Chapter 11

"Daphne would you be my date for the ball?" he blurted out. Once again, he had no idea what overcame him. Every time she came close to him, his mouth just didn't listen to his mind and operated on its own.

She looked at him, her face going through multiple emotions at once. "I'm sorry… but I can't."

The silence stretched between the two occupants in the room of requirement. Harry being utterly embarrassed by his declaration, tried to look at anywhere but the girl who just rejected him. Daphne on the other hand was thinking how to formulate her reasoning.

"Let me explain Harry," she started.

"It's really fine Daphne," Harry said quickly, not wanting to get an explanation for all the different reasons she did not want to accompany him to the ball for.

Perceptively understanding his thinking, Daphne grabbed his hand and guiding him down to the chairs they had just used when she was teaching him about politics. Wringing her hands together, she contemplated her next words as Harry looked to her confusingly. "What do you know about Slytherin politics Harry?"

"I'm sorry?" Harry said in surprise, not understanding what this had to do with their conversation.

"Just answer the question," she replied patiently.

Thinking for a few seconds about the absurdity of her question, he answered, "Well not much to be honest, but I suppose that's not a surprise. If I had to guess although, I'd say people like Malfoy who have money and has his daddy to back him up are at the top."

"Well that's half correct," Daphne replied. "You see what no one outside Slytherin really knows is that there is a hierarchy in our house. We have rules that every student gets the first time they walk into our common room. The main one being, if you have a problem, you sort it out in the common room. No other house needs to hear our dirty laundry, and at all times we need to present a united front."

"What has this got to do with the ball?"

"I'm getting to it," she responded. "Now, another important rule, is don't fraternise with enemy, and well Harry, to many in Slytherin house you're undesirable number one," she said with a small frown. "Now, you were right when you said Malfoy is pretty important because of his name, but at the same time he is still only a fourth year. Therefore, whenever there are conflicts, that need to be resolved in the house, the issues are dealt with by a few sixth and seventh years. Snape may handle big issues, but interhouse issues like this would be dealt with by them."

"So that's why you can't go with me to the ball?"

"If I were to go with you, they'd make my life unbelievably tough. No one believes Malfoy right now when he says we're friends because they don't have any proof. Well this would be undeniable proof," she huffed. Continuing at Harry's nod of understanding. "It's not just about me, they'll make Tracey and Astoria's life difficult as well, and she's only a second year… she doesn't deserve to be ostracised just because I'm her sister," she finished sadly.

"Slytherin sounds like a bundle of fun," Harry muttered sarcastically, causing Daphne to laugh and break the tension.

"Anyway, I'm sure you can find someone else to go with. You are Harry Potter, slayer of the Norwegian Ridgeback," she said with a smile, ignoring the flash of pain at the thought of him going with someone else.

"Well my first try didn't go so well…" he said with a chuckle, causing Daphne to laugh as well.

"I'm sure the next one will be more successful," she said with a smile. Getting up from the chair, she bade him goodnight before leaving the room of requirement.

Harry watched as she left, a sad smile on his face. Sighing at his misfortune for asking a girl who was unattainable by all means, he got up from the chair himself. Great who am I going to take now?

Remus Lupin was worried his friend was going to tear a hole in the old dusty carpet which he had nervously paced on for the last half hour. Their jobs for the order, and Sirius notoriety at the moment meant they were constantly moving around the country approaching Dumbledore's contacts and trying to initiate them into the Order. Therefore, this had been the first time in a few weeks they had been back to the ancestral home of the Blacks at 12 Grimmauld Place. While Sirius hated the reminder of his family's treatment of him, they both had agreed that for the time this was the safest place they could use when they weren't on a job for the Order.

They never thought they would have been able to get in when they first were looking for safe places to stay because Sirius believed his mother had disowned him when he was 16. Therefore, it was a huge shock to Sirius when the wards that were still activated on the house let him pass, his only answer being that his father as the head of the house must have not complied with his mother's wishes. Remus never being to the house in all the time he had been friends with Sirius was shocked at the interior. It was obvious since the death of his mother, the house had started to rot, and the crazy house elf, Kreacher, that they had found was more concerned with spewing nonsense about blood purity rather than actually clean the house.

Sirius hadn't been kidding when he said his family had been borderline psychotic. The wall on the stairs were decorated with a row of shrunken house-elf, each one being mounted on by a plaque. The library had so many books on types of magics he had never even heard about, but each seemed to offer the victim a most painful kind of death. Upon first arriving at the house, Sirius ordered Kreacher to start cleaning the house, and the elf being bound by oath had no choice to comply even as he muttered obscenities under his breath. Remus however still doubted if the elf had done any actual cleaning or if the house was beyond repair. They had even ordered him to get newspaper so that they could keep up to the date with the workings of magical Britain, Remus reminding Sirius to make the orders to Kreacher in such a way that he didn't give up who he was working for.

Therein lied the problem. Coming back last night, both Remus and Sirius had adjourned to the kitchen for a nightcap. Sirius had picked up some of the newspapers to catch up on what they had missed during their time away, and the two had sat in a comfortable silence, until Sirius suddenly spat out his firewhisky.

"Padfoot what the hell!" Moony explained, his shirt plastered with Sirius' drink. However, if his friend had heard him, he obviously hadn't cared as his eyes still stuck to the newspaper in hand.

"What could possibly be so surprising…" he said, stopping in shock as well as he read the title and following story about Harry decapitating a dragon. Since then both had hardly slept as they discussed his performance, which brought them back to the present as Remus watched his friend pace.

"Padfoot tearing into that carpet is not somehow going to make this issue go away. He survived the task didn't he, and he came in second place for it as well," not really believing what he was saying. The issue wasn't fine.

"That's not the fucking point Moony," Sirius exclaimed. "I don't care if he somehow tamed the damned thing to do his bidding. He could have still died, and we have no way of protecting him."

"Pads, you knew he was in the tournament weeks ago, why is this coming out now," Remus asked.

"I… I don't know," was his reply. The tiredness finally seeming to reach him as he sat down on the nearest armchair, his hands pulling his hair in frustration. "I guess, when Dumbledore spoke to us about the tournament, and all these new rule changes, I thought well this may be for seventh years, but Harry is the toughest kid I know so he'll be able to get through this. I didn't expect he was going to fight a bloody dragon."

Remus could only nod in agreement. They had both been terrified when they had found about Harry being in the tournament and rushed straight to Dumbledore. He had told him his theories about Voldemort but believed that with all the regulations the tournament would be safe, and Harry would get through with it. However, when asked about Voldemort's plans, the aged headmaster still had no answer. When they met with Harry, they both tried to appear strong because it wouldn't have been good to show him, they were scared.

"We need to protect him," Sirius said finally, determination lacing his voice.

"How exactly are we going to do that?" Remus asked

"I don't know, but the only way I see it happening is me getting my freedom, and I may have a few ideas, but that can be put on hold until we do something first."

"What's that?" Remus asked, confused about what could be more important at the moment than Sirius gaining his freedom.

"Do you remember the night I met him Moony?" Sirius asked, his grey haunted eyes focused on the blazing fireplace.

"Don't think I'll ever forgive myself for that," Remus answered, hanging his head in disgrace. He still berated himself for being foolish enough to forget his Wolfsbane potion, leading to Pettigrew getting away.

"I don't blame you for that Moony, you know that," Sirius said. "I meant that talk I had with Harry just before that happened."

"What about it?"

"I had asked him if he wanted to move in with me once I got my freedom, and he said yes. Ten minutes before that, he thought I had been the reason for the death of his parents, and while I know I'm his godfather, I'm still a stranger to him. Who is that readily willing to move in with a stranger?"

"Unless… they have a bad home life," Remus answered, his blood turning cold at the thought.

"Let's think about this Moony," Sirius said, turning to face his friend properly. "I understand Dumbledore's reasoning about the blood protection making sure no one with ill intent can harm him from the outside. What about ill intent from the inside?" Sirius knew Dumbledore had some major flaws. The biggest being his inability to look at the small picture. While he can understand the headmaster wanted to make sure Harry was not harmed, he could have checked up on the boy. The headmaster had some answering to do.

"You mean physical abuse?" Remus snarled at the thought.

"Physical, mental, emotional," Sirius continued, his voice grim. "You've seen Harry, do you remember James at that age? He was a good three inches taller, and definitely bigger. Harry, while not as skinny as he was in his third year, is still small."

"I noticed that Sirius when I first met him on the train," Remus said, the guilt in his voice thickening as he spoke. "When I approached Minerva about it, she claimed that she wasn't sure. I wanted to investigate more, but I couldn't show too much attention to the boy, and I desperately needed the job."

"It's not your fault," Sirius conceded. "All his problems started when I abandoned my duties that I promised James and Lily and went to seek vengeance on Wormtail."

"We can't change the past Padfoot," Remus replied. "But we can make his future better."

"The Dursleys," Sirius spat. "We need to find about his homelife. We owe it to ourselves for not being there for the majority of his life." The guilt at that statement settled into both the two occupants of the room, and they sat in silence as both punished themselves for how Harry's life turned out.

"How are we going to do it?" Remus finally asked, breaking the silence.

"Neither of us know the address of where Harry lives, and right now I do not want to go to Dumbledore because I need some more information."

"Well who else knows the address. Dumbledore himself is the only one who actually keeps it, not even Fudge himself would have it," Remus exclaimed.

"No not Fudge, but his friends would. In a letter he sent to me earlier in the summer, Harry told me that the Weasley's were going to pick him up and take him to the World Cup. If anyone knows it, its them."

"We'll have to ask the twins," Remus said, both knowing Harry wasn't on speaking terms with Hermione and Ron anymore. They knew they could trust them to keep it a secret as Harry had already confided to them about Sirius anyway.

"Let's send them a letter Moony. But we will have to ask them to keep it from Harry for now," Sirius replied, Remus nodding his understanding.

I'm going to make up for it. I promise you Lily and Prongs, Sirius thought as him and his last living friend drafted the letter.

"Harry you've been in a right state today," Fred asked as he and his twin brother moved to the fireplace in the common room where Harry had been doing his homework. The boy in question had been pretty mellow the last few days, but today he seemed to be in a really poor mood.

Sighing out loud, Harry looked towards the two and responded, "I still need to find a date to this stupid ball, and its two weeks away."

"Wait let me get this straight…" Fred started.

"Harry Potter…" George continued.

"The boy who lived…"

"Dragon Slayer…"

"Killer of Basilisks…"

"Defeater of dementors…"

"ALRIGHT!" Harry said, cutting them off with a half shout to stop them, even though he had a smile on his face.

"The point Harry," George said still laughing, "Is you can probably ask any girl, first all the way to seventh and they would say yes."

"Not everyone…" Harry muttered dejectedly under his breath as he turned back to work.

The twins shared a look, before Fred lowered his tone. "What happened Harry?"

"Well I asked Daphne out to the ball and she said she couldn't," he replied, trying to act nonchalant about it.

"Wait, why did you phrase it like that?" George responded.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, confused.

"You said Daphne said she couldn't go with you instead of just saying no," George explained.

"Oh!" Harry said in understanding. "Well have you guys ever heard that Slytherins have some kind of hierarchy?" They shook their heads, and so Harry explained what Daphne had repeated to him three nights ago.

Even though he had understood her reasoning now, both teenagers seemed to be awkward around each other, and were avoiding each other. While they had both been pleasant in potions the day before, they had kept talking to a minimum and focused on their work, seemingly easier than having to talk about their last conversation. She hadn't even brought up training, and so for the last few nights it had just been Harry alone in the room of requirement working on himself.

The truth was he was annoyed with himself. If he had kept his mouth shut, there wouldn't be any of this awkwardness that had settled between them. He hadn't noticed how much Daphne had meant to him as a friend before this, and he shouldn't have tried to ruin it by asking her to the ball. With both Ron and Hermione gone in his life, Daphne took up a special place in his heart for believing in him when the rest of the school didn't. That's why he was glad for people like her, the twins and even Neville who didn't doubt him. However, now he wanted things between him and Daphne to go back to normal.

"That sucks," Fred said consolingly when Harry finished his story. "Now we feel like right prats constantly telling you how Angelina and Alicia agreed to go with us to the ball."

"I'm not upset at that," Harry chuckled. "I'm really happy for you guys," Harry said genuinely. "But even though I'm upset she didn't want to go to the ball, I still need someone else to come with me," he finished, frustrated.

"Well Harry my dear boy, you've come to the right place. Who better to find you a date, then the two studs of Hogwarts?"

"Don't think Alicia and Angelina would like to hear that, and I don't know if I have the same type as you guys," Harry said with a smirk, thinking about some of the girls the twins had dated previously.

"Ahh no worries sir," Fred replied with a smirk of his own. "If it is the shy and awkward girls you want instead, then we have the perfect solution… OI NEVILLE!" the twin shouted, causing said boy to drop his inkpot on his work as he jumped out of his seat. Harry failed to stifle his chuckle at the murderous glare Hermione sent the boys for interrupting the peace.

Neville quickly walked to the other three, his skin slightly pale from the fright he had just got. "Did you not think to just come to me?" he sighed exasperatedly.

"Now where would the fun in that be," George laughed.

"What do you guys want?" Neville said, chuckling himself.

"Well you see Mr Longbottom. We've run into a right dilemma. Harry here needs to find himself a date for Yule, and you being in his year would be the perfect man to find him the perfect date."

"If anything, shouldn't I be asking for Harry's help?" Neville asked with a smirk. "I mean he is a champion."

"Neville, it's really not an issue. Fred and George are just dicks," he said with a laugh, ignoring the mock looks of shock they had adorned on their faces. "Have you got a date yet?"

"Not yet," he said, a small blush coming over his face.

"Does Neville have a crush," Fred asked, adopting a dreaming look on his face, to which Neville playfully swatted away.

"Come on, Nev tell us," Harry pleaded.

"I'm planning on asking Hannah Abbott… you know the one from Hufflepuff," Neville said, directing his statement to Harry who nodded.

"Yeah she seems nice from any of the interactions I've ever had with her, and she's one of those people Hufflepuffs who don't glare at me for apparently pushing Cedric out of the limelight," Harry said approvingly.

"Actually, Harry… I may be able to help you," Neville suddenly said. "I'm pretty sure Hannah's best friend Susan doesn't have a date to the ball either, and it would actually help me if you could ask her while I'm asking Hannah, because those two are always stuck at the hip and this could be my chance to get her alone."

Harry thought about it for a moment. He didn't know Susan very well, or at all to be honest, just a few passing pleasantries. She was in his ancient runes class, and just like her friend Hannah didn't seem to treat him badly even though she was in Hufflepuff. Yet he still couldn't stop comparing her to a certain blonde hair, blue eyed beauty. Shaking his head of all thoughts about Daphne, he gave his reply to Neville. "You know what Nev, that's actually a great idea."

Neville's face broke into a relieved smile at Harry's reply. "Is tomorrow good for you? I'm meeting Hannah and Susan in the library to do the Care of Magical creatures homework, and you can definitely come along."

Harry nodded his agreement, and ignoring the teasing he got from the twins, got back to his work.

The same night saw Albus Dumbledore walk past the gates of Hogwarts, and onto the path towards Hogsmeade. He easily had faster ways of getting to his destination, but at his age he never underestimated the powerful calming effects a nice long walk could have for the mind and soul, especially with the way his last few weeks had been. His deputy headmistress had been effectively running the school this year with the amount he had been away, and there was no woman he held more admiration for than Minerva McGonagall. She took everything in her stride, taking her job with the utmost of importance, and she understood that he was busy.

However, what the last few weeks had shown, what he himself had known for so long was that no one was ready for the return of Voldemort. His position as Chief Warlock meant he was privy to certain information about the Ministry that most didn't have the access to, and all it told him was when Voldemort got power, the Ministry would be futile in stopping him. The question was not whether Voldemort was coming back, but when he was coming back, and the uncertainty of the question was problematic for the aged headmaster.

Then there was his Order, the only force he believed that could actually cause Voldemort problems and mount some kind of defence, but even there he lacked the firepower to hold him back when he regained the power of his forces. What he had never admitted to anyone, but then at the same time he believed that others knew it as well, if it had not been for the sacrifice of Harry's parents, there would have been no stopping Voldemort. He sighed as he pondered the morality of people. They would easily flock to Voldemort's promises of power and gold, having no idea what they were getting into by following a tyrant who saw everyone except himself as indispensable. Therein lied his own issues. The Order could not promise people any of this. Instead it survived on the willingness and bravery of people to risk their lives on a daily basis in stopping such a tyrant, and there weren't enough witches and wizards willing to do that.

Reaching the main street of Hogsmeade, he diverted from the main path, onto the road less travelled by the students at his school and arrived at his destination. The Hogs Head Inn had been an establishment in Hogsmeade for the last seventy years, and perhaps was one of the oldest buildings in the entire village. The crudely painted snarling Hog still remained outside, which Albus mentally cringed at. The lack of renovation of this place astounded him, but the cheap prices and the barman kept him coming here rather than the newer and cleaner Three Broomsticks Inn.

Walking inside he looked around. The room was sparsely populated, the drinkers mostly keeping to themselves in dark corners of the room where they couldn't be seen. However, he had eyes for none of them, instead locking onto a set of identical piercing blue eyes.

"Aberforth," Albus said cordially, taking a seat at the empty stool near the bar.

"Albus," the bartender replied, matching his brother's hushed tone, however in a much stiffer manner. "What can I do for you?"

"I must confess my trip here isn't one to catch up on pleasantries," the headmaster replied as his brother poured him his usual drink.

"It never is," Aberforth replied gruffly. "Ergo my topic question – what can I do for you Albus?"

"This is a matter of the utmost secrecy, and one can never be too sure of prying ears," he said giving his brother a wary look. Aberforth understood immediately, remembering how he had to throw out an eavesdropping Severus Snape many years ago.

"Fine. We'll go to my personal chambers," he said, walking out from behind the bar. Albus followed his brother upstairs to the highest floor. They entered into the room, the headmaster being her only on a very few occasions was not surprised to see that nothing had changed from the last time he visited. His brother did not seem to enjoy changing anything, whether that be in his bar or his apartment.

"Now what could be so important that we must discuss it here," Aberforth said wearily conjuring two chairs for the two of them. Albus said nothing immediately. Pulling his wand out, he flicked his hand at the door, casting imperturbable charm and an assortment of various protection barriers. Aberforth, raised his eyebrow but said nothing as his brother sat down on the other chair and waited for him to speak.

"Many years ago, you informed me that a group of young men going by the names of Nott, Dolohov, Mulciber and Rosier waited in that very room downstairs as their boss came to me requesting a job."

"I remember clearly Albus. However, we both know who their boss is, and therefore I don't understand your need for subtlety at the moment," Aberforth replied exasperatedly.

"My apologies. When Tom Riddle came for the job, he, and I both knew he would never get it, failing again for the second time to secure a professorship. While, at the time I thought of it inconsequential, it has now come to my attention that it was a ruse for something much more nefarious at the time. We both know where I am now going with this." Albus didn't doubt his brothers intelligence one bit, and it would be an insult to do so.

Aberforth nodded. "And how do you know I even paid attention to what the men spoke about that day."

"Because you wouldn't have warned me about their presence if you had not. Did Tom come back to the inn to meet his men?"

"He did. And so, we have come to the purpose of your trip. You need to acquire the memory."

"It is incredibly important," Albus replied.

"It always is, isn't it Albus. I understand you are a man of importance in itself, and I do not doubt the role you will have to play in the coming years if I understand what this meeting is all about," he said pointedly. "But it is also this importance in the world that you had with Grindelwald, and we both know how that ended," he said stifling the emotion he felt as the two brothers looked towards the portrait of our sister in the room.

"You think I don't know this Aberforth," Albus said quietly. "I am not the same power-hungry man I was in my youth, and I know I still make my mistakes, and we can both know how big those can be. However, I know there is only one other person apart from me who can guide us in the dark times of the future. But until he is strong enough for that role and believe me, I will help him get there if it is the last thing I do, I am the only one with the power to restrain Voldemort."

"Even I have to confess you are right, even though it pains me to admit it," Aberforth said with a small smirk. "However, in the end remember the boy is a person. He is not a chess piece to be manipulated just because he himself doesn't understand the importance he has," he said roughly, to which Albus nodded his head wearily, knowing his brother was completely right.

"Anyway," Aberforth continued. Pointing his wand to a section of the wall, it parted and brought forward a pensieve, a birthday gift Albus had given him many years ago. Pouring the memory into it, he turned around and faced his brother. "This has my view of the events. I need to go down and tend to the bar. I hope it provides you with the knowledge you seek Albus."

Albus spoke just before his brother exited the room, "I truly am sorry Aberforth."

"I know Albus," the barman replied without turning around, and shut the door behind him.

Shaking the sadness and guilt he felt at his brothers' tone, the headmaster walked towards the pensieve before promptly sticking a finger inside and felt himself being dragged towards the memory.

He appeared in the year 1957 into the same bar he had just come from, albeit this one was cleaner and in less need of dire maintenance. He spotted his much younger looking brother at the bar, cleaning the table, while subtly peering at the four men at the corner. Aberforth had always kept his beard short and the lack of a crooked nose like Albus (which amusedly Aberforth had caused), it was only their eyes that could give them away as brothers.

Intrigued that he could hear their table from this distance, Albus understood that Aberforth had placed a very complex listening charm at the table, one that would be very difficult to find, unless the person was careful enough to search. Obviously, Mulciber, Nott, Rosier and Dolohov thought there would be no need to check for such charms and were whispering between each other.

"He's been gone for more than an hour," Mulciber huffed, swirling his firewhisky in the glass. "I do not understand why he would want a job under that muggle loving fool Dumbledore anyway."

"Patience was never your strong suit was it Daniel," Nott said lazily.

Dolohov chuckled slightly at this. "He will be back soon, do not fret. But it is not our role to question why our lord does what he does. There is a reason."

"Haven't been back here in ages," Rosier added after a few moments of silence. "Hasn't changed must has it."

"Not at all," Mulciber scoffed. "But that new inn on the main street is probably full of mudbloods and half-bloods anyway. This may be a shithole, but at least it isn't filled with those sorts."

"He has come," Nott said cutting off the tirade his friend would probably start.

Each one of them stood up as Dumbledore saw a much younger looking Tom Riddle walk in with a small smile on his face. However, this one had lost all his handsomeness. His features appeared waxy and burnt. He still did not have the scarlet eyes that would later cause the mass of terror when he appeared, but he had long gone from the man he started as. He took the empty seat next to his four subordinates and faced them. Dumbledore chuckled lightly at this. The Tom Riddle here had still not reached the same level of paranoia as he would in the next two decades, and seemed content to talk in the bar without fear of anyone listening in.

"My Lord did you receive the job?" Dolohov asked, not being able to keep the small tint of surprise out his voice as he saw the smile on Voldemort's face.

"No, I'm afraid I did not gentlemen," Riddle replied, however the small smile on his face remained there. Dumbledore knew no good had come out of that smile. What had he missed from that confrontation with Tom in his office?

"Why is it that you seem happy with the outcome then?" Nott asked.

"I had no doubt that Dumbledore would not give me the job. I just needed a reason to get into the castle when there are no students looming around," Riddle replied calmly. Both Albus, and the memory of Aberforth had similar expressions on their face. What did he need in the castle? Thankfully Albus' question was asked by Mulciber.

"What did you need in the castle?" Mulciber asked, looking confused.

"I needed nothing, however there is no place better than Hogwarts for hiding objects that should never be found," Riddle finished ambiguously. "However, that is a concern of mine. I thank you men for waiting here, but it is time we make our exit, there is much to do."

Standing up, he headed to the bar dropping a galleon down on the table. "For my compatriots and me," Tom said looking at Aberforth. There was a slight tension as Tom looked into his eyes, and Albus felt his blood run cold, instinctively reaching for his wand even though it was a memory. However, the tension ended as quickly as it started, and Tom turned away as Dumbledore was plunged out of the memory.

His breathing was slightly heavier as he appeared back in his brothers room, trying to think of the implications of Voldemort's words: There is no place better than Hogwarts for hiding objects that should never be found.

Albus knew by no means did he know the full secrets of Hogwarts and all it had to offer, and he had been there for decades. He would need more time to think on this. Walking back downstairs to the bar, he gave his brother a small nod before turning out and taking the path back to Hogwarts.

The next morning, Harry was having breakfast with the twins and Lee. Since it was the weekend, breakfast stayed open for longer in the great hall, and most students took the opportunity to lounge in and chat with their friends. It was also the day Harry had promised Neville that he'd come with him to the library, and he still had a tinge of nervousness about his date. While Neville assured him that Susan would say yes to him, he couldn't help but think that just like Daphne she'd say no. He shook those thoughts out of his head, but no matter how many times he did that his mind would still go back to thinking about his Slytherin friend.

"Oi!" Harry exclaimed as Fred flicked him in the shoulder. "What was that for you prat?"

"Because you weren't listening to us," Fred replied, not bothered by what he had done.

"Sorry. What were you talking about?"

"Our plans for winter," George said. "The train leaves the day after the Yule Ball, and this year everyone's going to be here for Christmas. Bill and Charlie haven't been in years. So, have you decided if you're going to come? You know mum and dad would love to have you."

Sighing, Harry already knew his answer. "I'm sure it'll be great, but things between me and Ron aren't good at all, and I know if I'm there it's going to put unneeded tension."

"We can control Ron. Plus, mum will go mental if he treats you badly."

"Exactly my point. Ron is your family. I am not. He shouldn't need to walk on eggshells just because I'm around. Also, your whole family is going to be there, and it would be better if you spent together as a family." Seeing that they were probably going to argue, Harry cut them off, "Plus, I've already signed the sheet saying I'm staying, you guys aren't going to change my mind."

"We're going to miss you," George said dramatically wiping a fake tear from his face, as Fred made mock sniffling noises. Harry knew they were joking, but also knew they were sincere about it, prompting a genuine smile on his face.

They talked for a few more minutes before the screech of the morning owls took over the room. Surprisingly, this week he had received a package which was unusual for him. The only mail he really got were letters from Sirius and Remus, so he was surprised that it hadn't come from them. On the other side of the table, Fred and George seemed to have received a mail as well, which they both seemed confused about as well. Unbeknownst to Harry, his uncle and Godfather had written a letter, only it wasn't to him this time.

Harry opened the package, only for a knife to fall out. "Holy shit!" Harry exclaimed as he examined it. He picked up the knife and examined it, pulling the cover of the blade off. The blade was around seven inches long and looked to be made out of some kind of steel. The handle had an unusual pattern on it, black with red swirls on it.

"I think that's a very fancy way of making a death threat," Lee spoke up, prompting Harry to chuckle. "Look, there's a letter that came with it." Picking up the letter that had fallen when he opened the package, Harry read:

Dear Harry,

I promised Fred and George that I would give you a token of my appreciation for your generous donation to the sanctuary. This blade has been constructed completely from the Hungarian Horntail that you killed. The handle is made from its hide, while the blade was constructed from a part of his tooth. A dragon tooth is massive by itself, so it took some time to cut it down and form it into a shape of a blade, but it was completely worth it. A dragon is a magical creature, so the blade will never need sharpening. Use it safely!

Charlie

"That is so cool!" Fred said, who had finally looked up from the letter they had received to look at the knife. Harry was pretty sure the scrawl on their letter looked familiar – most probably their mum, he thought.

"It really is," Harry said passing them the letter from their brother. "I need to go stow this away, and then meet Neville at the library," Harry said, standing up.

"Good luck Mr Potter," George said with a sly wink, laughing as Harry stuck out the middle finger at them.

Walking out from the great hall, he quickly walked to the Gryffindor common room, taking as many shortcuts as he could because he was running late to meet Neville. Reaching into his dormitory, he went to his trunk and stowed the blade safely in his compartment, not sure what he could do with it now. Leaving the room, he suddenly turned back remembering that he still need to get his Care of Magical Creatures stuff even if it was a ruse for the two boys to ask the girls for a date. Rushing down to the common room, he saw Neville waiting for him by the exit.

"Ready?" Neville said.

"I hope so. Let's get ourselves some dates," he said patting Neville on the back as they walked out.

"So how exactly are we getting the girls alone so we can ask them?" Harry asked after a few moments of silence.

"Well… I thought about this last night, and I think I have an idea. Hannah really likes Herbology, so after doing the homework, I'm planning on asking her if she wants to come and see my extra credit work in the greenhouse. I'll ask her on the way there, and that'll leave you alone with Susan in the library."

"Sounds like a plan," Harry said pushing the nervousness down and remembering Gryffindors are supposed to be brave.

They reached the library, and Harry followed Neville as he guided him towards the stacks to one of the tables at the back, where Hannah and Susan were already sitting. Greeting the two, the group started on their work straightaway, talking sometimes when another person needed help or there were disagreements in answers. An hour passed before they were all done, Harry finishing his last sentence with a flourish and putting his quill done.

"Think that'll do," Hannah said smiling at Neville. Harry concealed a smirk at that. He had noticed the two sharing glances when the other wasn't looking and knew Hannah was going to definitely agree to go with him.

"Think so too," Neville agreed. "That wasn't so bad. By the way Hannah, I know we were talking about my herbology project a few days ago and wondered if you wanted to come check it out?" he finished.

Hannah agreed with a bright smile, with only Harry noticing the smirk Susan was giving her friend. The two walked off leaving Susan with Harry, who was also gaining his courage to try and ask her.

"They'll make a cute couple," Susan said, breaking the silence.

"You knew Nev was going to ask her?" Harry smirked.

"It was pretty obvious. Those two gaze at each other all the time, and they're the only people I've ever met with such passion for Herbology. Well not including Sprout, but I doubt Neville would ask her," she joked causing Harry to laugh loudly.

"Well if you noticed that, then I can guess you know why I'm here?" Harry replied, his courage coming out.

"Maybe… but then you'll have to ask your question for me to know my assumption was correct," Susan said back with a small smile.

"Susan, would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me?"

Her smile grew a bit bigger before she replied. "I would love to."

The two conversed for a bit longer before Susan left back to the common room. She was a nice girl Harry decided as she watched her retreating figure. She was pretty fun to hang around with, and she had a good sense of humour as well.

So why do I still keep thinking about Daphne?

Well that's chapter 11, after a lot of months. I am pretty terrible with consistency, aren't I? But this is the summer vacation, and with a pandemic going on there's nothing better than writing a story.

Hope you guys enjoy this one and don't forget to leave a review!