Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter. I only wish I could say the same. Please don't sue me. Thank you. In particular, anything you recognise is most possibly an extract from the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Long Summary: After the fall of Voldemort, twenty-three year old Harry Potter is gearing up for some major downtime. However, being Fate's favourite toy, things rarely go as planned. And so, instead of finding himself relaxing on the beaches of wherever, he's trying his best to fade into the background, in another dimension and eleven. Oh, woe is him. And to complicate things, Neville is the Boy-Who-Lived, Voldemort is alive and laying low (but not for long) and his counterpart is a spoilt brat that even his parents cannot control. While content at first to just sit in the background, Harry soon finds himself getting ready for war once more. Why? Read and find out!
Warnings: Slight slashy undertones, warnings of the usual unbetadness, screwed up personalities, characters with PMS and MPD (possibly at the same time), tooth-decaying clichés, OOC characters out of character of their OOCness but still not in character (I'm not particularly good at being consistent...) and finally plotholes the size of Uranus (yes, I'm lame like that... live with it :P) and anime-esqueness (because I seriously watch too much of it...)
Also emphasis on warning of occasional blatant self-insertion (though it's usually only a line or so long). I've had a few complaints about this but I'm sorry to say that this stuff is going to stay. Mainly because I'm writing this fic as more of a gag-story (kind of like my parody one) so I'm not really taking myself seriously and it's just the weird way I tend to write when I don't take myself seriously... Sorry if that offends anyone o_O haha...
Note 1. Many loving thanks and kisses and flowers and chocolates and teddy bears and Sony PS3s and IPods and Plasma TVs to my wonderful reviewers! :D (...what's with the strange looks? Did I say something weird again?)
Note 2. Sorry about the delay peeps... My laptop totally busted on me taking my notes with it D: (which led to much moping around the house in a depressed fashion) Thankfully, I had a backup copy but it was pretty outdated so there's still a lot of stuff that I've forgotten...
Note 3. Which brings me to my next point... Snape T_T what the hell do I do with him again? D: Omg, he's never going to make an appearance at this rate...
Note 4. BTW, gasp! Is that a hint of plot I see in the horizon? Shock horror!
Note 5. More craziness... Introducing a new but familiar face and GOD, am I on drugs...? Oh, well, remember! None of this is supposed to make sense anyway! XD
Note 6. To make up for the abysmally short previous chapter, this one is 6554 words which is almost twice as much :D
Fate's Favourite Toy
Chapter 6.
Harry easily noted the scrape of a chair to his left and the sound of someone sliding into it but didn't look up from his Potions homework. "Hey, Cedric," he mumbled in greeting instead, knowing it was the blonde because the Gryffindor fourth years had Transfiguration. His brow furrowed slightly as he carefully recounted the properties of the Leucanthemum and its uses in potions from the top of his head, the soft scratches of his quill almost echoing in the quiet of the library.
And it was only minutes later did he realise the wrongness of that statement: Cedric had not said a single word.
Warily, Harry raised his emerald eyes to peek at his silent friend. "Er..." he began uncertainly, "Cedric... are you alright?"
The blonde before him sat stock-still, face startling pale, eyes unblinking focus straight ahead with his hands fisted tightly in front of him. At the sound of Harry's voice, Cedric's head turned slowly towards him, the rest of his body remaining strangely still. They stared at each for a moment before the blonde's mouth finally fell open... but no sound came out.
Harry gulped slightly as the older Hufflepuff continued to stare at him, mouth hanging wide open and as pale as a ghost. To be honest, he was a little creeped out...
Cedric's mouth twitched and soft sound came out, so soft that Harry would have missed it if he library hadn't be as quiet as it was. Giving the blonde one last critical look (to check for any signs of something potentially contagious), Harry leaned in closer, "Say that again...?"
A huff of warm air hit his cheek as Cedric's mouth twitched again and this time, the first year was close enough to catch what the blonde was trying to say:
"Help me..."
Emerald eyes blinked slowly as Harry processed that silent plea, "Um... Sure... What do you need help with?" he asked, leaning back into his chair.
This time Cedric's hand twitch and Harry realised there was a piece of paper poking out of one of the blonde's fists. Gently pulling it out the other's grip so as to not to tear it, Harry brought it closer to himself, smoothing out the crinkled bit of paper with his right hand. He grimaced when he realised what it was. Truthfully, he'd been trying to forget it; The Yule Ball.
But... that still didn't explain the expression on Cedric's face. Harry glanced up, jumping back in surprise when he realised how close the blonde had gotten but before he could retreat to a safe distance from the clearly unstable Hufflepuff, two hands clamp onto his arms just below his shoulders and pulled him closer.
"Help me..." Cedric rasped.
Harry looked around nervously, wishing there was someone to help him too, "Um..."
"Help me..." Cedric repeated in a louder voice as he started to shake the first year, "You've got to help me, Harry!" he cried desperately, shaking Harry a bit more before he practically buried his head in Harry's shirt with a muffled sob.
Harry awkwardly patted him on the back (well, it was more Cedric's side as the top half of Harry's arms were being held captive by the distraught Hufflepuff), "Cedric, I'll help in anyway I can but you need to tell me what the problem is..."
Silence.
"...what if he says no?" the blonde mumbled into Harry's shirt.
Harry blinked in confusion, "...what?"
"What if Orion says no?!" he started to shake Harry again.
The raven-haired teen groaned inwardly, that was all this was about?! He was worried Orion wouldn't want to go to the Ball with him?!
"What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?" Cedric shook Harry some more.
Harry gave his friend a dry look and wondered if Voldemort had actually done the world a favour when he had offed Diggory in his world.
But before Harry could contemplate inflicting some violence himself, a familiar but unwelcome voice spoke up, "God, Diggory, and you were chosen to be our Champion? What does that make the rest of the sixth years? Flobberworms?" said one Draco Malfoy who had made a miraculous recovery so the author could mess with Harry some more. (She didn't even try to cover that up! Harry thought incredulously.)
Back in reality, "Malfoy," Harry scolded, though he didn't expect the blonde to back down.
So it was to his amazement when Draco sighed, sneer slipping off his face as he flopped gracefully into the chair on the other side of Harry, opposite the despondent Cedric Diggory.
"The things I do for you..." the blonde actually pouted, chin resting on one hand as he leant forward on the table, towards Harry. "And not a single thank you."
The first year eyed the Slytherin warily (Are those tears in his eyes? Harry thought disbelievingly), tilting away from him as far as possible without falling off his chair, "Er... Thank you...?" Harry smiled weakly, what the hell was wrong with this Malfoy?!
And to his further bafflement, Draco's face lit up like a Christmas tree, "Anything for you, fufufu~" he chuckled. Harry shivered; and what the hell was with that 'laugh'?!
Malfoy smiled, "Ah~ So cute..." And then suddenly the blonde's face was very, very close, "I could just eat you up right here..." he whispered. Harry blanched.
It was then Cedric finally snapped out of his Orion-induced-depression, knocked out of his daze by his internal Harry-in-trouble alarm. He lifted his head off the table and looked around in confusion, having blocked out the outside world for the past five minutes as he was want to do in matters concerning a certain black-haired Gryffindor.
"Malfoy? When did you get here?"
The younger blonde froze, mere centimetres from Harry's face, glanced at the naïve Hufflepuff in annoyance before slowing drawing back into his seat with a loud huff.
I take back everything I've thought or said! Harry shouted mentally, Long live, Cedric Diggory!
The aforementioned blonde looked utterly confused at the starry-eyed, hero-worshipper gaze his friend was suddenly giving him (though it undeniably pleased him as well) as he wondered what he had done. And seeing as Harry was otherwise occupied, Cedric could only turn to Malfoy for an answer.
The Slytherin gave him an Arctic smile.
Or maybe not.
"So, uh..." Cedric said nervously, racking his brain for something to talk about, "You going to the Yule Ball, Malfoy?"
This time the Slytherin gave him a "Are you stupid?" look.
"Ah, right, of course you are," Cedric coughed, "You have someone in mind yet?"
A nod.
"Parkinson?"
Draco gave him a disgruntled look, "That's disgusting. She's like my sister."
Harry looked at him in surprise; but in his world...
"Greengrass?" Cedric hazarded another guess.
An eye-roll in response.
Harry's brow furrowed in confusion, "So who are you taking?" he finally blurted out, his blasted curiosity getting the better of him.
And, of course, he immediately regretted it when Malfoy actually leered at him and said, "Why, you of course!"
"WHAT?!"
-
"The Yule Ball is approaching," said Professor McGonagall when she got her class' full attention, "A traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament, it is an opportunity for us to socialise with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open only to fourth-years and above although you may invite a younger student if you wish..."
The transfiguration continued to talk, for once seemingly tolerating the increasing volume of whispers and giggling from the girls, but Neville didn't register any of that.
No, his attention was firmly planting on the dark spot engraved into his wooden desk.
Unfortunately, he couldn't block sensation of Hermione's eyes boring into the side of his head as soon as the woman had uttered the words "younger student."
The bell rang and Neville thanked the stars as he haphazardly flung his belongings into his bag, throwing it over his shoulder as he made to bolt out the door before Hermione got a chance to corner him.
But, alas, this was not to be so.
"Longbottom," Professor McGonagall called above the noise, "A word if you please."
Neville cursed mentally as he shuffled forward begrudgingly. He risked a glance at the only door out of the room. Hermione's unholy eyes glinted back at him. Neville shivered.
"Longbottom, the champions and their partners-"
"Partners?" Neville squeaked. There was no way out of this way there...?
Professor McGonagall looked at him a little worried. Neville supposed he must've seemed very pale all of a sudden.
"Your partners for the Yule Ball, Longbottom," she said slowly, "Your dance partners."
A hand shot out from behind him and clamped tightly onto his shoulder, willing him to be silent. Neville could feel cold sweat clinging to the back of his neck; what had he done to deserve this...?
"Professor," Hermione began in a deceptively sweet and respectful tone, "Neville already has someone in mind. Harken Skywalker."
Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow, "If you wish to invite a male friend from a younger year, might I suggest you invite him yourself, Miss Granger?"
"Oh, no!" Hermione shook her head, looking a picture of angelic innocence... "You see, Neville really likes him. A lot." ...while actually being the very embodiment of evil itself.
Professor McGonagall's composure actually broke a little as she blinked at them in surprise, "Oh? I hadn't realised, Longbottom, that you..." the Transfiguration professor actually seemed lost for words, trailing off uncertainly.
"It's a recent development," Hermione piped in happily when it became obvious she wasn't going to finish her sentence.
"I see... Well," Professor McGonagall regained her composure, "If that is the case, then I see no reason to disagree. Homosexuality, of course, happens to be conveniently widely accepted in the wizarding world and there are no rules that suggest you cannot bring a partner of the same sex. Either way, you are to open the Ball with your partner as per tradition. Do not be late," she finished with a stern look in Neville's direction.
However, the brunette was far to traumatised to respond, Why...he thought to himself with building disbelief, why the hell are we discussing my sexual orientation with McGonagall?! WHYYYYYY?!
So Hermione did it for him with a gleeful smile, "Understood, Professor."
-
Two days later and Neville wasn't any closer to asking Harken to the Ball than to begin with. It wasn't that Neville didn't want ask Harken – no, actually he rather liked the idea dancing with the small Hufflepuff and... holding hands... (Neville's face reddened) But wanting and actually working up the nerve to ask the younger male were two completely different things. In that way, he supposed he was grateful for Hermione's silent support... as terrifying and nerve-wrecking as it could be at times.
However, there was one other obstacle that both he and Hermione had somehow completely overlooked...
The six of them (Harry, Neville, Orion, Cedric, Hermione and a reluctant Ron) were currently studying together in the library as they had come to do often in the past few months. Hermione had dragged Ron off into the maze of books a while ago to help her search for some books and was not expected to be back any time soon when one factored in Hermione and her love of books. Orion had disappeared into a different part of the library shortly after them and moments later Cedric had followed under the pretence of "working out the Triwizard Clue." The remaining two would have given him the benefit of the doubt if he hadn't cast them furtive looks and rushed off in Orion's direction, neck already reddening.
In any case, that left our dashing hero and his prospective partner... all alone. -wink- -wink-
Neville glanced at the Hufflepuff to his right, scribbling away on his parchment. As if sensing his gaze, the quill paused and emerald eyes turned to stare back at him. Harry smiled at him.
Neville smiled back happily, mind becoming entirely blank of whatever it was he was going to say.
"So, how are you going with that egg clue?" Harry spoke.
Neville blinked, breaking out of his daze, "Huh? ...oh! Yes, it's going... really good. I think I've got a pretty good idea what it is," he lied. His insides gave a bit of a guilty squirm. He didn't want to seem like an idiot... plus anyway, he had plenty of time to figure it out.
"Have you really?" Harry looked impressed and Neville's insides gave a happy squirm this time, "Well done!"
Neville smiled widely at the praise. This is my chance! He thought, This would be best time to ask him to the Ball! He edged his chair closer to Harry's.
"Harry, about the Ball..."
Emerald eyes sparkled up at him curiously.
"Would you-" Neville froze.
All of a sudden, it felt like something was stabbing him the side of the head. Turning slightly, he couldn't help but gulp slightly at the look on Orion Black's face. The black-haired Gryffindor's cold blue eyes glared at him, narrowing in warning at the distance between Neville and Harry.
Neville gulped again and edged his chair back... Okay, maybe not the right time after all...
Thankfully, if the pleased look on Orion's face was anything to go by, Neville had moved back to a suitable distance and was no longer in danger of being mauled by an over-protective mother- er... sibling-figure.
Cedric, seemingly completely oblivious to all this, plopped into the chair opposite the other two. And if the frustrated look on his face was anything to go by, he hadn't worked up the courage to ask Orion either.
And Harry, equally oblivious, went back to his parchment...
Or was he...?
Harry glared down at his parchment. He'd been deliberating asking Neville to the Ball for a while now. He'd eventually given into the fact that some part of him did want to ask the older boy but knew that realistically, the chances of getting a positive reply was low.
He recalled that curly-haired third-year Hufflepuff girl who had asked the tall brunette the day after the announcement. Neville had immediately said 'no' before he'd even stopped to consider the matter, leaving the girl to walk off looking rather hurt. The rest of the boys had teased the brunette for the rest of the day but Harry had wondered if a cute girl like that was rejected so quickly, what chance did he have? Not that Harry wanted Neville to have accepted that invitation but still... Maybe the brunette wanted to ask Cho Chang like he had in his fourth year...?
Harry shook his head vigorously; what the hell was he thinking? Since when had he fallen so low that he was left with only the realm of teenage angst? That wasn't like him at all! He was Gryffindor, damn it! (...ok, he was Hufflepuff now, but he used to be a Gryffindor and that's what counts!)
Work hard, Harry! His inner!Gryffindor said with an emphatic thumbs up, You can do it!
It was time to take action!
"The Ball's in a couple of days, isn't it?"
Silent nods of affirmation.
Harry heaved an exaggerated sigh and turned his big, gorgeous, green eyes on Neville, "I really wish I could go too," he said, finishing with a cute pout.
The brunette took that all in full-blast, eyes fuzzy as he was knocked into a daze.
Ask me, ask me, ask me, ask me, Harry thought over and over again as he tried to mentally hammer it into Neville's head while he was in only a semi-conscious.
Neville's eyes suddenly cleared, this time brimming with Gryffindor CourageTM as he once again edged closer.
It worked! Harry thought as he cackled maniacally.
"I'll take you," Orion suddenly spoke up.
...unfortunately, Neville had taken too long.
"NOOOOOOOOOO...!!!" Cedric screamed, hands fisted in his hair as he jumped out of his seat horrified.
Everyone in the library turned to stare at him.
"Sorry..." Cedric squeaked as he sheepishly lowered himself back into his chair. "Noooooo..." he repeated in a much softer voice but with the same amount of desperation.
"You're not serious, are you?" the blonde asked Orion hesitantly.
Harry vigorously stamped down the urge to say, "No, that's his father." Now was not the time for lame jokes.
"Well, why not?" Orion challenged, raising a single elegant eyebrow at the sixth year.
Cedric's face reddened as he opened and closed his mouth several times, not once did sound come out. Eventually, finding he response he could give, Cedric turned pleading eyes on Harry. Help me...
Harry rolled his eyes, "Because Cedric wants you to go to the Ball with him," he dead-panned.
So blunt and honest! The three older students stared at him wide-eyed.
"So, anyway, since those two are going together, who are you going with Neville?" Harry asked.
Don't make a decision like that so easily for us! Orion and Cedric thought incredulously. Though, to the blonde's great relief and eternal happiness, Orion made no move to refute it.
I'm going the Ball with Orion... Orion's going with me to the Ball!
YES!!!Cedric cried mentally as a colossal mountain burst up from beneath him, his eyes sparkling as he proudly stuck the Hufflepuff banner on its peak.
Back in reality, "H-hey...! Stop t-that!" Orion grumbled in embarrassment as he tried to pry off the Hufflepuff that had glomped him, "What are you doing...?!" he hissed when Cedric started to endearingly rub his cheek against Orion's shoulder with a blissful look on his face.
"Um..." Neville decided that perhaps the best course of action was to ignore them (it wasn't like Cedric was doing anything... illegal, nor was Orion's attempts to free himself anything more than half-hearted). "I haven't actually asked anyone yet..." he answered Harry instead.
"You know..." Neville gulped as he edged even closer to Harry, I can do this! This was his chance, what with Orion suitably distracted.
Harry waited patiently: ask me, ask me, ask me, ask me...
Neville did a very good impression of freaked-out!Cedric.
Harry sighed. Couldn't the author have made the males in this fanfic a little less shy...? ("What about Malf-?" Retse began but Harry was quick to cut her off, "I don't even know where to begin with what's wrong with that guy!" he shouted)
Looks like I have no choice but to use Plan B, Harry thought sombrely. It went against all his morals (and could backfire in a horrible, soul-sucking fashion) but he had no other option.
"I guess I should go with Malfoy after all."
Neville's eyes bulged, "W-what?"
"Well, he asked me to go with him a couple days ago but I didn't have a chance to say either yes or no to him yet," Probably because I sucker-punched the creep and sent him back to the Hospital Wing but Neville doesn't need to know that... "I'm not allowed to go without an older student so I guess I'll go with him since the Ball sounds amazing..." That last bit... total lie but who's counting?
"Malfoy?" Neville echoed weakly, "Are you sure you want to go with... him?"
"Why not?" Harry queried cutely, forcing out an aura of naivety and innocence.
It was then four powerful emotions made themselves known to the fourth-year Gryffindor, charging at him with all the subtlety of a herd of stampeding elephants.
First there was Protectiveness. Neville wouldn't put it past the Slytherin pervert take advantage of the innocent, little Hufflepuff in exchange for taking him to the Yule Ball.
Next there was Anger. It was just the sort of thing that Slytherin bastard would try to do, wasn't it? Trying to steal the affections of what was his.
This was followed by a bout of Jealously. His Harry, HIS!
And finally, Confusion. W-wait, wait, wait...! Since when had Harry become his?!
"No! You can go with me!" Neville finally blurted out.
"Okay~!" Harry beamed happily.
Neville blinked; that was easy...[???]
Plan B: Success!
-
Christmas Day had come and gone, the group of six splitting early on in preparation for the coming night event.
Harry smoothed down his dress robes softly as he gazed at himself through the mirror. Fate had whisked the dark-green dress robes into his trunk a week earlier during the night, complete with instructions. They were modest-looking, nothing too flashy, and truth be told, Harry was just grateful they weren't covered in frills of any sort. It did however have a large, frumpy green bow instead of the basic bow-tie but he decided to let it go, knowing the smallest slight could set Fate off. His black hair, slightly longer than usual, was tied back in a small pony-tail by a single green ribbon. To Harry's disgruntlement, he looked more feminine than usual but at least he didn't need to wear a skirt. (Truthfully, the author hadn't thought of that until much later and was too lazy to change it though if enough people want it, she'd be happy to rewrite this scene with cross-dressing!Harry...)
"Looking good, Skywalker!" One of his room-mates complimented.
"Er... Thanks," Harry smiled, "You too." He glanced at the clock, Good, still plenty of time... With a purpose in mind, he left the room and headed up the stairs towards the sixth years dorm.
No sooner had he reached that platform, a head popped out from inside and beckoned him forward, Harry recognising him as one of Cedric's year-mates. "Thank Circe, you're here! Maybe you can talk some sense into that guy..." The teen laughed, shaking his head in fond exasperation before turning his head to speak to the people inside, "Hey, guys! Skywalker's here!"
Harry's mouth quirked slightly in wry amusement at the small cheer that seemed to result from the announcement. Three other males joined the one at the door and left down the stairs, each with a pat on his shoulder and a loud "Good luck!"
Harry peeked inside and, not to his surprise, the room looked like a tornado had gone through it, clothes strewn everywhere and a half-dressed, twitching Cedric Diggory right in the middle. He sighed as he loosened his tie slightly, stomping into the room with the intent of setting the blonde straight.
Half an hour later, one Cedric Diggory was looking the floor, properly chastised of his previous behaviour. The room now had every semblance of cleanliness and the blonde had been properly dressed in his well fit dress robes of a very dark and golden shade of yellow.
"Sit," Harry ordered and Cedric was quick to comply, somehow only just learning of his resemblance to his so-called arch-nemesis, Madam Pomphrey. The smaller boy wrapped a slim piece of fabric around his friend's neck before tying it into a simple bow. He took a step back to admire his handy work, giving the blonde a single nod in approval.
Cedric stood up and looked into the mirror, "Are you sure I look okay...?" he said, fiddling with his shirt.
Harry frowned, "Are you questioning me?"
"No, no... that's not what I meant," Cedric squeaked.
Harry nodded again, "Good. And stop messing with your shirt."
Cedric immediately dropped his hand.
The pair eventually made their way to the Great Hall. As they had left a little later than planned, the halls were mostly empty though when they reached the Great Hall, only Neville, Orion, Fleur, Roger Davies and Professor McGonagall were there.
"Ah, there you two are. Just in time," though the slightly stern look on her face told them exactly how close they had cut it.
They quickly mumbled apologies before moving to stand beside their partners. Harry smiled at Neville who smiled brightly in return.
"Y-you look great," he said, blushing lightly as he offered the younger boy his arm uncertainly.
Harry happily took it, "Thanks!" Harry eyed the brunette with a grin, giving his arm a light squeeze, "Though not nearly as nice as you." And he meant it. The brunette looked remarkably handsome in an expensive-looking, form-fitting set of dark blue dress robes.
Neville's face reddened like a tomato, completely lost for words.
Behind them, Cedric smiled nervously at Orion. The Gryffindor had chosen dark grey dress robe for the evening. Tentatively, he smiled back. Emboldened by the smile, he slung an arm around Orion's shoulders, his grin widening. Orion rolled his eyes and looked away but didn't make any move to shirk the other's arm off.
"Now, we're just waiting on Mr. Krum..."
As soon as Professor McGonagall had said this, the Bulgarian seeker arrived, a beautiful young lady in periwinkle blue robes. In fact, she looked quite familiar...
"Sorry we're late Professor."
"Hermione?!" Neville's jaw dropped as he recognised that voice, Cedric's jaw dropping too at the admission. Even Orion looked quite shock. Harry, on the other hand, hid a smile behind his hand, having already known in advance that was his no-longer-bushy-haired friend.
"Hey, guys!" Hermione greeted merrily, ignoring the flabbergasted looks entirely, "Oh, Harry! You look so adorable!" she said, playing with the large, frumpy, green bow.
"Thanks," Harry overlooked that stab at his masculinity and instead smiled, "And you look gorgeous, Hermione!"
Hermione beamed at him.
Harry glanced to his side and coughed. No response. He then nudged Neville with his elbow. The brunette jumped as he snapped out of his stupor, "Er... Yeah, you look great, Mione."
Hermione rolled her eyes but smiled appreciatively anyway. "Harry, Neville, this is Viktor Krum," she introduced as if they didn't already know, "Viktor, these are my friends Harry Skywalker, Neville Longbottom, Cedric Diggory and Orion Black."
"It's nice to meet you, Viktor," Harry greeted happily for Hermione's sake.
Krum nodded back politely in response. Harry smiled, not offended by the silence at all. The Bulgarian seemed a little surprised at that.
They didn't get a chance to say anything else as everyone had finally settled in the Hall, Professor McGonagall directing the Champions and their partners to get in line in pairs and follow her. They did so, and everyone in the Great Hall applauded as they entered and started. There were gasps in surprise when Neville entered with Harry and Cedric with Orion, many of the girls getting upset over the fact that two of the more popular males were unavailable, a couple even seeming close to tears. That surprise was nothing compared to when Hermione and Krum entered the Hall however. Krum's self-proclaimed fanclub, in particular, throwing her looks of deepest loathing.
The walls of the Hall had all been covered in sparkling silver frost with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. And this time, unlike the first, Harry could appreciate all of this without having to focus all of his attention on not tripping over his feet. A hand curled lightly around his waist and Harry could feel himself being gently guided across the dance hall.
[Sorry this was cut so short; it was such a bore to write... Might change it later if I feel up to it or think of something interesting to add. I'm also open to suggestions if you guys can think of something interesting/funny to add to J.K.'s rendition!]
-
There was a Hogsmeade visit halfway through January. However, as Harry couldn't go, the others (minus Ron) had contemplated staying behind as they didn't want to leave him all alone. It wasn't like that hadn't been there before, right? Harry, of course, insisted they didn't need to do such a thing (Ron agreed and promptly got smacked). After a brief argument, Ron finally suggested that Harry use the secret passage to Hogsmeade, the location of which he begrudgingly divulged to the three who didn't know about it (well, Harry did but he obviously pretended not to). Hermione, predictably, frowned at this, having never been one for rule-breaking, Cedric equally uncertain being a prefect himself (and decided it was probably best that he pretended that he hadn't heard a single word Ron had said). It was then, however, that Malfoy piped up, having heard their argument, offering to keep Harry company while the rest were away.
Of course, that closed the argument completely and on that weekend halfway through January, Harry found himself in Hogsmeade with his friends.
His friends of which included the usual number (Orion, Cedric, Neville, Hermione, Ron) plus a new addition (Viktor Krum) and...
"Malfoy," Ron growled, "Why the hell do you keep following us?!"
The blonde sniffed at him disdainfully, "I don't believe it's against to law to spend time with ones friend," he said, leering opening at Harry at that word, "Besides... I wouldn't have had to if Longbottom hadn't hogged Harry all to himself at the Ball."
Harry felt his brain break, Since when have we been friends?! He's delusional!
Meanwhile, Draco made a swipe for Harry but unfortunately, Neville deftly moved him out of the way before he could get his claws into him, hugging the small Hufflepuff close as he glared hatefully at the blonde.
...and then immediately released him seeing the look on Orion's face. A small fight broke out when Hermione moved to defend him, leaving poor Cedric to attempt to split them apart. Suffice to say, he didn't get out of that completely unharmed.
And poor Viktor Krum, the sane one, wondered why he felt more at home with these maniacs than with his Bulgarian friends.
"Ah~! And there's my wonderful Godson!" a voice suddenly called out.
"Wha-?" was the only sound Neville could make before a tall blonde-haired body collided into him and squeezed him in a hug.
Neville's Godfather...? Harry squinted at the blonde-haired man. It obviously wasn't Sirius... and yet the blonde-haired man looked quite familiar. Harry's eyes widen, Wait, isn't that...?!
He didn't get a chance to finish that thought when a large crowd gathered around them, effectively cutting them off from the outside world.
"Oh~ Can I have your autograph? I'm your biggest fan, Mr. Lockhart~!" a middle-aged woman giggled, fluttering her eyelashes in a way she obviously thought was flattering.
And once again, Harry's brain exploded from this new information, Neville's Godfather is that fraud?!
"What are you doing here?" Neville grumbled even as he smiled, posing for a picture picture with his Godfather.
"I came to visit my favourite Godson, of course! Surprise~!" Gilderoy Lockhart chirped happily as he waved to his fans, completely oblivious to stiff Neville was standing beside him, "And~ I heard you got yourself a cute boyfriend! I had to come see for myself! Oh, my little boy is growing up... they grow up so fast, don't they?" he practically shouted into the crowd, wiping away an imaginary tear from his baby blue eyes. A chorus of wistful agreements answered him.
Neville's smile turned apoplectic.
Harry could completely sympathise.
"Professor Lockhart was Neville's mum's best friend back in school," Hermione explained seeing the quizzical look on Harry's face.
"Professor...?" Harry echoed, Hell... why is Hermione looking a little star-struck?!
The bushy-haired brunette misinterpreted his question entirely, "Oh, yes, he taught Defense back in our second year."
Second year... Harry thought. Lockhart obviously hadn't been ousted as a fraud and now he thought about... he had a sudden horrifying thought, Where the hell was Ginny?!
He hadn't given it any thought considering they were in different Houses now, and it wasn't like they had gotten any closer after the war as she had hoped. But he was friends with Neville, Hermione and, by extension, Ron now... and hadn't Ginny gone with Neville to the Ball the first time round?
And, Harry felt a chill run down his spine, hadn't Fate mentioned some time ago that Voldemort had come back that same year...?
What the hell had happened?!
He didn't get a chance to comment when he was suddenly pulled into a crushing hug. "And this must be him! And aren't you a cute thing~? My Godson has obviously inherited my good taste!"
"It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Lockhart," Harry wheezed, being suffocated by Lockhart's expensive robes. For a fraud, he had an amazingly strong grip...
"Oh, no, none of that! You're family now~ You should call me Uncle Roy."
What?! God, no! Harry thought, mortified.
"Uncle Roy," Neville groaned, "Please let Harry go... and he's not my boyfriend..." Unfortunately, a part of him sadly and Neville quietly agreed. They'd only gone to the Ball together because Harry wanted to see what it was like and couldn't go without an older student to take him, that's all... -cries on the inside-
"Why not?" three voices said at the same time.
Neville gaped at Harry, who was one of those voices along with Gilderoy Lockhart and Hermione.
The bushy-haired brunette also looked at Harry in shock but it didn't remain like that for long, "Yes, Neville, why isn't Harry your boyfriend?" she smirked at her best friend while Harry's emerald eyes just stared back at him imploringly in that sad, puppy-dog fashion.
Neville opened his mouth, seemed to change his mind and immediately shut it. Instead, he simply pointed at Orion's face.
"My, that's quite the scary look you go there, Orion," Cedric laughed, hand pulling at the fourth year's face, wholly unaffected by the Death Glare currently directed at him. His other arm wound around Orion's waist, effortlessly locking him in place despite the black-haired male's protests and energetic flailing. He was a very fit Quidditch player, after all.
"Well, I'm totally against," Ron Weasley huffed, crossing his arms in front of him.
Of course, Hermione was quick to step in.
"...is what I would have said before, but now I completely support you, Neville," Ron hastily corrected.
Hermione nodded with smug satisfaction. From beside them, Viktor Krum eyed her with growing admiration.
"Well, then, isn't there something you need to say?" Lockhart told Neville with a exaggerated wink and not-so-subtly nudged him towards Harry.
Neville flushed red, "Harry..." DO IT! His inner!Neville screamed, pumping his tiny fist in the air, TAKE WHAT BELONGS TO YOU! Neville hastily squashed him back down. He took Harry's tiny hand in his own, "Will you be my b-boyfriend?" he finally said, choking in embarrassment on the last word.
Harry smiled, "Yes."
The crowd burst out in congratulations, cheering, hooting and clapping for the new couple. Neville blushed even more; he'd completely forgotten they had an audience...
"Hey!" Draco Malfoy shouted from somewhere outside the ring of people, his normally immaculate blonde hair in a disarray, "What about my opinion?!" No one heard him over the raucous and before he could charge in, a hand reached out and pulled him back.
Draco tried to draw his wand on the person who dared to stop him but being back into the box he had been in severely hampered his attempt. Fate, completely invisible to the human eye, plopped himself down back on the lid, ignoring the indignant shouts coming from the box beneath him.
"They do grow up so fast, don't they?" Fate sobbed in an overly exaggerated fashion, blowing his nose loudly on his handkerchief before handing it to the man beside him, "Thanks for letting me borrow that, Dee-chan."
"...Don't call me, Dee-chan," Death automatically replied in that emotionless tone of his as he reluctantly took the soggy handkerchief with the tips of his fingers.
"Kiss! Kiss!" someone in the crowd started chanting loudly, quickly echoed by the people surrounding her and suddenly the whole crowd was shouting it.
Neville stared at them horrified. It wasn't that he didn't want to... no, to his embarrassment, quite the opposite. But in front of all these people?!
The brunette jumped when a body sidled up to him and wrapped itself around his arm. Neville glanced down, "Harry?" he queried weakly.
But to his surprise, Harry addressed their audience, "I'm sorry, but I want our first kiss to be somewhere special. I hope you guys don't mind?" he said, smiling at them cutely.
"No, of course not!" immediately came the chorus of replies, the crowd easily taken in by Harry's angelic face.
"Well, then, we're just going to go spend some time to get to know each, okay? So if you could just let us through..." the crowd immediately parted at Harry's command, much to Neville's amazement; usually when the people got like this, they were never leave him alone. "And no, we're not going to give you an interview, Miss Skeeter," Harry continued, directing his gaze at the woman slinking her way to the front of the crowd.
"But the public-" Rita Skeeter began, quill already poised in her hand and her personal photographer behind her, camera raised.
"No," Harry repeated forcefully, smile gaining a dangerous edge, "I know you believe you're entitled to every detail because Neville is a celebrity but our relationship is still new. The public will just have to wait until we're ready," which will be never, Harry thought wryly, "Please leave us alone." Forever, if possible. But I know that's impossible with you people so I'll settle for a week, he groaned inwardly.
"Yeah, leave them alone!" one of the crowd fervently defended and suddenly, there was a chorus of agreement and entirety of Harry's new fan-club converged on the unsuspecting news reporter.
Neville gaped at Harry for a moment but quickly shook himself out of it with a smile. Should he really be surprised that Harry wouldn't try to sell their love-story to the media like many others would? No, not at all.
Oh, so it's love now, is it? inner!Neville cackled. Once again, Neville hurriedly shoved it back.
But a portion of that feeling leaked out and unconsciously, Neville leant forward and pressed a chaste kiss to the side of Harry's mouth, "Thanks..."
Harry's eyes widened in surprise, his cheeks tingeing a soft pink.
OMG, he's so~ adorable! inner!Neville squealed. Neville ignored him with all his might.
Another round of raucous cheering rose from their audience, somehow louder than the last.
To their left, Hermione's eyes welled up with tears as she clung onto Viktor Krum in her overwhelming joy. Consequently, Viktor looked awfully happy with the situation himself. Ron's face, on the other hand, scrunched up in disgust but said nothing lest he find himself at the receiving end of Hermione's wrath once more.
"I'm going to fucking kill him," fumed Orion to their right. But luckily for Neville, he was easily held back by a grinning Cedric Diggory and his sexy, Quidditch muscles ;)
But this being Neville Longbottom (Harry Potter's equivalent in this world), all good things would inevitably come accompanied by something very, very bad. The screams of delight quickly turned into screams of fear as a shadow shot up into the darkened sky. A skull with a snake protruding from it's mouth hovered there as it stared down at them, the dark omen one of man.
Voldemort.
Read. Review. ...and please don't kill me? :D
P.S. I completely forgot about Barry o_O oops? I might rewrite the Ball scene to add him... and another Malfoy appearance but it'd still be kind of dull... give me some good ideas and I might reconsider :)
Status: U.L.H. (Unbetaed Like Hell... btw, I think I need to think of better curses... used that one way too much...)
