Disclaimer: You know it...I do not own anything but the plot of the story.

Chapter 10- Bronte's Story

The next month was very uneventful. Classes were steadily getting harder and between homework, captain responsibilities, England practice, and spending time with Ginny, October had come very unexpectedly.

The Quidditch team was looking very good. At each practice the team seemed to improve slightly. Colin was proving to be an excellent chaser, and Natalie and Jack made such a good team that they would rival even Fred and George. One night at an exceptionally good practice, Harry was in such good spirit that he ended practice early.

"Team, come in!" He yelled up to his team, smiling broadly. "That was a great practice. I really feel great about this team. Now, our first match against Hufflepuff is in three weeks. I know we can win. I want everyone to be eating right and getting plenty of sleep. We are going to be in top shape for the match. Everyone understand?"

"Aye, aye, Captain!" Ginny called, grinning up at him. Harry smiled back and then turned to the team.

"If you need any help with anything, talk to Ron or myself about it. We'll be glad to help you. O.K, team, hit the showers."

The whole team began walking back to the locker rooms, but Ginny grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him back.

"Do you want to hang out tonight?" She asked, smiling mischievously.

"I don't think I can. I've got a lot of homework tonight, Ginny. Snape assigned a 3 foot long essay on Veritaserum that I haven't even started." He looked very upset as he said this, so Ginny took matters into her own hands.

"Oh, great! I can't wait! I'll meet you at the Astronomy tower at 8 o'clock then." And with that, she walked back to the locker rooms. Harry stood stunned for a minute before silently laughing to himself. Ginny had a way of getting what she wanted. All the Weasley's did. It was something that Harry found very attractive about her.

He decided to head straight to the common room that night. He needed all the time he could get to work on his essay. After about three hours, Hermione walked into the room furious about something. When she saw Harry she marched right up to him looking very angry.

"Hello, Hermione. How are you?" Harry asked shyly. He knew not to make Hermione upset when she was already mad.

"I'm fine." She said very aggressively. "What are you working on?"

"Essay for Snape. I'm a little confused on how the unicorn hoof is used with the moonstone. Could you help me?"

"Oh, I suppose. Let me see your parchment."

Harry handed her his essay looking a little confused. Hermione didn't usually help him this much on homework. She normally just told him where to look for the answer and made him do the work.

"Harry, see these sentences here?" Harry nodded. "Read them, and put them into your own words. Copy that down and you should have only six inches left to do."

"Thanks, Hermione. You're the best!"

"No problem." She got up and left leaving Harry stunned at what she had just done. She never cheated on homework. What was going on with her? Harry shook it off and began copying down the new sentences.

At 7 o'clock, Harry packed up his books and ran up to his dorm to take a shower. Afterwards, he got dressed and tried to make his hair lie flat. It was impossible, so he just left his dorm and headed to the Astronomy tower.

When he got there, Ginny was nowhere to be seen. Harry leaned against the window staring at the night sky. He began to think about his fate and the prophecy made by Trelawney.

What power is Voldemort gaining? He wondered. How will I be able to defeat him if he has power we can't control? I am never going to be able to do this. It's just too much. What if one of my friends gets hurt? I will not be able to take it if anyone else dies because of me! And this whole Heir of Gryffindor thing, that can't be right. I cannot be Gryffindor's heir. It doesn't make sense. How can I be the Heir of Gryffindor? I'm just Harry Potter. There's nothing special about me. Well, that's not true. I am the chosen one. I was picked to defeat Voldemort. I can't take this anymore! Why does it have to be me?

"BOO!" Harry jumped about a foot in the air and turned around startled.

"Ginny-"Harry breathed.

"Hello, Captain." She leaned in and gave him a tight hug. He hugged her back and placed a quick kiss on her fore head. "Did you finish your essay?"

"Yeah, thanks to Hermione. She practically let me copy hers."

"Good. Do you want to go take a walk?"

"Sure, why not?"

Harry placed his arm around her waist and she snuggled up close to him. They walked like this for ten minutes, each thinking to themselves. Harry was still worried about the prophecy, but when Ginny was near he always seemed to relax. Ginny had an effect on him that no one else had. She always knew just what to say to make him feel better. Harry couldn't help but think that he was the luckiest guy alive to have a girl like Ginny. She was so sweet and beautiful, and she always overlooked the fact that he was The-Boy-Who-Lived. To her, he was just Harry.

Harry looked down at her smiling to himself. She looked so peaceful and happy. In his arms was exactly where she belonged. He wanted nothing more than to just hold her, but she quickly brought him out of his thoughts.

"Harry?" She asked quietly.

"Huh?"

"Have you told Ron about us?"

"What do you mean?"

"Have you told Ron about you and me? You know, about us dating."

Harry looked at her a little taken aback. He had completely over looked telling Ron. He was scared that Ron would not like the idea.

"Er...well...not exactly."

"I think you need to. It would be better for him to hear it from you than from some rumors going around the school."

"Hear what?" Harry jumped upon hearing Sirius's voice from a painting near by. He turned to see his godfather smiling at him. Sirius looked down at the way Harry was holding Ginny and a look of comprehension crossed his face. "Oohh!"

Harry looked a little embarrassed, but Sirius noticed this and smiled.

"It's okay, Harry. Your secrets safe with me!"

"Thanks, Sirius."

"Really, Harry. You need to tell Ron. He deserves to know." Ginny looked at him accusingly. Harry sighed. He knew there was no point in arguing with her.
"Alright. I will tell him tonight. Happy?"

"Very." Ginny stood up on her tiptoes to lean in to Harry. She was about to kiss him when Harry laughed.

"You're really short, you know?"

Ginny scowled, but Harry knew she wasn't mad.

"Come here, Shortie." He pulled her to him to kiss her. Their lips briefly touched before Harry heard Sirius call out in disgust.

"Get a room!" He yelled. Harry just smiled and said,

"Gladly." As Harry grabbed her hand to lead her to the nearest empty classroom he distinctly saw Sirius wink at him from behind. Harry couldn't help but smile as he put his arm around his girlfriend.

"Hey, Ron. Can I talk to you?" Harry called to Ron over the loud noise in the Common Room.

"Sure, Mate. What's up?" Ron walked over to where Harry was sitting alone by the fire. He knew that Harry had been hiding something for a while now but didn't comment on it. He knew that when the time came, Harry would tell him. It looked as if the time had finally come.

Harry glanced over at Ginny before answering. "Is it all right if I date your sister?"

"What?!?!" Ron yelled.

"I like her a lot, Ron. I want to know if it's all right if I go out with her."

Ron stared at him incredulously. Of, course it was all right. Harry was his best mate and Ron knew that he would take care of her. And Ginny deserved the best. Who was better than The-Boy-Who-Lived?

"Er...yeah, that's cool. I mean, that's great. Just don't hurt her."

"I won't."

"Good, because you will have me to deal with if you do."

"Thanks, Man."

"No problem."

The bell rang signaling the end of Transfiguration, but Professor McGonagall held the class back for an announcement.

"Professor Dumbledore has decided that in an attempt to unite our individual houses, this year Hogwarts will hold the first annual Halloween ball. It will not be as formal as the Yule Ball two years ago, but it will be a chance for the students to get together and celebrate. This ball will take place Halloween evening in place of the usual Halloween feast. That is all, you may leave."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked out of the Transfiguration classroom each expressing their own feeling about the ball. Ron groaned as Hermione looked very excited.

"I can't believe we have to go through another ball!" Ron said frustrated.

"I think it is an excellent idea, Ronald. Like McGonagall said, it's a good way to try to unite the Hogwarts houses." Hermione pointed out.

"At least I don't have to worry about finding a date this year." Harry said.

Hermione looked confused and was about to ask what he was talking about when Ron cut her off.

"He's going out with Ginny, now, Hermione." Hermione's jaw dropped.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked.

"I figured Ron would tell you. Sorry, Mione."

"Harry, that's great! You two make such a cute couple. I have to go talk to Ginny! See you later!" And at that, she took off down the corridor leaving Ron and Harry staring after her.

"Do you have any idea who you're going to ask to the ball?" Harry asked Ron five minutes later as they were making their way back to the common room.

"None at all. Do you know anyone who would want to go with me?"

"I'm sure you could find someone. What about Hermione?"

"Yeah right. She wouldn't go with me. I wouldn't be surprised if she wrote Vicky and asked him to go."

"Ron, they aren't together any more. I'm sure she'd love to go with you."

"I don't know, Harry."

"You could at least ask."

"What if she says no?"

"She isn't going to say-"

"Harry, Ron! Did you hear about Neville?" Ginny came running up to Harry and Ron looking ecstatic about something. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet smiling widely.

"No, what happened?" Harry asked.

"Neville's dad, they cured him! He's perfectly fine! Neville got an owl from his grandmother saying that his dad was coming home tomorrow! Isn't that wonderful?"

"Yeah, that's awesome. It's great for Neville." Harry said feeling happy for his friend.

"Is there any improvement on his mom?" Ron asked.

"I don't think so. I just know that his dad is going home tomorrow, but they had to run some more tests to make sure he's all right."

"How did they cure him? Was it some potion or something?" Harry asked Ginny.

"That's the weird thing, no one knows. He just got up out of his bed one night and went to the front desk asking where he was. They asked him if he remembered anything from the night he was attacked and he said that he just remembered feeling immense pain and the passing out. But they say there is nothing physically wrong with him."

"Where is Neville?" Ron wondered aloud looking around the room for him.

"He went home for the rest of the week to see his dad. I think he is coming back on Saturday. I have to go find Hermione and tell her. This is so great!"

Ginny ran off up to the girls dormitories in search of Hermione. Harry turned to Ron and saw that he was smiling. Both of them felt very good for Neville. Neville's parents were tortured by some of Voldemort's supporters right after his downfall. They were tortured to the point of insanity and rested in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries for the past fifteen years. Neville had lived with his grandmother during the time.

"It really is good for Neville, isn't it?" Harry said to Ron.

"Yeah, it is." He answered.

Harry was walking to Quidditch practice a week later with Ginny. They were having a very deep conversation on strategies for the upcoming match against Hufflepuff. After a few minutes, the conversation died down and they were both quiet. Harry grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly. He was very nervous about what he was going to do, even thought he knew she would say yes.

"Ginny?" He asked.

"Huh?"

"Has McGonagall said anything to you about the Halloween ball?"

"No, but Flitwick mentioned it during Charms."

"Well...er...d-do...do you want t-to go...er with m-me?"

"Of, course! I'd love to!" Ginny threw her arms around Harry's neck and ran off to the locker rooms obviously going to find one of her friends to tell them. Harry just stood there for a moment. That was the third time in a week that a girl had just run off in the middle of a conversation. It took a minute for Harry to come to his senses and start walking towards the quidditch pitch. He didn't get very far however before he heard someone call his name.

"Harry! Harry wait up!" Harry turned around to see Cho Chang, his ex-girlfriend, running up to him.

"Oh, hi, Cho." He said, a little confused at why she was talking to him. They didn't have a very good relationship last year. The last he had heard, she was going out with Michael Corner.

"How was your summer?" She asked.

"It was okay. And yours?"

"Not too bad. I broke up with Michael."

"Oh, er...good for you, Cho."

"Thanks. I was actually wondering if we could have another try. You know, make up for the Yule ball."

"What?"
"I'm asking you to go to the Halloween ball with me, Harry."

"Uh...I'm sorry, Cho, but I'm going out with Ginny Weasley. I just asked her to go to the ball."

"Oh, well, I guess I did blow it last year. I understand. Well, thanks anyways. See you around, Harry." And Cho turned to leave silently cursing Ginny Weasley under her breath.

Harry felt bad in a way, because Cho was trying to make things right from last year, but he was with Ginny now, and he liked her a lot. Harry didn't want to ruin things with Ginny. He smiled to himself at the thought of Ginny. She was so sweet and beautiful, and she always knew what to say to make Harry feel better.

As Harry was walking to the pitch still thinking about Ginny, something caught his eye. Lying on the ground about forty meters away was a copy of the latest Daily Prophet. Harry picked it up and looked at the heading.

Bronte Pulls Ahead in Debates

Manderiek Bronte, candidate for Minister of Magic, is currently leading the results from debates. Emmeline Vance trails by less than 50 votes, but Fudge is far behind. Many, angered by Fudge's blindness to the return of You-Know-Who, have formed revolts against Fudge, trying to get him removed from candidacy. They feel that after a mistake like not alerting the wizarding world of the return of the most powerful dark wizard is a mistake large enough to keep him out of the running. It looks as if Fudge has no chance of winning this election and the real battle will be between Bronte and Vance. Bronte, just recently returning from his period of disappearance, speaks on his absence in a press conference with non other than the minister himself. "I went to Little Hangelton, planning on visiting my father for a week, but I was not speaking terms with my family and had not been for many years. I was there hoping to make amends with them. My father was very excepting, but my brothers and sisters did not trust me. It took longer than I expected to gain their trust. Finally, they accepted me and I spent even longer there getting to know my family."

Harry put the paper down. There was something about Bronte that didn't seem right. He shook it off however and finally made it to the quidditch pitch. The team was already there and waiting for him.

"What took you so long, Harry? Ginny showed up ages ago. She seemed really excited about something." Ron yelled at him.

"I wonder why." Harry said sarcastically. "Okay team, let's start warm ups."

"1, 2, 3...Legilimens!"

Harry saw Dumbledore standing before him, but also saw flashes of his childhood being tormented by Dudley. He only saw these images for a second before he threw Dumbledore from his mind.

Harry stood still for a moment, his head was spinning slightly, but he quickly regained composure and looked up at Dumbledore. Dumbledore was smiling and looking at Harry almost as if a father would look at his son.

"That was excellent, Harry. You have come a long way. That time you were able to completely throw me out of your mind before I got a good look at your memories. Very good."

"Thank you, Professor."

"I think you are almost ready to begin Legilimency. Next week we will start working on that branch of magic."

"Yes, sir."

"Well, I think you have deserved a break. Would you like some tea?"

"Yes, please."

Dumbledore snapped his fingers and a moment later a house elf appeared holding a tray with two teacups on it. As the elf set the tray on the table and turned around, it got a good look at Harry.

"HARRY POTTER!" It screamed. It ran to Harry and squeezed him around his middle.

"Dobby!" Harry said. "It's great to see you! How have you been?"

"Dobby is good, sir. How is Harry Potter?"

"I'm great. How is Winky?"

"Winky is doing much better. She is drinking much less, sir. Winky told Dobby she wishes to see Harry Potter. Dobby thinks she wants to apologize for being rude to Harry Potter."

"She doesn't need to apologize. She was really upset about Crouch. I understand."

"I will tell Winky that, sir. Dobby must be going. We have lots of work to do in the kitchens. Good to see you Harry Potter!"

"Bye, Dobby!"

Dobby left and Dumbledore turned to Harry.

"You may go, Harry. But be back here next week and ready to learn Legilimency. It will be very trying, so you must be prepared."

"Yes, Professor. Good day."

"Good day, Harry."

The next day Harry was sitting with Ron and Hermione in the Common Room working on a vigorous potions essay. Hermione kept looking up at Harry and then exchanging a glance with Ron. After about the tenth time she did this Harry out his pen down and stared at Hermione.

"Why do you keep looking at me like that, Hermione?"

Hermione jumped and blushed.

"Er, Harry. Ron and I were talking, and we think you need to start the DA back up. Now that the battle with V-Voldemort is coming closer, we need to be more ready than ever." She said.

"I think it's a good idea." Ron told Harry. "You said that Dumbledore is teaching you Legilimency now, right? Well, we think that everyone in the DA should start learning Occlumency. That way we can tell them things and they can keep it hidden from You-Know-Who."

"And I want to perform the Fidelius Charm on the DA so that no one can find out about it. You can be secret keeper." Hermione said looking proud of herself. "What do you think, Harry?"

Harry thought about it for a minute before smiling.

"That's a great idea. We need to be prepared to face Voldemort. Do you think you can make some more of those coins, Hermione?"

"Sure! We need to notify all of the old members, except for Marietta, of course. Let's split up and go find them. Ron take Ravenclaw, I'll take Hufflepuff, and Harry you take Gryffindor. Meet back here in an hour."

"Alright." Ron said.

"See you later." Harry called as Ron and Hermione left the Common Room. Harry turned and went in search of all the old DA members.

Authors Note: Hey everyone! I just want you to know that I have started school back and it's my first year in high school so I'm not used to the workload. It's a lot. I will try to update once every two weeks, but I won't update until I get at least 8 reviews. I am only getting 4 on average right now, so I need some other people to review. If I get 15 reviews then I promise I will update two times those two weeks, so the more reviews I get the faster I update. I will most likely update on a Sunday or Monday because I will try to finish writing the new chapter over the weekend. Keep reading! I hope you like this chapter, it's a little longer than usual!