Disclaimer: I do not, in anyway own the wonderful world of Harry Potter, or Charmed. I am just dabbling in the world they left for us. Though I do own the plot...

Chapter 55

...Come Answers part 1

Last Time…

An echoingbangfilled the Seventh floor corridor. "Stop!" Professor Sparks suddenly stood between them.

Harry and Draco froze.

"I may be new at Hogwarts, but I know fighting in the corridors is strictly forbidden. I think that will be a loss of fifty points from both of your houses. There will also be detentions, which are going to be served in my office tomorrow evening, for the both of you."

They were almost to the potions classroom when Harry decided to look at his bushy –haired friend, who was shaking her head slightly. "If you want to say something Hermione, then just say it."

"Fine," Hermione huffed, "I think that you are reading too much into what happened last night. You got caught out of curfew and you were punished…"

"Ah, correction, I was punished for fighting with Malfoy."

"Well whatever you were punished for, you still got in trouble. Just because Professor Sparks was on the seventh floor and caught you fighting does not mean she is evil or may have an ulterior motive when it comes to you."

"But,"

"No Harry," Hermione countered, stopping in front of the potions classroom, "Look, I will admit that there are some things that don't add up, but that doesn't mean you have to try and put the pieces together when they might not even fit. Now, it is time for potions and I for one want to get through at least one class today without hearing your conspiracy theories, Ron and I are both tired of hearing them. Am I right Ron?"

At first Ron didn't say anything, but after a pointed look from Hermione he said, "I am not taking either side here. You both have good points. But as you have pointed out Hermione, we have class. So why don't we leave the rest of this…discussion for a later time."

Hermione just stared at Ron, huffed and then turned towards the door and went into the room to find a seat. Ron just looked art Harry and gave a shrug, "I think it frustrates her when I say things like that."

"Or she could be mad that you didn't side with her." Harry stated.

"Yea, well like I said, you both had good arguments and to be honest I am glad that you got a few good ones on Malfoy before the fight was broken up."

"Thanks mate." Harry said with a smile as he opened the door to the classroom and went to find a seat.

The class itself went as normal as could be expected. Professor Sparks had them brew a few potions that they had been able to brew since their fourth year. All in all it was a good class. It was as Harry and the rest of the class were putting their stuff away when Professor Sparks called out-

"Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy, please come see me in my office when you are finished."

As the Potions professor stood up from behind her desk and headed to her personal office, Harry looked at his two friends, who, were just staring at him. So it was with a shrug of his shoulders and a quick "I'll see you guys at dinner", that Harry made his way into the office that he was called to. After stepping in he noticed Draco standing in front of a big, mahogany desk staring straight ahead, unmoving.

"Please come in and shut the door Mr. Potter." Professor Sparks said as she motioned him forward.

Nodding, Harry did as he was asked and shut the door and then took up the spot next to Draco without so much as an eye flicker in the blonde boys direction as he waited for Professor Sparks to continue.

"After speaking with the Headmaster and both of your Head of Houses, it has been decided that the punishments that I issued you last night will stand. After dinner, at precisely seven thirty, you two are to return here. Am I understood?"

"Yes ma'am." The echoed reply came.

"Wonderful, now you two head to the Great Hall."

Draco was the first to leave, though Harry wasn't far behind and it didn't take long before he caught up to him. "What do you want Potter?" Draco asked as he came to a standstill.

"I just wanted to make one thing very clear to you Malfoy." Harry replied as he looked Draco in the eye. "You can say anything you want about me or my family, but Ginny is off limits. What you said last night was…it was low, even for you."

"Your point, Potter"

"My point is if you say anything to her, or even look at her the wrong way, you will find that I have no problem kicking your pampered arse from here to Seattle."

"Is that all?" Draco asked with a bored look.

Harry stared at him for a moment and then replied, "For now" and then promptly turned around and continued on his way to the Great Hall for dinner. It didn't take him long to reach his destination and once he did he joined his friends at the Gryffindor table and filled his plate with enough food to rival Ron. "Hungry mate?" Ron asked after taking a swig of pumpkin juice. Harry's only reply was a grunt as he speared a piece of pork onto his fork and shoved it into his mouth.

"What happened after potions Harry?" Ginny asked as she wrapped a comforting arm around him.

Once again Harry didn't respond, he simply lifted his gaze from his plate and directed it towards the Slytherin table where Malfoy was looking at him. As their gazes met, Harry let out a low growl and watched as Draco turned his attention away from him and back to his plate. Harry wasn't amused. There had been something in the blond Slytherin's eyes that he didn't like. "Nothing," Harry replied, turning his attention to Ginny, "It was nothing. Professor Sparks just wanted to tell Malfoy and me to be in the potions classroom by seven thirty."

"Well then you had better focus on eating and instead of glaring at Malfoy." Hermione commented as she pulled a book out from under the table and cast a levitation charm on it so that she could read and eat at the same time.

Harry just stared at Hermione as she put a bite of potatoes in her mouth and turned a page in her book and just as he was about to say something, he felt a calming hand on his leg and turned to look at Ginny, who, was simply smiling at him. "Just breathe" she mouthed and then out loud she said "You do need to eat Harry, who knows what Professor Sparks will have you and Malfoy doing tonight."

The rest of dinner passed in complete silence, although Harry did catch Ginny shoot a few glares in Hermione's direction. While he was grateful that Ginny would stand by and defend him, he knew that he needed to make up with Hermione. "I will do it tomorrow, after both of us have gotten a good night's rest, but first…" And with that passing thought Harry stood up and dismissed himself from the table and headed back into the directions of the Dungeons. He was just about there when he heard a voice call out to him.

"Mr. Potter! Mr. Potter please, I need to speak with you..."

Harry turned quickly around and was just about to draw his wand when he realized who it was that had been calling out to him. "Ah, Mr. Bixby, you kind of caught me at a bad time. You see, I'm about to…"

"Step into detention, yes I know." Richard Bixby interrupted, eyeing the potions classroom door which Harry was standing in front of. With a quick shake of his head, as though freeing his head of cobwebs, he turned his focus back on the boy standing in front of him. "Yes, and I will not keep you long. I only wished to inform you that the Dueling Tournament's final match, between Mr. Longbottom and yourself, is set to take place a month from now on the Quidditch pitch."

"Okay, so about four weeks from now…do we know a time yet?"

"Oh, uh, not as of yet, you see we had to set a date first, and as there are still a few details that need to be taken care of…but have no fear we will let you and Mr. Longbottom know the time as soon as we know."

"Right, okay" Harry said with a light chuckle, "Well, it was a pleasure to see you again sir, but I really must be going."

"Right; of course Mr. Potter, good luck."

"I will do my best sir, it is detention after all, so not much luck is needed, but the uh…well wishes are welcome."

Of course, you're right, goodnight Mr. Potter." Bixby said as he turned and left a very confused, but still chuckling Harry behind. After shaking his head, Harry pushed open the door to the Potions lab and stepped through.

The first thing Harry noticed after he stepped into the room was that all of the potion stations had been removed, which left the room quite bare, except for the two lone desks that stood in the center of the room, each with a very dirty cauldron sitting on top. Harry also noticed Draco Malfoy already sitting behind one of the cauldrons. "Glad you could finally join us Mr. Potter" Professor Sparks said with a tone that put Harry on the defensive.

"I'm sorry for my tardiness ma'am, but Mr. Bixby caught me just as I was about to walk in…" But Harry didn't get the chance to finish his apology as Sparks had held up a hand.

"Save your excuses for someone who cares, you could have asked him if he could catch you at some other point. I am sure that he would have understood that…"

"With all due respect ma'am, it is not even seven thirty yet and I didn't need to let him know that I had a detention, because that is why he chose catch me in a place that he knew I would be." Harry interrupted.

"Unless you would like to earn yourself another night's detention, I suggest you keep your mouth shut and never interrupt me again. Do I make myself clear?"

Harry just stared at the Potions mistress and after a very, pointed look from her, Harry issued an apology.

"That is more like it Mr. Potter, now please take the desk next Mr. Malfoy."

Harry, not wanting to get into any more than he already was, took the seat his seat and took the opportunity to take a closer look at the cauldron in front of him. It was black and far dirtier than Professor Snape had ever let them get. With a shake of his head, Harry turned his gaze back to the Professor, who was now standing over them, arms crossed. Even though both boys already knew what was going to be expected of them, they looked up at her expectantly, obviously hoping to get at least some sort of instruction as to what they were supposed to do.

"You may leave when these cauldrons are clean." She said with a smirk before turning on her heel and heading into her personal quarters.

Harry didn't even wait for the door to shut before he set to work on his cauldron. He didn't want to be here any longer than he had to. Though imagine his surprise when he made the last of the grime from his cauldron disappear, to only see it reappear, and this time it looked even dirtier. With a frustrated sigh, he began to work again. It was after his seventh time cleaning his cauldron that he threw his wand onto the table with more force than was necessary. After an exasperated sigh, Harry leaned forward and picked his wand back up and it was then that a thought occurred to him, 'Maybe if I clean it without magic it will stay clean…'. And so he set to work once again, only to find that no matter what process he used, the cauldron would revert to its previous state as soon as it was clean.

Knowing that he wasn't going to get anywhere anytime soon, he decided to take a break and look over and see how Malfoy was fairing with his cauldron. However the site that met his eyes was one that he had not expected. Draco Malfoy was sitting at a desk with a very clean cauldron and was looking over at Harry and his cauldron. Harry was like a fish out of water; his mouth kept opening and closing of its own accord and he had no idea what to say. "Close your mouth Potter before something flies into it."

"How…" Harry began, still gaping at the site in front of him, "how did you do it?"

"Oh it was easy; Professor Snape put the same spells on all of his cauldrons when he held detention. I can show you the counter if you like."

This comment seemed to shock Harry back to his senses and with a scowl he turned back to his cauldron and began to work on it again. "I would rather clean it on my own thanks."

"It is quite an easy spell Potter, let me show you the spell and then we can both be out of here."

"Like I said, I would rather do it on my own, so thanks, but no thanks."

"There is no other way to get this cauldron clean, so come on then, let me show you."

"I said no Malfoy."

"It would take all of eleven seconds Potter."

"What part of no don't you understand? Besides, you are done with yours so what are you still doing here?" Malfoy just smiled, this made Harry even more frustrated. "Malfoy, you are really trying my patience so I suggest you leave…now!"

"I can't Potter." Draco replied.

"And why can't you? Your cauldron is clean and she said we could leave as soon as our cauldrons were clean."

"Do you even hear yourself sometimes Potter? Honestly, you hang around Granger so much that I would have thought you of all people would know how to read between the lines."

"Malfoy so help me if you don't get to the point…"

"Sparks said that we couldn't leave until these cauldrons were clean Potter, these, as in plural. I can't leave until you get your cauldron clean." Draco said, practically yelling the last bit.

"Fine, tell me the spell or cast it yourself so we can get out of here." Harry replied, not really having heard what Draco had said.

"Ah, I see, so it's when I have something you want that you acknowledge me. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint, but I can't help you." Draco said matter-of-factly.

"And why can't you? You just said you wanted to. So come on and un-spell my cauldron."

"I said I would show you the spell, not perform it on your cauldron for you, besides, I was hoping to bend your ear for a moment or two."

"So in order for me to learn this spell of yours, you want me to listen to what you have to say?"

"Nothing in life is free Potter."

"And what makes you think that I would want to listen to anything you had to say Malfoy? You have done nothing but treat me and my friends like crap for the past six years."

Draco just stared at Harry with an odd glint in his eyes that made Harry uneasy. "You will want to hear this Potter, trust me."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A chime echoed throughout the room calling everyone to a halt. "Can I have everyone's attention please?" Harry called out as he took center stage on the platform that had just appeared. The silence that met his call to order was deafening as every eye in the room turned to their leader. This had become common practice over the past couple of weeks. Every night, after their training sessions as the Knights of Salem, Harry would set off a bell and call everyone to attention so that he could give announcements or to tell them the time of their next meeting. "I cannot tell you how proud I am of you all. Ever since that night in Diagon Alley, every single one of you has done anything and everything that I or your group leaders have asked of you and for that I commend you. I know that it has not been easy, but trust me when I say that when we come up against the Death Eaters or whatever evil is out there, that they will not know what hit them."

The cheering that followed Harry's statement was so loud that it took about five minutes to get everyone quite again so that Harry could continue.

"Now, as you all have done so well and haven't complained about what we have put you through, it has been decided that you all deserve the next week off of your training. However, that does not mean that you can slack off this next week either. I want you to pay attention in your classes as if it were me teaching you something new that you needed to know. Also, when you are going between classes or are just walking the halls, I want no Knight alone. There are to be two of you at a time together, each watching the others backs. I hope everyone here has a great weekend and I will see you all next time."

At the end of his speech everyone moved as quickly as they could to the exit in case Harry decided to rethink letting them have off training for next week. It wasn't that they didn't like or appreciate their training it had more to do with the fact that they were rarely given any free time away from training and since this time was being freely given, they were going to take advantage of it.

As Harry made his way off the stage, with a smile on his face, he noticed that out of everyone in the room only his friends remained and were making a beeline for him. "What's up guys?"

"What are you playing at Harry, giving them next week off of training? You know that we cannot waste any time. They have too much to learn and not a lot of time to learn it in and I thought that this next week we were going to be covering 'moving and fighting with stealth'?"

"Chill out Hermione, I know what I am doing. Besides, I think they have earned it. It was exactly like I told them, they deserve the next week off of training for working so hard."

"I think Harry has the right idea, they do deserve a break and I think Harry does as well." Luna put in as she leaned her head against Neville's shoulder.

"Thanks Luna." The blonde Ravenclaw simply nodded her head, content to not move from where she was.

"Well, you're the boss mate." Ron said, clapping Harry on the back. "Now that we have that settled, what you all say to heading down to the Kitchen for a post training snack?"

"You would be the one to be hungry." Ginny said with a smile.

"Actually, I could use the snack as well." Hermione agreed, though it was clear she still did not agree with Harry's decision.

"Do you mind if Luna and I join you guys?" Neville asked.

"No, the more the merrier, besides, the more hands the better." Ron replied as he began to lead the group out of the training room in the Sanctuary and back into the common area.

"What do you mean the more hands Ron?"

"Hermione," Ron said, sighing exasperatedly, "You know how the elves down there can get; they love making sure we are well fed. So when it is time for us to go and they push more food at us, well, the more hands the better, right Harry?"

Just as Hermione was about to retort, Harry stepped in, "Actually Ron, I have some things I need to do before turning in for the night so you all can go on ahead without me."

"Your loss mate," Ron answered with a shrug, his mind clearly elsewhere.

After bidding the rest of the group goodnight, Harry made his way over to a bookshelf that stood along one of the walls. It was only after a minute or two of looking at the shelves that Harry felt as though he weren't alone. Turning around he saw that Ginny was still there and was looking at him with a look on her face that reminded him of a look that he had once seen on Mrs. Weasleys face after she had caught the twins experimenting on one of the garden gnomes. "I thought that you were going to go with the rest of them to the kitchens?"

"I was going to, but I would have rather had my boyfriend go with us. You see he hasn't really been around lately and every time he has a free moment he has been spending it elsewhere and to tell you the truth it is getting rather annoying."

Harry sighed, "Ginny…"

"Because you see, with him going off at every chance he gets it makes a girl wonder if he has someone on the side and is spending his time with her."

"There is no one else Gin…"

"Then what is it Harry? You have been going off to who knows where for the week or so and don't come back to the dorm until late and you are hardly spending time with me anymore. Are you over me? Is there someone else? You have to tell me Harry, I think I deserve that much."

"Gin," Harry said as he came to stand in front of her, "I love spending time with you and there is no one else. I am sorry that I have been distant, but I have just been working on something for the last week and a half and it has taken up all my time."

"What is it?"

"What?"

"I asked what it is you are working on." Ginny said matter-of-factly.

"I am sorry Gin, but I can't tell you, not yet any way."

"Why can't you?"

"Because…well because I can't, but I will tell you as soon as I can, I promise."

"It's not me?"

"It is not you Ginny."

"And there's no one else?"

"There is no one else."

Ginny sighed, "Well that makes me feel a little bit better, but not much. I don't think I will be completely okay until I know what you are up to."

"And I will tell you, it is a long story, but I will tell you. Now, how about I get us back to Gryffindor Tower?" Ginny nodded and Harry gave a smile as he pulled her in for a hug. When Ginny pulled back from the hug she was somewhat, though not totally surprised to find herself in the common room.

"What?" Harry asked.

Ginny just looked at Harry and with a shake of her head said "Nothing."

"Hey," Harry said as he put his hand under her chin, "I like you."

"And I like you Harry."

Harry smiled, "Now, I want you to sit there," he said, pointing to the couch next to the fireplace, "give me about thirty minutes to wrap some stuff up and then I will tell you everything."

"And what am I supposed to do while you are gone?"

Harry gave a wide smile, "You could always catch up on your homework."

"I could catch up on my homework…seriously Harry, is that the best you can come up with?" Ginny asked sarcastically.

"Hey, don't you trust me?"

After an exasperated sigh, Ginny raised her wand and summoned a book from her room. "Are you happy now?"

"For now, but I won't really happy until I can get back to see you."

"Well then you had better hurry and do what you need to."

With a smile, Harry leaned down and gently kissed Ginny's cheek. "I will be back as soon as I can."

"You had better." Ginny called out as she watched him leave through the portrait hole.

His smile grew a little wider as he heard Ginny call out to him as he stepped into the corridor. As the door was closing behind him he looked around to make sure no one was watching him so that he could orb to the third floor. It seemed, however, that luck was not on his side tonight because as soon as he was about to orb out a voice called out to him.

"Hey Harry, don't leave just yet." The sound of the voice made Harry jump slightly, though once he saw who it was that had called out to him he gave a smile. "Hey Luna, what's up?"

"Not much, thanks for not leaving as soon as you left your common room."

"Luna…"

"Oh, your secret is safe with me Harry, though, how nobody has noticed you can travel like that is beyond me. Anyway, I wanted to give this to you." Luna said as she reached into her robes and pulled out what looked like a letter and promptly handed it to her friend.

Harry eyed Luna for a moment before taking the letter, "Luna how did you…?"

"I would have given it to you sooner, but when the owl delivered this morning I wasn't quite done with breakfast so I put it away to read later. Later, when I actually had the time to read it, I saw that it had your name on it."

"A letter for me was delivered to you?" Harry asked looking down at the letter, his previous question forgotten.

"Odd isn't it. I don't think I have ever heard of a post owl delivering a letter to the wrong person. Anyway, I hope you have a good rest of your day Harry, it was good to see you again."

It took Harry a moment to process what Luna had said, but as soon as he came back to his senses he called out to his friend. "Luna."

"Yes Harry?" she replied with a lop-sided smile.

"How did you…?"

"Oh Harry," she said with a shake of her head, "Anyone who is paying even the slightest bit of attention to you would know what I know. And I know, that you know, that there are others here at Hogwarts who know about you and what you can do. But don't worry Harry, we haven't told anybody and you can trust us not to."

"Luna"

"Goodnight Harry."

As Harry watched his Ravenclaw friend walk down the corridor he couldn't help but smile. He knew that it really shouldn't surprise him that Luna, of all people, knew about him. 'Maybe she heard it from Neville, but if he told her then…' Harry's was lost in his thoughts as he walked to the third floor and while he would have preferred to orb there, he thought it best if he did it the normal way. It wasn't long before he reached his destination and he was somewhat surprised to find that it had taken him less time than normal to get there. Deciding to go ahead and get things set up he opened the door and went inside. From inside his robes, Harry pulled out four white candles, lit them and then cast a charm on them to float around him in a slow circle. 'I really hope this works' he thought to himself as he bowed his head. He stayed like this for some time, head bowed, lost in his thoughts. He was eventually pulled from his silent reverie when the silence, that had been surrounding him, broke.

"Geez Potter, I ask you for help and your solution is what, a séance?"

Harry looked up from where he stood and stared at Draco, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. After a moment he shook his head, "Nope, it's too easy".

"What was that Potter?"

"Did you bring it?" Harry asked, choosing not to acknowledge Draco's question. "It will be very hard to if not impossible for me to help you if you didn't."

"Yea I brought it, so there's no need to get all hot and bothered."

"Well then, are you just going to stand there or are you going to give me what you brought?"

Harry, with a slightly amused look in his eyes, watched as Draco fought with himself over whether or not he should reply. It was obvious what decision the blonde Slytherin had come to when he walked over to Harry and gave him what he had in his hand. . "It wasn't too hard to get it, as I am her son, but I would appreciate it if I could get it back after you're done."

Harry looked down at the object that had just been put into his hand and though he knew what it was, he still felt the need to ask. "Was this…?"

"My mother's wedding band, yes."

"I don't want to sound insensitive, but what's with the black lines?"

"Those black lines are vines and only appear when the husband or wife passes away."

"Oh, I didn't know."

"Can we just get on with it Potter? I want to get this whole 'hidden one' mess over with."

"Draco, you realize that if this works like it should then that means…"

"I know very well what it means Potter. It was all in my mother's letter. So if you don't mind I would really like to get this going so I can do my duty."

Harry nodded, "Of course, but for me to do what I needs to be done it would be best if you stepped outside of the circle of candles. I need all the space I can get."

"Potter…the ring?"

"It will come to no harm and you will get it back. I promise."

"Just out of curiosity, what do you need it for anyway?"

"Of all the research I did, only one thing stayed consistent."

"And that was?"

"For this to work there was a need for an anchor, an object of the person who we are trying to find."

"But we don't know who we're looking for."

"You're right, we don't, but your mom does."

Draco stood there for a moment trying to process what Harry had just told him. "But how…?"

"Now, I'm going to cast a few spells to ensure that we're not bothered and I'm not distracted." Harry interrupted.

Harry was aware that Draco was staring at him as he cast his protection and anti-detection spells. There really wasn't a need to cast so many of them, but as he had just told Draco, he didn't want to be bothered. There was also the fact that he didn't want Draco to hear what was really going to be said inside the circle of candles. It was only over the last week that even though he had everything ready for this night, there was still one, very large problem that he had yet to come up with a solution to and that problem was standing only a few feet away from him. Draco Malfoy. How was he, Harry, going to cast his spell and not get caught using a magic not taught at Hogwarts. And even now, standing here, casting some pretty unnecessary spells, he was trying to come up with a way to cast his spell but nothing was coming to him. Knowing that he couldn't put it off forever, Harry decided to do what his Mother and Aunts did on a regular basis…he decided to wing it. He could only hope that Draco didn't catch on.

So going on with the "winging it" plan, he began to wave his wand over the ring that lay in his hand. He did his best to make it look as though he were casting a spell over the ring, but in reality he was casting the spell that had taken him the better part of a week and a half to come up with.

Ancient spirits hear my words, hear the rhyme

With these candles as my burning sign

Lead me to the one I cannot find

In another place in time

And once I know that all is well

Bring me back to when I cast this spell.

As soon as Harry had finished his chanting he was surrounded by a swirl of white and silver lights and he couldn't help but notice they were moving around him fast. As he stood there watching the lights spinning around him, moving faster with each turn, he heard a muffled voice call out to him. From beyond the lights Harry saw Draco looking kind of worried. Knowing that he needed to calm the Slytherin down, he gave a wide smile and said-

"It's okay Malfoy, this is supposed to happen." But that didn't help. 'Ugh, how could I have been so stupid?! The silencing spell is still active.' Harry thought to himself.

Just as he raised his wand to cancel out the ward spell that he had cast, the silver and white lights grew in numbers and had completely obscured his vision. There was no going back now and there was no way to let Draco know everything was okay. Harry took a deep breath as the swirling lights reached their peak, though that breath was soon shoved out of him without warning when something heavy seemed to crash into him. And now, instead of the peaceful departure that he was expecting, Harry felt himself being ripped away from Hogwarts and thrown to wherever the spell was taking him.

A/N: I know, I know...it has been over two months since I last posted, but with exams looming and the amount of time/ what was going into this chapter...I am just lucky that I had something to post. That said, this is only the first half of the chapter. As I said, it was taking so long to write and there are so many things going into this chapter that I needed to find a good place to split it up and this is where I chose to do it. The good news is that the next chapter or rather the next part of this one has a good chunk of the way done...but there is still a lot left to write. Thank you for reading this chapter and staying with me thus far through this story! And so since you have now read, if you could just push that little button that says review, that would be great!

Mudbloodpotter.