(Y/N)'s POV

Later in the week, the post owls arrived, I got a check in from Mr. Shacklebolt, still not much news, just more of the same, as well as an update on Dad and how he was doing. After that I was drawn to a commotion at the table.

Harry was delivered a package, then an identical package landed in front of Ron, crushing beneath it his minuscule and exhausted owl, Pigwidgeon. I called him over and stroked him on the head to calm him down and stop him from squawking like a maniac, feeding him some crumbs from breakfast.

"Ha!" said Harry, unwrapping the parcel to reveal a new copy of Advanced Potion-Making, fresh from Flourish and Blotts. "Oh good," said Hermione, delighted. "Now you can give that graffitied copy back." "Are you mad?" said Harry. "I'm keeping it! Look, I've was thinking-"

"Did it hurt?" I commented, he rolled his eyes and continued. He pulled the old copy of Advanced Potion-Making out of his bag and tapped the cover with his wand, muttering, "Diffindo!"

The cover fell off. He did the same thing with the brand-new book, Hermione looked like she was about to knock him out at the sight. He then swapped the covers, tapped each, and said, "Reparo!"

There sat the Prince's copy, disguised as a new book, and there sat the fresh copy from Flourish and Blotts, looking thoroughly secondhand. "Shame that spell doesn't on scribbled on ink, otherwise it would be problem solved" I thought, but I didn't voice this opinion otherwise Harry might cry.

"I'll give Slughorn back the new one, he can't complain, it cost nine Galleons." Hermione pressed her lips together, looking angry and disapproving, but was distracted by a third owl landing in front of her carrying that day's copy of the Daily Prophet.

She unfolded it hastily and scanned the front page. "Anyone we know dead?" asked Ron in a determinedly casual voice; he posed the same question every time Hermione opened her paper, which now I thought about it, was a horrible thing to even have to consider.

"No, but there have been more dementor attacks," said Hermione. "And an arrest." "Excellent, who?" said Harry, "Stan Shunpike," said Hermione. "What?" said Harry, startled.  She began to read aloud.

"'Stanley Shunpike, conductor on the popular Wizarding conveyance the Knight Bus, has been arrested on suspicion of Death Eater activity. Mr. Shunpike, 21, was taken into custody late last night after a raid on his Clapham home...'"

"Stan Shunpike, a Death Eater?" said Harry, "No way!" "He might have been put under the Imperius Curse," said Ron reasonably. "You never can tell." Hermione tutted.

I sighed, realising how desperate the Ministry were "Hermione, If Stan Shunpike is a Death Eater, so is Colin Creevey...he's too awkward to be doing anything shady, you remember the Veela?"

"It doesn't look like it," said Hermione, who was still reading. "It says here he was arrested after he was overheard talking about the Death Eaters' secret plans in a pub." She looked up with a troubled expression on her face.

"Nah, poor sod was probably trying to show off" I said, frowning and shaking my head. "If he was under the Imperius Curse, he'd hardly stand around gossiping about their plans, would he?" "It sounds like he was trying to make out he knew more than he did," said Ron.

"I dunno what they're playing at, taking Stan seriously." "They probably want to look as though they're doing something," said Hermione, frowning. "People are terrified — you know the Patil twins' parents want them to go home?" I shrugged, "Can you blame them, after what happened to Hannah Abbott?"

There had been a horrible incident the day before, when Hannah Abbott had been taken out of Herbology to be told her mother had been found dead. We had not seen Hannah since. Hermione's eyes shifted downwards sadly and she added, "Eloise Midgen has already been withdrawn. Her father picked her up last night."

"What!" said Ron, goggling at Hermione. "But Hogwarts is safer than their homes, bound to be! We've got Aurors, and all those extra protective spells, and we've got Dumbledore!"

"I don't think we've got him all the time," said Hermione very quietly, glancing toward the staff table over the top of the Prophet. "Haven't you noticed? His seat's been empty as often as Hagrid's this past week."

We collectively looked up at the staff table. The headmaster's chair was indeed empty. "I think he's left the school to do something with the Order," said Hermione in a low voice. "I mean...it's all looking serious, isn't it?" We did not answer.

Ron's POV

We left the Gryffindor table five minutes later to head down to the Quidditch pitch, nerves crept their way up my entire body, I started to feel a bit nauseous at the thought of the try outs, remembering Harry being told that he couldn't just fill the team with his mates.

Speaking of which, (Y/N) was trudging along behind us, apparently, he had taken it upon himself to get himself involved with Quidditch. Harry insisted he just needed an extra pair of hands and (Y/N) volunteered. Opting to help Harry with teaching the new Beaters.

(Y/N) said it was just so he would have an excuse to pelt people with Bludgers, but knowing him, he was probably trying to show off to Hermione. What didn't help my nerves was even as I was trying to focus, (Y/N) constantly teased me.

It happened when we were passing Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil on the way. Parvati suddenly nudged Lavender, who looked around and gave me a wide smile. "You've got an admirer mate," he leaned down and muttered in my ear, "Go on, talk to her"

No, she must have been looking at Harry, surely, I blinked at her, then returned the smile uncertainly, not paying attention as (Y/N) smirked and shoved me closer to her.

I tried my best to play it off, avoiding tripping by doing something more like a strut. I'm sure I looked like a right prat, but at least I didn't trip.

The trials took most of the morning. Half of Gryffindor House seemed to have turned up, from first years who were nervously clutching a selection of the rubbish old school brooms, to seventh years who towered over the rest, looking coolly intimidating.

The latter included a large, wiry-haired boy "Cormac McLaggen, Keeper." "You didn't try out last year, did you?" asked Harry, "I was in the hospital wing when they held the trials," said McLaggen, "Why?" said (Y/N), who was stretching with a beaters club in his hand.

"I was in the hospital wing when they held the trials. Ate a pound of doxy eggs for a bet" he said, (Y/N) scoffed, "And you thought that was a good idea?" McLaggen took a deep intake of breath and (Y/N) continued "So...did you win the bet at least?"

As Harry explained all the boring stuff about how the team would be set up, (Y/N) approached me with a firm pat on the back "You can do this" he nodded, easy for him to say, he's not even trying for a position.

I did appreciate the gesture and some of my nerves left me as I nodded. That was until Cormac McLaggen made his presence known again. Constantly chatting into my ear as I tried to focus. I was starting to see why (Y/N) didn't like this bloke.

"No hard feelings Weasley right?" "Hard feelings?" I said confused, looking to (Y/N), who shrugged, "Yeah, I'll be going for keeper as well...it's nothing personal" There was a lurch in my stomach.

"Really? Strapping guy like you, you've got more of a beaters build don't you think?" I said, hoping he would change his mind and give me better odds. "Yeah, McLaggen, go have a beat off" (Y/N) laughing to himself, swinging his borrowed beaters club absentmindedly.

McLaggen looked to be fed up of him already and sighed. Looking back to me, "Keepers need to be quick, agile-" I continued, as I did, he managed to catch a fly between his fingers and crush it. "I like my chances" he said with an eerily familiar smirk.

(Y/N) whispered "I bet you he charmed that fly" Into my ear, it caused me to smirk, but I was still very nervous. McLaggen spoke to (Y/N) this time, "Say...think you could introduce me to your friend Granger?" (Y/N) stopped laughing and simply said, "No." walking off.

McLaggen huffed, looking to me "It's just, I wouldn't mind getting on a first name basis, you know what I mean?" he said loudly, it took me a second to catch his meaning. "I mean...her and (Y/N) they are kind of... together" I whispered, it still hurt just to say it.

He raised an eyebrow, "Him..." he said, pointing a finger to (Y/N) who at this very moment was doing very exaggerated cheerleading poses and making a general prat of himself in front of the team. I nodded.

He looked back at (Y/N) and then at Hermione in the stands, "All I needed to hear" he said cockily, I turned back around to (Y/N) who did not look pleased, for a second I thought he might hit McClaggen with the beaters club.

I looked at him expecting to break up a fight, but (Y/N) restrained himself, and was just angrily stretching while glaring at the bloke. I just hope he didn't hear, or didn't care, otherwise, knowing him, this might get bloody.

After two hours, many complaints, and several tantrums, one involving a crashed Comet Two Sixty and several broken teeth, Gryffindor had three Chasers: Katie Bell, returned to the team after an excellent trial; a new find called Demelza Robins, who was particularly good at dodging Bludgers, which greatly frustrated (Y/N) apparently, and Ginny, who had out flown all the competition and scored seventeen goals to boot.

Harry had also shouted himself hoarse at the many complainers and was now enduring a similar battle with the rejected Beaters. (Y/N) stood in the corner pressed up to his broom as if it was a table to lean on while he chewed some gum. He was treating the whole thing like it was a show he was watching.

But due to his presence there wasn't much complaining about how the teams were picked, although there were a few about him being here in the first place. "That's my final decision and if you don't get out of the way of the Keepers I'll hex you," Harry bellowed.

The unsuccessful players all kicked off, which was quickly resolved, but this also meant the remaining team were a chattering mob, distracting a fed up Harry, that was until Ginny lost her patience and said "SHUT IT!"

(Y/N) chose now to intervene, grabbing the new Beaters "C'mon you two, take some laps and we can do test swings at the chasers, as for you lot, first one to put a Quaffle through all three hoops in a row from the scoring area gets to watch the keeper try-outs with me." Said (Y/N) who led the new team to the other side of the pitch.

Neither of his chosen Beaters were anywhere close to the skill of Fred and George, Jimmy Peakes, a short but broad-chested third-year boy who had managed to raise a lump the size of an egg on the back of Harry's head with a ferociously hit Bludger, and Ritchie Coote, who looked weedy but aimed well.

They returned not ten minutes later as I was trying to prepare, "Cheers," said Harry, who had a much easier time explaining what our trial would be without the others breathing down his neck. We were simply going to take it in turns acting as the Keeper, the Chasers would take shots at us and whoever saved the most would get the position. Simple.

I repeated that to myself a lot to try and calm down but that doesn't make it true. Before the keeper trials, (Y/N) was parading around the group of us giving encouragement and keeping everyone in order, stopping at my side and smiling. He was having a hard time not playing favourites.

It became more obvious as time went on. To this day, I've never seen that many Bludgers hit a keeper, I swear every time a Bludger came anywhere near (Y/N) it had at some point been redirected to, or hit McClaggen, one was even during simple flying drills as we warmed up.

For about the fiftieth time, Ginny yelled at (Y/N), "WATCH IT! YOU DO NOT ATTACK THE KEEPER UNLESS THE QUAFFLE IS WITHIN THE SCORING AREA!" "Oops, sorry didn't see you there!" (Y/N) spat through gritted teeth, I'm pretty sure he was trying to take McClaggen's head off.

"All things considered, he's actually a good beater" said Harry beside me. I shrugged, as each Keeper flew up to the goal hoops, the crowd roared and jeered in equal measure. "Good luck!" cried a voice from the stands. I looked around, expecting to see Hermione, but it was Lavender Brown. She must have been cheering for McLaggen.

To my horror, Cormac McLaggen saved four penalties out of five. On the last one, however, he shot off in completely the wrong direction; the crowd laughed and booed and McLaggen returned to the ground grinding his teeth. "Other way genius!" I heard (Y/N) bellow angrily, cackling with glee.

I felt like I was ready to pass out as I rose to my position. My hands were shaking and sweaty, my heartbeat was in my ears, but I knew I had to do this. As I heard Harry shout "START" and the first Chaser got on his broom my nerves peaked, the rest was a bit of a panicked blur.

Harry's POV

Ron saved one, two, three, four, five penalties in a row. Delighted, and resisting joining in the cheers of the crowd with difficulty, I turned to McLaggen to tell him that, most unfortunately, Ron had beaten him, only to find McLaggen's red face inches from mine. I stepped back hastily.

"His sister didn't really try," said McLaggen menacingly. "That was the one he nearly missed." There was a vein pulsing in his temple like the one in Uncle Vernon's. "She gave him an easy save."

"Rubbish," I said coldly. McLaggen took another half step towards me but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. "The key word there being 'nearly' mate" (Y/N) said, smiling and holding a firm grip on McLaggen.

"Now, calm down, it's just Quidditch, If you're a good boy, you might make a reserve" McLaggen let out something like a snarl in (Y/N)'s direction, who in return gave a chilling glare.

I recognised it immediately, it was the same glare me and Ron had once received in first year, when he heard us teasing Hermione, before we were friends. McLaggen turned to him and pushed closer to (Y/N), who just smiled wider, they were essentially nose to nose.

"OOHHH Please tell me we are doing this" (Y/N) spat. "I don't think you want that" said McLaggen in a very threatening tone. (Y/N) chuckled in his face, "Oh I think I do, it'll be a laugh. We can try you out again and see how many goals you can save after I've broken both your arms."

McLaggen seemed to think against causing trouble, he snorted angrily, spinning back to me "Give me another go." "No," I said quickly, I'm not letting him have another go just because he throws a fit.

"You've had your go. You saved four. Ron saved five. Ron's Keeper, he won it fair and square. Get out of my way." With another intake of breath McLaggen turned his head to (Y/N), who raised an eyebrow like it was a challenge to start something.

I thought for a moment that McLaggen might punch him, but he contented himself with shoving his hand off harshly with an ugly grimace and stormed away, growling what sounded like threats to thin air. I turned around to find the new team beaming at me.

I congratulated Ron when we got a quiet moment between (Y/N)'s celebrating, "Well done," "You flew really well —" "You did brilliantly, Ron!" said Hermione, running toward us from the stands; I saw Lavender walking off the pitch, arm in arm with Parvati, a rather grumpy expression on her face.

Ron looked extremely pleased with himself andeven taller than usual as he grinned at the team and at Hermione. After fixingthe time of their first full practice for the following Thursday, we badegood-bye to the rest of the team and headed off toward Hagrid's.

(Y/N)'s POV

A watery sun was trying to break through the clouds now and it had stopped drizzling at last, much to our relief "I thought I was going to miss that fourth penalty," Ron was saying happily. "Tricky shot from Demelza, did you see, had a bit of spin on it —"

"Yes, yes, you were magnificent," said Hermione, looking amused, rolling her eyes at me as we walked to Hagrid hand in hand. I was happy for him but I was finding it hard not to poke fun at him.

"I was better than that McLaggen anyway," said Ron in a highly satisfied voice. "Did you see him lumbering off in the wrong direction on his fifth? Looked like he'd been Confunded..." I shrugged, "Dunno, maybe he's just an idiot."

I watched as Hermione turned a very deep shade of pink at these words, I barely stifled a laugh I expertly disguised as a cough, winking at her, she averted her eyes. But I made a note to have a talk with her later.

Ron noticed nothing; he was too busy describing each of his other penalties in loving detail. The great grey hippogriff, Buckbeak, was tethered in front of Hagrid's cabin. He clicked his razor-sharp beak at their approach and turned his huge head toward them.

"Oh dear," said Hermione nervously. "He's still a bit scary, isn't he?" "Come off it, you've ridden him, haven't you?" said Ron. Harry stepped forward and bowed low to the hippogriff without breaking eye contact or blinking.

After a few seconds, Buckbeak sank into a bow too. "How are you?" Harry asked him in a low voice, moving forward to stroke the feathery head. "Missing him? But you're okay here with Hagrid, aren't you?" I walked up and scratched either side of his beak, he made a happy chirping noise.

"Oi!" said a loud voice. Hagrid had come striding around the corner of his cabin wearing a large flowery apron and carrying a sack of potatoes, Fang was at his heels; Fang gave a booming bark and bounded forward. "Git away from him! He'll have yer fingers — oh. It's yeh lot."

Fang was jumping up at Hermione and Ron, attempting to lick their ears. Hagrid stood and looked at us all for a split second, then turned and strode into his cabin, slamming the door behind him.

"Oh dear!" said Hermione, looking stricken. "Don't worry about it, he's probably just gone to boil the kettle" I said hopefully. Harry walked over to the door and knocked loudly. "Hagrid! Open up, we want to talk to you!" There was no sound from within.

"If you don't open the door, we'll blast it open!" Harry said, pulling out his wand. "Harry!" said Hermione, sounding shocked. "You can't possibly —" "Yeah, I can!" said Harry. "Stand back —" "Harry! Don't be stupid!" I shouted in protest, taking a step forward to stop him.

But before I reached him or he could say anything else, the door flew open again and there stood Hagrid, glowering down at him and looking, despite the flowery apron, positively alarming.

"I'm a teacher!" he roared at Harry. "A teacher, Potter! How dare yeh threaten ter break down my door!" "I'm sorry, sir" said Harry, emphasising the last word as he stowed his wand inside his robes. Hagrid looked stunned.

"Since when have yeh called me 'sir'?" "Since when have you called me 'Potter'?" "Oh, very clever," growled Hagrid. "Very amusin'. That's me outsmarted, innit? All righ', come in then, yeh ungrateful little..."

"Hi Hagrid, mind If we come in? Or do I have to-" I started cheerily, drawing my wand, he scoffed, "Don' you start an' all." Mumbling darkly, he stood back to let us pass. Hermione scurried in after Harry, looking rather frightened, Ron and I following after. "Well?" said Hagrid grumpily.

We sat down around his enormous wooden table, Fang laying his head immediately on my knee and drooling all over my robes as I scratched his ears, not that I minded that much, dopey dog.

"What's this? Feelin' sorry for me? Reckon I'm lonely or summat?" "No," said Harry at once. "We wanted to see you." "We've missed you!" said Hermione tremulously. "Missed me, have yeh?" snorted Hagrid. "Yeah. Righ'." He stomped around, brewing up tea in his enormous copper kettle, muttering all the while.

Finally he slammed down four bucket-sized mugs of mahogany-brown tea in front of us and a plate of his rock cakes, which I immediately dove for. "Hagrid," said Hermione timidly, "We really wanted to carry on with Care of Magical Creatures, you know." Hagrid gave another great snort.

"We did!" said Hermione. "But none of us could fit it into our schedules!" "Yeah. Righ'," said Hagrid again. "He did, din' he? An' he's the busiest of the lot of yeh" he pointed a hand towards me, "Hermione's schedule is worse then mine, and Harry and Ron have Quidditch, so I'd call it even" I shrugged through bites.

There was a funny squelching sound and we all looked around: only to find a large barrel standing in the corner that I had only just noticed. It was full of what looked like foot-long maggots, slimy, white, and writhing.

"Gross" I wrinkled my nose, suddenly less interested in my rock cakes "What are they, Hagrid?" asked Harry. "Jus' giant grubs," said Hagrid. "And they grow into...?" said Ron, looking apprehensive.

"They won' grow inter nuthin'," said Hagrid. "I got 'em ter feed ter Aragog." And without warning, he burst into tears. "Hagrid!" cried Hermione, leaping up, hurrying around the table. "What is it?" "It's...him..." gulped Hagrid, his beetle-black eyes streaming as he mopped his face with his apron.

"It's...Aragog...I think he's dyin'...He got ill over the summer an' he's not gettin' better...I don' know what I'll do if he...if he...We've bin tergether so long..." Hermione patted Hagrid's shoulder, looking at a complete loss for anything to say.

I grit my teeth, wanting to console him, "Hagrid, I could try to go in the forest and see if I can...heal him..." I offered, flinching and stuttering as Hagrid looked to me with his great watery eyes. He shook his head, "Not worth the risk"

"Is there — is there anything we can do?" Hermione asked. "I don' think there is, Hermione," choked Hagrid, attempting to stem the flood of his tears.

"See, the rest o' the tribe...Aragog's family...they're gettin' a bit funny now he's ill...bit restive..." "Yeah, I think we saw a bit of that side of them," said Ron in an undertone. I glared at him. "Not the time!" I mouthed.

"...I don' reckon it'd be safe fer anyone but me ter go near the colony at the mo'," Hagrid finished, blowing his nose hard on his apron and looking up. "But thanks fer offerin', (Y/N), Hermione...It means a lot."

After that, the atmosphere lightened considerably, Hagrid became his usual self once more. "Ar, I always knew yeh'd find it hard ter squeeze me inter yer timetables," he said gruffly, pouring them more tea.

"Even if yeh applied fer Time-Turners —" "We couldn't have done," said Hermione. "We smashed the entire stock of Ministry Time-Turners when we were there last summer. It was in the Daily Prophet." "Of all the things to smash, weirdly convenient" I scoffed.

"Ar, well then," said Hagrid. "There's no way yeh could've done it...I'm sorry I've bin — yeh know — I've jus' bin worried about Aragog...an I did wonder whether, if Professor Grubbly-Plank had bin teachin' yeh —"

I nodded understandingly, "Hey, don't worry, you've still got me, and we all know I'm the best one" I smirked, he rubbed some tears off his eyes and let out a hearty chuckle.

"I'm starving," said Harry, once the door had closed behind us and we were hurrying through the dark and deserted grounds "And I've got that detention with Snape tonight, I haven't got much time for dinner." I handed him my emergency chocolate frog, he took it happily.

As we came into the castle we spotted Cormac McLaggen entering the Great Hall. It took him two attempts to get through the doors; he ricocheted off the frame on the first attempt.

Ron merely guffawed gloatingly and strode off into the Hall after him, but Harry caught Hermione's arm and held her back. I stayed with them.

"What?" said Hermione defensively. "If you ask me," said Harry quietly, "McLaggen looks like he was Confunded this morning. And he was standing right in front of where you were sitting." Hermione blushed.

"Oh, all right then, I did it," she whispered immediately. "Wow Hermione, you should never become a criminal" I chuckled, she pouted a bit, "But you should have heard the way he was talking about Ron and Ginny!"

"Anyway, he's got a nasty temper, you saw how he reacted when he didn't get in — you wouldn't have wanted someone like that on the team." "That the only reason?" I enquired, she looked at me confused, "What?" I shook my head, "Nothing."

"No," said Harry. "No, I suppose that's true. But wasn't that dishonest, Hermione? I mean, you're a prefect, aren't you?" "Oh, be quiet," she snapped, as he smirked. "What are you lot doing?" demanded Ron, reappearing in the doorway to the Great Hall and looking suspicious.

"Plotting to kill you" I winked, patting him on the back and walking into the Hall with him. Hermione scurrying behind us, still looking at me oddly. I was just about to pull her aside to talk but Professor Slughorn appeared in front of us, blocking our path.

"Harry, Harry, just the man I was hoping to see!" he boomed genially, "I was hoping to catch you before dinner! What do you say to a spot of supper tonight in my rooms instead? We're having a little party, just a few rising stars," I scoffed. "Because that doesn't sound shifty at all."

He ignored me as he rambled on "I've got McLaggen coming and Zabini, the charming Melinda Bobbin — I don't know whether you know her? Her family owns a large chain of apothecaries — and, of course, I hope very much that Miss Granger will favour me by coming too." "And Mr. (L/N) to escort her of course..." he said as an afterthought.

It was as though Ron was not present; Slughorn did not so much as look at him. "I can't come, Professor," said Harry at once. "I've got a detention with Professor Snape." "Oh dear!" said Slughorn, his face falling comically.

"Dear, dear, I was counting on you, Harry! Well, now, I'll just have to have a word with Severus and explain the situation. I'm sure I'll be able to persuade him to postpone your detention. Yes, I'll see you all later!" He said cheerily. toddling off, "Sweet, fancy party, better dust off my dress robes."

"He's got no chance of persuading Snape," said Harry, the moment Slughorn was out of earshot. "This detention's already been postponed once; Snape did it for Dumbledore, but he won't do it for anyone else."

Hermione sighed, "Oh, I wish you could come" then she paused and squealed "I haven't got anything to wear!" she said anxiously. "Now Hermione, don't get my hopes up" I smirked, she frowned at me, I smiled at her.

"You'll look amazing in anything" I complimented, kissing her cheek, she blushed, "Oh shush" "Ginny'll probably be invited, ask her for something" snapped Ron, who did not seem to have taken kindly to being ignored by Slughorn.

"Are you and Ginny even the same dress si-" I started absentmindedly, stopping myself when I felt the murderous intent from both Hermione and Ron, "Nope, never mind, ignore me" I said, turning to Hermione, who did not looked pleased at the insinuation.

I panicked and nervously chuckled, "If the worst comes to the worst. You could borrow Ron's dress robes from the Yule Ball." I offered to lighten the mood, neither of them took kindly to that.

After dinner we made our way back to Gryffindor Tower. Ron, who had been in a bad mood ever since the encounter with Slughorn, folded his arms and frowned at the ceiling.

Hermione had opened the newspaper and was scanning the inside pages. "Oh, look, your dad's in here, Ron — he's all right!" she added quickly, for Ron had looked around in alarm.

"It just says he's been to visit the Malfoys' house. "- Arthur Weasley of the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects said that his team had been acting upon a confidential tip-off.-'"

"Yeah, mine!" said Harry. "I told him at Kings Cross about Malfoy and that thing he was trying to get Borgin to fix! Well, if it's not at their house, he must have brought whatever it is to Hogwarts with him —"

"But how can he have done, Harry?" said Hermione, putting down the newspaper with a surprised look. "We were all searched when we arrived, weren't we?"

"Were you?" said Harry, taken aback. "I wasn't!" "Oh no, of course you weren't, I forgot you were late. Well, Filch ran over all of us with Secrecy Sensors when we got into the entrance hall."

"Any Dark object would have been found, I know for a fact Crabbe had a shrunken head confiscated. So you see, Malfoy can't have brought in anything dangerous!" I smirked "Unless he resorted to the Muggle method and jammed it up his-" Hermione tutted at me.

Harry sighed, looking to me, I shrugged, not caring about his paranoia either way. He looked hopefully at Ron, who was sitting with his arms folded, staring over at Lavender Brown. "Can you think of any way Malfoy —?"

"Oh, drop it, Harry," said Ron. "Listen, it's not my fault Slughorn invited us to his stupid party, none of us wanted to go, you know!" said Harry, firing up. "Well, as I'm not invited to any parties," said Ron, getting to his feet again, "I think I'll go to bed."

He stomped off toward the door to the boys' dormitories, "Night Ron!" I bellowed after him. "I was going to invite him to be my plus one, but since he's a git, the offer is hereby rescinded." I pouted.