(I'm so sorry it has taken me so long to post. I've just been busy reading and I kind of got stuck on what to do for this chapter. But I hope it all paid off and I hope you all like it!)

Chapter 9 – Asking for Help

Their mouths dropped open and their eyes widened. They just stared at her. "Wha-What do you mean his father?" Ron said in disbelief.

"What do you mean, what do I mean? He was talking to his father!" Ginny said in exasperation.

"How could he be talking to his father though?" Hermione asked.

"I don't really know what it was, but Malfoy was holding something like a mirror. He turned and I saw his dad." Ginny said quickly.

"A mirror, did you say?" Harry asked slowly.

She shook her head. "That's what it looked like at least."

Harry turned and looked at the boy's staircase. He was silent for a moment as Ginny, Ron and Hermione watched him.

"What's wrong Harry?" Ginny asked.

He left without a word and walked up the stairs to his dormitory.

"Harry!" Hermione called after him.

"Forget about it, what did Malfoy say to his dad?" Ron asked, ushering Ginny on.

She closed her eyes trying to recall everything. "Well he said he'd done everything his father asked him to do. Then he said that he didn't have to worry, that everything would be taken care of. Then he said it wouldn't be long; that's when I saw who he was talking to."

Her eyes opened as Harry came back downstairs, a piece of folded cloth in his hand. He walked over to Ginny and handed it to her. She looked at it with a questioning look.

"The object Malfoy was holding…did it look like this?" He asked.

Ginny's eyebrows furrowed as she looked at Harry. She took the object and unfolded the cloth and a mirror lay in her lap. She quickly looked back at Harry. "Yes! It looked exactly like this! What is it?" She asked examining it.

Ron and Hermione crossed to Ginny's side and looked at it as well.

"It's a two-way mirror. Whoever has the other, you can contact them anytime." He said.

"Who gave it to you?" Hermione asked.

"I've…I've just had it." He said quietly.

"Well who has the other?" Ron asked.

"No one." He said sadly.

Ginny watched as he took it from her lap and wrapped it back up.

"Well how did Malfoy's dad get one?" Ron asked, "I mean shouldn't they have taken all those kinds of things away from him?"

"I don't know, maybe he was able to pull some strings before he arrived in Azkaban. I mean surely he still has resources at his disposal." Hermione stated. "Perhaps he was allowed to keep it because they knew Draco had the other, so they didn't see any harm in it." She shrugged.

"Are they crazy?" Ginny asked in disbelief. "He's the son of a captured Death Eater. I mean hello, of course they would plan something."

"We have to figure out what it is." Harry said.

"It'll have to be soon too, Draco said it wouldn't be long. And from what I could see his dad wasn't looking to great, he sounded pretty weak too."

"Good, that murdering git deserves to be in there." Ron said earnestly.

They sat there in silence thinking of what to do, when Hermione spoke, "We should go to Dumbledore, he should know something is happening." They shook their heads in agreement and were silent once again.

Ron jumped up a few minutes later, "I have a better idea…Dobby!"

They all looked at him as if he was insane. "What?" They said together.

"Dobby! Me and Hermione met him in the kitchens last week; we could ask him to spy on Malfoy for us. I mean he should know how to get around their common room, he cleans it doesn't he?"

Hermione looked at him skeptically, "I don't know about that? What if he was caught?"

"That wouldn't matter, he could just say he was cleaning up or something, plus house elves are supposed to be really good at not being seen; it should work!" He said as if it was the perfect plan. "Harry you can ask him! He thinks you're the greatest living person on the planet; he'll do anything for you. Plus he was wanting to see you anyways and now you have an excuse."

Harry shook his head, "That's a good idea…I mean what have we got to lose?"

Hermione and Ginny looked between the boys, uncertainty etched on their faces.

So the next day they didn't waste time going to the kitchens. They awoke much earlier then they normally would have on a Saturday and went straight to Dobby. As Ginny stood in awe of all the house-elves hurrying about cooking breakfast, Harry looked around for Dobby.

He wasn't very difficult to spot either, he now dawned a pair of red and browns striped socks, a mustard colored tea cozy which he must have bought with some of his wages and neon green shorts. Harry shook his head then smiled, "Hey Dobby!"

Dobby turned around and his face immediately broke out in the biggest smile. He bounded over to Harry and wrapped his arms around his middle. "Harry Potter! I'm so pleased to see you sir and your friends have come to see Dobby again too." Dobby looked at Ginny with an inquisitive look. "Miss? Harry Potter has brought a new friend for Dobby to meet! Harry Potter must be very popular." Dobby smiled at Ginny.

"He is with me." She smiled back at Dobby. "I'm Ginny Weasley, Ron's sister. Harry has told me so much about you."

Dobby started to shake with excitement, "Harry Potter has talked about Dobby! Oh Harry Potter, you are very kind. Dobby has missed you sir, Dobby is glad you have come to see him again."

"Oh it's nothing Dobby." Harry smiled back at him, "We've actually come to ask you if you would help us with something."

"Oh Dobby will do anything for Harry Potter."

"Well you see Ginny here has overheard Draco Malfoy talking to his dad. He's not allowed to and we think he's up to something." Harry paused choosing his words carefully as Dobby watched him. "We wanted to ask if you would help keep…an eye on him for us. Tell us if he talks to his dad anymore."

Dobby spoke in a frightened manner, "Dobby-Dobby doesn't know if he can do this sir! The Malfoy's were my family…I can't be going against them." Dobby said looking around with terrified eyes.

"But they aren't your family anymore. They were horrible to you; anyways you wouldn't have to actually talk to Draco. Stay hidden and just…listen to what he's saying." Harry said hopefully. "Dobby, we really need your help, you're the only one that can do this for us."

Dobby squirmed about but looked intently at Harry and then to Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. "Dobby is the only one that can help Harry Potter sir?"

"Oh yes Dobby! Please?" Hermione added hurriedly.

"We can't do it without you." Ron spoke up.

Dobby looked around, "Dobby will do it then sir…for Harry Potter sake. Dobby would do anything for you sir." He said smiling nervously.

"Thank you Dobby!" Harry said. "You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to buy you a brand new tie."

Dobby's nervousness disappeared at the mention of clothes. "Really sir! Thank you, Dobby will try his hardest to find out something." He smiled.

"Well Dobby, we really should be going." Ron said, "We'll see you soon."

"Bye Dobby and thank you so much for helping us out. We really appreciate it." Harry said, "The next time I see you I'll have your tie ready." He smiled as they all left the kitchens to go to breakfast.

Feeling satisfied that Dobby would help; it felt as if an enormous weight had been taken off their shoulders. But as the sunny days of September slipped away into the chill filled air of mid-October, they began to grow worried at the lack of any new information. While they had asked Dobby to help, they didn't ignore Malfoy either. As Harry and Ginny served the rest of their detentions they always found an excuse to go and check the room Ginny had found Draco in, but with no luck. This lack of information was unnerving them.

As they sat at dinner Ron broached the topic, "Maybe they just called everything off. I mean surely Dobby would have heard something by now!" He said in a whisper.

"Oh come on Ron. You don't believe that. There is no way Malfoy is going to let his dad rot in Azkaban." Ginny said and they continued to eat in silence for few more minutes when Ginny's eyes suddenly widened. "That's it!"

"What?" Asked Harry and Hermione together.

"They're going to break out!" Ginny said.

"Who!" Ron asked.

"I'll bet you anything that Malfoy's dad is planning to break out and probably with the rest of those Death Eaters as well. I mean it fits doesn't it? Some people wrote back to Malfoy that everything would be taken care of and that it'll happen soon."

"There's no way they could break out. They'd be caught." Ron said.

"Not necessarily, if they go into hiding with Voldemort they'd be fine. No one has found him so they'd be perfectly safe. They never caught those other Death Eaters when they escaped last year either." Chimed in Harry.

"We should still wait to see what Dobby has to say. I mean, it's a good theory Ginny, but we have to be sure of what's happening. We can't go making accusations as big as this one and expect Dumbledore to just believe us. We'll go to him when Dobby has found something out." Hermione said rationally.

Ginny looked crestfallen, "Okay…I still think that's what it is though. I mean that's what I would plan if our dad was ever thrown into Azkaban."

Ron nodded, "Yeah…so we'll go to Dumbledore at the first sign of anything fishy then. We have nothing to worry about." He smiled as if the problem was solved.

They left the Great Hall for Gryffindor tower, but as they walked inside the common room practically everyone was crowded around the notice board. Ron, easily one of the tallest people in the room, looked over some third year's heads. "Alright! First Hogsmeade visit, the 31st."

Harry smiled, "Good, we can go send in the order form for Jake's new broom. We should get it before the first match." He said happily.

"About time too, ever since you spotted his crummy broom it's the only thing I've been able to concentrate on. It's so incredibly slow compared to Julia and Emily's. You're ordering a Nimbus 2001 right?" Ron said.

"Yep, if McGonagall is only letting us get one broom then it's going to be a good one." They smiled.

As the end of October and the impending Hogwarts visit drew nearer, quidditch practices became more intense. Not only did Harry and Ron increase the practices to five times a week, but they also worked the new players harder then ever before.

"We're only doing this because we're up against Slytherin first. We beat them and practices won't be as often. If we don't…well trust me if we don't beat them, practices will be twice as exhausting as this one." Harry said in a mock cheerful voice and dismissed his players. After they had changed, Ron left to meet with Hermione and Harry and Ginny walked back up to the castle. He wrapped his arm around her waist as they walked. She loved how he never hesitated to do so anymore, but she couldn't help but smile every time she felt his arm around her. She put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"You tired?" He asked with a grin.

"I'm exhausted. I don't ever remember being this tired when I was seeker."

"That's the perk of being one though, you don't get tired as quickly as all the other players." He smiled.

"You know the players have been talking about you and Ron." He looked at her, "They keep referring to your first speech at tryouts, how you said you weren't like Oliver."

"I'm not. I just want to win." He shrugged.

"That sounds like Oliver to me." She grinned at him.

"Well maybe I picked up a few habits of his, but I was serious about decreasing the amount of practices after the first match. I just want to make sure we beat Slytherin is all."

"I know what you mean." She said tiredly.

"You know you should go check out the prefect's bathroom. You could take a relaxing bath or something; it has tons of soaps and stuff. I'd bet it would make you feel better."

"You know I might just do that," she said quietly.

"I like you coming to practices," Ron smiled at Hermione as he climbed the stands. "I think you're my good luck charm."

"Yeah well, what can I say I like watching you guys play. They're all getting better…especially you." She smiled and kissed him as he drew level with her.

"Mmmm, you know we don't have to be inside yet for a while. Come for a ride with me."

"No that's okay. I'll watch if you want to keep flying." She offered.

"It's not the same, come on it's a nice night for it." He grabbed her hand and led her toward the locker rooms. "Besides I haven't seen you on a broom since we were in our first year."

They entered the locker rooms, Ron grabbed his broom and they went back outside. He mounted it and held out his hand. She took it and got in front of him. He pushed off of the ground and they rose into the air. Hermione gripped the broom as she slid back against him. "Don't worry." He said. "I'm not." She put her hands over his as they flew higher. As they circled the pitch she loosened her grip and leaned back against him. The wind blew back her hair as she looked into the sky to find stars appearing all around her.

"You're right, this is nice up here. I can see why you like to play."

"Well playing isn't quiet this relaxing." He smiled and took a hand off the broom to sweep her hair to one side. He leaned his head down and she felt his breath on her neck. She smiled as he kissed it and she leaned her head to the side so he would have better access.

"Here hold the broom for a minute." He took his hands away. "Move one of your legs over the side." He held her around the middle as she did so and he turned her around so she was sitting facing him. She moved her leg back over to balance herself.

"That's better." She grinned and kissed him.

"Mmhmm." He deepened the kiss as she slid still closer to him. She ran a hand through his hair and she smiled at how soft it was. They pulled back to breath and he saw her smile.

"What?" He asked.

"You hair is really soft." She laughed as she ran her hand through it again.

"Really?" He rubbed his hand all over making it stick up in odd places.

"Yeah." She smiled and kissed him again.

Ginny went upstairs and retrieved her nightclothes. She kissed Harry goodbye and left for the prefect's bathroom. As she entered, her mouth dropped open at the mere size of it. She placed her clothes by the side of the bathtub and turned the water on to fill the swimming pool sized tub. She tested some of the nozzles to see what they were. She smiled as every smell imaginable came out. There was raspberry, orange, lemon, strawberry, vanilla, and she could have sworn one even smelled like pine trees…although she couldn't think of anyone who would enjoy that. She settled on a mix of raspberry and strawberry and discarded her cloths. She stepped into the tub and did a couple of laps and then settled herself into a corner. She propped her arms up on the side and closed her eyes and inhaled the fruity scent. She hoped Harry would like it and smiled as a picture of him came to mind.

"Perhaps…we…should…get…back," Hermione said in between kisses.

"Suppose…you're…right." They separated so that they could breath and looked into each other's eyes. Ron leaned forward so that they flew back down to the ground. Hermione got off first as she smiled at him.

"You were right, flying was a good idea for tonight."

"I know, see you should listen to me more often." Ron put his broom back in his locker and they walked back to the castle hand in hand.

Harry sat on the couch in front of the fire watching the dancing flames as his thumb moved over a folded piece of cloth. He looked down at it, still moving his finger over the worn fabric. He unwrapped it and looked into the mirror, but only saw his reflection. "Sirius." He said quietly, but nothing happened. He sighed, a sad expression on his face.

"I feel so much better." Harry hurriedly wrapped the mirror back up and stuffed it under his leg. He breathed and smiled.

"Yeah?" He asked as Ginny came around the side of the couch and sat next to him.

"I'm glad you mentioned that bathroom. I've decided that that is my new favorite place to be." She smiled and scooted over. She lay down with her head in his lap.

"This looks familiar." He smiled down at her.

"Your lap is pretty comfortable, I must admit."

"What's that smell?" He asked looking around.

"You like it?" She smiled.

"Yeah, it smells good."

"Raspberry and strawberry. You weren't kidding when you said that bathroom has just about everything." She reached her hand up over her head and patted the side of his leg. She stopped as she felt the piece of fabric and she looked at Harry to find his eyes closed.

"Harry." She pulled the mirror out from under him and looked at it. "When did he give this to you?" She asked quietly.

"Who?"

"Come on Harry."

His jaw clenched, "Last Christmas when we were at his house."

She looked at him. "Why…why are you looking at it?"

He shrugged, "I just do sometimes. I know it's stupid and I know I won't see him…ever, but it's the last thing he gave to me."

"That's not stupid Harry…" she was silent for a while. "I'm sorry you lost him." She said in a whisper.

"Not as sorry as I am." He said hoarsely.

She looked at him and saw his eyes watering and he looked away. She lifted herself off him and slowly turned his head back toward her. She kissed him slowly, placing her hand at the nape of his neck.

As Ron and Hermione stood outside the Fat Lady's portrait they stared at her sleeping form.

"You know, she's kind of useless. It's awfully early to be asleep." Ron said quietly.

"I know. I mean we weren't outside that long." Hermione said back. "She yelled the password and the Fat Lady awoke with a start.

"There's no need to yell!" She said angrily and swung open.

Ron laughed, "Then stay awake and do your job."

Ron and Hermione stepped through and they looked about the common room. Ron's eyes landed on Harry and Ginny. He groaned, "I don't need to see that." He said and Ginny leaned back from Harry as he looked away again.

"Who said you had to watch?" She said coolly. She fell back down and placed her head on his lap as they walked over. She lifted her hand over her head again and placed it lazily on leg.

"So where have you two been?" Harry asked and he laid his arm across her stomach.

"Flying." Ron said simply and sat down in one of the chairs as Hermione sat on the arm of it.

"I'm sure." Ginny said with a smirk.

"I know I'm sure." Hermione said with a smile and slid off the arm and sat in Ron's lap. Ron looked surprised for one brief moment and then wrapped his arm around her with a smile.

(Review are appreciated! XD)