A/n...The Harry Potter universe belongs to JK Rowlings, Warner Brothers, and Scholastic/Bloomberg Publishing. But you knew that already.

The following days saw a definite improvement in Joshua's health and strength. He was released from the Hospital wing by the next weekend. Snape was still recovering, but was allowed to return to his quarters because Madame Pomfrey was tired of putting up with his surliness. He never did like being confined in anyway. Some things never change. Ed was brought in as substitute in potions along with Dumbledore handling the upper classes for the potions master until he got his strength back.

Once Dumbledore had announced to the student body that they were to have a small Yule Ball before Christmas break, the atmosphere in the school took a definite up swing. Companions were asked to the ball, dresses were ordered, and those that had not learned to dance last year were taking lessons from their housemates. That was what was going on in most of the school.

There was however a small group of Slytherins that were making other plans. Their leader, none other than the illustrious Draco Malfoy, had a job to do. The lack of communication from his parents had shaken him to the core earlier in the season. Then he received his most important letter.

In the letter he learned of his father's apparent death. He was sad about that but his father had never been a caring parent. Draco wasn't sure that the man had even loved his only son. Lucius always seemed to be disappointed in him. No one knew where his mother was. The only one that he had left was Bellatrix LeStrange. But he had thought that his aunt had always loved him and Aunt Bellatrix had a job for him. One that would elevate him to a position higher than his father's had been with the Dark Lord. And the Yule Ball was the perfect opportunity to carry out his assignment.

The illness of Snape had set back his original plans however. He had hoped that Snape would help him in some of the trickier aspects of "the plan". None of the Slytherins had been able to visit their head of house in the Hospital because of his illness. As far as they knew, that is where he still was. Many were beginning to wonder if Severus Snape was really still alive. Aunt Bella's letter wondered the same thing. Draco's return letter had told her that he could not verify if the potions masters was still among the living.

The boy had at first wanted Severus's help, but then Draco on second thought didn't want to have Snape steal his glory. So it didn't matter whether or not the man was alive after all. His plan would succeed and he Draco would be the Dark Lord's favorite. No need to involve Snape.

Draco's job was to kill Harry Potter. Or at least grievously injure him and as many of the others as possible. The Dark Lord was launching a campaign of terror and Hogwarts was where he wanted to start. Draco had pumped himself up in his self imposed isolation to the point that he believed what his Aunt Bella was telling him. She was telling him that he, as the last of the Malfoys, was better, more powerful, more talented than a half breed like Harry Potter. Crabbe and Goyle of course believed him, but Draco was disappointed in most of the Slytherins. They did not seem to want to openly tie themselves to him. Well, he would show them too!

The Saturday before the start of Christmas break was cold and crisp. Snow had fallen the day before so that the hills around the castle looked like giant frosted cakes. Most of the students were eagerly getting ready for the party that night, so for once new snow was not on the list of things to enjoy for most of the students.

Ron, Harry, and Neville all carefully dressed in their formal robes. The twins had purchased Ron some very nice brand new ones during the summer as Harry had asked them to do with the Tri Wizard winnings he had given them. They were all looking very dashing, seemingly carefree young men on their way to a dance. That was the way it looked on the surface. Underneath their robes, they were an entirely different story. All were ready for combat, their long blades worn as formal accessories. The twins were also prepared.

As the light warriors waited at the bottom of the stairs in the entrance hall for their companions for the night, they kept a close eye on the students and visiting dignitaries from the ministry that passed them. Greeting the ones that they knew but not inviting lingering conversation with anyone. Then the ladies joined them.

Earlier that evening…

Hermione was helping Ginny braid her long red hair in an elegant affair. Luna had joined them and was dressed in a beautiful daffodil yellow set of formal robes that reminded one of summer. Katie and Angelina were trying to figure out how to wear weapons under formal robes. They had never run into this accessorizing problem before.

"Look, conjure leg sheaths for the knives that fit on your thighs. Like this." Hermione proceeded to show them how to conjure the needed equipment. "Rule number nine, never go anywhere without a knife! Remember to put a slit that you can reach through in your robes." Other weapons were being shrunk to fit into their handbags.

Hermione's rich red robes set off the highlights in her chestnut curls that were artfully arranged on the top of her head with curls framing her face. Ginny looked like a wood nymph in her deep green formal robes that had been a gift from her parents. To look at these young ladies, you would never know how deadly they were.

"Let's go knock them dead ladies!" Angelina held the door open for the others. "Figuratively speaking of course."

At the Yule ball…

The young ladies started down the stairs, enjoying the impact that they were having on their dates for the evening. Needless to say, they had the young men's undivided attention. Ron seemed to quit breathing when Luna smiled down at him. Neville was quite still but he kept his cool, giving Ginny a mannerly bow when she reached the bottom step as he kissed her hand. Harry stepped up the last two steps to Hermione almost at a run.

"You are simply the most beautiful lady here tonight." He kissed her on the cheek and took her arm in his.

The twins of course acted the clowns with their bows to Angelina and Katie, but the girls laughed and took their arms to enter the ballroom that the Great Hall had become. They knew how those two idiots felt about their lovely selves.

The Great Hall was decorated with the usual twelve Christmas trees, with beautiful ornaments on each. There were garland ropes hung along the balcony that ran the entire length of the Great Hall. Each twinkled with sparkling lights. The theme was no means as elaborate as last year's, but there were no complaints to be heard. It looked like a Christmas wonderland. The band was a very well known one, not as big name as the Weird Sisters but almost as good. The band started playing and everyone began to dance, no formal start to this one.

The food was set out in a buffet style along one side of the hall. The mix of food was exotic to most of the students as there was quite a number of muggle dishes included. The young folks had fun enjoying the new tastes, not realizing what some of them were eating, but liking it nonetheless.

"Those two out did themselves," thought Minerva as she watched Charles and Aurora dance every dance that had been played that evening. "So many of our pure bloods have never had cheeseburgers and pizza to eat. Never mind soda!"

"This is exactly what we needed," said Albus as he danced with his Deputy Headmistress. "Everyone seems to be having a good time. I just wonder where the rest of the Slytherins are. I don't seem to see young Mr. Malfoy." The headmaster was searching carefully as he twirled Minerva around the room.

Mr. Malfoy was sneaking along the balcony overlooking the great hall. His comrades in arms where getting in to position around the dancing group on the polished marble floor. His plan was fool proof. Aunt Bella had given them portkeys that would take them out of the wards of the ancient castle once their business was finished, so they only had to strike and disappear. Bella had studied the wards for years and knew that there was no way in but that portkeys could take you out. She had proven it when she attended the school in her 7th year. Draco smiled. Come tomorrow he would be sitting on the right hand side of the Dark Lord. Now to wait for the correct moment to strike.

Back on the Dance Floor…

Joshua had decided to attend the ball for just a bit. He was still weaker than he liked from the battle with Riddle, so he planned on making an early evening of it. He had spent the afternoon with Bill Weasley, beefing up the wards. Dumbledore had requested that the elder Weasley come in and modernize the ward set up. Both old men knew that some of the best security features were changing the types of "fencing" you were using. The guest attending tonight had to have an invitation in hand to get through the front gates. Now even a house elf had to be recognized by the wards before they could enter the grounds. That was something that no other wizard structure had incorporated in their security wards as far as Bill knew. It had been Star and Doby's idea. And Bill should know he was in charge of all the structure security wards the goblins sold in Britain now.

Joshua had found himself a comfortable chair along the back of the hall where he could see all of the dancing. His Ay gah he ah yaw sss tee gea (light warriors) were really enjoying themselves. He didn't think that any of them had missed out of a dance set yet. Ah to be young again! Always the warrior though, a furtive movement on the walkway above the first floor caught his attention. Where he was, he could see but not be seen by the person on the balcony.

"Star! Dobby!" Joshua said quietly.

"Yes Grandfather" and the little elves were standing by his side.

"Could you do me a favor? I need you Star to see who is up there sneaking around. Do not be seen. Be careful as I do not think that they are here to take pictures for the society page. Go quickly!" Joshua said the last to empty air. "Dobby I need Ed and Sirius now!" Once again he was talking to empty air as Dobby popped out.

Star quietly popped into an alcove just behind the crouching figure. It was a student; the elf recognized Draco Malfoy from Dobby's description. She glanced across to the other side of the hall and saw two more figures crouching, waiting. Star also noted three more along the edges of the ball room, not eating or dancing. They were not having a conversation, just blending into the background and watching.

'Not good, not good. Bad boys and girl being badder.' Star thought as she disappeared.

Joshua had signaled Charles as soon as Star had left on her recon mission. Charles excused himself from Aurora and hurried to the old man's side.

"Ay knee se (grandfather) are you alright? Do you need something?" Charles quietly asked the old man.

"Yoh nah, we have trouble. There are several young people in positions around the hall that leads one to believe that they are about to attack. We must be ready for it. I will alert Dumbledore. Star has gone to recon for me and…," Joshua had not finished when Star popped back.

"Grandfather, there is maybe six or more waiting. They is bad boys and girl. They is not coming here to dance." Star was totally pissed off. Her Master Harry could not even have one evening's peace. "The one up there," she pointed with her chin, "is Dobby's old master. Bad, bad, bad boy. All the others are watching him."

"Very well, Charles, alert as many of our group as you can. I believe that I would like to dance with Minerva." Joshua strode across the dance floor and tapped Dumbledore on the shoulder. "May I cut in?"

As Dumbledore turned, the two locked eyes for just a moment. "Of course my dear Professor Stormchaser. I believe that I would like to get something from that delightful buffet table. The two of you come join me when this dance is through."

Draco was so busy watching Harry and Hermione having such a good time that he did not realize that a subtle shift had occurred on the dance floor. The others of his team were watching him not the crowd. Not very professional of them. But then again they had not had any "professional" training. Every Hogwarts professor that was dancing had changed partners along with the Aurors that had been invited. The only adults that were with their original partners where the few ministry officials and a few parents that had attended. Charles had disappeared along with Aurora Sinistra. Dumbledore was at the buffet table seemingly sampling the evening's refreshments.

Harry and Hermione were spinning in the center of the floor to a waltz that had been requested by an older guest. Hermione was enjoying the dance and Harry was enjoying watching her. Holding her in his arms was so wonderful. He glanced around. This was something wonderful but there was something else too, something that had never happened to Harry, just beyond his thinking mind. He could feel the cave lion stirring. Without him reaching for it. He could feel the big cat coming on to the alert. His senses heightened, suddenly he could hear so much better and the room seemed so loud. He could smell, Hermione mostly, which almost distracted him but he yanked himself back, smelling people, food, and so much more. He could smell fear. He glanced around again as he spun Hermione.

He saw Grandfather dancing with Professor McGonagall. Dumbledore was filling a plate as he strolled down the buffet table. Charles was slipping behind the students standing along the edges watching the dancers. He thought he saw Ed and Sirius slipping around the other edges, but he wasn't sure. They had not planned to be here tonight. Kingsley Shacklebolt had left the dance floor and was moving to the stairs that lead to the small balcony that ran around the entire Great Hall.

As he danced past Ron and Luna, he sent a thought to the blond girl. She glanced at him and nodded. She whispered into Ron's ear and they began to work their way to the edge of the dance floor. Now how to let the others know?

Across the ballroom…

Ginny was watching Harry and Hermione dance. They were so perfectly matched for one another. Hermione looked like she was in a dream and Harry was looking at her with all of the love inside of him shining from his green eyes. She was glad that they had each other. And she was so glad that she had Neville. Then she see saw Harry stiffen. Not much, if you didn't know him you would not have noticed it. She watched him as he glanced casually around the room.

She saw him signal Luna. That was something that they had not shared with the adults. Harry called it their ace in the hole. Luna was, Hermione used the muggle word, a tele-empath. She could read emotions from everyone and thoughts from some people. Harry was one of those people that she could read thoughts from. And send thoughts too! All those emotions banging on her all the time was one of the reason she spaced out so much. The Occlumency lessons Professor Joshua was helping her with were helping her to filter out most of the mental noise so she was doing so much better. As Ginny spun in the dance on Neville's arm, she glanced around the room trying to figure out what had spooked Harry. She saw the adults shifting, getting into position and then she noticed the objects of concern.

Harry looked over at Ginny and Neville, Neville was concentrating on his steps, doing a very good job of it too, but Ginny was on alert. She was watching, tense. Once again, not so as you would notice if you didn't know her but Harry knew she was ready. He smiled at her as they danced past and she nodded. She whispered into Neville ear. He also was on alert now. Ron had just met up with the twins at the buffet table. The whole group was on alert now. They were as ready as they would ever be.

On the balcony….

Draco saw his chance when Harry spun Hermione into the middle of the room into a cleared space. He jumped up and shouted "Avada Kedavra!" As the green beam shot forward Draco waited for the impact with bated breath. Only there was no Harry or Hermione at the end of it when it reached the dance floor. Draco grabbed the railing and searched for his prey. He had lost sight of them in the milling crowd. His group started firing at random targets as soon as he had stood up but there were suddenly a lot of people firing right back. Their element of surprise was gone.

On the dance floor….

The battle was in full pitch now. The attackers were surprised to find that their intended prey was fighting back. And hard too! The supposed element of surprise seemed to have vanished before their eyes. There were duels occurring all over the Great Hall. Aurora, Minerva and Flitwick were busy hurrying the young ones out the various exits very quickly. Most of the older students fled too. However the students of the DA stayed to fight. The Aurors that took the time to glance about were startled at the skills that the teens possessed.

There was a shout behind Dumbledore and as he spun to face his attacker, the thought "Oh Crap!" flew through his head. Bellatrix LeStrange was firing "Petrificus Totalus" and Albus could not move. Her insane laughter rose above the noise of the fight.

"I will finish you tonight old man!" she screeched. She raised her wand and suddenly froze. Her facial features went from maniacal rage to total surprise. Then her head rolled off of her neck and hit the floor. Neville was standing behind her with the Toledo blade of Cid Campeodor dripping with her blood, having dispatched the bitch with the coup de man.

"That is for my parents Madame LeStrange. This is for everyone else!" Neville said in a firm voice. He spun and used the momentum of his spin along with his strength from his hatred to cut the still standing body completely in half at the waist. He took a deep breath and looked up at the now free Dumbledore. "It is finished." And the young warrior returned to the fray.

"Damn, we wanted to cut in!" quipped Fred as he and George battled Crabbe and Goyle past the headmaster. Albus got his breath back and his heart rate back down to battle level. She should not have been able to get that strong of a hold on him. Something to ponder. Dumbledore surveyed the battle. The other Slytherins were not making a good showing of themselves. They had not been training as had Harry and his team. Albus realized that Bella had set them up as a diversion. It took Draco a lot longer to figure that out.

There were several fights still going on scattered throughout the hall. Hermione was battling Pansy Parkinson, the only female in the Slytherin group with Draco. Pansy went into the fight believing the pure blood dogma of the superiority of the blood over muggles. And that her Draco knew what the hell he was doing. Hermione schooled her on all of this. And it was not pleasant for the Slytherin perfect.

As she bound Pansy with ropes, she looked around. 'Where the devil is Potter?' she asked herself searching for Harry. Then she saw him finish off his opponent, suddenly glancing up at the balcony. He sprang into the air, transforming as he seemingly flew up to the second level.

Ginny had been protecting Neville's back from the one of other adults that had attended as ministry workers. The other professors were mopping up the rest of the group. All of the students not actively fighting had fled the hall under the protection of Aurora, Minerva and Flitwick. So they did not witness Bella's demise. That was fortunate for the more delicate members of the student body. The eight light warriors along with several members of the DA were putting period to the traitor Slytherins. The only one of the attackers that was killed was Bella but the rest were not in good shape. And they were all in custody.

The few Aurors that attended the dance were doing a happy dance on the inside. Bellatrix LeStrange was dead! One of the muggle borns was singing "The Witch is Dead!" from the Wizard of Oz to himself as bound up his prisoner.

On the balcony…

Kingsley was quietly sneaking up on Draco from the shadows. They wanted him conscious and talking. Just as Kingsley almost reached Draco, the floor creaked. Draco spun and grabbed his portkey. He said the activation word "Salazar" and went nowhere except the floor.

He was screaming and convulsing as if there was an electrical cable attached to his body. Kingsley wasn't sure what to do about this, not having had any safety training on electrical shock. He looked around at a loss. The boy would be dead if it didn't stop. But he was not in any hurry to grab the wanna be Death Eater.

Suddenly a very large cat, maybe a lion sprang from the other side of the convulsing boy and knocked the portkey out of the convulsing boy's hand with one giant paw. Once the portkey stopped trying to activate because of breaking when it hit the floor, the anti apparition measure stopped. Draco Malfoy did not move.

Kingsley stared at the green eyed lion. A lion with a lightning bolt scar over its right eye barely visible through the light mane hanging over the forehead of the huge cat. Kingsley relaxed slightly, not as worried that he was going to end up being a kitty snack, but still wary.

"Well, this is a surprise. Shouldn't I be arresting you right now?" The dark man asked in his deep voice, making sure to keep it calm and smiling. No need to piss it off, just in case.

The cave lion began to purr. A purr that threatened to shake the nearby column to pieces. Its jaw dropped in what could only be a laugh. The Auror stooped to check the Slytherin's pulse. He was alive but just barely. Shack knew that the next wards on his own home were going to be installed by Bill Weasley, no matter how expensive, that young man is a genius. He put the manacles on the prisoner and levitated the boy down the stairs to the others being held on the dance floor. The cave lion disappeared into the shadows behind him.

Madame Pomfrey was administering first aid as needed. The Aurors and the other "good" guys were holding the Slytherin group separate from the four adults that had accompanied LeStrange. The four were the last Death Eaters at the ministry, hopefully. They had been deep moles and until this moment had not been on any suspect list. Shack was going to make sure that they were the last. He would discuss the 'cat' with Dumbledore later.