80 Four months

"How do you know this?" asked Harry with a frustrated look.

"Well I was with Hagrid at Azkaban for a week, with the main reason being both of us being suspects of being the heir. He told me about this about the third day we were there."

"So this book is basically a fraud?"

"Yep, however it is intriguing how a diary can show you a memory from fifty years ago. Also the fact that the diary somehow appeared the moment we needed more information..."

"So what should we do with it?"

"Well we can hand it in to the teachers and explain everything."

"Won't we get in trouble?" Asked Ron.

"Stop being stupid. Why would they punish us for turning in a suspicious object. It's a very logical thing to do even if it turns out to be useless."

"You're right!"

"I know."

Harry hesitated.

"I...I think I want to hold onto the dairy for a little longer."

Seeing the look on Arth's face, Harry quickly defended himself.

"-But the moment another attack happens, I'll turn it in."

Arth sighed and gave Harry a tired look before finally replying.

"...Fine."

Four months had passed since Justin and Nearly Headless Nick had been Petrified, and nearly everybody seemed to think that the attacker, whoever it was, had retired for good.

During March, several of the Mandrakes threw a loud and raucous party in greenhouse three. This made Professor Sprout very happy.

"The moment they start trying to move into each other's pots, we'll know they're fully mature," she told Harry. "Then we'll be able to revive those poor people in the hospital wing."

The second years were given something new to think about during their Easter holidays. The time had come to choose their subjects for the third year, a matter that Hermione, at least, took very seriously.

"...it could affect our whole future," she told Arth, Harry and Ron as they pored over lists of new subjects, marking them with checks.

"I just want to give up Potions," said Harry.

"We can't," said Ron gloomily. "We keep all our old subjects, or I'd've ditched Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"But that's very important!" said Hermione, shocked.

"Not the way Lockhart teaches it," said Ron. "I haven't learned anything from him except not to set pixies loose."

Arth rolled his eyes.

"You got a point there however I think it's still an important class to take."

"You think that Lockhart can teach?"

"I think that it's the class that matters, not the teacher. Plus I'm hoping for him to get sacked and leave so we can have a better teacher next year."

Neville Longbottom had been sent letters from all the witches and wizards in his family, all giving him different advice on what to choose. Confused and worried, he sat reading the subject lists with his tongue poking out, asking people whether they thought Arithmancy sounded more difficult than the study of Ancient Runes.

Arth shared his view.

"I think Ancient Runes is better for you... I mean it's pretty easy, I've already learned some of it on my own. Since Arithmancy is more number related, I don't think you'll like it."

Dean Thomas ended up closing his eyes and jabbing his wand at the list, then picking the subjects it landed on.

Hermione was stressing out on what to choose as she sat in one of the chairs and muttered to herself.

After ten minutes of her almost indecipherable muttering, Arth gave some advice.

"Just sign up for everything if you want Hermione. That's what I'm going to do."

Hermione then immediately decided to sign up for everything.

Gryffindor's next Quidditch match would be against Hufflepuff. Wood was insisting on team practices every night after dinner, so Harry had almost no free time whatsoever.

One evening, Harry came into the dormitory looking as if he saw a ghost.

Arth looked up from playing chess with Ron lazily and raised an eyebrow at Harry.

"What is it Harry?"

"The diary. It's missing."

Arth frowned and got up.

"Surely you didn't lose it?"

"I didn't, I put it in my bag while I was in quidditch practice and the next moment, it was gone."

Arth frowned.

"Someone must've taken it."

"But who?"

"I dunno. Probably the one who brought it to school in the first place."

Harry glances at the floor with guilt.

"I should have listened to you and turned it in."

Arth patted Harry on the shoulder and gave a reassuring smile.

"It's ok Harry. That diary was full of false accusations anyway. It's no big deal."

"Is that what you really think?"

"Of course not. What do I say every time. Listen to what I say for god damnit."