Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.  Please don't sue.

After Quidditch practice, Harry decided to go for a walk instead of going back to the commons.  It didn't make much sense, Harry thought as he walked along the grounds.  Voldemort doesn't have anything to gain by the attack.  Well, maybe he's trying to prove he's still powerful.  Maybe he hopes that he can get more of Lucius' group to switch over to his.  Still, this doesn't look good.

Harry noticed a sitting silhouette against the sunset, on the hill overlooking the lake, and decided to walk over to see who it was.  He was surprised; it was Parvati, and she was yet again crying.

Harry sat down next to her, and gently put his hand on her shoulder.  She immediately turned and started sobbing into his robes, "I'm…It's…I can't…"

Harry gently patted her back and said, "It's ok, Parvati.  What's going on?"

Parvati looked him in the eyes, her face obviously torn on what she was going to do.  She strongly reminded Harry of Dobby when he had something he wanted to say, but couldn't.

Harry gently added, "Don't worry, I promise I won't tell anyone."

Parvati broke down again, and handed him a brittle piece of parchment.  Harry was confused, but read what appeared to be Padma's handwriting, although it was very shaky.

Parvati,

I'm so sorry!  I didn't realize what I had done.  I'm fighting him now, and I can break through for a few minutes.  Sister, I never imagined what evil Voldemort is capable of, and I pray you never find out.

I managed to write and owl you this when I got control momentarily.  I think I might finally be able to kick him out completely, but I'll need your help and support.

As soon as I grow strong enough, I will head home.  But it's vitally important that you don't tell ANYONE about this.  Otherwise the death eaters might find out and stop me.

- With sorrows and love,

Padma

Harry read the note twice, and turned it over in his head while Parvati was gently sobbing.  He knew that Voldemort was week – could Padma actually be fighting him?  But what if she wasn't?  This could be some ploy, something to help him hide from the ministry, who were by the looks of things about ready to actually start looking for him, and from Lucius' group, who would be even more eager to finish him off than the aurors.

Harry was skimming the note absently when a word stuck out in his mind.  'Voldemort?!' he thought, I've never heard Padma refer to him as Voldemort, even at the end of last year when she was about to merge with him.  That's very odd…

"Parvati," he spoke intently, "I want you to promise me you will not go home to meet Padma, no matter what.  I also want you to promise me that you'll tell me if she sends you any other notes."

Parvati trembled, "Why?"  Harry hesitated, afraid to tell her that the note was probably still from Voldemort, and Parvati continued, "You know something… something you're not telling me!"

Harry had to admit to himself she was absolutely correct.  Not only did he know where the note probably came from, but why it was being sent in the first place.  "I'm sorry," he softly said, "but I can't tell you."

Parvati turned nasty, and slapped him hard.  "My sister's life is in danger," she hissed, "and here I thought I could trust you!"  Parvati ran back to the castle, and Harry sighed as he looked over the lake.

Harry thought for several minutes, trying to decide if he could've handled the situation any better, and wondered whether Parvati would tell him when Padma mailed her again.  He felt a hand on his shoulder, and watched as Ginny sat down next to him, exactly where Parvati was ten minutes before.

"Hi Harry.  You look a bit out of it." Ginny said.

Harry couldn't help a small smile and said, "Yep."

"I saw you up here with Parvati."  For one brief moment, Harry thought that she was jealous, until she added, "I know she's upset about Padma and Voldemort, but she seemed really upset when she got a note earlier today.  I was wondering if she told you what's wrong."

Harry bit his lip, wondering how much to tell her.  After all, he did promise Parvati he wouldn't tell anyone.  Ginny saw his face and said, "It's ok, Harry.  I understand, you don't have to tell me."

Harry let out a relieved smile, and leaned over and gave her a quick kiss.  "Will you do me a favor," he asked, "Can you tell me if she gets another note?"

Ginny smiled and nodded.  "We should probably get back soon," she whispered.

Harry grunted, but neither moved, and instead watched the sunset over the lake together.

Although Divination continued to stump Harry, classes were probably going better than ever before.  Charms was easier than ever, and he was even surpassing Hermione, which was a constant annoyance to her.  Potions was actually somewhat fun, and Harry was glad Snape was on his side.  And McGonagall was a lot lighter on him since he had helped out the school so much last year.

However, Trelawney seemed determined to ruin Firenze, Ron, and Harry's good moods.  Everyday she would act insolent around the centaur, and it got worse every day.  Finally, she erupted while Firenze was talking about Astrology. "SILENCE!" she yelled, with no trace of mistiness in her voice.

The rest of the class looked at her in surprise, including Firenze.  She screamed, "You're not a seer!  You think you can read the sky!  You don't know anything, you dirty centaur!"

The class all stared at her, and Firneze had a small smile on his face.  Trelawney finally hollered, "I'm not surprised someone would cut off YOUR SODDING HOOF!"

Firenze couldn't have looked more devastated.  Harry watched with alarm as the centaur's face broke, and his head immediately bowed.  Firenze slowly walked to the front door and left the class without a word.

Trelawney, possibly seeing the looks of utmost loathing on the majority of the class, said, "Class is dismissed early today."  Harry couldn't help but notice that she didn't' follow the centaur and instead exited the trapdoor, so Harry and Ron sped off to console Firenze instead.

However, Firenze seemed to have fled, and Harry and Ron couldn't find any trace of him.  "Lonliness," Harry muttered softly to himself.

"Oh, we're going to get that Bat back, just wait," Ron growled.

Hermione and Ginny caught up to them, and said, "Hey guys, you ready for Hogsmeade?" until they saw the looks on the boys faces.

"What's wrong?" Ginny asked.

Harry and Ron were still grinding their teeth, and Ron finally simply said, "Revenge."

"Harry," Ginny said softly, "you know what we talked about earlier with Parvati?"  Ron and Hermione looked at her puzzled, and Harry simply nodded.  "Well," she said, "She got one today."

"What did she look like?  Angry?" Harry asked.

"No," Ginny answered, "she looked normal… well, maybe a little excited.  I don't know for sure."

Ron and Hermione looked at the pair in confusion, and finally Ron asked, "Er, Harry, is there anything you need to tell us?"

Harry looked at the two, thinking things over.  "No," he finally responded, "I made a promise not to tell anyone.  I'm sorry."

Ron looked a little grumpy, but didn't say anything.  Hermione piped up, "I can't wait to see the Weasley Wizard Wheezes shop tomorrow."

The entire group had been looking forward to the first Hogsmeade weekend, and Hermione's reminder of cheered Ron up. "I visited it once this summer," Ron gushed, "It's really great – they've got different sections for how strong the prank is.  Get this, they organized it by how many points you'd lose by using it at Hogwarts."

Harry and Ginny laughed; Hermione scowled.  Harry asked, "What's the highest category they've got?"

Ginny smiled and said, "Why, Harry!  I would have never!" in a voice remarkably close to McGonagalls.

Harry laughed again, and Ron said, "Well, the Yellow section is 10-20 points.  I think they've got stronger stuff, but I didn't see any in the store."

Hermione said, "20 points? That's an awful lot for one prank."

Harry and Ron looked at her in disbelief, and Ron finally said, "That's the point!  Oh, you've got to see it, Harry, they've come up with all these new products they didn't tell me about."

Harry, Ginny, and Hermione guided the slightly over-energetic Ron back to the Gryffindor commons, and they all decided to go to their respective rooms.

Hermione shook her head as she entered the 7th year girls dorms.  She was sure that Harry and Ron were discussing the various prank items they could buy.  Suddenly, she noticed that Parvati appeared to be packing for the weekend.

"Parvati," she asked, somewhat confused, "I thought you weren't leaving this weekend."

Parvati turned around nervously.  "Er," she stammered, "I'm going to Hogsmeade."

"Why," Hermione asked slowly, "are you packing to go to Hogsmeade?"  Parvati couldn't come up with anything, and Hermione's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Parvati seemed to realize that Hermione suspected something and caved in.  "Listen, I'm going home for the weekend.  But you have to promise that you won't tell anyone!"  Parvati saw the look of doubt on Hermione's face and said, "Hermione, I want you to give me your word you won't tell anyone!"

"Ok," Hermione said softly, "I won't tell anyone."

"Even Harry?" Parvati hissed, still unsure.

"Even Harry," Hermione confirmed.

Parvati finally finished packing her trunk and closed it.  After she picked it up and started to leave, Hermione asked, "What?  You're leaving now?  But we still have our Friday classes!"

Parvati shot back, "It's ok.  I, er, cleared it with the professors.  Just remember your promise, Hermione."  Hermione scowled, and slightly regretted giving her word to her roommate.

----

Ooooh, what's going to happen with Parvati…

As some of you discovered, I was up late last night.  Well, technically, I was up late this morning.  Our App Development class had a final project due at 9:45 AM, and I didn't get to sleep until after it.  Hopefully the chapter will make sense to someone who isn't sleep deprived.

Seifer: I realized I didn't know who to make the beaters.  So I took the wimpy road and took Dean and Seamus.  Oh well.

Kaelli: Actually, Prof. Vector is odd.  No other word for her.  She'll be an odd one through the story.  Don't get me wrong, though – I think I like her character even more than Fleur's…

Garina: Well, some of your questions are answered

Kim: I was just wondering – was the e-mail I sent you coherent?  I mean, I was up for how many hours at that point.

Please Review!!