Chapter 10: Interviews, Results and Balls
The next morning Harry awoke to Hedwig affectionately nibbling his ear in a n attempt to wake him up.
"What do you have there Hedwig?" he asked as he took the letter from between her claws. "Oh." He said softly when he saw the envelope.
Harry had been thinking for 5 minutes before Hermione woke.
"A penny for your thoughts." She said startling him out of his silence. "What are you thinking about Harry?" she asked him.
"I'm beginning to regret getting the media involved now." He told her.
"Harry we're going to have to brave the media soon anyway otherwise somebody else will tell them and they will get suspicious." Hermione said putting a comforting arm on his.
"Your right. No point dwelling on the things we can't change." He said.
"What does the letter say?" Hermione asked.
Harry opened the letter and read it.
"Um, the interview is today at ten by the lake." He told her. He chose that moment to look at his watch and say that it was already 9:30.
"9:30." Hermione exclaimed. "We have to get ready now." She said in a panic-like state.
"Hermione clam down. Just go and get ready and I'll met you in the common room." Harry said calmly.
10 minutes later Harry and Hermione met each other in the common room where they happen to pass the Halliwells.
"Well it's about time you two lovebirds woke up." Said Paige happily.
"Way to perky for my likings." Said Harry staring at the smiling Paige. "Can't stay gotta go."
"Where ya going?" Piper asked.
"Interview with the Daily Prophet." Hermione replied. "Actually do you think one of you could come and chaperone the interview? You know how reporters are." Hermione asked.
"I'll come." Said Piper. "Anything written you don't like and I'll blow the reporter up. How 'bout that?" she said smiling.
"As much as I like to sound of that I thing you should only freeze them. It's to early to deal with Fudge." Said Harry.
"I was only joking. Just give me a sec and I'll get Chris. If I don't have something to do with my hands there will be no reporter." Said Piper retreating to her room and then returning with Chris.
"OK. We'll see the rest of you later." Said Hermione.
15 minutes later the 4 of them had arrived by the lake and saw that their reporter was none other than Rita Skeeter herself.
"Ah hello Rita." Hermione said with fake cheeriness.
"Miss Granger. Or should I call you Mrs Potter to be?" Rita asked Hermione.
"Miss Granger is fine. So how have you been Rita? Nothing bugging you lately." Hermione asked with a smile. Harry let out a small snigger but said nothing.
"Just fine. And who is this?" Rita said changing the subject and pointing at Piper and Chris.
"Oh how rude of me. This is Professor Wyatt. She teachers Advance Potions and this is her son Chris." Hermione said introducing them.
"So are we going to do this here?" asked Harry.
"Yes. So sit or conjure a chair. Your choice." Rita told him.
"Let's get started." Hermione said as she conjured a blanket for them to sit on.
"Right. We'll start with the basics. Where did you two meet?" she asked the couple.
"Hogwarts express." They answered together.
"Did you 3 hit it off straight away?" Rita questioned.
"No. We didn't even become friends until Halloween when Ron and Harry rescued me from a troll." Hermione answered.
"When did you start dating?" Rita asked scribbling the first answer down.
"Um during the summer." Harry answered.
"When did he propose?" Rita said directing the question towards Hermione.
"Yesterday. After we sung in the first performance of Hogwarts Idol." Said Hermione.
"When will the wedding be?" she asked.
"Classified information." Piper butted in as she shifted Chris to her shoulder. She was backed up by a serious look from both Hermione and Harry.
"Fine. What are your goals for the future?" she continued.
"Get jobs and start a family." Answered Harry.
"And what do you want to become?" she asked.
"I want to be an Auror or DADA teacher." Harry told her.
"Transfiguration teacher." Hermione said.
"Well that should just about do it." Rita said.
"Goodbye." Harry, Hermione and Piper said as Rita walked away.
"Well that went well." Said Piper.
"Well. That went better than well. And it's all thanks to my gorgeous fiancé here. Why if it hadn't been for her keen eye and great blackmailing abilities, Rita would have had our engagement announced in this morning's Daily Prophet." Harry said.
"I don't get it. Hermione, you do seem the kind of person to blackmail anybody let alone a reporter." Piper exclaimed.
"She might not seem it but she is." Harry said grinning.
"Well. Details Hermione." Piper insisted.
"Fine. Um in our 4th year Hogwarts hosted the Triwizarding Tournament. Harry was one of the 4 contestants. And all Rita did was write awful articles about Harry…" Hermione said before Harry interrupted her.
"And don't forget the ones about us." Harry assisted.
"Arr yes. The 'Hermione has a thing for Seekers' articles. Rita would write that Harry and I was a couple and that I broke this heart and went off with Victor Krum. Well I happen to notice that whenever people were talking in secret a ladybug, with distinctive markings, was hanging around. Anyway I immediately caught on and caught the bug. The bug turned out to be Rita in her animagus form. I also just happened to find out that she wasn't registered so I used that against her. I threatened to tell the ministry and they would deal her with. She agreed that if I didn't tell the ministry she wouldn't write anymore articles about Harry." Hermione explained.
"Very sneaky and impressive. I swear Hermione, you should be a detective or something." Piper said.
"Could, but I prefer teaching thanks. Less Dangerous." She told Piper.
"You sure about that?" exclaimed Piper.
"Yep." Hermione replied.
"Ok. Let's go back to the common room before they think the reporter kidnapped us." Said Harry with a smile.
"Yeah not so funny. Trust me. My sisters and I usually get kidnapped at least once a month. And then Wyatt was kidnapped when Chris was born by an Elder who tried to kill him. So yes not funny." Piper told him.
"Damn. Glad I'm not you. Um question." Started Harry. "How powerful was the most powerful demon you vanquished?" Harry asked.
"Let's see. Well there was the Source of All Evil. We vanquished his sorry ass a couple of years ago. Then the source was reincarnated into Phoebe's husband at the time and Cole became the Source and for about a week Phoebe became the Queen of All Evil and was carrying his baby but we vanquished his ass again. Not to mention Cole's demon half we vanquished a couple of times and let me tell you it was not at all pretty." Piper explained as they walked to the common room. As she finished, Harry stopped dead in his tracks and looked deep in thought.
"Harry." Hermione said breaking his concentration. "Harry, what are you thinking?"
"I'll tell you when we get to the common room." Harry said as he continued walking again.
5 minutes later, Harry had Piper, Phoebe, Paige, Leo and Hermione sitting in the common room ready to hear his idea.
"Well." Said Paige. "What's your idea?"
"Alright. I'll start right from the beginning. 16 years ago, Sybil Trelawney gave a prophecy. On Halloween that year, Voldemort killed my parents and tried to kill me but the spell rebounded upon him. For 10 tears we had peace until I came to Hogwarts. A package was hidden in Gringrotts that Hagrid collected and bought it to Hogwarts.
On Halloween that year, Quirrell, who was DADA teacher, let in a troll and then tried to get passed Fluffy to get the package." Harry told them.
"Wait. Wait. Fluffy?" Phoebe questioned.
"Hagrid's giant three headed dog." Hermione answered.
"Anyhow. Ron and I saved Hermione from the troll and all was good. Until we found out what Fluffy was guarding. The Philosopher's Stone. A legendry substance that could turn any metal into pure gold and make the drinker immortal.
One day Dumbledore received an urgent owl from the ministry and was away in London. We realised that, at the time we thought it was Snape, this would be the time the person would strike. So we used my invisibility cloak to sneak out to where Fluffy was. He got past him, devil's snare, a giant chess board, where Ron was knocked out, a logic potion test and then I got to something called the Mirror of Erised, which would show you what your heart desired most. The stone was in the mirror and only the person who wanted to get the stone but not use it for himself would get it. Quirrell used me to get the stone and when I wouldn't hand it over he took off his turban to reveal Voldemort on the back of his head. He tried to convince me but failed so he told Quirrell to kill me.
However, Quirrell couldn't touch me and if he did his skin would literally burn from my touch. So that's what gave me the idea of how to kill him. I threw my hands onto his face as he was trying to strangle me and his face turned to ash and he dies but Voldemort's spirit got away. Dumbledore destroyed the stone and life was back to a so called normal." Harry told them.
"That was just you first year?" exclaimed Piper.
"Yes. Now second year was a lot more dangerous." Hermione said.
"More dangerous. How could it be more dangerous?" Piper questioned.
"Just listen. While I was at the Dursley's, I stopped receiving letters from my friends. Well one night I received a visit from Dobby the house elf. He wanted to stop me going to Hogwarts because of some terrible plot. So I didn't listen and came to Hogwarts. But Ron and I sorta missed the train. So we flew to Hogwarts in a car. Don't ask. Term started out as normal. We had a fraud for DADA again and I started to hear voices that no one else could hear. I found out that I was a parslemouth (TONUGE WHAT EVER). I could talk to snakes. One day Ron and Hermione had come to get me from a detention and I heard the voice again and I followed it. It was saying 'Rip…Tear….Kill. I followed the voice and it lead us to near Moaning Myrtle's bathroom on the 2nd floor. Hanging on the wall was Mrs Norris and written in blood was 'The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir beware' or some crap like that. And knowing our luck people started to surround us and we well I was accused of petrifying the cat.
But then more people started to be attacked and they were all muggleborns. I was caught at one of the scenes. We started to get suspicious of Draco Malfoy. We thought he was the heir so Hermione brewed a Polyjuice Potion in Myrtle's bathroom. Ron and I add the hairs of Crabbe and Goyle and in Hermione's case a she accidently added the hairs of a cat. We transformed and Ron and I went to the Slytherin common room and interrogated Malfoy, who didn't know anything. So we were back to square one. Anyway I was getting ready for a Quidditch match when McGonagall cancelled it and called Ron and I to the hospital wing. And there lied Hermione. As still as a statue. She had been found in front of the library. There was a piece of paper in her hand. It was about a basilisk. A huge, deadly snake. Hermione had found out what was petrifying the students and how it was getting around. It was travelling in the pipes and could kill if looked in the eye.
Well at the end of the year Ginny was taken into the chamber. Lockhart was in charge of finding her as he said he knew where the chamber was all along. Instead of trying to find Ginny he was going to bail. So we took him to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom and asked how she died and she told us. I knew we had found the entrance. A basin with a snake on the tap moved when I spoke to it. We entered. Lockhart pretended to faint and then he grabbed Ron's wand and cast a memory spell. Luckily Ron's wand was broken and the spell backfired leaving a caved in tunnel and Lockhart with no memory.
I had to go on alone. I reached the chamber where Ginny was. She was almost dead and clutching Tom Marvolo Riddle's diary to her chest with her life. Then a figure emerged from the shadows. It was of a 16 year old Tom. He took my wand and called the basilisk. He told me he was Voldemort and heir to Slytherin. He ordered the basilisk to kill me. I ran and tripped. But suddenly Fawkes appeared with the sorting hat and blinded the snake. I got away and managed to pull the sword of Godric Gryffindor out of the hat. I killed the basilisk but a fang pierced my srm and I was quickly dying.
Voldemort was taunting me so I pulled the fang out of my arm and drove it into the diary. This killed him and Ginny regained consciousness. I told her to get out and leave me. But Fawkes started to cry on my wound and it closed and I was fine. I had forgotten Phoenix tears had healing properties. We all got back up to the school and we ran into Malfoy Sr. I know he was the one that gave Ginny the diary and hat he was the master of Dobby. So I got sneaky. I got the diary and put my sock in it, knowing that clothing was the only way to free a house elf and that Malfoy Sr. would throw the diary at Dobby. So I gave him the diary and he of course threw it at Dobby. I told Dobby to open it and he found the sock and was set free. All students were unpetrified and we all went home." Harry explained.
"Maybe you were right. Ok what happened in third year?" said Paige.
"Well Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban and started to come looking for me at Hogwarts. I met Remus Lupins. My father's friend and DADA teacher. Dementors were posted at the school to protect it from Black. The Dementors sort of have a weird effect over me and they also had it in for me, so Lupin taught me how to cast a Patronus Charm to drive them away. Black got into the castle but escaped before he was caught.
At the end of the year, Hagrid's hippogriff was executed for attacking Malfoy and Hermione punched Malfoy in the nose for taunting us. Ron was holding his rat, Scabbers, at the time of the execution and he got lose. Ron chased after him and ended up near the Whomping Willow. Hermione and I warned him to get away but he was attacked by a big, black dog and dragged into the willow. Hermione and I followed and found Ron and Sirius Black. The dog was his animagus form. I tried to hex him but Lupin showed up and stopped me. Hermione thought him evil and exposed him as a werewolf. Black said something like 'Let's kill him now' and Hermione jumped in front of me and told them that they would have to get through her first. Black said that only one would die that night and it would be Peter Pettigrew. Another one of my dad's so called friends.
However, we thought that killing him was impossible 'cause Black have killed him. Turns out we were wrong. Peter was hiding in his animagus form. Ron's rat. They transformed him back into a person and surrounded him. While all this was happening, Snape had found his way in but I used Hermione's wand and stunned him.
So we got everyone back to Hogwarts ok. And Sirius told me he was my godfather. Then the clouds parted and a full moon shone through. Remus hadn't taken his potion and he transformed into a werewolf. He tried to attack us but Snape jumped in front of us. Sirius transformed back into a dog and made Remus chase after him. I followed and Sirius and I were attacked by100 Dementors. Someone managed to drive them away and I blacked out.
I awoke in the hospital wing and Hermione immediately told me that the minister had ordered the Dementors to preform the kiss on Sirius. But Hermione managed to surprise me by pulling out a time turner and we went back in time to save Buckbeak and Sirius. Well we did it and found out I was the one to drive all the Dementors away. Sirius escaped and went into hiding. The rest of the week us pretty uneventful except the train ride back. Sirius sent me a letter that had a permission slip to Hogsmeade in it and that Ron could keep the owl that delivered the letter. He also told me to use him as a threat to the Dursley's which actually worked." Harry said.
"4th year Hogwarts hosted the Triwizarding Tournament. One champion from each school, Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, was chosen to compete but they had to be over 17. The champions chosen were Fleur Delacour from Beauxbatons, Victor Krum from Durmstrang and Cedric Diggory from Hogwarts. However, one more name was pulled from the cup. My name. I had to compete because there was no way out.
Ron became jealous and believed me to have put my name in the cup. We stopped talking and Hermione was the only one in the whole school that believed me.
1st task of the tournament was to get passed a dragon and get a golden egg. Hermione taught me a summoning charm and I used it to call my broom. I got the egg without much trouble.
Then we had to crack the secret of the egg and use it to figure out the second task. Someone we hold dear to us would be taken and put at the bottom of the lake. We had to retrieve them. I got Ron out ok but then I went back for Fleur's little sister. Krum went for Hermione and Cedric went for his girlfriend Cho Chang. Everything went fine for that task too.
3rd task was a giant maze we had to get through. During the challenge Krum was possessed and he attacked Fleur. So Cedric and I stunned him and continued with the task. Cedric and I made it through to the middle at the same time. Unfortunately the cup turned out to be a portkey and Cedric was killed straight after we landed by Pettigrew. I was tied to a tombstone while I watched Pettigrew give Voldemort his body back. We duelled, I got away with Cedric's body then Professor Moody took me to his office. He turned out to be an impostor working for Voldemort. He, of course, tried to kill me. Dumbledore stopped him and so ended another eventful year." Harry recalled.
"I'm starting to think that this Voldemort has an unhealthy obsession with killing you." Paige remarked.
"You might have a point there." Hermione said.
"I think everybody knows that Voldemort has it in for me." Began Harry. "Anyway. 5th year was just as bad. Lets see. Dementors attacked me at the Dursley's, I was put on trial but got off, Dolores Umbridge became DADA teacher and I was apparently a stark raving lunatic. All that was just during the holidays.
At the Hogwarts sorting feast the hat gave a warning to unite or be undone sorta thing. The Weasley Twins were developing more merchandise for the shop. Our fist lesson with Umbridge I got a week worth of detentions for calling her a liar. But I think it was more of the fact that I kept saying Voldemort was back. Hmm. Oh and we can't forget the no magic policy of hers. The 'You read the material hard enough you should get it right under exam conditions.' And her detention was for me to write lines. 'I must not tell lies'. The thing was, the quill I had used my blood and etched the words into my hand. I had to do it for a whole week.
Then she became Hogwarts High Inquisitor. Meaning she would sit in on classes and could fire anyone she wanted. She fired Trelawney, tried to fire Hagrid and would have fired McGonagall if she got the chance. She gave me another week of detention but it was well worth it to see McGonagall ignore or tell her off.
During my second week of detention, Hermione thought of me teaching the willing students about DADA in secret. Hermione organised the meeting in the Hog's Head. She came up with the idea of jinxing the paper on which the members signed their names. As well as jinxing the coins we used for the time and dates for the DA meetings, which is what we called it. It stands for Dumbledore's Army.
Umbridge was intercepting my mail. Arthur Weasley was attacked by Voldemort's snake that I just happened to dream about. We met Neville's parents at St Mungo's Hospital. I began to learn Occlumency. Dumbledore wouldn't look me in the eye. Here was the mass break out at Azkaban with all the DE's.
Then we went public on the matters of Voldemort. Rita Skeeter wrote the article. Fred, George and I beat Malfoy up at a Quidditch match and got a life time ban from it. Umbridge got Slytherins to do her bidding. She found out about the DA and got the list of names that was left in the room. Dumbledore shifted all the blame onto himself in front of the minister of magic. Dumbledore escaped arresting by disappearing. Umbridge replace Dumbledore as Headmistress.
Umbridge tried to get info from me by slipping me Veritaserum. But luckily I only pretended to drink what she gave me. During our little interview there was a distraction of sorts. The Weasley Twins set off a crate of enchanted fireworks, which had certain ways to make them go away. I broke into Umbridge's office to talk to Sirius and was almost caught.
Fred and George had also made a swamp on the 5ht floor by using a Portable Swamp. Then they left the school in an uproar. We found out that Hagrid had a half brother who was a giant and he wanted Hermione and I to teach him English. We completed our OWLs. McGonagall was attacked when Umbridge and the ministry arrived in an attempt to sack Hagrid. She was hit in the chest with 4 stunners. I dreamed Voldemort had Sirius and was trying to make him take something for him. Hermione told me I had a 'saving people' ting. Which is entirely true. I used Umbridge's fire again to see if Sirius was home. We had lookouts this time. Ginny, Neville and Luna. I ended up talking to the house elf instead of Sirius who said Sirius wasn't home. But before I couldn't get any info, Umbridge caught me and everyone else.
She ordered Snape to get her come Veritaserum but he told her she used the last bottle and it wouldn't be ready for a month to mature. So she started to babble about using the Cruciatus Curse on me. She told us she was the one who sent the Dementors after me. The she started to say the curse.
But my brilliant Hermione said we would have to tell her and she started to cry. She said it was Dumbledore who I was communicating with and we needed to tell him something him something really important. We wanted to tell him it was ready. The weapon was ready. A weapon to use against the ministry. She told Hermione to lead her to it but Hermione refused to go anywhere with the Slytherins. So Umbridge took Hermione and I made us lead her to the weapon.
Hermione lead us to the forest and we followed the path to Grawp, making sure we were heard. Suddenly we found ourselves surrounded by Centaurs. Umbridge insulted them and they attacked her. I managed to dragged Hermione down and protect her. However, when the Centaurs where done with Umbridge they came back for us and basically we said something they didn't like and they fully intended to do to us what she did to Umbridge. Thank god Grawp saved us. Then Hermione asked me how I was going to get to London without my wand and that's where Ron, Luna, Ginny and Neville come in asking the same thing and holding our wands. Apparently they had managed to get away with a couple of Disarming Charms, and Impediment Jinx and Ginny's Bat Bogey Hex. Luna actually suggested we fly to London but since Ron and Ginny were the only one's with brooms that weren't being guarded by a troll we couldn't do that. So we caught some Threstles and flew to London.
We got into the ministry and went to the Department of Mysteries. We came across a room with 12 doors in it. As soon as we shut the door the whole room spun and we lost our entrance. Ron tried one door and Mione marked it with an X and shut the door and let it spin. After a while we found the right one. It was a room full of rows of shelves with glass spheres on them. We walked to the very end row and Sirius wasn't there. Ron, however, was looking at the balls. He pointed it out. It had this written on it.
S.P.T to A.P.W.B.DDark Lord
And (?) Harry Potter
My friend's advice was not to touch it but I didn't listen and I picked it up. Nothing happened. Then Lucius Malfoy's voice broke the silence.
He told me to hand over the ball. He called it a prophecy. I didn't hand it over and asked where Sirius was. I felt Ron stir beside me and I told him to wait. They threaten us so we raised our wands ready to fight. Sirius' cousin Bellatrix LeStrange tried a summoning spell but I was faster then her. I told Hermione that on my count they were to start blasting the shelves. The DE's told me the truth about the prophecy. I stalled and Hermione spread the word about the shelves.
I gave the word and we started destroying the shelves. Then we ran. Fighting DE's along the way. We stopped and we lost Ron, Ginny and Luna when we locked ourselves into a room. We stunned a couple of DE's. Neville ended up with a broken nose. On DE hit Hermione with some purple curse. I was so scared that she would be dead. But when Neville felt a pulse I was so relieved. Neville and I carried Hermione into another room and found the others. Ron was in hysterics, he thought that everything was funny, Ginny had a broke ankle and Luna seemed fine. Then 5 DE's attacked us. Ron was attacked by a brain. I took my chances and ran away from the others. Luckily the DE's followed me. Unfortunately so did Neville. There was 10 DE's. One got Neville and LeStrange cast Crucio on him. I was about to give them the prophecy and in bursts Sirius, Lupin, Moody, Tonks and Kingsley. They started to duel the DE's. Sirius told me to grab the prophecy and Neville and run. So I attempted it only to be stopped delayed by Malfoy. Neville was hit with the Tarantallegra spell and couldn't walk properly. I went to help him up and the prophecy fell from my pocket and smashed. Then Dumbledore arrived. Most people stopped fighting when Dumbledore arrived. Save for 2. Bellatrix and Sirius.
Sirius was taunting Bellatrix and she hit him with 2 stunners. One missed and the other hit him directly in the chest. It took him an age to fall. I will never forget the look on his face. Fear and surprise. He fell through the veil and was gone. I waited for him to come back but he never returned. That did it. I was so pissed off. Bellatrix ran and I followed. I was ready to kill her. We ended up in the Atrium. I dodged behind the Fountain of Magical Brethren as a spell flew past.
She started to taunt me about Sirius and I felt such hate that I had never felt before build up. It was then that I used Crucio on her. It only knocked her off her feet and nothing else. Then she started going on about really having to mean to cause pain to a person. She told me I had one chance to hand over the prophecy. And I told her it was gone. She didn't believe me of course and I started to taunt her and Voldemort. And who do you think turns up. Good old Voldie himself.
He of course tried to kill me that instant. He shouted the curse and it headed straight for me. But the most unusual thing happened. The statues on the fountain came to life. The golden figure of a wizard leapt between Voldemort and me. Dumbledore was the cause of the statue I found out a moment later. They started to duel. After a while Voldemort disappeared and my scar burst open and I was in so much pain. Voldemort had possessed my body and told Dumbledore to kill the both of us. Then he was gone. The Atrium was full of people. Aurors, ministry officials and the minister himself. They all saw him.
Dumbledore sent me back to Hogwarts, to his office, via portkey. Not long after Dumbledore arrived. He told me that my friends were ok and Tonks would make a full recovery. Then he went on to saying he knew how I felt and that it was okay to fell that way and I just lost it. He told me that pain was part of being human and I told him I didn't want to be human if I had to feel like this. And I started to trash his office. I yelled a bit more and ran to the door. I tried to open it but it wouldn't open. I told Dumbledore to let me out but he refused. I yelled some more. He said that it was his fault Sirius was dead. He had kept him cooped up for to long. Then Dumbledore began to spill. He told me of the prophecy and someone overhearing it and telling Voldemort. And the reason he was afraid to look me in the eye. He was afraid Voldemort would use my scar and see through it to Dumbledore's memories. He also said that Voldemort only heard the beginning of the prophecy and that one other person could have been the one to defeat him. It was Neville. The prophecy stated:
'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him… born as the seventh month die, and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord know not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…'
I asked a couple of questions and got some answers. Then I went to visit Ron and Hermione. Term finished not long after that night." Harry told them.
6th year was really uneventful so no real need to hear about it. (A/N: No Horcruxes(SP) in my story.)
Now to explain my idea I needed to tell you the events throughout Hogwarts. It's taken me all last year up till now to figure out why I was still alive. And my answer is love. My love for Hermione and her love for me is what got me through all of this. My idea might sound a little crazy but here it goes. I love all of you like family and I believe love is what could finally rid us of Voldemort." Harry said.
"Yes. Please elaborate a little." Said Piper.
"Well if a whole group of people that love each other confront Voldemort, you three, Hermione, me and possible Ron, say a spell or two and hopefully it would defeat him. Love is the only thong he cannot understand. So theoretically it should be able to destroy him right?" Harry questioned.
"Harry that's a great idea. It should work." Hermione began. "I would imagine that love by itself isn't powerful enough, however if we did it in numbers with you guys." Here she indicated the 3 Halliwells. "It should work." Hermione said logically.
"What do you guys think?" Harry asked the Halliwells.
Leo was the one who answered. "The idea is great. But there is only one thing I have to say." He began. "Are you sure you guys are only 17 because those three are almost in their thirties and your already thinking like them."
"We're sure." Answered Harry. "Besides Hermione's the brains of the operation. I'm just the brawn. I guess she's just rubbed off on me a bit."
"Well I'm up for it." Said Phoebe.
"Me too. We'll just add his name to the ever growing list." Paige said with a laugh.
"Harry's right. Besides, who am I to spoil all the fun? That thing deserves everything he has coming to him." Piper said with enthusiasm.
"So now we plan." Said Harry.
"So now we plan." Everyone answered together.
One week had passed since that night and it was time for the results of Hogwarts Idol to be revealed.
Harry and the gang made their way down to the Great Hall where the results would be announced. By the time they got there, the Great Hall was full of excited students awaiting the results of housemates and friends. They took their respective seats just as Dumbledore's voice rand through the hall.
"Welcome students. Now I'm sure you're all anxious to get the results of the competition but first I would like to congratulate all participants and wish you all good luck. Now over to Fred and George Weasley." Dumbledore announced as the twins appeared out of nowhere.
"How ya all going?" they questioned the crowd and got a loud scream back.
"That's great. Now let me remind you that only 6 people will get through to the next part of the competition." Said Fred.
"Alright contestants. We are going to do this in no particular order." Began George. "First off we have Leo Wyatt. You sang 'Photograph'. Professor McGonagall said 'It was fantastic.' Professor Flitwick said 'I agree.' Professor Snape said 'It was ok." George stopped for a minute for dramatic effect. "Congratulations you're moving onto the next round." Applause rang throughout the hall.
"Next up is Draco Malfoy. You sang 'American Idiot.' Professor McGonagall said 'That it was a good first performance but she'd like to see you use the stage a bit more.' Professor Flitwick said 'He agreed with Professor McGonagall.' Professor Snape said 'It was excellent and you did very well." Fred stopped and then shouted. "You made it through to the next round." Again the hall was filled with applause.
"Ok. Brinley Vogele. You sang 'Haunted'. Professor McGonagall said 'It was good but needed to improve.' Professor Flitwick agreed. As did Professor Snape. I'm sorry you didn't make it through." Said Fred.
"Next up is Harry Potter. You sang 'Chain Reaction.' Professor McGonagall said 'You were fantastic and your song choice was perfect.' Professor Flitwick said 'Well done and he looked forward to future performances.' Professor Snape said 'It was alright.' You made it through." Said George. Applause erupted at what George said.
"Now we have our little sister, Ginny Weasley. She sang 'Because of you.' All the judges said they were impressed with the song choice for your voice and it was excellently done. Well congrats Sis 'cause you made it." Yelled Fred.
"Right. Ok. Now Olivia Newman and Brighton Adams. You two sang 'summer nights.' The judges said that they were not impressed with the performance and you had the wrong sort of song choice. I'm sorry but you didn't make it through." George said.
"Well let's see. Professor Paige Matthews. You sang 'Poison.' Professor McGonagall said 'I'm amazed at how well you sang that song.' Professor Flitwick said 'Well done and keep it up.' And Professor Snape said' It was good enough.' Congratulations your through." Fred said.
"So only two left. Who will get through to the round? Nathaniel. You sang 'The Last to know.' Professor McGonagall said 'It was a good performance with good song choice.' Professor Flitwick said the same. And Professor Snape said 'It was poorly done." Said George.
"Hermione Granger. You sang 'Visualise.' Professor McGonagall said 'Amazing simply amazing. You look stunning and the performance was great. Well done.' Professor Flitwick said 'Marvellous. No complaints. And Professor Snape said 'It was good." Fred said.
Now we know only one can make it through to the next round. And that person is…" George stopped. "Hermione Granger." He and Fred yelled at the same time. Applause and screams rang throughout the hall at the announcement.
Dumbledore stood again and congratulated the students before dismissing them." We did it Hermione. We got through." Harry said excitedly.
"I know it's fantastic. I say to celebrate we have a picnic by the lake with the Halliwells." Said Hermione. "What do you think?" she asked Harry.
"I think it's a great idea. I'll go round them up now." Harry said.
So they went and had a magnificent picnic and talked non-stop about Quidditch, the upcoming ball and Christmas.
It was the night of the Halloween Ball and everyone was up and getting costumes, makeup and hair organised. All the girls had congregated in the Head Girls room and likewise with the boys in the Head Boy's room.
At 6:30pm all the boys had finished getting ready and where waiting for the girls in the common room. At 6:45 the door opened and Piper walked out.
She was wearing a purple and pink Chinese robe and had her hair in a bun with one strand loose to frame her face. In the bun she had placed a flower slide comb. Her face had a white powder all over it. Her lips had been painted with a special red lip-gloss. She had purple eye shadow on and black mascara. On her feet were silk slippers. Around her neck was a green beaded chain. She walked down the stains and joined Leo.
Leo was wearing a green, cotton shirt that was trimmed with black and had no buttons, zippers or a collar. His pants were black and also cotton and he wore slipper-like shoes. And had a sword tied to his side.
Next to come out the door was Ginny. She was dressed as Juliet and wearing a Middle Ages sort of dress. She went down the stairs and stood next to Draco who was dressed as Romeo.
Phoebe closely followed Ginny. She was wearing a sparkling yellow ball gown that hung off her shoulders and matching shoes. Her hair was in a delicate bun. She wore foundation, light eye shadow and red lipstick. Phoebe walked down the stairs and stood next to Piper. She would be joining her date near the entrance to the Great Hall. Her date would be Professor Snape who had asked her to the ball a week earlier.
Luna came out next. She was wearing a green wrap around skirt. And her top was yellow with the sleeves rolled up. She was bare foot, her hair was in a loose ponytail and she wore no makeup. She made her way over to Ron who was wearing nothing but shorts that had a brown loincloth over them.
Next out was Paige. She was dressed as Snow White. She joined Charlie, dressed as Prince Philip. Charlie was there, along with Bill, Fleur, Fred, George, Angelina and Alicia to help chaperone the ball.
And then finally came Hermione. She was wearing a glittering, whitish-silver ball gown. On her feet, she wore a pair of glass slippers, which had been charmed with a spell to be comfortable. On her neck was a blue chocker with a teardrop pendent. Her hair was in a delicate bun held up by a beautiful diamond tiara. She descended the stairs slowly with grace, poise and confidence. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs where Harry was waiting for her.
Harry bowed to her and offered her his hand. She curtsied gracefully and accepted his hand.
"You look stunning." He whispered in her ear.
"Why thank you kind sir. You look quite handsome yourself." Hermione said.
"Thank you kind lady." He responded.
Harry was wearing a blue, long-sleeved shirt with gold trimming and his pants were white with a blue stripe down the side. His shoes were black and his hair was wild as usual.
Then everybody made their way down to the entrance hall where Phoebe would meet her date and where they would meet Bill. Fleur, Fred, George, Alicia and Angelina. When they got there all but Professor Snape were in the entrance hall. (A/N: Bill-Prince Philip and Fleur-Sleeping Beauty, Fred-Peter Pan and Alicia-Jane, George-Aladdin and Angelina-Jasmine) 2 minutes later Professor Snape's voice was heard.
"Sorry I'm late Phoebe. Just finished a batch of Blood Replenishing Potion for Madam Pomfrey." He explained.
"That's quite all right Severus. We just got here." Phoebe said. "Shall we."
"We shall." He told her offering her his hand, which she took as they walked into the Great Hall.
The Great Hall was decorated with floating jack-o-lanterns, candles and bats. The 4 house tables had been replaced with small round tables for 2 with chairs.
The couples moved in and found themselves a table. Once everyone was seated the doors opened and Professor Dumbledore (dressed a yellow Chinese robes-Confusious) escorting Professor McGonagall (dressed in purple Chinese robes- Ban Zhou) walked up to the staff table.
"Good evening. I would like to welcome everyone to the Halloween Ball. Would you please put your hands together for those who made it possible: Bill, Fleur, Fred and George Weasley, Alicia Spinnett, Angelina Johnson, Professor's Wyatt, Halliwell and Matthews, Leo Wyatt, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger." Dumbledore stopped as the hall broke out in applause. "Thank you. Now as a special treat if you will, there will be a dancing competition which you must all take part in and at the end of the competition the winners will be named King and Queen of the ball. Now please enjoy your dinner and have a wonderful time tonight." Dumbledore finished as food appeared on the tables.
Dinner was eaten and then a dance floor was transfigured in the middle of the room, big enough to accommodate all the students. And then the music started to play.
"Would you like to dance, Milady?" Harry asked Hermione politely sticking his hand.
"I would love to. Kind sir." She said as she took his hand, stood up and walked to the dance floor with him. As they reached the floor the ballroom dances began to play. First was the waltz. Harry took Hermione's hand with his and put the other one on her waist. As they began to twirl and move around the floor, people around them where being tapped on the shoulder and asked to leave the dance floor. However Harry and Hermione took no notice as a small crowd had gathered them to watch them. As the song ended, Harry bent down and kissed Hermione.
'Show off." She told him.
"I know but what can you do.' He said flashing her a grin in his mind.
After a minute, Hermione broke the kiss and curtsied formally to Harry in which he returned with a bow.
Throughout the night there was more ballroom dancing. And it was safe to say that, aside from some competition from Piper and Leo, and Phoebe and Snape, Harry and Hermione were the best dancers there and were both crowned as such.
Despite how much fun everyone was having, the night had to end. Everyone returned to their dorms, after much kissing and talking, finally retreating to their beds.