Warning: Mild Ginny bashing. Then again, if you're reading an H/D fic, that probably means that you dislike Ginny just as much as I do… So, I'm really not worried about it…

Year Six: Harry Potter and the Secret Letters

Chapter Four: Failures and Inquiries

"Now, are you sure that you want to go today?"

"Mum, please! We've been planning this for two weeks now."

"Yes, I know, but… oh, never mind. Remember, stay in Hogsmeade; none of this 'sneaking off' business."

"Where would we sneak off to? The Shrieking Shack?!"

Mrs. Weasley stood straight, hands on her hips, and glared up at her son. "I don't want you to do anything foolish," she said, returning to straightening his clothes.

"We won't, okay?" assured Ron sarcastically, rolling his eyes. Today was when he and Hermione had planned their date, and his mother did not like the idea of letting two teenagers go to Hogsmeade alone, especially during the time of Voldemort's return. "Besides, I hear that they have ministry officials and aurors down in Hogsmeade."

"Well, if you run off, then there won't be any officials; which brings me back to 'Stay in Hogsmeade.'"

Ron sighed loudly, earning a harder-than necessary tug on his denim jacket. Creaking was heard from the stairs and Hermione was seen on the landing. She was adorned with an old-fashioned white blouse and a loose, silken cerulean skirt.

Ron looked her up and down curiously. "What're you all dressed up for?"

"It's a date, Ronald. Most people try to appear fashionable on such an occasion," she said as she reached the bottom of the steps and joined Harry at the kitchen table, where he had been witchingly his best friend with amused eyes.

"Well, you look… nice, but it… it…"

"Makes you look sloppy?" offered the girl, buttering a slice of toast patiently.

"Well… yeah."

"You should have worn slacks, then."

Harry shook his head slightly, grinning. A part of him wished that his friends would have gotten together sooner. Five years of witnessing their bickering would have brought him much more amusement then he truly experienced.

"Maybe you should have worn jeans, then," argued the redhead. "We're going to Hogsmeade, Hermione, not the Yule Ball."

"Oh, don't even get me started on the Yule Ball, Ronald. Come and eat breakfast so that we may leave." Taking a bite of her toast, she finished filling a plate with all of Ron's favorite breakfast foods and handed it to her boyfriend with a smile.

"So, where are you planning on going to in Hogsmeade?" Harry asked as Mrs. Weasley busied herself with preparing more food for the rest of the family.

"I dunno. Probably just the usual: The Three Broomsticks and Honeydukes," replied Ron, clearing his plate at a rather steady pace.

"Only because Ron doesn't have a single romantic bone in his body," added the girl, dabbing her mouth with a napkin and heading towards the fireplace.

"What?" moaned her boyfriend pathetically. As if it would clarify everything, he explained, "I'm gonna pay for the lot of it!" He placed his nearly empty dish on the dining table, taking his last slice of bacon with him, and joined the girl.

"Well, we better be off," she announced to Harry and Molly. While Mrs. Weasley crossed to room to hug them nearly to death, Harry thought that it would be much too awkward and so instead just spoke from his seat.

"Good luck," he wished.

"Thank you, Harry. We'll need it." Hermione came to hug him anyways, both smiling to themselves at the look on Ron's face.

"What do you mean, 'we'll need it?'" he asked. Hermione ignored him and approached the bowl of floo powder that Molly was holding. While his girlfriend's back was turned, he mouthed to Harry 'Wish me luck, too!' Harry held back his laughter with great effort. Two minutes later, both of his friends had disappeared through the fireplace, chanting 'The Three Broomsticks.' The Seeker sighed. Now… to figure out what to do with the rest of his day…

Ginny merrily trotted down the stairs a short time later, no doubt glad to be rid of all of her brothers for at least one morning. Harry knew that she didn't mind Bill that much because they never had to live together for numerous years due to the age difference, but even he had gone back to the ministry for a few hours to check p on things there. The young teen took a seat across from the only present boy, while sporting a large grin. "Good morning, Harry!"

"G' Morning, Ginny," responded the scarred lad as he continued to nibble at the last of his breakfast in thought.

"Sleep well?"

"Yeah, you?"

"Fine, I guess." She gazed at the boy curiously, trying to contemplate a casual way for her to catch his attention. She sighed melodramatically, which did indeed cause Harry to glance up at her. "Ron and Hermione are so lucky. I wish I could go on a date like that."

"I thought that you were dating Michael, or Dean, or whoever."

She frowned deeply at the fact that the other didn't even know who it was that she was dating. Did Harry pay her no attention at all? "Yes, I am, but I mean a real date, where my parents approve and my friends see me off, wishing me luck. That would be so ideal." Luckily, Molly was out of earshot and so was able to say this without worry. She could only imagine what her friends would say if she told them that she was going on a date with Harry Potter. It, of course, would be all over the newspapers, and her friends would simply go crazy. Perhaps, if Harry quit being so dense, he will notice her and ask her out.

Instead, Harry shrugged and finished his juice nonchalantly. "The last time I dated someone, it didn't turn out so well. From now on, if I date someone, it will be because we are both seriously fond of each other." Harry didn't notice Ginny casually batting her eyelashes as he stood from his chair and stretched. "And as of right now, I haven't found anyone who fits that description."

Ginny nearly fell out of her chair 'Hellooo?! She's right heerree!' the girl thought to herself.

Harry stopped in his tracks and blinked thoughtfully to himself. "I feel like I'm forgetting something…" (1)

'Yeah! Me!' cried Ginny mentally.

"I'm going to check my Hogwarts letter. Maybe there was something that I didn't buy at Diagon Alley," he told himself, mostly overlooking the girl's presence as he patted down his pockets. There was a nagging feeling that he just couldn't shake. He headed up the stairs, leaving a frustrated Ginny at the table. Molly looked at her curiously as she came to collect the discarded dishes.

When he reached his bedroom, he dug out his Hogwarts letter and the bag containing all of his purchases from earlier that week. He sprawled out across his bed as he went through the checklist. "Standard Book of Spells: Grade Six by Miranda Goshawk, Advanced Potions Making by Arsenius Jigger, Transfigurations of the Unlikely by Emeric Switch, The Dark Forces: The Guide to Dark Offenses by Quentin Trimble, Flesh-Eating Trees of the World by Phyllida Spore, One set of black work robes, Standard size 4 pewter cauldron, and… a quill?"

Harry nearly laughed as he pulled out the silver quill from his bag. His mind had been so wrapped up in what Malfoy had been doing that he had forgotten to write back to Judas. That's what the nagging feeling was (2). Laying the Self-Inking quill to the side, he continued check off his list as he pulled them out, and then flipped to the second page mostly due to study habits. The second sheet of the letter wasn't a supplies list at all; it was an invitation to be the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, which he had gladly accepted. Ron was nearly ecstatic as he ranted on about how great it would be, how they could talk about strategies together, and how he could finally be allowed back on the team… if Harry let him. Hermione was just excited that Harry was now on the same level as their Head Girl and Boy status. She had felt guilty about leaving Harry behind ever since they had received their invitations last summer.

Mrs. Weasley had made the 'Captain' patch magically embroider itself onto the front of his scarlet quidditch robes. The gold, interlocking letters 'QC' did gleam quite beautifully in contrast. Harry could remember admiring them when they had once adorned Oliver Wood's uniform.

Folding his Hogwarts letter, he began to replace everything back into his trunk. When he reached for the quill, he paused, and instead withdrew some parchment.

Giving the Self-Inking quill a hard shake, Harry saw the silver liquid bead up at the tip and he began writing.

Dear Judas,

I didn't know that you would be in Diagon Alley either. It was certainly a surprise to see Aristotle there. I wish that I could have at least seen you so that I could put a face with your name; but I suppose that's the entire purpose of these letters, isn't it? I hope one day we may meet, even if you don't tell me your true name. It seems strange that you know so much about me and I know next to nothing about you.

Tell me more about yourself. What's your favorite food? Color? Hobby? Which classes do you like most? Which teacher? Which concept? What Honeydukes candy do you always make sure to buy? What joke from Zonko's? Or would you rather shop at Weasley Wizard Wheezes? When's your birthday? Do you like butter beer? Quidditch? Hanging out with your friends? Or are you a loner? Tell me something… anything… I know more about Aristotle than I do you. I'm writing in silver ink due to your owl's odd eye color. He's pretty much the only thing that I can relate to you.

It's pretty pathetic really.

As for school, I'll definitely be keeping in touch at Hogwarts. We could probably talk more frequently that way. And no, I have never heard of Professor Toadseye, but I would be greatly surprised if he was from the ministry. I wouldn't think that Dumbledore would accept a ministry member after last year's Umbridge. Although, you're right, Lockhart was almost worse. Speaking of Lockhart, have you heard where he is now? Probably some mental ward at Mungo's…

By the way, where did you take your trip? My best friend went to Egypt with his family a few years back. But then again, I'm sure you know who Ron is, right?

I'll send Hedwig to you tonight. I'm sure that she'll let you send your letter back with her if you wish.

Signed,

Harry

Rolling up the letter and tying it with leather binding to Hedwig's leg, Harry fed her a treat and carried her to the window. "Give this to Judas. I don't know where he is, but I'll trust you to find him. Okay? He's probably going to send a letter back to you, so be nice, alright?" Petting her head lightly, he opened the glass pane, held out the arm that Hedwig was perched on, and allowed her to nip at his hand lovingly before she flew away.

As Harry watched her fade with distance, he hoped that she would be able to locate his now frequent correspondent easily enough. He never even wrote to Hermione or Ron as often as he seemed to be writing to Judas. Now thinking about his friends, Harry checked his watch to find that they had been on their date for nearly two hours. Obviously, eating breakfast and writing to Judas took a little longer than he anticipated. He was secretly thankful for this though, seeing as he had no idea about when his friends might be back.

Collapsing back onto his bed out of boredom, he threw his arm over his eyes and laid in silence. Barely ten minutes later, Harry could hear muffled voices downstairs which he immediately recognized as the new couple, and he could tell that they were not too happy…

Cautiously opening his door and climbing step by step towards ground level, he was able to make out their quiet exclamations.

"You're so insensitive, Ron!"

"We were on a date! You don't think it's weird to be buying gifts for other friends while we're out together?"

"It was a birthday present! What other chance would we have had to get him one? His birthday's tomorrow."

"I know, but—"

"So, I'm guessing that it didn't go too well," interrupted Harry, stopping Ron from continuing his ranting.

"Oh! Harry! Umm…" mumbled Hermione, quite embarrassed. She tried to hide the bag, which no doubt held Harry's birthday present, behind her back. Ron rubbed the back of his hand nervously. Well, what did they expect? They knew Harry was in the house. If they continued to argue about him her, chances are that he would hear.

Harry almost felt obligated to apologize for ruining their date… almost. But it wasn't his fault, and he wasn't going to take responsibility for it. Instead, he made his way off of the landing and sat in a chair near the fireplace. Hermione quickly took a seat next to him, gazing questioningly at her friend. "I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't mean for you to hear—"

"Forget about it," he said, waving his hand dismissively and turning to Ron. "So did you enjoy it while it lasted?" His only response was a brief nod. It looked like Harry wasn't the only one who felt guilty about the failure of their date. "Good. Oh, by the way, I wrote back to Judas."

Well, that broke the ice. The girl's worried face turned to one of disapproval, and the redhead's interest seemed peaked.

"I really don't think that you should be writing to that person, Harry. For all you know, you could be writing to… Draco Malfoy, or V- Voldemort, or someone else just as horrid," suggested Hermione, stumbling over the Lord's name. She had been trying to say his name calmly for a while now.

"Oh yeah, because You-Know-Who would so go out of his way to write Harry saying how much he loves him," came Ron's sarcastic reply. He, on the other hand, was not even vaguely interested in conquering the vocalization of the Dark Lord's name. He still cringed when Hermione said it!

"Look, all I'm saying is that Harry has no idea who this 'Judas' person is. He could be opening up to anybody, which in the end may hurt him."

"I doubt that he would 'open up' to anyone so quickly, let alone an unknown person on the other end of a love letter. Harry knows what kind of danger he's in. He's not stupid, Hermione."

"I never said he was."

"Am I still part of this conversation?" asked Harry looking between his friends. Okay… perhaps five years of this bickering wouldn't have brought him much pleasure. The two stopped quarrelling and watched their hands and feet as they waited for Harry to continue. "I wrote asking him to tell me more about himself. Hermione's right. I have no idea who it is that I'm talking to; but at the same time, I haven't 'opened up' to him at all, really. I haven't told him anything that he doesn't seem to already know. And trust me; he seems to know quite a bit."

"You're Harry Potter, for Merlin's sake. Who doesn't?" added Ron, rolling his eyes.

"Exactly. Everybody knows that I'm a sixth year Gryffindor at Hogwarts, that I've survived numerous attacks from Voldemort, and that I was telling the bloody truth when I said that He had returned," he said, counting off his fingers. Talking about this began to frustrate the scarred boy, and so he continued on back to Judas. "He obviously knows that I stand against Voldemort and that I, like everyone else at Hogwarts, hated Lockhart and Umbridge."

"But not everyone knows that your owl's name is Hedwig," defended the girl. "Or your exact eye color to match with the ink and ribbon. This person has to be closer to you than you think, and not necessarily in a good way. And why won't he tell you his real name? Don't you think that's suspicious?"

"A lot of people know that I have green eyes. I can't even count the number of times that some one has told me that I look exactly like my father except for my mother's eyes."

"And it wouldn't really be a 'secret admirer' letter if Harry knew their name, would it? If the person is close to him, like you said, then Harry would know who it is as soon as he heard the name." As Ron finished his argument, Harry felt a surge of gratitude towards the other. He was suddenly thankful that he had Ron on his side.

"There's a saying which states to be close to your friends, but even closer to your enemies… I don't have a good feeling about all of this… not at all…" She sighed, her tone sliding down to normal as she realized that the boys were too thick to understand at the moment and the argument would have to wait until they were acting a bit more cooperative.

Ron sighed frustratingly, turning away from his girlfriend. Harry simply watched. Can't he even write a letter without everyone believing that it is a conspiracy to murder him? If nothing else, this 'discussion' only made the boys even more stuck on talking to Judas. Hermione stood from her seat and headed towards the stairs, mumbling something about going to wrap Harry's present and not to enter Ginny's room so that he wouldn't see. Halfway to the landing, she was met by the bright eyes of the youngest Weasley. Molly was following close behind her, saying that dating was not a necessity in life and shouldn't be envied as such.

"Oh," she exclaimed when she saw Hermione and Ron. "Good, good! You are back early. Why didn't you tell me that you were home?"

Hermione brushed past her with a muttered 'excuse me' and disappeared up the steps.

"It didn't go well, then, I suspect?"

Ron shook his head, and Ginny glared at him before pursuing the other female to their bedroom.

"Well, things are never perfect. How about some hot chocolate to warm you both up?"

The boys sat at the dining table for the second time that day, now with a completely opposite attitude… Ron, angry and bitter… Harry, flustered and concerned…

No… it seemed nothing ever went perfectly…

TBC…

(1) – He's forgetting that there is a certain Judas character that he was not taking into account…

(2) – Resort back to (1), Lol!

AN/ OMG! I am SOOOO sorry that this was so late!!! I really am struggling to find the time to type these! It isn't even that long! Oh my gosh… I'm so sorry… But at the same time, Thank You!! All of you have given me such lovely, encouraging reviews which really help! Thank you very, very much.

Coming in chapter five: Finally Harry's birthday is here! A surprise give has 'landed,' so to speak. And then off to the Hogwarts Express! Choo -Choo! Lol!