Severus went to check on Dumbledore that evening. The Headmaster was finally looking better, and was even having a little supper that Poppy had brought him.
"Professor, I trust that you are feeling better?" Snape asked.
Dumbledore nodded with a weak smile.
"I am feeling exceptionally, better than I have in a while actually Severus," he replied his eyes twinkling in that familiar way.
"Headmaster, I need to know if you have been eating or drinking anything unusual. I must find out how you were being poisoned to make sure it will not happen again," Snape said with earnest.
"Well nothing out of routine, I am sure that the meals I receive in the dining hall are perfectly safe, other than that it is only my sweets-" Dumbledore did not finish his sentence.
"What is it?" said Snape concerned as a dark shadow crossed Dumbledore's face. He thought that the old Professor was relapsing.
"Severus, I think I am being poisoned by one of the students!" the old Professor finally admitted. Snape looked horrified knowing that there were very few students in Hogwarts who would harm Dumbledore, but he knew exactly who the culprit was.
* * * * * * * * * *
Dinner was quite eventfully considering the whole of Gryffindor house was brimming with excitement. Questions were flying in every direction from who the new Captain was and what positions were available on the team. Harry tried to be helpful as possible. Even Neville was excited. Eventually Harry told everyone to be at the Quidditch grounds at 11am the next morning. Hermione had left as soon as she had finished eating; mumbling that she needed to go to the library, so Harry and Ron decided to go see Hagrid.
He was only too happy to see them and put the kettle on the fire for some tea. Once they had settled down, Fangs head on Ron's lap with a cup of tea each, Hagrid told them about Dumbledore being poisoned. Suddenly Harry made the connection. The brown bag that Draco had, the one that the werewolf had given him. It all made sense. Harry looked over at Ron who had also made the link. They left Hagrid standing with their two cups of tea in his hands staring after them startled. By the time they got to the Gargoyle both of them were of breath. Harry muttered the password and the Gargoyle grudgingly moved aside. But upstairs Dumbledore was nowhere to be found.
"Now what do we do?" moaned Ron. Harry shrugged his shoulders.
"Potter and Weasley what are you doing here?" Snape growled at them. He had just come down the stairs from Dumbledore's chambers.
"Um we need to see Professor Dumbledore," Harry said quickly.
"He is unable to see you Potter, you cannot come crying to him every time you have a problem," Snape spat looking menacingly at them.
"It's okay Severus, Harry would only come to me if it were important," Snape looked up to see Dumbledore on the stairs behind him.
"But Professor you should be in bed-" Snape started to say. The Headmaster held up his hand and the Potion's master grew quiet.
"Yes Mr Potter and Mr Weasley, you wished to speak to me?"
"Professor, it's Malfoy who is poisoning you, I saw him in the woods with a werewolf who gave him a brown paper bag, your sweets sir," Harry tried to say everything at once.
Dumbledore's eyes sparkled and he smiled.
"I already know Mr Potter, thanks to Professor Snape we have already established that,"
"Oh!" said Harry and Ron simultaneously.
"I however did not know about, did you say a werewolf?" Dumbledore asked.
"Harry saw Malfoy taking it from a werewolf down by the forest the other day, he also wanted to know if Harry and Hermione were back, it was the day after the death eaters came, right Harry?" Ron divulged. Harry smiled at him and nodded.
"Potter, how did Draco not see you?" Snape asked suspiciously. He knew that Harry had an invisibility cloak and after last year was itching for a reason to confiscate it.
"I was at Hagrid's and I managed to stay hidden behind some tress so that he wouldn't see me," Harry lied. He had no choice knowing Snape's intentions were never good.
"That does not matter Severus, what matters is that my suspicions have been confirmed," said the Headmaster preventing Snape from questioning Harry any further. Snape shot Harry and Ron a dark look before turning to Dumbledore.
"Headmaster, how are we going to deal with this situation?" said Snape ignoring the fact that Ron and Harry were still standing there. Dumbledore looked at all three of them.
"For now we will stick to the plan, Harry you will go with Ron to the Weasley's over Christmas, Hermione will go home with Professor Snape accompanying her and Malfoy will stay at Hogwarts under the watchful eye of Professor McGonagall and myself,"
Snape actually smiled at Dumbledore's words, whilst both students got shivers down their spines.
* * * * * * * *
"Hermione and Snape alone together over Christmas, Harry you cant let that happen," Ron growled as they left Dumbledore's office.
"Watch choice do I have Ron, Hermione doesn't want to even talk to me," Harry said sullenly stuffing his hands into his pockets. Ron did not have an answer for this but he knew that they had to do something quickly.
* * * * * * * *
Sunday morning Harry woke up feeling terrible. He hadn't slept well and his throat was burning. When Ron saw him, he told him he looked like a ghost he was so pale. Even at breakfast everyone kept asking him if he was okay. Harry mumbled answers thinking heavily on the Quidditch trails later that morning. By 11am most of the school could be seen heading towards the pitch. They all wanted to see what was happening. Professor McGonagall however was on hand and turned spectators away who were not from Gryffindor House. So when Harry spotted Cho hidden in the stands not long after they started trials, he knew he would have avoid her, especially since Ron had dragged Hermione down to watch. He wanted to find out what Cho had been thinking.
They finally started with the group who wanted to be keepers. Ron was by far the best even surprising Harry. Fred and George declared that it was just in their families' blood and gave Ron some severe pats on his back. Harry spoke quietly to McGonagall who agreed that Ron was the best choice. The next group arrived making it easier for Harry because they needed two chasers.
Harry watched in amazement as a Gryffindor whizzed around the field using every opportunity available.
"Who is that Professor?" Harry asked not recognising him.
"That's Mark Ridgers, fourth year student, he is very good isn't he?" replied McGonagall. Harry nodded in agreement but wondered how he would face up against Slytherin but that was something that they would have to see later. Eventually they needed one more person. Seamus Finnegan was up in the air showing off a bit, but Harry decided out of what was left he was the best option. However McGonagall did not agree. They were an all male team and there needed to be at least one female. You can imagine Harry's surprise when he saw Hermione up in the air flying like he had never see her do. Unbeknown to him, one of the things that Snape had taught her while she was being held captive was to fly correctly. Of course it had been in a restricted area in order for them not to escape but it had been enough for Hermione to become extremely good. Grudgingly Harry agreed that she would be the best choice. Professor McGonagall announced that the new recruits would be posted in the Gryffindor common room the following day after lunch. With that everyone headed up the castle in deep discussion about who would be chosen. Harry and Ron were the last to leave when they noticed Cho heading towards them. She didn't seem herself, walking with extreme confidence and almost a superior quality. She ignored Ron and threw her arms around Harry.
"That was wonderful Harry," she gushed. Harry glared her and tried to push away from her.
"Um, thanks but I didn't do anything Cho," he answered awkwardly still trying to move away. It was Ron who eventually pulled her off him, by pulling on the back of her cloak.
Cho seemed surprised and suddenly she burst into tears. Ron looked rather exasperated; he couldn't believe he would have caused her to cry. Cho knelt on the ground still sobbing, so Harry got onto one knee to try comforting her. It turned out to be a big mistake. As soon as Cho was eye level she grabbed him again, crying even harder and kissing him all over. Harry was beside himself; he didn't know what had gotten into Cho. He eventually struggled out her grasp and stood up. The crying had stopped but Cho still hid her face. Harry and Ron stood there not knowing what to do. Cho suddenly looked up confused and bewildered.
"Harry, Ron what's going on?" she said looking around her in amazement. They were utterly dumbfounded to realise that Cho didn't remember anything. Harry quickly explained to what happened much to Cho's horror. All she knew is that this last time she could feel herself fighting through which explained the crying. Harry reassured her it was okay, and told her go see Madam Promfery. After Cho had finally left, Harry and Ron walked slowly up to the castle; she had defiantly been under a curse.