Disclaimer: Closes his eyes and wishes really hard Opens eyes Nope, still don't own Harry Potter.

Author's Note: I've been getting some comments in e-mails about the ridiculousness of my Harry/Cho pairing. Well, I think I justified it rather well in Chapter 6, Mending Wounds, but if you're still really opposed to Cho, you will like this story towards the end. Please keep reading as it will make my day. This Chapter starts the first real trouble at Hogwart's, and deals with the Sirius issue. Enjoy.

Chapter Eight, Overheard Preparations.

Harry didn't want to get up this morning. He had already played Quidditch for two wholedays now, and he was supposed to do the same today. He tried to move, but his muscles screamed in protest. I don't know if I can do this today, he thought. "Come on, Harry!"

"Yeah, you've got to get up."

"We have practice in 20 minutes, and you haven't even had breakfast yet!"

"You slept right through it, Harry." Harry opened his eyes to find the entire GryffindorQuidditch team surrounding his four-poster bed. "We brought you some food."

"My muscles ordered me to stay in bed today." Ron laughed, "You've been doing more flying in the last couple of days than Gaylon here has done in his whole life. Eat what we brought you; then go use the Prefect's bathroom to recharge in thetub. I'll accept you being late to practice today. We'll see you there. Come on, team!"

Harry ate the food that they left and read the paper that Ron had scrawled the password on. As soon as he finished his meal, he took off for the bathroom, and it looked like he wouldn't be too awfully late when Draco Malfoy entered while Harry was in the towel room. Harry quickly closed the door to the towel room all but a crack, and watched the Slytherin boy.

Draco took out a small, square object from the folds of a cloth, and set it on the counter. With a light tap from his wand, the black square expanded into a large square that stood up after its transformation was complete. Harry was astonished to see the face of Lucius Malfoy appear on the surface of this darkly enchanted plate. "What do you want? You can't use the Dark Arts communication system for long before it will cut off in that school. It's too pure of an evil."

"I was wondering why you weren't out of Azkaban yet, and more importantly, why you haven't come to got me yet."

"The Dark Lord thinks it's wise that the Dementors at least appear to be on their side for a while; so we can't all just escape. Plus, I need you to graduate."

"Why? Everything I need to know, I learn in the summers with you."

"I know, but you need to appear like a credible wizard. Your reputation will play a vital key in the upcoming movements against the Ministry. Add on to that that there is a stranger coming to school this year that will hopefully tear the school apart, and that you need to assist him indiscreetly. There is no way I'm coming to get you. You're needed there. Do you understand?"

"Yes father."

"Good, now run along before you are caught with that thing." And with that, Lucius disappeared off the plate, and it returned to its previous state. This is big! I can't believe how lucky I am to have heard that unbeknownst to Draco or his father! Hermione needs to hear this. It won't do any good right now though, so I need to keep Ron from blowing his top by getting back to practice as soon as possible!

Once he was dressed and out on the pitch, Ron started in on him, "Why are you so late? It doesn't take that long for a bath!"

"Look, Ron," Harry replied shortly, "if you want the story tonight, then we can have practice, but if you want it now, we can always just skip practice altogether." Ron looked hurt, "Get in the air, Harry!"

"Yes sir," was Harry sarcastic reply.

"You'd better have one bloody good explanation for your lip Harry or your butt is on the line!" Harry shot from the ground to begin the practice that seemed to go on for days even though the sun never set on the Quidditch players. Harry's anxiety and mood melted into the air as he flew. I'll have to apologize to Ron. I was just so preoccupied with this whole development on Draco.

Practice went on without a hitch after that. They were planning for Hufflepuff's good tactics since they weren't particularly fast or strong. Ginny was getting extremely accurate with the Quaffle, and so Ron made her leader of the Chasers. It turned out that the new combination of a seventh and first year Beater was going to work out. They had worked out a strategy where Gaylon would use his speed and accuracy to rebound the crazed ball to Ryan, who would use his brute strength to knock the daylights out of the imaginary Chasers. Anybody that was going to get hit by Ryan that year would have tiny Snitches flying around their heads. Ron was on his game that day, and Harry had managed to catch the Snitch ten times in one hour. Ron flew over to Harry, "One practice! One bloody practice and they're looking like they could take on national teams. The other houses aren't going to know what hit them!"

"Apparently, someone else thinks the same thing," Harry said, indicating downwards with his finger. Professor McGonagall was to be seen there, stunned. Her mouth was open so wide that the Snitch could've flown into her mouth without the wings touching her lips. "Anything you need, Professor?" Harry questioned whilehe and Ron landed, still laughing at the current state of their Transfiguration Professor. "Well, I… uh… I came to see part of your first practice, but obviously, that was weeks ago!"

"Oh no, Professor, this is our first practice."

"Oh! Really!" The confused McGonagall before them suddenly transformed into an extremely pleased one. "Well then, I need to…" She cast them a nervous look, then just came out with it, "I need to go get Severus!" She turned and moved faster than a Firebolt back to the castle. Ron and Harry laughed at their Professor's actions. "He'll probably faint right here on the pitch." Ron could barely talk over his hysteria.

"Then let's get back into the air so the slimy prat will receive the full effect." They took off and got back into the thick of it. Pretty soon, though, they were rewarded when Snape walked out onto the pitch. Ron and Harry looked at him as he had a visage similar to that of McGonagall's when she first saw them, with less pride. A lot less pride. He looked like he was out of breath, and Ron actually stopped practice to watch the Potions master's antics. Snape realized what he must look like and tried, pitifully, to regain his composure. He figured out that his attempts were in vain and turned quickly to return to the castle. The Quidditch team went hysterical when the teacher actually tripped over his own robes and fell. "Alright, show's over. Back to practice," Ron said as Snape finally made it back to the castle.

Practice only lasted for a small period of time more, and McGonagall stayed to view the rest of it. She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself. "Good work today," the captain began in the locker room after everyone had gathered there. "I think we could take Hufflepuff right now, but in four weeks? We're going to shut them out. That's the goal for the first game. Thank you all for putting in a great weekend. Get some dinner and some rest. You're free to go, but not you, Harry." Harry suddenly remembered his earlier behavior, and felt ashamed. "I know my behavior was inexcusable, Ron, but let me explain myself tonight in the common room, with Hermione."

"Why."

"You'll know why tonight. Trust me."

"Alright." The two friends hurried off to Gryffindor tower to get changed and cleaned up before dinner. They were heading back down and about to leave the common room when Ron spoke up, "Oh! Nearly forgot my wand. Can't forget that. I'll be right back."

"Okay." Ron ran up the spiral stone staircase to grab his wand. He was on his way back down when he heard a loud crash, and he quickened his pace. The scene that he arrived at wasn't what he expected, but he understood since he saw a small mirror on the floor. The source of the crash was a small in table that was toppled over, obviously done in rage. Harry was on his knees, head in hands, elbows resting on a cushion of an armchair, and tears streaming from in between his fingers. "Are you still carrying this around, Harry? You can't talk to him, not by any means. He's gone, Harry."

"I know! But it's such a stinking cheat! I didn't even get a good chance to know him."

"I know, but,"

"YOU DON'T KNOW! YOU HAVE SIX OTHER SIBLINGS, AND YOU STILL HAVE BOTH YOUR PARENTS LEFT! YOU'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND. HE'S THE CLOSEST THING TO FAMILY I'VE EVER HAD!"

"And I suppose my family has never been anything like a family to you." Ron was speaking quietly. He was hurt. "Ron, I …" but Ron was already through the portrait hole. I've offended my best friend in the whole world twice today. Why do I always push away the people that can help me in these situations? Why won't I ever let anyone get close to me? Even Cho isn't that close to me. Harry spent the rest of the dinner hour regaining his emotional composure. Harry sought out his friend to apologize for the second time that day. He was lucky enough that his and Ron's conversation had stolen Ron's appetite, and so he returned before anyone else. "Look Ron…"

"Not right now, Harry. I can't take any more abuse from you today."

"No, I'm sorry. You are family to me. Closer than a brother. And your mom has always taken extra efforts to make me feel like the seventh son. You're dad has offered protection time after time, and even told me what was happening in third year, despite the wishes of the Ministry. Your family is my family, and I'll never forget it again."

"Thanks, I needed that." He still seemed to be down though, so Harry thought of something to get him back in high spirits. "You know that standings come out tomorrow, right?" All he got back in response was a small nod. "Well let me ease your mind about them. You got second position, B class!"

His eyes widened, and it brought Harry back to the moment when Ron was told that he had been made Qudditch captain. "You're joking!"

"No, really, you did well."

"You're not putting me up so high just because I'm your friend are you?"

"No, you deserve it."

"I could be on A class in one challenge!"

"That's right, but I'd suggest you lay low and ascertain your potential opponents' weaknesses."

"Right. Good idea. I'll be ready to challenge in a couple of weeks."

"Good, but don't tell anyone your ranking until practice tomorrow."

"Okay."

That night, the three Gryffindors stayed up in common room until there were none left but them. Hermione had surprised them earlier when she said that she had something to tell them, and so, much later, she broke up the silence, "Okay, I think everything has settled down now." As if to ratify that statement, Crookshanks jumped into Hermione's lap to get comfortable. "I was headed down to the library to look up some extra runes for Arithmancy extra credit, when Draco ran passed me with a small bundle of ragged cloth. He didn't even turn around to call me a mud-blood or anything derogatory like that. He just busted intothe Prefect's bathroom. I thought I should investigate, so I tried entering stealthily, but he had performed some sort of jamming or sealing charm to prevent my access. I really feel that it's important that we know what happened in that room, so I found a potion that allows the drinker to see things in reverse and control the time and destination. It's like a living VCR that records every minute of every day, everywhere!"

"A V-C-What?"

"Oh, it's a muggle contraption. Right, Harry?" She said matter of factly. "Harry? Harry!" Harry wasn't part of the conversation anymore. He seemed to be entranced by the fire. His face had a look of… hopefulness on it, like he expected to see something come out of the fire any minute. "Harry, he's gone." He lowered his head at Hermione's soft words, and cried a tearless cry. One that hurts deep in the chest, but is nothing compared to the hurt felt in the heart. "He wouldn't want to see you this way. He loved you, and even after death, I know he wants you to be happy, not like this."

"Thanks Hermione," he said after getting control of himself, "now repeat your story for me." She re-related her tale and started talking about the potion requirements, "It'll take two months, and we'll have to break into Snape's personal storage again, but it's better than doing nothing." Hermione was confused at Harry's knowing smile. Ron was going off on the potion, "Two months! That's longer than that bloody Pollyjuice Potion."

"Don't worry, Ron," Harry thought he'd interrupt the potion planning, "we're not going to need that potion. I was in that room and heard every word."

"Is that why you were so crabby at practice? Because you heard or saw what went on in the Prefect's bathroom?" Harry nodded and accounted his story to them. When all was said and done, Ron put in his thoughts, "Bloody hell! This sounds like some trouble!"

"Some trouble, Ronald? Some trouble! This is big trouble! Didn't you even listen to Harry? 'In our upcoming movements against the Ministry.' That's not some trouble, this is the start of the second war!"

"I didn't even think of that, but you know what? You're right." Ron replied. Harry was trying to take it all in. It was coming to a close fast. Soon enough, either he would be at the hands of Voldemort, or Voldemort at his. "We're the only ones who know this. We need to tell Dumbledore!" That was always Hermione's advice. Talk to Dumbledore. "No." Harry seemed adamant. "Dumbledore isn't a good idea. I don't trust him anymore." Hermione looked shocked, "How can you not trust Dumbledore? He's always been there for you, Harry!"

"Had he told me what was going on last year, Sirius would still be alive. I don't blame my godfather's death on Dumbledore, but I don't trust him much anymore either."

"Okay, but we have to make sure whatever is going to happen doesn't."

"What do you mean, Hermione?"

"What I mean, Ron, is that we have to keep a watch for this 'stranger' that will come to the school. We have to become his shadow, and prevent whatever he or she is planning. We can't break Draco's reputation, so we will have to stick to that."

"Sounds good. Let's get to bed. Quidditch was horrible. We got a lot done, but I'm not sure it was worth this. Ron you should've booked the pitch for next weekend instead."

"I did." Harry groaned loudly. "Just joking, mate. Let's go. Goodnight, Hermione."

"Goodnight boys." Ron and Harry were anxious to get to bed, but there date with a much-needed eternal slumber was postponed when they reached the room. Neville was asleep, but Dean and Seamus were up and asking questions, "So, what did you guys do now?"

"What?"

"Well, you guys were gone, and Dean and I couldn't sleep, so we decided to wait up for you and hear about it."

"We were just in the common room, Seamus."

"Yeah right, Harry. You guys are never just in the common room."

"Well we were this time," Ron responded, looking angry. It took Harry and Ron some time to convince their roommates that they were actually just down in the common room. When they finally had managed the feat, Dean chipped in, "Looks like teaching is calming you down, Harry."

"Yeah, maybe, but it's worth it if it is calming me down a bit."

"I think the best thing about teaching would be seeing how other teacher's treated me different."

"Well, some do have more respect for me, and they will let me out early sometimes to prepare for my lesson. Dumbledore never passes me in the corridor without stopping for a word or two. And I mean never." The friends and fellow Gryffindors stayed up a while longer, but soon decided to resign to their four-posters.

In the dorm room, all was quite with all the curtains drawn to cover the individual beds of the students. But havoc was being wreaked inside Harry's mind. In there, all sound was drowned out by his inward crying. If you had seen him, he wouldn't have looked like he was in distress, but he didn't look peaceful either. Voldemort had no part in Harry's mental turmoil, however. But he just wasn't ready to accept Padfoot's untimely death that made no sense to anybody.

I have a beta reader! Thanks goes out to Ying-Yang-sama for pre-reading my chaps. May I never make another mistake again.

Kai-is-my-heartthrop – Thanks for you r praises. "Pure gold" huh? I could use some. Get me a competent laptop and then be able to post more often.

Post Note: I need more reviews! I know people who have more reviews on one chapter than I have in all! I guess it's not that important to some, but I hold my reviews close to my heart. Every one of them mean a lot, so I really would appreciate more. I'm begging you!