The next day being confusing was yet another minor understatement as the rumor mill surrounding one Harry Potter again churned out story after story regarding the activities that landed Harry, Hermione, and Ron in the hospital wing. Depending on who you asked on what day, the story ranged from Ron and Harry getting into a fight over Hermione, Ron and Hermione fighting over Harry (this was a favorite of the Twins), an invasion of Dark Wizards, dementors, inferi, goblins, or Southern Baptists (no one could pin down where THAT came from), Harry fighting off an Egyptian ghost, a very scoffed at attempt by Voldemort to return, or an alien visitor from either outer space or another dimension. The only bit of truth that managed to survive was Ron's epic chess battle, which became more epic with each time Ron told it. Oh, and something about plants, keys, and a giant dog, all very muddled. Hermione refused to comment on the majority of the rumors, but she did try to slap down some of the wilder ones. Her only real leak of information was that Ron's chess battle was 'more or less' accurate. She told everyone that the rest of the tale was not hers to tell.

Rumors persisted but wound down a bit as Harry was still laid up in the hospital wing. Ron had been released after a few hours, as was Hermione, but it was nearing the third day and Harry was still unconscious. Rumors about his current health began to pick up as well with everything from imminent death to turning into a purple wing ding to Harry becoming a vampire ran the circuit.

The only students not spending a large portion of their time wondering about what had happened were the afore mentioned Hermione and Ron, Neville, Staros, Blaise, Daphne and Tracey. While the three Slytherins did question some things, the assurances from Staros that the rumors were nowhere near the truth were accepted for now. Tis, of course, did not stop Daphne from making repeated subtle remarks asking how Staros knew what had happened and just how much more there was to the story.

The day of the end of term feast, Harry was reportedly awake and making progress, obviously not a vampire, and still the same color as he was before. In fact, he looked perfectly normal for someone who had staved off invasions by aliens, goblins, or Baptists. At least, that is what Hermione and Ron told everyone after they were allowed to visit. Staros thought it prudent to wait until everyone else was distracted before making his own way to the hospital wing.

Madame Pomfrey opened the door after hearing a polite knock to find Staros standing in the hall.

"Good day to you, Madame Pomfrey. I understand that Mr. Potter is alive and well thanks to you."

"Well, the Headmaster had some part in bringing him to me, Mr. Marcus, but yes, he is doing much better. He needs his rest, so if you will excuse me…"

"I only need a moment of his time. I have something of his that I really must return to him. It's a wonder it hasn't been lost with all the goings on."

"I, well… fine, five minutes and no more. Mr. Potter really needs to rest."

She opened the door reluctantly, allowing Staros in. Gesturing towards the screened off area, she again reiterated, "Five minutes," before retreating to her office.

Staros walked over and poked his head through the screen. Seeing Harry looking the other way, he grinned and decided to see if Harry really was back to normal. Quickly pulling back before he was seen, Staros pulled out Harry's cloak and draped it over himself. He then pushed his way past the screen as carefully as possible so as not to alert Harry.

Staros glided up to Harry's bed and picked up the potions tray on the bedside table. He then stacked it onto the glass next to it followed by a spoon, two vials, and some odd kind of ball. He then started to twist the whole stack in a circle, the glass making a grinding sound on the table.

Harry glanced around for a moment, obviously trying to figure out where the noise was coming from before his eyes lay upon the rotating pile of oddities. For just a second, his eyes bulged out and he looked like he was about to scream when a look of disgust passed over his face.

"Peeves! You're not supposed to be in the hospital wing. Get out before I call Madame Pomfrey!"

"Is… not… Peeves… Ooooohhhhooooo…" Staros said trying very hard not to lose it.

"Then who?" Harry asked before he pulled out his wand and started poking with it. He almost nailed Staros in the face when Staros decided enough's enough and backed off. Quickly pulling the cloak back from his head, Staros grinned at Harry.

"Hiya, Harry. Miss me?"

"What? Where did you get an invisibility cloak?"

"From the floor where you dropped it during your enlightening conversation with one late Professor Quirrell. Figured you might want it back."

Staros carefully pulled off the cloak and folded it up before handing it over to Harry. Harry took the cloak in his hands with a look of fear, surprise, and thankfulness on his face.

"You? You were there?"

"Well, for the tail end of things anyway. Didn't Ron or Hermione tell you? I passed them in the chess room on the way. Ron's making THAT out to be something that should make itself into Hogwarts: A History you know. According to him, you'd all be dead if not for his heroics."

"So you know?"

"About? Oh, Drippy the Funny Face Poltergeist? Yeah, saw him. Not a good look, let me tell you. His pictures from the first go round weren't half bad. Of course, they say that looks are the first thing to go in your old age."

Harry didn't know if he should laugh or cry. On the one hand, someone else KNEW the truth. Not just surmised it like Dumbledore, or guessed it like Hermione, but KNEW. On the other hand, he knew the TRUTH. A truth that Dumbledore said should be kept under wraps. A truth about Harry and Voldemort that would just make the Boy-Who-Lived that much bigger and harder to deal with. Staros looked at Harry and sighed.

"Harry, don't worry about it. For now, it's done. I'm not running to the Daily Prophet with a story. I may have to say a few things to my grandfather, but that's family. Maybe the Queen, she might ask. Besides, you have enough to worry about after defeating the inferi, the goblins, the Southern Baptists, and the alien invasion. The truth would just be boring."

"WHAT?" yelled Harry, the bit about the Queen being lost in the thought of him defeating armies of evil creatures.

A stamping of feet announced the return of Madame Pomfrey.

"What's all the noise? I thought I told you, Mr. Potter has to rest, not be screaming at the top of his lungs."

"Sorry, Madame Pomfrey, my fault. I, um, told Harry about some of the new rumors going on about him. Hadn't even gotten to the good ones about him being a vampire or anything…"

"WHAT?" yelled Harry, again. Staros just grinned at him.

"I'll be going now. I've returned what I came to return."

"OUT, be off with you!" said Madame Pomfrey, her hand pointing towards the door. Staros waved to Harry, still in shock, on his way out and then blew Madame Pomfrey a kiss as he closed the door. She just rolled her eyes and shooed him away.

Staros met Hagrid on the way down the hall. Hagrid was severely upset and had sat down on a bench to worry himself.

'Heya, Hagrid!" Staros said.

"Ah, good t'see yeh, Staros. Yeh bin t'see Harry have yeh?"

"Yeah, just got thrown out by the Evil Mistress of the Wing herself."

"Eh? Oh, Madame Pomfrey, right good'un she is. So… is… well, is Harry all right?"

"Yeah, Hagrid, he's fine. Bit shaken, but all his parts are still there. You going to see him? He'd love to hear from you."

"I… I don' know if I should. I was so worried, and I told you all abou' Fluffy, and…"

"Hagrid, just go. Seriously."

Hagrid nodded, still upset, but got up and walked towards the hospital wing door. Staros shook his head and walked on.