Depth of Knowledge

A/N: I can't even say how surprised and grateful I am for all your guys' support. Like, really. I've seen other fanfics way better than mine with half as much support. Thank you so much! As usual, replies at the bottom!

DISCLAIMER: Wow, I'm shocked I don't own Harry Potter. I mean, seriously... I don't own Harry Potter ?

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Chapter 7: Spring Dance

Harry didn't like Lucius Malfoy. No, he didn't even like knowing the man existed. Rita Skeeter was a woman Harry would like to tear to pieces. Word of Harry using the Cruciatus curse in Hogwarts had not only reached the ears of the Weasley family, but the entire group of wizards and witches reading the Daily Prophet.

Harry James Potter Uses Unforgivable Curse- Officials Question his Loyalty

By Rita Skeeter

With rumors of more and more death eaters rising again from their dark pits, it came as a surprise when the Prophet was notified on Mr. Harry James Potter's use of an unforgivable curse. During Transformation Class on the 5th of January, Mr. Potter performed the cruciatus curse on his acquaintance, Ron Weasley.

Mr. Potter's attack on poor Mr. Weasley bring up a deeper question: To what side is Harry Potter really leaning towards? Potter's violent actions have spurred many officials into investigating the rumor. Not only do aurors feel uncertainty about the entire situation, Lucius Malfoy, a ministry supporter, says Harry is an extremely unstable boy that should seek help immediately.

"I wouldn't be half surprised if the boy runs for the darkness. He's got half of that evil inside him now." Lucius Malfoy said, answering the question for the Prophet.

The big question has risen: Is Potter good or bad?

It was that morning when the Prophets were distributed when many students started to look at him funnily. Hermione had warned him about the article, but Harry hadn't thought about it much. It was just a stupid article, that was all.

But it wasn't.

Harry was left to his own devices in the common room when he entered, everyone going up to their dorms. It wasn't this that had ticked Harry off, but Ron's uncertainty.

"You know you can tell us anything, right Harry?" Ron asked nervously one night in the dormitory.

"What, you don't trust me?"

Ron remained silent after that. Hermione seemed quite disturbed about the article, often criticizing it for its lack of evidence.

"I swear, Harry, people aren't going to believe this rubbish, especially when they are basing this off of just one occasion!" Hermione said determinedly.

Things got worse as time progressed.

"Potter the rotter can't choose what side." Malfoy sneered, shoving a newspaper into Harry's hand and leaving, the guffaws from Crabbe and Goyle more annoying than his regular trips to the hospital. Throwing the paper on the ground, Harry angrily walked outside into the cold night. Flich, the caretaker, was apparently busy with Peeves to be guarding the doors. Hmm, wonder what that Norris cat is up to…

Harry liked to trudge around the lake. The emotions that were swimming through his head were confusing. Feelings of victory, accomplishment. Then fear. Then realization. Then fury. Harry had become adroit on controlling his emotions, blocking them out like visions in Voldemort's mind. Could the visions be similar to these feelings?

"Harry! So good to see you!" Harry froze in his tracks, turning to look at the incoming figure. It was Ginny.

"Ginny, you shouldn't be out at this time…"

"Oh come on, Harry! You're out here too, and it's a beautiful night to walk." Harry sighed but let her tag along as she walked behind him.

"So, your brother off to bed already?"

"Oh, he was saying goodnight to Hermione last time I checked." Ginny made a face. "If you could even call it a good night…"

"Don't go into details, please." The two walked in silence, Harry kicking rocks into the lake as he went. It was getting colder, and he wished he had brought a cloak to warm him.

"Harry, I wanted to ask you something…" Ginny said nervously, walking in front of Harry and turning. "The Spring Dance is coming up, and I was wondering if you'd like to come with me?"

The Spring Dance. How had Harry forgotten all about it? Harry must've had a misleading expression on his face because Ginny blushed even redder.

"As friend, if you want?" Harry cursed himself, a thought so absurd had run through his head a millisecond ago. But no, Harry wouldn't. It would be cold, so unlike him.

"I'm sorry, Ginny, but I was planning on going alone." Harry said politely trudging past her waiting form. Ginny started to run after him.

"But, Harry! You could maybe make Hermione jealous if you go with me!" Ginny said, panting beside him.

"Really, Ginny? I'd like to go to a dance for the fun of it, not to make some person jealous. That's mean."

Harry made his way up the castle and into the Gryffindor Common Room.

()

The Spring Dance was the topic for many conversations that morning. More posters had been hung in the corridors, and many girls gossiped on what they were going to wear. Harry's incident had been almost completely forgotten.

"You find someone yet, mate?" Ron asked at the house table in the Great Hall the following morning. He took a massive bite out of his toast layered with jam and a hazelnut spread. Harry shook his head.

"Your sister asked me. I want to go alone this dance, I guess. I'm not really a great date, as shown during fourth year." He nodded his head in Parvati's direction.

"True, although I was a terrible date too and look who I'm bringing!" He gave Hermione a quick peck on the cheek. Hazelnut spread smeared on Hermione face.

"SERIOUSLY, RONALD! THAT"S ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!" Hermione screamed, getting up and rushing out of the Great Hall towards the bathroom. Harry laughed.

"Smooth, mate, smooth." Ron could only shrug and continue eating his toast in silence.

()

Rumor of a famous wizarding band playing at the dance was a hot topic amongst the students the following days. Harry had no interest whatsoever as to who was attending the dance. Professors were pulling their hair out because of the lack of work that was being turned in.

"I don't care if the end of the wizarding world is coming!" McGonagall cried as she received only four out of the class's thirty assigned assignments. Surprisingly, one of them was Harry's.

Dance day finally came, a light snow falling over the castle grounds. The weather was a surprise, winter having already passed months before. At least, Harry felt like it had. Ron was eager to show Hermione his newly discovered dance moves he had been taught courtesy of Harry.

"Watch, she'll be blown away when I do the jig." Ron performed a feeble Irish tap dance, pulling up his dressing gown and kicking his legs.

"I think she'll go blind just looking at you try before, then she'll blow." Harry laughed, taking out a green suit he had, conveniently bought at the start of the year in Diagon Alley. Harry thought all dressing gowns looked absolutely ridiculous compared to the sleek look of muggle formal attire.

"Dammit, Harry! Why does your outfit look so cool compared to mine!" Ron swore, looking at Harry in envy. Harry chuckled.

"Because unlike you, Ron, muggles have a smart taste in style when it comes to formal clothing." Ron grumbled under his breath as he adjusted his gown once more before turning towards the stairs.

"Well, wish me luck." And Ron exited the dormitory, leaving Harry alone in the quiet room. Maybe a tie is in order…

Harry decided for it and took out the black, plain looking one he had also purchased at Madam Malkin's. The items were extremely expensive. Harry hated spending so much money, but thought that he had to have at least one pair of clothing that looked decent for special occasions. Hogsmeade had such overpriced items…

Trudging down the stairs, Harry felt like the Ugly Duckling. Yes, Harry remembered his first children's book fondly. All the other boys were either leaving the common room with their dates or waiting for their girls to come down. Unsure of what to do, Harry awkwardly stood next to Ron. He hated to ruin this night for his best mate.

"Harry, the bloody hell are you wearing?" Lavender asked, Seamus to her right.

"Um, my dance attire?" Harry said uncertainly.

"Well, I must say you do look the best out of all these boys. Seamus looks like crap." With her complaining date following after her through the portrait hole, Harry saw Ron talking with Neville. He decided to come join in.

"Harry! We were just talking about his date. You hear Neville's taking Luna?" Ron asked, winking at Harry. Neville was blushing furiously.

"Seriously, Ron, we're just going as friends…"

"Uh, huh. Friends my bosom!" Ron tisked. Harry couldn't help but laugh.

"That sounded really weird." Harry chuckled, Ron turning a slightly redder shade.

"It did, didn't it?" Almost all the boys trickled out of the common room, leaving Harry, Ron, and Dean. Dean seemed anxious.

"I swear, that girl can't keep me waiting all the time!" Dean kept glancing at his watch impatiently. Ron snickered.

"Yup, Ginny's that type of girl who can't decide what to wear." Dean sighed in relief as the red-haired girl came down the steps. She was very pretty, a blue dress hanging freely to the floor.

"I'm sorry Dean, I couldn't decide…" Ginny stopped and looked at Harry. Ron started snickering loudly.

"Eh, someone like how another boy looks? Feeling bad for you, Dean. Sometimes, a girl really can't get over her crush." Ginny kicked Ron in the shin, her face red.

"Harry, you're looking...great." Ginny said, blushing even redder if rushing out the portrait hole, followed by Dean. Ron was rolling on the floor, laughing.

"Damn, you really pick up the ladies good mate! I swear, that suit looks amazing!" He got up and regained his composure. "And where's Hermione?! She's taking forever."

"Heck if I know." The boys waited for what seemed like an hour before footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs. Ron jumped off the couch and ran towards Hermione.

"Hermione, you look beautiful!" He embraced her while she started yelling.

"Ron, honestly. I'm sorry I took forever, though. Had a little trouble with the hair charming spell…Is Harry already down?" Ron put her down and started laughing again.

"Oh, Harry's been quite busy attracting other boys' dates, ain't that right?" Ron called over to the sofa. Groaning, Harry got up. He had taken quite restful nap.

"Shut up, Ron." Harry got up and rubbed his eyes. "Is Hermione finally down, because I'm just going if she isn't." He looked over.

"Harry, you look very nice!" Hermione complimented. Harry muttered a thanks before stepping out of the portrait hole with his two friends.

()

Harry sipped his punch alone in the dark corner of the Great Hall. Loud music blared around the room, flashing lights filling the already party-like atmosphere. Laughing and screams could be heard from the giant blob of people in the center, dancing and having a good time.

Harry was feeling a mixture of anxiety and depression. He was trying to push it out of his mind like usual, but the more he tried, the more miserable he felt. The pounding music wasn't helping Harry one bit. Tears were coming out of his eyes, but Harry angrily brushed them away. He hated this connection with Voldemort. Why was he forced to feel another person's feelings?

Tears of greater proportions were coming out of his eyes rapidly, and he blindly started for the food table. Harry hoped there were tissues around somewhere. Harry bumped into a person, stumbling over their feet and landing on the table. Punch sloshed from the bowl.

"I'm so sorry! I…" Hermione looked to see Harry sprawled on the ground, tears staining his face. He struggled to get up.

"Hey, it's ok. Just really messed up at the moment. Need some tissues." Harry received some from Luna, who was dancing with Neville.

"I always carry them around. The nargles seem to hate them…" Luna dreamily said before resuming her dance with Neville.

Hermione was looking at Harry in wonder, and guilt.

"Harry, something wrong?" She asked worriedly. He shook his head.

"No, just really bad allergies. Nothing big." And with that, Harry quickly walked away. Hermione ran after him.

"Harry, don't lie to me." Hermione yelled over the booming music as the two made their way past the dancing bodies in the center of the room. Harry continued to plow through the glob until he reached the other side, where he ran into Ron.

"Hey! Mate, you see Hermione?" Ron asked before seeing his date right on Harry's heels.

"Harry, I know something's wrong…" Hermione saw Ron. Harry, tears flowing from his eyes, briskly walked out of the hall. Ron could only look between the two of them in wonder.

()

Harry found himself in the boy's lavatory, washing his tear stained face in front of a chiding mirror.

"Now now, cutey! Did your date run out on you?" Harry ignored the mirror, angrily scrubbing his blotchy face. He knew he had made a fool of himself back in the hall, crying buckets of tears in front of a girl he was trying to impress.

Dammit, Voldemort! How much Harry wanted to strangle the foul existence of matter. How much Harry wanted to tear his throat out and rip the muscles from it. Harry could imagine feeling the slimy organs and rubbery veins bursting with blood as he squeezed them.

God, why do I have these thoughts?

"Harry, you alright? Hermione's worried about you, and she told me to come in and talk." Ron peeped in to find Harry sitting on the sink, waving his legs like a child.

"Yeah, just fine." Ron swung himself next to Harry and both continuously waved their legs in the air.

"Harry, Hermione's been suspecting something about you. She's been reading a lot about mood swings, almost possessions. She stumbled across a certain topic I'd restrain myself from talking about." Ron seemed nervous.

"What'd she find?" Harry asked, surprised. He hadn't known his best friend had been doing research for him. Well, that was what best friends were for: helping each other.

"She stumbled across Horcruxes. Nasty stuff, they are! Hermione asked Dumbledore about connections between horcruxes and Voldemort, and guess what?"

"What?"

"Voldemort is known to have made SEVEN horcruxes in his lifetime!" Ron babbled excitedly. Harry still wasn't catching on.

"And…"

"And!" Ron continued, "Dumbledore only knows six of Voldemort's. Hermione reasoned that something may have happened during that...night with your parents. She believes a shard of Voldemort, or the horcrux he created when trying to kill you, was actually created!"

"Okay, so these "horcruxes" are made, if I'm not mistaken, when a man takes the life of another wizard or witch?" Ron nodded anxiously. "And this "horcrux" may have been created when he tried to kill me?" Ron nodded again, gesturing for him to continue. "So, you're saying the horcrux is inside me, the scar on my forehead showing it?"

"Yes, YES! Harry, I'm so glad you're forty times smarter than me sometimes! Hermione needed to tell me three times before I got it!"

"But you still haven't told me what these "horcruxes" do." Harry still hadn't caught on. What was the connection between these horcruxes and his severe mood swings and personality changes?

"The horcruxes that are created by the man who kills a witch or wizard are parts of his soul. You can't kill the wizard or witch permanently without destroying all of the horcruxes they possess." Ron was losing his good mood rapidly.

"Which means I have to be killed in order for Voldemort to perish permanently?" Harry asked quietly. That was it. A part of Voldemort's soul had been lodged inside of Harry, explaining why he felt Voldemort's emotions.

"Yes." Ron said even more quietly. "Hermione's tried to look at different options, but she can't find any. Dumbledore's not been a help, which I find quite surprising, really. We're worried for you, Harry. I admit Hermione's more nervous for you than me." Tears were forming in Ron's disturbed face.

A silence fell around the room.

"Well, since my inevitable death is near, I might as well make the most of it!" Harry said all of a sudden, a new determination spreading across his face. Ron looked over and smiled.

"That's right, mate! Hermione and I'll help you have the best time before you go!" Ron patted Harry's back before falling down on the ground, Harry following. The boys exited the lavatory to find Hermione propped against a wall, a worried expression on her face.

"Harry, is everything…" Harry walked up and hugged her, spinning her in the air.

"Hermione, you found it!" Harry said excitedly. Hermione was laughing, yelling at Harry to put her down. And Ron was looking at the two, a mixture of emotions running through his mind. His eyes lingered on a passing Lavender Brown as she went to the Gryffindor common room.

A/N: Oh no, looks like Ron's got other girl interests besides his current girlfriend! Hopefully you all enjoyed the chapter. I have revealed more clearly in this chapter how I'll intertwine the canon plot and this fanfiction plot.

As usual, my responses for all your LOVELY reviews!

Blake Grey: Yeah, sounds cool! Tell me when you got that done and I'll take a read and leave a review! =D

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VegasMan59: HAHA! I laughed at this one because I was reading one of those fanfics about the Weasley family putting love potions in Hermione and Harry's food and drinks and it popped up in my notifications. Thanks for the review! =D

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Song of Chapter(SoC)- We Are: Rich Edwards(Feat. Danyka Nadeau){Monstercat Release}- Very good song =D