Chapter five

It was a couple of days later that Harry got to speak with Ron's dad about the first war. He explained that since that's when his parent's died, he wanted to know as much as he could. He especially wanted to know about who was involved and if there were other kids like him, ones that lost their parent's. Arthur really didn't want to tell Harry about this, but he realised the young man had the right to know. Arthur also realised Harry would be able to find out easy enough with a bit of research. So they sat in his shed and Arthur explained more about the war and he even named death eaters, the ones he knew. He also explained about other children that were like Harry. That was when he found out about Neville's parents. They weren't dead, but they might as well be. Harry knew he would rather be dead than like the Longbottom's.

Harry thanked Mr Weasley before heading to Ron's room. That night, once everyone was asleep, Harry wrote a few more names in the book. He wrote the names of the death eaters that hurt Neville's parent's, Bellatrix Lestrange, Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange and Barty Crouch Junior, then he added the names of the death eaters that killed Susan bone's parents. Some were in Azkaban, some got off. Altogether, he wrote another thirteen names in the book. He stared as the pages became blank again before he put the book back in his trunk. Now he wondered if he would hear about the death of the death eaters.

The day before Harry was due to return to Hogwarts, he had been secretly planning what to do if Snape was still at the castle. He would leave, he just had to work out when and make sure no one saw him. It would need to be during the night and on a Friday night, which should give him time before anyone realised he was gone. Dobby could take him but not until he got outside the wards around Hogwarts. He still thought the book worked, he was just curious as to why nothing was in the Daily Prophet about Malfoy or Snape. Then he wondered if maybe it was being kept quiet for some reason. Maybe they didn't want the people to panic since they would have just dropped dead, or maybe, the book didn't work.

Like before second year, the Weasley's were rushing about packing last minute items. Harry and Hermione could only watched the mad rush inside the house. Harry laughed at the chaos, Hermione just kept shaking her head. Bill and charlie were also laughing at the madness going on inside the burrow that morning.

They arrived at platform nine and three quarters with only ten minutes to spare. They said their goodbyes then found a compartment with Neville. Ginny went to find her friends and Harry was relieved because the girl had a habit of staring at Harry all the time and it had begun to annoy him. No matter how often he ignored her, she still stared at him.

'So you think Hogwarts is putting on a ball of some sort this year,' Neville said.

'Why else would they want us to bring dress robes? What makes me curious is why Ginny's list didn't have dress robes, yet her mother bought her some.'

'There is no use speculating Hermione, we'll find out when they decided to tell us. We know something is going to happen at Hogwarts, Bagman let that slip,' Harry said as he polished his broom.

'I wish he told us, he wanted to, but old man Crouch and Percy were right against it. Mum, dad, Bill and Charlie know what is going on yet they didn't tell us.'

'It's probably like Hermione said Ron, it's just a ball or something like that,' Harry said.

The friends continued to talk, but as they neared Hogwarts, Harry realised they didn't get their usual visit from Malfoy. That gave Harry hope that the book did work and they just didn't print it in the prophet. If Lucius did die, then maybe Draco either was still upset or he wasn't returning to Hogwarts.

Harry had to force himself not to run into the castle to see if Snape was there or not. He made sure to stay behind Hermione so he couldn't speed up. The moment he stepped into the great hall, he searched the staff table and didn't see Snape, but he did see a fat man sitting in the seat Snape normally sat at. Harry sat at the Gryffindor table with his friends but he glanced at the Slytherin table, there was no sign of Draco Malfoy either. Harry grinned, he now knew the book worked. If anyone asked what he was smiling at, he would just say he was happy to be back. No one would ever know the truth about his book.

After the sorting, Dumbledore sadly told everyone that Snape had died. Harry wasn't the only student who smiled at that news, they just tried to not let the headmaster see them smiling. Then everyone ended up shocked. Dumbledore explained that until recently, the triwizard tournament was going to be held at Hogwarts, but with the death of the minister, along with his undersecretary and a professor, everyone believed it should be postponed. They decided to still hold the yule ball since the students had bought their dress robes, it would be a waste not to use them. This time though, all students could attend, the younger ones would have to leave earlier than the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh year students.

Harry stared around the great hall and wondered if he should get up the courage and ask a girl to go to the ball with him. He did think Cho Chang was pretty, but he had heard her make some nasty comments about the small blond Ravenclaw. Harry didn't like it when people called other people names that meant to hurt. So Cho was out, many others were as well. He still remembered when a lot of the students thought he was dark just because he was a parselmouth. One thing he remembered about that time was Ernie McMillan talking to the other Hufflepuff's about Harry. He thought the Hufflepuff boy was talking the others into believing what he believed. He still remembered how Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott kept saying they didn't believe that about Harry.

Harry stared over at the two Hufflepuff girls and his eyes landed on Susan bones. He realised her life was like his in a way, her parent's murdered and raised by her aunt. He wondered if her aunt was nice or if she was like Petunia. As he stared at her, he realised Susan was a very pretty girl and thought maybe she would be his date to the ball. He would have to think on that.

When everyone got to the tower, Harry just said goodnight, even though it was early. He was tired, he had been stressed wondering if Snape was gone and if he wasn't then Harry would need to sneak away without anyone finding him. The moment he curled up under the covers, he smiled. He was back at Hogwarts, which he loved, but now it would be a lot better. Snape was gone and he was the only teacher who bullied students from other houses.

As Harry got himself comfortable, he wondered if anyone in the wizarding world knew about the Dursley's yet. If they did, Harry was sure Dumbledore would be told. Even though Harry had no idea why it was up to the headmaster of Hogwarts to tell Harry where he had to go during the holidays, it seemed everyone was willing to listen to the old man. Now it won't make any difference, the Dursley's were gone and the only other person Harry would have hated to have to stay with was Snape. He knew when the year was out that he would have a better life now he knew he never had to return to the Dursley's.

Harry woke first the following morning, he showered, then packed his bag ready for classes. He might not know his schedule yet, but he didn't want to have to come all the way back up to Gryffindor tower. As he got to the common room he saw Hermione.

'Morning Hermione.'

'Morning Harry. Is Ron awake?'

'Nope, I hit him with a pillow, but he just rolled over and went back to sleep. He'll turn up for breakfast, he usually does.'

'Yes, he seems to know when to turn up before the food disappears.'

Harry and Hermione left the tower and headed down through the castle.

'This ball Harry, have you thought about who you might like to go with?'

'I have an idea. I don't know her very well but I know she spoke up for me with the whole heir of Slytherin thing. What about you, any idea's?'

'A few. I was asked by Lavender if I was interested in you.'

'We already talked about that Hermione, you're like my bossy big sister,' Harry smirked making Hermione huff.

'Yes, and you're the annoying younger brother that seems to find trouble all the time.'

'No, I don't find trouble, it finds me. Did they ask about you and Ron?'

'With the way we argue, everyone would realise we just would not work. If you weren't with us Harry, I doubt Ron and I would remain close. You stood between us through many arguments, or said something that stopped us arguing.'

'To be honest, I heard some say you fight like an old married couple so it stands to reason you two will marry,' Harry sat at the Gryffindor while Hermione sat opposite, 'Which is just ridiculous. You don't want a relationship where you fight all the time. I'm like that with yelling, I don't want anyone that yells or hexes just because they don't get their own way. Also, you have to have some things in common, the more the better is what I believe. No, you and Ron are not suited.'

'I believe you are right, but what about how they say opposites attract?'

'True, they do but you still have to have some things in common. What do you and Ron have in common?'

Harry watched as Hermione's brow furrowed as they she thought of the question he asked.

'There is only one thing we have in common and that's you.'

'Even though I feel good that you both like me, it is true, I can't think of anything you and Ron have in common. You are someone that works hard to try to achieve her goals, Ron, sorry to say, will coast along and just hope he ends up with good marks, or a good job. You need someone that wants to achieve something in their life and that will work hard for what they want.'

'Yes, exactly. What about you, do you know what you want to do when you leave here?'

'I've had a few ideas. I know I'm good at defence, but I really don't want a life of fighting. Healing, maybe, or broom design. I've ridden four brooms and I know how they all differ and what is needed for different positions, or if you just want to have a casual fly. Those are the two I've thought of, but I also thought of maybe wand making. That would be difficult though when most wand makers pass their skill on to someone in the family. I am leaning more towards broom design though and I think I'm more suited to that than anything else.'

Hermione couldn't help showing her surprise. With how good Harry was in defence, the top of the class and how he likes to help, she thought he might want to work in the department of magical law enforcement. But the three things he mentioned were as far away from law enforcement that it could be. She realised she didn't really know Harry as well as she thought, she just went on her assumptions on what she believed he was like and her assumptions was wrong.