It had been more than a week since Halloween and the school was still abuzz with gossip and rumors regarding the Troll. Harry and Draco had decided to stay quiet regarding their involvement with the Troll and Granger. It was one thing to be able to boast about defeating a Troll, but it was another to to aggressively annoy Professor Snape. He had made it clear the following morning that the incident was not something he wanted the student body to know about.

With the help of his friends and a bit of pestering, Harry had managed to complete a week's worth of assignments in 3 nights. The rest of the week was spent with Blaise in the Library, researching how the Sorting Hat functioned. If it was something that could be tampered with or effected.

Reluctantly they came to the conclusion that Hat was impregnable and any efforts would be in vain. They continued to learn what they could about the Hat from what limited resources Hogwart's Library had on the ancient piece of cloth. By the end of the second night, Harry and Blaise had come to the conclusion that the only way to ensure that Ginny would be in Slytherin, was to make her want to be in Slytherin.

They discussed the ideas of making a Weasley desire to be in Slytherin. As Harry had said before, it wasn't something that had happened before. If they did this, it would be completely unprecedented. But they would need to know how to do it. As they approached the bare wall that hid the Common Room entrance Harry had an epiphany.

'Granger' he thought. He had just saved her life, she'd be more than happy to help him, and to make matter worse, or better depending on who was involved, she had more than enough reason to despise Ronald Weasley.

The next morning Harry quickly made his way to Potions and found that as per the norm, Granger was there first. She was standing politely outside the door, with a rather large book in front of her. Harry did a quick check down both ends of the hall before approaching her.

"Morning, Hermione." Harry said sounding friendly. He just smiled and watched her almost drop her book.

"Oh, good morning, Pott- Harry." Hermione said shuffling her things around. "I never really got the chance to thank you for what you did Halloween night." She slipped her book into her bag and set it down. "I'd be dead if it wasn't for you." She said finding it hard to look Harry in the eye.

"And Draco." Harry pointed out with a smile.

Hermione seemed to be annoyed by that fact. "Yes, and him to." she said before finally look Harry face to face. "But, thank you."

Harry smiled and shrugged. "I was just doing what anyone would do." He said trying his best to make it sound trivial. "But to be honest, I have given it a bit of thought since that night. What keeps coming back to me is who's fault this is." Harry frowned and cupped a closed fist dramatically.

Hermione didn't seem to understand what he was getting at. "Who's fault what is? It was a Troll attack. Unless you want to figure out how the Troll got into the Castle, I'm not sure what else there is." Hermione rambled.

Harry shook his head. "Not that, there's a much simpler answer. If you had been with the rest of Gryffindor, then you'd never be in danger of that Troll." Harry said rotating his wrist in a continuing gesture. "But you weren't with your house when the Troll attacked. Instead, you were in the bathroom crying."

Hermione frowned and blushed. "How do you know that?!" She asked sounding indignant.

Harry smiled and chuckled. "Word gets around rather fast when one of your closest friends prioritizes gossip over class work. Doesn't matter." Harry said ignoring it and moving on. "What does matter is that you were put in a position to be endangered, because Ronald Weasley is an ass!" Harry whispered the last part.

Hermione looked wide eyed. It was obvious that she had never considered it that way. Harry could see the metaphorical gears turning in her head. She was realizing how much of her plights and anguish was caused by Weasley. "So what?" She asked clearly upset, but not at Harry.

"Well if you want to get back at him, meet me by Hagrid's after class today." Harry whispered as Professor Snape finally approached. Harry acted as if he had been ignoring Hermione the whole time and not once even spared her a glance. As Potions let out, Harry and friends made their way to the Great Hall. He quickly spun a tale about meeting with Hagrid after class and that he wouldn't be long.

Eventually Transfiguration lets out and Harry collected his things and made his way to Greenhouse 17. He found Balthazar curled up in a large plant pot. "He boy, wanna come with me to the dark forest for a hunt?" Harry said nudging the Orobo-Raven. "You know the fat mice that live around Hagrid's hut."

At the mention of the fat mice, Balthazar uncoiled from within the pot and climbed out of it. Harry offered his arm and Balthazar wrapped around it and slithered up Harry's arm and found a comfortable place wrapped around Harry's shoulders. Harry had read that the colder the ground was the more Balthazar was likely to sleep, even to the point that he would ignore his need to hunt and feed. He'd either need to hibernate over Winter, Migrate south for warmth, or he'd need to be kept indoors all winter.

The first option would be the easiest, but Harry wasn't sure if he wanted to say goodbye to Balthazar every winter. Flying South was the same problem. That only left Harry with the option of making sure Balthazar was feed in Greenhouse 17 all winter. Bragforth's material on Orobo-Ravens had theorized that while they flew their inherent magics kept them at a most optimal body temperature, but nesting would cool them down and make them lethargic.

Harry approached Hagrid's and jostled Balthazar awake and assisted him in launching into the air with a gently toss. This was almost routine for Harry. Hagrid knew to expect Harry and Balthazar a couple times and week and had even rearranged a pile of kindling into a respectable seat suitable for Harry.

Harry watched as Balthazar would fly in and out of the tree line of the Dark Forest. Occasionally diving towards the ground. Harry was sure that he just liked terrifying the woodland critter most of the time.

As time past Harry heard someone making their way towards Hagrid's hut. He stood up and turned around. Carefully stepping down the stone pathway was Hermione Granger. Harry waved as she approached. She smiled weakly and waved back. She seemed to be anxious as she made her way towards him and then seemed to stop before she made it 10 feet of him.

Harry noticed as Balthazar emerged from the treeline and landed on his shoulder. Balthazar was staring at Hermione with his hood flared out and his wings raised. It was clear that Balthazar mistook Hermione as a threat and was intent on protecting Harry.

Harry turned away from Hermione to protect his secret of Parseltongue. "Easy now, she's a friend." Harry whispered. He had slowly become accustomed to speaking Parseltongue. He had just recently started hearing the difference between his normal voice and Parseltongue. "Go on, you're scaring her."

Harry nudged Balthazar who took flight and landed on Hagrid's Hut, still keeping his gaze on Hermione.

Harry saw the fear on her face and approached her instead. "Oh, don't mind Balthazar, he's just overprotective of me sometimes." Harry said with a smile. "I'm glad you decided to come."

Hermione hadn't taken her eyes off Balthazar as Harry spoke. "What is it?" Hermione asked sounding very fearful. "I've never seen anything like that, not even in any book."

Harry nodded and looked over his shoulder at Balthazar. "Balthazar is an Orobo-Raven. From what I've gathered there hasn't been one in record history for a couple centuries." Harry said leading Hermione to where he had been sitting. "Don't worry, he won't attack you or anything, not unless you try something." He laughed a little.

Hermione seemed to get over her fear and looked away from Balthazar. "So what did you mean earlier, get back at Ron?" she asked taking a seat next to Harry on the kindling. "I'm not sure I want to be involved with anything drastic."

Harry nodded and smirked. "Well, how about I explain my plan and you let me know if you're ok with it or not?" Harry asked as he took out a notebook he was using to keep his plans in.

Over the next ten minutes Harry explained his interactions with Ronald and the beating he took. He explained what he planned to do to Ginny Weasley and how he wasn't sure how to do it. Finally he came to what he wanted Hermione to do.

"I need someone in Gryffindor to learn all they can about him." Harry said as he put his notebook away. "I need to know as much as I can about the Weasley's and most specifically, Ginny Weasley. So bottom line, I'm asking you to spy on Ronald."

Hermione seemed to staring at a patch of ground. "That is a, pretty, intense idea Harry." Hermione said as she seemed to come with terms with his plan. "Its nothing over the top or cruel as I imagined but it's still more than I could have expected." She rubbed her hands together nervously. "So you just need to know more about the Weasleys and Ginny. So all you want me to do is learn as much as I can and pass it on to you?"

Harry nodded. "Yup. Just get to know them. Though, I'm not asking you to make friends with him, that would just be mean." Harry said with a smirk. "He's just insufferable most of the time."

They shared a laugh and Harry realized he was getting through to her. "I'm gonna see what I can do about Percy and the Weasley Twins, Fred and George. You'll be working on Ronald." Harry said. "Percy seems to be easy enough, just apply certain strokes of his ego and some admiration of his Prefect responsibilities. The Twins, I'm not so sure about. Other than being on the Quidditch team and a reputation as pranksters, I've got nothing. I'm gonna ask around some of the older Slytherins to see if anyone knows anything."

Hermione nodded. "You've given this some thought. I'm, impressed, even if I don't want to be." Hermione said but noticed the smirk Harry had. "Impressing someone isn't always a good thing Harry, you should be aware of that by now. You might just impress the wrong people one day and find yourself in a situation you don't want to be." She was a bit snappish and harsh.

There was a snap of a twig in the forest that surprised them both and Balthazar dove from the Hut towards the forest. Seconds later they saw a shrew scurrying around trying to avoid Balthazar, but to no avail as he landed on top of the rodent and secured it in his talons before administering a venomous bite.

"Sometimes I'm glad he's not an owl." Harry said watching as Balthazar held onto the shrew and it's flailing slowed. "I've heard that Owls like to present their masters with, presents. Mostly recent kills. Balthazar doesn't kill anything he doesn't plan on eating." By now Balthazar had wrapped his body around the shrew and covered himself with his wings. "He's swallowing it now. He's a shy eater." Harry snickered at the idea of his Orobo-Raven being shy.

"I think he's terrifying, but I kind of get the appeal. He's quite extraordinary to look at." Hermione said as she stood up. "But back to this plan of yours. I think I will help you. Honestly, I don't much care for Ron, he's crude, he's rude, a Bully, and a Beast. He needs to taught a lesson."

Harry was eggstatic. Convincing her was a bit easier than he thought it would have been. "That's great. I'm glad you came around." He said standing up and brushing his pants of bits of wood. "I'm gonna see if I can get my hands on some Keeper's Books. It will make this easier."

Hermione looked surprised. "Keeper's Books? I've read about those. Whatever is written in one book will show up in it's twin." Hermione said slipping into her bookworm mode. "They were designed in the late 1700's to ensure that if someone got their hands on a Wizard's research that Wizard would have a safe copy somewhere else."

"Well, I figured that this way we can talk without being seen together and ruining your cover and my reputation." Harry said as he started making his way back to the castle.

"What about, Balthazar. Won't he need to come back with us?" Hermione asked as she started to follow Harry. "Not that I'm worried or anything."

Harry shook his head. "Nah, Balthazar has been living on the grounds since the school year started. He'll be fine. Hagrid set him up with a little getaway that's always warm." Harry explained. "Now, this is where we part ways. I'm gonna head to the library and see if I can find my friends, and you're gonna head to the Gryffindor Common Room to figure out how you're gonna learn about Ronald."