Disclaimer: The ones that you don't recognize are mine. The others belong to the wonderful JK Rowling.

A/N: I thought that I should thank my reviewers

Sugaricing: I use ' ' because its what JKR does… not that I'm trying to copy her or anything… its just that its better if I use that because I always do the whole finger quote thing and it looks more realistic with " "…

Deetzy: You rock!

Mythirdeye

Ria the Bookworm: I hate cliffhangers too but its very satisfactory!

PrincessSkywalkerOrgana

Aravis Traitre: I'll try to make the chapters longer but I'm not making any promises!

Daintress: Of course Nevilles gonna be alright! I did mention that he was doing a good job right?

crackhead/SpongebobSquarepants: Way to blow my cover you cow! Haha

Truth to the Word

NOW ON WITH THE STORY!

            Neville looked up to see who was calling him and got a disarming spell aimed right to his chest. He was flung backwards into the wall, which made Hermione scream even louder. But Neville recovered instantly, grabbed his wand, which was right beside him and sent a stunning spell right to Theodore Nott who had disarmed him before. Neville had told Harry, Ron and Hermione that he had practiced a lot, physically, mentally and magically, during the holidays because the woman who had tortured his parents to insanity had escaped once again. Harry felt almost proud of Neville for his improvement.

        Hermione tried to go to Nevilles aid, but he didn't want her, or anyone else's, help and showed it by glaring at her and giving her a very dangerous look. Neville, apparently, was prepared for that attack. He flicked his wrist at a seventh year Slytherin and he flew backwards and kind of stopped midair and didn't move like he was in a Full Body-Bind charm, stunned two of his attackers who were Crabbe and Goyle and disarmed Malfoy.

        'Malfoy? You've got to be kidding me!' exclaimed Ron

        Hermione ran to Neville who was panting heavily.

        'Neville! What in the WORLD were you thinking?! You just fought six, SIX Slytherins! You could've gotten hurt, or worse, KILLED! I have half a mind to give you detention and report you to Professor McGonagall! Why did they attack you anyway?'

        'Malfoy was with his cronies, Nott and these two seventh year Slytherins. He said something about my mum and dad and I kind of, snapped.'

        'Snapped? SNAPPED?! You know that he only does that to rile you! I bet he didn't even think that you would win! He just needs to pick on someone! His dads in Azkaban for Heavens sake!'

        'LOOK HERMIONE, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE SO WORRIED ABOUT ME ANYWAY! I WON DIDN'T I? I'M NOT DEAD OR ANYTHING! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE ALRIGHT? I'M FINE OKA-'

        Just then the door behind Harry and Ron opened and Dumbledore came out, obviously to see what the noise was all about. Dumbledore looked mildly shocked to see Neville shouting at Hermione while pointing a finger at the crying, bushy haired figure.

        'What is going on here?'

        Hermione was just about to speak when Neville cut her off.

        'Nothing Professor. Nothing is happening.'

        'Then what are all these Slytherins doing lying on the ground and' Dumbledore looked up at the seventh year Slytherin who was still hanging in the air, 'floating in midair?'

        'I dueled with them.'

        'Mr Longbottom, you should know by now that magic in corridors between classes is against the rules. Miss Granger, you should have reported to Professor McGonagall immediately. And Professor Snape as well because they *are* students in his house after all.'

        'Yes Professor. I'll go call Professor McGonagall now.' And with that Hermione ran off towards the direction of the staff room.

        Then Dumbledore turned to Ron, 'Mr Weasley, considering that you too are a prefect, you should have informed me that they were dueling. The door is right behind you after all. I am quite disappointed in you for that.'

        Ron looked at his feet, 'Sorry Professor. It won't happen again.'

        Then McGonagall came bustling down the corridor closely followed by Snape, 'Mr Longbottom! What is the meaning of this? Miss Granger here has just informed me that you have been dueling with- oh my!' She stopped and looked around at the Slytherins lying on the ground (Dumbledore had let the seventh year down from… where he was)

        'Did you do this all by yourself Mr Longbottom?' asked Snape with a shocked look on his face.

        'Yes,' Neville had obviously gotten over his fear for Snape, 'Yes I did do all of this myself. I didn't need help from anyone at all.'

        'Well then, 50 points from Gryffindor!'

        McGonagall added in, 'Yes, I agree Professor Snape! You should be ashamed of yourself Mr Longbottom!'

        Then Snape said, 'and detention for a week!'

        'A WEEK?! You're kidding me!'

        'Mr Longbottom, you should know that I do not "kid" anyone.' Said Snape

        'But Professors, they provoked me!'

        'Provoking shouldn't get to you at this age! Mr Malfoy would provoke anyone!' said McGonagall

        'I think that I should arrange his detention Minerva.' Suggested Snape

        The two Professors didn't even notice that Dumbledore was looking at them from behind Ron and Harry. That is, until he spoke up.

        'I think Minerva should arrange his detention if you ask me. But then again, I doubt think that you would have asked me considering that you did not even notice that I was here.'

        'Professor Dumbledore!'

        'Albus! We didn't notice you were there.'

        Dumbledore smiled his usual smile and his eyes twinkled its usual damned twinkle and said, 'Ah yes. You wouldn't have seen me unless you looked up, but why would you look up if your subject was shorter than you? Hence, of course you would look down and not see me here, again, unless you looked up.'

        Snape and McGonagall looked dumbfounded for awhile. Then Snape said, 'Yes, of course headmaster. I'll leave you with Longbottom to decide his punishment Minerva.' And with that, Snape left with his cloak billowing behind him.

        All of a sudden Legolas bursts through the doors shouting 'I love Dian!!' ((Sorry… Just a random thing Dee thought of and I kinda said that I'll put it in. Hehe. Laps Dee! And I beg Kak Intan to not get angry at me! Smileys!))

        Their headmaster turned to look at Ron and Harry who were looking at the scene in front of them with interest.

        'Harry, Ron. I think you two should get to your next class.'

        And with that they made their way to Transfiguration.

*

        Professor McGonagall spent the first 10-15 minutes of the class congratulating everyone about their OWL marks.

        'I am very pleased with you all considering that you have made it into my class this NEWT year. I expect you to work very hard this year to achieve you career goals! Now I am going to see if you remember anything that I taught you last year. I want you all to vanish a mouse,' a mouse appeared on their desks, 'turn a bird into a teapot,' then a bird appeared, 'turn this other mouse into a cat,' then another mouse appeared, 'you will inform me when you are done so I can give comments on how you have done. You may begin.'

        Soon the whole class turned to the three subjects on their respective desks. Two people shared a desk and Harry's partner was none other than Neville Longbottom. The subject of every conversation in the corridors. The would be boy-who-lived. His name was on the prophecy at first after all! Why had Voldermort chosen him, Harry? For all he knew, Neville could've been the one to defeat him after all, not Harry! If it was Neville, he would still have his parents and Sirius. If it was Neville, he wouldn't have to worry about being murderer or victim. But if it was Neville, then it would be his, Harry's, parents in the closed ward, tortured to insanity. No. He didn't want that. He didn't want Neville to go through what he had as well. He was being selfish and he knew it.

        What with all his thinking about all the "what if's", he didn't concentrate on his work properly. Harry saw that he had successfully vanished his mouse and turned his other mouse into a very furry kitten ('Not exactly a cat, but whatever.') and his teapot had feathers covering its surface.

        'Cute teapot Harry,' chuckled Neville from his left side. Harry noticed that Neville had successfully done everything that McGonagall had asked him to do. 'I have a suggestion if you want it.' Harry nodded his head. 'why don't you put a sticking charm on the feathers so that they stick to the teapot? It would look like you meant to do it.'

        Harry just looked at Neville, shocked that he hadn't thought of it first, then muttered the charm whilst pointing his wand at the very ugly lime green and yellow feathers.

        The charm worked and thanked Neville for helping him. Harry felt sort of embarrassed that he hadn't been able to do his work properly. After all, Neville had done it perfectly. Just as good as Hermione had done, if not better! Harry wondered what was going on. Harry had usually been better than Neville at everything but Herbology. Did he get worse during the summer? Or was it just Neville who was getting better? Harry started to feel insecure that he hadn't done well enough. He shouldn't have sat beside Neville. Then he wouldn't look like such an idiot. He didn't even notice that McGonagall was inspecting Harry and Neville's work.

        'Mr Potter?' McGonagall tried again after calling his name twice.

        'Psst! Harry!' Neville poked Harry in the ribs and he finally looked up at McGonagall.

        'Mr Potter, I suggest that you keep your brain in your thick skull when you are in my class. I just wanted to say that your kitten is supposed to be a cat and it still has mouse ears,' Harry looked at his kitten and saw that it looked like it was wearing a Mickey Mouse headband, 'and your teapot looks like it still has feathers.' She added while poking at the teapot and looking at it closely. It chose that exact moment to give a very loud squawk causing McGonagall to jump two inches off the ground in surprise. The whole class laughed very loud after seeing their usually very composed teacher look very harassed.

*

        That night in the Gryffindor common Room, Harry, Ron and Hermione were doing their homework in their usual spot near the fireplace. Hermione had forced them to do their homework early because they were most likely to get more homework the next day. They started tackling their DADA essay ('Defence against Dementor attacks and the effects they can cause'). Harry couldn't forget the look Dumbledore gave him when he told them their homework assignment. Harry had then had a feeling that Dumbledore had an idea on what they were doing in their DA sessions.

        'There.' Said Ron finishing his four foot long essay with a flourish, 'I think that's enough.

        Harry peered over Ron's essay and noticed that he had used bigger handwriting than usual, then looked at his essay and saw that he had written much more than he did.

        'Ron, you barely wrote a four foot long essay.' Harry said voicing out his thoughts.

        Ron looked over at Harry's essay and said, 'Well its harder for me since I haven't experienced them near me before.'

        Hermione looked up from her essay at the two of them, 'Can you two please be quiet? I'm trying to do my homework here.'

        Ron looked at Hermione incredulously, 'Hermione, you've written more than what is required! Shouldn't you stop and maybe take a break?

        'Dumbledore said at least four feet. What's wrong with writing more anyway?' retorted Hermione.

        'There's nothing wrong. It's just that it looks like you're writing a whole textbook instead on an essay!

        Hermione looked at Ron angrily, 'What does it matter to you anyway?! I'm just finishing my homework!'

        Ron looked like he was about to say something back at her when Harry gave him an if-you-two-don't-stop-it-now-I-am-going-to-scream look. And thankfully, Ron took the hint and shut up immediately.

        Harry yawned widely and told his two friends that he was going to bed.

        Harry's night wasn't very comfortable though. He's always had a nightmare about Sirius' death since he went back to 4 Privet Drive. That night however, Harry wasn't only dreaming about Sirius' death but Cedric's and his parents last words as well.

*

        Harry woke up sweating. It was still dark outside, 3 in the morning perhaps when he heard a blood curling scream coming from the girl's dormitory that woke everyone in Gryffindor Tower up.

        Seamus and Dean were the first to get up and go down into the common room. Then Ron, Harry and Neville decided to check it out too.

        '-I didn't see her in her bed. I read this note on her pillow and screamed. I was so scared for her.' A second year girl said while crying on her friends shoulder.

        Hermione, who was on the other side of the room, made her way to Harry and Ron.

        'What's going on? Who's missing?' asked Harry immediately.

        'Well according to Donna, her friend Marie was missing from her bed tonight.' Hermione promptly answered.

        'How do you know that? What if she's walking around somewhere?' said Ron.

        'Because of this note you idiot!' Hermione said while waving a little piece of parchment in front of Ron and Harry's eyes. Ron snatched it from Hermione and held it in front of him so that Harry could read the note written in blue ink as well.

          To whomever it may concern,

          I am running away from Hogwarts for good. Dumbledore wouldn't be able to track me down so don't even bother going to him about this. My mother has gone dreadfully ill and my father has told me to come over. Our house is concealed very well and I doubt anyone at all could find us.

          I don't think that I will see any of you in the years to come because of reasons which I shall not tell you. Please do not report this to Dumbledore even though he cannot find me!

          I am so sorry for doing this to you guys! Don't worry about me okay?

        Ron looked up from the note, 'You know, this could actually be true. I mean… its quite convincing.'

        Hermione looked at Ron for a moment, probably wondering if his stupidness could actually seep out of his head, 'Ron… Her best friend had just said that her handwriting isn't the same and also she is an orphan! She doesn't have a mum and dad! We were told that by McGonagall last year remember?' ((A/N: Ron and Hermione were leading the first year Gryffindors and Ron, being Ron, asked a little red haired girl if she would miss her mum and dad when she just broke down and cried. McGonagall was just passing by when she saw and whispered to Ron and Hermione that she was parentless. Ron blushed and… so on and so forth. Just a little authors note to explain =D)) 'And plus, Donna said that she only uses red ink for notes and letters.'

        Harry felt uneasy. He didn't wake up because of the screaming. He had woken up because his scar hurt and he felt happy and he knew that he couldn't be happy because he had had a nightmare. He knew it had something to do with Voldermort because of his stupid "connection" to him. Harry cursed his scar and the stupid prophecy. If it wasn't for that prophecy, Harry's parents would still be alive and well. He could go home to his house at Godric's Hollow every holiday to his mothers open arms and maybe he could challenge his father to a game of Quidditch with Sirius. But no. There was a prophecy concerning him and his parents were not alive and well. He couldn't go home to Godric's Hollow to his mum and play Quidditch with his dad and Sirius.

        Suddenly the portrait hole opened and McGonagall came in with Lavender and Parvati with her. Hermione had told them to fetch the Head of Gryffindor house.

        McGonagall made a beeline to Donna who was in the middle of the room with people surrounding her.

        'Miss Keanar, can you explain what had happened?' she asked immediately after reaching her.

        Donna Keanar looked up at the Professor who had a twinge of red in her cheeks, 'Well Professor, I woke up because I was really thirsty and when I passed Marie's bed, I didn't see her in it. I read a note on her pillow and screamed. I knew she couldn't have written that.'

        'Where is the note then?'

        Hermione spoke up while grabbing the piece of parchment from Ron and waving it in the air, 'Over here Professor.'

        McGonagall walked over to where Harry, Ron and Hermione were standing and asked Hermione to hand it to her. Her eyes darted back and forth across the piece of parchment. Reading and rereading it over and over again.

        She startled everyone when after about ten minutes she suddenly said, 'I want you all to go back to your respective dormitories and just forget this had ever happened. I will inform Professor Dumbledore of this immediately. You all should rest as it is now officially the first weekend of the school year.' And with that, she left the common room full of students, who immediately started talking the moment she got out through the portrait hole.

        Hermione looked annoyed, 'Atten-,' but she was cut off by the loudness of the common room. 'Attentio-. Atte- HELLO?! CAN YOU ALL PLEASE SHUT UP FOR A SECOND?! Thank you.' She said when the talking died down, 'Now Professor McGonagall had told us all to go to bed and I suggest that we do just that before she comes back, docks points off Gryffindor and puts us all in detention.'

        Everyone looked horrified at the thought of detention with McGonagall who gave the worst detentions, second to Snape, and went up the staircases leading to their respective dorms.

        Harry was thinking while going up the stairs, nearly bumping into a seventh year. Dumbledore was wrong. Things aren't happening at the end of the year, its happening now.

        Something is going on in Hogwarts.