Chapter 9: Secrets Unveiled

Harry's birthday had arrived (A/N: yeah, I know just two days had passed...). When he got up, he found a pile of gifts.

"Happy Birthday, Harry." Ron said.

"Yeah, Happy Birthday, Potter." Draco said.

"Thanks." Harry said as he started unwrapping the presents.

Ron had given him a book about Quidditch, Hermione had him a new set of luxury quills and a set of miniature brooms that could fly. Harry watched them flying for a while and went on unwrapping the rest of the gifts. Mrs. Weasley had bought him a bag of Berttie Bott's every flavour beans and chocolate frogs. Draco gave him, (A/N: Yeah! I said Draco! He's goody now!), a book about ancient spells and a book of potions. Sirius gave him the two-way mirror back and... a new broom; it was the new Firebolt 300. It was gorgeous.

"Is that the new Firebolt?" Ron asked amazed.

"God, Weasley! Are you stupid or what?" Draco said pointing at the name written in the handle.

The door opened and Sirius entered the room. "Hey, Harry. Did you like my gift?"

"Yeah, it's the best!" Harry said and then, seeing Draco and Ron's faces, he added. "No offence, guys. I liked your gifts too."

"Lupin sent this." Sirius said as he handed Harry a neatly wrapped present. "Go to the kitchen to have breakfast when you're ready." He told the boys.

"Ok." They all said.

When Hermione entered the room, she looked worried.

"What happened?" Harry asked, but Hermione did not answer. She handed Harry, Ron and Draco their Hogwarts' letters.

"Yeah Granger, they are Hogwarts' letters. Wow..." Draco said sarcastically.

"I know, ferret! It's just that I've been made head girl and you three too..."

"Cool." Harry and Ron said.

"Don't you see?" She said.

"Err... no..." Ron said.

"There can only be two head students per house... right?"

"And?" Harry said.

"We are three, Harry!"

"Maybe there's been a mistake." Draco said. Suddenly, Dumbledore appeared.

"No, Draco, there hasn't been any mistake. You four deserved it." He said.

"But, the rules." Hermione began.

"Sometimes you have to break some rules in order to do justice. You three know that well..." He told Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"Why me?" Draco asked.

"You deserved it, Draco. Even though you have always had your pride at heart, you knew you were in danger and let your pride aside. One of the most difficult obstacles the human kind has to overcome is pride. You did it." Dumbledore answered. "Why don't you come and have breakfast, kids?"

They all came down to the kitchen with their school lists.

"Oh! Ronnie! Professor Dumbledore tells me you've been made Head Boy!" Mrs. Weasley said as they entered the kitchen.

"Mum!" Ron said blushing.

"Ickle Ronnie has been made Head Boy! Sorry we don't kiss you bro, but we can't admit that we are related to you." Fred said.

"Shut up!" Ron shouted.

Putting his hand in his pocket, Harry remembered he had not unwrapped Lupin's gift. It was a key... yes, a key... Harry could not believe it. Why would he need a key?

"Sirius, can I ask you something?" Harry said. He was intrigued about that gift.

"Yes, what happens?"

"Why did Lupin give me a key?" He said showing it to Sirius.

"You'll find out later, Harry. Don't worry about that now." He said clapping Harry's shoulder.

"Ok..." Harry said and sat again in his chair not totally satisfied with Sirius' answer.

"Ok, kids." Mrs. Weasley said when they all had finished their breakfast. "Get ready; we're going to Diagon Alley."

They were going to meet in the boys' room when they were ready. Hermione knocked the door.

"Come in!" She heard Draco say. When she entered the room, she noticed that the only person in the room was Draco. He was leaving the bathroom. He had just taken a bath, she could tell because he had his hair wet. (A/N: Imagine Tom with his hair wet! Ok, I know this ff is not about Tom, but c'mon! He actually plays Draco. I picture Draco as him! Jaja).

"Oh, I'm sorry; I thought everyone was already here." Hermione said and she turned to leave.

"You can stay if you want." He said.

"What?" Hermione couldn't believe her ears.

"I said that you can stay if you want."

"Sure." She said and sat on Harry's bed. "Where are the others?"

"Harry and Ron are with the twins, and Ginny came a while ago looking for Harry. I guess she's with him. Luna, well, you know her... she came here, told me some non-sense and left..."

"Yeah, she's weird. I don't like her very much. She will believe anything as long as there is no proof..." She said laughing. She couldn't believe Draco was being nice enough to make her laugh. He sat in his bed and an awkward silence followed.

"So, have you already decided what to do after Hogwarts?" He asked.

"Yeah, I want to be a healer."

"Cool. I want to be an Auror."

"Like Harry and Ron."

"Yeah, Hermione, I have to tell you something." He said.

"What is it?"

"I've asked Dumbledore to put me in Gryffindor."

"What did he say?"

"He said yes. He told me this morning."

"Well, that's good, isn't it?"

"Yeah, guess so."

"You don't seem happy about all this."

"I am happy; it's just that I don't know how the other students will react."

"Then there are four Head students in Gryffindor..." She said thinking in a loud voice.

"So?"

"Haven't you heard a word I said this morning?"

"Yes, but Dumbledore said..."

"Dumbledore always tells us what we want to hear!" She interrupted.

"I know he does!"

"Then you know what I mean. It's as if he knew what we want. I'm going to have a word with him right now. You're coming with me!" She said and almost ran to the door.