To all my loyal readers… No, that wasn't the end, hence this chapter, really, that was the beginning! HAHHAH! Actually, I'm almost done this story…I may make another! - Uh--- well, I have my operation tomorrow… (SO SCARED!) and I decided to leave you with ONE more chapter! So enjoy…and review…and I wont be able to check my reviews…damn! Thanks to southparkangel01 (its not the end! so cute) and to all my other reviews! Your reviews all mean so much! Thanks!

Chapter 13

Roses and Thorns

Then I look up a glare in my eye

Are you having regrets about last night?

I'm not; but I like the rivers that rush in

So then I dove in

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The Christmas feast was great. Harry couldn't have been happier for his two best friends, right now anyway. They weren't very open about their relationship, they held hands while walking but they didn't make out every chance they got (in public anyway).

Harry had his Quidditch to worry about while Hermione and Ron were at their play practice. It was only a few weeks after New Years that their practices seemed to get longer and lover each time and that Harry was pushed farther out of their lives.

Once school started up again, Harry started feeling less alone. Hermione and Ron were in class with him a lot of the time. Harry didn't think that he, of all people, would ever feel upset that his two best friends were together. It wasn't because they were together, actually, it was the fact that they excluded Harry from every single thing they planned to do. Sure he was happy for them, just not happy that they could discard him so easily.

Hogsmade was soon and Harry thought this was a great way to get back together and hang out just like old times. However, Hermione and Ron had other ideas about Hogsmade and it didn't include Harry, or anyone for that matter.

'Cant you go with Dean or Seamus? What about Ginny?' Hermione offered but Harry's shook his head lightly.

'It's ok, I've got to catch up on some homework' he said lightly.

'Harry, we haven't got any homework!' Ron butted in guiltily.

'I'm sure we will, there is still four days before we go to Hogsmade, didn't you see that glare in Snape's eye when I said that I was swamped with Quidditch stuff.' Harry explained to the two, who both looked extremely conflicted.

'Why don't you come with us then, I'm sorry Harry, come with us!' Hermione said sympathetically.

'Yeah, come with us!' Ron said cheerily. Neither of them were upset that they had invited Harry to go with them, but Harry shook his head.

'No, it's ok.' He said. 'Anyway, I'm tired, so I'll see you two tomorrow' Harry then headed towards the boys dormitory, leaving a concerned Hermione and a confused Ron.

It did start to feel unusual for Harry. He never thought that his friends would not want to be with him. Of course they invited him, but solely based upon Harry's reaction to their proposition.

Harry just shrugged it off. He would see them off Saturday and that would be that. Besides, he did have to plan for a Quidditch match coming on the first of February, which he was hoping Ron and Hermione were going to attend.

The weather was just for Harry's mood: cold and miserable. Hr tried to hide it but he knew that Hermione caught on a few times because she would instantly invite him to walk down to the pond with her and Ron. He did so not to hurt her feelings and he did have fun, but shortly after he felt the same way. He had to face it he was left out.

On the eve of Hogsmade, Hermione, Harry and Ron sat lazily in the common room. Hermione was still trying to persuade Harry to go to Hogsmade with her and Ron.

'Hermione, its ok, I'll be fine. I've got loads to do, you know that project from Snape I'm not nearly done.'

It was partially true. Harry did have loads to do, but it wasn't on Snape's pathetic projects. Harry had pondered once again about the box that Darling was holding that day. The way that Hermione and Ron described was that the box held a lot of props. It was much too small to hold a bunch of bulky props and Ron and Hermione were oblivious to this.

Harry, over the four days, decided that he would get his invisibility cloak and map together and spy on Darling. He knew she was up to something, he just didn't know what it was she was up to.

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Hermione and Ron were holding hands and talking happily about Hogsmade one step in front of Harry.

'Make sure you bring me something back.' Harry jested. Yesterday's feelings left and he was elated with feelings of happiness because he was going to finally unmask Darling.

'Just come with us Harry' Hermione pleaded as a last attempt, he gloved hand slipping from Ron's. 'Seriously, we want you to be there'

'No it's ok, I have something to do.' Harry assured her.

Hermione sighed, 'as long as your not breaking school rules.'

'Me? Hermione of course I'm not breaking school rules. I'm going to sit in the common room and study.'

'I still can't believe that you're not coming to Hogsmade with us.' Ron said before leaving with many of the other kids going.

Harry waited on the steps until they were gone and then started towards the common room to see what everyone was up to. He was almost at the portrait hole when he head loud footsteps below him in a corridor. Harry casually leaned over the railing and saw a short man with obvious thinning black hair, kept in an orderly fashion and deep black robes with red lining. It appeared as if he was unsure of where to go…towards Darling's room, or back out of the school.

'Get in here.' Came a voice that Harry recognized as Darling's. He couldn't see her, but the man seemed frightened to go. Intrigued Harry rushed into the common room and to his dorm, grabbing his cloak and then leaving once more. He made sure no one was around before pulling the cloak over himself, making sure he was all hidden.

When he leaned back over the railing, the small man had left and Harry made his way downstairs towards Darling's office. Once there he pressed his ear against the door but could not head anything. He thought that they may or may not be in there so he tried the door and it was locked.

'If she's in there or not I can't still use it to my advantage.' He thought and then took out his wand and whispered, 'aohomora'

'Blood…' all talking stopped and Darling and the man turned to look at the door. 'I guess I didn't lock it.'

'Are you sure there's no one in here?' the man asked and Harry right away recognized it as the man that was with her the day he needed to use the washroom.

'I put a spell on the door that allows me to see thought the door, but no one to see through towards us. Did you see anyone behind that door?' The man shook his head quickly. 'I didn't think so.' She said bitterly and then with a wave of her wand the door slammed shut and locked with a thick sounding 'click'

Harry noticed that the man was carrying a wrapped object and looked as if he didn't want to be holding it at all.

'At least you noticed it was missing this time, you imbecile. I thought you told me that it was all there last time.' She said irritably and grabbed the package out of his hand and tossed it on the table where it landed with a loud bang.

Harry moved himself carefully between a desk and the wall so that he would not get run into at all. He found it a tight and uncomfortable squeeze but it would be better then being found out.

Darling turned from the object on the table and the man looked towards the door, but back when Darling pulled a small box from behind her desk. This was much smaller then the once she showed her drama group, and Harry straight away recognized it as the box that saw the day he ran into her.

She pulled it open and pulled out four, fairly thick books. They were all black and each had a weird symbol inscribed on the cover. She laid them out for the man to see.

'Don't worry,' she said sardonically, 'I don't need your blood.' The man's big eyes were wide with fear, and have been ever since Harry had entered the room. He often wondered why this man was working for her and why was he so afraid of old textbooks. But then again, she did mention something about blood.

Harry tried to get a better look at the books but found out that he was stuck and it would make too much noise to try and get out now.

'Once we get his blood' she said icily.

'Har-' The man started but was cut off by Darling.

'Don't speak his name.' She said angrily, 'but yes him, or perhaps that other boy. No matter, it will all be in order the only hard part is getting one to come. He is quite smart but the other one isn't too smart…daft little fellow.' She sighed.

'Why not just curse them?' he asked.

'No, too suspicious.'

'But once you have the blood then the spell will be done so who cares?'

'I care!' She looked around the room once more. 'We'll finish this in my office.' They headed to her office but Harry was still stuck so he remained where he was. He saw them go upstairs in her room the door slammed shut and there was another loud click.

Harry had heard enough, he knew that she was up to something and now she was going to kill someone. Probably him, or that's what it sounded like. But there was someone else, someone dumb in her eyes. Harry thought it was safe to assume that it would be someone close to him.

'Ron.' He thought. 'He wouldn't be stupid enough to follow her' Harry said reassuringly. But then again, he was in her production! That could be the perfect opportunity; she could give him private lessons and then kill him!

Harry shoved the table forwards and freed himself. He wondered how he got stuck in the first place. He waited for a few minutes to see if they were coming out and then he popped up to the room and tried aohomora again but failed. He then decided he should tell Ron and Hermione about what he had just found out so he left Darling's room and headed back to the common room, taking off his cloak when no one was watching.

He waited for over two hours before the return of Hermione and Ron and when they did, they both noticed the look on his face. The look of worry and triumph.

'Listen, I went into Darling's room a couple of hours ago, and I've got loads to tell you.' Harry said excitedly, Hermione looked uneasy and Ron was incomprehensible.

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Well what did ya think? It'll be back to mostly Ron and Hermione next chapter! I just needed to get this Harry chapter out, cause…well…he's Harry Potter! EVERYTHING is about Harry Potter! Go Harry!

Anyway, please review. Thanks!

Yours truly,

Sweet Roses