Hi, guys. I am back with another revised chapter. After about four months... Anyway!

Revised: October 11, 2021

GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST

Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches unknown.

Gringotts goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the same day.

"But we're not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if you know what's good for you," said a Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon.

Remembering the package that Hagrid had taken out, Harry wondered again why it was so important. Perhaps it wasn't important at all but Dumbledore let him believe it was. Or maybe it was personal.

Flying lessons began on Thursday with the Gryffindors. Most of the other students that had grown up in the magical world had some knowledge on being on a broom; Neville Longbottom was one of the few that did not and ended up having to be taken to the hospital wing after he had crashed onto the ground.

"Hey," Harry said, reaching down and grabbing a small sphere. "What's this?"

"That's Neville's Remembrall," Ron said.

"Oh, well, I'll give it to him later, then." Harry put the Remembrall in his pocket.

Neville was still in the hospital wing when Harry came in. "H-Harry Potter!" he exclaimed, sitting up so fast he jarred his injured wrist.

"Yeah, that's me." Harry raised his hands to calm him down. "No need to get so excited."

"Sorry, it's just — you're — I mean —"

"I know who I am," Harry said tiredly. "Anyway, you dropped your Remembrall." He removed it from his robes.

"Oh, thank you!" Neville took it, looking immensely relieved. "My gran would kill me if I lost it."

"Not literally, I hope," Harry tried to joke, but by Neville's expression he was probably only somewhat exaggerating. "You might want to put that away," Harry went on. "If it gets in the wrong hands..."

"Right. Thank you."

"No problem." Harry walked out, eager to eat.

As he approached the Great Hall, the twins Fred and George appeared.

"Hello, Harry!" said Fred, smiling.

"Hey." Harry grinned back. "Where are you two off to?"

"Lee Jordan reckons he's found a new secret passageway out of the school," George told him.

"Bet it's that one behind the statue of Gregory the Smarmy that we found in our first week," Fred added. He raised an eyebrow at Harry. "You won't tell anyone, will you?"

"Nope. Your secret's safe with me."

"Hmm..." Fred tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I think we can trust the little eagle, don't you think, George?"

"I think we can."

"Do you know why Ravenclaw's mascot is an eagle, anyway?" Harry asked. "It's called Ravenclaw."

The twins stared at him.

"This is why you're in Ravenclaw, Harry," Fred said after a long pause.

"And why we aren't," George added. "So bye!"

They took off, ignoring Harry's protests.

Harry slouched as they disappeared around the corner. So much for that. He continued on into the Great Hall, his mouth watering.

Unfortunately, fate was not on his side. As he was making his way to an empty seat, Harry caught sight of Ron and Draco.

"I'd take you on anytime on my own," Draco was saying. "Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only — no contact."

"Fine by me," Ron said. He caught Harry's eye. "Harry'll be my second."

"What?" Harry protested. He came here to eat, not do... whatever it was they had said — he hadn't been paying attention.

"You don't know what a wizard's duel, Potter?" said Draco.

"Not really, but I really don't care." Harry paused for a moment, thinking it over. It was clear that neither Ron nor Draco would be standing down anytime soon. "You know what? Fine. I'll be your second, Ron."

Ron's eyes lit up. "Great! And what about you, Malfoy?"

"Crabbe will be mine," Draco answered. "Midnight all right? We'll meet you in the trophy room; that's always unlocked."

When Draco had gone, Harry turned to Ron.

"You don't actually want to go, do you?" said Ron before Harry could speak.

Harry shut his mouth. He hadn't expected him to notice. "How'd you guess?"

"You agreed a bit quickly," Ron replied with a shrug. "But come on! It'll be great! You're a Ravenclaw, I bet you know a lot of spells!"

Well, Harry couldn't deny he had done a fair amount of reading ahead. And he couldn't deny he was curious to see a duel play out. "What if we get caught?"

Ron waved his concern away. "We won't. Just meet me outside the Gryffindor common room at half past eleven. We'll go from there. Okay?"

"Okay."

Surely it wouldn't turn out too horri —

Wrong. He was wrong. He was so dead wrong. And almost dead. Barely thirty minutes had passed before Mrs. Norris had come snooping around.

Harry managed to get back to the Ravenclaw Tower, gasped out the answer to the riddle, and raced inside.

Terry Boot, who must've awoken to use the bathroom, jumped as Harry all but launched himself inside the dorm. "Where have you been?"

"Doing something extremely Gryffindorish and un-Ravenclaw!" Harry gasped out, clutching his side.

Terry slowly blinked. "Okay... I'm gonna pretend I never saw you come in."

"Good idea." Harry climbed into bed and lay there, trying to get his breath back.

Two days later, after some thinking and researching unrelated things, he pulled Draco aside outside the Great Hall. "Next time you want to pick a fight with Ron, make sure I am not involved, okay?"

Draco looked slightly alarmed for a split second. "I thought you and Weasley were friends."

"He's all right, but no." Perhaps in another life.

"You never did respond to my offer," Draco reminded him.

Harry looked at him, realizing that he was right. "Have you thought about why I told you back at Madam Malkin's?"

Draco shrugged. "A little. Why?"

"Because I would like to have friends here," Harry said, "but not if they're arrogant and think they're better than everyone else."

Draco bristled, but Harry wasn't finished. "You look down on Muggle-borns. My mother was one, remember that, and to insult Muggle-borns means you're insulting her — and by extension, me. So do you promise to be more respectful?"

"I guess I can try."

It wasn't much, but Harry nodded. "Then I accept." He held out his hand and they shook.

Draco set off to do whatever it was he had planned for the day, and Harry headed off in the opposite direction.

"So it's true?"

Harry nearly leaped out of his skin. Whirling around, he saw Fred Weasley standing behind him. "Oi, you git! You startled me!"

"Sorry," said Fred. "So? Is it? Did you really see past the third-floor —"

"Not so loud!" Harry hissed, craning his neck to peer past Fred. No one was in sight, not even a ghost. "Yes," he said more softly.

"Wicked!" Fred grinned, eyes bright.

"No, it most certainly was not!" Harry shuddered. "There was this huge Cerberus!" He clamped his mouth shut, wondering if this was such a good idea. "If you and George go check it out, you will not blame me. Got it?"

He felt a bit stupid, staring up at Fred and waving a stern finger in his face, but Fred merely said, "All right. Your secret's safe with me."

Harry narrowed his eyes, then he slowly nodded. "It better be. Oh, hey, guess what?"

Fred looked at him expectantly.

"I think I have a theory on Ravenclaw's mascot being an eagle — besides them being known for their intelligence and whatnot. Eagle claws are very dark in color, like a raven's! Oh! Also, considering ravens are in the same family as crows, they don't have the best reputation, so that wouldn't do. I think..." he trailed off uncertainly as Fred blinked at him.

Then Fred's face broke into a wide grin. "Yep. Definitely a Ravenclaw." He ruffled up Harry's hair and was gone.

Harry grumbled under his breath. Thanks, Fred, he thought, though without any real malice.

He had half expected Fred to sneer at him or dismiss his idea, but he hadn't. Once, Uncle Vernon had seemed interested in what Harry had to say, but Harry knew he had been pretending. Fred, though, had actually looked impressed.

Feeling a little better, Harry started off again, deciding to see what else the library had to offer.

It's a theory I've seen and thought, 'Screw it, let it be a Frarry bonding moment.'