Disclaimer- Wow, I'm on a roll, I just can't stop writing. Oh and by the way I don't own Harry Potter, Jk does, but we're tzight! Or not… JediGinny owns Adamo Redamo, which everyone should read! Terry Pratchett owns some of the things I say and Unseen University and everyone should read the Discworld books.

Patricia C Wrede owns the Invisible Dusk Blooming Choke Vine; her books were some of my favorites as a child. I recommend them for all ages however as I know understand all sorts of things I didn't earlier. So you should read these too.

A/N- Hello everyone, I just can't stop writing this stuff. But I don't know how long I can keep this up. Big shout out to Yen who found an error in this chapter so I'm reposting it, Flitwick is the head of Ravenclaw, not Vector, oops!

ANGER AND SORROW

Oh Harry, everything happens to you, I hope Ron isn't being jealous again. Dumbledore won't tell me anything but The Book keeps telling me about mental shields. I can't figure out why, oh Harry what happened to you?

Hermione- Harry could recognize that mind anywhere, it was Hermione. But why was he hearing her thoughts? And then other thoughts seemed to running into his head and he hurt.

I guess it wants me to cast one on you, and I guess it knows best. Well here goes. Suddenly the pressure was gone, his mind felt, normal…

"Ms. Granger what did you just do?"

"The Book told me what to do Headmaster, so I did what it wanted me to." Hermione's voice was matter of fact as always.

"But you shouldn't be able to cast that charm! Contego Mentis is something most grown wizards can't cast!" That was Poppy. Harry felt odd referring to her by her name, just as odd as calling Ms. Figg Arabella.

"She is The Creator, she is a very talented witch." That was Dumbledore, but what did he mean she was The Creator? Harry felt pain swell up within him.

"Uhg."

"Harry!" Hermione crowed. She flung her arms around him and hugged him. Harry shook his head to clear his vision.

"Wha- what happened?" He mumbled. Poppy sighed in relief and ran off to get him something to drink and get back his strength.

"Your gift manifested Harry." Dumbledore said. "You are a mindpseaker like me, a telepath but more." Dumbledore sighed. "I think it's time you knew everything." Harry felt his eyes widen and Hermione looked attentive but gripped Harry's hand. She squeezed and Harry felt an intense wave of affection and love weave through whatever was keeping the thoughts out of his head. He sent the wave back to her and Hermione's eyes widened.

"Harry." Dumbledore's voice was stern. "Don't do that again, at least not to anyone who you don't mind being so close to or being able to have total control over your mind and body, you have a lot to learn, almost as much as Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Finnegan." Dumbledore paused and Harry's mind raced.

"Earlier this year, actually a few days ago Professor Trelawney made her third real prediction…"

Seamus fidgeted as he sat in the common room. He wanted to go visit Harry, but every time he got up he thought of Draco. And then every time he thought of Draco he thought of Harry. And how he should visit Harry but then Draco was there in his thoughts again and aw fuck his head hurt. Dean had noticed this of course.

"Seamus, what's the matter?" Dean asked. Seamus jumped; he'd been so immersed in his own thoughts that Dean intruding like that surprised the shit out of him.

"I- well nothing much." Seamus said. He didn't feel like spilling his guts to Dean, nobody would understand what he was going through. Malfoy of all fucking people, he might be hot but he abused me, but Harry hurt him so badly. He felt anger at Harry and at Draco. He knew whom he needed to talk to, but she was busy. And besides, even Hermione would have trouble understanding- no she wouldn't, Hermione would understand, she understood everything.

"I gotta go." Seamus said shortly to Dean and took off. Parvati noticed this and wandered over.

"What's blown up his ass and died?" She asked. Dean started at the blunt use of language.

"I don't know, but if I know Seamus it has something to do with Harry." Dean said. Parvati nodded, she knew, had seen, what had happened to Harry in ADADA but they had been ordered to not tell anyone else about it.

"Oi, Neville." Ron said. Neville looked up at him as Ms. Pince shot a venomous glare at Ron. Ron blushed and walked over to Neville who was currently reading Sorcery, Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely. Ron looked at it and blanched.

"Geez Neville…" He trailed off. Neville nodded.

"I know, but I have to know this stuff, have to no what I'm up against-" He started but Ron waved his hand.

"No I mean that that looks like something 'Mione would read, and that scares me to see in other people." Ron said with a completely serious face. For a second the two stared at each other then Neville began to laugh and Ron cracked a smile.

"Riiight." Neville watched Ron sit down and blushed. Ron was cute in a red head sort of way. He looked warm and strong, someone who you could let hold you for years and never want to let go. Neville liked being held, when Harry had held him he'd felt comforted, but somehow he knew Ron would comfort and protect him in his arms. He instinctively started to make Ron want him but stopped it.

Damn it I need control! I can't go on like this. Ron didn't seem to notice Neville's inner turmoil.

Neville's shaped up, he looks, stronger somehow, more confident. I guess finding out you aren't a failure will do that. Ron idlely wondered if Neville would be interested… Naw, besides Ron didn't want to be thrown through a wall if Neville was surprised by something like that.

The two sat in awkward silence. Neville was silently rooting through his memory for pictures of Ron, the silent character Ron was. He didn't know Ron too well, but now he wanted to. And Ron thought the same thing.

"So Ron…" Neville trailed off. Ron suddenly felt hope surge, just maybe?

"Hey Neville, wanna go play chess or something?" Ron asked. Neville brightened.

"Sure."

Draco watched the trees move. The wind swept through them like a callous stranger, not caring what went where. The green foliage drooped in solemn regard of the castle, it's dark hollows deep and forbidden. Seamus-

"FUCK!" He screamed. He did not want to think of Seamus, think of his soft warm lips, think of his lithe little body lifting up under his in ecstasy… But he had no choice.

He wanted Seamus almost as much as he wanted Har- Potter. He wanted Seamus to beg him for more and to return the favor. He wanted to rule Seamus but have Seamus hold his key. He wanted to protect Seamus, hold him, to be held, to have Harry kiss him and Seamu-

WHAT? DID I JUST THINK THAT? I HATE HARRY POTTER! That didn't' stop the thoughts from running rampant in his mind. That didn't stop him envisioning himself and Harry playing gently and Seamus lying between them. That didn't stop him from almost feeling their presences beside him…

"Will you tell them Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"No, they don't need to know, these bonds must mature on their own." He answered steadily.

"But leaving it to that sort of haphazard natural development." Professor Flitwick said with dismay. McGonagall nodded, she agreed.

"Minerva, Silas, you are both of such analytical minds that you can't see how love will work, just give it time." Responded Professor Sprout. McGonagall sniffed at that and Flitwick rolled his eyes.

"Will you three please stop behaving as students?" Snape snapped. The three other house heads turned their glares to him.

"Will all of you please stop being so childish, trust me on this." Dumbledore asked them, they all nodded, they wouldn't be there if they didn't have implicit trust for Dumbledore.

"Oh by the way Albus, I just received the Invisible Dusk Blooming Choke Vines." Sprout said. Dumbledore nodded, they had been difficult to get a hold of but he wanted Snape to have the chance to fiddle with them in potions.
"Excellent Pella, and Severus are you prepared to make the seeing potion?" Snape nodded dourly.

"Yes Albus, although it will take a few weeks and by then it may all be a mute point." Dumbledore sighed.

"Someday I may yet rid you of the pessimism." McGonagall sniffed again.

"Don't count on it anytime soon Albus." Snape coughed something that could have been "stupid bitch" but nobody could really tell although Dumbledore's eyes did narrow very much so.

"And Mr. Ollivander will be coming in a few days for the ceremonies. He said he as most interested as to what would happen this year and said he would be closing his shop for the year just to stay here." Dumbledore seemed to seethe with a curious combination of relief and victory at that.

"Excellent, and Severus, I want to test just what Neville can do, how would you like the Mark to be removed?" For the other three heads it was one of the few times they had ever seen Snape speechless with pleasure.

"Hermione?" Seamus murmured. Hermione jumped and clutched her breast.

"Oy vey Seamus you almost gave a me a heart attack." Hermione said, she clutched The Book to her chest as her breathing slowed. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair; The Book had just gotten to an interesting part. She looked down and suddenly it was displaying truth charms. Some of them looked very complex but why would it show her these… It meant that soon she would have to know truth from fiction; she would need- She looked at Seamus in suspicion.

"What are you going to tell me Seamus?" Seamus started at the tone of voice Hermione used.

"Something that I probably shouldn't and that will be very difficult to sort out." Seamus sighed distractedly. Why oh why did this have to happen to him, he wasn't a bad person or anything… Soon he spilled the whole story to Hermione, not watching her face, not seeing her expression.

"Well…" She trailed off. Wow, what is it with these guys, they just manage to screw up every few seconds. She looked at Seamus and then at the book. Now it was displaying a sort of truth spell that would display emotion. It would be easier to brew a potion but maybe if the book helped her…

She'd found that The Book could actually help her cast a spell for the first time, and so she gently fingered her wand as she pondered which spell to use.

"Patesco Cordis." She intoned. Seamus felt strangely detached after the spell took affect. Hermione looked at him with an astonished expression on her face.

"Finite Incantem." She muttered and sat back and put her face in her hands.

"What, what did you just cast on me?" Seamus asked in wonder.

"It was a truth emotion charm, it let me see what you felt." Seamus felt vaguely violated on some deep level but he needed Hermione's help very much.

"I don't know what to tell you Seamus." Hermione said. "What you felt for Malfoy was concern and combined with his attractiveness it's entirely understandable. But I wouldn't tell Harry, and I'd avoid Malfoy for a while, he won't bring it up because it'll make excellent blackmail for him but more importantly against him." She paused. "Aside from that I don't know what to tell you."

"But right now I think Harry needs you, so go to him." Seamus nodded and left. Hermione sighed and looked at The Book. Then she slammed it closed in anger. Nothing ever worked out right! Her mood sunk until she decided it was time to clear some things up.

"Harry?" Seamus asked. Harry looked up from his lap; he was sitting cross-legged on his bed with his fingers intertwined in his lap. His gaze was troubled but brightened when he saw Seamus.

"Seamus!" He crossed the room at a run and flung his arms around Seamus. Seamus hesitated and then returned the hug full force.

"Oh Seamus…" Harry trailed off and sighed into Seamus' ear. Seamus shivered as Harry's warm breath tickled his ear. He wanted to tell Harry, but right now all he wanted to do was hold Harry and make him feel better.

Suddenly Seamus felt energy flowing from him to Harry, and he could feel Harry swell with vitally next to him. And stiffen in outrage.

"WHAT?" Harry shouted. Seamus looked at him in confusion as he felt a sudden wave of surprise anger confusion and hurt. And it wasn't his… Then Harry was gone.

The moon was supposed to be beautiful. Wrong. The moon was a large chunk of rock that reflected light from the sun. Draco knew that, and so he looked at the moon with no awe no nothing. It was bright and annoying, and it made werewolves transform. But moonlight was something else.

Draco was vain, he knew it. He could have worse faults, vanity wasn't so bad. He enjoyed the feeling of his skin being bathed in moonlight, the feeling of light without heat. It made him feel free and wild, primal and savage. It was absolutely glorious.

Draco spread his arms and let his robes fall open. A breeze blew back the robes and caressed his bare chest. It felt deliciously cool against his pale skin, cold, so very cold. So different from Seamus… That thought was cut off, but not quickly enough. Not quickly enough to remembered sensations of hot flesh, Seamus' mouth, his taste and his scent…

You utter and complete fool. His behavior had been atrocious; he'd lost control for God's sake. First rule, never ever lose control. And if you never lost control that was all you needed. Absolute control… Lucius had absolute control. Voldemort had absolute control. Hell, Dumbledore had control. But he didn't, he, Draco Malfoy, half Veela and a wizard of great potential (or so he told himself) didn't have control.

He slammed a fist against the low stone fence surround the top of the tower. The stars sparkled at him cruelly from their high seats in the heavens.

Draco sighed and walked over to the shadows. Suddenly a figure rose up out of the floor through the trap door. It angrily stormed over to the side of the tower and began to seethe.

"That fucking bastard, how dare he?" Harry snarled. Draco held very very still. What was Potter- Shit. Oh shit, oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit-

"I swear… Kill Malfoy… Bastard…Fuck Seamus…Fucking whore…" Suddenly Draco felt anger, deep anger. Seamus didn't beat people, didn't hurt people, Potter did. Seamus didn't make your father beat you for not besting him. Seamus was warm and kind; Draco had never had warm and kind before. Years of resentment and frustration combined to make him feel a cold rage descend on his shoulders. Harry stiffened.

Seamus, how could he? With Dr- Malfoy, and why the fuck was he calling him Draco! WHY? Harry clutched his head, why did this happen to him. He could feel Seamus' hurt, feel his pain. And something else. Something that was laced with a presence both familiar and strange. Something-

"Malfoy." Harry muttered and stiffened as he felt a surge of hate emerge from behind him. He turned to face Draco and stared at him.

For a minute their eyes met, silver gray that women and some men would kill for, glacial emeralds that made people swoon. They met and something crystallized between them. They both felt anger, and then- pain.

Pain fluctuated as the anger did, like they were linked…

"How could you- you- Damn it!" Harry screamed.

"How could I what Potter?" Draco said coldly. He was not afraid, and this time he would not crumble.

"You- and- he- damn it you know." Harry said, but this time almost weakly. He felt his world crumbling; everything he touched withered and died. Cedric, his parents, his relationship with Seamus… The list went on in Harry's mind, but it always came back to those three things. Always came back to them in the end.

Draco watched the emotional struggle and resisted the urge to comfort Har- Potter. I shouldn't comfort him; he's a selfish bastard who doesn't know what he has. Draco did hate Harry now. That didn't change the fact that he wanted Harry, Harry made him as hot as Seamus did. So he watched Harry crumble, and then involuntarily edged forward to help.

Harry sensed the movement and lunged forward. He tackled Draco and tried to hit him. But this time Draco had anger of his own to fuel him, and he wasn't afraid of Harry like he was Lucius. The two grappled, sometimes Draco taking control, other times Harry.

Harry didn't know for how long they wrestled there, for how long his body put forth energy with the only thought of beating Draco into submission. Finally he collapsed, exhausted. Draco stopped, his heart pounding and his chest heaving.

Suddenly Harry began to laugh, it began as a low chuckle and finally wound up as a high-pitched laugh full of blind hysteria. What the hell's so funny? Draco thought, and then he began to laugh as well. For a time the two laughed, not out of humor, but out of sheer emotional exhaustion. They laughed at nothing, they laughed bitterly, but they did laugh. Harry had learned earlier just how powerful laughter was, with Snape. Laughter was indeed powerful, almost as powerful as love…

Harry stood up. Draco gasped as the warmth that was Harry left his side. He felt an ache there, where Harry had been. Harry felt it too. Then Draco looked up; the moon was illuminating Harry's face, casting a ghostly sheen over his tousled black hair. His scar caught the light and refracted it back out and seemed to glow. Then Harry offered Draco his hand.

His hand, it was an offer, one of friendship, and apology. Draco stared at it for a few minutes, wondering if it was real… Harry slowly began to draw it back as he realized Draco wasn't taking it, and then Draco grabbed it. Harry grinned and pulled Draco up. Draco crumpled then on an injured ankle. Harry caught him swiftly.

"I- I'm sorry Draco." He said, and for Draco who had never had a genuine apology like it before, it made it better, somewhat.

"Not accepted Harry, but it's a step." Harry felt like smacking Draco then, but decided against it as he realized the boy was teasing him.

"Here, lean on me." Was what he said instead. Draco sighed and leaned against Harry.

"Tha- thank you." Draco said in a small voice. Harry concealed his surprise. "And you better realize how damn lucky you are, nobody's ever heard a Malfoy thank or apologize before." Harry couldn't help but think of how Lucius Malfoy had groveled before Voldemort last year when- no.

"Yeah great. Well I guess we should-" Whatever Harry was going to say was stopped by a haggard Seamus Finnigan bounding up the stairs. At the sight of the two of them he halted and warily looked at them, and then his entire demeanor transformed into one of happiness.

"You two are all made up now?" He asked breathlessly. Draco sighed dramatically.

"If we must, although why I would want to associate with Potter is beyond me." Harry realized Draco was teasing him.

"Fuck off Draco." He muttered back. Seamus embraced the two of them.

"Oh thank you so much, three will be so much more fun than two." Harry and Draco exchanged a nervous glance.

"Be that as it may, I need all three of you right now." The three boys jumped away from each other as Dumbledore interrupted them, his eyes sparkling with childish glee. "I'm sorry, did I surprise you?"

Time, it was time. The woman rose from her chair and shook her hair. The rat in the cage shuddered; he knew what was going to happen. Thinking quickly the rat feigned sleep. He could feel the gaze of the woman on him as she changed.

"Poor ratty, all asleep. Because soon all of his friends will die." The rat didn't even twitch, but after the woman left it squeezed through the bars of the cage. It had been starving itself so it could escape. Soon it was out the door and running.

Must… Warn… Dumbledore…

"Come in all of you." Dumbledore led Harry, Seamus and Draco into his office. Inside were Neville, Ron and Hermione. Ron's all three widened and narrowed their eyes at seeing Draco, although each one for entirely different reasons.

"Now all of you will remain quiet as I have something to tell you." Dumbledore began. Then he was interrupted as a small red rat ran into the room.

"Wha-" He began before Charlie Weasley burst in.

"Ah ha! There's the little bugger." He said triumphantly and seized the rat. The rat squealed and attempted to bite him but Charlie pinned its head between his finger and the rat was trapped. The rat squealed terrifically making Hermione wince. Ron looked slightly angry for some reason, Draco looked bemused. Seamus looked curious while Harry felt vaguely apprehensive. Charlie flushed.

"Sorry everyone, he doesn't seem to like me and was actually a present for Ron." Dumbledore smiled genially and nodded. Ron flushed as well. "So since you've already seen him here you go Ronnykins and-" He stopped and pulled out a small ball that was vibrating.

"Oh SHIT! That fucking manticore-" And ran off. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow and let it go.

"That was bizarre." Draco remarked. Seamus smile and Ron frowned as the rat ran around him protectively before jumping up on his leg and scurrying up to his shoulder.

"No one asked you Malfoy-"

"Shut up Ron." Seamus said absentmindedly. Ron stared in astonishment at Seamus with Neville while Hermione but 2 and 2 and 3 together…

"Oooh." She cooed. Harry and Draco shot her worried looks while Seamus blushed. "I've never met anyone in a threesome before." Ron choked in anger at this.

"WHAT? WHAT THE-" He was smoothly cut off by Dumbledore.

"Excuse me Mr. Weasley but there are more important things to discuss than sex lives here. First of all I am going to read you a recent prophecy and then Ms. Granger is going to read from her book." Dumbledore sat down.

"This is the prophecy-

"Blood of the crossbreed, ignite the fire

Mind of the Sorcerer fuel the flame

The forgetting guide from whence

Shall come a spring of knowledge

And the ever servant

Become a hunter.

The book of Ravenclaw

In the hands of the Creator

The Chalice of Slytherin

In the hands of the Half Breed

The Gauntlets of Hufflepuff

In the hands of the Friend

The sword of Griffyndor

In the hand of the Traitor

And the first step is taken by the lightning boy." Dumbledore stopped talking for a second. The group appeared stunned by what they had been told.

"Secondly this is what Ms. Granger's book said.

"In the time of the snake lord

The heir to ambition and cruelty

Shall the dragons be awakened

And by the hand of the lighting boy

Shall the Sorcerer be awakened.

To the reader of this book,

The stars bear your name Hermione Granger

I wrote this for you, use it well.

And Rowena Ravenclaw wrote that. So as you can see Ms. Granger is the Creator. I don't know how many of you are aware of this, but Ms. Malfoy is the Half-breed being half Veela, Neville is the Sorcerer, and of course the lightning boy is Mr. Potter." Dumbledore paused to let that sink in.

"It is my personal belief that Mr. Weasley is the Friend and Severus Snape is the Traitor. I do not know of the Chalice of Slytherin nor the Gauntlets of Hufflepuff. Tomorrow Neville you will do what I asked you too." Neville sighed resignedly. "So Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy will accompany you." Draco looked slightly bemused and offended at the same time, why would he want anything to do with a brainy mud-blood and a Sorcerer… He and Neville didn't exactly have the best track record, and he wasn't sure his powers would be enough to deal with the boy…

"Aside from that you as a group are very important to the cause of light, and I expect you to act accordingly. No unnecessary risks, no unduly shenanigans, beyond normal pranks of course." Dumbledore added airily.

"Now I hope I got through to all of you." He gazed at all of them demurely. "Now you may go, but Mr. Potter and Mr. Longbottom I would like to stay." With that the group migrated out, Draco sticking close to Seamus and looking uncomfortable.

Harry closed the door and looked around the room. There was a pecking on the window and Dumbledore opened it to let Fawkes in. The phoenix cooed to Harry and dropped a roll of parchment onto Dumbledore's desk. He rolled it out and quickly read it.

"Very well then." He said and rolled it back up and fiddled with his spectacles. Neville shifted uncomfortably but Harry just smoothed Fawkes' head crest.

"Harry, there is something we need to talk about. You have a gift that is currently manifesting itself just as Neville's is." Dumbledore paused. "As a matter of fact a number of you will be uncovering certain traits and gifts, Mr. Malfoy will discover why there are so very few male Veela and just what his powers are. Ms. Granger will discover that magic is more than just incantations and formula. Seamus will learn to make his very touch heal others. Many things will come about…" He sighed.

"But between you two I honestly don't know what to do. I have never encountered a Sorcerer before and aside from myself I know of no other mind speakers. And Harry you are far more powerful in that particular arena than I am." Harry started.

"Me? And by mindspeaker do you mean telepath or something like that?" Harry asked. Neville nodded.

"Yeah, I can do it too but not as well as you and the headmaster can." He said glumly, he honestly didn't like having all this power; it made things so difficult at times.

"So I want you to, have some, well to gain some experience with you power." Dumbledore paused. "The problem is, well this power is intrinsically very intrusive and so here's what I want you to do. Talk to each other and Harry I want you to try and feel emotions. Now I'm going to show both of you how to shield yourselves."

"Now take a deep breath and close your eyes." The two did so although Harry sat down first. "Now Neville, would you please dispel the shield Ms. Granger put on Harry." Neville creased his forehead and examined the spell. Seeing magic felt very odd, an this one was a weave that let little things seep out but kept everything for the most part separate. It was like looking at a well-woven basket with no opening. Oh, I guess I'll just have to go for it.

He let the power flow from him and watched as the magic burned away from Harry's mind. Harry winced in anticipation of thoughts seeping into his brain. But none came.

"The room is shielded." Dumbledore said simply. Neville finished burning out the shield and collapsed breathing hard, he opened his eyes and looked around.

"Neville please close your eyes and both of you take another deep breath." They did. "Now look into yourself, and then out again." Harry frowned, what did he mean?

Let me show you. Dumbledore's mind voice rang with strength and determination. He grasped Harry and pushed him deep down within himself and then out…

It was dark, a deep blue. Harry found himself standing there, in this peculiar nirvana. Next to him was Neville. Then Dumbledore appeared.

"Now, do exactly what I do." He said, and then put his hand on his chest. Harry and Neville copied his movement. And then it began to glow. Harry thought How do I make my hand glow? But then it began to as soon as he thought that.

"Now I want you to think if something you can put yourself into, something you could put your mind into that represents who you feel you really are." Without hesitation Harry put himself into his Firebolt, and found he couldn't. So it must be something else… He cast about his mind for images, something that would represent him… Suddenly he found himself thinking of his scar and then-

There was a flash and an emerald rod lay in his hand, twisted into the shape of a lightning bolt. It shrank until it was the size of a pendant.

"Now put yourself into it." Dumbledore commanded and Harry did so. He felt himself being drawn, in and out and then-

LIGHT!

Harry waited not so patiently for the flashing to disappear from his vision. He found himself clutching something tightly.

"Here Harry." Dumbledore took the lightning bolt and began to twirl his wand, muttering something. Soon a silver chain sprouted out of thin air and attached itself to the lightning bolt. Then he put it around Harry's neck.

"That is your Clypeus, your protective medallion." Dumbledore took of his spectacles.

"These are my Clypeus, and Neville appears to have chose a ring." Neville had indeed chosen a ring. He flushed.

"It's like the ring my parents wore for each other." It was platinum with a ruby twisted into the top. Harry felt drawn to it, it pulsated with power.

"Your Clypeus is good for many things, one of them is that as long as you wear it you can store a few spells in it. It can only be made by people with abilities similar to yours. Harry, yours will help keep your thoughts in order and protect you from the sudden influx of everyone's emotions. You shall have to concentrate briefly to feel what others are feeling. Neville, yours should function in a similar way." He paused. "Aside from that each one is different, what yours do is up to who you are. Now there are certain school matters I must attend to that I'm sure would bore you to death, so run along." He herded them out and closed the door.

"Oh Fawkes." Dumbledore said. "Well now's as good a time as any." The spell to create a Clypeus was actually something anyone could attempt, but it took immense power. Dumbledore collapsed into his chair. He had a debt to pay, he'd take power from his very blood and now the exhaustion and blood loss would swoop in. Fawkes floated over and cried a single pearly tear onto his worn friend's face. Dumbledore inhaled deeply as the phoenix's magic washed over him and fell to sleep, utterly drained.

"Wow, that was intense." Harry said. Neville nodded absentmindedly.

"Say Harry, what's going on between you and Malfoy and Seamus?" He asked. Harry sighed.

"At this point I don't know. I just- he's a en evil bastard!" Harry swore. "But something, I don't know Neville." Neville nodded and put a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Well I have to go the teacher's library with him and Hermione, and I bet between the two of us we'll figure something out." The two made their way to the Griffyndor common room. When they entered it was very quiet. Too quiet.

"Uhm, hello?" Harry called out, and felt a chill, what had happened-

"Harry!" A voice cried and suddenly Parvati was hugging him. "Oh yes you're here, quickly you have to talk some sense into those three." With that she dragged him into the 5th year girl's dorm room. Neville followed out of a peculiar compelling curiosity. When he and Harry got in there, they froze.

There was Hermione looking ashen and clutching a red mark on her face. Seamus looked outraged and Draco was gently holding his bloody face, breathing heavily with the effort of not crying. And in the middle of it stood Ron.

"How dare you!" Hermione shouted and reached out to slap Ron but stopped. Neville stood, his hand outstretched and sweat rolling down his face. Hermione's eyes whipped around frantically. Ron turned and saw Harry. Then his face darkened with rage.

"YOU!" He said, and said no more as Neville froze him too. Now he was breathing heavily. There was a flash of light and Draco took his hand away from his nose, and although there was still blood there was no bruising or anything. Seamus tried to stand and stumbled over. Draco caught him and then glared at Ron, who returned the glare with as much hatred as the two could muster.

"What is going on here?" Harry asked, but he had the feeling he knew all to well.

"How could you damn it?" Ron snarled. Beside him he felt Parvati edge away. Hermione found she too could speak.

"Listen you filthy little prat, this has gone-"

"SHUT UP!" Yelled Harry. He glared at all of them. "All of you out, except 'Mione and Ron." With that everyone made their way out of the dorm except those three and Neville.

"Neville let them go." Neville hesitated and then acquiesced. Ron and Hermione stumbled slightly as they regained control of their limbs. Neville quickly ducked out the door. For a second the three stood there looking at each other.

"Alright, let's start from the top, Ron why are you pissed off?" Harry asked since it was obvious the other two were in no hurry to speak.

"That you could be, involved with that thing, that- Malfoy for fuck's sake-" He began.

"Oh shut up Ron, I swear you-" Hermione began.

"ENOUGH!" Harry shouted. The two quieted down. "God bless it your acting like your two fucking years old or me and Ron, what the hell is wrong with you two? I don't know what exactly is going on between me, Draco and Seamus, but whatever it is, it's none of your business. Now what else is bothering you Ron?" Ron flushed angrily.

"That, that you could totally disregard everything that evil bastard has ever done to me, you and 'Mione, what he said at the end of last year, everything-" Once again Hermione cut him off.

"Yes but think of the time at the Quidditch World Championship when he warned us to get out of there-"

"Shut up 'Mione, that was him making a threat, he doesn't give a shit about any of us and how you" This was directed at Harry, "Could betray me like that is just, god damn it Harry why?" This was pleading, infantile even. "How could you do that, you two mean more to me than anything else, after all we've been through-" Ron paused and Hermione suddenly was hugging him. Harry paused for a second and joined the hug.

"Listen Ron, I can't help what's going on, but I can't believe that anyone is born evil, people become evil through their own choices. And if we can help change those choices we are bound by our morals to." Harry said. "If I can't help someone become good, than what good am I? Voldemort triumphs through the evil in people's hearts, killing him only removes one stem of the tree, albeit a big branch but it doesn't uproot it. If we as a people can make the change, then the tree will wither and die," He looked into Ron and Hermione's eyes.

"But unless we try there's no hope, and my parents will have died in vain." Ron sighed and leaned into his friends.

"I'm sorry Harry, and you too Hermione, but honestly Harry," He paused and looked at him, "Malfoy?"

"Well you have to admit he is one of the more, attractive guys around." Hermione said slyly. Ron coughed violently then and three separated.

"So are you feeling better now Ronnykins?" She asked sweetly. Ron glared at her and Harry absentmindedly stepped on her foot. She howled in mock pain.

"Harry! Why'd you do that?" She asked in indignation, and then promptly jumped on Harry's foot. The Boy Who Lived swiftly became The Boy Who Cried "Ouch." Ron smiled and snatched up a pillow from one of the beds and whacked Hermione with it, soon the three were caught up in a tremendous pillow fight, and when Parvati and Lavender sneaked a peak, they quickly left as goose down flew everywhere.

"Well?" Seamus asked. Draco had left just a minute ago, and Seamus felt oddly alone.

"They've either made up or decided to settle their differences by death match with pillows." Lavender said solemnly.

"Oh god." Dean buried his face in his hands. "It's worse than I thought, quick, we need to find a goat!" Everyone stared at him for a second before breaking into laughter at how random it was. Then three of them stumbled out of the girl's dorm. Harry and Ron still had some feathers in their hair and Hermione looked liked she'd been in a- well a really bad pillow fight.

"Woo!" Ron whooped and collapsed in front of the fire that always was burning there. "That was interes-

"Excuse me, Mr. Longbottom, I need to borrow you for a minute." Professor McGonagall appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Neville. She quickly dragged him out of Griffyndor tower.

They strode through the castle, and before long were in the dungeons. They then turned into the potions room. Neville blanched as he walked in and found Snape there. There was still a great deal of fear in his heart for this man… But Snape looked strangely, happy. What is going on?

"Ah, now Neville." Professor McGonagall looked him in the eye. "We, well that as, uhm-"

"Minerva, just shut up." Snape said absentmindedly. "Listen, Longbottom, I need you to remove the Dark Mark from my arm." Neville froze, what was he hearing?

"Neville, Severus betrayed the dark side so that he could help bring about the downfall of you know who, you of all the students should know how much it would hurt to be branded like that." Neville remembered alright, remembered his gran lying on her back, not a mark on her, face twisted in horror with the dark mark-

"Show it to me." His voice was icy, Neville felt cold and angry. Snape rolled up his sleeve and revealed the mark. It was black and pulsating with an odd aura of fear and death. Neville laid his hand on it and concentrated. Snape gritted his teeth and then the mark shriveled up and fell off of Snape into a disgusting black blob on the dungeon floor. Neville casually leveled a finger at it and it burst into flame.

"There you go Professor Snape." He said quietly.

"I- that is- well thank you, thank you very much." The thanks were quiet, but Neville heard it and his heart near soared. Approval from Professor Snape? Amazing. He'd just helped someone through something that obviously caused them pain and that no one else could do except him, this was great!

"Why though Igor, why?" Voldemort asked softly. There was a slight gurgle in response. "Everything was going well. You of all people should have known that if you'd gone to Azkaban you would have been free within the month. A little pain sure, but nothing more than that." This time a slight moan, filled with raw terror. Wormtail stared wide-eyed at whatever was behind his lord and master.

Behind him was Igor Karkarof, crucified and beaten to a bloody pulp, Voldemort couldn't remember how many times he'd used Crucio on the man, but he was certainly broken, he'd never been strong to begin with.

"Well Igor, I don't want to kill you," Voldemort hissed dangerously. "I need all the support I can get right now, I need to keep continual pressure on the world, and for that I need everyone. So I am going to change you Igor, I will make you, better." He raised his wand and smiled cruelly.

"But first, I must make sure you learned your lesson." Voldemort laughed, it was so much fun! And so delightful when they could even scream…

"Now listen here Fudge, Dumbledore is perfectly within his bounds as a citizen to raise a force to protect the children, it's written in to the school charter all the way back to the founding." Trenton Ainsley pointed out. Cornelius Fudge raised one portly eyebrow.

"It is?" Lucius Malfoy looked worried, if it was then his whole case would have to be redefined.

"Would any of you gentlemen care to look at it?" Trenton inquired. The group of governors nodded as one. "Very well then." He rang a bell pull and a house elf appeared out of nowhere. "Fetch me the founders scroll." The elf squeaked and disappeared. Trenton did so enjoy have an elf to accomplish such things; it also made life at home easier. The elf reappeared this time with an elongated box.

"Here you go." Trenton said and slid the box down the table to Fudge. Fudge opened it took out the scroll. He scanned down it and then looked at Trenton.

"Section IV, paragraph 3." He said quickly. Fudge nodded and scrolled down a little farther, the aged parchment crackling in his hands but not breaking. No one knew the exact spell Rowena Ravenclaw used to keep parchment fresh for thousands of years but she had a damn good one. Lucius scowled at the nodding of Fudge's fat head.

"Well everything does seem to be in order here, would anyone else care to look?" The statement was totally iniquitous, but carried the hidden subtlety that Fudge would remember who questioned his authority. "But I would ask you to convey to Dumbledore, the mild displeasure of the Governors over this, mishap." Trenton nodded, but his mind was racing. What had happened to Fudge?

"Still, something should be-"

"Hush Lucius, he is totally within his rights." Fudge said placatingly. Everyone held their breaths; no one had ever openly defied Lucius and gotten away with it aside form a few powerful witches and wizards. There were always political or economical repercussions that the Malfoy family could, extend. But Fudge was asserting his dominance.

"There is the issue however of Voldemort," he ignored the wince of the other men and women at the table. Trenton narrowed his eyes. Since when had Fudge called You Know Who by his name? "Apparently I was wrong at the beginning of the year, we believe he has returned. With the murder of Ms. Longbottom-" The man droned on, ignoring the fearful muttering in the room. He finally ended.

"It is time for us to take steps, we must prevent Voldemort from rising again, we must purge ourselves." His eyes lit with fanatic zeal. "We must purge the evil from our midst, eliminate the dark with the brightness of light!" The governors stared.

"We must find within ourselves the light and purge the dark, burn away the shadow, we must take magic into us and carry it to the great future that the wizarding world awaits. But only if we destroy the shadow that clings to us, join me my brethren, we shall triumph when united, for nothing can stand in our way!" The governors began to clamor with approval. Lucius Malfoy sat, frozen in his chair. Trenton Ainsley stood and applauded with the rest of them. He needed to talk to Dumbledore as soon as possible.

"Mr. Malfoy, will you join me?" Fudge inquired. The room quieted. Lucius shook himself and nodded.

"Of course."

"Excellent, I'm sure you have many bright ideas on how to destroy Voldemort." He led the handsome man from the room. The governors dispersed to tell every one of their newfound goal, and glorious destiny… Trenton stood and quietly Apparated to Hogsmeade.

"AGH!" Shrieked Hermione. Ron pounded her on the back and Harry looked at her in sympathy.

"THAT WAS DISGUSTING!" She screamed. Other wizards began to look at them strangely, and then Harry held up a bag full of every flavor beans. Many began to nod sympathy.

"Well, what flavor was it?" Ron asked. She glared at him.

"Shit." She said. Ron paled.

"Oh dear." He said quietly. Harry chuckled.

"Come on Hermione, I'm sure Ron will treat you to a drink, let's go." Hermione spat on the ground and glared at Ron. If glares could kill, well Ron wouldn't be dead, but he'd wish he was. The three headed for the Three Broomsticks. After going inside they sat down and ordered some Butterbeer. Hermione drank hers with a vengeance.

"I swear Ron, I'm going to fin-"

"Shhh." Harry said harshly. They quieted and watched as Draco Malfoy wandered into the pub in a bit of a daze. He picked a corner to sit in and when Rosmerta asked him what he wanted she frowned at his answer. She opened her mouth to say something but then he looked at her, and she seemed to wilt. She smiled absentmindedly and brought him something that looked awfully clear in a lager mug. Draco took one sip and his cheeks flushed with color.

"Your boyfriend looks like he's getting smashed Harry." Ron remarked. Harry frowned.

"He's not my boyfriend, Seamus is my boyfriend, Malfoy's, well we have to work something out with him." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Go to him Harry." She said, Ron snorted but made no move to stop him. Harry hesitated and then got up and walked over to Draco.

"Now Ron, please can you be a little more understanding, I mean who knows what Draco has to go through at home."

"Listen 'Mione, I could care less about what Malfoy goes through at home, all I care about is what he may do to Harry. Sure, I can't deny that I hate the slimy git, but if he makes Harry and Seamus happy I'll put up with him unless he pushes me to far. But if he does anything that makes Harry unhappy I'll kill him." Ron finished savagely. Hermione put a gentle hand on his arm.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." She smiled at him and he cautiously smiled back, and then all was well between them.

"Draco?" Harry asked softly. Draco had already put away half the mug, and definitely looked the worse for it. Draco looked up Harry with bleary eyes and a defiant sort of air.

"Oh, it's you." He said, and then took another drink. Harry sat down next to him in the booth. He whispered a charm and floated one of the small Christmas trees over to in front of the booth, giving them some measure of privacy. The trees were of course undecorated; it was nowhere near Christmas yet. Harry took the drink away from Draco who murmured in protest.

"What do you think you're doing Draco?" Harry asked quietly. Draco couldn't help but think he was so very beautiful, so strong and openly caring. Always going out of his way to help someone else, sorta like Seamus, he could see why the two could love each other so much. And that brought about the whole reason he was here.

"Well Potter, I am here because truly right now my life is going down the absolute fucking pits." Draco said almost cheerfully with only a slight slur in his words from the drink. Harry frowned, what did Draco mean?

"Draco?" He asked quietly again. Draco felt something catch in his throat. Aw shit, father warned me that drink makes you weak. He felt like crying, again. That would be twice in one fucking year, he hadn't cried this much since he was seven!

"Damn it Harry," Since when do I call him Harry? "Since you fell in love with him and Seamus you dumb Slytherin." Shut up. "Oh very well then." Wow, that was bizarre, Draco thought. And then had no time for thought as he made the mistake of looking into Harry's' eyes, and was captivated by them. Harry looked at Draco who then seemed to wilt into his arms. Harry held Draco for a moment, and felt very warm inside.

"Take me back to the castle Harry, but." He stopped. "Harry, if my father finds out about any of this, I'm dead, he'll take it as a personal affront, he'll kill me or have Voldemort kill me or-" Harry silenced him.

"Then we won't let him find out." He said softly into Draco's ear. Draco shivered at the touch. "Here, let's go back to the castle." With that he pulled Draco up and out past the tree, he beckoned to Ron and Hermione who nodded. Draco tried to walk but obviously couldn't so Harry held him up, until they got out of the restaurant.

"Ugh, since when are you so heavy."

"Are you calling me fat?" Draco slurred. Ron cracked a smile and then quickly stifled it as he realized Malfoy caused the smile. Hermione felt no such compulsion as she giggled. Harry sighed and continued to half pull Draco along before Ron finally stopped them.

"Listen, are we bloody wizards or what? Hermione, conjure a stretcher or something." Hermione frowned.

"I don't know how to, and I don't have The Book with me." She stomped the ground angrily. Ron sighed in exasperation when a loud voice came from behind them, a loud familiar voice.

"Well I don't know what ye be doin' wit Malfoy, but I'll carry him for ye." Hagrid boomed.

Shout Outs-

Ruka-Chan- Why is everyone so confused? Am I leaving things out, tell me what confuses you!

Creamy Mimi- I love you Creamy Mimi, and I hope this chapter lived up to the great quotes again.