Chapter 6

A/N I know I can upload chapters, but I wrote this ages ago, and I put all the chapters together, but now I can't be bothered to re-write it all out again, but lets just say that was part one, and this is part two!!! I know the story is a bit unoriginal but I like it, so if you don't, don't read it. Cheers!)J

Chapter 6

*****The Cave of Stone*****

" I'm bored!" Harry moaned. They were in the common room, on Thursday evening.

" Oh shut up Harry!" Ron teased.

Hermione looked up from her book. " Where exactly do you plan on going then Harry?" She said dryly.

" The lake looks nice." Sophie told them dreamily, from her position by the window. " It's a pity that it's so nice and warm tonight, especially when we're all stuck up here." She said, half to herself. Ron and Harry glanced at each other excitedly. Hermione saw the look.

" Oh no! Remember what happened all the other times we went out after dark?" She said sensibly.

" We can get out?" Sophie said, her interest in her view disappeared. " But how will we get down to the lake without anyone seeing us?"

" I've got an invisibility cloak." Harry told her proudly.

" Really, so have I!" Sophie gasped. " They're really rare, how did you get one?"

" It was my dad's." He explained. Ron changed the subject hastily.

" How did you get yours?" He asked.

" It's a family heirloom. My dad had his at school, and my Grandad did before him. I don't know how he got hold of it."

" So shall we go to the lake then?" She asked. Ron and Harry agreed despite Hermione's protests. Harry and Sophie ran upstairs to get the cloaks, and by the time they came back down, Ron had persuaded Hermione to go.

************

" Ssssh!" Harry hissed. Hermione and Ron were nearby, invisible as him and Sophie.

They had made it to the entrance without bumping into Filch. They hurried past Hagrid's Cabin, hearing Fang bark as he heard them approach. They froze as Hagrid stuck out of the window, but seeing nothing he went back inside.

" Whew, we made it!" Harry said breathlessly. He removed the cloak that had covered him and Sophie. " Ron, Hermione?"

" Ssh, Harry put your cloak back on. We want to see what that person is doing, the one by the Forbidden over there." Came the invisible answer. They crept closer, as quietly as they could, just in time to see the figure walk inside the forest. The children stayed there, frozen to the spot. Then the cloaked figure reappeared, and walked towards the castle hurriedly.

" I wonder what is in there?" Harry said eventually,

" Let's go and see." Ron said.

" But what if we get lost?" Hermione moaned.

" Hermione, we won't have to go in very far, the person was only there for a second." Sophie told her reassuringly. She agreed, and the four of them tiptoed closer. Presently, they came to a small cave. It was made of stone and only partially above ground. An owl hooted, making the friends jump.

" Let's go in." Harry said breathlessly. Hermione whimpered, but still invisible they walked forward. There were five steps, down to a stone door. There was no handle or lock, and Hermione's useful unlocking spell, (Alohomora) didn't work. Sophie stepped forward coming out from underneath the invisibility cloak.

" Petiteso Furo.' She commanded tapping the door lightly with her wand. The door in front of them immediately shrank, and stepping over it they entered an empty chamber.

" Lumos." They said simultaneously lighting their wands. There was a scripture engraved in the stone at the back of the room. It said:

When the Dark Lord rises for the final time,

He shall come forth in his prime,

Born again, with the blood of foe,

Only one shall slay him so,

When the night again has recaptured the sky,

The moon shall witness a battle from high,

Light and Dark shall fight the war,

Which has been foretold from long before,

The Victor will rule our world forevermore,

And all shall hold him in their awe,

But without the power of the Witch of Green,

Shall he become naught but a Scene,

From long ago in Histories past,

Where his reign is lost and powers die fast,

So find the treasure to win the crown,

And never on you will the Green One frown,

But fail to do so and all shall be lost,

So find the favour and tarry not.

An odd silence hung in the air. Sophie felt uncomfortable, she strode to the door without a sound, and the others copied. Reaching forward, she tapped the stone again, and muttered quietly.

" Restora" Slipping once again under their cloaks, they made their way back to the Gryffindor common room in silence, but not in the same kind as when they had set off. This time the silence was charged not with excitement, but unease. On their return, they sank down into the armchairs and reflected on what had happened.

" Woah!" Ron breathed heavily. " What do you reckon that place was? I felt like I couldn't speak you know? Like disturbing the silence would be…" He sought for the word.

" Disrespectful." Sophie said gravely. She stood up and went over to a table where she proceeded to write a note on a piece of parchment. " Can I borrow Hedwig Harry? I've got a really urgent note to send, and Guinevere hasn't come back from home yet." (Guinevere was Sophie's owl.)

Harry was surprised. " Who to?" He asked.

" No-one you know." She told him, Ron snuck up behind Sophie and snatched the parchment from in her hands. He started to open it, before Sophie advanced on him. Quickly he threw it to Harry, who opened it. Sophie protested angrily, but Ron held her back chuckling. Viciously she kicked him to loosen his grip on her arms. Swinging round her fist caught his jaw, knocking him to the ground. Harry was shocked as he stared at the name at the top of the letter.

" Sirius…. Sirius Black." He said hoarsely.

" No…" Sophie told him anxiously and unconvincingly. He gripped hold of her arms, making her cry out in pain.

" Tell me the truth." He demanded.

" No it's not." Sophie spat angrily.

" He's my Godfather." He said angrily. " He's…. he's innocent." He said. Sophie gasped.

" What makes you think that?" She said cautiously.

" He told me."

Sophie grinned wryly. " Ow, Harry, circulation." She said nodding at her arms. He looked confused. " You're cutting mine off?" She told him. "I know about Sirius too. I met him last summer. We were on holiday at a villa, in Spain, and he turned up one night to speak to my parents. Only I came to get a glass of water, and I saw him. My mum and Dad explained everything. They were friends of your parents, too Harry." She said quietly. Hermione was stunned. She nodded at Harry who told Sophie the whole story, including the rebirth of Lord Voldemort. At this Sophie went pale and gasped, horrified, as she swore never to repeat it.

" Oooh" Came a groan. It was from Ron who was on the floor, with a hand clutching his nose. They pulled him up as Sophie apologised for hitting him.

" But never read my private stuff again, okay? Or I'll do worse than hurt your nose!" She exclaimed. " Look shall we go to bed, I'm shattered and you three all look it too."

" We'll send Sirius a letter tomorrow, about that riddle, okay?" Harry said. The others agreed sleepily as they all made their way up the staircases.

Chapter 7

*****Snuffles Returns*****

" Um hi Sophie, can I speak to you a moment?" A strange boy Sophie had never seen before had tapped her on the shoulder.

" Sure." She told him surprised. He led her away from the bunch of Gryffindors she had been walking with, and she motioned for them to carry on without her. " Er… can I help you?" She asked the boy, puzzled.

" Well I hope so," He told her. " I'm Patrick O'Brien in the sixth year." He was nervous, so Sophie nodded reassuringly as if she had heard of him before. " Well I was wondering if you were going to the Yule Ball with anyone, and if you're not, do you want to go with me?" He said this quickly, and Sophie felt herself blush.

" Um I'm really sorry, I'm actually going with someone already." She was embarrassed, and saw him shrug at a group of boys who were plainly a bunch of his friends, standing behind her, watching them.

" Who are you going with?" He said disbelievingly.

"Harry Potter. Sorry." She answered.

He looked taken aback and admitted that a couple of his friends had told him that she would probably say that just to get out of going with him.

" I'd never do that." Sophie reassured him. " If I wasn't going with Harry, of course I'd love to go with you, but…" She smiled helplessly. He smiled back and went to join his friends.

Today was obviously a day for securing a date to the Ball, as Sophie was stopped by two other boys and asked to it, on her way to class. She hurried in to take her place beside Harry, in History of Magic, and proceeded to tell Hermione, about all her invites.

" You lucky thing!" Hermione whispered. " That's five people who've asked you now! Harry, Malfoy, Patrick O'Brien, Steven James and Andy Prewett. And the last three are all older than you! Patrick and Andy are Sixth years, but Steven's in Seventh! And he's absolutely gorgeous." Ron frowned and Sophie blushed a light shade of pink, which, to Harry, made her even more appealing.

As Harry entered the Great Hall for lunch that day, a dark haired girl came over and asked him to go to the Ball with her. Embarrassed and well aware that Ron was smirking beside him, he apologised and turned her down, he hurried to join Sophie and Hermione who were already sat at the Gryffindor table.

" Harry got an invite to the Ball!" Ron cried in a sing-song voice as they reached the girls. Harry scowled and started to eat.

" Ooh who by?" Sophie said interestedly.

" No-one." Harry told her. "That girl with the black hair over there, on the Hufflepuff table. Sophie glanced at her, and smiled.

" Oh she's only in the third year, bless her. You didn't let her down too harshly did you?" She said kindly. "Oh hi Cho?" Harry looked up to find Cho Chang, his object of desire from the year before, standing over them.

" Hi…. Um could I speak to Harry please?" She asked nervously.

" Sure." Harry said, following her out of the Hall. " What is it?"

" Well… you see… I was wondering… if it would be okay… if… well…" she stammered nervously. Harry stared at her, making her blush as she blurted out. " Do you want to go to the Yule Ball with me?" Harry was amazed. God her timing was off. Last year he'd have given his right arm to go with her, now all he wanted was Sophie.

" Well I'd love to," He started.

" Great, I'll meet you in here on the night then, okay? She said happily and somewhat relieved.

" No," Harry said uneasily. " Let me finish. I'd love to go with you, but I've already asked Sophie." Cho's face fell.

" Oh." She said. " Well can't you tell her you'd rather go with me, you said yourself you'd love to."

" Not really. I want to go with Sophie you see." Cho saw. She muttered something unintelligible, and she frowned unhappily as Sophie bounded up to Harry, and kissed him on the cheek. Cho turned away miserably.

" Was it something I said?" Sophie asked Harry.

" Um she just asked me to the Ball." He told her, and repeated the conversation. Sophie winced.

" And then I came up, and completely rubbed it in!" She exclaimed. " Poor Cho. It's a good job we're not playing Ravenclaw tomorrow. She'd be useless." She said, Harry agreed.

************

" Good Luck Sophie." Harry cried out. She called something back, but he couldn't hear it. They were getting g ready for Madam Hooch to blow the whistle, to let the first Hogwarts Quidditch match of the year commence.

The three captains shook hands, and on the sharp blow of the whistle, all fourteen players rose up in the air.

" The newest of the Gryffindor Chasers, Sophie Catwood, seizes the Quaffle, but passes to Bell as she's tackled. Bell throws back to Catwood, and the first goal of the match is scored!!! Gryffindor now has ten points, and Slytherin are still on zero!" Harry heard Lee Jordan's voice boom out of the magical microphone. He was one of the Weasley twins friends, and always did the Hogwarts Quidditch commentating, under the supervision of Professor Mcgonagall. He flew around above the game keeping an eye out for the Golden Snitch. Nearby Draco Malfoy was doing the same, both boys were also watching Sophie, and Draco was so absorbed that he was nearly hit by a bludger, which was hit his way by

George Weasley.

Twenty minutes later, and Harry was beginning to get impatient. Gryffindor were forty points clear of Slytherin, and the game was starting to get vicious. The Slytherin Chasers were continually blocking the Gryffindors, and Malfoy was starting to tail Harry.

A flash of gold caught Harry's eye, shimmering in the middle of the pitch just underneath a Slytherin Chaser. Neck and neck, Harry and Draco streaked towards it, Harry starting to edge forward slightly. Panicking, Draco grabbed the back of Harry's broom and twisted it violently. Ignoring him, and reaching forward, one hand clasped to his Firebolt, Harry attempted to grab the snitch, but a jerk of his broom by Draco, made him plunge towards the ground, but Harry still reached forward, and clasped his hand around the struggling snitch, just before he hit the ground.

************

"Harry," an urgent voice called him back to consciousness, and the faces of Hermione, Ron and Madam Pomfrey swam into focus above him.

"Are you okay Harry?" Hermione asked concerned.

" Did we win? Where's Sophie?" Harry muttered groggily. At that moment, the entire Gryffindor team streamed in, all of them changed out of their Quidditch robes, and looking very pleased with themselves.

" Harry," Sophie cried anxiously. " Are you okay? You caught the snitch and we won, but you passed out."

" He broke his leg." Madam Pomfrey told them. " He'll be allowed up in a minute, but let my potion do its work first." They all went out, except Sophie and Ron. Hermione said she had something to do, and disappeared with the rest of the team. Five minutes later, Harry and the other two joined them, his broken leg, immaculately mended. As they climbed through the portrait hole, they were set upon by various members of the Quidditch team and brought into the space (which had been cleared of armchairs), to dance.

Sophie laughed as she was swept off her feet, by George, Angelina and Katie captured Ron and Harry, and Hermione turned up beside them, with Fred.

Four hours later, the party had died down only slightly, as Fred and George disappeared and returned with food and drink from the Kitchen. The all-night celebratory party, at the victory over the Slytherins, was ended at one o'clock in the morning, by Professor McGonagall, entering the common room to send them all to bed.

************

" That was one hell of a party." Sophie yawned the next morning, do you always have ones like that after a match?"

" Sometimes, if we win." Harry told her. It was Halloween, and the Great Hall was being festooned with streamers, giant pumpkins and the annual live bats. They were strolling towards the Entrance Hall, as today was the first Hogsmeade visit, and Sophie had never been.

They went to Honeydukes first, and bought as many sweets as they could carry. Next they visited Zonko's but Hermione and Sophie abandoned the boys there, to do a bit of private shopping for themselves.

" Gladrags!" Sophie cried, as they entered the robe shop. An assistant with a wrinkled, but cheerful face emerged, from the back of the shop.

" Gladrags Wizardwear," She said. " What is it you would like dearies?"

" We need some dress robes for our Hogwarts Ball this year please." Sophie told her politely. She lowered her voice as the old witch turned round to reach for her tape-measure. " I love this shop!" She told Hermione. " There's even one in Paris." She added. She took a step forward and spread her arms, as the tape measure took her sizes. Hermione watched her and copied. Obviously Sophie had been in lots of robe shops, and knew exactly what to do. She started to chat with the shop assistant; she explained that they needed new robes and talked about shades and colours, with her. Together they agreed that Hermione should have deep marine blue robes, as she explained that she had worn light blue the previous year, and did not want the same again. Sophie settled for a lilac outfit that was made of satin.

" Now you can't tell the boys what we've been doing, because it has to be a surprise." Sophie said. " What are you going to do with your hair?" They paid the witch and left with their parcels, discussing the advantages of temporary highlights.

" Hi gorgeous," Harry cried from behind Sophie, and wrapping his arms around her. They entered The Three Broomsticks and Ron got in the Butterbeer. Making sure no-one could hear them, Sophie brought up the subject of the riddle in the cave.

" I think we should go back and have another look." She suggested, " then we can start to work it out." Harry agreed and Ron and Hermione nodded.

" What did it say?" Hermione said. " When the Dark Lord rises for the final time he shall come forth in his prime, Born again, with the blood of foe, Only one shall slay him so. What comes next?" She asked.

" When the night again has recaptured the sky, the moon shall witness a battle from high, Light and Dark shall fight the war, which has been foretold from long before, The victor shall rule our world forevermore and all shall hold him in their awe." Sophie told her.

" But without the power of the Witch of Green, Shall he become naught but a scene, From long ago in Histories past, Where is reign is lost, and powers die fast," Harry added. The three of them stared at Ron who was thinking hard, and then he said triumphantly.

" So find the treasure and win the crown, And on you the One of Green will never frown, But fail to do so and all shall be lost, So find the treasure and tarry not."

Sophie and Hermione giggled at the look on his face.

" You look like you've just completed a mission, Ron, not the ending of a rhyme!" Sophie said. Ron ignored her and pointed out that they had better get a move on or they would be late back for the feast.

" Sophie." Harry called. He strode over to the spot where she was standing and softly kissed her neck. She seemed oblivious to this and Harry followed her gaze. He saw a black dog, running towards Hogsmeade village, and simultaneously they raced towards it, leaving Hermione and Ron to wonder where they had disappeared to.

" Sirius." Harry called. The big dog, licked both of their hands, and led them behind a mound of rocks. Instantly he changed back into a man, and Harry could barely see the scrawny, starving man of two years ago.

" Harry," he cried happily, sweeping the boy into a hug. Sophie stayed back a while, to let them greet each other properly, but Sirius welcomed her too, and explained that he had spent the summer finding the friends he had had before he had bee placed in Azkaban. He had to convince them all of his innocence, but swiftly turned the conversation towards the riddle they had found. They recited it and he pondered to no avail.

" Obviously the treasure of the Witch of Green is missing, you have to give it back to her, and she will give you her favour, which will help you win the battle against Voldemort." (Sophie and Sirius were some of the few witches and wizards that were unafraid of the name of the Dark Lord.) Harry looked confused.

" What do you mean? Me?" Sophie rolled her eyes and explained Sirius' meaning.

" The rhyme says: Born again with the blood of foe, Only one shall slay him so. That means you doesn't it Sirius? He was born again, with your blood, and so you're the only one who can slay him."

" Clever girl. I couldn't have put it better myself!" Sirius smiled, impressed. Sophie blushed. " The problem is, who is the Witch of the Green?" Sophie and Harry shrugged.

" And what is her treasure, and how do you return it?" Harry put in.

" The returning part is easy." Sophie told him, Sirius and Harry stared at her in amazement. " Well it is! In the olden days, the Gods were worshipped with sacrifices or ceremonies, most of them under a full moon, so if we go back to that cave, or wherever we find the treasure, on a full moon, we can go through a sort of sacrilegious ceremony. Well it's worth a try!" She added, as Harry gaped. Sirius laughed and praised her ingenuity. Then he bade them farewell and transformed back into a dog. Harry took Sophie's hand and led her back to Hogwarts. They could not discuss the events that had just occurred, as there were still pupils around. As they neared the castle, a familiar drawling voice, called Sophie back.

" Sophie, how are you?" Draco asked her. " Can I speak to you a moment?" He asked, and threw an arm around her shoulders as he led her away from Harry. He watched as Draco said something, and he felt jealousy rise up as Sophie giggled. As if she could feel his envy, Sophie said something to Draco, and returned to Harry. She took his hand, and kissed him gently on the cheek.

' What was that for?" He asked.

" To help Draco understand that I'm with you. I don't know if he's worked it out yet," she told him rolling her eyes. Harry smiled and squeezed her hand.

Chapter 8

*****The Yule Ball*****

Returns

November rolled by, and nearly all the students signed up to stay at Hogwarts during the holidays, for the Yule Ball. It was to take place, on Christmas Day again, and on Christmas Eve the entire school seemed to buzz with excitement. The snow fell consistently and heavily, and all herbology and Care of Magical Creatures classes were cancelled, as it was impossible to get out to Hagrid's Hut, and the Greenhouses. Quidditch was also postponed temporarily, as the teams could not practice let alone play.

Christmas Day dawned bright and cold, but the snow had finally stopped falling, so the pupils could go out in safety. Hermione and Sophie woke early and started to open their presents, but then Parvati and Lavender awoke and set off a big pillow-fight. Exhausted and giggling, the girls dropped onto their beds to open their presents. All had a large pile and were hard at work for twenty minutes, until Harry and Ron peeked around the door, they had already exchanged gifts, a signed Chudley Cannons picture for Ron, and a very large box of assorted Honeydukes sweets.

Sophie sent them down to wait in the common room while she and Hermione dressed, and when they came down, exchanged Christmas greetings, and gifts.

" Here you go Harry," she cried handing him a thin box wrapped with a scarlet ribbon, enchanted to flash Merry Christmas in different colours. Inside was a watch, on the big hand was Quidditch Player (with suspiciously dark hair and glasses) and it was chasing a golden snitch that was secured to the little hand. Harry gasped and embraced her softly. She giggled as he gave her, a gift, which turned out to be a beautiful gold bracelet, which had To Sophie, All my love Harry XXX engraved on the inside. To Hermione he gave a luxury Eagle feather quill, and she gave him, a book named The Cannons Forever. To Sophie she gave a necklace with a lion pendant that roared silently. Sophie gave Ron a scarf, which had Ron written across it, which changed every minute, to Weasley, while flickering different colours, and Hermione, one the same, but with her name instead of Ron's. Ron handed Sophie and Hermione each a giant slab of Honeydukes chocolate, and they laughed as they wore, ate or read their gifts.

************

After breakfast, the four of them went upstairs, and Ron beat Hermione repeatedly at chess, while Harry and Sophie watched, wrapped in each other's arms. The Great Hall was full at lunchtime, and as usual, the food was magnificent. Laden down with cracker toys, they went and giggled and joked and chattered in the common room, until three o'clock when Fred, George, and Lee dragged them outside for a snowball fight.

At five o'clock, Sophie and Hermione went back up to the castle, to get ready.

" Hermione, where did we put the new robes," Sophie called through the bathroom door, thirty minutes later. She was rushing around the room, in a dressing gown with her hair dripping wet, and frantically searching for their outfits from Gladrags.

" Under our beds," Hermione called back calmly. Sophie pulled out the dusty packages and thanked her friend. Wrapping her hair in a towel, she pulled out her satin robe and laid it out on the bed. Hermione emerged, hair wet, and clothed also in a dressing gown.

" When will we do my hair potion?" She asked.

" Lets do it now, get it out of the way." Sophie suggested, so they made their way into the bathroom, and used generous amounts Sleekeazy's Hair Potion.

By seven o'clock both girls' hair was done and dry. Hermione's was gleaming silkily, with no trace of its usual bushiness. Sophie's had been enchanted into beautiful spiral curls with gently cascaded down her back. She had two golden hair slides on either side, to hold it back; each gleamed with an amethyst jewel. She reached into a draw and pulled out a bag full of make-up. Lightly she brushed a lilac powder over eyelids, and swept gold over Hermione's. Leaving the other girl to do her own mascara, lipstick and blusher (none of which she needed), she strode towards her bed and took the robes out of it's wrappings. She went into the bathroom, and pulled it on. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she gasped at how lovely she looked. She went back into the other room to find Hermione gazing at her own reflection, and as their eyes met, they burst out into squeals of laughter.

" What's the joke?" Cried Parvati, as she and Lavender burst into the bedroom, and raced around grabbing hairbrushes, robes and make-up.

" Nothing," Sophie told them. " You're cutting it a bit fine aren't you? The Ball starts at eight, and it's seven-thirty!"

" Don't remind me." Lavender groaned. " We were on our way up, but we got side-tracked by Padma." Sophie nodded, Padma Patil had a reputation for being a major gossip queen, a conversation with her was never boring, but tended to make you late for anything. Kindly Sophie helped them get ready. She enchanted Lavender's hair dry, and then fixed it in a bun. She plaited Parvati's hair, fixing in it, a large ornamental butterfly. She took hold of a towel, threw it around her shoulders to protect her robe, and holding her wand up high, she muttered something unintelligible.

" Pentharo ducat." With that a small shower of gold dust settled in her hair, making it glitter. The other girls stared wistfully, but Sophie only laughed, and said how to do it was a secret. " Besides there's no time, I'm meeting Harry in the common room now. Then she and Hermione swept out of the room. Harry and Ron were waiting, with Seamus and Dean, and they all gasped as the two girls came down the staircase.

" You look fabulous," Harry breathed to Sophie. She smiled modestly and thanked him. Just then they heard a scream from the girls dormitory, the six of them raced up the stairs, to find Parvtai sitting on a stool with a towel around her shoulders, and hair a shocking lime green! Sophie gasped and raced forward as they boys started to laugh. Hermione dragged them out, and left Sophie to deal with Parvati.

" What did you do?" She cried.

" I just said the words you said, but it didn't work and my hair…. it…went…" She burst into tears. Sophie went over to her.

" Parvati calm down." She said calmly in a commanding voice. She pulled the other girls hands away from her face. " Stop crying, or you'll smudge your make-up! Now come over here into the light. You obviously got the words wrong. Now, let's see, try this." She pointed her hand at Parvati and said " Reparo." Nothing happened, but she tried again and again. Finally she said. " Go into the bathroom and wash your hair. Hurry up, hopefully it'll come out like that. If it doesn't, you're on your own." She went to the door.

" Aren't you going to help me?" Parvati whimpered.

" Why? I'm not wasting my time clearing up your mistake. My boyfriends waiting, I've got to go." She told her gravely and went down the staircase sighing heavily. Hermione, Ron and Harry stood up and on the way to the Hall she told them what had happened.

" Let's dance." Sophie murmured to Harry, taking his hand and leading him onto the dancefloor. Harry, who usually hated dancing, loved the dance that they did. Partly it was because it was with Sophie, but partly because he could feel the envious and jealous glances thrown at him by most of the boys in the Hall. He knew Sophie looked fantastic, and they all saw it too. He smiled, and looked at her, she smiled back and leant her head against his shoulder as he pulled her close.

Twenty minutes later, they were sitting at a table with Seamus, he was waiting for Lavender and he looked thoroughly miserable. Dean was dancing with his Ravenclaw partner, and was obviously having a ball.

" Sophie would you like to dance?" Draco said from behind her. Harry tensed up, and Sophie glared at him.

" I did promise." She muttered. She stood up and went to the dancefloor with Draco in tow looking like his birthday and Christmas had come at once. Harry sighed, he was no longer alone in misery, though as Seamus spotted Lavender and Parvati with Parvati's date. She had managed to get the green from her hair and threw a grateful glance at Sophie, who smiled.

At that moment Cho came over and asked Harry to dance. Miserable though he was, he didn't want to be left on his own so he followed her and started to dance.

************

" Do you want to go outside after this dance?" Draco murmured.

" I can't I'm here with Harry remember? He will be wondering where I've gone."

" I don't think so." He said, " Potter's over there dancing with that Ravenclaw Seeker, Cho Chang."

" I still don't think that's a good idea, do you?"

" On the contrary actually! I think it's a great idea." He persisted. Sophie smiled indulgently.

" No I want to dance with Harry, and I wan to dance with the other boys that asked me." She admitted. Draco raised his eyebrows but stayed silent, as the dance ended, he kissed her hand flirtatiously, and disappeared among the crowd. She scanned the crowd, to find Harry wrapped in Cho's arms still. She felt a burst of jealousy rise up in her throat.

" Woah, calm down." She thought to herself. " You don't want to do a Hermione. He's just dancing with her because he feels sorry for her, like I do with Draco."

She went to find a table, when she bumped into Patrick O'Brien, the sixth year that had asked her to the Ball. Smiling disarmingly at him, she asked if he wanted to dance. Nodding fervently, he followed her into the crowd, and pulled her close to him.

************

Draco and Cho watched the dancing couple; they stood at the back of the Great Hall, alone.

" Look is this all you wanted to show me Malfoy?" The Ravenclaw asked annoyed, " because its not exactly a scene, pleasant to my eyes."

" Nor mine," the boy answered.

" He speaks sort of hungrily, but not for food. I can't quite put my finger on it." Cho thought to herself.

" You would like Harry, no?" He spoke again, confidently, as if he knew all of the older girls private emotions. She shivered.

" Why would you think that?" She asked coldly, but unconvincingly. Draco sighed impatiently, and drew her outside.

" This would be so much easier if you would just cooperate! Look, I know you want Harry, and I want Sophie, so if we work together, then we can accomplish our wish." He stared into her eyes, searchingly. Cho knew it was wrong. She shook her head.

" No, I can't." She turned to go back into the Castle, but Draco caught her arm and pulled her back, it was not a violent move, but a firm one, which commanded obedience.

" Sit down." His voice was like that now, and he smiled as Cho seated herself on the bench. He sat beside her and waved his wand in front of them, whilst muttering an incantation. An image appeared before them, and grew larger and brighter, as it surrounded them.

************

Cho screamed as she saw an identical figure come towards her. She turned to Draco, horrified.

" What's going on? Who's that?" She asked frantically.

He replied in a calm voice. " It's you." He said simply. " Only a different you. This is what the future could be like, if you went along with my… idea. No-one here can see, or hear us, we're like invisible, mute ghosts."

The other Cho, strolled past the two of them, and sighed happily. She waltzed up to a handsome, boy – whom she recognised as Harry – and planted a kiss on his cheek. He turned and smiled at her, and kissed her back passionately. Albus Dumbledore strode up and advised them to wait until they were in private, but he was smiling. Cho saw herself blush but Harry just waited until the teacher had gone before kissing her neck softly. The real Cho smiled as she saw the look of bliss on her other face.

Draco smirked, his spell was working, and she'd be convinced in no time. At that moment his companion turned and frowned.

" What will happen to Sophie?" She asked concerned.

Draco lazily waved his wand once more and a different picture appeared on the screen. Sophie was sitting on the same bench he and Cho were on, and she was sitting with Draco himself. The couple exchanged a few words, in such a low tone, that Cho could not understand them. Then the beautiful blonde smiled and almost pounced on the boy, embracing him in a wild and passionate kiss. Cho smiled wryly, and Draco blushed and hastily waved his wand at the image so that it disappeared.

" So you see, Sophie wouldn't be very bothered. Potter will never even know her name by the time we will have finished with him. So what do you say? Partners?" He held out a hand for her to shake. Cho hesitated, but when she thought of the way that Harry had looked at her other self, and of the way he's kissed her, she shook off her misgivings. She took Draco's extended hand and shook it firmly, smiling.

************

" Right, Sophie has this thing about dancing with all the boys that asked her to the Ball, and she promised me twice, so I'll go and remind her of our little agreement, and then Potter, will turn to find you there, make sure you get him as far away as you can from us, so they won't be able to find each other afterwards, and then we come in. You suggest that Sophie is still dancing with me and I'll do the same for you. Try and keep them apart for as long as we can, and make sure that they think that the other is getting interested in you or in your case, me. Then hopefully they'll argue, and we can take it from there." Draco hissed. They were now, dancing in the Hall, and he was whispering his plan to Cho.

" Is this the reason you asked me?" She mused. Draco grinned.

" Partly," he told her. " And also because you're better looking than any of the other girls in your year." Cho chuckled.

" Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all." She thought to herself. " I mean now I won't have to put up with that twittering bimbo every time I want to speak to Harry."

" Right let's go." She said as the song died down. Swiftly she followed Draco over to Sophie and Harry. She kept her distance, as she didn't want them getting suspicious. Harry looked angry as Draco guided Sophie away. Cho smiled, it would be easier to play them off against each other, if they were already jealous. She waltzed over to Harry and he smiled wearily as he recognised her. Silently she put his arms around her waist and slid hers around his neck. She smiled innocently, as Harry relaxed against her.

************

As the music died down for the third time, Harry began to get suspicious. Maybe Cho was right; maybe Sophie would rather dance with Malfoy. Reality set in. Of course she didn't, or she would have gone to the Ball with him. As if she heard him, Cho leaned forward.

' Maybe she only wanted to save your friendship. I mean she knew you'd get jealous, you and Malfoy aren't friends are you?" She whispered, surprised ay her own innocent tone, the lies rolled of her tongue, like water.

Harry pulled away, and went towards the table where Ron was sitting with Hermione. He was staring at her dreamily and Harry chuckled. Hermione looked up.

" Hello stranger." She greeted him warmly. " Where's Sophie?"

" Good question!" Harry frowned.

" But she was looking for you, two minutes ago. She came over to this table, just after we'd sat down. She was looking for you. Malfoy was standing in the middle of the dancefloor, just watching her, almost greedily. It was freaky." Hermione told him, she shivered.

" Harry," Sophie said, emerging from the crowd. " I've been looking for you everywhere."

" Well I was here, I'm surprised you remembered me, weren't you busy dancing with lover-boy Malfoy?" He said coldly. Sophie looked hurt and then said in an even colder voice.

" Actually, I came over her five minutes ago looking for you, but you were to busy wrapped up in her arms!" She nodded to behind him. Harry turned and noticed that Cho was still standing behind him, and he turned to her.

" See you later Cho." He said, hinting heavily. The Ravenclaw scowled, and marched off.

" Aw had a lovers tiff?" Sophie said sarcastically. She walked off, and Harry sighed and followed. He caught up with her, and apologised.

" Sorry, it was just Cho." He said. " I don't know what was going on, but she seemed to be trying to stop me going to find you. She kept going on that you probably were still dancing with Malfoy, and then she was hinting that you liked him more than me. She even said that you probably only said you'd come with me, just so you didn't spoil our friendship."

Sophie gasped. " Oh my god!!! That is exactly what Draco was doing, only about you and Cho. Didn't they come together, why weren't they dancing with each other then, instead of us two all the time?"

" Maybe they're in this together," he joked. " Maybe it's a plot to split us up, because they're madly in love with us…." His voice trailed off when he saw how serious Sophie's expression was. " I was only kidding Soph' calm down."

" Well, we know Draco likes me, maybe not love, but he's like a spoilt little boy, sometimes. He always has to get what he wants. And maybe Cho likes you, I mean she did ask you to the Ball and she keeps flirting with you.

Her expression was deadly serious, and Harry weighed up the probabilities.

" If she likes me so much, how come she didn't go to the Yule Ball with me last year. She can't have been afraid to ask me, because she asked me this year. Why did she go with… him?" He couldn't bring himself to say Cedric's name.

" Maybe she didn't know you liked her, or maybe she didn't like you like that last year. You liked her then, but not now, so maybe it's the other way round for her. People do change Harry."

" Maybe, but I'm still not buying it." He told her firmly.

" Fine, but just remember that when I'm Draco's girlfriend and you're seeing Cho!!!" Sophie replied, turning away. " Five, four, three, two, one." She muttered, as right on cue Harry called her back.

" Sophie wait!"

" If they are planning this, and I'm still not totally convinced, but if they are, how are we going to stop them?" Sophie grinned and shrugged.

" This is an equal relationship mate, we have to work together, and as I worked out what they're doing, I've done half the work, it's up to you to work out how to stop them!!" She smiled demurely. Harry chuckled and took her hand as they re-entered the Great Hall.

************

"Mmm I'm thirsty, I'm just going to get a drink" Sophie murmured into Harry's ear. He went to join Hermione and Ron who were sat at the table looking bored.

" Hi Sophie."

" Hello Draco, can you pass me two butterbeers, I'm really thirsty."

" Both for you?"

" No stupid, one's for Harry."

" Here let me take the top off that bottle for you." He offered. He turned and twisted the top of, slipping into it, some silvery purple powder. Smiling innocently, he handed the bottle to Sophie who drank it quickly. She took the other bottle to Harry, stammering her thanks. As she neared the table she stumbled and was caught only just in time by Seamus.

" Woah, easy girl, how many have you had." He smiled. " Are you allright Sophie? You've gone really pale."

" No, not really, I feel really dizzy." She sat at the table next to Hermione and lay her head on her arms. Hermione stared at her, and then decided to take her up to the Gryffindor tower.

" Harry will you give me a hand, I don't think she can walk on her own." Hermione said, and the two of them half carried and half dragged Sophie off to bed.

************

" Hi Sophie, how are you this morning? Do you feel any better?" Harry called the next morning as Sophie passed him on the way to breakfast. Puzzled at her silence, he caught up with her, and still she ignored him. Marching straight over to the Slytherin table, where she whispered to Draco Malfoy. Smiling he followed her outside, to Harry's dismay and utter amazement. Ron shrugged and the two boys abandoned their food and followed the pair outside and down to the lake.

"Oh my god!" Harry stood dumbstruck as he saw Draco Malfoy, his worst enemy, and Sophie Catwood, his girlfriend kissing passionately right before his eyes. Ron, his jaw wide open, remained frozen as Harry leapt forward and furiously ripped the couple apart.

" Sophie, what the HELL do you think you're doing?" Harry roared. Sophie stared at him blankly.

" Excuse me? I'm kissing my boyfriend, not that it's any of your business!"

" But….but…h-he's not your….boyfriend…..I…I am…" He stammered.

" Harry what are you on about? You are the one that ended it all, last night remember?" Sophie seemed serious.

" When?"

" Don't give me that! After I went to bed last night, about eleven-thirty you came in and told me it was all over, and you didn't want to see me again! You said that you would rather be Cho's boyfriend than mine, because I…I was ugly…and fat…and you said I was an air-head!" Sophie turned to Draco, who hugged her as she started to cry.

" I was with Ron all night! Well after you went up, anyway. Wasn't I Ron?" He looked at Ron who stood flabbergasted.

" Actually Harry, Hermione came down before you." He said, embarrassed.

" Yeah but she was asleep when I was in there." Harry could see Ron didn't believe him, though he was desperately trying to cover up.

" Well Potter, I think you'd better leave. My girlfriend is getting upset." He smirked at Harry, and realization dawned on the other boy.

" You?" He cried angrily. He leapt at Draco, grabbing him by the neck and pushing him against a tree. " What have you done to her?" Harry yelled. Ron tried to pull him off, as did Sophie, but to no avail. The Slytherin boy swallowed nervously.

" I haven't done anything to her, honestly." He lied. " Now get off me." He pushed Harry away, and stalked off towards the Castle. Sophie started after him, but Harry grabbed her arm.

" No you don't." he said pushing her up against the same tree. " Why are you doing this?" His tone was softer now, unhappier. Sophie snarled and pushed him away.

" If you wanted me, you shouldn't have finished with me. It's your problem Potter not mine. I've found someone decent and your petty little jealousies aren't going to spoil it!" She ran after Draco, calling his name, and Harry watched and scowled as the blond boy turned and wrapped his arm around her waist.

" Harry?" Ron said gently. Harry swung round.

" He's done something to her Ron, she'd never date him, not in a million years."

" I know mate."

" What? But I thought you didn't believe me. It was written all over your face." He said, as Ron prepared to deny it.

" I was going to say, he practically admitted it when he said " You're upsetting my girlfriend." He mimicked Draco in a falsetto voice. Then added, " so what are we going to do?"

A/N I don't know if I like this story any more!! Most of it sucks!! I'm not sure whether or not to keep going. (This is not an ego-trip, I really don't know!!!) Please r&r 2 tell me what u think!! Be honest!!!