I don't own any characters and as far as I'm concerned I won't own any characters. So, with that said, let the story continue!
Another week passed and it was finally time for the Ravenclaw versus Gryffindor Quidditch game. Gyffindor had been practicing all five days the passed week before dinner. Harry was giving them a hell of a workout, but no one really complained. Harry was giving his usual pep talk before the game, his bitterness from the visit dream of Sirius in the back of his mind.
"Now, I need you three to really make a lot of shots - watch out for Ravenclaws chasers, their pretty fast, and you two beaters, keep an eye out." With that they did a few warmups and made their way to the pitch.
Harry was feeling a bit nervous. He didn't know why - he had beaten Cho Chang before. It was probably because all week he had been thinking about the book Sirius told him about. He had used his Invisibility Cloak and Maurader's Map to go to the Restricted Section to find it after hours. He hadn't told his best friends about it and he felt guilty. But it seemed they themselves had secrets of their own and he still hadn't caught Ron in the library or talked to him about it. This sixth year stuff was a bit busy.
"And... Madame Hooch blows her whistle... their off!" Neville said once again. "Creevey gets the Quaffle, passes it to Creevey, passes it back to Creevey, passes it to Weasley, oh - Creevey's hit by a Bludger - the younger one! Weasley scores! 10 - 0 Gryffindor!"
Harry sat on his broom, keeping a close eye out for the golden snitch. Cho seemed to be doing the same thing, and looking incredibly pretty - ah Harry wasn't effected by that anymore though, he had Hermione to think about - which he still hadn't decided when to tell her about how he felt. Cho was eyeing him, looking for any signs of Harry seeing the snitch. Should he play with her a bit?
"Has Potter seen the Snitch? There goes Chang following him! Ah, Nicks shoots the Quaffle - Weasley blocks! Creevey's back up - Weasley passes the Quaffle to him - Creevey scores! 20 - 0 Gryffindor!"
The game seemed to be favoring them at the moment. Now all Harry had to do was find the Snitch and get the game over with. Flying and messing with Cho's head was kind of funny, but he decided to stop after he had 'lost' the Snitch.
"And Nicks scores! 20 - 10!"
The game continued on and Gryffindor was still in the lead with 20 points. Up ahead, the Teacher's were sitting and clapping politely. However, behind the Teacher's bleachers, Harry saw a figure in black by the castle. Who was that figure? What was it doing here? And then Harry heard a snake again - then he saw it next to the figure in black. The voice of the snake was so distinct, but Harry tried his best to hear it.
"Ssss... tonight..." Harry heard it say in Parseltongue. It was too late for him to hear anymore, because suddenly a golden ball with wings came into his view. He chased after it, followed closely by Cho.
They were racing for the Snitch all across the field, being careful to pass by bludgers. But suddenly Cho gave a shriek and fell off her broom - this wasn't another Dementor incident was it? No, it wasn't. Cho got hit by a bludger. Harry quickly eyed the two Beaters, who were looking back questionally at him. But Harry had to catch the Snitch, fallen seeker or not. He caught it and he heard the voice of Neville fill the stadium with happiness.
"210 - 40! Gryffindor wins!" The Gryffindor stands all yelled with glee. They had won their first game. Harry smiled happily, proud of his team. But then he remembered the fallen Cho. He raced over to her and Seamus and Dean were also standing over her, seeing the problem.
"We didn't do it," they said. "We were focusing on the other Chasers."
It was pretty odd... they didn't know who had done it, and why Cho? Perhaps they wanted Harry to purposely win? They did not know. Harry kneeled over to Cho, who wasn't badly injured by the bludger, just had an aching back from the fall.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked her, giving her his hand and helping her up.
"I'm fine," she said, half smiling. "Congratulations." She walked away with her team, who even if they did lose, still praised her.
At dinner that night, Dumbledore made an announcement. It wasn't about the Quidditch game - many things like that happened all the time. He didn't have any suspiciouns of it, and mainly because Harry hadn't gone to him about any of the events that were happening. He still felt a bit angry, and the things he heard or saw weren't important - were they?
"In three weeks, our Halloween feast will be about Unity! We will have many events this year like that. We must stay together if we want to defeat the enemy." Dumbledore said calmly. "Now, the feast will run the same as it always does. However, this time we will not sit with our regular houses, but mix together!" Most of the students were surprised and gave groans. Others just looked at their enemies from other tables and glared.
"I'm sure we'll all be able to work out our differences," Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling but a hint of sarcasm and disappointment in his voice.
Hermione glanced over at Malfoy who glanced back at her and they just blushed. They hadn't met since the 'kiss' incident because they both kept making excuses of being busy with other work. Tonks wouldn't care, they hoped, because all they had to do that week was a swelling charm.
Hermione looked back at her friends and gave them a dark stare. "You two were so busy this morning fussing over the games, that you didn't notice what was said in the Daily Prophet."
The boys nodded at her to continue.
"You all know that Karkaroff was missing for a while, right? Well, he's been found. Tramatized, was put under the Cruciatus Curse if you ask me..." Hermione shuddered at saying the curse's name. "But - there was a mark on him. A snake bite... that formed the Dark Mark. It was right next to his old one. He's in St. Mungos right now and won't say a thing... it's like he's been mute."
Ron and Harry looked at her anxiously. In the seat next to Ron, Ginny gave Harry a glance, as if asking if she had told them about the snake hearing incident. He decided it was time to tell them something...
"Last week, Ginny and I -" he was interrupted by Ron.
"What did you to do!?!" he asked defensively. "Harry, you should've let me know first!"
"Nothing, Ron!" Harry said irritably. "I was walking with her and then I heard a snake talking... and then today I saw it again and heard it. Next to it was a black figure... like in my vision when Voldemort... you know. Anyway, I looked back and it was gone. It was probably just an illusion, right?"
"You should tell Dumbledore," Hermione bit her lip.
"No, I don't want to fill his mind with more problems." Harry replied.
Ron just shrugged, scared, but confident. "The castles are safely guarded, you heard Dumbledore. But it would be a good idea to go tell him, just in case." Ron got up and grabbed his things. "I'm going to the library."
This time Harry wasn't going to let him go away. He grabbed Ron's arm and said, "Can I come?"
"Er -" Ron hesitated. "I guess."
"I'm coming too," Hermione declared.
Ron looked a bit nervous, but the three just walked towards the library. They walked in silence for some time. They finally reached the library, and there Madame Pince looked at Ron.
"Oh, you've brought guests, dear! Have you're grades been improving? I'm sure it has! Well, Errol's just arrived." She said happily. They - Hermione and Harry - were perplexed. They had never seen the librarian happy at all. And what was Percy's owl doing with a letter for Ron? Ron just flushed.
"I - er - well I'll take it..."
They sat in the back and Ron recieved a questioning look from his two best friend's.
"Well?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's from Percy..." said Ron, looking a bit shameful. "I guess I have some explaining to do... well... I started writing to Percy when I hadn't gotten into very many N.E.W.T classes... I wanted to be smart."
"Oh, Ron!" Hermione exclaimed. "Is that why you've been getting good grades? I'm so proud, but why have you been asking Percy, of all people?"
"Because.. well you know he's been sort of okay with Dad since last June... and I needed help. I was tired of being the stupid, tag-a-long.. you know? No... you guys don't."
Harry replied with a concerned look on his face. "What are you talking about? I'm equal to you, Ron. And if not that, you are much better than me. I get through life by mere luck. Or coincidence."
"Erm.. yeah. Let's just read this letter. He usually has good things to say." Ron replied, not wanting to further the conversation.
Dear little brother Ron,
I am glad you are doing better in all your classes. Snape's hasn't even been giving you that hard of a time? Good, serves him right. Anyway, if you need help you can always come to me. It's hard to trust other people, I know. Especially ones like your two identical brothers - running a joke shop. I still don't know why Mum and Dad approved. Also, how you've been feeling about your two best friends, it's okay. You'll be great someday, perhaps even greater than Dumbledore himself.
Anyhow, you've read today's paper? Karkaroff's been sent to St. Mungos. And in there it says my dear boss, Cornelius Fudge, head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, has been sent to St. Mungos due to a - according to them - sickness. I'm still a bit sad about him losing Minister of Magic, but I am still Junior Secretary Under Mr. Fudge. Professor Umbridge has quit working for us and moved to Brazil - did I mention that before? Anyway, Fudge isn't sick... he's been bitten my a snake. And what it forms on his arm is the Dark Mark.
The Minister, Amos Diggory, thought it would be too much to have two bites in one day. It's getting suspicious, no doubt it's You-Know-Who.
I will ask you not to mention this to anyone, little brother. It's rather a secret. I'll send you news later. Give Ginny my regards. I'm sorry you guys couldn't visit Hogsmeade this weekend.
P.S You know that wench Rita Skeeter? Turns out she's working with Madame Rosmerta at the Three Broomsticks! What a wonder! She wants to start her own column in the Three Broomsticks guide to drinks.
Your brother, Percy
"What do you suppose these bites are about?" Hermione asked, her face pale. "It does say in the paper that Fudge was taken ill from a small cold, not a bite."
"I dunno," Harry said. He still hadn't told his friends about the Prophecy or the dream about Sirius. When the time came, he would tell them. "So this is the secret you've been keeping from us, Ron?"
"I'm rather embarrased, mate. Writing to Percy, you see how cocky he still is. Anyway, I didn't want you to think... I was stupid you know."
"You're not Ron." Hermione said confidently.
"Anyway, I'm gonna stay here, so if you guys wanna go sleep," Ron gave Harry a wink. "Then you may."
"I am a bit tired," Hermione replied. "Care to come, Harry?" Harry nodded and they made their way out of the library.
Harry decided that now might be a perfect time to tell her. After all, it did feel like the 'oppurtune moment'.
"Em - Hermione, have you ever... felt," he started feeling hot, and pulled his collar. Then he started fidgeting with his fingers. "...felt feelings for your best friend?"
"Oh, you mean Ron?" Hermione asked, not getting the hints. "Of course, not. That whole Yule Ball thing, it was just a contest for us I guess. And, well I'm still talking to Viktor Krum actually, he's still playing Quidditch. Great guy, but I don't think he's the one for me, you know? Not that he's ever said he likes me, but I mean if he did..." Hermione realized she was blabbering and went back to the point. "I mean Ron's one of my best friends. Relationships with a best friend could cause a few problems, don't you think?"
"No, it's just that..." Harry said. But Malfoy passed by with his two, practically bodyguards, Crabbe and Goyle. Hermione glanced dreamily at Malfoy, not hearing Harry's last sentence. Harry didn't really notice - he was too busy glaring at the three. Surprisingly Malfoy didn't return it, he just gave him a regular stare, and then looked away.
When the three boys were out of earshot, Hermione said, "Em - Harry... have you ever felt feelings for an enemy? You know, someone you thought to be an enemy but then... things start to happen?"
Harry didn't really get it, but just answered. "No, I don't really have any girl enemies. Except for that Rita Skeeter if you count her. Oh, and... Bellatrix."
Hermione looked at Harry, forgetting about her unknown infatuation with Malfoy and grabbed Harry for a hug. "I'm sorry, shouldn't have asked that."
"Wasn't your fault," Harry mumbled, not wanting Hermione to let go of him. Gosh, he had to stop acting that way or else.. bad things would 'pop up'.
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The next morning, Harry woke up earlier than his friends for class. He got ready and nudged Ron. Ron just groaned and took the covers off himself.
"Oh," Ron yawned. "I forgot to wake you up last night about this wicked book I found!" He got up slowly, scratching his head and reached in his trunk for a black silvery book, no smaller than the size of both his hands together, vertically. "It doesn't open. It may look heavy, but it's not."
Harry went over to pick it up. Indeed it was as light as a toothpick. How could something that looked so heavy, made of real black and silver rock, be as light as a feather?
"Where did you find it at?"
Ron began to get dressed into his school robes. "It must have been meant to be in the Restricted Area, or maybe it just got there by mistake? Anyway, I found it in the Potions section. It doesn't open, though. Odd, isn't it?"
"Very," Harry said, fingering the cover. It had little symbols engraved on it. There was a man sitting on a throne, in front of what looked like two torches. A woman sat next to him, wearing a crown of flowers. There were little squares, triangles, and diamonds engraved on the edges. This was just engraved though, so no clear pictures could be seen of who they were. "It must need a key or something to be opened."
Dean suddenly pushed aside the curtains of his four poster and Harry quickly put the book inside Ron's trunk again.
"Hoi, Seamus wake up!" he said, pushing the curtains of his best friend's four poster. When he heard no answer, he opened them. Seamus wasn't there. "Must be down already." Dean just shrugged and put his clothes on.
When the boys got to the Common Room, a few people were awake and fussing over near the couch.
"What happened?" Dean walked over and his face was stricken with horror.
Ron and Harry saw the urgent looks on everyone's faces, and the anxious mumbles. They walked towards where a body was laying unconcious near the fireplace and couch.
The body of Seamus Finnigan.
A/N: The chapters are getting longer because I'm trying to quicken the pace, ya know? I don't want this story to keep lingering on the beginning of the year because more interesting things are going to happen later on! Ohh I hope you guys like this cliffie... those that read it of course. Oh... and I'm two chapters ahead of you guys... so if you want more, then review!!! :) ohh and sorry for my mistakes... please let me know if I made any drastic ones. Now for those faithful reviewers...
seirra: I love your support! :) I'm glad you think it's getting intense... hopefully the next few chapters will blow you away lol.. but keep reading!
angel718: hey! thanks for reviewing again! Here's another chappie again! Anyway, I read the first chapter of your story, and it's pretty well written and good. I'm sure it would be much better if I watched those series though. :( But I'll get on to reading the rest of it as soon as I can! Keep reviewing! :)
harrylissa=luv: Thanks for reviewing! Keep reading! hehe... and we'll just have to see how this turns out, won't we? ;) but I promise you many surprises!