Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I don't even own Dudley.
The next day, Harry decided to try to put Snape's treachery from his thoughts, at least for the ball. He and Ron sat in the commons, waiting for Hermione and Ginny to get done. They had already been fixing themselves for two hours, and Harry was starting to worry about being late.
The door to the girl's head swung open, and Harry and Ron looked over expectantly. However, when Lavender and Parvati emerged, they both looked back over at the fire. "You know, it's kind of sad," Ron said.
Harry asked, "What's sad?"
"That Brown and Patil are done fixing themselves up before Ginny and Hermione," Ron replied. Before Harry could say anything else, Hermione and Ginny walked out of the lavatory. Both of the boy's jaws fell. Hermione was looking even better than last year, which certainly was saying something. And Ginny was looking spectacular in a beautiful dress of sparkling green. In Harry's opinion, she was looking even better than Hermione (although Ron probably would disagree)
Ginny broke out into a smile when she saw Harry's tuxedo, and Hermione said, "Well, are we ready to go?" Both the guys mutely nodded, and the four made their way down to the Great Hall.
The Weird Sisters were apparently booked for this year as well, and Harry and Ginny promptly found a spot on the dance floor. After a quick dance tune, Harry and Ginny came together for a slow dance. This is a lot better than last year, Harry sighed contently to himself, and didn't even notice that this year's ball was lead by McGonagall instead of the headmaster.
Voldemort stewed the ingredients together. According to the potion, it was supposed to turn blue. Voldemort stared at his cauldron, holding an orange glutinous liquid. He weighed his choices in his mind. Snape researched the dragon's blood substitute, and his ability at potions surpasses even my own. And if the potion didn't work, the ingredients used aren't likely to cause any negative effects. Of course, it's never wise drinking a potion if you're not sure what it will do. Voldemort decided to drink the potion. After all, he'd already came as close as possible for him to die; he doubted the potion, if botched, could match the strength of the killing curse.
Voldemort drank the potion. It tasted like sweet candy, which made him cringe. But he could feel the effects. It seemed like he was growing a second brain. He cast his thoughts about it, and grew more and more appalled.
He immediately Disapparated.
Voldemort apparated in the cemetery, standing on his father's grave. Ordinarily, he apparated there to show his disdain for his dirty muggle father. But he did it now for a more important reason. Slightly panicked, Voldemort summoned his death eaters.
Lucius Malfoy, Wormtail, Nott, and Avery appeared at his side. But before any more could come, Dumbledore apparated there as well, flanked by Mundungus Fletcher, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Arabella Figg.
"Ah, I see the Order of the Phoenix has risen again," Voldemort spoke.
"Did you think you were the only thing capable of rising up again?" Dumbledore asked. There was a faint smile on his lips.
"Dumbledore, it's been so long. Why did you bring your friends? We could've had a pleasant chat," Voldemort said.
"I can surmise that you know why I'm here, Thomas."
At Dumbledore invoking his biological name, Voldemort visibly angered. Dumbledore's smile fell, and his body began to radiate power. The four death eaters and four aurors began tossing curses about, but Voldemort and Dumbledore seemed to exist in their own separate universe. Neither had a wand out. Dumbledore had his hands over his head, and Voldemort had his hands out in front of him. The air between them seemed to burst with electricity. The energy crescendoed until the cracks of electricity started rippling in the air. Voldemort looked around him in panic. Suddenly, the two popped back into reality, and Voldemort quickly called for a retreat. Upon this, Dumbledore hurried over to the grave and levitated Tom Riddle Sr.'s skeletal body from the ground. The five disapparated before Voldemort could manage more reinforcements.
Dumbledore had assured the four other members of the Order of the Phoenix that he would be able to finish the affair, and was making the final touches to the potion. He didn't need to look around to see who had just arrived, and said "Hello Thomas,"
Instead of being angered, Voldemort calmly replied, "I am curious of what you are up to."
Dumbledore smiled, "The Draught of Knowledge didn't tell you that?"
"It told me what you planned to use the Draught of Rest on my father. The effect that will have is rather easy to guess. But what, aside from seeing me suffer temporarily, what do you hope to accomplish?" Voldemort asked, looking at his father's bones floating above the cauldron.
"You've already lost. You just don't realize it, yet," Dumbledore spoke, and then added, "You might want to leave. Hopefully to someplace where your followers won't see you either." Dumbledore smiled again, and Voldemort left with a flash.
Harry was dancing with Ginny, his eyes closed. He didn't want the night to end. He opened his eyes, and saw Ginny's head, resting on his shoulder. He absently noticed that almost everyone else had left. Strange, he thought, McGonagall was in charge; Dumbledore is nowhere to be seen. Harry closed his eyes, and whispered in Ginny's ear, "We're going to have to go back soon." Ginny let out a soft groan, and Harry held her closer.
A few minutes later, Ginny whispered back, a little sadly, "Ok," and started to lead him back to the Gryffindor commons.
Shortly after the two left the Great Hall, Harry tensed up, and then started shaking. Harry barely noticed Ginny looking at him in alarm. It felt someone had taken an icy hand and scooped out part of him. He felt his skin go clammy, and felt perspiration all over him. As he fell down on the ground, he heard Ginny yelling, "HELP! Someone help! Get nurse Pomfrey!"
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PLEASE REVIEW! It's been 10 chapters since anyone but Atheis & Aeris and Avide Reader has reviewed! PLEASE!?!?
Sorry about both the short chapter and slight cliffhanger. I'm thinking if I don't get any other reviews, I'll have Harry die. And Ginny will run off with, er, Flitwick. Yeah, that sounds good…
Just saw HP:Chamber of Secrets yesterday. Beautiful! Probably best casting possible for Lucius and Lockhart. I just wish they would've ended the quidditch game like they were supposed to, instead of rocketing around in some trench (where did that come from?) – they could've added several other scenes from the book. Oh well – great movie!
Lastly, customary kudos to Atheis & Aeris and Avide Reader! Avide, 'Sod Off' is used in the books, usually by Ron or Harry to Malfoy.