Chapter Twenty-Five
The Room of Free Sherry

The news that Harry and Ginny were officially dating spread through Hogwarts like a wildfire. Over the next few days, Harry saw a lot of different reactions to the news.

Malfoy, of course, was furious that Harry had gotten a gorgeous girlfriend. Cho Chang pretended not to care. Colin Creevey and Neville Longbottom both asked Harry for dating tips.

Then there were the people who showered the couple with gifts. Hagrid bought a large bottle of cologne for Harry. Luna gave Ginny and Harry an odd-smelling concoction designed to ward off the Nargles during their more intense kissing sessions. Gilderoy Lockhart sent them both signed photos of himself.

The most interesting reaction, of course, came from Ron. He had flipped out when he saw Harry kiss Ginny, and still had not quite flipped back in again. Fortunately, a little convincing from Hermione (and a few threats from Ginny) got Ron back to normal. Kind of.

"Good news, you two," Ron said, pulling out a piece of parchment. "You won't have any problems with dating each other, because I've just come up with a list of rules for your relationship."

"Rules?" Ginny asked, offended. "Ron, just because you're my brother doesn't mean you can tell me what to do in my love life!"

"Rule #1: No snogging in public," Ron read, pretending he hadn't heard Ginny.

"You snogged Lavender in public all the time!" Harry protested.

"My experience with Lavender taught me a lot about kissing," Ron said. "I learned that that snogging in public is incredibly rude. By not doing it, you'll save yourselves from a lot of embarrassment."

"Having you for a brother is an embarrassment," Ginny muttered.

"Right, so that's Rule 1: No snogging in public," Ron said. "Next is Rule #2: No snogging in private."

Harry and Ginny immediately started to complain, but Ron talked over them. "And just in case you can think of somewhere else to snog, I made Rule #3: No snogging anywhere. You two are too young for that sort of thing. I'm sure if I asked Mum, she'd agree."

"This is ridiculous," Harry said.

"Rule #4: There should be a distance of at least one foot between Harry and Ginny at all times. Shield charms will be used to make sure that this rule is followed. Rule #5: Harry and Ginny will remain fully clothed in their school uniforms. Swimsuits are out of the question, as is taking off your cloaks on warm days. Rule #6: Ginny is not allowed to wear makeup of any kind whatsoever. Likewise, Harry cannot use—"

Ron's speech came to an abrupt end as Ginny cast a Bat-Bogey Hex on him, and he ran from the room screaming.

"That was a little extreme, don't you think?' Hermione asked.

"Anybody who tries to stop me from kissing Harry deserves it," Ginny said, playfully.

To Ron's great relief, Ginny had O.W.L.s that year, which meant she couldn't spend all her free time with Harry. It was probably the only time that Ron was more insistent about studying than Hermione.

"All I'm saying is that it wouldn't hurt to brush up on Herbology," Ron said.

"I've been preparing for Herbology the last three nights!" Ginny said. "Now quit acting like Percy! I want to spend time with Harry!"

"Ron, I like Ginny, and she likes me," Harry said. "You've known this for years. Why can't you just accept the fact that we're a couple now?"

Ron winced. "Harry, how would you feel if I was dating your sister?"

"I don't have a sister," Harry said, jotting down the "Harry has a sister" idea on his list of fanfics to write once this one is over. "Hermione's like a sister to me, though, and I wouldn't have a problem if you started dating her."

Ron blushed. "Date—date—date Hermione? I—I—that's—"

Ginny grinned and nudged Harry. "Ron, you don't have a crush on Hermione, do you?" she asked.

"Yes!" Ron blurted out. "I mean, no! I mean, yes?"

"I could ask her if you want me to," Harry suggested.

"NO!" Ron shouted. "Don't say anything to her!"

"Okay," Ginny said. "But if you don't leave me and Harry alone, I'm going straight to Hermione and telling her who you've got a crush on."

Harry and Ginny didn't have too much trouble with Ron after that.

The months passed on, and final exams were approaching far too quickly, as they always seem to do. Soon, Harry was forced to mentally prepare himself for whatever was coming ahead—because, as everybody knows, all the Harry Potter books have something really big happen at the end of the school year.

"It's got to have something to do with Malfoy," Harry explained to Hermione. "He's been plotting something all year."

"Are you crazy?" Hermione said. "'Half-Blood Princess' is in the story title, so she's going to be the most important part of the story, just like Chamber of Secrets or Prisoner of Azkaban."

"That's not necessarily true," Harry said. "What about the Goblet of Fire? The goblet wasn't a major part of the book."

"Whatever it is, I hope it involves dinner," Ron said. "I'm starved."

Just then, the conversation got interrupted by someone named Cuddles, in order to move the story along.

"Hey, Harry!" Cuddles said. "I've got a letter to you from Dumbledore!"

Harry opened the letter and read it. "This is it!" he said. "Dumbledore says he's found a Horcrux! He wants to see me immediately!"

"Dumbledore!" Ron said. "That's it, Harry! You should be like Dumbledore!"

"What?" Harry asked.

"When it comes to Ginny, you should be like Dumbledore. You never see him snogging girls in public, right?"

Harry frowned. "Ron, that's because Dumbledore is gay."

"All I'm saying is that you maybe shouldn't kiss my sister," Ron suggested.

"Okay, whatever," Harry said. "I don't have time to deal with your relationship hang-ups right now. I have to go on a Horcrux hunt!"

"Good luck, Harry!" Hermione called as Harry ran towards Dumbledore's office. Harry turned left at a suit of armor, went down a staircase, over the river and through the woods, and ran right into Professor Trelawney.

"Umph!" Harry said.

"Harry!" Professor Trelawney said. "I've been looking for you! You haven't showed up to a single Divination class all year! Keep this up, and you may do poorly in the final exam!"

"Erm, I'm not taking Divination this year," Harry said. "I failed the Divination O.W.L."

"A shame," Professor Trelawney said. "You were always fun to teach. Well, I have business here, so if you'll excuse me..."

Harry looked around. Professor Trelawney couldn't have business here. It was an empty corridor. In fact...it was an empty corridor that Harry knew quite well.

"Professor, are you trying to get into the Room of Requirement?" he asked.

"The Room of Whatnow?" Professor Trelawney asked. "No, I was trying to get into the Room of Free Sherry. Whenever I run out, I come by here and get some more. But," and here Professor Trelawney threw her shawl over her should in a very haughty manner, "some rapscallion was already in the room, and he had the audacity to throw me out!"

"Someone threw you out of the Room of Requirement?" Harry asked. "Who?"

"I did not see the lad," Professor Trelawney. "All I know is that I went in, and someone was cheering and hollering about finishing something. I was focused on getting some more sherry, so I wasn't exactly paying attention."

"Malfoy," Harry said. "He's been in that room all year."

"Malfoy's been taking my sherry?" Professor Trelawney said. "This is an outrage! I'm going to tell Dumbledore about this immediately!"

"That's probably a good idea," Harry said, eager to foil Malfoy's evil plans.

Harry walked alongside Professor Trelawney, who was mumbling to herself the whole time. "Dumbledore didn't treat me like this when I first interviewed for the position..."

Harry didn't need to listen; he knew exactly what happened. Trelawney gave a prophecy about Harry and Voldemort, causing Voldemort to James and Lily Potter.

"And then we were rudely interrupted by Severus Snape!" Professor Trelawney finished.

Harry's mind snapped. "SNAPE?" he shouted.

"Yes, Snape interrupted my interview! The barman discovered him slinking around outside the door, spying on us, no doubt!"

Shocks of rage coursed through Harry's body, rage Harry had not felt since the time he learned about the Sirius Black and the Fidelius Charm on the Potter house. Snape. SNAPE was the one who told Voldemort about the prophecy? SNAPE was the reason Harry's parents were dead?

And Dumbledore still trusted him?

Without noticing it, Harry stopped walking and started clenching his fists.

"Harry?" Professor Trelawney asked. "Are you okay, dear? Your skin...it's gone white..."

"Stay here," Harry said softly.

"Here?" Professor Trelawney asked. "But weren't we going to see Dumble—?"

"STAY HERE!" Harry shouted. He ran down the halls at top speed, and the doors to Dumbledore's office burst open magically.

Dumbledore looked up from the jigsaw puzzle he had been working on. "Oh, good, Harry, you're here. I found the cave where—"

"SNAPE!" Harry yelled. "SNAPE WAS THE ONE WHO TOLD VOLDEMORT ABOUT THE PROPHECY, WASN'T HE?"

"Uh oh," Dumbledore said, looking instant worried. "Harry's talking in all caps again..."

"IT'S COMPLETELY OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE THAT SNAPE IS AN EVIL GIT, AND IT TURNS OUT YOU'VE BEEN KEEPING HIS SECRETS! HE BETRAYED MY PARENTS!

"Harry, please—!"

"AND YOU LET HIM TEACH HERE WHEN HE TOLD VOLDEMORT TO GO AFTER MY MUM AND DAD!"

"Silencio!" Dumbledore cried. Harry's mouth kept moving, but no sound came out.

"Harry, please listen," Dumbledore said. "I know Severus told Voldemort about the prophecy. This was before he had a change of heart and decided to come over to our side. You have to understand, the prophecy did not mention anyone by name. Severus had no idea that Voldemort would decide to kill the Potters based off the prophecy. You have no idea how much remorse Professor Snape felt when he learned what Voldemort planned to do."

Harry's mouth moved again, but it's a good thing Dumbledore cast a Silencing Charm on him, because otherwise Harry would have said something unprintable.

"I have my reasons for trusting Severus. I trust him completely. Even if he has done evil things in the past, he is still a good person, and he is no longer working for Voldemort."

Harry snorted.

"I know you don't like Severus, and that the feeling is mutual. However, we do not have time to discuss this right now. We have a Horcrux to find. That is what I want to discuss with you."

Harry glared angrily.

Uh oh, Dumbledore thought. There's only one way I can make Harry happy again.

"Would you like a lollipop?" Dumbledore asked. "I've got some delicious lollipops..."

Harry nodded.

Dumbledore reached into his bag of candy, and pulled out some lemon drops for himself and a lollipop for Harry. He handed Harry the lollipop, and removed the Silencing Charm.

"Do you feel better now?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes," Harry said, once he had his fill of lollipop goodness. "So what about the Horcrux? Which one is it?"

"I don't know," Dumbledore said. "But I know where it is: the cave Tom Riddle visited in a field trip at the orphanage. You can come with me, Harry, but you have to do exactly what I say at all times. It will be extremely dangerous."

"You know, I've been thinking," Harry said. "Maybe we don't have to find a way to kill Voldemort. Maybe he'll just leave me alone, now that we're both officially Slug Club Alumni."

"I don't think it works that way, Harry," Dumbledore said.

"Darn it," Harry muttered. "That means I've got Voldemort and the Half-Blood Princess who are angry at me."

Dumbledore shot Harry a startled look. "The Half-Blood Princess? You know her?"

"Yeah, I have one of her books. You know her?"

"She is the most talented witch I have ever met," Dumbledore said. "In a way, she reminds me of your friend, Miss Granger. Her book knowledge is practically unlimited. It is a good thing she has not allied herself with Voldemort, because I fear that she may be more powerful than I."

"Who is she?" Harry asked. "She said she's coming to Hogwarts in Chapter Twenty-Eight to get her book back, but I don't know who she is!"

"You will have to wait and find out, Harry," Dumbledore said, in order to keep up the suspense. "For now, you need to go get your Invisibility Cloak and meet me at the Entrance Hall in five minutes."

"Yes, sir."

Harry went back to the Gryffindor Common Room and got his Invisibility Cloak. Then he remembered Malfoy celebrating in the Room of Requirement.

"I've got to tell Ron and Hermione about Malfoy holding an attack on Hogwarts tonight," Harry said to himself. "But I've only got five minutes! I have to make the most of my time!"

So Harry made out with Ginny for four and a half minutes. Then he threw the Marauder's Map and lucky potion at Hermione and said, "Death-Eaters-might-attack-Hogwarts-tonight-I-gotta-go-good-luck!" Then he ran down to meet Dumbledore.

"Are you ready?" Dumbledore asked. "Put on your cloak—I want people to think I'm alone."

"Alone?" Harry asked.

"Yes," Dumbledore said. "I'm going to pretend to go to the Hog's Head, then we'll Apparate to where the Horcrux is."

And because I can't think of any way to make the trip to Hogmeade funny right now, that's exactly what they did.

Author's Note: You know, a few of the reviewers thought that it's weird Voldemort thought he was the only one who knows about the Room of Hidden Things, seeing as the room is full of stuff. In the Dark Lord's defense, people don't actually go and put things in the room (even though that's exactly what Harry does). What happens is that someone will lose something and forget about it, and it will magically appear in the room. So just because the room is full of things doesn't mean that someone has actually been there.

And Voldemort probably figures that no one has been in that room, because otherwise, someone would have looted the room and taken all the good stuff. Right? Right.