Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

As usual the end of term came far too quickly for Harry's liking.

"Cheer up, mate" said Ron. "You can come to my place for the summer. And once we've got our Apparition test you'll be able to leave the muggles whenever you want. Hey we should go and take the test together!"

Harry had forgotten about taking his Apparition test when he turned seventeen, but now that Ron had reminded him he thought it could be a good way to have some fun with Dudley. Feeling slightly better about the holidays, Harry went downstairs for the end of year feast with Ron and Hermione. When they entered the Great Hall Draco Malfoy was boasting, in a much louder voice than was necessary, about all the power and influence he would soon have. As far as Harry could tell, no one was listening to Malfoy except for Crabbe and Goyle. Some of the younger Slytherins looked like they were annoyed with Malfoy, but were probably too afraid of him to actually say anything. Most of the older students looked bored as if this was something they had all heard several times before.

"Shut up, Malfoy, no one's listening to you" he shouted.

In a flash Malfoy was standing over Nott with Crabbe and Goyle close behind him.

"What did you say to me, Nott?"

"I said shut up" said Nott. "The only people you're ever going to have any influence over are those two morons" Nott pointed at Crabbe and Goyle who were cracking their knuckles threateningly.

"He's got a point there" Ron whispered to Harry and Hermione

"You can't speak to me like that, Nott" hissed Malfoy.

"I just did" said Nott. "What are you going to do about it? Go and tell your dad?"

"He'll hear about this" said Malfoy.

Harry wanted to hear more, but Hermione started to drag him away. At the Hufflepuff table Adam Prince sprinted up to Harry.

"Harry, how many books are going to be written about you?" he panted.

"I dunno" said Harry.

"Seven" said Hermione "Why?"

"That means you've only got one more book to kill You Know Who" said Adam frantically "Or for him to kill you. What if you don't do it?"

"Well since we're all fictional characters we'll probably just cease to exist" said Hermione sensibly. "Or JK Rowling might change her mind and write another book"

"That's exactly what I need" said Harry sarcastically. "Come on the feast is about to start"

Harry sat down between Lavender and Neville. Ron and Hermione sat opposite them. Harry looked around the hall thinking. Would everything around them simply stop existing if the terms of the prophecy were not fulfilled in one book?

"Ouch!" cried Neville bringing Harry out of his reverie.

"What's the matter?" asked Lavender.

"Someone's kicked me under the table" said Neville.

"Sorry, Neville, that was me" said Hermione "I didn't mean it. I was trying to get Harry"

"Thanks, Hermione" said Harry sarcastically.

Hermione pointed to the staff table to where Dumbledore had gotten to his feet.

"I have a few notices to give out before we begin our feast" he said "Firstly, our Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Weasley, has announced that he will be returning to Egypt next year to continue his work for Gringotts Bank"

Hissing broke out among the students. Harry's fellow Gryffindors were all trying to get Ron and Ginny's attention.

"Why didn't you tell us?" asked Seamus.

"I didn't know" said Ron "I wonder why Bill's decided to leave though"

"I bet it's because the job's cursed and he's afraid something bad will happen to him" whispered Lavender.

"I think Bill's too sensible to believe that rubbish" said Hermione drily. "I'm sure he's just going back to his old job because he misses Egypt and to continue the tradition of Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers only staying for one year."

Harry looked around at the other house tables. The Slytherins looked to be the only one's who were not disappointed about Bill leaving. At the staff table Snape looked positively delighted.

After the hissing had died down, Dumbledore spoke again.

The journey to Kings Cross the next day was uneventful although several people stopped by the compartment that Harry was sharing with Ron, Hermione and Neville. Harry had his wand out in case Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were lurking nearby. But all Harry saw of them was a brief glimpse of Crabbe's back as he walked through the barrier on platform nine and three quarters. Five minutes later Harry, Hermione and Neville stepped through the barrier. Neville's grandmother was waiting for him, but Harry couldn't see Hermione's parents or the Dursley's. He secretly hoped they wouldn't turn up. Ron and Ginny appeared on the platform behind Harry just as Mrs Longbottom was saying hello to Harry and Hermione.

"There's mum and dad" said Ginny. "And Fred and George are here too"

The twins reached the group first. Fred shook hands with Ron while George hugged Ginny.

"Hello, Harry. How are you, dear?" asked Mrs Weasley hugging him.

"Fine" said Harry.

"You will come and stay won't you" said Mrs Weasley as she let go of him.

"Yes please" said Harry.

"Hey, Harry" said Ron after Neville and his grandmother had left "it's the muggles"

Sure enough Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were coming into the station followed by Dudley who looked just as disappointed as Harry felt.

"What's up with you, Dud?"

"You're still here. I'd heard a rumour that you died in this book" snapped Dudley.

"There's always next year, son" said Uncle Vernon "But I must say you're here a bit earlier than normal, boy. We weren't expecting you home for a few more chapters. What's going on?"

Harry opened his mouth to say he wished he could have stayed at Hogwarts, but thought better of it.

"I think I can answer that, Mr Dursley" said Hermione nervously. "The person writing this probably wants to finish it before the real sixth Harry Potter book comes out in the shops"

"What do you mean the real book?" asked Ron.

"JK Rowling's not writing this, Ron" said Hermione as it if were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Well who is then?" asked Ron.

"It's a fanfic" Hermione explained patiently.

"And what's that?" said Ron.

"It's short for fan fiction" said Hermione "It's a story based on another persons work"

"So Krum might not be back" said Ron hopefully.

"No we'll still see him again" said Hermione and Ron looked sullen.

"Hey, Harry, Piers wrote a story where you die" said Dudley suddenly.

"Right" mumbled Harry.

Uncle Vernon looked outraged at the idea of people not only reading stories about Harry, but writing their own as well.

"Hurry up, I'm not waiting around here all night" he barked.

"See you soon, Harry" said Ron.

"Bye Harry" said Hermione.

"See you" said Harry and wondering what was really in store for him, he followed the Dursleys out of the station.

THE END

Author's notes.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed.

Harry doesn't know about the interviews because he's never used the internet. It's mostly Hermione that knows about that sort of thing.

I don't think the real Half Blood Prince will be a student and his last name probably wont be Prince either, but that was how he fit into my story.

I didn't call this Harry Potter and the Really Short Book because it's much longer than I originally intended it to be. I started writing it for a joke and I was only going to write five chapters.

There are people who skip the Quidditch matches. I know one of them.