A Year to Remember Chapter 9: As the Night Grows Older, a harry potter fanfic

A Year to Remember

By Izzy

Part 9:As the Night Grows Older

He wandered the gardens aimlessly, not noticing anything, until his attention was grabbed by the sight of a brilliant purple light coming from the bushes. Looking closer, he wasn't surprised to see it was Hermione's robes. She and Ron were in the bushes together, and they looked very busy.

He sat down on a crystal bench not too far from them. He was jealous of Ron. Not that he wanted Hermione, he never had. But Ron didn't have to worry that his relationship with Hermione would put her in danger.

He sensed her more then saw her. She was next to him so swiftly he wondered if she had Apparated, before remembering that it was impossible to Apparate on Beauxbatons ground.

"Who was she?" asked Fleur softly. "Cho Chang?"

Harry nodded. The tears crept to his eyes. "How long had you been together?" Fleur asked.

"About sixteen months." His shoulders shook with unshed tears.

"What was she like?"

"She," he groped for words to describe her. "She was a butterfly. Beautiful, clever, but so fragile sometimes..." He couldn't feel the block on his tears. But for once he didn't want to cry. Not in front of Fleur.

Then he felt her pull him against her with a surprising amount of strength. "It's allright." she whispered. "Let it out."

And so Harry let the tears fall, they fell in torrents, he clung tightly to Fleur, she was his pillar, she supported him like noone else ever had.

At the same time...

"I definitly never questioned my being put into Slytherin," Morgana was saying to Madeline. They were seated near the corner of the Dining Chamber. Though there seemed to be several people under the tables, they were all too busy to listen in, but even so, she was speaking softly. "The Sorting Hat's never wrong, and besides, being in Slytherin can mean any number of things. It's just the dark wizards give us a bad reputation."

"As the daughter of a Death Eater, I knew all the proper attitudes. I was to hate Mudbloods-and I'm still used to calling them that, think little of non-Slytherins, respect Voldemort-" Madeline flinched very slightly ,"and call him by his name-but avoid mentioning him in public, since we were trying to keep our record clean, and so and so on."

"I think I actually believed all this at one point, when I was young. I had my doubts every now and then, but I squashed them. I was never the sort of person to attract attention."

"Then, the day after the Third Task had occured and Diggory had died-but I never thought much of him anyway, I recieved the owl from my father, telling me everything, and informing me I would be inducted into the circle of Death Eaters the minute I got home, and that I would not be attending Hogwarts the following year." Her voice lowered further, for now she was telling secrets she had never told anyone before. "I accepted this. I spent all of Dumbledore's speech at the leaving feast repeating to myself I wasn't on his side, I was on Voldemort's."

"I don't think I really believed that. But I allowed myself to be branded, and I went out to do the Dark Lord's bidding. It was nearly a month when I finally realized I didn't want it. I knew I wasn't doing the right thing, I was destroying myself and others, I had to stop. So I went to my father and told him that."

"I take it that wasn't a good idea," commented Madeline.

Morgana shook her head. "And to make matters worse, at the time, he was with Voldemort. He was also with Professor Snape."

"Voldemort put the Cruciatus Curse on me. So did my father. So did Professor Snape, though Voldemort scolded him for hesitating." She shook her head. "It must have been hard for him, pretending to be a Death Eater all over again."

"Never mind him. What did they do after that?"

"After that, Voldemort summoned his pet snake," here her voice tightened with hatred, "and told her to do what she liked with me, but leave me alive, at least for awhile. But Nagini really wanted to kill me. After dousing me with enough venom to turn me into a Parselmouth, she told me that. She played with me, until I was dying-but very, very slowly. It would take me years to die. Then Voldemort returned and put me under the Imperius curse, so I would continue to be a Death Eater until I died from Nagini's venom. Growing weaker from the venom, it was impossible for me to fight it, though I did try. I've no real memory of the months after that."

"I knew, of course, the moment Voldemort was destroyed, because the Imperius curse was weakened to almost nothing, and even in my venom-ridden state I could throw it off easily. I remember fleeing, no idea where to go, certain if I was found I would be sent to Azkaban. I wandered for days, but I was weak from the curse, and from Nagini's venom, I was half out of my mind. I remember Dumbledore and Snape were with the Ministry Wizards when they found me, I was too exhausted to fight. They rushed me to St. Mungo's and I spend a week in the Emergency Wing, but in the end, I was going to live."

"Then I learned Snape and Dumbledore were the only ones who knew the truth about my being a Death Eater, and everyone else believed I'd been under the Imperius curse from day one, because the Ministy probably would send me to Azkaban if they knew the truth. Snape testified to this, but was sure to let in my punishment of defiance, only occuring earlier then it actually did. The testimony I gave later was prepared beforehand by Snape. We shocked the crowds and I was aquitted. That's all."

The more I know about Morgana, thought Madeline, the more amazed I get. And this proves my theory that if you want to have a time at the Ball, ditch your date as quick as possible.

Back out in the garden...

Harry had stopped crying. He pulled himself out of her lap. Now she wanted explanations. "What happened?"

He considered before saying. "I should tell you the entire story. Just sit, and listen, and don't interrupt. It goes back to right after you left my life the first time."

"During the summer, Voldemort starting calling to me, telling me to come and face him. I knew well that I would be killed if I obeyed, so I ignored him. I ignored him straight through a whole year. But then something came up which changed my odds of winning."

"It's....it's a spell. I can't explain it. It's can't be taught, it can't be learned. Either you know it, or you don't. And given it's nature, that is a very good thing. The spell is capable of destroying a person utterly. Destorys both body and soul. But usually it kills the caster as well."

"Being the Dark Wizard he is, Voldemort of course has the use of this spell. But he wasn't about to use it, because it would kill him. However, when he attempted to kill me as a baby, Voldemort accidently transferred several of his powers to me. Amoung them, of course, are both my ability to speak Parseltongue, and my knowledge of the spell I just told you about."

"Slowly, over last year, I became aware of this spell. And I knew another thing. For all the advantages Voldemort had over me, I had one big advantage over him:I was willing to go to any means, up to and including sacrificing my life, to destroy him, while the same wasn't true vice versa."

He smiled grimly as he spoke. The effect made him look terrifying, hatred burned like old embers from his eyes, his face was set. Fleur wondered if Albus Dumbledore was still the only wizard Voldemort feared.

"I never told anyone Voldemort was calling to me, not Ron, not Hermione, not Cho, not even Dumbledore. And then, just when I was feeling I could use the spell and was waiting for Voldemort to call me again, Death Eaters came onto the grounds. They killed Professors Jared and Vector. Security was tightened. Various classes were grouped together. It was agreed that sixth and seventh years would have thier Astronomy finals together. And Gryffindors and Ravenclaws already had Astronomy together in both those years."

"So Cho slipped me an owl suggesting we take a walk on the grounds together before going up to the exam. I was missing her, so I said okay. And we were out there together when Voldemort called to me again. I told Cho to go back inside, and not to follow me. And I set off."

"But she followed me anyway. So when Voldemort appeared, he killed her. Just like that."

"I used the spell...but maybe it wasn't transferred right or something, I don't know. It didn't work. Voldemort was merely reduced to a ghost again, and I was drained of strength. Helpless, as he floated away."

"Harry," started Fleur when she was sure he was done, "Cho's death wasn't your fault. You told her not to follow you."

"It's my fault she was out there with me in the first place. Because we were lovers."

Fleur sighed impatiently. "Just because it happened once doesn't mean it happen again."

"I don't want to take the risk. I do love you, Fleur. I won't put you at risk like that. Not until Voldemort is defeated, by me or by someone else, once and for all."

He had told her he loved her. And somehow, that was all Fleur needed. "You will defeat him."

"You'd better." said Ron. "You're the only who can."

They both jumped and turned. Ron and Hermione, looking mussed up, were standing nearby. "We heard you," said Hermione. "You should have told us Harry. You didn't have to go through that alone. We won't interfere if you don't want us to."

"Well, you shouldn't. You've got enough to worry about with the Triwizard Tournament."

"The Triwizard Tournament? Harry, that's trivial when compared to this!"

"And it's not with me?" demanded Ron angrily.

"Ron..." sighed Hermione.

"What's going on?" asked Harry in confusion. "I saw you two together in the bushes earlier, but..."

Hermione and Ron swiftly started explaining thier game plan. "Well then," said Fleur. "Best enjoy the remainder of the night you've got left. Let's return to the Hall."

Shortly...

The four of them were sliding through the double doors when they heard two girls in conversation. One of them was Francisca. "Well, I've been dancing with Max all evening."

"But at least you and Max seet down!" replied the other girl, who was French. "Fadton, 'e's been dancing weeth zat 'Ogwarts girl weethout seetting down all night!"

"Don't tell me they're still dancing!" Harry exclaimed in astonishment.

They peered through the dancers. Sappho and Justin were dancing together again, Paul and Lavender weren't in sight, and Hannah and Alfred were not only still dancing, but were doing so with great energy. Beads of sweat were falling from Hannah's face, and her face was much pinker then usual, but her face was shining.

"Dance together all night," they heard Sally-Anne comment to Ernie as they watched from the side, "but no, they're not in love..."

"Impossible 'o get a word weeth 'im," a pretty young Beauxbatons girl complained to Romulus Metlik. "Zat Eenglish girl ees 'ogging 'im."

"Don't bother with him," Romulus told her. "He isn't worth your time, trust me. Only reason he got into New York State is because her" he jerked his thumb as Hannah, "mother was at New York State, and she was the one who found him."

"What happened to Pansy?" Harry wondered out loud, causing Ron to launch into the story of Romulus and Pansy in the bushes. "And he's right," noted Hermione. "If Pansy's crying out Malfoy's name, she's actually in love with him. Serve her right."

"Oh, I don't know if even she deserves that. Care to dance again now, Hermione?" They rejoined the dancers.

"Can you tell me anything about the Second Task?" Ron asked her.

"Well," she said, fighting the urge to keep quiet, "history repeats itself."

"What does that-" then he realized, "not again."

"How is she doing it?" wondered Hermione as Hannah and Alfred danced passed them.

"I think you could." Ron lowered his voice to a whisper. "You seemed to have a lot of energy back in the bushes."

"Don't go teasing me you naughty little boy," Hermione teased.

"I wasn't the one who pulled us down there."

"You wouldn't have known to."

"Are you really so sure about that?"

"Yes," said Hermione without any second thought about it.

"Well, how would you have known?" he countered. "I thought you said you and Viktor never went that far."

"I have my ways." she tried to make her voice sound mysterious.

"You figured it out from Pansy Parkinson and Romulus Metlik, right?"

She nodded, knowing what his response would be. And indeed, "Well, I saw them too! So I would have known to!"

At this point thier banter was interrupted by the yellings of Madame Baud, who was coming through the entrance to the Dining Chamber, which they had danced quite close to. She emerged dragging a sad-looking Terry and Lisa with her.

"Found zem behind an ice sculpture," she told Ron and Hermione. "Don't even zink about eet." she added.

"Don't worry," Hermione assured her, "I've never broken a rule in my life."

"Liar," Ron whispered in her ear when Madame Baud was looking the other way.

"Well, only in a good cause," Hermione replied meekly.

Just then the song that was playing ended, and the head of the band started speaking in French. They stood about, bored, until he started repeating in English:"Okay, we've got two songs left for tonight. But we're actually a fairly new band, and we're out of our own songs, so they're both going to be Muggle ones. And we're going to turn the first into a little contest. It's from another Muggle movie, it's called "Born to Hand Jive",-"

At this, Hannah and Alfred both burst into wild cheering, and Alfred hollered, "Grease is the word, baby!"

"What does that mean?" Ron asked Hermione. Hermione shrugged.

"-thought it's our version of it, and if everyone will grab a partner and do your best moves, Louis here will tap you off the floor, and whoever's left on the floor at the end of the song is the winner. I'll give you a few minutes to get organized..."

Several girls cast angry looks at Hannah as she and Alfred grabbed each other. Fleur and Harry got up and walked onto the floor. Terry and Lisa, meanwhile, attempted to pull away from Madame Baud.

"You 'ave not yet been punished!" she insisted.

"Just take points from Ravenclaw!" sighed Lisa.

"Zake points from Ravenclaw?" she repeated in confusion.

"Ask Dumbledore about it!" Terry told her, and they wrenched themselves free.

Paul and Lavender arrived from out in the gardens, and after finding themselves unable to find boy partners, Madeline and Morgana decided to dance with each other.

"Chacun ont des associés? Everyone have partners?" There were cheers from all around. "Allright then, throw your mittens around you kittens and away we go!"

"Throw your *what* around your what?" asked Ron, but the music began, and they all began dancing.

Before I was born late one night
My papa said "Everything's allright."
The mediwizard laughed, my ma lay down
With her stomach bouncing all around
Cause a little bee-bop was about to arrive
My ma gave birth to a hand jive!

At this point a member of the band starting tapping people out, disqualifying Madeline and Morgana almost immediately, though Madeline swore in French at him.

Of hand jive, I grew fond
When I was three I stole a wand
I clapped my hands and moved my legs
And danced as I levitated eggs!
And there was doubt in noone's mind
"This wizard he's just born to hand jive!"

Dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit
Dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit
Oh oh oh o-oh oh!

By now the number of people disqualified was pretty big. Amoung them were Metlik and the pretty young Beauxbatons girl, Ernie and Sally-Anne, and Terry and Lisa.

Born to hand jive, baby!
Born to hand jive, baby!
Born to hand jive, baby!
Born to hand jive, baby!
All right!

The competition grew smaller, but more agressive. Francisca and Max, Paul and Lavender, and Fleur and Harry were all tapped off the floor.

The band member tapped Sappho and Justin off just as the music went into drum solo. He tapped off the last French couple and yelled at Madeline and Morgana for sneaking back onto the floor. Then he considered the two remaining couples before him. Finally he muttered something about unfair advantages, and tapped Hannah and Alfred out. Ron and Hermione were alone on the dance floor.

How had he done this one, Ron wondered? Hadn't even known how to dance a little over three hours ago, and was now dancing like he'd done so all his life.

Born to hand jive, baby!
Born to hand jive, baby!
Born to hand jive, baby!
I was born to hand jive, baby!
Oh yeaaah!
Oh yeaaah!
Oh yeaa-aah!
Born to hand jive, all right!

On the last note, Hermione leapt into Ron's arms, causing them both to tumble down. Both laughter and clapping resulted, and they pulled themselves up.

"And here are our winners! Mr. Ronald Weasley, I persume!" Cheering. "And the Hogwarts champion, Miss Hermione Granger!" More cheering. "Maybe she should get points for this one?" Mixed response.

"Well, after one like that, I think we'll just end with a slow one. This one's for lovers only."

"Well, I do believe we're done!" said Alfred very loudly. "Walk you back to the bus, Hannah?"

"Ooh, my feet..." she moaned back as they exited.

"I think I'd better get going," said Fleur hastily. "Have to Apparate back." She and Harry exited.

"And so to bed," sighed Madeline. She started up the stairs with a crowd of students. "Night."

"Night." Morgana called back, and exited alone.

"Well, just to end tonight," Ron murmered to Hermione and pulled her close. Likewise Terry and Lisa, Justin and Sappho, Max and Francisca, Paul and Lavender, and after some hesitation Ernie and Sally-Anne moved onto the floor together for the final song.

There's a calm surrender to the rush of day
When the heat of a rolling wind can be turned away
An enchanted moment, and it sees me through
It's enough for this restless warrior just to be with you

And can you feel the love tonight
It is where we are
It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer
That we got this far
And can you feel the love tonight
How it's laid to rest
It's enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best

There's a time for everyone if they only learn
That the twisting kaleidoscope moves us all in turn
There's a rhyme and reason to the wild outdoors
When the heart of this star-crossed voyager beats in time with yours

Once again, thought Ron, it was amazing how well the lyrics fit.

It's enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best

A few minutes later...

On the second floor landing, the students paused to say goodnight to thier dates. Ron pulled Hermione into a long kiss, "to go on for the next few months", and the other girls limped onto the floor.

"Hi!" said Hannah cheerfully, looking up. Her robes, jewelry, and shoes lay tossed carelessly about her suitcases, and she was in her nightgown, her braids undone so that her hair fell about her shoulders and behind her back. She was sitting on the side of her bed, writing in her diary, her feet were stuck in her cauldron, which was filled with hot water. "I think I danced a little too much, my feet are just awful."

"And you danced with Alfred!" Sally-Anne reminded her. "The entire time. Noone's gonna think you two are not in love now. I definitly won't."

"I'm not in love with him," Hannah insisted. "I just like dancing with him, that's all."

"So you'd prefer dancing with him then dancing with anyone else?" Sally-Anne wanted to know.

"Well, he's a great dancer..."

Just then Hermione provided a distraction by entering looking very flushed, causing all the girls to break into applause.

From inside her bed with the curtains drawn, Pansy Parkinson listened to the applause in silence. It wasn't the first time she'd been jealous of Granger, and she doubted it would be the last. The Mudblood had everything she didn't:real friends, talent, good looks(not that good, true, but better) and now, true love.

And much as Pansy denied it, Romulus had been right about the cause for her crying our Draco's name in that heated moment in the bushes. There was no way the Love Potion could have caused that, when she hadn't seen Draco for nearly two months. She had to have somehow fallen for him outside the effects of the potion.

Despair and fear followed this realization, but at the same time, hope. And not just ordinary hope. The hope, feeble but powerful, was a desperate hope she had not felt for many, many years...