Okay, things are going to start twisting round and round. It is getting dark, and I'm speaking figuratively.

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Nothing is My Own

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Chapter Thirty-Three: The Mission

Potions, if there was one subject that made absolutely no sense to Harry, it was potions.

He turned his potions text upside down, but the word looked pretty much the same, foreign.

SLAM

Ron Weasley stormed over to his bed crashing down with a look of pure fury on his face. Harry would have asked what was bothering his once best friend under normal circumstances, but something caught his tongue.

"I suppose Ginny will go bragging to you if I don't tell you," Ron spat over in Harry's direction.

Harry lifted his eyes as he nervously bit his lip, he didn't like Ron's tone one bit.

Ron frowned, "you were right, Pavarti just dumped me."

"I'm sorry," Harry barely whispered.

"Stupid girl, couldn't figure her out to save my life. One minuet she was all over me, then you get dumped by Chang and she doesn't even know I exist," Ron rambled.

Harry held himself back from saying, "I told you so."

"Are you still sore at me?" Ron suddenly asked.

Harry was so tempted to ask Ron how he could be so thick, but after knowing him for almost six year and knew this was an apology.

"No," he lied.

Ron smirked, "why didn't you warn me she was mad?"

"Who Pavarti?" Harry questioned.

"No, Hermione," Ron replied sarcastically.

Harry chuckled, "you wouldn't have listened to me anyway."

"You're probably right," Ron admitted, "Hermione is still pretty steamed, she won't even talk to me, civically anyways."

"Call me crazy, but I don't think she's a big Pavarti Patil fan," Harry commented.

Ron shrugged, "what do you think about Padma?"

Harry flung a pillow at him as dodged it trying to look innocent.

Leave it to the girls to put a plan together, within two days Ginny and Hermione had a perfect idea. They had taken everyone's schedule and partnered everyone into twos.

The plan was to use Harry's invisibility cloak and follow Malfoy. The girls had argued that Crabb and Goyle were two stupid to know anything important, and if something was going to slip, it would be Malfoy who reveal it.

Hermione had told Harry to set his coin for a meeting that night, and she was going to hand out the trailing schedule. It is odd how a common cause seemed to bring all the DA members together, even the Ravenclaws seemed to be willing to put their grievances aside.

Hermione's diagram explained to everyone where they should meet, and how long their duties would last. The greatest sacrifice was Harry had to give up his invisibility cloak.

"Don't worry, it's for a good cause," Ginny offered as Harry handed her one of his prized possessions.

"What about the map?" Ginny said suddenly.

Harry shook his head and gave her a look, and she decided not to push any further,yet.

"What map?" Ernie asked.

"Map of Hogwarts, I've lost it though," Harry lied.

Cho flinched suddenly as she looked over her schedule and then shoved it into her bag.

Harry tried to tear his eyes of her, but somehow they always found her.

"I'm sorry," Hermione whispered over at him.
He looked at her puzzled not sure why she was apologizing exactly, then he looked down at the chart.

Daily Routine

Cho/ Michael 8-9

Ginny/ Justin 9-10

Zach/Hannah 10-11

Hermione/Ron/ Harry 11-12

Padma/Pavarti 12-1

Justin/Susan 1-2

Colin/Neville 2-3

Ernie/Luna 3-4

Dennis/Terry 4-5

Seamus/Dean 5-6

Paul/Lavender 6-7

Rotation

Cho/Harry/Hermione/Ginny/Zach/Padma/ Luna 7-8

Lavender/Ron/Terry/Ernie/Justin/Hannah/Susan 8-9

Michael/Pavarti/Paul/Colin/Dennis/Seamus/Dean 9-10

"During the day I assigned people who have class closest to Malfoy, meet your partner and make sure one of you can keep an eye on him when he's going into class, and when he's leaving," Hermione instructed.

"At night is going to be the tricky part, that's why we need the Marauder Map," Ginny continued.

"Alright," Harry conceded bitterly, "but if anything happens to it."

"Nothing will, Hermione is going to place a password charm on the room," Ginny assured pulling out her wand.

"Now, make sure you clear the map every time you use it," Ginny instructed, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

The group gasped at the map suddenly appeared.

"Fifteen minuets before your watch come in here, meet up with your partner and find the pair you're replacing. That is when we'll switch out the invisibility cloak, make sure you're not seen," Hermione lectured. "If you have the 7-8 schedule you'll pick up the invisibility cloak here, and if you have 9-10 schedule you'll bring the cloak back."

"What is the password?" Neville asked nervously.

"House Cup," Hermione said plainly, "we need it to be completely unobvious, and it is simple to remember."

Neville smiled appreciatively.

"We should start tonight the first rotation will be Harry and Cho. It looks like Malfoy is in the Slytherin common room, you better get going before he decides to leave," Ginny voiced.

Harry gulped as he picked up his father's precious cloak. Cho looked at him pitifully as the two walked out of the Room of Requirements in silence. As the room of DA members watched them and whispered.

"Lets get one thing straight Potter, the only reason I'm doing this is because of Cedric," Cho spat as soon as they were out in the corridor.

"I'm glad you have your priorities straight," Harry retaliated.

She rolled her eyes walking quickly, as if she was hoping he wouldn't keep up.

"You could at least let me explain," Harry argued, almost running to keep up with her.

She sighed in anger, "why bother, since you can't even admit you like me. I'm so sorry I came between you and Pavarti Patil."

"Cho, this is ridiculous," Harry said slightly annoyed.

Suddenly she stopped, "so, did you and Pavarti snog while I was at St. Mungo?"

Harry swallowed hard, "it doesn't matter if we did, we weren't together yet."

From the hard frown that appeared on Cho's face told Harry he had again said the wrong thing.

"Cho, you can't possibly blame me for something I did before we were even together," Harry continued to argue as she started walking again.

"Oh yes I can," she spat back, "I guess our date to Hogmeade was just for shits and giggles."

"No," Harry said feeling defeated.

"And I guess you being jealous of her and Ron being together isn't something I can blame you for either?" Cho retorted.

"Can I at least try to make it right? I don't want thing between us to end over this," Harry pleaded.

Cho's eyes widened, "you can't make this right, you have no idea how much you've hurt me."

Harry made a reach for Cho's hand, "please, give me a chance."

Cho re-opened her eyes, now glazed over in tears, "why did you pick me?"

"Because I wanted to be with you," Harry confessed.

Cho bit her lip as her small frame trembled. Harry unraveled his scarf from around his neck and placed it around her.

"Thank-you," she almost whispered.

"Can you ever forgive me?" Harry questioned.

Cho smiled weakly, "possibly."

Harry's ears suddenly perked up as a sound from the down the corridor caught his attention, "Malfoy."

Cho spun around nervously as Harry threw the invisibility cloak over them.

"Stupid Potter, he's going to ruin everything," Malfoy said hatefully to his goons.

Cho pushed closer to Harry as Malfoy walked dangerously close to them. She suddenly looked up at him with a glimpse of something in her eyes.

"I have an idea," she whispered.

"What?" Harry inquired?

She again bit her lip, "trust me, please."

She suddenly unraveled Harry's scarf from around her neck and ducked out from under the cloak. Harry followed her skeptically, wondering what in the world she was plotting.

"Draco," Cho called out.

"What do you want Chang?" he said hatefully turning around to greet her.

"My, my, such a temper," she said sweetly, batting her eyes flirtatiously.

He curled his lips in annoyances, "where is your precious Potter?"

Cho smirked, "oh please, do you honestly think I really liked a mud blood like Potter?"

Draco seemed to relax, but only slightly.

Harry had subconsciously grabbed his wand and was watching nervously, as Cho's words pierced his heart.

She curled her dark hair around her finger, "do you have any idea who my father is? I can see his expression if I started dating a half breed."

Malfoy sneered, "what the hell do you think you're playing at Chang?"

"Nothing," she said innocently."

Malfoy looked at her skeptically, "do I look like an idiot? What are you after?"

She forced a blush, "you, I always thought you were cute."

Harry felt like he was going to be sick, how could she say something like that?

Malfoy seemed taken back as well, he eyed her suspiciously before slamming her into the cold castle wall. Harry started to make an advance by Cho let her eyes meet his through the cloak, warning him to hold back a second.

"I don't know what you're plotting, but I'm going to figure it out. Mark my word," Mafoy threaten.

Cho wet her lips seductively, "I like my men strong."

Malfoy released her and back up quickly.

"What, never had a girl be blunt with you?" Cho teased.

"I'm not interested in Potter's sloppy seconds," Malfoy hissed.

Harry was going to lose it any minuet now. With every word that escaped Malfoy he felt his anger rise a bit more.

Cho batted her eyes yet again, "afraid you can't handle me?"

"No," Malfoy spat back.

Cho bit her lip, "I dumped Potter, he bored me. I dumped him because you caught my eye."

She slowly approached him letting her fingers slip across his face, "Potter is nothing compared to you."

Malfoy grinned foolishly, "I'm not that easy Chang."

Cho smiled evilly, "I know, that's why I like you."

She closed her eyes as if she was having second thoughts then tipped up on her toes and placed a kiss dangerously close to his lips. As she lowered herself he gripped her arm tightly, letting his eyes pierce her like sharp daggers.

Harry held his breath, he didn't care if it ruined the entire mission. If Malfoy tired to kiss her, he'd curse his until his own mother wouldn't recognize him. Harry gripped his wand so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Malfoy finally released Cho upper arm and took off down the corridor without another word.

Cho shoulders fell as he walked away and she shuttered. Harry threw the cloak off , staring at her in disbelief. Cho looked at him with a broken expression.

"That was your plan?" Harry asked with a tone of jealously.

Cho bit her lip and took a deep breath, "everyone at Hogwarts thinks we've broken up. I swear I didn't mean a thing I said to him."
Harry shuttered, "so hitting on Malfoy is going to help our mission?"

"If I can get into his head maybe he'll tell me something," Cho pleaded approaching Harry apprehensively.

"I don't like it," Harry said sharply.

Cho let her head fall into his shoulder, "neither do I."

Her dark hair fell elegantly down her back as she fondled his hand, intertwining her fingers into his.

"I'm not going to let you do this?" Harry continued.

Cho lifted her head and stared deeply into Harry's emerald eyes.

"I've already given you my heart," she almost whispered.

"You don't have to do this?" Harry pleaded.

She smiled, "if he must not be named is recruiting Death Eaters at Hogwarts, than I can't stand back and do nothing."

"If you do this, we can't be together?" he said, his voice now trembling.

"We'll always be together, we just can't let anyone know we are," Cho reassured.

Her word made his chest ache as if someone had stabbed his heart with a knife and twisted it.

"Cho…" he started, "I…"

She lifted her fingers and pressed against his lips, "I know." Her lips met his gingerly, as if to reassure him everything was going to be okay.

"Harry, we've been looking everywhere for you guys. Where is Malfoy?" Ron asked with Lavender by his side.

Cho back up quickly, "he went down the south passage."

Harry quickly handed the invisibility cloak over to Ron and Lavender who quickly ran down the passage after Malfoy.

"I best be getting back to the Ravenclaw common room," Cho immediately said as the other two DA members disappeared from view.

"I'll walk you back," Harry offered.

"No," she said almost instantly, "we can't be seen together."

"Cho," he started to protest, but she had already turn to leave.

Harry felt like kicking something hard, his chest continued to ache as he fought to control his emotions. Just the thought of Malfoy looking at her touching her. Halfway to the Gryffindor house he slammed his fist into the castle wall and screamed.

"Harry, what's wrong?" asked a worried Luna Lovegood who just happened to walking past.

Harry flinched and rubbed his now sore knuckles, "nothing."

Luna's dreamy expression suddenly returned, "well, I was going to the library to do some research on eavesdropping newts. I thought they might come in handy with our mission."

"Oh, good idea," Harry said awkwardly.

"What to come?" Luna offered.

Harry shook his head, "no thanks, I have some homework I need to catch up on," he lied.

She shrugged her shoulder, "or you might just be planning on having a chat with an old fallen friend."

"What?" Harry questioned, taken back my Luna's vagueness.

"Good night Harry," Luna said without answering him.

During their brief encounter, he had forgotten about his anger. He stared at the now empty hallway, wishing for once in his life everything would make sense. The Gryffindor common room was packed with anxious students studying or chatting.

Some of the DA members were talking animatedly by the fire, with Hermione using some hand gestures. Ginny was nodding in a agreement with everything she was saying.

"Harry, how was the…" Neville trailed off and looked around, "you know."

"Fine," he thought about telling them about Cho's new plan, but he honestly didn't feel like talking about it yet. Part of him was hoping she'd have a change of heart.

"Well, come over here and give us all the details," Colin pleaded.

Harry sighed, "let me go grab my book from upstairs, I need to get some studying done tonight."

He raced up the stairs before any of the gathered friends could raise an objection. Luckily the sixth years boy's dormitory was vacant. He took his time gathering his things out of his chest. As he reached for his Potions book, the Death Journal caught his eye.

"Stupid book," he muttered reaching past it.

Then is started, a burning sensation of his scar which he had never felt the likes of before. It seemed to be searing down to his very brain.

He quickly let out a yelp of pain and fell to his knees.

"No, block it out," he urged himself, but the burning didn't subside. Instead it intensified even more. He felt like he was going to black out if the pain didn't stop.

"Read the book," a strange voice inside his head hissed.

"NO!" Harry yelled as loud as he could muster.

"Read the book, or she dies," it hissed again.

A dark vision of a lifeless corpse laying in a puddle of blood pierced into Harry's mind, and not matter how hard he tried to block it out, he couldn't.

"You want to save her, don't you Potter?"

"I will not give into you!" Harry mentally screamed.

"All you have to do is read the book," the voice hissed hatefully.

"NO!" Harry's face was now against the cold floor as he clawed at his burning scar.

"Open the book, and the pain will end," the voice bargained.

It was too much, and Harry pulled himself towards his open trunk reached in a pulled out the Death Journal, with a single motion he flung it open across the floor. The scar's burning stop almost as suddenly as it had started.

The pages of the Torto Scriptures started flipping madly and suddenly stopped.

The famous Harry Potter, we meet again, the words appeared in a bright blood red, instead of a black bold as they had done before.

"Who are you," Harry asked viciously, watching the words fade away.

What difference does it make, you wouldn't believe me.

"Try me," Harry spat back.

Maybe I'm Sirius Black, or possibly the infamous Wormtail. I could even be Torto himself. You've heard of him haven't you?

Harry eyed the book nervously, "what do you want?"

YOU.

"Why me?" Harry asked.

The book didn't respond for a moment, you have the power to get me out of here.

"The realm of the dead? What make you think I'd get you out if I could?" Harry sneered.

You wouldn't even do it for your precious Godfather? He's going mad, screaming in the darkness that is death. He'll never die, he'll just keep living in dimension of madness forever!

"You Liar!" Harry screamed.

"Harry are you in there?" he heard Seamus ask from the door.

"I'm fine," Harry shot back.

"Unlock the door mate," Seamus called.

Harry did a double take, "it is unlocked."

"Like bloody hell it is, stop playing Harry," Seamus continued.

Harry threw his head back to the book, "unlock the door."

I don't feel like unlocking the door. Anyway, don't you want to talk about your dear Sirius?

"No, I want you to leave me alone," Harry hissed at the book.

What about that sweet Ravenclaw girl, you really do mean the world to her.

"Leave her alone," he spat suddenly overcome with the urge to rip the book apart page by page.

I must apologize, I told her about your little secret. Since you are the one with the power to defeat the Dark Lord and all. Tell me Harry, how did the prophecy end again.

"Who are you?" Harry asked feeling claustrophobia taking hold of him.

"Harry open the bloody door!" Seamus yelled.

She's going to give her life for you, oh, it will be painful. And poor December O'Riley, she's going to die too. Her fate will be similar to your wonderful Godfather, banished from the world of the living to wander around forever in the realm of the dead.

Harry took a deep breath, "I know better than to believe a book."

Are you asking for proof? Who have you told Cho's little plan to? Do you honestly think Draco Malfoy is going to tell her about his little recruiting operation? Don't, he'll just use her and leave her like a piece of garbage on the side of a Muggle road.

"Open the door, I'll rip you apart page by page," Harry threatened.

No, you won't. I'm here to offer help. I scratch your back you scratch mine, I apologize sometime I do get carried away.

"I'm not interested in making any deals," he spat at the book.

If you want to know how to destroy the Dark Lord, look into the pensive. GO! I'll be expecting your return.

Seamus who had been wiggling the door handle madly feel into the room with a loud thud.

"Harry, what the hell were you doing in here?" he asked from the floor.

Harry grabbed the Death Journal off the floor and tossed it back into his trunk, "nothing."