Chapter 5: Plans Change, People Do To

Harry made it to the Great Hall without bumping into anyone. He stowed his invisibility cloak as soon as he cleared the dungeons and walked into the hall from the direction of the Grand Staircase.

'Don't want to raise suspicions by coming from the dungeons at this hour.'

He failed to notice the young blonde girl who had eavesdropped on him the night before coming down the staircase at that exact time. She stopped her downward progress at the landing she was on when she saw Harry Potter seemingly appear out of nowhere at the entrance to the dungeons. She watched as he walked around to the front of the staircase before heading into the Great Hall. Once Harry was out of view she continued down into the Great Hall, frowning to herself.

Harry made his way to the Gryffindor table and found an empty spot between Neville Longbottom and Parvati Patil. "Do you guys mind if I join you?" Harry asked the two of them tentatively. Considering he had, until last night, only two true friends, he was very nervous about branching out to new people. He wasn't the greatest at making friends. Dudley threatening to beat up anyone who talked to Harry made getting experience in the friendship making department very difficult.

"Sure," Parvati said, barely glancing his way.

"I don't mind," Neville mumbled. Harry took the seat and started filling his plate with eggs, bacon, and tomatoes. "Where is Ron?" Neville asked quietly.

"No idea, he and I had a bit of a row last night. I doubt he will be speaking to me," Harry replied, quietly. He noticed that he wasn't really that sad about it anymore. Maybe it was just because his mind was still mostly focused on what had just been discussed in the Chamber.

'Magic is magic, there is no light or dark. Magic is all about intent.'

"I'm sure you guys will be friends again very soon," Neville said earnestly, "You and him are almost like brothers sometimes."

'A brother who would rather play quidditch than visit his sister.'

Harry scowled at his plate and muttered, "He wouldn't be a good brother to have."

Neville's eyebrows rose and he shook his head slowly, "Wow, it must have been a serious fight then."

Harry looked up at Neville, "Yeah, it was a big row. I'm not going to apologize to him for it either." Neville looked like he wanted to interrupt but Harry quickly added, "It doesn't matter, I'm not going to change my mind. Let's just say that my eyes have been opened and I don't like what I saw."

Neville looked like he was going to ask but just shook his head and went back to eating.

Parvati turned to Harry, "Why weren't you in classes yesterday? You and Ron both skipped the whole day. I thought Snape was going to sing, he was so happy not to have you in class."

Harry chuckled a little, "I was happy I wasn't in his class too believe me." Parvati gave him a look of sympathy. "Dumbledore gave Ron and I the rest of the week off. He didn't make any announcements or anything yesterday? I missed dinner."

"The only announcement he made was that the whole Chamber of Secrets thing was over and that no one was killed or injured permanently. He said the petrified people will be revived tomorrow and that end of school exams are canceled for all years except 5 and 7. Those years still have their ministry tests." She eyed him suspiciously but didn't ask any further questions. Harry was grateful for that, he really didn't want to tell the whole table about his latest adventure and get called a liar or worse.

Just then the owls started flooding in from the ceiling with the morning mail. Harry looked around for his snowy owl, Hedwig, but didn't see her. He didn't get mail very many times during the year. Usually he only got any from Hagrid. He turned back to his food and kept eating. Harry finished up his breakfast quickly and decided to go talk to McGonagall. He wanted to make sure he would be able to swap out of Divination before the end of the year. He made his way up a floor to the Transfiguration room to see if she was already in there. She was sitting at her desk grading some papers so Harry knocked on the doorframe of the open door. "Professor, do you have a couple of minutes?"

"Mr. Potter, come in and have a seat," she said in her Scottish accent. She waved her wand and conjured a stiff backed wooden chair in front of the desk. Harry walked over and took a seat.

'Ow, my tailbone. Does she do that on purpose just to make people squirm?'

"Thank you, Professor," Harry said respectfully. He wanted to make a good impression in hopes that she would be more inclined to assist him.

"What can I do for you today?" She was still marking the papers in front of her with her quill.

"I was actually wanting to ask you something. Would it be possible to change electives for next year?" He held his breath and waited for the 'no' he expected to receive.

"May I ask why you wish to do so?" She still hadn't looked up from grading since Harry had sat down.

"Well, you see Professor, I signed up for Divination because Ron did and I wanted to have classes with him. But, I recently realized that line of thinking was immature," McGonagall's eyes snapped up to him, "and not in my best interest. So I wanted to swap from Divination into Arithmancy and I also would like to add The Study of Ancient Runes," he said quickly. When she didn't say anything right away he continued, "It was also brought to my attention that Divination is a massive waste of time unless you have the talent for it, and since I'm not a seer, I'm going to guess that I won't have the talent for it."

McGonagall studied him for a few seconds over the top of her reading glasses. "Well, whoever gave you your advice is not wrong. I won't deny I have little patience for Divination. Are you sure you want to take on the course load? Arithmancy and Runes are difficult subjects and with Care of Magical Creatures on your list as well, I fear that you may not fully comprehend how much work you will be putting in over the next couple of years. Your coursework to this point has been satisfactory but only just."

"I know." Harry's shoulders slumped a bit. He was ashamed of how he had treated his schooling to this point. All to be friends with someone who turned out not to be who he wanted to be friends with in the end. "Let's just say I've had a rude awakening and want to do better in the future."

"Very well, Mr. Potter. I will change the electives for your schedule for next term. However, let me make myself very clear, if your grades start to suffer from the increased workload I will not hesitate to make you drop one of your electives." She gave him her typical stern look. Harry gave a curt nod in response. "Very well, if there is nothing else?"

"No, Professor. Thank you." Harry stood and left the room. Harry drifted off toward the hospital wing. He had decided to use some of his new found freedom to check on Ginny and visit Hermione again. Madam Pomfrey pointed him to the same two beds as before with a hint of a smile and continued working on restocking her potion cabinet. Harry walked up to the curtain around Ginny's bed. "Ginny, you mind if I visit?" he called.

"Not at all, come around," Ginny called back softly. She sounded rather excited. When Harry came around the curtain she was smiling at him and looked as excited as she sounded. "Thank you for visiting me again, it gets really lonely here."

Harry frowned, "Haven't any of your brothers come to visit you?"

Ginny nodded, "Percy stopped by this morning before he went to breakfast. The twins came in before their first class. Ron stopped by yesterday but had to leave for dinner pretty soon after he got here."

Harry sighed, "Ron and I had a row about that. I figured you would hear about it sooner or later so I want to tell you before you hear it from someone else."

"Had a row about what?" Ginny asked, confused.

"How he treats you. I don't have siblings, obviously, but if I did I wouldn't ignore them. Especially if one of them went through what you did. So, I told him as much. He didn't take it well. He basically told me to mind my own business and not to lecture him like his brothers do," Harry explained.

"Harry," Ginny breathed, her eyes were starting to show moisture and her face was reddening, "You didn't need to stick up for me like that to Ron. He's always been a bit distant with me, but I think, and if you ever tell him this I will make sure you can never talk again, but I think he is jealous of me because Mum always wanted a daughter. She had 6 boys, then a year after Ron she finally had her daughter. She smothers me and I think Ron feels left out because he has all these brothers to compete with but since I'm the only girl, Mum always makes time for me."

"That all may be very true, Ginny," Harry said, "But that doesn't excuse his behavior. You aren't my sister, but even I still wanted to make sure you were ok."

Ginny blushed even deeper and looked away but Harry could see she was grinning. "Thanks, Harry," she mumbled.

Harry changed the topic and started talking to her about her classes and what she liked to do in her free time. He learned that she had been stealing her brother's brooms for years to play quidditch in the early mornings since they would never let her play with them. She told him how she liked playing seeker but preferred chaser. He suggested she go out for the house team next term, even if she only made the reserves it would at least show her brothers that she could keep up with them.

A short while later Madam Pomfrey walked over and passed her wand over Ginny quickly muttering an incantation that Harry couldn't pick up. After a couple of seconds of looking at the lights that hovered over various places above Ginny she said, "Well, Miss Weasley, I think you are well enough to leave now."

"I'll leave you alone to change and head out then," Harry said as he got up off the chair next to her bed. She caught his hand in hers and gave it a small squeeze.

"Thank you for keeping me company today, Harry. It means a lot to me." She gave him a radiant smile. Harry couldn't help but smile back. He squeezed her hand back and stepped out around the curtain and made his way over to Hermione's bed.

He pulled up the chair next to her and started telling her about the meeting he had with McGonagall and the revelation he had about his study habits and work ethic. He recounted the tale of the row he and Ron had the night before. It was easier telling the story to someone who couldn't talk back to him he realized. He hadn't realized how sad he would feel about losing his first real friend.

"I wish you were able to hear what I am saying," Harry mumbled. "I've thought hard about this and I just hope you know that I am really glad you are my friend, Hermione."

Harry stayed with Hermione for a couple of hours just rambling to her about his concerns for the next term, and his excitement about finally really putting forth an effort in his education. Pretty soon it was lunch time so Harry said goodbye to Hermione by squeezing her hand, once again, and made his way back down to the Great Hall.

Harry slid in at the end of the Gryffindor table, not really wanting any company. He piled his plate with food and tucked in. A few minutes later he saw Ron enter the hall. Ron glanced his way, scowled, and made his way down the table to where Dean and Seamus were sitting. Harry sighed but resigned himself to his new normal.

'It was too easy for him to push me away. Ginny made a good point, he is a very jealous person.'

Harry ate the rest of his meal in peace and, once done, decided to head to the library. He wanted to see if he could find any books on the Mind Arts or Ancient Runes to look at. He wanted to show Salazar that he was taking things seriously by being prepared beforehand.

Over an hour later his search for books on the Mind Arts came up empty. He did manage to find a copy of the 3rd Year book for Ancient Runes so he checked it out and took it to a table to start reading.

Harry managed to read through the introduction and the first 3 chapters before it was time for dinner. He packed away the Runes book and the sheet of parchment he had been taking notes on and made his way down to the Great Hall for dinner. He slid into a spot next to the three Gryffindor chasers; Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet, and Angelina Johnson.

"Hi, Harry," the three girls chorused.

"Hi," Harry mumbled.

"What has you all down?" Alicia asked him.

"Ron and I had a row last night," Harry muttered, "I haven't talked to him since. Hermione is still in the hospital wing, at least until tomorrow."

All three girls nodded and gave him looks of sympathy. "Well, you are always welcome to talk to me if you want," Katie blushed a little as she smiled at him. "Can't have our 'youngest seeker in a century' feeling put out. Might affect your play."

Harry laughed. "So I'm only allowed to talk to you in order to keep playing well?"

Alicia and Angelina sniggered and shook their heads. Angelina spoke up, "No, Harry. I'm sure Katie would talk to you whether you played with us or not." Katie shot Angelina a glare and Alicia giggled.

"Yeah, I'm sure Katie would love to explain it to you sometime," Alicia added. Katie jabbed her fork at Alicia's hand which she managed to dodge. Alicia giggled some more and Angelina grinned.

"Don't listen to these bitches, Harry," Katie said, her face a bright red.

Harry shook his head.

'I'm obviously missing something here.'

Just then, Dumbledore stood at the staff table. All talk quickly died away once people noticed he had. He looked around the hall once then began, "In addition to the announcement I made last night, I have further information to give you about the events of this year. I have been granted permission from the Hogwarts Board of Governors to grant Special Awards for Services to the School to Mr. Harry Potter, and to Mr. Ronald Weasley." All of the eyes in the hall landed on Harry and Ron and Harry felt his face burn.

'Thanks, Dumbledore. Merlin, I hate attention.'

"Further, I am awarding each of those young men 100 house points for their brave actions." Dumbledore sat down and began clapping. Most of the hall joined in, though Harry noticed very few at the Slytherin table joined him. Snape grudgingly put his hands together a couple of times before his trademark sneer returned to his face.

"Damn, 100 points and an Award for Special Services?" Angelina beamed at him. "I'm guessing this has to do with why we were told that the whole 'Chamber of Secrets' thing is over?"

Harry grimaced and nodded. "Yeah, Ron's sister was taken into the Chamber. I couldn't just leave her and I figured out where the entrance was."

"Nice," Alicia gave an approving nod, "Got Dumbledore in there to get her back then?"

Harry flushed and looked at his plate. He wasn't going to tell them the whole story. He had had enough attention for one day.

"Yeah, something like that." He felt a little guilty lying by omission. However, he reasoned that Ron had been his first friend and now Harry realized he had decided that before he really knew the guy. He only now realized how much he had allowed to go unnoticed, or unacknowledged at the very least, about his supposed friend. He wasn't going to allow himself to make the same mistakes. He would tread carefully and really get to know someone before opening up to them in the future.

'It will hurt less that way when they leave.'

Katie was looking at him with an awed look. Alicia and Angelina noticed and were giggling quietly behind their hands. When Katie heard them she whirled around and glared at them again. Harry went back to eating his dinner and made small talk with the girls for a bit. They talked quidditch mostly, seeing as they comprised more than half the Gryffindor team.

Once Harry had finished his dinner he excused himself and made his way back to the library where he read a further two chapters in his borrowed Runes book before making his way down to the hidden alcove in the dungeons.