Seeing Harry in a great mood for over a week now, Ron decided to talk to Harry.

"Harry."

"Ron."

"I want to apologize for how I went off on you, how I reacted and what I said. I should probably apologize to Ginny as well. I went crazy, she's my sister."

"Apology accepted and she's not just your sister. Ginny is the only girl and the youngest so of course you'll be overly protective. You still should have known better than to think that I would toy with your sister or anyone for that matter."

"You're right I should have known better. Like I said I went crazy."

"I should have told you sooner about Ginny."

"So what are you going to tell her?"

"Everything. I have been thinking about how to start and the only thing that I can come up with is to start with going back in time."

"That has worked so far with all that you have told. Harry, do you think you'll be able to keep Ginny from killing me?"

"I don't know. I guess I could try." Harry said jokingly with a smile on his face.

"So do I get a heads up as to when you'll tell her?"

"I can't be certain. I've got a lot on my mind so probably the next time she asks me about it."

They walked on to their next class, Defense Against the Dark Arts. Harry usually dreaded this class but since Sirius showed up at Hogwarts Lockhart didn't get to him. Harry didn't even fall for Draco's baiting comments.

That afternoon in the Gryffindor common room Harry noticed how pale Ginny was.

"Ginny, are you all right?" Harry asked knowing full well what was going on but wanted to give her the chance to tell him.

"I'm fine Harry. Oh…would now be a good time to talk? You said to give you about a week and it has been longer than that."

"Now is perfect."

Harry sat down next to Ginny.

"Well the short version is that I've gone back in time. I wasn't paying attention in Potions, there was an explosion and I found my self back at my Aunt and Uncle's before I turned eleven."

"Why was Ron so furious when we got here? Why weren't you paying attention in class?"

"You. And that answers both questions."

"Me? How? Why?"

Harry told Ginny about them being together, the battle, the loss of lives, his theory about why she ignored him, more detailed about the day in class of the explosion, over coming the shock, making changes in his life, Ron's misunderstanding and the whole confrontation with Ron.

Ginny was quiet while absorbing everything Harry had told her.

"Ron what?" Ginny said angrily.

"He has since apologized to me and he intends to apologize to you."

Ginny really didn't hear what Harry had said as she was still fuming about what Ron had said to Harry. She got up and started to leave, Harry gently grabbed her arm to stop her from leaving. Ginny sat back down and looked at Harry.

"Think about what I told you. You can ask me anything. If you still want to give Ron a piece of your mind than go for it."

Ginny though a bit and looked up at Harry.

"Your theory of how I was makes sense, it does sound like something I would do. Even after all that you still want to be with me?"

"Very much, but like I said not now."

"Of course not now, my mum and dad would freak out. Wait…is that why you have been so nice?"

"Not completely why, but yes. I thought that you would like to be included."

"Thanks. So when you told me that I could knock you over and take your broom."

"I already knew that you could fly very well and you are great at Quidditch, one of the best chasers Gryffindor has ever seen…er…. will see."

"So, you know about the diary?"

"Yes I know about Tom Riddles diary. The dairy is not an ordinary one, which I am sure you noticed. The diary is what is called a Horcrux, it's very dark magic."

Ginny quickly went through her bag, pulled out the diary and gave it to Harry.

"I will make sure that no one gets a hold of this. It will be destroyed. Oh, Ginny I would really like it if we could hangout once in a while and talk or study become closer friends. That is if you want to."

"I would like that. I don't get along with my roommates or any one in my year really."

Harry smiled at her and she smiled back, lightly blushed and looked back down at her books.

Harry got up and headed to the portrait.

"Harry, why did you tell me all this now? I know you said that you would, but with Sirius released, well even before why not wait a year or two?"

"I was going to wait about a year originally. You heard part of a conversation with Ron and I and it just made sense to tell you everything."

"Still, why? I get he feeling that you did things very different the first time."

"I did do things a lot different. I never studied and copied off Hermione as much as I could. At first I didn't realize that I wanted to date you. You were Ron's sister; he's my best friend. When you started dating other guys it drove me crazy."

"Thank you for being honest and opening up to me. Except for you, no one seems to think that I can understand or handle certain things. Well, I should let you go take care of that thing."

"See you at dinner." Harry said as he smiled and left the common room.

Ginny looked up at the entrance to the common room to be sure that Harry had left. She smiled and jumped up and down. Harry wanted to date her. In a few years she hoped that they would be dating.

Harry was in a hurry to find Dumbledore. He was hoping that the sword would destroy the diary. 'If it doesn't than Dumbledore will have to hold on to it, keep it in his office until we can figure out a means of destroying the damn diary.' Harry thought as he ran through the halls.

"Hey, Harry where are you going in such a hurry?" Asked Hermione.

Harry didn't respond or slow down so Hermione and Ron ran to catch up with him to find out what was going on.

"Harry slow down."

"No time Ron. I have to see Dumbledore immediately."

"He's not in his office." Hermione said.

Harry stopped dead in his tracks.

"If he's not in his office then where is he? It's really important."

"Harry is that the diary you wanted?"

"Yes. I just had a conversation with Ginny and she gave me the diary."

"Just before we saw you rushing towards Dumbledore's office we saw him go in the teacher's lounge."

Harry took off running in the opposite direction. Once reaching the door Harry nearly just walked right in. He stopped and knocked on the door before opening it.

"Professor Dumbledore, I need to talk to you. I'm sorry for just barging in here like this but it is important."

"Very well, come on in Harry."

Harry walked straight to where Dumbledore was standing and handed him the diary.

"It's the diary I told you about."

"Ah…shall we proceed to my office? I would also like a word with you on a different matter."

Harry followed Dumbledore out of the teachers lounge and all the way to his office.

"First off Harry I wanted to let you know that we have searched the school and we cannot find the copy of Advanced Potion Making with that horrible spell in it. I would appreciate it if you would take some time this week and look for it. If need be I can excuse you from classes to do it."

"I will do my best. I do know what room was used that has the book. Let me try first without missing any classes."

"Now, how do we take care of this diary?"

"I was thinking maybe using Godric Gryffindor's sword. But I am not sure that it will work."

"How did you destroy the diary before?"

"I stabbed it with a tooth from a basilisk." Harry went on and explained in more detail after seeing the look on Dumbledore's face.

"And where is the entrance to the Chamber, again?"

"It's in the girls bathroom on the second floor. One of the taps has a snake scratched on the side of it. Saying the right password in parseltongue will open the entrance."

"Very well. Now would you like to do the honors?"

"Not really, like I said I don't know it will work with the sword. May I suggest that the diary be placed on the floor."

"Very wise suggestion Harry."

Dumbledore retrieved the sword from a case on the wall as Harry placed the diary on the floor. Harry stood back near the door to the office. Dumbledore walked over to where the diary was on the floor. He plunged the sword into the middle of the diary. To Harry's relief the diary began to lose ink as though it was blood.

"It worked Professor."

"Good to know."

"Professor I was wondering, since it has been destroyed could I have the diary? There is something that I need to do with it and it is extremely important."

"I don't see why it would do any harm in letting you have the diary back." Dumbledore said as he handed Harry what was left of the diary.

Harry left Dumbledore's office and went back to the Gryffindor common room where he found Ron, Ginny and Hermione sitting at a table.

"Harry, did you destroy it?" Ginny asked.

"Yes."

"But why do you have it?"

"There is something that I need to do with it. I'll explain later. Hermione there is nothing to worry about. I promise."

Harry went up the staircase to the boy's dormitory, found something to wrap the diary in to ensure that it wouldn't ooze all over his things and locked it away in his trunk. He went back down to the common room and sat with the other three.

"Harry you look like there is something on your mind."

"There is. There's something that I need to find. Would the three of you help me?"

"Yes." Ginny answered for all of them.

"What do you need to find?" Hermione asked.

"A specific book. I'll explain more about it once we are in the room where the book is."

"But don't you already know?"

"I know where it will be in a few years. There might be more copies in the cupboard at this point."

The four of them got up and left the common room. Harry led the way to the classroom where the book was. Once inside the empty classroom and the door was shut Harry felt it was safe to tell them.

"I am looking for a copy of Advanced Potion Making. It will have writing all over most of the pages. I need to find it and turn it in to Dumbledore or a teacher. It is extremely important that I find it. There is horrible spell written in it and I do not want anyone to get a hold of. Dumbledore doesn't want anyone to get a hold of it either. On one of the inside covers it will say 'Property of The Half Blood Prince'"

The four of them started going through all the cupboards. Harry wanted to be sure that every inch of the room and every book was thoroughly checked. Though he knew exactly where the book was he wanted to include his friends so they felt as though he was including them and asking for help when he should need it.

"Harry, I think that I found it."

Harry walked over to Ginny and took a look at it. After flipping through the pages he found the page that the spell was written on.

"Yes! You found it all right Ginny. Thank you, all of you, thank you."

As Harry went to try and catch Dumbledore in his office, the other three went back to the common room. After a half hour outside of Dumbledore's office Harry gave up and headed to the dungeons. The only other person he could think of to turn the book into was Snape. The thought of seeing the look on Snape's face when he realized it was the book he had used while attending Hogwarts made Harry smile.

"Professor Snape, are you here?"

There was no answer. As much as Harry wanted to see the look on Snape's face he walked to the desk and set the book down on it and left the room.

After lunch Harry, Ron and Hermione had Potions. Harry was sure that Snape had found the book, looked through it and gave it to Dumbledore. Harry wondered how Snape would be in class. He was about to find out.

"Quiet everyone! Take your seats!" Snape walked over to his desk and began again, "Today we will be…" Snape trailed off as he saw the book on his desk. "What is this?" He looked through the book, found the page and when stark white.

Harry managed to keep a straight face to not give it a way that he was the one that left the book on Snape's desk.

"Professor, is everything all right?"

"None of your business Mr. Malfoy. Everyone turn to page one-hundred-and-twenty-five."

Harry appeared to be reading. He couldn't get the image of the look on Snape's face out of his mind. It was difficult to not smile about it. Though his mind was elsewhere he noticed enough to turn the pages of his book shortly after Ron did.

Back in the Gryffindor common room, "Harry what was that about? Why did he go so white when he looked through the book?" Hermione asked.

"Well, it's the book he used while he attended Hogwarts. He is the one that came up with that spell and a few others. It's obvious that he doesn't want anyone to know that it's his spell."

"Why didn't you give it to Dumbledore?" Ron asked

"Because, Dumbledore was not in his office and I didn't want to run all over the school to find him. I certainly do not want Snape knowing that I found the book. He'd ask too many questions and I don't want him knowing that I've…you know." Harry didn't finish what he was saying as several first years and third years had walked through the portrait hole.

"You have a really good point Harry." Hermione and Ron said together.

* * * * * * *

A week before Hermione's birthday Harry and Ron talked about what to get her. After a while of talking they finally agreed on something that would work and how to get buy it and get it to Hermione. The small amount of money that Ron had he gave to Harry so that Harry could put with the amount of money that they were going to spend together on Hermione's present.

At the first chance Harry got (which was four days later) he sent the money with a letter to Sirius. In the letter he explained what he and Ron wanted to get Hermione and asked if Sirius would get it and send it to him as soon as possible and the date of Hermione's birthday.

"What have the two of you been up to?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing" Ron and Harry replied.

"You expect me to believe that?"

"As a matter of fact, yes." Ron replied.

"We're not doing anything that we shouldn't be doing."

"That does not sound good to me."

"Don't worry Hermione, it's nothing bad."

"Than why won't you tell me?"

"It's a surprise. You'll find out soon enough. Just give it a few days."

Hermione just gave Harry and Ron a look of not sure about what ever it was they were up to. She gave it some thought and realized that her birthday was just a few days away.

"You guys are getting me a birthday present."

"Why wouldn't we? Just remember that it is from both of us." Harry said

"Well, I don't know why you wouldn't get me anything. You know you don't have to get me anything though."

"We know we just wanted to."

* * * * * * *

Harry and Ron were getting nervous by dinner the day before Hermione's birthday. They had not received anything from Sirius so far. Harry hoped that the next day Hedwig would be showing up with something from Sirius.

"Harry, look it's Hedwig."

Harry looked up and when he saw Hedwig he was relieved but still a little nervous thinking that Sirius wasn't able to get it. With slightly shaking hands he took the letter from Hedwig and opened it.

"What does Sirius have to say?"

"He's sorry that it took so long for him to get it to us and to tell wish Hermione a happy birthday for him."

Ron and Harry were finally able to relax. Harry saw Hermione returning to the dinning hall and quickly hid the letter and her gift in his robes.

The following morning at breakfast an unknown owl flew in and straight to Hermione, carrying a small package and letter.

Hermione quickly opened the small package. In side was a simple gold chain with a gold heart shaped locket. Hermione opened the locket to find a photo of her parents on one side and the other blank. She then read the letter.

"We have to get a photo of us so that I can put in the other side of the locket. Oh when I say us I mean Ginny too."

"But how are we going to get a photo taken?" Ron asked

"I am sure that we can find someone that carries a camera around his or her neck all the time."

"Okay…I'll ask Colin if he'll take the photo." Harry said with a tone of reluctance in his voice.

"So what did the two of you get me?"

"Oh, right. Just keep in mind we weren't sure what to get you exactly so we decided on this." Harry said as he handed Hermione an envelope.

Hermione opened the envelope and quietly gasped, enclosed was a Gringotts version of a gift certificate for all of Diagon Alley in the amount of 10 Galleons.

"This is perfect. Thank you both. I promise I won't get any school stuff with it."

"Hermione, it's yours to spend how ever you want to spend it. If you want to get school stuff with it you can."

"Thanks Harry, but I'm not going to get school stuff with it. I am not sure what exactly I will get as there are about a million things going through my mind right now. Again thank you both." Hermione got up and hugged both boys.

That afternoon Harry had found Colin Creevey and asked him if he would take a picture of him and his friends. Colin so excited barely got the words out that he would take the picture.

Once they were all in the Gryffindor common room after their last classes, Hermione insisted that Harry and Ron stand in the back and that she and Ginny are in the front. Ginny standing in front of Harry so that Hermione could stand in front of Ron. Colin took several shots of them.

At dinner Colin walked over to Harry and handed him the photos.

"You can keep them all if you want. I was wondering if you would mind taking a picture with me?"

Harry agreed to the picture so that Colin would leave him alone for a while and he really did not want to hurt Colin's feelings. Ron kindly took the picture of Colin and Harry.

Hermione went through the pictures and picked the one she liked most and made it fit into her locket, smiling. She handed the rest of the pictures to Harry for him and Ron to pick out the one's they wanted.