Chapter 14: Yule ball, the good, the bad and the ugly.
AN: Thank you for all the reviews!! Love them all! Now this chapter is going to start off nice and fluffy but by the end... I think you'll hate me (Especially if you're a Ginny lover) So, when I give the warning, if you do not want to read a rather adult and forced situation, I suggest you skip and go to the bottom and review. Other than that enjoy reading!! (And if you've been waiting for some Ron bashing, you'll like this chapter) And it was ties for the Tonks/Oc/Remus thing, so I'm going to have a little fun with them instead!!
Disclaimer: I don't own, yadda, yadda, yadda...
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The day of the Yule ball, 21st December.
For once, tradition had been flouted, as the Yule ball was supposed to be held on Christmas day, but since many students wished to celebrate with their families, Albus had decided to hold the ball a few days early, so students could get home in time for Christmas. This included Harry. Sirius had arranged it to be held at the revamped Potter home in Godrics Hollow. He had hired Remus to do the job, and invited the werewolf over for Christmas, along with all the Tonk's, Velvet, Hermione (Her parents were on their second honeymoon and Hermione had no desire to be scarred for life) and had even given Jasmine an invite, who would come for Christmas day with her cousin. All the offers had been accepted but poor Harry was still in the dark... Not that he minded, it would be his first Christmas with a family, his family and he didn't mind where it was, along as it was held.
Harry had been practising his dancing in the room of requirement, as he had never danced in his life and had no desire to break Hermione's toes and end up in the doghouse. So he had practised and hopefully was good enough to grace the floor with Hermione in his arms.
Although he was still hellishly nervous, and was fiddling with the bow-tie on his dress robes. Harry was wearing a replica (according to Sirius) of his fathers dress robes on his graduation day. They were almost like a muggle tuxedo, but with a cloak and clasp. His bow-tie was bottle green and he proudly wore the crests of both the house of Potter and Black on his left breast.
But if he was nervous, Sirius was a wreck. He was dressed almost nigh on identical to his adopted son but was far paler, and had a sheen of sweat across his brow. He was more nervous because he had a major gamble riding on tonight. He hoped it worked.
The pair were waiting just outside Sirius's guest quarters, the other ambassadors having passed by several minutes ago, when Jasmine and her date swanned past. Jasmine was looking elegant in a slim black dress her red hair done up high in a bun, the dress shimmering as she walked, flashing a little pale, creamy skin as she walked by. She flashed the pair a smile and blew them a kiss as she walked by, her cherry red lipstick a stark contrast against her pale face. Her date was a tall blond man, with the most ice blue eyes Sirius had ever seen. He too was dressed similar to them and flashed them a small grin as he walked by, arm in arm with Jasmine. The pair only had to wait a few more moments before their respective dates came down the stairs and approached them.
First was Hermione and Harry felt his breath catch in his throat. He wanted to catch this moment, bottle it and sample it for eternity. Just for tonight, gone was the logical, book-smart Hermione. Tonight, in her place was a creature of rare and elegant grace, beauty and poise. Resplendent in a periwinkle blue dress, shimmering with fairy sparkles, she came down the stairs a pair of elegant cream flats on her feet. Her hair was flat, the curls gone, cascading in a wave of sleek and glossy hair, framing her cream face in shimmering brown. She flashed Harry a smile, an emerald glimmering in the hollow of her throat as she came down in front of him. "Cat got your tongue?" She asked, trailing one hand down the edge of Harry's robes.
Harry swallowed, shook himself out of his stupor and took Hermione's hand in his and smiled "No, but you certainly did. You look wonderful Hermione..."
She blushed prettily, and murmured a thank you against him as they waited for Velvet to grace them with her presence. And grace them with her presence, she did. Coming down the stairs, Velvet was dressed in a fine blood-red satin gown and it clung to her like a second skin. Flaring at mid thigh, the dress accentuated her long legs, hips and breasts. She came regally down the stairs, her poise elegant and imperious, looking cool, calm and collected. She smiled at Sirius her dark lashes fluttering at him, her dark hair, trimmed and tied, just above her bare shoulders. Sirius thought he was going to die. If he did, he would die a happy, happy man. "Have I given him a heart attack yet?" Velvet said dryly, looking at the two dashing teens.
"Not yet" Hermione said slyly "Though you might end up doing that tonight"
"Hermione!" Harry hissed, gently nudging her with his elbow, as Sirius and Velvet flamed red.
"And what if we do Miss. Granger hmm?" Velvet remarked, a challenge in her eyes.
"At least use a silencing charm..." Came the sharp retort, leaving the older two speechless. "Now are we going to flap and yap all night, or can we go dancing... Harry needs to open this along with the other champions remember?" Giving into the force that is Hermione Granger, the two pairs descended down to the great hall to join the Yule ball.
And join the Yule ball they did. Coming down the steps to the great hall, arm in arm, the two pairs brushed past the silent crowd. Whispers broke out as they passed people commenting on Hermione especially "Is that Granger? !" was one of the comments that flew around the entrance and Harry smiled, feeling Hermione's disbelief through their tentative bond that people thought she was beautiful. She turned her eyes to Harry and Harry smiled as she cast her eyes down, embarrassed by the attention she was gathering. Velvet however was thriving on it, her long neck held high as she held herself by Sirius's side.
"Champions please! Champions over here please!" There was no mistaking Professor McGonagall's voice and Harry and Hermione quickly wound their way through the crowd arriving first, as the other champions and their dates lined up behind them. Harry shot a quick look over his shoulder and saw Cedric with Cho Chang, both dressed in yellow, in support of Cedric's house, Fleur was with Roger Davies from Ravenclaw, who currently looked as though he couldn't hold a coherent sentence, let alone dance. Harry's eyes settled on Krum and he felt his blood boil, there by his side was a near replica of Hermione. Hermione had sense the spike in his temper and looked back too her eyes widening with shock. The girl looked near on identical to Hermione, however her eyes were the wrong shade of brown and she was taller than Hermione, far more near Krum's own height. The girl looked like she wanted to be anywhere else right about now and seemed almost bored with Krum.
"Now" The sharp tone of their head of house snapped them from their musings and they looked at the stern transfiguration teacher. "You are representing your schools, and I want you to behave and there. Now, go in there and do your best!" And with those words, Minerva pushed the doors to the great hall open and led the champions in. The hall was decked in white, with trees glimmering with fairies, icicles hanging from the ceiling, boughs of holly, tinsel and mistletoe all scattered over the hall. Light sparkled from the ice, twinkling motes of light dancing across the hall, over tables arranged around a dance floor.
Further near the back of the hall, there lay a long table, wreathed in white tinsel, the judge and teachers table, and close by that there was a stage with musical instruments around it. There was a large harp, several guitars, a drum kit and a classical piano lay just off the stage. The musicians were already gearing up, the faint notes of a waltz just beginning as a buxom young witch sat down at the piano and played a few notes. Seeing the champions arriving, she sat down and began to play a faint few notes, as the rest of the schools arranged themselves at the tables, as the champions stood in the middle of the dance floor, ready to begin.
As the students settled down, the judges, Headmaster and the rest of the teachers came into the room and sat at the long table. "You may open the ball" Dumbledore said simply, nodding towards the band. The band members looked at each other and struck up a waltz, the music flowing over the hall. The champions took off, dancing around the floor, spinning twirling and pirouetting as they opened the ball. There were various reactions, to the main pair that most peoples eyes were on. Gone were the shy, awkward and slightly angry young man, and in his place was a graceful young man, sure in his posture and poise. And his partner was an elegant, blossoming beauty, sure in her pose, her back no longer bent under heavy tomes. They cut a smooth path across the dance floor, out dancing the other couples, their heads bent close to each other, whispering as they glided over the floor.
"Harry?"
"Yes Hermione?"
"Where did you learn to dance?"
Harry's wicked smile made Hermione shiver as an unknown thrill shot through her veins. He lent his forehead against hers his eyes inches from hers. "I practised" he whispered, chills dancing over Hermione's spine as his words tickled her ear.
"Why Harry?" she asked, looking at him.
A gentle smile curved Harry's lips, as the song changed, and they shifted into the faster beat, as other couples joined the dance floor. "Because I wanted to surprise you Hermione. I wanted to be the best for you" he said softly, as they wrapped themselves even closer to each other.
Hermione sighed, snuggled in close to Harry's chest, her head leaning on his developing muscles. "That's sweet Harry, thank you." she looked up "but you didn't have to, I love you anyway, whether you dance well or not. But the thought is sweet." Harry's chest rumbled in a laugh and he held her tight, as they swayed around the dance floor. As they swayed around the floor, they looked at the other couples who were dancing. They passed near Cho and Cedric, who looked bored silly from Cho asking about the dresses and looks of the other dancers. Krum and his date were dancing well, but his date looked as though she wanted to be far, far away. Fleur looked annoyed with Roger, as she had the charm up too high and he was almost a dribbling idiot, having to be dragged around the floor by his date.
Other couples were dancing around the floor, couples they knew dancing by. A trio swung past and the pair blinked. "Fred, George?" Harry asked, as they swung by again. The troublesome pair laughed as they swung by with a blond girl in between the pair of them. "Luna?" Hermione said, her eyes wide with shock.
The couple had stopped at the edge of the floor and Fred, George and Luna stopped nearby, all wearing beaming smiles. "Harry!" The twins said in unison, grinning like loons "We'd like you to meet -"
"The delectable"
"The dashing"
"The devious"
"And our date... Luna lovegood!"
Harry frowned "That gets very annoying, very quickly you two" he said, sighing in mock-exaggeration.
"We try!" The twins said, smirking.
"Oh hush you two, before I set a wrackspurt on you" the blond, Luna stated, her wide silvery, grey-blue eyes filled with mirth. The twins shivered in mock terror, Hermione and Harry watching with bemused expressions on their faces. "Well you...three enjoy yourselves now" Hermione said finally, dragging Harry back onto the dance floor. The trio spun by a few minutes later, Luna wedged in between the two twins, a wicked grin on her face. "I don't even want to know how that works" Harry remarked dryly as they continued dancing.
"Luna's an unusual girl. I tutored her briefly this year in runes. She's brilliant, almost to the point of being scary" Hermione said, as they twirled in a spin.
"Remind you of anyone?" Harry said with a slight chuckle, getting a poke in the ribs for his 'witty' remark. "Honestly woman! I'm going to be bruised come morning!"
"You'll be more than bruised I hope" Hermione said, a gleam in her eyes that set Harry's pulse racing.
"You promise?" Harry said breathlessly as Hermione gave him a small, wicked nod. He kissed her on the dance floor then, their tongues dancing together as heat rose unbidden between the pair, trying to minimise the gap between them. Magic danced between their bond, each other feeling what the other was feeling as well and it only shot them higher and higher, until hit by a conjured ice cube. Having cold ice sliding down your spine, is more than enough to put any off 'the mood'. Harry shot a glare over his shoulder, to see Sirius's dark eyes meeting his own, a small word of warning held in the dark orbs. Harry sighed and inclined a nod at his adopted father. Hermione looked over Harry's shoulder and saw velvet shake her head in a small gesture, steering Sirius away from the dancing couple. "Velvet is a star" Hermione said, as they left the floor.
"You mean keeping my father on a short leash?" Harry said, rolling his eyes as they sat down at a table, Neville, Ginny, the twins and Luna joining them. Greetings were passed around as they all sat looking at the menu cards placed in front of them. "What are we supposed to do with theses?" George asked, looking at the card, whilst Luna balanced hers on her head.
"Barbary Duck!" she said, her eyes looking off into the distance, as the dish appeared on her plate in front of her. The others all shared looks that said 'oh... are we that stupid?'. They all ordered their respective dishes the men all ordering steak (Harry ordered blue) , Hermione ordering the duck like Luna, whilst Ginny had a Caesar salad. The group ate ate the table, whilst some couples kept dancing on the floor. People drifted to tables, leaving only one couple left on the floor.
Velvet and Sirius.
Harry watched his father from the corner of his eye, and saw a small hand gesture directed towards one of the band members. Harry stiffened. It was an auror hand gesture, meaning 'now'. Harry had been taught some and it was one of the few he knew. "Hermione... Sirius is up to something!" Harry said urgently, drawing the bushy haired witches attention to the revolving pair. The music changed suddenly, from a slow tune, to something a little more rocky. Harry saw Velvet stiffen and Hermione drew in a breath.
"I know that song! It's a muggle one... Black Velvet"
Harry's jaw hit the floor, the cogs in his brain doing the maths.
Black Velvet and that little boy smile!
Black Velvet in that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring you all to your knees...
Black Velvet if you please...
Sirius dropped to one knee, producing a black box, as the musical chords died away. "Well, you heard the words Velvet" He said shakily, sucking in a breath. "Will you be Black Velvet... Will you marry me?"
There was silence in the hall, bated breath as all eyes were fixed on Velvet's unmoving form, her hands covering her mouth in shock. She licked her lips once, and got down on one knee, looked Sirius dead in the eyes, black meeting black and said...
"Yes you dumb mutt, I'll marry you" There was a roar from the crowd, Sirius slipping the ring on her finger, a tear slipping from his eye as he took Velvet in his arms and kissed her. Harry and Hermione slipped through the gathering congratulatory crowd just in time to hear Velvet say "And you just had to use that song didn't you?" she muttered, her chin resting on Sirius shoulder.
"I thought it was oddly appropriate" Sirius muttered back.
Velvet snorted. "Considering my mother named me after that song, then yes... it is appropriate. But annoying." she said softly, her eyes meeting Harry's.
Harry approached her softly and looked at her, "Do I have a mother now?" he said quietly, their gazes holding each other for a timeless moment.
Velvet had always had emotional barriers, to help with work, her memories and to distance herself from others. As soon as Harry said those six words, they shattered, like so much fragile glass and she gathered the slight teen in her arms. "If you'll let me Harry... I'll be that and so much more" she felt Harry shift slightly under her arms and he pulled back looked at her dead on, before hugging her once more. Sirius looked at the scene and smiled. Velvet could never really replace Lily, nor would she try, but she would do her best and Harry would have a special place in her heart, always.
Hermione was stood besides him, and smiled almost sadly. Was she going to be replaced. "I need some air Sirius... I'll be in the courtyard" she said sadly, leaving the hall.
"Where'd Hermione go?" Harry asked... several minutes later.
Sirius hadn't heard her go, too stunned by everything...
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Courtyard
Hermione heaved a sigh, her periwinkle blue dress billowed around her as she sat down on a bench, looking around at the bushes and the dresses. "Who am I kidding?" She said to herself, "I'll never be good enough for the wizarding world for Harry. I'm just a bushy haired, buck toothed know-it-all, muggleborn witch. What do I have?"
"Me" Harry's soft voice stopped her tirade and she looked at him. "You have me" he said softly stepping forward as though she would bolt at any moment. "You have me all Hermione. I should be the one asking am I good enough for you?" Hermione closed her eyes and her imagination stopped the image of Harry talking. That would never happen as life was not a fairytale. Harry would not come charging in on a white steed and tell her that he loved her. Faintly she cursed her imagination.
"That is very becoming of you Miss. Granger" A faint voice said, turning into the figure of the divination teacher. "Doubting yourself like that..." Jasmine sat down on the bench besides the quiet Hermione and sighed "Velvet will not replace you. Do you think Harry looks at you like a mother figure? Unless he has an Oedipus complex, I think he is very much in love with you" she said softly, looking pointedly at Hermione.
Hermione opened her mouth once and then shut it, looking pensive for a moment. "Yes, but the wizarding world won't think I'm good enough -"
"That's trash and you know it Hermione" Jasmine said forcefully "The rest of the wizarding world can go hang quite frankly, who are they to tell you who you can or can't love?" The divination teacher/dragoness looked at Hermione and saw a small nod from one the best students in the school. "Now do not brow beat yourself. You are young, beautiful and in love. Enjoy the night. But do be careful, the over grown bat is stalking the hedges deducting points..." Jasmine got up and left, her red dress trailing behind her.
"Thank you professor" She heard from behind her.
"No thanks are needed Miss. Granger. Someone had to get you out of your funk didn't they?" Jasmine said whilst walking back into the hall, leaving Hermione to her thoughts. Jasmine had made it to the entrance of the hall, when a hand clasped her wrist. "Thalron" Jasmine said, looking at the tall sandy blonde. "Are you alright?"
Thalron's ice blue eyes narrowed. "You were just speaking to that young girl. A student. Who is she?"
Jasmine frowned "That's Hermione Granger, one of the brightest students in the school. She's also... the drakka" Jasmine said, as the pair ventured out towards the lake.
"The drakka. The heir's mate. How interesting that she should carry the blood and venom of Salazar Slytherin in her veins." Thalron said his eyes glancing back towards the courtyard.
Jasmine frowned "I thought Salazar had only male heirs, and that line died out with the Gaunt line"
"He had a daughter." Thalron said, his arms crossed. "He gave her to a couple he knew, so his sons would not harm his daughter. His sons had their grandfather's madness, making them unpredictable and violent. His daughter grew up, married a muggle and the bloodline continued from there."
Jasmine's voice was low and quiet "How do you know this Thalron. How do you have this knowledge?"
Thalron smiled a small smile, his teeth gleaming in the dark. "What do you know about my family Jazz?"
Jasmine frowned "That you've long preferred human business over draconic, other than that, not a lot to be honest. Your family, the smiths have always been secretive."
"Aye, that is true, but think, smith's. Smith's." Thalron saw the gears click in her mind. "And I see you've got it. For years, my family has been entrusted with making and keeping the weaponry of wizarding kind. Salazar and Godric were the first to, but our family were entrusted with something far more precious."
"The daughter"
Thalron nodded "Yes, Salazar's daughter, his most precious jewel. He entrusted us with it , and with her his most closely guarded secret. Salazar had the venom of a basilisk running through his veins and his sons and daughter too, from him, had the venom in their veins too"
"Why?" Jasmine asked breathlessly.
"It was an attempt at immortality but it failed, instead giving him a rapport with serpent, basilisk and dragon alike. She, that girl, Hermione Granger is Salazar's descendant. A strange ally for strange times" Thalron mused. "But there was an ulterior motive bringing you out here" A dark figure detached itself from the tree and Jaziz felt her heart soar.
"CYNDER!" Jaziz's night had been made complete, as the man (or dragon) she loved had come to her. He swept her into his dark arms, his eyes alight with a smouldering flame that set her nerves afire with roaring delight. He chuckled as he held her there, trading a knowing glance with Thalron, who nodded once in response and left go back to the ball, a young human meta morph had caught his eye and was single... thereby asking for a dance...
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Outer Courtyard:
Heaving a sigh once more, Hermione stood, smoothing her dress down. Her small fit had ended, with some help from Jasmine, and she was ready to go back in congratulate Sirius and Velvet and give Harry a thorough snog. Harry had a family now, she should be happy for him, not moping around fearing what the rest of the world thought. The quote Jasmine the rest of the world could go hang itself. Sucking in a breath Hermione fixed her posture and walked back to the ball, so focused on what lay ahead that she never heard the blundering behind her until it was far too late.
As the breath was stolen from her she winced as her back hit the cold hard stone of the courtyard, pressed hard against the unyielding stone. She looked up, stars dancing in front of her vision, to see red hair framing a a pair of angry blue eyes.
"Ronald" Hermione said stiffly, wishing that she hadn't left her wand in her dorm room.
Ron's normally ice blue eyes had darkened to an angry shade and he was breathing heavily as he faced Hermione, his arms pinning her wrists to the wall. "Why Hermione?" He said eventually, sounding... lost almost.
Hermione said nothing her eyes boring into his thinking before she spoke. When she did speak her voice was an cold, venomous hiss. "Let go of me Ronald, or you'll regret it"
"Why, you haven't got your wand and your precious Harry isn't around either. Now answer my question" Ron said, his lips curled into a sneer.
"Because he's Harry" she said simply.
"What, just because he's the bloody boy-who-lived, rich and famous? I guess you just are a gold digger then aren't you?"
Hermione's eyes narrowed "wrong. It wasn't the boy-who-lived I fell in love with Ron. It was Harry. Just Harry, no strings, nothing. Just him"
Ron let her go, his face darkening and Hermione saw, with a jolt of fear, his wand in his hand, the tip glowing with the precursor to a spell. "WHY!" Ron roared, his wand shaking in her direction "WHY HIM!! WHY?! THE BASTARDS NOT EVEN HUMAN -"
Ron's words were cut off in a rush of red. A blur connected with the red heads thick jaw sending him reeling and staggering several steps, his wand hitting the floor with a clatter. Still reeling from the earlier blow, Ron never stood a chance against the follow up blow. A rushed image, a swirl of red and gold and Ron was slammed against the wall with a bone-sickening crunch. The image solidified and Hermione gasped. A hand, large enough to cover Ron's entire chest, had him pinned up against the wall. A hand she knew well. Harry's right hand. It was extended, looking slightly pale and translucent. It didn't make the image any less effective, as Ron was dangling several feet from the floor, this giant scaled hand pinning him to the wall.
"Never, ever, ever touch Hermione again like that Ron. I, as her bond partner, have the right to defend her in anyway that I see fit. Is that clear Ron?" Harry's right arm was extended his hand held in the same posture as the ghostly image dangling Ron like a worm from a hook. His was contorted by anger, his face blazing with a anger, an anger for her that made a primal fire burn in the pit of Hermione's stomach.
Harry walked closer to Ron, his arm shining with an internal light. "Ron... because you were once my friend I am giving you once chance and this once chance only, so listen" Harry's hand curled into a fist and he brought it close, Ron's face inches from his, still being held by this monstrous hand. Harry's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, but Hermione heard every word. "Ron... one chance. Hermione is mine and I am hers. Everyday I ask myself, what did I do to deserve her? And do you know what Ron, I don't know. But I have her and she has me. So I leave you with this one last piece of advice Ron. Think of it as... healthy advice"
Harry's voice carried a dangerous lilt to it. "You touch Hermione like that ever again, and I will dismember you limb from limb myself, the burn you to ashes and throw you over some lonely cliffs." Harry looked at Ron dead on and the red head couldn't match the gaze and looked at the floor. Harry dropped him, the image retracting back into him, Ron whimpering as he hit the floor, spitting blood, a white tooth, bouncing as it hit the floor. Harry turned, scooped Ron's wand from the floor and threw it into the darkness. "Come on Hermione. Sirius and Velvet are waiting for us" Taking Hermione by the hand, he failed to notice her dazed look. She had one set of words revolving around her head.
"I am hers and she is mine" Those words were spinning around her and she felt something within her snap as they passed through the inner courtyard. She slammed Harry against the wall, being vaguely aware of his 'oomph' as she attacked his lips. "Say it Harry!" She hissed, after pulling back for air.
"Say what?"
"what you said to Ron" She said, her voice husky, her eyes gone nearly peat black with some unknown, new foreign emotion.
Harry clicked "You are mine and I am your Hermione. Always" He said, his voice dropping as he responded to the mood. His lips claimed hers and she mewed into his mouth, as her dress rippled as Harry's hands inched up her thighs. A gasp ripped it's way from her throat and a feral growl issued from Harry. Her mouth was hung open in a 'o' as she felt his fingers gently stroke her most intimate of places.
"Harry" she whimpered as she felt herself being pinned against the wall. His magical left hand fingers stroked her through her knickers, circling the little nub above her folds, one finger stroking her folds. She felt one finger peel back her knickers and delve into her virgin folds. So many new sensations made her knees tremble and as she felt her body focus on one single point in her body she was vaguely aware of her keening cry of "H-h-haaarrry!" as she felt her walls convulse and clench around Harry's finger, her body shaking with the intensity of the release.
She fell limp in Harry's arms and sighed as she wrapped her arms around him. "That was... I don't even know the words to describe it!" Harry smiled, not saying anything, taking his finger and slowly sucking it. Hermione's eyes nearly popped out of her head "Harry!" she hissed "Did you really have to do that?"
He leant in even closer, a wicked grin on his face as he said "But you taste so sweet my Hermione... I couldn't resist"
Hermione felt her breathing speed up again, that new, but old feeling beginning to creep back. She growled at Harry "Come on... we need to get back... before the others figure out where and what we were doing" She felt, but didn't hear Harry's chuckle, all the way back to the ball, where they celebrated Sirius's and Velvet's engagement till the wee hours.
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But not everyone had such good intentions at the ball. Draco had also been lying in wait for Hermione, but the patrolling Zariss and Jade had put an end to his intentions. Zariss had been carrying Jade, when she plummeted onto the blonde, hypnotizing him with her gaze and making him cha-cha into the girls toilets. It kept him out of the way for the rest of the evening and Jade was very happy with herself. Until she found out about Ron, but by then, Harry had dealt with him, and made her Hermione safe and sound. Her mama. Sitting on the rafters, she saw the smallest red-head and her date leave the hall, the girls date seeming nervous. Sensing nothing amiss, she turned her namesake eyes onto the hall, watching the joyful celebrations.
It was to be her biggest mistake of the evening.
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Neville and Ginny came out into the hall and Neville slapped himself on the head. "I'm sorry Ginny. I got you a present but I left it in my trunk..."
The pudgy boy looked so miserable, that Ginny softened. "That's alright Neville, go up and get it. I'll wait for you in the common room" Sighing with thanks the boy took his date up to the common room and then walked up the stairs into the boy's dorms. He looked around, his eyes narrowing as he checked the room. The room was empty. Grabbing his trunk, he opened the trunk, revealing a set of stairs. He stepped down into the trunk, revealing a set of doors. He placed his hand against one door and it opened into a prison cell. On one side of the bars sat rows and rows of murky, mud brown coloured potion. On the other side of the bars stood a thin and dishevelled Neville Longbottom.
The other Neville smiled as his features distorted and bubbled into the form of Benjamin Yaxley. He smirked and ran a hand over his face "Got here just in time, Longbottom. I swear your personality is contagious, I almost forgot the time and then I misjudged the potion I'd need!" He smiled and swallowed one of the potion bottles in one swig, shuddering as he did. "Ugh, eau de Longbottom. Tastes like earth and mulch." The images of the pale, slightly blond man shimmered and bubbled once more turning back into the slightly chubby features of Neville. "What? Not feeling talkative tonight?" Yaxley taunted, leaning against the bars as Neville looked at him blankly.
"I hate you" The boy said flatly, his eyes dead "I'll kill you when I get out" he promised as Yaxley shuddered under the blank, cold gaze from the other side of the bars.
"Well anyway kid. I have a date with that red head... and she has a date with my imperio" Yaxley chuckled as he walked away. "Oh and Neville for that threat..."
"CRUCIO!!" The boy didn't even scream, just lay there, shaking and Yaxley felt his euphoria of the spell vanish. Giving a snarl he clomped up the stairs, came out of the trunk with a small box, and went down into the common room. The room was empty. Smiling sickly as Ginny's back was turned he raised his wand and whispered one word "Imperio" he couldn't see her eyes but he knew they had a glazed look. "Turn around" He commanded. She did. A lecherous grin stole it's way across his face, looking oddly out of place on the placid Neville's face. Sitting down on the sofa, casting notice me not charms, and locking and silencing the door for good measure, he knew he would not be disturbed for a long while, as the others were still at the ball. Shrugging out of his trousers, he lowered his boxers, looked at the blank Ginny and said one word.
"Strip"
Sometimes it was good to be bad...
HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP.
And that's that chappie. Next chapter, Christmas, Hermione has some information on her heritage and we see some general fluff.
And on the Tonks front it will eventually be Remus/Tonks but not before she goes through a roller coaster...
R and R please!!