The next day Harry was awoken by two people jumping on his bed.
"Harry!" George Weasley cried, jumping down next to him, "Why didn't you tell us?!"
"Huh?" Harry asked groggily, rubbing his eyes as he sat up.
Fred rolled his eyes, "Hermione just told us! About you being captain! Well done!"
"Oh… thanks." Harry replied.
George shook his head, "Trust Wood to not pick one of us… it's our last year aswell!"
"Sorry." Harry said meekly.
"Nah, we're not really bothered… imagine being captain, you'd have to be as obsessed with winning as Wood is! Just make sure you do a good job, otherwise Wood'll go spare!" George said, "Anyway, we're going down to breakfast… see you later."
The Weasley twins grinned at him one last time before hurrying out of the fifth-years dormitory.
"Hey, you're up." Ron said. He had just walked in the room after being almost flattened by his brothers as they ran out.
Harry yawned, getting up and pulling on his clothes quickly, "Let's go down to breakfast."
In the Great Hall, they were greeted by Hermione, who was sat with Dean and Seamus.
"Hi. Have a good talk with Dumbledore last night?" Seamus grinned slightly. A small bandage covered up the cut on his forehead.
"Dumbledore?!" cried Hermione, "What did you go and see him for? Is everything okay?!"
"I attacked Harry." Seamus informed her.
"WHAT?!" Hermione screeched, causing people to frown in their direction, "What are you talking about?!"
Harry told her what had happened the previous night.
"And you didn't go and see Dumbledore?" Hermione gasped.
Ron shook his head, "I guess we forgot… a letter came from Snuffles." He glanced at Seamus and Dean, but they were too engrossed in their breakfast.
Hermione frowned, "Well then you should go and tell him immediately."
Harry shook his head, "There's no point. I think it was probably just Peeves or something, messing about. I don't want to go and start worrying everyone – we've only been back a day!"
The look of disapproval on Hermione's face deepened, "I don't know Harry…"
"Just leave it okay, it's alright. Nothing happened," Harry turned to Seamus and Dean, "Don't mention it again, or to anyone, okay? I think it'd be best if this was just ignored."
Seamus nodded, "If you're sure, Harry. Madam Pomfrey didn't ask any questions, just gave me this bandage."
"I am." Harry confirmed with a nod, "Now let's just get on as normal…"
Breakfast carried on in silence, no one really wanting to argue with Harry's decision. It was only when the post arrived that everyone seemed to brighten up.
"Look, a letter from Hagrid." Harry said, passing it to Ron and Hermione to read after a brown owl had just deposited it in Harry's cereal.
"He wants us to go for tea tonight." Ron told them, reading from the parchment.
"Oh good, I haven't seen him since we got back." Harry replied.
"I don't know if we should be walking out in the grounds at night." Hermione said, making a pointed look at Harry, who rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Fine, if it makes you feel any better, we can wear the invisibility cloak."
"Honestly, Hermione, you'll have to stop frowning. You'll have more frown lines by the time your sixteen than McGonagall does!" Ron exclaimed. He then chose to ignore the smirk that Harry gave him.
On the way out of the Great Hall, Harry almost walked straight into Draco Malfoy, who was stood just outside the doors. Harry gasped inwardly when he saw who Malfoy was talking too – Cho Chang!
"Watch it, Potter!" Malfoy snapped.
"Oh… uh… sorry." Harry said, stuttering over his words. He almost groaned out loud – why did he always have to go into a quivering mess as soon as Cho was around?!
It didn't help when Cho smiled at him, giving a slight wave, "Hi Harry."
"Hi Cho." Harry managed to say, luckily without stammering.
"What are you waiting for, Potter?" Malfoy drawled, "Your Weasel's waiting."
Ron glared at him from where he was stood waiting, just ahead with Hermione, "Shut it Malfoy."
"You shouldn't talk to a Prefect like that, Weasel. You better watch it or I'll be taking more points off Gryffindor than what your house is worth. But seeing as that isn't much, it wouldn't take me long, would it?" Malfoy mocked, a smirk playing on his face.
"You better shut up before I knock that smirk off your face!" Ron cried, his fist balling. Hermione grabbed the back of his robes and restrained him, as Harry started over to them, eager to get away from Malfoy.
"See you, Harry!" Cho called after him.
"Uh, bye Cho." Harry replied, before quickly hurrying over to his friends. He looked back at Draco and Cho, they were in deep conversation and Draco was laughing and standing close to her. After a moment Cho laughed aswell, tossing her head back so her hair shimmered in the light.
"Ugh, I could just –" Ron mimed smacking his fist into his other palm.
"Why's he talking to Cho?" Harry wondered aloud.
Hermione let go of Ron's robes as they moved in the direction of the Gryffindor common room, totally ignoring his comment, while this time it was Ron's turn to send him a smirk.
That evening Harry, Ron and Hermione slipped out of the common room with Harry's invisibility cloak over them. They passed the caretaker, Argus Filch, in the corridors. He was looking around with beady eyes, his cat; Mrs Norris at his side. They tiptoed past him and out into the grounds, making their way over to Hagrid's small cabin next to the woods.
As Ron knocked on the door, Harry looked deep into the forest. He was sure he had just seen something flicker by. He was about to tell the others when the door swung open and Hagrid beamed down at them.
They pulled the invisibility cloak off them and Hagrid beckoned them in.
"Come on in, I was just making some of my famous rock cakes." Hagrid grinned.
Ron and Harry exchanged glances. They had tried some of Hagrid's "famous" rock cakes before and Harry was suddenly glad that he had eaten before coming.
"It's nice to see you Hagrid. What have you been up to?" Hermione asked, as she settled herself in an armchair by the fire.
"Oh you know . . . this and that." Hagrid said as he busied himself around the kettle. He looked up at the three of them and then at Harry. "It's so good to see you well Harry. It's a good job you wore that cloak, you don't know who could be out here. I shouldn't really have invited you at this time of night. I could get fired if someone found out."
"Everyone's worried about my safety." Harry muttered.
"And they have good reason to be. Everyone is going nuts at the Ministry." Hagrid said.
"Yeah, I've heard." Harry said.
"I thought you of all people would understand how important this is Harry. You've faced You-Know-Who, you know what he's like; you know how powerful he is."
Harry ignored him and sipped some of the tea that Hagrid had passed him. He didn't feel like arguing with anyone at the minute, especially Hagrid.
The four of them talked for a while about Quidditch and the fact that Harry was now captain of the team.
Hagrid glanced at the clock which told him it was nine o'clock. "I better take you back up to the castle." He sighed, standing up and stroking his boarhound, Fang.
"No, we can get back by ourselves. Besides, we've got the invisibility cloak." Harry told him.
Hagrid sighed as Ron and Hermione stepped outside. Harry was about to follow when Hagrid said, "Harry?" Harry stopped and turned around.
"Yeah?"
"Be careful." He said, with a worried look.
Harry nodded and caught up with Ron and Hermione who were halfway across the field. He slipped the invisibility cloak over them as they walked back to the castle.
The common room was packed with people chattering noisily and Harry, Ron and Hermione slipped in without being noticed.
As soon as they were back in, Hermione went up to her dormitory and brought a thick, heavy book down.
"Oh my god, she's starting to revise already. Hermione, the OWLs aren't till the end of the year." Ron teased.
Hermione snapped the book shut and glared at Ron. "As a matter of fact I was going to start looking for something to do with taking over people's bodies so I could help Harry."
"Hermione I already told you – it was probably Peeves or something . . ." Harry started.
"Oooh, Harry this, Harry that!" Ron snarled. "Harry doesn't need any help Hermione; did you hear what he just said?"
"What Harry needs is to teach you a few things then maybe you wouldn't be so damn ignorant all the time." Hermione retorted.
"Harry doesn't need anything!" Harry snapped. "I'm sick of you two arguing, what's with you?"
"Ask him! What's your problem?" She said calmly.
Ron sighed as Hermione walked off. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you." He said under his breath.