Narrator's POV

A few weeks later, Harry decided to go home with Neville for the break, but he would stay with Draco during Summer.

Once off the Hogwarts Express and onto Platform 9 3/4 Harry followed Neville to where Bellatrix, Rodolphus, and Rabastan LeStrange were waiting.

Once she saw her son, Bella happily rushed to her twelve-year-old and peppered his face in kisses.

"I missed you, Nevie-Wevie." Bella cooed, pulling Neville into a hug

Neville blushed, "You're embarrassing me, mum."

Bella frowned and let him go and faced Harry, "Harrykins! How are you?"

"Fine, thank you." Harry replied, the woman pulling him into a hug

***

The travel to LeStrange Manor was short.

Once they finished apparating, Harry and the four LeStranges where in front of LeStrange Manor.

Neville offered to take Harry on a tour of the manor and Harry accepted.

Neville showed him through the twists and turns of the hallways, showing him room after room, and eventually they made it outside.

Outside they found a giant greenhouse.

Once inside the greenhouse, Neville led Harry down rows and rows of plants —some magical, others not.

Several house-elf tended to the plants, and in the center of the greenhouse there was the prize of Neville's collection: Hades, the Venus Flytrap.

"You really like plants don't you, Nev?" Harry asked, astonished

***

Days passed, and it was Yuletide morning.

Neville and Harry ran to where they knew the elder LeStranges would be waiting.

The boys quickly got to work opening their piles of gifts.

Harry began to open his gifts: a collection of books about life in the Wizarding Etiquette from Hermione; tarot cards from Luna; a new cauldron from Draco; a blank black journal from Theo; a Bulgaria Qudditch jersey from Pansy; Qudditch broom repair supplies from Louis; a pocket watch that was charmed to ring at whatever times he set it to from Victoria; and the rest of the Slytherins sent him a variety of different candies.

***

Later that day, the quartet made their way to Malfoy Manor where the Yule Ball was always held.

Once there, the group of friends met up in the corner like always.

Soon enough the ball began.

The group of nine and Cedric Diggory —Victoria's soulmate— talked and laughed as Dumbledore and the Hogwarts staff arrived, the Weasleys following behind.

The Weasley patriarch, matriarch, Ginny, and Ron stayed close to Dumbledore while the other children drifted away.

Harry smiled, from what he'd heard, Ron's siblings —save Ginny— didn't like their brother all that much.

"Time to get some allies." Harry thought to himself

He already had Cedric —a Fifth Year— as a friend in Hufflepuff, so an ally in Gryffindor would be helpful.

Harry politely excused himself from his friends and walked up to Charlie Weasley.

"Hello, Charlie." Harry greeted

"Uhh, hi. Who are you?" Charlie asked

"My name is Harry Potter." Harry answered the Gryffindor Seventh Year

"You're Slytherin, right?" Charlie muttered

"Yes." Harry replied, causing Charlie's smile to waver "Slytherins aren't evil."

"I know." Charlie replied "You're the one who made my brother lose all those points, right?"

"Yes. Well, actually, he started it, I merely finished it." Harry replied

"Either way, thanks for letting him know the world doesn't revolve around him." Charlie chuckled

"The pleasure was all mine." Harry laughed

"I think this is the start of a great friendship, Harry." Charlie added

"I believe so." Harry replied "I heard you like dragons?"

"Yeah, after I graduate I'm heading to Romania to be a Dragon Tamer." Charlie answered

"That sounds amazing." Harry replied

After a few minutes, Harry excused himself from Charlie and found Bill.

"Hello there, Bill." Harry greeted

"Hi." Bill replied "You're Harry Potter, right?"

"Yes I am." Harry answered "I heard you work for Gringotts, is it true?"

"Yeah, I'm a Curse-Breaker." Bill answered "What about it?"

"Well, since I'm fairly new to the Wizarding World, I don't know much about the bank, so I was wondering if you could tell me?" Harry asked

"Well, as I Curse-Breaker I get to go around removing curses from ancient tombs or historical sites to take back to Gringotts." Bill answered

"That's sounds like really interesting." Harry commented

"It is. It's hard work but it's worth it." Bill replied

They talked for a few more minutes before Harry excused himself and found Percy and made friends with him as well as the twins.

***

Tom Marvolo Riddle, aka Lord Voldemort and who was currently possessing Gilderoy Lockhart, never took his eyes off his Harry.

Why was his darling talking with the Weasleys?

If the Weasley girl was here so was his diary horcrux.

Tom laughed quietly: Lord Voldemort, Dumbledore, and two horcruxes are in a ballroom; starts like the beginning of a bad joke.

He hoped Harry knew what he was doing.

***

The diary horcrux of Tom Riddle, who was possessing the body of Ginny Weasley, smirked as he-she watched Harry.

Ginny had been trying to force herself back in control of her own body, but was failing.

Luckily, she was unsoulmated so no one would notice the slight changes in her behavior since the horcrux was in control.

This was going to be good...