A/N- Enjoy! Thanks for the reviews!

~~~!!!!~~~

Research

~~~!!!!~~~

Harry was sleeping on his bed. He woke up after a dreamless night and felt very safe and content. His bed seemed so comfortable after the previous events and all he wanted to do was lie in it all day. He couldn't do that though for Hedwig soon pecked on the window. Harry opened the window and the owl gave Harry a piece of parchment and flew over to a perch with water. Harry read the letter and folded it back up and put it into his pocket.

``````` Harry,

I have sent a letter to Miss Granger asking for her help. You, Miss Granger and myself have to find a way to get the person who last wore the crown here so you can perform the task. We will be carefully examining the crown and Miss Granger will look for anything in the library. I think she is a good candidate for a job such as this. As soon as you get this letter tell Sirius what we are doing. I think he has a right to know. Be sure to come to the great hall for breakfast and stay afterwards so I can tell you some of my plans.

Albus Dumbledore

`````

Harry pulled the mirror out of his trunk and called Sirius's name. He had put it in the trunk to assure its safety the night before. No matter what he couldn't let anyone see it. He didn't exactly know his dorm mates would react to talking to a dead man through a mirror.

Nothing happened when he called Sirius's name so he tried again.

No answer.

"Sirius! Talk to me!" Harry screamed making Dean stir on the next bed over.

"Please Sirius," Harry cried.

Then Harry realized something that he forgot about completely. Sirius wouldn't be able to talk forever. There was a time limit that already expired. He wouldn't get to talk to Sirius for another 6 months. At least Harry hoped he would get to speak to him again.

Harry took a warm shower and dressed. He walked down to the great hall and ate a lot surprisingly. Hermione and Ron were there. Hermione seemed particularly excited.

"Harry!" she whispered excitedly. "Dumbledore wants me to help find out about the crown for you. He wants to speak to me after breakfast."

Ron looked at her suspiciously but soon forgot about it when more pumpkin muffins appeared and he started to stuff his face.

"He wants to talk to me about it too but why don't we talk about it later," he said looking at Ron.

After breakfast and when everyone was filing out Harry followed Hermione up to the headmaster.

"Professor," Harry greeted.

"Hello Harry. Hello Hermione," he nodded. "I suspect you got my letters?"

Both of the teenagers nodded.

"Miss Granger," the headmaster said looking at Hermione. "I suspect you know what's going on." After Hermione nodded Dumbledore continued. "I thought you would be a good person to do research in the library. You may have access to the restricted sections because I think it will be in a book there. Harry," he said turning back to Harry. "Did you speak to Sirius today?"

"No sir," Harry said quietly and hesitantly.

"Why not? I told you to in the letter I wrote this morning."

"He is gone sir," Harry whispered sadly.

"Oh, I see. Well we will just have to do everything without his help."

"What kind of help would he have been able to do?" Harry asked.

"Nevermind that now Harry. Miss Granger you may have class off today to do your research," Professor Dumbledore said.

"Sir, I would rather go to my lessons so I don't fall behind and look in the library after," Hermione said nervously.

"Miss Granger, you will not fall behind. I also think this is much more important."

Hermione nodded and fled to the library after taking her books into her hands

After Hermione left, Dumbledore immediately started to talk to Harry again.

"Harry we will get Sirius back."

"I know sir," Harry hoped.

"You can help me with the crown now. I think that watch of yours may be helpful."

Harry nodded and followed his professor to his office.

Professor Dumbledore walked over to the sorting hat and took it off of a shelf. "Selanutrabara," he said and then pulled the crown out of it.

"Um.how did you do that?" Harry asked.

"This hat has many purposes. You saw one of them in your 2nd year. The hat can be like a vault. You can lock stuff in it. The only way you can get it is if you say the password."

"Oh, so what are we doing?"

"We are looking here," he said pointing at the crown. "For clues or signs that show us who last wore it. They don't have to be royal but the last person who had it on their head for more the 3 hours at a time is the person we need. We can look for engravings or carvings or maybe fingerprints."

"But sir, what if the person is dead?"

"Then we can simply use the heir of the person."

"Oh," Harry said. He didn't want to even think about what would happen if there was no heir.

For the next three hours Harry helped check for fingerprints, hair particles, engravings and anything the Professor and student could think of but they didn't find anything.

Meanwhile Hermione was researching her heart out in the restricted section. She came across a page in a book called "Royal Blood" that she thought looked interesting.

She read.

King Rupert the IV was the king of England in the year 1512 for approximately 13 years. He was a very generous king and would give many things to those in need. In 1525 Draxion Malfoy, a pureblood wizard, was jealous of the attention King Rupert was receiving from muggles and wizards a like. King Rupert was assassinated by Malfoy. He then wore the crown at the feast that he held the same night. No one attended however. Everyone was very sad about the murder and they shunned Malfoy. Malfoy, being a powerful evil wizard, killed many wizards and muggles that were in his way. Malfoy died in Shellozman, the prison at the time, 10 years later.

"Merlin, this is what we need!" Hermione said to herself. "But Malfoy's dead. There has to be someone else who wore it after that. They wouldn't put it in the museum that early. Or would they?"

Hermione grabbed the book and her belongings and ran straight to the headmaster's office. She said the password and ran in without knocking. She saw Harry and Dumbledore looking through a microscope at the crown.

"Professor Dumbledore! I've found something," she exclaimed immediately.

Professor Dumbledore and Harry quickly stopped what they were doing to look at the book the girl was holding out in front of her. They read quickly and Hermione soon interrupted the silence.

"Sir, I don't know if this will help any because he is dead."

"I know Miss Granger but we can still use the heir of this person."

"But that would mean-" Hermione started.

"Malfoy!" Harry finished in shock.

Dumbledore nodded.

"But sir, he will never help! He is probably a deatheater like his father. Why would he help save the wizarding world?" Harry asked worriedly.

"Potter, I know you dislike Malfoy a great deal but he is not a deatheater." the headmaster said calmly.

"Is he a spy then?" Hermione asked.

"He is not a spy. I happen to know that he is neither on the light or the dark side. He is neutral and will help us if I ask him to do so."

Harry and Hermione said no more while Dumbledore gave sent a note with a scruffy brown owl to Malfoy. It said for him to come immediately.

About 15 minutes later there was a knock on the door and Dumbledore opened it. Malfoy strode in and sat as far away from Harry and Hermione as possible.

"Hello Mr. Malfoy. Mr. Potter, Miss Granger if you could so kindly wait outside. Harry and Hermione obliged and sat down in the next room over while struggling to hear what was being said.

"Mr. Malfoy thank you for coming so quickly," Dumbledore hummed.

Draco said nothing.

"You are here because I need your assistance."

"Sir, I already told you I didn't want to be a spy. I want to stay neutral."

"I understand that. This is nothing like that. This concerns Sirius Black and your Great Great Great Great Great Great Grandfather."

"Sirius Black.isn't that Harry's dead godfather?."

"Indeed it is but before I tell you this I have to have your complete loyalty."

"You can trust me sir."

"Sirius Black can come back from where he is but we need your help. A long time ago your Great Great Great Great Great Grandfather killed King Rupert the IV and wore his crown for a whole night. The same crown is the one that can save Mr. Black. All you need to do is put on the crown and walk through the veil with Mr. Potter on the one year anniversary of his death."

"But why me?"

"You are the heir of the last person who wore the crown."

"I am not completely sure I understand but I will do you what wish."

"I knew I could count on you Draco. I am going to call Harry and Hermione back in here so I can tell them."

Malfoy nodded with a slight disgusted expression on his face.

Harry and Hermione came in after not being able to hear the conversation and sat down in front of their headmaster without making eye contact with the blonde Slytherin sitting in the chair next to them.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy has agreed."

Harry smiled and looked at Draco who wasn't showing any sign of emotion.

"We have a very long time before we have to worry about the task ahead of us but we will have to plan ahead. I will expect both of you in my office in April. We will need plenty of time to talk. You may all go now but this is not to be spoken about at all. Do I make my self clear?"

Everyone nodded and walked out the door and down the stairs.

Harry and Hermione went the direction of their common room and Malfoy went off in his own direction. Harry stopped abruptly and turned around.

"Malfoy wait!" Harry called.

"What do you want Potter?" Malfoy hissed.

"I.I.Uh.thanks,"

"I am not doing this for you. I am doing this for Dumbledore to prove I don't want to be like..my.uh well you know," he spat and continued walking.

A/N- I know Malfoy may have been a bit ooc but Dumbledore and Malfoy have sort of an understanding with each other. I will let you contemplate what the understanding is. I will try and get the next chapter up tomorrow but I have to read a book for summer reading. Bleck! REVIEW PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LUV REVIEWS!