Chapter 12- Hogsmeade Double Date
The month passed, and Valentine's Day arrived very quickly. Harry woke up with a start. He put on his glasses and glanced at his watch; 9 o'clock. Harry lay back, content with the world. He closed his eyes and snoozed until he was woken up by someone jumping into his bed. Harry rolls onto his side and opens his eyes to see Ginny smiling at him. Harry starts stroking her hair.
"Hey, Gin".
"Hey, Harry".
"Happy Valentine's Day".
"Happy Valentine's Day".
Harry presses his lips to hers, and they lay there for a while, kissing each other lovingly. Eventually, they get up and get dressed in their respective rooms. They met up for breakfast with Ron and Hermione in the Great Hall, and they eventually make their way to the Entrance Hall to go to Hogsmeade. Professor Flitwick watches the hundreds of students make their way to Hogsmeade down the frosty path. He smiles, and points his wand into the air. A white light blasts from his wand into the clouds, which lighten. A light flurry of snow descends from the heavens, and the students start to smile and laugh with each other, holding hands and huddling together.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny explored the now reopened Honeydukes, marvelling at the massive selection of heart-warming, tongue-tingling sweets and chocolate. As Ron and Ginny buy as much as they can, Harry and Hermione make their way outside and look at the mass of shut-down shops and cafes. Hermione glances at Harry's forlorn face.
"What's wrong, Harry?"
"War, Hermione. It destroys so many people's lives. All these shops that are shut-down; that's just as many people who don't know how long they're going to be able to keep their houses or provide for their families".
"It's not your fault, Harry".
"I know. It's Voldemort's. If I could bring him back just to kill him again, I would. I hope he is burning in hell".
"There are very few people in the world who don't hope that. All we can do is move on and show Voldemort that he has completely lost. If we let him ruin our lives, he still wins, even though he's dead".
"The Dark Lord will rise again, mudblood, and he will always win in the end".
Harry and Hermione turn quickly to find a man with greasy black hair staring at them, wearing a black cloak.
"I've seen you before, in the Daily Prophet. You're Rodolphus Lestrange. Bellatrix's husband".
"My reputation precedes me, Mr Potter. I'm glad".
Hermione subtly pulls out her wand. Swiftly, she aims at Rodolphus and fires a stunning spell at him. The spell phases right through him, and he chuckles darkly.
"Nice try, mudblood. My wife isn't the only one who has mastered a few new dark magic tricks".
Ron and Ginny step out of the shop and watch the exchange. Harry steps in front of Hermione and faces Rodolphus.
"What do you want?"
"This is a warning, Potter. If you think that attack on your hovel was the end, it was just the beginning. My wife and allies won't stay in Azkaban for long, and when they get out, it will be your reckoning".
"Reducto!"
A jet of blue light hits the illusion from behind and it fizzes, eventually shattering apart completely. Malfoy stands behind it, his wand raised. Harry looks at him questioningly.
"There used to be scrolls on dark magic in the cellar of Malfoy Manor. I read them a couple of times. Reducto is the only thing that works on that dark magic illusion".
"Thanks, Draco".
"I told you I'd try to win back some trust. I meant it".
Harry turns to Hermione.
"We need to get a message to Kingsley. He needs to double the guard at Azkaban. If I know Bellatrix, she's going to do everything in her power to get out and get her revenge".
