Here is a bit more of an exciting chapter! I have also just recently realised that I have spelt both Parvati and Madam Pomfrey's names wrong. I'm really sorry about this and will correct it from now on. ENJOY!

And a disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any Harry Potter related material!

HARRY

POTTER

AND THE STAFF OF VIGOR

~ ~ !!! ~ ~

CHAPTER 10: RETURNING

The student rescue proved hopeless as another month passed and there was still no information about the students and Dumbledore. If one of the missing students or Dumbledore's names were mentioned there was bound to be someone nearby who broke down crying. It seemed that instead of the passing time helping people to deal with the loss, it tended to wind them up. As a result most students walked around scared, lost or angry. Numerous fights broke out over nothing and the Professor's were even beginning to become dissolute and uncaring like the students. Harry's sixth year workload didn't help him either and he was often tied down with Ron doing assignment upon assignment, commonly in Hermione's presence.

Harry shook his head as his thoughts traveled back once more to that of Neville. He looked up and saw Ron and Hermione watching him. They'd been doing that a lot lately.

"Yes?" He asked them. They looked at each other uneasily.

"Nothing." Ron mumbled putting his quill back to his parchment and writing again. Hermione cleared her throat.

"What?" Ron glanced up at her. Hermione gave him a meaningful look.

"No, you do it." He told her going pink and focusing on his homework once more.

"Fine. Wimp out," Hermione scolded him before turning to Harry, "We need to...talk."

"About?" Harry said apprehensively. Hermione bit her bottom lip.

"About you." She lowered her eyes.

"Why?"

"Well. I know with the students missing it's been hard...Harry it's been hard on all of us!" She stated. Harry shrugged.

"Yeah I know."

"We...Ron and I...have noticed that you seem to be taking it very hard. You hardly talk anymore. You don't walk with us to class. You're quiet at Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast...we're worried Harry." Hermione bit her bottom lip again.

"I'm fine." He said simply. He gave her a reassuring smile and spotted tears forming in Hermione's eyes.

"I don't think so." Her voice wavered a little. Harry sighed.

"Hermione. Really, it's fine," He paused when he noticed this wasn't good enough to satisfy her, "I'll be fine."

"Okay Harry...okay but..." She started again as Ginny ran into the room looking crazed, distracting them all.

"There's...there's...there's..." She tried to tell them something and was jumping up and down.

"Gin?" Harry and Ron asked. Ginny's face was white.

"There's...there's Deatheaters!" She exclaimed. All three stood up sharply.

"Deatheaters? Where Ginny?" Hermione demanded. Ron grabbed his sister's shoulders tightly and shook her.

"Ginny!" He exclaimed. She looked at all three of them.

"They...down at the pitch. The teachers are fighting them." She mumbled. Without a moment's hesitation Harry and Ron turned and began running down the castle corridors to the Quidditch Pitch. They didn't pause to consider what they were doing even though they would probably regret their actions later. Hermione followed them, a little unsure about what was happening, and was finding it hard to keep up. Quidditch training had given the boys the advantage of mild fitness.

"Nearly there..." Harry panted turning another corner. He bumped into something and fell back to the ground.

"What the?" A voice exclaimed. Harry looked up at the person he had run into and his eyes lit up.

"Neville? NEVILLE!" He jumped up and briefly hugged his friend. He pulled away and Ron and Hermione rushed forward and did the same. Despite his happiness at seeing his friend again Harry couldn't help but notice that Neville looked horrible. He was thin and unclean and there was a glint in his eyes that suggested he was not the same person he had been and most probably never would be.

"This is extraordinary! What on earth happened?" Hermione pondered. Neville glanced over his shoulder. Harry craned his neck where Neville was focusing and spotted three other students. They were just as disheveled as Neville and were huddled together looking scared.

"Are they some of the other students?" Ron asked. Neville looked back at his friends and shook his head.

"They are the other students." Neville told them sullenly.

"But I thought seven students went missing?" Harry frowned. Neville nodded.

"There was. But these are the students." Neville glanced over his shoulder again. He seemed to be worried that the students would disappear.

"But..." Ron paused to think. Harry and Hermione shared a knowing glance.

"The rest of the students aren't alright are they Neville?" Hermione said gently.

"No. They're dead." Neville's hand went up to rub his face. Hermione wiped at a wild tear that slid down her cheek. Ron closed his eyes and sighed and Harry's attire just remained impassive upon hearing the news.
"How did you get out?" Hermione said quietly.

"Dumbledore-" Neville began but stopped when a loud series of noises came within earshot. The noises could have been mistaken for thunder or fireworks. Everyone jumped and Neville turned towards the students.

"Go," He told them hurriedly, "Go up to your common rooms and don't come back out! GO!"

The three other students scampered off and Neville pulled out his wand.

"Whoa. What?" Ron demanded. Neville gave him an impatient look.

"The teachers are fighting. We have to help them." Neville explained making his way in the direction of the Quidditch Pitch. Ron pulled a face. He wasn't certain that Neville should be fighting because it was obvious that he had recently been through a lot. Hermione shared Ron's view.

"No...no Neville you can't..." Hermione stuttered. Harry pulled his wand out too and walked up beside Neville.

"Harry! No," Hermione shrieked when Ron sighed and withdrew his wand from his robes, "Ron! You're all going to get hurt."

"Hermione, what did you think we came down here for? To watch?" Harry snapped, a little too harshly.

"No...I...I..." She stuttered again and grabbed the back of their robes.

"Be logical!" She exclaimed. They all looked at her blankly and she could see there was no swaying them.
"Fine," Hermione said, tilting her head up and releasing her grip on them, "I'm coming too."

"That's the spirit-" Harry began at the same time Ron said, "NO!"

"Don't be a prat Ron. If you are going into a fight then I am too." She said stubbornly even though she seemed uneasy about the idea. Ron gave her a reproachful look, an expression she usually saved for him, and gravely nodded his head. They began to head off once again towards the fight.

"Wait!" They head the echo of a few voices and stopped to turn around, coming face to face with Ginny and Luna.

"What are you doing here?" Ron demanded. Ginny waved him off nonchalantly while Luna just gazed up at him.

"Don't baby me. I was the one who told you about the fight remember? I'm here to help." She smiled mildly up at her brother as Ron glared at her.

"No way in the world are you going out there!" He growled. Ginny's face became a little flustered. This was a sure sign of the Weasley temper emerging.

"Ron-" Ginny started to argue but was cut off as a few people emitted cries of pain from the direction of the Quidditch Pitch. The argument was dropped immediately as everyone turned to run along the corridors. Ron kept turning around and casting worried glances at his little sister and Luna while Harry was uneasy about the entire situation. This felt exactly like the Ministry of Magic battle. Harry hoped it wouldn't have the same outcome. They turned the final corner before reaching the Pitch when they discovered both Malfoy and Ellanora to Harry's immense surprise. He would never expect to see them in each other's company.

"Hey!" He yelled at them. They were facing each other and talking heatedly. Malfoy was pointing back towards the castle while Ellanora was gesturing to the Pitch. At Harry's outcry they stopped their argument and Malfoy turned to gaze at them half interested while Ellanora stood behind him.

"Potter and friends. Here to save the day no doubt." Malfoy drawled.

"And I suppose you're here to help?" Ron inquired sharply.

"Why yes Weasel. As a matter of fact, I am." His hand went and grabbed Ellanora's arm pulling her out beside him. She didn't appreciate the gesture as the group momentarily stared at her. Harry knew how much she hated attention.

"What's this Draco?" Ginny wondered stepping forward. Malfoy's expression softened as he focused on her.

"Ginny. I'm here to fight. I want to...I have to." He told her. She eyed him for a moment before nodding and smiling a little.

"Does everyone know that why we're here talking about who is doing what and what is happening to who and why someone is where they are that there is a very large fight involving our teachers on the Quidditch Pitch?" Luna asked them lightly. The group fell silent before everyone sprinted towards the Pitch once more. Harry was relieved to see them reach it this time without being delayed. He cast a sideward glance at Ellanora who was running between Malfoy and Ron. Neville was ahead of all of them and reached the field before they all did.

Harry winced as he saw McGonagall fly a few feet off the ground after being jinxed by a cloaked figure. There were a few teachers besides McGonagall; Snape, Hagrid, Professor Treen, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout and...Professor Dumbledore.

Harry didn't have time to comment on the appearance of their Headmaster as one of the Deatheaters, there were about fifteen of them, charged at Harry with his wand raised.

"Crucio!" The dark figure cried. Harry dropped to the ground quickly and rolled away a little before he jumped up again.

"Expelliarmus!" He yelled. The Deatheater evaded his shot just as easily as Harry had done to his.

"Imperia." The Deatheater's shot was more accurate this time and it hit Harry squarely in the chest. Harry felt a calmness fill him as he had experienced before while his free will slowly faded away. He could be dreaming...he felt so light...

"What to do with you. The famous Harry Potter." The Deatheater pondered before turning around in a circle to view the battle before him. Meanwhile, he kept his wand pointedly fixed on Harry.

"Ah." The Deatheater sounded elated with himself. Harry heard the voice then. Turn...curse them...curse them all...Harry turned towards the fight. He saw the teachers in heated battle against about ten of the Deatheaters while his friends were handling the remaining five. Walk towards them...walk on over to that boy...the one with the silver hair...Harry made his way over to Malfoy. He knew what the Deatheater wanted him to do and for some reason he was finding it much harder to refuse this curse than he had previously. Malfoy was at Ginny's side and both of them were trying to hit a Deatheater who was shooting curses at them at small intervals. The blonde one...curse him...use the stunning spell...Harry raised his wand and pointed it a Malfoy. He was now trying very hard to stop himself from hurting Malfoy. No, said a loud voice in the back of his head, I don't want to! No, I wont!

"I think you will. Curse the boy now!" The Deatheater yelled. Harry opened his mouth.

"Stupefy!" Harry inwardly winced as he hit Malfoy in the back, for at the same time the other Deatheater threw the similar curse at Malfoy and it hit him too. Excellent...now the redhead...the voice instructed calmly. No! The voice at the back of his head was screaming now...NO I WONT!

"You will do as I command...Oh never mind then." The Deatheater began but stopped as Ginny fell to the ground in pain after being struck with the Cruciatus Curse.

"Ginny!" Ron ran over to his sister, followed shortly by Hermione. They had left a Deatheater motionless who they had both fought and defeated. Ron had a busted lip and a small cut above his eye. He raised his wand at the same time as Hermione.

"STUPEFY!" They both cried directly hitting the Deatheater who had hurt Ginny. The Deatheater fell to the ground unconscious and Ginny rolled onto her side, panting heavily.

"You alright?" Ron knelt beside her. She nodded up at him weakly and looked up at Harry who had his wand pointed at them. Her eyes widened. That's it...kill them all...you know the curse...use it...the voice returned again. Harry fought to defy it further.

"No..." He mumbled but his wand remained raised.

"Brutiatus!" A voice rang out. Harry felt the lightness disappear as he came crashing back to reality. He gaped at Malfoy's still figure in disgust with himself. How could he have let that happen?

"You alright?" Neville ran over to them and looked down at both Ginny and Malfoy.

"Fine. Harry?" Ginny was staring up at him surprised.

"I got hit with the Imperius Curse...kind of." Harry thought it had sounded a bit different to the regular curse. He turned to observe the body of his previous attacker. The Deatheater was lying on the ground with his face to side and looked disgusting. His body was black while his hands were stretched crookedly out in front of him as if he was trying to reach out to something. Harry grimaced as he noticed the hood of the Deatheater's cape had fallen away giving off plain view of his face. The Deatheater's mouth was open in what could have been both shock and horror and his eyes were yellow and bloodshot. It looked like the person had been both burnt and strangled to death. Harry looked up and saw that Ellanora was staring at the body too.

"Thanks." Harry said quietly, not managing to keep his eyes from returning to the body. Ellanora continued to stare at it. Ron walked slowly over to her and rubbed her arm to gain her attention. She didn't seem to notice his touch and kept gaping. Harry wanted to go up and do what Ron was doing but he stayed glued to the spot, unable to stop gazing at the blackened corpse.

"What did you do? What curse was that?" Harry heard his friend ask. Ellanora looked up at Ron before her eyes flickered back to the body.

"Nothing." She murmured. Ron sighed knowing that was all he would get out of her.

"They're still fighting." Hermione pointed across the Pitch. There was one remaining Deatheater who dropped to the ground a few moments later, a result of Dumbledore and his wand. Dumbledore glanced down at the body in detest before turning to make sure the other teachers were still all right. Professor Treen was unconscious and both McGonagall and Professor Sprout had received evident bruises and cuts. Aside from that, and Snape's grazed chin, everyone was fine.

"So is it over then?" Luna looked expectantly at the group.

"For now." Neville muttered.

* * * *

Harry sighed exasperatedly as he exited McGonagall's office. Ron and Hermione looked at him expectantly while Neville stayed seated where he was and continued to stare at his feet.

"Well?" Ron asked. Hermione seemed too anxious to speak.

"A weeks detention." Harry told them. Hermione's jaw dropped.

"A week? I cannot believe it! I thought we were being called up here to be rewarded for what we did last night! Honestly, we are not children anymore and we have fought numerous times so we are experienced but does that get us any respect..." She trailed off angrily.

"Hermione-" Harry tried to interrupt her but she continued to rant.

"No! No respect. None. I will admit it was rather foolish but we had good intentions at heart! Didn't we? Of course we did and what do we get? A weeks detention! And all the while we have piles of homework and assignments that need to be done..."

"Hermione!" Harry said sharply. She stopped.

"What?"

"A weeks detention and seventy-five points to Gryffindor for being valiant and helpful." He let a small smile slip out. Hermione let out a breath and glared at him.

"You could have said that before! Obviously it helps if we get points for our House but nevertheless...a weeks detention..." She paused as McGonagall poked her head out of her office.

"Miss Granger. In my office now." McGonagall said sharply. Hermione gulped and entered the office while the Professor closed the door after her. Despite Hermione's knowledge that she wasn't going to get into much trouble she was still nervous. Harry turned to Ron who was looking at him tensely.

"What?" Harry asked him.

"Um..." Ron blushed a little.

"What Ron?" Harry frowned at him. Ron shifted on his feet.

"You know how I left last night...with Ellanora..." He paused waiting for Harry to acknowledge the memory. Harry remembered. Ron departed the Hospital Wing shortly after Madam Pompfrey had examined them with his arm wrapped around Ellanora's shoulder. Ellanora had been a little strange after they got back to the castle and Ron had immediately comforted her.

"Yeah. You went for a walk. So what." Harry said a little coldly. Ron gave him a strange look.

"Anyway...er...well...I...was wondering..." His cheeks darkened again.

"What?" Harry wondered. Ron sighed.

"Didyouknowthatyouhaveenchantedheartchocolates?" He said quickly. Harry couldn't help laughing and pulled a face.

"Say it again?" He grinned.

"Did you know that...that...you have enchanted chocolates?" Ron cast a quick look over at Neville to make sure he wasn't listening.

"Chocolates?" Harry frowned.

"Heart...Heart ones." Ron spluttered.

"Yeah. Er, why?" Harry said perplexed, noting Ron's now angered expression.

"Those stupid chocolates," Ron said furiously, "Got me into a lot of trouble."

"How?" Harry asked. He was getting more confused by the moment.

"Because I used them." Ron mumbled. Harry's eyes widened.

"On who?" He exclaimed, already knowing it could only be one person.

"Ellanora," Ron shook his head, "She was upset and I remembered Ginny telling me that chocolates always cheered girls up..."

"And?" Harry didn't like the sound of this.

"And so what? I remembered that you have some chocolates in our room so I ran and got them and gave them to Ellanora..." He trailed off. Harry gaped.

"You kissed her!" He exclaimed. Ron looked over at Neville alarmed.

"Sh! No, she kissed me. And I mean, really, really kissed me." Ron looked down at the ground again. Harry didn't know whether to laugh or not. He felt peculiar about this.

"This is weird. What did she do?" Harry asked blankly.

"Kissed me," Ron's face lit up in realization of Harry's words, "Oh, you mean after. Well...er... she didn't really stop for a while. She ate about five of the chocolates."

"You didn't stop her?" Harry frowned.

"Yeah," Ron insisted before stopping and shaking his head, "No, not really."

"Well, at least you have some experience now." Harry shrugged pathetically.

"It doesn't matter because she thinks I tricked her." Ron sighed bitterly.

"What! Tricked her into kissing you?" Harry yelled. Ron hit him on the arm.

"Would you keep quiet! I do not want everyone knowing." Ron glowered. Thankfully Neville didn't seem to have heard any of the conversation so far and if he had, he didn't let on.

"Sorry." Harry apologized quietly, rubbing his arm. Ron paced back and forth for a few minutes.

"It's fine. She'll get over it right? When she calms down I'll just explain to her that I didn't know what the chocolates did-" Ron stopped and eyed Harry who was examining a painting over Ron's shoulder. It was a strange one with orange splurges and green stripes and looked entirely out of place arranged alongside all the other portraits.

"Sorry. I'm listening." Harry brought his attention back to Ron who narrowed his eyes.

"You are a real git sometimes you know?" Ron snapped. Harry glared at him and was about to argue back when McGonagall's door opened again. Hermione came out looking both content and annoyed.

"Mr Weasley, in my office." McGonagall commanded. Ron stormed past her and disappeared as the door was shut after him. Hermione stared curiously after Ron.

"What is the matter with him?" She asked. Harry shrugged.

"Dunno." He offered her a small grin.

"I heard raised voices. What's going on?" Hermione demanded. Harry shrugged again.

"Can't you tell me?" She pleaded.

"Nothing to tell." Harry said hoping he sounded sincere.

"You sounded like you were fighting. Are you fighting?" She inquired anxiously. Harry shrugged a third time.

"Humph! Males!" Hermione threw her hands up in the air before sitting down next to Neville to wait for Ron.

* * * *

Before Harry remotely realised it, he was met with the notion that it was only a few days until the Christmas Ball. All the girls were very excited.

"I don't get it. How come the Dueling Competition gets postponed but the stupid Ball doesn't?" Ron moaned eyeing Lavender and Parvati who were sitting in the corner of the common room giggling over how they were going to wear their hair.

"Because Dumbledore was organizing both and he wasn't here when the Dueling Competition was supposed to be held. Honestly Ron! Use your brain." Hermione shook her head.

"I'd rather not." Ron said glumly as a few more giggles erupted from the corner.

"Besides, I thought you were excited about the Ball?" Harry pointed out. Ron shrugged.

"I was. But it's driving me mad now! All those girls giggling like two-year-olds."

"Oh and of course you never act childishly?" Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Course not," Ron pointed at his Prefect badge grinning, "I'm the perfect example of maturity."

"Sure mate, sure." Harry said before bursting into fits of laughter. Ron smiled at him and Harry was glad they had gotten over their argument from the day before. He could hardly even remember what they had fought about.

"Hey, why aren't you over there?" Ron wondered. Hermione looked from Harry to Ron.

"What?" She gave him a disconcerted look.

"Why aren't you over there giggling with all the girls?" Ron elaborated. Hermione pulled a face.

"Why on earth would I be!" She exclaimed. Ron shrugged.

"Dunno. Thought you might want to get dressed up for this Ball."

"I'm not some scarlet woman Ron." Hermione snapped. Harry wished he could tell Ron to stop but then again he was beginning to think that they liked to argue. Just a bit.

"I never said you were! Just because you want to look nice doesn't make you a scarlet woman." Ron said defensively.

"Whatever you say Ron." Hermione directed her attention back to the book she was reading.

"It doesn't! Ella is getting dressed up...but...sorry Hermione...I didn't mean anything by it." He sighed and went back to him game of Exploding Snap with Harry. Hermione gazed at him over the top of her book and her expression softened.

"I know Ron. It's okay. Who knows? I might get a bit dressed up, just to try something different." She smiled at him and Ron smiled back. Harry was glad they were quickly back in the previous light-hearted mood. He hated it when anyone of them fought with each other.

"I'll have the prettiest girl at the Ball as my date." Harry joked, winking at Hermione. She laughed and swatted his arm.

"Grow up." She pulled a face but was beaming at his comment.

"Oh Harry!" Ron pouted, "I thought you said that I would be the prettiest person at the Ball."

"Hmm...it will be some tough competition between you and Hermione..." Harry trailed off because he was laughing too hard to continue. Hermione giggled.

"I'll just have to wear those new robes of mine then. Show off a bit." Ron decided playfully.

"Those blue ones? They'll bring out your eyes wonderfully Ron." Hermione said the jesting tone leaving her voice slightly. Ron blushed. More giggles, much louder this time, came from the corner again.

"Bloody hell." Ron muttered immediately in a bad mood again. He turned back to the game but the cards all exploded in his face.

"Oh bloody bloody hell! I hate this Ball." Ron said darkly. Harry and Hermione just glanced at each other and grinned. They both knew that really they were all looking forward to it.

~ ~ !!! ~ ~

A/N: So what will unfold at the Ball? I wonder… I do indeed, because I haven't even written it yet. I guess I'll find out soon too!

And the disappearing students DID have a point, a small one but a point nevertheless… you will find out about that later.

As for the person who dies…well…I'm a bit sad about it but I'm definitely making it happen, yet it won't for a while yet.

Thanks to all the reviewers! I love the reviews immensely!

And to Kagome19…you seem to REALLY be enjoying my story and that makes me very happy.