AN: OK, so this wasn't as big of break as last time. Good stuff. Next one shouldn't take too long, either. Apologies upfront for any weird errors and stuff. Also, this was a really long chapter. I was gonna cut it around 5000 words, which I consider ideal, but really thought it was important to go all the way through.

Bonus points for anyone who knows where the OC comes from. Don't freak out, it's a minor OC who will have very little, if any, appearances in the rest of the story.

Enjoy


Chapter 10: Christmas Time is Here (Olden Times and Ancient Rhymes)


Luna Lovegood was sitting in Divinations class poking her crystal ball with her wand half-heartedly. If she really wanted to she could open herself up to the magic that called to her through the globe in front of her and see something from the past, present, or future, but her mind was elsewhere. Her mind was specifically four days in the future.

Also Harry.

Or, more specifically, four days in the future AND Harry.

"What do you see, Loony?"

She glanced up from her poking across the table to the girl she was supposed to be telling her fortune. For the life of her, Luna couldn't even remember her name. But she was not really all that nice to her, even though she wasn't even a Ravenclaw. Apparently Hufflepuffs also didn't accept her. Or maybe she was a member of that one club.

"Your name will be remembered well past your generation at Hogwarts."

The girl looked positively thrilled to hear that, as Luna was one of the few people their Professor had actually thought had some talent in the subject of Divinations. Luna, on the other hand, knew that telling the future was easy… if you were vague enough about it. And because records were kept at Hogwarts for every student that had gone through it since its founding, her fortune was sure to come true for as long as Hogwarts stood.

"Ok, my turn to do you. Just sit there and… don't move or anything."

Luna gave a small sigh. The girl had no idea what she was doing, really. Like sitting still could make divination easier. Luna did as she was asked though, not wanting to aggravate the witch. Even though Luna was pretty sure that they had never met outside of divinations class, the girl had something against her…

"Ah, I see you dancing at the Yule Ball!"

Luna's eyebrows rose a little and she leaned in. Could the witch have actually seen something?

"You're dancing is pretty bad, just saying, and you are dancing with… Draco Malfoy?" Luna stared at the girl like she had grown rabbit ears out of her nose. "But where is… ah, there he is. Harry is dancing with me. Wow, do I look good in that dress! Luna, the dress you are wearing looks horrid!" The witch said this is a sneer that would rival Snape's on a good day.

Luna sat back down and rolled her eyes. This was getting ridiculous, honestly.

But what if what's-her-name is actually seeing something?

No, that's not the case at all. After all, my dancing is ok, and I would never dance with Draco Malfoy even if Harry decided to not dance with me. Which would be horrible.

And my dress isn't…

Wait…

Luna was saved by the end of class as her classmates left, or they would have watched as she slipped into shock. Professor Trelawney saw that she wasn't leaving and came over.

"Luna, my dear, what is the matter?"

"Dress… don't… wear… I…needtogorightnowsosorrybye!"

The professor dodged out of the way as the blonde girl moved faster than she ever had before to get out of the room. The older witch pushed her large glasses up on her nose as she stared out the door after Luna.

"Well, that was interesting. I wonder if she was seeing something? Took a wrong turn out there…"

Little did she know that Luna had been seeing something at that point in time. Her doom.


Harry Potter gently stirred clockwise slowly as he added the next ingredient to his potion. Then, as soon as the last flakes of occamy scales were added, he reversed direction and stirred vigorously for a minute. As the potion's color went from sickly brownish tan to a glowing blue Harry smiled and wiped the sweat from his brow.

It was almost done.

The next period was a resting time in which he only had to keep the temperature steady for a few days. Casting a charm on the fire heating his cauldron he leaned back and relaxed for the first time that day. Brewing a potion to assist in the animagus initial transfiguration wasn't just illegal, it was damn hard. It was something he had looked up in his past life but never followed through on due to the time and effort it would take till he had full use of his animal form. He figured that his time would be better spent on regular training. This time, however, he had plenty of time. Sitting back in a conjured chair he managed a glance at the current room of requirement and frowned.

He didn't like this place.

Not the room of requirement, mind you, just this form of the room.

It was safe, secure, and hidden. Exactly what he needed for the brewing of this potion.

But it was dangerous.

After all, when one thinks about "a place to seal away something forever", it would need to be safe, secure, and hidden. But also filled with things needing locked up.

It was not the same room that would be found if one wanted a place to hide. It was entirely different.

Harry had been here three times in his previous life. Once was after finding a lost journal of Salazar Slitherin in which he mentions the place he locked up his experiments he deemed too dangerous to use. It mentioned that the founder was not the creator of the room, or even the creator of the binding spells that guarded it, but that he had found it and spent years learning how to open it. And the man had found it to already house some of the most dangerous magical items he had ever seen. Right there Harry should have stopped, but he had discovered this information at a desperate time in the war. Sirius had died only a few months before and Harry was searching desperately for ways to get even stronger, even though Dumbledore said he was progressing much faster than anyone he had ever seen. If the room of requirement was summoned with that phrase, the door would appear locked and completely impenetrable. Then one would need to do a very complex series of spells and passwords in order to open the door, and only one person could be in it at a time. Harry was sure that even if the castle were to be torn down, stone by stone, the door to this room would never break.

Harry had been experimenting with magic sight that day, and he had used it to make sure his spells were having an effect. When he opened the door, however, he was overwhelmed by the dark auras that burst through and he was knocked into unconsciousness.

The second time he had opened the door was a week later after taking more precautions and NOT using his magic sight. This time he was able to explore the room. He left, sick to his stomach, hours later and vowed to never go in again.

The third time had been after Luna had died.

And that was what Harry Potter considered to be his darkest hour. Darker than torturing and killing Draco Malfoy. Darker than burning Bellatrix Lestrange to death. Darker than casting four unforgivable curses on Voldemort himself and then nearing committing suicide before turning back time.

Harry shivered to himself as he watched his potion brew. It was something he knew he shouldn't have even thought of. But the room was full of dark temptations.

When one would enter the room in this form they would ascend a small set of steps and realize the room was bigger than ever before. It was ordered similar to a library, with aisles separating the enormous shelves that stretched all the way to the ceiling that should have extended into three or even four floors above, but magically didn't.

Most of the shelves, unlike a library, did not hold books. Oh, some did, of course, but most held common enough looking items. A fork. A quill. A crystal ball. A cauldron. A pair of glasses. A piece of paper. A pile of dust. A piece of candy. All spread out so that no two items were on the same shelf. They were all labeled and had a catalog entree in a filing desk near the entrance.

Harry almost laughed the first time he had seen "the fork that knows no end", but after reading the entree on the item he was horrified. Anyone who touches any part of the fork will proceed to use it to consume any and all food that is near them, not stopping until the user dies of over consumption or is killed. The fork cannot be removed from a living host. Warning: a user of the fork will consider any edible substance food, even living people.

The rest of the items were similar. Curses that would cause extreme pain and death to the user or the one used on. And the ones that seemed like they were meant to be used against another often would have deadly drawbacks. The dagger that did to the user whatever it did to the one it stabbed. Harry had moved on to the books that weren't directly items of cursed origin. But upon opening them he found that what they contained was worse. Books on curses invented but never taught, the true unforgivable. Not just ways to kill, but ways to tear souls apart so that nothing remained. A spell that not only killed a person, but removed the memories of anyone who knew them. You could murder the head of the Ministry of Magic and no one would be able to identify the body or know why there hadn't been a minister of magic for the past years. Even the mildest of the spell books only contained spells that worked as double edged swords. Most were various spells to commit suicide-murders in various degrees of gruesomeness and pain.

There were only three items in the room that Harry considered to not be directly evil.

But he could easily see why they were in the room.

Harry glanced from viewing the shelves to the far wall where there were three small alcoves. It was into these alcoves that he had gone to that one fateful night. One contained a staff, one contained an old book which was simply titled "Spells" in gold, handwritten letters, and the middle one contained nothing more than a golden key on a small pedestal and a golden key hole which sat on the stone wall.

They answered the question as to why this version of the room of requirements would not appear on his map. Why when he entered the room his name disappeared as well. They answered quite a few mysteries…

Harry regretted looking at them and turned back to his potion.

They were not evil. But they were extremely dangerous.

Harry quickly stood and made a final check to make sure the potion was proceeding as planned and then the room. Once the room was in this shape one would need to leave for it to change again. You couldn't ask the room for anything in this shape, probably because the magic might interfere with the seals on the items. He fought the urge to glance at the three alcoves again before he quickly left the room and slammed the door behind him. He felt the door behind him disappear and he sighed in relief as he leaned back against the wall and slid down. Harry made a fist and slammed it into the floor hard enough that he felt pain.

I didn't realize it when I started the potion, but it is getting harder to ignore those items again. This isn't right. I will be glad when this potion is done. I need to resist it till then. It shouldn't be this hard, Voldemort hasn't killed any of my friends yet.

Yet?

He won't ever kill any of my friends if I have anything to say about it.

And I do!

Harry opened his eyes and took a deep breath before jumping back to his feet and walking down the hallway towards the Gryffindor tower.

It was time to rest. After all, the Yule Ball was only two nights away.


"I'm doomed."

Luna Lovegood sat on her bed with the curtains drawn staring at a piece of clothing laid out in front of her. It was a dress, one of her classic party dresses. Not that she ever went to parties, but still… it was good to have one just in case. It was a delightful pastel yellow with lavender ruffles around the sleeves, waist, elbows, and down around the skirt. It glowed in the dark as well. It had been one of her own creations.

"Doomed. Definitely doomed."

"Luna? What's going on? Doomed?"

Luna watched as a roundish face peered in through her curtains, completely ignoring her privacy, and stared at her. Then at her dress. Then at Luna again in horror.

"L…Luna? What… is… THAT?"

Luna sighed. Ruby Belle was one of weirder roommates. Luna couldn't fault her too much, as she was not outright mean to her compared to some of the others including her other two roommates, but she was odd. She spent way too much time on make-up and clothes in Luna's opinion and was always trying to give Luna fashion advice. Luna had her OWN fashion sense, and Ruby's was not it.

"It's a dress, Ruby."

"That is NOT a dress! That is not suitable for a human to wear at all! Why do you have it… oh! Oh no! Don't tell me you're going to… wear THAT to the Yule Ball?"

"I was…"

"NO! I forbid it! I absolutely forbid it! Of all of the worst possible outfits you could wear on your first date, not to mention to a BALL in front of the entire school dancing with Harry Potter, this is the WORST… POSSIBLE… OUTFIT… EVER!"

Ruby had thrown the curtains of Luna's bed back and was pacing the floor furiously.

Luna was honestly not that offended by Ruby's insulting of her clothing. Others did it to be mean, but Ruby just had a very brutally honest personality when it came to her fashion opinions. She often went on rants to other members of her house that would last hours into the night. It was starting to get on her nerves a little, though, as she was getting so loud and dramatic about just a simple dress.

Then again, she was right about it being her first date and the other things…

"Ruby, I don't have anything else. This is all I have."

"What? Only one dress? I have at least fifty in my trunk at any time, just in case. That won't do, we are not the same size, not close at all. I'm too tall and, well, a little more 'well-endowed', shall we say, and you don't need all that much room upstairs. Our skin isn't the same shade and our eyes are totally different! I couldn't even loan you one of mine and transfigure it to fit!"

Luna gave a small huff of annoyance. It wasn't her fault that she wasn't as 'blessed' genetically when it came to her 'upstairs'.

"I don't mean anything bad about it! You really have a lovely build. We just need something that I don't have… alright, I got it! This is the best idea I have ever had in… ever! I am going to make your dress for the ball."

Luna stared at the girl in shock as she started rummaging in her trunk and pulling out measuring tape before magically setting it to take Luna's measurements. Luna was yanked to her feet as the measuring tape took every possible measurement of her body.

"What? I can't have you do that, Ruby. That's too much, and the ball is only two days away!"

"Tut tut, think nothing of it! I hope you know that I am the BEST magical seamstress at Hogwarts right now and in the future I am going to start my own magical fashion line. This will be just a bit of practice for me. I already have all my school work till after the Yule Ball finished, so I'll just skip my classes tomorrow to finish the gown. Say cheese!"

"What?"

A flash went off and Luna blinked as Ruby took a magical photo.

"I need your colors with me, Luna, or your dress just won't look right on you despite the size." Ruby started through her trunk again and started pulling out bolts of various types and colors of cloth, completely ignoring Luna as she hummed to herself.

"Ruby, you can't…" Luna tried to stop her roommate but was passed by instead as she dumped all her fabrics on Luna's bed.

"Ruby, this isn't right. I don't have any way to pay you…"
"Pay me? Dear, dear Luna. You will not have to pay me. This is going to be my public debut! This will be the first time one of MY gowns will be in the spotlight. You will be dancing on the floor with THE HARRY POTTER, the-boy-who-lived, as the date of the FOURTH HOGWARTS CHAMPION in a triwizard tournament. Pictures are SURE to pop up in the news. Listen, to pay me back just do two things. First, if anyone asks about the dress tell them that Ruby Bell, the creator of the chique, unique, and magnifique, custom made it for you. Second, try to give Harry Potter a kiss."

"A… a what?" Luna almost choked on the air she was breathing at Ruby's statement.

"Of course, darling, what better way for my dress to make the front page of the Daily Prophet?"

Luna shook her head as Ruby held various fabrics up to her face.

"You have a beautiful blush, Luna!"

That wasn't helping things.

"Look, I can't promise that I will… that I…"

"Will kiss him? Open those eyes wide, dear!"

Luna opened her eyes wider. As Ruby energetically lifted fabrics to her eyes, she assumed to see if that matched or something. Luna honestly didn't care much about society's 'normal' fashion.

Not that anyone could have guessed that.

"It's just a dance, and we've only known each other for a little bit, and I don't think it's really a 'date' date, but maybe a 'friendly' date? Maybe? I don't know, alright? I've never done this before!"

Ruby gave Luna a kind smile that Luna had never seen from one of her classmates before. It was honestly shocking to see the girl that had so often ignored her unless she was critiquing her clothing choices to be sitting on her bed with her helping her find material for a dress like they were…

Friends.

"Luna, you just do what feels right to you. Just remember to credit me for the dress, ok?"

Luna was startled to find that a tear had made its way into the corner of her eye. She viciously rubbed it away.

"Why? Why are you doing this? Ruby, we've hardly said anything to each other for three years now."

Luna looked down at her lap where her hands were twisting a piece of fabric like it was their mortal enemy. She needed to know. This was new and she was in dangerous territory. She heard Ruby sigh.

"Luna, I don't think you are crazy. I think the people that call you that are just mean. I thought, until I heard you talking to yourself and peeked in just now, that you were just a girl that liked being alone and didn't have any idea what crimes against fashion you were committing. Always out of fashion ignorance, mind you, but you never seemed to care! Fashion is my life! So, I figured we wouldn't get along. But I realized just now that we are both girls, and you care enough about fashion to know that you need to look good for a date, so I'm going to help you! Every girl deserves to have a good first date, and, more importantly, to look good on that first date. I promise I'll help you make the Yule Ball a night for you and Harry to remember forever. It's what friends do."

Luna stared in shock at the face of Ruby who had paused her fabric search to grab her hands in hers. It was strange, but Luna thought back through the time she had known Ruby. Ruby had never called her Looney. Ruby had never stopped others from doing so, but she had also never taken part in it. She was nice to all the girls she interacted with, except when she was being brutal in her opinions on fashion, which she did even with her closer friends.

Ruby was a friend.

Not a close friend, not one that Luna thought she would share secrets with, and certainly not one she wanted to always be around with such different interests. But she considered herself to be Luna's friend.

Luna couldn't help it. She really couldn't. She had been trying to just stay clear of others, but didn't realize that she was really pushing people away. After years of being alone in her house with no one to talk to and no one who cared…she had a friend.

Tears came to her eyes and would not stop. Ruby seemed to understand and wrapped Luna in a hug which Luna didn't resist.

"Stop that! You're going to ruin your complexion."

This year was getting weirder and weirder.


Harry sat calmly sipping coffee in the Gryffindor common room participating in his new favorite past time that didn't involve Luna.

Watching his two INCREDIBLY awkward friends.

Ron Weasley was currently sitting across from Hermione Grainger. Studying. Quietly.

Because she asked him too.

But this wasn't normal studying. It was studying together! And both Ron and Hermione had semi-permanent blushes on their faces they entire time they were doing it.

Ron had finally gotten the nerve to ask Hermione to the dance. And she had said yes.

That was a while ago, right after the first test. And ever since then they had been acting like children with a crush they were too embarrassed to talk about.

Which, now that Harry though about it, was exactly the case. Sometimes he forgot that his friends were not as old as he last remembered them.

When Ron had announced to Harry in their dorm later that he had asked and she had said yes, Harry congratulated his best friend and instantly asked him about what he was wearing. Ron, who Harry knew would not have thought about it until it was too late, instantly had gone pale. Harry quickly started helping Ron with attempting to permanently transfigure his ancient, in both age and style, dress robes. Harry had already purchased some more fashionable dress robes at the beginning of the year in anticipation for this event.

Ron was immediately skeptical, being that permanent transfiguration was much more advanced than fourth years were supposed to be able to do, but Harry convinced him that with some extra work they would be able to do it or die trying.

Ron didn't like the sound of that, but Harry convinced him it would be worth it.

The robes were done, with a lot of help from Harry and some serious improvement in transfigurations by Ron, and all that was left was to get the two to talk to each other again. It would be a very awkward dance if the two didn't talk during it. Harry had various ideas, but he was running out of time. The ball was just around the corner.

"So… about the ball?"

Harry leaned forward in his seat to better hear. Ron had instigated a conversation. This was groundbreaking! Hermione looked up and tried to look him in the eyes without blushing and was only successful in the first part.

"Yes, what is it?"

"I… uh… I have dress robes."

"That's… nice?"

"Yeah."

Harry sank his face into his hands. His friends were being ridiculous! He gently put his cup down and shot to his feet before storming over to the table and slamming his hands down, which shocked his two friends greatly and knocked some of Hermione's books over. Hermione gave him her best glare. Yeah, it was a sin, but Harry was willing to accept her divine punishment if it meant getting his two friends back to some semblance of normal. He pointed at Ron.

"You!"

"Me?" Ron's voice squeaked comically.

"Tell her about your transfiguration work on those robes."

"Al…right?"

Harry shifted his finger to Hermione.

"You!"

"What?"

"Talk to this guy about what flowers you like and how much you like to dance. Offer to practice together."

"But…"

"No."

"But I have work in…"

"No. This is an order from your friend. You guys need to loosen up around each other. Go, dancing lessons are going on right now with McGonagall in the hall."

Both stared at him like he was telling them to jump in the lake with weight increasing charms on.

"Please."

Harry watched as both looked at each other and closed their texts and walked out the room. Harry heard as the portrait of the Fat Lady closed Hermione asking what Harry meant by the robes. With a smile Harry sat down with his notebook and picked his coffee back up.

It was a magical notebook, which should go without saying.

When someone would look at the pages they would be filled with what would appear to be notes on potions. What Harry saw, on the other hand, was a list of the major events between the current time and the end of the third task.

Yule Ball

Second Task

Third Task

Yeah, it wasn't a long list. There were more minor ones, such as quidditch games that he had gotten out of by saying he had too much to do with being a champion, but they were either distractions from the real goal or likely wouldn't happen with his current changing of the timeline. Those three were the only ones that mattered and were also the only ones that he was certain would happen.

There were a few extra notes scribbled beside each one about how he was going to get through the event. He had decided that 'winging it' like he had with the first task, was probably not a very good idea. He had come to the conclusion that it had been his demonstration of skills that no one had known he had that had led Barty Crouch Jr. to attempt his assault on Harry and Luna that day in the room of requirement. It would probably be wise to just use more traditional methods of rescuing the one who would be tied up at the bottom of the lake.

And so Harry was trying to plan out carefully exactly how he would do things.

As of yet he only had a few notes down next to the yule ball.

Go to the Yule Ball.

Don't screw it up.

It was about this time that Harry realized the most of his planning abilities were exclusive towards battle. With a sigh he closed the book and drained his remaining coffee. He really would be glad when this was over. He knew he had come back in time because there was nothing left for him in the future, and it was fantastic that he was here and his friends were alive. He had a second chance, and he could never be more grateful towards future-Dumbledore than he was.

But containing the knowledge of the future was honestly something he didn't consider himself up for. While he had been considered one of the major leaders in the war against Voldemort in the future, Harry himself had never wanted to be a leader. He didn't want that responsibility. It hadn't helped when his first mission that he planned and led without any experienced help had ended in the death of one of his friends.

Now he had more responsibility than ever before.

I'm going to be SO glad when this third task comes. I'll find some way to end this war before it begins. Destroy Voldemort and his most important followers in one attack. I have plenty of plans for when that comes.

But for now, he had only a tiny bit of time before his second 'first date' with Luna. His first 'first date' with the witch had not gone as expected, and he was really looking forward towards something more normal.


It was finally time.

Harry Potter stood over his bubbling cauldron with four bottles and carefully waved his wand to transfer the solid milk white potion into the containers. With another wave of his wand the bottles were sealed and shrunk and placed gently in a small bag he had charmed to help carry breakables without breaking them.

With a smile Harry banished the remaining potion and cleaned his work area of all signs he had been there. No reason to leave a mess, even though the chances of anyone ever getting into this room was nonexistent now that Harry had gone and re-stolen the lost diary of the founder and had secured it IN the room to which it held the password.

No one except Harry would ever come in here and he was determined to never come back.

One final time he glanced at the harmless looking wooden staff that rested in the right alcove. It looked like any ordinary stick, but Harry knew that if he touched it even once it would be the end of him.

"Enough of this room. I'm leaving."

Talking to himself seemed to help him resist the unknown force that was constantly drawing him to the three alcoves. He had not touched the book, and had no intention to. The key and the key hole were more than ominous. The writings about that alcove were all speculation, but Harry had a pretty good idea what would happen if he turned that key. The staff was his greatest temptation. Even from where he currently stood at the door, glancing back again, he could feel a pull from his very core towards that item. Like it was meant for him. But Harry knew that was not the case.

"One day I will find a way to get rid of you."

The staff didn't respond.

"I'm talking to a large piece of wood. I must really need some help."

It still didn't respond.

"Fine, be that way."

Harry spun and closed the door, shutting it quickly behind him and watched it disappear. With a quick turn he came face to face with someone he had not expected to see. Though not entirely unwelcome.

"Harry? What are you doing in… where did the door go?"

"Hello Ron, what are you doing all the way over here?"
Now Ron was getting curious.

"I asked you first, and where did you just come from? There was a door there, I saw it a moment ago!"

Harry paused for a half second, considering lying to keep this a secret between him and Luna. Then immediately turned that option down. Ron was his friend. His best friend. And this year had been a lot different than the last time and they were closer than ever. Ron would keep it a secret, if he could.

"It's the coolest thing, I found it out recently on accident and now I've been studying here some nights. Here, let me show you."

Harry turned and paced in front of the door a few times, letting it appear again. Ron gaped at the door and Harry opened it quickly to get him inside. The room was blank except for the fireplace and a couple chairs, but that was to be expected.

"It's… an empty room. Harry, please explain why this is, first, cool, and second, inside an invisible door."

"See that chair."

Harry pointed to one of the chairs by the fireplace.

"Yeah, of course I do."

"What color do you wish it was?"

"Huh? Color?"

"Yeah, if you could change its color, what color would it be?"

"I guess… red?"

And in front of their eyes the chair turned a brilliant Gryffindor red.

"Merlin… did I just do that?"
"No, the room did. It tries its best to create anything the occupants want. For example…"

With a thought, Harry filled the room with all sorts of tables and chairs, placing Chuddly Cannons posters on the walls, and generally making the room a much more 'Ron' place.

"Bloody hell, mate. This is…"

"Cool?"

Ron just nodded in shock. Harry led him to the chair by the fireplace and had him sit down. The room never would provide food or drink, but that was easily fixed as a house elf popped into the room with coffee and scones at Harry's mental request. It was the same thing he had done the original time he had brought Luna here, only then he had been able to plan ahead and have the drinks ready.

Harry sat drinking coffee and watched as Ron looked at the scones. He wasn't eating them. He didn't even look hungry.

Something was terribly wrong.

"Ron, what were you doing all the way over on this side of the school? This is way out of our ordinary paths."

Ron shrugged before grabbing a scone and nibbling on it. Normally three would have been gone by now. Harry wasn't buying it.

"Come on, Ron. The yule ball is tomorrow night, surely you are excited?"
Ron looked sick for a moment and then put his scone down. He gave Harry a weird look which Harry had no idea what it meant.

"Harry… would Hermione hate me for all eternity if I didn't take her to the ball?"

"Yes."

Harry answered so fast and assuredly that Ron sunk into his chair with a look of extreme pain on his face.

"You're right. And I do want to take her. I asked her, made things awkward, didn't do much of anything after which made things even MORE awkward, and now I'm getting ready to take one of my best friends on a d…d…date."

"So?"

Ron stared at him like he had grown a second head.

"So? SO? This isn't normal, Harry!"

"Yeah, it is."

Harry sipped some coffee while Ron fumed before continuing.

"Ron, it is perfectly normal to be nervous or worried about a date, especially one with a girl you really like."

"You don't seem all that worried, Harry. What does that mean?"

"Oh, I'm nervous, alright. But I try very hard to not show it. You are probably the better off one between the two of us. Hermione isn't exactly acting normal either. She's much more awkward and nervous around you now."

"See!? She probably hates me…"

"Ron, she's acting like you are. Do you hate her?"

"No."

"Then why would you think she hates you if you two are acting exactly the same?"

Ron stared into space for a few minutes before drinking some of his own coffee. Ron swallowed with a grimace.

"How can you drink this stuff, mate? It's too bitter."
"Yeah, I guess I like mine a bit bitter. Others traditionally add cream or sugar to curb that bitterness."

Ron just nodded before continuing to think to himself. Despite what others thought of the boy, he was not as brash as he first appeared. He was often quiet and reflective when by himself, but when he was with others he would react without thinking to others. Harry had long ago learned to give him his time.

"You're right, of course. Harry, what is up with you this year?"

Harry choked a little on his coffee and put it down. He had hoped not to have this conversation with Ron and Hermione, but knew it was going to happen sooner or later.

"What do you mean, exactly?"

"Train, screaming, Luna Lovegood, messing with Draco, all your classes, Potions, SNAPE, the dragon fight, and more! I'm thinking that magically core thingy that happened on the train ride also messed your brain up a little. You don't study with us as much as you used to…"

"I'm just giving you space with Hermione."

"Let me finish, mate. You don't study with us, but your grades are obviously better. You are being polite to Snape, and you have made friends with Luna Lovegood."

"Ron…" Harry gave Ron a warning look.

"Don't give me that look! I'm not insulting her or anything, but I grew up with her and I know she's had issues. Ginny wasn't really silent about it. But me and you had NEVER been around her before the train ride and now you're basically in a relationship. You have got to admit, that was fast!"

"Not as fast as some…"

"But you aren't those 'some', Harry. You are smarter than me…"

"Don't put yourself down, mate!"

"You know it, I know it, Hermione knows it. You're smarter, and more level headed, but you asked a girl you had only known for a few weeks to the Yule Ball. A few weeks! I've had time to… know… Hermione since first year."

"You meant to say 'crush on Hermione since first year'."

"Sure, fine. I admit it. The teasing was always sorta a way to get her attention, and then she became our friend. But there are other things, weird things, mate. You are behaving differently this year. It's not 'good', it's not 'bad', but it is absolutely different. You, Harry Potter, who by your own words haven't had a normal life, are constantly offering me love advice! No offense."

"None taken."

"You understand where I'm coming from? Normally it would be Hermione who would bring this up, she's much more perceptive about things with you. She has noticed, but we were talking…"

"FINALLY!"

"Shut it. We were talking after you kicked us out of the common room last night. She has noticed these things, too, but she doesn't want to bring it up. Do you know why?"

Harry leaned forward. He was honestly a little confused. Hermione not approaching him about something? This was not usual. She was very forward when she needed answers.

"She is worried that you're drawing away from us. I mean, we always would eat together, study together, spend free time together. We were a trio. This year we've been a duo, and sometimes a duo plus one. She doesn't want to push the subject with you because she is afraid she'll push you further away. She's worried that she's losing a friend, Harry. And before us do you remember how many she had?"

Harry sat back in his chair with a slightly shocked look on his face.

Ron was right.

He had not even thought about how he was acting with his friends. Of course he wasn't behaving the same, that was a given, but had he really been going so far as to drive Hermione and Ron to think they weren't his best friends?

"I know better, of course. It's just that you are SOOO in LOOOVE with Luna Lovegood that you can't even think straight. I told her that a few times, even brought up your pants-as-a-shirt moment. It helped, and I understand, but I she would rather things were back the way they were. Not with Luna, I think she likes her more than she lets on. Just… maybe you could study with us more often? I mean, it's no big deal. You can sneak off to the broom closet with Luna anytime."

Harry rolled his eyes. It was a semi-serious issue and here Ron was making light of it. Even so, Harry could sense that it wasn't just Hermione that he had been bothering.

In all honesty, I think that was what I missed most about him. He could lighten the mood with a few words, no matter how down it seemed.

"I'll talk with her after the ball. I'm sorry, Ron, if I've seemed to be ignoring you two. You two are my closest friends and have been beside me through everything these last few years. You will always be my first and best two friends."

"Yeah, yeah. Don't get all sappy on me, mate." Ron sipped his coffee with a grimace. Harry gave a smirk.

"No hugs?"

Ron choked on his coffee as Harry laughed. When he had finally regained his composure, Harry noticed that something was different about Ron.

"Ron, what is with your hair?"

Ron gave his own satisfied smirk and ran a hand through his now styled hair that looked like a model's hair with a fan permanently blowing at it.

"I charmed it, thought Hermione might like the extra effort tonight."

"Tonight?"

Ron stared at Harry like he was going more crazy than usual.

"Yeah. Tonight? You know? The ball? It's in barely an hour."

Harry stared at him before answering him in a calm manner.

"What?"

"Yeah, tonight. I think you have your days all mixed up, didn't you mention the ball being tomorrow? It's tonight. Hey, aren't you supposed to be there to process in and whatever?"

Harry stared at Ron like a deer caught in the headlights for almost ten seconds. Then, before Ron had time to blink, he was gone. Ron shrugged and continued eating his scones and coffee, figuring Harry had just rushed off with his invisibility cloak. He hadn't seen him move, which was strange, but what wasn't this year.


Luna Lovegood sat in front of a mirror in her room staring at the image that it was showing her, wondering if it had been charmed but knowing that it was not. She had even used the magic eye spell Harry had taught her to check.

But what she was seeing was beyond impossible.

"Well? You have just been sitting there like you have seen a ghost! You don't like it, do you? OH NO! My first dress for someone else is a FAAAIILURE!"

Luna spun in her seat to see Ruby weeping on her bed like someone had died. She was quick to stand and go to her new friend.

"No! No, Ruby, I love it! I do, really!"

The girl peeked out from her fingers as her face was in her hands.

"Really?"

Luna gave a soft smile. Her new friend was very confident, but didn't take rejection well.

"Really. I have never seen something so beautiful."

It wasn't really the truth, as Luna had seen many beautiful things in nature that the dress didn't compare to. But, if she was being completely honest with herself…

I look… pretty!

Luna had been flat out shocked when Ruby had magically removed her blindfold that she had been forced to wear while Ruby had helped her get dressed. She had not wanted Luna to see the dress until she had been 'fully prepared'. Luna had no idea what that had meant at the time, but it had apparently meant Ruby waving her wand around Luna, doing her hair and putting on some make-up, for almost a full hour. Luna never used make-up, but Ruby had insisted. And when Ruby insists there was very little Luna could do. She had made sure that there wasn't a lot, which was Luna's only demand.

When she had seen herself in the mirror she had not recognized herself. It was like she was looking through a window instead of at a mirror. The girl that looked back at her with those large silver eyes had beautiful pale blonde hair done in some complicated braids that ran around her head before trailing down her back. The gown she wore was fit for a ball. It was a variety of colors that seemed to magically shift slowly around the dress, white, lavender, pale blues and greens. It seemed alive, almost natural. She had felt the sleeves go on, and while they reached her wrists they were nearly transparent, yet still shifting colors. The rest of the gown was more solid, thank Merlin, as she had no desire to go out in public with a transparent gown. The fabric of the dress reached all to way up to her neck, Ruby had somehow known that Luna had no desire to draw attention to her less then well-endowed… chest.

It reached all the way to the floor and looked like it should weigh a ton, but was surprisingly light. If she hadn't have been so shocked through Ruby's initial explanation, she would have probably heard the girl mention the weight reducing charms.

Luna had never looked so nice.

Ruby jumped from her bed like she had not just been weeping a moment before.

"Fantastic! I was sure this dress would suit you, Luna! It fits you perfectly! The colors totally fit you, and I know how much you like it when they move around. I have seen your regular clothes enough."

Luna turned to face the mirror again and silently agreed. This was perfect. She did like the colors, they reminded her of the flowers at her house, and the way they slowly shifted reminded her of the blossoms blowing in a soft wind…

"Ruby… I have never had something this beautiful before. This is the most…"

"Yes yes, of course it is. I made it after all."

Luna giggled. There was the Ruby she had come to know over the last two days.

"I still don't see why you must wear those earrings, but they don't exactly clash with the whole outfit. I guess it is fine..."

Luna had insisted that she wear her dirigible plum earrings, if just to have something of herself. They did seem a little off from the rest of the outfit, but honestly Luna was a little 'off' herself.

"Now Luna, it's about time you start heading down there, isn't it? I mean, it's almost time to start. Can I walk you down?"

Luna continued to stare at the mirror in shock.

It's really happening now, isn't it? It's finally time. This is everything I have been worrying about and looking forward to since the year began.

Oh, I hope I don't make Harry look bad.

"Alright. Let's go."


Luna sat on the steps outside of the great hall with her chin resting in her hands, calmly waiting for Harry Potter. Ruby was standing nearby, talking with someone she knew about the wonderful gown Luna was wearing, though Luna wasn't paying that much attention to her.

Harry wasn't here. He was running late. Ron had told her this as he had walked in to the ball with an absolutely gorgeous Hermione Grainger on his arm. She was surprised that he had been able to talk at all, what with his face blushing so hard it matched his hair. And his nice red and black dress robes.

Hermione wasn't exactly completely composed either. They looked amazing together. I wonder when they decided to be in a relationship?

I wonder if Harry and I will look good together?

Stop that, brain. It isn't about how we look, it's about how we are together.

I wonder if Harry and I will look like we are together?

I wonder if Harry and I are together?

I wonder when I will stop wondering these things to myself.

All the other champions and their dates were already lined up. Victor Krum was taking a very beautiful girl from Beauxbatons. Fleur was taking Roger Davies, the most handsome boy in Ravenclaw according to her dormmates. She didn't even need magic sight to see that he was so charmed by the part Veela that he could barely see straight. Luna didn't mind. Roger was never a very nice boy, it was interesting to see the boy that was so often composed falling head over heels to be near the girl. Cedric Diggory was taking Cho Chang, who was casting odd looks towards Luna. Luna honestly had no idea what the deal was until Ruby came up.

"Luna, I'm going back to the dorm. I wasn't invited or anything, so I might as well get going. You look amazing, by the way. I thought I was going to need to make the best dress ever for you to even stand next to the other champions and their dates, but it looks like I pulled out all the stops for nothing. You are in the best dress of anyone here, BY FAR, and that's not just me complimenting myself. Oh well, good luck!"

Ruby hopped down the stairs and was gone before Luna could ask what she meant.

She wasn't seriously saying the Cho Chang was jealous of her dress?

Before she could think about it another moment Professor Dumbledore himself came out the doors with a look of worry on his face.

"Where is Harry Potter? We must begin immediately, it is already past time to begin! Miss Lovegood, have you seen Mr. Potter today?"

Luna shook her head no, but was secretly wondering why the elderly wizard looked so worried. From what she understood the Yule Ball was tradition, but not a part of the official Triwizard Tournament, so if Harry didn't show all it would do would crush Luna's heart.

I won't let it. If he doesn't come it will be like none of this ever happened. I will NOT let it affect me.

Oh, who am I kidding. Like Ginny said, I am all in at this moment.

"That is not good, not good at all…"

But before Dumbledore could finish his thought Luna saw his usual smile return and a twinkle appear in his eye and what she assumed was a sigh of relief. She heard from behind her some running footsteps and then suddenly someone was next to her.

"Sorry Professor. Time got away from me."

"Time and you don't often seem to be friends, Mr. Potter."

Luna was a little confused as the boy next to her and the headmaster shared a short laugh. The other students there were also confused. Luna turned and was finally able to see the boy next to her.

It was merely coincidence that he had turned at the exact same time and caught her eyes.

Harry Potter was wearing some pure white dress robes that almost glowed, they were so white. There were some dark green accents around them, his tie was also the color of pine. It was similar to Slitherin green, but not so close that people would be confused.

Handsome…

Stop that, brain.

Can't help it, he looks amazing. Even with that messy hair. And his mouth hanging open all slack jawed like it is. Is that drool?

Harry Potter's hair didn't look different than usual, if slightly windswept from what she assumed was running here.

Harry Potter's mind, however, was not exactly working on all cylinders. If Luna had been able to read his thoughts at that moment, she would have heard something akin to white noise.

Where the hell did this come from? When did Luna have this dress? When did Luna do her hair or put on ANY make-up? What… where… when…

Definitely a good change.

Harry had run all the way from his room to the great hall, even using magic to help him run faster. He had put off some of his last minute plans until the last minute, mainly because he had gotten off by a day working on his potion. He had needed to run to the greenhouse first, then shower, change, and sprint full speed to here where he found this person instead of the girl he was expecting.

He had kinda expected her to wear the horrible frilly ensemble that she had worn in the future on their first, and last, date. He wouldn't have minded, Luna looked good in anything, but what she was in now…

Well, this was new.

And beautiful beyond words.

He almost forgot to close his mouth in his disbelief until Luna gave a small giggle.

Never believed in gods before, but here is an angel right in front of me. Maybe I should consider it…

"Well, now that everyone is finally here, let's get started."

Dumbledore turned and the great hall's doors magically flung open. As the other champions started moving in Harry turned to Luna.

"Luna, you look absolutely beautiful tonight."

Harry was pleased to see her cheeks turn pink before she barely whispered a thanks. Harry reached into one of his sleeves and drew out a small sprig of holly which had some red berries still on it.

"May I?"

Luna couldn't breathe, let alone answer, so she nodded. Harry Potter placed it delicately in her hair over her ear where her wand often would go. When his fingers barely brushed her ear she almost gasped. Her thoughts about her reactions and about how she was in WAY over her head had been thrown all the way into the back of her mine. Before her was the boy dressed to impress and it was for her. He called her beautiful.

She wasn't the swooning type, but she was fighting really hard to stay focused with all the blood in her body rushing to her cheeks.

"Well, are you ready?"

Luna almost asked, "Ready for what," before she saw him offer her arm and remembered that they were about to go past three whole schools and dance.

Once again, speechless, she nodded and wrapped her arm in his.

Speechless again? You are in trouble now…

Shut up. I'm going to dance with Harry now.

Luna gave a bright smile to Harry, which seemed to make his smile bigger, before turning and letting Harry lead her into the great hall.

It was beautiful! For an instant Luna thought they had gone outside instead of into the great hall. Great evergreen trees decorated the far end of the hall where the teachers table usually sat. Magical snow and ice decorated everything in a beautiful white, and only seemed to make Harry's outfit more amazing. She barely noticed the looks of the people she was passing by on the way to the front, though Harry did. He didn't care about the looks he got, but he was smirking on the inside with every shocked look he saw directed at Luna.

No one, not even Harry Potter, had known that Luna Lovegood could look so amazing.

Before Luna had realized it they were on the dance floor. The other champions were already there and ready. Luna gracefully turned and placed her left hand on Harry's back and her right was grasped loosely by Harry's. She tensed a moment as his other hand, ever so gently, came to rest her side, but mentally screamed at herself to relax.

She would never be able to dance if she wasn't relaxed.

And then the music started.

And they began to dance.

Harry was instantly pleased to see that Luna knew how to dance. He had been practicing, and, while not being the best dancer in the world, was much better than he had been the last time. That had been bad.

This was not.

No, this was easy. It was peaceful, and fun! Harry switched his hands in perfect time to the music and Luna did the same. They both smiled brilliantly at the other, each causing the other to blush. Harry smiled even more. With a small pull of his hand he gave Luna a twirl that caused her dress to spin up and brush his leg. It was beautiful. He had been in a hurry and had not had time to truly appreciate it yet. The colors were perfect for her and seemed to move as she danced. As Luna came out of the twirl she gave a small giggle.

"Oh, was that fun?"

Luna smiled at him in a way that made his heart race.

"Maybe."

Harry raised an eyebrow as he switched hands again with Luna. Luna Lovegood being coy? He saw that her head drooped a little as her shyness somewhat returned.

"Maybe I'll have to do it again, then, hm?"

Luna's eyes raised up again, her smile fully back on her face. Before she could respond Harry lifted her off her feet like she weighed nothing, causing Luna to give a small gasp. She had almost forgotten that part of the dance! He put her back down with a gentleness that made her think he was trying to handle her with care.

The music continued and Harry and Luna danced without a care, not even noticing when other people slowly came out on to the dance floor and joined the champions. Luna's eyes never left Harry's and his never left hers. It was surreal until with a cadence the music was done and applause filled the air. Harry was pleased to see that Luna was just as disappointed that the song was done as he was. He leaned down a tiny bit and spoke into her ear.

"May I have first dance after dinner, my lady?"

Luna gave a small shiver at the feel of his breath on her ear. She swore he was doing that on purpose. But her smile brightened right up even then.

"I doubt you will have much competition for that position, my lord."

Harry gave a small laugh as he offered his arm to her. It wasn't a mean laugh, she thought, almost one of disbelief. They moved through the crowd towards the front where the champion's meals were being set.

"I am flattered that your attention was on me, but surely you noticed the looks you have been getting?"

Harry smiled as Luna wore a confused face. It was very cute.

"No, I haven't."

"The only men likely to not ask you for a dance are Ron, cause he knows not to, and Professor Snape. I wasn't kidding when I said you looked beautiful. You have always looked nice, but now I think some of the people who have been ignoring you are paying attention. Well, let me tell you that I will be filling your card tonight, so when half of Durmstrang asks you for a dance after dinner tell them you're taken."

Luna gave a small giggle as Harry pulled her chair out for her to sit in before sitting in his spot next to her. She was feeling exceptionally brave today, like she could do anything and get away with it. She didn't fully believe Harry, but it was nice of him to say it.

"What if I want to dance with someone else, Harry?"

For a moment she saw his face darken slightly, his brows knit and has smile droop slightly, but she couldn't maintain a straight face and Harry caught on to her in a second.

"Luna Lovegood, I'll have you know that I am a very jealous date."

They both shared a small laugh as the food appeared before everyone in the hall. The stew looked amazing. She picked her spoon up and immediately took a big bite.

"Hmmm. It's delicious! Harry, the food is…"

Luna dropped her spoon in her stew with a plop. Harry Potter was gone. One moment he was sitting next to her, picking up his spoon, and then the next…

He was gone.

Luna gasped along with every student and professor in the hall that had witnessed the disappearance. Behind her she could hear Dumbledore order no one to move and then wave his hand at the doors, sealing the entire hall.

Luna didn't care, she wasn't going anywhere.

Harry Potter had vanished.