:D

"We should go with you." Theodore was saying as Harry, now a curly-haired girl, dressed into school robes. "Don't like you going alone."

"It'll be easier and I'll be fine." Harry told him. "I won't get caught. I swear."

"That's not a promise you can gaurantee to keep." Theo insisted, worry evident in his features and voice, which made it one of the few times he showed his true feelings, Harry noted. "Let me come with you."

"No." Harry stated more sternly as he pocketed a vial of Polyjuice Potion. "Stay here."

And without further word, he pulled on his invisibility cloak and slipped out. It was still early in the morning, too early to be meeting Luna, but without a Marauder's Map to help guide him, Harry had to make sure no one would see the door open, which meant that he had to leave while the sun was still down. Nervously, he started down towards the third floor, but then continued for some reason to the second to stare at the entrance to the Headmaster's office. Emotions began to surge through him, willing the gargoyle to leap aside and show him Snape. His hand was sweaty on his wand and his heart was beating so loud he swore he could hear it echoing off the walls.

The gargoyle moved aside and Harry's breath hitched in his throat.

Snape walked out, black robes billowing behind him and face exhausted as if he'd lived a hundred years since the last time Harry had seen him. He started straight towards Harry and the boy tripped over his own feet in his attempt to get out of his way in time. He fell loudly on the floor, his wand flying from his hand and skidding several feet away from him.

Snape whipped around and stared with alarm around him, his wand now in hand. Harry was holding his breath, eyes scanning his body to make sure no part of him was revealed. The Slytherin ex-Head of House moved slowly forward, eyes still darting around the hall in a quick survey and then they rested on Harry's wand. He took three strides to reach it and he bent to pick it up...and paused.

Harry was panicking, mind berating him for thinking this had been a good idea and then urging him to run away before Snape could turn him in, but he was paralyzed where he lay.

Picking up the wand, Snape turned it over, eyes flooded with recognition and realization. Then he walked towards the nearest window and, to Harry's awe, set the wand down on the sill and left without a single glance back. Anxiously, Harry scrambled to his feet, grabbed his wand, and rushed to the Trophy Room to wait.

His mind turned over the encounter, trying to figure out why Snape hadn't turned the boy in. He knew Harry had an invisibility cloak. He recognized Harry's wand and always had been able to. He was ordered to contact the Dark Lord only if he had encountered Harry, which he most certainly had for all intensive purposes. It wasn't as if Harry could Apparate out of Hogwarts either if he was cornered, so why hadn't he turned Harry in? The Dark Lord would reward doubly for it. He had already been put in such high esteem (according to Theodore) because of killing Dumbledore. He was by far Voldemort's most favorite of his followers, if he had a favorite. This didn't make sense...

Peeves flitted into the room at some point, but he didn't cause the ruckus he was known for. It seemed, to Harry, the poltergeist was a bit frightened and he eventually soared out of the room. Finally, Luna arrived, looking dreamy as always.

"Luna." Harry quickly threw off the cloak and rushed towards her, prepared to introduce himself.

"Hello, Harrietta." She smiled at him, recognizing him as she had at the Weasley wedding, and clearly understanding the secrecy. "I was wondering what 'old friend' I'd be meeting."

"Well, I have to be quick." Harry told her. "Look. I'm looking for something of Ravenclaw's. I don't know what. I was wondering if you had any ideas."

"Well, there's her lost diadem. The lost diadem of Ravenclaw. Daddy's trying to duplicate it."

"Lost?" Harry said worriedly. "When was it lost?"

"Centuries ago." Harry's heart sank. "Professor Flitwick says the diadem vanished with Rowena Ravenclaw herself. People have looked, but nobody's ever found a trace of it."

"And you've never seen anything that looks like it?"

"Well, the diadem sits on a statue of Ravenclaw in our House common room." Luna told him pleasantly. "If you wanted, you could come look at it."

"Right now?"

"It'll have to be tomorrow...I have to get back to class after lunch and then I'm busy."

Harry said, glancing around nervously. "Okay. Tomorrow...where can I meet you and when?"

"I have a free period after lunch. If you met me by the library, I could take you there." Luna smiled.

"I can do that, but I'll be under my cloak."

"All right." She turned and began to skip away and Harry threw his cloak over himself and made his way back to the Room of Requirement. It took him a whole hour before he could slip in safely without anyone noticing. The moment he had removed the cloak, Theodore had rushed him, yanking him into his arms, and holding him tightly.

"I need to change..." Harry gasped into him. "Before I turn back or my robes will rip..."

Reluctantly, Theodore released him and Harry began to undress quickly, his body already beginning to return to normal. He was completely out of the robes when Theodore grabbed him again and this time kissed him. Harry melted, forgot he was basically naked and that Cedric was sitting in a nearby bed watching them. He melded against Theodore's chest, hands on the taller's hips, and lips meshing with his. Heat flooded his entire body and tingles of pleasure and excitement came with it.

"Please..." Cedric begged suddenly, reminding Harry of his presence. "I get you're worried about each other and everything, but...this is ridiculous."

Blushing, Harry pulled away from Theodore and turned to get some robes on. Theo rounded on Cedric.

"Are making me regret letting you tag along." Theo growled. "Wanted to leave without you."

"Well, big shock there." Cedric snapped, rising out of the bed. "And people wonder why Slytherins are looked down on for being untrustworthy."

"Enough!" Harry cut in, scowling at Cedric."I will leave you behind if you keep this up."

Cedric gave Harry a dark look before taking his seat in a chair.

Harry put on his glasses and turned to Theo. "I have a lead, but I won't be able to get to it until tomorrow."

"Let me go with you."

"I'm sorry, Theo." Harry shook his head. "Not yet."