Harry Potter and the Power of Time

by RossWrock

Now AU, 6th Year, following OoTP. Tired of the way Dumbledore and the Order treat him, and ready to face his destiny, Harry dedicates long hours to muggle and magical training to take the fight to Voldemort for a change. Slight HPGW, not shippy though.

28. First Date

Harry Potter and the Power of Time

Chapter 28 – First Date

The next morning Harry woke up early, refreshed, and for the first time since returning to Hogwarts, in a good mood and looking forward to the upcoming day. Bonding with Neville the day before had done him some good, and the news about his and Snape's wand sharing brother cores still caused his lips to curl whenever he thought about it. Harry was also looking forward to his day's activities, even though he had put it off for so long. The night before he decided that since he had no other plans, it was time to further explore the Chamber of Secrets. He'd been meaning to since retrieving the basilisk fangs earlier in the year, but just kept putting it off. But after the previous day, and seeing Neville shine while keeping company with two of the men responsible for his parent's condition, Harry was also looking forward to asking someone to accompany him to the Chamber. Since Neville had held up so well against his demons, Harry knew he'd like to offer Ginny the same opportunity.

And so after his morning work out, getting showered and dressed, and after an hour so of reading an advanced Defense book (he had woken up early), Harry made his way down to breakfast to greet his friends. They had gone ahead of him, and Harry had stayed behind to grab some last minute supplies; stuff he thought might come in useful. And knowing that it was a special occasion and that she'd be welcomed, Hedwig for once rode on Harry's shoulder to catch a ride to breakfast.

"Good morning Harry," Hermione greeted him. "And good morning Hedwig. Fancy seeing you here!" Hermione sounded cheerful as ever, and Harry supposed it was her way to deal with his and Ron's fight. For the past half week, Hermione had been dividing her time between the two as best she could, but otherwise was spending a lot of time in the library. Harry didn't blame her, really. He knew it was hard to be caught in the middle, as they'd already had a talk about it the last time Ron had gotten jealous back in their fourth year. And even since then, Harry and Ron had had their share of smaller arguments, with both boys to blame, that she'd likewise stayed out of. Fortunately for her though, those had always lasted less than a day, and had never been so serious. Harry's current argument was.

"Morning Hermione. Ginny, Neville," Harry paused a moment, and then decided to add on, "Ron." Just because the two were fighting, didn't mean he had to be a jerk. He promised himself he'd stay at least friendly with Ron even though they weren't getting along. It was the least he could do. It would also hopefully make it easier for Ron to approach him and apologize when he saw the errors in his way and worked up the nerve.

After McGonagall's speech, Harry had considered compromising himself to appease Ron, but after only a moment of thought, put that out of his mind. What had he done wrong, after all? Invited Neville to spend the holidays with him, when otherwise he would have been forced to stay at Hogwarts alone? Not a chance! Besides, how many times had Harry been invited to the Burrow, for just that same reason? Ron was being hypocritical, and everybody knew it. What else could Harry apologize for? Distributing some money like Sirius instructed in his will? Getting his friends thoughtful and appropriate Christmas gifts? It's not like he could walk up to Ron and say, 'Sorry for being more sensitive than you. Give me my money back, I promise never to speak to Neville again, and let's you and me go back to being mates!' Yeah, fat chance of that.

Neville and the girls both greeted him back, but Ron merely grunted and went back to the serving dish for another helping of waffles. Harry just sighed, and fixed his own plate. Apparently, Ron wasn't ready yet.

"So Harry," Ginny wondered, "what is Hedwig doing down here at breakfast? I thought she wasn't allowed in the Great Hall?"

That was a common misconception because some rumor had spread, and Harry had no reason to stop it. It wasn't correct though. "No," he answered, "she's allowed; Dumbledore and I just decided that she caused too much distraction, and I agreed to keep her appearances to a minimum. You know she still delivers some mail for me, and visits occasionally. Today is just one of those days. I've got plans for this morning, and I think she'll be with me for them. We're just making a full day of it, I guess."

"What plans? Don't forget Harry, we've got to meet with Hagrid for tea later. You haven't seen him since we've gotten back."

Harry reassured Hermione that he hadn't forgotten. That wasn't until the afternoon anyway, and hopefully exploring the Chamber wouldn't take more than a few hours.

"I've just got something to do that I've put off for awhile. Nothing interesting, really," Harry lied. Seeing an opportunity though, Harry casually worked in his offer. "Do you have plans for today Ginny? I was wondering if you're free to help me?"

Ginny looked surprised to be singled out, and was caught off guard. "Why me?"

"Oh, sorry," Harry explained. He didn't want to mention the real reason (as it probably broke at least thirty school rules), so he just made something up that the others would believe. Homework always worked, and there was only one class that he and Ginny shared exclusively.

"I've got a problem with an Arithmancy equation, and was wondering if you'd help me. I'd ask you Hermione, but you're way ahead of me, and would probably solve the thing in just a few minutes. I kind of want to work the problem out for myself. And seeing how Ginny's in my Arithmancy class. Well, you see. You can check up on my work though, when I'm finished. How about that?"

"That's fine Harry," Hermione agreed. He caught a small smile though that she tried to hide. "You're probably right too. Just starting the subject this year, you probably couldn't keep up with my pace. After all, I am a know-it-all!" Harry and the others laughed a little, except Ron. It was nice to see Hermione subject herself to a little self deprecating humor. It softened her image some, which never hurt anyone. At least she knew her faults.

"So how about it, Gin? We'll be done in plenty of time for Hagrid's, and maybe we could even get in some Quidditch planning afterwards. Practice starts up again next week, and I've got some more ideas on how we can change our strategies."

Quidditch was the cincher for Ginny, and she quickly agreed. At first she complained about her OWLs fast approaching, but everyone at the table knew that perhaps with the exception of certain Ravenclaws, she was the most prepared fifth year student in the school. Harry, Hermione, and Neville's tutoring had done wonders for her and Luna, and even though she still had to study more than ever before, she wasn't about to break down from the stress like some of Harry's classmates had the year before.

After that, normal breakfast conversation continued as Harry kept mostly quite while eating, trying to catch up to the others. The only bad news was an article in the Sunday Daily Prophet about another Death Eater attack. It was the first since Christmas Day, and luckily nobody was killed. A few people were injured, but still managed to portkey away before any serious damage was inflicted. It made the front page though, because Death Eaters were captured from the scene of the crime. It seemed one especially brave witch put up anti-apparition wards before she portkeyed out, to hold the Death Eaters in her home. Moments later when the aurors arrived on scene, they weren't too late for once, and managed to nab three of the five Death Eaters before the wards were broken down. Three out of all of Voldemort's men weren't a lot (especially compared with the fifteen in Harry's trunk), but it was a start, and a huge boost for the magical community's moral, not to mention great praise for the new portkeys and regulations created under Minster Bones's administration. There were the usual Dementor attacks on muggles as well (another seventeen victims rendered soulless in a week), but that wasn't any new news, and the article only appeared on page nine.

It was while Harry was sipping the last of his tea, after he pushed away his plate, that he was finally approached by the first girl. He'd been in a good mood all morning long, and apparently it hadn't gone unnoticed by the school's population. Especially the female population; the ones who needed to find a date before the Valentine's Day Dance arrived.

"Hi Harry," a pretty seventh year Gryffindor interrupted his thoughts, "mind if I sit down and join you for awhile?" She was one of the girls Harry occasionally spied on late at night with his x-ray lens, and the fact that he was actually having a conversation with her startled him.

"Um, no," Harry searched his mind for a name, "Cathy." He hoped that was it. And apparently it was, because she plopped down with a smile. Harry had plenty of space to his right, so it wasn't like he could refuse her and be polite about it. Still, he hadn't yet put two and two together and realized what she was talking to him for. He was just trying to keep from embarrassing himself.

"Thanks," she said, picking up a slice of bacon from his discarded plate and nibbling on it. "You look to be in a better mood this morning."

"Uh yeah, I am, thanks," he said. Harry was trying real hard to keep from watching her suggestively nibble on the bacon strip, and it hadn't gone unnoticed by his friends. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Hermione, Ginny, Dean, Neville, Natalie, and even Ron hold back their laughter. "I had a good sleep last night." It was all he could think to say.

"Well," she finished her bacon, licking her fingers, "that's good. You looked grumpy the past few days, which is why I haven't approached before. Anyway, you know that dance Professor Dumbledore mentioned? The Sadie Hawkins thing? What do you think of it? The idea I mean; girls asking guys out and all that. My parents aren't muggles, so I hadn't heard of it before."

Harry didn't know what she was getting at. Surely she had found out about the dance in the past few days from someone else? It was all anybody could stand to talk about lately! And why was she asking Harry; someone who she'd only said a passing greeting to before? Clearly, Harry was slow on the uptake.

"Ah, it's a nice idea I guess. I'd only heard about them before, but the tradition had been around for awhile. Mainly an American thing though, I thought. I didn't know it got started by a wizard though. Still, nothing wrong with girls having to ask for dates for a change. I only wish the Yule Ball two years ago had been like that. I got real embarrassed when I had to ask someone out."

"Oh, that's right, you did, didn't you! I remember now. Cho's in some of my classes, and her friends were all giggling about it one day after you asked her. I nearly forgot about that!" Cathy was talking like nothing was the matter, but everyone else saw Harry turn beet red, and again had to purposely look away to keep from laughing.

"Anyways," Cathy went on, not noticing Harry's discomfort at all. "I'm glad you're okay with the idea of girls asking boys out, because I wanted to invite you to the dance. I broke up with my boyfriend this summer, and I'm not interested in any other seventh year boys. You're cute though. So, what do you say?"

Harry was still beet red, but now his mouth dropped open as well. Later his friends would all tell him they all saw the question coming, but it had approached Harry with stealth and cunning, and caught him completely by surprise. Luckily, a good friend came to the rescue.

"Sorry Cathy, but he's already been asked." Cathy upon hearing the answer immediately looked thoughtful, and then slightly upset. Little did Harry know, she's been watching his mood ever since the dance was announced, and thought she had been the first to reach him. Over the past few moths she'd caught him staring at her when he thought she hadn't noticed, and thought he might be interested. If only she knew that Harry was more interested in her underwear than in dating her, she could have saved herself a lot of trouble.

"Is that so, Harry?" Cathy asked, not wanting to believe the answer.

Harry looked to his savior, saw her nodding her head, and nodded his head to agree. "Er, yeah Cathy, sorry. I've already been asked. Thanks for the invite though. I'm sure it would have been fun." That seemed to pacify her some, and after some forced small talk so that neither seemed obvious, Cathy made her way back to her normal seat.

"Thanks Ginny, I owe you one," Harry thanked his savior from across the table. "I wasn't expecting that."

"Oh really Harry," Hermione chided him. "We all saw that coming a mile away. Even Connie noticed, and she's only a third year."

Harry stared dumbstruck at little Connie Wood, who couldn't help but giggle and nod her head. Everyone around them laughed, and even Harry found some humor in him being so completely oblivious.

"No more laughing at me," he mock threatened. "Next time you laugh Connie, that's extra laps around the pitch during practice!" Of course that only caused more laughter, which even Harry couldn't control. Until Ron went and had to spoil the mood.

"So you're dating my sister now, are you?" His voice was calm and unemotional, which was perhaps more dangerous for Ron than if he'd been screaming.

"Oh Ron, honestly!" Hermione wagged her finger at him. "A single dance doesn't constitute that two people are dating. Did you date Padma after the Yule Ball? No! Besides, Ginny only said that so Harry'd have an excuse to turn Cathy down. You men are so thick sometimes!"

"Why is it that I'm always thick, huh? And why should Ginny even care about Harry's social life anyway?

"Because Ron," Ginny answered, "it's obvious that Harry wasn't interested, and if you weren't such a prat around him lately, you would have noticed that. I was only helping a friend. Besides, I never said I had asked him to the dance, I only said that he had been asked. I never even said that he'd accepted, so technically it's not a lie. It's misleading enough to send her away, and yet Harry could have still agreed if he wanted to. At least Harry knows that now he's not being a sourpuss anymore, more and more girls are going to approach him. He's going to have to deal with them at some point. Now he knows what he can say if he wants to turn them away. And since when do you get to butt into my social life? I thought you learned your lesson with that joke we played on you with Dean? I'm going to the dance with someone, and you're just going to have to accept it."

Ron growled almost, he was so displeased. "Well, it doesn't mean I have to like it! And I don't care what Mum says. If whoever you end up going with doesn't treat you right, I'm going to have words with him."

"Awww," Hermione cooed sarcastically, "that's so sweet, and yet still so overprotective of you. I think you should worry about finding your own date, Ron. That goes for you too, Dean and Seamus. Between me, Lav, and Parvati, there's only three of us to the five of you boys. That means at least two of you will have to find dates from girls in other houses, or other years. And that's even assuming that all three of us will ask any of you out. That's not likely to happen, with the way you've been acting."

"What's wrong with how we've been acting?" Seamus protested.

"Well," Hermione explained with a huff, "Ron's been all moody and unpleasant around certain people." She paused dramatically to look at Harry, but it wasn't needed. "And all of you have been spending more time talking sports than even noticing us girls. Lavender came back from vacation with a new haircut, but did any of you notice it? No!"

"She got a new haircut?" Harry asked. He thought himself observant, and even he hadn't noticed.

"Harry! She lost nearly three inches in length!" Hermione must have thought that was a lot from the way she reacted. But only three inches when her hair was all the way down to her waist? Harry didn't think that could be considered a haircut. A trim, more like it.

"Anyway," Hermione continued, "if you want a girl to ask you out, you've got to start being nicer towards them. There's six weeks until the dance, so take some advice, and be on your best behavior if you want to find a date. That's the last warning you'll get from me."

"So if we start noticing new haircuts and stuff like that, girls would be more likely to ask us out?" Ron asked.

"Maybe," Hermione answered flirtingly. "The point is, it can't hurt. And unless you want to go to the dance with just anyone, you've got to start being on your best behavior."

All the guys nodded and returned to their meals, but Harry noticed something else as well. Ron looked to take Hermione's information to heart, where normally he would have dismissed it until she started to repeat herself. Harry wondered why, and wondered if Hermione picked up on it as well. Did she even realize that Ron fancied her yet? And how did she feel towards him? Only time would tell, and Harry figured at least the dance was good for something. One way or the other, he'd find out by Valentine's Day.

Breakfast soon ended, with Ron going off with Dean and Seamus to kick a football around in the courtyard, where heating charms prevented any snow to accumulate, and allowed the students some outdoor activity when the grounds were otherwise too cold. Harry and the others headed back to Gryffindor Tower, but he fell to the back of the group, and was sure to bring Ginny along with him. Once the two were paces behind the rest, Harry motioned with his finger to be silent, and led her away through a secret passage that led back down to the fourth floor.

"Harry! What are you doing," she asked.

"Sorry Ginny, I just didn't want the others to see where we snuck off to. Let's find someplace private, and I'll explain it to you." Ginny wanted to know a bit more than that, but was waved off by Harry as he brought out his Marauder's Map, and activated it. Using his x-ray lens to look around the nearest corners, Harry had spotted Draco Malfoy hiding behind a large tapestry. Knowing from Lestrange's interrogation that Draco was spying on him, and leaking information to his father, Harry wanted to be sure that he wasn't followed when he didn't want to be. Using the Marauder's Map just insured that Harry missed nothing. It was a good thing he used it too, because Pansy Parkinson's name was in another close-by corridor, in the opposite direction of Draco. Harry would have to pass one of the two to get off the fourth floor, and was glad he stayed behind to grab some things before breakfast.

"Malfoy's watching us," Harry told Ginny, pointing to the map. "He's trying to spy on me, and write back to his dad. Let's get past him, and then I'll explain." Ginny nodded her head in understanding, and moments later Harry had cleared and stowed the map, and brought out his other prized possession. It had been a long time since he's snuck around under his Invisibility Cloak with another person, but with only him and Ginny, it was just barely large enough to cover them both.

Ginny had only seen the cloak; never used it before; and therefore was perhaps too eager to jump under it with Harry. Either way, it got them past Draco without him noticing, and soon Harry had Ginny alone in an empty second floor classroom.

"Sorry about that," Harry apologized, "but Draco's a little sneak. It was because of him telling his dad that Death Eaters attacked me and Neville at St. Mungo's over the holidays. He's been spying on me so much lately. Usually I pretend like I don't notice, but when I want to, I can usually give him the slip."

"Good thing you've got your map then," Ginny commented. "But why'd you have your cloak on you? And what sort of 'plans' do you really have for today. Needing my help with Arithmancy is a load of bull! You could probably show Hermione a thing or two, and we both know it. What's really going on, Harry?"

"Well, it's like this." Harry didn't know quite how to ask if Ginny would like to help him explore the Chamber where she'd almost died four years ago, so he just said it. "I was in the Chamber of Secrets earlier this year, and I noticed there was more to it than I previously thought. I've been meaning to go back down there to look around, and thought you might like to come with me. I know I'd sure appreciate the company. Hedwig's great and all, but some human companionship would be even better."

Ginny looked at Harry like he'd gone crazy, and slowly she repeated the question. "You want me to go down into the Chamber of Secrets with you, just so you can have a look around? The Chamber of Secrets, where a giant snake lived, and where I almost died?"

"Well," Harry sheepishly said, "it sounds bad when you put it like that, but I thought you might like to come?"

"Why for Circe's sake would you think that?" Ginny harshly whispered. "You're not too bright sometimes Harry! Even Ron's not as thick as this!"

"It's not like that," Harry argued, a little angry. "I'm going down for sure, and I just thought you'd like the opportunity to go down with me. Face your fears, and all that. If you're hesitating about going down there, it means you're still bothered by what happened. The snake's dead, the diary's destroyed, and all that's left is a big empty room. I thought that by going down with me and seeing for yourself, you might feel a little better."

"Why would you think that?" Ginny asked, this time with more patience.

"Well, yesterday I had a long talk with Neville about his parents and their condition, and I think it did him some good to talk about it. I can't tell you everything, because it's personal, but even though he faced some scary memories, by facing them and talking about them, I think he's more comfortable with what happened now. As I was doing my Occlumency exercises last night, I was already planning on going into the Chamber, and thought you might react the same way. Of course I know it's hard, and maybe frightening for you. But by going down and seeing that there's nothing to be afraid of, I thought you might get something out of the experience like Neville did. I'm not forcing you down there or anything; I was only offering."

"You're damn straight, you're not forcing me down there! If you even tried to, my Bat Boogey Hex would be the least of your worries." Ginny paused then, and chewed on her lip like Harry noticed she did while working Arithmancy problems. "I don't know though Harry. I had a lot of bad dreams after all that happened. Now I just try to forget about it. I'm not sure going back down would be the best thing for me."

"That's why I'm only offering," Harry reassured her. "I am going down, and so is Hedwig. I promise you'll be perfectly safe, and Hedwig can get you out at anytime. So if you want to come, only for a little while even, I still think it might do you some good." Ginny was considering his words, he knew.

"I can leave at anytime I want," she asked.

"Yes."

"And Hedwig will be with us?"

"Yes."

"And Professor Dumbledore knows about this?"

With that one, Harry cringed. "Er, not exactly, no. But he does know I've been down before, and he hasn't said anything. And as I'm the only Parseltongue in school, it's not like we'd be in much danger down there. I just figure that Salazar Slytherin must have built that chamber for something besides just housing a giant snake. Think how long it must have taken to dig out without the other founders finding out about it. I just want to look around, is all. If we find anything dangerous or important, we can tell Dumbledore then."

Ginny was smiling though. "Relax Harry, I was just teasing you. There's no way in hell Dumbledore would ever let us go down there alone; I knew that he didn't know. You're just lucky I've a bit of Weasley mischief in me. Okay, so when do we go?"

With no time like the present, Harry lead her straight to Myrtle's bathroom, and approached the sink he knew hid the Chamber's entrance. Fortunately Myrtle was nowhere to be found (probably spying on the prefects in their bathroom), and Harry was able to coax the sink open without much hassle. Just like before, with the barest of commands, his Parseltongue made the job easy. But the sink wasn't the only thing to hear his command.

"How can I open, Harry?" Seth asked.

"Er, sorry Seth," Harry apologized. "Thisss time I wasn't talking to you. We're about to enter a secret Chamber that'sss protected by Parseltongue passwordsss. Remember I told you about it? I'm just going down for a closer look. Come to think of it, I might have some questionsss for you once I get down there."

"Very well friend Harry. I will await your inquiriesss."

Ginny had occasionally heard Harry speak to Seth before, but that was always in the common room, when he was working on his notes. Wondering what the ring had said, she asked.

"Oh," Harry said, "Seth was just wondering why I told him to open up." Ginny giggled nervously. "I told him I'm going back down, and I might ask him some questions if we find anything. Sometimes I forget that Seth's been around at least as long as Hogwarts has, and I often don't take advantage of his knowledge. It's a mistake I've made too many times before. Now with the common theme of Parseltongue and dark wizards, I want to make sure I ask him everything that I can."

"Dark wizards," Ginny asked. "What's that got to do with anything?"

"Ginny," Harry rolled his eyes. "We're about to enter the secret chamber of one of history's darkest wizards, and Seth himself was created by a dark wizard, and lived as that wizard's companion. I think he might have some insight."

"It's wasn't Slytherin, was it?"

"No," Harry smiled. "I thought that too at first, but from what I can tell, Seth's never been to Hogwarts before, and his old master died long before Hogwarts was created. Salazar wasn't even born then. It's possible Seth's old master was an ancestor or something I suppose, but it wasn't the Slytherin we know."

Ginny nodded, and turned back to face the gapping hole in the floor. Harry realized that as interesting as Seth was, all they were really doing was postponing having to slide down that dank hole.

"Um, do you want me to go first?" Harry asked softly. "That way I could catch you at the bottom."

Ginny shook her head. "If you went first, I'm not sure I'd convince myself to follow you." Harry could tell she was real nervous, and was trying to gather her courage.

"There's nothing down there that can hurt you, Ginny."

She didn't even look his way to answer. "I know, but it's still difficult."

Harry gave her a few more moments in silence to compose herself, and then decided to give her some help. Quietly whispering to Hedwig, Harry convinced his former pet to fly to Ginny's shoulder, and sing her song. The tune helped, and after Ginny gave Harry a thankful smile, she took a deep breath and slid down the slide. It was only a few seconds later that he heard her shrieking in terror.

"Ginny!" Harry called out to her. No answer.

"Ginny," he tried again. The direction and acoustics of the pipe though directed sound up, not down, so all Harry heard was more of the same screaming, and no answer to his call. Not knowing what else to do, Harry pointed his already drawn wand in front of him, and took to the slide himself.

It was much like he remembered a few years ago, except this time Harry was trying desperately to sit up properly, and keep his wand aimed forward. Should he come across trouble (Ginny had stopped yelling), he wanted to be ready for action.

After what seemed like an eternity later, Harry reached the bottom of the pipe, and breathed in silent relief as he welcomed a healthy and unharmed Ginny. She looked very upset, but otherwise alright, and Harry sheathed his wand as his temper got momentarily out of hand.

"What did you go and scream for?" He asked shortly. "I thought the pipe had broken and you had dropped off or something; screaming like a mad woman!"

"Well excuse me for yelling," she answered back, just as hotly. "But these are the first brand new robes I've ever owned in my entire life, and I wasn't expecting to slide through three inches of nasty muck to get down here! My outfit is just ruined now, no thanks to you. We should have changed first before sliding down that!"

'She's screaming because she got dirty?' Harry wondered to himself. 'Unbelievable!' It was kind of funny though. Harry had gotten plenty dirty too, but not as bad as Ginny because she was first down the slide. She'd clearly gotten the worse of it, because Harry could hardly tell what color her robes were in the dim light of his wand. When Harry had visited the Chamber earlier in the year, he had used Hedwig and avoided the slide. What Ginny had just slid through was at least three years of accumulated dirt, mold, excrement, and who knows what else.

"Sorry," Harry muttered. "But next time, do you mind only shrieking when you're in danger or something? Scourgify."

Harry didn't even wait for Ginny's response before casting a cleaning charm on his own robes. It didn't do much good except to get the excess muck off him though. Unlike when the charm was used to remove soot from a fireplace, or clean up spilled drinks or ink, the muck Harry slid through had worked its way into the fabric of his robe. Dobby and Winky would have trouble getting this robe clean again. And Ginny encountered much of the same problem when she cast her own charm on herself. She stayed even dirtier, but was wise enough not to comment on it. She was starting to feel slightly embarrassed for screaming so loudly.

"I'm sorry, Harry. I guess I'm just nervous about being down here, and I overreacted. I promise not to scream again unless I'm in mortal peril."

Harry had to laugh. "Good; that's the way it should be. Only mortal peril deserves a shriek like you gave out. Dirty robes only rate an 'aw shucks' at best."

"But these were brand new robes! My first ever! I'd almost rather be in mortal peril again, than ruin these robes. At least I know you can defend yourself, should you have to. I doubt you know diddly about doing laundry though. Or girls, for that matter."

"Oh," Harry said, momentarily thinking she was serious. "Is this anything like not noticing Lavender had a haircut?"

"Yes, it is," Ginny said sternly. "This rates above that though in terms of importance, only slightly below getting a zit on your nose before a date."

"Getting a zit?" Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing.

This time, Ginny couldn't keep her straight face. She laughed, and once again Harry realized he was being more gullible than your average first year.

Before they knew it, both teens had stopped laughing, for they had approached the second door in the tunnel. Harry only vaguely remembered passing the large snakeskin and the cave-in, he was so focused on trying not to further upset Ginny. It looked like whether they had meant to or not, the diversionary tactic of talking had gotten them fairly deep within the tunnel.

"Are those snakes ensouled, like Seth, or just animated," Ginny asked of the five snakes bronzed onto the large circular door.

"Just animated I think," Harry answered. "If they were ensouled, they would have said something by now. This is my third trip past the door, and they've never tried to talk back. How about you? Do you remember them ever talking to you when you came down here?"

Ginny looked quite nervous, but shook her head no. "No. At least, I don't think so. I don't much remember ever being down here, except for when me, you, Ron, and Professor Lockhart all rode Fawkes out. Most of it is just like a bad dream. I remember bits and pieces, but it's hard to separate what really happened, to what only happened in my nightmares. It was like my body was doing things; even speaking Parseltongue; but I had no control over it, and don't remember most of it. They could have talked to me, I suppose, but not me really. It would have been…" Ginny faltered.

"Tom," Harry said quietly. He was impressed that Ginny had said so much about her experience. He knew that even though it had been nearly four years, Ginny really hadn't talked about being possessed with anyone. It was more just accepted that it had happened, and buried in the past. Ginny had spoken a little to him the previous year about it when he was feeling down on himself, but nothing about any of the details. Harry knew it had taken a lot for Ginny to even admit that much. Maybe bringing her down into the Chamber really was a good idea.

"We don't have to talk about it Gin, but I know how you feel. Some of the dreams I've had are sort of the same. It's like I'm there in his mind, and when I wake up, I only remember flashes and vague recollections. I recall them all perfectly now that I study Occlumency, but before then, it was always uncertain."

Ginny just nodded, but said no more. Not wanting to push his luck, Harry just instructed the door to open, and made to climb down the ladder. He tried to make a small joke about going first to clear off the grime, but it fell flat. Still, Ginny allowed Harry to enter the lower chamber first, and by the time she had followed, Harry already had cleaned himself off, and had his wand lit. In the vast cavern, it wasn't much, but it was appreciated all the same.

"Harry, I…I don't know if I can do this," Ginny said, scared.

Harry moved as close to her as possible, to bathe her in light. Hedwig had appeared on his shoulder, and was softly singing her song. Still, it didn't do much to calm Ginny.

"It's okay Ginny. The hardest part's over with, and Hedwig and I are right here. Anytime you want she can bring you back to your dorm room. It'll only take a second, so you have nothing to worry about. Alright?"

Ginny swallowed nervously, but nodded. Harry admired her for confronting such a scary part of her past, and wondered what was going through her mind. Could Harry do this, if he were in her place? Could he, for example, revisit the graveyard where Voldemort was resurrected using his blood, and not be just as scared? Harry thought he might be able to, but only because he'd faced a lot more tougher situations than Ginny. He'd had a harder life, and it was times like this when that fact was a benefit.

Each with their wands lit now, the two slowly moved down the central isle towards where they knew the large bust of Salazar Slytherin stood. There were about two dozen statuesque columns on either side of them lined up like an honor guard, and Harry remembered that four years before, there had been torches on top of each that had lit the entire room. Earlier in the year he hadn't remembered or bothered, as he'd only come down to collect the basilisk ingredients. Now that he was here to explore though, and had brought Ginny with him, Harry thought it might be a good idea to find a way to light the fires. Ginny must have done it long ago, but it was probably one of the things she'd only done as instructed by Tom, and didn't remember. Not wanting to bring it up, Harry kept quiet, and walked to the far side of a nearby column to look for fire access. Using his wand like a penlight, he looked for some sort of marking, or instruction.

It wasn't a moment later that Harry heard Ginny scream out again; but this time it was in sheer panic. She was calling his name; not being able to find him; and Harry could have slapped himself for stepping out of Ginny's line of vision without warning her.

"Ginny, I'm right here," Harry said while running to her. She was only three columns away; perhaps twenty feet; but was clearly upset. "I'm sorry, I was looking for a way to light the torches, and I stepped away for a second. I didn't mean to frighten you."

Harry expected her to yell at him some more, for being so foolish and inconsiderate. But instead, what she did surprised and slightly alarmed him. With tears running down her face, Ginny rushed towards him and threw her arms around his torso, grabbing on for dear life. Not knowing what else to do, but knowing she needed comforting, Harry slowly placed his arms around Ginny as well, and rocked her until she had calmed some.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled into his shoulder. "I turned around, and I couldn't see you, and I got so scared all of the sudden. And then I called out, and dropped my wand, and everything got dark, and I froze. You must think I'm being stupid."

"No," Harry told her, momentarily pushing her away so he could look her in her face. "I was being stupid for leaving you alone without telling you. I didn't realize you could react like that, and I'm sorry. I know this is hard for you, but I guess I didn't realize how hard until just now. Let's get your wand, and then I'll bring you back to Gryffindor Tower. I can come back alone later, but I think you've had enough for one day."

Ginny made as if to say something, but was cut off as Harry canceled his Lumos spell, and intoned "Accio Ginny's wand!"

A small whooshing sound could be heard as it flew through the air, and somehow, although Ginny couldn't guess, Harry caught the wand deftly in his hand. His magical lens allowed him to see better in the dark than normal, and although he couldn't make out much beyond two or three feet, he could see the incoming wand clear enough. Not a second later, Harry had lit up his wand again, knowing that Ginny needed the light. They'd only been in the dark for less than five seconds, but already Ginny was again shaking, and had moved back to grasp Harry as tightly as she could. Harry rocked her again for another moment before pulling away and presenting her with her wand.

"Loose something?"

Ginny snorted and snatched away her wand, clearly not amused with his lame attempt at humor.

"Sorry," Harry mumbled. Looking around for his dedicated companion, Harry found Hedwig perched at the top of an outcropping in the rock formation, and he motioned her over.

"No, Harry, that's alright," Ginny said, surprising him. "I had a scare, but I'm not ready to give up yet. You're right, and I'm just being silly."

"Are you sure Ginny," Harry replied. "No one would blame you for wanting to get out of here. Hell! If I was you, I'd want to get out of here."

Mustering all her resolve, she nodded her head. "I'm positive." Then looking a little more like the scared teen she'd just been leaching on to him, she whispered. "Just don't leave me alone again, alright?"

Harry smiled. As if he would! "Okay." To prove his point, Harry reached out to offer his hand (it was meant to be a joke; like saying she needed to before crossing the street), and surprisingly she took it.

For the next half hour, Harry and Ginny wondered all along the walls of the main Chamber, holding each other's hands, while looking for clues or anything useful. Ginny became more comfortable with the location, and Harry became more comfortable with the physical contact, and by the time the first half hour was up, the two were moving twice as fast through the Chamber as when they'd first started.

Not wanting to spend the whole day down there, Harry then insisted that they somehow get the torches lit. He didn't know how to do it magically (the ones at Hogwarts always lit automatically, and his house was electric), but by levitating Ginny ten feet in the air, she had a clear shot to light each torch individually with an Incendio spell. After that, the Chamber became much less scary, and much more bright. Still though, each time Ginny was lowered down to the ground, she retook Harry's hand, and he didn't complain in the least.

The tunnels the basilisk had used to navigate the plumbing were next to be explored, and seeing one too many tomb raider movies where the archeologist's assistants always got lost in the mazes, Harry knew right away to mark the tunnels and turn-offs he'd seen as soon as he used them. Wanting to distract Ginny, he asked her to take responsibility for it while he studied the pathways, and so therefore it became her job to mark the walls as they furthered their expedition. The charm was the same one Hermione had used to mark an "X" on the doors in the Department of Mysteries, and wasn't that hard to do.

Harry had only taken a few of those tunnels years ago when he was escaping the basilisk, and he now discovered those were only the larger ones. The snake had grown too large for the many smaller tunnels Harry found, although he supposed when the basilisk was younger, it used them as well.

But most of the tunnels they found were dead ends. Dead ends, or loops that ran in circles. Even the multiple forks in the roads led nowhere specific, and eventually led them back to familiar ground. The system of tunnels just seemed to be one large network of paths, all designed to let the basilisk get from one point to the next, any multitude of ways. Harry didn't see the purpose, but Ginny had no problem.

"Harry. We must be several hundred feet above the main chamber by now! I bet we're even almost at the level of Hogwarts. For some reason, these tunnels were made to let the basilisk have access to Hogwarts."

Turning behind him to look at the steep decline of the tunnel he'd just climbed, Harry realized with a start that she was correct. It also made sense as well, taking into consideration another fact he'd forgotten until then. Back when the basilisk was making its attacks on muggleborns, Harry at the time swore he heard a voice in the walls; a voice that no one else had heard. He knew the basilisk was the cause, and Hermione had confirmed its mode of travel in the pipes of the school, but so far Harry hadn't seen a single entrance or exit besides the main one which had been locked.

"I know what they're for," Harry told Ginny upon his revelation. "The basilisk traveled these pipes, moving throughout the school, so he could get a fix on where certain students were. It must have had some base intelligence to be able to speak and follow direction to attack only certain people, so it must have stalked the students like prey, before it attacked." Following a hunch, Harry turned to the nearest wall and concentrated on looking though it. At first he thought he was wrong, but after about thirty feet of stone, Harry made out a narrow hallway that clearly resembled a corridor on the third floor of Hogwart's castle.

"See," Harry yelled, excited and pointing. "We're right next to the Defense corridor on the third floor. The basilisk must have been able to see through the walls, or maybe smell through them. It kept on eye on the school, but could only attack once someone let it out through the main entrance. Slytherin must have planned these tunnels even before Hogwarts was built. Maybe not to be included with his Chamber of Secrets at the time, but he must have had something planned for them eventually. There's no way it's coincidence these tunnels burrow through solid rock where there easily could have been more hallways, or extra classrooms. Why, without all the dead space these tunnels take up, Hogwarts could probably have taken up only half the space as it actually does. I wonder why nobody's noticed this before?"

"Harry," Ginny said after a moment. "What you said makes sense, and I believe you and all, but how do you know we're near the Defense corridor? There's no way you could know that, even if you used a location spell. We've been so twisted and turned around, we could be halfway to Hogsmeade and not even know it."

Oops! Harry hadn't meant to give away his little secret, but supposed it was too late to take it back now. He could have obliviated Ginny, he supposed, but that was not only illegal, but also immoral, and he couldn't even consider doing that to a friend. Why, if he was willing to do that, he would have obliviated Ron long ago about his jealousy, and happily put an end to their fight.

"You remember those contact lenses I mentioned at the beginning of the school year," Harry reminded her. "Well, I got a few more options on them besides just the ones to correct my vision. Besides being weather proof and indestructible, I can also see better in the dark than normal, and I can see through solid objects like Moody's magical eye can, if I concentrate. That's how I know where we are. I can actually see the corridor about thirty feet past this wall."

"You can see through solid rock?" Ginny asked, amazed.

"I can see through pretty much anything," Harry answered. Trying his hand at humor again, he looked Ginny up and down, and said, "For instance, you have pink underwear on."

Ginny looked confused for a moment, and then horrified.

"Harry!" She shrieked.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding! Jeez, no sense of humor! Didn't you ever see Superman?"

"What?" Ginny asked, but he could tell she was still upset.

"It's a muggle movie; one of the few I've seen, that has a guy who can see through solid objects, among other abilities. He's interviewed by a reporter, and to test his ability, she asks him what color underwear she's wearing. The answer is pink, so that's why I said that. I didn't really look."

"Well," she sounded more forgiving, "I would hope not. And I believe you, because I'm wearing blue. You just shocked me, is all. Don't do that again. You can't go around using muggle references that none of us will get."

"Ask Hermione about it later," Harry suggested. "She'll tell you more about it, if you want. Anyway, why don't we get back down to the main chamber? Now that we know what these tunnels are for, I don't think we need to explore any more of them."

"Sounds good," Ginny agreed, and took his hand as they carefully made their way back. The entire time she kept glancing at Harry's eyes; no doubt to make sure he wasn't looking at her. Or more specifically at what she was wearing. It was a good thing she was keeping him on his toes as well, or else he might have peeked. Ever since Ginny had let slip that she was wearing blue underwear, he got curious as to whether she was telling the truth or not. It took every ounce of willpower he had to prevent from breaking his own rules, and take a look.

Back in the main chamber once more, Harry used a freezing charm on the small pool of water to ice it over. The basilisk had come out of Slytherin's mouth, he remembered, and Ginny had also mentioned that looking in there might be a smart idea. She wasn't wrong.

The mouth opened up when Harry commanded it to in Parseltongue, and it took some teamwork to climb up into the opening. Once they did though, they immediately found themselves in a small room with sparse furniture. The stone throne and table looked much like what Voldemort favored in Harry's visions, but fifty years ago when he had been but a student, Harry doubted he had gone through the trouble of creating such detailed works. Most likely, they had been left over from Slytherin, over a millennium ago.

"This must have been a private office or library at one point," Ginny commented, noticing not only the table and throne, but also crumbling old bookshelves and a few scraps of rotting parchment.

"That's what I figure," Harry agreed. "And if Slytherin left his Chamber for his future heirs to be able to access, I bet this place was pretty stocked when Voldemort first discovered it. Makes sense, if you think about it."

"How's that," Ginny asked.

"Well," Harry explained. "Tom Riddle lived in a muggle orphanage when he wasn't at Hogwarts, so it's not like he had exposure to the magical world then. And when he was here at Hogwarts, he wasn't exactly learning about the Dark Arts in classes. Not even the Restricted Section has books that contain spells like the ones Voldemort likes to use, and that's even assuming he had unlimited access, which I doubt. So he must have learned some Dark Arts from somewhere, at least before he graduated. Well, when he opened the Chamber for the first time, he must have found this room, and I bet those bookshelves weren't so empty then. I bet Voldemort had access to some real rare texts and Slytherin's private journals. He probably still has them. I bet that's part of how he became so powerful, and almost immortal, so quickly."

Ginny shuddered at the thought, but she knew Harry was right. The place was completely empty now, and Voldemort most likely had done it. She only hoped some of the books had been rotted and decomposed when he had found them, and proved useless. She knew it wasn't likely, though. A wizard as powerful and esteemed as Salazar Slytherin would surely place protective spells on any books he left behind.

After a quick conversation with Seth in which Harry asked if there might be anything he could add (and there wasn't), Harry and Ginny moved hand in hand down the remaining tunnel that the statue's open mouth had exposed. The small room had only been a small alcove off the larger tunnel, and unlike all the other tunnels they had visited, this one was sloping fast downward.

It also didn't branch off, or turn, or even narrow. Instead it just continued forward, sloping down nearly as far as some of the other tunnels had sloped up. After a solid twenty minutes walking, Harry was getting excited that he'd found something, and a drip on his shoulder led him to believe that he was right.

"Ginny," Harry said, pointing towards the roof, "look."

"It's water," she said, non-impressed, "so what?" Hedwig on her shoulder (who'd been there since they managed to light the main room's torches) was being dripped on as well, and wasn't liking it one bit. Perhaps it was because Ginny was sensing her discomfort, that she didn't recognize the water for the clue that it was.

"Don't you see? It's water, and it's leaking though stone. Normal moisture in the earth wouldn't do that. It takes a lot of pressure to seep though solid stone like that. That's why we've been sloping down for so long, and why it's so dank all of the sudden. Ginny, I think we're walking in a man-made tunnel directly under Hogwart's lake!"

"Oh," she said. It was comforting in a way to know their location (like they'd known in that tunnel near the third floor Defense corridor), but otherwise Ginny didn't know what to say.

"Come on, let's see where it goes?"

"What do you mean, where it goes?" Ginny wondered.

"Well, I've been thinking about it," 'Harry answered. "This main tunnel behind Slytherin's statue is the one I saw the basilisk come out of, right? So it would suggest that it's the main tunnel the snake used. It's also the widest, the only one that slopes downward, and we haven't seen a turn off into another tunnel yet. So there's something about this tunnel that's different from the others."

"Okay," Ginny agreed, following his logic so far, "go on."

"And the fact that the statue's mouth has to be opened by a Parseltongue suggests that the snake was trapped here before Voldemort let it out, right? So knowing that the snake was placed here by Slytherin a thousand years ago, how did the basilisk survive the whole time? I mean, sure it could have hibernated or something, but I doubt even a basilisk could hibernate for hundreds of years at a stretch. There's plenty of space to move around in and all, but there's just a single problem. What did the damn thing eat, if the main Chamber doors were closed, and the basilisk couldn't get out of this tunnel, let alone the whole Chamber? I think there's another way out of this tunnel, and I think I know where it goes."

"Where?"

"The Forbidden Forrest!" Harry answered excitedly. "If you draw a line from the castle towards the lake, and continue past it, you end up in the deepest part of the forest. If the basilisk somehow got out, it'd have plenty of prey to feed off, and could stay close by. I also remember something Aragog told me in my second year."

"Aragog, the giant spider Ron's always going off about?"

"Yes," he said. "When Ron and I went to talk with Aragog, after Hagrid got arrested, I remember him saying something about the monster in the Chamber of Secrets. We didn't know what it was then; this was before Hermione was petrified; but he did say that spiders refused to speak its name, because it was the most feared enemy of all his children. Remember; Aragog was brought here by Hagrid, and has only lived in the area since then. So tell me, why would Aragog and his family fear something that was locked up in the castle, and only rumored to exist? It's because it wasn't locked up in the castle! Somehow the basilisk was escaping into the forest to feed, and it scared the spiders away. It probably only came out when it absolutely had to feed, maybe only once every few years, but still! And I'm betting this tunnel has something to do with that escape!"

Ginny thought Harry was assuming too many things and jumping to too many conclusions, but supported him in that it was a possibility, and the only way to find out for sure was to continue down the tunnel, and find out if it led anywhere. While Harry was rationalizing to himself, they had kept walking, and must have left the lake far behind, because the ceiling wasn't damp anymore.

It was easily another twenty minutes of brisk walking that led Harry and Ginny to a large door. Since they'd past the lake, the tunnel had changed direction to slope back upward, and the grade was so steep that they'd found built-in steps at places. Harry wasn't sure if they'd reached ground level again, but guessed they were close. He tried looking through the walls, but it was dark all around. And where as the third floor corridor had lighting that aided Harry's vision, the dark forest (if that was where they were), didn't allow enough sunlight to pass through the heavy canopy to allow him to see clearly. The only hopes of verifying their location was opening the huge door.

And huge it was. At least eight feet in circumference, the large circular door was similar to the one with five bronzed snakes that opened the main Chamber, but with a few differences. First off, there were no snakes like the other door. There were also no apparent mechanisms or handles to open it with, nor were there any signs of recent use. Grooves carved out in the floor, and seams breaking up the rock face were in fact the only evidence that it was in fact an opening. There was something special though. There were two narrow openings in the door, about five feet off the ground, which Harry immediately recognized. Considering their placement on the door, and the context for which the door was used, it was easy to figure out really. The two holes were fang depressions, and would perfectly sheath two large basilisk fangs, which Harry was very familiar with. 'The fangs must act like keys,' Harry realized, 'and open the door to the outside forest. It's a good thing I kept some.'

"What are those holes for, Harry?" Ginny asked. She too had noticed the grooves, but hadn't put two and two together yet. She'd been unconscious when Harry had a fang driven into his arm, and hadn't been around when he'd collected the remaining ones earlier in the year. He didn't think it could hurt to explain.

"Well, it's only a guess," Harry went on, "but I'd say those two holes would fit the front two basilisk fangs perfectly. It was probably some sort of lock that Salazar Slytherin came up with, to allow his pet out of the Chamber. Smart really, if you think about it. It completely seals off the entryway from the outside, and from the inside, only the basilisk itself can open the door. It must have had to open it's mouth, and stick it's fangs in these holes to get out and feed. Now that the basilisk is dead, I don't think this door will open ever again."

"Couldn't somebody just stick two fangs in those holes though, and open it up?"

Harry had to admire how perceptive she was. He was already planning to do just that. But that wasn't something he was comfortable sharing with Ginny just then.

"Probably," he feigned. "Maybe, I don't know. I'm only guessing as to what those holes even are. But if I'm right, it doesn't matter. I collected the fangs from the dead basilisk months ago, and let Mr. Ollivander in Diagon Alley have them to work with. Right now, I'm sure most of the fangs have been cut down and made into wand cores. Either way, it's too late to do anything about it now. At least the door will remain shut. I'd hate to think of what could happen if Voldemort found this entryway, and got inside the school. Because the Chamber was hidden from the other founders, I doubt many of the wards that protect the castle apply here. I've already tried to apparate, and that didn't work, so at least that's something. If Voldemort were able to get in here, I'm afraid he would have access to the school without anybody knowing about it."

"That's a scary thought. We should still tell Dumbledore, though."

"Agreed," Harry said. 'But it's not a priority, as the fangs don't exist anymore. Let's just get cleaned up and ready for Hagrid's. I'll tell Dumbledore about this entryway the next time I meet with him."

That was good enough for Ginny, and so the two began the long journey back to the main chamber. Harry could have had Hedwig take them, but he wanted to shut the second door back up tight, and extinguish the torches he'd lit. Plus, the almost hour long walk gave him time to think. Although Ginny was still holding his hand, they had fallen into a comfortable silence, and both were content with just a leisurely walk back.

Harry's mind was racing though. This new entryway was something that either Voldemort didn't know about (unlikely), or something that he couldn't access because he didn't have the basilisk fangs. Either way, Harry was sure he could use this information somehow, if he gave it enough thought. Harry also wanted time later to come back down alone, with the fangs he'd held back from Ollivander. The ones he kept, he meant to experiment with as potion ingredients, and luckily he hadn't used any of them yet. Now, Harry was glad. Not only because he had refrained from crushing them and harnessing their venom, but also for the fact that he had decided to keep them from Ollivander in the first place. Harry had made sure to keep the larger fangs for himself, and had no doubt that the largest two would be exact matches for the holes he'd found. Slowly, a plan was forming in his mind.

---

After returning to the Chamber, extinguishing the torches, and locking the door back up with a hissed word, Hedwig made herself available to fly them both up the grimy slide. Ginny was worried about getting filthy all over again, and kindly asked Hedwig to transport them up. It only took a moment to grab onto her tail feathers, and next they knew, both Ginny and Harry were back inside Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. The ghost was present this time though, and her wails could be heard coming from deep inside the U-bend of her toilet. Not wanting to deal with her right then, Harry quickly instructed the Chamber entrance to seal itself, and all but dragged Ginny out the door.

"Who's there? I heard you! Come to make fun of miserable, Moaning Myrtle?"

Harry didn't stop to answer, and before Myrtle could extract herself from her cubicle, both teens were out the door and already racing to find a secret passage back up to the seventh floor.

"Thank Merlin," Harry breathed heavily, when they were far enough away that he was confidant that the ghost wouldn't follow him. "I always feel weird talking to her."

"Why," Ginny giggled, "because she has a crush on you?"

Harry blushed, but forced himself to not turn away.

"It's not just that," he answered. "She's just so morbid all of the time. And do you know she spies on the prefects, when they're having baths? That's what she did to me back two years ago, when I was figuring out the clue to the second task. How'd you feel talking to some ghost with a crush, who'd seen you starkers? Would you stay to share a cup of tea?"

"No," she laughed, still catching her breath from the mad dash, "I suppose not. Still, it's funny. As if you don't have enough problems right now, with the dance coming up and all the girls in school wanting to ask you."

"As if they even know who I am," Harry muttered. "They're just asking out a name, 'The Boy-Who-Lived' and all that. If they even knew who I was in the slightest, they'd know I'd turn down anyone who asked me, just because of that. Like this morning with Cathy. I've spent six years at Hogwarts already, and we've traded maybe five words in all that time! Why's she interested now, all of the sudden? At least when I asked Cho out, I sorta knew her. We're both seekers, and I wasn't after her because she was popular or anything."

"Well," Ginny said, wanting to not discuss Cho, "you better come to terms with it, because the next few weeks are going to be hell for you. Until you find a date, you're prime meat mister."

Knowing she was right, Harry visibly sighed, which caused Ginny only to laugh more. Wanting to return the favor, Harry smiled his own cheeky grin, and asked, "How about you? Who are you going to ask to the dance? Dean? Neville? I'm sure whoever you choose, Ron won't be that bothered."

That took the wind right out of Ginny's sails. "Oh, don't get me started on him! We've not even getting along well right now, and he had the gall this morning to butt into my life again. It's not like I'd interfere with his social life, if he had one. Even if he got the courage to ask out Hermione, I'd only be happy for him. Maybe a little teasing, sure, but nothing like the twins would do. Ron however goes ballistic every time I have a date, or even hint about a new guy I might like. It's getting annoying, you know."

"I know," Harry said. "But that still doesn't answer my question. Who are you going to ask? I promise I won't tell Ron, not that he'd listen to me anyway."

Ignoring his comment about Ron, Ginny just shrugged her shoulders. "To tell you the truth, I'm not sure if there's anybody I'd want to ask. I mean, yes, I could ask a friend, and we'd have a good time. But as far as a boy I like? I'm not interested in anyone right now. Michael was too into Ravenclaw to have an inter-house relationship, so I dumped him. And Dean was just a joke for Ron's sake, as you well know. Colin's my closest friend of the fifth year boys, but that wouldn't really work out (Harry laughed). And I don't know many other boys from other houses well enough to like them yet."

Harry nodded. "Looks like you're in the same situation as me. Only difference is, that you get to choose not to ask anyone, while I'm stuck with getting tons of invites."

The conversation lingered for awhile longer until the two finally reached the seventh floor. The plan was to head for their dorm rooms to get cleaned up for tea with Hagrid, as they were very dirty. Harry worried though that too many questions would be raised, and motioned Ginny to wait for a second while he pulled out his Marauder's Map. The coast was clear for them, as far as the hallways were concerned. But the common room was packed with students, including all their closest friends. All of them would notice the extreme filth on their robes if Harry and Ginny were to enter, and their cover story would be blown. Harry knew he could probably use his cloak to sneak up to his dorm room, but that would leave Ginny stranded. And it was impossible for Harry to escort Ginny to her dorm first, because boys weren't allowed up the stairs. Harry and Ron had tried that the previous year, and got knocked on their asses for the effort.

Ginny had the perfect solution though, and led Harry down a side hall to a very familiar corridor. 'Of course,' Harry thought. 'Why didn't I think of this?' The Room of Requirement would take care of their needs.

Harry wasn't expecting to find what he did though, once through the open door after whispering his password. He expected to find a change of clothes, or some wet towels to clean himself with. So had Ginny; by the look on her face. Instead though, they found two shower stalls, each having a bench to hold their possessions, and divided by a canvas screen.

"Um, Ginny," Harry said. "I'm pretty sure this isn't what I was thinking."

"Me neither," she replied back, way too quickly. "I was just thinking about finding a clean change of robes, and a washbasin."

"Same here. Although a shower would work better. But it hadn't even crossed my mind, because of, well, you know."

Ginny blushed. "Same here."

The two stood dumfounded for a moment, still not speaking, when suddenly Harry smacked himself in the head. "Duh!"

"What," Ginny asked him.

"We're so stupid," he explained. "This is the Room of Requirement, so it provides what we require. But it can't give us clean robes, because they wouldn't exist once we left the room. Instead, it provided what we each subconsciously wanted to do. Get real clean, and hence the showers. Even if we had found some clean clothes, I don't much fancy having them disappear once I'm back in the hallway."

"So, what?" Ginny looked extremely nervous. "We're just supposed to strip down and take a shower? Sorry Harry, but not over my dead body."

"Well, can you think of another way to get clean? If you haven't noticed, you're filthy." To emphasize his point, Harry reached over to her, running his fingers through her hair. The action would have caused Ginny normally to hitch her breath and possible blush, except the pull and slight pain from Harry's fingers stopped her. Harry couldn't even move his hand a few inches without her knotted hair catching, and when he pulled back his hand, Ginny saw at least four colors of mold and muck stuck to it.

"Ew," Ginny said, seeing what came from her own head.

"You have no idea," Harry said wiping his hands on his already dirty robes, slightly revolted. "I didn't think it would be that bad. There's wet stuff still in there, and I think some bugs."

"Bugs!" Ginny screamed, not comfortable with the thought of bugs furrowing their way through her hair. Pulling her hair loose and trying to shake her head free, she continued screaming, "Get them out! Get them out!"

"Realx!" Harry said, grabbing her shoulders and forcing her to be calm. "It's not like huge spiders or anything. Just a few flies. They're all over the place though; probably been there since that first slide down the muck. I bet I have them in my hair too."

"Well," Ginny barbed, "you never could tell, with how messy it always is. In fact, your hair looks exactly the same as it always does."

"Har har," Harry mocked, "very funny! Now, I'd like to get cleaned up if you don't mind."

"Fine!" Ginny said with a sarcastic grin. "But no peeking! You stay on your side of the divider, and I'll stay on mine. And if I catch you looking Harry Potter, I'll not only tell Ron, but all my brothers what you did."

Harry shuddered at the idea of having six Weasleys after his hide, but shook off the thought. He felt like playing back.

"Don't worry about me Ginny, I can restrain myself. Remember, I could use my magical lens if I really wanted too. Blue underwear, huh? I could check, you know? You just worry about not doing any peeking yourself, or I'll send a note to Crabbe and Goyle in your handwriting, asking them to the dance as your partners. I'm sure they'd love to accept."

"You wouldn't?" Ginny asked, as if horrified. The threats had turned into a game though, and neither of them were serious.

"Just keep your elbow out of the butter dish, and your eyes in your own stall, and we'll be fine."

Ginny groaned. "I'm never going to live that down, am I?"

The two traded barbs while they each entered their private stalls, but once undressed, common sense and awkwardness silenced them both while they showered. As a result, Harry could hardly tell that Ginny was only a few meters away, and vice versa. It was much like the divided showers in the Quidditch locker rooms actually, except that as the stalls were made for one person, not an entire team, they were much closer to each other.

Harry finished his shower first, and since he heard the water still going with Ginny, decided to trim his toenails to waste time. The Room immediately provided him with clippers, and thanks to the wooden bench close by, Harry didn't have to stand on one foot and worry about falling over. He must have wasted three minutes doing that, and still Ginny wasn't finished. So Harry took the chance to get out and quickly dress. If Ginny finished before he was ready, he'd hear the water shutting off, and have the chance to jump back behind the canvas screen. Luckily it didn't happen, and Harry got his robes back on with plenty of time to spare. Somehow his clothes were clean again (either sent down to the house-elves, or cleaned by the Room; he didn't know), and Harry made a vague attempt to brush and style his hair in the mirror on the wall.

"Oh, don't even bother dear," the mirror chided him. "We both know there's no use!"

"How do you know?" Harry asked the mirror.

"Every mirror in the castle knows that unruly black mop by now young man! It was the talk of the bathroom mirrors for your entire first week here."

Harry looked horrified. "You mirrors talk to each other?" Quietly, he heard a giggling from behind him. Without even noticing, Ginny had ended her shower, and must have grabbed her clothes when he wasn't looking, and was now dressing behind the screen.

"Oh course they talk, Harry," Ginny continued to laugh from behind her cover. "How else do you think us girls learn which other girls are wearing what robes, or what hair styles are most popular? Honestly, if you only ever tried to spend some time getting to know your mirror, you'd have learned this. Why else do you think they can talk?"

"They've only ever insulted my hair before," Harry mumbled.

"That's because you've probably never had a decent conversation with one before. Haven't you ever wondered why girls take so long getting ready? It's because we're always listening to our mirror's advice, and trying out different styles."

By then Harry was feeling a right tool, and just encouraged Ginny to finish dressing so they could leave. Hermione and the others were meeting Hagrid for tea in less than an hour, and Harry didn't want to miss the visit. He'd only seen Hagrid in passing and at meals since the holiday break, and was looking forward to talking with his oldest friend.

Soon enough, Ginny was ready, and appeared from behind her stall completely put together, including dried hair and the small amount of make-up she usually wore. Harry noticed she just started wearing that this past year, but hadn't said anything about it. Harry wondered if Ron even noticed.

"All ready to go?" She asked, brushing non-existent lint off her robes as she checked the time.

"Yes! I've been ready for the past half-hour. You may be a Weasley, but somehow I don't think you're used to being allowed the same amount of time in the bathroom as your brothers are. They'd hex your hide off if you took so long at home!"

"Well, we're not at the Burrow now, are we? During the school year I'm allowed to take as long to get ready as I like, so shush up. You could have taken a few extra minutes yourself, you know. You hair's not even dried yet!"

"I did take some extra time," Harry defended himself. "While I was waiting for you , I cleaned my ears, clipped my toenails, and even got the chance to brush my teeth. And I never dry my hair, so don't go there. The one time I let Lavender try that, I ended up looking like an electrocuted puffskin until I took another shower. If you think my hair's a mess now, you should have seen me then."

"Well," Ginny thought out loud, "next time you could try using a flattening iron."

"I'll pretend like you just didn't say that," Harry said back calmly. "Draco Malfoy may use irons and product in his hair, but I'm not him. Nor do I think any decent bloke should be. Now let's get going to Hagrid's. We'll be a little early, but at least my hair will dry before the others see me. Remember; not a word about the Chamber yet. As far as they know, we were just going over some Arithmancy equations."

Ginny agreed, and the two quickly made their way down to Hagrid's hut. They were indeed early, and Hagrid wasn't there to greet them, nor was Fang. Probably feeding some of his animals in the pen he kept close by, or off in the woods hunting for some meat. His hut was warm and inviting though, and Harry and Ginny let themselves in to warm by the fire. Hagrid had no problems with them making themselves feel like home when he wasn't around, so neither of them felt like they were intruding. A pot of boiling water was evident over the small fire, as was a batch of Hagrid's infamous rockcakes warming on a nearby tray. Harry immediately vanished the snacks with his wand, before Hagrid would have the chance to offer them to him or his friends. If asked about them, Harry would just claim he was hungry, and ate them as he was waiting.

"Harry," Ginny said from her seat next to him on the large armchair they were sharing. "I really want to thank you for asking me to accompany you today. At first I thought you were mental, but now that it's over, I really do think it helped me to go down there. I've tried not to think about my first year and Tom since you saved me, but for some reason, I don't think I'll have many nightmares about it anymore. Or at least, not about the Chamber of Secrets. I owe that to you."

Without preamble, she punctuated her gratitude by leaning over and kissing him lightly on the check. She lingered slightly longer than she needed to, but after almost a full day of holding hands together, the small sign of affection didn't bother Harry in the least.

"No problem Gin," he answered. "Like I said, I saw how Neville stood up to his demons yesterday, and I knew you'd do just as well. I'm just glad we got the chance to do it alone, without having the others swarming about. And as odd as it may sound; after crawling around in a dank cave for hours on end; I actually had a lot of fun with you today. Weird, huh?"

Ginny laughed. "Not at all! I was thinking the same thing actually. It's not a typical first date, I admit, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I could have done without the muck, though."

Harry shuddered as he remembered running his fingers through her hair, and what came out of it when he pulled back. "Yuck! Yeah, that wasn't the best part. First date though, huh? Is that what we did today?" Suddenly, Harry wasn't as comfortable as he felt moments earlier.

Neither was Ginny, judging by her blush.

"Well…sort of, I guess. We did just spend the day together, and we both admitted we enjoyed ourselves. I know it's not like we're going out or anything, but some people might call it a date. I mean…"

"Ginny," Harry cut her off, "relax. I didn't mean anything bad by it. I don't mind calling it a date, as I guess it was one. I just didn't think of labeling it like that till you mentioned it. You know what though? Even with the muck and the dark and the horrible smell, I still had a way better time than that Hogsmeade trip I spent with Cho at Madam Puddifoot's.

Reassured, Ginny's blush faded as she too admitted that not all of her dates with Michael Corner the year before had gone smashingly. Harry was intrigued to learn just how rocky of a start they'd gotten off to, as Ginny very rarely talked about her time as Michael's girlfriend. It's not that she was ashamed or embarrassed, it's just that as Ron was often around, she tended to avoid conversations that she knew would send him over the edge.

"So," Ginny said a few moments later after an uncomfortable silence, "who do you think will end up going to the dance together?"

Harry wasn't sure. Because the girls had to ask guys out, that threw his whole way of looking at things, and he realized he didn't pay attention to the rumors about who liked whom among the female students. He told Ginny this, but she wasn't paying attention.

"Would you like to go with me to the dance," she all but blurted out when Harry finished his observation. "I mean, just as friends. You said earlier that you didn't fancy anyone, so it's not like you're waiting for an invitation. And I don't plan on asking anyone either..."

"Ginny."

"…and Ron would probably give anyone I did ask a hard time…."

"Ginny."

"…and even if he did approve of someone, I don't think there's even a friend I could ask who wouldn't want to spend the night dragging me around to all their housemates…"

"Ginny," Harry finally had to almost shout. Realizing she had been rambling, she blushed. That was nothing though compared to her color when she finally listened to Harry's answer.

"I'd love to go to the dance with you." Because he'd been trying to get Ginny to listen to him, Harry didn't even realize how forward that sounded. "I agree, there's not anyone I especially want to go with, and I think we could have a lot of fun, just as long as you don't expect me to be a suave dancer. At the least, now my excuse of going with somebody else would actually be true. I'm glad you asked."

Ginny just smiled. "Me too!" She was a little disappointed with how aloof his answer had been, but knew he didn't mean to sound that way. Regardless though, she'd asked out one of the school's most eligible bachelors, and he'd accepted; even if only as a friend.

It wasn't long after that that Hagrid and the others arrived. Hermione and Luna were present, and not surprisingly, Ron had made up a bogus excuse to avoid Harry. He promised he'd see Hagrid in class though. As for Neville, Harry had no idea where he was, but after such an eventful day interrogating his parents' torturers, Harry thought his friend deserved some alone time if he wanted it.

Not much else happened to Harry that day. Patrolling with Cami that night was uneventful as always, although the two did have a nice conversation. Cami was pumping Harry for info about the dance, and he finally admitted to being asked in earnest. He felt he could trust her after weeks of friendship with the truth, and oddly enough, wasn't concerned that Cami was about to ask herself. She had made clear enough when they first met, that although she had no problems with being friendly, she didn't want to place herself in danger, and therefore didn't want to get particularly close to Harry and his troubles. A normal person might have been offended by such a statement, but Harry was just relieved at the time. Already he was too concerned with worrying over his few close friends. After being partly responsible with Cedric's, and then Sirius's death, Harry could accept Cami's decision. Plus, he still mourned Amber and got a little misty eyed, when he allowed himself to think about her death.

It turns out, Cami wasn't pumping for information about Harry; she was interested in some of his friends. There was no one in Hufflepuff she particularly wanted to ask to the dance, and wanted to know if Harry though anyone he knew might make a nice dance partner. Harry wasn't sure, so he gave her a general run-down of all the friends he had, and what their personalities were like. Cami didn't have many friends out of her house, and was quite shy, so even the little Harry could tell her about Steven Cornfoot of Ravenclaw, or Orion Flint of Slytherin was of use to her.

After busting a kissing couple, running across Mrs. Norris twice and retreating the other way, and cleaning up a mess Peeves had made with ink pellets, Harry escorted Cami back to Hufflepuff before continuing on to the Entrance Hall. Technically, both of them were supposed to check in with the second patrol before going back to their dorms, but the past weeks had been so quiet, nobody seemed to mind a few shortcuts all around. And as Cami's house was in the opposite direction of Gryffindor Tower, Harry felt more comfortable walking Cami there, then letting her walk the deserted castle hallways alone.

The reason was quite simple really. Although he never told Cami, and never hinted that he knew, Draco Malfoy had been following him all night long from a discrete distance. Harry only spotted him by using his x-ray lens, and made sure he didn't say anything that could be used against him. Draco was up to something, and until Harry knew for sure what it was, he wanted to keep the Slytherin close by.

---

The next two weeks flew by for Harry and his friends. Classes resumed in earnest, and Harry was fully over the funk he'd experienced that first week. Quidditch practice started back up, D.A. meetings were scheduled, and all in all, things were back to normal.

Ron was still being cool towards Harry, but after being yelled at by Hermione for skipping tea with Hagrid simply because of his "childish behavior," he made better strides towards being civil at least. While playing Quiditch, the fact that the keeper didn't have much interaction with other players helped tremendously, but even then, Harry let Ginny handle her brother. And she made it clear the very first practice back, that if either of them let their personal disagreement bleed over to affect the team, she'd call for replacements in a heartbeat.

Harry's potions work continued to show vast improvements, and even though he hadn't mastered all of the recipes from his sixth year text, he had brewed them successfully enough to please almost anyone besides Snape. And knowing that he'd never want nor need the surly Potion Master's approval, Harry thought it best to continue on in his study, rather than continue to strive for the perfection he knew he'd never get. So Harry began to study seventh year potions in the time he allocated the subject, even though it was technically more advanced than what he should be covering. Some of the truth serums Harry had experimented with before mastering Veritaserum were of that caliber, but otherwise his lackluster attempt at Polyjuice with Ron and Hermione back in second year was his only foray into advanced potions. Still, independent study had its definite advantages, and Harry rather liked the idea of asking to take his NEWTs for Potion brewing a year early, just to rub it in Snape's face.

Animagus attempts were still a waste of time, nonetheless Harry spent at least an hour a week in deep meditation trying to overcome the block that hid his animagus form in his subconscious. Likewise, his Arithmancy project to reverse the spell that had made Dementors didn't show any progress either. He had made bounds and leaps since starting the ambitious task, but even after he solved the latest hurdle in his path, Harry figured he still had at least four months before he could even begin to think about testing the spell. Until then, the released spirits that Harry had freed from the various Dementors had relented to spend their time in the Shrieking Shack. In small groups they sometimes traveled the country to pass time, but they understood that reversing the spell that had enslaved them within Dementors, who'd been in existence for over a millennia, was no walk in the park. Frankly, they'd been surprised that Harry had made as much progress as he had, and let him know so on one of the rare trips Harry made to visit them in the shack. Remus too visited them often, as he was more free to leave Hogwart's campus, and wanted to let the spirits know they weren't forgotten about.

Speaking of Remus, he returned from his task for the Order as expected, but couldn't tell Harry what it was about as it didn't concern him, and therefore off limits per his agreement with Dumbledore. Apparently with few exceptions the Order had laid low during the recent holidays, and not much apart from the continued restructuring of the Ministry had happened.

Talks continued to figure out a way of making Azkaban more secure. But the fact remained that with as few aurors as the Ministry employed, and the current class at least a year from finishing training, there weren't enough guards to watch over any prisoners they happened to catch. Only a few Death Eaters had been caught since the last breakout, and luckily there were enough holding cells at the Ministry building to avoid using Azkaban. Remus also let Harry know that Arnold Peasegood's internal search for spies and conspirators had only found a few low ranking Ministry employees. Apparently once Bones stepped in as Minister and made clear she was going to restructure the Ministry, Voldemort's agents either fled or were ordered to leave within weeks. He couldn't even have known that Peasegood (the former Obliviator) was secretly administering Veritaserum to every Ministry worker, and therefore would have uncovered Death Eater spies regardless. In the face of uncertainty, it seemed that Voldemort was willing to bide his time and act more cautiously than he had in the past.

The third week in January, Harry did manage to sneak back to his Hideaway for a night, bringing Neville along with him. He had promised his friend he'd try so that Neville could visit with his parents, and if Harry was anything, he was true to his word. Ginny had agreed to cover for the two during the afternoon and evening meal saying that they were in Harry's trunk practicing a new spell Harry had discovered. Since most of Gryffindor knew that Harry and Neville frequently practiced together, no one thought the story suspect. And while they didn't stay the night, and returned far earlier than curfew, Harry still managed to provide his friend with four hours of solid, quality time with his parents, while Harry took a joy ride through muggle London on his Indian Chief.

The motorcycle was a pleasure to ride as always, and as much as Harry wished he could shrink the bike and take it with him back to Hogwarts, he knew it wasn't practical. So he enjoyed the time he could, and planned for the day when he could fly the bike carefree without worries of getting caught by either muggles, the Ministry, or his watchers from the Order.

The next week's D.A. meeting was a success as well. Because of their excuse, Harry made sure to show the advanced group the new spell he supposedly just learned with Neville. In truth, it was one Harry had known about for months, but had for some reason he couldn't remember not shared with them right away. The incantation was "Impedimenta Vigoratus," and what the spell did when properly cast was to slow down the heart rate to the point where it caused the victim to fall unconscious from lack of oxygen and circulation in the bloodstream. It was almost undetectable at first though, and so slow acting that the spell was deemed not offensive enough by many, and fell out of favor over the years almost to the point of obscurity. Harry had shown Neville the spell over the holidays, so it was no problem for either of them to move around the D.A. guiding the others in correctly casting it.

Hermione caught on the quickest of course, followed by surprisingly the Flint twins, and then Cho and Ginny. Cho frowned when Harry moved to help Ginny while she got stuck with Neville, and Harry knew before the night was over with, he'd have to have another uncomfortable conversation with his former crush.

"Harry," she asked as expected as the meeting ended, and the room started to clear. "Do you have a moment?"

"Sure Cho," he replied, trying his best to sound neutral and not give away the fact that he'd caught Cho's sour face earlier in the night. He still hadn't forgotten how callous and spiteful Cho reacted in the last D.A. meeting of the previous year, and hoped she would have gotten over any issues she had. Judging from her look, she didn't, but Harry knew to reserve a verdict until he talked with her personally.

They both waited until the room cleared of the others like the last time they met, when Cho finally spoke.

"I wanted to apologize Harry," she sounded earnest, "for how I acted the last time we spoke. I had finally gotten over Cedric's death, and realizing that I ruined the start of what could have been a perfectly good relationship, perhaps rushed to try patching things up with you. I didn't consider your thoughts, and that you might be entertaining different feelings than you did last year. Plus I attacked one of your friends, which I had no right to do. I guess I was just a little jealous, and truth be told, I probably still am. But that's none of my business, and I shouldn't have said the things I did. I'm sorry."

'Well,' 'Harry thought, 'that's certainly surprising!' Harry didn't know what to expect from Cho, but an apology and the truth certainly never crossed his mind.

"Um," he stumbled, "thanks Cho, I think. I mean, I appreciate your being honest. I admit, I was a bit surprised when you acted the way you did last month, but I accept your apology. I guess I should say I'm sorry too, for reacting so harshly. Some of the things you said I didn't take kindly too, but you couldn't have known how I would have reacted. No hard feelings?"

Cho smiled. "None at all. In fact, I want to make it up to you. I was wondering if you'd like to go with me to the Valentine's Day dance? We could go as friends if you're uncomfortable with anything more, but I just want the chance to show you I'm sorry for the way I acted, and that I think we really could have a good time."

If Harry didn't appreciate Ginny's invitation before, he most definitely did now. Since that day in Hagrid's hut, Harry had been asked by no less then twenty three girls to go to the dance. Saying that he already had a date was both convenient and the truth, and truth be told, after having the time to think about it, Harry was actually looking forward to attending with Ginny, and having a good time.

"I'm sorry Cho," the words had become almost practiced for him, "but I've been asked to the dance already by someone else, and have accepted. Maybe I'll see you there though, and we could share a dance if there's time?" Harry had no intention of dancing with all the girls he'd turned down over the past two weeks, but after hearing him bluntly turn down a seventh year Hufflepuff who she later noticed crying in a loo stall, Hermione had instructed Harry to allude to a dance, regardless of whether he meant it or not.

But as Hermione's advice was running through his mind, Harry couldn't help but notice the crushed look on Cho's face. Apparently, she had really expected Harry to accept her invitation; if not as a proper romantic date, then at least as a sign to renew a damaged friendship.

"Are…are you just saying that?" Cho stuttered. "I thought I overheard someone saying you were just using that as an excuse to turn down all the girls you didn't know?"

"No Cho, I really am already going with someone. I'm sorry if you heard differently.

"But I thought that you liked me? You even asked me out! You've never gone on a date with anyone else." Harry could also see Cho struggling not to ask who Harry had accepted an invitation from, and she won that particular battle.

"Cho," Harry calmly explained. "I did like you, and I still do. But not in that way anymore. And our date was a year ago, and you can hardly call it successful. I'm sorry if you thought different, but I thought I made this clear when we last talked.

Cho made some incoherent responses, and quickly made her exit. Harry even considered going after her, but didn't know what more he could say, and if he was honest with himself, wanted to avoid another conversation like that at all costs. If he was lucky, Cho would be upset for awhile, but the next time she saw Harry, would pretend like they had never talked.

---

After that particular D.A. meeting, and the fact that Cho had avoided Harry, nothing could bring him down; not even Ron.

Harry managed to sneak back into the Chamber of Secrets alone with the two largest fangs, and indeed they did fit into the holes in the door. And like clockwork and without obstruction, the large round door swung open to a desolate yet dangerous part of the forest, just like Harry had thought. There were also holes on the door's outside, so the fangs were necessary from both sides, which Harry was thankful for. That meant that as long as Harry kept the fangs in his possession, he didn't have to worry about Voldemort finding his way inside the castle.

His studies went well, and along with his independent study, Harry continued to learn new spells and more magical theory at a steady rate. His practice countering the Cruciatus curse suffered a temporary setback, but only because Harry had done without that particular pleasure over the holidays. With no more excuses, Harry set himself back into the routine of cursing his double (who showed back up the day after his venture into the Chamber of Secrets with Ginny) each afternoon during a free period. His duels resumed too; both of the magical and the muggle variety.

With so much on his plate, it was hard to juggle so many of his studies while maintaining a social life, but aided by the extra time his double provided him, Harry managed. No matter how busy he got, or how exciting a new spell or discovery he came across in his studies was, Harry made sure to continue his tutoring sessions with Ginny and Luna. He also managed to keep his weekly massage sessions with Ginny after team practices, which got bumped back up to four times a week in preparation for the next game. Then there was making time to spend with Remus and Hagrid, continuing his private dueling sessions with Neville, reading a few fictional books just to give his mind a time to relax, and keeping tabs on Draco Malfoy who continued to shadow Harry wherever he went, and who thought he remained unnoticed in the hidden hallways and secret passages that Hogwarts provided.

It wasn't until a particularly uneventful day mid-week, that Harry had the first hic-up in the new year. Like normal before going to sleep, Harry spent about fifteen minutes clearing his mind using the Occlumency techniques he'd developed, and after that, spent another few minutes checking in with Cathy and hew seventh year friends to see if any of them got new bed outfits for Christmas. It was because he was sure he'd practiced his Occlumency, Harry knew that the vision he received late that night was real.

Voldemort had somehow heard about the upcoming school dance. And regardless of the fact that he hadn't been asked by anyone, he was going to attend!

---

AUTHOR NOTES:

Well, it's been about a month, and here's your next chapter. My life has been hectic lately, and with the problems encountered last month while updating their system, this update took longer than I expected. I just hope you're all happy with what I had.

Yes, not a lot of action this past chapter, and yes, it's mostly Harry/Ginny. Well, I did claim this fic would contain a slight relationship between the two, so who else did you think Harry was going to the dance with? Make no mistakes though, there will be no talk about the "L" word, and I appreciate if you refrained from using the word "ship," as it makes my skin crawl. I was just laying the groundwork for the dance, which we'll only see some of. As you might tell from my ending line, Harry's going to have more to worry about come Valentine's Day then worrying about remembering to complement Ginny on her dress robes.

I made review responses to this chapter weeks ago when I thought I was going to update, so I apologize now if I missed some of your reviews that came after that date. I promise in the future to only post my responses when I'm sure I'll post the new chapter soon. As always, those can be viewed in my Yahoo! Group "files" section, so please follow the links from my bio page to get there.

I'll also be having two chats within the next few days, if anyone wants to join in to ask me questions, bitch at me for taking so long to update, or to just talk about HP in general. Again, follow my links to the "Chat" page for that. That's all for now, and please let me know what you think in a review.

Ross