Disclaimer: I don't own Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's or Harry Potter.

Chapter 36: The really unexpected task…

Days later in the great hall…

"Students, I'm pleased to Announce that the Yule ball will be held on Christmas Day." Minerva stated as she stood up.

"Well that solidifies my theory." Harry muttered as he looked over to Fred.

As Harry was leaving the hall…

"Mr. Potter, may I have a word with you." Minerva asked as she caught up to him.

"Sure, professor." Harry replied as he fallowed his head of house to the side.

"I already explained this to Fred… I hope." Minerva stated as she looked doubtful.

"Tell one twin the other would be told." Harry stated with a shrug.

"Good, now the champions will open the ball with their dance partners." Minerva stated with a small smile.

"Hmmm… I normally avoid dances." Harry muttered as Minerva chuckled at his statement. "I'll do this but don't expect me to dance every song. Could you tell me what years are available for me to ask?"

"Forth to seventh year, unless a younger year is asked to the ball by one of those that can attend." Minerva stated as she saw Harry nod.

"I see, well thanks for informing me." Harry stated as he started to walk away. 'This doesn't bode well.'

~Harry, what did Professor McGonagall want?~ Hermione asked as Harry walked to his next class.

~Say want to go to the ball with me?~ Harry replied with a smirk as he walked into Ancient Runes class.

~Why are you asking me for?~ Hermione asked without hiding her shock.

~Simple, I trust you. I'm not asking Nanoha, Hayate and Fate as they are heading back to home for other reasons. And let's not get started on my guardians…~ Harry stated back as he sat down next to Vita.

~What about Daphne?~ Hermione asked as she now starting to sound worried.

~I'm asking you, or do you want the extra burden of me asking you in public so soon?~ Harry asked as he saw her blush.

~Master you should start on the project and not about some dance.~ Vita intoned as she looked at both of them. ~And Hermione a little less on the blush or you might give away what Harry asked.~

After class…

"So what is the answer?" Harry asked as Hermione looked at the ground.

"I will go to the ball with you but on one condition." Hermione stated quietly.

"And that is?" Harry replied as he and Hermione started to walk to their next class.

"Ask me in public soon." Hermione stated as she started to move on ahead.

"That's one thing down." Harry stated with a sigh. "Now to figure out who will be my hostage?"

Later on in the Library…

"Now to find somethings to help my friend out…" Hermione muttered as she looked at some books on plants and spells. 'Is someone spying on me?' Hermione thought as she looked behind her to see some movement to a shelving unit. "Schlangenkönig, detect behind me for someone looking at me." She ordered quietly.

[Meister, bitte seien Sie vorsichtig es gibt jemanden dort.] Schlangenkönig stated as Hermione smirked. (Master, please be careful there is someone there.)

"You can come out I know your there." Hermione stated softly.

"I see." Victor stated as he walked up.

"If you were seeing if I'm free for the ball." Hermione stated as she saw his eyes widen. "But I'm not." Hermione stated with some remorse. "You asked a little late, he hasn't formally asked me to the ball but he has asked me about a dance." Hermione stated with a little lie.

"I see, and I don't want to intrude on your plans. May I ask who beat me to the question?" Victor asked with a small smile.

"My best friend." Hermione replied as she stood up and walked away, making Victor look curious.

In the headmaster's office…

"I sure Harry will drag out and wait to pick his date…" Albus muttered as he looked at the door. "In fact that would be just perfect." Albus then slowly realized something. "But… he was raised elsewhere so I dear hope he is not impulsive." Albus then stated as he looked worried. "But he rarely did anything against the rules, and if ever followed the rules to the letter… so he is not impulsive… I do hope he didn't ask any dark family to the ball."

In the Gryffindor Common Room…

"Harry, I have some plans to help you in the task." Hermione stated as she placed the books she checked out from the library.

"Hermione, you do know what I'm capable of right?" Harry asked as she paled and nodded. "But I rather not use that at the moment so I would like to see if your plan is better."

"Gilly weed is something that will allow you to breathe under water… the bubble head charm could in fact be used that way, so I found two separate ways that would work." Hermione stated with a smile.

"Would work… but how long does Gilly weed last?" Harry asked as he looked at the book.

"One hour." Neville replied nearby. "But why would you need to have a plant that allows you to breathe water?"

"The second task is in the lake." Harry answered as he looked at the Bubble head charm. "This is hopeless… this charm is out of my level." Harry muttered trying to keep in fourth year look.

"Well we could practice to see if you can cast it and how long it will last." Hermione stated as Vita looked up bored.

"It might work but I mean why risk it when you can get Gilly weed through other sources." Vita stated as she went back to studying.

"Harry, Vita's right." Neville stated with a frown at the smaller girls logic. "You do know that curse you stated you have makes it hard to believe you're as old as you say."

"It does… wow never realized that." Vita stated as she chuckled. "Like you'll believe I'm sixty thousand years old."

"Nice joke Vita." Neville stated as he started to laugh with Vita.

~Hermione, I'm not lying when I say thousands.~ Vita stated to Hermione who then caught the joke.

"Yeah right, Vita, if you were, why would you act like a child?" Hermione retorted making them all laugh. ~So exactly how old is Signum and Shamal?~

~Not much older than me… I was nine when I was absorbed into the tome… so figure the age that they look add a few thousand years to it.~

At the station in Hogsmeade…

"Harry, don't be reckless." Nanoha stated as she looked at the train as she waited for Fate to arrive.

"Nanoha… look who are you talking about, yourself; I will be taking it easy till the task begins." Harry stated as Nanoha looked mad about what Harry stated.

"I'm not that bad." Nanoha muttered as Fate walked up.

"Actually Nanoha, I had to restrain you a few times." Fate stated as she pulled the raging teen to the train. "Take care Harry."

"Fate… I'm not that bad am I?" Nanoha asked to her friend with an adorable face that made Fate blink and pale.

'Note to self never get into an argument with Nanoha…' Fate thought as she stared into the most diabolical cute face known to mankind, a nearly crying girl that could get anything she wanted.

'Fall for it… Fall for it… !' Nanoha thought as she squeaked in horror as she was groped from behind by Hayate. "You evil perverted girl!" Nanoha nearly shouted out loud as she started to inch closer to strangle her other friend when she was again groped from behind. "Not you too Fate…"

"Well it beats having Hayate do this to you." Fate whispered into Nanoha's ear, still holding Nanoha.

"Please remember that this isn't home yet." Hayate stated with an evil smile as she pulled out a camera. "I knew this day would come." Hayate stated as she took a few pictures of the sputtering pair. "Lindy owes me for that bet… Oppps…" Hayate muttered as she felt two massive angry girls behind her. "I'll split it with you, if you don't hurt me."

"How much are you getting from her?" Fate growled out.

"Hmmmm… I forgot…" Hayate replied as she looked scared.

"Who else was involved in this bet?" Nanoha asked as she closed the door to the cabin.

"Why… would you… want to know?" Hayate asked as she looked between the two.

"Let me guess there is more than just you and Lindy?" Nanoha asked as she looked at Fate.

"I agree, why else would Hayate be afraid to tell us." Fate stated as Hayate started shaking.

"Fine! Nanoha, your mother had a bet that you would admit to Fate before the summer ended. Lindy said the end of next year. Harry also had a bet that you two were already together." Hayate stated as she saw their pale faces, she looked at them closer. "I lost the bet didn't I? I bet you two get together this year."

"Ummm… We started dating while we were training for the TSAB." Nanoha replied as she looked at Hayate with a frown.

"Wait… What! Then all that time we were picking on you two for being shy about admitting to each other was for nothing!" Hayate nearly yelled out in shock.

"We were going to tell you, but Harry convinced us not to, now we know why." Fate muttered as she looked away.

"Then all those times that you two were alone…" Hayate asked as she looked at the two.

"Not always, we did have some real work we had to do." Nanoha replied as Hayate smiled. "Ummm, Hayate?"

"So… have you two done anything naughty?" Hayate asked with a very perverted look.

"Where's Harry's fan when you need it?" Nanoha muttered as a glowing hammer slammed into Hayate's head.

"Wow, it does work on perverted girls." Fate stated surprised as the hammer also had a dent. "But that's a first."

"Must be her hard head." Nanoha stated as they sat down next to each other.

At the school…

"Can I ask you something?" A fifth year teenage girl asked Harry as he and Hermione walked around the village.

"Ummm… what is it?" Harry asked as he looked confused.

"Can I be your date to the ball?" the girl asked as she tried to use her looks for aid.

"Sorry, I'm planing to ask someone else." Harry stated as he and Hermione walked away.

"So you were planing to ask me formally." Hermione chided as they knew they were out of earshot.

"Yup, didn't want Hayate to ruin it when I'm asking you." Harry replied as they both started to laugh then Harry blinked for a moment. "You do realize that I left Hayate with two girls?"

"Oh… what, does she also…" Hermione started to ask as she recalled what Harry said at the end of the previous year. "Oh great…" Hermione groaned as she looked at Harry. "Harry, what's wrong?"

"Miss Granger, would you honor me by being my date to the Yule Ball?" Harry asked as Hermione looked at Harry with a strange look.

~I'm going to get even with you.~ Hermione muttered to Harry as she stared at Harry. "Yes, I'll be your date."

Days later, inside the great hall…

"You know Hermione…" Harry started to say as they walked to the other champions. "I never would have pegged you for wearing that."

"I figured." Hermione retorted as she was wearing a strapless dress. "I figured sticking charms would help."

"I know… I just wished that I didn't have to be near the center of attention." Harry muttered as Fleur looked his way standing next to Rodger Davies. "I just want to get this over with." Harry stated with a frown when he saw Albus glare his way. ~Albus and his death glare at three o'clock.~

~I see it… say why is he mad now?~ Hermione asked as she saw Fred and Angelina walk up to them. "Hi Gred." Hermione stated making Fred laugh.

"Please don't start with that." Angelina asked as she looked at her date. "Keep that up and Alicia and I will walk out on you two."

"Alright. Say Harry; are you mad about your score?" Fred asked as he saw the headmaster glaring at Harry.

"Naw, I kind of expected Professor Dumbledore to give me a low score… but not that low." Harry stated as he saw Seamus with Vita. "You know… I think I know how to use this for my advantage."

"Huh, what do you mean?" Fred asked as he looked at Harry.

"The second task… You just put a target on someone." Harry replied as Angelina looked at the two.

"What do you mean?" Angelina asked as she looked at the two of them.

"Be careful when asked to go somewhere alone, that's all I'm saying." Harry stated as he led Hermione to the dance floor. "May I have this dance, my lady?"

"Ha ha… You may, sir knight." Hermione stated back as they started to dance. "So if you had to choose between me and Daphne, who would it be?"

"Hard question, you're both my friends… but right now I'm not looking for a girlfriend." Harry replied making Hermione look at him with a smile.

"Easy way out." Hermione stated as she chuckled but looked surprised when they heard a commotion nearby.

"Ginny!" Percy shouted in surprise as everyone looked to see who she was with and saw Draco. "Why are you with him?"

"He asked me to the ball, why else?" Ginny replied as she looked at her older brother.

"Percy let it be." George stated as he grabbed his older brother's shoulder. "He hasn't done anything but be nice to anyone. Don't ruin this or I will tell mom."

"Fine." Percy stated as he left in a huff.

"Sorry about that Draco." George stated as he and Alicia went to dance.

With the headmaster…

'Why is Ginny with Draco, doesn't she know that Draco will turn dark soon… and I should have kept a closer eye on Harry, he had to take the Heir of Slytherin to the ball… Hmmm… Harry seems to keep a watch on Vita as well as his date and since Vita is a variable that is expendable…' Albus thought as he glared at Harry as he planned his next move. 'As the end of the year approaches he will ask me for protection from Tom and I'll force him to go to his muggle relatives ending the matter that he is not my pawn that I wanted.

A/N: Albus's plan is falling apart at the seems and he doesn't even know... Any guesses on Harry's hostage... the hostage will be revealed in a few chapters... I'm going to be starting to add elements of MSLN into the story soon and that means more chapters that don't deal with Hogwarts...