A/N Hello! Sorry about the longish wait for me to update! I have tons of coursework, and that combined with the fact I only got 4 reviews for the last time, meant I took longer to update! Thanks to every who did review though! Anyway, in this chapter, just be aware that I changed Cho'scharacter, so please don't complain aout her not being a little nice girl...unless you really want to, that is!

(From Harry's POV)

Chapter 10

We wandered up the road to the castle – fortunately, Hagrid had been standing at the gate, apparently guarding the castle, although I am sure the enchantments would've held up.

"Dangerous night to be out, Harry, you should know better!" he said, but although he sounded light-hearted, I knew there was a hidden meaning behind this. His eyes looked truly fearful of something, but because so long had passed since I had been here – apparently 6 years! – I did not know what. I also though it was strange that he ignored Tara completely, but I didn't know how I knew this! It seemed to me that everything my double had been doing in the real world was n0ow stored in my memory.

"Harry, are you alright?" Tara said when we were about halfway to the immense looming castle ahead of us, casting a dark shadow on the path. The blue sky was now streaked with red as the sun set.

"Yeah, but it's going to be strange, you know…" I said, knowing I could only point out the obvious. Of course it was going to be strange! I had been absent for 6 years! We continued walking more in silence, and by the time we reached the front door, it was pitch black. I noticed that up until then it had been very warm, but there was now a sudden chill in the air. I reached out to open the great oak door, but Tara reached out and stopped me.

"Wait!" she said. I turned to look at her and saw her eyes glittering as moonbeams hit them. How cliché! It was like a typical love movie…"What'd you think they're doing?"…With a dark, dark twist.

"I hope they're trapped!" I said, making both of us smile temporarily. "Listen, that was hell in that other world, but we can't show what we've been through here. No one thinks anything has happened! Anyway, let's act happy and get on with our lives!" Tara nodded, blinking back the tears in her eyes. We took a deep breath, and then went through the door, the warmness of the castle enveloping us mercifully.

"Harry Potter, you two-timing bastard!" shouted a voice as soon as the door closed. I spun around, confused, to see who had said it. "I have been looking all over for you, and here you are, with missy go poor-prat!" Cho Chang came racing down the stairs, her hair whipping about her furiously.

"Whoa, Cho! I see you can insult better these days!" I said, trying to fit in with the moment. Had I really been going out with her since the 1st year?

"Shut your face!" Cho nearly turned purple with the effort of trying to insult me, making me and Tara burst out laughing.

"Calm down, sweetie," I said in a mocking voice. I temporarily shivered as the thought that I sounded like Bellatrix whilst mocking entered my head, but I pushed it out of my thoughts.

"Don't you tell me to calm down! We're through!" Cho stomped her foot indignantly and raced back up the staircase after blowing raspberries in a bemused Tara's face. I nearly wet myself with laughter.

"At least she hasn't changed much!" I said, but that wasn't very comforting.

"I should go to bed, anyway – it'll take a while to figure out the new password!" Tara said. At that moment, I heard sharp footsteps making their way down the stairs.

"Potter! Lestrange!" It was McGonagal. "I expected better of you two of all people! It's past midnight and you're still up – detention for you both, my office, tomorrow at 8:00. Lestrange, I believe this is your first detention, and as for you Potter, you know how the headmaster will react when he finds out you're in trouble again!" With that, she strode straight past us into the Great Hall.

"Good night Tara, I 'spose," I said. Even though I felt like I had only been away a few hours, the thought of sleeping in a comfy bed was very welcoming. She stood on tiptoes and kissed me on the cheek, catching me off guard, so I only had time to make a wet smacking sound in her ear.

"Be ready next time!" she teased playfully, and then started walking off.

"Does this mean we're going out then?" I shouted as she walked away towards the Ravenclaw Common Room.

"Good night, Harry!" she said – I don't think she could hear me that well. Oh well! I will see tomorrow. We've known eachother for what, 3 days? But actually, I suppose it has been over 6 years now, and we have been through a lot together.

I turned towards the staircase and ran up it, taking the steps two by two. By the fourth floor, I was tried out, so I had to slow down to catch my breath. It was then a strange thought crossed my mind – what had McGonagal meant by "You know how the headmaster will react when he finds out you're in trouble again?" It certainly didn't sound like something Dumbledore would implore – he was way too kind and ditzy, or at least, that was my first impression of him from the opening feast…all those years ago. Something must've happened, but I didn't ponder on it too long – I heard footsteps hot on my trail, so I bolted up the remaining staircases to find myself standing cluelessly outside the Gryffindor Tower entrance.

"Dam it!" I cursed out loud: I didn't have a clue what the password was. "Erm…magic?" I said, hoping foolishly that the password would be so ridiculously simple. "Wand?" Nope. "Spell?" Nope. A sudden though occurred to me just as the Fat Lady was getting impatient. "Avada!" I said, hoping something would happen, and to my amazement, portrait swung open! How did I know that?

The Common Room was the picture of warmth and homeliness – the fire was still burning, throwing brilliant orange shadows across the mismatched sofas, the table had opened boxes of magical chocolates and scraps of parchment adorning it, and there was a familiar person with bright red hair laying across an armchair, apparently asleep. I walked up to him curiously. I knew him, even though he had clearly aged somewhat!

"Ron!" I said, shaking him by the shoulders.

"Kmph mer – what?" he said grumpily, his eyes opening out of annoyance. "Harry! I've been waiting for you – Hermione was too, but she got bored and went to bed. Where the hell were you? You were meant to help me with Potions homework – I couldn't find the prince's book," Ron finished. None of this made much sense to me.

"Since when have I been any good at potions?" I asked innocently. Ron slapped his palm on his face, feigning annoyance.

"Since you got the half blood Prince's book," he said slowly, emphasizing each syllable. "Have you been smoking pot again?" I was alarmed he asked me this.

"Why would I ever be stupid enough to do that?!" I asked, disgusted.

"Ever since Cho made you – why don't you remember this?" Ron asked – he was starting to click that something wasn't right!

"Doesn't matter – we just broke up, anyway," I said, shrugging my shoulders. "Again? I give it a day – It only lasted half an hour last time, mind you…" Ron muttered, an amused grin on his face.

"Anyway, I need to sleep – must go and see Dumbledore in the morning," I said, starting to climb the spiral staircase to my dormitory. Ron, however, covered his face with him palm again and sighed.

"Harry – you were there last year!" I looked confused. "Dumbledore," Ron started, speaking to me as if I were a toddler again, "is dead!"

A/N I hope you enjoyed that chapter then - if you haven't worked it out already, it is now set in DH times, except I am keeping them at Hogwarts. Anyway, make me happy and press go!