The six of them had decided not tell Dumbledore of their recent discovery. In fact, it had been Theo and Hermione ,the self-confessed level-headed of the group, who'd decided for all of them. If the decision had been on Draco's head, he'd have barged straight into the headmaster's room and demanded answers on Hermione's behalf. Ginny, Blaise and Pansy had been much the same ,although they had a more think-before-do approach.

Hermione was absolutely against it ;however, believing that they didn't have any proper evidence to accuse him by.

'You were told by Bellatrix Lestrange,' Ginny argued. 'Unless I'm not sorely mistaken, she was Voldemort's most trusted advisor. She's the most trusted source you're going to get.'

'She could've been lying' Hermione said firmly ,trying and failing to return her attention to her Potion's essay ,fatigued by Ginny's constant attempt to alter her decision. She'd come to the library for some peace and quiet ,away from the common room ,but it was to no avail.

'Why ,though? She has absolutely no motivation to lie.' Ginny continued ,not fazed at all by Hermione.

'She could be trying to unhinge me or get me further away from you guys' Hermione sighed ,not really listening to Ginny anymore and trying to identify any evidence for Mandrake usage in potions.

'How would it-?' Ginny started ,but she was ,to Hermione's relief and shock, interrupted by a voice from behind the shelves.

'Leave the poor girl alone for a minute ,Ginevra'

There were only two people who still called her that name - Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.

'Potter?' Ginny asked ,brow furrowed in confusion. Harry's head appeared from around the shelves and he swaggered up to the girl's table before slumping in a seat across from the pair.

'Bellatrix Lestrange ,huh?' he asked Hermione ,eyebrow raised. On a first glance he sounded aloof ,but under that facade Ginny and Hermione could sense his concern. 'Is that what happened in that alley?'

'You catch on quick' Hermione frowned.

'You two have been talking with no silencing charms in the library' Harry said in a matter-of-fact manner. His response surprised Hermione and intrigued her. 'Eventually, someone would've overheard. You're lucky that it's me'

'Lucky?' Ginny scoffed ,but the other two ignored her.

'Were we really that obvious?' Hermione asked anxiously ,shooting a fleeting glare at Ginny.

'You were talking about Bellatrix Lestrange'

Hermione buried her head in her hands.

'So?' Harry asked ,trying to avert his attention from the looks Ginny was giving him. 'About Lestrange?'

'Why should we tell you?' Ginny asked defensively.

'Be nice' Hermione told Ginny before looking at Harry and saying in a softer voice than Ginny's 'Why should we tell you?'

'I'm smart, handsome, brilliant, brave-' Harry ticked them off on his fingers.

'Not helpful' Ginny rolled her eyes in exasperation and Hermione bit her lip in an attempt not to laugh.

Harry locked eyes with them ,looking serious now 'And I'm Harry Potter ,which means-'

'We know what it means ,Scarhead' Ginny interrupted ,but Harry continued ,unfazed.

'-I have connections -the minister, several aurors...; I am not unaware of your situation -I've been on the run before and on the receiving end of and I have influence -one word from me and the world can rotate the other direction.' Harry sat back in his seat ,surveying Ginny and Hermione's shocked faces.

They didn't know what to say. Thankfully, they were saved the trouble by four friendly faces appearing from behind the oppositte bookshelf Harry had had appeared from.

'Nice defense ,Potter' Draco drawled ,taking the seat next to Hermione ,who'd jumped at the sound of his voice from behind her.

'I am good ,aren't I' Harry draped his arm over the back of his chair proudly.

'The verdict has yet to be decided ,however' Theo said ,smirking and sitting next to Ginny. Blaise and Pansy took the seats at the end of the table ,next to each other.

To any outsider, it looked like there was some battle going on between the school bully and the other six by the way that Harry was left isolated on the opposite edge of the table.

On the contrary, Harry seemed to remain unfazed.

'What is it with people listening in to our conversations?' Ginny muttered ,rolling her eyes with a smile on her face. Theo grinned.

'I've placed the muffliato charm now ,so no more interruptions' Blaise said ,tucking his wand back into his robe pocket.

'Thank god' Hermione breathed.

'What's the verdict then?' Harry asked.

The six of them all looked at each other.

'You have to remember that you still owe me after the help I was at Hogsmeade' Harry reminded them.

Pansy frowned.

'Why do you want to know anyway?'

'He's bleeding Harry Potter ,that's why' Blaise interjected ,glaring balefully at Harry and flinching when he noticed Pansy show interest in the boy.

Harry laughed at Blaise's view of things 'You could say that ,but it's because ,well, mainly I'm bored. The whole of last year I was on the run. It wasn't enjoyable ,but at least there was never a droll moment.' Harry sighed 'I also want to help ,as Zabini says, I'm bleeding Harry Potter. I can't bare to carry on with my daily life ,knowing that one of my classmates is in trouble' He paused for a moment 'Even if you are a Slytherin'

Pensive silence.

'We do owe him' Hermione said eventually. 'He helped me get back in the castle discreetly that day and he already knows about my disguise. That's the crux of the secret after all.'

Ginny looked distrustful 'All these years you've been a right git and forcing me to be your girlfriend' She looked like she had eaten a bad tasting sweet at the word 'and now you decide to be all heroic?'

'Actually, Ron might've coerced me into that one. He'd was adamant at getting you to marry someone really famous guy and it seemed to him that I was the man for the job' Harry admitted ,trying and failing to sound aloof about the subject.

'He did what?' Ginny exclaimed and Hermione was thankful for the silencing charm around them.

'I thought you're his friend?' Draco asked ,looking appalled at the idea of Ron using his friend.

'His only one too' Blaise added ,obviously sharing Draco's reaction.

'I am' Harry nodded ,not meeting their eyes.

'You do realise that he's using you' Pansy said.

Harry nodded against his better judgement ,staring at his fingers. 'I owe him loads though ,being my first friend and helping me throughout the war and all that'

'Now that is why you were sorted into Gryffindor' Theo said ,shaking his head before muttering ,'Bleedin' heart'

'Hey!' Ginny frowned.

Harry laughed. 'You two are so cute' Ginny and Theo both turned to stare at him and Harry quickly changed the subject ,looking flustered 'So, your verdict?'

'I vote that we should tell him' Hermione declared instantly ,as if challenging the others to object her.

'You do realise that he will know everything then?' Draco said ,matter-of-factly. 'He will know who you are?'

'I already know that he's Hermione Granger-' Harry interrupted ,feeling like he was missing something ,which he was.

Blaise glared at him to shut up. 'He'll go straight to Dumbledore Herms' he said ,not taking his eyes off Harry.

Hermione hesitated and looked with a calculative stare at Harry. 'He might'

'But?' Pansy asked ,sensing that the witch had something extra to say.

'Draco mentioned that there was a book on Dumbledore's life written during the war' Hermione mused before asking Harry 'What did you think of it ,Potter?'

Harry's expression turned stony and Hermione knew that she had him even before he spoke. 'He only talked to me about it once after the war,' Harry conceded ,taking a deep breath as if he didn't want to recall he events. 'He told me that he regretted it all and that I shouldn't hold it against him.' Theo scoffed 'He said he was young ,as if it cleared his name by default'

'Did you forgive him then?' Ginny asked ,her anger and distrust had vanished and she was looking with pity at the boy she had thought she knew so well.

Harry didn't speak for a moment before shaking his head mutely.

Triumphant, Hermione smirked at the others.

'I believed that we could trust him from the start' Pansy said defensively ,holding her hands up.

'Three votes for me then' Harry counted.

'You sure you can count ,Potter?' Blaise asked.

'I get a vote too'

Blaise rolled his eyes.

'I'm with Hermione' Draco declared.

Theo stifled a laugh.

Draco glared at him.

'Four votes then' Harry smiled ,finding the drama amusing. 'I win'

Blaise sighed dramatically. 'Alright then ,who's gonna do the deed?'

No one volunteered.

This was going to take some time.

A/N: Sorry, I bet that you're disappointed. After the action packed last two chapters, this must have seemed the drollest chapter ever. It had to happen ,though. I wanted to make Harry join the gang in some superficial manner ,so a chapter or two on the decision would've been better sooner than later ,right?

Anyway, did you like the chapter? Please review!