He was going to kill Malfoy. And Snape would be getting something heavy flung towards his groin at high velocity. Tricking Harry Potter was not something that anyone on the planet would get away with.
When the haze from the Dreamless part of the potion wore off, Harry found himself once more in a black void. He knew he was asleep and thus should be capable of changing the world around him to suit his needs. A bit of concentrating and the main room of the Pit shifted into view around him. It wasn't perfect, but it would do. He walked around and sat on the couch. The flames that crackled in the fireplace were an electric green.
It was only a matter of time. He knew that. For a brief moment, he wondered how lucid he would be upon waking up. The first - and last - time he tried to take Dreamless Sleep, he had been out of it almost an entire day. And that was when Tonks and the others were still by his side. He wondered if either of the Slytherins planned to go get anyone else. Probably not. Malfoy might be wanting to prove himself further or something, Harry reasoned. Showing Harry he could be trusted.
While he waited for the nightmares to take control, Harry thought back to the last sleep he had gotten. The gemstone had called out to him again. It formed a body and given him a name. But the location was still a mystery. And yet Harry couldn't help but feel he knew where it was. It was on the tip of his tongue and wouldn't come out for some reason.
Balthazar. The jewelcrafter who had created the two gems. The man who had sealed himself into the conduit gem. If Harry reforged the Gauntlet to fight Voldemort, what would happen? Would he be able to contain the power? Surely he could. He was Harry Potter, after all. If he couldn't beat the odds, no one could. He had even thought up a solution to the power needed to perform the forging. The only problem with his idea was that Dumbledore might not be too willing to go along with it. And he really needed Dumbledore around when the time came. He didn't want to be alone when he made the attempt.
The power behind a hundred snapped wands couldn't be achieved easily. And Harry still wasn't too sure if his plan would work. He didn't know how powerful it was. And that was a distinct problem. Maybe once he thought of a way to boot Umbridge from Hogwarts. Maybe once Dumbledore had returned.
There was the sound of fizzling coming from behind him now. The potion was wearing off. His dream was dissolving into another endless nightmare. He closed his eyes and started to breathe deeply. He knew it was a futile effort. He had tried prepping himself in the past, but it was all in vain. He had yet to become desensitized to Voldemort's horrors. Part of him knew that as long as he remained repulsed, he would never stray from him path. Part of him wished that he could become desensitized as it meant being able to sit through the hell that Voldemort put him through.
Harry's eyes opened wide at that thought. Hell. Voldemort was putting him through hell. The Dementors were collecting souls. The gem was becoming lucid.
Shit.
Harry got to his feet and began pacing in front of the couch, which was rapidly melting away. The conduit gem was in Azkaban. It had to be. The souls being collected were somehow being fed to Balthazar's gem. It, in turn, was reviving. Voldemort planned to utilize the conduit gem somehow. What did he say? That Voldemort had 'great plans' for Azkaban? Well what the hell did that mean? He already had dominion over the Dementors. What other plans could he...
No. No, that couldn't be right, Harry thought, his pacing coming to a sudden halt as his brain began to work overtime. Balthazar had said Voldemort would rise above all others and that a great shadow would fall across the lands. There was very little to be taken from that. The only thing Harry could think of didn't make any sense at all. But if it was true - if that was what Voldemort was planning...
Harry wouldn't be able to stop him if he succeeded.
Voldemort wanted to make Azkaban fly.
Running a hand back through his hair, Harry quickly sat down on the floor, which had almost completely vanished. The only way Voldemort could lift Azkaban out of water was with an immense amount of power. If he was feeding the gem souls to awaken it, he must have had some inkling of knowledge about what it did. If he were to power up the conduit gem and channel his magic through it...
"Crap..." Harry muttered. "If he lifts Azkaban, the Dementors will be able to swarm out from the sky. Death from above. ...Oh no. Ohhhh no no no..."
The altered Dementors from his last nightmare.
"So... wait. He's changed the Dementors, he wants to make the island airborn... oh, this keeps getting worse. Gonna assume he has changed them. Or will be soon enough. We've got to get over there and get the gem before he has a chance. I've got to get word to Dumbledore. I've got to..."
He was cut off when a bright white flash filled the dark void. He was standing in an old looking kitchen. There was a long table surrounded by numerous chairs. Harry looked around, finding an attached living room, which he slowly walked into. Nothing seemed out of place yet. So why was he here?
The living room looked very worn, as though the people living here had done so for many generations. This was all very familiar, but for the life of him, he couldn't place why. There were stairs nearby, so he decided to try going up them. But the minute his foot touched the first step, his vision was no longer his own. He couldn't explain what was going on. The world around him had faded. And when it reappeared, he was very low to the ground. He was moving, though he knew he wasn't in his own body. This begged the question of where he was.
It didn't take long for him to work out whose eyes he was seeing through. Low to the ground and moving in a distinctly snakelike way. Harry was well aware that Voldemort had a snake - Nagini - because she had been in some of the nightmares. Harry wasn't sure if he was seeing through Nagini's eyes or whether it was just some random snake Voldemort had tapped to do his bidding.
Unable to do anything more, Harry went along for the ride. The snake had gone up one flight of stairs and was closing in on an opened door. Most likely a bedroom, Harry assumed. It did indeed turn out to be a bedroom. And judging from the noise, someone was fast asleep, unaware of the danger stealthily creeping up.
The snake managed to get up onto the bed. It was big. Bigger than Harry had assumed. There was a lone man in the bed, his back turned to the snake. By some twist of fate, he happened to roll onto his back just as the snake closed in.
Harry knew this man. Knew him well enough to begin struggling against whatever magic held him in place. He had devised a brutal way of waking himself up and, so far, it worked against any type of dream he had been locked up in. The only downside was that it did a tremendous amount of damage to his body. But he had no choice. If he didn't force himself to use the trick, wake up, and warn somebody, Arthur Weasley was going to die!
"I know you can hear me!" Harry screamed mentally, calling out to his merged magical core. "Wake me up! I know the risks! I know what will happen! I'm requesting the Exterminata Dementis be invoked! WAKE. ME. UP!"
Harry's world exploded into light, which quickly gave way to pain. He let out a choked gasp as he was forced into an awake state once more. Remembering what he had done, he rolled onto his side and started coughing up blood onto the floor. Once he was sure it was clear, he hopped out and drew his wands. He was bleeding from every hole in his head and then some. He felt nauseous and weak, as though he were about to collapse at any moment. It didn't matter. He had promised not to do it anymore, but in cases such as this, his own safety wasn't important. He had used dangerous magic to awaken and not he was forcing his barriers back up so he could once again shut off his sense of pain.
He was still banishing blood from his face when he opened the bedroom door. Pansy and Malfoy were still around and both looked over, surprised, when he emerged.
"Potter, what the hell happened to you?" Asked Malfoy, quickly standing up.
"Arthur Weasley is in trouble." Harry said through gritted teeth. Used bad magic to wake up. Not healthy. Shutting down pain receptors with Occlumency training. Help me get to the Transfiguration classroom. Quick!"
A quick exchanged glance and the two were at Harry's side. Classes were in session, thankfully, which made the journey less dangerous for the Slytherin duo. When they drew closer to the Transfiguration classroom, Harry said he could make it the rest of the way on his own, saying it was dangerous enough for the Slytherins to be lingering near him. He quickly turned and ran for the classroom, trying not to think about how badly he was going to be torn up once he lowered his barriers again.
He knocked urgently on the closed door to the class. When McGonagall's voice called out to enter, he did so.
"Potter? What's this about?"
"Professor, I think something bad is happening. Someone's in danger..." Harry panted.
"Danger? Potter, what are you talking about? Who's in danger?"
"Arthur Weasley." Harry said, looking the woman straight in the eyes. He had never gotten along with the woman much, but he knew she was as reliable as Dumbledore was. "Can't explain how I know in front of everyone, I just do. Please, Professor. There's a gigantic snake that was about to bite him. Probably has by now. Dunno where he is, but there was a lot of stairs."
Professor McGonagall eyed Harry strangely for a moment before nodding. "Class, continue reading chapter 11 on your own. I shall be right back."
With that, the Transfiguration teacher went into her office at the back of the room. Harry closed the door behind him and leaned against it, still panting heavily. This was taking a lot out of him. He knew people were staring at him instead of doing what McGonagall had told them to. 'Hang them,' he thought, 'this is more important.'
Nearly five minutes later, McGonagall re-entered the room, looking grave.
"How is he? Was he alright?" Asked Harry as soon as he saw the door open again.
"He has been taken to St. Mungo's." McGonagall said, her voice very clipped. "He had indeed been attacked by a snake. One that I have been assured is quite dead now. It was taken along for analysis."
Harry felt his blood run cold. "But is he okay?"
"I don't know, Potter. They believe they got to him quick enough that any damage can be reversed." McGonagall said. And then, turning to address her class, she continued, "I am afraid class is canceled for the rest of the day. Finish reading chapters 11 through 15 and write two pages on how bone structure is altered during the Transfiguration process."
Harry walked towards her desk as the rest of the students, a bunch of fourth years, quickly left the classroom. Once the door had been closed behind the last one, Harry asked quietly, "Order or Aurors?"
"Both." McGonagall said. "Arthur has been working almost around the clock. We had to order him to go off and get some sleep. He should have stayed at headquarters, but he chose to go home, claiming that it was more relaxing and that he would be more apt to drifting off there."
Harry bit back a swore, leaning forward against the old woman's desk. "Had a nightmare. A vision. Been having them awhile. I can see what Voldemort does. Or anything under his control, apparently. Saw through the eyes of the snake. Had to force myself awake through Dreamless Sleep that was wearing off. Had to... had to cut off pain with Occlumency. Not in such great shape right now, Professor... but I had to get here..."
"It is appreciated, Potter." McGonagall said. "Go and sit down. Try and relax. Arthur's life may yet be safe. We will have to wait and see. I'll refrain from asking how you woke up through such a strong potion or where you got it for now."
"Thank you." Harry said, wobbling over to a desk and flopping down at it. He crossed his arms on it and laid his head down, letting out a low groan as he slowly began lowering his barriers. "M'gonna be useless for awhile. Sorry, Professor."
"Quite alright, Potter. I'm going to go round up the Weasley children and take them to St. Mungo's. You sit and recover as long as you feel like, but I want you to go straight to the hospital wing as soon as you can walk steadily again. Understand?"
"Yes, Professor." Harry mumbled, letting his eyes slip shut.
"Good." McGonagall said, quickly walking out of the room.
A few minutes after she had left, the door opened again.
"Well?" Came Pansy's voice. "What happened?"
Without lifting his head, Harry murmured, "Mr. Weasley was bitten. He's at St. Mungo's. Dunno if he'll be alright or not yet. McGonagall went to get the other Weasleys an' take them over there..."
"And you?"
"Tired." Harry whined.
Pansy smiled, walking over. "Come on. Let's get you back to the Pit."
Harry let out a long-suffering groan before he forced himself to stand. "I'm gonna be a wreck when we get there."
"That's quite alright." Pansy said. "No one'll see you vulnerable. Draco's already back there, waiting. I'm sure the Weasley kids will pay a visit after they know how their father is, so try not to worry too much. You've done all you can. Let the medical staff do the worrying now."
"M'Harry Potter. S'my job to worry." Harry mumbled.
Slowly, the two made their way through the mostly-empty corridors back to the Pit. It took longer than Harry would have liked, but at least no one stopped them or questioned why Harry and Pansy were walking together. Malfoy was sitting in a corner of the room, scanning through one of the books Harry had nicked from Grimmauld.
"How you got ahold of any of these is beyond me." Commented the blonde as Pansy helped Harry over to the couch. "Even my family didn't have access to some of these."
Harry leaned against Pansy for support as soon as they were both seated, something which the girl did nothing to rectify.
"So, what happened?" Asked Malfoy.
Pansy gave him a quick recap and he seemed satisfied, returning to his reading. Harry, meanwhile, was having trouble keeping his eyes open. Forcing himself awake and then exerting himself to such an extent had taken a massive toll on his poor, tired, stressed body. He decided to just get it over with in one fell swoop, like tearing a bandage off quickly rather than slowly.
"Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!" He cried, doubling over. "Oh god, that hurts..."
"You'll be okay." Pansy murmured. "Just rest for once, you idiot. Look, use my leg as a pillow and just go to sleep! There should be more than enough of that potion coursing through you to keep you out."
"Nightmares." Mumbled Harry, doing as Pansy asked despite knowing what he was throwing himself back into.
"I'll keep them away." Pansy whispered, lightly brushing her hand through Harry's hair as he rested his head on her leg. "As best as I can, I'll keep them away."
"'Kay." Harry mumbled, his voice going quiet. "...Parkinson?"
"Hm?"
"Wintergreen." Harry giggled groggily. And that was that. He was out like a light, his body going limp in a matter of seconds.
Pansy grinned at him and sighed wistfully as she gazed down at him. "Idiot."
"You do smell like wintergreen, you know." Malfoy commented.
"Well aware of that, Draco." Pansy said, still stroking Harry's hair slowly. "I'm glad he decided to go to sleep."
"He's had a rough day." Malfoy said, closing the book on Dark Arts down and looking over. "We'll have to try and silence anyone who comes in, you know."
"What's this 'we' stuff? I'm busy." Pansy commented.
"Yes, yes, you and your baffling love of our hero. I'll silence anyone who comes in making noise, then." Malfoy said, rolling his eyes.
"Much better." Pansy said, grinning.
"The weasels will be arriving before anyone else, I'd imagine." Malfoy said. "Though you never know. Word spreads fast at this school. Could be anyone, really."
"Let's hope it isn't Granger." Pansy said.
"I'd need your help if it was." Malfoy said, making a face. "I alone wouldn't be able to answer her questions fast enough."
But no one turned up. Not for many, many hours. Night had fallen before the Pit's door opened again. Pansy looked over her shoulder and Malfoy glanced up from the book he had been lost within for the past few hours. It was the three Weasley children who knew of the Pit's existance. Malfoy brought a finger to his lips to indicate that they should be quiet.
"Potter's sleeping on the couch." Malfoy added in a quiet voice. "Let him rest. He damn near killed himself to wake up in time and get to McGonagall."
"What?" Ginny asked.
"Best as we could tell from his near-incoherent ramblings en route to McGonagall's class, he has a way to break from his nightmares. Does a heavy number on his body. I've gone in the bedroom since he fell asleep. Blood all over the bed itself and the floor. Probably vomited up. He was cleaning his face up when he came out and asked us to help. After he told McGonagall and she left to collect you lot, Pansy went in and helped him back here. He's been asleep since. Remnants of the Dreamless Sleep still working on him." Malfoy explained.
"He pushed himself that hard to save dad." Fred said, looking over towards the couch.
"We owe him a lot for this." George added.
"If you want to repay the debt, just be his friends. He needs someone here for him. And since my dear cousin and the vampire refuse to..." Malfoy trailed off.
"Yeah. Yeah, of course." Fred said. "Dad's gonna be fine. They messed with the snake for awhile - giant thing, too - and figured out how to whip up an antidote. Aurors said it was mid-bite when they showed up."
"Much longer and the amount of venom pumped into him would've been too much." George finished.
Ginny walked to the couch, peering over the back. Looking at Pansy, she whispered, "Has he had any nightmares?"
"None." Pansy murmured. "Thankfully."
"Yeah..." Ginny agreed. "We can't stay long. Just getting our things and telling our friends dad's okay. Wanted to come down here and thank Harry."
"Thank him by returning." Malfoy said. "Go on. We'll tell him you came by whenever he wakes up."
"Thanks, Malfoy." Fred said.
"Might have to rethink our stance on you after all." George added, a faint smile forming.
"Apologize for the pranks and we're even." Malfoy said dryly, lifting his book back up.
The twins chuckled and headed for the door. Ginny was soon to follow. Malfoy blew out a sigh as they left and looked over to Pansy. "One less thing for Potter to worry about."
"Hopefully with this sleep, he'll be back to normal." Pansy said.
"Doubtful. A few hours of sleep can't fix what he did to himself today. When he wakes up, he's going to be just as tired as when he fell asleep." Malfoy said. "You didn't see what I did in that bedroom. The pillow was practically drenched in blood. One night's sleep won't help you recover from what was effectively a hatchet to the face."
"I know, but... still..." Pansy said, looking down at Harry's peaceful form, in the same exact position he had been in since he had fallen asleep. Pansy's leg had long since fallen asleep as well, though she didn't dare move. Her leg would be fine for awhile yet. Harry needed the rest.
"I know. He'll survive. If there's one thing Potter can do, it's survive." Malfoy said. "He has an interesting ability to get out of tight spots without suffering too much damage. Only this time it's all mental and very little physical. Aside from today, I mean."
"At the very least, he has three of his friends back. Plus us. A good start." Pansy said.
"True. Now if the others would come to their senses. Perhaps the weasels will spread the word that I'm not going to hex anyone into oblivion before running to the Dark Lord." Malfoy said.
"So what do we do now?" Pansy asked. "Bring me a book, would you? Something light. Much as I'm enjoying this, it's boring staring at the fireplace."
"Tired of gazing on your golden boy's sleeping visage already?" Malfoy asked, smirking as he stood up and perused the bookshelves.
"Shut up, Draco." Pansy scowled.
"Temper, temper, Pansy." Malfoy said, grinning. He chose a book on poetry and walked over to the couch. "Will this suffice?"
"Nicely. Thank you." Pansy said, taking it and flipping it open.
Malfoy returned to the corner and picked his own book back up. It had been a long day, and there were still a few hours to go.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
At around ten that night, Harry's eyes opened again. Slowly at first, he had to blink owlishly a few times before taking in his surroundings. Turning his head, he saw a highly amused Pansy Parkinson smiling down at him. Groaning quietly, Harry hefted himself up into a sitting position, popping his neck to either side before stretching.
"How long've I been asleep?" He asked, coughing soon after.
"Better part of the day." Pansy said, stretching her left leg out best she could so it would start waking up. "The Weasleys stopped by. Their father's going to be okay, apparently. They got to him in time."
"That's good." Harry said, slumping back and closing his eyes again. "Sorry about your leg, by the way."
"It'll be alright once it wakes up." Pansy said. "How're you feeling?"
"Thirsty. Tired still." Harry said.
"'Just woke up' tired or 'Still stressed out' tired?" Pansy asked.
"Still stressed out." Harry muttered. "It'll probably be awhile bef-- wait."
"What is it?"
"...I didn't wake up." Harry said, eyebrows raised.
"Ooh, very good, Potter. I can see why you were sorted into Ravenclaw!" Pansy said, earning herself a groggy glare from Harry. She grinned back.
"I mean due to nightmares!" Harry said, rolling his eyes at the girl. "That hasn't happened in awhile..."
"Complaining?"
"Far from it." Harry said, tilting his head slightly. "Just... not used to sleeping normally after so long. ...Where's Draco?"
"Gone to bed. About twenty minutes ago." Pansy said.
"We're going to have to keep him down here around the end of the holiday..." Harry said. "I don't want him going back to his House's rooms for awhile."
"He'd never agree. Draco's strong enough to keep himself safe." Pansy said.
Harry was silent for awhile. Eventually, he turned, casting a curious look at the Slytherin. "Why'd you let me sleep so long? Your leg must be hurting."
"You needed it." Pansy said. "You really, really needed it."
"Yeah, but--"
"No buts. Look, Harry... I know I can't replace her." Pansy said, staring down at the floor now. "I know that. But... you need sleep. More than what you got here. I could stay in there with you. Even if it just to sit next to the bed. I kept the nightmares away, didn't I? So..."
"Pansy."
"Yeah... yeah, I know. Stupid idea. Sorry."
"I didn't say that." Harry said, slowly.
Pansy looked over. Harry had his hands clasped together on his knees and was staring at them. "...I do need sleep." He said quietly. "Desperately. But... I don't know. I just don't know if I can do that. It would betray her tr--"
"Hang her trust!" Pansy yelled, causing Harry to jump suddenly. "She's done nothing but betray yours, so why not?! Why can't you betray hers?! Let her know how you feel for once! You're going to get sick if you keep this up! Is that what you want? To be bedridden when the Dark Lord finally makes his move?!"
"Pansy..." Harry said, looking over at the girl. "I'm... hell, I don't know. I don't know whether I'm coming or going lately. This is something I'll need to think about. You understand, don't you?"
Pansy stood up. "No. I don't, Potter. If I can help you sleep, why not? Not like I'm asking to have sex with you. I just want to be near you so you can sleep."
"No added benefits for yourself, I'm sure." Harry said, glancing off.
"You're such an idiot, Potter. You know that?"
Harry looked back. "That's a fine thing to say to a person you want to sleep with."
"Sleep, Potter. That's it. Nothing more." Pansy said, turning away. "Can't you even give me that much?"
"I don't know." Harry answered. "I really don't. I asked her to marry me, Pansy. I'm sure once Leon gets himself under control--"
"Am I not good enough?" Pansy whispered.
Harry looked at the girl for a moment before getting to his feet. "I didn't say that either. Look... it's... I need time to think. I slept most of the day, so I'm going to be up all night one way or another. Can you at least give me until Christmas?"
"...Sure. Why not? I've waited this long. What's another week or two?"
"Thanks." Harry said, stepping over and hugging the girl from behind. Pansy was shaking faintly. "...Are you crying?"
"No." Pansy said, lowering her head. "Slytherins don't cry."
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Harry murmured.
"Just promise me, Harry. Promise me you'll have an answer by Christmas." Pansy said.
"I promise." Harry said. "I'll give them an ultimatum. Either they get control over themselves or I move on without them, whatever that entails."
Tugging herself out of the hug, Pansy turned and looked into Harry's eyes. "...Thank you. Think I'll go ahead and go to bed, then."
Harry nodded. "Take care, Pansy."
"...Harry?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry, too."
"For wh--"
Harry's eyes shot open as Pansy closed the distance between them, her lips pressing against his. The shock of it kept him from pulling away. When Pansy finally did, he found himself unable to say anything. It was just as well, as Pansy didn't look like she could either. With her eyes shimmering openly now, she mouthed another apology before turning and running out of the Pit. Harry stared at the door long after she left before finally raising a hand to his lips.
"Oh."
Everything fell into place at that moment. Why she had always acted so weird to him, why she had gotten so upset at the Yule Ball, why she wanted to stay with him to ensure he slept. It all made sense now. He closed his eyes and sighed, wondering how on earth someone as stupid as he was could have ever made it into Ravenclaw.
Shambling towards the bedroom, he drew his wand to clean up the mess he had made upon his forced awakening, only to find things perfectly clean. He blinked, walking closer to make sure he was seeing things correctly. "...Who did this?"
"Draco Malfoy. While you were asleep." Boris hissed.
"I'll have to thank him for saving me some work." Harry said, putting his wand away and flopping down on his bed.
"You seem distraught. Moreso than usual." Boris said.
"Pansy kissed me. Again." Harry said.
"I see."
"She kissed me a couple years ago, too. Unless my memory's gone bad on me from lack of sleep, I think she actually gave me my first kiss..." Harry admitted.
"It sounds as though she has cared about you for a long time."
"Yeah... and my idiot self is only just now realizing it. She kept the nightmares away when I slept out there, Boris. What does that mean?"
"It means whatever you think it does, Harry. Perhaps you simply feel safe around her, thus you're able to relax."
"Yeah, but... I definitely wasn't able to raise my barriers before I fell asleep..." Harry said, brow creased. "Explain why I didn't wake up screaming like usual."
"I can't, I'm afraid. What are you going to do now?"
"I don't know. I told her I'd give her an answer no later than Christmas. About her offer to stay in here with me to see if it actually does help me sleep better. If Tonks won't come back..." Harry trailed off, closing his eyes.
"You want to be able to sleep, but you don't want to hurt Parkinson's feelings by merely using her." Boris said.
"Yeah."
"Follow your heart, Harry. That's the only advice I have to give you right now. This choice is far too important for me to make for you."
"Boris?"
"Yes?"
"It's gonna be a long night, isn't it?"
"Yes."
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
Author's Notes: Okay, kids, pay attention now, as some important stuff has happened this chapter. And I finally got to write Pansy kissing Harry once more. That hasn't happened in a good while. Things are so far gone from my chapter guide that I'm only using it as a track to guide myself by. For example, this chapter was supposed to be much closer to the real thing. But that's boring. Better to stir things up a bit, don't you think? And the plot for book six was finally pieced together by Harry. Oh yes - Azkaban WILL fly.
Now next chapter's going to be a bit tricky. It's going to cover the whole of the Xmas holiday. I may include a surprise bit too, depending on how well I can pad out the two primary story bits scheduled for it right now. The Death Eater children will be marked, obviously, so Draco and Pansy are going to be in a bit of hot water, I'd say. And, of course, we need to find out what Harry does with the choice he's been given. Bit of a blockhead for a Ravenclaw, isn't he, folks?
The surprise bit... I dunno. I want to use it, but using it means I can't get Harry off to the Ministry as easily. I may wait until book 6 to include it. It doesn't really matter where it goes, so long as it's included at some point. Whatever I do, I'll see you lot next chapter, which may take awhile to get out. The last few chapters have been easy to write. Next chapter or two are transitional. Those always take me ages to finish.