HP & Knight of The Light
Chapter XIV
Christmas Ball
December 25. (I don't know what year it would be Harry's world, I used to know when, but I kinda forgot. If you could tell me what, in the Chamber of Secrets, year it was that Sir Nick died, and when Harry's birthday is along with how old he was in the CoS)
Harry woke up drowsy and looked over his surroundings. After a while he was completely awake and walked into the bathroom to take a shower. Soon he walked back to his bed and on the way tripped over something. Harry mentally cursed and looked down to see what he tripped over and saw that it was a bunch of differently shaped boxes. They were wrapped in a variety of colors so bright that it made Harry very surprised in not seeing them before. It took a while, but finally his brain seemed to have registered what the boxes were and what day it was.
"Presents? Christmas!" Harry immediately dove for the presents, but his paranoia that was developed during his summer returned. He cast a revealer charm on each and every one of his presents to see if anyone of them were cursed. It was a good thing too, for one of the present, that the cards read "The Twins," had what Harry would like to call a "Jack-Ass prank curse" on it. If Harry were to open it without taking the curse off, he would have sprouted a donkeys ears and tail. He soon took care of the curse the Twins sent him and opened their present first.
Inside was a book on pranks and box of the Weasley's Wizard Weezes product with a card saying, "Hope you like your new ears and tail. Your indebted business partners, The Twins." Harry thought it ironic that the twins and himself sent an almost identical present, Harry's was also a book, but on business finances and the like for their store, and a curse that would make them turn into half pigs while giving them a snorting voice.
The next gift that he opened was from Sirius. He hurredly ripped apart the wrapper and looked inside to see what was inside. In the present was a Foo- Glass not unlike the one Mad-Eye-Moody had, with a set of shades and a bracelet. He read the note that came with the gift.
"Hope you like the gifts, they aren't anything for pleasure but more like security measures, however I think you would like to use the glasses for something more then security. The mirror you received is a Foo-Glass. It is used. . ." Harry skipped this part of the letter for he knew exactly what a Foo-Glass did, "the sunglasses you received has a special, complicated potion applied to it that will let you see through invisibility cloaks and illusion spells. People that are in their animagi forms will have a slight whitish tint to their form, and people that have potions in their system will turn a dim yet easily noticeable red glare.
This potion that is applied to the glasses is still a recent development so the functions are limited and is not very specific. For example the potion- awareness feature could easily mean that the person is drinking polyjuice or taking an asthma medicine. Also animagi's require self-wandless- transformation that ends the moment they complete their shape shifting. So unlike regular transfiguration and charms the magic is nearly completely gone the moment they change to their animal. This is what makes the potion so unreliable. It could easily mean that the animal is a animagi or an animal with a very high level magic on them. It is usually the formal, but you could never be sure.
However there is a feature of the glasses that isn't too new and I'm sure you would love to abuse it's privileges. This shade is coated with a "See- Through Potion," so this sun-glass could be used for trying to find weapons on your enemy or just peeping through their clothing. Hehe, I know that you will use this glasses properly, and I don't mean in a goody-two-shoe manner. However since this potion is a well known, many that are cautious will have spells that protect their clothing from being seen through. Also this glasses has an unbreakable potion layering it, and it needs to be reapplied every. . . 6 months or so. Alse don't worry about anyone else being able to use these shades because I marked it with your DNA from a piece of your hair and no one else can use it.
Oh yeah lastly the bracelet you should put it on your right hand, nothing significant but it naturally goes on your right for your left is for watches. What the bracelet does it that it's a silent "lie-oh- meter"(Forgive me I forgot what the thing that twirls when lying is called.) It will send a little unhurting shock when someone around you is lying. This is within a meter radius, so this is usually used for people you are having a face-to-face conversation with. Had to make I this short of a distance, after all wouldn't want you arm to get constantly shocked because of all the lying that goes around at the school. Also don't worry about anyone else that touches to bracelet to also get shocked, it only reacts to the people that is actually wearing it.
Your ever watchful Dog-Star, Snuffles"
Harry set the gifts off to the side and reached for the next present. This one was the usual Weasley Packet that he received from Mrs. Weasley every Christmas. He put this gift off to the side also and went for the next present.
This one was from Draco and inside was an expensive muggle looking watch. It said Rolex on the back.
"Heron,
Finally you have a watch of your own, so you can stopped pestering me about the time. Also this watch has an "Unbreakable" spell on it. Renew it every 60 days or so starting now. This muggle device has a special spell that make it feed off of magic. The battery has an already stored magic that will last for about 60 days, but if you are wearing it will feed off of you magic. It takes VERY VERY VERY little amount of magic from you so you don't have to worry about suddenly having your magic level considerably drained by wearing this.
Draco."
The next present was from Dumbledore
"Dear Harry,
Inclosed is a small, round, metallic object. It's function is an one way portkey that will take you directly to the Great Hall of Hogwarts. You should attach the metal object, with a "glue spell" if you wish, to another object that you would likely be wearing all the time and is inconspicuous. After you attach it to an object, that is if you wish, you say "Exsto Hogwarts" while holding one of your hand on or over where the metallic object is placed and you or whoever is wearing the portkey device shall be transported to Hogwarts. This key is linked to you so only you could activate it however it does not have to be you that will be transported.(Like only he could push the start button of an engine but he doesn't have to be the one in the drivers seat) Understand that only one person can be transported by this device.
From Albus Dumbledore."
He burned the letter, wanting nobody to read it and know about his secret portkey. He took out a silver coin like object and immediately attached it to his watch, and it blended in as if it was meant to be there. He got a present from Neville, which was a book on "Water Animals" and also a book from Padma on "Myth's behind Runes." He then reached for his last present. It was a huge box that was sent by Hagrid.
"Hiya Harry,
I hope your doing well. I haven't seen you much, and I'm guessing that your busy. Come around sometimes and let's have a drink of tea. I've seen you around the Malfoy character and I was shocked. At first I just thought it was rumors, but was I wrong. Your friends Ron and Hermione have been over much, but they didn't say why you weren't there also. Anyways have a nice Christmas, and I hope you like her.
Hagrid."
He felt bad for not visiting Hagrid anymore, and immediately vowed to go over within this week. He reached inside the box to find a cloth that was over a box. He could hear a breathing noise from underneath the covering. 'Wait did Hagrid say "her?" Oh god no! It can't be a monstrous animal?' Harry hesitantly lifted the covers as slowly as possible and found a faerie inside a cage that was sleeping on a pile of grass. She was a sight to marvel, with two sets of delicate wings and a tiny human figure. She had on a green tunic. And overall she was the size of what his hand would be in length as her height. Close to 7 to 9 inches. He was careful to not make too much noise so that she wouldn't wake.
He then went to gather all his gifts and set them in order. He put on his watch (that already had the mini-portkey attached to it) and bracelet along with the rest of his usual clothing and jewelry. He put the glasses he received from Sirius in a pocket in his robes. He then went back to watching over the faerie with admiration. After some time she seemed the wake and from her laying position she looked around he surrounding. She finally looked up and saw Harry's face. She gave a high-pitched squeak and flew to the corner of her cage.
"Hey don't worry, I won't hurt you. Can you understand me?" Harry said slowly.
"Yes. Sure you won't hurt me?" Asked a timid voice.
"Of course. What's your name?"
"Lyla(Lie-la)." She replied.
"That's a nice name. Now you won't fly away if I open this cage, will you?" Asked Harry.
She gave a meek, "No."
"Ok, I'm trusting you not to be lying on this." With that Harry opened the cage door letting the faerie fly out and sit on his bed.
"Do you know why you're here?" Harry inquired.
"No, I just remember being in the forest one day and being captured. Then I found myself in that cage looking up to a man's face with a large black beard." Said Lila.
"Well, I'm guessing that's Hagrid, he got you so that you will be my pet, but I don't think that you being a pet would be right so would you like to be my friend? You could live with me or if you want go back into the forest, however I don't think you would be able to find where you were captured from." Spoke Harry.
"I will like to go back to my home, but since I probably can't I would like to live with you and be your friend."
"That's great, my name is Harry by the way."
"Hi Ha- ry?"
"Yeah that's about right." Harry chuckled.
"I'm going down to breakfast and I don't think you would be very inconspicuous so why don't I bring something back for you, what do you like to eat?"
"Oh, berries and other small fruits. You don't have to bring a lot back just a couple would be fine."
"Okay I'll see you soon."
Harry walked down to the Great Hall and looked around to see who stayed. It seemed that the whole of Hogwarts with the exception of 10 to 20 people stayed over Christmas. Harry guessed it was because of the ball that was to take place tonight. A couple of girls looked over to where he was a giggled. He groaned mentally at there act being glad that he was going stag, but at the outside he just gave them a grin. They blushed and looked down at their plate. He sat at the end of the table and ate in silence. He was soon done and grabbed a bushel of grape along with cherries and strawberries. He was soon out of the Great Hall and back in his room again and gave the fruits to Lyla, who took them with glee.
"You didn't have to bring so much, but thank you anyways." Spoke Lyla with a mouth stuffed with strawberries.
"It's okay, I'm glad. I could ask my friend named Dobby to bring you a bowl of fruits every meal because I might not be able to be here." Spoke Harry.
"You mean that everytime you go down to eat I'm gonna eat here alone?" Lila asked timidly.
"Your right, now that you point it out it isn't fair on your part. I mean you didn't ask to be here and here I am your only friend deserting you. Why don't you come with me breakfast starting tomorrow. However until then you could come with me to meet my friends. I'm sure they would love you."
"K."
He tried to cheer the faerie up, which wasn't too hard, by talking about little things like what her favorite thing to do was. Soon he told her that he was going to meet his friends and asked if she wanted to go in his pockets. He explained that he wanted to surprised them. She reluctantly agreed, not really wanting to go in a small pocket, but he reassurged her that she would get out soon.
He got out the Maurauder's map and found that Draco was in the west side of the castle, where Harry was in the east. He blanked the map and descended outside the common room. He hurried the west side of the castle, where upon reaching the west side of it he looked upon the now fully operational map. Draco was found a few corriders down walking steadly away from where he was. He blanked the map knowing that his experiences with past exposures of the map taught him enough to not blank it everytime it's use ended. Harry ran down the hallway and, soon, caught up with Draco. He currently had his hand behind his back and had his body in a drooping position.
"You know your current posture will greatly fuck up your future bone development." Harry spoke to get Draco's attention.
"Yeah, yeah, believe it or not I read some of the muggle magazines having to the do with that." Replied Draco without showing any other signs of acknowledgement.
"I'm still shocked! You have read for the hell of it? And a muggle article too!" Harry mocked shock while putting his hand over his chest. "Anyways why are you here? Seems like there is no reason for you to be dragging your ass around without a purpose."
"Oh? Well I was just walking around to get my thoughts in order."
"Well any way I could help with your thoughts? Anyways what are you thinking about?" Asked Harry.
"I. . . maybe later, so why did you want to find me for? Shouldn't you be in your dorm or something having your nose in the book like you usually do. Your more like Granger everyday."
"For one, I read because I need to know more magic, not for fun. And two, I don't take 4 hours like you to get ready for a ball. Also lastly I wanted to show you my new friend, now be nice." With that he prodded his pocket, where Lyla stuck her head out. She pulled herself out of his pocket and, then flew to his shoulders.
"Hi I'm Lyla, what's your name?"
"Uh. . . it's Draco, nice to meet you."
"Oh it's nice to meet you also, D. . . ra. . . Dracu?"
"Drac-O, but that's okay. So Harry this faerie was why you hunted me down?" Asked Draco.
"Pretty much." He answered back. "Anyways who are you going to the ball with?"
"Oh I'm going with some Ravenclaw named. . . Helen. Yeah that's her name. Anyways what about you? Mr. Flirt got a good date for the ball tonight?"
"I'm going stag, and you're Mr. Flirt, I'm just Mr. Popular." Harry dramatically stuck his nose up in a pompous way. Draco snorted at Harry's gesture.
"Hey I thought you were Hary and Dracu?" Asked a confused Lyla who didn't understand some of the gestures humans used to each other. Harry tried to explain to her what he meant while Draco was rolling his eyes at her naiveness. After some time she nodded slowly in understanding. "Oooohh, so you guys are insulting each other? But I thought you were friends." Lyla asked confused. Harry cursed silently slapping his hands to his head at her clueless ness. He explained again while he and Draco started walking down the hallway again, heading for nowhere in particular.
Sometime later after lunch(which was taken in the kitchen) and the like it was almost time for the ball to begin. Most of the girls had disappeared hours ago to change and put on makeup, and with an hour to go Harry and Draco separated to go to their respective rooms to change. Harry took a steady pace on his way to his prefect's dorm room. He changed out of his normal robes and changed into his dress robes. He took of the special dragon-hide underlining that was attached to his normal robes and attached it to his dress robes. He also made sure that he remembered to wear his wand holder, sword/earring, bracelet, watch, necklace, and boots with knives inside each boot. He didn't wear his belt with knives, throwing daggers, and potions because it would have been easily noticed by anyone if they were his partner in a dance. His put his sunglasses in a special pocket inside his robes to make them go unnoticed by others. Then after looking in a mirror he decided that he at least looked decent. Finally he descended the stairs and exited the common room and headed towards the Great Hall. The entrance to the Great Hall was packed and it looked like a sea of colors with heads floating around, because of how compact the hall was.
Harry waited off to the side waiting for the doors to the hall to open. He didn't have to wait long for the door soon opened letting in the giant mass of students inside. Harry went in almost last not particularly eager to go inside, nor was he uninterested. As he went inside he looked for his friend Draco and found him sitting at a corner with a nice looking brunette. He was currently snogging her and Harry didn't want to intrude on them so he started to find an empty seat. His search came to an end as Draco, who finished snogging his date for a moment, noticed Harry about to find another seat so he got his attention and told him to sit with them. Harry looked unsure, but Draco told hi that it was okay, although his date seemed fairly put off at having their snog interrupted.
"Harry this is as I said earlier Helen. Helen this is my friend Harry." Draco introduced Harry to Helen and vice versa. Harry shook her hand and greeted her warmly and looked at her apologetically for he knew that he was just an intrusion to her and Draco.
Draco didn't seem to notice the tension or just ignored it for he looked down at the menu that was presented to each of them and promptly ordered a Roast Beef. Helen ordered a Oriental Chicken Salad with Mushroom Soup as a side order, while Harry ordered a steak. They all got butterbeer as a drink except Harry, who on looking upon his menu saw muggle drinks so he ordered a Coca Cola, having liked the taste when he got to sneak some for himself at the Dursley. The others looked confused on what he ordered, so Harry guessed that Helen was a pureblood, or lived with only magical relatives. The food was delicious and soon everyone was stuffed. Now the time for the dance came. Harry dreaded this part of the ball for even though he had some lessons with his only female intructor over summer on how to dance, he still wasn't very coordinated when it came to the dance floor.
Draco and Helen immediately went to the dance floor and blended in with the other dancers until they were out of sight in the mass. He saw Ron Weasel and Hermione dancing together. He snorted while thinking, 'About time!' He was so busy mentally laughing on how Weasel must have asked Hermione to the ball that he didn't notice a figure approaching him until it tapped him on the shoulder.
"Mind if I could have this dance?" He turned around and saw that it was a girl that he never saw before, and unless he did but never got to know her name. He agreed and bother went the dance floor. The dance was quick and after it was over he sat back down again in his previous seat. A minute later another girl came up and asked for a dance, he agreed again. This time the dance was a slow song and Harry held the girl in the position his instructor taught him to. Soon the dance was over and he and the girl separated. He went back to his seat, and not the long after he got called for a dance by another girl. This went on and on, throughout the night. He was exhausted and planned the say no to the next dance offer when asked. And he wasn't disappointed when another asked for a dance.
Harry turned his head to the person and planned to politely refuse when he looked up and saw that it was Alicia wearing the dress robe that she got at Hogsmeade. He was entranced at her beauty and took a while to gather what she said. "What? Oh of course." He got up and walked to the dance floor with Alicia.
Harry was more then uncomfortable at having to dance sense he was worried on making a damn idiot of himself in front of Alicia. He looked into Alicia's face and saw that she too was a bit nervous. He didn't know why since he saw her with Roger Williams dancing with confidence and grace. He tried to shed her fear by having small talks.
"Where's your date?" He asked.
She looked a bit mad when saying, "Last time I checked serving a bloody nose outside." She ended it with a malicious smirk that made Harry curious.
"Your date has a bloody nose and your happy? What he'd do?"
"Snogging some damn Ravenclaw girl. Serves him right when I knocked the stuffings out of him, the Jackass. Anyways aren't you a bit advertising Slytherin support with the color of your dress robe?" Alicia asked with curiosity.
"Not really, I like these colors, and I for one don't gave too much damn for house rivalry anymore. I think it's stupid since the feeling or dislike is built around just a silly notion of holding up house pride. Anyways don't you like these colors, surely you don't think I look hideous in them." Harry spoke with a grin. His nerviousness about this dance was now gone.
"Well. . . I wouldn't say hideous, I don't think it describes what I'm thinking right now enough." Alicia joked.
"Har har, well I for one say that your looking beautiful today. Of course I already knew what you were gonna look like, since I saw you at the Hogsmeade store."
"Why thank you, however I can't say that I had the pleasure of knowing what you would like also because you being the secretive self you are hid from me what you were gonna wear to this ball." She emphasized this by poking Harry in the chest while having a grin on her face to show no hard feeling.
Harry just grinned and resumed dancing with Alicia. Somewhere in the middle of their dance Harry picked up to courage to kiss Alicia briefly on the lips. Alicia looked up at him with shock, then she returned the kiss, this one lasting a bit longer then the previous one. As the dance ended he and Alicia walked hand and hand to where the gardens were for last years yule ball. There was a garden and it was layered with snow, but the garden was surrounded by warming charms that would last till tomorrow and the snow had a cooling charm on it that would make it stay unmelting. All in all it was a beautiful setting without the discomforts of the cold. Harry and Alicia walked deep into the garden that was like a minature maze with wide paths, until they reached a bench that was by a fountain that had the water frozen in mid air.
He and Alicia sat on the bench and began kissing, it was gentle kisses at first, but then it turned into more passionate kisses. Harry stopped their making out and pulled his head back to look upon her face. He saw a slightly dazed looked upon her face before closing the space between their faces once again starting their kissing. They would have continued longer if it weren't for a voice interrupting them.
"Well well, what do we have hear a couple of students snogging." Prof. Fletcher came closer to the pair chuckling. "I guess I have to take 10 points off of Gryffindor then."
Harry was currently thinking, 'If I couldI he would be turned into a fucking rabbit! The freaking jackass!'
Fletcher continued, "Well hurry up now go back inside before I take more points from you."
Harry and Alicia got up from the bench and hurriedly rushed to reenter the Great Hall. On the way an embarrassed Harry spoke to Alicia.
"I'm sorry about him, he just likes to annoy me for some reason. I didn't mean for you to get embarrassed." Spoke Harry.
"No it's alright. It's not like we got caught by Snape or anything, and it wasn't that many points. Besides I didn't mind what we were doing before he caught us." Alicia giggled.
Harry turned a bit red and asked, "Does this mean were a couple now?"
"Why I guess it does." Was her reply.
Harry and Alicia went back into the Great Hall and danced through the rest of the night occasionally kissing in the corner of the room. It was an hour before the dance came to an end, and Harry had the time of his life tonight. As the clock struck midnight Dumbledore stood to address the hall.
"I hope that everyone enjoyed this dance and I hope that in the future we may be able to continue this. However I have to bring you the unfortunate news of saying that it is late and that we must return to our common rooms and tuck in. So goodnight." With that Dumbledore sat back down to talk a bit with the other teachers who had the main job cleaning up the mess.
Harry went back to the common room with Alicia. They held hands all the way there, and separated when they reached the common room. Harry said goodnight and kissed Alicia, then watched her go up the stairs that led to the Head Girl's room. Harry then too went up another set of stairs that lead to his Prefect's room. He undressed and slept soundly knowing that he would never forget tonight.
Chapter XIV
Christmas Ball
December 25. (I don't know what year it would be Harry's world, I used to know when, but I kinda forgot. If you could tell me what, in the Chamber of Secrets, year it was that Sir Nick died, and when Harry's birthday is along with how old he was in the CoS)
Harry woke up drowsy and looked over his surroundings. After a while he was completely awake and walked into the bathroom to take a shower. Soon he walked back to his bed and on the way tripped over something. Harry mentally cursed and looked down to see what he tripped over and saw that it was a bunch of differently shaped boxes. They were wrapped in a variety of colors so bright that it made Harry very surprised in not seeing them before. It took a while, but finally his brain seemed to have registered what the boxes were and what day it was.
"Presents? Christmas!" Harry immediately dove for the presents, but his paranoia that was developed during his summer returned. He cast a revealer charm on each and every one of his presents to see if anyone of them were cursed. It was a good thing too, for one of the present, that the cards read "The Twins," had what Harry would like to call a "Jack-Ass prank curse" on it. If Harry were to open it without taking the curse off, he would have sprouted a donkeys ears and tail. He soon took care of the curse the Twins sent him and opened their present first.
Inside was a book on pranks and box of the Weasley's Wizard Weezes product with a card saying, "Hope you like your new ears and tail. Your indebted business partners, The Twins." Harry thought it ironic that the twins and himself sent an almost identical present, Harry's was also a book, but on business finances and the like for their store, and a curse that would make them turn into half pigs while giving them a snorting voice.
The next gift that he opened was from Sirius. He hurredly ripped apart the wrapper and looked inside to see what was inside. In the present was a Foo- Glass not unlike the one Mad-Eye-Moody had, with a set of shades and a bracelet. He read the note that came with the gift.
"Hope you like the gifts, they aren't anything for pleasure but more like security measures, however I think you would like to use the glasses for something more then security. The mirror you received is a Foo-Glass. It is used. . ." Harry skipped this part of the letter for he knew exactly what a Foo-Glass did, "the sunglasses you received has a special, complicated potion applied to it that will let you see through invisibility cloaks and illusion spells. People that are in their animagi forms will have a slight whitish tint to their form, and people that have potions in their system will turn a dim yet easily noticeable red glare.
This potion that is applied to the glasses is still a recent development so the functions are limited and is not very specific. For example the potion- awareness feature could easily mean that the person is drinking polyjuice or taking an asthma medicine. Also animagi's require self-wandless- transformation that ends the moment they complete their shape shifting. So unlike regular transfiguration and charms the magic is nearly completely gone the moment they change to their animal. This is what makes the potion so unreliable. It could easily mean that the animal is a animagi or an animal with a very high level magic on them. It is usually the formal, but you could never be sure.
However there is a feature of the glasses that isn't too new and I'm sure you would love to abuse it's privileges. This shade is coated with a "See- Through Potion," so this sun-glass could be used for trying to find weapons on your enemy or just peeping through their clothing. Hehe, I know that you will use this glasses properly, and I don't mean in a goody-two-shoe manner. However since this potion is a well known, many that are cautious will have spells that protect their clothing from being seen through. Also this glasses has an unbreakable potion layering it, and it needs to be reapplied every. . . 6 months or so. Alse don't worry about anyone else being able to use these shades because I marked it with your DNA from a piece of your hair and no one else can use it.
Oh yeah lastly the bracelet you should put it on your right hand, nothing significant but it naturally goes on your right for your left is for watches. What the bracelet does it that it's a silent "lie-oh- meter"(Forgive me I forgot what the thing that twirls when lying is called.) It will send a little unhurting shock when someone around you is lying. This is within a meter radius, so this is usually used for people you are having a face-to-face conversation with. Had to make I this short of a distance, after all wouldn't want you arm to get constantly shocked because of all the lying that goes around at the school. Also don't worry about anyone else that touches to bracelet to also get shocked, it only reacts to the people that is actually wearing it.
Your ever watchful Dog-Star, Snuffles"
Harry set the gifts off to the side and reached for the next present. This one was the usual Weasley Packet that he received from Mrs. Weasley every Christmas. He put this gift off to the side also and went for the next present.
This one was from Draco and inside was an expensive muggle looking watch. It said Rolex on the back.
"Heron,
Finally you have a watch of your own, so you can stopped pestering me about the time. Also this watch has an "Unbreakable" spell on it. Renew it every 60 days or so starting now. This muggle device has a special spell that make it feed off of magic. The battery has an already stored magic that will last for about 60 days, but if you are wearing it will feed off of you magic. It takes VERY VERY VERY little amount of magic from you so you don't have to worry about suddenly having your magic level considerably drained by wearing this.
Draco."
The next present was from Dumbledore
"Dear Harry,
Inclosed is a small, round, metallic object. It's function is an one way portkey that will take you directly to the Great Hall of Hogwarts. You should attach the metal object, with a "glue spell" if you wish, to another object that you would likely be wearing all the time and is inconspicuous. After you attach it to an object, that is if you wish, you say "Exsto Hogwarts" while holding one of your hand on or over where the metallic object is placed and you or whoever is wearing the portkey device shall be transported to Hogwarts. This key is linked to you so only you could activate it however it does not have to be you that will be transported.(Like only he could push the start button of an engine but he doesn't have to be the one in the drivers seat) Understand that only one person can be transported by this device.
From Albus Dumbledore."
He burned the letter, wanting nobody to read it and know about his secret portkey. He took out a silver coin like object and immediately attached it to his watch, and it blended in as if it was meant to be there. He got a present from Neville, which was a book on "Water Animals" and also a book from Padma on "Myth's behind Runes." He then reached for his last present. It was a huge box that was sent by Hagrid.
"Hiya Harry,
I hope your doing well. I haven't seen you much, and I'm guessing that your busy. Come around sometimes and let's have a drink of tea. I've seen you around the Malfoy character and I was shocked. At first I just thought it was rumors, but was I wrong. Your friends Ron and Hermione have been over much, but they didn't say why you weren't there also. Anyways have a nice Christmas, and I hope you like her.
Hagrid."
He felt bad for not visiting Hagrid anymore, and immediately vowed to go over within this week. He reached inside the box to find a cloth that was over a box. He could hear a breathing noise from underneath the covering. 'Wait did Hagrid say "her?" Oh god no! It can't be a monstrous animal?' Harry hesitantly lifted the covers as slowly as possible and found a faerie inside a cage that was sleeping on a pile of grass. She was a sight to marvel, with two sets of delicate wings and a tiny human figure. She had on a green tunic. And overall she was the size of what his hand would be in length as her height. Close to 7 to 9 inches. He was careful to not make too much noise so that she wouldn't wake.
He then went to gather all his gifts and set them in order. He put on his watch (that already had the mini-portkey attached to it) and bracelet along with the rest of his usual clothing and jewelry. He put the glasses he received from Sirius in a pocket in his robes. He then went back to watching over the faerie with admiration. After some time she seemed the wake and from her laying position she looked around he surrounding. She finally looked up and saw Harry's face. She gave a high-pitched squeak and flew to the corner of her cage.
"Hey don't worry, I won't hurt you. Can you understand me?" Harry said slowly.
"Yes. Sure you won't hurt me?" Asked a timid voice.
"Of course. What's your name?"
"Lyla(Lie-la)." She replied.
"That's a nice name. Now you won't fly away if I open this cage, will you?" Asked Harry.
She gave a meek, "No."
"Ok, I'm trusting you not to be lying on this." With that Harry opened the cage door letting the faerie fly out and sit on his bed.
"Do you know why you're here?" Harry inquired.
"No, I just remember being in the forest one day and being captured. Then I found myself in that cage looking up to a man's face with a large black beard." Said Lila.
"Well, I'm guessing that's Hagrid, he got you so that you will be my pet, but I don't think that you being a pet would be right so would you like to be my friend? You could live with me or if you want go back into the forest, however I don't think you would be able to find where you were captured from." Spoke Harry.
"I will like to go back to my home, but since I probably can't I would like to live with you and be your friend."
"That's great, my name is Harry by the way."
"Hi Ha- ry?"
"Yeah that's about right." Harry chuckled.
"I'm going down to breakfast and I don't think you would be very inconspicuous so why don't I bring something back for you, what do you like to eat?"
"Oh, berries and other small fruits. You don't have to bring a lot back just a couple would be fine."
"Okay I'll see you soon."
Harry walked down to the Great Hall and looked around to see who stayed. It seemed that the whole of Hogwarts with the exception of 10 to 20 people stayed over Christmas. Harry guessed it was because of the ball that was to take place tonight. A couple of girls looked over to where he was a giggled. He groaned mentally at there act being glad that he was going stag, but at the outside he just gave them a grin. They blushed and looked down at their plate. He sat at the end of the table and ate in silence. He was soon done and grabbed a bushel of grape along with cherries and strawberries. He was soon out of the Great Hall and back in his room again and gave the fruits to Lyla, who took them with glee.
"You didn't have to bring so much, but thank you anyways." Spoke Lyla with a mouth stuffed with strawberries.
"It's okay, I'm glad. I could ask my friend named Dobby to bring you a bowl of fruits every meal because I might not be able to be here." Spoke Harry.
"You mean that everytime you go down to eat I'm gonna eat here alone?" Lila asked timidly.
"Your right, now that you point it out it isn't fair on your part. I mean you didn't ask to be here and here I am your only friend deserting you. Why don't you come with me breakfast starting tomorrow. However until then you could come with me to meet my friends. I'm sure they would love you."
"K."
He tried to cheer the faerie up, which wasn't too hard, by talking about little things like what her favorite thing to do was. Soon he told her that he was going to meet his friends and asked if she wanted to go in his pockets. He explained that he wanted to surprised them. She reluctantly agreed, not really wanting to go in a small pocket, but he reassurged her that she would get out soon.
He got out the Maurauder's map and found that Draco was in the west side of the castle, where Harry was in the east. He blanked the map and descended outside the common room. He hurried the west side of the castle, where upon reaching the west side of it he looked upon the now fully operational map. Draco was found a few corriders down walking steadly away from where he was. He blanked the map knowing that his experiences with past exposures of the map taught him enough to not blank it everytime it's use ended. Harry ran down the hallway and, soon, caught up with Draco. He currently had his hand behind his back and had his body in a drooping position.
"You know your current posture will greatly fuck up your future bone development." Harry spoke to get Draco's attention.
"Yeah, yeah, believe it or not I read some of the muggle magazines having to the do with that." Replied Draco without showing any other signs of acknowledgement.
"I'm still shocked! You have read for the hell of it? And a muggle article too!" Harry mocked shock while putting his hand over his chest. "Anyways why are you here? Seems like there is no reason for you to be dragging your ass around without a purpose."
"Oh? Well I was just walking around to get my thoughts in order."
"Well any way I could help with your thoughts? Anyways what are you thinking about?" Asked Harry.
"I. . . maybe later, so why did you want to find me for? Shouldn't you be in your dorm or something having your nose in the book like you usually do. Your more like Granger everyday."
"For one, I read because I need to know more magic, not for fun. And two, I don't take 4 hours like you to get ready for a ball. Also lastly I wanted to show you my new friend, now be nice." With that he prodded his pocket, where Lyla stuck her head out. She pulled herself out of his pocket and, then flew to his shoulders.
"Hi I'm Lyla, what's your name?"
"Uh. . . it's Draco, nice to meet you."
"Oh it's nice to meet you also, D. . . ra. . . Dracu?"
"Drac-O, but that's okay. So Harry this faerie was why you hunted me down?" Asked Draco.
"Pretty much." He answered back. "Anyways who are you going to the ball with?"
"Oh I'm going with some Ravenclaw named. . . Helen. Yeah that's her name. Anyways what about you? Mr. Flirt got a good date for the ball tonight?"
"I'm going stag, and you're Mr. Flirt, I'm just Mr. Popular." Harry dramatically stuck his nose up in a pompous way. Draco snorted at Harry's gesture.
"Hey I thought you were Hary and Dracu?" Asked a confused Lyla who didn't understand some of the gestures humans used to each other. Harry tried to explain to her what he meant while Draco was rolling his eyes at her naiveness. After some time she nodded slowly in understanding. "Oooohh, so you guys are insulting each other? But I thought you were friends." Lyla asked confused. Harry cursed silently slapping his hands to his head at her clueless ness. He explained again while he and Draco started walking down the hallway again, heading for nowhere in particular.
Sometime later after lunch(which was taken in the kitchen) and the like it was almost time for the ball to begin. Most of the girls had disappeared hours ago to change and put on makeup, and with an hour to go Harry and Draco separated to go to their respective rooms to change. Harry took a steady pace on his way to his prefect's dorm room. He changed out of his normal robes and changed into his dress robes. He took of the special dragon-hide underlining that was attached to his normal robes and attached it to his dress robes. He also made sure that he remembered to wear his wand holder, sword/earring, bracelet, watch, necklace, and boots with knives inside each boot. He didn't wear his belt with knives, throwing daggers, and potions because it would have been easily noticed by anyone if they were his partner in a dance. His put his sunglasses in a special pocket inside his robes to make them go unnoticed by others. Then after looking in a mirror he decided that he at least looked decent. Finally he descended the stairs and exited the common room and headed towards the Great Hall. The entrance to the Great Hall was packed and it looked like a sea of colors with heads floating around, because of how compact the hall was.
Harry waited off to the side waiting for the doors to the hall to open. He didn't have to wait long for the door soon opened letting in the giant mass of students inside. Harry went in almost last not particularly eager to go inside, nor was he uninterested. As he went inside he looked for his friend Draco and found him sitting at a corner with a nice looking brunette. He was currently snogging her and Harry didn't want to intrude on them so he started to find an empty seat. His search came to an end as Draco, who finished snogging his date for a moment, noticed Harry about to find another seat so he got his attention and told him to sit with them. Harry looked unsure, but Draco told hi that it was okay, although his date seemed fairly put off at having their snog interrupted.
"Harry this is as I said earlier Helen. Helen this is my friend Harry." Draco introduced Harry to Helen and vice versa. Harry shook her hand and greeted her warmly and looked at her apologetically for he knew that he was just an intrusion to her and Draco.
Draco didn't seem to notice the tension or just ignored it for he looked down at the menu that was presented to each of them and promptly ordered a Roast Beef. Helen ordered a Oriental Chicken Salad with Mushroom Soup as a side order, while Harry ordered a steak. They all got butterbeer as a drink except Harry, who on looking upon his menu saw muggle drinks so he ordered a Coca Cola, having liked the taste when he got to sneak some for himself at the Dursley. The others looked confused on what he ordered, so Harry guessed that Helen was a pureblood, or lived with only magical relatives. The food was delicious and soon everyone was stuffed. Now the time for the dance came. Harry dreaded this part of the ball for even though he had some lessons with his only female intructor over summer on how to dance, he still wasn't very coordinated when it came to the dance floor.
Draco and Helen immediately went to the dance floor and blended in with the other dancers until they were out of sight in the mass. He saw Ron Weasel and Hermione dancing together. He snorted while thinking, 'About time!' He was so busy mentally laughing on how Weasel must have asked Hermione to the ball that he didn't notice a figure approaching him until it tapped him on the shoulder.
"Mind if I could have this dance?" He turned around and saw that it was a girl that he never saw before, and unless he did but never got to know her name. He agreed and bother went the dance floor. The dance was quick and after it was over he sat back down again in his previous seat. A minute later another girl came up and asked for a dance, he agreed again. This time the dance was a slow song and Harry held the girl in the position his instructor taught him to. Soon the dance was over and he and the girl separated. He went back to his seat, and not the long after he got called for a dance by another girl. This went on and on, throughout the night. He was exhausted and planned the say no to the next dance offer when asked. And he wasn't disappointed when another asked for a dance.
Harry turned his head to the person and planned to politely refuse when he looked up and saw that it was Alicia wearing the dress robe that she got at Hogsmeade. He was entranced at her beauty and took a while to gather what she said. "What? Oh of course." He got up and walked to the dance floor with Alicia.
Harry was more then uncomfortable at having to dance sense he was worried on making a damn idiot of himself in front of Alicia. He looked into Alicia's face and saw that she too was a bit nervous. He didn't know why since he saw her with Roger Williams dancing with confidence and grace. He tried to shed her fear by having small talks.
"Where's your date?" He asked.
She looked a bit mad when saying, "Last time I checked serving a bloody nose outside." She ended it with a malicious smirk that made Harry curious.
"Your date has a bloody nose and your happy? What he'd do?"
"Snogging some damn Ravenclaw girl. Serves him right when I knocked the stuffings out of him, the Jackass. Anyways aren't you a bit advertising Slytherin support with the color of your dress robe?" Alicia asked with curiosity.
"Not really, I like these colors, and I for one don't gave too much damn for house rivalry anymore. I think it's stupid since the feeling or dislike is built around just a silly notion of holding up house pride. Anyways don't you like these colors, surely you don't think I look hideous in them." Harry spoke with a grin. His nerviousness about this dance was now gone.
"Well. . . I wouldn't say hideous, I don't think it describes what I'm thinking right now enough." Alicia joked.
"Har har, well I for one say that your looking beautiful today. Of course I already knew what you were gonna look like, since I saw you at the Hogsmeade store."
"Why thank you, however I can't say that I had the pleasure of knowing what you would like also because you being the secretive self you are hid from me what you were gonna wear to this ball." She emphasized this by poking Harry in the chest while having a grin on her face to show no hard feeling.
Harry just grinned and resumed dancing with Alicia. Somewhere in the middle of their dance Harry picked up to courage to kiss Alicia briefly on the lips. Alicia looked up at him with shock, then she returned the kiss, this one lasting a bit longer then the previous one. As the dance ended he and Alicia walked hand and hand to where the gardens were for last years yule ball. There was a garden and it was layered with snow, but the garden was surrounded by warming charms that would last till tomorrow and the snow had a cooling charm on it that would make it stay unmelting. All in all it was a beautiful setting without the discomforts of the cold. Harry and Alicia walked deep into the garden that was like a minature maze with wide paths, until they reached a bench that was by a fountain that had the water frozen in mid air.
He and Alicia sat on the bench and began kissing, it was gentle kisses at first, but then it turned into more passionate kisses. Harry stopped their making out and pulled his head back to look upon her face. He saw a slightly dazed looked upon her face before closing the space between their faces once again starting their kissing. They would have continued longer if it weren't for a voice interrupting them.
"Well well, what do we have hear a couple of students snogging." Prof. Fletcher came closer to the pair chuckling. "I guess I have to take 10 points off of Gryffindor then."
Harry was currently thinking, 'If I couldI he would be turned into a fucking rabbit! The freaking jackass!'
Fletcher continued, "Well hurry up now go back inside before I take more points from you."
Harry and Alicia got up from the bench and hurriedly rushed to reenter the Great Hall. On the way an embarrassed Harry spoke to Alicia.
"I'm sorry about him, he just likes to annoy me for some reason. I didn't mean for you to get embarrassed." Spoke Harry.
"No it's alright. It's not like we got caught by Snape or anything, and it wasn't that many points. Besides I didn't mind what we were doing before he caught us." Alicia giggled.
Harry turned a bit red and asked, "Does this mean were a couple now?"
"Why I guess it does." Was her reply.
Harry and Alicia went back into the Great Hall and danced through the rest of the night occasionally kissing in the corner of the room. It was an hour before the dance came to an end, and Harry had the time of his life tonight. As the clock struck midnight Dumbledore stood to address the hall.
"I hope that everyone enjoyed this dance and I hope that in the future we may be able to continue this. However I have to bring you the unfortunate news of saying that it is late and that we must return to our common rooms and tuck in. So goodnight." With that Dumbledore sat back down to talk a bit with the other teachers who had the main job cleaning up the mess.
Harry went back to the common room with Alicia. They held hands all the way there, and separated when they reached the common room. Harry said goodnight and kissed Alicia, then watched her go up the stairs that led to the Head Girl's room. Harry then too went up another set of stairs that lead to his Prefect's room. He undressed and slept soundly knowing that he would never forget tonight.