Disclaimer: Yes, I'm still trying to bribe Ms Rowling into giving me all the rights to Harry Potter . . . so far it's a no go. I'll just have to keep writing illegal imitations then *sigh*

Ok, now that that's out of the way I shall proceed to thank all the most absolutely amazingly fantastic people who have reviewed.

shdurrani: Why thankyou, and let me assure you that I will definitely keep this going

Srialb: WHAT A FANTASTIC REVIEW! Ok, now I'm the one who needs to calm down. I am so freaking happy that you love this! I love people loving this!

GravityDrop: *sigh* I feel honoured that you think my story is great. And I am very sorry that this chapter has taken so bloody long

Charliegirl: You know you are one fantastic comment giver. Ok, I'll try and answer your questions now. I think that because Hermione was so worried all through fifth year that she would have been slightly distracted so she couldn't really do as well as she should have. Also I think you can only get 'outstanding' if you get like 100% on your OWL and in the book she seems to complain about stuffing things up so I put her down a bit. Oh and about the "apology" I tried to make Ron sound sort of too sincere, like is apology was over practised because he didn't really mean it, you know? Ok, I hope that answers your questions. Thanks for reviewing; you are so still my equal number one fan!

Arya Precantri: I agree with you totally. I hate Ron, he is completely evil. I wish I could get rid of him. But I can't. So I'm compensating by torturing him with bad marks etc. Ah well, I'll just have to keep this semi perfect *cough cough*. Thanks for the review!

Jimmy: Aw, how wonderful that you have graced me with your presence James Cox. Nah, thanks for reviewing! But believe me Jimmy; I am so not adding on false compliments to this thankyou, I still have to get you back for that.

Right, well now that I'm done thanking all you groovtastical people I should actually get on with the chapter. Here I go then!

Chapter 5: Decisions, decisions, decisions

The next few days after Sirius' funeral seemed to fly by for Harry. He spent the majority of his time just lying around with Ebony. Ron and Hermione had gone home two days after leaving just Remus, Harry and Ebony in Grimmauld Place. Most days Remus would be out doing missions for the Order so Harry and Ebony were left to fend for themselves. On the fourth day Harry and Ebony were lying on the drawing room floor staring up at the ceiling. They had been there for most of the day but had only said a few sentences to each other in that time. Ebony rolled over onto her stomach and surveyed Harry through the hair that had fallen in her face.

"Have you chosen your N.E.W.T classes yet?" she asked

"Err, no, not yet" Harry replied

"Well, what are you going to do?"

"Err, I think all of them"

"Oh yes, and of course I know what they are seeing as I can read minds" Ebony stated sarcastically

"Oh, I'm doing Charms, Potions, Defence against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology. Why, what are you doing?"

"Same as you, 'cept I'm also doing Arithmancy" She replied tucking her hair behind her ears

"Alright" Harry paused "Is it, is it odd changing schools and countries?" he asked

"Very, but I was going to change this year anyway, even if, well you know. And I was originally booked into Hogwarts so I guess I'm just filling my place. And as for changing countries; it's different here, very actually. I loved Australia but this seems, well it feels like home" Ebony explained thoughtfully

They were quiet for a few minutes. Harry was thinking back over the past few days and wondering how he and Ebony had 'clicked' so easily. He hoped it was more than just shared grief. For some strange reason he was drawn to her. It was as if they need each other, almost like they were 'meant to be'. Harry's stomach gave a jolt at the thought. As if he was 'meant' for anyone, and anyway, he didn't believe in that sort of thing.

"What house do you think you'll be in?" he asked trying to distract himself

"I don't know what they are" Ebony replied

"Alright, well there are four houses. There's Ravenclaw; that's the smart house so to speak. They all study way too much but they have a pretty good Quidditch team. Then there's Hufflepuff; they're the loyal, hardworking house, bit slow most of them. And they aren't very good at Quidditch. Then there's the Slytherins. They're basically all evil. Voldemort himself was one. They're all sneaky and insulting. The whole house thinks that you have to be a pureblood to be worth anything. And last of all there's Gryffindor; the best house. They're all brave and loyal and brilliant at Quidditch"

"Ok then. Let me guess; you're in Gryffindor?" she asked smiling

"But of course. So are Hermione and Ron. And my parents were along with Sirius and Remus and all of the Weasley's and even Dumbledore"

"Ah well, it's obviously the best house then. I hope I'm in Gryffindor. I definitely don't like the sound of Slytherin"

"No, and you'll hate it even more when you meet Malfoy"

"Come again?"

"Draco Malfoy, he's completely evil. His father's just been put in prison for being a Death Eater. He thinks all muggles and muggle borns are scum and constantly calls Hermione a mudblood"

"Charming. Hang on, Draco Malfoy right?" Harry nodded "Ok, wait two seconds"

Ebony got up and walked over to the tapestry of the 'Noble and most ancient house of Black'. Harry propped himself up on his elbows wondering what she was doing. Ebony turned back around to face him with a grimace.

"Oh dear, it seems that Mr Malfoy is closely related to me" she said

"What?!" Harry gasped

"Yeah, his mother Narcissa was dad's first cousin. So Malfoy is like my second cousin or something. Imagine being related to that! Erk, I feel dirty"

"Now that is pretty gross isn't it? Oh well, I'm related to the Dursley's"

Harry had told Ebony all about the Dursley's previously so she chuckled along with him.

Ebony came back and lay down on the floor next to Harry. He felt his stomach back flip when he looked over and saw her chest slowly rising up and down with her breathing. A blush crept its way up his neck and face so he turned is head away. Suddenly the doorbell rang. Harry and Ebony bolted upright. They got up and raced towards the front door. Harry wrenched it open only to find Lupin and Dumbledore on the doorstep.

"Good afternoon Harry, Ebony. May we come inside?" Dumbledore smiled

"Of course Professor" Harry stepped back to let the two men pass. He then shut the door and followed them back to the drawing room. When they got there Dumbledore and Lupin sat down on one of the couches and Dumbledore gestured for the two teenagers to do likewise.

"Right, well, you are both probably wondering why I am here, correct?" Harry and Ebony nodded "don't worry, it's nothing sinister. It's just that Remus came to see me today and during our conversation the topic of which house you Ebony are going to be in came up. Now usually all of the new students are sorted at the start of term feast. However, because we haven't had a student join the school at this level in almost five hundred years we decided that it would be better to sort you before school started. And so here I am with the sorting hat ready to sort you"

Dumbledore pulled out the tattered old sorting hat from inside one of his pockets.

"Ebony, if you'd would please step over here" He beckoned her forwards while Harry watched on curiously

He was hoping beyond hope that she would be in Gryffindor. He did not think that he could stand a whole year without seeing her all the time. Harry watched as she cautiously lowered the hat onto her head. He only had to wait a very short time before the hat shouted out

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry breathed a sigh of relief and lifted his head so that he would meet Ebony's eyes. She was smiling brightly as she removed the hat from her head. After carefully handing it back to Dumbledore she bounded back over to Harry. He stood up and gave her a big hug still wondering why doing things like that to her came so easily.

"I'm so glad you'll be with me" he said into her hair

"I'm so glad too" he heard her reply

"Well, now that that's done I'm going to have to have a word with Harry alone" Dumbledore said clapping his hands together

Harry released Ebony from their hug and shot her a confused look. He was wondering what on earth the headmaster had to tell him now.

Ebony and Lupin left the room to give Dumbledore and Harry their privacy.

"Harry, Ebony is going to have a hard year. She carries the prejudices that come with her family name and people will hold that against her. She's a strong young woman but children can be very cruel. I want you to look after her and help her through this year. It's a big change from her old school where she would have been accepted at once. I'm sure that if Ebony had begun her schooling at Hogwarts people would have looked past her name but because she is starting now, when the world has just realised that Voldemort is indeed back, people are likely to be suspicious of her. I want you to protect her from that. Can you do that Harry?"

"Of course Professor, I know what it's like to be doubted constantly and I wouldn't wish that on anyone else, especially not Ebony" Harry replied

"Wonderful! I also have something that I would like to give you"

"Err, ok" Harry replied hesitantly

Dumbledore held out a smallish black velvet box, a lot like one that wedding rings would come in but larger.

"This should have been yours last year Harry, I hope that you can accept it" Dumbledore said

Harry opened the box to find a red and gold Gryffindor prefect badge shining up at him.

"Are, are you sure sir? I mean, we already have two Gryffindor sixth year prefects" he stuttered

"Of course I'm sure Harry. That badge should have been yours last year and all of the staff at Hogwarts know that, yes Harry, even professor Snape acknowledged that you should have been made prefect. And your O.W.L results have proven it even more so. I must say Harry that if you actually decided to work then you would be in the same league as Miss Granger. No, no boy, don't protest you don't know what you're talking about. You see Harry; your O.W.L results were in the top five of your year. If I'm not mistaken, and I rarely am, you are in the running for Head Boy next school year. Your father was Head Boy in his time and your mother was Head Girl, I'm sure that they would be very proud of you if you continued their legacy"

"I don't know what to say sir, this is a little overwhelming"

"Say yes Harry, you deserve this" Dumbledore urged

"Alright then, I accept" Harry said smiling

"Good, I knew that you would. I'm sure Sirius would have been devastated to hear it though; he never was one to hold respect for responsibility. Well Harry, I must be off now, do remember though that if you need me you must contact me at once. I will be here in about a week for your birthday as well"

"Oh yes, my birthday, I'd completely forgotten about that"

"Ah well, let me assure you that no one else has, especially the Weasely twins"

"Oh no, I can just imagine what they're cooking up" Harry groaned even though he was pleased that for once he would be spending his birthday in the company of his friends.

"They seem to be planning something spectacular.  Well, we shall see shan't we? Now, I best be off, make sure you show Ebony your badge, I'm sure she'll be very happy for you" Dumbledore said smiling mysteriously.

"Err, yes I'm err, sure she will be" Harry replied tentatively

"Well goodbye Harry, I will be seeing you soon"

"Yes, goodbye sir"

Once again Dumbledore strode from the room leaving a bewildered Harry to ponder over their past conversation. How on earth could he be in the running for Head Boy, it was just ridiculous. And why did all the staff at Hogwarts think that he should be made prefect, he'd broken more rules than any other student in his year and lost more points than most combined. And as for Snape agreeing, that was completely absurd, Snape hated Harry, he'd never agree to give him a position of authority. He continued to think like that until he heard a knock on the door. Looking up he saw Ebony standing in the doorway.

"Sorry for interrupting your thoughts, I just wanted to see if you were done talking" she said

"Yeah, yeah I am" Harry said still confused

"Ok then, what'd he want?" she asked as she walked over to where Harry was sitting

"He err, he made me a prefect, god knows why. I mean, I've broken basically all the school rules and I've lost more points than anyone else in my year. Who in their right mind would make me a prefect?"

"Dumbledore will have his reasons. Anyway, who would be a better prefect than you? You've saved the school how many times? You've faced the most evil wizard in history four times in his older years and once when he was a memory. You break rules because you have to. From all dad has told me no one deserves it more than you. I bet all your teachers know that, they know that the school means so much to you that you would do anything to protect it. And your marks are fantastic so it's not like you're stupid or anything. Also, so many people look up to you and respect you. So many people know the great things that you've done Harry, they'll listen to you. There you go; there are a bloody lot of reasons why you'll make a great prefect. See, Dumbledore isn't that mad"

"Ok then, if you put it that way" Harry laughed

"And plus, I think you'll be wonderful and my opinion is all that counts anyway"

"Oh yes Ebony, the world revolves around you. With a head that big it'd have to"

"Humph! How dare you mock me underling! You shall pay for that!" she started to belt him with pillows

"Oh I don't think so! You think you can destroy me woman! Not bloody likely!"

And so Harry and Ebony started a massive pillow fight. Harry was surprised that he would do something like that. He was having a lot of fun with this girl that he had only met about a bout ago, more fun in fact than he had had with Ron and Hermione for a long time. He felt so comfortable around her, more so than anyone else that he knew. He felt like he could be Harry around her, not the boy who lived, just Harry. And she reminded him so much of Sirius; they had the same sarcastic streak and the fun loving sparkle in their eyes. But still, there was also that curious glint in her eyes that he just could not put his finger on.

TBC . . .

A/N: Oooooook, I hope that wasn't too . . . err . . . dinky? Oh well, however you thought it was I hope that you review because I just love to get comments!!!! Thanks again for reading!