Krissi Potter:  Several I missed last chapter.  Welcome!

OCMIKEY:  Thanks, and welcome!

AtheneLupin:  Loyal fan?  Wow, I'm stunned...thanks!

Asprcreme:  Oh it's worth waiting for indeed.

Pyro Bear:  Oh, I think it'll be good.  I think everyone will like it.

BJ Jones:  Thanks!

Gryphnwng:  Actually, no, it just came to me.  I realized it after the first one though.  Don't know how, as my gerbil's name is Riddle (I'm a bit obsessed with Slytherin, as if you couldn't tell by my MSN screen name, Slytherin's Heir).

Lady Lightning:  That's why he's in Gryffindor.

Black Rose:  They'll find her, don't worry, but it will be much more dramatic when they do.

Shadow4284:  Yeah, he doesn't listen very well does he?

Lyddi:  Thank you very much!
Selke:  If I did that, my father would praise the heavens I was alive then murder me on the spot.

Fanfiction fanatic:  I plan on going till the end!

Phoenix Flight:  Yeah, they told them in Ch 20, and they're about to tell Ginny.

Lei Dumbledore:  That's a few chapters yet.

Charma1219:  These are the kinds of reviews that keep me inspired to continue!  I thank you all!

Takari4ever7:  They'll get better as the story progresses.  The ice wall is slowly melting.

Saerry Snape:  YOU read MY story?  I am honored!  I love "Not Myself," it's one of the best stories ever written.  Of course, now that you've finished with Part IV, I'm eager to see the rest of the stories.  Yeah, that extra chapter that doesn't exist is annoying at times, but I've gotten used to it.

Kateri:  Really?  Every time I try to look innocent, I end up looking constipated.  Oh well, thanks for reading!  I wouldn't doubt that he would, cept that he had classes to teach afterwards.  But hey, there's always tonight!

Mistri:  That's what they're designed to do!  And I'm ever so good at them!  And yes, torturing the Dursleys is a favorite pastime of mine!  And that cake thing is very interesting...like something the twins would think up.

Lee Lee Potter:  If he did that, Sirius would be on the receiving end of that curse.  And do you think Snape heard the "Dad?"  That's an interesting question.

Lisa:  Hello, we meet again!  I won't yell at you (though I should, but I have more cunning than that).  Read on MacDuff!  *ducks thrown rubber chickens*

Tantz:  UPDATE!  I did, now you have to!

Moon kitty:  Things are very busy, but I'll try to update as often as possible.

Ok, now on with the chapter.  I'm going on a Singles' Retreat with our chapel this weekend, so I won't have access to a computer till Monday.  Hope this satisfies everyone.  I promise to think loads on the next few chapters, and perhaps when I return, I'll have more than one.  Oh, and I have a new salutation!  But that's not till the end.  On with the chapter!

This is for Lyddi, who hit the magic number, but didn't leave a review!

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After Charms, the trio strolled to lunch, meeting Ginny on her way back from the Hospital Wing.  They couldn't really get to her through all her friends, but Colin Creevey spotted them, and flashed his camera.  As he'd guessed, people dispersed, not really wanting to deal with the flash-happy photographer.  Harry smiled at him as they approached.

"Thanks Colin!"

"No problem Harry, Ginny is my best friend, after all."  Harry's smile widened, and Blaise slung an arm about Ginny's shoulders.

"That's fine, Creevey, but I claim her heart."  Ginny's eyes widened as she realized what he meant and wrapped her arms about his neck.  Ron's eyes squinted at the thought of his little sister dating a Slytherin, but Harry slugged him on the shoulder and he snapped out of it.

"Aw, look, the Weasel found someone who will actually tolerate her."  Harry knew the voice without turning around and smiled, remember their earlier conversation.  He turned slowly, a small smile playing on his lips.  Before he could say anything, Colin swung his camera, hitting Malfoy square in the nose.  Harry stood shocked before Blaise and Ginny roared with laughter.  Ginny pulled them away lest they be caught at the scene of the crime and they entered the Great Hall in high spirits.  Ginny had looped her arms through Blaise and Colin's arms and was smiling wildly.  Fred and George leapt up from the table and accosted her, squeezing her in a two-sided hug.  Harry's laughter increased tenfold.

"Let her breathe!" Ron yelled, trying to pull them off her.  They finally let go, smiling.

"This is great!"

"Now we have our Keeper back!"  Ron hit them on the back of the head, much as Molly would have done had she been there.

"And we're awfully glad you're alright, Keep."  She smiled at the nickname, flashing Harry an amusing glare, then they resumed their trek to the table.  Malfoy came in moments later, holding his nose, and brandishing his wand.  Snape stood, as well as McGonagall and Dumbledore, but Malfoy was too fast, having been taught by the darkest wizard next to Voldemort.

Malfoy aimed straight for Ginny, but Harry had just enough time to react.  Dueling with Snape over the summer had heightened his senses and quickened his reflexes, and he jumped from his seat.

"Aculeatus!"  A somewhat familiar green light erupted from the Slytherin's wand, and Harry did the only thing he could think of; he dove into its path.

If Harry had never experienced the Cruciatus, this would have been the worst pain he'd ever felt.  Hot knives stabbed him repeatedly all over his body, overloading his pain sensors.  He barely registered three distinct voices, yelling out three different spells.

First, his father's, "Finite Incantatum!"

Then, his Head of House's, "Stupefy!"

Finally, the Headmaster's, closest of all, "Moblicorpus."  He felt himself being lifted off the ground and rushed out of the room and down the hall.  He didn't need three guesses to figure out the direction they were headed.  He heard footsteps other than the Headmasters, and instantly recognized them as his father's.

Mumbled words were exchanged before they reached the Wing, and the first footsteps faded, though reluctantly.  He faintly heard the door shut and lock, then the telltale sound of Madam Pompfrey emerging from her office.

"Oh my!  What happened to him Severus?"  He was carefully laid down, and a cool rag was placed on his head.  He tried to smile his thanks, but the action sent pain coursing down his neck and spine.

"The Aculeatus Curse.  Malfoy cast it in the Great Hall."  Harry heard Pompfrey click her tongue in disappointment.

"Poor Narcissa, I can't imagine what she's going through.  Her husband caught by Aurors and now her only son expelled from Hogwarts."

"You needn't worry, Poppy, Durmstrang will be happy to have him.  Now, if you will kindly concentrate on Harry?"  The cool rag lifted from his forehead, and it was replaced by a hand.  Harry ventured to open his eyes, and the light flooded his brain, shooting pain through his head.

"Light," he whispered, but Snape seemed to understand.  It was a good thing, too, because Harry didn't know if he could handle communication through the stones.  The lights were dimmed with a word, and Harry opened his eyes again, his vision filling with his father's face.

"Are you alright?"  Harry licked his dry lips and answered, his voice hoarse.

"I'm just glad you didn't hit me with that spell over the summer."

"I wasn't aiming for you, I wanted to see how good your reflexes were.  Apparently Mr. Malfoy didn't have the same intention."

"He was trying to hit Keep."  Snape actually smiled a little at this.

"Yes, and if this isn't proof that you belong in Gryffindor, I don't know what is."  Harry smiled slightly before Pompfrey returned, muttering about ruthless Slytherins and the dark arts.  Snape favored her with a small glare before backing away to let her work.

Several minutes later, Harry felt ten times better, and actually managed to sit up on his own.  Lunch was brought to him by Dobby, who was ranting on and on about "bad master Malfoy" and "evil dark wizards."  Harry ignored him and tucked into his food, eating slowly and carefully lest his stomach protest.  McGonagall and Dumbledore entered moments later, the former with a worried expression on her face.  She glanced momentarily at Snape before rushing to Harry's side.

"Are you alright, Mr. Potter?  We were so worried."  Snape stood off to the side, glare set upon his face.  A few Slytherins and Gryffindors trickled in, casualties of the fight that had broken out.  Snape snarled at a few of them, then turned to the Headmaster.

"If Mr. Potter is quite done being babied, I think I'll go see to the Slytherins.  No doubt, no one else has."  He swept out of the room quickly, and Minerva scowled.  Harry leaned in.

"It's just an act you know," he whispered, making sure no one could hear him.  She pursed her lips, clearly saying she still didn't like it, and stood.  Harry smirked and looked at the Headmaster.  "Sir, what happened to Malfoy?"

"Ah, Harry, he has been expelled, and I believe he is packing his things now."

"Will you snap his wand?"

"Yes, we will, but I fear he will only attain another one once he gets to Durmstrang.  Krivovitch is as bad as Karkaroff," the older wizard sighed.  Harry nodded, a knot lodging in the back of his mind at the thought of a Malfoy at a school where the Dark Arts were taught fervently.  Pompfrey shoved a Pepper-up Potion down his throat and sent him out, needing the space for a fracture arm.  Harry hopped out of bed, still a little wobbly, but McGonagall steadied him.  He smiled at her and walked out, having been accosted by his friends wanting to know his condition.

"That prat, he's lucky the teachers stepped in," Ron exclaimed, "I had my wand out already."  Blaise was consoling a tearful Ginny, though she tried to hide it in his shoulder.  Harry patted her on the back and turned to a sheet-white Colin.

"Are you alright, Colin?"  The boy looked up fearfully, as if waiting to be reprimanded.  Harry put a hand on his shoulder, concealing a wince at the soreness.

"It was m-my fault, Harry.  If I hadn't hit him—"

"I would have," Harry finished.  "It's not your fault, Colin.  Now, we have classes to get to, but I'll need help getting there."  Ron held up Harry's bag.

"Already taken care of Harry!"  He leaned in and whispered softly, "Professor Snape scolded us not to stress you too much."  Colin smiled sheepishly as his little brother came up to him in the hall.

"Colin!  Colin!  Did you really hit Malfoy with your camera?"  Instantly, the boy was surrounded by younger students, all wanting accounts of the fight.  Harry gestured everyone else away and they clustered around him as they walked to their next class.

"Keep, we gotta tell you something major.  Can you meet us in the first floor guest room after dinner?"  Her face scrunched up in confusion.

"The first floor guest room?  Why?"

"Because what I have to tell you is major, and no one else can know."  Ginny smiled.

"Ok, but I gotta go rescue Colin, or we'll be late for Charms.  Bye!"  She hugged Blaise slightly and bounded off back toward the cluster of people.  Blaise smiled at her back and the trio began their walk to History of Magic.

"Harry, you realize we can't study animagus tonight.  That'd be way too stressful."

"That's ok, Ron.  We're only practicing Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and since today's Tuesday, we have nothing to worry about.  We'll catch Keep up tonight in my room."  They all nodded as they entered the classroom, prepared to catch up on much needed sleep.

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Ok, I'm sorry...I lied *looks around for escape route*.  Animagus will be next chapter, as well as the Quidditch game.  If you're lucky, I may find a way to throw in one of the last riddles.  Hopefully I can, I want Hermione back.  I'm only going through to the end of Harry's year, and probably a little into the summer, but don't worry, we have a ways to go yet. 

And Malfoy's gone, how about that!  I really do like Draco, but his expulsion was an unfortunate side effect of casting a really powerful curse (that he shouldn't even know) at Harry.  Besides, he's much better suited for Durmstrang anyhow.

May Salazar Slytherin honor you,

Rickman's Girl

*bolts out the door before she is accosted by irate readers*