Chapter 6 ; Choosing sides
Harry lead Ginny to the armor. He turned to look at her as he said. "The bumblebees are coming."
Ginny gave him a weird look. "Excuse me?" Then she gasped as the armor moved aside to show the concealed door.
"Lets go." Harry said and he turned the knob, and pushed open the door. Harry stepped inside, followed closely by Ginny, who gasped again, startled by the outdoor setting.
"This is just like Firenze's room." Ginny said as she stepped passed him.
"Why is she here?" A voice drawled in the darkness. Ginny jumped a mile high and stepped back until her back hit the wall.
"Must you scare everyone?" Harry said, walking over to the wall next to Ginny, and conjured a lit torch. Suddenly the room lit up in it's warm glow and Draco was clearly visible on top of a large boulder near the corner of the small room.
Ginny watched them, the look of complete horror on her face. Draco noticed it first and burst out laughing. Harry looked around for the source of his amusement, and finally noticed Ginny's face.
"Well, you wanted to follow me." Harry told her, as he too sat on a boulder, opposite of Draco. Ginny still stood there, her back up against the wall, staring at Draco.
"Is she all right?" Draco asked, slightly worried by the way she was looking at him.
"Gasp! What is this I'm hearing? Draco actually cares about someone other then himself? What is the world coming to?" Harry said in mock awe.
Draco laughed, and said. "I'm not sure but we'd better watch out the Apocalypse might happen." Harry and Draco laughed together, not noticing Ginny snap out of the zombie state she was in.
"Look at you! Your laughing with one of your worst enemies!" Ginny shrieked, the two boys stopped laughing immediately.
"Well you and the other two were so keen on following me, you've brought this on yourself." Harry said, plainly.
"Harry Potter! Just what side our you really on?" She yelled at him.
Harry stared at her, his features slowly turning to cold. He glared at her and in an almost deathly whisper he said. "Really? You would think I'd just all of a sudden change sides? Just forget what my parents died for? Just forget what Sirius died for? Are you saying that I would be stupid enough to walk into the hand's of the person who's killed those I've loved? Yeah, of course I can see how'd you think that."
The room turned deathly quiet, Ginny stood where she was not saying anything, shocked. Harry watched Ginny for a moment then with a disgusted look, turned back to Draco and said. "All right, have you thought about how you want to do this?"
Draco shook his head. "No." He simply said.
Harry nodded. "All right, what we have to do is insure that you won't be getting the dark mark and I think I know just the person who can convince your father. Then you'll have to lie low until graduation then renounce any ties you might have with Voldemort."
Suddenly Draco put his finger to his lips. "Shhh!" The all heard someone walk passed, loudly grumbling. Harry laughed, and Draco and Ginny gave him a terrified look.
"I'm not stupid you know. I put a sound proof spell on this room." Harry said, laughing at their faces.
Draco shot him a look, and mumbled something about being insane, only making Harry laugh harder.
"Hey, Potter! Shut up!" He said. Harry looked at him.
"What no longer first name basis? Well that sucks." Harry said.
"Fine! HARRY SHUT UP WITH YOUR INSANE LAUGHING!" Draco yelled.
"But I wasn't laughing." Harry said.
"Ugh! But you were!" Draco said, exasperated.
"I'm sorry." Interrupted Ginny in a small voice. Harry turned to her.
"I was waiting for that. Sit here and listen." Harry said as he got up from the boulder. Ginny took his place as he started telling her about the night before, Draco popped in every few minutes to correct something.
"How can you trust him? Its Malfoy!" Ginny asked, when Harry had finished.
"I just know, besides I have a sneak-o-scope in my pocket." Ginny looked doubtful. "Draco doesn't want to become a Death Eater. He doesn't even support Voldemort." Ginny and Draco flinched. "He wants to become good, he wants to join our side, he-"
"Stop!" Draco groaned. "I don't want to 'become good', 'join the light side', 'be a hero', or any of that crap. I just don't support the Dark Lord and I don't want to get caught in the middle of this stupid war!"
Harry looked over at Draco, then back at Ginny. "Point is, Ginny, that Draco is not a Death Eater and will help us fight Voldemort."
"How do you know he won't just ditch us on the field? He'll probably do more harm than good on our side." Ginny snapped, Draco looked slightly hurt.
"Ginny, he will try his best and I know he will help. You can even be there to put him in his place if he steps out of line." Harry joked, trying to make Ginny see that it was a good idea, while trying to renew Draco's hurt feelings.
"But we've already got a Slytherin on our side and he's really a pain." Ginny pointed out, doing a very good impression of Snape's angry face.
"But Draco will be nothing like Snape." Harry said, desperate to make her see.
"Hello?" said Draco irritability, "I'm right here you know! And you do know that Snape is a spy for the Dark Lord."
"He still calls He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named the 'Dark Lord'," Ginny pointed out, ignoring Draco.
Harry suddenly grew angry. "So? I call him Voldemort. Call him the Dark Lord, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, or Tom Riddle or any other nickname he has, just don't call him 'Master'." He roared. Ginny nearly fell out of the chair in surprise. She looked at him silently then ever so slowly she nodded.
"All right, I trust you." She told Harry.
"Good." Harry said, as he tried to calm down. He turned to Draco. "Now, are you ready to go to Dumbledore?" Draco nodded slowly. Harry brought out the Marauder's map and checked it.
"All right. Dumbledore is in his office. Lets go shall we?" Harry said, and he turned to the door, and making the torch disappear.
"Do you want me to go too?" Ginny asked from behind him.
Without turning around he said. "Sure." He opened the door, just as he heard a loud thump. He turned around quickly. Ginny was on the floor.
"I tripped." Was all she said. Harry watched Draco help her up, a small smile found a way to Draco's face. Harry smiled too, suspicion rising in side of him. They followed him to the door and out into the hall. Harry turned to close the door, just as a voice called out in the dark room behind him.
"Bye, Harry!" It was Neesm. Harry chuckled quietly as he shut the door behind him. Harry led the others to Dumbledore's office. He kept checking the map every time they turned a corner. They came to the statue of the gargoyle, and Harry once again checked the map. He watched the little figure raise a mini wand and a small word bubble appeared.
"Bubble Yum." Harry said, and the statue jumped aside. They all stepped onto the moving stairs and led it carry them up to the door. Harry raised his arm and knocked on the door. After a few moments of faint paper shuffling, the door opened. Professor Dumbledore stood before them in the ugliest yellow bathrobes ever seen.
"Hello, Mr. Potter, Miss. Weasly, and." He stopped a moment in surprise. "And Mr. Malfoy." He finished. "What brings you students here passed your curfew and together?" He asked as he opened the door wider to let them all in. Harry, Ginny, and Draco each took a seat in front of the large desk. Professor Dumbledore bristled around the desk and sat down in his chair. He looked at his students with an eyebrow raised.
Harry took a deep breath. "Well, you see Professor Dumbledore. We need your help." At this Dumbledore's eyes flickered to Draco, then back to Harry.
"That's what I'm here for." He told them.
"Yes, we know. So Draco has decided that he wants no ties with Voldemort and his little group. I figured we could get Snape-"
"Professor Snape, Harry."
"Yeah, him to convince his father." Harry paused for a second.
"Draco's father is in Azkaban." Professor Dumbledore said quietly.
"No, he isn't. Some how they've got him out. I'm not sure who else is out. The dementors must have helped." Harry told him. Professor Dumbledore looked at Draco.
"Who else was at the meeting?" He asked Draco.
"How did you know I was at a meeting?" Draco asked him in slight awe.
"I just figured that since you didn't want to join his side you must have seen the things they've done at the meetings." Dumbledore explained quickly. "Who else was there?"
"Everyone who was sent to Azkaban." Draco told him. Professor Dumbledore's head drooped slightly, and he looked back at Harry.
"So I though that Professor Snape could talk to Lucius Malfoy and convince him not to give Draco the dark mark, because I'd be better for him to get it once school is over. Then at the end of the year, after Graduation, Draco will renounce any ties he might possibly have with Voldemort. Of course we'd have to get him a good job on this side so no one will think he is a spy or still a deatheater." Dumbledore nodded.
"And what does Ginny have to do with this plan?" Dumbledore asked softly. Ginny blushed but didn't say anything.
"Well, her, Ron and Hermione decided to do an order thing and follow me around. So I took her to where I was meeting Draco. She's just tagging along." Harry said shooting a look in her direction. Ginny blushed even more and slid down in her seat. "Don't worry she won't be telling anyone, will she?" Harry asked still staring at Ginny, who shook her head.
"No, you can trust me." She said.
Dumbledore gave her a smile and said. "Very well. Now will you be letting the school know you and Draco are friends?" Harry and Draco shook their heads together and Dumbledore smiled approvingly.
"Good idea. Now Draco." He said as he turned to Draco. "This is a serious decision for you, Draco. Do you understand that this decision will dominate the rest of your life?"
"Yes," Draco answered.
"Do you understand that we will be trusting you and depending on you? You can not change sides in the middle of the fight." Dumbledore told him as he looked him hard in the eyes.
"Yes." Draco said, his voice strong.
"Do you realize that you will never be able to have strong family ties as long as they support Voldemort?" Dumbledore asked.
Draco nodded his head. "Yes."
"And do you understand that you may be called upon to wage war against your own family and old friends?"
Draco hesitated. The serious commitments were unnerving him. He knew that he will be making powerful enemies that will do anything to stop him. But as he thought of the Death Eaters he saw, even the 'respected' ones by the Dark Lord, he knew that he could never live with himself if he was to be known as one of them. And he thought about the he knew that could never do kill people he knew were innocent. He wanted to be remembered as someone who had done something good in his lifetime, not hated and scorned upon. No longer afraid of the danger he was putting himself in. "Yes, I understand." He said.
Harry smiled, Maybe things will work out. He thought.
"Now, you two." Dumbledore said and he turned to Harry and Ginny. "Need to go to bed. Draco and I will stay up to disgust this further. I trust you have the means to make it back without getting caught?" Harry smiled and nodded. "Good, then. Goodnight."
"Night Professor." Ginny said as she got up from her chair. She looked over at Draco. "Night, Draco."
"Goodnight, Ginny." Draco said back, with a smile.
"Night!" Harry said over his shoulder as he opened the door. Ginny followed him out silently, and up to the Gryffindor tower.
"What are you two doing out this late?" The fat lady grumbled tiredly. Harry quickly told her the password and hurried inside, with Ginny right behind. Harry turned towards the boys' tower. When Ginny stopped him.
"Harry, I'm sorry we followed you." She said in a whisper.
"Your only sorry you got caught." Harry said with a smile as he sat down on the chair in front of the empty fireplace.
Harry pointed his wand at the fire place. "Incendio." He said, and the fireplace lit up.
"No really, I'm sorry we didn't trust you enough." Ginny said as she sat down across from him.
"Yeah, me too. But don't think I'm letting you off the hook that easily." Harry said, a small smile tugging on the corners of his mouth.
"All right I guess that's fair." Ginny said, making her self more comfortable on the chair. She sat quiet for a few seconds, then she said. "So you really believe that Draco is trying to get on our side?"
"Yeah, I think he really is trying to be different from his father." Harry said, yawning.
"But how can you be sure?" Ginny said exasperated.
"Professor Dumbledore once told me that I have a great amount of power inside of me, and that I can sense things. Like I can sense when Voldemort is angry, or when he's happy."
"Yeah, because of your link with him." Ginny said.
"Yes but because of that link I can use that to sense other people's power and their intentions. I get headaches from Voldemort, because Voldemort holds great power and uses it for evil purposes. So if Voldemort, or any other powerful wizard, decided he wanted to be good I would be able to know if they were truly bad or good because of their ulterior motives deep inside. Or so Dumbledore says." Harry said, staring into the fire.
"I hope your right." Ginny said. Harry looked over at her, the firelight danced around her.
"I know I'm right." Harry told her. He yawned again and stretched. Then Ginny yawned, and Harry did so again.
"All right! I give up! I'm going to go to bed." Harry said, standing up.
"Yeah, that sounds good to me." Ginny said as she too stood up.
"Goodnight." Harry said as he headed up the stairs.
"Night!" Ginny said from her stairs.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry spent Sunday hanging out with Ginny, Ron, and Hermione, whom he had all but forgiven. He told them about Fudge and how Fudge wanted Harry's help. He spent the day in calm happiness, glad that they promised they wouldn't be following him any more. The day went by fast and all too soon it was Monday and they were stuck in classes again.
"Harry! Come on we'll be late for Potions!" Ron said as they rushed out of another boring day in Transfiguration. Harry ran after Ron and arrived in Snape's class just in time.
"Class take a seat." Snape said in his cold voice. He waited a moment before saying. "Today you will be working on a Truth Potion. It's complicated and I hope many of you won't screw it up." He looked directly at Harry and Ron as he said that. Harry smiled slightly and started working on his potion.
"Psst! Harry, how thin do you cut this?" Ron asked out of the side of his mouth as Snape swept passed their table. Harry chuckled as he handed Ron his already cut leeches, Ron gave Harry his leeches and continued the potion. An hour later Professor Snape clapped.
"All right you should be done. Put your potion in a bottle and bring it up to me." He said. Harry stood and followed Snape's directions. He walked it up to the table, making sure he didn't bump into anyone.
"Harry!" Ron's voice shouted behind him, Harry turned quickly, wondering what was up. Crabbe brushed against his shoulder, sending him spiraling into the person behind him, then tumbling to the floor next to the person he bumped into. Harry looked up, just in time to watch Crabbe's potion slip from his large hands and fly through the air. The disgusting mustard-yellow potion spilled out of the bottle, splashing all over Harry and the other person.
Harry lead Ginny to the armor. He turned to look at her as he said. "The bumblebees are coming."
Ginny gave him a weird look. "Excuse me?" Then she gasped as the armor moved aside to show the concealed door.
"Lets go." Harry said and he turned the knob, and pushed open the door. Harry stepped inside, followed closely by Ginny, who gasped again, startled by the outdoor setting.
"This is just like Firenze's room." Ginny said as she stepped passed him.
"Why is she here?" A voice drawled in the darkness. Ginny jumped a mile high and stepped back until her back hit the wall.
"Must you scare everyone?" Harry said, walking over to the wall next to Ginny, and conjured a lit torch. Suddenly the room lit up in it's warm glow and Draco was clearly visible on top of a large boulder near the corner of the small room.
Ginny watched them, the look of complete horror on her face. Draco noticed it first and burst out laughing. Harry looked around for the source of his amusement, and finally noticed Ginny's face.
"Well, you wanted to follow me." Harry told her, as he too sat on a boulder, opposite of Draco. Ginny still stood there, her back up against the wall, staring at Draco.
"Is she all right?" Draco asked, slightly worried by the way she was looking at him.
"Gasp! What is this I'm hearing? Draco actually cares about someone other then himself? What is the world coming to?" Harry said in mock awe.
Draco laughed, and said. "I'm not sure but we'd better watch out the Apocalypse might happen." Harry and Draco laughed together, not noticing Ginny snap out of the zombie state she was in.
"Look at you! Your laughing with one of your worst enemies!" Ginny shrieked, the two boys stopped laughing immediately.
"Well you and the other two were so keen on following me, you've brought this on yourself." Harry said, plainly.
"Harry Potter! Just what side our you really on?" She yelled at him.
Harry stared at her, his features slowly turning to cold. He glared at her and in an almost deathly whisper he said. "Really? You would think I'd just all of a sudden change sides? Just forget what my parents died for? Just forget what Sirius died for? Are you saying that I would be stupid enough to walk into the hand's of the person who's killed those I've loved? Yeah, of course I can see how'd you think that."
The room turned deathly quiet, Ginny stood where she was not saying anything, shocked. Harry watched Ginny for a moment then with a disgusted look, turned back to Draco and said. "All right, have you thought about how you want to do this?"
Draco shook his head. "No." He simply said.
Harry nodded. "All right, what we have to do is insure that you won't be getting the dark mark and I think I know just the person who can convince your father. Then you'll have to lie low until graduation then renounce any ties you might have with Voldemort."
Suddenly Draco put his finger to his lips. "Shhh!" The all heard someone walk passed, loudly grumbling. Harry laughed, and Draco and Ginny gave him a terrified look.
"I'm not stupid you know. I put a sound proof spell on this room." Harry said, laughing at their faces.
Draco shot him a look, and mumbled something about being insane, only making Harry laugh harder.
"Hey, Potter! Shut up!" He said. Harry looked at him.
"What no longer first name basis? Well that sucks." Harry said.
"Fine! HARRY SHUT UP WITH YOUR INSANE LAUGHING!" Draco yelled.
"But I wasn't laughing." Harry said.
"Ugh! But you were!" Draco said, exasperated.
"I'm sorry." Interrupted Ginny in a small voice. Harry turned to her.
"I was waiting for that. Sit here and listen." Harry said as he got up from the boulder. Ginny took his place as he started telling her about the night before, Draco popped in every few minutes to correct something.
"How can you trust him? Its Malfoy!" Ginny asked, when Harry had finished.
"I just know, besides I have a sneak-o-scope in my pocket." Ginny looked doubtful. "Draco doesn't want to become a Death Eater. He doesn't even support Voldemort." Ginny and Draco flinched. "He wants to become good, he wants to join our side, he-"
"Stop!" Draco groaned. "I don't want to 'become good', 'join the light side', 'be a hero', or any of that crap. I just don't support the Dark Lord and I don't want to get caught in the middle of this stupid war!"
Harry looked over at Draco, then back at Ginny. "Point is, Ginny, that Draco is not a Death Eater and will help us fight Voldemort."
"How do you know he won't just ditch us on the field? He'll probably do more harm than good on our side." Ginny snapped, Draco looked slightly hurt.
"Ginny, he will try his best and I know he will help. You can even be there to put him in his place if he steps out of line." Harry joked, trying to make Ginny see that it was a good idea, while trying to renew Draco's hurt feelings.
"But we've already got a Slytherin on our side and he's really a pain." Ginny pointed out, doing a very good impression of Snape's angry face.
"But Draco will be nothing like Snape." Harry said, desperate to make her see.
"Hello?" said Draco irritability, "I'm right here you know! And you do know that Snape is a spy for the Dark Lord."
"He still calls He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named the 'Dark Lord'," Ginny pointed out, ignoring Draco.
Harry suddenly grew angry. "So? I call him Voldemort. Call him the Dark Lord, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, or Tom Riddle or any other nickname he has, just don't call him 'Master'." He roared. Ginny nearly fell out of the chair in surprise. She looked at him silently then ever so slowly she nodded.
"All right, I trust you." She told Harry.
"Good." Harry said, as he tried to calm down. He turned to Draco. "Now, are you ready to go to Dumbledore?" Draco nodded slowly. Harry brought out the Marauder's map and checked it.
"All right. Dumbledore is in his office. Lets go shall we?" Harry said, and he turned to the door, and making the torch disappear.
"Do you want me to go too?" Ginny asked from behind him.
Without turning around he said. "Sure." He opened the door, just as he heard a loud thump. He turned around quickly. Ginny was on the floor.
"I tripped." Was all she said. Harry watched Draco help her up, a small smile found a way to Draco's face. Harry smiled too, suspicion rising in side of him. They followed him to the door and out into the hall. Harry turned to close the door, just as a voice called out in the dark room behind him.
"Bye, Harry!" It was Neesm. Harry chuckled quietly as he shut the door behind him. Harry led the others to Dumbledore's office. He kept checking the map every time they turned a corner. They came to the statue of the gargoyle, and Harry once again checked the map. He watched the little figure raise a mini wand and a small word bubble appeared.
"Bubble Yum." Harry said, and the statue jumped aside. They all stepped onto the moving stairs and led it carry them up to the door. Harry raised his arm and knocked on the door. After a few moments of faint paper shuffling, the door opened. Professor Dumbledore stood before them in the ugliest yellow bathrobes ever seen.
"Hello, Mr. Potter, Miss. Weasly, and." He stopped a moment in surprise. "And Mr. Malfoy." He finished. "What brings you students here passed your curfew and together?" He asked as he opened the door wider to let them all in. Harry, Ginny, and Draco each took a seat in front of the large desk. Professor Dumbledore bristled around the desk and sat down in his chair. He looked at his students with an eyebrow raised.
Harry took a deep breath. "Well, you see Professor Dumbledore. We need your help." At this Dumbledore's eyes flickered to Draco, then back to Harry.
"That's what I'm here for." He told them.
"Yes, we know. So Draco has decided that he wants no ties with Voldemort and his little group. I figured we could get Snape-"
"Professor Snape, Harry."
"Yeah, him to convince his father." Harry paused for a second.
"Draco's father is in Azkaban." Professor Dumbledore said quietly.
"No, he isn't. Some how they've got him out. I'm not sure who else is out. The dementors must have helped." Harry told him. Professor Dumbledore looked at Draco.
"Who else was at the meeting?" He asked Draco.
"How did you know I was at a meeting?" Draco asked him in slight awe.
"I just figured that since you didn't want to join his side you must have seen the things they've done at the meetings." Dumbledore explained quickly. "Who else was there?"
"Everyone who was sent to Azkaban." Draco told him. Professor Dumbledore's head drooped slightly, and he looked back at Harry.
"So I though that Professor Snape could talk to Lucius Malfoy and convince him not to give Draco the dark mark, because I'd be better for him to get it once school is over. Then at the end of the year, after Graduation, Draco will renounce any ties he might possibly have with Voldemort. Of course we'd have to get him a good job on this side so no one will think he is a spy or still a deatheater." Dumbledore nodded.
"And what does Ginny have to do with this plan?" Dumbledore asked softly. Ginny blushed but didn't say anything.
"Well, her, Ron and Hermione decided to do an order thing and follow me around. So I took her to where I was meeting Draco. She's just tagging along." Harry said shooting a look in her direction. Ginny blushed even more and slid down in her seat. "Don't worry she won't be telling anyone, will she?" Harry asked still staring at Ginny, who shook her head.
"No, you can trust me." She said.
Dumbledore gave her a smile and said. "Very well. Now will you be letting the school know you and Draco are friends?" Harry and Draco shook their heads together and Dumbledore smiled approvingly.
"Good idea. Now Draco." He said as he turned to Draco. "This is a serious decision for you, Draco. Do you understand that this decision will dominate the rest of your life?"
"Yes," Draco answered.
"Do you understand that we will be trusting you and depending on you? You can not change sides in the middle of the fight." Dumbledore told him as he looked him hard in the eyes.
"Yes." Draco said, his voice strong.
"Do you realize that you will never be able to have strong family ties as long as they support Voldemort?" Dumbledore asked.
Draco nodded his head. "Yes."
"And do you understand that you may be called upon to wage war against your own family and old friends?"
Draco hesitated. The serious commitments were unnerving him. He knew that he will be making powerful enemies that will do anything to stop him. But as he thought of the Death Eaters he saw, even the 'respected' ones by the Dark Lord, he knew that he could never live with himself if he was to be known as one of them. And he thought about the he knew that could never do kill people he knew were innocent. He wanted to be remembered as someone who had done something good in his lifetime, not hated and scorned upon. No longer afraid of the danger he was putting himself in. "Yes, I understand." He said.
Harry smiled, Maybe things will work out. He thought.
"Now, you two." Dumbledore said and he turned to Harry and Ginny. "Need to go to bed. Draco and I will stay up to disgust this further. I trust you have the means to make it back without getting caught?" Harry smiled and nodded. "Good, then. Goodnight."
"Night Professor." Ginny said as she got up from her chair. She looked over at Draco. "Night, Draco."
"Goodnight, Ginny." Draco said back, with a smile.
"Night!" Harry said over his shoulder as he opened the door. Ginny followed him out silently, and up to the Gryffindor tower.
"What are you two doing out this late?" The fat lady grumbled tiredly. Harry quickly told her the password and hurried inside, with Ginny right behind. Harry turned towards the boys' tower. When Ginny stopped him.
"Harry, I'm sorry we followed you." She said in a whisper.
"Your only sorry you got caught." Harry said with a smile as he sat down on the chair in front of the empty fireplace.
Harry pointed his wand at the fire place. "Incendio." He said, and the fireplace lit up.
"No really, I'm sorry we didn't trust you enough." Ginny said as she sat down across from him.
"Yeah, me too. But don't think I'm letting you off the hook that easily." Harry said, a small smile tugging on the corners of his mouth.
"All right I guess that's fair." Ginny said, making her self more comfortable on the chair. She sat quiet for a few seconds, then she said. "So you really believe that Draco is trying to get on our side?"
"Yeah, I think he really is trying to be different from his father." Harry said, yawning.
"But how can you be sure?" Ginny said exasperated.
"Professor Dumbledore once told me that I have a great amount of power inside of me, and that I can sense things. Like I can sense when Voldemort is angry, or when he's happy."
"Yeah, because of your link with him." Ginny said.
"Yes but because of that link I can use that to sense other people's power and their intentions. I get headaches from Voldemort, because Voldemort holds great power and uses it for evil purposes. So if Voldemort, or any other powerful wizard, decided he wanted to be good I would be able to know if they were truly bad or good because of their ulterior motives deep inside. Or so Dumbledore says." Harry said, staring into the fire.
"I hope your right." Ginny said. Harry looked over at her, the firelight danced around her.
"I know I'm right." Harry told her. He yawned again and stretched. Then Ginny yawned, and Harry did so again.
"All right! I give up! I'm going to go to bed." Harry said, standing up.
"Yeah, that sounds good to me." Ginny said as she too stood up.
"Goodnight." Harry said as he headed up the stairs.
"Night!" Ginny said from her stairs.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry spent Sunday hanging out with Ginny, Ron, and Hermione, whom he had all but forgiven. He told them about Fudge and how Fudge wanted Harry's help. He spent the day in calm happiness, glad that they promised they wouldn't be following him any more. The day went by fast and all too soon it was Monday and they were stuck in classes again.
"Harry! Come on we'll be late for Potions!" Ron said as they rushed out of another boring day in Transfiguration. Harry ran after Ron and arrived in Snape's class just in time.
"Class take a seat." Snape said in his cold voice. He waited a moment before saying. "Today you will be working on a Truth Potion. It's complicated and I hope many of you won't screw it up." He looked directly at Harry and Ron as he said that. Harry smiled slightly and started working on his potion.
"Psst! Harry, how thin do you cut this?" Ron asked out of the side of his mouth as Snape swept passed their table. Harry chuckled as he handed Ron his already cut leeches, Ron gave Harry his leeches and continued the potion. An hour later Professor Snape clapped.
"All right you should be done. Put your potion in a bottle and bring it up to me." He said. Harry stood and followed Snape's directions. He walked it up to the table, making sure he didn't bump into anyone.
"Harry!" Ron's voice shouted behind him, Harry turned quickly, wondering what was up. Crabbe brushed against his shoulder, sending him spiraling into the person behind him, then tumbling to the floor next to the person he bumped into. Harry looked up, just in time to watch Crabbe's potion slip from his large hands and fly through the air. The disgusting mustard-yellow potion spilled out of the bottle, splashing all over Harry and the other person.