The next morning after his big Potions test, Harry was still being congratulated by nearly everyone in the school. Several of those who had congratulated him also let him know that they may be calling on him for some potions help as the time for the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s grew closer. Harry got the feeling that at least part of his time with the D.A., after he got it started again, would be spent on Potions as well as Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"Good morning everyone," Cassidy said as she stopped where Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron sat eating breakfast.

"Morning, Cassidy," Harry responded first, as he noticed that she was hand in hand with Malfoy. "Morning, Draco."

"I just wanted to come over and congratulate you on your test yesterday," Cassidy said. "I'm sure you must be tired of hearing it by now though."

"He's used to it," Malfoy said with only a slight bit of his usual attitude toward Harry. "It's what comes from being 'the famous Harry Potter'."

"Thanks, Cassidy," Harry said, not looking at Malfoy. "As much as it may surprise some people, I really didn't go into it so I could get my name written into some book or another though."

"Too late for that I'm afraid," Hermione said.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked as he looked at Hermione.

"Hogwarts, A History, Harry," Hermione said.

"I'm not mentioned in it, am I?" Harry asked.

"I'm afraid so, Harry," Hermione said. "I checked it this morning, and there is an entire section about you being the first person to pass that kind of test in the school's history."

"He only took the test yesterday," Ron said. "How in the world could he be in it already?"

"Honestly," Hermione said exasperated at their lack of knowledge about the book. "If you had ever read the book you would know that it is a self editing one. Any time someone does anything of any significance to the history of the school, the book just adds it into whatever section it belongs."

"Are you saying that what Harry did is in every copy of that book that has ever been published?" Ron asked amazed.

"Of course," Hermione said as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Great," Harry said with a frown. "As if I didn't have enough trouble without that."

"I bet Professor Snape will really have it in for you when he hears about that one," Malfoy said.

"Actually," Harry said with a grin, "Snape and I have begun to come to an understanding I think."

"Ha!" Malfoy laughed. "Wishful thinking I think, Potter."

"Be nice, Draco," Cassidy said, making Draco look almost ashamed of what he had said. "Anyway, we'll miss you in Potions class. We'll leave you all alone now, but we'll see you later."

"Thanks, Cassidy," Harry said.

"See ya," they all said as Cassidy and Malfoy walked off toward the Slytherin table.

"Well, it looks like she has Malfoy wrapped around her little finger," Ginny said with a smile.

"Probably the best thing that could have happened for him," Harry said.

"He seems almost like a changed person," Ron said. "He stood there all that time and never even made a snide remark to Hermione."

"I think he has more important things on his mind right now," Ginny said as she noticed the look that suddenly appeared on Harry's face. "What's the matter, Harry?"

"Well," Harry said, "please don't let it get around to anyone else, but there is something about Cassidy that Malfoy doesn't know. If he ever found it out it would almost certainly be the end of their relationship."

"Well, he already knows that she plans on going after Voldemort," Hermione said as she tried to reason out what Harry meant, "so that can't be it."

"Come on, Harry," Ron said. "What is it? We aren't going to tell anyone."

Harry hesitated and took a look around to make sure no one was near enough to hear him as he said, "Cassidy's dad is a muggle."

"What?" Ginny, Ron and Hermione exclaimed together.

"You heard me," Harry said. "Now keep your mouths shut about it."

"I can't believe it," Ron said. "I finally have something really good to throw into Malfoy's face and I don't even want to do it."

"I know what you mean," Hermione said. "I like him much better now that he's under her influence."

"I want that to continue for as long as it can," Harry said. "I know he'll find out at some point, and he'll have to make a big decision about where his loyalties belong. The longer he's with her, the more likely he'll come out on our side."

"Are you sure?" Ginny asked. "I'm still not sure she's on our side."

"Trust me," Harry said. "If he loves her, he'll do everything he can to keep her away from Voldemort and the death eaters."

"I hope you're right, Harry," Ginny said.

Professor Bane walked into the Great Hall and headed for the teachers' table, and as he passed where Harry sat he stopped and said, "I just wanted to tell you that it was a pleasure to observe your test yesterday, Mr. Potter. You were truly amazing."

"Maybe you could tell us about it, Professor," Ron said. "Harry won't tell us a thing about it. All he'll say is that he passed."

"I see," Bane said as he caught the look from Harry. "Well, that really is something that he would have to tell you himself. I'm afraid that I have to keep everything that happened in the test confidential."

"Great," Ron said, putting his hands up in defeat.

"Professor," Harry said, "I still have the dueling portion of my make-up classes to take. Would you like to meet at our normal time on Saturdays for that?"

"Actually, Harry," Bane said, "Professor Dumbledore has been telling me more about the room of requirement. It really is a fascinating room. I wish we had one like it at my school back in America. Anyway, I thought perhaps I could bring the seventh year students to the room on Monday and I could have them help in your dueling test."

"That would be fine with me," Harry said. "I've done quite a bit of dueling in that room lately."

"Really?" Bane asked. "Perhaps you will be kind enough to show us all the level of dueling you have been working on while you were there."

"If you'd like," Harry said.

"Its set then," Bane said with a smile. "I look forward to seeing what you can do. I'll bring the rest of the class on Monday and meet you there."

"That will be fine," Harry said.

Bane smiled and walked on to the teachers' table as Ron said, "You never told us anything about dueling in that room over the summer."

"Didn't I?" Harry asked.

"No," Ron said.

"You told us you spent the entire summer studying," Hermione said.

"Exactly," Harry said. "Among other things, I studied dueling."

"With no one else around?" Ginny asked already knowing the answer. "What if you had been hurt?"

"I didn't do anything I couldn't handle," Harry said with a smile.

"I get a funny feeling that there's a lot we don't know when you say things like that, Harry," Ron said.

Just then, a loud screech made them all look up to see Hedwig flying in their direction with a letter grasped in her claws. Harry quickly moved his mug of juice to give her a place to land, and she glided to a gentle touchdown. Harry removed the letter from under her foot and thanked her for the delivery. She spread her wings and flew back into the air and out of the Great Hall once again.

"What is it, Harry?" Ron asked. "There shouldn't be any mail today."

"This isn't normal mail, Ron," Harry replied as he opened the letter. "I sent a message to Healer Snagprat early this morning. This is just his reply."

"Healer Snagprat?" Hermione said. "I thought you had made a full recovery."

"It isn't about that," Harry said as he read. "It's just something I wanted to check on."

"Wait a minute," Ginny said. "That time when I came back to see you, after the quidditch match, I walked in when he was talking to you about something. When he left, he said he would let you know if there was any progress. When I asked about it you said it wasn't you he had been talking about, but something else. Is that what the letter is about?"

"Yes, actually," Harry said, impressed that she remembered it so quickly. Harry smiled as he finished reading it, and folded it up before shoving it into his pocket.

"Well?" Ginny asked.

"Sorry, Gin," Harry said. "This is something that I'd like to keep to myself for now. I'm hoping it could turn into a big surprise for someone, and I wouldn't want to ruin it."

"It isn't good to keep all of these secrets from your friends, Harry," Hermione said.

"Well, maybe I'll let you all in on it soon," Harry began with a grin, "but I had better be getting on to my History of Magic tutorial. I wouldn't want Professor Binns to get started without me."

"Since when has that ever bothered him before?" Ron asked as Harry kissed Ginny and got up to leave.

Harry was just about to walk off to his class when he turned and said, "Oh, by the way, Hermione, could you send out a notice to all of the D.A. members with the signal coins that there will be a meeting Monday night after dinner?"

"Are you really going to try to start it up again, Harry?" Ginny asked.

"Of course," Harry responded. "Why wouldn't I?"

"I just thought you may want to wait on that," Ginny said. "You do still have the weekend classes to worry about you know. I don't want you to overextend yourself."

"So I'll do the D.A. meetings during the week," Harry said with a smile as he turned once again to walk away.

On Monday morning, Ginny woke up early and found herself unable to go back to sleep. She was going to just go ahead and get dressed so she could get some last minute studying for Potions done, but, as she sat up, she saw something sitting on her bedside table that she knew had not been there the night before. There was a note with her name on it standing tented and facing toward her. She unfolded it and read:

Dearest Ginny,
Good morning my love. I hope your night was a restful one. You look so peaceful when you sleep. I wish I could be there when you wake up, but I have gotten an early start this morning in preparation for my dueling test. Don't worry; I'm not going to duel with no one around today. There is just something else that I want to research in the room of requirement before the test starts.
Well, I should be getting down to the Great Hall to get some breakfast before I start my day. I likely won't get to see you until lunch time, so I wanted to write you this note to tell you how much I truly love you. . When we're together I feel like there isn't anything I can't do. I know that you are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. I can wait until you finish your final year, but I will be having a serious talk with your mum and dad this summer. That is something to discuss another day though.
Love Always,
Harry

Ginny was nearly in tears by the time she finished reading. He had said he could wait, but she wasn't so sure about herself. She just stared down at the letter for several seconds before a big question formed itself in her mind. Harry had somehow gotten the note onto her nightstand despite the charms that made it impossible for him to climb the stairs to the girls' dormitory. She thought briefly that Hermione must have brought it up for him, but as she looked over at Hermione's bed, she saw that she was still sound asleep. Looking back to the note, she noticed for the first time that it had been written on her own stationary that she kept by her bed. There was no doubt about it; Harry had somehow been within inches of her that very morning. She had to admit that Harry was nothing if not full of surprises.

Professor Bane was as excited as he had been since the day Harry had produced the magic circle with a wand spell. He had witnessed Harry perform an impossible task in passing his Potions test, and he knew of what Harry had accomplished in transfiguration. He was anxious to see just what Harry was capable of in dueling. If his past achievements were any indication, Bane suspected he was in for a real treat.

Bane led the seventh year Gryffindor and Ravenclaw students to the room of requirement, and when they walked in, they found Harry sitting at a lone table reading something from a large book.

"Good morning, Harry," Bane said as Harry looked up and noticed them. "You did remember that we were to test your dueling skills today, didn't you?"

"Of course, Professor," Harry said as he closed the book and it disappeared. "I was just researching something else."

"Something for one of your classes?" Bane asked.

"No," Harry responded, "just something for my personal use."

"I always like to see students researching for personal growth," Bane said. "Let that be my lesson to you for the day class. You never know what piece of information might come in handy for you. It would serve you all well to learn as many different things as you can. Are you ready to begin, Harry?"

"Yes," Harry answered. "Is there any certain way you want me to do it?"

"I'll let you decide that," Bane said watching Harry carefully. "No use wasting time though. Lets not spend time fooling around with the basics. I've already been told that you have had some practical dueling experience. I would like to see you challenge yourself."

"Alright," Harry said.

"Will you need any assistance from me or the class?" Bane asked.

"No," Harry answered. "The room of requirement will provide everything I need. You should all stand close to the door though. That area should be safe as long as you all keep a shield charm up."

"Good luck, Harry," Ron said as everyone moved closer to the door.

"Thanks," Harry said with a smile. "First, I think we need a change of location."

Everyone watched as Harry walked to the center of the room, and everything began to change. The simple room they had walked into disappeared, and was replaced with a heavily wooded poorly lit forest. They found themselves on a small hill looking down onto a small clearing in the center where Harry stood with his wand drawn.

"Hmm," Bane began, "an interesting choice. This is a difficult dueling location he has chosen class. The thick growth of trees will make it difficult for him to get a clear shot at any attacker. He himself is standing in a clearing without the protection of the trees. The poor lighting may play a factor as well. Its interesting that he has chosen to start by putting himself at a disadvantage."

"Harry has been at a disadvantage most of his life, Professor," Hermione said. "I think he feels more comfortable there somehow."

"Do you see that?" Ron asked as he pointed off to their left. "He's crazy. There must be ten death eaters closing in on him. He can't stand against them alone."

"It gets worse," Seamus said looking to his right. "There are at least that many coming form the other direction."

"We have to help him," Ron said frantically reaching for his wand.

"Easy, Mr. Weasley," Bane said as he stopped Ron from drawing his wand. "No one is to interfere."

"But, Professor," Ron pleaded, "he doesn't stand a chance."

"Doesn't he?" Bane asked. "Remember that it was Mr. Potter who conjured this situation. I told him to challenge himself, not to kill himself. We are in the room of requirement anyway, and I can stop this all before he gets to terribly hurt."

Just then, a red shaft of light lanced out from the opposite side of the forest where they had not seen any attackers approaching. Harry quickly put up a shield that reflected the power of the spell at an angle into the forest. A split second later there was a yell of pain from the direction the spell had deflected to. Harry immediately rolled into a crouch as seven more colors of light streaked over his head. Harry pointed his wand at the direction the attack had come from and the trees in that area exploded under the assault. Several more cries of pain let them know that more death eaters had been incapacitated.

"Bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed as his eyes went as wide as they had ever been.

Harry rolled to his right and lay out flat as a deadly barrage of spells seemed to jump out of the trees from all around him. For a few seconds, everything was still and quiet as Harry stayed motionless and several faces appeared from behind the trees to see if they had hit their target. A few silent signals later, several robed figures sprang from behind the tees and began to rush in toward Harry's position. They had only taken a few steps before Harry suddenly sprang up with his wand outstretched before him, and the resulting spell tore up the ground in a twenty-five meter wide swatch between himself and the approaching attackers. Those in its path never had time to react as the spell ripped through their bodies as easily as it did the earth before them. Those lucky enough to jump clear of the devastation were still trying to comprehend what had just happened as Harry again dived to the ground as he shot a spell at the nearest death eater. Again spells rang out from the trees, but Harry was already beneath their path. The remaining exposed death eaters were not as lucky, as the spells that had missed Harry hit them instead.

The students all had to admit that the odds were getting better for Harry, but they stared in wonder at both the incredible numbers who had already been neutralized and the large numbers Harry still faced. Harry lay still once again, but this time there was no hurried rush from the trees.

"Give it up, Potter," Lucius Malfoy yelled from behind a tree. "You can't win against all of us."

"And what happens to me if I surrender?" Harry asked.

"You will be taken to the Dark Lord," Malfoy responded, "and he will decide what is to be done with you."

"Oh," Harry said sarcastically, "that makes me feels loads better. I'll make a deal with you though. You step out from behind that tree and duel me alone. If you win then you can take me to wherever you want."

"I think not, Potter," Malfoy said.

"Why not?" Harry asked. "You don't really think you're any safer behind that tree do you?"

Harry suddenly stood up in clear view of all of the death eaters that surrounded him. Once again, light lanced out toward him, but before it reached him he suddenly vanished. Death eaters and students alike were wondering what had just happened, and all of a sudden, silver bolts of light erupted from behind the death eaters to the students left. They could see that the death eaters were dropping fast as deadly accurate spells were cast at their backs. The remaining death eaters tore out across the clearing in a dead run in an attempt to reach the safety of the trees on the other side.

Harry appeared out of thin air just behind the running death eaters in the clearing with a look of seriousness on his face that none of them had ever seen before. He spread his arms out to the side and mumbled a spell as he put his hands above his head and grasped his wand tightly. He finished the spell and brought his wand down clasped between his hands and pointed it directly in front of him.

The students watched as the death eaters and the very forest in front of Harry seemed to waver as if they were looking at the scene through water. There were screams of pain from the running death eaters, who seemed to freeze in mid-stride, as well as those who were still hiding behind the trees. Seconds later, the students all felt a blast of frigid air blow past them as they looked down to watch the stiff forms of the death eaters topple over and shatter on the frozen ground under them.

The next thing they knew, they were standing back in the room they had been before Harry had begun to duel. They were all too shocked by what they had just seen and suddenly being back in the room to say anything.

"Is that what you wanted, Professor?" Harry asked as he caught his breath.

"That was far more than I was expecting, Mr. Potter," Bane said still trying to shake off the feeling that it had all been some kind of dream.

"It was bloody brilliant," Ron said as he tried to come to grips with the power his best friend had inside of him.

"Harry, you were…" Hermione said, uncharacteristically unable to express how she felt.

"How did you learn to do that, Harry?" Seamus asked.

"Necessity is a powerful motivator, Seamus," Harry answered.

"Could you teach us that one in the meeting tonight?" asked a Ravenclaw named Anne.

"We'll see," Harry said with a smile.