"Nothing!" Hermione said grumpily, putting down her copy of Hogwarts a History. "Not a single mention of a Chamber of any sort of Secret."

"You still have an entire library to look through, Hermione." Ginny provided, trying to cheer the girl up. "You surely can't have gone through the whole thing."

Hermione glared at her book, 'Hogwarts a History' is really the only in-depth book on Hogwarts history. I've leafed through other books about ancient places, alternative histories, and biographies of the founders. I'm beginning to believe that we need to sneak into the restricted section."

"But that's restricted…" Harry glared at the face Ginny was making at him for stating the obvious. "We have to get a teachers signature to check a book out."

"We would need to find one willing to sign." Ginny riddled before her face lit up, "Or if we knew someone with a cloak that makes them invisible!"

Harry caught her implication, thinking of his fathers' cloak, "Tonight then?"

"S-sneak into the restricted section?!" Hermione shut her book, taken aback. "We could be caught."

"I'm sure they don't have anything more than a tracking charm on some of the books, a few 'finite incantatum's' and it should be fine," Ginny stretched, getting herself ready for a long night, "Is there a list of books in the restricted section?"

"I can find out before tonight," Hermione answered, "It may just be section titles."

"It's better than nothing." Harry jerked his head to where Ron was trying to get his attention. "I think I'm going to play a game of chess. Wish me luck."

"Rest in peace, Harry." Ginny consoled as he walked over to play with her brother.

"Valentine's day is coming up, are you ready for that compatibility test?" Hermione teased Ginny as soon as they were alone.

Ginny shrugged, "That silly muggle test? I guess."

Hermione hadn't received that answer she was hoping for. "Aren't you curious who you'd be compatible with?"

"I don't need a test to tell me who I'm compatible with, that's why you talk to people." Ginny turned to give Hermione an odd look, "Who are you hoping you get matched with. I've seen you studying with my brother."

Hermione blushed, "That's certainly not what I was driving at. Ronald just needs someone to push him. He only cares about 'doing' things, and he completely overlooks the mental aspect of school."

"What an uneventful game." Harry sighed as he walked back over.

"You lost pretty quickly there." Ginny teased as he sat down.

"Two Moves!" Harry griped, "He checkmated me in two moves!"

"That's not even possible…" Ginny said disbelievingly.

"It is, but why would you use your first move to move the pawn in front of your queen?" Hermione mused.

"I wanted to change it up…" Harry grumbled, choosing to shift the subject, "What is that book you've been reading lately."

"Oh!" Hermione said excitedly, "I needed a change up from the research so I used my credit, thank you again Harry, and bought a book on wandlore!"

"Oh…" Harry tried to sound interested, "Tell me more."

"You're not interested at all, not until I tell you about what I found." Hermione began to lecture. "I'll skip over the backstory and tell you that all wands are unique…"

"And the wand chooses the wizard." Ginny mimicked in Hermione's exact tone and cadence.

Hermione glared, but didn't let herself get interrupted. "Every part of a wand tells you something about the wizard it chooses!"

"And?" Ginny smirked, "That's all just head knowledge if you can't apply it."

"What kind of wand do you have Ginny?" Hermione challenged.

"Um, Willow with Dragon Heartstring. Ten and a quarter." Ginny replied unsteadily as Hermione immediately began flipping through the book on the table.

"Uncommon wood thought to have healing powers, and it never chooses a wizard that thinks they have nothing to learn. It has a reputation for powerful magic, even non-verbal." Hermione flipped to another marked page, "Dragon heartstring is the most powerful core, capable of flamboyant spells. Now I can tell a lot about your personality."

"Give it a try!" Ginny grinned, "This is just like that muggle test, it doesn't tell you anything."

"It tells me you have an empathetic nature, yet strong personality."

"I could have told you that." Harry scoffed.

"You have the wand of an adventurer," Hermione continued, "Dragon heartstring is the easiest core to turn to dark magic, but is balanced out by the willow wood. Also the length shows that you only have a mildly showy personality. Your happy to be in the background, but aren't afraid of the spotlight."

"That's really generic, Hermione" Ginny argued, "That could fit anyone if I wanted to make it to."

"What about your wand Harry?" Hermione pled.

"Holly, phoenix feather, and eleven inches." Harry answered nervously.

Hermione flipped around to various passages before speaking, "Phoenix feather are exceptionally rare! They are the pickiest core, and usually act on their own. Holly is incredibly rare, thought to repel evil. Owners are usually emotionally volatile, which really shouldn't be paired with a phoenix feather, because phoenixes are so detached. Oh and it seems Holly wands usually choose wizards in a serious adventure or spiritual quest!"

"Um, exciting…?" Harry smirked, "I agree, Gin, I don't think I care too much for my first palm reading. I might need another."

"It isn't stupid, Harry." Hermione scowled, "Don't you wander why you have a wand with seemingly incompatible core and wood?"

"Not really, it works well for me," Harry gave it a wave, "Although I don't think I would want it acting of its own accord."

"That would be scary." Hermione admitted.

"Unless you were disarmed," Ginny snatched the wand from Harry's hand, "And maybe it could save you."

"Give that back!" Harry smiled as he lunged to her left.

"Make me, Mr. Seeker." Ginny ran from the portrait hole with a smile on her face.

Hermione watched them run past her as she rolled her eyes at the antics. She wouldn't let them know that they had disrupted many of the studiers in the common room. Even Lavender looked up from her journaling to smirk disapprovingly.

"Why are they always doing that?" Ron walked up with an odd look.

"Running off?" Hermione sighed as she saw his poorly hidden insecurity, "I don't know. I think this year has been so serious, they want to pretend that they are still kids."

"But we are still kids…" Ron asked as he scratched his head.

'If only he knew…' Hermione thought to herself as she let herself be talked into a game of chess with the young prodigy.

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Harry grumbled as he allowed himself to be shaken awake. "What."

"I just thought that you'd want to make it to breakfast on time," Neville looked away timidly, "It is Valentine's Day and all."

Harry sat bolt upright, he had overslept. He groaned again, considering skipping the occasion. He didn't remember Hogwarts being decorated for Valentines last year, but he never knew what his crazy professors would allow. "Um, thanks Neville."

Neville nodded nervously as he walked away towards the common room.

Harry stretched and made his way to the shower. After his normal routine, he dressed and set off for the Great Hall, watching the whole way for anything that could have been pranked by one of the twins. He was a tad bit nervous about whatever horrible prank they must have imagined for the occasion.

He grimaced as he came down through the common room. It seemed as if a pink bomb went off in the room, giving nearly everything a pink flair it.

"Harry!" Fred came, draped in flamboyant pink robes. "Finally awake are you?"

"Um-," Harry stuttered as he saw both twins in unique valentine get ups.

"Do you prefer a nice crown," George asked as he held up a glinting pink crown in one hand, and gestured to his other, "Or, are you more of a scarf guy?"

"This really isn't necessary…" Harry muttered awkwardly, examining the area for an escape route.

Fred moved neatly in front of the portrait hole, "I suggest the crown. We talked Devon into the crown, Hermione and Ginny into the scarf."

"We actually got Neville to wear both, dear brother," George pat Fred's shoulder in pride. "I suggest the scarf Harry. Don't listen to my brother George."

"Guys, thanks," Harry scuffled past the twins, "But I think I'll take neither."

"As you wish Harry." Fred waved with a smile. "I hope you don't regret it when you're underdressed."

"I won't" Harry scowled as he walked out of the room, not noticing the spell turning his hair into a bright pink.

As soon as they were alone, Fred turned to his twin, "Did you send the poem?"

George's feral grin was response enough. The twins walked out towards the hall in a chipper state, one muttering, "His eyes are green as…"

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Ginny smirked as the headmaster allowed the ponce to address the school. The valentine dwarves had slipped out weeks ago, so this was no news to anyone. She scowled to herself, they really should have done some sort of prank against the charlatan professor. His ineptitude couldn't make up for what was admittedly a dazzling smile.

"… and so please enjoy sending cards to your loved ones. I've quite enjoyed the many I've gotten from many of you!"

Hermione smiled fondly as Lockhart finished. "I hope Professor Burbage speaks next…"

Ginny chuckled as she reached for the bowl of eggs, "I don't think she has time to name everyone's results. Even if she did, she wouldn't make it to 'Weasley'."

"Don't pretend that you aren't as ready as I am." Hermione teased playfully, "It is rather exciting. Maybe there is someone in another house that we haven't even looked at and could be great friends with. This is a real step towards house unity."

Ginny shrugged, "I'm binning mine once I glance at it."

"Really? Why not keep it, it could be funny to look back on." Hermione suggested. "I'll probably put mine in an album and look back on it once we graduate."

"Already assuming you're passing your NEWTS, huh?"

Hermione laughed it off, but began to look as if she had made a note in her head.

"Attention students," Burbage's chipper voice came from the Head Table, "As many of you have been asking me, the results are in for your compatibility test." Burbage smiled as she allowed the children in the hall to chatter for a few moments before politely clearing her throat. "I will remind you that this is strictly for entertainment, as the Wizengamot no longer has any marriage laws on the books."

"Marriage laws?" Hermione seemed affronted, "They force children to marry?"

"Adults really," Ginny looked up expectantly as her results levitated over her shoulder, as every other students results did for them. "It was more of a repopulation thing. Luckily it didn't get bad enough to be more than talk."

Ginny gazed as she saw a few results still flying around, looking for their masters. Hermione reached up, barely missing the one that had Harry's name on it. "Hermione! That's Harry's, we shouldn't look at it."

"I wasn't going to look at it, I was going to give it to him," Hermione's eyes sharpened as she gave the redhead a mischievous glare, "Unless you're curious, yourself."

Ginny felt her cheeks burn a slight bit before her defiant side took over, "No, that's his private results. I wouldn't violate that."

Hermione rolled her eyes in jest as she opened her own parcel.

Harry grunted as he set down swiftly next to Ginny, groaning inwardly at her pink scarf. "The twins really did talk you into those things."

"I find it best to go along with…" Ginny turned to answer him before her voice caught, trying not to laugh at his pink hair.

"Agreed," Harry nodded in understanding, having no desire to wear anything pink. "I don't know how I convinced them to leave me alone."

"How indeed-" Hermione smirked as her eyes shot him looks, trying to hide her mirth.

"What's that look about Hermione?" Harry felt uneasy as he surveyed the two faces. Girls got quite odd about things he didn't quite understand. He sometimes wished he had a mate to hang with them. "Am I missing something?"

"Potter." A gruff voice interrupted as he turned around to face a female student he had class with.

"Hey, can I help you?" Her name slipped his mind for some reason.

"Yeah," The Ravenclaw declared boldly as she whipped her parcel from her robe, "You and I, we're a match."

Harry began to turn a sick shade of green, but felt obligated to say something, "Oh, that's today huh? Um… thanks?"

"Thanks…?" The girl scowled, "I expect the man I'm matched with to have a bit more humility!"

Harry grimaced as conversations began to stop around him. "What? No, no… That's very nice?"

"Wow, thanks Potter. Think you're too good for us common folk, do you?" She ripped her parcel cleanly in two. "I was going to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day, but you're too big headed to give my time to. Come find me when you aren't such a prat."

Harry slowly turned, bewildered at his situation. He watched as his own parcel settled onto his empty breakfast plate. He began to shake with embarrassment at the chuckles around him, becoming agitated with the betrayal next to him from what he believed to be his two best friends.

"Advice. When a girl admits a crush, don't thank her," Devon tossed a piece of toast at him from across the table.

"Stuff it, Creed." Harry swat the toast away, causing it to bounce onto Parvati's plate, earning him a scowl. Devon's idea of responding to a crush was to pull them off to some private place to do whatever he got up to.

"It isn't bad advice, actually." Hermione smiled, finally ending her traitorous giggling.

"I'm not hungry." Harry informed his friends as he walked away towards the door to the Entrance Hall.

"Where is he off to?" Hermione questioned as she stared with a small bit of concern.

"To the kitchens." Ginny tucked her parcel into her robe as she spotted Harry's as well. "I better bring him this."

Ginny left the Hall at a quick walk to catch up with her usual raven haired friend. She smiled as she saw his cloak disappear into the painting that guarded the kitchen. After quickly tickling the pear, she walked in after him with his parcel in her hand, "You might want this."

Harry prickled as he turned around, having been caught in the kitchens, "You done laughing at me now?"

Ginny chuckled, unaffected by his sudden moodiness, "Only until you realize what your hair looks like."

Harry's hands shot up to his untidy hair, "I knew it! What is it?"

"Mimsy, could you not bring a mirror please?" Ginny teased sweetly as Harry began to search for one of the house elves.

"Pokey!" Harry said quickly, "Can I get a mirror please?"

"Miss Ginny wants us house elves not to bring a mirror to Mister Potter…" Pokey scuffled his feet together.

"She only said Mimsy?!"

"It's the intent, sir…" Pokey looked back and forth before snapping his fingers, causing a silver platter to appear in Harry's hands. "Will this work?"

"Thanks Pokey," Harry smiled at his favorite elf. His smile quickly melted off of his face. "Oh no… The whole time?!"

Ginny snickered, "I would have told you if you'd asked."

"You're devious, Gin…" Harry grumpily sat down at his favorite table as the elves began to scurry over with hot eggs.

"Stop sulking. It's a holiday!" Ginny playfully slapped his shoulder as she sat across from him, begrudgingly accepting another plate from Mimsy. "I picked this up for you."

Harry bit his lip as she handed him his parcel, "I didn't actually care to read it, especially after that girl took it so seriously."

"You mean Lisa?" Ginny corrected, "We gave class with her."

"I know Lisa!" Harry protested.

"That was Lisa Turpin, she just spent a little extra time getting ready this morning." Ginny unconsciously fluffed her own worked on hair.

Harry rolled his eyes, "As if that stuff matters. I'd rather date a troll with a nice heart then some ice queen like Pansy."

"You're saying Pansy is attractive?" Ginny smiled as Harry spit some of his pumpkin juice, "I mean she is, though a tad bit pig faced… It's not often you find someone full of personality and pretty."

"You are, though." Harry felt his breathe leave him in a panic, not having planned saying any of that. Thankfully Ginny let him out of his embarrassment with a simple thanks, trying to look down and hide her reddening face.

"So," Ginny tried to break the tension. "You should open your parcel, and I'll open mine."

Harry shrugged, "I'm a bit too scared it's going to tell me that Malfoy and I should be best mates."

"He has been around you a lot. I think that he may have a thing for you."

Harry's eyes shot daggers at his friend, "Probably more of that 'transfer to Slytherin' yap he was on about at the beginning of the term."

"That drivel…" Ginny huffed heatedly, distracting herself by reaching for her parcel to look it over.

Harry took the hint and reached for his own. His eyes quickly scanned the parchment. He grimaced, Malfoy wasn't high on the list of 'possible best mates', but he was nevertheless on there. He also saw Ron's name first on the list of 'possible best mates'. "That's surprising…"

"Did you get Pansy on your 'romantic interests' list?" Ginny asked guardedly.

Harry shook his head, "Me and your brother should supposedly be best mates. Hermione and Malfoy are on there as well."

"Malfoy is really on there?" Ginny smirked, eyes alight, and "I guess he barely missed out on the romance list didn't he."

"Sod off Ginevra," Harry poked back, "Jealous he isn't on yours?"

"No…" Ginny blushed, gazing down at the familiar name on her list again, "Who's on yours?"

"Um, I don't know." Harry had yet to look until she mentioned it. He glanced down at the other side of the list. He was surprised to see Luna's name on there, near the middle. Luna had never given him any sort of deep feeling of the sort, though he couldn't wait for her to recover and resume their friendship. He chuckled nervously as he got to the top, "Pansy isn't on it."

"Oh?" Ginny replied, not fully meeting his eyes, "I guess that's good."

Harry felt really uncomfortable with the sudden awkwardness. Something held him back from telling her that she was the person at the top of the list. Harry finished his breakfast, trying to ignore the awkwardness, "So we search again tonight?"

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Ginny walked slowly down to the common room. It was half an hour before curfew, and she and Harry were going to make another attempt on looking for anywhere that would lead to the chamber. They had found several secret passages, some even leading outside of the castle.

She looked around the common room. Harry had yet to come down, so she walked determinedly towards the corner of the common room where Hermione sat alone studying.

"Hey Ginny, what did you get for the properties of asphodel essay? I believe I have them all, but I can't be too sure."

"Um, Hermione, you only need six inches. You have nearly ten!" Ginny curled her lip, she couldn't imagine having that much to say about ingredient properties. "Hermione, I need advice."

At one time, Hermione would have bristled at Ginny's directness, but she had grown accustomed to it as their friendship progressed, "Of course. What do you need help working through?"

"I don't need help working through anything as far as I know." Ginny smiled as she sat in front of her friend, "I just need help knowing what to do."

Hermione nodded, she assumed she knew what this was about. Hermione was actually surprised it hadn't come up sooner, she likely should have mentioned it at one point. Regardless, she chose to play the fool just in case. "Is this about your studies?"

"Of course not, as if I'm worried I'm going to fail." Ginny fidgeted as she moved towards her question, "So I think you've noticed something is different between Harry and me?"

Hermione barely held back a bark of laughter, keeping her face stoic, "Have you just noticed this?"

"Well, yes. Should I have noticed it earlier?" Ginny bit her lip in a bout of uncharacteristic nervousness. Speaking something had a tendency to cause change.

"I would think it had been obvious, but I guess some say you can't see what is in front of your nose." Hermione cracked a smile at her friend, "So how do you think it is changing?"

"We aren't the same as we used to be. All the things we do are the same. We still prank together, sneak about the castle…" Ginny ignored Hermione's involuntary sigh of disapproval. "But there has just been a slight… almost an awkwardness."

"I don't believe awkward is the word your searching for." Hermione counseled.

"No, I think you are right." Ginny admitted, looking down in thought. "I used to like him, you know. I would tease him about him just to make him awkward. He would blush in such a cute way, I couldn't help it. As we did more together, I started seeing him as just a best friend."

"What changed?"

Ginny thought for a second, "I think it was over Christmas. We had a moment, we fought."

Concern began to appear on Hermione's face, "Oh no, what did he do?"

Ginny sighed, "He just got all moody after a nasty barb from Snape…"

"Professor Snape."

"And I didn't want him to curse the git, so I pulled him away and he wanted to get all moody on me." Ginny continued as if not interrupted, "I didn't stand for it, and then we got so close…"

Ginny heard the stairs pound behind her as Harry walked down towards them. "You two ready?"

Hermione waved her hand towards her parchment, "I still have this potions essay to finish. I can't go tonight."

Ginny chuckled, Hermione had never gone. "I guess we better be off then."

Harry nodded as he looked at the empty room around him, and pulled out his cloak. "I have a good feeling about tonight."

Hermione watched them with trepidation before standing up and hugging them both. "I really appreciate all the lengths you two have gone to in order to find this chamber. My research has turned up absolutely nothing…"

Harry returned her hug with only a tad of clumsiness before letting go, "Of course, we won't let anyone else be attacked if we can help it."

Hermione nodded, "Don't be out too late, me and Ginny have to finish up an important discussion we were having."

"Oh?" Harry's eyes peeked curiously between the two friends.

"It's just girl stuff Harry, unless you want to hear the latest gossip about who Devon is dating."

Harry shook his head, "Spare me, actually. I've had enough of that gossip for the entire term."

They parted ways as Hermione returned to her studies. As soon as the coast was clear, Harry led the way through the portrait hole into the corridor. He and Ginny had been in the castle nearly three times a week since Christmas. Tracking down any secret passages, or portraits that would say anything about the chamber was proving impossible. All the portraits had either played dumb, or been asleep anytime an attack had occurred.

Harry felt himself losing a bit of hope as they continued in silence, not hearing a sound from next to him. Getting Ginny the necklace had been a great decision, it had kept their night escapades a secret. Combined with his cloak, they had likely explored more of the castle than anyone before them, except for the Marauders that the twins are so fond of.

"Harry," Ginny whispered next to him, sounding as unsure as he felt, "Do you think we'll ever find the Chamber."

Harry stopped, pulling them behind a nearby tapestry passageway so they could speak in private. "I don't think it is there to find, honestly."

"Not there to find," Ginny smirked, "Then where are these attacks coming from?"

"To be fair, we haven't had an attack for months, we are chasing a mystery." Harry admitted, "I don't think there's anything to find, and whoever did it must have been scared off."

"You think that councilor from the Wizengamot is responsible?" Ginny said disbelievingly.

"He may be, it's no coincidence that the attacks stopped when he was appointed to help watch Hogwarts." Harry challenged.

"Harry, you're forgetting that he is a politician," Ginny tried to reason, "He isn't trustworthy."

"I get that you hate politicians, Gin. But I don't. I don't see any reason why he can't be trusted. The Chamber, the various reforms, he even helped a muggleborn protection bill pass." Harry sighed, he and Ginny disagreed on very little, but Councilor Owen was a position of discontent between them. Ginny refused to trust politicians. "I don't really want to have this argument again, let's get back to looking."

Ginny sighed, "Sure Harry."

They stepped out into the hallway, looking both ways though he was carrying the cloak. Harry hated to wear the cloak if he didn't have to. He just had to remember to watch his steps.

Harry looked ahead in the corridor, squinting in the dark. He could barely make out two glowing yellow specks ahead of him in the distance. Out of fear, he remained completely still, not knowing if it was two prefects with dull lighting charms ahead.

Ginny had not been looking ahead, and turned to see why he was suddenly so still. She turned to gaze into his green eyes, seeing in them the same two yellow specks. "What is it Har…"

Harry watched as his friend pause, as if in thought. "Um… Ginny?" There was no movement as she stood before him as if frozen in time. Harry grabbed her shoulders and began to likely shake. "Ginny. Stop it, this isn't funny!"

Harry didn't care that he was beginning to yell in the hallway, as panic overtook him. A small part of him knew he had seen this before in Luna, but he refused to believe it. "Ginny, oh my God, wake up. Please be faking, please be a prank of some sort. Gin…"

Harry didn't know where he got the energy or strength, but he picked up Ginny's still body and ran towards the familiar gargoyle. He hadn't paused, or even allowed himself to think about what was happening, as if the part of his brain that dealt with emotions was no longer functioning. His mind was crumbling under the fear, as he felt it rip his rational thought into pieces. He finally arrived at the stone gargoyle, shouting obscenities at it. "Open, damn you."

"Harry Potter, what are you doing out of…" Minerva McGonagall paused as her wand lit up the teens in front of her, "Oh God, no. Lemon Drop."

McGonagall took Ginny from his arms as the gargoyle sprung aside, she levitated her up the stairs, seeming to barely register if Harry was following or not. "Albus!" Harry heard her call before she opened the heavy oak door.

Dumbledore came hurrying out of a side door, nightgown clad and wand raised. His eyes fell, a deep hurt obviously present as he saw the young Weasley girl being levitated into his office, followed by a worried professor, and an obviously in shock Harry Potter. Minerva laid the girl on the couch that Dumbledore conjured as he walked over to Harry. "What happened?"

"I- I don't know sir…" Harry was unable to tear his eyes from his red headed best friend.

"Minerva, where did you find them." Dumbledore waved his hand as Harry felt compelled to sit in the chair that had appeared behind him.

The conversation happened before his eyes seemed of no consequence to him. He in fact didn't hear a word of it. His focus rest on the open, brown eyes of the girl staring blankly back at him.

"Mr. Potter."

Harry replayed the moment in his head of her freezing before him. This had been his fault.

"Harry." Dumbledore repeated again, with a pleading tone in his voice that Harry didn't hear.

Harry had been the one to suggest that they should patrol the corridors, try and find the chamber themselves. He had led her towards this the very corridor, had been responsible. Harry shook as he felt cold water splash across his face.

"Harry, I need to you listen to the sound of my voice." Dumbledore voiced calmly. "Where are you, Harry?"

"H-Hogwarts." Harry choked out as McGonagall placed a blanket over Ginny, breaking his eye contact with his friend.

"Good," Dumbledore's voice remained even as he spoke, "Do you remember what month it is?"

"Are you sure this is expedient, Albus?" Minerva whispered, "The culprit may still be out there, we have to find them."

"Minerva, upsetting him further could hurt this situation," Dumbledore coxed calmly. "As well as his mental state."

"This is life and death Albus."

A word seemed to pierce through the fog surrounding Harry's mind. This was important. He felt a giant struggle within himself as the rational warred for control of his mind. He felt as if he was struggling with a fog, as if trapped inside a mist.

"Minerva, forcing someone in a deep state of shock could make them shut down, or misremember details. He won't be helping anyone until he can process this situation."

"Yellow." Harry choked out.

The professors both looked alarmed. The headmaster sat in front of the young boy. "Don't force anything, Harry."

'No', Harry thought as he struggled to remember, "Yellow orbs, in the corridor. That's all I remember."

"Albus, that was the same thing that…"

"Yes, I remember," Dumbledore held up a hand to silence her, not wishing to bother Harry with Myrtle's past. "Harry, I think it best you come with me to see Madame Pomfrey."

Harry felt himself being led from the headmaster's office, not really feeling or understanding much about the situation. He was ushered into the sterile hospital wing and given two potions. A blue one he registered as a Dreamless Sleep Potion, and a light pink one that bubbled as he swallowed. His head hit the pillow as he fell instantly to sleep.

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Another Attack at Hogwarts!

By Artie Schaeffer

Reports of another attack, months after the last string of attacks. This author has been worried ever since the attacks stopped before. It has now become clear that Dumbledore has become too senile to lead the safety of the school as a copycat criminal reinvents the 'Chamber of Secrets' scare of fifty years ago. The school had been safe since the board elected Councilor Robert Owen over the security of the school, but reports are that the headmaster has tried to shut him out in the last few months. Should the Headmaster, famous for the defeat of Gellert Grindelwald almost half a century ago, be keeping out a staunch supporter of his in the councilor? This author believes that… (Cont. on B2)

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Harry awoke in the hospital wing after days of being fed a rotating stack of potions that kept him knocked out. He had no idea how long had passed as he finally opened his eyes. He grunted as he tried to sit up, seeing his bushy haired friend, swollen eyed and sitting next to his bed with a book.

"Harry!" Hermione cried as she tried to push him back into a laying position, "Madame Pomfrey said you were to stay in bed."

"Ginny…" Harry croaked, question in his eyes.

"She's safe, Harry." Hermione soothed, "She'll be healed as soon as the mandrakes have matured."

Harry sighed as he collapsed. He had vague recollections of fighting a large cloud of mist, but that seemed to be remedied. "How long have I been out?"

"Nearly a week." Hermione admitted, seeing the shock on his face. "You were in a pretty deep state of shock. Madame Pomfrey has been feeding you multiple potions to help your brain cope and heal while you slept."

Harry muttered under his breath in anger, "I'm fine."

"You're not fine, Harry." Hermione sighed, dropping the subject at the look he gave her.

"Have I missed anything important?" Harry asked as he examined the multiple surrounded beds, eyes resting on the one he knew to be new.

"Um…" Hermione seemed to choke up, puffiness in her eyes being even more accentuated.

Harry turned with concern, "What's wrong, Hermione?"

"My parent heard about this last…" She left the word 'attack' unspoken.

"And…" Harry said with a little bit of fear creeping into his voice.

"They are driving to London, to the Leaky Cauldron…" She controlled her sobs, not knowing how Harry would be able to handle emotional trauma at the moment. "I have really enjoyed being your friend Harry…"

"Wait, what?!" Harry finally beat his muscles and rose to a full sitting position, "You can't mean that you're leaving!"

"I am to supposed to have floo'd there already." Hermione admitted, "I couldn't leave without saying goodbye. I just knew you would wake up."

"But… this isn't fair. Can't you fight this?" Harry felt himself growing cold with loss, "This can't be real…"

"They're my parents," Hermione's voice wavered, "I told them no, they wrote the headmaster. I don't have a choice."

"This isn't goodbye." Harry said confidently as he reached the edge of his bed to slip her into a tight hug, one she returned gratefully.

"Once the Chamber incident is solved, I think I can convince them to let me back. But after last year, and with theses attack…" Hermione finally let go of their hug, "They don't think it's safe for me to be a witch."

"Well if anyone can convince them otherwise Hermione, it's you." Harry added somberly as she stood up.

"Write me?" An unsure Hermione turned back as she felt pressured to leave, knowing the professors would be there soon to drag her away.

"Of course I will." Harry felt overcome with tiredness as he watched the door close. He slowly felt his head sink back down as silence claimed him. Harry barely registered the onset of a nightmare before his potions pushed it aside.

HPHPHPHP

A/N: Happy Thanksgiving to the American readers. With the global turmoil these last few weeks have been a stark reminder of why fiction is so important. In the words of C.S. Lewis, "Since it is so likely that they will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage."