Disclaimer 1: This is fanfic. That means I do not own any of it. I just borrow it to play with for a little while and let people see the pathetic results if they really want to.

Disclaimer 2: I'm not making any money from it. It's just for fun.

Disclaimer 3: What isn't borrowed is all made up. None of this is real or most likely at all realistic. Please don't trust any of the information in here. Most likely you know more about whatever I'm writing about than I do.

Disclaimer 4: Attitudes, views and opinions expressed by the characters or in the story are not necessarily those of the author. Even when writing Science Fiction or Fantasy I do not tend to attempt to create perfect/better worlds in which everybody gets a happy end ... or whatever is best for them. Please accept that some characters will have a bad ending or be unhappy.

Disclaimer 5: I intend no insult to anyone. If I offend anyone I'm very sorry. Please understand that it was an accident as I tend to be very clumsy in these things.

Notes: Harry doesn't want to hand Tom in to the teachers ...

Chapter 14: Cornelius Fudge

"We have to tell the teachers," Hermione said when Harry told his friends what Tom had shown him.

"But the headmaster was there," Harry said. "He already knows."

"Maybe he doesn't know it's a spider," Ron said with a shudder. "And we have to hand in the book."

"It belongs to Tom," Harry told him. "And he said I could keep it. He likes talking with me."

"Then let's at least ask Hagrid," Hermione suggested. "Maybe he remembers something more about the monster."

"Something he'll only remember when we ask him, even though the headmaster surely has asked already?" Draco said doubtfully.

"It's really rude to question an adult like that," Harry said. "And there hasn't been an attack in so long. Maybe it's over because they caught Dobby."

"Alright," said Hermione. "But if there is another attack we go and show Tom's book to Professor McGonagall."

But everything remained quiet and even Peeves grew tired of his nasty song and stopped singing it.

A few days before the Easter holiday and feast the second years were handed little brochures and forms to choose electives for their third year.

"This is a big responsibility," Professor McGonagall told them. "It is the first time in your lives that you have to make a decision about your future. It is meant to prepare you for choosing your job when you leave the institute. So read everything thoroughly, consider all your options and talents. Your teachers and prefects are there to help you should you want further advice."

Harry felt far ahead of the rest of the class. He'd already made a decision once before: The headmaster of his primary institute had offered him the choice between Hogwarts and Smeltings secondary institute and Harry had chosen Hogwarts.

Once they actually started reading the brochures, though, he soon grew a lot less confident. This was not a simple choice between two options. There were five subjects and they could choose several, but ought not to take more than they could handle.

"Muggle Studies is very useful," Percival recommended when they asked him.

"Professor Snape said Muggle Studies is useless unless we want to work as Muggle liasons or obliviators," Draco reported when they met up with their Slytherin friends later that day. "And you don't need it at all, because you are from a Muggle institute. You already know what they are like."

Professor Snape also said that Divination was useless unless you actually had the talent of prophecy.

"So how do we tell if we do?" Ron asked.

"I don't know," Draco said. "I'm not taking Care for Magical Creatures either. That's dangerous."

"But it's mostly practical work," Hermione said. "So it won't have a big load of homework."

"I heard that Divination is really easy," Gregory added. "So I'm taking it anyway. I've already got too much homework now."

"If it's easy it can't hurt to give it a try," Hermione decided and Ron made a cross on his form as well, so Harry did too. He was used to sitting next to them in class after all. It would feel strange not to have the same subjects.

In the end Hermione chose everything and Ron and Harry took only Divination and Care for Magical Creatures.

Draco shook his head at them and picked Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. Gregory and Vincent both decided to join them in Care for Magical Creatures, though and after eyeing Draco's time intensive choices thoughtfully for a long time Vincent decided on Muggle Studies as his second elective.

"Even if I don't decide to work with Muggles, it will probably be interesting," he said. "And I know Arithmancy and Runes are way too difficult."

Draco shrugged. "Suit yourself. I'll just sit next to Hermione then."

When they returned to their dorm after the feast the Gryffindor boys found that Harry's stuff had been dug through and strewn around the room ... and Tom's diary was gone.

Harry searched everywhere frantically. Tom had become such a dear friend in the short time he'd had him!

He rushed to Professor McGonagall who seemed rather annoyed and told him to return in the morning.

"But the game against Hufflepuff!" Harry exclaimed.

"Well, if the book isn't so important that you forget all about the game, then I suppose it can wait until after the game," she said and closed her door in his face.

So the next morning Harry went downstairs without a pep talk from Tom. At least he had his other friends beside him and the weather was good. It would be a nice game, too.

"Let me rip! Let me tear!"

"No!" Harry hissed causing Ron to jump.

"Harry?" Hermione asked slowly.

"It was that voice again," Harry said. "Didn't you hear it?"

"But why did you speak Parsel?" Draco asked.

"I did?" He hadn't noticed, but then he never did. It always sounded just like English to him.

"Of course!" Hermione exclaimed. "I have to go to the library!"

And now he was missing two friends at the game! Though of course, Tom being stuck in his book couldn't have come out to watch Harry play even if he hadn't been stolen.

A little disappointed by Hermione's desertion Harry got onto his broom and was just about to push off when Professor McGonagall arrived to announce that the game was cancelled and they were all to return to their common rooms immediately.

Feeling very frightened Harry did so and sat in the common room with Ron, Neville, Dean and Seamus as Hermione was nowhere to be found.