"B-but," Hermione stuttered, "How can he know who if he doesn't know how?"
Dumbledore sighed, "At this moment in time Voldemort does not know we can bring back the dead. I am sure it won't stay like that for long. Once he knows we can, he will know who, for it was him who discovered this person's gift, not us. Gregory worked for the side of the Dark. And I am sure you all are aware that he has ways of making a person talk. Are there any other questions?"
"Is the person well hidden?" Ginny asked the obvious question.
Once again Dumbledore sighed, "No. If we do that we will raise suspicion of why a person supposedly loyal to Voldemort is hiding from them. No I suggest you all go enjoy the remainder of your day off." Dumbledore left the room followed closely by James, Lily, Sirius and Lupin. The students looked at each other and left the room, leaving Snape alone.
~~~~
Maria sat at the end of a long wooden bench. New students whispered eagerly around her. None of them could wait to see where they ranked. Where their blood ranked. Maria corrected herself silently. She knew where she would be. Yond was a very powerful name. The Snape part of her would only help. Here at Dumstrang students were sorted according to how pure the blood was and by the deeds of their blood. Their deeds could improve their ranking, but it was mainly blood. Maria watched the students slowly leave the bench and join their class mates, by rank. Her name was called and everyone gasped, a real Yond! Maria blushed under their stare, wishing to be normal. Her place, at the front of the table was pointed out to her. How can I be above seventh years? Maria wondered as she took her seat. Outside of Dumstrang no one would know her name, well not no one, but no one would give her this treatment. She took her seat, and then heard the voice, she fainted.
Maria sat up in her bed. She realized she was at Hogwarts and breathed easier. How she wanted to forget her sorting at Dumstrang. She lied back down and slowly fell asleep.
~~~
Harry was amazed at what little happened between when he first heard the Secret and Halloween. He spent most the time getting to know his parents. He had started to make plans for Dumbledore's Army, which he was suppose to be reinstating soon. Finally, on the day before the first Hogsmeade weekend, he told Dumbledore he was ready. Dumbledore announced at breakfast that anyone interested ion joining should meet at the Hog's Head at noon. The club was only open to third years and up due to the fact that the club required a great deal of knowledge. The extra Defense Against the Dark Arts that they would be doing wasn't easy. Later that evening Katie Bell approached Harry.
"Quidditch practice tomorrow. I hate to start so late, but the Slytherins had the field booked up until then." She said, "We addition our two new chasers, I think will keep the beaters that replaced Fred and George after your guys' ban last year. I talked to Ginny and she agrees you should be seeker."
Harry looked up from his Potions essay, "But tomorrow's the first Hogsmeade weekend and Halloween!"
"I know, we won't practice until evening and we'll be done before the feast." Katie walked off to inform the other members of the team of their new practice time.
Harry sighed and went back to finishing his essay, knowing he would have no time the next day.
~~~
Halloween dawned bright and clear. Harry groaned as he rose from bed. Today was not going to be easy. After breakfast, Harry, Ron and Hermione started to head to Hogsmeade. They only had a few hours until the D.A. was suppose to meet. The three exited the castle. Walking along the wall, none of them expected what happened next. A abundance of tan fell over the trio's head. Small red scratches appeared all over there skin.
"Sorry, Potter didn't see you there!" Harry looked up to see Snape leering at him from the tower, "Had to clean those out you know."
"Really!" Hermione brushed the tumbleweeds off herself, "As if tumbleweeds would gather in Hogwarts!"
Harry grinned as he removed the plants. He looked around to see everyone laughing at them, especially Slytherins. Maria walked over and plucked a tumbleweed out of Harry's hair.
"He used to do that to me all the time," she whispered so no one except Harry could hear. Harry walked as the strange girl pulled out her wand and started to hit the tumbleweed with it, almost like the muggle game with the ball on a string attached to a paddle. He swore he heard her chant, "Tumble Tumbleweed, Tumble on Home," as she walked towards Hogsmeade.
"Well," Ron stated, "If that space filler is over lets head to town."
Hermione and Harry laughed and the trio headed to town.
A/N~ Another short chapter! Ok I should probably explain the whole tumbleweed thingy. It all started at the stable. I found a tumbleweed and started hitting it around with a riding whip. I need a space filler for this chapter because other wise it would have been like 100 words, and thus we have tumbleweeds. Really though, watch out for falling tumbleweeds.
