Harry made his way back to the Gryffindor Common Room. His meeting with Dumbledore was interesting, he was introduced to a young Tom Riddle. He never thought about Voldemort as a child, he didn't expect him to look so normal. When he entered the common room, Hermione and Ron were waiting for him by the fire.

"What was tonight's lesson?" Hermione asked as she put away her schoolwork.

"The first time Dumbledor met Voldemort. He went to meet him at the orphanage he was at to invite him to Hogwarts."

"Orphanage, really?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded, "Apparently he liked to hurt people back then too."

"Not surprising" Hermione muttered.

He went through the memories he was shown while Hermione took notes. At the end, they went through the list.

"I guess that's why he killed his dad, cuz he thought he was the wizard parent." Ron said.

Hermione nodded, "It makes sense, he viewed his mother as weak because she died. It seems he's always had a low view on muggles."

"He also doesn't like help from other people." Harry said. "He didn't like the fact that he shared a name with his father."

"Even less when he found out that father was a muggle." Ron added.

"Was there anything else that you two discussed?" Hermione asked.

Harry thought for a moment. He had already covered the memories, the recap from last session, "Oh, the ring."

"Ring?" Ron asked.

"The one that made his hand black, it was gone."

"Did he say anything about it?" Hermione asked.

"No, it was as I was leaving that I noticed it. Besides, every other time I've asked him about it, he's changed the subject."

Hermione gave a disappointed sigh, "I guess if you're meant to know about it, he'll tell you." She put a note in her book before closing it. "We should get to bed."

The boys nodded, "Night"

/

"Oh, Harry. Slughorn is holding a Christmas party for the Slug Club." Hermione said.

Ron rolled his eyes and continued with their Herbology class assignment.

"Christmas party? But I won't be here for Christmas." Harry said.

"I know. It's scheduled before the break. Slughorn had me go through your calendar to see when you had a free night so you would be able to come."

"Why would I want to go to those parties? You say he constantly fawns over his famous students. I don't need another 'Chosen One' fan."

"Well, I don't know how you would get out of it."

"Maybe you can mouth off to Snape again, get another detention." Ron grinned.

Harry glared at the red-head. "No thanks. I would probably get another lecture from Aileen."

"Just go Harry, it's not that big of a deal. You can even bring someone."

"At least you won't be alone in your suffering." Ron snickered.

"I guess if that's how you feel, I won't ask you." Hermione snapped.

Harry sighed heavily and continued with the assignment, ignoring his oblivious friends.

/

Later that week, Harry was in the Room of Requirement training with Aileen. They were sparring, hand-to-hand first, then with weapons.

"You're getting better." Aileen said.

"Yeah, thanks." Harry smiled.

"So, who are you taking to Slughorn' Christmas Party?" Aileen asked.

"Uh" Harry paused.

Aileen laughed. "You haven't thought of it."

"I still don't really want to go."

Aileen shrugged, "Might as well, he's been bothering you the entire term."

"Can I take you?"

"But wouldn't it look weird if you brought your cat to the party?"

Harry turned around to see Aileen back in her cat form. "I figured you would be in your human form."

Her only answer was a small 'mew'.

Harry sighed, "I guess I'll find someone else." They both left the Room of Requirement, heading back to the common room.

"You could take Malfoy!" Aileen suggested, as they descended the stairs.

Harry missed the next step, but managed to catch the rail before he fell down on his face.

"What did you just say?" He hissed.

Aileen calmly wound herself around his ankles, "I thought, since you've been stalking him…" She trailed off as she stretched her body on his leg.

Harry winced, both at being caught and the pinprick of her claws on his thigh. He had hoped she wouldn't know about his late-night vigils with the Marauder's Map, he really should have known better.

"Exactly" she said smugly.

"I am not taking Malfoy to the Christmas party." Harry replied.

"You sure?" She hopped onto the stair railing. "I know it's not the best first date idea, but it's better than your last one."

"Date?!"

"Yes, date. I admit, stalking your crush is quite unhealthy, but as long as you don't become one of those controlling boyfriends, you'll do just fine."

Harry stared at her in horror, "I do not have a crush on Malfoy!" He quickly made his escape, ignoring his sister's laughter behind him.

When he got to the common room, he gave a heavy sigh of relief.

/

The Quidditch game vs Slytherin was later that week. Ron was a bundle of nerves, and Harry couldn't see his friend like that so – even with the incoming lecture from Hermione – he faked slipping some of the Felix Felicis potion into Ron's pumpkin juice at breakfast. It seemed to work, they won the match and now everyone was celebrating in the common room.

"You shouldn't have done that Harry." Hermione hissed as soon as he and Ron entered the changing room. "It's illegal, Professor Slughorn said so."

"What are you going to do, turn us in?" Ron demanded.

"What are you two talking about?" Harry asked as he hung up his robes, hiding his grin.

"You know perfectly well what we're talking about!" Hermione shrieked. "At breakfast, you put the Felix Felicis potion into Ron's pumpkin juice."

"Except I don't." He pulled the potion out of his pocket, the bottle still completely sealed.

"You – you mean, the whole game? Everything that happened?" Ron stuttered.

"It was all you. I knew you could do it, I just needed you to believe that." Harry said.

Ron smiled, a small flush coming into his cheeks, "Thanks mate."

Harry nodded, "Go on to the party, you won big today."

Ron laughed, and ran off.

Harry turned back to Hermione who was looking at him with fond exasperation.

Harry shrugged.

They both made it to the party in time to see Ron in the middle, standing on the table, surrounded by cheering people. Harry clapped along with the crowd, then gaped as Lavender Brown stepped onto the table and thoroughly snogged Ron.

"Excuse me" He heard Hermione say quietly. He looked over his shoulder as she rushed from the room.

He followed after her, to an empty classroom.

He slowly entered the classroom to see her sitting on the teacher's desk, a ring of birds flew above her head.

"Uh, Hermione?" He asked, staring at the birds.

She startled, "Oh, hi Harry." She sniffed. "Just – uh – trying out a new spell."

"They're – er – really good." Harry said. He sat down next to her, brushing her arm with his. He didn't know what to say, so he stayed quiet.

"Ron seems to be enjoying the celebrations." Hermione said quietly.

"Really? Uh…yeah, I guess."

Hermione scoffed, "You were standing right next to me Harry, I know you saw Lavender and Ron snogging in the middle of the room."

"Well –" He was cut off by Lavender and Ron bursting into the room, giggling.

"Oh, hey guys" Ron greeted cheerfully.

Harry waved awkwardly at the two.

"Oops, it looks like this room's taken." Lavender giggled. She tried to pull Ron out of the room, but brushed her off.

"What's going on? Shouldn't you be at the party?" Ron asked. "And, what's with the birds?"

Hermione slid off the desk, her eyes cold. The two boys stood tense as she passed Ron, into the hallway.

Just as Ron relaxed, Hermione shrieked, "Oppugno!" sending the birds from her head straight at Ron.

Ron yelped and ran out of the classroom, dodging the birds. Hermione also left, sobbing down another hall.

Harry looked as both his friends ran away and sighed. This was not looking good.

Woo! Lavender is in the HOUSE!
I really don't like her much, so I'm going to try and get rid of her soon ^-^