Note One: I apologize for all the grammar and spelling errors.
Note Two: Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up and going.
.-.
"Harry!"
Harry turned to find Hermione running towards him. Blaise was following at a more sedate pace with Cedric on his heels.
Harry noted that Blaise was keeping an eye on both Hermione and Cedric even as he appeared bored. And Cedric stayed right on his heels. There had been a brief paragraph in the Daily Prophet before summer on how 'The Last pure-blooded Zabini', son and heir of the famous black widow, had his eyes on Cedric. As Blaise's family was neutral, leaning towards dark, the prhopet had not been very nice or subtle in saying how it believed the young Zabini was taking up his mother's mantel as a man-killer. Nothing said quite like that, but many hints telling the young Diggory to escape while he could with his life and fortunes still intact.
Harry also noted that Hermione looked much more confident then last year. She was a very outspoken bold person, but self-confidence wasn't something she had always had except around Harry and Blaise. The way she carried herself now though, spoke of self-worth. Apparently Krum was good for her. He must have given her a few lessons on dance or such also as she moved a bit more gracefully through the crowd leaving the great hall.
"Hermione." He greeted returning the hug she gave him.
"I didn't see you on the train." She said releasing him but not stepping back at all.
"I didn't take the train." Harry shrugged.
"You heard that dreadful speech in the hall though right?" Hermione scowled. "That woman is trouble."
Harry nodded.
"Don't get entangled with her." He smiled patting her cheek.
Hermione nodded and Harry continued on to the man in the moon portrait. The portrait swung open without a password.
"How did you get it to do that?" Hermione blinked as she followed.
Harry just smiled and she rolled her eyes at his secrets. Cedric followed Blaise and Hermione more nervously into the room but it didn't stop him from actually entering. Cedric had entered more then once before. Harry took a seat and almost instantly Dobby popped in with a tray carrying a tall chocolate milkshake for Blaise, a steaming cup of hot chocolate for Hermione, a cup of water for Harry, and a cup of what looked like juice for Cedric. Blaise all but attacked the elf for the milkshake,
"What classes are you taking this year Harry?" Hermione asked. "I'm taking all the core ones along with ancient runes and arithmacy for my OWL exams."
"I'm taking Charms, transfiguration, potions, DADA, and ancient runes."
"Only five?" She pouted.
"All NEWT level."
For a moment of silence.
"Show me your OWL grades." She said determinedly.
He let a small smile twitch to his lips at the quick thinking and connecting the girl had worked out in her mind at his few words. He handed her over the sheet that showed the exam scores he'd taken only days previous. She pouted again at the perfect scores.
"You'll be helping me study." She finally said strongly.
"Of course." Harry chuckled as he relaxed into a chair beside her, noting Cedric join Blaise on the couch and lean slightly into the younger boy.
.-.
"I'm sorry to have called you in here during your DADA lessons Harry." Dumbledore said as he took a seat at his desk.
Harry noted the man didn't sound at all sorry. Dumbledore was a great actor. He could convey any message through his words and hide everything he didn't want to with his tone. He'd had over a hundred of years to perfect his acting and his mask and his lying. But he'd never done so with Harry. He knew Harry was not to be played with as if he were a normal boy or even a normal person. Dumbledore didn't posture or act when speaking to Harry because he knew he'd been seen through.
"What is it you wished to discuss?" Harry asked as he ran a finger over the row of old books on the shelf, not bothering to take the offered seat.
The sorting hat looked down at him with an old leather smile. Harry tilted his head at the hat before looking back to Dumbledore. The headmaster had started adding sugar to his tea, stirring it wandlessly with a twist of his finger. A glass of what looked like pumpkin juice waited for Harry across from him.
"I needed to inform you of a slip on my part." Dumbledore said sheepishly. "This summer when I was making claims of Voldemort's return I let slip you name. The papers latched onto it along with the minister. They are now calling us both delusional liars. They are spouting off nonsense about you claiming to have seen him with your own two eyes."
Harry chuckled at the irony and at the look Dumbledore gave him but did not interrupt.
"Umbridge is their spy in Hogwarts and everyone knows it." Dumbledore said sipping at his tea. "But she's also here to discredit me and you. I wished to warn you in advance that she will be targeting you in your DADA classes."
"I could drop it." Harry said lightly as he picked up an odd bobble from the shelf.
"There's no need to drop your class." Dumbledore smiled easily.
"It matters not to me. I could just as easily pass the exam at the end of the year."
"I'm sure." Dumbledore agreed. "And if I may be so bold, may I ask what you and Voldemort have?"
Harry looked up at Dumbledore with a quirked brow and a ready smirk at the abrupt shift in conversation.
"We are neutral at the moment."
"But you don't expect it to last." Dumbledore stated.
"No. Voldemort is to…insane and power hungry."
"And Marvolo?"
Harry looked at the old man who just smiled right back at him.
"I suppose you have known of him since he fully appeared."
"Yes."
Harry gave a tittering laugh that sounded hollow to even his own ears.
"He is mine and Voldemort knows that." Harry said with finality.
He ran his fingers over the sphere in his hands, eyeing it with a smirk. Dumbledore's eyes caught the action.
"Ah, something I picked up in china many years ago. I could never figure out its purpose."
"This is but a child's toy."
He pressed his fingers to certain points and let his magic flow into the sphere. It gave a hiss before splitting in half, both halves floating into the air and spinning gently. Lights of light blue slipped from the middle crack, shaping into flower petals. Then they projected hundreds of white dots onto the ceiling. Dumbledore cut the lights off and closed his curtains, staring up at the sky dotting his ceiling with delight.
"Ah, I've always enjoyed a starry night." He twinkled. "And there's the Gemini twins. My favourite constellation. Oh, and the big dipper is there."
Harry smirked and tugged a book from the shelf.
"I'm borrowing this." He said.
Dumbledore smiled and nodded. Harry left him sipping his tea and muttering about his new toy as he left.
.-.
Harry let his music float down the hallway as he stood, eyes closed. The melody was a newer one he'd come up with. It was sharp and high and as eerie as all his other songs. He liked to say it reminded him of dying.
"What is that horrid sound?"
His eyes opened and he broke the melody off to gaze half lidded at Deloris Umbridge. Flitwick, who had been sitting in a conjured chair peacefully frowned at the stout woman but did not say anything as she sniffed in disgust at them.
"You are obviously ignorant of music Potter." She sneered. "That rubbish couldn't even be called notes. Who ever gave you that violin was obviously delusional about your talents."
Harry said nothing as he gripped the violin, lowering it from his chin and letting it dangle from his hand.
"I don't want to hear such horrid noise again or I'll confiscate it." She said imperiously.
"He has both my permission and the permission of the headmaster to play it." Flitwick said, speaking up.
Umbridge's eyes flickered to the short man and she smirked in disdain.
"You'll find, half-breed, that neither your word nor the delusional Headmaster's count for much."
She sniffed at him and sneered back at Harry.
"The next I see the horrid thing I'll be confiscating it faster then you can say 'sorry madam Umbridge'."
Then she turned and stomped off. Harry stared after her with narrowed eyes.
"You're bleeding Harry."
His eyes flickered to Flitwick who was looking at him softly.
"So I am." Harry intoned looking down to where the strings had broken the skin of his palms.
Flitwick threw up silencing charms on the hallway and leaned back in his chair knowing not to say anything more. Harry lifted the violin back up and drew the bow across the bloody strings, bringing forth a melody of anger and hate.
.-.
Harry tapped his fingers on the table top in a mock symphony.
"May I ask what the Dark Lord sent?" Severus spoke up hesitantly.
Harry's eyes lifted from the parchment and zeroed in on the man.
"Do not call him the Dark Lord. He is not worthy of such a title."
"Yes milord." Severus said quickly.
Harry read over the parchment again.
"He has sent negotiations." Harry said aloud. "To do so must mean he thinks he has gained some of his strength back. A ritual perhaps. I did feel a pulse of dark magic two days ago."
"Is that a good thing?" Severus asked lowly.
"The negotiations or the ritual?" Harry asked, quirking his lips.
"…Both?"
"The ritual doesn't concern me." Harry shrugged idly. "The negotiations? It's more of a neutral treaty until the end of the school year."
"Why the end of the year?"
"By then, he'll most likely be back to full strength, and then he will decide whether he wants me on his side or wants me dead."
Severus winced slightly. Harry just pulled a new sheet of parchment and wrote a quick acceptance on the terms. Then he wrote a second letter. Holding the first up Hedwig took it from where she sat next to him.
"Take it to Voldemort, and then leave. Do not get tangled up at his…home."
She hooted softly and took off out the open window into the night. The second letter he held out to Severus.
"Have it sent to Lucius."
"May I ask why?"
Harry smirked, eyes glinting in the dim firelight.
"Let's just say I have something for him to fetch me at the ministry. And tell him to wear gloves."
.-.
End of Chapter 44.