See! I can update without months in between. I knew I could do it. It's a little shorter than I'd like (by like a page, so no worries) but I reached a point where my brain said I had to end now. I'm hoping to get the next chapter out soon, but we'll see how the world goes. Happy reading all.

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The cover slipped off his shoulder again. He pulled it back up and leaned farther over his book, the pages slipping against the cover under his elbow. His head rested on his palm and he scratched behind his ear as a piece of hair kept falling into it. This is boring. Very dull. Harry cracked his neck and yawned again. He pulled his fingers across the edge of blanket, tugging on a loose string. Who needs a sleeping potion when they have Greek history? Who many cities can you level before it just becomes old? He highlighted the section on the beginning of political democracy in the country.

"Harry, are you still awake?" Ron staggered across the room, bumped into Harry's trunk, responded with some foul language and stuck his head between the curtains.

His toes got stuck in the sheets as he stretched and uncurled. "I'm not depressed or hiding from my dreams, so there's no need to worry. I'm just finishing this chapter. Assuring everyone I'm okay has set me back a few chapters. This one's just long and boring, so I won't be convincing myself to read just one more tonight. With all the quittich training you've been doing lately you're exhausted. Go to bed. I will be up and awake and perhaps perky for breakfast tomorrow, and I expect the same from you."

Ron twisted the book to face him and groaned. "Better you than me, mate. I'm feeling more and more glad that I'm not in history of magic." He yawned. "I'm getting tired just thinking of it." He scratched his head and moved back to his bed.

Fifteen minutes later he marked off the last sentence, the marker squeaking along the page, and he snapped the book shut. He pushed it through the curtain onto his trunk and canceled the lumos on his wand. The covers slid against the sheets as he pushed between them and flipped over to get comfortable. He moved his hand under the pillow and wrapped around the necklace, the ends of the cross pressing against the edges of his palm.

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Hermione slammed the book onto the table. "I swear Ron, if you ask me to copy my work one more time I will report you to McGonagall for cheating!" She shoved him into a chair and stomped up three stairs before Harry caught her by the back of her robe and pulled her back. "Let go of me! Harry, what are you doing?" She pushed against his arm buy he tightened his grip and pulled her back toward the table, sighing at the giggling from the other tables.

He pushed her into the chair next to Ron. "I don't know what has gotten into you two lately, but it's getting really old. Why is it that I stop acting like an idiot and you two start in? Can't we all be sane and nice to each other at the same time?" He dropped into the chair on Hermione's right side and rubbed his temples. "Okay, that was really quite bitchy of me, so let's try this again. Why are you two mad at each other and what can Ron do to fix it?"

Ron slouched into the chair and rested his heel on the seat. "It's not always my fault." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Not completely my fault at least." He dropped his head against the back of the chair. "Not only my fault." He scratched his forehead and leaned forward, his feet dropping back to the floor. "All right." He pulled her hand over and tapped his fingers on the back of her hand. "I'm sorry about the whole, um, thing that you were mad at me about and I shouldn't have said the kind of, no, the very insulting thing behind the back of the person that, um--"

Harry pushed out of the chair and leaned between them, his hands on the armrests. "Either Ron's getting worse at this or he said something about me or that involved me and now he doesn't want to apologize in front of me because he'd be admitting that he said that and then I might get mad and then he'd basically be in the same situation with someone different mad at him." He stood and moved away. "So, I'm going to do us all a favor and go mail my letter to Cali while you two decide why you are mad about this when the person who apparently should be, which is me, doesn't even know what's going on." He turned and hurried out of the tower taking a few quick turns in case they came after him. The owlry was empty when he reached it and he whistled to call Hedwig. She swooped down and landed on his shoulder. "Hello Hedwig, how are you? I'm going to send you back to Cali again. Perhaps she'll give you something good to eat again until you're rested up to come back. Make sure you get some bacon out of her. She shouldn't be eating it anyway." He tied the letter onto her leg and let her soar out the window.

"Talking to your owl, Harry? Is that one of the signs of insanity that you keep suggesting that I show?" Draco leaned against the doorframe. An owl flew to him and he sent off his letter. "What are you doing up here again?" He followed Harry down the stairs. "Didn't you send off a letter yesterday?"

Harry laughed. "Maybe, but I'll have you know that I have many people with which I converse because I'm so very lovable." He shrugged and looked up at the hooting Pig flitting back up the staircase. "This time I'm letting them make up instead of just avoiding them. Did you finish the book yet?"

He tugged on Harry's sleeve and they went into the empty classroom around the corner. "I didn't understand some things." He hopped onto a desk after banishing the dust. "The muggles have had dozens of evil men that threw their world into chaos, but the next one always seems to make the same mistakes as the previous one. Hasn't anyone realized yet that invading Russia is not only pointless, but that it isn't necessary? They tend to fall in on themselves more often than their government is overthrown by outside armies."

The dirt stuck to his fingertips as he drew a smiley face on the desk before leaning against it. "I don't think so. I think that the mark of a true enemy is that they always think that they're smarter, faster, and stronger than those who came before them, and therefore they should be the ones in charge. Look at Voldemort. He's a halfblood himself and yet he wants to kill those like him because his life sucked. He spouts blood purity without having any, but thinks that it doesn't matter, perhaps because he's descended from Slytherin, muggle half not withstanding." He tilted his head. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Draco pushed off the desk and paced in front of it. "How would you know that?"

"Know what?" Harry sighed, took a deep breath, and curled his fingers around the edge of the desk. "That he's halfblood or that he's the heir of Slytherin?" He turned and walked to the window, leaning against the sill regardless of the dust. "Most of it I learned from his diary that your father tricked Ginny into using, and I guess the rest is from Dumbledore or something. I suppose I'm not supposed to spread it around because it would probably make him even madder at me. I don't know what else he could do though, I mean, besides killing me."

Draco muttered to himself, tapping his fingers on his arm, and spun to the door. "I have to go. I'll see you later." He ran to the door, paused, and walked quickly down the hall, his shoes clicking on the stone.

Dust flung into the air when he brushed his robes and he coughed, rushing away from the wall. "Maybe I should learn to keep my mouth shut all around." He pulled out his wand, banished the dust, and headed for the library for a new book of offensive spells and return the last one before Madam Pince came after him and stopped him from taking any more books.

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Ron slid onto the edge of the bed beside him as he pulled off his shoes. "It's over now. We made up. I just thought that you should know. So, um, thanks."

He shoved his socks into his shoes and pulled his legs onto the bed. "What were you fighting about? Was I right?"

Ron rubbed the back of his neck. "Yes. I said something about everything being better before, well you know, this summer, and she got really mad at me. It's just that I miss how things were. We were happier, weren't we?"

"No." Harry clapped Ron's shoulder and pushed back farther onto the bed. "I wasn't better or happier or anything. It's just that I didn't say anything, and I guess I was better at hiding it. This summer I got used to not being able to hide anything because, I don't know, Biara was just good at knowing what was going on. She's the mom that always knows what's going on unless you already know how to hide it, and keeping her from knowing what's going on takes practice that I haven't had. Cali helped me figure out how to hide that I'm breaking rules, but she refused to share the secret of hiding emotions because she didn't want to, I don't know, send me back still broken I guess." He rested his chin on his knees. "You didn't see me before they took me to the Academy. I wasn't doing well Ron. I was a complete mess, and I attacked Snape, and I was afraid to sleep."

Ron pulled his hair into his face. "I knew some of it, not exactly what happened, but that it was pretty bad. Dad came home one night and he was dropping things and Mom was crying when she thought we weren't around." He spun to face Harry. "You came back and seemed okay, at least for a little while before everything fell apart, and I thought that maybe it was something else." He pulled his knees to his chest. "It was hard, watching you with them. I know I'm a complete prat most of the time, but I was trying to be more, I don't know, something, maybe less annoying or judgmental, but that failed pretty badly."

Harry turned Ron's face toward his. "I can't let this conversation get any sappier, so I'm just going to say this. I don't want you to be anything else. You wouldn't really be Ron if you didn't say insensitive things without meaning to hurt anyone or got jealous with no reason to. Just don't stop doing your homework or Hermione's going to freak out on you again." He pushed his books on the floor into a pile. "She's been acting weird lately, have you noticed that?"

Ron shrugged and stretched his legs. "A little. She's been carrying around a lot more books lately, though I'm not sure how I noticed that."

Harry scratched his foot and sighed. "Should we do something? We're always supposed to do something when I'm being weird and snapping at people." He yawned. "Let's talk to her tomorrow, okay?"

Ron patted his shoulder. "Yeah. As long as I don't have to do it alone then everything should be okay." He smiled and hopped off the bed. "Night Harry."

Harry grabbed his pajamas out of his trunk and pulled the curtains closed. "Night."

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Harry,

I'm not sure what the lyrics to Transylvanian Concubine have to do with this sudden obsessive need to kill Voldemort, but I have accepted your weirdness and included them on a separate sheet.

On the other matter, I asked Dad about obliterating souls and, well he's still twitching two days later when he sees me with a pile of restricted books, so I'm going to say that it's seriously dark magic. I'm going to start another bogus project, maybe on fairies and their transition from the magical to the muggle world, to make him feel better.

Now the most important part. Mom gave me your emergency message about Hermione, though I don't think that it's really all that big of an emergency. It's possible that everything is catching up to her at once and she's overwhelmed. If that seems likely then I'd suggest forcing her to take a break, and for some her time, not just to help someone else with their work. If that fails to work, you're trying to do this without her knowing of course, then you'll have to sit her down and ask what's wrong. If all that fails, wait a week a try again. :)

Jason's transfiguration has improved so much. All of his skills have jumped an entire year in a few weeks and he won't tell anyone how, but let me tell you, if I'd known that all it would take was telling him that it's dumb and to shut up and do it anyway, well whatever. I won't tell him that you told me though. I think it would ruin everything.

Not much else happening here. Eating, sleeping, studying—the usual. I miss you Harry, and not only because you attract problems that I get to help solve. Good luck on your search.

Until we speak again,

Your muse against Voldemort,

Caliope

Harry folded the paper and slipped it into the bottom of the trunk with the others. He tore a blank page out of his notebook and started his next letter.

Cali,

Sorry about freaking out Dad. Don't worry; I'll give up on that whole obliterating souls thing then. What's my next option? All the offensive spells that seem to stand a chance are way too advanced for me to manage at this point. Not to mention that our wands still cancel each other out. If you have any ideas, let me know. I'll try your suggestions with Hermione. She's gone from angry with us, well at Ron anyway, to withdrawn and I'm starting to get worried. I know it's normal to get mad and depressed and move away from everyone that's starting to annoying you by just breathing, but this is moving toward the extreme end. And I'll have you remember that you DID say that it wasn't just me, even if later you suggested that it was just me and PMSing females, which I didn't appreciate, all right, maybe I did a little when you said I was allowed to eat all the chocolate I wanted because of it.

Harry covered his eyes, scratching his forehead, and leaned back over the paper.

How about we ignore that, mostly because I don't feel like starting this letter over again. It's getting late and I've been working on my Potions for hours. Professor Snape decided that since I took more advanced lessons with you guys that I should get extra work. I knew I should have just pretended to be dumb, but I know you're saying in your head to me while reading this that that's just the way to an early death. We've spent too much time together; I can here you in my head when I know I'm acting odd or pulling something dumb.

With all the tension with Ron and Hermione I feel like the only time I'm not worried or trying too hard is when I'm writing to you. Even Draco and I aren't speaking right now. We had a bit of a disagreement, though I can't figure out how it led to us not talking. At least I think that's what happened. I started babbling on about Voldemort like a freak, and he, I'm not sure what happened. He started acting nervous and took off. He even ruined a potion yesterday. Three hours of detention with Uncle Sev is not what I would have suggested as great fun. I think I'm going to wait for him to come to me, at least for another week or so, and if he doesn't seem better then I'll try talking to him.

Man, I think I've read too many books. It's fried my brain or turned me into Hermione or something. Pizza and mystery Science Theater 3000 would be a great distraction right now, but I'm in wizarding England so I think my choices are gobstones, wizard's chess, or exploding snap cards. I'm going to stop thinking these depressing thoughts and go find Ron, maybe he can think of something to entertain me.

Hugs and kisses

Harry

He sealed the letter and tossed it toward his trunk, giving Hedwig another owl treat. "Don't worry girl, I'll send it off with another owl this time so you can rest for awhile." He scratched her neck and laid back on the bed.

The door shut and Neville stumbled across the room, dropping his books on his bed. "You look bored, Harry. Long day?"

Harry twisted around and let his head hang off the edge of the bed. "I think I got used to being surrounded by people and technology with something always happening. Homework seems dull in comparison and my research isn't getting anywhere fast." He flipped onto his stomach. "I should go flying. Man, it's been forever."

Neville shook his head and perched on the edge of Harry's bed. "You know, you've been a lot different this year. First it wasn't as obvious. At the end of last year you were, well, we all were distracted and quiet." He shrugged and rubbed his arm. "You went downhill for a while, and then when they all showed up on Halloween you started disappearing more, but whenever you came back you were smiling." He smiled and pushed his hair, getting a little shaggy, behind his ears. "You were never really happy before, at least I didn't see it. There were moments when things got better for you, but then, when no one was watching you, you'd just stare off into space, curling in on yourself." He turned to face Harry. "I saw you with them when I took you to their lounge. They were different, and kind of strange, and you fit in with them, acted with them like I'd never seen you do before."

Harry sat up and wrapped his arms around his knees. "Cali says that's what I'd be like if my parents had survived, if I hadn't been suppressed all those years." He chewed on his lip and laughed. "And if my parents had gotten a clue and moved out of the depressing country of doom, as she calls it." He shrugged. "I think part of it was being able to hang out without anyone telling me how I was like my parents. Whether my relatives or anyone around here, it's really all I hear. Being able to live for yourself for a little while seems, I don't know, but I really liked it."

Neville sighed. "Yeah, that sounds really nice, though I don't really hear a lot, just get the sad looks."

Harry slid over and bumped his shoulder. "Do you think if we play the poor little orphan card, they'd give us lots of chocolate?"

Neville laughed and moved back to his bed. "I don't know, but it might be a good time to try when they start giving us lots of work and suggesting that the exams are coming." He picked his Herbology book out of his trunk and two chocolate frogs. "Of course, we could always just buy some and save our secret weapon for something else we want to do." He walked to the door and paused. "Like going after Voldemort. You'll need the sympathy card when you come back this time. I don't think they'll be as kind about it the fifth time." He shrugged and opened the door. "Unless you're almost dead. Then they might wait to yell at you for a little while."

Harry sighed and fell back on the bed. "I'll keep that in mind this time around."

Neville nodded and closed the door behind him after saying, "If you need help researching Harry, I'm willing to help."

Crinkling parchment made him freeze and pull his essay out from under the blanket. He smoothed the wrinkles and rolled it back up. It's all about me. Let's all help Harry and let the rest of the world fair for itself. He pulled his pillow over his head. They are going to kill me if I end up trying something this year. After all of this. Biara will have my head. Professor Snape will, I don't know, throw Jell-o at me or something. He pushed off the bed and grabbed the latest library book out from under his bed. So be it.

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Cold stone scratched across his thighs, sweat dripping into his eyes. Harry wrapped his hands around the chains and pressed his fingers against the links. He pushed his forehead to the ground. I've been here before. Where am I? Slim fingers trailed along his back. He threw himself to the side. "Oof." He landed on his butt. His jeans slid off his hips and he yanked them up, staring at—himself. "Well that's weird. Ugh." He stood and turned away. He took a deep breath and walked across the room. "Run out of ideas already? Or maybe you're just losing your memory. That happens when you get older. Just to remind you, we've done this before. Don't you think it's a little old?"

Voldemort leaned against the wall and laughed. "Yes, and you opened your mind and nearly poisoned yourself. You're weak, Mr. Potter. Falling apart, not paying attention in class, breaking laws? Don't you wish you were stronger, better, more powerful?" He moved closer, his slit eyes not moving from Harry. "You're nothing, Potter, and you will lose." He gestured at the struggling figure. "You can't even save yourself, how could anyone think that you could save others?"

The sobs were starting to get to him. He waved his arm. "Enough." The two disappeared. "I don't think this will work this time, but I guess we'll see." He shrugged and pushed his hands into his pockets. "And if you keep up with using all your old plans, why would I have to do anything? Those from the first time around will no just how to beat you." He threw himself backwards and jolted awake, falling out of his chair in the common room.

Ron tousled his hair. "You all right, mate? Bad dream? Maybe about having to do your homework since you were sleeping on it?"

Chattering and a few giggles followed him getting off the floor. He rubbed his hands over his face and through his hair, the sweat spiking it. "Yeah, something like that." He picked up his quill, got rid of the ink splattered across the bottom, and continued his essay.

Hermione came through the portrait hole and dropped into the chair next to him with a sigh. "Harry, you are the best. That was wonderful. You must have spent so much time putting it together." She pulled him into a big hug and relaxed back again. "I'm sorry I've been so mean lately. It's just been really hectic with all of my classes."

Ron smiled and patted her hand. "No problem, but a little warning next time would be nice."

She swatted at his hand and pulled her books out of her bag under the table. "So what are we doing?"

They leaned together over his transfiguration book as she pointed out the important parts for the essay. Harry winced and took a few deep breaths, clearing his mind as the pressure built up. He added the last sentence to his parchment, blew on it to dry the ink, and rolled it up. "I'm going to bed. I'm not feeling too well." He waved them off as he gathered his stuff. "Don't worry, I don't need Madam Pomfrey. I just need to lie down for a while. I'll see you guys tomorrow morning." He swung his bag over his shoulder and slowly climbed the stairs. He closed the door to the dorm and threw himself on his bed.

Fabric rustled and Neville's head poked out from between his curtains, a quill behind his ear. "Are you okay?" He slid over and swung his legs over the edge. "You look a little pale."

Harry kicked his shoes off and shoved his bag to the floor. "I'm exhausted. Could you do me a favor?"

Neville moved over to Harry's bed. "Sure. What do you need?"

Harry scrambled through his bag without looking over the side. He wiped ink off his hand on the inside of the bag and pulled out his quill, ink, and a piece of parchment.

I fell asleep doing homework. I had the same vision as this summer. I managed to break out so I was in control, at least to a small extent. Voldemort was there. We talked. I think he's planning something.

Harry

Harry waved it until I was dry and rolled it up. "Can you take this to Professor Dumbledore? I need to tell him something, but I don't think I could make it down the stairs let alone to his office."

Neville walked to his bed and pulled his shoes on. "Sure. No problem." He took the parchment and hurried down the stairs.

Harry let his head fall back, pulling his pillow down under his head. He took deep breaths, letting his mind dull to a hum.

The door shut softly and Harry listed to the right as the person sat on the bed. "Harry, are you all right?"

He forced his eyes open, squinting against the emerald robes. "I'm fine, just very tired. I broke out of the vision and even finished my essay, but then I just lost all of my energy. I was just clearing my mind so I could sleep."

Dumbledore patted knee. "All right, Harry. Get some rest, but if you still feel tired tomorrow go see Madam Pomfrey before breakfast. All right?"

"Yes sir." Feeling a last pat on his knee he curled up and blanked his mind again.

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Harry flipped onto his stomach, covering his ears to block out the alarms.

"Come on mate; time to get up." The metal hooks clattered against the bar as Ron pulled his curtains open. "Are you still tired? You went to bed early!"

He yanked on the pillow to toss it at Ron and his fingers slipped off it. He turned his face to the wall, took two deep breaths, and looked back. Ron's eyes were opening wider and his mouth opening farther, so he laughed weakly. "Don't freak out, Ron. I just didn't sleep very well. Go get ready; I'll get myself out of bed before you come back."

Ron scanned him from toe to head before nodding and gathering his things, glancing back on his way to the bathroom. "If you're sure--"

Harry lay back and waved his arm. "Yes. Go." Ron finally left, Dean and Seamus following him.

Neville pulled on his shoes and dressing gown. "Do you need help to the hospital wing?"

A drop of sweat trailed across his temple and into his hair. "Yes please. And if you could tell Ron when you get back that I got a message from the Headmaster so he won't worry that would be wonderful too." He pushed himself up on his elbows for a moment before falling back. He rolled over to grab his shoes, but his fingers brushed the edges and refused to hold on.

Neville coughed and pulled the slippers from under the other side. "I don't think there's time for that. He slid under Harry's arm closest to the edge and pulled him over, pushing his feet to the ground and into the slippers. "Are you ready?"

Grasping all the energy he could muster he stood, leaning heavily on Neville, and moved as quickly as possible toward the door. "We should hurry as much as we can before this energy boost wears off."

Neville nodded and helped him to maneuver down the stairs.

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And there we are. Another chapter done. I REALLY want to finish this story soon, so don't expect months before the next update. crosses fingers and really hopes she isn't lying Please review and make my email a happy place to visit.