A/N: I do not own anything Harry Potter. I'm very sorry this chapter is late, but I do have some good news. The next chapter has been in the works for about a year and is almost complete. In the endnotes I address two questions brought up by a guest named Luisa. Thank you to everyone that has been reading, reviewing, and adding me to their Favorites/Alerts. I really hope you enjoy this chapter. Happy reading! XO

Chapter 59

"I've been thinking," Annie said after Parvati and Lavender left the room. She was laying on her bed, using her backpack as a pillow waiting for Hermione to be ready.

"What were you thinking?" Hermione asked as she placed her books neatly in her backpack.

"Remember before Umbridge came to Hagrid's the other night, he was saying that he wasn't attacked?" Annie said, sitting up and looking over at Hermione who nodded for her to go on. "He was about to say something before she knocked."

Hermione paused in the act of placing an inkwell in her bag. She looked over at Annie, suddenly remembering the detail as well.

"That's right, he was," she said, zippering the bag and slinging it over her shoulder. "What do you think he was going to say?"

Annie thought for second.

"I think he brought one of them back."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"You can't be serious."

"What?"

"Hagrid wouldn't do that."

"Why not?"

"He wouldn't risk that kind of exposure," Hermione argued, crossing her arms over her chest. "Professor Dumbledore wouldn't let him keep a giant on school grounds."

"Why not?" Annie repeated. "He's Dumbledore. Who knows what the hell he would allow. He's a weird dude."

"Annie, you're being ridiculous."

"Am I?"

Hermione considered her for a minute before walking to the door.

"Come on. We're missing breakfast," she said. Annie's eyes went wide with hunger.

"Waffle day!" Annie yelled, jumping to her feet and running past Hermione.

"Annie, you forgot your-" Hermione heard Annie hit the floor as she jumped off the last step, "backpack. And it's empty. Of course," she said, grabbing the backpack off her friend's bed. When she came down to the common room, she found Harry and Ron waiting by the portrait hole.

"If you're looking for Annie, she ran out of here two seconds ago screaming something about waffles," Harry said, leading the way out of the common room.

When they arrived in the Great Hall, they found Annie already deep in her breakfast. Hermione dropped into the seat next to her and poured herself a cup of coffee.

"Your backpack is empty," she said, after taking a sip and setting it on the table.

"It's not empty," Annie answered, unzipping the backpack and checking the contents. "There's like, half a pack of Gummy Owls, a quill, some ink, um, a piece of parchment, a few Fever Fudges and Puking Pastilles. I should really get some more of those. And- oh!" she reached in and pulled out a bar of Honeyduke's chocolate. "I was looking for this."

"Got all of the essentials, have you?" Ron asked with a smirk.

"Basically," she answered with a mouth full of chocolate. "So, do you think Umbridge will be at Hagrid's class today?"

"Without a doubt," Harry answered. "We have Transfiguration today. McGonagall will kill you if you don't have your book. What are you going to do?"

"I'll get it at the break," Annie said, waving off his question. Annie looked up at the enchanted ceiling as the owls came swooping in to deliver the mail. The sky was a gloomy grey as if it were threatening more snow. "How important is it that I go to class today?"

"Very important!" Hermione insisted. "It's our O.W.L. year!"

"But school is so boring and I want to go sledding!" Annie complained, as Oscar landed in front of her. She untied the letter from the owl's foot and gave him a piece of her bacon before he took off. "I think we can all afford to take a day off to play in the snow."

"I'm with Annie," Ron said with a mouth full of food.

"So that's sorted. We're skipping today and going sledding," Annie said, gleefully.

"No we're not," Harry said, lifting up a letter he had gotten. "Sirius told me to make sure you go to class. He figured you might want to skip at some point this week."

"You're joking. He wouldn't say that," Annie said doubtfully.

"Read your own letter. I'm sure he told you the same thing," Harry said, nodding to the letter in Annie's hand.

Annie unfolded the letter and began to read:

Dear Annie,

First of all, I've asked Harry to make sure you go to class so don't argue with him. It's your O.W.L. year and I don't want you dicking around too much. Just because there is snow on the ground doesn't mean that you can skip class. Trust me when I say you will get caught.

"Harry, I hate you," Annie said disdainfully.

"Yeah, well I don't like you that much either."

Annie stuck her tongue out at him and went back to her letter:

Alright, I'm done with that. How are your classes? How's George? What do you think about the Tornadoes signing? Lydia thinks they'll go all the way this season but I think she's off her rocker.

There's not much going on here. Bandit chewed up a couch cushion while I was work the other day. I wasn't even mad, I was just really impressed. Over the weekend, James, Remus, and I cleaned out the Potter's attic and we found a bunch of our old stuff that they kept for us over the years. I found my old record player and bunch of records that I'll have to show you when you come home for break.

By the way, I think Remus may be in love with our dear cousin, Tonks. Every time they're around each other, he drops stuff, spills his drink, stutters, it's really pathetic. And really hilarious.

I guess that's it. Write back so I know how you're doing.

Love,

Dad

Annie folded the letter back up and shoved it in her backpack. She got up from the table and followed her friends out of the Great Hall to the Charms classroom. They took their usual seats in the back and Annie took out a piece of parchment and a quill to write her reply as Professor Flitwick lectured the class on revising the mending spell.

Dear dad,

School is boring. It's so boring that I'm writing this in Charms because we're reviewing the mending charm. Lessons are fine as well. You nailed it when you thought I wanted to skip because of the snow. I swear I was only gonna skip Herbology. It's boring and I hate plants.

George is good too. He and Fred have been testing some new products in the common room and it's really pissing Hermione off which I think is really funny. He's still bummed out about being banned from quidditch. I am too. Angelina is pissed because now we have to find and train new players.

Lydia is off her rocker because the Harpies are gonna going all the way this season, but the Tornadoes did gain a good player. Plumpton is a good seeker, but I don't think he'll be able to handle all the pressure since he's moving up from the reserves.

I can't believe Remus is in love with Tonks! I wish I was around to see that.

I should probably start paying attention to class now. Hermione is giving me a death glare.

Write back soon,

Annie

Annie tucked her letter into her backpack and turned her attention to the lesson.

"That was the absolute worst Care of Magical Creatures lesson we've ever had," Harry commented as they made their way up the snowy slope to the greenhouses.

"The way she spoke to Hagrid was disgraceful," Hermione added, clearing the snow away as they walked. "I'd be really surprised if he passes her stupid inspection."

"Sh-sh-sh-she underst-st-stood him p-p-perfectly the other n-night," Annie stuttered, her teeth chattering from the cold. "She's a real b-b-b-bitch."

"What's Umbridge? I couldn't quite understand that," Ron said jokingly, nudging Annie in the arm.

"A b-b-b-bitch," Annie repeated, pulling her cloak tightly around her. "It's really c-c-c-cold out."

"That's because it's winter, pup," Harry pointed out.

"I know it's winter," she answered through gritted teeth. "I've only got a t-t-shirt underneath this c-cloak."

"That's your own fault isn't it?" Hermione said as they approached the greenhouses.

"I c-c-can't go to class," Annie said, holding out her hands. "Look at this! They're all red and frostbitten!"

"We'll be inside in two minutes," Harry said, pulling her in the right direction. "You can warm up in there."

"I don't know, Harry," Hermione said, stopping them in their tracks. "She doesn't look so good. Her lips are turning blue. The greenhouse won't be any better. Maybe she should go back."

Annie stared at Hermione in shock.

"What?" Hermione asked, staring back.

"N-nothing, it's just that I never thought I w-w-would ever hear you tell me to skip class," Annie said before blowing hot air into her hands. "I'm gonna h-head up to the castle."

"I'll go with you," Ron said, putting his hand on her shoulder, "to make sure you get back to the common room okay."

"We'll see you guys l-l-later," Annie called as they started to walk away. "You can catch us up on what we m-missed."

Ron and Annie walked back to the castle, Annie clutching her cloak tighter around her. As they walked into the Entrance Hall, Annie reached into her pocket and pulled out a tube of lip balm.

"Man, I can't believe this stuff works," she said, uncapping the wrong end of the lip balm and swiping it over her lips. "I can't wait to tell Fred and George."

"Wait, what is that stuff?" Ron asked as they climbed the steps. He looked over at her and her lips were back to a normal shade of pink.

"Frost Balm," she said, smiling and holding up the tube for Ron to inspect. "New product they're developing. My idea. It gives you a hint of frost bite on your lips so you look absolutely freezing."

"And you used this stuff to skip class?" he questioned, looking at the label.

"Yup!" she said, popping the "p". "You want to go up to the owlery? I've got to mail my letter to dad."

"Leave it to you to find every way possible to skip class."

"I really was cold," Annie confessed, taking the lead. "But I knew if I wanted to fool people to get out of class, I would have to use the Frost Balm."

"Genius."

"Thanks!"

"I love what you've done with the place, Potter," Annie said, walking into the Room of Requirement for the last D.A. meeting of the term. She looked around as Harry was taking down the last of the Christmas decorations she assumed Dobby had put up. "This décor is wonderful. I especially love the 'Have a very Harry Christmas' banner."

"Shut up, Black," Harry said, crumpling up the banner and throwing it in a trash bag. He turned around and saw that she was covered head-to-toe in dirt. "You couldn't have showered before you came here?"

Annie lifted one arm and sniffed herself.

"I didn't really feel like it at the time," she said, shrugging. "I guess I could use one though. Do you think this room would produce, like, a shower if you asked for it?"

"Dunno. Why don't you look over there?" he said, nodding to a door that had just appeared in the wall to her right.

"Whoa! This room is awesome!" she exclaimed, running over to the door that had a sign that said "Privacy Please." "I'll be out in a few minutes!"

"Yeah, just be quick about it!" Harry yelled back as the other members started to file in in.

Annie returned to the main room and the bathroom door disappeared behind her. She walked over to Neville, who had been her regular partner since the beginning, and started practicing the Stunning Spell with him. Annie was so proud of the way Neville had been improving over the past few months. He was easily becoming a match to be reckoned with. When an hour had passed, Harry called for everyone to halt and they gathered around to hear what he had to say.

"That's it for this term," he said, once everyone had quieted down. "Next year we'll start with some more difficult stuff like Patronuses. Until then, I hope you all have a happy holiday!"

Before Annie left with George, she noticed that Cho Chang seemed to be hanging back to talk to Harry. She caught his eye and gave him a big, goofy grin and a thumbs up to which she earned an eye-roll. Annie laughed and pulled George out the door. The couple took a while to get back to the common room, stopping to duck behind a statue or tapestry to make out. When they finally did make it back, George gave Annie one final kiss on the cheek and she made her way over to her friends sitting by the fire.

"You kissed Cho," she said to Harry as she jumped over the back of the couch and landed on the cushions.

"How did you know?" Harry asked, turning slightly red in the face.

"Merlin, you really did!" she exclaimed, laughing and pointing at his face. "I just guessed!"

Harry took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. Annie smacked him on the knee to get his attention and he looked over at her.

"How was it?" she asked cheekily, grinning from ear to ear in anticipation.

"She cried," he confessed, tilting his head back against the couch and closing his eyes.

Annie looked at Ron who was biting his lip as he tried not to laugh. However, the two could not hold themselves together and they started to snicker at their friend's misery.

"You guys suck," Harry said, putting his glasses back on and standing up. "I've got a headache. I'm going to bed."

"Aw, come on!" Annie called to his retreating back. "At least tell me what you did to her to make her cry. Harry!"

"Goodnight!" Harry yelled back before climbing the stairs to the boys' dormitories.

"Damn," Annie swore, stretching her feet across the couch. "Did he tell you guys why she was crying?"

"Because she's confused about all of her emotions," Hermione said, sighing in exasperation. "She likes Harry but misses Cedric and feels like she's dishonoring his memory by kissing Harry; I've also heard that she may like Roger Davies; her mother might lose her job at the Ministry and because of all this, she's probably not doing very well with her schoolwork."

"You've explained this before, haven't you?" Annie asked.

"Just before you walked in actually," she answered.

"Cho's a real basket case if you ask me," Annie said, running a hand through her hair. "Too overemotional and overbearing. Plus, she's got the crazy eyes."

"The crazy eyes?" Ron asked, chuckling softly. "What in Merlin's pants are the crazy eyes?"

"You know, the crazy eyes," Annie said, gesturing for emphasis. "When you look into someone's eyes and you just know they're crazy, they just have this way about them." Ron and Hermione still looked confused and Annie continued. "Like, one day a person will be all normal like, 'Hey, let's get lunch', 'Great shirt', 'Can I borrow your Charms notes?', and the next day they'll be like, 'Hey, we're dating now' or 'Hey, let me eat your soul'. Crazy eyes."

"How are dating and soul-eating on the same level of crazy?" Hermione asked, still not fully comprehending what Annie was trying to explain.

"Because they are. I don't make the rules, Hermione," Annie said defensively.

"Well, who else have you noticed that have 'crazy eyes'?" Ron asked, thoroughly amused by this new concept.

"Lavender Brown, Cho, Cho's friend Marietta, some Hufflepuff boy in the third year, a fourth-year Gryffindor girl but I forget her name," Annie listed, ticking the people off on her fingers.

"What about Luna? She's pretty crazy," Ron offered.

"Nah, she doesn't have them," Annie said, waving off the suggestion. "And she's not crazy, she's just weird. Weird can be good."

"So, people who are probably crazy have these eyes?" Ron inquired. Annie nodded her confirmation. "So you've got them then," he proposed.

"Don't be stupid. My eyes aren't crazy, they're just wild. There's a difference," Annie explained.

"Ah, right."

Annie and Ron started to laugh again and Hermione smiled a bit. The three stayed up for a bit longer, Ron working on some homework, Hermione reading her Arithmancy book, and Annie finishing the crossword puzzle in the Daily Prophet. When she was finished, she stood up and stretched every inch of her body.

"I am so tired from practice earlier," she said, lifting her arms above her head and letting them drop back down.

"Me too," Ron said, tossing his homework into his backpack and hitching it over his shoulder as he stood up. "I still can't believe that Ginny is gonna be our new seeker."

"I know," Annie said as they walked over to the staircases with Hermione. "She's a great seeker, but I always took her to be a better chaser."

"Yeah, well we don't need one of those," Ron remarked, walking up a few steps of the boys' staircase. "Anyway, I'll see you guys in the morning."

"Goodnight," Hermione said following behind Annie.

Once in their dorm, they moved around silently as they got ready for bed. After brushing her teeth Annie collapsed on her bed, pulled the blankets over her head, and fell asleep. She had been in the middle of an odd dream where she was playing poker with Filch, Mundungus Fletcher, and Charlie Weasley when she felt someone trying to shake her awake.

"Go away," she said, knocking the hand away. "I'm working on a three-of-a-kind."

"Ms. Black, you need to wake up and come with me," a voice said, pulling her out of her drowsy state.

"Professor McGonagall?" she said, rubbing her eyes and blinking up at her professor.

"Please come with me," Professor McGonagall repeated. "Quickly and quietly."

Annie got out of bed and noticed that Ginny was standing behind Professor McGonagall. She followed the two out of the dorm and was surprised that they were joined by Fred and George. Annie took George's hand as they trooped silently down the corridors.

"What's going on?" she whispered, squeezing his hand.

"No idea," he said, squeezing back.

Professor McGonagall led the kids to Professor Dumbledore's office and gave the password. She didn't knock and allowed the group to enter the office ahead of her.

"Ah," Professor Dumbledore said, taking note of their arrival, "thank you, Professor McGonagall. Please, have a seat, all of you. I have some rather unsettling news to tell you."

A/N: A guest by the name of Luisa brought up two questions that I'll answer here.

I have a question to ask did harry still stop voldemort and does he have the scar, because you don't mention it in here. (from Chapter 31)

He still stopped Voldemort when he was a baby and Lily and James survived. As a result of the attack, he got the scar on his forehead.

Hey just saying you said "you should have seen the look on centric diggorys face" um well he is dead. Because this is her fifth year right. (from Chapter 53)

Annie is recounting a story from their fourth year when Cedric was still alive.

I hope that cleared up some questions you may have had. If anyone else has any questions, please feel free to message me. Thanks for reading! Until next time! XO