CHAPTER 20

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

In the week that passed, since Neville woke up Harry, Ron and Hermione spent most of their free time helping him to catch up with all of his lessons and also with all the DA spells that he missed. Ginny and Colin, now had to spend most of their time preparing for their OWL's which they would be sitting soon. Hermione and Ron had, had no more rows and they were back to being the prefect couple, although Harry suspected that it wouldn't be long before they had another one of their famous rows.

On a Thursday evening, while everyone was in the Great Hall finishing their second helping of apple tart with custard, Harry was walking up to Proffessor Golding's office to get the new spells she had told him about in the last lesson. He knocked on her door and waited for her consent to enter. She called 'Come in' and Harry opened the door and walked into the classroom, to see Proffessor Golding with her head in the fire place telling someone that she would have to go and that he would talk to them later. she pulled her head from the fireplace and turned around and smiled at Harry warmly.

''Oh Harry, it's you, if I'd known I'd have.......Oh never mind, you must be here for the spell sheets.'' Proffessor Golding said hurridely as she opened the top drawer in her desk and pulled out a handful of parchment, with possible spells on them. She gestured for Harry to have a seat in front of the desk and he sat down willingly, for some reason Proffessor Golding could make him feel at ease as Lupin had once done. ''There you go.'' she said as she passed the parchment to him. ''These are pretty complex, but they are very useful.''

''Thanks Proffessor, If you don't mind me asking who were you talking to in the fire.'' Harry asked, knowing that it was very rude of him to ask, but he had a feeling that she wouldn't mind, and she didn't, but she hesitated as she answered.

''oh that was uh.........Remus.''

''Really, oh yeah I forgot you were all friends. How is he?'' Harry asked, brightening at the mention of Remus Lupin.

''He's ok, it was the full moon last night, so he's a bit tired you know.'' Professor Golding answered him. ''You can call me Destiny, mind, well not in class but you know.'' she said smiling, her purple eyes sparkling mischievously.

''Ok...um Destiny.'' Harry said ''I was jut wondering, you know that my dad and Sirius were Animagi, well I was wondering if you and my mum were?'' Harry asked, feeling more comfortable every minute, with his teacher.

''Oh no, me, Lily and Bethany, didn't even know that they were, until we were in the final year. Lily went so mad with James for not telling her, she wouldn't speak to him for a whole week. They were kind of like your friends Ron and Hermione, always fighting but loving each other all the same.'' Destiny said as she smiled at the memory.

''Who's Bethany?'' Harry asked curiously.

''Oh, she was in that picture that I showed you, the one that Remus had his arm around. They had been together for a couple of months when that picture was taken, Lily and James had been together for a bit longer I think.'' Destiny said thoughtfully. ''Oh, before I forget I have something for you.'' she said as she pulled a large book out of the bottom drawer of her desk. ''This is a scrap book from our time at Hogwarts, it has pictures of all of us, and we've all written in it too. We all had one and they are all identical to each other, we had them jusst before we left school.''

''Wow.'' Harry said as she handed him the book. ''Are you sure I can have this?'' He asked, knowing that it must be very special to her, afterall most of the people who were in the pictures were dead, and this was all she had to remember them by.

''Yeah, I have my own copy in my bedroom.'' Destiny explained.

''Your own copy, so who's copy is this.'' Harry asked, hoping that it wasn't Peter's.

''That was your mother's copy, we were looking through them in my house the day before well.....you know and she must've forgotten hers.'' Destiny explained sadly. ''That was only a couple of months after Bethany had also been killed by Voldemort.''

''Bethany's dead?'' Harry exclaimed, sudenly feeling sad, thinking of how bad Lupin must've felt. Losing his girlfriend, losing two of his best friends, finding out one of them was a traitor and them having his other one killed by the traitor. It was like losing everything in one go.

''Yeah, she died a few months before your parents. Remus was distraught, as you can imagine.'' Destiny said, as she leaned back in her chair. ''Well Harry I'm afraid I have to get back to work, and I suppose you'll want to look through that alone.'' Destiny said as she picked up a quill and started to mark a stack of parchments that were piled up high on her desk.

''Yeah, thanks....um...Destiny.. Bye.''

''Bye Harry.''

*************************************************************

Instead of heading back to the common room where he said that he would meet Ron, Hermione and Ginny, Harry went up to the classroom that they used for the DA meetings, where he knew he could be alone to look through his mothers scrap book. He entered the classroom, that all the meetingss took place in and sat down on one of the lagre, purple, velvet cushions in the corner. The front cover of the book was covered in all of his parent friends names and their nicknames, in the case of James, Remus and Sirius. And a large picture of all of them standing together, smiling and waving up at him. Harry was pleased to see that Peter wasn't included in the book, it turned out that Peter had missed most of the seventh year, when the book was made, because his aunty was sick. Well that was his excuse thought Harry, but we all really know where he was. Harry flipped to a page in the middle of the book. In large pink letters were the words LILY AND JAMES FOREVER, and underneath were pictures of his mother and father, kissing and cuddling, smiling and laughing together. There were notes written around the pictures from all of the old gang.

*Padfoot:- Congratulations Jamesie mate, you've finally settled down. I am pleased for you. Can I be best man at your wedding. Don't forget the pranks we pulled, see you round!!! And Red - don't worry that you only got second best, but I'm afraid I am taken.

Moony:- Hey guys I'll miss you both so much when we leave school and all of the adventures we had. But we'll always be together, the marauders and their ladies. Prongs please inform Padfoot, that I wiil be performing the duties of best man.

Prongs:- Lilly my love, you are the only girl for me, I hope we'll be together forever. I love you with all my heart now and forever.

Destiny:-Lils, I am gonna be a bridesmaid ok. I wish you and James all the best, and I can't wait till the wedding.

Bethany:- Wow guys, you have nearly made it a whole year without fighting, well not much anyway. All the best Lils and James.

Lilly:-We are not getting married, well yet anyway. But when we do you two will be my bridesmaids. James I will always love you, you are my one true love. And Sirius, James will never be second best to me.*

Harry felt tears forming in his eyes, they were all so excited and happy, thinking that they would be together forever, now there are only two of them left. All those plans and dreams for the future wasted. Harry silently turned the page choking back tears, to find a page dedicated to Remus and Bethany.

*Prongs:- Woah Remus, finally found someone to tame the wild side of you. Well done mate, you've found a good one there. When you read this and think of me, just remember the time me and you tied poor Snivellus to a tree and pulled down his trousers. On second thoughts don't ever think of that again.

Lilly:- That wasn't very nice of you guys, actually it was horrible, but he did deserve it that time. Remus, what can I say you are one of the nicest guys I know and I wish you all the love and happiness in the world, you too Beth, I hope you are both very happy together.

Destiny:- Beth, my flower you are the sweetest girl I know and I know that you and Remie will be so happy together, you are perfect for each other.

Padfoot:- Oh God, shut up Dest, you don't half go on. I wish you both all the fun and pranks you can ever want.

Moony:- Well well Bethany, the end of our last year of Hogwarts, I want you to know that I am looking forward to the rest of my life, spending it all with you.

Bethany:- Well I hope so Remie, I love you and I will untill the day I day, and after that.*

The tears were falling down Harry's face freely now. 'How did this happen' he thought to himself, 'Why did they all have to die?' Harry could feel himself shaking with silent sobs, but he felt he had to continue reading the book, he turned over the page and saw the heading, SIRIUS AND DESTINY FOREVER.

''What?'' Harry said outloud to himself. He rubbed his eyes thinking that he must've read the names wrong, but when he checked again the words remained exactly the same. He looked down at one of the pictures and saw his godfather, smiling and laughing, with his Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher wrapped up in his arms. They both looked so happy and so in love, her bright purple eyes were sparkling and Sirius's smile extended right up to his eyes, that were full of love and adoration. He read the notes from his parents and their friends that were next to a picture of Sirius and Destiny laying, sleeping in each others arms.

*Prongs:- Congratulations Destiny, you have finally manged to obtain the unobtainable and keep him. Sirius you have a great girl there please don't hurt her, I know you won't she's the only girl you've ever loved. Be happy. P.S I am best man at the wedding.

Moony:- I second what James said. Destiny you must be very special for Sirius to abandon his life as the ladies man. I wish you both the best, all the pranks in the world.

Bethany:- Destiny I know you love him and that he loves you, thats all that matters, me and Lils are bridesmaids yeah.

Lilly:- We'd better be, I hope the two of you are really happy and Sirius please try and keep James out of trouble when you both start work. Destiny I can't wait for us to try and tame these two bad boys, for life.

Padfoot:- I don't know what you guys are trying to say, I don't have a bad reputation and anyway I love Destiny loads and loads there is no way I'd ever hurt her. Lily, James is the one that gets me into trouble honest.

Desstiny:- I love you Sirius and I really mean that, I never thought that I'd end up falling for the guy that almost every girl in school wants, but I did and I am so happy.*

Harry closed the book and rubbed his eyes furiuosly, Sirius and Destiny together, but why didn't she say anything? Why didn't Lupin say anything? Did she want me to find out? All these thoughts ran through Harry's head as he sat alone in the fading light, he heard the door to the classsroom open and someone walk quietly into the room and close the door gently behind them. The tears that were still falling from Harry's eyes, only increased when he saw that it was Ginny who had come to find him.

''Whats the matter Harry?'' she asked as she heard him crying and rushed over to him and hugged him close to her, letting him cry into her shoulder. Harry said nothing, just pointed to the book that lay beside him on the floor, Ginny picked it up and looked through it, understanding why Harry was crying so hard. The pictures of his parents all showed them happy and content, ready for their lives together after they left Hogwarts, they didn't know that a few years later that they would be dead and their only son left an orphan. ''Shhhhhh, don't cry babe, I'm here for you.'' Ginny soothed as she held him closer.

''But......I lose everyone I love Gin, my parents, Sirius.......I don't want to lose you ever Gin......I can't lose you.'' Harry said, stuttering between sobs.

''Harry, I promise you, I will never, ever leave you. I love you more than anything, your all that matters to me. I'll always be here for you.'' Ginny said, smiling because Harry needed her just as much as she needed him.

''Pr....Promise?'' Harry asked, wiping the tears, once again from his eyes, and wiping his glasses roughly with the sleeve of his robes.

''I promise Harry, I love you.'' Ginny answered, kissing him lightly on the cheek.

''I love you too, your my guardian angel.'' Harry said as he grabbed her hand and entwined his fingers with hers. ''Your my angel Gin, you always will be.'' Ginny smiled as Harry pulled her hand, that he held in his, up to his mouth and kissed it softly.

''Hey Harry.''

''Yeah.''

''Don't you think we kind of look like your parents?'' Ginny asked, not knowing whether it would upset Harry more. ''I mean I have red hair and green eyes and so did your mother, and you have the black messy hair and glasses just like your dad.''

''Yeah I noticed that, it must be our destiny to be together.'' Harry said, kissing Ginny's hand once again. ''Speaking of Destiny did you know that Proffessor Golding and Sirius were together?'' Harry asked Ginny.

''What's that got to do with Destiny?'' Ginny asked confused.

''It's Proffessor Goldings name. Did you know?'' Harry explained quickly.

''No I didn't know. How do you know?''

''Look it's right here.'' Harry said as he turned to Sirius's page in the scrapbook. ''See, there they both are.'' Harry pointed to the picture where they were both laughing and smiling happily with each other.

''Wow, they look so in love.'' Ginny gushed, flipping through the rest of the book, to see if there were anymore pictures of them. ''Oh my God, look at this.'' Ginny said as she pointed to a picture of what looked like a dance to Harry. ''It's a Masquerade.'' Ginny explained. ''A party, where everybody who goes has to dress up in a costume.''

''Sounds quite stupid.'' Harry said as he looked closely and recognised his mother and father, dressed up as Tarzan and Jane, he also picked out Lupin and Bethany, with the help of Ginny, dressed up as Romeo and Juliet, and then finally he found Sirius and Destiny who were dressed up as Dumbledore and Mcgonagall.

''No, it's really fun. I'm gonna tell Hermione about it.'' Ginny decided as she shut the book and handed it back to Harry.

''Why?'' Harry asked, getting very confused.

''Remember on the letters it said to bring dress robes.'' Ginny said slowly, smiling at the shocked look on Harry's face. ''Well there's going to be dance at the end of March, before the exams start, and the prefects have to suggest ideas. I think it would be fun.''

''But that would mean you won't get to wear your dress robes.'' Harry said, trying to persuade Ginny out of the idea, it was bad enough going to a ball in dress robes, let alone dressing up in a stupid costume.

''Oh, I'm sure no-one will mind. I mean there's always the end of year feast. Dumbledore said we can wear our dress robes to that too. So we can wear costumes to the dance and our dresss robes to the feast.'' Ginny explained happily.

''Great.'' Harry answered sarcastically.

''Come on Harry, lets go to bed now, I'll tell Herm tomorrow.'' Ginny said as she stood up and held out her hand to help Harry up.

''Ok, lets go.'' Harry said, in a considerably brighter tone, and he walked out of the classroom, holding hands with Ginny, with the scrapbook tucked safely under one of his arms.

**************************************************************

''So is everyone agreed then?'' Daniel Draper, the head boy asked, looking around the room for nodding heads. ''Well that's the majority anyway.'' he stated, glaring at Ron. ''A Masquerade it is then.''

''Great.'' Ron sighed sarcastically. ''What fun, now I get to make a prat out of myself in a ridiculous costume.''

''Oh come on Ron, it'll be fun. Remind me to thank Ginny for the great idea.'' Hermione said as she waltzed out of the room where the prefects meetings were held.

''Oh don't worry I'll thank her.'' Ron said darkly as he wass pulled out of the room by an insanely happy Hermione.

''Now we have to decide what to go as.'' Hermione stated, unaware that Ron was as interested in the Masquerade as he was in restarting S.P.E.W. ''We'll have to go in matching costumes, please be happy Ron, for me.'' Hermione pleaded.

''Fine, I'm not wearing anything stupid though.'' said the boy who wore bright orange clothes that clashed terribly with his bright orange hair.

''I wouldn't dream of making you wear anything horrible.'' Hermione said trying to supress a smile.

Hermione and Ron entered the Gryffindor common room to find it relatively empty, apart from Harry and Ginny kissing on a sofa in front of the fire. They were so wrapped up in each other that they didn't even notice Hermione and Ron walk through the portrait hole and come right up behind them.

''When you've quite finished.'' Ron said, feeling very uncomfortable, seeing his sister and his best friend snogging on the sofa. Harry and Ginny sat up suddenly, both looking flushed, their lips bright red and swollen from kissing. ''Anyway Mione has some great news for you all.'' Ron said sarcastically, emphasising the word great and rolling his eyes towards Harry.

''What is it Herm?'' Ginny asked excitedly.

''There's going to be a Masquerade at Hogwarts, at the end of March.'' Ginny and Hermione both squealed in excitement, while Harry and Ron both groaned loudly in disappointment.

''Oh well at least we don't have to find dates.'' Ron said quietly to Harry while the girls disscussed possible costumes.

''Yeah, I suppose, but we have to dress up.'' Harry argued.

''I know, knowing Mione, I'll end up dressed up as a house elf.'' Ron said darkly, making Harry smile imagining Ron dressed up as a house elf with big flappy ears.

''What was that Ron, you want to dress up as a house elf.'' Hermione called, she had obviously heard, and as she winked at Ginny she answered. ''Well I think that is a great idea Ron, we'll go as a pair of house elves. I'll make the ears.'' Ron's eyes widened with shock, he'd really done it now.

**********************************************************

That night Ginny lay in bed awake, her head resting on Harry's chest his arm wrapped around her protectively. She traced patterns with her fingers delicately up and down Harry's chest, as she felt the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest as he slept.

''You know that really tickles.'' Harry whispered softly, making Ginny jump.

''I thought you were asleep.'' Ginny answered blushing.

''How do you expect me to sleep with you doing that to me.'' Harryt asked reasonably as he pulled her hand towards his mouth and kisssed it before placing back on his chest. ''Don't stop.'' He said softly, as Ginny went to pull her hand away.

''Harry?'' Ginny said, he could tell she was about to ask him something forcing him into a conversation when all he wanted was to feel her touch on his bare chest, sending shivers running through his veins, it was hard to concentrate when she was touching his bare skin.

''Yeah Gin.'' Harry said sleepily.

''What shall we dress as for the dance?''

''I don't know Gin, you decide?'' Harry said, thinking that he would wear anything Ginny wanted him to, he'd probably even go naked if it made Ginny happy.

''No Harry, I want you to chose something.'' Ginny insisted, the Weasley stubbornness kicking in.

''I think that you should dress as an angel, because your as beautiful as an angel, and because you are my angel Gin, always and forever my angel.'' Harry said softly to her, as he ran his fingers through her soft hair, her hair always amazed him, it looked so soft and shiny all the time, it had been his deepest desire at one time to just touch her hair, and now he could he could touch it whenever he wanted to.

''I love you so much, you know if Ron could hear you now, he'd have a fit.'' Ginny said giggling.

''Why's that then?'' Harry asked indignantly.

''Because you're being so sweet and caring and nice, Ron wouldn't expect a man to be able to be that sensitive. He definately can't be.'' Ginny explained.

''Oh but I'm not, only with you my angel, you bring out the best in me. Anyway you haven't heard Ron when he's with 'Mione'.'' Harry said cheekily.

''Oh and you have?'' Ginny asked unbelievingly.

''As a matter of fact I have.'' Harry said smugly, smoothing Ginny's hair. ''I snuck up on them both once, something that I'll never want to do again.''

''Why?''

''They have nicknames for each other Gin.'' Harry said smiling, but Ginny looked confused.

''You have a nickname for me.'' Ginny said, not sure where this was going.

''But that is justified, you are an angel, you're as beautiful as an angel, as caring and as sweet. Therefore you are my angel, my guardian angel. But those two are just ridiculous.'' Harry said as he absent mindedly, stroked Ginny's cheek with his thumb.

''What are their nicknames?'' Ginny asked, wickedly.

''Ron is Snugglebunny and Hermione is Lovekitty.'' Harry said, bursting into fits of hysterical laughter. Ginny just groaned and started laughing right along with Harry, which they continued doing for a very long time, they even started using the nicknames for each other, causing them to laugh even more.

**************************************************************

Hermione and Ginny sat alone one evening in Hermione's room, talking while Harry and Ron, were in the common room talking about Quidditch with Dean, Seamus and Neville. Ginny was finding it hard to look Hermione in the eye after the whole Lovekitty thing, but she managed to restrain her laughter.

''So what are you and Ronniekins going as?'' Ginny asked casually, as she sat filing her nails on the sofa by the fireplace.

''I think we are going as Sandy and Danny from Grease.'' Hermione explained.

''Oh that film, we saw at your house, they are cute. You and Ron will be great.'' Ginny gushed. ''What does Ron have to say about it?'' Ginny asked cautiously, thinking that they had probably had a few rows about it.

''Well actually he still thinks he's going as a house elf, so he'll be happy to be going as anything else after that.'' Hermione said mischievously.

''Good plan.''

''Thanks, what about you and lover boy?'' Hermione asked smiling.

''Well I asked Harry what he thought, and he said I should definately go as an angel, because I am his angel.'' Ginny said shyly.

''Awww that's so sweet. I never knew Harry had a romantic side.'' Hermione gushed. ''But what about Harry what's he doing?''

''He doesn't he said it's only with me and that I bring out the best in him. I don't know what he can dress as though, what would pair up with an angel?'' Ginny asked sounding exasperated, she had clearly been giving this alot of thought.

''How about a devil.'' Hermione suggested. ''I know they don't exactly pair up but hey, opposites attract, just look at me and Ron.''

''That's a brilliant idea Herm, thanks so much, I am going to get Harry, we can start making our costumes now. Shall I tell Ron to get back here because he needs to make his ears.'' Ginny said laughing as she rushed away.

''Yeah thanks Gin.'' Hermione called after her, giggling to herself imagining Ron wearing only a tea towel.

*****************************************************************

''Gilbert, what exactly are you trying to say?'' Voldemort shouted in the cool air of the dungeons, in a huge house.

''Master....they're........they're awake.'' Gilbert stuttered.

''What do you mean they are awake, that spell was meant to be rare, so rare that no counter curse could be found.'' Voldemort spat. ''We searched through thousands of books looking for it before we found it.''

''There was another book master.....at.....at Hogwarts.'' Gilbert muttered quietly, not wanting to anger Voldemort any more.

''That muggle loving old fool, I'll get Albus Dumbledore for this.'' Voldemort cried as he started pacing back and forth the dungeons.

''It........it.......wasn't him sir....it was Potter and his friends.''

''Potter, that boy, for too long has he disrupted my plans, he must be disposed of, I'll get him this time.'' Voldemort said as he sank down into his high backed leather chair, thinking of a plan to finally get Harry Potter out of his way once and for all.

Harry sat up abruptly, in a cold sweat, clutching his scar in agony.

''Oh God, he knows it was me. He wants me.'' Harry said to Ginny who had sat up next to him. Picturing the high backed chair that Volemort was sitting in, in his dream, and the man who knelt on the floor in front of him, a man that looked vaguely familiar to Harry, the way he held himself and his frame. But they were slipping away from Harry, like grains of sand in the wind, and he couldn't remember the man, he was slipping away faster and faster until he was gone. Harry made up his mind to see Dumbledore in the morning.

(A.N Heys guys thanks for reviewing my story so far, the Masquerade next chapter!!!! Who is that man??? MMMMM I wonder. Please review and let me know what you think of this chappie. Awww ickle Snugglbunny as a house elf. Thanks to all of you guys ice princess12 x x x x x x x x x)

(I just deleted all of the other chapters from this story, what an idiot oh well at least I saved this one first. Sorry about not making Dumbledore too wise but hey I'm not wise so how can I be expected to write wise things, and to hahero01(?) I know exactly how you feel I'm starting to miss school, and I've been off since June)