Chapter 23

Realization of a Lovely Lady

and a Liar

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the other things I've mentioned. Oh, and in the chapter, it's mentioned that they're going to learn apparating next year, but in the real books, they're going to learn it in their 6th year, so I basically switched it around because when I first wrote the story, I thought Hogwart students did apparating in their 7th year.

Author's Note: Hey everybody! OK, I'm sorry, but I'm not even going to attempt at recaping all the stuff from the last chapter. There's too much info in there. All I'll say is that it's the big climax, so GO READ IT AND REVIEW (if you haven't already). By the way, if any of you have reviewed and have put questions, all those questions will be answered at the end of the story, at the end of Chapter 25 (so hang on!). Anyway, the chapter name is pretty self-explanatory. Hope you enjoy!

Harry finally woke up, although he wasn't in the chamber anymore. He was in a bed in the hospital wing. His bed was surrounded by gifts and sweets from people in the school, and his friends had gifts and sweets too. He saw Ron, Hermione and Joy on the other side of the room, and he glared at his right to see Glory and Malfoy, who were facing each other. Glory was sitting up in her hospital bed, her face cold and pale, with Malfoy, sitting on the side of his bed, facing Glory. Both of them were holding hands and had sad looks on their faces. They were having a serious conversation, and Harry, who wanted to listen in on it, pretended that he was still sleeping.

"I don't think we can go on," sighed Malfoy, looking into Glory's eyes. "It's just not going to work out. Your family, actually more like the whole wizarding world, wants something of you, and my family wants something of me. Everyone expects so much from us."

"I agree," sighed Glory. "Everyone's expecting me to marry a good person that would become King. I really want to marry a good person."

"You deserve more than me," said Malfoy. "I've been brought up to be a sly, evil snob that looks down on all those not as pure, powerful and rich as I am. Let's face it, I don't think I could live up to be a great King."

"You are a good person," said Glory. "I've seen your true colours this year, and they're so lovely and wonderful. Draco, you're a wonderful person on the inside and on the outside if you want to. It's only because of your family's influence that you act like that towards others."

"Exactly!" said Malfoy. "I can never be who I want to be! There may be people who can do whatever they want with their family disowning them, but I can't. I just cannot live with the unbearable feeling that my family is ashamed of me. I can't do that."

"I know. Your family has such different views about the world that if you reigned with me, it could lead to disaster."

"I don't want that to happen. You deserve a glorious reign, not an evil one like my family will make me do. It's best if you don't let that happen. Besides, in my family all the wives stay at home and it's the man who's the head of the household. It's so ridiculous, because I hate lazy, greedy women like that. I want an independent woman, like you! Unfortunately, my family wouldn't agree with that. The thought that my wife was ruling me with the rest of the world, more powerful than I would be, would sicken them."

"Knowing your parents, I would understand. I just can't believe how awful they think of Muggles! I mean, they don't agree with all my magic-perfecting inventions inspired by Muggle tools."

"I know! Your work is amazing, but they just don't understand it. You would make any man happy. These 10 months have been the best months of my life. You taught me so much, and now my grades have turned out magnificent. I passed my exams with flying colours. The only problem about this year is that every time I'm with you, I have the awful feeling on my shoulders that we can't continue this."

"I agree with you. I have a duty to fulfill, and I don't know if we can fulfill that together."

"Perhaps when I become an adult, I'll slowly become less awful as my family has become."

"I hope that too."

"I was thinking about getting back with Pansy. My family really liked her, and I'm starting to miss the times I was with her."

"You should go back with her. It sounded like you were meant to be."

"I wish I was meant to be with you, though. If my family was more supportive and less devious, I could be a better person than I am now."

"But it's not going to happen," said Glory. "Your family will always stay the way they are."

"I love you, Glory. Even if my feelings become stronger for Pansy, there will always be a place in my heart for you. No matter what happens, you will always be my Queen."

"I love you too, Draco. It's so sad to do this. I think I might have more feelings for someone else, someone that could be a better King. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too."

A tear drop came down from Glory's eyes, as Malfoy's grey eyes slowly began to become watery. Closer and closer they came to each other, until they shared a tender kiss. Malfoy and Glory held each other's hands for the last time. Malfoy's hand slowly slipped away from Glory's as he headed out of the hospital wing.

"Goodbye!" he said, waving back at Glory.

"Goodbye," choked Glory, who tried to hold back tears.

Malfoy slowly went out of the room, giving a few glares back at Glory. Once he was gone, Glory let out all the tears inside of her. Harry felt so sorry for her. Malfoy didn't seem like such a bad person after all. His attitude was just an act he put on to show that he was a Malfoy. Harry thought about what Lord Voldemort said about Cho. Did she really say those things? He wondered who that someone that Glory was talking about. Who had she feelings for that would make a better King than Malfoy?

"Glory?" said Harry, startling Glory.

"Harry, I didn't know you were awake," she said, quickly drying her tears.

"You were crying."

"No, I'm just a bit tired."

"It's okay, Glory. You can cry. I've cried before. Everyone has to cry."

"You cry?"

"Yeah, I do," said Harry, as he sat up in his bed. "I know it sounds feminine or something, but guys have feelings too."

"When have you cried?" asked Glory.

"A few times this year. I cried when Cho was attacked and when my friends were about to die right in front of me in that awful chamber. I also cried almost every day after the death of my godfather..."

"Oh, you mean Sirius Black? I'm so sorry that happened. He wasn't really a criminal, although everyone thought he was."

"Everyone tells me he's in a better place, but that still doesn't comfort me that much. The fact is that he's gone from my life forever, and the only way I'll ever see him is if... I die..."

"That's so awful, but don't you have someone else that knew your parents, Remus Lupin is his name?"

"Yes, I keep in contact with him like I did with my godfather, but it's not the same."

"I know. I lost a mentor too a year before I started to learn magic."

"Really? Who?"

"She was my great-aunt on my father's side, who was also my godmother. She was a descendant of Professor Dumbledore, too. Her name was Millicent Bagnold. She was from England, and she was your Minister for Magic of England. She was the second female Minister for Magic."

"Wow, I didn't know that. When did she serve as Minister?"

"She was the Minister that was before Cornelius Fudge. She retired before I went to Nero Gatto Academy, a year before she died."

"How was she your mentor?"

"She taught me a lot of things," said Glory, "a lot of things that make me who I am right now."

"What do you mean?"

"When I was younger, I was so confused about who I was. Because of who I was, everyone kept on telling me to do this and that and this... It was so confusing. They wanted me to do Quidditch, to be an Astrologist, and there are so many things they wanted me to do that I can't even count them. My parents didn't want to pressure me, but they kind of let the government influence my life. How can you blame them? They had two extremely powerful twin girls who would rule the world some day and they had no experience about raising powerful witches. My sister didn't care though. She did whatever she wanted, despite what everyone said. I couldn't do that. It was my great-aunt who gave me confidence. She told me that I could do whatever I wanted, as long as it was good and it could make me a better leader."

"Didn't Dumbledore help you?"

"Nono Albus was usually in England, so he didn't visit us much. My great-aunt always visited Italy and she had a getaway there too, so I saw her often. She was the one who helped me with everything: my duelling, my political skills, my inventing skills, all of that. She was an accomplished dueller, so she helped me a lot with that."

"And she died?"

"Yeah," she said, sighing and looking down, and then looked back up. "She died right before I went to Nero Gatto Academy. I was so devastated. Before she died, she gave me this necklace." Glory held up the cross necklace around her neck that she always wore, and held it tightly. "She said that no matter what, she would be watching me and protecting me. There is also something else about this necklace. Here," she said, as she turned over the large cross. Harry found that on the other side of the cross, there was a small miniature of the face of an elderly, yet youthful lady with a big smile, and a younger version of Glory. At the bottom it was engraved: Whatever you do, I will be watching you with kind eyes.

"That's wonderful," said Harry. It was such a beautiful message, and he looked at the miniature and realized how caringly the lady looked at Glory. "Aren't there any paintings that you can speak to her with?"

"Oh, I do speak to the paintings, but they're not the same. They're just paintings, not the real person."

"I understand."

"Did your godfather give you anything before he died?" asked Glory.

"There are a few of his letters that I read once in a while. At Christmas before he knew he would die, he gave me two mirrors to talk to each other. I never got... to use them..."

"I'm so sorry about that," said Glory. "My godmother died of a disease that effected her heart. She was very old though, even if she seemed so young. Your godfather died young when he didn't deserve to."

"He fell behind the veil," sighed Harry. "He didn't even get a funeral."

"Behind the veil?" asked Glory, looking at him with interest. "What veil?"

"The veil in- Never mind. So, are you feeling okay after your break-up with Malfoy?"

"I'm not too sure," she said, dabbing her wet eyes with a tissue. "It feels like a relief though, that we've finally settled it. It had been on our minds all year. There was just so much getting in the way with our relationship. I'm really going to miss him, but I guess I have to move on."

"Were you very serious in your relationship?"

"Yes and no," answered Glory. "There were things that we talked about that were serious, but we didn't know that we were serious in the way that we were certain to be together for the rest of our lives."

"He's going back with Pansy?" asked Harry.

"Yes, they're getting back together. It seemed they were meant to be together."

Harry was really sad about what she was going through. He hoped that what Lord Voldemort said about Cho wasn't true. It just couldn't... But what were those personal reasons why he attacked her?

"Glory?" asked Harry, a bit nervous to ask the question. "Lord Voldemort said to us that Cho's attack occurred for personal reasons. What was that all about?"

"Oh, personal reasons!" she said in shock, looking a bit uncomfortable. "Well... uhm... er... You see... You heard the conversation with Malfoy and I, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, it has something to do with... the person I want to be with... the person that would really be good with ruling beside me..."

"Who is it? I was really concerned to know."

"Harry, I-"

"May I please speak to you, Harry?"

Harry turned around and saw that Dumbledore was calling him from the door of the hospital wing. The door was ajar and he was peaking inside the room, trying to call him. Disappointed he couldn't continue the conversation, he left his hospital bed and Glory and followed Dumbledore out of the Infirmary.

"I wish to speak to you in my office," said Dumbledore, closing the door to the Infirmary.

"What do you want to talk to me about?" asked Harry.

"Recent events, and something else that you should know about Glory."

Harry was really interested to know that secret about Glory, and wondered if that was what Glory was trying to tell him. Dumbledore led Harry to his office, said his password, passed the gargoyle statue, went up the spirally steps and into Dumbledore's office.

It was exactly the same as he had seen it the other two times he went there that year. Dumbledore quickly sat down at his desk, and had let Harry sit down in the opposing chair. After clearing his throat, he spoke to Harry.

"I have heard from Joy of what she can remember, of what had happened in that chamber," stated Dumbledore. "She tells me Lord Voldemort had explained everything to you about the past events?"

"Yes, he did," said Harry. "He explained everything about the war, and all his plans."

"Really, and what were his plans?"

"He told us that he had sent the vision to Glory, and that the war was set up. When he was killed, he went into Glory's body and possessed her."

"So all this time he was inside Glory, taking over her mind?" asked Dumbledore. "I see... It's not easy for me to hear that about a descendant of my own. It can be quite heartbreaking. Did he say for any particular reason why he picked Glory?"

"He wanted a new body, because he was weak and aging. He wasn't powerful physically. He also wanted the amazing power she possessed, and he could take over the world in her body in a few years when she becomes Queen. He wanted to live those 1000 years, and he knew that Glory was slowly becoming interested in the Dark Arts and was creating a potion called the Potion of the Undead."

"I could tell she was interested in the subject," sighed Dumbledore. "During the summer, I used the new inventions, the telescreens, to communicate with Joy and Glory, when I was busy with the Order of the Phoenix and Hogwarts business. We had a few talks with each other during the summer, and she told me that she tried to fight off the curiosity that dwelt inside her about the Dark Arts. She couldn't resist but go into it. She tried her best to not lure into the subject, but there were times she couldn't resist it. It was so sad... It's hard to think that this could have been prevented if she hadn't been lured into the Dark Arts. Everyone thinks about it once in their life. It's sad that when it happened to Glory, Lord Voldemort abused that weakness. I expected something drastic had happened when the Sorting Hat suggested putting her in Slytherin."

"You mean there's another reason why the Sorting Hat considered her to be in Slytherin?" asked Harry.

"Lord Voldemort was taking over her mind, wasn't he? Harry, there is no other house that was better meant for Glory to be in than Ravenclaw. She was a born Ravenclaw. What confused the Sorting Hat was that with Voldemort controlling her mind, it influenced who she was. When the Sorting Hat examined her mind, it saw the Slytherin characteristics of Voldemort and the Ravenclaw characteristics of Glory. After settling that, is there anything else you want to ask me?"

"Did you know about the Potion of the Undead?" asked Harry.

"Yes I did. In fact, I was the only one who knew about it. Right after her first Potions lesson, she started experimenting with potion-making and had the idea to create the Potion of the Undead. She had been working on it for about 4 and a half years. She worked on it longer and harder than any of her other inventions and potions she ever created."

"Why did she try to create it?"

"She wanted to bring back her godmother," sighed Dumbledore. "She deeply wanted to see her godmother again. She became so depressed about it unfortunately. I had to tell her that she was in a better place, but she wouldn't listen. It seemed a lot like what you were going through, Harry."

Harry realized that it was true what Dumbledore said. Their experiences of losing their godparents seemed alike. Harry was urging to ask Glory questions of how she dealt with her godmother's death, since Harry still wasn't completely over Sirius' death.

"Professor Dumbledore, is Lord Voldemort gone, or can he come back again?"

"I'm afraid there are more ways he can come back, just like what I said in your first year. You have to kill him, Harry, or no one will. Before I forget, Glory wanted me to show you something in the Pensieve."

"What did she want you to show me?"

"Harry, Joy also told me that Voldemort told you what Glory had heard from conversation she overheard with Cho and her friends."

"What Voldemort said was not true. He's a liar, you know that!"

"Harry, I'm afraid this time he wasn't lying. He meant what he said. Cho is using you."

Harry became utterly shocked and confused, anger and sadness swelling over him. She had used him? How could this be? It was as if everything remained completely silent for a few minutes and the world stopped for a while. He had no idea what to do.

"She's using me?" asked Harry trembling.

"I'm afraid so."

"She's lying!" Harry stood up from his seat in anger. "Glory misunderstood!"

"Harry, please! She's shown me in the Pensieve, and I believe her."

"She could have been acting, she's a good actress!"

"She even drank some Veritaserum with her tea to prove to me that she wasn't lying. It surprises me how quickly you change your feelings towards Glory. That's probably something Voldemort took advantage of when possessing her: acting skills. It was easy for him to hide everything."

"But-"

"If you like, you can smash more of my silver instruments. Someone gave me a box full of them and I don't know what to do with them."

"Fine," said Harry, going over to a table of silver instruments. He took one of the instruments and smashed them on the ground with force. He looked at the broken pieces, and realized what he had done. "Smashing these things don't make me feel better."

"It's because you're growing up," said Professor Dumbledore with a simple smile. "You're realizing that actions have consequences and you are slowly becoming an adult. Adolescence is a very rough time when one has emotional ups and downs. It is also a time of change. I can remember you were raging mad last year. Now, you have overcome your anger. Congratulations, you're growing up."

Moving away from the broken pieces, Harry felt good about what Dumbledore said. He was growing up, and he had to admit that he was a lot more mature than last year.

"The truth is, Harry, that you are in fact more mature than most 16-year-old boys I've ever seen. I think you've gotten it from your mother; she was always more reserved than all her friends during her 6th year. Now, to the Pensieve."

Harry walked over to the cabinet and opened it, revealing a large basin in the room. Dumbledore brought with him a goblet with silver liquid inside it. He stood beside Harry and showed him the goblet.

"This liquid," said Dumbledore, "is the memory of the conversation Glory saw. She wanted to show you and for you to understand what Cho was doing before you got hurt."

Dumbledore poured the silvery stuff into the Pensieve. The water started to slowly turn until it looked like a miniature whirlpool. Once the water stopped twirling, a small scene started to appear in the Pensieve, and Harry slowly ducked his head into the basin...

Harry saw Glory and her friends walking in one of the Hogwarts hallways deep in conversation.

"I cannot wait to start apparating classes next year!" said Ruth.

"Me too," said Vicky. "My older brother is always apparating and disapparating around the house. It's so annoying! He keeps on teasing me that I don't know how to apparate."

"I'm a bit nervous," said Lucy. "Will the apparating test effect our NEWTs?"

"Of course not!" said Tiffany. "Why would it? It's a whole entire separate class. Plus, it's not a NEWT class in the first place."

"You're so lucky to know how to apparate, Glory!" sighed Ruth.

"It's not a big deal," said Glory. "It's just about popping here and there. No biggee. It's very useful though. In fact, during the apparating ex- Oh look, there's Cho with her friends. I wonder what they're gossiping about now."

"They better not be gossiping about us!" said Tiffany. "I heard one of them teasing me about my freckles."

"Cho can be nice too, you know," said Vicky. "She's probably the nicest one out of all of them."

"I still don't like her," grumbled Glory.

Harry was really mad that Glory didn't like Cho. He wondered why. Glory and her friends hid behind a corner and listened to Cho's conversation with her friends.

"So he literally asked you out?" questioned one of her friends with long blonde hair.

"That's what I said," said Cho. "Harry Potter asked me out."

"And you agreed to a date with him?" asked a short-haired brunette with a lollypop.

"I already told you. He asked me out and I said 'yes'. Is that so hard to understand?"

"Why did you say yes?" said the blonde.

"I miss having a boyfriend. I still haven't completely gotten over Cedric, you know. Harry was there when he died. He can comfort me once in a while."

"Is that it?"

"Of course that's not it, Suzie! It's like dating a superstar. He defeated so many people of the Dark Arts, he's the wizarding world's hero! It's attractive, not that I'm that attracted to him. Maybe I'll get my picture in The Daily Prophet or something. I've always wanted to be in it."

"So is it for love or fame that you're dating him?" asked her red-headed friend.

"Mostly for fame. He's just not too much of my type, and I really do want a boyfriend. I'm sick and tired of staying in the common room alone on Saturday. It'll be entertaining dating him. Plus, he's the only one I could be comfortable with talking about Cedric."

"Is that all you'd talk about?" asked Suzie.

"Of course not! We'd talk about Quidditch and things like that. I guess he's not so bad. He's kind of cute, in a puppy kind of way. He was also staying near my house for a while. It wouldn't really be a long-distance relationship that way."

"Wouldn't it be funny if you both became serious and ended up getting married?" suggested the blonde.

"Yeah that would be funny," said Cho. "Just think about it. If I married him, I could say that I married the boy-who-lived!"

All the girls chuckled evil laughs about the subject. Harry became stunned, and every laugh he heard coming out from their mouths felt like a stab in his back. How could she have done that to him? He loved her!

"I can't take this," said Glory, as she left her friends and went up to Cho. Since she was so tall and Cho was short, Glory had to look down. "How can you say those things about Harry? He saved the world's butt so many times you can't even count them!"

"I know that," said Cho. "That's one of the things that make me interested in him."

"You're treating him like a doll!"

"What's so wrong with that?" asked Cho. "Besides, I wouldn't talk. You've got the Muggle-hater for a boyfriend."

"He's not as bad as you think," said Glory.

"Your title doesn't mean anything to me. I'll do what I want with him."

"He doesn't deserve to be treated like that."

"Listen, 'Princess'," said Cho sarcastically. "You better not repeat what you just heard or I'll get all the Ravenclaws against you."

"That's treason!"

"If you tell Harry my secret, I'll tell him your secret."

"But- You- Oh never mind!"

Glory stomped off rather angrily, and walked away with her friends. Cho continued to giggle about the topic with her friends. Harry could not believe what she had said about her, and how Glory tried to stand up for him. He found that Glory was a lot kinder than he thought. Suddenly, everything began to swirl around him and...

He was out of the Pensieve. He looked around the room and with a heavy heart, was still stunned at what he had seen.

"I'm sorry you had to witness that," said Dumbledore, "but you had to know the truth."

"I- I understand," sighed Harry. "What was the secret that Cho wanted to tell me if Glory had told me what she said?"

"It would be the same thing that Glory was going to confess to you in the Infirmary."

"Well, what is it?"

"Harry, Glory has a crush on you."

Harry became completely shocked at the news that he almost jumped.

"She has a crush on - me? That's why she hated Cho so much? I liked Cho and not her?"

"I suppose so. She can be a very jealous person."

"That's just so- Wait a minute. She told me that it's something to do with the person that... She wanted to be with me. She thought that I would make a better King!"

"Glory thinks very highly of you," said Dumbledore. "She's liked you for such a long time. If it wasn't for Malfoy, she would have absolutely fallen in love with you."

"But, why? How come she likes me?"

"She admired your courage. You have a lot more in common than you think. You both know how it's like to lose a loved one. You both have seen people die before your eyes."

"Someone died before her eyes?"

"Her godmother did. She was next to her hospital bed, holding her hand. She also saw many people die during the war. You've also had confrontations with Voldemort and you've both been used by him. You both know Parseltongue, and you've dealt with people ridiculing you."

"She's been ridiculed?"

"There are some anti-loyalists who made fun of her over the years and have exaggerated her title."

"I never knew that."

"You both also know duelling. You, not knowing your parents, seem to always discover more about your past every day. She too is always learning something about herself. She's always learning more about her extravagant powers and the past of other Magic Monarchs. You also have experience with people hiding information from you. I assume she's told you about her diary they had to destroy a few years back?"

"Yes, she did."

"She's also constantly being annoyed by The Daily Prophet, photographers and everyone noticing her star eyes and realizing she's Princess Glory."

"Just like when people see my scar and recognize that I'm Harry Potter!"

"Exactly. Harry, do you know why Lord Voldemort couldn't destroy you?"

"No, I have no idea. I thought it would be the end of the Prophecy."

"Actually, this also has something to do with the Prophecy. Lord Voldemort knew that it was either he who had to be killed by you or you had to be killed by him. The only problem is, is that he misunderstood that none of you can kill each other with the Sucking Incantation."

"Why not?" asked Harry.

"The effect of the Sucking Incantation is to suck out all the victim's power and energy and to use it for yourself, leaving the victim powerless and suffering. What Lord Voldemort didn't understand is that both your powers are lethal to one another. He couldn't suck in your powers and use it. One of you has to be killed with the other's powers, not that one's powers are taken away by the other."

"So the Prophecy showed Lord Voldemort's defeat in this case."

"Exactly. But alas, there is another reason why Lord Voldemort didn't kill you."

"What is the other reason?"

"You have to remember that that night, Lord Voldemort did indeed possess Glory to a large extent and took over the majority of her body so that he could control it, but he didn't control all of it. There was a part of Glory's mind that still controlled itself. So when Voldemort tried to kill you, that part stopped Lord Voldemort from doing so."

"Glory stopped Lord Voldemort from killing me?"

"Yes, I suppose so. Lord Voldemort was not just using his powers, but Glory's. Glory would never want to hurt you, which stopped Voldemort from doing so. It is only the Witch or Wizard Monarch who can handle another one's powers, Harry. Despite how powerful he is, Voldemort couldn't handle them for long."

"Are those the reasons why I didn't die?"

"There is still one more that corresponds with Glory. When your mother died, the love she had for you protected you from Voldemort. Love protected you. It seems that this time, love has protected you again. Glory not only has a crush on you, but also loves you as a subject. A monarch and an elected leader are very alike, but have different ways of 'serving' the people. An elected leader tries to listen to the voice of the people and tries their hardest to make the country the best that it can be for its people. A monarch, on the other hand, loves their subjects like children and serves them for their life to give what the people want. An elected leader is elected and employed to do something, but a monarch is born to do something. It was not only true and personal love for you from Glory that protected you, it was the love of you being her subject."

"Wow... She's going to make a wonderful Queen."

"So will Joy. Joy possesses the same qualities, although Glory has a bit more talented with the characteristics of an elected leader. A true politician, I must say."

"You should say those things at the next meeting," said Harry. "The next meeting of the Ministries of Magic."

"I think I will, Mr. Potter," stated the Headmaster. "Indeed, I will."

"Did Joy know that she was being possessed and what she was doing?"

"I suppose she knew what was happening to her," said Dumbledore. "She did have the mark. I think Professor Luigi might have known too. I think they knew a bit about what they were doing, but they didn't know exactly. It was almost like what happened to Ginny when the Chamber of Secrets were opened. She tried telling you and your friends the secrets, but she got into trouble because of it. Joy told me that she tried to give you a clue on how to start Lord Voldemort, although she didn't think you understood her."

"What do you mean?"

"She told me that she told you and your friends that Lord Voldemort will be so strong, only he could stop himself, but you'd have to consider the Prophecy."

"Yes, I remember when she said that! I didn't understand her at all when she said that."

"She meant to say that you were the only one who could stop him, for Voldemort put a bit of himself in you. When she meant to consider the Prophecy, she was hinting as well it could only be you who could defeat him, and that the Sucking Incantation didn't solve the Prophecy."

"Wow, if only I knew back then. I think I'll go now. I need to talk to Cho about what I just found out."

"I think you should. It is best to talk about it with her."

Harry started to walk out of the room, but then turned on his heel back to Dumbledore.

"Professor Dumbledore, what day of the week is it?"

"It's Saturday afternoon," said Dumbledore. "Lunch is almost about to end."

"Does that mean everyone is in the Great Hall?"

"Yes, they are."

"Thank you."

Harry quickly walked out of Professor Dumbledore's office and to the Great Hall. Once he entered, he tried to find Cho and spotted her talking with her friends at the Ravenclaw table. Harry marched up to her in a disappointed look and tapped her on the shoulder. From sipping a glass of her pumpkin juice, she looked up to see Harry.

"Oh Harry, I'm so glad you're out of the hospital wing!" she said with a large smile. "Almost the whole entire school has found out what happened last night. I cannot believe you almost died. I'm so glad you're all right!"

"You're really glad that I'm all right?" questioned Harry angrily.

"Of course, Harry. What's the matter? You seem so angry."

"OF COURSE I'M ANGRY!" he shouted. "I just found out that you were just using me while we first dated."

"What? Princess Glory told you?"

"No, Vol-... You-Know-Who told me in the chamber, and then Dumbledore told me."

"How did Professor Dumbledore know?"

"Glory told him."

"Really?" asked Cho in a sly voice. "Well, did you know that-"

"I know she has a crush on me. Dumbledore told me that too."

"What? Grr!!"

"Don't 'grr' me, Cho. You used me!"

"I didn't exactly use you."

"OH, SO BASICALLY BEING YOUR ENTERTAINMENT THOSE LONELY SATURDAY EVENINGS ISN'T EXACTLY USING ME?"

"But Harry-"

"AND I GUESS ONLY WANTING TO DATE ME BECAUSE I WAS FAMOUS AND ALL SO YOU COULD GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN FOR THE DAILY PROPHET ISN'T USING ME EITHER?"

"I'm attracted to that-"

"I GUESS BEING YOUR LITTLE PSYCHIATRIST FOR CEDRIC'S DEATH BECAUSE I WAS THERE ISN'T USING ME AS WELL?"

"Don't you dare talk about Cedric that way!" shouted Cho. "He was my boyfriend. I thought he was my soul-mate, but instead he's murdered! Harry, I cannot believe you can't understand how it's like to lose a loved one!"

"Cho, I have lost more loved ones than you ever will in a lifetime, and don't you dare talk to me about how I can't understand! You might have lost your boyfriend, but I had to witness his horrible death, and I'm not using and abusing people's affections because of that!"

"I wanted to know more about how he died."

"Have you ever thought that I didn't really want to talk about it? Even so, wanting to know more about your late boyfriend's death isn't an excuse to pretend to be my girlfriend. You have no right to treat me like that!"

"I just can't get over him, all right?"

"Then why did you want to date me!"

"I was bored."

"Being bored isn't an excuse to abuse my feelings! I loved you, Cho. I even put my friends aside for you once. I gave you that locket you're wearing."

"I think I love you too, Harry."

"You THINK?" shouted Harry furiously. "You think you love me? I was certain that I loved you for a long time!"

"I can't believe you're so inconsiderate!" said Cho. "My boyfriend was killed! How would you feel if your previous girlfriend was killed?"

"If I had a previous girlfriend who was killed, I would have been emotionally unstable for a while and I would have missed them for a long time. I'd deal with it anyway though! I always have to deal with death! My whole entire life has dealt with death! Even if I was depressed, I wouldn't use another girl for my amusement so I could get over her."

"I haven't gotten over Cedric. I still have some feelings for him."

"Then why did you say 'yes' when I asked you on a date?" sighed Harry. "Why did you agree to be my girlfriend? Don't worry, I already know the answers. You've bluntly told me. This relationship is over."

"Fine! I had better times with Cedric than I ever did with you," she said, as she ripped off her locket and shoved it in Harry's hand.

She ran out of the Great Hall sobbing, as everyone in the room stared at him. All the students and staff (not including his friends in the hospital wing) watched him and Cho, and the fight they had. Harry didn't really want to put a show on for the whole school, but he had to get his message across. He left the Great Hall and went to the common room. He went up to his dormitory, threw the locket at the foot of the four-poster bed and sat violently on his bed and sighed angrily.

"Why does this have to happen to me?" asked Harry to himself. "I wasted my heart for her. Why was I so blind? Our relationship did seem a bit 2-dimensional."

Harry, not knowing what to do with his anger, stood up and walked back in forth in the room. He punched the walls a few times to get his anger out of him, but he was still very angry. He spotted the picture frame under his bed. He picked it up and looked at it. In the picture frame was a photo of Cho and him, smiling and waving at the person who was taking the camera. They were both so happy. He looked at himself in the photo. He looked so happy to have his arm around her. Now, he would rather throw up than even touch her.

Harry couldn't stand looking at the photo. With all the anger inside of him, he threw it to the other side of the room. It collided into the stone wall with a large smash! and its glass shattered into many pieces, just like his heart had done when he found out about Cho.

He walked slowly to the broken frame and picked it up to examine it. The glass was totally smashed and all its pieces were on the floor, but the frame wasn't broken except that it was chipped at the corner. Harry turned the frame over and opened it, taking out the picture. After his last look at the photo, he ripped it up and threw it with the pieces of glass. He looked at the frame and decided that he would keep it if he had another picture he wanted to frame. He put it back under his bed and picked up the glass and photo to throw away. He didn't want to leave the room a mess.

After throwing away the pieces in the garbage in the common room, Harry thought he should pay a visit to his friends. He hadn't spoken to Ron, Joy or Hermione at all, and he wanted to have another talk with Glory. He walked through the castle to the Infirmary, and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" asked Madame Pomfrey,

"It's me, Harry Potter."

"You can come in, dear."

Harry opened the door and saw Madame Pomfrey giving Hermione and Ron some medicine in cups, while Glory was reading a duelling manual. There was no sign of Joy anywhere.

"Where's Joy?" asked Harry.

"Princess Joy didn't have to stay for long," stated Madame Pomfrey. "She just needed some rest with a pill or two. She's been released from the hospital wing."

Harry walked over to Glory and sat down on a chair beside her. Once she realized he was there, she quickly put away her duelling manual and greeted him.

"Hello, Harry!" she said. "Are you all right? What happened in Dumbledore's office?"

"I'm all right, I think," sighed Harry. "Dumbledore spoke to me about what happened and asked me about a few things."

"What did he ask you?"

"He asked me about what Lord Voldemort said. I told him about his plans and schemes. I didn't have to explain much. I suppose Joy already told him."

"Nono Albus talked to her in the morning."

"That explains it. He also told me that the reasons why I probably didn't die."

"What were they?"

"He told me that the Sucking Incantation wouldn't work on me, because both our powers are lethal to each other. He also told me that you saved me."

"Me?"

"Yes, you! He told me that you would never hurt one of your subjects."

"That's very true," stated Glory.

"He told me as well that you would never want to hurt me. He told me about your feelings towards me."

Glory almost jumped in her bed and she had an embarrassed look on her face. Her cheeks were blushing.

"I had a feeling he would tell you. It doesn't matter though. You deserve to know."

"You don't have to be embarrassed. I'm actually thankful you have those feelings for me. If you didn't, something bad could have happened to me."

"Well, you're welcome."

"It's so strange. I think about the fact I'm talking to royalty, and it shocks me. You're very different from Muggle royalty, you know. They seem so traditional, proud and just so different. Some people think they're stuck-up, although I don't think they are. You and your sister are so different though. You have amazing personalities, you're so multi-talented and you're down-to-earth. You don't seem high-ranking, you just seem amazing and wonderful."

Glory blushed even more at what Harry said.

"Thank you so much for saying that. Actually, I was what you described about Muggle royalty before the war. I was very traditional, proud and very polite. I wasn't a snob, but I was very much like Muggle royalty."

"What about your sister?"

"She was a bit more down-to-earth than I was. She's what my family calls, a 'free spirit'. She doesn't listen to people who tell her who to be. She did possess many characteristics of etiquette and the Muggle monarchy though. It was basically the war that changed us so."

"How?"

"Harry, we became soldiers during that time. We fought vigorously and lived in awful places. We interacted with so many people, and we didn't have house-elves to do the dirty work. It kind of made us get off our high horses, or let us come back down to earth."

"So the war changed you for the better, right?"

"Yes and no. I changed in good ways, but in bad ways too. I became a bit paranoid and scared during what I experienced. The whole entire time I felt uncomfortable and insecure. I felt doomed. I think I might have been scarred for life because of it. I think this year might have scarred me too. The fact that an evil spirit was inside my mind makes me shiver. My life isn't as comfortable and beautiful as I once thought. If anyone thinks that the war last summer was exciting, then they're wrong. Despite all the bad things you've seen, Harry, those things are nothing compared to what I experienced. You are so lucky they didn't let you fight in that war, Harry. You don't know how lucky you are!"

Glory became pale and quivery at that moment, and Harry could understand why. He'd heard before war was a bad thing, but by the look on Glory's face, it seemed worse than he ever imagined. A few tears fell from her cheek, but she quickly wiped them away and continued on with the conversation.

"Did Lord Voldemort say why he possessed me?" asked Glory.

"In fact, he did. He needed a stronger body, and he was interested in how powerful and immortal you were, and that you would rule the world someday."

"It feels like my powers and title give me such an abnormality sometimes."

"I feel that way too sometimes. Because of the Prophecy and the powers Voldemort gave me, I feel abnormal."

"We have a lot in common, you know."

"I know. Dumbledore told me."

Just then, Draco Malfoy entered the room and approached Glory's bed.

"Hello, Glory!" said Malfoy. "I- I was wondering if you could take that Dark Mark off my arm now."

"Sure, of course."

Glory bent down and pulled out a bottle in the bottom drawer of the cabinet beside her. She also got a small towel.

"Oh, er.... Hello, Potter," said Malfoy shyly in a low voice. Harry was surprised he spoke to him.

"Hi, Malfoy."

"So... Are you feeling OK?"

"Yeah, I'm feeling pretty good."

"Draco, just lift up your sleeve and extend your arm," said Glory as she dabbed the liquid onto the towel. Malfoy obeyed what Glory said.

"Is this going to hurt?" asked Malfoy.

"Draco, I'm taking off the mark that the Dark Lord put on you. Of course it's going to hurt."

"OK, just - AAAAHHHH!!!!"

Glory had put her hand onto his mark and a large light lit it up from the palm of her hand. Harry could hear a burning and sucking noise. Malfoy was whimpering, screaming and crying from the pain. Once Glory lifted her hand from the mark, the light had disappeared. On Malfoy's arm was full of blood and some black gooey stuff. Glory washed the blood and black goo off, and afterwards wiped off the Dark Mark which came off like washable marker.

"There you go, all done! You should go and ask Madame Pomfrey for some ice."

"Sure. Goodbye."

"Goodbye!" said Glory. Once he was gone, they turned back to their conversation.

"What were we talking about?" asked Glory.

"We were talking about how we're so much alike."

"Oh, okay."

"As I was saying before, Dumbledore told me how we're so much alike."

"I suppose we have to add 2 new ones to the list of likenesses."

"What would those be?"

"We both absolutely stink at Occlumency and Lord Voldemort used us by controlling our minds."

"I agree to that. I felt so abused last year. You see, I had this dream that Voldemort was in the Ministry of Magic and he was torturing Sirius to get him a weapon. I wanted to save Sirius, so my friends and I went to the Ministry to save him. When we got there, I found out it was a trap."

"It seems exactly like what happened to me when I saw that vision. I never knew until my sister and Dumbledore told me that it was a trap. To think, everyone thought how gifted I was to see that vision."

"How horrible. When did you start feeling a bit possessed?"

"I think it was right after I had left the battlefield, and everyone was cheering. They all hugged and bowed down to me. Someone said, 'Congrats, Glory! You're the greatest!' and I snapped back at them and told them that I was to be addressed at 'Your Royal Highness' or 'Princess'.

"I had another experience a day before school. I wanted to go to the library, but when I went, I didn't remember going. I found myself in the foyer instead. All I remember were hissing sounds. When I found myself in the Grand Foyer of the palace, I saw people rushing up the stairs. I later found out my sister had been attacked by Voldemort's snake."

"That's awful."

"I never knew or thought that I could have been the cause of it."

"What an awful person he is. The things he'll do to you will make you feel sick."

"I feel sick just thinking about what happened. He was... inside of me... controlling me. Harry, how was I like when he took over me?"

Harry thought for a moment and thought back to the awful times when Glory became cruel.

"You were very mean," answered Harry. "You were a bully, pushing others around. You had called Hermione a Mudblood and you had said to your sister that she dresses like she wants to get pregnant."

"Oh my goodness!" gasped Glory, as she covered her mouth with her hands. "I never meant those things! I can't believe Voldemort made me say them! You don't think people think I'm horrible, do you?"

"I think the news has gotten out and they understand why you were acting like that."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm not sure, but I think so. Glory, I saw your true colours many times this year. You're very sweet. You're multi-talented and you're so smart! You remind me so much of Professor Dumbledore, and you're so... beautiful..."

It was at that moment, Harry's heart leaped and his eyes finally opened and realized how beautiful Glory was. He noticed that she looked like a super model when he first saw her, but it never clicked to him about how gorgeous she really was. He also realized how wonderful she was, and she was a lot better than Cho. Harry fell in love with her.

"Wow, I never knew you thought that about me," said Glory, blushing.

"Glory, I think I'm in love with you," Harry admitted quickly.

This came as a large shock to Glory, and her eyes widened in surprise. Harry couldn't believe what he had said either.

"You're... you're in love with - me?"

"I... I think so. You were very supportive of me, unlike Cho. You stood up for me when she was talking bad about me. I owe my life to you, Glory! You stopped Voldemort from killing me."

"Harry, you don't owe me anything!"

"I at least owe you a date."

Glory was still a bit stunned.

"A date? You? Me?"

"Yes, we can go out tomorrow night."

Glory was so flattered at the offer.

"Harry, that would be wonderful!" exclaimed Glory, as she hugged Harry tightly. "I'll arrange it! We'll have dinner in my rooms, and after we can take a carriage ride. It will be great!"

"Cool. I guess that settles it - Oh, look who's here."

It was Malfoy coming into the hospital wing with his snake. He went to Glory's bed again.

"Hi! Sorry to bug you again, but I brought over my snake. Mr. Belroni fixed it. Do you want to hold it?"

"Sure," said Glory. Malfoy handed the large snake over to her. The snake quickly slithered around her shoulders and looked into her starred eyes. Glory suddenly spoke in Parseltongue. "You're an adorable snake, aren't you?"

"The snake isn't as bad as I thought," said Harry.

"Did you want to hold him?" asked Malfoy. Harry was shocked at the offer.

"Er... whatever..."

Glory held onto the snake and gave it to Harry. The snake's tail slithered around Harry as he held up the snake's head to eyelevel. Harry looked straight into its big black eyes, it was kind of cute in a way. He felt a bit scared that it was wrapped around him though.

"Hello," hissed Harry in Parsletongue. "How are you?"

"Good day, mate!" hissed the snake in a slightly female Australian accent. "I'm doin' fine. The name's PG, like Princess Glory. It's not quite a common name for a serpent like me, ain't it, laddie?"

"It's Australian!" said Harry to Glory and Malfoy.

"Draco got it imported from Australia."

"So you're from Australia?" hissed Harry to the snake.

"Sure am, lad! I'm straight from Down Unda'! I came from a jungle in the East of Australia. Lovely, really. I've got an artificial one now at home."

"What do you mean?"

"The Malfoys have a huge garden at their estate, and Draco lets me slither wherever I want. He's a good chap, you know. His family's a bit fierce if you know what I mean. His father's worse than a croc!"

"I hear you!"

"Potter, I think I have to go now," said Malfoy. "I kind of need the snake back."

"Oh, all right," said Harry. He gave the snake back to Malfoy.

"So Potter, did Glory tell you about- "

"He knows everything, Draco," said Glory. "We're going on a date on Sunday in fact."

"Really? Well, I- I'm really happy for you. Pansy and I are back together."

"That's great," said Glory.

"I'll see you soon," said Malfoy, as he went out of the room. Soon after, Joy came in. She went over to Glory and Harry.

"Hi everyone!" she said in a cheery mood. "How are you both?"

"We're great," said Glory. "In fact, we're going on a date Sunday."

"Wow," said Joy, with the same expression on her face that her mother had when she paired up Remus and her secretary. She gave a wink at Harry. "I'm happy to hear that. Glory, can you take this Dark Mark off?"

"Sure," said Glory, as she got out her bottle and another small towel.

"Harry, did you know that she invented the stuff to take off the Dark Mark?" asked Joy, as she lifted up her sleeve.

"You invented that stuff?" asked Harry.

"With the help of Professor Snape, I did. He told me how much he wanted to get rid of that mark, so I had the idea of the potion. Joy, are you ready for this?"

"Hopefully."

Glory did exactly what she had done to Malfoy, except that Joy didn't scream and cry as much as Malfoy had. Glory quickly wiped away the tattoo.

"Everything's done," said Glory. "I need to go now. Professor Luigi and Snape want their tattoos off too. Just remember to ask Madame Pomfrey for ice."

"Are you sure you're fit to leave?" asked Harry.

"I'm fine now. I'll come back once I'm done what I need to do. Bye!"

Glory got out of her bed and left the room to leave Harry, Joy and Ron alone.

"Do you want to go to Ron's bed?" asked Joy.

"OK."

Harry and Joy sat down near Ron, who was pigging out on Chocolate Frogs. He stopped eating and stuffed the boxes under his pillow.

"Oh, hi, Harry! Hi, Joy! How are you doing, Harry?"

"I'm doing pretty well, and you?"

"Much better," he said, as he sneaked a Chocolate Frog into his mouth.

"You gave us a scare when you fainted," said Joy.

"I didn't mean for that to happen. I just- "

"You don't have to apologize to us!" said Ron.

"I know, but I felt I had to."

"By the way, Ron, did you hear that Harry has a date with Glory on Sunday?" asked Joy.

"What? But, Harry! What about Cho?"

"Cho's a despicable person I don't even want to see again," said Harry angrily.

"You really think that what You-Know-Who said was true?" asked Ron.

"It was true, Ron. Dumbledore told me, and he showed me with the Pensieve. I found out that she was using me. She was bored, and she wanted to talk about Cedric's death. Plus, she liked the fact that I was famous."

"Harry, I cannot believe she did that to you," said Ron. "So, what's the deal with you going on a date with Glory? Why Glory?"

"I found out we have a lot in common," said Harry. "I owe my life to her for saving my life from Voldemort."

"What?" asked Ron.

"I'll tell you about it later," said Joy.

"Besides, she has a crush on me."

"She has a crush on you?" questioned Ron. "Of course! All those times she looked at you and blushed... It all makes sense now. What are your feelings for her?"

"It's strange but, when I started talking to her and when I told her why she's really nice, I started... I started to fall... in love with her."

"Isn't it sweet?" sighed Joy. "Oh Ron, are you sure you're all right?"

"I already told you both, I'm OK!"

"Are you sure?"

"Well, maybe..." Ron drifted off. Harry felt that Ron didn't want to say something.

"There's something you want to tell us," said Harry. "I know it."

"I was an inch from death," sighed Ron, looking a bit pale. "You know how they say when you're dying, and you see a tunnel with a light at the end? Well, I saw that! I was dying, Harry! I don't think I'll ever be all right... During that moment, I thought I'd see Sirius and everyone again... I was so scared..."

Ron drifted off from what he was saying. He didn't look like the lively Ron that Harry knew. He wondered if he'd ever get his best friend back, or if he'd ever get over it.

"But it doesn't matter. I'm alive now. It's just so hard to stop thinking about that light... the blinding light..."

Joy sighed and hugged her boyfriend. She knew Ron wasn't all right. She had such a glum look on her face.

"Do you think he'll be all right?" asked Harry.

"He'll eventually stop thinking about it so much, but after being scarred for life, no one ever really recovers. I'm sure you know, Harry."

"I do know. Glory told me about the war you fought. Were you scarred too?"

"Harry, I wasn't scarred. I am scarred. I'm scarred for life. You can't believe the horrible things I saw during that war. I saw Death Eaters and even a few people from our army dying right before my eyes. I witnessed the Unforgivable Curses being used countless times. I even witnessed soldiers having their limbs ripped off! I watched innocent men suffer as their families prayed for them and worried about them at home. I saw soldiers and Aurors sending letters to their families, not knowing if they'll be alive to get their families' replies. It was awful..."

"It sounds so gruesome. Glory told me about it, but she wasn't that specific about the gruesome and horrible things she saw."

"You wouldn't want to know," said Joy, choking up words. "Things like that can make you forget that life is even happy. I tried to think of something happy to make myself perky, but there was no use. There weren't any happy things. I tried to think that we'll be home soon, the war will be over soon and Voldemort would be killed once and for all, but I wasn't even sure of those things. Voldemort didn't die after all, and by the time I went home, I had to pack up and go to Hogwarts. Even if the war is officially over, it still doesn't seem over. I still have nightmares about it. I have nightmares of replaying those awful things I've seen, Harry! I keep on seeing people die in my dreams!"

Joy burst out into tears. Harry couldn't believe what Joy was trying to hold back for so long. Not even the happiest person he knew was really happy. From his long stare, Ron realized Joy was crying and started to pat her on the back. She cried on his shoulder, as a tear fell down from his cheek too, which he quickly wiped away. He probably didn't want anyone to see that he was crying. Harry tried to hug Joy and calm her down. After a while, Joy sniffed and wiped away her tears. Her face was red and her make-up had smeared.

"Where's Hermione?" asked Harry.

"She's in the girls' bathroom," sighed Ron. "She got a letter from Krum. He broke up with her."

"Oh no," sighed Joy. "She was so happy with him."

"This day just keeps on getting worse," said Harry.

"No, Harry, you shouldn't think that!" said Joy. "We might have a horrible time, but you don't have to. That awful Cho is out of your life and you have a date with Glory. Believe me, she won't let you down."

"All right," said Harry, as he let out a long sigh. "I'm going to find Hermione."

Harry left the room and wandered in the hallways looking for the girls' washroom. He finally found it, and tried knocking on the wooden door.

"Hermione? Are you in there?" called Harry.

"Who is it?" asked the muffled voice of Hermione.

"It's Harry."

"Oh, Harry!" called out Hermione. "I'll be out there soon!"

Harry waited for a few minutes until Hermione came out of the washroom. Her face was red even though she had tried to wash it, and she held a long letter in her hand.

"Are you all right?" asked Harry, concerned. "What happened?"

"Viktor dumped me," said Hermione, her noise still a bit stuffed up from crying. "He wrote this letter saying how I don't encourage him, he can't stand long-distance relationships and that he found another girlfriend."

"I'm so sorry that happened," said Harry.

"I am too. I was such a good girlfriend! He says I didn't encourage him, but I did! I can't believe I wasted my time."

"I know just how you feel," sighed Harry. "You know that thing that Voldemort said about Cho? Well, it's true. She was using me to learn more about Cedric, because she was bored and because I was famous and everything. She said she would have liked to have her photo in The Daily Prophet."

"That's even worse than my situation!" said Hermione. "She used you, and for such a long time! You really did love her. You didn't deserve that. Did you talk to her?"

"Did we ever talk! We made a huge scene in the Great Hall. We've broken up now."

"Did she even love you at all?"

"She said that she 'thought' she loved me. She thrust it right in my face at the end of the fight that Cedric was a better boyfriend."

"Oh, Harry."

Hermione hugged Harry tightly, and then gently let go.

"So, do you have any plans for anyone else to date?" asked Hermione.

"Actually, I'm going out with Glory tomorrow night."

"Oh, that's wonderful! I'm glad she finally broke up with Malfoy. I heard they were having a bit of problems in their relationship. I listened to their break-up. It was so sad. I can't believe Malfoy isn't a slime ball. Glory really is nice, you know."

"I know that. Dumbledore even told me that we have so many things in common."

"What else did Dumbledore tell you?"

"He told me the reason why Voldemort couldn't kill me. It was because he tried doing the Sucking Incantation, and both our powers are lethal to each other. It was also because of Glory."

"What do you mean?"

"A small part of her stopped Voldemort from using her powers against me. You see, Glory has a crush on me."

"Oh my goodness!" exclaimed Hermione. "I had a feeling she liked you. Did you see the look on her face whenever she saw you? But do you have feelings for her?"

"It seems so icky and weird, but while I was talking to her and I named all her talents, I started to fall in love with her, right then and there."

"That's so sweet!" said Hermione.

"That's exactly what Joy said. Have you seen Ron? He's completely out of it."

"It's sad. I was shocked at first when I realized what had happened, but now I'm just glad to be alive. The only problem is, is that this letter made everything worse. I hope Ron will be all right."

"Joy said no one will ever be all right after being scarred for life."

"She said that? She usually would be the one to say that he'll be better."

"It turns out she was scarred from that war. She told me how she still has nightmares of the bad things she saw in the war. It's horrible all the things that she described... just gruesome."

"Oh dear, I never knew that. I think I should talk to her later. First, I have to burn this letter before I do something 'really' lethal with it. See you later!"

"Bye!"

As Hermione rushed to the common room (to burn the awful letter in the fireplace), Harry leaned on the wall for a minute to think about all that had happened that day: all the confessions, all the break-ups, all the heart-aches and all the stories of his friends being scarred for life. He thought about all the awful things that Joy and Glory had suffered. To think, they hadn't even turned 16 at the time! He tried to think of something else, like the date he would have with Glory the next evening. He was really excited for that.

*****

Harry had an absolutely wonderful date with Glory. First, he went to her rooms and they ate in her personal miniature dining room, where they had a delicious meal of haute cuisine and gourmet foods that delighted the taste buds on Harry's tongue. Harry poked a bit of fun at Glory who gulped her food down so quickly. Harry found out that she had a sense of humour that made any moment even more pleasant.

Afterwards, Glory took out the wonderful carriage she had received for her birthday from Professor Dumbledore that was pulled by her black unicorn that she decided to name Marguerite D'Hogwarts. The carriage was pulled by Dobby, who was absolutely excited to drive for Harry Potter and Princess Glory's carriage ride. As Dobby opened the door for them to get in, Harry entered the carriage after Glory and looked around the room inside. It looked so much like the Ravenclaw common room. Like Joy's carriage, there were photos of Joy and Glory and Dumbledore around the carriage. Hung above the Ravenclaw-like fireplace was the exact same painting of Glory, Joy and Dumbledore in Joy's carriage. Harry even spotted a miniature fountain that looked almost exactly like the fountain in Ravenclaw on a small table.

"You have a miniature of the fountain!" remarked Harry.

"I know, I love it too. It's one of my favourite things in here. Doesn't Gryffindor have a fountain?"

"No, we don't. Sadly, Slytherin has one and so does Ravenclaw. I hope Hufflepuff doesn't have one."

"How do you know that Slytherin has a fountain?"

"I- er....."

"You went dream-peeking a while back, didn't you?" questioned Glory.

"Yeah, kind of... How do you know?"

"Joy told me."

"Oh, OK. You're not going to report that, are you?"

"Of course not! Instead, I'll try and see if I can get a fountain in the Gryffindor common room," she said as she gave a wink that looked rather similar to Dumbledore's wink.

"You know, you remind me so much of Professor Dumbledore in a few ways," said Harry, "like your wink for example."

"I don't know, Harry, but I think it just might be that I could be a descendant of Professor Dumbledore," she said in a sarcastic way.

"I think you might even have his sense of humour too."

"Hey, you try being stuck in a war-tent with Professor Luigi for two months and not learn a joke or two."

"Ha! You are funny. Wow... am I ever in love with you..."

Harry and Glory had a wonderful conversation in the carriage. Harry felt so comfortable on the date, which was more comfortable than any of his dates with Cho Chang. They had so much to talk about, and every minute he spent more with her, the more he fell deeply in love with her. No wonder Malfoy loved her so much, thought Harry. Another great thing was that she didn't say or do any weird girl things that Cho had done.

By 9 o'clock, they had finished their ride in the carriage. Dobby stopped the carriage right in front of the castle's entrance.

"This is it," sighed Harry. "There ends our first date. Do you want to go on another one?"

"Of course! If you want, we can be girlfriend and boyfriend."

"I would love too."

"That's wonderful."

"Uhm... Do you think I can - maybe - kiss you?"

"Kiss me? But, it's our first date. I suppose... We have known each other for more than one evening..."

"So would you like a kiss?"

"Well, I suppose so. Yes, that would be lovely."

Glory and Harry moved closer and closer to each other, and closed their eyes, until their lips met and they gave each other a tender kiss. They pulled back after a few seconds and smiled back at each other.

"That - that was wonderful," said Harry. He had really enjoyed the kiss.

"Yeah, it was."

"I guess this is goodbye for tonight."

"Yes, I guess so. Are you going to be at the meeting of Ministries?"

"Of course I will, and no matter what they decide, I'll always be there for you!"

Glory smiled at what Harry said as they went into Hogwarts and parted to their common rooms. Harry said the password quickly and entered the common room. His friends were happy to see him.

"Harry, how was your date?" asked Ron curiously.

"Perfect," sighed Harry, as he went up the stairs to his dormitory.

"Is he coming back?" asked Hermione.

"I think we should just leave him alone," said Joy. "By the looks on that smile on his face, all he wants to do is think about that night."

Harry smiled at what they said and went to up to his room. He found Seamus in the room, looking at his album.

"Oy, Harry!" greeted Seamus. "I heard you went on a date with Princess Glory. How was it?"

"It was absolutely magnificent!" said Harry. "Wait, wouldn't you be mad that I'm dating her?"

"No, I've gotten over it," said Seamus. "I've realized I'm not going to have a chance with her. You deserve her. Besides, I found out from Malfoy that it's not just being a good boyfriend that qualifies as going out with her. If it goes far, you're going to have to be King! That's too stressful for me. I think you'll make a wonderful King, Harry. Everyone loves you! On the other hand, do you think Weasley'll make a good King?"

Harry hadn't thought about it. He pondered at the question, and found out his answer.

"He would make a great King," said Harry. "He's got pretty good grades and I think he'll be very supportive to Joy. He is a Prefect, you know."

"Yeah, you're right. Hey, I found a picture of Glory and you in a picture. Do you want it?"

"Sure!"

Seamus passed Harry the photo. He looked at it closely. Harry and Glory were standing together, Glory's cheeks were blushing with a tinge of red. He looked under his bed, and picked up the frame that once held a picture of him and Cho. He quickly put the picture in of him and Glory and put the frame beside his bed.

"Eh, what's that under your bed?" asked Seamus. "That gold thing?"

"This?" said Harry, as he picked up the locket. "It's the locket I gave to Cho."

"I don't mean to be rude but, can I have it? I have this sister who's turning 10 years old in a week and she's crazy for jewellery. She doesn't care if it belonged to anyone before her, she just loves jewellery."

"Sure, I didn't know what to do with it anyway."

Harry handed Seamus the locket and a smile spread across his face.

"Thanks, Harry! Good night!"

"Good night, Seamus!"

Seamus Finnigan put his album away, pulled the sheets on his four-poster bed and slept. Harry got ready for bed and went to sleep. Instead of having a dream about Sirius' death, he had a dream about the night he had, and Glory.

Author's Note: PLEASE REVIEW!!!! Oh, and the next chapter's called, "The Ministries of Magic's Decision". That's somewhat self-explanatory too, meaning that the Ministries of Magic will decide if there will be a monarchy or not. BUT IT"S NOT JUST THAT! Just as a little sneak peak - Cornelius Fudge will tell Harry something very surprising, and make the chapter a great cliff hanger!!! DUNDUNDAAA!!!! Oh, and one more thing: PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!