Harry Potter and the crystal of dreams chapter
Chapter 1: The Intruder
Authors note: Thank you Jo the H.P. underwear bit would have never been possible without you and nor would we have had any constructive criticism. To our dear friends Noodles and Sassy THANK YOU!!! We would like to dedicate this fic to all you readers and especially 'Grandad' for the kind use of many nights on his computer, Be gentle it's only our first fic, but anyway enjoy!!!
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns all!!
Chapter 1: The Intruder
Ginny tossed and turned, but to no avail, however how hard she tried, she couldn't sleep. Giving up, Ginny pulled on her dressing gown, and made her way downstairs to the kitchen, stumbling every now and again due to her lack of sleep.
She was halfway across the corridor leading to the kitchen, when, to her left, came a noise. Ginny saw that the living room door was slightly ajar, curious to see who on earth would be up so late she popped her head around the door.
In the cover of darkness, in the corner of the room, stood a silent figure, cloaked in black, swiftly sifting though the bookcase. The figure was cloaked in such a way that the folds of the material concealed his or her head.
This person was definitely no one Ginny knew and certainly not Harry or Hermione, or in fact anyone currently staying in the Weasley's burrow.
Suddenly the Intruder bolted upright clutching what looked like a pen, Ginny quickly withdrew her head from the room. The sound of muted footsteps indicated, to Ginny's horror, that the mysterious cloaked figure was now leaving the room and heading straight for Ginny!
Ginny's eyes flickered around the corridor frantically searching for a hiding place, but she didn't have enough time. The door behind Ginny flung open.
"Spying ay, my Lord does not take kindly to peeping toms" Ginny felt a stab at her arm: she collapsed to the floor, her world black.
*
The sun blared through the crude, wooden shutters of Ron's bedroom.
"Morning Harry" bellowed Ron standing at the side of Harry's bed.
Harry awoke with a start and made a noise, similar to that of an overgrown turkey.
"Don't let my mum hear you make that noise at Christmas, you'll be in the oven quicker than you can say stuffing".
"Piss off.....What time is it anyway?" groaned Harry reaching out blindly for his glasses.
"I'll give you one word...BIRTHDAY".
Harry got out of bed and stumbled over to the walk in wardrobe shutting the door behind him.
"Hermione you ready yet" called Ron as he popped his head around the door.
"Nearly" came a far of voice.
"God she takes ...Hi Hermione" corrected Ron as Hermione walked into the room wearing a typical Muggle skirt.
"Where is Harry?" asked Hermione adjusting the pleats
An explosion erupted from within the walk in wardrobe and expelled Harry, who now laid sprawled out across the floor trousers still round his ankles.
Harry raised his head and said "All right who left the wizard cracker in the wardrobe?". Harry's head lolled from side to side for a moment, then collapsed on to Ron's garment, strewn carpet.
"I take it he forget about Cho's party then" Hermione pointed out blatantly.
*
"So, what have you bought Cho Harry?" asked Hermione, pausing only for a brief second before reading the next sentence of her book.
"What have you bought, first?".
"You haven't got her one yet have you?" sympathized Hermione placing the book down on the table "well it's a good job we're going to Diagon Alley today isn't it?"
"What would I do without you two" Harry grinned, picking at his cornflakes that were now changing colours.
"Well you probably get chased around with a pickaxe by your girlfriend" snorted Ron.
"Ow" Ron grinned after a cleverly aimed green cushion hurtled from Harry's direction and hit him in the nose.
Hermione strutted out of the room, muttering something that vaguely resembled "Boys".
*
Witches and Wizards of all shapes and sizes crowded the narrow alley. Harry, Hermione and Ron made their way through the bustle of people, Hermione dragged them off to the book shop to show Harry and Ron some things that she claimed to be "interesting".
They looked in the book shop which Ron was really uninterested in, and Mr. Ollivanders where they got their wands checked out, Hermione's was obviously perfect, Harry's was a bit scruffy, and Ron's..... Mr. Ollivander described it as "Dirty, needing more care, and a damn right good clean".
When they left the shop Harry turned to Ron "I'm not surprised it was dirty, seen as you accidentally on purpose dropped it in a pile of dog shit before you went in"
"I feel sorry for the poor bird who has to sniff his hands to night" Harry burst out into a fit of laughter.
"That came out wrong!"
As the day grew shorter they sat contentedly under the shade of a floating umbrella at Florean Fortescue's ice-cream parlor.
In front of them lay a towering mountain of delicious looking, chocolaty ice-cream, topped with a succulent red cherry.
Hermione plunged her spoon into the very heart of the ice-cream mountain and retrieved a vast scoop, just as the spoon reached her lips Harry let out a "Euhhhhhhh".
Hermione looked down at the spoon, then squealed.
"It's an eyeball" shrugged Ron, as two girls at a nearby table giggled loudly at the sight of Hermione running off towards Flourish and Blotts to regain her composure.
Ron pocketed the disgusting object and added to Harry
"This could come in handy".
*
The trio's horse-less carriage screeched to a standstill outside the Change's majestic mansion. They climbed the elegant marble steps leading up to Cho's residence and rang the doorbell that played the tune happy birthday and out sprang some mystical floating letters of colours unknown to the Muggle eye, which formed the words Cho's 16 today. The magnificent oak doors flew open revealing a tall, snooty looking man, who Harry presumed was the Chang's Butler, he was hold a list that seemed to be endless.
"Welcome, Mmmahai, Bon Soir, Guten Abend, Buenas Noches, Buona Notte, and to you, Good Evening." Harry, Hermione and Ron stood with bewildered expressions on their faces.
"Welcome, I am Jeffrey, I will be your Butler for the evening, hmm let me see", Jeffrey pondered as he lifted the guest list to his snooty little nose, he pulled out a pair of golden framed glasses and placed them on the end of his nose.
"Ah, yes, here we are", he said peering over the list at Harry "You must be Master Harry Potter, Master Ronald Weasley and you must be the lovely Miss Hermione Granger", at this Hermione blushed a vivid shade of pink.
"The celebrations are taking place in the Ballroom, which is just along this corridor, if you would kindly proceed, ladies first", and with this Ron stepped forward patting Jeffrey on the arm.
"Thanks Pal", He exclaimed, then headed off towards the Ballroom muttering under his breath "snobby git". Hermione placed her hand on her forehead in a Oh my god, I am not with him sort of way. Then she looked up and smiled sweetly.
"I wonder who that idiot was, absolutely no manners what so ever, do you know who he was Harry?" she said glaringly at Harry.
"mmmm....errrrr....emmmm....no...absolutely no idea, no" babbled Harry.
Hermione took Harry by the arm and led him violently to Ballroom.
The ballroom was dimly lit with a soft red light, each of the tall arched windows where draped with blue and silver velvety curtains (Ravenclaw's house colours), to their right was a winding, spiral staircase with glittering golden banisters which led to the Chang's large study. All Cho's friends where attired in their dress robes , thankfully Fred and George had bought Ron some new ones of an intense blue hue.
Cho battled her way through the now gathering crowd and made her way towards Harry, she was wearing a short, blue satin dress, and no shoes.
"Hi, glad you could make it", noticing Harry staring at her bare feet she added "my shoes were killing me"
Harry felt his knee's turn to jelly, somehow he managed to keep them from giving way beneath him; even though Cho was now his girlfriend she still seemed to have this affect on him.
"I've got....." before Harry could finish his sentence Draco Malfoy's leering face came into view, his silvery eye's met Harry's with an icy glare, Harry's expression was unchanged. Draco turned to Cho and immediately his eye's lightened and the stare that once was, had been replaced by a sunny glow.
Harry stomach lurched, he looked as if he had been slapped in the face by a particularly large troll a.k.a. Goyle.
"Cho I've got something to show you, it's in the study" Draco beamed, "Oh, it's you lot, you might as well come and wonder at my present, as it's the closest you'll ever get to something so expensive, especially you Weasley." He added with a scowl.
Harry followed the rest of the group reluctantly, and cast a sidelong glance at Ron who rolled his eye's heavenward.
There in the centre of the study stood a twinkling crystal unicorn graced with an elegant beauty, it was unique beyond anyone's imagination.
Cho gasped at the sight of this magnificent being.
"Draco its beautiful" said Cho astounded these where the only words that escaped from her lips for the next few minutes. Hermione moved closer to the statue and ran her hand along it's horn.
"I regret to inform you Malfoy that the statue you have purchased is in fact in-accurate, a unicorns horn can grow up to 35.7 centimetres long, and your unicorn's horn is nowhere near that, page 172 Fantastic Beasts and where to find them, chapter seven, Horses and such, paragraph four". Harry smirked, somehow Hermione always knew what to say. However all eyes where now fixed on Ron, as his cheek's where now inflating much like those of a frightened pufferfish, trying to restrain a fit of laughter became too much for Ron and the laughter that had built up was released, he quickly disguised it as a hacking Cough.
"Come on now" laughed Cho "the parties in full swing"
*
Harry slowly approached the dancefloor throwing a nervous half-smile in Cho's direction. When the band began to play a slow medieval tune, Harry and Cho exchanged courteous bows much like the other people on the dancefloor, their opposite hands met and they turned slowly to the music, followed by dancesteps, Harry had his arm behind his back, whilst Cho had her hand placed firmly on her hip. The band increased pace adding the beat of an Irish drum into the background, Another turn indicated the changing of partners, Cho was whisked away by Draco and they disappeared into the crowd shielding her from Harry's view, who was now being lead away by Amanda Knight a Ravenclaw 5th year. Later the song was replaced by a more upbeat melody. Hermione was already on the dance floor when Ron walked over, he decided it would be a good idea to impersonate the Beegees whilst singing Night Fever with the hand actions. Ron managed to poke several people in the eyes and injure many others.
Hermione however was doing a dance which wasn't quite modern or old, nobody seemed to notice as most people where doing their own thing anyway.
Draco was sat in a corner scowling at Ron, whilst Crabbe and Goyle stuffed their faces at the buffet.
To Harry the party seem to drag on at an incredibly slow pace, everyone else seemed to be enjoying themselves, he decided to take a stroll in the peace and serenity of the rose garden. Above him the sky was an inky black covered with a blanket of stars.
There in the midst of the darkness stood a solitary figure who was also seeking the tranquillity of nature. Hearing the sound of footsteps the figure turned, all doubt fled from Harry as he was faced with the radiant visage of Cho.
"It was so crowded in there" explained Cho "I needed some air"
"Me too" muttered Harry. Cho and Harry walked over to the ornate fountain, the silvery moon reflected in the ripples of water.
Harry pulled a small golden jewelry box out of his pocket (A/N just so you don't get your hope's up, no he is not proposing however much you may want him to, remember he's only 15)
"Happy Birthday Cho" said Harry handing Cho the package. Cho unwrapped the gift eagerly and in the palm of her hand lay a necklace, on it was a perfectly formed diamond shaped jewel, as Cho gazed into the stone, galaxies and stars appeared from the depths of time they swirled around in a rhythmic pattern then disappeared, Cho moved closer to Harry, he could smell the sweet scent of strawberries on her hair, before their lips met in a frenzy of anticipation there was an interruption.
"We better get going, or we'll miss supper" Ron panted like a hungry beast as he raced down the crazy pathed steps leading to the garden.
"Ron" scolded Harry making for Ron's exposed throat.
"What, I'm hungry", whined Ron. "Oh would you look at that, ain't it pretty", Ron said as he looked at the necklace.
"Who brought him?" groaned Harry
"You did" Cho giggled.
As the end of the night drew nearer Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way to the startling, electric blue carriage that awaited them. As Hermione shut the door of the carriage, Cho shouted to Harry "THANK-YOU FOR THE NECKLACE!"
*
The trio trudged home to the Weasley's Burrow, as they entered the house they heard raised voices from within the kitchen.
"YOU SHOULD BE OUT LOOKING FOR HER, NOT PHONING THAT USELESS MINISTRY OF YOURS!!!!!" Mrs. Weasley's hysterical voice sounded like a howler, a loud letter that is used by witch mothers to scold their children if they themselves cannot do so in person.
"MOLLY calm down, I'm doing as much as I can, I'm getting a couple of friends to look for her as well, it's for her own s...." Mr. Weasley trailed off as Mrs. Weasley broke down into tears once again, she wiped her eye's with a sodden tissue.
Harry, Hermione and Ron decided it would be a good idea to go and talk to Mr. Weasley, to find out WHAT ON EARTH had happened.
They found him slumped over the kitchen table, with his head in his hands.
"Err, dad what was all that about?" Ron asked. Mr. Weasley looked up at his youngest son with a daunting, expression of pain, he looked sick Harry thought to himself.
"I'm sorry Ron, I really didn't want you to find out like this", Mr. Weasley began, still glassy eyed from the tears.
"Find out what?"
"It's your sister.......she's...... she's ...she's gone".
Ron looked puzzled.
"What has she run away with the circus, right bunch of duffers if you ask me, I'll sort em out for you dad" Harry thought Ron must have been in denial, he seemed as though he didn't want to acknowledge the fact that his sister was missing. Mr. Weasley looked as though he was on the verge of tears, he stood up and walked towards his son, but Ron turned and ran out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Ron" Mr. Weasley shouted after him, but his call fell on deaf ears.
There was an awkward silence that hung in the air so much so that you would hear a pin drop, heavy breathing could be heard from the three that now stood in the room, Harry didn't dare move he'd never seen Mr. Weasley like this.
Mr. Weasley's pitiful gaze lingered on Hermione, who now knew that she was the one who would have to go and comfort Ron.
*
Ginny floated in mid air, surrounded by a pale nimbus light, nearby two foul looking creatures stood watch, their skin was a flaky black mass of scabs, their face's where contorted of a horror only those born in nightmares could imagine, protecting their scaly hides was a strong armor made from darkness itself.
Ginny opened her eye's wide, she was unsure if her senses betrayed her, her first waking vision was that of a vile creature who's face was split into a grin, revealing broken yellow teeth flecked with a filthy black.
As the thing got closer it gave off an acrid smell which stung Ginny's nostrils, a bit like Ron's socks, she blinked furiously as tears streamed down her face.
The creature growled in a strange and unfamiliar language to it's companion, then both departed firmly bolting the Iron barred door behind them.
Ginny moved her arm in attempt to find her wand, on both of Ginny's wrist where strange looking devices, they were sort of like handcuffs but they had a funny engravement on them, they were glowing bright red, which seemed to be restraining her movement, it occurred to Ginny that these must be magical bonds which not only prevented movement but magic as well.
A few metres away there was a blank screen fixed to the wall, Ginny wondered whether it was an observation window, and whoever had captured her was sitting behind this screen. This time she was wrong, before her eyes Ron's face appeared on the screen, he looked miserable Ginny thought to herself, and he seemed to be tapping it.
"Ron, thank god you come to get......" These words where planted firmly in Ginny's mind, but they refused to leave her lips.
Hermione came up behind Ron and knelt beside placing her hand on his shoulder, Hermione said something to him which Ginny didn't quite catch, Ron got up from his chair and turned his back to Ginny, then they both left the room.
"No, don't leave me" uttered Ginny as all her hope left as the door shut and the screen went black.
Chapter Fin
Chapter 1: The Intruder
Authors note: Thank you Jo the H.P. underwear bit would have never been possible without you and nor would we have had any constructive criticism. To our dear friends Noodles and Sassy THANK YOU!!! We would like to dedicate this fic to all you readers and especially 'Grandad' for the kind use of many nights on his computer, Be gentle it's only our first fic, but anyway enjoy!!!
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns all!!
Chapter 1: The Intruder
Ginny tossed and turned, but to no avail, however how hard she tried, she couldn't sleep. Giving up, Ginny pulled on her dressing gown, and made her way downstairs to the kitchen, stumbling every now and again due to her lack of sleep.
She was halfway across the corridor leading to the kitchen, when, to her left, came a noise. Ginny saw that the living room door was slightly ajar, curious to see who on earth would be up so late she popped her head around the door.
In the cover of darkness, in the corner of the room, stood a silent figure, cloaked in black, swiftly sifting though the bookcase. The figure was cloaked in such a way that the folds of the material concealed his or her head.
This person was definitely no one Ginny knew and certainly not Harry or Hermione, or in fact anyone currently staying in the Weasley's burrow.
Suddenly the Intruder bolted upright clutching what looked like a pen, Ginny quickly withdrew her head from the room. The sound of muted footsteps indicated, to Ginny's horror, that the mysterious cloaked figure was now leaving the room and heading straight for Ginny!
Ginny's eyes flickered around the corridor frantically searching for a hiding place, but she didn't have enough time. The door behind Ginny flung open.
"Spying ay, my Lord does not take kindly to peeping toms" Ginny felt a stab at her arm: she collapsed to the floor, her world black.
*
The sun blared through the crude, wooden shutters of Ron's bedroom.
"Morning Harry" bellowed Ron standing at the side of Harry's bed.
Harry awoke with a start and made a noise, similar to that of an overgrown turkey.
"Don't let my mum hear you make that noise at Christmas, you'll be in the oven quicker than you can say stuffing".
"Piss off.....What time is it anyway?" groaned Harry reaching out blindly for his glasses.
"I'll give you one word...BIRTHDAY".
Harry got out of bed and stumbled over to the walk in wardrobe shutting the door behind him.
"Hermione you ready yet" called Ron as he popped his head around the door.
"Nearly" came a far of voice.
"God she takes ...Hi Hermione" corrected Ron as Hermione walked into the room wearing a typical Muggle skirt.
"Where is Harry?" asked Hermione adjusting the pleats
An explosion erupted from within the walk in wardrobe and expelled Harry, who now laid sprawled out across the floor trousers still round his ankles.
Harry raised his head and said "All right who left the wizard cracker in the wardrobe?". Harry's head lolled from side to side for a moment, then collapsed on to Ron's garment, strewn carpet.
"I take it he forget about Cho's party then" Hermione pointed out blatantly.
*
"So, what have you bought Cho Harry?" asked Hermione, pausing only for a brief second before reading the next sentence of her book.
"What have you bought, first?".
"You haven't got her one yet have you?" sympathized Hermione placing the book down on the table "well it's a good job we're going to Diagon Alley today isn't it?"
"What would I do without you two" Harry grinned, picking at his cornflakes that were now changing colours.
"Well you probably get chased around with a pickaxe by your girlfriend" snorted Ron.
"Ow" Ron grinned after a cleverly aimed green cushion hurtled from Harry's direction and hit him in the nose.
Hermione strutted out of the room, muttering something that vaguely resembled "Boys".
*
Witches and Wizards of all shapes and sizes crowded the narrow alley. Harry, Hermione and Ron made their way through the bustle of people, Hermione dragged them off to the book shop to show Harry and Ron some things that she claimed to be "interesting".
They looked in the book shop which Ron was really uninterested in, and Mr. Ollivanders where they got their wands checked out, Hermione's was obviously perfect, Harry's was a bit scruffy, and Ron's..... Mr. Ollivander described it as "Dirty, needing more care, and a damn right good clean".
When they left the shop Harry turned to Ron "I'm not surprised it was dirty, seen as you accidentally on purpose dropped it in a pile of dog shit before you went in"
"I feel sorry for the poor bird who has to sniff his hands to night" Harry burst out into a fit of laughter.
"That came out wrong!"
As the day grew shorter they sat contentedly under the shade of a floating umbrella at Florean Fortescue's ice-cream parlor.
In front of them lay a towering mountain of delicious looking, chocolaty ice-cream, topped with a succulent red cherry.
Hermione plunged her spoon into the very heart of the ice-cream mountain and retrieved a vast scoop, just as the spoon reached her lips Harry let out a "Euhhhhhhh".
Hermione looked down at the spoon, then squealed.
"It's an eyeball" shrugged Ron, as two girls at a nearby table giggled loudly at the sight of Hermione running off towards Flourish and Blotts to regain her composure.
Ron pocketed the disgusting object and added to Harry
"This could come in handy".
*
The trio's horse-less carriage screeched to a standstill outside the Change's majestic mansion. They climbed the elegant marble steps leading up to Cho's residence and rang the doorbell that played the tune happy birthday and out sprang some mystical floating letters of colours unknown to the Muggle eye, which formed the words Cho's 16 today. The magnificent oak doors flew open revealing a tall, snooty looking man, who Harry presumed was the Chang's Butler, he was hold a list that seemed to be endless.
"Welcome, Mmmahai, Bon Soir, Guten Abend, Buenas Noches, Buona Notte, and to you, Good Evening." Harry, Hermione and Ron stood with bewildered expressions on their faces.
"Welcome, I am Jeffrey, I will be your Butler for the evening, hmm let me see", Jeffrey pondered as he lifted the guest list to his snooty little nose, he pulled out a pair of golden framed glasses and placed them on the end of his nose.
"Ah, yes, here we are", he said peering over the list at Harry "You must be Master Harry Potter, Master Ronald Weasley and you must be the lovely Miss Hermione Granger", at this Hermione blushed a vivid shade of pink.
"The celebrations are taking place in the Ballroom, which is just along this corridor, if you would kindly proceed, ladies first", and with this Ron stepped forward patting Jeffrey on the arm.
"Thanks Pal", He exclaimed, then headed off towards the Ballroom muttering under his breath "snobby git". Hermione placed her hand on her forehead in a Oh my god, I am not with him sort of way. Then she looked up and smiled sweetly.
"I wonder who that idiot was, absolutely no manners what so ever, do you know who he was Harry?" she said glaringly at Harry.
"mmmm....errrrr....emmmm....no...absolutely no idea, no" babbled Harry.
Hermione took Harry by the arm and led him violently to Ballroom.
The ballroom was dimly lit with a soft red light, each of the tall arched windows where draped with blue and silver velvety curtains (Ravenclaw's house colours), to their right was a winding, spiral staircase with glittering golden banisters which led to the Chang's large study. All Cho's friends where attired in their dress robes , thankfully Fred and George had bought Ron some new ones of an intense blue hue.
Cho battled her way through the now gathering crowd and made her way towards Harry, she was wearing a short, blue satin dress, and no shoes.
"Hi, glad you could make it", noticing Harry staring at her bare feet she added "my shoes were killing me"
Harry felt his knee's turn to jelly, somehow he managed to keep them from giving way beneath him; even though Cho was now his girlfriend she still seemed to have this affect on him.
"I've got....." before Harry could finish his sentence Draco Malfoy's leering face came into view, his silvery eye's met Harry's with an icy glare, Harry's expression was unchanged. Draco turned to Cho and immediately his eye's lightened and the stare that once was, had been replaced by a sunny glow.
Harry stomach lurched, he looked as if he had been slapped in the face by a particularly large troll a.k.a. Goyle.
"Cho I've got something to show you, it's in the study" Draco beamed, "Oh, it's you lot, you might as well come and wonder at my present, as it's the closest you'll ever get to something so expensive, especially you Weasley." He added with a scowl.
Harry followed the rest of the group reluctantly, and cast a sidelong glance at Ron who rolled his eye's heavenward.
There in the centre of the study stood a twinkling crystal unicorn graced with an elegant beauty, it was unique beyond anyone's imagination.
Cho gasped at the sight of this magnificent being.
"Draco its beautiful" said Cho astounded these where the only words that escaped from her lips for the next few minutes. Hermione moved closer to the statue and ran her hand along it's horn.
"I regret to inform you Malfoy that the statue you have purchased is in fact in-accurate, a unicorns horn can grow up to 35.7 centimetres long, and your unicorn's horn is nowhere near that, page 172 Fantastic Beasts and where to find them, chapter seven, Horses and such, paragraph four". Harry smirked, somehow Hermione always knew what to say. However all eyes where now fixed on Ron, as his cheek's where now inflating much like those of a frightened pufferfish, trying to restrain a fit of laughter became too much for Ron and the laughter that had built up was released, he quickly disguised it as a hacking Cough.
"Come on now" laughed Cho "the parties in full swing"
*
Harry slowly approached the dancefloor throwing a nervous half-smile in Cho's direction. When the band began to play a slow medieval tune, Harry and Cho exchanged courteous bows much like the other people on the dancefloor, their opposite hands met and they turned slowly to the music, followed by dancesteps, Harry had his arm behind his back, whilst Cho had her hand placed firmly on her hip. The band increased pace adding the beat of an Irish drum into the background, Another turn indicated the changing of partners, Cho was whisked away by Draco and they disappeared into the crowd shielding her from Harry's view, who was now being lead away by Amanda Knight a Ravenclaw 5th year. Later the song was replaced by a more upbeat melody. Hermione was already on the dance floor when Ron walked over, he decided it would be a good idea to impersonate the Beegees whilst singing Night Fever with the hand actions. Ron managed to poke several people in the eyes and injure many others.
Hermione however was doing a dance which wasn't quite modern or old, nobody seemed to notice as most people where doing their own thing anyway.
Draco was sat in a corner scowling at Ron, whilst Crabbe and Goyle stuffed their faces at the buffet.
To Harry the party seem to drag on at an incredibly slow pace, everyone else seemed to be enjoying themselves, he decided to take a stroll in the peace and serenity of the rose garden. Above him the sky was an inky black covered with a blanket of stars.
There in the midst of the darkness stood a solitary figure who was also seeking the tranquillity of nature. Hearing the sound of footsteps the figure turned, all doubt fled from Harry as he was faced with the radiant visage of Cho.
"It was so crowded in there" explained Cho "I needed some air"
"Me too" muttered Harry. Cho and Harry walked over to the ornate fountain, the silvery moon reflected in the ripples of water.
Harry pulled a small golden jewelry box out of his pocket (A/N just so you don't get your hope's up, no he is not proposing however much you may want him to, remember he's only 15)
"Happy Birthday Cho" said Harry handing Cho the package. Cho unwrapped the gift eagerly and in the palm of her hand lay a necklace, on it was a perfectly formed diamond shaped jewel, as Cho gazed into the stone, galaxies and stars appeared from the depths of time they swirled around in a rhythmic pattern then disappeared, Cho moved closer to Harry, he could smell the sweet scent of strawberries on her hair, before their lips met in a frenzy of anticipation there was an interruption.
"We better get going, or we'll miss supper" Ron panted like a hungry beast as he raced down the crazy pathed steps leading to the garden.
"Ron" scolded Harry making for Ron's exposed throat.
"What, I'm hungry", whined Ron. "Oh would you look at that, ain't it pretty", Ron said as he looked at the necklace.
"Who brought him?" groaned Harry
"You did" Cho giggled.
As the end of the night drew nearer Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way to the startling, electric blue carriage that awaited them. As Hermione shut the door of the carriage, Cho shouted to Harry "THANK-YOU FOR THE NECKLACE!"
*
The trio trudged home to the Weasley's Burrow, as they entered the house they heard raised voices from within the kitchen.
"YOU SHOULD BE OUT LOOKING FOR HER, NOT PHONING THAT USELESS MINISTRY OF YOURS!!!!!" Mrs. Weasley's hysterical voice sounded like a howler, a loud letter that is used by witch mothers to scold their children if they themselves cannot do so in person.
"MOLLY calm down, I'm doing as much as I can, I'm getting a couple of friends to look for her as well, it's for her own s...." Mr. Weasley trailed off as Mrs. Weasley broke down into tears once again, she wiped her eye's with a sodden tissue.
Harry, Hermione and Ron decided it would be a good idea to go and talk to Mr. Weasley, to find out WHAT ON EARTH had happened.
They found him slumped over the kitchen table, with his head in his hands.
"Err, dad what was all that about?" Ron asked. Mr. Weasley looked up at his youngest son with a daunting, expression of pain, he looked sick Harry thought to himself.
"I'm sorry Ron, I really didn't want you to find out like this", Mr. Weasley began, still glassy eyed from the tears.
"Find out what?"
"It's your sister.......she's...... she's ...she's gone".
Ron looked puzzled.
"What has she run away with the circus, right bunch of duffers if you ask me, I'll sort em out for you dad" Harry thought Ron must have been in denial, he seemed as though he didn't want to acknowledge the fact that his sister was missing. Mr. Weasley looked as though he was on the verge of tears, he stood up and walked towards his son, but Ron turned and ran out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Ron" Mr. Weasley shouted after him, but his call fell on deaf ears.
There was an awkward silence that hung in the air so much so that you would hear a pin drop, heavy breathing could be heard from the three that now stood in the room, Harry didn't dare move he'd never seen Mr. Weasley like this.
Mr. Weasley's pitiful gaze lingered on Hermione, who now knew that she was the one who would have to go and comfort Ron.
*
Ginny floated in mid air, surrounded by a pale nimbus light, nearby two foul looking creatures stood watch, their skin was a flaky black mass of scabs, their face's where contorted of a horror only those born in nightmares could imagine, protecting their scaly hides was a strong armor made from darkness itself.
Ginny opened her eye's wide, she was unsure if her senses betrayed her, her first waking vision was that of a vile creature who's face was split into a grin, revealing broken yellow teeth flecked with a filthy black.
As the thing got closer it gave off an acrid smell which stung Ginny's nostrils, a bit like Ron's socks, she blinked furiously as tears streamed down her face.
The creature growled in a strange and unfamiliar language to it's companion, then both departed firmly bolting the Iron barred door behind them.
Ginny moved her arm in attempt to find her wand, on both of Ginny's wrist where strange looking devices, they were sort of like handcuffs but they had a funny engravement on them, they were glowing bright red, which seemed to be restraining her movement, it occurred to Ginny that these must be magical bonds which not only prevented movement but magic as well.
A few metres away there was a blank screen fixed to the wall, Ginny wondered whether it was an observation window, and whoever had captured her was sitting behind this screen. This time she was wrong, before her eyes Ron's face appeared on the screen, he looked miserable Ginny thought to herself, and he seemed to be tapping it.
"Ron, thank god you come to get......" These words where planted firmly in Ginny's mind, but they refused to leave her lips.
Hermione came up behind Ron and knelt beside placing her hand on his shoulder, Hermione said something to him which Ginny didn't quite catch, Ron got up from his chair and turned his back to Ginny, then they both left the room.
"No, don't leave me" uttered Ginny as all her hope left as the door shut and the screen went black.
Chapter Fin