Chapter eleven
"The diary!" Ginny almost screamed as they had left the Great Hall. Ron and Harry looked horrified at her. Hermione, ever the calm one, came with a solution: "Why don't you explain everything to professor McGonagall, while we get the diary and Ginny." She said to Harry. Harry nodded, relieved: "That's a good idea, you're a saviour, sis." Hermione looked at him, shocked: "That's the first time you ever called me that." She said. Harry blushed "I have thought it for a long time now, you know that." Hermione nodded. Together the four walked away. They could walk the first part together since Ginny had History and the other three Transfiguration and those classes were close.
During Transfiguration they had to turn animals into a goblet. Harry decided to try something different. He still held his wand in his hand and said the incantation, but rather than waiting for it to happen, he took his magic and willed his rat to turn into a goblet. It worked. "Ten points to Gryffindor, Mr. Potter." McGonagall said. "Now try to turn it back." Harry acted like he used his wand, but just manipulated magic. The goblet returned to a rat in no time. "Another ten points." McGonagall said. Hermione looked at him. "That's a bit cheating, don't you think?" she said and she went back to her work.
After class Harry went to professor McGonagall. "Aunt Minerva, we have something to discuss with you." Harry said. "What is it Harry?" she asked. "Ron and Hermione are getting a rather strange object and Ginny at the moment. We believe that object is dangerous since the Sorting Hat and an Elf warned Ginny for it. It is a diary but it writes back. When Ginny was sorted she was a bit shaken, so I asked her what it was. She told me about the Hat's warning, it was the same warning as her dad always gave her. Then two days ago we were visited by a house-elf called Dobby. He kept repeating that it was dangerous for me to be here and that I had to leave. When he returned he told Ginny the same warning as the Hat had. And then last evening, before dinner, Ron, Hermione and I returned from classes. We found Ginny in the common room, completely distressed. We calmed her down and asked her what happened. It appeared that she had found a diary that wrote back." Harry explained. "I see," McGonagall said. "You did well coming to me with it, I'll investigate your stories and the diary when they are here."
At that moment Ginny, Hermione and Ron came storming in. "The diary it, it, it," Ron started, breathing hard from the running. "It has disappeared." Ginny finished his sentence. "Please tell me what happened?" McGonagall asked. Ron started telling, helped by Hermione and Ginny. "We left the diary in my trunk, because Ginny didn't want it near her. When we returned to our dorm we couldn't find the diary. We think Dean Thomas has it, because he asked to borrow some of my parchment and I told him to get something from my trunk." "But when we asked him about it." Ginny continued "He said he had thrown it away because his lines disappeared and that made it useless for him." "He couldn't remember where he had thrown it or why he even took the diary in the first place." Hermione finished. "I see, there is nothing you can do right now. Just keep your ears and eyes open." McGonagall said. The four nodded and left the classroom.
After the disappearance of the diary, Harry had hoped Hermione would drop the subject of his "cheating". It appeared he was wrong. "Harry, don't you think it is a bit cheating to use your gift in class?" Hermione asked. "Is it cheating that you use your gift of easily summarizing books in class Hermione?" Harry asked back. "No, but this is a total different situation." "It isn't Hermione, you have your gift I have mine and we both use it. Besides I researched it, wands are made to focus your magic. My magic doesn't need to be focussed and doesn't even like it. Magic with a wand is more difficult for me for that reason. So what do you want? Me getting behind in class because I don't need to use a wand? A bit strange don't you think?" "Off course I don't want you to get behind, but it isn't fair for the other students who don't have your gift." Hermione said, wanting to prove her point. Harry was started to get annoyed now: "It also isn't fair to us that you can learn so easily, but we aren't calling you out for it. And what would be fair if I can't learn the more difficult spells because you think my magic is cheating and force me to use my wand. Hermione I have had problems with learning spell the whole of last year, I can finally learn things easy, just like you have been doing the whole time." Harry said, out of arguments. "But," Hermione started again. Ginny decided to step in: "Hermione, is it really fair that you can learn things easier than others?" she asked. "And I mean really, no nonsense about every person being different." Hermione shook defeated her head. "As Ginny said, every person is different. Harry is just different than the rest of us. Can you honestly blame him for it?" Ron chimed in. "Come Hermione, we need to talk." Ron said as he lead Hermione away and Harry and Ginny followed their way to the kitchens.
"Hermione, I know this is difficult for you. I know you especially think it is cheating because he is now able to beat you." Ron said. "That isn't true." Hermione reacted. "Yes, it is." Ron said. "You are so used to being the best in everything always that it is logical that you don't like it when someone else gets that position. But Hermione don't let jealousy clod your judgement. If the roles had been swapped. Wouldn't you use it to, to make sure you could practice?" Hermione shook no. "I know, I know, I just." Hermione said, on the verge of tears. "It's okay, Mione, but you have to apologise to him. He knows you didn't mean it, but you just reminded him an awful lot of his aunt." "His aunt?" Hermione asked confused. "She would punish him if he got higher grades than his nephew and call him a cheater, just because he was smarter." Ron explained. Hermione clasped her hand for her mouth. "And now I called him a cheater because I was jealous. I have to apologise." She said and she ran away, searching for Harry.
Harry and Ginny sat in the kitchen when Hermione stormed in. "Oh Harry I'm so sorry, I never should have said those things, I was just, well jealous of you." She said. "It's okay, Mione. I get it, really it's okay." Hermione let out a breath and hugged him. "Let's put up a little show, shall we?" Harry asked mischievous. Together the four friends walked to the Great Hall.
As soon as they walked through the doors, everyone started laughing at them. "What's wrong?" Ron asked Harry. When Harry saw Ron's face he burst out laughing. Ron's face was a clown's face. "You, you look like clown." Harry said laughing too hard to be able to form a good sentence. "You too." Ginny said. The four friends noticed they all looked like clowns. "Don't you four" "Look brilliant." The twins said to them. "We will get you back for this." Ron said laughing.
Their dinner was interrupted with a letter from Tonks. "Why didn't the letter go to your dorm Harry?" Hermione asked. She was met with silence as Harry was reading through the letter.
Hey little brother,
I'm sorry if this letter arrives during your dinner, but I taught you would like this information. In my research I came across the fact that your parents were attacked for a prophecy. I haven't been able to listen to it as only the persons whose names are on it can do that. If you can come over for Christmas we could do that.
It also seems your uncle is discovered. Dumbledore asked for something of you and was sent to Remus. We think he is going to question you over it. He doesn't know my involvement yet though and it would be best to keep that quiet. Keep your head down Harry, don't go ranting and telling him things. I know you can.
Take care Harr,
Your big sister Tonks.
PS. You better hurry with your solution, it's getting annoying and he's started to call me Nymphadora. It's horrible. His arguments are getting worse and I am going to snog the hell out of him if you don't hurry up!
