Standard disclaimer: JK Rowling created the characters and setting for this story. This was work is not being produced for commercial gain.
A.N. Well it seems the fashion nowadays to have an ideas file. Items placed in here will be response to challenges and half-formed ideas. My muse is currently suffering from adh-shiny what's that? The work in here is unlikely to be beta-ed. If you spot glaring errors pm me and I will make changes. If that's your bag, copy and paste the whole thing into a pm and edit if you want. If anything you read here inspires a reader to write a longer scene or tale feel free to take them away and adopt them. Although sending me a pm so I can read your work would be nice once you are done.
If any of these are tales are a response to a challenge I will post the challenge in the A.N. before the story so you can see how well I have done. So without further ado the first of these.
The last snowball before Hell.
Prompt challenge: Sixth year, trio snowball fight, last moment of fun before everything turns to hell.
Harry had been waiting for an opportunity since they had returned from Christmas to speak to Hermione, he knew she was annoyed with him over his continued use of the Prince's book. But while she was annoyed with him, her expression whenever he even mentioned Ron's name went flat with fury.
While he knew this wasn't the best of times, he knew he needed her as a sounding board for ideas. Everyone knew you didn't approach Hermione when she was in the library in a study blitz, as her fellow Gryffindor's referred to it.
His shadow reached her before he did. Blocked her light and making it hard for her to read, she glanced up in annoyance.
"What Harry?"
Harry paused slightly taken back at the hostility in Hermione's tone. "Um I want to, that is I need to ask you something."
Hermione looked up and met his eyes, she sighed in exasperation. "Fine but we can't be long, unlike some people I need to work at my potions. "
Harry bit his tongue and led Hermione though the castle and outside.
"Harry it's freezing out here, is this really necessary?"
He smiled slightly as he spoke. "Are you a witch or aren't you? Use a warming charm if you're cold."
They both smiled at the joke, then Harry saw the sadness return to Hermione's eyes.
"I need to make sure no one over hears us. If word gets back of what we are talking about."
Harry then told Hermione about Horcruxes and his mission off Dumbledore to get the true memory from Slughorn.
"Ron thinks I should just stay behind and ask him."
"When has Ron ever been wrong?" she kicked out at a snow bank.
"Hermione can't you -?"
"No." She said angrily. She turned to storm away, they both saw a lone figure trudging his way up the hill towards the castle. "Oh look there's Won-won now." She said bitterly. Picking up a handful of snow she threw it in his direction. The throw was hopelessly short and off target.
"You throw like a girl." Harry joked.
"In case it hasn't escaped your attention Harry, I am a girl." Hermione turned her anger on him. As she spoke, she turned her back on Ron.
Harry saw the snowball flying across the field. Unlike Hermione's this one flew straight and true. Harry watched it with a seekers eye. With a casual ease he stepped around Hermione and reached out to catch the snowball one handed. He was ready to curl his fingers around it but things didn't go to plan.
The ball hit his hand as he planned, then exploded. The snowball was not a hard compact as he had expected but was made with a light and feathery snow; Harry was surprised that it had stayed together in flight. He looked up from his palm to Ron whose eyes where wide with terror as he'd recognized just who he had thrown at.
Harry realised Ron was staring past him, to Hermione. With a growing horror, Harry slowly turned around to look at Hermione.
She had looked better, Harry might have blocked the main mass of the snowball but he had not stopped it. Hermione stood covered in snow, the flakes thick in her hair and clung to her eyebrows and lashes. Her eyes where currently closed, as she opened them Harry was expecting to see anger but she gave him the same look Crookshanks earned when he brought her another mouse trophy.
"Didn't think that one through did you Harry." Her voice was surprisingly light.
Harry couldn't stop himself as he was scolded by the abominable Hermione, he first sniggered then laughed.
She looked slightly injured for a second then with a swish and a flick of her wand a snow bank next to Harry launched itself at him.
The snow hit his neck and head, it found its way into his robes. He almost fell from the shock of the cold. He looked around him. Hermione was behind him, her eyes sparkled with mischief. Ron looked on the verge of immanent bladder collapse he was laughing so much. Harry's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Accio snowdrift." Harry summoned the snow bank behind Ron and watched as he was engulfed before cancelling the spell.
Ron came out from the snow spluttering and spitting. He starting grabbing up handfuls of snow and used his wand to banish them towards Harry and Hermione.
They moved away from each other so Ron didn't have such a large target to aim at. For once he looked to his friends and saw mischief in their eyes. Gone was the anger and hurt they had been holding on to. They were friends again. Once more they were eleven ready to face challenges, to get the stone. Friends ready to face anything.
Then they were twelve, two of them going off to see the spiders in the forest, the alliances of a snowball fight shift fast. Then they were 13, two rescuing Buckbeak.
Next Harry found himself fourteen and facing a dragon alone, then he had to rescue Ron from the merepeople closely followed by saving Hermione from the troll.
The three ran across the grounds, throwing snowballs, summoning and banishing as they went. Alliances shifting by the second. Harry was learning whenever he stood alone he fell but with a friend by his side he could face the world.
Their joy as they fought, their whoops and shouts did not go unnoticed. The first one to join the fight showed that the strongest form of courage is to stand and face you friends.
Neville was soon joined by two others and the ministry six stood and fought again, first against each other, then as a unit as more came to join the fight.
Word spread across the castle and more and more joined the fight. Harry was enjoying himself, throwing snow at random targets with a smile on his face and shout of joy in his mouth.
Ron stepping beside Harry, "We're going to be attacked in a minute. I saw Mariette and Cormac organising a group of seventh years."
From the battlements Dumbledore watched with a twinkle in his eye. He saw the group of seventh years pulled together by the two with a grudge against Hermione, organise themselves and attack. He frowned slightly but it became obvious the youngest male Weasley had warned Harry.
His twinkle returned when with a word or two and a gesture Harry suddenly had a well-trained force ready to answer his call. Madam Umbridge was right to fear Harry and his club. It truly was an army ready to be called upon. But it wasn't Albus's, that armies general fought with his troops and led from the front. He inspired and strengthened his people just by being there. Albus watch as Crabbe took advantage of the situation to through something that clearly wasn't snow at Harry head.
Colin Creevy without thought or hesitation stepping on front of it to save Harry. This Albus was convinced was the power 'he knew not' Tom ruled by fear or appealing to peoples self-interests, Harry though he knew it not inspired people love and loyalty.
Ginny called Harry's attention to Colin's fall and Crabbe's guilt. With a word Harry turned and with Ron to his left and Hermione to his right. They taught Crabbe a lesson that even he would have a hard time forgetting.
Albus made a note to himself to have a word with Harry about mercy mixed with power, but he had seen enough for the day. The seventh years had been repelled; justice having been done, the fight returned to a grand melee once again.
Harry slumped behind a hastily built snow wall and tried to get feeling to return to his hands. Hermione was next to him a moment later.
"As much fun as this is, I do need to finish that essay."
"I know what you mean, Harry agreed "I'm ready to call it a day before I get frostbite."
"I got my chess set up in front of the fire in the common room. Shall we go then?" Ron had appeared at his other shoulder.
"Not quite yet." Said Harry, before calling out "Neville."
A moment later Neville stood before him, flanked by Luna and Ginny.
"Nev mate, I'm calling it a day while I can still feel my hands. If anything happens like Crabbe again. You're in charge."
Neville swallowed nervously. "Me Harry, why?"
"Because I trust you mate. It'll be good for you too. You never know when you might need the experience."
"I won't let you down Harry."
"I know you won't Nev." Without another word Harry got to his feet and headed up to the castle with his two best friends beside him. He didn't notice as Neville organised the D.A. so that their journey back through the fight was without incident. All he knew was that with his friends beside him he could face anything.