Disclaimer: Only in my dreams am I JKR and do I own the Harry Potter world. sighs

Chapter 28- Tea for Two

Harry was released from the Hospital Wing the following morning after Madam Pomfrey checked his injuries and fitted him with a clean bill of health before sending him down to breakfast. His eyes had traveled to where Draco Malfoy had been placed the night before, but Madam Pomfrey had placed the curtains around the bed, keeping Harry from seeing how bad the Slytherin's injuries were. When he arrived in the Great Hall, he was surprised to hear the gossip surrounding Draco had already spread until everyone believed that he was in St. Mungo's, recovering from an Obliviation curse gone wrong. Harry chuckled and sat down at the Gryffindor table and bolted down a quick breakfast. When he was nearly finished and ready to go to Professor McGonagall's office for his usual Sunday "detention", Hedwig flew in with a letter. He fed her a piece of bacon and let her have some of his pumpkin juice as he opened the letter.

Dear Harry,

How are you feeling today? I hope your injuries weren't too bad yesterday. I felt so horrible about what happened to you. I cried when I watched you fall from your broom without slowing down. I can't believe that Malfoy would sink that low! I heard he's currently in the Hospital Wing recovering after an attack on him last night? Do you know anything about that?

Although it was a very horrible end to a game, I must say your team played well! Congratulations on winning! I can't tell you how excited my house was that your team beat the Slytherins again this year! What is that now, six years of beating them? I really do think that you were the best thing to happen to that team. It could just be me, though.

I must ask you about your friends. How have they been? Have you told them about your prophecy yet? I know you really don't want them to worry, but it would be for the best. Maybe there's some way that they could help you out. Hermione Granger probably knows of a way to help out. Maybe she's read a spell somewhere that can defeat You-Know-Who. Maybe there's a way they can help you out. Remember, Harry, you aren't alone in this. You have people that love you and will always be there for you.

I don't believe I told you this before, but I thought your latest prank was the best! Seeing Pansy Parkinson drenched in water and with flat hair was wonderful! It's a memory I will cherish forever! Although, my favorite prank that you did was the animagus transformation on Malfoy. I couldn't believe that you actually did it in front of every teacher and student in the school! I would have been scared to death to do that in front of everyone! You really are brave!

What's your next prank going to be? I know, I know. You really can't tell me what's next. I wish you would, though. I would love to get pictures of most of your pranks! I think the only person in the school who has a camera is that Gryffindor…what's his name? Carl? Corin? Whatever his name is, I wonder if he has copies of pictures of your pranks. Do you know if he does?

So, how are your classes going? Mine are horrible! I've been really worried about my O.W.L.s. I finally had to take a break from my studying to write to you just so I wouldn't have a nervous breakdown! I find that writing to you about little things helps me from going crazy before my exams. I think I'm the only one that isn't about to go completely crazy because of them. A girl in the year ahead of me said that there's a bet going among her class members—at least the girls—of which one of us is going to have a breakdown first. They're guessing that I'll be last or second to last. I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

Anyway, I should get back to my revisions. I hope you're feeling better! Hope to hear from you soon!

Ginger

P.S. The answer to your hangman is EDUCATIONAL DECREE NUMBER TWENTY-THREE

I've attached mine to this letter.-G

Harry smiled as he folded up the letter and stuck it in his pocket. He looked around the Hall and noticed that hardly anyone was in yet, which gave him plenty of time to write a response back to his owl pal. He looked to a sleepy Hermione and asked her for some parchment and a quill. As she handed them to him, she yawned and returned to her breakfast while Harry uncorked Hermione's inkwell and dipped the quill in.

Dear Ginger,

Thank you for your concern about me. I feel a little embarrassed about it, since it was just a little bump off my broom. I hate being treated like a child, which is what Madam Pomfrey tends to do every time I end up in the Hospital Wing. But, I guess it was a good thing that I was there last night, since I heard everything that happened to Malfoy. Someone attacked him pretty good. I didn't get to see any of it, but I imagine it was pretty horrible since the curtains were drawn around his bed.

Thank you for the praise on Quidditch! I was really worried about that game, but more for Ginny Weasley than anything else. I don't know. Malfoy made a comment in the beginning about me not keeping an eye on her, and I worried that he might try to do something to her. I just wanted to get the game over with before anything happened to her. I never dreamed that Malfoy would pull the stunt he did, but I guess that he got what was coming to him. Someone was not happy at him about that.

My friends have been doing okay lately, but they've been worried about coming exams and school. I haven't told them about the prophecy because of that. I'm afraid they might be a little too worried about it right now and that they won't think of anything else. I don't want to put that on them. It's my problem anyway, and I need to work on it on my own. Besides, it'll bring up the death of my godfather, and I don't want to do that right now. Sure, I've gotten over Sirius's death, but it still hurts to know that the closest person I had to my parents was killed before I got a chance to ask him completely about them. It would've been nice to know more about them than I know right now.

Enough of the depressing thoughts, though. I'm sure I'll be ready to tell them soon, but not right now. There's already too much for them to worry about; I don't want them to worry about that, too. And I'm sure Hermione's read a spell somewhere that can help me. If not, she'll work really hard to find it before I have to meet Voldemort. But, right now isn't a good time to say anything. I promise to tell them when things have calmed down a little.

As for my next prank, I'm not sure what to do yet. I have something in mind, but it's going to take a lot of hard work and coaxing to get it done. I won't say anymore in case someone else reads this letter, but I'm hoping it will be as good as the others. I don't know if Colin Creevey—that's the Gryffindor with the camera—has any pictures of all of the pranks. I do know that he took pictures of Malfoy on Halloween when the Scarecrow danced him around the Great Hall during the Feast. If you want a picture of that, you should ask him. And he might have pictures of the rest of the pranks. I haven't asked him about that yet.

I'm happy to hear that writing to me has helped prevent a nervous breakdown for you. Everyone has something that they do to keep from going mad during their O.W.L. year. Ron Weasley's way was to read his copy of Quidditch Through the Ages. Hermione's way was to do revisions and work on her study tables. She even would make one for Ron and me! I had so many other things on my mind that I was too occupied to worry about my O.W.L.s. I do think it's interesting that the girls in your house and year have a bet going to see which girl in your class has a breakdown first. I think there was a bet going for our year, too. Everyone was sure that Hermione would be the one to crack but she wasn't. Lavender Brown was the first to crack under the pressure and had to be taken to the Hospital Wing for a Calming Draught.

My classes have been going okay so far. I always thought the sixth year classes would be more difficult than O.W.L. year, but they aren't what I thought they would be. Sure, they're difficult. But they're easier than I expected. I guess it's because of the fact that the O.W.L.s. are over with and the classes seem a lot easier after those exams. The only class that is still difficult is Potions, but I think that's because of Professor Crudus.

Well, I should be going. I still have detention with Professor McGonagall to go to. Hope to hear from you soon!

Harry

He quickly scribbled a letter down for the hangman game and handed Hedwig the parchment. With a nip of her beak, she stretched her wings and hurried off to complete her duty while Harry smiled at a now awake Hermione.

"You aren't going to ask me about my letter?" he asked in a teasing voice. She merely shrugged and returned to her breakfast.

"No," she began, "I know it's from Ginger, and I know whoever it is is definitely at Hogwarts, which rules out any Death Eaters." Shocked, Harry watched her for a moment while she scooped up her eggs and ate them, not meeting his pointed gaze.

"How do you know that?" he questioned as she shrugged again and offered him a small smile.

"I placed a tracking spell on Hedwig one day after you sent your letter," she began nonchalantly, "And she stayed at Hogwarts, which means that your 'owl pal' is definitely here at the school." Harry gaped at her as she continued on her breakfast as though nothing had been said.

"You put a tracking spell on my owl?" he fumed slightly as Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Don't worry, Harry," she offered, "It's not harmful to Hedwig. It does nothing to her! If it did, I wouldn't have used it! Do you honestly think I would harm her just for information?" Harry closed his mouth and took a calming breath as his cheeks reddened from embarrassment and guilt for assuming things too quickly.

"I'm sorry, 'Mione," he gave as she nodded and smiled at him, "So, does that spell tell you where she went to?"

"Of course."

"Well?" A look of comprehension dawned on Hermione's face as she shook her head sympathetically.

"It doesn't tell you exactly where the letter went to," she offered, "It just says that she stayed on the grounds."

"Who stayed on the grounds?" Ginny asked sleepily as she and Ron sat down next to Harry and Hermione.

"Hedwig," Harry answered as he drained the last of his pumpkin juice from his goblet.

"Why would you want to know that?" Ron questioned in confusion.

"He wants to know who his owl pal is?" Hermione teased as Harry blushed. Ginny giggled as Harry stood from the Gryffindor table.

"If you'll excuse me, I have a detention to attend," he announced before leaving the table quickly, the sounds of the girls' laughter following him out of the Hall.

o-o-o-o-o

Harry knocked on Professor McGonagall's office door as the clock struck ten, eager to begin his training for the day. Although his body was slightly sore after the Quidditch game the day before, he figured his Auror Training would help his muscles relax. The door to the Transfiguration professor swung open and admitted him into the room where he found his Head of House sitting at her desk grading essays.

"Good morning, Professor," Harry greeted as she looked up at him, pausing her current task to look at him.

"Good morning, Mr. Potter," she responded, "What are you doing here today?" Puzzled he shook his head.

"I'm here for my training." She sat back in her chair and motioned him to sit in the chair across from her desk.

"I'm afraid that your training has been cancelled for today," she gave with a small smile, "The headmaster felt it would be too hard on your body if you trained today, especially after yesterday's fall."

"But, professor-"

"Mr. Potter," she interrupted, "I know that you are anxious to train for what is coming, but please take the day to rest and recuperate after your injuries. If you push yourself after suffering such a fall, you will suffer from bodily harm." Harry sat back, shoulders slumped, and nodded to the professor.

"Now, why don't we have a cup of tea?" she asked as she conjured a pot of steaming tea. Harry nodded and smiled to her as she poured out two cups of the hot beverage before handing him his cup.

"How are your studies so far, Mr. Potter?" she questioned as he took a sip of the warm liquid.

"They're going okay," he started with mischief twinkling in his eyes, "Charms is going as it always goes, at least Seamus isn't setting things on fire this year. Defense Against the Dark Arts is okay. We've mainly been covering what we've done for the last five years, so it isn't that exciting, but it's better than last year. Care of Magical Creatures is…erm…interesting, like it usually is. Hagrid is teaching us how to care for an Acromantula."

"A what!" Professor McGonagall asked as she stood from her chair. Harry fidgeted for a moment as he watched her in fear.

"An Acromantula," he responded, "But they're only baby ones."

"Mr. Potter," she began as she sat down and tried to calm herself, "If I didn't know any better, I would think that you are turning into Professor Hagrid. Next you'll be saying that dragons are cuddly and nundus(1) aren't as bad as they seem." Harry shook his head again as Professor McGonagall sighed deeply and motioned for him to continue.

"Well, erm…Transfiguration is the same, but Hermione is still the top of her class, as always," he continued as he sipped his tea, "And Herbology is fun. Of course, Professor Sprout has us working on Devil's Snare this year, which is pretty interesting. And…erm…that's it, I suppose."

"What about Potions?" the Head of Gryffindor asked as Harry visibly gulped.

"Potions?"

"Yes, Mr. Potter," she pressed, "You are taking Potions, correct? How is that class going?" Harry took another sip of tea, his hand shaking as he held his cup. He didn't want to admit the truth behind his Potions class because of how much Professor McGonagall had stood by him with Professor Umbridge and because she had sworn to help Harry become an Auror to her. Not wanting her to be disappointed in him, Harry stared into his cup.

"Mr, Potter?" she asked in a concerned tone, "Is everything alright?" He looked up at her and smiled softly.

"Yes, professor," he answered as he looked at his cup, "I guess Potions is good. I don't know. No one likes Professor Crudus, and he's worse than Snape."

"Worse? In what ways?"

"He definitely doesn't like Gryffindor," he explained, "I mean, Snape never liked us much, but he was never this cruel to anyone. He never called…called people mean things."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he said some horrible things to Hermione one day after class," Harry started before dropping his voice, "He called her a-a mudblood one day, and he told her she didn't belong at Hogwarts because she was a Muggleborn witch." The Transfiguration professor glared at Harry, her lips pressed tightly together, as she stood from her desk.

"When was this?" she questioned.

"Th-the first week of classes," he stated, scared of what his Head of House would say next. She walked to the window and looked out, folding her hands behind her and maintaining the silence for awhile.

"Thank you, Mr. Potter," she finally announced as she turned to him and offered him a smile, "I will personally be looking into this matter. You may go now. I daresay you have a Transfiguration essay that's expected tomorrow, and I expect a well rounded one." Harry smiled as he set the cup on the edge of the desk and headed for the door to the office.

"And Mr. Potter? Harry?" she started when he reached the door, "Congratulations on winning the match yesterday." He smiled at her again as he nodded and left her office, eager to get back to the Common Room and see his friends.

A/N: (1)A nundu is a gigantic leopard whose breath carries disease and death. (Information from HP Lexicon site) Although it is from Africa, I thought it fit here.Ooh…what's going to happen to Professor Crudus? Stay tuned! Next, a prank of sorts! Thanks for reading! And now, for reviews and thank yous!

Reviews
TricaLee: I just realized that I've misspelled your name until now. I apologize for that. I can be somewhat of an airhead at times! I'm glad someone else thinks of Draco that way. I have to agree: he probably pissed off a lot of people in the past and it could be anyone that jumped him! Thanks for your continued support and reading!

Voldie's Demise: I loved your review! It made me laugh so hard! I agree that whoever beat up Malfoy deserves a Special Award, but not all is as it seems. You'll see what I mean later on. As always, thank you for your continued reading and support! It means a lot to me!

imgonnadie: So, it was either Ginny or Ginger, huh? I have to admit, I'm not too sure who the culprit should be just yet. Give it some time. Of course, I could be cruel and never tell the answer to that. Or I could reveal it in the sequel. I know that doesn't make sense right now, but I promise that it will when the answer is revealed. Thanks for continuing to read and support this!

shannyauburn: So, you think it's either Ron or Ginny. I know that would make a lot of sense since they are so close to Harry. But trust me when I say that it's someone no one would point the finger at. Although that doesn't make sense now, it will make sense later. Probably not until the sequel, but it will all click then. Thanks for your continued to reading and support and for being my "number one" fan! Hee hee!

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As always, thanks for reading! If you've made it this far, then I guess the story is pretty good! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I look forward to your responses! MALD