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Chapter 14: Trick or Treat!
Hermione was having trouble sleeping since the students were told about the balls that were taking place at Halloween and Christmas. Like any other girl she should have been ecstatic about going to one with her date, but she wasn't. For some reason she knew that some idiot would ask her only to end up being hurt when it was over.
'I just don't see the point of those stupid things anyways. I probably wouldn't even get a date…especially after what that arsehole did when I went with Krum.'
She snapped back to reality when Parvati and Lavender waved their hands infront of her face. "Stop doing that!"
"Sorry Hermione, but you were spacing out again. What else can we do to get your attention besides burning 'Hogwarts: A History'?" Parvati joked.
The Gryffindor bookworm glared at her for that comment. "What do you two want?" She said while safely locking her copy of her favorite book away in her trunk.
The two gossips laughed at her antics. "Come on, we're going to Hogsmeade to get dresses and you're coming with us." Lavender commented.
"Yeah, no more spending all your time in the library and drowning yourself in books. Look at the paper cuts you have, and not to mention the blisters on your hands."
She scowled at the two of them, and gathered her things for a shower. "I don't feel like it you two…now if you don't mind I'm going to have some time to myself."
Parvati linked her arms with her soon to be 'shopping victim'. "Now we know that you're a prefect, but you're not getting away that easily."
Hermione quickly removed her arm from the gossip's hold and went into the bathroom. 'I could surely use Harry's invisibility cloak right about now…speaking of which I have to talk to him about certain things. I'm not sure how he's going to react though.' She got the water nice and hot, and let it melt away her problems. She wouldn't admit it to anyone, but she always loved to have a nice hot shower in the morning to ease the tension away.
Lavender was snickering to her friend. "Do you think she will notice the little improvement we made to her hair care products?"
"Well I'm sure that she will when she dries it…but do you want to leave just in case she starts cursing us?" The Patel twin asked.
"Nah, we'll survive…I don't think she will notice. But we should stay in the common room if she screams so we can fix it." She said.
30 minutes later the Gryffindor bookworm finished getting ready for the day, but when she came down into the common room people were looking at her…especially the single male students. She really didn't pay any attention as she made her way down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
Harry was down in the Chamber of Secrets in Slytherin's library reading an old Tome about Arcane magic that was lost throughout the ages. 'Interesting…all of this knowledge from Riddle's ancestors and he's missing out. What a shame. I never actually knew that there were even more spells and curses labeled as 'Black and Forbidden' instead of dark. I know that Snape would have an orgasm at all the potion recipes and books down here. I better pay him a visit outside of class…speaking of which I better get ready for it.'
He put the tome back onto the shelf, and walked out of the library. He rounded the corner to pet his familiar when someone shouted his name. "SPEAK TO ME SALAZAR SLYTHERIN, GREATEST OF THE HOGWARTS FOUR!" He muttered something about stupid passwords as he maneuvered to the founder's portrait.
"Took you long enough to get over here."
"Gee, who pissed in your cereal this morning? Oh sorry you can't eat…" He said with a smirk.
The portrait glared at him with pure venom in his eyes. "When you resurrect me I will gladly pay you back 10 fold!"
"Uh huh…anyways what did you need me for?" He asked.
"Because I like you…so much I spied on the Headmaster for you. There is a plot that involves you on the night of the Halloween ball. Watch your back young dragon."
He looked at the portrait with a frown. "Must you be so cryptic? And here I thought we were friends since I'm only the first person to find your portrait in nearly a millennium."
Slytherin glared at him once again for his cheek, but he had to admit that the boy was interesting. "The conversations with your familiar were better then the ones we've had. But then again your ego is much bigger then your brain."
"However, I'm not in a place that would resemble a muggle sewer, and all alone in your portrait." He said with another smirk as he started walking away.
Salazar continued to scowl at Harry's retreating form. "Potter, before you leave answer me this question. What house did the sorting hat say that you would do well in?"
"I would've been in the house of the Serpent, however due to a brainwashed son of a pureblood supremacist or better known as a Death Eater I asked to be put anywhere other then your noble house. I have to go or else it will stir suspicion. Farewell for now." He walked away from the founder's portrait.
He made his way out into the main chamber and saw his familiar waiting for him with Nagini. "Master, we heard from the other snake speaker that there is a plot that involves you...shall we follow you?"
"No Basil I don't want you to follow me. If you and Nagini were found there is no doubt that you two would be killed and be used for potion ingredients. You know I don't like ordering you around, but if something should happen I want the both of you to stay hidden in the castle. Make sure that Lyan and Eli don't cause too much trouble, and don't get caught."
"Don't worry Master Harry we'll take care of them." Nagini assured him.
"Thanks you two." He said as he stroked their scales, and headed out of the Chamber of Secrets.
Blaise was walking down the same corridor that she did the night prior because she had a feeling that she would be running into Potter again. She took out her wand and waited outside of the girl's bathroom that leads to Slytherin's secret chamber. Her assumption was correct when she saw the door open and he stepped out. Quickly she put her wand right at the base of his neck, and had a devilish smile on her face. "What do I see here? A dead wizard walking if I remember, and I am really going to enjoy wrapping you around my little finger Potter."
"Looks like I didn't interrupt your beauty sleep then. I guess I'll just keep imagining you with the bed hair and in your pajamas. After all I do have to admit you are very cute with the bed hair."
Her smile turned into a slight frown as she folded her arms over her chest. "You still haven't gotten off the hook for that yet!"
"So why did you come down here again? Coming to exclaim to the entire school that I'm a pervert who likes to stay in a haunted bathroom with 'moaning myrtle'?"
She didn't even know how to answer that statement. "Potter, why do you always have to be such a smartass all the time?"
"Better then being a dumbass…"
Her frown turned into laughter that was pleasing to his ears. "That you are…did you get your dress robes yet?"
"Actually I was planning on using the robes from fourth year with added frilly strings to the seams."
She glared at him, and raised her wand. "You listen and you listen well! I will not look like a fool in front of the entire school because you were too lazy to get new robes!"
"As I recall you said as punishment that I had to go with you. It's not my fault that you failed to notify me of the terms of purchasing new dress robes." He sneered.
Her glare only intensified and she grabbed him by his collar. "You…are…going…to…Hogsmeade…and getting new robes! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!"
He reached up and tucked a piece of her long black hair behind her ear. "Don't worry your little head one bit…after all I know you have to go there to get those magical binders to keep me by your side. You better go before people think that I've kidnapped you and I'm having my way with you in my common room."
"And you're saying that you wouldn't do that to me?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. 'Why did I say that?!'
"Miss Zabini, you must keep your daydreams to yourself." He took her hand and kissed her knuckles.
She fought the blush that was creeping onto her cheeks as he walked away. 'He better look good for me or else.'
Everyone was inside the Great Hall eating breakfast except Harry who constantly ate in the kitchens. Dumbledore finished his conversation with Professor McGonagall and turned his attention to Professor Snape. "Severus, would you do an old man a favor by getting Mr. Black-Potter? I have an announcement that all the students will hear."
If the Potion's master could glare anymore then the old wizard would be staring death in the face. "I am preoccupied Headmaster. Why not summon an elf since he spends all his meals with them."
Albus's eye twitched at his insolence. "Tabby!"
With a small pop the house elf arrived next to the elderly wizard. "Master Albus summoned Tabby?"
"Yes, tell Mr. Black-Potter to come to the Great Hall with the other students." He demanded, and the house elf 'popped' away to complete its order.
After nearly ten minutes of waiting Harry finally walked into the Great Hall and noticed that there were 4 and a half grand tables. 'Must be for Beauxbaton's students…I hope that nobody suspects Bella when she gets here.'
The Headmaster stood up and gently tapped his goblet with his spoon to get the student's attention. "I have an announcement to make. As all of you know the Halloween Ball will be upon us, and later today we will have special guests that will be staying at Hogwarts for one week. Now I gave my word to Madame Maxime that my students will be on their best behavior. Those who have permission to go to Hogsmeade will be able to enjoy their time in the village…without causing trouble. That is all."
Harry was about to walk back out, but someone touched his arm. "Will you join us…my lord?"
He turned around and saw Hermione looking…different. "Very well then, but I would like to talk to you in private later on. By the way I like the new look."
Parvati and Lavender shared a quick high five before turning their attention back to their food before curses were sent their way. Ron was still glaring at his former friend and girlfriend with pure jealousy in his eyes as they sat down at the end of the Gryffindor table. A few of his former housemates were actually happy to see him sitting at their table again.
"Thank you Harry, but it was a 'prank' by those two." She huffed.
"I think it looks good to be honest, and I think you should keep looking like you do now. I wonder if they can do anything for those book-calloused hands…"
If the blood oath wasn't still in tact she would've struck him. She sighed angrily before speaking to him again. "I can't help it if I love books."
"But you can't marry them. Information is good fore knowledge and research…but what are you going to do once you've read everything? Don't say re-read everything." He asked with a raised eyebrow.
She couldn't help but fight the blush at his words. "How did you know I was going to say that?"
"I know you better then you think I do. Is it lonely in the tower since I'm not there for entertainment?"
Neville got up from his spot to join his friend and fellow Gryffindor. "Good to see that you finally decided to join us for breakfast."
"If I didn't know that you missed me that much then I would've stayed away longer." He said with a smirk.
Hermione laughed at his sharp sarcasm. "My lord, are you planning on going to the Halloween ball?"
He sighed as he looked at Blaise at the Slytherin table. She looked right back at him with a smirk. "Yes I'll be attending this dance against my will. Have you two found someone to go with?"
"I'll be going with Luna since she is my girlfriend after all." The Longbottom heir replied as he winked at his love at the Ravenclaw table.
"I haven't found anyone to go with yet, but I'm sure that someone will ask me." She said.
Harry raised his eyebrow at her as he stole a piece of fruit from her bowl earning him a scowl. "I'm warning you now you are not going with Corner or Weasley. Meet me on the 4th floor corridor just outside of Professor Sinistra's office when you're ready." He said as he stole another piece of fruit.
"Yes sir." She mock saluted him. "Now will you please stop stealing my fruit?" He shook his head at her as he walked out of the Great Hall.
Hermione didn't know what to expect when she left with the other students after breakfast ended. 'I better go meet him before all of us get ready to go to Hogsmeade. But why would he even suggest that Michael Corner or Ron would ask me…frankly I wouldn't want to be caught dead with either of them.'
She contemplated her thoughts as she made her way to her lord, when she was stopped by Professor Sinistra. "Miss Granger, are you going to meet with my student? Then follow me I'll show you a shortcut." Both of them walked to the wall with the painting of Cheza the Wise, and walked through the hidden passage to her office.
"Thank you Professor." She said as she met with Harry outside of the office door.
"We'll go in my common room. Judgment!" He spoke as he walked past his guardian portrait.
She followed behind him, but was amazed at how different it was from Gryffindor Tower. "This is amazing…I've never seen anything like this before. Are all of these books yours? Can I look at them?"
"If you wanted a tour all you had to do was ask." He remarked with a grin.
She looked really embarrassed and paid attention to her feet. "I'm sorry…my curiosity got the better of me."
"Don't worry about it, but look at least look at me. It's not like I'm going to take off my belt and use it on your arse…unless you're into that kind of thing."
Her eyes went wide and her face turned as red as a tomato. "I…I…am not into that Harry, I assure you!"
He sat down on the couch and motioned for her to sit next to him. "Pity…and here I thought you had a kinky side." He saw her jaw drop and he started to smirk, "Alright, the reason why I wanted to talk to you is…that I am willing to give you another chance. I would like to be the same way we were before, but…"
"I understand that you can't really release the blood oath, because I might betray you again. Thank you for giving me another chance though."
"Your welcome, but please don't make me regret this." He said as he hugged her.
She returned his affection with interest, but she didn't know what came over her when she kissed him. 'Oh my god why am I kissing him?! Well to be honest he's a good kisser…I'm sure that he would make any girl happy.'
He broke the kiss and looked at her. "I didn't expect you to jump the gun like that…I guess I should order the whips and chains…"
She slapped his arm as she glared at him. "Would you be serious for a change? So who are you going to the ball with?"
"Now I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise Hermione. I take it that you've been scouting for someone?"
"To tell you the truth I was hoping to go with you, but I didn't know you were going with somebody. Maybe I'll just stay in the library that night." She sighed.
He put his hand underneath her chin and forced her to look at him. "You'll go to the ball even if I have to drag you there in your school robes. I'll save a dance just for you, but don't go with those two people I told you before ok? Let's get out of here because you have a dress to buy."
"Harry, something has been bugging me since I saw you like this in Flourish and Blots…how did you do that wandless magic?! TEACH ME PLEASE?" She begged him like a hyper two-year-old.
"I'll think about it." He remarked with a smirk, but overheard some noises outside. "I wonder what those idiots are doing now."
Professor Sinistra walked through the portrait with a serious expression on her face. "Knock off your make-out session with Granger. Beauxbaton's just arrived and we're being forced to look nice, prim, and proper."
Hermione's jaw dropped and she was ready to argue, but stopped when she saw him grin. "It was one kiss, and now we're being burned at the stake for it?"
Harry's head of house grinned as well because she was so gullible. "You should've realized that I was teasing you both, but you just incriminated yourself. Even Sirius and I weren't that dumb when we were here at Hogwarts."
He saw her about to ask twenty questions so he stepped in. "Her real name is Carmen Vazquez, and she was Sirius's fiancée. My mother came up with her current identity to leave her old career as a hit-witch after her team was killed by Death Eaters. Now that you know about her you cannot say anything about it."
"I promise that I won't say anything, Harry." She assured him.
"Good but stop dawdling, we have to go." Sinistra told them and walked out of the common room with both students following her.
The Hogwarts students were greeted with the familiar sight of a Pegasus flown carriage being tossed around like a rag doll in the sky like two years ago. Hagrid was waving what looked like large red ping pong paddles to direct the horses to the right, but had to leap out of the way of being trampled by the flying horses.
Dumbledore walked out to greet the students from Beauxbaton's Academy of Magic as they exited the carriage. "Welcome to Hogwarts."
Bella walked out with Fleur who gave her shoulder a little squeeze of assurance before leading the manipulative headmaster in 'friendly conversation'. 'I know she told me not to worry about that bastard in front of me, but I better keep up my Occlumency without him knowing.'
She watched as her 'friends' grabbed her and walked into the castle. She spotted Harry in the crowd not looking pleased about something. "M'excuserez-vous pendant une minute? Je vais rendre visite à mon ami." (Will you excuse me for a minute? I'm going to visit my friend.)
Harry started walking away from the crowd after being dismissed, but someone grabbed his arm. "Bonjour Monsieur." (Hello Mister.)
He turned around to see none other then Belle Van Tassel aka Bellatrix Black. To put up a show he smiled and kissed her knuckles. "Bonjour Madame, Comment avez-vous eye?" (Hello Madame, how are you?)
Some of the other students were clearly shocked to see a foreign student and their own student being on good terms like that. Draco on the other hand only had envy when he saw his rival talking with the hot looking Beauxbaton's girl. 'Great…another thing that Potter can rub in my face, but not this time!'
Belle noticed her nephew coming over, and she decided to walk away with Lord Black-Potter. "We better get out of here before that idiot makes an ass out of himself." She whispered to him.
Dumbledore stopped Harry from sneaking away with her. "Mr. Potter, would you be so kind as to escort our guests to the guest quarters?"
'Like I would know where they're at you moron.' He thought before voicing his opinion. "Wouldn't it be better if you assigned a prefect or the head student's to that? After all I don't know where they are."
Professor Snape kept his amusement behind his cold scowl. 'Nicely handled.'
The headmaster looked quite miffed at his former weapon's insubordination. "Very well. Miss Zabini and Miss Granger will escort your students to they're quarters, Miss Delacour."
"Thank you, Profezzor Dumbly-door, but ve will be staying inside ze carridge until ze departure." She replied trying to hold back her frustration with the man before her.
"Then we will be seeing you for meals and classes." He bowed smartly before walking away to resume scheming once his plan goes into effect.
"I'll be in the carriage, but you know how to get in there. I still have a bone to pick with you." Belle whispered to him.
Sinistra put her hand on her shoulder, and on Harry's. "Well you must be Miss Van Tassel I've heard about. Would you like to join me for some tea?"
He nodded to her and she smiled at his head of house. "I would ve honored."
Belle, Harry, and Professor Sinistra walked into her office to begin some serious discussions. "You don't have to worry Bella; whatever you say in here is between us. The privacy wards are in place so nobody will be able to eavesdrop on us."
"How did you know who I am? Damn it, I thought we had an agreement on this!" She yelled at him.
"You don't have to yell at my student. I figured it out since I remembered what you look like since we did share a common room together when we were here. The only thing that doesn't give you away is the blue eyes instead of violet."
Harry was silently laughing when he saw his charge's face as she tried to think. "Carmen, please don't play mind games with her…she might have a few broken blood vessels from thinking so hard."
She smacked his arm and followed up with a glare. "Wait a minute…the only person that I know by that name was Sirius's fiancée."
"Correct in one Lestrange." Sinistra replied rather coldly.
She looked at her with surprise at the sound of her voice. 'Great…'
He could tell that this was going to turn out badly. "If you two want to settle your differences then I'll leave. There is no sense in me getting involved."
Bella was very uncomfortable being in the same room with her former classmate/Sirius's fiancée. On instinct she grabbed his hand. "Harry, you don't have to go…"
He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Professor, I just want you to know that I've forgiven her over my godfather's death since she was forced to take an imperious potion since she was taken out of Azkaban. Please keep that in mind when you two are talking."
"Sit down Harry, because I don't want to do something that I'll regret." His head of house informed him.
"Very well." He took his place back in his seat, and used his wand to summon both of theirs. "We can't have any destructive spells being used that would alert the 'dumb door'."
"If you say that you were being controlled then why did you kill him? Surely you a high ranking Death Eater could've overcome something as that." Carmen said with controlled anger.
Bella sighed heavily before coming up with the truth. "I was forced to drink the potion by my husband that night, but when I started dueling Sirius…I started fighting it but I sent a stunning curse at him instead of the usual curses that we were using. I saw my spell make contact…I thought that he would just slump down to the floor. When I saw him fall into the black veil my heart broke because I sent my cousin to his death. You should know the events that happened after that, but once we left for the headquarters…I acted the same way so I didn't raise suspicion. The Dark Dork babbled on and on about how we failed to get the prophecy, and then tortured us with his favorite unforgivable curse.
Missions and raids were assigned, but I was forced the same blasted potion on the night that Harry broke away from that manipulative goat. When I confronted him I was possessed, and then I remember puking up blackish liquid. Since that day that I was set free I trained 'my lord' in his magic. I knew that my death sentence was coming when I felt a pulse in the dark mark. So I brewed the de-aging potion and used it to turn me back before I received the cursed tattoo. Harry told me that I would be discovered at Hogwarts if I went with him this year. So he used one of his contacts to get me to Beauxbaton's until I could transfer next year. I can understand that you hate me for taking your love from you…trust me my own guilt has been doing a good job of that."
Sinistra walked around her desk, put her hand on her shoulder, and sighed. "It may take a while for me to get over my re-opened wounds from listening to your words, but Harry told me this from his point of view. I guess I can't really blame you for his death. It was his dream to go down fighting."
She looked up at her to see a few stray tears fall from her eyes. The two women hugged each other, and Harry took his cue to leave. 'They need this more then I do.'
Professor Snape was walking from his potion's lab to the front gates totally oblivious to his house student's ramblings about going to Hogsmeade and causing trouble. He couldn't honestly care less about their juvenile behavior, but he had to go to refill his potion stores. 'Damn ingrates…you would think that they would act their age instead of their shoe size. Not to mention that I thought that little spat with Potter would've given Draco some intelligence to stop this pitiful rivalry with him. Now it started back up thanks to this French girl who for some reason looks familiar but I cannot place the name.'
He had to keep his frustration in check because he had to be going with these brats. One in particular was getting on his nerves, Ron Weasley. The arrogant arse was acting like the fool again and it was irritating the Potion master's nerves. 'For the love of muggles I'm putting a stop to this right now!'
"So then I went up to her, and asked for her to go with me. Merlin was she hot, and she actually smiled at me." He boasted to some of his fellow Gryffindors who were trying not to listen to him.
He kept going on and on until Snape's shadow was over him. "Weasley, do us all a favor and keep your mouth shut. Miss Delacour left your brother for a reason, and tell me why she would want to go to a dance with you? You have nothing to offer her, and you never will besides your enlarged ego. Do what you need to and get back to the castle."
"Why should I? I'm allowed to come here grease ball!" He shouted.
Harry was smirking from the shadows. 'Oh this is going to be enjoyable.'
Blaise walked with her friends and had to stop when she saw her head of house pull out his wand. She stopped when she thought she saw a flash of silvery/gray hair. Almost on instinct she snuck up to where she saw it, and pulled. She heard the said person cuss. "You know you should work on your hiding Potter."
He took his hair out of her hands and rubbed the spot on his head where it hurt him. "Was that really necessary to pull so hard? I'm trying to observe some entertainment."
Daphne was wondering where her best friend went off to. She was about to search for her, but then she saw her with Potter. 'Looks like I'm going to win that bet after all. 50 galleons to me, and I owe it all to him for hooking up with her!'
Millicent and Tracey looked to where their friend pointed. Both of them were slightly miffed because they lost the bet that Blaise wouldn't hook up with Black-Potter. "You do realize she's only standing next to him and nothing else." Tracy spoke up.
"Oh stop being bitter and give me my money. You don't know that they've been meeting up together in the castle since last week." She said with a triumphant grin.
Milly was very doubtful about that statement. "We'll see Daphne, but until we see them together like normal couples the bet is still on."
Snape glared menacingly at the arrogant brat in front of him. "Wand out Weasley now!"
The red head gladly took out his wand and got into a dueling stance, but his sister came out of the crowd to stop him. "Ronald! Stop this right now!"
"Stay out of this!" He said and pushed her out of the way.
Severus sneered as he threw his spell at the fool. "Surely your stupidity could help you in this. After all aren't Gryffindors supposed to be brave and wearing their hearts on their sleeves?"
"STUPIFY!"
"That was pathetic…this obviously shows you how much you have learned in six years." The Potion master sneered.
Basking in all his stupidity he started yelling spell after spell only to have his opponent simply bat them away. 'Damn it why isn't this working!'
Ron was caught off guard when something grabbed his ankle and yanked him into the air hanging upside down. Blaise looked up at Harry who had a devilish grin on his face. He took out his wand and silently sent a spell to show everyone his underwear like his father did to Snape. Severus looked for the culprit and knew it was Potter that did that. 'Leave it up to you to stir up bad memories again child! But at least I do not wear ferret briefs…damn you brat you beat me to it!'
Everyone in the vicinity started laughing so hard they were crying. Blaise had her hand over her mouth to keep herself from laughing, but she lightly smacked his arm. He continued grinning and put his wand away. "Just ruin all my fun, besides I thought you would enjoy joining me in humiliating him. After all I thought all Slytherins had vendettas with Gryffindors?"
"Who says we don't, but there's nothing saying that I won't." She took her wand out and sent a curse at the brainless red-head to turn his hair green to match her house, but she also made him start singing the words 'I love Slytherins'.
"Impressive Zabini…I think I'm starting to like you."
She smiled at him, and put her wand away. "Well then I guess I'll have to make you divulge your undying love for me next. In the mean time you are going robe shopping while I pick out my dress."
"Don't forget your handcuffs." He said as Snape was dragging Ron back to the castle in an oversized match box.
She gave him another smile before joining her friends. Belle walked up behind him, and put her hand on his shoulder. "I never would've seen the day that you would ever go after a Slytherin girl, and I thought all Potter's were suckers for red heads?"
"Who says I'm not, but there's always muggle hair dye." He yawned and rubbed his right eye. "Can I buy you a butterbeer, Miss Van Tassel?"
"Of course, but it's a shame that you 'Hogwarts' students are only allowed to drink butterbeer. We Beauxbaton's drink wine with every meal." She boasted trying to irk him.
"What do you want, a medal?" He remarked as they walked into the crowded Three Broomsticks.
Madame Rosmerta was having an interesting conversation with a few of the Hogwarts staff. She looked at the door and smiled at the person who walked in. "Why Lord Potter this is a surprise. What can I get for you and your friend?"
"Two butterbeers and a shot of Dragon's breath firewhiskey."
Belle looked at him like he was crazy, and sat down at an empty table. She acted like she was putting a language translator spell on him to fool everyone into thinking she needed help speaking English. "Don't you think that is a bit much?"
He gave Rosie a smile when she brought the drinks. "How much do I owe you?"
The owner of the place winked at him and put his money back in his pocket. "It's on the house Harry. Didn't I tell you that when you came here before?"
"Thank you, but take it as a tip for giving me such great service." He took his money back out and put it in her hand.
Belle grinned and shook her head at his antics. "You never cease to amaze me, you flirt."
"I can't help it if certain women are attracted to my charm. Besides I wouldn't want to get involved with one of my Professor's girlfriends." He said as he downed his shot, and pointed his head upwards to belch out the twelve foot flame.
Both of them started laughing when the bar became deathly quiet after watching what he did. "That was hilarious. I can't believe that you got a twelve footer, but do you want to tell me why you haven't been sleeping? I can tell from the shallow shadows under your eyes."
"I've been keeping up with my training, and I've been studying from the books in Slytherin's personal library. Did you know about arcane and black magic spells when you were part of them?" He asked.
"Actually, we didn't know about them besides dark spells that we learned on our own, and the unforgivable spells. What did you learn, because you sparked my curiosity?"
He took a sip of his drink. "I'll get you tonight so you can read them. Have you heard anything about Tonks? She hasn't sent me a letter since the second week into the school year."
"The last time I got a post from her was about a week ago, but she did say that she did miss her 'little brother'. She also asked if you got Granger pregnant yet." She took great pride in making him choke on his drink.
He glared at her as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. "When I do find her I will put a spell on her that will cause nightmares for weeks. I think she will enjoy listening to 'it's a small world' when she goes everywhere, and seeing the little children marionettes singing it. I can't believe that she told you about that!"
"Is that a faint trace of her lipstick still on your lips? Or have you been kissing some other girl?" She teased him.
"Well even if I did I certainly wouldn't tell you Belle. Since you're here do you wish to accompany me to my appointment at the Hog's head?"
She shook her head at him and laughed. "I really don't want to be involved with your 'booty call' as the muggles call it. But sure I'll go with you as long as there is a cuter guy there then you."
He scoffed at her. "Maybe de-aging yourself damaged your hormones."
Blaise was eyeing Harry and his 'French' friend laughing and teasing. She couldn't help that she was having jealous thoughts. 'Why is she speaking with him? Potter is mine!'
Daphne could tell that something was bothering her best friend. "What's with the jealous glare?"
"Must be from the way Potter is talking with that 'French girl'. They seem very friendly though." Millicent blurted out without looking at her friend.
The group of Slytherin 6th year girls watched as Harry and Belle walked out of the three broomsticks together, and saw a spark of flame come together in the half-Veela's hand. All three of them remembered the warning that Mr. Zabini gave them about his daughter's powers manifesting. "I am going to get an answer from him!"
"Wait Blaise! Come on we have to go after her before she does something really stupid!" Greengrass said as she quickly paid for her drink and went after her best friend.
Harry and Belle/Bella walked into the dreaded and dirty pub. "Geez, good thing this place never changes." She commented, but he put his hand over her mouth to be quiet.
"Alright, don't say anything because my appointment is in the first private room. I'm sure that you will recognize her though. Barkeep, two butterbeers and two shots of Dragon's Breath in room 1, and I want them in clean glasses." He said as he put the money on the counter.
Meanwhile Narcissa Black-Malfoy was sipping her white wine waiting for Lord Black-Potter to arrive. She was nearing her second glass when the head of her family and a hooded guest walked into the room. "I thought this meeting was between us?"
"Oh yes this will be between us, and my friend here will be observing. She's not a threat to you…yet."
Belle/Bella was overwhelmed to see her sister again, but she had to stay put. 'Harry, you could at least make me take off this damned hood, and say hello!"
She stared at him and took another sip of her wine, as the barkeep brought in the drinks. "What did you want to discuss?"
"Well first off your son's godfather came to me asking for me to take you into my protection. I told him that I would think about it, and then your son decided to duel me in the Chamber of Secrets. Needless to say he had his arse handed to him, but he did beg me to protect you from your husband…or should I say soon to be former husband. Narcissa, I can sympathize about your situation with that murderer…however I want to know if you have his mark or not." He said as both he and Belle/Bella took a shot of Dragon's breath, and belched the flame in the air.
She raised both of her sleeves to show no dark mark or any other blemish for that matter. "I was never given the mark because I was deemed not worthy enough to carry it by the Dark Lord or the Half-Blood murderer as you put it in your letter."
"That's very interesting to hear. What would be your intentions if I did bring you back into the family under my supervision?"
"I would do what you ask since you are the Patriarch of the family. Your word is law, and if you see fit you could impregnate me…I couldn't refuse. My magic would be limited to the ground rules you set for me, but to be frank it would be weird to be your charge/daughter…I'm more then half your age older." She joked, but he wasn't laughing.
"I already knew about the rules about the head of the family, Narcissa." He frowned.
She took another sip of her drink, and turned her eyes back to him. "No I don't think you do. Because I honestly don't believe that you are ready to assume everything that is entitled to be a lord to two families. There are a lot of political standings that would bury you for even breathing too loud. Not to mention that you still haven't assumed your seats in the Wizengamot."
Inside the Hogs Head Pub, a jealous Blaise Zabini stormed up to the bar. "Have you seen Harry Potter and a French girl come in here?"
"Potter yes, French girl no. The person that he came in with wore a black hood, and they walked into the first private room. Now buy a drink or get out." The bartender barked out.
She ordered a glass of red wine to keep the fool happy. She grabbed her drink and poured it out when she went up to the private parlor. 'Stupid fool…I refuse to drink out of a dirty glass.'
Three Slytherin girls walked into the bar looking for their friend. They caught a break when the Bartender pointed to the staircase. The three girls made their way up the stairs and found their friend trying to listen in on the ongoing conversation inside the room. "Blaise, what are you doing?! We're going back!" Daphne hissed at her friend.
Her best friend put her finger on her lips to keep quiet. "Shh! Something is going on in there and I want to find out what it is." She whispered harshly at her.
Greengrass was about to retort when they heard someone speaking with a raised voice that sounded pissed. "Don't tell me that I don't know what I'm doing Narcissa! I already know what the hell I'm doing, and I certainly don't need to hear any of your bad mouthing! I may be sixteen years old in this world but I sure as hell don't act like it thanks to that half-blood bastard and the master manipulator Dumbledore!"
"Harry, that wasn't what I was getting at and you know it." Mrs. Malfoy argued.
He rolled his eyes at her knowing what her answer would be. "Oh yes I totally forgot that I am considered muggle-born, and don't know anything because I don't fit the Pure-Blood qualifications for my new responsibilities because I'm a half-blood. Well get this newsflash, I promised your son that I would protect you after I dueled him no holds barred in the chamber of secrets. After he lost he also told me that if I didn't then you would be forced into prostitution to raise currency for Riddle's reign of terror. If you don't like how I'm doing things then the door is right there for you to stock up on muggle condoms, and anti-pregnancy potions."
'I can't believe that son of a bitch! He was going to force my sister to do that?!' Belle/Bella thought, but she heard a noise outside the door. She came close to his ear and whispered, "I think there's someone outside the door."
Narcissa looked down at her lap before looking back at him. "I'm sorry Lord Black. I don't hold anything against you, but I was just stating a concern that's all."
"I appreciate that, but my guest here was one of the people who trained me along with her sister and daughter in many subjects including politics, etiquette, and how to put Dumbledork in his place." He got up from his chair and silently went up to the door. He quickly opened the door to have Blaise loose her balance, and fall on top of him.
She was extremely embarrassed to be caught, but now she was on a total different level when she was lip locked with her date. Her friends weren't helping when they started cat calling and whistling. "SHUT UP YOU THREE!"
"Being a male I do happen to like this position that we're in and what we shared but get off of me. Now if you want to continue our make-out session then let's go outside." He got up off the floor and ushered his classmates out of the room.
Narcissa finished her glass of wine. "Who would've thought…Potter and Zabini?"
Outside the room, Harry was not in the best of moods. Clearly he showed his frustration on his face. "You four are interrupting my family meeting, and if you four wanted to talk then you should've said something at the Three Broomsticks. Now if you'll excuse me."
"I know for a fact that French girl is not someone in your family." Blaise countered. "Who is she?"
"Since you are so nosey her name is Belle Van Tassel, and that is all you need to know. Shouldn't you be buying your dress? After all I have my dress robes."
She raised her eyebrow at him. "Really? I don't see them."
He grinned and cupped her face like he was going to kiss her, but he moved to her ear. "How do you know I don't have them shrunk in my pocket? I certainly wouldn't want any cat hair on them."
She grinned when she remembered their passing that one night. "I am going to kick your ass Potter…"
"Now why would you want to do that? I've been told that it was pretty and you wouldn't want to ruin a pretty thing now would you?" He remarked as he walked back into the room, and closed the door behind him.
She glared at him through the door, and walked away with her friends. 'Merlin I am going to either snog him senseless or I'm going to strangle him.'
Harry sighed as he sat back down and drank his butterbeer. "I apologize for that interruption, but to continue where we left off. I will be signing the order to terminate your marriage, and you will resume being a Black again. Yes I disowned you because I was angry; however I have corrected that mistake."
"I understand, but what about Draco? Lucius would still be in control of him and would force him to become a branded slave to that murderer!" She exclaimed.
"He and I will have to work on an idea to hide himself from the tyrant that is his father. If I were you I would go to your sister Andy and live with her for a while or you could live at the ancestral house with Remus."
She had to repress the urge to lash out at him for speaking of the werewolf. "Harry, Andy and I aren't on the best of speaking terms. We fell out after I became a big bitch because of my ego."
He nodded his head and pulled down Belle/Bella's hood. "Why not say hello to your sister? After all you have been very quiet for far too long."
The 'French girl' glared at him. "Just ruin the surprise you moron. Long time no see 'Cissy."
"I'll let you two get re-acquainted." He said getting up from his chair.
The former Lestrange grabbed his arm, and forced him back down in his seat. "We're not done yet…so sit your butt back down."
"Bella, is that you? Merlin it is you! What have you done to yourself and why are you dressed in a Beauxbaton's uniform?" Narcissa exclaimed.
Harry and Belle/Bella sighed at the same time and started to tell their story.
Over the next hour of explanations and two more rounds of drinks the story was complete. The blonde Black got up from her chair and hugged her sister tightly. Harry wasn't expecting to drink so much at a meeting and was feeling buzzed as he wrote two quick letters. 'Geez I shouldn't mix drinks like that…'
"Hedwig, could you come here?" He said in Pyretongue. His feathery familiar arrived in a flash of blue flame and landed on his shoulder. "Hello girl, can you do a favor for me and bring this letter to Bloodrune at Gringotts and take the second letter to Andromeda? I'll still buy you the owl treats you like… if you still like them."
The phoenix rubbed her head against his cheek, took the letter in her beak, and disappeared in a flash of blue flame. 'Good to know that these robes I'm wearing are fireproof.' He smirked at the sister's faces. "What? Haven't you seen a phoenix before?"
He received two glares and was ignored until a regal looking goblin appeared thirty minutes later. "Ahh, Lord Black-Potter, it is a pleasure to see you again. I have read your letter, and I have brought the necessary paperwork for you to sign."
"Very well, let's get started. I guess I better visit Madame Pomfrey after I get done signing this stack of paper." Harry complained as he grabbed the quill from the head goblin, and began signing his life away.
He completed the paperwork after an hour, and true to his word his hand did hurt. Bloodrune smirked at his misfortune, and looked at the former Malfoy. "Well you are officially a Black once again, and your ex-husband will be notified soon. We have determined that the Malfoy family breached the marriage contract by consummating his son with Rastaban Lestrange's wife, Linda before her death. Because of this breach he will be forced to pay you the sum of 175,000 galleons and he will forfeit the Malfoy family vaults for the debt that Jermaine Malfoy owed Orion Black which now transfers to you."
"That is interesting to hear…what are Draco's options since he wouldn't have any currency as a Malfoy?" He asked because this news hit her hard.
"He would have the choice to stay with his father or he could be blood adopted by his Godfather. However, I must be getting back to do other business." Bloodrune said as the paperwork vanished to be filed in the proper areas. The head goblin bid them goodbye and disappeared using his goblin magic.
The ex-Malfoy hugged her sister as angry tears fell from her eyes. "I want that bastard to pay for this! I raised him as my son and I was lied to…"
"I know this is difficult for you, but I want you to do something for me. I was told that there is a plot that involves me in the school…would you be willing to stand in my place in the Wizengamot and other political standings?"
Narcissa looked at him with tears still falling down her face. "I'll be glad to Harry."
He put his hand on her shoulder in comfort. "Thank you, but we have to go back to the school before the Dumbledork brigade starts the hunting party for me. Oh and somebody wants to see you outside."
She got up from her chair and hugged her 'lord'. "No, thank you for everything and I promise that I won't let you down. But I am rather jealous that you make my baby sister look better then me!"
"Well no offense but she is posing as a Dutch girl in a French school for magic, and from what I heard they have some pretty good looking girls there. Besides if I didn't know she looked like that at sixteen I would take a run at her heart. It just sucks that we're related now…" He said wiping a fake tear away.
Bella couldn't fight the blush until she heard the sarcasm. She couldn't help but punch him in the shoulder. "Jerk."
"I love you too, but we gotta go." He said as he headed out the door with Belle.
The ex-Malfoy sighed as she watched them go. She was a little saddened to know that her sister de-aged herself, but it was for a good cause. She had nothing better to do so she headed out of the room only to be confronted by her oldest sister. "Hello Andromeda, it's been a long time."
"Yes it has 'cissy. I'll take you to my home so we can talk."
The next five days went by in a simple routine for Harry: reading, eating, practicing, pissing off Slytherin's portrait, dueling with Bella in the Chamber of Secrets, flirting with Blaise, and talking with Hermione. Unfortunately today was the day of the Halloween Ball, and every girl in the school above third year was freaking out trying to get ready for their dates.
The student of the Dragon house was in the potions lab having a cup of tea with the double agent. "So what did you need to talk to me this early for Potter?"
"Professor Snape, I'm afraid that I have some bad news for you. I have kept to my word about keeping Narcissa Black safe, but the bad news is that you have to adopt Draco as your son to keep him away from Lucius."
The Slytherin head of house was confused at that statement. "Why do I have to adopt him? Why didn't he become a Black when you took her in?"
"He couldn't become part of my family to begin with since he doesn't have any Black blood. His true mother was Linda Lestrange…"
Severus's hands came up to his face, and rubbed his temples before a migraine exploded in his head. "You know that is going to be very hard for him to accept. On the other hand I did act more like a Father to him as a child, but I won't do anything without his consent. Why did you have to push this on me? I was having such a good time in here before you showed up, and now I'm going to have headaches for days."
Harry looked at him with a blank expression before thinking of snide remarks. "Like it would trouble yourself to brew a simple headache potion and here I thought you were a potions master. Or do you not have enough courage to go down to Madame Pomfrey's hospital wing for a simple cure?"
He glared at the student infront of him. "Remind me why I'm even bothering to talk to you."
"Because I'm the only source of your entertainment…but then again if I had to look at bubbling and simmering colored liquids in cauldrons I would go batty. At least you're not reading porn while giggling like a schoolgirl."
Unknowing to Harry his professor slowly closed his top desk drawer. He cleared his throat and took another sip of his tea. "I want you to be on your best behavior tonight."
"Um…sir it's 10 am. We still have another seven hours before it would be considered 'tonight'."
"Damn it Potter stop mocking me! You are taking one of my students to the ball and I expect you to act accordingly." Snape yelled at him.
"Yes mother."
It was taking every ounce of his self control to keep himself from cursing the teenager into oblivion. "Get out of here before I make you into potion ingredients!"
"I don't think that is possible unless you are using them for arcane potions. Speaking of which I meant to give you these a while ago, but I got sidetracked." Harry said as he took out shrunken potion tomes out of his pocket and handed them over.
There were several things he didn't like in his life; People with the last name of Potter, being surprised, Dumbledore, and stupid Hogwarts students. "Where did you get these from Potter?"
"From a very close friend that lives in a sewer and is afraid those Dementors will abuse him sexually if the lights aren't on."
He looked at the young lord with a blank look. "Must you be a smartass?"
"You know a lot of people have been telling me that lately. Quite frankly I like being one because it's so much fun. Besides must you always be cold, uncaring, and antisocial?"
Severus cracked a smile. "Touché."
"Thank you Sev for the cup of tea, but I better make myself scarce before some crazy Slytherin girl snags me into dancing for hours on end." He sighed and walked out of the office.
'Just be careful Potter.' Snape thought as he poured himself a glass of aged muggle whiskey. "I still can't believe muggles have good liquor."
Throughout the day all the girls 4th year and above were nowhere to be seen. Harry amused himself when he remembered his dreadful time during the Yule Ball in his fourth year. 'If I wouldn't have waited so long to find a date that year I would've had fun, but of course I was the stupid child who didn't know how to dance. Not to mention that I pissed off a very cute Patil by not dancing with her all night. I wonder if she'll be wearing the same type of dress as last time. I can't be thinking of this right now…there's still another two hours before this stupid thing.'
Neville was walking down from the opposite end of the corridor when he spotted his friend. "Hiya Harry, what brings you down this far?"
"Let me guess, your girlfriend wouldn't let you see her?"
"How did you know? I guess walking through the Ravenclaw territory kinda gave it away huh?" He laughed. "So what are you going to do to kill time before the ball?"
"I don't know…probably take a nap or read a few books in my common room. What are you going to do?"
He yawned and stretched. "I think I'll go to the greenhouses to see if Professor Sprout needs any help before we have to get ready."
Harry stopped his friend before he could leave. "Do you think that you can help me pick out three good flowers for three girls?"
"Sure no problem, but where did you want me to meet you?" He asked.
"Um… meet me in the library in a half-hour. Thanks, I owe you one."
Neville smiled at his friend. "Actually you don't, because if it wasn't for you I would still be a coward."
The Professors were getting the Great Hall ready for the Halloween Ball. Professor Flitwick was in his element as he put his Charms to the test as Hagrid carted in a few of his oversized pumpkins. "'ere ya go Professor. An' I brought ya da bats."
"Thank you, but could you tell Minerva to come over? I need her help with a few transfigurations." The tiny wizard asked as he started carving the pumpkins.
The gentle half-giant walked over to the Transfiguration mistress to relay the message. "Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick was asking for ya."
"Alright I'll be over there in a few moments. Why don't you bring in the little pumpkins to put on each of the tables?"
"Yes ma'am." He said.
Dumbledore came down to check on the progress of the decorations. 'Very nice what my subordinates have done around here. Just a few more things to add and then everything will be completed here.' He took out his wand, and added what appeared to be fake ghosts that flew around the tables.
The weird sisters had shown up in the Great Hall with their equipment to get ready for sound checks. "'ello Albus, So are we on to play for the Yule Ball as well?" Lead singer Boone Swisher asked.
"Nice to see you again, but as to that I'll have to ask your manager if you can come back out. Why don't you setup your things and you can start your show after dinner."
"Righty-o Dumbles." Bass player and former Hufflepuff Chase Ellis spoke up.
Just remembering that child during his time at Hogwarts made his eyebrows crease from the nickname he was given. 'Even now he still calls me that! I swear he will never grow up!'
Neville was a little late in meeting Harry in the Library. "Sorry about that…Professor Sprout needed my help in transplanting a few dangerous plants into new pots. She helped me pick out these for you, and she also said that they will last for a while out of the ground."
"Hey you gotta do what you gotta do Nev, but thanks a lot. I'm sure that they will like these."
"Can I ask who they are for?" He couldn't help it if his curiosity was in full tilt.
"Alright I guess I can trust you…they're for a friend, a sister, and my date."
The Longbottom heir thought about what he said before coming to a conclusion. "Ok I can only figure out your friend and that would be Hermione. The other two I'm completely in the dark about."
"Don't worry you'll see them at the ball. Just don't hold it against me because she's a Slytherin." Harry said with a coy smirk on his face.
"You know me better then that! I'm not prejudiced unlike most people in this school. Give Hermione the soft blue flower because that is her favorite color. Listen I have to run and take a shower because I smell like dragon dung. See you later."
He watched his friend walk off and turned over another page in the book he was reading. 'Why do they have to put books in here that aren't even worth reading? I still wonder where Rowena's chambers are. Too bad that Salazar didn't know where it is otherwise I could really have good reading material from her point of view. I guess I should follow in Neville's footsteps and go get ready.'
The Halloween Ball was about to begin in less then 10 minutes and Blaise was getting angry…very angry that her date hadn't come to pick her up yet. 'When he gets here I'm going to strangle him until he has no more air in his lungs!'
Daphne came over to her friend to get her to stop pacing around. "You know if you keep doing that then you won't have much of a heal left in your shoes."
"WHERE IS HE!?" She growled as a few strands of hair fell from her loose bun hairstyle.
He was glad to Eli and Lyan for helping him with his 'shadow walking'. 'I'm really going to enjoy making her hate me for this.' He looked at her best friend and put his finger to his lips. 'I didn't know that she looked so good in that dress.'
Blaise began ranting once again and gasped when she felt a pair of hands wrap themselves around her waist. "Potter that better be you or else I'm breaking your arms."
"Do you honestly think you could break my arms?" He smirked as she turned around to face him. Before she blew up…he took out a lavender rose corsage and wrapped it around her right wrist. "You look absolutely beautiful and I hope that you like it since a friend of mine has a knack for plants."
'He looks very sexy in those dress robes of his.' She looked at it and smiled…a true smile. "I love it, but how did you know that this is my favorite color and the color of my dress?"
"A little birdie told me, but don't chew me out when I give these to two special people of mine. I must say that it fits you very nicely, and you look very beautiful." He said as he kissed her knuckles.
She blushed at his gentlemanly gesture and intertwined her fingers with his as they walked together to Hermione and her date. He smiled at his date and at his friend. "Can I ask you a question? Do you have something with international guys? I mean Viktor Krum and now you have a Beauxbaton's date?"
He received a playful glare from her, and a kiss on the cheek when he put a blue rose corsage on her left wrist. "Thank you Harry…it's beautiful, and you look very good in those dress robes. Oh and sorry to disappoint you but my date is a Ravenclaw 7th year, James Thatcher. I'm sure you two know each other by now."
"Well then where are my manners…Hermione and James this is my date, Blaise Zabini a 6th year Slytherin. I'm sure that both of you know her by now." He squeezed his date's hand gently as he mocked his friend.
"Let's go inside Potter so you can get me something to drink." His date poked him in his side.
"I do have a first name ya know." He complained.
She smiled at him again and squeezed his hand. "But where is the fun in using your first name?"
He narrowed his eyes at her, and he turned around and glared at Hermione when she started laughing. The two couples walked inside the Great Hall to find it completely decked out in decorations. Carved pumpkins, spider webs, live bats, black candles, artificial ghosts, ground fog, and the real ghosts wearing goofy looking costumes. 'Geez…overkill much?'
The normal four house tables were once again broken up into six seat individual tables with their own decorations on them. He spotted Belle/Bella with her date sitting at one of the tables, and she wasn't looking too happy. She looked around for some way of getting away from him, and she finally found it when Harry walked up to her with his date. "Hello there, can we join you at your table?"
"Of course you can mister." Belle said.
Her date looked a little bit miffed when she accepted a yellow rose corsage, and hugged him. "Excuse me sir, but I don't think we've been introduced."
Harry could tell that he didn't like her date. "If you are that curious then I am Lord Harry James Potter-Black. The person that you possibly dragged to this ball is a very close dear friend of mine, and if I hear that you took advantage of her or treated her badly…I will make your trip to oblivion unbelievably painful. Now have a good time tonight."
The disguised Black was very happy to know that she was protected, but she was coming close to seeing her date turn deathly pale. 'There he goes again…but at least he's doing his family head duties correctly. It's just shocking that he's made up with Granger this quickly.'
Drinks were served by animated skeletons in muggle butler suits as the jokes spread around about the servants. "Should we all take bets to see if this was one of the ideas Dumbledork cooked up?"
Blaise raised her eyebrow at them and shook her head. "I won't bet on it I'll just agree with you on that one. I wonder when they're going to start up the band."
Hermione sighed and agreed with them. "So are we going to get a dance with you Lord Potter-Black?"
"I guess that all depends if I'm allowed to, and speaking of the devils they're starting." He was about to take a drink from his butterbeer when his date grabbed his hand and dragged him to the dance floor. "Breaking out the handcuffs already?"
"You better believe it and if you are nice I will allow you to dance with them. You're still mine for the night." She said with a devilish smirk.
As they danced, some of the bigoted students were glaring at the dancing couple. Pansy Parkinson was ranting to Theodore Nott about how Draco went with another girl besides her. He was trying so hard to ignore her but the sound of her voice was really getting on his nerves. 'Merlin, does she ever shut the hell up?! I hope that she ends up with someone like Weasley or killed by the Dark Lord.'
"How could Zabini think of going with Potter of all people!? He's a bloody Gryffindor with a bloody heart of gold that could do no wrong! It's people like them who ruin the world for we Slytherins!"
"Parkinson, go bother someone else with your petty problems. I'm getting sick and tired of hearing about your constant bitching and moaning. Potter was right you and Weasel would do well together. Merlin knows how anyone in this world could even stand you under one roof together." He shot right back at her. She was about to start another ranting session when he pointed to the opposite part of the room. "Oh look Malfoy is snogging Weaselette."
A dark fire was brewing in her eyes. "WHERE ARE THEY!?" She quickly turned around didn't see him behind her. 'Damn it he ran off!'
Draco laughed at her stupidity when Theodore came over to him. "You gotta do something about her. I don't know how you could have her hang on you all these years."
"Who says I enjoyed it? I should ask you why you asked her to the ball."
Nott sighed heavily. "It was desperation. Who and where is your date?"
"She's in the bathroom, and it's Lisa Turpin. Before you bombard me with questions like a gossip queen, I asked her. Not all Ravenclaws are bad, and she's much easier on the eyes then Parkinson."
His fellow Slytherin's eyes narrowed at him. "I would agree with you on that one, but I am not a 'gossip queen'."
"Whatever floats your broom, Nott. You better go find your date before she tears this place apart looking for you."
Outside at the castle gates…
"Is your team in place, Chameleon?"
"Affirmative boss…we're in position to intercept the target. The Aurors should be arriving in the next thirty to three hours." The team leader responded in her two way mirror.
"Very well…keep your team hidden in the shadows. Remember that you only have a short window of one to two minutes tops before a portkey can be activated. If you fail at your first attempt then proceed to waypoint gamma to intercept."
The female leader groaned in the magical mirror. "I understand ya old coot."
"I heard that! But I'll overlook that comment just this once."
She watched his cloaked face disappear from the mirror. "Merlin, could he have a bigger pole up his arse? Alright people, keep your eyes open and don't set off the school wards. Move out!"
Three hours into the ball…
Dumbledore was trying to keep his appearances known in the Great Hall but he was wondering when his shining moment was going to happen. 'Soon everyone will look up to me once again when Potter has been brought to justice. I can't believe that Minister Bones approved my idea.'
Fleur was picking up some bad vibes from the Headmaster. 'I wonder what he is up to. Madame Maxime warned me about being suspicious about him especially after his transgressions were brought before the Wizengamot.'
The Weird Sisters started playing their top single from their new record called 'Witch Hunt'. Harry and Blaise were dancing once again. She normally wouldn't admit this but she was having a fun time with him. "Enjoying yourself Potter?" She teased him.
"Actually to tell you the truth I can't stand dancing with you. You keep stepping on my toes."
She knew that he was lying, but she grabbed his face and kissed him on his cheek. "You can't lie to me Harry. I know you love dancing with me."
"I don't know about that. Hermione and Belle are very good dancers…although you are good at slow songs. But that could all change if you keep kissing me."
She couldn't fight the blush that came across her cheeks. "Are you assuming that I will become your girlfriend if I do?"
"Well Miss Blaise Zabini, are you saying that this isn't our first date? From the look you're giving me I guess I'll have to find someone else who can love me…" He looked dejected, but was mentally laughing.
Fleur's veela nature felt that one of her kind was about to claim a mate. 'Who could it be? I can tell that this person is not a pure-blooded veela…wait that girl with Harry looks familiar. Wait that's the half-veela!'
Blaise put her hands on his face to make him look at her. "You're all mine Lord Potter-Black." She pulled him in closer to kiss his lips…
Professor Sinistra was grinning from ear to ear because she was about to win the bet that she had with Snape. 'I can't believe that he is so blind to tell that she is in love with him, but won't admit it to his face. Way to play hard to get and win me 100 galleons. Severus may be the Potion's master but he sucks when it comes to gambling…unless it's Quidditch.'
Professor McGonagall was smiling at the couple when the Great Hall doors opened up with a bang. Seven Aurors in full uniform came walking in to interrupt the Ball. "What is the meaning of this?" She demanded.
"We are here on behalf of the Ministry of Magic to arrest Lord Harry James Potter-Black for the charge of casting an unforgivable curse and breaking into the Department of Mysteries. Come fourth now or else you will also be charged with resisting arrest." The squad leader commanded rather loudly, and sent his team to find him.
Harry kept moving in closer and felt her breath on his face. The two of them were just an inch from a lip lock when two Aurors pulled them away from each other. "Sorry to interrupt your moment, but you are coming with us. Surrender your wand and don't give us any trouble or else we will bind you."
The young lord glared daggers at the Headmaster as his wand was taken from him. "Dumbledore will pay for this. Before you take me away…can I give something to my girlfriend?"
"You have one minute."
The Zabini heiress was shocked to hear him say that, but sealed the deal when he kissed her fully on the lips. 'Wow he is a great kisser! Wait what did he put in my hand?'
He smirked at her when she took a few breaths. "I guess we're official now."
"You better believe it Harry. I'll talk with my father about your situation." She said as a tear fell from her eye as he was dragged away from her and out of the Great Hall.
The Headmaster was smiling because his revenge was complete. 'Good riddance and I hope that you will enjoy your stay in Azkaban.'
Blaise walked out of the Great Hall and didn't stop until she walked into her dormitory to get her communication mirror. "Alexander Zabini!"
Her father's face appeared a few seconds later. "Hi honey…what's wrong?"
"Daddy, my boyfriend was arrested by a squad of Aurors just now on charges of breaking into the Department of Mysteries and casting an unforgivable curse. Is there anything you can do for him?" She said as another tear fell from her eye.
"I'll see what I can do pumpkin, but something smells fishy about what they charged him with. I know for a fact that the Aurors would charge and arrest you after the crime was committed…not seven or eight months later."
"Harry said that 'Dumbledore was going to pay for this'. Do you think that he was behind this situation or for revenge about being stripped from power?" She asked.
"It certainly sounds like it, but I'll keep you posted. I have to go before your mother goes postal on me about missing our dinner date. Good night and I love you."
"I love you too Daddy, and good night." She said as she put away her mirror, and resized the object in her hand. It was an origami bouquet of flowers charmed to look real. She noticed a note fall to the floor, and she bent down to pick it up. 'I hope you like these because the paper cuts were murder. Trick or Treat Blaisey. 'You better come back to me safely Potter, because I'm going to hurt you for calling me that.'
Harry walked with the Aurors out of the school without causing any trouble. 'I wonder if she will like those flowers.'
As the party walked outside the gates they were ambushed by gray cloaked witches and wizards. He was about to take off when someone put their wand at his throat to stop him from running away. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. Be a good little boy and stay put."
"What a shame because I wish I was one so I could look innocent." He sneered at the disguised witch.
The Aurors didn't last long against their enemies. The cloaked people went to work on modifying the ministry worker's minds on tonight's events, and were portkeyed back to the Auror office. "Secondary objective completed. They will remember that their patrol of the school was completed and went back to the office."
"Good work team, and let's head back with our primary objective." Chameleon said as she held onto Harry's arm and held out the portkey. All of them held onto the muggle baseball bat and went spinning off to their destination.
The Head of the Department of Mysteries was busy filing away some files when a team of his Unspeakables arrived via portkey. He had to keep from laughing because their target and one of their own were on the floor in a tangle of limbs. "All of you can leave except for those tangled two, and good work on completing this mission." They bowed to their boss and left his office without saying a word. "Are you two done?"
The Unspeakable agent glared at her boss and watched Harry vomit on the floor. She was nice enough to clean up the mess and helped put him in a chair. "You alright?"
"I hate portkeys with a passion." He spat out.
"They are not fun I assure you." Her boss said as he took off his hood. "Now onto business…"