CHAPTER ELEVEN-

A Not So Welcome Reminder

The school spoke of nothing but the Dark Mark and it's message for the next few days. The Slytherins seemed to take great pride in that which was, "Bloody typical of them," as Amy put it.

The only good thing to come of the situation was that in all of the confusion, everyone seemed to have forgotten about having to find a dance partner for the ball. It was not for several days that anyone even remembered that there was going to be one, until Professor Dumbledore stood up before breakfast one day and explained that it would still take place, despite current events.

Moments later, it seemed three different girls came up to him, each asking him to the ball.

The first girl, Harry just stared at her not quite sure who she was. He had never seen her in his life.

The next, was a second year from Hufflepuff who when she asked Harry, he spit his juice out in surprise. She had quickly turned away, looking as if she might cry.

The third was a fragile looking third year from Ravenclaw. This time however, Harry managed to politely decline the offer.

"I never knew you were sure a lass magnet Harry," Said Skye, obviously trying to suppress the laughter. Even Hermoine seemed to laugh at the joke.

"This is mad! I didn't even know any of them!" Harry explained.

"I know what it is," Said Skye. "It's those eyes of yours Harry. They could drive a girl mad,"

Harry blushed deeply, "I'll try to keep that in mind," He said, suddenly pretending to be extremely interested in his porridge. Thankfully, Harry heard the familiar rustling of hooting and wing flapping as the morning mail arrived.

An old, brown owl dropped a letter onto Harry's lap and then, just as quickly as it had appeared, it disappeared. Harry opened the letter hastily, and immediately recognized Sirius's writing.

Harry,

What were you doing walking back ALONE from Hagrid's in the first place? Words can't express how dangerous and careless that was of you! From now on, don't go down to Hagrid's alone. Going with Ron and Hermoine also qualifies as alone. The Dark Mark in the sky is proof enough that you need to be extremely careful.

Although I don't know anything about Voldemort ever having an heir, I'll ask around. Maybe there was something I missed awhile back.

Dumbledore assures me you will be safe at the Celebrational ball, so you'll have to go. Better for you to be with crowds of people, rather than upstairs all by yourself.

Harry, whatever you do, DO NOT go looking for the heir. Don't even bother trying to deny that you haven't given it thought, because I know that is the kind of thing you would do. I'll write you again soon.

                                                                                  Sirius
"Well," Commented Hermoine with a cunning smirk. "He sure knows you well now doesn't he?"



"Starting today there you will be working on a group assignment," Said Professor Flitwick, one day during Charms class. "You will be working in random groups of three, using the charms you've been learning over the past few weeks. Now you will see Mr. Weasley," Said Flitwick with a small nod to Ron.

"Why the hanging garland charms will come in handy," Ron's ears turned a bright shade of pink. A few weeks earlier, when Flitwick had been teaching them to make garlands Ron had commented on how it was "Bloody pointless, if you ask me". Harry had though Flitwick had not heard, but apparently that was not true.

"You may of course, use others from past years, but you will be graded on only the spells you've learnt this term.

"Your group will each be given a section of the school, which you must decorate to the best of your abilities,"

Hermoine frowned, obviously displeased with prospects of the assignment. Ron on the other hand seemed quite pleased with the idea, that is until Flitwick started listing off the groups. After being assigned to a group, the students left to their area to begin. Only Harry, Ron, Hermoine, Skye and a few other Hufflepuffs remained.

"Weasley, Sandquist and Pallant. You will be decorating the third floor east wing," Ron slowly rose, and then headed out the door with the two other Hufflepuffs. Flitwick continued, rattling off names.

"Abelseth, Finnigan and Granger. You will be decorating the second floor, south wing," Hermoine looked disapointedly to Harry, then made her way to Seamus and a Hufflepuff girl by the name of Ariel.

"And the last group; Potter, Robinson and Dumbledore. You will be in charge of the front entrance,"

Harry looked over to Skye who nodded to him, with a small smile on her lips. Once downstairs, they looked around once, then Skye pulled out her wand. "Right then. Shall I take the pathways leading from the front doors? The stairwell and windows are going to take a lot of work, so two people should work on those,"

"I'll take them," Said the Hufflepuff boy, Adrian, who was looking to Skye. "It's probably best to leave the best to do the hardest,"

Skye merely blushed and smiled, while Harry watched his temper beginning to rise. He still did not understand why he felt a sudden urge of jealousy whenever such a situation arose. Somehow he managed to keep calm, and soon forgot all about Adrian Robinson.

"So," Said Harry after a good hour of wand waiving. His fingers were most definitely beginning to cramp. "You figure we're done?"

"Hang on," Skye said, then jumped up a few stairs to meet him. It seemed so sudden that she stood only a step below him, her eyes looking up to him. She leaned close, then holding up her wand just to the left of his ear said, "Adjungo,"

Harry did not need to turn around to see that she had tied the two massive garlands of pine together that now hung on the far back wall. She leaned away, now staring into his eyes and Harry felt a sudden rush of rapid emotions.

"Skye," He said slowly, pacing himself.

"Un huh?" She replied, seeming entranced.

"Would you... Err.. Would you go to the ball with me?"

Harrry watched as Skye's face paled, and she looked down at her feet. "I uhh..." She seemed to be struggling with her words, and Harry instantly felt mortified for asking. "That is to say.... I-"

"It's okay," Harry interjected hurriedly. "It was just a question. I figured, you know, if you were planning on going," How could he have been so stupid? Harry scolded himself, trying to feel anything but the embarrassment that was seeping all over him.




"So you just asked her? Right out of the blue?" Ron asked, still somewhat perplexed. He sat on his bed, practicing decorating their dormitory. One waive of his wand and purple ribbons shot out in a small ball, then stuck to the ceiling. For some odd reason, it reminded Harry of a spit ball.

Apparently Ron had accidentally wrapped Emma Sandquist in garland, then hung her up to the ceiling. Ordinarily Harry would have asked questions, but he was slightly pre-occupied with himself.

"I know it seems weird but, it was..." His voice trailed off. Harry had no words to describe what had happened on the stairs.

"Well, no harm done I s'ppose," Ron shrugged.

"No harm done?" Repeated Harry staring at him blankly. "Now she knows I-err...I..."

"Fancy her?" Ron offered. "Come off it Harry. Everyone knows you fancy Skye. It might as well have been posted in Teen Witch Weekly," He grinned, pleased with his wit. "Come to think about it, it was,"

"And you fancy Alexa is just so not obvious," Harry retorted sarcastically. Ron's ears turned the usual colour of crimson whenever someone spoke about Alexa. "Well, err..."

"So are you going to ask her?" Asked Harry.

Ron looked at him astonished, his mouth forming a comical 'O' shape. "Well not yet no. I tried today at breakfast, but then you went n' spat out your juice out,"

"Thanks for reminding me," Said Harry dully. He slowly got off of his bed, and wrapping his red and yellow scarf around his neck headed for the door.

"No problem. It was bloody hilarious. Hey, where you going?"

"I don't," Harry replied truthfully. "I think I'm gonna go walk around,"

Ron grinned sympathetically with a lopsided grin. "You want me to, you know, come with you?"

"No, that's okay. You keep working on your garlandus spell. I'll be back later,"

No sooner had Harry left the Gryffindor common room and headed down the empty stairwell he saw Amy carrying a small load of books from the Library.

"Lo' Harry," Greeted Amy from behind the large pile of books.

"Lo' Amy," Harry replied, watching her. "Do you want a hand with those?"

"Yeah thanks," Harry grabbed a few of the books from atop the pile. "Where you heading?" He asked.

"Back to the dorms. Got to start studying for Snape's test. You?"

"No where really," He replied waiting for the stairwell to finish changing. Her chocolate eyes regarded him levelly. "That's not very safe, especially for you,"

"I know," Replied Harry. "I just needed some breathing time I s'ppose,"

"Thats understandble," Said Amy raising her voice to be heard over the usual chitchat, as they cut through the Gryffindor Common room. "With everything that's been happening,"

"It's more than that," Said Harry, shifting the weight of the books in his hands. "Everything's just seems to be going completely mad,"

"I'll agree with that. Well, this is my door," She said with a small nod to one of the dormitory rooms. She walked in, and dropped the books on a small desk closets to the door. She turned, looking back to Harry who still stood in the doorway. "You can come in you know,"

"Oh right," He placed the books next to Amy's pile and looked around. The room was styled the same as his dormitory he shared with Ron, Seamus, Dean and Neville but there were some obvious differences. While all of the four-poster beds had the same, plain Hogwarts bedspread it was rather obvious whose area was whoms.

Amy's was simple, much like Harry's own. A desk, closet, bedside table and then a book case separating it from what could only be Skye's. Above the head of her bed was a poster of her favourite Quidditch team, the 'Prides of Portree'. Thinking of Skye, Harry felt the embarrassment he had felt earlier that day on the staircase. "Harry?"

"Sorry. Hey Amy, can I ask you a question?"

"I suppose so, why?"

Harry took a deep breath, bracing himself. "Err... Would you go to the ball with me?"

Amy blinked, staring at him for moment, and then she smiled. "Sure,"

"Really?" Harry looked at her, positively astounded. He had half a mind to pinch himself to make sure he was not dreaming.

She nodded, starting to blush. "Yeah,"

"Alright then," Said Harry, suddenly fleeing quite fluttery inside. "I'll err.. See you tomorrow then,"

"See you tomorrow," Amy echoed.

Chapter 12:  The Celebrational Ball