Chapter 8 : Unleashed Shadows

Disclaimer: I do not own, or claim to own Harry Potter or any related characters. These belong to JK Rowling and I am…borrowing.

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Author's Notes: (N.B. This is going to be a LONG one… but you would probably benefit from reading it. It talks about things from the last couple of chapters).

Thanks to T.A.G, who reviewed last chapter. Yes, I know it is kind of unusual that Harry and Ron would attend Defence of Dark Arts classes, while Hermione wouldn't. I'll try to mention it in further chapters, but I'm leaning towards the idea that both Hermione and Ron were originally not going to take these lessons, but because of Chamber of Secrets thing and that fact that Harry would've wanted someone to take the lessons with him, Ron's in there as well. (I know it's a pretty hopeless explanation, but if you can think of anything better, please tell me, I want to know.)

About the Muggleborn thing with Hermione. I'm assuming Muggleborn's are rare cases in the Wizarding World, but there are enough to say that Hermione wouldn't take lessons just because of this fact (or then there would be a lot of people taking lessons).

Well, my other explanation for Hermione not taking lessons is that she wasn't asked, based on the fact that she learns from books and excels in subjects that require books. For practical Defence of Dark Arts lessons (the Wednesday night ones), I don't think she would do that well. But that's just me guessing, and after watching the second movie again, I really don't know anymore.

Thanks also to INIYSA who reviewed. About the forgetting things because I'm doing a WIP?… Well, I'm guilty. Hehe. See, the thing is, I'm working on a Hermione/Draco fic (WIP) and I'm starting a Lord of The Rings fic, that I'm planning to finish before I post at all, and writing three different plots gets VERY confusing. But don't worry, I read over every now and then, and I just finished fixing up this chapter. Thanks for telling me my mistakes though, It helps cause I don't see everything that's wrong.

About Harry taking lessons AND being in the Hospital Wing? Well, I didn't really think about that much, but it does make sense. Harry had been in the hospital wing for about a week, two weeks the most, meaning the last seven chapters have only revolved around the last two weeks. [Pretty slow if you ask me, I'll probably speed it up soon.] In the last chapter (Chap. 7), it says that Harry and Ron have been taking lessons for at least two months, meaning Harry only missed about one/two lessons [Lessons are Wednesday night].

Does that make sense? I'm never good at explaining. Here, think about it this way, Harry and Ron began training at the beginning of Fifth Year. Harry's delusions and Hospital Wing stay were AFTER the first two months of training, so it would be March right now. Harry's delusions would've occurred at the beginning of March, and this chapter (8), would be set mid-March.

If you STILL don't understand, just ask, and I'll try again. Well, that's all from me….

Read on! (and review!)

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Harry sighed, "It doesn't matter now anyway."

Hermione blinked and looked up, "Why?"

"'Cause we're not having them anymore after tomorrow."

"Why?" Hermione repeated.

Harry dropped his voice to a hoarse whisper. "Remember what I told you two? About me thinking Snape is going back to being a DeathEater spy? [A.N: I'm not sure if Ron and Hermione know about this in Book Four, but let's imagine they do.]"

Hermione nodded.

"Well, it's confirmed. He's definitely going back to his Death Eater ranks and going back to being a spy for Dumbledore again." Harry paused, letting the effect of this sentence sink in. All three of them despised Snape, but even they felt sympathy for him. After all, how many people were brave enough to stand up to DeathEaters, let alone be a spy against Voldermort.

"But that's just Snape," Hermione argued, "he's not even the Defence of Dark Arts teacher. Professor Lupin is."

"Professor Lupin and Mrs. Figg left yesterday, I don't have much idea why, but it has something to do with 'the old crowd' or something. I heard them talking a while ago, at the end of last year. It's also got to do with Sirius, he owled me to tell me I wasn't going to be able to reach him for a long time. I don't know what's going on, but it's probably going to be dangerous."

"Don't you think you have a right to know, Har--"

"I was planning on asking Dumbledore this week sometime, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea to interrupt all that's going on."

Ron nodded in agreement.

"I don't know Harry. Just watch out for stuff, and yourself ok?"

Harry nodded, and Hermione left. It was a Tuesday and she had an Arithmacy and Muggle Studies paper due soon. Harry and Ron left for their Common Room soon after.

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Hermione started slowly, her footstep echoing softly down the corridor. She still couldn't believe she had spent three hours in the Library researching for her Muggle Studies assignment due in July. Well, that, and some information for Harry.

She stopped at a faded and dusty portrait of Agrippa. Making a mental note to ask someone to dust the pale woman's portrait – she tapped lightly on the frame, startling the sleeping figure.

"OH! MS GRA--"

"Sorry, I need to get in."

Agrippa yawned, covering her mouth and muffling her words. "Pastwrot?"

"Indigo feathers."

Agrippa frowned a little at being awoken at such a time but swung open nonetheless.

"Thanks," Hermione muttered as she entered the Prefect Common Room. Since it was – Hermione glanced at the clock hanging on the wall – 2:15am, everyone was either asleep or in their House Common Rooms.

Swaying slightly from drowsiness, Hermione reached for the banister and managed to find her way to her room and then her trunk. Pulling out her towel and clothes for bed, she found her way back to the portrait. Stepping back out, and seriously annoying Agrippa, she walked further down the dark corridor until she came to a portrait of Boris the Bewildered.

"Rock pool." She said softly.

Hermione stepped in the Prefect's bathroom and yawned. Pulling her wand out of her sleeve and locking the door, she stripped down and tried the taps. Settling on her usual favourite (pale blue gliding bubbles and crystal clear, rose scented water), she climbed in and closed her eyes. She felt tired and exhausted from thinking, but even as the warm smell of flower petals wafted to the ceiling, questions flooded her mind.

What did Harry's scar and Grindelward mean?

Why would Harry and Ron be taking extra Defence of Dark Arts lessons now? Did that mean there was going to be an attack?

Did that mean Voldermort was strong enough to attack Hogwarts? And why were Harry and Ron taking those lessons, and not me? After all, we were supposed to be the infamous trio, why would they exclude me from such important lessons? Not to mention the fact I'm a Prefect…

Hermione groaned. She was tired, way too tired to be thinking now.

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Harry woke at five am the next day. He moaned as his alarm went off and his curtains magically opened, revealing the first streams of sunlight for the day. Grudgingly, he climbed out of bed, secretly wishing he hadn't charmed his curtains to do that. Eyes half-closed, Harry changed into his Quidditch robes and grabbed his Firebolt. He skipped the steps three by three and didn't see Fred and George before he plowed into them.

"Oi Harry!" Yelled a squashed Fred.

"Sorry!" Harry called from underneath George, "Didn't see you."

George got up first, allowing Harry to breathe again. "Didn't see us?" He said amazed.

"Well that's what you get for running down the stairs with your eyes closed." Harry agreed.

"Hey, where's Ron?"

Harry shrugged slightly, "Probably asleep."

"Well I guess he doesn't want to find out if he's got the new Keeper position then."

Before Fred could finish, Harry had already bolted back up the stairs, even faster than before.

"Don't forget to keep your eyes open, Harry!" Fred called after him.

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"Well team," Fred started, "As you all know, since Oliver decided to go all high and mighty on us and leave, we need a new Keeper and Captain."

"Other teams, like Hufflepuff and Slytherin have also had to take votes, which is why we had to wait this long. They wanted us to have our teams completed together." George continued.

"Now since we aren't Slytherin scum, we didn't have anyone trying to buy their way in, and the votes are

completed. Most of your preferences also were counted, and it was pretty close." Fred grinned.

"But our new Keeper is…" George paused for effect, except certain peoples patience had already run out.

"Just get on with it will you?" Ron protested loudly.

"But Ron! We want to make your crowning achievement memorable!"

"Will you…you mean…I'm…"

"Yeah."

"Wicked!" Ron face split into a huge grin, and looked at Harry with the happiest expression Harry had seen on his best friend for a long time.

The second year boy sitting behind him looked extremely upset as he got up and left. And the sixth year looked just plain angry at being beaten by a five year. He stormed out.

"Don't worry, there's always next time!" Alicia had called out after them.

"And now…" Fred imitated a drum roll and all eyes in the room turned back to him and George.

"We have a note from McGonagall…and the person whose name is on it is our new…"

"Quidditch Captain!" They finished together. Angelina, Alicia and Katie all gave them exasperated looks.

"Oh ok. I guess we're hungry too."

"And the winner is…" Fred said slowly, "Potter!…I mean, Harry!"

Harry got up, his grin matching Ron's exactly. This was more than wonderful, this was fantastic! He had wanted this for so long, and now he had it. He was Quidditch Captain for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. And now he could do something he had wanted to do for so long…

"Okay team, we're going to work harder, faster and better this year. This year is OUR year." Harry said with straight-faced determination.

The rest of the team just groaned, and Harry and Ron ran out into the pitch, laughing to themselves.


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"Hey Hermione," Harry grinned as he sat down next to her. "Where've you been?"

"Me?" She replied amazed, "I have been eating breakfast. Where have you two been?"

"Ron's been telling everyone in Gryffindor tower who'll listen, that he's our new Keeper."

Ron's face scrunched up in defiance, "I have not."

Hermione laughed bright and cheerful, that bath last night must've been real good, she noted to herself. She felt lightened and full of energy. "And?" She prodded Harry.

"Yeah, yeah. And I've been telling everyone in Gryffindor tower who'll listen, that I'm the new Quidditch Captain."

"Mmhmm." Ron nodded, satisfied.

Hermione laughed again. "Congratulations you two. But now, I've got work to do, and I'll see both of you in Potions later ok?"

Harry and Ron nodded after her, and watched as she packed her books and left. When she did though, they put their heads together again, thinking of the wondrous possibilities behind a Quidditch Captain, his best friend – the Keeper, and their next match –the Slytherins.

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Hehe, wasn't that TOO obvious they were going to make Quidditch Captain and Keeper. Well, what can you do, they're the main characters. Oh, and I think Hermione's seems a bit strange. Do you think she's Out Of Character? *Looks around as everyone shrugs* Well, I dunno either.

Also, I'm really sorry about the continuously changing summary for this story. I'm still looking for something that works. As I have new ideas everyday, it gets slightly hard to incorporate everything into a few lines. It'll settle in the next few days.

Well that's it, I think the next chapter will be up soon, but I have to warn you. Be prepared for slow updating, it's the holidays right now and I don't go on a computer that often. But don't worry, it's only a short break – two weeks.

Thanks SO much for reading, and please REVIEW. Constructive criticism welcome.