Hi again. Just quickly I would like to apologise for my attitude last chapter - I was having a really bad day and probably just read that comment really wrong, but I should not be taking it out on you guys. Ever. I woke up the next morning thinking 'crap, did I actually do that?' and I've just felt terrible, so I'm really sorry, especially to you, cghhgc0, I had no right to vent out my frustrations on you, and I promise it will not happen again. Not really sure if a simple sorry's enough, but there's honestly no better way I can say it.

We're going down the trapdoor next chapter, so expect that coming up in a few days! I'm not sure whther I'll split it into two chapters or just keep it as one, it decides how long the chapter ends up being when it's finished, but you'll know soon enough I guess :)

Until then, enjoy the chapter!

My books being translated is literally the best thing that's ever happened to me. I can actually study for the first time in my life. I might even pass my end of year exams! Which are scarily close, by the way. My first one, Transfiguration, is just next week, although the theory is the only thing I'm really worried about with that one – I've been excelling at Transfiguration practical's ever since my first lesson. It's the only thing I've ever beaten Hermione in, and I must say, I am a little smug about that considering Pansy keeps rubbing my dyslexia in my face. It used to irritate me. A lot. Now that it's not really holding me back, I don't care as much. I'd still punch her (gladly) but it's not that bad on that particular subject.

I've haven't been following Professor Snape around like Harry asked, but, I have found a way to keep an eye on him. I asked for extra tuition in potions. Naturally being a close friend of Draco's (his favourite student for some bizarre reason), a (generally) well behaved Slytherin student plus saying I wanted to wipe the floor with Hermione Granger, he happily obliged. So every Monday, Wednesday and Friday after school, I spend two hours with Professor Snape practising potions. I know it's taking away my training time, but as well as keeping an eye on him (even though I pretty sure he's not going after the stone) I'm also studying a subject I've only recently become good at. I'd like to wipe the smug look off Hermione's face when she comes back with perfect O's across the board. Ok, yeah, I'm slightly competitive. Maybe slightly more than slightly but… yeah. Whatever.

When I'm not getting extra tuition from Professor Snape, I've taken to studying in the Room of Requirement instead of training. That way I can have Chara andΒοήθεια loose to keep me company. Βοήθεια just tends to do what she wants, which is usually sitting on a perch or in the rafters of the room (if that particular form of the room has rafters, it tends to differ) but Chara stays close by, sometimes curling up on my lap or by my feet, other times just at my side. She's very affectionate, but not too distracting. It's quiet a nice feeling, just me and my snake, with Βοήθεια giving a slight input every now and then. It's peaceful. At least, for a moment it's peaceful, and the bed feeling comes back again, and I remember I let Voldemort get away. Then I get angry, and dive back into studying to try and distract myself. I've found that the quiet makes for a very thoughtful atmosphere. I've starting thinking about things I've been doing, and not been doing. I mean, how long is it since I last did anything to do with revenge at all? I haven't pranked anyone. Haven't put any spiders in any beds. Haven't spread rumours. Haven't caused anyone to start a fight. I've stayed out of trouble since before Christmas (excluding the detention of course, but that was Draco's fault, not mine). It's sad.

I feel almost ashamed at myself that I've practically given up my old reputation, and for what? For a long-term scheme about humiliating three Gryffindors that will probably never happen? I mean, when I first met them, yeah, I wanted to prank them. And then finding out about the rivalry between our houses – it was like a dream come true! It was as if mum was giving me a silver platter and saying 'whose head would you like on here?' But now, I've spent so much time with them, and all my plans have kind of fizzled into nothing in my brain. Hermione and Ron, yes, I would probably still humiliate given the chance. But Harry… I don't know. It's almost like we're friends. I've never had friends before, not proper friends. It's just… weird. I mean, he's defended me, and tried to be nice to me, and trusted me. He shouldn't have done, but he did. I mean, I wouldn't trust me if I were him. It's probably the biggest mistake anyone could ever make! Trusting someone like me. Maybe I'm just being silly. Maybe there's no friendship there at all and he's playing me, just like I'm playing him. He could have gotten Hermione and Ron to be so stupid and obvious in their hatred and mistrust that I let my guard down around him when I shouldn't have. Huh. If he has, he's nearly as good as me. He should have definitely been in Slytherin if that's the case. There's just this once part of me that tells me not to be stupid, that he's not that manipulative like I am. I wish I could listen to that part. But, anyway, I need to study. Midnight, stop brooding and pull yourself together. You exams are next week! Focus!

Something's been nagging at the back of mind, but I can't pinpoint it. It's driving me crazy. Hermione made us all make revision time-tables ages ago, but I've only just found it crumpled up under my bed. I guess it's a bit late to start using it now.

"Hey Harry?" Ron said from where he was sat next to me. I looked up.

"Yeah?"

"What's that thing in herbology that does that thing?"

"That thing that does that thing?"

"Yeah."

"Well, it's probably a plant. But other than that you'll have to be a bit more specific."

"It doesn't matter. Why are they even making us do these stupid exams?" Ron grumbled "Fred and George said it was really tough, but they both did fine. All of my brothers did. I just don't get it."

"Maybe instead of moaning you should study, then." Hermione suggested, walking up to us, textbooks under her arm, one of which she promptly dropped on Ron's lap. He groaned.

"But it's so boring."

"You'll have to get used to it. I've heard the Hogwarts end of year exams are frightful." She said, and then walked past, before turning "Oh, and I'll need that back by tonight. Don't rip it." Ron and I looked at each other as she carried on walking away before Ron sighed.

"I'm going to go for a walk. Are you coming?" I asked. Ron nodded quickly, putting the book down on the chair near the fire.

"We'll have to be quick though, it's nearly curfew." He reminded me. I nodded, and then snuck him a smile.

"We always have my dad's cloak."

I rolled my shoulders and sighed before stretching. I've been sat down in the corner with my back against the wall for over two hours with my head down studying. My neck and back are aching already. Chara stirred in my bag, eager to be let out to hunt.

I rolled my shoulders and stretched as I walked down to the ground floor.

"What I would give for a bubble-bath," I muttered to myself as I walked towards the usual window where I let Chara out. I slipped my bag off of my shoulder and put it gently on the floor. I opened the window with a grunt and was instantly hit with a slightly chilly breeze. I shuddered slightly before opening my bag up. Chara stared up at me from inside as I reached in and lifted her out gently. She coiled the tip of her tail around my arm as I leant over out of the open window and gently lowered her down into the grass. I watched her for a moment as she slithered into the grass, disappearing from view before leaning back in and closing the window. I picked up my bag and slung it back over my shoulder before walking off towards the common room. I'll be back for her tomorrow morning. But for now, I'll fit in half an hour's study, and then turn in for the night.

"Did you see that?" Ron whispered as we hurried back to our common room from the ground floor where we had seen Midnight put a snake out through the window – and not just any snake, a python.

"Yeah, I saw," I said, still in disbelief.

"What the hell is she doing with that in the school?"

"I don't know." I replied honestly. I only thought she had one pet – an owl, the one with the weird name. And snakes weren't on the list of allowed pets when we first got our Hogwart's letters. Has she somehow managed to smuggle a snake in? Or did she find it here? But where on earth would someone find a snake just laying around the school? It's just another question. That's all it seems to be lately with her, just question on top of questions going unanswered. I turned to Ron.

"I don't know," he looked at me "but we're going to find out."