Chapter 29. Oh Fudge!

Then a new voice spoke, one, which Harry also knew all too well, "Really Professor, you can't imagine the Potter boy could fathom the complexities of the running of the Ministry.  But he would surely be able to see reason and I would even wager he'd like to feel he's doing something to help."

Harry only managed to brace himself with composed restraint for a moment before he stepped forward, nudged the door to swing open and then strode forth into the room.  Extending his hand in mock joviality of a greeting, Harry cried, "Percy!  How really corking to see you!"

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If Harry hadn't been so ticked off as he gripped Percy's hand tightly, shaking it jauntily, he would found Percy's expression to be quite amusing.  Despite Harry's amicable words and actions, his face bore no cheer and if the mounting look on Percy's face was anything to judge by, then Harry must have appeared downright menacing. 

Harry held Percy's hand longer than necessary, squeezing and grasping it between both of his hands as he let Percy squirm under the full weight of his gaze.  Last Harry recalled, Percy had been a great many inches taller than him, and so it was with a celebratory inner leap that he found himself now eye-to-eye, matching Percy equally in height.  

"Haven't seen you around much, Perce, old boy.  What's it been?  Nearly a year?"  Harry's eyes were narrowed and glinting with a spark of spite.  "Yes, it was down in that old Courtroom Ten now wasn't it?  And I can't seem to recall the occasion…what was it?"

Harry still had not let go of Percy's hand and he drew strength from Percy's increasing discomfort and from seeing Fudge's gaping face over Percy's shoulder.  "Ah yes, that trial—a trifle of a misunderstanding really, wasn't it?  Yes, yes…oh, now I'd almost forgot!  I also saw you here last year in this very room!  Yes, yes, here to help expel me then, weren't you?"  Harry smiled almost genially, but the raging calm of his eyes made the smile seem almost maniacal as his eyes narrowed and he held Percy captive to his tirade.  "Tsk, yes, but really, that was yet, but another 'misunderstanding' then, wasn't it, eh?"  

Through a towering moment of silence, Harry watched as Percy struggled to regain some form of composure.  Percy forced a half-grin and tried to pump Harry's hand in return of greeting and tried to laugh as he said, "Yes, well, Harry, er, yes…er, you catch a flying cauldron in the eye, there?" Percy waved to gesture at the bruising on Harry's face.

Harry let Percy's hand drop before he raised a hand to feel the cut on his face and remarked, "This?  Oh, no, no, you know me, always a bit unstable and prone to…violence."

Percy looked like he might have wanted to test the apparition barrier within Hogwarts at that moment.  Fudge then burst in with what sounded like forced laughter that grew louder as he then cried out, "Oh, always was a good humored lad, wasn't he, yes, yes, Harry!  I'm glad we've all been able to see the mistakes we've each made in the past.  All behind us now, moving on, moving on, busy times," he muttered the last part to himself.  

Harry turned with deliberate slowness towards Fudge and saw the portly wizard rocking anxiously back on his heals and trying to appear (but failing miserably) congenial with a poorly held smile fixed on his face.  

Harry then became aware of a strange prickling sensation on the back of his neck, like he was being watched with the weight of eyes upon him.  He tore his fixed gaze from Fudge and scanned to circular office slowly; he noticed several portraits had abandoned the pretense of appearing to be asleep and were watching with unconcealed curiosity. 

"Well, now, Harry," Fudge said as he twirled his bowler hat in his hands.  "We just arrived here to discuss our making amends with you for that little misunderstanding last summer." 

Harry quirked an eyebrow up at this and remained silent, his hands clasped behind his back now.  "Er, right," Fudge went on as Harry noticed Dumbledore seat himself back into the chair behind his desk, "Harry, yes, well, we'd like to offer you an apology, you see."  Harry's eyebrows both rose at this.  "Yes, yes, in the form of allowing you to publicly tell your story; for everyone to hear of course.  We'd call a conference with the Press, of course…and invite everyone to attend."

Fudge's smile faltered as Harry remained emotionless and merely watched him with mounting stoicism.  "We can make it clear the, er, suffering you've endured.  I mean the Press is who maligned you so terribly last year, shameful really—those slanderous rumormongers!  It's the least they owe to you—to put your story out there into the light and…well, and to make sure everyone knows the truth and that they can and should believe you.  Harry, it's the least I can do," he said, dramatically feigning remorse. 

Harry stared at him; wondering how long Fudge would bluster on with this charade.  Harry couldn't help but believe his story had already been circulated quite thoroughly thanks to the Quibbler and the Daily Prophet.  After a few moments of silence where Fudge was twisting his hat in nervousness, Harry said, "That's quite alright, but really, there's no need."  Fudge opened his mouth to speak but Harry spoke over him and went on, "I imagine the Ministry has a great deal of responsibility and much more important work to concern itself with than any injured feelings a boy, such as I, might have."

Percy spoke, puffed up with importance as he said, "You'd be helping us if—"

"—If you just," Fudge laughed shortly as he cut Percy off abruptly and covered, "well, if you just let us make these amends.  We feel it's the very least we can do.  It's our obligation, really.  You can understand that, can't you Harry?"

Harry smiled sweetly and bowed his head as he said indulgently, "Well, I'm sure I can't even begin to fathom the complexities of running the Ministry…"

Fudge nearly dropped his hat and fumbled it for a moment and then smiled uncomfortably back at Harry, his eyes darting off around the room and refusing to meet Harry's sickly sweet smile.  "Well, well, per-perhaps the good professor, Dumbledore, you might explain just how helpful it would be for Harry to allow us to…er, yes, make these amends…hmm?" Fudge looked expectantly at Dumbledore.  

Dumbledore merely surveyed Fudge with a less than twinkling look.  Fudge looked nervously between Harry and Dumbledore and then stepped quickly around Dumbledore's desk and began whispering into his ear, gesticulating with fervor.

Harry watched them for a moment and then turned sharply to study Percy.  Harry could swear he felt someone staring a hole into the back of his skull.  "Pity, isn't it, Percy?" Harry stated in a conversational undertone as he stepped around to the side. 

Percy seemed to glance around the room for an excuse to not talk to Harry and, finding none, turned back and tried to smile and asked quietly, "Er, what's that, Harry, then?"

Harry surveyed the redhead coolly and said in a low, gravelly voice, "Pity, Perce, that you seem to have wasted seven years in these halls.  What with all your ambition, I reckon you missed your calling to do well in Slytherin."  Percy's eyes went wide and Harry continued, not really sure just why Percy was eliciting such bitter spite from him. "Really, Perce, with honor such as yours…" Harry peered intently into Percy's startled blue eyes as he went on, "Honor—to friends and family… it's a wonder you ever got sorted into Gryffindor."

Percy grew brilliant Weasley-red at this, pointed a finger at Harry and whispered heatedly; "Don't talk to me about family and honor!!  I'm the only one left in my family with any honor!  I've vowed to bring honor back the name of Weasley!"  Percy snapped his mouth shut and looked quickly around the office. 

Harry remained cool, watching him.  "Ah, so this is about the honor of blood, is it?"  Harry had the distinct feeling Percy was ashamed of his family's reputation for having an affinity for muggles and for lacking 'proper Wizarding pride'.

Percy latched onto Harry's arm and drew him close and, still whispering but heatedly, said, "You don't understand the importance of blood, Harry!  You've not been properly raised—"

"Pardon me—" Harry jerked his arm free and glared daggers at Percy as he dropped the whispering but remained speaking in an undertone, "—for not having any parents.  And for someone who claims to place such importance upon blood, why then Percy, why so eagerly forsake those of your own blood?"  Percy looked like he'd been slapped and Harry hoped it indicated that Percy may have woken up to his hypocrisy. Harry then felt the sudden need to change the subject and rather innocently asked, "So, how is Penelope Clearwater these days, Percy?  Are you still seeing her?  She was ever so nice."

Percy's eyes flared at the name of his school sweetheart, and Harry could have sworn he saw shame in Percy's eyes at the thought of his former girlfriend.  Percy's mouth worked and was about to open to speak when another voice cut him off.

"We've got to be off!" Fudge cried stridently as he walked back around from Dumbledore's desk.  Dumbledore rose from his chair and surveyed Fudge over his glasses.  "Yes, now then Harry, your professor here," he gestured at Dumbledore who was not smiling, "he'll explain everything so you understand.  We'll see you soon then.  Study hard!"

With a furtive glance around the room, Fudge bustled past and steered Percy out the door.  As Harry watched the door slam shortly after they walked out, he whirled back around towards Dumbledore and flung himself into a chair and sighed exasperatedly. 

 "Well, that was certainly entertaining," Moody's voice growled from behind Harry, almost stealing the words from Harry's very mouth.

Harry spun in his seat to see the ex-Auror slipping out from underneath an invisibility cloak and smiling in a very unsettling manner simultaneously at both Harry and Dumbledore.

"What the?!" Harry cried, shaking his head in confusion.

"Don't tell me you didn't know we were there!" Moody growled at Harry and he limped to settle into a chair. 

"You!" Harry's eyes narrowed and he recalled the feeling of being watched.  He looked about the room again and said, "Who else?"

Moody's magical eye spun and whirled as he turned to face Harry and cried, "Who else?  Fudge and his two goons!  Walks all around now with at least two undercover Aurors.  Don't tell me you didn't even pick them up?  You do have your Perimeter Charm up, don't ya, lad?"

"Goons?  My—oh! You!"  Harry pointed a finger at Moody.  Since he had arrived at back at Hogwarts, Harry had found his Perimeter Charm to be very bothersome at odd times as it was always going off and almost always giving him the feeling that he was being watched.  He had always had the feeling that Moody was tripping the charm here and there but then that seemed incredibly unlikely in the halls of Hogwarts between classes.  Then, with everyone else all around him and constantly setting the charm off, it drove him crazy, thinking someone was always following him…which made him think he was just becoming paranoid like Moody because it was always being set off.  "Have you been following me all around?!"

"Well, I'd hope you could pick me up—bit daft if you missed that—"

"Oh, you!" Harry cried and dropped his head into his hands.  "It's been driving me mad!  That charm always going off—I thought it was just overload from so many people being around—I started to get the feeling I was being watched and always being followed and, well...I've shrunk it considerably.  You should have told me—it was you setting it off then.  I just…I just thought I was getting paranoid," Harry answered lamely.  Damn Moody for eliciting a shiver of paranoia whenever he set off a Perimeter Charm; it had been the same when he set off the Order's charmed galleon.  It was no wonder his paranoia was infectious.

Moody eyed him, snorted and said, "Better paranoid than dead, I always say."

Dumbledore chuckled with amusement and Harry tried to at least add, "I did think I was being watched, though just now…just," he gestured around the room to the walls, "thought it was the portraits."

Dumbledore nodded in understanding.  "Well, Harry, I believe you overheard enough before you came in?"

"Oh, yes, well, I heard he wants to raise money and use me—actually, I guess you said that sir."

Dumbledore twinkled and said, "Yes, I knew you were out there and, well, with the tone Cornelius was taking, I figured it was only matter of time before you would want to step into the room.  I thought it best to clarify for you what the point of his visit was."

Harry nodded.  "Yes, sorry about all that.  I just...well, you know."  Dumbledore twinkled knowingly at him.  "Well, why does he—well, I heard to strengthen the Ministry's forces…oh, I suppose I really can't refuse that, can I?" Harry said with defeat.

Dumbledore looked surprised for a moment and then said, "Well, it seems he feels a financial strain upon the burdens the Ministry faces in strengthening its forces.  They've been hiring on increased numbers of Aurors and even soliciting aid from foreign Ministries."

"And how am I supposed to help?  It sounds like he wants to use me as some sort of pitiful war victim propaganda or such.  And his talk about the Press owing it me for their slander…I have it on good authority, from Rita Skeeter no less, that Fudge was the very one leaning on the Prophet to defame me in the first place!  He's got some nerve…"  Harry shook his head, glowering as he spoke.

"And just what is the little deal you've got with that Skeeter?" Moody asked, stepping forward with interest.  "You get her to come out of nowhere last year and write that article for the Quibbler, then you get her to give a timely interview to help sway students to ride the Express—now she's telling you what Fudge was doing to the Prophet?"

"Oh," Harry said, looking between Moody and Dumbledore.  "Well, er, yeah, we've got a bit of an arrangement." Harry decided to change the subject and asked Moody, "How long were you planning to follow me around?"

"Until you realized you were being followed," Moody replied gruffly.

"Well!  Oh, I –damn it!  I thought I was mad thinking I kept feeling you tripping the damn charm," Harry complained again.

"Yeah, yeah, now," Moody said, waving it off and moving towards the door.

"Can't believe you spend all your time following me around," Harry grumbled.

"Not all my time, I do sleep you know.  Trust you to keep to your Tower after curfew and really, it's not all the time.  Just occasionally," Moody conceded. 

"Er, not after curfew, eh?" Harry asked quickly as he immediately imagined Moody following him and Hermione…Ergh, must stop that thought! 

Moody eyed him closely, holding his invisibility cloak.  "You do stick to your Tower, don't you?"

Harry laughed and said, "Well, of course, er, unless, you know…well, um, yeah.  If I don't--I mean, I've got my cloak and well, my map and…yeah, no one's about to sneak up on me then…right?"  He tried to smile but failed miserably.

"They'd better not," Moody growled as he turned to leave them alone.  "I didn't teach you to stay alive for nothing!"

As he left, Harry turned back to Dumbledore to see the aged wizard smiling and twinkling knowingly.  Harry tried to project the image of himself as a sweet and innocent little boy.  Dumbledore only chuckled with amusement. 

Harry sobered and said with a sigh, "So, I take it Fudge wants you to convince me?"

Dumbledore sighed as well and nodded.  "Yes, he wanted to remind me that as I acted as your legal guardian over the summer when I pulled forth some favors to get you an early learning permit for apparition, I should still be able to wield some authority over you and, well, I believe his phrase was 'properly coerce' you."  Dumbledore looked apologetically at Harry and went on, "Cornelius has not always had the best of tact and finesse when it comes to asking favors."

"Apparently not," Harry answered dryly.  "What, specifically does he have in mind?  I assume this is some public event or such?"  Harry asked with trepidation.  Speaking in public was definitely not on his list of things he ever wanted to have to do, especially to the Press.

Dumbledore looked contemplative.  "Well, I believe that is what Cornelius had in mind, however, I am not very enamored of the idea.  It presents an awful security risk to have a known date where you'll be standing in front of all sorts of people.  But, depending upon what sort of arrangement you have with Miss Skeeter, perhaps we can find another way for you to offer your support.  Frankly, I won't lie to you; I think Cornelius is asking an awful lot to expect any help on this from either you or myself.  The Ministry has ways of its own to secure funding.  Why don't you send an owl to Miss Skeeter, Harry."

"Fudge wants you to help him?" Hermione asked incredulously.  She and Harry were in his Defense office after dinner and Harry had just finished telling her about his run in with Fudge and Percy that morning. 

Word had seemed to spread quickly of Harry and Hermione's relationship, (no surprise there) and they both had spent as little time in the Great Hall for dinner as possible before hurrying off in the wake of stares, pointing and whispers.  They had no doubt the rumor mill of Hogwarts would easily piece together the detention Ron had served all day on Sunday for striking a student (or two), Harry's bruised and cut face, and the sudden revelation of Harry's new girlfriend. 

"Uh-huh," Harry said.  "And now I'm writing to Rita—you'll help me draft the letter, won't you?  I want to get it sent out tonight."  Harry had already discussed what to write with Dumbledore that afternoon.  As long as Harry gave Rita just the general gist of a newsworthy story and explained the angle he wanted it have, she had agreed to maintain her arrangement with Harry and Hermione in return for the exclusive rights to publish all official statements from Harry.  Of course, the rest of the world was again free reign for her scathing quill. 

"I wonder if this is why Fudge hasn't assigned any Aurors to help secure the school," Hermione mused as she oversaw Harry's letter.  "Even if there's been a run on gold, you'd still think protecting the school and the student would be a priority."

"Hmm?  Oh no, Dumbledore said that was his request.  He says he thinks it would be a greater risk to have unknown people entrusted to securing the castle than just relying on the castle's own defenses.   Plus, the Order had its own security committee work on it."

"What about Tonks and maybe Kingsley?" Hermione suggested as she read over Harry's shoulder.

"No, they're more valuable in their original positions and giving intelligence from their everyday contacts.  They'd be too isolated if they were stationed here."  Harry had already had this discussion with Dumbledore at least a week ago. 

After the letter was complete and also having completed their Transfiguration homework, Harry said, "Well, it's half an hour to curfew, I want to send this out tonight and so I should probably get to the Owlry."

Hermione looked up from her book and noticed the time.  "Oh, yes, I wanted to go the library this evening."

Harry felt a smile grow as he watched Hermione stack up and pack away five separate books.  Leave it to Hermione to insist on carrying around and reading any book remotely related to any assignment she worked on.  "Need to check out a few more books?" He asked with amusement.

"Yes, I do.  I wanted to—what's so funny?" she asked as Harry started snickering at her. 

"You," he said as he mockingly feigned the inability to lift her book bag.  "You know, you've a birthday coming up and I've always gotten you some book.  I think you've enough books.   It'll have to be something different—any wishes?" 

Hermione looked up at him, startled, for a moment before saying, "Oh, you don't have to."

"Of course I do and I will."

"But if you've not gotten something already, then how—"

"Owl Order.  Now quit avoiding the question.  What is it you want?" Harry asked as he sat back down in the chair beside her and tucked a few tendrils of her hair behind her ear. 

Hermione frowned and said, "Harry, if you were going out with some other girl and it was her birthday and you knew you had to get her a gift, how would you figure out what to get her?"

Harry looked confused at the question and answered with amusement, "Well, I probably just ask you what to get."

"Exactly," Hermione said.  "So you can't ask me now.  I'm sure you'll figure it out."  She stood up and shouldered her bag, as Harry looked bewildered.  "See you back in the Common Room," she called as she left the office. 

Harry was left shaking his head and wondering, what the hell did that mean? 

The next day progressed with the wildest rumors about the Ron-punching-Harry-because-he's-dating-Hermione fiasco were, in all actuality, being very spot on.  Harry had heard Mandy Brocklehurst glibly state that she had heard Harry and Hermione had been caught by Ron in a heated unclothed tryst on the Gryffindor Common Room floor, but of course, she didn't believe such exaggerations as truth. 

Harry was just very thankful that Ron seemed to have been too mortified at the memory of that night to even confirm or expound upon these rumors.  In fact, Ron took every possible opportunity to avoid Harry and Hermione all together.

The Quidditch captains all met mid-morning on Tuesday.  Harry was not looking forward to trying to compromise with Zacharias Smith, Cho Chang and whoever the Slytherin captain was to be.  When he arrived at Madame Hooch's office, after walking with Smith from Charms, they were each very surprised to see Millicent Bulstrode there, sitting dourly in the corner. 

"You're the Slytherin Captain?" Harry asked immediately, drawing a glowering look from her.

"Stunning grasp of the obvious, Potter," she said with all the usual char, and congeniality of her House.

Harry stared at her for a moment and caught himself as he thought: shouldn't have expected anything less from a Slytherin.   "I was merely commenting, Bulstrode, you weren't even on the team before this year.  I'm just rather surprised Malfoy didn't manage to buy his way to the captaincy."

"If you haven't noticed, Potter, the name Malfoy is worth a lot less this year," she said coolly.

Cho and Hooch then arrived, cutting off any further fascinating glimpse into the dynamics of the Slytherin social circle.

It took over an hour, with Cho being extremely mulish about setting the Ravenclaw practice times, but they finally worked out a practice schedule.  The schedule rotated, based upon which two teams were scheduled for the upcoming match.  As the first game was Slytherin and Hufflepuff, they would each get the prime practice spots up until their game. 

Harry was quite happy with this arrangement, as it meant he wouldn't have to call a practice for the team for at least another few weeks and, even then, it would only be twice a week until the first match was played on the first weekend in November. 

One thing that was different this year was the schedule.  Since Harry had been at Hogwarts the quidditch schedule had never changed from year-to-year and had always started with Gryffindor playing Slytherin.  Not that Harry was complaining.  No, in fact, he was very pleased to have the year to boost his team's skill and ability to play well as a team before facing off in the heated rivalry.

It was with much excitement and anticipation that the sixth years all filed into Defense Against the Dark Arts that week.  Snape had promised them that their newly assigned groups would be matched against another group and they would be dueling. 

"Silence," Snape intoned as he strode into the classroom.  Everyone was standing around in their groups, wands out and waiting anxiously for the dueling to begin.  Harry had to admit though, he hoped this went much better than the previous experiences he'd had with dueling at school. 

"What are you all standing around for?  To your seats and pass forth your homework," he barked.

Mandy Brocklehurst spoke up loudly with confusion, "I thought we were going to duel each other today?"  She snapped her gum loudly as she spoke and Harry was surprised Snape hadn't taken points off of Ravenclaw for her disgustingly loud and obnoxious gum chewing. 

Snape silenced her with a glare, which she just shrugged off and joined everyone else in taking their seats.  Finally, as their scrolls on defensive shields were being passed forth, Snape explained, "I do not expect a duel for any of you to last very long.  The first pairing will go today during the last quarter hour of class.  Until then, you should be diligently taking notes."

Grumbling, they all pulled out parchment and quills for a lecture and Snape resorted to his favorite pastime—harassing Harry.  "Potter!  How many different defensive shielding spells are there?"

Harry shifted in his seat uncomfortably by force of habit at being called upon by Snape.  Fortunately, though, he recalled this was not Potions and was actually being asked about something he not only knew but something he knew well and at which he excelled.

"Unlimited, sir," Harry said.

Snape quirked an eyebrow and turned to another student.  "Miss Patil…of Ravenclaw, tell us, how many defensive shields did you find?"

Padma snuck a sideways glance at Harry as she answered uncertainly, "Two.  I found only two shielding charms."

Snape surveyed Harry coolly and intoned, "So, Potter, you think you know more than the two spells that Miss Patil has uncovered?"

With a very slight apologetic look towards Padma, Harry answered, "Well, yes. She said she only found two charms.  The question was about defensive shield spells—not merely charms."  Harry saw several faces fall as they realized they had misinterpreted the assignment from Snape.  Harry had far too much experience with Snape's choice of assignments and wording of questions to not know better than to pay meticulous attention to detail. 

"Give examples," Snape demanded as he spun and glided back up to the front of the class, towards the blackboard.

Harry began rattling off the different ways to block spells, "Well, there's conjuring objects to block spells, transfiguration of an existing item into something suitable to block a spell, summoning and banishing or animated control of objects to utilize them as interceptive shields against spells…" As Harry ticked off examples of ways to use magic to shield oneself from spells, Snape had begun to make a list on the board. 

Amazingly, the rest of the lecture expounded upon the initial list Harry had made and Snape could not manage to take any single point from Harry.  He did manage, however, to take a few from Ron for not paying attention; Harry didn't have to guess to know that Ron had probably been glaring at either him or Hermione at the time.

Finally, Snape called a stop to the lecture and the class quickly stowed away their books and notes. 

"Now, the real fun shall begin," Snape said in one of his soft yet deadly whispers that foretold of the promise of his delight to be taken in the impending failures of his pupils.  "One group shall be matched against another group and they shall duel.  The remainder of the class shall observe the contest.  All students shall then write two feet or parchment analyzing the contest, comparing the strategy—or lack thereof-- that failed with the one that succeeded. 

"And of course, as any sixth year student should know, a duel does not end until either a duelist's wand is successfully disarmed and in the possession of their opponent, thus forcing that person to concede defeat or… one opponent is dead." As these rules sunk in, Snape paced a bit before the class with his hands clasped before him.  "I admonish you all from killing any of your opponents," he added flippantly.

"As a group, the duel is not over until each member of the group has been defeated, either in being disarmed and conceding defeat or in being incapacitated.  The duel shall last until all members of one group have been defeated.  Now, off to the side and we'll clear the room."

Harry snuck a glance to meet Hermione's raised-brow look as they cleared off their desks and followed Snape's instructions.  "You know, I'm actually getting a bit nervous about this," Hermione said quietly.  Harry silently agreed.

"I didn't realize everyone would be watching," Susan Bones said as she slipped over beside Harry.  Other students seemed to mumbling the same sentiments. 

"Now," Snape hissed as he paced before the class.  "Let's see who shall make fools of themselves first.  Any volunteers?"  The class collectively shrunk in on itself and Hermione stifled a laugh at this.  It didn't escape Snape's notice.  "Ah, Miss Granger…always the first one to raise a hand in class, I'll assume you're just as eager to volunteer now.  Up!"   He jerked a thumb to the open area behind him.  Hermione reluctantly walked out to the dueling space with the other members of her group following behind her, scowling resentfully at her back.

Harry then noticed Snape eyeing him with his usual disdain.  "Tut, tut, we wouldn't wish to force Hogwarts' newest pair of lovers to face off against each other, now would we?" he said with his usual disdain to Harry.  Harry's face burned with mingled embarrassment and irritation as Snape sneered at him and then whirled about and barked, "Weasley!  Your group—up!  You'll face off against Granger's."

The point was not lost on Harry and, from the look on both Ron and Hermione's faces, they also thought Snape's choices were not so coincidental.  Harry saw Hermione quickly gather her group together and then hurriedly conspire with them.  Then Harry noticed the look on Ron's face; if he weren't positive that Hermione could easily win out in a battle with a wand against Ron, Harry would have been seriously concerned for her welfare. 

Ron's group consisted of six other guys—well, one was Morag McDougal, but she was more of a man than most of the other boys in sixth year.  Su Li was there, a Ravenclaw that had just been brought into the DA by Padma the last week; he looked exceedingly nervous and seemed to be inching behind Ron, seeking a place to stay out of the line of fire.  Ernie Macmillan was there, too, and he stood beside Ron, looking very serious and very determined.  Blaise Zabini was in the group, but he sidled off to one corner and was watching his own group members as much as he watched the girls' group arrange themselves.  Zacharias Smith and Anthony Goldstein were nudging each other and laughing.  Harry heard Smith comment about maybe taking it easy on the girls. 

"On my signal…" Snape intoned.

Harry saw Hermione quick dart off to the side and whisper the command, "Spread out!" to her members. 

Silver sparks erupted from Snape's wand and only a half-second passed before the first spell (Hermione's) was cast and then a barrage of other spells ensued.    Harry could only discern the first few flashes of cast spells before the rest seemed lost in a haze of shrieks, sputtering and smoke. 

Hermione's first spell cast, Harry had recognized as a delayed fogging charm.   He then saw the guys shout out several Disarming Charms and a hex or two (one sounded like Ron).  The girls seemed to have been waiting for this and as soon as the spells flew towards them, Hermione's wall of fog appeared and the girls all conjured up their shield charms.  Several of the boys were hit out of the fog with their own rebounding spells and flew back, losing their wands in the process.  The rest was indiscernible through the fog.

"Finite Incantatum!" he heard Hermione cry as the noise was dying down.

As the fog cleared away, Parvati cried, "Expelliarmus!" as she pointed her wand at Blaise, disarming him easily.  He was the last boy with a wand.

Harry could now see the girls all standing; Lavender holding an extra wand, Parvati held two and Hermione held three.  The boys were all sprawled out, dazed and disarmed.  Morag McDougal looked to have caught a nail lengthening (and curling) hex that made her (him?) now look like an ogre.   Ron looked like he'd been knocked out cold.  Harry imagined it was similar to how he had looked after Ron's roundhouse blow had knocked Harry flat on his back.

Goldstein and Smith were looking around and Hermione called out, "Do you all give in yet?"  The boys all eyed each other uncomfortably but nodded nonetheless. 

Snape dismissed the rest of the class with a wave of his hands and Harry couldn't help but notice Malfoy still lurking sullenly in a corner.  Malfoy had his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed as he coolly observed Hermione as she made her way over to Harry. 

"You were brilliant!" Harry gushed as he grabbed Hermione's arm, walking out of the Defense classroom.  "That 'Proviso Caligo' charm of yours was absolutely brilliant, Hermione, brilliant!"  Hermione could only grin as she glowed from the praise. 

"Blimey!  I can't believe that was over so fast!" Seamus said as he caught up to them as they made their way into the Great Hall for dinner.  Several other sixth years joined in behind them and were gushing on and recounting the duel with each retelling growing more and more exaggerated. 

"Did you see the look on Smith's face when he caught his own spell?  Knocked him arse over tit, it did!"

Harry felt someone lean in to his side and he saw Dean with a pleasantly reminiscing air say, "I don't know about you, but I was sure pleased to see Ron go flying backwards and knock himself out."  Dean rubbed his jaw and said, "Pomfrey said he cracked my jaw and it's still sore—serves him right." 

Actually, Harry felt bad for Ron and only now did he realize he didn't even stick around to see that Ron was properly revived before congratulating Hermione on her group's victory.  "Er, where is Ron anyway?" Harry asked as he craned his neck to see around the throng of students and they dispersed to their own tables in the hall. 

Neville answered as he sat across from Harry and Hermione at the Gryffindor table.  "I think Snape was reviving him as we left.  He sent McDougal to the Infirmary to get her hex removed." 

Halfway through the meal, the fifth years joined the table and Ginny threw herself down a few seats away and proclaimed, "Well, I officially love Potions class!  I can't believe what a difference it makes when there isn't a greasy sneering overly lurking git for a teacher!" 

Harry couldn't help but smile at this and wistfully wished he didn't have Snape for his Potions class. 

"So I take it Viktor is a good professor?" Hermione asked, smiling pleasantly.

"Oh, loads better!  It's not even a contest, Hermione!  He actually explains what you have to do before you do it—not just let you go and screw it up and then blame you for not knowing what you didn't even know you never knew in the first place!  Today—I completely pantsed the Strengthening Solutions we were making and he's letting me come back tomorrow evening and do it again!  He even said anyone one else who wanted to try it again could come down to the lab and work on it again for extra credit." 

Dean just shook his head at her and said, "Personally, I am so beyond chuffed that I never have to sit and stir another cauldron in that git's class ever again."

"Hey, so how is that git's NEWT level class?" Seamus asked through a mouthful of potatoes.

"Not so bad so far," Harry answered as he swallowed his mouthful of roast beef.  "He's got us in groups now and we're doing these group projects this term."

"Yeah, we haven't had to brew anything once yet," Neville said, nodding. 

"Really," Hermione said as she held her fork up for emphasis, "he's quite tolerable.  He's letting us all just get on for now. I'm not sure what he's waiting for, but—"

"He's waiting for me to make the teeny tiniest mistake," Harry butted in.

"Oh, Harry," Hermione said as she rolled her eyes.  "He can't berate you like he used to anymore.  You earned your OWL mark and, well, sure, if you were to mess up, he would probably, well…"

"Roast me over a pit, fling me in detention with Filch and petition for my expulsion?" Harry offered, making Hermione just sigh with exasperation, but not argue his point.  Both were oblivious to the looks of amusement they received from their fellow Housemates.

That evening, in the DA, Ron had yet to turn up.  Morag McDougal, now with her hex removed, said that Ron was now in the infirmary and that Pomfrey wanted to keep him there for the night.  Apparently, Ron had tried a blasting hex that, when it rebounded, really did blast him off his feet and cause him to give his head a good knock on the stone floor as he landed.  Morag said Ron had been revived but was being kept in order to monitor his mental faculties. 

On one hand, Harry felt bad for Ron and felt like he should go visit his best friend and bring him Chocolate Frogs.  But, on the other hand, Harry was glad they were not being forced to be within close proximity to each other while in the DA. 

The DA had got to task straight away with work on the Impediment Jinx and then conjuring Shield Charms.   Everyone was very eager to work on the shield that had led to Hermione's group's victory in class.  Halfway through the DA meeting, nearly everyone was still debating and describing the day's earlier duel.  Harry worked quietly with Susan, Daphne and Tracey.   While he and Susan guided the other two to master their new spells, Harry was working with Susan to strengthen her Shield Charm.  Silently, he was also working out some new strategies to be used for when his group was called forth to duel in Snape's class. 

Near the end of the meeting, Harry wandered down the line of members and stopped where Hermione was helping Sloper and Kirke—Ron's two recruits.  "Hey," she said as she saw Harry stop and watch.  "They're all doing fairly well, wouldn't you say?"

Harry smiled at her and nodded.  "Yeah, I think it really helps that everyone has someone to watch them and give them help.  It's going much faster than last year when we were trying to learn all these spells." 

Hermione couldn't help but notice Harry's glum demeanor and nudged him gently as she stood next to him.  "What's eating you?" she asked with concern.

"Ron," was Harry's answer.  He sighed and traced a line across the floor with the tip of his boot.  "I was thinking I could head out of here a few minutes early and see if I could pass by the infirmary.  You know make sure he's…well…you know.  Then again he probably doesn't want to see me."  He sighed again and wished Hermione would volunteer to go with him.  "Would you want to come with?" he asked, trying not to sound too desperate.

Hermione looked up, startled.  "What?  Oh, me?  Well," she laughed shortly, "I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to see me."  Her face hardened once more then as her lips disappeared into a thin line.

Harry looked like he was about to argue but Hermione said, "Harry, he tried to hurl a Blasting Hex at me today!  If it would have landed, it would have surely knocked me out just like it did him!"  She shook her head vigorously, making her hair whip around.  "No way, I'm liable to hex him as soon as I see him."

Harry sighed in defeat and then cocked his head to the side and said, "You know, your shield held up really well today.  Three Disarming Charms and a Blasting Hex—that was a pretty strong shield you put up."

Hermione smiled wryly at him. "Flattery won't get me to go with you.  And besides, I did practice most of the summer against a rather powerful wizard, you don't think that helped me?"

Harry let show a half-grin and said, "Remus would be flattered to hear that."

Hermione playfully shoved him and said, "I'm talking about you, you prat!"  She rolled her eyes at him and he grinned back at her.  "Harry, really, if there's anyone he'll want to see or talk to, it would be you.  Just go."

Harry made his way slowly across the castle and to the hospital wing. 

"What's happened to you, now, Potter?" Madame Pomfrey asked primly as soon as Harry turned to enter the wing.

"Er, nothing.  I just wanted to see Ron.  Is he all right?"

Madame Pomfrey eyed him with scrutiny and jerked her head to the left and said, "Over here."  She followed Harry with a hand tightly gripping his shoulder and steered him to an empty table.  "Sit," she commanded.

"What?  No, I'm fine," Harry protested.

"Load of tosh," she said.  "I'm healing that bruise and cut on your face for you now.  The swelling should have gone well down by now and I still see some.  Sit."

There was no point arguing with her and Harry sat silently as she rubbed a stinging topical over his bruise.  He couldn't see much as he had removed his glasses and he closed his eyes as she worked. 

"There, no more fighting.  If you want to see Mr. Weasley, he's back around that curtain and to the right.  Don't stay long, he needs his rest."

Harry replaced his glasses on his face and hopped off the table.  He followed her instructions and wound his way through the curtains.  When he finally got to the bed with the red-haired patient, he saw Ron rolled over onto his side, facing away. 

"Ron?" Harry inquired softly, not sure if he was awake.  He couldn't hear any snoring and he thought he saw Ron intake a sharp breath as he spoke, but there was no answer.  Harry stood there for a few interminable minutes.  He wanted to tell Ron about Percy and about how well the DA meeting went.  He wanted to tell Ron they would still be friends no matter what.  He also wanted to yell at Ron with rage and point out hypocritical it was of Ron to be angry with him for not telling him about he and Hermione when Ron had tried to profess his love to Hermione and never ran that by Harry before hand.  But, still seeing no reaction, he sighed and turned to leave, muttering, "See you later."

"Mail's here," Ginny groaned as she looked up at the influx of owls in the Great Hall during breakfast.  She shot Harry a dark look and then returned to scan the birds.  Harry saw Hedwig flying near and approach to land.  But instead of going to Harry, she went to Ginny. 

That's when Harry recalled Ginny had last used Hedwig to send a letter to her mum and explain the truth of the real romantic pairing of her daughter and surrogate son. 

"Did you send that letter to Rita?" Hermione whispered in Harry's ear as she watched Ginny gingerly untie the letter from Hedwig. 

After noting that thankfully, the letter was not a Howler, Harry turned and whispered back, I used a school owl and yeah, I sent it.  When do you think—"  He shut up when a delivery owl dropped a rolled up paper into Hermione's breakfast dish.  She hurriedly paid the owl and unrolled the morning's edition of The Daily Prophet. 

Harry looked across at Ginny, who was quickly scanning over a letter.  Her face brightened and she said, "Well, everything sounds just brilliant!"  Harry looked dubiously at her. She thrust the letter at Harry and said, "Go on and read it."

Ginny,

We are appalled and embarrassed at your brother's behavior.  I am so sorry he made you feel the need to lie.  Of course, I am disappointed to hear you and Harry are not together.  Harry has always been like a son of my own and I would love to have him as an official member of our family some day.  Of course, you must never give up hope! 

Dear, you should tell Harry that we are very happy for him and Hermione, too.  Hopefully she won't toy with his affections like she did a few years ago when that other fellow was around. You let me know if she is not treating Harry well enough and I will have a word with her. 

I'm sending another letter to your brother in regards to his behavior.  He should know better how to properly treat his sister and best friend.  Oh, and congratulations on making the House team, dear!  We are ever so proud!

Love, Mum and Dad

"What did you write to her?" Harry asked as he noted the lack of any mention as to Ginny's involvement with someone.

Ginny handed a rind of bacon to Hedwig and shrugged as she said, "I just wrote and told her I was confessing about having lied because Ron was a prat and wouldn't leave me alone because he wanted you and me to get together.  I told her that, although I have enjoyed Ron being off my back, I now had to confess because you were now with Hermione and the news was sure to come out.  Oh, and I also told her how Ron blew up and got a full day of detention for slugging you and another student."  She looked very pleased with herself as Harry goggled at her. 

"You didn't mention Dean in any of this?" he asked incredulously.

She shook her head as Hedwig hopped over to peruse the buffet on Harry's plate.  "Nuh-uh, why should I?  She only has to know that you and I aren't together.  Plus, I deflected any anger on to Ron.  She's got the worst Weasley temper of us all," she said as she grinned evilly. 

Harry just shook his head at her and felt another pang of guilt for Ron's predicament.  Pushing away these thoughts, Harry turned to Hermione and asked, "Is it in there?" as Hermione was closely reading an article on the front page.  She looked up for a moment, her face darkened, and held the paper in front if her, not letting Harry see it just yet as she finished reading. 

"Yes," she said finally as she apparently finished.  She then folded the paper over and back and said, "It's in here--eventually," and laid it in front of Harry.

HARRY POTTER: THE BOY WHO'S IN LOVE

Exclusive Interview by Rita Skeeter

Through slander, ridicule, and the rise of his parents' notorious murderer, it seems Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, has indeed, found solace.  Sources from within Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well as correspondence with Potter himself, have confirmed that he has openly announced he is now the Boy Who Loves.  That's right, as this reporter first uncovered nearly two years ago, Potter has now officially confirmed his affections have always belonged to best friend and fellow Gryffindor student, Hermione Granger.

Granger is a muggleborn student and one of the academically most gifted students at Hogwarts in recent time, according to OWL marks filed with the Wizarding Examination Authority.  Also, it was Granger's muggle home, over which the Dark Mark was found this past August after servants of You-Know-Who destroyed the property.  No deaths or injuries were reported from this incident but it seems her status as a top student and being of muggleborn heritage was the motive.  Now, with the news that she is indeed romantically linked to the Boy Who Lived, one must wonder whether she is prepared to withstand further antipathy for her connection to Potter.

In regards to the muckraking endured last year, Harry Potter, through exclusive correspondence with this reporter, has issued a statement that he does not hold any grudges against the current Minister, Cornelius Fudge nor his Ministry staff.  Unnamed members of the Ministry led a smear campaign against, Potter and Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore in the wake of their claim of the return of You-Know-Who. 

Potter offers this statement in anticipation of the Ministry press conference that is currently being arranged with Prophet officials to offer a forum for the Ministry's publicly issued statement of apology and contrition.  

Ministry officials have been busy arranging this Press event for the past week, giving rise to speculation as to whether this is also to be an award ceremony for Dumbledore and Potter.  Both wizards were present at the Ministry skirmish that resulted in the capture of nearly a dozen Death Eaters—six of which were Azkaban escapees with sizable rewards for their capture.           

The Ministry's lack of issuance of these rewards has been another cause for speculation.  Traditionally, rewards are bestowed in a manor of a public ceremony and are often accompanied by the bestowment of an honorary Title of Order.  Potter's role in the capture of the escapees has not been made clear other than the statement that he had been lured to the Ministry that evening through the plotting of Death Eaters serving You-Know-Who.  The Ministry has thus far given credit to the capture of the Death Eaters to Dumbledore as well as Ministry Aurors Nymphadora Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt, however, neither rewards nor honorary ceremonies have been planned to date for any one of these individuals.

This reporter wonders whether the absence of rewards might be indicative of a monetary dip on Ministry resources.  One must wonder whether the effects of exposing long-time Ministry Finance Authority official Lucius Malfoy, a now known and incarcerated servant of You-Know-Who, has crippled the Ministry's economic welfare.  The current Ministry has refused to comment on the assessment of Malfoy's former positioning and possible detrimental ramifications incurred by the Ministry. 

If, as this reporter is beginning to suspect, the Ministry is indeed in fiscal straights, then the timing could not be more debilitating.  The Ministry is in full mobilization in anticipation of the onslaught of terrorization at the hands of You-Know-Who.    

The Ministry is preparing to nearly double the existing Auror forces according to statistics from the Isle of Wight's Auror Training Center.  Defense aid has also been contracted, according to Minister Fudge, with the Ministries of France, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.  However, with the Ministry funds scraping the bottom of the vault, Fudge may be asking for favors and not contracted aid. 

Scheduling details regarding the impending public apology from Ministry Fudge shall be forthcoming according to Ministry spokespersons and will be published when known.

Harry's face had begun to scowl as he read the article.  But, as he read on and through the section that had been the purpose of his correspondence with Rita, he began to nod along. 

"Well," he said as he finished it and chewed the inside of his cheek, considering it. "It's not too bad.  If you hack off all that bit at the beginning and the ridiculous headline, I guess she finally gets to the point."  He scowled at the article and Hermione grabbed it back, not looking at him. 

He glanced up at the head table as Hedwig nipped at a slice of toast from Harry's plate.  Dumbledore looked up and gave him a twinkly half smile and nod. 

Harry glanced back at Hermione who was folding the paper back up and tucking it away, along with her books that had been out.  "Where are you going?" he asked as he hurriedly stood up to follow her and grabbed the piece of toast from Hedwig, who hooted with indignation at having her breakfast stolen from her beak.  "Wait up!"

Hermione darted off and into one of the girls' toilets, without a glance back at Harry. 

In Transfiguration class that morning, Harry asked her, "Are you upset about the article?" 

She only shook her head and continued on, taking her tidy and detailed notes. 

On the way to Charms he asked her, "Are you upset with Rita?" 

Her curt answer was, "No," as she shook her mane back and marched forth into the classroom.

After nearly an hour of silence during lunch as she sat with a huge tome entitled Endlessly Enchanting Enchantments, Harry was really starting to think it might be him with whom she was upset. It couldn't be the article, no, if anything, it was he that had a right to be upset about that article and how it made him out to be The Boy Who Loves.  "Are you mad at me?" he asked almost shyly.

Hermione looked up for a brief moment then went back to her book.  "I'm not mad," she said.

"Well then it has to be the article because you were perfectly fine before this morning," Harry stated, watching her closely for a reaction.

"Why would you think I'm not fine?" Hermione asked lightly, still not looking up from her reading.

Harry let out an exaggerated sigh and said, "Well, because you've been acting like you're anything but fine.  Just tell me what it is!"  She was never like this to him and he couldn't figure out what the deal was with her mood.  If you added yelling and lecturing to this, then it would be just like when Ron would set her off.  But this was Harry and Hermione; they didn't fight.

Hermione looked like she was trying to prevent several statements from issuing forth from her mouth and she carefully maintained a neutral expression.  "Tell me, Harry, are you upset about the article this morning?"

"Me?" Harry asked, confused. 

"You," she said as her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as her mouth pulled into a thin line.  He knew that wasn't good.

"Was I upset by it?" he mused as he scratched his head and ran a hand through his hair, causing it to fluff up even more.  "Well, I guess she did get the job done with the stuff about Fudge.  I--I can't complain too much there.  She actually tied it in to speculation about Malfoy and that was a rather clever move."  Harry scowled slightly and then just shook his head as he said, "But why she had to go and lead off with that tripe about my love life was unnecessary."

"Tripe," Hermione said in a tight voice.

"Tripe," Harry reiterated, still shaking his head.

Suddenly Harry was left alone again, standing outside a girls' toilet and wondering just how in the world a girl's mind actually worked. 

"Good to see you, Harry, good to see you.  Let's go for a walk today," Dumbledore led Harry back down the spiral staircase and up a flight to the third floor.  "I see your arrangement with Rita is still in fine condition.  I was an excellent article," he said conversationally after Harry refused the offer of a lemon sherbet.

"Excellent?" Harry said as he walked along and kept his eyes to the stone floor.  "I'm not so sure it was excellent."

"Oh?" Dumbledore said in that way that somehow, after just a few pressing moments of silence, compelled a person to spill all their thoughts right out into the open.

"She could have stuck to the business of the article.  She had that ridiculous headline--who's going to want to read that?" Harry said plaintively.

Dumbledore merely nodded as he sucked on his lemon sherbet and led them further into an often-neglected part of the castle.  "I think you underestimate your appeal to the public, Harry."

Anything else Harry was going to say was lost when Dumbledore opened an old wooden door.  The large corridor that lay beyond the door was immediately recognizable to Harry.  There in the center of the large and dusty space was a wide trapdoor that, Harry clearly recalled, a gigantic three-headed dog named Fluffy had once guarded. 

Memories of a long-ago trip through that trapdoor flooded back into his mind.  He, Ron and Hermione--all young and ready to take on the world--jumping recklessly down the chute and trusting that whatever came their way, was sure to be conquerable, just as long as they were together. 

"Do you recall where we are, Harry?" Dumbledore asked as he watched Harry soaking in the sight of the room and the memories it held. 

"Yes," Harry said, barely above a whisper.

"Well, I've had Mister Filch move an old trunk into here and in it, I have trapped a Boggart that was found in this room.  We are ready to move to a new stage of your mastery of Occlumency, Harry."  Harry quit gaping about the room and eyed the trunk warily. 

"Now, we'll go for about an hour for today.  Would you rather stand or be seated?" Dumbledore asked. 

"Stand, I think," Harry said, still eyeing the trunk that sat silently beneath a dusty, tall, arching window. 

Dumbledore drew himself a squishy armchair and settled himself into it and then said, "Very well, now, your task is to simply close your mind to the Boggart. Let no thought come forth that the Boggart might use to take form.  The Boggart, without a thought with which to take form, is but vapor and smoke. 

"As I open the trunk, I will cast a charm around the trunk to keep the Boggart within the confines of the charm.  Also, as you settle into your closed-off mind, you will begin to feel the ability to think behind the veil upon your thoughts. 

"Eventually, this will become instinctive and you will be able to easily project forth images, feelings, and thoughts very quickly and proficiently through your veil.  Today, we will just concentrate on maintaining your block.  But, I daresay, you will grow bored with it and your mind will naturally wish to wander. This is where discipline is imperative.  Do you have any questions, Harry?"

Harry shook his head and shook out his arms as he narrowed his eyes at the unassuming trunk. 

"Remember, Harry, no wand is needed."  Harry slipped his wand back into the sleeve of his robe and into its holster.  "Your mind is all that is needed to control it.  Are you ready?"  Harry nodded and Dumbledore pointed his wand at the trunk, creating a large glass-like bubble that encased the trunk.  He then flicked his wand again and the trunk lid creaked open and back. 

It seemed like a very long hour as Harry eventually sat himself onto the dusty floor and worked to maintain the brick wall within his head.  Occasionally, he would see the flicker of a shape gathering from within the mist, but he was adept at quickly putting up his block.  It was true that he did get bored rather quickly as soon as he realized he wouldn't be seeing a Dementor or a succession of his dead and murdered friends.  He eventually amused himself by mentally thinking about playing behind the tall brick wall in his mind.  In his mind, he was still a young boy and every bit a muggle, playing alone beside a brick wall of his school; happy to not be around Dudley or his gang and content to just be alone. 

A day and half later, as Harry followed a sauntering Lavender and Parvati into Defense Against the Dark Arts, Hermione was still being cool towards him.  After Hermione announced she was going to bed early the previous night and only bid Harry good night with the wave of her hand, Seamus had muttered something about it probably being that time of the month for her and that Harry couldn't be expected to understand the moods and mysterious ways of witches.  The only good thing about it had been that Ron, sitting near Harry and the other sixth year boys for the night, although still not talking to anyone, seemed at least a tad gleeful that Hermione was not spending any time with Harry. 

"Assignments to the front!" Snape droned as he stalked into the classroom.  "Open your texts to page two-hundred and twelve.  We will be learning about and demonstrating the use of counter curses."  Snape glanced down at an open book upon his desk; Harry recognized it as the leather covered lesson plan from Dumbledore.  "I will need two volunteers," he hissed as his beetle-black eyes raked across the room.  "Misters…Malfoy and…let's see…hmm, yes, Longbottom!  Up to the front!  You will assist in demonstrating the proper countering spells as…let's see, Miss Abbot reads from the text."

Neville looked unsure as he eyed the smirking Malfoy. 

"Are we just demonstrating the spells in the air, sir, or on each other?" Malfoy drawled, not taking his smirking glare off of Neville.    Snape just allowed his upper lip to curl in answer.

As Hannah began to read, it became apparent that this was much more that a simple and boring lecture.  As she recited a new class of curse, Malfoy had begun to cast a representative curse at Neville.  Neville lost five points from Gryffindor the first time when he reflexively conjured his Shield Charm to block the spell. 

But it only took twice before Neville realized he was in for a competition of drawing and casting the spells to avoid being the one getting cursed.  In fact, as the class progressed, there was cheering and clapping from three of the houses as Neville began to steadily out draw and out curse Malfoy.   The cheering was loudest (and mixed with several laughs) when Malfoy performed the incorrect counter curse on himself after being on the receiving end of a Babbling Curse.  Instead of ceasing the babbling, he started to sputter and foam at the mouth. 

"That will be all," Snape intoned as he rose from his position of leaning against the wall and watching impassively.  "Clear the room for today's duel," he instructed. 

Harry caught Hermione's eye a few times during Neville's display up front and he had nearly forgot she was being moody with him as she smiled and watched Neville with the same pride that Harry felt.  As they moved to the side of the room and banished the desks, Harry tried to nudge her and get a smile from her but she seemed to remember that she wasn't happy with him as soon as she met his eyes. 

"Move into your groups so I might see just whom it is that shall be fated to blunder before us," Snape said silkily as he unfurled his arms, looking like a great black bat, and then crossed them grimly across his chest. 

There were only six groups in the class and two had already faced each other.  That left four and--

"Thomas!  Abbot!  Boot!  Cornfoot, Entwhistle, Hopkins and Fletchly!"  Snape barked the name of each student in the group standing in the center, causing them to hurry out and into the now-cleared space. 

It was the group that consisted solely of muggleborn students.  Silently, Harry exchanged a glance with Hermione as he hoped they weren't meant to square off against the group now referred to (by the rest of the class) as the Death Eater's Spawn. 

Speaking of which, Malfoy could be seen now making some snide comment, causing Crabbe and Goyle to snigger appreciatively.  The grubby looking Nott boy just scratched himself unattractively.  Pansy Parkinson eyed the group in the center of the room with a smirk and Millicent Bulstrode just glared back at anyone who dared to look at her. 

Much to Harry's relief, Snape then walked over to the group containing Neville, Padma, Seamus, Michael Corner, Lisa Turpin and some kid named Moon-something-or-other.  Without a word he jerked his thumb over his shoulder and watched them scurry around him and out into the open to face off against their opponents. 

The only word to describe this contest was chaos.  Complete and utter chaos. 

It was abundantly clear that both groups had a large repertoire of hexes, jinxes and curses and they were both eager to show them off.  It was actually entertaining to watch at first.  Lisa Turpin's hair turned into snakes and she fell to the ground screaming.  Padma tried to get her to hold still enough to perform the counter curse but got hit with a stray Jelly Legs Jinx while her attention was diverted.  This caused her to land on top of Lisa and then both girls were screaming.  Justin Finch-Fletchly was Stunning everything that moved (Harry had to duck to avoid one of his rather overeager flashes of red light).  Unfortunately, at least two of his Stunners had been deflected back and had struck his own members.  It seemed to be an excellent demonstration about just how difficult it is to revive your allies while performing counter spells on yourself and still fending off more blows from opponents. 

About ten minutes into the duel, Hermione looked over and asked Harry, "You do know what this means, don't you?"

Keeping one eye out for any stray spells, Harry turned to look at her and hopefully said, "That you're now speaking with me again?"  Harry shuddered as he saw the stunned body of some Ravenclaw get hit with a Crusting Boil Hex. 

"It means," Hermione went on speaking as if he hadn't said anything at all, "that next class, you'll be facing off against the only other group not to have been picked."  She watched Harry suddenly turn and stare at her, dart his eyes towards Malfoy and his cronies and then back to Hermione.  "Yup," she said with a smug smile.

Harry turned back to watch the rest of the chaos with a numb feeling.  It wasn't that he didn't think he could beat Malfoy in a duel; no, he definitely thought he could do that.  But it was Malfoy's group of six against his group of four.  Plus the fact that Malfoy was certainly intelligent enough to deduce the class's next duel match up just as Hermione had pointed it out.  That meant Malfoy and company would be planning and scheming, no doubt willing to play dirty, until it was time for them to meet. 

The bell rang, signally the end of class and Snape sent a shower of sparks out and amongst the still dueling students.  "That would be a draw," he announced.  "Consider yourselves all inept and losers.  Two feet from everyone on why everyone who dueled is an incompetent and unskilled dunderhead!"

"Harry," Susan Bones said hurriedly as she grabbed Harry's arm on the way out the door, "You know what this means?" 

Harry nodded knowingly at her.  "Next week--"

"Next week, Potter!!"  Malfoy shoved his way past Harry and turned to block his way.  With his face contorted with hatred, Malfoy snarled out, "Next week, you'll get yours, Potty!"

"Gin, help me, I need help and you're a girl," Harry whined as Hermione left without a word to him after the DA meeting. 

Ginny looked at Harry with amusement.  Dean joined her and shook his head at Harry's predicament. "She's still sore at you, mate?" Dean asked.

Harry rolled his eyes and waved his arms and Ginny giggled at him.  He glared at her, silencing her giggles.  "What did I do?" Harry pleaded with Ginny to tell him.  Hermione was being very civil to him but she rebuffed any move he made to joke with her and shrugged him off if he even thought about touching her. 

Ginny looked at him closely for a minute; Harry made sure to look as pathetic and clueless as possible.  Ginny sighed.  "Fine, but I never said a word."  Harry grinned and looked at her expectantly.  "It was the article, Harry."

"Huh?  No--she said she wasn't upset about the article," Harry waved that aside.  "It has to be something else."

Ginny shook her head.  "No Harry it was the article and your reaction to it."  Harry looked confused.  So did Dean as he watched on, mystified.  Ginny urged him to think with a rolling motion of her hands. "Harry, think about how you reacted to the article and what you told her you didn't like about it."  Ginny waited for Harry to think.

"The part about how I'm The Bloody Boy Who Loved?" He asked, still confused and sore about it.  Ginny nodded encouragingly.  "What about it?"

"Harry!" Ginny cried as she grabbed her head with both hands.  "You told her it was tripe-- that it was over the top and ridiculous!" 

"Well of course, Rita had no right to print that stuff--"

"That's not the point!" Ginny stomped her foot and grabbed Harry by the shoulders.  "Listen. To. Me.  Most everyone thought the article was very tasteful--especially for Rita.  Hermione told me that the real purpose of the article was to make that statement about Fudge as a favor to Dumbledore, but really, Harry-- you had to know that the news about you officially having an girlfriend would be news?  Especially now that you're everyone's favorite boy, again!" 

"I don't see your point," Harry said blankly.

Ginny smacked her forehead and said, "Harry, don't you love Hermione?!"  Harry's eyes flew wide and Ginny's flew even wider when she saw Harry's reaction.  "Oh my god, you two have told each other you love each other by now, have you?"

Harry felt heat in his cheeks and gaped for a moment before snapping his mouth shut.  "What does that have to do with anything?" he asked tightly and looking anywhere but at Ginny.

"Harry," Ginny said in a very clam voice, as if she were explaining something very complex to a very young child.  "The article said you were in love with Hermione.  The headline called you 'The Boy Who Loves'.  It stated Hermione was a top student and a muggleborn.  It stated all facts--unless the part about you being in love is not a fact." 

Harry couldn't begin to fathom what she was telling him.  "So Harry, when you called the part about you and Hermione 'tripe' and 'ridiculous', you were really telling her that some part of the article was false!  Seeing as how all things stated in it are facts with evidence to support them, but only one is even close to subjective; and that's the claim that you love her!

"Hermione--she has no choice but to think you're either upset because Rita lied and you don't love Hermione or that you're embarrassed to have people think or know that you do love her.  It's really very simple, Harry. And before you go off and think you know how you feel, I'll tell you this: I know for a fact that you do love her."  Ginny finished and crossed her arms and looked intently at Harry before pulling Dean away and leaving Harry alone in the vacant Room of Requirement.