Time Paradox Revolution

by: PhoenixJustice

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is property of J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros and people who aren't me. The Obsidian Trilogy is property of Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory. I only own this story and make no profit from this.

Warning: Rated M for sexual content, language, violence, etc.

Pairings: Sirius/Harry, James/Lily, Godric/Salazar, etc.

Setting: Post-Deathly Hallows, then pre-Sorcerers/Philosopher's Stone (currently we're going through Harry's Fourth Year).

Summary: He had lived. The boy into the man. The future appeared pretty as a rose and hid its true self, its thorns, well. He had one chance; and so he gave up everything he had to change everything he knew.

A/N: Lyrics later in the chapter are from the song I Want You, by Savage Garden.

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Chapter Thirty Seven - Yule

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Salazar,

You always appreciate when I'm honest-so you've said to me, anyhow-so I like to think I inspire the same. It's...not that my parents or Sirius aren't being honest to me; but they are withholding something. I dunno, it just seems...important? They don't talk about it when I'm around. None of you do. I only found out because I...well, I'm sure you probably figured out at some point that I was listening in on some of your meetings at the Hollow.

And what you don't say, considering the things all of you have been forthright in telling me, well...I just would like to know. It doesn't seem bad, so why the withholding? If I'm overstepping my bounds, I'm sure you'll tell me straight away (you always do.)

Yours,

Harry.

P.S. Do you know any Italian?

Harry,

I do appreciate your honesty. I feel it's an important trait. I suppose those in the Wizarding World might be shocked, but we Slytherins-and I the Founder of it-are masters of many things; self-preservation and lying, which means we're good at being truthful. You understand? We become so good at lying that it makes it easy to see falsehoods and truths in others. I...have lied out of necessity, not pleasure. It's a time in my life I would wish to forget (have, in fact, tried to. One of the burdens of being who I am-like the other Founders-is finding no respite in things like that.)

As to your own question...I simply cannot say. Not at this time. Not because I don't trust you, or trust you with the information. You're certainly mature enough for it, but it is simply not my information to give. That is between you, your parents, and yes, even Sirius. Sirius especially one might say (but that is all I will say to you on the matter.)

How do your lessons fare? Don't think that I don't wish to hear on the matter; I was an educator at Hogwarts for a long time, after all, and it is something I've never lost the love of. Even if I would have sometimes preferred it to be in smaller groups (that is a confidence I haven't shared with many, feel privileged young Potter!)

And do I know any Italian...? Certainly so; I've been alive for over a thousand years, so I've learned probably more languages than even Dumbledore. Is there something particular you were wanting to know?

-Salazar

Salazar,

I appreciate your honesty on it (even if it's not what I wanted to hear.) But I appreciate that you never treat me like secondclass or lesser for being younger. And yes, I understand what you mean.

My lessons are going well. Though the time passing the way it is is kind of making me go stir crazy. Why is there such time inbetween Tasks? As scary as they can be, I think I'd rather get them over quickly in a quick succession. I know it takes time to get them together, but the people putting it together aren't the ones who have to do the Tasks! We don't even have a clue on what the next one is yet.

Meanwhile we're near to Christmas already and I have no clue what to get Sirius! I tried talking to Ron and Hermione about it first (Ron, as you can imagine got pretty red and stammered something about '...flowers?', Hermione mentioned some books, of course. That wouldn't have been mortifying, if she hadn't taken me aside to mention-blushing as red as Ron's hair-about the book 'Same Sex Wizardry!' ...how did she even know about something like that?) and then Draco (who was absolutely no help; he just straight up suggested Same Sex Wizardry!)

I almost asked Cedric for advice, but he doesn't know that me and Sirius are together (I don't think, unless Draco told him on the sly...which would not surprise me in the slightest.)

Wait...oh bollocks; have I told you that me and Sirius are together? Well...we are. You're not mad or disappointed, are you? We haven't done anything, well...you know. But we love each other. I don't mind waiting for him. I'll wait as long as I need to. In a penny in for a pound, I suppose...might as well ask you; what do you think Sirius'd like for Christmas?

As for the Italian...do you know what Dante Coraggio stands for?

Yours,

Harry.

Harry,

The wait will be worth the reward, I assure you.

And no, you hadn't told me about your new status. Most assuredly, Harry, there is no anger or disappointment from my end. I do not state it often, but I would like to think you all know I think of you all as family now. All I want from all of you is your continued happiness. And if there are two people who should be together, well...as you so often like to pause in your thoughts...you know.

What would he like for a Christmas present? I have heard strong recommendations-through a secret source-that a certain Granger and Malfoy have recommended a book called Same Sex Wizardry! Top notch, that! (Actually, no it isn't; it's full of tripe and should be tossed into the nearest bin. Which makes me think that Miss Granger hadn't actually had the courage to look at the book past the front cover!)

But in all seriousness, I would just think your company would be enough. Often times, it's the things we do rather than the things we buy that are truly the most heartfelt; something that would seem a mere hokey thing but instead has so much more value. Do whatever you think is best.

I...do know what it means. I assume from your train of thought that you do as well. Please do not pursue it further, Harry. In my case, I should say. It is something that cannot happen. If you wish to...talk to that person, as they truly are, then you are free to do so. But please do not interfere between us. It is much too important.

-Salazar

Deciding on presents for the others had proved to be pretty easy. Ron would be ecstatic when he realized that he had got the copy of Quidditch Cup Through the Ages signed by Viktor ("You want me to sign it for your friend?" Viktor asks, looking bemused, but does so anyway), Hermione should very much like the new book Magical Dentistry and You!: Wizarding Dentists from the 15th century to now! Not to mention all the things he had gotten for Draco, his parents, Draco's parents, Remus, Salazar, Rowena, Helga (she always appreciated his efforts to try and create new potions with various herbs she liked to bring over-some of which now grew in the garden behind his house.)

What to get for Sirius remained a mystery to Harry. What could possibly be enough to convey just how he felt about the other man? It was this full feeling, where he'd feel simultaneously near giddy mixed with anxiety and joy and so many other things he couldn't even begin to name that it could often feel very overwhelming.

A material possession didn't feel nowhere near enough to express just how much he loved him. So he'd take Salazar's advice and think of something that wasn't a material thing.

The fact that he had to think about this while people around him were merrily chatting about the upcoming Yule Ball didn't help matters. There was just no way he could ask-or expect Sirius to ask him-to something like that. He didn't like it, but he understood it. Still, as a Champion he was expected to have a date and that didn't sit well with him (especially so as eyes would be on the Champions as they were expected to take part in at least one dance.)

Hmm, well there was one thing he could think of that'd fulfill the requirements of a 'date' without him having to be with someone he didn't like (not to mention not have to see what Sirius' reaction might be) and would help keep him at ease.

"Hermione, could I talk to you?" He finally says, rather thankful that the chatter around the room kept eyes from looking his way (he had seen how people were eyeballing Champions the past few days, seeing whom they might ask to the Ball.)

Hermione looks a bit surprised but nods and they make their way out of the Common Room, none the wiser. They end up walking a bit aimlessly, but still manage to make their way to the library (well, it was a good place to talk and they both were in there so often they could probably find their way blindfolded.) They find their usual out of the way spot where he, Hermione, Ron, and sometimes Draco, when he wasn't being incredibly lazy (for such a lazybones about studying, he sure did get amazing grades) studied at.

"So what did you want, Harry?" Hermione asks.

He leans against one of the tables, biting his lip a bit nervously.

"Wannagototheballwithme?" He asks in a rush.

"What?"

He flushes red. "Do you want to go to the Ball. It's just-the Champions have to have a date and I figured we could have a good time but it wouldn't get awkward since it'd be you and me."

"And keep Sirius from glaring holes into your date?" She asks, teasingly.

If anything, he flushes further. "Maybe." He mutters. Though he doubted Sirius would glare...although he was instantly reminded of the fire in Sirius' eyes when he thought that Harry and Cedric had been fooling around. It makes him tingle rather pleasantly.

"I'm sorry, Harry." Hermione says, frowning. Wait, was that a blush on her face? "I would, but I already...I have a date already."

"You do?" She nods, definitely blushing this time. He smiles. "It's alright. I appreciate the thought. So...who's the lucky bloke?"

"Viktor." She says. He blinks at that, surprised. She smiles a bit shyly. "He said he'd been in the library often, trying to get up the courage to ask me. He seems really nice."

"He is!" Harry says, smiling warmly at her. "That's great. I hope you two have a great time then!"

Something stops him though, looking at her, and he squints at her a bit. "Hermione."

"Yes?"

"Your uh, your teeth, they're..."

"Oh that." She flushes pink. "When Madam Pomfrey shrank my teeth down she asked me to stop her when they were back to normal and I might have...let her keep going?" He laughs. "My parents won't be very happy though; you know they're dentists. They have this thing about magic and dentistry mixing-or rather not wanting it to, but..."

"Looks good. And I'm sure Viktor'll go crazy for you no matter what." He teases.

"But what are you going to do now, Harry?" Hermione asks him. She looks interested, but also looking like she wanted to change the subject, blushing like she was.

He frowns now. "No clue. I don't want to ask anyone. Well," he continues at her look. "not anyone I can ask, anyway. Dunno. Draco I'm sure has his date already." After all, the Champions had to have a date and Cedric was one of the Champions. He thinks on it. "Well, maybe I'll ask Ginny. She won't be able to get in otherwise." The Ball was only for those fourteen or older, unless someone older asked you to it. "Just..."

"I don't think she has a crush on you anymore, Harry." Ginny's crush on Harry was pretty known between their small circle but no one really acknowledged it as it made both of them uncomfortable as Ginny obviously still wanted to be Harry's friend, knowing that he didn't feel the same way about her. It had made things a bit awkward for them for a bit, but they seemed to be over that now as she hadn't let on any of her feelings for him in actually quite some time now. Maybe she had gotten over her crush, finally?

"I don't think so either." He says, a bit relieved. "Maybe she'd like to go as friends then. Gotta have a platonic date. The thought of going with anyone who might have other intentions, friend or not, is not something I want to do."

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He manages to get her alone the next day, after breakfast (she had been around Fred and George quite a bit as of late, which didn't exactly surprise Harry as they had been very worried over her after the events that happened during the Quidditch Cup, so they had taken to nearly being her shadows.)

"What's up, Harry?" Ginny asks. She was a pretty girl, Ginny. Already she was pretty tall (and looked like she'd be all the more tall soon enough, taking her father's height rather than her mother's), with pretty red hair. Harry wasn't interested in her in the slightest in that way, but that didn't mean he still couldn't admire someone's beauty.

"Just uh," He fidgets a bit before pulling his Gryffindor courage up. Speaking of Gryffindor, he really needed to have a conversation with a certain someone soon... "The Yule Ball is coming up soon and the Champions are all supposed to have dates. And dance. Fun," He grimaces, not exactly a fan of dancing, or all eyes on him. "But something we have to do. And I figured, well, you're a friend and you won't be able to get in otherwise, so I thought maybe you and me could...?"

She looks a bit surprised. "Oh! Um."

"You have a date too?"

She shakes her head rapidly, turning a bit red in the face (though apparently not the once usual blush she had for him? Hmm.) "No, um. I wanted to go with...but that can't...so no, I-I'm free. I wouldn't mind going with a friend."

He feels a bit of pressure fall off his shoulders. "That's great." He says, relieved. "I'll meet you in the Commons or the Great Hall the night of, then?"

"The Great Hall sounds good."

"Great! Thanks, Ginny, I appreciate it."

"Should be a lot of fun." She says. A bit of a gleam hits her eye. "Maybe you'll have a chance to dance with a certain teacher. He's a good dancer, so I've heard."

He turns scarlet. "Ginny! I mean, how did you..."

She gives him a look. "Harry, I've lived with Fred and George all my life. What kind of Weasley would I be, if I didn't learn a few things from them?"

"So you're not-"

"Harry, as long as the people I care about are happy, that's all I care about."

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He hadn't been able to see much of Sirius since the First Task ended, mostly only seeing him in lessons, so when he finally got a free period, he took to looking for the man (as he knew that he didn't currently have any lessons going on.) He just didn't expect to literally bump into the older man.

"Oh shit, sorry-Harry!" Sirius exclaims. He puts his hands on Harry's shoulders to steady him. The smile he lays on Harry is utterly devastating. "What're you doing?"

"Looking for you." He says, a bit faintly. Merlin, Sirius' smile should be considered a deadly weapon. "Missed you."

Sirius looks a bit shy at that, but doesn't look away from him. "Yeah?" He says softly. He shakes himself a bit. "I wish I could stay but I've got to speak to Dumbledore. Stuff for the Triwizard, I think." He touches Harry's face briefly before taking off in the direction Harry was coming from. "I'll catch you up later!"

He looks at Sirius' retreating back a bit bemusedly until a voice catches his attention.

"I suppose it makes since why his Animagi form is a dog; he's so excitable."

He turns to see Professor Coraggio looking in that direction with a fond smile, before turning it to Harry. He didn't seem at all bothered by what had just transpired between Harry and Sirius, if he had seen anything.

"Hello, Professor," Harry starts, licking his lips. In for a penny, in for a pound. "Gryffindor."

The Professor looks at him for a moment, before raising a brow, stepping aside from the doorway, gesturing in a 'after you' gesture for Harry to head inside.

"Finally figured it out, did you?" He asks Harry, as he closes the door behind them. It was a staffroom, that had obviously just held Sirius and Professor Coragg-Gryffindor in it before Harry got there. Harry takes a seat, as does the Professor. "What gave it away?"

"I think a lot of little things coalesced for me, but especially so your reaction to the letter that Salazar sent me."

At Salazar's name, Gryffindor's eyes change, getting a look that Harry can't recognize in them, before going back to normal.

"I always loved his penmanship." Gryffindor says, a bit wistfully. "Even when the nastiest sorts of letters from him would be sent my way."

"So then, um Professor-"

"Godric. When it's just us, or those who know of me, feel free to call me Godric. I'm not one for ceremony. That's much more Salazar's gig, when he feels like it anyhow."

"Godric then. So it's true then, between the two of you? I don't know much of anything; really although I know now that it's not true, the story in Hogwarts, A History gives more details of a fight between the two of you than Salazar's ever told me."

"It's painful." Godric says, eyes turning serious. "Not all of it, of course. There was a frighteningly amount of good in there, before...that. But yes, painful. He's used all his-very substancial-abilities in keeping away from me for a thousand years now."

"But why?" Godric continues, at Harry's obvious question (though he hadn't actually asked it.) "Not out of true malice. Far from it; I love him with everything that I am, even now. Maybe even more so, now that I've known what it is like to be without him. It's something I cannot bear. Yet I have, if only because life is something not so easily taken from one of us. I know he feels the same way, absolutely."

"But why would he stay away from you then?" Harry asks, his heart breaking for the both of them. Because it was more than obvious that Godric loved Salazar as much as the other man loved him, even after all this time.

"A girl got between us, you could say." Godric said. "It's something Rowena's never forgiven herself for, despite it not being something she could ever help; it's who she is."

He blinks at that. "Rowena...?" Rowena and Salazar had or Rowena and Godric had...?

Godric chuckles a bit. "Not what you're thinking, I assure you, Harry. You know what she is. She's a Seer. The Seer, if you really want to think of it. None of her prophecies have ever not come to pass, have never been misleading, and that was what drew Salazar away from me."

Godric's expression turns more inward now, obviously remembering something (even if it was from a very long time ago.)

"And next they meet, death shall fly behind them. Beware the black without the red. Death to the lion, life for the serpent. And the world trembles."

"She told Salazar those words and I never saw him again."

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A lot of them had gathered at the Great Hall, a mixture of people from the various Houses. The chatter both helped to calm Harry while at the same time just reminded of him what was to come, which made him nervous. He keeps fiddling with the sleeves of his bottle green robes until Draco finally pulls his hand away, looking at him with exasperation. Draco looked really good in his silver robes; they all but shimmered as he moved. They managed to keep from washing him out. His mother, as she always did, had amazing taste (Narcissa always had a great eye for fashion, so said Harry's mum.)

"You're going to tear a hole in your robes before we even get in there. Relax," Draco says. "Honestly Harry, it's not that bad."

"Says the one who actually likes all the attention."

"Well...yes. Not apologizing for that." Draco, ever being the mature and responsible person he was, sticks a tongue out at Harry. "But really, it's just the one dance. After that you're free to do whatever you want. Or whoever you-"

Harry shushes him, ears turning red, making Draco chuckle. A moment later Ron comes down the stairs, fiddling with his own red robes, trying to put them in place. No amount of asking or cajoling could get Ron to say who his own date was; all he'd say, as if amazed was "I can't believe it happened."

But before he can speak to Ron, or wish him congratulations or anything else, the girls come down the stairs. Ginny is a vision in a set of pale green robes, Fred and George's dates, Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell look very lovely in lavender and red robes respectively. Hermione follows down after and she looks the best he's ever seen her, in a set of blue dress robes, her hair sleek and pulled back from her face. She looked very pleased, blushing a pretty pink at the attention she was receiving.

"Wow." Draco says next to him, whistling. "Granger cleans up rather nice, don't you think?"

"She's very pretty." Harry agrees.

"Ginny too. She looks rather fetching-"

"Watch it, Malfoy." Fred says, a glint in his eyes, though he was obviously teasing. "Or I'll think of something interesting to do to you."

"Ooh, I know Fred!" George says. "We could turn him into a ferret! I'm sure someone could lend us a hamster wheel or something for it."

Draco rolls his eyes at them. The girls make their ways over, with Fred and George pinning a flower onto their dates, robes. Flowers? He didn't know that was a requirement! As he's fumbling with what to do, Fred and George step over to them.

"Ahh! Looks like we have a leftover flower from the bunch we got!" Fred exclaims. He and George start to pin it on Ginny, making her blush at the attention it was giving her from everyone, batting at them.

"Stop it! I don't need a flower." She says. She looks over at Harry with a look like 'see what I have to deal with?'

"Of course you do!" George retorts. "All the girls-and some of the guys even-are wearing them. It's...good sportsmanship!"

"Sportsmanship?" Ginny snorts.

Before George-or Fred-can say something in return, the dates for the rest of them arrive. First is Viktor for Hermione, looking at Hermione with a floored expression that makes Harry smile (while Ron's eyes are wide at seeing who Hermione's date is, as she hadn't told anyone besides Harry), Cedric for Draco (with Cedric wearing a set of gold robes that somehow managed to perfectly compliment Draco's silver ones. Maybe Draco had been going for a theme?) and lastly was Ron's who was...to Harry's-and everyone elses-utter shock, Fleur Delacour!

She all but bounces up to them, looking resplendent in a set of periwinkle robes.

"'Ello everyone!" She says cheerfully. She looks over at Ron who was as scarlet as the robes he was wearing, smiling. "You look wonderful, Ron!"

"T-Thank you." Ron manages to finally get out. "So do you."

"Ah, so is this all of us then?" Fleur asks. "Let us go then!"

They all start to make their way to inside of the Great Hall (with more than one head turning at their party as they move ahead, partly, Harry knew, due to Fleur), oohing and ahhing at things along the way.

"How the hell did you manage to get Delacour to go with you?" A Hufflepuff boy asks as they go by.

Ron turns red, but Fleur is unruffled. "Because he asked me?" She says with a smile. She looks at Ron. "He is very cute, non?"

The inside of the Great Hall has been completely changed; the long House tables have been taken away, replaced with many smaller tables to fit a few people. The floor and ceiling were enchanted to look like a winter wonderland, complete with icicles and snowflakes here and there. Where the Staff Table would usually sit was a stage, where it looked like a band was getting ready to play.

"Holy shit, they got the Weird Sisters!" Someone near them exclaims in excitement. The Weird Sisters were a rock band and were the most popular band in the Wizarding World right now, but he wasn't all too surprised Dumbledore had got them (He was pretty sure he heard him humming a Weird Sister song down a hallway while he walked past him not so long ago.)

They all slowly start to mingle with other people, talking with people here and there, which gave Harry an opportunity to look around more. It's then that he notices Aleksandar with Adelaide Cerise of all people. Harry starts to walk on, but Aleksandar notices him and Ginny and gestures them over. He looks at Ginny, who shrugs, and they walk over. Cerise looked quite pretty in pink robes and Aleksandar looked quite handsome in a furred affair, that looked more like Durmstrang's style.

"I am going to get drinks." Cerise mutters, walking off.

Harry and Ginny both look in her direction bemusedly until Aleksandar speaks.

"You look good! Both of you. Enjoying yourself so far?" Aleksandar asks them.

Ginny nods.

"So far, yes." Harry says. "Though I have to say, I didn't expect you and Cerise to be-"

"Oh, that?" Aleksandar laughs. "It is a funny story, but it also worked out for the both of us. My boyfriend could not make it and she didn't want to take anyone, so..." He shrugs.

"What are you telling them?" Cerise says, in a huffy tone. She sets down a drink for her and Aleksandar and-to Harry's utter surprise-drinks for the both of them. She gives him and Ginny a look. "I may be many things, but one will never say a Cerise is a terrible hostess."

"So she knows she's a bitch?" Ginny muses, taking a drink of the punch.

Aleksandar and Harry both look at her in surprise, while Cerise glowers a bit at her.

"So no one up to snuff then to be your date then?" Ginny asks Cerise.

Cerise's lips thin and she looks away.

"She has no interest in dating." Aleksandar says.

Cerise whips her head around to glare at the Durmstrang student.

"It is none of their business." She says stiffly. "They will only make fun; the others do."

"Then that is on them." Aleksandar says. "But these two...well, I know Harry here is a good person. And I assume his friend is as well, for his tastes are good ones. You can speak your thoughts here."

After a moment, Cerise sighs, looking a bit ill at ease at them, as if afraid they'd run off first thing after she spoke to them.

"I...do not wish to date anyone." Cerise says reluctantly. "The others in school...they say there is something wrong with me."

Ginny snorts, causing them to look at her. Cerise frowns. "Then that's them being idiots. What works for others doesn't have to work for you. You should just do what makes you happy; simple as that."

"You...really think so?" Cerise asks her, seemingly unable to help herself.

Ginny nods. "If anything, they should be thankful."

"Why?"

"Because," Aleksandar says. "A pretty girl like you not interested in anyone leaves the dating options open for everyone else." Ginny nods at him, obviously thinking along those same lines.

So that was how Harry somehow found himself at a table with Adelaide Cerise...and found himself not minding the company so much. He felt like he had a much better understanding of her now and her attitude (why she felt she had to put on such an air around her, to protect herself.) When she lets down her guard, she seems to be a surprisingly decent person; her wit was dry and more than once they find themselves laughing at an anecdote from her. And she, in return, seemed to like having something like real company.

Harry actually felt himself starting to relax, lulled by the music from the Weird Sisters (they seemed to be heading to a slower song soon), so of course he should have expected that to not last long.

"Ahem. Welcome all! I trust this Yule Ball has been up to your satisfaction so far?" Dumbledore asks the crowd, voice under an obvious Sonorus spell. A roar from the crowd speaks for itself. "Wonderful! And now in that grand tradition of the Yule Ball, I need to ask the Champions and those accompanying them to the dance floor now for a dance."

Instantly Harry feels eyes on him and instantly he wants to melt into the floor. Ginny squeezes his hand though and gives him a smile which helps him feel a bit better.

"Come on, Harry," Ginny says. "That's our cue."

"And ours." Aleksandar says, helping Cerise up out of her chair.

They make their way up to the dance floor-where he raises a brow at Hermione who passes by them with Viktor, looking pleasantly pink from where they had obviously been dancing, which makes her chuckle, making shooing motions with her hand at him-where they're soon joined by Cedric and Draco as well as Fleur and Ron (though the former had obviously just been on the dance floor right before the announcement.)

"Lovely! Let us start the band back up and begin-"

A different song comes up from the Weird Sisters; rather than the ballad it has a higher tempo, but is still with a lot of feeling in it.

"Here, Harry, your hand goes on my side here-"

Anytime I need to see your face I just close my eyes.

And I am taken to a place where your crystal minds and magenta feelings

Take up shelter in the base of my spine.

"And other hand on my shoulder-"

Sweet like a chica cherry cola

I don't need to try to explain-

And they start to dance, a bit clumsily at first (his fault, as Ginny was actually a pretty good dancer) but they don't immediately fall on their faces so Harry considers it a job well done all round. The more the song goes on the more he starts to feel his shoulders relaxing a bit. Eyes were still on them all, but between Ginny's friendly coaxing and the others on the floor besides himself, he starts to relax.

Until he sees Sirius.

He just happens to glance over at him; he had thought about him the entire night, but hadn't let his thoughts go far, as that would have just led to him getting upset. He knew he couldn't dance with Sirius here, he couldn't openly show his affections. He understood this, but it still hurt him. But Sirius...

The look on Sirius' face takes his breath away. He looks at them with undisguised jealousy, his eyes looking at Harry's hands greedily, looking at his and Ginny's movements on the dance floor. The heat in his eyes threatens to consume him. He can barely hold back his gasp, can hardly keep his eyes off of him. He longs for him, more than he ever had before, in that moment.

I need to I want to-

Finally, the song comes to an end and he stops, trying to catch his breath as much as Ginny and the others are.

"Thanks for the dance, Ginny." Harry whispers to her. "And for the save."

She smiles at him. "Sure thing, Harry. Anytime. But-" She glances over in Sirius' direction (apparently she had noticed him looking as well) "Maybe you should go and see a certain someone before they hex me into oblivion." She looks back at Harry. "Tell him I'm not interested? Maybe that'll help."

"He's not going to hex you. If anything, he'd probably just turn into Snuffles and bark at you."

"So I could get a rolled up newspaper then if he bothered me?"

He chuckles. He gives her a wave as they leave the dance floor, as he sees Sirius leave unnoticed through a side entrance. He manages to get through a sea of people without them giving him a second glance (everyone was too excited to get back onto the dance floor, especially so as the Weird Sisters were giving an encore of the last song.)

The door leads to the outside, with a nice layer of snow on the ground making everything look like it was straight out of a Christmas book. A stone path leads to a small balcony, where he sees Sirius leaning against the railing. Sirius turns at his approach, looking at him in surprise before his look changes again and once more than heated look reaches his face.

Come stand a little bit closer.

Breathe in and get a bit higher-

The older man takes in a deep breath, before grabbing Harry, pulling him close. Instantly Harry wraps his arms around his middle.

"Dance with me?" He asks quietly.

Sirius stills for a moment, before his hands move, one on Harry's shoulder, the other taking his free hand in his and they start to move. Not a word is spoken between them, but Harry can feel a volumes worth of unspoken words there. They needed need to be said; both of them knew.

You'll never know what hit you when I get to you-

"I would have went with you if I could have." He murmurs. "First thing."

Sirius' grip tightens on him.

"I know."

"She's just my friend, Sirius. She doesn't even like me that way anymore. And even if she did, all I can see-all I can ever see-is you."

Sirius moves his hand from his shoulder to tilt Harry's head up to look at him, the look in his eyes both fierce and serious.

"Don't say that." Sirius says, finally.

"Why?"

"Because you'll make me never ever want to let go of you."

He feels his body heat as much as his face, the look in his eyes making Sirius lean down, capturing his mouth with his own.

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"Before we go back, there's something I want to show you." Sirius says quietly, still holding on tightly to him.

Harry nods and Sirius finally disentangles himself from him. Harry feels a jolt of pleasure as Sirius takes his hand and they walk off, further down the stone path toward the back of the castle...no, even further past that.

"The other teachers-Hogwarts ones, I should say-would be pissed at me if they knew I was showing you this, but I felt it only fair; the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students have assuredly already been shown this."

They make their way to a clearing, where he starts to hear loud sounds.

"Took a lot of spells to quiet the area around enough so you couldn't hear it from the school, so said Charlie Weasley anyhow. He sends his congratulations, Champion." Sirius winks at him.

"What is it?"

"Look and see for yourself." Sirius says, gesturing ahead of him.

He trusted Sirius, so he knew he'd be alright.

It's a thought he keeps in his mind when he realizes that the things making the noises were dragons.

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A/N: Dragons! And no, it's not exactly like you're thinking either. :)

I hope you enjoyed this!

Let me know what you thought!

-PhoenixJustice