Chapter 4 - The First Attack
It was now 4 months since Harry had returned to Hogwarts. In this time nothing out of the ordinary had happened, and Neville had even managed to melt another cauldron in Potions. Quidditch training was going well and Griffindor had won two matches, one against Hufflepuff and one against Slytherin. The owlery and Divination rooms remained shut, but Harry had now discovered this was not because of a feared assault form Voldermort, but because they were falling in to disrepair. However Professor Lupin still hadn't arrived at the castle, and Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout had been taking it in turns to teach Defence against the Dark Arts. Harry, Ron and Hermione were the only students who knew the real reason Lupin hadn't arrived yet. All the other students had been told Lupin was ill, however Harry, Ron, Hermione and most of the teachers knew he was on a mission for Dumbledore, but they weren't sure of the details. Christmas had descended on the castle, and because of the success of last year's ball another one was to be held this year. The night before the ball Ron was complaining that Mrs Weasley still hadn't bought him any new dress robes, and that he was going to look more like a girl than Hermione at the ball. This year both Ron and Harry had partners for the ball. Harry had been asked by a blushing Ginny, and Ron had asked Hermione. Hermione had accepted with a massive grin on her face, confirming Harry's feeling that any feelings she had had for Victor Krum were long gone. Christmas morning dawned cold and snowy. Harry, Ron and Neville were the only ones left in their dormitory, and they were woken at 7 by Dobby who had come to give Harry his Christmas present. Then 5 minutes later Hermione wandered in to give them all their presents (much to Neville's embarrassment). Then all wearing their Weasley jumpers, they went down to breakfast. They spent the rest of the day having snowball fights in the grounds until the time came to get ready for the ball. When Harry, Ron and Neville returned to the dormitory there was a parcel waiting for Ron on his bed. "What's that?" asked Ron. "Don't know," said Harry, even though he secretly did. At the end of the last term Harry had given Fred and George his 1000 Gallons prize money from the Triwizard Tournament, and they promised to buy Ron some new dress robes as his looked so much like a dress. "Oh wow!" exclaimed Ron as he unwrapped his new dark plum dress robes. " I wonder who they're from". "Maybe your mum bought you them" said Neville. But before the discussion could carry on Hermione and Ginny were hammering on the door and telling them to hurry up. 15 minutes later they entered the Great Hall, where once again the house tables had been moved up against the wall and smaller tables placed around the edge of a dance floor. Fred and George and their partners Angelina and Alicia joined Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny at their table. First the food was served, and as usual the Hogwarts house elves had excelled themselves. Then Dumbledore flicked his wand and the lights dimmed. This year the band booked for the event was the Banshee Brothers and as soon as they started to play everyone started dancing. An hour later the ball was in full swing. The Banshee Brothers played a slow number and whilst dancing Ginny and Harry looked over at Ron and Hermione. Hermione had her head on Ron's shoulder and they were slowly turning on the spot. "They look lovely together don't they" Ginny said to Harry. "Yeah" said Harry smiling at Ginny. "Harry, you know I really like you." Ginny began, but she was cut short by all the lights in the hall going out and people beginning to scream. Suddenly Harry heard the hall doors slowly open and then an eerie silence fell over the room. Then Harry felt a familiar wave of cold pass over him. He knew there were Dementors entering the room and he could feel Ginny shaking next to him. He reached for his wand, and even though he couldn't see his target he shouted " Expecto patronum!" A large silver stage erupted from the end of his wand and briefly lit up the room. He could see most of the students seemingly frozen, and Dumbledore was just about to raise his wand. Suddenly from the open door way a voice screamed "Expecto patronum" as did Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall. All 5 spells combined hit the Dementors, who suddenly halted and then swept out of the castle before anyone could even catch their breath. Then the lights came back on and Harry saw Professors Lupin and Dumbledore rushing towards him.
It was now 4 months since Harry had returned to Hogwarts. In this time nothing out of the ordinary had happened, and Neville had even managed to melt another cauldron in Potions. Quidditch training was going well and Griffindor had won two matches, one against Hufflepuff and one against Slytherin. The owlery and Divination rooms remained shut, but Harry had now discovered this was not because of a feared assault form Voldermort, but because they were falling in to disrepair. However Professor Lupin still hadn't arrived at the castle, and Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout had been taking it in turns to teach Defence against the Dark Arts. Harry, Ron and Hermione were the only students who knew the real reason Lupin hadn't arrived yet. All the other students had been told Lupin was ill, however Harry, Ron, Hermione and most of the teachers knew he was on a mission for Dumbledore, but they weren't sure of the details. Christmas had descended on the castle, and because of the success of last year's ball another one was to be held this year. The night before the ball Ron was complaining that Mrs Weasley still hadn't bought him any new dress robes, and that he was going to look more like a girl than Hermione at the ball. This year both Ron and Harry had partners for the ball. Harry had been asked by a blushing Ginny, and Ron had asked Hermione. Hermione had accepted with a massive grin on her face, confirming Harry's feeling that any feelings she had had for Victor Krum were long gone. Christmas morning dawned cold and snowy. Harry, Ron and Neville were the only ones left in their dormitory, and they were woken at 7 by Dobby who had come to give Harry his Christmas present. Then 5 minutes later Hermione wandered in to give them all their presents (much to Neville's embarrassment). Then all wearing their Weasley jumpers, they went down to breakfast. They spent the rest of the day having snowball fights in the grounds until the time came to get ready for the ball. When Harry, Ron and Neville returned to the dormitory there was a parcel waiting for Ron on his bed. "What's that?" asked Ron. "Don't know," said Harry, even though he secretly did. At the end of the last term Harry had given Fred and George his 1000 Gallons prize money from the Triwizard Tournament, and they promised to buy Ron some new dress robes as his looked so much like a dress. "Oh wow!" exclaimed Ron as he unwrapped his new dark plum dress robes. " I wonder who they're from". "Maybe your mum bought you them" said Neville. But before the discussion could carry on Hermione and Ginny were hammering on the door and telling them to hurry up. 15 minutes later they entered the Great Hall, where once again the house tables had been moved up against the wall and smaller tables placed around the edge of a dance floor. Fred and George and their partners Angelina and Alicia joined Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny at their table. First the food was served, and as usual the Hogwarts house elves had excelled themselves. Then Dumbledore flicked his wand and the lights dimmed. This year the band booked for the event was the Banshee Brothers and as soon as they started to play everyone started dancing. An hour later the ball was in full swing. The Banshee Brothers played a slow number and whilst dancing Ginny and Harry looked over at Ron and Hermione. Hermione had her head on Ron's shoulder and they were slowly turning on the spot. "They look lovely together don't they" Ginny said to Harry. "Yeah" said Harry smiling at Ginny. "Harry, you know I really like you." Ginny began, but she was cut short by all the lights in the hall going out and people beginning to scream. Suddenly Harry heard the hall doors slowly open and then an eerie silence fell over the room. Then Harry felt a familiar wave of cold pass over him. He knew there were Dementors entering the room and he could feel Ginny shaking next to him. He reached for his wand, and even though he couldn't see his target he shouted " Expecto patronum!" A large silver stage erupted from the end of his wand and briefly lit up the room. He could see most of the students seemingly frozen, and Dumbledore was just about to raise his wand. Suddenly from the open door way a voice screamed "Expecto patronum" as did Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall. All 5 spells combined hit the Dementors, who suddenly halted and then swept out of the castle before anyone could even catch their breath. Then the lights came back on and Harry saw Professors Lupin and Dumbledore rushing towards him.