I am sooooo sorry for the long wait. My job has me exhausted beyond belief. Thankfully, I have a couple of days off this week, so I'm going to update a couple of chapters. Thank you to those who have read and reviewed. Thank you to Chibi Rat, who makes time to read my stories.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, because, if I did, crack couples would fill the halls of Hogwarts!
'Are you sure this is a good idea?' Hermione's mind linked to Harry's and passed the thought through. He threw her a shocked look and merely responded with a "Shh." The pair was trying to navigate their way throughout the halls of Hogwarts without getting caught. It was almost midnight, and Mrs. Norris was walking the cold corridors, waiting for unsuspecting teenagers to go her way. Thankfully, they were able to get past the red-eyed cat, with the use of his father's invisibility cloak. "I love this thing," Harry whispered.
The couple entered the room, after tiptoeing through half the castle, to see mosaic glass windows before them. The glass held an aquarium of sorts. Magical plants swayed in the assembled 'water' and mermaids and fish swam by, sending the teenagers a passing glance. Harry walked to the large bath that took up most of the floor, the white marble waiting to be filled, and turned on the tap. The shy teenagers turned their backs and undressed.
'Merlin, she is beautiful.' Hermione was in the enormous bath in the Room of Requirement with Harry. Rose scented bubbled covered their bathing suit clothed bodies and they lounged in silence, their minds filled with random thoughts. Her soft voice broke the silence, "Should we put the egg in the water?" They gazes flew to the gaudy object and they grimaced. "Not yet," he said. He wanted to savor their time together. She smiled and leaned back into the warm water, letting it flow around her tense limbs. They had gone through a lot of trouble to get to the magical room, and they wanted to enjoy it.
"Come seek us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing above the ground,
And while you're searching, ponder this:
We've taken what you'll sorely miss,
An hour long you'll have to look,
And to recover what we took,
But past an hour - the prospect's black
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.
An hour long you'll have to look,
And to recover what we took...,
... your time's half-gone, so tarry not
Lest what you seek stays here to rot."
Harry and Hermione shared a look. They had no idea what the hell this magical object was singing about. Hermione inhaled a deep breath and glanced around the room. "Cannot sing above the ground… have to look… prospects black…" Her brown eyes stared at the glass before her and it all clicked. "Mermaids… The black lake." She lunged at Harry and hugged him. "I've got it, Harry!" He grinned. "You're brilliant 'Mione, but how am I supposed to find anything in the black lake? I can't breathe underwater." She then told him that they were going to have to do some research, in the morning of course. The pair decided to head back to Gryffindor tower, because they'd need all the rest they could get.
Meanwhile, a tiny, furred form made its way through the forbidden forest. 'Get the boy, he says. Bring him to me, he says. Yeah that'll be a piece of pumpkin pie.' The furry rat scurried his way through the forbidden forest. He narrowly avoided getting trampled by a herd of centaurs. 'Filthy creatures. Do it or die he says.' Wormtail scoffed in his rat form. 'How am I supposed to get close to Saint Potter?' He shivered as snow matted his fur, and he strived to move faster. After a time, he finally made it to the castle steps. Scurrying down the halls quickly, he was passing a room that gave off an odd glow, when he heard a gruff voice. "Have to get the boy… have to please my master…" Wormtail peered in the room and saw the form of Alastor Moody. 'These people are mad.' He watched the one-legged man thump his way out of the room, and got an idea. "Portkey," he said. While he was no Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew was not an idiot. A follower? Yes, but not stupid. He prepared the spell in his mind and said the incantation, "Portus." More wand waving and his plans were set in motion. Reverting back to his rat form, he squeaked in laughter and left to find a cozy hole to snuggle in.
"Children, I have an announcement for you all." The occupants of the Great Hall faced the Headmaster with sleep blurred eyes. "There will be a yule ball in two weeks' time. Ladies, I suggest you begin choosing a gown. Gentlemen, dress your best. Professor McGonagall will be holding dance lessons beginning tomorrow afternoon. That will be all."
Chatter broke out between girls, gossiping on clothing and prospective dates. "Ugh, how shallow," she said. 'I hope Harry asks me…' She grabbed her books and left to do research. Little did she know, Harry received the message and he followed her to the library. He found her surrounded by tomes. "It's only been minutes, 'Mione. How'd you get so many books so fast?" She told him that she knew where to find them and glanced at her tower of books. The green eyed boy shuffled his feet on the maroon carpet. "Hey 'Mione?" She picked up her head and looked at the blushing boy. "Would you, um, if you want to, of course…" She cocked her head to the side in confusion. "Are you okay, Harry?" He blurted out his question. "Will you go with me to the yule ball?" Her eyes grew wide and she grinned. "I would love to," she said and kissed him.