~*~ Hiya! … OK, First of all, I kinda posted the last chapter a bit wrong; I finished it too soon… So, this chapter starts still kinda on the subject of the Ball and such… But it still works! No worries!

And Second of all, sorry it took me so long to post this chapter! I've been writing tons, so I'll have chapter 23 up pretty soon!

And Third of all, sorry about chapter 21. I posted it wrong, so there are really big spaces in between everything… Ugh! 

And Finally, HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX IS COMING OUT ON JUNE 21st 2003!! WOOHA!!! (Here's a link where you can read a few sentences from the fifth book: www.barnesandnoble.com…just look for anything about the fifth book, and it should be there!)  ^_^ Anyhoo! Enjoy! ~*~

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Ron was on the other side of the room, arguing with Ginny about some un-important matter involving a small shopping spree in Hogsmede. Ginny wanted to dip into Ron's savings so she could get a new set of glittery colored ink. When Ginny finally gave up and stormed off to badger Fred and George, Ron went over to Harry. He flopped heavily into the vacant seat across from him, where Hermione had sat only moments ago.

"Ginny is being so stubborn! I'm beginning to understand why my parents are always saying were a handful," he crossed his arms over his chest and stared darkly at his little sister, as she threw the same fit of temper when the twins refused to lend her money.

"How's she being stubborn?" Harry asked, packing his things back in his bag.

"She's asking to borrow money for some stupid ink set she wants…" he explained. He had been saving up for a while now, so he could get an autographed Quaffle, signed by the Chudley Cannons. "So, what were you and Hermione talking about?"

"Oh, we decided to go to the Ball together," Harry informed him.

"That's great," he said happily, though his heart wasn't really in it. The two boys got up from the table and joined Hailey and Hermione on the couch, by the fire.

"What are you two up to?" Hailey asked them as they slumped lazily in the armchairs.

"Nothing much… What are you two up to?" Harry responded

"We were just talking about the Ball," Hermione told them. Ron groaned slightly.

"That seems to be all that you talk about, lately!" he said sounding a bit exasperated.

"Well, it may not be as exciting for you, but we're really looking forward to it!" Hermione retorted. Harry, sensing another 'Ron-Hermione squabble', told them they were being childish and should quit arguing. At that remark, both of them glared at one another and turned away. Harry distinctly heard Ron mutter "Girls…" before crossing his arms sulkily. Hailey was trying hard not to show her amusement, so she announced that she was going off to bed.

"I'll see you all in the morning!" she said, giggling on her way up the stairs.

"I think I'm going to head off too," Hermione said. She stood, grabbed her book bag, and followed after Hailey to the girls' dorm.

Harry and Ron sat in silence for a while, before they both decided it was time they went to bed as well. Everyone gladly slept soundly, grateful for no present troubles in the castle.

Harry woke that morning, feeling as happy as pie. He checked his watch, stretched, and got out of bed to get dressed and ready for breakfast and classes. As he packed up his books, he realized he was missing his charms book.

"Ugh, where's it gone?" he asked himself, searching around his dorm. Checking under his bed, he spotted it lying in the middle of the floor. He reached for it, bushed off some fluff, and put it back in his bag. He was heading for the door when he stopped dead in his tracks.

"Charms…" he whispered to himself.

"What?" came Ron's sleepy voice.

"Oh no… my month is up!" he said, panic running through him.

"Month? For what?" Ron asked as he pulled his socks on. He watched Harry as he paled slightly. "Harry?"

"The crest! Fobert gave me a month to find it! My month is up!" the full realization of what was happening, hitting him square in the face.

"Seriously? I thought you still had another week!" Ron mumbled thoughtfully.

"No, I don't have anymore time! What am I gonna do?" Harry was starting to panic now. He looked at his watch once more, and told Ron he was going to get Hailey. Knocking on the Girls dorm door, he nervously checked his watch again. The very person he wanted to see answered the door.

"Good morning!" Hailey said running a brush through her hair. "What's wrong?" she asked, seeing the look on Harry's face.

"I still haven't found that crest, and my month is up!" he said, sounding a bit frantic.

"Oh my… OK, well, calm down… Lets try and talk to Sirius before classes." She suggested. Harry shook his head.

"I can't do that! No one can know who's looking for it. Sirius just thinks we're interested… Argh!" he covered his face with his hands and rubbed his temples.

"Well, maybe you can just try to avoid Fobert for now… skip charms, or go under your cloak… and if you see her anywhere else just go the opposite direction… I'll even help you, you know, keep a watch out." She waited while Harry considered her idea.

"OK…I'll try it, but I don't know what I'm going to do if it doesn't work…" he rubbed his forehead in thought.

"Alright, I'm going to get dressed. Meet me and Hermione in the common room, and we can go down to breakfast, OK?" she asked

"What if Fobert's there?" he said, panic striking him again at the thought.

"Don't worry, it'll be alright." She told he reassuringly. Harry nodded and went to get Ron. The two boys waited downstairs for Hailey and Hermione; Ron watching Harry concernedly, while he prayed that the girls would take longer than usual.

He decided he would take his Invisibility Cloak, just incase. Folding it up and stuffing it in his bag, he walked down to breakfast. He was lucky, when he didn't spot Professor Fobert in the Great Hall. He tried to look cheerful, when Sirius approached him and asked him why he looked so glum.

"Oh, I just didn't get a lot of sleep, last night" he lied, pretending to yawn.

"I see, well maybe you should try to get to bed earlier tonight, hmm?" Sirius recommended, sounding very much like a father. Harry smiled weakly and nodded his head. Just then, Hailey kicked Harry in the shin.

"Ow! What?" he hissed at her, gingerly rubbing his leg. Hailey nodded her head in the direction of the door behind the head table. Professor Fobert was walking through, but luckily, she was going through some papers and didn't even look up when she sat down.

"Oh no…" Harry whispered feeling as if the bottom had dropped out of his stomach.

"What's wrong?" Sirius asked him

"I…I left my Transfiguration book in my dorm, I'm just going to go get it…" he lied quickly, not wanting spend any more time in the Great Hall. He stood and whispered to Hailey to meet him outside.

Harry was usually quite brave in a situation like this, but now it was different. He didn't know anything about Fobert or Mitchell. They could be working for Voldemort, for all he knew… and come to think of it, they probably were. But he wasn't going to judge anyone just yet; Professors Fobert and Mitchell could have absolutely no association with Voldemort, or even each other, whatsoever…and that's what Harry hoped was the case. He sat on the bottom step of the Marble staircase and waited for Hailey. He figured she was taking her time, so it didn't look too suspicious if she left immediately after Harry. Becoming mildly impatient, he began to pace, when the doors to the Great Hall swung open slightly and Hailey's small figure appeared.

"What do I do? I'm usually not this uptight in a situation like this…" Hailey clucked her tongue concernedly, "and I think it's because there's a possibility that Fobert could be here on Voldemort's behalf, but I haven't seen any dark magic at all…" He went on telling Hailey all of his thoughts and the odds of the teachers-in-training working for the Dark Lord.

"I don't know what to say, really… except; be careful," Hailey warned. She cared a great deal about her brother and wouldn't want him to get hurt, but if she was going to put serious thought into getting Harry out of trouble, she would need a bit more time.

"I think I'll just skip charms… that's sounds like the best plan so far. Could you take notes for me?" he asked her wearily. Hailey nodded.

"Sure thing. But, just make sure you're in Defense Against the Dark Arts… Sirius'll get worried if you don't show up…" She sighed deeply and patted Harry on the shoulder, before turning to go back in to breakfast.

"Thanks Hailey…" Harry muttered before heading up the stairs to Transfiguration. He figured he'd just go up to class and wait for everyone, seeing as there was only five minutes left…

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~*~ PLEASE REVIEW!! Thnx! :o) ~*~

(A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers! And stay tuned! Chapter 23 is coming up Soon! Teehee! ^_^)

Shorty (Jenn) – Ugh! You finally replied! Don't get your knickers in a knot! The Ball will be great! It'll all turn out in the end. I promise!! Hehe!

Slytheringirl560 – I'm glad you like it! ^_^ There's more on the way! ^_~ Hehe!