be able to see you four on the Hogwarts Express. I will so miss our little chats."
"Please tell me you're transferring to another school," Ginny begged. "Somewhere more suited to bigoted morons like you."
"Oh, I'm not going anywhere," Malfoy sneered, "but you and lover boy over there will be soon. In fact, I hear the cemetery is preparing a nice place for the pair of you: six feet under! Hopefully you'll be taking the freak and the Mudblood with you, too."
"Get out, Malfoy," Harry yelled, leaping to his feet.
Draco just laughed at Harry's anger and turned to leave. "I would say it's been nice knowing you, Potter, but we both know that would be a lie, don't we?" he called over his shoulder. "Have a nice funeral!"
Harry stormed over and slammed the door shut, rattling the glass in the process. Ginny looked over at her boyfriend in concern.
"Is it my imagination or did Malfoy seem more confident than usual?" Luna speculated airily.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked sharply. "He was just his usual obnoxious self."
"Yes, but normally he just stands there and insults everyone," Luna pointed out. "This time he barely said anything nasty about us, other than we're going to die, of course."
"I think that's bad enough, Luna," Ginny huffed.
"Maybe, but doesn't Draco usually start ranting about how we're all blood-traitors and Mudbloods, and that Harry's a stupid scar-head that's going to get his this term? Most of the time he just stood there looking smug," Luna pointed out.
"Do you think he knows something we don't?" Harry asked.
"Possibly," Ginny sighed. "It looks like we're going to have to keep an eye on Draco as well as Ron."
"Great," Harry moaned.
HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP
Pretty soon, the Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade and there was the usual mad rush to disembark. Harry and the three girls stuck together and managed to get one of the carriages to themselves. Ginny purposely tried to avoid looking at the Thestral that was pulling the carriage, now clearly visible to her. She fully intended to avoid the Astronomy Tower this term if she could, too.
They had just disembarked from the carriage when a familiar voice called out to Harry. They looked over to see Professor McGonagall beckoning to him.
"Mister Potter, I wonder if I might have a word with you?" the Professor asked in a crisp tone.
"Of course, Professor," Harry agreed, "but you can talk to me in front of my friends, if you wish. I have nothing to hide from any of them."
McGonagall looked at Ginny and her friends thoughtfully for a second before sighing.
"I suppose what I have to say affects them as much as it does you, particularly Miss Granger," she acknowledged. "I wanted to talk to you about the decision to make Ronald Weasley a prefect this year. I don't know how Miss Weasley feels about her brother being given the position…"
"It's ridiculous!" Ginny interrupted. "He's done nothing to earn it and I don't for a moment think he's going to take the job seriously. He'll just strut around with the badge on his chest acting like he's a big shot."
"Sadly, I share your reservations," McGonagall admitted. "Never in my time at Hogwarts has anyone with such poor marks for their schoolwork been given such a position. It's a travesty."
"Then why was he given the badge?" Hermione asked intently.
"I did not want him to have it. I was… overruled," McGonagall practically growled. Ginny was left in no doubt just how much the stern woman objected to having her will ignored.
"Don't tell me," Harry sighed. "This was the Headmaster's idea, wasn't it?"
"Yes, Potter, I'm afraid it was. While I can just about understand his reasoning, I feel it is a totally inappropriate position for someone who was very nearly expelled last year. Strangely, the Headmaster seemed convinced this would be the making of young Mister Weasley and insisted on his appointment.
"I bet my mum helped him arrive at that idea, didn't she?" Ginny muttered.
"Actually, Miss Weasley, I'm not sure either your mother or father thought it was such a good idea, but Professor Dumbledore was adamant this was the right course to follow," McGonagall admitted. "While I wish to give Mister Weasley the benefit of the doubt, I would ask that all of you report directly to me if you witness him abusing his position in any way. Miss Granger, I know the pair of you had something of a falling out last term and I appreciate you may feel uncomfortable working with him now, but I would ask that you do your best and, of course, my door is always open if you have any problems."
"Thank you, Professor," Hermione said, and was closely echoed by Harry and Ginny.
"I meant what I said at the end of last term," McGonagall assured them. "I've done a poor job protecting my pupils from harm in recent years, particularly you, Harry. I don't intend to repeat those mistakes again."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry said warmly. "You've always been my favourite teacher, you know."
The woman smiled, almost in embarrassment, before making her excuses and leaving rapidly.
"Why do I get the feeling this is going to be a very long term?" Hermione sighed.
The others could only agree with her.
HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP
"Zeller, Rose," McGonagall called out.
The small, frightened-looking girl hurried over and sat on the small stool. Almost as soon as the Sorting Hat touched her head it cried out 'Hufflepuff' in a loud voice. Ginny watched in amusement as the girl practically sprinted towards the safety of her new House's table. It seemed like only five minutes ago that she was in the same situation.
"Welcome, one and all," Dumbledore announced in a ringing voice, "to new faces and old hands alike. There is a time for speeches, but this is not it. Everyone, tuck in!"
The table in front of her was instantaneously covered in plates and dishes groaning with food. Ginny helped herself to several thick slices of glazed ham before she started loading food onto Harry's plate.
"Ginny! You don't have to keep forcing food down my throat, you know," Harry protested. "I'm eating plenty now, thank you very much."
"Ah, but you don't know what I've got planned for the next stage of your fitness regime, do you?" she taunted. "Trust me; you're going to need lots of extra energy, so eat up."
"I knew I was dreading this new term for a reason," he lamented. "I swear you get some perverse pleasure in torturing me."
"Oh, stop moaning. You've had it easy over the holidays, it's time to really buckle down and get into proper training again," Ginny told him in a no-nonsense fashion.
"Do you think that I could join your training sessions this term?" Hermione asked nervously.
"I don't see why not," Ginny agreed. "Dobby has managed to find us a nice out-of-the-way place to train that has plenty of room. Luna will probably be joining us, too."
"Wonderful," Hermione beamed. "I'm really looking forward to it."
"I wouldn't if I were you," Harry muttered.
"Shut up, you," Ginny said, playfully cuffing him over the head.
"Getting a beating again, Harry?" George called from further down the table. "What have you done to upset our sweet-natured and entirely non-violent sister now?"
"Does she need a reason?" Harry asked with a straight face.
"Not normally," Fred agreed, peering around Angelina.
"You three really will be getting a beating if you carry on like this," Ginny warned.
"Sorry, dear," Harry said in a completely insincere voice. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"
"Yeah, stop hanging around Sirius; he's obviously a very bad influence on you," she replied with an arched eyebrow.
Harry just smirked and then turned his attention back to his plate.
"And now we've digested another magnificent meal, I beg your attention for the usual start of term notices," Dumbledore announced after the meal was finished. "Firstly, Mr Filch has asked me to remind you…"
"This is going to be interesting," Ginny declared as the Headmaster continued his welcome speech.
"Why? What's going to happen?" Hermione asked.
"Wait and see," Harry grinned.
"…and we have two changes in staffing this year. We are pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons. We are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
As a round of polite applause echoed around the hall, Ginny turned to Harry.
"Where's Hagrid?" she wondered. "We still have things we need to ask him about."
Harry shrugged. "Tonks just said he was doing some task for Dumbledore. She had no idea when he would be back."
"Try-outs for the house Quidditch teams will take place on…" Dumbledore continued before he was silenced by someone clearing their throat loudly. The Headmaster turned to see Professor Umbridge rising to her feet.
"If I might be permitted to say a few words, Headmaster? Thank you," Umbridge said, turning towards the students before Dumbledore even had a chance to reply. "Well, I must say how lovely it is to be back here at Hogwarts again, and to see all your happy, little faces looking up at me."
Ginny quietly sniggered.
"What the Headmaster regretfully failed to mention is that I'm here in a dual capacity this year. In addition to teaching all of you how to defend yourself against enemies of the state, no matter what form they may be in, I'm also here to conduct a thorough and exhaustive review of the school and its teaching methods. To that end, you may see me attending classes other than my own so I can assess the effectiveness of the lessons and the professionalism of the staff," Umbridge explained in a sickeningly-sweet voice.
At this declaration several of the staff looked outraged. Ginny couldn't help but smile at the furious expression on Snape's face.
"Sadly, Hogwarts has fallen behind in European school league tables and several overseas establishments are consistently scoring higher percentages in NEWT and OWL pass rates. Clearly, the Ministry is concerned by this slip in standards and will do everything it can to ensure that you all receive the finest education possible. Naturally, I will be looking at all aspects of the running of the school and if any of you pupils have any suggestions as to how it might be improved I will be setting up a suggestions-box outside my office. Anything you wish to disclose will, of course, be completely confidential."
"Oh, just think how many people will be putting in complaints about Snape," Harry whispered gleefully. "He'll be up to his neck in it!"
"I would also like to mention that lessons this coming Friday are to be cancelled as we will be undertaking a staff training day," Umbridge announced, much to the evident surprise of all the teachers, Dumbledore included. "Thank you for your attention and I hope we can all work together to return Hogwarts to its rightful place as the premier education facility in the world!"
A thunderous round of applause followed Umbridge's words, no doubt inspired by the extra-long weekend the pupils were about to receive. Ginny carefully watched the teachers' reactions: McGonagall looked almost embarrassed, probably unhappy that Hogwarts' reputation had been called into questions. Snape was livid and his normally pale face was flushed red with anger. Several teachers, notably Trelawney, looked rather frightened by the whole thing, but the face Ginny most carefully examined was that of the Headmaster. Dumbledore sat expressionless, staring straight ahead of him, displaying no apparent emotion at all.
"You knew this was going to happen, didn't you?" Hermione accused them. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"We didn't know exactly what was going to happen," Ginny replied. "Besides, isn't this a nice surprise?"
"Nice surprise? How can the Ministry interfering in the running of Hogwarts be a nice surprise?" she demanded.
"Oh, come on, Hermione," Harry reasoned. "I'm sure if you think about it there are loads of things you'd like to see improved around here. Wouldn't you like to see a better History teacher, for example?"
"Or a Potions Professor who actually teaches his pupils something rather than just trying to belittle them?" Ginny suggested.
"Addition extra-curricular activities? Better career guidance? More up-to-date teaching methods?" Harry added.
"Okay, I see your point, and actually now you mention it I can think of a few other things I'd like to suggest, but do you honestly believe handing control of Hogwarts over to the Ministry is a good idea?" Hermione asked doubtfully.
"Don't worry, Hermione," Ginny grinned. "We have a contingency plan for dealing with Dolores Umbridge if she takes things too far."
"Are you going to tell me what it is?" Hermione demanded.
"Where would be the fun in that?" Harry asked in mock surprise.
"Sometimes, I rue the day you two got together. Things were a lot simpler before then," Hermione lamented.
"But you still love us, don't you?" Ginny asked cheekily.
"Sadly, I do," Hermione replied, grimacing.
The feast ended shortly afterwards and Hermione rushed off to guide the first-years to the common room. Harry and Ginny allowed the crush to disburse before they stood and headed out of the hall. They hadn't got very far when a voice called to them.
"Harry? I wonder if I might ask that you spare me a few minutes of your time," Dumbledore asked, approaching them with a friendly smile on his face. "I would like to have a brief chat with you in my office, if I may."
"Err, can I just have a moment with Ginny and then I'll catch you up?" Harry requested, casting a nervous glace at his girlfriend.
"Of course, my boy," the Headmaster replied magnanimously. "I shall expect you in a few moments. The password is Jelly Slugs."
"I'll be right there," Harry promised and waited until the Headmaster had vanished from sight before turning to Ginny.
"Do you want to try doing what we discussed?" he asked.
"Now seems the perfect time," she agreed. "We need to test exactly how good Dumbledore is at detecting when he's being spied upon. I'll wear the Invisibility Cloak and follow you into his office."
"And if he can see through the Cloak?" Harry asked.
"Then we'll know we can't watch him by that method," she responded. "But I'm convinced he only detected you before by silently casting a Homenum Revelio spell. It's possible that his glasses are charmed, of course, but I don't think so. I'll try and stay out of his line of sight, anyway."
"Cool, let's give this a try, then," Harry decided and hurried after the Headmaster with Ginny close behind.
They climbed up to the seventh-floor and paused just around the corner to the entrance to the Headmaster's office. Ginny pulled Harry's Cloak from her bag and threw it over herself. She cast several Anti-Detection and Silencing Charms before she whispered to Harry that she was ready. They then headed down the corridor where Harry gave the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance to the office the appropriate password. Ginny kept her hand on Harry's shoulder as they went up the spiral staircase so he knew where she was, and she stayed tight to him as they finally entered Dumbledore's office.
"Ah, Harry, there you are. Thank you for not keeping me waiting too long," Dumbledore said warmly as Harry entered. As soon as they were through the door, Ginny hurried over to the far side of the office where she positioned herself slightly behind the Headmaster.
"No problem, sir," Harry replied. "What was it you wanted to speak to me about?"
Ginny looked around nervously. The Headmaster gave no indication that he was aware she was in the room. As she glanced about her eyes suddenly locked with a pair of black ones that were staring at her intently. Fawkes! Would Dumbledore's familiar give her away? Soundlessly, she put a finger to her lips trying to convey the need for silence to the bird. She was amazed when Fawkes seemed to nod in her direction and then tuck his head under his wing, as if he was going to sleep. Breathing a sigh of relief, she turned her attention back to the conversation.
"I just wanted a friendly little chat, my boy. You know, I've been worried about you this summer," Dumbledore said.
"Really? Why? I was a damn sight safer with my godfather than I was with those magic-hating relatives of mine," Harry said, struggling to keep the anger from his voice.
"Things are not always as straightforward as they appear, Harry. While I admit your aunt and uncle were less than desirable guardians, the protection that your family's house gave you was unmatched. I fear that even with the protections Sirius has placed on Grimmauld Place you are now more vulnerable than you ever have been," Dumbledore said sadly.
"I'm not going back," Harry said flatly.
"I cannot make you and, in any event, without you there over the summer to recharge the protections, the wards have collapsed and cannot be repaired. I only hope we don't live to regret their passing," Dumbledore lamented.
Ginny could clearly see the look of relief on Harry's face at the news he would never again be forced to return to Privet Drive.
"However, the past is the past and we cannot dwell on what might have been," Dumbledore continued. "No, what I really wanted to ask you was if you would reconsider your version of what happened at Little Hangleton graveyard last term. While I understand your reasoning, I must say I was disappointed that you chose to withhold the truth about what happened that day. It is vital that the wizarding world is alerted to Voldemort's continued existence so they can prepare."
"As far as I'm concerned I told the truth, sir," Harry said coldly. "When I left the graveyard there was no sign of Voldemort. He has not returned, and I would be lying if I said otherwise."
"But he is attempting to return, is he not?" Dumbledore pressed. "At any time he could regain his body and rise to challenge us all."
"With respect, sir, that could have happened anytime in the last fourteen years," Harry pointed out. "Besides, what do you expect of me? If the population didn't believe you what chance is there that they'll believe me?"
"I rather think that the word of the Boy Who Lived carries some weight, Harry," Dumbledore said with a smile.
Harry jaw dropped. "What? How can you possible say that? Until this year, I've been hounded in the press, accused of being the Heir of Slytherin by three quarters of this school and written off as a delusional madman by the Ministry! If I stand up and say Voldemort's returned I'll be locked up!"
"Your voice alongside mine would be a great benefit, Harry," Dumbledore persisted.
"A benefit to you, maybe," Harry snorted. "For me it would be an open invitation to a load of ridicule and pain. Are you sure you're not just asking to save your reputation, Headmaster?"
"That is extremely disingenuous of you, Harry," Dumbledore noted disapprovingly.
"Is it? Or is it me just looking out for myself for a change? Because, frankly, sir, every time I listen to you I seem to end up in deep shit. Please excuse my French, sir," Harry growled. "And all for what? I could stand in the middle of Diagon Alley and scream at the top of my lungs that Voldemort's coming and no-one would believe me. I would just be called an attention seeking brat and the press would hang me out to dry."
"I'm sorry you feel like that," Dumbledore said wearily.
"I do, and what's more I don't understand why I'm treated this way. I'm supposed to have defeated Voldemort when I was fifteen months old, but I have no memory of it, other than of my mum dying. That's my supposed claim to fame; something that my mum did to protect me. Yet because of that I'm singled out and made to face life threatening situations every year. Why? Why does this happen? Why is Voldemort so determined to kill me?" Harry demanded.
"I cannot tell you that, Harry. Perhaps in a few years' time when you are ready, I promise that I will explain everything to you, but in the meantime I'm afraid you'll just have to trust me," the Headmaster said.
"Trust you?" Harry repeated in disbelief. "Why the hell should I trust you? You ask everything from me and give nothing in return. You treat me like some little child and then expect me to fight Voldemort for you. You condemned me to a life of misery with the Dursleys and expect me to believe it was for my own good. You claim my safety is the most important thing to you, and yet ever since I stepped foot into your school I've faced death more times then I care to think about. I'm 'supposed' to be safe here at Hogwarts, but I've faced a possessed teacher, trolls, disguised Death Eaters, Dementors, an enchanted diary and a sixty-foot basilisk! You've stood by and done nothing while Snape tormented me for being the son of James Potter, remained silent while I was accused of being the Heir of Slytherin and did sod all to dispel the belief that I entered myself in the Triwizard Tournament, yet expected me to risk ridicule and resentment by backing up your unilateral declaration that Voldemort had returned!"
Dumbledore stared at Harry silently as the young man rattled off his list of grievances. He remained expressionless, but Ginny thought she saw pain reflected in the old man's eyes.
"And what have I ever asked in return?" Harry demanded. "All I wanted to have a normal childhood, but that was too much to ask, wasn't it? And now, I ask you one question. One question that would explain to me why my parents died and I've lived my entire life in fear of being killed by the forces of evil. But will you give me an answer? No, you won't even give me that."
"Harry, I really think…" Dumbledore began.
"SHUT UP!" Harry bellowed, surprising the Headmaster into silence. "For once in your bloody life shut-up and listen to someone else for a change! I'm through listening to your half-truths and platitudes. You see, I think I know why you won't answer me. You don't want to give me too many clues, do you? You don't want me to figure out what you believe my role in the war against Voldemort to be, do you?"
"And what, prey, do you think I envisage for your future, Harry?" Dumbledore asked sternly.
"You plan for me to die fighting Voldemort, don't you?" Harry said accusingly.
"Harry, that's preposterous! I have no such desire, I assure you," Dumbledore protested.
"Don't lie to me!" Harry practically screamed. "I'm sick of your lies! I know what this bloody scar on my forehead means! I know that you think I have to die if Voldemort is to be destroyed, too."
Dumbledore stared at Harry in horror. "Who told you such things?" he gasped.
"Indirectly, Voldemort did," Harry shrugged.
"Harry, he is the master of lies! You must not believe him," the Headmaster cried in distress.
"Look me in the eyes," Harry said calmly. "Look me in the eyes and tell me I haven't got a piece of Voldemort's soul stuck inside me."
For a second, Ginny thought Dumbledore was going to try and bluff it out. The old man looked at Harry intently for a second, a half-formed lie on his lips, but Harry's challenging gaze must have made Dumbledore realise that subterfuge was pointless. He lowered his gaze and stared at the top of his desk in despair.
"I'm sorry, my boy," he said sadly. "I'd hoped to spare you this dreadful knowledge until you were older. I just wanted you to have some semblance of a normal life for a few more years yet."
"At last, Albus Dumbledore tells the truth," Harry snorted. "Will you tell me the prophecy now?"
Dumbledore looked startled that Harry knew of this, too. Then the sad expression returned to his face.
"I cannot tell you the prophecy's exact content, Harry," he said mournfully. "If Voldemort was to discover its exact wording it would be a disaster for all of us and, regrettably, your mind is not a secure place, especially not from him."
"I see," Harry said in a cold voice. "Then you and I are finished, Headmaster. I will not be your willing puppet and I will not be your sacrifice. I will fight Voldemort, but it will be on my own terms. But trust me when I say, Dumbledore, that I will defeat him, and without your help."
"No, Harry," Dumbledore cried, "you can't do this alone. You need me!"
Feeling a surge of anger at the old man's presumptive words, Ginny pulled the Invisibility Cloak off and was rewarded by the sight of Dumbledore jumping in shock at her sudden appearance. She walked around the desk and stood next to Harry who was grinning at her.
"Harry's not alone, Headmaster," Ginny said in a determined voice. "He will never be alone."
And with that, Harry and Ginny turned and walked calmly out of the office, not sparing a single backward glance at the broken old man, still sitting at his desk with tears rolling down his cheeks.
HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP
"…and that's why we haven't been able to tell you everything that's been going on," Harry explained apologetically. "Until you learn Occlumency your thoughts aren't safe from Dumbledore or Snape."
"You mean you've been receiving tutoring all summer and I've missed out because of my idiotic parents?" Hermione gasped.
"Basically, yeah," Harry confirmed. "I really wish I'd known they thought you were my girlfriend before; we could have sorted this all out back at the end of term."
"I didn't even know they thought that until I got home," Hermione moaned.
"Never mind," Ginny said soothingly. "Harry and I will do our best to pass on our new found skills to you."
"Although neither of us has learnt Legilimency yet, so we can't really test you," Harry added.
"Never mind, teach us what you can and we'll get your teacher to test us at Christmas," Luna suggested.
Ginny smiled at the enthusiasm shown by her two friends. Harry had been worried that Hermione was feeling left out of things and had insisted they explain to her exactly why they couldn't divulge their plans to her at the moment. Ginny had felt that including Luna in the discussion would be a good idea, as well, and Harry had wholeheartedly agreed. Besides, it was a good excuse for them to check out the location that Dobby had suggested they use for training and meetings: the Room of Requirement.
"Yeah, that's a good idea, Luna," Harry agreed. "Maybe you two could stay over at Grimmauld Place for a few days over the Christmas holidays. Sirius won't mind."
"Really, Harry, trying to entice pretty young witches you sleep in your house? Are you trying to form a harem or something?" Ginny teased.
"I only need one witch," Harry declared flatly. Clearly, he had learned his lesson back at his birthday party earlier in the year.
"Now what am I going to do on Wednesdays?" Luna moaned.
"Anyway, if you are in agreement, Ginny and I will set up a training schedule for us all for the next few months," Harry explained, desperately trying to get the conversation back on track. "Occlumency will definitely be the priority, but I'd like to get some duelling practice in, too. I'm not convinced Umbridge is going to be much of a teacher."
"She is a high ranking Ministry official," Hermione pointed out. "I would have thought she would be reasonably competent in most subjects."
"I wouldn't be so sure," Ginny disagreed. "From what I can gather, Umbridge got her position by being a dirty and unscrupulous politician rather than through any inherent talent. She virtually admitted to us that her initial plan was not to teach anything useful because she was afraid Dumbledore was raising an army of schoolchildren."
"Really? " Hermione asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, really! Dumbledore might be off his rocker, but I can't see him raising an army of kids anytime soon," Harry snorted. "If you ask me, Umbridge is paranoid."
"At least she will be teaching us something a bit more practical now," Ginny confirmed. "We planted the idea that Dumbledore's true motivation was to deprive the Ministry of potential Auror recruits by making sure very few people pass NEWT level Defence and Potion exams."
"That's quite believable, actually," Luna noted. "The Headmaster certainly has some strange ideas when it comes to hiring teachers. And to think people call me mad."
"Well, I'm still prepared to put money on Umbridge being a crap teacher," Harry commented. "I think we'll need to train in here just to keep in practice if nothing else."
"Let's see what she's like before we make too many plans," Hermione insisted. "You never know, Professor Umbridge might be wonderful."
"Care to put some money on that, Hermione?" Harry asked. "I've got a few Galleons I'd be willing to wager."
"And me," Luna added.
"Me, too," Ginny said eagerly.
"Do I have the word 'sucker' written on my forehead?" Hermione asked. "No bet."
"Damn, I could have done with some extra cash," Ginny grinned.
"Never mind," Harry laughed. "Well, as we still have an hour or so before curfew do you ladies fancy working up a bit of a sweat?"
"I told you he was trying to put together a Harem," Ginny smirked.
"What I meant, Miss Mucky-Mind, is that we could get a bit of duelling practice in," Harry said glaring at her.
"Okay, Harry," Ginny laughed. "If that's really what you want to do with three gorgeous witches like us while we're locked away in here away from prying eyes, so be it."
"We really need some other blokes in this group," Harry moaned as the girls giggled at him.
HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP
"Potter! You're improperly dressed: detention with Flitch tonight," a hated voice yelled from behind them.
Ginny turned to see her brother, Ron, standing there smirking at them. He had his arms crossed across his chest and looked as if Christmas had come early.
"Improperly dressed?" Harry repeated in disbelief. "What's wrong with the way I'm dressed?"
"Your tie," Ron announced in triumph. "It's not done up properly and your top button is undone."
Ginny looked at Ron in bemusement. His own tie was halfway down his chest and he had two buttons undone. He couldn't be so stupid as to try and get Harry into trouble about this, could he?
"What about you?" Harry challenged. "Your tie isn't done up either!"
"Yeah, but I'm a prefect," Ron crowed. "I get to decide who's properly dressed and who isn't, and I say you aren't. And if you argue with me anymore, Potter, I'll give you detention for the entire week."
"You're an idiot, Ron," Ginny sighed. "Did you even bother to read the prefect's Rulebook that you were given?"
"Couse I read it," Ron snapped, "and don't call me an idiot, unless you want to get into trouble, too."
"Well, if you'd read the Rulebook properly, you'd know that prefects can't hand out Detentions, they can only take a limited number of House points off for infractions, "
Ginny said smugly.
"How the hell would you know?" Ron demanded angrily.
Ginny smirked. Tom Riddle had, of course, been a prefect and he had studied the rulebook thoroughly. It was far easier to get someone into trouble if you knew what the rules actually were beforehand.
"I'm right though, aren't I?" Ginny challenged.
"Alright," Ron snarled. "Five points from Gryffindor, Potter! And I'll let everyone know that you were the one who lost the House those points."
"In that case, five points from Gryffindor, Weasley," a voice called out from behind them. "You're improperly dressed, too."
"What?" Ron yelped and spun round to find an angry-looking Hermione Granger standing there. "You can't take points from me: I'm a prefect!"
"You really haven't read the Rulebook, have you?" Hermione snapped. "There is absolutely nothing in there about a prefect being exempt from losing House points. In fact, as you are in a position of responsibility, it's your duty to set higher standards. I really should take more than five points off you."
"You think you're so bloody clever, don't you?" Ron snarled. "Always got an answer for everything, haven't you? I guess that's why you have to hang around with an arsehole like Potter; no one else could stand you!"
"Like you're Mr Popularity, Ron!" Ginny snapped. "Hermione's got loads more friends than you. Keep going on this way and everyone in the Tower will hate you."
"Oh, I don't mean amongst the losers and Mudbloods of Gryffindor," Ron sneered back. "I'm amongst proper wizards and witches. Ones who haven't been corrupted."
"What do you mean, corrupted?" Harry demanded.
"You know exactly what I mean, you half-blood mongrel, if you're even that," Ron yelled.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Ginny demanded loudly. "Have you lost your mind?"
"The world is going to see what a fake you are, Potter," Ron announced, ignoring his sister. "And when they do, I'm going to be laughing my socks off."
And with that, Ron turned and stalked off, never once looking behind him.
"He hates me now, doesn't he?" Hermione said sadly.
"It can't be helped, Hermione," Harry said, slipping his arm around the upset girl. "Ron really liked you, but now he thinks you've somehow betrayed him, he's gone completely the other way. I suspect that his anger and hate is really just directed at himself, but his pride won't let him admit it. Remember, none of this is your fault. He was the one who took this path and you did your best to try and convince him otherwise."
Ginny looked at her boyfriend with a mixture of shock and admiration. Harry sometimes gave the impression of being somewhat dense about relationships and people's feelings, but he'd seen straight to the heart of the matter here.
"He would have made a lousy boyfriend for you, anyway," Harry continued. "Can you imagine Ron in a serious relationship? The pair of you would have been rowing constantly."
Hermione just smiled sadly, not even bothering to deny her previous feelings for Ron.
"Well, we were wondering if my bother would start abusing his prefect status, and now we've got our answer," Ginny noted.
"Maybe, but I think he's just made a serious mistake," Hermione replied, her grin becoming rather wicked."
"How so?" Harry asked.
"I wasn't joking about prefects having to set higher standards than their classmates," Hermione explained. "Anytime a prefect loses House points they have to go before their Head of House to explain their actions. I doubt Ronald is going to enjoy standing before Professor McGonagall and explaining how he lost points because he was dressed like a scarecrow."
"And McGonagall never lets anyone get away with the same thing twice," Ginny chuckled. "Ron is going to have to be immaculately turned out from now on."
"Considering he always seems half asleep when he's getting dressed that could be a problem," Harry laughed.
"Come on, Harry," Hermione said, still chuckling. "We've got Defence next and I'm dying to find out what sort of teacher Professor Umbridge will be."
"Yeah, we shouldn't be late for that," Harry agreed. He removed his arm from around his friend and, leaning over, he kissed Ginny warmly. "See you at lunch."
"Good luck," Ginny called after their rapidly retreating forms. She would be interested to see what Umbridge was like, too, although she didn't have a class with the woman until tomorrow.
Watching Harry and Hermione vanishing down the corridor, Ginny frowned. Something Ron had said made her uncomfortable. Her brother had again hinted that there was some sort of plan or trap being laid for Harry and, as Neville had confirmed, it had something to do with ruining his reputation, although how Ron planned to do that she had no idea. She knew one thing, however, if Ron did try something to hurt Harry, then she would make sure he ended up bitterly regretting it.
And being family wouldn't save him this time, either.
