Chapter 17: The Dance

Chapter 17: The Dance

Azar stared a moment, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Harry?" she asked tentatively, "Is it…is it really you?"

"It better be, or I'm wearing the wrong underwear," he grinned.

With a delighted yell, she leapt at him and, to Harry's surprise, planted her lips on his. They tumbled over, Harry's eyes wide. It took him awhile to realize that this was their first kiss, and although his head hurt a bit from hitting the ground, he rather enjoyed it. When Azar finally let go, she beamed at him.

"I missed you."

"A-apparently," Harry stammered, "Mind g-getting off me?"

"Oh, yeah, of course."

Harry sat up, shaking his head a bit. Then, with a smile, he looked at Azar.

"If that's the welcome I get, I think I'll disappear more often."

"Don't you dare," Azar said, looking sternly at him, "If you even think about doing that again, Harry Potter, I'll-"

She stopped short as Harry gently took her face in both his hands

"You're the reason I came back," he whispered, "I could have hidden anyplace else, and probably should have. I know Dumbledore and Sirius will be furious with me for coming back to Hogwarts, but I don't care. I'm back, and nothing can make me leave."

He gently placed his lips on hers, and Azar accepted the kiss with a much softer enthusiasm than she had just so recently shone. To Harry, no bells went off. Birds didn't burst into song, nor did fireworks blaze in the sky. It was just a kiss…and something more wonderful than he had ever experienced. He wished that it would never end.

However, a scream soon tore through the air, shattering their moment. Paravati Patil had just come outside for a bit of fresh air and found her hopes of 'roping Harry' completely dashed.

Ron and Hermione sat at their table, reminiscing about the Yule Ball as the band played softly. They had been very angry at the time, but now they only laughed it off.

"I never took my eyes off of you the whole night," Ron grinned, "Poor Padma got pretty huffy."

"You know, I had never really known you liked me until then. In fact, I was almost as bad as you. I'd never seen you as a boy. Well, no, I mean…I knew you were, and are of course, a boy and that you acted like one all the time, but I never looked at you in that kind of light," she laughed, "And I just made no sense whatsoever."

"I think I know what you mean, though. Harry was just as bad with Paravati. His eyes followed no one but Cho…"

There was a sudden awkward silence, bad memories being brought back into light. All thoughts were shattered, however, when the door swung open, colliding into the wall. In marched a very peevish looking Paravati.

"Her over me!" she cried shrilly, "He chose her over ME!"

The room scarcely had a chance to ponder over this when Harry and Azar walked through the door, hands linked. Everyone was still a moment, as if checking that it wasn't a dream. Then a solo tremendous whoop shot through the room as Ron Weasley bolted like a torpedo over to Harry. He practically tackled the boy, holding him in a tight squeeze.

"How could you do that to us, you evil git!" Ron laughed, still holding tight to Harry.

A crowd gathered around them, talking excitedly, but Hermione managed to squeeze through. Harry was able to pry Ron from him just in time to have Hermione embrace him. Letting go, she held onto his shoulders and looked at him gleefully.

"It's you! You're really back! Thank Gryffindor, I'll be able to sleep again! Do you know that I've been searching for you every night since we got back? You're impossible to find, Harry Potter!"

"Where were you, mate? We really needed you in quidditch!" Ron scolded jokingly, Hermione's remark lost in the joy of the moment.

"Oh, what are you going to do about all your schoolwork?" Hermione gasped, "There'll be a mountain to make up!"

Harry laughed, hugging them both again. "It is great to be back!"

The entire crowd started hitting him with a barrage of questions, eager to find out what happened. Ron was too content to notice and even Azar seemed unaware, but Hermione saw it; instead of shirking back, Harry wore a broad smile.

"Hey, is this a dance or not?" he yelled over the noise, "Conductor, could you play something a little more lively?"

The conductor looked at him disdainfully, but complied. Realizing that Harry wasn't going to tell them where he'd been, the crowd disbanded, most to the dance floor.

"Would you care for a dance, my sweet Czarina Zundel?" Harry smiled, bowing low.

"Why, I'd be delighted, my dear Prince Harry Legs," she answered loftily, taking his outstretched hand as they headed for the dance floor.

"One second, Mr. Potter," Hermione scolded, putting her hands on her hips, "Aren't you forgetting something?"

"Yeah, you've got some explaining to do," Ron agreed.

"No, I've got some dancing to do," Harry answered, turning away.

"But Harry-" Ron started to protest.

"Later, 'kay?" he said, giving Ron one last glance before hurrying out onto the floor.

Ron and Hermione stood there a moment, a little taken aback.

"Is it me, or did he just blow us off?"

Hermione smiled. "If you had just come back after over a month, would you spend time first with your friends or with your girlfriend?"

"Well, I guess I see your point, but-"

"Good, we're agreed. How 'bout we sit this one out?" she said, heading back toward the table.

After gaping a moment, Ron followed her. Sitting, he watched Harry and Azar do a dance that went out with the roaring '20s.

'You'd think he'd at least talk to me for a second,' he thought bitterly, then quickly gave himself a mental slap in the face.

"I am NOT going to be jealous of Azar!"

"I should certainly hope not," Hermione answered, raising an eyebrow.

"Er…I didn't mean to say that out loud. I was having a private conversation."

"With yourself? Oh-kee…"

She leaned on one hand, glancing around lazily. Then she sat up with a jolt, giving the room another hastened look.

"Where are the chaperones?" she asked.

"Huh?"

"You know, Snape and McGonagall. They're gone."

"Maybe they went off together."

Hermione recoiled in disgust.

"I didn't mean it in that way! …Ug, Hermione! Now I've got a mental picture!" Ron said, clutching his head.

"Well, you made it sound that way! They probably just went to get Dumbledore or something after they saw Harry."

"Why didn't you just say that before?"

"I hadn't thought of it before."

"C'mon, let's dance. Maybe that'll get my mind off it."

However, the song ended and Charity Cameron and Darin Jones, Head Girl and Boy, commanded attention.

"It's now time to announce our cutest couples!" Charity grinned, her voice magnified.

"Each couple will receive a prize," Darin added, though he didn't seem quite as festive about it as Charity.

"Okay, first years!"

"This cutest couple thing is kind of stupid, don't you think?" Hermione commented after the second years were announced.

"Why?"

"Only the popular kids win. Of course, the popular kids are normally popular for being attractive, but still," she sighed, "Ten galleons that Padma and Anthony win our year."

"What about Neville and Susan?" Ron asked, ignoring the cheers for the fourth year couple.

"Ha! They're a cute couple, but definitely not popular enough. No, it's Padma and Anthony."

"Fifth years, Colin Creevey and Bella Arroz!"

The two walked up smiling, accepting their prize.

"One voter even added, 'It doesn't matter who he's paired with, Colin must be part of the cutest couple,'" Charity smiled, making Colin blush a Weasley red.

"Sixth years," Darin said, kind of dully, "Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger."

With wide-eyes, Ron and Hermione looked at each other, making sure they'd heard right. They were rooted to their seats with shock.

"Get up there, you two!" Harry called over the applause.

Slowly getting up, they walked toward Charity and Darin.

"Here you go," Charity beamed, handing them two books.

" 'Keeping the Magic Alive'?" Ron read, "What do they think we are, an old married couple?"

"We'll give them to your parents."

"Oy."

Thankful that they could finally sit down again, Hermione and Ron joined Harry and Azar by their table.

"Congrats, you two!" Azar beamed.

"Like there was any doubt, though," Harry added.

" 'any doubt'? What are you talking about?" Ron asked, "I never expected us to be chosen!"

"I thought it'd be Padma and Anthony."

"Or Neville and Susan."

"Are you really that blind?" Azar smiled.

They weren't able to continue, however, for Snape had returned and motioned for silence.

"Okay, the dance is over!" he announced in a particularly nasty manner, "Everyone back to their towers! Except Harry Potter. The Headmaster requests to see you."

As everyone filed out, Harry gave a deep sigh.

"Well, now to reap the punishment of returning. I'll see you guys later."

Snape was waiting at the door for Harry and led him down the corridors. Again, Harry had to practically jog to keep up.

"Think you could slow it down a bit?" he said, more jokingly than not.

"Oh yes, of course. Anything for the great Harry Potter," Snape spat.

"You being sincere, or was that sarcasm?"

"Don't act insolent with me, boy. You're idiocy is already too much to handle."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry frowned.

"Let's see… You run away from wherever you were, spending a few days alone on the road; you don't let Dumbledore know you're coming, thus no one would have been the wiser should you not have arrived; you walk right into the dance, letting everyone know you're back, except, of course, our headmaster… Now all that's left is for you to send an engraved invitation to Voldemort asking him to come here and get you, killing a few of your peers along the way, naturally."

"Hey, I have a right to live my own life, you know!"

"Not when you put the lives of others at stake!" Snape practically snarled, turning on Harry, "You may be all smiles now, pleased with the stir you caused, but let's see if you're smiling when those friends of yours have to suffer under the Cruciatus Curse!"

Harry went pale, his heart stopping a moment. "V-Voldemort…here? D-do you really think he'd come and do that?"

"Nothing is below or beyond that beast," the teacher hissed, walking on.

Harry followed him after a moment, now regretting his choice to return. His stomach began to writhe with the fear that Voldemort would come to Hogwarts and… who knows what. In a daze, he followed Snape into the office.

"Harry James Potter, I ought to kill you!" Sirius roared, eyes blazing, "Can you imagine how I felt when Arabella told me you were missing?! And you came here! What were you thinking?!"

"That I was coming home," Harry said, his resolve rising, "That I was saving lives. That note I got, Sirius, told me to beware the Death Eaters approach, so when they appeared in Lucan, I knew I had to leave."

"But to here?!" Sirius exclaimed, his eyes pleading to see the logic of it.

"Easy on him, Sirius," Dumbledore said, "One's heart doesn't often subdue to the voice of reason."

Harry smiled, grateful that someone knew why he'd returned. Sirius, however, was in too much of a panic to really hear Dumbledore. He took Harry in a vice-like embrace, causing the boy's eyes to bug-out.

"It's not that I'm not glad to see you, Harry," he said, letting go, "but coming here… Now the whole wizarding world will know you're back."

"I'm sick of hiding, Sirius. The Ministry is no longer after me, so that leaves only Voldemort, as it's always been. I've coped the last six years with staying alive despite that man, so I think I can last a little bit longer."

"I've never known a boy as arrogant and foolish as you, Potter," Snape glared.

"Don't you dare say that about him, Snape!" Sirius yelled, turning on the Potions teacher, "He endangered his own life so that he wouldn't endanger the Riley's! That's the noblest thing I've ever heard! It must have taken him all of the resolve in the world and then some to leave them!"

There ensued what seemed to be a staring contest between the two, for neither withdrew his piercing gaze from the other's eyes until Dumbledore caught their attention.

"Shall we get on with this, then?" the man questioned.

Sirius and Snape turned away from each other, both showing signs of agreement.

"So we need to find a new hiding place for Harry," Sirius commented, as if Harry's previous words were completely lost on him.

"What?" Harry said, surprised, "No, you don't. I'm not going anywhere."

"This is the worst place for you, Harry. It's too open."

"But I'll be fine! Professor," he said, turning pleading eyes to Dumbledore.

"I agree with Sirius on this, Harry. It would be better for you to be in another secluded area, away from the media."

"I don't believe this!" he exclaimed, flinging his arms out in exasperation, "I just got here, and you want to send me off again?! To put another innocent muggle family in peril?!"

"It's not like that, Harry."

"No! You are not doing that to me again! What'll my friends think? All I really said to them was 'It's great to be back', and you want me to disappear again!"

"Harry, listen to reason-"

"Listen to reason?! Is that the best you can do? Why is 'reason' always sided with adults?! 'Reason' is something you invented, and I do not listen to what does not exist!"

"Now you're just acting childish!" Sirius yelled back, taking him by the shoulders, "Harry James Potter, you are going somewhere safe!"

"No, Sirius," Harry said the fiercest of determinations, "I am staying right here."

Sirius kind of jumped, a look of shock flitting across his face. Then it disappeared and he sank into a chair, chuckling to himself.

"Don't do that, Harry," he smiled, "I may be young, but my heart has been through enough."

"Don't do what?" Harry questioned, perplexed.

"Just then you looked so much like James…I almost thought he was back…"

Before they could say anymore, the fireplace moved back and in walked Draco Malfoy. Harry's eyes instantly darted back to Sirius, for Draco had had his memory modified the last time he had seen the man. However, seeing a relaxed Sirius still sitting made him remember that his godfather was no longer a wanted man.

"Is everything all right, Professor?" Draco asked, "I heard some yelling and… oh. Potter."

"I'm sorry, Draco, but this isn't the best time," Dumbledore said, "Please go back to your chambers."

"Could I speak with you after your done here, though? I've got a few things on my mind."

"It would be my pleasure."

"Thank you. Good night, Professor Snape. Potter," he said, inclining his head slightly before he headed back through the fireplace.

"Back to business then," said Sirius, "Harry, you're going."

"No-I-am-not."

"Yes-you-are."

"Look, Sirius. We can stay here all night and scream our points at each other, but it would all be wasted time. In the end I'll win, for there's nothing of the muggle or magical world that will loosen my resolve to stay."

Sirius stared a moment, then again shook his head with a chuckle. "You did it again, Harry."

"Don't change the subject. I'm staying."

"Profes- Albus," Sirius said, pleading for the headmaster to take his side.

"We cannot force him to go, Sirius. I have often found, with teenage boys, that the harder you push, the harder they push back. You're allowed to stay, Harry."

The whoop of joy that Harry gave out was loud enough to be heard by the centaurs in the Forbidden Forest. Sirius looked like he was about to start arguments up all over again, but stopped himself. He knew there was no arguing with Dumbledore.

****

"You did WHAT?!" Ron yelled, his eyes bulging.

"Whoa, relax, Ron," Hermione said with a slight smile, "I was in hawk form, remember?"

"Things eat hawks, Hermione! What if someone shot at you?!"

"Well, they didn't. Stop being such a worrywart. I'm fine, Harry's fine, it all turned out all right."

"But it could have been disastrous!"

"You're more worked up about me flying around than about Harry running off alone."

"Well, he's back and okay, and you're…oh. I guess I see your point. But I forbid you to do it again!"

Hermione's face took on a weird look. "Forbid? You forbid me?"

Ron groaned. "No, I didn't mean it that way. I beg you not to do it again."

"Get on your hands and knees."

"What?"

"You tried to forbid me to do something. Now you have to beg for forgiveness, along with begging that I never fly alone."

Reluctantly, Ron got on his hands and knees.

"Azar," Harry said, turning to the girl at his arm, "if I ever accidentally forbid you to do something, just hit me upside the head rather than this."

"I don't know. It'd be interesting to see you kiss my shoes for forgiveness."

After Ron was forgiven, they headed out into the Entrance Hall. They had just reached the foot of the stairs when someone, much resembling a blur, came sliding down the banister. As the figure came to the bottom, he expertly swung off, landing lightly in a leaning position against the very banister he had dismounted.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the fallible foursome. You gonna say something, or just gawk all day?"

It seemed quite likely that the were going to do the latter, for there in front of them stood Draco Malfoy, invisibility cloak nowhere in sight.

~*~*~

A/N: Oh, I had so much more planned for this chapter, but I didn't want to make it too long, so here you go.

I hope that has the slightest tinge of a cliffy for you. I'm trying to get back in the habit of writing them before I get to (what I hope) is the climactic stuff. ^_^

Thank you all of my reviewers!!!!! 200 reviews!!! I'm on cloud nine!

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Be excellent to each other!

-Ady