Beforehand: I decided not to go back and add all the page breaks into this story afterall, as it takes way too long to search for them.

Side note: Malfoy's character change will be revealed later, so bear with him until his secret is uncovered.

Please enjoy.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Malfoy asked, walking behind the trio and Ginny. "You came back for another year? My, my, we just don't learn do we?" The four people turned to see Malfoy alone.

"Brave, aren't you, Malfoy?" Ron asked, crossing his arms. "Crossing all of us at the same time?"

"Save it, Weasley!" Malfoy spat. "Where's Harry?"

"Right here." Harry stepped forward, looking down at him. Harry was a good four inches taller than he was.

Malfoy smirked. "It seems you've changed." If he was surprised by Harry's appearance, he was covering it well.

Harry smirked down at him. "And you haven't." He replied.

"Oh, I've changed." Malfoy grinned, walking past them. "But I had to have a little fun before school started again."

The four blinked, watching his figure retreat. "He's different." Harry sudden said, flatly. "I can feel it somehow. I can't put my finger on it, but…" He trailed off, absentmindedly taking a hold of his necklace under his shirt.

"We'll be late if we don't hurry." Hermione said after a while, eyeing his hand.

"Yeah, let's go." Ron added, pushing his trolley to the barrier. "I'll go first.

The ride to Hogwarts was going slower than usual it seemed. No matter how many times he tried, Harry could not shake the feeling that something was wrong. Malfoy had not came to bother them like usual on the ride and it was already half way over. Also it was starting to get dark. He had discussed his feelings with Celestial, but she gave no explanation other than his aura was one of longing and acceptance, with a tint of love.

Love.

Harry scoffed, causing Hermione to look at him. 'Malfoy doesn't even know what that word means.' He thought bitterly to himself. 'What is it then?' He quickly stood, getting a squeak out of Ginny, who was starting to nod off on his shoulder. "I'll be right back." He said to no one, but tossed a small bag of galleons to Ron. "Ron, buy some stuff if the cart goes around, all right?" His friend nodded and Harry left the small room.

Harry paused outside his compartment before walking. 'Which one is Malfoy in?' He asked himself

"Feel for it." Celestial told him in an encouraging voice, like a mother would do when her child was learning to walk. "Feel for the aura you want. Make it appear to you. Use you're Dragon's Vision."

Harry closed his eyes a moment, slowly inhaling and collecting his thoughts. When he reopened them, he saw the word in different light. He could see a golden aura around himself and could feel the auras of people around him. Instantly he pin pointed his friend's but had to concentrate to find the one he wanted. Pausing at each door, Harry held out a hand to it. Neville and Dean were in the one in front of him. Turning, he held out his hand again. In this room there were three auras. Two of which were a dark painful black, and the other was a dark gray.

"Tainted." Celestial told him with a sad voice. "They are so young to be so dark…"

Harry nodded to himself, continuing his quest. Midway through the train, he found a room with a single occupant. Its aura was mixed with gray, blue, white, and a faint wisp of red and an overpowering yellow. Thinking back he placed them all. Gray is a dark feeling, blue is casual, white is loneliness, and red is romantic feelings. Yellow was of uncertainties. Not able to help himself, Harry opened the door.

"Malfoy."

Malfoy sneered up at him, his aura shifting to a darker hue. "What do you want, Potter?"

Harry closed the door behind him and sat across from his nemesis, eyeing him. "You've changed." Harry snarled at his look.

"I told you I did." Malfoy leaned forward, giving off an air of confidence. Although he took a casual posture, it was clear he was ready to strike if the moment arose. "And not just my hair."

Harry then noticed for the first time that his hair was in a ponytail halfway down his back. Harry met his eye. "Where are your lackeys?"

Malfoy almost hesitated. "I don't need them anymore. They are too stupid to help me anymore."

Harry grimaced. They were probably death eaters now. If they abandoned Malfoy, that meant that he was obviously not on good terms with the Dark Lord. Harry was about to ask another question, but a female poked her head in the room, looking at Malfoy and completely missing Harry. "Draco!" the woman greeted. "Where was you all summer? I tried contacting you several times, but you was never home! I-"

Malfoy cut her off with a snarl. "Leave. I am discussing things with Potter."

The girl turned to look at Harry. Instantly he recognized her as Pansey. Slowly she turned her head. "Why are you talking to him?"

"We have certain… things to discus." Malfoy snorted. "Leave."

"…Whatever." Although she sounded like she didn't care, she was obviously hurt.

"You didn't go home." Harry stated flatly.

"I didn't want to." He replied, voice equally emotionless.

"There is a reason."

"Ooh, you're the bright one aren't you?" Malfoy looked him right in the face. "Nice eyes, Potter."

Harry chose not to comment. "Nice aura, Malfoy." He replied just as coldly.

Instantly every trace of his aura vanished all at once, leaving him completely blank. "We both have our secrets don't we?"

Harry stood. "I'll figure you out, Malfoy."

He also stood. "Don't count on it, Potter."

"Strike him!" Harry didn't hesitate on Celestial's instructions. She had never steered him wrong before. Malfoy grabbed Harry's fist. "Again!" the voice shouted.

The two exchanged blows for a full minute, neither landing a single one. As soon as it started, it stopped. Each looked into each other's eyes, and only then did he notice that Malfoy had indeed changed.

He wasn't angry.

Harry smirked a moment. "It seems you took lessons."

"Sometimes, one must resort to muggle methods if all else fails." He replied, smirking as well.

"You have changed."

"As have you."

"I'll keep your secret."

"Don't reveal yours."

Harry left the compartment, calmly walking back to his own. "He has the power of something not human." Celestial told him. "He's had it for five months, but only realized it for two."

'I could feel it.' Harry replied.

"Aye." She replied to him, sounding serious. "You are getting better at accessing you dragon power." Harry had reached his compartment now. " Read the book you bought later, it'll explain."

'Yeah.'

"What took you?" Hermione asked him softly when he came back in.

Harry blinked. Ron and Ginny were asleep. Ginny was lying across the seat with her head in Ron's lap, while he was leaning against the window, arms crossed on his chest. There were a few chocolate frogs in a package on Harry's side of the train.

"How long was I gone?" He asked amazed, in a whisper so he wouldn't wake his friends.

"Almost an hour." Hermione scolded him.

Harry quickly looked to his wrist, but remembered his watch didn't work. "No way, I was only gone for a little bit!"

"Shush!" She scolded him, putting a finger to her lips and motioning him to sit by her, seat vacant since Ginny went to use Ron as a pillow when Harry left.

"I was with Malfoy." Harry told her, whispering.

"Malfoy? Whatever for?" She looked up at him with wide eyes. "Harry, so help me, if you started a fight…"

"We didn't fight." He lied. "Well, not really."

She looked skeptical, but shrugged it off, obviously filing away the thoughts to be brought up at a more convenient time. "Harry, you never did tell me who Cecilia was."

Harry subconsciously fingered his necklace, deciding maybe it is best if she didn't know of it. "Hermione, I'm not ready just yet…"

Hermione sighed, but took note of him touching his necklace. "Harry… You know I'm here for you, right?"

Harry smiled and ran a hand across her cheek, making her blush. "Yeah, Herms, I know… thanks."

Hermione smiled gently up at him, reaching to take his hand and hold it. "Just remember that I'll help you with anything that you don't understand…"

Harry's other hand instantly went to fondle his necklace again. "Thanks… I may have to take you up on that soon."

She placed her head on his shoulder. "Well, until then, you can make yourself useful by waking me when we get there."

"Oi, what am I, a human pillow?" Harry put his arm around her and pulled her close despite his verbal objection.

"You're like my teddy bear." Hermione whispered against his neck, closing her eyes and starting to drift off. "Only more snuggly."

Harry smiled lopsidedly, shaking his head lightly at his best friend and flirting partner.

"She's sweet."

"Gryffindor!" The sorting hat shouted, sending eleven year old Ted to the table. The house erupted in applause and patted him welcome on the back. Ted chose to sit next to Harry, the only seat left for the first years.

"Food!" Ron and Harry cheered at the same time, grabbing everything in sight and reach. After snarfing down their first helpings, bets quickly circulated on the traditional 'who will eat more: Ron or Harry' spree. The first years only watched in shock and they rounded their third helpings.

"Who's your bet on?" A boy, Collin, asked the few first years next to Harry. "I'm taking them."

Ted looked over at him; amazed a seventh year was talking to him. "I, um, don't know who they are."

A few children nodded, pleased at the attention from an upper classman. "Oh." Collin grinned. "The red head is Ron Weasley, he usually wins by a few helpings. The other is Harry potter."

The first years went silent all at once before screaming to life. "Harry potter! The rumours are true! He is in Gryffindor!" Harry waved to them. Or at least tried to. It was more of moving a drumstick back and forth.

"A galleon on Harry!"

"Two on Ron!"

"A galleon and a Knut on Harry!"

Collin started collecting the money. The first years, amazed at Harry Potter, was evening out the bets from the more knowledgeable older students who knew Ron always won at feasts.

As it came down to it, Harry won by a full three helpings. (And huge ones at that). In fact, Harry had a huge chicken drumstick moving to his mouth when dinner ended. It turned out he bit on air, cursing as he bit his tongue. Unfortunately, it was the same time as Dumbledor stood, giving the instantly quiet room a well-defined "Sod!"

Harry instantly flushed and sank low at the bench, wishing to disappear. Hermione scolded him in a harsh whisper right before Dumbledor spoke.

"Welcome… to a New Year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A few announcements, old to some, new to others…" He smiled at the first years, who were all in awe of the living legend known as Dumbledor. "The forbidden forest is still forbidden. Also, the curfew is still midnight for seventh years and eleven for six years and down. First years will be expected in their common room no later than ten o'clock…"

Harry listened half heartedly at the briefings of the rules, and gapped at all the new things that were not allowed at the school when the caretaker spoke. After Harry was sure he was finished, he held up a catalog. "Nothing from this book is allowed, either." Harry smirked. It was the Things You Never Knew Existed (and other things you can't possibly live without!) catalog.

"Now!" Dumbledor spoke. "For the new announcements." Harry listened fully again. "As some of you have noticed, the prefects of each common room was not chosen. We are going to try a new method. Students will vote for their prefects of their house. Head Boy and Head Girl will still be chosen by staff, just incase the prefects have trouble with their duties." There was an excited mumbling at this. "There is a small parchment and quill in front of you. Please write the name of the person you wish to lead you. First years, of course, may not vote, for they do not know anyone well enough." He gave a merry chuckle. "But fear not, young ones, you will have an activity the other students may not participate in later this year."

Ron picked up the quill where his silverware usually is and looked at the parchment on his plate. With a quick grin to Harry, he wrote down his name and folded it. No sooner than the two pieces of paper collected together than did it disappear. "Wicked cool." He breathed, still using his age-old expressions that his friends came to know and love.

When the voting was done, Dumbledor waved his wand. "Your leaders have been chosen. Please look to the head of your table for the results."

Hermione turned to look. Being at the front of the table, it was only a few feet to see. A magical billboard was at each of their tables. In big white letters, it read:

Gryffindor House Prefects

Harry Potter: 45 votes

Hermione Granger: 43 votes

(Runners up: Ron Weasley: 35 votes; Ginny Weasley: 22 votes)

Harry blinked. "Why me?" He asked, but Hermione was bouncing in her seat, clapping her hands in amazement.

"I'm a Prefect!" She announced, as if nobody else knew. "I'm a prefect!"

"Now," Dumbledor announced, getting everyone's attention. "I do believe it is time for bed. Sleep well, and have a nice year at school. Prefects, please lead the first years to their common room, please."

"…And as read in Hogwarts: A History, the staircases move to your desire, if not a bit random. Think of your destination clearly when walking, and you should end up there. Also, take note in…"

A little boy, by the name of Steve, pulled on Harry's robe to get his attention. Harry grinned down at him. "Um, Mr. Harry Potter, sir…"

"Call me Harry." He smirked. "I'm a normal person, just like you. "

Steve grinned up at him, obviously amazed at his kindness. "Well, Harry, sir, is she…well, I mean…"

"Always that talkative?" Harry finished with a smirk. " 'Fraid so, kid. You'll get used to it. If she ask you anything, just agree with her, it'll save you-"

"Harry!" Hermione scolded. "Are you listening?"

"Yes, Herms!" Harry called back. "I was just telling, this young one here the same thing!"

Hermione looked pleased. "Good, I see you're being serious for once." Several snickers. "Anyway, here we are at…"

Harry looked down at Steve. "What did I just agree to?"

Steve shrugged and both smiled. He was sure this would be a very fun year of his life.

"All right guys!" Harry called out in the common room after the first years went to bed. "Why me? Let's have it."

Instantly all the guys laughed. Seamus took it as his responsibility to answer. "Please Harry, we all know you have broken the rules more than all of us combined! With you as our prefect, what could go wrong!?"

Hermione turned to the girls. "Did you all vote for me?" To her surprise, every single girl nodded. "Any reason?"

Lavender gave her a small, uncertain smile. "You're the only one who could keep him in check."

Hermione blushed, but nodded just the same. "I'll do my best."

"We're counting on it."

"Hey, where's my stuff?" Harry asked, looking around his room. "It's not at my bed!"

"Harry, aren't you forgetting something?" Neville, of all people, asked him. "Remember? Prefects get their own bedroom?"

"That's not any fun." Dean commented, pulling on his pajama top. "Harry always brought light to the room… If not a few snores."

"I do believe that's Seamus." Ron laughed, grabbing a towel. "He could wake the dead!"

"Oh, ha. Ha. Ha." Seamus retorted, grabbing a towel himself.

"You guys going to the bath?" Neville questioned, getting two nods. "Hold up, I'll go too."

"Yeah, me too."

Ron twirled his towel and popped Harry with it. "Harry, mate, you got the prefects bathroom remember?"

"Oh yyyeeeeaaaahhhhh!" He said with realization. "Forgot about that… Aw, dang, that means I got to walk all the way down to it."

Seamus laughed on his way out. "Leave it to Harry to complain about using the Prefect's bathroom." He waved over his shoulder. "See you."

"Yeah, bye." And with that, Harry walked to his room.

Harry opened the door and walked in, getting a screech from a girl already in there. "Eek! Harry!" Hermione scolded, holding her nightshirt to her chin. "You scared me to death!"

"Hey Herms." He replied easily, as if he didn't walk in on her half-naked. Hermione sighed and put on the shirt. "Should I knock to come in my own room?" He teased, eyeing the layout. It was a nice sized room, about half as big as the dorms, but with only two people sharing it, made it seem much larger than it was. One side was obviously Hermione's, being a big fluffy bed with pinkish covers and lace on the top of the four poles. The curtains tied to the bedpost, so a simple pull would make them swing down for privacy, instead of having to pull them all the way around like in the dorms.

His side was almost a mirror of hers, but more masculine. A tapestry hung on his wall, bearing the Hogwarts seal. With a grin, he sat on his bed and let out a small yelp as he fell back. "What is this? Harry asked, righting himself. "It's like a cloud!"

"Don't like it?" His roommate for the year asked, arching an eyebrow. "These are magical beds, you can change them to any degree with your wand."

Harry pondered this. "Why aren't all beds like that then?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "Harry, after seven years, you still miss the most obvious things." He shrugged. "How do you make a bed softer?"

"Cushion charm!" He replied proudly.

"Very good, Harry." She praised sarcastically. "And if you cast it a second time?"

"Er, more cushiony?"

"That's not a word, dear."

Hermione laughed. "No, it'll stay the same. Spells can't be added on each other, it must be cast at a higher power if you want it to be more effective."

"Ahhhh….. So these beds were made magically to be adjustable to any degree?" He ran his right hand over the bed, making it visibly harder. "I bet that must cost a fortune…" When it got to the round-a-bout same softness of his bed in the dorms he stopped. "Much better."

"How did you do that?" Hermione awed, sitting on his bed and bouncing a little as if to test his personal preference.

"What?" He got up and took off his shirt.

Hermione's eyebrows went up a little at seeing his chest so defined. "Make the bed harder without your wand."

Harry paused to turn to her, shirt in his hands. "Hermione, where are you looking?" He waved his right arm, showing it had a black gauntlet on it on it.

"What's that?"

Harry took it off and tossed it to her, taking the time to change into his pajama pants. He had slept without a shirt on for the last two years and each were already accustomed to seeing each other without many cloths on. When Harry had been able to stay with Ron for an entire summer after his fifth year, Hermione had been invited too. The pair had walked in on each other so many times that they soon gave up the notion of being embarrassed and just ignored it.

That was before Harry got so well developed, and Hermione found herself blushing a little. A little nervous, she started rambling (as she always did when nervous about something). "A wizard wand holder." She spoke, racking her mind to find information on it. "Used to let a witch or wizard call his wand without having to reach into the robes." Upon closer inspection she frowned in thought. "But, Harry, you didn't draw it."

"Don't have to." Harry told her casually, laying on his bed and putting his hands behind his back, but let one reach to take his holder back. "A wand is a focal point, right? I just focused it on my arm instead of in my hand." Lazily, he rolled over to put it on his nightstand.

"Simple enough." She agreed with an approving look.

"Hermione?"

"Hmm?"

She looked down at Harry, who had his face in his pillow. "Rub my back?" He asked it in a kind of whine, making her laugh.

"Sure, sure, just don't be expecting it every night." Harry took in a sharp breath as he felt her cool hands on him. "And I'm not digging out that lotion, so you can just forget that."

"Spoilsport."

Harry yawned loudly as he stretched out in his bed, forming an "X" pattern. Lazily, he slid his feet to the side and put them in the slippers next to the bed. Mind groggy, he walked to his trunk and opened it, taking out some clean cloths. After getting them, he walked to his door and opened it. It was still early, he realized, as he walked down the stairs to the common room. Everyone else was still asleep, and he wasn't far off.

He exited the Gryffindor's common room via the portrait. He walked, more asleep than awake, to the prefect's bathroom. He didn't once think of the ruckus he could bring about by walking through the halls half dressed, and didn't really care. All he was thinking about was a nice, long, hot bath. The perfect start to the first day of classes. Plus, he was curious to mess with all the different taps and see what perfumed water he could get.

When he made it to the entrance to the bathroom, he gave the password ("Pine Fresh") and walked in. Immediately greeting him was a rack of towels to his right. He took the fluffy gold one under the Gryffindor section and put his clean cloths where he picked it up. Letting out a face-shattering yawn, he made his way to the giant bath, completely and blissfully missing the big sign above the towels that gave the bathing times for each house and each sex. Also, he failed to notice the 'occupied' marker next to the other Gryffindor's name.

Harry saw the bath was already filled and rubbed his eyes, trying to figure out why. It was then that a scream hit his ears: "Harold James Potter, what the hell are you playing at!?"

Harry was confused. Hermione? No, Hermione didn't curse. Despite his belief, however, she stood in the middle of the bath, only her head visible through the bubbles. A blush quickly shot over his cheeks and he tried to stammer out a response, now shocked into awareness. "Hermione…" He began, finding his voice. "I, er, that is…"

She was crossing her arms over her chest, even though he couldn't see her anyway. "Well?" She demanded.

"It's not like I've never seen it before!" Harry managed out, instantly realizing it wasn't the best thing to say given the situation. His fears were confirmed by the insanely shocked and embarrassed look on Hermione's face. Swiftly, he tried to cover. "What I mean is that…Hermione, it's only me!"

"Can you see anything?"

"Wha? No!"

She sighed, visibly relaxing. "Harry, you're an idiot, you know that? Didn't you look at the times?"

"Times?"

She was swimming her way to the front of the pool. "Yes, the times right above our towels."

Harry turned around and grinned. "Oh! Those! No, I didn't."

"Doesn't surprise me any." Hermione sighed. "Honey, you need to be more alert if you're going to be a prefect…"

He looked a little saddened at her vocalization of the truth, but suddenly he realized something. "Honey?"

"Yes?"

"No, no, " He waved his arms. "I meant, why did you call me that?"

She was confused. "I call you cute names all the time."

"Do you?" He tried to think back, but realized she had a hurt look on her face. "I mean," he covered himself smoothly. "That you never called me Honey before."

"I call you that, dear."

'In a moment, Cecilia.'

"Does it bother you?" She asked, poking out her bottom lip.

"No! not at all!" He laughed nervously. 'Why is she acting so weird? Shouldn't she be throwing things at me?'

"Harry…She's flirting. Do you know what a flirt is? It's when.."

"Shut up, Cecilia!" Harry scolded under his breath.

"That name again…Are you hearing things…?"

"Something like that, yeah." He snarled to himself. "Look, obviously I've interrupted your bath, so I'm just gonna…"

"I was about to get out. I've been in for a long time. Actually, my time supposed to start in about twenty minutes, then yours. Gryffindors shower in the mornings, the other houses are at night."

"Go us." He said dryly. "We're the only ones who could wake up for it anyway…"

"Would you hand me a towel?"

"Huh? Oh yeah." He handed her his. "Sorry again…"

"I'll get you back, don't worry." She assured him. "Um, could you turn around please? I don't mind if it's just my underclothes, but…"

"Yeah." Harry turned around and a moment later heard water splashing as she got out. He shut his eyes tight and tried his best not to focus on the mental image he was getting of a very wet and very good looking Hermione… Patting herself dry with a towel… Drying her legs… Her stomach… her brea--.. Harry shook his head furiously. 'Bad Harry!' He scolded. 'Don't you DARE think that!'

"All yours." Hermione told him sweetly.

Harry opened his eyes to see a soaking wet Hermione with the towel wrapped around her, covering more than enough. She wasn't going to dry in front of him it seemed. "Ah," Harry nodded. "I'll, er, see you later then."

"Yeah. Bye." She waved and walked away.

'When did she have that kind of movements while walking…?' Harry asked himself, eyeing her retreating figure. 'Wow, she sure does look nice…'

"Harry, you're staring." Celestial told him in an annoyed voice. " I'd have slapped you."

"Sorry." He muttered, stripping. "I didn't mean too…"

"It's okay"' She told him happily. "You just got punished for me."

"What?" He began to swim.

Her voice was full of humour. "You do realize you are swimming in a very girlish scented perfume water don't you?"

"Aaaarrrgghh!"

Harry finished drying himself off and tossed the towel into the hamper labeled 'dirty'. With a smile he shook his head and ran his fingers through it, making it stand up in the spike again with the help of a little charm. "That was great!" He proclaimed, reaching for his cloths. "Just what I needed for--" He patted his hand around. "Um.." Harry looked over the space where the towels were. "Where are my cloths?" He looked around some more. "Where is my robe!?"

Harry stormed down the hallway to the fat lady's portrait in a steady pace, stomping each step. He was wearing the Gryffindor pink bathrobe, complete with a little red heart on the right breast that proudly stated 'Hermione' on it in white lacy letters. "Majitsu!" He yelled, making the picture open. "Hermione!?" He roared as he stepped in, getting odd looks from everyone and hearing a very pleased squeal of laughter from his room. "You better hope to Merlin you're not in there when I open that door!" He yelled, stomping up the steps and going into his room. A moment later it was completely silent before everyone heard more gleeful fits of laughter from their feminine prefect.

"…Was that Harry?" Seamus asked unsure, pointing.

Dean nodded very slowly. "Yeah… I think it was…"

"Hey Harry, Hermione," Ron greeted around some toast. "What took you two so long?"

"Got caught up in different things." Harry answered, sending Hermione a death glare- to which she only smiled happily at him -still looking as if she would break into giggles again. "Did we miss mail?"

"Nah." Ron watched Harry pile food on his plate. "Should be a few more minutes… Harry, mate, you know there is plenty of food, right?"

The boy looked down at his plate, which was covered in different sorts of fruits, eggs, and an entire stack of toast. Also he noticed he was getting strange looks. "I'm hungry." He said sheepishly, looking into his plate and eating. "Nothing wrong with that is there?"

A collective mummer answered him, stopping when several owls flew in. Harry received a stack of papers, as did Hermione. "Schedules." Hermione said, drinking some pumpkin juice to wash down her meal. "We should go ahead and hand them out."

Harry grimaced slightly. "Whoopee. Yay. Fun, fun." But he stood anyway and started walking along the table, to the first years that were sitting relatively together. "Listen up guys! I call your name, you come and get your schedule for the year, okay?" He let them all nod before starting. " Josh Anderson…"

"Was I that annoying when I was eleven?" Harry asked, finally able to sit down and return to his meal.

"More so." Hermione answered, patting him on the shoulder comfortably, despite her tease. "Here's your schedule."

Harry took it and ignored the remark from his best friend. "Yeah, well, you was a little know-it-all ,wasn't you?"

"Oh, that hurt." She said mockingly, placing a hand over her heart.

Harry smirked at her and shook his head lightly, going back to his unfinished meal with vigor.

Time went by at a steady pace, allowing everyone to fall into a normal schedule of waking, eating, and going to classes. No one seemed to notice that almost an entire week had gone by yet. Harry spent his free time using the tricks from his box of things he never knew existed (and couldn't possibly live without!) with Ron. So far they had managed to make a few first years roll down stairs in the form of a boulder, turn a few of them yellow, and even made one literally spit fire.

However, one night while Ron and Harry had snuck out after curfew to pull a few gags on Slytherns, they found the first years still up, talking about how cool it was for THE Harry Potter and Ron Weasley to be pulling their apparently famous jokes on them. Needless to say, after that little experience, both boys had their hopes dashed. Only a week into school and they lost their main targets.

"I tell you, Harry." Ron commented, eating an every flavored bean as they looked through their tricks. "It's just no fun when your targets brag about how many they had pulled on them."

"Tell me about it." Harry put a bean in his mouth ("Hey! Grape!") and contemplated. "We could try the kiss ones. Maybe get Collin to have a camera ready…"

"You guys say something?" Collin asked, sitting in front of them and taking out his camera. "Can I take your picture?"

"Not right now, Collin." Harry spoke, though wasn't really paying attention. "I'm not really in the mood."

"Hey, candy!" Hermione reached down and picked up a peppermint looking piece.

"Hermione, no!"

Hermione blinked, sucking on it. "Why?" She turned to look at him.

"Up!" Harry reached forward and forced her to look at the ceiling.

"Collin, get your camera ready!" Ron told him with a restrained laugh. "Hermione took the Insta kiss!"

"The what!?" Hermione demanded, trying to free herself from Harry's grasp. "What is that supposed to do? Harry let me go, it's embarrassing!"

"No, Hermione, Listen to me!"

Hermione growled, reaching for his hand again and pulling back. "Harry, I'm okay, really, but you made me drop my books!" She turned to kneel down and pick them up, only to stare into the face of someone she suddenly found very pretty.

"Um... Hermione, why are you looking at me like that?" Ginny asked timidly, taking a step back.

"Ginny…" Hermione whispered, awed at how she suddenly noticed that she wore a very light pink shade of lipstick. "I never noticed before…" She took a step forward.

"Hermione…? Noticed what?" She was looking rather nervous now, eyeing a stunned Harry for help but found none there. He looked like he was in shock.

"You're lips." She whispered back, pinning her against the wall and running a finger along her cheek.

"Hermione!" Ginny was shaking slightly now. "Um, you're a good friend and all, but well, you see…"

"Shhh…" She cooed, lifting up her chin and leaning forward.

"Harry!" Ginny screeched out, closing her eyes in fear.

"Oh no you don't." Harry finally leapt forward and wrapped his hand over Hermione's mouth and yanked her back. Hermione's eyes went wide and she struggled against him, arms reaching to Ginny.

"It works!" Ron shouted. "The Insta kiss works! Look at her!"

"Hermione!" Harry was struggling to hold her.

"I want to kiss her!" She protested harshly, trying to break free.

"Ron!" Harry shouted, now holding her by the waist. "How do we stop it!? She'll never forgive us if we let her do it!"

"Let her!" Collin had his camera to his eye. "I'll give everyone doubles!"

"Hear hear!" The guys shouted, pumping their hands in the air.

"Honestly!" One girl muttered, frustrated. Ginny still looked like she would be sick.

"She has to kiss someone!" Ron laughed. "It's only Ginny!"

Harry set his jaw and force turned Hermione, kissing her hard on the lips. Hermione was furious at first, being denied her precious Ginny's lips, but soon was snogging him back just as hard, arms around his neck.

Flash!

Harry slowly pulled back, looking into her wide terrified eyes. Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she could speak. "Harry… I…"

He gave her a lopsided grin. "Me or Ginny?"

The room went silent, and Hermione said the only thing she could and still keep her pride. "Ginny." She stated after a second. "Because you suck at kissing."

"Ooooohh!" Was the masculine response. Obviously all the guys took it as a personal insult.

Ginny was the first to break into helpless laughter, soon followed by everyone, including a blushing Harry later. Ron held up a glass bottle of butterbeer and raised it. "A toast to the trials of a new candy that will bring hours of fun!"

Eleven other people (as they one managed to sneak a twelve-pack from the kitchens) raised their bottle with a "cheers!"

Hermione watched Harry keep eating the next day at breakfast. She didn't want to say anything to him about it, but was starting to worry. Even with his new build and height, he shouldn't be eating that much. When she thought about it logically, however, she noticed he had been doing quite well in his classes. Maybe the extra work plus his new frame made his metabolism speed up. Yes, that could be it.

"I have something on my face?" Harry asked, wiping an arm across his nose and cheeks.

"Eh?" She blushed lightly, feeling her ears heat up. "No."

Harry shrugged it off and went back to eating. Absentmindedly, she pushed her sausage on her plate with her fork and sighed. She was sleepy. The past few nights had kept her awake while Harry slept. She had taken to secretly sitting on his bed, holding his hand to ward off nightmares and reading the book on dragons. She was quite proud of herself, having read half of it and understanding as she went along.

Harry had been showing several signs of being in contact with a dragon. She had even written Charlie to see if he knew of anything. Her letter back said that he never 'bonded' with a dragon before, but his boss did. He said that his eyes looked just like a dragon's. Everything is in the eyes, he wrote her. Look into the eyes and you tell exactly what the beat is going to do.

A newspaper caught her attention as it plopped in front of her. Curiously, she opened it up to the font page. It was only about eight pages in all, but still looked well done. What caught her attention the most was the title: Hogwarts Press.

Skimming the front page, she found that her questions were being answered right away.

The Hogwarts Press is a new Newspaper run by Collin Crevey . It will run once a week and give the latest details on the courses, interviews with students and teachers, and personal house news. House sections are charmed so only the people of the house can read them. All announcements will be printed as well. First to be announced: Dueling Club!

Hermione looked around, suddenly realizing how quiet it had gotten. A small blush crept across her face when she realized that every single student had a newspaper and were reading. 'Of course I wasn't the only one to get one.' She told herself mentally, looking back down. 'I'm being silly.'

Dueling will start next week on Tuesday. All Fifth, Sixth and Seventh year students will be required to come. This is not an elective class, and will be required to take. Professor Snape will lead the class. After a month, thirty students will be chosen to participate in the 'Sorcerers Circle', in which a new teacher- who's name has not been disclosed as of yet- will teach.

"Dueling, huh?" Hermione heard Harry whisper to himself. "What do you think Cecilia? Want to try it out… Yeah." He nodded to himself and Hermione had to watch his lips to understand what he was saying next. It seemed as if he was mouthing his thoughts. "Can you teach me some more magic?…… Yes, I'll study hard in class… and I'll learn auras… Hermione?" He turned to look at her. "You're watching my lips."

She went instantly red. "I, I was not!"

Harry smiled and winked at her before returning to his newspaper.

Gryffindor house news:

Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, the unofficial couple, have been named house prefects for us. I'm sure I speak for every guy when I say that we'll follow Harry to the ends of the earth, and every girl will agree that Hermione will pull on the leash she has around Harry if we do try to pull something.

"Leash!? Ha! I'm not that bad!"

"Harry, dear, will you pour me some more pumpkin juice?"

"Yes 'mam."

Also, it seemed the two shared their 'first' snog last night. Hermione, under the influence of the "Insta Kiss", was about to snog Ginny Weasley when Harry stepped in and quickly put a stop to that.

Here there was a picture of Harry and Hermione kissing. Hermione would sigh happily every now and then in the picture, obviously frenching a very red Harry Potter who was holding her tight.

She sighed. "I swear, we did not kiss like that."

"Hey, wow, I seem to be pretty good at it!" Harry laughed, getting a roar from his table.

"Well, we all know it's not true." Hermione grinned at him innocently. "You need more practice."

Everyone looked at Harry. "You offering?"

Everyone looked at Hermione. "Harry James Potter!"

Back to Harry. "You're blushing!"

To Hermione. "Hush, you!" She went back to her paper with a smirk.

On a more serious note, Collin wrote, once again proving he was joking about the pair, the first year, Steve, showed major promise when he…

The bell rang, signaling the start of first period. "Guess we should go." Ron mused, standing. "Come on guys."

Ginny smiled happily to herself as she rolled over in her bed, snuggling against her pillow. "Mm…." She smiled into her pillow, kissing it softly and speaking very lightly in her sleep. "Oh Harry…." A small giggle. "Ooh, not there.. hehehe…"

Slowly her eyes opened and she stared into the white object in front of her. A slow blush crept over her cheeks and she sat up, biting her thumbnail and remembering her dream. Looking down, she noticed that she was holding the small teddy bear he had given her in her fourth year. Without warning a laugh escape her. "I'm such a girl!"

Ginny hummed to herself as she got dressed, pulling on some jeans and a nice button down shirt. She tucked it in, pleased at how it showed off her curves. Still humming, she put on her tie and then her robes. After arming herself with her wand, she was ready for the day.

Hopping down the stairs, she called out her good mornings to her fellow roommates, getting a weird look from one of the third years. "It's eleven o'clock." He had told her. "Did you just get up?"

"Oh no!" Ginny checked her watch and realized it was true. " I'm gonna be in so much trouble!"

'Oh man, oh man, oh man, on MAN!' Ginny's mind ran at full speed as she ran through the hallways. 'Today's Monday. That means I had charms first thing and then potions (Snape will kill me!) and then…and then… Oh! I missed transfiguration!'

So deep in thought was Ginny, that she didn't see Madam Pomfrey as she stepped out from a class and ran neatly into each other, causing her to drop her things and Ginny her books.

"Sorry!" Ginny said instantly, bending down to help her gather to bottles and other random things. "I wasn't looking where I was going!"

"Ms. Weasley." Pomfrey said, sounding amused. "It's not like you to run in the halls. Are you late for your class?"

"Over slept." She replied before realizing that she shouldn't tell a teacher that.

"Oh, my, my, that's not good. What class did you miss?"

She gave the doctor a small smile. "Um, well, Charms…"

"Mr. Flint will forgive you for that."

"… and potions…"

"Snape will give you detention."

"…and transfiguration…"

"Virginia Weasley!" Uh oh. Full name. That was not good. " Ten points from Gryffindor!"

"Awww……"

"And I will inform all of your teachers of why you was not in class." Ginny opened her mouth to try and protest, but Pomfrey cut her off. "And you will serve two times with me in detention. I will tell your teachers that a well."

Ginny stopped. 'Wait a minute…' she thought. 'If she punishes me… That means I won't have to be with Snape, or McGonagall…' Suddenly a smile spread over her face. "Yes mam!"

Madam Pomfrey smiled. "When is your free time, dear?"

Ginny ran her schedule through her head. "Um, let's see. Monday, Wensday, Friday, I'm free after three o'clock. Tuesday, Thursday, I'm free after lunch."

"Did you see the morning newspaper?"

"We have a newspaper?"

"Ms. Weasley, it would be wise to talk to a few of your friends and get one. Dueling club has started again. Tuesday and Thursday, from one till two thirty. I want you in my office no later than two fifty, understand me?"

"Yes 'mam."

"Good." She smiled again. "You will be helping me deal with all the counter curses that everyone will get from the dueling club. Ah, I'm so glad you slept in, I do terribly need help these days."

Ginny laughed. "Glad to be of service! But, if you'll excuse me, I have to make it to ancient runes…"

"Yes, yes, of course. Here, let me give you a note so you won't get in trouble there as well…"

"This is a serious class." Snape said sternly, walking in the middle of the room. It was a room none of them had been in before. It was literally huge and all of the students were sure it was underground by the lack of windows and the stairs they had to descend to reach it. The room, however, was far from dark. In fact, it was one of the best-lit rooms in the castle. The ceiling was enchanted to always be bright, as if it were day inside the very room itself. "If anyone," Snape continued, eyeing the one hounded and twenty plus students. "So much as makes one wrong move, you are out." He glared now. "I will have no foolishness, no pranks, and no deadly curses."

"Strict…" Harry muttered under his breath.

"And… No Talking! Potter, out here!"

Harry walked to the professor. The students were in a large circle around him, standing on a raised section. Snape was, actually, in a pit nine feet deep. Instead of using the stairs, Harry jumped down and landed with a crouch.

"Malfoy!" Malfoy dropped into the pit from the other side of the room, also landing in a crouch. The two walked up to each other and looked into their opponent's eyes. "You will duel until one of you either gives up or is unable to continue. I will stop the duel at any time if I think one of you… might die…" His voice sounded that he would do anything but.

Snape walked to one of the four sets of stairs leading out of the pit and stood at the edge. "Make ready!" Malfoy whipped out his wand and held it perfectly straight out in front of him, tip facing the ceiling. Harry mearly took off his robes and tossed them aside, now showing a black tee shirt and jeans (clashing madly with the school issued tie, which he also hastily removed.) Snape ignored this. If Harry didn't have his wand out in time, it was his own fault. "Bow!" To Harry's utter surprise, Malfoy bowed deeply at him, keeping his eyes trained.

"Bow."

Harry bowed back in a way that no other students, save Hermione, had ever seen before. He had both hands on his sides and bent in a perfect right angle. "That's a karate bow." Hermione told Ron and Ginny. "I didn't know he knew karate?"

"Duel!"

"But Harry doesn't have his wand out yet!" A Hufflepuff shouted from the crowd.

"I said duel!"

Malfoy took a step forward and sent the disarming spell. Harry knocked it aside with his right hand, spun from the force of it, and counted with his own.

Malfoy jumped to the side, letting the spell fizzle out on the enchanted walls that surrounded them. "Firigna!" A blast of fire shot out at Harry, who rolled out of the way

"Windafaye!" Harry shouted, slashing his right arm through the air and sending Malfoy crashing into the wall behind him.

"Infernus!" was his reply, pointing his wand at Harry's feet.

Harry instantly found blue flames around him, quickly closing in. Somehow he heard Hermione scream his name and Ron demanding that the spell was unfair, but the voice he listened to came from within. "We are weak to fire." It whispered. "But wind is our strength."

Harry nodded and a small wind circled his feet. With a mad jump, he made it through the fire and rolled five times, putting out the small flames that caught his shirt. The wind had enchanted his speed, but he underestimated how thick the firewall actually was.

His shirt had a few holes in it now, but he was still relatively un hurt. "Agility!" Harry declared, moving his arm from his left shoulder and making a slashing motion diagonally in front of him. His feet were once again enchanted and the dust under him quickly scattered. It was as if he had his own personal inch high tornadoes surrounding both feet.

"Try this!" Malfoy yelled, pointing his wand again. "Blazing heat!"

Snape was about to shout out about making up stupid things, knowing that wasn't a spell, but stopped in his tracks when the blue flames erupted from his wand once more. It was a steady stream and he moved it quickly. Harry ran the circle halfway once before he realized he couldn't escape it..

Taking to no other tactic, Harry ran straight for the wall in front of him and used the wind at his feet to increase his speed two fold. He literally ran up the wall and cut a flip in the air, now heading straight for Malfoy.

"Blazing heat!" He shouted again, pointing his wand directly at Harry and engulfing him fully. There was a loud crash and the area instantly caught fire. It burned for ten seconds as everyone watched in horrour. Just as Snape regained himself, about to extinguish the abnormal blue flames, a voice stopped him.

"Windaga!"

The fire was instantly repressed against the walls by a massive wind. After the smoke cleared, the spectators could now see two figures still standing. Malfoy had his knees bent and shoulders heaving. There were several small cuts all over him, but had no blood on him- save the stream coming steadily from his nose.

Harry was now shirtless and his jeans were more black than blue, also sporting several burnt out holes. Ron was impressed to see that the gauntlet on his right hand was still there, being fire proof. Both boys looked at each other for a full ten seconds, chest heaving for air, before running at each other and exchanging blows.

Neither was sure who had screamed the war cry, but both could hear it echoing as they fought in earnest. Harry felt a long burning sensation each time he was struck, and saw small cuts appear wherever he had hit him. After a full twenty seconds of non-stop strategy-less fighting, both jumped back. And raised their right arm. Malfoy's wand pointed at Harry's chest and Harry's hand facing Malfoy's. Each opened their mouths and called out their hexes, but Malfoy was faster.

"Blaze of hell!"

Blue fire crashed into Harry, slamming him hard against the wall. The room echoed with Harry's scream. It was so deep, no one moved for the five seconds that it rang out. Then, without warning, the scream turned to recognizable words.

"Sword of Light That I Do Release!"

There was a loud explosion and then eerie silence. Smoke slowly cleared and both boys were now walking toward each other. Harry had one leg of his jeans completely gone and was covered in burns. Malfoy was now bleeding slightly on his chest, but each still moved forward and stared at each other. They took a stand when a foot from the other, daring one to make a move.

"That's enough!" Snape yelled, ending the duel. Both boys still stared deeply. "I said that's enough!" But neither lowered their attacking stance.

Hermione, able to take no more, ran down into the pit, followed by Ron and Ginny. When they reached the pair, they gasped. "They're out cold!" Hermione shouted to Snape. "Both of them!"

"Sweet Merlin…" The professor said under his breath, walking to them both and taking a pulse. "You're right…" He was looking amazed. "And yet they still stand…Weasley!"

"Sir!"

"Not you, idiot, your sister!"

"Sir?"

"Take Harry to the Hospital wing."

"Yes, sir."

Snape looked over at Malfoy. Crabbe, Goyle, take Malfoy. The boys each looked like they didn't want to, but when Snape hissed out his order again, they quickly went to follow. "The rest of you, class will still continue! Granger, you and Ms. Phillips are to be next."

Ginny glared at the professor for wanting to continue after something like that, but was forced to turn her attention to Harry. The Slytherns were literally dragging Malfoy by the arms. Disregarding this, she took out her wand and cast a simple lightening charm on Harry. That done, she took him piggyback style, getting a few giggles from people. Ginny smiled to herself lightly. If he wasn't hurt to bad then she was sure it would look rather interesting. After all, he was a good foot taller than she was.

Ginny glared at Crabbe and Goyle as they passed her in the hall. There were a few drips of blood leading from the dueling arena all the way to the hospital wing. At Least Ginny had thought to cast a spell to stop the blood from leaking, since Harry didn't have enough clothing on to absorb the blood.

She found Malfoy dropped in front of the infantry door and looked back at the retreating figures. She had noticed it over the week, but never knew it was this bad. Even his own house was rejecting Malfoy. Ginny sighed and shifted Harry lightly in order to bring out her wand. She magicked open the door and cast a light levitating charm on Malfoy.

She brought Harry into the giant wing and laid him on the bed before putting Malfoy on another one. "Madam Pomfrey?" She called, looking around. "Madam Pomfreeyyyyy?"

"What is all this noise?" The doctor asked as she walked from her office. "Ms. Weasley, I asked for you after the class, you're early."

"They got hurt." She replied, only now allowing the fear for her friend to show in her voice.

Madam Pomfrey ran the last little bit over to her and inspected Harry first. "He has quite a few burns…" She muttered to herself, taking out her wand and waving it over his body. His torn jeans faded away, leaving him in only his boxers, which were black. Ginny felt her face flush. "Ms. Weasley, I do ask that you put your little crush away for the time being." She told her a little harshly. "Get used to seeing people without much clothing. This is a job, and you have to take it seriously."

Instantly she stood straight. "Yes mam."

"Go to the far wall over there and get me some burn cream and few bandages. Also, bring me some skeleton grow. He has a few broken ribs as well." At the look on Ginny's face, Madam Pomfrey lightened up a little. "They are all marked, dear, now hurry along. I'll inspect Mr. Malfoy here."

"Yes mam."

As it turned out, Harry was able to leave after only a few hours. Burns were healed almost instantly and his bones were fixed up in a jiffy. Malfoy, however, had yet to regain consciousness as of yet. Ginny ran back and forth all afternoon, getting potions here and bandages there. Also, upon these duties of supplying Madam Pomfrey with the necessary items, she was counter cursing several people as they came in. At one point, Hermione had offered to help her while waiting on Harry, but the idea was quickly snuffed out when she revealed that she was serving detention at the same time as helping out. Hermione nodded her head approvingly at her resolve.

But now she was wishing that she did have the help. With over three hounded people in the castle (and around a third of them dueling for an hour and a half), there was more activity than she thought possible in the Wing. Her two hours of detention had ran out long ago, but she had stayed; not able to leave a single woman to deal with all the moaning and complaining of hexed students. Only a few of them were actually hurt, but Ginny was quickly learning that a good hex was just as bad. One person had come in with a severe itching hex and was covered from head to foot with a dark red rash. The poor fifth year couldn't stop scratching and had to be literally tied to the bed in order for him to let the cream on him work and stop the itching.

Another thing Ginny quickly learned was how to tell a person who needed to be helped and one who could wait to be helped. This was learned when someone with a jiggle legs curse came in at the same time as someone who couldn't breath properly. Both demanded attention and Ginny was about to help them when a third person came in, wanting to have a hair curse, that made his hair grow at an alarming rate, lifted. After the three had argued for a full minute, Ginny had demanded that they shut up and fixed them in the order that she thought was most important.

Also, she was getting quite the hang of the Wing and how it worked by the end of the day. Already she had made a mental checklist of where everything went and was quite proud of herself for the quickness in looking up anti-curses. True, she had to read from the book several times before actually doing the spells, and had to look up the same spell more than just a few times before she learned it by heart, but all in all she was quite proud.

A few students were a little worried about having an amateur fix them, but gave in to her will when they saw just how long they would have to wait if they didn't let Ginny treat them. It was eight that night before the Wing was quiet and the two people running it could take a breather. Only a few students would stay overnight, including Malfoy who had only recently been fully healed but was still fast asleep. Madam Pomfrey had thanked her extensively for her troubles and asked why she had stayed, even skipping dinner, to help her.

"Well, I admit at first it was a little intimidating," She began, sitting on an empty bed with her legs crossed and drinking a special potion that would not only fill her stomach, but give her the nutrients she would need as well. "but after we got started and I got a feel for everything… I dunno, it was kind of fun at times."

Pomfrey smiled at her nicely. "It's nice to hear someone say that. Not many people take pleasure in the medical arts. I, personally, think it's intriguing how a simple potion or spell can fix a person right up. I do love helping people."

Ginny thought about this for a moment. "Yes, it is kind of interesting isn't it? I felt really good when people started thanking me for the help." Suddenly she giggled. "One time a person said that I wasn't qualified to be helping you, but someone I just healed and didn't even know took up for me. It was rather sweet."

"Yes, yes, I heard that." She looked at her watch. "My dear, I have kept you too long. You surely must have homework to get to. Thanks again for helping me out."

"It wasn't a problem." Ginny handed her the glass in which her drink had been in and hopped off the bed, calling out a goodnight as Pomfrey made her way into her office. She was about halfway across the room when a motion caught her eye. Looking, she noticed that Malfoy was tossing in his bed. "Malfoy? Are you awake?"

Malfoy was still asleep, but tossing and twitching every now and then. When Ginny got next to him, she could just faintly hear words coming from him. "Father…" He said in a pleading voice. "No, please… I'll do better, I swear it…" Ginny's eyes widened as his body twitched all over and tears sprang to his tightly closed eyes. "Mother…" He was desperately pleading now. "Make him stop mother… please… no… help me… someone… anyone…"

Not stopping to think about it, Ginny took his hand in both of hers and rubbed it soothingly. "Shhh…" She hushed him softly. "I'm here, don't worry. I'll help you… just calm down." Malfoy visibly calmed at the motion and the steady stream of tears ceased from his eyes. Ginny caressed his hand soothingly, whispering softly to the boy. "It's all okay now. Don't worry, no one will hurt you. Shhh, that's right, you're fine now."

When she was sure that the nightmare had passed, she laid his hand down and turned to walk out, but stopped when she noticed the ring on his finger. 'Malfoywears jewelry? ' She asked herself, once again picking up his hand and looking at it. ' What is this? Is that an angel!? Yes, yes it is. Why would he be wearing such a feminine ring?' The ring was pure silver, shining in the faint light that was in the room via the moon. The Angel was small, and the band of the ring was actually her wings. It was a female angel with a roman toga on, just barely covering her breast. What was more was the fact that the small eyes on the ring seemed to peer into Ginny's, as if offering thanks for calming down the boy she was on.

"Too weird…" Ginny said after a moment, placing his hand down and pulling the covers over him that he kicked off during his dream. "It almost reminds me of the necklace I got Harry…"