A/N: Thanx for the reviews!!  You'll find out what Rita Skeeter did in a few chapters for the OOM and sorry for putting Draco Malfoy in twice…*or maybe there are two Draco malfoys* jk!  Lol!  Anyways, for the chapter!! :-D  Oh, and It's ICING and SNOWING!!!  ) and theres no school tomorrow!

Chapter 43:

            Ron, Hermione, and Harry were all furious after the letter. 

            "Honestly!" exclaimed Harry, "What does she mean, 'I had it coming?'"

            "She should be grateful to us; not saying the accommodations are bad!"

            "I'm Hermione's boyfriend, not Harry!"  Harry and Hermione both chuckled at that; so like Ron. 

            "I never knew she had Order of Merlin, 4th class!" said Harry thoughtfully.  Hermione thought for a moment. 

            "You know, I think I've heard something about it, but I'm not quite sure where…" 

            "So who do you think wrote the article?" asked Ron. 

            "Well," stated Hermione obviously, "Cross out all of the members of the Order…."

            "That leaves Lucius Malfoy, Victor, Percy, the Diggory's, Narcissa Malfoy, Datarius Parkinson, Bagman, Trelawney, Fudge, Umbridge, and Lockhart… plus the goblins," said Harry. 

            "Hmmm…" said Hermione, frowning.  "It isn't Lockhart, definitely.  And it's probably not a death eater, after all, there will probably be some major Cruciatus Curses going on after that….. and I don't think it's the goblins, after all, there's nothing really in it for them, and they aren't stupid."

            "Which leaves Victor, Percy, the Diggory's, Narcissa Malfoy, Bagman, Trelawney, Fudge, and Umbridge," stated Ron. 

            "It isn't Viktor," said Hermione, which made Ron frown. 

            "How do you know; it-"

            "It isn't Viktor," she said firmly. 

            "I doubt it was the Diggory's," said Harry.  "I hear they rarely leave the house anymore…"  Hermione nodded.

            "Umbridge probably liked Rita Skeeter, after all she wrote on Harry; plus, she's on trial to go to Azkaban, and-"

            "What?' asked Harry quickly.

            Hermione smiled.  "Well, some parents noticed strange…ah… scars on their children.  Umbridge's trial is in two weeks, and if she's convicted, she'll be in Azkaban."

            "Why didn't I know that?" asked Ron.  "Dad works for the Ministry; he should've told me…"

            "Well, I hope she's convicted," said Harry.  "Shame the Dementors are gone; she deserved them."  Hermione nodded. 

            "And," she continued after a slight pause, "As much as I hate Trelawney, I can't exactly picture her writing a vengeful article about You-know- Voldemort, I mean."  Harry and Ron nodded.

            "I suppose," said Ron. 

            "So now it's down to Percy, Fudge, Bagman, and Narcissa Malfoy." 

            "It's not Fudge," said Harry.  "He's furious, and now he's scared stiff of an attack to the Ministry.  He's even fired the Prophet; now it isn't connected to the Ministry of Magic."

            "What is it's a set-up?" asked Ron. 

            "I don't think Fudge is that smart," said Hermione. 

            Ron sighed.  "It probably isn't Narcissa Malfoy; I mean… think of it.  Rita Skeeter probably heard of an affair or something…"  Harry nodded.

            "Bagman or Percy?" he asked quietly.  Hermione sighed. 

            "Well… what could she really have against Percy?  Remember in fourth year, how she said she knew things about Bagman that could make my hair curl?"  Hermione then frowned.

            Ron chuckled.

            "What?" asked Hermione.

            "Nothing; it's just… well, we found out that Bagman was tried for passing Ministry information… and now your hair is curly…"  Hermione rolled her eyes, but suddenly stopped.    

            "Oh my… and Bagman would have perfect access to the Prophet, I mean, he was famous once!" she exclaimed.  "And it would take off some attention with the goblins… it makes perfect sense!"  The three were quiet a few minutes. 

            "So what will we do?" asked Harry quietly.  Hermione frowned. 

            "What can we do?  I mean, unless he's really a death eater…. We can't exactly prove this…" 

            Ron sighed.  "It would be SO much easier if we just killed Rita Skeeter…"

            "Wait," said Harry suddenly.  "What if Bagman knew she had information on all of us?  What if that's why he wants Voldemort to get her?  So he could get the information?"   Hermione nodded. 

            "Good thinking, Harry.  We'll have to be sure she stays hidden."

            "Or we could just kill her…" 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

            Harry was becoming very frustrated over the next week.  His Auror training was completely useless, though he learned quite a few spells.  He was still doing Occlumency and having to bear dreadful hours with Snape, when he basically knew it and it was pretty much pointless.  People in the DA were beginning to take advantage of the invisibility suits, and still no one would tell Harry why he had to take defense with the other heirs. 

            At his Quidditch match Saturday, Gryffindor won it by a great deal of luck, because Harry managed to see the snitch after about two minutes in the air.  Needless to say, Slytherin was not very happy at the moment, though they usually weren't anyway. 

            Harry rarely got to see Ginny, and when he did, they were either surrounded by other people or only got a few minutes alone. 

            But what probably made Harry the angriest was that he had no clue what was happening in the Order.  He, Ron, and Hermione told Dumbledore about their suspicions with Bagman, but Dumbledore had simply thanked them and sent them away.  He, Ron, and Hermione had actually reverted to Rita Skeeter for any information she might hear.  Sad, yes, but true.  So far the only useful information she'd given them was that Tonks had finally lost control and stabbed Mrs. Black's portrait, making it even louder and more histrionic. 

            It was several days later, in Defense Against the Dark Arts, after assigning the class bookwork, that Evelyn asked Harry to come to her desk.  He got up and walked over.

            "Yes, Ev- Professor?" he asked quietly.  Evelyn smiled up at him. 

            "Well, Calli and I were actually wondering if you, er, wanted to maybe learn a bit more about your mother?  Some stories, what she was like, and such?  You see, she was best friends with Calli and I and a girl named-" 

            "Holly?" asked Harry.  Evelyn looked confused.

            "How'd you-"  Harry grinned.

            "I'd love to find out about Mum.  Actually, if she hadn't thought you two were dead, you'd probably be my guardian anyway," he laughed. 

            Evelyn smiled.  "Calli and Siri were getting married…. They were- Oh, never mind.  I'll tell you later.  When do you want to talk?"  Harry shrugged. 

            "Anytime that I'm not in Occlumency, Defense, Quidditch, Auror Training, doing homework, or studying would be fine," he said sarcastically.  Or patrolling, he added silently.  Evelyn laughed.

            "You're a lot like your dad… okay, then, how about in a few days, on Tuesday, maybe?"

            "Sure," said Harry.  Evelyn smiled. 

            It was after Defense that Hermione and Ron dragged Harry to the side.  "Harry, we need to go see Hagrid!  We completely forgot; I feel so bad…"  Harry smacked his forehead. 

            "Don't I feel stupid- okay; let's go…" 

            The three made their way to Hagrid's hut, where they were surprised to see Lenore and Draco already there. 

            "Hey," said Harry, as they entered the cabin.  "What are you two doing here?"

            Hagrid looked up and chuckled.  "Hello ter you, too, Harry… 'S'about time!  I was wonderin' when yeh'd come…" 

            "Sorry, Hagrid," said Hermione.  "We've been really busy…"  Hagrid brushed the apology aside.

            "That's okay.  I know what yeh've been goin' through."

            Then Lenore spoke up.  "Hey, Harry; Hermione; Ron… we're here to get away from those damn Slytherins… they hate Draco for going out with a Gryffindor American… but they don't know I'm the heir of Sl- oops, ha, just kidding…. A few fair Gryffindors aren't that happy either…" 

            "Oh, I'm sorry, Lenore," said Hermione sympathetically.  "Just ignore them; they have no right-"

            "Yeah, Lenore," said Harry.  "The Slytherins are all big, hairy, greasy gits, anyways-"

            "Hey!" said Draco loudly.

            "Oh, except Malfoy- he's just a greasy, hairy git- he isn't that big when he's a ferret…" 

            "Harry!" scolded Hermione and Lenore, as Ron laughed. 

            "Sorryyyyyyyy…  So, Hagrid, what'd ya want to tell us?"

            Hagrid beamed.  "Guess wha' the new precaution Hogwarts will be getting' after Christmas break?  It's top secret, o' course, so yeh mustn't tell anyone…"

            "What?" asked all five sixth years in unison.  Hagrid's beard twitched proudly.

            "Dragons."

A/N:  Yay!  No school tomorrow!  I'm excited; don't ya love ice?? Lol.  Newayz, I hate solitaire to death, if anyone wanted to know.  Soooooooo I'll update as soon as I get lotsa reviewz!! ~** Jinglez : )