Secrets, Lies and the Daily Prophet (Alt. Fifth Year Fic)

Chapter Eleven: The Power of Hair

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Professor Figg gave Harry a bittersweet smile. "Well, our mission is to protect you. Part of that is to make sure you are as aware as possible of every type of attack or deception to expect. You've seen how Polyjuice Potion can transform someone."

Harry thought of not only Bartemius Crouch, Jr. who had masqueraded as "Mad-Eye" Moody last year, but his own experience of becoming Goyle in his second year. He nodded towards Professor Figg.

"Harry you need to be very cautious – almost to the point of being paranoid. You need to collect all of your loose hair and your nail clippings to be make sure that no one can get them. That means every morning you'll need to use your wand on your bed linens, comb, brush and bathroom drain to collect all your lost hair and then destroy it."

Harry blinked and his eyes grew wide at that.

"But only Gryffindors would be able to..."

Professor Figg smiled again. "Do you think it's impossible for Voldemort to enlist Gryffindors or to get someone to impersonate a Gryffindor to get at you?"

He shook his head.

"We'll also have to tell your closest friends about protecting their hair that closely. I'll be talking about this in my classes, but probably not emphasize it as strongly with everyone as I am with you. I daresay that by the end of the year we may see many of the students sporting long hair styles – similar to our beloved headmaster."

Harry thought of Bill Weasley's long hair being held in a ponytail and then understood why he hadn't had a hair cut in years. Bill's working in Egypt for Gringotts as a curse breaker would know that his hair could be used for magic against him, if he wasn't careful.

Professor Figg looked appraisingly at Harry and placed her hand under his chin. She turned his head from side to side.

"I reckon you'll need to start shaving soon. You'll have to save that hair as well." She gave a small smile, "I wouldn't recommend you trying to avoid shaving. It takes several years for facial hair to grow in evenly and unless you want to have mangy peach fuzz all over your face..."

Sirius chimed in, "And believe me, girls don't go for the mangy look."

Harry felt his cheeks burn leading Sirius to roar with laughter, which made Harry feel even more embarrassed. Sirius then looked at Harry carefully.

"You haven't been holding out on me, have you? Do you have a girlfriend?"

Harry quickly shook his head and started staring at the floor. He wanted desperately to have the topic changed.

Sirius then quietly asked, "Harry are you interested in anyone at school?"

Harry thought of Cho and his heart ached. "Maybe," he croaked.

"Harry, it's not a crime for you to care for a girl. It's normal and frankly it's healthy to want to love someone and to be loved back. I'd be surprised if you didn't take a shine to someone. However, what we have to worry about is having anyone you care about becoming targets for Voldemort."

Harry sighed. He thought it was incredibly difficult to summon the courage to ask Cho to the Yule Ball. Now Sirius and Professor Figg were telling him that he needed to tell her to collect her loose hair because Death Eaters might target her. And it was all because he thought she was cute. That'll be oh so much easier to talk to her about, Harry thought.